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BOOK THE THIRD.
SERVE Agni with the kindling-brand, with drops of butter
wake the Guest.
In him pay offerings to the Gods.
2 To Agni Jâtavedas, to the flame, the well-enkindled God,
Offer thick sacrificial oil.
3 Thee, such, O
Angiras, with brands and sacred oil we magnify,
O very brilliant,
Youthfullest.
4 Rich in oblations, dropping oil, to thee, sweet Agni, let
them go.
Accept with favour these my brands.
5 Earth! Ether! Sky!
Like heaven in plenty and like earth in compass! Upon thy
back, Earth, place of sacrificing to Gods, for gain of food
I lay food-eating
Agni.
6 This spotted Bull hath come and sat before the Mother and
before
The Father, mounting up to heaven.
p. 18
7 As expiration from his breath his radiance penetrates within:
The Bull shines out through all the sky.
8 He rules supreme through thirty realms. Song is bestowed
upon the Bird
Throughout the days at break of morn.
9 Agni is light, and light is
Agni. Hail!
Sûrya is light, and light is Sûrya. Hail!
Agni is
splendour, light is splendour. Hail!
Sûrya is splendour, light is
splendour. Hail!
Light is Sûrya, Sûrya is light. Hail!
10 Accordant with bright Savitar and Night with Indra at her
side,
May
Agni, being pleased, enjoy. All-hail!
11 Approaching sacrifice, may we pronounce a text to Agni
who
Heareth us even when afar.
12 Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth
is he:
He quickeneth the waters’ seed.
13 You two will I invoke, O
Indra-Agni, will please you both
together with oblation.
Givers, you twain, of vigorous strength and riches, you
twain do I invoke for gain of
vigour.
14 This is thine ordered place of birth whence, sprung to life,
thou shonest forth.
Knowing this,
Agni, rise thou up and cause our riches to
increase.
15 Here by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker,
best at worship, to be praised at rites,
Whom Apnavâna and the Bhrigus caused to shine,
bright-coloured
in the wood, spreading to every house.
p. 19
16 After his ancient splendour they, the bold, have drawn the
bright milk from
The Sage who wins a thousand gifts.
17 Thou,
Agni, art our bodies’ guard. Guard thou my body.
Giver of life art thou, O
Agni. Give me life.
Giver of splendour art thou, Agni. Give me splendour.
All that is wanting in my body,
Agni, supply for me.
18 Enkindled we enkindle thee through hundred winters, thee
the bright;
We healthy, thee who givest health; we strong, thee author
of our strength;
We, never injured,
Agni, thee uninjured injurer of foes.
O rich in shining lights, may I in safety rich the end of thee.
19 Thou hast attained, O
Agni, to the splendour of Sûrya, to
the eulogy of Rishis, and to the habitation which thou
lovest.
May I attain to lengthened life, to
splendour, to offspring
and abundant store of riches.
20 Ye are food, may I enjoy your food. Ye are might, may I
enjoy your might. Ye are energy, may I enjoy your
energy. Ye are abundant riches, may I enjoy your abundant
riches.
21 Sport, wealthy ones, in this abode, this fold, this spot, this
dwelling-place.
Remain just here, and go not hence.
22 Composed art thou of every form and
colour. With sap and.
ownership of kine approach me.
To thee, dispeller of the night, O
Agni, day by day with
prayer,
Bringing thee reverence, we come;
p. 20
23 Ruler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One,
Increasing in thine own abode.
24 Be to us easy of approach, even as a father to his son:
Agni, be with us for our weal.
25 O
Agni, be our nearest Friend; be thou a kind deliverer
and gracious Friend.
Excellent
Agni, come thou nigh to us, and give us wealth
most splendidly renowned.
26 To thee then, O most bright, O radiant God, we come with
prayer for happiness for our friends.
So hear us, listen to this call of ours, and keep us far from
every evil man.
27 O Ida, come, O
Aditi, come hither. Come hither, much-desired!
From you may I obtain my heart's desire.
28 O
Brahmanaspati, make him who presses Soma glorious,
Even Kakshîvân
Ausija.
29 The rich, the healer of disease, who findeth wealth, increaseth
store,
The prompt,—may he be with us still.
30 Let not the foeman's curse, let not a mortal's treachery fall
on us:
Preserve us,
Brahmanaspati!
31 Great, heavenly, unassailable, ours be the favour of the Three,
Aryaman,
Mitra, Varuna.
32 For over them, neither at home nor upon pathways perilous,
The evil-minded foe hath power.
33 For they, the Sons of
Aditi, bestow eternal light upon
A mortal man that he may live.
p. 21
34 Ne’er art thou fruitless, Indra, ne’er dost thou forsake thy
worshipper.
But now. O Liberal Lord, thy bounty as a God is ever poured
forth more and more.
35 May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the God:
So may he stimulate our prayers.
36 May thine inviolable car wherewith thou guardest worshippers
Come near to us from every side.
37 Earth! Ether! Sky! May I be rich in offspring, well-manned
with men and opulent with riches. Friendly to men!
do thou protect my offspring. Worthy of praise! do thou
protect my cattle.
O pointed One, protect the food that feeds me.
38 We have approached the Omniscient, best finder-out of
wealth for us. Splendour and strength bestow on us,
O
Agni, thou Imperial Lord.
39 Lord of the Home, this Agni Gârhapatya is best at finding
riches for our children.
Splendour and strength bestow on us, O
Agni, Master of the
Home.
40 Rich, furtherer of plenty is this Agni, Master-of the Herd.
Splendour and strength bestow on us, O
Agni, Master of
the Herd.
41 Fear not, nor tremble thou, O House. To thee who bearest
strength we come.
p. 22
I, bearing strength, intelligent and happy, come to thee,
House, rejoicing in my spirit.
42 The home on which the wanderer thinks, where cheerfulness
and joy abound
We call the Home to welcome us. May it know us who
know it well.
43 Here have the cows been called to us, the goats and sheep
have been called near,
And in our home we have addressed the meath that sweeteneth
our food.
I come to thee for safety and for quiet. May joy be ours,
felicity, and blessing.
44 We invocate the
Maruts, the voracious, eaters of their foes,
Delighting in their mess of meal.
45 We expiate by sacrifice each sinful act that we have done,
Whether in village or the wild, in company or corporeal
sense. Svâhâ!
46 Let us not here contend with Gods, O
Indra, for, Fierce
One! here is thine own sacred portion,
Thine, Mighty One, whose friends, the bounteous
Maruts,
his song who pours oblation, streamlike, honours.
47 The skilful workers have performed their work with voice
that gives delight.
Having performed the work for Gods, go, ye companions, to
your home.
48 O ever-moving Cleansing Bath, thou movest gliding on thy
way.
p. 23
With Gods may I wash out the sin that I have sinned
against the Gods, with men the sin against mankind.
Preserve me safe from injury, O God, from him who loudly
roars.
49 Full, fly away, O spoon, and filled completely fly thou back
to us.
O Satakratu, let us twain barter, like goods, our food and
strength.
50 Give me, I give thee gifts: bestow on me, and I bestow on
thee.
To me present thy merchandize, and I to thee will give my
wares.
51 Well have they eaten and regaled: the friends have risen
and passed away.
The sages, luminous in themselves, have praised thee with
their latest hymn.
Now, Indra, yoke thy two Bay Steeds.
52 Thee will we reverence, thee, O Lord of Bounty, who art
fair to see.
Thus praised, according to our wish come now with richly-laden
car. Now, Indra, yoke thy two Bay Steeds.
53 We call the spirit hither with a hero-celebrating strain,
Yea, with the Fathers’ holy hymns.
54 The spirit comes to us again for wisdom, energy, and life,
That we may long behold the Sun.
55 O Fathers, may the Heavenly Folk give us the spirit once
again,
That we may be with those who live.
p. 24
56 O Soma, with the spirit still within us, blest with progeny,
May we be busied in thy law.
57 O
Rudra, this is thine allotted portion. With Ambikâ thy
sister kindly take it. This,
Rudra, is thy share, the rat
thy victim.
58 We have contented Rudra, yea, put off Tryambaka the God,
That he may make us wealthier, may make us yet more
prosperous, may make us vigorous to act.
59 Thou art a healing medicine, a balm for cow and horse and
man, a happiness to ram and ewe.
60 Tryambaka we worship, sweet augmenter of prosperity.
As from its stem a cucumber, may I be freed from bonds of
death, not reft of immortality.
We worship him,
Tryambaka, the husband-finder, sweet to
smell.
As from its stem a cucumber, hence and not thence may I
be loosed.
61 This,
Rudra, is thy food: with this depart beyond the
Mûjavâns.
With bow unstrung, with
muffled staff, clothed in a garment
made of skin, gracious, not harming us, depart.
62 May Jamadagni's triple life, the triple life of
Kasyapa,
The triple life of Deities—may that same triple life be ours.
p. 25
63 Gracious, thy name; the thunder is thy father. Obeisance
be to thee: forbear to harm me.
I shave thee for long life, for food to feed thee, for progeny,
for riches in abundance, for noble children, for heroic
vigour.
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BOOK THE FOURTH.
p. 26
WE have reached this earth's place of sacrificing, the place
wherein all Deities delighted.
Crossing by
Rik, by Sâman, and by Yajus, may we rejoice
in food and growth of riches.
Gracious to me be these Celestial Waters!
Protect me, Plant. O Knife, forbear to harm him.
2 The Mother Floods shall make us bright and shining, cleansers
of holy oil, with oil shall cleanse us.
For, Goddesses, they bear off all defilement. I rise up
from them purified and brightened.
The form of Consecration and of Fervour art thou. I put
thee on, the kind and blissful, maintaining an agreeable
appearance.
3 The Great Ones’ milk art thou. Giver of splendour art
thou: bestow on me the gift of
splendour.
Pupil art thou of Vritra's eye. The giver of eyes art thou.
Give me the gift of vision.
4 Purify me the Lord of Thought! Purify me the Lord of
Speech! Purify me God Savitar with perfect strainer, with
the beams of Sûrya!
p. 27
Of thee, Lord of the Strainer! who art by the strainer
purified,
With what desire I purify myself, may I accomplish it.
5 We come to you for precious wealth, O Gods, as sacrifice
proceeds.
O Gods, we call on you to give blessings that wait on sacrifice.
6 Svâhâ! from mind the sacrifice. Svâhâ! from spacious
firmament.
Svâhâ! from Dyaus and Prithivî. Svâhâ! from Wind I
seize. Svâhâ!
7 To Resolution, Motive,
Agni, Svâhâ! All-hail to Wisdom,
and to Mind, and Agni!
All-hail to Consecration,
Fervour, Agni! Hail to Sarasvatî,
Pûshan, and Agni!
Ye vast, divine, all-beneficial Waters, ye Heaven and Earth
and spacious Air between them,
Let us adore Brihaspati with oblation. All-hail!
8 May every mortal man elect the friendship of the guiding
God.
Each one solicits him for wealth: let him seek fame to prosper
him.
9
Rik's, Sâman's counterparts are ye. I touch you. Protect
me till the sacrifice be ended.
Thou art a place of refuge. Give me refuge. Obeisance
unto thee! Forbear to harm me.
10 Strength of Angirases art thou. Wool-soft, bestow thou
strength on me.
Thou art the garment-knot of Soma. Vishnu's refuge art
thou, the Sacrificer's refuge.
p. 28
Thou art the womb of Indra. Make the crops produce
abundant grain.
Stand up erect, O Tree. Protect me from harm until this
sacrifice be ended.
11 Prepare ye vow-food. Agni is the Brahman, Agni is sacrifice,
the tree is holy.
For aid we meditate divine Intelligence, most merciful,
Free-giver, bringing worship May it guide us gently, as
we would.
Favour us Gods, mind-horn, endowed with mind and intellectual
might! All-hail to them! May they be our protectors.
12 Waters that we have drunk! become refreshing, become
auspicious draughts within our belly.
Free from all sin and malady and sickness, may they be
pleasant to our taste, divine Ones, immortal, strengtheners
of eternal Order.
13 This is thy sacrificial form.
Not offspring, waters I discharge. Freeing from sin and
consecrate by Svâhâ enter ye the earth. Be thou united
with the earth.
14 O
Agni, watch thou well. May we take joy in most refreshing
sleep.
Protect us with unceasing care. From slumber waken us
again.
p. 29
15 Thought hath returned to me, and life; my breath and
soul have come again.
Our bodies' guard, unscathed, Vaisvânara Agni preserve us
from misfortune and
dishonour.
16 Thou, Agni, art the guardian God of sacred vows among
mankind, thou meet for praise at holy rites.
Grant this much, Soma! bring yet more. God Savitar who
giveth wealth hath given treasure unto us.
17 This is thy form, O Bright One, this thy
lustre. Combine
with this thy form and go to splendour.
Impetuous art thou, upheld by mind, and Vishnu loveth
thee.
18 Moved by thine impulse who hast true impulsion, may I
obtain a prop to stay my body.
Pure art thou, glistering art thou, immortal, dear to all the
Gods.
19 Thought art thou, mind, intelligence, the Guerdon, royal,
worshipful, Aditi with a double head. Succeed for us in
going forth, succeed for us in thy return. May Mitra
bind thee by the foot. May Pûshan guard thy pathways
for Indra whose eye is over all.
p. 30
20 Thy mother give thee leave to go, thy father, thine own
brother, and thy friend of the same herd with thee!
Go thou, O Goddess, to the God. To Soma go for Indra's
sake.
May Rudra turn thee back. Return safely with Soma as
thy friend.
21 Thou art a Vasvî, thou art
Aditi, thou art an Âdityâ, thou
art a Rudrâ, thou art a Chandrâ.
Brihaspati vouchsafe thee rest and comfort! Rudra with
Vasus looks on thee with
favour.
22 On Aditi's head I sprinkle thee, on the earth's place of
sacrifice.
Footstep of Idâ art thou, filled with fatness. Hail!
Rejoice in us. Thy kinship is in us. In thee are riches.
Mine be riches! Let us not be deprived of abundant
riches.
Thine, thine are riches.
23 I with my thought have commerced with divine far-sighted
Dakshinâ.
Steal not my life. I will not
thine. May I, O Goddess, in
thy sight find for myself a hero son.
24 Tell Soma this for me: This is thy share allied with Gâyatrî.
For me say this to Soma: This is thine allotted Trishtup
share.
Tell Soma this for me: This is thy share allied with Jagatî.
Tell Soma this for me: Win thou sole lordship of the metres’
names.
Ours art thou: pure thy juice for draught. Let separators
pick thee out.
p. 31
25 I sing my song of praise to him, Savitar, God between the
Bowls, strong with the wisdom of the wise, of true impulsion,
wealth-giver, the well-beloved thoughtful Sage.
To him at whose impulsion shone aloft in heaven the splendid
light.
Most wise, the Golden-handed hath measured the sky with
skilled design.
For living creatures, thee. Let living creatures breathe
after thee. Breathe after living creatures.
26 Thee who art pure, with what is pure I purchase, the bright
with bright, immortal with immortal.
The Sacrificer keep thy cow. Let thy gold pieces be with us.
Fervour's form art thou, and Prajâpati's nature. With the
most noble animal art thou purchased. May I increase
with thousandfold abundance.
27 As friend, the giver of good friends, approach us!
Take thou thy seat on the right thigh of
Indra, yearning on
yearning, pleasing on the pleasing.
Anghâri, Svâna, Bhrâja, and Bambhâri, O
Hasta, and Suhasta
and Krisânu,
These are your prices for the Soma purchase. Keep them
securely, let them never fail you.
28 Keep me, O
Agni, from unrighteous conduct: make me a
sharer in the path of goodness.
p. 32
I, following Immortals, have arisen with longer life, with a
good life before me.
29 Now have we entered on the path that leads to bliss without
a foe,
The path whereon a man escapes all enemies and gathers
wealth.
30 The skin of Aditi art thou. Sit on the lap of
Aditi.
The Bull hath propped the sky and air's mid-region, the
compass of the broad earth hath he measured.
He, King Supreme, approached all living creatures. Truly
all these are Varuna's ordinances.
31 Over the woods the air hath he extended, put milk in kine
and vigorous speed in horses,
Set intellect in hearts and fire in houses, Sûrya in heaven
and Soma on the mountain.
32 Ascend the eye of Sûrya, mount the pupil set in Agni's eye
Where, radiant through the Wise One, thou speedest along
with dappled steeds.
33 Approach, ye oxen, fit to bear the yoke; be yoked without
a tear.
Slaying no man, urging the Brahman forward, go happily
to the Sacrificer's dwelling.
34 Lord of the World, thou art my gracious helper: move forward
on thy way to all the stations.
Let not opponents, let not robbers find thee, let not malignant
wolves await thy coming.
Fly thou away having become a falcon. Go to the dwelling
of the Sacrificer. That is the special place for us to rest in.
p. 33
35 Do homage unto Varuna's and Mitra's eye: offer this solemn
worship to the Mighty God,
Who seeth far away, the Ensign born of Gods. Sing praises
unto Sûrya, to the Son of Dyaus.
36 Thou art a prop for Varuna to rest on. Ye are the pins that
strengthen Varuna's pillar.
Thou art the lawful seat where Varuna sitteth. Sit on the
lawful seat where Varuna sitteth.
37 Such of thy glories as with poured oblations men honour,
may they all invest our worship.
Wealth-giver, furtherer with troops of heroes, sparing the
brave, come, Soma, to our houses.
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p. 34 BOOK THE FIFTH
BODY of Agni art thou. Thee for Vishnu. Body of Soma art
thou. Thee for Vishnu. Thou art the Guest's Reception.
Thee for Vishnu. Thee for the Soma-bringing Falcon.
Thee for Vishnu. Thee for the giver of abundance,
Agni.
Thee for Vishnu.
2 Birth-place art thou of Agni. Ye are sprinklers. Thou art
Urvasi. Thou art Âyu. Thou art Purûravas.
I rub and churn thee with Gâyatrî
metre. I rub and churn
thee with the Trishtup metre. I rub and churn thee with,
the Jagatî
metre.
3 Be ye for us one-minded, be one-thoughted, free from spot
and stain.
Harm not the sacrifice, harm not the sacrifice's lord. Be
kind to us this day, Omniscient Ones!
4 Preserver from the curse, Son of the Rishis, Agni is active
having entered
Agni.
Here for us kindly with fair worship offer oblation to the
Gods with care unceasing. Svâhâ!
5 For him who flies around and rushes onward I take thee,
for Tanûnapât the mighty, the very strong, of all-surpassing
vigour.
p. 35
Strength of the Gods, inviolate, inviolable still art thou, the
strength that turns the curse away, uncursed and never
to be cursed.
May I go straight to truth. Place me in comfort.
6 O
Agni, Guardian of the Vow, O Guardian of the Vow, in
thee
Whatever form there is of
thine, may that same form be
here on me: un thee be every form of mine.
O Lord of Vows, let our vows be united. May Dîkshâ's
Lord allow my Consecration, may holy Fervour's Lord
approve my
Fervour.
7 May every stalk of thine wax full and strengthen for Indra
Ekadhanavid, God Soma!
May Indra grow in strength for thee: for Indra mayest thou
grow strong.
Increase us friends with strength and mental
vigour. May
all prosperity be thine, God Soma. May I attain the
solemn Soma-pressing.
May longed-for wealth come forth for strength and fortune.
Let there be truth for those whose speech is truthful. To
Heaven and Earth be adoration offered.
8 That noblest body which is
thine, O Agni, laid in the lowest
deep, encased in iron, hath chased the awful word, the
word of terror. Svâhâ!
That noblest . . . . . . encased in silver, etc. Svâhâ
That noblest . . . . with gold around it, etc. Svâhâ!
p. 36
9 For me thou art the home of the afflicted. For me thou art
the gathering-place of riches. Protect me from the, woe
of destitution.
Protect me from the state of perturbation.
May Agni know thee, he whose name is
Nabhas. Go, Agni,
Angiras, with the name of Âyu.
Thou whom this earth
containeth, down I lay thee with each
inviolate holy name thou bearest.
Thou whom the second earth, etc. Thou whom the third
earth, etc.
Thee, further, for the Gods’ delight.
10 A foe-subduing lioness art thou: be fitted for the Gods.
A foe-subduing lioness art thou: be purified for Gods.
A foe-subduing lioness art thou: adorn thyself for Gods.
11 Indra's shout guard thee in the front with
Vasus. The Wise
One guard thee from the rear with Rudras. The Thought-swift
guard thee on the right with Fathers. The Omnific
guard thee, leftward, with Âdityas.
This heated water I eject and banish from the sacrifice.
12 Thou art a lioness. All-hail! Thou art a lioness winning
Âdityas. All-hail!
Thou art a lioness winning Brâhmans and Nobles. All-hail!
Thou art a lioness that wins fair offspring, win abundant
wealth. All-hail!
A lioness art thou. Bring the Gods hither for him who
offers sacrifice. All-hail!
To living creatures; thee.
p. 37
13 Firm art thou, steady thou the earth. Firm-seated art thou,
steady thou the air.
Movelessly set art thou, steady the sky. Agni's completion
art thou.
14 The priests of him the lofty Priest well-skilled in hymns
harness their spirits, yea harness their holy thoughts.
He only knowing works assigns their priestly tasks. Yea,
lofty is the praise of Savitar the God. All-hail!
15 Forth through This All strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he
planted, and the whole was gathered in his footstep's dust.
All-hail!
16 Rich in sweet food be ye, and rich in milch-kine, with fertile
pastures, fair to do men service.
Both these worlds, Vishnu, hast thou stayed asunder, and
firmly fixed the earth with pegs around it.
17 Heard by the Gods, ye twain, to Gods proclaim it.
Go eastward, O ye twain, proclaiming worship. Swerve ye
not: bear the sacrifice straight upward.
To your own cow-pen speak, ye godlike dwellings.
Speak not away my life, speak not away my children.
On the earth's summit here may ye be joyful.
p. 38
18 Now will I tell the mighty deeds of Vishnu, of him who
measured out the earthly regions.
Who propped the highest place of congregation, thrice setting
down his foot and widely striding.
For Vishnu thee.
19 Either from heaven or from the earth, O Vishnu, or, Vishnu,
from the vast wide air's mid-region,
Fill both thy hands full with abundant riches, and from the
right and from the left bestow them.
For Vishnu thee.
20 For this his mighty deed is Vishnu lauded, like some wild
beast, dread, prowling, mountain-roaming,
He within whose three wide-extended paces all living creatures
have their habitation,
21 Thou art the frontlet for the brow of Vishnu. Ye are the
corners of the mouth of Vishnu. Thou art the needle
for the work of Vishnu. Thou art the firmly-fastened knot
of Vishnu. To Vishnu thou
belongest. Thee for Vishnu.
22 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins
and with hands of Pûshan.
Thou art a woman. Here I cut the necks of Râkshasas away.
Mighty art thou, mighty the sound thou
makest. Utter thy
mighty-sounding voice to Indra:
23 Fiend-killing, charm-destroying voice of Vishnu.
Here I cast out that charm of magic power which stranger
or housemate for me hath buried.
p. 39
Here I cast out the charm of magic power buried for me
by equal or unequal.
Here I cast out the charm that hath been buried for me by
non-relation or relation.
I cast the charm of magic out.
24 Self-ruler art thou, conquering foes. Ruler for ever art
thou, killing enemies.
Men's ruler art thou, slaying fiends. All ruler, killing foes,
art thou.
25 I sprinkle you whom Vishnu owns, killers of fiends and evil
charms.
I buy down you whom Vishnu loves, killers of fiends and
wicked charms.
I scatter you whom Vishnu loves, killers of fiends and
wicked charms.
You two whom Vishnu loves, who kill fiends and ill charms
do I lay down.
You two whom Vishnu loves, who kill fiends and ill charms
I compass round.
To Vishnu thou
belongest. Ye are Vishnu's.
26 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of
Asvins,
with the hands of Peahen.
Thou art a woman. Here I cut the necks of Râkshasas away.
Barley art thou. Bar off from us our haters, bar our enemies.
Thee for heaven, thee for earth, thee for air's region.
Pure be the worlds, the Fathers’ dwelling-places. Thou art
the habitation of the Fathers.
p. 40
27 Prop heaven, fill full the air, on earth stand firmly. Dyutâna,
offspring of the
Maruts, plant thee!, Mitra and Varuna
with firm upholding.
I close thee in, thou winner of the Brahmans, winner of
Nobles and abundant riches.
Strengthen the Brahmans, strengthen thou the Nobler,
strengthen our vital power, strengthen our offspring.
28 Firm-set art thou. Firm be this Sacrificer within this home
with offspring and with cattle.
O Heaven and Earth, be ye filled full of fatness.
Indra's mat art thou, shelter of all people.
29 Lover of song, may these our songs encompass thee on every
side;
Strengthening thee of lengthened life, may they be dear
delights to thee
30 Thou art the needle for the work of
Indra. Thou art the
firmly fastened knot of Indra. Indra's art thou. Thou art
the Visvedevas’.
31 All-present art thou, carrying off. Oblation-bearing priest
art thou.
Thou art the Swift, the Very Wise. Tutha art thou, who
knoweth all.
32 Thou art the yearning one, the sage. Angnâri, Bambhâri
art thou.
p. 41
Aid-seeker art thou, worshipping. Cleanser art thou, the
cleansing-place. Krisânu, Sovran Lord, art thou.
Thou art the Pavamâna of the assembly. Thou art the
welkin ever moving forward. Swept clean art thou, preparer
of oblations. Thou art the seat of Law, heaven's light
and
lustre.
33 A sea art thou of all-embracing compass. Aja art thou, who
hath one foot to bear him. Thou art the Dragon of the
Depths of ocean. Speech art thou, thou the
Sadas, thou
art Indra's. Doors of the sacrifice, do not distress me!
Lord, Ruler of the pathways, lead me onward. In this God-reaching
path may I be happy.
34 Look ye upon me with the eye of
Mitra.
O Agnis, ye, receivers of oblations, are by a lauded name
lauded together. Protect me,
Agnis! with your glittering
army. Fill me with riches, Agnis! be my keepers. To
you be adoration. Do not harm me.
35 Thou art a light that wears all forms and figures, serving
the general host of Gods as Kindler.
p. 42
Thou, Soma, wilt withhold thy wide protection from body-wounding
hatreds shown by others. All-hail!
Let the Swift graciously enjoy the butter. All-hail!
36 By goodly paths lead us to riches,
Agni, thou God who
knowest every sacred duty.
Remove the sin that makes us stray and wander: most
ample adoration will we bring thee.
37 Wide room and comfort may this Agni give us, and go before
us cleaving down our foemen.
May he win booty in the fight for booty: May he quell foes
in his triumphant onset.
38 O Vishnu, stride thou widely forth, give ample room for our
abode.
Drink butter, homed in butter! Still speed on the sacrifice's
lord. All-hail!
39 To thee, God
Savitar, belongs this Soma. Guard him securely:
let not demons harm thee.
Now hast thou joined the Gods as God, God Soma: men
have I joined here through abundant riches.
All-hail! from Varuna's noose am I delivered.
40 O
Agni, Guardian of the Vow, O Guardian of the Vow, on
me whatever form of thine path been, may that same
form be upon thee. Whatever form of mine hath been on
thee, may that he here on me.
O Lord of Vows, our vows have been accomplished. Dîkshâ's
Lord hath approved my Consecration, and holy Fervour's
Lord allowed my
Fervour.
41 O Vishnu, stride thou widely forth, make ample room for
our abode.
Drink butter, homed in butter! Still speed on the sacrifice's
lord. All Hail!
p. 43
42 I have passed others, not approached to others. On the near
side of those that were more distant, and farther than
the nearer have I found thee.
So, for the worship of the Gods, with gladness we welcome
thee God, Sovran of the Forest! Let the Gods welcome
thee for the Gods’ service. For Vishnu thee. Plant, guard!!
Axe, do not harm it!
43 Graze not the sky. Harm not mid-air. Be in accordance with
the earth.
For this well-sharpened axe hath led thee forth to great
felicity.
Hence, with a hundred branches, God, Lord of the Forest,
grow thou up.
May we grow spreading with a hundred branches.
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p. 44 BOOK THE SIXTH.
BY impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan. Thou art a woman. Here
I cut the necks of Râkshasas away. Barley art thou.
Bar off from us our haters, bar our enemies.
Thee for heaven, thee for earth, thee for the welkin. Pure
be the worlds, the Fathers’ dwelling-places. Thou art the
habitation of the Fathers.
2 Thou art a leader, easy, to
Unnetars, of access. Know
this. It will stand upon thee.
Savitar, God, anoint thee with sweet butter. Thee for the
plants laden with goodly fruitage!
Thou with thy top hast touched the sky, hast with thy
middle filled the air, and steadied with thy base the earth.
3 Those seats of thine which we desire to visit, where there
are many-horned and nimble. oxen,
There, of a truth, was mightily imprinted the loftiest step
of widely-striding Vishnu.
I close thee in, the winner of the Brâhmans, winner of
Nobles and abundant riches.
Strengthen the Brâhmans, strengthen thou the Nobles,
strengthen our vital power, strengthen our offspring.
4 Look ye on Vishnu's works, whereby the Friend of
Indra,
close-allied,
Hath let his holy ways be seen.
p. 45
5 The princes evermore behold that loftiest place where
Vishnu is,
Laid as it were an eye in heaven.
6 Thou art invested. Heavenly hosts invest thee! Riches of
men invest this
Sacrificer!
Heaven's son art thou. This is thine earthly station. Thine
is the beast whose home is in the forest.
7 Encourager art thou. The hosts of heaven have come to
yearning Gods, the best conductors.
God
Tvashtar, make the wealth of cattle quiet. Delightful
to the taste be thine oblations.
8 Joy, wealthy ones!
Brihaspati, save our riches.
I bind thee with the noose of holy Order, thou offering to
the Gods. Bold be the Slayer.
9 By impulse of God Savitar I bind thee, with arms of Asvins
and with hands of Pûshan, thee welcome unto Agni and
to Soma.
Thee for the waters, thee for plants. Thy mother grant
thee permission, and thy father, brother born of one dam,
thy friend, thy herd-companion. I sprinkle thee welcome
to
Agni-Soma.
10 Drinker art thou of water. May the Waters, the Goddesses,
add sweetness to the oblation prepared for Gods, even
though already sweetened.
p. 46
Thy breath join wind, thy limbs those meet for worship, the
sacrifice's lord the boon he prays for.
11 Balmed, both of you, with butter, guard the cattle. Grant,
Rich! the Sacrificer's prayer. Approach thou.
Meeting with heavenly Wind, from air's mid-region. Be
thou united with this offering's body.
O Great One, lead the sacrifice's master on to a sacrifice of
loftier order. All-hail to Gods! To Gods All-hail!
12 Become no serpent, thou, become no viper. To thee,
O widely-spread, be adoration.
Advance, unhindered, on thy way. To rivers of butter
move along the paths of Order.
13 Bear the oblation to the Gods, ye Waters celestial and pure
and well-provided. May we become providers well-provided.
14 I cleanse thy voice, thy breath, thine eye, thine ear, thy
navel, and thy feet, thy sexual organ, and thy rump.
15 Let thy mind, voice, and breath increase in fulness, thine
eye be fuller, and thine ear grow stronger.
Whatever there is in thee sore or wounded, may that be
filled for thee, cleansed and united.
Blest be the days. Plant, guard! Axe, do not harm him.
16 Thou art the demons’ share. Expelled are demons. Here
I tread down; here I repel the demons; here lead the
demons into lowest darkness.
p. 47
Invest, ye two, the heaven and earth with fatness.
O Vâyu, eagerly enjoy the droppings. Let Agni eagerly
enjoy the butter. All-hail!
Go, both of you, by Svâhâ consecrated, to Ûrdhvanabhas,
offspring of the
Maruts.
17 Ye Waters, wash away this stain and whatsoever taint be here,
Each sinful act that I have done, and every harmless curse
of mine.
May Waters rid me of that guilt, and Pavamâna set me free.
18 Be they united, with the Mind thy mind, and with the Breath
thy breath.
Thou
quiverest. Let Agni make thee ready. Waters have
washed together all thy juices.
Thee for the Wind's rush, for the speed of Pûshan. From
heated vapour may it reel and totter,—the disconcerted
hatred of our foemen.
19 Ye drinkers-up of fatness, drink the fatness; drink up the
gravy, drinkers of the gravy! Thou art the oblation of the
air's mid-region. All-hail!
The regions, the fore-regions, the by-regions, the intermediate
and the upper regions,—to all the regions Hail!
20 In every limb is Indra's out-breath seated, in every limb is
Indra's in-breath settled.
God
Tvashtar, let thine ample forms be blended, that what
wears different shapes may be one-fashioned.
To please thee let thy friends, mother and father, joy over
thee as to the Gods thou
goest.
p. 48
21 Go to the sea. All-hail! Go to the air. All-hail! Go to God
Savitar. All hail!
Go thou to
Mitra-Varuna. All-hail! Go thou to Day and
Night. All-hail!
Go to the
Metres. till-hail! Go to Heaven and Earth. All-hail!
Go to the sacrifice. All-hail! Go to Soma. All-hail!
Go to the heavenly ether. All-hail! Go to Vaisvânara
Agni. All hail! Bestow upon me mind and heart.
Thy smoke mount to the sky, to heaven thy
lustre. Fill
thou the spacious earth full with thine ashes.
22 Harm not the Waters, do the Plants no damage. From every
place, King
Varuna, thence save us.
Their saying that we swear our oath by sacred cows, by
Varuna,
O
Varuna, save us therefrom.
To us let Waters and let Plants be friendly; to him who
hates us, whom we hate, unfriendly.
23 These waters teem with sacred food: rich in that food, one
longs for them.
Rich be the holy rite therein. In sacred food be Sûrya rich.
24 I set you down in Agni's seat whose home is indestructible.
Indra-and-Agni's share are ye, Mitra-and-Varuna's share are
ye.
The share of all the Gods are ye.
May waters gathered near the Sun, and those wherewith the
Sun is joined,
Speed on this sacred rite of ours.
23 Thee for the heart, thee for the mind, thee for the heaven,
thee for the Sun.
Bear up erect to heaven, to Gods, this rite these sacrificial
calls.
p. 49
26 Descend, O Soma, King, to all thy people. Down, unto thee,
go, one and all, thy people!
May Agni with his fuel hear my calling. Hear it the Waters
and the Bowls, Divine Ones! Hear, Stones, as knowing
sacrifice, my calling. May the God Savitar hear mine
invocation. All hail!
27 Waters Divine, your wave, the Waters’ offspring, fit for oblation,
potent, most delightful
Upon those Gods among the Gods bestow it, who drink the
pure, of whom ye are the portion. All-hail!
28 Drawing art thou: I draw thee up that Ocean ne’er may
waste or wane.
Let waters with the waters, and the plants commingle with
the plants.
29 That man is lord of endless strength whom thou protectest
in the fight,
Agni, or urgest to the fray.
30 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of
Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan.
Free with thy gifts art thou. Perform for Indra this deep,
most excellently ordered worship.
With the most noble bolt I pay the worship enriched with
strengthening food and milk and sweetness.
Ye are Nigrâbhyâ waters. heard by Deities: make me content.
p. 50
31 Content my mind, content my speech, content my breath,
content mine eye, content mine ear, content my soul, content
my progeny, content my herds, content the troops
of men about me: never may the bands of men about me
suffer thirst.
32 For Indra girt by Vasus and accompanied by
Rudras, thee.
For Indra with Âdityas, thee. For Indra foe-destroyer,
thee. Thee for the Soma-bringing Hawk. For plenty-giving
Agni, thee.
33 Soma, what light there is of thine in heaven, what on the
earth, what in mid-air's wide region,
Therewith give broad space to the Sacrificer for his enrichment:
Comfort thou the giver.
34 Auspicious are ye, conquerors of
Vritra, formed for bestowing
wealth, the Immortal's Consorts.
Lead to the Gods this sacrifice, Divine Ones! and at our invitation
drink of Soma.
35 Be not afraid; shake not with terror. Take thou strength.
Ye two Bowls, being firm, stay firm, and take ye strength.
Mishap—not Soma—hath been killed.
36 East, west, north, south, from every side to meet thee let
the regions run.
Fill him, O Mother, let the noble meet together.
37 Thou, verily, O Mightiest, as God shalt gladden mortal man.
O Bounteous Lord, there is no comforter but thou.
Indra,
I speak my words to thee.
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p. 51 BOOK THE SEVENTH.
FLOW for Vâchaspati, cleansed by hands from the two off-shoots
of the Bull.
Flow pure, a Deity thyself, for Deities whose share thou art.
2 Sweeten the freshening draughts we drink.
Soma, whatever name thou hast, unconquerable, giving life,
To that thy Soma, Soma! Hail!
3 Self-made art thou from all the Powers that are in heaven
and on the earth.
May the Mind win thee, thee, All-hail! for Sûrya, O thou
nobly-born.
Thee for the Deities who sip light-atoms.
Truly fulfilled, O Plant divine, be that for which I pray to
thee.
With ruin falling from above may So-and-So be smitten,
crash!
Thee for out-breathing, thee for breath diffused!
4 Taken upon a base art thou. Hold in, Rich Lord! be Soma's
guard.
Be thou protector of our wealth: win strengthening food by
sacrifice.
p. 52
5 The heaven and spacious earth I lay within thee, I lay within
thee middle air's wide region.
Accordant with the Gods lower and higher, Rich Lord, rejoice
thee in the Antaryâma.
O Self-made art thou . . . . . light-atoms (verse 3 repeated).
Thee for the upward breath.
7 O Vâyu, drinker of the pure, be near us: a thousand teams
are
thine, All-bounteous Giver.
To thee the rapture-giving juice is offered, whose first
draught, God, thou takest as thy portion.
8 These, Indra-Vâyu! have been shed; come for our offered
dainties’ sake:
The drops are yearning for you both.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Vâyu, Indra-Vâyu, thee.
This is thy home. Thee for the close-knit friends.
9 This Soma hath been shed for you, Law-strengtheners,
Mitra-Varuna!
Here listen ye to this my call.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Mitra thee, for
Varuna.
10 May we, possessing much, delight in riches, Gods in oblation,
and the kine in pasture;
And that
Milch-cow who shrinks not from the milking,
O Indra-Varuna, give to us daily.
This is thy home. Thee for the righteous Twain.
11 Distilling honey is your whip,
Asvins, and full of pleasantness:
Sprinkle therewith the sacrifice.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the
Asvins. This is
thy home. Thee for the Honey-lovers.
p. 53
12 Thou in the first old time, as all were wont, so now drawest
from him, light-finder, throned on sacred grass,
Preeminence and strength, from him turned hither, swift,
roaring, who winneth those whereby thou waxest strong.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for
Sanda.
This is thy home. Protect thou manly power.
Sanda hath been removed, may Deities who drink the pure
libation lead thee forward. Invincible art thou.
13 Well stored with heroes and begetting heroes, with growth
of wealth surround the
Sacrificer.
The Bright, conjoined with Heaven and with Earth, with
the brightly-shining one.
Expelled is
Sanda. Thou art Sukra's dwelling.
14 May we, O radiant Soma, be the keepers of thine uninjured
strength and growth of riches.
This is the first all-bounteous Consecration: he the first,
Varuna,
Mitra, and Agni.
15 He is the first Brihaspati, the Prudent. Offer ye juice with
Svâhâ! to that
Indra.
Content be priestly offices, those with good sacrifice of meath,
those that are pleased when they have gained fair offerings
with the solemn Hail!
The Kindler of the Fire hath sacrificed.
16 See, Vena, born in light hath driven hither on chariot of
the air the calves of
Prisni.
p. 54
Singers with hymns caress him as an infant there where the
waters and the sunlight mingle.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for
Marka.
17 To his oblation, swift as thought ye hurried and welcomed
eagerly the prayers he offered.
With arrows in his hand the Very Mighty forced from him
all obedience of a servant.
This is thy dwelling-place. Protect the people. Marka hath
been removed.
Gods, drinkers of the Man thin, lead thee forward! Invincible
art thou.
18 Well stored with people and begetting people, with growth
of wealth surround the
Sacrificer.
The Manthin joined with Heaven and Earth and with the
Manthin-shining one.
Expelled is
Marka. Thou art Manthin's dwelling.
19 O ye eleven Gods whose home is heaven, O ye eleven who
make earth your dwelling.
Ye who with might, eleven, live in waters, accept this sacrifice,
Ye Gods, with pleasure.
20 Taken upon a base art thou. Thou art Âgrayana, good first
libation.
Be thou the guard of sacrifice: protect the sacrifice's lord.
Vishnu with might protect thee. Guard thou Vishnu.
Guard on all sides the Soma sacrifices.
21 Soma flows pure, Soma flows pure for this Priesthood, for
the Nobility, pure for the worshipper who presses out
the juice, flows pure for food and energy, for waters and
for plants; flows pure for general prosperity. Thee for the
Universal Gods. This is thy home. Thee for the Universal
Gods.
p. 55
22 Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra Lord of the Brihat,
strong with vital
vigour, I take thee lover of the invocation.
Indra, what mighty vigour thou
possessest, for that do
I take thee, take thee for Vishnu
This is thy home. Thee for the recitations.
For the Gods take I thee, the Gods’ protector; yea, for the
sacrifice's life I take thee.
23 For Mitra-Varuna thee, the Gods protector, yea, for the
sacrifice's life I take thee.
For
Indra, thee, etc. For Indra-Agni, thee, etc. For Indra-
Varuna, thee, etc. For Indra-Brihaspati thee, etc. For
Indra-Vishnu thee, etc.
24 Him, messenger of earth and head of heaven, Agni
Vaisvânara,
born in holy Order,
The Sage, the King, the Guest of men, a vessel fit for their
mouths, the Gods have generated.
25 Taken upon a base art thou. Firm, firmly resting, the
firmest of the firm, the most securely grounded of those
who never have been shaken.
This is thy home. Thee for Vaisvânara.
I pour forth with firm mind, with voice, firm Soma. So
now may Indra verily make our people all of. One heart
and mind and free from foemen.
26 Whatever drop of thine leaps forth, whatever stalk from
the bowls’ lap, shaken by the press-stone,
From the Adhvaryu's hand or from the filter, that, consecrated
in my mind with Vashat I offer unto thee with
cry of Svâhâ!
Thou art the way by which the Gods ascended.
p. 56
27 Giver of splendour, grow thou pure for splendour for my
outward breath.
Giver of
splendour, grow thou pure for splendour for my
spreading breath.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my upward breath.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my power of speech.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my sense and will.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my hearing power.
Givers of splendor, grow ye pure for splendour for my
orbs of sight.
28 Giver of
splendour, grow thou pure for splendour for my
living self.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my energy.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my vital power.
Givers of
splendour, grow ye pure for splendour for all
sprung from me.
29 Who art thou? Which of all art thou? Whose art thou?
Who art thou by name?
Even thou on whose name we have meditated, then whom
we have delighted with our Soma.
30 Taken upon a base art thou. For Madhu thee: Taken
upon a base art thou. For Mâdhava thee.
Taken, etc. For Sukra thee. Taken, etc. For Suchi thee.
Taken, etc. For Nabhas thee. Taken, etc. For Nabhasya
thee. Taken, etc. For Food thee. Taken, etc. For
Energy thee. Taken, etc. For Sahas thee. Taken, etc.
For Sahasya thee. Taken, etc. For Tapas thee. Taken, etc.
For Tapasya thee. Taken, etc. For Amhasaspati thee.
p. 57
31 Moved, Indra-Agni, by our hymns, come to the juice, the
precious dew.
Drink ye thereof, impelled by song.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra-Agni thee. This
is thy dwelling. Thee for
Indra-Agni.
32 Hitherward! they who light the flame and straightway
strew the sacred grass,
Whose Friend is Indra ever young.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra-Agni thee. This
is thy dwelling. Thee for
Indra-Agni.
33 Ye Visvedevas who protect, reward, and cherish men, approach
Your worshipper's drink-offering.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Universal Gods.
This is thy home. Thee for the
Visvedevas.
34 O ye All-Gods, come hitherward: hear this my invocation
seat
Yourselves upon this sacred grass.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Universal Gods.
This is thy home. Thee for the
Visvedevas.
35 Here drink the Soma, Indra girt by Maruts! as thou didst
drink the juice beside Sâryâta.
Under thy guidance, in thy keeping, Hero! the singers serve,
skilled in fair sacrifices.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
This is thy home. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
36 The Bull whose strength hath waxed, whom Maruts follow,
free-giving
Indra, the Celestial Ruler,
Mighty, all-conquering, the victory-giver, him we invoke to
give us new protection.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
This is thy home. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Maruts’ energy.
p. 58
37 Indra, accordant with the banded Maruts, drink Soma,
Hero! as wise
Vritra-slayer.
Slay thou our foemen, drive away assailants, and make us
safe on every side from danger.
Taken, etc. For Indra girt by Maruts thee. This is thy
home. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
38 Drink, Indra
Marut-girt, as Bull, the Soma: for joy, for
rapture even as thou pleasest.
Pour down the wave of meath within thy belly thou art
the King of juices shed fortnightly.
Taken,
etc.......Maruts thee (as above).
39 Great, hero-like, controlling men is
Indra, unwasting in
his powers, doubled in vastness.
He, turned to us, hath grown to hero
vigour: broad, wide,
he hath been decked by those who serve him.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for
Mahendra.
This is thy dwelling-place. Thee for Mahendra.
40 Indra, great in his power and might, and like Parjanya rich
In rain,
Is magnified by Vatsa's lauds.
Taken, etc. (as in 39).
41 His bright rays bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth
all that lives,
Sûrya, that all may look on him. All-hail!
42 The brilliant presence of the Gods hath risen, the eye of
Mitra,
Varuna, and Agni.
Soul of all moving, soul of all that moves not, the Sun
hath filled the air and earth and heaven.
43 By goodly paths lead us to riches,
Agni, thou God who
knowest every sacred duty.
Remove the sin that makes us stray and wander: most
ample adoration will we bring thee.
44 Wide room and comfort may this Agni give us, and go
before us cleaving down our foemen.
p. 59
May he win booty in the fight for booty: may he quell
foes in his triumphant onset.
45 I through your beauty have attained to beauty. The Tutha,
the omniscient, allot you!
Go forth, bright-gifted! on the path of Order. Look thou
upon the heaven and air's mid-region. Unite thee with
the priests who keep the Sadas.
46 This day may it he mine to find a Brâhman sprung from a
lauded father and grandfather,
Offspring of Rishis and himself a Rishi, the fit recipient of
priestly guerdon.
Go to the Gods, bestowed by me, and enter into him who
gives.
47 To Agni, yea, to me let Varuna give thee. May I gain life
that shall endure for ever.
Be thou strong vital power to him who gives thee, and com-
fort unto me the gift's receiver.
To Rudra, yea, to me let Varuna........................for ever.
Be thou the breath of life to him who gives thee, and vigour
unto me the gift's receiver.
To me Brihaspati let Varuna........................for ever.
Be thou a covering skin to him who gives thee, and comfort
unto me the gift's receiver.
To Varna, yea, to me let Varuna........................for ever.
Be thou a steed to him who gives the guerdon, and vital
power to me the gift's receiver.
48 Who hath bestowed it? Upon whom bestowed it?
Desire bestowed it, for Desire he gave it. Desire is giver
and Desire receiver. This, O Desire, to thee is dedicated.
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p. 60 BOOK THE EIGHTH.
TAKEN upon a base art thou. Thee for the Âdityas.
Here, O Far-striding Vishnu, is thy Soma. Guard it from
injury. Let them not harm thee.
2 Ne’er art thou fruitless,
Indra; ne’er dost thou desert thy
worshipper.
But now, O Liberal Lord, thy bounty as a God is poured
forth ever more and more. Thee for the Âdityas.
3 Never art thou neglectful: thou guardest both races with
thy care.
The Soma feast, O Fourth Âditya, is thy strength. Amrit
is stablished in the heavens. Thee for the Âdityas.
4 The sacrifice obtains the Gods’ acceptance. Be graciously
inclined to us, Âdityas.
Hitherward let your favour be directed and be our best deliverer
from trouble. Thee for the Âdityas.
5 This is thy Soma draught, O bright Âditya: take delight
therein.
To this mine utterance, O ye men, give credence, what good
the man and wife obtain by praying:
A manly son is burn and gathers riches, and thrives for ever
sinless in the dwelling.
6 Fair wealth, O
Savitar, to-day, to-morrow, fair wealth produce
for us each day that passes.
May we, through this our song, be happy gainers, God! of
a fair and spacious habitation.
p. 61
7 Taken upon a base art thou.
Savitar's giver of delight art thou. Giver of joy art thou:
vouchsafe me joy.
Speed thou the sacrifice, speed thou the sacrifice's lord to
win his share. Thee for the God, for
Savitar.
8 Taken upon a base art thou.
Thou art a good protector, firmly
stablished. To the Great
Bull be reverential homage. Thee for the Visvedevas.
This is thy home: Thee for the
Visvedevas.
9 Taken upon a base art thou.
May it be mine to prosper the libations of thee Brihaspati's
son, O radiant Soma, of thee, strong
Indu, mated with
thy Consorts.
I am in heaven above, on earth beneath it. The intermediate
region was my father.
I saw the Sun both from above and under. I am what Gods
in secret hold the highest.
10
Agni, associate with the Dames, accordant with the God
Tvashtar, drink. All-hail!
Thou art Prajâpati, strong male,
impregner: may I obtain
from thee, strong male, impregner, a son who shall himself
become a father.
11 Taken upon a base art thou.
Thou art
bay-coloured, Yoker of Bay Coursers. Thee for
the pair of tawny-coloured horses.
United with the Soma, ye, for
Indra, are corn for his two
tawny steeds to feed on.
12 That draught of thine which winneth cows or horses, offered
with sacrificial text and lauded
p. 62
With chanted hymns and songs of adoration—of that permitted
do I take permitted.
13 Of sin against the Gods thou art atonement. Of sin against
mankind thou art atonement.
For sin against the Fathers thou
atonest. Of sin against
oneself thou art atonement.
Of every sort of sin thou art atonement. The sin that I
have knowingly committed, the sin that unawares I have
committed, of all that wickedness thou art the atonement.
14 We with our bodies have again united, with
lustre, vital sap,
and happy spirit.
Giver of boons, may Tvashtar grant us riches and smooth
whate’er was injured in our body.
15 Lead us with thought to wealth in
kine, O Indra, to princes,
Lord of Bounty! and to welfare.
Lead thou us on to God-inspired devotion, to favour of the
Gods who merit worship. All-hail!
16 Verse 14 repeated.
17 May this please Savitar and liberal Dhâtar, Prajâpati the
Treasure-Guard, bright
Agni,
Tvashtar, and Vishnu: blessing him with children, grant
store of riches to the
Sacrificer.
18 Gods, we have made your seats easy of access, who, pleased
with us, have come to this libation.
Bearing and bringing hitherward your treasures, grant to
this man, good Lords, abundant riches. All-hail!
19 The willing Gods whom, God, thou hast brought hither, send
them to their own dwelling-place, O
Agni.
As all of you have eaten and have drunken, approach the
air, the heat, the light of heaven.
p. 63
20 Here, Agni, as this sacrifice proceedeth, have we elected thee
to be our
Hotar.
Special have been thine offerings and thy labour. Well
knowing sacrifice, as sage, come near us.
21 Do ye, O Gods, discoverers of the Pathway, go forward on
the path when ye have found it.
O God, thou Lord and Master of the Spirit, bestow—
All-hail!—this sacrifice on Vâta.
22 Go, Sacrifice, to the sacrifice: seek thou the sacrifice's lord,
seek thine own home. All-hail!
Lord of the sacrifice, this is thy sacrifice, followed by many
heroes, loud with hymns of praise. Accept it thou.
All-hail!
23 Become no serpent thou, become no viper.
King Vat-tins hath made a spacious pathway, a pathway for
the Sun wherein to travel.
Where no way was he made him set his footstep, and warned
afar whate’er afflicts the spirit.
To Varuna be reverential homage! Varuna's noose beneath
our feet is trampled.
24 The waters, face of
Agni, have I entered, O Waters’ Child,
repelling evil spirits.
Offer the fuel in each home, O
Agni. Let thy tongue dart
—All-hail!—to meet the butter.
25 Thy heart is in the flood, within the waters. With thee let
plants and waters be commingled,
That, Lard of Sacrifice, we may adore thee with singing
praise and telling forth our homage. All-hail!
26 This, O celestial Waters, is your offspring. Support him
dearly loved and gently nurtured.
p. 64
This is thy station, O celestial Soma; therein bring happiness
and ward off evil.
17 O restless Purifying Bath, thou glidest onward restlessly.
May I with aid of Gods remove the stain of sin against the
Gods, and wash away with mortals’ help the wrong that
hath been done to men. Preserve me, God, from injury,
from the loud-roaring demon foe. Thou art the fuel of
the Gods.
28 Let, still unborn, the ten-month calf move with the following
after-birth.
Even as the-wind is moving, as the gathered flood of ocean
moves,
So may this ten-month calf come forth together with the
after-birth.
29 O thou who hast a womb of gold and offspring meet for
sacrifice,
Him with all limbs unbroken have I brought together with
his dam. All-hail!
30 Multiform, rich in wondrous operation, the strong juice
hath enrobed itself with greatness.
Let the worlds praise her uniped and biped, three-footed
and four-footed and eight-footed. All-hail!
31 Verily, best of guardians hath he in whose dwelling-place
ye drink,
O Maruts, giants of the sky.
32 May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, besprinkle this
our sacrifice,
And feed us full with nourishments.
p. 65
33 Slayer of Vritra, mount thy car: thy Bay Steeds have been
yoked by prayer.
May, with its voice, the pressing-stone draw thine attention
hither ward.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra thee, for Shodasî.
This is a dwelling-place for thee. For Indra thee, for
Shodasî.
34 Harness thy pair of strong Bay Steeds,
long-maned, whose
bodies fill the girths,
And, Indra, Soma-drinker, come to listen to our songs of
praise.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 33.
35 His pair of tawny Coursers bring Indra of unresisted might
Hither to Rishis’ songs of praise and sacrifice performed by
men.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 33.
36 Than whom there is none other born more mighty, who
hath pervaded all existing creatures—
Prajâpati, rejoicing in his offspring, he, Shodasî, maintains
the three great
lustres.
37 Indra chief Lord and Varuna the Sovran have made this
draught of thine the first and foremost.
I, after, drink their draught. May she, the Goddess of
Speech, rejoicing, sate herself with Soma—All-hail!—with
Prâna as her feast-companion.
38 Skilled in thy task, O
Agni, pour lustre and hero strength
on us,
Granting me wealth and affluence.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Agni thee, for splendour
This is thy home. For Agni thee, for
splendour.
Thou, lustrous Agni, mid the Gods art splendid. May I
among mankind be bright with
lustre.
p. 66
39 Arising in thy might thy jaws thou shookest, Indra, having
drunk
The Soma which the mortar pressed.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra thee, for mighty
strength.
This is thy home. For Indra thee, for might.
Among the Gods thou art the mightiest,
Indra. Among
mankind I fain would be most mighty.
40 His herald rays are seen afar refulgent o’er the world of
men,
Like flames of fire that burn and blaze.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Sûrya, for the Bright One,
thee.
This is thy home. For Sûrya, for the Bright One, thee.
Thou among Gods art brightest, brightest Sûrya. Among
mankind I fain would be the brightest.
41 His herald rays bear him aloft, the God who knoweth all
that lives, Sûrya, that all may look at him.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 40.
42 Smell thou the vat. Let Soma drops pass into thee, O
Mighty One.
Return again with store of sap. Pour for us wealth in thou-
sands thou with full broad streams and floods of milk. A
Let riches come again to me.
43 Idâ, delightful, worshipful, loveable, splendid, shining One,
Inviolable, full of sap, the Mighty One, most glorious,
These are thy names, O Cow: tell thou the Gods that I act
righteously.
p. 67
44 O Indra, beat our foes away, humble the men who challenge us:
Send down to nether darkness him who seeks to do us injury.
Taken upon a base art thou. For
Indra, foe-dispeller, thee.
This is thy home. For Indra, foe-dispeller, thee.
45 Let us invoke to-day, to aid our
labour, the Lord of Speech,
the thought-swift Visvakarman.
May he hear kindly all our invocations, who gives all bliss
for aid, whose works are righteous.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra Visvakarman thee.
This is thy home. For Indra Visvakarman thee.
46 With strengthening libation,
Visvakarman, thou madest
Indra an undying guardian.
The people of old time bowed down before him because the
Mighty One was meet for worship.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 45.
47 Taken upon a base art thou.
I take thee lord of Gâyatrî for
Agni. For Indra take I thee
the lord of Trishtup.
I lake thee lord of Jagatî for All-Gods. Anushtup is the
song that sings thy praises.
48 I stir thee for the fall of cloud-borne waters. I stir thee for
the fall of streams that gurgle. I stir thee for the fall of
those that gladden. I stir thee for their fall who are most
lovely. I stir thee for their fall that are the sweetest. I
stir thee for the waters’ fall, I stir thee, pure one, in the
pure, in the day's form, in Sûrya's beams.
49 The Bull's majestic form is shining brightly, the pure the
pure's
preceder, Soma Soma's.
Whatever name invincible, stimulating, is thine, O Soma,
for that name I take thee.
All-hail to Soma, unto thee, O Soma.
p. 68
50 O radiant Soma, eagerly draw nigh to Agni's well-loved food.
O radiant Soma, willingly go to the food that Indra loves.
Go, radiant Soma, as our friend, to the All-Gods’ beloved food.
51 Here is delight: enjoy yourselves; here surety, surety of
your own. All-hail!
Loosing the suckling to his dam, the suckling as he milks
his dam
May he maintain the growth of wealth among us. All-hail!
52 Thou art the Session's happy termination.
We have attained the light and grown immortal.
We have gone up from earth to sky, have found the Gods
and heaven and light.
53 Indra and
Parvata, our champions in the fight, drive ye away
the man who fain would war with us, drive him far from
us with the bolt.
Welcome to him concealed afar shall be the lair that he
hath found.
So may the Render rend our foes on every side, rend them.
O Hero, everywhere.
Earth! Ether! Sky! May we be rich in offspring, rich in
brave sons and rich in food to feed us.
54 Parameshthin when contemplated. Prajâpati in uttered
speech.
Food when approached. Savitar in the partition. Visvakarman
in Consecration. Pûshan in the Soma-purchasing
cow.
p. 69
55 As Indra and the Maruts he is stationed ready for the sale:
Asura, being bought and sold. Mitra when purchased;
Vishnu Sipivishta when on the Sacrificer's thigh he
resteth;
Vishnu Naraudhisha brought on the barrow;
56 Soma when come: when seated on the platform,
Varuna;
Agni in the sacred fire-place;
Indra upon the sacrificial barrow; Atharvan when deposited
for pounding;
57 All-Gods when offered in the scattered fragments; Vishnu,
the guard of those who soothe his anger, when he is filled
and swelling in the waters; Yama in pressing; Vishnu
in collection;
Vâyu what time they cleanse and purify him; the Bright
when cleansed; the Bright with milk about him; Manthin
commingled with the meal of barley;
58 All-Gods when he is drawn away in beakers; Life when
uplifted for the fire-oblation; Rudra when offered; Vâta
when reverted; Man-viewer when beheld; drink when
they drink him; deposited, the Nârâsamsa Fathers;
59 Sindhu when ready for the bath that cleanses the sea
when he is carried to the waters; Water is he when he is
plunged beneath it.
To those most mighty hath it gone, most manly in
vigour,
by whose strength the worlds were stablished,
Who rule as Lords resistless in their grandeur, Vishnu and
Varuna, at the prayer of morning.
p. 70
60 To Gods, to sky the sacrifice hath gone: come riches thence
to me!
To men, to air the sacrifice hath gone: come riches thence
to me!
To Fathers, earth, the sacrifice hath gone: come riches
thence to me!
Whatever sphere the sacrifice hath reached, may wealth
come thence to me
61 The threads that have been spun, the four-and-thirty, which
stablish this our sacrifice with Svadhâ,
Of these I join together what is broken. All-hail! to Gods
go the warm milk oblation!
62 Spread far and wide is sacrifice's milking: eightfold along
the heaven hath it extended.
Pour, Sacrifice! in plenty on mine offspring: may I obtain
prosperity for ever. All-hail!
63 Soma, send wealth in gold and steeds and heroes. All-hail!
bring hitherward booty in cattle.
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p. 71 BOOK THE NINTH.
OUR sacrifice, God Savitar, speed onward: speed to his share
the sacrifice's patron.
May the celestial Gandharva, cleanser of thought and will,
make clean our thought and purpose: the Lord of Speech
sweeten the food we offer.
2 Thee, firmly set, settled in man, in spirit.
Taken upon a base art thou. I take thee, draught acceptable
to Indra. This is thy home. Thee, welcomest to Indra.
Thee Set in waters, butter, realm of ether. Taken upon
......Indra.
Thee seated in the sky, earth, air's mid-region, among the
Gods and in the vault of heaven. Taken, etc. as above:
3 The strength-arousing essence of the waters, gathered in
the Sun, Essence of waters’ essence, that, most excellent,
I take for you.
Taken, etc., as above.
4 Cups of strength-giving sacrifice, inspirers of the sage's
hymn
Of you, the handleless, have I collected all the sap and
strength.
Taken, etc., as above.
United are ye twain: with bliss unite me. Parted are ye:
keep me apart from evil.
p. 72
5 Thou art the thunderbolt of Indra, winner of wealth: with
thee may this man win him riches.
In gain of wealth we celebrate with praises her, Aditi by
name, the Mighty Mother,
On whom this Universe of life hath settled. Thereon God
Savitar promote our dwelling!
6 Amrit is in the Waters, in the Waters healing medicine.
Yea, Horses! at our praises of the Waters grow ye fleet
and strong.
Whatever wave, O ye celestial Waters, wealth-giving,
towering high, and swiftly rushing, is yours, therewith
may this man win him riches.
7 It was the wind, or it was thought, or the Gandharvas
twenty-seven
These at the first harnessed the horse: they set the power
of speed in him.
8 Steed, being yoked grow wind-swift: be beauteous as Indra's
right-hand steed.
Omniscient Maruts harness thee! Tvashtar put swiftness in
thy feet!
9 What speed, O Horse, was laid in thee in secret, what
passed in wind, bestowed upon the falcon,
With that same strength be strong for us, O Courser,
wealth-winning and victorious in battle.
Starting to run your course, winners of riches, smell ye
Brihaspati's portion, O ye Horses.
10 By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, may ascend
Brihaspati's highest heaven.
p. 73
By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, may I ascend
the highest heaven of Indra.
By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, Brihaspati's
highest heaven have I ascended.
By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, I have ascended
Indra's loftiest heaven.
11 Brihaspati, win the prize. Lift up your voices to Brihaspati.
Make ye Brihaspati win the prize.
Do thou, O Indra, win the prize. To Indra lift your voices
up. Make Indra winner of the prize.
12 True hath been this your league whereby ye made
Brihaspati win the prize.
Brihaspati have ye caused to win the prize. Be freed, ye
Forest-lords.
Faithful was this your league whereby ye have made Indra
win the prize.
Ye have made Indra win the prize. Be ye set free, ye
Forest-lords.
13 Through impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, mine be
Brihaspati's prize who winneth prizes.
On to the goal, ye Steeds, winners of prizes, blocking the
ways and meting out the courses!
14 Bound by the neck and at the flanks and in the mouth,
that vigorous Courser lends new swiftness to his sped.
p. 74
Drawing himself together as his strength allows, Dadhikrâs
speeds along the windings of the paths. All-hail!
15 His pinion, rapid runner, fans him on his way, as of a bird
that hastens onward to its aim,
And, as it were a falcon's gliding through the air, strikes
Dadhikrâvan's side as he speeds on with might. All-hail!
16 Bless us the Coursers when we call, while slowly they move,
strong singers, to the Gods’ assembly.
Crushing the wolf, the serpent, and the demons, may they
completely banish all affliction. All-hail!
17 May all those vigorous Coursers listen to our cry, hearers
of invocation, speeders on their way;
Winners of thousands, fain to win where meed is won, who
gather of themselves great wealth in every race.
18 Deep-skilled in Law Eternal, wise, immortal, O Coursers,
help us in each fray for booty.
Drink of this
meath, be satisfied, be joyful: then go on
paths which Gods are wont to travel.
19 To me come plenteous growth of wealth! Approach me
these, Heaven and Earth, who wear each form and figure!
Hither may Father come to me, and Mother. Soma with
immortality approach me!
20 To the Friend, Hail! To the Good Fiend, Hail! To the
Later-born, Hail! To Resolution, Hail! To the
Vasu, Hail!
To the Lord of Days, Hail! To the Failing Day, Hail!
To the Failing sprung from the Transitory, Hail! To the
Transitory sprung from the Final, Hal! To the Final
Mundane, Hail! To the Lord of the World, Hail! To the
Sovran Lord, Hail!
p. 75
21 May life succeed through sacrifice. May life-breath thrive
by sacrifice. May the eye thrive by sacrifice. May the
ear thrive by sacrifice. May the back thrive by sacrifice.
May sacrifice thrive by sacrifice.
We have become the children of Prajâpati. Gods, we have
gone to heaven. We have become immortal.
22 In us be your great might and manly
vigour, in us be your
intelligence and splendour.
Obeisance to our Mother Earth! Obeisance to our Mother
Earth!
This is thy
Sovranty. Thou art the ruler, thou art controller,
thou art firm and
stedfast.
Thee for land-culture, thee for peace and quiet, thee for
wealth, thee for increase of our substance.
23 Of old the furtherance of strength urged onward this Sovran
Soma in the plants and waters.
For us may they be stored with honey: stationed in front
may we be watchful in the kingdom. All-hail!
24 The furtherance of strength extended over this heaven and
all the worlds as sovran ruler.
He, knowing, makes the churl a bounteous giver: wealth
may he grant us with full store of heroes. All-hail
25 Surely the furtherance of strength pervaded all these
existing worlds in all directions.
From olden time the King moves round, well knowing,
strengthening all the people and our welfare.
26 As suppliants, for aid we grasp Soma the King, and
Agni, the
Âdityas, Vishnu, Sûrya, and the Brahman-priest
Brihaspati.
p. 76
27 Urge Aryaman to send us gifts, and Indra. and Brihaspati,
Yak, Vishnu, and Sarasvatî, and the strong Courser
Savitar.
28 Agni, speak kindly to us here, be graciously inclined to us.
Winner of thousands, grant us boons, for thou art he who
giveth wealth.
29 Let Aryaman vouchsafe us wealth, and Pûshan, and
Brihaspati.
May Vâk the Goddess give to us. All-hail!
30 Thee by the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with arms of
Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan.
To
Vâk Sarasvatî's controlling guidance, hers the controlling
leader, I consign thee.
I with Brihaspati's supreme dominion endow thee by the
balm of consecration
31 With the monosyllable Agni won vital breath: may I win
that. With the dissyllable the Asvins won bipeds: may
I win those. With the trisyllable
Vishnu won the three worlds: may I win those. With
quadrisyllabic metre
Soma won four-footed cattle: may I win those.
32 With five-syllable metre Pûshan won the five regions: may
I win them.
With six-syllable metre Savitar won the six seasons: may
I win them.
With seven-syllable metre the Maruts won the seven
domestic animals:
May I win them. With octosyllabic metre Brihaspati won
the Gâyatrî: may I win that.
33 With nine-syllable metre Mitra won the Trivrit Stoma:
may I win that. With decasyllabic metre Varuna won
Virâj: may I win that.
p. 77
With hendecasyllabic metre Indra won Trishtup: may I
win that.
With dodecasyllabic metre the All-Gods won Jagatî: may
I win that.
34 The Vasus by thirteen-syllable metre won the Thirteenfold
Stoma: may I win that. The Rudras by fourteen-syllable
metre won the fourteenfold Stoma: may I win that. The
Âdityas with fifteen-syllable metre won the Fifteenfold
Stoma: may I win that. Aditi with sixteen-syllable metre
won the Sixteenfold Stoma: may I win that. Prajâpati
with seventeenfold metre won the Seventeenfold Stoma:
may I win that.
35 This is thy portion,
Nirriti! Accept it graciously. All-hail!
To Gods whose guide is Agni, to the eastward-seated Gods,
All-hail!
To Gods whose guide is
Yama, to the southward-seated
Gods, All-hail!
To Gods whose guides are the All-Gods, those who are seated
westward, Hail!
Hail to the northward-seated Gods, to those whose guides
are Mitra and Varuna or the Marut host!
To Gods whose guide is Soma, who, worshipful, sit on high,
All-hail!
36 Gods who have Agni as their guide, whose seat is eastward,
Hail to them!
Gods who have Yama as their guide, whose seat is southward,
Hail to them!
Gods who have All-Gods as their guides, whose seat is westward,
Hail to them!
Gods who have Mitra-Varuna for guides, north-seated,
Hail to them!
Gods who have Soma as their guide, high-seated, worshipful,
Hail to them!
37
Agni, subdue opposing bands and drive our enemies away.
Invincible, slay godless foes: give splendour to the worshipper.
p. 78
38 Thee at the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with Asvins’ arms
and with the hands of Pûshan,
I offer with the strength of the Upâmsu. Slain is the demon
brood. All-hail!
Thee for the slaughter of the brood of demons. The demons
have we slain, have slain. So-and-So, So-and-So is slain.
39 Savitar quicken thee for sway of rulers, Agni of householders,
of the trees Soma,
Brihaspati of Speech, for lordship
Indra, Rudra for cattle,
Mitra for true-speaking, Varuna for the sway of Law's
protectors.
40 Gods, quicken him that none may be his rival, for mighty
domination, mighty lordship,
Him, son of Such-a-man and Such-a-woman, of Such-a-tribe.
This is your King, ye Tribesmen. Soma is Lord and King
of us the Brâhmans.
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p. 79 BOOK THE TENTH.
THE Gods drew waters with their store of sweetness, succulent
and observant, king-creating,
Wherewith they sprinkled Varuna and Mitra, wherewith
they guided Indra past his foemen.
2 Wave of the male art thou, giver of kingship. Do thou—
All-hail!—bestow on me the kingdom.
Wave of the male art thou, giver of kingship. Do thou on
So-and-So bestow the kingdom.
Thou hast a host of males, giver of kingship. Do thou—
All-hail!—bestow on me the kingdom.
A host of males hast thou, giver of kingship. Do thou on
So-and-So bestow the kingdom.
3 Swift at your work are ye, givers of kingship. Do ye—
All-hail!—bestow on me the kingdom.
Swift at your work are ye, givers of kingship. Do ye on
So-and-So bestow the kingdom.
Endowed with strength are ye, givers of kingship, etc.
O’erflowing floods are ye, etc.
The Waters’ Lord art thou, giver of kingship. Do thou, etc.
The Waters’ Child art thou, etc.
p. 80
4 With sun-bright skins are ye, givers, etc.
Brilliant as Suns are ye, etc.
Bringers of joy are ye, etc.
Dwellers in cloud are ye, etc
Desirable are ye, etc.
Most powerful are ye, etc.
Endowed with might are ye, etc.
Man-nourishing are ye, etc.
All-nourishing are ye, etc.
Self-ruling Waters are ye, giving kingship. On So-and-So
do ye bestow the kingdom.
Together with the sweet let sweet ones mingle, obtaining
for the Kshatriya mighty power.
Rest in your place inviolate and potent, bestowing on the
Kshatriya mighty power.
5 Brilliance of Soma art thou: may my brilliance grow like
thine.
To Agni Hail! To Soma Hail! To Savitar Hail! To
Sarasvatî Hail! To Pûshan Hail! To Brihaspati Hail! To
Indra Hail! To the Noise Hail! To Fame Hail To Amsa
Hail! To Bhaga Hail! To Aryaman Hail!
6 Ye are two strainers, Varuna's own possession. I make you
pure at Savitar's impulsion, with flawless strainer, with
the beams of Sûrya.
Thou, friend of speech, heat-born, art undefeated. Soma's
share art thou. Hail, ye king producers!
p. 81
7 Sharers in joy are these majestic Waters, inviolate, industrious,
investing.
In these as homes hath Varuna made his dwelling, he, Child
of Waters, in the best of mothers.
8 Thou art the inner caul of princely power, Thou art the
outer caul of princely power. Of princely power thou art
the womb, the navel.
Thou art the
Vritra-slaying arm of Indra. Mitra's art thou,
thou Varuna's possession. With thee to aid may this man
slaughter
Vritra.
Cleaver art thou; thou Render; thou art Shaker. Protect
him ye in front, protect him rearwards; protect him
sidewards;
from all quarters guard him.
9 Visible, O ye men, Informed is
Agni, Master of the House.
hold. Informed is Indra of exalted glory. Informed are
Mitra-Varuna, Law-Maintainers. Informed is Pûshan, Lord
of all Possessions. Informed are Heaven and Earth, the
All-propitious. Informed is Aditi who gives wide shelter.
10 Appeased by sacrifice are biting creatures, Ascend the East.
May Gâyatrî protect thee, the psalm
Rathantara, the
triple praise-song, the season Spring, and the rich treasure,
Priesthood.
p. 82
11 Ascend the South. Be thy protectors Trishtup, the Brihat
Sâman, the fifteenfold praise-song, the Reason Summer,
and the treasure Kingship.
12 Ascend the West. May Jagatî protect thee, the psalm Vairûpa,
the seventeenfold praise-song, the Rain-time, and
that store of wealth, the People.
13 Ascend the North. Thy guardians be
Anushtup, Vairâja
psalm, the twenty-onefold praise-song, the season
Autumn, that rich treasure Fruitage.
14 Ascend the Zenith. Pankti be thy keeper, Sâkvara, Raivata
the pair of Sâmans,
Praise-songs the thirty-threefold and
thrice-ninefold, both
seasons, Winter, Dews, that treasure lustre.
The head of Namuchi hath been cast from me.
15 Brilliance of Soma art thou, may my brilliance grow like
thine.
Save me from death. Vigour art thou, victory, everlasting life.
16 With golden bodies, at the flush of morning, ye rise on
high, two Sovran Lords, and Sûrya.
Ascend your car, O Varuna and
Mitra: thence view infinity
and limitation.
Thou art Mitra, thou art
Varuna.
17 Thee with the strength of Soma, Agni's lustre, with Sûrya's
splendour, Indra's might I sprinkle.
Be Lord of princes: safe past arrows guard him.
p. 83
18 = IX. 40.
19 Forth from the summit of the bull, the mountain, pouring
spontaneously, the ships keep moving.
They, lifted up, have turned them back and downward, still
flowing onward, after
Ahibudhnya.
Thou art the stepping-forth of Vishnu: thou art Vishnu's
outstep; Vishnu's step art thou.
20 Prajâpati, thou only comprehendest all these created forms,
and none beside thee.
Give us our heart's desire when we invoke thee.
So-and-So's
father is this man. Sire of this man is So-and-So.
May we—All-hail!—be lords of rich possessions.
What active highest name thou hast, O
Rudra, therein thou
art an offering, art an offering at home. All-hail!
21 Indra's bolt art thou. I by the direction of
Mitra-Varuna,
Directors, yoke thee.
I, the uninjured Arjuna, mount thee for firmness, thee for food.
By quickening of the Maruts be thou victor. May we obtain
by mind: with power united.
22 Let us not,
Indra, conqueror of the mighty, unfit through
lack of prayer fail to obtain thee.
Ascend the car which thou whose hand bears thunder
controllest, and the reins with noble horses.
p. 84
23 All hail to Agni, Master of the Household! All-hail to Soma,
Sovran of the Forest!
All-hail to the great vigour of the Maruts! All-hail to the
effectual might of Indra!
Injure me not, O Mother Earth, and may I never injure thee.
24 The Hamsa throned in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the
Priest beside the altar, Guest within the house,
Dwelling in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born
of flood, kine, truth, mountain, be is mighty Law.
25 So great art thou: life art thou; give me life,
Mate art thou: thou art splendour; give me splendour.
Strength art thou: give me strength. I draw you downward,
two arms of Indra mighty in achievement.
26 Fair art thou, good to sit on, womb of kingship.
Sit on the fair one, sit on that which offers a pleasant seat:
sit in the womb of kingship.
27 Varuna, Law's maintainer, hath sat down among his people, he
Most wise, for universal sway.
28 Supreme Lord art thou. May these five regions of thine be
prosperous. Brahman! Thou art Brahman, Savitar art
thou, faithful in impulsion, Varuna art thou, he whose
power is real. Indra art thou, whose strength is of the
people. Rudra art thou, the very kind and gracious.
p. 85
Doer of much, Improver, Wealth-increaser!
Indra's holt art thou. Be therewith my vassal.
29 May spacious
Agni, Lord of Duty, gladly, vast Agni, Duty's
Lord, accept the butter. All-hail!
Hallowed by Svâhâ, with the beams of Sûrya, strive for his
central place among the kinsmen.
30 I creep forth urged onward by Savitar the Impeller; by
Sarasvatî, Speech; by
Tvashtar, created forms; by Pûshan,
cattle; by this Indra; by
Brihaspati, Devotion; by
Varuna, Power; by Agni, Brilliance; by Soma, the King;
by Vishnu the tenth Deity.
31 Get dressed for the
Asvins. Get dressed for Sarasvatî:
Get dressed for Indra the Good Deliverer:
Soma the Wind, purified by the strainer, Indra's meet
friend, hath gone o’erflowing backward.
32 What then? As men whose fields are full of barley reap
the ripe corn, removing it in order,
So bring the food of these men, bring it hither, who pay
the Sacred Grass their spoken homage.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the
Asvins.
Thee for Sarasvatî, and thee for Indra, for the Excellent
Protector.
p. 86
33 Ye Asvins, Lords of Splendour, drank full draughts of
grateful Soma juice,
And aided Indra in his deeds with Namuchi of Asura birth.
34 As parents aid a son, both Asvins aided thee,
Indra, with
their wondrous powers and wisdom.
When thou with might hadst drunk the draught that
gladdens, Sarasvatî, O Bounteous Lord, refreshed thee.
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p. 87 BOOK THE ELEVENTH.
HARNESSING, first of all, the mind, Savitar having stretched
the thought
With reverent look upon the light of Agni bore them up
from earth.
2 By impulse of God Savitar we with our spirit harnessed strive
With might to win the heavenly.
3 Savitar, having harnessed Gods who go to light and heavenly
thought,
Who will create the lofty light—Savitar urge them on their
way!
4 The priests of him the lofty priest well skilled in hymns,
harness their spirit, yea, harness their holy thoughts.
He only, skilled in rules, assigns their priestly tasks. Yea,
lofty is the praise of Savitar the God.
5 I yoke with prayer your ancient inspiration: may the laud
rise as on the prince's pathway.
All Sons of the Immortal One shall hear it, who have resorted
to celestial dwellings.
p. 88
6 Even he, the God whose going forth and majesty the other
Deities have followed with their might,
He who hath measured the celestial regions out by his great
power, he is the Courser
Savitar.
7 Our sacrifice, God Savitar! speed forward: speed to his share
the sacrifice's patron.
May the celestial
Gandharva, Cleanser of thought and will,
make clean our thoughts and wishes.
The Lord of Speech sweeten the words we utter!
8 God
Savitar, speed this God-loved sacrifice of ours,
friend-finding, ever-conquering, winning wealth and heaven.
Speed praise-song with the sacred verse, Rathantara with
Gâyatra, Brihat that runs in Gâyatra. All-hail!
9 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee, with arms of
Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan, in Angiras’ manner, with
Gâyatrî
metre.
From the earth's seat bring thou Purîshya Agni, as Angiras
was wont, with Trishtup
metre.
10 Spade art thou; woman art thou. Ours be power with thee
to dig out Agni in his dwelling, as Angiras was wont, with
Jagatî
metre.
11 Savitar, bearing in his hand the gold spade which he took
therewith,
Looking with reverence on the light of
Agni, raised it from
the earth,
With the Anushtup metre and as Angiras was wont to do.
12 Run hither, urged to speed, O Horse, along the most extended
space.
p. 89
Thy loftiest birthplace is in heaven. thy navel is in air's
mid-realm, the womb that bare thee is on earth.
13 Upon this course, O lords of wealth, harness; ye twain, the
Ass who bears
Agni, and kindly favours us.
14 In every need, in every race we call, as friends, to succour us,
Indra, the mightiest of all.
15 Come speeding on and trampling imprecations; come
gladdening to the chieftainship of
Rudra.
Speed through the wide air thou whose paths are pleasant,
with Pûshan for thy mate, providing safety.
16 From the Earth's seat, like Anginas, bring thou Purîshya
Agni forth.
After the wont of Angiras we to Purîshya Agni go.
Agni Purîshya we will bear after the went of
Angiras.
17 Agni hath looked along the van of Mornings, looked on the
days, the earliest Jâtavedas,
And many a time along the beams of Sûrya: along the heaven
and earth hast thou extended.
18 The Courser, started on his way, shakes from him all hostilities.
He longs to look with reverent eye on Agni is the mighty.
seat.
p. 90
19 O Courser, having come to earth, seek Agni with a longing
wish.
Tell us by trampling on the ground where we may dig him
from the earth.
20 Heaven is thy back, the earth thy seat, the air thy soul,
the sea thy womb.
Looking around thee with thine eye trample the adversaries
down.
21 Wealth-giver, Courser, from this place step forth to great
felicity.
May we enjoy Earth's favour while we dig forth Agni from
her
22 Down hath he stepped, wealth-giver, racer, courser. Good
and auspicious room on earth thou madest.
Thence let us dig forth Agni, fair to look on, while to the
loftiest vault we mount, to heaven.
23 I thoughtfully besprinkle thee with butter, thee dwelling
near to all existing creatures.
Broad, vast through vital power that moves transversely,
conspicuous, strong with all the food that feeds thee.
24 I sprinkle him who moves in all directions: may he accept
it with a friendly spirit.
Agni with bridegroom's face and lovely colour may not be
touched when all his form is fury.
25 Round the oblation bath he paced, Agni the wise, the Lord
of Strength,
Giving the offerer precious boons.
26 We set thee round us as a fort, victorious Agni, thee a Sage,
Of hero lineage, day by day destroyer of our treacherous foes.
27 Thou, Agni, with the days, fain to shine hitherward, art
brought to life from out the waters, from the stone,
p. 91
From out the forest trees and herbs that grow on ground.
thou, Sovran Lord of men, art generated pure.
28 At
Savitar's, the Shining One's, impulsion, with arms of
Asvins and with hands of Pûshan,
As Angiras was wont to do, I dig thee forth from the seat
of Earth, Agni Purîshya.
Thee,
Agni, luminous and fair of aspect, resplendent with
imperishable lustre, gracious to living creatures, never
harming,
As Angiras was wont to do, we dig thee forth from the seat
of Earth, Agni Purîshya.
29 Thou art the Waters’ back, the womb of
Agni, around the
ocean as it swells and surges.
Waxing to greatness, resting on the lotus, spread thou in
amplitude with heaven's own measure.
30 Yea are a shelter and a shield, uninjured both, and widely
spread.
Do ye; expansive, cover him: bear ye Purîshya Agni up.
31 Cover him, finders of the light, united both with breast and
self,
Bearing between you
Agni, the refulgent, everlasting One.
32 Thou art Purîshya, thou support of all. Atharvan was the
first,
Agni, who rubbed thee into life.
Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the
lotus, from
The head of
Visva, of the Priest.
33 Thee too as Vritra-slayer, thee breaker of forts, the Sage
Dadhyach,
Son of
Atharvan, lighted up.
p. 92
34 Pâthya the Bull, too, kindled thee the Dasyus’ most
destructive foe,
Winner of spoil in every fight.
35 Sit,
Hotar, in the Hotar's place, observant: lay down the
sacrifice in the place of worship.
Thou, dear to Go is, shalt serve them with oblation.
Agni,
give long life to the Sacrificer.
36 Accustomed to the Hotar's place, the Hotar hath seated him,
bright, splendid, passing mighty,
Whose foresight keeps the Law from violation, excellent,
pure-tongued, bringing thousands,
Agni.
37 Seat thee, for thou art mighty: shine, best entertainer of
the Gods.
Worthy of sacred food, praised
Agni! loose the smoke, ruddy
and beautiful to see.
38 Pour heavenly Waters honey-sweet here for our health, for
progeny.
Forth from the place whereon they fall let plants with goodly
berries spring.
39 May Vâyu Mâtarisvan heal and comfort thy broken heart as
there supine thou
liest.
Thou unto whom the breath of Gods gives motion, to Ka,
yea, unto thee, O God, be
Vashat!
40 He, nobly born with lustre, shield and refuge, hath sat down
in light.
O
Agni, Rich in Splendour, robe thyself in many-hued attire.
41 Lord of fair sacrifice; arise! With Godlike thought protect
us well.
p. 93
With great light splendid to behold come, Agni, through
sweet hymns of praise.
42 Rise up erect to give us aid, stand up like Savitar the God;
Erect as
strength-bestower when we call aloud, with unguents
and with priests on thee.
43 Thou, being horn, art Child of Earth and Heaven, parted, fair
Babe, among the plants, O
Agni.
The glooms of night thou, brilliant child, subduest, and art
come forth, loud roaring, from the Mothers.
44 Steady be thou, and firm of limb. Steed, be a racer fleet of
foot.
Broad be thou, pleasant as a seat, bearing the store which
Agni needs.
45 Be thou propitious,
Angiras, to creatures of the human race.
Set not on fire the heaven and earth, nor air's mid-region,
nor the trees.
46 Forth with loud neighing go the Steed, the Ass that shouteth
as he runs.
Bearing Purîshya Agni on, let him not perish ere his time,
Male bearer of male
Agni, Child of Waters, Offspring of the
Sea. Agni, come hither to the feast.
47 The Law the Truth, the Law the Truth. As Angiras was
wont to do, we bear Purîshya Agni on.
Ye Plants, with joyous welcome greet this
Agni, auspicious
One who cometh on to meet you.
Removing all distresses and afflictions, here settle down and
banish evil purpose.
p. 94
48 Welcome him joyfully, ye Plants, laden with bloom and
goodly fruit.
This seasonable Child of yours hath settled in his ancient
seat.
49 Resplendent with thy wide-extending lustre dispel the terrors
of the fiends who hate us.
May lofty Agni be my guide and shelter, ready to hear our
call, the good Protector.
50 Ye, Waters, are beneficent, so help ye us to energy
That we may look on great delight.
51 Give us a portion of the sap, the most propitious that ye
have.
Like mothers in their longing love.
52 To you we gladly come for him to whose abode ye lead us
on:
And, Waters, give us procreant strength.
53
Mitra, having commingled earth and ground together with
the light
For health to creatures mix I thee Omniscient and nobly
born.
54 The
Rudras, having mixed the earth, set all aglow the lofty
light.
Bright and perpetual their light verily shines among the
Gods.
55 The lump of clay that hath been mixed by
Vasus, Rudras,
by the wise,
May Sinîvâlî with her hands soften and fit it for the work.
56 May Sinîvâlî with fair braids, with beauteous crest, with
lovely locks,
May she, O mighty
Aditi, bestow the Fire-pan in thy hands.
p. 95
57 Aditi shape the Fire-pan with her power, her arms, her
intellect,
And in her womb bear Agni as a mother, in her lap, her
son.
58 With Gâyatrî, like Angiras the Vasus form and fashion thee!
Stedfast art then, thou art the Earth. Establish in me progeny,
command of cattle, growth of wealth, kinsmen for
me the worshipper.
With Trishtup may the
Rudras, like Angiras, form and
fashion thee.
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Air. Establish in me, etc.,
as above.
With Jagatî, like
Angiras, Âdityas form and fashion thee!
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Sky. Establish in me, etc.
Friends of all men, the All-Gods with Anushtup form thee
Angiras-like.
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Quarters. Establish in me,
etc.
59 The zone of Aditi art thou. Aditi seize thy hollow space.
She, having made the great Fire-pan, a womb for
Agni,
formed of clay,
Aditi, gave it to her Sons and, Let them bake it, were her
words.
60 The Vasus make thee fragrant, as Angiras did, with Gâyatrî!
The Rudras make thee fragrant with the
Trishtup, as did
Angiras!
With Gâyatrî, like Angiras, may the Âdityas perfume thee.
Dear to all men, may the All-Gods with the Anushtup
sweeten thee, as Angiras was wont to do.
May Indra make thee odorous. May Varuna make thee
odorous. May Vishnu make thee odorous.
p. 96
61 Pit! Angiras-like may Aditi the Goddess, beloved by all
Gods, dig thee in Earth's bosom.
Pan!
Angiras-like may the Gods’ heavenly Consorts, dear
to all Gads, in the Earth's bosom place thee.
Pan!
Angiras-like may Dhishanâs, Divine Ones, dear to alt
Gods, in the Earth's bosom light thee.
Pan!
Angiras-like may the divine Varûtrîs, dear to all Gods,
in the earth's bosom heat thee,
Pan!
Angiras-like may the celestial Ladies, dear to all Gods,
in the earth's bosom bake thee.
Angiras-like may the celestial Matrons, beloved by all the
Gods, with unclipped pinions, within the lap of Earth,
O Fire pan, bake thee.
62 The gainful grace of
Mitra, God, supporter of the race of
man,
Is glorious, of most wondrous fame.
63 With lovely arms, with lovely hands, with lovely fingers
may the God Savitar make thee clean, yea, by the power
be hath.
Not trembling on the earth fill thou the regions, fill the
Quarters full.
64 Having arisen wax thou great, yea, stand thou up
immovable.
To thee, O
Mitra, I entrust this Fire-pan for security. May
it remain without a break.
65 Thee may the
Vasus, Angiras-like, fill with the metre
Gâyatrî.
Thee may the
Rudras, Angiras-like, fill with the Trishtup
metre full.
p. 97
Thee may Âdityas, Angiras-like, fill with the metre Jagatî.
With the Anushtup metre may the All-Gods, dear to all
men, fill thee full, as Angiras was wont.
66 Intention,
Agni. Motive, Hail! Mind, Wisdom, Agni, Motive,
Hail!
Thought, Knowledge,
Agni, Motive, Hail! Rule of Speech,
Agni, Motive, Hail!
To Manu Lord of creatures, Hail! To Agni dear to all men,
Hail!
67 May every mortal man elect the friendship of the guiding God.
Each one solicits him for wealth: let him seek fame to
prosper him. All-hail!
68 Break not, nor suffer any harm. Endure, O Mother, and
be brave;
This work will thou and Agni do.
69 Be firm for weal, O Goddess Earth. Made in the wonted
manner thou
Art a celestial design.
Acceptable to Gods he this oblation. Arise thou in this
sacrifice uninjured.
70 Wood-fed, bedewed with sacred oil, ancient, Invoker,
excellent,
The Son of Strength, the Wonderful.
71 Abandoning the foeman's host, pass hither to this company:
Assist the men with whom I stand.
72 From the remotest distance come, Lord of the Red Steeds,
hitherward.
Do thou Purîshya,
Agni, loved of many, overcome our foes.
p. 98
73 O Agni, whatsoever be the fuel that we lay on thee,
May that he butter unto thee. Be pleased therewith, Most
Youthful God.
74 That which the termite eats away, that over which the
emmet crawls—
Butter be all of this to thee. Be pleased therewith, Most
Youthful God.
75 Bringing to him, with care unceasing, fodder day after day
as to a stabled courser,
Joying in food and in the growth of riches, may we thy
neighbours, Agni, ne’er be injured.
76 While on earth's navel Agni is enkindled, we call, for
ample increase of our riches,
On Agni joying in the draught, much-lauded, worshipful;
victor conquering in battle.
77 Whatever hosts there are, fiercely assailant, charging in
lengthened lines, drawn up in order,
Whatever thieves there are, whatever robbers, all these I
cast into thy mouth, O Agni.
78 Devour the burglars with both tusks, destroy the robbers
with thy teeth.
With both thy jaws, thou Holy One, eat up those thieves
well champed and chewed.
79 The burglars living among men, the thieves and robbers in
the wood,
Criminals lurking in their lairs, these do I lay between thy
jaws.
80 Him who would seek to injure us, the man who looks oh
us with hate
Turn thou to ashes, and the man who slanders and would
injure us.
p. 99
81 Quickened is this my priestly rank, quickened is manly
strength and force,
Quickened is his victorious power of whom I am the Household
priest.
82 The arms of these men have I raised, have raised their
lustre and their strength
With priestly power I ruin foes and lift my friends to high
estate.
83 A share of food, O Lord of Food, vouchsafe us, invigorating
food that brings no sickness.
Onward, still onward lead the giver. Grant us maintenance
both for quadruped and biped.
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p. 100 BOOK THE TWELFTH.
FAR hath he shone abroad like gold to look on, beaming
imperishable life for glory.
Agni by vital powers became immortal when his prolific
Father Dyaus begat him.
2 Night and Dawn, different in hue, accordant, meeting
together, suckle one same infant.
Golden between the heaven and earth he
shineth. The
wealth-possessing Gods supported Agni.
3 The Sapient One arrays himself in every form: for quadruped
and biped he hath brought forth good.
Excellent Savitar hath looked on heaven's high vault: he
shineth after the outgoings of the Dawn.
4 Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: thou hast the Trivrit for
thy head.
Gâyatra is thine eye, thy wings are Brihat and
Rathantara.
The hymn is self, the metres are his limbs, the formulas his
name.
The Vâmadevya Sâman is thy form, the Yajñâyajñiya thy
tail, the fire-hearths are thy hooves.
Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: go skyward, soar to
heavenly light.
p. 101
5 Thou art the riyal-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Gâyatra
metre: stride along the earth.
Thou art the foe-destroying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Trishtup
metre: stride along mid-air.
Thou art the traitor-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Jagatî
metre: stride along the sky.
Thou art the foeman-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount
Anushtup
metre: stride along the Quarters.
6 Agni roared out like Dyaus what time he thunders: licking
full oft the earth round plants he flickered.
At once, when born, he looked about, enkindled: he shineth
forth between the earth and heaven.
7 Return to me, thou still-returning
Agni, with life, with
lustre, progeny, and treasure,
With profit, wisdom, riches, and abundance.
8 A hundred, Agni
Angiras! be thy ways, a thousand thy
returns.
With increment of increase bring thou back to us what we
have lost. Again bring hitherward our wealth.
9 Return again with nourishment;
Agni, again with food and
life. Again preserve us from distress.
10 Agni, return with store of wealth. Swell with thine overflowing
stream that feedeth all on every side.
11 I brought thee: thou hast entered in. Stand stedfast and
immovable.
Lot all the people long for thee. Let not thy kingship fall
away.
12
Varuna, from the upmost bond release us, let down the
lowest and remove the midmost.
So in thy holy law may we made sinless belong to
Aditi, O
thou Âditya.
p. 102
13 High hath the Mighty risen before the Mornings, and come
to us with light from out the darkness.
Fair-shapen Agni with white-shining splendour hath filled
at birth all human habitations.
14 The Hamsa homed in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the Priest
beside the altar, Guest within the house,
Dweller in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born
of flood,
kine, truth, mountain, he is holy Law. The Great.
15 Knowing all holy ordinances,
Agni, be seated in the lap of
this thy mother.
Do not with heat or glowing flame consume her: shine thou
within her with refulgent
lustre.
16 Within this Fire-pan with thy light, O Agni, in thy proper seat,
Glowing with warmth, be gracious thou, O Jâtavedas, unto her.
17 Being propitious unto me, O Agni, sit propitiously.
Having made all the regions blest, in thine own dwelling
seat thyself.
18 First Agni sprang to life from out of heaven, the second
time from us came Jâtavedas.
Thirdly the Manly-souled was in the waters. The pious
lauds and kindles him Eternal.
19 Agni, we know thy three powers in three stations, we know
thy forms in many a place divided.
We know what name supreme thou hast in secret: we know
the source from which thou hast proceeded.
20 The Manly-souled lit thee in sea and waters, Man's Viewer
lit thee in the breast of heaven.
There as thou stoodest in the third high region the Bulls
increased thee in the waters’ bosom.
p. 103
21 Agni roared out, etc. (verse 6 repeated).
22 The spring of glories and support of riches, rouser of
thoughts and guardian of the Soma,
Good Son of Strength, a King amid the waters, in forefront
of the Dawns he shines enkindled.
23 Germ of the world, ensign of all creation, he sprang to life
and filled the earth and heaven.
Even the firm rock he cleft when passing over, when the
Five Tribes brought sacrifice to Agni.
24 So among mortals was immortal Agni stablished as cleansing,
wise, and eager envoy.
He waves the red smoke that he lifts above him, striving
to reach the heaven with radiant lustre.
25 Far hath he shone, etc. (verse 1 repeated).
26 Whoso this day, O God whose flames are lovely, makes thee
a cake, O Agni, mixed with butter,
Lead thou and further him to higher fortune, to bliss bestowed
by Gods, O thou Most Youthful.
27 Endow him, Agni, with a share of glory, at every, song of
praise sung forth enrich him.
Dear let him be to Sûrya, dear to Agni, preëminent with son
and children's children.
28 While, Agni, day by day men pay thee worship they win
themselves all treasures worth the wishing.
Allied with thee, eager and craving riches, they have disclosed
the stable filled with cattle.
29 Agni, man's gracious Friend, the Soma's keeper, Vaisvânara,
hath been lauded by the Rishis.
We will invoke benignant Earth and Heaven: ye Deities,
give us wealth with hero children.
30 Pay service unto Agni with your fuel, rouse your Guest
with oil:
In him present your offerings.
p. 104
31 May all the Gods, O Agni, bear thee upward with their earnest
thoughts:
Not to be looked on, rich in light, be thou propitious unto us,
32 Agni, go forth resplendent, thou with thine auspicious flames
of fire.
Shining with mighty beams of light harm not my people
with thy form.
33 Agni roared out, etc. (verse 21 repeated.)
34 Far famed is this the Bharata's own Agni: he shineth like
the Sun with lofty splendour.
He who hath vanquished Pûru in the battle, the heavenly
Guest hath shone for us benignly.
35 Receive these ashes, ye celestial Waters, and lay them in a
fair place full of fragrance.
To him bow down the nobly-wedded Matrons! Bear this on
waters as her son a mother.
36 Agni, thy home is in the floods: into the plants thou forcest
way,
And as their child art born anew.
37 Thou art the offspring of the plants, thou art the offspring
of the trees:
The offspring thou of all that is, thou, Agni, art the Waters’
Child,
38 With ashes having reached the womb, the waters, Agni
and the earth,
United with the mothers, thou blazing hast seated thee again.
39 Seated again upon thy seat, the waters, Agni! and the earth,
In her, thou, most auspicious One, liest as in a mother's lap
p. 105
40, 41 Return again, etc. Agni, return, etc. (verses 9 and 10
repeated).
42 Mark this my speech, Divine One, thou Most Youthful,
offered to thee by him who gives most freely:
One hates thee, and another sings thy praises. I thine
adorer laud thy form, O Agni.
43 Be thou for us a liberal Prince, Giver and Lord of precious
things.
Drive those who hate us far away.
To the Omnific One All-hail!
14 Again let the Âdityas, Rudras, Yams, and Brahmans with
their rites light thee, Wealth-bringer!
Increase thy body with presented butter: effectual be the
Sacrificer's wishes.
45 Go hence, depart, creep off in all directions, both ancient
visitors and recent comers:
Yama hath given a place on earth to rest in. This place
for him the Fathers have provided.
46 Knowledge art thou: accomplishment of wishes. In me be
the fulfilment of thy wishes.
Thou art the ashes, thou the mould of Agni. Rankers are
ye, rankers around. Rankers right upward, be ye fixed.
p. 106
47 This is that Agni where the longing Indra took the pressed
Soma deep within his body.
Winner of spoils in thousands like a courser, with prayer art
thou exalted, Jâtavedas.
48 The splendour which is thine in heaven, O Agni, in earth, O
Holy One, in plants, in waters,
Wherewith thou hast o’erspread mid-air's broad region, that
light is brilliant, billowy, man-surveying.
49 O Agni, to the flood of heaven thou mountest, thou tallest
hither Gods, the thought-inspirers.
The waters, those beyond the light of Sûrya, and those
that are beneath it here, approach thee.
50 May the Purîshya Agnis in accord with those that spring
from floods,
May they, benevolent, accept the sacrifice, full, wholesome
draughts.
51 As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle,
lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this
thy gracious will to us-ward.
52 This is thine ordered place of birth whence, sprung to life,
thou shonest forth.
Knowing this, Agni, mount on high and cause our riches to
increase.
53 Ranker art thou: Angiras-like sit steady with that Deity.
Ranker-round art thou: Angiras-like sit steady with that
Deity.
p. 107
54 Fill up the room, supply the void, then settle steady in thy
place.
Indr-Âgni and Brihaspati have set thee down in this abode.
55 The dappled kine who stream with milk prepare his draught
of Soma juice—
Clans in the birthplace of the Gods, in the three luminous
realms of heaven.
56 All sacred songs have magnified Indra expansive as the sea,
The best of warriors borne on cars, the Lord, the very Lord
of Strength.
57 Combine ye two and harmonize together, dear to each other,
brilliant, friendly-minded,
Abiding in one place for food and vigour.
58 Together have I brought your minds, your ordinances, and
your thoughts.
Be thou our Sovran Lord, Agni Purîshya; give food and
vigour to the Sacrificer.
59 Thou art Purîshya Agni, thou art wealthy, thou art prosperous.
Having made all the regions blest, here seat thee in thine
own abode.
60 Be ye one-minded unto us, both of one thought, free from
deceit.
Harm not the sacrifice, harm not the Patron of the sacrifice.
Be gracious unto us to-day, ye knowers of all things that be.
61 Even as a mother bears her son, Earth, Ukhâ hath borne
within her womb Purîshya Agni.
Maker of all, accordant with the All-Gods and Seasons, may
Prajâpati release her.
62 Seek him who pours not, offers not oblation; follow the
going of the thief and robber.
p. 108
This is thy way; leave us and seek some other. To thee,
O Goddess Nirriti, be homage.
63 To thee, sharp-pointed Nirriti, full homage! Loose and
detach this iron bond that binds him.
Unanimous with Yama and with Yamî to the sublimest
vault of heaven uplift him.
64 Thou, Awful One, thou in whose mouth I offer for the unloosing
of these binding fetters,
Whom people hail as Earth with their glad voices, as Nirriti
in every place I know thee.
65 The binding noose which Nirriti the Goddess hath fastened
on thy neck that none may loose it,
I loose for thee as from the midst of Âyus. Sped forward
now, eat thou the food we offer:
To Fortune, her who hath done this, be homage.
66 Establisher, the gatherer of treasures, he looks with might
on every form and figure.
Like Savitar the God whose laws are constant, like Indra,
he hath stood where meet the pathways.
67 Wise, through desire of bliss with Gods, the skilful bind the
traces fast, and lay the yokes on either side.
68 Lay on the yokes and fasten well the traces; formed is the
furrow sow the seed within it.
Through song may we find hearing fraught with plenty:
near to the ripened grain approach the sickle.
p. 109
69 Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, happily go
the ploughers with the oxen!
Suna and Sîra, pleased with our oblation, cause ye our
plants to bear abundant fruitage.
70 Approved by Visvedevas and by Maruts, balmed be the
furrow with sweet-flavoured fatness.
Succulent, teeming with thy milky treasure, turn hitherward
to us with milk, O Furrow.
71 The keen-shared plough that bringeth bliss, good for the
Soma-drinker's need,
Shear out for me a cow, a sheep, a rapid drawer of the car,
a blooming woman, plump and strong!
72 Milk out their wish, O Wishing-Cow, to Mitra and to Varuna,
To Indra, to the Asvins, to Pûshan, to people and to plants.
73 Be loosed, inviolable, Godward-farers! We have attained
the limit of this darkness: we have won the light.
71 The year together with the darksome fortnights; Dawn with
the ruddy-coloured cows about her; the Asvins with
their wonderful achievements; the Sun together with his
dappled Courser; Vaisvânara with Idâ and with butter.
Svâhâ!
75 Herbs that sprang up in time of old, three ages earlier than
the Gods,—
Of these, whose hue is brown, will I declare the hundred
powers and seven.
p. 110
76 Ye, Mothers, have a hundred homes, yea, and a thousand are
your growths.
Do ye who have a thousand powers free this my patient from
disease.
77 Be glad and joyful in the Plants, both blossoming and bearing
fruit,
Plants that will lead us to success like mares who conquer in
the race.
78 Plants, by this name I speak to you, Mothers, to you the
Goddesses:
Steed, cow, and garment may I win, win back thy very self,
O man.
79 The Holy Fig tree is your home, your mansion is the Parna
tree:
Winners of cattle shall ye be if ye regain for me this man.
80 He who hath store of Herbs at hand like Kings amid a crowd
of men,—
Physician is that sage's name, fiend-slayer, chaser of disease.
81 Herbs rich in Soma, rich in steeds, in nourishment in strengthening
power,
All these have I provided here, that this man may be whole
again.
82 The healing virtues of the Plants stream forth like cattle
from the stall,—
Plants that shall win me store of wealth, and save thy vital
breath, O man.
83 Reliever is your mother's name, and hence Restorers are ye
called.
Rivers are ye with wings that fly: keep far whatever brings
disease.
84 Over all fences have they passed, as steals a thief into the fold.
The Plants have driven from the frame whatever malady was
there.
85 When, bringing back the vanished strength, I hold these herbs
within my hand,
The spirit of disease departs ere he can seize upon the life.
86 He through whose frame, O Plants, ye creep member by
member, joint by joint,
From him ye drive away disease like some strong arbiter of
strife.
87 Fly, Spirit of Disease, begone, with the blue jay and kingfisher.
Fly, with the wind's impetuous speed, vanish together with
the storm.
p. 111
88 Help every one the other, lend assistance each of you to
each,
All of you be accordant, give furtherance to this speech of
mine.
89 Let fruitful Plants, and fruitless, those that blossom, and
the blossomless,
Urged onward by Brihaspati, release us from our pain and
grief;
90 Release me from the curse's plague and woe that comes from
Varuna;
Free me from Yama's fetter, from sin and offence against the
Gods.
91 What time, descending from the sky, the Plants flew earthward,
thus they spake:
No evil shall befall the man whom while he liveth we
pervade.
92 Of all the many Plants whose King is Soma, Plants of hundred
forms,
Thou art the Plant most excellent, prompt to the wish, sweet
to the heart.
93 O all ye various Herbs whose King is Soma, that o’erspread
the earth,
Urged onward by Brihaspati, combine your virtue in this
Plant.
94 All Plants that hear this speech, and those that have
departed far away,
Come all assembled and confer your healing power upon
this Herb.
95 Unharmed be he who digs you up, unharmed the man for
whom I dig:
And let no malady attack biped or quadruped of ours.
96 With Soma as their Sovran Lord the Plants hold colloquy
and say:
O King, we save from death the man whose cure a Brâhman
undertakes.
97 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant: thy vassals are the
trees.
Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to
injure us.
98 Banisher of catarrh art thou, of tumours and of hemorrhoids;
Thou banished Pâkâru and Consumption in a hundred
forms.
p. 112
99 Thee did Gandharvas dig from earth, thee Indra and
Brihaspati.
King Soma, knowing thee, O Plant, from his Consumption
was made free.
100 Conquer mine enemies, the men who challenge me do thou
subdue.
Conquer thou all unhappiness: victorious art thou, O Plant.
101 Long-lived be he who digs thee, Plant, and he for whom I
dig thee up.
So mayst thou also, grown long-lived, rise upward with a
hundred shoots.
102 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant; thy vassals are the
trees.
Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to
injure us.
103 May he not harm me who is earth's begetter, nor he whose
laws are faithful, sky's pervades;
Nor he who first begot the lucid waters. To Ka the God
let us present oblation.
104 Turn thyself hitherward, O Earth, to us with sacrifice and
milk.
Thy covering skin Agni, urged forth, hath mounted.
105 All, Agni, that in thee is bright, pure, cleansed, and meet
for sacrifice,
That do we bring unto the Gods.
106 I from this place have fed on strength and vigour, the
womb of holy Law, stream of the mighty.
In cows let it possess me and in bodies. I quit decline and
lack of food, and sickness.
107 Agni, life-power and fame are thine: thy fires blaze mightily,
thou rich in wealth of beams!
Sage, passing bright, thou givest to the worshipper, with
strength, the food that merits laud.
108 With brilliant, purifying sheen, with perfect sheen thou
liftest up thyself in light.
Thou, visiting both thy Mothers, aidest them as Son: thou
joinest close the earth and heaven.
p. 113
109 O Jâtavedas, Son of Strength, rejoice thyself, gracious, in
our fair hymns and songs.
In thee are treasured various forms of strengthening food,
born nobly and of wondrous help.
110 Agni, spread forth, as Ruler, over living things: give wealth
to us, Immortal God.
Thou shinest out from beauty fair to look upon: thou
leadest us to conquering power.
111 To him, the wise, who orders sacrifice, who hath great riches
under his control,
Thou givest blest award of good, and plenteous food, givest
him wealth that conquers all.
112 The men have set before them for their welfare Agni, strong,
visible to all, the Holy.
Thee, Godlike One, with ears to hear, most famous, men's
generations magnify with praise-songs.
113 Soma, wax great. From every side may vigorous powers
unite in thee.
Be in the gathering-place of strength.
114 In thee be juicy nutriments united, and power and mighty
foe-subduing vigour.
Waxing to immortality, O Soma, win highest glory for
thyself in heaven.
115 Wax, O most gladdening Soma, great through all thy
filaments, and be
A friend of most illustrious fame to prosper us.
116 May Vatsa draw thy mind away, even from thy loftiest
dwelling-place,
Agni, with song that yearns for thee.
117 Agni, best Angiras, to thee all people who have pleasant
homes
Apart have turned to gain their wish.
118 In dear homes, Agni, the desire of all that is and is to be,
Shines forth the One Imperial Lord.
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p. 114 BOOK THE THIRTEENTH
I TAKE within me Agni first, for increase of my wealth,
good offspring, manly strength:
So may the Deities wait on me.
2 Thou art the waters’ back, the womb of Agni, around the
ocean as it swells and surges.
Waxing to greatness, resting on the lotus, spread forth in
amplitude with heaven's own measure.
3 Eastward at first was Brahma generated. Vena o’erspread
the bright Ones from the summit,
Disclosed his deepest nearest revelations, womb of existent
and of non-existent.
4 In the beginning rose Hiranyagarbha, born Only Lord of all
created being.
He fixed and holdeth up this earth and heaven. Worship
we Ka the God with our oblation.
5 The Drop leaped onward through the earth and heaven,
along this place and that which was before it.
p. 115
I offer up, throughout the seven oblations, the Drop still
moving to the common dwelling.
6 Homage be paid to Serpents unto all of them that are on
earth,
To those that dwell in air, to those that dwell in sky be
homage paid.
7 To those that are the demons’ darts, to those that live upon
the trees,
To all the Serpents that lie low in holes be adoration paid.
8 Or those that are in heaven's bright sphere, or those that
dwell in the Sun's beams:
Serpents, whose home has been prepared in waters, homage
unto them!
9 Put forth like a wide-spreading net thy
vigour: go like a
mighty King with his attendants.
Thou, following thy swift net, shootest arrows: transfix the
fiends with darts that burn most fiercely.
10 Forth go in rapid flight thy whirling weapons: follow them
closely glowing in thy fury.
Spread with thy tongue the wingèd flames, O
Agni: unfettered
cast thy firebrands all around thee.
11 Send thy spies forward, fleetest in thy motion: be, ne’er
deceived, the guardian of this people
From him who, near or far, is bent on evil, and let no
trouble sent from thee o’ercome us.
12 Rise up, O
Agni, spread thee out before us, burn down our
foes, thou who hast sharpened arrows.
Him, blazing
Agni! who hath worked us mischief, consume
thou utterly like dried-up stubble.
13 Rise,
Agni, drive off those who fight against us: make
manifest thine own celestial
vigour.
Slacken the strong bows of the demon-driven: destroy our
foemen whether kin or stranger.
I settle thee with Agni's fiery
ardour.
p. 116
14 Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth
is he:
He quickeneth the waters’ seed.
I settle thee with the great strength of
Indra.
15 Thou art the leader of the rite and region to which with
thine auspicious teams thou
tendest.
Thy light-bestowing head to heaven thou liftest, making
thy tongue the oblation-bearer,
Agni!
16 Steady art thou, sustainer, laid by Visvakarman in thy
place.
Let not the ocean nor the bird harm thee:
unshaking, steady
earth.
17 Thee let Prajâpati settle on the waters’ back, in Ocean's
course,
Thee the capacious, widely spread. Thou art the Wide
One: spread thee wide
18 Thou art the earth, the ground, thou art the all-sustaining
Aditi, she who supporteth all the world.
Control the earth, steady the earth, do thou the earth no
injury.
19 For all breath, out-breath; through-breath, upward-breathing,
for high position, for prescribed observance,
May Agni keep thee safe with great well-being, with the
securest shelter. As aforetime with
Angiras, with that
Deity lie steady.
20 Upspringing from thine every joint, upspringing from each
knot of
thine,
p. 117
Thus with a thousand, Dûrvâ! with a hundred do thou
stretch us out.
21 Thou spreading with a hundred, thou that branched with
a thousand shoots,
Thee, such, with our oblation will we worship, O celestial
Brick.
22 Thy lights, O
Agni, in the Sun that with their beams
o’erspread the sky,—
With all of those assist thou us to-day to light and progeny.
23. Lights of yours in the Sun, O Gods, or lights that are in
kine and steeds,
O
Indra-Agni, with all those vouchsafe us light, Brihaspati!
24 The Far.-Refulgent held the light. The Self-Refulgent held
the light.
Thee, luminous, may Prajâpati settle upon the back of Earth.
Give, to all breathing, all the light, to out-breath, to diffusive
breath.
Thy Sovran Lord is
Agni. With that Deity, as with Angiras,
lie firmly settled in thy place.
25 Madhu and Mâdhava, the two Spring seasons—thou art
the innermost cement of
Agni.
May Heaven and Earth, may Waters, Plants and Agnis
help, separate, accordant, my precedence.
May all the Fires ’twixt heaven and earth, one-minded,
well-fitted, gather round these two Spring seasons,
As the Gods gathering encompass
Indra: firm with that
Deity, Angiras-like, be seated.
26 Thou art Ashâdhâ, Conquering One. Conquer our foemen,
conquer thou the men who fain would-fight with us.
A thousand manly powers hast thou: so do thou aid and
quicken me.
p. 118
27 The winds waft sweets, the rivers pour sweets for the man
who keeps the Law:
So may the plants be sweet for us.
28 Sweet be the night and sweet the dawns, sweet the terrestrial
atmosphere:
Sweet be our Father Heaven to us.
29 May the tall tree be full of sweets for us and, and full of
sweets the Sun:
May our milch-kine be sweet for us.
30 Seat thyself in the deepness of the waters, lest Sûrya, lest
Vaisvânara Agni scorch thee.
With wing unclipped, survey created beings: may rain
that cometh down from heaven attend thee.
31 He crept across the three heaven-reaching oceans, the Bull
of Bricks, the Master of the Waters.
Clad in the world with his, the
Well-Made's, vesture, go
whither those before thee have departed.
32 May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, besprinkle this our
sacrifice,
And feed us full with nourishments.
33 Look ye on Vishnu's works whereby the Friend of
Indra,
close allied,
Hath let his holy ways be seen.
p. 119
34 Firm art thou, a sustainer. Hence engendered, forth from
these wombs at first came Jâtavedas.
By Gâyatrî, by
Trishtup, by Anushtup, may he who knows
bear to the Gods oblation.
35 Take thou thine ease for food, for store of riches, for might
in
splendour, and for strength and offspring.
Thou art all-ruling, independent Ruler: both fountains of
Sarasvatî protect thee!
36 O radiant
Agni, harness thou thy steeds which are most excellent!
They bear thee as thy spirit wills.
37 Yoke,
Agni, as a charioteer, thy steeds who best invoke the
Gods:
As ancient Hotar take thy seat.
38 Like rivers our libations flow together, cleansing themselves
in inmost heart and spirit.
I look upon the flowing streams of butter: the golden reed
is in the midst of
Agni.
39 Thee for the praise-verse, thee for sheen, thee for bright
splendour, thee for light.
This hath become the energetic spirit of all the world and of
Vaisvânara
Agni.
40 Agni, all-luminous with light, splendid with splendour, golden
One.
Giver of thousands art thou: for a thousand thee.
p. 120
41 Balm thou with milk the unborn babe Âditya, wearing all
forms, creator of a thousand.
Spare, him with heat, nor plot against him: give him a
hundred years of life while thou art building.
42 The wind's impetuous rush, Varuna's navel! the horse that
springs to life amid the waters!
The rivers’ tawny child, based on the mountain, harm not,
O
Agni, in the loftiest region.
43 Unwasting Drop, red, eager, pressing forward, Agni I worship
with repeated homage.
Forming thyself with joints in proper order, harm not the
Cow, Aditi widely ruling!
44 Her who is Tvashtar's guardian, Varuna's navel, the Ewe
brought forth from out the loftiest region,
The Asura's mighty thousandfold contrivance, injure not in
the highest sphere, O
Agni.
45 The Agni who from Agni had his being, from heat of Earth
or also heat of Heaven,
Whereby the Omnific One engendered creatures, him may
thy fierce displeasure spare, O
Agni.
46 The brilliant presence of the Gods hath risen, the eye of
Mitra,
Varuna, and Agni.
The soul of all that moveth not or moveth, the Sun hath
filled the air, and earth and heaven.
47 Injure not, thousand-eyed, while thou art building for sacrifice,
this animal, the biped.
p. 121
Accept as pith man's counterfeit the victim, Agni: therewith
building thy forms, be settled.
Let thy flame reach man's counterfeit: let thy flame reach
the man we hate.
48 Harm not this animal whose hooves are solid, the courser
neighing in the midst of coursers.
I dedicate to thee the forest Gaura: building thy bodies up
with him be settled.
Let thy flame reach the Gaura, let thy flame reach him whom
we detest.
49 Thousandfold, with a hundred streams, this fountain,
expanded in the middle of the waters,
Infinite, yielding butter for the people, harm not, O Agni,
in the highest region.
This wild bull of the forest I assign thee: building thy
bodies up therewith be settled.
Let thy flame reach the wild hull, etc. (as in 48).
50 This creature clothed in wool, Varuna's navel, the skin of
animals quadruped and biped,
The first that was produced of Tvashtar's creatures, O Agni,
harm not in the highest region.
The forest buffalo do I assign thee: building, etc., as above
mutato mutando.
51 From Agni's warmth the he-goat had his being: he looked
at first upon his generator.
Thereby the Gods at first attained to Godhead: those meet
for worship to the height ascended.
The forest Sarabha do I assign thee: building, etc.
52 Do thou, Most Youthful God, protect the men who offer,
hear their songs,
Protect his offspring and himself.
p. 122
53 I set thee in the passage of the waters. I set thee in the
swelling of the waters. I set thee in the ashes of the
waters. I set thee in the lustre of the waters. I set
thee in the way which waters travel. I set thee in the
flood, the place to test in. I set thee in the sea, the place
to rest in. I set thee in the stream, the place to rest in.
I set thee in the water's habitation. I set thee in the
resting-place of waters. I set thee in the station of the
waters. I set thee in the meeting-place of waters. I set
thee in the birthplace of the waters. I set thee in the
refuse of the waters. I set thee in the residence of waters.
I settle thee with the Gâyatrî
metre. I settle thee with
the Trishtup metre. I settle thee with the Jagatî
metre.
I settle thee with the Anushtup metre. I settle thee
with the Pankti
metre.
54 This, in front, is Bhuva. His offspring, Breath, is Bhauvâyana.
Spring is Prânâyana. The Gâyatrî is the daughter
of Spring. From the Gâyatrî comes the Gâyatra tune.
From the Gâyatra the Upâmsu. From the Upâmsu the
Trivrit. From the Trivrit the
Rathantara. The Rishi
Vasishtha. By thee, taken by Prajâpati, I take vital
breath for creatures.
55 This on the right, the
Omnific. His, the Omnific's offspring,
Mind. Summer sprang from Mind. The Trishtup is the
daughter of Summer. From the Trishtup came the Svâra
song. From the Svâra the Antaryâma. From the
Antaryâma the Pañchadasa. From the Pañchadasa the
Brihat. The Rishi Bharadvâja. By thee, taken by
Prajâpati, I take Mind for creatures.
p. 123
56 This on the western side, the All-Embracer. His, the
All-Embracer's offspring, the Eye. The Rains sprang from
the Eye. The Jagatî is the daughter of the Rains.
From the Jagatî came the
Riksama. From the Riksama
the Sukra. From the Sukra the Saptadasa. From the
Saptadasa the Vairûpa. The Rishi
Jamadagni. By thee,
taken by Prajâpati, I take the Eye for creatures.
57 This on the north side, heaven. This, heaven's offspring,
the Ear. Autumn, the daughter of the Ear. The Anushtup
sprang from Autumn. From the Anushtup came the
Aida. From the Aida the
Manthin. From the Manthin
the Ekavimsa. From the Ekavimsa the Vairâja. The
Rishi Visvâmitra. By thee, taken by Prajâpati, I take
the Ear for creatures.
58 This above, Intellect. Its, Intellect's offspring, Speech.
Winter the offspring of Speech. Pankti sprang from
Winter. From Pankti the
Nidhanavat. From the
Nidhanavat came the Âgrayana. From the Âgrayana the
Trinava and the
Trayastrimsa. From the Trinava and
the Trayastrimsa the Sâkvara and the
Raivata. The
Rishi Visvakarman. By thee, taken by Visvakarman,
I take Speech for people.
Fill up the room, etc. The dappled
kine, etc. All sacred
songs, etc., three texts repeated from XII. 54-56.
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p. 124 BOOK THE FOURTEENTH.
WITH stedfast site and birthplace thou art stedfast: settle
thou duly in thy stedfast birthplace, rejoicing in the
Ukhya's first appearance.
Here let the Asvins, the Adhvaryus, seat thee.
2 Nesting, intelligent, dripping with butter, in the auspicious
seat of earth be seated.
Let Rudras, Vasus welcome thee with praises: fill full these
prayers for our propitious fortune.
Here let the Asvins, the Adhvaryus, seat thee.
3 Here, Guard of Strength, with thine own powers be seated
for the Gods’ happiness and great enjoyment.
Even as a father to his son, be friendly: with easy entrance
enter with thy body. Here let the Asvins, the Adhvaryus
seat thee:
4 Thou art the filling-stuff of earth called Apsas. May all the
Gods celebrate thee with praises.
Enriched with songs of praise, Prishthas and butter, sit here
and give us wealth with store of children.
Here let the Asvins, etc.
5 Upon the back of Aditi I lay thee the sky's supporter, pillar
of the Quarters,
Queen over creatures. Wave and drop of waters art thou;
and Visvakarman is thy Rishi.
6 Sukra and Suchi, seasons, both, of summer—thou art the
innermost cement of Agni.
May Heaven and Earth, may Waters, Plants and Agnis help,
separate, accordant, my precedence.
p. 125
Let all the Agnis ’twixt the earth and heaven gather together
round these summer seasons, as the Gods gather in their
hosts round
Indra,
Firm, with that Deity, Angiras-like, be seated.
7 Associate with the Seasons, with the Modes with the Gods,
with the health-establishing Gods—may the Asvins the
Adhvaryus settle thee here for Agni Vaisvânara.
Associate.............with the
Vasus, etc.
Associate.............with the Rudras, etc.
Associate.............with the Âdityas, etc.
Associate.............with the
Visvedevas, etc.
8 Guard thou my breath. Guard my out-breathing. Guard
my through-breathing. Illume mine eye with far-reaching
vision. Give power of hearing to mine ear. Pour
forth waters. Quicken plants. Protect bipeds. Protect
quadrupeds. Send rain from heaven.
9 The head is vital
vigour. Prajâpati became the metre.
Royalty is vital vigour, health-giving
metre. The Supporter
is vital vigour, the Sovran Lord the metre. Visvakarman
is vital
vigour, Parameshthin the metre. The he-goat is
vital vigour, excellent the
metre. The bull is vital vigour,
extensive the metre. Man is vital vigour, languid the
metre. The tiger is vital
vigour, invincible the metre. The
lion is vital vigour, covering the metre. The four-year
bull is vital
vigour, Brihatî the metre. The ox is vital
vigour, Kakup the metre. The steer is vital
vigour,
Satobrihatî the metre.
p. 126
10 The bullock is vital vigour, Pankti the metre. The milch-cow
is vital
vigour, Jagatî the metre. The eighteen-month
calf is vital vigour, Trishtup the
metre. The two
year old steer is vital vigour, Virâj the metre. The
thirty-month old ewe is vital
vigour, Gâyatrî the metre. The
three year old steer is vital
vigour, Ushnih the metre.
The four year old ox is vital vigour, Anushtup the
metre.
Fill up the room, etc. The dappled kine, etc. All sacred
songs, etc. are three texts repeated from XII. 54-56.
See also XIII. 58.
11 Indra and
Agni, in its place securely set the unshaking brick.
Thou with thy back sunderest heaven and the broad earth
and firmament.
12 On the air's back let Visvakarman set thee, thee the capacious,
thee the far-extended.
Control the air, fix firm the air, do thou the air no injury.
For all breath, out-breath, through-breath, upward breathing,
for high position, for prescribed observance,
May Vâyu keep thee safe with great well-being, with securest
shelter. In the manner of
Angiras, with that Deity
lie steady.
13 Queen art thou, Quarter of the East. Wide-ruler, Quarter
of the South. West Quarter, thou art Sovran. Thou
Autocrat, Quarter of the North.
Queen Paramount art thou, the Lofty Point.
14 On the air's back may Visvakarman set thee luminous.
Control all light for all breath, for out-breath, up-breath,
through-breath.
Thy Lord is Vâyu, with that Deity,
Angiras-like, lie firm.
15 Two Rainy Seasons, Nabhas and Nabhasya—thou art the
innermost cement of
Agni, etc. (as in XIII. 25).
p. 127
16 Isha and Ûrja, two Autumnal Seasons—thou art the innermost
cement of
Agni, etc.
17 Preserve my life. Preserve my breath. Guard mine
out-breath. Preserve mine eyes. Preserve mine ears.
Strengthen my voice. Quicken my mind. Preserve my
self. Vouchsafe me light.
18 Mâ
metre. Pramâ metre. Pratimâ metre. Âsrivayas metre.
Pankti
metre. Ushnih metre. Brihatî metre. Anushtup
metre. Virâj metre. Gâyatrî
metre, Trishtup metre.
Jagatî metre.
19 Earth metre. Sky metre. Heaven
metre. Years metre.
Nakshatras metre. Vâk metre. Mind metre. Husbandry
metre. Gold
metre. Cow metre. She-goat metre. Horse
metre.
20 The Deity Agni. The Deity Vita. The Deity Sûrya. The
Deity Moon. The Deity
Vasus. The Deity Rudras. The
Deity Âdityas The Deity Maruts. The Deity
Visvedevas.
The Deity Brihaspati. The Deity Indra. The Deity
Varuna.
21 Chief art thou, bright, supporting, firm, thou art the great
sustainer, Earth.
Thee for life, thee for
lustre, thee for tillage, thee for peace
and rest.
22 Controller, brilliant art thou, managing controller, firm
sustainer. For strength, for energy thee, for riches thee,
for prosperity thee.
Fill up the room, etc. The dappled
kine, etc. All sacred
songs, etc. (as in 10).
p. 128
23 This Swift, the triple praise-song. The Shining, the
Pañchadasa hymn. Heaven, the
Saptadasa. The Supporter, the
Ekavimsa. Speed, the Ashtâdasa. Ardour, the
Navadasa.
Triumphant Onset, Savimsa, Vigour, Dvâvimsa. Maintenance,
Trayovimsa. Womb,
Chaturvimsa. Embryos,
Pañchavimsa. Energy, the Trinava. Intention, the
Ekatrimsa.
The Basis, the Trayastrimsa. The Bright One's
Station, the
Chatustrimsa. The Vault of Heaven, the
Shattrimsa. The Revolving One, the Ashtâchatvârimsa.
The Support, the
Four-divisioned praise-song.
p. 129
24 Thou art the portion of Agni, chief control of Consecration.
The Priesthood is saved; the Trivrit Stoma.
Thou art the portion of
Indra, the sovranty of Vishnu. The
Nobility is saved; the Pañchadasa Stoma.
Thou art the share of the Man-beholders; the supremacy of
the Creator; the birthplace is saved; the Saptadasa Stoma.
Thou art the share of
Mitra, the sovranty of Varuna. Rain
of heaven and wind are saved; the Ekavimsa Stoma.
25 Thou art the share of the
Vasus, the sovranty of the Rudras.
Quadrupeds are saved; the Chaturvimsa Stoma.
Thou art the share of the Âdityas; the sovranty of the
Maruts.
The Embryos are saved; the Pañchavimsa Stoma.
Thou art the share of
Aditi; the sovranty of Pûshan.
Strength is saved; the Trinava Stoma.
Thou art the share of God
Savitar; the sovranty of Brihaspati.
The universal Quarters are saved; the Chatushtoma
Stoma.
26 Thou art the share of the
Yavas; the sovranty of the Ayavas.
Creatures are saved; the Chatuschatvârimsa Stoma.
Thou art the share of the
Ribhus; the sovranty of the
Visvedevas. The Being is saved; the Trayastrimsa Stoma.
27 Sahas, Sahasya, the two Winter Seasons—thou art the innermost
cement of Agni, etc. (as in XIII. 25).
28 With one they praised; creatures were produced. Prajâpati
was over-lord.
With three they praised; the Priesthood was created. Brihaspati
was over-lord.
p. 130
With five they praised; beings were created. The Lord of
Beings was over-lord.
With seven they praised; the Seven Rishis were created.
Dhâtar was over-lord.
29 With nine they praised; the Fathers were created. Aditi
was Sovran Lady.
With eleven they praised; the Seasons were created. The
Season-Lords were over-lords.
With thirteen they praised; the Months were created. The
Year was over-lord.
With fifteen they praised; the Nobility was created. Indra
was over-lord.
With seventeen they praised; domestic animals were created.
Brihaspati was over-lord.
30 With nineteen they praised; Sûdra and Arya were created.
Day and Night were Sovran Ladies.
With twenty-one they praised; solid-hoofed animals were
created. Varuna was over-lord.
With twenty-three they praised; small animals were created.
Pûshan was over-lord.
With twenty-five they praised; forest animals were created.
Vâyu was over-lord.
With twenty-seven they praised; earth and heaven came
apart. Vasus, Rudras, Âdityas followed separately, so
they were over-lords.
31 With twenty-nine they praised; Trees were created. Soma
was over-lord.
With thirty-one they praised; creatures were created. The
Yavas and the Ayavas were over-lords.
With thirty-three they praised; living beings. were happy.
Prajâpati, the Supreme in Place, was over-lord.
Fill up the room, etc. The dappled kine, etc. All sacred
songs, etc. Repeated from XII. 14-16.
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p. 131 BOOK THE FIFTEENTH.
DRIVE our born enemies away, O Agni; drive from us foes
unborn, O Jâtavedas.
Graciously-minded, free from anger, bless us: may we enjoy
my firm thrice-guarding shelter.
Drive off with might our foemen born and living: keep off
these yet unborn, O Jâtavedas.
Benevolent in thought and spirit bless us. May we remain
alive: drive off our foemen.
3 The Sixteenfold Stoma, strength and wealth. The Forty-
fourth Stoma, splendour and wealth.
Apsas art thou, the complement of
Agni. As such may all
the Gods greet thee with praises.
Enriched with songs of praise,
Prishthas, and butter, sit here
and give us wealth with store of children.
4 Course
metre. Space metre. Happy metre, Encompassing
metre. Covering metre. Mind
metre. Expanse
metre. River metre. Sea metre. Water metre. Kakup
metre. Trikakup
metre. Kâvya metre. Ankupa metre
Aksharapankti metre. Padapankti metre. Vishtârapankti
metre. Kshurabhrâja
metre.
5 Covering metre. Clothing metre. Collecting metre. Parting
metre. Brihat
metre. Rathantara metre, Group
metre. Vivadhra metre. Swallower metre. Bright
metre.
Samstup metre. Anushtup metre. Course metre. Space
metre. Vigour
metre. Vigour-giving metre. Emulating
metre. Spacious metre, Inaccessible
metre. Slow metre.
Ankânka metre.
p. 132
6 With the ray for truth quicken thou truth. With advance
by duty quicken duty. With following by heaven quicken
heaven. With union by middle air quicken middle air.
With Pratidhi by Earth quicken Earth. With support
by rain quicken rain. With blowing away by day quicken
day. With following by eight quicken night. With
clarified butter by the Vasus quicken the
Vasus. With
perception by the Âdityas quicken the Âdityas.
7 With the thread by prosperity quicken prosperity. With
the creeper by revelation quicken revelation. With
refreshment by plants quicken plants. With the best by
bodies quicken bodies. With the invigorating by religious
study quicken religious study. With the victorious by
brilliance quicken brilliance.
8 Thou art
Pratipad, for Pratipad thee. Thou art Anupad,
for Anupad thee. Thou art
Sampad, for Sampad thee.
Thou art brilliance, for brilliance thee.
9 Trivrit (triple) art thou, thee for
Trivrit. Pravrit art thou,
thee for Pravrit. Vivrit art thou, thee for
Vivrit. Savrit
art thou, thee for Savrit. Thou art attack, thee for attack.
Thou art concurrence, thee for concurrence. Thou art
ascent, thee for ascent. Thou art
upstriding, thee for
upstriding. With Energy as over-lord quicken
food-essence.
10 Thou art the Queen, the Eastern region. The bright Vasus
are thine overlords. Agni is thy warder-off of hostile
weapons. May the Trivrit Stoma assist thee on earth.
The Âjya Uktha fix thee firmly against slipping. The
Rathantara Sâman establish thee in the sky for secure
station. May the first-born Rishis extend thee among the
p. 133
Gods by the measure and amplitude of heaven. May
this Disposer and the Over-Lord extend thee. May all,
concordant, settle thee on the ridge of heaven in the
world of
Svarga.
11 Thou art Far-ruling, the Southern region. The bright
Rudras are thine over-lords. Indra is thy warder-off of
arrows. May the Pañchadasa Stoma support thee on
earth. The Praüga Uktha fix thee firmly against slipping.
The Brihat Sâman establish thee in the sky, etc. (the rest
as in 10).
12 Thou art Universal Ruler, the Western region. The Âdityas
are thine over-lords. Varuna is thy warder-off of missiles.
The Saptadasa Stoma support thee on earth. The Marutvatîya
Uktha fix thee firmly against slipping. The
Vairûpa Sâman establish thee, etc. (as above).
13 Thou art Independent Ruler, the Northern region. (The
rest is identical with 12, with the substitution of Maruts
. . . Soma . . .
.Vimsa Stoma . . . Nishkevalya Uktha. . . . Vairâja
Sâman for the corresponding names).
14 Thou art Lady-Paramount, the Lofty region. (The rest as
above,
Visvedevas. . . Brihaspati . . .Trinava and Trayastrimsa
Stomas . . .Vaisvadeva and Mâruta Ukthas . . . Sâkvara and
Raivata Sâmans being substituted for the corresponding
names.
15 This one in front,
golden-tressed, with sunbeams; the leader
of his host and his chieftain are Rathagritsa and
Rathaujas,
and Puñjikasthalâ: and Kratusthalâ his
Apsarases.
Biting animals are his weapon, homicide his missile weapon;
to them be homage: may they protect us, may
they have mercy upon us. In their jaws we place the
man whom we hate and who hates us.
p. 134
16 This one on the right, the Omnific; the leader of his host
and his chieftain are Rathasvana and Rathechitra, and
Menakâ and Sahajanyâ his Apsarases. Yâtudhânas are
his weapon, Râkshasas his missile weapon; to them be
homage, etc. (as in 15).
17 This one behind, the All-comprising; the leader of his
host and his chieftain are Rathaprota and Asamaratha,
and Pramlochantî and Anumochlantî are his Apsarases.
Tigers are his weapon, Serpents his missile weapon; to
them be homage, etc.
18 This one on the left, Lord of uninterrupted riches; the
leader of his host and his chieftain are Târkshya and
Arishtanemi, and Visvâchî and Ghritâchi his Apsarases.
Water is his weapon, wind his missile weapon; to them
be homage, etc.
19 This one above, Wealth-giver; the leader of his host and his
chieftain are Senajit and Sushena, and Urvasi and Pûrvachitti
his Apsarases. Thundering is his weapon and lightning
his missile weapon; to them be homage, etc.
20 Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth
is he. He quickeneth the waters’ seed.
21 This Agni is the Master of spoil thousandfold and
hundredfold, the sapient one, the head of wealth.
22 Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the
lotus-leaf, the head of Visva, of the Priest.
p. 135
23 Guide of the rite art thou and of the region to which with
thine auspicious teams thou tendest.
Thy light-bestowing head to heaven thou liftest, making thy
tongue oblation-bearer, Agni.
24 Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who
cometh like a milch-cow.
Like young trees shooting up on high their branches his
flames are rising to the vault of heaven.
25 To him adorable, sage, strong and mighty we have sung
forth our song of praise and homage.
Gavishthira hath raised with prayer to Agni this laud
far-reaching as the gold in heaven.
26 Here by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker, best
at worship, to be praised at rites;
Whom Apnavâna and the Bhrigus caused to shine bright-coloured
in the wood, spreading to every house.
27 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.
28 Agni, Angirases 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.
29 Offer to Agni, O my friends, your seemly food, your seemly
praise;
To him supremest o’er the folk, the Son of Strength, the
Mighty Lord.
30 Thou, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is precious for thy
friend:
Bring us all treasure as thou art enkindled in libation's place.
p. 136
31 O Agni, loved of many, thou of fame most wondrous, in
their homes
Men call on thee whose hair is flame to be the bearer of
their gifts.
32 With this my reverent hymn I call Agni for you, the Son.
of Strength,
Dear, wisest envoy, served with noble sacrifice, immortal
messenger of all.
33 Immortal messenger of all, immortal messenger of all,
His two red steeds, all-cherishing; he harnesseth: let him,
well-worshipped, urge them fast.
34 Let him well-worshipped urge them fast, let him
well-worshipped urge them fast.
Then hath the sacrifice good prayer and happy end, and
heavenly gift of wealth to men.
35 O Agni, thou who art the Lord of wealth in kine, the Son
of Strength,
Vouchsafe to us, O Jâtavedas, high renown.
36 He, Agni, kindled, good and wise, must be exalted in our
song:
Shine, thou of many forms, shine radiantly on us.
37 O Agni, shining of thyself by night and when the morning
breaks,
Burn, thou whose teeth are sharp, against the Râkshasas.
38 May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss, may the gift, Blessed
One! and sacrifice bring bliss,
Yea, may our praises bring us bliss.
39 Yea, may our praises bring us bliss. Show forth the mind
that brings success in war with fiends, wherewith thou
conquerest in fights:
40 Wherewith thou conquerest in fights. Bring down the many
firm hopes of our enemies, and let us vanquish with thine
aid.
p. 137
41 I value Agni, that good Lord, the home to which the kind
return;
Whom fleet-foot coursers seek as home, and strong enduring
steeds as home. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.
42 ’Tis Agni whom we laud as good, to whom the milch-kine
come in herds,
To whom the coursers swift of foot, to whom our well-born
princes come. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.
43 Thou, brilliant God, within thy mouth warmest both ladles
of the oil.
So fill us also in our hymns abundantly, O Lord of Strength.
Bring food to those who sing thy praise.
44 Agni, with lauds this day may we bring thee that which
thou lovest,
Right judgment, like a horse, with our devotions.
45 For thou hast ever been the car-driver, Agni, of noble
Strength, lofty sacrifice, and rightful judgment.
46 Through these our praises come thou to meet us, bright as
the sunlight,
O Agni, well-disposed, with all thine aspects.
47 Agni I hold as Herald, the munificent, the gracious Son of
Strength who knoweth all that live, as holy singer knowing
all;
Lord of fair rites, a God with form erected, turning to the
Gods,
He, when the flame hath sprung forth from the sacred oil,
the offered fatness, longeth for it with his glow.
48 O Agni, be our nearest Friend, be thou a kind deliverer and
a gracious Friend.
Come as good Agni, come as excellent and give us wealth
most splendidly renowned.
To thee then, O most bright, O radiant God, we come with
prayer for happiness for our friends.
p. 138
49 With what devotion, winning light, the Rishis came, kindling
Agni, to the Holy session,
Even with that in heaven I stablish Agni whom men call
him whose sacred grass is scattered.
50 Gods, let us follow him with wives beside us, with sons, with
brothers, with our gold adornments,
Grasping the sky up in the world of virtue, on the third
height, the luminous realm of heaven.
51 This Agni mounted up to Speech's Centre, Lord of the
Brave, observant, ever-active.
Laid on the back of Earth, may he, resplendent, cast under
foot those who would fight against us.
52 May this most manly Agni, strength-bestower, giver of thousands,
shine with care that fails not.
Resplendent in the middle of the water, make thine approach
to the celestial mansions.
53 Make him go forth from all sides: meet, Approach ye. O
Agni, make the paths for Godward travel.
Making the Parents young with life's renewal, the out spun
thread in thee have they extended.
54 Wake up, O Agni, thou, and keep him watchful. Wish and
fruition, meet, and he, together.
In this and in the loftier habitation be seated, All-Gods!
and the Sacrificer.
55 Convey our sacrifice to heaven that it may reach the God
with that
p. 139
Whereby thou, Agni, bearest wealth in thousands and all
precious things.
6 56 This is thine ordered place of birth whence sprung to life
thou shonest forth.
Knowing this, Agni, rise thou up and cause our riches to
increase.
57 Tapa, Tapasya, pair of Dewy Seasons: thou art, etc. (as
in XIII. 25).
58 On the sky's back may Parameshthin lay thee, etc. (as in
XIV. 14).
Thy Lord is Sûrya, etc. (as in XIV. 14).
59 Repeated from XII. 54.
60 Repeated from XII. 55.
61 Repeated from XII. 56.
62 Like a horse neighing, eager for the pasture, when he hath
stepped forth from the great enclosure:
Then the wind following blows upon his splendour, and,
straight, the path is black which thou hast travelled.
63 In Âyu's seat I set thee, in the shadow of the protector in
the heart of Ocean,
Thee luminous, bright with eyes, thee who illumest the sky,
the earth, and air's broad realm between them.
64 On the sky's back may Parameshthin set thee, etc. (as in
XIV. 12, substituting sky for air and Sûrya for Vâyu).
65 Thou art the measure of a thousand. Thou art the representative
of a thousand. Thou art the equivalent of a thousand. Thou art
worth a thousand. Thee for a thousand.
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p. 140 BOOK THE SIXTEENTH.
HOMAGE be paid unto thy wrath, O Rudra, homage to thy
shaft: to thy two arms be homage paid.
2 With that auspicious form of
thine, mild, Rudra! pleasant
to behold,
Even with that most blessèd form, look, Mountain-haunter!
here on us.
3 The shaft which, Mountain-haunter, thou art holding in
thy hand to shoot,
Make that auspicious, Mountain-Lord! Injure not man nor
moving thing.
4 O Dweller on the Mountain, we salute thee with auspicious
hymn;
That all, yea, all our people may be healthy and well-satisfied.
5 The Advocate, the first divine Physician, hath defended us.
Crushing all serpents, drive away all Yâtudhânis down below.
6 That most auspicious One whose hue is coppery and red
and brown,
And those, the Rudras who maintain their station in the
regions, who surround him in a thousand bands, of these
we deprecate the wrath.
7 May he who glides away, whose neck is azure, and whose
hue is red,
He whom the herdsmen, whom the girls who carry water
have beheld, may he when seen be kind to us.
8 Homage to him the Azure-nested, the thousand-eyed, the
bountiful,
Yea, and his spirit ministers—to them I offer reverence.
p. 141
9 Loosen thy bowstring, loosen it from thy bow's two
extremities,
And cast away, O Lord Divine, the arrows that are in thy
hand.
10 Now stringless be Kapardin's bow, his quiver hold no pointed
shaft.
The shafts he had have perished and the sheath that held
his sword is bare.
11 Thy weapon, O Most Bountiful, the bow that resteth in thy
hand,—
With that, deprived of power to harm, protect thou us on
every side.
12 So may the arrow of thy bow, in all directions, pass us by,
And in a place remote from us lay thou the quiver that thou
hast.
13 Having unbent thy how O thou hundred-eyed, hundred-quivered
One!
And dulled thy pointed arrows' heads, be kind and gracious
unto us.
14 To thy fierce weapon, now unstrung, be reverent obeisance
paid.
Homage be paid to both thine arms, and to thy bow be
reverence!
15 Do thou no injury to great or small of us, harm not the
growing boy, harm not the full grown man.
Slay not a sire among us, slay no mother here, and to our
own dear bodies, Rudra! do no harm.
16 Harm us not in our seed or in our progeny, harm us not in
our life or in our cows or steeds.
Slay not our heroes in the fury of their wrath. We with
oblations ever call on only thee.
17 Homage to the golden-armed leader of hosts, lord of the
1 regions, to the trees with their green tresses, to the Lord
of beasts be homage; homage to him whose sheen is like
green grass, homage to the radiant Lord of paths, homage
to the golden-haired wearer of the sacrificial cord, homage
to the Lord of the well-endowed.
p. 142
18 Homage to the brown-hued piercer, to the Lord of food be
homage. Homage to Bhava's weapon, homage to the
Lord of moving things! homage to Rudra whose bow is
bent to slay, to the Lord of fields homage, homage to the
charioteer who injures, none, to the Lord of forests be
homage.
19 Homage to the red architect, to the Lord of trees homage!
Homage to him who stretched out the earth, to him who
gives relief be homage. Homage to the Lord of Plants,
homage to the prudent merchant! Homage to the Lord
of bushes, to the shouting Lord of foot-soldiers who
makes foes weep be homage.
20 Homage to the runner at full stretch, to the Lord of
ministering spirits, homage! Homage to the conquering,
piercing Lord of assailing bands, homage to the towering
sword-bearer, to the Lord of thieves homage! Homage to
the gliding robber, to the roamer, to the Lord of forests
homage!
21 Homage to the cheat, to the arch-deceiver, to the Lord of
stealers homage! Homage to the wearer of sword and
quiver, to the Lord of robbers homage! Homage to the
boltarmed homicides, to the Lord of pilferers homage!
Homage to the sword-bearers, to those who roam at night,
to the Lord of plunderers homage!
22 To the turban-wearing haunter of mountains, Lord of
land-grabbers homage! Homage to you who bear arrows
and to you who carry bows. Homage to you with bent
bows, and to you who adjust your arrows, to you who
draw the bow and to you who shoot be homage!
23 Homage to you who let fly and to you who pierce, homage
to you who sleep and to you who wake, homage to you
who lie and to you who sit, homage to you who stand
and to you who run.
24 Homage to assemblies and to you lords of assemblies,
homage to horses and to you masters of horses, homage to
you hosts that wound and pierce, to you destructive
armies with excellent bands be homage.
p. 143
25 Homage to the troops and to you lords of troops be homage.
Homage to the companies and to you lords of companies, homage.
Homage to sharpers and to you lords of sharpers, homage.
Homage to you the deformed, and to you who wear all forms, homage!
26 Homage to armies and to you the leaders of armies, homage.
Homage to you car-borne and to you who are carless, homage.
Homage to the charioteers and to you drivers of horses, homage.
Homage to you the great and to you the small, homage.
27 Homage to you carpenters, and to you chariot-makers homage.
Homage to you potters and to you blacksmiths, homage.
Homage to you Nishâdas and to you Puñjishthas, homage.
Homage to you dog-leaders, and to you hunters, homage.
28 Homage to dogs, and to you masters of dogs, homage.
Homage to Bhava, and to Rudra homage, homage to Sarva
and to Pasupati, and to Nîlagrîva and Sitikantha, homage.
29 Homage to him with braided hair and to him with shaven
hair, homage! homage to the thousand-eyed and to him
with a hundred bows, homage!
To the mountain-haunter and to Sipivishta, homage!
To the most bountiful, armed with arrows, homage!
30 Homage to the short, and to the dwarf, homage, homage to
the great and to the adult, homage! Homage to the full-grown
and to the growing, to the foremost and to the first
be homage.
31 Homage to the swift, and to the active be homage, and to
the hasty and to the rapid mover be homage! Homage to
him who dwells in waves, and in still waters, to him who
dwells in rivers and on islands.
32 Homage to the eldest and to the youngest, to the first-born
and to the last-born, homage! Homage to the middle-most
and to the immature, to the lowest and to him who
is in the depth, be homage!
p. 144
33 Homage to Sobhya and to the dweller in the magic amulet,
homage! Homage to him who is allied to Yama, to him
who prospers be homage! Homage to the famous and to
the endmost, to him of the sown corn-land and to him of
the threshing-floor be homage.
31 Homage to him in woods and to him in bushes, homage!
Homage to him as sound and to him as echo, homage!
Homage to him with swift armies and to him with swift
chariots, homage! Homage to the hero, and to him who
rends asunder be homage.
35 Homage to him who wears a helmet, and to him who wears
a cuirass, homage! To him who wears mail and defensive
armour, homage! To the renowned one and to him whose
army is renowned be homage, to him who is in drums and
to him who makes himself known by beating them.
36 Homage to the bold one and to the prudent, homage to him
who carries sword and quiver, homage to him who hath
keen arrows and is armed with weapons, homage to him
who hath good weapons and a good bow.
37 Homage to him who dwells on paths and roads, homage to
him who dwells in rugged spots and on the skirts of mountains,
homage to him who dwells in water courses and
lakes, homage to him who dwells in rivers and mores.
38 Homage to him who dwells in wells and pits, homage to him
who dwells in bright sky and sunlight. Homage to him
who dwells in cloud and lightning, homage to him who
dwells in rain and to him who dwells in fair weather.
39 Homage to him who dwells in wind and to him who dwells
in tempest, homage to the dweller in houses and to the
house-protector. Homage to Soma and to Rudra, homage
to the copper-coloured and to the ruddy One.
40 Homage to the giver of weal, and to Pasupati, homage to
the fierce and to the terrific. Homage to him who slays
in front and to him who slays at a distance, homage to
the slayer and to the frequent slayer, homage to the
green-tressed trees, homage to the deliverer.
41 Homage to the source of happiness and to the source of
delight, homage to the causer of happiness and to the causer
of delight, homage to the auspicious, homage to the most
auspicious.
p. 145
42 Homage to him who is beyond and to him who is on this
side, homage to him who crosses over and to him who
crosses back. Homage to him who is in fords and on
river banks, homage to him who is in tender grass and in
foam.
43 Homage to him who is in sand and to him who is in running
water, homage to him who is on pebbly ground and to
him who is where still water stands. Homage to him
who wears braided hair and to him whose hair is smooth.
Homage to him who is in deserts and to him who is on
broad roads.
44 Homage to him who is in herds of cattle and to him who
is in cow-pens, homage to him who is on beds and to
him who is in houses. Homage to him who is in hearts,
and to him who is in whirlpools, homage to him who is in
wells and to him who is in abysses.
45 Homage to him who is in dry things and to him who is in
green things. Homage to him who is in dust and to him
who is in vapour. Homage to him who is in inaccessible
places, homage to him who is in creeping plants, homage
to him who is in the earth and to him who is in good soil.
46 Homage to him who is in leaves and to him who is in the
falling of leaves. Homage to him with the threatening
voice and to him who slays, homage to him who troubles
and to him who afflicts. Homage to you arrow-makers
and to you bow-makers, homage to you sprinklers, to the
hearts of the Gods. Homage to the discerners, homage
to the destroyers; homage to the indestructible.
47 Pursuer, Lord of Soma juice, thou cleaver, coloured blue
and red,
Cleave not, destroy not one of these our children, nor of
these our beasts, let nothing that is ours be sick.
48 To the strong Rudra bring we these our songs of praise, to
him the Lord of Heroes, with the braided hair,
That it be well with all our cattle and our men, that in this
village all be healthy and well-fed.
49 Rudra, with that auspicious form of thine which healeth
every day,
Auspicious, healer of disease, be kind to us that we may live.
p. 146
50 May Rudra's missile turn aside and spare us, the great
wrath of the impetuous One avoid us.
Turn, Bounteous God, thy strong bow from our princes, and
be thou gracious to our seed and offspring.
I Most bounteous, most auspicious, be auspicious, well inclined
to us.
On some remotest tree lay down thy weapon. and clad in
robe of skin approach, bearing thy bow come hitherward.
52 O Wound averter, purple-hued, to thee be homage, holy Lord!
May all those thousand darts of thine strike dead another
one than us.
53 Thousands of thousands are the shafts, the missiles ready
in thy hands:
Thou holy Lord, who hast the power, turn thou their
points away from us.
54 Innumerable thousands are the Rudras on the face of earth:
Of all these Rudras we unbend the bows a thousand leagues
away.
55 Bhavas there are above us in this mighty billowy sea of air,
Of all of these do we unbend, etc.
56 Rudras are dwelling in the sky, whose necks are blue, whose
throats are white:
Of these do we unbend the bows a thousand leagues away
from us.
57 Sarvas haunt realms beneath the earth—their necks are blue,
their throats are white:
Of these, etc.
58 These, green like young grass, in the trees, with azure necks
and purple hue,
Of those, etc.
59 Those, ministering spirits’ lords, with no hair-tufts, with
braided locks,
Of these, etc.
60 Those, the protectors of the paths, bringers of food, who
fight for life. Of these, etc.
61 Those who with arrows in their hand, and armed with
words, frequent the fords, Of these, etc.
62 Those who, inhabiting the food, vex men while drinking from
their cups, etc.
p. 147
63 Rudras so many and still more, lodged in the quarters of
the sky, etc.
64 Homage to Rudras, those whose home is sky, whose arrows
floods of rain.
To them ten eastward, southward ten, ten to the south, ten
to the north, ten to the region uppermost!
To them be homage! May they spare and guard us. Within
their jaws we lay the man who hates us and whom we
abhor.
65 Homage to Rudras, those whose home is air, whose arrows
is the rain. To them, etc.
66 Homage to Rudras, those whose home is earth, whose arrows
is men's food.
To them be homage, etc.
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p. 148 BOOK THE SEVENTEENTH.
THE food and strength contained in stone and mountain,
drink gathered from the plants and trees and waters,
That food and strength, Maruts! free-givers, grant us.
In the stone is thy hunger. In me is thy food. Let thy
pain reach the man we hate.
2 O Agni, may these bricks be mine own milch kine: one, and
ten, and ten tens, a hundred, and ten hundreds, a thousand,
and ten thousand a myriad, and a hundred thousand,
and a million, and a hundred millions, and an ocean middle
and end, and a hundred thousand millions, and a billion.
May these bricks be mine own milch-kine in yonder world
and in this world.
3 Ye are the Seasons, strengthening Law, fixed in due season,
strengthening Law,
Called Splendid, dropping butter down and honey, yielders
of every wish, imperishable.
4 With the lake's mantling need we robe thee, Agni: to us
he purifying and auspicious.
5 With cold's investing garb we gird thee, Agni: to us be purifying
and auspicious.
p. 149
6 Descend upon the earth, the reed, the rivers: thou art the
gall, O Agni, of the waters.
With them come hither, female Frog, and render this sacrifice
of ours bright-hued, successful.
7 This is the place where waters meet; here is the gathering
of the flood.
Let thy shaft burn others than us: be thou cleanser, propitious
unto us.
8 O Agni, purifier, God, with splendour and thy pleasant
tongue
Bring hither, and adore, the Gods.
9 So, Agni, purifying, bright, bring hither to our sacrifice,
To our oblation bring the Gods.
10 He who with purifying, eye-attracting form hath shone upon
the earth as with the light of Dawn;
Who speeding on, as in the fleet steed's race, in fight, cometh
untouched by age, as one athirst in heat.
11 Obeisance to thy wrath and glow! Obeisance to thy fiery
flame!
Let thy shot missiles burn others than us: be thou cleanser,
propitious unto us.
12 To him who dwells in man, Hail! To him who dwells in
waters, Hail!
To him who dwells in sacred grass, Hail! To him who dwells
in the wood, Hail! To him who finds the light, Hail!
p. 150
13 Worshipful Gods of Gods who merit worship, those who sit
down beside their yearly portion,
Let them who eat not sacrificial presents drink in this rite
of honey and of butter.
14 Those Gods who have attained to Godhead over Gods, they
who have led the way in this our holy work,
Without whose aid no body whatsoever moves, not on heaven's
heights are they, nor on the face of earth.
15 Giver of breath, of out-breath, breath diffusive, giver of
lustre, giving room and freedom,
Let thy shot missiles burn others than us: be thou cleanser,
propitious unto us.
16 May Agni with his sharpened blaze cast down each fierce
devouring fiend.
May Agni win us wealth by war.
17 He who sate down as Hotar priest, the Rishi, our Father
offering, up all things existent
He, seeking with his wish a great possession, came among
men on earth as archetypal.
18 What was the place whereon he took his station? What was
it that upheld him? What the manner,
Whence Visvakarman, seeing all, producing the earth, with
mighty power disclosed the heavens?
p. 151
19 He who hath eyes on all sides round about him, a mouth on
all sides, arms and feet on all sides,
He the sole God, producing earth and heaven, weldeth them
with his arms as wings together.
20 What was the tree, what wood in sooth produced it, from
which they fashioned out the earth and heaven?
Ye thoughtful men, inquire within your spirit whereon he
stood when he established all things.
21 Thine highest, lowest sacrificial natures, and these thy
midmost here, O
Visvakarman,
Teach thou thy friends at sacrifice, O Blessèd, and come thy-
self, exalted, to our worship.
22 Bring those, thyself exalted with oblation, O
Visvakarman,
Earth and Heaven to worship.
Let enemies around us live in folly: here let us have a rich
and liberal patron.
23, 24. = VIII. 45, 46.
25 The Father of the eye, the Wise in spirit, created both these
worlds submerged in fatness.
Then when the eastern ends were firmly fastened, the heavens
and the earth were far extended.
26 Mighty in mind and power is
Visvakarman, Maker, Disposer,
and most lofty Presence.
p. 152
Their offerings joy in rich juice where they value One, only
One beyond the Seven Rishis.
27 Father who made us, he who, as Disposer, knoweth all races
and all things existing,
Even he alone, the Deities’ name-giver,—him other beings
seek for information.
28 To him in sacrifice they offered treasures,—Rishis of old, in
numerous troops, as singers,
Who, in the distant, near, and lower region, made ready all
these things that have existence.
29 That which is earlier than this earth and heaven, before the
Asuras and Gods had being,
What was the germ primeval which the waters received where
the first Gods beheld each other?
30 The waters, they received that germ primeval wherein the
Gods were gathered all together.
It rested set upon the Unborn's navel, that One wherein abide
all things existing.
31 Ye will not find him who produced these creatures: another
thing hath risen up among you.
Enwrapt in misty cloud, with lips that stammer, hymn-chanters
wander and are discontented.
32 First was the God engendered, Visvakarman: then the
Gandharva sprang to life as second.
Third in succession was the plants’ begetter: he laid the
waters’ germ in many places.
33 Swift, rapidly striking, like a bull who sharpens his horns,
terrific, stirring up the people,
With eyes that close not, bellowing, Sole Hero, Indra subdued
at once a hundred armies.
p. 153
34 With him loud-roaring, ever watchful, Victor, bold, hard to
overthrow, Rouser of battle,
Indra the Strong, whose hand bears arrows, conquer, ye
warriors, now, now vanquish in the combat.
35 He rules with those who carry shafts and quivers, Indra who
with his band brings hosts together,
Foe-conquering, strong of arm, the Soma-drinker, with mighty
bow, shooting with well-laid arrows.
36
Brihaspati, fly with thy chariot hither, slayer of demons,
driving off our foemen.
Be thou protector of our cars, destroyer, victor in battle,
breaker-up of armies.
37 Conspicuous by thy strength, firm, foremost fighter, mighty
and fierce, victorious, all-subduing,
The Son of Conquest, passing men and heroes,
kine-winner,
mount thy conquering car, O Indra.
38 Cleaver of stalls,
kine-winner, armed with thunder, who quells
an army and with might destroys it,
Follow him, brothers! quit yourselves like heroes, and like
this Indra show your zeal and courage.
39 Piercing the cow-stalls with surpassing
vigour, Indra, the
pitiless Hero, wild with anger,
Victor in fight, unshaken and resistless,—may he protect our
armies in our battles.
40 Indra guide these: Brihaspati precede them, the guerdon,
and the sacrifice, and Soma;
And let the banded Maruts march in forefront of heavenly
hosts that conquer and demolish.
41 Ours be the potent host of mighty
Indra, King Varuna, and
Maruts, and Âdityas.
Uplifted is the shout of Gods who conquer, high-minded Gods
who cause the worlds to tremble.
42 Bristle thou up, O Bounteous Lord, our weapons: excite the
spirits of my warring heroes.
Urge on the strong steeds’ might, O
Vritra-slayer, and let the
din of conquering cars go upward.
43 May Indra aid us when our flags are gathered: victorious be
the arrows of our army.
May our brave men of war prevail in battle. Ye Gods protect
us in the shout of onset.
p. 154
44 Bewildering the senses of our foemen, seize thou their bodies
and depart, O Apvâ.
Attack them, set their hearts on fire and burn them: so let
our foes abide in utter darkness.
45 Loosed from the bowstring fly awry, O Arrow, sharpened by
our prayer.
Go to the foemen, strike them home, and let not one of
them escape.
46 Advance, O heroes, win the day. May Indra be your sure
defence.
Exceeding mighty be your arms, that none may wound or
injure you.
47 That army of our enemies, O
Maruts, that comes against
us with its might, contending,
Meet ye and wrap it in unwelcome darkness so that not one
of them may know another.
48 There where the flights of arrows fall like boys whose locks
are yet unshorn,
May
Indra, may Brihaspati, may Aditi protect us well, protect
us well through all our days.
49 Thy vital parts I cover with thine
armour: with immortality
King Soma clothe thee.
Varuna give thee what is more than ample, and in thy
triumph may the Gods be joyful.
50 Worshipped with butter,
Agni, lead this man to high
preeminence.
Vouchsafe him growth of riches and multiply him with
progeny.
p. 155
51 Indra, lead him to eminence: controller of his foes be he.
Vouchsafe him
lustre: let him give their sacred portions to
the Gods.
52 The man within whose house we pay oblation,
Indra, prosper
him.
May the Gods bless and comfort him, they and this
Brahmanaspati.
53 May the All-Gods, O
Agni, bear and lift thee upward with
their thoughts.
Fair to be looked on, rich in light, he thou propitious unto
us.
54 May the Five Regions guard, divine, our worship, Goddesses
chasing lack of thought and hatred,
Giving the Sacrificer growth of riches. Let sacrifice be based
on growth of riches.
55 Inspirited above enkindled
Agni, adorable, winged with
hymns, was it accepted,
When the Gods offered sacrifice with viands, circling the
heated caldron, paving worship.
56 Lord of a hundred draughts. benign, God-serving—to him
divine, establisher, protector,
The Gods approached the sacrifice, encircling. Gods for the
Gods stood fain for sacred service.
57 When the fourth sacrifice reaches the oblation, accepted offering
which hath been made ready, fit for the Inmolator's
sacrificing,
Thence bless us prayers and holy recitations!
58
Savitar, golden-hued, hath lifted eastward, bright with the
sunbeams, his eternal
lustre,
He at whose furtherance wise Pûshan marches surveying all
existence like a herdsman.
p. 156
59 He sits, the measurer, in the midst of heaven, filling the two
world-halves and air's mid-region.
He looks upon the rich far-spreading pastures between the
eastern and the western limit.
60 Steer, Sea, Red Bird with strong wings, he hath entered the
dwelling-place of the Primeval Father.
A gay-hued Stone set in the midst of heaven, he hath gone
forth and guards the air's two limits.
61 All sacred songs have glorified Indra expansive as the sea,
The best of warriors borne on cars, the Lord, the Very Lord
of strength.
62 May God-invoking sacrifice bring the Gods hitherward to us.
May bless-invoking sacrifice bring the Gods hitherward to us.
May Agni, God, make offering and hither bring the Gods to
us.
63 May the abundant growth of wealth with elevation lift me
up,
And with his subjugating power may Indra keep my foemen
down.
64 Upraising and depression and devotion may the Gods increase.
May Indra, too, and Agni drive my foes away to every side.
65 Go ye by Agni to the sky bearing the Ukhya in your hands.
Reaching the heights of sky and heaven stay intermingled
with the Gods.
66 Agni, go forward to the eastern region, well-skilled, be here
the fire in front of Agni.
Illuming all the quarters, shine with splendour: supply with
food our quadrupeds and bipeds.
p. 157
67 From earth to air's mid-region have I mounted, and from
mid-air ascended up to heaven.
From the high pitch of heaven's cope I came into the world
of light.
68 Mounting the sky they look not round: they rise to heaven
through both the worlds—
Sages who span the sacrifice that pours its stream on every side.
69 Foremost of those who seek the Gods come forward, thou
who art eye of Gods and men, O Agni.
Accordant with the Bhrigus, fain to worship, to heaven in
safety go the Sacrificers.
70 Night and Dawn, different in hue, accordant, etc., as in XII. 2.
71 O Agni, thousand-eyed and hundred-headed, thy breaths are
hundred, thy through-breaths a thousand.
Thou art the Lord of thousandfold possessions. To thee;
for strength, may we present oblation.
72 Thou art the Bird of goodly wing: be seated on the ridge
of earth.
Fill air's mid-region with thy glow, supporting with thy
light the sky, confirm the quarters with thy sheen.
73 Receiving offerings, fair of aspect, eastward be duly seated
in thy place, O Agni.
In this the more exalted habitation be seated All-Gods and
the Sacrificer.
74 That wondrous all-mankind-embracing favour of Savitar,
choice-worthy, I solicit,
Even his which Kanva wont to milk, the mighty, the teeming
Cow who yields a thousand milk-streams.
p. 158
75 May we adore thee in thy loftiest birth place, Agni! with
praise-songs in thy lower station.
The place whence those hast issued forth I worship. In thee,
well kindled, have they paid oblations
76 Shine thou before us,
Agni, well enkindled, with flame, most
youthful God, that never fadeth.
Unceasing unto thee come sacred viands.
77
Agni, this day with lands, etc., as in XV. 44.
78 I dedicate the thought with mind and butter so that the
Gods may come who love oblation, strengthing Law,
To
Visvakarman, Lord of all the earth, I offer up day after
day the inviolable sacrifice.
79 Seven fuel logs hast thou, seven tongues, O
Agni, seven Rishis
hast thou, seven belovèd mansions.
Seven-priests in sevenfold manner pay thee worship. Fill
full—All-hail to thee!—seven wombs with butter.
80 Purely-Bright, Wonderfully-Bright, Really-Bright,
All-Luminous,
Bright, Law's-Protector, Safe-from-Ill;
81 Such, Other-Looking, Equal, Similar, Measured, Commensurate,
Jointly-Bearing-up.
82 Right, Real, Firm, Strong-to-Support, Bearer, Disposer,
Manager.
83 Winner-of-Right, Winner-of-Truth, Host-Conquering,
Lord-of-Goodly-Host,
Whose-Friends-are-Near-at-Hand, Whose-Banded-Enemies-are-Far-Away:
p. 159
84 To day in this our sacrifice be present, Such, Looking-Thus,
Same, Similar-in-appearance,
Measured, Commensurate, Joint-Bearers, Maruts!
85 Self-Powerful, Voracious-One, Kin-to-the-Sun, The
House-holder,
Play-Lover, Mighty, Conqueror.
Fierce, Terrible, The Resonant, The Roaring. Victorious,
Assailant, and Dispeller, All-Hail!
86 The Maruts, clans divine, became the followers of Indra; as
The Maruts, clans divine, became the followers of Indra, so
May clans divine and human he the Sacrificer's followers.
87 Drink in the middle of the flood, O Agni, this breast stored
full of sap, teeming with water.
Welcome this fountain redolent of sweetness. O Courser,
enter those thy watery dwelling.
88 Oil hath been mixed: oil is his habitation. In oil he rests:
oil is his proper province.
Come as thy wont is. O thou Steer, rejoice thee. Bear off
the oblation duly consecrated.
89 Forth from the ocean sprang the wave of sweetness: together
with the stalk it turned to Amrit,
That which is holy oil's mysterious title: but the Gods’
tongue is truly Amities centre.
90 Let us Declare aloud the name of Ghrita, and at this sacrifice
held it up with homage.
So let the Brahman hear the praise we utter. This hath the
four-horned Buffalo emitted.
p. 160
91 Four are his horns, three are the feet that bear him: his
heads are two, his hands are seven in number.
Bound with a triple bond the Bull roars loudly: the mighty
God hath entered into mortals.
92 That oil in triple shape the Gods discovered laid down with-
in the Cow, concealed by Panis.
Indra produced one shape, Sûrya another: by their own
power they formed the third from Vena.
93 From inmost reservoir in countless channels flow down these
rivers which the foe beholds not.
I look upon the streams of oil descending, and lo! the
Golden Reed is there among them.
94 Like rivers our libations flow together, cleansing themselves
in inmost heart and spirit.
The streams of holy oil pour swiftly downward like the wild
beasts that fly before the bowman.
95 As rushing down the rapids of a river, flow swifter than the
wind the vigorous currents,
The streams of oil in swelling fluctuation like a red courser
bursting through the fences.
p. 161
96 Like women at a gathering fair to look on and gently smiling,
they incline to Agni.
The streams of holy oil attain the fuel, and Jâtavedas joyfully
receives them.
97 As maidens deck themselves with gay adornment to join the
bridal feast, I now behold them.
Where Soma flows and sacrifice is ready, thither the streams
of holy oil are running.
98 Send to our eulogy a herd of cattle: bestow upon us excellent
possessions.
Bear to the Gods the sacrifice we offers the streams of oil flow
pure and full of sweetness.
99 The universe depends upon thy power and might within the
sea, within the heart, within all life.
May we attain that sweetly-flavoured wave of thine, brought,
at this gathering, o’er the surface of the floods.
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p. 162 BOOK THE EIGHTEENTH.
MAY my strength and my gain, and my inclination and my
influence, and my thought and my mental power, and
my praise and my fame, and my renown and my light,
and my heaven prosper by sacrifice.
2 May my breathing and my out-breathing, and my
through-breathing and my vital spirit, and my thought and my
reflection, and my voice and my mind, and my eye and
my ear, and my ability and my strength prosper by
sacrifice.
3 May my energy and my force, and my self and my body,
and my shelter and my shield, and my limbs and my
bones, and my joints and my members, and my life and
my old age prosper by sacrifice.
4 May my preëminence and my
overlordship, and my wrath
and my angry passion, and my violence and my impetuosity,
and my victorious power and my greatness, and my
breadth and my width, and my height and my length,
and my increase and my improvement prosper by sacrifice.
5 May my truth and my faith, and my cattle and my wealth,
and my goods and my pleasure, and my play and my
enjoyment, and my children and my future children, and
my hymn and my pious act prosper by sacrifice.
6 May my religious rite and my immortality, and my freedom
from consumption and my freedom from disease, and my
life and my longevity, and my freedom from enemies
and my freedom from danger, and my happiness and my
lying down, and my fair dawn and my fair day prosper
by sacrifice.
7 May my controller and my supporter, and my security and
my firmness, and my goods and my pleasure, and my
knowledge and my understanding, and my begetting and
my propagation, and my plough and my harrow prosper
by sacrifice.
p. 163
8 May my welfare and my comfort, and what I hold dear and
what I desire, and my love and my gratification, and my
enjoyment and my substance, and my happiness and my
felicity, and my higher bliss and my fame prosper by
sacrifice.
9 May my vigour and my pleasantness, and my milk and my
sap, and my butter and my honey, and my meal in company
and my drinking in company, and my ploughing
and my husbandry, and my superiority and my preëminence
prosper by sacrifice.
10 May my wealth and my property, and my prosperity and
my growth, and my pervading power and my lordship,
and my abundance and my greater abundance, and my
bad harvest and my unwasted crop, and my food and
my satiety prosper by sacrifice.
11 May my gain and my future gain, and what I have and
what I shall have, and my good road and my good path,
and my success and my succeeding, and my achievement
and my contrivance, and my thought and my good counsel
prosper by sacrifice.
12 May my rice-plants and my barley, and my beans and my
sesamum, and my kidney-beans and my vetches, and my
millet and my Panicum
Milliaceum, and my Panicum
Frumentaceum and my wild rice, and my wheat and my
lentils prosper by sacrifice.
13 May my stone and my clay, and my hills and my mountains,
and my pebbles and my trees, and my gold and my bronze,
and my copper and my iron, and my lead and my tin
prosper by sacrifice.
14 May my fire and my water, and my creepers and my plants,
and lily plants with culture-ripened fruit and my plants
with fruit ripened without culture, and my domestic
animals and my wild animals, and my substance and my
future substance, and my belongings and my power be
produced by sacrifice.
15 May my treasure and my dwelling, and my religious service
and my ability to perform it, and my object and my
course, and my way and my going prosper by sacrifice.
16 May my Agni and my
Indra, and my Soma and my Indra,
and my Savitar and my Indra, and my Sarasvatî and my
Indra, and my Pûshan and my Indra prosper by sacrifice.
p. 164
17 May my Mitra and my Indra, and my Varuna and my Indra,
and my Dhâtar and my
Indra, and my Maruts and my
Indra, and my All-Gods and my Indra prosper by sacrifice.
18 May my earth and my
Indra, and my Air and my Indra,
and my Sky and my Indra, and my Half-months and my
Indra, and my Lunar Mansions and my
Indra, and my
Sky-regions and my Indra prosper by sacrifice.
19 May my Amsu and my
Rasmi, and my Adhipati and my
Upâmsu, and my Antaryâma and my Aindra-Vâyava, and
my Maitrâ-Varuna, and my Âsvina and my Pratiprasthâna,
and my Sukra and my Manthin proper by sacrifice.
20 May my Âgrayana and my
Vaisvadeva, and my Dhruvâ and
my Vaisvânara, and my Aindrâgna and my Mahâvaisvadeva,
and my Marutvatîya and my
Nishkevalya, and my Sâvitra
and my Sârasvata, and my Pâtnîvata and my Hâriyojana
prosper by sacrifice.
21 May my ladles and my cups, and my Vâyu, vessels and my
Soma reservoirs, and my pressing-stones and my two press-boards,
and my Pûtabhrit and my Âdhavanîya, and my
altar and altar-grass, and my Avabhritha and my cries of
Good-speed prosper by sacrifice.
22 May my Agni and my charms, and my Arka and my Sûrya,
and my Prâna and my
Asvamedha, and my Prithivî and
my Aditi, and my Diti and my Sky, and my fingers, powers,
and sky-regions prosper by sacrifice.
p. 165
23 May my vow and my seasons, and my austere devotion, and
my day and night, thighs and knees, and two Great
Rathantaras prosper by sacrifice.
24 May me One and my Three, and my Three and my Five,
and my Five and my Seven (and similarly up to thirty-three)
prosper by sacrifice.
25 May my Four and my Eight and my Twelve (and similarly
up to forty-eight) prosper by sacrifice
26 May my eighteen-months steer and my eighteen-months
heifer, and my two-year bull and cow (and similarly up
to four-year) prosper by sacrifice.
27 May my six-year bull and my six-year cow, and my bull and
my barren cow, and my young bull and my calf-slipping
cow, and my ox and my
milch-cow prosper by sacrifice.
28 To strength, Hail! To Gain, Hail! To After-born, Hail! To
Power, Hail! To
Vasu, Hail! To the Lord of Days, Hail!
To the Failing Day, Hail! To the Failing Sprung from
the Transitory, Hail! To the Transitory sprung from the
Final, Hail! To the Final Mundane, Hail! To the Lord
of the World, Hail! To the Sovran Lord, Hail! To Prajâpati,
Hail! This is thy kingdom. Thou art a guiding controller
for the friend. Thee for
vigour, thee for rain,
thee for the sovran lordship of creatures.
29 May life succeed through sacrifice. May life-breath thrive
by sacrifice. May the eye thrive by sacrifice. May the
ear thrive by sacrifice. May the voice thrive by sacrifice.
May the mind thrive by sacrifice. May the self thrive by
sacrifice. May Brahma thrive by sacrifice. May light
succeed by sacrifice. May heaven succeed by sacrifice.
May the hymn thrive by sacrifice. May sacrifice thrive
by sacrifice; And laud and sacrificial text, and verse of
praise and Sâma chant, The Brihat and
Rathantara.
p. 166
Gods, we have gone to light. We have become the children
of Prajâpati. We have become immortal.
30 In gain of wealth we celebrate, etc: = IX. 5.
31 This day come all the
Maruts, all to aid us! Let all the fires
be thoroughly enkindled.
May the All-Gods come hither with protection. May we
possess all property and riches.
32 May our strength fill the regions seven, fill the four distant
places full.
Here may our riches guard us with the All-Gods in the gain
of wealth.
33 May strength to-day procure for us donations strength
range the Gods together with the Seasons.
Yea, strength hath made me rich in store of heroes. As
lord of strength may I gain all the regions.
34 Strength be before us, in the midst among us. May strength
exalt the Gods with our oblation.
Yea, strength hath made me rich in store of heroes. As
lord of strength may I gain all the regions.
35 With milk of Prithivî do I unite me, unite myself with
waters and with plants.
As such may I gain strength, O
Agni.
36 Store milk in earth and milk in plants, milk in the sky and
milk in air.
Teeming with milk for me he all the regions.
37 Thee by the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with arms of
Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan,
Controlled by Vâk Sarasvatî's Controller, with Agni's sole
dominion I besprinkle.
38 Maintainer of Law, true by nature, Agni is the
Gandharva.
The plants are his Apsarases, namely Delights. May he
protect this our Priesthood and Nobility. To him All-hail!
Ave! To those All-hail!
p. 167
39 The Conjoined, Visvasâman, Sûrya is the Gandharva. His
motes are his
Apsarases, Swift-moving. May he protect,
etc., as in 38.
40 The Highly-Blessed, the Moon whose rays are like the Sun's,
is the
Gandharva. The Asterisms are his Apsarases, Luminous.
May he protect, etc.
41 The Quick, All-reaching, Wind is the
Gandharva. The
Waters are his Apsarases, named Energies. May he
protect, etc.
42 The Protecting, Strong-winged, Sacrifice is the
Gandharva.
Guerdons are his Apsarases, called
Praisers. May he
protect, etc.
43 The Lord of Creatures, Omnific, Mind is the
Gandharva.
Richas and Sâmans are his Apsarases, called Wishings.
May he protect, etc.
44 Lord of the World, Prajâpati, whose are the homes above
and here,
Give great protection unto these, the Priesthood and Nobility.
45 Thou art the vapoury sea that giveth moisture. Blow on
me, thou, healthful and blessing-laden.
Thou art the Maruts’ own, the band of
Maruts. Blow on
me, etc.
Seeker of aid art thou, receiving worship. Blow on me, etc.
46 Thy lights, O
Agni, in the Sun, etc., as in XIII. 22.
47 Lights of yours in the Sun, O Gods, etc., as in XIII. 23.
p. 168
48 Give lustre to our holy priests, set lustre in our ruling chiefs
Lustre to
Vaisyas, Sûdras: give, through lustre; lustre unto
me.
49 I ask this of thee with my prayer, adoring: thy worshipper
asks this with his oblations.
Varuna, stay thou here and be not angry: steal not our life
from us, O thou Wide-Ruler.
50 Heaven-like is Warmth, Hail! Heaven-like is
Arka, Hail!
Heaven-like is the Bright One, Hail! Heaven-like is Light,
Hail! Heaven-like is Sûrya, Hail!
51 I yoke with power and flowing butter
Agni, divine, strong-
pinioned, great with vital vigour.
Through him may we approach the Bright One's station,
ascending to the loftiest sky, to heaven.
52 With these thy two ne’er-wasting feathered pinions wherewith
thou drivest fiends away, O
Agni,
Let us fly to the regions of the pious whither have gone the
first-born ancient Rishis.
53 The Drop, the powerful, the falcon, righteous, impetuous
bird borne on his golden pinions,
Great,
stedfast, settled in the habitation—to thee be reverence!
Forbear to harm thee!
54 Centre of earth, heaven's head art thou, essence of waters
and of plants.
Eternal, far spread refuge. Homage to the Path!
55 Attached thou standest at the head of all the world. Thy
heart is in the sea, thy life is in the floods. Give water:
cleave the reservoir.
p. 169
Help us with rain sent from the sky, Parjanya, firmament,
or earth.
56 By Bhrigus and by Vasus hath prayer-granting sacrifice
been paid.
Come, Wealth, into the house of him our dear, our well-beloved
one.
57 May
Agni, served with sacrifice and gifts, protect our offered
food:
This homage be Good-speed to Gods!
58 That which hath flowed from purpose or from judgment, or
gathered from the wind or from the vision,
Follow ye to the region of the pious whither have gone the
first-born ancient Rishis.
59 To thee I trust this man. Celestial Dwelling! treasure which
Jâtavedas shall bring hither.
After you will the Sacrificer follow. Here recognize him in
the highest heaven.
60 Acknowledge him, ye Gods, in highest heaven. Ye who are
present, know the shape he
weareth.
When he approacheth by the God-ward pathways, reveal to
him the meed of pious actions.
61 Wake up, O
Agni, etc., as in XV. 54.
62 Convey our sacrifice to heaven, etc., as in XV. 55,
63 With
Darbha-bunch, with fencing-wood, with spoon, with
altar, holy grass,
With laud, lead this our sacrifice to go to heaven among
the Gods.
64 Our gifts, our charitable grants, our pious works, our fees to
priests,
May the Omnific's Agni set all this among the Gods in heaven.
p. 170
65 There where all never-failing streams of honey and of butter
flow,
May
Agni, Visvakarman's own, place us in heaven among
the Gods.
66 Agni am who know by birth all creatures. Mine eye is
butter, in my mouth is nectar.
I am the triple light, the region's meter: exhaustless heat
am I, named burnt oblation.
67 Praise-verses, sacrificial texts, and chanted hymns am I in name.
Thou art the best of all the Fires among the fivefold race
of man
That burn upon this earth of ours. Speed thou us on to
lengthened life.
68 O
Indra, for the strength that slays Vritra and conquers in
the fight
We torn thee hitherward to us.
69 Thou,
Indra, much-invoked, didst crush to pieces, Kunâru,
handless fiend who dwelt with Dânus.
Thou with might,
Indra, smotest dead the scorner, the footless
Vritra as he waxed in vigour.
70 O
Indra, beat our foes away, etc. as in VIII. 44.
71 Like some dread wild beast roaming on the mountain thou
hast approached us from the farthest distance.
Whetting thy bolt and thy sharp blade, O
Indra, crush thou
the foes and scatter those who hate us.
72 To aid us let Vaisvânara come from the distance far away:
Come
Agni, to our eulogies!
73 Sought in the sky, sought on the earth, sought after, all
plants that grow on ground hath Agni entered.
May
Agni, may Vaisvânara with vigour, sought for, by day
and night from harm preserve us.
p. 171
74 Help its that we may gain this wish, O Agni, gain riches,
Wealthy One! with store of heroes.
Desiring strength from thee may we be strengthened, and
win, Eternal! thine eternal glory.
75 Approaching with raised hands and adoration, we have this
day fulfilled for thee thy longing.
Worship the Gods with most devoted spirit as Priest with
no unfriendly thought. O Agni.
76 Home-hider Agni, Indra, and Brahma, and bright Brihaspati—
May the All Gods, one-minded, guard our sacrifice in happy
place.
77 Guard thou the Sacrificer's men, O Youthfullest, etc., as in
XIII. 52.
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p. 172 BOOK THE NINETEENTH.
SWEET with the sweet, I sprinkle thee with Soma, strong
with the strong, the nectar with the nectar,
The honey-sweet with what is sweet as honey.
Soma art thou. Get dressed for the
Asvins. Get dressed
for Sarasvatî. Get dressed for Indra the Good Deliverer.
2 Hence pour ye forth the flowing juice, Soma, best Sacrificial
food.
He who, man's friend, hath run within the waters hath with
the pressing-stones poured out the Soma.
3 Purified by Vâyu's strainer, Soma that has passed away forward
is Indra's proper friend.
Purified by Vâyu's strainer, Soma that has passed away
backward is Indra's proper friend.
4 By means of this eternal sieve may Sûrya's Daughter purify
The Soma that flows forth from thee.
5 Soma with Wine, pressed; filtered for the banquet, cleanses
priest, noble, brilliancy and
vigour.
God, with the Bright give Deities enjoyment: give food with
flavour to the
Sacrificer.
p. 173
6 What then? As men whose fields are full of barley, etc., as
in X. 32.
Taken upon a base art thou. I take thee for the Asvin Pair.
Thee for Sarasvatî. Thee for Indra the Good Deliverer.
This is thy home. For splendour thee. Thee for mans’
vigour. Thee for strength.
7 For each of you is made a God-appointed place: so grant to
me a portion in the highest sphere.
Surâ the strong art thou. This here is Soma. Entering
thine own place do me no mischief.
8 Taken upon a base art thou. Splendour of
Asvins, Sarasvatî's
manly vigour, might of Indra.
This is thy home. I take thee for enjoyment. I take thee
for delight, take thee for greatness.
9 Thou art
lustre: give me lustre, Thou art manly vigour:
give me manly vigour.
Thou art strength: give me strength. Thou art energy:
give me energy.
Thou art passion: Give me passion. Thou art conquering
might: give me conquering might.
10 My she, Vishûchikâ, who guards these two, the tiger and
the wolf,
The lion and the wingèd hawk, may she guard this man
from distress.
11 When, a delighted boy, I bruised my mother as I sucked
her breast,
p. 174
Free from my debt, O Agni, I become thereby. My parents
are by me unharmed.
United are ye all: with bliss unite me. Parted are ye, keep
me apart from evil.
12 The
Asvins, the Physicians, Gods, stretched out the healing
sacrifice,
Sarasvatî with speech was a Physician, all with heroic powers
investing
Indra.
13 Symbols of Dîkshâ are grass buds, of Prâyanîya sprouts of
corn,
Of Soma-purchasing fried grains are symbols, Soma-shoots
and
meath.
14 Âtithya's sign is Mâsara, the Gharma's symbol Nagnahu.
Three nights with Surâ poured, this is the symbol of the
Upasads.
15 Emblem of purchased Soma is
Parisrut, foaming drink effused:
Indra's balm milked for Indra by the Asvins and Sarasvatî.
16 The Sacrificer's seat is the throne's symbol, the jar containing
Surâ of the Altar.
The mid-space is the northern Altar's symbol: the cloth for
filtering is the physician.
17 Altar by Altar is produced, power, holy grass by holy grass.
The stake is by the stake obtained, by Agni Agni carried
forth.
18 The Asvins are the Soma store, Sarasvatî the sacred hearth.
For Indra formed is Indra s seat, the Matrons' Hall, the
house-lord's fire.
p. 175
19 Orders he gains by orders, by Âprîs Âprîs of sacrifice,
Post-offerings by fore-offerings, and by calls of Vashat Âhutis.
20 By victims he gains victims, by ground rice-cakes sacrificial
food,
By metres kindling-verses, and
Vashat-calls by Inviting
prayers.
21 Grain roasted, gruel, barley-meal, grains of rice roasted, milk
and curd
Are types of Soma: mingled milk, sweet whey, of sacrificial
food.
22 Type of parched corn is jujube-fruit; wheat of the roasted
grains of rice; Jujube the type of barley-meal, and
Indra-grains
of gruel-groats.
23 Symbol of milk are barley-grains, symbol of curd are
jujube-fruits.
Whey is the type of Soma, and milk-mixture type of
Soma's pap.
24 The Strophe is the cry, Bid hear? the answer is the antistrophe.
Sacrifice! is the Dhâyyâ's form, Pragâthas’ the Yajâmahas.
25 By verse-halves comes the Ukthas’ type, Nivids by Padas he
obtains.
The type of Sastras is obtained by
Pranavas, Soma by milk.
p. 176
26 Gained by the Asvins is the morn's libation, Indra's libation
of mid-day by
Indra.
Sarasvatî obtains the third outpouring, the offering sacred
to the Visve
Devas.
27 By Vâyu cups he gains the cups of Vâyu, and by the basket
gains the vat for Soma.
By the two jars he gains two cleansing-vessels, and by the
cooking-pot the pot for cooking.
23 By sacrificial texts are gained the
Grahas, and by the Grahas
lauds and laud-arrangements.
By metres are obtained Ukthas and praise-songs, and by the
Sâma-chant the
Avabhritha.
29 Draughts he obtains by pouring out libations, and wishes
by the utterance of praises,
By Samyu he obtains Patnîsamyâjas, and Consummation by
Samishtayajus.
30 He gains by vow of fasting Consecration, by Consecration
gains the priestly guerdon.
He gains by priestly guerdon faith: by faith comes knowledge
of the truth.
31 So far the type of sacrifice was formed by Brahma, and the
Gods.
All this he gains, when juice is shed, in the Santrâmanî
sacrifice.
32 The rite with sacred grass, wine, store of heroes, the mighty
ones speed on with adorations.
May we, sweet-singing
sacrificers, setting Soma mid Gods in
heaven, give joy to Indra.
p. 177
33 All essence of thine own in plants collected, all strength of
Soma when poured out with Surâ—
Therewith impel with joy the sacrifice, Sarasvatî, the
Asvins,
Indra, Agni.
34 That which Sarasvatî poured out for Indra, by Asvins
brought from Namuchi the demon,
This flowing drop, brilliant and full of sweetness, I drink
and feed on here, the King, the Soma.
35 Whatever portion of the savoury fluid is clinging here,
what Indra drank with powers,
That drop thereof with pure and holy spirit I drink and
feed upon, the King, the Soma.
36 To Fathers who claim Svadhâ be Svadhâ and homage!
To Grandfathers who claim Svadhâ be Svadhâ and homage!
To Great-grandfathers who claim Svadhâ be Svadhâ and
homage!
The Fathers have eaten. The Fathers have rejoiced. The
Fathers have been satisfied, Fathers, be ye purified.
37 Cleanse me the Fathers who enjoy Soma! Grandfathers
make me clean!
May Great-grandfathers cleanse me with a sieve that brings
a century.
May my Grandfathers cleanse me, may my Great-grand-fathers
make me clean.
With sieve that brings a century may I obtain full length
of life.
33
Agni, thou poorest life: send down upon us food and vigorous
strength.
Drive thou misfortune far away.
p. 178
39 Cleanse me the companies of Gods! May thoughts with
spirit make me clean.
Cleanse me all things that be! Do thou, O Jâtavedas, make
me clean.
40 Purify me, O
Agni, God, refulgent with thy pure bright
sieve,
With powers according to thine own.
41 O
Agni, may the cleansing sieve, diffused through all thy
fiery glow,
Holy devotion, make me clean.
42 May Pavamâna with his sieve, Guest of all tribes, cleanse
us to-day,
He who is Cleanser make us clean.
43
Savitar, God, by both of these, libation, purifying power,
Purify me on every side.
44 Dear to all Gods hath come the cleansing Goddess, she who
contains these many smooth-backed figures.
Through her may we in sacrificial banquets taking our pleasure
be the lords of riches.
45 The Fathers who in Yama's realm are equal and unanimous—
Their world is Svadhâ, reverence. To Gods let sacrifice be
paid.
46 Equals, unanimous, my folk yet living among those who
live—
On me be set their glory through a hundred years in this
our world.
p. 179
47 I have heard mention of two several pathways, way of the
Fathers, way of Gods and mortals.
On these two roads each moving creature travels, each
thing between the Father and the Mother.
48 May this my sacrifice bring store of children, with ten
brave sons, full-companied, for welfare—
Life-winning, winning offspring, winning cattle, winning this
world of ours and peace and safety.
May Agni make nay progeny abundant. Do ye confer food,
milk, and wanly
vigour.
49 May they ascend, the lowest, highest, midmost, the Fathers
who deserve a share of Soma.
May Fathers who have gained the world of spirits, gentle
and righteous, aid us when we call them.
50 Our Fathers are
Angirases, Navagvas, Atharvans, Bhrigus,
who deserve the Soma.
May these the holy look on us with
favour: may we enjoy
their gracious loving-kindness.
51 Our ancient Fathers who deserve the Soma, who came, most
noble, to our Soma banquet—
With these let
Yama, yearning with the yearning, rejoicing
eat our offerings at his pleasure.
52 Thou, Soma, art preeminent for wisdom: along the straightest
path thou art our leader.
Our prudent Fathers by thy wisdom, Soma, dealt out
among the Gods their share of treasure.
53 For our sage Fathers, Soma Pavamâna, of old performed by
thee their sacred duties.
Fighting unvanquished, open the enclosures: enrich us
with large gifts of steeds and heroes.
p. 180
54 Associate with the Fathers thou, O Soma, hast spread thyself
abroad through earth and heaven.
So with oblation let us serve thee, Indu, and so let us become
the lords of riches.
55 Fathers who sit on sacred grass, come help us: these offerings
we have made for you; accept them.
So come to us with most auspicious favour, and give us
health and strength without a trouble.
56 I have attained the gracious-minded Fathers, have gained
a son and progeny from Vishnu.
They who enjoy pressed juices with oblation, seated on
sacred grass, come oftenest hither.
57 May they, the Fathers, worthy of the Soma, invited to their
favourite oblations
Laid on the sacred grass, come nigh and listen: may they
be gracious unto us and bless us.
58 May they our Fathers whom the flames have tasted, worthy
of Soma, come on God-ward pathways.
Enjoying at this sacrifice their portion, may they be gracious
unto us and bless us.
59 Fathers whom Agni's flames have tasted, come ye nigh:
ye kindly leaders, take ye each your proper place.
Eat sacrificial food presented on the grass: grant riches
with a multitude of hero sons.
p. 181
60 For those who, burnt with fire or not cremated, joy in their
portion in the midst of heaven,
May the Self-Ruler form the world of spirits and this their
body as his pleasure wills it.
61 We call the Agnishvâttas, true to seasons, those who drank
Soma in the Nârâsamsa.
Prompt to give ear to us be they, the sages, and then let
us be lords of wealth and treasure.
62 Bowing the bended knee and seated southward, accept ye,
all, this sacrifice with
favour.
Injure us not for any sin, O Fathers, which we through
human frailty have committed.
63 Lapped in the bosom of the purple Mornings give riches
to the man who brings oblation.
Grant to his sons a portion of your treasure, and, present,
give us energy, ye Fathers.
64 O Agni Kavyavâhana, cause us to praise before the Gods,
As our associate meet for lauds, wealth which e’en thou reputest
wealth.
65 May
Agni, Kavya-bearer, who hath worshipped Fathers
true to Law.
Announce to Gods and Fathers these our sacrificial offerings.
66 Thou. Agni
Kavya-bearer, when entreated, didst bear the
offerings which thou madest fragrant,
And gayest to the Fathers who did eat them with Svadhâ.
Eat, thou God, the gifts we bring thee.
p. 182
67 Thou, Jâtavedas, knowest well the number of Fathers who
are here and who are absent,
Of Fathers whom we know and whom we know not. Accept
the sacrifice arranged with portions.
68 Now let us pay this homage to the Fathers, to those who
passed of old and those who followed,
Those who have rested in the earthly region and those who
dwell among the Mighty Races.
69 As in the days of old our ancient Fathers speeding the work
of holy worship,
Agni!
Sought pure light and devotion, singing praises, they cleft
the ground and made red Dawns apparent.
70 Right gladly do we set thee down, right gladly make thee
burn and glow.
Gladly bring yearning Fathers nigh to eat the food of
sacrifice.
71
Indra, with waters’ foam didst thou wrench off the head of
Namuchi,
Subduing all contending hosts.
72 King Soma, pressed, the Drink of Life, left Death behind
with Soma-dregs.
By Law came truth and
Indra-power, the pure bright drinking-off
of juice. The power of Indra was this sweet immortal
milk.
73 The Snipe of Angiras by thought from out the waters
drank up milk.
By Law came truth, etc., as in 72.
p. 183
74 The Hamsa throned in light drank up by metre Soma from
the floods.
By Law, etc.
75 Prajâpati by Brahma drank the essence from the foaming
food, the princely power, milk, Soma juice. By Law, etc.
76 The generative part enters the yoni: it leaves aside the
retas and the mûtra.
The
caul-invested embryo leaves by its birth the covering
folds. By Law, etc.
77 Viewing both forms Prajâpati gave truth and falsehood
different shapes.
Prajâpati assigned the lack of faith to falsehood, faith to
truth. By Law, etc.
78 By holy lore Prajâpati drank up both forms, pressed and
unpressed.
By Law, etc.
79 Seeing the farming liquor's sap, Prajâpati with the bright
drank nut the bright the milk, the Soma juice. By Law,
etc.
80 Wise, with mind, lead, and thread of wool the sages twine
an amulet.
Sarasvatî,
Savitar, Varuna, the Asvins span sacrifice and
healed his form for Indra.
81 This his immortal shape with mighty powers three Deities
bestowing gifts compounded.
His hair they made with sprouts of grass and barley, and
roasted grain with skin and flesh supplied him.
82 His inner shape Sarasvatî arranges and, borne on bright
paths, the Physician
Asvins:
With Mâsaras and sieve his bone and marrow, as on the
Oxen's hide they lay the liquor.
p. 184
83 By thought Sarasvatî with both Nâsatyas forms lovely treasure
and a beauteous body.
Like shuttle through the loom the steady ferment mixes
the red juice with the foaming spirit.
84 By milk they generated bright immortal, productive seed,
by Surâ seed from urine,
Chasing afar folly and ill intention, crude food and wind
and meat that loads the stomach.
85 Heart with his heart Indra Good Guardian gendered: with
rice-cake Savitar gave truth its being.
Varuna, doctoring the lungs and liver, forms, as with Vâyu
cups, the gall and kidneys.
86 Cooking-pots pouring honey were the entrails: like a
well-milking cow the pans were bowels.
A hawk's wing was the spleen: through mighty powers the
stool as mother was navel and belly.
87 The pitcher was the father of the rectum by powers, the
womb which first contained the infant.
Plain was the hundred-streaming fount as penis: the jar
poured forth libations to the Father.
88 His face the basket, thence his head; the strainer his
tongue, his mouth Sarasvatî and
Asvins.
The Chapya was his rump, his leech the filter, the bladder
was his penis keen with
ardour.
89 Asvins with both cups made his eye immortal, the goat and
cooked oblation gave it keenness.
With wheat eyelashes and with jujube eyebrows they clothe
as ’twere a black and brilliant figure.
90 The sheep, the ram to give his nostril
vigour. the immortal
path of breath by both libations.
By Indra-grains and sacrificial jujubes Sarasvatî produced
through-breath and nose hairs.
p. 185
91 The hull for strength made Indra's form: the immortal
bearing for both his ears by two libations.
Barley and sacred grass composed his eyebrows: from his
mouth came the jujube and sweet honey.
92 Hair of the wolf was on his waist and body: the beard upon
his face was hair of tigers.
Lions hair were his locks, for fame and beauty, worn on
his head, his crest and sheen and
vigour.
93 The Asvins, Leeches, joined his limbs and body, Sarasvatî
put limbs and frame together,
Giving the form and vital power of
Indra, hundredfold,
deathless and delightful lustre.
94 Sarasvatî, as Consort of the
Asvins, bears in her womb the
nobly fashioned Infant.
King Varuna with waters’ wealthy essence begetting Indra
in the floods for glory.
95 Splendour of victims, powerful oblation, honey and meath
with milk and foaming liquor,
Healing Sarasvatî effused, and
Asvins; from pressed and
unpressed Soma, deathless Indu.
p. 186 BOOK THE TWENTIETH.
BIRTH PLACE of princely power art thou: centre art thou
of princely power.
Harm not thyself: do me no harm.
2
Varuna, Law's maintainer, hath sat down, etc., as in X. 27.
Save me from death. Save me from lightning.
3 Thee, by the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with arms of
Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan,
With leech-craft of the
Asvins, I besprinkle for splendour,
for the lustre of a Brâhman;
With leech-craft of Sarasvatî, besprinkle for manly vigour
and for food to feed thee;
Besprinkle thee, by special power of
Indra, for strength of
body and for fame and glory.
4 Thou art Ka. Noblest Ka art thou. Thee for the state and
rank of Ka.
Sumangala!
Susloka! Satyarâjan!
5 My head be grace, my mouth be fame, my hair and beard
be brilliant sheen!
My breath be King and deathlessness, mine eye Sole Lord,
mine ear the Prince!
6 My tongue be bliss, my voice be might, my mind be wrath,
my rage self-lord!
Joys be my fingers, and delight my members, conquering
strength my friend!
p. 187
7 Let my two arms be Indra's power, my hands be deed of
manly might, my soul and breast be princely rule! neck
8 My ribs be royal government, my belly, shoulders, neck,
and hips,
Thighs, elbows, knees, the people, yea, my members universally!
9 My navel intellect, etc., etc. ... ... ... ...
Duty am I in legs and feet, established King among the
folk.
10 I take my stand on princely power and Kingship, on cows
am I dependent, and on horses. on vital breath
On members I depend, and on the body,
dependent and on welfare, on heaven and earth and
sacrifice dependent.
11 May Deities, eleven threes, the three and thirty bounteous
Ones
Whose House-Priest is
Brihaspati, by impulse of bright
Savitar, the Gods protect me with the Gods.
12 May the first Gods with the second,
the second with the
third, the third with Truth, Truth with Sacrifice, Sacrifice
with sacrificial texts, sacrificial texts with Sâmans,
Sâmans with praise-verses, praise-verses with fore and
after-sentences. fore-sentences with inviting-texts,
inviting-texts with
Vashat-calls, Vashat calls with oblations,
and oblations, fulfil my desires, Earth! All-hail!
13 My hair is effort and attempt, my skin is reverence and
approach.
My flesh is inclination, wealth my bone, my marrow reverence.
14 Gods, Deities, whatever fault of ours have stirred the wrath
of Gods,
May Agni set me free from that iniquity and all distress.
15 If in the day-time or at night we have committed acts of sin,
May Vâyu set me free from that iniquity and all distress.
p. 188
16 If when awake or in our sleep we have committed acts of
sin,
May Sûrya set me free from that iniquity and all distress.
17 Each fault in village or in wild, company or corporeal sense,
Each sinful act that we have done to Sûdra or
Arya, or to
either's disadvantage, e’en of that sin thou art the expiation.
18 Waters, Inviolable ones, etc. Said to be repeated from
VI. 22.
O ever-moving Cleansing Bath, etc. Repeated from III. 48.
19 Thy heart is in the flood, etc. Repeated from VIII. 25.
To us let Waters, etc. Repeated from VI. 22.
20 As one unfastened from a stake, or cleansed by bathing
after toil,
As butter which the sieve hath purged, let water clean me
from my sin.
21 Looking upon the loftier light above the darkness we have
come
To Sûrya, God among the Gods, the light that is most excellent.
22 The waters I this day have sought, and to their essence
have we come.
Agni, come hither rich in milk, splendour and brilliancy
bestow on me, and progeny and wealth.
23 A brand art thou: fain would we thrive. Fuel art thou
and
splendour: give me splendour.
Earth comes again, the Dawn, the Sun. This Universe all
comes again.
May I possess Vaisvânara's light, may I attain my vast desires.
Earth! All-hail!
p. 189
24 O Agni, Master of the Vow, on thee I lay the kindling-
stick.
To the fast-vow and faith I come. I, consecrated, kindle
thee.
25 Fain would I know that holy world where Deities with
Agni dwell,
Where priestly rank and princely power together in accordance
move.
26 Fain would I know that holy world where want and languor
are unknown,
Where in complete accordance move Indra and Vâyu side
by side
27 Let thy shoot be united with his tendril, joint combine
with joint.
Imperishable sap for joy, thine odour be the Soma's guard!
28 They pour it out, they sprinkle it, they scatter it, they
make it pure.
In the brown Surâ's ecstasy he says What art thou? What
art thou?
29
Indra, at morn accept our cake accompanied with grain and
groats, with wheaten bread and hymns of praise.
30 To Indra sing the lofty hymn,
Maruts? that slayeth Vritra
best,
Whereby the Holy Ones created for the God the radiant
light that never dies.
31
Adhvaryu, on the straining cloth pour thou the Soma pressed
with stones:
Purify it for Indra's drink.
32 The Sovran Lord of living things, he upon whom the worlds
depend,
Mighty, the mighty's King—by him I take thee, take thee
on myself.
p. 190
33 Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Asvins. This is
thy home, etc.
34 Guard of my breath and outward breath, the guardian of
mine eye and ear,
All-healer of my voice, thou. art the mollifier of my mind.
35 Invited I feed upon thee invited,
Whom
Asvins, whom Sarasvatî, whom Indra, Good Protector,
made.
36 Kindred in forefront of the Mornings, Indra with forward
light, long-active, waxing mighty,
With three-and thirty Gods, the Thunder-wielder, smote.
Vritra dead and threw the portals open.
37 Son of Himself, the Praise of Men, the hero, measuring out
the sacrificial stations,
Rich in bulls’ fat, anointing with sweet butter, wise, bright
with gauds of gold, he
sacrificeth.
38 Lauded by Gods, Lord of Bay Steeds, the Helper, showing
his greatness. worshipped with oblations.
Fort-render,
Cowpen-cleaver, Thunder-wielder, may he approach
our sacrifice rejoicing
39 May
Indra, Lord of Bays, sit by direction eastward on earth,
accepting our oblation,
And sacred grass, fair, far-spread, widely-stretching, anointed
by Âdityas and by
Vasus.
40 To the strong Indra go the sounding Portals, dames with a
goodly husband, swiftly moving!
Well-manned, divine, wide be the Doors thrown open,
expanding in their greatness fir the Hero!
p. 191
41 Dawn and Night, lofty, sapful, richly-yielding, fair-showing,
as they weave with varied colour
The long-extended thread in concert, worship the God of
Gods, the lofty Hero
Indra.
42 The two first pleasant-voiced celestial Hotars, arranging
rites for man in sundry places,
At head of sacrifice stablishing
Indra, increase the eastern
light with sweet oblation.
43 Thriving by sacrifice may the three Bright Ones, taking delight
like wedded dames in
Indra,
Sarasvatî, Idâ, Bhâratî all-surpassing, with milk preserve
our sacred thread unbroken.
44 May Tvashtar coming frail afar, the active, give strength
and plenty to strong glorious
Indra,
And strong, prolific, worshipping, the Mighty at sacrifice's
head give the Gods
honour.
45 Let the divine Stake, like an Immolator, bind, as one
ordered, to himself the victim,
And, filling Indra's belly with ablations, season the sacrifice
with sweets and butter.
46 Indra the Bull, swift conqueror, wildly rushing bull-like to
meet the Indu of the droppings—
Delighting in a mind that scatters fatness, let the immortal
Gods rejoice in Svâhâ.
47 May Indra come to us for our protection, here, lauded
Hero, be our feast-companion.
May he whose powers are many, waxen mighty, cherish,
like
Dyaus, the sovran sway of princes.
48 From near or far away may mighty Indra, giver of
succour, come for our protection,
Lord of men, armed with thunder, with the Strongest,
slaying his foes in conflict, in the battles.
p. 192
49 May Indra come to us with Tawny Coursers, inclined to us,
to favour and enrich us.
May
Maghavan, loud-voiced and wielding thunder, stand by
us at this sacrifice, in combat.
50 Indra the Rescuer, Indra the Helper, Hero who listens at
each invocation,
Sakra I call, Indra invoked of many. May
Indra, Bounteous
Lord, prosper and bless us.
51 May helpful Indra as our Good Protector, Lord of all treasures,
favour us with
succour,
Baffle our foes and give us rest and safety, and may we be
the lords of hero
vigour.
52 May we enjoy the grace of him the Holy, yea, may we dwell
in his auspicious
favour.
May helpful Indra as our Good Preserver drive from us even
from afar, our foemen.
53 Come hither,
Indra, with Bay Steeds, joyous, with tails like
peacock plumes,
Let no men check thy course as fowlers stay the bird: pass
o’er them as o’er desert lands.
54 Verily the Vasishthas hymn with praises Indra the mighty
One whose arm wields thunder.
Praised, may he guard our wealth in men and cattle. Ye
Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
55 Fire hath been kindled, Asvins Twain! the Gharma warmed,
the Radiant pressed,
Here the
Milch-Cow Sarasvatî hath poured bright Soma,
Indra's own.
56 When Soma flows Sarasvatî and both the
Asvins, Leeches
and
Body-guards, bear to Indra strength by passage through
the realms of air.
p. 193
57 When Soma flowed the Asvins Twain, the Leeches, brought
sweet medicine,
With Men's Desire Sarasvatî for
Indra, Soma, Nagnahu.
58 Worshipped, Sarasvatî bestowed on Indra, senses, manly
power.
The
Asvins, through oblations paid, combined food, energy,
and wealth.
59 The Asvins brought from Namuchi pressed Soma bright
with foaming juice.
Sarasvatî with sacred grass brought that to Indra for his
drink.
60 Sarasvatî and Indra with the Asvins Twain milked out
desires
From heaven and earth, the regions, the resounding and
expansive doors.
61 Ye
Asvins, Dawn and Night, by day and in the evening, fair
of hue,
Accordant, with Sarasvatî, deck Indra with surpassing
powers.
62 Guard us, O
Asvins, through the day, guards us by night,
Sarasvatî.
Celestial
Hotars, Leeches! both guard Indra when the juice
is pressed.
63 The
Asvins, and the Three, apart, Sarasvatî, Idâ, Bhâratî,
As drink to gladden
Indra, poured strong Soma with the
foaming juice.
64 The Asvins, our Sarasvatî, and
Tvashtar, when the juice
was shed,
Gave Indra balm, yea, mead as balm, glory and fame and
many a shape.
65 Praising with foaming liquor at due times,
Indra, Vanaspatî,
Sarasvatî as cow gave forth sweet beverage with the Asvins
Twain.
66
Asvins, to Indra ye with cows, with Mâsara and foaming
drink
Gave, with Sarasvatî—All hail!—the pressed-out Soma juice
and mead.
p. 194
67 The Asvins and Sarasvatî by wit from fiendish Namuchi
Brought unto Indra sacred food, strength, brilliant treasure,
ample wealth.
68 That
Indra, strong through sacrifice by Asvins and Sarasvatî,
Cleft Vala through to win him wealth, with Namuchi of
Asura birth.
69 Supporting him in sacrifice with sacred food and mighty
powers,
Sarasvatî, both Asvins and the cattle hymned that Indra's
praise.
70 Indra whom Bhaga, Savitar, and Varuna supplied with power,
Lord of the sacrifice, may he, Good Guardian, love the worshipper.
71 Savitar, Varuna bestow gifts on the liberal offerer,
Strength, power and treasure which the Good Protector took
from Namuchi!
72 Varuna giving sway and power, Savitar grace with happiness,
The Good Protector giving strength with fame, obtained
the sacrifice.
73 With cows the Asvins, mighty power, with horses manly
vigour, strength,
With sacred food Sarasvatî, made Indra, Sacrificer, strong.
74 May those Nâsatyas, fair of form, the Men who ride on paths
of gold,
Oblation-rich Sarasvatî, thou, Indra! help us in our rites.
75 Those Leeches righteous in their deeds, She, rich in milk,
Sarasvatî,
That Vritra-Mayer hundred-powered, invested Indra with his
might.
76 Ye Asvins and Sarasvatî, joint drinkers of the Sara draught,
In Namuchi of Asura birth, give aid to Indra in his deeds.
77 As parents aid a son, etc., as in X. 34.
78 He in whom horses, bulls, oxen, and barren cows, and rams,
when duly set apart, are offered up,
To Agni, Soma-sprinkled, drinker of sweet juice, Disposer,
with thy heart bring forth a pleasant hymn.
p. 195
79 Within thy mouth is poured the offering, Agni, as Soma into
cup, oil into ladle.
Vouchsafe us wealth, strength-winning, blest with heroes,
wealth lofty, praised by men, and full of splendour.
80 The Asvins gave, with lustre, sight, Sarasvatî manly strength
with breath.
Indra with voice and might gave Indra vigorous power.
81 With kine, Nâsatyas! and with steeds, come, Asvins, Rudras!
to the house, the sure protector of its men;
82 Such, wealthy Gods! as none afar or standing near to us
may harm, yea, no malicious mortal foe.
83 Do ye, O longed-for Asvins, lead us on to wealth of varied
form, wealth that shall bring us room and rest.
84 Wealthy in spoil, enriched with hymns, may pure Sarasvatî
desire with eager love our sacrifice.
S5 She who awakens sounds of joy, inspires our hymns, Sarasvatî,
she hath allowed our sacrifice.
85 Sarasvatî, the mighty flood, she with her light illuminates,
she brightens every pious thought.
87 O Indra, marvellously bright, come, these libations long for
thee, thus by fine fingers purified.
88 Urged by the holy singer, sped by song, come, Indra, to the
prayers of the libation-pouring priest.
89 Approach, O Indra, hasting thee, Lord of Bay Horses, to the
prayer: in our libations take delight.
90 Accordant with Sarasvatî let the two Asvins drink the meath,
May Indra, Vritra-slayer, Good Guardian, accept the Soma
meath.
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from the Texts of the White Yajurveda, tr. Ralph T.H.
Griffith, [1899]. The text has been reformatted by Jayaram V for
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