YajurVeda

THEE for food. Thee for vigour. Ye are breezes.
To noblest work God Savitar impel you. Inviolable! swell
his share for Indra.
No thief, no evil-minded man shall master you rich in off-spring,
free from pain and sickness.
Be constant, numerous to this lord of cattle. Guard thou
the cattle of the Sacrificer.

p. 2

2 Strainer of Vasu art thou. Thou art heaven. Earth art
thou. Thou art Mâtarisvan's caldron.
Thou art the All-container. Stand thou firmly, secure by
Law Supreme, and do not totter. Nor be thy Lord of
Sacrifice unsteady.
3 Thou art the strainer, hundred-streamed, of Vasu. Thou
art the strainer, thousand-streamed, of Vasu.
May Savitar the God with Vasu's strainer, thousand-streamed,
rightly cleansing, purify thee.
4 Which didst thou milk? This is the cow Visvâyu. This
Visvakarman. This is Visvadhâyas.
Thee, Indra's share, with Soma do I curdle. Be thou protector
of the oblation, Vishnu.
5 I will observe the vow, Lord of Vows, Agni! May I have
strength therefor. Success attend me.
Now into truth from untruth do I enter.
6 Who is it that unites thee? He unites thee. For what
doth he yoke thee? For that he yokes thee.
You two for work, you two for its completion.

p. 3

7 Scorched are the fiends, scorched the malignant beings.
Burnt out are fiends, burnt out malignant beings.
Throughout the spacious middle air I travel.
8 Thou art the yoke. Injure thou him who injures. Harm
him who harm us. Harm the man we injure.
Thou art the Gods’ best carrier, bound most firmly, filled
fullest, welcomest, Gods’ best invoker.
9 Thou art unbent, receiver of oblations. Stand firmly in thy
place and do not totter.
Nor be thy Lord of sacrifice unsteady.
Let Vishnu mount thee. To the wind lie open. The demons
are expelled. Let the five grasp it.
10 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan,
Thee dear to Agni, dear to Agni-Soma.
11 Thee for abundance, not for evil spirit. May mine eye look
upon the light of heaven.

p. 4

May those with doors stand on the earth securely. Throughout
the spacious middle air I travel.
Upon the navel of the earth I place thee, on Aditi's lap.
Protect the oblation, Agni!
12 Ye two are strainers that belong to Vishnu. By Savitar's
impulse, with this flawless strainer I purify you with the
rays of Sûrya.
Bright Waters, flowing forward, foremost drinkers, lead forward
now this sacrifice, lead forward the Sacrifice's Lord,
the God-devoted Lord of the Sacrifice, the liberal giver.
13 Indra elected you in fight with Vritra: in fight with Vritra
you elected Indra.
By over-sprinkling are ye consecrated. I sprinkle thee
agreeable to Agni. I sprinkle thee welcome to Agni-Soma.
Pure for the work divine be ye, and holy, pure for the sacrifice
to Gods. Whatever of yours the impure have by their
touch polluted, hereby I cleanse for you from all defilement.
14 Giver art thou of happiness. Rejected are fiends, rejected
are malignant beings.
Aditi's akin art thou. May Aditi receive thee. A wooden
stone art thou. Thou art a broad-based stone. May the
skin of Aditi receive thee.
15 Body of Agni art thou, the releaser of speech. I seize thee
for the Gods’ enjoyment.
A mighty stone art thou, formed out of timber.

p. 5

Make ready for the Deities this oblation: with careful preparation
make it ready.
Havishkrit, come! Havishkrit, come! Havishkrit, come!
16 Thou art a cock whose tongue is sweet with honey. Call to
us hither sap and manly vigour.
May we with thee in every fight be victors. Rain-grown art
thou. May the rain-grown receive thee.
Cleared off are fiends, cleared off are evil beings. Expelled
are fiends. May Vâyu separate you. May Savitar the
God, the golden-handed, with flawless hand unto himself
receive you.
17 Bold art thou. Cast away the Corpse-consumer. Drive off
the fire that eats raw flesh, O Agni.
That which makes offerings to the Gods bring hither.
Firm art thou. Make earth firm. For the foe's slaughter I
set thee on, devoted to the priesthood, devoted to the
nobles and the kinsmen.
18 Agni, do thou accept our holy service.
Keeper art thou: make firm the Air's mid-region. For the
foe's death I set thee on, devoted to priesthood and nobility
and kinsmen.
Thou art a stay: uphold the sky securely. For the foe's
death, etc.
I set thee on for sake of all the regions. Formers of layers
are ye, and heap-formers, With Bhrigus’ and Angirases’
heat be heated.

p. 6

19 Giver of happiness art thou. Rejected are fiends, rejected
are malignant beings. Aditi's skin art thou, May Aditi
receive thee.
Bowl, rock art thou. May Aditi's skin receive thee.
Thou art the sky's supporting pillar.
Bowl from the rock art thou. The rock receive thee.
20 Grain art thou. Please the Gods. Thee for in-breathing.
For out-breath thee. Thee for diffusive breathing. May
I impart to life a long extension.
May Savitar the God, the golden-handed, with flawless hand
unto himself receive you.
Thee for the eye. Juice art thou of the Great Ones.
21 By impulse of God Savitar I strew thee, with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Basilan.
With plants let waters, plants with sap he mingled. United
be the rich ones with the moving. The sweet ones and
the sweet be joined together.
22 For generation's sake I join thee. This is Agni's. This Agni-Soma's.
Thee for food.
Thou art the caldron, life of all that liveth. Spread thyself
widely forth, thou, widely spreading. So may thy Lord of
sacrifice spread widely.
Thy skin let Agni harm not. In highest heaven let the God
Savitar hake thee.
23 Fear not. Shrink not. Let not the sacrifice be languid, not
languid he the Sacrificer's offspring.
For Trita thee. For Dvita thee. For Ekata thee.

p. 7

24 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee, with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan, thee who for Gods performest
sacred service.
Indra's right arm art thou: sharp with a thousand spikes,
a hundred edges. The keen-edged Wind art thou, the
foeman's slayer.
25 O Earth, whereon men serve the Gods with worship, let me
not do thy plant's root any damage.
Go to the pen, the cowstall. Heaven rain for thee.
On this earth's farthest end, God Savitar, bind him, with
hundred fetters bind the man who hates us and whom
we hate. Thence do not thou release him.
26 May I drive Araru away from Earth, the seat of men's oblations
to the Gods. Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him
(as in verse 25).
O Araru, thou shalt not soar to heaven. Let not thy drop
mount upward to the sky.
Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him (as in verse 25).
27 I with the metre Gâyatrî enclose thee. I lay the Trishtup
metre round about thee. With Jagatî metre I confine
and gird thee.

p. 8

Sprung from good soil art thou, and bliss-bestowing. Pleasant
art thou, and a fair seat to rest on. Thou hast both
strengthening food and drink in plenty.
28 Before the cruel foe's secret departure, Mighty One, raising
high earth, life-bestower, which to the Moon they lifted
by oblations, that earth the sages still point out and worship.
Deposit in its place the sprinkling-water, Thou art the slayer
of the man who hates us.
29 Scorched are the demons, scorched the evil beings. Burnt
out are fiends, burnt out malignant creatures.
Unsharpened, thou art slayer of the foemen. Thee, rich in
food, I cleanse for the food's kindling.
Scorched . . . . . creatures (as above).
Thee rich in food, I cleanse for the food's kindling.
30 A zone for Aditi art thou. Pervader of Vishnu art thou.
For great strength I take thee. I look upon thee with an
eye uninjured.
Thou art the tongue of Agni. Good invoker of Gods be
thou at every holy station, at every sacrificial text I utter.
31 By Savitar's impulsion do I cleanse thee, with flawless
strainer, with the rays of Sûrya.
By Savitar's impulsion do I cleanse you, with flawless strainer,
with the rays of Sûrya.
Light art thou; thou art splendid; thou art Amrit. Thou,
truly, art the Gods’ beloved station, inviolable means of
holy worship.

THOU art a black-buck dwelling in the covert. I sprinkle
thee agreeable to Agni.
Thou art the altar. Thee welcome to the sacred grass I
sprinkle.
Thou art the sacred covering-grass. I sprinkle thee grateful
to the sacrificial ladles.
2 Thou art what giveth Aditi her moisture. Thou art the
hair-tuft on the head of Vishnu. I spread thee, wool-soft,
good for Gods to sit on.
Hail to the Earth's Lord! To the World's Lord Hail! Hail
to the Lord of Beings!
3 For safety of this all let the Gandharva Visvâvasu lay thee
round as a protection. Thou art the Sacrificer's guard,
thou, Agni, lauded and worthy to receive laudation.
Indra's right arm art thou. For safety . . . . . . laudation.
For safety of This Ail, with firm law, northward let Mitra.
Varuna lay thee round as keeper. Thou art the Sacrificer's
guard . . . . . . laudation.
4 Thee, Sage, who offerest to Gods their banquet, we will
enkindle till thou shinest brightly, thee mighty in the
sacrifice, O Agni.

p. 10

5 Thou art a kindler. From the east let Sûrya keep thee
secure from every imprecation.
You are the arms of Savitar. I spread thee as soft as wool,
good for the Gods to sit on. On thee sit Vasus, Rudras,
and Âdityas!
6 Thou who art called Juhû art rich in fatness. On this dear
seat, with the dear home, be seated.
Thou, Upabhrit by name, art rich in fatness. On this . . . . . . . .
be seated.
Thou who art called Dhruvâ, art rich in fatness. On this, etc.
In the Law's lap they have sat down in safety
Guard these. Guard thou the Sacrifice, O Vishnu. Keep
thou the Sacrifice's Lord in safety.
7 O Agni, Winner of the Spoil, I cleanse thee, thee who wilt
hasten to the spoil, Spoil-winner.
Obeisance to the Gods! Svadhâ to Fathers! Be both of you
easy for me to handle.
8 May I to-day offer Gods unspilt butter. Let me not with
my foot offend thee, Vishnu.
Agni, may I approach thy shade abounding in store of riches.
Thou art Vishnu's mansion,
Hence Indra wrought his deed of manly vigour. The sacrifice
stood firmly elevated.

p. 11

9 O Agni, undertake the Hotar's office, take on thyself the
duty of an envoy.
Heaven and Earth guard thee! Guard thou Earth and Heaven.
May Indra be, by this presented butter, maker to Gods of
fair oblation. Svâhâ! Let light combine with light.
10 Indra bestow on me that Indra-power! May wealth in full
abundance gather round us. Let blessings wait on us,
yea, real blessings.
Our Mother, Earth, hath been invited hither. May Earth,
our Mother, in return invite us. I, through my Kindlership,
am Agni. Svâhâ!
11 The Father Heaven hath been invited hither. May Heaven
the Father in return invite us.
By impulse of God Savitar I receive thee with arms of
Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan. I feed upon thee
with the mouth of Agni.
12 God Savitar, this sacrifice of thine have they proclaimed
unto Brihaspati the Brahman Priest.
Therefore protect the sacrifice, protect the sacrifice's lord,
protect thou me.
13 The butter's rapid flow delight his spirit! Brihaspati extend
this act of worship. May he restore the sacrifice uninjured.
Here let all Gods rejoice. OM! Step thou forward.
14 This is the stick for kindling thee, O Agni. By means of
this grow strong and swell to greatness. May we too grow
in strength and swell to greatness.
O Agni, thou who winnest food, I cleanse thee, thee who
hast hastened to the food, Food-winner.

p. 12

15 After the victory of Agni Soma may I obtain the victory.
By impulse of sacrificial food I speed me onward.
May Agni-Soma drive off him who hates us, drive off the
man whom we detest. By impulse of sacrificial food away
I drive him.
After the victory of Indra-Agni may I obtain the victory.
By impulse of sacrificial food I speed me forward.
May Indra-Agni . . . . . . I drive him.
16 For Vasus thee. For Rudras thee. Thee for Âdityas.
Be, Heaven and Earth, accordant with each other. With
rain may Mitra-Varuna assist thee.
May the birds go, licking what is anointed.
Go to the Maruts’ speckled mares. Go, having become a
speckled cow thyself, to heaven, and from that place bring
the rain for us hither.
Thou art the eye's guard: guard mine eye, O Agni.
I7 The stick which thou, God Agni, laidest round thee, what
time thou wast kept hidden by the Panis, this do I bring
to thee for thine enjoyment. May it remain with thee
and ne’er be fruitless.
Approach, ye two, the place which Agni loveth.
18 The residue ye have to be your portion, mighty by food, ye
Gods, ye who are stationed on the grass-bunch, and to be
laid as fences.
All ye, applauding this my speech, be seated on this grass-bunch
and there be joyful. Svâhâ! Vât!

p. 13

19 Rich in oil are ye. Guard the two yoke-fellows. Ye two
are full of grace, to grace conduct me.
Glory to thee, O Sacrifice, and increase! Stand firm in my
auspicious, righteous worship.
20 O Agni of unweakened strength, far-reaching, protect me
from the lightning-flash, protect me from bondage. from
defect in sacrificing, from food injurious to health protect
me.
Make thou the food that feeds us free from poison in the
home good to sit in. Svâhâ! Vât!
Hail to the Lord of close embracements, Agni! Hail to Sarasvatî
enriched with glory!
21 Veda art thou, whereby, O godlike Veda, thou hast become
for Deities their Veda: thereby mayst thou become for
me a Veda.
O Deities, ye knowers of the Pathway, walk on the pathway
having known the Pathway.
God, Lord of Spirit, hail! bestow upon the Wind this sacrifice.
22 Blest be the Grass with sacred food and butter. Let Indra
be united with the Âdityas, the Vasus, Maruts, and the
Visvedevas. Let Svâhâ-offerings rise to heavenly ether.

p. 14

23 Who liberates thee from the yoke? He frees thee. For whom?
For him he looses thee. For plenty.
Thou art the Râkshasas’ allotted portion.
24 We have combined with lustre, vigour, bodies; we have
united with the blessèd spirit. May Tvashtar, bounteous
giver, grant us riches, and clear each fault and blemish
from the body.
25 By Jagatî metre in the sky strode Vishnu. Therefrom excluded
is the man who hates us and whom we detest.
By Trishtup metre in the air strode Vishnu. Therefrom, etc.
By Gâyatrî upon the earth strode Vishnu. Therefrom, etc.
From this food From this resting-place excluded.
We have reached heaven. We have combined with lustre.
26 Thou, noblest ray of light, art Self-existent. Giver art thou
of splendour. Give me splendour.
I move along the path that Sûrya travels.
27 Agni, may I become a good householder, through thee,
Home-master, O Householder Agni. Mayst thou become
an excellent Householder through me the master of the
house, O Agni.
Through hundred winters may our household matters—not
like a one-ox car—be smoothly managed.
I move along the path that Sûrya travels.
28 I have performed the vow, Lord of Vows, Agni! Full power
was mine, and it has proved successful.
Now am I he I truly am, no other.

p. 15

29 To Agni Hail! who bears gifts due to Sages. To Soma Hail!
accompanied by Fathers.
Expelled are Asuras and fiends who sate upon the covering
grass.
30 The Asuras, attracted by oblation, who roam at will assuming
varied figures, from this our world may Agni drive
them, whether they clothe themselves in large or little
bodies.
31 O Fathers, here enjoy yourselves. Come hither, like bulls,
come each to his allotted portion.
The Fathers have enjoyed themselves, and hither, like bulls,
come each to his allotted portion.
32 Obeisance to your genial sap, O Fathers! Fathers, obeisance
unto you for Ardour! Fathers, obeisance Onto you for
Svadhâ! Obeisance unto you for Life, O Fathers!
Fathers, to you obeisance for the Awful! Fathers, obeisance
unto you for Passion! O Fathers, unto you be adoration.
Bestow upon us houses, O ye Fathers, what is ours, O
Fathers, will we give you. With this your raiment clothe
yourselves, O Fathers.
33 Fathers, bestow on me a babe, a boy enwreathed with
lotuses, so that there may be here a man.

p. 16

34 Bearers of vigour and immortal fatness, milk and sweet beverage
and foaming liquor, ye are a freshening draught.
Delight my Fathers.

SERVE Agni with the kindling-brand, with drops of butter
wake the Guest.
In him pay offerings to the Gods.
2 To Agni Jâtavedas, to the flame, the well-enkindled God,
Offer thick sacrificial oil.
3 Thee, such, O Angiras, with brands and sacred oil we magnify,
O very brilliant, Youthfullest.
4 Rich in oblations, dropping oil, to thee, sweet Agni, let
them go.
Accept with favour these my brands.
5 Earth! Ether! Sky!
Like heaven in plenty and like earth in compass! Upon thy
back, Earth, place of sacrificing to Gods, for gain of food
I lay food-eating Agni.
6 This spotted Bull hath come and sat before the Mother and
before
The Father, mounting up to heaven.

p. 18

7 As expiration from his breath his radiance penetrates within:
The Bull shines out through all the sky.
8 He rules supreme through thirty realms. Song is bestowed
upon the Bird
Throughout the days at break of morn.
9 Agni is light, and light is Agni. Hail!
Sûrya is light, and light is Sûrya. Hail!
Agni is splendour, light is splendour. Hail!
Sûrya is splendour, light is splendour. Hail!
Light is Sûrya, Sûrya is light. Hail!
10 Accordant with bright Savitar and Night with Indra at her
side,
May Agni, being pleased, enjoy. All-hail!
11 Approaching sacrifice, may we pronounce a text to Agni
who
Heareth us even when afar.
12 Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth
is he:
He quickeneth the waters’ seed.
13 You two will I invoke, O Indra-Agni, will please you both
together with oblation.
Givers, you twain, of vigorous strength and riches, you
twain do I invoke for gain of vigour.
14 This is thine ordered place of birth whence, sprung to life,
thou shonest forth.
Knowing this, Agni, rise thou up and cause our riches to
increase.
15 Here by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker,
best at worship, to be praised at rites,
Whom Apnavâna and the Bhrigus caused to shine, bright-coloured
in the wood, spreading to every house.

p. 19

16 After his ancient splendour they, the bold, have drawn the
bright milk from
The Sage who wins a thousand gifts.
17 Thou, Agni, art our bodies’ guard. Guard thou my body.
Giver of life art thou, O Agni. Give me life.
Giver of splendour art thou, Agni. Give me splendour.
All that is wanting in my body, Agni, supply for me.
18 Enkindled we enkindle thee through hundred winters, thee
the bright;
We healthy, thee who givest health; we strong, thee author
of our strength;
We, never injured, Agni, thee uninjured injurer of foes.
O rich in shining lights, may I in safety rich the end of thee.
19 Thou hast attained, O Agni, to the splendour of Sûrya, to
the eulogy of Rishis, and to the habitation which thou
lovest.
May I attain to lengthened life, to splendour, to offspring
and abundant store of riches.
20 Ye are food, may I enjoy your food. Ye are might, may I
enjoy your might. Ye are energy, may I enjoy your
energy. Ye are abundant riches, may I enjoy your abundant
riches.
21 Sport, wealthy ones, in this abode, this fold, this spot, this
dwelling-place.
Remain just here, and go not hence.
22 Composed art thou of every form and colour. With sap and.
ownership of kine approach me.
To thee, dispeller of the night, O Agni, day by day with
prayer,
Bringing thee reverence, we come;

p. 20

23 Ruler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One,
Increasing in thine own abode.
24 Be to us easy of approach, even as a father to his son:
Agni, be with us for our weal.
25 O Agni, be our nearest Friend; be thou a kind deliverer
and gracious Friend.
Excellent Agni, come thou nigh to us, and give us wealth
most splendidly renowned.
26 To thee then, O most bright, O radiant God, we come with
prayer for happiness for our friends.
So hear us, listen to this call of ours, and keep us far from
every evil man.
27 O Ida, come, O Aditi, come hither. Come hither, much-desired!
From you may I obtain my heart's desire.
28 O Brahmanaspati, make him who presses Soma glorious,
Even Kakshîvân Ausija.
29 The rich, the healer of disease, who findeth wealth, increaseth
store,
The prompt,—may he be with us still.
30 Let not the foeman's curse, let not a mortal's treachery fall
on us:
Preserve us, Brahmanaspati!
31 Great, heavenly, unassailable, ours be the favour of the Three,
Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna.
32 For over them, neither at home nor upon pathways perilous,
The evil-minded foe hath power.
33 For they, the Sons of Aditi, bestow eternal light upon
A mortal man that he may live.

p. 21

34 Ne’er art thou fruitless, Indra, ne’er dost thou forsake thy
worshipper.
But now. O Liberal Lord, thy bounty as a God is ever poured
forth more and more.
35 May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the God:
So may he stimulate our prayers.
36 May thine inviolable car wherewith thou guardest worshippers
Come near to us from every side.
37 Earth! Ether! Sky! May I be rich in offspring, well-manned
with men and opulent with riches. Friendly to men!
do thou protect my offspring. Worthy of praise! do thou
protect my cattle.
O pointed One, protect the food that feeds me.
38 We have approached the Omniscient, best finder-out of
wealth for us. Splendour and strength bestow on us,
O Agni, thou Imperial Lord.
39 Lord of the Home, this Agni Gârhapatya is best at finding
riches for our children.
Splendour and strength bestow on us, O Agni, Master of the
Home.
40 Rich, furtherer of plenty is this Agni, Master-of the Herd.
Splendour and strength bestow on us, O Agni, Master of
the Herd.
41 Fear not, nor tremble thou, O House. To thee who bearest
strength we come.

p. 22

I, bearing strength, intelligent and happy, come to thee,
House, rejoicing in my spirit.
42 The home on which the wanderer thinks, where cheerfulness
and joy abound
We call the Home to welcome us. May it know us who
know it well.
43 Here have the cows been called to us, the goats and sheep
have been called near,
And in our home we have addressed the meath that sweeteneth
our food.
I come to thee for safety and for quiet. May joy be ours,
felicity, and blessing.
44 We invocate the Maruts, the voracious, eaters of their foes,
Delighting in their mess of meal.
45 We expiate by sacrifice each sinful act that we have done,
Whether in village or the wild, in company or corporeal
sense. Svâhâ!
46 Let us not here contend with Gods, O Indra, for, Fierce
One! here is thine own sacred portion,
Thine, Mighty One, whose friends, the bounteous Maruts,
his song who pours oblation, streamlike, honours.
47 The skilful workers have performed their work with voice
that gives delight.
Having performed the work for Gods, go, ye companions, to
your home.
48 O ever-moving Cleansing Bath, thou movest gliding on thy
way.

p. 23

With Gods may I wash out the sin that I have sinned
against the Gods, with men the sin against mankind.
Preserve me safe from injury, O God, from him who loudly
roars.
49 Full, fly away, O spoon, and filled completely fly thou back
to us.
O Satakratu, let us twain barter, like goods, our food and
strength.
50 Give me, I give thee gifts: bestow on me, and I bestow on
thee.
To me present thy merchandize, and I to thee will give my
wares.
51 Well have they eaten and regaled: the friends have risen
and passed away.
The sages, luminous in themselves, have praised thee with
their latest hymn.
Now, Indra, yoke thy two Bay Steeds.
52 Thee will we reverence, thee, O Lord of Bounty, who art
fair to see.
Thus praised, according to our wish come now with richly-laden
car. Now, Indra, yoke thy two Bay Steeds.
53 We call the spirit hither with a hero-celebrating strain,
Yea, with the Fathers’ holy hymns.
54 The spirit comes to us again for wisdom, energy, and life,
That we may long behold the Sun.
55 O Fathers, may the Heavenly Folk give us the spirit once
again,
That we may be with those who live.

p. 24

56 O Soma, with the spirit still within us, blest with progeny,
May we be busied in thy law.
57 O Rudra, this is thine allotted portion. With Ambikâ thy
sister kindly take it. This, Rudra, is thy share, the rat
thy victim.
58 We have contented Rudra, yea, put off Tryambaka the God,
That he may make us wealthier, may make us yet more
prosperous, may make us vigorous to act.
59 Thou art a healing medicine, a balm for cow and horse and
man, a happiness to ram and ewe.
60 Tryambaka we worship, sweet augmenter of prosperity.
As from its stem a cucumber, may I be freed from bonds of
death, not reft of immortality.
We worship him, Tryambaka, the husband-finder, sweet to
smell.
As from its stem a cucumber, hence and not thence may I
be loosed.
61 This, Rudra, is thy food: with this depart beyond the
Mûjavâns.
With bow unstrung, with muffled staff, clothed in a garment
made of skin, gracious, not harming us, depart.
62 May Jamadagni's triple life, the triple life of Kasyapa,
The triple life of Deities—may that same triple life be ours.

p. 25

63 Gracious, thy name; the thunder is thy father. Obeisance
be to thee: forbear to harm me.
I shave thee for long life, for food to feed thee, for progeny,
for riches in abundance, for noble children, for heroic
vigour.

WE have reached this earth's place of sacrificing, the place
wherein all Deities delighted.
Crossing by Rik, by Sâman, and by Yajus, may we rejoice
in food and growth of riches.
Gracious to me be these Celestial Waters!
Protect me, Plant. O Knife, forbear to harm him.
2 The Mother Floods shall make us bright and shining, cleansers
of holy oil, with oil shall cleanse us.
For, Goddesses, they bear off all defilement. I rise up
from them purified and brightened.
The form of Consecration and of Fervour art thou. I put
thee on, the kind and blissful, maintaining an agreeable
appearance.
3 The Great Ones’ milk art thou. Giver of splendour art
thou: bestow on me the gift of splendour.
Pupil art thou of Vritra's eye. The giver of eyes art thou.
Give me the gift of vision.
4 Purify me the Lord of Thought! Purify me the Lord of
Speech! Purify me God Savitar with perfect strainer, with
the beams of Sûrya!

p. 27

Of thee, Lord of the Strainer! who art by the strainer
purified,
With what desire I purify myself, may I accomplish it.
5 We come to you for precious wealth, O Gods, as sacrifice
proceeds.
O Gods, we call on you to give blessings that wait on sacrifice.
6 Svâhâ! from mind the sacrifice. Svâhâ! from spacious
firmament.
Svâhâ! from Dyaus and Prithivî. Svâhâ! from Wind I
seize. Svâhâ!
7 To Resolution, Motive, Agni, Svâhâ! All-hail to Wisdom,
and to Mind, and Agni!
All-hail to Consecration, Fervour, Agni! Hail to Sarasvatî,
Pûshan, and Agni!
Ye vast, divine, all-beneficial Waters, ye Heaven and Earth
and spacious Air between them,
Let us adore Brihaspati with oblation. All-hail!
8 May every mortal man elect the friendship of the guiding
God.
Each one solicits him for wealth: let him seek fame to prosper
him.
9 Rik's, Sâman's counterparts are ye. I touch you. Protect
me till the sacrifice be ended.
Thou art a place of refuge. Give me refuge. Obeisance
unto thee! Forbear to harm me.
10 Strength of Angirases art thou. Wool-soft, bestow thou
strength on me.
Thou art the garment-knot of Soma. Vishnu's refuge art
thou, the Sacrificer's refuge.

p. 28

Thou art the womb of Indra. Make the crops produce
abundant grain.
Stand up erect, O Tree. Protect me from harm until this
sacrifice be ended.
11 Prepare ye vow-food. Agni is the Brahman, Agni is sacrifice,
the tree is holy.
For aid we meditate divine Intelligence, most merciful,
Free-giver, bringing worship May it guide us gently, as
we would.
Favour us Gods, mind-horn, endowed with mind and intellectual
might! All-hail to them! May they be our protectors.
12 Waters that we have drunk! become refreshing, become
auspicious draughts within our belly.
Free from all sin and malady and sickness, may they be
pleasant to our taste, divine Ones, immortal, strengtheners
of eternal Order.
13 This is thy sacrificial form.
Not offspring, waters I discharge. Freeing from sin and
consecrate by Svâhâ enter ye the earth. Be thou united
with the earth.
14 O Agni, watch thou well. May we take joy in most refreshing
sleep.
Protect us with unceasing care. From slumber waken us
again.

p. 29

15 Thought hath returned to me, and life; my breath and
soul have come again.
Our bodies' guard, unscathed, Vaisvânara Agni preserve us
from misfortune and dishonour.
16 Thou, Agni, art the guardian God of sacred vows among
mankind, thou meet for praise at holy rites.
Grant this much, Soma! bring yet more. God Savitar who
giveth wealth hath given treasure unto us.
17 This is thy form, O Bright One, this thy lustre. Combine
with this thy form and go to splendour.
Impetuous art thou, upheld by mind, and Vishnu loveth
thee.
18 Moved by thine impulse who hast true impulsion, may I
obtain a prop to stay my body.
Pure art thou, glistering art thou, immortal, dear to all the
Gods.
19 Thought art thou, mind, intelligence, the Guerdon, royal,
worshipful, Aditi with a double head. Succeed for us in
going forth, succeed for us in thy return. May Mitra
bind thee by the foot. May Pûshan guard thy pathways
for Indra whose eye is over all.

p. 30

20 Thy mother give thee leave to go, thy father, thine own
brother, and thy friend of the same herd with thee!
Go thou, O Goddess, to the God. To Soma go for Indra's
sake.
May Rudra turn thee back. Return safely with Soma as
thy friend.
21 Thou art a Vasvî, thou art Aditi, thou art an Âdityâ, thou
art a Rudrâ, thou art a Chandrâ.
Brihaspati vouchsafe thee rest and comfort! Rudra with
Vasus looks on thee with favour.
22 On Aditi's head I sprinkle thee, on the earth's place of
sacrifice.
Footstep of Idâ art thou, filled with fatness. Hail!
Rejoice in us. Thy kinship is in us. In thee are riches.
Mine be riches! Let us not be deprived of abundant
riches. Thine, thine are riches.
23 I with my thought have commerced with divine far-sighted
Dakshinâ.
Steal not my life. I will not thine. May I, O Goddess, in
thy sight find for myself a hero son.
24 Tell Soma this for me: This is thy share allied with Gâyatrî.
For me say this to Soma: This is thine allotted Trishtup
share.
Tell Soma this for me: This is thy share allied with Jagatî.
Tell Soma this for me: Win thou sole lordship of the metres’
names.
Ours art thou: pure thy juice for draught. Let separators
pick thee out.

p. 31

25 I sing my song of praise to him, Savitar, God between the
Bowls, strong with the wisdom of the wise, of true impulsion,
wealth-giver, the well-beloved thoughtful Sage.
To him at whose impulsion shone aloft in heaven the splendid
light.
Most wise, the Golden-handed hath measured the sky with
skilled design.
For living creatures, thee. Let living creatures breathe
after thee. Breathe after living creatures.
26 Thee who art pure, with what is pure I purchase, the bright
with bright, immortal with immortal.
The Sacrificer keep thy cow. Let thy gold pieces be with us.
Fervour's form art thou, and Prajâpati's nature. With the
most noble animal art thou purchased. May I increase
with thousandfold abundance.
27 As friend, the giver of good friends, approach us!
Take thou thy seat on the right thigh of Indra, yearning on
yearning, pleasing on the pleasing.
Anghâri, Svâna, Bhrâja, and Bambhâri, O Hasta, and Suhasta
and Krisânu,
These are your prices for the Soma purchase. Keep them
securely, let them never fail you.
28 Keep me, O Agni, from unrighteous conduct: make me a
sharer in the path of goodness.

p. 32

I, following Immortals, have arisen with longer life, with a
good life before me.
29 Now have we entered on the path that leads to bliss without
a foe,
The path whereon a man escapes all enemies and gathers
wealth.
30 The skin of Aditi art thou. Sit on the lap of Aditi.
The Bull hath propped the sky and air's mid-region, the
compass of the broad earth hath he measured.
He, King Supreme, approached all living creatures. Truly
all these are Varuna's ordinances.
31 Over the woods the air hath he extended, put milk in kine
and vigorous speed in horses,
Set intellect in hearts and fire in houses, Sûrya in heaven
and Soma on the mountain.
32 Ascend the eye of Sûrya, mount the pupil set in Agni's eye
Where, radiant through the Wise One, thou speedest along
with dappled steeds.
33 Approach, ye oxen, fit to bear the yoke; be yoked without
a tear.
Slaying no man, urging the Brahman forward, go happily
to the Sacrificer's dwelling.
34 Lord of the World, thou art my gracious helper: move forward
on thy way to all the stations.
Let not opponents, let not robbers find thee, let not malignant
wolves await thy coming.
Fly thou away having become a falcon. Go to the dwelling
of the Sacrificer. That is the special place for us to rest in.

p. 33

35 Do homage unto Varuna's and Mitra's eye: offer this solemn
worship to the Mighty God,
Who seeth far away, the Ensign born of Gods. Sing praises
unto Sûrya, to the Son of Dyaus.
36 Thou art a prop for Varuna to rest on. Ye are the pins that
strengthen Varuna's pillar.
Thou art the lawful seat where Varuna sitteth. Sit on the
lawful seat where Varuna sitteth.
37 Such of thy glories as with poured oblations men honour,
may they all invest our worship.
Wealth-giver, furtherer with troops of heroes, sparing the
brave, come, Soma, to our houses.

BODY of Agni art thou. Thee for Vishnu. Body of Soma art
thou. Thee for Vishnu. Thou art the Guest's Reception.
Thee for Vishnu. Thee for the Soma-bringing Falcon.
Thee for Vishnu. Thee for the giver of abundance, Agni.
Thee for Vishnu.
2 Birth-place art thou of Agni. Ye are sprinklers. Thou art
Urvasi. Thou art Âyu. Thou art Purûravas.
I rub and churn thee with Gâyatrî metre. I rub and churn
thee with the Trishtup metre. I rub and churn thee with,
the Jagatî metre.
3 Be ye for us one-minded, be one-thoughted, free from spot
and stain.
Harm not the sacrifice, harm not the sacrifice's lord. Be
kind to us this day, Omniscient Ones!
4 Preserver from the curse, Son of the Rishis, Agni is active
having entered Agni.
Here for us kindly with fair worship offer oblation to the
Gods with care unceasing. Svâhâ!
5 For him who flies around and rushes onward I take thee,
for Tanûnapât the mighty, the very strong, of all-surpassing
vigour.

p. 35

Strength of the Gods, inviolate, inviolable still art thou, the
strength that turns the curse away, uncursed and never
to be cursed.
May I go straight to truth. Place me in comfort.
6 O Agni, Guardian of the Vow, O Guardian of the Vow, in
thee
Whatever form there is of thine, may that same form be
here on me: un thee be every form of mine.
O Lord of Vows, let our vows be united. May Dîkshâ's
Lord allow my Consecration, may holy Fervour's Lord
approve my Fervour.
7 May every stalk of thine wax full and strengthen for Indra
Ekadhanavid, God Soma!
May Indra grow in strength for thee: for Indra mayest thou
grow strong.
Increase us friends with strength and mental vigour. May
all prosperity be thine, God Soma. May I attain the
solemn Soma-pressing.
May longed-for wealth come forth for strength and fortune.
Let there be truth for those whose speech is truthful. To
Heaven and Earth be adoration offered.
8 That noblest body which is thine, O Agni, laid in the lowest
deep, encased in iron, hath chased the awful word, the
word of terror. Svâhâ!
That noblest . . . . . . encased in silver, etc. Svâhâ
That noblest . . . . with gold around it, etc. Svâhâ!

p. 36

9 For me thou art the home of the afflicted. For me thou art
the gathering-place of riches. Protect me from the, woe
of destitution.
Protect me from the state of perturbation.
May Agni know thee, he whose name is Nabhas. Go, Agni,
Angiras, with the name of Âyu.
Thou whom this earth containeth, down I lay thee with each
inviolate holy name thou bearest.
Thou whom the second earth, etc. Thou whom the third
earth, etc.
Thee, further, for the Gods’ delight.
10 A foe-subduing lioness art thou: be fitted for the Gods.
A foe-subduing lioness art thou: be purified for Gods.
A foe-subduing lioness art thou: adorn thyself for Gods.
11 Indra's shout guard thee in the front with Vasus. The Wise
One guard thee from the rear with Rudras. The Thought-swift
guard thee on the right with Fathers. The Omnific
guard thee, leftward, with Âdityas.
This heated water I eject and banish from the sacrifice.
12 Thou art a lioness. All-hail! Thou art a lioness winning
Âdityas. All-hail!
Thou art a lioness winning Brâhmans and Nobles. All-hail!
Thou art a lioness that wins fair offspring, win abundant
wealth. All-hail!
A lioness art thou. Bring the Gods hither for him who
offers sacrifice. All-hail!
To living creatures; thee.

p. 37

13 Firm art thou, steady thou the earth. Firm-seated art thou,
steady thou the air.
Movelessly set art thou, steady the sky. Agni's completion
art thou.
14 The priests of him the lofty Priest well-skilled in hymns
harness their spirits, yea harness their holy thoughts.
He only knowing works assigns their priestly tasks. Yea,
lofty is the praise of Savitar the God. All-hail!
15 Forth through This All strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he
planted, and the whole was gathered in his footstep's dust.
All-hail!
16 Rich in sweet food be ye, and rich in milch-kine, with fertile
pastures, fair to do men service.
Both these worlds, Vishnu, hast thou stayed asunder, and
firmly fixed the earth with pegs around it.
17 Heard by the Gods, ye twain, to Gods proclaim it.
Go eastward, O ye twain, proclaiming worship. Swerve ye
not: bear the sacrifice straight upward.
To your own cow-pen speak, ye godlike dwellings.
Speak not away my life, speak not away my children.
On the earth's summit here may ye be joyful.

p. 38

18 Now will I tell the mighty deeds of Vishnu, of him who
measured out the earthly regions.
Who propped the highest place of congregation, thrice setting
down his foot and widely striding.
For Vishnu thee.
19 Either from heaven or from the earth, O Vishnu, or, Vishnu,
from the vast wide air's mid-region,
Fill both thy hands full with abundant riches, and from the
right and from the left bestow them.
For Vishnu thee.
20 For this his mighty deed is Vishnu lauded, like some wild
beast, dread, prowling, mountain-roaming,
He within whose three wide-extended paces all living creatures
have their habitation,
21 Thou art the frontlet for the brow of Vishnu. Ye are the
corners of the mouth of Vishnu. Thou art the needle
for the work of Vishnu. Thou art the firmly-fastened knot
of Vishnu. To Vishnu thou belongest. Thee for Vishnu.
22 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins
and with hands of Pûshan.
Thou art a woman. Here I cut the necks of Râkshasas away.
Mighty art thou, mighty the sound thou makest. Utter thy
mighty-sounding voice to Indra:
23 Fiend-killing, charm-destroying voice of Vishnu.
Here I cast out that charm of magic power which stranger
or housemate for me hath buried.

p. 39

Here I cast out the charm of magic power buried for me
by equal or unequal.
Here I cast out the charm that hath been buried for me by
non-relation or relation.
I cast the charm of magic out.
24 Self-ruler art thou, conquering foes. Ruler for ever art
thou, killing enemies.
Men's ruler art thou, slaying fiends. All ruler, killing foes,
art thou.
25 I sprinkle you whom Vishnu owns, killers of fiends and evil
charms.
I buy down you whom Vishnu loves, killers of fiends and
wicked charms.
I scatter you whom Vishnu loves, killers of fiends and
wicked charms.
You two whom Vishnu loves, who kill fiends and ill charms
do I lay down.
You two whom Vishnu loves, who kill fiends and ill charms
I compass round.
To Vishnu thou belongest. Ye are Vishnu's.
26 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Peahen.
Thou art a woman. Here I cut the necks of Râkshasas away.
Barley art thou. Bar off from us our haters, bar our enemies.
Thee for heaven, thee for earth, thee for air's region.
Pure be the worlds, the Fathers’ dwelling-places. Thou art
the habitation of the Fathers.

p. 40

27 Prop heaven, fill full the air, on earth stand firmly. Dyutâna,
offspring of the Maruts, plant thee!, Mitra and Varuna
with firm upholding.
I close thee in, thou winner of the Brahmans, winner of
Nobles and abundant riches.
Strengthen the Brahmans, strengthen thou the Nobler,
strengthen our vital power, strengthen our offspring.
28 Firm-set art thou. Firm be this Sacrificer within this home
with offspring and with cattle.
O Heaven and Earth, be ye filled full of fatness.
Indra's mat art thou, shelter of all people.
29 Lover of song, may these our songs encompass thee on every
side;
Strengthening thee of lengthened life, may they be dear
delights to thee
30 Thou art the needle for the work of Indra. Thou art the
firmly fastened knot of Indra. Indra's art thou. Thou art
the Visvedevas’.
31 All-present art thou, carrying off. Oblation-bearing priest
art thou.
Thou art the Swift, the Very Wise. Tutha art thou, who
knoweth all.
32 Thou art the yearning one, the sage. Angnâri, Bambhâri
art thou.

p. 41

Aid-seeker art thou, worshipping. Cleanser art thou, the
cleansing-place. Krisânu, Sovran Lord, art thou.
Thou art the Pavamâna of the assembly. Thou art the
welkin ever moving forward. Swept clean art thou, preparer
of oblations. Thou art the seat of Law, heaven's light
and lustre.
33 A sea art thou of all-embracing compass. Aja art thou, who
hath one foot to bear him. Thou art the Dragon of the
Depths of ocean. Speech art thou, thou the Sadas, thou
art Indra's. Doors of the sacrifice, do not distress me!
Lord, Ruler of the pathways, lead me onward. In this God-reaching
path may I be happy.
34 Look ye upon me with the eye of Mitra.
O Agnis, ye, receivers of oblations, are by a lauded name
lauded together. Protect me, Agnis! with your glittering
army. Fill me with riches, Agnis! be my keepers. To
you be adoration. Do not harm me.
35 Thou art a light that wears all forms and figures, serving
the general host of Gods as Kindler.

p. 42

Thou, Soma, wilt withhold thy wide protection from body-wounding
hatreds shown by others. All-hail!
Let the Swift graciously enjoy the butter. All-hail!
36 By goodly paths lead us to riches, Agni, thou God who
knowest every sacred duty.
Remove the sin that makes us stray and wander: most
ample adoration will we bring thee.
37 Wide room and comfort may this Agni give us, and go before
us cleaving down our foemen.
May he win booty in the fight for booty: May he quell foes
in his triumphant onset.
38 O Vishnu, stride thou widely forth, give ample room for our
abode.
Drink butter, homed in butter! Still speed on the sacrifice's
lord. All-hail!
39 To thee, God Savitar, belongs this Soma. Guard him securely:
let not demons harm thee.
Now hast thou joined the Gods as God, God Soma: men
have I joined here through abundant riches.
All-hail! from Varuna's noose am I delivered.
40 O Agni, Guardian of the Vow, O Guardian of the Vow, on
me whatever form of thine path been, may that same
form be upon thee. Whatever form of mine hath been on
thee, may that he here on me.
O Lord of Vows, our vows have been accomplished. Dîkshâ's
Lord hath approved my Consecration, and holy Fervour's
Lord allowed my Fervour.
41 O Vishnu, stride thou widely forth, make ample room for
our abode.
Drink butter, homed in butter! Still speed on the sacrifice's
lord. All Hail!

p. 43

42 I have passed others, not approached to others. On the near
side of those that were more distant, and farther than
the nearer have I found thee.
So, for the worship of the Gods, with gladness we welcome
thee God, Sovran of the Forest! Let the Gods welcome
thee for the Gods’ service. For Vishnu thee. Plant, guard!!
Axe, do not harm it!
43 Graze not the sky. Harm not mid-air. Be in accordance with
the earth.
For this well-sharpened axe hath led thee forth to great
felicity.
Hence, with a hundred branches, God, Lord of the Forest,
grow thou up.
May we grow spreading with a hundred branches.

BY impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan. Thou art a woman. Here
I cut the necks of Râkshasas away. Barley art thou.
Bar off from us our haters, bar our enemies.
Thee for heaven, thee for earth, thee for the welkin. Pure
be the worlds, the Fathers’ dwelling-places. Thou art the
habitation of the Fathers.
2 Thou art a leader, easy, to Unnetars, of access. Know
this. It will stand upon thee.
Savitar, God, anoint thee with sweet butter. Thee for the
plants laden with goodly fruitage!
Thou with thy top hast touched the sky, hast with thy
middle filled the air, and steadied with thy base the earth.
3 Those seats of thine which we desire to visit, where there
are many-horned and nimble. oxen,
There, of a truth, was mightily imprinted the loftiest step
of widely-striding Vishnu.
I close thee in, the winner of the Brâhmans, winner of
Nobles and abundant riches.
Strengthen the Brâhmans, strengthen thou the Nobles,
strengthen our vital power, strengthen our offspring.
4 Look ye on Vishnu's works, whereby the Friend of Indra,
close-allied,
Hath let his holy ways be seen.

p. 45

5 The princes evermore behold that loftiest place where
Vishnu is,
Laid as it were an eye in heaven.
6 Thou art invested. Heavenly hosts invest thee! Riches of
men invest this Sacrificer!
Heaven's son art thou. This is thine earthly station. Thine
is the beast whose home is in the forest.
7 Encourager art thou. The hosts of heaven have come to
yearning Gods, the best conductors.
God Tvashtar, make the wealth of cattle quiet. Delightful
to the taste be thine oblations.
8 Joy, wealthy ones! Brihaspati, save our riches.
I bind thee with the noose of holy Order, thou offering to
the Gods. Bold be the Slayer.
9 By impulse of God Savitar I bind thee, with arms of Asvins
and with hands of Pûshan, thee welcome unto Agni and
to Soma.
Thee for the waters, thee for plants. Thy mother grant
thee permission, and thy father, brother born of one dam,
thy friend, thy herd-companion. I sprinkle thee welcome
to Agni-Soma.
10 Drinker art thou of water. May the Waters, the Goddesses,
add sweetness to the oblation prepared for Gods, even
though already sweetened.

p. 46

Thy breath join wind, thy limbs those meet for worship, the
sacrifice's lord the boon he prays for.
11 Balmed, both of you, with butter, guard the cattle. Grant,
Rich! the Sacrificer's prayer. Approach thou.
Meeting with heavenly Wind, from air's mid-region. Be
thou united with this offering's body.
O Great One, lead the sacrifice's master on to a sacrifice of
loftier order. All-hail to Gods! To Gods All-hail!
12 Become no serpent, thou, become no viper. To thee,
O widely-spread, be adoration.
Advance, unhindered, on thy way. To rivers of butter
move along the paths of Order.
13 Bear the oblation to the Gods, ye Waters celestial and pure
and well-provided. May we become providers well-provided.
14 I cleanse thy voice, thy breath, thine eye, thine ear, thy
navel, and thy feet, thy sexual organ, and thy rump.
15 Let thy mind, voice, and breath increase in fulness, thine
eye be fuller, and thine ear grow stronger.
Whatever there is in thee sore or wounded, may that be
filled for thee, cleansed and united.
Blest be the days. Plant, guard! Axe, do not harm him.
16 Thou art the demons’ share. Expelled are demons. Here
I tread down; here I repel the demons; here lead the
demons into lowest darkness.

p. 47

Invest, ye two, the heaven and earth with fatness.
O Vâyu, eagerly enjoy the droppings. Let Agni eagerly
enjoy the butter. All-hail!
Go, both of you, by Svâhâ consecrated, to Ûrdhvanabhas,
offspring of the Maruts.
17 Ye Waters, wash away this stain and whatsoever taint be here,
Each sinful act that I have done, and every harmless curse
of mine.
May Waters rid me of that guilt, and Pavamâna set me free.
18 Be they united, with the Mind thy mind, and with the Breath
thy breath.
Thou quiverest. Let Agni make thee ready. Waters have
washed together all thy juices.
Thee for the Wind's rush, for the speed of Pûshan. From
heated vapour may it reel and totter,—the disconcerted
hatred of our foemen.
19 Ye drinkers-up of fatness, drink the fatness; drink up the
gravy, drinkers of the gravy! Thou art the oblation of the
air's mid-region. All-hail!
The regions, the fore-regions, the by-regions, the intermediate
and the upper regions,—to all the regions Hail!
20 In every limb is Indra's out-breath seated, in every limb is
Indra's in-breath settled.
God Tvashtar, let thine ample forms be blended, that what
wears different shapes may be one-fashioned.
To please thee let thy friends, mother and father, joy over
thee as to the Gods thou goest.

p. 48

21 Go to the sea. All-hail! Go to the air. All-hail! Go to God
Savitar. All hail!
Go thou to Mitra-Varuna. All-hail! Go thou to Day and
Night. All-hail!
Go to the Metres. till-hail! Go to Heaven and Earth. All-hail!
Go to the sacrifice. All-hail! Go to Soma. All-hail!
Go to the heavenly ether. All-hail! Go to Vaisvânara
Agni. All hail! Bestow upon me mind and heart.
Thy smoke mount to the sky, to heaven thy lustre. Fill
thou the spacious earth full with thine ashes.
22 Harm not the Waters, do the Plants no damage. From every
place, King Varuna, thence save us.
Their saying that we swear our oath by sacred cows, by
Varuna,
O Varuna, save us therefrom.
To us let Waters and let Plants be friendly; to him who
hates us, whom we hate, unfriendly.
23 These waters teem with sacred food: rich in that food, one
longs for them.
Rich be the holy rite therein. In sacred food be Sûrya rich.
24 I set you down in Agni's seat whose home is indestructible.
Indra-and-Agni's share are ye, Mitra-and-Varuna's share are
ye.
The share of all the Gods are ye.
May waters gathered near the Sun, and those wherewith the
Sun is joined,
Speed on this sacred rite of ours.
23 Thee for the heart, thee for the mind, thee for the heaven,
thee for the Sun.
Bear up erect to heaven, to Gods, this rite these sacrificial
calls.

p. 49

26 Descend, O Soma, King, to all thy people. Down, unto thee,
go, one and all, thy people!
May Agni with his fuel hear my calling. Hear it the Waters
and the Bowls, Divine Ones! Hear, Stones, as knowing
sacrifice, my calling. May the God Savitar hear mine
invocation. All hail!
27 Waters Divine, your wave, the Waters’ offspring, fit for oblation,
potent, most delightful
Upon those Gods among the Gods bestow it, who drink the
pure, of whom ye are the portion. All-hail!
28 Drawing art thou: I draw thee up that Ocean ne’er may
waste or wane.
Let waters with the waters, and the plants commingle with
the plants.
29 That man is lord of endless strength whom thou protectest
in the fight,
Agni, or urgest to the fray.
30 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan.
Free with thy gifts art thou. Perform for Indra this deep,
most excellently ordered worship.
With the most noble bolt I pay the worship enriched with
strengthening food and milk and sweetness.
Ye are Nigrâbhyâ waters. heard by Deities: make me content.

p. 50

31 Content my mind, content my speech, content my breath,
content mine eye, content mine ear, content my soul, content
my progeny, content my herds, content the troops
of men about me: never may the bands of men about me
suffer thirst.
32 For Indra girt by Vasus and accompanied by Rudras, thee.
For Indra with Âdityas, thee. For Indra foe-destroyer,
thee. Thee for the Soma-bringing Hawk. For plenty-giving
Agni, thee.
33 Soma, what light there is of thine in heaven, what on the
earth, what in mid-air's wide region,
Therewith give broad space to the Sacrificer for his enrichment:
Comfort thou the giver.
34 Auspicious are ye, conquerors of Vritra, formed for bestowing
wealth, the Immortal's Consorts.
Lead to the Gods this sacrifice, Divine Ones! and at our invitation
drink of Soma.
35 Be not afraid; shake not with terror. Take thou strength.
Ye two Bowls, being firm, stay firm, and take ye strength.
Mishap—not Soma—hath been killed.
36 East, west, north, south, from every side to meet thee let
the regions run.
Fill him, O Mother, let the noble meet together.
37 Thou, verily, O Mightiest, as God shalt gladden mortal man.
O Bounteous Lord, there is no comforter but thou. Indra,
I speak my words to thee.

FLOW for Vâchaspati, cleansed by hands from the two off-shoots
of the Bull.
Flow pure, a Deity thyself, for Deities whose share thou art.
2 Sweeten the freshening draughts we drink.
Soma, whatever name thou hast, unconquerable, giving life,
To that thy Soma, Soma! Hail!
3 Self-made art thou from all the Powers that are in heaven
and on the earth.
May the Mind win thee, thee, All-hail! for Sûrya, O thou
nobly-born.
Thee for the Deities who sip light-atoms.
Truly fulfilled, O Plant divine, be that for which I pray to
thee.
With ruin falling from above may So-and-So be smitten,
crash!
Thee for out-breathing, thee for breath diffused!
4 Taken upon a base art thou. Hold in, Rich Lord! be Soma's
guard.
Be thou protector of our wealth: win strengthening food by
sacrifice.

p. 52

5 The heaven and spacious earth I lay within thee, I lay within
thee middle air's wide region.
Accordant with the Gods lower and higher, Rich Lord, rejoice
thee in the Antaryâma.
O Self-made art thou . . . . . light-atoms (verse 3 repeated).
Thee for the upward breath.
7 O Vâyu, drinker of the pure, be near us: a thousand teams
are thine, All-bounteous Giver.
To thee the rapture-giving juice is offered, whose first
draught, God, thou takest as thy portion.
8 These, Indra-Vâyu! have been shed; come for our offered
dainties’ sake:
The drops are yearning for you both.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Vâyu, Indra-Vâyu, thee.
This is thy home. Thee for the close-knit friends.
9 This Soma hath been shed for you, Law-strengtheners,
Mitra-Varuna!
Here listen ye to this my call.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Mitra thee, for Varuna.
10 May we, possessing much, delight in riches, Gods in oblation,
and the kine in pasture;
And that Milch-cow who shrinks not from the milking,
O Indra-Varuna, give to us daily.
This is thy home. Thee for the righteous Twain.
11 Distilling honey is your whip, Asvins, and full of pleasantness:
Sprinkle therewith the sacrifice.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Asvins. This is
thy home. Thee for the Honey-lovers.

p. 53

12 Thou in the first old time, as all were wont, so now drawest
from him, light-finder, throned on sacred grass,
Preeminence and strength, from him turned hither, swift,
roaring, who winneth those whereby thou waxest strong.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for Sanda.
This is thy home. Protect thou manly power.
Sanda hath been removed, may Deities who drink the pure
libation lead thee forward. Invincible art thou.
13 Well stored with heroes and begetting heroes, with growth
of wealth surround the Sacrificer.
The Bright, conjoined with Heaven and with Earth, with
the brightly-shining one.
Expelled is Sanda. Thou art Sukra's dwelling.
14 May we, O radiant Soma, be the keepers of thine uninjured
strength and growth of riches.
This is the first all-bounteous Consecration: he the first,
Varuna, Mitra, and Agni.
15 He is the first Brihaspati, the Prudent. Offer ye juice with
Svâhâ! to that Indra.
Content be priestly offices, those with good sacrifice of meath,
those that are pleased when they have gained fair offerings
with the solemn Hail!
The Kindler of the Fire hath sacrificed.
16 See, Vena, born in light hath driven hither on chariot of
the air the calves of Prisni.

p. 54

Singers with hymns caress him as an infant there where the
waters and the sunlight mingle.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for Marka.
17 To his oblation, swift as thought ye hurried and welcomed
eagerly the prayers he offered.
With arrows in his hand the Very Mighty forced from him
all obedience of a servant.
This is thy dwelling-place. Protect the people. Marka hath
been removed.
Gods, drinkers of the Man thin, lead thee forward! Invincible
art thou.
18 Well stored with people and begetting people, with growth
of wealth surround the Sacrificer.
The Manthin joined with Heaven and Earth and with the
Manthin-shining one.
Expelled is Marka. Thou art Manthin's dwelling.
19 O ye eleven Gods whose home is heaven, O ye eleven who
make earth your dwelling.
Ye who with might, eleven, live in waters, accept this sacrifice,
Ye Gods, with pleasure.
20 Taken upon a base art thou. Thou art Âgrayana, good first
libation.
Be thou the guard of sacrifice: protect the sacrifice's lord.
Vishnu with might protect thee. Guard thou Vishnu.
Guard on all sides the Soma sacrifices.
21 Soma flows pure, Soma flows pure for this Priesthood, for
the Nobility, pure for the worshipper who presses out
the juice, flows pure for food and energy, for waters and
for plants; flows pure for general prosperity. Thee for the
Universal Gods. This is thy home. Thee for the Universal
Gods.

p. 55

22 Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra Lord of the Brihat,
strong with vital vigour, I take thee lover of the invocation.
Indra, what mighty vigour thou possessest, for that do
I take thee, take thee for Vishnu
This is thy home. Thee for the recitations.
For the Gods take I thee, the Gods’ protector; yea, for the
sacrifice's life I take thee.
23 For Mitra-Varuna thee, the Gods protector, yea, for the
sacrifice's life I take thee.
For Indra, thee, etc. For Indra-Agni, thee, etc. For Indra-
Varuna, thee, etc. For Indra-Brihaspati thee, etc. For
Indra-Vishnu thee, etc.
24 Him, messenger of earth and head of heaven, Agni Vaisvânara,
born in holy Order,
The Sage, the King, the Guest of men, a vessel fit for their
mouths, the Gods have generated.
25 Taken upon a base art thou. Firm, firmly resting, the
firmest of the firm, the most securely grounded of those
who never have been shaken.
This is thy home. Thee for Vaisvânara.
I pour forth with firm mind, with voice, firm Soma. So
now may Indra verily make our people all of. One heart
and mind and free from foemen.
26 Whatever drop of thine leaps forth, whatever stalk from
the bowls’ lap, shaken by the press-stone,
From the Adhvaryu's hand or from the filter, that, consecrated
in my mind with Vashat I offer unto thee with
cry of Svâhâ!
Thou art the way by which the Gods ascended.

p. 56

27 Giver of splendour, grow thou pure for splendour for my
outward breath.
Giver of splendour, grow thou pure for splendour for my
spreading breath.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my upward breath.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my power of speech.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my sense and will.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my hearing power.
Givers of splendor, grow ye pure for splendour for my
orbs of sight.
28 Giver of splendour, grow thou pure for splendour for my
living self.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my energy.
Giver, etc. ... ... ... for my vital power.
Givers of splendour, grow ye pure for splendour for all
sprung from me.
29 Who art thou? Which of all art thou? Whose art thou?
Who art thou by name?
Even thou on whose name we have meditated, then whom
we have delighted with our Soma.
30 Taken upon a base art thou. For Madhu thee: Taken
upon a base art thou. For Mâdhava thee.
Taken, etc. For Sukra thee. Taken, etc. For Suchi thee.
Taken, etc. For Nabhas thee. Taken, etc. For Nabhasya
thee. Taken, etc. For Food thee. Taken, etc. For
Energy thee. Taken, etc. For Sahas thee. Taken, etc.
For Sahasya thee. Taken, etc. For Tapas thee. Taken, etc.
For Tapasya thee. Taken, etc. For Amhasaspati thee.

p. 57

31 Moved, Indra-Agni, by our hymns, come to the juice, the
precious dew.
Drink ye thereof, impelled by song.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra-Agni thee. This
is thy dwelling. Thee for Indra-Agni.
32 Hitherward! they who light the flame and straightway
strew the sacred grass,
Whose Friend is Indra ever young.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra-Agni thee. This
is thy dwelling. Thee for Indra-Agni.
33 Ye Visvedevas who protect, reward, and cherish men, approach
Your worshipper's drink-offering.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Universal Gods.
This is thy home. Thee for the Visvedevas.
34 O ye All-Gods, come hitherward: hear this my invocation
seat
Yourselves upon this sacred grass.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Universal Gods.
This is thy home. Thee for the Visvedevas.
35 Here drink the Soma, Indra girt by Maruts! as thou didst
drink the juice beside Sâryâta.
Under thy guidance, in thy keeping, Hero! the singers serve,
skilled in fair sacrifices.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
This is thy home. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
36 The Bull whose strength hath waxed, whom Maruts follow,
free-giving Indra, the Celestial Ruler,
Mighty, all-conquering, the victory-giver, him we invoke to
give us new protection.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
This is thy home. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Maruts’ energy.

p. 58

37 Indra, accordant with the banded Maruts, drink Soma,
Hero! as wise Vritra-slayer.
Slay thou our foemen, drive away assailants, and make us
safe on every side from danger.
Taken, etc. For Indra girt by Maruts thee. This is thy
home. For Indra girt by Maruts thee.
38 Drink, Indra Marut-girt, as Bull, the Soma: for joy, for
rapture even as thou pleasest.
Pour down the wave of meath within thy belly thou art
the King of juices shed fortnightly.
Taken, etc.......Maruts thee (as above).
39 Great, hero-like, controlling men is Indra, unwasting in
his powers, doubled in vastness.
He, turned to us, hath grown to hero vigour: broad, wide,
he hath been decked by those who serve him.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for Mahendra.
This is thy dwelling-place. Thee for Mahendra.
40 Indra, great in his power and might, and like Parjanya rich
In rain,
Is magnified by Vatsa's lauds.
Taken, etc. (as in 39).
41 His bright rays bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth
all that lives,
Sûrya, that all may look on him. All-hail!
42 The brilliant presence of the Gods hath risen, the eye of
Mitra, Varuna, and Agni.
Soul of all moving, soul of all that moves not, the Sun
hath filled the air and earth and heaven.
43 By goodly paths lead us to riches, Agni, thou God who
knowest every sacred duty.
Remove the sin that makes us stray and wander: most
ample adoration will we bring thee.
44 Wide room and comfort may this Agni give us, and go
before us cleaving down our foemen.

p. 59

May he win booty in the fight for booty: may he quell
foes in his triumphant onset.
45 I through your beauty have attained to beauty. The Tutha,
the omniscient, allot you!
Go forth, bright-gifted! on the path of Order. Look thou
upon the heaven and air's mid-region. Unite thee with
the priests who keep the Sadas.
46 This day may it he mine to find a Brâhman sprung from a
lauded father and grandfather,
Offspring of Rishis and himself a Rishi, the fit recipient of
priestly guerdon.
Go to the Gods, bestowed by me, and enter into him who
gives.
47 To Agni, yea, to me let Varuna give thee. May I gain life
that shall endure for ever.
Be thou strong vital power to him who gives thee, and com-
fort unto me the gift's receiver.
To Rudra, yea, to me let Varuna........................for ever.
Be thou the breath of life to him who gives thee, and vigour
unto me the gift's receiver.
To me Brihaspati let Varuna........................for ever.
Be thou a covering skin to him who gives thee, and comfort
unto me the gift's receiver.
To Varna, yea, to me let Varuna........................for ever.
Be thou a steed to him who gives the guerdon, and vital
power to me the gift's receiver.
48 Who hath bestowed it? Upon whom bestowed it?
Desire bestowed it, for Desire he gave it. Desire is giver
and Desire receiver. This, O Desire, to thee is dedicated.

TAKEN upon a base art thou. Thee for the Âdityas.
Here, O Far-striding Vishnu, is thy Soma. Guard it from
injury. Let them not harm thee.
2 Ne’er art thou fruitless, Indra; ne’er dost thou desert thy
worshipper.
But now, O Liberal Lord, thy bounty as a God is poured
forth ever more and more. Thee for the Âdityas.
3 Never art thou neglectful: thou guardest both races with
thy care.
The Soma feast, O Fourth Âditya, is thy strength. Amrit
is stablished in the heavens. Thee for the Âdityas.
4 The sacrifice obtains the Gods’ acceptance. Be graciously
inclined to us, Âdityas.
Hitherward let your favour be directed and be our best deliverer
from trouble. Thee for the Âdityas.
5 This is thy Soma draught, O bright Âditya: take delight
therein.
To this mine utterance, O ye men, give credence, what good
the man and wife obtain by praying:
A manly son is burn and gathers riches, and thrives for ever
sinless in the dwelling.
6 Fair wealth, O Savitar, to-day, to-morrow, fair wealth produce
for us each day that passes.
May we, through this our song, be happy gainers, God! of
a fair and spacious habitation.

p. 61

7 Taken upon a base art thou.
Savitar's giver of delight art thou. Giver of joy art thou:
vouchsafe me joy.
Speed thou the sacrifice, speed thou the sacrifice's lord to
win his share. Thee for the God, for Savitar.
8 Taken upon a base art thou.
Thou art a good protector, firmly stablished. To the Great
Bull be reverential homage. Thee for the Visvedevas.
This is thy home: Thee for the Visvedevas.
9 Taken upon a base art thou.
May it be mine to prosper the libations of thee Brihaspati's
son, O radiant Soma, of thee, strong Indu, mated with
thy Consorts.
I am in heaven above, on earth beneath it. The intermediate
region was my father.
I saw the Sun both from above and under. I am what Gods
in secret hold the highest.
10 Agni, associate with the Dames, accordant with the God
Tvashtar, drink. All-hail!
Thou art Prajâpati, strong male, impregner: may I obtain
from thee, strong male, impregner, a son who shall himself
become a father.
11 Taken upon a base art thou.
Thou art bay-coloured, Yoker of Bay Coursers. Thee for
the pair of tawny-coloured horses.
United with the Soma, ye, for Indra, are corn for his two
tawny steeds to feed on.
12 That draught of thine which winneth cows or horses, offered
with sacrificial text and lauded

p. 62

With chanted hymns and songs of adoration—of that permitted
do I take permitted.
13 Of sin against the Gods thou art atonement. Of sin against
mankind thou art atonement.
For sin against the Fathers thou atonest. Of sin against
oneself thou art atonement.
Of every sort of sin thou art atonement. The sin that I
have knowingly committed, the sin that unawares I have
committed, of all that wickedness thou art the atonement.
14 We with our bodies have again united, with lustre, vital sap,
and happy spirit.
Giver of boons, may Tvashtar grant us riches and smooth
whate’er was injured in our body.
15 Lead us with thought to wealth in kine, O Indra, to princes,
Lord of Bounty! and to welfare.
Lead thou us on to God-inspired devotion, to favour of the
Gods who merit worship. All-hail!
16 Verse 14 repeated.
17 May this please Savitar and liberal Dhâtar, Prajâpati the
Treasure-Guard, bright Agni,
Tvashtar, and Vishnu: blessing him with children, grant
store of riches to the Sacrificer.
18 Gods, we have made your seats easy of access, who, pleased
with us, have come to this libation.
Bearing and bringing hitherward your treasures, grant to
this man, good Lords, abundant riches. All-hail!
19 The willing Gods whom, God, thou hast brought hither, send
them to their own dwelling-place, O Agni.
As all of you have eaten and have drunken, approach the
air, the heat, the light of heaven.

p. 63

20 Here, Agni, as this sacrifice proceedeth, have we elected thee
to be our Hotar.
Special have been thine offerings and thy labour. Well
knowing sacrifice, as sage, come near us.
21 Do ye, O Gods, discoverers of the Pathway, go forward on
the path when ye have found it.
O God, thou Lord and Master of the Spirit, bestow—
All-hail!—this sacrifice on Vâta.
22 Go, Sacrifice, to the sacrifice: seek thou the sacrifice's lord,
seek thine own home. All-hail!
Lord of the sacrifice, this is thy sacrifice, followed by many
heroes, loud with hymns of praise. Accept it thou.
All-hail!
23 Become no serpent thou, become no viper.
King Vat-tins 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.
To Varuna be reverential homage! Varuna's noose beneath
our feet is trampled.
24 The waters, face of Agni, have I entered, O Waters’ Child,
repelling evil spirits.
Offer the fuel in each home, O Agni. Let thy tongue dart
—All-hail!—to meet the butter.
25 Thy heart is in the flood, within the waters. With thee let
plants and waters be commingled,
That, Lard of Sacrifice, we may adore thee with singing
praise and telling forth our homage. All-hail!
26 This, O celestial Waters, is your offspring. Support him
dearly loved and gently nurtured.

p. 64

This is thy station, O celestial Soma; therein bring happiness
and ward off evil.
17 O restless Purifying Bath, thou glidest onward restlessly.
May I with aid of Gods remove the stain of sin against the
Gods, and wash away with mortals’ help the wrong that
hath been done to men. Preserve me, God, from injury,
from the loud-roaring demon foe. Thou art the fuel of
the Gods.
28 Let, still unborn, the ten-month calf move with the following
after-birth.
Even as the-wind is moving, as the gathered flood of ocean
moves,
So may this ten-month calf come forth together with the
after-birth.
29 O thou who hast a womb of gold and offspring meet for
sacrifice,
Him with all limbs unbroken have I brought together with
his dam. All-hail!
30 Multiform, rich in wondrous operation, the strong juice
hath enrobed itself with greatness.
Let the worlds praise her uniped and biped, three-footed
and four-footed and eight-footed. All-hail!
31 Verily, best of guardians hath he in whose dwelling-place
ye drink,
O Maruts, giants of the sky.
32 May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, besprinkle this
our sacrifice,
And feed us full with nourishments.

p. 65

33 Slayer of Vritra, mount thy car: thy Bay Steeds have been
yoked by prayer.
May, with its voice, the pressing-stone draw thine attention
hither ward.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra thee, for Shodasî.
This is a dwelling-place for thee. For Indra thee, for
Shodasî.
34 Harness thy pair of strong Bay Steeds, long-maned, whose
bodies fill the girths,
And, Indra, Soma-drinker, come to listen to our songs of
praise.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 33.
35 His pair of tawny Coursers bring Indra of unresisted might
Hither to Rishis’ songs of praise and sacrifice performed by
men.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 33.
36 Than whom there is none other born more mighty, who
hath pervaded all existing creatures—
Prajâpati, rejoicing in his offspring, he, Shodasî, maintains
the three great lustres.
37 Indra chief Lord and Varuna the Sovran have made this
draught of thine the first and foremost.
I, after, drink their draught. May she, the Goddess of
Speech, rejoicing, sate herself with Soma—All-hail!—with
Prâna as her feast-companion.
38 Skilled in thy task, O Agni, pour lustre and hero strength
on us,
Granting me wealth and affluence.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Agni thee, for splendour
This is thy home. For Agni thee, for splendour.
Thou, lustrous Agni, mid the Gods art splendid. May I
among mankind be bright with lustre.

p. 66

39 Arising in thy might thy jaws thou shookest, Indra, having
drunk
The Soma which the mortar pressed.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra thee, for mighty
strength.
This is thy home. For Indra thee, for might.
Among the Gods thou art the mightiest, Indra. Among
mankind I fain would be most mighty.
40 His herald rays are seen afar refulgent o’er the world of
men,
Like flames of fire that burn and blaze.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Sûrya, for the Bright One,
thee.
This is thy home. For Sûrya, for the Bright One, thee.
Thou among Gods art brightest, brightest Sûrya. Among
mankind I fain would be the brightest.
41 His herald rays bear him aloft, the God who knoweth all
that lives, Sûrya, that all may look at him.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 40.
42 Smell thou the vat. Let Soma drops pass into thee, O
Mighty One.
Return again with store of sap. Pour for us wealth in thou-
sands thou with full broad streams and floods of milk. A
Let riches come again to me.
43 Idâ, delightful, worshipful, loveable, splendid, shining One,
Inviolable, full of sap, the Mighty One, most glorious,
These are thy names, O Cow: tell thou the Gods that I act
righteously.

p. 67

44 O Indra, beat our foes away, humble the men who challenge us:
Send down to nether darkness him who seeks to do us injury.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra, foe-dispeller, thee.
This is thy home. For Indra, foe-dispeller, thee.
45 Let us invoke to-day, to aid our labour, the Lord of Speech,
the thought-swift Visvakarman.
May he hear kindly all our invocations, who gives all bliss
for aid, whose works are righteous.
Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra Visvakarman thee.
This is thy home. For Indra Visvakarman thee.
46 With strengthening libation, Visvakarman, thou madest
Indra an undying guardian.
The people of old time bowed down before him because the
Mighty One was meet for worship.
Taken upon a base, etc., as in 45.
47 Taken upon a base art thou.
I take thee lord of Gâyatrî for Agni. For Indra take I thee
the lord of Trishtup.
I lake thee lord of Jagatî for All-Gods. Anushtup is the
song that sings thy praises.
48 I stir thee for the fall of cloud-borne waters. I stir thee for
the fall of streams that gurgle. I stir thee for the fall of
those that gladden. I stir thee for their fall who are most
lovely. I stir thee for their fall that are the sweetest. I
stir thee for the waters’ fall, I stir thee, pure one, in the
pure, in the day's form, in Sûrya's beams.
49 The Bull's majestic form is shining brightly, the pure the
pure's preceder, Soma Soma's.
Whatever name invincible, stimulating, is thine, O Soma,
for that name I take thee.
All-hail to Soma, unto thee, O Soma.

p. 68

50 O radiant Soma, eagerly draw nigh to Agni's well-loved food.
O radiant Soma, willingly go to the food that Indra loves.
Go, radiant Soma, as our friend, to the All-Gods’ beloved food.
51 Here is delight: enjoy yourselves; here surety, surety of
your own. All-hail!
Loosing the suckling to his dam, the suckling as he milks
his dam
May he maintain the growth of wealth among us. All-hail!
52 Thou art the Session's happy termination.
We have attained the light and grown immortal.
We have gone up from earth to sky, have found the Gods
and heaven and light.
53 Indra and Parvata, our champions in the fight, drive ye away
the man who fain would war with us, drive him far from
us with the bolt.
Welcome to him concealed afar shall be the lair that he
hath found.
So may the Render rend our foes on every side, rend them.
O Hero, everywhere.
Earth! Ether! Sky! May we be rich in offspring, rich in
brave sons and rich in food to feed us.
54 Parameshthin when contemplated. Prajâpati in uttered
speech.
Food when approached. Savitar in the partition. Visvakarman
in Consecration. Pûshan in the Soma-purchasing
cow.

p. 69

55 As Indra and the Maruts he is stationed ready for the sale:
Asura, being bought and sold. Mitra when purchased;
Vishnu Sipivishta when on the Sacrificer's thigh he resteth;
Vishnu Naraudhisha brought on the barrow;
56 Soma when come: when seated on the platform, Varuna;
Agni in the sacred fire-place;
Indra upon the sacrificial barrow; Atharvan when deposited
for pounding;
57 All-Gods when offered in the scattered fragments; Vishnu,
the guard of those who soothe his anger, when he is filled
and swelling in the waters; Yama in pressing; Vishnu
in collection;
Vâyu what time they cleanse and purify him; the Bright
when cleansed; the Bright with milk about him; Manthin
commingled with the meal of barley;
58 All-Gods when he is drawn away in beakers; Life when
uplifted for the fire-oblation; Rudra when offered; Vâta
when reverted; Man-viewer when beheld; drink when
they drink him; deposited, the Nârâsamsa Fathers;
59 Sindhu when ready for the bath that cleanses the sea
when he is carried to the waters; Water is he when he is
plunged beneath it.
To those most mighty hath it gone, most manly in vigour,
by whose strength the worlds were stablished,
Who rule as Lords resistless in their grandeur, Vishnu and
Varuna, at the prayer of morning.

p. 70

60 To Gods, to sky the sacrifice hath gone: come riches thence
to me!
To men, to air the sacrifice hath gone: come riches thence
to me!
To Fathers, earth, the sacrifice hath gone: come riches
thence to me!
Whatever sphere the sacrifice hath reached, may wealth
come thence to me
61 The threads that have been spun, the four-and-thirty, which
stablish this our sacrifice with Svadhâ,
Of these I join together what is broken. All-hail! to Gods
go the warm milk oblation!
62 Spread far and wide is sacrifice's milking: eightfold along
the heaven hath it extended.
Pour, Sacrifice! in plenty on mine offspring: may I obtain
prosperity for ever. All-hail!
63 Soma, send wealth in gold and steeds and heroes. All-hail!
bring hitherward booty in cattle.

OUR sacrifice, God Savitar, speed onward: speed to his share
the sacrifice's patron.
May the celestial Gandharva, cleanser of thought and will,
make clean our thought and purpose: the Lord of Speech
sweeten the food we offer.
2 Thee, firmly set, settled in man, in spirit.
Taken upon a base art thou. I take thee, draught acceptable
to Indra. This is thy home. Thee, welcomest to Indra.
Thee Set in waters, butter, realm of ether. Taken upon
......Indra.
Thee seated in the sky, earth, air's mid-region, among the
Gods and in the vault of heaven. Taken, etc. as above:
3 The strength-arousing essence of the waters, gathered in
the Sun, Essence of waters’ essence, that, most excellent,
I take for you.
Taken, etc., as above.
4 Cups of strength-giving sacrifice, inspirers of the sage's
hymn
Of you, the handleless, have I collected all the sap and
strength.
Taken, etc., as above.
United are ye twain: with bliss unite me. Parted are ye:
keep me apart from evil.

p. 72

5 Thou art the thunderbolt of Indra, winner of wealth: with
thee may this man win him riches.
In gain of wealth we celebrate with praises her, Aditi by
name, the Mighty Mother,
On whom this Universe of life hath settled. Thereon God
Savitar promote our dwelling!
6 Amrit is in the Waters, in the Waters healing medicine.
Yea, Horses! at our praises of the Waters grow ye fleet
and strong.
Whatever wave, O ye celestial Waters, wealth-giving,
towering high, and swiftly rushing, is yours, therewith
may this man win him riches.
7 It was the wind, or it was thought, or the Gandharvas
twenty-seven
These at the first harnessed the horse: they set the power
of speed in him.
8 Steed, being yoked grow wind-swift: be beauteous as Indra's
right-hand steed.
Omniscient Maruts harness thee! Tvashtar put swiftness in
thy feet!
9 What speed, O Horse, was laid in thee in secret, what
passed in wind, bestowed upon the falcon,
With that same strength be strong for us, O Courser,
wealth-winning and victorious in battle.
Starting to run your course, winners of riches, smell ye
Brihaspati's portion, O ye Horses.
10 By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, may ascend
Brihaspati's highest heaven.

p. 73

By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, may I ascend
the highest heaven of Indra.
By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, Brihaspati's
highest heaven have I ascended.
By impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, I have ascended
Indra's loftiest heaven.
11 Brihaspati, win the prize. Lift up your voices to Brihaspati.
Make ye Brihaspati win the prize.
Do thou, O Indra, win the prize. To Indra lift your voices
up. Make Indra winner of the prize.
12 True hath been this your league whereby ye made
Brihaspati win the prize.
Brihaspati have ye caused to win the prize. Be freed, ye
Forest-lords.
Faithful was this your league whereby ye have made Indra
win the prize.
Ye have made Indra win the prize. Be ye set free, ye
Forest-lords.
13 Through impulse of God Savitar, true Impeller, mine be
Brihaspati's prize who winneth prizes.
On to the goal, ye Steeds, winners of prizes, blocking the
ways and meting out the courses!
14 Bound by the neck and at the flanks and in the mouth,
that vigorous Courser lends new swiftness to his sped.

p. 74

Drawing himself together as his strength allows, Dadhikrâs
speeds along the windings of the paths. All-hail!
15 His pinion, rapid runner, fans him on his way, as of a bird
that hastens onward to its aim,
And, as it were a falcon's gliding through the air, strikes
Dadhikrâvan's side as he speeds on with might. All-hail!
16 Bless us the Coursers when we call, while slowly they move,
strong singers, to the Gods’ assembly.
Crushing the wolf, the serpent, and the demons, may they
completely banish all affliction. All-hail!
17 May all those vigorous Coursers listen to our cry, hearers
of invocation, speeders on their way;
Winners of thousands, fain to win where meed is won, who
gather of themselves great wealth in every race.
18 Deep-skilled in Law Eternal, wise, immortal, O Coursers,
help us in each fray for booty.
Drink of this meath, be satisfied, be joyful: then go on
paths which Gods are wont to travel.
19 To me come plenteous growth of wealth! Approach me
these, Heaven and Earth, who wear each form and figure!
Hither may Father come to me, and Mother. Soma with
immortality approach me!
20 To the Friend, Hail! To the Good Fiend, Hail! To the
Later-born, Hail! To Resolution, Hail! To the Vasu, Hail!
To the Lord of Days, Hail! To the Failing Day, Hail!
To the Failing sprung from the Transitory, Hail! To the
Transitory sprung from the Final, Hal! To the Final
Mundane, Hail! To the Lord of the World, Hail! To the
Sovran Lord, Hail!

p. 75

21 May life succeed through sacrifice. May life-breath thrive
by sacrifice. May the eye thrive by sacrifice. May the
ear thrive by sacrifice. May the back thrive by sacrifice.
May sacrifice thrive by sacrifice.
We have become the children of Prajâpati. Gods, we have
gone to heaven. We have become immortal.
22 In us be your great might and manly vigour, in us be your
intelligence and splendour.
Obeisance to our Mother Earth! Obeisance to our Mother
Earth!
This is thy Sovranty. Thou art the ruler, thou art controller,
thou art firm and stedfast.
Thee for land-culture, thee for peace and quiet, thee for
wealth, thee for increase of our substance.
23 Of old the furtherance of strength urged onward this Sovran
Soma in the plants and waters.
For us may they be stored with honey: stationed in front
may we be watchful in the kingdom. All-hail!
24 The furtherance of strength extended over this heaven and
all the worlds as sovran ruler.
He, knowing, makes the churl a bounteous giver: wealth
may he grant us with full store of heroes. All-hail
25 Surely the furtherance of strength pervaded all these
existing worlds in all directions.
From olden time the King moves round, well knowing,
strengthening all the people and our welfare.
26 As suppliants, for aid we grasp Soma the King, and Agni, the
Âdityas, Vishnu, Sûrya, and the Brahman-priest Brihaspati.

p. 76

27 Urge Aryaman to send us gifts, and Indra. and Brihaspati,
Yak, Vishnu, and Sarasvatî, and the strong Courser Savitar.
28 Agni, speak kindly to us here, be graciously inclined to us.
Winner of thousands, grant us boons, for thou art he who
giveth wealth.
29 Let Aryaman vouchsafe us wealth, and Pûshan, and
Brihaspati.
May Vâk the Goddess give to us. All-hail!
30 Thee by the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with arms of
Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan.
To Vâk Sarasvatî's controlling guidance, hers the controlling
leader, I consign thee.
I with Brihaspati's supreme dominion endow thee by the
balm of consecration
31 With the monosyllable Agni won vital breath: may I win
that. With the dissyllable the Asvins won bipeds: may
I win those. With the trisyllable
Vishnu won the three worlds: may I win those. With
quadrisyllabic metre
Soma won four-footed cattle: may I win those.
32 With five-syllable metre Pûshan won the five regions: may
I win them.
With six-syllable metre Savitar won the six seasons: may
I win them.
With seven-syllable metre the Maruts won the seven
domestic animals:
May I win them. With octosyllabic metre Brihaspati won
the Gâyatrî: may I win that.
33 With nine-syllable metre Mitra won the Trivrit Stoma:
may I win that. With decasyllabic metre Varuna won
Virâj: may I win that.

p. 77

With hendecasyllabic metre Indra won Trishtup: may I
win that.
With dodecasyllabic metre the All-Gods won Jagatî: may
I win that.
34 The Vasus by thirteen-syllable metre won the Thirteenfold
Stoma: may I win that. The Rudras by fourteen-syllable
metre won the fourteenfold Stoma: may I win that. The
Âdityas with fifteen-syllable metre won the Fifteenfold
Stoma: may I win that. Aditi with sixteen-syllable metre
won the Sixteenfold Stoma: may I win that. Prajâpati
with seventeenfold metre won the Seventeenfold Stoma:
may I win that.
35 This is thy portion, Nirriti! Accept it graciously. All-hail!
To Gods whose guide is Agni, to the eastward-seated Gods,
All-hail!
To Gods whose guide is Yama, to the southward-seated
Gods, All-hail!
To Gods whose guides are the All-Gods, those who are seated
westward, Hail!
Hail to the northward-seated Gods, to those whose guides
are Mitra and Varuna or the Marut host!
To Gods whose guide is Soma, who, worshipful, sit on high,
All-hail!
36 Gods who have Agni as their guide, whose seat is eastward,
Hail to them!
Gods who have Yama as their guide, whose seat is southward,
Hail to them!
Gods who have All-Gods as their guides, whose seat is westward,
Hail to them!
Gods who have Mitra-Varuna for guides, north-seated,
Hail to them!
Gods who have Soma as their guide, high-seated, worshipful,
Hail to them!
37 Agni, subdue opposing bands and drive our enemies away.
Invincible, slay godless foes: give splendour to the worshipper.

p. 78

38 Thee at the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with Asvins’ arms
and with the hands of Pûshan,
I offer with the strength of the Upâmsu. Slain is the demon
brood. All-hail!
Thee for the slaughter of the brood of demons. The demons
have we slain, have slain. So-and-So, So-and-So is slain.
39 Savitar quicken thee for sway of rulers, Agni of householders,
of the trees Soma,
Brihaspati of Speech, for lordship Indra, Rudra for cattle,
Mitra for true-speaking, Varuna for the sway of Law's
protectors.
40 Gods, quicken him that none may be his rival, for mighty
domination, mighty lordship,
Him, son of Such-a-man and Such-a-woman, of Such-a-tribe.
This is your King, ye Tribesmen. Soma is Lord and King
of us the Brâhmans.

THE Gods drew waters with their store of sweetness, succulent
and observant, king-creating,
Wherewith they sprinkled Varuna and Mitra, wherewith
they guided Indra past his foemen.
2 Wave of the male art thou, giver of kingship. Do thou—
All-hail!—bestow on me the kingdom.
Wave of the male art thou, giver of kingship. Do thou on
So-and-So bestow the kingdom.
Thou hast a host of males, giver of kingship. Do thou—
All-hail!—bestow on me the kingdom.
A host of males hast thou, giver of kingship. Do thou on
So-and-So bestow the kingdom.
3 Swift at your work are ye, givers of kingship. Do ye—
All-hail!—bestow on me the kingdom.
Swift at your work are ye, givers of kingship. Do ye on
So-and-So bestow the kingdom.
Endowed with strength are ye, givers of kingship, etc.
O’erflowing floods are ye, etc.
The Waters’ Lord art thou, giver of kingship. Do thou, etc.
The Waters’ Child art thou, etc.

p. 80

4 With sun-bright skins are ye, givers, etc.
Brilliant as Suns are ye, etc.
Bringers of joy are ye, etc.
Dwellers in cloud are ye, etc
Desirable are ye, etc.
Most powerful are ye, etc.
Endowed with might are ye, etc.
Man-nourishing are ye, etc.
All-nourishing are ye, etc.
Self-ruling Waters are ye, giving kingship. On So-and-So
do ye bestow the kingdom.
Together with the sweet let sweet ones mingle, obtaining
for the Kshatriya mighty power.
Rest in your place inviolate and potent, bestowing on the
Kshatriya mighty power.
5 Brilliance of Soma art thou: may my brilliance grow like
thine.
To Agni Hail! To Soma Hail! To Savitar Hail! To
Sarasvatî Hail! To Pûshan Hail! To Brihaspati Hail! To
Indra Hail! To the Noise Hail! To Fame Hail To Amsa
Hail! To Bhaga Hail! To Aryaman Hail!
6 Ye are two strainers, Varuna's own possession. I make you
pure at Savitar's impulsion, with flawless strainer, with
the beams of Sûrya.
Thou, friend of speech, heat-born, art undefeated. Soma's
share art thou. Hail, ye king producers!

p. 81

7 Sharers in joy are these majestic Waters, inviolate, industrious,
investing.
In these as homes hath Varuna made his dwelling, he, Child
of Waters, in the best of mothers.
8 Thou art the inner caul of princely power, Thou art the
outer caul of princely power. Of princely power thou art
the womb, the navel.
Thou art the Vritra-slaying arm of Indra. Mitra's art thou,
thou Varuna's possession. With thee to aid may this man
slaughter Vritra.
Cleaver art thou; thou Render; thou art Shaker. Protect
him ye in front, protect him rearwards; protect him sidewards;
from all quarters guard him.
9 Visible, O ye men, Informed is Agni, Master of the House.
hold. Informed is Indra of exalted glory. Informed are
Mitra-Varuna, Law-Maintainers. Informed is Pûshan, Lord
of all Possessions. Informed are Heaven and Earth, the
All-propitious. Informed is Aditi who gives wide shelter.
10 Appeased by sacrifice are biting creatures, Ascend the East.
May Gâyatrî protect thee, the psalm Rathantara, the
triple praise-song, the season Spring, and the rich treasure,
Priesthood.

p. 82

11 Ascend the South. Be thy protectors Trishtup, the Brihat
Sâman, the fifteenfold praise-song, the Reason Summer,
and the treasure Kingship.
12 Ascend the West. May Jagatî protect thee, the psalm Vairûpa,
the seventeenfold praise-song, the Rain-time, and
that store of wealth, the People.
13 Ascend the North. Thy guardians be Anushtup, Vairâja
psalm, the twenty-onefold praise-song, the season
Autumn, that rich treasure Fruitage.
14 Ascend the Zenith. Pankti be thy keeper, Sâkvara, Raivata
the pair of Sâmans,
Praise-songs the thirty-threefold and thrice-ninefold, both
seasons, Winter, Dews, that treasure lustre.
The head of Namuchi hath been cast from me.
15 Brilliance of Soma art thou, may my brilliance grow like thine.
Save me from death. Vigour art thou, victory, everlasting life.
16 With golden bodies, at the flush of morning, ye rise on
high, two Sovran Lords, and Sûrya.
Ascend your car, O Varuna and Mitra: thence view infinity
and limitation.
Thou art Mitra, thou art Varuna.
17 Thee with the strength of Soma, Agni's lustre, with Sûrya's
splendour, Indra's might I sprinkle.
Be Lord of princes: safe past arrows guard him.

p. 83

18 = IX. 40.
19 Forth from the summit of the bull, the mountain, pouring
spontaneously, the ships keep moving.
They, lifted up, have turned them back and downward, still
flowing onward, after Ahibudhnya.
Thou art the stepping-forth of Vishnu: thou art Vishnu's
outstep; Vishnu's step art thou.
20 Prajâpati, thou only comprehendest all these created forms,
and none beside thee.
Give us our heart's desire when we invoke thee. So-and-So's
father is this man. Sire of this man is So-and-So.
May we—All-hail!—be lords of rich possessions.
What active highest name thou hast, O Rudra, therein thou
art an offering, art an offering at home. All-hail!
21 Indra's bolt art thou. I by the direction of Mitra-Varuna,
Directors, yoke thee.
I, the uninjured Arjuna, mount thee for firmness, thee for food.
By quickening of the Maruts be thou victor. May we obtain
by mind: with power united.
22 Let us not, Indra, conqueror of the mighty, unfit through
lack of prayer fail to obtain thee.
Ascend the car which thou whose hand bears thunder
controllest, and the reins with noble horses.

p. 84

23 All hail to Agni, Master of the Household! All-hail to Soma,
Sovran of the Forest!
All-hail to the great vigour of the Maruts! All-hail to the
effectual might of Indra!
Injure me not, O Mother Earth, and may I never injure thee.
24 The Hamsa throned in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the
Priest beside the altar, Guest within the house,
Dwelling in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born
of flood, kine, truth, mountain, be is mighty Law.
25 So great art thou: life art thou; give me life,
Mate art thou: thou art splendour; give me splendour.
Strength art thou: give me strength. I draw you downward,
two arms of Indra mighty in achievement.
26 Fair art thou, good to sit on, womb of kingship.
Sit on the fair one, sit on that which offers a pleasant seat:
sit in the womb of kingship.
27 Varuna, Law's maintainer, hath sat down among his people, he
Most wise, for universal sway.
28 Supreme Lord art thou. May these five regions of thine be
prosperous. Brahman! Thou art Brahman, Savitar art
thou, faithful in impulsion, Varuna art thou, he whose
power is real. Indra art thou, whose strength is of the
people. Rudra art thou, the very kind and gracious.

p. 85

Doer of much, Improver, Wealth-increaser!
Indra's holt art thou. Be therewith my vassal.
29 May spacious Agni, Lord of Duty, gladly, vast Agni, Duty's
Lord, accept the butter. All-hail!
Hallowed by Svâhâ, with the beams of Sûrya, strive for his
central place among the kinsmen.
30 I creep forth urged onward by Savitar the Impeller; by
Sarasvatî, Speech; by Tvashtar, created forms; by Pûshan,
cattle; by this Indra; by Brihaspati, Devotion; by
Varuna, Power; by Agni, Brilliance; by Soma, the King;
by Vishnu the tenth Deity.
31 Get dressed for the Asvins. Get dressed for Sarasvatî:
Get dressed for Indra the Good Deliverer:
Soma the Wind, purified by the strainer, Indra's meet
friend, hath gone o’erflowing backward.
32 What then? As men whose fields are full of barley reap
the ripe corn, removing it in order,
So bring the food of these men, bring it hither, who pay
the Sacred Grass their spoken homage.
Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Asvins.
Thee for Sarasvatî, and thee for Indra, for the Excellent
Protector.

p. 86

33 Ye Asvins, Lords of Splendour, drank full draughts of
grateful Soma juice,
And aided Indra in his deeds with Namuchi of Asura birth.
34 As parents aid a son, both Asvins aided thee, Indra, with
their wondrous powers and wisdom.
When thou with might hadst drunk the draught that
gladdens, Sarasvatî, O Bounteous Lord, refreshed thee.

HARNESSING, first of all, the mind, Savitar having stretched
the thought
With reverent look upon the light of Agni bore them up
from earth.
2 By impulse of God Savitar we with our spirit harnessed strive
With might to win the heavenly.
3 Savitar, having harnessed Gods who go to light and heavenly
thought,
Who will create the lofty light—Savitar urge them on their
way!
4 The priests of him the lofty priest well skilled in hymns,
harness their spirit, yea, harness their holy thoughts.
He only, skilled in rules, assigns their priestly tasks. Yea,
lofty is the praise of Savitar the God.
5 I yoke with prayer your ancient inspiration: may the laud
rise as on the prince's pathway.
All Sons of the Immortal One shall hear it, who have resorted
to celestial dwellings.

p. 88

6 Even he, the God whose going forth and majesty the other
Deities have followed with their might,
He who hath measured the celestial regions out by his great
power, he is the Courser Savitar.
7 Our sacrifice, God Savitar! speed forward: speed to his share
the sacrifice's patron.
May the celestial Gandharva, Cleanser of thought and will,
make clean our thoughts and wishes.
The Lord of Speech sweeten the words we utter!
8 God Savitar, speed this God-loved sacrifice of ours,
friend-finding, ever-conquering, winning wealth and heaven.
Speed praise-song with the sacred verse, Rathantara with
Gâyatra, Brihat that runs in Gâyatra. All-hail!
9 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee, with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan, in Angiras’ manner, with
Gâyatrî metre.
From the earth's seat bring thou Purîshya Agni, as Angiras
was wont, with Trishtup metre.
10 Spade art thou; woman art thou. Ours be power with thee
to dig out Agni in his dwelling, as Angiras was wont, with
Jagatî metre.
11 Savitar, bearing in his hand the gold spade which he took
therewith,
Looking with reverence on the light of Agni, raised it from
the earth,
With the Anushtup metre and as Angiras was wont to do.
12 Run hither, urged to speed, O Horse, along the most extended
space.

p. 89

Thy loftiest birthplace is in heaven. thy navel is in air's
mid-realm, the womb that bare thee is on earth.
13 Upon this course, O lords of wealth, harness; ye twain, the
Ass who bears
Agni, and kindly favours us.
14 In every need, in every race we call, as friends, to succour us,
Indra, the mightiest of all.
15 Come speeding on and trampling imprecations; come
gladdening to the chieftainship of Rudra.
Speed through the wide air thou whose paths are pleasant,
with Pûshan for thy mate, providing safety.
16 From the Earth's seat, like Anginas, bring thou Purîshya
Agni forth.
After the wont of Angiras we to Purîshya Agni go.
Agni Purîshya we will bear after the went of Angiras.
17 Agni hath looked along the van of Mornings, looked on the
days, the earliest Jâtavedas,
And many a time along the beams of Sûrya: along the heaven
and earth hast thou extended.
18 The Courser, started on his way, shakes from him all hostilities.
He longs to look with reverent eye on Agni is the mighty.
seat.

p. 90

19 O Courser, having come to earth, seek Agni with a longing
wish.
Tell us by trampling on the ground where we may dig him
from the earth.
20 Heaven is thy back, the earth thy seat, the air thy soul,
the sea thy womb.
Looking around thee with thine eye trample the adversaries
down.
21 Wealth-giver, Courser, from this place step forth to great
felicity.
May we enjoy Earth's favour while we dig forth Agni from
her
22 Down hath he stepped, wealth-giver, racer, courser. Good
and auspicious room on earth thou madest.
Thence let us dig forth Agni, fair to look on, while to the
loftiest vault we mount, to heaven.
23 I thoughtfully besprinkle thee with butter, thee dwelling
near to all existing creatures.
Broad, vast through vital power that moves transversely,
conspicuous, strong with all the food that feeds thee.
24 I sprinkle him who moves in all directions: may he accept
it with a friendly spirit.
Agni with bridegroom's face and lovely colour may not be
touched when all his form is fury.
25 Round the oblation bath he paced, Agni the wise, the Lord
of Strength,
Giving the offerer precious boons.
26 We set thee round us as a fort, victorious Agni, thee a Sage,
Of hero lineage, day by day destroyer of our treacherous foes.
27 Thou, Agni, with the days, fain to shine hitherward, art
brought to life from out the waters, from the stone,

p. 91

From out the forest trees and herbs that grow on ground.
thou, Sovran Lord of men, art generated pure.
28 At Savitar's, the Shining One's, impulsion, with arms of
Asvins and with hands of Pûshan,
As Angiras was wont to do, I dig thee forth from the seat
of Earth, Agni Purîshya.
Thee, Agni, luminous and fair of aspect, resplendent with
imperishable lustre, gracious to living creatures, never
harming,
As Angiras was wont to do, we dig thee forth from the seat
of Earth, Agni Purîshya.
29 Thou art the Waters’ back, the womb of Agni, around the
ocean as it swells and surges.
Waxing to greatness, resting on the lotus, spread thou in
amplitude with heaven's own measure.
30 Yea are a shelter and a shield, uninjured both, and widely
spread.
Do ye; expansive, cover him: bear ye Purîshya Agni up.
31 Cover him, finders of the light, united both with breast and
self,
Bearing between you Agni, the refulgent, everlasting One.
32 Thou art Purîshya, thou support of all. Atharvan was the
first, Agni, who rubbed thee into life.
Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the
lotus, from
The head of Visva, of the Priest.
33 Thee too as Vritra-slayer, thee breaker of forts, the Sage
Dadhyach,
Son of Atharvan, lighted up.

p. 92

34 Pâthya the Bull, too, kindled thee the Dasyus’ most
destructive foe,
Winner of spoil in every fight.
35 Sit, Hotar, in the Hotar's place, observant: lay down the
sacrifice in the place of worship.
Thou, dear to Go is, shalt serve them with oblation. Agni,
give long life to the Sacrificer.
36 Accustomed to the Hotar's place, the Hotar hath seated him,
bright, splendid, passing mighty,
Whose foresight keeps the Law from violation, excellent,
pure-tongued, bringing thousands, Agni.
37 Seat thee, for thou art mighty: shine, best entertainer of
the Gods.
Worthy of sacred food, praised Agni! loose the smoke, ruddy
and beautiful to see.
38 Pour heavenly Waters honey-sweet here for our health, for
progeny.
Forth from the place whereon they fall let plants with goodly
berries spring.
39 May Vâyu Mâtarisvan heal and comfort thy broken heart as
there supine thou liest.
Thou unto whom the breath of Gods gives motion, to Ka,
yea, unto thee, O God, be Vashat!
40 He, nobly born with lustre, shield and refuge, hath sat down
in light.
O Agni, Rich in Splendour, robe thyself in many-hued attire.
41 Lord of fair sacrifice; arise! With Godlike thought protect
us well.

p. 93

With great light splendid to behold come, Agni, through
sweet hymns of praise.
42 Rise up erect to give us aid, stand up like Savitar the God;
Erect as strength-bestower when we call aloud, with unguents
and with priests on thee.
43 Thou, being horn, art Child of Earth and Heaven, parted, fair
Babe, among the plants, O Agni.
The glooms of night thou, brilliant child, subduest, and art
come forth, loud roaring, from the Mothers.
44 Steady be thou, and firm of limb. Steed, be a racer fleet of
foot.
Broad be thou, pleasant as a seat, bearing the store which
Agni needs.
45 Be thou propitious, Angiras, to creatures of the human race.
Set not on fire the heaven and earth, nor air's mid-region,
nor the trees.
46 Forth with loud neighing go the Steed, the Ass that shouteth
as he runs.
Bearing Purîshya Agni on, let him not perish ere his time,
Male bearer of male Agni, Child of Waters, Offspring of the
Sea. Agni, come hither to the feast.
47 The Law the Truth, the Law the Truth. As Angiras was
wont to do, we bear Purîshya Agni on.
Ye Plants, with joyous welcome greet this Agni, auspicious
One who cometh on to meet you.
Removing all distresses and afflictions, here settle down and
banish evil purpose.

p. 94

48 Welcome him joyfully, ye Plants, laden with bloom and
goodly fruit.
This seasonable Child of yours hath settled in his ancient
seat.
49 Resplendent with thy wide-extending lustre dispel the terrors
of the fiends who hate us.
May lofty Agni be my guide and shelter, ready to hear our
call, the good Protector.
50 Ye, Waters, are beneficent, so help ye us to energy
That we may look on great delight.
51 Give us a portion of the sap, the most propitious that ye
have.
Like mothers in their longing love.
52 To you we gladly come for him to whose abode ye lead us
on:
And, Waters, give us procreant strength.
53 Mitra, having commingled earth and ground together with
the light
For health to creatures mix I thee Omniscient and nobly
born.
54 The Rudras, having mixed the earth, set all aglow the lofty
light.
Bright and perpetual their light verily shines among the
Gods.
55 The lump of clay that hath been mixed by Vasus, Rudras,
by the wise,
May Sinîvâlî with her hands soften and fit it for the work.
56 May Sinîvâlî with fair braids, with beauteous crest, with
lovely locks,
May she, O mighty Aditi, bestow the Fire-pan in thy hands.

p. 95

57 Aditi shape the Fire-pan with her power, her arms, her
intellect,
And in her womb bear Agni as a mother, in her lap, her
son.
58 With Gâyatrî, like Angiras the Vasus form and fashion thee!
Stedfast art then, thou art the Earth. Establish in me progeny,
command of cattle, growth of wealth, kinsmen for
me the worshipper.
With Trishtup may the Rudras, like Angiras, form and
fashion thee.
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Air. Establish in me, etc.,
as above.
With Jagatî, like Angiras, Âdityas form and fashion thee!
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Sky. Establish in me, etc.
Friends of all men, the All-Gods with Anushtup form thee
Angiras-like.
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Quarters. Establish in me,
etc.
59 The zone of Aditi art thou. Aditi seize thy hollow space.
She, having made the great Fire-pan, a womb for Agni,
formed of clay,
Aditi, gave it to her Sons and, Let them bake it, were her
words.
60 The Vasus make thee fragrant, as Angiras did, with Gâyatrî!
The Rudras make thee fragrant with the Trishtup, as did
Angiras!
With Gâyatrî, like Angiras, may the Âdityas perfume thee.
Dear to all men, may the All-Gods with the Anushtup
sweeten thee, as Angiras was wont to do.
May Indra make thee odorous. May Varuna make thee
odorous. May Vishnu make thee odorous.

p. 96

61 Pit! Angiras-like may Aditi the Goddess, beloved by all
Gods, dig thee in Earth's bosom.
Pan! Angiras-like may the Gods’ heavenly Consorts, dear
to all Gads, in the Earth's bosom place thee.
Pan! Angiras-like may Dhishanâs, Divine Ones, dear to alt
Gods, in the Earth's bosom light thee.
Pan! Angiras-like may the divine Varûtrîs, dear to all Gods,
in the earth's bosom heat thee,
Pan! Angiras-like may the celestial Ladies, dear to all Gods,
in the earth's bosom bake thee.
Angiras-like may the celestial Matrons, beloved by all the
Gods, with unclipped pinions, within the lap of Earth,
O Fire pan, bake thee.
62 The gainful grace of Mitra, God, supporter of the race of
man,
Is glorious, of most wondrous fame.
63 With lovely arms, with lovely hands, with lovely fingers
may the God Savitar make thee clean, yea, by the power
be hath.
Not trembling on the earth fill thou the regions, fill the
Quarters full.
64 Having arisen wax thou great, yea, stand thou up
immovable.
To thee, O Mitra, I entrust this Fire-pan for security. May
it remain without a break.
65 Thee may the Vasus, Angiras-like, fill with the metre
Gâyatrî.
Thee may the Rudras, Angiras-like, fill with the Trishtup
metre full.

p. 97

Thee may Âdityas, Angiras-like, fill with the metre Jagatî.
With the Anushtup metre may the All-Gods, dear to all
men, fill thee full, as Angiras was wont.
66 Intention, Agni. Motive, Hail! Mind, Wisdom, Agni, Motive,
Hail!
Thought, Knowledge, Agni, Motive, Hail! Rule of Speech,
Agni, Motive, Hail!
To Manu Lord of creatures, Hail! To Agni dear to all men,
Hail!
67 May every mortal man elect the friendship of the guiding God.
Each one solicits him for wealth: let him seek fame to
prosper him. All-hail!
68 Break not, nor suffer any harm. Endure, O Mother, and
be brave;
This work will thou and Agni do.
69 Be firm for weal, O Goddess Earth. Made in the wonted
manner thou
Art a celestial design.
Acceptable to Gods he this oblation. Arise thou in this
sacrifice uninjured.
70 Wood-fed, bedewed with sacred oil, ancient, Invoker,
excellent,
The Son of Strength, the Wonderful.
71 Abandoning the foeman's host, pass hither to this company:
Assist the men with whom I stand.
72 From the remotest distance come, Lord of the Red Steeds,
hitherward.
Do thou Purîshya, Agni, loved of many, overcome our foes.

p. 98

73 O Agni, whatsoever be the fuel that we lay on thee,
May that he butter unto thee. Be pleased therewith, Most
Youthful God.
74 That which the termite eats away, that over which the
emmet crawls—
Butter be all of this to thee. Be pleased therewith, Most
Youthful God.
75 Bringing to him, with care unceasing, fodder day after day
as to a stabled courser,
Joying in food and in the growth of riches, may we thy
neighbours, Agni, ne’er be injured.
76 While on earth's navel Agni is enkindled, we call, for
ample increase of our riches,
On Agni joying in the draught, much-lauded, worshipful;
victor conquering in battle.
77 Whatever hosts there are, fiercely assailant, charging in
lengthened lines, drawn up in order,
Whatever thieves there are, whatever robbers, all these I
cast into thy mouth, O Agni.
78 Devour the burglars with both tusks, destroy the robbers
with thy teeth.
With both thy jaws, thou Holy One, eat up those thieves
well champed and chewed.
79 The burglars living among men, the thieves and robbers in
the wood,
Criminals lurking in their lairs, these do I lay between thy
jaws.
80 Him who would seek to injure us, the man who looks oh
us with hate
Turn thou to ashes, and the man who slanders and would
injure us.

p. 99

81 Quickened is this my priestly rank, quickened is manly
strength and force,
Quickened is his victorious power of whom I am the Household
priest.
82 The arms of these men have I raised, have raised their
lustre and their strength
With priestly power I ruin foes and lift my friends to high
estate.
83 A share of food, O Lord of Food, vouchsafe us, invigorating
food that brings no sickness.
Onward, still onward lead the giver. Grant us maintenance
both for quadruped and biped.

FAR hath he shone abroad like gold to look on, beaming
imperishable life for glory.
Agni by vital powers became immortal when his prolific
Father Dyaus begat him.
2 Night and Dawn, different in hue, accordant, meeting
together, suckle one same infant.
Golden between the heaven and earth he shineth. The
wealth-possessing Gods supported Agni.
3 The Sapient One arrays himself in every form: for quadruped
and biped he hath brought forth good.
Excellent Savitar hath looked on heaven's high vault: he
shineth after the outgoings of the Dawn.
4 Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: thou hast the Trivrit for
thy head.
Gâyatra is thine eye, thy wings are Brihat and Rathantara.
The hymn is self, the metres are his limbs, the formulas his
name.
The Vâmadevya Sâman is thy form, the Yajñâyajñiya thy
tail, the fire-hearths are thy hooves.
Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: go skyward, soar to
heavenly light.

p. 101

5 Thou art the riyal-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Gâyatra metre: stride along the earth.
Thou art the foe-destroying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Trishtup metre: stride along mid-air.
Thou art the traitor-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Jagatî metre: stride along the sky.
Thou art the foeman-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount
Anushtup metre: stride along the Quarters.
6 Agni roared out like Dyaus what time he thunders: licking
full oft the earth round plants he flickered.
At once, when born, he looked about, enkindled: he shineth
forth between the earth and heaven.
7 Return to me, thou still-returning Agni, with life, with
lustre, progeny, and treasure,
With profit, wisdom, riches, and abundance.
8 A hundred, Agni Angiras! be thy ways, a thousand thy
returns.
With increment of increase bring thou back to us what we
have lost. Again bring hitherward our wealth.
9 Return again with nourishment; Agni, again with food and
life. Again preserve us from distress.
10 Agni, return with store of wealth. Swell with thine overflowing
stream that feedeth all on every side.
11 I brought thee: thou hast entered in. Stand stedfast and
immovable.
Lot all the people long for thee. Let not thy kingship fall
away.
12 Varuna, from the upmost bond release us, let down the
lowest and remove the midmost.
So in thy holy law may we made sinless belong to Aditi, O
thou Âditya.

p. 102

13 High hath the Mighty risen before the Mornings, and come
to us with light from out the darkness.
Fair-shapen Agni with white-shining splendour hath filled
at birth all human habitations.
14 The Hamsa homed in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the Priest
beside the altar, Guest within the house,
Dweller in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born
of flood, kine, truth, mountain, he is holy Law. The Great.
15 Knowing all holy ordinances, Agni, be seated in the lap of
this thy mother.
Do not with heat or glowing flame consume her: shine thou
within her with refulgent lustre.
16 Within this Fire-pan with thy light, O Agni, in thy proper seat,
Glowing with warmth, be gracious thou, O Jâtavedas, unto her.
17 Being propitious unto me, O Agni, sit propitiously.
Having made all the regions blest, in thine own dwelling
seat thyself.
18 First Agni sprang to life from out of heaven, the second
time from us came Jâtavedas.
Thirdly the Manly-souled was in the waters. The pious
lauds and kindles him Eternal.
19 Agni, we know thy three powers in three stations, we know
thy forms in many a place divided.
We know what name supreme thou hast in secret: we know
the source from which thou hast proceeded.
20 The Manly-souled lit thee in sea and waters, Man's Viewer
lit thee in the breast of heaven.
There as thou stoodest in the third high region the Bulls
increased thee in the waters’ bosom.

p. 103

21 Agni roared out, etc. (verse 6 repeated).
22 The spring of glories and support of riches, rouser of
thoughts and guardian of the Soma,
Good Son of Strength, a King amid the waters, in forefront
of the Dawns he shines enkindled.
23 Germ of the world, ensign of all creation, he sprang to life
and filled the earth and heaven.
Even the firm rock he cleft when passing over, when the
Five Tribes brought sacrifice to Agni.
24 So among mortals was immortal Agni stablished as cleansing,
wise, and eager envoy.
He waves the red smoke that he lifts above him, striving
to reach the heaven with radiant lustre.
25 Far hath he shone, etc. (verse 1 repeated).
26 Whoso this day, O God whose flames are lovely, makes thee
a cake, O Agni, mixed with butter,
Lead thou and further him to higher fortune, to bliss bestowed
by Gods, O thou Most Youthful.
27 Endow him, Agni, with a share of glory, at every, song of
praise sung forth enrich him.
Dear let him be to Sûrya, dear to Agni, preëminent with son
and children's children.
28 While, Agni, day by day men pay thee worship they win
themselves all treasures worth the wishing.
Allied with thee, eager and craving riches, they have disclosed
the stable filled with cattle.
29 Agni, man's gracious Friend, the Soma's keeper, Vaisvânara,
hath been lauded by the Rishis.
We will invoke benignant Earth and Heaven: ye Deities,
give us wealth with hero children.
30 Pay service unto Agni with your fuel, rouse your Guest
with oil:
In him present your offerings.

p. 104

31 May all the Gods, O Agni, bear thee upward with their earnest
thoughts:
Not to be looked on, rich in light, be thou propitious unto us,
32 Agni, go forth resplendent, thou with thine auspicious flames
of fire.
Shining with mighty beams of light harm not my people
with thy form.
33 Agni roared out, etc. (verse 21 repeated.)
34 Far famed is this the Bharata's own Agni: he shineth like
the Sun with lofty splendour.
He who hath vanquished Pûru in the battle, the heavenly
Guest hath shone for us benignly.
35 Receive these ashes, ye celestial Waters, and lay them in a
fair place full of fragrance.
To him bow down the nobly-wedded Matrons! Bear this on
waters as her son a mother.
36 Agni, thy home is in the floods: into the plants thou forcest
way,
And as their child art born anew.
37 Thou art the offspring of the plants, thou art the offspring
of the trees:
The offspring thou of all that is, thou, Agni, art the Waters’
Child,
38 With ashes having reached the womb, the waters, Agni
and the earth,
United with the mothers, thou blazing hast seated thee again.
39 Seated again upon thy seat, the waters, Agni! and the earth,
In her, thou, most auspicious One, liest as in a mother's lap

p. 105

40, 41 Return again, etc. Agni, return, etc. (verses 9 and 10
repeated).
42 Mark this my speech, Divine One, thou Most Youthful,
offered to thee by him who gives most freely:
One hates thee, and another sings thy praises. I thine
adorer laud thy form, O Agni.
43 Be thou for us a liberal Prince, Giver and Lord of precious
things.
Drive those who hate us far away.
To the Omnific One All-hail!
14 Again let the Âdityas, Rudras, Yams, and Brahmans with
their rites light thee, Wealth-bringer!
Increase thy body with presented butter: effectual be the
Sacrificer's wishes.
45 Go hence, depart, creep off in all directions, both ancient
visitors and recent comers:
Yama hath given a place on earth to rest in. This place
for him the Fathers have provided.
46 Knowledge art thou: accomplishment of wishes. In me be
the fulfilment of thy wishes.
Thou art the ashes, thou the mould of Agni. Rankers are
ye, rankers around. Rankers right upward, be ye fixed.

p. 106

47 This is that Agni where the longing Indra took the pressed
Soma deep within his body.
Winner of spoils in thousands like a courser, with prayer art
thou exalted, Jâtavedas.
48 The splendour which is thine in heaven, O Agni, in earth, O
Holy One, in plants, in waters,
Wherewith thou hast o’erspread mid-air's broad region, that
light is brilliant, billowy, man-surveying.
49 O Agni, to the flood of heaven thou mountest, thou tallest
hither Gods, the thought-inspirers.
The waters, those beyond the light of Sûrya, and those
that are beneath it here, approach thee.
50 May the Purîshya Agnis in accord with those that spring
from floods,
May they, benevolent, accept the sacrifice, full, wholesome
draughts.
51 As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle,
lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this
thy gracious will to us-ward.
52 This is thine ordered place of birth whence, sprung to life,
thou shonest forth.
Knowing this, Agni, mount on high and cause our riches to
increase.
53 Ranker art thou: Angiras-like sit steady with that Deity.
Ranker-round art thou: Angiras-like sit steady with that
Deity.

p. 107

54 Fill up the room, supply the void, then settle steady in thy
place.
Indr-Âgni and Brihaspati have set thee down in this abode.
55 The dappled kine who stream with milk prepare his draught
of Soma juice—
Clans in the birthplace of the Gods, in the three luminous
realms of heaven.
56 All sacred songs have magnified Indra expansive as the sea,
The best of warriors borne on cars, the Lord, the very Lord
of Strength.
57 Combine ye two and harmonize together, dear to each other,
brilliant, friendly-minded,
Abiding in one place for food and vigour.
58 Together have I brought your minds, your ordinances, and
your thoughts.
Be thou our Sovran Lord, Agni Purîshya; give food and
vigour to the Sacrificer.
59 Thou art Purîshya Agni, thou art wealthy, thou art prosperous.
Having made all the regions blest, here seat thee in thine
own abode.
60 Be ye one-minded unto us, both of one thought, free from
deceit.
Harm not the sacrifice, harm not the Patron of the sacrifice.
Be gracious unto us to-day, ye knowers of all things that be.
61 Even as a mother bears her son, Earth, Ukhâ hath borne
within her womb Purîshya Agni.
Maker of all, accordant with the All-Gods and Seasons, may
Prajâpati release her.
62 Seek him who pours not, offers not oblation; follow the
going of the thief and robber.

p. 108

This is thy way; leave us and seek some other. To thee,
O Goddess Nirriti, be homage.
63 To thee, sharp-pointed Nirriti, full homage! Loose and
detach this iron bond that binds him.
Unanimous with Yama and with Yamî to the sublimest
vault of heaven uplift him.
64 Thou, Awful One, thou in whose mouth I offer for the unloosing
of these binding fetters,
Whom people hail as Earth with their glad voices, as Nirriti
in every place I know thee.
65 The binding noose which Nirriti the Goddess hath fastened
on thy neck that none may loose it,
I loose for thee as from the midst of Âyus. Sped forward
now, eat thou the food we offer:
To Fortune, her who hath done this, be homage.
66 Establisher, the gatherer of treasures, he looks with might
on every form and figure.
Like Savitar the God whose laws are constant, like Indra,
he hath stood where meet the pathways.
67 Wise, through desire of bliss with Gods, the skilful bind the
traces fast, and lay the yokes on either side.
68 Lay on the yokes and fasten well the traces; formed is the
furrow sow the seed within it.
Through song may we find hearing fraught with plenty:
near to the ripened grain approach the sickle.

p. 109

69 Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, happily go
the ploughers with the oxen!
Suna and Sîra, pleased with our oblation, cause ye our
plants to bear abundant fruitage.
70 Approved by Visvedevas and by Maruts, balmed be the
furrow with sweet-flavoured fatness.
Succulent, teeming with thy milky treasure, turn hitherward
to us with milk, O Furrow.
71 The keen-shared plough that bringeth bliss, good for the
Soma-drinker's need,
Shear out for me a cow, a sheep, a rapid drawer of the car,
a blooming woman, plump and strong!
72 Milk out their wish, O Wishing-Cow, to Mitra and to Varuna,
To Indra, to the Asvins, to Pûshan, to people and to plants.
73 Be loosed, inviolable, Godward-farers! We have attained
the limit of this darkness: we have won the light.
71 The year together with the darksome fortnights; Dawn with
the ruddy-coloured cows about her; the Asvins with
their wonderful achievements; the Sun together with his
dappled Courser; Vaisvânara with Idâ and with butter.
Svâhâ!
75 Herbs that sprang up in time of old, three ages earlier than
the Gods,—
Of these, whose hue is brown, will I declare the hundred
powers and seven.

p. 110

76 Ye, Mothers, have a hundred homes, yea, and a thousand are
your growths.
Do ye who have a thousand powers free this my patient from
disease.
77 Be glad and joyful in the Plants, both blossoming and bearing
fruit,
Plants that will lead us to success like mares who conquer in
the race.
78 Plants, by this name I speak to you, Mothers, to you the
Goddesses:
Steed, cow, and garment may I win, win back thy very self,
O man.
79 The Holy Fig tree is your home, your mansion is the Parna
tree:
Winners of cattle shall ye be if ye regain for me this man.
80 He who hath store of Herbs at hand like Kings amid a crowd
of men,—
Physician is that sage's name, fiend-slayer, chaser of disease.
81 Herbs rich in Soma, rich in steeds, in nourishment in strengthening
power,
All these have I provided here, that this man may be whole
again.
82 The healing virtues of the Plants stream forth like cattle
from the stall,—
Plants that shall win me store of wealth, and save thy vital
breath, O man.
83 Reliever is your mother's name, and hence Restorers are ye
called.
Rivers are ye with wings that fly: keep far whatever brings
disease.
84 Over all fences have they passed, as steals a thief into the fold.
The Plants have driven from the frame whatever malady was
there.
85 When, bringing back the vanished strength, I hold these herbs
within my hand,
The spirit of disease departs ere he can seize upon the life.
86 He through whose frame, O Plants, ye creep member by
member, joint by joint,
From him ye drive away disease like some strong arbiter of
strife.
87 Fly, Spirit of Disease, begone, with the blue jay and kingfisher.
Fly, with the wind's impetuous speed, vanish together with
the storm.

p. 111

88 Help every one the other, lend assistance each of you to
each,
All of you be accordant, give furtherance to this speech of
mine.
89 Let fruitful Plants, and fruitless, those that blossom, and
the blossomless,
Urged onward by Brihaspati, release us from our pain and
grief;
90 Release me from the curse's plague and woe that comes from
Varuna;
Free me from Yama's fetter, from sin and offence against the
Gods.
91 What time, descending from the sky, the Plants flew earthward,
thus they spake:
No evil shall befall the man whom while he liveth we
pervade.
92 Of all the many Plants whose King is Soma, Plants of hundred
forms,
Thou art the Plant most excellent, prompt to the wish, sweet
to the heart.
93 O all ye various Herbs whose King is Soma, that o’erspread
the earth,
Urged onward by Brihaspati, combine your virtue in this
Plant.
94 All Plants that hear this speech, and those that have
departed far away,
Come all assembled and confer your healing power upon
this Herb.
95 Unharmed be he who digs you up, unharmed the man for
whom I dig:
And let no malady attack biped or quadruped of ours.
96 With Soma as their Sovran Lord the Plants hold colloquy
and say:
O King, we save from death the man whose cure a Brâhman
undertakes.
97 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant: thy vassals are the
trees.
Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to
injure us.
98 Banisher of catarrh art thou, of tumours and of hemorrhoids;
Thou banished Pâkâru and Consumption in a hundred
forms.

p. 112

99 Thee did Gandharvas dig from earth, thee Indra and
Brihaspati.
King Soma, knowing thee, O Plant, from his Consumption
was made free.
100 Conquer mine enemies, the men who challenge me do thou
subdue.
Conquer thou all unhappiness: victorious art thou, O Plant.
101 Long-lived be he who digs thee, Plant, and he for whom I
dig thee up.
So mayst thou also, grown long-lived, rise upward with a
hundred shoots.
102 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant; thy vassals are the
trees.
Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to
injure us.
103 May he not harm me who is earth's begetter, nor he whose
laws are faithful, sky's pervades;
Nor he who first begot the lucid waters. To Ka the God
let us present oblation.
104 Turn thyself hitherward, O Earth, to us with sacrifice and
milk.
Thy covering skin Agni, urged forth, hath mounted.
105 All, Agni, that in thee is bright, pure, cleansed, and meet
for sacrifice,
That do we bring unto the Gods.
106 I from this place have fed on strength and vigour, the
womb of holy Law, stream of the mighty.
In cows let it possess me and in bodies. I quit decline and
lack of food, and sickness.
107 Agni, life-power and fame are thine: thy fires blaze mightily,
thou rich in wealth of beams!
Sage, passing bright, thou givest to the worshipper, with
strength, the food that merits laud.
108 With brilliant, purifying sheen, with perfect sheen thou
liftest up thyself in light.
Thou, visiting both thy Mothers, aidest them as Son: thou
joinest close the earth and heaven.

p. 113

109 O Jâtavedas, Son of Strength, rejoice thyself, gracious, in
our fair hymns and songs.
In thee are treasured various forms of strengthening food,
born nobly and of wondrous help.
110 Agni, spread forth, as Ruler, over living things: give wealth
to us, Immortal God.
Thou shinest out from beauty fair to look upon: thou
leadest us to conquering power.
111 To him, the wise, who orders sacrifice, who hath great riches
under his control,
Thou givest blest award of good, and plenteous food, givest
him wealth that conquers all.
112 The men have set before them for their welfare Agni, strong,
visible to all, the Holy.
Thee, Godlike One, with ears to hear, most famous, men's
generations magnify with praise-songs.
113 Soma, wax great. From every side may vigorous powers
unite in thee.
Be in the gathering-place of strength.
114 In thee be juicy nutriments united, and power and mighty
foe-subduing vigour.
Waxing to immortality, O Soma, win highest glory for
thyself in heaven.
115 Wax, O most gladdening Soma, great through all thy
filaments, and be
A friend of most illustrious fame to prosper us.
116 May Vatsa draw thy mind away, even from thy loftiest
dwelling-place,
Agni, with song that yearns for thee.
117 Agni, best Angiras, to thee all people who have pleasant
homes
Apart have turned to gain their wish.
118 In dear homes, Agni, the desire of all that is and is to be,
Shines forth the One Imperial Lord.