HYMN IV. Indra.
1. THOUGH, Indra, thou art called by men eastward and westward, north and south,
Thou chiefly art with Anava and Turvasa, brave Champion I urged by men to Come.
2. Or, Indra, when with Ruma, Rusama, Syavaka, and Krpa thou rejoicest thee,
Still do the Kanvas, bringing praises, with their prayers, O Indra, draw thee hither: come.
3. Even as the wild-bull, when he thirsts, goes to the desert’s watery pool,
Come hither quickly both at morning and at eve, and with the Kanvas drink thy fill.
4. May the drops gladden thee, rich Indra, and obtain bounty for him who pours the juice.
Soma pressed in the mortar didst thou take and drink, and hence hast won surpassing might.
5. With mightier strength he conquered strength, with energy he crushed their wrath.
O Indra, Strong in youth, all those who sought the fray bent and bowed down to thee like trees.
6. He who wins promise of thine aid goes girt as with a thousand mighty men of war.
He makes his son preeminent in hero might – he serves with reverential prayer.
7. With thee, the Mighty, for our Friend, we will riot fear or feel fatigue.
May we see Turvasa and Yadu: thy great deed, O Hero, must be glorified.
8. On his left hip the Hero hath reclined himself: the proffered feast offends him not.
The milk is blended with the honey of the bee: quickly come hither, baste, and drink.
9. Indra, thy friend is fair of form and rich in horses, cars, and kine.
He evermore hath food accompanied by wealth, and radiant joins the company.
10. Come like a thirsty antelope to the drinking-place: drink Soma to thy heart’s desire.
Raining it down, O Maghavan, day after day, thou gainest thy surpassing might.
11. Priest, let the Soma juice flow forth, for Indra longs to drink thereof.
He even now hath yoked his vigorous Bay Steeds: the Vrtra-slayer hath come near.
12. The man with whom thou fillcst thee with Soma deems himself a pious worshipper.
This thine appropriate food is here poured out for thee: come, hasten forward. drink of it,
13. Press out the Soma juice, ye priests, for Indra borne upon his car.
The pressing-stones speak loud of Indra, while they shed the juice which, offered, honours him.
14. To the brown juice may his dear vigorous Bay Steeds bring Indra, to our holy task.
Hither let thy Car-steeds who seek the sacrifice bring thee to our drink-offerings.
15. Pusan, the Lord of ample wealth, for firm alliance we elect.
May he with wisdom, Sakra! Looser! Much-invoked! aid us to riches and to seed.
16. Sharpen us like a razor in the barber’s hands: send riches thou who settest free.
Easy to find with thee are treasures of the Dawn for mortal man whom thou dost speed.
17. Pusan, I long to win thy love, I long to praise thee, Radiant God.
Excellent Lord, ’tis strange tome, no wish have I to sing the psalm that Pajra sings.
18. My kine, O Radiant God, seek pasture where they will, my during wealth, Immortal One.
Be our protector, Pusan! be, most liberal Lord, propitious to our gathering strength.
19. Rich was the gift Kurunga gave, a hundred steeds at morning rites.
Among the gifts of Turvasas we thought of him, the opulent, the splendid King.
20. What by his morning songs Kanva, the powerful, hath, with the Priyamedhas, gained-
71 The herds of sixty thousand pure and spotless kine, have I, the Rsi, driven away.
21 The very trees were joyful at my coming: kine they obtained in plenty, steeds in plenty.
HYMN V. Asvins.
1. WHEN, even as she were present here, red Dawn hath shone from far away,
She spreadeth light on every side.
2. Like Heroes on your will-yoked car farshining, Wonder-Workers! ye
Attend, O Asvins, on the Dawn.
3. By you, O Lords of ample wealth our songs of praise have been observed:
As envoy have I brought the prayer.
4. Kanvas must praise the Asvins dear to many, making many glad,
Most rich, that they may succour us.
5. Most liberal, best at winning strength, inciters, Lords of splendour who
Visit the worshipper’s abode.
6. So for devout Sudeva dew with fatness his unfailing mead,
And make it rich for sacrifice.
7. Hitherward running speedily with horses, as with rapid hawks,
Come, Asvins, to our song of praise
8. Wherewith the three wide distances, and all the lights that are in heaven.
Ye traverse, and three times of night.
9. O Finders of the Day, that we may win us food of kine and wealth,
Open the paths for us to tread.
10. O Asvins, bring us wealth in kine, in noble heroes, and in cars:
Bring us the strength that horses give.
11. Ye Lords of splendour, glorified, ye Wonder-Workers borne on paths
Of gold, drink sweets with Somajuice.
12. To us, ye Lords of ample wealth, and to our wealth chiefs extend
Wide shelter, ne’er to be assailed.
13. Come quickly downward to the prayer of people whom ye favour most:
Approach not unto other folk.
14. Ye Asvins whom our minds perceive, drink of this lovely gladdening draught,
The mcath which we present to you.
15. Bring riches hither unto us in hundreds and in thousands, source
Of plenteous food, sustaining all.
16. Verily sages call on you, ye Heroes, in full many a place.
Moved by the priests, O Asvins, conic.
17. Men who have trimmed the sacred grass, bringing oblations and prepared,
O Asvins, are invoking you.
18. May this our hymn of praise to-day, most powerful to bring you, be,
O Asvins, nearest to your hearts.
19. The skin filled full of savoury meath, laid in the pathway of your car-
O Asvins, drink ye both therefrom.
20. For this, ye Lords of ample wealth, bring blessing for our herd, our kine,
Our progeny, and plenteous food.
21. Ye too unclose to us like doors the strengthening waters of the sky,
And rivers, ye who find the day.
22. When did the son of’ Tugra serve you, Men? Abandoned in the sea,
That with winged steeds your car might fly.
23. Ye, O Nasatyas, ministered to Kanva with repeated aid,
When cast into the heated pit.
24. Come near with those most recent aids of yours which merit eulogy,
When I invoke you, Wealthy Gods.
25. As ye protected Kanva erst, Priyamedha and Upastuta,
Atri, Sinjara, Asvins Twain
26. And Amsu in decisive fight, Agastya in the fray for kine.
And, in his battles, Sobhari.
27. For so much bliss, or even more, O Asvins, Wealthy Gods, than this,
We pray white singing hymns to you.
28. Ascend your car with golden seat, O Asvins, and with reins of gold,
That reaches even to the sky.
29. Golden is its supporting shaft, the axle also is of gold,
And both the wheels are made of gold.
30. Thereon, ye Lords of ample wealth, come to us even from afar,
Come ye to this mine eulogy.
31. From far away ye come to us, Asvins, enjoying plenteous food
Of Dasas, O Immortal Ones.
32. With splendour, riches, and renown, O Asvins, hither come to us,
Nasatyas, shining brilliantly.
33. May dappled horses, steeds who fly with pinions, bring you hitherward
To people skilled in sacrifice.
34. The whcel delayeth not that car of yours accompanied by song,
That cometh with a store of food.
35. Borne on that chariot wrought of gold, with coursers very fleet of foot,
Come, O Nasatyas, swift as thought.
36. O Wealthy Gods, ye taste and find the brisk and watchful wild beast good.
Associate wealth with food for us.
37. As such, O Asvins, find for me my share of new-presented gifts,
As Kasu, Cedi’s son, gave me a hundred head of buffaloes, and ten thousand kine.
38. He who hath given me for mine own ten Kings like gold to look upon.
At Caidya’s feet are all the people round about, all those who think upon the shield.
39. No man, not any, goes upon the path on which the Cedis walk.
No other prince, no folk is held more liberal of gifts than they.
HYMN VI Indra
1. INDRA, great in his power and might, and like Parjanya rich in rain,
Is magnified by Vatsa’s lauds.
2. When the priests, strengthening the Son of Holy Law, present their gifts,
Singers with Order’s hymn of praiser.
3. Since Kanvas with their lauds have made Indra complete the sacrifice.
Words are their own appropriate arms.
4. Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men, bow down,
As rivers bow them to the sea.
5. This power of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, like
A skin, the worlds of heaven and earth.
6. The fiercely-moving Vrtra’s head he severed with his thunderbolt,
His mighty hundred-knotted bolt.
7. Here are-we sing them loudly forth-our thoughts among-the best of songs.
Even lightnings like the blaze of fire.
8. When bidden thoughts, spontaneously advancing, glow, and with the stream
Of sacrifice the Kanvas shine.
9. Indra, may we obtain that wealth in horses and in herds of cows,
And prayer that may be noticed first.
10. I from my Father have received deep knowledge of the Holy Law
I was born like unto the Sun.
11. After the lore of ancient time I make, like Kanva, beauteous songs,
And Indra’s selfgains strength thereby.
12. Whatever Rsis have not praised thee, Indra, or have lauded thee,
By me exalted wax thou strong.
13. When his wrath thundered, when he rent Vrtra to pieces, limb by limb,
He sent the waters to the sea.
14. Against the Dasyu gusna thou, Indra, didst hurl thy during bolt:
Thou, Dread one, hast a hero’s fame.
15. Neither the heavens nor firmaments nor regions of the earth contain
Indra, the Thunderer with his might.
16. O Indra him who lay at length staying thy copious waters thou,
In his own footsteps, smotest down
17. Thou hiddest deep in darkness itim, O Indra, who had set his grasp
On spacious heaven and earth conjoined.
18. Indra, whatever Yatis and Bhrgus have offered praise to thee,
Listen, thou Mighty, to my call.
19. Indra, these spotted cows yield thee their butter and the milky draught;
Aiders, thereby, of sacrifice;
20. Which, teeming, have received thee as a life-germ, Indra, with their mouth,
Like Surya who sustaineth all.
21. O Lord of Might, with hymns of praise the Kanvas have increased thy power,
The drops poured forth have strengthened thee.
22. Under thy guidance, Indra, mid thy praises, Lord of Thunder, shall
The sacrifice be soon performed.
23. Indra, disclose much food for us, like a stronghold with store of kine:
Give progeny and heroic strength.
24. And, Indra, grant us all that wealth of fleet steeds which shone bright of old
Among the tribes of Nahusas.
25. Hither thou seemest to attract heaven’s fold which shines before our eyes,
When, Indra, thou art kind to us.
26. Yea, when thou puttest forth thy power, Indra, thou governest the folk.
Mighty, unlimited in strength.
27. The tribes who bring oblations call to thee, to thee to give them help,
With drops to thee who spreadest far.
28. There where the mountains downward slope, there by the meeting of the streams
The Sage was manifest with song.
29. Thence, marking, from his lofty place downward he looks upon the sea,
And thence with rapid stir he moves.
30. Then, verify, they see the light refulgent of primeval seed,
Kindled on yonder side of heaven.
31. Indra, the Kanvas all exalt thy wisdom and thy manly power,
And, Mightiest! thine heroic strength.
32. Accept this eulogy of mine, Indra, and guard me carefully:
Strengthen my thought and prosper it.
33. For thee, O Mighty, Thunder-armed, we singers through devotionhave
Fashioned the hymn that we may live.
34. To Indra have the Kanvas sung, like waters speeding down a slope:
The song is fain to go to him.
35. As rivers swell the ocean, so our hymns of praise make Indra strong,
Eternal, of resistIess wrath.
36. Come with thy lovely Bay Steeds, come to us from regions far away
O Indra, drink this Soma juice.
37. Best slayer of Vrtras, men whose sacred grass is ready trimmed
Invoke thee for the gain of spoil.
38. The heavens and earth come after thee as the wheel follows Etasa:
To thee flow Sorna-drops effused.
39. Rejoice, O Indra, in the light, rejoice in Saryandyan, be Glad in the sacrificer’s hymn.
40. Grown strong in heaven, the Thunder-armed hath bellowed, Vrtra-slayer, Bull,
Chief drinker of the Soma juice.
41. Thou art a Rsi born of old, sole Ruler over all by might:
Thou, Indra, guardest well our wealth.
42. May thy Bay Steeds with beauteous backs, a hundred, bring thee to the feast,
Bring thee to these our Soma-draughts.
43. The Kanvas with their hymns of praise have magnified this ancient thought
That swells with streams of meath and oil.
44. Mid mightiest Gods let mortal man choose Indra at the sacrifice,
Indra, whoe’er would win, for help.
45. Thy steeds, by Priyamedhas praised, shall bring thee, God whom all invoke,
Hither to drink the Somajuice.
46. A hundred thousand have I gained from Parsu, from Tirindira,
And presents of the Yadavas.
47. Ten thousand head of kine, and steeds three times a hundred they bestowed
On Pajra for the Sama-song.
48. Kakuha hath reached up to heaven, bestowing buffaloes yoked in fours,
And matched in fame the Yadavas
