Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK ONE
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deadly darts didst compass Susna.
10 Bolt-armed, ere darkness overtook the sunlight, thou castest
at the veiling cloud thy weapon,
Thou rentest, out of heaven, though firmly knotted, the might
of Susna that was thrown around him.
11 The mighty Heaven and Earth, those bright expanses that
have no wheels, joyed, Indra, at thine exploit.
Vrtra, the boar who lay amid the waters, to sleep thou sentest
with thy mighty thunder.
12 Mount Indra, lover of the men thou guardest, the wellyoked
horses of the wind, best bearers.
The bolt which Kavya Usana erst gave thee, strong,
gladdening, Vrtra-slaying, hath he fashioned *
13 The strong Bay Horses of the Sun thou stayedst: this Etasa
drew not the wheel, O Indra.
Casting them forth beyond the ninety rivers thou dravest down
into the pit the godless.
14 Indra, preserve thou us from this affliction Thunder-armed,
save us from the misery near us.
Vouchsafe us affluence in chariots, founded on horses, for our
food and fame and gladness.
15 Never may this thy loving-kindness fail us; mighty in
strength, may plenteous food surround us.
Maghavan, make us share the foeman's cattle: may we be thy
most liberal feast companions.
HYMN CXXII Visvadevas.
1. SAY, bringing sacrifice to bounteous Rudra, This juice for
drink to you whose wrath is fleeting!
With Dyaus the Asura's Heroes I have lauded the Maruts as
with prayer to Earth and Heaven.
2 Strong to exalt the early invocation are Night and Dawn who
show with varied aspect.
The Barren clothes her in wide-woven raiment, and fair Morn
shines with Surya's golden splendour.
3 Cheer us the Roamer round, who strikes at morning, the
Wind delight us, pourer forth of waters!
Sharpen our wits, O Parvata and Indra. May all the Gods
vouchsafe to us this favour.
4 And Ausija shall call for me that famous Pair who enjoy and
drink, who come to brighten.
Set ye the Offspring of the Floods before you; both Mothers of
the Living One who beameth.
5 For you shall Ausija call him who thunders, as, to win
Arjuna's assent, cried Ghosa.
I will invoke, that Pusan may be bounteous to you, the rich
munificence of Agni.
6 Hear, Mitra-Varuna, these mine invocations, hear them from
all men in the hall of worship.
Giver of famous gifts, kind hearer, Sindhu who gives fair
fields, listen with all his waters 1
7 Praised, Mitra, Varuna! is your gift, a hundred cows to the
Prksayamas and the Pajra.
Presented by car-famous Priyaratha, supplying nourishment,
they came directly.
8 Praised is the gift of him the very wealthy: may we enjoy it,
men with hero children:
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His who hath many gifts to give the Pajras, a chief who makes
me rich in cars and horses.
9 The folk, O Mitra-Varuna, who hate you, who sinfully hating
pour you no libations,
Lay in their hearts, themselves, a wasting sickness, whereas
the righteous gaineth all by worship.
10 That man, most puissant, wondrously urged onward, famed
among heroes, liberal in giving,
Moveth a warrior, evermore undaunted in all encounters even
with the mighty.
11 Come to the man's, the sacrificer's calling: hear, Kings of
Immortality, joy-givers!
While ye who speed through clouds decree your bounty
largely, for fame, to him the chariot rider.
12 Vigour will we bestow on that adorer whose tenfold
draught we come to taste, so spake they.
May all in whom rest splendour and great riches obtain
refreshment in these sacrifices.
13 We will rejoice to drink the tenfold present when the
twicefive come bearing sacred viands.
What can he do whose steeds and reins are choicest? These,
the all-potent, urge brave men to conquest.
14 The sea and all the Deities shall give us him with the golden
car and neck bejewelled.
Dawns, hasting to the praises otthe pious, be pleased with us.
both offerers and singers.
15 Four youthful sons of Masarsara vex me, three, of the king,
the conquering Ayavasa.
Now like the Sun, O Varuna and Mitra, your car hath shone,
long-shaped and reined with splendour.
HYMN CXXIII. Dawn.
1. THE Daksina's broad chariot hath been harnessed: this car
the Gods Immortal have ascended.
Fain to bring light to homes of men the noble and active
Goddess hath emerged from darkness.
2 She before all the living world hath wakened, the Lofty One
who wins and gathers treasure.
Revived and ever young on high she glances. Dawn hath come
first unto our morning worship.
3 If, Dawn, thou Goddess nobly born, thou dealest fortune this
day to all the race of mortals,
May Savitar the God, Friend of the homestead, declare before
the Sun that we are sinless.
4 Showing her wonted form each day that passeth, spreading
the light she visiteth each dwelling.
Eager for conquest, with bright sheen she cometh. Her portion
is the best of goodly treasures.
5 Sister of Varuna, sister of Bhaga, first among all sing forth,
O joyous Morning.
Weak be the strength of him who worketh evil - may we
subdue him with our car the guerdon.
6 Let our glad hymns and holy thoughts rise upward, for the
flames brightly burning have ascended.
The far-refulgent Mornings make apparent the lovely treasures
which the darkness covered.
7 The one departeth and the other cometh: unlike in hue day's,