HYMN CLXVI. Maruts.
1. Now let us publish, for the vigorous company the herald of the Strong One, their primeval might.
With fire upon your way, O Maruts loud of voice, with battle, Mighty Ones, achieve your deeds of strength.
2. Bringing the pleasant mcath as ’twere their own dear son, they sport in sportive wise gay at their gatherings.
The Rudras come with succour to the worshipper; self-strong they fail not him who offers sacrifice.
3. To whomsoever, bringer of oblations, they immortal guardians, have given plenteous wealth,
For him, like loving friends, the Maruts bringing bliss bedew the regions round with milk abundantly.
4. Ye who with mighty powers have stirred the regions up, your coursers have sped forth directed by themselves.
All creatures of the earth, all dwellings are afraid, for brilliant is your coming with your spears advanced.
5. When they in dazzling rush have made the mountains roar, and shaken heaven’s high back in their heroic strength,
Each sovran of the forest fears as ye drive near, aid the shrubs fly before you swift as whirling wheels.
6. Terrible Maruts, ye with ne’er-diminished host, with grcat benevolence fulfil our heart’s desire.
Where’er your lightning bites armed with its gory teeth it crunches up the cattle like a well-aimed dart.
7. Givers of during gifts whose bounties never fail, free from ill-will, at sacrifices glorified,
They sing their song aloud that they may drink sweet juice: well do they know the Hero’s first heroic deeds.
8. With castles hundredfold, O Maruts, guard ye well the man whom ye have loved from ruin and from sin,-
The man whom ye the fierce, the Mighty ones who roar, preserve from calumny by cherishing his seed.
9. O Maruts, in your cars are all things that are good: great powers are set as ’twere in rivalry therein.
Rings are upon your shoulders when ye journey forth: your axle turns together both the chariot wheels.
10. Held in your manly arms are many goodly things, gold chains are on your chests, and glistering ornaments,
Deer-skins are on their shoulders, on their fellies knives: they spread their glory out as birds spread out their wings.
11. Mighty in mightiness, pervading, passing strong, visible from afar as ’twere with stars of heaven,
Lovely with pleasant tongues, sweet singers with their mouths, the Maruts, joined with Indra, shout forth all around.
12. This is your majesty, ye Maruts nobly born, far as the sway of Adid your bounty spreads.
Even Indra by desertion never disannuls the boon bestowed by you upon the pious man.
13. This is your kinship, Maruts, that, Immortals, ye were oft in olden time regardful of our call,
Having vouchsafed to man a hearing through this prayer, by wondrous deeds the Heroes have displayed their might.
14. That, O ye Maruts, we may long time flourish through your abundant riches, O swift movers,
And that our men may spread in the encampment, let me complete the rite with these oblations.
15. May this your laud, may this your song, O Maruts, sung by the poet, Mana’s son, Mandarya,
Bring offspring for ourselves with food to feed us. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXVII. Indra. Maruts.
1. A THOUSAND are thy helps for us, O Indra: a thousand, Lord of Bays, thy choice refreshments.
Wealth of a thousand sorts hast thou to cheer us: may precious goods come nigh to us in thousands.
2. May the most sapient Maruts, with protection, with best boons brought from lofty heaven, approach us,
Now when their team of the most noble horses speeds even on the sea’s extremest limit.
3. Close to them clings one moving in seclusion, like a man’s wife, like a spear carried rearward,
Well grasped, bright, decked with gold there is Vak also, like to a courtly, eloquent dame, among them.
4. Far off the brilliant, never-weary Maruts cling to the young Maid as a joint possession.
The fierce Gods drave not Rodasi before them, but wished for her to grow their friend and fellow.
5. When chose immortal Rodasi to follow- she with loose tresses and heroic spirit-
She climbed her servant’s chariot, she like Surya with cloud-like motion and refulgent aspect.
6. Upon their car the young men set the Maiden wedded to glory, mighty in assemblies,
When your song, Maruts, rose, and, with oblation, the Soma-pourer sang his hymn in worship.
7. I will declare the greatness of these Maruts, their real greatness, worthy to be lauded,
How, with them, she though firm, strong-minded, haughty, travels to women happy in their fortune.
8. Mitra and Varuna they guard from censure: Aryaman too, discovers worthless sinners Firm things are overthrown that ne’er were shaken: he prospers, Maruts, who gives choice oblations.
9. None of us, Maruts, near or at a distance, hath ever reached the limit of your vigour.
They in courageous might still waxing boldly have compassed round their foemen like an ocean.
10. May we this day be dearest friends of Indra, and let us call on him in fight to-morrow.
So were we erst. New might attend us daily! So be with us! Rbhuksan of the Heroes!
11. May this your laud, may this your song, O Maruts, sung by the poet, Mana’s
son, Mandarya,
Bring offspring for ourselves with. food to feed us. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXVIII. Maruts.
1. SWIFT gain is his who hath you near at every rite: ye welcome every song of himwho serves the Gods.
So may I turn you hither with fair hymns of praise to give great succour for the weal of both the worlds.
2. Surrounding, as it were, self-born, self-powerful, they spring to life the shakers-down of food and light;
Like as the countess undulations of the floods, worthy of praise when near, like bullocks and like kine.
3. They who, like Somas with their well-grown stalks pressed out, imbibed within the heart, dwell there in friendly wise.
Upon their shoulders rests as ’twere a warrior’s spear and in their hand they hold a dagger and a ring.
4. Self-yoked they have descended lightly from the sky. With your own lash, Immortals, urge yourselve’s to speed.
Unstained by dust the Maruts, mighty in their strength, have cast down e’en firm things, armed with their shining spears.
5. Who among you, O Maruts armed with lightning-spears, moveth you by himself, as with the tongue his jaws?
Ye rush from heaven’s floor as though ye sought for food, on many errands like the Sun’s diurnal Steed.
6. Say where, then, is this mighty region’s farthest bound, where, Maruts, is the lowest depth that ye have reached,
When ye cast down like chaff the firmly stablished pile, and from the mountain send the glittering water-flood?
7. Your winning is with strength, dazzling, with heavenly light, with fruit mature, O Maruts, fall of plenteousness.
Auspicious is your gift like a free giver’s meed, victorious, spreading far, as of immortal Gods.
8. The rivers roar before your chariot fellies when they are uttering the voice of rain-clouds.
The lightnings laugh upon the earth beneath them, what time the Maruts scatter forth their fatness.
9. Prani brought forth, to fight the mighty battle, the glittering army of the restless Maruts.
Nurtured together they begat the monster, and then looked round them for the food that strengthens.
10. May this your laud, may this your song O Maruts, sung by the poet Mana’s son,
Mandarya,
Bring offspring for ourselves with food to feed us. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXIX. Indra.
1. As, Indra, from great treason thou protectest, yea, from great treachery these who approach us,
So, marking well, Controller of the Maruts grant us their blessings, for they are thy dearest.
2. The various doings of all mortal people by thee are ordered, in thy wisdom, Indra.
The host of Marutg goeth forth exulting to win the light-bestowing spoil of battle.
3. That spear of thine sat firm for us, O Indra: the Maruts set their whole dread power in motion.
E’en Agni shines resplendent in the brush-wood: the viands hold him as floods hold an island.
4. Vouchsafe us now that opulence, O Indra, as guerdon won by mightiest donation.
May hymns that please thee cause the breast of Vayu to swell as with the mead’s refreshing sweetness.
5. With thee, O Indra, are most bounteous riches that further every one who lives uprightly.
Now may these Maruts show us loving-kindness, Gods who of old were ever prompt to help us.
6. Bring forth the Men who rain down boons, O Indra: exert thee in the great terrestrial region;
For their broad-chested speckled deer are standing like a King’s armies on the field of battle.
7. Heard is the roar of the advancing Maruts, terrific, glittering, and swiftly moving,
Who with their rush o’erthrow as ’twere a sinner the mortal who would fight with those who love him
8. Give to the Manas, Indra with Maruts, gifts universal, gifts of cattle foremost.
Thou, God, art praised with Gods who must be lauded. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXX. Indra. Maruts.
1. NAUGHT is to-day, to-morrow naught. Who comprehends the mystery?
We must address ourselves unto another’s thought, and lost is then the hope we formed.
2. The Maruts are thy brothers. Why, O Indra, wouldst thou take our lives?
Agree with them in friendly wise, and do not slay us in the fight.
3. Agastya, brother, why dost thou neglect us, thou who art our friend?
We know the nature of thy mind. Verity thou wilt give us naught.
4. Let them prepare the altar, let them kindle fire in front: we two
Here will spread sacrifice for thee, that the Immortal may observe.
5. Thou, Lord of Wealth, art Master of all treasures, thou, Lord of friends, art thy
friends’ best supporter.
O Indra, speak thou kindly with the Maruts, and taste oblations in their proper season.
HYMN CLXXI. Maruts.
1. To you I come with this mine adoration, and with a hymn I crave the Strong Ones’ favour
A hymn that truly makes you joyful, Maruts. Suppress your anger and unyoke your horses.
2. Maruts, to you this laud with prayer and worship, formed in the mind and heart, ye Gods, is offered.
Come ye to us, rejoicing in your spirit, for ye are they who make our prayer effective.
3. The Maruts, praised by us, shall show us favour; Maghavan, lauded, shall be most propitious.
Maruts,, may all our days that are to follow be very pleasant, lovely and triumphant.
4. I fled in terrror from this mighty Indra, my body trembling in alarm, O Maruts.
Oblations meant for you had been made ready; these have we set aside: for this forgive us.
5. By whom the Manas recognize the day-springs, by whose strength at the dawn of endless mornings,
Give us, thou Mighty, glory with Maruts. fierce with the fierce, the Strong who givest triumph.
6. Do thou, O Indra, guard the conquering Heroes, and rid thee of thy wrath against the Maruts,
With them, the wise, victorious and bestowing. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.