1Glorify naught besides, O friends; so shall no sorrow trouble you.
Praise only mighty Indra when the juice is shed, and say your lauds repeatedly:

2Even him, eternal, like a bull who rushes down, men’s Conqueror, bounteous like a cow;
Him who is cause of both, of enmity and peace, to both sides most munificent.

3Although these men in sundry ways invoke thee to obtain thine aid,
Be this our prayer, addressed, O Indra, unto thee, thine exaltation every day.

4Those skilled in song, O Maghavan among these men o’ercome with might the foeman’s songs.
Come hither, bring us strength in many a varied form most near that it may succour us.

5O Caster of the Stone, I would not sell thee for a mighty price,
Not for a thousand, Thunderer! nor ten thousand, nor a hundred, Lord of countless wealth!

6O 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.

7Where 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.

8Sing out the psalm to him who breaks down castles for his faithful friend,
Verses to bring the Thunderer to destroy the forts and sit on Kanva’s sacred grass.

9The Horses which are thine in tens, in hundreds, yea, in thousands thine,
Even those vigorous Steeds, fleet-footed in the course, with those come quickly near to us.

10This day I call Sabardugiha who animates the holy song,
Indra the richly-yielding Milch-Cow who provides unfailing food in ample stream.

11When Súra wounded Etasa, with Váta’s rolling winged car.
Indra bore Kutsa Arjuneya off, and mocked Gandharva, the unconquered One.

12He without ligature, before making incision in the neck,
Closed up the wound again, most wealthy Maghavan, who maketh whole the injured part.

13May we be never cast aside, and strangers, as it were, to thee.
We, Thunder-wielding Indra, count ourselves as trees rejected and unfit to burn.

14O Vrtra-slayer, we were thought slow and unready for the fray.
Yet once in thy great bounty may we have delight, O Hero, after praising thee.

15If he will listen to my laud, then may out Soma-drops that flow
Rapidly through the strainer gladden Indra, drops due to the Tugryas’ Strengthener.

16Come now unto the common laud of thee and of thy faithful friend.
So may our wealthy nobles’ praise give joy to thee. fain would I sing thine eulogy.

17Press out the Soma with the stones, and in the waters wash it clean.
The men investing it with raiment made of milk shall milk it forth from out the stems.

18Whether thou come from earth or from the lustre of the lofty heaven,
Wax stronger in thy body through my song of praise: fill full all creatures, O most Wise.

19For India press the Soma out, most gladdening and most excellent.
May Sakra make it swell sent forth with every prayer and asking, as it were, for strength.

20Let me not, still beseeching thee with earnest song at Soma rites,
Anger thee like soma wild beast. Who would not beseech him who hath power to grant his prayer?

21The draught made swift with rapturous joy, effectual with its mighty strength,
All-conquering, distilling transport, let him drink: for he in ecstasy gives us gifts.

22Where bliss is not, may he, All-praised, God whom the pious glorify,
Bestow great wealth upon the mortal worshipper who sheds the juice and praises him.

23Come, Indra, and rejoice thyself, O God, in manifold affluence.
Thou fillest like a lake thy vast capacious bulk with Soma and with draughts besides.

24A thousand and a hundred Steeds are harnessed to thy golden car.
So may the long-mancd Bays, yoked by devotion, bring Indra to drink the Soma juice.

25Yoked to thy chariot wrought of gold, may thy two Bays with peacock tails,
Convey thee hither, Steeds with their white backs, to quaff sweet juice that makes us eloquent.

26So drink, thou Lover of the Song, as the first drinker, of this juice.
This the outpouring of the savoury sap prepared is good and meet to gladden thee.

27He who alone by wondrous deed is Mighty, Strong by holy works,
May he come, fair of cheek; may he not stay afar, but come and turn not from our call.

28Susna’s quick moving castle thou hast crushed to pieces with thy bolts.
Thou, Indra, from of old, hast followed after light, since we have had thee to invoke.

29My praises when the Sun hath risen, my praises at the time of noon,
My praises at the coming of the gloom of night, O Vasu, have gone forth to thee.

30Praise yea, praise him. Of princes these are the most liberal of their gifts,
These, Paramajya, Ninditasva, Prapathi, most bounteous, O Medhyatithi.

31When to the car, by faith, I yoked the horses longing for the way -
For skilled is Yadu’s son in dealing precious wealth, he who is rich in herds of kine.

32May he who gave me two brown steeds together with their cloths of gold,
May he, Asanga’s son Svanadratha, obtain all joy and high felicities.

33Playoga’s son Asanga, by ten thousand, O Agni, hath surpassed the rest in giving.
For me ten bright-hued oxen have come forward like lotus-stalks from out a lake upstanding.

34What time her husband’s perfect restoration to his lost strength and manhood was apparent,
His consort Sasvati with joy addressed him, Now art thou well, my lord, and shalt be happy.

1Here is the Soma juice expressed; O Vasu, drink till thou art full:
Undaunted God, we give it thee.

2Washed by the men, pressed out with stones, strained through the filter made of wool,
’Tis like a courser bathed in stream.

3This juice have we made sweet for thee like barley, blending it with milk.
Indra, I call thee to our feast.

4Beloved of all, Indra alone drinks up the flowing Soma juice
Among the Gods and mortal men.

5The Friend, whom not the brilliant-hued, the badly-mixt or bitter draught,
Repels, the far-extending God;

6While other men than we with milk chase him as hunters chase a deer,
And with their kine inveigle him.

7For him, for Indra, for the God, be pressed three draughts of Soma juice
In the juice-drinker’s own abode.

8Three reservoirs exude their drops, filled are three beakers to the brim,
All for one offering to the God.

9Pure art thou, set in many a place, and blended in the midst with milk
And curd, to cheer the Hero best.

10Here, Indra, are thy Soma-draughts pressed out by us, the strong, the pure:
They crave admixture of the milk.

11O Indra, pour in milk, prepare the cake, and mix the Soma-draught.
I hear them say that thou art rich.

12Quaffed juices fight within the breast. The drunken praise not by their wine,
The naked praise not when it rains.

13Rich be the praiser of one rich, munificent and famed like thee:
High rank be his, O Lord of Bays.

14Foe of the man who adds no milk, he heeds not any chanted hymn
Or holy psalm that may he sung.

15Give us not, Indra, as a prey unto the scornful or the proud:
Help, Mighty One, with power and might.

16This, even this, O Indra, we implore, as thy devoted friends,
The Kanvas dynasty praise thee with their hymns.

17Naught else, O Thunderer, have I praised in the skilled singer’s eulogy:
On thy land only have I thought.

18The Gods seek him who presses out the Soma; they desire not sleep
They punish sloth unweariedly.

19Come hither swift with gifts of wealth - be not thou angry with us-like
A great man with a youthful bride.

20Let him not, wrathful with us, spend the evening far from us to-day,
Like some unpleasant son-in-law.

21For well we know this Hero’s love, most liberal of the boons he gives,
His plans whom the three worlds display.

22Pour forth the gift which Kanvas bring, for none more glorious do we know
Than the Strong Lord with countless aids.

23O presser, offer Soma first to Indra, Hero, Sakra, him
The Friend of man, that he may drink;

24Who, in untroubled ways, is best provider for his worshippers.
Of strength in horses and in kine.

25Pressers, for him blend Soma juice, each draught most excellent, for him
The Brave, the Hero, for his joy.

26The Vrtra-slayer drinks the juice. May he who gives a hundred aids
Approach, nor stay afar from us.

27May the strong Bay Steeds, yoked by prayer, bring hither unto us our Friend,
Lover of Song, renowned by songs.

28Sweet are the Soma juices, come! Blent are the Soma juices, come!
Rsi-like, mighty, fair of cheek, come hither quickly to the feast.

29And lauds which strengthen thee for great bounty and valour, and exalt
Indra who doeth glorious deeds,

30And songs to thee who lovest song, and all those hymns addressed to thee -
These evermore confirm thy might.

31Thus he, sole doer of great deeds whose hand holds thunder, gives us strength,
He who hath never been subdued.

32Vrtra he slays with his right hand, even Indra, great with mighty power,
And much-invoked in many a place.

33He upon whom all men depend, all regions, all achievements, he
Takes pleasure in our wealthy chiefs.

34All this hath he accomplished, yea, Indra, most gloriously renowned,
Who gives our wealthy princes strength.

35Who drives his chariot seeking spoil, from afar, to him he loves:
For swift is he to bring men wealth.

36The Sage who, winning spoil with steeds, slays Vrtra, Hero with the men,
His servant’s faithful succourer.

37O Priyamedhas, worship with collected mind this Indra whom
The Soma hath full well inspired.

38Ye Kanvas, sing the Mighty One, Lord of the Brave, who loves renown,
All-present, glorified by song.

39Strong Friend, who, with no trace of feet, restores the cattle to the men,
Who rest their wish and hope on him.

40Shaped as a Ram, Stone-hurler I once thou camest hither to the son
Of Kanva, wise Medhyatithi.

41Vibhindu, thou hast helped this man, giving him thousands four times ten,
And afterward eight thousand more.

42And these twain pouring streams of milk, creative, daughters of delight,
For wedlock sake I glorify.

1Drink, 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.

2In thy kind grace and favour may we still be strong: expose us not to foe’s attack.
With manifold assistance guard and succour us, and bring us to felicity.

3May 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.

4He, with his might enhanced by Rsis thousand-fold, hath like an ocean spread himself.
His majesty is praised as true at solemn rites, his power where holy singers rule.

5Indra for worship of the Gods, Indra while sacrifice proceeds,
Indra, as worshippers in battle-shock, we call, Indra that we may win the spoil.

6With might hath Indra spread out heaven and earth, with power hath Indra lighted up the Sun.
In Indra are all creatures closely held; in him meet the distilling Soma-drops.

7Men with their lauds are urging thee, Indra, to drink the Soma first.
The Rbhus in accord have lifted up their voice, and Rudras sung thee as the first.

8Indra increased his manly strength at sacrifice, in the wild rapture of this juice.
And living men to-day, even as of old, sing forth their praises to his majesty.

9I crave of thee that hero strength, that thou mayst first regard this prayer,
Wherewith thou holpest Bhrgu and the Yatis and Praskanva when the prize was staked.

10Wherewith thou sentest mighty waters to the sea, that, Indra, is thy manly strength.
For ever unattainable is this power of him to whom the worlds have cried aloud.

11Help us, O Indra, when we pray to thee for wealth and hero might.
First help thou on to strength the man who strives to win, and aid our laud, O Ancient One.

12Help for us, Indra, as thou holpest Paura once, this man’s devotions bent on gain.
Help, as thou gavest Rugama and Syavaka and Svarnara and Krpa aid.

13What newest of imploring prayers shall, then, the zealous mortal sing?
For have not they who laud his might, and Indra-power won for themselves the light of heaven?

14When shall they keep the Law and praise thee mid the Gods? Who counts as Rsi and as sage?
When ever wilt thou, Indra Maghavan, come nigh to presser’s or to praiser’s call?

15These 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 aid.

16The Bhrgus are like Suns, like Kanvas, and have gained all that their thoughts were bent upon.
The living men of Priyamedha’s race have sung exalting Indra with their lauds.

17Best slayer of the Vrtras, yoke thy Bay Steeds, Indra, from afar.
Come with the High Ones hither, Maghavan, to us, Mighty, to drink the Soma juice.

18For these, the bards and singers, have cried out to thee with prayer, to gain the sacrifice.
As such, O Maghavan, Indra, who lovest song, even as a lover hear my call.

19Thou from the lofty plains above, O Indra, hurledst Vrtra down.
Thou dravest forth the kine of guileful Mrgaya and Arbuda from the mountain’s hold.

20Bright were the flaming fires, the Sun gave forth his shine, and Soma, Indra’s juice, shone clear.
Indra, thou blewest the great Dragon from the air -. men must regard that valorous deed.

21The fairest courser of them all, who runneth on as ’twere to heaven.
Which Indra and the Maruts gave, and Pakasthaman Kaurayan.

22To me hath Pakasthaman given a ruddy horse, good at the pole,
Filling his girth and rousing wealth;

23Compared with whom no other ten strong coursers, harnessed to the pole,
Bear Tugrya to his dwelling place.

24Raiment is body, food is life, and healing ointment giveth strength.
As the free-handed giver of the ruddy steed, I have named Pakasthaman fourth.

1Though, Indra, thou art called by men eastward and westward, north and south,
Thou chiefly art with Anava and Turvasa, brave Champion I urged by men to Come.

2Or, Indra, when with Ruma, Rusama, Syavaka, and Krpa thou rejoicest thee,
Still do the Kanvas, bringing praises, with their prayers, O Indra, draw thee hither: come.

3Even as the wild-bull, when he thirsts, goes to the desert’s watery pool,
Come hither quickly both at morning and at eve, and with the Kanvas drink thy fill.

4May the drops gladden thee, rich Indra, and obtain bounty for him who pours the juice.
Soma pressed in the mortar didst thou take and drink, and hence hast won surpassing might.

5With mightier strength he conquered strength, with energy he crushed their wrath.
O Indra, Strong in youth, all those who sought the fray bent and bowed down to thee like trees.

6He who wins promise of thine aid goes girt as with a thousand mighty men of war.
He makes his son preeminent in hero might - he serves with reverential prayer.

7With thee, the Mighty, for our Friend, we will riot fear or feel fatigue.
May we see Turvasa and Yadu: thy great deed, O Hero, must be glorified.

8On his left hip the Hero hath reclined himself: the proffered feast offends him not.
The milk is blended with the honey of the bee: quickly come hither, haste, and drink.

9Indra, thy friend is fair of form and rich in horses, cars, and kine.
He evermore hath food accompanied by wealth, and radiant joins the company.

10Come like a thirsty antelope to the drinking-place: drink Soma to thy heart’s desire.
Raining it down, O Maghavan, day after day, thou gainest thy surpassing might.

11Priest, let the Soma juice flow forth, for Indra longs to drink thereof.
He even now hath yoked his vigorous Bay Steeds: the Vrtra-slayer hath come near.

12The man with whom thou fillcst thee with Soma deems himself a pious worshipper.
This thine appropriate food is here poured out for thee: come, hasten forward. drink of it,

13Press out the Soma juice, ye priests, for Indra borne upon his car.
The pressing-stones speak loud of Indra, while they shed the juice which, offered, honours him.

14To the brown juice may his dear vigorous Bay Steeds bring Indra, to our holy task.
Hither let thy Car-steeds who seek the sacrifice bring thee to our drink-offerings.

15Pusan, the Lord of ample wealth, for firm alliance we elect.
May he with wisdom, Sakra! Looser! Much-invoked! aid us to riches and to seed.

16Sharpen us like a razor in the barber’s hands: send riches thou who settest free.
Easy to find with thee are treasures of the Dawn for mortal man whom thou dost speed.

17Pusan, I long to win thy love, I long to praise thee, Radiant God.
Excellent Lord, ’tis strange to me, no wish have I to sing the psalm that Pajra sings.

18My kine, O Radiant God, seek pasture where they will, my during wealth, Immortal One.
Be our protector, Pusan! be, most liberal Lord, propitious to our gathering strength.

19Rich was the gift Kurunga gave, a hundred steeds at morning rites.
Among the gifts of Turvasas we thought of him, the opulent, the splendid King.

20What by his morning songs Kanva, the powerful, hath, with the Priyamedhas, gained -
The herds of sixty thousand pure and spotless kine, have I, the Rsi, driven away

21The very trees were joyful at my coming: kine they obtained in plenty, steeds in plenty.

1When, even as she were present here, red Dawn hath shone from far away,
She spreadeth light on every side.

2Like Heroes on your will-yoked car farshining, Wonder-Workers! ye
Attend, O Asvins, on the Dawn.

3By you, O Lords of ample wealth our songs of praise have been observed:
As envoy have I brought the prayer.

4Kanvas must praise the Asvins dear to many, making many glad,
Most rich, that they may succour us.

5Most liberal, best at winning strength, inciters, Lords of splendour who
Visit the worshipper’s abode.

6So for devout Sudeva dew with fatness his unfailing mead,
And make it rich for sacrifice.

7Hitherward running speedily with horses, as with rapid hawks,
Come, Asvins, to our song of praise

8Wherewith the three wide distances, and all the lights that are in heaven.
Ye traverse, and three times of night.

9O Finders of the Day, that we may win us food of kine and wealth,
Open the paths for us to tread.

10O Asvins, bring us wealth in kine, in noble heroes, and in cars:
Bring us the strength that horses give.

11Ye Lords of splendour, glorified, ye Wonder-Workers borne on paths
Of gold, drink sweets with Soma juice.

12To us, ye Lords of ample wealth, and to our wealth chiefs extend
Wide shelter, ne’er to be assailed.

13Come quickly downward to the prayer of people whom ye favour most:
Approach not unto other folk.

14Ye Asvins whom our minds perceive, drink of this lovely gladdening draught,
The meath which we present to you.

15Bring riches hither unto us in hundreds and in thousands, source
Of plenteous food, sustaining all.

16Verily sages call on you, ye Heroes, in full many a place.
Moved by the priests, O Asvins, conic.

17Men who have trimmed the sacred grass, bringing oblations and prepared,
O Asvins, are invoking you.

18May this our hymn of praise to-day, most powerful to bring you, be,
O Asvins, nearest to your hearts.

19The skin filled full of savoury meath, laid in the pathway of your car -
O Asvins, drink ye both therefrom.

20For this, ye Lords of ample wealth, bring blessing for our herd, our kine,
Our progeny, and plenteous food.

21Ye too unclose to us like doors the strengthening waters of the sky,
And rivers, ye who find the day.

22When did the son of Tugra serve you, Men? Abandoned in the sea,
That with winged steeds your car might fly.

23Ye, O Násatyas, ministered to Kanva with repeated aid,
When cast into the heated pit.

24Come near with those most recent aids of yours which merit eulogy,
When I invoke you, Wealthy Gods.

25As ye protected Kanva erst, Priyamedha and Upastuta,
Atri, Sinjara, Asvins Twain

26And Amsu in decisive fight, Agastya in the fray for kine.
And, in his battles, Sobhari.

27For so much bliss, or even more, O Asvins, Wealthy Gods, than this,
We pray while singing hymns to you.

28Ascend your car with golden seat, O Asvins, and with reins of gold,
That reaches even to the sky.

29Golden is its supporting shaft, the axle also is of gold,
And both the wheels are made of gold.

30Thereon, ye Lords of ample wealth, come to us even from afar,
Come ye to this mine eulogy.

31From far away ye come to us, Asvins, enjoying plenteous food
Of Dasas, O Immortal Ones.

32With splendour, riches, and renown, O Asvins, hither come to us,
Násatyas, shining brilliantly.

33May dappled horses, steeds who fly with pinions, bring you hitherward
To people skilled in sacrifice.

34The wheel delayeth not that car of yours accompanied by song,
That cometh with a store of food.

35Borne on that chariot wrought of gold, with coursers very fleet of foot,
Come, O Násatyas, swift as thought.

36O Wealthy Gods, ye taste and find the brisk and watchful wild beast good.
Associate wealth with food for us.

37As such, O Asvins, find for me my share of new-presented gifts,
As Kasu, Cedi’s son, gave me a hundred head of buffaloes, and ten thousand kine.

38He who hath given me for mine own ten Kings like gold to look upon.
At Caidya’s feet are all the people round about, all those who think upon the shield.

39No man, not any, goes upon the path on which the Cedis walk.
No other prince, no folk is held more liberal of gifts than they.

1Indra, great in his power and might, and like Parjanya rich in rain,
Is magnified by Vatsa’s lauds.

2When the priests, strengthening the Son of Holy Law, present their gifts,
Singers with Order’s hymn of praiser.

3Since Kanvas with their lauds have made Indra complete the sacrifice.
Words are their own appropriate arms.

4Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men, bow down,
As rivers bow them to the sea.

5This power of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, like
A skin, the worlds of heaven and earth.

6The fiercely-moving Vrtra’s head he severed with his thunder-bolt,
His mighty hundred-knotted bolt.

7Here are - we sing them loudly forth - our thoughts among - the best of songs.
Even lightnings like the blaze of fire.

8When bidden thoughts, spontaneously advancing, glow, and with the stream
Of sacrifice the Kanvas shine.

9Indra, may we obtain that wealth in horses and in herds of cows,
And prayer that may be noticed first.

10I from my Father have received deep knowledge of the Holy Law
I was born like unto the Sun.

11After the lore of ancient time I make, like Kanva, beauteous songs,
And Indra’s self gains strength thereby.

12Whatever Rsis have not praised thee, Indra, or have lauded thee,
By me exalted wax thou strong.

13When his wrath thundered, when he rent Vrtra to pieces, limb by limb,
He sent the waters to the sea.

14Against the Dasyu Gusna thou, Indra, didst hurl thy during bolt:
Thou, Dread one, hast a hero’s fame.

15Neither the heavens nor firmaments nor regions of the earth contain
Indra, the Thunderer with his might.

16O Indra him who lay at length staying thy copious waters thou,
In his own footsteps, smotest down

17Thou hiddest deep in darkness within, O Indra, who had set his grasp
On spacious heaven and earth conjoined.

18Indra, whatever Yatis and Bhrgus have offered praise to thee,
Listen, thou Mighty, to my call.

19Indra, these spotted cows yield thee their butter and the milky draught;
Aiders, thereby, of sacrifice;

20Which, teeming, have received thee as a life-germ, Indra, with their mouth,
Like Súrya who sustaineth all.

21O Lord of Might, with hymns of praise the Kanvas have increased thy power,
The drops poured forth have strengthened thee.

22Under thy guidance, Indra, mid thy praises, Lord of Thunder, shall
The sacrifice be soon performed.

23Indra, disclose much food for us, like a stronghold with store of kine:
Give progeny and heroic strength.

24And, Indra, grant us all that wealth of fleet steeds which shone bright of old
Among the tribes of Nahusas.

25Hither thou seemest to attract heaven’s fold which shines before our eyes,
When, Indra, thou art kind to us.

26Yea, when thou puttest forth thy power, Indra, thou governest the folk.
Mighty, unlimited in strength.

27The tribes who bring oblations call to thee, to thee to give them help,
With drops to thee who spreadest far.

28There where the mountains downward slope, there by the meeting of the streams
The Sage was manifest with song.

29Thence, marking, from his lofty place downward he looks upon the sea,
And thence with rapid stir he moves.

30Then, verify, they see the light refulgent of primeval seed,
Kindled on yonder side of heaven.

31Indra, the Kanvas all exalt thy wisdom and thy manly power,
And, Mightiest! thine heroic strength.

32Accept this eulogy of mine, Indra, and guard me carefully:
Strengthen my thought and prosper it.

33For thee, O Mighty, Thunder-armed, we singers through devotion have
Fashioned the hymn that we may live.

34To Indra have the Kanvas sung, like waters speeding down a slope:
The song is fain to go to him.

35As rivers swell the ocean, so our hymns of praise make Indra strong,
Eternal, of resistless wrath.

36Come with thy lovely Bay Steeds, come to us from regions far away
O Indra, drink this Soma juice.

37Best slayer of Vrtras, men whose sacred grass is ready trimmed
Invoke thee for the gain of spoil.

38The heavens and earth come after thee as the wheel follows Etasa:
To thee flow Soma-drops effused.

39Rejoice, O Indra, in the light, rejoice in Saryandyan, be
Glad in the sacrificer’s hymn.

40Grown strong in heaven, the Thunder-armed hath bellowed, Vrtra-slayer, Bull,
Chief drinker of the Soma juice.

41Thou art a Rsi born of old, sole Ruler over all by might:
Thou, Indra, guardest well our wealth.

42May thy Bay Steeds with beauteous backs, a hundred, bring thee to the feast,
Bring thee to these our Soma-draughts.

43The Kanvas with their hymns of praise have magnified this ancient thought
That swells with streams of meath and oil.

44Mid mightiest Gods let mortal man choose Indra at the sacrifice,
Indra, whoe’er would win, for help.

45Thy steeds, by Priyamedhas praised, shall bring thee, God whom all invoke,
Hither to drink the Somajuice.

46A hundred thousand have I gained from Parsu, from Tirindira,
And presents of the Yadavas.

47Ten thousand head of kine, and steeds three times a hundred they bestowed
On Pajra for the Sama-song.

48Kakuha hath reached up to heaven, bestowing buffaloes yoked in fours,
And matched in fame the Yadavas.

1O Maruts, when the sage hath poured the Trstup forth as food for you,
Ye shine amid the mountain-clouds.

2When, Bright Ones, fain to show your might ye have determined on your course,
The mountain-clouds have bent them down.

3Loud roaring with the winds the Sons of Prsni have upraised themselves:
They have poured out the streaming food.

4The Maruts spread the mist abroad and make mountains rock and reel,
When with the winds they go their way

5What time the rivers and the hills before your coming bowed them down,
So to sustain your mighty force.

6We call on you for aid by night, on you for succour in the day,
On you while sacrifice proceeds.

7These, verily, wondrous, red of hue, speed on their courses with a roar
Over the ridges of the sky.

8With might they drop the loosened rein so that the Sun may run his course,
And spread themselves with beams of light.

9Accept, ye Maruts, this my song, accept ye this mine hymn of praise,
Accept, Rbhuksans, this my call.

10The dappled Cows have poured three lakes, meath for the Thunder-wielding God,
From the great cask, the watery cloud.

11O Maruts, quickly come to us when, longing for felicity,
We call you hither from the sky.

12For, Rudras and Rbhuksans, ye, Most Bountiful, are in the house,
Wise when the gladdening draught is drunk.

13O Maruts, send us down from heaven riches distilling rapturous joy,
With plenteous food, sustaining all.

14When, Bright Ones, hither from the hills ye have resolved to take your way,
Ye revel in the drops effused.

15Man should solicit with his lauds happiness which belongs to them,
So great a band invincible.

16They who like fiery sparks with showers of rain blow through the heaven and earth,
Milking the spring that never fails.

17With chariots and tumultuous roar, with tempests and with hymns of praise
The Sons of Prsni hurry forth.

18For wealth, we think of that whereby ye aided Yadu, Turvasa,
And Kanva who obtained the spoil.

19May these our viands Bounteous Ones I that flow in streams like holy oil,
With Kanva’s hymns, increase your might.

20Where, Bounteous Lords for whom the grass is trimmed, are ye rejoicing now?
What Bráhman is adoring you?

21Is it not there where ye of old, supplied with sacred grass, for lauds
Inspired the strong in sacrifice?

22They brought together both the worlds, the mighty waters, and the Sun,
And, joint by joint, the thunder-bolt.

23They sundered Vrtra limb from limb and split the gloomy mountain-clouds,
Performing a heroic deed.

24They reinforced the power and strength of Trita as he fought, and helped
Indra in battle with the foe.

25They deck themselves for glory, bright, celestial, lightning in their hands,
And helms of gold upon their heads.

26When eagerly ye from far away came to the cavern of the Bull,
He bellowed in his fear like Heaven.

27Borne by your golden-footed steeds, O Gods, come hither to receive
The sacrifice we offer you.

28When the red leader draws along their spotted deer yoked to the car.
The Bright Ones come, and shed the rain.

29Susoma, Saryakiavan, and Arjika full of homes, have they.
These Heroes, sought with downward car.

30When, Maruts, ye come to him, the singer who invokes you thus,
With favours to your suppliant?

31What now? Where have ye still a friend since ye left Indra all alone?
Who counteth on your friendship now?

32The Kanvas sing forth Agni’s praise together with our Maruts’ who
Wield thunder and wear swords of gold.

33Hither for new felicity may I attract the Impetuous Ones,
The Heroes with their wondrous strength

34Before them sink the very hills deerning themseives abysses: yea,
Even the mountains bend them down.

35Steeds flying on their tortuous path through mid-air carry them, and give
The man who lauds them strength and life.

36Agni was born the first of all, like Súrya lovely with his light:
With lustre these have spread abroad.

1With all the succours that are yours, O Asvins, hither come to us:
Wonderful, borne on paths of gold, drink ye the meath with Soma juice.

2Come now, ye Asvins, on your car decked with a sun-bright canopy,
Bountiful, with your golden forms, Sages with depth of intellect.

3Come hither from the Nahusas, come, drawn by pure hymns, from mid-air.
O Asvins, drink the savoury juice shed in the Kanvas’ sacrifice.

4Come to us hither from the heavens, come from mid-air, well-loved by us:
Here Kanva’s son hath pressed for you the pleasant meath of Soma juice.

5Come, Asvins, to give car to us, to drink the Soma, Asvins, come.
Hail, Strengtheners of the praise-song speed onward, ye Heroes, with your thoughts.

6As, Heroes, in the olden time the Rsis called you to their aid,
So now, O Asvins, come to us, come near to this mine eulogy.

7Even from the luminous sphere of heaven come to us, ye who find the light,
Carers for Vatsa, through our prayers and lauds, O ye who hear our call.

8Do others more than we adore the Asvins with their hymns of praise?
The Rsi Vatsa, Kanva’s son, hath magnified you with his songs.

9The holy singer with his hymns hath called you, Asvins, hither-ward;
Best Vrtra-slayers, free from stain, as such bring us felicity.

10What time, ye Lords of ample wealth, the Lady mounted on your car,
Then, O ye Asvins, ye attained all wishes that your hearts desired.

11Come thence, O Asvins, on your car that hath a thousand ornaments:
Vatsa the sage, the sage’s son, hath sung a song of sweets to you.

12Cheerers of many, rich in goods, discoverers of opulence,
The Asvins, Riders through the sky, have welcomed this my song of praise.

13O Asvins, grant us all rich gifts wherewith no man may interfere.
Make us observe the stated times: give us not over to reproach.

14Whether, Násatyas, ye be nigh, or whether ye be far away,
Come thence, O Asvins, on your car that hath a thousand ornaments.

15Vatsa the Rsi with his songs, Násatyas, hath exalted you:
Grant him rich food distilling oil, graced with a thousand ornaments.

16Bestow on him, O Asvins, food that strengthens, and that drops with oil,
On him who praises you for bliss, and, Lords of bounty, prays for wealth.

17Come to us, ye who slay the foe, Lords of rich treasure, to this hymn.
O Heroes, give us high renown and these good things of earth for help.

18The Priyamedhas have invoked you with all succours that are yours,
You, Asvins, Lords of solemn rites, with calls entreating you to come.

19Come to us, Asvins, ye Who bring felicity, auspicious Ones,
To Vatsa who with prayer and hymn, lovers of song, hath honoured you.

20Aid us, O Heroes, for those hymns for which ye helped GoSarya erst,
Gave Vasa, Dasavraja aid, and Kanva and Medhatithi:

21And favoured Trasadasyu, ye Heroes, in spoil-deciding fray:
For these, O Asvins, graciously assist us in acquiring strength.

22O Asvins, may pure hymns of ours, and songs and praises, honour you:
Best slayers everywhere of foes, as such we fondly yearn for you.

23Three places of the Asvins, erst concealed, are made apparent now.
Both Sages, with the flight of Law come hither unto those who live.

1To help and favour Vatsa now, O Asvins, come ye hitherward.
Bestow on him a dwelling spacious and secure, and keep malignities away.

2All manliness that is in heaven, with the Five Tribes, or in mid-air,
Bestow, ye Asvins, upon us.

3Remember Kanva first of all among the singers, Asvins, who
Have thought upon your wondrous deeds.

4Asvins, for you with song of praise this hot oblation is effused,
This your sweet Soma juice, ye Lords of ample wealth, through which ye think upon the foe.

5Whatever ye have done in floods, in the tree, Wonder-Workers, and in growing plants,
Therewith, O Asvins, succour me.

6What force, Násatyas, ye exert, whatever, Gods, ye tend and heal,
This your own Vatsa gains not by his hymns alone: ye visit him who offers gifts.

7Now hath the Rsi splendidly thought out the Asvins’ hymn of praise.
Let the Atharvan pour the warm oblation forth, and Soma very rich in sweets.

8Ye Asvins, now ascend your car that lightly rolls upon its way.
May these my praises make you speed hitherward like a cloud of heaven.

9When, O Násatyas, we this day make you speed hither with our hymns,
Or, Asvins, with our songs of praise, remember Kanya specially.

10As erst Kaksivan and the Rsi Vyasva, as erst Dirghatamas invoked your presence,
Or, in the sacrificial chambers, Vainya Prthi, so be ye mindful of us here, O Asvins.

11Come as home-guardians, saving us from foemen, guarding our living creatures and our bodies,
Come to the house to give us seed and offspring,

12Whether with Indra ye be faring, Asvins, or resting in one dwelling-place with Váyu,
In concord with the Rbhus or Ádityas, or standing still in Visnu’s striding-places.

13When I, O Asvins, call on you to-day that I may gather strength,
Or as all-conquering might in war, be that the Asvins’ noblest grace.

14Now come, ye Asvins, hitherward: here are oblations set for you;
These Soma-draughts to aid Yadu and Turvasa, these offered you mid Kaniva’s Sons.

15Whatever healing balm is yours, Nisatyas, near or far away,
Therewith, great Sages, grant a home to Vatsa and to Vimada.

16Together with the Goddess, with the Asvins’ Speech have I awoke.
Thou, Goddess, hast disclosed the hymn, and holy gift from mortal men.

17Awake the Asvins, Goddess Dawn! Up Mighty Lady of sweet strains!
Rise, straightway, priest of sacrifice! High glory to the gladdening draught!

18Thou, Dawn, approaching with thy light shinest together with the Sun,
And to this man-protecting home the chariot of the Asvins comes.

19When yellow stalks give forth the juice, as cows from udders pour their milk,
And voices sound the song of praise, the Asvins’ worshippers show first.

20Forward for glory and for strength, protection that shall conquer men,
And power and skill, most sapient Ones!

21When Asvins, worthy of our lauds, ye seat you in the father’s house.
With wisdom or the bliss ye bring.

1Whether ye travel far away or dwell in yonder light of heaven,
Or in a mansion that is built above the sea, come thence, ye Asvins, hitherward.

2Or if for Manu.ye prepared the sacrifice, remember also Kanva’s son.
I call Brhaspati, Indra, Visnu, all the gods, the Asvins borne by rapid steeds.

3Those Asvins I invoke who work marvels, brought hither to receive,
With whom our friendship is most famed, and kinship passing that of Gods.

4On whom the solemn rites depend, whose worshippers rise without the Sun:
These who fore-know the holy work of sacrifice, and by their Godhead drink the sweets of Soma juice.

5Whether ye, Lords of ample wealth, now linger in the east or west,
With Druhyu, or with Anu, Yadu, Turvaga, I call you hither; come to me.

6Lords of great riches, whether through the firmament ye fly or speed through heaven and earth,
Or with your Godlike natures stand upon your cars, come thence, O Asvins, hitherward.

1Thou Agni, God mid mortal men, art guard of sacred rites, thou art
To be adored at sacrifice.

2O Mighty Agni, thou must be glorified at our festivals,
Bearing our offerings to the Gods.

3O Játavedas Agni, fight and drive our foes afar from us,
Them and their godless enmities.

4Thou, Játavedas, seekest not the worship of a hostile man,
However nigh it be to thee.

5We sages, mortals as we are, adore the mighty name of thee,
Immortal Játavedas’ name.

6Sages, we call the Sage to help, mortals, we call the God to aid:
We call on Agni with our songs.

7May Vatsa draw thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling-place,
Agni, with song that yearns for thee.

8Thou art the same in many a place: mid all the people thou art Lord.
In fray and fight we call on thee.

9When we are seeking strength we call Agni to help us in the strife,
The giver of rich gifts in war.

10Ancient, adorable at sacrifices, Priest from of old, meet for our praise, thou sittest.
Fill full and satisfy thy body, Agni, and win us happiness by offering worship.

1Joy, Mightiest Indra, known and marked, sprung most from Soma-draughts, wherewith
Thou smitest down the greedy fiend, for that we long.

2Wherewith thou holpest Adhrigu, the great Dasagva, and the God
Who stirs the sunlight, and the sea, for that we long.

3Wherewith thou dravest forth like cars Sindhu and all the mighty floods
To go the way ordained by Law, for that we long.

4Accept this laud for aid, made pure like oil, thou Caster of the Stone,
Whereby even in a moment thou hast waxen great.

5Be pleased, Song-lover, with this song it flows abundant like the sea.
Indra, with all thy succours thou hast waxen great.

6The God who from afar hath sent gifts to maintain our friendship’s bond,
Thou, spreading them like rain from heaven, hast waxen great.

7The beams that mark him have grown strong, the thunder rests between his arms,
When, like the Sun, he hath increased both Heaven and Earth.

8When, Mighty Lord of Heroes, thou didst eat a thousand buffaloes,
Then grew and waxed exceeding great thine Indra-power.

9Indra consumeth with the rays of Súrya the malicious man:
Like Agni conquering the woods, he hath grown strong.

10This newest thought of ours that suits the time approaches unto thee:
Serving, beloved in many a place it metes and marks.

11The pious germ of sacrifice directly purifies the soul.
By Indra’s lauds it waxes great, it metes and marks.

12Indra who wins the friend hath spread himself to drink the Soma-draught:
Like worshipper’s dilating praise; it metes and marks.

13He whom the sages, living men, have gladdened, offering up their hymns,
Hath swelled like oil of sacrifice in Agni’s mouth.

14Aditi also hath brought forth a hymn for Indra, Sovran Lord:
The work of sacrifice for help is glorified.

15The ministering priests have sung their songs for aid and eulogy:
God, thy Bays turn not from the rite which Law ordains.

16If, Indra, thou drink Soma by Visnu’s or Trta Áptya’s side,
Or with the Maruts take delight in flowing drops;

17Or, Sakra, if thou gladden thee afar or in the sea of air,
Rejoice thee in this juice of ours, in flowing drops.

18Or, Lord of Heroes if thou aid the worshipper who shed the juice,
Or him whose laud delights thee, and his flowing drops.

19To magnify the God, the God, Indra, yea, Indra for your help,
And promptly end the sacrifice - this have they gained.

20With worship, him whom men adore, with Soma, him who drinks it most,
Indra with lauds have they increased this have they gained.

21His leadings are with power and might and his instructions manifold:
He gives the worshipper all wealth: this have they gained.

22For slaying Vrtra have the Gods set Indra in the foremost place.
Indra the choral bands have sung, for vigorous strength.

23We to the Mighty with our might, with lauds to him who hears our call,
With holy hymns have sung aloud, for vigorous strength.

24Not earth, nor heaven, nor firmaments contain the Thunder-wielding God:
They shake before his violent rush and vigorous strength.

25What time the Gods, O Indra, get thee foremost in the furious fight,
Then thy two beautiful Bay Steeds carried thee on.

26When Vrtra, stayer of the floods, thou slewest, Thunderer with might,
Then thy two beautiful Bay Steeds carried thee on.

27When Visnu, through thine energy, strode wide those three great steps of his,
Then thy two beautiful Bay Steeds carried thee on.

28When thy two beautiful Bay Steeds grew great and greater day by day,
Even then all creatures that had life bowed down to thee.

29When, Indra, all the Marut folk humbly submitted them to thee,
Even then all creatures that had life bowed down to thee.

30When yonder Sun, that brilliant light, thou settest in the heaven above,
Even then all creatures that had life bowed down to thee.

31To thee, O Indra, with this thought the sage lifts up this eulogy,
Akin and leading as on foot to sacrifice.

32When in thine own dear dwelling all gathered have lifted up the voice
Milk-streams at worship’s central spot, for sacrifice,

33As Priest, O Indra, give us wealth in brave men and good steeds and kine
That we may first remember thee for sacrifice.

1Indra, when Soma juices flow, makes his mind pure and meet for lauds.
He gains the power that brings success, for great is he.

2In heaven’s first region, in the seat of Gods, is he who brings success,
Most glorious, prompt to save, who wins the water-floods.

3Him, to win strength, have I invoked, even Indra mighty for the fray.
Be thou most near to us for bliss, a Friend to aid.

4Indra, Song-lover, here for thee the worshipper’s libation flows.
Rejoicing in this sacred grass thou shinest forth.

5Even now, O Indra, give us that which, pressing juice, we crave of thee.
Bring us wealth manifold which finds the light of heaven.

6What time the zealous worshipper hath boldly sung his songs to thee,
Like branches of a tree up-grows what they desire.

7Generate songs even as of old, give ear unto the singer’s call.
Thou for the pious hast grown great at each carouse.

8Sweet strains that glorify him play like waters speeding down a slope,
Yea, him who in this song is called the Lord of Heaven;

9Yea, who alone is called the Lord, the single Ruler of the folk,
By worshippers seeking aid: may he joy in the draught.

10Praise him, the Glorious, skilled in song, Lord of the two victorious Bays:
They seek the worshipper’s abode who bows in prayer.

11Put forth thy strength: with dappled Steeds come, thou of mighty intellect,
With swift Steeds to the sacrifice, for ’tis thy joy.

12Grant wealth to those who praise thee, Lord of Heroes, Mightiest Indra: give
Our princes everlasting fame and opulence.

13I call thee when the Sun is risen, I call thee at the noon of day:
With thy car-horses, Indra, come well pleased to us.

14Speed forward hither, come to us, rejoice thee in the milky draught:
Spin out the thread of ancient time, as well is known.

15If, Sakra, Vrtra-slayer, thou be far away or near to us.
Or in the sea, thou art the guard of Soma juice.

16Let songs we sing and Soma-drops expressed by us make Indra strong:
The tribes who bring oblations find delight in him.

17Him sages longing for his aid, with offerings brought in eager haste,
Him, even as branches, all mankind have made to grow.

18At the Trkadrukas the Gods span sacrifice that stirred the mind:
May our songs strengthen him who still hath strengthened us.

19When, true to duty, at due times the worshipper offers lauds to thee,
They call him Purifier, Pure, and Wonderful.

20That mind of Rudra, fresh and strong, moves conscious in the ancient ways,
With reference whereto the wise have ordered this.

21If thou elect to be my Friend drink of this sacrificial juice,
By help whereof we may subdue all enemies.

22O Indra, Lover of the song, when shall thy praiser be most blest?
When wilt thou grant us wealth in herds of kine and steeds?

23And thy two highIy-lauded Bays, strong stallions, draw thy car who art
Untouched by age, most gladdening car for which we pray.

24With ancient offerings we implore the Young and Strong whom many praise.
He from of old hath sat upon dear sacred grass.

25Wax mightily, thou whom many laud for aids which Rsis have extolled.
Pour down for us abundant food and guard us well.

26O Indra, Caster of the Stone, thou helpest him who praises thee:
From sacrifice I send to thee a mind-yoked hymn.

27Here, yoking for the Soma-draught these Horses, sharers of thy feast,
Thy Bay Steeds, Indra, fraught with weal to consent to come.

28Attendants on thy glory, let the Rudras roar assent to thee,
And all the Marut companies come tothe feast.

29These his victorious followers bold in the heavens the place they love,
Leagued in the heart of sacrifice, as well we know.

30That we may long behold the light, what time the ordered rite proceeds,
He duly measures, as he views, the sacrifice.

31O Indra, strong is this thy car, and strong are these Bay Steeds of thine:
O Satakratu, thou art strong, strong is our call.

32Strong is the press-stone, strong thy joy, strong is the flowing Soma juice:
Strong is the rite thou furtherest, strong is our call.

33As strong I call on thee the Strong, O Thunderer with thy thousand aids:
For thou hast won the hymn of praise. Strong is our call.

1If I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single Sovran of all wealth,
My worshipper should be rich in kine.

2I should be fain, O Lord of Power, to strengthen and enrich the sage,
Were I the Lord of herds of kine.

3To worshippers who press the juice thy goodness, Indra, is a cow
Yielding in plenty kine and steeds.

4None is there, Indra, God or man, to hinder thy munificence,
The wealth which, lauded, thou wilt give.

5The sacrifice made Indra strong when he unrolled the earth, and made
Himself a diadem in heaven.

6Thine aid we claim, O Indra, thine who after thou hast waxen great
Hast won all treasures for thine own.

7In Soma’s ecstasy Indra spread the firmament and realms of light,
When he cleft Vala limb from limb.

8Showing the hidden he drave forth the cows for the Angirases,
And Vala he cast headlong down.

9By Indra were the lumirious realms of heaven established and secured,
Firm and immovable from their place.

10Indra, thy laud moves quickly like a joyous wave of water-floods:
Bright shine the drops that gladden thee.

11For thou, O Indra, art the God whom hymns and praises magnify:
Thou blessest those who worship thee.

12Let the two long-maned Bay Steeds bring Indra to drink the Soma juice,
The Bountiful to our sacrifice.

13With waters’ foam thou torest off, Indra, the head of Namuci,
Subduing all contending hosts.

14The Dasyus, when they fain would climb by magic arts and mount to heaven,
Thou, Indra, castest down to earth.

15As Soma-drinker conquering all, thou scatteredst to every side
Their settlement who poured no gifts.

1Sing forth to him whom many men invoke, to him whom many laud.
Invite the powerful Indra with your songs of praise.

2Whose lofty might - for doubly strong is he - supports the heavens and earth,
And hills and plains and floods and light with manly power.

3Such, Praised by many! thou art King alone thou smitest Vrtras dead,
To gain, O Indra, spoils of war and high renown.

4We sing this strong and wild delight of thine which conquers in the fray,
Which, Caster of the Stone! gives room and shines like gold.

5Wherewith thou also foundest lights for Ayu and for Manu’s sake:
Now joying in this sacred grass thou beamest forth.

6This day too singers of the hymn praise, as of old, this might of thine:
Win thou the waters day by day, thralls of the strong.

7That lofty Indra-power of thine, thy strength and thine intelligence,
Thy thunder-bolt for which we long, the wish makes keen.

8O Indra, Heaven and Earth augment thy manly power and thy renown;
The waters and thy mountains stir and urge thee on.

9Visnu the lofty ruling Power, Váruna, Mitra sing thy praise:
In thee the Maruts' company have great delight.

10O Indra, thou wast born the Lord of men, most liberal of thy gifts:
Excellent deeds for evermore are all thine own.

11Ever, alone, O highly-praised, thou sendest Vrtras to their rest:
None else than Indra executes the mighty deed.

12Though here and there, in varied hymns, Indra, men call on thee for aid,
Still with our heroes fight and win the light of heaven.

13Already have all forms of him entered our spacious dwelling-place:
For victory stir thou Indra, up, the Lord of Might.

1Praise Indra whom our songs must laud, sole Sovran of mankind, the Chief
Most liberal who controlleth men.

2In whom the hymns of praise delight, and all the glory-giving songs.
Like the floods’ longing for the sea.

3Him I invite with eulogy, best King, effective in the fight,
Strong for the gain of mighty spoil.

4Whose perfect ecstasies are wide, profound, victorious, and give joy in the field where heroes win.

5Him, when the spoils of war are staked, men call to be their advocate:
They who have Indra win the day.

6Men honour him with stirring songs and magnify with solemn rites:
Indra is he who giveth ease.

71ndra is priest and Rsi, he is much invoked by many men,
And mighty by his mighty powers.

8Meet to be lauded and invoked, true Hero with his deeds of might,
Victorious even when alone.

9The men, the people magnify that Indra with their Slina songs,
With hymns and sacred eulogies

10Him who advances them to wealth, sends light to lead them in the war,
And quells their foemen in the fray.

11May he, the saviour much-invoked, may Indra bear us in a ship
Safely beyond all enemies.

12As such, O Indra, honour us with gifts of booty, further us,
And lead us to felicity.

1Come, we have pressed the juice for thee; O Indra, drink this Soma here
Sit thou on this my sacred grass.

2O Indra, let thy long-maned Bays, yoked by prayer, bring thee hitherward
Give ear and listen to our prayers.

3We Soma-bearing Bráhmans call thee Soma-drinker with thy friend,
We, Indra, bringing Soma juice.

4Come unto us who bring the juice, come unto this our eulogy,
Fair-visored! drink thou of the juice.

5I pour it down within thee, so through all thy members let it spread:
Take with thy tongue the pleasant drink.

6Sweet to thy body let it be, delicious be the savoury juice:
Sweet be the Soma to thine heart.

7Like women, let this Soma-draught, invested with its robe, approach,
O active Indra, close to thee.

8Indra, transported with the juice, vast in his bulk, strong in his neck
And stout arms, smites the Vrtras down.

9O Indra, go thou forward, thou who rulest over all by might:
Thou Vrtra-slayer slay the fiends,

10Long be thy grasping-hook wherewith thou givest ample wealth to him
Who sheds the juice and worships thee.

11Here, Indra, is thy Soma-draught, made pure upon the sacred grass:
Run hither, come and drink thereof.

12Famed for thy radiance, worshipped well this juice is shed for thy delight
Thou art invoked, Akhandala!

13To Kundapayya, grandson’s son, grandson of Srngavrs! to thee,
To him have I addressed my thought.

14Strong pillar thou, Lord of the home armour of Soma-offerers:
The drop of Soma breaketh all the strongholds down, and Indra is the Rsis’ Friend.

15Holy Prdikusanu, winner of the spoil, one eminent o’er many men,
Lead on the wild horse Indra with his vigorous grasp forward to drink the Soma juice.

1Now let the mortal offer prayer to win the unexampled grace
Of these Ádityas and their aid to cherish life.

2For not an enemy molests the paths which these Ádityas tread:
Infallible guards, they strengthen us in happiness.

3Now soon may Bhaga, Savitar, Váruna, Mitra, Aryaman
Give us the shelter widely spread which we implore.

4With Gods come thou whose fostering care none checks, O Goddesss Aditi:
Come, dear to many, with the Lords who guard us well.

5For well these Sons of Aditi know to keep enmities aloof,
Unrivalled, giving ample room, they save from woe.

6Aditi guard our herd by day, Aditi, free from guile, by night,
Aditi, ever strengthening, save us from grief!

7And in the day our hymn is this: May Aditi come nigh to help,
With loving-kindness bring us weal and chase our foes.

8And may the Asvins, the divine Pair of Physicians, send us health:
May they remove iniquity and chase our foes.

9May Agni bless us with his fires, and Súrya warm us pleasantly:
May the pure Wind breathe sweet on us, and chase our foes.

10Drive ye disease and strife away, drive ye away malignity:
Ádityas, keep us ever far from sore distress.

11Remove from us the arrow, keep famine, Ádityas! far away:
Keep enmities afar from us, Lords of all wealth!

12Now, O Ádityas, grant to us the shelter that lets man go free,
Yea, even the sinner from his sin, ye Bounteous Gods!

13Whatever mortal with the power of demons fain would injure us,
May he, impetuous, suffer harm by his own deeds.

14May sin o’ertake our human foe, the man who speaketh evil thing,
Him who would cause our misery, whose heart is false.

15Gods, ye are with the simple ones, ye know each mortal in your hearts;
Ye, Vasus, well discriminate the false and true.

16fain would we have the sheltering aid of mountains and of water-floods:
Keep far from us iniquity, O Heaven and Earth.

17So with auspicious sheltering aid do ye, O Vasus, carry us
Beyond all trouble and distress, borne in your ship.

18Ádityas, ye Most Mighty Ones, grant to our children and their seed
Extended term of life that they may live long days.

19Sacrifice, O Ádityas, is your inward monitor: be kind,
For in the bond of kindred we are bound to you.

20The Maruts’ high protecting aid, the Asvins, and the God who saves,
Mitra and Váruna for weal we supplicate.

21Grant us a home with triple guard, Aryaman, Mitra, Váruna!
Unthreatened, Maruts! meet for praise, and filled with men.

22And as we human beings, O Ádityas, are akin to death,
Graciously lengthen ye our lives that we may live.

1Sing praise to him, the Lord of Light. The Gods have made the God to be their messenger,
And sent oblation to Gods.

2Agni, the Bounteous Giver, bright with varied flames, laud thou, O singer Sobhari -
Him who controls this sacred food with Soma blent, who hath first claim to sacrifice.

3Thee have we chosen skillfullest in sacrifice, Immortal Priest among the Gods,
Wise finisher of this holy rite:

4The Son of Strength, the blessed, brightly shining One, Agni whose light is excellent.
May be by sacrifice win us in heaven the grace of Mitra, Váruna, and the Floods.

5The mortal who hath ministered to Agni with oblation, fuel, ritual lore,
And reverence, skilled in sacrifice.

6Verily swift to run are his fleet-footed steeds, and most resplendent fame is his.
No trouble caused by Gods or wrought by mortal man from any side o’ertaketh him.

7May we by thine own fires be well supplied with fire, O Son of Strength, O Lord of Might:
Thou as our Friend hast worthy men.

8Agni, who praises like a guest of friendly mind, is as a car that brings us gear.
Also in thee is found perfect security thou art the Sovran Lord of wealth.

9That man, moreover, merits praise who brings, auspicious Agni, sacrificial gifts
May he win riches by his thoughts.

10He for whose sacrifice thou standest up erect is prosperous and rules o’er men.
He wins with coursers and with singers skilled in song: with heroes he obtains the prize.

11He in whose dwelling Agni is chief ornament, and, all-desired, loves his laud well,
And zealously tends his offerings-

12His, or the lauding sage’s word, his, Son of Strength! who is most prompt with sacred gifts,
Set thou beneath the Gods, Vasu, above mankind, the speech of the intelligent.

13He who with sacrificial gifts or homage bringeth very skilful Agni nigh,
Or him who flashes fast with song,

14The mortal who with blazing fuel, as his laws command, adores the Perfect God,
Blest with his thoughts in splendour shall exceed all men, as though he overpassed the floods.

15Give us the splendour, Agni, which may overcome each greedy fiend in our abode,
The wrath of evil-hearted folk.

16That, wherewith Mitra, Váruna, and Aryaman, the Asvins, Bhaga give us light,
That may we, by thy power finding best furtherance, worship, O Indra, helped by thee.

17O Agni, most devout are they, the sages who have set thee Sage exceeding wise,
O God, for men to look upon:

18Who have arranged thine altar Blessed God, at morn brought thine oblation, pressed the juice.
They by their deeds of strength have won diem, mighty wealth, who have set all their hope in thee.

19May Agni worshipped bring us bliss, may the gift, Blessed One, and sacrifice bring bliss;
Yea, may our praises bring us bliss.

20Show forth the mind that brings success in war with fiends, wherewith thou conquerest in fight.
Bring down the many firm hopes of our enemies, and let us vanquish with thine aid.

21I praise with song the Friend of man, whom Gods sent down to be herald and messenger,
Best worshipper, bearer of our gifts.

22Thou unto sharp-toothed Agni, Young and Radiant God, proclaimest with thy song the feast -
Agni, who for our sweet strains moulds heroic strength when sacred oil is offered him,

23While, served with sacrificial oil, now upward and now downward Agni moves his sword,
As doth the Asura his robe.

24The God, the Friend of man, who bears our gifts to heaven, the God with his sweet-smelling mouth,
Distributes, skilled in sacrifice, his precious things, Invoking Priest, Immortal God.

25Son of Strength, Agni, if thou wert the mortal, bright as Mitra, I worshipped with our gifts!
And I were the Immortal God

26I would not give thee up, Vasu, to calumny, or misery, O Bounteous One.
My worshipper should feel no hunger or distress, nor, Agni, should he live in sin.

27Like a son cherished in his father’s house, let our oblation rise unto the Gods.

28With thine immediate aid may I, excellent Agni, ever gain my wish
A mortal with a God to help.

29O Agni, by thy wisdom, by thy bounties, by thy leading may I gather wealth.
Excellent Agni, thou art called my Providence: delight thou to be liberal.

30Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of noble heroes and great strength,
Whose bond of friendship is thy choice.

31Thy spark is black and crackling, kindled in due time, O Bounteous, it is taken up.
Thou art the dear Friend of the mighty Mornings: thou shinest in glimmerings of the night.

32We Sobharis have come to him, for succour, who is good to help with thousand powers,
The Sovran, Trasadasyu’s Friend.

33O Agni, thou on whom all other fires depend, as branches on the parent stem,
I make the treasures of the folk, like songs, mine own, while I exalt thy sovran might.

34The mortal whom, Ádityas, ye, Guileless, lead to the farther bank
Of all the princes, Bounteous Ones

35Whoe’er he be, Man-ruling Kings! the Regent of the race of men -
May we, O Mitra, Váruna, and Aryaman, like him be furtherers of your law.

36A gift of fifty female slaves hath Trasadasyu given me, Purukutsa’s son,
Most liberal, kind, lord of the brave.

37And Syava too for me led forth a strong steed at Suvastu’s ford:
A herd of three times seventy kine, good lord of gifts, he gave to me.

1Let none, Swift Travellers! check you: come hither, like-spirited, stay not far away,
Ye benders even of what is firm.

2Maruts, Rbhuksans, Rudras come ye with your cars strong-fellied and exceeding bright.
Come, ye for whom we long, with food, to sacrifice, come ye with love to Sobbari.

3For well we know the vigorous might of Rudra’s Sons, the Martits, who are passing strong,
Swift Visnu’s band, who send the rain.

4Islands are bursting forth and misery is stayed: the heaven and earth are joined in one.
Decked with bright rings, ye spread the broad expanses out, when ye, Self-luminous, stirred yourselves.

5Even things immovable shake and reel, the mountains and the forest trees at your approach,
And the earth trembles as ye come.

6To lend free course, O Maruts, to your furious rush, heaven high and higher still gives way,
Where they, the Heroes mighty with their arms, display their gleaming omaments on their forms.

7After their Godlike nature they, the bull-like Heroes, dazzling and impetuous, wear
Great splendour as they show erect.

8The pivot of the Sobharis’ chariot within the golden box is balmed with milk.
May they the Well-born, Mighty, kindred of the Cow, aid us to food and to delight.

9Bring, ye who sprinkle balmy drops, oblations to your vigorous Marut company,
To those whose leader is the Bull.

10Come hither, O ye Mares, on your strong-horsed car, solid in look, with solid naves.
Lightly like winged falcons, O ye Heroes, come, come to enjoy our offerings.

11Their decoration is the same: their omaments of gold are bright upon their arms;
Their lances glitter splendidly.

12They toil not to defend their bodies from attack, strong Heroes with their mighty arms.
Strong are your bows and strong the weapons in your cars, and glory sits on every face.

13Whose name extendeth like a sea, alone, resplendent, so that all have joy in it,
And life-power like ancestral might.

14Pay honour to these Maruts and sing praise to them, for of the wheel-spokes of the car
Of these loud roarers none is last: this is their power, this moves them to give mighty gifts.

15Blest by your favouring help was he, O Maruts, at the earlier flushings of the morn,
And even now shall he be blest.

16The strong man to whose sacrifice, O Heroes, ye approach that ye may taste thereof,
With glories and with war that winneth spoil shall gain great bliss, ye Shakers of the world.

17Even as Rudra’s Sons, the brood of the Creator Dyaus, the Asura, desire,
O Youthful Ones, so shall it be:

18And these the bounteous, worthy of the Maruts who move onward pouring down the rain -
Even for their sake, O Youthful Ones, with kindest heart take us to you to be your own.

19O Sobhari, with newest song sing out unto the youthful purifying Bulls,
Even as a plougher to his steers.

20Who, like a celebrated boxer, overcome the challengers in every fight:
They who, like shining bulls, are most illustrious-honour those Maruts with thy song.

21Allied by common ancestry, ye Maruts, even the Cows, alike in energy,
Lick, all by turns, each other’s head.

22Even mortal man, ye Dancers breast adorned with gold, attains to brotherhood with you.
Mark ye and notice us, O Maruts; evermore your friendship is secured to us.

23O Maruts, rich in noble gifts, bring us a portion of the Maruts’ medicine,
Ye Coursers who are Friends to us.

24Haters of those who serve you not, bliss-bringers, bring us bliss with those auspicious aids
Wherewith ye are victorious and guard Sindhu well, and succour Krvi in his need.

25Maruts, who rest on fair trimmed grass, what balm so’ever Sindhu or Asikni hath,
Or mountains or the seas contain.

26Ye carry on your bodies, ye who see it all: so bless us graciously therewith.
Cast, Maruts, to the ground our sick man’s malady: replace the dislocated limb.

1We call on thee, O Matchless One! We seeking help, possessing nothing firm ourselves,
Call on thee wonderful in fight

2On thee for aid in sacrifice. This youth of ours, the bold, the mighty, hath gonse forth.
We therefore, we thy friends, Indra, havie chosen thee, free-giver, as our Guardian God.

3Come hither, for the drops are here, O Lord of corn-lands. Lord of horses, Lord of kine:
Drink thou the Soma, Soma’s Lord!

4For we the kinless singers have drawn hither thee, O Indra, who hast numerous kin.
With all the forms thou hast, come thou of bull-like strength, come near to drink the Soma juice.

5Sitting like birds beside thy meath, mingled with milk, that gladdeneth and exalteth thee,
Indra, to thee we sing aloud.

6We speak to thee with this our reverential prayer. Why art thou pondering yet awhile?
Here are our wishes; thou art liberal, Lord of Bays: we and our hymns are present here.

7For not in recent times alone, O Indra, Thunder-armed, have we obtained thine aid.
Of old we knew thy plenteous wealth.

8Hero, we knew thy friendship and thy rich rewards: these, Thunderer, now we crave of thee.
O Vasu, for all wealth that cometh of the kine, sharpen our powers, fair-visored God.

9Him who of old hath brought to us this and that blessing, him I magnify for you,
Even Indra, O my friends, for help.

10Borne by Bay Steeds, the Lord of heroes, ruling men, for it is he who takes; delight.
May Maghavan bestow on us his worshippers hundreds of cattle and of steeds.

11Hero, may we, with thee for Friend, withstand the man who pants against us in his wrath,
In fight with people rich in kine.

12May we be victors in the singer’s battlesong, and meet the wicked, Much invoked!
With heroes smite the foeman and show forth our strength. O Indra, further thou our thoughts.

13O Indra, from all ancient time rivalless ever and companionless art thou:
Thou seekest comradeship in war.

14Thou findest not the wealthy man to be thy friend: those scorn thee who are flown with wine.
What time thou thunderest and gatherest, then thou, even as a Father, art invoked.

15O Indra, let us not, like fools who waste their lives at home, with friendship such as thine
Sit idly by the poured-out juice.

16Giver of kine, may we not miss thy gracious gifts: let us not rob thee of thine own.
Strip even the strong places of the foe, and bring: thy gifts can never be made vain.

17Indra or blest Sarasvati alone bestows such wealth, treasure so great, or thou,
O Citra, on the worshipper.

18Citra is King, and only kinglings are the rest who dwell beside Sarasvati.
He, like Parjanya with his rain, hath spread himself with thousand, yea, with myriad gifts.

1Hitherward have I called to-day, for succour, that most wondrous car
Which ye ascended, Asvins, ye whose paths are red, swift to give Car, for Súrya’s sake.

2Car ever young, much longed-for, easily invoked, soon guided, first in deeds of might,
Which waits and serves, O Sobhari, with benevolence, without a rival or a foe.

3These Asvins with our homage, these Two Omnipresent Deities
Hitherward will we bring for kind help, these who seek the dwelling of the worshipper.

4One of your chariot wheels is moving swiftly round, one speeds for you its onward course.
Like a milch-cow, O Lords of splendour, and with haste let your benevolence come to us.

5That chariot of yours which hath a triple seat and reins of gold,
The famous car that traverseth the heaven and earth, thereon Násatyas, Asvins, come.

6Ye with your plough, when favouring Manu with your help, ploughed the first harvest in the sky.
As such will we exalt you, Lords of splendour, now, O Asvins, with our prayer and praise.

7Come to us, Lords of ample wealth, by paths of everlasting Law,
Whereby to high dominion ye with mighty strength raised Trksi, Trasadasyu’s son.

8This Soma pressed with stones is yours, ye Heroes, Lords of plenteous wealth.
Approach to drink the Soma, come, drink in the worshipper’s abode.

9O Asvins, mount the chariot, mount the golden seat, ye who are Lords of plenteous wealth,
And bring to us abundant food.

10The aids wherewith ye helped Paktha and Adhrigt, and Babhru severed from his friends, -
ith those, O Asvins, come hither with speed and soon, and heal whatever is diseased.

11When we continually invoke the Asvins, the resistless, at this time of day,
We lovers of the song, with songs.

12Through these, ye Mighty Ones, come hither to my call which brings all blessings, wears all forms, -
Through which, All-present Heroes, lavishest of food ye strengthened Krvi, come through these.

13I speak to both of these as such, these Asvins whom I reverence at this time of day:
With homage we entreat them both.

14Ye who are Lords of splendour, ye whose paths are red, at eve, at morn, at sacrifice,
Give us not utterly as prey to mortal foe, ye Rudras, Lords of ample wealth.

15For bliss I call the blissful car, at morn the inseparable Asvins with their car
I call, like Sobhari our sire.

16Rapid as thought, and strong, and speeding to the joy, bringing your swiftly-coming help,
Be to us a protection even from far away Lords of great wealth, with many aids.

17Come, Wonder-Workers, to our home, our home, O Asvins, rich in cattle, steeds, and gold,
Chief drinkers of the Soma’s juice

18Choice-worthy strength, heroic, firm and excellent, uninjured by the Raksas foe,
At this your coming nigh, ye Lords of ample wealth and all good things, may we obtain.

1Worship thou Játavedas, pray to him who willingly accepts,
Whose smoke wanders at will, and none may grasp his flame.

2Thou, all men’s friend, Visvamanas, exaltest Agni with thy song,
The Giver, and his flames with which no cars contend.

3Whose resolute assault, to win vigour and food, deserves our praise, -
Through whose discovering power the priest obtaineth wealth.

4Up springs the imperishable flame, the flame of the Refulgent One
Most bright, with glowing jaws and glory in his train.

5Skilled in fair sacrifice, extolled, arise in Godlike loveliness,
Shining with lofty splendour, with effulgent light.

6Called straight to our oblations, come, O Agni, through our eulogies,
As thou hast been our envoy bearing up our gifts.

7I call your Agni, from of old Invoking Priest of living men:
Him with this song I laud and magnify for you.

8Whom, wondrous wise, they animate with solemn rites and his fair form,
Kind as a friend to men who keep the holy Law.

9Him, true to Law, who perfecteth the sacrifice, Law-loving ones!
Ye with your song have gratified in the place of prayer.

10May all our sacrifices go to him the truest Angiras,
Who is among mankind the most illustrious Priest.

11Imperishable Agni, thine are all these high enkindled lights,
Like horses and like stallions showing forth their strength.

12So give us, Lord of Power and Might, riches combined with hero strength,
And guard us with our sons and grandsons in our frays.

13Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manti’s race,
Agni averteth from us all the demon host.

14O Hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mine,
Burn down the Raksasas, enchanters, with thy flame.

15No mortal foe can e’er prevail by arts of magic over him
Who serveth Agni well with sacrificial gifts.

16Vyasva the sage, who sought the Bull, hath won thee, finder of good things:
As such may we enkindle thee for ample wealth.

17Usana Kavya stablished thee, O Agni, as Invoking Priest:
Thee, Játavedas, Sacrificing Priest for man.

18All Deities of one accord appointed thee their messenger:
Thou, God, through hearing, hadst first claim to sacrifice.

19Him may the mortal hero make his own immortal messenger.
Far-spreading, Purifier, him whose path is black.

20With lifted ladles let us call him splendid with his brilliant flame,
Men’s ancient Agni, wasting not, adorable.

21The man who pays the worship due to him with sacrificial gifts
Obtains both plenteous nourishment and hero fame.

22To Játavedas Agni, chief in sacrifices, first of all
With homage goes the ladle rich with sacred gifts.

23Even as Vyatya did, may we with these most high and liberal hymns
Pay worship unto Agni of the splendid flame.

24Now sing, as Sthurayupa sang, with lands to him who spreadeth far,
To Agni of the home, O Rsi, Vyasva’s son.

25As welcome guest of human kind, as offspring of the forest kings,
The sages worship ancient Agni for his aid.

26For men’s oblations brought to him who is the mighty Lord of all,
Sit, Agni, mid our homage, on the sacred grass.

27Grant us abundant treasures, grant the opulence which many crave,
With store of heroes, progeny, and high renown.

28Agni, Most Youthful of the Gods, send evermore the gift of wealth
Unto VarosuSáman and to all his folk.

29A mighty Conqueror art thou, O Agni, so disclose to us
Food in our herds of kine and gain of ample wealth.

30Thou, Agni, art a glorious God: bring hither Mitra, Váruna,
Imperial Sovrans, holy-minded, true to Law.

1Companions, let us learn a prayer to Indra whom the thunder arms,
To glorify your bold and most heroic Friend.

2For thou by slaying Vrtra art the Vrtra-slayer, famed for might.
Thou, Hero, in rich gifts surpassest wealthy chiefs.

3As such, when glorified, bring us riches of very wondrous fame,
Set in the highest rank, Wealth-giver, Lord of Bays!

4Yea, Indra, thou disclosest that preeminent dear wealth of men:
Boldly, O Bold One, glorified, bring it to us.

5The workers of destruction stay neither thy right hand nor thy left:
Nor hosts that press about thee, Lord of Bays, in fight.

6O Thunder-armed, I come with songs to thee as to a stall with kine:
Fulfil the wish and thought of him who sings thy praise.

7Chief Vrtra-slayer, through the hymn of Visvamanas think of all,
All that concerneth us, Excellent, Mighty Guide.

8May we, O Vrtra-slayer, O Hero, find this thy newest boon, longed-for, and excellent, thou who art much invoked!

9O Indra, Dancer, Much-invoked! as thy great power is unsurpassed,
So be thy bounty to the worshipper unchecked.

10Most Mighty, most heroic One, for mighty bounty fill thee full.
Though strong, strengthen thyself to win wealth, Maghavan!

11O Thunderer, never have our prayers gone forth to any God but thee:
So help us, Maghavan, with thine assistance now.

12For, Dancer, verily I find none else for bounty, saving thee,
For splendid wealth and power, thou Lover of the Song.

13For Indra pour ye out the drops meath blent with Soma let him drink
With bounty and with majesty will he further us.

14I spake to the Bay Coursers’ Lord, to him who gives ability:
Now hear the son of Asva as he praises thee.

15Never was any Hero born before thee mightier than thou:
None certainly like thee in goodness and in wealth.

16O ministering priest, pour out of the sweet juice what gladdens most:
So is the Hero praised who ever prospers us.

17Indra, whom Tawny Coursers bear, praise such as thine, preeminent,
None by his power or by his goodness hath attained.

18We, seeking glory, have invoked this Master of all power and might
Who must be glorified by constant sacrifice.

19Come, sing we praise to Indra, friends, the Hero who deserves the laud,
Him who with none to aid o’ercomes all tribes of men.

20To him who wins the kine, who keeps no cattle back, Celestial God,
Speak wondrous speech more sweet than butter and than meath.

21Whose hero powers are measureless, whose bounty ne’er may be surpassed,
Whose liberality, like light, is over all.

22As Vyasva did, praise Indra, praise the Strong unfluctuating Guide,
Who gives the foe’s possessions to the worshipper.

23Now, son of Vyasva, praise thou him who to the tenth time still is new,
The very Wise, whom living men must glorify.

24Thou knowest, Indra, Thunder-armed, how to avoid destructive powers,
As one secure from pitfalls each returning day.

25O Indra, bring that aid wherewith of old, Most Wondrous! thou didst slay
His foes for active Kutsa: send it down to us.

26So now we seek thee fresh in might, Most Wonderful in act! for gain:
For thou art he who conquers all our foes for us.

27Who will set free from ruinous woe, or Arya on the Seven Streams:
O valiant Hero, bend the Dasa’s weapon down.

28As to VarosuSáman thou broughtest great riches, for their gain,
To Vyasva’s sons, Blest Lady, rich in ample wealth!

29Let Narya’s sacrificial meed reach Vyasva’s Soma-bearing sons:
In hundreds and in thousands be the great reward.

30If one should ask thee, Where is he who sacrificed? Whither lookest thou?
Like Vala he hath passed away and dwelleth now on Gomati.

1I Worship you who guard this All, Gods, holiest among the Gods,
You, faithful to the Law, whose power is sanctified.

2So, too, like charioteers are they, Mitra and sapient Váruna,
Sons high-born from of old, whose holy laws stand fast.

3These Twain, possessors of all wealth, most glorious, for supremest sway
Aditi, Mighty Mother, true to Law, brought forth.

4Great Váruna and Mitra, Gods, Asuras and imperial Lords,
True to Eternal Law proclaim the high decree.

5The offspring of a lofty Power, Daksa’s Two Sons exceeding strong,
Who, Lords of flowing rain, dwell in the place of food.

6Ye who have gathered up your gifts, celestial and terrestrial food,
Let your rain come to us fraught with the mist of heaven.

7The Twain, who from the lofty sky seem to look down on herds below,
Holy, imperial Lords, are set to be revered.

8They, true to Law, exceeding strong, have sat them down for savran rule:
Princes whose laws stand fast, they have obtained their sway.

9Path-finders even better than the eye, with unobstructed sight,
Even when they close their lids, observant, they perceive.

10So may the Goddess Aditi, may the Násatyas guard us well,
The Maruts guard us well, endowed with mighty strength.

11Do ye, O Bounteous Gods, protect our dwelling place by day and night:
With you for our defenders may we go unharmed.

12May we, unharmed, serve bountiful Visnu, the God who slayeth none:
Self-moving Sindhu hear and be the first to mark.

13This sure protection we elect, desirable and reaching far,
Which Mitra, Váruna, and Aryaman afford.

14And may the Sindhu of the floods, the Maruts, and the Asvin Pair,
Boon Indra, and boon Visnu have one mind with us.

15Because these warring Heroes stay the enmity of every foe,
As the fierce water-flood repels the furious ones.

16Here this one God, the Lord of men, looks forth exceeding far and wide:
And we, for your advantage, keep his holy laws.

17We keep the old accustomed laws, the statutes of supremacy,
The Long-known laws of Mitra and of Váruna.

18He who hath measured with his ray the boundaries of heaven and earth,
And with his majesty hath filled the two worlds full,

19Súrya hath spread his light aloft up to the region of the sky,
Like Agni all aflame when gifts are offered him.

20With him who sits afar the word is lord of food that comes from kine,
Controller of the gift of unempoisoned food.

21So unto Súrya, Heaven, and Earth at morning and at eve I speak.
Bringing enjoyments ever rise thou up for us.

22From Uksanyayana a bay, from Harayana a white steed,
And from SuSáman we obtained a hamessed car.

23These two shall bring me further gain of troops of tawny-coloured steeds,
The carriers shall they be of active men of war.

24And the two sages have I gained who hold the reins and bear the whip,
And the two great strong coursers, with my newest song.

1I Call your chariot to receive united praise mid princely men,
Strong Gods who pour down wealth, of never vanquished might!

2Ye to VarosuSáman come, Násatyas, for this glorious rite.
With your protecting aid. Strong Gods, who pour down wealth.

3So with oblations we invoke you, rich in ample wealth, to-day,
When night hath passed, O ye who send us plenteous food.
O Asvins, Heroes, let your car, famed, best to travel, come to us,
And, for his glory, mark your zealous servant’s lauds.

4Asvins, who send us precious gifts, even when offended, think of him:
For ye, O Rudras, lead us safe beyond our foes.

5For, Wonder-Workers, with fleet steeds ye fly completely round this All,
Stirring our thoughts, ye Lords of splendour, honey-hued.

6With all-sustaining opulence, Asvins, come hitherward to us,
Ye rich and noble Heroes, ne’er to be o’erthrown.

7To welcome this mine offering, O ye Indra-like Násatyas, come
As Gods of best accord this day with other Gods.

8For we, like Vyasva, lifting up our voice like oxen, call on you:
With all your loving kindness, Sages, come to us.

9O Rsi, laud the Asvins well. Will they not listen to thy call?
Will they not burn the Panis who are nearer them?

10O Heroes, listen to the son of Vyasva, and regard me here,
Váruna, Mitra, Aryaman, of one accord.

11Gods whom we yearn for, of your gifts, of what ye bring to us, bestow
By princes’ hands on me, ye Mighty, day by day.

12Him whom your sacrifices clothe, even as a woman with her robe,
The Asvins help to glory honouring him well.

13Whoso regards your care of men as succour widest in its reach,
About his dwelling go, ye Asvins, loving us.

14Come to us ye who pour down wealth, come to the home which men must guard:
Like shafts, ye are made meet for sacrifice by song.

15Most fetching of all calls, the laud, as envoy, Heroes, called to you
Be it your own, O Asvin Pair.

16Be ye in yonder sea of heaven, or joying in the home of food,
Listen to me, Immortal Ones.

17This river with his lucid flow attracts you, more than all the streams,-
Even Sindhu with his path of gold.

18O Asvins, with that glorious fame come hither, through our brilliant song,
Come ye whose ways are marked with light.

19Harness the steeds who draw the car, O Vasu, bring the well-fed pair.
O Váyu, drink thou of our meath: come unto our drink-offerings.

20Wonderful Váyu, Lord of Right, thou who art Tvastar’s son-in-law,
Thy saving succour we elect.

21To Tvastar’s son-in-law we pray for wealth whereof he hath control:
For glory we seek Váyu, men with juice effused.

22From heaven, auspicious Váyu, come drive hither with thy noble steeds:
Come on thy mighty car with wide-extending seat.

23We call thee to the homes of men, thee wealthiest in noble food,
And liberal as a press-stone with a horse’s back.

24So, glad and joyful in thine heart, do thou, God, Váyu, first of all
Vouchsafe us water, strength, and thought.

1Chief Priest is Agni at the laud, as stones and grass at sacrifice:
With song I seek the Maruts, Bráhmanaspati, Gods for help much to be desired.

2I sing to cattle and to Earth, to trees, to Dawns, to Night, to plants.
O all ye Vasus, ye possessors of all wealth, be ye the furtherers of our thoughts.

3Forth go, with Agni, to the Gods our sacrifice of ancient use,
To the Ádityas, Váruna whose Law stands fast, and the all-lightening Marut troop.

4Lords of all wealth, may they be strengtheners of man, destroyers of his enemies.
Lords of all wealth, do ye, with guards which none may harm, preserve our dwelling free from foes.

5Come to us with one mind to-day, come to us all with one accord,
Maruts with holy song, and, Goddess Aditi, Mighty One, to our house and home.

6Send us delightful things, ye Maruts, on your steeds: come ye, O Mitra, to our gifts.
Let Indra, Váruna, and the Ádityas sit, swift Heroes, on our sacred grass.

7We who have trimmed the grass for you, and set the banquet in array,
And pressed the Soma, call you, Varuina, like men, with sacrificial fires aflame.

8O Maruts, Visinu, Asvins, Pusan, haste away with minds turned hitherward to Me.
Let the Strong Indra, famed as Vrtra’s slayer, come first with the winners of the spoil.

9Ye Guileless Gods, bestow on us a refuge strong on every side,
A sure protection, Vasus, unassailable from near at hand or from afar.

10Kinship have I with you, and close alliance O ye Gods, destroyers of our foes.
Call us to our prosperity of former days, and soon to new felicity.

11For now have I sent forth to you, that I may win a fair reward,
Lords of all wealth, with homage, this my song of praise. like a milch-cow that faileth not.

12Excellent Savitar hath mounted up on high for you, ye sure and careful Guides.
Bipeds and quadrupeds, with several hopes and aims, and birds have settled to their tasks.

13Singing their praise with God-like thought let us invoke each God for grace,
Each God to bring you help, each God to strengthen you.

14For of one spirit are the Gods with mortal man, co-sharers all of gracious gifts.
May they increase our strength hereafter and to-day, providing ease and ample room.

15I laud you, O ye Guileless Gods, here where we meet to render praise.
None, Váruna and Mitra, have the mortal, man who honours and obeys your laws.

16He makes his house endure, he gathers plenteous food who pays obedience to your will.
Born in his sons anew he spreads as Law commands, and prospers every way unharmed.

17E'en without war he gathers wealth, and goes his way on pleasant paths,
Whom Mitra, Aryaman and Váruna protect, sharing the gift, of one accord.

18E'en on the plain for him ye make a sloping path, an easy way where road is none:
And far away from him the ineffectual shaft must vanish, shot at him in vain.

19If ye appoint the rite to-day, kind Rulers, when the Sun ascends,
Lords of all wealth, at sunset or at wakingtime, or be it at the noon of day,

20Or, Asuras, when ye have sheltered the worshipper who goes to sacrifice, at eve
May we, O Vasus, ye possessors of all wealth, come then into the midst of You.

21If ye to-day at sunrise, or at noon, or in the gloom of eve,
Lords of all riches, give fair treasure to the man, the wise man who hath sacrificed,

22Then we, imperial Rulers, claim of you this boon, your wide protection, as a son.
May we, Ádityas, offering holy gifts, obtain that which shall bring us greater bliss.

1The Thirty Gods and Three besides, whose seat hath been the sacred grass,
From time of old have found and gained.

2Váruna, Mitra, Aryaman, Agnis, with Consorts, sending boons,
To whom our Vasat! is addressed:

3These are our guardians in the west, and northward here, and in the south,
And on the east, with all the tribe.

4Even as the Gods desire so verily shall it be. None minisheth this power of theirs,
No demon, and no mortal

5The Seven carry seven spears; seven are the splendours they possess,
And seven the glories they assume.

1One is a youth brown, active, manifold he decks the golden one with ornament.

2Another, luminous, occupies the place of sacritice, Sage, among the Gods.

3One brandishes in his hand an iron knife, firm, in his seat amid the Deities.

4Another holds the thunder-bolt, wherewith he slays the Vrtras, resting in his hand.

5Another bears a pointed weapon: bright is he, and strong, with healing medicines.

6Another, thief-like, watches well the ways, and knows the places where the treasures lie.

7Another with his mighty stride hath made his three steps thither where the Gods rejoice.

8Two with one Dame ride on with winged steeds, and journey forth like travellers on their way.

9Two, highest, in the heavens have set their seat, worshipped with holy oil, imperial Kings.

10Some, singing lauds, conceived the Sama-hymn, great hymn whereby they caused the Sun to shine.

1Not one of you, ye Gods, is small, none of you is a feeble child:
All of you, verily, are great.

2Thus be ye lauded, ye destroyers of the foe, ye Three-and-Thirty Deities,
The Gods of man, the Holy Ones.

3As such defend and succour us, with benedictions speak to us:
Lead us not from our fathers’ and from Manu’s path into the distance far away.

4Ye Deities who stay with us, and all ye Gods of all mankind,
Give us your wide protection, give shelter for cattle and for steed.

1That Bráhman pleases Indra well, who worships, sacrifices, pours Libation, and prepares the meal.

2Sakra protects from woe the man who gives him sacrificial cake.
And offers Soma blent with milk.

3His chariot shall be glorious, sped by Gods, and mighty shall he be,
Subduing all hostilities.

4Each day that passes, in his house flows his libation, rich in milk,
Exhaustless, bringing progeny.

5O Gods, with constant draught of milk, husband and wife with one accord
Press out and wash the Soma juice.

6They gain sufficient food: they come united to the sacred grass,
And never do they fail in strength.

7Never do they deny or seek to hide the favour of the Gods:
They win high glory for themselves.

8With sons and daughters by their side they reach their full extent of life,
Both decked with ornaments of gold.

9Serving the Immortal One with gifts of sacrificial meal and wealth,
They satisfy the claims of love and pay due honour to the Gods.

10We claim protection from the Hills, we claim protection of the Floods,
Of him who stands by Visnu’s side.

11May Pusan come, and Bhaga, Lord of wealth, All-bounteous, for our weal.
Broad be the path that leads to bliss:

12Aramati, and, free from foes, Visva with spirit of a God,
And the Ádityas’ peerless might.

13Seeing that Mitra, Aryaman, and Váruna are guarding us,
The paths of Law are fair to tread.

14I glorify with song, for wealth, Agni the God, the first of you.
We honour as a well-loved Friend the God who prospereth our fields.

15As in all frays the hero, so swift moves his car whom Gods attend.
The man who, sacrificing, strives to win the heart of Deities will conquer those who worship not.

16Ne’er are ye injured, worshipper, presser of juice, or pious man.
The man who, sacrificing, strives to win the heart of Deities will conquer those who worship not.

17None in his action equals him, none holds him far or keeps him off.
The man who, sacrificing, strives to win the heart of Deities will conquer those who worship not.

18Such strength of heroes shall be his, such mastery of fleet-foot steeds.
The man who, sacrificing, strives to win the heart of Deities will conquer those who worship not.

1Kanvas, tell forth with song the deeds of Indra, the Impetuous,
Wrought in the Soma’s wild delight.

2Strong God, he slew Anarsani, Srbinda, Pipru, and the fiend,
Ahisuva, and loosed the floods.

3Thou broughtest down the dwelling-place, the height of lofty Arbuda.
That exploit, Indra, must be famed.

4Bold, to your famous Soma I call the fair-visored God for aid,
Down like a torrent from the hill.

5Rejoicing in the Soma-draughts, Hero, burst open, like a fort,
The stall of horses and of kine.

6If my libation gladdens, if thou takest pleasure in my laud,
Come with thy Godhead from afar.

7O Indra, Lover of the Song, the singers of thy praise are we:
O Soma-drinker, quicken us.

8And, taking thy delight with us bring us still undiminished food:
Great is thy wealth, O Maghavan.

9Make thou us rich in herds of kine, in steeds, in gold: let us exert
Our strength in sacrificial gifts.

10Let us call him to aid whose hands stretch far, to whom high laud is due.
Who worketh well to succour us.

11He, Satakratu, even in fight acts as a Vrtra-slayer still:
He gives his worshippers much wealth.

12May he, this Aakra, strengthen us, Boon God who satisfies our needs,
Indra, with all lhis saving helps.

13To him, the mighty stream of wealth, the Soma-presser’s rescuing Friend,
To Indra sing your song of praise;

14Who bringeth what is great and firm, who winneth glory in his wars,
Lord of vast wealth through power and might.

15There liveth none to check or stay his energies and gracious deeds:
None who can say, He giveth not.

16No debt is due by Bráhmans now, by active men who press the juice:
Well hath each Soma-draught been paid.

17Sing ye to him who must be praised, say lauds to him who must be praised,
Bring prayer to him who must be praised.

18May be, unchecked, strong, meet for praise, bring hundreds, thousands forth to light,
Indra who aids the worshipper.

19Go with thy God-like nature forth, go where the folk are calling thee:
Drink, Indra, of the drops we pour.

20Drink milky draughts which are thine own, this too which was with Tugrya once,
This is it, Indra, that is thine.

21Pass him who pours libations out in angry mood or after sin:
Here drink the juice we offer thee.

22Over the three great distances, past the Five Peoples go thy way,
O Indra, noticing our voice.

23Send forth thy ray like Súrya: let my songs attract thee hitherward,
Like waters gathering to the vale.

24Now to the Hero fair of cheek, Adhvaryu, pour the Soma forth:
Bring of the juice that he may drink

25Who cleft the water-cloud in twain, loosed rivers for their downward flow,
And set the ripe milk in the kine.

26He, meet for praise, slew Vrtra, slew Ahisuva, Urnavabha’s son,
And pierced through Arbuda with frost.

27To him your matchless Mighty One, unconquerable Conqueror,
Sing forth the prayer which Gods have given:

28Indra, who in the wild delight of Soma juice considers here
All holy Laws among the Gods.

29Hither let these thy Bays who share thy banquet, Steeds with golden manes,
Convey thee to the feast prepared.

30Hither, O thou whom many laud, the Bays whom Priyamedha praised,
Shall bring thee to the Soma-draught.

1We compass thee like waters, we whose grass is trimmed and Soma pressed.
Here where the filter pours its stream, thy worshippers round thee, O Vrtra-slayer, sit.

2Men, Vasu! by the Soma, with lauds call thee to the foremost place:
When comest thou athirst unto the juice as home, O Indra, like a bellowing bull?

3Boldly, Bold Hero, bring us spoil in thousands for the Kanvas’ sake.
O active Maghavan, with eager prayer we crave the yellow-hued with store of kine.

4Medhyatithi, to Indra sing, drink of the juice to make thee glad.
Close-knit to his Bay Steeds, bolt-armed, beside the juice is he: his chariot is of gold.

5He Who is praised as strong of hand both right and left, most wise and hold:
Indra who, rich in hundreds, gathers thousands up, honoured as breaker-down of forts.

6The bold of heart whom none provokes, who stands in bearded confidence;
Much-lauded, very glorious, overthrowing foes, strong Helper, like a bull with might.

7Who knows what vital power he wins, drinking beside the flowing juice?
This is the fair-checked God who, joying in the draught, breaks down the castles in his strength.

8As a wild elephant rushes on this way and that way, mad with heat,
None may compel thee, yet come hither to the draught: thou movest mighty in thy power.

9When he, the Mighty, ne’er o’erthrown, steadfast, made ready for the fight,
When Indra Maghavan lists to his praiser’s call, he will not stand aloof, but come.

10Yea, verily, thou art a Bull, with a bull’s rush whom none may stay:
Thou Mighty One, art celebrated as a Bull, famed as a Bull both near and far.

11Thy reins are very bulls in strength, bulls’ strength is in thy golden whip.
Thy car, O Maghavan, thy Bays are strong as bulls: thou, Satakratu, art a Bull.

12Let the strong presser press for thee. Bring hither, thou straight-rushing Bull.
The mighty makes the mighty run in flowing streams for thee whom thy Bay Horses bear.

13Come, thou most potent Indra, come to drink the savoury Soma juice.
Maghavan, very wise, will quickly come to hear the songs, the prayer, the hymns of praise.

14When thou hast mounted on thy car let thy yoked Bay Steeds carry thee,
Past other men’s libations, Lord of Hundred Powers, thee, Vrtra-slayer, thee our Friend.

15O thou Most Lofty One, accept our laud as nearest to thine heart.
May our libations be most sweet to make thee glad, O Soma-drinker, Heavenly Lord.

16Neither in thy decree nor mine, but in another’s he delights, -
The man who brought us unto this.

17Indra himself hath said, The mind of woman brooks not discipline,
Her intellect hath little weight.

18His pair of horses, rushing on in their wild transport, draw his car:
High-lifted is the stallion’s yoke.

19Cast down thine eyes and look not up. More closely set thy feet. Let none
See what thy garment veils, for thou, a Bráhman, hast become a dame.

1Come hither, Indra, with thy Bays, come thou to Kanva’s eulogy.
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day! have gone to heaven.

2May the stone draw thee as it speaks, the Soma-stone with ringing voice.
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day! have gone to heaven.

3The stones’ rim shakes the Soma here like a wolf worrying a sheep.
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day! have gone to heaven.

4The Kanvas call thee hitherward for succour and to win the spoil.
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day! have gone to heaven.

5I set for thee, as for the Strong, the first draught of the juices shed.

6Come with abundant blessings, come with perfect care to succour us.

7Come, Lord of lofty thought, who hast infinite wealth and countless aids.

8Adorable mid Gods, the Priest good to mankind shall bring thee near.

9As wings the falcon, so thy Bays rushing in joy shall carry thee.

10Come from the enemy to us, to Sváhá and the Soma-draught.

11Come hither with thine car inclined to hear, take pleasure in our lauds.

12Lord of well-nourished Horses, come with well-fed Steeds alike in hue.

13Come hither from the mountains, come from regions of the sea of air.

14Disclose to us O Hero, wealth in thousands both of kine and steeds.

15Bring riches hitherward to us in hundreds, thousands, myriads.
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day! have gone to heaven.

16The thousand steeds, the mightiest troop, which we and Indra have received
From Vasurocis as a gift,

17The brown that match the wind in speed, and bright bay coursers fleet of foot,
Like Suns, resplendent are they all.

18Mid the PargVáta’s rich gifts, swift steeds whose wheels run rapidly,
I seemed to stand amid a wood.

1With Agni and with Indra, Visnu, Váruna, with the Ádityas, Rudras, Vasus, closely leagued;
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, drink the Soma juice.

2With all the Holy Thoughts, all being Mighty Ones! in close alliance wil the Mountains, Heaven, and Earth;
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, drink the Soma juice.

3With all the Deities, three times eleven, here, in close alliance with the Maruts, Bhrgus, Floods;
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, drink the Soma juice.

4Accept the sacrifice, attend to this my call: come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, bring us strengthening food.

5Accept our praise-song as a youth accepts a maid. Come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here.
Accordant, of one mind with Sarya and with Dawn O Asvins, bring us strengthening food.

6Accept the songs we sing, accept the solemn rite. Come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, bring us strengthening food.

7Ye fly as starlings fly unto the forest trees; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, come thrice, O Asvins, to our home.

8Ye fly like swans, like those who travel on their way; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, come thrice, O Asvins, to our home.

9Ye fly to our oblation like a pair of hawks; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, come thrice, O Asvins, to our home.

10Come hitherward and drink and satisfy yourselves, bestow upon us progeny and affluence.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, grant us vigorous strength.

11Conquer your foes, protect us, praise your worshippers; bestow upon us progeny and affluence.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, grant us vigorous strength.

12Slay enemies, animate men whom ye befriend; bestow upon us progeny and affluence.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, O Asvins, grant us vigorous strength.

13With Mitra, Váruna, Dharma, and the Maruts in your company approach unto your praiser’s call.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, and with the Ádityas, Asvins! come.

14With Visnu and the Angirases attending you, and with the Maruts come unto your praiser’s call.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, and with the Ádityas, Asvins! come.

15With Rbhus and with Vajas. O ye Mighty Ones, leagued with the Maruts come ye to your praiser’s call.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, and with the Ádityas, Asvins! come.

16Give spirit to our prayer and animate our thoughts; slay ye the Raksasas and drive away disease.
Accordant, of One mind with Súrya and with Dawn, -the presser’s Soma, Asvins drink.

17Strengthen the Ruling Power, strengthen the men of war; slay ye the Raksasas and drive away disease.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, the presser’s Soma, Asvins drink.

18Give strength unto the milch-kine, give the people strength, slay ye the Raksasas and drive away disease.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, the presser’s Soma, Asvins drink.

19As ye heard Atri’s earliest eulogy, so hear Syavasva, Soma-presser, ye who reel in joy.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, drink juice, O Asvins, three days old.

20Further like running streams Syavasva’s eulogies who presses out the Soma, ye who reel in joy.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, drink juice, O Asvins, three days old.

21Seize, as ye grasp the reins, Syavasva’s solemn rites who presses out the Soma, ye who reel in joy.
Accordant, of one mind with Súrya and with Dawn, drink juice, O Asvins, three days old.

22Drive down your chariot hitherward drink ye the Soma’s savoury juice.
Approach, ye Asvins, come to us: I call you, eager for your aid. Grant treasures to the worshipper.

23When sacrifice which tells our reverence hath begun. Heroes! to drink the gushing juice,
Approach, ye Asvins, come to us: I call you, eager for your aid. Grant treasures to the worshipper.

24Sate you with consecrated drink, with juice effused, ye Deities.Approach, ye Asvins, come to us: I call you, eager for your aid. Grant treasures to the worshipper.

1Thou helpest him whose grass is trimmed, who sheds the juice, O Satakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.
The share which they have fixed for thee, thou, Indra, Victor o’er all hosts and space, begirt with Maruts, Lord of Heroes, winner of the floods.

2Maghavan, help thy worshipper: let him help thee. O Satakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.
The share which they have fixed for thee, etc.

3Thou aidest Gods with food, and that with might aid thee,
O Satakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

4Creator of the heaven, creator of the earth, O Satakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

5Father of cattle, father of all steeds art thou. O Satakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

6Stone-hurler, glorify the Atris’ hymn of praise. O Satakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

7Hear thou Syavagva while he pours to thee, as erst thou heardest Atri when he wrought his holy rites.
Indra, thou only gavest Trasadasyu aid in the fierce fight with heroes, strengthening his prayers.

1This prayer, and those who shed the juice, in wars with Vrtra thou holpest, Indra, Lord of Strength, with all thy succours.
O Vrtra-slayer, from libation poured at noon, drink of the Soma juice, thou blameless Thunderer.

2Thou mighty Conqueror of hostile armaments, O Indra, Lord of Strength, with all thy saving help.

3Sole Ruler, thou art Sovran of this world of life, O Indra, Lord of Strength, with all thy saving help.

4Thou only sunderest these two consistent worlds, O Indra, Lord of Strength, with all thy saving help.

5Thou art the Lord supreme o’er rest and energy, O Indra, Lord of Strength, with all thy saving help.

6Thou helpest one to power, and one thou hast not helped, O Indra, Lord of Strength, with all thy saving aid.

7Hear thou Syavasva while he sings to thee, as erst thou heardest Atri when he wrought his holy rites.
Indra, thou only gavest Trasadasyu aid in the fierce fight with heroes, strengthening his powers.

1Ye Twain are Priests of sacrifice, wmners in war and holy works:
Indra and Agni, mark this well.

2Ye bounteous riders on the car, ye Vrtra-slayers unsubdued:
Indra and Agni, mark this well.

3The men with pressing-stones have pressed this meath of yours which gives delight:
Indra, and Agni, mark this well.

4Accept our sacrifice for weal, sharers of praise! the Soma shed:
Indra and Agni, Heroes, come.

5Be pleased with these libations which attract you to our sacred gifts:
Indra and Agni, Heroes, come.

6Accept this eulogy of mine whose model is the Gáyatri:
Indra and Agni, Heroes, Come.

7Come with the early-faring Gods, ye who are Lords of genuine wealth:
Indra-Agni, to the Soma-draught

8Hear ye the call of Atris, hear Syavasva as he sheds the juice:
Indra-Agni to the Soma-draught.

9Thus have I called you to our aid as sages called on you of old:
Indra-Agni to the Soma draught!

10Indra’s and Agni’s grace I claim, Sarasvati’s associates
To whom this psalm of praise is sung.

1The glorious Agni have I praised, and worshipped with the sacred food.
May Agni deck the Gods for us. Between both gathering-places he goes on his embassy, the Sage. May all the others die away.

2Agni, burn down the word within their bodies through our newest speech,
All hatreds of the godless, all the wicked man’s malignities. Away let the destroyers go. May all the others die away.

3Agni, I offer hymns to thee, like holy oil within thy mouth.
Acknowledge them among the Gods, for thou art the most excellent, the worshipper’s blissful messenger. Let all the others die away.

4Agni bestows all vital power even as each man supplicates.
He brings the Vasus strengthening gifts, and grants delight, in rest and stir, for every calling on the Gods. Let all the others die away.

5Agni hath made himself renowned by wonderful victorious act.
He is the Priest of all the tribes, chosen with sacrificial meeds. He urges Deities to receive. Let all the others die away.

6Agni knows all that springs from Gods, he knows the mystery of men.
Giver of wealth is Agni, he uncloses both the doors to us when worshipped with our newest gift. Let all the others die away.

7Agni inhabiteth with Gods and men who offer sacrifice.
He cherisheth with great delight much wisdom, as all things that be, God among Gods adorable. May all the others die away.

8Agni who liveth in all streams, Lord of the Sevenfold Race of men,
Him dweller in three homes we seek, best slayer of the Dasytis for ManDhátar, first in sacrifice. Let all the others die away.

9Agni the Wise inhabiteth three gathering-places, triply formed.
Decked as our envoy let the Sage bring hither and conciliate the Thrice Eleven Deities. Let all the others die away.

10Our Agni, thou art first among the Gods, and first mid living men.
Thou only rulest over wealth. Round about thee, as natural dams, circumfluous the waters run. Let all the others die away.

1Indra and Agni, surely ye as Conquerors will give us wealth,
Whereby in fight we may o’ercome that which is strong and firmly fixed, as Agni burns the woods with wind. Let all the others die away.

2We set no snares to tangle you; Indra we worship and adore, Hero of heroes mightiest.
Once may he come unto us with his Steed, come unto us to win us strength, and to complete the sacrifice.

3For, famous Indra-Agni, ye are dwellers in the midst of frays.
Sages in wisdom, ye are knit to him who seeketh you as friends. Heroes, bestow on him his wish.

4Nabhaka-like, with sacred song Indra’s and Agni’s praise I sing,
Theirs to whom all this world belongs, this heaven and this mighty earth which bear rich treasure in their lap.

5To Indra and to Agni send your prayers, as was Nabhaka’s wont, -
Who oped with sideway opening the sea with its foundations seven - Indra all powerful in his might.

6Tear thou asunder, as of old, like tangles of a creeping plant,
Demolish thou the Dasa’s might. May we with Indra’s help divide the treasure he hath gathered up.

7What time with this same song these men call Indra-Agni sundry ways,
May we with our own heroes quell those who provoke us to the fight, and conquer those who strive with us.

8The Two refulgent with their beams rise and come downward from the sky.
By Indra’s and by Agni’s behest, flowing away, the rivers, run which they released from their restraint.

9O Indra, many are thine aids, many thy ways of guiding us,
Lord of the Bay Steeds, Hinva’s Son. To a Good Hero come our prayers, which soon shall have accomplishment.

10Inspire him with your holy hymns, the Hero bright and glorious,
Him who with might demolisheth even the brood of Susna, and winneth for us the heavenly streams.

11Inspire him worshipped with fair rites, the glorious Hero truly brave.
He brake in pieces Susna’s brood who still expected not the stroke, and won for us the heavenly streams. Let all the others die away.

12Thus have we sung anew to Indra-Agni, as sang our sires, Angirases, and ManDhátar.
Guard us with triple shelter and preserve us: may we be masters of a store of riches.

1To make this Váruna come forth sing thou a song unto the band of Maruts wiser than thyself, - This Váruna who guardeth well the thoughts of men like herds of kine.
Let all the others die away.

2Him altogether praise I with the song and hymns our fathers sang, and with Nabhaka’s eulogies, -
Him dwelling at the rivers’ source, surrounded by his Sisters Seven.

3The nights he hath encompassed, and stablished the morns with magic art visible over all is he.
His dear Ones, following his Law, have prospered the Three Dawns for him.

4He, visible o’er all the earth, stablished the quarters of the sky:
He measured out the eastern place, that is the fold of Váruna: like a strong herdsman is the God.

5He who supports the worlds of life, he who well knows the hidden names mysterious of the morning beams,
He cherishes much wisdom, Sage, as heaven brings forth each varied form.

6In whom all wisdom centres, as the nave is set within the wheel.
Haste ye to honour Trita, as kine haste to gather in the fold, even as they muster steeds to yoke.

7He wraps these regions as a robe; he contemplates the tribes of Gods and all the works of mortal men.
Before the home of Váruna all the Gods follow his decree.

8He is an Ocean far-removed, yet through the heaven to him ascends the worship which these realms possess.
With his bright foot he overthrew their magic, and went up to heaven.

9Ruler, whose bright far-seeing rays, pervading all three earths, have filled the three superior realms of heaven.
Firm is the seat of Váruna: over the Seven he rules as King.

10Who, after his decree, o’erspread the Dark Ones with a robe of light;
Who measured out the ancient seat, who pillared both the worlds apart as the Unborn supported heaven. Let all the others die away.

1Lord of all wealth, the Asura propped the heavens, and measured out the broad earth’s wide expanses.
He, King supreme, approached all living creatures. All these are Váruna’s holy operations.

2So humbly worship Váruna the Mighty revere the wise Guard of World Immortal.
May he vouchsafe us triply-barred protection. O Earth and Heaven, within your lap preserve us.

3Sharpen this song of him who strives his utmost, sharpen, God Váruna, his strength and insight;
May we ascend the ship that bears us safely, whereby we may pass over all misfortune.

4Asvins, with songs the singer stones have made you hasten hitherward,
Násatyas, to the Soma-draught. Let all the others die away.

5As the sage Atri with his hymns, O Asvins, called you eagerly,
Násatyas, to the Soma-draught. Let all the others die away.

6So have I called you to our aid, even as the wise have called of old,
Násatyas, to the Soma-draught. Let all the others die away.

1These songs of mine go forth as lauds of Agni, the disposing Sage,
Whose worshipper is ne’er o’erthrown.

2Wise Agni Játavedas, I beget a song of praise for thee.
Who willingly receivest it.

3Thy sharpened flames, O Agni, like the gleams of light that glitter through,
Devour the forests with their teeth.

4Gold-coloured, bannered with the smoke, urged by the wind, aloft to heaven
Rise, lightly borne, the flames of fire.

5These lightly kindled fiery flames are all around made visible,
Even as the gleamings of the Dawns.

6As Játavedas speeds along, the dust is black beneath his feet,
When Agni spreads upon the earth.

7Making the plants his nourishment, Agni devours and wearies not,
Seeking the tender shrubs again.

8Bending him down with all his tongues, he flickers with his fiery glow
Splendid is Agni in the woods.

9Agni, thine home is in the floods: into the plants thou forcest way,
And as their Child art born anew.

10Worshipped with offerings shines thy flame, O Agni, from the sacred oil,
With kisses on the ladle’s mouth.

11Let us serve Agni with our hymns, Disposer, fed on ox and cow,
Who bears the Soma on his back.

12Yea, thee, O Agni, do we seek with homage and with fuel, Priest
Whose wisdom is most excellent.

13O worshipped with oblations, pure Agni, we call on thee as erst,
Did Bhrgu, Manus, Angiras.

14For thou, O Agni, by the fire, Sage by the Sage, Good by the Good,
Friend by the Friend, art lighted up.

15So wealth in thousands, food with store of heroes give thou to the sage,
O Agni, to the worshipper.

16O Agni, Brother, made by strength, Lord of red steeds and brilliant sway,
Take pleasure in this laud of mine.

17My praises, Agni, go to thee, as the cows seek the stall to meet,
The lowing calf that longs for milk.

18Agni, best Angiras, to thee all people who have pleasant homes,
Apart, have turned as to their wish.

19The sages skilled in holy song and thinkers with their thoughts have urged
Agni to share the sacred feast.

20So, Agni, unto thee the Priest, Invoker, strong in forays, pray
those who spin out the sacrifice.

21In many a place, the same in look art thou, a Prince o’er all the tribes
In battles we invoke thine aid.

22Pray thou to Agni, pray to him who blazes served with sacred oil:
Let him give ear to this our call.

23We call on thee as such, as one who hears, as Játavedas, one,
Agni! who beats away our foes.

24I pray to Agni, King of men, the Wonderful, the President
Of holy Laws: may he give ear.

25Him like a bridegroom, him who stirs all people, like a noble horse,
Like a fleet steed, we instigate.

26Slaying things deadly, burning up foes, Riksasas, on every side,
Shine, Agni, with thy sharpened flame.

27Thou whom the people kindle even as Manus did, best Angiras!
O Agni, mark thou this my speech.

28O Agni, made by strength! be thou born in the heavens or born in floods,
As such we call on thee with songs.

29Yea, all the people, all the folk who have good dwellings, each apart,
Send food for thee to eat thereof.

30O Agni, so may we, devout, gazed at by men, throughout our days,
Pass lightly over all distress.

31We venerate with cheerful hearts the cheerful Agni, dear to all,
Burning, with purifying flame.

32So thou, O Agni rich in light, beaming like Súrya with thy rays
Boldly demolishest the gloom,

33We pray to thee for this thy gift, Victor, the gift that faileth not,
O Agni, choicest wealth from thee.

1Pay service unto Agni with your fuel, rouse your Guest with oil:
In him present your offerings.

2Agni, do thou accept my laud, be magnified by this my song:
Welcome my sweetly-spoken words.

3Agni, envoy, I place in front; the oblation-bearer I address:
Here let him seat the Deities.

4Agni, the lofty flames of thee enkindled have gone up on high,
Thy bright flames, thou Refulgent One.

5Beloved! let my ladles full of sacred oil come near to thee:
Agni, accept our offerings.

6I worship Agni - may he hear! - the cheerful, the Invoker, Priest,
Of varied splendour, rich in light.

7Ancient Invoker, meet for praise, beloved Agni, wise and strong,
The visitant of solemn rites.

8Agni, best Angiras, accept straightway these offerings, and guide
The seasonable sacrifice.

9Excellent God, with brilliant flames, enkindled bring thou hitherward,
Knowing the way, the Heavenly Host.

10Him, Sage and Herald, void of guile, ensign of sacrifices, him
Smoke-bannered, rich in light, we seek.

11O Agni, be our Guardian thou, God, against those who injure us:
Destroy our foes, thou Son of Strength.

12Making his body beautiful, Agni the Sage hath waxen by
The singer and his ancient hymn.

13I invocate the Child of Strength, Agni with purifying flame,
At this well-ordered sacrifice.

14So Agni, rich in many friends, with fiery splendour, seat thyself
With Gods upon our sacred grass.

15The mortal man who serves the God Agni within his own abode,
For him he causes wealth to shine.

16Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth is he:
He quickeneth the watered seed.

17Upward, O Agni, rise thy flames, pure and resplendent, blazing high,
Thy lustress, fair effulgences.

18For, Agni, thou as Lord of Light rulest o’er choicest gifts: may I,
Thy singer, find defence in thee.

19O Agni, they who understand stir thee to action with their thoughts:
So let our songs enhance thy might.

20We ever claim the friendship of Agni, the singing messenger,
Of God-like nature, void of guile.

21Agni who bears most holy sway, the holy Singer, holy Sage,
Shines holy when we worship him.

22Yea, let my meditations, let my songs exalt thee evermore.
Think, Agni, of our friendly bond,

23If I were thou and thou wert I, O Agni, every prayer of thine
Should have its due fulfilment here.

24For Excellent and Lord of wealth art thou O Agni, rich in light:
May we enjoy thy favouring grace.

25Agni, to thee whose laws stand fast our resonant songs of praise speed forth,
As rivers hasten to the sea.

26Agni, the Youthful Lord of men, who stirreth much and eateth all,
The Sage, I glorify with hymns.

27To Agni let us haste with lauds, the Guide of sacrificial rites,
Armed with sharp teeth, the Mighty One.

28And let this man, good Agni, be with thee the singer of thy praise:
Be gracious, Holy One, to him.

29For thou art sharer of our feast, wise, ever watchful as a Sage:
Agni, thou shinest in the sky.

30O Agni, Sage, before our foes, before misfortunes fall on us,
Excellent Lord, prolong our lives.

1Hitherward! they who light flame and straightway trim the sacred grass.
Whose Friend is Indra ever young.

2High is their fuel, great their laud, wide is their splinter from the stake,
Whose Friend is Indra ever young.

3Unequelled in fight the hero leads his army with the warrior chiefs.
Whose Friend is Indra ever young.

4The new-born Vrtra-slayer asked his Mother, as he seized his shaft,
Who are the fierce? Who are renowned?

5Savasi answered, He who seeks thine enmity will battle like
A stately elephant on a hill.

6And hear, O Maghavan; to him who craves of thee thou grantest all
Whate’er thou makest firm is firm.

7What time the Warrior Indra goes to battle, borne by noble steeds,
Best of all charioteers is he.

8Repel, O Thunder-armed, in all directions all attacks on us:
And be our own most glorious God.

9May Indra set our car in front, in foremost Place to win the spoil,
He whom the wicked injure not.

10Thine enmity may we escape, and, Gakra, for thy bounty, rich
In kine, may we come near to thee

11Softly approaching, Thunder-armed wealthy by hundreds, rich in steeds,
Unrivalled, ready with our gifts.

12For thine exalted excellence gives to thy worshippers each day
Hundreds and thousands of thy boons.

13Indra, we know thee breaker-down even of strong forts, winner of spoil,
As one who conquers wealth for us.

14Though thou art highest, Sage and Bold let the drops cheer thee when we come
To thee as to a trafficker.

15Bring unto us the treasure of the opulent man who, loth to give,
Hath slighted thee for gain of wealth.

16Indra, these friends of ours, supplied with Soma, wait and look to thee,
As men with fodder to the herd.

17And thee who art not deaf, whose cars are quick to listen, for our aid,
We call to us from far away.

18When thou hast listened, make our call one which thou never wilt forget,
And be our very nearest Friend.

19When even now, when we have been in trouble, we have thought of thee,
O Indra, give us gifts of kine.

20O Lord of Strength, we rest on thee, as old men rest upon a staff:
We long to have thee dwell with us.

21To Indra sing a song of praise, Hero of mighty valour, him
Whom no one challenges to war.

22Hero, the Soma being shed, I pour the juice for thee to drink:
Sate thee and finish thy carouse.

23Let not the fools, or those who mock beguile thee when they seek thine aid
Love not the enemies of prayer.

24Here let them with rich milky draught cheer thee to great munificence:
Drink as the wild-bull drinks the lake.

25Proclaim in our assemblies what deeds, new and ancient, far away,
The Vrtra-slayer hath achieved.

26In battle of a thousand arms Indra drank Kadru’s Soma juice:
There he displayed his manly might.

27True undeniable strength he found in Yadu and in Turvasa,
And conquered through the sacrifice.

28Him have I magnified, our Lord in common, Guardian of your folk,
Discloser of great wealth in kine;

29Rbhuksan, not to be restrained, who strengthened Tugra’s son in lauds,
Indra beside the flowing juice;

30Who for Trisoka clave the hill that formed a wide receptacle,
So that the cows might issue forth.

31Whate’er thy plan or purpose be, whate’er, in transport, thou wouldst do,
Do it not, Indra, but be kind.

32But little hath been heard of done upon the earth by one like thee
Let thine heart, Indra, turn to us.

33Thine then shall be this high renown, thine shall these lofty praises be,
When, Indra, thou art kind to us.

34Not for one trespass, not for two, O Hero, slay us, nor for three,
Nor yet for many trespasses.

35I fear one powerful like thee, the crusher-down of enemies,
Mighty, repelling all attacks.

36O wealthy God, ne’er may I live to see my friend or son in need:
Hitherward let thy heart be turned.

37What friend, O people, unprovoked, hath ever said unto a friend,
He turns and leaves us in distress?

38Hero, insatiate enjoy this Soma juice so near to thee,
Even as a hunter rushing down.

39Hither I draw those Bays of thine yoked by our hymn, with splendid car,
That thou mayst give unto the priests.

40Drive all our enemies away, smite down the foes who press around,
And bring the wealth for which we long:

41O Tndra, that which is concealed in strong firm place precipitous:
Bring us the wealth for which we long

42Great riches which the world of men shall recognize as sent by thee:
Bring us the wealth for which we long.

1We, Indra, Lord of ample wealth, our Guide, depend on one like thee,
Thou driver of the Tawny Steeds.

2For, Hurler of the Bolt, we know thee true, the giver of our food,
We know the giver of our wealth.

3O thou whose majesty the bards celebrate with their songs, thou Lord,
Of hundred powers and hundred aids.

4Fair guidance hath the mortal man whom Aryaman, the Marut host,
And Mitra, void of guile, protect.

5Kine, steeds, and hero strength he gains, and prospers, by the Ádityas sped,
Ever in wealth which all desire.

6We pray to Indra for his gift, to him the Fearless and the Strong,
We pray to him the Lord of wealth.

7For verily combined in him are all the fearless powers of aid.
Him, rich in wealth, let swift Steeds bring to us, his Bays, to Soma juice for his carouse:

8Yea, that most excellent carouse, Indra, which slays most enemies,
With Heroes wins the light of heaven, and is invincible in war:

9Which merits fame, all-bountiful! and, unsubdued, hath victory in deeds of might.
So come to our libations, Strongest! Excellent! May we obtain a stall of kine.

10Responding to our wish for cows, for steeds, and chariots, as of old,
Be gracious, Greatest of the Great

11For, Hero, nowhere can I find the bounds of thy munificence.
Still do thou favour us, O Bolt-armed Maghavan: with strength hast thou rewarded hymns.

12High, glorifier of his friend, he knows all generations, he whom many praise.
All races of mankind with ladies lifted up invoke that Mighty Indra’s aid.

13Be he our Champion and Protector in great deeds, rich in all wealth, the Vrtra-slayer, Maghavan.

14In 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.

15Thou givest wealth to me myself, thou givest treasure, Excellent! and the strong steed,
O Much-invoked, in deeds of might, yea, even now.

16Him, Sovran Ruler of all precious things, who even hath power o’er this fair form of his,
As now it taketh shape, and afterward,

17We praise, so that the Mighty One may speed to you, Pourer of bounties, Traveller, prepared to go.
Thou favourest the Maruts known to all, by song and sacrifice.
With song and praise I sing to thee.

18We in the sacrifice perform their will whose voice is lifted high,
The worship of those Thundering Ories who o’er the ridges of these mountains fly in troops.

19O Indra, Mightiest, bring us that which crushes men of evil minds,
Wealth suited to our needs, O Stirrer of the thought, best wealth, O thou who stirrest thought.

20O Winner, noble winner, strong, wondrous, most splendid, excellent,
Sole Lord of victory, bring all-ovcrpowering wealth, joy-giving, chief in deeds of might.

21Now let the godless man approach who hath received reward so great
As Vasa, Asvya, when this light of morning dawned, received from Prthusravas, from Kanita’s son.

22Steeds sixty thousand and ten thousand kine, and twenty hundred camels I obtained;
Ten hundred brown in hue, and other ten red in three spots: in all, ten thousand kine.

23Ten browns that make my wealth increase, fleet steeds whose tails are long and fair,
Turn with swift whirl my chariot wheel;

24The gifts which Prthusravas gave, Kanita’s son munificent.
He gave a chariot wrought of gold: the prince was passing bountiful, and won himself most lofty fame.

25Come thou to this great rite of ours, Váyu! to give us vigorous light.
We have served thee that thou mightest give much to us, yea, mightest quickly give great wealth.

26Who with thrice seven times seventy horses comes to us, invested with the rays of morn,
Through these our Soma-draughts and those who press, to give, drinker of pure bright Soma Juice.

27Who hath inclined this glorious one, buunteous himself, to give me gifts.
Borne on firm chariot with the prosperous Nahup, wise, to a man yet more devout.

28Sole Lord in beauty meet for praise, O Váyu, dropping fatness down,
Hurried along by steeds, by camels, and by hounds, spreads forth thy train: even this it is.

29So, as a prize dear to the strong, the sixty thousand have I gained,
Bulls that resemble vigorous steeds.

30To me come oxen like a herd, yea, unto me the oxen come.

31And in the grazing herd he made a hundred camels bleat for me,
And twenty hundred mid the white.

32A hundred has the sage received, Dasa Balbutha’s and Taruksa’s gifts.
These are thy people, Váyu, who rejoice with Indra for their guard, rejoice with Gods for guards.

33And now to Vasa Asvya here this stately woman is led forth,
Adorned with ornaments of gold.

1Great help ye give the worshipper, Váruna, Mitra, Mighty Ones! No sorrow ever reaches him whom ye, Ádityas, keep from harm. Yours are incomparable aids, and good the succour they afford.

2O Gods, Ádityas, well ye know the way to keep all woes afar.
As the birds spread their sheltering wings, spread your protection over us.

3As the birds spread their sheltering wings let your protection cover us.
We mean all shelter and defence, ye who have all things for your own.

4To whomsoever they, Most Wise, have given a home and means of life,
O’er the whole riches of this man they, the Ádityas, have control.

5As drivers of the car avoid ill roads, let sorrows pass us by.
May we be under Indra’s guard, in the Ádityas’ favouring grace.

6For verily men sink and faint through loss of wealth which ye have given.
Much hath he gained from you, O Gods, whom ye, Ádityas, have approached.

7On him shall no fierce anger fall, no sore distress shall visit him,
To whom, Ádityas, ye have lent your shelter that extendeth far.

8Resting in you, O Gods, we are like men who fight in coats of mail.
Ye guard us from each great offence, ye guard us from each lighter fault.

9May Aditi defend us, may Aditi guard and shelter us,
Mother of wealthy Mitra and of Aryaman and Váruna.

10The shelter, Gods, that is secure, auspicious, free from malady,
A sure protection, triply strong, even that do ye extend to us.

11Look down on us, Ádityas, as a guide exploring from the bank.
Lead us to pleasant ways as men lead horses to an easy ford.

12Ill be it for the demons’ friend to find us or come near to us.
But for the milch-cow be it well, and for the man who strives for fame.

13Each evil deed made manifest, and that which is concealed, O Gods,
The whole thereof remove from us to Trita Áptya far away.

14Daughter of Heaven, the dream that bodes evil to us or to our kine,
Remove, O Lady of the Light, to Trita Áptya far away.

15Even if, O Child of Heaven, it make a garland or a chain of gold,
The whole bad dream, whate'er it be, to Trita Áptya we consign.

16To him whose food and work is this, who comes to take his share therein,
To Trita, and to Dvita, Dawn! bear thou the evil dream away.

17As we collect the utmost debt, even the eighth and sixteenth part,
So unto Áptya we transfer together all the evil dream.

18Now have we conquered and obtained, and from our trespasses are free.
Shine thou away the evil dream, O Dawn, whereof we are afraid. Yours are incomparable aids, and good the succour they afford.

1Wisely have I enjoyed the savoury viand, religious-thoughted, best to find out treasure,
The food to which all Deities and mortals, calling it meath, gather themselves together.

2Thou shalt be Aditi as thou hast entered within, appeaser of celestial anger.
Indu, enjoying Indra’s friendship, bring us - as a swift steed the car - forward to riches.

3We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.
Now what may foeman’s malice do to harm us? What, O Immortal, mortal man’s deception?

4Absorbed into the heart, be sweet, O Indu, as a kind father to his son, O Soma,
As a wise Friend to friend: do thou, wide-ruler, O Soma, lengthen out our days for living.

5These glorious drops that give me freedom have I drunk. Closely they knit my joints as straps secure a car.
Let them protect my foot from slipping on the way: yea, let the drops I drink preserve me from disease.

6Make me shine bright like fire produced by friction: give us a clearer sight and make us better.
For in carouse I think of thee, O Soma, Shall I, as a rich man, attain to comfort?

7May we enjoy with an enlivened spirit the juice thou givest, like ancestral riches.
O Soma, King, prolong thou our existence as Súrya makes the shining days grow longer.

8King Soma, favour us and make us prosper: we are thy devotees; of this be mindful.
Spirit and power are fresh in us, O Indu give us not up unto our foeman’s pleasure.

9For thou hast settled in each joint, O Soma, aim of men’s eyes and guardian of our bodies.
When we offend against thine holy statutes, as a kind Friend, God, best of all, be gracious.

10May I be with the Friend whose heart is tender, who, Lord of Bays! when quaffed will never harm me -
This Soma now deposited within me. For this, I pray for longer life to Indra.

11Our maladies have lost their strength and vanished: they feared, and passed away into the darkness.
Soma hath risen in us, exceeding mighty, and we are come where men prolong existence.

12Fathers, that Indu which our hearts have drunken, Immortal in himself, hath entered mortals.
So let us serve this Soma with oblation, and rest securely in his grace and favour.

13Associate with the Fathers thou, O Soma, hast spread thyself abroad through earth and heaven.
So with oblation let us serve thee, Indu, and so let us become the lords of riches,

14Give us your blessing, O ye Gods’ preservers. Never may sleep or idle talk control us.
But evermore may we, as friends of Soma, speak to the synod with brave sons around us.

15On all sides, Soma, thou art our life-giver: aim of all eyes, light-finder, come within us.
Indu, of one accord with thy protections both from behind and from before preserve us.

1Agni, come hither with thy fires; we choose thee as Invoking Priest.
Let the extended ladle full of oil balm thee, best Priest, to sit on sacred grass.

2For unto thee, O Angiras, O Son of Strength, move ladles in the sacrifice.
To Agni, Child of Force, whose locks drop oil, we seek, foremost in sacrificial rites.

3Agni, thou art Disposer, Sage, Herald, bright God! and worshipful,
Best offerer, cheerful, to be praised in holy rites, pure Lord! by singers with their hymns.

4Most Youthful and Eternal, bring the longing Gods to me, the guileless, for the feast.
Come, Vasu, to the banquet that is well-prepared: rejoice thee, gracious, with our songs.

5Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, Preserver, righteous, and a Sage.
The holy singers, O refulgent kindled God! arrangers, call on thee to come -

6Shine, Most Resplendent! blaze, send bliss unto the folk, and to thy worshipper
Great art thou.
So may my princes, with good fires, subduing foes, rest in the keeping of the Gods.

7O Agni, as thou burnest down to earth even high-grown underwood,
So, bright as Mitra is, burn him who injures us, him who plots ill against thy friend.

8Give us not as a prey to mortal enemy, nor to the wicked friend of fiends.
With conquering guards, auspicious, unassailable, protect us, O Most Youthful God.

9Protect us, Agni, through the first, protect us through the second hymn,
Protect us through three hymns, O Lord of Power and Might, through four hymns, Vasu, guard thou us.

10Preserve us from each fiend who brings the Gods no gift, preserve thou us in deeds of strength:
For we possess in thee the nearest Friend of all, for service of the Gods and weal.

11O Holy Agni, give us wealth renowned with men and strengthening life.
Bestow on us, O Helper, that which many crave, more glorious still by righteousness;

12Wherewith we may o’ercome our rivals in the war, o’erpowering the foe’s designs.
So wax thou by our food, O Excellent in strength. Quicken our thoughts that find out wealth.

13Agni is even as a bull who whets and brandishes his horns.
Well-sharpened are his jaws which may not be withstood: the Child of Strength hath powerful teeth.

14Not to be stayed, O Bull, O Agni, are thy teeth when thou art spreading far and wide.
Make our oblations duly offered up, O Priest, and give us store of precious things.

15Thou liest in the wood: from both thy Mothers mortals kindle thee.
Unweariedly thou bearest up the offerer’s gifts, then shinest bright among the Gods.

16And so the seven priests, O Agni, worship thee, Free-giver, Everlasting One.
Thou cIeavest through the rock with heat and fervent glow. Agni, rise up above the men.

17For you let us whose grass is trimmed call Agni, Agni, restless God.
Let us whose food is offered call to all the tribes Agni the Invoking Priest of men.

18Agni, with noble psalm that tells his wish he dwells, thinking on thee who guardest him.
Speedily bring us strength of many varied sorts to be most near to succour us.

19Agni, Praise-singer! Lord of men, God burner-up of Raksasas,
Mighty art thou, the ever-present Household-Lord, Home-friend and Guardian from the sky.

20Let no fiend come among us, O thou rich in light, no spell of those who deal in spells.
To distant pastures drive faint hunger: far away, O Agni, chase the demons’ friends.

1Both boons, - may Indra, hitherward turned, listen to this prayer of ours,
And mightiest Maghavan with thought inclined to us come near to drink the Soma juice.

2For him, strong, independent Ruler, Heaven and Earth have fashioned forth for power and might.
Thou seatest thee as first among thy peers in place, for thy soul longs for Soma juice.

3Fill thyself full, O Lord of wealth, O Indra, with the juice we shed.
We know thee, Lord of Bay Steeds victor in the fight, vanquishing e’en the invincible.

4Changeless in truth, O Maghavan Indra, let it be as thou in wisdom willest it.
May we, O fair of cheek, win booty with thine aid, O Thunderer, swiftly seeking it.

5Indra, with all thy saving helps give us assistance, Lord of power.
For after thee we follow even as glorious bliss, thee, Hero, finder-out of wealth.

6Increaser of our steeds and multiplying kine, a golden well, O God, art thou,
For no one may impair the gifts laid up in thee. Bring me whatever thing I ask.

7For 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.

8Thou as thy gift bestowest many hundred herds, yea, many thousands dost thou give.
With singers’ hymns have we brought the Fort-render near, singing to Indra for his grace.

9Whether the simple or the sage, Indra, have offered praise to thee,
He Satakratu! by his love hath gladdened thee, ambitious! ever pressing on!

10If he the Strong of arm, the breaker-down of forts, the great Destroyer, hear my call,
We, seeking riches cry to Indra, Lord of wealth, to Satakratu with our lauds.

11We count not then as sinners, nor as niggardly or foolish men,
When with the Soma juice which we have shed we make Indra, the Mighty One, our Friend.

12Him have we yoked in fight, the powerful Conqueror, debt-claimer, not to be deceived.
Best charioteer, the Victor marks each fault, he knows the strong to whom he will come near.

13Indra, give us security from that whereof we are afraid.
Help us, O Maghavan, let thy succour give us this: drive away foes and enemies.

14For thou, O liberal Lord of bounty, strengthenest his ample home who worships thee.
So Indra, Maghavan, thou Lover of the Song, we with pressed Soma call on thee,

15Indra is Vrtra-slayer, guard, our best defender from the foe.
May he preserve our last and middlemost, and keep watch from behind us and before.

16Defend us from behind, below, above, in front, on all sides, Indra, shield us well.
Keep far away from us the terror sent from heaven: keep impious weapons far away.

17Protect us, Indra, each to-day, each morrow, and each following day.
Our singers, through all days, shalt thou, Lord of the brave, keep safely both by day and night.

18A crushing Warrior, passing rich is Maghavan, endowed with all heroic might.
Thine arms, O Satakratu, are exceeding strong, arms which have grasped the thunder-bolt.

1Offer ye up as praise to him that wherein Indra takes delight.
The Soma-bringers magnify Indra’s great energy with hymns. Good are the gifts that Indra gives.

2Sole among chiefs, companionless, impetuous, and peerless, he
Hath waxen great o’er many folk, yea., over all things born, in might.

3Lord of swift bounty, he will win e’en with a steed of worthless sort.
This, Indra, must be told of thee who wilt perform heroic deeds.

4Come to us hither: let us pay devotions that enhance thy might,
For which, Most Potent! thou wouldst fain bless the man here who strives for fame.

5For thou, O Indra, makest yet more bold the spirit of the bold
Who with strong Soma serveth thee, still ready with his reverent prayers.

6Worthy of song, he looketh down as a man looketh into wells.
Pleased with the Soma-bringer’s skill he maketh him his mate and friend.

7In strength and wisdom all the Gods, Indra, have yielded unto thee.
Be thou the Guard of all, O thou whom many praise.

8Praised, Indra, is this might of thine, best for the service of the Gods,
That thou with power dost slay Vrtra, O Lord of Strength.

9He makes the races of mankind like synods of the Beauteous One.
Indra knows this his manifest deed, and is renowned.

10Thy might, O Indra, at its birth, thee also, and thy mental power,
In thy care, Maghavan rich in kine! they have increased exceedingly.

11O Vrtra-slayer, thou and I will both combine for winning spoil.
Even malignity will consent, O Bolt-armed Hero, unto us.

12Let us extol this Indra as truthful and never as untrue.
Dire is his death who pours no gifts great light hath he who offers them. Good are the gifts that Indra gives.

1With powers of Mighty Ones hath he, Ancient, Beloved, been equipped,
Through whom the Father Manu made prayers efficacious with the Gods.

2Him, Maker of the sky, let stones wet with the Soma ne’er forsake,
Nor hymns and prayer that must be said.

3Indra who knew full well disclosed the kine to the Angirases.
This his great deed must be extolled.

4Indra, promoter of the song, the sage’s Strengthener as of old,
Shall come to bless and succour us at presentation of this laud.

5Now after their desire’s intent the pious singers with the cry
Of Hail! have sung loud hymns to thee, Indra, to gain a stall of kine.

6With Indra rest all deeds of might, deeds done and yet to be performed,
Whom singers know devoid of guile.

7When the Five Tribes with all their men to Indra have sent out their voice,
And when the priest hath strewn much grass, this is the Friend’s own dwelling-piace.

8This praise is verily thine own: thou hast performed these manly deeds,
And sped the wheel upon its way.

9At the o’erflowing of this Steer, boldly he strode for life, and took
Soma as cattle take their corn.

10Receiving this and craving help, we, who with you are Daksa’s sons,
Would fain exalt the Maruts’ Lord.

11Yea, Hero, with the singers we sing to the duly-coming Band.
Allied with tbee may we prevail.

12With us are raining Rudras, clouds accordant in call to battle, at the death of Vrtra,
The strong assigned to him who sings and praises. May Gods with Indra at their head protect us.

1May our hymns give thee great delight. Display thy bounty, Thunderer.
Drive off the enemies of prayer.

2Crush with thy foot the niggard churls who bring no gifts. Mighty art thou
There is not one to equal thee.

3Thou art the Lord of Soma pressed, Soma impressed is also thine.
Thou art the Sovran of the folk.

4Come, go thou forth, dwelling in heaven and listening to the prayers of men:
Thou fillest both the heavens and earth.

5Even that hill with rocky heights, with hundreds, thousands, held within.
Thou for thy worshippers brakest through.

6We call on thee both night and day to taste the flowing Soma juice:
Do thou fulfil our heart’s desire.

7Where is that ever-youthful Steer, strong necked and never yet bent down?
What Bráhman ministers to him?

8To whose libation doth the Steer betake him with delight therein?
Who takes delight in Indra now?

9Whom, Vrtra-slayer, have thy gift and hero powers accompanied
Who is thy dearest in the laud?

10For thee among mankind, among the Purus is this Soma shed.
Hasten thou hither: drink thereof.

11This, growing by Soma and by Saryanavan, dear to thee,
In Arjikiya, cheers thee best.

12Hasten thou hitherward, and drink this for munificence to-day,
Delightful for thine eager draught.

1Though, Indra, thou art called by men from east and west, from north and south,
Come hither quickly with fleet steeds

2If in the effluence of heaven, rich in its light, thou takest joy,
Or in the sea in Soma juice.

3With songs I call thee, Great and Wide, even as a cow to profit us,
Indra, to drink the Soma-draught.

4Hither, O Indra, let thy Bays bear up and bring upon thy car
Thy glory, God! and majesty.

5Thou, Indra, wouldst be sung and praised as great, strong, lordly in thy deeds
Come hither, drink our Soma juice.

6We who have shed the Soma and prepared the feast are calling thee.
To sit on this our sacred grass.

7As, Indra, thou art evermore the common Lord of all alike,
As such we invocate thee now.

8The men with stones have milked for thee this nectar of the Soma juice:
Indra, be pleased with it, and drink.

9Neglect all pious men with skill in sacred song: come hitherward,
With speed, and give us high renown.

10Gods, may the mighty rest unharmed, the King who gives me spotted kine,
Kine decked with golden ornaments.

11Beside a thousand spotted kine I have received a gift of gold,
Pure, brilliant, and exceeding great.

12Durgaha’s grandsons, giving me a thousand kine, munificent,
Have won renown among the Gods.

1Loud 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.

2Whom with fair helm, in rapture of the juice, the firm resistless slayers hinder not:
Giver of glorious wealth to him who sing a his praise, honouring him who toils and pours:

3Sakra, who like a curry-comb for horses or a golden goad,
Indra, the Vrtra-slayer, urges eagerly the opening of the stall of kine:

4Who for the worshipper scatters forth ample wealth, even though buried, piled in heaps:
May Indra, Lord of Bay Steeds, fair-helmed Thunderer, act at his pleasure, as he lists.

5Hero whom many praise, what thou hast longed for, even of old, from men.
All that we offer unto thee, O Indra, now, sacrifice, laud, effectual speech.

6To Soma, Much-invoked, Bolt-armed! for thy carouse, Celestial, Soma-drinker come
Thou to the man who prays and pours the juice hast been best giver of delightful wealth.

7Here, verily, yesterday we let the Thunder-wielder drink his fill.
So in like manner offer him the sacrifice today. Now range you by the Glorious One.

8Even the wolf, the savage beast that rends the sheep, follows the path of his decrees.
So graciously accepting, Indra, this our praise, with wondrous thought come forth to us.

9What manly deed of vigour now remains that Indra hath not done?
Who hath not heard his glorious title and his fame, the Vrtra-slayer from his birth?

10How great his power resistless! how invincible the Vrtra-slayer’s matchless might!
Indra excels all usurers who see the day, excels all traffickers in strength.

11O Indra, Vrtra-slayer, we, thy very constant worshippers,
Bring prayers ne’er heard before to thee, O Much-invoked, O Thunder-armed, to be thy meed.

12O thou of mighty acts, the aids that are in thee call forward many an eager hope.
Past the drink-offerings, Vasu, even of the good, hear my call, Strongest God, and come.

13Verily, Indra, we are thine, we worshippers depend on thee.
For there is none but only thou to show us race, O Maghavan, thou much invoked.

14From this our misery and famine set us free, from this dire curse deliver us.
Succour us with thine help and with tby wondrous thought. Most Mighty, finder of the way.

15Now let your Soma juice be poured; be not afraid, O Kali’s sons.
This darkening sorrow goes away; yea, of itself it vanishes.

1Now pray we to these Ksatriyas, to the Ádityas for their aid,
These who are gracious to assist.

2May Mitra bear us o’er distress, and Váruna and Aryaman,
Yea, the Ádityas, as they know.

3For wonderful and meet for praise is these Ádityas’ saving help
To him who offers and prepares.

4The mighty aid of you, the Great, Váruna, Mitra, Aryaman,
We claim to be our sure defence.

5Guard us, Ádityas, still alive, before the deadly weapon strike:
Are ye not they who hear our call?

6What sheltering defence ye have for him who toils in pouring gifts,
Graciously bless ye us therewith.

7Ádityas, Gods, from sorrow there is freedom; for the sinless, wealth,
O ye in whom no fault is seen.

8Let not this fetter bind us fast: may he release us for success;
For strong is Indra and renowned.

9O Gods who fain would lend your aid, destroy not us as ye destroy
Your enemies who go astray.

10And thee too, O Great Aditi, thee also, Goddess, I address,
Thee very gracious to assist.

11Save us in depth and shallow from the foe, the Mother of Strong Sons
Let no one of our seed be harmed.

12Far-spread! wide-ruling! grant that we, unharmed by envy, may expand
Grant that our progeny may live.

13Those who, the Princes of the folk, in native glory, ne’er deceived,
Maintain their statutes, void of guilt -

14As such, from mouth of ravening wolves, O ye Ádityas, rescue us,
Like a bound thief, O Aditi.

15Ádityas, let this arrow, yea, let this malignity depart
From us or e’er it strike us dead.

16For Bountiful Ádityas, we have evermore enjoyed your help,
Both now and in the days of old.

17To every one, O ye Most Wise, who turneth even from sin to you,
Ye Gods vouchsafe that he may live.

18May this new mercy profit us, which, ye Ádityas, frees like one,
Bound from his bonds, O Aditi.

19O ye Ádityas, this your might is not to be despised by us:
So be ye graciously inclined.

20Let not Vivasván’s weapon nor the shaft, Ádityas, wrought with skill,
Destroy us ere old age be nigh.

21On every side dispel all sin, Ádityas, all hostility,
Indigence, and combined attack.

1Even as a car to give us aid, we draw thee hither for our bliss,
Strong in thy deeds, checking assault, Lord, Mightiest Indra, of the brave!

2Great in tby power and wisdom, Strong, with thought that comprehendeth all
Thou hast filled full with majesty.

3Thou very Mighty One, whose hands by virtue of thy greatness grasp,
The golden bolt that breaks its way.

4Your Lord of might that ne’er hath bent, that ruleth over all mankind,
I call, that he, as he is wont, may aid the chariots and the men.

5Whom, ever furthering, in frays that win the fight, in both the hosts
Men call to succour and to help.

6Indra, the Strong, the measureless, worthy of praise, Most Bountiful,
Sole Ruler even over wealth.

7Him, for his ample bounty, him, this Indra do I urge to drink,
Who, as his praise was sung of old, the Dancer, is the Lord of men.

8Thou Mighty One, whose friendship none of mortals ever hath obtained
None will attain unto thy might.

9Aided by thee, with thee allied, in frays for water and for sun,
Bolt-armed! may we win ample spoil.

10So seek we thee with sacrifice and songs, chief Lover of the Song,
As, in our battles Indra, thou to Purumayya gavest help.

11O Thunderer, thou whose friendship and whose onward guidance both are sweet,
Thy sacrifice must be prepared.

12To us, ourselves, give ample room, give for our dwelling ample room
Give ample room to us to live.

13We count the banquet of the Gods a spacious pathway for the men,
And for the cattle, and the car.

14Six men, yea, two and two, made glad with Soma juice, come near to me
With offerings pleasant to the taste.

15Two brown-hued steeds, Indrota’s gift, two bays from Rksa’s son were mine,
From Asvamedha’s son two red.

16From Atithigva good car-steeds; from Arksa rein-obeying steeds,
From Asvamedha beauteous ones.

17Indrota, Atithigva’s son, gave me six horses matched with mares
And Patakratu gave besides.

18Marked above all, amid the brown, is the red mare Vrsanvati,
Obedient to the rein and whip.

19O bound to me by deeds of might, not even the man who loves to blame.
Hath found a single fault in you.

1I Send you forth the song of praise for Indu, hero-gladdener.
With hymn and plenty he invites you to complete the sacrifice.

2Thou wishest for thy kine a bull, for those who long for his approach,
For those who turn away from him, lord of thy cows whom none may kill.

3The dappled kine who stream with milk prepare his draught of Soma juice:
Clans in the birth-place of the Gods, in the three luminous realms of heaven.

4Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the kine,
The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.

5Hither his Bay Steeds have been sent, red Steeds are on the sacred grass,
Where we in concert sing our songs.

6For Indra Thunder-armed the kine have yielded mingled milk and meath,
What time he found them in the vault.

7When I and Indra mount on high up to the Bright One’s place and home,
We, having drunk of meath, will reach his seat whose Friends are three times seven.

8Sing, sing ye forth your songs of praise, ye Briyamedhas, sing your songs:
Yea, let young children sing their lauds as a strong castle praise ye him.

9Now loudly let the viol sound, the lute send out its voice with might,
Shrill be the music of the string. To Indra, is the hymn up-raised.

10When hither speed the dappled cows, unflinching, easy to be milked,
Seize quickly, as it bursts away, the Soma juice for Indra’s drink.

11Indra hath drunk, Agni hath drunk, all Deities have drunk their fill.
Here Váruna shall have his home, to whom the floods have sung aloud as mother kine unto their calves.

12Thou, Váruna, to whom belong Seven Rivers, art a glorious God.
The waters flow into thy throat as ’twere a pipe with ample mouth.

13He who hath made the fleet steeds spring, well-harnessed, to the worshipper,
He, the swift Guide, is that fair form that loosed the horses near at hand.

14Indra, the very Mighty, holds his enemies in utter scorn.
He, far away, and yet a child, cleft the cloud smitten by his voice.

15He, yet a boy exceeding small, mounted his newly-fashioned car.
He for his Mother and his Sire cooked the wild mighty buffalo.

16Lord of the home, fair-helmeted, ascend thy chariot wrought of gold.
We will attend the Heavenly One, the thousand-footed, red of hue, matchless, who blesses where he goes.

17With reverence they come hitherward to him as to a Sovran lord,
That they may bring him near for this man’s good success, to prosper and bestow his gifts.

18The Priyamedhas have observed the offering of the men of old,
Of ancient custom, while they strewed the sacred grass, and spread their sacrificial food.

1He who, as Sovran Lord of men, moves with his chariots unrestrained,
The Vrtra-slayer vanquisher, of fighting hosts, preeminent, is praised with song.

2Honour that Indra, Puruhanman! for his aid, in whose sustaining hand of old,
The splendid bolt of thunder was deposited, as the great Sun was set in heaven.

3No 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.

4The potent Conqueror, invincible in war, him at whose birth the Mighty Ones,
The Kine who spread afar, sent their loud voices out, heavens, earths seat their loud voices out,

5O Indra, if a hundred heavens and if a hundred earths were thine -
No, not a thousand Suns could match thee at thy birth, not both the worlds, O Thunderer.

6Thou, Hero, hast performed thy hero deeds with might, yea, all with strength, O Strongest One.
Maghavan, help us to a stable full of kine, O Thunderer, with wondrous aids.

7Let not a godless mortal gain this food, O thou whose life is long!
But one who yokes the bright-hued steeds, the Etasas, even Indra yoker of the Bays.

8Urge ye the Conqueror to give, your Indra greatly to be praised,
To be invoked in shallow waters and in depths, to be invoked in deeds of might.

9O Vasu, O thou Hero, raise us up to ample opulence.
Raise us to gain of mighty wealth, O Maghavan, O Indra, to sublime renown.

10Indra, thou justifiest us, and tramplest down thy slanderers.
Guard thyself, valiant Hero, in thy vital parts: strike down the Dasa with thy blows.

11The man who brings no sacrifice, inhuman, godless, infidel,
Him let his friend the mountain cast to rapid death, the mountain cast the Dasyu down.

12O Mightiest Indra, loving us, gather thou up, as grains of corn,
Within thine hand, of these their kine, to give away, yea, gather twice as loving us.

13O my companions, wish for power. How may we perfect Sara’s praise,
The liberal princely patron, never to be harmed?

14By many a sage whose grass is trimmed thou art continually praised,
That thou, O Sara, hast bestowed here one and here another'calf.

15The noble, Súradeva’s son, hath brought a calf, led by the car to three of us.
As a chief brings a goat to milk.

1O Agni, with thy mighty wealth guard us from all malignity,
Yea, from all hate of mortal man.

2For over thee, O Friend from birth, the wrath of man hath no control:
Nay, Guardian of the earth art thou.

3As such, with all the Gods, O Son of Strength, auspicious in thy flame.
Give us wealth bringing all things good.

4Malignities stay not from wealth the mortal man whom, Agni, thou
Protectest while he offers gifts.

5Sage Agni, be whom thou dost urge, in worship of the Gods, to wealth,
With thine assistance winneth kine.

6Riches with many heroes thou hast for the man who offers gifts:
Lead thou us on to higher bliss.

7Save us, O Játavedas, nor abandon us to him who sins,
Unto the evil-hearted man.

8O Agni, let no godless man avert thy bounty as a God:
Over all treasures thou art Lord.

9So, Son of Strength, thou aidest us to what is great and excellent.
Those, Vasu! Friend! who sing thy praise.

10Let our songs come anear to him beauteous and bright with piercing flame
Our offerings, with our homage, to the
Lord of wealth, to him whom many praise, for help:

11To Agni Játavedas, to the Son of Strength, that he may give us precious gifts,
Immortal, from of old Priest among mortal men, the most delightful in the house.

12Agni, made yours by sacrifice, Agni, while holy rites advance;
Agni, the first in songs, first with the warrior steed; Agni to win the land for us.

13May Agni who is Lord of wealth vouchsafe us food for friendship sake.
Agni we ever seek for seed and progeny, the Vasu who protects our lives.

14Solicit with your chants, for help, Agni the God with piercing flame,
For riches famous Agni, Purumilha and ye men! Agni, Purumilha and ye men! Agni to light our dwelling well.

15Agni we laud that he may keep our foes afar, Agni to give us health and strength.
Let him as Guardian be invoked in all the tribes, the lighter-up of glowing brands.

1Prepare oblation: let him come; and let the minister serve again
Who knows the ordering thereof,

2Rejoicing in his friendship, let the priest be seated over man,
Beside the shoot of active power.

3Him, glowing bright beyond all thought, they seek among the race of man;
With him for tougue they seize the food.

4He hath inflamed the twofold plain: lifegiving, he hath climbed the wood,
And with his tongue hath struck the rock.

5Wandering here the radiant Calf finds none to fetter him, and seeks
The Mother to declare his praise.

6And now that great and mighty team, the team of horses that are his,
And traces of his car, are seen.

7The seven milk a single cow; the two set other five to work,
On the stream’s loud-resounding bank.

8Entreated by Vivasván’s ten, Indra cast down the water-jar
With threefold hammer from the sky.

9Three times the newIy-kindled flame proceeds around the sacrifice:
The priests anoint it with the meath.

10With reverence they drain the fount that circles with its wheel above,
Exhaustless, with the mouth below.

11The pressing-stones are set at work: the meath is poured into the tank,
At the out-shedding of the fount.

12Ye cows, protect the fount: the two Mighty Ones bless the sacrifice.
The handles twain are wrought of gold.

13Pour on the juice the ornament which reaches both the heaven and earth
Supply the liquid to the Bull.