The Rig Veda - Book 1

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HYMN I. Agni.

1 I Laud Agni, the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice,
The hotar, lavishest of wealth.
2 Worthy is Agni to be praised by living as by ancient seers.
He shall bring hitherward the Gods.
3 Through Agni man obtaineth wealth, yea, plenty waxing day by day,
Most rich in heroes, glorious.
4 Agni, the perfect sacrifice which thou encompassest about
Verily goeth to the Gods.
5 May Agni, sapient-minded Priest, truthful, most gloriously great,
The God, come hither with the Gods.
6 Whatever blessing, Agni, thou wilt grant unto thy worshipper,
That, Aṅgiras, is indeed thy truth.
7 To thee, dispeller of the night, O Agni, day by day with prayer
Bringing thee reverence, we come
8 Ruler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One,
Increasing in thine own abode.
9 Be to us easy of approach, even as a father to his son:
Agni, be with us for our weal.

HYMN CLXXVII. Indra.

1. THE Bull of men, who cherishes all people, King of the Races, Indra, called of many,
Fame-loving, praised, hither to me with succour turn having yoked both vigorous Bay Horses!
2 Thy mighty Stallions, yoked by prayer, O Indra, thy. Coursers to thy mighty chariot harnessed,-
Ascend thou these, and borne by them come hither: with Soma juice out. poured, Indra, we call thee.
3 Ascend thy mighty car: the mighty Soma is poured for thee and sweets are sprinkled round us.
Come down to us-ward, Bull of human races,come, having harnessed them, with strong Bay Horses.
4 Here is God-reaching sacrifice, here the victim; here, Indra,are the prayers, here is the Soma.
Strewn is thesacred grass: come hither, Sakra; seatthee and drink: unyoke thy two Bay Coursers.
5 Come to us, Indra, come thou highly lauded to the devotions of the singer Mana.
Singing, may we find early through thy succour, may we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXVIII. Indra.

1. IF, Indra, thou hast given that gracious hearing where with thou helpest those who sang thy praises.
Blast not the wish that would exalt us may I gain all from thee, and pay all man's devotions.
2 Let not the Sovran Indra disappoint us in what shall bring both Sisters to our dwelling.
To him have run the quickly flowing waters.May Indra come to us with life and friendship.
3 Victorious with the men, Hero in battles, Indra, who hearsthe singer's supplication,
Will bring his car nigh to the man who offers, if he himself upholds the songs that praise him.
4 Yea,Indra, with the men, through love of gloryconsumes the sacred food which friends have offered.
The ever-strengthening song of him who worships is sung in fight amid the clash of voices.
5Aided by thee, O Maghavan, O Indra, may we subdue our foes who count them mighty.
Be our protector, strengthen and increase us.May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXIX. Rati.

The deified object of this omitted hymn is said to be Rati or Love, and its Rsis or authors are Lopamudrd, Agastya, and a disciple. Lopamudra is represented as inviting the caresses of her aged husband Agastya, and complaining of his coldness and neglect. Agastya responds in stanza 3, and in the second half of stanza 4 the disciple or the poet briefly tells the result of the dialogue. Stanza 5 is supposed to be spoken by the disciple who has overheard the conversation, but its connexion with the rest of the hymn is not very apparent. In stanza 6 'toiling with strong endeavour' is a paraphrase and not a translation of the original khanamanah khanitraib (ligonibus fodiens) which Sayana explains by 'obtaining the desired result by means of lauds and sacrifices.'
M. Bergaigne is of opinion that the hymn has a mystical meaning, Agastya being identifiable with the celestial Soma whom Lopamudra, representing fervent Prayer, succeeds after long labour in drawing down from his secret dwelling place. See La Religion Vedique, ii. 394 f.
1 'Through many autumns have I toiled and laboured, at night and morn, through age-inducing dawnings.
Old age impairs the beauty of our bodies. Let husbands still come near unto their spouses.
2 For even the men aforetime, law-fulfillers, who with the Gods declared eternal statutes,--
They have decided, but have not accomplished: so now let Wives come near unto their husbands.
3 Non inutilis est labor cui Dii favent: nos omnes aemulos et aemulas vincamus.
Superemus in hac centum artium pugna in qua duas partes convenientes utrinque commovemus.
4 Cupido me cepit illius tauri [viri] qui me despicit, utrum hinc utrum illinc ab aliqua parte nata sit.
Lopamudra taururn [mariturn suum] ad se detrahit: insipiens illa sapientem anhelantern absorbet.
5 This Soma I address that is most near us, that which hath been imbibed within the spirit,
To pardon any sins we have committed. Verily mortal man is full of longings.
6 Agastya thus, toiling with strong endeavour, wishing for children, progeny and. power,
Cherished - a sage of mighty strength - both classes, and with the Gods obtained his prayer's fulfilment.
By 'both classes' probably priests and princes, or institutors of sacrifices, are meant. M. Bergaigne understands the expression to mean the two forms or essences of Soma, the celestial and the terrestrial.
5 Membrum suum virile, quod vrotentum fuerat, mas ille retraxit. Rursus illud quod in juvenem filiam sublatum fuerat, non aggressurus, ad se rerahit.
6 Quum jam in medio connessu, semiperfecto opere, amorem in puellam pater impleverat, ambo discedentes seminis paulum in terrae superficiem sacrorum sede effusum emiserunt.
7 Quum pater suam nilam adiverat, cum ed congressus suum semen supra wrrarn effudit. Tum Dii benigni precem (brahma) prgeduerunt, et Vastoshpatim, legum sacrarum custodem, formaverunt.
8 Ille tauro similis spumam in certamine jactavit, tunc discedens pusillaximis huc profectus est. Quasi dextro pede claudus processit, "inutiles fuerunt illi mei complexus," ita locutus.
9 'The fire, burning the people, does not approach quickly (by day): the naked (Rakasas approach) not Agni by night; the giver of fuel, and the giver of food, he, the upholder (of the rite), is born, overcoming enemies by his might.'

HYMN CLXXX. Asvins.

1. LIGHTLY your coursers travel through the regions when round thesea of air your car is flying.
Your golden fellies scatter drops of moisture: drinking the sweetness ye atend the Mornings.
2 Ye as ye travel overtake the Courser who flies apart, the Friend of man, most holy.
The prayer is that the Sister may convey you, all praised, meath-drinkers! to support and strengthen.
3 Ye have deposited, matured within her, in the raw cow the first milk of the milch-cow,
Which the bright offerer, shining like a serpent mid trees, presents to you whose form is perfect.
4 Ye made the fierce heat to be full of sweetness for Atri at his wish, like streaming water.
Fire-offering thence is yours, O Asvins, Heroes: your car-wheels speed to us like springs of honey.
5 Like Tugra's ancient son may I, ye Mighty, bring you to give your gifts with milk-oblations.
Your greatness compasseth Earth, Heaven, and Waters: decayed for you is sorrow's net, ye Holy.
6 When, Bounteous Ones, ye drive your yoked team downward, ye send, by your own natures, understanding.
Swift as the wind let the prince please and feast you: he, like a pious man, gains strength for increase.
7 For verily we truthful singers praise you the niggard trafficker is here excluded.
Now, even now do ye O blameless Advins, ye Mighty, guard the man whose God is near him.
8 You of a truth day after day, O Asvins, that he might win the very plenteous torrent,
Agastya, famous among mortal heroes, roused with a thousand lauds like sounds of music.
9 When with the glory of your car ye travel, when we go speeding like the priest of mortals,
And give good horses to sacrificers, may we, Nasatyas! gain our share of riches.
10 With songs of praise we call to-day, O Asvins, that your new chariot, for our own well-being,
That circles heaven with never-injured fellies. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXXI. Asvins

1. WHAT, dearest Pair, is this in strength and riches that ye as Priests are bring from the waters?
This sacrifice is your glorification, ye who protect mankind and give them treasures.
2 May your pure steeds, rain-drinkers, bring you hither, swift as the tempest, your celestial coursers,
Rapid as thought, with fair backs, full of vigour, resplendent in their native light, O Asvins.
3 Your car is like a torrent rushing downward: may it come nigh, broad-seated, for our welfare,-
Car holy, strong, that ever would be foremost, thought-swift, which ye, for whom we long, have mounted.
4 Here sprung to life, they both have sung together, with bodies free from stain, with signs that mark them;
One of you Prince of Sacrifice, the Victor, the other counts as Heaven's auspicious offspring.
5 May your car-seat, down-gliding, golden-coloured, according to your wish approach our dwellings.
Men shall feed full the bay steeds of the other, and, Asvins they with roars shall stir the regions.
6 Forth comes your strong Bull like a cloud of autumn, sending abundant food of liquid sweetness.
Let them feed with the other's ways and vigour: the upper streams have come and do us service.
7 Your constant song hath been sent forth, Disposers! that flows threefold in mighty strength, O Asvins.
Thus lauded, give the suppliant protection moving or resting hear mine invocation.
8 This song of bright contents for you is swelling in the men's hall where three-fold grass is.ready.
Your strong rain-cloud, ye Mighty Ones, hath swollen, honouring men as 'twere with milk's outpouring.
9 The prudent worshipper, like Pusan, Asvins! praises you as he praises Dawn and Agni,
When, singing with devotion, he invokes you. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXXII. Asvins.

1. THIS was the task. Appear promptly, ye prudent Ones. Here is the chariot drawn by strong steeds: be ye glad.
Heart-stirring, longed for, succourers of Vispala, here are Heaven's Sons whose sway blesses the pious man.
2 Longed for, most Indra-like, mighty, most Marut-like, most w6nderful in deed, car-borne, best charioteers,
Bring your full chariot hither heaped with liquid sweet: thereon, ye Mvins, come to him who offers gifts.
3 What make ye there, ye Mighty? Wherefore linger ye with folk who, offering not, are held in high esteem?
Pass over them; make ye the niggard's life decay: give light unto the singer eloquent in praise.
4 Crunch up on. every side the dogs who bark at us: slay ye our foes, O Asvins this ye understand.
Make wealthy every word of him who praises you: accept with favour, both Nasatyas, this my laud.
5 Ye made for Tugra's son amid the water-floods that animated ship with wings to fly withal,
Whereon with God-devoted mind ye brought him forth, and fled with easy flight from out the mighty surge.
6 Four ships most welcome in the midst of ocean, urged by the Asvins, save the son of Tugra,
Him who was cast down headlong in the waters, plunged in the thick inevitable darkness.
7 What tree was that which stood fixed in surrounding sea to which the son of Tugra supplicating clung?
Like twigs, of which some winged creature may take hold, ye, Asvins, bore him off safely to your renown.
8 Welcome to you be this the hymn of praises uttered by Manas, O Nasatyas, Heroes,
From this our gathering where we offer Soma. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXXIII. Asvins.

1. MAKE ready that which passes thought in swiftness, that hath three wheels and triple seat, ye Mighty,
Whereon ye seek the dwelling of the pious, whereon, threefold, ye fly like birds with pinions.
2 Light rolls your easy chariot faring earthward, what time, for food, ye, full of wisdom, mount it.
May this song, wondrous fair, attend your glory: ye, as ye travel, wait on Dawn Heaven's Daughter.
3 Ascend your lightly rolling car, approaching the worshipper who turns him to his duties,-
Whereon ye come unto the house to quicken man and his offspring, O Nasatyas, Heroes.
4 Let not the wolf, let not the she-wolf harm you. Forsake me not, nor pass me by or others.
Here stands your share, here is your hymn, ye Mighty: yours are these vessels, full of pleasant juices.
5 Gotama, Purumilha, Atri bringing oblations all invoke you for protection.
Like one who goes strai ht to the point directed, ye Nasatyas, to mine invocation.
6 We have passed o'er the limit of this darkness: our praise hath been bestowed on you, O Asvins.
Come hitherward by paths which Gods have travelled. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXXIV Asvins.

1. LET us invoke you both this day and after the priest is here with lauds when morn is breaking:
Nasatyas, wheresoe'er ye be, Heaven's Children, for him who is more liberal than the godless.
2 With us, ye Mighty, let yourselves be joyful, glad in our stream of Soma slay the niggards.
Graciously hear my hymns and invitations, marking, O Heroes, with your cars my longing.
3 Nasatyas, Pusans, ye as Gods for glory arranged and set in order Surya's bridal.
Your giant steeds move on, sprung from the waters, like ancient times of Varuna the Mighty.
4 Your grace be with us, ye who love sweet juices: further the hymn sung by the poet Mana,
When men are joyful in your glorious actions, to win heroic strength, ye Bounteous Givers.
5 This praise was made, O liberal Lords, O Asvins, for you with fair adornment by the Manas.
Come to our house for us and for our children, rejoicing, O Nasatyas, in Agastya.
6 We have passed o'er the limit of this darkness: our praise hath been'bestowed on you, O Asvins.
Come hitherward by paths which Gods have travelled. may we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXXV. Heaven and Earth.

1. WHETHER of these is elder, whether later? How were they born? Who knoweth it, ye sages?
These of themselves support all things existing: as on a car the Day and Night roll onward.
2 The Twain uphold, though motionless and footless, a widespread offspring having feet and moving.
Like your own fon upon his parents' bosom, protect us, Heaven and earth, from fearful danger.
3 I call for Aditi's unrivalled bounty, perfect, celestial, deathless, meet for worship.
Produce this, ye Twain Worlds, for him who lauds you. Protect us, Heaven and Earth, from fearful danger.
4 May we be close to both the Worlds who suffer no pain, Parents of Gods, who aid with favour,
Both mid the Gods, with Day and Night alternate. Protect us, Heaven and Earth, from fearful danger.
5 Faring together, young, with meeting limits, Twin Sisters lying in their Parents' bosom,
Kissing the centre of the world together. Protect us, Heaven and Earth, from fearful danger.
6 Duly I call the two wide seats, the mighty, the general Parents, with the God's protection.
Who, beautiful to look on, make the nectar. Protect us, Heaven and Earth, from fearful danger.
7 Wide, vast, and manifold, whose bounds are distant,-these, reverent, I address at this our worship,
The blessed Pair, victorious, all-sustaining. Protect us, Heaven and Earth, from fearful danger.
8 What sin we have at any time committed against the Gods, our friend, our house's chieftain,
Thereof may this our hymn be expiation. Protect us, Heaven and Earth, from fearful danger.
9 May both these Friends of man, who bless, preserve me, may they attend me with their help and favour.
Enrich the man more liberal than the godless. May we, ye Gods, be strong with food rejoicing.
10 Endowed with understanding, I have uttered this truth, for all to hear, to Earth and Heaven.
Be near us, keep us from reproach and trouble. Father and Mother, with your help preserve us.
11 Be this my prayer fulfilled, O Earth and Heaven, wherewith, Father and Mother, I address you.
Nearest of Gods be ye with your protection. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXXVI. Visvedevas.

1. LOVED of all men, may Savitar, through praises offered as sacred food, come to our synod,
That you too, through-our hymn, ye ever-youthful, may gladden, at your visit, all our people.
2 To us may all the Gods come trooped together, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna concordant,
That all may be promoters of our welfare, and with great might preserve our strength from slackness.
3 Agni I sing, the guest you love most dearly: the Conqueror through our lauds is friendly-minded.
That he may be our Varuna rich in glory and send food like a prince praised by the godly.
4 To you I seek with reverence, Night and Morning, like a cow good to milk, with hope to conquer,
Preparing on a common day the praise. song with milk of various hues within this udder.
5 May the great Dragon of the Deep rejoice us: as one who nourishes her young comes Sindhu,
With whom we will incite the Child of Waters whom vigorous course swift as thought bring hither.
6 Moreover Tvastar also shall approach us, one-minded with the princes at his visit.
Hither shall come the Vrtra-slayer Indra, Ruler of men, as strongest of the Heroes.
7 Him too our hymns delight, that yoke swift horses, like mother cows who lick their tender youngling.
To him our songs shall yield themselves like spouses, to him the most delightful of the Heroes.
8 So may the Maruts, armed with mighty weapons, rest here on heaven and earth with hearts in concord,
As Gods whose cars have dappled steeds like torrents, destroyers of the foe allies of Mitra.
9 They hasten on to happy termination their orders when they are made known by
glory.
As on a fair bright day the arrow flieth o'er all the barren soil their missiles sparkle.
10 Incline the Asvins to show grace, and Pusan, for power and might have they, their own possession.
Friendly are Visnu, Vata, and Rbhuksan so may I bring the Gods to make us happy.
11 This is my reverent thought of you, ye Holy; may it inspire you, make you dwell among us,-
Thought, toiling for the Gods and seeking treasure. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CLXXXVII. Praise of Food.

1. Now will I glorify Food that upholds great strength,
By whose invigorating power Trita rent Vrtra limb frorn limb.
2 O pleasant Food, O Food of meath, thee have we chosen for our own,
So be our kind protector thou.
3 Come hitherward to us, O Food, auspicious with auspicious help,
Health-bringing, not unkind, a dear and guileless friend.
4 These juices which, O Food, are thine throughout the regions are diffused.
like winds they have their place in heaven.
5 These gifts of thine, O Food, O Food most sweet to taste,
These savours of thy juices work like creatures that have mighty necks.
6 In thee, O Food, is set the spirit of great Gods.
Under thy flag brave deeds were done he slew the Dragon with thy help.
7 If thou be gone unto the splendour of the clouds,
Even from thence, O Food of meath, prepared for our enjoyment, come.
8 Whatever morsel we consume from waters or from plants of earth, O Soma, wax thou fat thereby.
9 What Soma, we enjoy from thee in milky food or barley-brew, Vatapi, grow thou fat thereby.
10 O Vegetable, Cake of meal, he wholesome, firm, and strengthening: Vatapi, grow thou fat thereby.
11 O Food, from thee as such have we drawn forth with lauds, like cows, our sacrificial gifts,
From thee who banquetest with Gods, from thee who banquetest with us.

HYMN CLXXXVIII. April

1. WINNER of thousands, kindled, thou shinest a God with Gods to-day.
Bear out oblations, envoy, Sage.
2 Child of Thyself the sacrifice is for the righteous blent with meath,
Presenting viands thousandfold.
3 Invoked and worthy of our praise bring Gods whose due is sacrifice:
Thou, Agni, givest countless gifts.
4 To seat a thousand Heroes they eastward have strewn the grass with might,
Whereon, Adityas, ye shine forth.
5 The sovran all-imperial Doors, wide, good, many and manifold,
Have poured their streams of holy oil.
6 With gay adornment, fair to see, in glorious beauty shine they forth:
Let Night and Morning rest them here.
7 Let these two Sages first of all, heralds divine and eloquent,
Perform for us this sacrifice.
8 You I address, Sarasvati, and Bharati, and Ila, all:
Urge ye us on to glorious fame.
9 Tvastar the Lord hath made all forms and all the cattle of the field
Cause them to multiply for us.
10 Send to the Gods, Vanaspati, thyself, the sacrificial draught:
Let Agni make the oblations sweet.
11 Agni, preceder of the Gods, is honoured with the sacred song:
He glows at offerings blest with Hail!

HYMN CLXXXIX. Agni.

1. BY goodly paths lead us to riches, Agni, God who knowest every sacred duty.
Remove the sin that makes us stray and wander. most ample adoration will we bring thee.
2 Lead us anew to happiness, O Agni; lead us beyond all danger and affliction.
Be unto us a wide broad ample castle bless, prosper on their way our sons and offspring.
3 Far from us, Agni, put thou all diseases let them strike lauds that have no saving Agni.
God, make our home again to be a b1ess ing, with all the Immortal Deities, O Holy.
4 Preserve us, Agni, with perpetual succour, refulgent in the dwelling which thou lovest.
O Conqueror, most youthful, let no danger touch him who praises thee to-day or after.
5 Give not us up a prey to sin, O Agni, the greedy enemy that brings us trouble;
Not to the fanged that bites, not to the toothless: give not us up, thou Conqueror, to the spoiler.
6 Such as thou art, born after Law, O Agni when lauded give protection to our bodies,
From whosoever would reproach or injure: for thou, God, rcscuest from all oppression.
7 Thou, well discerning both these classes, comest to men at early morn, O holy Agni.
Be thou obedient unto man at evening, to be adorned, as keen, by eager suitors.
8 To him have we addressed our pious speeches, I, Mana's son, to him victorious Agni.
May we gain countless riches with the sages. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CXC. Brhaspati.

1.GLORIFY thou Brhaspati, the scatheless, who must be praised with hymns, sweet-tongued and mighty,
To whom as leader of the song, resplendent, worthy of lauds, both Gods and mortals listen.
2 On him wait songs according to the season even as a stream of pious men set moving.
Brhaspati-for helaid out the expanses- was, at the sacrifice, vast Matarisvan.
3 The praise, the verse that offers adoration, may he bring forth, as the Sun sends his arms out,
He who gives daily light through this God's wisdom, strong as a dread wild beast, and inoffensive.
4 His song of praise pervades the earth and heaven - let the wise worshipper draw it, like a courser.
These of Brhaspati, like hunters' arrows, go to the skies that change their hue like serpents.
5 Those, God, who count thee as a worthless bullock, and, wealthy sinners, live on thee the Bounteous,-
On fools like these no blessing thou bestowest: Brhaspati, thou punishest the spiteful.
6 Like a fair path is he, where grass is pleasant, though hard to win, a Friend beloved most early.
Those who unharmed by enemies behold us, while: they would make them bare, stood closely compassed.
7 He to whom songs of praise go forth like torrents, as rivers eddying under banks flow sea-ward-
Brhaspati the wise, the eager, closely looks upon both, the waters and the vessel.
8 So hath Brhaspati, great, strong and mighty, the God exceeding powerful, been brought hither.
May he thus lauded give us kine and horses. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

HYMN CXCI Water. Grass. Sun.

1. VENOMOUS, slightly venomous, or venomous aquatic worm,-
Both creatures, stinging, unobserved, with poison have infected me.
2 Coming, it kills the unobserved; it kills them as it goes away,
It kills them as it drives them off, and bruising bruises them to death.
3 Sara grass, Darbha, Kusara, and Sairya, Munja, Virana,
Where all these creatures dwell unseen, with poison have infected me.
4 The cows had settled in their stalls, the beasts of prey had sought their lairs,
Extinguished were the lights of men, when things unseen infected me.
5 Or these, thesereptiles, are observed, like lurking thieves at evening time.
Seers of all, themselves unseen: be therefore very vigilant.
6 Heaven is your Sire, your Mother Earth, Soma your Brother, Aditi
Your Sister: seeing all, unseen, keep still and dwell ye happily.
7 Biters of shoulder or of limb, with needle-stings, most venomous,
Unseen, whatever ye may be, vanish together and be gone.
8 Slayer of things unseen, the Sun, beheld of all, mounts, eastward, up,
Consuming all that are not seen, and evil spirits of the night.
9 There hath the Sun-God mounted up, who scorches much and everything.
Even the Aditya from the hills, all-seen, destroying things unseen.
10 I hang the poison in the Sun, a wine-skin in a vintner's house,
He will not die, nor shall we die: his path is far: he whom Bay Horses bear hath turned thee to sweet meath.
11 This little bird, so very small, hath swallowed all thy poison up.
She will not die, nor shall we die: his path is far: he whom Bay Horses bear hath turned thee to sweet meath.
12 The three-times-seven bright sparks of fire have swallowed up the poison's strength.
They will not die, nor shall we die: his path is far: he whom Bay Horses bear hath turned thee to sweet meath.
13 Of ninety rivers and of nine with power to stay the venom's course,-
The names of all I have secured: his path is far: he whom Bay Horses bear hath turned thee to sweet meath.
14 So have the peahens three-times-seven, so have the maiden Sisters Seven
Carried thy venom far away, as girls bear water in their jars.
15 The poison-insect is so small; I crush the creature with a stone.
I turn the poison hence away, departed unto distant lands.
16 Forth issuing from the mountain's side the poison-insect spake and said:
The scorpion's venom hath no strength Scorpion, thy venom is but weak.

by Griffith 1896