The Rig Veda

by Anonymous

3. Strong is the thought of Law, the Law's behest; all works have they perf...

Whoso will bring oblation, gifts to thee, to him, bethinking thee, vouchsafe thou wealth. 4. Seated as Priest with Manu's progeny, of all these treasures he alone is Lord. Men yearn for children to prol...

5. Eagerly they who hear his word fulfil his wish as sons obey their sire's behest. He, rich in food, unbars his wealth like doors: he, the House-Frie...

HYMN LXXXI. Indra. 1. THE men have lifted Indra up, the Vṛitra slayer, to joy and strength: Him, verily, we invocate in battles whether great or small: be he our aid in deeds of might. 2. Thou, Hero, art a warrior, thou art giver of abundant spoil.

Strengthening e'en the feeble, thou aidest the sacrificer, thou givest the offerer ample wealth.

1. THE best of guardians hath that man within whose dwelling place ye drink, O Maruts, giants of the sky. 2. Honoured with sacrifice or with the worship of the sages' hymns, O Maruts, listen to the call. 3. Yea, the strong man to whom ye have vouchsafed to give a sage, shall move Into a stable rich in kine.

5. Thou, Soma, art the Lord of heroes, King, yea, Vṛitra-slayer thou:

7. To him who keeps the law, both old and young, thou givest happiness, And energy that he may live.

19. Such of thy glories as with poured oblations men honour, may they all invest our worship. Wealth-giver, furtherer with troops of heroes, sparing the brave, come, Soma, to our houses.

20. To him who worships Soma gives the milch-cow, a fleet steed and a man of active knowledge, Skilled in home duties, meet for holy synod, for council meet, a glory to his father.

21. Invincible in fight, saver in battles, guard of our camp, winner of light and water, Born amid hymns, well-housed, exceeding famous, victor, in thee will we rejoice, O Soma. 22. These herbs, these milch-kine, and these running waters, all these, O Soma, thou hast generated. The spacious firmament hast thou expanded, and with the light thou hast dispelled the darkness. 23. Do thou, God Soma, with thy Godlike spirit, victorious, win for ...

The limit of whose power not Gods by Godhead, nor mortal men have reached, nor yet the Waters. Both Earth and Heaven in vigour he surpasseth. May Indra, girt by Maruts, he our succour.

HYMN CX. Ṛibhus. 1. THE holy work I wrought before is wrought again: my sweetest hymn is sung to celebrate your praise. Here, O ye Ṛibhus, is this sea for all the Gods: sate you with Soma offered with the hallowing word. 2. When, seeking your enjoyment onward from afar, ye, certain of my kinsmen, wandered on your way, Sons of Sudhanvan, after your long journeying, ye came unto the home of liberal Savitar. 3. Savitar therefore gave you immortality, because ye came proclaiming him whom naught can hide; And this the drinking-chalice of the Asura, which till that time was one, ye made to be fourfold. 4. When they had served with zeal at sacrifice as priests, they, mortal as they were, gained immortality. The Ṛibhus, children of Sudhanvan, bright as suns, were in a year's course made associate with prayers. 5. The Ṛibhus, with a rod measured, as 'twere a field, the single sacrificial chalice. wide of mouth, Lauded of all who saw, praying for what is best, desiring glorious fame among Immortal Gods. 6. As oil in ladles, we through knowledge will present unto the Heroes of the firmament our hymn,— The Ṛibhus who came near with this great Father's speed, and rose to heaven's high sphere to eat the strengthening food. 7. Ṛibhu to us is Indra freshest in his might, Ṛibhu with powers and wealth is giver of rich gifts. Gods, through your favour may we on the happy day quell the attacks of those who pour no offerings forth. 8. Out of a skin, O Ṛibhus, once ye formed a cow, and brough...

HYMN CXIII. Dawn. 1. This light is come, amid all lights the fairest; born is the brilliant, far-extending brightness. Night, sent away for Savitar's uprising, hath yielded up a birth-place for the Morning. 2. The Fair, the Bright is come with her white offspring; to her the Dark One hath resigned her dwelling. Akin, immortal, following each other, changing their colours both the heavens move onward. 3. Common, unending is the Sisters' pathway; taught by the Gods, alternately they travel. Fair-formed, of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash not, neither do they travel. 4. Bright leader of glad sounds, our eyes behold her; splendid in hue she hath unclosed the portals. She, stirring up the world, hath shown us riches: Dawn hath awakened every living creature.

14. In the sky's borders hath she shone in splendour: the Goddess hath thrown off the veil of darkness. Awakening the world with purple horses, on her well-harnessed chariot Dawn approaches.

16. Arise! the breath, the life, again hath reached us: darkness hath passed away and light approacheth. She for the Sun hath left a path to travel we have arrived where men prolong existence.

To him the Maruts' Father is this hymn addressed, to strengthen Rudra's might, a song more sweet than sweet. Grant us, Immortal One, the food which mortals eat: be gracious unto me, my seed, my progeny.

THE brilliant presence of the Gods hath risen, the eye of Mitra, Varuṇa and Agni. The soul of all that moveth not or moveth, the Sun hath filled the air and earth and heaven. 2. Like as a young man followeth a maiden, so doth the Sun the Dawn, refulgent Goddess: Where pious men extend their generations, before the Auspicious One for happy fortune.

10. Ye from the old Chyavâna, O Nâsatyas, stripped, as 'twere mail, the skin upon his body, Lengthened his life when all had left him helpless, Dasras! and made him lord of youthful maidens.

22. Ye brought the horse's head, Aṣvins, and gave it unto Dadhyach the offspring of Atharvan. True, he revealed to you, O Wonder-Workers, sweet Soma, Tvashṭar's secret, as your girdle.

Not interrupting heavenly ordinances, although she minisheth human generations. The last of endless morns that have departed, the first of those that come, Dawn brightly shineth. 3. There in the eastern region she, Heaven's Daughter, arrayed in garments all of light, appeareth. Truly she followeth the path of Order, nor faileth, knowing well, the heavenly quarters.

Shine richly, Wealthy One, on those who worship, richly, glad. Dawn while wasting, on the singer. 11. This young Maid from the east hath shone upon us; she harnesseth her team of bright red oxen. She will beam forth, the light will hasten hither, and Agni will be present in each dwelling. 12. As the birds fly forth from their resting places, so men with store of food rise at thy dawning. Yea, to the liberal mortal who remaineth at home, O Goddess Dawn, much good thou bringest. 13. Praised through my prayer be ye who should be lauded. Ye have increased our wealth, ye Dawns who love us. Goddesses, may we win by your good favour wealth to be told by hundreds and by thousands.

HYMN CXXV. Svanaya. 1. COMING at early morn he gives his treasure; the prudent one receives and entertains him. Thereby increasing still his life and offspring, he comes with brave sons to abundant riches. 2. Rich shall he be in gold and kine and horses. Indra bestows on him great vital power, Who stays thee, as thou comest, with his treasure, like game caught in the net, O early comer.

3. Longing, I came this morning to the pious, the son of sacrifice, with car wealth-laden. Give him to drink juice of the stalk that gladdens; prosper with pleasant hymns the Lord of Heroes.

Health-bringing streams, as milch-cows, flow to profit him who hath worshipped, him who now will worship. To him who freely gives and fills on all sides full streams of fatness flow and make him famous. 5. On the high ridge of heaven he stands exalted, yea, to the Gods he goes, the liberal giver. The streams, the waters flow for him with fatness: to him this guerdon ever yields abundance. 6. For those who give rich meeds are all these splendours, for those who give ri...

7. Let not the liberal sink to sin and sorrow, never decay the pious chiefs who worship! Let every man besides be their protection, and...

Sovrans adored with streams of oil and praised at every sacrifice. Their high imperial might may nowhere be assailed, ne'er may their Godhead be assailed. 2. For the broad Sun was seen a path more widely laid, the path of holy law hath been maintained with rays, the eye with Bhaga's rays of light. Firm-set in heaven is Mitra's home, and Aryaman's and Varuṇa's. Thence they give forth great vital strength which merits praise, high power of life that men shall praise.

Aryaman guards him well who acts uprightly following his law, Who beautifies their service with his lauds, who makes it beautiful with songs of praise.

HYMN CXXXIX. Viṣvedevas.

1. HEARD be our prayer! In thought I honour Agni first: now straightway we elect this heavenly company, Indra and Vâyu we elect. For when our latest thought is raised and on Vivasvân centred well, Then may our holy songs go forward on their way, our songs as 'twere unto the Gods.

2. As there ye, Mitra, Varuṇa, above the true have taken to yourselves the untrue with your mind, with wisdom's mental energy, So in the seats wherein ye dwell have we beheld the Golden One, Not with our thoughts or spirit, but with these our eyes, yea, with the eyes that Soma gives.

6. These Soma-drops, strong Indra! drink for heroes, poured, pressed out by pressing-stones, are welling forth for thee, for thee the drops are welling forth. They shall make glad thy heart to give, to give wealth great and wonderful. Thou who acceptest praise come glorified by hymns, come thou to us benevolent.

HYMN CLII. Mitra-Varuṇa. 1. THE robes which ye put on abound with fatness: uninterrupted courses are your counsels. All falsehood, Mitra-Varuṇa! ye conquer, and closely cleave unto the Law Eternal.

9. Nothing, O Maghavan, stands firm before thee; among the Gods not one is found thine equal. None born or springing into life comes nigh thee. Do what thou hast to do, exceeding mighty?

HYMN CLXVII. Indra. Maruts. 1. A THOUSAND are thy helps for us, O Indra: a thousand, Lord of Bays, thy choice refreshments. Wealth of a thousand sorts hast thou to cheer us:

HYMN CLXVIII. Maruts. 1. SWIFT gain is his who hath you near at every rite: ye welcome every song of him who serves the Gods. So may I turn you hither with fair hymns of praise to give great succour for the weal of both the worlds.

When ye cast down like chaff the firmly stablished pile, and from the mountain send the glittering water-flood?

Your winning is with strength, dazzling, with heavenly light, with fruit mature, O Maruts, fall of plenteousness. Auspicious is your gift like a free giver's meed, victorious, spreading far, as of immortal Gods. 8. The rivers roar before your chariot fellies when they are uttering the voice of rain-clouds. The lightnings laugh upon the earth beneath them, what time the Maruts scatter forth their fatness.

7. Heard is the roar of the advancing Maruts, terrific, glittering, and swiftly moving, Who with their rush o'erthrow as 'twere a sinner the mortal who would fight with those who love him

Like men in rivalry extolling princes, our Friend be Indra, wielder of the thunder. Like true friends of some city's lord within them held in good rule with sacrifice they help him. 11. For every sacrifice makes Indra stronger, yea, when he goes around angry in spirit; As pleasure at the ford invites the thirsty, as the long way brings him who gains his object.

HYMN CLXXIV. Indra. 1. THOU art the King of all the Gods, O Indra: protect the men, O Asura, preserve us. Thou Lord of Heroes, Maghavan, our saver, art faithful, very rich, the victory-giver. 2. Indra, thou humbledst tribes that spake with insult by breaking down seven autumn forts, their refuge. Thou stirredst, Blameless! billowy floods, and gavest his foe a prey to youthful Purukutsa. 3. With whom thou drivest troops whose lords are heroes, and bringest daylight now, much worshipped Indra, With them guard lion-like wasting active Agni to dwell in our tilled fields and in our homestead. 4. They through the greatness of thy spear, O Indra, shall, to thy praise, rest in this earthly station. To loose the floods, to seek, for kine, the battle, his Bays he mounted boldly seized the booty. 5. Indra, bear Kutsa, him in whom thou joyest: the dark-red horses of the Wind are docile.

Let the Sun roll his chariot wheel anear us, and let the Thunderer go to meet the foemen. 6. Thou Indra, Lord of Bays, made strong by impulse, hast slain the vexers of thy friends, who give not. They who beheld the Friend beside the living were cast aside by thee as they rode onward.

Indra, the bard sang forth in inspiration: thou madest earth a covering for the Dâsa. Maghavan made the three that gleam with moisture, and to his home brought Kuyavâch to slay him. 8. These thine old deeds new bards have sung, O Indra. Thou conqueredst, boundest many tribes for ever. Like castles thou hast crushed the godless races, and bowed the godless scorner's deadly weapon. 9. A Stormer thou hast made the stormy waters flow down, O Indra, like the running rivers. When o'er the flood thou broughtest them, O Hero, thou keptest Turvaṣa and Yadu safely. 10. Indra, mayst thou be ou...

6. As thou, O Indra, to the ancient singers wast ever joy, as water to the thirsty,

THE Bull of men, who cherishes all people, King of the Races, Indra,

Victorious with the men, Hero in battles, Indra, who hears the singer's supplication, Will bring his car nigh to the man who offers, if he himself upholds the songs that praise him.

4. Yea, Indra, with the men, through love of glory consumes the sacred food which friends have offered. The ever-strengthening song of him who worships is sung in fight amid the clash of voices. 5. Aided by thee, O Maghavan, O Indra, may we subdue our foes who count them mighty. Be our protector, strengthen and increase us. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN XI. Indra.

For these presented viands, seeking riches, increase thy strength like streams of water flowing.

Let those enjoy in whom thou art delighted. Indra, drink Soma for thy strength and gladness. Thou hast exalted us to heaven, Preserver, in battles, through the lofty hymns that praise thee. 16. Great, verily, are they, O thou Protector, who by their songs of praise have won the blessing. They who strew sacred grass to be thy dwelling, helped by thee have got them strength, O Indra.