Part 2 of 2
FOURTH READING
FIRST ANTHEM.
AT THE ASWINS.
[English Version by Google Translate]
1. (Gods) May our sacrifices grow, the sweetest of libations are laid out for you. O Aswins, take these drinks prepared yesterday, and grant your servant the goods (which he desires)!
2. O Aswins, arrive on your magnificent chariot, (this chariot) which traverses the three worlds, and which is decorated with three seats! The sons of Canwa address this prayer to you in sacrifice; deign to listen to their invocation.
3. O Aswins, may our sacrifices grow, drink of our sweet libations! Helping (Deities), loading your chariot with riches, come on this day to the (father of the family) who honors you.
4. You who possess all the goods, (place yourselves) on our triple cousa, and pour out your sweets on our sacrifice. O Aswins, the sons of Canwa call upon you, pouring out these libations in your honour! they (invoke) you, shining with the rising light.
5. Masters of purity, grant us this protection with which you once honored Canwa. Aswins, you whose sacrifice increases strength, taste our libations.
6. Helpful Aswins, come on your chariot, bringing abundance to Soudas (1). Give us those riches that all desire, and whether they come to us from the ocean (aerial) or from the sky (2).
7. Truthful (Gods), whether you are far or near us, always come to our prayer, together with the rays of the sun, in your chariot with its magnificently fast wheels.
8. May your couriers, eager for our sacrifices, bring you here to our libations. Grant the richness to the generous (father of the family) who presents these offerings to you; strong (gods), take your place on the cousa.
9. Truthful and helpful (Gods), with this chariot shining with the light of the sun, and on which you always bring wealth to your servant, come and taste our sweet libations.
10. (Gods) opulent, we implore your protection by our hymns and our prayers. O Aswins, the sons of Canwa are devoted to you, and in their assembly you have never lacked libations.
Author: Prascanwa; meter, Vrihati.
HYMN II.
AT DAWN.
1. Daughter of Heaven, Aurora, arise, and bring us your riches and your opulent abundance. Brilliant and generous Goddess, (come) with your treasures.
2. Holy prayer has often contributed to the happy establishment (of man); it has brought him horses, cows, goods of all kinds. Aurora, may your presence inspire my prayers, and send me the happiness of the rich.
3. She is already born, she is going to shine, this divine Aurora; it sets in motion the chariots, which, on its arrival, move (on the earth), as on the sea the (vessels) greedy for wealth.
4. Among these fathers of families whose piety greets your appearance to obtain your largesse, there is no child of Canwa more devoted than the one who, at this moment, invokes your name.
5. Aurora, like a good mother, comes to protect (the world). She arrives, stopping the flight of the evil (genius) of the night (3), and exciting the flight of birds.
6. The Dawn excites equally the diligent and the poor. She is the enemy of laziness. To your clarity, (o goddess) rich in gifts, it is no longer the winged being who forgets himself in rest.
7. Here she is, in the distant region where the sun rises, harnessing her horses. The happy Aurora comes to find the sons of Manu with hundreds of chariots (all laden with wealth).
8. The whole world, in its aspect, bows down. Wise and opulent, it sheds light. Aurora, daughter of Heaven, by her rays chases away our enemies and confounds their hatred.
9. Daughter of Heaven, Aurora, shine with your sweet radiance! Bring us happiness and abundance, enlighten our sacrifices.
10. Foresighted (goddess), the moment you shine, you become life, the breath of the universe. (Appear) on your broad chariot, rich and resplendent; hear our prayer.
11. Aurora, grant us those various foods that are suitable for mankind! Approach those innocent and pious men who have hymns and oblations for you.
12. Aurora, bring here from heaven all the gods to our libations! Grant us, Aurora, such abundance that we may be renowned for our cows, our horses, and our vigor.
13. May the Dawn, whose happy lights we see, give us the richness so beautiful, so desired; may this wealth come to us gently!
14. All the ancient sages who implored your help, O great (goddess), have been heard. Aurora, also welcome our prayer, and (answer us) with the gift of a brilliant and pure abundance
15. Divine Aurora, after having illumined the gates of heaven with your rays, grant us that our house may be powerful, that our enemies may move away from it, and that fertile cows maintain abundance there.
16. Noble and magnificent Aurora, spread over us a wide and beautiful opulence; that we obtain from you cows, wealth that assures triumph, and much food!
Author: Prascanwa; meter, Vrihati.
HYMN III.
AT DAWN.
1. Dawn, come gloriously, and ascend into heaven resplendent with light! May the (celestial) cows (4), with their red hair, bring you to the house of the (father of the family) who offers you these libations.
2. Aurora, daughter of Heaven, on this happy and magnificent chariot that carries you, come today to the bosom of a family ready to honor you with its offerings.
3. O brilliant Aurora, the bird, the man (5) and the quadruped, on your return to the sky, rise on all sides.
4. You radiate, and your brilliance is communicated to the universe. Aurora, the sons of Canwa desire your favors, and invoke you with their hymns.
Author: Prascanwa; meter, Anouchtoubh.
HYMN IV.
UNDER THE SUN.
1. The Sun, this god who contains all goods, rises in the eyes of the universe, carried by his shining horses (6).
2. Before the Sun, eye of the world, the stars, like the thieves, disappear with the shadows of the night.
3. Its luminous rays illuminate beings, sparkling like fires.
4. Sun traveler (7), (beacon) exposed to the eyes of all, author of light, you fill the whole sky with your brilliance.
5. You rise in the sight of the people (8) of the gods, in the sight of men, in the sight of the whole sky, to bring happiness.
6. Purifying sun, (Sun) protector, with that eye from which you see the human world,
7. You walk the sky and the vast region of the air, measuring the days and the nights, and contemplating the creatures.
8. Divine Sun, seven horsemen are harnessed to your chariot; the hair is crowned with rays, (star) dazzling with light.
9. Drawn by the seven purifying steeds harnessed by the Sun, the chariot moves without constraint.
10. (Presently) surrounded by darkness, (and now) enlightened by the most brilliant of stars, we present ourselves before the Sun, the greatest of the gods, the most beautiful of celestial lights.
11. O you whose rays are beneficent, Sun, rising today, ascending to the top of the sky, destroy the evil that gnaws my heart and dulls my face.
12. We give our yellow colors to the parrots, to the saricas (9), or to the (flowers of) the haridrava (10).
13. The son of Aditi has just been born with all his vigor. He is the one who can defeat my enemy. I do not recognize such power.
Author: Prascanwa; meters, Gayatri and Anouchtoubh.
HYMN V.
TO INDRA.
1. Charm by your accents Indra, the ram (11), (chief of the divine flock), invoked by all mouths, celebrated by our hymns; (Indra), ocean of riches, whose (works), favorable to mortals, extend as far as the celestial worlds. To obtain his favors, honor the greatest of the wise.
2. Let the Ribhous (12), generous protectors, venerate this victorious Indra, who fills the air and surrounds himself with power; this Satacratou, who strikes down the pride (of his enemies). May their voice, rising to him, go and encourage him!
3. At the prayer of the Angiras, you opened the cave which contained the (celestial) cows. You guided Atri in the prison of a hundred doors (13). You gave (14) to Vimada (15) a happy abundance of provisions. On a battlefield, in favor of your servant, you launched your thunderbolt.
4. You opened the reservoir of the waters (contained in the cloud). You seized the treasure of Danou (16), piled up in the celestial mountain. When Vritra, when Ahi felt the blows of your power, then you raised the sun in the sky, to offer it to our sight.
5. By your magic, you dissipated the prestige of these magicians, (of these Asuras), who consumed in their own fire the most precious offerings (17). Friend of men, you broke the (aerial) cities of Piprou (18); and, in (the combats) fatal to the Dasjous (19), you saved Ridjiswan (20).
6. You preserved Coutsa (21), when it came to fighting Souchna (22). You killed Sambara (23), in favor of Atithigva (24). With your foot, you knocked down the great Arbouda (25). Finally, at all times, you have been the mortal enemy of the Dasyous.
7. In you is united all vigor; your heart is pleased with our libations; we see the lightning placed in your hand. Break all enemy forces.
8. Distinguish between the Aryas (26) and the Dasyous. In favor of the one who offers you this bed of cousa, strike the impious who would like to dominate us. Be a powerful guide for the (father of the family) who presents this sacrifice to you. Such are the graces that I ask of you for those who take part in the joy of this feast.
9. Indra, to please the pious man, strikes the ungodly; to please those who honor him, he overwhelms those who disdain him. Vamra (27), singing the praises of this Indra who is great, who always grows, and fills the sky, (Vamra) was able to overthrow the rampart (with which the ants had surrounded him).
10. Let Usanas (28) try to fight vigorously with you; soon your strength, stimulated by resistance, makes heaven and earth tremble. O you who are the friend of men, be sated with our homage, and may your (horses), harnessed by thought, bring you, as light as the wind, here, towards our offerings.
11. When Indra hears himself called by our hymns, he mounts his chariot; he hurries his two steeds to the winding walk. (The) terrible god, from the bosom of the traveling cloud, sends forth an impetuous wave; he shakes the large cities of Souchna.
12. Here you are on your chariot, ready to taste our libations. You once kindly received those of Saryata (29), o Indra! May you delight (also) in our offerings! May our hymn rise unhindered to you in heaven!
13. It was you, Indra, who gave a young wife, Vrichaya, to old Cakchivan (30), who knew how to sing to you and offer you libations. (God) famous for your works, it was you who became Mena, daughter of Vrichanaswa (31). All your actions deserve to be celebrated in our sacrifices.
14. Indra is the refuge of needy piety. See the Padjras (32), where the (grateful) hymn is as (solid) as a doorpost. Indra can give horses, cows, chariots, treasures. He is in our midst to fulfill our wishes.
15. Adoration to the (god) who gives the rain (33), who shines with his own splendor! (To the) mighty god who enjoys true strength, hail! O India, in this sacrifice cover with your protection both masters and subjects!
Author: Savya (34), son of Angiras; meters, Djagati and Trichtoubh.
HYMN VI.
TO INDRA.
1. Worship with ardor the ram (divine), the master of happiness, whose glory a hundred faithful sing together. By my hymns I implore the help of Indra, and I invite him to come like a swift courier, to direct his chariot towards our sacrifices.
2. As firm as a mountain in the midst of torrents, armed with a thousand virtues, we saw Indra, when he struck that (Vritra) which chains the rivers, (we saw him) double his forces, make the waves leap. , and receive with joy our offerings.
3. It is he who, seizing the udder (of the cloud), opens and closes it at will; a source of joy for reasonable (mortals), he delights in our libations. I invoke him with a very pious soul, this Indra who spreads his gifts with generosity, and who fills us with the treasures of abundance.
4. Indra loves the offerings arranged on the cousa, and which ascend to him in the sky, as the ocean loves the (rivers) of his vassals which descend to him. In his struggle against Vritra, following Indra are his auxiliaries (the Marouts), who exhaust the waters, and, always firm, know how to change direction at will.
5. Just as the waters flow towards the slopes (of the mountain), so these Marouts, intoxicated with our libations, rush towards Vritra who wants to hold back the rain, and support the efforts of Indra, when this god, weapon of lightning and fortified by our offerings, strikes the soldiers of Bala (35), as Trita struck the guards (Asuras) (36).
6. Around you, lndra, shines the light and triumphs over the force. Vritra, holding back the waves, was sitting high in the air, when on this (celestial) slope, where it seemed difficult to grasp this enormous mass, you came to break its broad jaw.
7. The prayers, which exalt your greatness, go towards you, like the waves towards the lake (which receives them); o Indra, Twachtri (37) doubled your strength by making you an invincible trait.
8. Lindra, you who are honored by our sacrifices and dragged by brilliant steeds, you have struck Vritra to open, in favor of man, a way for the rain. Your hands grabbed your iron weapon, el, in the air, you made the sun shine in our eyes.
9. However (the mortals) frightened invited Indra to ascend into heaven by one of those brilliant and loud hymns, of wide and harmonious measures; and the Marouts, friends of man and helpers of the god, protectors of the earth, happily flattered him (with their voices).
10. The firmament itself constricted in fear at the voice of Ahi, the moment you were seen. O Indra, intoxicated with our libations, strike violently with your thunderbolt the head of this Vritra, who threatened heaven and earth with their ruin.
11. O Maghavan, were the earth ten times wider, were the men who cultivate it to increase in number every day, your strength would not be less celebrated; like the sky, your power would extend to cover us.
12. Dwelling on the borders of the resplendent Ether, of your strong and superb nature, for our good you have made the earth in the image of your greatness. You cross the sky happily surrounded by waters.
13. You are the model of the earth (expanded like you), and the master of the immense (sky), and people of magnanimous gods. You fill with your greatness all the space of doing. Ah! no doubt there is no being like you.
14. No, you have no equal, you who in the intoxication of our libations fought the ravening enemy of the rain, you whom heaven and earth cannot contain, whose waves of air can only reach the end. Alone, you have made everything that exists.
15. Seeing you, in this fight, with your murderous weapon striking Vritra in the face and knocking him down, the Marouts addressed their homage to you; all the gods accompanied you with their intoxicating praises.
Author: Savya; meters, Djagati and Trichtoubh.
HYMN VII.
To Indra
1. (Assembled) in the house of a faithful servant, we offer to Indra our prayers and our hymns. With the same speed as (the thief carries away) the treasure of the sleeping man, may (this god) take the offering (which we present to him. May he remember that) among the rich one collects only honorable hymns .
2. O lndra, you can give us horses, cows, barley (38); you are the master and guardian of wealth. You have always been famous for your liberality; you do not know how to deceive our desires, you show yourself the friend of your friends. This is why we address this hymn to you.
3. Brilliant Indra, your exploits are many; noble husband of Satchi, your opulence shines on all sides. Victory be yours! and give us the riches you have collected. Do not deceive the vows of the servant who implores you.
4. Accept with benevolence these burnt offerings and libations. Provide for our needs by giving us cows, horses. May we, with the help of Indra's charm of our libations, overcome the Dasyou, deliver ourselves from our enemies, and obtain abundance!
5. May we acquire wealth, food, those goods which bring happiness and glory to men! May we feel the effects of this divine prudence which multiplies the number of our men, our cows, our horses!
6. These intoxicating drinks, (these burnt offerings) which increase your strength, these libations offered for the death of Vritra, O master of virtue, have always flattered your soul; and you have been seen, easily victorious, divert thousands of misfortunes away from the man who offers you the sacrifice and a seat of cousa.
7. With your victorious strength you go from battle to battle, you successively destroy the cities (of the Asuras). Lightning is your companion, and with this murderous weapon you are going, under another sky, to strike the magician Namoutchi (39).
8. In favor of Atithigwa (40), you have with mighty vigor killed Carandja and Parnaya (41). Your arm alone was enough to break the hundred cities of Vangrida (42), besieged by Ridjiswan (43).
9. Twenty kings, followed by sixty, ninety-nine thousand (44) soldiers, had come to attack Susravas (45), who had no other ally but you: o noble defender, the wheel of your formidable chariot has them crushed tones.
10. No less happy than Sousravas, whom you saved by your help, o Indra, Tourvayana (46) obtained your protection. Very young as he was, thanks to your kindness, Coutsa (47), Atithigwa (48) and Ayou (49) recognized him as their overlord (50).
11. O Indra, in completing the sacrifice, we dare to boast of the protection of the gods and your happy friendship. May we still praise you later, holding in your favor the advantage of a large family and a long old age!
Author: Savya; meters, Djagati and Trichtoubh.
HYMN VIII.
TO INDRA.
1. In the midst of wars caused by our faults, O Maghavan, do not abandon us, for your power knows no rival! With a terrible noise you make the rivers and the waves resound. How could the worlds not tremble with fear?
2. Address your prayer to the mighty Sacra, the husband of Satchi. Praise and glorify this Indra who listens to you, and who, by his high power, adorns heaven and earth, (Indra) who gives rain and fulfills our desires.
3. Address (to this god, who is) the immense sky, a prayer with which he is flattered. Winner, it is in himself that he finds his strength, this glorious master who is our life (51), our defense, our benefactor, and who, on a chariot, quickly carries his two steeds.
4. You have shaken the wide plains of heaven; your victorious hand struck Sambara (52), and on these proud magicians, insolently conjured against us, you hurled your thunderbolt, a radiant and sharp weapon.
5. On the head of Souchna, who blows the drought and unites (with his brothers for our ruin), you bring down the waters with a noise. You, whose firm and protective council executes so many things, could you find a conqueror?
6. It is you who saved Narya (53), Tourvasa (54) and Yadou (55), o Satacratou! you who (defended) the Vayya Tourviti (56); you who have, at the time of the fight, (protect) Etasa (57) carried away by a light tank; it is you who destroyed the ninety-nine (58) cities (of the Asuras).
7. He works for the happiness of his nation, the prince friend of virtue who, in honor of Indra, presents the holocaust and the sacred hymn, or who accompanies the prayer with rich offerings. The generous Indra sends him rain from the sky.
8. The strength (of this god) is incomparable, as well as his prudence. May they see their works prosper, O Indra, those who honor you with the offering of the soma, and double by their piety your greatness and your mighty strength.
9. It is for you, Indra, that these copious libations are prepared which have sprung up in the mortar under the blows of the pestle, and which rest in these vessels. Come quench your thirst, satisfy your desire, and then fulfill our wishes by granting us wealth.
10. Around the flanks of Vritra stretched a black mountain which stopped the rising of the waters. These imprisoned waves, whose long chain was prolonged in the distance, Indra has them, on the slopes (of the sky), precipitated in torrents.
11. O Indra, grant us happiness with glory; let our strength be great enough to resist our enemies. Keep us rich and powerful. That through you we have wealth, family, food.
Author: Savya; meters, Djagati and Trichtoubh.
HYMN IX.
TO INDRA
1. Indra is greater than the sky, greater than the earth. Terrible and strong, in favor of men he ignites, and, like the bull which sharpens his horns, he sharpens his lightning dart.
2. Aerial ocean, it is like the sea, and receives in its breast the vast torrents of the sky. Indra, to take part in our libations, hastens with the impetuosity of the bull; always ready to prove its strength in the fight to deserve our praise.
3. O Indra, it is not for you that the cloud swells like a mountain. (You will strike it in our favor.) You are the king of those who possess wealth. Powerful God, it is by flashes that he appears to us, formidable and disposed to any kind of attack.
4. He loves the hymn addressed to him by the pious (solitary) of the forest, and by his exploits he makes himself known to mortals. It is when the noble Maghavan receives the homage of our hymns, that his heart is flattered, and that, by his largesse, he responds to the wishes of his servant.
5. Sustainer of mortals, with holy vigor he fights great battles for them. So mortals have faith in the brilliant Indra, who strikes (their enemies) with a deadly dart.
6. Friend of praise, more and more firm and vigorous, he destroys the dwellings founded (by the Asuras); he prevents the celestial splendors from being veiled, and, for the happiness of him who offers the sacrifice, he sends down the rain.
7. O you who love soma and who listen to our hymns with pleasure, dispose your soul to liberality. Direct your two steeds to this side. Those whom you protect, o Indra, are among the most skilful squires to drive a chariot. Neither cunning nor violence can triumph over you.
8. In your hands you carry infinite riches; your divine body is endowed with an invincible force. Like abundant wells, all parts of your vast body, o Indra, are sources of benefits and wholesome works.
Author: Savya; meter, Djagati.
ANTHEM X.
TO INDRA.
1. With the eagerness that drives the courier to the run, let Indra come and take the copious libations that the father of the family has poured into the cups. (Let us) the great (god), greedy for our offerings, stop here his magnificent chariot all resplendent with gold, and hitched to two azure horses.
2. The pious and greedy singers of his favors surround his altar, going to him like merchants to the sea. that the women go to the mountain (to collect flowers there).
3. He's fast, he's big. In virile works, its value shines with an irreproachable luster; pernicious (to our enemies), and standing out like the top of the hill. Terrible, covered with an iron cuirass, intoxicated with our libations, he goes, in the midst of his subjects, to the place where they are chained (the clouds), to play the magician Souchna.
4. When the divine force, increased by your offerings, comes, for your happiness, to unite with Indra, like the Sun with the Dawn; then the god who, by his indomitable power, dispels the darkness, raises the cries of his enemies, and throws them violently into the dust.
5. When you want to withdraw the waves, and, in every part of the sky, restore to the air all its purity, then, mighty Indra, in your intoxication, which spreads happiness on us, you strike Vritra with courage, and you open to us the ocean of rains.
6. It is your power, O magnanimous Indra, that gives the earth the waves of heaven. Intoxicated with our libations, you cause water to spring forth (from the sea); and, with a weapon thrown from an arm no less strong than his, you reach Vritra.
Author: Savya; meter, Djagati.
HYMN XI.
TO INDRA.
1. I pay my respects to the magnificent, great, rich, true and strong god. Like the course of these torrents which descend from the mountain, its power is irresistible; he opens to all beings the treasury of his strength and opulence.
2. Ah! no doubt the whole world is devoted to your worship; the libations flow in your honor no less abundant than rivers, when one sees your threatening, murderous golden lightning, clinging unrelentingly (to the body of Vritra), like a mountain.
3. For this terrible, for this adorable Indra, come, brilliant Aurora, prepare the offerings of the sacrifice: this god is only strong, powerful and luminous, he is Indra only to support us, as the horse is not made only to carry us.
4. O Indra, treasure of abundance and praise, we are yours; in you we place our trust. Hymns rise to you, and no other is more worthy. Yours are our songs, just as all beings are on the earth.
5. Indra, your strength is great, and we are your servants. Fulfill the wish of the one who sings to you. Your strength is as wide as the sky, and this earth bends in fear before your power.
6. God armed with lightning, you tear with your weapon the sides of (Vritra), of this broad mountain which fills the air; and the waves which held back, through you, have found their course. Yes, you possess the sovereign power.
Author: Savya; meter, Djagali.
HYMN XII.
TO AGNI.
1. The immortal, born of force, soars quickly, charged by the father of the family to be the sacrificer and the messenger (of the gods). He opened the marvelous paths of light, and, in the sacrifice offered to the divinities, he kindles the holocaust.
2. (The god) ever young, uniting with his own food, ready to consume it quickly, and stands above the stake. Like the courier, the brilliant flame escapes from the hearth, and quivers like thunder under the celestial vault.
3. Bearer of offerings, placed in front by the Roudras and the Vasous, priest and pontiff, treasury of oblations, immortal, he is celebrated by humans, children of Ayou, like the chariot that transports their holocausts, and he receives in her resplendent bosom their precious libations.
4. Animated by the breath of the wind, it rises effortlessly above the pyre, resounding with force under the libations flowing from the sacred vessels. O Agni, with the impetuosity of the bull you rush on your food; always new, you unfold your reddish flame, and trace your black furrow.
5. With your teeth of flame, you attack the pyre, excited by the wind. There, you reign like the mighty bull in the midst of the herd. By your (natural) strength you rise into the indestructible air. All beings, animate or inanimate, fear your attacks.
6. To perpetuate your divine births, the Bhrigus (59) have placed you among the children of Manu as a precious treasure, o Agni, you who willingly listen to the voice of mortals; you their priest, their honorable guest, their benevolent friend.
7. This first of the priests, whom, in the holy ceremonies, the seven (60) cups of the priest come to honor; this Agni, distributor of all goods, I honor him with my offerings; I address myself to the one who is the most precious (of beings).
8. Son of the Force, protector of your friends, grant us today, your panegyrists, unreserved happiness; o Agni, child of the (sacred) food (61), be for us like an armor of iron, and deliver him who sings to you from the defilement of evil.
9. Be for the man who praises you, o resplendent (god), a veritable rampart; o (god) rich, give us wealth and security; O Agni, deliver your servant from evil. May our protector come early in the morning to collect the treasure of our prayers.
Author: Nodhas, son of Gotama; meters, Djagati and Trichtoubh.
HYMN XIII.
TO AGNI.
1. The different fires, O Agni, are like so many branches that come from you; you are the joy of all immortals. O Veswanara (62), you are a center for men, whom you support, like a pillar erected near them.
2. Agni is the head of heaven and the navel of earth. The universe recognizes him as master. O Veswanara, the Devas gave birth to you to be, in favor of the pious Arya (63), a luminous divinity.
3. As the rays are in the sun, so in Veswanara are the treasures which are found on the mountains, in the plants, in the waters, in men. O Agni, you are the king of all these treasures.
4. As around a son, heaven and earth extend around him. (We sing) his praises; he is a magnificent priest, he is for us like a child of Manu. (We pour) large libations in honor of Veswanara, true, strong, vigorous and fortune.
5. Opulent Veswanara, you are greater than the wide sky; you are the king of human beings; you even fought in favor of the gods, and defended their goods.
6. Yes, I must sing the greatness of this beneficent (god) whom the children of Puru honor as the winner of Vritra. Agni, the friend of men, strikes the Dasyou, shakes the air, and breaks the limbs of Sambara (64).
7. Veswanara, by his power, reigns over all men. Brilliant, honored among the Bharadwadjas (65), Agni receives from the illustrious chief, son of Satavan (66), many offerings, songs, prayers.
Author: Nodhas; meter, Trichtoubh.
HYMN XIV.
TO AGNI.
1. (That god) who takes charge of our offerings, who is the glorious banner of sacrifice; this faithful protector, this quick messenger, this benevolent friend, c and child of two mothers (67), was, like a precious treasure, brought to Bhrigou by (the god of the wind) Matariswan (68).
2. This sovereign master is honored by two kinds of servants, some who have burnt offerings, others who have only vows. Preceding the light of heaven, (Agni) takes his place, venerable priest and king of men, wisely liberal in their midst.
3. May this new hymn reach this god who is born under our breath, and whose tongue is softened by our libations! him whom at the time of the sacrifice the priests, children of Manu, come to engender, and honor, with their presents.
4. (God) greedy of our libations, refuge of humans, purifier, excellent pontiff, Agni was placed among men; he subdues our enemies, he protects our homes. In the domestic asylum (which we have given him), let him be (for us) the master of wealth!
5. Children of Gotama (69), we celebrate you with our hymns, o Agni, master of wealth. We charge you with our offerings, like a courier who must transport them (faithfully). May our protector come early in the morning to collect the treasure of our prayers.
Author: Nodhas; meter, Trichtoubh.
HYMN XV.
TO INDRA.
1. To this (god) great, powerful and swift; to that Indra, worthy of our praise; to this insurmountable master, I offer the homage of my hymn and the abundant tribute of my prayers. May it be like a (pleasant) dish for him!
2. Yes, as a delicacy, I present to him this pure invocation, whose virtue is to give victory; (the poets devoted) to Indra of heart, soul and spirit, in honor of this ancient master, embellish the prayer.
3. My mouth sings a hymn which represents the picture of its blessings; I would like, by the brilliant expression of my thoughts, to obtain the favor of this magnificent master, and to add something to his greatness.
4. For him I prepare a hymn, as the workman (makes) a chariot for (the master) who commanded it. (I offer him) words, to him whose words exalt the glory; (I offer) to the wise Indra poetic songs which are powerful on his soul.
5. As the bait of food is to the steed, the cup of sacrifice is to my hymn; (he feels more ardor) to sing Indra. I want to celebrate this heroic (god), magnificent in his gifts, object of our pious praise, and destroyer of cities (of Asuras).
6. Twachtri (70) has for this warrior god fabricates a famous feature by his works; and with this formidable weapon this active and mighty master pierced the limbs of Vritra.
7. From the moment that, in the sacrifices offered to him by the noble lord here present, (Indra) has touched the libations and the sacred meats, immediately the powerful (god) seizes the (cloud), black boar that the vapors have swelled; he penetrates it, and pierces it with his thunderbolt.
8. Joyful at the death of Ahi, the wives of the gods (71) sang Indra, who embraces heaven and earth, while heaven and earth cannot equal his greatness.
9. For it is greater than heaven, earth, and air (72); A king by himself, a hero worthy of all praise, a mighty rival of mighty rivals, within his empire, Indra comes to battle.
10. Vritra dries up (the earth); with his mighty lightning Indra strikes him; and, responding to the wishes (of the father of the family) who offers the sacrifice, (he opens the cloud): like imprisoned cows, the salutary (waves) obtain their deliverance.
11. When, under the claps of thunder, he shakes all around him, the waves, at his dazzling gleams, are agitated with pleasure. Generous master, in favor of Tourviti (73), his servant, he suddenly made a ford appear in the middle of the waters.
12. Incomparable Master, hasten to throw your thunderbolt on Vritra. Like the flanks of an immolated cow, divide between us with your weapon the limbs of the cloud, and cause torrents of rain to flow.
13. (Poete), sings of the ancient exploits of (this god) swift. He is worthy of your praise when in battle he throws his darts from afar, and rushes to strike his enemies close at hand.
14. Indra appeared, and out of fear the strongest mountains, and the sky, and the earth, trembled. Busy repeating the praise of this good and helpful god, | may Nodhas feel his strength renewed at all times.
15. It is for him that this hymn was composed (in the name of the faithful) present here. May this hymn please the one who is the only powerful, the only rich; to Indra, who protected in the fight against Sourya, son of Swaswa, the pious Etasa (74)!
16. O you who are carried by two brilliant steeds, Indra, grant the poetic wish addressed to you by the sons of Gotama. Turn your mind to them, and give them all your blessings. May, in the morning, our protector come and collect the treasure of our prayer.
Author: Nodhas; meter, Trichtoubh.