HYMN XLIII. Visvedevas.
1. MAY the Milch-cows who hasten to their object come harmless unto us with liquid sweetness.
The Singer, lauding, calls, for ample riches, the Seven Mighty Ones who bring enjoyment.
2. With reverence and fair praise will I bring hither, for sake of strength, exhaustless Earth and Heaven.
Father and Mother, sweetof speech, fairhanded, may they, far-famed, in every fight protect us.
3. Adhvaryus, make the sweet libations ready, and bring the beautiful bright juice to Vayu.
God, as our Priest, be thou the first to drink it: we give thee of the mead to make thee joyful.
4. Two arms-the Soma’s dexterous immo. lators-and the ten fingers set and fix the press-stone.
The stalk hath poured, fair with its spreading branches, the mead’s bright glittering juice that dwells on mountains.
5. The Soma hath been pressed for thee, its lover, to give thee power and might and high enjoyment.
Invoked, turn hither in thy car, O Indra, at need, thy two well-trained and dear Bay Horses.
6. Bring by God-traversed paths, accordant, Agni, the great Aramati, Celestial Lady,
Exalted, worshipped with our gifts and homage, who knoweth holy Law, to drink sweet Soma.
7. As on his father’s lap the son, the darling, so on the fire is set the sacred caldron,
Which holy singers deck, as if extending and heating that which holds the fatty membrane.
8. Hither, as herald to invite the Asvins, come the great lofty song, most sweet and pleasant!
Come in one car, joy-givers! to the banquet, like the bolt binding pole and nave, come hither.
9. I have declared this speech of adoration to mightiest Pusan and victorious Vayu,
Who by their bounty are the hymns’ inspirers, and of themselves give power as a possession.
10. Invoked by us bring hither, jatavedas the Maruts all under their names and figures.
Come to the sacrifice with aid all Maruts, all to the songs and praises of the singer!
11. From high heaven may Sarasvati the Holy visit our sacrifice, and from the mountain.
Eager, propitious, may the balmy Goddess hear our effectual speech, our invocation.
12. Set in his seat the God whose back is dusky, Brhaspati the lofty, the Disposer.
Him let us worship, set within the dwelling, the red, the golden-hued, the allresplendent.
13. May the Sustainer, high in heaven, come hither, the Bounteous One, invoked, with all his favours,
Dweller with Dames divine, with plants, unwearied, the Steer with triple horn, the life-bestower.
14. The tuneful eloquent priests of him who liveth have sought the Mother’s bright and loftiest station.
As living men, with offered gifts and homage they deck the most auspicious Child to clothe him.
15. Agni, great vital power is thine, the mighty: pairs waxing old in their devotion seek thee.
May every Deity be swift to listen, and Mother Earth with no ill thought regard me.
16. Gods, may we dwell in free untroubled bliss.
17. May we obtain the Asvins’ newest favour, and gain their health-bestowing happy guidance.
Bring riches hither unto us, and heroes, and all felicity and joy, Immortals!
HYMN XLIV. Visvedevas.
1. As in the first old times, as all were wont, as now, he draweth forth the power turned hitherward with song,
The Princedom throned on holy grass, who findeth light, swift, conquering in the’ plants wherein he waxeth strong.
2. Shining to him who leaves heaven’s regions undisturbed, which to his sheen who is beneath show fair in light,
Good guardian art thou, not to be deceived, Most Wise! Far from deceits thy name dwelleth in holy Law.
3. Truth waits upon oblation present and to come: naught checks him in his way, this vic tory- bringing Priest:
The Mighty Child who glides along the sacred grass, the undecaying Youth set in the midst of plants.
4. These come, well-yoked, to you for furtherance in the rite: down come the twinborn strengtheners of Law for him,
With reins easily guided and commanding all. In the deep fall the hide stealeth away their names.
5. Thou, moving beauteously in visibly pregnant ones, snatching with trees the branching plant that grasps the juice,
Shinest, true Singer! mid the upholders of the voice. Increase thy Consorts thou, lively at sacrifice.
6. Like as he is beheld such is he said to be.
They with effectual splendour in the floods have made
Earth yield us room enough and amply wide extent, great might invincible, with store of hero sons.
7. Surya the Sage, as if unwedded, with a Spouse, in battle-loving spirit moveth o’er the foes.
May he, self-excellent, grant us a sheltering home, a house that wards the fierce heat off on every side.
8. Thy name, sung forth by Rsis in these hymns of ours, goes to the loftier One with this swift mover’s light.
By skill he wins the boon whereon his heart is set: he who bestirs himself shall bring the thing to pass.
9. The chief and best of these abideth in the sea, nor doth libation fail wherein it is prolonged.
The heart of him who praiseth trembleth not in fear there where the hymn is found connected with the pure.
10. For it is he: with though to of Ksatra, Manasa, of Yajata, and Sadhri, and Evavada,
With Avatsara’s sweet songs will we strive to win the mightiest strength which even he who knows should gain.
11. The Hawk is their full source, girth-stretching rapturous drink of Visvavara, of Mayin, and Yajata.
They ever seek a fresh draught so that they may come, know when thy time to halt and drink thy fill is near.
12. Sadaprna the holy, Tarya, Srutavit, and Bahuvrkta, joined with you, have slain the foes.
He gains his wish in both the worlds and brightly shines-when he adores the host with well-advancing steeds.
13. The worshipper’s defender is Sutambhara, producer and uplifter of all holy thoughts.
The milch-cow brought, sweet-flavoured milk was dealt around. Who speaks the bidding text knows this, not he who sleeps.
11. The sacred hymns love him who wakes and watches: to him who watches come the Sama verses.
This Soma saith unto the man who watches, I rest and have my dwelling in thy friendship.
15. Agni is watchful, and the gcas love him; Agni is watchful, Sama verses seek him.
Agni is watchful, to him saith this Soma, I rest and have my dwelling in thy friendship.
HYMN XLV. Visvedevas.
1. BARDS of approaching Dawn who know the heavens are come with hymns to throw the mountain open.
The Sun hath risen and oped the stable portals: the doors of men, too, hath the God thrown open.
2. Surya hath spread his light as splendour: hither came the Cows’ Mother, conscious, from the stable,
To streams that flow with biting waves to deserts; and heaven is stablished like a firm-set pillar.
3. This laud hath won the burden of the mountain. To aid the ancient birth of mighty waters
The mountain parted, Heaven performed his office. The worshippers were worn with constant serving.
4. With hymns and God-loved words will I invoke you, Indra and Agni, to obtain your favour,
For verily sages, skilled in sacrificing, worship the Maruts and with lauds invite them.
5. This day approach us: may our thoughts be holy, far from us let us cast away misfortune.
Let us keep those who hate us at a distance, and haste to meet the man who sacrifices.
6. Come, let us carry out, O friends, the purpose wherewith the Mother threw the Cow’s stall open,
That wherewith Manu conquered Visisipra, wherewith the wandering merchant gained heaven’s water.
7. Here, urged by hands, loudly hath rung the press-stone wherewith Navagvas through ten months sang praises.
Sarama went aright and found the cattle. Angiras gave effect to all their labours.
8. When at the dawning of this mighty Goddess, Angirases all sang forth with the cattle,-
Their spring is in the loftiest place of meeting,-Sarama found the kine by Order’s pathway.
9. Borne by his Coursers Seven may Surya visit the field that spreadeth wide for his long journey.
Down on the Soma swooped the rapid Falcon. Bright was the young Sage moving mid his cattle.
10. Surya hath mounted to the shining ocean when he hath yoked his fair-backed Tawny Horses.
The wise have drawn him like a ship through water: the floods obedient have descended hither.
11. I lay upon the Floods your hymn, lightwinning, wherewith Navagvas their ten months completed.
Through this our hymn may we have Gods to guard us: through this our hymn pass safe beyond affliction.
HYMN XLVI. Visvedevas.
1. WELL knowing I have bound me, horselike, to the pole: I carry that which bears as on and gives us help.
I seek for no release, no turning back therefrom. May he who knows the way, the Leader, guide me straight.
2. O Agni, Indra, Varuna, and Mitra, give, O ye Gods, and Marut host, and Visnu.
May both Nasatyas, Rudra, heavenly Matrons, Pusan, Sarasvati, Bhaga, accept us.
3. Indra and Agni, Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the Waters, Mountains, Maruts, Sky, and Earth and Heaven,
Visnu I call, Pusan, and Brahmanaspati, and Bhaga, Samsa, Savitar that they may help.
4. May Visnu also and Vata who injures none, and Soma granter of possessions give us joy;
And may the Rbhus and the Asvins, Tvastar and Vibhvan remember us so that we may have wealth.
5. So may the band of Maruts dwelling in the sky, the holy, come to us to sit on sacred grass;
Brhaspati and Pusan grant us sure defence, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman guard and shelter us.
6. And may the Mountains famed in noble eulogies, and the fair-gleaming Rivers keep us safe from harm.
May Bhaga the Dispenser come with power and grace, and far-pervading Aditi listen to my call.
7. May the Gods’ Spouses aid us of their own freewill, aid us to offspring and the winning of the spoil.
Grant us protection, O ye gracious Goddesses, ye who are on the earth or in the waters’ realm.
8. May the Dames, wives of Gods, enjoy our presents, Rat, Asvini, Agnayi, and Indrani.
May Rodasi and Varunani hear us, and Goddesses come at the Matrons’ season.
HYMN XLVII. Visvedevas.
1. URGING to toil and making proclamation, seeking Heaven’s Daughter comes the Mighty Mother:
She comes, the youthful Hymn, unto the Fathers, inviting to her home and loudly calling.
2. Swift in their motion, hasting to their duty, reaching the central point of life immortal,
On every side about the earth and heaven go forth the spacious paths without a limit.
3. Steer, Sea, Red Bird with strong wings, he hath entered the dwelling-place of the Primeval Father.
A gay-hued Stone set in the midst of heaven, he hath gone forth and guards mid-air’s two limits.
4. Four bear him up and give him rest and quiet, and ten invigorate the Babe for travel.
His kine most excellent, of threefold nature, pass swiftly round the boundaries of heaven.
5. Wondrous, O people, is the mystic knowledge that while the waters stand the streams are flowing:
That, separate from his Mother, Two support him, closely-united, twins, here made apparent.
6. For him they lenghten prayers and acts of worship: the Mothers weave garments for him their offspring.
Rejoicing, for the Steer’s impregning contact, his Spouses move on paths or heaven to meet him.
7. Be this our praise, O Varuna and Mitra may this be health and force to us, O Agni.
May we obtain firm ground and room for resting: Glory to Heaven, the lofty habitation!
HYMN XLVIII. Visvedevas.
1. WHAT may we meditate for the beloved Power, mighty in native strength and glorious in itself,
Which as a magic energy seeking waters spreads even to theimmeasurable middle region’s cloud?
2. O’er all the region with their uniform advance these have spread out the lore that giveth heroes strength.
Back, with their course reversed, the others pass away: the pious lengthens life with those that are before.
3. With pressing-stones and with the bright beams of the day he hurls his broadest bolt against the Guileful One.
Even he whose hundred wander in his own abode, driving the days afar and bringing them again.
4. I, to enjoy the beauty of his form, behold that rapid rush of his as ’twere an axe’s edge,
What time he gives the man who calls on him in fight wealth like a dwelling-house filled full with store of food.
5. Four-faced and nobly clad, Varuna, urging on the pious to his task, stirs himself with the tongue.
Naught by our human nature do we know of him, him from whom Bhaga Savitar bestows the boon.
HYMN XLIX. Visvedevas.
1. THIS day I bring God Savitar to meet you, and Bhaga who allots the wealth of mortals.
You, Asvins, Heroes rich in treasures, daily seeking your friendship fain would I turn hither.
2. Knowing full well the Asura’s time of coming, worship God Savitar with hymns and praises.
Let him who rightly knoweth speak with homage to him who dealeth out man’s noblest treasure.
3. Not for reward doth Pusan send his blessings, Bhaga, or Aditi: his garb is splendour.
May Indra, Visniu, Varuna, Mitra, Agni produce auspicious days, the Wonder-Workers.
4. Sending the shelter which we ask, the foeless Savitar and the Rivers shall approach us.
When I, the sacrifice’s priest, invite them, may we he lords of wealth and rich possessions.
5. They who devote such worship to the Vasus, singing their hymns to Varuna and Mitra,
Vouchsafe them ample room, far off be danger. Through grace of Heaven and Earth may we be happy.
