HYMN XLI. Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.
1. NE’ER is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman,
The excellently wise, protect.
2. He prospers ever, free from scathe, whom they, as with full hands, enrich,
Whom they preserve from every foe.
3. The Kings drive far away from him his troubles and his enemies,
And lead him safely o’er distress.
4. Thornless, Adityas, is the path, easy for him who seeks the Law:
With him is naught to anger you.
5. What sacrifice, Adityas, ye Heroes guide by the path direct,-
May that come nigh unto your thought.
6. That mortal, ever unsubdued, gains wealth and every precious thing,
And children also of his own.
7. How, my friends, shall we prepare Aryaman’s and Mitra’s laud,
Glorious food of Varuna?
8. I point not out to you a man who strikes the pious, or reviles:
Only with hymns I call you nigh.
9. Let him not love to speak ill words: but fear the One who holds all four
Within his hand, until they fall.
HYMN XLII. Pusan.
I. SHORTEN our ways, O Pusan, move aside obstruction in the path:
Go close before us, cloud-born God.
2. Drive, Pusan, from our road the wolf, the wicked inauspicious wolf,
Who lies in Wait to injure us.
3. Who lurks about the path we take, the robber with a guileful heart:
Far from the road chase him away.
4. Tread with thy foot and trample out the firebrand of the wicked one,
The double-tongued, whoe’er he be.
5. Wise Pusan, Wonder-Worker, we claim of thee now the aid wherewith
Thou furtheredst our sires of old.
6. So, Lord of all prosperity, best wielder of the golden sword,
Make riches easy to be won.
7. Past all pursuers lead us, make pleasant our path and fair to tread:
O Pusan, find thou power for this.
8. Lead us to meadows rich in grass: send on our way no early heat:
O Pusan, find thou power for this.
9. Be gracious to us, fill us full, give, feed us, and invigorate:
O Pusan, find thou power for this.
10. No blame have we for Pusan; him we magnify with songs of praise:
We seek the Mighty One for wealth.
HYMN XLIII. Rudra.
1. WHAT shall we sing to Rudra, strong, most bounteous, excellently wise,
That shall be dearest to his heart?
2. That Aditi may grant the grace of Rudra to our folk, our kine,
Our cattle and our progeny;
3. That Mitra and that Varuna, that Rudra may remember us,
Yea, all the Gods with one accord.
4. To Rudra Lord of sacrifice, of hymns and balmy medicines,
We pray for joy and health and strength.
5. He shines in splendour like the Sun, refulgent as bright gold is he,
The good, the best among the Gods.
6. May he grant health into our steeds, wellbeing to our rams and ewes,
To men, to women, and to kine.
7. O Soma, set thou upon us the glory of a hundred men,
The great renown of mighty chiefs.
8. Let not malignities, nor those who trouble Soma, hinder us.
Indu, give us a share of strength.
9. Soma! head, central point, love these; Soma! know these as serving thee,
Children of thee Immortal, at the highest place of holy law.
HYMN XLIV. Agni.
I. IMMORTAL Jatavedas, thou many-hued fulgent gift of Dawn,
Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn.
2. For thou art offering-bearer and loved messenger, the charioteer of sacrifice:
Accordant with the Asvins and with Dawn grant us heroic strength and lofty fame.
3. As messenger we choose to-day Agni the good whom many love,
Smoke-bannered spreader of the light, at break of day glory of sacrificial rites.
4. Him noblest and most youthful, richly worshipped guest, dear to the men who offer gifts,
Him, Agni Jatavedas, I beseech at dawn that he may bring the Gods to us.
5. Thee, Agni, will I glorify, deathless nourisher of the world,
Immortal, offering-bearer, meet for sacred food, preserver, best at sacrifice.
6. Tell good things to thy praiser, O most youthful God, as richly worshipped, honey-tongued,
And, granting to Praskanva lengthened days of life, show honour to the Heavenly Host.
7. For the men, Agni, kindle thee as all possessor and as Priest;
So Agni, much-invoked, bring hither with all speed the Gods, the excellently wise,
8. At dawn of day, at night, Usas and Savitar, the Asvins, Bhaga, Agni’s self:
Skilled in fair rites, with Soma poured, the Kanvas light thee, the oblation-wafting God.
.For, Agni, Lord of sacrifice and messenger of men art thou:
Bring thou the Gods who wake at dawn who see the light, this day to drink the Soma juice.
10. Thou shonest forth, O Agni, after former dawns, all visible, O rich in light.
Thou art our help in battle-strife, the Friend of inan, the great high priest in sacrifice.
11. Like Manu, we will stablish thee, Agni, performer of the rite,
Invoker, ministering Priest, exceeding wise, the swift immortal messenger.
12. When as the Gods’ High Priest, by many loved, thou dost their mission as their nearest Friend,
Then, like the far-resounding billows of the flood, thy flames, O Agni, roar aloud.
13. Heat-, Agni, who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods;
Let Mitra, Aryaman,- seeking betimes our rite, seat them upon the sacred grass.
14. Let those who strengthen Law, who bountiUly give, the life-tongued Maruts, hear our praise.
May Law-supporting Varuna with the Asvins twain and Usas, drink the Soma juice.
