HYMNS OF THE SAMAVEDA
FIRST PART
HYMNS OF THE SAMAVEDA
FIRST PART
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
Om. Glory to the Samaveda! To Lord Ganesa glory! Om.
DECADE I Agni
1. Come, Agni, praised with song, to feast and sacrificial offering: sitAs Hotar on the holy grass!2. O Agni, thou hast been ordained Hotar of every sacrifice,By Gods, among the race of men.3. Agni we choose as envoy, skilled performer of this holy rite,Hotar, possessor of all wealth.4. Served with oblation, kindled, bright, through love of song may Agni, bentOn riches, smite the Vritras dead!5. I laud your most beloved guest like a dear friend, O Agni, himWho, like a chariot, wins us wealth.6. Do thou, O Agni, with great might guard us from all malignity,Yea, from the hate of mortal man!7. O Agni, come; far other songs of praise will I sing forth to thee.Wax mighty with these Soma-drops!8. May Vatsa draw thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling place!Agni, I yearn for thee with song.9. Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the sky, the headOf all who offer sacrifice.10. O Agni, bring us radiant light to be our mighty succour, forThou art our visible deity!
DECADE II Agni
1. O Agni, God, the people sing reverent praise to thee for strength:With terrors trouble thou the foe2. I seek with song your messenger, oblation-bearer, lord of wealth,Immortal, best at sacrifice.3. Still turning to their aim in thee the sacrificer's sister hymnsHave come to thee before the wind.4. To thee, illuminer of night, O Agni, day by day with prayer,Bringing thee reverence, we come.5. Help, thou who knowest lauds, this work, a lovely hymn in Rudra's praise,Adorable in every house!6. To this fair sacrifice to drink the milky draught art thou called forth:O Agni, with the Maruts come!7. With homage will I reverence thee, Agni, like a long-tailed steed,Imperial lord of holy rites.8. As Aurva and as Bhrigu called, as Apnavana called, I callThe radiant Agni robed with sea.9. When he enkindles Agni, man should with his heart attend the song:I kindle Agni till he glows.10. Then, verily, they see the light refulgent of primeval seed,Kindled on yonder side of heaven.
DECADE III Agni
1. Hither, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who prospers you,Most frequent at our solemn rites.2. May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend:May Agni win us wealth by war!3. Agni, be gracious; thou art great: thou hast approached the pious man,Hast come to sit on sacred grass.4. Agni, preserve us,from distress consume our enemies, O God,Eternal, with thy hottest flames5. Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent!The fleet ones bring thee rapidly.6. Lord of the tribes, whom all must seek, we worshipped Agni set thee down,Refulgent, rich in valiant men.7. Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the earth is heHe quickeneth the waters' seed.8. O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune of the Gods,And this our newest hymn of praise!9, By song, O Agni, Angiras! Gopavana hath brought thee forthHear thou my call, refulgent one!10. Agni, the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved around the sacred gifts,Giving the offerer precious things.11. His heralds bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,The Sun, that all may look on him.12, Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the Sage whose holy laws are trueThe God who driveth grief away.13. Kind be the Goddesses to lend us help, and kind that we may drink:May their streams bring us health and wealth14. Lord of the brave, whose songs dost thou in thine abundance now inspire,Thou whose hymns help to win the kine?
DECADE IV Agni
1. Sing to your Agni with each song, at every sacrifice for strength.Come, let us praise the wise and, everlasting God even as a well-beloved friend,2. Agni, protect thou us by one, protect us by the second song,Protect us by three hymns, O Lord of power and might, bright God, by four hymns guard us well!3. O Agni, with thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilliancy, O God,Kindled, most youthful one! by Bharadvaja's hand, shine on us richly, holy Lord!4. O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes be to thee,Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, the stall of kine!5. Agni, praise-singer! Lord of men, God! burning up the Rakshasas,Mighty art thou, the ever-present, household-lord! home-friend and guardian from the sky.6. Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hued refulgent gift of Dawn,Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn!7. Wonderful, with thy favouring help, send us thy bounties, gracious Lord.Thou art the charioteer, Agni, of earthly wealth: find rest and safety for our seed!8. Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, preserver, righteous, and a Sage.The holy singers, O enkindled radiant one, ordainers, call on thee to come.9. O holy Agni, give us wealth famed among men and strengthening life!Bestow on us, O helper, that which many crave, more glorious still through righteousness!10. To him, who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men,To him like the first vessels filled with savoury juice, to Agni let the lauds go forth.
DECADE V Agni
1. With this mine homage I invoke Agni for you, the Son of Strength,Dear, wisest envoy, skilled in noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.2. Thou liest in the logs that are thy mothers: mortals kindle thee.Alert thou bearest off the sacrifleer's gift, and then thou shinest to the Gods.3. He hath appeared, best prosperer, in whom men lay their holy acts:So may our songs of praise come nigh to Agni who was born to give the Arya strength!4. Chief Priest is Agni at the laud, as stones and grass at sacrifice.Gods! Maruts! Brahmanaspati! I crave with song the help that is most excellent.5. Pray Agni of the piercing flame, with sacred songs, to be our help;For wealth, famed Agni, Purumilha and ye men! He is Suditi's sure defence.6. Hear, Agni who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods!With those who come at dawn let Mitra, Aryaman sit on the grass at sacrifice.7. Agni of Divodasa, God, comes forth like Indra in his might.Rapidly hath he moved along his mother earth: he stands in high heaven's dwelling-place.8. Whether thou come from earth or from the lofty lucid realm of heaven,Wax stronger in thy body through my song of praise: fill full all creatures, O most wise!9. If, loving well the forests, thou wentest to thy maternal floods,Not to be scorned, Agni, is that return of thine when, from afar, thou now art here.10. O Agni, Manu stablished thee a light for all the race of men:With Kanva hast thou blazed, Law-born and waxen strong, thou whom the people reverence.
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Agni
1. The God who giveth wealth accept your full libation poured to, him!Pour ye it out, then fill the vessel full again, for so the God regardeth you.2. Let Brahmanaspati come forth, let Sunrita the Goddess come,And Gods bring to our rite which yields a fivefold gift the hero, lover of mankind!3. Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God,Erect as strength-bestower when we call on thee with priests who balm our offerings!4. The man who bringeth gifts to thee, bright God who fain wouldst lead to wealth,Winneth himself a brave son, Agni! skilled in lauds, one prospering in a thousand ways.5. With hymns and holy eulogies we supplicate your Agni, LordOf many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others too inflame.6. This Agni is the Lord of great prosperity and hero, strength,Of wealth with noble offspring and with store of kine, the Lord of battles with the foe.7. Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Hotar-priest at sacrifice.Lord of all boons, thou art the Potar, passing wise. Pay worship, and enjoy the good!8. We as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God, to be our help.The Waters' Child, the blessed, the most mighty one, swift conqueror, and without a peer.
DECADE II Agni
1. Present oblations, make him splendid: set ye as Hotar in his place the Home's Lord, worshippedWith gifts and homage where they pour libations! Honour him meet for reverence in our houses.2. Verily wondrous is the tender youngling's growth who never draweth nigh to drink his mother's milk.As soon as she who hath no udder bore him, he, faring on his. great errand, suddenly grew strong.3. Here is one light for thee, another yonder: enter the third and, be therewith united.Beautiful be thy union with the body, beloved in the Gods' sublimest birthplace!4. For Jatavedas, worthy of our praise, will we frame with our mind this eulogy as 'twere a car;For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not, in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm!5. Agni Vaisvanara, born in course of Order, the messenger of earth, the head of heaven,The Sage, the sovran, guest of men, our vessel fit for their mouth, the Gods have generated.6. Even as the waters from the mountain ridges, so sprang the; Gods, through lauds, from thee, O Agni.To thee speed hymns and eulogies, as horses haste, bearing him who loves the song, to battle.7. Win to protect you, Rudra, lord of worship, priest of both worlds, effectual sacrificer,Agni, invested with his golden colours, before the thunder strike and lay you senseless!8. The King whose face is decked with oil is kindled with homage offered by his faithful servant.The men, the priests adore him with oblations. Agni hath shone forth at the flush of morning.9. Agni advanceth with his lofty banner: through earth and heaven the Bull hath loudly bellowedHe hath come nigh from the sky's farthest limit: the Steer hath waxen in the waters' bosom.10. From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered with thoughts, urged by the hand, the glorious Agni,Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the Homestead.
DECADE III Agni
1. Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow.Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames. are mounting to the vault of heaven.2. Set forth the gleaming one, the song-inspirer, not foolish with. the foolish, fort-destroyer,Who leadeth with his hymns to thought of conquest, gold-bearded, richly splendid with his armour3. Thou art like heaven: one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night dissimilar in colour.All magic powers thou aidest, self-dependent! Auspicious bethy bounty here, O Pushan!4. As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels!To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward!5. Stablished to fill the juice with vital vigour, giver of wealth, guard of his servant's body,The great Priest, born, who knows the clouds, abider with men, is seated in the waters' eddy.6. Let the song, honouring the best, with longing honour the Asura's most famous sovran,The deeds of him the mighty, deeds like Indra's, the manly one in whom the folk must triumph!7. In the two kindling-blocks lies Jatavedas like the well-cherished germ in pregnant women,--Agni who day by day must be entreated by men who watch provided with oblations.8. Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons: never shall Rakshasas in fight o'ercome thee.Burn up the foolish ones, raw flesh devourers: let none of them escape thine heavenly arrow!
DECADE IV Agni
1. Bring us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resistless on thy way:Prepare for us the path that leads to glorious opulence and strength!2. May the brave man, if full of zeal he serve and kindle Agni's flame,Duly presenting sacred gifts, enjoy the Gods' protecting help.3. Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far-extended shines in heaven,For, Purifier! like the Sun thou beamest with thy radiant glow.4. Thou, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of thine own.Bright, active God, thou makest fame increase like means of nourishment.5. At dawn let Agni, much-beloved, guest of the house, be glorified,In whom, the everlasting one, all mortals make their offerings blaze.6. Most moving song be Agni's: shine on high, O rich in radiant light!Like the chief consort of a King riches and strength proceed from thee.7. Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speechAgni your dear familiar friend, the darling guest in every house.8. His beam hath lofty power of life: sing praise to Agni, to the GodWhom men have set in foremost place, like Mitra for their eulogy!9. To noblest Agni, friend of man, chief Vritra-slayer, have we come-Who with Srutarvan, Riksha's son, in lofty presence is inflamed.10. Born as the loftiest Law commands, comrade of those who grew with him.Agni, the sire of Kasyapa by faith, the mother, Manu, Sage.
DECADE V Agni
1. We in King Soma place our trust, in Agni, and in Varuna,The Aditya, Vishnu, Surya, and the Brahman-priest Brihaspati.2. Hence have these men gone up on high and mounted to the heights of heaven:On! conquer on the path by which Angirasas travelled to the skies!3. That thou mayst send us ample wealth, O Agni, we will kindler thee:So, for the great oblation, Steer, pray Heaven and Earth to come to us!4. He runs when one calls after him, This is the prayer of him who prays.He holds all knowledge in his grasp even as the felly rounds the wheel.5. Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame: demolish them on every side!Break down the Yatudhana's strength, the vigour of the Rakshasa!6. Worship the Vasus, Agni! here, the Rudras and Adityas, allWho know fair sacrifices, sprung from Mann, scattering blessings down!
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
DECADE I Agni
1. Agni, thy faithful servant I call upon thee with many a gift,As in the keeping of the great inciting God.2. To Agni, to the Hotar-priest offer your best, your lofty speech,To him ordainer-like who bears the light of songs.3. O Agni, thou who art the lord of wealth in kine, thou Son of Strength,Bestow on us, O Jatavedas, high renown4. Most skilled in sacrifice, bring the Gods, O Agni, to the pious, man:A joyful Priest, thy splendour drives our foes afar5. Taught by seven mothers at his birth was he, for glory of the wise.He, firm and sure, hath set his mind on glorious wealth6. And in the day our prayer is this: May Aditi come nigh to help,With loving-kindness bring us weal and chase our foes7. Worship thou Jatavedas, pray to him who willingly accepts,Whose smoke wanders at will, and none may grasp his flame8. No mortal man can e'er prevail by arts of magic over himWho hath served Agni well, the oblation-giving God.9. Agni, drive thou the wicked foe, the evil-hearted thief away,Far, far, Lord of the brave! and give us easy paths!10. O hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mineBurn down the Rakshasas, enchanters, with thy flame!
DECADE II Agni
1. Sing forth to him the holy, most munificent, sublime with his refulgent glow,To Agni, ye Upastutas2. Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of valiant sons and does great deeds,Whose bond of friendship is thy choice3. Sing praise to him the Lord of light! The Gods have made the God to be their messenger,To bear oblation to the Gods.4. Anger not him who is our guest! He is the bright God Agni, praised by many a man,God Hotar, skilled in sacrifice.5. May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss: may the gift, blessed one! and sacrifice bring bliss.Yea, may our eulogies bring bliss.6. Thee have we chosen skilfullest in sacrifice, immortal Priest among the Gods,Wise finisher of this holy rite.7. Bring us that splendour, Agni, which may overcome each greedy fiend in our abode,And the malicious wrath of men!8. Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manu's raceAgni averteth from us all the Rakshasas!
DECADE III Indra
1. Sing this, beside the flowing juice, to him your hero, much-invoked,To please him as a mighty Bull2. O Satakratu Indra, now rejoice with that carouse of thineWhich is most glorious of all!3. Ye cows, protect the fount: the two mighty ones bless the sacrifice.The handles twain are wrought of gold.4. Sing praises that the horse may come; sing, Srutakaksha, that the cowMay come, that Indra's might may come5. We make this Indra very strong to strike, the mighty Vritra dead:A vigorous hero shall he be.6. Based upon strength and victory and power, O Indra, is thy birth:Thou, mighty one! art strong indeed,7. The sacrifice made Indra great when he unrolled the earth, and madeHimself a diadem in heaven.8. If I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single ruler over wealthMy worshipper should be rich in kine.9. Pressers, blend Soma juice for him, each draught most excellent, for himThe brave, the hero, for his joy.10. Here is the Soma juice expressed. O Vasu, drink till thou art full:Undaunted God, we give it thee
DECADE IV Indra
1. Surya, thou mountest up to meet the hero famous for his wealth,Who hurls the bolt and works for man.2. Whatever, Vritra-slayer! thou, Surya hast risen upon to-day,That, Indra, all is in thy power.3. That Indra is our youthful friend, who with his trusty guidanceledTurvasa, Yadu from afar.4. O Indra, let not ill designs surround us in the sunbeams' lightThis may we gain with thee for friend!5. Indra, bring wealth that gives delight, the victor's ever-conquering wealth,Most excellent, to be our aid6. In mighty battle we invoke Indra, Indra is lesser fight,The friend who bends his bolt at fiends.7. In battle of a thousand arms Indra drank Kadru's Soma juiceThere he displayed his manly might.8. Faithful to thee, we sing aloud, heroic Indra, songs to theeMark, O good Lord, this act of ours!9. Hitherward! they who light the flame and straightway trim the sacred grass,Whose friend is Indra ever young.10. Drive all our enemies away, smite down the foes who press around,And bring the wealth for which we long!
DECADE V Indra and others
1. I Hear, as though 'twere close at hand, the cracking of the whips they hold:They gather splendour on their way.2. Indra, these friends of ours, supplied with Soma, wait and look to theeAs men with fodder to the herd.3. Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men bow down,As rivers bow them to the sea.4. We choose unto ourselves that high protection of the mighty Gods,That it may help and succour us.5. O Brahmanaspati, make thou Kakshivan Ausija a loudChanter of flowing Soma juice!6. Much honoured with libations may the Vritra-slayer watch for us:May Sakra listen to our prayer7. Send us this day, God Savitar, prosperity with progenyDrive thou the evil dream away!8. Where is that ever-youthful Steer, strong-necked and never yet bent down?What Brahman ministers to him?9. There where the mountains downward slope, there at the meeting of the streamsThe Sage was manifest by song.10. Praise Indra whom our songs must laud, sole sovran of mankind, the chiefMost liberal who controlleth men
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Indra and others
1. Indra whose jaws are strong hath drunk of worshipping Sudaksha's draught,The Soma juice with barley brew.2. O Lord of ample wealth, these songs of praise have called aloud to thee,Like milch-kine lowing to their calves!3. Then straight they recognized the mystic name of the creative Steer,There in the mansion of the Moon.4. When Indra, strongest hero, brought the streams, the mighty waters down,Pushan was standing by his side.5. The Cow, the streaming mother of the liberal Maruts, pours her milk,Harnessed to draw their chariots on.6. Come, Lord of rapturous joys, to our libation with thy bay steeds, comeWith bay steeds to the flowing juice7. Presented strengthening gifts have sent Indra away at sacrifice,With night, unto the cleansing bath.8. I from my Father have received deep knowledge of eternal Law:I was born like unto the Sun.9. With Indra splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things, wherewith,Wealthy in food, we may rejoice10. Soma and Pushan, kind to him who travels to the Gods, provideDwellings all happy and secure.
DECADE II Indra
1. Invite ye Indra with a song to drink your draught of Soma steeds, juice,All-conquering Satakratu, most munificent of all who live2. Sing ye a song, to make him glad, to Indra, Lord of tawnyThe Soma-drinker, O my friends!3. This, even this, O Indra, we implore: as thy devoted friendsThe Kanvas praise thee with their hymns!4. For Indra, lover of carouse, loud be our songs about the juiceLet poets sing the song of praise.5. Here, Indra, is thy Soma draught, made pure upon the sacred grass:Run hither, come and drink thereof6. As a good cow to him who milks, we call the doer of good deedsTo our assistance duy by day.7. Hero, the Soma being shed, I pour the juice for thee to drinkSate thee and finish thy carouse!8. The Soma, Indra, which is shed in saucers and in cups for thee,Drink thou, for thou art lord thereof!9. In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,Indra, the mightiest of all.10. O come ye hither, sit ye down: to Indra sing ye forth your song,Companions, bringing hymns of praise
DECADE III Indra
1. So, Lord of affluent gifts, this juice hath been expressed for thee with strength:Drink of it, thou who lovest song!2. Great is our Indra from of old; greatness be his, the ThundererWide as the heaven extends his might.3. Indra, as one with mighty arm, gather for us with thy right handManifold and nutritious spoil!4. Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the kine,The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.5. With what help will he come to us, wonderful, ever-waxing friend?With what most mighty company?6. Thou speedest down to succour us this ever-conquering God of yoursHim who is drawn to all our songs.7. To the assembly's wondrous Lord, the lovely friend of Indra, IHad prayed for wisdom and successs.8. May all thy paths beneath the sky whereby thou speddest Vyasva on,Yea, let all spaces hear our voice9. Bring to us all things excellent, O Satakratu, food and strength,For, Indra, thou art kind to us!10. Here is the Soma ready pressed: of this the Maruts, yea, of this,Self-luminous the Asvins drink.
DECADE IV Indra and others
1. Tossing about, the active ones came nigh to Indra at his birth,Winning themselves heroic might.2. Never, O Gods, do we offend, nor are we ever obstinateWe walk as holy texts command.3. Evening is come: sing loudly thou Atharvan's nobly singing son:Give praise to Savitar the God!4. Now Morning with her earliest light shines forth, dear daughter of the Sky:High, Asvins, I extol your praise.5. Armed with the bones of dead Dadhyach, Indra, with unresisted mightThe nine-and-ninety Vritras slew.6. Come, Indra, and delight thee with the juice at all our Soma feasts,Protector, mighty in thy strength7. O thou who slayest Vritras, come, O Indra, hither to our side,Mighty one, with thy mighty aids!8. That might of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, likeA skin, the worlds of heaven and earth,9. This is thine own Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:Thou carest, too, for this our prayer.10. May Vata breathe his balm on us, healthful, delightful to our heart:May he prolong our days of life
DECADE V Indra and others
1. Ne'er is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra, Aryam.The excellently wise, protect.2. According to our wish for kine, for steeds and chariots, as of old,Be gracious to our wealthy chiefs3. Indra, these spotted cows yield thee their butter and the milky draught,Aiders, thereby, of sacrifice.4. That thou much-lauded! many-named! mayst, with this thought, that longs for milk,Come to each Soma sacrifice.5. May bright Sarasvati, endowed with plenteous wealth and spoil, enrichedWith prayer, desire the sacrifice.6. Why 'mid the Nahusha tribes shall sate this Indra with his Soma juice?He shall bring precious things to us.7. Come, we have pressed the juice for thee; O Indra, drink this Soma here:Sit thou on this my sacred grass8. Great, unassailable must be the heavenly favour of the Three,Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.9. We, Indra, Lord of ample wealth, our guide, depend on one like thee,Thou driver of the tawny steeds!CHAPTER I
Om. Glory to the Samaveda! To Lord Ganesa glory! Om.
DECADE I Agni
1. Come, Agni, praised with song, to feast and sacrificial offering: sitAs Hotar on the holy grass!2. O Agni, thou hast been ordained Hotar of every sacrifice,By Gods, among the race of men.3. Agni we choose as envoy, skilled performer of this holy rite,Hotar, possessor of all wealth.4. Served with oblation, kindled, bright, through love of song may Agni, bentOn riches, smite the Vritras dead!5. I laud your most beloved guest like a dear friend, O Agni, himWho, like a chariot, wins us wealth.6. Do thou, O Agni, with great might guard us from all malignity,Yea, from the hate of mortal man!7. O Agni, come; far other songs of praise will I sing forth to thee.Wax mighty with these Soma-drops!8. May Vatsa draw thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling place!Agni, I yearn for thee with song.9. Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the sky, the headOf all who offer sacrifice.10. O Agni, bring us radiant light to be our mighty succour, forThou art our visible deity!
DECADE II Agni
1. O Agni, God, the people sing reverent praise to thee for strength:With terrors trouble thou the foe2. I seek with song your messenger, oblation-bearer, lord of wealth,Immortal, best at sacrifice.3. Still turning to their aim in thee the sacrificer's sister hymnsHave come to thee before the wind.4. To thee, illuminer of night, O Agni, day by day with prayer,Bringing thee reverence, we come.5. Help, thou who knowest lauds, this work, a lovely hymn in Rudra's praise,Adorable in every house!6. To this fair sacrifice to drink the milky draught art thou called forth:O Agni, with the Maruts come!7. With homage will I reverence thee, Agni, like a long-tailed steed,Imperial lord of holy rites.8. As Aurva and as Bhrigu called, as Apnavana called, I callThe radiant Agni robed with sea.9. When he enkindles Agni, man should with his heart attend the song:I kindle Agni till he glows.10. Then, verily, they see the light refulgent of primeval seed,Kindled on yonder side of heaven.
DECADE III Agni
1. Hither, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who prospers you,Most frequent at our solemn rites.2. May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend:May Agni win us wealth by war!3. Agni, be gracious; thou art great: thou hast approached the pious man,Hast come to sit on sacred grass.4. Agni, preserve us,from distress consume our enemies, O God,Eternal, with thy hottest flames5. Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent!The fleet ones bring thee rapidly.6. Lord of the tribes, whom all must seek, we worshipped Agni set thee down,Refulgent, rich in valiant men.7. Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the earth is heHe quickeneth the waters' seed.8. O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune of the Gods,And this our newest hymn of praise!9, By song, O Agni, Angiras! Gopavana hath brought thee forthHear thou my call, refulgent one!10. Agni, the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved around the sacred gifts,Giving the offerer precious things.11. His heralds bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,The Sun, that all may look on him.12, Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the Sage whose holy laws are trueThe God who driveth grief away.13. Kind be the Goddesses to lend us help, and kind that we may drink:May their streams bring us health and wealth14. Lord of the brave, whose songs dost thou in thine abundance now inspire,Thou whose hymns help to win the kine?
DECADE IV Agni
1. Sing to your Agni with each song, at every sacrifice for strength.Come, let us praise the wise and, everlasting God even as a well-beloved friend,2. Agni, protect thou us by one, protect us by the second song,Protect us by three hymns, O Lord of power and might, bright God, by four hymns guard us well!3. O Agni, with thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilliancy, O God,Kindled, most youthful one! by Bharadvaja's hand, shine on us richly, holy Lord!4. O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes be to thee,Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, the stall of kine!5. Agni, praise-singer! Lord of men, God! burning up the Rakshasas,Mighty art thou, the ever-present, household-lord! home-friend and guardian from the sky.6. Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hued refulgent gift of Dawn,Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn!7. Wonderful, with thy favouring help, send us thy bounties, gracious Lord.Thou art the charioteer, Agni, of earthly wealth: find rest and safety for our seed!8. Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, preserver, righteous, and a Sage.The holy singers, O enkindled radiant one, ordainers, call on thee to come.9. O holy Agni, give us wealth famed among men and strengthening life!Bestow on us, O helper, that which many crave, more glorious still through righteousness!10. To him, who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men,To him like the first vessels filled with savoury juice, to Agni let the lauds go forth.
DECADE V Agni
1. With this mine homage I invoke Agni for you, the Son of Strength,Dear, wisest envoy, skilled in noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.2. Thou liest in the logs that are thy mothers: mortals kindle thee.Alert thou bearest off the sacrifleer's gift, and then thou shinest to the Gods.3. He hath appeared, best prosperer, in whom men lay their holy acts:So may our songs of praise come nigh to Agni who was born to give the Arya strength!4. Chief Priest is Agni at the laud, as stones and grass at sacrifice.Gods! Maruts! Brahmanaspati! I crave with song the help that is most excellent.5. Pray Agni of the piercing flame, with sacred songs, to be our help;For wealth, famed Agni, Purumilha and ye men! He is Suditi's sure defence.6. Hear, Agni who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods!With those who come at dawn let Mitra, Aryaman sit on the grass at sacrifice.7. Agni of Divodasa, God, comes forth like Indra in his might.Rapidly hath he moved along his mother earth: he stands in high heaven's dwelling-place.8. Whether thou come from earth or from the lofty lucid realm of heaven,Wax stronger in thy body through my song of praise: fill full all creatures, O most wise!9. If, loving well the forests, thou wentest to thy maternal floods,Not to be scorned, Agni, is that return of thine when, from afar, thou now art here.10. O Agni, Manu stablished thee a light for all the race of men:With Kanva hast thou blazed, Law-born and waxen strong, thou whom the people reverence.
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Agni
1. The God who giveth wealth accept your full libation poured to, him!Pour ye it out, then fill the vessel full again, for so the God regardeth you.2. Let Brahmanaspati come forth, let Sunrita the Goddess come,And Gods bring to our rite which yields a fivefold gift the hero, lover of mankind!3. Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God,Erect as strength-bestower when we call on thee with priests who balm our offerings!4. The man who bringeth gifts to thee, bright God who fain wouldst lead to wealth,Winneth himself a brave son, Agni! skilled in lauds, one prospering in a thousand ways.5. With hymns and holy eulogies we supplicate your Agni, LordOf many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others too inflame.6. This Agni is the Lord of great prosperity and hero, strength,Of wealth with noble offspring and with store of kine, the Lord of battles with the foe.7. Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Hotar-priest at sacrifice.Lord of all boons, thou art the Potar, passing wise. Pay worship, and enjoy the good!8. We as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God, to be our help.The Waters' Child, the blessed, the most mighty one, swift conqueror, and without a peer.
DECADE II Agni
1. Present oblations, make him splendid: set ye as Hotar in his place the Home's Lord, worshippedWith gifts and homage where they pour libations! Honour him meet for reverence in our houses.2. Verily wondrous is the tender youngling's growth who never draweth nigh to drink his mother's milk.As soon as she who hath no udder bore him, he, faring on his. great errand, suddenly grew strong.3. Here is one light for thee, another yonder: enter the third and, be therewith united.Beautiful be thy union with the body, beloved in the Gods' sublimest birthplace!4. For Jatavedas, worthy of our praise, will we frame with our mind this eulogy as 'twere a car;For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not, in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm!5. Agni Vaisvanara, born in course of Order, the messenger of earth, the head of heaven,The Sage, the sovran, guest of men, our vessel fit for their mouth, the Gods have generated.6. Even as the waters from the mountain ridges, so sprang the; Gods, through lauds, from thee, O Agni.To thee speed hymns and eulogies, as horses haste, bearing him who loves the song, to battle.7. Win to protect you, Rudra, lord of worship, priest of both worlds, effectual sacrificer,Agni, invested with his golden colours, before the thunder strike and lay you senseless!8. The King whose face is decked with oil is kindled with homage offered by his faithful servant.The men, the priests adore him with oblations. Agni hath shone forth at the flush of morning.9. Agni advanceth with his lofty banner: through earth and heaven the Bull hath loudly bellowedHe hath come nigh from the sky's farthest limit: the Steer hath waxen in the waters' bosom.10. From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered with thoughts, urged by the hand, the glorious Agni,Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the Homestead.
DECADE III Agni
1. Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow.Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames. are mounting to the vault of heaven.2. Set forth the gleaming one, the song-inspirer, not foolish with. the foolish, fort-destroyer,Who leadeth with his hymns to thought of conquest, gold-bearded, richly splendid with his armour3. Thou art like heaven: one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night dissimilar in colour.All magic powers thou aidest, self-dependent! Auspicious bethy bounty here, O Pushan!4. As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels!To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward!5. Stablished to fill the juice with vital vigour, giver of wealth, guard of his servant's body,The great Priest, born, who knows the clouds, abider with men, is seated in the waters' eddy.6. Let the song, honouring the best, with longing honour the Asura's most famous sovran,The deeds of him the mighty, deeds like Indra's, the manly one in whom the folk must triumph!7. In the two kindling-blocks lies Jatavedas like the well-cherished germ in pregnant women,--Agni who day by day must be entreated by men who watch provided with oblations.8. Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons: never shall Rakshasas in fight o'ercome thee.Burn up the foolish ones, raw flesh devourers: let none of them escape thine heavenly arrow!
DECADE IV Agni
1. Bring us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resistless on thy way:Prepare for us the path that leads to glorious opulence and strength!2. May the brave man, if full of zeal he serve and kindle Agni's flame,Duly presenting sacred gifts, enjoy the Gods' protecting help.3. Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far-extended shines in heaven,For, Purifier! like the Sun thou beamest with thy radiant glow.4. Thou, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of thine own.Bright, active God, thou makest fame increase like means of nourishment.5. At dawn let Agni, much-beloved, guest of the house, be glorified,In whom, the everlasting one, all mortals make their offerings blaze.6. Most moving song be Agni's: shine on high, O rich in radiant light!Like the chief consort of a King riches and strength proceed from thee.7. Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speechAgni your dear familiar friend, the darling guest in every house.8. His beam hath lofty power of life: sing praise to Agni, to the GodWhom men have set in foremost place, like Mitra for their eulogy!9. To noblest Agni, friend of man, chief Vritra-slayer, have we come-Who with Srutarvan, Riksha's son, in lofty presence is inflamed.10. Born as the loftiest Law commands, comrade of those who grew with him.Agni, the sire of Kasyapa by faith, the mother, Manu, Sage.
DECADE V Agni
1. We in King Soma place our trust, in Agni, and in Varuna,The Aditya, Vishnu, Surya, and the Brahman-priest Brihaspati.2. Hence have these men gone up on high and mounted to the heights of heaven:On! conquer on the path by which Angirasas travelled to the skies!3. That thou mayst send us ample wealth, O Agni, we will kindler thee:So, for the great oblation, Steer, pray Heaven and Earth to come to us!4. He runs when one calls after him, This is the prayer of him who prays.He holds all knowledge in his grasp even as the felly rounds the wheel.5. Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame: demolish them on every side!Break down the Yatudhana's strength, the vigour of the Rakshasa!6. Worship the Vasus, Agni! here, the Rudras and Adityas, allWho know fair sacrifices, sprung from Mann, scattering blessings down!
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
DECADE I Agni
1. Agni, thy faithful servant I call upon thee with many a gift,As in the keeping of the great inciting God.2. To Agni, to the Hotar-priest offer your best, your lofty speech,To him ordainer-like who bears the light of songs.3. O Agni, thou who art the lord of wealth in kine, thou Son of Strength,Bestow on us, O Jatavedas, high renown4. Most skilled in sacrifice, bring the Gods, O Agni, to the pious, man:A joyful Priest, thy splendour drives our foes afar5. Taught by seven mothers at his birth was he, for glory of the wise.He, firm and sure, hath set his mind on glorious wealth6. And in the day our prayer is this: May Aditi come nigh to help,With loving-kindness bring us weal and chase our foes7. Worship thou Jatavedas, pray to him who willingly accepts,Whose smoke wanders at will, and none may grasp his flame8. No mortal man can e'er prevail by arts of magic over himWho hath served Agni well, the oblation-giving God.9. Agni, drive thou the wicked foe, the evil-hearted thief away,Far, far, Lord of the brave! and give us easy paths!10. O hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mineBurn down the Rakshasas, enchanters, with thy flame!
DECADE II Agni
1. Sing forth to him the holy, most munificent, sublime with his refulgent glow,To Agni, ye Upastutas2. Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of valiant sons and does great deeds,Whose bond of friendship is thy choice3. Sing praise to him the Lord of light! The Gods have made the God to be their messenger,To bear oblation to the Gods.4. Anger not him who is our guest! He is the bright God Agni, praised by many a man,God Hotar, skilled in sacrifice.5. May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss: may the gift, blessed one! and sacrifice bring bliss.Yea, may our eulogies bring bliss.6. Thee have we chosen skilfullest in sacrifice, immortal Priest among the Gods,Wise finisher of this holy rite.7. Bring us that splendour, Agni, which may overcome each greedy fiend in our abode,And the malicious wrath of men!8. Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manu's raceAgni averteth from us all the Rakshasas!
DECADE III Indra
1. Sing this, beside the flowing juice, to him your hero, much-invoked,To please him as a mighty Bull2. O Satakratu Indra, now rejoice with that carouse of thineWhich is most glorious of all!3. Ye cows, protect the fount: the two mighty ones bless the sacrifice.The handles twain are wrought of gold.4. Sing praises that the horse may come; sing, Srutakaksha, that the cowMay come, that Indra's might may come5. We make this Indra very strong to strike, the mighty Vritra dead:A vigorous hero shall he be.6. Based upon strength and victory and power, O Indra, is thy birth:Thou, mighty one! art strong indeed,7. The sacrifice made Indra great when he unrolled the earth, and madeHimself a diadem in heaven.8. If I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single ruler over wealthMy worshipper should be rich in kine.9. Pressers, blend Soma juice for him, each draught most excellent, for himThe brave, the hero, for his joy.10. Here is the Soma juice expressed. O Vasu, drink till thou art full:Undaunted God, we give it thee
DECADE IV Indra
1. Surya, thou mountest up to meet the hero famous for his wealth,Who hurls the bolt and works for man.2. Whatever, Vritra-slayer! thou, Surya hast risen upon to-day,That, Indra, all is in thy power.3. That Indra is our youthful friend, who with his trusty guidanceledTurvasa, Yadu from afar.4. O Indra, let not ill designs surround us in the sunbeams' lightThis may we gain with thee for friend!5. Indra, bring wealth that gives delight, the victor's ever-conquering wealth,Most excellent, to be our aid6. In mighty battle we invoke Indra, Indra is lesser fight,The friend who bends his bolt at fiends.7. In battle of a thousand arms Indra drank Kadru's Soma juiceThere he displayed his manly might.8. Faithful to thee, we sing aloud, heroic Indra, songs to theeMark, O good Lord, this act of ours!9. Hitherward! they who light the flame and straightway trim the sacred grass,Whose friend is Indra ever young.10. Drive all our enemies away, smite down the foes who press around,And bring the wealth for which we long!
DECADE V Indra and others
1. I Hear, as though 'twere close at hand, the cracking of the whips they hold:They gather splendour on their way.2. Indra, these friends of ours, supplied with Soma, wait and look to theeAs men with fodder to the herd.3. Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men bow down,As rivers bow them to the sea.4. We choose unto ourselves that high protection of the mighty Gods,That it may help and succour us.5. O Brahmanaspati, make thou Kakshivan Ausija a loudChanter of flowing Soma juice!6. Much honoured with libations may the Vritra-slayer watch for us:May Sakra listen to our prayer7. Send us this day, God Savitar, prosperity with progenyDrive thou the evil dream away!8. Where is that ever-youthful Steer, strong-necked and never yet bent down?What Brahman ministers to him?9. There where the mountains downward slope, there at the meeting of the streamsThe Sage was manifest by song.10. Praise Indra whom our songs must laud, sole sovran of mankind, the chiefMost liberal who controlleth men
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Indra and others
1. Indra whose jaws are strong hath drunk of worshipping Sudaksha's draught,The Soma juice with barley brew.2. O Lord of ample wealth, these songs of praise have called aloud to thee,Like milch-kine lowing to their calves!3. Then straight they recognized the mystic name of the creative Steer,There in the mansion of the Moon.4. When Indra, strongest hero, brought the streams, the mighty waters down,Pushan was standing by his side.5. The Cow, the streaming mother of the liberal Maruts, pours her milk,Harnessed to draw their chariots on.6. Come, Lord of rapturous joys, to our libation with thy bay steeds, comeWith bay steeds to the flowing juice7. Presented strengthening gifts have sent Indra away at sacrifice,With night, unto the cleansing bath.8. I from my Father have received deep knowledge of eternal Law:I was born like unto the Sun.9. With Indra splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things, wherewith,Wealthy in food, we may rejoice10. Soma and Pushan, kind to him who travels to the Gods, provideDwellings all happy and secure.
DECADE II Indra
1. Invite ye Indra with a song to drink your draught of Soma steeds, juice,All-conquering Satakratu, most munificent of all who live2. Sing ye a song, to make him glad, to Indra, Lord of tawnyThe Soma-drinker, O my friends!3. This, even this, O Indra, we implore: as thy devoted friendsThe Kanvas praise thee with their hymns!4. For Indra, lover of carouse, loud be our songs about the juiceLet poets sing the song of praise.5. Here, Indra, is thy Soma draught, made pure upon the sacred grass:Run hither, come and drink thereof6. As a good cow to him who milks, we call the doer of good deedsTo our assistance duy by day.7. Hero, the Soma being shed, I pour the juice for thee to drinkSate thee and finish thy carouse!8. The Soma, Indra, which is shed in saucers and in cups for thee,Drink thou, for thou art lord thereof!9. In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,Indra, the mightiest of all.10. O come ye hither, sit ye down: to Indra sing ye forth your song,Companions, bringing hymns of praise
DECADE III Indra
1. So, Lord of affluent gifts, this juice hath been expressed for thee with strength:Drink of it, thou who lovest song!2. Great is our Indra from of old; greatness be his, the ThundererWide as the heaven extends his might.3. Indra, as one with mighty arm, gather for us with thy right handManifold and nutritious spoil!4. Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the kine,The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.5. With what help will he come to us, wonderful, ever-waxing friend?With what most mighty company?6. Thou speedest down to succour us this ever-conquering God of yoursHim who is drawn to all our songs.7. To the assembly's wondrous Lord, the lovely friend of Indra, IHad prayed for wisdom and successs.8. May all thy paths beneath the sky whereby thou speddest Vyasva on,Yea, let all spaces hear our voice9. Bring to us all things excellent, O Satakratu, food and strength,For, Indra, thou art kind to us!10. Here is the Soma ready pressed: of this the Maruts, yea, of this,Self-luminous the Asvins drink.
DECADE IV Indra and others
1. Tossing about, the active ones came nigh to Indra at his birth,Winning themselves heroic might.2. Never, O Gods, do we offend, nor are we ever obstinateWe walk as holy texts command.3. Evening is come: sing loudly thou Atharvan's nobly singing son:Give praise to Savitar the God!4. Now Morning with her earliest light shines forth, dear daughter of the Sky:High, Asvins, I extol your praise.5. Armed with the bones of dead Dadhyach, Indra, with unresisted mightThe nine-and-ninety Vritras slew.6. Come, Indra, and delight thee with the juice at all our Soma feasts,Protector, mighty in thy strength7. O thou who slayest Vritras, come, O Indra, hither to our side,Mighty one, with thy mighty aids!8. That might of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, likeA skin, the worlds of heaven and earth,9. This is thine own Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:Thou carest, too, for this our prayer.10. May Vata breathe his balm on us, healthful, delightful to our heart:May he prolong our days of life
DECADE V Indra and others
1. Ne'er is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra, Aryam.The excellently wise, protect.2. According to our wish for kine, for steeds and chariots, as of old,Be gracious to our wealthy chiefs3. Indra, these spotted cows yield thee their butter and the milky draught,Aiders, thereby, of sacrifice.4. That thou much-lauded! many-named! mayst, with this thought, that longs for milk,Come to each Soma sacrifice.5. May bright Sarasvati, endowed with plenteous wealth and spoil, enrichedWith prayer, desire the sacrifice.6. Why 'mid the Nahusha tribes shall sate this Indra with his Soma juice?He shall bring precious things to us.7. Come, we have pressed the juice for thee; O Indra, drink this Soma here:Sit thou on this my sacred grass8. Great, unassailable must be the heavenly favour of the Three,Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.9. We, Indra, Lord of ample wealth, our guide, depend on one like thee,Thou driver of the tawny steeds!
FIRST PART
HYMNS OF THE SAMAVEDA
FIRST PART
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
Om. Glory to the Samaveda! To Lord Ganesa glory! Om.
DECADE I Agni
1. Come, Agni, praised with song, to feast and sacrificial offering: sitAs Hotar on the holy grass!2. O Agni, thou hast been ordained Hotar of every sacrifice,By Gods, among the race of men.3. Agni we choose as envoy, skilled performer of this holy rite,Hotar, possessor of all wealth.4. Served with oblation, kindled, bright, through love of song may Agni, bentOn riches, smite the Vritras dead!5. I laud your most beloved guest like a dear friend, O Agni, himWho, like a chariot, wins us wealth.6. Do thou, O Agni, with great might guard us from all malignity,Yea, from the hate of mortal man!7. O Agni, come; far other songs of praise will I sing forth to thee.Wax mighty with these Soma-drops!8. May Vatsa draw thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling place!Agni, I yearn for thee with song.9. Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the sky, the headOf all who offer sacrifice.10. O Agni, bring us radiant light to be our mighty succour, forThou art our visible deity!
DECADE II Agni
1. O Agni, God, the people sing reverent praise to thee for strength:With terrors trouble thou the foe2. I seek with song your messenger, oblation-bearer, lord of wealth,Immortal, best at sacrifice.3. Still turning to their aim in thee the sacrificer's sister hymnsHave come to thee before the wind.4. To thee, illuminer of night, O Agni, day by day with prayer,Bringing thee reverence, we come.5. Help, thou who knowest lauds, this work, a lovely hymn in Rudra's praise,Adorable in every house!6. To this fair sacrifice to drink the milky draught art thou called forth:O Agni, with the Maruts come!7. With homage will I reverence thee, Agni, like a long-tailed steed,Imperial lord of holy rites.8. As Aurva and as Bhrigu called, as Apnavana called, I callThe radiant Agni robed with sea.9. When he enkindles Agni, man should with his heart attend the song:I kindle Agni till he glows.10. Then, verily, they see the light refulgent of primeval seed,Kindled on yonder side of heaven.
DECADE III Agni
1. Hither, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who prospers you,Most frequent at our solemn rites.2. May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend:May Agni win us wealth by war!3. Agni, be gracious; thou art great: thou hast approached the pious man,Hast come to sit on sacred grass.4. Agni, preserve us,from distress consume our enemies, O God,Eternal, with thy hottest flames5. Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent!The fleet ones bring thee rapidly.6. Lord of the tribes, whom all must seek, we worshipped Agni set thee down,Refulgent, rich in valiant men.7. Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the earth is heHe quickeneth the waters' seed.8. O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune of the Gods,And this our newest hymn of praise!9, By song, O Agni, Angiras! Gopavana hath brought thee forthHear thou my call, refulgent one!10. Agni, the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved around the sacred gifts,Giving the offerer precious things.11. His heralds bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,The Sun, that all may look on him.12, Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the Sage whose holy laws are trueThe God who driveth grief away.13. Kind be the Goddesses to lend us help, and kind that we may drink:May their streams bring us health and wealth14. Lord of the brave, whose songs dost thou in thine abundance now inspire,Thou whose hymns help to win the kine?
DECADE IV Agni
1. Sing to your Agni with each song, at every sacrifice for strength.Come, let us praise the wise and, everlasting God even as a well-beloved friend,2. Agni, protect thou us by one, protect us by the second song,Protect us by three hymns, O Lord of power and might, bright God, by four hymns guard us well!3. O Agni, with thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilliancy, O God,Kindled, most youthful one! by Bharadvaja's hand, shine on us richly, holy Lord!4. O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes be to thee,Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, the stall of kine!5. Agni, praise-singer! Lord of men, God! burning up the Rakshasas,Mighty art thou, the ever-present, household-lord! home-friend and guardian from the sky.6. Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hued refulgent gift of Dawn,Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn!7. Wonderful, with thy favouring help, send us thy bounties, gracious Lord.Thou art the charioteer, Agni, of earthly wealth: find rest and safety for our seed!8. Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, preserver, righteous, and a Sage.The holy singers, O enkindled radiant one, ordainers, call on thee to come.9. O holy Agni, give us wealth famed among men and strengthening life!Bestow on us, O helper, that which many crave, more glorious still through righteousness!10. To him, who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men,To him like the first vessels filled with savoury juice, to Agni let the lauds go forth.
DECADE V Agni
1. With this mine homage I invoke Agni for you, the Son of Strength,Dear, wisest envoy, skilled in noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.2. Thou liest in the logs that are thy mothers: mortals kindle thee.Alert thou bearest off the sacrifleer's gift, and then thou shinest to the Gods.3. He hath appeared, best prosperer, in whom men lay their holy acts:So may our songs of praise come nigh to Agni who was born to give the Arya strength!4. Chief Priest is Agni at the laud, as stones and grass at sacrifice.Gods! Maruts! Brahmanaspati! I crave with song the help that is most excellent.5. Pray Agni of the piercing flame, with sacred songs, to be our help;For wealth, famed Agni, Purumilha and ye men! He is Suditi's sure defence.6. Hear, Agni who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods!With those who come at dawn let Mitra, Aryaman sit on the grass at sacrifice.7. Agni of Divodasa, God, comes forth like Indra in his might.Rapidly hath he moved along his mother earth: he stands in high heaven's dwelling-place.8. Whether thou come from earth or from the lofty lucid realm of heaven,Wax stronger in thy body through my song of praise: fill full all creatures, O most wise!9. If, loving well the forests, thou wentest to thy maternal floods,Not to be scorned, Agni, is that return of thine when, from afar, thou now art here.10. O Agni, Manu stablished thee a light for all the race of men:With Kanva hast thou blazed, Law-born and waxen strong, thou whom the people reverence.
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Agni
1. The God who giveth wealth accept your full libation poured to, him!Pour ye it out, then fill the vessel full again, for so the God regardeth you.2. Let Brahmanaspati come forth, let Sunrita the Goddess come,And Gods bring to our rite which yields a fivefold gift the hero, lover of mankind!3. Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God,Erect as strength-bestower when we call on thee with priests who balm our offerings!4. The man who bringeth gifts to thee, bright God who fain wouldst lead to wealth,Winneth himself a brave son, Agni! skilled in lauds, one prospering in a thousand ways.5. With hymns and holy eulogies we supplicate your Agni, LordOf many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others too inflame.6. This Agni is the Lord of great prosperity and hero, strength,Of wealth with noble offspring and with store of kine, the Lord of battles with the foe.7. Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Hotar-priest at sacrifice.Lord of all boons, thou art the Potar, passing wise. Pay worship, and enjoy the good!8. We as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God, to be our help.The Waters' Child, the blessed, the most mighty one, swift conqueror, and without a peer.
DECADE II Agni
1. Present oblations, make him splendid: set ye as Hotar in his place the Home's Lord, worshippedWith gifts and homage where they pour libations! Honour him meet for reverence in our houses.2. Verily wondrous is the tender youngling's growth who never draweth nigh to drink his mother's milk.As soon as she who hath no udder bore him, he, faring on his. great errand, suddenly grew strong.3. Here is one light for thee, another yonder: enter the third and, be therewith united.Beautiful be thy union with the body, beloved in the Gods' sublimest birthplace!4. For Jatavedas, worthy of our praise, will we frame with our mind this eulogy as 'twere a car;For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not, in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm!5. Agni Vaisvanara, born in course of Order, the messenger of earth, the head of heaven,The Sage, the sovran, guest of men, our vessel fit for their mouth, the Gods have generated.6. Even as the waters from the mountain ridges, so sprang the; Gods, through lauds, from thee, O Agni.To thee speed hymns and eulogies, as horses haste, bearing him who loves the song, to battle.7. Win to protect you, Rudra, lord of worship, priest of both worlds, effectual sacrificer,Agni, invested with his golden colours, before the thunder strike and lay you senseless!8. The King whose face is decked with oil is kindled with homage offered by his faithful servant.The men, the priests adore him with oblations. Agni hath shone forth at the flush of morning.9. Agni advanceth with his lofty banner: through earth and heaven the Bull hath loudly bellowedHe hath come nigh from the sky's farthest limit: the Steer hath waxen in the waters' bosom.10. From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered with thoughts, urged by the hand, the glorious Agni,Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the Homestead.
DECADE III Agni
1. Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow.Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames. are mounting to the vault of heaven.2. Set forth the gleaming one, the song-inspirer, not foolish with. the foolish, fort-destroyer,Who leadeth with his hymns to thought of conquest, gold-bearded, richly splendid with his armour3. Thou art like heaven: one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night dissimilar in colour.All magic powers thou aidest, self-dependent! Auspicious bethy bounty here, O Pushan!4. As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels!To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward!5. Stablished to fill the juice with vital vigour, giver of wealth, guard of his servant's body,The great Priest, born, who knows the clouds, abider with men, is seated in the waters' eddy.6. Let the song, honouring the best, with longing honour the Asura's most famous sovran,The deeds of him the mighty, deeds like Indra's, the manly one in whom the folk must triumph!7. In the two kindling-blocks lies Jatavedas like the well-cherished germ in pregnant women,--Agni who day by day must be entreated by men who watch provided with oblations.8. Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons: never shall Rakshasas in fight o'ercome thee.Burn up the foolish ones, raw flesh devourers: let none of them escape thine heavenly arrow!
DECADE IV Agni
1. Bring us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resistless on thy way:Prepare for us the path that leads to glorious opulence and strength!2. May the brave man, if full of zeal he serve and kindle Agni's flame,Duly presenting sacred gifts, enjoy the Gods' protecting help.3. Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far-extended shines in heaven,For, Purifier! like the Sun thou beamest with thy radiant glow.4. Thou, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of thine own.Bright, active God, thou makest fame increase like means of nourishment.5. At dawn let Agni, much-beloved, guest of the house, be glorified,In whom, the everlasting one, all mortals make their offerings blaze.6. Most moving song be Agni's: shine on high, O rich in radiant light!Like the chief consort of a King riches and strength proceed from thee.7. Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speechAgni your dear familiar friend, the darling guest in every house.8. His beam hath lofty power of life: sing praise to Agni, to the GodWhom men have set in foremost place, like Mitra for their eulogy!9. To noblest Agni, friend of man, chief Vritra-slayer, have we come-Who with Srutarvan, Riksha's son, in lofty presence is inflamed.10. Born as the loftiest Law commands, comrade of those who grew with him.Agni, the sire of Kasyapa by faith, the mother, Manu, Sage.
DECADE V Agni
1. We in King Soma place our trust, in Agni, and in Varuna,The Aditya, Vishnu, Surya, and the Brahman-priest Brihaspati.2. Hence have these men gone up on high and mounted to the heights of heaven:On! conquer on the path by which Angirasas travelled to the skies!3. That thou mayst send us ample wealth, O Agni, we will kindler thee:So, for the great oblation, Steer, pray Heaven and Earth to come to us!4. He runs when one calls after him, This is the prayer of him who prays.He holds all knowledge in his grasp even as the felly rounds the wheel.5. Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame: demolish them on every side!Break down the Yatudhana's strength, the vigour of the Rakshasa!6. Worship the Vasus, Agni! here, the Rudras and Adityas, allWho know fair sacrifices, sprung from Mann, scattering blessings down!
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
DECADE I Agni
1. Agni, thy faithful servant I call upon thee with many a gift,As in the keeping of the great inciting God.2. To Agni, to the Hotar-priest offer your best, your lofty speech,To him ordainer-like who bears the light of songs.3. O Agni, thou who art the lord of wealth in kine, thou Son of Strength,Bestow on us, O Jatavedas, high renown4. Most skilled in sacrifice, bring the Gods, O Agni, to the pious, man:A joyful Priest, thy splendour drives our foes afar5. Taught by seven mothers at his birth was he, for glory of the wise.He, firm and sure, hath set his mind on glorious wealth6. And in the day our prayer is this: May Aditi come nigh to help,With loving-kindness bring us weal and chase our foes7. Worship thou Jatavedas, pray to him who willingly accepts,Whose smoke wanders at will, and none may grasp his flame8. No mortal man can e'er prevail by arts of magic over himWho hath served Agni well, the oblation-giving God.9. Agni, drive thou the wicked foe, the evil-hearted thief away,Far, far, Lord of the brave! and give us easy paths!10. O hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mineBurn down the Rakshasas, enchanters, with thy flame!
DECADE II Agni
1. Sing forth to him the holy, most munificent, sublime with his refulgent glow,To Agni, ye Upastutas2. Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of valiant sons and does great deeds,Whose bond of friendship is thy choice3. Sing praise to him the Lord of light! The Gods have made the God to be their messenger,To bear oblation to the Gods.4. Anger not him who is our guest! He is the bright God Agni, praised by many a man,God Hotar, skilled in sacrifice.5. May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss: may the gift, blessed one! and sacrifice bring bliss.Yea, may our eulogies bring bliss.6. Thee have we chosen skilfullest in sacrifice, immortal Priest among the Gods,Wise finisher of this holy rite.7. Bring us that splendour, Agni, which may overcome each greedy fiend in our abode,And the malicious wrath of men!8. Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manu's raceAgni averteth from us all the Rakshasas!
DECADE III Indra
1. Sing this, beside the flowing juice, to him your hero, much-invoked,To please him as a mighty Bull2. O Satakratu Indra, now rejoice with that carouse of thineWhich is most glorious of all!3. Ye cows, protect the fount: the two mighty ones bless the sacrifice.The handles twain are wrought of gold.4. Sing praises that the horse may come; sing, Srutakaksha, that the cowMay come, that Indra's might may come5. We make this Indra very strong to strike, the mighty Vritra dead:A vigorous hero shall he be.6. Based upon strength and victory and power, O Indra, is thy birth:Thou, mighty one! art strong indeed,7. The sacrifice made Indra great when he unrolled the earth, and madeHimself a diadem in heaven.8. If I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single ruler over wealthMy worshipper should be rich in kine.9. Pressers, blend Soma juice for him, each draught most excellent, for himThe brave, the hero, for his joy.10. Here is the Soma juice expressed. O Vasu, drink till thou art full:Undaunted God, we give it thee
DECADE IV Indra
1. Surya, thou mountest up to meet the hero famous for his wealth,Who hurls the bolt and works for man.2. Whatever, Vritra-slayer! thou, Surya hast risen upon to-day,That, Indra, all is in thy power.3. That Indra is our youthful friend, who with his trusty guidanceledTurvasa, Yadu from afar.4. O Indra, let not ill designs surround us in the sunbeams' lightThis may we gain with thee for friend!5. Indra, bring wealth that gives delight, the victor's ever-conquering wealth,Most excellent, to be our aid6. In mighty battle we invoke Indra, Indra is lesser fight,The friend who bends his bolt at fiends.7. In battle of a thousand arms Indra drank Kadru's Soma juiceThere he displayed his manly might.8. Faithful to thee, we sing aloud, heroic Indra, songs to theeMark, O good Lord, this act of ours!9. Hitherward! they who light the flame and straightway trim the sacred grass,Whose friend is Indra ever young.10. Drive all our enemies away, smite down the foes who press around,And bring the wealth for which we long!
DECADE V Indra and others
1. I Hear, as though 'twere close at hand, the cracking of the whips they hold:They gather splendour on their way.2. Indra, these friends of ours, supplied with Soma, wait and look to theeAs men with fodder to the herd.3. Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men bow down,As rivers bow them to the sea.4. We choose unto ourselves that high protection of the mighty Gods,That it may help and succour us.5. O Brahmanaspati, make thou Kakshivan Ausija a loudChanter of flowing Soma juice!6. Much honoured with libations may the Vritra-slayer watch for us:May Sakra listen to our prayer7. Send us this day, God Savitar, prosperity with progenyDrive thou the evil dream away!8. Where is that ever-youthful Steer, strong-necked and never yet bent down?What Brahman ministers to him?9. There where the mountains downward slope, there at the meeting of the streamsThe Sage was manifest by song.10. Praise Indra whom our songs must laud, sole sovran of mankind, the chiefMost liberal who controlleth men
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Indra and others
1. Indra whose jaws are strong hath drunk of worshipping Sudaksha's draught,The Soma juice with barley brew.2. O Lord of ample wealth, these songs of praise have called aloud to thee,Like milch-kine lowing to their calves!3. Then straight they recognized the mystic name of the creative Steer,There in the mansion of the Moon.4. When Indra, strongest hero, brought the streams, the mighty waters down,Pushan was standing by his side.5. The Cow, the streaming mother of the liberal Maruts, pours her milk,Harnessed to draw their chariots on.6. Come, Lord of rapturous joys, to our libation with thy bay steeds, comeWith bay steeds to the flowing juice7. Presented strengthening gifts have sent Indra away at sacrifice,With night, unto the cleansing bath.8. I from my Father have received deep knowledge of eternal Law:I was born like unto the Sun.9. With Indra splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things, wherewith,Wealthy in food, we may rejoice10. Soma and Pushan, kind to him who travels to the Gods, provideDwellings all happy and secure.
DECADE II Indra
1. Invite ye Indra with a song to drink your draught of Soma steeds, juice,All-conquering Satakratu, most munificent of all who live2. Sing ye a song, to make him glad, to Indra, Lord of tawnyThe Soma-drinker, O my friends!3. This, even this, O Indra, we implore: as thy devoted friendsThe Kanvas praise thee with their hymns!4. For Indra, lover of carouse, loud be our songs about the juiceLet poets sing the song of praise.5. Here, Indra, is thy Soma draught, made pure upon the sacred grass:Run hither, come and drink thereof6. As a good cow to him who milks, we call the doer of good deedsTo our assistance duy by day.7. Hero, the Soma being shed, I pour the juice for thee to drinkSate thee and finish thy carouse!8. The Soma, Indra, which is shed in saucers and in cups for thee,Drink thou, for thou art lord thereof!9. In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,Indra, the mightiest of all.10. O come ye hither, sit ye down: to Indra sing ye forth your song,Companions, bringing hymns of praise
DECADE III Indra
1. So, Lord of affluent gifts, this juice hath been expressed for thee with strength:Drink of it, thou who lovest song!2. Great is our Indra from of old; greatness be his, the ThundererWide as the heaven extends his might.3. Indra, as one with mighty arm, gather for us with thy right handManifold and nutritious spoil!4. Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the kine,The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.5. With what help will he come to us, wonderful, ever-waxing friend?With what most mighty company?6. Thou speedest down to succour us this ever-conquering God of yoursHim who is drawn to all our songs.7. To the assembly's wondrous Lord, the lovely friend of Indra, IHad prayed for wisdom and successs.8. May all thy paths beneath the sky whereby thou speddest Vyasva on,Yea, let all spaces hear our voice9. Bring to us all things excellent, O Satakratu, food and strength,For, Indra, thou art kind to us!10. Here is the Soma ready pressed: of this the Maruts, yea, of this,Self-luminous the Asvins drink.
DECADE IV Indra and others
1. Tossing about, the active ones came nigh to Indra at his birth,Winning themselves heroic might.2. Never, O Gods, do we offend, nor are we ever obstinateWe walk as holy texts command.3. Evening is come: sing loudly thou Atharvan's nobly singing son:Give praise to Savitar the God!4. Now Morning with her earliest light shines forth, dear daughter of the Sky:High, Asvins, I extol your praise.5. Armed with the bones of dead Dadhyach, Indra, with unresisted mightThe nine-and-ninety Vritras slew.6. Come, Indra, and delight thee with the juice at all our Soma feasts,Protector, mighty in thy strength7. O thou who slayest Vritras, come, O Indra, hither to our side,Mighty one, with thy mighty aids!8. That might of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, likeA skin, the worlds of heaven and earth,9. This is thine own Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:Thou carest, too, for this our prayer.10. May Vata breathe his balm on us, healthful, delightful to our heart:May he prolong our days of life
DECADE V Indra and others
1. Ne'er is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra, Aryam.The excellently wise, protect.2. According to our wish for kine, for steeds and chariots, as of old,Be gracious to our wealthy chiefs3. Indra, these spotted cows yield thee their butter and the milky draught,Aiders, thereby, of sacrifice.4. That thou much-lauded! many-named! mayst, with this thought, that longs for milk,Come to each Soma sacrifice.5. May bright Sarasvati, endowed with plenteous wealth and spoil, enrichedWith prayer, desire the sacrifice.6. Why 'mid the Nahusha tribes shall sate this Indra with his Soma juice?He shall bring precious things to us.7. Come, we have pressed the juice for thee; O Indra, drink this Soma here:Sit thou on this my sacred grass8. Great, unassailable must be the heavenly favour of the Three,Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.9. We, Indra, Lord of ample wealth, our guide, depend on one like thee,Thou driver of the tawny steeds!CHAPTER I
Om. Glory to the Samaveda! To Lord Ganesa glory! Om.
DECADE I Agni
1. Come, Agni, praised with song, to feast and sacrificial offering: sitAs Hotar on the holy grass!2. O Agni, thou hast been ordained Hotar of every sacrifice,By Gods, among the race of men.3. Agni we choose as envoy, skilled performer of this holy rite,Hotar, possessor of all wealth.4. Served with oblation, kindled, bright, through love of song may Agni, bentOn riches, smite the Vritras dead!5. I laud your most beloved guest like a dear friend, O Agni, himWho, like a chariot, wins us wealth.6. Do thou, O Agni, with great might guard us from all malignity,Yea, from the hate of mortal man!7. O Agni, come; far other songs of praise will I sing forth to thee.Wax mighty with these Soma-drops!8. May Vatsa draw thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling place!Agni, I yearn for thee with song.9. Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the sky, the headOf all who offer sacrifice.10. O Agni, bring us radiant light to be our mighty succour, forThou art our visible deity!
DECADE II Agni
1. O Agni, God, the people sing reverent praise to thee for strength:With terrors trouble thou the foe2. I seek with song your messenger, oblation-bearer, lord of wealth,Immortal, best at sacrifice.3. Still turning to their aim in thee the sacrificer's sister hymnsHave come to thee before the wind.4. To thee, illuminer of night, O Agni, day by day with prayer,Bringing thee reverence, we come.5. Help, thou who knowest lauds, this work, a lovely hymn in Rudra's praise,Adorable in every house!6. To this fair sacrifice to drink the milky draught art thou called forth:O Agni, with the Maruts come!7. With homage will I reverence thee, Agni, like a long-tailed steed,Imperial lord of holy rites.8. As Aurva and as Bhrigu called, as Apnavana called, I callThe radiant Agni robed with sea.9. When he enkindles Agni, man should with his heart attend the song:I kindle Agni till he glows.10. Then, verily, they see the light refulgent of primeval seed,Kindled on yonder side of heaven.
DECADE III Agni
1. Hither, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who prospers you,Most frequent at our solemn rites.2. May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend:May Agni win us wealth by war!3. Agni, be gracious; thou art great: thou hast approached the pious man,Hast come to sit on sacred grass.4. Agni, preserve us,from distress consume our enemies, O God,Eternal, with thy hottest flames5. Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent!The fleet ones bring thee rapidly.6. Lord of the tribes, whom all must seek, we worshipped Agni set thee down,Refulgent, rich in valiant men.7. Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the earth is heHe quickeneth the waters' seed.8. O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune of the Gods,And this our newest hymn of praise!9, By song, O Agni, Angiras! Gopavana hath brought thee forthHear thou my call, refulgent one!10. Agni, the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved around the sacred gifts,Giving the offerer precious things.11. His heralds bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,The Sun, that all may look on him.12, Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the Sage whose holy laws are trueThe God who driveth grief away.13. Kind be the Goddesses to lend us help, and kind that we may drink:May their streams bring us health and wealth14. Lord of the brave, whose songs dost thou in thine abundance now inspire,Thou whose hymns help to win the kine?
DECADE IV Agni
1. Sing to your Agni with each song, at every sacrifice for strength.Come, let us praise the wise and, everlasting God even as a well-beloved friend,2. Agni, protect thou us by one, protect us by the second song,Protect us by three hymns, O Lord of power and might, bright God, by four hymns guard us well!3. O Agni, with thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilliancy, O God,Kindled, most youthful one! by Bharadvaja's hand, shine on us richly, holy Lord!4. O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes be to thee,Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, the stall of kine!5. Agni, praise-singer! Lord of men, God! burning up the Rakshasas,Mighty art thou, the ever-present, household-lord! home-friend and guardian from the sky.6. Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hued refulgent gift of Dawn,Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn!7. Wonderful, with thy favouring help, send us thy bounties, gracious Lord.Thou art the charioteer, Agni, of earthly wealth: find rest and safety for our seed!8. Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, preserver, righteous, and a Sage.The holy singers, O enkindled radiant one, ordainers, call on thee to come.9. O holy Agni, give us wealth famed among men and strengthening life!Bestow on us, O helper, that which many crave, more glorious still through righteousness!10. To him, who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men,To him like the first vessels filled with savoury juice, to Agni let the lauds go forth.
DECADE V Agni
1. With this mine homage I invoke Agni for you, the Son of Strength,Dear, wisest envoy, skilled in noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.2. Thou liest in the logs that are thy mothers: mortals kindle thee.Alert thou bearest off the sacrifleer's gift, and then thou shinest to the Gods.3. He hath appeared, best prosperer, in whom men lay their holy acts:So may our songs of praise come nigh to Agni who was born to give the Arya strength!4. Chief Priest is Agni at the laud, as stones and grass at sacrifice.Gods! Maruts! Brahmanaspati! I crave with song the help that is most excellent.5. Pray Agni of the piercing flame, with sacred songs, to be our help;For wealth, famed Agni, Purumilha and ye men! He is Suditi's sure defence.6. Hear, Agni who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods!With those who come at dawn let Mitra, Aryaman sit on the grass at sacrifice.7. Agni of Divodasa, God, comes forth like Indra in his might.Rapidly hath he moved along his mother earth: he stands in high heaven's dwelling-place.8. Whether thou come from earth or from the lofty lucid realm of heaven,Wax stronger in thy body through my song of praise: fill full all creatures, O most wise!9. If, loving well the forests, thou wentest to thy maternal floods,Not to be scorned, Agni, is that return of thine when, from afar, thou now art here.10. O Agni, Manu stablished thee a light for all the race of men:With Kanva hast thou blazed, Law-born and waxen strong, thou whom the people reverence.
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Agni
1. The God who giveth wealth accept your full libation poured to, him!Pour ye it out, then fill the vessel full again, for so the God regardeth you.2. Let Brahmanaspati come forth, let Sunrita the Goddess come,And Gods bring to our rite which yields a fivefold gift the hero, lover of mankind!3. Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God,Erect as strength-bestower when we call on thee with priests who balm our offerings!4. The man who bringeth gifts to thee, bright God who fain wouldst lead to wealth,Winneth himself a brave son, Agni! skilled in lauds, one prospering in a thousand ways.5. With hymns and holy eulogies we supplicate your Agni, LordOf many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others too inflame.6. This Agni is the Lord of great prosperity and hero, strength,Of wealth with noble offspring and with store of kine, the Lord of battles with the foe.7. Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Hotar-priest at sacrifice.Lord of all boons, thou art the Potar, passing wise. Pay worship, and enjoy the good!8. We as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God, to be our help.The Waters' Child, the blessed, the most mighty one, swift conqueror, and without a peer.
DECADE II Agni
1. Present oblations, make him splendid: set ye as Hotar in his place the Home's Lord, worshippedWith gifts and homage where they pour libations! Honour him meet for reverence in our houses.2. Verily wondrous is the tender youngling's growth who never draweth nigh to drink his mother's milk.As soon as she who hath no udder bore him, he, faring on his. great errand, suddenly grew strong.3. Here is one light for thee, another yonder: enter the third and, be therewith united.Beautiful be thy union with the body, beloved in the Gods' sublimest birthplace!4. For Jatavedas, worthy of our praise, will we frame with our mind this eulogy as 'twere a car;For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not, in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm!5. Agni Vaisvanara, born in course of Order, the messenger of earth, the head of heaven,The Sage, the sovran, guest of men, our vessel fit for their mouth, the Gods have generated.6. Even as the waters from the mountain ridges, so sprang the; Gods, through lauds, from thee, O Agni.To thee speed hymns and eulogies, as horses haste, bearing him who loves the song, to battle.7. Win to protect you, Rudra, lord of worship, priest of both worlds, effectual sacrificer,Agni, invested with his golden colours, before the thunder strike and lay you senseless!8. The King whose face is decked with oil is kindled with homage offered by his faithful servant.The men, the priests adore him with oblations. Agni hath shone forth at the flush of morning.9. Agni advanceth with his lofty banner: through earth and heaven the Bull hath loudly bellowedHe hath come nigh from the sky's farthest limit: the Steer hath waxen in the waters' bosom.10. From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered with thoughts, urged by the hand, the glorious Agni,Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the Homestead.
DECADE III Agni
1. Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow.Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames. are mounting to the vault of heaven.2. Set forth the gleaming one, the song-inspirer, not foolish with. the foolish, fort-destroyer,Who leadeth with his hymns to thought of conquest, gold-bearded, richly splendid with his armour3. Thou art like heaven: one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night dissimilar in colour.All magic powers thou aidest, self-dependent! Auspicious bethy bounty here, O Pushan!4. As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels!To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward!5. Stablished to fill the juice with vital vigour, giver of wealth, guard of his servant's body,The great Priest, born, who knows the clouds, abider with men, is seated in the waters' eddy.6. Let the song, honouring the best, with longing honour the Asura's most famous sovran,The deeds of him the mighty, deeds like Indra's, the manly one in whom the folk must triumph!7. In the two kindling-blocks lies Jatavedas like the well-cherished germ in pregnant women,--Agni who day by day must be entreated by men who watch provided with oblations.8. Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons: never shall Rakshasas in fight o'ercome thee.Burn up the foolish ones, raw flesh devourers: let none of them escape thine heavenly arrow!
DECADE IV Agni
1. Bring us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resistless on thy way:Prepare for us the path that leads to glorious opulence and strength!2. May the brave man, if full of zeal he serve and kindle Agni's flame,Duly presenting sacred gifts, enjoy the Gods' protecting help.3. Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far-extended shines in heaven,For, Purifier! like the Sun thou beamest with thy radiant glow.4. Thou, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of thine own.Bright, active God, thou makest fame increase like means of nourishment.5. At dawn let Agni, much-beloved, guest of the house, be glorified,In whom, the everlasting one, all mortals make their offerings blaze.6. Most moving song be Agni's: shine on high, O rich in radiant light!Like the chief consort of a King riches and strength proceed from thee.7. Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speechAgni your dear familiar friend, the darling guest in every house.8. His beam hath lofty power of life: sing praise to Agni, to the GodWhom men have set in foremost place, like Mitra for their eulogy!9. To noblest Agni, friend of man, chief Vritra-slayer, have we come-Who with Srutarvan, Riksha's son, in lofty presence is inflamed.10. Born as the loftiest Law commands, comrade of those who grew with him.Agni, the sire of Kasyapa by faith, the mother, Manu, Sage.
DECADE V Agni
1. We in King Soma place our trust, in Agni, and in Varuna,The Aditya, Vishnu, Surya, and the Brahman-priest Brihaspati.2. Hence have these men gone up on high and mounted to the heights of heaven:On! conquer on the path by which Angirasas travelled to the skies!3. That thou mayst send us ample wealth, O Agni, we will kindler thee:So, for the great oblation, Steer, pray Heaven and Earth to come to us!4. He runs when one calls after him, This is the prayer of him who prays.He holds all knowledge in his grasp even as the felly rounds the wheel.5. Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame: demolish them on every side!Break down the Yatudhana's strength, the vigour of the Rakshasa!6. Worship the Vasus, Agni! here, the Rudras and Adityas, allWho know fair sacrifices, sprung from Mann, scattering blessings down!
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
DECADE I Agni
1. Agni, thy faithful servant I call upon thee with many a gift,As in the keeping of the great inciting God.2. To Agni, to the Hotar-priest offer your best, your lofty speech,To him ordainer-like who bears the light of songs.3. O Agni, thou who art the lord of wealth in kine, thou Son of Strength,Bestow on us, O Jatavedas, high renown4. Most skilled in sacrifice, bring the Gods, O Agni, to the pious, man:A joyful Priest, thy splendour drives our foes afar5. Taught by seven mothers at his birth was he, for glory of the wise.He, firm and sure, hath set his mind on glorious wealth6. And in the day our prayer is this: May Aditi come nigh to help,With loving-kindness bring us weal and chase our foes7. Worship thou Jatavedas, pray to him who willingly accepts,Whose smoke wanders at will, and none may grasp his flame8. No mortal man can e'er prevail by arts of magic over himWho hath served Agni well, the oblation-giving God.9. Agni, drive thou the wicked foe, the evil-hearted thief away,Far, far, Lord of the brave! and give us easy paths!10. O hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mineBurn down the Rakshasas, enchanters, with thy flame!
DECADE II Agni
1. Sing forth to him the holy, most munificent, sublime with his refulgent glow,To Agni, ye Upastutas2. Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of valiant sons and does great deeds,Whose bond of friendship is thy choice3. Sing praise to him the Lord of light! The Gods have made the God to be their messenger,To bear oblation to the Gods.4. Anger not him who is our guest! He is the bright God Agni, praised by many a man,God Hotar, skilled in sacrifice.5. May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss: may the gift, blessed one! and sacrifice bring bliss.Yea, may our eulogies bring bliss.6. Thee have we chosen skilfullest in sacrifice, immortal Priest among the Gods,Wise finisher of this holy rite.7. Bring us that splendour, Agni, which may overcome each greedy fiend in our abode,And the malicious wrath of men!8. Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manu's raceAgni averteth from us all the Rakshasas!
DECADE III Indra
1. Sing this, beside the flowing juice, to him your hero, much-invoked,To please him as a mighty Bull2. O Satakratu Indra, now rejoice with that carouse of thineWhich is most glorious of all!3. Ye cows, protect the fount: the two mighty ones bless the sacrifice.The handles twain are wrought of gold.4. Sing praises that the horse may come; sing, Srutakaksha, that the cowMay come, that Indra's might may come5. We make this Indra very strong to strike, the mighty Vritra dead:A vigorous hero shall he be.6. Based upon strength and victory and power, O Indra, is thy birth:Thou, mighty one! art strong indeed,7. The sacrifice made Indra great when he unrolled the earth, and madeHimself a diadem in heaven.8. If I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single ruler over wealthMy worshipper should be rich in kine.9. Pressers, blend Soma juice for him, each draught most excellent, for himThe brave, the hero, for his joy.10. Here is the Soma juice expressed. O Vasu, drink till thou art full:Undaunted God, we give it thee
DECADE IV Indra
1. Surya, thou mountest up to meet the hero famous for his wealth,Who hurls the bolt and works for man.2. Whatever, Vritra-slayer! thou, Surya hast risen upon to-day,That, Indra, all is in thy power.3. That Indra is our youthful friend, who with his trusty guidanceledTurvasa, Yadu from afar.4. O Indra, let not ill designs surround us in the sunbeams' lightThis may we gain with thee for friend!5. Indra, bring wealth that gives delight, the victor's ever-conquering wealth,Most excellent, to be our aid6. In mighty battle we invoke Indra, Indra is lesser fight,The friend who bends his bolt at fiends.7. In battle of a thousand arms Indra drank Kadru's Soma juiceThere he displayed his manly might.8. Faithful to thee, we sing aloud, heroic Indra, songs to theeMark, O good Lord, this act of ours!9. Hitherward! they who light the flame and straightway trim the sacred grass,Whose friend is Indra ever young.10. Drive all our enemies away, smite down the foes who press around,And bring the wealth for which we long!
DECADE V Indra and others
1. I Hear, as though 'twere close at hand, the cracking of the whips they hold:They gather splendour on their way.2. Indra, these friends of ours, supplied with Soma, wait and look to theeAs men with fodder to the herd.3. Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men bow down,As rivers bow them to the sea.4. We choose unto ourselves that high protection of the mighty Gods,That it may help and succour us.5. O Brahmanaspati, make thou Kakshivan Ausija a loudChanter of flowing Soma juice!6. Much honoured with libations may the Vritra-slayer watch for us:May Sakra listen to our prayer7. Send us this day, God Savitar, prosperity with progenyDrive thou the evil dream away!8. Where is that ever-youthful Steer, strong-necked and never yet bent down?What Brahman ministers to him?9. There where the mountains downward slope, there at the meeting of the streamsThe Sage was manifest by song.10. Praise Indra whom our songs must laud, sole sovran of mankind, the chiefMost liberal who controlleth men
CHAPTER II
DECADE I Indra and others
1. Indra whose jaws are strong hath drunk of worshipping Sudaksha's draught,The Soma juice with barley brew.2. O Lord of ample wealth, these songs of praise have called aloud to thee,Like milch-kine lowing to their calves!3. Then straight they recognized the mystic name of the creative Steer,There in the mansion of the Moon.4. When Indra, strongest hero, brought the streams, the mighty waters down,Pushan was standing by his side.5. The Cow, the streaming mother of the liberal Maruts, pours her milk,Harnessed to draw their chariots on.6. Come, Lord of rapturous joys, to our libation with thy bay steeds, comeWith bay steeds to the flowing juice7. Presented strengthening gifts have sent Indra away at sacrifice,With night, unto the cleansing bath.8. I from my Father have received deep knowledge of eternal Law:I was born like unto the Sun.9. With Indra splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things, wherewith,Wealthy in food, we may rejoice10. Soma and Pushan, kind to him who travels to the Gods, provideDwellings all happy and secure.
DECADE II Indra
1. Invite ye Indra with a song to drink your draught of Soma steeds, juice,All-conquering Satakratu, most munificent of all who live2. Sing ye a song, to make him glad, to Indra, Lord of tawnyThe Soma-drinker, O my friends!3. This, even this, O Indra, we implore: as thy devoted friendsThe Kanvas praise thee with their hymns!4. For Indra, lover of carouse, loud be our songs about the juiceLet poets sing the song of praise.5. Here, Indra, is thy Soma draught, made pure upon the sacred grass:Run hither, come and drink thereof6. As a good cow to him who milks, we call the doer of good deedsTo our assistance duy by day.7. Hero, the Soma being shed, I pour the juice for thee to drinkSate thee and finish thy carouse!8. The Soma, Indra, which is shed in saucers and in cups for thee,Drink thou, for thou art lord thereof!9. In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,Indra, the mightiest of all.10. O come ye hither, sit ye down: to Indra sing ye forth your song,Companions, bringing hymns of praise
DECADE III Indra
1. So, Lord of affluent gifts, this juice hath been expressed for thee with strength:Drink of it, thou who lovest song!2. Great is our Indra from of old; greatness be his, the ThundererWide as the heaven extends his might.3. Indra, as one with mighty arm, gather for us with thy right handManifold and nutritious spoil!4. Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the kine,The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.5. With what help will he come to us, wonderful, ever-waxing friend?With what most mighty company?6. Thou speedest down to succour us this ever-conquering God of yoursHim who is drawn to all our songs.7. To the assembly's wondrous Lord, the lovely friend of Indra, IHad prayed for wisdom and successs.8. May all thy paths beneath the sky whereby thou speddest Vyasva on,Yea, let all spaces hear our voice9. Bring to us all things excellent, O Satakratu, food and strength,For, Indra, thou art kind to us!10. Here is the Soma ready pressed: of this the Maruts, yea, of this,Self-luminous the Asvins drink.
DECADE IV Indra and others
1. Tossing about, the active ones came nigh to Indra at his birth,Winning themselves heroic might.2. Never, O Gods, do we offend, nor are we ever obstinateWe walk as holy texts command.3. Evening is come: sing loudly thou Atharvan's nobly singing son:Give praise to Savitar the God!4. Now Morning with her earliest light shines forth, dear daughter of the Sky:High, Asvins, I extol your praise.5. Armed with the bones of dead Dadhyach, Indra, with unresisted mightThe nine-and-ninety Vritras slew.6. Come, Indra, and delight thee with the juice at all our Soma feasts,Protector, mighty in thy strength7. O thou who slayest Vritras, come, O Indra, hither to our side,Mighty one, with thy mighty aids!8. That might of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, likeA skin, the worlds of heaven and earth,9. This is thine own Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:Thou carest, too, for this our prayer.10. May Vata breathe his balm on us, healthful, delightful to our heart:May he prolong our days of life
DECADE V Indra and others
1. Ne'er is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra, Aryam.The excellently wise, protect.2. According to our wish for kine, for steeds and chariots, as of old,Be gracious to our wealthy chiefs3. Indra, these spotted cows yield thee their butter and the milky draught,Aiders, thereby, of sacrifice.4. That thou much-lauded! many-named! mayst, with this thought, that longs for milk,Come to each Soma sacrifice.5. May bright Sarasvati, endowed with plenteous wealth and spoil, enrichedWith prayer, desire the sacrifice.6. Why 'mid the Nahusha tribes shall sate this Indra with his Soma juice?He shall bring precious things to us.7. Come, we have pressed the juice for thee; O Indra, drink this Soma here:Sit thou on this my sacred grass8. Great, unassailable must be the heavenly favour of the Three,Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.9. We, Indra, Lord of ample wealth, our guide, depend on one like thee,Thou driver of the tawny steeds!
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