Maṇḍala 6

6.1.1 For thou, O Agni, wast the first to take thought of this hymn, and becamest the wondrous Hotṛ. Thou, O bull, hast made thy strength hard to overcome, thy might for every might, to be with every might.

6.1.2 Then the Hotṛ, most worthy of worship, sat down in the seat of Iḷā, driving refreshment forward and being praised. Men devoted to the gods followed thee, the first, with minds fixed on great wealth.

6.1.3 Like a herd following one who goes with many cattle, the wakeful ones followed the wealth in thee. Agni, the shining, the visible, the great, endowed with fat, shining every day.

6.1.4 Seeking with reverence the footstep of the god, the glory-seeking ones obtained unfading fame. They assumed the sacred names; at thy auspicious appearance they made merry.

6.1.5 The settlements on earth magnify thee; the riches of the people on both sides magnify thee. Thou becamest a protector to be remembered at the crossing; father and mother art thou always to human beings.

6.1.6 Worthy of worship, he is dear in the settlements; Agni the Hotṛ, the joyous, the most worship-worthy, has sat down. We would sit with bent knees before thee who shinest in the house, with homage.

6.1.7 Thee, O Agni, the new one, we implore, we who have good thoughts and seek thy grace, longing for the gods. Thou, O Agni, hast led the clans, shining with the great light of heaven.

6.1.8 The seer of the clans, lord of the enduring peoples, the impeller, the bull of the human tribes — him who urges forward, who drives on refreshment, the purifying, resplendent Agni, the adorable bestower of riches.

6.1.9 O Agni, that mortal has sacrificed and toiled, who has attained to thee with fuel and gift of oblation — whoever knows the offering round about with reverence, all desires that one obtains, aided by thee.

6.1.10 For thee in return we would do service greatly, for the great one, with homages, O Agni, with fuel and with oblations. O son of strength, we who know, with hymns and songs of praise, would come to thy auspicious gracious thought.

6.1.11 Thou who hast stretched out both world-halves with thy brilliance, and who art the rescuer that seeks fame through praises — with great, vigorous, shining prizes, O Agni, shine forth more widely upon us.

6.1.12 Always kindle for us, O Vasu, manly gifts; much cattle for our offspring and our descendants. May many refreshments, great, far from evil, auspicious glories of good renown be ours.

6.1.13 O Agni, O king, through thee the many, many riches and the abundant wealth: may I obtain thy store of goods. For many desirable things are in thee, O much-desired Agni; wealth for the worshipper is in thee, O king.

6.2.1 For thou, O Agni, rulest over glory as Mitra over a principality. Thou, O all-beholding Vasu, nourishest fame like nourishment.

6.2.2 Thee verily do the tribes implore with sacrifices and with hymns. To thee comes the vigorous one, the wolf-free, cleaving through the air, all-beholding.

6.2.3 With united desire, the men of heaven kindle thee, the banner of sacrifice — when that human folk, longing for thy grace, offers oblation at the rite.

6.2.4 The mortal who prospers through thought for thee, O liberal giver, and who toils — he crosses with the help of the great heaven, even as one crosses enmity and distress.

6.2.5 The mortal who with fuel attains the sharpened oblation to thee — O Agni, he nourishes a dwelling full of abundance, for a hundred autumns.

6.2.6 Thy fearsome smoke rolls up and is spread bright in the sky. Like the sun with its brilliance, thou shinest gracefully, O Pāvaka.

6.2.7 Verily thou art to be praised in the settlements, thou art our beloved guest — delightful, to be cherished as a homestead, to be saved as a son.

6.2.8 For by wisdom in the trough thou art anointed, O Agni, a vigorous one capable of deeds — like a house with its own realm going everywhere, like a swift horse easy to call, a young one.

6.2.9 Thou, O Agni, dost consume even those unshaken things, like a beast in a pasture. For, O ageless one, the skillful ones cut the forests that are thy abode.

6.2.10 For thou goest as Hotṛ of those performing the rite, in the house of the clans. Grant prosperity, O lord of the clan; be pleased with the oblation, O Aṅgiras.

6.2.11 O Agni, friend-great one, tell the gods of the good will of the two world-halves toward us. Bring welfare, a good dwelling for the men of heaven; may we cross over hatreds, distresses, and evils — may we cross them, cross them with thy protection.

6.3.1 O Agni, he will dwell who is the guardian of Order, born of Order; he who is devoted to the gods and yearning for thee attains wide light. That mortal whom thou, O god, together with Mitra, and Varuṇa in unison, guardest from trouble with thy sharp power.

6.3.2 He has sacrificed with sacrifices, toiled with labors, and presented gifts to Agni of the prospering gate. Thus indeed neither dishonor among the glorious, nor distress, nor arrogance overtakes that mortal.

6.3.3 His appearance is sinless like the sun, fearsome when his flaming thought comes. His host does not neigh; yet this forest-dweller, pleasant in any dwelling, cannot be restrained by night.

6.3.4 His great form moves even where sharp, blazing with its mouth like a horse tossing its jaws. Lolling his tongue as he goes, like an axe he is about to set fire to the wood, like a metal-worker he makes it run.

6.3.5 Like a shooter he has set himself in place, ready to shoot; he sharpens his gleam like the edge of iron. He who has a wonderful banner, the fire-stick that cannot be contained by night, like a bird swiftly alighting with swift flight of wings.

6.3.6 He, the great friend, covers himself against the dawns like a singer, and glitters with his flame. The ruddy immortal one who by night, the ruddy one who by day guides men — the immortal ruddy one who by day guides men.

6.3.7 His worshipper bellows forth newness like the sky; the bull, the glittering one, has bellowed in the plants. He who goes with glowing course like sunlight in his path fills both world-halves with wealth, making them good consorts.

6.3.8 He who flashes with his own energies like lightning, whether with refreshments or with united rays — or who has fashioned the troop of the Maruts, blazed like a skillful artisan, fierce and impetuous.

6.4.1 As thou, O Hotṛ, hast sacrificed to the gods with the sacrifices of Manu, O son of strength — so do thou today, O Agni, sacrifice to those same gods for us equally, desiring the desiring ones.

6.4.2 May Agni, the far-shining, worthy of praise, perceptible like the morning sky, grant us comfort who knows all things. He who is all-living, immortal among mortals, who rises at dawn, who is a guest — Jātavedas.

6.4.3 The skies wonder at his mightiness; he wears radiances like the bright sun. He who ageless and purifying fills all things, who shatters even the ancient things of the rock.

6.4.4 For the praiseworthy one, the son, art thou; the fire-worshipper: Agni by birth has made food his seat. Be thou an energy-winner and grant us energy; like a king who subdues the enemy, mayst thou dwell within us without wolves.

6.4.5 He who keeps sharpening his teeth and consumes the obstructing food; like Vāyu he surpasses all nights as sovereign. May we overcome the adversaries of thy commanded ones — he moves around like a swift horse falling and flying.

6.4.6 Like the sun with its luminous rays, O Agni, thou hast stretched out both world-halves with brilliance. The brilliant night-flame guides around the darknesses; like Auśija, flying on his path of flame.

6.4.7 Thee we have chosen as the most joyful with rays of song — hear us greatly, O Agni. With strength, like Indra; the most manly ones fill thee as a divinity, like Vāyu, with bounty.

6.4.8 Now, O Agni, with the wolf-free paths of welfare, go before us for riches; lead us across distress. Bestow that blessing on the generous patrons who praise thee; may we rejoice a hundred winters with good heroes.

6.5.1 I call for you the youthful son of strength, the truthful of speech, youngest in thoughts — he who fills riches as the wise one, the all-desirable one, the much-desired, the blameless.

6.5.2 In thee are the treasures, O Hotṛ of the great banner; the adorable ones have stirred at evening and at morning. In thee as in earth all the worlds, all good fortunes, have been placed — in thee the purifying one.

6.5.3 Thou hast sat of old in these settlements; by wisdom thou becamest the charioteer of desirable things. From there, O Jātavedas, thou who knowest, fillest the worshipper with riches, in succession one after another.

6.5.4 Whoever from afar attacks us, O Agni, whoever among those near, O great friend, would harm us — with thy own ageless bulls, O most burning one, burn him, thou who hast burning power.

6.5.5 He who has served thee with sacrifice, with fuel, with hymns and praises, O son of strength — that one among mortals shines, O immortal wise one, with wealth, with glory, with fame.

6.5.6 Do that swiftly when set in motion, O Agni; drive away the rivals with strength, O powerful one. What is praised by thee by days and night with words — be pleased with that, with the singer's hymn that resounds.

6.5.7 May we obtain that desire, O Agni, with thy help; O giver of riches, may we obtain wealth with good heroes. May we obtain vigour while winning vigour; may we obtain thine ageless and undying glory.

6.6.1 He who desires with a new hymn, seeking a path toward the son of strength, with sacrifice — goes to the wood-cleaving one, dark-hued by night, the shining divine Hotṛ who delights in the feast.

6.6.2 The youngest, the white one, the thunderer standing in the luminous sphere, resounding with ageless ones — he, the purifier, the most abundant Agni, follows all the wide and many things consuming them.

6.6.3 Thy flames driven by wind, O Agni, move hither and thither, the bright ones of the pure. The immensely anointed, divine, nine-fold ones overpower the forests, boldly breaking them.

6.6.4 Thy bright, pure, shining ones — like horses let loose — shear the earth. Then thy whirling brightness shines widely, as thou passest over the ridge of the dappled one.

6.6.5 Then the tongue of the bull flies forward like a thunderbolt hurled, fighting among the cows. Like the attack of a hero, the conquest of Agni — the fearsome, hard to restrain — devours the forests.

6.6.6 With thy radiance thou hast boldly stretched out the earthly expanses of the great piercing one. Drive away the fearful things with thy forces; wishing to win, consume the rivals.

6.6.7 O brilliant one, O brilliant-dominioned one — the most brilliant, the giver of strength — grant us the brilliant, inspiring wealth, great, with many heroes; join to the singer who praises thee with brilliant praises.

6.7.1 The gods generated in the mouth the vessel: Agni Vaiśvānara, born in truth, the head of heaven, the fire-stick of earth — the wise one, the universal king, the guest of peoples.

6.7.2 The gods celebrated in unison the great invocation: the navel of sacrifices, the seat of riches — Vaiśvānara, the charioteer of rites, the banner of sacrifice, they generated.

6.7.3 From thee, O Agni, the inspired sage is born who wins prizes; from thee come heroes conquering enemies. O Vaiśvānara, O king, place in us the desirable riches.

6.7.4 All the immortal gods celebrate thee at thy birth, as a young child. Through thy designs, O Vaiśvānara, they came to immortality — when thou didst shine for both parents.

6.7.5 O Vaiśvānara, O Agni, none has ever defied those great ordinances of thine — when at birth in the lap of both parents thou didst find the banner for the courses of the days.

6.7.6 The ridges of heaven have been measured out by the eye of Vaiśvānara, by the banner of the immortal. On the very summit of that one, above all the worlds, seven streams have spread like branches.

6.7.7 He who of good insight measured out the realms of air, Vaiśvānara the wise who measured out the luminous regions of heaven — who has spread around all the worlds, the unwearied herdsman, the guardian of the immortal.

6.8.1 Now will I proclaim the might of the vigorous, ruddy, bountiful one in the assembly — a fresh, pure thought for Vaiśvānara; as Soma streams purified, so it flows beautifully to Agni.

6.8.2 Being born in the highest heaven, Agni, the guardian of holy ordinances, watched over the cosmic laws. Of good understanding, Vaiśvānara measured out the mid-air and with his greatness touched the vault of heaven.

6.8.3 The wondrous Mitra-like one propped apart the two world-halves; causing them to vibrate within, he expelled darkness with his light. He spread the two cosmic bowls apart as if they were skins; Vaiśvānara assumed universal virile power.

6.8.4 The great ones grasped him in the lap of the waters; the peoples stood around their praiseworthy king. Mātariśvan, as messenger of Vivasvat, brought Agni Vaiśvānara hither from the distant region.

6.8.5 O Agni, age after age bestow ever-fresh, glorious wealth on those who praise thee in the assembly. Like a wheel's rim, O ageless king, cut down the sinner below as fire cuts down a tree with its blaze.

6.8.6 O Agni, maintain among our patrons the ageless, hero-rich sovereignty. May we, O Vaiśvānara, O Agni, win the prize of hundreds and thousands by thy aid.

6.8.7 With thy inviolable guardians, O thou worshipped one, protect our patrons, O thou who hast three stations. Guard us who have offered, and the company of givers, O Agni Vaiśvānara; carry them forward as thou art praised.

6.9.1 The dark day and the bright day revolve in succession, perceived by all beings through the two realms of space. Agni Vaiśvānara, being born like a king, pierced through the darknesses with his light.

6.9.2 I know not the warp, I know not the woof, nor what it is they weave in contest, those going to the conflict. Whose son is he here who shall speak what needs saying — one greater speaks with one who is lesser, his father.

6.9.3 He indeed knows the warp, he knows the woof; he speaks what needs saying in due season — he who perceived this, guardian of immortality, moving below yet seeing beyond with another.

6.9.4 He is the first Hotṛ; behold this immortal light among mortals. He was born firm and settled here, the immortal one, waxing great in his own body.

6.9.5 The fixed light is set on high for seeing; the mind, swiftest of things, flies within it. All the gods, of one mind and purpose, go forth rightly toward that single will.

6.9.6 My ears fly open, my eye flies open; this light which was implanted in my heart blazes forth. My mind wanders far in thought — what shall I say? What shall I now contemplate?

6.9.7 All the gods bowed down in fear when thou, O Agni, didst stand in the darkness. May Vaiśvānara, the immortal, guard us; may he, the immortal, guard us.

6.10.1 Set before you in the sacrifice, at the rite going forward, the gladsome, heavenly Agni of pure praise. First with hymns — for he, the far-shining Jātavedas, will make our sacrifices auspicious.

6.10.2 O brilliantly faced Hotṛ, O Agni, kindled with fire among men, we honour him with the praise-song. The thoughts purified for him flow pure like clarified butter, like a shout of power as Mamatā would offer.

6.10.3 He has grown fat with fame among mortals, the wise man who has offered to Agni with hymns. The bright-flaming one bestows upon him wondrous aids for the winning of a cattle-pen.

6.10.4 He who on being born filled the two vast worlds with his far-seen radiance, making the dark path bright — even through the mighty surge of night's darkness the purifying one was seen by his flame.

6.10.5 Now, O Agni, with thy many-prize-bringing aids bestow wealth upon us and upon our patrons — those who surpass others in generosity and fame and in the power of heroes over men.

6.10.6 O Agni, rejoicing, give delight to this sacrifice which the seated oblation-offerer presents to thee. Among the Bharadvājas thou dost receive pure praise — grant the heroes their portion of vigorous sustenance.

6.10.7 Drive apart the two hatreds, increase Iḷā; may we rejoice for a hundred winters, rich in heroes.

6.11.1 Sacrifice, O Hotṛ, urged and best fitted to sacrifice, O Agni; urge like the impulse of the Maruts. Turn hither Mitra-Varuṇa, the Nāsatyas, and Heaven and Earth for the hotraship.

6.11.2 Thou art our most gladdening Hotṛ, not deceitful, a god within the assembly among mortals. With thy purifying tongue, O bearer Agni, sacrifice with thy own body.

6.11.3 For truly the most nourishing wisdom craves in thee to proclaim the birth of gods for him who praises to sacrifice. Most inspired of the Aṅgirases, when the wise singer at the rite chants the sweet meter.

6.11.4 Blazing brightly, O far-shining, fully pure Agni, sacrifice across the wide two worlds. Him whom the five peoples, having offered oblations with reverence, anoint as Āyu, easy to please.

6.11.5 I now strew the sacred grass with reverence for Agni; the ladle rich with ghee and pure praise is put in motion. The seat is established in the dwelling on earth; the sacrifice is set in place like an eye in the sun.

6.11.6 Favour us, O brilliantly faced Hotṛ, O Agni kindled with the divine fires. Grasping the wealth of riches, O son of strength, may we pass beyond the fence of sin.

6.12.1 In the midst of the dwelling, the ruling Hotṛ on the sacred grass, Agni, who pushes forward, is to be worshipped by the two worlds. He, the son of strength and guardian of cosmic order, has stretched his flame afar like the sun.

6.12.2 In thee, the fully pure, the adorable — sacrifice, O king; let Heaven now worship as if fulfilling completeness. Settled in three stations, swiftly like a runner's stride, sacrifice the human offerings and rich gifts.

6.12.3 He whose wheel blazes most sharply in the forest, who shines like one growing strong on the path striking forward — the non-deceiving, swift one is conscious in his very self, the immortal in the lowest plants.

6.12.4 Thus with our powers like those of heroes, Agni Jātavedas is to be praised at home. Consuming the wooden fuel, conquering by wisdom, not a lazy bull — like a father he is to be won over by sacrifices.

6.12.5 His flames win admiration when he freely cleaves and courses along the broad earth. He who at once breaks loose, free-running, swifter than swift — like a debt-free wanderer he shines across the desert.

6.12.6 So thou, O Agni, kindled with all thy fires, come to our aid against him who oppresses us. Thou seekest riches and driv'st away misfortune; may we rejoice for a hundred winters, rich in heroes.

6.13.1 From thee, O blessed Agni, all blessings spread like the branches of trees. At thy swift call come riches, prizes, the conquest of adversaries, the rain of heaven, and the stream of waters worthy of praise.

6.13.2 Like Bhaga thou dost bestow treasure for our desire; like one going everywhere thou dost rule with wondrous brightness. O Agni, thou art like Mitra of the great cosmic order, the distributor of abundant lovely wealth, O god.

6.13.3 He, the true lord, slays Vṛtra with his might; O Agni, the wise one carries off the prize from the miser. He whom thou, O all-knowing one, born of cosmic order, dost spur with wealth, along with the son of the waters.

6.13.4 The mortal who has reached thy keen edge, O son of strength, through songs, hymns, and sacrifices — he, O god Agni, assumes all desirable things; he rules with riches.

6.13.5 Those of wide renown and hero-rich — for heroes, O Agni, O son of strength, grant fulfilment. Thou dost make abundant cattle by thy might, and food — to the wolf, to the gracious one, to the niggard.

6.13.6 O eloquent one, O son of strength, flying forth for us, O Agni, grant us offspring and progeny, and the prize for us. May we attain fulfilment with all our praises; may we rejoice for a hundred winters, rich in heroes.

6.14.1 The mortal who has cherished service to Agni with his devotions — truly that ancient one will choose refreshment for his protection.

6.14.2 For Agni is the all-knowing, Agni is the most ordaining Ṛṣi. The peoples of Manu invoke Agni as Hotṛ in sacrifices.

6.14.3 For men of different kinds strive for thy aid, O Agni, for wealth from the lord. The Āyus overcome the Dasyu with their observances, pressing upon the one who holds no vows.

6.14.4 Agni gives the hero, the true lord, who overcomes in battle the waters, at whose strength the foes tremble with fear at the mere sight.

6.14.5 For Agni, the god knowing all, rescues the mortal from reproach. He is mighty; the wealth of him who holds Agni unchecked is unchecked in the prizes.

6.14.6 O great friend of Mitra, O god Agni, speak to the gods for goodwill of the two worlds. Bring welfare and happy dwelling to men under heaven; may we cross over hostilities, sins, and ill ways — may we cross them, may we cross them with thy help.

6.15.1 Glorify with song this your guest who wakes at dawn, the lord of all peoples. He discerns heaven by birth; the pure one perpetually consumes, like an embryo, what is immovable.

6.15.2 Him whom the Bhṛgus well-placed, worthy of praise with his flame upward, set in the lord of the forest as Mitra — thou, O wondrous one, being well pleased with Vītahavya, dost magnify thyself day by day with praises.

6.15.3 Be thou the uninjured increaser of strength, O lord, overcoming the uttermost of adversaries. O son of strength, extend wide shelter among mortals to Vītahavya and the wide-famed Bharadvāja.

6.15.4 Glorify with pure praises your blazing guest, the heavenly man Agni, the Hotṛ of Manu, the one of auspicious rite — like an inspired singer of celestial speech, the god who carries oblations, the messenger.

6.15.5 He who by the grace of his purifying, inspiring flame shone on the earth like the radiance of the dawn — pressing forward in the path of Etaśa at the battle, he who in the blaze is ageless and unsated.

6.15.6 Kindle fire upon fire for you with fuel, serve your dear and ever-dear guest. Seek ye with songs the immortal one; for the god among gods wins the desirable thing — the god among gods wins our service.

6.15.7 With fuel and with song I praise the kindled Agni, the pure, the purifying, firm in front at the rite. The inspired Hotṛ, much-desired, not deceiving, the poet — we seek with goodwill Jātavedas.

6.15.8 Thee, O immortal Agni, age after age they have established as their messenger, the bearer of oblations, the guardian worthy of praise. Gods and mortals alike, with reverence, have settled the ever-wakeful, omnipresent lord of the people.

6.15.9 Adorning thyself, O Agni, following the ordinances of both sides, thou travellest as the messenger of the gods through the two spaces. When we embrace thy thought and thy benevolence, then be thou our triple-sheltering, auspicious one.

6.15.10 We who know little would worship him of fair face, beautiful to see, well-formed, yet knowing more than the wise. Knowing all ordinances, may he sacrifice; may Agni carry forth the oblation and declare it among the immortals.

6.15.11 Him thou protectest and thou ferryest across, O Agni, who has reached out to thee, the inspired one, O hero, with his devotion — or the keen edge of the sacrifice, or the arousal — him thou fillest with strength and wealth.

6.15.12 Protect us, O Agni, from him who would injure us; protect us, O strong one, from blame. May the nourishing drink come to thee in full abundance; may the thousandfold, coveted wealth come to thee fully.

6.15.13 Agni is the Hotṛ, the householder, he is the king; Jātavedas knows all births. He who is most deserving of worship among gods and among mortals — may that guardian of cosmic order sacrifice for us.

6.15.14 O Agni, what thou dost today for the people in the rite — O Hotṛ of pure flame, for thou art the sacrificer — thou dost sacrifice by cosmic order in thy greatness, when thou existest widely. O youngest one, bear the oblations that are thine today.

6.15.15 For the well-set offerings are to be seen; let the two worlds establish thee to sacrifice. Aid us, O generous one, in winning the prize, O Agni; may we cross over all misfortunes — may we cross them, may we cross them with thy help.

6.15.16 O Agni of fair countenance, with all the gods, sit first on the woolly seat. Lead the nest-like, ghee-filled sacrifice rightly to Savitṛ and the sacrificer.

6.15.17 This is that Agni whom the inspired priests churn as Atharvan did — him whom they brought, eager and unwearied, from the dark cows.

6.15.18 Be born for the gods' enjoyment, for complete welfare, for prosperity. Bring hither the immortal gods, the increasers of cosmic order; touch the sacrifice among the gods.

6.15.19 We have kindled thee great, O Agni, O householder of men, with fuel. May our domestic rites not be impeded; sharpen us with thy keen brilliance.

6.16.1 Thou, O Agni, art the Hotṛ of all sacrifices, established by the gods among humankind.

6.16.2 Do thou at the rite worship the great ones with thy gladdening tongues; bring the gods hither and sacrifice.

6.16.3 For thou dost know the paths and the roads to the gods in their fullness, O Agni of good understanding at the sacrifices.

6.16.4 Bharata invoked thee then a second time with the swift ones for blessings; he worshipped the one worthy of worship at the sacrifices.

6.16.5 Thou, the many desirable things, give to Divodāsa who presses the Soma, to Bharadvāja who presents the offering.

6.16.6 O immortal messenger, bring hither the divine folk, hearing the perfect praise of the inspired singer.

6.16.7 Thee, O Agni, the mortals of devout mind invoke as the god at the sacrifices for the gods' enjoyment.

6.16.8 The bountiful ones set forth thy visible form and thy will; may all the desiring ones take delight in it.

6.16.9 Thou, the Hotṛ established by Manu, the bearer in thy mouth, who knowest most — O Agni, worship the peoples of heaven.

6.16.10 O Agni, come hither, praised, for the feasting, for the gift of oblations; sit down as Hotṛ on the sacred grass.

6.16.11 Thee, O Aṅgiras, we increase with fuel-sticks and with ghee; blaze mightily, O youngest one.

6.16.12 Thou, O god, winnest for us wide, praiseworthy, vast heroic glory, O Agni.

6.16.13 Thee, O Agni, Atharvan churned out from the lotus, from the head of every eulogist.

6.16.14 Thee, the Ṛṣi Dadhyaṅ, son of Atharvan, kindled — thee the slayer of Vṛtra, the breaker of strongholds.

6.16.15 Thee, the bull of the paths, the most destroyer of the Dasyu, the winner of spoils in battle after battle, Pāthya kindled.

6.16.16 Come now; I would speak other words to thee, O Agni. With these drops of Soma grow great.

6.16.17 Wherever thou dost place thy mind and the higher power, there thou makest thy seat.

6.16.18 No one has diminished thy abundance in the world of the half-circle dwellers, O lord. Yet thou dost win our service.

6.16.19 Agni of the Bharata clan has been approached — the slayer of Vṛtra, of wide perception, the true lord of Divodāsa.

6.16.20 For he, seeking and unconquered, bestows with his greatness all earthly riches upon the worshippers.

6.16.21 Thou, O Agni, like the ancient one yet made fresh, joined with new brilliance, hast spread out greatly with thy radiance.

6.16.22 O friends, present boldly to Agni your praise-hymn and your sacrifice; sing and chant to the ordaining one.

6.16.23 For he is the one who has sat for the ages of humanity as the poet-minded Hotṛ and messenger, the carrier of oblations.

6.16.24 Those two kings of pure vows — the Ādityas, the troop of Maruts — O treasure-giver, worship them here along with the two worlds.

6.16.25 Good is thy sight, O Agni; it quickens the mortal — O offspring of vigour and immortality.

6.16.26 Let the best by wisdom be given; today those who win thee with fair wealth — a mortal has attained pure praise.

6.16.27 Those aided by thee, O Agni, quickening to all life, crossing over the niggard's enmities, winning over the niggard's enmities.

6.16.28 May Agni go with his sharp flame against all devouring foes; may Agni win wealth for us.

6.16.29 Bring us hero-rich wealth, O Jātavedas, O all-seeing one; slay the demons, O one of good understanding.

6.16.30 Protect us from distress, O Jātavedas, from him who would harm us; guard our sacred prayers, O poet.

6.16.31 The mortal who devotes himself to strike us from far or from near — protect us from that sin, O Agni.

6.16.32 Do thou, O god, drive off with thy tongue that evildoer — the mortal who seeks to kill us.

6.16.33 O wide-famed, mighty Agni, grant shelter to Bharadvāja, and desirable wealth.

6.16.34 May Agni, the seeker of wealth, smite the Vṛtras with marvellous might, kindled brightly, fed with oblations.

6.16.35 The father in the womb of his own father and mother, flashing forth in the imperishable syllable, settling into the womb of cosmic order.

6.16.36 Bring us prayer rich in offspring, O Jātavedas, O all-seeing one — O Agni, that which shines in heaven.

6.16.37 Towards thee, O glad one to behold, O one made strong, we who bring offerings have poured forth our songs, O Agni.

6.16.38 As if to the shade of the sun's heat have we come for shelter to thee, O Agni of golden appearance.

6.16.39 Thou who like a fierce archer, sharp-horned like a bamboo-cutter, hast broken open the strongholds, O Agni.

6.16.40 Him whom they bear as if a new-born child, a bracelet in the hand — the Agni of the peoples, the one of auspicious rite.

6.16.41 Present the god, the best knower of goods, for the gods' enjoyment, O Bharatas; let him sit down in his own seat.

6.16.42 Bring the beloved guest newly born into Jātavedas; let the gentle householder be brought near.

6.16.43 O Agni, yoke indeed those good horses of thine, O god, which bear sufficiently for zeal.

6.16.44 Come hither to us, bring the gods hither to the offerings for the feasting, for the drinking of Soma.

6.16.45 Blaze up, O Agni of the Bharatas, brilliantly, flashing forth unceasingly; shine widely and blaze, O ageless one.

6.16.46 The mortal who would serve the god with the feast should praise Agni at the rite, the oblation-holder; he should worship with upraised hand and reverence the Hotṛ who truly sacrifices, of the two worlds.

6.16.47 With sacred verse we bring thee the oblation fashioned by the heart, O Agni. May these be thine — the bulls, the oxen, and the cows.

6.16.48 The gods kindle Agni, the foremost, the most Vṛtra-slaying; by whom the goods are brought and the demons crushed, he the prize-winner.

6.17.1 Drink the Soma, O fierce and bold one, in relation to which thou hast pierced open the great cow-pen, O Indra, who art praised greatly. Thou who with brave arm, O bolt-handed one, hast slain all adversarial Vṛtra with thy powers.

6.17.2 Drink of the Soma, he who is pressed through the strainer, swift to cross over, he of the handsome cheeks, the bull of hymns, who breaks open the cow-stall, who bears the bolt, in whose team stand the bay steeds — that Indra, win the shining prizes.

6.17.3 So drink as of old; let it gladden thee; hear the sacred prayer, grow great with the songs. Make the sun manifest; refresh us, O thou who desirest to fill; slay the enemies, O Indra; win the cattle.

6.17.4 These thy exhilarations, O self-sufficient Indra, drunk and swelling, make thee brilliant. These intoxicating ones exulted in the great, sufficient, mighty, all-pervading, overpowering one.

6.17.5 Gladdened, by which means thou didst set free the sun and the dawn, didst shatter the firm strongholds — the great mountain surrounding the cattle, O Indra, present — thou didst drive away the immovable from its own seat.

6.17.6 By thy will, by those thy deeds of wonder, thou didst with thy power set the ripe within the raw. Thou didst open the firm doors for the Dawn-cows; O thou accompanied by the Aṅgirases, thou didst release the cattle from the enclosure.

6.17.7 By great deeds thou hast spread the wide earth broadly; thou, lofty Indra, hast braced up the heavens. Thou hast upheld the two great, ancient, divine-born mother-worlds, the two ancient mothers, the mighty ones of cosmic order.

6.17.8 Then all the gods before thee, O Indra, established thee alone, the mighty one, for the battle. When the godless one surged against the gods, they chose Indra here, in the winning of heaven.

6.17.9 Then even Heaven trembled away from thy bolt in fear at thine own wrath. When Indra smote the serpent as it surged, the all-life-long one struck it down for it to lie.

6.17.10 Then Tvaṣṭṛ turned for thee, O great and fierce one, the bolt of a thousand points and a hundred angles. With it thou didst squeeze together the serpent, willingly restless and roaring, O thou of the Soma-strainer.

6.17.11 Him whom all the Maruts together strengthened, for whom a hundred buffaloes were cooked for thee, O Indra — Pūṣan and Viṣṇu, running the three streams, poured the Vṛtra-slaying, intoxicating Soma-shoot for him.

6.17.12 Thou didst release the great flood, the mighty mass of the rivers hemmed in all around, the wave of the waters. Following their downward course, O Indra, thou didst set the downward-flowing waters flowing toward the ocean.

6.17.13 Thus may the fresh sacred prayer turn towards us for protection, Indra who has done all these things — great, fierce, ageless, strength-giving, rich in heroes, well-armed, of good bolts.

6.17.14 Set us, O Indra, the inspired ones, toward the prize, toward fame, toward refreshment and wealth brilliant; O Indra, set the patrons rich in men among the Bharadvājas, and be renowned as in heaven, O Indra.

6.17.15 May we win by this means the prize set by the gods; may we rejoice for a hundred winters, rich in heroes.

6.18.1 Praise him — the much-invoked Indra, who wins with overwhelming might, unresisted; with these hymns magnify the unconquerable, the fierce one who endures, the bull of the human peoples.

6.18.2 He is the warrior, the champion, the maker of battle-tumult, the one who meets the foe head-on; the mightily protected, roaring with Soma-juice, raining down great dust — alone he became the overwhelming one of human races, of all peoples.

6.18.3 Thou, the untamed one, alone didst crush the Dasyus and protect the peoples for the Ārya; O Indra, is that heroic might truly in thee, or is it not? Declare it clearly at the right time.

6.18.4 Indeed, O most overpowering one, I hold that the might of thee, the mightily born, the swift of the swift, is real and lasting; more fierce than the fierce, more powerful than the powerful, thou who art inexhaustible hast become the conqueror of the withholding.

6.18.5 Let that ancient friendship be ours with thee — as when speaking thus with the Aṅgirasas thou didst smash Vala; O shaker of the unshaken, O wonder-worker, thou who settest armies in motion, thou didst unlock all the doors of his fortress.

6.18.6 For he, the fierce one, is to be invoked through prayers, the one who wields lordship in the great overcoming of Vṛtra; he who wins offspring and progeny, he the bolt-wielder, became the one to be stretched forth wide in the battles.

6.18.7 By his greatness, by his immortal name, he has surpassed the births of men and flowed beyond them; by his splendour, by his strength, by his wealth, by his heroic might, the foremost of heroes has his dwelling together with them.

6.18.8 He who was never confused nor spoke falsely, well-remembered by name — he chose Cumuri and Dhuni as well; Indra has crushed Pipru, Śambara, and Śuṣṇa even now for the shaking and the laying low of their fortresses.

6.18.9 Mount thy chariot, O Indra, with its upward-flowing, vigorous, and admirable power for the slaying of Vṛtra; take the bolt into thy right hand; delight thyself and stride forward, O giver of many gifts, in thy powers.

6.18.10 Like fire burning a dry forest, O Indra, burn down the demon with thy weapon — like the terrible thunderbolt; he who shattered with deep and lofty force, who drove forth the path, and crushed all sin and evil.

6.18.11 Come hither, O Indra, with wealth along a thousand paths, O thou of great splendour, with thy many powerful prizes; O son of might, come, O much-invoked one — even now no godless one should have power over the fruits.

6.18.12 The greatness of the great-splendoured, ancient, vigorous one has been spread through heaven and earth; he has no enemy, no match, no firm opposing stand — the mighty one whose power through many forms none can withstand.

6.18.13 Let that thy deed be proclaimed today — what thou didst perform when thou gavest Kutsa, Āyu, and Atithigva to him; thou didst sharpen many thousands against the earth, and boldly thou didst lead Tūrvayāṇa to victory.

6.18.14 After thee, O slayer of Ahi, O god, all the gods then exulted — the most poetic of poets; when thou didst make wide space for the afflicted, for the mortal people, for the body, while they praised thee.

6.18.15 Heaven and earth and the immortal gods, O Indra, opened wide to that thy might; thou who doest all, bring into being what of thine is undone — generate a newer hymn through the sacrifices.

6.19.1 Great is Indra, hero-like, filling the peoples, moreover doubly strong, unassailable in his powers; toward us he has grown in heroic might — wide, broad, well-wrought; may he be so through the doers of good deeds.

6.19.2 The divine insight itself ordained Indra for the winning of prizes — the great, the lofty, the ageless, the youthful; him who has swelled with unconquerable might, who even straightway grows without limit.

6.19.3 With broad, ample forearms and many rays, measure out our glories toward us; like a herdsman turning cattle into the fold at home, O Indra, turn us toward thee in the fray.

6.19.4 Him, that Indra, the clever one of this power — we call him here now, eager to win the prize; even as the former praisers received him, irreproachable, blameless, unscathed.

6.19.5 He who holds his vow firm, who gives wealth, who is magnified by Soma — he is the great lord of pleasant and noble goods; the streams of riches have come together in him along the right path, like rivers flowing into the ocean.

6.19.6 Bring to us the strongest might, O hero, the most powerful vigour, O thou who overcomest the fierce; give to us, O lord of bays, all the splendours and the bull-powers of humanity, for our exhilaration.

6.19.7 That exhilaration of thine, O unconquerable battle-winner, O Indra — bring it to us welling up; by which, aided by thee, we may think ourselves victorious in the winning of offspring and progeny.

6.19.8 Bring to us, O Indra, the bull-like vigour that touches wealth, that swells up, that is of keen discernment; by which, with thy aids, we may gain over the enemies in battles — both kinsmen and strangers alike.

6.19.9 Let thy vigour come, O bull, from behind, from above, from below, from in front; let it come together toward us from all sides — O Indra, place in us the splendour that contains the light of heaven.

6.19.10 With heroic aids, with the most heroic, O Indra, may we win the pleasant prize through those who have great hearing; for thou art seen as the king of both kinds of wealth — bestow on us the great, solid, mighty treasure.

6.19.11 Him accompanied by the Maruts, the bull who has grown mighty, the unstinting one, the divine commander Indra — the conqueror of all, fierce, the giver of overwhelming might — we invoke here for our aid with a fresh hymn.

6.19.12 O bolt-wielder, deliver to these heroes the folk that thinks itself ever so great and among whom I dwell; for thus we invoke thee, O hero, for the winning on earth — for offspring, for cattle, for the waters.

6.19.13 We, with these friendships of thine, O much-invoked, may we be the higher over enemy after enemy; smiting both kinds of Vṛtras, O hero, aided by thee, may we rejoice with great wealth.

6.20.1 Like the sky above the earth, the wealth of the noble one stands firm by his strength over peoples in battles. Him who bears a thousand loads for our fertile fields — grant him to us, O son of strength, the slayer of Vṛtra.

6.20.2 As the sky, O Indra, all sovereign lordship together with the gods was placed in you for all time; when you slew the serpent Vṛtra who had swallowed up the waters, O Ṛjīṣin, accompanied by Viṣṇu.

6.20.3 Prevailing, mightier than the mighty, more powerful than the powerful, Indra to whom prayers have been made and whose greatness has grown — he became king over the sweet soma when he was ready to burst open all the strongholds.

6.20.4 There the Paṇis fled with their hundreds, O Indra, in the contest of song for the seer Daśoṇa; with his weapons he overcame the wiles of Śuṣṇa the non-nourishing one, and nothing of his treachery poured forth.

6.20.5 Great treachery was banished for all time when at the fall of the thunderbolt Śuṣṇa was struck down; Indra made wide space on the same chariot for his charioteer Kutsa in the winning of the sun.

6.20.6 Like a falcon, crushing the intoxicating soma-shoot for him, twisting off the head of the Dāsa Namuci — he helped Namī the Sāpya while he slept, filling him with wealth, with refreshment, with well-being.

6.20.7 You shattered wide open with your power the firm strongholds of Pipru the serpent-sorcerer, O wielder of the thunderbolt; you gave to Ṛjiśvan, the devoted worshipper, O bountiful Indra, that imperishable inheritance as your gift.

6.20.8 Indra, whose own protection brings bliss, favored Vetasu, Daśamāya, Daśoṇa, and Tūtujī; he released Tugra's ever-enduring son to shine, like a mother releasing her son to seek his way.

6.20.9 He wins the struggles, unimpeded, bearing the Vṛtra-slaying thunderbolt in his fist; as if seated in a chariot-box while his two bay horses stand hitched, those yoked by his word carry lofty Indra.

6.20.10 May we win with your aid, O fresh and young Indra; the descendants of Pūru praise you thus with sacrifices; when you crushed the seven autumnal strongholds for shelter, teaching them how, you gave the Dāsa women to Purukutsa.

6.20.11 You were, O Indra, the first exalter, bestowing favor on Uśanas Kāvya; the new abode that was to be given up you gave to the great father, surrendering your own grandson.

6.20.12 You, O Indra the roarer, set the roaring rivers in motion, the waters flowing like ploughshares; when you carried them safely beyond the ocean, O hero, safely convey Turvaśa and Yadu across.

6.20.13 That indeed was yours, O Indra, in the battle, all of it — Dhuni and Cumuṛī whom you put to sleep; for you Dabhīti, carrying fuel, pressing soma and singing hymns with cookings, shone forth.

6.21.1 These offerings of one most devoted in worship, O hero, call you with things worthy to be called; thoughts that are worth mounting in a chariot, ever fresh and undecaying — may an abundant, far-spreading wealth come to us through speech.

6.21.2 Him I praise — Indra, who is knowing, who is carried by praises, who grows through sacrifice with hymns; whose greatness, full of many forms, surpasses that of heaven and earth.

6.21.3 He spread out the darkness, the formless void, and made it luminous with the sun; when do mortals, seeking the station of the immortal, not injure it, self-sustaining as they are?

6.21.4 Where is that Indra who made these things? Among what people does he move? In which tribes? What sacrifice of yours is pleasing to his mind for choosing? What song of praise, O Indra? Which is he, the ritual priest?

6.21.5 Even those ancient ones born before thee, who acted much — your friends — they gladdened you with praises; those who are of the middle age, and those of recent times, and those of the very latest — be mindful of them, O much-invoked Indra.

6.21.6 Seeking him, those of later days followed the ancient paths that are reputed to be yours, O Indra; we praise you, O hero who art carried by prayer, as great, by what alone we know of you.

6.21.7 The power of the Rākṣas has spread around you — the great one who was born; stand firm against that. With your ancient comradely bolt, O bold one, drive them away.

6.21.8 Do hear this, O Indra, of the new devotee who loves prayer, O hero who gives to the singer; for you have ever been the ally from ancient times of the Fathers, easy to invoke in the quest.

6.21.9 Invoke Varuṇa, Mitra, Indra, the Maruts — make them ready for our protection today; invoke Pūṣan, Viṣṇu, Agni the wise, Savitṛ, the herbs, and the mountains.

6.21.10 These singers, O much-aided Indra, worthy to be worshipped, honor you with hymns; hear the call of one who calls you, being called — no other than you, immortal one, exists like you.

6.21.11 Come now to my speech, O knowing one, O son of strength, with all the adorable gods; those who are Agni-tongued, who gained the truth, who made Manu superior to the Dāsa.

6.21.12 Be our pathfinder and guide over easy roads and difficult passes, knowing the way; with those wide, tireless, swiftest ones, O Indra, carry us toward the prize.

6.22.1 He who alone among all peoples is to be invoked — Indra — honor him with these hymns; he who rules as the bull full of virile power, the true one, the warrior of many forms, the powerful.

6.22.2 Him too our ancient fathers, the nine-fold ones, the seven seers, winning the prize, the most powerful one — unerring, quick, abiding on the mountain, truthful in speech — they praised with their prayers.

6.22.3 We seek from Indra this wealth abounding in heroes, attended by men, and rich in abundance; he who is ever joyful, ageless, possessing heaven — bring him here, O bay-horsed lord, to exhilarate us.

6.22.4 Declare that to us — whether your lauders from of old have obtained your favor, O Indra; what is your share, what the drink, O harasser of the obdurate, much-invoked, most wealthy, slayer of Asuras?

6.22.5 Seeking him, the trembling, babbling worshipper whose hymn this now is — Indra standing in his chariot, thunderbolt in hand — grasping mightily, acting mightily, giving swiftly, she moves along a path, going toward the resounding one.

6.22.6 With this very magic power, self-strong Indra, who has grown great, waxed strong with a mountain swift as thought — even firm, fortified strongholds with your own strength you shatter and break down the solid ones, O mighty one.

6.22.7 Him, the most powerful, I wish to honor with a new prayer, the ancient one, as with an ancient hymn; may he, Indra, effortless and well-loaded, carry us beyond all difficult passages.

6.22.8 Blaze out the earthly and the heavenly and the atmospheric regions for the hostile people; burn them, O bull, with your flame on all sides — for the enemy of prayer, burn up earth and the waters.

6.22.9 You became king of the divine and earthly peoples, of the moving world, splendid in appearance; grasp the thunderbolt in your right hand, O Indra — ageless one, you apportion all magic powers.

6.22.10 Bring for us, O Indra, as it were concentrated, great, unimpeded well-being for victory over our enemies; with it, O thunderer, make swift dispatch of both Dāsa and Ārya foes, and those of Nahuṣa.

6.22.11 Come to us with your teams, O much-invoked and wise Indra, worthy of worship, with all your treasures; come swiftly with those which neither a non-god restrains nor a god, to give us gladness.

6.23.1 You are truly present, O Indra, in the pressed soma, in the hymn of praise, in the recitation of prayer; or when, O Maghavan, bearing the thunderbolt in your arms, you travel with your two yoked bay horses.

6.23.2 Or when, at the appointed time in heaven, O Indra, you protect the soma-presser in the hero-winning battle against Vṛtra; or when, fearless, you subdued the fearful Dasyus for the zealous worshipper.

6.23.3 May Indra drink the pressed soma, may the fierce one be the guide, the protector of the singer; may he make space for the hero among the good soma-pressers, may he give wealth to one who praises and to one who only recites.

6.23.4 May he come with his bay horses to the soma-pressings; the tawny one who bears the bolt, who drinks the soma, who gives the cows — may he create the hero, manly and complete in heroism; he who carries hymns of praise will hear the call of the singer.

6.23.5 To him we would offer what he desires — to Indra who has performed works for us from ancient times; with the soma pressed we praise him; may the spoken prayer and the brahman be growth-giving to Indra.

6.23.6 For you have indeed made prayers to be growth-giving — so much do we serve you, O Indra, with devotions; at the pressing of soma, O drinker of pressed juice, may we perform the most blissful libations with sacrifices that are meant for you.

6.23.7 Take heed of us, O Indra, delighting, granting the sacrificial cake; do drink the soma mingled with curds and milk; sit on this sacrificial grass of the worshipper, and make wide the space for one who is devoted to you.

6.23.8 Be gladdened at will, O fierce one; may these sacrifices find favor with you; the libation-calls that invoke you much — may they reach us; may this thought, inclined toward you, O Indra, be worthy of protection.

6.23.9 O friends, satisfy Indra who enjoys himself, with the soma pressings, as is fitting; will he who is like that for our nourishment — will Indra scorn the good soma-presser when it comes to protection?

6.23.10 Thus Indra was praised at the pressing of soma among the Bharadvājas, where Maghavan abides; may Indra be such a giver of all-precious wealth to both the praising singer and the patron.

6.24.1 The bull's exhilaration is in Indra — songs of fame and hymns together at soma-pressings, he who drinks the pressed juice and wins the prize; Maghavan who is to be praised by heroes with hymns, king dwelling in the bright sky, the unfailing helper of praises.

6.24.2 The swift hero, manly and discerning, the hearer of the call of the singer, whose protection is broad; the treasure, the one praised by men, who nourishes the singer — when praised in the assembly, the prize-winner gives the prize.

6.24.3 Like an axle between the two wheels, O hero, your greatness has surpassed the two worlds; like the branches of a tree, O much-invoked Indra, your many aids have spread upward.

6.24.4 Your mighty powers, O much-aided Indra, flow like streams from cows, easy to traverse; like the tethers of calves — your bonds that bind and do not bind, O bountiful giver.

6.24.5 Something cunning today and something else again tomorrow — ever both real and unreal does Indra perform suddenly; Mitra is here as our ally, and Varuṇa and Pūṣan, and the noble one who goes round about as our benefactor.

6.24.6 Like waters from the back of a mountain, they brought you forth, O Indra, with hymns and sacrifices; those who are carried by praises, spurring you on with these good praises, came to you like horses to a race.

6.24.7 Autumns do not age Indra, nor do months, nor do days diminish him; may the body of this great one, even as he grows old, continue to grow, being celebrated with hymns and recitations.

6.24.8 The hymn does not bow to the firm and mighty, nor to the Dasyu-driven warrior; even the lofty mountains become plains before Indra, and even in the deep there is a ford for him.

6.24.9 O all-consumer, with your broad deep one send us drives of prizes, O drinker of pressed juice; stand upright in your protection without causing harm at dawn's break, in the circling course.

6.24.10 Be with this fearless one for protection, O Indra, or from here protect him from harm; protect him from harm at home and in the forest — may we rejoice through a hundred winters with good heroes.

6.25.1 Your aid that is nearest, your aid that is farthest, and that which is in between, O Indra the mighty — with all of these protect us in the Vṛtra-slaying, and with these prizes, O great and fierce one.

6.25.2 With these, keep us unharmed in mutual conflicts and battles, O Indra, disrupting the fury of the enemy; with these, carrying off all attackers in every direction, rescue the Ārya peoples from the Dāsa.

6.25.3 O Indra, those who are kinsmen and those who are not kinsmen, the greedy ones who have been yoked as adversaries — shatter their unstable powers, make their virile forces turn away.

6.25.4 When hero wins hero with bodies, striving in glory of person, they contend; or when they cry out in two roaring voices over offspring or cattle or children or water or ploughed fields.

6.25.5 No hero, no swift one, no bold fighter, no warrior who thinks himself such has fought against you; O Indra, none of these can stand against you — all things born, you surpass them all.

6.25.6 He reigns over the manly power of both sides, when the worshippers call each other at the meeting; or in the great Vṛtra, or in a dwelling with men — when the two wide-reaching ones stretch out.

6.25.7 So when the peoples are in motion, O Indra, be both deliverer and protector; those who are most manly among the Āryas who are ours, O Indra — the patrons have placed them at our fore.

6.25.8 For your great might it was given, O Indra; all this entire world is yours for the slaying of Vṛtra; yours is the ruling power, yours the strength, O adorable Indra — yours the virile conquest along with the gods.

6.25.9 Thus drive together our rivals in battles, O Indra — subdue the godless combatants; may we Bharadvājas know your protection while singing, O Indra, both today and now.

6.26.1 Hear us, O Indra, we call you, striving for the great prize; when the peoples came together for the winning of heroes, give us your fierce protection on the appointed day.

6.26.2 The prize-winner who is the son of the prize calls you for the winning of the great coveted prize; in battles against Vṛtra foes, O Indra, the true master, the conqueror — the fist-striker who fights for cattle looks to you.

6.26.3 You urged on the seer Kavi in the contest of song; you handed over Śuṣṇa to Kutsa for the devoted one; you cut off the head of the invulnerable one, intending to do the praiseworthy deed for Atithigva.

6.26.4 You drove forward the chariot and aided the lofty fighter, the bull Daśadyu who was fighting; you aided Tugra together with Vetasū; you favored Tuji, O Indra, when he was singing praises.

6.26.5 You made that hymn great, O Indra, since you burst forth with hundreds and thousands, O hero; you struck down the Dāsa Śambara from the mountain, you helped Divodāsa with your marvelous aids.

6.26.6 You, O Indra, gladdened by the soma-offerings given with faith, lulled Cumuṛī to sleep for Dabhīti; you honored Raji with Piṭhīnasa, and with your might you struck down sixty thousands together.

6.26.7 I myself, with patrons, have not yet attained to your highest grace, O Indra, the strength of your favor; when heroes together with heroes praise you, O strongest one, with Nahuṣa's triple shelter.

6.26.8 May we be your most beloved companions, O Indra, at this your call to glory; may the morning-striker, rich in ruling splendor, be the best in the slaying of Vṛtras and the winning of prizes.

6.27.1 What has Indra done in his exhilaration by this? What in drinking of this? What in friendship with this? Or those warriors who are seated at rest — what have earlier ones found of his? And what those of recent times?

6.27.2 In truth Indra has done something in his exhilaration by this; in truth in drinking of this; in truth in friendship with this; the warriors who are seated at rest — in truth earlier ones have found what is his; and in truth those of recent times too.

6.27.3 Truly we do not know the measure of your greatness together, O Maghavan, nor of your bountifulness; no one has ever seen, O Indra, your every gift after gift anew, your power.

6.27.4 This power of yours was perceived — that by which you slew the descendant of Varaśikha; from the roaring of your thunderbolt as it struck home, O Indra, even the highest heaven split apart.

6.27.5 Indra slew the descendant of Varaśikha, granting aid to Abhyāvartī Cāyamāna; when he struck down the Vṛcīvant in the battle of Hariyūpīyā, in the forefront the rear side split asunder in fear.

6.27.6 Thirty hundred armored warriors all together, O Indra, on the Yavyāvatī, O much-invoked one, seeking fame — the Vṛcīvants, being struck by arrows, came shattering their vessels, falling one after another.

6.27.7 He whose two reddish cows that desire good pasture wander in between, licking each other — he surrendered Turvaśa to the Sṛñjayas, granting help to Daivavāta against the Vṛcīvants.

6.27.8 Two times twenty cows along with charioteers, along with a groom's party — the Maghavan sovereign gives to me; Abhyāvartī Cāyamāna gives this unstinting sacrificial gift of the Pārthava chieftains.

6.28.1 The cows have come and they have brought good fortune; may they sit in the cow-stall and be joyful among us; may the many-formed ones rich in offspring be here, milking themselves out through many dawns for Indra.

6.28.2 Indra gives generously to the sacrificer and the giver, adding gifts on top; he does not rob his own; ever and again increasing his wealth, he establishes the pious man on unbroken fertile ground.

6.28.3 They are not lost; no thief harms them; no hostile unsettlement attacks them; with those cows with which the worshipper sacrifices and gives, the lord of cattle stays with them for a long time.

6.28.4 The rolling warhorse does not reach them; they do not go near the slaughterhouse; the cows of the mortal who sacrifices roam freely in wide, fearless pasture following him.

6.28.5 Cows are fortune, cows are Indra — they have come to me; cows are the first share of soma; these cows, O people — that is Indra; with heart and mind I truly seek Indra.

6.28.6 You cows fatten even the thin; you make even the ugly beautiful in appearance; you make the house blessed, O you of blessed voice — your might is proclaimed as great in the assemblies.

6.28.7 Rich in offspring, grazing on good pasture, drinking pure water at a good watering-place — may no thief rule over you, may no evil-speaking man, may the dart of Rudra pass around you.

6.28.8 May this supplement, this mixing-in, be added to these cows; may it be mixed into the seed of the bull; may it be added, O Indra, to your heroic power.

6.29.1 O men, you have adorned Indra for friendship, striving toward the great one, desirous of his good grace; for the thunderbolt-handed one is a great giver — sacrifice to the great and joyful one for protection.

6.29.2 In whose hand the manly ones have poured the soma drink, who stands in his golden chariot; the reins have been placed in his two massive fists, and the virile horses have been yoked.

6.29.3 For your glory, your feet have been worshipped and honored; bold one, thunderbolt-bearing, strong in power with your right hand; wearing a fragrant garment, beautiful to see — like the sun, lively, you have become fit for dancing.

6.29.4 May the soma be the most blended and pressed in which the cooking is cooked and the grains are present; the men praising Indra who perform sacred acts, the most beloved of the gods, reciting hymns.

6.29.5 No limit has been set to the end of this your strength; it has pressed the two worlds apart with its greatness; the patron, eager, fills them as if a herd in the waters, with your aid as it spreads.

6.29.6 Thus may Indra be easy to invoke, lofty, praised and re-praised, ruddy-lipped, a warrior; for being born thus of incomparable strength, he slays many Vṛtras and beats down the Dasyus.

6.30.1 He has grown even more for heroic might, the lone ageless one who apportions goods; Indra has surpassed heaven and earth — both worlds are but half of him.

6.30.2 Therefore I think his lordly power great — what he upholds none can diminish; day by day the sun becomes visible; the wise one widely spreads the dwellings.

6.30.3 Even today, even now — that act of giving a path to the rivers' waters, O Indra — the mountains sank down like guests who sit to eat; the firm realms were made so by you, O wise of purpose.

6.30.4 Truly there is no other like you, O Indra — no god, no mortal is greater; you slew the serpent lying around the flood, you released the waters toward the ocean.

6.30.5 You, O Indra, burst open wide the gates of the waters; you broke the firm rock of the mountain; you became king of the moving world and the peoples, bringing forth the sun and the sky and the dawn together.

6.31.1 You became the sole lord of all riches and placed the peoples in your two hands, O Indra; on behalf of offspring, of water, of the sun, of progeny the peoples of various voices have spoken out.

6.31.2 From fear of you, O Indra, even the unmoved earthly realms are set in motion; heaven, earth, the mountains and the forests — everything firm trembles at your advance.

6.31.3 Together with Kutsa, O Indra, you fought against Śuṣṇa the non-nourishing, the bad harvest-grower, in the struggle for cows; as the sun was turning, you whirled the wheel and covered the mischiefs.

6.31.4 You struck down the hundreds of Śambara's strongholds, unyielding, those of the Dasyu; there, O powerful one, with your might you bestowed goods on Divodāsa who presses soma, on Bharadvāja who sings praises.

6.31.5 O hero of true valor, of great strength, mount your fearsome chariot for the great battle; go, O you who make the path ready, with protection come, O Madrik; and having been praised, make yourself heard among the peoples.

6.32.1 Unprecedented and most numerous words for him — for the great hero, the powerful and swift, the mighty one, the thunderbolt-bearer — I have fashioned with my mouth the most blissful praises for the firm one.

6.32.2 He lit up the two mothers with the sun of the seers, breaking the rock while being praised; with well-aimed, hymn-singing, roaring ones he released the fetters of the dawn-cows.

6.32.3 With singing fire-bearers he ever wins the cattle, with agile-kneed ones, the great doer; leading the vanguard, being a friend among friends, he broke the firm ones, being a seer among seers.

6.32.4 With your battle-arrays come toward the singer, with great prizes and great strength; with those rich in heroes, O bull of the peoples, come, O lover of praises, for our good fortune.

6.32.5 Indra, impelled with a stream of power, conquering swiftly with his charges on the right, releasing them thus, he does not turn away from his goal; day by day they strive for the imperishable.

6.33.1 O Indra, give us that most powerful exhilaration, O bull, with your own protection, O giver; you who are well-horsed will win wealth of good horses and conquer Vṛtras and enemies in battles.

6.33.2 Indeed you, O Indra, the peoples call out to in many voices for protection in the winning of heroes; with the seers you have dispersed the Paṇis — only aided by you does the steed win the prize.

6.33.3 You, O Indra, have slain those two kinds of enemies — both the Dāsa Vṛtras and the Ārya ones, O hero; like trees in the forest with well-sharpened blades, you tear them apart in battles, O most manly of men.

6.33.4 Be you that one, O Indra, with your keen aids, our friend, protector for all time, for our increase; as we call you fighting for the winning of heaven, without stumbling, O hero, in the battles.

6.33.5 Now, O Indra, and hereafter, be our benefactor, our aid in our attack; praising you thus, may we dwell in the shelter of the great one, in the highest heaven, most rich in cattle.

6.34.1 Many praises have converged upon you, O Indra, and from you the abundant inspirations go forth; both of old and now the praises of seers have contended with each other — songs and hymns in Indra's presence.

6.34.2 He who is much-invoked, much-praised, most skillful, alone most celebrated through sacrifices — like a chariot yoked for great power, may Indra be our object of joy.

6.34.3 Prayers and songs do not harm him — reaching Indra they only increase him; whether the praisers are a hundred or a thousand singing to him who loves praises, that is a blessing to him.

6.34.4 For him, like months in the sky like stars, the soma is poured down into Indra; like water over a parched people when it comes — the invocations and sacrifices have all increased together.

6.34.5 This great song of praise, this hymn, was spoken for him — for Indra — with devotional thoughts; may Indra, ageless and great, be our helper and increaser in the great ordeal of conquering Vṛtra.

6.35.1 When will there be chariot-wealth, O Brahman? When will you give the praiser a thousand head of cattle? When will you clothe our hymn of praise in wealth? When will you make our prayers gems of the prize?

6.35.2 When, O Indra, will you with men press down men, with heroes press heroes, winning battles? When will you conquer cows of the threefold foundation? O Indra, place in us glory rich in heaven's light.

6.35.3 When, O Indra, will you make the prayer all-nourishing for the singer, O most powerful? When will you yoke inspirations like teams of horses? When will you come, rich in cattle, to our invocations?

6.35.4 Place on the singer the supplies rich in cattle and splendid with horses, renowned as prize — O Indra, wishing to fill, cause the well-milking cow to overflow; shine brilliantly among the Bharadvājas.

6.35.5 Him now, a community otherwise, when you can, O hero, O mighty one, praise opening the doors; let me not fail the brightly-milking cow — O wise one, quicken the Āṅgirasas with prayer.

6.36.1 Yours are the exhilarations for all peoples together, yours are the riches including those of the earth; you became the distributor of all prizes together when you held the lordship among the gods.

6.36.2 The peoples have followed his strength in succession, they have taken on all of it together for heroic power; for him who grasps the rein and the hard-running steed they pursue resolution in the Vṛtra-slaying.

6.36.3 The aids, the virile powers, the manly strengths — all together they followed Indra with their teams; like rivers into the ocean, the hymns powerful in sound enter the wide-abiding one.

6.36.4 Being praised, release toward us the wellspring of wealth of manifold splendor, O Indra; you have become the incomparable lord of the peoples, the sole king of the entire world.

6.36.5 Hear, O praiseworthy one, you who are eager for worship — the noble one who covers riches like heaven over earth — be one who is glad toward us with his strength, who is wise with power in age after age.

6.37.1 Let your yoked bay horses carry hither your chariot full of all treasures, O fierce Indra; for even the singer who wins the sun calls you — may we prosper as your co-rejoicers today.

6.37.2 The bay horses have come forward to the trough in their work, being purified, having become upright; may Indra, our ancient one, drink of this soma — the sky-dwelling king of the soma exhilaration.

6.37.3 The chariot-horses, flowing forth, have beautified the wheel toward Indra rich in strength; may they, going straight, carry him to glory; surely even now Vāyu's immortal portion would not fail.

6.37.4 The most distinguished one stirs up his right hand — Indra, most active with power among the bountiful; by which you, O thunderbolt-bearer, pass beyond straits, and O bold one, you distribute gifts, dividing among the patrons.

6.37.5 Indra is the giver of firm and solid prizes; may Indra grow in greatness through hymns; may Indra as warrior be the best slayer of Vṛtra — the patron, eager, fills both of those.

6.38.1 Hither hath come, most brilliant, he who shall bestow on us great, glorious, Indra-invoked bounty; worthy of praise is the thought along the divine path — the bounteous one wins the gift for the people.

6.38.2 Even from afar, dwelling there, his ears resound with the roar of Indra as men proclaim him; may this invocation of the gods turn Indra here, may this hymn of praise draw him joyfully nigh.

6.38.3 Him, the ancient, the undecaying Indra, I celebrate with songs by the loftiest thought; priests and hymns have set their prayers on him, and a great laudation swells yet more upon Indra.

6.38.4 May sacrifice and Soma magnify Indra, may sacred prayer, hymns, and devotion magnify him; may the dawns at their going, the nights, magnify him; may months, autumns, and days magnify Indra.

6.38.5 Thus, O sage, him born for might, grown mighty for glory and fame — the great, the fierce one — let us now win to our aid in the strivings against Vṛtra.

6.39.1 Of the gladdening sage, the divine conveyor, whose thoughts are those of a wise man, whose speech is sweet — O God, yoke for the worshipper the gift of cows foremost, of his companionable bounty.

6.39.2 Desiring, he yoked the dawns around the rock with thoughts of holy order, joining them in holy yoking; Indra broke open what had not been broken — the ridge of Vala — and drove back the Paṇis with words.

6.39.3 He, the drop of Soma, O Indra, illumes the unseen, scatters the nights and days of autumn; the days set this as their bright banner — he, whose birth is pure, made the dawns.

6.39.4 He shining made bright what was lightless; he with holy order arrayed the many dawns; he moves with teams of steeds yoked by sacred rite — the hub-finder who fills mankind with light of heaven.

6.39.5 Now, ancient King, praised by the praising one, swell forth many refreshments for the bestowal of wealth; release without harm the plants, the forests, the kine, horses, and men for the hymn.

6.40.1 O Indra, drink — the Soma is pressed for you to gladden you; unyoke your two bay horses, your companions; sit down amid the singing company, and so grant strength to the sacrifice of the worshipper.

6.40.2 Drink of this, O Indra, of that very one which, from thy birth, O bountiful, thou hast drunk for exhilaration and for wisdom; the cows, the men, the waters, the stone have all pressed this drop together for thee to drink, together for him.

6.40.3 The fire is kindled, the Soma pressed, O Indra; let the best-drawing bays bring thee hither; with a heart intent upon thee I call thee earnestly — O Indra, come for our great well-being.

6.40.4 Come as thou hast always come, with eager will, O Indra, with a great mind to drink the Soma; hear these our prayers, and then may the sacrifice grant strength to thy body.

6.40.5 Whether thou art in heaven at the festival, or elsewhere, or in thine own dwelling, wherever thou abidest — from there, with thy team, in accord, O lover of song, protect our sacrifice with the Maruts.

6.41.1 Come without anger to the sacrifice; the pressed drops flow purified for thee; as kine to their own stall, O wielder of the bolt, come, O Indra, foremost of those worthy of worship.

6.41.2 With that palate of thine so well-made and most excellent, wherewith thou dost ever drink the wave of sweetness — with that protect us; thine adhvaryu priest hath stood forth; may thy bolt, O Indra, whirl forth to win the kine.

6.41.3 This drop, this bull of all forms, this Soma hath been prepared for Indra the mighty; drink this, O lord of bays, thou who standest firm, fierce one, that which thou hast desired from of old, which is thy food.

6.41.4 The pressed Soma, O Indra, is better than the unpressed; this is more excellent for the discerning, for delight; eager to cross over, come to this sacrifice; with it fill all thy powers.

6.41.5 We call thee, O Indra; come hither; the Soma shall be ready for thy body; O hundred-powered one, exhilarate thyself with the pressed drinks, and lead us forward, protect us in the battles.

6.42.1 Bring all things to him who yearns, who knows all, who comes readily, who comes forth, the man who is never left behind.

6.42.2 Come, meet him with the Somas — him the foremost soma-drinker, Indra the mighty, with immeasurable strength, with the pressed drops and the juices.

6.42.3 If ye propitiate him with pressed drops, with juices, with Somas, the wise one knows all things; boldly he goes after each in turn.

6.42.4 For him, for him alone, O adhvaryu, bring forth the pressed drink of the Soma; may he perhaps ward off the abuse of the whole arrogant, noble host.

6.43.1 In whose exhilaration thou didst subdue that Śambara for Divodāsa — this is that very Soma, O Indra, pressed; drink it.

6.43.2 Whose fierce-pressed exhilarating drink thou dost guard at its middle and its end — this is that very Soma, O Indra, pressed; drink it.

6.43.3 In whose exhilaration thou didst release the cows that were fast within the rock — this is that very Soma, O Indra, pressed; drink it.

6.43.4 Exhilarated by whose drink thou dost take on the might of a generous lord — this is that very Soma, O Indra, pressed; drink it.

6.44.1 He who is most rich among the rich, most glorious among the glorious — the Soma is pressed, that, O Indra, is thine exhilaration, O lord of self-sustaining strength.

6.44.2 That which is capable, most greatly capable, the bestower of wealth, of the thoughts of men — the Soma is pressed, that, O Indra, is thine exhilaration, O lord of self-sustaining strength.

6.44.3 By which, grown great, like one swift and powerful, with thine own aids — the Soma is pressed, that, O Indra, is thine exhilaration, O lord of self-sustaining strength.

6.44.4 Him I celebrate for you — the irresistible lord of might, Indra, the conqueror of all, the foremost of heroes, the beholder of all races of men.

6.44.5 Him whom hymns do magnify — the lord of swift bounty — both divine world-halves, heaven and earth, now attend with reverence his vigour.

6.44.6 For you I strew the laud-seat with the greatness of the hymn for Indra — whose aids grow upward like shoots of a wise man, thickly springing in the same abode.

6.44.7 Mitra, ever young, drinking in, found the ability, and went forth better toward the gods; having won with the woollen strainers, the cleansing vessels, he became the broad protector, the guardian for his companions.

6.44.8 On the path of holy order the wise one was drunk to beauty; the gods stirred their minds; bearing the name of the great one through words, the lovely one revealed his form to sight.

6.44.9 Place in us the most brilliant power; drive away the many enmities of people; with thy powers make our vigour greater in the winning of wealth — aid us.

6.44.10 O Indra, O Maghavan, we have become thine alone in giving, O lord of bays; be not estranged; no kinsman hath been seen in mortal man — why then do they call thee the furtherer of the weak?

6.44.11 O bull, do not give us over to destruction; may we not come to harm in the friendship of thee, the wealthy; many are thy sittings among the peoples, O Indra — slay those who press not the Soma; root out the ungiven.

6.44.12 Roaring like storm-clouds, Indra sets in motion the wealth of horses and kine; thou art from of old the sustainer of the singers — let not those who take from thee ensnare the generous one.

6.44.13 O adhvaryu, hero, offer forth the great pressed draughts for Indra, for he is its king; he who hath grown great through old and new hymns of the singing seers.

6.44.14 In this drink's exhilaration, knowing its many forms, Indra smote the Vṛtras that resisted; offer forth to him this sweet Soma to drink for the hero, the broad-cheeked one.

6.44.15 May Indra be the drinker of the pressed Soma; may he be the smiter of Vṛtra with his bolt while gladdened; may he come from far to the sacrifice — the wealthy one, the guardian of prayers, the sustainer of poets.

6.44.16 This cup, this vessel of Indra's drinking, dear to Indra, immortal, hath been drunk; may it gladden the god for benevolence, driving far from us hatred and distress.

6.44.17 Exhilarated by this, O hero, slay the enemies — kinsmen or strangers, O Maghavan, the foes; those who array their troops against us, O Indra, crush them as they turn away, smite and slay them.

6.44.18 In these battles, O Maghavan, O Indra, make wide and easy room for us; win offspring of water and progeny, O Indra, and make our patrons our allies.

6.44.19 Let the bullish bays, being yoked, the bull-chariot, bull-reined, vigorous coursers, draw thee hither — the vigorous ones, bolt-bearing, well-yoked for the exhilaration of the mighty one.

6.44.20 The bulls, the ghee-dripping, exhilarating waves have filled thy vessel, O bull; O Indra, they bear to thee the bull-like Soma of the pressed drops, to thee the mighty, the bull.

6.44.21 Thou art the bull of heaven, the bull of earth, the bull of the rivers, the bull of the standing waters; for thee the mighty, O bull, the drop hath swelled — the sweet juice, delightful to drink, for the best one.

6.44.22 This god, born with force, stayed the Paṇi with Indra as his ally; this very drop stole the weapons of his own father and the tricks of the malign one.

6.44.23 He made the dawns good consorts; he placed the light within the sun; he with threefold nature in the luminous realms of heaven, in the places of Trita, found the hidden immortal.

6.44.24 He propped apart heaven and earth; he yoked the seven-reined chariot; Soma with skill held the cooked ripeness within the kine, and the spring with ten pressings.

6.45.1 He who with good guidance brought Turvaśa and Yadu from afar — that Indra is our young friend.

6.45.2 Even with a non-inspired singer, even with a horse that is not swift, Indra is the winner of the set-out prize.

6.45.3 Great are his leadings forth, and his praises are many; his aids never diminish.

6.45.4 O friends, sing praise and sing forth to him who carries the prayer; for he is our great wisdom.

6.45.5 Thou, O Vṛtra-slayer, art the helper of the single man, and of the two together; even for such as we are.

6.45.6 Thou dost indeed lead past enemies; thou makest those who recite the lauds; thou art called most heroic among men.

6.45.7 I call for milking, as a cow, the prayer-bearer who carries the prayer, the companion worthy of hymns, with praises.

6.45.8 In whose two hands all goods have been placed in double — of the hero, the overpowerer of armies.

6.45.9 O wielder of the stone, O lord of power, break apart even the firm things of men; tear out the tricks of those who do not bow.

6.45.10 Thee, indeed, O true Soma-drinker, O Indra, lord of prizes, we, desirous of glory, do call.

6.45.11 Thee who wert of old, or who art now when the prize is set — thee who art to be invoked — hear the invocation.

6.45.12 With swift thoughts, with swift horses, O Indra, the glorious prizes — by thy help may we win the set-out wealth.

6.45.13 Thou didst become, O hero, lover of song, great Indra, when the prize is set — most worthy of stretching oneself in the fray.

6.45.14 That swiftest, most rapid aid of thine, O smiter of enemies — with that urge forward our chariot.

6.45.15 As the best charioteer with our chariot that presses on in the yoke — do thou win the set-out prize, O Conqueror.

6.45.16 Him who is the sole one — praise him, the wide-beholding one of peoples; the lord was born with bull-like purpose.

6.45.17 Thou who wert the kinsman of the worshippers, the auspicious friend in aid — thou, as such, O Indra, be gracious to us.

6.45.18 Take the bolt in thy arm, O wielder of the bolt, for the slaying of demons; prevail and overcome against the rivals.

6.45.19 I call the foremost bearer of prayer, the ancient companion of riches, the stimulator of the praiser.

6.45.20 For he alone rules over all earthly goods — the foremost lover of song, the unresisted one.

6.45.21 O lord of kine, fill boldly our desire with teams, with prizes, with horses, with gifts of cattle.

6.45.22 Sing this aloud at the pressing, companionably, to the much-invoked, the mighty one — which is a good thing like to a powerful bull.

6.45.23 The bounteous one never withholds the gift of the prize-wealth rich in kine when hymns reach him.

6.45.24 May the Dasyu-slayer go forth to the rich cow-pen thereof, and with his powers turn toward us.

6.45.25 O hundred-powered one, these hymns call loudly after thee, O Indra, as mothers after a calf.

6.45.26 Thy friendship is hard to abandon; thou art a cow for him who seeks kine, O hero; be a horse for him who seeks horses.

6.45.27 Exhilarate thyself with the Soma-drink for bounty, for the great body; do not subject the praiser to blame.

6.45.28 These hymns seek thee at every pressing, O lover of song, as milch cows seek the calf.

6.45.29 Most bountiful among the many, the much-praised — among the praisers, with prizes, for those who desire prizes.

6.45.30 May our laud be the most bearer-forward, the most intimate to thee, O Indra; urge us on toward great wealth.

6.45.31 Bṛbu hath stood upon the Paṇis' highest summit — wide-armpitted as a river's flood.

6.45.32 He whose auspicious gift, thousandfold, runs swift as wind — he is bountiful for immediate giving.

6.45.33 This well the Ārya singers, all the bards, always proclaim for us — Bṛbu, the giver of thousands, the patron who wins thousands.

6.46.1 Thee alone, O Indra, we bards invoke for the winning of the prize; thee, the true lord, in the battles with the Vṛtras do men call upon; thee for the horses at the race.

6.46.2 Thou, O glorious one, bolt in hand, bold and much-praised, O stone-wielder — pour together for us, O Indra, cattle, horses, chariot-wealth, all as if for one who hath won the prize.

6.46.3 Him who overcomes all, the wide-beholding Indra, we call upon; O thou of a thousand strengths, of vast heroism, O true lord — be for our increase in battles.

6.46.4 Thou pressest men back like a bull in fury, showering down riches, O Ṛcīṣama; be our protector in the great contest, for our bodies, in the waters, in the sun.

6.46.5 O Indra, bring to us the foremost, the most powerful, the full-famous glory — that by which, O glorious bolt-handed one, thou hast filled both world-halves, O beautiful-jawed one.

6.46.6 Thee, O King, the mighty one, the overcomer of races, among the gods we invoke for aid; make, O wealthy one, all our tottering enemies easy to overcome.

6.46.7 Whatever might and heroic strength, O Indra, is among the Nāhuṣas and in the tribes, or the glory of the five peoples — bring all of it, all manly powers, together.

6.46.8 Whatever might there is in the Tṛkṣu, in the Druhyu tribe, O Maghavan, or among the Pūrus — all that virile power flow toward us in the hero-overcoming of foes in battle.

6.46.9 O Indra, a threefold shelter, a threefold protection, well-prospering — grant a sheltering covering to the generous and to me; ward off the flame from them.

6.46.10 Those who with a cattle-seeking mind have seized the enemy and boldly assail him — then, O Maghavan, O Indra, lover of song, become the most intimate guardian of our bodies.

6.46.11 Then be for our increase, O Indra, here in battle, give us strength when feathered arrows, sharp-pointed flames, fly through the atmosphere.

6.46.12 Where heroes spread wide their bodies, seeking the dear shelter of the ancestors — there grant a covering for body and for offspring; ward off unforeseen enmity.

6.46.13 When thou dost urge on the horses at the start in the great contest, O Indra, along the uneven road, along the crooked path, like hawks eager for fame.

6.46.14 As rushing swiftly downhill like rivers when one calls out at a cry — those who wheel about like birds toward the prey, with the prize cow grasped in their arms.

6.47.1 Sweet indeed is this Soma, and rich in honey; sharp indeed is it, and full of juice; and Indra who hath drunk of it — verily none can overcome him in battles.

6.47.2 This is the sweetest, the most exhilarating one here, by which Indra was gladdened in the slaying of Vṛtra; he who smashed the many machinations of Śambara, who struck down ninety and nine strongholds.

6.47.3 This, drunk by me, stirs up speech; this hath set in motion the yearning thought; this wise one measured out the six broad expanses beyond which no being stands far off.

6.47.4 He is the one who made the breadth of earth and the height of heaven; he is the very one; Soma hath upheld the wide atmosphere, the beestings-milk on the three downward slopes.

6.47.5 He found the bright-visioned flood, the company of the bright-dwelling dawns; this bull accompanied by Maruts, with a great prop, propped up the sky.

6.47.6 Boldly drink the Soma from the vessel, O Indra, Vṛtra-slayer, hero, in the muster of riches; at the midday pressing pour thyself out, O repository of wealth — place wealth in us.

6.47.7 O Indra, look upon us like one who goes before; lead us further on toward the better; be a good ferryman, carrying us across; be a good guide and also a guide of the dwarf.

6.47.8 Knowing all, lead us to a wide world, to heavenly light, free from fear and filled with well-being; may we come to rest under thy great, lofty, ancient arms as shelters, O Indra.

6.47.9 Place us, O Indra, O hundred-powered one, in the best chariot seat, on the best two horses; carry our highest refreshment — let not the stranger, O Maghavan, surpass us in riches.

6.47.10 O Indra, be gracious; seek life for me; urge my thought like the edge of iron; whatever I, devoted to thee, say here — take delight in it; make me one who has the gods.

6.47.11 I invoke Indra the protector, Indra the helper, Indra the easy to invoke in every call, Indra the hero; I call the mighty Indra, the much-invoked — may Indra Maghavan grant us well-being.

6.47.12 May Indra, the good protector, self-dependent with his aids, all-knowing, be truly gracious; may he thrust back enmity, may he create fearlessness — may we be lords of heroic strength.

6.47.13 May we be in the favour and in the auspicious benevolence of him, the adorable one; may that Indra, the good protector, self-dependent, ward away enmity from us ever so far off.

6.47.14 Toward thee, O Indra, as down a slope, the waves of hymns and prayers rush onward with their teams; as a wide bounty, the many pressings — thou dost yoke together, O bolt-wielder, the waters, the cows, and the drops.

6.47.15 Who shall praise him, who give to him, who sacrifice, when the mighty Maghavan calls everyone? Striking one against another like two feet alternately, with his powers he makes one first, the other last.

6.47.16 The hero is heard — taming the fierce and ferocious, passing by one and then another; Indra, king of both the growing and the waning, craving like fire, consumes human folk.

6.47.17 He rejects the friendships of former ones, passing forward, associating with later ones; shaking off never-yet-experienced things, Indra passes through many autumns.

6.47.18 He became a counter-image of every form — that is his form for the perception thereof; Indra moves in many forms through his māyās; for his bay horses are yoked, a thousand and ten.

6.47.19 Having yoked the golden horses to the chariot, Tvaṣṭṛ shines widely here; who forever shall sit on the side of enemies, and among those who sit as patrons?

6.47.20 We have come, O gods, to a land without cattle-pasture; the earth, though wide, hath become confining; O Bṛhaspati, discern the path in the quest for kine — show the praiser his path thus, O Indra.

6.47.21 Day by day, at one and the same time, the dark ones occupied the other half; they drove away the offspring from the home; the bull slew the Dāsas who were bartering — Varcana and Śambara in the enclosed fold.

6.47.22 Even a little indeed of the bounty — O Indra, he gave ten purses and ten steeds; from Divodāsa's liberality, from the bounty of Atithigva, we have received the goods captured from Śambara.

6.47.23 Ten horses, ten purses, ten garments with extra portions of food, ten lumps of gold — these I received from Divodāsa.

6.47.24 Ten chariots with front-horses, a hundred cows to the Atharvans — Aśvattha gave to Pāyu.

6.47.25 Sārñjaya worshipped the Bharadvājas, who possessed the great bounty dear to all peoples.

6.47.26 O Lord of the forest, mayst thou be of firm limb, our companion who carries forward, of good heroes; bound with cowhide thou art — make thyself firm; may thy charioteer win the conquering prizes.

6.47.27 The power raised up from heaven and earth, the might brought from the forest trees, the vigour of the waters wrapped round with the cowhides — worship with oblation Indra's bolt, the chariot.

6.47.28 O divine chariot, the bolt of Indra, the face of the Maruts, the womb of Mitra, the navel of Varuṇa — pleased with our presentation of oblations, receive the offerings.

6.47.29 Let the earth resound and the heaven, O Drum; widely let all the world know thy station; thou, O war-drum, in accord with Indra and the gods, drive away the enemies from afar, ever farther.

6.47.30 Roar out, set force and vigour in us, thunder forth, driving away misfortunes; breathe away, O war-drum, ill-omen from here — thou art the fist of Indra; make thyself firm.

6.47.31 Drive back those cows, make them turn back; the drum with its signal sounds out; let the horse-winged arrows fly on our behalf, O Indra — may our warriors with their chariots be victorious.

6.48.1 At every sacrifice and with every hymn we praise you, O Agni, for your wise insight; we extol again and again the immortal Jātavedas as a dear friend.

6.48.2 May we serve the Son of Strength who, eager for us, impels us on for the offering of oblations; may he be our protector in prizes of battle, may he be our increaser, and may he be the guardian of our bodies.

6.48.3 For thou art the mighty bull, O Agni, the ageless and great, shining with thy flame; blaze with unceasing bright blaze, blazing with clear brightness — shine with fair rays, O pure one.

6.48.4 Thou worshippest the great gods one after another through thy wisdom and thy wondrous deeds; draw them hither, O Agni, for our protection — bestow upon us strength and win it for us.

6.48.5 He whom the waters, the rocks, and the forests nourish as the embryo of Order — he who is churned into existence with force by men upon the back of the earth.

6.48.6 He who has filled both worlds of earth and sky with his radiance, and spreads his smoke through heaven; he is seen through the dark nights as the ruddy bull, red in the dark — the ruddy bull, red in the dark.

6.48.7 With thy great flames and bright divine radiance, O Agni, kindled in the home of Bharadvāja, O youngest one — shine brilliantly for us, O bright one; shine luminously, O purifier.

6.48.8 Thou art the lord of the household of all human clans, O Agni; guard with a hundred strongholds the one who kindles thee, O youngest, through a hundred winters — guard him from harm along with those praisers who give to thee.

6.48.9 With brilliant aid, O shining Vasu, stir up gifts for us; thou, O Agni, art the charioteer of this man's wealth — find us a ford, lead us to the prize.

6.48.10 With thy undeceived, unswerving helpers carry our offspring and progeny safely across; ward off from us, O Agni, the divine wrath and the crooked failings of the godless.

6.48.11 Come, O friends, drive hither the milk-yielding cow with newer words of praise; release her so she shall not kick back.

6.48.12 She who was milked of immortal glory for the bold self-shining troop of Maruts; she who brings the grace of the swift Maruts, she who comes swiftly with their blessings —

6.48.13 — she was milked in twain for Bharadvāja: the all-milking cow and the all-nourishing refreshment.

6.48.14 Him I praise, truly pointing the way — Indra like the one of righteous will; Varuṇa like the wizard; Aryaman the gladdening, the lord of rich food; and Viṣṇu.

6.48.15 Fierce as the Marut host, loudly roaring and unchecked — Pūṣan shall gather a hundred, shall gather a thousand together for the people; he shall reveal hidden riches, shall make them easily known to us.

6.48.16 Come running to me, O Pūṣan; I shall now proclaim thy praise close to thine ear, O glowing one — for fierce are the misfortunes of the hostile.

6.48.17 Do not uproot the kākambīra tree, the lord of the forest, lest the non-praisers destroy us; and not even the sun on a single day shall place a yoke upon the neck of the flying bird.

6.48.18 May thy friendship be wolfless, like a leather bag; the friendship of him who holds the unpierceable, the well-filled, the moving one.

6.48.19 For thou art beyond mortals, and equal to the gods in glory; look favourably upon us, O Pūṣan, in battles — protect us now as of old.

6.48.20 Rich are the impulses of the Bountiful, let the leadership be true and glad; O Maruts, worthy of worship, whether of god or of mortal who is swift to the sacrifice —

6.48.21 He whose renown the god Sūrya does not pass around the sky even in a day — the Maruts have assumed the fierce, the sacrificially named, Vṛtra-slaying might; the most excellent Vṛtra-slaying might.

6.48.22 Heaven was born but once; Earth was born but once; what the dappled cow milked once — that milk — no other is born after it.

6.49.1 I praise with newer hymns the folk of good ordinance — Mitra-Varuṇa who bestow favour; may they come hither, may they hear here: the mighty-ruling Varuṇa, Mitra, and Agni.

6.49.2 We worship Agni, lauded at sacrifice after sacrifice, the undaunted Messenger between the two young goddesses — the child of Heaven, the son of Strength, the red banner of the sacrifice.

6.49.3 The two daughters of the ruddy one are of differing forms: one is adorned with stars by the sun, the other with rays; moving together in alternation around the purifier, they have arrived at the famous thought that is being praised.

6.49.4 With great thought toward Vāyu, laden with vast treasure, containing all goods, filling the chariot — thou who art the lord of the shining path, the lord of the harnessed ones, the sage seeks the sage, O thou worthy of worship.

6.49.5 May the gleaming chariot of the Aśvins, which is yoked by thought, be pleasing to my body; with which, O heroes, ye travel the path for the Nāsatyas to proceed, for offspring and for self.

6.49.6 O Parjanya and Vāta, bulls of earth, quicken the waters that fill the moisture; ye true-hearing sages — with whose hymns ye, O Stayer of the world, make the world move.

6.49.7 The brilliant Sarasvatī, the wondrous-lived maiden, the wife of heroes, shall bestow thought; together with the divine wives she shall, with unbroken shelter, grant impregnable refuge to the singer.

6.49.8 With desire wrought in praise the guardian of every path has approached the hymn; may Pūṣan bestow upon us gifts that grant brilliant plenty, and accomplish thought after thought for us.

6.49.9 May Agni the far-shining Hotṛ, the good invocable one, worship the adorable Tvaṣṭṛ of the household — first partaker, glorious, life-giving, fair-handed, the divine and brilliant-armed great craftsman.

6.49.10 With these hymns strengthen Rudra, the father of the world, by day, strengthen Rudra at night; the great, the high, the ageless, the benevolent — we shall call him apart, sent forth by the sage.

6.49.11 Come hither, O young, wise, sacrifice-worthy Maruts, to the desire of the praiser; for ye quicken even the undistinguished to grow, O heroes, truly approaching like Aṅgiras.

6.49.12 The herd-keeper who guards the cattle goes forth home for the hero, for the mighty, for the swift one; he touches with his body the heaven of the famous one, like stars in the firmament of speech.

6.49.13 Viṣṇu who measured out the earthly realms in three steps for oppressed Manu — in thy protection, O Viṣṇu, while it is being bestowed, may we rejoice with wealth, with body, and with offspring.

6.49.14 May Ahi Budhnya bestow that on us with waters and hymns; may the Mountain and Savitṛ bestow that favour; may Bhaga the full-bestowing, aided by plants, quicken that for our prosperity.

6.49.15 Now bestow upon us wealth borne on chariots, filling the folk, rich in heroes, guardian of the great Order — an imperishable dwelling whereby we may stride over the godless rivalries of people, may we overcome the godless hosts.

6.50.1 I call with obeisances divine Aditi for grace; Varuṇa, Mitra, and Agni; and Aryaman the bestower, the well-kind, the protecting gods Savitṛ and Bhaga.

6.50.2 O Sūrya of good light, O great one, announce the gods of good skill who are fathers of wisdom, who are guiltless — the twice-born, the true attainers of Order, the celestial, the adorable, the Agni-tongued.

6.50.3 May Heaven and Earth, the two worlds of great dominion, grant us wide and large refuge in their benevolence; may the two wise goddesses, being blameless, make abundance for our dwelling.

6.50.4 May the sons of Rudra bow to us today when called — the Vasus, the resistless ones; for when in small or great need, pressed hard, we have called the gods, the Maruts.

6.50.5 In whom both divine worlds are fixed, whom the half-sacrificer Pūṣan follows closely — when on hearing the call the Maruts come along the separated path, the vast spaces shake.

6.50.6 With a new prayer praise Indra the hero who is fond of hymns, O singer; let him hear the call, being praised, and may he bestow prizes when invoked with a great invocation.

6.50.7 O Waters that belong to men, pour out an inviolate, health-giving boon for offspring and posterity; for ye are the greatest physicians and greatest mothers, the source of all that stands still and all that moves.

6.50.8 May the god Savitṛ, the golden-handed, the adorable, protecting us, come hither; he who, like the face of Dawn, generous, unveils desirable gifts for the worshipper.

6.50.9 And thou, O Son of Strength, mayst thou today turn the gods toward us at this sacrifice; may I ever dwell in thy bounty — may I, O Agni, dwell under thy protection with good heroes.

6.50.10 And may those two Nāsatyas, O wise ones, truly come with their thoughts to my call; as ye delivered Atri from the great darkness, hasten, O heroes, to free him from mis-adventure.

6.50.11 Be givers to us of wealth that is bright, prize-winning, rich in men and abundance; ye divine and earthly gods, born of cattle and of waters, ministering and gracious — be gracious to us.

6.50.12 May Rudra, Sarasvatī, the bountiful Viṣṇu, and Vāyu — together — be gracious to us; may Ṛbhukṣan, Vāja, the divine dispenser, Parjanya, and Vāta swell our refreshment.

6.50.13 And may the god Savitṛ, may Bhaga, may Apāṁ Napāt who fills with moisture, protect us; Tvaṣṭṛ with the divine birth-goddesses, and Heaven with the gods, and Earth with the oceans.

6.50.14 And may Ahi Budhnya hear us, and Aja Ekapād, the Earth, and the Ocean; let all the gods who increase Order when called upon protect us — let the praised mantras, proclaimed by the sage, protect us.

6.50.15 So the Bharadvājas, those worthy sons, worship him with their thoughts and hymns; the divine consorts invoked, the resistless Vasus, all the adorable ones — be praised and honoured.

6.51.1 Up there rises that great eye of the two Mitras, the beloved and undeceived eye of the two Varuṇas; the pure, visible face of Order blazed forth like a golden ornament at dawn.

6.51.2 The wise one who knows the three assemblies of these gods and their birth from of old — beholding what is straight and what is crooked among mortals, the sun surveys even the paths of Aryaman.

6.51.3 I praise the great guardians of Order — Aditi, Mitra, Varuṇa well-born; Aryaman, Bhaga, they of undeluded wisdom — I address them together, the purifiers.

6.51.4 Desiring to serve, I go to the Ādityas — destroyers of enemies, the true lords, undeceived, great kings, givers of fine clothing, the young and mighty rulers of heaven, and to Aditi.

6.51.5 O Father Heaven, O blameless Mother Earth, O Agni our brother, O Vasus — be gracious to us; all ye Ādityas, O Aditi together, spread out broad shelter for us.

6.51.6 Do not deliver us to the wolf, to the she-wolf — to the equally matched evil-doer, O adorable ones; for ye are the charioteers of our bodies, ye have become the lords of understanding and speech.

6.51.7 May we not suffer the sin done by another; may we not perform that deed which ye, O Vasus, will avenge; for ye, O All-Gods, rule over all — let the deceiver harm his own body.

6.51.8 With reverence I seek the mighty reverence; reverence has upheld the earth and heaven; reverence to the gods, reverence to the lord of these — even sin already done I seek to purify with reverence.

6.51.9 The charioteers of Order, with purified skill; the undeceived, seated in the dwelling of Order — to those far-seeing heroes I bow with obeisances; I bow down before all of you great adorable ones.

6.51.10 For they are of supreme splendour, and they lead us across all evils — the mighty-ruling Varuṇa, Mitra, and Agni, who think on Order, truly spoken and truthful.

6.51.11 May they — Indra, Earth, the territory, Pūṣan, Bhaga, Aditi, the five peoples — granting good shelter, good dwelling, and good guidance, be for us good protectors and good guardians.

6.51.12 Now the gods greet the heavenly dwelling; the Bharadvāja priest, the Hotṛ, proceeds to the divine benevolence; with the sacrificial seatings and offerings the worshipper, desiring wealth, has praised the birth of the gods.

6.51.13 Drive away, O Agni, that crooked enemy, the thief who is hard to overcome; make easy for us, O Lord of Truth, the most distant path.

6.51.14 O pressing stones, O Soma, ye have called out for our friendship; strike down the devouring Paṇi — for he is a wolf.

6.51.15 For ye are the good givers, those for whom Indra is greatest, who shine against heaven; make for us on the path an easy way, O house-dwelling guardians.

6.51.16 May we find the path that leads to welfare, that is blameless, whereby one wards off all foes and discovers treasure.

6.52.1 I do not approve of that — neither by sky nor by earth, neither by sacrifice nor by these exertions; may the mighty mountains press down the one who sacrifices too extravagantly — let the performer of excess-sacrifice fall low.

6.52.2 He who thinks to surpass us, O Maruts, or who wishes to blame the prayer being composed — let sharp afflictions and crooked misfortunes be his lot; let Heaven blaze down upon that hater of prayer.

6.52.3 O Soma, guardian of the prayer — what indeed do they call thee? And the protector of us from calumny — what indeed? Look upon us as we are being reviled and hurl thy scorching weapon at the hater of prayer.

6.52.4 May the Dawns as they rise protect me; may the swelling Rivers protect me; may the firm Mountains protect me; may the Fathers protect me when the gods are invoked.

6.52.5 May we always be of good mind; may we behold the sun rising; so may the lord of good things among goods do it — the most easily approached, driving the gods.

6.52.6 Indra is the nearest and most easily approached for protection; Sarasvatī swelling with rivers; Parjanya bringing delight with his plants; Agni of fair praise, easy to invoke, like a father.

6.52.7 Come, all ye gods; hear my call; sit down on this sacred grass.

6.52.8 He who adorns you, O gods, with the oblation rich in ghee — all of you, come to him.

6.52.9 May the sons who are immortal hear our hymns — may they be gracious to us.

6.52.10 All ye gods who increase Order, who hear the call at the proper seasons — enjoy the meet milk-offering.

6.52.11 May Indra, the host of Maruts, Tvaṣṭṛ, Mitra, and Aryaman enjoy this praise and these oblations of ours.

6.52.12 Sacrifice at this our rite, O Agni, O Hotṛ, knowing the ways; be discerning of the divine folk.

6.52.13 All ye gods, hear this my call — ye who are in the mid-air and ye who dwell up in heaven; ye whose tongue is Agni, and ye who are adorable — sit down upon this sacred grass and rejoice.

6.52.14 May all the sacrifice-worthy gods hear my thought, both worlds, and Apāṁ Napāt; may I not speak words that should be concealed from you — may we rejoice in your blessings, the most intimate of yours.

6.52.15 Whatever great ones here on earth, who hold the serpent's magic, were born from heaven and from the seat of the waters — may those gods grant us full life-span for sustenance through nights and dawns.

6.52.16 O Agni and Parjanya, aid my thought in this invocation — easy to call, our good praise; one of you engenders Iḻā and one engenders the embryo — bestow upon us refreshment rich in progeny.

6.52.17 With the sacred grass strewn and Agni kindled, with the well-chanted hymn and great reverence I seek you; at this our assembly today, O adorable All-Gods, rejoice in the oblations.

6.53.1 We have yoked thee, O lord of the path, O Pūṣan, like a chariot for the winning of prizes, for our thought.

6.53.2 Lead us to the manly wealth, to the hero with outstretched right hand — the beautiful lord of the house.

6.53.3 Even him who is unwilling to give, O glowing Pūṣan, spur to generosity; soften even the mind of the miser.

6.53.4 Clear the paths for the winning of prizes; scatter and slay the adversaries; may our thoughts, O fierce one, be made effective.

6.53.5 Pierce through the hearts of the Paṇis with thy goad, O sage; and then subject them to us.

6.53.6 O Pūṣan, pierce with thy goad and seek out what is dear in the heart of the Paṇi; and then subject him to us.

6.53.7 Scratch and scrape, make crumbling the hearts of the Paṇis, O sage; and then subject them to us.

6.53.8 The goad that is the impeller of prayer, O glowing Pūṣan, which thou bearest — with that scratch the heart of the churlish one and make it crumbling.

6.53.9 The driving rod that fastens cattle, O glowing one, the subduer of beasts — we beg for the favour of that one of thine.

6.53.10 Also grant us thought that wins cattle, that wins horses, that wins prizes — make it rich in men for the feast.

6.54.1 Lead us together, O Pūṣan, with the one who knows, who teaches us straightforwardly, who says 'This is exactly the way.'

6.54.2 May we go together with Pūṣan and with him who points out the homesteads and says 'These are the ones right here.'

6.54.3 The wheel of Pūṣan is not harmed; the basket does not fall; his wheel-rim does not wobble.

6.54.4 He who has served him with an oblation — Pūṣan does not neglect him; he is first to find wealth.

6.54.5 May Pūṣan follow after our cattle; may Pūṣan protect our steeds; may Pūṣan win prizes for us.

6.54.6 O Pūṣan, go forward after the cattle of the pressing worshipper and also of our praisers.

6.54.7 May none be lost, may none come to harm, may none fall into a pit; come hither with all unhurt.

6.54.8 We beg of Pūṣan the listener, the movable one who has not lost his wealth — we beg of the lord of riches.

6.54.9 In thy ordinance, O Pūṣan, may we never suffer harm; here we are, thy praisers.

6.54.10 May Pūṣan place his right hand behind us; may he drive back to us what is lost.

6.55.1 Come, O descendant of Vimuco, O glowing Pūṣan; let us be together — be the charioteer of Order for us.

6.55.2 We pray for the friendship of the most chariot-worthy Kapardī, the lord of great bounty — the friend of wealth.

6.55.3 Thou art a stream of riches, O glowing Vasu, a heap of wealth, the goat-horsed one — the friend of the wise one after wise one.

6.55.4 Now let us praise Pūṣan the goat-horse, the prize-winning, who is called the lover of his sister.

6.55.5 I spoke of the suitor of the mother — may the lover of the sister hear us: the brother of Indra and my companion.

6.55.6 The goats, unharnessed on his chariot, bearing him, carry Pūṣan the glorious among men, the divine.

6.56.1 He who points out this Pūṣan as 'From Karambha' — with that one, O god, I do not agree.

6.56.2 Yet truly that most chariot-worthy one, as a friend and ally — the true lord — Indra, smites the Vṛtras.

6.56.3 And there, in the dappled cow, the sun drove down his golden wheel — the most chariot-worthy one.

6.56.4 What we say to thee today, O much-praised, wonderful, thoughtful one — accomplish that thought well for us.

6.56.5 And make this cow-seeking host of ours succeed for the prize; thou art heard of from afar, O Pūṣan.

6.56.6 We beg of thee a welfare that is free from evil and near at hand — for completeness today and for completeness tomorrow.

6.57.1 Now let us call upon Indra and Pūṣan together for friendship, for welfare, for the winning of prizes.

6.57.2 One of them (Indra) has sat near the Soma pressed in the bowls to drink; the other (Pūṣan) seeks the porridge (karambha).

6.57.3 Goats are the steeds of one, the two bays are harnessed for the other; with these two they smite the Vṛtras.

6.57.4 When Indra the most showery one drove the great waters in proper order, there Pūṣan was with him as a companion.

6.57.5 That benevolence of Pūṣan and of Indra we lay hold of, like a branch of a tree.

6.57.6 We lift up Pūṣan like reins held by a charioteer, and Indra for our welfare and greatness.

6.58.1 One of your forms is radiant, another is adorable; you are like the sky, O you of two-fold aspect, of twin days. For you, O self-sustaining one, do ward off all illusions; may your gift here be auspicious, O Pūṣan.

6.58.2 Goat-horsed, herdsman, dwelling on viands, stimulated by prayers, set in all the worlds — Pūṣan, brandishing his loose goad overhead, the god moves on surveying all the realms.

6.58.3 Those golden ships of yours, O Pūṣan, that move within the ocean, within the mid-air — with them you travel on the errand of Sūrya, you who are made by desire, seeking renown.

6.58.4 Pūṣan, good kinsman of heaven and earth, lord of refreshment, bounteous, of wondrous lustre — he whom the gods gave to Sūryā, made by desire, mighty and fair of form.

6.59.1 Now at the soma pressings let me proclaim the heroic deeds that you two have accomplished. The fathers who were foes of the gods have been slain by you — O Indra and Agni, you two live on.

6.59.2 Verily thus, O Indra and Agni, your greatness is most worthy of praise from every side. You have one birthplace; you two are brothers — you are like twins, sharing a common mother here and there.

6.59.3 Dwelling together when the soma is pressed, like two horses at the trough — we here invoke Indra and Agni, the two gods, the thunderbolt-bearing ones, for protection.

6.59.4 He who praises you two, O Indra and Agni, O increasers of cosmic order, at the soma pressings — to him you two speak words of approval, you who roar like Pajra's flame; as gods you never fail him.

6.59.5 O Indra and Agni, what mortal truly comprehends this greatness of yours? He who yokes horses turned in different directions goes on, alone, yet on the same chariot.

6.59.6 O Indra and Agni, this one footless has gone forth before the footed. Having abandoned its head, it speaks with its tongue and goes; it has trodden down thirty footsteps.

6.59.7 O Indra and Agni, men stretch their bows upon their arms; do not cut us off from this great prize in the battles for cattle.

6.59.8 O Indra and Agni, the grudging foes of the noble man scorch away his wealth; ward off all enmities, keep them separate, above the sun.

6.59.9 O Indra and Agni, the celestial and earthly treasures belong to you both; bestow on us here the riches that nourish all life.

6.59.10 O Indra and Agni, bearers of lauds, who hear the invocation in the praises, come hither with all our hymns for the drinking of this soma.

6.60.1 He who would worship Indra and Agni, the pair mighty in strength, shall smite Vṛtra and win the prize; swaying together, sharing great wealth, most hand-clasped, overcoming with their power.

6.60.2 O Indra, fight now for the cows; O Agni, the waters, the sunlight, the dawns have been carried off! The directions, the brilliant sunlight, the dawns — O Indra; the waters, the cows — O Agni, you unite them with your teams.

6.60.3 O Vṛtra-slayers, come hither with your Vṛtra-slaying powers, O Indra; with obeisances, O Agni — come forward. O Indra and Agni, be present among us with your supreme and unerring bounties.

6.60.4 I invoke these two by whom all this universe was acquired and made long ago — Indra and Agni, who neglect no one.

6.60.5 We invoke Indra and Agni, the fierce crushers of battles; may those two be gracious to us in such a case.

6.60.6 Slay the Vṛtras befitting the noble man, O true lords; slay the Dāsa ones; slay and drive away all adversaries.

6.60.7 O Indra and Agni, these lauds have sung out toward you both; drink the pressed soma, you who bring welfare.

6.60.8 O Indra and Agni, those many-desired teams that belong to you, O heroes, for the worshipper — come hither with those.

6.60.9 Come hither with those teams, O Indra and Agni, to this pressing of the soma for the drinking of it.

6.60.10 Worship that one who embraces all forests with his flame, who makes them black with his tongue.

6.60.11 That mortal who, when kindled, seeks the favour of Indra — for him are the waters most easily crossed for the sake of glory.

6.60.12 Fill us with refreshment rich in prizes; fill our swift steeds — to carry Indra and Agni.

6.60.13 O Indra and Agni, you two are both to be invoked; both are to be gladdened together with bounty; both are givers of refreshment and riches; I invoke you both for the winning of the prize.

6.60.14 Come to us with prizes of cattle and horses and wealth; we invoke you two, Indra and Agni, friends among the gods, for friendship, for welfare.

6.60.15 O Indra and Agni, hear the invocation of the sacrificer who presses soma; enjoy the oblations, come hither, drink the sweet soma-draught.

6.61.1 She — who has shaken off debt — gave the impetuous Divodāsa to Vadhryaśva who was a worshipper; she who for ever has gnawed down the settled Paṇi — these are your mighty gifts, O Sarasvatī.

6.61.2 With her impetus she broke open the ridges of the mountains like a stalk of lotus, with her mighty waves; with purifying prayers and right praises may we seek after Sarasvatī, destroyer of the far-away (foe), for protection.

6.61.3 O Sarasvatī, crush down the offspring of every deceitful reviler of the gods; and you, O prize-mistress, have found streams from the waters for the settlements — poison has flowed away from them.

6.61.4 May divine Sarasvatī, rich in prizes, bounteous with prizes, protect us as the nurturer of thoughts.

6.61.5 He who, O goddess Sarasvatī, addresses you when treasure is set as the stake — as Indra in the conquest of Vṛtra.

6.61.6 You, O prize-rich goddess Sarasvatī, afford us protection in the contests; grant us acquisition like Pūṣan.

6.61.7 And indeed this Sarasvatī of ours, dread one, whose path is of gold, the Vṛtra-slayer, desires well-uttered praise.

6.61.8 She whose impetuous, unstoppable, agitated flood moves on; whose might goes forward roaring.

6.61.9 May she — surpassing all adversaries, superior to other sisters, maintaining cosmic order — extend over us like the sun of the day.

6.61.10 And may Sarasvatī, beloved among the beloved, seven-sistered, pleasing, be worthy of our praise.

6.61.11 Filling the earthly realms, the wide space, the mid-air — may Sarasvatī protect us from reproaches.

6.61.12 Throned in the three places, sevenfold in substance, born of five, the one who increases — may she be invoked at every contest.

6.61.13 She who among the great ones shines forth with greatness in her glories, most active of the active, far surpassing others — Sarasvatī, great like a chariot set in motion for the all-pervading, worthy of secondary praise, perceptive.

6.61.14 O Sarasvatī, lead us forward to better fortune; do not deprive us of your milk, do not scorch us; accept our friendship and our offerings; may we not go from you to alien fields.

6.62.1 I praise those heroic, renowned lords of this heaven; I invoke the Aśvinā as I grow old, with my hymns — who, going forth immediately at dawn's breaking, and desiring to reach the ends of the earth, drive around the wide realms.

6.62.2 Those two, advancing to the sacrifice with bright rites, have illumined the radiance of the chariot with their luminous regions; having measured out many immeasurable realms, you two journey beyond the waters, beyond the deserts, through the open plains.

6.62.3 Verily, you two drove that chariot — the one that is never idle — in just this mighty fashion, ever with your horses swift as thought, restless, to ward off the distress of the worshipping mortal.

6.62.4 May the ancient Hotṛ who harms none sacrifice to those two ever-young ones who come, adorning themselves, toward the fresh praise of the aged one who sings, who have yoked their steeds, who carry nourishment, refreshment, and strength.

6.62.5 Those two fair ones, wondrous Dasras, most richly gleaming, ancient yet ever-new in speech, do I seek with my word — those who have become most beneficent to the celebrant and the praiser, of brilliant bounty to the singer.

6.62.6 You two conveyed Bhujyu out of the ocean, out of the waters, the son of Tugra, through the luminous regions, enjoying it with dustless journeys, with winged ones, from the lap of the flood.

6.62.7 O bulls, with your victorious, chariot-going power, cleave through the mountain; hear the invocation of Vadhrimatī; honouring her wish, you two swelled the cow for Śayave — thus moved, you two sustainers showed favour.

6.62.8 Whatever sin there may be from long ago in the two worlds, whatever offence against the gods or among mortals — that, O Ādityas, Vasus, and Rudra groups, joined together for protection, lay as burning guilt.

6.62.9 He who appoints those two kings in due season — Mitra and Varuṇa take note of the region; for the deep demon of the dark they place his weapon — even for him who speaks deceitfully.

6.62.10 Come with wheels within wheels, with a brilliant, man-bearing chariot, for the sake of offspring; with the ancient abandonment of what is mortal, turn the heads of those who would injure.

6.62.11 Come hither with the highest teams and also with the middlemost, with the lowest — come forward; open the doors even of the firm, cow-filled enclosure for the singer, O you of brilliant bounty.

6.63.1 Where are those fair Nāsatyas, much invoked, today? The reverent praise, like a messenger, has not found them. He who has turned toward us the most beloved pair — for you are most dear to this thought of his.

6.63.2 Come readily to his invocation, singing together, as you drink the soma juice; go driving around in that chariot against harms so that neither one far nor one near may outstrip.

6.63.3 The soma has been prepared for you two in abundance; the most easily approached sacred grass has been strewn; with uplifted hand, youthful, I have praised you — the pressing stones anointed, coming toward you.

6.63.4 The fire has stood upright for you two at the sacrifices; the gladdening gift, clarified and flame-lit, goes forward; the Hotṛ, delighted in mind, expansive, who is invoker for the Nāsatyas, has been set in motion.

6.63.5 Sūrya's daughter has mounted the chariot for glory, the one that gives much and has a hundred aids; O men skilled at dancing, become here surpassers with your arts at the birth of the sacrifice-worthy ones.

6.63.6 With these visible beauties you two have brought nourishment for the loveliness of Sūryā; your birds have flown forward for your beauty — the voice, when well praised, shall reach your divine seat.

6.63.7 Let the swiftest horses, O Nāsatyas, carry your birds toward your refreshment; your chariot has been swift as thought, released, following the ancient streams of nourishment.

6.63.8 O bounteous ones who enjoy much, you have given much to us; swell for us refreshment like a milk-cow flowing without cease; both the sweet praise and the well-uttered praise are lauded to you, and the essences that have reached after your bounty.

6.63.9 Also for me from the swift one of the city Ṛjra, well-rewarded, a hundred ripe ones of Peruku; Śāṇḍa has given golden, well-aimed gifts — ten choice cows, noble, and approaching ones.

6.63.10 Purupanthā has given for the hymn to you two Nāsatyas a hundred of the thousand-horsed; now, O hero, has given for the hymn to Bharadvāja; may you, of many wonders, lay the demons low.

6.63.11 May we be in your favour, in your breadth, O Aśvins, with the patrons.

6.64.1 The splendours of the glowing dawn have risen up like the shining waves of the waters; she makes all roads easy, all paths good; the bounteous sacrificial fee has become rich and reward-bestowing.

6.64.2 Auspicious to behold, you shine forth widely; your flames and rays have leapt up to the sky; you reveal your breast, adorning yourself, O goddess Uṣas, shining with your might.

6.64.3 The red, shining cows carry her onward, the fortunate one spreading widely; the hero drives away the enemies like arrows; swift darkness presses back like a carrier.

6.64.4 Good are your paths, good your roads on the mountains, without wind you cross the waters, O self-luminous one; bring to us, O daughter of heaven, riches to enjoy as you travel broadly.

6.64.5 So bring it, with your yoke-fellows, O Dawn moving without wind; you carry what is best in accordance with pleasure; you, goddess, daughter of heaven, who in the first invocation were resplendent and visible.

6.64.6 Even the birds have flown forth from their resting place, and men who share in food at your shining; you carry much that is lovely to one who stays at home, O goddess Uṣas, for the mortal worshipper.

6.65.1 This daughter of heaven, sprung from the sky, has stirred up the human settlements as she shines; who has been recognised by her gleaming radiance in the beautiful nights, piercing through the dark shadows.

6.65.2 The moon-charioted dawns shine brilliantly with their red-yoked horses; those that lead forward the front of the great sacrifice drive away the waves of darkness.

6.65.3 The dawns, bearing renown, strength, refreshment, and vigour, setting them down for the mortal worshipper — the bounteous ones, ruling with might over heroes, bestow a treasure today on the devoted singer.

6.65.4 For here, O dawns, there is treasure for your devotee; here for the hero, for the worshipper; here for the wise man who sings when the verses are spoken — even as you have always carried to the singer in time past.

6.65.5 For now, O Uṣas, Aṅgirases press the stones and sing your cow-rich enclosures; they have burst them open with hymn and with holy prayer — truly the invocation of the gods was fulfilled for those men.

6.65.6 Shine forth, O daughter of heaven, as of old for us, O bounteous one, as for the devotee of Bharadvāja; flow richly to the singer with riches that bring good heroes; place upon us widely celebrated glory.

6.66.1 May that wonderful form be known even to the perceptive — the common name, 'the ruling cow'; among mortals another thing has swelled for the milking; the dappled one has milked her bright udder once.

6.66.2 When those who blazed like fires when kindled grew twice, thrice as the Maruts — dustless, golden, they were at once with their manly powers and strengths.

6.66.3 Who are the sons of the bounteous Rudra — and now the steady one is to carry them; for the great mother knows their greatness — verily Pṛśni, the propitious one, has placed the germ.

6.66.4 They who do not lag behind from birth, dwelling within, purifying themselves from blemishes — when the bright ones milked out according to their pleasure, sprinkling their own bodies with beauty.

6.66.5 In whom there is quick milking too with this motion, bearing the bold name of the Maruts — who are not sluggish, nor dull in their greatness — not even now shall the good giver put down the fierce ones.

6.66.6 Those indeed are fierce, with bold armies and strength; both heaven and earth, the well-adorned, they yoke; then among those raw-powerful ones the self-luminous heaven and earth stood like a fixed stake.

6.66.7 May your march, O Maruts, be without fault — that which even without horse or chariot goes on; without a load, without reins, traversing the sky-dust, it goes accomplishing the road through heaven and earth.

6.66.8 There is no restrainer nor overtaker of him, O Maruts, whom you protect in the winning of prizes; and him whom you protect in offspring, in cattle, in children, in the waters — he will split open the pen at the due time, at last under heaven.

6.66.9 Bring forward the bright hymn to the swift, self-strong Maruta host for the singer; those who overcome mighty powers with might — at their rites, O Agni, the earth trembles.

6.66.10 Blazing like the lightning of the sacrifice, shaking the thirsty, like the tongue of fire — the Maruts, whose birth is brilliant, who cannot be overpowered, are three-fold radiances, like roaring heroes.

6.66.11 With my invocation I seek that growing Marutic host, of blazing brilliance, the sons of Rudra; for the host of heaven, with pure wisdom, the fierce mountains like waters have contended.

6.67.1 O Mitra-Varuṇa, may you both, the most eminent among all the true ones, grow through these hymns; who, like a single rein, the best rulers, hold together two unequal peoples with their own arms.

6.67.2 This beloved thought spreads the sacred grass forward toward you two, with a reverence; come to us, O Mitra and Varuṇa, O good givers, with your irresistible shelter, your protective covering.

6.67.3 Come hither, O Mitra and Varuṇa, by reason of this good praise, called with a dear reverence; you two who stand at activity, like activities you unite people — even those who hear you, you govern with your greatness.

6.67.4 Those two, pure of lineage, prize-winning like horses — when Aditi by cosmic order bore the germ; those two who, being born great and mighty, have shone in dreadful fashion on the mortal who is an enemy.

6.67.5 When all the gods, rejoicing in your bounty, unanimously placed dominion in you two; since you encompass even the wide heaven and earth, the spies of yours are undeceivable and unwavering.

6.67.6 For you two sustain dominion day after day; you two strengthen the summit like the height of heaven; the firm star and the all-divine — of those two who adorn the earth and sky, it has been established.

6.67.7 You two fill the capacious womb — when those who are well-laden fill the abode; the young women untouched by wind are not diminished when the all-nourishing ones spread forth the milk.

6.67.8 With the tongue, O wise ones, always this praise — when your true hymn of praise is found in the rite; let your greatness be that, O you who eat the oblation of ghee; may you two remove the distress from the worshipper.

6.67.9 When the rivals of you two, O Mitra-Varuṇa, make away with your favourite abode established for you both — neither do the gods do this by challenge, nor mortals, those without sacrifice, the watery ones — not even their sons.

6.67.10 When the praisers spread abroad the voice, and some, thinking them the nivids, proclaim — then we speak true praises to you; with your greatness no one contends even among the gods.

6.67.11 Verily in this way, O Mitra and Varuṇa, your shelter in attack has been made without decay; when the cows kicked back the swift, bold bull and yoked the virile one for battle.

6.68.1 Your joint hearing rises with this sacrifice, O Indra-Varuṇa, when the kusa-strewn altar is ready for worship in the manner of Manu; he who turns to you today for sustenance, for great favour, for great bounty — may he obtain it.

6.68.2 For you two are the best among the gods, impetuous, the mightiest of heroes, the most powerful — thus have you been; most liberal to the generous, O you of mighty vigour, vanquishers of Vṛtra by holy order, with your entire host.

6.68.3 Praise them both, O Indra-Varuṇa, delighting, with reverent powers and with eulogies of goodwill; one smites Vṛtra with the vajra by his might, the other, the sage, attends upon the settlement of men.

6.68.4 When the goddesses and the men grew strong, all the gods delighting in the praise of men — from them, O Indra-Varuṇa, in your greatness you arose; O Heaven and Earth, you both became the wide ones.

6.68.5 He truly is the good giver, the bounteous, the upright, O Indra, who devotes himself to you two, O Varuṇa; with nourishment shall the pious one overcome his enemies, shall win wealth and men abounding in riches.

6.68.6 That wealth, full of goods, full of abundance, which you two, O gods, bestow on the worshipper who performs sacrifice — may that be ours, O Indra-Varuṇa, he who shatters the curses of his foes.

6.68.7 And may wealth come to us — your well-guarded worshippers, O Indra-Varuṇa, protected by the gods — to whom the vigour that overcomes in battles, the fame, swiftly spreads, the far-reaching one.

6.68.8 Now, O Indra-Varuṇa, being praised, yoke riches for us, O gods, unto great fame; even thus praising the host of the mighty one, may we cross all adversities as a boat crosses water.

6.68.9 Sing now a beloved song, wide-resounding, to the great sovereign, to the divine Varuṇa; he who, vast in his greatness, of mighty ordinance, shines by his wisdom undecaying as with a flame.

6.68.10 O Indra-Varuṇa, drinkers of the pressed draught, O you of steadfast ordinance, drink this pressed, intoxicating Soma; your chariot comes to the sacrifice day by day for the delight of the gods, for drinking.

6.68.11 O Indra-Varuṇa, both bulls, drink your fill of this most sweetly inebriating, vigour-giving Soma; this drink has been poured out for you two among us — be seated on this sacred grass and rejoice.

6.69.1 With prayer and with offering I impel you both together, O Indra-Viṣṇu, to the far end of this work; take pleasure in the sacrifice, bestow riches upon us, and lead us along unharmed paths.

6.69.2 O Indra-Viṣṇu, begettors of all thoughts, bowls that hold the Soma — may the hymns recited for you two be fruitful, may the praises when sung with chants thrive.

6.69.3 O Indra-Viṣṇu, lords of joys, of ecstasies, come to the Soma, bringing treasure; may the devotions anoint you both with their gleams, and the praises with their recitations and hymns.

6.69.4 May horses that overcome the foe carry you both hither, O Indra-Viṣṇu, you who rejoice together; take pleasure in all the invocations of the prayers — hear, O you two, my devotions and my hymns.

6.69.5 O Indra-Viṣṇu, that is worthy of wonder for you both — in the exhilaration of Soma you two have widely stridden; you have made the wide firmament, you have spread out the realms for our living.

6.69.6 O Indra-Viṣṇu, grown mighty with the oblation, who press forward, who receive the offering with reverence — you who pour ghee, bestow wealth upon us; you are the oceans, the bowl that holds the Soma.

6.69.7 O Indra-Viṣṇu, wondrous ones, drink of this sweet Soma and fill your bellies; may the exhilarating draughts come to you both — hear my devotions, hear my call.

6.69.8 Both of you have conquered, neither of you is defeated, neither one of you two has ever been overcome; O Viṣṇu, when you and Indra competed, you two set that thousandfold wealth flying in three directions.

6.70.1 Rich in ghee, the glory of all beings, the wide and broad Heaven and Earth that yield honey, beautiful in form — by Varuṇa's ordinance the two are propped apart, the undecaying ones, rich in seed.

6.70.2 Inexhaustible, flowing with many streams, full of milk, the two world-halves yield ghee to the pious one of pure conduct; the two shining ones, rulers of this world — pour upon us the seed that Manu established.

6.70.3 The mortal who offers to you two, O Heaven and Earth, O Wisdom-goddesses, for the straight stepping — he prospers; he is born forward among offspring from your ordinance; what has been poured into you two takes many forms, sharing one law.

6.70.4 Heaven and Earth, encompassed with ghee, glorious with ghee, mixed with ghee, swelling with ghee — the wide, the broad ones, coveted by the Hotṛ priest, set foremost — them do the sages pray to for favour, for offering.

6.70.5 May Heaven and Earth sprinkle sweetness upon us, dripping honey, yielding honey, whose rite is honey; bearing the sacrifice and wealth, the divine ones — may they grant us great fame, food, and heroic strength.

6.70.6 May Heaven and Earth, father and mother, all-knowing, of wondrous deeds, swell refreshment upon us; may the two world-halves, well-disposed, bringers of good to all, pour upon us gain, food, and wealth.

6.71.1 The god Savitṛ of wise counsel has stretched up his golden arms for the pressing rite; the vigorous, young, skilled one moistens his hands with ghee, in the holding apart of the firmament.

6.71.2 May we be in the stimulation of the god Savitṛ, in the best, in the giving of riches; you who are the abundance of all the two-footed and four-footed — at their settling and at their setting forth.

6.71.3 With your undeceived, auspicious guardians, O Savitṛ, protect our home today; O golden-tongued one, for a new happy fortune — guard us so that no evil-speaker may have power over us.

6.71.4 The god Savitṛ who belongs to the house has stood up at the onset of dusk with golden hands; iron-jawed, adorable, sweet-tongued, he bestows great riches upon the worshipper.

6.71.5 Savitṛ of beautiful aspect has raised his golden arms up like an announcer; he has climbed the heights of heaven, of earth, he has caused whatever is enormous to fly away and made it settle.

6.71.6 O Savitṛ, impel good fortune for us today, and also tomorrow, day by day impel good fortune for us; for, O god, with this prayer may we be partakers of great good fortune and its abode.

6.72.1 O Indra-Soma, great is that greatness of you two — you two performed the great primordial deeds; you two found the sun, you two found the light, you two smote all the darknesses and the fasteners.

6.72.2 O Indra-Soma, you two clothe the dawn, you two lead up the sun together with his light; you two prop heaven with a prop, and you spread apart mother Earth widely.

6.72.3 O Indra-Soma, you two smote the serpent that had enclosed the waters, Vṛtra — Heaven agreed with you two in this; you two set the streams of the rivers flowing and many oceans spread wide.

6.72.4 O Indra-Soma, you two placed the ripe within the unripe, the essence of the cows within their flanks; you two seized that bright, shining thing inside these moving ones, it being unbound within the variegated ones.

6.72.5 O Indra-Soma, you two have indeed bestowed a famous aid that accompanies the offspring; you two, fierce ones, have wrapped round the manly vigour for men, the vigour victorious in battles.

6.73.1 He who is the rock-splitter, the first-born, the upholder of holy order, Bṛhaspati the Āṅgirasa who possesses oblations; doubly strong, having preceded the hot pressing on earth — as a father, as a bull, he roars filling Heaven and Earth.

6.73.2 Even for a man who was seeking a dwelling-place, Bṛhaspati made a way at the invocation of the gods; smiting the Vṛtra-foes, he shatters the strongholds, conquering enemies and foes in battles, overpowering them.

6.73.3 Bṛhaspati won together the good things, the great cattle-pens rich in cows — this god; desiring waters and the sun, irresistible, Bṛhaspati smites the enemy with his hymns.

6.74.1 O Soma-Rudra, uphold the divine lordly power; may the sacrificial offerings reach you two duly; bearing the seven treasures in every house — be auspicious to our two-footed, auspicious to our four-footed.

6.74.2 O Soma-Rudra, drive away in all directions the disease that has entered our house; drive dissolution and misfortune far away from us — may there be prosperity and great renown for us.

6.74.3 O Soma-Rudra, place all these medicines for us in our bodies; release, loosen from us whatever sin has been committed that is bound in our bodies.

6.74.4 O Soma-Rudra, of sharp weapons, of sharp missiles, most benevolent — be gracious to us here; release us from Varuṇa's snare, guard us, being well-disposed toward us.

6.75.1 His countenance becomes like a thunder-cloud when the armoured warrior goes into the lap of battles; conquer you with an unwounded body — may the greatness of the armour protect you.

6.75.2 With the bow may we win cattle, with the bow may we win battles, with the bow may we conquer the fierce conflicts; the bow renders the enemy's desire impotent — with the bow may we win all the regions.

6.75.3 As if about to speak, she whispers into the ear, embracing her dear friend — the bowstring stretched upon the bow twangs like a woman at the battle, carrying one across.

6.75.4 These two that move forward like a woman toward the battle-ground — may they, coming together, hold him on their lap as a mother holds her son; may these two bowstring-ends pierce the enemies, shooting, scattering the foes.

6.75.5 Father of many, many are his sons — the quiver makes a sound when it goes down into battle; bound on the back, it conquers all conflicts and the assembled arrays when the archer is urged forward.

6.75.6 Standing in the chariot, the skilled charioteer leads the horses forward whithersoever he desires; praise the greatness of the reins — the lines draw back the mind from behind.

6.75.7 The bull-handed horses make fierce battle-cries along with the chariots, striving for victory; stepping forward with their fore-hooves, they destroy the enemies, crushing the foes without retreat.

6.75.8 The chariot's burden — that is its name, the oblation — where the weapon is laid, where its armour is; there may we be seated beside the mighty chariot, always well-disposed.

6.75.9 Sweet to sit with, fathers, strength-givers, having taken refuge in hardship, powerful and deep; with brilliant armies, mighty in arrows, unyielding, rich in real heroes, broad, overcoming hosts.

6.75.10 Brāhmaṇas, fathers, Soma-drinkers — may Heaven and Earth be auspicious and unharming to us; may Pūṣan, increaser of holy order, guard us from evil — may no evil-speaker have power over us.

6.75.11 A bird's feather clothes it, the animal's tooth is hers — bound with cow's sinew she flies when launched; where men run together and apart, there may the arrows grant shelter to us.

6.75.12 O Arrow, ward off from us; may our body become stone; may Soma speak for us, may Aditi grant us shelter.

6.75.13 She strikes against their backs, touches their hindquarters — O horse-whip of the discerning one, urge the horses forward in the battles.

6.75.14 Like a serpent with its coils it winds around the arm, the bowstring repelling the dart; the arm-guard knowing all the ways of motion — may this man guard that man on all sides.

6.75.15 She that is painted red, with the head of the roebuck, and whose mouth is of iron — to this divine arrow, born of the seed of Parjanya, great homage.

6.75.16 Released, fly forth, O shaft, sharpened by Brahman prayer; fly to the enemies, strike among them — do not leave any one of these alive.

6.75.17 Where the arrows fly together like boys with unbound hair — there may Brahmaṇaspati grant us shelter, may Aditi grant us shelter, grant us shelter always.

6.75.18 I cover your vital spots with armour; may King Soma clothe you about with immortality; may Varuṇa make broad space for you, broad and wider still — may the gods rejoice following you as you conquer.

6.75.19 He who desires to slay us, whether one of our own or a stranger — may all the gods confound him; the sacred prayer is my innermost armour.