Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK ONE
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HYMN CX. Rbhus.
1. THE holy work I wrought before is wrought again: my
sweetest hymn is sung to celebrate your praise.
Here, O ye Rbhus, is this sea for all the Gods: sate you with
Soma offered with the hallowing word.
2 When, seeking your enjoyment onward from afar, ye, certain
of my kinsmen, wandered on your way,
Sons of Sudhanvan, after your long journeying, ye came unto
the home of liberal Savitar.
3 Savitar therefore gave you immortality, because ye came
proclaiming him whom naught can hide;
And this the drinking-chalice of the Asura, which till that time
was one, ye made to be fourfold.
4 When they had served with zeal at sacrifice as priests, they,
mortal as they were, gained immortality.
The Rbhus, children of Sudhanvan, bright as suns, were in a
year's course made associate with prayers.
5 The Rbhus, with a rod measured, as 'twere a field, the single
sacrificial chalice. wide of mouth,
Lauded of all who saw, praying for what is best, desiring
glorious fame among Immortal Gods.
6 As oil in ladles, we through knowledge will present unto the
Heroes of the firmament our hymn,-
The Rbhus who came near with this great Father's speed, and
rose to heaven's high sphere to cat the strengthening food.
7 Rbhu to us is Indra freshest in his might, Rbhu with powers
and wealth is giver of rich gifts.
Gods, through your favour may we on the happy day quell the
attacks of those who pour no offerings forth.
8 Out of a skin, O Rbhus, once ye formed a cow, and brought
the mother close unto her calf again.
Sons of Sudhanvan, Heroes, with surpassing skill ye made
your aged Parents youthful as before.
9 Help us with strength where spoil is won, O Indra: joined
with the gbhus give us varied bounty.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi
and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CXI. Rbhus.
1. WORKING with skill they wrought the lightly rolling car:
they wrought the Bays who bear Indra and bring great gifts.
The Rbhus for their Parents made life young again; and
fashioned for the calf a mother by its side.
2 For sacrifice make for us active vital power for skill and
wisdom food with noble progeny.
Grant to our company this power most excellent, that with a
family all-heroic we may dwell.
3 Do ye, O Rbhus, make prosperity for us, prosperity for car,
ye Heroes, and for steed.
Grant us prosperity victorious evermore,
conquering foes in battle, strangers or akin.
4 Indra, the Rbhus' Lord, I invocate for aid, the Rbhus, Vajas,
Maruts to the Soma draught.
Varuna, Mitra, both, yea, and the Asvins Twain: let them
speed us to wealth, wisdom, and victory.
5 May Rbhu send prosperity for battle, may Vaja conquering
in the fight protect us.
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This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi
and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CXII. Asvins.
1 To give first thought to them, I worship Heaven and Earth,
and Agni, fair bright glow, to hasten their approach.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids wherewith in
fight ye speed the war-cry to the spoil.
2 Ample, unfailing, they have mounted as it were an eloquent
car that ye may think of us and give.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids wherewith ye
help our thoughts to further holy acts.
3 Ye by the might which heavenly nectar giveth you are in
supreme dominion Lords of all these folk.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids wherewith ye,
Heroes, made the barren cow give milk.
4 The aids wherewith the Wanderer through his offipring's
might, or the Two-Mothered Son shows swiftest mid the swift;
Wherewith the sapient one acquired his triple lore,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
5 Wherewith ye raised from waters, prisoned and fast bound,
Rebha, and Vandana to look upon the light;
Wherewith ye succoured Kapva as he strove to win,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
6 Wherewith ye rescued Antaka when languishing deep in the
pit, and Bhujyu with unfailing help.
And comforted Karkandhu, Vayya, in their woe,-Come hither
unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
7 Wherewith ye gave gucanti wealth and happy home, and
made the fiery pit friendly for Atri's sake;
Wherewith ye guarded Purukutsa, Prsnigu, -Come hither unto
us, O Agvin;, with those aids.
8 Mighty Ones, with what powers ye gave Paravrj aid what
time ye made the blind and lame to see and walk;
Wherewith ye set at liberty the swallowed quail,-Come hither
unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
9 Wherewith ye quickened the most sweet exhaustless flood,
and comforted Vasistha, ye who ne'er decay;
And to Srutarya, Kutsa, Narya gave your help,-Come hither
unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
10 Wherewith ye helped, in battle of a thousand spoils, Vispala
seeking booty, powerless to move.
Wherewith ye guarded friendly Vaga, Asva's son,-Come hither
unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
11 Whereby the cloud, ye Bounteous Givers, shed sweet rain
for Dirghasravas, for the merchant Ausija,
Wherewith ye helped Kaksivan, singer of your praise,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
12 Wherewith ye made Rasa swell full with water-floods, and
urged to victory the car without a horse;
Wherewith Trisoka drove forth his recovered cows,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
13 Wherewith ye, compass round the Sun when far away,
strengthened Manddatar in his tasks as lord of lands,
And to sage Bharadvija gave protecting help,-Come hither
unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
14 Wherewith, when Sambara was slain, ye guarded well great