HYMN XXXIX. Agni.
1. THE glorious Agni have I praised, and worshipped with. the sacred food.
May Agni deck the Gods for us. Between both gathering-places he goes on his embassy, the Sage. May all the others die away.
2. Agni, burn down the word within their bodies through our newest speech,
All hatreds of the godless, all the wicked man’s malignities. Away let the destroyers go. May all the others die away.
3. Agni, I offer hymns to thee, like holy oil within thy moutlh.
Acknowledge them. among the Gods, for thou art the rmost excellent, the worshipper’s blissful messenger. Let all the others die away.
4. Agni bestows all vital power even as each man supplicates.
He brings the Vasus strengthening gifts, and grants deliglht, in rest and stir, for every calling on the Gods. Let all the others die away.
5. Agni hath made himself renowned by wonderful victorious act.
He is the Priest of all the tribes, chosen with sacrificial meeds. He urges Deities to receive. Let all the others die away.
6. Agni knows all that springs from Gods, he knows the mystery of men.
Giver of wealth is Agni, he uncloses both the doors to us when worshipped with our newest gift. Let all the others die away.
7. Agni inhabiteth with Gods and men who offer sacrifice.
He cherisheth with great delight much wisdom, as all things that be, God among Gods adorable. May all the others die away.
8. Agni who liveth in all streams, Lord of the Sevenfold Race of men,
Him dweller in three homes we seek, best slayer of the Dasytis for Mandhatar, first in sacrifice. Let all the others die away.
9. Agni the Wise inhabiteth three gathering-places, triply formed.
Decked as our envoy let the Sage bring hither and conciliate the Thrice Eleven Deities. Let all the others die away.
10. Our Agni, thou art first among the Gods, and first mid living men.
Thou only rulest over wealth. Round about thee, as natural dams, circumfluous the waters run. Let all the others die away.
HYMN XL. Indra-Agni.
1. INDRA and Agni, surely ye as Conquerors will give us wealth,
Whereby in fight we may o’ercome that which is strong and firmly fixed, as Agni burns the woods with wind. Let all the others die away.
2. We set no snares to tangle you; Indra we worship and adore, Hero of heroes mightiest.
Once may he come unto us with his Steed, come unto us to win us strength, and to complete the sacrifice.
3. For, famous Indra-Agni, ye are dwellers in the midst of frays.
Sages in wisdom, ye are knit to him who seeketh you as friends. Heroes, bestow on him his wish.
4. Nabhaka-like, with sacred song Indra’s and Agni’s praise I sing,
Theirs to whom all this world belongs, this heaven and this mighty earth which bear rich treasure in their lap.
5. To Indra and to Agni send your prayers, as was Nabhaka’s wont,-
Who oped with sideway opening the sea with its foundations seven-Indra all powerful in his might.
6. Tear thou asunder, as of old, like tangles of a creeping plant,
Demolish thou the Dasa’s might. May we with Indra’s help divide the treasure he hath gathered up.
7. What time with this same song these men call Indra-Agni sundry ways,
May we with our own heroes quell those who provoke us to the fight, and conquer those who strive with us.
8. The Two refulgent with their beams rise and come downward from the sky.
By Indra’s and by Agni’s hest, flowing away, the rivers, run which they released from their restraint.
9. O Indra, many are thine aids, many thy ways of guiding us,
Lord of the Bay Steeds, Hinva’s Son. To a Good Hero come our prayers, which soon shall have accomplishment.
10. Inspire him with your holy hymns, the Hero bright and glorious,
Him who with might demolisbeth even the brood of Susna, and winneth for us the heavenly streams.
11. Inspire him worshipped with fair rites, the glorious Hero truly brave.
He brake in pieces Susna’s brood who still expected not the stroke, and won for us the heavenly streams. Let all the others die away.
12. Thus have we sung anew to Indra-Agni, as sang our sires, Angirases, and Mandhatar.
Guard us with triple shelter and preserve us: may we be masters of a store of riches.
HYMN XLI. Varuna.
1. To make this Varuna come forth sing thou a song unto the band of Maruts wiser than thyself,-
This Varuna who guardeth well the thoughts of men like herds of kine.
Let all the others die away.
2. Him altogether praise I with the song and hymns our fathers sang, and with Nabhaka’s eulogies,-
Him dwelling at the rivers’ source, surrounded by his Sisters Seven.
3. The nights he hath encompassed, and stablished the morns with magic art visible over all is he.
His dear Ones, following his Law, have prospered the Three Dawns for him.
4. He, visible o’er all the earth, stablished the quarters of the sky:
He measured out the eastern place, that is the fold of Varuna: like a strong herdsman is the God.
5. He who supports the worlds of life, he who well knows the hidden names mysterious of the morning beams,
He cherishes much wisdom, Sage, as heaven brings forth each varied form.
6. In whom all wisdom centres, as the nave is set within the wheel.
Haste ye to honour Trita, as kine haste to gather in the fold, even as they muster steeds to yoke.
7. He wraps these regions as a robe; he contemplates the tribes of Gods and all the works of mortal men.
Before the home of Varuna all the Gods follow his decree.
8. He is an Ocean far-removed, yet through the heaven to him ascends the worship which these realms possess.
With his bright foot he overthrew their magic, and went up to heaven.
9. Ruler, whose bright far-seeing rays, pervading all three earths, have filled the three superior realms of heaven.
Firm is the seat of Varuna: over the Seven he rules as King.
10. Who, after his decree, o’erspread the Dark Ones with a robe of light;
Who measured out the ancient seat, who pillared both the worlds apart as the Unborn supported heaven. Let all the others die away.
HYMN XLII Varuna.
1. LORD of all wealth, the Asura propped the heavens, and measured out the broad earth’s wide expanses.
He, King supreme, approached all living creatures. All these are Varuna’s holy operations.
2. So humbly worship Varuna the Mighty revere the wise Guard of World Immortal.
May he vouchsafe us triply-barred protection. O Earth and Heaven, within your lap preserve us.
3. Sharpen this song of him who strives his utmost, sharpen, God Varuna, his strength and insight;
May we ascend the ship that bears us safely, whereby we may pass over all misfortune.
4. Asvins, with songs the singer stones have made you hasten hitherward,
Nasatyas, to the Soma-draught. Let all the others die away.
5. As the sage Atri with his hymns, O Asvins, called you eagerly,
Nasatyas, to the Soma-draught. Let all the others die away.
6. So have I called you to our aid, even as the wise have called of old,
Nasatyas, to the Soma-draught. Let all the others die away.
HYMN XLIII. Agni.
1. THESE songs of mine go forth as lauds of Agni, the disposing Sage,
Whose worshipper is ne’er o’erthrawn.
2. Wise Agni Jatavedas, I beget a song of praise for thee.
Who willingly receivest it.
3. Thy sharpened flames, O Agni, like the gleams of light that glitter through,
Devour the forests with their teeth.
4. Gold-coloured, bannered with the smoke, urged by the wind, aloft to heaven
Rise, lightly borne, the flames of fire.
5. These lightly kindled fiery flames are all around made visible,
Even as the glearaings of the Dawns.
6. As Jatavedas speeds along, the dust is black beneath his feet,
When Agni spreads upon the earth.
7. Making the plants his nourishment, Agni devours and wearies not,
Seeking the tender shrubs again.
8. Bending him down with all his tongues, he flickers with his fiery glow
Splendid is Agni in the woods.
9. Agni, thine home is in the floods: into the plants thou forcest way,
And as their Child art born anew.
10. Worshipped with offerings shines thy flame, O Agni, from the sacred oil,
With kisses on the ladle’s mouth.
11. Let us serve Agni with our hymns, Disposer, fed on ox and cow,
Who bears the Soma on his back.
12. Yea, thee, O Agni, do we seek with homage and with fuel, Priest
Whose wisdom is most excellent.
13. O worshipped with oblations, pure Agni, we call on thee as erst,
Did Bhrgu, Manus, Angiras.
14. For thou, O Agni, by the fire, Sage by the Sage, Good by the Good,
Friend by the Friend, art lighted up.
15. So wealth in thousands, food with store of heroes give thou to the sage,
O Agni, to the worshipper.
16. O Agni, Brother, made by strength, Lord of red steeds and brilliant sway,
Take pleasure in this laud of mine.
17. My praises, Agni, go to thee, as the cows seek the stall to meet,
The lowing calf that longs for milk.
18. Agni, best Angiras, to thee all people who have pleasant homes,
Apart, have turned as to their wish.
19. The sages skilled in holy song and thin. kers with their thoughts have urged
Agni to share the sacred feast.
20. So, Agni, unto thee the Priest, Invoker, strong in forays, pray
‘nose who spin out the sacrifice.
21. In many a place, the same in look art thou, a Prince o’er all the tribes
In battles we invoke thine aid.
22. Pray thou to Agni, pray to him who blazes served with sacred oil:
Let him give ear to this our call.
23. We call on thee as such, as one who hears, as Jatavedas, one,
Agni! who beats away our foes.
24. I pray to Agni, King of men, the Wonderful, the President
Of holy Laws: may he give ear.
25. Him like a bridegroom, him who stirs all people, like a noble horse,
Like a fleet steed, we instigate.
26. Slaying things deadly, burning up foes, Riksasas, on every side,
Shine, Agni, with thy sharpened flame.
27. Thou whom the people kindle even as Manus did, best Angiras!
O Agni, mark thou this my speech.
28. O Agni, made by strength! be thou born in the heavens or born in floods,
As such we call on thee with songs.
29. Yea, all the people, all the folk who have good dwellings, each apart,
Send food for thee to eat thereof.
30. O Agni, so may we, devout, gazed at by men, throughout our days,
Pass lightly over all distress.
31. We venerate with cheerful hearts the cheerful Agni, dear to all,
Burning, with purifying flame.
32. So thou, O Agni rich in light, beaming like Surya with thy rays
Boldly demolishest the gloom,
33. We pray to thee for this thy gift, Victor the gift that faileth not,
O Agni, choicest wealth from thee.
