BOOK V
CHAPTER II
DECADE I. Indra
1. Giver from all sides, bring to us from every side, thou whom as strongest we entreat!
2. This Brahman, comer at due time, named Indra, is renowned and praised.
3. The Brahmans with their hymns exalting Indra increased his strength that he might slaughter Ahi.
4. Anavas wrought a chariot for thy courser, and Tvashtar, much-invoked! the bolt that gitters:
5. Rest, wealth to him who longs for wealth! the riteless stirs not his love nor wins his way to riches.
6. The cows are ever pure and all-supporting, the Gods are ever free from stain and blemish.
7. With all thy beauty come! The kine approaching with full udders follow on thy path.
8. May we, inhabiting a meath-rich dwelling, increase our wealth, and think of thee, O Indra!
9. The Maruts with fair hymns chant out their praise-song: this Indra, famed and youthful, shouts accordant.
10. Sing to your Indra, mightiest Vritra-slayer, sing to the Sage the song that he accepteth!
DECADE II Agni Indra
1. Observant Agni hath appeared, oblation-bearer with his car.
2. O Agni, be our nearest friend, yea, our protector and our kind deliverer!
3. Like wondrous Bhaga, Agni deals treasure among the mighty.
4. Far off or present even now, send forth thy shouting first of all!
5. Dawn drives away her sister’s gloom, and through her excellence makes her retrace her path.
6. May we, with Indra and the Gods to aid us, bring these existing worlds to full completion!
7. Like streams of water on their way, let bounties, Indra, flow from thee!
8. With this may we obtain strength god-appointed, happy with brave sons through a hundred winters!
9. With strength let Mitra, Varuna swell oblations; do thou prepare for us rich food, O Indra!
10. Indra is King of all the world.
DECADE III Indra and others
1. At the Trikadrukas the great and strong enjoyed the barley-brew. With Vishnu did he drink the pressed-out Soma juice, even as he would.
That hath so heightened him the great, the wide to do his mighty work. So did the God attend the God, true Indu Indra who is true.
2. This God who sees for thousands of mankind, the light, the thought of poets, and the Law,
The brilliant one, hath sent forth hither all the Dawns: spotless, one-minded, zealous in their home they dwell, with thought upon the Steer.
3. Come to us, Indra, from afar, conducting us, as, to the gatherings, a Lord of heroes, as an archer King, the heroes’ Lord!
We come with gifts of pleasant food, with flowing juice, invoking thee, as sons invite a sire, that we may win the spoil, thee, bounteousest, for gain of spoil.
4. Loudly I call that Indra Maghavan, the mighty, resistless, evermore possessing many glories.
Holy, most liberal, may he lead us on to riches, through songs, and, thunder-armed make all our pathways pleasant!
5. Heard be our prayer! In thought I honour Agni first: now straightway we elect this heavenly company, Indra and Vayu we elect.
For when our latest thought is raised and on Vivasvan centred well, then do our holy songs go forward on their way, our songs as ’twere unto the Gods.
6. To Vishnu, to the mighty whom the Maruts follow, let your hymns born in song go forth, Evayamarut!
To the strong, very holy band adorned with bracelets, that rushes on in joy and ever roars for vigour!
7. With this his golden splendour purifying him, be with his own allies subdues all enemies, as Sura with his own allies.
Cleansing himself with stream of juice he shines forth yellow-hued and red, when with the praisers he encompasses all, forms, with praisers having seven mouths.
8. I praise this God, parent of heaven and earth, exceeding wise, possessed of real energy, giver of treasure, thinker dear to all,
Whose splendour is sublime, whose light shone brilliant in, creation, who, wise and golden-handed, in his beauty mader the sky.
9. Agni I deem our Hotar-priest, munificent wealth-giver, Son of Strength, who, knoweth all that is, even as the Sage who, knoweth all.
Lord of fair rites, a God with form erected turning to the Gods, he, when the flame hath sprung forth from the holy oil, the offered fatness, longs for it as it glows bright.
10. This, Indra! dancer! was thy hero deed, thy first and ancient work, worthy to be told forth in heaven,
Even thine who furtheredst life with a God’s own power, freeing the floods. All that is godless may he conquer with his might, and, Lord of Hundred Powers, find for us strength and food!
DECADE IV Soma Pavamana
1. High is thy juice’s birth: though set it heaven, on earth it hath obtained dread sheltering power and great renown.
2. In sweetest and most gladdening stream flow pure, O Soma, on thy way, pressed out for Indra, for his drink!
3. Flow onward mighty with thy stream, inspiriting the Maruts’ Lord, winning all riches with thy power!
4. Flow onward with that juice of thine most excellent, that brings delight, slaying the wicked, dear to Gods!
5. Three several words are uttered: kine are lowing, cows who give the milk; the tawny-hued goes bellowing on.
6. For Indra girt by Maruts, flow, thou Indu, very rich in meath, to seat thee in the place of song!
7. Strong, mountain-born, the stalk hath been pressed in the streams for rapturous joy. Hawk-like he settles in his home.
8. Gold-hued! as one who giveth strength flow on for Gods to drink, a draught for Vayu and the Marut host!
9. Soma, the dweller on the hills, effused, hath flowed into the sieve. All-bounteous art thou in carouse.
10. The Sage of heaven whose heart is wise, when laid between both hands, with roars, gives us delightful powers of life.
DECADE V Soma Pavamana
1. The rapture-shedding Somas have flowed forth in our assembly, pressed to glorify our liberal lords.
2. The Somas, skilled in song, the waves, have led the water forward, like buffaloes speeding to the woods.
3. Indu flow on, a mighty juice; glorify us among the folk: drive all our enemies away!
4. For thou art strong by splendour: we, O Pavamana, call on thee, the brilliant looker on the light.
5. Indu, enlightener, dear, the thought of poets, hath flowed clearly, like a charioteer who starts the steed.
6. Through our desire of heroes, kine, and horses, potent Soma drops, brilliant and swift, have been effused.
God, working with mankind, flow on; to Indra go thy gladdening juice: to Vayu mount as Law commands!
From heaven hath Pavamana made, as ’twere, the marvellous thunder, and the lofty light of all mankind.
7. Pressed for the gladdening draught the drops flow forth abundantly with song, flow onward with the stream of meath.
8. Reposing on the river’s wave, the Sage hath widely flowed around, bearing the bard whom many love.