Maṇḍala 4

4.1.1 Thee, O Agni, the gods of one accord have ever sent as their divine messenger — by their will they sent thee forth. The immortal one established among mortals, the divine and all-knowing Ādeva — they generated thee, the all-wise Pracetas, the divine Pracetas.

4.1.2 O Agni, bring hither thy brother Varuṇa together with the gods, by thy goodwill — him who is fond of sacrifice, the eldest, who delights in sacrifice. Bring the truth-bearing Āditya, upholder of peoples, the king who upholds the tribes.

4.1.3 As a friend, turn thy friend hither, as a wheel on the chariot-track hastens swiftly — hasten toward us, O wondrous one. O Agni, find grace for us together with Varuṇa, among the Maruts of universal splendor. Grant bliss to our offspring and strength, O blazing one — grant us welfare, O wondrous one, grant us welfare.

4.1.4 Thou, O Agni, knowing the wrath of god Varuṇa, shouldst turn it away from us. Thou who art most worthy of worship, best of conveyors, ever blazing — drive away all hatreds from us.

4.1.5 Be thou, O Agni, our lowest and nearest aid at the break of this dawn. Worship Varuṇa on our behalf and bestow grace — come to us with clemency and be easy to invoke.

4.1.6 The most excellent and most wonderful vision of this blessed god among mortals — pure like clarified butter heated up, like the munificence of the inviolable cow, desirable and divine.

4.1.7 Threefold are those supreme, true, and desirable births of divine Agni. He comes enclosed within the limitless, blazing, bright, noble, and radiantly gleaming.

4.1.8 He is the messenger who pervades every dwelling, the Hotṛ with a golden chariot and a tongue of copper, with red horses, beautiful in form, of great light — ever joyous, the assembly of which is like one rich in food.

4.1.9 Awakening men — this bond of sacrifice — they lead him forth by great thongs. Achieving his goal among the houses of his worshiper, the divine one attained partnership with the mortal.

4.1.10 May Agni, knowing the way, lead us toward that treasure appointed by the gods. That which all the immortals fashioned by thought, that which Father Dyaus, the begetter, made true and watered.

4.1.11 He was born first in the households, at the base of great heaven, in the womb of this aerial space — footless and headless, hiding at the extremities, stretching within the nest of the Bull.

4.1.12 First among those worthy of praise he arose from the womb of Ṛta, in the nest of the Bull — desirable, youthful, beautiful, and of great radiance. Seven beloved ones generated him for the Bull.

4.1.13 Here our fathers, the human ones, pressed forward seeking after Ṛta. Calling upon the Dawns, they drove up the radiant cows locked within the stone-walled pen, the well-milking ones within the cavern.

4.1.14 Having shattered the rock they polished it; others among them declared this to all around. Without restraint they sang in praise of the work; finding the light they shaped it with their thoughts.

4.1.15 With cow-seeking mind they surrounded the mountain that was hard, compact, and enclosing the cows. With divine speech the men, the Uśijas, opened up the firm cattle-pen full of kine.

4.1.16 They first thought of the name of the cow; they found the three-times-seven highest names of the mother. Knowing these, the companies sang after them; the glorious red Dawn-cow became manifest.

4.1.17 Darkness was dispelled, heaven shone; the light of the divine Dawns arose. The Sun stood upon the broad meadows, seeing the straight and the crooked among mortals.

4.1.18 Thereupon, awakening, they beheld each other; thereupon they held the heaven-given treasure. May all the gods in all the dwellings — O Mitra, O Varuṇa — let truth be in our thought.

4.1.19 I would speak praise toward blazing Agni, the Hotṛ, the all-sustaining, the most worthy of worship — whose bright udder the cows did not consume, whose pressed Soma was not drunk, like that poured around the filter.

4.1.20 Aditi of all the worshipable beings, guest of all human beings — may Agni, winning the favor of the gods, become gracious to us, the all-knowing Jātavedas.

4.2.1 He who, the immortal truth-bearer, was established as the divine messenger among the gods — Agni, the Hotṛ, most worthy of worship, set among mortals to blaze magnificently, to be stirred with oblations.

4.2.2 Here today, O son of power, born between the two kindred, O Agni — thou goest as a lofty messenger having yoked the straight-membered, bull-like, bright horses.

4.2.3 Those exceeding, exhilarating, red, and ghee-dripping steeds I deem the swiftest by mind — belonging to Ṛta. Yoked with the red ones thou goest between you gods and the clans of mortals.

4.2.4 Bring Aryaman, Varuṇa, Mitra among these, Indra, Viṣṇu, the Maruts, and the Aśvins. O Agni, with good horses, fine chariot, and excellent gifts, do convey them to the people of good oblations.

4.2.5 O Agni, let our sacrifice be possessed of kine, possessed of sheep, possessed of horses, friend to heroes, ever imperishable. O mighty one, may this wealth be rich in refreshment, in offspring, long-lasting, broad-based, and fit for the assembly.

4.2.6 He who brings thee fuel perspiring, or scorches his head on account of thee — become thou his mighty guardian, O Agni, and protect him from every evil-doer.

4.2.7 He who brings thee food — even food desired — sharpening, arousing the joyous guest; the god-seeking one who kindles thee in his home — in him may wealth be steadfast and may he be a giver.

4.2.8 He who praises thee at evening or at dawn, or who, possessing oblations, makes thee a beloved offering — like a horse with golden trappings in its own stable, carry that worshiper beyond distress.

4.2.9 He who makes offering to thee, O immortal Agni, and performs service to thee with ladle extended — may he not be separated from wealth when he has striven; let no distress from the evil one encircle him.

4.2.10 He whose sacrifice thou, O Agni, hast enjoyed — the god bestowing well-placed boons on the mortal — may his Hotṛ-service be pleasing, O most youthful; may we be those whose worshiper prospers.

4.2.11 O all-knowing one, discern wisdom and unwisdom, separating mortals as if separating the clean from the crooked. For our prosperity and good offspring, O god, grant us bounty and Aditi, and protect us.

4.2.12 The undeceivable seers have instructed the seer, holding him firmly in the houses of life. Therefore, O Agni, mayst thou — visible — see those wondrous things with thy feet and thine own noble steps.

4.2.13 Thou, O Agni, art a good guide to the lauding poet who presses Soma and worships — O most youthful, thou who art dear to peoples. Bring a wide and shining treasure to the striving one for his protection.

4.2.14 For when we have done this by thy aid, O Agni, with feet, hands, and bodies — like those who equip a chariot through the effort of both arms — the clear-minded ones, eagerly seeking, have grasped the truth.

4.2.15 Then may we seven inspired ones be born first from the mother Dawn, as creators of men. May we become sons of Heaven, Aṅgirases, and burst open the wealth-laden mountain while we shine.

4.2.16 Just as our fathers of old, O Agni, eagerly seeking Ṛta, went in purity to the inspiring thought — singing praises, shattering the earth, they drove forth the reddish cows.

4.2.17 Good workers of fine brilliance, desiring the gods, like iron, the gods blowing on their birth — shining, they magnified Agni and Indra, and came surrounding the vast cattle-pen.

4.2.18 As it looked upon the rich cattle-herd, when the mighty births of the gods appeared — even the Urvaśīs of mortals lamented, O noble one, for the upward course of life to grow.

4.2.19 We have become skilled workers through thy deeds; the dawns, shining forth, flowed with truth. Tending Agni, complete and widely brilliant, they polished the beautiful eye of the god.

4.2.20 These hymns, O Agni, O wise ordainer, we have spoken — enjoy them, O seer. Blaze up high, make us better; grant us great wealth, O thou of many gifts.

4.3.1 Seek ye the king of the sacrifice, Rudra, the Hotṛ, the true worshiper of the two worlds — Agni of golden form, before the crash of the unconscious thunder, for our protection.

4.3.2 This womb we have made for thee — as a wife, desirous and well-dressed, for her husband. Sit down here facing toward us, surrounded — these offerings face thee, O thou of beautiful radiance.

4.3.3 Pronounce the hymn for him who listens, the inviolate, the ordainer who sees with a hero's eyes, who is gracious — praise the immortal god, whom I, like a Soma-presser with pressing-stone, seek as the honey-squeezer.

4.3.4 Do thou, O Agni, O most kindly one, O wise truth-perceiver, be aware of this Ṛta. When shall thy hymns be those to be rejoiced in together? When shall thy friendships be in thy house?

4.3.5 O Agni, how wilt thou speak to Varuṇa? How dost thou reproach Heaven for our transgression? How wilt thou speak to the bounteous Mitra and to Earth? What wilt thou say to Aryaman, what to Bhaga?

4.3.6 O Agni, what wilt thou say, thriving in thy seats, to Vāta the wide-spread and beautiful? What wilt thou say to the all-wandering Nāsatya? What to Rudra who smites heroes, O Agni?

4.3.7 What wilt thou say to great Pūṣan, the nurturer? What to Rudra of beautiful face, who gives oblations? What wilt thou announce to wide-striding Viṣṇu? What, O Agni, to great Śarva?

4.3.8 Being questioned, what wilt thou say to the truth-bearing troop of Maruts, what to the great, mighty Sun? Speak back to swift Aditi duly, O Jātavedas, all-knowing one of heaven.

4.3.9 By Ṛta seek the fixed truth, the raw and the ripe together with the honey — of the cow, O Agni. Though black, she swelled with kindred milk by the white nourisher, this one.

4.3.10 For even the bull, anointed with Ṛta, masculine Agni, by the milk on his back, moved without trembling as life-sustainer; the bull milked the bright udder of Pṛśni.

4.3.11 Shattering the mountain by Ṛta, the Aṅgirases rejoiced together with the kine. The men of good fortune sat around the Dawn; the sun-world became manifest when Agni was kindled.

4.3.12 By Ṛta the divine, immortal, inviolate waters, with their honey-sweet floods, O Agni — like a prize horse in races, ever pressing forward to flow, they were ever ready.

4.3.13 Let us not always bear the deceitful man's burden; let us not injure the lodger or approach him. Let us not, O Agni, reap the debt of the dishonest brother; let us not share the cunning of a treacherous friend.

4.3.14 Protect us, O Agni, with thy protections, guarding us ceaselessly, O beautiful one, propitious. Kick back, smash the firm evil; slay the demon even though it has grown great.

4.3.15 Be gracious with these songs, O Agni — touch these prizes with hymns, O hero. And enjoy the prayers, O Aṅgiras; may thy praise, beloved of the gods, be kindled.

4.3.16 All these mysteries, O Agni, O ordainer, I have proclaimed to thee, the all-knowing — traditional sayings, secret words. I have sung poetic works fit for the seer, with thoughts, O inspired one, with hymns.

4.4.1 Make thy force broad as an extended track; go like a king powerful with his elephant. Raging along the fierce trail, be the archer — pierce the demons with thy hottest darts.

4.4.2 Thy circlings fly swiftly; blazing boldly, thou dost touch with thy tongue the burning things; O Agni, hurl the heat-sparks, and unconstrained, let loose firebrands in all directions.

4.4.3 Send forth thy scouts in all directions, swiftest one; be the unsupplanted guardian of this tribe. Whether the evil-speaker be far or near, O Agni, let no confusion dare to overpower thee.

4.4.4 Rise up, O Agni, spread thyself out and against them, O sharp-weaponed one — burn our enemies down. Whoever has created enmity against us, O enkindled one, burn him down below like dry tinder.

4.4.5 Stand upright, shoot past us, make the divine powers manifest, O Agni. Bend low the firm ones of the sorcerers; crush the related and unrelated enemies.

4.4.6 He knows thy favor, O most youthful, who has opened a path for the advancing brahman. To him may all the bright days of wealth and glories of the noble one shine through the doors.

4.4.7 May he, O Agni, be fortunate and bountiful who seeks to satisfy thee with regular oblation and with hymns in his own house and lifetime; may all bright days and his sacrifice be fulfilled for him.

4.4.8 I sing to call down thy favor; may this song be in accord with what thou desirest. With good horses and fine chariots may we honor thee; may thou sustain sovereignty in us through the days.

4.4.9 Here may much come near thee of thyself, shining in the evenings day by day. Playing, may we, well-disposed, worship thee, having attained the glories of the peoples.

4.4.10 He who comes to thee, O Agni, with good horses and fine gold, with a wealth-laden chariot — thou art his protector, thou art his friend — he who has continuously enjoyed thy hospitality.

4.4.11 I break the great kinship with words; that came to me from father Gotama. Do thou mark this our speech, O Hotṛ, most youthful, of pure will, O dweller in the house.

4.4.12 Unsleeping, swift, auspicious, unwearied, undevoured, untired — let those guardians, O Agni, sitting together toward the same goal, protect us, O wise one.

4.4.13 Those guardians of Māmateya — thine, O Agni — watching, they protected from evil, keeping the blind at bay. The all-knowing one preserved them, the doers of good; the enemies, though wishing to harm, did not deceive them.

4.4.14 Strengthened by thee, protected by thee, may we attain prizes by thy guidance. Pacify both praises, O thou of true nature — do this henceforth, O shameless one.

4.4.15 With this fuel, O Agni, we would worship thee — take hold of the praise being recited. Burn the sorcerers; protect us from the demons; O great Mitra, from the blame of the treacherous slanderer.

4.5.1 Together and in accord, how shall we make offering to Vaiśvānara, the bounteous, to Agni of great light? He has supported the bank like a prop with his undiminished, great vehicle.

4.5.2 Do not despise him who gave this gift to me, the mortal — the self-empowered god. Unto the simple one, the clever, immortal, all-knowing Vaiśvānara, most manly, young Agni, made it known.

4.5.3 Having the great, doubly strong Sāman-chant, sharp-edged, thousand-seeded, a mighty bull — knowing the hidden footprint of the cow, Agni spoke the inspiring thought to me.

4.5.4 Agni of sharp fangs, of excellent gifts, shall devour them with his hottest flame — those who infringe upon the domain of Varuṇa and the cherished, firm, perceiving laws of Mitra.

4.5.5 Like brotherless women straying, like women hostile to their husbands and of ill ways — being wicked, untruthful, and false, they have found this deep place.

4.5.6 O Agni, this thought of mine for the purifier, the lover — do not put it as a heavy burden. Thou hast boldly placed the great, deep, young back — nourish it with refreshment seven-fold.

4.5.7 May that same purifying thought, through the same will, attain to him from the same level.

4.5.8 What is to be uttered of this my speech? They speak of the hidden, the secret laid within. As they cover the outlet of the cows, the bird protects the dear, foremost station of its form.

4.5.9 This verily is the great, mighty face — that the primal cow accompanies the dawn-cows. Blazing over the station of Ṛta, the swiftly moving one perceived the swiftly flying one hidden.

4.5.10 Then the shining one sat beside his parents, following the beautiful secret of speckled Pṛśni. Near the supreme station of the mother-cow sat the tongue of the bull, of the blazing and exalted one.

4.5.11 Being questioned with reverence I speak the truth, O Jātavedas, by thy command if this be so: thou rulest over all that exists, that which is in heaven and that which is wealth upon earth.

4.5.12 What is our wealth in this, what indeed is the treasure? Declare it to us, O all-knowing Jātavedas. The highest point of the hidden path — of that empty station we did not come to the source.

4.5.13 What is the boundary, what the guiding marks? How shall we swift ones reach that which is beautiful, as if a prize? When shall the divine wives of the immortal, the Dawns, be stretched out with the color of the Sun?

4.5.14 With dustless, trifling, obvious, trembling, unsatisfied speech — what do they say here to thee, O Agni? Let the unarmed ones sit and follow their own ways.

4.5.15 For the beauty of this enkindled bull, the face of good Vasu shone in the house. Clothed in brightness, of beautiful form to behold — like a dwelling with wealth he gleamed, of many gifts.

4.6.1 Stand erect, O Hotṛ Agni, at our sacrifice, more worthy of worship in the divine assembly. For thou dost surpass all thought, and thou dost even overcome the wisdom of the wise ordainer.

4.6.2 The blameless Hotṛ Agni, the joyous, all-knowing one has taken his seat among the tribes. He has raised his light on high like Savitṛ; like a post he has propped the smoke up to heaven.

4.6.3 Wearing the good burnished one, the gift-giving, ghee-dripping one, the divine gathering moving to the right — the well-aimed, well-fitted one anoints the new-born, rafter-like sacrifice-post.

4.6.4 When the sacred grass is strewn and Agni is kindled, the Adhvaryu stands erect, delighting. Agni the Hotṛ, like a herdsman, goes around thrice, moving, wearing them from of old.

4.6.5 The Hotṛ Agni, measured in gait, goes around of himself, joyous, speaking sweetly, truth-bearing. His flames run like prize horses; all beings tremble when he blazes forth.

4.6.6 Auspicious is thy appearance, O Agni of beautiful face, though thy nature is terrible and varied. Neither does the darkness veil thy blazing light, nor do the scattered sparks put any taint upon thy body.

4.6.7 None has checked his conquest; neither father nor mother could hold him when he is desired. Then, like Mitra, well-settled and purifying, Agni shone among the human tribes.

4.6.8 Twice-five sisters dwelling together gave birth to Agni among the human tribes — him who wakens at dawn, sharp-toothed like Atharvan's tooth, bright, well-breathing, keen like an axe.

4.6.9 Thy golden-dripping, reddish steeds, O Agni, straight-going and well-going — the ruddy, bull-like, straight-membered, wondrous ones — they called to the divine gathering.

4.6.10 Those resistless, tireless, fierce, shining, roaming flames of thine, O Agni, march toward their goal — like hawks in service, with great noise, like the Marut-troop.

4.6.11 The prayer has been fashioned for thee, O enkindled one; he recites the hymn and worships, he has distributed. The Uśijas, the desiring ones, reverently placed Agni the Hotṛ of men, proclaiming the praise of life.

4.7.1 He was here established first by the establishers, the Hotṛ most worthy of worship at sacrifices, to be praised — him whom the Bhṛgus of Apnavāna made resound in the forests, the many-formed, the mighty one, in every tribe.

4.7.2 O Agni, when shall thy divine perception come hereafter in succession? Then mortals have seized upon thee, the praiseworthy one, among the tribes.

4.7.3 Looking upon the truth-bearing, all-knowing one as at the star-studded sky — the one who will complete all sacrifices, in every house.

4.7.4 The swift messenger of Vivasvat who surpasses all peoples — the descendants of Āyu, the Bhṛgavāṇas, seized the beacon, in every tribe.

4.7.5 Him, the perceiving Hotṛ, they have seated in unbroken succession — the joyous, purely-blazing, most worthy of worship one, with his seven stations.

4.7.6 Him, wrapped in eternal mothers, set in the wood, not touching the ground — the many-formed one, hidden in the secret place, well-known, and sought from somewhere.

4.7.7 When the gods made sport in the same udder of the two companions, at the station of Ṛta — great Agni, the truth-bearer, invited with oblations by reverence, is ever the bird of the sacrifice.

4.7.8 Knowing the missions of the bird of the sacrifice, perceiving both extremities of the two worlds together — thou goest as messenger from of old, wearing them — more knowing are the ascents of heaven.

4.7.9 Thy black trail and the bright light in front — the moving flame, indeed the one form of forms; when the inciting ones establish the embryo, thou art straightway born and immediately art the messenger.

4.7.10 The strength of him newly born became visible when the wind blows following his flame. He sharpens his sharp tongue in the dry lands; he splits even firm foods with his jaws.

4.7.11 Since he grew on dry foods with the dry — young Agni makes a swift messenger of the swift.

4.8.1 With song I adorn the messenger, the all-knowing conveyor of oblations, the immortal, the most worthy of worship.

4.8.2 For he knows the treasure-trove of wealth, the great ascent to heaven; he will convey the gods hither.

4.8.3 He, the divine one, knows the bowing of the gods, for the truth-seeker in his house; he gives even beloved goods.

4.8.4 He is the Hotṛ and he perceiving the duty of the messenger, goes between, knowing the ascent to heaven.

4.8.5 May we be among those who have presented to Agni with gift-giving oblations — those who kindle him and make him thrive.

4.8.6 They, having won both wealth and heroic strength, became renowned — those who placed their service in Agni.

4.8.7 May riches much-desired come to us day by day; may prizes be roused to us.

4.8.8 He, the inspired one of the peoples, with the might of men, pierces through like an arrow.

4.9.1 O Agni, be gracious — thou art mighty, thou who comest to the god-seeking person who approaches the sacred grass to sit upon it.

4.9.2 Hard to overcome among human tribes, the immortal protector — may he become the messenger of all.

4.9.3 He is led around the dwelling, the joyous Hotṛ, at the celestial ceremonies; and he sits down as the Potṛ.

4.9.4 And Agni is the divine lady's companion at the sacrifice, and the lord of the house in the home; and he sits down as the Brahman-priest.

4.9.5 For thou art the speaker on behalf of those performing the sacrifice, and of the people; and of the oblations of humans.

4.9.6 He fulfills the duty of messenger for him whose sacrifice thou hast enjoyed — to carry the mortal's oblation.

4.9.7 Enjoy our sacrifice, our worship, O Aṅgiras; hear our call.

4.9.8 May thy hard-to-conquer chariot encompass us on all sides — that with which thou protectest the worshiper.

4.10.1 O Agni, today let us attain through songs that will-power touching the heart, auspicious as a horse — may we thrive through thy invocations.

4.10.2 For, O Agni, thou hast become the charioteer of the auspicious will-power, of the good discernment, of the great truth.

4.10.3 With these songs be turned toward us, O Agni — like the sun-light, with all thy faces, well-disposed.

4.10.4 Praising thee today with these songs, O Agni, may we make offerings. Thy vigors thunder forth like those of heaven.

4.10.5 Thy most pleasant sight, O Agni, whether now by day or now by night, shines near like a golden ornament of beauty.

4.10.6 Thy body is like purified ghee, spotless, pure gold — that of thine shines like a golden ornament, O self-empowered one.

4.10.7 Even an established hatred thou drivest away from the mortal, O Agni — from the worshiper here in this way, O truth-bearer.

4.10.8 May friendships with thee as a brother be auspicious to us, O Agni, among the gods. May that be our navel, in the seat, in the same udder.

4.11.1 O Agni, O son of power, thy face shines auspiciously near, like that of the sun. Bright to see, it is seen even at night — undaunted, beautiful in form, the food of sight.

4.11.2 Blow up for the singer his thought, O Agni, piercing the void with trembling, as thou art praised, O thou born mightily. What thou hast won together with all the gods, O bright one — grant us that, O greatly great one, and abundant thought.

4.11.3 From thee, O Agni, poems arise, from thee inspired thoughts, from thee come hymns of achievement. From thee comes wealth of varied beauty — such is the understanding for the worshiping mortal.

4.11.4 From thee the prize-horse, the burden-bearing, heaven-flying, victory-making one is born, of true vigor.

4.11.5 Thee, O immortal Agni, the mortals desiring the gods worship first among the divine — the god of the joyous tongue, yoked to enmity — with thoughts they serve the householder, the lord of the house, the blameless one.

4.11.6 Far from us keep ignorance, far from us distress, far from us every ill thought — so thou dost guard. Auspicious at night, O son of power, O Agni — whom even a god accompanies with welfare.

4.12.1 He who kindles thee, O Agni, with ladle extended, who prepares thy food thrice on the same day — may he be distinguished with glories, eminent, through thy power, O all-knowing Jātavedas.

4.12.2 He who brings thee fuel toiling, O great Agni, tending thy mighty face — enkindling thee, meeting evening and dawn, thriving with wealth, he is accompanied as he slays the enemies.

4.12.3 Agni rules over great sovereignty, Agni over the highest prize and wealth. The most youthful, self-empowered one bestows treasure upon the worshiper — for the mortal repeatedly.

4.12.4 Whatever sin we have committed against thee in many places through thoughtlessness, O most youthful — make us free of sin like Aditi; scatter our transgressions in all directions, O Agni.

4.12.5 Even from great sin, O Agni, confront it — from the wide expanse of both gods and mortals. May thy friends never always be harmed; grant welfare to our offspring and progeny.

4.12.6 As the worshipful Vasus freed even the wild cow bound by its leg — even so free us from distress, O Agni; extend our life further and further.

4.13.1 Agni beheld the vanguard of the shining Dawns, benevolent, giving treasure. Come, O Aśvins, to the dwelling of the good-doers; the divine Sun rises with his light.

4.13.2 The divine Savitṛ has raised his light on high, tossing the drop like a hero seeking cattle. Varuṇa and Mitra follow his law when they cause the Sun to rise in the heavens.

4.13.3 Him whom they made to separate from darkness — the firm abode, not wearying, for their goal — that Sun, the seven young tawny mares carry, the spy of the whole world.

4.13.4 Spreading with the best conveyors thou goest thy path, unwinding the dark garment, O divine one.

4.13.5 Unattached, unbound — how does this one not fall down, though face downward and face upward? By what self-power does he travel? Who has seen? The pillar of heaven, well-fitted, protects the vault of the sky.

4.14.1 Agni, the all-knowing, the divine one, beheld the Dawns shining with their great lights. Come to this sacrifice of ours on the wide-praised chariot, O Nāsatyas — come hither.

4.14.2 The divine Savitṛ has raised his banner on high, making light for every world. Filling heaven and earth and the atmosphere, the Sun shines forth conspicuously with his rays.

4.14.3 The reddish cows have come bringing light; great and brilliant, shining conspicuously with their rays, the divine Dawn awakening for good fortune, goes forth on a well-yoked chariot.

4.14.4 May the best horses and chariots of the Dawns carry you twain hither at the breaking of Dawn. For here, O bulls, are the Soma-draughts for you to drink at this sacrifice — rejoice.

4.14.5 Unattached, unbound — how does this one not fall down, though face downward and face upward? By what self-power does he travel? Who has seen? The pillar of heaven, well-fitted, protects the vault of the sky.

4.15.1 Agni, the Hotṛ, being the prize-winner, is led around at our sacrifice — the god, worthy of worship among the gods.

4.15.2 Agni goes thrice around the sacrifice like a charioteer, placing enjoyment among the gods.

4.15.3 Agni the lord of prizes, the seer, strode around the oblations, bestowing treasures upon the worshiper.

4.15.4 This one who is kindled in the towns of the Sṛñjayas and Daivavātas — the glorious one, the crusher of enemies.

4.15.5 May the mortal have mastery over this advancing Agni's active strength — of the sharp-toothed, bounteous one.

4.15.6 Him, like a swift horse, like the sharpening stone, like the red child of heaven — they polish him day by day.

4.15.7 That the youthful Sāhadevya may perceive me from his two bay horses — rising up toward us like one called.

4.15.8 And those two worshipful bay horses from the youthful Sāhadevya — immediately offered, they were taken at once.

4.15.9 This youthful Sāhadevya Somaka — may he be long-lived for you twain gods, O Aśvins.

4.15.10 Him, the youthful Sāhadevya — do ye two gods, O Aśvins, make long-lived.

4.16.1 Let the true, bountiful Maghavan come hither; let his tawny steeds run toward us. For him we have pressed the soma to gladden him — the wise and able one who, hearing our praise, fashions the meeting here.

4.16.2 Let the hero of good courses come down to take delight at this our pressing today. The wise one recites the laud like Uśanas the sage — a prayer for the discerning, sovereign lord.

4.16.3 Like a sage accomplishing deep deliberations, the bull, drinking deeply, sang the libation. He thus begot the seven bards of heaven — they who, praising, fashioned understanding even by day.

4.16.4 When the altar shone beautiful with hymns as the great light blazed at the house, he shook off the blinding darknesses so as to see — the most manly one at the invocation wrought this for men.

4.16.5 Indra has swelled immeasurably — the mighty soma-drinker; with his greatness he filled both world-halves. Even beyond this his greatness streams forth — he who has pervaded all existing beings.

4.16.6 The mighty Śakra, knowing all manly deeds, poured forth the waters with his willing comrades. Those Uśijas who with their words caused even the stone to tremble — they burst open the cattle-pen.

4.16.7 He struck down Vṛtra who had covered the waters; the earth, understanding, favored your bolt. You set the ocean-bound floods free — be their lord, O hero, bold and mighty.

4.16.8 When, O Puruhūta, you burst the rock asunder for the waters, Saramā went before you. May he lead us and strike open ample booty — praised with hymns, breaking the cowpens with the Aṅgirasas.

4.16.9 Drive the cows, O Maghavan of manly counsel, toward the wise poet at the invocation — the winner of heaven's light who entreats you. With your aids urge him on as they call for glory; the wily, prayer-less Dasyu shall be cast down.

4.16.10 Come home with a Dasyu-slaying mind; may Kutsa be willing in your friendship. Let the two of you, like-formed, sit in your own birthplace — the woman who truly knows ṛta perceived you both.

4.16.11 You go in one chariot with Kutsa seeking aid — the goad, the master of Wind's two tawny steeds. Stretching straight as if trying for a prize of valor, the wise one shone when he smote for the crossing.

4.16.12 For Kutsa you laid low Śuṣṇa the drought-demon, the one of bad grain and his thousands at the afternoon watch. Crush the Dasyus at once with Kutsa's weapons; let the sun's wheel roll forth in the battle.

4.16.13 You subdued Pipru and Mṛgaya the swelling demon for Ṛjiśvan Vaidathina. You mowed down fifty black demons; like an aged man's stronghold, you burst it asunder by the thousands.

4.16.14 Placing his body near the sun, when the immortal's form shines forth in you — like a raging wild elephant in strength, like a terrible lion bearing his weapons.

4.16.15 Desiring goods and longing for Indra, they came to the pressing as to a contest for heaven. Striving for glory and striving with their hymns, they made it pleasant as a home, lovely as fine nourishment.

4.16.16 Him indeed we call — Indra who is easy to invoke, he who performed those many manly deeds; who for the praising supplicant swiftly brings even abundant reward — he of enviable bounty.

4.16.17 When the sharp thunderbolt flies in the midst of peoples at some sudden moment, O hero — when the terrible encounter befalls, O lord, then be the guardian of our bodies.

4.16.18 Be the protector of the thoughts of Vāmadeva; be a wolf-swift comrade in the winning of prizes. We have come following you for wisdom — may you always be of far-spread praise to the one who lauds you.

4.16.19 With these men, O Indra, these devotees of yours, these bountiful ones, O Maghavan, in every contest — like bright days abounding in glory, with noble men may we rejoice through nights and many autumns.

4.16.20 Thus have we fashioned prayer-work for Indra the bull, the virile one, as the Bhṛgus fashion a chariot. May he not now separate from our friendship; may the fierce protector be our guardian of bodies.

4.16.21 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.17.1 You are great, O Indra — the earth followed your dominion in homage, heaven thought of you with generosity. You, having slain Vṛtra by your might, released the rivers that the serpent had swallowed.

4.17.2 At your birth the heaven trembled at the flash of your wrath, the earth trembled in fear of your very own fury. The mountains quaked in roaring, the fine-formed one; the deserts moistened as the waters flowed.

4.17.3 He split the mountain with his power, hurling his bolt, displaying his overwhelming might. He slew Vṛtra with his bolt in exhilaration; the waters flowed swiftly, their obstacle slain.

4.17.4 Of good heroes, your father Heaven thought — the creator of Indra became the best craftsman. He who begot him as winner of heaven, well-armed with the bolt, unshakable as the ground of a seat.

4.17.5 He alone shakes the earth to its foundations — the king of peoples, the much-invoked Indra. All truly rejoice in him, in the gift of the bountiful god who is praised.

4.17.6 All the soma-drinks became his together, all the intoxications of the great one, most gladdening together. He became together the lord of all goods; at the giving, O Indra, you placed all peoples.

4.17.7 You, when first being born, at once, O Indra, took up all peoples. You cut apart with the bolt, O Maghavan, the serpent lying on the downward slope.

4.17.8 The all-conquering, bold, strong, great, boundless Indra — the bull, well-armed with the bolt — the slayer of Vṛtra, the winner of prizes, the giver of gifts, the bountiful one of excellent bounty.

4.17.9 He, the chosen one, repels the hostile throngs — the Maghavan who alone is heard in the contests. He brings the prize-reward to him whom he favors; may we be dear friends in his companionship.

4.17.10 This one is heard while conquering and while slaying; he wins the cows in battle. Whenever Indra makes his fury real, everything firm trembles and shakes away from him.

4.17.11 Indra won the cows together, the gold together, the horses together — the Maghavan of many of old. With these men, through the manliest one's capabilities, wealth is distributed and goods are gathered.

4.17.12 How far does Indra excel his mother? How far the father who begot him? He who drives his vigor with sudden bursts, like wind spurred on by thundering clouds.

4.17.13 The Maghavan makes the perishing one imperishable; he stirs up the dust all at once. Like heaven shattering the cloud with his bolt, the Maghavan sets the praiser among good things.

4.17.14 He set the sun's wheel rolling; he halted Etaśa, who had been running. The dark one, spurting, licks the base of heaven's skin at the bottom of this atmosphere.

4.17.15 Like a sacrificer at the Asiknī — like a hotar priest.

4.17.16 Desiring cattle, desiring friendship with Indra, desiring horses and seeking victory over the bull, desiring offspring from the giver of offspring and of inexhaustible help — we urge him down like the bucket in the well.

4.17.17 Be our visible protector, our ally, our famous comforter of soma-offerers — a companion, a father, the most fatherly of fathers; and fashion a world for one who desires — the bestower of strength.

4.17.18 Seeking friendship, be a protector, be a companion — praised, O Indra, bestow strength on the one who praises. We have greatly glorified you with these worship-acts, O Indra.

4.17.19 Praised, the bountiful Indra slays many irresistible Vṛtras alone. The praiser who is dear to him — in whose shelter neither gods nor mortals obstruct him.

4.17.20 Thus let bountiful Indra, the mighty, wide-ranging sustainer of peoples, perform true deeds — unchecked. You are king of creatures; establish upon us the great glory that belongs to the one who praises you.

4.17.21 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.18.1 This ancient path has been found — from which all the gods were born. From here even the greatly swollen one must be born; let none make the mother stumble like that.

4.18.2 I will not go out from here by the difficult passage — let me go out sideways through the flanks. Many things I have still to do: I shall fight with this one, and debate with this one.

4.18.3 He watched his mother departing — 'Shall I not follow the paths? Shall I follow now?' In the house of Tvaṣṭṛ, Indra drank the soma — the hundredfold pressed from the bowls.

4.18.4 What could he accomplish separately — he whom a thousand months and many autumns carried? For indeed there is no equal to him among those born or those yet to be born.

4.18.5 His mother, thinking him as it were defective, hid Indra who had been impelled by his vigor. But then he stood up of himself, donning his garment — being born, he filled the two world-halves.

4.18.6 These flow on with a rushing sound, crying out like those who hold ṛta together. Ask them what it is they declare — which rock-enclosure do the waters break through?

4.18.7 What then do these speeches declare, seeking to reproach Indra — these waters? 'My son, having slain Vṛtra with a great weapon, set free these very rivers.'

4.18.8 No young woman abandoned you — no; the Kuṣavā did not swallow you. No: even the waters were kind to the child; no: even then Indra stood up with power.

4.18.9 No: for your shoulder-blades, O Maghavan — he struck the jaw of the one who had pierced through them. Then, with the pierced one overcome, he crushed the Dāsa's head with his weapon.

4.18.10 The cow gave birth to you, the strong-arrived one, the indomitable bull, the robust Indra — the unlicked calf, the mother let him go his own way, himself seeking his body's own path.

4.18.11 And the mother followed after the great bull — 'These gods, O son, are abandoning you.' Then said Indra, about to slay Vṛtra: 'O friend Viṣṇu, stride forth widely.'

4.18.12 Who made your mother a widow while resting? Who tried to slay you while you moved about? Which god was your protector above when you seized your father by the foot and crushed him?

4.18.13 He cooked the intestines of a dog in need — he found no comforter among the gods. I saw my wife dishonored; then a falcon brought me the soma-honey.

4.19.1 Thus, O Indra, O wielder of the bolt, all the gods, easy to invoke, helpers — they choose you alone, the great, elevated, grown one, for the slaying of Vṛtra in both worlds.

4.19.2 The gods released you like swift ones; you became, O Indra, sovereign, of true birth. You slew the serpent lying around the flood; you set rolling the all-nourishing paths.

4.19.3 Him who was insatiate, dispersed, not awake, sleeping deep and unaware — O Indra, you split apart with the bolt the seven-jointed serpent lying on the downward slope.

4.19.4 Indra shook the earth to its foundation by his might, like wind with its powers over the water. Eager in his strength he burst open the strong things; he split the mountain peaks asunder.

4.19.5 They rushed forward like women to the embryo; the stones rolled forward together like chariots. You satisfied the released, upward-surging waves — you set the obstructed rivers free, O Indra.

4.19.6 You set flowing the great, all-nourishing earth for Turvīta and Vayya. With homage the enemies trembled; you made the rivers, O Indra, easy to cross.

4.19.7 Like the rushing, bursting forward, murmuring of the cloud, he filled the young women who know ṛta — the gleaming ones. He filled the deserts and plains, thirsting; Indra milked the cows that have strength as their mates.

4.19.8 Through many welcome dawns and autumns, having slain Vṛtra, he set the rivers free. He mowed down those that were stopped up, repeatedly bound — Indra cut the furrows to flow for the earth.

4.19.9 From the ant-hill you, O lord of tawny steeds, brought forth the son of Agruva, the ungiven one from his dwelling. The blind one saw the serpent when taking it; the pot-sherd broke out; the joints came together.

4.19.10 An inspired poet, knowing, declares your ancient deeds to the knowing — what he will do. In whatever manner, O king, you displayed your welcomed, manly, virile water-works.

4.19.11 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.20.1 Let Indra come to us from afar, come near to us — the fierce one who creates invincibility — to be our aid. The lord of men with the bolt-arm and his mightiest companions: the swift conqueror of enemies in meetings and battles.

4.20.2 Let Indra come toward us with his tawny steeds, facing this way, for our aid and for bounty. Let the bolt-bearer stand by — the bountiful, mighty one — following this sacrifice of ours for the winning of prizes.

4.20.3 Placing this sacrifice of ours at the fore, O Indra, you shall win our intention. Like a dice player for the winning of wealth, O bolt-bearer — with you, O lord, may we win the contest.

4.20.4 Come willing, benevolent, near to us — now of the well-pressed soma, O self-abiding one. Drink, O Indra, of the proffered honey-sweet; be fully intoxicated with the food placed on the back.

4.20.5 He who is acclaimed with new poets — like a ripened tree, like a triumphant fighter — like a young man thinking toward women: toward the much-invoked Indra I speak forth.

4.20.6 Like a mountain mighty in its own strength — the elevated Indra, from ancient time alone born for might — the fierce one. Who holds the bolt in his arms, eager — like a full vessel stocked with goods.

4.20.7 He has no equal by birth, none who has consumed the bounty of his gift. Bellowing upward in his strength — fierce — give us wealth, O much-invoked one.

4.20.8 I look toward wealth, toward the dominion of peoples; you turn away also the pen of the cow-herds. You who teach men at meetings, ready for battle — you lead toward a great heap of riches.

4.20.9 By what power is the most powerful one heard — by which the lofty one, whatever it may be, keeps making actions suddenly? He who most abundantly wards off distress from the generous worshiper — then he bestows wealth on the praiser.

4.20.10 Do not neglect us — bring it, give that abundance of yours to the generous man to give. In this praised, fresh gift — your lauded one — we speak forth, O Indra, as praisers.

4.20.11 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.21.1 Let Indra come here to us for aid — let the hero be here praised, exulting in the feast. Having grown strong through his many powers, may his dominion spread like heaven's overwhelming rule.

4.21.2 Here laud his virile deeds — those of the much-glorious, richly-bountiful one, lord of men — whose will, like a king at the assembly, as a triumphant conqueror overpowers the peoples.

4.21.3 Let Indra come to us from heaven, from earth, swiftly from the ocean or from the fullness — with the Maruts, for our aid, from the radiant realm of men, or from the far-off seat of ṛta.

4.21.4 Of the firm and great wealth who is the lord — him indeed we shall praise at the assemblies — Indra, who wins among cattle-rich hosts through Vāyu, and leads boldly toward better things.

4.21.5 He who, establishing himself in homage upon homage, sets the speech in motion to generate worship — rightly directed, with abundant choice lauds, let the hotar priest make Indra present at the seatings.

4.21.6 When with inspired thought the thinkers — sitting hard-pressed, pressing the stone — in the cow-stable of Auśija: the house-fire of the dwelling as hotar — he who is the great carrier for us at the enclosures.

4.21.7 When indeed the virile force of Bhārvara entirely accompanies the praiser for bringing — when in the hidden cow-stable of Auśija, when for thought's journey toward intoxication.

4.21.8 When he covers over the mountain-flanks, refreshes with milk-streams the swiftness of the waters, finds the wild bull and gayal in their pen — when the well-minded ones carry for the prize.

4.21.9 Good are your hands, well-made, your palms — bestowing bounty, O Indra, upon the one who praises. What is your sitting-place? For what do you delight in us? For what do you exult when there is something to give?

4.21.10 Thus is Indra: true, sovereign lord of wealth — the slayer of Vṛtra who made broad space for Pūru. O much-praised one, through your will be capable of giving us wealth; may I partake of your divine aid.

4.21.11 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.22.1 What Indra has enjoyed and what he desires — that let the great, even the mighty one do for us. The prayer, the hymn, the bountiful one, the soma, the laud — he who bearing the stone goes with might.

4.22.2 The bull hurling the four-square bolted udder — the fierce one, most manly with both arms, powerful. Glowing with beauty he wrapped the Paruṣṇī in wool, whose joints he covered over for friendship.

4.22.3 The god who, being born, is most god-like — with great prizes and great forces — holding the eager bolt in his arms, he shook heaven and earth with his rush.

4.22.4 All obstructions and many slopes trembled — heaven at the elevated birth, the earth. The mighty one brings both mother-cows; the winds resounded with a manly roaring on every side.

4.22.5 These great deeds of yours, O great Indra, are truly to be proclaimed at all pressings — when, O hero, O bold one, holding boldly, you drove the serpent through with your bolt by your might.

4.22.6 These are truly yours, of great might — all the cows flow forth from the virile udder. Then, indeed, afraid of you, the Vṛṣamaṇa peoples: the rivers strode forward in their swiftness.

4.22.7 Here, O lord of tawny steeds, those divine sisters praise you with their aids, O Indra — in that you set them free along their course, the repeatedly bound ones, to stream along a long path.

4.22.8 The intoxicating soma-stalk has swelled like a river — the diligence of the one striving comes to you, the strength. From our side, the gleaming one blazing — the track of the bull's powerful one — a swift beam to the cow.

4.22.9 Make for us the highest and greatest manly powers — together, O overwhelming one, the might-powers. Grant to us the Vṛtras easy to slay; strike down the weapon of the greedy mortal.

4.22.10 Do well hear us, O Indra — measure brilliant prizes toward us. Set in motion for us all the bountiful thoughts; be well, O Maghavan, our giver of cattle.

4.22.11 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.23.1 How did the great one grow? Enjoying the sacrifice of which hotar, approaching the soma-udder? Drinking, desiring, enjoying the soma-food, the lofty one has swelled for the gleaming prize.

4.23.2 Which hero has attained his feast-sharing? Who has grasped his good thoughts? What brilliant deed of his is perceived? What aid may there be for the growth of the one striving, who is worthy of worship?

4.23.3 How does Indra hear when being called? Hearing, how does he know his aids? What are his many comparisons? How do they call him the drinker among praisers?

4.23.4 How does the hard-pressed one who strives attain his wealth, pondering? The god has become the knower of my ṛta-truths — he takes hold of homage and enjoys what he worships.

4.23.5 How and when at the shining forth of this dawn does the god enjoy the mortal's friendship? How and when does his friendship extend to those companions who have stretched out toward him the well-yoked desire?

4.23.6 What then is the boundless friendship for his companions? When shall we speak of your brotherhood? His releasing streams are of fair form for beauty — like brilliant heaven in the refreshment of the cow.

4.23.7 Seeking to slay deceit, the curved, the Indra-less — the sharp battle-faces are whetted to smite. Even where the fierce one strikes at the debts with debt-obliterating — far off, pushing back the unknown dawns.

4.23.8 For ṛta has many streams of nourishment; the thought of ṛta smites crooked things. The resonance of ṛta has pierced even the deaf ears — awakening, illuminating the lifespan of man.

4.23.9 The firm foundations of ṛta exist — many gleaming forms for beauty. By ṛta the nourishments press far and long; by ṛta the cows have entered into ṛta.

4.23.10 He who holds ṛta in order gains ṛta alone; the force of ṛta is swift and seeks the cattle. For ṛta the broad, deep earth — for ṛta the two supreme cows are milked.

4.23.11 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.24.1 What excellent praise has turned the son of might — Indra — hither toward bounty? The hero gives goods to the one who praises him; he is the lord of the herd — let him, O people, drive away our obstacles.

4.24.2 He is to be called upon at the slaying of Vṛtra; he is to be praised — the truly bountiful Indra, well-lauded. He who, on his course, O Maghavan, for the mortal who prays and presses well, establishes broad space.

4.24.3 Him men call forth variously in battle — those who have left behind their bodies making a shield. When both parties have met the mutual abandonment — men in the winning of offspring and progeny.

4.24.4 The peoples exert their wills in the fierce yoking — eager for mutual flood-winning. When the warrior clans turn against each other in battle, then these ones make Indra their concern in the encounter.

4.24.5 Then indeed they sacrifice the Indra-element; then the row of sacrificial cakes would outshine. Then the soma would thoroughly mix — even for those who have not pressed; then he has enjoyed to worship the bull.

4.24.6 He makes broad space for the one who thus, willingly, presses soma for Indra. With a unified, entering mind — him indeed he makes his companion in battles.

4.24.7 He who today presses soma for Indra, cooks the ritual-cakes and roasts the grain — Indra, loving the lauds of both, places his virile force in that one.

4.24.8 When the roaring one surveyed the arena of contest, when the lord looked out over the long race-course — the wife cried out toward the bull from the house, sharpened by the soma-pressers within.

4.24.9 He went with a greater price — less; unsold I have desired coming back. He has not surpassed more with less — the feeble capacities milk out and drive forth the gain.

4.24.10 Who will buy this Indra of mine for ten milk-cows? When he has slain the Vṛtras, let them give him back to me again.

4.24.11 Now praised, O Indra, now hymned, fill the lauder with refreshment as rivers fill — a fresh prayer has been made for you, O lord of tawny steeds; may we through vision be victorious charioteers, ever winning.

4.25.1 Which virile man, god-desiring, willing today, has enjoyed Indra's friendship? Or who, with soma pressed and the fire kindled, entreats him for great crossing-aid?

4.25.2 Who has bent with speech for the soma-offering? Who is mindful of life, who passes the dawns? Who desires to be Indra's yoke-fellow? Who his friendship, who his brotherhood with the wise one? Who desires his aid?

4.25.3 Who today chooses the aid of the gods? Who entreats the Ādityas, Aditi, the light? For whose pressed soma-stalk do the Aśvins, Indra, and Agni drink — entering with their mind?

4.25.4 For him may the Bharata fire grant shelter — may he long see the sun rising. He who says 'Let us press soma for Indra' — to the manly one, the most manly of men.

4.25.5 Neither many nor few conquer him; for him Aditi grants broad shelter. Dear to Indra is the one of good deeds, dear the mindful one; dear the one who provides well, dear to him the soma-drinker.

4.25.6 This hero is well-helped, eats well; Indra alone makes the cooking of the good presser. For the non-presser there is no ally, no companion, no kinsman — hard to help, he drives away downward, speechlessly.

4.25.7 The drinker of the pressed soma, Indra, does not agree to friendship with the wealthy miser who does not press. His knowledge grinds, smites the naked one; Indra alone belongs to the good presser, the good cooker.

4.25.8 The far ones, the near ones, and those in the middle call upon Indra; those going and those resting call upon Indra. Those dwelling and those fighting call upon Indra; men striving for prizes call upon Indra.

4.26.1 I became Manu, and I am Sūrya; I am the inspired seer Kakṣīvān. I have subdued Kutsa, the son of Arjuna; I am the poet Uśanā — behold me!

4.26.2 I gave the earth to the Ārya; I gave rain to the mortal who offers sacrifice. I led the roaring waters; the gods followed after my will.

4.26.3 Exhilarated, I burst open Śambara's ninety-nine fortresses all at once; and the hundredth, his stronghold, when I aided Divodāsa Atithigva with my whole might.

4.26.4 Let the bird be pre-eminent among the Maruts; let the falcon outfly the other falcons in swift flight — that fair-winged one who, effortlessly and by his own power, carried the oblation dear to the gods to Manu.

4.26.5 As the quivering bird bore it from there and was released along the broad path swift as thought, quickly the falcon sped with the sweet soma-draught, and here the bird found glory.

4.26.6 The straight-flying falcon, the bird bestowing the soma-stalk, bringing sweet exhilaration from afar, carried the soma, firm-gripped, protected by the gods, taking it from yonder upper heaven.

4.26.7 Having seized it, the falcon brought the soma — a thousand pressings and ten thousand together. Here the wise one, in the intoxication of soma, abandoned the foes; the fool-free one left foolish enemies behind.

4.27.1 While still in the womb I came to know all the births of these gods. A hundred iron fortresses guarded me; yet then, as the falcon, I flew forth with speed.

4.27.2 He indeed did not detain me willingly; he charged against me with vigorous might. But the wise one forsook the foes, and, surging forth, he passed beyond the winds.

4.27.3 When the falcon screamed downward from heaven, when the winds perhaps carried the wise one away — when Kṛśānu the archer, vibrating in his mind, let fly the bowstring aiming at the bird —

4.27.4 The straight-flying falcon carried it, as Indra carried Bhujyu from the vast height; as the feathered one flew, a feather fell from the bird in its swift course.

4.27.5 Then the white bowl, anointed with the milk of kine, brimming with the bright, sweet drink — the first portion of the soma set forth by the adhvaryus — Indra the mighty received for his exhilaration, to drink; the hero received it for his joy, to drink.

4.28.1 With you as ally — that was your deed, O Soma, your friendship — Indra caused the waters to flow for Manu. He slew the serpent, he released the seven rivers, he uncovered the channels as it were blocked up.

4.28.2 With you as ally, Indra at once forcibly pressed down the wheel of Sūrya, O Indu. As it rolled on the great height, he swept away the great deceiver; he was freed from all treachery.

4.28.3 Indra slew, Agni burned, O Indu; the Dasyus confronted them at midday in hostile encounter. With no way to pass through the difficult pass and the stronghold, he crushed full many thousands with his shafts.

4.28.4 You two thrust down the Dasyus from every side, O Indra; you made the Dāsa peoples reviled. You two oppressed and crushed the enemies; you two found retribution with your weapons.

4.28.5 Even so truly, O bountiful ones — you two, Indra and Soma — you won the wide space rich in horses and cattle. Bursting open the closed-up places with a stone, you two, rending even the rocks, left them empty.

4.29.1 Come to us when praised, Indra, with your aids and prizes; come, exhilarated, with your bay steeds. Though past the stranger's pressings, hearing our lauds, you whose bounty is true.

4.29.2 For he, the manly one, ever discerning, comes when called by the pressers to the sacrifice; he who, with fine horses and fearless spirit, exults with the well-pressing men and with heroes.

4.29.3 Let his ears be made to hear, so that he wins the prize; let him be gladdened along the favored direction. Rearing up mightily for the gift, may Indra make for us a safe ford and freedom from fear.

4.29.4 He who will come with help to the supplicant — thus truly, to the inspired poet calling and lauding him — placing upon himself swiftly his swift steeds, he of the thunderbolt-arm, thousands upon hundreds.

4.29.5 Strengthened by you, O bountiful Indra, we inspired poets would be your worshippers giving praise, partaking of the vast celestial wealth, to be given from the plentiful, inexhaustible treasure.

4.30.1 None is higher than you, O Indra, none greater exists, O Vṛtra-slayer; none is truly as you are.

4.30.2 All peoples have turned toward you together, as spokes around a wheel. Truly great and renowned you are.

4.30.3 Not even all the gods together could fight you without blemish, O Indra, when you traversed the day and the night.

4.30.4 Where, fighting for Kutsa among the beleaguered, you stole the sun's wheel, O Indra.

4.30.5 Where you alone fought all the raging gods — you, Indra, slew the challengers.

4.30.6 Where, O Indra, you released the sun for a certain mortal, and with your powers you aided Etaśa.

4.30.7 What then were you, O Vṛtra-slayer, most passionate in fury, O bountiful one? Here you crossed over Dānu.

4.30.8 This too was a deed of virile heroism you performed, O Indra: that you struck down the wickedly-plotting woman, the daughter of Heaven.

4.30.9 Even the great daughter of Heaven — Uṣas, swelling with pride — O Indra, you shattered her.

4.30.10 Then Uṣas fled from her crushed chariot in fear, when the bull-god struck her down.

4.30.11 Her chariot lies there, utterly crushed beside the Vipāś river; she has fled to the far distance.

4.30.12 And the Sindhu river, swelling wide, spread across the land of those who stood apart; O Indra, you controlled it with your power.

4.30.13 And with boldness against Śuṣṇa you wiped out his abode, when you crushed his fortresses.

4.30.14 And Śambara the Dāsa, son of Kulitara, you hurled down, O Indra, from the great mountain.

4.30.15 And of the Dāsa Varcin you slew thousands — a hundred — over the five peoples, as it were.

4.30.16 And that son of Agru, rejected and cast aside — Indra of a hundred powers made him a sharer in the lauds.

4.30.17 And those two — Turvaśa and Yadu — who had not bathed, the lord of powers, Indra, knowing the way, carried them across.

4.30.18 And those Āryans — on the far bank of the Sarayu — Arṇa and Citraratha you slew at once, O Indra.

4.30.19 Two abandoned ones you led — the blind and the lame — O Vṛtra-slayer; that grace of yours is not to be attained by effort.

4.30.20 A hundred stone-built fortresses Indra burst open for Divodāsa who offered sacrifice.

4.30.21 For Dabhīti, Indra put to sleep thirty thousand of the Dāsas with his might and his power of māyā.

4.30.22 For you are indeed both, O Vṛtra-slayer — at once, O Indra, the lord-protector who has gathered all these things.

4.30.23 And whatever heroic deed of Indra-might you shall yet perform, O Indra — not even today can any diminish that.

4.30.24 May divine Aryamā grant you desirable things, one beautiful gift after another; may Pūṣan grant beauty, may Bhaga grant beauty, may the god Karūḻatī grant beauty.

4.31.1 By what aid shall the wondrous one, the ever-strengthening Friend, come to our help? With what most powerful deed, attended?

4.31.2 Which true exhilaration, most bounteous, shall gladden you with the soma-draught? You who break open even firm strongholds to release their wealth.

4.31.3 Be a hundredfold protector to us, the friends of your praisers, with your aids.

4.31.4 Turn toward us, like a wheel rolled back from the steed, with your swift teams that serve among men.

4.31.5 Along the downward slope of mighty deeds you come — as a footprint — and you have had your share together with the Sun.

4.31.6 When, O Indra, your wraths surge together and your chariot-wheels rush forward — then it is in you and in the Sun.

4.31.7 For they speak of you as the bountiful lord of power, O Śacīpati, the giver who never lets the worshippers down.

4.31.8 And verily, forthwith, to him who has labored and pressed the soma, you grant manifold wealth.

4.31.9 Not even a hundred rash foes can hold back your bounty or obstruct your mighty deeds.

4.31.10 May your hundredfold aids defend us, may your thousandfold aids uphold us, may all your favors come to us.

4.31.11 Choose us here for friendship and well-being, for great wealth that shines with radiance.

4.31.12 Urge us forward, O Indra who are present everywhere, with abundant riches and with all your aids.

4.31.13 Open for us those cattle-pens as a bowman opens them, O Indra, with your fresh and ever-new aids.

4.31.14 Our bold chariot, radiant and unshaken by Indra's side, goes forth seeking cattle and horses.

4.31.15 Make our glory the highest among the gods, O Sun, supremely lofty as the sky above.

4.32.1 Come to our side, O Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, come to us; great one, with great aids.

4.32.2 Even the restless one you consume quickly, O wondrous one; among the marvelous you are marvelous, and you perform marvels for our help.

4.32.3 With few allies you smite the great swaggering foe with your might — those who have the friends who go along with you.

4.32.4 We, O Indra, are at your side; we praise you continually. Uplift us, each and every one of us.

4.32.5 Come to us, O stone-wielder, with wondrous, blameless aids, with irresistible helps.

4.32.6 May we become your allies, O Indra, possessing cattle, yoked together for the battle-prize of glorious vigor.

4.32.7 For you alone, O Indra, are the lord of the battle-prize rich in cattle; bestow on us the great refreshment.

4.32.8 They do not choose you otherwise than you grant the bounty when praised; to your praisers, O Indra, lover of songs.

4.32.9 The Gotamas have praised you with their hymns for giving, O Indra, for the vigorous battle-prize.

4.32.10 Let us proclaim your heroic deeds — how you, exhilarated, broke through the Dāsa strongholds, overcoming them.

4.32.11 The wise ones sing those manly deeds of yours at the soma-pressings, O Indra, lover of hymns.

4.32.12 The Gotamas have grown strong through you, O Indra, bringing their hymns of praise; place hero-worthy glory in them.

4.32.13 Though you are the common resort of all people always, O Indra, yet we call upon you specially.

4.32.14 Turn hither to us, O Vasu; be pleased with the soma-draughts, O drinker of Soma, O Indra.

4.32.15 May our hymn of praise draw you to us, O Indra; turn your two bay steeds hitherward.

4.32.16 You enjoy our oblation-cake and delight in our hymns, like a bridegroom eager for his bride.

4.32.17 We pray to Indra for a thousand teams of yoked horses and a hundred jars of soma.

4.32.18 We shake loose from you thousands and hundreds of cattle; may your bounty come here to us.

4.32.19 We claim ten golden jars from you — you are a great giver, O slayer of Vṛtra.

4.32.20 O great giver, give us greatly; bring not a little but much; for you indeed are willing to give much, O Indra.

4.32.21 For you are known as the great giver in many places, O hero, O slayer of Vṛtra; grant us a share in your bounty.

4.32.22 O clear-sighted grandson of the cattle-winner, I praise your two brown steeds; do not let the cattle go astray because of them.

4.32.23 Like young maidens adorned for the occasion on a newly planted footboard, the two bays look beautiful in their courses.

4.32.24 They are fit for the morning run, fit for the later run; the two bays never falter in their courses.

4.33.1 I send forth speech toward the Ṛbhus like a messenger; I praise the white cow as their undergirding. Goaded by the wind with swift energies, they instantly encompassed heaven with their works.

4.33.2 When the Ṛbhus worked the wonder for their parents — adorning and encompassing them with marvels — then indeed they came to the friendship of the gods; the wise ones carried prosperity to Manā.

4.33.3 They who made their aged parents young again, who lay as old as the sacrificial post — may Vāja, Vibhvan, Ṛbhu, attended by Indra, dripping with sweetness, protect our sacrifice.

4.33.4 For a year the Ṛbhus guarded the cow; for a year the Ṛbhus fashioned it; for a year they gathered her splendors — through those labors they attained immortality.

4.33.5 The eldest said, 'Let us make the one cup into two'; the middle one said, 'Let us make three'; the youngest said, 'Let us make four' — Tvaṣṭṛ, O Ṛbhus, wondered at that speech of yours.

4.33.6 Rightly they spoke, and so indeed they did; the Ṛbhus followed their own nature along that path. Tvaṣṭṛ, seeing the four gleaming cups, wondered as if at a marvel.

4.33.7 For twelve days the Ṛbhus lay sleeping as the guests of Agohya; they made good fields, led rivers along, caused deserts to bloom with plants, sent waters downward.

4.33.8 Those who fashioned the chariot that runs smoothly to win the prize for men, who fashioned the cow of all forms that gives all nourishment — may the Ṛbhus fashion riches for us, self-helping, skillful-working, with dexterous hands.

4.33.9 The gods, reflecting on their skill with mind and purpose, came to take pleasure in their works. Vāja became the favored one of the gods for good deeds, Ṛbhukṣan of Indra, and Vibhvan of Varuṇa.

4.33.10 Those who, praised in hymns with sacrificial meat, gladden Indra — who fashioned for him the well-yoked bay steeds — may those Ṛbhus bestow on us increase of riches and wealth, even as a friend in peaceful time.

4.33.11 The gods said there could be no drinking or rejoicing without the labor of the weary and the friendship of the divine; now, therefore, O Ṛbhus, lay down your treasures for us at this third pressing.

4.34.1 Ṛbhu, Vibhvan, Vāja — and Indra — come to us, come to this sacrifice for the bestowing of treasures. For the divine Dhiṣaṇā has apportioned the drinking of days for you; come together to the exhilarations.

4.34.2 O Ṛbhus, prize-winners by birth, be exhilarated also with the libations offered at the right seasons; may your exhilarations converge, may your abundance converge — send to us riches with fine heroes.

4.34.3 This sacrifice has been prepared for you, O Ṛbhus, which from of old you have undertaken here, as among humans; those who have delighted in you come forward to you — all of you were the foremost, and the prize-winners.

4.34.4 There has come the bestowing of treasures for your worshipper, O heroes, for the mortal who offers gifts. Drink, O Vājas, O Ṛbhus — the great third pressing has been given to you for exhilaration.

4.34.5 Come to us, O Vājas; come here, O Ṛbhukṣan, O great heroes praised for your wealth. Your drinkings come at the proper times of the days, even as these have come home like newcomers.

4.34.6 Come to us, O grandsons of Strength, invoked with reverence; drink the honey with the inspired sages whose company you keep, O jewel-givers who have Indra with you.

4.34.7 O Indra, drink the soma together with Varuṇa; O lover of songs, drink together with the Maruts — together with those who drink first, those who drink at the right seasons, together with the divine wives who bestow treasures.

4.34.8 Be exhilarated together with the Ādityas, O Ṛbhus; be exhilarated together with the mountains; together with divine Savitṛ; together with the rivers that bestow treasures.

4.34.9 Those who as Aśvins, those who as fathers, those who as helpers — the Ṛbhus who fashioned the cow and the horses, who joined the two hemispheres, who on Vibhvan's side, the heroes, wrought excellent works for offspring.

4.34.10 You who bestow riches rich in cattle, rich in prizes, rich in heroes, possessing treasures, and abundant — O Ṛbhus, foremost drinkers, exhilarated, bestow them on us and on those who praise generosity.

4.34.11 O Ṛbhus, you have not been diminished nor left without laud at this sacrifice; be exhilarated together with Indra, together with the Maruts, together with kings, O gods, for the bestowing of treasures.

4.35.1 Come here, O grandsons of Strength, O Saudhanvanā Ṛbhus; be not absent. For in this pressing the bestowing of jewels is yours; may your exhilarations follow Indra.

4.35.2 The bestowing of jewels has come here for the Ṛbhus, there has been the drinking of the well-pressed soma, because with skill and with beautiful craft one among them divided the one cup into four.

4.35.3 He divided the cup into four and said, 'Divide, O Friend, and share.' Then, O Vājas, O Ṛbhus of dexterous hands, you entered the path of immortality and the company of the gods.

4.35.4 Of what material was that cup which you divided into four by your wisdom? Now press out the pressing for exhilaration; drink of the sweet soma, O Ṛbhus.

4.35.5 By your power you made your parents young again; by your power you fashioned the cup for the gods to drink; by your power you carved the two swift bay steeds for Indra to drive — O Ṛbhus, O prize-winners.

4.35.6 He who presses for you the strong pressing at the proper time of day for exhilaration — for him, O Ṛbhus, O bulls, exhilarated, fashion riches with all heroes.

4.35.7 You drank the morning pressing, O Indra of bay steeds; the midday pressing was exclusively yours; drink now together with the Ṛbhus who bestow treasures — those friends whom you made by your skillful deeds, O Indra.

4.35.8 You who, through your skillful deeds, became as gods and sat in heaven like eagles — bestow jewels, O grandsons of Strength, O Saudhanvanas who have become immortal.

4.35.9 That third pressing with its jewel-bestowing which you, dexterous-handed, fashioned with beautiful craft — O Ṛbhus, that is poured out for you; drink together of the exhilarating, strength-giving draughts.

4.36.1 Born without horses, without reins, worthy of invocation — the three-wheeled chariot rolls through the firmament. Great is that proclamation of your divine nature, O Ṛbhus, when you nourish both heaven and earth.

4.36.2 Those who with clear minds and intent meditation fashioned the chariot that runs smoothly without swerving — O Vājas, O Ṛbhus, we now make known to you the drinkings of this pressing.

4.36.3 O Vājas, O Ṛbhus, that which is well-proclaimed for you has become great among the gods through Vibhvan — when, as both aged parents were worn out with old age, you fashioned them young again to walk about.

4.36.4 One made the single cup into four; they released the cow from the skin by their understanding. Thus they attained immortality among the gods — O obedient Vājas, O Ṛbhus, that is your worthy deed.

4.36.5 The riches fashioned by the Ṛbhus, first in fame, renowned for prizes — which the heroes generated; fashioned by Vibhvan, to be proclaimed at assemblies — whom the gods protect, he is all-seeing.

4.36.6 He is the prize-winning steed, he is the seer through eloquence, he is the hero and archer irresistible in battles — he whom Vāja, Vibhvan, and the Ṛbhus have favored.

4.36.7 The most beautiful and visible form has been placed on you; O Vājas, O Ṛbhus, be pleased with that hymn of praise. For you are the wise, the poets, the discerning — with this sacred utterance we make it known to you.

4.36.8 You who know all the enjoyments that are fit for men, with your intelligence — fashion for us, O Ṛbhus, the radiant, vigorous, supreme battle-prize; shape riches and vigorous life for us.

4.36.9 Bestowing here offspring, here riches, fashion here for us heroic glory; that splendid prize by which we may distinguish ourselves above others — give that to us, O Ṛbhus.

4.37.1 Come, O Vājas, O Ṛbhukṣan, O gods, to our sacrifice along the god-traveled paths — as you have joyfully established the sacrifice of Manu among his peoples on the good days of the days.

4.37.2 May these sacrifices today be pleasing to your heart and mind, lustrous with ghee; may the poured-out ones, the well-beloved, go to you.

4.37.3 As the hymn of praise placed by the gods has been given to you three times daily, O Vājas, O Ṛbhukṣan, so I pour the soma in the highest worlds, among the peoples, after the manner of Manu, with you present, on the great days.

4.37.4 For you have been the well-fed steeds with radiant chariots, wearing lovely necklaces, prize-winners. O sons of Indra, O grandsons of Strength, the foremost exhilaration comes after you.

4.37.5 We invoke Ṛbhu, Ṛbhukṣan, the richest prize-winning companion in the race — him who ever wins the gain, who has Indra with him, the horse-possessor.

4.37.6 That mortal whom you and Indra protect, O Ṛbhus — may he be a winner through his wisdom, a winner of sacrificial food, a winner through his steed.

4.37.7 O Vājas, O Ṛbhukṣan, discern paths for us to sacrifice; O inspired ones who are praised, let us cross all the quarters.

4.37.8 O Vājas, O Ṛbhukṣan, O Indra, O Nāsatyas — bring together for us that wealth, bring together the horse for the peoples, greatly acclaimed for the winning of bounty.

4.38.1 Indeed, the gifts that are the earlier ones exist for you two — those which Trasadasyu received from the Pūrus' line; you gave to him the fields, the fertile lands, and the fierce overwhelming weapon against the Dasyus.

4.38.2 You also gave Dadhikrā, the prize-winning steed widely restrained, the conqueror of all tribes — the straight-coursing, falcon-like, dappled, swift, ever-active, noble, lord-of-men-like hero.

4.38.3 Him whom, as he runs swiftly as down a slope, every man delights in exultantly — as he strives with his hooves like a hero eager for the sacrifice, swift in the chariot, rushing like the wind.

4.38.4 He who, bridled, moves in battles running ever forward going among the cattle — Ṛjīka manifest, discerning at assemblies, has encompassed the one who resists Āyu from all sides.

4.38.5 The peoples also cry after him in battles as after a cloth-picker-thief — as he swoops down like an exhausted falcon toward glory and a herd of cattle.

4.38.6 And him, as he runs first in the ranks of chariots, do they ever acclaim — making a garland, adorning himself like a festive man, repeatedly scattering dust, spreading rays of light.

4.38.7 And that prize-winner, mighty, faithful to the rite, listening with his body in the contest — the straight-going one making swift the swift ones among the striving, scatters dust from his brows as he rushes.

4.38.8 And as when the thunder of the sky roars, those who attack him fear him — when he fights a thousand, he becomes the fearsome, difficult-to-restrain one, rushing headlong.

4.38.9 And people admire the swift impulse of the swift one who overwhelms the tribes; and they say of him as they are spent in battle, 'Dadhikrā has galloped past with thousands.'

4.38.10 Dadhikrā with his strength has encompassed the five peoples like the sun with its light upon the waters. May that prize-winning steed, winner of thousands, winner of hundreds, fill these speeches with sweetness.

4.39.1 That swift Dadhikrā let us now praise and let us make him go round in heaven and on earth. May the dawns as they rise be good to me; may they lead me past all troubles.

4.39.2 I celebrate greatly the course of the steed Dadhikrāvan, full of purpose, with many boons, a bull — him who, shining like fire for the Pūrus, Mitra and Varuṇa gave to the swift.

4.39.3 He who has offered praise of the horse Dadhikrāvan at the kindled fire at the shining of the dawn — may Aditi make him sinless; may he be in harmony with Mitra and Varuṇa.

4.39.4 In remembering the great food and refreshment of Dadhikrāvan and the auspicious name of the Maruts, we invoke Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni, and Indra of the thunderbolt-arm for well-being.

4.39.5 Both sides called upon Indra — urging on the sacrifice, roused to action; and Mitra and Varuṇa gave Dadhikrā, the sweetener, to us as a horse for mortal man.

4.39.6 I have praised Dadhikrāvan, the conquering, prize-winning horse. May he make our mouths fragrant; may he prolong our life-spans.

4.40.1 Now indeed let us make Dadhikrāvan go round; may all the dawns be favorable to me — the dawns of the Waters, of Agni, of the Sun, of Bṛhaspati the Āṅgirasa, of the conqueror.

4.40.2 A true warrior, bearing forward, seeking cattle, ever-serviceable, hastening after glory and refreshment, dwelling with the dawns — the true, swift, ever-moving, bird-like Dadhikrāvan has generated food, energy, and light.

4.40.3 And as he runs swiftly, eagerly, a feather blows after him like a bird's — around Dadhikrāvan rushing like a falcon, going across with his strength and energy.

4.40.4 And that prize-winner hastens with his swift-cutting line tied to his neck and flanks; Dadhikrā, stretching out his purpose, paws the turnings of the paths.

4.40.5 The swan settled in the pure, the Vasu settled in the atmosphere, the Hotṛ settled on the altar, the guest settled in the dwelling — the one settled among men, settled in the best, settled in the rite, settled in the sky — born of the water, born of the cow, born of the rite, born of the mountain — it is ṛta, the cosmic order.

4.41.1 O Indra and Varuṇa, who attains your favor? The hymn of praise offering oblations, the immortal like a Hotṛ — he who, reverent, has touched our speech which is full of purpose in your hearts, O Indrāvaruṇā.

4.41.2 O Indra and Varuṇa, the mortal who has made you both his close companions, O gods, bringing offerings for friendship — he slays foes in battles and enemies with great aids, and he becomes widely famous.

4.41.3 O Indra and Varuṇa, you two bestow the richest treasures thus on men who have exerted themselves, when the two friends exhilarate themselves joyfully with pressed soma-draughts for the sake of friendship.

4.41.4 O Indra and Varuṇa, the two of you, mighty ones, strike down with the most powerful thunderbolt here in this one the mischievous; on him who is ill-willing toward us, a deceiver and betrayer — pour out overwhelming strength.

4.41.5 O Indra and Varuṇa, be the impellers forward of this thought, like two bulls of a milk-cow; may she, having gone like a barley-field, that great cow with a thousand streams, milk milk for us.

4.41.6 When children are placed on fertile fields, when the sun is sighted, when the bulls show their manly strength — may Indra and Varuṇa be with us here with their aids, the wondrous ones in this encompassing struggle.

4.41.7 For ancient aid we choose you two, who are very powerful, and the self-help of the one seeking cattle; O most bountiful heroes, beneficent like fathers, we choose you for dear friendship.

4.41.8 These thoughts seeking your aid, striving for the prize, have gone to you two like a race — longing for you, O bounteous givers; like cows to adorn, they have stood by the soma; my hymns approach Indra and Varuṇa.

4.41.9 These thoughts of mine have come to Indra and Varuṇa, seeking riches; they have stood near, like those who rejoice in wealth, like light ones begging for glory.

4.41.10 May we be lords of the flourishing that belongs to horses and to chariots, of the wealth that is one's own. May those two, performing with ever-fresh aids, let their teams of wealth come hither to us.

4.41.11 O Indra, O Varuṇa, come to us, the two mighty ones with mighty aids, in the winning of the prize; when the bright ones play forward in battles, may we be the winners of that race of yours.

4.42.1 Mine is the royal kingdom of the ruling warrior class — of both worlds — all the immortals are with us; the gods follow the purpose of Varuṇa. I am the king of the uppermost layer of earth.

4.42.2 I am King Varuṇa; those first powers of lordship were conferred on me; the gods follow the will of Varuṇa. I am the king of the uppermost layer of earth.

4.42.3 I am Indra, O Varuṇa — through your greatness the two wide deep atmospheres are well-established; like Tvaṣṭṛ knowing all worlds, I set in motion and sustain the two world-halves.

4.42.4 I swelled the waters as they were watering; I hold the sky, the seat of the cosmic order. By the ṛta, the son of Aditi, faithful to ṛta, spread the earth wide in its threefold nature.

4.42.5 Men with fine horses, striving for the prize, call upon me; those who are chosen call upon me in the encounter. I, the bountiful Indra, make the race; I raise the dust with overwhelming strength.

4.42.6 I did all those things; none resists my divine, irresistible power — when the somas exhilarated me and both the infinite atmospheres feared my utterances.

4.42.7 Knowing all the worlds of him, O wise one, declare those words to Varuṇa; you are heard, O Indra, as the slayer of obstructions; you have set the rivers free, cleaving through what blocked them.

4.42.8 Our fathers were then the seven seers who were bound in the stronghold of the oppressor; they sacrificed for Trasadasyu of this lineage — Indra-like in slaying enemies, a half-divine being.

4.42.9 For Purukutsānī gave to you both with oblations and reverences, O Indrāvaruṇā; and so you gave to this lineage King Trasadasyu, the Vṛtra-slayer, the half-divine being.

4.42.10 Exhilarated with riches may we rejoice, O gods, with our oblations; the cattle with their food. That cow, O Indrāvaruṇā — the one who does not kick — set her for us for all days.

4.43.1 Who among the divine ones will hear? Which of the worthy of worship is the most pleased to receive praise? To whom shall we fasten in our heart this most beloved of the immortals, this beautiful hymn with fine oblations?

4.43.2 Who shows favor? Which one of the gods is easiest to reach? Which one is most beneficent? Of which one's chariot, with swift horses, do they speak — which one did the daughter of the Sun choose?

4.43.3 For you travel swiftly through many days, like Indra's power in the contest that goes about; born from heaven, you heavenly birds of beautiful wings — by what power of all your powers are you most powerful?

4.43.4 What offering has there been for you? By what shall you come to us when invoked, O Aśvins? Who has confronted even your great abandonment? O sweet ones, O wondrous ones, protect us with your aid.

4.43.5 Your wide chariot goes round the sky, as it turns toward you from the ocean; O sweet ones, sweet honey is sprinkled for you, when ripened fruits have nourished you with their fullness.

4.43.6 The Sindhu poured the Rasā upon your horses; red birds, gleaming with heat, went about; that swift-moving vehicle of yours is well-known, by which you became the husbands of Sūryā.

4.43.7 When those of equal birth have met here and there and this good will with its prize-treasure is ours — protect the praiser; for the desire of the one who has sought refuge leans toward you, O Nāsatyas.

4.44.1 That chariot of yours we would summon today, O Aśvins — the wide-ranging chariot that encounters the cow, which carries Sūryā in the living wicker-work, the hymn-bearing, most-praised one, seeking wealth.

4.44.2 You two, O Aśvins, O divine sons of heaven, win that divine splendor through your powers; the abundances accompany your beauty, when the proud ones carry you in your chariot.

4.44.3 Who today has made an offering of sacrificial call for your aid, or for the drinking of the pressed soma with songs of praise, or for the winning of the cosmic order's ancient favor, becoming reverent toward the Aśvins?

4.44.4 O Nāsatyas, who exist manifoldly, come to this sacrifice in your golden chariot; drink of the sweetness of the soma and bestow the jewel on the worshipping people.

4.44.5 Come to us from the sky, from the earth, in your golden, well-rolling chariot; let not others who worship the gods hold you back, when the ancient hub of your chariot joins.

4.44.6 Now fashion for us, O wondrous ones, great riches with many heroes in both spheres; when men have sent forth the hymn to you both, O Aśvins, those who press the soma together have come with joint praise.

4.44.7 When those of equal birth have met here and there, and this good will with its prize-treasure is ours — protect the praiser; for the desire of the one who has sought refuge leans toward you, O Nāsatyas.

4.45.1 This radiance rises and is yoked; the wide-roaming chariot of this one is upon the ridge of heaven. Three pairs of nourishments rest within it; the fourth, a skin-bag of honey, pours forth.

4.45.2 The honey-rich nourishments, the chariots, the horses of Dawn rise up at her brightenings, uncovering the darkness that lay wrapped around, stretching forth the brilliant light like the sun through the atmosphere.

4.45.3 Drink of the honey with honey-drinking lips, O Aśvins, and yoke the dear chariot for honey's sake; quicken the road and the path with sweetness, carry the honey-full skin-bag, O Aśvins.

4.45.4 Those swans of yours, honey-sweet, never stumbling, golden-winged, awaking at dawn — elate, delighting, touching those who delight — as bees to honey do you go to the pressings.

4.45.5 The sacrifice-worthy, honey-rich fires are lauded at each dawn for you, O Aśvins, when the fleet, far-seeing one with cleansed hands presses the honey-sweet Soma with the pressing stones.

4.45.6 Drinking with bent necks, flashing day by day, they stretch the brilliant light through the atmosphere like the sun.

4.45.7 I have proclaimed to you, O Aśvins, thought-sustaining pair: yours is the chariot with good horses, unaging, with which you travel in a day around the realms, toward the swift, generous one who holds the offering.

4.46.1 Drink first of the pressed juices of the honey-sweets at the heavenly strivings, O Vāyu, for you are the foremost drinker.

4.46.2 With a hundredfold of conquests, with your team of horses, O Vāyu, with Indra as your charioteer, be satisfied with the pressed Soma.

4.46.3 May a thousand bay horses carry you two, O Indra and Vāyu, toward the oblations, to drink of the Soma.

4.46.4 Mount the chariot with the golden pole, O Indra and Vāyu, the well-sacrificed one that touches heaven.

4.46.5 Come here, O Indra and Vāyu, to the worshipper with the chariot of broad brilliance; come hither.

4.46.6 O Indra and Vāyu, this Soma is pressed; in the house of the worshipper, drink it together with the gods in harmony.

4.46.7 Let your journeying and your unharnessing be here, O Indra and Vāyu; here be your drinking of Soma.

4.47.1 O Vāyu, bright is what I present to you, the first of the sweet juices at the heavenly strivings; come with your team of horses, O desirable god, to drink the Soma.

4.47.2 Indra and Vāyu, you two deserve the drinking of these Soma juices; for the Indu drops flow toward you both together, as waters to a hollow.

4.47.3 O Vāyu and Indra, mighty lords of strength, together on one chariot with your teams, come to our aid, to drink the Soma.

4.47.4 Whatever much-coveted teams of horses you two have, O leaders, for the worshipper — bring those here to us, O Indra and Vāyu, bearers of the sacrifice.

4.48.1 Distribute the priestly portions undevoured, like the wealth of the noble man's poetic inspiration; O Vāyu, come with the shining chariot to drink the pressed Soma.

4.48.2 Driving away ill words, with your team of horses, Indra as your charioteer — O Vāyu, come with the shining chariot to drink the pressed Soma.

4.48.3 Along the two dark, all-formed treasure-receivers they stretch; O Vāyu, come with the shining chariot to drink the pressed Soma.

4.48.4 Let the ninety-nine yoked, mind-swift steeds carry you; O Vāyu, come with the shining chariot to drink the pressed Soma.

4.48.5 O Vāyu, harness a hundred of your nourishing bay horses; or let your chariot come with a thousand, in full splendour.

4.49.1 This dear oblation is placed in your mouths, O Indra and Bṛhaspati; the hymn of praise and the exhilaration are recited.

4.49.2 This Soma, dear and exhilarating, is poured around for you two, O Indra and Bṛhaspati, for drinking and for joy.

4.49.3 Come to our house, O Indra and Bṛhaspati — and you, Indra — O drinkers of Soma, to drink the Soma.

4.49.4 Bestow on us, O Indra and Bṛhaspati, wealth rich in hundreds of cattle, abounding in horses, in thousands.

4.49.5 We invoke Indra and Bṛhaspati with songs when the Soma is pressed, to drink of this Soma.

4.49.6 Drink Soma, O Indra and Bṛhaspati, in the house of the worshipper; be exhilarated, you who have that as your home.

4.50.1 Bṛhaspati, who by his strength propped apart the ends of the earth, who has three seats and a roar — him the ancient seers, meditating, the inspired sages set at the fore, the one of the gladdening tongue.

4.50.2 Those who roared, well-illumined, rejoicing, who have spread themselves against us, O Bṛhaspati — the dappled, gliding, undeceived, broad one: guard its birthplace, O Bṛhaspati.

4.50.3 O Bṛhaspati, those who are in touch with truth have settled down from that farthest distance to here; the dug wells and pits milked from the rock drip honey on all sides of the mighty one.

4.50.4 Bṛhaspati, first born of great light in the highest heaven, seven-mouthed, born mightily with a roar, seven-rayed — he shattered the darknesses.

4.50.5 He, with the well-praising, hymn-singing troop, broke the Vala cave with his roar like a wedge; Bṛhaspati, the clarifier of the dawn cows, lowing and bellowing, drove them forth.

4.50.6 Thus do we honor the father, the bull Bṛhaspati, lord of all gods, with sacrifices, with homage and oblations; O Bṛhaspati, may we be with good offspring, rich in heroes, lords of riches.

4.50.7 He alone is king who stands with strength and heroism over all rivals; whoever bears Bṛhaspati well-supported, speaks sweetly and honors him as the first recipient.

4.50.8 He alone dwells well-settled in his own house; Iḻā swells for him at all times; the clans bow of their own accord to that king in whom the brahman-priest walks first.

4.50.9 Unresisted he wins all riches, those of rivals and those of kinsmen alike; the gods protect that king who creates largesse for the one seeking help, for the brahman-priest.

4.50.10 Drink Soma, O Indra and Bṛhaspati, exhilarated at this sacrifice, you bulls possessing good things; may the self-born Indu drops enter into you both; bestow on us wealth rich in all heroes.

4.50.11 O Bṛhaspati and Indra, increase us together; may your good favor be for us; be victorious, seize the thoughts, the inspirations; conquer the hostilities of those who hate the noble.

4.51.1 This most abundant light has now stood forth from the east out of darkness, possessed of knowledge; the daughters of Heaven, the Dawns, shining brightly, are now making a path for the people.

4.51.2 The brilliant Dawns have also stood in the east, measured out like the resonating tones at the sacrifices; having opened the gates of the stall of darkness, shining and pure, they came forth.

4.51.3 The bounty-giving, generous Dawns, as they shine today, awaken the benefactors; let the niggardly, unaware ones sleep in the midst of darkness, not awakening.

4.51.4 Might it be, O divine ones, an ancient or fresh journey of yours, O Dawns, today — that which shone richly for the nine-rayed Aṅgiras, the ten-rayed, and the seven-mouthed, O rich ones?

4.51.5 For you, O divine ones, with truth-yoked horses traverse all the worlds in an instant; the Dawns, awakening the sleeping one, stir into motion the living creature, bipedal and quadrupedal alike.

4.51.6 Where indeed is that ancient one of these by whose ordinance the Ṛbhus established their rule? As the bright Dawns move in beauty, they are not distinguished one from another, alike in form and undecaying.

4.51.7 Those indeed are auspicious Dawns of old, conquest-glorious, truth-born and true, in whose presence the sacrificer, who labored with hymns of praise, reciting and proclaiming, obtained wealth straightway.

4.51.8 They move together from the east alike, spreading equally in the same way; the divine Dawns, awakening the seats of truth, stream forth like the release of cattle.

4.51.9 Thus indeed they go alike in the same manner, the Dawns of immeasurable color; with their bright bodies concealing the enormous dark thing, pure and luminous, they shine forth.

4.51.10 Grant us wealth rich in progeny, O daughters of Heaven shining brightly, O divine ones; awakening comfortably at your call, may we be lords of fine heroism.

4.51.11 This I invoke of you, O daughters of Heaven shining brightly, O sacrifice-signaling Dawns; may we be among the famous among peoples — let Heaven and the divine Earth grant that.

4.52.1 Yonder kind and gracious woman, shining forth around her sister, is seen as the daughter of Heaven.

4.52.2 Brilliant and ruddy like a horse, the mother of the cattle, possessing truth — Uṣas has become the companion of the Aśvins.

4.52.3 And you are the companion of the Aśvins, and the mother of the cattle, and you, O Uṣas, rule over riches.

4.52.4 You who are known as the driver-away of hatred, O possessor of sweet truth — we have met you with songs of praise.

4.52.5 The auspicious ones were seen like the release of cattle, like rays of light; the Dawn filled the wide expanse.

4.52.6 Filled with light, O brilliant one, you have opened wide the darkness with your luminosity; O Uṣas, shine forth according to your nature.

4.52.7 You stretch out the sky with your rays, and the wide, dear atmosphere, O Uṣas, with your bright flame.

4.53.1 We choose that great desirable thing of divine Savitṛ, the mighty lord, endowed with foresight, whereby he spontaneously extends shelter to the worshipper; may the great god raise that up for us with his rays.

4.53.2 The supporter of heaven, the lord of creatures, the sage puts on his tawny robe; far-seeing, spreading and filling wide, Savitṛ has generated praiseworthy good cheer.

4.53.3 He filled the heavenly and earthly realms; the god makes his sound for his own sacred law; Savitṛ stretched out his arms at the impulsion, setting to rest and sending forth the world with his rays.

4.53.4 Undeceivable, he illumines the worlds; the god Savitṛ protects the sacred laws; he stretched out his arms to the creatures of the world — he whose vow is firm rules over the great expanse.

4.53.5 Savitṛ encompasses the atmosphere thrice in his greatness, three realms, and the three luminous regions; he invigorates the three earths and three heavens; with three sacred ordinances he protects us himself.

4.53.6 He of great good cheer, the great impeller, the settler, who is the master of both the moving and the stationary world — may that god Savitṛ grant us shelter from distress, threefold protection for our dwelling.

4.53.7 The god has come; may Savitṛ increase our dwelling with the seasons, establish for us nourishment with good progeny; may he quicken us through nights and days, and gather together for us wealth rich in progeny.

4.54.1 The divine Savitṛ has now become worthy of praise for us, to be invoked by men at this time of day; he who distributes treasures among mankind — may he place the best wealth here for us.

4.54.2 For first to the gods worthy of sacrifice you impel immortality as the highest portion; then, O Savitṛ, you unfold the gift — lives in succession to human beings.

4.54.3 Whatever we have done inadvertently among the divine people, with feeble powers, through overabundance, or through human frailty — in regard to gods and to men, O Savitṛ, impel us here to sinlessness.

4.54.4 That of divine Savitṛ does not perish — namely that whereby he will hold up the entire world; what, in the breadth of earth, its beautiful-fingered one impels from the height of heaven — that is his truth.

4.54.5 From the great mountains with Indra as their chief, you impel for these dwellings rich in homesteads; just as the flying ones spread out in various ways, so they have stood still for your impulsion, O Savitṛ.

4.54.6 May those three daily impulsions of yours, O Savitṛ, impel good fortune day by day; may Indra, Heaven and Earth, Sindhu with the waters, and Aditi with the Ādityas grant us shelter.

4.55.1 Who is your protector, O Vasus? Who your defender? O Heaven and Earth, O Aditi, protect us; O Varuṇa, O Mitra, who places wide space for you at the sacrifice from the mortal who is mightier, O gods?

4.55.2 Those who praise the ancient ordinances forth, when the wise separators separated and shone — the ordinators, the unwearied ones of truth-minded meditation, distributed them widely and shone, the wondrous ones.

4.55.3 I praise with hymns Aditi, the homestead, Sindhu, the divine one, and Svasti for friendship; may the undeceiving Dawn and Night, both our days, be our protection.

4.55.4 Aryaman and Varuṇa mark out the path; Agni the lord of nourishment marks the easy way forward; Indra and Viṣṇu, praised with heroic hymns, lead us to shelter, a powerful protection.

4.55.5 May the aids of the mountain, of the Maruts, of the protecting god, of Bhaga come to us unchecked; may the lord protect us from the distress of birth; may Mitra deliver us from what belongs to Mitra.

4.55.6 Let the two divine world-halves be praised now with Ahī Budhnya, with the much-desired watery ones; as if converging to the sea, the rivers will sing out their praises, sweet-voiced with heat.

4.55.7 May divine Aditi protect us along with the gods; may the god the protector guard us without faltering; for we do not deserve the violation of Mitra's and Varuṇa's foundation, nor the destruction of Agni's summit.

4.55.8 Agni rules over wealth in cattle, Agni over great good fortune; may he grant these to us.

4.55.9 O bountiful Uṣas, O possessor of sweet truth, bring the many desirable things to us, O you rich in prize-winning strength.

4.55.10 May Savitṛ, Bhaga, Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryaman bring that to us; may Indra come to us with bounty.

4.56.1 Let the two great ones, Heaven and Earth, be here supreme in splendor with their purifying hymns; when the young bull bellows in the highest and greatest expanse, marking it out, he has spread it with his paths.

4.56.2 The two divine ones worship with the gods worthy of worship, inviolate, standing firm while being sprinkled; possessing truth, without treachery, divine daughters — the leaders of the sacrifice with purifying hymns.

4.56.3 He was indeed the good worker among the worlds who generated these two — Heaven and Earth; the wise one skillfully set in order the two wide, deep, well-formed realms in the stalkless.

4.56.4 Now let the two world-halves protect us with their great shelters together with their consorts, energizing, of one accord; vast and worshipped by all the gods, may we be seated in your protection, chariot-masters, ever gaining.

4.56.5 We bring forth to you two mighty ones — Heaven and Earth — a great laudation for your praise, you two pure ones.

4.56.6 Purifying each other with one's own body, you rule with your own wisdom; you carry truth from of old.

4.56.7 You two mighty ones further the work of Mitra, crossing and filling truth; you have settled around the sacrifice.

4.57.1 We win through the lord of the field as if through a friend; may he who fattens the cattle and horse be gracious to us to such an end.

4.57.2 O lord of the field, milk the honey-sweet wave for us as a milch cow gives milk; may the lords of truth be gracious to us, dripping sweetness like well-purified ghee.

4.57.3 Honey-sweet be the plants, sweet the sky, sweet the waters; sweet to us be the atmosphere; sweet to us be the lord of the field — may we follow after him unharmed.

4.57.4 May the draught beasts go happily, happily the men, may the plow furrow happily; may the harness be bound happily; raise the goad happily.

4.57.5 O Śunā and Sīrā, be pleased with this word; whatever milk you two have created in heaven — with that sprinkle this earth here.

4.57.6 Come toward us, O lucky furrow, O Sītā — we reverence you; be favorable to us, be fruitful to us.

4.57.7 May Indra hold the furrow; may Pūṣan follow after it; may it, rich in milk, yield for us year after ever more abundant year.

4.57.8 May the plowshares happily plow the earth for us; may the plowmen happily proceed with their draught beasts; may Parjanya happily water with honey and milk; may Śunā and Sīrā bestow happiness on us.

4.58.1 From the ocean the honey-sweet wave rose up and has secretly come into contact with immortality; this is the hidden name of Ghee — the tongue of the gods, the navel of immortality.

4.58.2 We proclaim the name of Ghee; we uphold it at this sacrifice with reverences; may the brahman-priest hear it as it is recited — the tawny wild bull bellowed with his four horns.

4.58.3 Four are its horns, three its feet, two its heads, seven its hands — the bull bound in three ways bellows; the great god has entered into mortals.

4.58.4 Hidden in three ways by the Paṇis, the gods found the ghee within the cow; Indra produced one portion, the Sun another, and from Vena they fashioned a third by their own power.

4.58.5 These flow from the heart, from the ocean of a hundred enclosures — unseen by the enemy; I behold the streams of ghee; in the midst of them stands a golden reed.

4.58.6 They flow together like rivers, like milch cows, purified within the heart and mind; the waves of ghee rush forth like deer before the bow.

4.58.7 Like the roar before a river's current, the young, wind-swift ones fly; the stream of ghee, like a ruddy prize horse cleaving the winning post with its waves, swells and surges.

4.58.8 They flow toward him like auspicious, smiling women toward the same man — toward Agni; the streams of ghee, the kindlings, come together — Jātavedas delights in them with joy.

4.58.9 I behold the adorned ones, anointing themselves as if maidens going to a wedding; where Soma is pressed, where the sacrifice takes place, the streams of ghee purify that place.

4.58.10 Flow toward the excellent praise, the contest of cows; bestow on us auspicious riches; guide this sacrifice of ours, O gods — the honey-sweet streams of ghee purify it.

4.58.11 In your station all the world rests — within the ocean, within the heart, within life; that which is brought together at the face of the waters, at the confluence — may we attain that honey-sweet wave of yours.