Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK TEN
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9 Thou by whose lustre all the world of life comes forth, and
by thy beams again returns unto its rest,
O Surya with the golden hair, ascend for us day after day, still
bringing purer innocence.
10 Bless us with shine, bless us with perfect daylight, bless us
with cold, with fervent heat and lustre.
Bestow on us, O Surya, varied riches, to bless us in our home
and when we travel.
11 Gods, to our living creatures of both kinds vouchsafe
protection, both to bipeds and to quadrupeds,
That they may drink and eat invigorating food. So grant us
health and strength and perfect innocence.
12 If by some grievous sin we have provoked the Gods, O
Deities, with the tongue or thoughtlessness of heart,
That guilt, O Vasus, lay upon the Evil One, on him who ever
leads us into deep distress.
HYMN XXXVIII. Indra.
1. O INDRA, in this battle great and glorious, in this loud din
of war help us to victory,
Where in the strife for kine among bold ring-decked men
arrows fly all around and heroes are subdued.
2 At home disclose to us opulence rich in food, streaming with
milk, O Indra, meet to be renowned.
Sakra, may we be thine, the friendly Conqueror's: even as we
desire, O Vasu, so do thou.
3 The godless man, much-lauded Indra, whether he be Dasa or
be Arya, who would war with us,-
Easy to conquer he for thee, with us, these foes: with thee may
we subdue them in the clash of fight.
4 Him who must be invoked by many and by few, who
standeth nigh with comfort in the war of men,
Indra, famed Hero, winner in the deadly strife, let us bring
hitherward to-day to favour us.
5 For, Indra, I have heard thee called Self. capturer, One,
Steer! who never yields, who urges even the churl.
Release thyself from Kutsa and come hither. How shall one
like thee sit still bound that he may not move?
HYMN XXXIX. Asvins.
1. As 'twere the name of father, easy to invoke, we all
assembled here invoke this Car of yours,
Asvins, your swiftly-rolling circumambient Car which he who
worships must invoke at eve and dawn.
2 Awake all pleasant strains and let the hymns flow forth: raise
up abundant fulness: this is our desire.
Asvins, bestow on us a glorious heritage, and give our princes
treasure fair as Soma is.
3 Ye are the bliss of her who groweth old at home, and helpers
of the slow although he linger last.
Men call you too, Nasatyas, healers of the blind, the thin and
feeble, and the man with broken bones.
4 Ye made Cyavana, weak and worn with length of days,
young again, like a car, that he had power to move.
Ye lifted up the son of Tugra from the floods. At our libations
must all these your acts be praised.
5 We will declare among the folk your ancient deeds heroic;
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yea, ye were Physicians bringing health.
You, you who must be lauded, will we bring for aid, so that
this foe of ours, O Asvins, may believe.
6 Listen to me, O Asvins; I have cried to you. Give me-your
aid as sire and mother aid their son.
Poor, without kin or friend or ties of blood am I. Save me
before it be too late, from this my curse.
7 Ye, mounted on your chariot brought to Vimada the comely
maid of Purumitra as a bride.
Ye, came unto the calling of the weakling's dame, and granted
noble offspring to the happy wife.
8 Ye gave a ain the vigour of his youthful life to tge sage Kali
when old age was coming nigh.
Ye rescued Vandana and raised him from the pit, and in a
moment gave Vispala power to move.
9 Ye Asvins Twain, endowed with manly strength, brought
forth Reblia when hidden in the cave and well-nigh dead,
Freed Saptavadliri, and for Atri caused the pit heated with fire
to be a pleasant resting-place.
10 On Pedu ye bestowed, Asvins, a courser white, mighty with
nine-and-ninety varied gifts of strength,
A horse to be renowned, who bore his friend at speed, joygiving,
Bhaga-like to be invoked of men.
11 From no side, ye Two Kings whom none may check or
stay, doth grief, distress, or danger come u on the man
Whom, Asvins swift to hear, borne on your glowing path, ye
with your Consort make the foremost in the race.
12 Come on that Chariot which the Rbhus wrought for you, the
Chariot, Asvins, that is speedier than thought,
At harnessing whereof Heaven's Daughter springs to birth, and
from Vivasvan come auspicious Night and Day.
13 Come, Conquerors of the sundered mountain, to our home,
Asvins who made the cow stream milk for Sayu's sake,
Ye who delivered even from the wolf's deep throat and set
again at liberty the swallowed quail.
14 We have prepared this laud for you, O Asvins, and, like the
Bhrgus, as a car have framed it,
Have decked it as a maid to meet the bridegroom, and brought
it as a son, our stay for ever.
HYMN XL. Asvins.
1. YOUR radiant Chariot-whither goes it on its way?-who
decks it for you, Heroes, for its happy course,
Starting at daybreak, visiting each morning every house, borne
hitherward through prayer unto the sacrifice?
2 Where are ye, Asvins, in the evening, where at morn? Where
is your haltingplace, where rest ye for the night?
Who brings you homeward, as the widow bedward draws her
husband's brother, as the bride attracts the groom?
3 Early ye sing forth praise as with a herald's voice, and, meet
for worship, go each morning to the house.
Whom do ye ever bring to ruin? Unto whose libations come
ye, Heroes, like two Sons of Kings?
4 Even as hunters follow two wild elephants, we with oblations
call you down at morn and eve.
To folk who pay you offierings at appointed times, Chiefs,
Lords of splendour, ye bring food to strengthen them.