HYMN CXVIII. Agni.
1. AGNI, refulgent among men thou slayest the devouring fiend,
Bright Ruler in thine own abode.
2. Thou springest up when worshipped well the drops of butter are thy joy
When ladies are brought near to thee.
3. Honoured with gifts he shines afar, Agni adorable with song:
The dripping ladle balms his face.
4. Agni with honey in his mouth, honoured with gifts, is balmed with oil,
Refulgent in his wealth of light.
5. Praised by our hymns thou kindlest thee, Oblation-bearer, for the Gods
As such do mortals call on thee.
6. To that Immortal Agni pay worship with oil, ye mortal men,-
Lord of the house, whom none deceives.
7. O Agni, burn the Raksasas with thine unconquerable flame
Shine guardian of Eternal Law.
8. So, Agni, with thy glowing face burn fierce against the female fiends,
Shining among Uruksayas.
9. Uruksayas have kindled thee, Oblation-bearer, thee, with hymns.
Best Worshipper among mankind.
HYMN CXIX. Indra.
1. THIS, even this was my resolve, to win a cow, to win a steed:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
2. Like violent gusts of wind the draughts that I have drunk have lifted me
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
3. The draughts I drank have borne me up, as fleet-foot horses draw a car:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
4. The hymn hath reached me, like a cow who lows to meet her darling calf:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
5. As a wright bends a chariot-seat so round my heart I bend the hymn:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
6. Not as a mote within the eye count the Five Tribes of men with me:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
7. The heavens and earth themselves have not grown equal to one half of me
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
8. I in my grandeur have surpassed the heavens and all this spacious earth
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
9. Aha! this spacious earth will I deposit either here or there
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
10. In one short moment will I smite the earth in fury here or there:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
11. One of my flanks is in the sky; I let the other trail below:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
12. 1, greatest of the Mighty Ones, am lifted to the firmament:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
13. I seek the worshipper’s abode; oblation-bearer to the Gods:
Have I not drunk of Soma juice?
HYMN CXX. Indra.
1. IN all the worlds That was the Best and Highest whence sprang the Mighty Gods, of splendid valour.
As soon as born he overcomes his foemen, be in whom all who lend him aid are joyful.
2. Grown mighty in his strength, with ample vigour, he as a foe strikes fear into the Dasa,
Eager to win the breathing and the breathless. All sang thy praise at banquet and oblation.
3. All concentrate on thee their mental vigour, what time these, twice or thrice, are thine assistants.
Blend what is sweeter than the sweet with sweetness: win. quickly with our meath that meath in battle.
4. Therefore in thee too, thou who winnest riches, at every banquet are the sages joyful.
With mightier power, Bold God, extend thy firmness: let not malignant Yatudhanas harm thee.
5. Proudly we put our trust in thee in battles, when we behold great wealth the prize of combat.
I with my words impel thy weapons onward, and sharpen with my prayer thy vital vigour.
6. Worthy of praises, many-shaped, most skilful, most energetic, Aptya of the Aptyas:
He with his might destroys the seven Danus, subduing many who were deemed his equals.
7. Thou in that house which thy protection guardeth bestowest wealth, the higher and the lower.
Thou stablishest the two much-wandering Mothers, and bringest many deeds to their completion.
8. Brhaddiva, the foremost of light-winners, repeats these holy prayers, this strength of Indra.
He rules the great self-luminous fold of cattle, and all the doors of light hath he thrown open.
9. Thus hath Brhaddiva, the great Atharvan, spoken to Indra as himself in person.
The spotless Sisters, they who are his Mothers, with power exalt him and impel him onward.
HYMN CXXI. Ka.
1. IN the beginning rose Hiranyagarbha, born Only Lord of all created beings.
He fixed and holdeth up this earth and heaven. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
2. Giver of vital breath, of power and vigour, he whose commandments all the Gods acknowledge -.
The Lord of death, whose shade is life immortal. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
3. Who by his grandeur hath become Sole Ruler of all the moving world that breathes and slumbers;
He who is Loord of men and Lord of cattle. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
4. His, through his might, are these snow-covered mountains, and men call sea and Rasa his possession:
His arms are these, his are these heavenly regions. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
5. By him the heavens are strong and earth is stedfast, by him light’s realm and sky-vault are supported:
By him the regions in mid-air were measured. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
6. To him, supported by his help, two armies embattled look while trembling in their spirit,
When over them the risen Sun is shining. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
7. What time the mighty waters came, containing the universal germ, producing Agni,
Thence sprang the Gods’ one spirit into being. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
8. He in his might surveyed the floods containing productive force and generating Worship.
He is the God of gods, and none beside him. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
9. Neer may he harm us who is earth’s Begetter, nor he whose laws are sure, the heavens’ Creator,
He who brought forth the great and lucid waters. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
10. Prajapati! thou only comprehendest all these created things, and none beside thee.
Grant us our hearts’ desire when we invoke thee: may we have store of riches in possession.
HYMN CXXII. Agni.
1. I PRAISE the God of wondrous might like Indra, the lovely pleasant Guest whom all must welcome.
May Agni, Priest and Master of the household, give hero strength and all-sustaining riches.
2. O Agni, graciously accept this song of mine, thou passing-wise who knowest every ordinance.
Enwrapped in holy oil further the course of prayer: the Gods bestow according to thy holy law.
3. Immortal, wandering round the seven stations, give, a liberal Giver, to the pious worshipper,
Wealth, Agni, with brave sons and ready for his use: welcome the man who comes with fuel unto thee.
4. The seven who bring oblations worship thee, the Strong, the first, the Great Chief Priest, Ensign of sacrifice,
The oil-anointed Bull, Agni who hears, who sends as God full hero strength to him who freely gives.
5. First messenger art thou, meet for election: drink thou thy fill invited to the Anirta,
The Maruts in the votary’s house adorned thee; with lauds the Bhrgus gave thee light and glory.
6. Milking the teeming Cow for all-sustaining food. O Wise One, for the worship-loving worshipper,
Thou, Agni, dropping oil, thrice lighting works of Law, showest thy wisdom circling home and sacrifice.
7. They who at flushing of this dawn appointed thee their messenger, these men have paid thee reverence.
Gods strengthened thee for work that must be glorified, Agni, while they made butter pure for sacrifice.
8. Arrangers in our synods, Agni, while they sang Vasisistha s sons have called thee down, the Potent One.
Maintain the growth of wealth with men who sacrifice. Ye Gods, preserve us with your blessings evermore.
HYMN CXXIII. Vena.
1. SEE, Vena, born in light, hath driven hither, on chariot of the air, the Calves of Prsni.
Singers with hymns caress him as an infant there where the waters and the sunlight mingle.
2. Vena draws up his wave from out the ocean. mist-born, the fair one’s back is made apparent,
Brightly he shone aloft on Order’s summit: the hosts sang glory to their common birthplace.
3. Full many, lowing to their joint-possession, dwelling together stood the Darling’s Mothers.
Ascending to the lofty height of Order, the bands of singers ‘sip the sweets of Amrta.
4. Knowing his form, the sages yearned to meet him: they have come nigh to hear the wild Bull’s bellow.
Performing sacrifice they reached the river: for the Gandharva found the immortal waters.
5. The Apsaras, the Lady, sweetly smiling, supports her Lover in sublimest heaven.
In his Friend’s dwelling as a Friend he wanders: he, Vena, rests him on his golden pinion.
6. They gaze on thee with longing in their spirit, as on a strong-winged bird that mounteth sky-ward;
On thee with wings of gold, Varuna’s envoy, the Bird that hasteneth to the home of Yama.
7. Erect, to heaven hath the Gandharva mounted, pointing at us his many-coloured weapons;
Clad in sweet raiment beautiful to look on, for he, as light, produceth forms that please us.
8. When as a spark he cometh near the ocean, still looking with a vulture’s eye to heaven,
His lustre, joying in its own bright splendour, maketh dear glories in the lowest region.
HYMN CXXIV. Agni, Etc.
1. COME to this sacrifice of ours, O Agni, threefold, with seven threads and five divisions.
Be our oblation-bearer and preceder: thou hast lain long enough in during darkness.
2. I come a God foreseeing from the godless to immortality by secret pathways,
While I, ungracious one, desert the gracious, leave mine own friends and seek the kin of strangers.
3. 1, looking to the guest of other lineage, have founded many a rule of Law and Order.
I bid farewell to the Great God, the Father, and, for neglect, obtain my share of worship.
4. I tarried many a year within this altar: I leave the Father, for my choice is Indra.
Away pass Agni, Varuna and Soma. Rule ever changes: this I come to favour.
5. These Asuras have lost their powers of magic. But thou, O Varuna, if thou dost love me,
O King, discerning truth and right from falsehood, come and be Lord and Ruler of my kingdom.
6. Here is the light of heaven, here allis lovely; here there is radiance, here is air’s wide region.
Let us two slaughter Vrtra. Forth, O Soma! Thou art oblation: we therewith will serve thee.
7. The Sage hath fixed his form by wisdom in the heavens: Varuna with no violence let the waters flow.
Like women-folk, the floods that bring prosperity have eau lit his hue and colour as they gleamed and shone.
8. These wait upon his loftiest power and vigour: he dwells in these who triumph in their Godhead;
And they, like people who elect their ruler, have in abhorrence turned away from Vrtra.
9. They call him Swan, the abhorrent floods’ Companion, moving in friendship with celestial Waters.
The poets in their thought have looked on Indra swiftly approaching when Anustup calls him.
