Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK ONE
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Give mental power to him who sings the sacred song, and
hearken, Strong Ones, to the master ofthe house.
3 The folk have glorified your birth from Earth and Heaven, to
be extolled, ye Strong Ones, for your mighty power.
Ye, when ye bring to singer and the rite, enjoy the sacrifice
periormed with holy praise and strength.
4 The people prospers, Asuras! whom ye dearly love: ye,
Righteous Ones, proclaim aloud the Holy Law.
That efficacious power that comes from lofty heaven, ye bind
unto the work, as to the pole an ox.
5 On this great earth ye send your treasure down with might:
unstained by dust, the crowding kine are in the stalls.
Here in the neighbourhood they cry unto the Sun at morning
and at evening, like swift birds of prey.
6 The flames with curling tresses serve your sacrifice, whereto
ye sing the song, Mitra and Varuna.
Send down of your free will, prosper our holy songs: ye are
sole Masters of the singer's hymn of praise.
7 Whoso with sacrifices toiling brings you gifts, and worships,
sage and priest, fulfilling your desire,-
To him do ye draw nigh and taste his sacrifice. Come wellinclined
to us unto our songs and prayer.
8 With sacrifices and with milk they deck you first, ye
Righteous Ones, as if through stirrings of the mind.
To you they bring their hymns with their collected thought,
while ye with earnest soul come to us gloriously.
9 Rich strength of life is yours: ye, Heroes, have obtained
through your surpassing powers rich far-extending might.
Not the past days conjoined with nights, not rivers, not the
Papis have attained your Godhead and your wealth.
HYMN CLII. Mitra-Varuna.
1. THE robes which ye put on abound with fatness:
uninterrupted courses are your counsels.
All falsehood, Mitra-Varuna! ye conquer, and closely cleave
unto the Law Eternal.
2 This might of theirs hath no one comprehended. True is the
crushing word the sage hath uttered,
The fearful four-edged bolt smites down the three-edged, and
those who hate the Gods first fall and perish.
3 The Footless Maid precedeth footed creatures. Who marketh,
Mitra-Varuna, this your doing?
The Babe Unborn supporteth this world's burthen, fuIfilleth
Law and overcometh falsehood.
4 We look on him the darling of the Maidens, always
advancing, never falling downward,
Wearing inseparable, wide-spread raiment, Mitra's and
Varuna's delightful glory.
5 Unbridled Courser, horn but not of horses, neighing he flieth
on with back uplifted.
The youthful love mystery thought-surpassing, praising in
Mitra-Varuna, its glory.
6 May the milch-kine who favour Mamateya prosper in this
world him who loves devotion.
May he, well skilled in rites, be food, and calling Aditi with his
lips give us assistance.
7 Gods, Mitra-Varuna, with love and worship, let me make
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you delight in this oblation.
May our prayer be victorious in battles, may we have rain from
heaven to make us prosper.
HYMN CLIII. Mitra-Varuna.
1. WE worship with our reverence and oblations you, Mitra
Varuna, accordant, mighty,
So that with us, ye Twain whose backs are sprinkled with oil,
the priests with oil and hymns support you.
2 Your praise is like a mighty power, an impulse: to you,
Twain Gods, a well-formed hymn is offered,
As the priest decks yon, Strong Ones, in assemblies, and the
prince fain to worship you for blessings.
3 O Mitra-Varuna, Aditi the Milch-cow streams for the rite, for
folk who bring oblation,
When in the assembly he who worships moves you, like to a
human priest, with gifts presented.
4 So may the kine and heavenly Waters pour you sweet drink
in families that make you joyful.
Of this may he, the ancient House-Lord, give us. Enjoy, drink
of the milk the cow provideth.
HYMN CLIV. Visnu
1. I WILL declare the mighty deeds of Visnu, of him who
measured out the earthly regions,
Who propped the highest place of congregation, thrice setting
down his footstep, widely striding.
2 For this his mighty deed is Visnu lauded, like some wild
beast, dread, prowling, mountain-roaming;
He within whose three wide-extended paces all living creatures
have their habitation.
3 Let the hymn lift itself as strength to Visnu, the Bull farstriding,
dwelling on the mountains,
Him who alone with triple step hath measured this common
dwelling-place, long, far extended.
4 Him whose three places that are filled with sweetness,
imperishable, joy as it may list them,
Who verily alone upholds the threefold, the earth, the heaven,
and all living creatures.
5 May I attain to that his well-loved mansion where men
devoted to the Gods are happy.
For there springs, close akin to the Wide-Strider, the well of
meath in Visnu's highest footstep.
6 Fain would we go unto your dwelling-places where there are
many-horned and nimble oxen,
For mightily, there, shineth down upon us the widely-striding
Bull's sublimest mansion.
HYMN CLV. Visnu-Indra.
1. To the great Hero, him who sets his mind thereon, and
Visnu, praise aloud in song your draught of juice,-
Gods ne'er beguiled, who borne as 'twere by noble steed, have
stood upon the lofty ridges of the hills.
2 Your Soma-drinker keeps afar your furious rush, Indra and
Visnu, when ye come with all your might.
That which hath been directed well at mortal man, bow-armed
Krsanu's arrow, ye turn far aside.