HYMN LIV. Visvedevas.
1. To him adorable, mighty, meet for synods, this strengthening hymn, unceasing, have they offered.
May Agni hear us with his homely splendours, hear us, Eternal One, with heavenly lustre.
2. To mighty Heaven and Earth I sing forth loudly: my wish goes out desirous and well knowing
Both, at whose laud in synods, showing favour, the Gods rejoice them with the living mortal.
3. O Heaven and Earth, may your great law he faithful: he ye our leaders for our high advantage.
To Heaven and Earth I offer this my homage, with food, O Agni, as I pray for riches.
4. Yea, holy Heaven and Earth, the ancient sages whose word was ever true had power to find you;
And brave men in the fightwhere heroes conquer, O Earth, have known you well and paid you honour.
5. What pathway leadeth to the Gods? Who knoweth this of a truth, and who will now declare it?
Seen are their lowest dwelling-places only, but they are in remote and secret regions.
6. The Sage who looketh on mankind hath viewed them bedewed, rejoicing in the seat of Order.
They make a home as for a bird, though parted, with one same will finding themselves together.
7. Partners though parted, with far-distant limits, on one firm place both stand for ever watchful,
And, being young for evermore, as sisters, speak to each other names that are united.
8. All living things they part and keep asunder; though bearing up the mighty Gods they reel not.
One All is Lord of what is fixed and moving, that walks, that flies, this multiform creation.
9. Afar the Ancient from of old I ponder, our kinship with our mighty Sire and Father,-
Singing the praise whereof the Gods by custom stand on the spacious far-extended pathway.
10. This laud, O Heaven and Earth, to you I utter: let the kind-hearted hear, whose tongue is Agni,
Young, Sovran Rulers, Varuna and Mitra, the wise and very glorious Adityas.
11. The fair-tongued Savitar, the golden-handed, comes thrice from heaven as Lord in our assembly.
Bear to the Gods this song of praise, and send us, then, Savitar, complete and perfect safety.
12. Deft worker, skiful-handed, helpful, holy, may Tvastar, God, give us these things to aid us,
Take your delight, Ye Rbhus joined with Pusan: ye have prepared the rite with stones adjusted.
13. Borne on their flashing car, the spear-armed Maruts, the nimble Youths of Heaven, the Sons of Order,
The Holy, and Sarasvati, shall hear us: ye Mighty, give us wealth with noble offspring.
14. To Visnu rich in marvels, songs And praises shall go as singers on the road of Bhaga,-
The Chieftain of the Mighty Stride, whose Mothers, the many young Dames, never disregard him.
15. Indra, who rules through all his powers heroic, hath with his majesty filled earth and heaven.
Lord of brave hosts, Fort-crusher, Vrtra-slayer, gather thou up and bring us store of cattle.
16. My Sires are the Nasatyas, kind tokinsmen: the Asvins’ kinship is a glorious title.
For ye are they who give us store of riches: ye guard your gift uncheated by the bounteous.
17. This is, ye Wise, your great and glorious title, that all ye Deities abide in Indra.
Friend, Much-invoked! art thou with thy dear Rbhus: fashion ye this our hymn for our advantage.
18. Aryaman, Aditi deserve our worship: the laws of Varuna remain unbroken.
The lot of childlessness remove ye from us, and let our course be rich in kine and offspring.
19. May the Gods’ envoy, sent to many a quarter, proclaim us sinless for our perfect safety.
May Earth and Heaven, the Sun, the waters, hear us, and the wide firmament and constellations.
20. Hear us the mouatains which distil the rain-drops, and, resting firm, rejoice in freshening moisture.
May Aditi with the Adityas hear us, and Maruts grant us their auspicious shelter.
21. Soft be our path for ever, well-provisioned: with pleasant meath, O Gods, the herbs besprinkle.
Safe be my bliss, O Agni, in thy friendship: may I attain the seat of foodful. riches,
22. Enjoy the offering: beam thou strength upon us; combine thou for our good all kinds of glory.
Conquer in battle, Agni, all those foemen, and light us every day with loving kindness.
HYMN LV. Visvedevas.
1. AT the first shining of the earliest Mornings, in the Cow’s home was born the Great Eternal.
Now shall the statutes of the Gods be valid. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion –
2. Let not the Gods here injure us, O Agni, nor Fathers of old time who know the region,
Nor the sign set between two ancient dwellings. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
3. My wishes fly abroad to many places: I glance back to the ancient sacrifices.
Let us declare the truth when fire is kindled. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
4. King Universal, born to sundry quarters, extended through the wood be lies on couches.
One Mother rests: another feeds the Infant. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
5. Lodged in old plants, he grows again in younger, swiftly within the newly-born and tender.
Though they are unimpregned, he makes them fruitful. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
6. Now lying far away, Child of two Mothers, he wanders unrestrained, the single youngling.
These are the laws of Varuna and Mitra. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
7. Child of two Mothers, Priest, sole Lord in synods, he still precedes while resting as foundation.
They who speak sweetly bring him sweet addresses. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
8 As to a friendly warrior when he battles, each thing that comes anear is seen to meet him.
The hymn commingles with the cow’s oblation. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
9. Deep within these the hoary envoy pierceth; mighty, he goeth to the realm of splendour,
And looketh on us, clad in wondrous beauty. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
10 Visnu, the guardian, keeps the loftiest station, upholding dear, immortal dwelling-places.
Agni knows well all these created beings. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
11. Ye, variant Pair, have made yourselves twin beauties: one of the Twain is dark, bright shines the other;
And yet these two, the dark, the red, are Sisters. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
12. Where the two Cows, the Mother and the Daughter, meet and give suck yielding their lordly nectar,
I praise them at the seat of law eternal. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
13. Loud hath she lowed, licking the other’s youngling. On what world hath the Milch-cow laid her udder?
This Ila streameth with the milk of Order. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
14. Earth weareth beauties manifold: uplifted, licking her Calf of eighteen months, she standeth.
Well-skilled I seek the seat of law eternal. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
15. Within a wondrous place the Twain are treasured: the one is manifest, the other hidden.
One common pathway leads in two directions. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
16. Let the milch-kine that have no calves storm downward, yielding rich nectar, streaming, unexhausted,
These who are ever new and fresh and youthful. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
17. What time the Bull bellows in other regions, another herd receives the genial moisture;
For he is Bhaga, King, the earth’s Protector. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
18. Let us declare the Hero’s wealth in horses, O all ye folk: of this the Gods have knowledge.
Sixfold they bear him, or by fives are harnessed. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
19. Tvastar the God, the omniform. Creator, begets and feeds mankind in various manner.
His, verily, arc all these living creatures. Great is the Gods’ supreme dominion.
20. The two great meeting Bowls hath he united: each of the Pair is laden with histreasure.
The Hero is renowned for gathering riches. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
21. Yea, and on this our earth the All-Sustainer dwells like a King with noble friends about him.
In his protection heroes rest in safety. Great is the Cods’ supreme and sole dominion.
22. Rich in their gifts for thee are herbs and waters, and earth brings all her wealth for thee, O Indra.
May we as friends of thine share goodly treasures. Great is the Gods’ supreme and sole dominion.
HYMN LVI. Visvedevas.
1. NOT men of magic skill, not men of wisdom impair the Gods’ first steadfast ordinances.
Ne’er may the earth and heaven which know not malice, nor the fixed hills, be bowed by sage devices.
2. One, moving not away, supports six burthens: the Cows proceed to him the true, the Highest.
Near stand three Mighty Ones who travel swiftly: two are concealed from sight, one is apparent.
3. The Bull who wears all shapes, the triple-breasted, three-uddered, with a brood in many places,
Ruleth majestic with his triple aspect, the Bull, the Everlasting Ones’ impregner.
4. When nigh them, as their tracer he observed them: he called aloud the dear name of Adityas.
The Goddesses, the Waters, stayed to meet him: they who were wandering separate enclosed him.
5. Streams! the wise Gods have thrice three habitations. Child of three Mothers, he is Lord in synods.
Three are the holy Ladies of the Waters, thrice here from heaven supreme in our assembly.
6. Do thou, O Savitar, from heaven thrice hither, three times a day, send down thy blessings daily.
Send us, O Bhaga, triple wealth and treasure; cause the two worlds to prosper us, Preserver!
7. Savitar thrice from heaven pours down abundance, and the fair-handed Kings Varuna, Mitra;
And spacious Heaven and Earth, yea, and the Waters, solicit wealth that Savitar may send us.
8. Three are the bright realms, best, beyond attainment, and three, the Asura’s Heroes, rule as Sovrans,
Holy and vigorous, never to be injured. Thrice may the Gods from heaven attend our synod.
