HYMN XVI. Indra.
1. LET thy Bay Steeds bring thee, the Strong, hither to drink the Soma draught-
Those, Indra, who are bright as suns.
2. Here are the grains bedewed with oil: hither let the Bay Coursers bring
Indra upon his easiest car.
3. Indra at early morn we call, Indra in course of sacrifice,
Indra to drink the Soma juice.
4. Come hither, with thy long-maned Steeds, O Indra, to- the draught we pour
We call thee wher, the juice is shed.
5. Come thou to this our song of praise, to the libation poured for thee
Drink of it like a stag athirst.
6. Here are the drops of Soma juice expressed on sacred grass: thereof
Drink, Indra, to increase thy might.
7. Welcome to thee be this our hymn, reaching thy heart, most excellent:
Then drink the Soma juice expressed.
8. To every draught of pressed-out juice Indra, the Vrtra-slayer, comes,
To drink the Soma for delight.
9. Fulfil, O Satakratu, all our wish with horses and with kine:
With holy thoughts we sing thy praise.
HYMN XVII Indra-Varuna
1 I CRAVE help from the Imperial Lords, from Indra-Varuna; may they
Both favour one of us like me.
2. Guardians of men, ye ever come with ready succour at the call
Of every singer such as I.
3. Sate you, according to your wish, O Indra-Varuna, with wealth:
Fain would we have you nearest us.
4. May we be sharers of the powers, sharers of the benevolence
Of you who give strength bounteously.
5. Indra and Varuna, among givers of thousands, meet for praise,
Are Powers who merit highest laud.
6. Through their protection may we gain great store of wealth, and heap it up
Enough and still to spare, be ours.
7. O Indra-Varuna, on you for wealth in many a form I call:
Still keep ye us victorious.
8. O Indra-Varuna, – through our songs that seek to win you to ourselves,
Give us at once your sheltering help.
9. O Indra-Varuna, to you may fair praise which I offer come,
joint eulogy which ye dignify.
HYMN XVIII. Brahmanaspati.
1. O BRAHMANAPSATI, make him who presses Soma glorious,
Even Kaksivan Ausija.
2. The rich, the healer of disease, who giveth wealth, increaseth store,
The prompt,-may he be with us still.
3. Let not the foeman’s curse, let not a mortal’s onslaught fall on us
Preserve us, Brahmanaspati.
4. Ne’er is the mortal hero harmed whom Indra, Brahmanaspati,
And Soma graciously inspire.
5. Do, thou, O Brahmanaspati, and Indra, Soma, Daksina,
Preserve that mortal from distress.
6. To the Assembly’s wondrous Lord, to Indra’s lovely Friend who gives
Wisdom, have I drawn near in prayer.
7. He without whom no sacrifice, e’en of the wise man, prospers; he
Stirs up the series of thoughts.
8. He makes the oblation prosper, he promotes the course of sacrifice:
Our voice of praise goes to the Gods.
9. I have seen Narasamsa, him most resolute, most widely famed,
As ’twere the Household Priest of heaven.
HYMN XIX. Agni, Maruts.
1. To this fair sacrifice to drink the milky draught thou art invoked:
O Agni, with the Maruts come.
2. No mortal man, no God exceeds thy mental power, O Mighty one –
O Agni, with the Maruts come
3. All Gods devoid of guile, who know the mighty region of mid-air:
O Agni, with those Maruts come.
4. The terrible, who sing their song, not to be overcome by might:
O Agni, with those Maruts come.
5. Brilliant, and awful in their form, mighty, devourers of their foes’:
O Agni, with those Maruts come.
6. Who sit as Deities in heaven, above the sky-vault’s luminous sphere:
O Agni, with those Maruts come.
7. Who scatter clouds about the sky, away over the billowy sea:
O Agni, with those Maruts come.
8. Who with their bright beams spread them forth over the ocean in their might
O Agni, with those Maruts come.
9. For thee, to be thine early draught, I pour the Soma-mingled meath:
O Agni, with the Maruts come.
