HYMN VII. Maruts.
1. O MARUTS, when the sage hath poured the Trstup forth as food for you,
Ye shine amid the mountain-clouds.
2. When, Bright Ones, fain to show your might ye have determined on your course,
The mountain-clouds have bent them down.
3. Loud roaring with the winds the Sons of Prsni have upraised themselves:
They have poured out the streaming food.
4. The Maruts spread the mist abroad and make mountains rock and reel,
When with the winds they go their way
5. What time the rivers and the hills before your coming bowed them down,
So to sustain your mighty force.
6. We call on you for aid by night, on you for succour in the day,
On you while sacrifice proceeds.
7. These, verily, wondrous, red of hue, speed on their courses with a roar
Over the ridges of the sky.
8. With might they drop the loosened rein so that the Sun may run his course,
And spread themselves with beams of light.
9. Accept, ye Maruts, this my song, accept ye this mine hymn of praise,
Accept, Rbhuksans, this my call.
10. The dappled Cows have poured three lakes, meath for the Thunder-wielding God,
From the great cask, the watery cloud.
11. O Maruts, quickly come to us when, longing for felicity,
We call you hither from the sky.
12. For, Rudras and Rbhuksans, ye, Most Bountiful, are in the house,
Wise when the gladdening draught is drunk.
13. O Maruts, send us down from heaven riches distilling rapturous joy,
With plenteous food, sustaining all.
14. When, Bright Ones, hither from the hills ye have resolved to take your way,
Ye revel in the drops effused.
15. Man should solicit with his lauds happiness which belongs to them,
So great a band invincible.
16. They who like fiery sparks with showers of rain blow through the heaven and earth,
Milking the spring that never fails.
17. With chariots and tumultuous roar, with tempests and with hymns of praise
The Sons of Prsni hurry forth.
18. For wealth, we think of that whereby ye aided Yadu, Turvasa,
And KanVa who obtained the spoil.
19. May these our viands Bounteous Ones I that flow in streams like holy oil,
With Kanva’s hymns, increase your might.
20. Where, Bounteous Lords for whom the grass is trimmed, are ye rejoicing now?
What Brahman is adoring you?
21. Is it not there where ye of old, supplied with sacred grass, for lauds
Inspired the strong in sacrifice?
22. They brought together both the worlds, the mighty waters, and the Sun,
And, joint by joint, the thunderbolt.
23. They sundered Vrtra limb from limb and split the gloomy mountain-clouds,
Performing a heroic deed.
24. They reinforced the power and strength of Trita as he fought, and helped
Indra in battle with the foe.
25. They deck themselves for glory, bright, celestial, lightning in their hands,
And helms of gold upon their heads.
26. When eagerly ye from far away came to the cavern of the Bull,
He bellowed in his fear like Heaven.
27. Borne by your golden-footed steeds, O Gods, come hither to receive
The sacrifice we offer you.
28. When the red leader draws along their spotted deer yoked to the car.
The Bright Ones come, and shed the rain.
29. Susoma, Saryakiavan, and Arjika full of homes, have they.
These Heroes, sought with downward car.
30. When, Maruts, ye come to him, the singer who invokes you thus,
With favours to your suppliant?
31. What now? where have ye still a friend since ye left Indra all alone?
Who counteth on your friendship now?
32. The Kanvas sing forth Agni’s praise together with our Maruts’ who
Wield thunder and wear swords of gold.
33. Hither for new felicity may I attract the Impetuous Ones,
The Heroes with their wondrous strength
34. Before them sink the very hills deerning themseives abysses: yea,
Even the mountains bend them down.
35. Steeds flying on their tortuous path through mid-air carry them, and give
The man who lauds them strength and life.
36. Agni was born the first of all, like Surya lovely with his light:
With lustre these have spread abroad.
HYMN VIII. Asvins.
1. WITH all the succours that are yours, O Asvins, hither come to us:
Wonderful, borne on paths of gold, drink ye the meath with Soma juice.
2. Come now, ye Asvins, on your car decked with a sun-bright canopy,
Bountiful, with your golden forms, Sages with depth of intellect.
3. Come hither from the Nahusas, come, drawn by pure hymns, from mid-air.
O Asvins, drink the savoury juice shed in the Kanvas’ sacrifice.
4. Come to us hither from the heavens, come from mid-air, well-loved by us:
Here Kanva’s son hath pressed for you the pleasant meath of Soma juice.
5. Come, Asvins, to give car to us, to drink the Soma, Asvins, come.
Hail, Strengtheners of the praise-song speed onward, ye Heroes, with your thoughts.
6. As, Heroes, in the olden time the Rsis called you to their aid,
So now, O Asvins, come to us, come near to this mine eulogy.
7. Even from the luminous sphere of heaven come to us, ye who find the light,
Carers for Vatsa, through our prayers and lauds, O yewho hearour call.
8. Do others more than we adore the Asvins with their hymns of praise?
The Rsi Vatsa, Kanva’s son, hath magnified you with his songs.
9. The holy singer with his hymns hath called you, Asvins, hither-ward;
Best Vrtra-slayers, free from stain, as such bring us felicity.
10. What time, ye Lords of ample wealth, the Lady mounted on your car,
Then, O ye Asvins, ye attained all wishes that your hearts desired.
11. Come thence, O Asvins, on your car that hath a thousand ornaments:
Vatsa the sage, the sage’s son, hath sung a song of sweets to you.
12. Cheerers of many, rich in goods, discoverers of opulence,
The Asvins, Riders through the sky, have welcomed this my song of praise.
13. O Asvins, grant us all rich gifts wherewith no man mav interfere.
Make us observe the stated times: give us not over to reproach.
14. Whether, Nasatyas, ye be nigh, or whether ye be far away,
Come thence, O Asvins, on your car that hath a thousand ornaments.
15. Vatsa the Rsi with his songs, Nasatyas, hath exalted you:
Grant him rich food distilling oil, graced with a thousand ornaments.
16. Bestow on him, O Asvins, food that strengthens, and that drops with oil,
On him who praises you for bliss, and, Lords of bounty, prays for wealth.
17. Come to us, ye who slay the foe, Lords of rich treasure, to this hymn.
O Heroes, give us high renown and these good things of earth for help.
18. The Priyamedhas have invoked you with all succours that are yours,
You, Asvins, Lords of solemn rites, with calls entreating you to come.
19. Come to us, Asvins, ye Who bring felicity, auspicious Ones,
To Vatsa who with prayer and hymn, lovers of song, hath honoured you.
20. Aid us, O Heroes, for those hymns for which ye helped GoSarya erst,
Gave Vasa, Dasavraja aid, and Kanva and Medhatithi:
21. And favoured Trasadasyu, ye Heroes, in spoil-deciding fray:
For these, O Asvins, graciously assist us in acquiring strength.
22. O Asvins, may pure hymns of ours, and songs and praises, honour you:
Best slayers everywhere of foes, as such we fondly yearn for you.
23. Three places of the Asvins, erst concealed, are made apparent now.
Both Sages, with the flight of Law come hither unto those who live.
HYMN IX. Asvins.
1. To help and favour Vatsa now, O Asvins, come ye hitherward.
Bestow on him a dwelling spacious and secure, and keep malignities away.
2. All manliness that is in heaven, with the Five Tribes, or in mid-air,
Bestow, ye Asvins, upon us.
3. Remember Kanva first of all among the singers, Asvins, who
Have thought upon your wondrous deeds.
4. Asvins, for you with song of praise this hot oblation is effused,
This your sweet Soma juice, ye Lords of ample wealth, through which ye think upon the foe.
5. Whatever ye have done in floods, in the tree, Wonder-Workers, and in growing plants,
Therewith, O Asvins, succour me.
6. What force, Nasatyas, ye exert, whatever, Gods, ye tend and heal,
This your own Vatsa gains not by his hymns alone: ye visit him who offers gifts.
7. Now hath the Rsi splendidly thought out the Asvins’ hymn of praise.
Let the Atharvan pour the warm oblation forth, and Soma very rich in sweets.
8. Ye Asvins, now ascend your car that lightly rolls upon its way.
May these my praises make you speed hitherward like a cloud of heaven.
9. When, O Nasatyas, we this day make you speed hither with our hymns,
Or, Asvins, with our songs of praise, remember Kanya specially.
10. As erst Kaksivan and the Rsi Vyasva, as erst Dirghatamas invoked your presence,
Or, in the sacrificial chambers, Vainya Prthi, so be ye mindful of us here, O Asvins.
11. Come as home-guardians, saving us from foemen, guarding our living creatures and our bodies,
Come to the house to give us seed and offspring,
12. Whether with Indra ye be faring, Asvins, or resting in one dwelling-place with Vayu,
In concord with the Rbhus or Adityas, or standing still in Visnu’s striding-places.
13. When I, O Asvins, call on you to-day that I may gather strength,
Or as all-conquering might in war, be that the Asvins’ noblest grace.
14. Now come, ye Asvins, hitherward: here are oblations set for you;
These Soma-draughts to aid Yadu and
Turvasa, these offered you mid Kaniva’s Sons.
15. Whatever healing balm is yours, Nisatyas, near or far away,
Therewith, great Sages, grant a home to Vatsa and to Vimada.
16. Together with the Goddess, with the Asvins’ Speech have I awoke.
Thou, Goddess, hast disclosed the hymn, and holy gift from mortal men.
17. Awake the Asvins, Goddess Dawn! Up Mighty Lady of sweet strains!
Rise, straightway, priest of sacrifice! High glory to the gladdening draught!
18. Thou, Dawn, approaching with thy light shinest together with the Sun,
And to this man-protecting home the chariot ofthe Asvins comes.
19. When yellow stalks give forth the juice, as cows from udders pour their milk,
And voices sound the song of praise, the Asvins’ worshippers show first.
20. Forward for glory and for strength, protection that shall conquer men,
And power and skill, most sapient Ones!
21. When Asvins, worthy of our lauds, ye seat you in the father’s house.
With wisdom or the bliss ye bring.
HYMN X. Asvins.
1. WHETHER ye travel far away or dwell in yonder light of heaven,
Or in a mansion that is built above the sea, come thence, ye Asvins, hitherward.
2. Or if for Manu.ye prepared the sacrifice, remember also Kanva’s son.
I call Brhaspati, Indra, Visnu, all the gods, the Asvins borne by rapid steeds.
3. Those Asvins I invoke who work marvels, brought hither to receive,
With whom our friendship is most famed, and kinship passing that of Gods.
4. On whom the solemn rites depend, whose worshippers rise without the Sun:
These who foreknow the holy work of sacrifice, and by their Godhead drink the sweets of Soma juice.
5. Whether ye, Lords of ample wealth, now linger in the cast or west,
With Druhyu, or with Anu, Yadu, Turvaga, I call you hither; come to me.
6. Lords of great riches, whether through the firmament ye fly or speed through heaven and earth,
Or with your Godlike natures stand upon your cars, come thence, O Asvins, hitherward.
HYMN XI. Agni.
1. THOU Agni, God mid mortal men, art guard of sacred rites, thou art
To be adored at sacrifice.
2. O Mighty Agni, thou must be glorified at our festivals,
Bearing our offerings to the Gods.
3. O Jatavedas Agni, fight and drive our foes afar from us,
Themand their godless enmities.
4. Thou, Jatavedas, seekest not the worship of a hostile man,
However nigh itbe to thee.
5. We sages, mortals as we are, adore the mighty name oof thee,
Immortal Jatavedas’ name.
6. Sages, we call the Sage to help, mortals, we call the God to aid:
We call on Agni with our songs.
7. May Vatsa draw- thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling-place,
Agni, with song that yearns for thee.
8. Thou art the same in many a place: mid all the people thou art Lord.
In fray and fightt we call on thee.
9. When we are seeking strength we call Agni to help us in the strife,
The giver of rich gifts in war.
10. Ancient, adorablie at sacrifices, Priest from of old, meet for our praise, thou sittest.
Fill full and satisfy thy body, Agni, and win us happiness by offering worship.
