HYMN XXIII. Vayu and Others.
1. STRONG are the Somas; come thou nigh; these juices have been mixt with milk:
Drink, Vayu, the presented draughts.
2. Both Deities who touch the heaven, Indra and Vayu we invoke
To drink of this our soma juice.
3. The singers’ for their aid, invoke Indra and Vayu, swift as mind,
The thousand-eyed, the Lords of thought.
4. Mitra and Varupa, renowned as Gods of consecrated might,
We call to drink the Soma juice.
5. Those who by Law uphold the Law, Lords of the shining light of Law,
Mitra I call, and Varuna.
6. Let Varuna be our chief defence, let Mitra guard us with all aids
Both make us rich exceedingly.
7. Indra, by Maruts girt, we call to drink the Soma juice: may he
Sate him in union with his troop.
8. Gods, Marut hosts whom Indra leads, distributers of Pusan’s gifts,
Hearken ye all unto my cry.
9. With conquering Indra for ally, strike Vrtra down, ye bounteous Gods
Let not the wicked master us.
10. We call the Universal Gods, and Maruts to the Soma draught,
For passing strong are Prsni’s Sons.
11. Fierce comes the Maruts’ thundering voice, like that of conquerors, when ye go
Forward to victory, O Men.
12. Born of the laughing lightning. may the Maruts guard us everywhere
May they be gracious unto Us.
13. Like some lost animal, drive to us, bright Pusan, him who bears up heaven,
Resting on many-coloured grass.
14. Pusan the Bright has found the King, concealed and bidden in a cave,
Who rests on grass of many hues.
15. And may he. duly bring to me the six bound closely, through these drops,
As one who ploughs with steers brings corn.
16. Along their paths the Mothers go, Sisters of priestly ministrants,
Mingling their sweetness with the milk.
17. May Waters gathered near the Sun, and those wherewith the Sun is joined,
Speed forth this sacrifice of ours.
18. I call the Waters, Goddesses, wherein our cattle quench their thirst;
Oblations to the Streams be given.
19. Amrit is in the Waters in the Waters there is healing balm
Be swift, ye Gods, to give them praise.
20. Within the Waters-Soma thus hath told me-dwell all balms that heal,
And Agni, he who blesseth all. The Waters hold all medicines.
21. O Waters, teem with medicine to keep my body safe from harm,
So that I long may see the Sun.
22. Whatever sin is found in me, whatever evil I have wrought.
If I have lied or falsely sworn, Waters, remove it far from me.
23. The Waters I this day have sought, and to their moisture have we come:
O Agni, rich in milk, come thou, and with thy splendour cover me.
24. Fill me with splendour, Agni; give offspring and length of days; the Gods
Shall know me even as I am, and Indra with the Rsis, know.
HYMN XXIV. Varuna and Others.
1. WHO now is he, what God among Immortals, of whose auspicious name we may bethink us?
Who shall to mighty Aditi restore us, that I may see my Father and my Mother?
2. Agni the God the first among the Immortals, – of his auspicious name let us bethink us.
He shall to mighty Aditi restore us, that I may see my Father and my Mother.
3. To thee, O Savitar, the Lord of precious things, who helpest us
Continually, for our share we come-
4. Wealth, highly lauded ere reproach hath fallen on it, which is laid,
Free from all hatred, in thy hands
5. Through thy protection may we come to even the height of affluence
Which Bhaga hath dealt out to us.
6. Ne’er have those birds that fly through air attained to thy high dominion or thy might or spirit;
Nor these the waters that flow on for ever, nor hills, abaters of the wind’s wild fury.
7. Varuna, King, of hallowed might, sustaineth erect the Tree’s stem in the baseless region.
Its rays, whose root is high above, stream downward. Deep may they sink within us, and be hidden.
8. King Varuna hath made a spacious pathway, a pathway for the Sun wherein to travel.
Where no way was he made him set his footstep, and warned afar whate’er afflicts the spirit.
9. A hundred balms are thine, O King, a thousand; deep and wide-reaching also be thy favours.
Far from us, far away drive thou Destruction. Put from us e’en the sin we have committed.
10. Whither by day depart the constellations that shine at night, set high in heaven above us?
Varuna’s holy laws remain unweakened, and through the night the Moon moves on in splendor
11. I ask this of thee with my prayer adoring; thy worshipper craves this with his oblation.
Varuna, stay thou here and be not angry; steal not our life from us, O thou Wide-Ruler.
12. Nightly and daily this one thing they tell me, this too the thought of mine own heart repeateth.
May he to whom prayed fettered Sunahsepa, may he the Sovran Varuna release us.
13. Bound to three pillars captured Sunahsepa thus to the Aditya made his supplication.
Him may the Sovran Varuna deliver, wise, ne’er deccived, loosen the bonds that bind him.
14. With bending down, oblations, sacrifices, O Varuna, we deprecate thine anger:
Wise Asura, thou King of wide dominion, loosen the bonds of sins by us committed.
15. Loosen the bonds, O Varuna, that hold me, loosen the bonds above, between, and under.
So in thy holy law may we made sinless belong to Aditi, O thou Aditya.
