The Rig Veda

by Anonymous

He shall bring evil on the evil-plotter whoever turns against us sin and outrage.

Most Youthful Agni, verily thou bearest thy praiser safely over all his troubles.

Thieves have been seen by us and open foemen: unknown have been the plottings of the wicked. 12. To thee these eulogies have been directed: or to the Vasu hath this sin been spoken. But this our Agni, flaming high, shall never yield us to calumny, to him who wrongs us.

10. As I, remembering thee with grateful spirit, a mortal, call with might on thee Immortal, Vouchsafe us high renown, O Jâtavedas, and may I be immortal by my children.

11. The pious man, O Jâtavedas Agni, to whom thou grantest ample room and pleasure, Gaineth abundant wealth with sons and horses, with heroes and with kine for his well-being.

3. Agni the God of all mankind, gives, verily, a steed to man. Agni gives precious gear for wealth, treasure he gives when he is pleased.

6. These Agnis in the seats of the fire nourish each thing most excellent. They give delight, they spread abroad, they move themselves continually. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

What?

6. Whom, sought of many, mortal man hath found to be the Stay of all; He who gives flavour to our food, the home of every man that lives.

9. Agni to whom the oil is shed by him thou lovest to support, Bestow upon these mortals fame and splendour and intelligence. 10. Such zeal hath he, resistless one: he gained the cattle given by thee. Agni, may Atri overcome the Dasyus who bestow no gifts, subdue the men who give no food. HYMN VIII. Agni.

4. Bright Agni, they who deck their songs for thee have horses as their meed. The men are mighty in their might, they whose high laud, as that of heaven, awakes thee of its own accord.

3. Yea, this is by the light of him whom powerful song hath bound to act, Whose beams of splendour flash on high as though they sprang from heavenly seed. 4. Wealth loads the Wonder-Worker's car through his, the very wise One's power. Then, meet to be invoked among all tribes, is Agni glorified. 5. Now, too, the princes shall obtain excellent riches by our lips. Protect us for our welfare: lend thy succour, O thou Son of Strength. Be near in fight to prosper

They who have varied ways of thought, who guard the lauds within their lips, And strew the grass before the light, have decked themselves with high renown.

3. All mortals come to thee for aid, the God of most observant mind. Of thine excelling favour we bethink us as we long for it.

HYMN XXIII. Agni. 1. By thy fair splendour's mighty power, O Agni, bring victorious wealth, Wealth that o'ercometh all mankind, and, near us, conquereth in fight. 2. Victorious Agni, bring to us the wealth that vanquisheth in war;

For thou art wonderful and true, giver of strength in herds of kine.

3. For all the folk with one accord, whose sacred grass is trimmed and strewn, Invite thee to their worship-halls, as a dear Priest, for choicest wealth. 4. For he, the God of all men, hath gotten him might that quelleth foes. O Agni, in these homes shine...

15. Indra, accept the prayers which now are offered, accept the new prayers, Mightiest! which we utter. Like fair and well-made robes, I, seeking riches, as a deft craftsman makes a car, have wrought them.

HYMN XXX. Indra. 1. WHERE is that Hero? Who hath looked on Indra borne on light-rolling car by Tawny Coursers, Who, Thunderer, seeks with wealth the Soma-presser, and to his house goes, much-invoked, to aid him? 2. I have beheld his strong and secret dwelling, longing have sought the Founder's habitation. I asked of others, and they said in answer, May we, awakened men, attain to Indra.

HYMN XXXIV. Indra.

3. Illustrious is the man whoever presseth out Soma for him in sunshine or in cloud and rain. The mighty Maghavan who is the sage's Friend advanceth more and more his beauteous progeny. 4. The Strong God doth not flee away from him whose sire, whose mother or whose brother he hath done to death. He, the Avenger, seeketh this man's offered gifts: this God, the source of riches, doth not flee from sin. 5. He seeks no enterprise with five or ten to aid, nor stays with him who pours no juice though prospering well. The Shaker conquers or slays in this way or that, and to the pious gives a stable full of kine.

6. Exceeding strong in war he stays the chariot wheel, and, hating him who pours not, prospers him who pours. Indra the terrible, tamer of every man, as Ârya leads away the Dâsa at his will. 7. He gathers up for plunder all the niggard's gear: excellent wealth he gives to him who offers gifts. Not even in wide stronghold may all the folk stand firm who have provoked to anger his surpassing might. 8. When Indra Maghavan hath marked two wealthy men fighting for beauteous cows with all their followers, He who stirs all things takes one as his close ally, and, Shaker, with his Heroes, sends the kine to him.

9. Agni! I laud the liberal Âgniveṣi, Ṣatri the type and standard of the pious. May the collected waters yield him plenty, and ...

4. No troubles vex that King in whose home Indra drinks the sharp Soma juice with milk commingled.

With heroes he drives near, he slays the foeman: Blest, cherishing that name, he guards his people. 5. May he support in peace and win in battle: he masters both the hosts that meet together. Dear shall he be to Sûrya, dear to Agni, who with pressed Soma offers gifts to India.

HYMN XLVIII. Viṣvedevas.

5. Four-faced and nobly clad, Varuṇa, urging on the pious to his task, stirs himself with the tongue. Naught by our human nature do we know of him, him from whom Bhaga Savitar bestows the boon.

7. Never is he, O Maruts, slain or overcome, never doth he decay ne'er is distressed or harmed; His treasures, his resources, never waste away, whom. whether he be prince or Ṛishi, ye direct.

HYMN LV. Maruts.

O Maruts, ye disperse all enemies abroad. Their cars moved onward as they went to victory.

They to the pole have yoked the winds for coursers: their sweat have they made rain, these Sons of Rudra.

HYMN LXIII. Mitra-Varuṇa.

We pray for rain, your boon, and immortality.

Ye set the Sun in heaven as a refulgent car.

1. FULL wise is he who hath discerned: let him speak to us of the Gods,— The man whose praise-songs Varuṇa the beautiful, or Mitra, loves. 2. For they are Kings of noblest might, of glorious fame most widely spread; Lords of the brave, who strengthen Law, the Holy Ones with every race.

5. This is the Law sublime, O Earth: to aid the Ṛishis' toil for fame The Two, wide-spreading, are prepared. They come with ample overflow.

HYMN LXXII. Mitra-Varuṇa. 1. To Varuṇa and Mitra we offer with songs, as Atri did. Sit on the sacred grass to drink the Soma juice.

1. WHETHER, O Aṣvins, ye this day be far remote or near at hand, In many spots or in mid-air, come hither, Lords of ample wealth.

9. Aṣvins, with truth they call you Twain bestowers of felicity; At sacrifice most prompt to hear, most gracious ye at sacrifice.

1. To meet your treasure-bringing car, the mighty car most dear to us, Aṣvins, the Ṛishi is prepared, your raiser, with his song of praise. Lovers of sweetness, hear my call.

HYMN LXXVI. Aṣvins 1. AGNI, the bright face of the Dawns, is shining; the singers' pious voices have ascended. Borne on your chariot, Aṣvins, turn you hither and come unto our full and rich libation. 2. Most frequent guests, they scorn not what is ready: even now the lauded Aṣvins are beside us.

With promptest aid they come at morn and evening, the worshipper's most blessed guards from trouble.

3. Yea, come at milking-time, at early morning, at noon of day and when the Sun is setting, By day, by nigh...

Not only now the draught hath drawn the Aṣvins. 4. For this place, Aṣvins, was of old your dwelling, these were your houses, this your habitation. Come to us from high heaven and from the moun...

HYMN LXXXI. Savitar. 1. THE priests of him the lofty Priest well-skilled in hymns harness their spirit, yea, harness their holy thoughts. He only knowing works assigns their priestly tasks. Yea, lofty is the praise of Savitar the God.

Even he, the God whose going-forth and majesty the other Deities have followed with their might,

Around, on both sides thou encompassest the night: yea, thou, O God, art Mitra through thy righteous laws. 5. Over all generation thou art Lord alone: Pûshan art thou, O God, in all thy goings-forth.

Yea, thou hast domination over all this world. Ṣyâvâṣva hath brought praise to thee, O Savitar.

3. For Savitar who is Bhaga shall send riches to his worshipper. That wondrous portion we implore.

6. Sinless in sight of Aditi through the God Savitar's influence, May we obtain all lovely things. 7. We with our hymns this day elect the general God, Lord of the good, Savitar whose decrees are true.

HYMN LXXXV. Varuṇa.