Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK SIX
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Weapons and his Armour.
So let us here, each day that passes, honour the helpful Car with
hearts exceeding joyful.
9 In sweet association lived the fathers who gave us life,
profound and strong in trouble,
Unwearied, armed with shafts and wondrous weapons, free, real
heroes, conquerors of armies.
10 The Brahmans, and the Fathers meet for Soma-draughts, and,
graciously inclined, unequalled Heaven and Earth.
Guard us trom evil, Pusan, guard us strengtheners of Law: let not
the evil-wisher master us.
11 Her tooth a deer, dressed in an eagle's feathers, bound with
cow-hide, launched forth, She flieth onward.
There where the heroes speed hither and thither, there may the
Arrows shelter and protect us.
12 Avoid us thou whose flight is straight, and let our bodies be as
stone.
May Soma kindly speak to us, and Aditi protect us well.
13 He lays his blows upon their backs, he deals his blows upon
their thighs.
Thou, Whip, who urgest horses, drive sagacious horses in the
fray.
14 It compasses the arm with serpent windings, fending away the
friction of the bowstring:
So may the Brace, well-skilled in all its duties, guard manfully
the man from every quarter.
15 Now to the Shaft with venom smeared, tipped with deer-horn,
with iron mouth,
Celestial, of Parjanya's seed, be this great adoration paid.
16 Loosed from the Bowstring fly away, thou Arrow, sharpened
by our prayer.
Go to the foemen, strike them home, and let not one be left alive.
17 There where the flights of Arrows fall like boys whose locks
are yet unshorn.
Even there may Brahmanaspati, and Aditi protect us well, protect
us well through all our days.
18 Thy vital parts I cover with thine Armour: with immortality
King Soma clothe thee.
Varuna give tliee what is more than ample, and in thy triumph
may the Gods be joyful.
19 Whoso would kill us, whether he be a strange foe or one of us,
May all the Gods discomfit him. My nearest, closest Mail is
prayer.
End of SIXTH BOOK
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