Hymns to Brihaspati from the Rig-Veda - Book I
Summary: This page presents Hymn CXC dedicated to Brihaspati from the Rig-Veda, Book I, one of Hinduism's most ancient sacred texts. Brihaspati, venerated as the preceptor and eloquent guide of the Vedic gods, is celebrated in these verses for his wisdom, strength, and divine intervention. The hymn, translated by the renowned Vedic scholar Ralph T.H. Griffith, explores Brihaspati's role as a cosmic force and his power to reward the faithful while punishing those who show disrespect toward the divine.
HYMN 190. Brhaspati.
1.GLORIFY thou Brhaspati, the scatheless, who must be praised with hymns, sweet-tongued and
mighty,
To whom as leader of the song, resplendent, worthy of lauds, both Gods and mortals
listen.
2 On him wait songs according to the season even as a stream of pious men set moving.
Brhaspati-for helaid out the expanses- was, at the sacrifice, vast Matarisvan.
3 The praise,
the verse that offers adoration, may he bring forth, as the Sun sends his arms out,
He who
gives daily light through this God's wisdom, strong as a dread wild beast, and inoffensive.
4 His song of praise pervades the earth and heaven - let the wise worshipper draw it, like a courser.
These of Brhaspati, like hunters' arrows, go to the skies that change their hue like serpents.
5 Those, God, who count thee as a worthless bullock, and, wealthy sinners, live on thee the Bounteous,-
On fools like these no blessing thou bestowest: Brhaspati, thou punishest the spiteful.
6 Like
a fair path is he, where grass is pleasant, though hard to win, a Friend beloved most early.
Those who unharmed by enemies behold us, while: they would make them bare, stood closely compassed.
7 He to whom songs of praise go forth like torrents, as rivers eddying under banks flow sea-ward-
Brhaspati the wise, the eager, closely looks upon both, the waters and the vessel.
8 So hath
Brhaspati, great, strong and mighty, the God exceeding powerful, been brought hither.
May he
thus lauded give us kine and horses. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
Source: These hymns are reproduced from An English translation of the Vedas by Ralph T.H. Griffith, 1896. Griffith wrote in a poetic, archaic style. In order to make the hymns sound like English poetry, he often compromised the original meaning of the Sanskrit words. Further, his Sanskrit knowledge was limited by the scholarship of the 19th century. For many Indian readers, this feels distant, making his work less accessible than modern prose translations. This page has been formatted, and the hymns are selected and organized by Jayaram V for Hinduwebsite.com. Hymn numbers have been changed from Roman numerals to standard numbers.