Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK ONE
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high lands far away.
4 That Agni, wise High-Priest, in every house takes thought
for sacrifice and holy service, yea, takes thought, with mental
power, for sacrifice.
Disposer, he with mental power shows all things unto him who
strives;
Whence he was born a guest enriched with holy oil, born as
Ordainer and as Priest.
5 When through his power and in his strong prevailing flames
the Maruts' gladdening boons mingle with Agni's roar, boons
gladdening for the active One,
Then he accelerates the gift, and by the greatness of his wealth,
Shall rescue us from overwhelming misery, from curse and
overwhelming woe.
6 Vast, universal, good he was made messenger; the speeder
with his right hand hath not loosed his hold, through love of
fame not loosed his hold.
He bears oblations to the Gods for whosoever supplicates.
Agni bestows a blessing on each pious man, and opens wide
the doors for him.
7 That Agni hath been set most kind in camp of men, in
sacrifice like a Lord victorious, like a dear Lord in sacred rites.
His are the oblations of mankind when offered up at Ili's place.
He shall preserve us from Varuna's chastisement, yea, from the
great God's chastisement.
8 Agni the Priest they supplicate to grant them wealth: him,
dear, most thoughtful, have they made their messenger, him,
offering-bearer have they made,
Beloved of all, who knoweth all, the Priest, the Holy one, the
Sage-
Him, Friend, for help, the Gods when they are fain for wealth,
him, Friend, with hymns, when fain for wealth.
HYMN CXXIX Indra.
1. THE car which Indra, thou, for service of the Gods though it
be far away, O swift One, bringest near, which, Blameless
One, thou bringest near,
Place swiftly nigh us for our help: be it thy will that it be
strong.
Blameless and active, hear this speech of orderers, this speech
of us like orderers.
2 Hear, Indra, thou whom men in every fight must call to show
thy strength, for cry of battle with the men, with men of war
for victory.
He who with heroes wins the light, who with the singers gains
the prize,
Him the rich seek to gain even as a swift strong steed, even as
a courser fleet and strong.
3 Thou, Mighty, pourest forth the hide that holds the rain, thou
keepest far away, Hero, the wicked man, thou shuttest out the
wicked man.
Indra, to thee I sing, to Dyaus, to Rudra glorious in himself,
To Mitra, Varuna I sing a far-famed hymn to the kind God a
far-famed hymn.
4 We. wish our Indra here that he may further you, the Friend,
beloved of all, the very strong ally, in wars the very strong ally
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In all encounters strengthen thou our prayer to be a help to us.
No enemy-whom thou smitest downsubdueth thee, no enemy,
whom thou smitest down.
5 Bow down the overweening pride of every foe with succour
like to kindling-wood in fiercest flame, with mighty succour,
Mighty One.
Guide us, thou Hero, as of old, so art thou counted blameless
still.
Thou drivest, as a Priest, all sins of man away, as Priest, in
person, seeking us.
6 This may I utter to the present Soma-drop, which, meet to be
invoked, with power, awakes the prayer, awakes the demonslaying
prayer.
May he himself with darts of death drive far from us the
scorner's hate.
Far let him flee away who speaketh wickedness and vanish
like a mote of dust.
7 By thoughtful invocation this may we obtain, obtain great
wealth, O Wealthy One, with Hero sons, wealth that is sweet
with hero sons.
Him who is wroth we pacify with sacred food and eulogies,
Indra the Holy with our calls inspired and true, the Holy One
with calls inspired.
8 On, for your good and ours, come Indra with the aid of his
own lordliness to drive the wicked hence, to rend the
evilhearted ones!
The weapon which devouring fiends cast at us shall destroy
themselves.
Struck down, it shall not reach the mark; hurled forth, the firebrand
shall not strike.
9 With riches in abundance, Indra, come to us, come by an
unobstructed path, come by a path from demons free.
Be with us when we stray afar, be with us when our home is
nigh.
Protect us with thy help both near and far away: protect us ever
with thy help.
10 Thou art our own, O Indra, with victorious wealth: let might
accompany thee, the Strong, to give us aid, like Mitra, to give
mighty aid.
O strongest saviour, helper thou, Immortal! of each warrior's
car.
Hurt thou another and not us, O Thunderarmed, one who
would hurt, O Thunder-armed!
11 Save us from injury, thou who art well extolled: ever the
warder-off art thou of wicked ones, even as a God, of wicked
ones;
Thou slayer of the evil fiend, saviour of singer such as I.
Good Lord, the Father made thee slayer of the fiends, made
thee, good Lord, to slay the fiends.
HYMN CXXX. Indra.
1. Come to us, Indra, from afar, conducting us even as a lord of
heroes to the gatherings, home, like a King, his heroes' lord.
We come with gifts of pleasant food, with juice poured forth,
invoking thee,
As sons invite a sire, that thou mayst get thee strength thee,
bounteousest, to get thee strength.