Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK TEN
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7 Agni, be thou our Guardian and Protector bestow upon us
life and vital vigour.
Accept, O Mighty One, the gifts we offer, and with unceasing
care protect our bodies.
HYMN VIII. Agni.
1. AGNI advances with his lofty banner: the Bull is bellowing
to the earth and heavens.
He hath attained the sky's supremest limits. the Steer hath
waxen in the lap of waters.
2 The Bull, the youngling with the hump, hath frolicked, the
strong and never-ceasing Calf hath bellowed.
Bringing our offerings to the God's assembly, he moves as
Chief in his own dwelling-places.
3 Him who hath grasped his Parents' head, they stablished at
sacrifice a wave of heavenly lustre.
In his swift flight the red Dawns borne by horses refresh their
bodies in the home of Order.
4 For, Vasu thou precedest every Morning, and still hast been
the Twins' illuminator.
For sacrifice, seven places thou retainest while for thine own
self thou engenderest Mitra.
5 Thou art the Eye and Guard of mighty Order, and Varuna
when to sacrifice thou comest.
Thou art the Waters' Child O Jatavedas, envoy of him whose
offering thou acceptest.
6 Thou art the Leader of the rite and region, to which with
thine auspicious teams thou teadest,
Thy light-bestowing head to heaven thou liftest, making thy
tongue the oblationbearer, Agni.
7 Through his wise insight Trita in the cavern, seeking as ever
the Chief Sire's intention,
Carefully tended in his Parents' bosom, calling the weapons
kin, goes forth to combat.
8 Well-skilled to use the weapons of his Father, Aptya, urged
on by Indra, fought the battle.
Then Trita slew the foe seven-rayed, three-headed, and freed
the cattle of the Son of Tvastar.
9 Lord of the brave, Indra cleft him in pieces who sought to
gain much strength and deemed him mighty.
He smote his three heads from his body, seizing the cattle of
the oniniform Son of Tvastar.
HYMN IX. Waters.
1. YE, Waters, are beneficent: so help ye us to energy
That we may look on great delight.
2 Give us a portion of the sap, the most auspicious that ye
have,
Like mothers in their longing love.
3 To you we gladly come for him to whose abode ye send us
on;
And, Waters, give us procreant strength.
4 The Waters. be to us for drink, Goddesses for our aid and
bliss:
Let them stream to us health and strength.
5 1 beg the Floods to give us balm, these Queens who rule o'er
precious things,
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And have supreme control of men.
6 Within the Waters-Soma thus hath told me-dwell all balms
that heal,
And Agni, he who blesseth all.
7 O Waters, teem with medicine to keep my body safe from
harm,
So that I long may see the Sun.
8 Whatever sin is found in me, whatever evil I have wrought,
If I have lied or falsely sworn, Waters, remove it far from me.
9 The Waters I this day have sought, and to their moisture have
we come:
O Agni, rich in milk, come thou, and with thy splendour cover
me.
HYMN X.Yama Yami.
1. FAIN would I win my friend to kindly friendship. So may
the Sage, come through the air's wide ocean,
Remembering the earth and days to follow, obtain a son, the
issue of his father.
2 Thy friend loves not the friendship which considers her who
is near in kindred as stranger.
Sons of the mighty Asura, the Heroes, supporters of the
heavens, see far around them.
3 Yea, this the Immortals seek of thee with longing, progeny of
the sole existing mortal.
Then let thy soul and mine be knit together, and as a loving
husband take thy consort.
4 Shall we do now what we ne'er did aforetime? we who spake
righteously now talk impurely?
Gandharva in the floods, the Dame of Waters-such is our bond,
such our most lofty kinship.
5 Even in the womb God Tvastar, Vivifier, shaping all forms,
Creator, made us consorts.
None violates his holy ordinances: that we are his the heavens
and earth acknowledge.
6 Who knows that earliest day whereof thou speakest? Who
hatb beheld it? Who can here declare it?
Great is the Law of Varuna and Mitra. What, wanton! wilt thou
say to men to tempt them?
7 I, Yami, am possessed by love of Yama, that I may rest on
the same couch beside him.
I as a wife would yield me to my husband. Like car-wheels let
us speed to meet each other.
8 They stand not still, they never close their eyelids, those
sentinels of Gods who wander round us.
Not me-go quickly, wanton, with another, and hasten like a
chariot wheel to meet him.
9 May Surya's eye with days and nights endow him, and ever
may his light spread out before him.
In heaven and earth the kindred Pair commingle. On Yam! be
the unbrotherly act of Yama.
10 Sure there will come succeeding times when brothers and
sisters will do acts unmeet for kinsfolk.
Not me, O fair one,-seek another husband, and make thine arm
a pillow for thy consort.
11 Is he a brother when no lord is left her? Is she a sister when
Destruction cometh?