[10-141] HYMN CXLI. Visvedevas.

1. TURN hither, Agni, speak to us: come to us with a gracious mind. Enrich us, Master of the house: thou art the Giver of our wealth.

2 Let Aryarnan vouchsafe us wealth, and Bhaga, and Brhaspati.

Let the Gods give their gifts, and let Sunrta, Goddess, grant us wealth.

3 We call King Soma to our aid, and Agni with our songs and hymns, Adityas, Visnu, Surya, and the Brahman Priest Brhaspati.

4 Indra, Vayu, Brhaspati, Gods swift to listen, we invoke, That in the synod all the folk may be benevolent to us.

5 Urge Aryaman to send us gifts, and Indra, and Brhaspati, Vata, Visnu, Sarasvati and the Strong Courser Savitar.

6 Do thou, O Agni, with thy fires strengthen our prayer and sacrifice:

Urge givers to bestow their wealth to aid our service of the Gods.

[10-142] HYMN CXLII. Agni.

1. WITH thee, O Agni, was this singer of the laud: he hath no other kinship, O thou Son of Strength. Thou givest blessed shelter with a triple guard. Keep the destructive lightning far away from us.

2 Thy birth who seekest food is in the falling flood, Agni: as Comrade thou winnest all living things. Our coursers and our songs shall be victorious: they of themselves advance like one who guards the

herd.

3 And thou, O Agni, thou of Godlike nature, sparest the stones, while caring up the brushwood. Then are thy tracks like deserts in the corn-lands. Let us not stir to wrath thy mighty arrow.

4 O’er hills through vales devouring as thou goest, thou partest like an army fain for booty

As when a barber shaves a beard, thou shavest earth when the wind blows on thy flame and fans it.

5 Apparent are his lines as he approaches the course is single, but the cars are many,

When, Agni, thou, making thine arms resplendent, advancest o’er the land spread out beneath thee.

6 Now let thy strength, thy burning flames fly upward, thine energies, O Agni, as thou toilest. Gape widely, bend thee, waxing in thy vigour: let all the Vasus sit this day beside thee.

7 This is the waters’ reservoir, the great abode of gathered streams. Take thou another path than this, and as thou listest walk thereon.

8 On thy way hitherward and hence let flowery Durva grass spring up

Let there be lakes with lotus blooms. These are the mansions of the flood.

[10-143] HYMN CXLIII. Asvins.

1. YE made that Atri, worn with eld, free as a horse to win the goal. When ye restored to youth and strength Kaksivan like a car renewed,

2 Ye freed that Atri like a horse, and brought him newly-born to earth.

Ye loosed him like a firm-tied knot which Gods unsoiled by dust had bound.

3 Heroes who showed most wondrous power to Atri, strive to win fair songs; For then, O Heroes of the sky, your hymn of praise shall cease no more.

4 This claims your notice, Bounteous Gods! – oblation, Asvins! and our love, That ye, O Heroes, in the fight may bring us safe to ample room.

5 Ye Twain to Bhujyu tossed about in ocean at the region’s end,

Nasatyas, with your winged sterds came nigh, and gave him strength to win.

6 Come with your joys, most liberal Gods, Lords of all treasures, bringing weal. Like fresh full waters to a well, so, Heroes come and be with us.

[10-144] HYMN CXLIV. Indra.

1. THIS deathless Indu, like a steed, strong and of full vitality, Belongs to thee, the Orderer.

2 Here, by us, for the worshipper, is the wise bolt that works with skill.

It brings the bubbling beverage as a dexterous man brings the effectual strong drink.

3 Impetuous Ahisuva, a bull among cows of his, looked down upon the restless Hawk.

4 That the strong-pinioned Bird hath brought, Child of the Falcon, from afar, What moves upon a hundred wheels along the female Dragon’s path.

5 Which, fair, unrobbed, the Falcon brought thee in his foot, the red-hued dwelling of the juice; Through this came vital power which lengthens out our days, and kinship through its help awoke.

6 So Indra is by lndu’s power; e’en among Gods will it repel great treachery.

Wisdom, Most Sapient One, brings force that lengthens life. May wisdom bring the juice to us.

[10-145] HYMN CXLV. Sapatnibadhanam.

1. FROM out the earth I dig this plant, a herb of most effectual power,

Wherewith one quells the rival wife and gains the husband for oneself.

2 Auspicious, with expanded leaves, sent by the Gods, victorious plant, Blow thou the rival wife away, and make my husband only mine.

3 Stronger am 1, O Stronger One, yea, mightier than the mightier; And she who is my rival wife is lower than the lowest dames.

4 Her very name I utter not: she takes no pleasure in this man. Far into distance most remote drive we the rival wife away.

5 I am the conqueror, and thou, thou also act victorious:

As victory attends us both we will subdue my fellow-wife.

6 I have gained thee for vanquisher, have grasped thee with a stronger spell.

As a cow hastens to her calf, so let thy spirit speed te me, hasten like water on its way.

[10-146] HYMN CXLVI. Aranyani.

1. GODDESS of wild and forest who seemest to vanish from the sight. How is it that thou seekest not the village? Art thou not afraid?

2 What time the grasshopper replies and swells the shrill cicala’s voice, Seeming to sound with tinkling bells, the Lady of the Wood exults.

3 And, yonder, cattle seem to graze, what seems a dwelling-place appears: Or else at eve the Lady of the Forest seems to free the wains.

4 Here one is calling to his cow, another there hath felled a tree:

At eve the dweller in the wood fancies that somebody hath screamed.

5 The Goddess never slays, unless some murderous enemy approach. Man eats of savoury fruit and then takes, even as he wills, his rest.

6 Now have I praised the Forest Queen, sweet-scented, redolent of balm, The Mother of all sylvan things, who tills not but hath stores of food.

[10-147] HYMN CXLVII Indra.

1. I TRUST in thy first wrathful deed, O Indra, when thou slewest Vrtra and didst work to profit man; What time the two world-halves fell short of thee in might, and the earth trembled at thy force, O

Thunder-anned.

2 Thou with thy magic powers didst rend the conjurer Vrtra, O Blameless One, with heart that longed for fame.

Heroes elect thee when they battle for the prey, thee in all sacrifices worthy of renown.

3 God Much-invoked, take pleasure in these princes here, who, thine exalters, Maghavan, have come to wealth.

In synods, when the rite succeeds, they hymn the Strong for sons and progeny and riches undisturbed.

4 That man shall find delight in well-protected wealth whose care provides for him the quick-sought joyous draught.

Bringing oblations, strengthened Maghavan, by thee, he swiftly wins the spoil with heroes in the fight.

5 Now for our band, O Maghavan, when lauded, make ample room with might, and grant us riches. Magician thou, our Varuna and Mitra, deal food to us, O Wondrous, as Dispenser.

[10-148] HYMN CXLVIII. Indra.

1. WHEN we have pressed the juice we laud thee, Indra, and when, Most Valorous we have won the booty.

Bring us prosperity, as each desires it under thine own protection may we conquer.

2 Sublime from birth, mayst thou O Indra, Hero, with Surya overcome the Dasa races.

As by a fountain’s side, we bring the Soma that lay concealed, close-hidden in the waters.

3 Answer the votary’s hymns, for these thou knowest, craving the Rsis’ prayer, thyself a Singer

May we be they who take delight in Somas: these with sweet food for thee, O Chariot-rider.

4 These holy prayers, O Indra, have I sung thee: grant to the men the strength of men, thou Hero. Be of one mind with those in whom thou joyest: keep thou the singers safe and their companions.

5 Listen to Prthi’s call, heroic Indra, and be thou lauded by the hymns of Venya,

Him who hath sung thee to thine oil-rich dwelling, whose rolling songs have sped thee like a torrent.

[10-149] HYMN CXLIX. Savitar.

1. SAVITAR fixed the earth with bands to bind it, and made heaven stedfast where no prop supported.

Savitar milked, as ’twere a restless courser, air, sea bound fast to what no foot had trodden.

2 Well knoweth Savitar, O Child of Waters, where ocean, firmly fixt, o’erflowed its limit.

Thence sprang the world, from that uprose the region: thence heaven spread out and the wide earth expanded.

3 Then, with a full crowd of Immortal Beings, this other realm came later, high and holy. First, verily, Savitar’s strong-pinioned Eagle was born: and he obeys his law for ever.

4 As warriors to their steeds, kine to their village, as fond milk giving cows approach their youngling, As man to wife, let Savitar come downward to us, heaven’s bearer, Lord of every blessing.

5 Like the Angirasa Hiranvastupa, I call thee, Savitar, to this achievement:

So worshipping and lauding thee for favour I watch for thee as for the stalk of Soma.

[10-150] HYMN CL. Agni.

1. THOU, bearer of oblations, though kindled, art kindled for the Gods.

With the Adityas, Rudras, Vasus, come to us: to show us favour come to us.

2 Come hither and accept with joy this sacrifice and hymn of ours.

O kindled God, we mortals are invoking thee, calling on thee to show us grace.

3 I laud thee Jatavedas, thee Lord of all blessings, with my song.

Agni, bring hitherward the Gods whose Laws we love, whose laws we love, to show us grace.

4 Agni the God was made the great High-Priest of Gods, Rsis have kindled Agni, men of mortal mould.

Agni I invocate for winning ample wealth. kindly disposed for winning wealth.

5 Atri and Bharadvaja and Gavisthira, Kanva and Trasadasyu, in our fight he helped.

On Agni calls Vasistha, even the household priest, the household priest to win his grace.

[10-151] HYMN CLI. Faith.

1. By Faith is Agni kindled, through Faith is oblation offered up. We celebrate with praises Faith upon the height of happiness.

2 Bless thou the man who gives, O Faith; Faith, bless the man who fain would give. Bless thou the liberal worshippers: bless thou the word that I have said.

3 Even as the Deities maintained Faith in the mighty Asuras,

So make this uttered wish of mine true for the liberal worshippers.

4 Guarded by Vayu, Gods and men who sacrifice draw near to Faith. Man winneth Faith by yearnings of the heart, and opulence by Faith.

5 Faith in the early morning, Faith at noonday will we invocate, Faith at the setting of the Sun. O Faith, endow us with belief.

[10-152] HYMN CLII. Indra.

1. A MIGHTY Governor art thou, Wondrous, Destroyer of the foe, Whose friend is never done to death, and never, never overcome.

2 Lord of the clan, who brings us bliss, Strong, Warrior, Slayer of the fiend, May India, Soma-drinker, go before us, Bull who gives us peace.

3 Drive Raksasas and foes away, break thou in pieces Vrtra’sjaws:

O Vrtra-slaying Indra, quell the foeman’s wrath who threatens us.

4 O Indra, beat our foes away, humble the men who challenge us: Send down to nether darkness him who seeks to do us injury.

5 Baffle the foeman’s plan, ward off his weapon who would conquer us. Give shelter from his furious wrath, and keep his murdering dart afar.

[10-153] HYMN CLIII. Indra.

1. SWAYING about, the Active Ones came nigh to Indra at his birth, And shared his great heroic might.

2 Based upon strength and victory and power, O Indra is thy birth: Thou, Mighty One, art strong indeed.

3 Thou art the Vrtra-slayer, thou, Indra, hast spread the firmament: Thou hast with might upheld the heavens.

4 Thou, Indra, bearest in thine arms the lightning that accords with thee, Whetting thy thunderbolt with might.

5 Thou, Indra, art preeminent over all creatures in thy might: Thou hast pervaded every place.

[10-154] HYMN CLIV. New Life.

1. FOR some is Soma purified, some sit by sacrificial oil:

To those for whom the meath flows forth, even to those let him depart.

2 Invincible through Fervour, those whom Fervour hath advanced to heaven, Who showed great Fervour in their lives, -even to those let him depart.

3 The heroes who contend in war and boldly cast their lives away, Or who give guerdon thousandfold, -even to those let him depart.

4 Yea, the first followers of Law, Law’s pure and holy strengtheners, The Fathers, Yama! Fervour-moved,even to those let him depart.

5 Skilled in a thousand ways and means, the sages who protect the Sun, The Rsis, Yama! Fervour-moved,-even to those let him depart.

[10-155] HYMN CLV. Various.

1. ARAYI, one-eyed limping hag, fly, ever-screeching, to the hill. We frighten thee away with these, the heroes of Sirimbitha.

2 Scared from this place and that is she, destroyer of each germ unborn. Go, sharp-horned Brahmanaspti and drive Arayi far away.

3 Yon log that floats without a man to guide it on the river’s edge,- Seize it, thou thing with hideous jaws, and go thou far away thereon.

4 When, foul with secret stain and spot, ye hastened onward to the breast, All Indra’s enemies were slain and passed away like froth and foam.

5 These men have led about the cow, have duly carried Agni round, And raised their glory tg the Gods. Who will attack them with success?

[10-156] HYMN CLVI. Agni.

1. LET songs of ours speed Agni forth like a fleet courser in the race, And we will win each prize through him.

2 Agni the dart whereby we gain kine for ourselves with help from thee,- That send us for the gain of wealth.

3 O Agni, bring us wealth secure, vast wealth in horses and in kine: Oil thou the socket, turn the wheel.

4 O Agni, thou hast made the Sun, Eternal Star, to mount the sky,

Bestowing light on living men.