BOOK III
CHAPTER I
I Soma Pavamana
1. Fleet as swift steeds thy cows celestial have been poured, O Pavamana, with the milk into the vat.
Sages who make thee bright, O friend whom Rishis love, have shed continuous streams from out the realm of air.
2. The beams of Pavamana, sent from earth and heaven his ensigns who is ever stedfast, travel round.
When on the sieve the golden-hued is cleansed he rests within the jars as one who seats him in his place.
3. O thou who seest all things, sovran as thou art and passing strong, thy rays encompass every form.
Pervading with thy natural powers thou flowest on, and as the whole world’s Lord, O Soma, thou art King.
II Soma Pavamana
1. From heaven hath Pavamana, made, as ’twere, the marvellous thunder, and
The lofty light of all mankind.
2. The gladdening and auspicious juice of thee, O Pavamana, King!
Flows o’cr the woollen straining-cloth.
3. Thy juice, O Pavamana, sends its rays abroad fixe splendid skill,
Like lustre, all heaven’s light, to see.
III Soma Pavamana
1. Impetuous, bright, have they come forth, unwearied in their speed, like bulls,
Driving the black skin far away.
2. May we attain the bridge of bliss, leaving the bridge of woe behind:
The riteless Dasa may we quell!
3. The mighty Pavamana’s roar is heard as ’twere the rush of rain
The lightning-Rashes move in heaven.
4. Indu, pour out abundant food with store of cattle and of gold,
Of heroes, Soma! and of steeds!
5. Flow onward, dear to all mankind fi full the mighty heaven and earth,
As Dawn, as Surya with his beams
6. On every side, O Soma, flow round us with thy protecting stream,
As Rasa flows around the world!
IV Soma Pavamana
1. Flow on, O thou of lofty thought, flow swift in thy beloved form,
Saying, I go where dwell the Gods.
2. Preparing what is unprepared, and bringing store of food to man,
Make thou the rain descend from heaven
3. Even here is he who, swift of course, hath with the river’s wave Rowed down.
From heaven upon the straining cloth.
4. With might. producing glare, the juice enters the purifying sieve,
Far-seeing, sending forth its light.
5. Inviting him from far away, and even from near at hand, the juice
For Indra is poured forth as meath.
6. In union they have sung the hymn: with stones they urge the golden-hued,
Indu for Indra, for his drink.
V Soma Pavamana
1. The glittering maids send Sdra forth, the glorious sisters, closeallied,
Send Indu forth, their mighty Lord.
2. Pervade, O Pavamana, all our treasures with repeated light,
Pressed out, O God thyself, for Gods!
3. Pour on us, Pavamana! rain, as service and fair praise for Gods:
Pour forth unceasingly for food!
VI Agni
1. The watchful guardian of the people hath been born, Agni, the very strong, for fresh prosperity.
With oil upon his face. with high heaven-touching flame, he shineth splendidly, pure, for the Bharatas.
2. O Agni, the Angirasas discovered thee what time thou layest hidden, fleeing back from wood to wood.
Thou by attrition art produced as conquering might, and men, O Angiras, call thee the Son of Strength.
3. The men enkindle Agni in his threefold seat, ensign of sacrifice, the earliest bousehold-priest.
With Indra and the Gods together on the grass let the wise priest sit to complete the sacrifice!
VII Mitra-Varuna
1. This Soma hath been pressed for you, Low-strengtheners, Mitra, Varuna!
List, list ye here to this may call!
2. Both Kings who never injure aught have come to their sublimest home,
The thousand-pillared, firmly based.
3. Worshipped with fat libation. Lords of gifts, Adityas, sovran Kings,
They wait on him whose life is true.
VIII Indra
1. Armed with the bones of dead Dadhyach, Indra with unresisted. might
The nine-and-ninety Vritras slew.
2. He, searching for the horse’s head that in the mountains lay concealed,
Found it in Saryandvdn lake.
3. Then straight they recognized the mystic name of the creative Steer.
There in the mansion of the Moon.
IX Indra Agni
I. As rain from out the cloud, for you, Indra and Agni, from my thought
This noblest praise hath been produced.
2. Indra and Agni, listen to the singer’s call: accept his songs.
Fulfil, ye mighty Lords, his prayers!
3. Give us not up to indigence, ye heroes, Indra, Agni, nor
To Slander and reproach of men!
X Soma Pavamana
1. Gold-Hued! as one who giveth strength flow on for Gods to drink, a draught
For Vayu and the Marut host!
2. The Steer shines brightly with the Gods, dear Sage in his appointed home.
Even Pavamana unbeguiled.
3. O Pavamana, sent by prayer, roaring about thy dwelling-place,
Ascend to Vayu as Law bids!
XI Soma Pavamana
1. O Soma, Indu, every day thy friendship hath been my delight.
Many fiends follow me; help me, thou tawny-hued: pass on beyond these barriers!
2. Close to thy bosom am I. Soma, day and night draining the milk, O golden hued.
Surya himself refulgent with his glow have we, as birds, o’ertaken in his course.
XII Soma Pavamana
1. Active, while being purified, he hath assailed all enemies: They deck the Sage with holy hymns.
2. The Red hath mounted to his shrine; strong Indra hath approached the juice:
In his firm dwelling let him rest!
3. O Indu, Soma, send us now great opulence from every side:
Pour on us treasures thousandfold!
XIII Indra
1. Drink Soma, Indra Lord of bays! and let it cheer thee: the stone, like a well-guided courser,
Directed by the presser’s arms bath pressed it.
2. So let the draught of joy, thy dear companion, by which, O Lord of bays, thou slayest Vritras,
Delight thee, Indra, Lord of princely treasuresl
3. Mark closely, Maghavan, the word I utter, this eulogy recited by Vasislitha:
Accept the prayers I offer at thy banquet!
XIV Indra
1. Heroes of one accord brought forth and formed for kingship
Indra who wins the victory in all encounters,
For power, in firmness, in the field, the great destroyer, fierce and exceeding strong, stalwart and full of vigour.
2. The holy sages form a ring, to view and sing unto the Ram.
Inciters, very brilliant, from all deceit, are with your chariters nigh to hear.
3. Bards joined in song to Indra so that he might drink the Soma juice.
The Lord of light, that he whose laws stand fast might aid with power and with the help he gives.
XV Indra
1. He who as sovran Lord of men moves with his chariots unrestrained,
The Vritra-slayer, conqueror of all fighting hosts, preeminents, is praised in song.
2. Honour that Indra, Puruhanman! for his aid, him in whose hand of old the fair
Sustaining bolt of thunder, mighty like the God, like Surya, was deposited!
XVI Soma Pavamana
1. The Sage of heaven whose heart is wise, when laid between both hands, with roars,
Gives us delightful powers of life.
2. He, the bright son, when born, illumed his parents who had sprung to life,
Great Son, great strengtheners of Law.
3. On, onward to a glorious home, free from all guile and dear to. men,
Flow with enjoyment to our praise!
XVII Soma Pavamana
1. For, verily, Pavamana, thou, divine! endued with brightest splendour, calling all
Creatures to immortality.
4. With whom Dadhyach Navagva opened fastened doors, by whom the sages gained their wish,
By whom they won the fame of lovely Amrita in the felicity of Gods.
XVIII Soma Pavamana
1. Soma, while filtered, with his wave flows through the long wool of the sheep,
Roaring, while purified, before the voice of song.
2. With prayers they cleanse the mighty steed, sporting in wood, above the fleece:
Our hymns, intoned, have praised him of the triple height.
3. He hath been hastened to the jars, bountiful, like an eager horse,
And, lifting up his voice, while filtered, glided on.
XIX Soma Pavamana
1. Father of holy hymns, Soma flows onward, the father of the earth, father of heaven.
Father of Agni, Surya’s generator, the father who begat Indra and Vishnu.
2. Brahman of Gods, the leader of the poets, Rishi of sages, chief of savage creatures,
Falcon amid the vultures, axe of forests, over the cleansing sieve goes Soma singing.
3. He, Soma Pavamana, like a river, hath stirred the wave of voice, our songs and praises
Beholding these inferior powers, the hero, well knowing, takes his stand among the cattle.
XX Agni
I. Hither, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who prospers you,
Most frequent at our solemn rites.
2. That through this famed one’s power he may stand by us, even as Tvasbtar comes
Unto the forms that must be shaped.
3. This Agni is the Lord supreme above all glories’ mid the Gods:
May he come nigh to us with strength.
XXI Indra
1. This poured libation, Indra drink, immortal, gladdening, excellent!
Streams of the bright have flowed to thee here at the seat of holy Law.
2. When, Indra, thou dost guide thy bays, there is no better charioteer:
None hath surpassed thee in thy might, none with good steeds o’ertaken thee.
3. Sing glory now to Indra, say to him your solemn eulogies!
The drops poured forth have made him glad: pay reverence to his noblest might!
XII Indra
1. Indra, be pleased: drive forward, hero, striker of thy bays!
Fair, like a sage, delighting in the meath, drink of the juice for rapturous joy.
2. O Indra, fill thy belly anew with meath that seems to flow from heaven.
The sweet-voiced raptures of this juice have come, as ’twere to heaven. to thee.
3. Indra, victorious, Mitra-like, smote, like a Yati, Vritra dead.
As Bhrigu quelled his foes, he cleft Vala in Soma’s rapturous joy.
