DECADE III Agni
1. Hither, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who prospers you,
Most frequent at our solemn rites.
2. May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend:
May Agni win us wealth by war!
3. Agni, be gracious; thou art great: thou hast approached the pious man,
Hast come to sit on sacred grass.
4. Agni, preserve us,from distress consume our enemies, O God,
Eternal, with thy hottest flames
5. Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent!
The fleet ones bring thee rapidly.
6. Lord of the tribes, whom all must seek, we worshipped Agni set thee down,
Refulgent, rich in valiant men.
7. Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the earth is he
He quickeneth the waters' seed.
8. O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune of the Gods,
And this our newest hymn of praise!
9, By song, O Agni, Angiras! Gopavana hath brought thee forth
Hear thou my call, refulgent one!
10. Agni, the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved around the sacred gifts,
Giving the offerer precious things.
11. His heralds bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,
The Sun, that all may look on him.
12, Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the Sage whose holy laws are true
The God who driveth grief away.
13. Kind be the Goddesses to lend us help, and kind that we may drink:
May their streams bring us health and wealth
14. Lord of the brave, whose songs dost thou in thine abundance now inspire,
Thou whose hymns help to win the kine?
DECADE IV Agni
1. Sing to your Agni with each song, at every sacrifice for strength.
Come, let us praise the wise and, everlasting God even as a well-beloved friend,
2. Agni, protect thou us by one, protect us by the second song,
Protect us by three hymns, O Lord of power and might, bright God, by four hymns
guard us well!
3. O Agni, with thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilliancy, O God,
Kindled, most youthful one! by Bharadvaja's hand, shine on us richly, holy Lord!
4. O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes be to thee,
Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, the stall of
kine!
5. Agni, praise-singer! Lord of men, God! burning up the Rakshasas,
Mighty art thou, the ever-present, household-lord! home-friend and guardian from
the sky.
6. Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hued refulgent gift of Dawn,
Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn!
7. Wonderful, with thy favouring help, send us thy bounties, gracious Lord.
Thou art the charioteer, Agni, of earthly wealth: find rest and safety for our
seed!
8. Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, preserver, righteous, and a Sage.
The holy singers, O enkindled radiant one, ordainers, call on thee to come.
9. O holy Agni, give us wealth famed among men and strengthening life!
Bestow on us, O helper, that which many crave, more glorious still through
righteousness!
10. To him, who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men,
To him like the first vessels filled with savoury juice, to Agni let the lauds
go forth.
DECADE V Agni
1. With this mine homage I invoke Agni for you, the Son of Strength,
Dear, wisest envoy, skilled in noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.
2. Thou liest in the logs that are thy mothers: mortals kindle thee.
Alert thou bearest off the sacrifleer's gift, and then thou shinest to the Gods.
3. He hath appeared, best prosperer, in whom men lay their holy acts:
So may our songs of praise come nigh to Agni who was born to give the Arya
strength!
4. Chief Priest is Agni at the laud, as stones and grass at sacrifice.
Gods! Maruts! Brahmanaspati! I crave with song the help that is most excellent.
5. Pray Agni of the piercing flame, with sacred songs, to be our help;
For wealth, famed Agni, Purumilha and ye men! He is Suditi's sure defence.
6. Hear, Agni who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods!
With those who come at dawn let Mitra, Aryaman sit on the grass at sacrifice.
7. Agni of Divodasa, God, comes forth like Indra in his might.
Rapidly hath he moved along his mother earth: he stands in high heaven's
dwelling-place.
8. Whether thou come from earth or from the lofty lucid realm of heaven,
Wax stronger in thy body through my song of praise: fill full all creatures, O
most wise!
9. If, loving well the forests, thou wentest to thy maternal floods,
Not to be scorned, Agni, is that return of thine when, from afar, thou now art
here.
10. O Agni, Manu stablished thee a light for all the race of men:
With Kanva hast thou blazed, Law-born and waxen strong, thou whom the people
reverence.
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Agni
1. The God who giveth wealth accept your full libation poured to, him!
Pour ye it out, then fill the vessel full again, for so the God regardeth you.
2. Let Brahmanaspati come forth, let Sunrita the Goddess come,
And Gods bring to our rite which yields a fivefold gift the hero, lover of
mankind!
3. Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God,
Erect as strength-bestower when we call on thee with priests who balm our
offerings!
4. The man who bringeth gifts to thee, bright God who fain wouldst lead to
wealth,
Winneth himself a brave son, Agni! skilled in lauds, one prospering in a
thousand ways.
5. With hymns and holy eulogies we supplicate your Agni, Lord
Of many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others too inflame.
6. This Agni is the Lord of great prosperity and hero, strength,
Of wealth with noble offspring and with store of kine, the Lord of battles with
the foe.
7. Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Hotar-priest at sacrifice.
Lord of all boons, thou art the Potar, passing wise. Pay worship, and enjoy the
good!
8. We as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God, to be our help.
The Waters' Child, the blessed, the most mighty one, swift conqueror, and
without a peer.
DECADE II Agni
1. Present oblations, make him splendid: set ye as Hotar in his place the
Home's Lord, worshipped
With gifts and homage where they pour libations! Honour him meet for reverence
in our houses.
2. Verily wondrous is the tender youngling's growth who never draweth nigh to
drink his mother's milk.
As soon as she who hath no udder bore him, he, faring on his. great errand,
suddenly grew strong.
3. Here is one light for thee, another yonder: enter the third and, be therewith
united.
Beautiful be thy union with the body, beloved in the Gods' sublimest birthplace!
4. For Jatavedas, worthy of our praise, will we frame with our mind this eulogy
as 'twere a car;
For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not, in thy friendship,
Agni, suffer harm!
5. Agni Vaisvanara, born in course of Order, the messenger of earth, the head of
heaven,
The Sage, the sovran, guest of men, our vessel fit for their mouth, the Gods
have generated.
6. Even as the waters from the mountain ridges, so sprang the; Gods, through
lauds, from thee, O Agni.
To thee speed hymns and eulogies, as horses haste, bearing him who loves the
song, to battle.
7. Win to protect you, Rudra, lord of worship, priest of both worlds, effectual
sacrificer,
Agni, invested with his golden colours, before the thunder strike and lay you
senseless!
8. The King whose face is decked with oil is kindled with homage offered by his
faithful servant.
The men, the priests adore him with oblations. Agni hath shone forth at the
flush of morning.
9. Agni advanceth with his lofty banner: through earth and heaven the Bull hath
loudly bellowed
He hath come nigh from the sky's farthest limit: the Steer hath waxen in the
waters' bosom.
10. From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered with thoughts, urged by the
hand, the glorious Agni,
Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the Homestead.
DECADE III Agni
1. 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 mounting to
the vault of heaven.
2. Set forth the gleaming one, the song-inspirer, not foolish with. the foolish,
fort-destroyer,
Who leadeth with his hymns to thought of conquest, gold-bearded, richly splendid
with his armour
3. Thou art like heaven: one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night
dissimilar in colour.
All magic powers thou aidest, self-dependent! Auspicious bethy bounty here, O
Pushan!
4. 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!
5. Stablished to fill the juice with vital vigour, giver of wealth, guard of his
servant's body,
The great Priest, born, who knows the clouds, abider with men, is seated in the
waters' eddy.
6. Let the song, honouring the best, with longing honour the Asura's most famous
sovran,
The deeds of him the mighty, deeds like Indra's, the manly one in whom the folk
must triumph!
7. In the two kindling-blocks lies Jatavedas like the well-cherished germ in
pregnant women,--
Agni who day by day must be entreated by men who watch provided with oblations.
8. Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons: never shall Rakshasas in fight
o'ercome thee.
Burn up the foolish ones, raw flesh devourers: let none of them escape thine
heavenly arrow!
DECADE IV Agni
1. Bring us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resistless on thy way:
Prepare for us the path that leads to glorious opulence and strength!
2. May the brave man, if full of zeal he serve and kindle Agni's flame,
Duly presenting sacred gifts, enjoy the Gods' protecting help.
3. Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far-extended shines in heaven,
For, Purifier! like the Sun thou beamest with thy radiant glow.
4. Thou, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of thine own.
Bright, active God, thou makest fame increase like means of nourishment.
5. At dawn let Agni, much-beloved, guest of the house, be glorified,
In whom, the everlasting one, all mortals make their offerings blaze.
6. Most moving song be Agni's: shine on high, O rich in radiant light!
Like the chief consort of a King riches and strength proceed from thee.
7. Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speech
Agni your dear familiar friend, the darling guest in every house.
8. His beam hath lofty power of life: sing praise to Agni, to the God
Whom men have set in foremost place, like Mitra for their eulogy!
9. To noblest Agni, friend of man, chief Vritra-slayer, have we come-
Who with Srutarvan, Riksha's son, in lofty presence is inflamed.
10. Born as the loftiest Law commands, comrade of those who grew with him.
Agni, the sire of Kasyapa by faith, the mother, Manu, Sage.
DECADE V Agni
1. We in King Soma place our trust, in Agni, and in Varuna,
The Aditya, Vishnu, Surya, and the Brahman-priest Brihaspati.
2. Hence have these men gone up on high and mounted to the heights of heaven:
On! conquer on the path by which Angirasas travelled to the skies!
3. That thou mayst send us ample wealth, O Agni, we will kindler thee:
So, for the great oblation, Steer, pray Heaven and Earth to come to us!
4. He runs when one calls after him, This is the prayer of him who prays.
He holds all knowledge in his grasp even as the felly rounds the wheel.
5. Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame: demolish them on every side!
Break down the Yatudhana's strength, the vigour of the Rakshasa!
6. Worship the Vasus, Agni! here, the Rudras and Adityas, all
Who know fair sacrifices, sprung from Mann, scattering blessings down!
BOOK II 
CHAPTER I
DECADE I Agni
1. Agni, thy faithful servant I call upon thee with many a gift,
As in the keeping of the great inciting God.
2. To Agni, to the Hotar-priest offer your best, your lofty speech,
To him ordainer-like who bears the light of songs.
3. O Agni, thou who art the lord of wealth in kine, thou Son of Strength,
Bestow on us, O Jatavedas, high renown
4. Most skilled in sacrifice, bring the Gods, O Agni, to the pious, man:
A joyful Priest, thy splendour drives our foes afar
5. Taught by seven mothers at his birth was he, for glory of the wise.
He, firm and sure, hath set his mind on glorious wealth
6. And in the day our prayer is this: May Aditi come nigh to help,
With loving-kindness bring us weal and chase our foes
7. Worship thou Jatavedas, pray to him who willingly accepts,
Whose smoke wanders at will, and none may grasp his flame
8. No mortal man can e'er prevail by arts of magic over him
Who hath served Agni well, the oblation-giving God.
9. Agni, drive thou the wicked foe, the evil-hearted thief away,
Far, far, Lord of the brave! and give us easy paths!
10. O hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mine
Burn down the Rakshasas, enchanters, with thy flame!
DECADE II Agni
1. Sing forth to him the holy, most munificent, sublime with his refulgent
glow,
To Agni, ye Upastutas
2. Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of valiant sons and does
great deeds,
Whose bond of friendship is thy choice
3. Sing praise to him the Lord of light! The Gods have made the God to be their
messenger,
To bear oblation to the Gods.
4. Anger not him who is our guest! He is the bright God Agni, praised by many a
man,
God Hotar, skilled in sacrifice.
5. May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss: may the gift, blessed one! and
sacrifice bring bliss.
Yea, may our eulogies bring bliss.
6. Thee have we chosen skilfullest in sacrifice, immortal Priest among the Gods,
Wise finisher of this holy rite.
7. Bring us that splendour, Agni, which may overcome each greedy fiend in our
abode,
And the malicious wrath of men!
8. Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manu's race
Agni averteth from us all the Rakshasas!
DECADE III Indra
1. Sing this, beside the flowing juice, to him your hero, much-invoked,
To please him as a mighty Bull
2. O Satakratu Indra, now rejoice with that carouse of thine
Which is most glorious of all!
3. Ye cows, protect the fount: the two mighty ones bless the sacrifice.
The handles twain are wrought of gold.
4. Sing praises that the horse may come; sing, Srutakaksha, that the cow
May come, that Indra's might may come
5. We make this Indra very strong to strike, the mighty Vritra dead:
A vigorous hero shall he be.
6. Based upon strength and victory and power, O Indra, is thy birth:
Thou, mighty one! art strong indeed,
7. The sacrifice made Indra great when he unrolled the earth, and made
Himself a diadem in heaven.
8. If I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single ruler over wealth
My worshipper should be rich in kine.
9. Pressers, blend Soma juice for him, each draught most excellent, for him
The brave, the hero, for his joy.
10. Here is the Soma juice expressed. O Vasu, drink till thou art full:
Undaunted God, we give it thee
DECADE IV Indra
1. Surya, thou mountest up to meet the hero famous for his wealth,
Who hurls the bolt and works for man.
2. Whatever, Vritra-slayer! thou, Surya hast risen upon to-day,
That, Indra, all is in thy power.
3. That Indra is our youthful friend, who with his trusty guidanceled
Turvasa, Yadu from afar.
4. O Indra, let not ill designs surround us in the sunbeams' light
This may we gain with thee for friend!
5. Indra, bring wealth that gives delight, the victor's ever-conquering wealth,
Most excellent, to be our aid
6. In mighty battle we invoke Indra, Indra is lesser fight,
The friend who bends his bolt at fiends.
7. In battle of a thousand arms Indra drank Kadru's Soma juice
There he displayed his manly might.
8. Faithful to thee, we sing aloud, heroic Indra, songs to thee
Mark, O good Lord, this act of ours!
9. Hitherward! they who light the flame and straightway trim the sacred grass,
Whose friend is Indra ever young.
10. Drive all our enemies away, smite down the foes who press around,
And bring the wealth for which we long!
DECADE V Indra and others
1. I Hear, as though 'twere close at hand, the cracking of the whips they
hold:
They gather splendour on their way.
2. Indra, these friends of ours, supplied with Soma, wait and look to thee
As men with fodder to the herd.
3. Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men bow down,
As rivers bow them to the sea.
4. We choose unto ourselves that high protection of the mighty Gods,
That it may help and succour us.
5. O Brahmanaspati, make thou Kakshivan Ausija a loud
Chanter of flowing Soma juice!
6. Much honoured with libations may the Vritra-slayer watch for us:
May Sakra listen to our prayer
7. Send us this day, God Savitar, prosperity with progeny
Drive thou the evil dream away!
8. Where is that ever-youthful Steer, strong-necked and never yet bent down?
What Brahman ministers to him?
9. There where the mountains downward slope, there at the meeting of the streams
The Sage was manifest by song.
10. Praise Indra whom our songs must laud, sole sovran of mankind, the chief
Most liberal who controlleth men
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Indra and others
1. Indra whose jaws are strong hath drunk of worshipping Sudaksha's draught,
The Soma juice with barley brew.
2. O Lord of ample wealth, these songs of praise have called aloud to thee,
Like milch-kine lowing to their calves!
3. Then straight they recognized the mystic name of the creative Steer,
There in the mansion of the Moon.
4. When Indra, strongest hero, brought the streams, the mighty waters down,
Pushan was standing by his side.
5. The Cow, the streaming mother of the liberal Maruts, pours her milk,
Harnessed to draw their chariots on.
6. Come, Lord of rapturous joys, to our libation with thy bay steeds, come
With bay steeds to the flowing juice
7. Presented strengthening gifts have sent Indra away at sacrifice,
With night, unto the cleansing bath.
8. I from my Father have received deep knowledge of eternal Law:
I was born like unto the Sun.
9. With Indra splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things,
wherewith,
Wealthy in food, we may rejoice
10. Soma and Pushan, kind to him who travels to the Gods, provide
Dwellings all happy and secure.
DECADE II Indra
1. Invite ye Indra with a song to drink your draught of Soma steeds, juice,
All-conquering Satakratu, most munificent of all who live
2. Sing ye a song, to make him glad, to Indra, Lord of tawny
The Soma-drinker, O my friends!
3. This, even this, O Indra, we implore: as thy devoted friends
The Kanvas praise thee with their hymns!
4. For Indra, lover of carouse, loud be our songs about the juice
Let poets sing the song of praise.
5. Here, Indra, is thy Soma draught, made pure upon the sacred grass:
Run hither, come and drink thereof
6. As a good cow to him who milks, we call the doer of good deeds
To our assistance duy by day.
7. Hero, the Soma being shed, I pour the juice for thee to drink
Sate thee and finish thy carouse!
8. The Soma, Indra, which is shed in saucers and in cups for thee,
Drink thou, for thou art lord thereof!
9. In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,
Indra, the mightiest of all.
10. O come ye hither, sit ye down: to Indra sing ye forth your song,
Companions, bringing hymns of praise
DECADE III Indra
1. So, Lord of affluent gifts, this juice hath been expressed for thee with
strength:
Drink of it, thou who lovest song!
2. Great is our Indra from of old; greatness be his, the Thunderer
Wide as the heaven extends his might.
3. Indra, as one with mighty arm, gather for us with thy right hand
Manifold and nutritious spoil!
4. Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the kine,
The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.
5. With what help will he come to us, wonderful, ever-waxing friend?
With what most mighty company?
6. Thou speedest down to succour us this ever-conquering God of yours
Him who is drawn to all our songs.
7. To the assembly's wondrous Lord, the lovely friend of Indra, I
Had prayed for wisdom and successs.
8. May all thy paths beneath the sky whereby thou speddest Vyasva on,
Yea, let all spaces hear our voice
9. Bring to us all things excellent, O Satakratu, food and strength,
For, Indra, thou art kind to us!
10. Here is the Soma ready pressed: of this the Maruts, yea, of this,
Self-luminous the Asvins drink.
DECADE IV Indra and others
1. Tossing about, the active ones came nigh to Indra at his birth,
Winning themselves heroic might.
2. Never, O Gods, do we offend, nor are we ever obstinate
We walk as holy texts command.
3. Evening is come: sing loudly thou Atharvan's nobly singing son:
Give praise to Savitar the God!
4. Now Morning with her earliest light shines forth, dear daughter of the Sky:
High, Asvins, I extol your praise.
5. Armed with the bones of dead Dadhyach, Indra, with unresisted might
The nine-and-ninety Vritras slew.
6. Come, Indra, and delight thee with the juice at all our Soma feasts,
Protector, mighty in thy strength
7. O thou who slayest Vritras, come, O Indra, hither to our side,
Mighty one, with thy mighty aids!
8. That might of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, like
A skin, the worlds of heaven and earth,
9. This is thine own Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:
Thou carest, too, for this our prayer.
10. May Vata breathe his balm on us, healthful, delightful to our heart:
May he prolong our days of life
DECADE V Indra and others
1. Ne'er is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra, Aryam.
The excellently wise, protect.
2. According to our wish for kine, for steeds and chariots, as of old,
Be gracious to our wealthy chiefs
3. Indra, these spotted cows yield thee their butter and the milky draught,
Aiders, thereby, of sacrifice.
4. That thou much-lauded! many-named! mayst, with this thought, that longs for
milk,
Come to each Soma sacrifice.
5. May bright Sarasvati, endowed with plenteous wealth and spoil, enriched
With prayer, desire the sacrifice.
6. Why 'mid the Nahusha tribes shall sate this Indra with his Soma juice?
He shall bring precious things to us.
7. Come, we have pressed the juice for thee; O Indra, drink this Soma here:
Sit thou on this my sacred grass
8. Great, unassailable must be the heavenly favour of the Three,
Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.
9. We, Indra, Lord of ample wealth, our guide, depend on one like thee,
Thou driver of the tawny steeds!
BOOK III 
CHAPTER I
DECADE I Indra
1. Let Soma juices make thee glad! Display thy bounty, Thunderer:
Drive off the enemies of prayer!
2. Drink our libation, Lord of hymns! with streams of meath thou art bedewed:
Yea, Indra, glory is thy gift.
3. Indra hath ever thought of you and tended you with care. The God,
Heroic Indra, is not checked.
4. Let the drops pass within thee as the rivers flow into the sea
O Indra, naught excelleth thee!
5. Indra, the singers with high praise, Indra reciters with their lauds,
Indra the choirs have glorified.
6. May Indra give, to aid us wealth handy that rules the skilful ones!
Yea, may the Strong give potent wealth
7. Verily Indra, conquering all, drives even mighty fear away,
For firm is he and swift to act.
8. These songs with every draught we pour come, lover of the song, to thee
As milch-kine hasten to their calves.
9. Indra and Wishan will we call for friendship and prosperity,
And for the winning of the spoil.
10. O Indra, Vritra-slayer, naught is better, mightier than thou
Verily there is none like thee!
DECADE II Indra
1. Him have I magnified, our Lord in common, guardian of your folk,
Discloser of great wealth in kine.
2. Songs have outpoured themselves to thee, Indra, the strong, the guardian
Lord,
And with one will have risen to thee!
3. Good guidance hath the mortal man whom Arya-man, the Marut host,
And Mitras, void of guile, protect.
4. Bring us the wealth for which we long, O Indra, that which is concealed
In strong firm place precipitous.
5. Him your best Vritra-slayer, him the famous champion of mankind
I urge to great munificence.
6. Indra, may we adorn thy fame, fame of one like thee, hero! deck,
Sakra! thy fame at highest feast!
7. Indra, accept at break of day our Soma mixt with roasted corn,
With groats, with cake, with eulogies!
8. With waters' foam thou torest off, Indra, the head of Namuchi,
When thou o'ercamest all the foes.
9. Thine are these Soma juices, thine, Indra, those still to be expressed:
Enjoy them, Lord of princely wealth!
10. For thee, O Indra, Lord of light, Somas are pressed and grass is strewn:
Be gracious to thy worshippers!
1. We seeking strength, with Soma drops fill full your Indra like a well,
Most liberal, Lord of boundless might.
2. O Indra, even from that place come unto us with food that gives
A hundred, yea, a thousand powers!
3. The new-born Vritra-slayer asked his mother, as he seized his shaft,
Who are the, fierce and famous ones?
4. Let us call him to aid whose hands stretch far, the highly-lauded, who
Fulfils the work to favour us
5. Mitra who knoweth leadeth us, and Varuna who guideth straight,
And Aryaman in accord with Gods.
6. When, even as she were present here, red Dawn hath shone from far away,
She spreadeth light on every side.
7. Varuna, Mitra, sapient pair, pour fatness on our pastures, pour
Meath on the regions of the air!
8. And, at our sacrifices, these, sons, singers, have enlarged their bounds,
So that the cows must walk knee-deep.
9. Through all this world strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he planted, and the
whole
Was gathered in his footstep's dust.
DECADE IV Indra
1. Pass by the wrathful offerer; speed the man who pours libation, drink
The juice which he presents to thee!
2. What is the word addressed to him, God great and excellently wise?
For this is what exalteth him.
3, His wealth who hath no store of kine hath ne'er found out recited laud,
Nor song of praises that is sung.
4. Lord of each thing that giveth strength, Indra delighteth most in lauds,
Borne by bay steeds, libations' friend.
5. With wealth to our libation come, be not thou angry with us, like
A great man with a youthful bride.
6. When, Vasu, wilt thou love the laud? Now let the Channel bring the stream.
The juice is ready to ferment.
7. After the Seasons. Indra, drink the Soma from the Brahman's gift:
Thy friendship is invincible!
S. O Indra, lover of the song, we are the singers of thy praise
O Soma-drinker, quicken us!
9. O Indra, in each fight and fray give to our bodies manly strength:
Strong Lord, grant ever-conquering might!
10. For so thou art the brave man's friend; a hero, too, art thou, and strong:
So may thine heart be won to us!
DECADE V Indra
1. Like kine unmilked we call aloud, hero, to thee, and sing thy praise,
Looker on heavenly light, Lord of this moving world, Lord, Indra, of what moveth
not!
2. That we may win us wealth and power we poets, verily, call on thee:
In war men call on thee, Indra, the hero's Lord, in the steed's race-course call
on thee:
3. To you will I sing Indra's praise who gives good gifts as well we know;
The praise of Maghavan who, rich in treasure, aids his singers with wealth
thousandfold.
4. As cows low to their calves in stalls, so with our songs we glorify
This Indra, even your wondrous God who checks attack, who takes delight in
precious juice.
5. Loud singing at the sacred rite where Soma flows we priests invoke
With haste, that he may help, as the bard's cherisher, Indra who findeth wealth
for you
6. With Plenty for his true ally the active man will gain the spoil.
Your Indra, much-invoked, I bend with song, as bends a wright his wheel of solid
wood.
7. Drink, Indra, of the savoury juice, and cheer thee with our milky draught!
Be, for our weal, our friend and sharer of the feast, and let thy wisdom guard
us well!
8. For thou--come to the worshipper!--wilt find great wealth to make us rich.
Fill thyself full, O Maghavan, for gain of kine, full, Indra, for the gain of
steeds!
9. Vasishtha will not overlook the lowliest one among you all
Beside our Soma juice effused to-day let all the Maruts drink with eager haste!
10. Glorify naught besides, O friends; so shall no sorrow trouble you!
Praise only mighty Indra when the juice is shed, and say your lauds repeatedly!
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Indra
1. No one by deed attains to him who works and strengthens evermore:
No, not by sacrifice, to Indra. praised of all, resistless, daring, bold in
might.
2 He without ligature, before making incision in the neck,
Closed up the wound again, most wealthy Maghavan, who healeth the dissevered
parts.
3. A thousand and a hundred steeds are harnessed to thy golden car:
Yoked by devotion, Indra, let the long-maned bays bring thee to drink the Soma
juice!
4. Come hither, Indra, with bay steeds, joyous, with tails like peacock's
plumes!
Let no men check thy course as fowlers stay the bird: pass o'er them as o'er
desert lands!
5. Thou as a God, O mightiest, verily blessest mortal man.
O Maghavan, there is no comforter but thou: Indra, I speak my words to thee.
6. O Indra, thou art far-renowned, impetuous Lord of power and might.
Alone, the never-conquered guardian of mankind, thou smitest
down resistless foes.
7. Indra for worship of the Gods, Indra while sacrifice proceeds,
Indra, as warriors in the battle-shock, we call, Indra that we may win the
spoil.
8. May these my songs of praise exalt thee, Lord, who hast abundant wealth!
Men skilled in holy hymns, pure, with the hues of fire, have sung them with
their lauds to thee.
9. These songs of ours exceeding sweet, these hymns of praise ascend to thee,
Like ever-conquering chariots that display their strength gain wealth and give
unfailing help.
10. Even as the wild-bull, when he thirsts, goes to the desert's watery pool,
Come to us quickly both at morning and at eve, and with the Kanvas drink thy
fill!
DECADE II Indra and others
1. Indra, with all thy saving helps assist us, Lord of power and might!
For after thee we follow even as glorious bliss, thee, hero, finderout of
wealth.
2. O Indra, Lord of light, what joys thou broughtest from the Asuras,
Prosper therewith, O Maghavan, him who lauds that deed, and those whose grass is
trimmed for thee!
3. To Aryaman and Mitra sing a reverent song, O pious one,
A pleasant hymn to Varuna who shelters us: sing ye a laud unto the Kings!
4. Men with their lauds are urging thee, Indra, to drink the Soma first.
The Ribhus in accord have lifted up their voice, and Rudras sung thee as the
first.
5. Sing to your lofty Indra, sing, Maruts, a holy hymn of praise
Let Satakratu, Vritra-slayer, slay the foe with hundred-knotted thunderbolt!
6. To Indra sing the lofty hymn, Maruts! that slays the Vritras best,
Whereby the holy ones created for the God the light divine that ever wakes.
7. O Indra, give us wisdom as a sire gives wisdom to his sons
Guide us, O much-invoked, in this our way: may we still live and look upon the
light!
8. O Indra, turn us not away: be present with us at our feast
For thou art our protection, yea, thou art our kin: O Indra, turn us not away!
9. We compass these like waters, we whose grass is trimmed and Soma pressed.
Here where the filter pours its stream, thy worshippers round
thee, O Vritra-slayer, sit.
10. All strength and valour that is found, Indra, in tribes of Nahushas,
And all the splendid fame that the Five Tribes enjoy, bring, yea, all manly
powers at once!
DECADE III Indra
1. Yea, verily thou art a Bull, our guardian, rushing like a bull:
Thou, mighty one, art celebrated as a Bull, famed as a Bull both near and far.
2. Whether, O Sakra, thou be far, or, Vritra-slayer, near at hand,
Thence by heaven-reaching songs he who bath pressed the juice invites thee with
thy long-maned steeds.
3. In the wild raptures of the juice sing to your hero with high laud, to him
the wise,
To Indra glorious in his name, the mighty one, even as the hymn alloweth it!
4. O Indra, give us for our weal a triple refuge, triply strong!
Bestow a dwelling-place on our rich lords and me, and keep thy dart afar from
these!
5. Turning, as 'twere, to meet the Sun enjoy from Indra all good things!
When he who will be born is born with power we look to treasures as our
heritage.
6. The godless mortal gaineth not this food, O thou whose life is long!
But one who yokes the bright-hued horses, Etasas; then Indra yokes his tawny
steeds.
7. Draw near unto our Indra who must be invoked in every fight!
Come, thou most mighty Vritra-slayer, meet for praise, come to, libations and to
hymns!
8. Thine, Indra, is the lowest wealth, thou cherishest the midmost wealth,
Thou ever rulest all the highest: in the fray for cattle none resisteth thee.
9. Where art thou? Whither art thou gone? For many a place attracts thy mind.
Haste, warrior, fort-destroyer, Lord of battle's din! haste, holy songs have
sounded forth!
10. Here, verily, yesterday we let the thunder-wielder drink his fill.
Bring him the juice poured forth in sacrifice to-day. Now range you by the
glorious one!
DECADE IV Indra
1. He who as sovran Lord of men moves with his chariots unrestrained,
The Vritra-slayer, vanquisher of fighting hosts, pre-eminent, is praised in
song.
2. Indra, give us security from that whereof we are afraid
Help us, O Maghavan, let thy favour aid us thus; drive away foes and enemies!
3. Strong pillar thou, Lord of the home! armour of Soma-offerers!
The drop of Soma breaketh all the strongholds down, and Indra is the Rishis'
friend.
4. Verily, Surya, thou art great; truly, Aditya, thou art great!
O most admired for greatness of thy majesty, God, by thy greatness thou art
great!
5. Indra! thy friend, when fair of form and rich in chariots, steeds, and kine,
Hath ever vital power that gives him strength, and joins the company with
radiant men.
6. O Indra, if a hundred heavens and if a hundred earths were thine,--
No, not a hundred suns could match thee at thy birth, not both the worlds, O
Thunderer!
7. Though, Indra, thou art called by men eastward and west ward, north and
south,
Thou chiefly art with Anava and Turvasa, brave champion urged by men to come.
8. Indra whose wealth is in thyself, what mortal will attack this man?
The strong will win the spoil on the decisive day through faith in thee, O
Maghavan!
9. First, Indra! Agni! hath this Maid come footless unto those with feet.
Stretching her head and speaking loudly with her tongue, she hath gone downward
thirty steps.
10. Come, Indra, very near to us with aids of firmly-based resolve
Come, most auspicious, with thy most auspicious help; good kinsman, with good
kinsmen come!
DECADE V Indra.
1. Call to your aid the eternal one who shoots and none may shoot at him,
Inciter, swift, victorious, best of charioteers, unconquered, Tugriya's
strengthener!
2. Let none, no, not thy worshippers, delay thee far away from us
Even from faraway come thou unto our feast, or listen if' already here!
3. For Indra Soma-drinker, armed with thunder, press the Soma juice;
Make ready your dressed meats: cause him to favour us! The giver blesses him who
gives.
4. We call upon that Indra who, most active, ever slays the foe
With boundless spirit, Lord of heroes, manliest one, help thou and prosper us in
fight!
5. Ye rich in strength, through your great power vouchsafe us blessings day and
night!
The offerings which we bring to you shall never fail gifts brought by us shall
never fail.
6. Whenever mortal worshipper will sing a bounteous giver's praise,
Let him with song inspired laud Varuna who supports the folk who follow varied
rites.
7. Drink milk to Indra in the joy of Soma juice, Medhyatithi!
To golden Indra ever close to his bay steeds, the thunder-armed, the golden one!
8. Both boons,-may Indra, hitherward turned listen to this prayer of ours,
And mightiest Maghavar, with thought inclined to us come near to drink the Soma
juice!
9. Not for an ample price dost thou, Stone-caster! give thyself away,
Not for a thousand, Thunderer! nor ten thousand, nor a hundred, Lord of
countless wealth!
10. O Indra, thou art more to me than sire or niggard brother is.
Thou and my mother, O good Lord, appear alike, to give me wealth abundantly.
BOOK IV 
CHAPTER I
DECADE I Indra and others
1. These Soma juice mixt with curd have been expressed for Indra here:
Come with thy bay steeds, Thunder-wielder, to our home, to drink them till they
make thee glad!
2. Indra, these Somas with their lauds have been prepared for thy delight.
Drink of the pleasant juice and listen to our songs; lover of song, reward the
hymn!
3. I call on thee, Sabardugha, this day, inspirer of the psalm.
Indra, the richly-yielding milch-cow who provides unfailing food in ample
stream.
4. Indra, the strong and lofty hills are powerless to bar thy way
None stays that act of thine when thou wouldst fain give wealth to one like me
who sings thy praise.
5. Who knows what vital power he wins, drinking beside the flowing juice?
This is the fair-cheeked. God who, joying in the draught, breaks down the
castles in his strength.
6. What time thou castest from his seat and punishest the riteless man,
Strengthen for opulence, O Indra Maghavan, our plant desired by many a one!
7. Let Tvashtar, Brahmanaspati, Parjanya guard our heavenly word,
Aditi with her sons, the brothers, guard for us the invincible, the saving word!
8. Ne'er art thou fruitless, Indra, ne'er dost thou desert the worshipper:
But now, O Maghavan, thy bounty as a God is poured forth ever more and more.
9. Best slayer of the Vritras, yoke thy bay steeds, Indra, far away
Come with the high ones hither, Maghavan, to us, mighty, to, drink the Soma
juice!
10. O Thunderer, zealous worshippers gave thee drink this time yesterday:
So, Indra, listen here to him who offers lauds: come near unto, our
dwelling-place!
DECADE II
1. Advancing, sending forth her rays, the daughter of the Sky is seen.
The mighty one lays bare the darkness with her eye, the friendly Lady makes the
light.
2. These morning sacrifices call you, Asvins, at the break of day.
For help have I invoked you rich in power and might: for, house by house, ye
visit all.
3. Where are ye, Gods? What mortal man, O Asvins, glows with zeal for you,
Urging you with the crushing stone and with the stalk of Soma thus or otherwise?
4. This sweetest Soma juice hath been expressed for you at morning rites.
Asvins, drink this prepared ere yesterday and give treasures to him who offers
it!
5. Let me not, still beseeching thee with might and sound of Soma drops,
Anger at sacrifice a fierce wild creature! Who would not beseech the almighty
one!
6. Adhvaryu, let the Soma flow, for Indra longs to drink thereof.
He even now hath yoked his vigorous bay steeds: the Vritraslayer hath come nigh.
7. Bring thou all this unto the good, O Indra, to the old and young!
For, Maghavan, thou art rich in treasures from of old, to be invoked in every
fight.
8. If I, O Indra, were the lord of riches ample as thine own,
I would support the singer, God who scatterest wealth! and not abandon him to
woe.
9. Thou in thy battles, Indra, art subduer of all hostile bands.
Father art thou, all-conquering, cancelling the curse, thou victor of the
vanquisher!
10. For in thy might thou stretchest out beyond the mansions of the sky.
The earthly region, Indra, comprehends thee not. Thou hast waxed mighty over
all.
DECADE III
1. Pressed is the juice divine with milk commingled: thereto hath Indra ever
been accustomed.
We wake thee, Lord of bays, with sacrifices: mark this our laud in the wild joys
of Soma!
2. A home is made for thee to dwell in, Indra: O much-invoked one, with the men
go thither!
Thou, that thou mayest guard us and increase us, givest us wealth and joyest in
the Somas.
3. The well thou clavest, settest free the fountains, and gavest rest to floods
that were obstructed.
Thou, Indra, laying the great mountain open, slaying the Ddnava, didst loose the
torrents.
4. When we have pressed the juice we laud thee, Indra, most valorous! even about
to win the booty.
Bring us prosperity, and by thy great wisdom, under thine own protection, may we
conquer!
5. Thy right hand have we grasped in ours, O Indra, longing, thou very Lord of
wealth, for treasures.
Because we know thee, hero, Lord of cattle: vouchsafe us mighty and resplendent
riches!
6. Men call on Indra in the armed encounter that he may make the hymns they sing
decisive.
Hero in combat and in love of glory, give us a portion of the stall of cattle!
7. Like birds of beauteous wing the Priyamedhas, Rishis, imploring, have come
nigh to Indra.
Dispel the darkness and fill full our vision: deliver us as men whom snares
entangle!
8. They gaze on thee with longing in their spirit, as on a strongwinged bird
that mounteth sky-ward;
On thee with wings of gold, Varuna's envoy, the Bird that hasteneth to the home
of Yama.
9. First in the ancient time was Prayer engendered: Vena disclosed the bright
ones from the summit,
Laid bare this world's lowest and highest regions, womb of the existent and the
non-existent.
10. They have prepared and fashioned for this hero words never matched, most
plentiful, most auspicious,
For him the ancient, great, strong, energetic, the very mighty wielder of the
thunder.
DECADE IV Indra
1. The black drop sank in Ansumati's bosom, advancing with ten thousand round
about it.
Indra with might longed for it as it panted: the hero-hearted King laid down his
weapons.
2. Flying in terror from the snort of Vritra all deities who were thy friends
forsook thee.
So, Indra, with the Maruts be thy friendship: in all these battles thou shalt be
the victor.
3. The old hath waked the young Moon from his slumber who runs his circling
course with many round him.
Behold the God's high wisdom in its greatness: he who died yesterday to-day is
living.
4. Then, at thy birth, thou wast the foeman, Indra, of those the seven who ne'er
had met a rival.
The hidden pair, heaven and the earth, thou foundest, and to the mighty worlds
thou gavest pleasure.
5. A friend we count thee, sharp-edged, thunder-wielder, Steer strong of body,
overthrowing many.
Thou, helping, causest pious tribes to conquer: Indra, I laud the, heavenly
Vritra-slayer.
6. Bring to the wise, the great, who waxeth mighty your offerings,. and make
ready your devotion!
Go forth to many tribes as man's controller!
7. Call we on Maghavan, auspicious Indra, best hero in this fight where spoil is
gathered,
Strong, listening to give us aid in battles, who slays the Vritras, wins and
gathers riches!
8. Prayers have been offered up-through love of glory: Vasishtha, honour Indra
in the battle!
He who with fame extends through all existence hears words which I, his faithful
servant, utter.
9. May the sweet Soma juices make him happy to cast his quoit that lies in depth
of waters!
Thou from the udder which o'er earth is fastened hast poured the milk into the
kine and herbage.
DECADE V Indra and others
1. This vigorous one whom deities commission, the conqueror of cars, the
strong and mighty,
Swift, fleet to battle, with uninjured fellies, even Tarkshya for our weal will
we call hither.
2. Indra the rescuer, Indra the helper, hero who listens at each invocation,
Sakra I call, Indra invoked of many. May Indra Maghavan accept our presents!
3. Indra whose right hand wields the bolt we worship, driver of bay steeds
seeking sundered courses.
Shaking his beard with might he hath arisen, terrible with his weapons, with his
bounty.
4. The ever-slaying, bold and furious Indra, the bright bolt's Lord, the strong,
the great, the boundless,
Who slayeth Vritra and acquireth booty, giver of blessings, Maghavan the
bounteous.
5. The man who lies in wait and fights against us, deeming himself a giant or a
hero,--
By battle or with strength destroy him, Indra! With thy help, manly-souled! may
we be victors!
6. He whom men call when striving with their foemen, or speeding onward in array
of battle,
Whom bards incite where heroes win the booty, or in the way to waters, He is
Indra.
7. On a high car, O Parvata and Indra, bring pleasant viands, with brave heroes,
hither!
Enjoy our presents, Gods, at sacrifices: wax strong by hymns, rejoice in our
oblation!
8. In ceaseless flow hath he poured forth his praises, as waters from the
ocean's depth, to Indra,
Who to his car on both its sides securely hath fixed the earth and heaven as
with an axle.
9. May our friends turn thee hitherward to friendship! Mayst thou approach us
even o'er many rivers!
May the Disposer, radiant in this mansion with special lustre, bring the
father's offspring!
10. Who yokes to-day unto the pole of Order the strong and passionate steers of
checkless spirit,
Health-bringing, bearing in their mouths no fodder? Long shall he live who
richly pays their service.
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