Rig Veda, Book 1, Hymns 111-119: The Rbhus - Griffith Translation
Summary: This page presents the English translation of Hymns 111-119 from Book 1 of the Rig Veda, the oldest and most authoritative of the four Vedas in Hindu scripture. The hymns are dedicated to the Rbhus, celestial craftsmen and divine beings revered in Vedic tradition. Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith, these verses invoke the Rbhus and other Vedic deities for prosperity, protection, and victory, reflecting the spiritual and ritualistic concerns of ancient Hindu philosophy.
HYMN 111. Rbhus.
1. WORKING with skill they wrought the lightly rolling car: they wrought the Bays who bear
Indra and bring great gifts.
The Rbhus for their Parents made life young again; and fashioned
for the calf a mother by its side.
2 For sacrifice make for us active vital power for skill
and wisdom food with noble progeny.
Grant to our company this power most excellent, that with
a family all-heroic we may dwell.
3 Do ye, O Rbhus, make prosperity for us, prosperity for
car, ye Heroes, and for steed.
Grant us prosperity victorious evermore,
conquering foes
in battle, strangers or akin.
4 Indra, the Rbhus' Lord, I invocate for aid, the Rbhus, Vajas,
Maruts to the Soma draught.
Varuna, Mitra, both, yea, and the Asvins Twain: let them speed
us to wealth, wisdom, and victory.
5 May Rbhu send prosperity for battle, may Vaja conquering
in the fight protect us.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu,
Earth and Heaven.
HYMN 112. Asvins.
1 To give first thought to them, I worship Heaven and Earth, and Agni, fair bright glow, to
hasten their approach.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids wherewith in fight ye
speed the war-cry to the spoil.
2 Ample, unfailing, they have mounted as it were an eloquent
car that ye may think of us and give.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids wherewith
ye help our thoughts to further holy acts.
3 Ye by the might which heavenly nectar giveth you
are in supreme dominion Lords of all these folk.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those
aids wherewith ye, Heroes, made the barren cow give milk.
4 The aids wherewith the Wanderer
through his offipring's might, or the Two-Mothered Son shows swiftest mid the swift;
Wherewith
the sapient one acquired his triple lore,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
5
Wherewith ye raised from waters, prisoned and fast bound, Rebha, and Vandana to look upon the
light;
Wherewith ye succoured Kapva as he strove to win,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with
those aids.
6 Wherewith ye rescued Antaka when languishing deep in the pit, and Bhujyu with
unfailing help.
And comforted Karkandhu, Vayya, in their woe,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins,
with those aids.
7 Wherewith ye gave gucanti wealth and happy home, and made the fiery pit
friendly for Atri's sake;
Wherewith ye guarded Purukutsa, Prsnigu, -Come hither unto us, O Agvin;, with those aids.
8 Mighty Ones, with what powers ye gave Paravrj aid what time ye made the blind and lame to see
and walk;
Wherewith ye set at liberty the swallowed quail,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with
those aids.
9 Wherewith ye quickened the most sweet exhaustless flood, and comforted Vasistha,
ye who ne'er decay;
And to Srutarya, Kutsa, Narya gave your help,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins,
with those aids.
10 Wherewith ye helped, in battle of a thousand spoils, Vispala seeking booty,
powerless to move.
Wherewith ye guarded friendly Vaga, Asva's son,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins,
with those aids.
11 Whereby the cloud, ye Bounteous Givers, shed sweet rain for Dirghasravas,
for the merchant Ausija,
Wherewith ye helped Kaksivan, singer of your praise,-Come hither unto
us, O Asvins, with those aids.
12 Wherewith ye made Rasa swell full with water-floods, and
urged to victory the car without a horse;
Wherewith Trisoka drove forth his recovered cows,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
13 Wherewith ye, compass round the Sun when far
away, strengthened Manddatar in his tasks as lord of lands,
And to sage Bharadvija gave protecting
help,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
14 Wherewith, when Sambara was slain,
ye guarded well great Atithigva, Divodisa, Kasoju,
And Trasadasyu when the forts were shattered
down,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
15 Wherewith ye honoured the great drinker
Vamra, and Upastuta and Kali when he gained his wife,
And lent to Vyasva. and to Prthi favouring
help,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
16 Wherewith, O Heroes, ye vouchsafed
deliverance to Sayu, Atri, and to Manu long ago;
Wherewith ye shot your shafts in Syumarasmi's
cause.-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
17 Wherewith Patharva, in his majesty
of form, shone in his course like to a gathered kindled fire;
Wherewith ye helped Suryata in the mighty fray,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
18 Wherewith, Angirases! ye triumphed in your heart, and onward went to liberate the flood of
milk;
Wherewith ye helped the hero Manu with new strength,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with
those aids.
19 Wherewith ye brought awife for Vimada to wed, wherewith ye freely gave the ruddy
cows away;
Wherewith ye brought the host of kind Gods to Sudas-Come hither unto us, O Asvins,
with those aids.
20 Wherewith ye bring great bliss to him who offers gifts, wherewith ye have
protected Bhujyu, Adhrigu,
And good and gracious Subhara and Rtastup,-Come hither unto us,
O Asvins, with those aids.
21 Wherewith ye served Krsanu where the shafts were shot, and helped
the young man's horse to swiftness in the race;
Wherewith ye bring delicious honey to the bees,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
22 Wherewith ye speed the hero as he fights for
kine in hero battle, in the strife for land and sons,
Wherewith ye safely guard his horses
and his car,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins with those aids.
23 Wherewith ye, Lords of Hundred
Powers, helped Kutsa, son of Aduni, gave Turviti and Dabhiti strength,
Favoured Dhvasanti and
lent Purusanti help,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
24 Make ye our speech
effectual, O ye Asvins, and this our hymn, ye mighty Wonder-Workers.
In luckless game I call
on you for succour . strengthen us also on the field of battle.
25 With, undiminished blessings,
O ye Asvins, for evermore both night and day protect us.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant,
and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN 113. Dawn.
1. This light is come, amid all lights the fairest; born is the brilliant, far-extending brightness.
Night, sent away for Savitar's uprising, hath yielded up a birth-place for the Morning.
2 The
Fair, the Bright is come with her white offspring; to her the Dark One hath resigned her dwelling.
Akin, immortal, following each other, changing their colours both the heavens move onward.
3 Common, unending is the Sisters' pathway; taught by the Gods, alternately they travel.
Fair-formed,
of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash not, neither do they travel.
4 Bright
leader of glad sounds, our eyes behold her; splendid in hue she hath unclosed the portals.
She, stirring up the world, hath shown us riches: Dawn hath awakened every living creature.
5 Rich Dawn, she sets afoot the coiled-up sleeper, one for enjoyment, one for wealth or worship,
Those who saw little for extended vision. All living creatures hath the Dawn awakened.
6 One
to high sway, one to exalted glory, one to pursue his gain, and one his labour:
All to regard
their different vocations, all moving creatures hath the Dawn awakened.
7 We see her there,
the Child of Heaven apparent, the young Maid, flushing in her shining raiment.
Thou soyran
Lady of all earthly treasure, flush on us here, auspicious Dawn, this morning.
8 She first
of endless morns to come hereafter, follows the path of morns that have departed.
Dawn, at
her rising, urges forth the living him who is dead she wakes not from his slumber.
9 As thou,
Dawn, hast caused Agni to be kindled, and with the Sun's eye hast revealed creation.
And hast
awakened men to offer worship, thou hast performed, for Gods, a noble service.
10 How long
a time, and they shall be together,-Dawns that have shone and Dawns to shine hereafter?
She
yearns for former Dawns with eager longing, and goes forth gladly shining with the others.
11 Gone are the men who in the days before us looked on the rising of the earlier Morning.
We, we the living, now behold her brightness and they come nigh who shall hereafter see her.
12 Foe-chaser, born of Law, the Law's protectress, joy-giver waker of all pleasant voices,
Auspicious, bringing food for Gods' enjoyment, shine on us here, most bright, O Dawn, this morning.
13 From days eternal hath Dawn shone, the Goddess, and shows this light to-day, endowed with riches.
So will she shine on days to come immortal she moves on in her own strength, undecaying.
14
In the sky's borders hath she shone in splendour: the Goddess hath thrown off the veil of darkness.
Awakening the world with purple horses, on her well-harnessed chariot Dawn approaches.
15 Bringing
all life-sustaining blessings with her, showing herself she sends forth brilliant lustre.
Last
of the countless mornings that have vanished, first of bright morns to come hath Dawn arisen.
16 Arise! the breath, the life, again hath reached us: darkness hath passed away and light approacheth.
She for the Sun hath left a path to travel we have arrived where men prolong existence.
17
Singing the praises of refulgent Mornings with his hymn's web the priest, the poet rises.
Shine
then to-day, rich Maid, on him who lauds thee, shine down on us the gift of life and offipring.
18 Dawns giving sons all heroes, kine and horses, shining upon the man who brings oblations,-
These let the Soma-presser gain when ending his glad songs louder than the voice of Vayu.
19
Mother of Gods, Aditi's forui of glory, ensign of sacrifice, shine forth exalted.
Rise up,
bestowing praise on our devotion all-bounteous, niake us chief among the people.
20 Whatever
splendid wealth the Dawns bring with them to bless the man who offers praise and worship,
Even
that may Mitra, Varuna vouchsafe us, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN 114. Rudra.
1. To the strong Rudra bring we these our songs of praise, to him the Lord of Heros with the
braided hair,
That it be well with all our cattle and our men, that in this village all he
healthy and well-fed.
2 Be gracious unto us, O Rudra, bring us joy: thee, Lord of Heroes, thee
with reverence will we serve.
Whatever health and strength our father Manu won by sacrifice
may we, under thy guidance, gain.
3 By worship of the Gods may we, O Bounteous One, O Rudra,
gain thy grace, Ruler of valiant men.
Come to our families, bringing them bliss: may we, whose
heroes are uninjured, bring thee sacred gifts,
4 Hither we call for aid the wise, the wanderer,
impetuous Rudra, perfecter of sacri fice.
May he repel from us the anger of the Gods: verily
we desire his favourable grace.
5 Him with the braided hair we call with reverence down, the
wild-boar of the sky, the red, the dazzling shape.
May he, his hand filled full of sovran medicines,
grant us protection, shelter, and a home secure.
6 To him the Maruts' Father is this hymn addressed,
to strengthen Rudra's might, a song more sweet than sweet.
Grant us, Immortal One, the food
which mortals eat: be gracious unto me, my seed, my progeny.
7 O Rudra, harm not either 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 not harm.
8 Harm us not, Rudra,
in our seed and progeny, harm us not in the living, nor in cows or steeds,
Slay not our heroes
in the fury of thy wrath. Bringing oblations evermore we call to thee.
9 Even as a herdsman
I have brought thee hymns of praise: O Father of the Maruts, give us happiness,
Blessed is
thy most favouring benevolence, so, verily, do we desire thy saving help.
10 Far be thy dart
that killeth men or cattle: thy bliss be with us, O thou Lord of Heroes.
Be gracious unto us,
O God, and bless us, and then vouchsafe us doubly-strong protection.
11 We, seeking help, have
spoken and adored him: may Rudra, girt by Maruts, hear our calling.
This prayer of ours may
Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN 115. Surya.
1. 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.
2
Like as a young man followeth a maiden, so doth the Sun the Dawn, refulgent Goddess:
Where
pious men extend their generations, before the Auspicious One for happy fortune.
3 Auspicious
are the Sun's Bay-coloured Horses, bright, changing hues, meet for our shouts of triumph.
Bearing
our prayers, die sky's ridge have they mounted, and in a moment speed round earth and heaven.
4 This is the Godhead, this might of Surya: he hath withdrawn what spread o'er work unfinished.
When he hath loosed his Horses from their station, straight over all Night spreadeth out her garment.
5 In the sky's lap the Sun this form assumeth that Varuna and Mitra may behold it.
His Bay
Steeds well maintain his power eternal, at one time bright and darksome at another.
6 This
day, O Gods, while Surya is ascending, deliver us from trouble and dishonour.
This prayer of
ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN 116. Asvins.
1. I TRIM like grass my song for the Nasatyas and send their lauds forth as the wind drives
rain-clouds,
Who, in a chariot rapid as an arrow, brought to the youthful Vimada a consort.
2 Borne on by rapid steeds of mighty pinion, or proudly trusting in the Gods' incitements.
That stallion ass of yours won, O Nasatyas, that thousand in the race, in Yama's contest.
3
Yea, Asvins, as a dead man leaves his riches, Tugra left Bhujyu in the cloud of waters.
Ye
brought him back in animated vessels, traversing air, unwetted by the billows.
4 Bhujyu ye
bore with winged things, Nasatyas, which for three nights, three days full swiftly travelled,
To the sea's farther shore, the strand of ocean, in three cars, hundred-footed, with six horses.
5 Ye wrought that hero exploit in the ocean which giveth no support, or hold or station,
What
time ye carried Bhujyu to his dwelling, borne in a ship with hundred oars, O Asvins.
6 The
white horse which of old ye gave Aghasva, Asvins, a gift to be his wealth for ever,-
Still
to be praised is that your glorious present, still to be famed is the braye horse of Pedu.
7 O Heroes, ye gave wisdom to Kaksivan who sprang from Pajra's line, who sang your praises.
Ye poured forth from the hoof of your strong charger a hundred jars of wine as from a strainer.
8 Ye warded off with cold the fire's fierce burning; food very rich in nouripliment ye furnished.
Atri, cast downward in the cavern, Asvins ye brought, with all his people, forth to comfort.
9 Ye lifted up the well, O ye Nasatyas, and set the base on high to open downward.
Streams
flowed for folk of Gotama who thirsted, like rain to bring forth thousandfold abundance.
10
Ye from the old Cyavana, O Nasatyas, stripped, as 'twere mail, the skin upon
his body,
Lengthened
his life when all had left him helpless, Dasras! and made him lord of youthful maidens.
11
Worthy of praise and worth the winning, Heroes, is that your favouring succour O Nasatyas,
What time ye, knowing well his case, delivered Vandana trom the pit like hidden treasure.
12
That mighty deed of yours, for gain, O Heroes, as thunder heraldeth the rain, I publish,
When,
by the horse's head, Atharvan's offspring Dadhyac made known to you the Soma's sweetness.
13
In the great rite the wise dame called, Nasatyas, you, Lords of many treasures, to assist her.
Ye heard the weakling's wife, as 'twere an order, and gave to her a son Hiranyahasta.
14 Ye
from the wolf's jaws, as ye stood together, set free the quail, O Heroes, O Nasatyas.
Ye, Lords
of many treasures, gave the poet his perfect vision as he mourned his trouble.
15 When in the
time of night, in Khela's battle, a leg was severed like a wild bird's pinion,
Straight ye
gave Vispali a leg of iron that she might move what time the conflict opened.
16 His father
robbed Rjrasva of his eyesight who for the she-wolf slew a hundred wethers.
Ye gave him eyes,
Nasatyas, Wonder-Workers, Physicians, that he saw with sight uninjured.
17 The Daughter of
the Sun your car ascended, first reaching as it were the goal with coursers.
All Deities within
their hearts assented, and ye, Nasatyas, are close linked with glory.
18 When to his house
ye came, to Divodasa, hasting to Bharadvaja, O ye Asvins,
The car that came with you brought
splendid riches: a porpoise and a bull were yoked together.
19 Ye, bringing wealth with rule,
and life with offspring, life rich in noble heroes; O Nasatyas,
Accordant came with strength
to Jahnu's children who offered you thrice every day your portion.
20 Ye bore away at night
by easy pathways Jahusa compassed round on every quarter,
And, with your car that cleaves the
toe asunder, Nasatyas never decaying! rent the mountains.
21 One morn ye strengthened Vaga
for the battle, to gather spoils that might be told in thousands.
With Indra joined ye drove
away misfortunes, yea foes of Prthusravas, O ye mighty.
22 From the deep well ye raised on
high the water, so that Rcatka's son, Sara, should drink it;
And with your might, to help the
weary Sayu, ye made the barren cow yield milk, Nasatyas.
23 To Visvaka, Nasatyas! son of Krsna,
the righteous man who sought your aid and praised you,
Ye with your powers restored, like some
lost creature, his son Visnapu for his eyes to look on.
24 Asvins, ye raised, like Soma in
a ladle Rebha, who for ten days and ten nights, fettered.
Had lain in cruel bonds, immersed
and wounded, suffering sore affliction, in the waters.
25 1 have declared your wondrous deeds,
O Asvins: may this be mine, and many kine and heroes.
May I, enjoying lengthened life, still
seeing, enter old age as 'twere the house I live in.
HYMN 117. Asvins.
1. ASVINS, your ancient priest invites you hither to gladden you with draughts of meath of
Soma.
Our gift is on the grass, our song apportioned: with food and strength come hither, O
Nasatyas.
2 That car of yours, swifter than thought, O Asvins, which drawn by brave steeds
cometh to the people,
Whereon ye seek the dwelling of the pious,-come ye thereon to our abode,
O Heroes.
3 Ye freed sage Atri, whom the Five Tribes honoured, from the strait pit, ye Heroes
with his people,
Baffling the guiles of the malignant Dasyu, repelling them, ye Mighty in succession.
4 Rebha the sage, ye mighty Heroes, Asvins! whom, like a horse, vile men had sunk in water,-
Him, wounded, with your wondrous power ye rescued: your exploits of old time endure for ever.
5 Ye brought forth Vandana, ye Wonder-Workers, for triumph, like fair gold that hath been buried,
Like one who slumbered in destruction's bosom, or like the Sun when dwelling in the darkness.
6 Kaksivan, Pajra's son, must laud that exploit of yours, Nasatyas, Heroes, ye who wander!
When from the hoof of your strong horse ye showered a hundred jars of honey for the people.
7 To Krsna's son, to Visvaka who praised you, O Heroes, ye restored his son Visnapu.
To Ghosa,
living in her father's dwelling, stricken in years, ye gave a husband, Asvins.
8 Rusati, of
the mighty people, Asvins, ye gave to Syava of the line of Kanva.
This deed of yours, ye Strong
Ones should be published, that ye gave glory to the son of Nrsad.
9 O Asvins, wearing many
forms at pleasure, on Pedu ye bestowed a fleet-foot courser,
Strong, winner of a thousand spoils,
resistless the serpent slayer, glorious, triumphant.
10 These glorious things are yours, ye
Bounteous Givers; prayer, praise in both worlds are your habitation.
O Asvins, when the sons
of Paira call you, send strength with nourishment to him who knoweth.
11 Hymned with the reverence
of a son, O Asvins ye Swift Ones giving booty to the singer,
Glorified by Agastya with devotion,
established Vispala again, Nasatyas.
12 Ye Sons of Heaven, ye Mighty, whither went ye, sought
ye, for his fair praise the home of Kdvya.
When, like a pitcher full of gold, O Asvins, on
the tenth day ye lifted up the buried?
13 Ye with the aid of your great powers, O Asvins, restored
to youth the ancient man Cyavana.
The Daughter of the Sun with all her glory, O ye Nasatyas,
chose your car to bear her.
14 Ye, ever-youthful Ones, again remembered Tugra, according to
your ancient manner:
With horses brown of hue that flew with swift wings ye brought back Bhujyu
from the sea of billows.
15 The son of Tugra had invoked you, Asvins; borne on he went uninjured
through the ocean.
Ye with your chariot swift as thought, well-harnessed, carried him off,
O Mighty Ones, to safety.
16 The quail had invocated you, O Asvins, when from the wolf's devouring
jaws ye freed her.
With conquering car ye cleft the mountain's ridges: the offspring of Visvac
ye killed with poison.
17 He whom for furnishing a hundred wethers to the she-wolf, his wicked
father blinded,
To him, Rjrasva, gave ye eyes, O Asvins; light to the blind ye sent for perfect
vision.
18 To bring the blind man joy thus cried the she-wolf: O Asvins, O ye Mighty Ones,
O Heroes,
For me Rjrasva, like a youthful lover, hath. cut piecemeal one and a hundred wethers.
19 Great and weal-giving is your aid, O Asvins, ye, objects of all thought, made whole the cripple.
Purandhi also for this cause invoked you, and ye, O mighty, came to her with succours.
20 Ye,
Wonder-Workers, filled with milk for Sayu the milkless cow, emaciated, barren;
And by your
powers the child of Purumitra ye brought to Vimada to be his consort.
21 Ploughing and sowing
barley, O ye Asvins, milking out food for men, ye Wonder-Workers,
Blasting away the Dasyu with
your trumpet, ye gave far-spreading light unto the Arya.
22 Ye brought the horse's head, Asvins,
and gave it unto Dadhyac the offspring of Atharvan.
True, he revealed to you, O WonderWorkers,
sweet Soma, Tvastar's secret, as your girdle.
23 O Sages, evermore I crave your favour: be
gracious unto all my prayers, O Asvins.
Grant me, Nasatyas, riches in abundance, wealth famous
and accompanied with children.
24 With liberal bounty to the weakling's consorts ye, Heroes,
gave a son Hiranyahasta;
And Syava, cut into three several pieces, ye brougnt to life again,
O bounteous Asvins.
25 These your heroic exploits, O ye Asvins, done in the days. of old, have
men related.
May we, addressing prayer to you, ye Mighty, speak with brave sons about us to.
the synod.
HYMN 118. Asvins.
1. FLYING, with falcons, may your chariot, Asvins, most gracious, bringing friendly
help,
come hither,-
Your chariot, swifter than the mind of mortal, fleet as the wind, three-seated
O ye Mighty.
2 Come to us with your chariot triple seated, three-wheeled, of triple form, that
rolleth lightly.
Fill full our cows, give mettle to our horses, and make each hero son grow
strong, O Asvins.
3 With your well-rolling car, descending swiftly, hear this the press-stone's
song, ye Wonder-Workers.
How then have ancient sages said, O Asvins, that ye most swiftly come
to stay affliction?
4 O Asvins, let your falcons bear you hither, yoked to your chariot, swift,
with flying pinions,
Which, ever active, like the airy eagles, carry you, O Nasatyas, to the
banquet.
5 The youthful Daughter of the Sun, delighting in you, ascended there your chariot,
Heroes.
Borne on their swift wings let your beauteous horses, your birds of ruddy hue, convey
you near us.
6 Ye raised up Vandana, strong WonderWorkers! with great might, and with power
ye rescued Rebha.
From out the sea ye saved the son of Tugra, and gave his youth again unto
Cyavana.
7 To Atri, cast down to the fire that scorched him, ye gave, O Asvins, strengthening
tbod and favour.
Accepting his fair praises with approval, ye gave his eyes again to blinded
Kanva.
8 For ancient Sayti in his sore affliction ye caused his cow to swell with milk, O Asvins.
The quail from her great misery ye delivered, and a new leg for Vispala provided.
9 A white
horse, Asvins, ye bestowed on Pedu, a serpent-slaying steed sent down by Indra,
Loud-neighing,
conquering the foe, highmettled, firm-limbed and vigorous, winning thousand treasures.
10 Such
as ye are, O nobly horn, O Heroes, we in our trouble call on you for succour.
Accepting these
our songs, for our wellbeing come to us on your chariot treasure-laden.
11 Come unto us combined
in love, Nasatyas come with the fresh swift vigour of the falcon.
Bearing oblations I invoke
you, Asvins, at the first break of everlasting morning.
HYMN 119. Asvins.
1. HITHER, that I may live, I call unto the feast your wondrous car, thought-swift, borne on
by rapid steeds.
With thousand banners, hundred treasures, pouring gifts, promptly obedient,
bestowing ample room.
2 Even as it moveth near my hymn is lifted up, and all the regions come
together to sing praise.
I sweeten the oblations; now the helpers come. Urjani hath, O Asvins,
mounted on your car.
3 When striving man with man for glory they have met, brisk, measurcIess,
eager for victory in fight,
Then verily your car is seen upon the slope when ye, O Asvins,
bring some choice boon to the prince.
4 Ye came to Bhujyu while he struggled in the flood,
with flying birds, self-yoked, ye bore him to his sires.
Ye went to the far-distant home, O
Mighty Ones; and famed is your great aid to Divodisa given.
5 Asvins, the car which you had
yoked for glorious show your own two voices urged directed to its goal.
Then she who came for
friendship, Maid of noble birth, elected you as Husbands, you to be her Lords.
6 Rebha ye saved
from tyranny; for Atri's sake ye quenched with cold the fiery pit that compassed him.
Ye made
the cow of Sayu stream refreshing milk, and Vandana was holpen to extended life.
7 Doers of
marvels, skilful workers, ye restored Vandana, like a car, worn out with length of days.
From
earth ye brought the sage to life in wondrous mode; be your great deeds done here for him who
honours you.
8 Ye went to him who mourned in a far distant place, him who was left forlorn
by treachery of his sire.
Rich with the light ofheaven was then the help ye gave, and marvellous
your succour when ye stood by him.
9 To you in praise of sweetness sang the honey-bee: Ausija
calleth you in Soma's rapturous joy.
Ye drew unto yourselves the spirit of Dadhyac, and then
the horse's head uttered his words to you.
10 A horse did ye provide for Pedu, excellent, white,
O ye Asvins, conqueror of combatants,
Invincible in war by arrows, seeking heaven worthy of
fame, like Indra, vanquisher of men.
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.