HYMN CLXXIX. Rati.
The deified object of this omitted hymn is said to be Rati or Love, and its Rsis or authors are Lopamudrd, Agastya, and a disciple. Lopamudra is represented as inviting the caresses of her aged husband Agastya, and complaining of his coldness and neglect. Agastya responds in stanza 3, and in the second half of stanza 4 the disciple or the poet briefly tells the result of the dialogue. Stanza 5 is supposed to be spoken by the disciple who has overheard the conversation, but its connexion with the rest of the hymn is not very apparent. In stanza 6 ‘toiling with strong endeavour’ is a paraphrase and not a translation of the original khanamanah khanitraib (ligonibus fodiens) which Sayana explains by ‘obtaining the desired result by means of lauds and sacrifices.’
M. Bergaigne is of opinion that the hymn has a mystical meaning, Agastya being identifiable with the celestial Soma whom Lopamudra, representing fervent Prayer, succeeds after long labour in drawing down from his secret dwelling place. See La Religion Vedique, ii. 394 f.
1 ‘Through many autumns have I toiled and laboured, at night and morn, through age-inducing dawnings.
Old age impairs the beauty of our bodies. Let husbands still come near unto their spouses.
2. For even the men aforetime, law-fulfillers, who with the Gods declared eternal statutes,–
They have decided, but have not accomplished: so now let Wives come near unto their husbands.
3. Non inutilis est labor cui Dii favent: nos omnes aemulos et aemulas vincamus.
Superemus in hac centum artium pugna in qua duas partes convenientes utrinque commovemus.
4. Cupido me cepit illius tauri [viri] qui me despicit, utrum hinc utrum illinc ab aliqua parte nata sit.
Lopamudra taururn [mariturn suum] ad se detrahit: insipiens illa sapientem anhelantern absorbet.
5. This Soma I address that is most near us, that which hath been imbibed within the spirit,
To pardon any sins we have committed. Verily mortal man is full of longings.
6. Agastya thus, toiling with strong endeavor, wishing for children, progeny and. power,
Cherished – a sage of mighty strength – both classes, and with the Gods obtained his prayer’s fulfilment.
By ‘both classes’ probably priests and princes, or institutors of sacrifices, are meant. M. Bergaigne understands the expression to mean the two forms or essences of Soma, the celestial and the terrestrial.
5. Membrum suum virile, quod vrotentum fuerat, mas ille retraxit. Rursus illud quod in juvenem filiam sublatum fuerat, non aggressurus, ad se rerahit.
6. Quum jam in medio connessu, semiperfecto opere, amorem in puellam pater impleverat, ambo discedentes seminis paulum in terrae superficiem sacrorum sede effusum emiserunt.
7. Quum pater suam nilam adiverat, cum ed congressus suum semen supra wrrarn effudit. Tum Dii benigni precem (brahma) prgeduerunt, et Vastoshpatim, legum sacrarum custodem, formaverunt.
8. Ille tauro similis spumam in certamine jactavit, tunc discedens pusillaximis huc profectus est. Quasi dextro pede claudus processit, “inutiles fuerunt illi mei complexus,” ita locutus.
9. ‘The fire, burning the people, does not approach quickly (by day): the naked (Rakasas approach) not Agni by night; the giver of fuel, and the giver of food, he, the upholder (of the rite), is born, overcoming enemies by his might.’
HYMN CLXXX. Asvins.
1. LIGHTLY your coursers travel through the regions when round thesea of air your car is flying.
Your golden fellies scatter drops of moisture: drinking the sweetness ye atend the Mornings.
2. Ye as ye travel overtake the Courser who flies apart, the Friend of man, most holy.
The prayer is that the Sister may convey you, all praised, meath-drinkers! to support and strengthen.
3. Ye have deposited, matured within her, in the raw cow the first milk of the milch-cow,
Which the bright offerer, shining like a serpent mid trees, presents to you whose form is perfect.
4. Ye made the fierce heat to be full of sweetness for Atri at his wish, like streaming water.
Fire-offering thence is yours, O Asvins, Heroes: your car-wheels speed to us like springs of honey.
5. Like Tugra’s ancient son may I, ye Mighty, bring you to give your gifts with milk-oblations.
Your greatness compasseth Earth, Heaven, and Waters: decayed for you is sorrow’s net, ye Holy.
6. When, Bounteous Ones, ye drive your yoked team downward, ye send, by your own natures, understanding.
Swift as the wind let the prince please and feast you: he, like a pious man, gains strength for increase.
7. For verily we truthful singers praise you the niggard trafficker is here excluded.
Now, even now do ye O blameless Advins, ye Mighty, guard the man whose God is near him.
8. You of a truth day after day, O Asvins, that he might win the very plenteous torrent,
Agastya, famous among mortal heroes, roused with a thousand lauds like sounds of music.
9. When with the glory of your car ye travel, when we go speeding like the priest of mortals,
And give good horses to sacrificers, may we, Nasatyas! gain our share of riches.
10. With songs of praise we call to-day, O Asvins, that your new chariot, for our own well-being,
That circles heaven with never-injured fellies. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXXXI. Asvins
1. WHAT, dearest Pair, is this in strength and riches that ye as Priests are bring from the waters?
This sacrifice is your glorification, ye who protect mankind and give them treasures.
2. May your pure steeds, rain-drinkers, bring you hither, swift as the tempest, your celestial coursers,
Rapid as thought, with fair backs, full of vigour, resplendent in their native light, O Asvins.
3. Your car is like a torrent rushing downward: may it come nigh, broad-seated, for our welfare,-
Car holy, strong, that ever would be foremost, thought-swift, which ye, for whom we long, have mounted.
4. Here sprung to life, they both have sung together, with bodies free from stain, with signs that mark them;
One of you Prince of Sacrifice, the Victor, the other counts as Heaven’s auspicious offspring.
5. May your car-seat, down-gliding, golden-coloured, according to your wish approach our dwellings.
Men shall feed full the bay steeds of the other, and, Asvins they with roars shall stir the regions.
6. Forth comes your strong Bull like a cloud of autumn, sending abundant food of liquid sweetness.
Let them feed with the other’s ways and vigour: the upper streams have come and do us service.
7. Your constant song hath been sent forth, Disposers! that flows threefold in mighty strength, O Asvins.
Thus lauded, give the suppliant protection moving or resting hear mine invocation.
8. This song of bright contents for you is swelling in the men’s hall where three-fold grass is.ready.
Your strong rain-cloud, ye Mighty Ones, hath swollen, honouring men as ’twere with milk’s outpouring.
9. The prudent worshipper, like Pusan, Asvins! praises you as he praises Dawn and Agni,
When, singing with devotion, he invokes you. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXXXII. Asvins.
1. THIS was the task. Appear promptly, ye prudent Ones. Here is the chariot drawn by strong steeds: be ye glad.
Heart-stirring, longed for, succourers of Vispala, here are Heaven’s Sons whose sway blesses the pious man.
2. Longed for, most Indra-like, mighty, most Marut-like, most w6nderful in deed, car-borne, best charioteers,
Bring your full chariot hither heaped with liquid sweet: thereon, ye Mvins, come to him who offers gifts.
3. What make ye there, ye Mighty? Wherefore linger ye with folk who, offering not, are held in high esteem?
Pass over them; make ye the niggard’s life decay: give light unto the singer eloquent in praise.
4. Crunch up on. every side the dogs who bark at us: slay ye our foes, O Asvins this ye understand.
Make wealthy every word of him who praises you: accept with favour, both Nasatyas, this my laud.
5. Ye made for Tugra’s son amid the water-floods that animated ship with wings to fly withal,
Whereon with God-devoted mind ye brought him forth, and fled with easy flight from out the mighty surge.
6. Four ships most welcome in the midst of ocean, urged by the Asvins, save the son of Tugra,
Him who was cast down headlong in the waters, plunged in the thick inevitable darkness.
7. What tree was that which stood fixed in surrounding sea to which the son of Tugra supplicating clung?
Like twigs, of which some winged creature may take hold, ye, Asvins, bore him off safely to your renown.
8. Welcome to you be this the hymn of praises uttered by Manas, O Nasatyas, Heroes,
From this our gathering where we offer Soma. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXXXIII. Asvins.
1. MAKE ready that which passes thought in swiftness, that hath three wheels and triple seat, ye Mighty,
Whereon ye seek the dwelling of the pious, whereon, threefold, ye fly like birds with pinions.
2. Light rolls your easy chariot faring earthward, what time, for food, ye, full of wisdom, mount it.
May this song, wondrous fair, attend your glory: ye, as ye travel, wait on Dawn Heaven’s Daughter.
3. Ascend your lightly rolling car, approaching the worshipper who turns him to his duties,-
Whereon ye come unto the house to quicken man and his offspring, O Nasatyas, Heroes.
4. Let not the wolf, let not the she-wolf harm you. Forsake me not, nor pass me by or others.
Here stands your share, here is your hymn, ye Mighty: yours are these vessels, full of pleasant juices.
5. Gotama, Purumilha, Atri bringing oblations all invoke you for protection.
Like one who goes strai ht to the point directed, ye Nasatyas, to mine invocation.
6. We have passed o’er the limit of this darkness: our praise hath been bestowed on you, O Asvins.
Come hitherward by paths which Gods have travelled. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
