[10-161] HYMN CLXI. Indra.

1. FOR life I set thee free by this oblation from the unknown decline and from Consumption; Or, if the grasping demon have possessed him, free him from her, O Indra, thou and Agni.

2 Be his days ended, be he now departed, be he brought very near to death already, Out of Destruction’s lap again I bring him, save him for life to last a hundred autumns.

3 With hundred-eyed oblation, hundred-autumned, bringing a hundred lives, have I restored him, That Indra for a hundred years may lead him safe to the farther shore of all misfortune.

4 Live, waxing in thy strength, a hundred autumns, live through a hundred springs, a hundred winters.

Through hundred-lived oblation Indra, Agni, Brhaspati, Savitar yield him for a hundred!

5 So have I found and rescued thee thou hast returned with youth renewed. Whole in thy members! I have found thy sight and all thy life for thee.

[10-162] HYMN CLXII. Agni

1. MAY Agni, yielding to our prayer, the Raksas-slayer, drive away

The malady of evil name that hath beset thy labouring womb.

2 Agni, concurring in the prayer, drive off the eater of the flesh, The malady of evil name that hath attacked thy babe and womb.

3 That which destroys the sinking germ, the settled, moving embryo, That which will kill the babe at birth,even this will we drive far away.

4 That which divides thy legs that it may lie between the married pair, That penetrates and licks thy side,-even this will we exterminate.

5 What rests by thee in borrowed form of brother, lover, or of lord, And would destroy thy Progeny,-even this will we exterminate.

6 That which through sleep or darkness hath deceived thee and lies down by thee, And will destroy thy progeny,–even this will we exterminate.

[10-163] HYMN CLXIII

1. FROM both thy nostrils, from thine eyes, from both thine ears and from thy chin, Forth from thy head and brain and tongue I drive thy malady away.

2 From the neck-tendons and the neck, from the breast-bones and from the spine, From shoulders, upper, lower arms, I drive thy malady away.

3 From viscera and all within, forth from the rectum, from the heart, From kidneys, liver, and from spleen, I drive thy malady away.

4 From thighs, from knee-caps, and from heels, and from the forepart of the feet, From hips from stomach, and from groin I drive thy malady away.

5 From what is voided from within, and from thy hair, and from they nails, From all thyself from top to toe, I drive thy malady away.

6 From every member, every hair, disease that comes in every joint, From all thyself, from top to toe, I drive thy malady away.

[10-164] HYMN CLXIV. Dream-charm.

1. AVAUNT, thou Master of the mind Depart, and vanish far away. Look on Destruction far from hence. The live man’s mind is manifold.

2 A happy boon do men elect, a mighty blessing they obtain.

Bliss with Vaivasvata they see. The live man’s mind seeks many a place.

3 If by address, by blame, by imprecation we have committed sin, awake or sleeping, All hateful acts of ours, all evil doings may Agni bear away to distant places.

4 When, Indra, Brahmanaspati, our deeds are wrongful and unjust, May provident Angirasa prevent our foes from troubling, us.

5 We have prevailed this day and won: we are made free from sin and guilt

Ill thoughts, that visit us awake or sleeping, seize the man we hate, yea, seize the man who hateth us.

[10-165] HYMN CLXV. Visvedevas.

1. GODS, whatsoe’er the Dove came hither seeking, sent to us as the envoy of Destruction, For that let us sing hymns and make atonement. Well be it with our quadrupeds and bipeds.

2 Auspicious be the Dove that hath been sent us, a harmless bird, ye Gods, within our dwelling. May Agni, Sage, be pleased with our oblation, and may the Missile borne on wings avoid us.

3 Let not the Arrow that hath wings distract us: beside the fire-place, on the hearth it settles. May, it bring welfare to our men and cattle: here let the Dove, ye Gods, forbear to harm us.

4 The screeching of the owl is ineffective and when beside the fire the Dove hath settled, To him who sent it hithcr as an envoy, to him be reverence paid, to Death, to Yama.

5 Drive forth the Dove, chase it with holy verses: rejoicing, bring ye hither food and cattle, Barring the way against all grief and trouble. Let the swift bird fly forth and leave us vigour.

[10-166] HYMN CLXVI. Sapatnanasanam.

1. MAKE me a bull among my peers, make me my rivals, conqueror: Make me the slayer of my foes, a sovran ruler, lord of kine

2 I am my rivals’ slayer, like Indra unwounded and unhurt,

And all these enemies of mine are vanquished and beneath my feet.

3 Here, verily, I bind you fast, as the two bow-ends with the string.

Press down these men, O Lord of Speech, that they may humbly speak to me.

4 Hither I came as conqueror with mighty all-effecting power,

And I have mastered all your thought, your synod, and your holy work.

5 May I be highest, having gained your strength in war, your skill in peace my feet have trodden on your heads.

Speak to me from beneath my feet, as frogs from out the water croak, as frogs from out the water croak.

[10-167] HYMN CLXVII. Indra.

1. THIS pleasant meath, O Indra, is effused for thee: thou art the ruling Lord of beaker and of juice. Bestow upon us wealth with many hero sons: thou, having glowed with Fervour, wortnest heavenly

light.

2 Let us call Sakra to libations here effused, winner of light who joyeth in the potent juice. Mark well this sacrifice of ours and come to us: we pray to Maghavan the Vanquisher of hosts.

3 By royal Soma’s and by Varuna’s decree, under Brhaspati’s and Anumati’s guard,

This day by thine authority, O Maghavan, Maker, Disposer thou! have I enjoyed the jars.

4 1, too, urged on, have had my portion, in the bowl, and as first Prince I drew forth this my hymn of praise,

When with the prize I came unto the flowing juice, O Visvamitra, Jamadagni, to your home.

[10-168] HYMN CLXVIII. Vayu.

1. O THE Wind’s chariot, O its power and glory! Crashing it goes and hath a voice of thunder. It makes the regions red and touches heaven, and as it moves the dust of earth is scattered.

2 Along the traces of the Wind they hurry, they come to him as dames to an assembly.

Borne on his car with these for his attendants, the God speeds forth, the universe’s Monarch.

3 Travelling on the paths of air’s midregion, no single day doth he take rest or slumber.

Holy and earliest-born, Friend of fhe waters, where did he spring and from what region came he?

4 Germ of the world, the Deities’ vital spirit, this God moves ever as his will inclines him. His voice is heard, his shape is ever viewless. Let us adore this Wind with our oblation.

[10-169] HYMN CLXIX. COWS.

1. MAY the wind blow upon our Cows with healing: may they eat herbage full of vigorous juices. May they drink waters rich in life and fatness: to food that moves on feet be gracious, Rudra.

2 Like-coloured, various-hued, or single-coloured, whose names through sacrifice are known to Agni, Whom the Angirases produced by Fervour,vouchsafe to these, Parjanya, great protection.

3 Those who have offered to the Gods their bodies, whose varied forms are all well known to Soma,- Those grant us in our cattle-pen, O Indra, with their full streams of milk and plenteous offspring.

4 Prajapati, bestowing these upon me, one-minded with all Gods and with the Fathers,

Hath to our cow-pen brought auspicious cattle: so may we own the offspring they will bear us.

[10-170] HYMN CLXX. Surya.

1. MAY the Bright God drink glorious Soma-mingled meath, giving the sacrifice’s lord uninjured life; He who, wind-urged, in person guards our offspring well, hath nourished them with food and shines

o’er many a land.

2 Radiant, as high Truth, cherished, best at winning strength, Truth based upon the statute that supports the heavens,

He rose, a light, that kills Vrtras and enemies, best slayer of the Dasyus, Asuras, and foes.

3 This light, the best of lights, supreme, all-conquering, winner of riches, is exalted with high laud. All-lighting, radiant, mighty as the Sun to see, he spreadeth wide unfailing victory and strength.

4 Beaming forth splendour with thy light, thou hast attained heaven’s lustrous realm.

By thee were brought together all existing things, possessor of all Godhead, All-effecting God.

[10-171] HYMN CLXXI. Indra.

1. FOR Ita’s sake who pressed the juice, thou, Indra, didst protect his car, And hear the Soma-giver’s call.

2 Thou from his skin hast borne the head of the swift-moving combatant, And sought the Soma-pourer’s home.

3 Venya, that mortal man, hast thou, for Astrabudhna the devout, O Indra, many a time set free.

4 Bring, Indra, to the east again that Sun who now is in the west, Even against the will of Gods.

[10-172] HYMN CLXXII. Dawn.

1. WITH all thy beauty come: the kine approaching with full udders follow on thy path.

2 Come with kind thoughts, most liberal, rousing the warrior’s hymn of praise, with bounteous ones,

3 As nourishers we tie the thread, and, liberal with our bounty, offer sacrifice.

4 Dawn drives away her Sister’s gloom, and, through her excellence, makes her retrace her path.

[10-173] HYMN CLXXIII. The King.

1. BE with us; I have chosen thee: stand stedfast and immovable. Let all the people wish for thee let not thy kingship fall away.

2 Be even here; fall not away be like a mountain unremoved.

Stand stedfast here like Indra’s self, and hold the kingship in the grasp.

3 This man hath Indra stablished, made secure by strong oblation’s power. May Soma speak a benison, and Brahmanaspati, on him.

4 Firm is the sky and firm the earth, and stedfast also are these hills. Stedfast is all this living world, and stedfast is this King of men.

5 Stedfast, may Varuna the King, stedfast, the God Brhaspati, Stedfast, may Indra, stedfast too, may Agni keep thy stedfast reign.

6 On constant Soma let us think with constant sacrificial gift

And then may Indra make the clans bring tribute unto thee alone.

[10-174] HYMN CLXXIV. The King.

1. WITH offering for success in fight whence Indra was victorious. With this, O Brahmanaspati, let us attain to royal sway.

2 Subduing those who rival us, subduing all malignities,

Withstand the man who menaces, withstand the man who angers us.

3 Soma and Savitar the God have made thee a victorious King

All elements have aided thee, to make thee general conqueror.

4 Oblation, that which Indra. gave and thus grew glorious and most high,- This have I offered, Gods! and hence now, verily, am rivalless.

5 Slayer of rivals, rivalless, victorious, with royal sway, Over these beings may I rule, may I be Sovran of the folk.

[10-175] HYMN CLXXV. Press-stones.

I. MAY Savitar the God, O Stones, stir you according to the Law: Be harnessed to the shafts, and press.

2 Stones, drive calamity away, drive ye away malevolence: Make ye the Cows our medicine.

3 Of one accord the upper Stones, giving the Bull his bull-like strength, Look down with pride on those below.

4 May Savitar the God, O Stones, stir you as Law commands for him

Who sacrifices, pouring juice.

[10-176] HYMN CLXXVI. Agni.

1. WITH hymns of praise their sons have told aloud the Rbhus’ mighty deeds. Who, all-supporting, have enjoyed the earth as, twere a mother cow.

2 Bring forth the God with song divine, being Jatavedas hitherward, To bear our gifts at once to heaven.

3 He here, a God-devoted Priest, led forward comes to sacrifice.

Like a car covered for the road, he, glowing, knows, himself, the way.

4 This Agni rescues from distress, as ’twere from the Immortal Race,

A God yet mightier than strength, a God who hath been made for life.

[10-177] HYMN CLXXVII. Mayabheda.

1. THE sapient with their spirit and their mind behold the Bird adorned with all an Asura’s magic might.

Sages observe him in the ocean’s inmost depth: the wise disposers seek the station of his rays.

2 The flying Bird bears Speech within his spirit: erst the Gandharva in the womb pronounced it: And at the seat of sacrifice the sages cherish this radiant, heavenly-bright invention.

3 I saw the Herdsman, him who never resteth, approaching and departing on his pathways. He, clothed in gathered and diffusive splendour, within the worlds continually travels.

[10-178] HYMN CLXXVIII. Tarksya.

1. THIS very mighty one whom Gods commission, the Conqueror of cars, ever triumphant, Swift, fleet to battle, with uninjured fellies, even Tarksya for our weal will we call hither.

2 As though we offered up our gifts to Indra, may we ascend. him as a ship. for safety.

Like the two wide worlds, broad, deep far-extended, may we be safe both when he comes and leaves you.

3 He who with might the Five Lands hath pervaded, like Surya with his lustre, and the waters- His strength wins hundreds, thousands none avert it, as- the young maid repelleth not her lover.

[10-179] HYMN CLXXIX. Indra.

1. Now lift ye up yourselves and look on Indra’s seasonable share. If it be ready, offer it; unready, ye have been remise.

2 Oblation is prepared: come to us, Indra; the Sun hath travelled over half his journey.

Friends with their stores are sitting round thee waiting like lords of clans for the tribe’s wandering chieftain.

3 Dressed in the udder and on fire, I fancy; well-dressed, I fancy, is this recent present.

Drink, Indra, of the curd of noon’s libation with favour, Thunderer, thou whose deeds are mighty.

[10-180] HYMN CLXXX. Indra.

1. O MUCH-INVOKED, thou hast subdued thy foemen: thy might is loftiest; here display thy bounty. In thy right hand, O Indra, bring us treasures: thou art the Lord of rivers filled with riches.

2 Like a dread wild beast roaming on the mountain thou hast approached us from the farthest distance.

Whetting thy bold and thy sharp blade, O Indra, crush thou the foe and scatter those who hate us.

3 Thou, mighty Indra, sprangest into being as strength for lovely lordship o’er the people.

Thou drovest off the folk who were unfriendly, and to the Gods thou gavest room and freedom.

[10-181] HYMN CLXXXl. Visvedevas.

1. VASISTHA mastered the Rathantara, took it from radiant Dhatar, Savitar, and Visnu, Oblation, portion of fourfold oblation, known by the names of Saprathas and Prathas.

2. These sages found what lay remote and hidden, the sacrifice’s loftiest secret essence. From radiant Dhatar, Savitar, and Visnu, from Agni, Bharadvaja brought the Brhat.

3 They found with mental eyes the earliest Yajus, a pathway to the Gods, that had descended. From radiant Dhitar, Savitar, and Visnu, from Surya did these sages bring the Gharma.

[10-182] HYMN CLXXXII. Brhaspati.

1. BRHASPATI lead us safely over troubless and turn his evil thought against the sinner; Repel the curse, and drive away ill-feeling, and give the sacrificer peace and cornfort!

2 May Naratarhsa aid us at Prayaja: blest be our Anuyaja at invokings.

May he repel the curse, and chase ill-feeling, and give the sacrificer peace and comfort.

3 May he whose head is flaming burn the demons, haters of prayer, so that the arrow slay them. May he repel the curse and chase ill-feeling, and give the sacrificer peace and comfort.

[10-183] HYMN CLXXXIII. The Sacrificer, Etc.

1. I SAW thee meditating in thy spirit what sprang from Fervour and hath thence developed. Bestowing offspring here, bestowing riches, spread in thine offspring, thou who cravest children.

2 I saw thee pondering in thine heart, and praying that in due time thy body might be fruitful. Come as a youthful woman, rise to meet me: spread in thine offspring, thou who cravest children.

3 In plants and herbs, in all existent beings I have deposited the germ of increase. All progeny on earth have I engendered, and sons in women who will be hereafter.

[10-184] HYMN CLXXXIV.

1. MAY Visnu form and mould the womb, may Tvastar duly shape the forms, Prajapati infuse the stream, and Dhatar lay the germ for thee.

2 O Sinivali, set the germ, set thou the germ, Sarasvati:

May the Twain Gods bestow the germ, the Asvins crowned with lotuses.

3 That which the Asvins Twain rub forth with the attrition-sticks of gold,- That germ of thine we invocate, that in the tenth month thou mayst bear.

[10-185] HYMN CLXXXV. Aditi.

1. GREAT, unassailable must he the heavenly favour of’ Three Gods, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.

2 O’er these, neither at home nor yet abroad or pathways that are Strange, The evil-minded foe hath power

3 Nor over him,. the man on whom the Sons of Aditi bestow Eternal light that he may live.

[10-186] HYMN CLXXXVI. Vayu.

1. FILLING our hearts with health and joy, may Vata breathe his balm on us

May he prolong our days of life.

2 Thou art our Father, Vata, yea, thou art a Brother and a friend, So give us strength that we may live.

3 The store of Amrta laid away yonder, O Vata, in thine home,- Give us thereof that we may live.

[10-187] HYMN CLXXXVII. Agni.

1. To Agni send I forth my song, to him the Bull of all the folk: So may he bear us past our foes.

2 Who from the distance far away shines brilliantly across the wastes: So may he bear us past our foes.

3 The Bull with brightly-gleaming flame who utterly consumes the fiends

So may he bear us past our foes.

4 Who looks on all existing things and comprehends them with his view: So may he bear us past our foes.

5 Resplendent Agni, who was born in farthest region of the air: So may he bear us past our foes.

[10-188] HYMN CLXXXVIII. Agni.

1. Now send ye Jatavedas forth, send hitherward the vigorous Steed

To seat him on our sacred grass.

2. I raise the lofty eulogy of Jatavedas, raining boons, With sages for his hero band.

3 With flames of Jatavedas which carry oblation to the Gods, May he promote our sacrifice.

[10-189] HYMN CLXXXIX. Surya.

1. THIS spotted Bull hath come, and sat before the Mother in the east, Advancing to his Father heaven.

2 Expiring when he draws his breath, she moves along the lucid spheres: The Bull shines out through all the sky.

3 Song is bestowed upon the Bird: it rules supreme through thirty realms

Throughout the days at break of morn.

[10-190] HYMN CXC. Creation.

1. FROM Fervour kindled to its height Eternal Law and Truth were born: Thence was the Night produced, and thence the billowy flood of sea arose.

2 From that same billowy flood of sea the Year was afterwards produced, Ordainer of the days nights, Lord over all who close the eye.

3 Dhatar, the great Creator, then formed in due order Sun and Moon.

He formed in order Heaven and Earth, the regions of the air, and light.