Maṇḍala 8

8.1.1 Praise nothing else, O friends, and suffer no harm; be a praiser of Indra the bull, attending him at the pressing; again and again recite the lauds.

8.1.2 Like a bull who charges without bend, like an ox bearing the plough-yoke unwearied — he who dispels enmity, who wins all over, most munificent, the ally of both sides.

8.1.3 Though these many peoples here invoke you diversely for help, let this our prayer, O Indra, be yours; may it be your strengthening through all the days.

8.1.4 The inspired poets of the people, the bards of noble rank, spread their hymns to you, O Maghavan; advance upon the many-formed prize, bring the booty nearest to us for our aid.

8.1.5 Not even for a great price would I give you away, O wielder of the stone; not for a thousand, not for ten thousand, O thunderbolt-bearer, not for a hundred, O hundred-gifted one.

8.1.6 You are more to me than a father, than a brother who withholds; even my mother you and wealth gratify equally, O Vasu, for the sake of riches and bounty.

8.1.7 Where are you, where do you go? Your mind wanders to many places. You are roused, O warrior, O destroyer of citadels — the Gāyatrā metres have gone forth.

8.1.8 Sing the Gāyatrā hymn to him, to him who has been quickened, the fort-destroyer; with these very metres may the thunderer come to sit upon the barhis of Kāṇva and may he smash the forts.

8.1.9 Those steeds of yours that are in tens, those in hundreds, those in thousands, your bulls that run swiftly — with those come quickly to us.

8.1.10 Today I call forth for the Gāyatrā-trembling one the cow that yields savours; Indra is the good milch-cow, another, the food of broad stream, well fashioned.

8.1.11 When the sun urged on Etaśa the fleet, winged like the wind, and the hundred-powered Indra conveyed Kutsa the son of Arjuna, tracking the undefeated Gandharva.

8.1.12 He who even without prayer, before the collarbone could be pierced, is a joiner of joints, the Maghavan of many treasures, who repairs what has gone wrong.

8.1.13 May we not be like strangers, O Indra, remote from you, like abandoned forests; hard to satisfy, we, the stone-wielder's people, thought of wealth.

8.1.14 We pondered, lacking swift horses and lacking fodder, O Vṛtra-slayer; but once with your great bounty, O hero, may we exult following your laud.

8.1.15 If Indra would hearken to our laud, may the swift soma-drops that have flowed through the filter gladden him, him who grows mighty for Tugrya's descendants.

8.1.16 Come today, urged on to this joint praise, come from your friend's side; may the praise of the bountiful ones go before you — for you I desire excellent laud.

8.1.17 The pressers press the soma with stones; rinse it in the waters; men have clothed it as with a robe of cowhide and have drawn it from the flanks.

8.1.18 Whether from the earth or from the broad sky's luminous realm above, grow great with your body through this hymn of mine; O wise one, fill what has been born.

8.1.19 Press out for Indra the most intoxicating, most excellent soma; may the mighty one satiate himself with it, with every thought urging it like a racer for the prize.

8.1.20 Let me not make you weary, O Indra, always begging with my songs over the soma; you who rage like a wild beast at the pressings — who would not beg the sovereign lord?

8.1.21 The fierce rapture impelled by exhilaration, with fierce might, the overcomer of all, the one shaken from ecstasy — for in rapture he gives to us.

8.1.22 The god grants many desirable things to the mortal who has offered; he gives to the one who presses soma and to one who praises — praised by all, unharmed in renown.

8.1.23 Come, O Indra, rejoice with your brilliant bounty, O god; fill your broad belly with the soma draughts together with your drinking companions, as a lake fills up.

8.1.24 A thousand, a hundred, harnessed to your golden chariot — let the long-maned bays yoked by prayer, O Indra, bring you here to drink the soma.

8.1.25 On your golden chariot let the two tawny coursers with peacock-feathered tails and white backs convey you here for drinking the sweet exhilarating juice.

8.1.26 Drink of this, O hymn-lover, as the first drinker drinks the pressed soma; this offering of the refined, flavoursome juice is pleasant, fitted for exhilaration.

8.1.27 He who is alone in his wonder-deeds, great and fierce in his ordinances — may that broad-jawed one come; he will not stay behind; coming, he does not avoid the call.

8.1.28 You crushed with blows the roving fort of Śuṣṇa; you followed the light then, when you, O Indra, became one to be called upon in the second pressing also.

8.1.29 For me at sunrise, for me at midday of the sky, for me at the forward journey even in the dark season, O Vasu, have the lauds turned to you.

8.1.30 Praise, do praise — these are your most bountiful ones, O you of the patrons' gifts: Ninditāśva, Prапаthī, Paramajyā, Magha — thus, O Medhyātithi.

8.1.31 When in faith I mounted the chariot of Vananvat's horses, then is the wealth of the beautiful known to him who is the cattle-rich descendant of Yadu.

8.1.32 He who has bestowed upon me the bright bay horse together with golden trappings — may this chariot of Āsaṅga, resounding with good fortune, excel all things.

8.1.33 Then Plāyogi surpassed others; Āsaṅga, O Agni, with ten thousands; ten bright bulls he gave me, gleaming, they stood forth from the pond as if from a lake.

8.1.34 Before him is seen the broad thigh hanging down without bone; many a woman, beholding it, has said: 'You bear, O noble one, a splendid prize.'

8.2.1 This pressed soma-juice, O Vasu — drink of it; fill full your belly; we have poured it out for you without fear.

8.2.2 Shaken by men, pressed with stones, filtered through the wool of sheep, purified — like a horse washed in the rivers.

8.2.3 Like barley sweetened with milk, we have prepared it for you, O Indra, at this joint celebration.

8.2.4 Indra alone is the soma-drinker; Indra alone drinks the pressed juice, the all-living; he stands between gods and mortals.

8.2.5 Neither the bright one, nor the evil-wisher, nor the satisfied can turn away the wide-ranging one, the good-hearted Indra.

8.2.6 When others hunt after him as a herd hunts a wild beast — with cows away from us — they approach him with milch-cows.

8.2.7 Let three soma-pressings of the god Indra be made, of him who drinks the pressed juice in his own dwelling.

8.2.8 Three vessels trickle down; the three bowls are well full, all upon the same support.

8.2.9 Pure you are, established in many places, mixed with milk in the middle, most exhilarating with curds — for the hero.

8.2.10 These sharp soma-draughts, O Indra, pressed here among us, bright, call for the admixture of milk.

8.2.11 Mix the admixture and the cake offering; O Indra, prepare this soma — for I hear that you are wealthy.

8.2.12 Having drunk in their hearts they fight, like madmen with spirituous drink; they shout like a naked udder.

8.2.13 The praiser of such a wealthy patron of prizes would himself be wealthy; go forward then, O bay-horsed one of renown.

8.2.14 Even a laud being recited — the unfriendly man of no gifts does not heed it; nor does he heed the Gāyatrā being sung.

8.2.15 O Indra, do not hand us over to the mocker, do not hand us over to the arrogant one; give of your bounty, O powerful one, with your powers.

8.2.16 We indeed, for this very purpose, the Kāṇvas your friends wishing you near, laud you with hymns.

8.2.17 Nothing else was gained in the newest works of the craftsman, O thunderer; it is your laud alone that has been desired.

8.2.18 The gods desire the one who presses soma; they do not long for sleep; the unwearied ones go to the feast of joy.

8.2.19 Come forth now with prizes; do not be wrathful toward us, like a great man with a young wife.

8.2.20 Let not the ill-willed one do evil to us today at evening from afar, like an ill-favoured son-in-law.

8.2.21 For we know the bountiful good will and the three-fold-born mind of this heroic one.

8.2.22 Pour in with the Kāṇvas present — for we know nothing more glorious than the hundred-aided one of might.

8.2.23 Press for Indra, O presser, the excellent soma, for the hero, for the mighty; bring it for the manly one to drink.

8.2.24 He who is most knowing in unmoved exploits, who gives to the singers the horse-rich prize, to the praisers the prize rich in cattle.

8.2.25 Wondrous, ever more wondrous, O pressers, hasten with the intoxicating soma for the hero, for the champion.

8.2.26 The Vṛtra-slayer will drink the pressed soma; he will come, not distant from us; the hundred-aided one is restrained.

8.2.27 Let the two bays yoked by prayer convey here the bountiful, the friend renowned through hymns, him who delights in songs.

8.2.28 Sweet soma-draughts await you — come! Prepared soma-draughts await you — come! O broad-jawed, sage-like, mighty one, come here to this joint rejoicing.

8.2.29 And the praises that magnify you for great bounty and heroic might, O Indra — they magnify the doer of deeds.

8.2.30 The songs and lauds directed to you, O hymn-bearer — those altogether have taken on powers.

8.2.31 Thus he, roaring aloud, the prize-winner, the sole thunderbolt-holder, from of old unscathed, distributes.

8.2.32 Indra the Vṛtra-slayer with his right hand, the much-invoked, the much-praised — great through his great powers.

8.2.33 In him all peoples, and the bold deeds and the courses — they all indeed follow him, the gladdener, the generous.

8.2.34 He, Indra, has done all these things, he who is heard beyond all — the prize-bestower for the bountiful.

8.2.35 The bearer-forward of the prize-seeking chariot, whom he protects even from afar — the lord of wealth, he is the carrier.

8.2.36 The inspirer who gains with swift horses, the hero who slays Vṛtra with his allies, the true protector of the one who serves.

8.2.37 Worship him, O Priyamedhas, worship Indra with a gathered mind; may he who is the true drinker of soma be here with the soma-draughts.

8.2.38 Sing, O Kāṇvas, of him who has song-fame, the lord of truth, eager for renown, far-stretching — the prize-winner.

8.2.39 He who even without a word of praise gave cattle to his friends, the mighty companion of men — those who have leaned their desire upon him.

8.2.40 Thus, O stone-wielder, you went to the devout Kāṇva Medhyātithi, having become a ram, going towards him.

8.2.41 Instruct Vibhindhu to give four times ten thousand and eight thousand besides.

8.2.42 And those two who grow with milk — may the Naptyas of Raṇa give no harm; we have invoked them for procreation.

8.3.1 Drink of the pressed, flavoured juice; rejoice, O Indra, in the cow-rich one; be our companion in joint rejoicing for our increase; may your thoughts protect us.

8.3.2 May we be in your favour, prize-winners; let not our foe overthrow us; protect us, O you of brilliant might, with your aids; guide us into your blessings.

8.3.3 May these words of mine magnify you, O lord of many goods; the purifying, bright, inspired ones have sung around you with their lauds.

8.3.4 This one, made powerful with a thousand sages, has spread like the ocean; true is that greatness of his — I extol his might, which reigns supreme among the inspired at the sacrifices.

8.3.5 Indra truly at the assembly of gods, Indra at the proceeding sacrifice, Indra we call in the battle for the gaining of the forest's prize, Indra for the winning of wealth.

8.3.6 Indra spread out the two worlds with his greatness and might; Indra made the sun shine; in Indra all living beings have found their order; in Indra the pressed soma-drops.

8.3.7 O Indra, the descendants of Āyu who drink first, the Ṛbhus together in accord have resounded with lauds; the Rudras praise the ancient one.

8.3.8 By this has Indra grown strong in his bull-like might through the rapture of the pressed soma with Viṣṇu; today the descendants of Āyu praise that greatness of his as of old.

8.3.9 I seek from you that heroic strength, that prayer for the ancient design — with which you helped the Yatis and Bhṛgu when the prize was set, and with which you protected Praskaṇva.

8.3.10 With which you released the great waters into the ocean — that is your bull-like might, O Indra; that greatness of his is immediately unattainable, which the wide earth resounds with.

8.3.11 Be able for us, O Indra, since I seek from you the wealth and heroic strength; be able for the prize the first to be desired, be able for the laud, O ancient one.

8.3.12 Be able for us — for you protected our ancient understanding, O Indra, of those who desire the prize; be able as you protected Ruśama, Śyāvaka, Kṛpa, O Indra, and Svarṇara.

8.3.13 What mortal now, swifter than linseed plants, shall praise him newly? For those who sing his Indra-might and glory have never truly attained to his greatness.

8.3.14 When do those who praise and order the divine, when does the seer, what inspired one, convey it? When, O Maghavan Indra, do you come to the call of the soma-presser? When do you come to the praiser?

8.3.15 Up go these most honey-sweet words, the lauds are set in motion — the prize-winners with imperishable aids, like chariots rushing for the prize.

8.3.16 Like the Kāṇvas, like the Bhṛgus, like the suns, they have all attained to what has been obtained; the Āyus, the Priyamedhas, magnifying Indra with their lauds, have sung out.

8.3.17 Yoke your two bays, O Indra, best Vṛtra-slayer, from afar; come hither, O Maghavan, for the soma-drinking, O fierce one, come with your two tall steeds.

8.3.18 For these Kāṇvas have cried out to you with prayer, the inspired ones for the winning of the sacrifice; so you, O Maghavan Indra, O hymn-lover, hear our call like a beloved one.

8.3.19 You drove Vṛtra out from the great bows, O Indra; you drove out the magic of Arbuda the beast; you drove out the cows from the mountain.

8.3.20 The fires blazed forth, the sun blazed forth, the Indra-belonging essence of soma blazed forth; you pressed down the great serpent from the air — that, O Indra, is your manly power.

8.3.21 Him whom Indra, the Maruts, Pākasthāman, Kaurayāṇa gave me — the most splendid of all in his own nature, running as if in heaven.

8.3.22 Pākasthāmā gave me Rohita, the well-yoked one filling the girth-strap — the awakener of riches.

8.3.23 For whom ten other carriers bear back the yoke-shaft — like a bird to the home of Tugrya.

8.3.24 The self of the father, the body is the garment, the strength-giving ointment — Rohita's fourth one, Pākasthāman, the Bhoja, the giver, I have spoken of.

8.4.1 Whether eastward, westward, northward or southward, O Indra, you are called by men — you are universally wide-spread, born for men, for the Ānavas you are abundant strength, for the Turvaśas.

8.4.2 Whether with Rumā, Ruśama, Śyāvaka, or Kṛpa you rejoice together, O Indra — the Kāṇvas, the bearers of lauds, draw you with their prayers; O Indra come.

8.4.3 As a wild bull thirsty makes its way to a waterless pool's edge, come quickly at our invitation, at the forward journey; among the Kāṇvas drink in full companionship.

8.4.4 May the soma-drops gladden you, O Maghavan Indra, for the giving of bounty to the presser; from there you drank soma pressed in the bowl — that greatest strength you have taken on.

8.4.5 He put forth strength with strength, broke anger with might; all your enemies, O young Indra, have bowed down like trees.

8.4.6 Like one accompanied by a thousand, he who has brought near praise of you the youthful warrior — he makes a son surpassing, with heroic strength; he prospers with words of homage.

8.4.7 Let us not fear, let us not toil, in your friendship, O fierce one; great and worthy of sight is your deed, O bull — may we see Turvaśa and Yadu.

8.4.8 He roars following the left flank like a bull; the giver's gift does not wane; the milch-cows mixed with honey by the bees — come quickly, run, drink.

8.4.9 Your friend, O Indra, is rich in horses, rich in chariots, well-formed, rich in cattle; he accompanies the feast of meat always; the moon-bright one goes to the assembly.

8.4.10 Come like a thirsty antelope to the watering-place; drink the soma following the wish; having drunk, O Maghavan, day by day you take on the strongest might.

8.4.11 Make the soma flow, O Adhvaryu — Indra thirsts; now the two bull-strong bays have been yoked and the Vṛtra-slayer has come.

8.4.12 Even the worshipping man himself reckons where you satisfy yourself with soma; this food of yours, fit companion, well sprinkled — come for it, run, drink.

8.4.13 O Adhvaryus, standing in the chariot, press the soma for Indra; those pressing for the offering-performing sacrifice look toward the bright one above.

8.4.14 Both eager bull-strong bays will convey Indra to the waters; may the seven steeds lovely at the rite convey you hither at the pressing.

8.4.15 We choose Pūṣan for alliance, the lord of many goods; O mighty Indra, much-invoked, give of your bounty for our thought, for the strength to win wealth, O liberator.

8.4.16 Sharpen us like a razor on a whetstone, O liberator of riches; give to us — in you is that wealth of the morning cow, easily found, which you impel toward mortal man.

8.4.17 I reach out to you, O Pūṣan, to straighten myself; I reach out to the praiser, O shining one; I do not reach for what is remote — for that, O Vasu, I praise the Sāman of the Pajras.

8.4.18 Cattle have gone somewhere to the pasture, O shining immortal of permanent treasure; O Pūṣan, be our protector, be favorable, most bountiful for the winning of the prize.

8.4.19 Substantial bounty with a hundred horses at the heavenly attacks of Kuruṅga, in the gifts of the splendid, fortunate king — among the Turvaśas we have thought of it.

8.4.20 Through the thoughts of the prize-winning Kāṇva and the heaven-assailing Priyamedhas, the seer drove off sixty thousand impeccable ones, drove off herds of cattle.

8.4.21 Even the trees have resounded at my approach; they allotted me cattle abundantly, they allotted me horses abundantly.

8.5.1 As if from afar, when truly the ruddy-hued one shone out, it spread its beam all across the universe.

8.5.2 O wonder-working Aśvins, you two accompany the Dawn with a manly, mind-yoked chariot of broad splendour.

8.5.3 O Vājinīvasū Aśvins, the lauds have faced toward you two; I, the messenger, have readied speech.

8.5.4 We Kāṇvas praise the Aśvins, who are dear to many for our aid, who delight many, who have many goods.

8.5.5 Most bountiful, most prize-winning, urging onward, lords of beauty — you will come to the house of the devout one.

8.5.6 For the god-devoted, devout one, sprinkle the cattle-pasture with good intelligence and irresistible help, with ghee.

8.5.7 Let our laud come running swiftly with swift eagles; come, O Aśvins, with your horses.

8.5.8 With those with which you two circle around the three remote realms, all the luminous spaces of heaven, and the three watches of night.

8.5.9 And for us the cow-rich refreshments and the gifts — O you who know the day, loosen the bonds on the path to the winning.

8.5.10 Bring to us, O Aśvins, wealth rich in cattle, rich in heroes, rich in good chariots — bring refreshments rich in horses.

8.5.11 Grown great, lords of beauty, wondrous ones with golden paths — drink the soma-sweetness.

8.5.12 O Vājinīvasū, to us and to the bountiful patrons of wide extent, bring shelter that cannot be deceived.

8.5.13 Do settle down the prayer of the people, come swiftly with the youngest speed; do not pause at another place.

8.5.14 Drink of this, you two Aśvins, of this pleasant intoxication, O attentive ones, of the honey bestowed.

8.5.15 Bring to us the wealth of hundreds, of thousands, of great abundance, all-nourishing.

8.5.16 In many places indeed the wise men, the praisers, call upon you two, O heroes; come, O Aśvins, with the singers.

8.5.17 The people who have strewn the sacred grass, who bear oblations, who are prepared — they invoke you two, O Aśvins.

8.5.18 This laud of ours today is the most carrying and most intimate; may it be for you two, O Aśvins.

8.5.19 The leather bag of honey placed upon the chariot-seat — from that drink, O Aśvins.

8.5.20 With that, O Vājinīvasū, bring rich refreshments for our cattle, for our offspring, for our wellbeing, for our cow.

8.5.21 And the heavenly refreshments and the rivers — O you who know the day, you pour them down like opening a door.

8.5.22 When did Tugra's son find you two, O heroes, abandoned in the ocean, when your chariot flew to pieces?

8.5.23 You Nāsatyas honour again and again with aids Kāṇva, restored and settled in his house.

8.5.24 Come with those newer, excellent aids when I call upon you two, O Vṛṣaṇvasū Aśvins.

8.5.25 As you helped Kāṇva, Priyamedha who was nearby praised, Atri, Śiñjāra — so, O Aśvins.

8.5.26 As in the contest for the prize you helped Aṁśu among cows, Agastya — as Sobhari in the races.

8.5.27 To this extent, O Vṛṣaṇvasū Aśvins, or even more — while praising we seek your favour.

8.5.28 O Aśvins, you have mounted the chariot with golden seat, with golden reins, sky-touching.

8.5.29 Your pole is golden, the shaft is golden, the axle is golden; both wheels are golden.

8.5.30 With that, O Vājinīvasū, come to us from far away; come to this excellent praise of mine.

8.5.31 Bring from afar, O Aśvins, eating the many divine, immortal refreshments.

8.5.32 Come to us, O Aśvins, with glory, with renown, with riches; O Nāsatyas, you of many splendours.

8.5.33 Let the winged ones, the birds sprinkled with drops, convey you both here to the people whose rite is good.

8.5.34 Your chariot that rolls with the refreshment singing along — the wheel does not obstruct it.

8.5.35 With a golden chariot, with swift-footed horses — O Nāsatyas, swift in thought.

8.5.36 You two refresh the wakeful wild beast, O Vṛṣaṇvasū; mix refreshment and wealth for us.

8.5.37 May you two Aśvins know the new acquisitions of mine, as when Kaśu the Caidya gave a hundred camels and ten thousand cattle.

8.5.38 He who has given me ten gold-gleaming kings — the peoples around him, the subjects of the Caidya, pressed down to the ground, wrapped in hides on all sides.

8.5.39 Let none travel this path along which the Cedis go; lest another patron of superior bounty be drawn away from the people.

8.6.1 Great is Indra who through might, like Parjanya swelling with rain, has been magnified through the lauds of Vatsa.

8.6.2 When the bearers, the inspired ones, carry the offspring of the Ṛta forward with the carrying of the Ṛta, who nourish the offspring of the Ṛta.

8.6.3 When the Kāṇvas fashioned Indra with their lauds as the accomplisher of the sacrifice, the kindred declared the weapon.

8.6.4 To his wrath all peoples, all clans, have bowed, as rivers to the ocean.

8.6.5 This might of his was blazing when he rolled both together — Indra rolled the two worlds like a hide.

8.6.6 He split the head of the roaring Vṛtra with his hundred-jointed thunderbolt, with the bull-like weapon.

8.6.7 These thoughts at the head of the streams of the inspired we have praised forward, shining like the blaze of Agni.

8.6.8 When the thoughts that are in hiding blaze forth of their own accord, the Kāṇvas do so through the stream of the Ṛta.

8.6.9 May we attain to that, O Indra — the wealth rich in cattle, rich in horses; may we bring prayer forward for the ancient design.

8.6.10 I indeed have grasped the wisdom of the Ṛta from the father; I was born like the sun.

8.6.11 With ancient thought I adorn the hymns as Kāṇva does — with which Indra took on his energy.

8.6.12 The seers who have not praised you, O Indra, and those who have praised you — grow great for me, O well-praised one.

8.6.13 When his wrath surged forward, breaking Vṛtra joint by joint, he set the waters moving toward the ocean.

8.6.14 You struck down the bullying Śuṣṇa with the thunderbolt, O Indra, against the Dasyu; for you, O bull, O fierce one, are famed as such.

8.6.15 The heavens have not encompassed Indra in his might, nor the mid-spaces the thunderbolt-holder, nor the earths.

8.6.16 He who lay blocking your great waters, O Indra, as they were being held firm — you thrust him down with your feet.

8.6.17 He who seized these two great worlds, both together — him, O Indra, you have hidden in darkness.

8.6.18 O Indra, the Yatis who have praised you, the Bhṛgus who have praised you — O fierce one, hear my call for me.

8.6.19 These spotted cows of yours, O Indra, milk out ghee and the admixture; these have swelled with the Ṛta.

8.6.20 Those springs, O Indra, like your own, have made the embryo — surrounding him like ordinance does the sun.

8.6.21 You alone, O lord of might, the Kāṇvas have magnified with laud; you the pressed soma-drops.

8.6.22 In your leadings, O Indra, O stone-wielder, is the proclamation; the sacrifice is one to be spread far.

8.6.23 Bring to us, O Indra, the great refreshment; break through like a fort rich in cattle; and offspring and heroic strength.

8.6.24 And that swiftness of horses, O Indra, which shone at the head of the Nahuṣa peoples.

8.6.25 Like the sun you stretch out to the nearby-visible fold; when you, O Indra, show us favour.

8.6.26 When indeed you, being fierce, rule over the settlements, O Indra — great, boundless in might.

8.6.27 To you, of wide stride, the peoples bearing oblations call for aid with soma-drops.

8.6.28 In the curve of the mountains, at the confluence of the rivers, the inspired one was born through insight.

8.6.29 From there he, perceiving, looks down upon the ocean on the slopes, from where the drinking of the inspired one surges.

8.6.30 From the ancient seed they see the daily light, when it is kindled above the sky.

8.6.31 The Kāṇvas, O Indra, all magnify your thought, your manly power, and your bull-like strength, O mightiest one.

8.6.32 O Indra, be pleased with this excellent praise of mine; do protect me; and do increase my thought.

8.6.33 And we, devoted to prayer, O grown-great thunderbolt-holder, inspired ones, have fashioned this for life.

8.6.34 The Kāṇvas have sung toward Indra as waters rushing down a slope, the thought that eagerly desires him.

8.6.35 The lauds have magnified Indra as rivers magnify the ocean — him of indestructible wrath, him who does not age.

8.6.36 Come to us from afar with your two tawny, desired bays; drink this pressed soma, O Indra.

8.6.37 You alone, O best Vṛtra-slayer, the peoples who have strewn the sacred grass invoke for the winning of the prize.

8.6.38 Both worlds follow you like a wheel rolling behind Etaśa; the pressed soma-drops follow you.

8.6.39 Rejoice well, O manly shining one, O Indra, at Śaryaṇāvat; be exhilarated with the thought of Vivasvat.

8.6.40 Having grown great in the sky, the bull, the thunderer roared aloud — the Vṛtra-slayer, the greatest soma-drinker.

8.6.41 For you are the first-born seer, alone sovereign through might, O Indra, you eagerly seek wealth.

8.6.42 May a hundred tawny steeds, with white backs, drive toward our pressed soma, toward the offering.

8.6.43 This ancient thought swollen with sweetness and ghee — the Kāṇvas have magnified it with laud.

8.6.44 Of the great ones let a mortal choose Indra at the sacrifice; let one who would win choose Indra for his aid.

8.6.45 O much-praised one, the two bays praised by Priyamedha shall carry you hither for the soma-drinking.

8.6.46 From Tirindira I received a hundred, from Parśu a thousand — the bounties of the Yādavas.

8.6.47 Three hundred horses and ten thousand cattle they gave to the Pajra singer.

8.6.48 Kakuha has reached up to heaven, giving camels harnessed four together, making the Yādava people renowned.

8.7.1 When, O Maruts, the inspired one let the Triṣṭubh impulse flow forth for you, you ruled throughout the mountains.

8.7.2 When, being fierce, O bright ones, you harnessed the course, the mountains bent down.

8.7.3 The roaring sons of Pṛśni rose up with the winds, they milked out the swelling refreshment.

8.7.4 The Maruts scatter the mist, they shake the mountains when they travel the course with the winds.

8.7.5 When for your march the mountain and the rivers have set themselves in order for the great burst of your energy.

8.7.6 You we invoke for aid at night, you during the day, you at the proceeding sacrifice.

8.7.7 The ruddy-hued, brilliant ones are set in motion with their courses — the roaring ones upon the ridge of heaven.

8.7.8 They release the ray with might, the path for the sun to travel; they have spread themselves out with their beams.

8.7.9 Hearken to this hymn of mine, O Maruts, to this laud, O Ṛbhukṣan; be pleased with this call of mine.

8.7.10 The Pṛśnis milked three lakes of honey for the thunderbolt-holder — the barrel-shaped overflowing spring.

8.7.11 O Maruts, when we invoke you seeking favour from heaven, then do come to us.

8.7.12 For you are good-givers, Rudras, in the house, O Ṛbhukṣans, and also wise ones in the exhilaration.

8.7.13 Set in motion for us from heaven, O Maruts, the wealth shaken with exhilaration, of great abundance, all-nourishing.

8.7.14 When, as if over the mountains, you bright ones harnessed the course, be exhilarated with the pressed soma-drops.

8.7.15 To this extent a mortal might beg the favour of these indestructible ones, with hymns.

8.7.16 They who blow upon both worlds like drops following the rains, milking the inexhaustible spring.

8.7.17 They rose up with their roarings, up with their chariots, up with their winds; up with their lauds, the sons of Pṛśni.

8.7.18 With which you helped Turvaśa and Yadu, with which you helped Kāṇva who wins prizes — may we meditate on that for wealth.

8.7.19 These refreshments, O good-givers, swollen with ghee, have magnified the Kāṇva with their hymns.

8.7.20 Where now, O good-givers, do you rejoice with those who have strewn the sacred grass? What brahmin worships you?

8.7.21 For not before when, O Maruts of strewn sacred grass, with praises, have you quickened the troop through the Ṛta.

8.7.22 They have brought together the great waters, brought together the two earths, brought together the sun; they placed the thunderbolt together joint by joint.

8.7.23 They went through Vṛtra joint by joint, through the mountains without a king — acting out the bull-like manly power.

8.7.24 They followed the energy and the will of Trita as he fought; they followed Indra in the Vṛtra-contest.

8.7.25 Lightning-handed, heaven-assailing, with golden helmets on their heads, the bright ones adorned themselves for beauty.

8.7.26 When Uśanas came from afar, you two reached the hole of the bulls; heaven resounded with fear.

8.7.27 For the giving of the prize, O gods, come to us with golden-handed horses.

8.7.28 When the dappled mare, the fore-runner, the ruddy one, draws the chariot of these, the bright ones go loosing the waters.

8.7.29 At Suṣoma, at Śaryaṇāvat, at Ārjīka, at Pastyāvat, the heroes went along with their wheels.

8.7.30 When will you come, O Maruts, here to the inspired one calling, to him seeking your grace in his need?

8.7.31 Where now, where-beloved one, have you abandoned Indra? Who draws your friendship away from him?

8.7.32 With strength among us — we Kāṇvas praise Agni with the Maruts of thunderbolt hands, with golden roarings.

8.7.33 I would turn the sacrifice-loving bulls toward a newer well-being, the ones of brilliant prize.

8.7.34 Even mountains submit and bow down, those who think themselves ribbed peaks; even the highlands bend themselves.

8.7.35 They who move diagonally carry through the mid-air as they fly — givers of sustenance to the praiser.

8.7.36 For Agni is the ancient knower; like the sun with its flame he is the metre; they have spread themselves out with their beams.

8.8.1 Come to us with all your aids, you two Aśvins; O wondrous ones of golden path, drink the soma-sweetness.

8.8.2 Come now, O Aśvins, with a chariot having the skin of the sun, O you who bend, of golden ornament, O poets, of deep understanding.

8.8.3 Come around from Nahuṣa, from the mid-air, with excellent lauds; drink, O Aśvins, the sweetness, the soma pressed at the pressing of the Kāṇvas.

8.8.4 Come to us from heaven, from the mid-air, O you who love what is below; the son of Kāṇva has pressed here the soma-sweetness for you.

8.8.5 Come to us within earshot, O Aśvins, for the soma-drinking; O svadhā, the magnifiers of the laud — the two poets go forward with their thoughts, O heroes.

8.8.6 For the seers who of old invoked you for aid, O heroes — come, O Aśvins, come; approach this excellent laud of mine.

8.8.7 Come to us from above the luminous realm of heaven, O you who find the sun; O you of calf-like wisdom, heard in the invocation through the lauds.

8.8.8 Why do others sit about us with lauds for the Aśvins? The son of Kāṇva, the seer Vatsa, has magnified you both with his songs.

8.8.9 The inspired one has called you both here with his lauds for aid, O Aśvins; you who are stainless, best Vṛtra-slayers — be our benefactors.

8.8.10 When the maiden mounted your chariot, O Vājinīvasū, you two Aśvins went forward to all the thoughts.

8.8.11 From there come with your thousandfold-adorned chariot, O Aśvins; Vatsa the poet-seer has declared the honey-sweet speech to you.

8.8.12 O you who greatly delight many, who have many goods, O you who carry thoughts of riches — may the two bearers, the Aśvins, sing toward this my laud.

8.8.13 Bestow on us all bounties, O Aśvins, without shame; do not let us who observe the seasons be put to shame, do not abandon us to blame.

8.8.14 Whether you two Nāsatyas are in the distance or dwell above in the air — from there come with your thousandfold-adorned chariot, O Aśvins.

8.8.15 The seer who has magnified you both, O Nāsatyas, with his songs — for him set the thousandfold-adorned refreshment dripping with ghee.

8.8.16 Give to him the strength dripping with ghee, you two Aśvins; he who has praised you for your favour, seeking goods, O lords of the giving stream.

8.8.17 Come to us, O consumer of enemies, to this laud — O you who enjoy many things; grant these to us for beauty, O heroes, give them for our conquest.

8.8.18 The Priyamedhas have called you both with all aids; O Aśvins, ruling over the rites, at the calls of the journey.

8.8.19 Come to us as benefactors, O Aśvins, as you who bring well-being; Vatsa who admires you has magnified you with his thoughts and songs.

8.8.20 With those aids with which you helped Kāṇva Medhātithi, with which you helped Vaśa of ten herds, with which you helped Gośarya — with those help us, O heroes.

8.8.21 With those aids with which you, O heroes, helped Trasadasyu in the contest for the prize — with those help us well, O Aśvins, for the winning of the prize.

8.8.22 May the well-fashioned lauds, the hymns, magnify you both, O Aśvins; O best Vṛtra-slayers in many places — be those who are eagerly desired by many for us.

8.8.23 Three steps of the Aśvins are manifest; beyond is the hidden; the two poets through the paths of the Ṛta — before the living beings on this side.

8.9.1 Now the seer has arranged the laud of the Aśvins with a beautiful melody; may he pour the most honey-sweet soma into the heated vessel of the Atharvans.

8.9.2 Whatever heroic power is in the mid-air, whatever is in heaven, whatever follows the five peoples — that bestow on us, O Aśvins.

8.9.3 The inspired ones who have touched the wonders of you two, O Aśvins — take heed of the Kāṇva's words just so.

8.9.4 This hot drink is poured around you both, O Aśvins, with the laud; this honey-sweet soma, O Vājinīvasū, with which you perceive the Vṛtra.

8.9.5 What you have done in the waters, in the forest lord, in the plants, O you of many wonders — with that enter into me, O Aśvins.

8.9.6 What you nourish, O Nāsatyas, or what you heal, O gods — this Vatsa does not find you through prayers, for you go to those who bear oblations.

8.9.7 Now the seer has arranged the laud of the Aśvins with a beautiful melody; may he pour the most honey-sweet soma into the heated vessel of the Atharvans.

8.9.8 Mount now the swift-wheeled chariot, O Aśvins; these lauds of mine have stirred toward you like a cloud.

8.9.9 If today we have stirred you, O Nāsatyas, with lauds, or with songs, O Aśvins — take heed of the Kāṇva's words.

8.9.10 What Kakṣīvant invoked of you, what the seer Vyaśva invoked, what Dīrghatamas invoked — what Pṛthī son of Vena invoked in his seat — just so, from that, O Aśvins, take heed.

8.9.11 Come as shelter-protectors and as protectors from beyond; be protectors of the world and of our bodies; travel as a path for our offspring and progeny.

8.9.12 When you two go with Indra in one chariot, O Aśvins, or when you two are with Vāyu as co-dwellers; when you are of like will with the Ādityas, the Ṛbhus; or when you stand in the strides of Viṣṇu.

8.9.13 If today I were to invoke you two Aśvins for the winning of the prize, for strength in the overwhelming battles — that is the best aid of the Aśvins.

8.9.14 Come now, O Aśvins; these offerings are prepared for you; these soma-draughts are here among the Turvaśas and Yadus, these among the Kāṇvas then for you.

8.9.15 Whatever remedy exists far off or nearby, O Nāsatyas — with that, O wise ones, give shelter to Vimada and to Vatsa.

8.9.16 The divine one has arisen; together with the speech of the gods I speak the Aśvins; the divine one has turned — the thought and the gift open out for mortals.

8.9.17 Waken the Aśvins, O Dawn; waken, O great divine Sūnṛtā; waken the hotar of the sacrifice in succession; waken the great glory for exhilaration.

8.9.18 When you, O Dawn, go with your beam and shine together with the sun, then the chariot of the Aśvins turns in its course, worthy for men to drink.

8.9.19 When the soma-stalks, having been drunk, yield as cows with their udders, or when the songs have resounded forward, O Aśvins, in the manner of those seeking the divine.

8.9.20 Go forward for glory, go forward for might, go forward for the shelter that conquers men, go forward for skill — O wise Aśvins.

8.9.21 When now, O Aśvins, you two sit down with your thoughts in the father's seat, or with your favours worthy of laud.

8.10.1 Whether you two are in the long dwelling place, or in the shining realm of heaven, or in the ocean in the fashioned house — from there come, O Aśvins.

8.10.2 As you two mingled well with Manu's sacrifice — just so take heed of the Kāṇva's words; I invoke Bṛhaspati, all the gods, Indra and Viṣṇu, and the Aśvins, O swift-rushing ones.

8.10.3 These two Aśvins I now invoke, the wonderful deeds-doers, taken in grasp; whose friendship with us is foremost, attainable among the gods.

8.10.4 Those in whose presence the sacrifices of the sun-like patrons are foremost — those two, O wise ones, drink through your own powers the soma-sweetness at the sacrifice and the rite.

8.10.5 Whether today, O Aśvins, you are westward or eastward, O Vājinīvasū; whether among the Druhyus, the Anus, the Turvaśas, the Yadus — I call upon you; therefore come to me.

8.10.6 Whether you two fly through the mid-air, O you who enjoy many things, or whether you weave along both worlds — or whether you mount the chariot with your own powers — from there come, O Aśvins.

8.11.1 Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of sacred rites among mortals, O god; thou art to be praised at sacrifices.

8.11.2 Thou art praiseworthy at the assemblies, O conquering one; O Agni, thou art the charioteer of the ritual offerings.

8.11.3 So do thou, O Jātavedas, drive away from us the enemies, the godless malevolences, O Agni.

8.11.4 The sacrifice of a mortal foe, even though near at hand, thou dost not seek out, O Jātavedas.

8.11.5 We mortals contemplate thy many names, O immortal Jātavedas; we the inspired sages.

8.11.6 We inspired sages invoke with songs the inspired god Agni, we mortals for aid and protection.

8.11.7 May a devotee draw thy mind even from the most distant abode, O Agni, with a song longing for thee.

8.11.8 For thou art of like form in many places, lord over all peoples; we invoke thee in battles.

8.11.9 In battles we invoke Agni for protection, desiring prizes; him of brilliant bounty in contests.

8.11.10 For thou art the ancient one worthy of praise at the rites, and thou sittest as hotar both from of old and as the ever-new; satisfy thine own self, O Agni, and win good fortune for us.

8.12.1 That rapture most excellent at drinking soma which stirs in thee, O mightiest Indra, whereby thou smitest down the devourer — that we implore.

8.12.2 Whereby thou madest the Daśagva tremble, Adhrigu, the heaven-man; whereby thou didst protect the ocean — that we implore.

8.12.3 Whereby thou didst urge the great waters of Sindhu like chariots, to travel the path of Ṛta — that we implore.

8.12.4 This hymn of praise for thine invocation, like purified ghee, O wielder of the stone — whereby thou hast now grown in strength on this very day.

8.12.5 Be pleased with this, O lover of praise; it swells like the ocean; O Indra, thou hast grown with all thy aids.

8.12.6 The god who has been entreated by us from afar for friendship, spreading wide like rain from heaven, has grown.

8.12.7 His banners have grown, and the thunderbolt in his fists, when like the sun he caused the two worlds to grow.

8.12.8 If, O great lord of the good, a thousand buffaloes have here been offered, then thy heroic power has greatly increased.

8.12.9 Indra burns down the afflicting one with the rays of the sun; like Agni in the forest, the victorious one has grown.

8.12.10 This timely meditation goes forth ever newer; worshipping thee, the much-beloved one, she has truly measured out.

8.12.11 The embryo of the sacrifice, the god-devoted one, purifies wisdom in succession; Indra has grown through the hymns of praise, he has truly measured out.

8.12.12 Indra has spread as the gaining of Mitra's prize, for the drinking of soma; like a cow lowing eastward for the presser, he has truly measured out.

8.12.13 Whom the inspired hymn-bearing Āyus have thoroughly delighted — he has swollen like ghee in the mouth, as is of Ṛta.

8.12.14 And Aditi, the self-sovereign, has generated a hymn of praise for Indra — of much proclamation as his aids, as is of Ṛta.

8.12.15 The bearers have chanted for protection, for praise; the two bay steeds of the god are not of diverse ordinances, as is of Ṛta.

8.12.16 When thou art exhilarated, O Indra, with Viṣṇu's soma, or with Trita Āptya's, or among the Maruts, together with the drops of soma —

8.12.17 Or when thou art exhilarated, O mighty one, in the distant realm, upon the ocean — delight in our pressed soma together with the drops.

8.12.18 Or when thou art the strengthener of the presser, of the sacrificer, O lord of the good, or in whose hymn thou dost delight — together with the drops of soma.

8.12.19 We would praise Indra, Indra, the god over each god for your aid; then for the conquering sacrifice they have attained fully.

8.12.20 With sacrifices the sacrifice-bearing one, with soma the most excellent soma-drinker — Indra they have magnified with priestly recitations; they have attained fully.

8.12.21 Great are his leadings forth, and many are his praises; all the good things have reached the worshipper fully.

8.12.22 The gods placed Indra in the forefront to slay Vṛtra; the holy voices chanted Indra together for strength.

8.12.23 The great one with greatness — we with our hymns of praise, him who hears the invocation — we acclaim forward with songs for strength.

8.12.24 Whom neither the two worlds separated, nor the mid-air spaces, the thunderbolt-wielder — even from home his blazing radiance increases for strength.

8.12.25 When in battle-conflict the gods placed thee in the forefront, O Indra — then thy two beloved bays grew strong.

8.12.26 When thou didst slay with thy might Vṛtra who blocked the rivers, O thunderbolt-wielder — then thy two beloved bays grew strong.

8.12.27 When Viṣṇu strode out his three strides with might for thee, O Indra — then thy two beloved bays grew strong.

8.12.28 When thy two beloved bays have grown day by day — then all the worlds have been held in order by thee.

8.12.29 When the Marutic peoples have arranged themselves for thee, O Indra — then all the worlds have been held in order by thee.

8.12.30 When thou didst sustain yonder bright light, the sun, in the sky — then all the worlds have been held in order by thee.

8.12.31 This excellent praise of thine the inspired sage raises with meditations, nourishing a sister as with footsteps, before the rite.

8.12.32 When they have sounded together in unison in his beloved abode, at the navel of the sacrifice, the milch-cows, before the rite.

8.12.33 Bestow on us heroic power, good horses, and good cattle, O Indra — like the hotar for the first meditation, before the rite.

8.13.1 Indra purifies wisdom worthy of recitation at the pressed soma-drinks; he is known for his growing power, for he is great.

8.13.2 He who is great in the first heavenly space, in the abode of the gods — he who crosses well, who has the highest fame, who conquers in the waters.

8.13.3 Him I call for the winning of prizes, Indra, powerful, for the contest; be our nearest friend in thy grace, for growth.

8.13.4 This gift of thine, O Indra, lover of praise, flows from the presser; delighting in his sacred grass thou shinest forth.

8.13.5 Now grant us that, O Indra, which we beg of thee who press the soma; bring us the bright wealth that wins the sun.

8.13.6 When the all-discerning praiser has lifted up his songs beyond the arrogant — he who is pleased mounts like a branch.

8.13.7 Like the ancient one, produce the songs; hear the call of the praiser; in each exhilaration thou hast grown for the well-doing one.

8.13.8 His joyful truths play, like waters flowing downhill; through this meditation who is called lord of heaven.

8.13.9 And he who is called lord, the sole sovereign of the settled peoples — with those who grow through homage, seeking aid, delight at the pressed soma.

8.13.10 Praise the famous, wise one, whose two bay horses are victorious, who go to the house of the worshipper, bowing down.

8.13.11 Hastening, O great-minded one, with horses of sprinkled forms — come to the sacrifice with swift ones; indeed it is well for thee.

8.13.12 O Indra, mightiest lord of the good, hold wealth among those who praise thee; undying fame rich in goods for the patrons.

8.13.13 I call thee at sunrise, I call thee at noon of day; be pleased, O Indra, come to us with thy steeds.

8.13.14 Come now, run forward, be exhilarated with the pressed soma mixed with milk; extend the ancient thread as it is known.

8.13.15 Whether thou art in the distant realm, whether in the near realm, O Vṛtra-slayer, or whether thou art near the soma in the ocean.

8.13.16 May our songs magnify Indra, may the pressed soma-drops magnify Indra; the oblation-bearing peoples have rejoiced in Indra.

8.13.17 Him indeed the inspired sages, seeking aid, with their downward-flowing aids — the settled peoples magnified Indra like branches.

8.13.18 At the three soma-vats the gods have fashioned the perceptible sacrifice; may our songs magnify him who ever grows.

8.13.19 When the praiser devoted to thee has placed the recitations in proper order, he is called pure and purifying — that one is marvellous.

8.13.20 That great ancient thing of Rudra stirs in the primeval abodes, where the discerning ones have separately placed the mind.

8.13.21 If thou art near in friendship to me, protect this soma; whereby we have crossed beyond all enemies.

8.13.22 When, O Indra, lover of praise, will the praiser be most blessed? When wilt thou place us in wealth of cattle and horses?

8.13.23 And thy well-praised, virile two bay steeds draw thy chariot, the most exhilarating of him who knows no old age, whom we implore.

8.13.24 Him the much-praised, the mighty, we implore with ancient aids; may he sit down on the beloved sacred grass, and then a second time.

8.13.25 Grow well, O much-praised one, with aids praised by sages; kindle the swelling refreshment and turn it towards us.

8.13.26 O Indra, thou art near to the praiser standing thus, O wielder of the stone; from Ṛta I urge thy mind-yoked meditation.

8.13.27 Here yoke those two bay steeds who are gladdened together for the drinking of soma; O Indra, resound towards us with both thy riches.

8.13.28 May they resound towards us, thy Rudras who have obtained glory; and the Marut-attended peoples, with refreshment.

8.13.29 These rushings forward of his enjoy the foot-place that is in heaven; at the navel of the sacrifice they have put together as is known.

8.13.30 This one goes eastward before the rite for the far-seeing eye; he measures out the sacrifice in succession, the far-seer.

8.13.31 Virile is this thy chariot, O Indra, and virile too are thy two bay steeds; virile art thou, O lord of a hundred powers, virile is the invocation.

8.13.32 Virile is the pressing stone, virile the rapture, virile this soma now pressed; virile is the sacrifice which thou dost pervade, virile is the invocation.

8.13.33 As virile I invoke thee, the virile one, O thunderbolt-wielder, with brilliant aids; for thou hast desired the responsive praise — virile is the invocation.

8.14.1 If I, O Indra, were as sole master of wealth as thou art, then my praiser would be a companion in cattle.

8.14.2 I would teach him and would give to the wise man, O lord of śacī; if I were master of cattle.

8.14.3 Thy joyful truth, O Indra, is like a milch-cow for the sacrificer who presses soma; she milks out cow and horse, full and swelling.

8.14.4 There is no turning away of thy bounty, O Indra — neither god nor mortal; when thou, being praised, art willing to give wealth.

8.14.5 The sacrifice magnified Indra when he rolled the earth apart, fashioning a support in the sky.

8.14.6 Of thee who hast grown, of thee who hast won all riches, we choose the protection, O Indra.

8.14.7 The bright lights overpassed the mid-air in the rapture of soma when Indra shattered Vala.

8.14.8 He drove the cows upward for the Aṅgirases, making manifest those that were hidden in the cave; he thrust Vala towards him.

8.14.9 The bright lights of heaven have been made firm and established by Indra; the stable things he does not push away.

8.14.10 Like a wave of the waters exhilarating, the hymn of praise rushes swiftly towards Indra; thy raptures have shone forth.

8.14.11 For thou, O Indra, art the magnifier of hymns, the magnifier of recitations; and the well-doer for the praisers.

8.14.12 The two maned bay steeds carry Indra to the drinking of soma, to the sacrifice rich in bounty.

8.14.13 With the foam of the waters thou didst twist off the head of Namuci, O Indra, when thou didst conquer all adversaries.

8.14.14 Those who sought to escape by wiles, who sought to climb the sky, O Indra — thou didst shake down the Dasyus.

8.14.15 The assembly of those who press not soma, O Indra, thou hast scattered in all directions, becoming superior as soma-drinker.

8.15.1 Come here, harm him not, ye who go forward; pause not, O ye of equal wrath; even the firm things are bent.

8.15.2 He whose great double-strong power has upheld the two worlds — with his virility, mountains, plains, waters, and heaven.

8.15.3 Thou, the much-praised, dost reign alone; thou dost strike down the Vṛtras, O Indra, to attain conquering glories.

8.15.4 That rapture of thine we praise, the virile one, ever victorious in battles, also the world-maker, O stone-wielder, beautiful with bay steeds.

8.15.5 Whereby thou hast found the lights for Āyu and for Manu — delighting in his sacred grass thou shinest forth.

8.15.6 That same thing even today thy reciters praise as of old; conquer the waters whose lord is the rain-bull, day by day.

8.15.7 That great heroic power is thine, thine too is the impetus and the will; divine wisdom sharpens the desirable thunderbolt.

8.15.8 Heaven increases thy manliness, O Indra, earth increases thy fame; the waters and the mountains urge thee on.

8.15.9 Viṣṇu of great dwelling praises thee, Mitra praises thee, Varuṇa; the Marutic host is exhilarated after thee.

8.15.10 Thou art born the rain-bull, the most generous among peoples, O Indra; thou holdest all things of good offspring together.

8.15.11 Thou alone, O much-praised one, dost cut down the Vṛtras completely; no other power than Indra's is greater.

8.15.12 When thinking of thee, O Indra, many invoke thee for aid — conquer the sun here with our men.

8.15.13 Apt for our great dwelling, entering all forms — exhilarate Indra, lord of śacī, for victory.

8.16.1 The praiser proclaims forward the universal king of settled peoples, Indra, ever new with songs — the man, the man-conquering, the most generous.

8.16.2 In whom all recitations delight and all desire for fame — like the impetus of waters in the ocean.

8.16.3 Him I invite with excellent praise, the chiefest king, in the contest the wisdom-bearing great prize-winner for his gains.

8.16.4 Whose deep, full raptures are broad and rescuing — exhilarant in the winning of heroic prizes.

8.16.5 Him indeed they invoke as champion in the wealth-contests that are set out; those whose Indra it is, they conquer.

8.16.6 Him indeed the settled peoples approach with swift acts and with deeds; this Indra is the maker of wide space.

8.16.7 Indra is brahman, Indra is the seer, Indra is many and much-invoked; great with great powers.

8.16.8 He is worthy of hymns, worthy of oblation, true, a warrior of many deeds; being alone he is all-conquering.

8.16.9 With arkas, with sāmans, with Gāyatrī verses, the settled peoples — the dwelling places magnify Indra.

8.16.10 The leader forward to better things, the maker of light in battles — the ever-victorious one who has conquered enemies in battle.

8.16.11 He the protector shall carry us across in safety — the much-invoked Indra — beyond all enemies.

8.16.12 So thou, O Indra, with prizes and with favour and with a good path — lead thou us to grace.

8.17.1 Come hither, for this soma is delicious to thee; O Indra, drink this; here is the sacred grass, my seat for thee.

8.17.2 Let the two maned bay steeds yoked by prayer carry thee, O Indra; hear our prayers.

8.17.3 We the prayer-bearers with our ally invoke thee, O Indra the soma-drinker, we who possess soma, we who press the soma.

8.17.4 Come to us who press soma, to our excellent praises; drink well of the soma-juice, O thou of mighty jaws.

8.17.5 I pour into thy two flanks; let it flow through the limbs; take the honey with thy tongue.

8.17.6 Let it be sweet at the meeting, honey-sweet for thy body; may soma be beneficent to thy heart.

8.17.7 This one, O all-discerning one, wrapping thee around like women — may the soma glide forth, O Indra.

8.17.8 Thick-necked, fat-bellied, well-armed in the exhilaration of the soma — Indra strikes down the Vṛtras.

8.17.9 O Indra, go thou in front, being master of all by thy might; O Vṛtra-slayer, smite down the Vṛtras.

8.17.10 Long be thy hook whereby thou dispensest wealth to the sacrificer who presses soma.

8.17.11 This soma, O Indra, is purified upon the sacred grass; come here, run to it, drink.

8.17.12 O thou who art rich in śacī and honoured through śacī — this soma is pressed for thy delight, O Ākhaṇḍala, thou art invoked forward.

8.17.13 He who is thy descendant, O Śṛṅgavṛṣa, the great-grandson, the one who drinks from the kuṇḍa vessel — in him thou hast fixed the mind.

8.17.14 O lord of the homestead, the firm post, the common feast of those rich in soma — the drop that shatters the ever-enduring forts, Indra the friend of the sages.

8.17.15 Son of Pṛdāku, worthy of worship, seeking cows, being alone he exceeds the many; driving the impetuous horse with urgency, having seized the forts, he leads Indra to the drinking of soma.

8.18.1 Now indeed a mortal should beg the grace of these, the Ādityas' unrivalled favour in their power.

8.18.2 For the paths of the Ādityas are unobstructed; their guardians are undeceived, who strengthen good growth.

8.18.3 May Savitṛ, Bhaga, Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryaman grant us that wide shelter which we implore.

8.18.4 Come, O divine Aditi, with the gods, O thou of unharmed sustenance, with our patrons, O much-beloved one, with those of excellent shelter.

8.18.5 For those sons of Aditi know how to keep away enmities; they who are wide-wheeled, sinless, even from straits.

8.18.6 Aditi, without duplicity, shall protect our livestock by day; Aditi shall protect it by night; Aditi, who ever grows, shall protect us from distress.

8.18.7 And may that thought, Aditi, come to us by day with aid; may she make well-being and joy, and drive away failures.

8.18.8 And may those two divine physicians, the Aśvins, bring well-being to us; may they drive away affliction and failures from here.

8.18.9 May Agni with his fires bring well-being; may the sun warm us auspiciously; may the wind blow sinless and auspicious, driving away failures.

8.18.10 Drive away sickness, drive away failure, drive away ill-will; O Ādityas, keep us away from distress.

8.18.11 Drive the arrow away from us, O Ādityas, and also ill-will; make enmity go separately from us, O all-knowing ones.

8.18.12 Grant us that shelter, O Ādityas, which releases; even the sinful from sin — O good givers.

8.18.13 Whoever among mortals seeks to harm us — let that man be harmed by his own people; may he be injured in his life.

8.18.14 Evil shall indeed befall that evilly-intending mortal, the enemy who approaches with deceit on our side.

8.18.15 O gods, ye are protectors of the simple; in your hearts ye know mortal man, both the deceitful and the non-deceitful, O Vasus.

8.18.16 We choose the shelter of the mountains and the aid of the waters; keep calamity far from us, O heaven and earth.

8.18.17 With your auspicious shelter, with your boat, O Vasus, carry us across all difficulties.

8.18.18 For a weak offspring indeed — grant us a longer life to live, O Ādityas of great greatness.

8.18.19 The sacrifice has been slighted among you, O Ādityas — be gracious; we are indeed close to you by kinship.

8.18.20 The great shelter of the Maruts, the divine protector, the Aśvins — we implore Mitra and Varuṇa for well-being.

8.18.21 Sinless, worthy of praise like a man, O Mitra, Aryaman, O Varuṇa — may the Maruts lead to us their triple shelter.

8.18.22 Though indeed we Manus are bound by death, O Ādityas — extend further our life to live.

8.19.1 Him praised upward, the heaven-man, the gods have set in motion the divine fire-messenger; they have harnessed the oblation to the gods.

8.19.2 O inspired sage, praise Agni of broad bounty, of brilliant flame, the controller; O Sobhari, in this soma-offering, forward the ancient one for the rite.

8.19.3 We have chosen thee, the most sacrificing, the divine immortal hotar among the gods — the one of good will in this sacrifice.

8.19.4 The son of strength, the much-blessed one, the well-shining Agni of best flame — may he win for us the grace of Mitra, of Varuṇa, of the waters, in heaven.

8.19.5 The mortal who has served Agni with fuel, with oblation, with sacred knowledge — who with homage conducts the rite well.

8.19.6 His horses run swiftly as racers, his glory is most luminous; him no distress god-made from anywhere, nor man-made, shall reach.

8.19.7 May we be of good fire through your fires, O son of power, O lord of strengths; thou art of good heroic might, well-disposed to us.

8.19.8 Being praised, a welcome guest like Mitra, Agni is like a chariot to be known; in thee good prosperities exist, thou art king of riches.

8.19.9 That mortal who truly serves the rite, O Agni, is much-blessed, he is praiseworthy; through his meditations may he be a winner.

8.19.10 He for whose rite thou standest upright, the master of dwelling heroes — he achieves; he wins with swift horses, he with inspired men, he wins the deed with heroes.

8.19.11 He in whose house Agni would hold the form, the hymn, and the delight — or would pervade all the desirable oblations throughout the peoples.

8.19.12 Among the gifts of the inspired praiser, O son of power, O most swift one — make the word of one who knows above the mortal reach the gods, O Vasu.

8.19.13 Who serves Agni of good discernment with offerings of food, or with homage, or with song — him of swift flame.

8.19.14 The mortal who has served Aditi with kindling at night-time with his abodes — may he, much-blessed with meditations, cross over all peoples with glories as if with flood-waters.

8.19.15 Bring that glory, O Agni, which has overcome any devourer in the dwelling — the wrath of the people that is hard to deceive.

8.19.16 That whereby Varuṇa sees, Mitra and Aryaman, whereby the Nāsatyas and Bhaga — we would serve thee in that, with power most knowing the way, protected by Indra's nature.

8.19.17 Those indeed, O Agni, are of good thinking, O inspired one, who have placed thee, the man-watching one — the inspired ones, O god of good will.

8.19.18 They the altar, O much-blessed one, they the oblation — they have performed them in heaven; they have won great wealth with prizes, those who have laid their desire in thee.

8.19.19 Auspicious to us is the invoked Agni, auspicious is the gift, O much-blessed one, auspicious is the rite; and auspicious are the praises.

8.19.20 Make thy mind auspicious in the slaying of the Vṛtra, whereby thou dost conquer in battles; stretch out the firm things of the many who are haughty — we would win with thy aids.

8.19.21 I praise with song him who is set in place by Manu, whom the gods have appointed as messenger and fire-envoy — the most sacrificing, the oblation-bearer.

8.19.22 To Agni of sharp jaws, the young one who shines, thou singest refreshment — he who fashions heroic might with joyful truths; Agni invoked with ghee.

8.19.23 When Agni, invoked with ghee, carries the splendour both upward and downward — like an Asura his shining garment.

8.19.24 He who has sent forth the oblations, established by Manu, with his sweet-scented divine mouth — he who properly conducts the rite seeks the desirable things, the divine immortal hotar.

8.19.25 If, O Agni, I were thee and thou wert me, the mortal — then I would be the great friend, the immortal; O son of power, invoked one.

8.19.26 I would not give thee over to reproach, O Vasu, nor to wickedness truly; may neither my praiser be transgressing nor ill-placed, O Agni, nor the evil one.

8.19.27 Like a well-tended son in his father's hall — may our oblation go forward to the gods.

8.19.28 With thy nearest aids I would follow thee with pleasure, O Vasu Agni; always a mortal of the god.

8.19.29 By thy will may I win, by thy gifts O Agni, by thy praises; thee indeed they call the wise guide, O Vasu; mine, O Agni, be exhilarated to give.

8.19.30 He stretches forward through thy aids, O Agni, those rich in heroism, those bearing prizes — whose friendship thou dost maintain.

8.19.31 Thy drop, dark-hued, bellowing in season, being kindled, is taken in the tip; thou art the beloved of the great dawns; thou dost reign in the abodes of nights.

8.19.32 We Sobharis have come to him, the thousand-testicled one, of own conquest, for aid — to Trasadasyu the universal king.

8.19.33 Whose other fires, O Agni, dwell around like branches — the glories of inspired sages unite, magnifying thy dominions among the peoples.

8.19.34 The mortal whom you Ādityas, the non-deceitful, lead to the farther shore — O good givers, to the especial goods of the generous.

8.19.35 Ye are kings, conquering all settled peoples, dwelling among humans; may we be the charioteers of Ṛta, O Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman.

8.19.36 Trasadasyu, son of Purukutsa, gave me fifty female slaves — the most generous, the noble one, the lord of the good.

8.19.37 And to me, from among the two beloved and the two weavers upon Tugvan, of three times seventy — may Śyāva be the leader, the good one, the lord of the liberal givers.

8.20.1 Come hither, harm not, ye who go forward; pause not, O ye of equal wrath; ye are the benders even of firm things.

8.20.2 With firm fellies, O Maruts, O Ṛbhu-lord, O Rudras of keen cutting — come to us today with refreshment, O ye much desired, O sons of Sobhari, to the sacrifice.

8.20.3 For we know the fierce impetus of the Rudriyas, the active Maruts, of Viṣṇu's rushing, of those who send rain.

8.20.4 They flew apart over the two islands; the two worlds, where evil omens abide, have yoked together; the bright-diademed ones drove the dry lands forward when ye, self-shining ones, shook.

8.20.5 Even the unshaken things in your course resound — the mountains and the lord of the forest; the earth trembles at your marches.

8.20.6 For your going, O Maruts, the great heaven above has lifted up; where the men, of arm-strength, point to their own bodies the vigorous forms.

8.20.7 In accordance with their self-power, the men carry great glory, those of fierce appearance, mighty, of rain-form, of unerring form.

8.20.8 The hymn of the Sobharīs is anointed with cows, in the chariot, in the golden sheath; those who are kinsmen of cattle, well-born, for refreshment and enjoyment — the great ones, touch us now.

8.20.9 Bring forward your oblations to the manly triumphant ones, to the virile Marutic host — the oblations to him who moves with the rain-bull.

8.20.10 With the rain-steed, O Maruts, with the chariot of rain-form and rain-nave — like eagles among the winged ones, come freely, O men, for the enjoying of our oblations.

8.20.11 With the same anointing their golden ornaments shine brightly on their arms; the spears flash lightning.

8.20.12 Those fierce ones, virile, of fierce arms — none has stretched himself over their bodies; firm are the bows, weapons on your chariots; upon your battle-fronts are glories.

8.20.13 Whose fame, broad like a flood, the fierce name of the ever-present ones — one alone enjoys it, like ancestral strength of birds.

8.20.14 Worship those Maruts, praise them; for of those roaring ones — we cannot exhaust their gifts, so great are they, so great their greatness.

8.20.15 Blessed with good fortune is he who has been in your former aids, O Maruts, at the dawnings — or who is such now.

8.20.16 Or to whose oblations you, O prize-winning men, come for enjoying — may he attain your graces with glories and with winning of prizes, O ye who shake.

8.20.17 Just as the youthful sons of Rudra, of the divine powerful one, desire the sky — so may it be in that way.

8.20.18 Those Maruts, good givers, who are worthy and who roam in common with those who send rain — from here come to us also with a better heart; as young men grow ye strong.

8.20.19 With the newest song indeed, O Sobhari, praise the virile purifying ones with words; sing as one who ploughs like cattle.

8.20.20 Those who are victorious, who must be called upon like fist-fighters at the hotars in all battles — worship today with song the shining virile ones of highest fame, the Maruts.

8.20.21 Even the cows of equal wrath, O Maruts, are of one kin and one bond; the bulls lick one another in turn.

8.20.22 Even a mortal, O dancer-heroes of golden breasts, comes forward to brotherhood; step forth to us, O Maruts; for always your kinship is firm with us.

8.20.23 O Maruts, bring to us the Marutic medicine, O good givers; ye are friends, ye are steeds.

8.20.24 Whereby ye protect Sindhu, whereby ye conquer, whereby ye serve Krivi — be of benefit to us with those auspicious aids, O ye of beneficent nature, O enemies of the hateful.

8.20.25 Whatever medicine is in Sindhu, in Asiknī, in the oceans, O Maruts of good sacred grass — whatever is in the mountains —

8.20.26 Seeing all, ye carry it in your bodies — speak to us of that; forgive the sin, O Maruts, of the afflicted one; restore for us what has gone astray.

8.21.1 We who seek thy aid, bearing no gift like others to an unrivalled [lord], invoke thee, O brilliant one, for the prize.

8.21.2 For thy aid in our work, the bold one who urged us on has approached thee, O young [lord]; for we friends have truly chosen thee, O Indra, as our constant protector.

8.21.3 Come hither, lord of horses, lord of cattle, lord of fields; these soma-drops [call thee]: drink the soma, O lord of soma.

8.21.4 We inspired poets, though without kinsmen of our own, have held fast thee, O Indra, who art rich in allies; come, O bull, with all thy abodes for the drinking of soma.

8.21.5 Settling as birds [settle] in the sweet, intoxicating, exhilarating [draught] mixed with milk, we praise thee eagerly, O Indra.

8.21.6 We speak to thee with homage and approach thee; why dost thou repeatedly shine elsewhere? Our desires are present, O bay-horsed Indra, we are here, thou art the giver; our prayers too are present.

8.21.7 We have now become new recipients of thy protection, O Indra; truly we lack nothing from thee, O stone-wielder; we have known [thy bounty] of old, in former times abundantly.

8.21.8 We know thy friendship and thy gifts of enjoyment, O hero; we seek those [gifts] from thee, O wielder of the vajra; and do thou whet us toward the same [battle], O lord of wealth, in the contest with cattle, O fair-lipped one.

8.21.9 Him who formerly led us repeatedly to ever greater good, him I praise for you, O friends — Indra — for our protection.

8.21.10 Him of the bay horses, the true lord, who overpowers the peoples — for he is the one who rejoiced — the bountiful one bestows upon his praisers a hundredfold of cattle and horses.

8.21.11 With thee as our ally, O bull, we would indeed challenge the one who threatens [us], in the gathering of the people rich in cattle.

8.21.12 May we conquer in the contest, O much-invoked Indra, and overcome the deceivers; may we slay Vṛtra with our men, may we prosper; speed forth our thoughts, O Indra.

8.21.13 Without a brother's enmity, without a kinsman's [rivalry], O Indra, thou art from birth and from of old without an equal companion; yet thou seekest fellowship even in battle.

8.21.14 Thou dost not find a wealthy man for friendship; those of swift horses mock thee; but when thou makest a roar and stirrest everything together, then thou art called upon as a father.

8.21.15 May we not, like fools grown old at home, O Indra, be parted from the friendship of thee who art such; may we sit together when the soma is pressed.

8.21.16 May we not fall away from thy bounty, O giver of cattle, O Indra; may we not be deprived of thee; reach forward and bring [gifts] even from the firm [strongholds] of the stranger — thy gifts are not to be deceived.

8.21.17 Either Indra indeed gives this bounty, or the blessed Sarasvatī gives wealth; or thou, O brilliant one, [givest] to the worshipper.

8.21.18 The brilliant one alone is the true king; the others along the Sarasvatī are but petty kings; like Parjanya he has spread with his rain, giving thousands and ten-thousands.

8.22.1 I have called hither today that most wondrous chariot for our aid — the one which you two Aśvins, easily invoked and driving on a dread path, have set in place for Sūryā.

8.22.2 I call that chariot which goes before in life, easily invoked and much desired, foremost in prizes, which brought Bhujyu [to safety]; of good thoughts, without hatred toward Sobhari, and without reproach.

8.22.3 Here, the two gods most often praised, the Aśvins, we draw hither with our homage fully toward us for aid — [you] who go to the house of the worshipper.

8.22.4 The rim of your chariot-wheel revolves [around]; the thong that urges you on stirs itself; may your benevolence, O lords of beauty, come to us as a cow [runs] to her calf.

8.22.5 The chariot which is yours, O Aśvins, of three joints and golden reins, the renowned one that adorns both heaven and earth — with that, O Nāsatyas, come hither.

8.22.6 Ministering [with gifts] to Manu, you two plough in heaven the ancient barley with a wolf [as your ploughshare]; the two of you, O lords of beauty, O Aśvins, we now praise with our prayers.

8.22.7 Come to us, O wealth-possessing lords of prizes, along the paths of Ṛta; with those [paths] by which, O bulls, you quicken Tṛkṣi and Trasadasyu to great dominion.

8.22.8 This soma, O men, O lords with strong bulls, has been pressed for you with the pressing-stones; come to drink the soma; drink it in the house of the worshipper.

8.22.9 Mount, O Aśvins, the golden-bodied chariot, O lords with strong bulls; harness the nourishing draughts [of refreshment].

8.22.10 With those [aids] by which you helped Paktha, with those by which [you helped] Adhrigu, with those by which [you helped] Babhru to be well-pleased — with those, O Aśvins, come quickly and swiftly to us, and heal whatever is afflicted.

8.22.11 Even now at this very moment of the day, O Aśvins, O lords who hold unswerving cattle, we call upon you — we who celebrate [you] with songs and praises.

8.22.12 Come with those [aids] to my all-containing, all-excellent call, O bulls, most bountiful and most praised of all, O men; with those by which you made Krivi to prosper — with those come hither.

8.22.13 Even now in these very days, I call upon those two praised Aśvins close [to me]; those two we implore also with our homage.

8.22.14 Those two [are present] at dusk, those two at dawn, those two lords of beauty, those two who travel on a dread path; do not look beyond us, O lords of prizes, toward any mortal enemy — [you] two Rudras.

8.22.15 For the pleasant journey, [come] on a pleasant [chariot] at dawn, O Aśvins, or [come] as companions; I invoke [you], Sobhari, as a son [invokes] a father.

8.22.16 Swift as thought, O bulls, whose ecstasy is overwhelming, with your swiftly-moving aids — even from afar be present for our protection with your many former [gifts], O all-nourishing ones.

8.22.17 Come to us, O Aśvins, on the best path with horses, O men who drink the sweetest [draught]; [bring] cattle and gold, O wondrous ones.

8.22.18 In this your approach, O lords of prizes, possessing good ambrosia-glory, good heroic force, excellent desirable [gifts], unconquered and potent, may we establish all good things.

8.23.1 Praise and worship Jātavedas directly: the one whose smoke moves freely, whose flame is unconstrained.

8.23.2 With my song I praise Agni, the bond for all peoples and of all-embracing mind, and also [as] the swift one of chariots racing together.

8.23.3 The oblation-bearer who is a friend in distress, whose hymn-worthy impulses and nourishments are within his grasp — [such a one] finds wealth.

8.23.4 The flame of the blazing, ageless one has risen up, [the flame] of him of glowing jaws, of beautiful radiance, adorned by [his] host [of flames].

8.23.5 Rise up, O performer of right sacrifice, praised and glowing with divine beauty; look upon [us] with thy great radiance, O blazing one.

8.23.6 Come, O Agni, with well-composed praises, offering the oblations in continuous succession, as thou hast become the messenger and carrier of the offering.

8.23.7 I invoke for you the ancient Agni, the hotar of the peoples; I celebrate him with this voice, and for you I praise him.

8.23.8 Him of wondrous purpose who is purified by [their] grace through sacrifices, well-established like Mitra among [his] people, the guardian of ṛta.

8.23.9 Those who follow ṛta have rejoiced with their song in the upholder of ṛta, the perfector of the sacrifice, at the place of homage.

8.23.10 Let our sacrifices go straight to him who is most Aṅgiras-like, who is the hotar most worthy of praise among the clans.

8.23.11 O Agni, those who kindle thee, thy ageless ones, [display] great brilliance; they are like stallions possessed of force and vigor.

8.23.12 So do thou, O lord of vigours, bestow upon us wealth with excellent heroic force; protect us, our offspring, our progeny, in battles.

8.23.13 When the lord of the clan, alert and well-pleased, is [present] among the people of Manu, Agni wards off all demons.

8.23.14 Hear, O Agni, my new hymn of praise, O hero, lord of the clan; burn down the deceitful demons with thy heat.

8.23.15 No mortal enemy shall have power over him through trickery — over the one who has served Agni with his gift of oblations.

8.23.16 The seer Vyaśva, who desired cattle, satisfied thee, O finder of wealth; for great riches we too would kindle thee.

8.23.17 Uśanā Kāvya established thee as hotar; [he established thee,] Jātavedas, who obtains [the sacrifice] for Manu.

8.23.18 All the gods in agreement have made thee their messenger; through [their] hearing, O god, thou hast become foremost and worthy of sacrifice.

8.23.19 A hero among mortals would indeed make this immortal one his messenger — the purifier who travels on the black track, [soaring] through the air.

8.23.20 Him we invoke with uplifted ladles: the brightly shining one of pure radiance, the ageless, ancient Agni of the clans, worthy of praise.

8.23.21 The mortal who has brought an oblation to him [Agni] with gifts of offering — he secures abundant nourishment and glory with heroic power.

8.23.22 The offering-ladle, full of the oblation, approaches with homage the foremost Jātavedas, Agni, the most ancient in sacrifices.

8.23.23 With these, the greatest [thoughts], most bountiful, like those of Vyaśva, may we serve Agni, the one of pure radiance.

8.23.24 Sing now to the sky-traverser with hymns like those of Sthūrayūpa; O seer of the line of Vyaśva, [sing] to Agni the tamer [of foes].

8.23.25 The inspired poets implore the ancient Agni, the guest of men and son of the forest trees, for protection.

8.23.26 O Agni, sitting before all the great [gods] and before the human oblations, seat thyself upon the sacred grass with homage.

8.23.27 Win for us many desirable things; win for us wealth much longed-for, with excellent heroic force, with offspring, and with renown.

8.23.28 Thou art the best, O Agni; rouse the people to prosperity; bestow thy gift always and perpetually, O youngest [one], O lord of wealth.

8.23.29 Thou art indeed easy to call upon; grant us impulses rich in cattle; increase the winning of great wealth, O Agni.

8.23.30 O Agni, thou art glorious; bring hither Mitra and Varuṇa, the upholders of ṛta, the two sovereign lords of pure discernment.

8.24.1 Friends, let us recite the sacred word for Indra the vajra-bearer; I praise for you him who is foremost among men, the bold one.

8.24.2 For thou art renowned for might, the slayer of Vṛtra by thy slaying of Vṛtra; O hero, thou surpassest the generous with thy bounties.

8.24.3 While being praised, bring to us the wealth most brilliant in fame; for thou, O bay-horsed one, art the wealth-giver even in isolation.

8.24.4 Bring hither what is apart [from others] and what is dear [to us] among the [goods] of peoples, O Indra; being praised, bring [it] boldly, O bold one.

8.24.5 The hasty ones cannot restrain thy left hand nor thy right hand, O bay-horsed lord; no obstruction [holds thee back] in the quest for cattle.

8.24.6 I drive thee with my songs as [one drives] cattle toward the pen, O stone-wielder; fill full the desire and the mind of the praiser.

8.24.7 With thy all-embracing mind, with our thought, O foremost slayer of Vṛtra, come here above us, O terrible leader, O lord of wealth.

8.24.8 May we know of thee, O slayer of Vṛtra, O hero, the latest [bounty] — of the wealth most to be desired, O much-invoked Indra, of the bounty.

8.24.9 O Indra, as it is — truly thy strength is unlimited, O manly one; thy gift for the worshipper is undiminished, O much-invoked one.

8.24.10 Rain down, O great lord, for great bounty, O most manly one; make [us] firm even in the firm [battle], O bountiful one, so that we may obtain thy gifts.

8.24.11 Now our hopes have gone nowhere but to thee, O stone-wielder; fulfil that for us, O bountiful one, with thy aids.

8.24.12 Truly, O manly one, I find no other than thee for bounty, for wealth, for brilliance, and for might, O lover of praise.

8.24.13 Pour out the soma-drop for Indra; he drinks the sweet soma-honey; drive [us] forward with his bounty and his greatness.

8.24.14 I addressed the lord of the bay horses who mingles discernment [with action]: hear now the praise of him who sings of horses.

8.24.15 Truly, never in former times was one born more heroic than thee; none [is equal to thee] in wealth, nor in power, nor in the bestowing of gifts.

8.24.16 Pour forth something more intoxicating of the sweet mead, O adhvaryu; for thus is the ever-waxing hero praised.

8.24.17 O Indra, master of the bay horses, no one has reached thy ancient glory in might, nor in the giving of gifts.

8.24.18 Him, the lord of prizes, we call upon for you — we who seek fame — the one to be strengthened with unwearied sacrifices.

8.24.19 Come now, O friends, let us praise Indra, the man worthy of hymns, who alone overreaches all the peoples.

8.24.20 Speak the wondrous word to him who does not hoard cattle, who seeks cattle, who is heavenly — sweeter than ghee and sweeter than honey.

8.24.21 He whose heroic deeds are immeasurable, whose bounty is not to be encompassed — the gift of his right hand pervades all things like light.

8.24.22 Praise Indra like Vyaśva: him of unwavering waves, the prize-winner, the controller, the noble one who bestows wealth upon the worshipper.

8.24.23 Even thus, O descendant of Vyaśva, praise him now for the tenth and ninth time: the one who knows well and is ever-active among those who move about.

8.24.24 For thou knowest the avoidance of calamities, O vajra-handed one, day by day — as the purifier [knows] the circuit of [his] steps.

8.24.25 Bring that, O Indra, for our gain, O most wondrous one; impel [us] to action; spur Kutsa twofold for his deeds.

8.24.26 We implore thee now with new [praise], O most wondrous one, for the gaining [of wealth]; so thou shalt overcome all hostile assaults upon us.

8.24.27 He who releases from hardship in the bear-[haunted realm], who [delivers] from danger in the seven rivers — O mighty-spirited one, we have bent down the weapon of the Dāsa.

8.24.28 As thou didst bring wealth to the excellent-song [singer] for the gaining [thereof], to the [descendants] of Vyaśva, O blessed one, O possessor of prize-winning steeds.

8.24.29 May the gift of the right hand of the noble one go to the soma-pressing descendants of Vyaśva — the abundant bounty, a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

8.24.30 When the sacrificer asks thee, led astray by a deceiver and a deceiving deed, [say:] this Vala, when laid open, stands [revealed] before the cow-rich [realm].

8.25.1 Those two of you, O gods worthy of sacrifice among the gods, O guardians of all, O upholders of ṛta and of pure discernment, I sacrifice to you.

8.25.2 Mitra and Varuṇa — their bond is like that of chariot-fellows — and he of good purpose; from of old well-born, [their] offspring, keepers of their vow.

8.25.3 The great Aditi, the mother of all knowledge and of divine power, the one abounding in ṛta, bore those two of boundless greatness.

8.25.4 The great Mitra and Varuṇa, the two sovereign lords, divine Asuras, upholders of ṛta, proclaim ṛta with a great voice.

8.25.5 Grandsons of great might, sons of Dakṣa, of good purpose, givers of flowing [gifts], sitters upon the dwelling-place of nourishments.

8.25.6 You two have brought together the divine and earthly nourishments; may the cloud-bearing rains come to you.

8.25.7 They who look down from the great heaven as [a herdsman looks] over his herd — the two upholders of ṛta, the sovereign lords, devoted to homage.

8.25.8 The two upholders of ṛta, of good purpose, have sat down for sovereign rule; the keepers of their vow, the rulers, have attained dominion.

8.25.9 With glaring eye [they watch], more knowledgeable than even the eye itself [in finding] a path; unblinking and sharp-sighted, they have discerned everything.

8.25.10 And may the divine Aditi protect us and [may] the Nāsatyas [protect us]; may the Maruts of grown might protect us.

8.25.11 May those good givers protect our ship by day and by night; may we, unharmed, remain under [their] guard.

8.25.12 Unharmed, to thee, O Viṣṇu, O good giver, we address [our prayer]; hear, O self-moving river Sindhu, for [thy] ancient understanding.

8.25.13 We choose that most excellent, desirable [protection] which guards — what Mitra guards, what Varuṇa guards, what Aryamā guards.

8.25.14 And may the Sindhu of the waters grant us that; the Maruts, the Aśvins, Indra, Viṣṇu — all the generous ones in unison.

8.25.15 For those men who are eager [to please them] strike back the hostile designs of any whatsoever — [fierce] as the raging current strikes back — they are impetuous.

8.25.16 This one sovereign lord truly sees widely and abundantly; following his ordinances do we move.

8.25.17 We follow the ancient, well-known [ordinances] of the sovereign rule — the vows of Mitra and Varuṇa, heard far and wide.

8.25.18 He who has measured with his cord the boundaries of heaven and earth, who has filled both the world-halves with his greatness.

8.25.19 The sun has raised up the light in the shelter of heaven; like Agni bright, once kindled and invoked.

8.25.20 He is lord of speech whose dwelling-place is vast, lord of the prize rich in cattle; he is the lord of the invigorating nourishment to give.

8.25.21 That sun I invoke before both world-halves, at evening and at morning; always shine upon us among the generous ones.

8.25.22 The gleaming [bull] on its path, the silver-bright on the golden [track] — may we obtain the yoked chariot in the good soma [pressing].

8.25.23 Those two who urge on [the steeds] of horses, [those who guide] the bay horses — and also the man-carrying [bay steeds] of [those] who act [heroically].

8.25.24 With gleaming reins and whips, with the freshest inspired thought, the two great prize-winning coursers are seated together.

8.26.1 I call your chariot for the common praise among the patrons; [you] of unweakened power, O bulls, O lords with strong bulls.

8.26.2 You two are the best for [him of] excellent soma-song, for great offspring, O Nāsatyas; come with your aids, O bulls, O lords with strong bulls.

8.26.3 We call upon you two today with our oblations, O lords of prizes; [you who] quicken the many impulses through the nights.

8.26.4 May your swiftest chariot come, O renowned Aśvins, O men; you appear at the praises of Tura for [his] glory.

8.26.5 Even while going astray, O Aśvins, you two would be well-disposed, O lords with strong bulls; for you two, O Rudras, carry [us] beyond our foes.

8.26.6 For you wonders travel continually around everything with swiftness; quickeners of thought, honey-bright, lords of beauty.

8.26.7 Come to us, O Aśvins, together with wealth that nourishes all, O bountiful ones with excellent heroic force, ever-steadfast.

8.26.8 Come toward me directly for this, O Indra and Nāsatyas; today, O gods, [come] to the gods as the most helpful companions.

8.26.9 For we call upon you two, seeking cattle-wealth like the [descendants] of Vyaśva; come hither, O inspired ones, with your benevolences.

8.26.10 O seer, praise the Aśvins well; perchance [they] who drive by swiftly will hear the call — even from nearer than the Paṇis.

8.26.11 You men know the fame of the descendant of Vyaśva and know of this [hymn] of mine; Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryamā [are] in accord.

8.26.12 O bulls, instruct me day by day in what has been given by you and what has been brought by you among the patrons.

8.26.13 He who is enveloped by your sacrifices like a bride clothed in garments — he who serves you two has caused beauty [to be made], O Aśvins.

8.26.14 He who perceives your most wide-ranging [bounty] worthy of men, to him, O Aśvins, come round on your course, eager for us.

8.26.15 Come to us well, O lords with strong bulls, on your course worthy of men; as if against traitors you have borne our sacrifice with your song.

8.26.16 The hymn of praise, the best bearer of your invocations, shall be the messenger calling [you], O men; let it belong to you two, O Aśvins.

8.26.17 Whether you two are in that ocean of heaven, or taking joy in [your] home with refreshments — hear, O immortal ones, this [hymn] of mine.

8.26.18 And this white-coursing [river], the best bearer among the rivers — the Sindhu with her golden track.

8.26.19 With this good fame, O Aśvins, with this white thought, you two who travel brightly shall carry [us].

8.26.20 Harness, O Vāyu, the chariot-supporters, yoke the nourishing ones, O lord of wealth; come and drink the sweet [soma] of ours; come to our soma-pressings.

8.26.21 Thy aids, O Vāyu, lord of ṛta, O wondrous son-in-law of Tvaṣṭṛ, we choose [for ourselves].

8.26.22 We, the people who have pressed the soma, brilliant [in song], implore the son-in-law of Tvaṣṭṛ, the lord of wealth — Vāyu.

8.26.23 Come, O Vāyu, with auspicious [gifts] from heaven; carry well [the omen of] good horses; carry [us] with great, broad-winged [speed] in thy chariot.

8.26.24 Thee, the most easy to find a place with among the places of men, we invoke — like the pressing-stone, not [like one who rides] on the horse's back, with generosity.

8.26.25 So do thou, O god Vāyu, in thy mind, rejoicing as the foremost one, grant us prizes; drive forward [our] thoughts.

8.27.1 Agni is appointed hotar in the recitation, the pressing-stones and sacred grass at the sacrifice; with my verse I approach the Maruts, the lord of the sacred word, the gods, the most excellent help.

8.27.2 Thou encompassest cattle, earth, forest trees, Dawn and Night, the plants; and may all of you, O Vasus, all-knowing, be the promoters of our thoughts.

8.27.3 Let our sacrifice go forward among the gods, the ancient one [proceeding] to Agni; [let it go] to Varuṇa the keeper of his vow among the Ādityas, and to the Maruts of all-pervading radiance.

8.27.4 For all of them, all-knowing and devouring enemies, truly existed for the growth of Manu; with uninjured guardianship, all-knowing, may they lead us to a safe shelter.

8.27.5 Come to us today, all of you with one mind, all in accord; with verse and song, O Maruts, O divine Aditi, [come] to our great domestic dwelling.

8.27.6 Come, O Maruts, toward the dear [offerings] and those of yours that are equine — the oblations, O Mitra; let Indra, Varuṇa, the swift men, the Ādityas, sit down on our sacred grass.

8.27.7 We, with strewn sacred grass, with offerings set in place, in succession, with pressed soma, O Varuṇa, we call upon you — with fires kindled as in the [time of] Manu.

8.27.8 Come forward, O Maruts, Viṣṇu, Aśvins, Pūṣan, with no niggardly thought; let Indra come first with his prize-winning [powers] — the bull whom I praise as the slayer of Vṛtra.

8.27.9 Protect us, O gods, free of malice, with unbroken shelter; for no sheltering [power], whether from far or near, even now subdues [the foe], O Vasus.

8.27.10 There is a community of kind with you, O gods who devour enemies; there is kinship; speak to us for our former well-being, quickly for a newer blessedness.

8.27.11 Now indeed I have sent forth homage to you and now [homage] for the obtaining of the good [gift] — I, who reverently approach you all-knowing ones, as if toward another.

8.27.12 He, your Savitṛ, O best-guiding ones, has stood up high, most excellent; the two-footed [creatures] and the four-footed ones have come to rest, [and so have] the flying ones who seek their purpose.

8.27.13 Each god among you for protection, each god for favor — each god we call for the winning of prizes, celebrating [each one] with our divine thought.

8.27.14 For all the gods, with one mind, all together, were truly generous to Manu; may they today and tomorrow, in our want, in our need, be the finders of wide space for us.

8.27.15 I declare for you, O guileless ones, at the gathering of praises: no deception [afflicts] that mortal, O Varuṇa and Mitra, who has given devotion to your ordinances.

8.27.16 He who gives devotion to your favor extends his dwelling, [gaining] manifold impulses; he is born [abundantly] with offspring according to the law; uninjured, he prospers fully.

8.27.17 He finds [success] in battle without [harm], travels the roads by easy [paths] — him whom Aryamā, Mitra, and Varuṇa, generous and in accord, protect.

8.27.18 Even in the open field make for him an easy descent [from danger]; even in a narrow pass a good escape; even this thunderbolt that has missed its mark from this [foe] — let it vanish away.

8.27.19 What you, O dear-sovereignty ones, establish as ṛta when the sun rises, O all-knowing ones, and at sunset, at awakening, or at midday of the sky —

8.27.20 And whatever ṛta you Asuras direct toward [us] at the drawing near of gifts, what shelter you two determine for the worshipper — may we stand in the midst of that, O Vasus, all-knowing.

8.27.21 What good [thing] you, all-knowing, place for Manu at the rising of the sun, and at the coming of midday — [you bestow it] upon him who pours the oblation, the wise-minded.

8.27.22 That [bounty] of you sovereign rulers we choose like a son [chooses] what is much to be drunk; may we, O Ādityas, when we pour the oblation, attain that by which we may enjoy better things.

8.28.1 The gods who, more than thirty-three, have sat on the sacred grass — they found [it], and also sat down in both [realms].

8.28.2 Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryamā — the fires of memorable generosity — accompanied by their spouses, summoned with the vaṣaṭ-call.

8.28.3 They are our guardians in the south, they in the north, they rightly here below and above — in front with all the folk.

8.28.4 As the gods wish, so indeed it shall be; no one diminishes that [will] of theirs; no mortal [is] without their bounty.

8.28.5 Of the seven [groups], seven are their spear-points, seven are their glories; seven are borne upon their splendors.

8.29.1 One [god] is tawny-brown and facing both ways, youthful; he anoints himself with gold.

8.29.2 One, the shining one, has sat down in the womb [of the altar], the wise one among the gods.

8.29.3 One holds the iron axe in his hand, the firm one among the gods.

8.29.4 One holds the vajra in his hand, laid ready; with it he strikes down the Vṛtras.

8.29.5 One holds the sharp weapon in his hand — the pure, terrible one, the healer with cool medicines.

8.29.6 One watches over the paths as a thief [watches]; he knows the treasures hidden [along the way].

8.29.7 One of wide stride has stepped out the three [steps] to where the gods rejoice.

8.29.8 Two travel with the birds, together with one; they dwell as if [going] abroad on a journey.

8.29.9 Two have made their seat the highest in heaven, the two sovereign rulers, at the pressing of ghee and soma.

8.29.10 Some, singing, comprehended the great Sāman; by it they made the sun to shine.

8.30.1 There is no one among you who is a small child, O gods, no one who is a mere boy; all of you are truly great.

8.30.2 Having been thus praised, you have been [revealed as] the devourers of enemies — you who are thirty-three, O gods of Manu, worthy of sacrifice.

8.30.3 Protect us, help us, and speak above us; do not lead us far away from the ancestral paths of Manu, to a remote distance.

8.30.4 You gods who stand here, all of you, Vaiśvānara as well — grant to us shelter of broad extent, [shelter for] cattle and horses.

8.31.1 He who sacrifices — he alone truly sacrifices — who both presses the soma and cooks the oblation: such a man has found favour, like a priest, with Indra.

8.31.2 He who presents to Indra the sacrificial cake, the soma, and the milk-mixture — even from such distress does Śakra free him.

8.31.3 His chariot shall be resplendent, impelled by the gods, growing in strength, conquering all hostile forces.

8.31.4 In his house, Iḷā, rich in cattle, never failing, milks her udder day by day with progeny in abundance.

8.31.5 Those husband and wife who, of one mind, press the soma and hasten to the ritual — for them the gods are ever present with their milk-mixture.

8.31.6 Together they reach toward the sacrificial grass spread here to receive the prāśitra offering; they two are never wearied in the winning of prizes.

8.31.7 They do not conceal the benevolence of the gods nor do they withhold it; they seek to win great glory.

8.31.8 That pair, blessed with sons and daughters, enjoy full length of life — both of them adorned with gold.

8.31.9 They who enjoy the fire's oblation, who have accumulated wealth, honouring the immortal rightly — they milk the woolly udder together and render service among the gods.

8.31.10 We choose the shelter of the mountains and of the rivers, and the shelter of Viṣṇu who is ever present with us.

8.31.11 May Pūṣan come, and riches, and Bhaga — welfare most all-sustaining; may the wide road be for our wellbeing.

8.31.12 Aramati, ever undisturbed, fully in accord with the mind of the universal god — she is truly the faultless one among the Ādityas.

8.31.13 Even as Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuṇa are our guardians, may the path of Ṛta be easy to travel.

8.31.14 With this hymn I praise Agni for you, the ancient god, foremost among the Vasus — as we worship him who is dear to many, who, like Mitra, accomplishes things in the field.

8.31.15 Swiftly moves the chariot of him who has the gods with him, or the hero in whatever battles — the sacrificer who seeks to please the will of the gods surpasses those who do not sacrifice.

8.31.16 You do not suffer harm, O sacrificer; nor the soma-presser, nor the devout worshipper — the sacrificer who seeks to please the will of the gods surpasses those who do not sacrifice.

8.31.17 No one can harm him through deeds; no one has driven him away nor drives him away — the sacrificer who seeks to please the will of the gods surpasses those who do not sacrifice.

8.31.18 There shall be good heroic strength and that famed wealth of horses for him — the sacrificer who seeks to please the will of the gods surpasses those who do not sacrifice.

8.32.1 Proclaim, O Kaṇvas, in your song the deeds of Indra, the soma-drinker, in the exhilaration of the soma.

8.32.2 He who, fierce, releasing the waters, slew Sṛbinda who gave no gifts, Pipru, the Dāsa Ahīśuva.

8.32.3 O Indra, that manly feat belongs to you — that you pushed down the broad top, the height of Arbuda.

8.32.4 For you who are renowned I boldly call upon Indra — swift as Tūrṇāśa from the mountain-top — the well-jawed one, for his aid.

8.32.5 Exhilarated by the soma-draughts, you burst open the stall of cows and horses, O hero, like a fortress.

8.32.6 If you have delighted in my pressed soma or set your pleasure in my hymn, come from afar of your own accord.

8.32.7 Indeed we are your praisers, O Indra, who art praised with hymns; invigorate us, O soma-drinker.

8.32.8 Bring us nourishment, gladly sharing what is inexhaustible, O Maghavan — your wealth is abundant.

8.32.9 Make us also rich in cattle, rich in gold, and rich in horses; may we lay hold of Iḷā's blessings.

8.32.10 We call upon Bṛbaduktham, upon the Sṛprakarṇas, for aid, for the protection of him who acts rightly.

8.32.11 He who, even amid a battle, at once acts thus — the Vṛtra-slayer, Śatakratu, rich in goods, for his praisers.

8.32.12 May even powerful Śakra be able, bringing gifts from the interior — Indra with all his aids.

8.32.13 Him who is the great sustainer of wealth, easy to cross, the friend of the soma-presser — sing to that Indra.

8.32.14 Him who is coming, greatly steadfast, winning glory in battles, ruling over abundance with his strength.

8.32.15 No one is the restrainer of his powers, of his true and gracious gifts; no one who says 'he will not give.'

8.32.16 There is now no debt owed by the brahmins who press soma and consume the oblation; the soma is not drunk unrewarded.

8.32.17 Sing of the wondrous one; recite hymns of the wondrous one; compose the prayer — it is for the wondrous one.

8.32.18 The wondrous one who goes unchecked shakes down hundreds and thousands — Indra the prize-winner, who increases the sacrificer.

8.32.19 Pass freely through the peoples according to your own will, following the invocations; O Indra, drink of the pressed juices.

8.32.20 Drink of those who follow their own will, and of him who is with Tugrya, and of this one too, O Indra, who is yours.

8.32.21 Come past him who presses soma in anger; come to the one who has well pressed near at hand; drink of this soma that has been given.

8.32.22 Go to the three distant regions, go beyond the five peoples — the hymn-speech has shone clearly upon Indra.

8.32.23 As the sun releases a ray, may my hymns reach you and guide you aright, as waters flow downward to their goal.

8.32.24 O Adhvaryu, pour the soma for the hero with prominent lips; bring it for him to drink of the pressed juice.

8.32.25 He who split the cloud-dam of the waters and released the rivers downward, who held back what was ripened in the cows.

8.32.26 He slew Vṛtra, Ṛcīṣama, Aurṇavābha, Ahīśuva; he struck Arbuda with frost.

8.32.27 Sing forth the god-given prayer to the fierce and inexorable one, the unconquerable, the all-subduing.

8.32.28 Indra, in the exhilaration of the soma-draught, takes note of all the ordinances among the gods.

8.32.29 Here those two tawny steeds who rejoice together, golden-maned, carry him toward the oblation that is set forth.

8.32.30 O much-praised one, your two tawny steeds praised by Priyamedha shall carry you hitherward to drink the soma.

8.33.1 We indeed, having pressed soma, like waters with the kuśa-grass spread, O Vṛtra-slayer, sit around the streams of the purifying filter as your praisers.

8.33.2 The men sound forth praises of you at the soma-pressing, O Vasu, with uninterrupted hymns; when will you come thirstily to your home, to the pressed soma, O Indra, like a bull-elephant to its lair?

8.33.3 O bold one, boldly burst open the thousandfold prize for the Kaṇvas; O tawny-formed Maghavan, wide-seeing one, we desire quickly a prize rich in cattle.

8.33.4 Guard the exhilarating drink of the soma's essence for Indra, O Medhyātithi — he who is intermingled with his two tawny steeds, who is present at the pressing, the vajra-bearer, whose chariot is golden.

8.33.5 He who is well invoked, well rewarding, the lord who is praised for his good resolve, he who is the mine of thousands, who has a hundred gifts — Indra who is invoked as fort-splitter.

8.33.6 He who is bold, unimpeded, who rests his power upon his beard — Vibhūtadyumna, the one who shakes all, praised by many, in might like a bull by reason of his wisdom.

8.33.7 Who knows him drinking together at the soma-pressing? What body has he assumed? — He who shatters strongholds with his strength, intoxicated by the soma-draught, the jawed drinker.

8.33.8 You have taken up a far-ranging movement like a liberal bull-elephant; no one restrains you — come to the soma-pressing, you who move in greatness with your power.

8.33.9 He who, being fierce and not overcome, stands firm, prepared for battle — if Maghavan hears the call of the praiser, Indra would not tarry but would come.

8.33.10 Truly thus you are a bull; impelled by virile strength, unimpeded; a bull you are heard, O fierce one, even afar; a bull you are renowned here close at hand.

8.33.11 Your reins are virile, virile the golden goad, virile the chariot, O Maghavan, virile your two tawny steeds — you yourself are a bull, O Śatakratu.

8.33.12 Let the virile presser press for you, O bull, O Ṛjīpin, bring hither; a bull stirs the bulls in the rivers for you, O steadfast one, master of the tawny steeds.

8.33.13 Come, O Indra, to drink the sweet soma-drink, O mightiest one — let Maghavan, of good resolve, hear these hymns and prayers directed toward him here.

8.33.14 Let the tawny steeds yoked to the car carry you hitherward to stand in the chariot; pass beyond the pressings of others, O Vṛtra-slayer, O Śatakratu.

8.33.15 Fix your mind upon our most intimate praise-hymn of today, O greatest of the great; may our pressings be most blissful for your exhilaration, O resplendent soma-drinker.

8.33.16 Truly that hero who brought us here — neither in your instruction nor in mine nor in another's does he take pleasure.

8.33.17 Even Indra himself has said this: the mind of a woman is not worthy of praise, and moreover her will is fickle.

8.33.18 Even the two that carry the chariot together, a pair shaken by intoxication — even so the bull's yoke is the upper one.

8.33.19 Look downward, not upward; draw your feet closer together; let not your hair-knots be seen — for you have become a woman-priest.

8.34.1 O Indra, come with your tawny steeds to the fine praise of Kaṇva — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.2 May the speaking pressing-stone here, resonant with the soma-sound, draw you — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.3 Here the rim of these wheels does not rattle — the wolf shakes not the sheep — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.4 The Kaṇvas call you hither for protection, for the winning of prizes — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.5 I offer you, O bull, the first draught of the pressed juices — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.6 Come to us, possessed of power and wisdom, all-knowing, for our aid — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.7 Come to us, O greatly wise, O possessor of a thousand streams, O Śatāmagha — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.8 May the praiseworthy Hotṛ, established by Manu, carry you to the divine sphere — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.9 Your two tawny steeds, shaken by exhilaration, shall carry you like a falcon on its wings — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.10 Come hither, O noble lord, come round about — svāhā! — to drink the soma — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.11 Come to us, O Upaśruti; take delight here in our hymns — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.12 Come well to us with matching pairs, O one whose horses are well gathered, with well-gathered gifts — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.13 Come from the mountains, from the height above the ocean — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.14 Burst open for us thousands of cattle-prizes and horse-prizes, O hero — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.15 Bring to us by thousands, by ten thousands, and by hundreds — commanded by yonder heaven, go to heaven, O nourisher by day.

8.34.16 When Indra and I have brought a thousand of the glowing-with-wealth, the mightiest of horse-prizes, the cattle-wealth.

8.34.17 Those that are chestnut-bright, swift as the wind, ruddy and light-footed — they shine like suns.

8.34.18 Among the gifts of Pārāvata, among the swift ones with rolling wheels, I stand in the middle of the forest.

8.35.1 Together with Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Viṣṇu, the Ādityas, Rudras, and Vasus, being present with them — together with Dawn, and with the Sun — drink the soma, O Aśvins.

8.35.2 Together with all intuitions, with the world, O prize-winners, with heaven, earth, and mountains being present — together with Dawn and with the Sun — drink the soma, O Aśvins.

8.35.3 Together with all the gods — three and eleven — with the Maruts here, with the Bhṛgus, being present — together with Dawn and with the Sun — drink the soma, O Aśvins.

8.35.4 Be pleased with the sacrifice, be aware of my invocation; come here, O both divine ones, to both pressings — together with Dawn and with the Sun — bring sustenance to us, O Aśvins.

8.35.5 Be pleased with the hymn as young men with maidens; come here, O both divine ones, to both pressings — together with Dawn and with the Sun — bring sustenance to us, O Aśvins.

8.35.6 Be pleased with the hymns, be pleased with the sacrifice; come here, O both divine ones, to both pressings — together with Dawn and with the Sun — bring sustenance to us, O Aśvins.

8.35.7 You two fly like golden falcons to the forest; you come to the pressed soma like two buffaloes — together with Dawn and with the Sun — come round three times, O Aśvins.

8.35.8 You two fly like swans, like those that traverse the path; you come to the pressed soma like two buffaloes — together with Dawn and with the Sun — come round three times, O Aśvins.

8.35.9 You two fly like two eagles for the offering of the oblation; you come to the pressed soma like two buffaloes — together with Dawn and with the Sun — come round three times, O Aśvins.

8.35.10 Drink and be sated, and come here; bestow progeny and bestow wealth — together with Dawn and with the Sun — bestow vigour upon us, O Aśvins.

8.35.11 Conquer and urge forward your praisers; bestow progeny and bestow wealth — together with Dawn and with the Sun — bestow vigour upon us, O Aśvins.

8.35.12 Smite the enemies and restrain the friendly ones; bestow progeny and bestow wealth — together with Dawn and with the Sun — bestow vigour upon us, O Aśvins.

8.35.13 Together with Mitra-Varuṇa, together with Dharma, together with the Maruts, come you both to the call of the praiser — together with Dawn and with the Sun, come with the Ādityas, O Aśvins.

8.35.14 Together with the Aṅgirasas, together with Viṣṇu, together with the Maruts, come you both to the call of the praiser — together with Dawn and with the Sun, come with the Ādityas, O Aśvins.

8.35.15 Together with the Ṛbhus, O ye bulls, together with the prize-winners, with the Maruts, come you both to the call of the praiser — together with Dawn and with the Sun, come with the Ādityas, O Aśvins.

8.35.16 Quicken the prayer and quicken the inspired thoughts; smite the demons and drive away the diseases — together with Dawn and with the Sun, O Aśvins, come to the soma-presser.

8.35.17 Quicken the royal power and quicken the men; smite the demons and drive away the diseases — together with Dawn and with the Sun, O Aśvins, come to the soma-presser.

8.35.18 Quicken the milk-cows and quicken the clans; smite the demons and drive away the diseases — together with Dawn and with the Sun, O Aśvins, come to the soma-presser.

8.35.19 Hear the ancient praise of Śyāvāśva as he presses soma, O ye two who are shaken by exhilaration, as once you heard Atri — together with Dawn and with the Sun, O Aśvins, across the day.

8.35.20 Release streams of fine praises toward Śyāvāśva who presses soma, O ye two shaken by exhilaration — together with Dawn and with the Sun, O Aśvins, across the day.

8.35.21 Guide the reins of the sacrificial rites toward Śyāvāśva who presses soma, O ye two shaken by exhilaration — together with Dawn and with the Sun, O Aśvins, across the day.

8.35.22 Turn the chariot hither, drink the sweet soma; come here, O Aśvins — I call upon you both with desire for aid; bestow treasures upon the worshipper.

8.35.23 O ye heroes, when the reverential call is set forth at the sacrifice, to drink the soma-drink — come here, O Aśvins; I call upon you both with desire for aid; bestow treasures upon the worshipper.

8.35.24 Be sated, O divine pair, with the soma-draught prepared with svāhā — come here, O Aśvins; I call upon you both with desire for aid; bestow treasures upon the worshipper.

8.36.1 You are the protector of the soma-presser who has spread the sacred grass; drink the soma for exhilaration, O Śatakratu — that share which all-conquering armies have preserved for you, striding widely, meeting in the waters — O Indra accompanied by the Maruts, O lord of the good.

8.36.2 Help the praiser, O Maghavan, he who helps you; drink the soma for exhilaration, O Śatakratu — that share which all-conquering armies have preserved for you, striding widely, meeting in the waters — O Indra accompanied by the Maruts, O lord of the good.

8.36.3 With nourishment protect the gods; with strength protect yourself; drink the soma for exhilaration, O Śatakratu — that share which all-conquering armies have preserved for you, striding widely, meeting in the waters — O Indra accompanied by the Maruts, O lord of the good.

8.36.4 Begetter of heaven, begetter of the earth; drink the soma for exhilaration, O Śatakratu — that share which all-conquering armies have preserved for you, striding widely, meeting in the waters — O Indra accompanied by the Maruts, O lord of the good.

8.36.5 You are the begetter of horses, the begetter of cattle; drink the soma for exhilaration, O Śatakratu — that share which all-conquering armies have preserved for you, striding widely, meeting in the waters — O Indra accompanied by the Maruts, O lord of the good.

8.36.6 Make the hymn of the Atris great, O stone-armed one; drink the soma for exhilaration, O Śatakratu — that share which all-conquering armies have preserved for you, striding widely, meeting in the waters — O Indra accompanied by the Maruts, O lord of the good.

8.36.7 Hear thus Śyāvāśva pressing soma, as you heard Atri performing his deeds; you alone protected Trasadasyu, O hero-overpowering Indra, making the prayers grow.

8.37.1 Mightily have you protected this prayer in the slayings of Vṛtra; protect the soma-presser, O lord of might, Indra, with all your aids; O Vṛtra-slayer, beyond reproach, O bearer of the vajra, drink of the midday soma-pressing.

8.37.2 Overpowering, fierce against the armies, against the deceivers, O lord of might, Indra, with all your aids; O Vṛtra-slayer, beyond reproach, O bearer of the vajra, drink of the midday soma-pressing.

8.37.3 You reign as sole king over this world, O lord of might, Indra, with all your aids; O Vṛtra-slayer, beyond reproach, O bearer of the vajra, drink of the midday soma-pressing.

8.37.4 You alone drive away both the moving and the stationary, O lord of might, Indra, with all your aids; O Vṛtra-slayer, beyond reproach, O bearer of the vajra, drink of the midday soma-pressing.

8.37.5 You rule over security and over its means of attainment, O lord of might, Indra, with all your aids; O Vṛtra-slayer, beyond reproach, O bearer of the vajra, drink of the midday soma-pressing.

8.37.6 You protect for the sake of dominion; it is you who protect, O lord of might, Indra, with all your aids; O Vṛtra-slayer, beyond reproach, O bearer of the vajra, drink of the midday soma-pressing.

8.37.7 Hear thus Śyāvāśva singing aloud, as you heard Atri performing his deeds; you alone protected Trasadasyu, O hero-overpowering Indra, making royal powers grow.

8.38.1 You two are indeed the ritual priests of the sacrifice, victorious in prize-winnings and in deeds — O Indrāgnī, be aware of this.

8.38.2 You two, hastening your chariot, are the slayers of Vṛtra and unconquered — O Indrāgnī, be aware of this.

8.38.3 This sweet, intoxicating drink the men have milked with the pressing-stones for you two — O Indrāgnī, be aware of this.

8.38.4 Be pleased with the sacrifice for the attainment of desires, with the pressed soma — ye who are praised together — O Indrāgnī, come hither, O heroes.

8.38.5 Be pleased with these pressings by which you have been offered the oblations — O Indrāgnī, come hither, O heroes.

8.38.6 Be pleased with this my fine praise that moves in the Gāyatrī metre — O Indrāgnī, come hither, O heroes.

8.38.7 Come with the morning rites, with the gods, O ye two whose wealth is desirable — O Indrāgnī, to drink the soma.

8.38.8 Hear the invocation of Śyāvāśva who presses soma, and of the Atris — O Indrāgnī, to drink the soma.

8.38.9 Thus I have invoked you both for aid, just as the wise invoke you — O Indrāgnī, to drink the soma.

8.38.10 I choose the protection of Indrāgnī, who are accompanied by Sarasvatī — in whose honour the Gāyatrī is chanted.

8.39.1 I have praised Agni, worthy of hymns; Agni is to be praised and worshipped; may Agni anoint us among the gods — for the seer moves as messenger between both the assemblies. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.2 O Agni, set down upon our bodies with fresh speech the praise of these worshippers; set down upon the miserly the hostility of all — may the foe's hostilities depart from here, the witless one. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.3 O Agni, the prayers for you are poured as ghee upon the mouth; make those known among the gods — for you are the ancient, the beneficent messenger of Vivasvat. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.4 Agni bestows sustenance just as the pitiful one supplicates; the oblation of nourishment of the Vasus, and happiness and welfare, he bestows for every divine invocation. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.5 Agni perceived with the more powerful by wondrous deeds; he is the Hotṛ encompassed with gifts for all time, and he drives off the adversary. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.6 Agni is the birth-place of the gods; Agni knows the secret of mortals; Agni is the bestower of wealth; Agni, well-invoked, opens the doors with fresh oblation. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.7 Agni dwells together with the gods; he is among the clans in the sacrificial assemblies; he joyfully nourishes the many poetic visions, everything, like the earth — the divine and sacrificeable one among the gods. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.8 That Agni who is Saptamānuṣa, who resides in all the rivers — to him we have come, the triple-stationed one, belonging to Mandhātṛ, the greatest slayer of Dasyus, the ancient Agni at the sacrifices. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.9 Agni, the seer, dwells upon the three triple-layered realms; the inspired messenger, perfectly formed, shall here worship and delight us with the three sets of eleven. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.39.10 You alone, O Agni, ancient one, rule over our life-forces, over wealth among the gods; the flowing waters with their own banks circle around you. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.1 O Indrāgnī, you two conquering heroes bestow riches upon us — wealth whereby even in the contests we might overcome what is firmly fixed and strong, as fire in the forest with the wind. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.2 We do not choose you two by exclusion — we indeed worship Indra, the mightiest, the hero among men; may he come to us at some time with his steed for the winning of prizes, may he come for the winning of sacrifice. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.3 Those two, Indrāgnī, are settled in the middle of sustenance; those two seers with their poet-wisdom, when questioned, come together in friendship and together attain what is laid down, O heroes. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.4 Praise Indrāgnī with song and hymn as Nabhāka did — those two in whose great lap this whole moving world, yonder heaven and earth, carry their treasure. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.5 Send forth the prayers to Indrāgnī as Nabhāka did — those prayers that uncovered the ocean with seven foundations, with the oblique shore — Indra the ruler by his power. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.6 Cut away as of old, deceive the Dāsa's swelling power as one lops a tree's branch; may we share out that accumulated wealth of his together with Indra. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.7 When these peoples call upon Indrāgnī with their lineages and hymns, may we, with our heroes, overcome those who battle against us and conquer those who would conquer us. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.8 Those two that are white, rising upward from heaven, moving alongside the days — the rivers following the ordinance of Indrāgnī go along, those which they two released from their bond. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.9 Many are your similar forms, O Indra, many too your praised deeds, O son of Hinva, O tawny-steeded one; may those who are the sources of heroic wealth now accomplish our inspired thoughts. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.10 Whet him with fine praises — the resplendent champion worthy of hymns; and may he who by his strength shatters Śuṣṇa's eggs conquer the water-bearing streams. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.11 Whet him who conducts the sacrifice well, the true champion, the seasonable one; and may he who shatters with unstoppable force the eggs of Śuṣṇa conquer the water-bearing streams. Let the others on the same side be confounded.

8.40.12 Thus to Indrāgnī in the manner of the Fathers, newly, as Mandhātṛ and the Aṅgirasas declared: protect us with threefold shelter — may we be lords of riches.

8.41.1 Sing praise to him for our abundance — to Varuṇa, to the Maruts, to those who know most; who, as the herdsman keeps cattle, guards the thoughts of men. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.2 Praise him with harmonious song, with the hymns of the Fathers, with the praises of Nābhāka — who at the rising of the rivers stands as middle one with seven sisters. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.3 He has embraced the nights; by his māyā he has laid the dawns within; he is visible encompassing all. Three Dawns have grown great following his ordinance, his streams. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.4 He who sustains the summits, visible above the earth — the primal footstep of Varuṇa is his steed; for he is a shepherd, like a protector of the fold. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.5 He who is the upholder of the worlds, who knows the secret names of the dawn-cows — that seer nourishes manifold forms with his wisdom-songs, as the sky does. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.6 In him all poetic wisdom is lodged as in a hub; they serve Trita swiftly; as cows meet in the fold, he yoked the horses to the yoke. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.7 He who in those mantles reposes — all creatures are his; he has touched round about the dwellings of Varuṇa in the heavenly abode; all the gods follow his ordinance. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.8 He, the hidden ocean, swiftly ascends like the sky; when he laid the sacred formula in those waters; he spread his steps with flaming māyā, ascending the vault of heaven. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.9 His white, far-seeing ones have spread over the three earths; the upper realms have been filled thrice; he rules Varuṇa's fixed abode, sovereign over the seven. May the others perish all alike.

8.41.10 He who made the white ones with shining raiment and the dark ones to follow his ordinance; he measured out the primal domain; he who with his prop held apart the two worlds, sustaining the sky like an unborn one. May the others perish all alike.

8.42.1 The mighty lord, all-knowing, propped up the sky, he measured out the breadth of the earth; he, the universal sovereign, has established all the worlds — all these are the ordinances of Varuṇa.

8.42.2 Thus praise Varuṇa the lofty; with reverence worship the wise guardian of immortality; may he grant us threefold shelter; may Heaven and Earth protect us in their lap.

8.42.3 O god Varuṇa, sharpen together the resolve and discernment of this suppliant's devotion; by that may we cross over all difficulties and mount a well-constructed ship.

8.42.4 O Aśvins, the pressing-stones have stirred toward you, the inspired seers with their hymns; O Nāsatyas, come for the drinking of soma. May the others perish all alike.

8.42.5 As Atri the inspired sage called to you both, O Aśvins, with his songs; O Nāsatyas, come for the drinking of soma. May the others perish all alike.

8.42.6 Thus I call to you both for aid, even as the wise have called; O Nāsatyas, come for the drinking of soma. May the others perish all alike.

8.43.1 These songs of praise go forth for the inspired and creative Agni, who is worshipped with unceasing sacrifices.

8.43.2 For you, O Jātavedas, wide-seeing one, who art delighted in return — O Agni, I fashion the beautiful praise-song.

8.43.3 Truly, O Agni, your sharp flames are like teeth; with them you devour the forests.

8.43.4 The tawny ones with banners of smoke, urged on by the wind toward the sky — the flames of Agni strive in all directions.

8.43.5 These flames of Agni, kindled and striving everywhere, were seen gathered together like the banners of the Dawns.

8.43.6 The dark regions tread his path at the advance of Jātavedas, when Agni spreads across the earth.

8.43.7 Making nourishment, Agni devours the plants yet does not diminish them, going again to the young shoots.

8.43.8 With his tongues he bows down, crackling and blazing with his flame; Agni shines in the forests.

8.43.9 O Agni, your dwelling is in the waters; you pervade the herbs; you are born again in the womb.

8.43.10 O Agni, that flame of yours blazes upward from the oblation of ghee when it is offered, licking at the mouth of the ladle.

8.43.11 With praises let us serve Agni, who is fed with bulls, fed with cows, whose back is the soma, the creative one.

8.43.12 And we implore you, O Agni, with homage, O Hotṛ, O most excellent in purpose, with kindling-sticks.

8.43.13 And you, O gleaming Agni who receivest offerings, we invoke as Bhṛgu did, as Manu did, as the Aṅgirases did.

8.43.14 For you, O Agni, inspired among the inspired, being true among the true, are kindled as friend by the friend.

8.43.15 So you, O Agni, give to the inspired, bountiful worshipper a thousandfold wealth, a vigour accompanied by heroes.

8.43.16 O Agni, brother, mighty one, with bay steeds, of pure ordinances — accept this hymn of mine.

8.43.17 And O Agni, may they who delight in my praise reach you, bellowing in response to the call, like cows to the cow-stall.

8.43.18 For you, O best of Aṅgirases, all the various fair abodes have been ordered, O Agni, to fulfil your desire.

8.43.19 The wise, the intelligent, the eloquent impel Agni with their thoughts, that he may take his seat at the meal.

8.43.20 Him — you, O Agni — powerful in courses, as they spread out the sacrifice, they laud, the carrier and the Hotṛ-priest.

8.43.21 For you are present everywhere, lord over all peoples; we call upon you in the battles.

8.43.22 Praise him — Agni who is invoked and blazes with the ghee-oblations; may he hear this our call.

8.43.23 Him, you — we call upon the listening Jātavedas, O Agni, who smites away our foes.

8.43.24 This wondrous king of peoples, overseer of the sacred laws — this Agni I praise; and may he hear.

8.43.25 Agni the all-invigorating, quivering like a vigorous youth — we speed him like a prize-winning steed.

8.43.26 O Agni, blazing with your sharp flame, smiting away the foes, burning the rākṣasas at all times.

8.43.27 You whom people kindle as Manu did, O best of Aṅgirases — O Agni, that one attend to my words.

8.43.28 Whether you, O Agni, art born in the sky or born in the waters, O mighty one — we invoke you with our songs.

8.43.29 For you indeed these various peoples with all their fair dwellings impel nourishment for your eating.

8.43.30 May we, O Agni, O thou of good thoughts, beholding men, pass through all days, crossing difficult places.

8.43.31 Agni the joyful, beloved of many, swift, with purifying flame — him we implore with joyful hearts.

8.43.32 You, O Agni, luminously wealthy, sending forth rays like the sun, boldly strike down the darkness.

8.43.33 From you, O powerful Agni, we implore that gift which is inexhaustible; from you comes all desirable wealth.

8.44.1 Kindle Agni with fuel; with ghee rouse the guest; pour the oblations into him here.

8.44.2 O Agni, accept my hymn; grow with this meditation; delight in our sacred verses in return.

8.44.3 I place Agni as messenger in front; I invoke the bearer of oblations; may he seat the gods here.

8.44.4 O Agni, your lofty, gleaming flames of the kindled, burning one go forth brilliantly.

8.44.5 Let my ghee-laden ladle approach you, O beloved; O Agni, accept our oblations.

8.44.6 The joyful Hotṛ, the sacrificing priest, brilliant of light, luminously wealthy — Agni I praise; and may he hear.

8.44.7 The ancient, praiseworthy, beloved Agni, wise in intent, the glory of the sacrifices.

8.44.8 O best of Aṅgirases, accepting these oblations one after another, O Agni, lead the sacrifice rightly in due season.

8.44.9 Being kindled here, O brilliant-flaming, truthful one, bring hither, discerning, the divine company.

8.44.10 The inspired Hotṛ, unbeguiling, with banner of smoke, luminously wealthy — the banner of sacrifices we implore.

8.44.11 O Agni, protect us; O god, ward off those who would harm us; shatter enmity, O mighty one.

8.44.12 Agni, adorning his own body with ancient meditation, the seer has increased with the inspired hymn.

8.44.13 I call hither the son of strength, Agni of purifying flame, to this sacrificial rite, this good sacrifice.

8.44.14 O Agni, great as Mitra, with your brilliant flame, take your seat on the sacred grass with the gods.

8.44.15 To that mortal who honours Agni, the god, at home in his own body — to him may he shine forth wealth.

8.44.16 Agni is the head, the peak of heaven; lord of the earth is he; he quickens the seeds of the waters.

8.44.17 O Agni, your pure, brilliant flames blaze upward; your lights, your rays go forth.

8.44.18 For you are lord of desirable gifts, O Agni, master of the sun; may I, your praiser, dwell in your shelter.

8.44.19 You, O Agni, the wise ones impel; they urge you on with their thoughts; may our songs make you grow.

8.44.20 The friendship of Agni — undeceiving, of inherent power, the messenger, ever praising — this we choose.

8.44.21 Agni is most pure in his ordinances, pure, inspired, pure, the seer; blazing pure when the oblation is poured.

8.44.22 And may my devotions, my songs, make you grow at all times, O Agni; be mindful of our friendship.

8.44.23 If I were you, O Agni, or if you were I — your prayers here would be fulfilled in truth.

8.44.24 For you are indeed wealth, lord of wealth, O Agni, luminously wealthy; may we abide in your good favour.

8.44.25 To you, O Agni, of firm ordinances, the bellowing songs go forth as rivers to the sea.

8.44.26 Youthful, lord of the clans, the seer, all-devouring, of manifold vibrations — Agni I adorn with my meditations.

8.44.27 We, on the chariot-road of sacrifices, would seek with praises Agni, the firm one with sharp teeth.

8.44.28 This singer here, O Agni, truly belongs to you; to him, O purifier, be gracious.

8.44.29 For you are wise, seated at the meal, ever watchful like the inspired sage; O Agni, you shine in the sky.

8.44.30 O Agni, O seer, O lord, prolong our life before the troubles come, before the insults come.

8.45.1 Those who kindle Agni and spread the sacred grass continually — Indra is their youthful companion.

8.45.2 Lofty indeed is their fuel, great and far-praised the broad post — those whose youthful companion is Indra.

8.45.3 The hero, without fighting, drives back with warriors what is held back in battle — those whose youthful companion is Indra.

8.45.4 The Vṛtra-slayer took the club at birth; he asked his mother clearly: 'Who are the mighty? Who are those who hear?'

8.45.5 Speaking back to you with power, like a warrior at a mountain in the waters, he fights — whoever claims enmity against you.

8.45.6 And hear, O Maghavan: what one desires from you, that you have spoken; whatever you make firm, that is firm.

8.45.7 When Indra the battle-maker, seeking good horses, goes forth to battle — he is the greatest charioteer among charioteers.

8.45.8 Do you, O wielder of the vajra, dispel all attackers in every direction; be our most glorious protector.

8.45.9 May Indra place our chariot in front for victory, that which the deceivers cannot mislead.

8.45.10 May we turn aside your enemies; you are able, O Śakra, to give; may the gift be for us, Indra, rich in cattle.

8.45.11 Even when going slowly, O stone-wielder, they that carry horses, troops of a hundred, are eloquent, sinless.

8.45.12 For day by day thousands and hundreds of joyful words are bestowed upward upon the singers.

8.45.13 For we know you, O Indra, winner of wealth, splitting even the firm things asunder, as one who cleaves like Gaya.

8.45.14 May the Soma drops delight even the eloquent one, O seer, O bold one, when we implore the Paṇi away from you.

8.45.15 He who is ungenerous, who has seized the wealth that belongs to you for his own enjoyment — bring us his wealth.

8.45.16 These too perceive you, your Soma-pressing companions, O Indra, as prosperous ones regard cattle.

8.45.17 Even though you seem deaf to us, we call you here from afar for aid, you who have ears that hear.

8.45.18 If you should hear this call, this hard-to-ignore invocation, and act upon it — be our nearest intimate.

8.45.19 Even if through confusion we who have come near you have fallen short — be the giver of cattle, O Indra; be mindful of us.

8.45.20 We have seized you as aged men seize a support, O lord of might; we desire you at the meeting-place.

8.45.21 Sing the praise-song to Indra, of many manly deeds, the warrior whom none resist in battle.

8.45.22 O bull, at the pressing of the pressed Soma, I pour it toward you for drinking; be sated, attain to full exhilaration.

8.45.23 Let not foolish, unhostile men deceive you, nor the mockers; win not those who hate the brahman.

8.45.24 Here may the cow-rich ones exhilarate you for great bounty; drink like a wild bull at a pool.

8.45.25 What the Vṛtra-slayer has obtained in the distant realm, ancient and new — proclaim those in the assemblies.

8.45.26 Indra drank the soma pressed from the water-vessel at the thousand-armed one's place; there he displayed his manly power.

8.45.27 That is true: among the Turvaśas and Yadus, knowing the invincible — he spread glory upon the Turvaṇa in calm.

8.45.28 The swift one of the peoples, the distributor of vigour rich in cattle — I have proclaimed him as the equal one.

8.45.29 Not to be turned away, like Ṛbhukṣan, in the praises, who increases the Tugryas — Indra when the soma is pressed together.

8.45.30 He who cleft open the broad mountain for Triśoka, to release passage for the cattle.

8.45.31 What you seize when you are heedless and exhilarated, what you are about to set in motion — do not do that, O Indra; be gracious.

8.45.32 Even a small deed from one such as you is heard throughout the earth; may your mind come to us, O Indra.

8.45.33 These fair praises would truly be yours, and your glories — when you, O Indra, art gracious to us.

8.45.34 Do not strike us down for a single offence, nor for two, nor for three; do not smite us, O hero, for the many.

8.45.35 For I am afraid of one such as you, the mighty, the overthrower, the wonderful one who bears up in the onslaught.

8.45.36 Let not the friend find emptiness, nor the son, O abundant lord; may your mind turn back toward us.

8.45.37 Who then is the companion who, without quarrel, says a true word to his companion? Who now goes away from us?

8.45.38 In such manner, O bull, at the Soma pressing, going to and fro abundantly, not giving out — like a female gambler going downhill.

8.45.39 I grasp your two bay steeds yoked to your words, of beautiful chariot — when you give it to the brahmin-singers.

8.45.40 Shatter all enemies asunder, beat away the harassers, kill the scorners; bring hither that desirable wealth.

8.45.41 What is stored up, O Indra, in the firm one, in the solid, in the rock — bring hither that desirable wealth.

8.45.42 Whose great gift all mankind knows — bring hither that desirable wealth.

8.46.1 We belong to you, O Indra, O abundant lord, O leader — to you, the steady master of the bay steeds.

8.46.2 For we know you truly, O stone-wielder, as the giver of refreshments; we know you as the giver of riches.

8.46.3 Your greatness, O thou of hundredfold aid, O thou of hundredfold resolve, the singers celebrate with their songs.

8.46.4 Truly well-guided is that mortal whom the Maruts, whom Aryaman, whom blameless Mitra protect.

8.46.5 He who bears abundance of cattle, horses, and manly strength, spurred on by the Ādityas, flourishes always with riches longed for by many.

8.46.6 We implore that Indra for his gift — the powerful, the fearless; we implore the lord of riches.

8.46.7 In him are all aids, fearless together; let the coursers bring him hither, the abundant lord, the bay steeds, for joy at the pressed Soma.

8.46.8 That exhilaration of yours, O Indra, which is most excellent, most Vṛtra-slaying, whereby you seized the sun with men, which is hardest to withstand in battles —

8.46.9 He who is invincible, desired by all, worthy of fame, the conqueror in contests — that most powerful one, O lord, come to our pressings; may we reach the cow-rich fold.

8.46.10 Even as before, O great and mighty one, be generous to us with cattle, with horses, with chariots.

8.46.11 O hero, I find no limit to your bounty at all; O Maghavan, even now, O stone-wielder, assist our devotions with prizes.

8.46.12 He who is lofty, the companion who makes things heard — he, much-praised, knows all births; all peoples in every age call upon Indra the mighty, with ladles extended.

8.46.13 May he be our protector in contests, the abundant lord, standing before us, the bountiful Vṛtra-slayer.

8.46.14 Sing with a great song, in the joys of soma, the hero of wide perception; Indra by name is famous, the mighty — even as the word.

8.46.15 Give wealth for the body, give goods, give the vigorous one in contests, O much-invoked one — give now, and therewith.

8.46.16 Ruling over all goods, even the form of him who has conquered — of the lamenting one — now beyond that.

8.46.17 Sufficient for your great desire, we praise the bountiful one, fit to come, fit to arrive; with sacrifices and songs of all people you seek to speed the Maruts — I sing you with a hymn of reverence.

8.46.18 Those who cause to fly with their courses along the ridges of the mountains — the sacrifice of the loudly-bellowing ones, the favour of the powerfully-roaring ones, forward at the rite.

8.46.19 Bring the shattering of ill-wills, O most powerful Indra; bring us riches befitting allies, impelling to the mind — the greatest, impelling to the mind.

8.46.20 Gain-winner, great gain-winner, O fierce, brilliant, most discerning, joyful one — the irresistible sovereign, he who conquers the conquerable, Bhujyu, the foremost in contests.

8.46.21 Let him come hither — the impious one who seized the pious man's filled store — even as Vaśa the horseman took it from him of wide fame, from Kānīta, at the breaking of dawn.

8.46.22 Sixty thousand horses, ten thousand as a seat, twenty hundred camels, ten hundred dark mares, ten hundred tawny-striped ones, ten thousand cattle.

8.46.23 Ten dark, prosperous, generous-spirited, swift ones — they turned the wheel of the chariot at Mathrā.

8.46.24 The generous Kānīta of wide fame and rich bounty — giving a golden chariot, he became the most bountiful patron and gained the highest glory.

8.46.25 Come to us, O Vāyu, for our great extension, for vigour and strength; for we have done much for you to give — at once, for great giving.

8.46.26 He who with horses carries the dawns three times seven of seventy — with these Soma-pressing Soma drinks, O Soma-drinker, for giving, purified and bright-drinking.

8.46.27 He who delighted even this one by his own nature in brilliant giving — at the axle of Araṭva, for Nahuṣa, the good-actioned one, to the one of better deeds, the right-purposeful.

8.46.28 He who is self-ruling in the embodiment of praise, O Vāyu, bathed in ghee — urged by horses, urged by splendour, urged by the hunt, that which is swiftly advancing — this is now that.

8.46.29 And then the dear gift for the vigorous one — sixty thousand for a seat, of steeds, of the stallions.

8.46.30 Like cattle going to the herd they come to the gelded ones; the gelded ones come to me.

8.46.31 And then in Cārathe's troop he distributed a hundred camels; and also among the white ones twenty hundreds.

8.46.32 From the slave Balbūtha the inspired Tarukṣa received a hundred; these people, O Vāyu, rejoice, guarded by Indra they rejoice, guarded by the gods.

8.46.33 And that great woman who faces forward — the desire for horses, adorned with gold, is led away.

8.47.1 Great, O Varuṇa, O Mitra, is the protection of you great ones for the worshipper; he whom the Ādityas protect from betrayal — may misfortune not reach him. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.2 O gods, O Ādityas, know the removal of evils; as wings are above a bird, spread shelter over us. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.3 Spread that shelter over us, as wings over a bird you extend; all protective things, O all-knowing ones, we meditate upon. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.4 To whom the far-seeing ones have given home and life — these Ādityas rule the riches of all Manu's kin. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.5 May evils be warded away from us like a charioteer on difficult roads; may we be in the shelter of Indra and under the protection of the Ādityas. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.6 One who deviously takes away a man's gift given by you — O gods, the Ādityas have powerfully aimed at him. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.7 No sharp missile hits him, no heavy weapon strikes him — to whom the Ādityas of wide shelter have given protection. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.8 We rest on you, O gods, as warriors in armour; you protect us from great sin, you from small. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.9 Let Aditi protect us widely, let Aditi give shelter — the mother of opulent Mitra, of Aryaman, and of Varuṇa. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.10 Whatever shelter, refuge, good fortune, freedom from disease — whatever triple, protective power — that spread over us. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.11 O Ādityas, look down like spies from a bank; lead us along a good ford as of a horse, along an easy path. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.12 May welfare be here not for the fierce beast, not for the worn-out cow, not for the yoke-mate — but welfare for the cow and milch-cow, and for the hero who seeks fame. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.13 Whatever evil is manifest, whatever is hidden, O gods — all that place far from us upon Trita Āptya. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.14 Whatever ill-dream is among cattle, whatever among us, O daughter of the sky — carry that far away to Trita, to Āptya, O brilliant Dawn. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.15 Whether one makes a necklace or a garland, O daughter of the sky — all the ill-dream we hand over to Trita, to Āptya. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.16 That for the eater, that for the worker, that portion for the one who has approached — O Dawn, carry the ill-dream away to Trita and to Dvita. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.17 As we bring together a fragment, a hoof, a debt — so do we bring together all the ill-dream to Āptya. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.47.18 We have conquered today; we have prevailed; we have become sinless; O Dawn, from whatever ill-dream we feared — may it shine away. Sinless are your aids; good aids are your aids.

8.48.1 The wise one of good thoughts has tasted of the sweet drink's vigour, the drink of wide delight; him, calling honey, all the gods and mortals go about.

8.48.2 You have entered within and have become Aditi, warding off the wrath of the divine; O Indu, enjoying the friendship of Indra, may you prosper in riches as along the front of the chariot.

8.48.3 We have drunk Soma; we have become immortals; we have arrived at the light; we have found the gods. What now can hostility do to us, and what the malice of a mortal, O immortal one?

8.48.4 Be beneficial to us, O Indu, when drunk into the heart, O Soma, gracious to the son as a father; wise, of wide fame, as a friend to a friend — O Soma, extend our life to live.

8.48.5 These drops, when drunk, renowned, and widely protective, have bound the joints together as oxen a chariot; let them protect me from going astray, and let the Soma drops keep away fatigue.

8.48.6 Like Agni rubbed forth, kindle me up; make us see further; make us better; for then, O Soma, in your intoxication I think: go forward like a wealthy man toward abundance.

8.48.7 With eager mind may we partake of your pressed drink like the wealth of a father; O King Soma, extend our lives as the sun the days.

8.48.8 O King Soma, be gracious to us in wellbeing; we are your worshippers — know that; your discernment and wrath are roused, O Indu; do not hand us over to the will of the Ārya foe.

8.48.9 For you, O Soma, are the guardian of our body; you have sat in every limb, beholding men; when we have transgressed your ordinances, be gracious to us, O god, O best friend, for the sake of wealth.

8.48.10 May I accompany the friendship of the soft-bellied one, the one drunk, O Hariyaśva, that does not injure me; this Soma that has been set down in me — I go extending life to Indra for it.

8.48.11 Those feeble ailments have departed; the diseases have been driven out; the darkness has shuddered away; Soma has mounted up into us through the heavens; we have come where life is extended.

8.48.12 That Indu which was drunk by the Fathers in their hearts — the immortal entered into mortals; to that Soma let us offer with oblation; may we be in his gracious favour, in his good will.

8.48.13 O Soma, communing with the Fathers, you have stretched yourself out along heaven and earth; to you, O Indu, let us offer with oblation; may we be lords of riches.

8.48.14 O gods who protect, proclaim to us: let not sleep overpower us, nor idle talk; may we, always beloved of Soma, with good heroes, speak in the assembly.

8.48.15 You, O Soma, give vigour from all sides; you who find the sun — enter into us, beholding men; O Indu, united with your aids, guard us from behind and also from in front.

8.49.1 Sing forward Indra of rich bounty as you know him — who as the bountiful one, abundant in wealth, provides for the singers as with a thousand.

8.49.2 Like an army of hundreds he advances boldly; he slays the Vṛtras for the worshipper; like streams from a mountain his gifts of the many-nourishing one swell.

8.49.3 The pressed Soma drops, the exhilarations, O Indra, O lover of song — like waters, O vajra-bearer, they fill your own dwelling, your lake, O hero, for your bounty.

8.49.4 Drink the sinless, surpassing, eloquent one, the sweetest drink; so that when exhilarated you scatter gifts upon us boldly by your own nature, like a small one.

8.49.5 May our praise approach us, driven like a horse by the pressers; which the milch-cows make palatable for you, O self-ruling one, the gifts of Indra among the Kaṇvas.

8.49.6 We have approached with reverence the mighty hero, of widespread, inexhaustible wealth; O vajra-bearer, the devotions flow pouring like an udder at a well, O Indra.

8.49.7 Whatever is now, whatever is at the sacrifice, whatever on the earth — from there, O mighty one, come with swift steeds, with great thoughts, with powerful ones, to our sacrifice.

8.49.8 Your agile, swift bay steeds that flow forward like winds — with which you go around the offspring of Manu, with which you make all the sun visible.

8.49.9 For this much we implore you, O Indra, of favour rich in cattle — as, O Maghavan, you helped Medhyātithi, as you helped Nīpātithi in gaining wealth.

8.49.10 As you, O Maghavan, helped Kaṇva against Trasadasyu, as you helped Paktha at Daśavraja, as you helped Ṛjiśvan of Gośarya — O Indra, with cattle and gold.

8.50.1 Sing forth the famous, richly-bountiful Śakra for the sake of conquest; who lavishes desired wealth upon the Soma-presser and the praiser as with a thousand.

8.50.2 The missiles of this Indra are hundredfold, hard to withstand; his great impulsions — they swell like a bending mountain among the bountiful ones when the pressed drops have exhilarated him.

8.50.3 When the pressed Soma drops have exhilarated the dear one — O lord, the pressing is set as waters, like milch-cows to the worshipper.

8.50.4 The sinless one, who is called upon for aid — the streams of the sweet drink flow as devotions; O lord, the Soma drops, calling upon you, have set themselves among the praises.

8.50.5 When driving toward us, O Soma, at the good sacrifice, he is not slackened like a racing horse; the welcoming songs make palatable for you, O self-flavouring one, the invocation — you delight in it in the city.

8.50.6 Proclaim the mighty hero, the discriminating one, grasping wealth, the abundant one of great bounty; O vajra-bearer, you have ever nourished the worshipper with wealth like an udder at a well.

8.50.7 Whatever is now in the far distance, or on earth, or in the sky — come, O Indra, yoking the bay steeds, with great thoughts, O lofty one, with lofty ones.

8.50.8 Your bay steeds, the charioteers, who do not stumble, who carry the vigour of the wind — with which you surround the Dasyu for Manuṣa with a roar, with which you go around the sun.

8.50.9 For this much, O lord, may we know you anew, O hero — as you helped Etaśa in the contested wealth, as you helped Vaśa at Daśavraja.

8.50.10 As you were present for Kaṇva at the sacrifice, the ceremony, at the long-guided rite, O home-friend; as you, O stone-wielder, shone forth at Gośarya — so be it for me, for the clan of golden glory.

8.51.1 As, O Indra, thou didst drink the pressed soma together with Manu Sāṁvaraṇa, O Maghavan, with Nīpātithi and Medhyātithi — those who bring increase, those who bring hearkening — so too now.

8.51.2 Pārṣadvāṇa caused Praskañva, who had lain down, the withered and emaciated man, to sit upright; the seer, aided by thee, O Indra, like a wolf to the Dasyu, gained thousands of cattle.

8.51.3 He who gains nothing whatsoever by his recitations, he who is stirred to verse — speak toward that Indra with a fresh thought, the one who suffers no harm, for the sake of bounty.

8.51.4 He for whom they have sung the hymn of seven heads, of triple substance, in the highest station — he has roared over all these worlds; thereby his manly vigour was born anew.

8.51.5 We call upon that Indra who is the giver of good things to us; for we know his latest favour — may we reach the cow-filled stall.

8.51.6 He to whom thou, O Vasu, dost extend thy giving, he obtains the fullness of wealth; thee, O Maghavan Indra, O lover of hymns, we who have pressed soma now invoke.

8.51.7 You are never barren, O Indra; you do not abandon the worshipper. Step forth, O Maghavan, step forth again — then once more is the gift of the god sought.

8.51.8 He who pressed eagerly forward with might against Kriви, driving Śuṣṇa to his ruin with his blows, who propped up yonder sky while spreading it wide — thereby the earthly hero was born.

8.51.9 He whose is this whole world — the Ārya, the Dāsa, the guardian of treasures, the foe — even through the Ārya, through Ruśama, the wealth that resounds is driven toward thee.

8.51.10 The swift, inspired sages have sung the hymn that drips with honey and ghee; in us the wealth and the bull-like power have spread wide; in us the pressed soma-drops flow.

8.52.1 As, O Śakra, thou didst drink the pressed soma with Manu Vivasvat, as, O Indra, thou hast found pleasure in the metre at Trita's side — exhilarate thyself there.

8.52.2 At Pṛṣadhra's pressing, O Indra, with Mātariśvan, thou wast exhilarated; as with the soma at Daśaśipra's, at Daśoṇya's, at Syūmaraśman's side — thou art the straightener.

8.52.3 He who alone has upheld the recitations, who has boldly drunk the soma, for whom Viṣṇu strode his three strides in accordance with Mitra's ordinances.

8.52.4 Him in whose praises thou, O Indra, dost delight — thee, O prize-winner, O hundred-powered one — thee we invoke like cowherds milking a good milch-cow, we who are eager for renown.

8.52.5 He who is our giver is our father, mighty, fierce, the ruler of rulers; the fierce Maghavan of many treasures, ever moving — may he give to us cattle and horses.

8.52.6 He to whom thou, O Vasu, dost pour out thyself in giving, he sets wealth growing; we who desire goods invoke with praises Indra, the lord of goods, the hundred-powered.

8.52.7 Thou dost never fail: thou guardest both births. O fourth Āditya, thy mighty power has taken its stand at thy invocation, the immortal one in the sky.

8.52.8 To whomsoever thou, O Maghavan Indra, O lover of hymns, dost impart thy giving for the worshipper — hear our songs and our excellent praise, O Vasu, as for Kaṇva, hear our call.

8.52.9 The ancient prayer has been praised; speak forth the sacred formula to Indra; the many great ones of Ṛta have sung in response; the wisdom of the praiser has been poured forth.

8.52.10 Indra shook together the great riches, shook together the two worlds, shook together also the sun; the bright, pure soma-draughts mixed with milk have rejoiced Indra together.

8.53.1 Thee, the highest of the bountiful ones and the greatest of the bulls, the most fort-breaking, O Maghavan Indra, the finder of cattle, the lord of wealth — thee we implore.

8.53.2 Who, growing great day by day, subdued Āyu, Kutsa, and Atithigva — thee, of the bay horses and the hundred powers, we invoke as we seek the prize.

8.53.3 Let the pressing-stones pour for us the essence of all the sweets — those soma-drops that have been pressed among distant peoples and those that have been pressed among the near ones.

8.53.4 Smite all enmities and drive them away; let all bring good things; even among the highest, thy inebriating soma-stalks rejoice thee, wherever thou art satiated with the soma.

8.53.5 Come here yet nearer, O Indra, with helps measured by wisdom; with the most beneficent conquests, with the most good, come with good sleeps, with good sleep-bringers.

8.53.6 Make the swift-racer, lord of the good, he who is seen by all peoples, share of offspring; speed them forward with thy powers who are thy reciters and who purify understanding in succession.

8.53.7 May we be of those most favourably disposed toward thee, for help in thy battles; we, having won, exult with the priestly calls and with invocations of the gods.

8.53.8 For I, O lord of the bay steeds, go with thy prayer eager for the prize, to the contest with ever-present helps; thee, even thee I urge, the eager seeker of horses, seeker of cattle, at the fore of the contests.

8.54.1 This heroic power of thine the Kārus celebrate with songs; they who offer invocations have gone to the ghee-dripping strength; the singers of the family of Pūru have gained it with their devotions.

8.54.2 Those who by good work sought Indra for aid, at whose pressings thou dost exhilarate thyself — as thou wast exhilarated at Saṁvarta's, as at Kṛśa's — even so, O Indra, rejoice in us.

8.54.3 Come all of you, O gods, equally pleased, come near to us; let the Vasus and Rudras come to us for help; let the Maruts hear our call.

8.54.4 May Pūṣan, Viṣṇu, Sarasvatī, the seven rivers strengthen my call; may the Waters, Vāta, the mountains, the forest lord, and Earth hear the invocation.

8.54.5 Whatever bounty is thine, O Indra, the very best of gifts, O most bountiful one — with that be aware of us, O thou who dost enjoy thy feast, for our increase, as our share, for giving, O Vṛtra-slayer.

8.54.6 O lord of the contest, lord of heroes, thou indeed wilt carry the prize to us, O wise one; having won through the priestly calls and through the divine repasts, they will be heard.

8.54.7 For there are the noble blessings of the people's life, O Indra; seek us out, O Maghavan, for our help close at hand; milk out the swelling refreshment.

8.54.8 May we honour thee, O Indra, with our praises; be thou ours, O hundred-powered one; pour out for Praskañva the great, abundant, dispersed, and shameless bounty.

8.55.1 I have beheld the many heroic deeds of Indra as he comes forward; thy bounty, O wolf to the Dasyu, is great.

8.55.2 A hundred white bulls shine in the sky like stars; they have propped up the sky with their greatness.

8.55.3 A hundred bamboo tubes, a hundred dogs, a hundred worn skins; for me a hundred bundles of balvaja-grass and four hundred reddish cows.

8.55.4 You are of the good gods' company, O descendants of Kāṇva, wandering each according to your nature; you move about like horses.

8.55.5 And they have made resound the great fame of Sāptasa, the complete one; the dark-hued mare, outpacing the roads, could not be reached even by the eye.

8.56.1 For thee, O wolf to the Dasyu, the shameless bounty has been seen spread out; the power is broad as the sky.

8.56.2 Ten thousands of (cattle) have been given to me by Pautakrata, the wolf to the Dasyu.

8.56.3 A hundred asses for me, a hundred woollen (ewes), a hundred female slaves — beyond reckoning.

8.56.4 Moreover, distinguishable ones were led forward for Pūtakratā — like a troop of horses indeed.

8.56.5 Agni, the conveyor of oblations, the discerning one, became known; he of the good chariot — Agni blazed mightily with his bright flame; the sun shone in the sky, the sun shone bright.

8.57.1 You two gods, yoked by the ancient will to your mighty chariot, O adorable Nāsatyas, come hither with your powers; drink this, the third pressing.

8.57.2 The gods, the true ones, the three and thirty, have been seen before the truth of you two; enjoying our sacrifice and pressing, O Aśvins of blazing fire, drink the soma.

8.57.3 Praiseworthy is that work of yours, O Aśvins; the bull of sky and earth's expanse — a thousand praises and those in the contest for cattle — come to all of these to drink.

8.57.4 This is your appointed share, O adorable ones; come hither to these songs, O Nāsatyas; drink the sweet honey-soma among us; protect the offerer with your powers.

8.58.1 Him whom the priests, making manifold preparations, bearing this sacrifice in concert, for whom the instructed Brahmin was engaged — what indeed was the understanding of the sacrificer therein?

8.58.2 One indeed is Agni, kindled in many places; one is the Sun, who pervades all the world; one is Dawn that illumines all this — that one has verily become all this universe.

8.58.3 The luminous, the radiant, the three-wheeled, comfortable chariot, easy to sit in, much sought — she of brilliant gifts, she who was born at the yoking of it — that chariot I call for you two, beyond measure, to drink.

8.59.1 These your apportioned shares flow forth for you two, O Indra and Varuṇa, at your great soma-pressings; at sacrifice after sacrifice, at the pressings, you are active; when you aid the sacrificer who presses soma.

8.59.2 The herbs that block and the waters have been laid ready; O Indra and Varuṇa, they have reached greatness; those two who flow at the end of the expanse of the path — of these two, no enemy, no ungodly one, escapes.

8.59.3 True is this, O Indra and Varuṇa: for the diminished Kṛśa the seven voices milk out a wave of your sweetness; with those, O lords of splendour, protect the worshipper who, undeceived, guards you with his thoughts.

8.59.4 The ghee-sprinkling, soma-born, swift-giving, seven sisters that are the seat of Ṛta — those that drip ghee for you two, O Indra and Varuṇa — with those bestow and give instruction to the sacrificer.

8.59.5 We have spoken the true great power of the mighty sense to the two brilliant ones for great good fortune; protect us well, O Indra and Varuṇa, you who are ghee-dripping, with three times seven, O lords of splendour.

8.59.6 O Indra and Varuṇa, what inspired wisdom, speech, thought, and sacred knowledge you gave to the seers at the beginning — those stations which the wise ones created, spreading the sacrifice with fervent devotion — those I have perceived.

8.59.7 O Indra and Varuṇa, bestow on the sacrificers an unhaughty benevolence and the flourishing of wealth; bestow offspring, nourishment, and prosperity on us; extend our lifespan for longevity.

8.60.1 Come, O Agni, with the fires; we choose thee as the Hotṛ-priest; let the well-extended oblation-bearing ladle anoint thee, the most adorable, to sit upon the barhis-grass.

8.60.2 For toward thee, O son of strength, O Aṅgiras, the ladles move in the sacrifice; we implore Agni the grandson of strength, of ghee-bright hair, the ancient one at sacrifices.

8.60.3 O Agni, thou art the sage, the ordainer, the Hotṛ, the purifier, worthy of worship; the joyful one, the most adorable at the ceremonies, worthy of praise by the inspired with bright hymns.

8.60.4 Bring hither the blameless gods, O youngest one, continually for the feast, to the longing ones; go to the well-placed offerings, O Vasu; be thou gladdened, stirred by the devotions.

8.60.5 Thou indeed art far-famed, O Agni, protector of Ṛta, the seer; thee, O kindled and blazing one, the inspired ordaining priests come to revere.

8.60.6 Blaze, O most blazing one; shine; grant comfort to the clan, O thou who art great for the praiser; may my patrons be in the shelter of the gods, conquerors of enemies, of good fire.

8.60.7 As, O Agni, thou dost consume on the ground the aged stubble grown thick, so burn, O thou of mighty alliance, whoever plots against us, whoever of evil mind desires to harm.

8.60.8 Do not deliver us to the mortal enemy, to the rakṣas-afflicted, to the evil-speaking one; protect us, O youngest one, with unfailing, crossing, auspicious guardians.

8.60.9 Protect us, O Agni, with one protection; protect us also with a second; protect us with three songs, O lord of vigour; protect us with four, O Vasu.

8.60.10 Protect us from every rākṣasa, from the ungenerous; ever help us in the contests; for thee, the nearest, we seek as our ally and kinsman for increase, through the divine companionship.

8.60.11 Bring to us, O Agni, the wealth that enhances vigour, O purifier, worthy of praise; O incomparable, grant us too the much-desired gift, the one of good guidance that is its own glory.

8.60.12 With which we may overcome the proud ones in battles, crossing the enemy's attacks — with that, O thou of mighty power, increase us with refreshment; incite the thoughts that find good things.

8.60.13 Sharpening himself like a bull, Agni waves his horns; his sharp jaws are not to be resisted; the offspring of strength, of good teeth, leaps up.

8.60.14 There is no resisting thy jaws, O Agni, O bull, when thou spreadest wide; thou as our Hotṛ make our oblation well-offered; win for us many desirable things.

8.60.15 Thou dost lie in the forests, the child of two mothers; mortals kindle thee together; unwearied, thou dost carry the oblations, the oblation-maker, and then thou reignest among the gods.

8.60.16 The seven Hotṛ-priests praise thee, O Agni, thou who art easily released and shameless; thou dost split the rock with thy heat, with thy blazing; go forward, O Agni, beyond the peoples.

8.60.17 We invoke for you Agni upon Agni, the irresistible, we who have strewn the barhis; Agni with offerings placed, at all times, the Hotṛ-priest of the peoples.

8.60.18 He follows your shelter with understanding, O Agni, discerningly, with good praises; with impelling zeal bring to us the prize of many forms, the nearest, for our aid.

8.60.19 O Agni, O praiser, thou art the lord of the settlement, the scorcher of the rākṣasas, O god; not having stayed away, thou art the great lord of the house, the guardian of the sky, who remains in the dwelling.

8.60.20 Let no rākṣasa enter us, O glowing Vasu; let not the sorcerers with their magic afflict us; drive far away the want beyond the extent of the pasture, drive away hunger, O Agni; repel those afflicted by rākṣasas.

8.61.1 May Indra hear this our twofold speech, turning hither; may the bountiful one, most mighty, come with intent toward soma-drinking, united in purpose.

8.61.2 Him, the self-resplendent, the bull, the two divine Wisdom-goddesses have fashioned for strength. Thou sittest foremost in the place of laudation; for thy mind is eager for soma.

8.61.3 Drink deep, O Indra of many gifts, of the pressed soma juice. For we know thee, O lord of bay steeds, as the ever-conquering in battles, the unassailable one who yet dares boldly.

8.61.4 Do not disappoint us, O bountiful one; so let it be, O Indra, according to thy will and wisdom. May we, hastening, win the prize through thy help, O thou of the full cheeks, O wielder of the bolt.

8.61.5 Be able, O lord of power, O Indra, with all thy aids. For like Bhaga we follow after thee, the glorious, the finder of wealth, O hero.

8.61.6 Thou art the abundant source of horses, the great maker of cattle, a golden fountain, O god. None can diminish the gift that is in thee; whatever I ask for, bring that to me.

8.61.7 Come thou indeed hither to the swift steed, find the treasure for acquiring wealth. Bestow in abundance, O bountiful one, for the winning of cattle, O Indra, for the winning of horses.

8.61.8 Thou dost bestow for gift many thousands and hundreds of herds. We have celebrated the fort-breaker with inspired words, singing to Indra for his help.

8.61.9 Whether the unlearned or the learned man, O Indra, has tended thy word — he has rejoiced exceedingly through devotion to thee, O thou of a hundred powers, with the thought turned eastward, without harm.

8.61.10 If the fort-destroyer of mighty arms, the anointer of all, should hear my call — we who desire wealth invoke Indra the lord of wealth, the hundred-powered, with hymns of praise.

8.61.11 We hold no evil thoughts, nor are we niggardly, nor torpid; since we would make Indra the bull our companion at the pressing of the soma.

8.61.12 We have yoked the mighty, ever-conquering in battles, the debt-exacting, the indestructible. He knows even a wandering thing; the most skilled charioteer, the vigorous one whom he indeed reaches.

8.61.13 From that which we fear, O Indra, make us free from fear. Be able, O bountiful one; through thine own aids slay those who hate us, destroy our foes.

8.61.14 For thou, O lord of bounty, art the lord of mighty bounty for him who worships. We who have pressed soma invoke thee, that Indra the bountiful, beloved of hymns.

8.61.15 Indra, the spear-thrower, and the slayer of Vṛtra, the guardian from afar, is our most choiceworthy one. May he protect our last, may he protect our middle, may he guard us behind and before.

8.61.16 Guard us, O Indra, from behind, from below, from above, and from before, everywhere. Put far from us the divine terror, put far from us the hostile missiles of the ungodly.

8.61.17 Today and today, tomorrow and tomorrow, O Indra, save us, and in the time beyond. Thou wilt protect all our singers, O lord of truth, through all the days, by day and by night.

8.61.18 The heroic breaker-of-foes, the bountiful, the greatly gifted, the battle-joiner for valour — thy two arms, O bull, O thou of a hundred powers, whereon the bolt is fixed, pour down strength.

8.62.1 Offer forward to him the praise-song which he desires. With hymns the soma-pressers increase Indra's mighty strength. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.2 Unmatched and without equal, he alone among men is unwearying. He has grown exceedingly beyond all former things, surpassing all beings with his might. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.3 Even with a hostile steed the swift-giving one succeeds. That heroic deed of thine, O Indra, is to be proclaimed as thou performest it. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.4 Come, let us make for thee, O Indra, the prayer-offerings that increase thee, by which, O most mighty, thou art gladdened — here the glorious one wins glory. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.5 Even of the bold thou makest the mind bold, O Indra, when thou art such. When served with the potent soma-juices and honored with reverences by those who adorn themselves with obeisance. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.6 Ṛcīṣama looks down like a man looking on his flock. Pleased with the skill of the soma-presser, he makes a yoke-fellow his companion. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.7 All the gods, O Indra, gave thee heroic strength in accord with thy will. Thou hast become the lord and guardian of all, O thou much-praised. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.8 I laud that supreme power of thine, O Indra, for the obtaining of divine grace — when thou smitest Vṛtra with might, O lord of power. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.9 Like one desiring a companion, making the human generations equal — Indra knows that consciousness, and then he is glorified. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.10 Upward has thy power arisen, O Indra; upward thyself, upward thy will. Many praisers have increased greatly in thy protection, O bountiful one. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.11 Let you and I be yoked together, O Vṛtra-slayer, for the gaining of prizes. Even like an adversary, O wielder of the bolt, he will think of us two, O hero. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.62.12 Truly and not falsely do we praise that Indra. Great is his slaying-power against one who presses not soma; abundant are the lights for him who presses soma. Auspicious are the gifts of Indra.

8.63.1 He, the foremost of great ones, the shining one, has shone forth with his acts of will, through whose doors Manu the father has shone among the gods with wisdom.

8.63.2 The stones, whose backs are soma, have not sat upon the measure of heaven; the recitations and the prayers are to be proclaimed.

8.63.3 He, knowing, Indra drove away the cows for the Aṅgirases. I praise that heroic deed of his.

8.63.4 He, Indra, who in the ancient manner increases the seers, is the sustainer of speech. May he come favorably to our laud at the oblation here to help us.

8.63.5 And then, according to thy will, svāhā! — the worshippers of the chosen one, the chanters have sung the dog-sacrifice hymn, O Indra, for the giving of the cow-herd.

8.63.6 In Indra are all heroic deeds, those done and those yet to be done, he whom the singers know as the sacrifice.

8.63.7 When the peoples of the five tribes sent out shouts to Indra, he spread out with greatness the inspired utterances of the noble one's thought — that is his dwelling.

8.63.8 And this praise-song of thine has been fashioned for those heroic deeds; thou didst drive forward the turning of the wheel.

8.63.9 In the scattering of this bull's generosity, he strode widely for life; like barley for cattle he takes it up.

8.63.10 Holding that, desiring help, with you as fathers of skill, may we be for the increase of the one accompanied by the Maruts.

8.63.11 Yes! We praise thee, O hero, with hymn-singing for the seasonable abode. May we conquer, O Indra, with thee as ally.

8.63.12 The Rudras, the great ones, the mountain-gods, united in harmony in the slaying of Vṛtra at the invocation of Bhara — upon him who praises and lauds, Pajra has been set; may the gods with Indra as chief protect us.

8.64.1 May the hymns exhilarate thee; bestow bounty, O wielder of the bolt. Strike down those who hate the sacred word.

8.64.2 With thy foot press down the Paṇis, the ungenerous ones. Thou art great; none whatsoever can stand against thee.

8.64.3 Thou, O Indra, art lord of those who press soma; thou art lord of those who press not. Thou art king of peoples.

8.64.4 Come, advance — thy dwelling is in heaven, resounding gloriously among the peoples. Thou fillest both the worlds.

8.64.5 Even that great cloud-mass, the mountain with its hundreds and thousands, thou hast shattered apart for the singers.

8.64.6 We indeed call upon thee when soma is pressed by day; we call upon thee by night. Fill our desire.

8.64.7 Where is that young bull with thick neck, unbowed? What priest worships him?

8.64.8 Whose pressing does the bull descend upon, well pleased? Who then truly approaches Indra?

8.64.9 Whose have thy gifts reached, O Vṛtra-slayer? Whose the heroic deeds? Who is closest in the hymn?

8.64.10 This soma of thine is pressed among humankind, among the Pūrus. Come to it, hasten forward, drink.

8.64.11 This soma is dear to thee at Śaryaṇāvat, on the banks of Suṣomā; at Ārjīkīyā it is the most intoxicating.

8.64.12 That soma, lovely for great bounty, for intoxication, for exhilaration — come, O Indra, hasten and drink.

8.65.1 Whenever thou art called by men, O Indra, eastward, westward, northward, or southward — come quickly with thy swift steeds.

8.65.2 Or if thou art rejoicing at the outpouring of heaven, at the sun's gathering, or in the ocean of the soma-plant —

8.65.3 — thee, the great and wide, I call with hymns, like a cow for enjoying, O Indra, to drink the soma.

8.65.4 Let thy bay steeds, O Indra, O god, bearing thy greatness, carry thee in the chariot — they who bear thy might.

8.65.5 O Indra, I sing thee, I praise thee, the great one, the fierce, the maker of lordship. Come, drink our pressed soma.

8.65.6 We who have pressed soma, we who are devout, invoke thee. This is our sacred grass for thee to sit upon.

8.65.7 For although thou art common to all people forever, O Indra — thee, even thee, we invoke.

8.65.8 The men with the pressing stones have milked this sweet soma for thee. Pleased with it, O Indra, drink it.

8.65.9 Surveying all the wise nobles, come quickly to us. Bestow upon us great fame.

8.65.10 The giver to me of dappled mares, the king of golden women — may the bountiful one not be harmed, O gods.

8.65.11 Among the thousand dappled mares, on top — the brilliant, great and broad, pure golden gift, I take it.

8.65.12 The descendants of the hard-to-grasp, of the thousand-fold of good bounty — they made renown among the gods for me.

8.66.1 With songs I invoke for your aid Indra, the finder of wealth, amidst the pressing-stones, singing loudly at the sacrifice where soma has been pressed — I call him like a porter bearing a load.

8.66.2 Whom the unruly do not hold back, whom the firm-set men do not check in the joy of the well-cheeked one over the soma — who is a giver to the praising presser of the laudable oblation.

8.66.3 Who is capable, the anointer, the horse-like, or the golden young plant — he, Indra the Vṛtra-slayer, makes tremble the releasing of the enclosure of cattle.

8.66.4 Even what is buried, much gathered together, he scatters as wealth for the worshipper. The bolt-wielder of fine cheeks, the bay-horsed — even that Indra does by his will as he wishes.

8.66.5 That which thou hast desired, O much-praised, even of old among men, O hero — that, O Indra, we bring together for thee: sacrifice, hymn, and swift speech.

8.66.6 Together in the soma-drinkings, O much-invoked, O bolt-wielder, for exhilaration, O heavenly-dwelling soma-drinker.

8.66.7 We fattened this bolt-wielder here just yesterday. For him then today bring the soma with equal measure; adorn him now, O glorified one.

8.66.8 Even a wolf, the ram's wool-puller, adorns himself at the gatherings. Being pleased with this our hymn of praise, come, O Indra, with shining intelligence.

8.66.9 What unfinished heroic deed of Indra's is there now? By what effort has the Vṛtra-slayer not been heard, from birth?

8.66.10 And what are the great unassailed powers of his? What has the Vṛtra-slayer left unspread? Indra conquers all the beka-nāṭas visible by day, and the Paṇis by wisdom.

8.66.11 For thee, O Indra, O Vṛtra-slayer, we most numerous ones bear the prayers, the unprecedented ones, O much-invoked, O bolt-wielder, like wages we bring them forward.

8.66.12 Many indeed are the desires of those calling upon thee with Indra's help, O great worker. Even across the pressings of the noble — come, O most wealthy one, O most mighty, hear my call.

8.66.13 We are truly among the inspired ones with thee, O Indra. For there is no other compassionate one than thee, O much-invoked, O bountiful one, none whatsoever.

8.66.14 Rescue us from this lack of wisdom, from hunger, from slander. With thine aid, with thy shining wisdom, sustain us, O most able one, knower of the way.

8.66.15 Let the soma be pressed for you, O Kalayas — do not fear. This one disperses away of himself; indeed he will go away of himself.

8.67.1 Those sovereign Ādityas we shall beseech to come down here, the graciously kind ones, for our succor.

8.67.2 May Mitra bring us across difficulty, may Varuṇa and Aryaman — as the Ādityas know how.

8.67.3 For theirs is the wondrous, hymn-worthy protection for the worshipper, for him who has made himself ready before the Ādityas.

8.67.4 Great is your help, O great ones, O Varuṇa, O Mitra, O Aryaman — we choose your aids.

8.67.5 Keep us alive, O Ādityas, before the blow. Why are you named hearers-of-the-call?

8.67.6 Whatever protection is yours for the weary presser of soma, whatever shelter — with that speak over us.

8.67.7 There is, O gods, broad escape from distress; there is treasure for the sinless. O Ādityas, there is wonderful freedom from sin.

8.67.8 May this snare not fasten on us; may the great one loosen it around us. For Indra is the renowned, the powerful.

8.67.9 May the injury of enemies, of the wicked, not reach us, O you who are not eager for destruction. O gods, wipe us clean.

8.67.10 And thee too, O Aditi, I the great one approach calling upon thee, O goddess, for thy gracious mercy, for our succor.

8.67.11 Carry us across in poverty, O deep one, O mother of the fierce sons — from the one who would slay us. Let no harm come to our offspring.

8.67.12 O sinless, wide-ranging, wide-glowing one, for spreading out — make our offspring live.

8.67.13 They who are the heads of peoples, the undeceivable, self-glorious ones — they guard the sacred ordinances, being without treachery.

8.67.14 O Ādityas, free us from the mouth of wolves, as a bound thief, O Aditi.

8.67.15 Drive away from us this arrow, O Ādityas, drive away the evil thought. Let it go from us having slain no one.

8.67.16 For ever through your aids, O Ādityas, good givers, have we indeed enjoyed you before and now.

8.67.17 For the wise gods, even him who turns back in sin — the perpetual one — ye make to live.

8.67.18 This good fresh releasing, O Ādityas, which frees — O Aditi, as one bound from bondage.

8.67.19 There is no crossing beyond that, O Ādityas, to leap across. Be gracious to us.

8.67.20 May the artificial dart of Vivasvat not strike us, O Ādityas, before old age.

8.67.21 Drive away hatred, drive away difficulty, O Ādityas, drive away what is tightly bound. Drive away in all directions the injury.

8.68.1 We turn thy chariot for thy aid, for favor; O greatly-active, O crusher of enemies, O Indra most mighty, O lord of the good.

8.68.2 O greatly vigorous, O greatly willing, O powerful one, in all thoughts thou hast spread wide with thy greatness.

8.68.3 By whose greatness the two great ones travel around the earth; whose hands bear the golden bolt.

8.68.4 The lord of all men, the lord of unbowed power, with these — I invoke with the aid of chariots, for the peoples.

8.68.5 For succor, the ever-growing one, him who rains heaven — men call upon him in many ways for his aid.

8.68.6 Ṛcīṣama is beyond measure — Indra the fierce, the greatly bountiful, the ruling one even of wealth.

8.68.7 Him, even him, I urge Indra for great bounty, for drinking — he who rules over the ancient praise-song, the dancer of peoples.

8.68.8 No mortal has obtained thy friendship, O most mighty. None has attained thy powers.

8.68.9 Aided by thee, with thee as ally, may we win great wealth in the waters, in the sun. May we conquer in battles, O wielder of the bolt.

8.68.10 That thee we approach with sacrifices; that thee with hymns, O most beloved of praises, O Indra — even as thou didst protect the man of many wiles in the contests.

8.68.11 Whose friendship is sweet, whose leading is sweet, O wielder of the bolt — whose sacrifice is to be stretched wide.

8.68.12 Make wide room for our body, wide room for our dwelling. Grant us wide room for living.

8.68.13 A wide path for men, wide for cattle, wide for the chariot — we think of the divine journey.

8.68.14 Beside me six pairs of men stand in the joy of soma — they are sweet-gifted ones.

8.68.15 Two bright steeds Indra took and gave to the son of Ṛkṣa: the two bay horses of the horse-sacrifice.

8.68.16 Of good chariot for Atithigva, of good reins from Ṛkṣa — at the horse-sacrifice, of beautiful ornament.

8.68.17 Six horses for Atithigva, accompanied by Indra, with a bride, together with pure action, as a prize.

8.68.18 Among those bay horses he discerned the reddish one among the brilliant ones — one with good reins and a whip.

8.68.19 Among you, O prize-companions, no mortal who would seek to reproach can bear reproach.

8.69.1 He glorifies you — the refreshment of the triṣṭubh meter, for the soma-drop that gladdens heroes — with wisdom, with clever intelligence, for the winning of sacrificial food.

8.69.2 The bull of the swelling waters, the bull of the ever-moving ones — I aim at the lord of your unslayable cows.

8.69.3 Those dappled cows that pour out the sweet extract cook the soma for him at the birth of the gods, in the three luminous realms of heaven.

8.69.4 Sing forward to the cow-lord of the mountain, to Indra, as he knows it — the son of Truth, the lord of the true.

8.69.5 The bay steeds have been let loose; the reddish ones are on the sacred grass, where we call out to them together.

8.69.6 The cows milked the mixed drink of honey for Indra the bolt-wielder, when he found them in the hidden place.

8.69.7 When we two go up to the topmost abode of the sun, the house, and Indra — having drunk of the honey, may we two be together in the thrice-seven steps of the friend.

8.69.8 Sing, sing forward, O Priyamedhas, sing. Let the young sons also sing. Sing boldly as if to a citadel.

8.69.9 The lute sounds down, the lute of the go-dhā skin resounds all around, the tawny one leaps all around — the sacred word raised up for Indra.

8.69.10 When the desirable ones, the good milkers, fly hither without a kick — grasp the kicking soma for Indra to drink.

8.69.11 Indra drank, Agni drank, all the gods rejoiced. Varuṇa alone dwells here; the waters have hymned him as calves around a cow lowing together.

8.69.12 Thou art a good god, O Varuṇa, whose seven rivers flow along thy palate like through a hollow pipe.

8.69.13 He who drove the fleet ones, the well-yoked ones, toward the worshipper — the swift one is the leader; that indeed is the form of the supreme one who was released.

8.69.14 Indeed the mighty Indra has overpowered, has overcome all enemies. He split the young man's gruel as it was cooking, beyond the song.

8.69.15 Like a small boy, a young child, mounting a new chariot — he cooked the mighty wild buffalo for his father and mother, the one of wide-reaching power.

8.69.16 Come, O fine-cheeked lord of the household, mount the golden chariot. Then may we two be together with the heavenly, thousand-footed, reddish one that treads well and is without fault.

8.69.17 The reverential ones sit near him, the self-resplendent one. Even the purpose of his well-placed offering, which the comers turn back for giving.

8.69.18 Following the ancient dwelling of these Priyamedhas, the grass-strew preparers of well-laid offerings have partaken of the earlier guidance.

8.70.1 Him who is king of peoples, traveler with chariots, unchecked — the conqueror of all battles, the greatest, who is the Vṛtra-slayer — him I praise.

8.70.2 Adorn that Indra for aid, O thou of many slayings — in whose supporting pair of hands the bolt has been placed, the visible one, great as the sun in the sky.

8.70.3 None can reach by action the one who made the ever-growing — Indra, praised everywhere through sacrifices, the skillful, the indomitable, the boldly powerful.

8.70.4 The unconquerable, fierce, ever-conquering in battles — in whose birth the great, wide-coursing ones, the cows bellowed together; heaven and earth bellowed.

8.70.5 If there were a hundred heavens, O Indra, and a hundred earths — a thousand suns would not match thee, O bolt-wielder; the two worlds did not encompass the newborn one.

8.70.6 Thou hast spread wide with the bullish greatness of virility, O bull, O most mighty, with all strength. Protect us, O bountiful one, in the cow-possessing enclosure, O wielder of the bolt, with wonderful aids.

8.70.7 No godless mortal of long life has obtained his refreshment. Even the swift one — he who has yoked the swift bay pair, Indra has yoked them.

8.70.8 That great, greatly invocable Indra, the ever-present for giving — who is invocable in the shallows, who in the forests, who is invocable in the contests.

8.70.9 Rouse us up indeed, O wealthy one, for the great bounty; touch us, O hero. Rouse us indeed, O bountiful one, for great generosity. Rouse us, O Indra, for great fame.

8.70.10 Thou, O Indra, dost satisfy us who seek truth, who speak thy praise. Dwell in our midst, O greatly heroic one; with thy blows cut down the Dāsa in the wide space.

8.70.11 The one of alien rites, the inhuman, the non-sacrificing, the ungodly — the mountain, the friend of the good, has shaken him down; the mountain has shaken the Dasyu down for easy slaying.

8.70.12 Do thou, O Indra, most mighty, grasp their hand for giving — like grains gathered up, do thou who art eager for us gather them together twice for us.

8.70.13 Friends, seek the wisdom — how shall we attain the purpose of Śara? The praise-song is for Bhoja the patron, the seer who is without shame.

8.70.14 Thou wilt be praised together with many seers spreading the sacred grass, since in this way Śara gave the calves one by one.

8.70.15 The bountiful Śauradeya, taking by the ear, brought the calf to us from the three — and the she-goat for the seer to sustain.

8.71.1 You, O Agni, guard us with your great powers from every hostile niggardness, and from the hatred of a mortal foe.

8.71.2 For no human wrath has power over you, O you who are dear by birth; you alone are the lord of the night.

8.71.3 So, O son of strength, O bright-flaming one, together with all the gods grant us wealth that is desirable in every way.

8.71.4 O Agni, no niggards, no lack of riches, shall ever injure that mortal whom you protect — the one who has offered worship.

8.71.5 He whom you, O inspired Agni, impel toward wealth in the contest of sacrifice — he, under your protection, shall go among the cattle.

8.71.6 You, O Agni, bestow upon the mortal worshipper wealth rich in heroes; lead us forward toward better fortune.

8.71.7 Protect us! Do not deliver us, O Jātavedas, to the malicious one, to the mortal who is hard to satisfy.

8.71.8 O Agni, let no ungodly man cut off the bounty of the divine one; you are the ruler of riches.

8.71.9 Fill us with wealth, O son of strength, O great one, O friend and lord of riches, for those who sing your praise.

8.71.10 Let our hymns go forth to him of the flame-bright radiance, to the glorious one; let our sacrifices with obeisance go to the much-wealthy, much-praised one for our aid.

8.71.11 Agni, the son of strength, Jātavedas, giver of desirable gifts — he who has become immortal in twofold form among mortals, the gladdest Hotṛ in the settlement.

8.71.12 Agni for you at the divine worship; Agni at the advancing sacrifice; Agni first in sacred thoughts; Agni for the swift one; Agni for the accomplishment of the fields.

8.71.13 May Agni, who is lord of desirable things, grant us refreshments in his friendship; we ever beseech Agni for offspring and descendants — he who is the treasure-keeper of our persons.

8.71.14 Laud Agni of the flame-bright radiance with songs for our aid; men laud Agni for wealth — him who is much implored and far-famed; Agni for a splendid shelter.

8.71.15 We praise Agni to ward off from us hatred; we praise Agni to bestow on us weal and health; may he be invocable as a protector in all the settlements, the dwelling-place of the seers.

8.72.1 Prepare the oblation; the Adhvaryu shall come; he who knows shall seek again the rule of this rite.

8.72.2 The Hotṛ priest sits down upon the Manu's altar beside the keen soma-stalk, delighting in its companionship.

8.72.3 They seek him, Rudra, in the community by thought transcending; they seize the grain with the tongue.

8.72.4 The bird-bearer mounted the forest whose sister bow has burned across; he struck the stone with his tongue.

8.72.5 The calf wandering and shining here finds no one to bind him; he seeks the mother of those who praise.

8.72.6 And truly of his the great, horse-rich, vast yoking — the bond of the chariot has been seen.

8.72.7 Seven milk one; two release five; at the ford of the river, in its sound.

8.72.8 Indra shook the vessel with the ten descendants of Vivasvat by the threefold whip of heaven.

8.72.9 Around the triple-seasoned sacrifice the ever-newer flame moves; the Hotṛ priests anoint with the sweet drink.

8.72.10 They pour oblation on him who accepts reverence, on the high-wheeled one moving all around, whose downward-hanging branches are inexhaustible.

8.72.11 The stones have poured out the honey into the lotus bowl, right at the overflow of the well.

8.72.12 The cows have come down toward the great well of the sacrifice that raps sweetly; both its ears are of gold.

8.72.13 Pour upon the pressed soma the splendour, the glory of both worlds; may the flavor receive the bull.

8.72.14 They recognized their own home, like calves with their mothers; they touched one another with their kindred.

8.72.15 Feeding at the jaws they make a foundation in the sky; homage to Indra and Agni — the heavenly light!

8.72.16 The stranger has milked the swelling refreshment, the vigor that goes in seven steps, with the seven rays of the sun.

8.72.17 The sun, urged on by Mitra and Varuṇa, has taken up the soma; that is the remedy for the sick.

8.72.18 And truly the track of the beloved one, his treasure-place — he spread it out around the sky with his tongue.

8.73.1 Rise up, O Aśvins, for the truthful one; harness your chariot, O Aśvins; may your help be nearby.

8.73.2 Come, O Aśvins, with a chariot swifter than the twinkling of an eye; may your help be nearby.

8.73.3 Strew for Atri the hot vessel with cold, O Aśvins; may your help be nearby.

8.73.4 Where are you? Where have you gone? Where have you flown like hawks? May your help be nearby.

8.73.5 If today or at any time you would hear this call, may your help be nearby.

8.73.6 O Aśvins, most invoked at sacrificial journeys, I seek the nearest kinship with you; may your help be nearby.

8.73.7 You two, O Aśvins, make the house favorable for Atri; may your help be nearby.

8.73.8 You two have warmed Agni with heat; speak beautifully to Atri; may your help be nearby.

8.73.9 Saptavadhri with hope stretched out along the stream of Agni; may your help be nearby.

8.73.10 Come hither, you two possessors of wealth and bulls; hear this call of mine; may your help be nearby.

8.73.11 Why is this recited to you as if an ancient thing, as if by an aged man? May your help be nearby.

8.73.12 You two, O Aśvins, share the same kinship; your bond is equal; may your help be nearby.

8.73.13 Your chariot, O Aśvins, traverses the realms between the two worlds; may your help be nearby.

8.73.14 Come to us with thousands of cattle and horses; may your help be nearby.

8.73.15 Do not pass over us with thousands of cattle and horses; may your help be nearby.

8.73.16 Rosy-hued Dawn has appeared; the guardian of sacred order has made the light; may your help be nearby.

8.73.17 O Aśvins, may it shine clearly upon you like an axe upon a tree; may your help be nearby.

8.73.18 Like a fort, O bold one, burst it open — oppressed by the dark tribe; may your help be nearby.

8.74.1 Desiring victory, with hymns of might, I laud for you Agni as the guest of every people, the much-beloved, the one at your homestead.

8.74.2 Him whom the oblation-bearing peoples praise with eulogies, like a friend poured with ghee, like a pressing of the sacred drink.

8.74.3 Jātavedas the most praiseworthy, who with uplifted hand for the gods sent the oblations upward to the sky.

8.74.4 We have come to the most Vṛtra-slaying, the eldest Agni of the Ānavas, in whose army Śrutarvā, the great Ārkṣa, prospers.

8.74.5 Jātavedas the immortal, visible through the darkness, worthy of invocation when ghee is poured — him we laud.

8.74.6 Whom these striving peoples worship with oblations, pouring libations with outstretched ladles — that Agni.

8.74.7 This newest thought for you, O Agni, has been placed from us; O joyful one, nobly born, of good will, O wise and wondrous guest.

8.74.8 May that prayer be for you, O Agni, most blissful, most pleasing, most dear; grow great by it, O well-praised one.

8.74.9 That prayer, resplendent with glories, would lay glory upon glory in the slaying of Vṛtra.

8.74.10 A horse, a cow, one who fills the chariot, the fierce one like Indra the lord of heroes — whose glorious deeds you excel, and the peoples count wondrous and wondrous.

8.74.11 He whom Gopavana called most pleasing with his song, O Agni, O Aṅgiras — that purifier, hear his call.

8.74.12 He whom the striving peoples worship for the winning of the prize — be alert for the slaying of Vṛtra.

8.74.13 I, invoking Śrutarvā the Ārkṣa who sends down the frenzy, touch the heads of the four who cut their hair like the troops of the shearers.

8.74.14 May the four swift fleet ones, the runners of the most mighty one with good chariot, carry me toward refreshment as a bird toward Tugriya.

8.74.15 Truly I have pointed you out by the great river Paruṣṇī; no mortal is mightier as a giver of horses than the most mighty one.

8.75.1 Yoke now the most god-summoning horses, O Agni, like a charioteer; sit down as the ancient Hotṛ on the seat.

8.75.2 And, O god more knowing, speak to us of the gods; make all desirable things real for us.

8.75.3 Truly when you, O youngest one, son of strength, were invoked, you became the guardian of sacred order, worthy of sacrifice.

8.75.4 This Agni is the lord of thousandfold, hundredfold prize; the wise head of riches.

8.75.5 Reverence him as the Ṛbhus revere the wheel-rim with joint invocations; O Aṅgiras, bring the sacrifice nearer.

8.75.6 To him now, the heaven-aiming one, with your speech of Virūpa as your constant means, urge forward an excellent praise for the bull.

8.75.7 With whose help, with the army of this Agni of far-seeing vision, shall we overcome the Paṇi in the cattle-raid?

8.75.8 May the clans of the gods not abandon us like cattle bathed in the rain abandon a lean man.

8.75.9 May the encircling hatred, the difficult hostile power of the whole, not smite us like a wave smites a boat.

8.75.10 The peoples, O god, chant homage to you for your might, O Agni; with your weapons crush the enemy.

8.75.11 May you not fail to press together for us wealth for the cow-quest, O Agni; you who make wide space, make wide space for us.

8.75.12 Do not turn away from us in this great prize-contest like one who bears a burden; win the prize all together, win the wealth.

8.75.13 May this evil portent follow another person away from us in fear, O Agni; increase our might, our powerful strength.

8.75.14 He whose Śamī tree the reverential ones, or that of the one of no evil sacrifice, has favored — Agni indeed increases him.

8.75.15 From over the farther boundary, cross over toward the nearer ones; protect those among whom I am.

8.75.16 For we have known you of old, O Agni, as the protection of a father; so now we crave your favor.

8.76.1 I now invoke this wily Indra who rules by might — him attended by the Maruts, whom one does not withhold.

8.76.2 This Indra, companion of the Maruts, split asunder the head of Vṛtra with the hundred-jointed thunderbolt.

8.76.3 Indra, waxing great as companion of the Maruts, shook Vṛtra apart, releasing the waters toward the sea.

8.76.4 This is he by whom this sun was won, accompanied by the Maruts — by Indra — for drinking of the soma.

8.76.5 We invoke with songs Indra attended by the Maruts, the soma-possessing one, the mighty one, the widely extending one.

8.76.6 With ancient prayer we invoke Indra accompanied by the Maruts for the drinking of this soma.

8.76.7 O Indra with your Maruts, O showerer of blessings, drink the soma, O hundredfold of will; you are much praised at this sacrifice.

8.76.8 For you, O Indra with the Maruts, the soma draughts are pressed, O stone-wielder; the singers of hymns call with heart's devotion.

8.76.9 Drink, O Indra, companion of the Maruts, the pressed soma at the divine impulses, sharpening the thunderbolt with might.

8.76.10 Rising up with might, having drunk, O Indra, your two jaws quivered from the soma pressed in the bowls.

8.76.11 Both worlds lamented after you as you strode forward, O Indra, when you became the slayer of the Dasyus.

8.76.12 I have measured out the body of the speech of eight feet and nine-syllabled, touching sacred order, from Indra.

8.77.1 Being born, the hundredfold-willed one at once asked his mother: Who are the fierce ones? Who have been heard of?

8.77.2 Then the power said to him: Aurṇavābha, the fearful one among serpents — let these be crushed, O son.

8.77.3 The Vṛtra-slayer cut all those asunder in the cavity like wheel-spokes with the wedge; waxing mighty, he became the Dasyu-slayer.

8.77.4 With a single countermeasure Indra drank simultaneously thirty lakes, to his very fill of the soma.

8.77.5 Indra crushed the Gandharva in the bottomless spaces and dusts, indeed for the benefit of the Brahmin seers.

8.77.6 Indra shot out from the mountains, held up the cooked rice-offering — the self-stretched bundle.

8.77.7 The arrow with a hundred holes, with a thousand feathers — it is the one you, O Indra, made your ally.

8.77.8 With that bring to the singers, to men and women to eat, O you who stand firm among the Ṛbhus, born at once.

8.77.9 These mighty deeds of yours have been accomplished; the greatest of all with abundance — you held them firm with the heart.

8.77.10 All these did Viṣṇu bring, the far-striding one, urged on — a hundred buffaloes, the milk-cooked rice-dish, the boar that Indra had taken away.

8.77.11 Your fierce and well-wrought, fine bow, your trusty golden bundle — both your arms, fit for battle, well-adorned, grow great even from the supple, the supple-increasing.

8.78.1 O Indra, bring us a thousand puroḍāśa-cakes from the soma draught, and hundreds of cows, O hero.

8.78.2 Bring us adornment, a cow, a horse as additional adornment, together with a golden mind.

8.78.3 And bring us many ear-ornaments, O bold one; for you are heard, O lord of wealth.

8.78.4 No sycophant, O Indra, is yours, nor a good listener, nor a good giver; and no other sacrificer is like you, O hero.

8.78.5 Indra cannot be cut down, the mighty one cannot be overpowered; he hears and sees everything.

8.78.6 He, undeceived, takes note of the passion of mortals; he takes note of the blame before it comes.

8.78.7 Through his will alone the belly of the fleet one, the worshipper, is full — the Vṛtra-slayer, the soma-drinker.

8.78.8 In you, O Soma, are gathered the riches and all the good fortunes, well given and not turned away.

8.78.9 My desire that longs for barley, for cows, for gold — it is you it seeks; and the longing for horses seeks you.

8.78.10 O Indra, of you I have taken in my hand the gift with hope; whether of the day or of the gathered wealth, fill us, O Maghavan, with barley of the Kāśī land.

8.79.1 This Soma is the agent ungrasped, the all-conqueror, the one who breaks forth; a seer, an inspired one through his poetic power.

8.79.2 He clothes what is naked; he heals whatever is ailing; the blind man was made to see; the lame man was made to walk.

8.79.3 You, O Soma, are a wide-spreading shelter from those who cause bodily harm, from hostilities, from evils done by others.

8.79.4 You are the discerner, O Soma-bearer; by your might from heaven and earth you ward off even the hatred of evil.

8.79.5 If those who seek an object go toward their object, may the gift of the one who has given reach them; may the desire of the thirsty be fulfilled.

8.79.6 Having found again what was lost of old, he set in motion the guardian of sacred order; he led life across what could not be crossed.

8.79.7 The kindly one who shows mercy, of undaunted will, unhindered — be for us, O Soma, a joy to the heart.

8.79.8 O Soma, do not terrify us together; do not scatter fear abroad, O king; do not smite our heart with your fierce energy.

8.79.9 When in my own station I observe the ill-intentions of the gods — O king, drive away the foes; O showerer, drive away the slanderers.

8.80.1 For there is no other bestower of grace more mighty, O hundredfold-willed one; you, O Indra, show us mercy.

8.80.2 You who have always unfalteringly protected us for the winning of the prize — you, O Indra, show us mercy.

8.80.3 What then? Are you the inspirer of the weak, who have stood by the soma-presser? Can you indeed be capable of helping us, O Indra?

8.80.4 O Indra, push our chariot forward even though it is behind, O stone-wielder; set it before me at the front.

8.80.5 Come now, why do you sit idle? Make our chariot first; the fame that strives for the prize shall be the highest.

8.80.6 Help our chariot that strives for the prize; it is easy for you — what lies beyond it? Make us truly victorious.

8.80.7 O Indra, be firm; you are our fort; auspicious comes to you the accomplished task; this thought is timely and potent.

8.80.8 May no reproach have a share in the vast goal, in the wealth laid up there; may the arm-spans be unobstructed.

8.80.9 The fourth sacrificial name — when you perform that, that is what we desire; and then the lord carries it forward like a friend.

8.80.10 The immortals have made you great; the one-day giver has gladdened the gods and also the goddesses; make therefore a praiseworthy offering to him — may he come swiftly in the morning, rich in thought and wealth.

8.81.1 Seize for us, O Indra, a splendid, bountiful prize with your great right hand.

8.81.2 For we know you as one of mighty deeds, of mighty gifts, of mighty wealth, of mighty measure through your help.

8.81.3 Neither the gods nor mortal men, O hero, can hinder you when you are minded to give, terrible as a raging bull.

8.81.4 Come, let us now praise Indra, the self-sovereign lord of wealth; he will not fail us with his bounty.

8.81.5 He shall sing forth, he shall come near, he shall hear the Sāman being sung, he shall roar in response with his bounty.

8.81.6 Bring it to us with your right hand, touch it also with your left; O Indra, do not deprive us of wealth.

8.81.7 Step forward boldly, O bold one, and bring to us the treasure of him who has not pressed soma — him who is the more unworthy.

8.81.8 O Indra, whatever prize of yours is to be won through inspired poets — do win it well for us.

8.81.9 Your prizes, swift as the speed of a day, all-glittering, and the willing steeds — may they come quickly at our desire.

8.82.1 Run forward here, O Vṛtra-slayer, from far away and from near, to the pouring out of the sweet drink.

8.82.2 Come hither: the soma juices are strong and pressed, intoxicating; drink steadily as is your wont.

8.82.3 Exhilarate yourself with food; indeed it is fit for your desire and your mood; may it be good for your heart, O Indra.

8.82.4 Come, O you who have no foe, come hither; you are also invoked for the recitations in the highest luminous realm of heaven.

8.82.5 This soma, pressed for you with stones and strained through the cow-hairs for exhilaration, is called forth for you, O Indra.

8.82.6 O Indra, hear well my call; achieve the full drinking and satisfaction of our soma mixed with milk.

8.82.7 That soma, O Indra, which has been pressed for you in the bowls and the cups — you are the lord of it; drink of it.

8.82.8 The soma that gleams in the cups like the moon in the waters — you are the lord of it; drink of it.

8.82.9 That soma which the eagle bore to you with its foot through the realms of air, the untouched — you are the lord of it; drink of it.

8.83.1 That great help of the gods — that we choose for ourselves, the aid of the mighty bulls on our behalf.

8.83.2 May Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryamā always be our allies, and the wise ones who bring increase.

8.83.3 Bear us beyond the many widespread dangers as if across waters with ships; you are the charioteers of cosmic order.

8.83.4 May the excellent thing be ours, O Aryaman; excellent, O Varuṇa, worthy of praise — for it is the excellent that we choose.

8.83.5 For of the excellent are the wise, ruling, conquering Ādityas the lords; they do not lead to harm.

8.83.6 We, whether dwelling at home or going on the road, call upon you, O bountiful gods, for increase.

8.83.7 Watch over us, O Indra, watch over us, O Viṣṇu, as our kinsfolk; and so too the Maruts and the Aśvins.

8.83.8 The brotherhood of you bountiful ones — we take it up again together, even as in the mother's womb.

8.83.9 For you are the bountiful ones with Indra as your chief, you who shine upon us — even of you, therefore, I speak.

8.84.1 I praise your most beloved guest, dear as a friend, Agni the well-known, like a chariot.

8.84.2 The seer-like, wise one whom the gods thereafter placed a second time among mortals.

8.84.3 Protect, O youngest god, the men of the worshipper; hear our praises; guard his offspring and also yourself.

8.84.4 With what praise, O Agni Aṅgiras, O child of strength, shall I approach you, O god, to satisfy your will?

8.84.5 With what mind shall we serve the sacrifice, O son of strength? What shall I say? — this homage here.

8.84.6 So you shall win for us all good dwellings; our songs are full of prize-winning wealth.

8.84.7 Whose ample thoughts do you now quicken, O lord of the house? His hymns to you are cow-winning.

8.84.8 They adorn him, the wise one who goes before in the contests, the prize-winner in his own abodes.

8.84.9 He dwells among good, peaceful folk; none slays him, but he slays; the man of good heroes prospers, O Agni.

8.85.1 Come both of you, O Nāsatyas, O Aśvins, to my call, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.2 Hear this my laud, O Aśvins; hear this my call, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.3 This Kṛṣṇa calls to you both, O Aśvins, O lords of fleet steeds, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.4 Hear the call of the worshipper Kṛṣṇa as he praises, O heroes, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.5 Bring the inviolable shelter to the inspired man who praises, O heroes, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.6 Come to the house of the worshipper who praises you thus, O Aśvins, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.7 Yoke the donkey to your firm-wheeled chariot, O you who possess bulls, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.8 Come with the triple-poled, triple-fastened chariot, O Aśvins, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.85.9 Now, O Nāsatyas, O Aśvins, do the two of you promote my songs, for the drinking of the sweet soma.

8.86.1 Both of you, O wonder-workers, are healers, bringers of joy; both of you have responded to the words of our skill. Viśvaka calls you both for the protection of his body; do not forsake our friendship — release us.

8.86.2 How should a distracted man praise you both? Yet you have given him thought for the attainment of better things. Viśvaka calls you both for the protection of his body; do not forsake our friendship — release us.

8.86.3 You two, O givers of abundance, gave this Viṣṇāpva his increase for the attainment of better things. Viśvaka calls you both for the protection of his body; do not forsake our friendship — release us.

8.86.4 We call also that hero who wins wealth, who has soma-juice, though he be far away, for help; whose most sweet favour is like a father's care. Do not forsake our friendship — release us.

8.86.5 The god Savitā rested through cosmic order; the horn of cosmic order spread out broadly; order has overcome even the great ones who fight against it. Do not forsake our friendship — release us.

8.87.1 Our glorious praise calls to you, O Aśvins, like a miller pouring — come hither; drink, O heroes beloved in heaven, of the sweet pressed juice, like two wild bulls at a pool.

8.87.2 Drink the hot sweet milk-drink, O Aśvins; sit upon the barhis, O heroes; gladdened in Manu's dwelling, sit down and bestow strength with your wisdom.

8.87.3 The Priyamedhas have called you both with all aids; come along the path to those who have prepared the barhis, to the sacrifice made pleasing in its heavenly aspirations.

8.87.4 Drink the sweet soma, O Aśvins; sit with good intention upon the barhis; growing strong through the excellent praise, come from heaven like two wild bulls to a pool.

8.87.5 Come now, O Aśvins, with your water-sprinkling steeds; O wonder-workers of the golden track, O lords of beauty, you who strengthen cosmic order — drink the soma.

8.87.6 For we inspired singers call you both for the winning of the prize; come, O charming wonder-workers of many wondrous deeds, O Aśvins skilled in prayer, come in obedience to our call.

8.88.1 We praise with our songs that wonder-worker of yours, who conquers in the onslaught, who rejoices in the wealth of soma-juice, even Indra — as cows lowing to their calf at their resting places.

8.88.2 We desire the heavenly, bountiful one, clothed with his powers like a mountain, the giver of abundant enjoyment, the flourishing prize of hundreds, of thousands, rich in cattle — come quickly.

8.88.3 Neither great mountains nor hard rocks can keep you back, O Indra; when you desire to give wealth to the praising singer of your praise, none can diminish that in you.

8.88.4 You are a warrior by wisdom, by might, and by wondrous power, surpassing all beings by your greatness; this hymn which the Gotamas have begotten turns to you for aid.

8.88.5 You have burst forth from the ends of heaven with your might; the earthly realm could not contain you, O Indra; you have grown according to your own nature.

8.88.6 There is no hindrance to your bounty, O Maghavan, when you bestow gifts on the worshipper; be stirred by our laud, O most munificent one, for the winning of the prize.

8.89.1 Sing the great hymn to Indra, O Maruts, to the mightiest slayer of Vṛtra, through whom the strengtheners of cosmic order have generated light, the wakeful deity for the god.

8.89.2 He drove away the revilers, destroying those reviled; then Indra became resplendent. The gods, O Indra, with the host of Maruts, O you of great brilliance, yoked themselves to your friendship.

8.89.3 Sing forth to the great Indra, O Maruts, with your sacred formulas; the Vṛtra-slayer, the hundred-powered one, slays Vṛtra with the hundred-jointed bolt.

8.89.4 Bring forth with bold heart, O bold-minded one; may your glory be great; let the waters flow swiftly, like mothers — slay Vṛtra and win the light of heaven.

8.89.5 When you were born without precedent, O Maghavan, for the slaying of Vṛtra — thereby you spread out the earth; thereby you also propped up the sky.

8.89.6 From that the sacrifice was born for you, from that the hymn and the praise-shout; thereby you are the overcomer of all that has been born and all that shall be born.

8.89.7 You stirred the ripe in the unripe; you raised the sun in heaven; like the gharma-vessel heat it with your songs of praise — the great hymn pleasing to the hymn-lover.

8.90.1 May Indra prosper us in all our callings; may the Vṛtra-slayer, supreme in might, who delights in sacred verse, attend our prayers and pressings.

8.90.2 You are the first giver of bounties; you are the true maker of lordship; we choose for our ally the great might of the son who has exceeding glory.

8.90.3 Prayers that cannot be overcome are fashioned for you, O Indra, O lover of praise; accept these, O lord of bay horses — the songs, O Indra, which we have composed for you.

8.90.4 For you, O Maghavan, are true and unbowed, and you lay low many Vṛtras; therefore, O most mighty, O thunderbolt-handed one, turn abundant wealth toward the worshipper.

8.90.5 You, O Indra, are glorious, the soma-drinker, O lord of strength; you alone slay the resistless Vṛtras, unconquered, upholding the people.

8.90.6 And you, the wise lord, we now implore as we would implore our share of bounty; your shelter, O Indra, is like a great hide for protection; may your blessings reach us.

8.91.1 A maiden, going to fetch water, found soma by a flowing stream; bearing it home she said: 'I will press thee for Indra, I will press thee for Śakra.'

8.91.2 O thou hero who goest shining from house to house — drink this soma pressed between the teeth, mingled with parched grain, mixed with gruel and sweet cakes, accompanied by lauds.

8.91.3 We do not tend thee out of regard, we do not pour thee away out of neglect; gently, ever so gently, O drop, flow round for Indra.

8.91.4 Will he be able? Will he accomplish it? Will he bring us into greater prosperity? Will women who hate their husbands meet together with Indra?

8.91.5 These three flat surfaces — make them grow, O Indra: the head of that bald man, the field yonder, and this my belly.

8.91.6 Both that field of ours, and this body of mine — and the head of that bald man — make all of them hairy.

8.91.7 In the nave of the chariot, in the nave of the cart, in the nave of the yoke, O Śatakratu — Indra, thou didst purify Apālā thrice, making her skin radiant as the sun.

8.92.1 Sing forth to Indra, the guardian of your soma-draught, the all-conquering, the Śatakratu, the most bounteous among men.

8.92.2 Him who is called by many, praised by many, celebrated in songs, ever-famed — call him 'Indra'!

8.92.3 Indra indeed is the giver of great prizes and of vigour to us; the mighty one stoops down to his knee.

8.92.4 With his beautiful jaw Indra has fully drunk from the inebriating soma-juice of Indu, of great power, of abounding stimulation — the soma mixed with barley.

8.92.5 Sing forth to that Indra for the drinking of soma; this indeed is his increase.

8.92.6 Having drunk of his exhilarating draughts, a god through the power of the god, he becomes lord over all the worlds.

8.92.7 Him, the all-conquering one, whom you set in motion in all your songs — invite thou him to come hither for our aid.

8.92.8 The warrior ever unconquered, the soma-drinker never falling away, the man whose will none can check.

8.92.9 Grant us wealth, O Indra, thou who art very wise; O sage, help us at the decisive contest.

8.92.10 Come hither to us even from afar, O Indra, with a hundred prizes, with nourishment winning a thousand prizes.

8.92.11 Let us pursue the thoughts of the devout with our swift steeds, O Śakra, winner of kine; may we conquer in battles, O wielder of the bolt.

8.92.12 We, O Śatakratu, rejoice in thee with our lauds as cows in pastures.

8.92.13 For all that belongs to mortality is desirous of following, O Śatakratu; we have come to thee, O wielder of the bolt, with our hopes.

8.92.14 In thee, O son of strength, are concentrated the desires of those who slay Vṛtra; none surpasses thee, O Indra.

8.92.15 Do thou, O bull, assist us with thy most excellent, most terrible, most swift bounty; fill us with understanding and with abundance.

8.92.16 That rapture of thine which is now most glorious, O Indra, O Śatakratu — in that exhilaration be thou now exhilarated.

8.92.17 That rapture of thine which is most wonderfully famous, O Indra, which is most mighty for the slaying of Vṛtra, which is the greatest giver of vigour.

8.92.18 We know indeed that rapture of thine, O lord of the stone-bolt, given by thee thyself, O true soma-drinker, among all peoples, O wondrous one.

8.92.19 Let our praises surround the soma pressed for Indra's exhilaration; let the singers intone their hymn.

8.92.20 In whom all glories resound, the seven assemblies — we invoke Indra at the soma-pressing.

8.92.21 The gods stretched forth the conscious sacrifice at the three soma-bowls; let our praises magnify that.

8.92.22 Let the soma-drops flow into thee as rivers into the ocean; none surpasses thee, O Indra.

8.92.23 Thou hast spread wide with thy greatness, O bull, the drinking of soma for the wakeful — that which is in thy belly, O Indra.

8.92.24 Let the soma be ready for thy belly, O Indra the Vṛtra-slayer; let the soma-drops be ready for thy seats.

8.92.25 The far-famed singer sings readiness for the horse, readiness for the cow, readiness for Indra's dwelling.

8.92.26 For thou art ever ready to grace our pressed somas, O Indra; thou art ready, O Śakra, for giving.

8.92.27 Even from afar may our praises reach thee, O lord of the stone-bolt; may we come to meet thee.

8.92.28 For thus thou art heroic, thus, O hero, thou art also firm; thus is thy mind apt for liberality.

8.92.29 Thus was thy gift established, O thou of great wealth, by all the ordaining powers; be thou still with me, O Indra.

8.92.30 Do not become sluggish like a brahmin, O lord of prizes; be exhilarated with the pressed soma mixed with milk.

8.92.31 Let not the sun outshine us, O Indra, as he traverses the rays of light; with thee as ally may we win that prize.

8.92.32 With thee, O Indra, as our ally, may we respond to our rivals; thou art ours and we are thine.

8.92.33 Thee indeed thy devotees follow as they roam, praising thee ever; thy friends the singers, O Indra.

8.93.1 Thou risest up indeed toward the far-famed, wealth-bestowing bull whose works are manly — thou goest to the shooter, O Sun.

8.93.2 He who broke ninety-nine fortresses with the strength of his arms, and with the power of the Vṛtra-slayer slew the serpent.

8.93.3 May that Indra be our auspicious friend, who milks for us abundance of horses, kine, and barley — like a cow with flowing streams.

8.93.4 Whatever exists today, O Vṛtra-slayer, since the sun rose over all — all that, O Indra, is in thy power.

8.93.5 Or if thou, O full-grown lord of the righteous, dost think 'I shall not die' — that too is truly thine.

8.93.6 The soma pressings that are done in the distant region, the soma pressings done in the near region — to all of them, O Indra, thou goest.

8.93.7 We stimulate that Indra to slay the mighty Vṛtra; may he be the bull among bulls.

8.93.8 That Indra is fashioned for giving, he is the mightiest; he is devoted to exhilaration, glorious, renowned, devoted to soma.

8.93.9 Like a thunderbolt assembled by a hymn, together with his power, never giving way — the vigorous, unconquered one has grown strong.

8.93.10 Make for us easy passage even through difficulty, as thou art praised, O Indra, lover of hymns; thou art our desire, O Maghavan.

8.93.11 Thy self-rule, even the slightest command of which no god, no wretched man diminishes.

8.93.12 Then the two divine worlds, heaven and earth with beautiful jaws, serve thy irresistible might.

8.93.13 Thou hast sustained the bright milk in the dark cows and in the tawny ones, and in those of the Paruṣṇī river.

8.93.14 When all the gods stepped away from the serpent's flash of brilliance, they found the disease of the wild beast.

8.93.15 Then may there be protection for me; the Vṛtra-slayer has commanded manly valour; he who has no born enemy is unconquered.

8.93.16 I proclaim for you the most famous Vṛtra-slayer, the champion of men, for the attainment of great riches.

8.93.17 With this thought that seeks kine, O thou of many names, praised by many — by whatever soma thou hast appeared at each soma-feast.

8.93.18 May he be attentive to us — the Vṛtra-slayer, the lavish with libations; may Śakra hear our prayer.

8.93.19 With what aid dost thou exhilarate thyself toward us, O bull? With what dost thou bring abundance to the singers?

8.93.20 For whom does the bull, the Vṛtra-slayer, together with his team, rejoice at the pressing, the bull for the drinking of soma?

8.93.21 Come to us and, exhilarating thyself, be the bringer of thousandfold riches to the worshipper.

8.93.22 These somas pressed with their consorts go eagerly to the enjoyment; the drinker of waters, Indra, comes to the purified drops.

8.93.23 The desired invocations, the augmenting ones, have been let loose toward Indra at the sacrifice; toward the final bath with vigour.

8.93.24 Here let those two revelling bay steeds with golden manes draw toward the oblation prepared for them.

8.93.25 For thee are these soma-drops pressed, the sacred grass is strewn, O all-illumining; bring Indra to the singers.

8.93.26 As he places in thee luminous power and distributes treasure to the worshipper — sing to Indra for the singers.

8.93.27 I place all the lauds in thy heroic power, O Śatakratu; be gracious to the singers, O Indra.

8.93.28 Bring us blessing after blessing, bring vigour, O Śatakratu — whensoever thou art gracious to us, O Indra.

8.93.29 Bring us all good things, O Śatakratu — whensoever thou art gracious to us, O Indra.

8.93.30 Thee only, O mightiest Vṛtra-slayer, do we who press the soma invoke — whensoever thou art gracious to us, O Indra.

8.93.31 Come to our pressed soma with thy bay steeds, O lord of exhilarations; come to our pressed soma with thy bay steeds.

8.93.32 He who is doubly the mightiest Vṛtra-slayer, Indra, the Śatakratu — come to our pressed soma with thy bay steeds.

8.93.33 For thou, O Vṛtra-slayer, art the guardian of these somas — come to our pressed soma with thy bay steeds.

8.93.34 May Indra give us food, the ample, Ṛbhu-like wealth; may the prize-winner give us the prize.

8.94.1 The cow suckles the Maruts' fame-seeking mother of the wealthy; yoked are the two draught-horses of the chariots.

8.94.2 In whose lap all the gods sustain all their ordinances, the sun and moon for the beautiful sight.

8.94.3 That do all the noble ones ever call for us, the singers — O Maruts, for the drinking of soma.

8.94.4 This soma is pressed; the Maruts drink of it, and the self-ruling Aśvins also.

8.94.5 Mitra and Aryaman and Varuṇa drink of the purified, swift soma that has three seats.

8.94.6 And now Indra too takes pleasure in this pressed soma mixed with milk, exhilarated like a morning hotar-priest.

8.94.7 How do the luminaries shine, like waters across the currents? They flow, those of purified power.

8.94.8 Which of the great gods' aids shall I choose today, and of the wondrous-radiant ones by their own power?

8.94.9 They who have spread out all earthly things and the luminous regions of the sky — O Maruts, for the drinking of soma.

8.94.10 Those pure-powered ones of heaven, O Maruts, I now invoke you — for the drinking of this soma.

8.94.11 Those who have propped apart the two worlds, the Maruts, I now invoke — for the drinking of this soma.

8.94.12 That troop of Maruts dwelling on the mountains, the bulls — I now invoke them for the drinking of this soma.

8.95.1 The hymns have come to thee like chariot-warriors at the soma-pressings, O lover of praises; they have lowed toward thee together, O Indra, as mothers toward a calf.

8.95.2 The bright pressed soma-drops have stirred thee, O Indra, lover of praises; drink now of this soma-juice, O Indra — it is established for thee in all things.

8.95.3 Drink the soma pressed for exhilaration, O Indra, brought by the eagle — for thou art the lord and king of all eternal peoples.

8.95.4 Hear the call of Tirascī, O Indra, who worships thee; fill him with wealth in heroes and kine — thou art great.

8.95.5 O Indra, he who has brought forth for thee the newest, most pleasing hymn — the thought full of understanding, the ancient one swelling with Order.

8.95.6 Let us now praise that Indra whom hymns and lauds have magnified; eager to win his many manly deeds, we celebrate him.

8.95.7 Come now, let us praise Indra the pure with a pure sāman-chant; let him who is magnified by pure lauds, the pure one, be gladdened by a pure invocation.

8.95.8 Come to us as the pure Indra, O pure one, with pure aids; as the pure one establish wealth for us; as the pure, soma-loving one, be exhilarated.

8.95.9 Indra, pure, thou givest us wealth; pure, thou bestowest treasures on the worshipper; pure, thou smitest Vṛtras; pure, thou seekest to win the prize.

8.96.1 The sweet-sounding dawns of night stretched out their path for Indra; for him the seven mother-waters stood as rivers easy to ford, for men to cross over.

8.96.2 Though pierced through, the weapon of even a tottering one — thrice seven ridges of the mountains joined together — no god nor mortal could pass what the mighty bull accomplished.

8.96.3 Indra's bolt is of iron, plunging deep; in Indra's two arms is the greatest vigour; Indra's thoughts poured out from his head, they streamed forth, heard nearby.

8.96.4 I deem thee the most adorable of those who deserve worship; I deem thee the shaker of the unshakeable; I deem thee, O Indra, the banner of warriors; I deem thee the bull of mankind.

8.96.5 When thou dost take up in thy arms the bolt, the exhilaration-shedder, to slay the serpent — forth cried the mountains, forth the cows; the priests drew near to Indra.

8.96.6 Let us praise him who has produced all these beings inferior to himself; may we secure friendship with Indra through our songs; may we approach the bull with reverences.

8.96.7 All the gods who were thy friends abandoned thee as thou wert striving, driven by Vṛtra's roar; may thy friendship with the Maruts be established, O Indra, and then conquer all these hosts.

8.96.8 The thrice-sixty Maruts, grown mighty like heaps of dawn-cattle, adorable — we come to thee; make us partakers of thy share; with this oblation may we worship thy vigour.

8.96.9 Sharp is the Maruts' weapon, their army — who has dared to oppose thy thunderbolt, O Indra? The Asuras without weapons, the godless — with thy discus, shear them away, O Ṛjīṣin.

8.96.10 Send forth a well-formed hymn to the great, mighty, most auspicious one, the possessor of cattle; direct many praises to Indra, the hymn-borne; may he perchance find something for his own being.

8.96.11 For the far-spreading laud-bearer, direct thy thought as one directs a raft to the far bank of rivers; touch with thy thought that being of the renowned and ever more beloved — may he perchance find it.

8.96.12 Discover what Indra has enjoyed; praise with a fine hymn, seek to win by reverence; approach with care, O singer — do not cry aloud; let thy voice be heard — may he perchance find it.

8.96.13 The dark drop descended and stood on the Aṁśumatī river, moving with ten thousands; Indra, the man-minded one, aided him who was blowing, and took away from him his slippery ones.

8.96.14 I saw the drop wandering at the meeting-point, in the bend of the Aṁśumatī river, standing like a dark cloud come down — I urge you on, O bulls, fighting in battle.

8.96.15 Then the drop, shining brightly, held its form in the lap of the Aṁśumatī; Indra allied with Bṛhaspati overcame the ungodly tribes that came against him.

8.96.16 Being born from the seven, thou becamest an enemy to those who had no enemy, O Indra; thou foundest heaven and earth that were hidden; thou didst establish battle for the worlds of the far-extending.

8.96.17 Thou boldly didst strike that unequalled strength with thy bolt, O wielder of the bolt; with thy weapons thou didst descend against Śuṣṇa; thou didst find the cows, O Indra, by thy power.

8.96.18 Thou, O bull of mankind, didst become the mighty smiter of Vṛtras; thou didst release the rivers that were dammed up; thou didst conquer the waters that had Dāsa lords.

8.96.19 He of good counsel who rejoices at the soma-pressings, whose anger is unbeaten, who is rich as a serpent — he alone, the manly doer of deeds, is the Vṛtra-slayer; otherwise they call him another.

8.96.20 He is the Vṛtra-slaying Indra, the sustainer of men; him let us invoke as the worthy one with praise; he will be our protector, our Maghavan, our patron; he is the giver of vigour and fame.

8.96.21 That Vṛtra-slaying Indra, the Ṛbhukṣan, born at once, became the worthy one to be invoked; performing many manly deeds, like soma when drunk, worthy of invocation for friends.

8.97.1 The riches, the sun-wealth that thou didst bring away from the Asuras, O Indra — increase, O Maghavan, the wealth of this singer, and of those who have trimmed the sacred grass for thee.

8.97.2 The horse, the cow, the unfailing share that thou, O Indra, dost apportion — place it in the sacrificer who presses soma and gives the sacrificial fee; not in the miser.

8.97.3 He who, O Indra, sleeps out of season, the ungodly, the slumberer — let him perish by his own means; place his nourishing riches far away from there.

8.97.4 Whether thou, O Śakra, art in the distant region or in the near region, O Vṛtra-slayer — the soma-presser seeks thee hither from that distance with shining songs, O Indra, with hymns that reach the sky.

8.97.5 Whether thou art in the luminous realm of heaven, above the layer of the ocean, or in an earthly dwelling, O mightiest Vṛtra-slayer, or in the atmosphere — come hither.

8.97.6 Be thou exhilarated, O soma-drinker, at our soma-feasts, at our pressings, O lord of might; with thy bountiful gift, O truth-possessing Indra, with thy wealth abounding on all sides.

8.97.7 Turn not away from us, O Indra; be our companion in revelry; thou art our ally, thou art our kinsman — turn not away from us, O Indra.

8.97.8 Sit down here with us, O Indra, at the pressed soma to drink the sweetness; grant great aid to the singer, O Maghavan — with us, O Indra, at the pressed soma.

8.97.9 Neither the gods nor mortal men have ever equalled thee, O lord of the bolt; thou art the overpowerer of all creatures by thy might — neither the gods have equalled thee.

8.97.10 Together they fashioned and begat Indra, the man most overpowering of all hosts, to be king — him most excellent in will, the bounteous, undying one, utterly fierce, most vigorous, mighty, and swift.

8.97.11 Together the singers chanted to Indra for the drinking of soma — the lord of the sun, who is established for his growth, firm in his vows, by his power and his aids.

8.97.12 The inspired singers, calling aloud, bow down with their gaze to the rim of the wheel and to the ram; your bright ones, free from enmity, swift in the ear — they come together with hymns.

8.97.13 I invoke again and again that Indra, the bounteous, the mighty, who holds irresistible strengths; most generous with hymns, may he, the adorable, turn back, and may the wielder of the bolt make for us all good paths to wealth.

8.97.14 Thou, O Indra, formerly didst know how to destroy these with thy might, O mightiest Śakra; from thee all the worlds tremble, O wielder of the bolt, and heaven and earth with fear.

8.97.15 May that Order, O heroic, wondrous Indra, protect me; like water, O wielder of the bolt, carry me over many difficulties; when wilt thou, O Indra, richly bestow on us the all-nourishing and desirable wealth, O king?

8.98.1 Sing a great sāman to Indra, to the inspired, to the great; to him who establishes Order, the wise, the praiseworthy.

8.98.2 Thou art the overpowerer, O Indra; thou didst make the sun to shine; thou art the all-maker, the all-deity, the great one.

8.98.3 Blazing with light thou didst reach the sun, the luminous realm of heaven; the gods arranged themselves for thy friendship, O Indra.

8.98.4 Come to us, O Indra, thou who art dear, the all-conqueror, unconcealed; like a mountain broad on all sides, lord of the sky.

8.98.5 For, O true soma-drinker, thou hast become the guardian of both worlds, heaven and earth; thou art the increaser of the soma-presser, lord of the sky.

8.98.6 For thou art the breaker of eternal fortresses, O Indra; slayer of the Dāsa, increaser of Manu, lord of the sky.

8.98.7 Now indeed, O Indra, lover of praises, we release our great desires toward thee, as waters that rise upward.

8.98.8 Like water do the sacred verses magnify thee, O hero, with their streams — thee who hast grown great, O lord of the stone-bolt, day by day.

8.98.9 They yoke the two bay steeds of the swift one in the spacious chariot with wide yoke — the two Indra-bearing, speech-yoked ones.

8.98.10 Bring us, O Indra, fullness of might, manly vigour, O Śatakratu, wide-seeing; bring us a hero who withstands armies.

8.98.11 For thou hast become our father, O Vasu, thou hast become our mother, O Śatakratu; therefore we implore thy favour.

8.98.12 O strong one, O widely invoked, I call upon thee, the prize-winner, O Śatakratu; do thou grant us good heroic strength.

8.99.1 Thee indeed yesterday the eager men refreshed, O wielder of the bolt; so, O Indra, bearer of praises, hear here — come for the early-morning rite.

8.99.2 Be exhilarated, O fair-jawed one with the bay steeds; this we crave; the wise ones adorn thee; thy fames are supreme, worthy of lauds, at the soma-pressings, O Indra, lover of praises.

8.99.3 As they cling to the sun, eat from all of Indra's bounties; being born we have shone with vigour, at birth, steadfastly toward our share of good things.

8.99.4 Praise the giver of riches who never fails; auspicious are Indra's gifts; he does not neglect the wish of his worshipper, but urges his mind to giving.

8.99.5 Thou, O Indra, art beyond all rivals in onslaughts; thou art the destroyer of curses, the producer, the pervader; thou art swift against the one who attacks.

8.99.6 The two worlds followed after thy hastening might like two mothers after a child; all rivals are crushed by thy wrath when thou, O Indra, dost overwhelm Vṛtra.

8.99.7 From here, with his aid, invoke the unfailing, the unsent sender, the swift conqueror, the impeller, the foremost charioteer, the unassailable, the increaser of Tugrya's line.

8.99.8 We invoke this same Indra for aid — the accomplisher of unaccomplished things, the force-created, the hundred-aided, the Śatakratu, the possessor of good things, swift as wealth.

8.100.1 I come before thee with my whole body; all the gods approach me from behind; when thou shalt assign me my share, then with me, O Indra, perform heroic deeds.

8.100.2 I offer thee a share of honey first; let the pressed soma be thy allotted portion; and thou shalt be my friend on the right side, and then let us smite many Vṛtras together.

8.100.3 Bring forth your laud, eager for the prize, to Indra the true — if truth there be; 'Indra does not exist,' said a certain one; 'who has seen him? Whom shall we praise?'

8.100.4 Here am I, O singer — look at me here; I surpass all beings with my greatness; the directions of Order cause me to grow; shattering, I shatter the worlds asunder.

8.100.5 When the Venas climbed up to meet me, me sitting alone on the back of the beloved one of Order — even my mind spoke back from the heart; the young friends cried out aloud.

8.100.6 All these things of thine are to be proclaimed at the soma-pressings, which thou, O Maghavan Indra, hast done for the soma-presser; the distant, abundantly-gathered wealth thou didst uncover for Śarabha, the kinsman of the seer.

8.100.7 Run forward now separately — let not him who has held you back stop you here; Indra has struck the bolt into the vital part of Vṛtra.

8.100.8 Swift as thought, advancing, he crossed the iron fortress; the fair-winged bird flew to heaven and brought the soma to the wielder of the bolt.

8.100.9 The bolt lies within the ocean, surrounded by water; the assembled ones, whose streams flow forward, bring tribute to him.

8.100.10 When Vāc speaks things that lack understanding — she who is the queen of the gods has sat down pleasing; she has milked four strengthening milkings; where then has her highest form gone?

8.100.11 The gods brought forth the divine Vāc; all living beings speak her in manifold forms; may she, the cow Vāc, that milch-cow milking joy and strength, come to us with her excellent praise.

8.100.12 O friend Viṣṇu, stride out more widely; O heaven, give space for the bolt to prop itself; let us smite Vṛtra, let us release the rivers — let them flow forth at Indra's urging.

8.101.1 Rightly indeed has that mortal striven for the sake of the gods, who now has engaged Mitra and Varuṇa for his desire, for the bestowal of the oblation.

8.101.2 Mightiest in dominion, wide-seeing, those two lords, those two kings most famed of all — they travel, wondrous in their arm-power, together with the rays of the sun.

8.101.3 He who ran swiftly as your messenger, O Mitra and Varuṇa, the iron-headed one, swift in exhilaration.

8.101.4 He who delights neither in entreaty nor in being invoked again, nor in conversation — from that calamity guard us today; guard us with your arms.

8.101.5 Sing forth, O truth-possessing ones, the companionable praise to Mitra and to Aryaman; sing the sheltering, pleasing word of laud among the kings, to Varuṇa.

8.101.6 They impelled the ruddy, noble, excellent one — the single son of the three mothers; they, the immortal ones, behold undeceived the ordinances of mortals.

8.101.7 My words are raised up, most glorious in their working; come, both of you, Nāsatyas, together delighting, to accept the oblations.

8.101.8 When we call upon the demon-free gift of you two, O Vājinīvasus, come, O lords, prolonging the eastern invocation, praised by Jamadagni.

8.101.9 Come, O Vāyu, to our sacrifice that touches the sky, with good intentions; this bright one, being purified within above, is offered to you.

8.101.10 The adhvaryu goes by the straightest paths to receive the oblations; so now, O lord of the team, drink of both our peoples the pure soma mingled with milk.

8.101.11 Verily great are you, O Sūrya; verily great are you, O Āditya; the greatness of you the great one is praised; truly, O god, you are great.

8.101.12 Verily great are you, O Sūrya, in renown; great, O god, are you in every way; mighty among the gods, you are the Asura, the purohita, the all-pervading, indestructible light.

8.101.13 This one, the ray-bearing one of downward form, fashioned after Rohiṇī — like a wondrous thing she is seen appearing, coming amid the ten arms.

8.101.14 Three offspring have passed beyond; other ones have entered on every side around the sun; the mighty one has stood within the worlds, the purified one has entered into the green.

8.101.15 She is the mother of the Rudras, the daughter of the Vasus, the sister of the Ādityas, the navel of immortality — I now proclaim this to the discerning people: do not slay the guiltless cow Aditi.

8.101.16 The cow, who knows speech and who utters speech, who is present with all insights, divine, who has gone around among the gods — let no mortal of small wit snatch her away.

8.102.1 You, O Agni, bestow great wealth on the worshipper, O god — you the seer, the householder, the ever-young.

8.102.2 So bring the gods to us along with their praise, O Agni, you who serve them well; bring them, O all-illumining one, that we may know.

8.102.3 With you indeed as our ally, the greatest impeller, O youngest one, we strive for the winning of the prize.

8.102.4 Like Aurva and Bhṛgu, like Apnavāna, I invoke the pure Agni, who has the ocean as his garment.

8.102.5 I invoke the power that sounds like wind, the seer that roars like Parjanya — Agni, who has the ocean as his garment.

8.102.6 As the invigorating impulse of Savitṛ, as the enjoyment of Bhaga, so I invoke him — Agni, who has the ocean as his garment.

8.102.7 Agni, who grows great through sacrifices, the most glorified of all — sing to his vigorous grandson.

8.102.8 Just as Tvaṣṭar comes to us, fashioning forms as things to be shaped — through the will of this glorious one.

8.102.9 This Agni reigns over all glories among the gods; may he come to us with prizes.

8.102.10 Praise here among all the priests the most glorious, Agni, the foremost at the sacrifices.

8.102.11 The sharp one with purifying flame, the eldest who shines within the houses — of widest fame, he blazes.

8.102.12 Praise him, O sage, like a prize-winning steed, the vigorous one — like Mitra, who unites people.

8.102.13 The sister hymns, pointing out the oblation-maker, have stood before you at the face of Vāyu.

8.102.14 His three-layer strewn barhis stands without suture; even the waters have placed their foot on it.

8.102.15 The footstep of the bounteous god, with irresistible aids — auspicious is the sight, like the sun.

8.102.16 O Agni, blazing with your flame through the layers of ghee, O god — bring the gods hither and worship them.

8.102.17 The mothers gave birth to you, the seer; the gods, the Aṅgirases — to you the immortal conveyor of oblations.

8.102.18 You, the wise one, the most excellent, the desirable messenger, the conveyor of oblations — they have established you, O Agni the seer.

8.102.19 I have no milch-cow, no axe that bites wood; yet I bring you such an offering as this.

8.102.20 Whatever pieces of wood we lay down for you, O Agni — be pleased with them, O youngest one.

8.102.21 What the little tongue-flame devours, what the ant creeps along — let all of that be ghee for you.

8.102.22 The mortal who kindles Agni with his mind shall join his thought to insight; he kindles Agni with his illuminations.

8.103.1 He has appeared, the most knowing of ways, in whom they have placed their holy observances; may our hymns approach Agni, born to magnify the noble man.

8.103.2 Daivodāsa's fire goes toward the gods in its greatness like a divine gift; he has turned, following mother Earth, and stands upon the vault of heaven.

8.103.3 At whose deeds, as he performs his powerful works, the peoples tremble — worship Agni by yourselves with thoughts, as in a gain-bringing sacrifice for a thousand.

8.103.4 The mortal whom you lead on to wealth, O Vasu, whoever has offered to you — that man by himself possesses a hero, O Agni, who recites the laud, a nourisher of thousands.

8.103.5 He breaks through even the hard place and wins the prize with his steed; he obtains imperishable renown; in you, ever among the gods, O Purūvasu, may we lay up all good things.

8.103.6 He who as hotr distributes all wealth, the charming one of the folk — as the first cups of the sweet drink go to him, so praises go forth to Agni.

8.103.7 Like a chariot horse with hymns the bountiful, god-loving ones groom him; O wondrous lord of the settlement, carry across to both progeny and offspring the wealth of the generous.

8.103.8 Sing forth to the most bounteous one, the upholder of truth, the great, the bright-flaming — you who stand in praise before Agni.

8.103.9 When kindled and invoked with oblations, the magnanimous one wins heroic renown; may his newest good will come toward us with prizes.

8.103.10 Praise the most beloved among dear things, the ever-present guest — Agni, the controller of chariots.

8.103.11 He who, praiseworthy, turns back toward good things whether praised or blamed — the one who would win the prize with insight: his billows in the deep channel are hard to cross.

8.103.12 May Agni, the wealth-bearing guest, this one widely praised, not be angry with us — he who is the good hotr, the auspicious sacrificer.

8.103.13 May those who address you, O Agni, O Vasu, with direct words through whatever ordinances, not be harmed; for even the poet implores you as messenger — he whose offerings are given, who sacrifices well.

8.103.14 Come, O Agni, with the Maruts as companions, with the Rudras, to drink the soma; rejoice, O bull of heaven, at Sobhari's excellent praise.