Maṇḍala 10
Ancient Aufrecht (ed.) Sanskrit10.1.1 Tall, he stood foremost at the dawns, risen up; having driven away the darkness he came with light. Agni, with his own bright, shining radiance, newborn, has filled all dwellings.
10.1.2 Born as the embryo of Heaven and Earth, O Agni, cherished and lovely among the plants, a wondrous child, crying aloud above his mothers, he passed beyond the darkness and the night-seasons.
10.1.3 Viṣṇu knowing well his highest station thus guards the third realm where he was born, great. When they fashioned their own nourishment from his mouth, those of one mind came thither to adore him.
10.1.4 Those who bore him with fuel, his mothers, move toward him grown strong with food, with offerings. He returns to them again in another form; thou art the Hotṛ among the human tribes.
10.1.5 The Hotṛ of the sacrifice, driver of the bright chariot, the banner of every rite, gleaming bright, matching in greatness every god and every god — I praise Agni, the honoured guest of men.
10.1.6 Wearing his beautiful, variegated garments, Agni stands at the navel of the earth. Ruddy, born at the station of Iḷā, as Purohita, O King, worship here the gods.
10.1.7 For thou, O Agni, ever stretchest out toward both Heaven and Earth as a son toward his two mothers. Go forward to those who laud thee, O youngest god; then bring the gods hither, O powerful one.
10.2.1 Gladden the gods who long for it, O youngest, knowing the seasons, O Lord of the Seasons, sacrifice here. Among the divine officiants, O Agni, thou art the most skilled in sacrifice among the Hotṛs.
10.2.2 Thou seekest the Hotṛ office and also the Potṛ office among men; thou art the Mandhātṛ, the giver of riches, keeper of holy Order. With Svāhā let us make our oblations; let divine Agni, worthy, sacrifice to the gods.
10.2.3 We have come upon the path of the gods; what we are able we will carry forward along it. Agni, the all-knowing, let him sacrifice, for he is the Hotṛ; it is he who orders the rites and the seasons.
10.2.4 If we have violated your ordinances, O gods, less knowing than those who know, Agni, all-knowing, fills all that up, he by whose seasonal rites he orders the gods.
10.2.5 What mortal men of simple mind and feeble understanding do not comprehend of the sacrifice — that Agni as Hotṛ, knowing the rites, most skilled in worship, understands, and he worships the gods in due order.
10.2.6 For the begetter begat thee as the splendid face and bright banner of all rites. Worship, bringing bounty over all lands, bringing desirable refreshments that strengthen, benefits for all peoples.
10.2.7 Thee whom Heaven and Earth begat, thee whom the Waters begat, thee whom Tvaṣṭṛ, the well-shaping craftsman, begat — knowing well the ancestral path, O Agni, blazing bright, shine forth resplendently.
10.3.1 The mighty Aratin, O King, blazing up, terrible in power, with skill, was seen in beauty. He shines forth conspicuously with his great radiance; driving away the dark one he moves toward the bright.
10.3.2 When by his form he overwhelmed the dark doe-antelope, begetting the daughter of the great Father, the glowing woman — holding up the sun's bright beam on high, Aratin shines forth with the treasures of heaven.
10.3.3 The auspicious one, accompanied by the auspicious one, has come; the lover approaches his sister from behind. Spreading out with his well-marked, brilliant days, Agni with his shining colors has stood facing the darkness.
10.3.4 His coursings, like the roarings of the great one, kindling the fire of the auspicious friend — of the praiseworthy bull, the great one who roars well — his flaming blazes, his night-gleams, shine in his going.
10.3.5 His blazes roar like winds as he shines, the great one who illumines beautiful days; he who with his greatest, sharpest, most playful, most lofty radiances reaches even the sky.
10.3.6 His gusts, of him who spreads out widely as he puffs and roars with his steeds — he who with his ancient gleaming, most divine, resonant radiances shines throughout as Aratin.
10.3.7 Carry the great one to us and sit with us, O Aratin, between the two young ones, Heaven and Earth. Let Agni, swift, with his swift, vigorous horses, come hither with vigor.
10.4.1 I worship thee, I send forth praise to thee, that thou mayst be worthy of honor in our invocations. Like a watering-place in the desert thou art, O Agni, for Pūru who desires to sacrifice, O ancient King.
10.4.2 Thee, whom men surround as cows approach a warm stall, O youngest one, thou art the messenger between the gods and mortals; thou roamest in between as the great one, through the shining realm.
10.4.3 As a mother cherishes her noble child and makes him thrive, tending him carefully, thou descendest swiftly from the bow, O eager one, and streakest forth like a loosened animal.
10.4.4 We are foolish and do not know, O wise Agni; thou thyself knowest thy own greatness well. He lies concealed, yet roams, eating with his tongue, and licks the young woman, being the lord of the folk.
10.4.5 He is born ever-new among the ancient ones; he stands in the forest grey-haired, smoke-bannered. Like a bull whose thirst is unquenched he moves forward; him whom men of one mind lead on.
10.4.6 Like thieves who hazard their bodies, the two who roam through the forest, have clothed themselves with ten ropes. Here, O Agni, is a newer hymn for thee; yoke thy chariot as it were with gleaming limbs.
10.4.7 May this prayer and this reverence and this song be ever a source of increase to thee, O Jātavedas. Guard for us, O Agni, our children and offspring; protect our bodies without ceasing.
10.5.1 The one ocean, foundation of riches, with many births, surveys us from our hearts. He clings to the udder in the lap of the hidden waters; the station of the bird is set in the midst of the fountain.
10.5.2 Clad in the same abode, the bulls have come together with the mares. The poets guard the station of Holy Order; they have placed the hidden names beyond.
10.5.3 The two, possessed of holy order and of magic power, hold together; having met, they begat the child and nourish it — unwinding with the mind even the thread of the moving and the stationary, the navel of all the world.
10.5.4 For the tracks of Holy Order attend upon the well-born one, upon the impulses that have come long ago, for vigor. Wearing their garment, the two worlds when praised increase together with ghee, with food, with sweetnesses.
10.5.5 Eager, knowing, he has loudly called the seven ruddy sisters and raised them up with honey to be seen. He who was born of old, spanning the mid-air, seeking, found the hiding-place of Pūṣan.
10.5.6 The poets fashioned seven boundaries; to one of these alone the wicked one approached. Standing in the nest of the highest of Āyu, at the branching of the paths, on the firm foundations.
10.5.7 Both the Non-existent and the Existent are in the highest firmament, in the birth of Dakṣa, in the lap of Aditi. Agni indeed is our firstborn of Holy Order, the bull and the cow in an earlier age of existence.
10.6.1 This is he in whose shelter and with whose aid the praiser kindles the fire and wins his wish. He who, surrounded, goes about the seers with his greatest radiances, the far-shining one.
10.6.2 He who, far-shining, shines with his radiances, Agni, with the gods, keeper of holy order, unceasing, he who has won friendship from his friends, not turning aside, like a swift steed.
10.6.3 He who commands all divine refreshment, who commands all life at the brightening of Dawn — in whose fire, all-sustaining, Ariṣṭaratha sets the oblations in mind, with his praises.
10.6.4 Increased by praises, delighting in the hymns, swift-flying he goes toward the gods. That joyful Hotṛ with his ladle, most skilled in sacrifice, Agni who mingles with them, draws the gods near.
10.6.5 Glorify with songs and reverences that gleaming Agni who trembles like Indra, whom the inspired seers praise with their thoughts — Jātavedas, wielder of the oblation-ladle, who bears the burden.
10.6.6 In whom all good things have assembled, as horses with swift steeds in the race — turn hither to us, O Agni, the aids that are most like those of Indra.
10.6.7 For indeed, O Agni, by thy greatness, sitting present, straightway when born thou wert fit to be invoked. The gods followed thy will in that; the primal helpers then grew strong.
10.7.1 Grant us, O Agni, welfare from sky and earth; grant us all life for the act of worship, O god. May we attend upon thy discernments, O wonder-worker; protect us, O god, with your broad protections.
10.7.2 These thoughts, O Agni, born for thee, praise the bounty with cows and horses. When a mortal follows after thy gift, O Vasu, bearing thy praises, O well-born one.
10.7.3 I think of Agni as a father, I think of Agni as a kinsman, I think of Agni as ever a brother and friend. I worship the face of great Agni — bright, adorable, dwelling in the sun in the sky.
10.7.4 Efficacious prayers that gain spoils are ours, O Agni, for him whom thou protectest at home, O everlasting Hotṛ. That keeper of holy order, red-horsed, rich in rain, may he have good fortune through his days and nights.
10.7.5 With day-gifts set, like a friend useful for service, the ancient ritual priest, the lusty lover of the rite — the descendants of Āyu with their arms generated Agni and seated him as Hotṛ among the peoples.
10.7.6 Sacrifice thou thyself to the gods in heaven, O god; what can the simple-minded, thoughtless one accomplish for thee? As thou hast sacrificed to the gods in the seasons, O god, so sacrifice, O well-born one, for thyself.
10.7.7 Be our protector, O Agni, and our guardian; be our strengthener of vigor and our nourisher. And grant us the gift of oblation-bearing, O greatly good one; protect us and our bodies without ceasing.
10.8.1 Agni moves forward with his great banner; the bull roars filling the two worlds. He has reached even the highest limits of the sky; the great one has grown mighty in the lap of the waters.
10.8.2 The crested bull, as the embryo, rejoiced; the calf, never resting, powerful, cried aloud. He, performing deeds surpassing those of the gods, goes first to his own abodes.
10.8.3 He who has seized upon the head of his two parents — at the rite the flood of the sun has been laid down. On his flight, the ruddy mares rooted in horses delight in the womb of holy order, in their own forms.
10.8.4 For, O Vasu, thou goest to the front of each dawn; thou wast the far-shining presence of the two Yamas. Thou settest seven stations for holy order, engendering Mitra for thine own self.
10.8.5 Thou hast become the eye of the great Ṛta, the guardian; thou hast become Varuṇa when thou seekest holy order. Thou hast become the Son of the Waters, O Jātavedas; thou hast become the messenger of him whose oblation thou dost favor.
10.8.6 Thou hast become the leader of the sacrifice and of the expanse, where thou art present with thy benevolent teams. Thou hast set thy head in heaven, winning the sun; O Agni, thou hast made thy tongue the bearer of the oblation.
10.8.7 Trita, within the cave, by the will of this one, seeking the intelligence, the tracks of the far Father, being helped, in the lap of his two parents, calling upon his kin, goes to fetch weapons.
10.8.8 Knowing the paternal weapons, spurred by Indra, the Waters' son fought against the enemy. Having slain the three-headed one of the seven rays, Trita released even the cattle of Tvaṣṭṛ's son.
10.8.9 Much did Indra surpass the rising might; the lord of the good overwhelmed the proud one. Even of Tvaṣṭṛ's son Viśvarūpa, while seizing his cattle, he cut away the three heads.
10.9.1 O Waters, you are truly sources of well-being; grant us strength and vigor for great joy and to behold the great.
10.9.2 Of your most auspicious essence grant us a share here, like eager mothers.
10.9.3 Let us hasten to you, for whose abode you quicken us; O Waters, generate us.
10.9.4 May the divine Waters be auspicious for our protection, for our drinking; may they flow on us for well-being and happiness.
10.9.5 Ruling over precious things, presiding over men — I ask the Waters for healing.
10.9.6 Within the waters Soma has declared to me all remedies, and Agni, who brings welfare to all.
10.9.7 O Waters, provide the healing balm, the protection for my body, so that I may long look upon the sun.
10.9.8 O Waters, carry away whatever evil is in me, whatever wrong I may have done, or whatever curse or falsehood.
10.9.9 I have gone today with the Waters; we have mingled with their essence. O Agni, rich in milk, come hither; unite me with splendor.
10.10.1 Yamī speaks: I would surely turn a friend toward friendship, though he has passed over many floods. The ordainer should establish us as the grandson's line of the Father, thinking of further offspring upon the earth.
10.10.2 Yama speaks: Thy friend does not wish for this friendship — that she who is of the same sign should become of a different form. The heroic sons of the great Asura, who uphold the sky, look out over the wide world.
10.10.3 Yamī speaks: Indeed the immortals desire this, that progeny of this one mortal might arise. Let thy mind be set in my mind; a husband should enter the body of his wife.
10.10.4 Yama speaks: What we have not done before, how should we do it now? We who speak of holy order — should we speak falsehood? Gandharva is in the waters and the watery maiden — she is our highest tie of kinship, she is our utmost bond.
10.10.5 Yamī speaks: Surely the divine Tvaṣṭṛ, Savitṛ the all-shaped, will make us husband and wife in the womb. None violates his ordinances; both Earth and Heaven know of this for us.
10.10.6 Yama speaks: Who knows of the first day? Who has seen it? Who would proclaim it here? Great is the ordinance of Mitra and Varuṇa. What would you say, O Yamī, to men with impunity?
10.10.7 Yamī speaks: The longing for Yama has come upon Yamī, to lie together in the same womb. As a wife opens her body to her husband — I would spread apart like the wheels of a chariot.
10.10.8 Yama speaks: These spies of the gods who wander here do not stand still, they do not close their eyes. Go quickly elsewhere, Yamī, not to me; spread apart with him like the wheels of a chariot.
10.10.9 Yamī speaks: With nights and with days she should serve him; let the eye of the sun open again and again. May Yamī, twin-born, related as kin to Yama, bear what is non-kin between Heaven and Earth.
10.10.10 Yama speaks: Later ages shall come when those of the same kin will do what is not kin. O fortunate one, stretch out thy arm to the bull; seek thyself another husband, not me.
10.10.11 Yamī speaks: What use is a brother if she remains without refuge? What use is a sister when Nirṛti comes upon her? Smitten by longing I speak out much of this: unite thy body with my body.
10.10.12 Yama speaks: I shall not unite my body with thy body. They call it evil when a man goes to his sister. Arrange for thyself pleasures with another, not me; thy brother, O fortunate one, does not desire this.
10.10.13 Yamī speaks: Alas, alas, O Yama — we have not found out either thy mind or thy heart. Surely some other woman clasps thee as it were a girth on a yoked horse, as a creeper embraces a tree.
10.10.14 Yama speaks: Let another clasp thee, Yamī, and let another clasp him as a creeper clasps a tree. Seek his mind, or let him seek thine; make a good compact together.
10.11.1 The bull-like one has milked out the milk-giving draughts of heaven for the bull-like one; the swift, inviolable son of Aditi. He knows all things even as Varuṇa knows through insight — let him, worthy of worship, perform sacrifice at the proper seasons.
10.11.2 May the Gandharva's consort and the water-maiden [Apsarās] guard my mind amid the roar of the stream. May Aditi establish us in the midst of the desired [realm]; our eldest brother, the foremost, shall proclaim it.
10.11.3 Verily, glorious, splendid and luminous was the dawn that shone for Manu, rich in light. When the eager ones, following the will of the willing one, brought forth Agni as hotar for the assembly.
10.11.4 Then the falcon, impelled [by the gods], brought hither that far-reaching, all-seeing drop [of Soma] to the sacrifice. When the Āryan clans chose the wondrous Agni as their hotar, then was wisdom born.
10.11.5 Thou art ever joyful, O Agni, and flourishest like barley; the pious man's sacrifice proceeds well through thy priestly invocations. When the inspired sage, after his toil, brings thee the hymn-worthy praise, thou approachest [him] with abundant food-prizes won.
10.11.6 The lover stirs up the two parents [Heaven and Earth] and desires to offer to Bhaga; the beloved one hastens, longing in his heart. The carrier [Agni] speaks, the active one is alert; the mighty asura [Agni] grows strong, trembling with inspired thought.
10.11.7 That mortal, O Agni, son of strength, who wins thy benevolence — he is heard beyond all others. Bearing food and borne along on horses, he, brilliant and mighty, adorns his days.
10.11.8 When, O Agni, this divine assembly gathers among the gods, worthy of worship, O worshipful one — and when thou distributest the treasures according to thy nature — may our share here be rich in wealth.
10.11.9 Hear us, O Agni, in the assembly, in the gathering-place; yoke thy chariot swift as the immortal. Bring hither to us Heaven and Earth, divine children; may thou never depart from the gods' company here.
10.12.1 Heaven and Earth, the primal pair, are renowned through Order [ṛta] and are truthful of speech. When the god [Agni], making mortals ready for sacrifice, sat down as hotar, proceeding forward, guarding his own vital force.
10.12.2 The god who surpasses the gods through Order — first knowing all, bear our oblation. Smoke-bannered, blazing bright with fuel, the joyful hotar, eternal, most skilled in speech and sacrifice.
10.12.3 The divine immortal [Agni] is the self-yoker; when born from the cow [fire-sticks], they sustained the two broad [worlds]. All the gods followed after that sacrificial formula of thine when the bright [cow of heaven] milked out the divine ghee.
10.12.4 I praise you two, O ghee-streaming waters, for your increase; O Heaven and Earth, O Rodasī — hear me. In the days when the heavens brought the vital breath's dispensation, may the two parents [Heaven and Earth] sharpen us here with sweetness.
10.12.5 What has our king taken? In what have we transgressed his ordinance? Who knows fully? Even Mitra, though invoked, [may be] cheated among gods — yet may the call go forth; there still is prize-wealth.
10.12.6 Here let him reconsider the name of the immortal [Agni] — that which, of equal mark, takes manifold forms. He who meditates well on Yama's [order] — protect him, O tall Agni, without ceasing in vigilance.
10.12.7 In whom the gods rejoice at the assembly, holding [their seats] in the dwelling of Vivasvat — in the sun they placed the light; in the moon the nights; the two luminaries circle unceasingly.
10.12.8 In that hidden thought wherein the gods wander together — we, for our part, know it not. May Mitra here [declare us] sinless, and Aditi; may divine Savitṛ speak to Varuṇa on our behalf.
10.12.9 Hear us, O Agni, in the assembly, in the gathering-place; yoke thy chariot swift as the immortal. Bring hither to us Heaven and Earth, divine children; may thou never depart from the gods' company here.
10.13.1 I yoke you two with the ancient sacred word, with reverences; may the hymn go forth like the sage's [chant] along its path. May all the sons of the immortal hear, even those who have taken up their stations in the divine realms.
10.13.2 When you two came forth as the two striving [like a pair of twins], men devoted to the gods brought oblations to you. Take your own place, you who know it well — be a good seat for Indu [Soma] among us.
10.13.3 I have mounted the five-footed [gāyatrī]; I follow the four-footed [triṣṭubh] according to sacred law. By the syllable I measure this [speech]; at the navel of Order [ṛta] I purify it together.
10.13.4 For the gods he [Yama] chose death; for progeny he did not choose immortality. They made Bṛhaspati the sacrificial ṛṣi; Yama yielded up his beloved body [to death].
10.13.5 The seven [streams] flow for the young Marut-accompanied one; the sons, for the father, have set Order [ṛta] in motion. Both [Heaven and Earth] reign over both aspects [of existence]; both strive and both nourish all.
10.14.1 Honour with oblation Yama, the king, son of Vivasvat — who has gone forth along the mighty slopes, and has explored the path for many, the gathering-place of peoples.
10.14.2 Yama first discovered the way for us; this pasture cannot be taken away. Where our ancient Fathers went forth, there, born along that same path, all beings follow their own paths.
10.14.3 Mātali grew strong with the Kavyas; Yama with the Aṅgirases; Bṛhaspati with those who chant the Ṛk. Those whom the gods exalted and those who exalted the gods — some rejoice with svāhā, others with svadhā.
10.14.4 Come, O Yama, sit upon this sacred grass together with the Aṅgiras Fathers, in accord with them. May the seer-proclaimed mantras bring thee hither; with this oblation, O king, be gladdened.
10.14.5 Come hither, O Yama, with the Aṅgirases worthy of worship, of varied forms; rejoice here. I call Vivasvat, thy father — having sat down on the sacred grass at this sacrifice.
10.14.6 The Aṅgirases are our Fathers — the nine-fold, the Atharvans, the Bhṛgus, the Soma-drinkers. May we abide in the good favour of those worthy of sacrifice, in their auspicious benevolence.
10.14.7 Go forth, go forth on the ancient paths along which our ancient Fathers departed. There thou shalt behold the two kings rejoicing in the oblation — Yama and the god Varuṇa.
10.14.8 Unite with the Fathers, unite with Yama and with [the reward of] sacrifices performed and pious works, in the highest heaven. Leaving behind all imperfection, return again to home; unite with thy body, radiant.
10.14.9 Depart, withdraw, and disperse from this [place] — the Fathers have made this world for him. With days, with waters, with nights illuminated — Yama bestows a resting-place upon him.
10.14.10 Run past the two dogs of Saramā, the four-eyed, brindled ones, by the good path. Then approach the gracious Fathers who feast together with Yama in joy.
10.14.11 Thy two dogs, O Yama — the guardians, four-eyed, watchers of the road, observers of men — commit this man to their keeping, O king; grant him welfare and freedom from disease.
10.14.12 Wide-nostrilled, life-drinking, fig-tree-coloured, the two messengers of Yama roam among men. May those two grant us today here to see the sun again — may they restore vital breath and blessings.
10.14.13 Press Soma for Yama, pour the oblation for Yama. The sacrifice goes to Yama, well-prepared, with Agni as its messenger.
10.14.14 Pour the ghee-rich oblation for Yama and step forward. May he bring us [the blessing] among the gods — long life for us to live.
10.14.15 Pour the sweetest oblation-offering for Yama the king. This homage [goes] to the ancient ṛṣis, the first-born, the first path-makers.
10.14.16 By the three Soma-pressings he [Yama] flies [encompasses] the six wide [worlds]; one alone is the Vast. Triṣṭubh, Gāyatrī — all the metres are established in Yama.
10.15.1 Let the lower Fathers rise up, and the higher, and the middle Soma-drinking Fathers. Those who have gone to life, the harmless, knowing Order — may those Fathers aid us at our invocations.
10.15.2 Let there be homage today to the Fathers, those who departed first and those who departed later. Those settled in the earthly realm of dust, or those now among well-ordered communities.
10.15.3 I have found the gracious Fathers, and Viṣṇu's grandson and his stride. Those who sit upon the sacred grass, who share by svadhā in the pressed [Soma] — may they come most swiftly here.
10.15.4 O Fathers seated on the sacred grass, come hither to us with your help; enjoy these oblations we have made for you. Come with the most blessed aid; then grant us health and freedom from affliction.
10.15.5 The Soma-drinking Fathers have been called upon, at the dear sacred-grass resting places. Let them come, let them hear here; let them speak and protect us.
10.15.6 Bending the right knee, sitting down, praise this sacrifice, all of you. O Fathers, harm us not for any sin that we, being but men, may have committed against you.
10.15.7 Sitting in the lap of the ruddy [dawn clouds], bestow wealth upon the mortal who gives. O Fathers, pass on to his sons the riches that are his; establish here for him vigour and strength.
10.15.8 Those ancient Soma-drinking Fathers of ours, the most excellent, who followed the Soma-drinking [rite] — may Yama, rejoicing with them, eat the oblations at his pleasure, himself eager with the eager ones.
10.15.9 Those who thirsted [for the divine], striving toward the gods, knowing the priestly arts, shaping hymns of praise with [sacred] songs — O Agni, come hither with the gracious [Fathers], with the true, wise, cauldron-seated Fathers.
10.15.10 Those who are true, eaters of oblation, drinkers of oblation, riding the same chariot with Indra and the gods — O Agni, come with a thousand praised by the gods, with the later and the earlier Fathers seated at the cauldron.
10.15.11 O Fathers tasted by Agni, come hither; well-guided, take your seats at each seat. Eat the oblations offered on the sacred grass; then bestow upon us wealth with all heroes.
10.15.12 Thou, O Agni, invoked as Jātavedas, having made the oblations fragrant, didst carry them [to the Fathers]. Thou gavest [them] to the Fathers by the svadhā [call]; they ate — do thou, O god, eat the presented oblations.
10.15.13 Those Fathers who are here and those who are not here, those whom we know and those whom we do not know — thou, O Jātavedas, knowest how many they are; enjoy the well-performed sacrifice with the svadhā-offerings.
10.15.14 Those [Fathers] burned by Agni, those not burned by Agni, who rejoice in the midst of heaven with the svadhā oblation — with those, O self-ruling one, fashion this vital dispensation for the body according to [thy] will.
10.16.1 O Agni, do not burn him entirely, do not scorch him; do not consume his skin nor his body. When thou hast made him done [cooked], O Jātavedas, then send him forth to the Fathers.
10.16.2 When thou hast made him done, O Jātavedas, then hand him over all around to the Fathers. When he goes forth by this dispensation of vital breath, then he becomes subject to the will of the gods.
10.16.3 May his eye go to the Sun, his breath to the Wind; let him go to the sky and to the earth according to cosmic law. Or go to the waters, if it be fitting for thee there — abide in the plants with [thy remaining] body-parts.
10.16.4 The unborn portion — consume it with thy heat; let thy glow heat it, let thy flame heat it. Those auspicious forms of thine, O Jātavedas — with those carry him to the world of the pious.
10.16.5 O Agni, release him back again to the Fathers — he who, offered to thee, wanders with svadhā-offerings. Clothed in life, may the remainder [of his vital parts] come near; may [he] unite with his body, O Jātavedas.
10.16.6 That which a black bird has pecked at thee, or an ant, a serpent, or a wild beast — may Agni make all that wholly free of ill, and Soma who has entered into the Brāhmaṇas.
10.16.7 Wrap thyself around with a coat of mail from Agni; cover thyself all over with fat and marrow. Lest the bold one [Agni], fiercely blazing, seizing and meaning to burn thee, encircle thee.
10.16.8 O Agni, do not tip over this cup; it is dear to the gods and to the Soma-drinkers. This is the cup from which the gods drink — in it the immortal gods take delight.
10.16.9 I send the flesh-eating Agni far away; let him go to the realm of Yama, carrying the impurity. But let this other Agni, Jātavedas, carry the oblation to the gods here, knowing well [his task].
10.16.10 That Agni who, flesh-eating, has entered your house — beholding this other Jātavedas — that god I carry away for the Fathers' sacrifice; may he drive the cauldron in the highest dwelling.
10.16.11 May the Agni who carries the flesh, who worships the Fathers, the increasers of Order — may he announce the oblations forthwith, both to the gods and to the Fathers.
10.16.12 Desiring [this], we place thee [on the altar]; desiring [this], we kindle thee. Desiring it, bring the desiring Fathers hither to eat the oblation.
10.16.13 Him whom thou, O Agni, hast fully burned — do thou extinguish him again. Let young dūrvā grass and the spreading vyalkaśā plant spring up here.
10.16.14 O cool one, O cooling one; O refreshing one, O refresher — by the frog-spell [or: O Maṇḍūkā], rejoice and gladden this Agni well.
10.17.1 Tvaṣṭṛ prepares the bridal for his daughter; at that, all this universe comes together. The mother of Yama, the great wife of Vivasvat, disappeared when she was being carried [in the bridal procession].
10.17.2 They concealed the immortal [Saraṇyū] from mortals; having made a woman of like appearance, they gave her to Vivasvat. Then what there was [of her] she bore to the two Aśvins; Saraṇyū abandoned the two twin children.
10.17.3 May Pūṣan, knowing the way, drive thee forth from here — the guardian of the world, whose cattle are never lost. May he hand thee over to those Fathers, and Agni to those gods who know well [their duty].
10.17.4 Universal Life [Āyur] shall guard thee on every side; may Pūṣan guard thee before on the forward path. Where the pious sit, where they have gone — there may the god Savitṛ establish thee.
10.17.5 Pūṣan knows all these quarters [of the sky]; may he lead us by the most fearless [path]. The giver of blessings, radiant, all-heroic, never stumbling, knowing well, let him go before.
10.17.6 Pūṣan was born on the forward path of paths, on the forward path of heaven, on the forward path of earth. Moving toward both most beloved resting-places — coming and going — he travels knowing [the way].
10.17.7 The god-loving call upon Sarasvatī; at the sacrifice as it extends they [call upon] Sarasvatī. The pious invoked Sarasvatī — may Sarasvatī bestow the prize upon the worshipper.
10.17.8 O Sarasvatī, thou who hast ridden on the same chariot, O goddess, rejoicing with the Fathers by the svadhā-offerings — seated on this sacred grass, be gladdened; bestow upon us vigour free from disease.
10.17.9 That Sarasvatī whom the Fathers call upon, approaching the sacrifice from the south — the share of Iḻā [worship] worth a thousand — bestow prosperity of wealth upon the sacrificers.
10.17.10 May the Waters, our mothers, cleanse us; may the ghee-purifying ones purify us with ghee. For the divine [Waters] carry away all impurity — I rise up from them purified and clean.
10.17.11 The drop [of Soma] flowed forth following the first days, and this womb, and the one that was before. I pour the drop that flows along following the common womb — the seven hotars following.
10.17.12 Whatever drop of thine spills, whatever shoot falls from the arms, from the lap of the vessel-goddesses [dhiṣaṇā], or from the adhvaryu priests, or from the purifying filter — that I pour for thee, called forth with mind and vaṣaṭ.
10.17.13 Whatever drop of thine has spilled, whatever shoot fell down or away from the ladle — may this god Bṛhaspati pour it together for bounty.
10.17.14 The plants are full of sap; let my speech be full of sap. Let the sap of the waters be full of sap — with that, purify me together.
10.18.1 O Death, depart by thine own other path that is different from the gods' road. I speak to thee who hast eyes and ears: do not harm our offspring and do not injure our heroes.
10.18.2 Having come here wiping away the footprint of Death, establishing a longer span of life, growing prosperous with progeny and wealth — pure, cleansed, be ye worthy of sacrifice.
10.18.3 These living ones have turned away from the dead; our invocation of the gods this day has been auspicious. We have gone forth to the dance and to laughter, establishing a longer, further span of life.
10.18.4 I set this enclosing barrier for the living — may none of them proceed to that farther goal. Let them live a hundred autumns many-branching; may they hold Death within, as by a mountain.
10.18.5 As the days come in succession one after another, as the seasons go well in their proper order, as the later [season] does not abandon the earlier — so, O Creator [Dhātṛ], fashion for these ones their lifespans.
10.18.6 Climb up to old age, choosing [long] life; go in order, striving, you who stand [here]. May Tvaṣṭṛ, well-born, of like mind, fashion for you here a long life to live.
10.18.7 These women here, not widows, blessed with good husbands — let them enter [the house] with collyrium and ghee. Tearless, free from affliction, adorned with fine jewels, let the wives first mount the [bridal] seat.
10.18.8 Rise up, O woman, to the world of the living; come, approach this one who lies here, lifeless. Thou hast fulfilled completely here the wifely state of him, thy husband, who took thy hand and desired thee.
10.18.9 Taking the bow from the hand of the dead man — for our lordship, brilliance, and strength — right here thou [shalt be] and here we, rich in heroes, shall conquer all enemies and those who hate us.
10.18.10 Creep to thy mother, this Earth, the wide-spreading, pleasant-abiding Earth. Young maiden, soft as wool, may she, who gives on the right side, protect thee from the lap of Nirṛti.
10.18.11 Heave thyself up, O Earth; oppress him not. Be easy of access, easy to pass by, for him. As a mother wraps her son in her robe, so cover him, O Earth.
10.18.12 Let the earth, heaving up, stand firm; let [the pillars] be propped up for a thousand [years]. Let those houses drip with ghee; let them be a refuge for him here for all days.
10.18.13 I prop up the earth from thee [the corpse], placing this clod upon it; may I not be harmed. Let the Fathers hold fast this pillar; here may Yama fashion thee a seat.
10.18.14 In the westward days they [the funeral priests] have laid me aside like a leaf. I have seized westward speech, as one seizes a horse by a rein.
10.19.1 Turn back, do not go away; let the prosperous [cattle] cling to us. O Agni and Soma, ye who restore wealth — hold fast riches among us.
10.19.2 Turn them back again, bring them back and settle them here. May Indra restrain them; may Agni drive them hither.
10.19.3 May these turn back again; may they thrive here with their herdsmen. O Agni, hold [them] fast right here; let the riches remain right here.
10.19.4 That [power] of leading forth, of bringing down, of agreement, of going away — the turning back, the returning — I call upon whoever is the guardian [of that power].
10.19.5 He who raised the dispersing, he who raised the going-away — may the guardian of the turning back and the returning now turn back.
10.19.6 Turn back, cause to turn back; O Indra, give us back our cows again. May we enjoy [them] while they are alive.
10.19.7 I set [this charm] around you on every side with vigour, with ghee, with milk. Whatsoever gods are worthy of worship — may they join riches together with us.
10.19.8 O Turning-back, cause to turn; O Returning, cause to return. From the four quarters of the earth — from those, turn them [the cattle] back.
10.20.1 Breathe upon us blessings of mind.
10.20.2 I praise Agni, youngest of those who enjoy [oblations], the friendly, hard-to-restrain one by [thy] command. In whose ordinance the bright cows [rays] attend the udder of their mother [the sky].
10.20.3 Him whom the two lips nurture, shining with splendour as his banner — he blazes, bestowing brilliance in rows.
10.20.4 The lord goes forward on the path of the clans when he has reached the ends of heaven — the seer blazing through the clouds.
10.20.5 Enjoying the oblations of man, he has stood upright, mighty at the sacrifice — measuring out the seat, he goes forward.
10.20.6 For he is the abode [of safety], the oblation, the sacrifice; by his hearkening [command] goes the path. The gods [seek] Agni with his chopper [vāśī].
10.20.7 I desire to serve [him] through the sacrifice of well-done worship — Agni of primal bliss. They call him the son of the rock, the living one [Āyu].
10.20.8 Whatever men come toward us from every side — may they all be good to us, magnifying Agni with oblation.
10.20.9 His course is black, white, ruddy; the tawny, the shining red, the glorious [are his colours]. The Creator [Janitā] has begotten him of golden form.
10.20.10 Thus has Vimada [expressed] this insight for thee, O Agni, O son of vigour, in concord with the immortals. Seeking good favour, may he bring hither by song [the gifts of] food, vigour, good dwelling — thou who hast illumined all.
10.21.1 With our own songs of praise we choose thee, Agni, as Hotṛ for the sacrifice spread with sacred grass. In the exhilaration of your Soma, radiant and pure-flaming, thou art eager to speak forth.
10.21.2 Thee, verily, do thy own devotees adorn—those rich in horses. The oblation-ladle seeks thee, O Agni; in the Soma's rapture the forceful offering seeks thee, and thou art eager to speak forth.
10.21.3 In thee the ordinances rest, like ones pouring with their ladles. Dark forms and bright forms—in the Soma's rapture thou assumest all splendours, and thou art eager to speak forth.
10.21.4 Whatever wealth thou, O Agni, mighty one, immortal, thinkest of—bring that wondrous treasure to us at the sacrifices for the winning of strength. In the Soma's rapture thou art eager to speak forth.
10.21.5 Agni was born through Atharvan and found all the inspired poems. He became the messenger of Vivasvat—beloved of Yama, the desirable one—in the Soma's exhilaration eager to speak forth.
10.21.6 Thee, O Agni, they praise at sacrifices performed in order at the rite. Thou grantest all desirable treasures to the worshipper—in the Soma's rapture eager to speak forth.
10.21.7 Thee, as the beautiful sacrificial priest, O Agni, they have set in the ritual—the bright-faced one of Manu. Most brilliant and most watchful with thine eyes—in the Soma's rapture eager to speak forth.
10.21.8 O Agni, with thy bright flame thou spreadest wide and mightily. Roaring like a bull thou art exuberant; in the Soma's rapture thou layest seed in kindred women, eager to speak forth.
10.22.1 Where is famed Indra heard? Among which people today is he known, like Mitra? Whether it is in the dwelling of seers, or in a hidden place, where hast thou laboured with thy hymn?
10.22.2 Here, renowned among us, shall Indra be praised today—the wielder of the vajra, who consumes the sacrificial food; who, like Mitra, has spread his fame unceasingly among peoples.
10.22.3 He who is lord of great, unceasing strength, who multiplies great manly power—the bearer of the bold vajra, who cherishes (his devotees) as a father a dear son.
10.22.4 Harnessing the swift horses of the wind, O divine Vajra-wielder, releasing them along the shining path, urging them onward—thou art to be praised on the way.
10.22.5 Thou comest with those swift horses of the wind, which carry thee onward of their own accord—horses whose charioteer no god or mortal, no one at all, can discern.
10.22.6 And then, going forth, Uśanā asks you two: 'For what purpose do you not come home?' You have come from afar—from heaven and from earth—to the mortal.
10.22.7 Come, O Indra, to taste our uplifted hymn. This we implore of thee—that thou hadst smitten the non-human Śuṣṇa.
10.22.8 The Dasyu is without rites, without mind, of alien vows, non-human, who assails us. O slayer of enemies, strike down the weapon of that Dāsa with a crushing blow.
10.22.9 Thou, O Indra the hero, with heroes, and those upheld by thee with strength—in many places thy gifts are glorified as the earth-regions rejoice.
10.22.10 Thou, O hero Vajra-bearer, hast incited those men to battle against Vṛtra—in the hidden realm of the inspired seers, of the star-empowered peoples.
10.22.11 Swift are thy gifts, O Indra; they who seize them are fittingly enjoyers, O hero Vajra-bearer—all that thou didst crush of Śuṣṇa's creation with thy companions.
10.22.12 May they not wander away, O Indra, hero—let good succours be ours! May we, we ourselves, dwell in their protection and in thy grace, O Vajra-bearer.
10.22.13 May those truly unharmful (cows) of thine be ours, O Indra, with their touch. May we know the enjoyment of those milk-cows, O Vajra-bearer.
10.22.14 When the handless, footless earth swelled up through the deeds of those worthy of knowledge—thou didst strike down Śuṣṇa in a rightward circuit, for the sake of all living beings.
10.22.15 Drink, drink, O Indra hero, the Soma—may it not harm thee, thou who possessest wealth, full of riches! And protect the liberal worshipper who sings thy praise, and grant us great and glorious wealth.
10.23.1 We worship Indra who holds the vajra in his right hand, the charioteer of the bay steeds—those that take varied courses. He who shook his beard upward, who distributes bounty, parting (the foe) with his armies, with his gifts.
10.23.2 His two bay horses, found in the forest as wealth—may Indra the bountiful, slayer of Vṛtra, be rich in gifts! Ṛbhu, Vāja, Ṛbhukṣan—he masters strength; I even diminish the very name of the Dāsa.
10.23.3 When he holds his golden vajra, then the bountiful, long-renowned Indra mounts the chariot drawn by those bay horses through (the realms of) the pious—Indra, lord of food and far-famed spoil.
10.23.4 So indeed is this rain of his own herd—Indra bedews his golden beard; he comes down to the fair dwelling, and at the pressed Soma he shakes (all things) like the wind shaking a forest.
10.23.5 He who with his voice out-spoke the hostile voices, who slew many thousands of ill-fortuned foes—these several acts of his manly strength do we proclaim, he who has increased his might as a father (the strength of) a son.
10.23.6 Vimada and his companions generated for thee, O Indra, this unprecedented and manifold hymn of praise for the great giver. For we know the feast of this mighty one—what offering we shall make as herdsmen bring the cattle.
10.23.7 May none sever these friendships of thine and ours, O Indra, and of the seer Vimada! For we know thy fore-thought, O god, as one knows a kinsman—may thy friendships with us be gracious.
10.24.1 O Indra, drink this honey-sweet Soma pressed in the cup. Bestow upon us thousandfold wealth—in the exhilaration of the Soma-draught, O thou of many gifts, eager to speak forth.
10.24.2 Thee we approach with sacrifices, hymns, and oblations, O lord of power—lord of mighty deeds. Bestow on us the choicest gift—in the Soma's rapture eager to speak forth.
10.24.3 Thou who art lord of desirable things, the inciter of the feeble—O Indra, protector of praisers—in the Soma's rapture guard us from adversaries and from distress, eager to speak forth.
10.24.4 You two mighty ones, possessed of māyā—the Aśvins—rubbed out the fire together; when praised by Vimada, the Nāsatyas rubbed it out (from the kindling-sticks).
10.24.5 All the gods mourned as the Aśvins' wives departed. The gods said to the Nāsatyas: 'Bring them back again!'
10.24.6 Honey-sweet be my going forth, honey-sweet my return. O gods, through divine grace make that (journey) sweet for us—you two (Aśvins).
10.25.1 Breathe into us an auspicious mind, O Soma, skill and understanding. So then, in friendship with thee, through thy Soma-draught, in the rapture of the juice, may our prayers resound like cows in the pasture, eager to speak forth.
10.25.2 Thy heart-touching (inspirations), O Soma, rest in all thy dwellings. And then my desires—in the Soma's rapture they spread wide, seeking riches, eager to speak forth.
10.25.3 And thy ordinances, O Soma, I do not transgress in foolishness. Then, as a father to a son—in the Soma's rapture be gracious to us even against the weapon (of death), eager to speak forth.
10.25.4 Together do the inspired thoughts advance, like streams into the lowlands. O Soma, sustain our power of action for life—in the Soma's rapture, holding them up like the cups, eager to speak forth.
10.25.5 With thy powers, O Soma, those who desire thee have opened (the enclosures). The wise of the Gṛtsa clan, (endowed) with thy strength—in the Soma's rapture (they win) a cow-filled and horse-filled pen, eager to speak forth.
10.25.6 Thou guardest our cattle, O Soma, the moving world spread in many places. Thou bringest together for life—in the Soma's rapture, beholding all beings, eager to speak forth.
10.25.7 Be thou our all-round guardian, O Soma, inviolable king. Drive away all blemishes—in the Soma's rapture, O king, let no slanderer have power over us, eager to speak forth.
10.25.8 Thou, O Soma of good purpose, watch over us for the bestowal of strength. Knowing the field better than Manu—in the Soma's rapture guard us from treachery and distress, eager to speak forth.
10.25.9 Be thou, O Indu, greatest slayer of Vṛtra, a gracious friend to us—when men invoke thee in battle—in the Soma's rapture, as they fight for the gaining of offspring, eager to speak forth.
10.25.10 This swift intoxication grows dear to Indra. This great (Soma) increases the inspired thought of Kakṣīvat the seer—in the Soma's rapture eager to speak forth.
10.25.11 This Soma sends forth cattle-rich prizes for the inspired worshipper. This (Soma) wins the choicest gift for seven (sages)—in the Soma's rapture it saves both the blind man and the lame, eager to speak forth.
10.26.1 Forward, indeed, go the longed-for prayers toward the Niyuts. Forward—may Pūṣan of the Niyut-chariot, the wondrous, the great one, help (us)!
10.26.2 Whose great power coming from the wind this people (praises)—may the inspired poet win him through (his) thoughts; he is known for excellent hymns.
10.26.3 He knows excellent praises—Pūṣan the bull, like the Soma-drop; he sprinkles the eager one; like the pen (full of cattle) he sprinkles (gifts).
10.26.4 We shall honour thee, O god Pūṣan, as ours—for the perfecting of (our) thoughts and as the incessant helper of inspired seers.
10.26.5 He is the counterpart of sacrifices, the impeller of horse-drawn chariots. He is the seer set in place by Manu, the companion who drives away (evil) from the inspired poet.
10.26.6 He is the lord of her who is anxious and of the bright one and of brightness—the weaver of garments; he cleansed the garments of sheep.
10.26.7 He is the mighty one, lord of prizes, the mighty companion of abundance. He who is golden-bright shook out his beard freely—he who is inviolable.
10.26.8 The goats have turned to the yoke of thy chariot, O Pūṣan—the companion of everyone who seeks, born long ago, never displaced.
10.26.9 May Pūṣan the great one help our chariot with his strength. May he increase our prizes and hear this our invocation.
10.27.1 Let it be so for me, O praiser—the impulse is firm—that I should bestow (gifts) on the Soma-presser, the sacrificer. I am the giver without desire for return, the smiter; I crush the mighty one who perverts truth and seeks crookedness.
10.27.2 If I were to lead out (my forces) to battle against the Devayū-enemies who had been swelling in body—let me cook a fat bull for thee here at home; let me pour out the potent Soma fifteen times.
10.27.3 I do not know him who boasts that he has slain those who do not honour the gods in battle. When my fierce chariot proclaims the battle, then indeed do the bulls speak out in my praise.
10.27.4 When I was among unknown peoples, all the bountiful ones were on my side. I shall defeat the proud one dwelling in comfort at home—I shall push him from the mountain, having seized him by the foot.
10.27.5 Neither the peoples stop me nor the mountains, when I set my mind (to something). At the sound of my voice the frightened one with the small ears trembles; even so through the days the wren trembles.
10.27.6 They shall see here those cooked-flesh eaters bereft of Indra, cut off from arms, flying from the arrow—or those who have blamed a bold companion; the wheel-rims shall surely roll over them.
10.27.7 Thou wast born, thou grewest, life came to thee—the former may see (this), the later will see (this). Two wheel-pieces encompass him who has not yet been, who has entered the farther side of this expanse.
10.27.8 The cows of the lord were set loose and ate the barley; I saw them roaming, herded together. The calls of the lord came from all sides to gather them—how many of them will the master of his own house be pleased with?
10.27.9 When we, the eaters of barley among peoples—I myself an eater of barley within the broad expanse—here the yoked (one) sought to unyoke, then the unwilling one the eager one harnessed.
10.27.10 And then thou shalt deem my word true—what (wealth) of two-footed and four-footed I shall bring together. If any man here contests with woman the manly one—the unwarlike shall be divided; I know (how to deal with) him.
10.27.11 One whose daughter was born wheelless—who, knowing this, should think lightly of her as blind? Which of the two releases the ram for her—he who would take her away or he who would choose her?
10.27.12 How dear is the young woman to the wooing young man when she is well-pleased with the wonderful gift! The bride is auspicious when she is beautiful—she herself wins a friend even among the people.
10.27.13 One awoke from his feet, eats facing forward; with his head he placed a covering against his head. Sitting, he diminishes the lap of the upright one; going downward he follows the supine earth.
10.27.14 A tall (tree) without shade, without leaf, has stood still; the loosened embryo eats the mother. Licking another's calf, she has lowed—where has the cow placed her udder?
10.27.15 Seven heroes rose up from below; those eight from above came together. Nine mighty ones came from behind; ten from in front spread across the back of the rock.
10.27.16 One reddish-brown one among ten—the same—they urge him toward the rite for crossing over. The mother carries the well-placed embryo in her womb, soothing him as he turns about.
10.27.17 The heroes cooked the fat ram; the dice were cast along the day. Two of them, with purifying strainers, move in the great waters purifying them.
10.27.18 They who were crying out went off in all directions; the half cooks (the share) — the half that does not side (with anyone). This god Savitṛ has told me this: 'He who eats from the wooden vessel will thrive on ghee-food.'
10.27.19 I saw the village being carried away from afar, moving along by its own power without wheels. The lord constantly goes forward through the generations; even now the fresh one, renewing his generative vigour.
10.27.20 These two cows of mine are yoked to Pramara—push them not away, make (me) glad again and again! Even the waters lose their power before him; the sun has eclipsed and the hawk has swooped down.
10.27.21 This vajra that is manifold, unfolded from the great fullness below the sun—beyond that there is yet another renown; the steadfast ones, growing old, cross to that.
10.27.22 The cow lows, tied to each tree; thence the man-eating bird shall fly forth. Then let all this world be afraid and let (the reward) be given to the Soma-presser and to the seer (who praises) Indra.
10.27.23 The first (ones) stood at the gods' measure; from that point of cutting the later ones rose up. Three scorch the watery earth; two carry the dung-heap croaking (like frogs).
10.27.24 Know both her life and his—do not hide such a thing as this in battle. He makes the light manifest, he conceals his nakedness; he who has appeared is not freed from his adornment.
10.28.1 Any other enemy who comes—but today my father-in-law has not come. Let him eat the grain-cakes and drink the Soma; when well fed let him go home again.
10.28.2 Bellowing, the sharp-horned bull has stood at the top, at the breadth of the earth. I protect him in all the enclosures—him who fills my flanks with pressed Soma.
10.28.3 For thee, O Indra, with the pressing stone they press the exhilarating Soma-draughts quickly; thou drinkest them. They cook bulls for thee; thou eatest from them—thou who art nourished with food when called upon, O bountiful one.
10.28.4 Understand this well for me, O singer—rivers flow against the current as a curse! The jackal has eaten the lion facing him; the jackal has driven the boar out of the thicket.
10.28.5 How shall I understand this—the insight of the wise Gṛtsa concerning thy mighty thought? Do thou, knowing (all), speak to us in order—what, O bountiful one, thou drivest as thy pleasant half (of our share).
10.28.6 For thus they increase me, the mighty one—even my higher course is the great (course) of heaven. I smite many thousands simultaneously, for my father begot me without an enemy.
10.28.7 For thus the gods, O Indra, have begotten me—the mighty, the fierce, the manly one at every deed. Exhilarated, I slew Vṛtra with the vajra; I opened the pen (of cows) with my greatness for the worshipper.
10.28.8 The gods came bearing their axes; cutting through forests they came against the enclosed settlements. They place the woodpile upon (the altar's) chest—where the moisture is, they burn along with that.
10.28.9 The hare swallowed the razor point-first; I split the rock from afar with a clod. I shall subdue even the great one for the weak; the calf, striving, weaves (about) the full-grown bull.
10.28.10 The eagle thus grips the prey with its talon—checked, like a lion held at the trap. The thirsty buffalo too, though restrained—the lizard has drawn this noose for him.
10.28.11 For those who feed on the Brāhmaṇa's food by drinking it against him—the lizard has drawn this snare. They eat the freely-loosed bulls, (yet) sharpening the limbs' own strength.
10.28.12 These have prospered through their labours who urged forward the Soma (for bodily) strength with their hymns. Speak to us in man-like fashion—approach us with prizes! As a hero thou placest thy fame, thy name, in heaven.
10.29.1 As the fire deposited in the forest resplendent—the pure hymn of praise has been aroused for you two, O sustainers. He for whom Indra, the most manly of men, the heroic one, the night-passing Hotṛ among many lineages—
10.29.2 Beyond this dawn and the next may we be in the manliness of the most manly among men. Triśoka drove a hundred men after (the battle)—the chariot that (aided) Kutsa achieved victory.
10.29.3 Which of thy pleasurable exhilarations has arisen, O Indra? Rush forth, fierce one, against the doors (of thy strongholds) with (our) hymns! What oblation may bring thee close to us? May I be able to approach thee with food to (offer) the highest gift.
10.29.4 What splendour dost thou, O Indra, make for such men? By what thought dost thou come to us? Like Mitra, true and far-striding, in the presence of food, of all (the foods)—as the inspired prayers shall be.
10.29.5 The sun urges (them) to the goal, like (a boat) to the farther shore—those who have gone like mothers (come) to his desire. And the many hymns addressed to thee, O Indra nobly born—men who praise thee receive (their reward) with foods.
10.29.6 Immense indeed for thy mother, O Indra, are heaven by grandeur and earth by wisdom. For thy choice, may the ghee-mixed Soma-pressings be sweet for thee to drink—the honied draughts.
10.29.7 They poured out for him the vessel full of sweet Soma—for Indra, for he is the truly bountiful. He has grown great in the breadth of the earth, in his will, in manly power and virility.
10.29.8 Indra has spread out the battle-hosts with his own might; many (allies) endeavour for friendship with him. Stand firm in the battles as on a chariot—him whom thou urgest on with (thy) auspicious benevolence.
10.30.1 Let the path go forth to the gods for the Brahman priest, toward the waters—like the impulse of the mind. Render up the great sustenance of Mitra and Varuṇa in beautifully constructed prayer to the far-spreading one.
10.30.2 O Adhvaryus bearing oblations—eager ones approaching the invoked (Waters), eager (themselves)—what the red eagle beholds descending—draw that wave to yourselves today, O dexterous ones.
10.30.3 O Adhvaryus, go toward the ocean; worship Apāṁ Napāt (Child of the Waters) with your oblation. He will give you today a pure wave—press for him the honey-sweet Soma.
10.30.4 He who shines without fuel within the waters—whom the inspired priests praise at the rites—O Apāṁ Napāt, give the honey-sweet waters by which Indra has grown to might.
10.30.5 O Adhvaryu, go toward those waters by which Soma is pleased and exhilarated, like a young man (pleased) with beautiful maidens. May the water purify what thou shalt have poured in, together with the herbs.
10.30.6 Thus indeed do the young women bow to the young man, when the eager one comes to the eager ones. They understand one another with mind, they have discerned (each other)—the Adhvaryus and the divine Dhiṣaṇā-waters.
10.30.7 For him who made a world-space out of your enclosures, who freed you from the great curse—for him, for Indra, send forward the honey-sweet wave, the god-exhilarating one, O Waters.
10.30.8 Send forward for him the honey-sweet wave—the embryo who is the spring of sweetness for you, O rivers. O rich Waters, praised at the rites with ghee-backed offerings—hear my call.
10.30.9 O rivers, send that exhilarating wave fit for Indra's drinking—him who stirs both (worlds). (Send) the intoxication-shedding, Uśanā-born, cloud-born one circling around the three-threaded, mobile spring.
10.30.10 Rolling onward in two streams, now fighting over the cattle like warriors heading for the stall—O seer, revere the waters, the mothers and mistresses of the world, those who increase together, those who share the same womb.
10.30.11 Help our rite with your divine worship; help the sacred prayer for winning of wealth. At the yoking of ṛta release your udder—O Waters, be quick-hearing, attentive to us.
10.30.12 O rich Waters, you dwell on riches; you bear the auspicious will and immortality. You are the wives of him whose offspring is excellent—may Sarasvatī grant strength to him who praises this.
10.30.13 When the Waters were seen coming, bearing ghee, milks, and honey, agreeing with the Adhvaryus in mind—bringing the well-pressed Soma for Indra—
10.30.14 These rich Waters bringing living riches have come. O Adhvaryus, friends, make them sit down! Seat these Soma-bearing ones on the sacred grass, in agreement with Apāṁ Napāt.
10.30.15 The eager Waters have come; they have sat down here on the sacred grass at the rite, seeking the gods. O Adhvaryus, press the Soma for Indra—your divine worship has become efficacious.
10.31.1 May the praise of the gods, the adorable one with all swift helpers, come to us for our protection. Through them may we become good companions, crossing over all adversities.
10.31.2 A mortal may well desire wealth; let him move along the path of Ṛta with reverence. Let him also speak in accord with his own understanding; with his mind let him grasp the superior discernment.
10.31.3 The prayer has been set in place; the portions have been released; the waves approach the wondrous one as at a sacred ford. We have attained the vigour of blessedness; we have become those who know the immortals.
10.31.4 The house-lord who is perpetually brilliant, the home-companion for whom the god Savitṛ has given birth — may Bhaga anoint his face with cattle, may he be pleasing and auspicious to him.
10.31.5 May this earth be as it is at dawns, when the mighty ones come together with strength. Seeking this praise of the singer, may the strengthening prizes come to us full of blessing.
10.31.6 Of him has this benevolence spread wide; the ancient cow became multitudinous. His companions, in the womb of the mighty lord, are borne along equally in the same vessel.
10.31.7 What was the wood, what indeed was the tree from which they fashioned Heaven and Earth? The two, ageless in their standing-place, with their helpers here, have aged through the many former dawns.
10.31.8 There is nothing greater than this, nothing else beyond it; the strong bull bears Heaven and Earth. He who has self-power makes the pure skin, when the bay horses carry the Sun.
10.31.9 Like a roof he passes over the wide earth; like mist the wind blows apart the multitude. There where Mitra and Varuṇa, the instigator, like Agni in the forest, have released their flame.
10.31.10 When the barren one suddenly gave birth, being impelled, making the trembling into steadiness, self-guarding — when the son was born before his parents, the cow devoured the pestle when she was asked about it.
10.31.11 They also call Kaṇva the son of Nṛṣad, and the dark horse Śyāva took the wealth. The bright one swelled out the udder for Kṛṣṇa; here none has pressed upon Ṛta for him.
10.32.1 Come forth, O seekers of the prayer-holder, choosing excellent things; sit down favourably upon the choicest things. Indra delights in both of ours — what he awakens of the Soma juice.
10.32.2 O Indra, praised by many, you traverse the celestial luminous realms and the earthly ones with the dust. Those who carry you repeatedly to the sacrifices — let the eloquent ones who fall short win you over.
10.32.3 That which is more beautiful than the beautiful form delights me — when the son takes on the knowledge of his parents. The wife who carries her husband with voice full of goodness: the auspicious wedding adorned with a male child.
10.32.4 That dwelling-place shines beautifully — when the cows like milk-cows point toward the wedding. When the mother of the counsellor anciently shines for the herd, the people of the seven-fold song indeed.
10.32.5 The step of the god-loving one has spread forth surpassing; the mighty one travels alone with the Rudras. For the givers among those immortals, or for old age, pour honey around for the helpers.
10.32.6 The guardian of the vows of the gods declared to me the one that is placed and hidden in the waters. Indra, being wise, has indeed beheld you; instructed by him, O Agni, I have come.
10.32.7 The one who knows not the field questioned the one who knows the field; he proceeds, instructed by the field-knower. This indeed is the auspiciousness of instruction — and he finds the stream of the straight paths.
10.32.8 Today it has breathed without thinking; covered by these days, it drank from the mother's udder. Old age came upon this youthful one; unangered, the good one became of pleasant disposition.
10.32.9 Let us do these auspicious things, O vessel; O Kuruśravaṇa, the gift of bounties. Let giving indeed be yours, O Generous One; and may this Soma which I bear in my heart be yours.
10.33.1 The inciters of the people have yoked me; I carry Pūṣan between them. Then all the gods protected me; the cry arose: 'One who commands ill has come.'
10.33.2 The ribs scorch me on all sides like rival wives. Poverty, nakedness presses me down; thought flutters about like a bird weary of its course.
10.33.3 The middlemen eat up the praises like mice their phalluses, O Śatakratu. Just once, O bountiful Indra, be merciful to us; thereafter be like a father to us.
10.33.4 I choose Kuruśravaṇa, the king, the descendant of Trasadasyu — most bounteous of those who are priests of the sacred song, the seer.
10.33.5 Whose three bay horses carry me rightly on his chariot — I would praise him of the thousand sacrificial gifts.
10.33.6 Whose words are very sweet, of the most famous father, like a joyful field to one who has praised.
10.33.7 Come here, O Upamaśravas, grandson of Mitrātithi. I am the praiser of your father.
10.33.8 Whether I were lord of immortals or of mortals — may the bounteous one live for me indeed.
10.33.9 Not even one of a hundred lives beyond the law of the gods; in such wise the yoke-companion has turned away.
10.34.1 The big ones born in a gust of wind, rolling in the hollow, exhilarate me as I shake. Like the draught of Soma from mount Mujāvat, the vibhīdaka tree, the wakeful one, has drawn me to itself.
10.34.2 She never harmed me, never became angry at me; she was kind to my friends and to me. For the sake of one die, of a single stake, I have driven away my devoted wife.
10.34.3 My mother-in-law hates me; my wife pushes me away; the afflicted one finds no one to take pity on him. Like an old horse put up for sale, I find no use of the gambler.
10.34.4 Others fondle his wife, in the case of him for whose stake the prize die has been greedy. Father, mother, brothers say of him: 'We do not know him; take this bound man away.'
10.34.5 When I resolve that I will not play with them, I am left behind by my departing companions. The brown ones, cast down, have uttered speech — I go to their meeting-place like a strumpet.
10.34.6 The gambler goes to the assembly hall, asking himself 'Will I win?', his body aglow. The dice cross his desire in the opposite direction, giving to his adversary the winnings.
10.34.7 The dice indeed are hooked, pricking, deceitful, torturing, scorching. They give gifts like a boy; they strike again and again, smeared with honey, they destroy the gambler.
10.34.8 Their group of fifty-three plays like the god Savitṛ whose laws are true. They bow not even to the wrath of the fierce one; even a king does homage to these dice.
10.34.9 Rolling downward they spring upward; handless, they overpower the one with hands. Heavenly coals cast into the hollow, though cold, they burn the heart through.
10.34.10 The gambler's abandoned wife burns with grief; the mother grieves for her son wandering — who knows where? In debt, afraid, craving money, he goes at night to the houses of others.
10.34.11 It pained him to see the woman — the wives of others and the well-found source — the gambler; he yoked the tawny horses in the morning, and fell as an outcast at the fire's edge.
10.34.12 To him who is the general of your great host, who became the first king of the band — to him I render; I do not hold back the wealth. I speak this truth: I offer ten times toward the east.
10.34.13 Do not play with dice; till the soil instead; delight in your property, thinking it much. There are the cattle, O gambler, there is your wife — this the noble Savitṛ shows me as the right path.
10.34.14 Make friendship with us, verily have mercy on us; do not move against us boldly in terrible fashion. Let your wrath subside now, let the enmity enter; let another now be in the thrall of the tawny dice.
10.35.1 Those fires accompanied by Indra awakened, bearing light at the dawning of the Dawns. May great Heaven and Earth be awake, and the Waters — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.35.2 We choose the protection of Heaven and Earth; the mothers, the rivers, the mountains of Śaryaṇāvat. We implore the sinlessness of the Sun, of the Dawn; may the pressed Soma make us auspicious today.
10.35.3 May Heaven and Earth, the great mothers, protect us today, sinless ones, for our wellbeing. May the Dawn, as she shines out, drive away evil — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.4 May this first Dawn of ours, rich in gods, shine forth richly for the winners of wealth, richly. We set the wrath of the evil adversary far away — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.5 She who flows forth with the rays of the Sun, bearing light at the dawning of the Dawns — may she shine today for our glory — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.6 May disease-free dawns come unto us; may the fires rise high with light. May the Aśvins yoke their swift chariot — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.7 O Savitṛ, impel today for us the best, most excellent share, for you are the giver of treasure. I call upon Dhiṣaṇā the mother of riches — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.8 May that proclamation of Ṛta fill me — what we thought of as belonging to the gods among humans. With all the Dawns the Sun surely rises — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.9 Without enmity today, upon the strewing of the sacred grass, in the yoking of the pressing stones, we perfect the prayer. You stand firm in the shelter of the Ādityas — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.10 Upon our sacred grass in the great joint-joy of heaven, I invoke the gods — set the seven priests in place. Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Bhaga for conquest — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.11 Come, O Ādityas, for our complete welfare; protect our sacrifice with one accord, for our growth. Bṛhaspati, Pūṣan, the Aśvins, Bhaga — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.12 Grant us, O gods, O Ādityas, this excellent proclamation — shelter well-supported, fit for lords. For cattle, for offspring, for progeny to live — we implore Agni kindled for our welfare.
10.35.13 All the Maruts today, with all their aids; may all the fires be kindled. May all the gods come to us with protection; may all riches, all vigour be ours.
10.35.14 Whom the gods aid in the winning of prizes, whom they protect, whom they fill and save from distress — he who in your herd knows no fear: may we be swift for the feast of the gods.
10.36.1 Dawn and Night, the great, well-adorned pair; Heaven and Earth; Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman — I invoke Indra, the Maruts, the mountains, the Waters, the Ādityas, Heaven and Earth, the Waters, and Heaven.
10.36.2 May Heaven and Earth, the wise, possessing Ṛta, protect us from distress and harm. May evil-intentioned Nirṛti not rule us — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.3 May Aditi, mother of the wealthy Mitra and Varuṇa, protect us from all distress. May we attain the light that resembles the sun, free from wolves — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.4 Let the speaking pressing stone drive away the demons, evil dreams, Nirṛti, all devouring things. May we attain the shelter of the Āditya, of the Maruts — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.5 Let Indra sit upon the sacred grass; let Iḷā swell; let Bṛhaspati praise with hymns and lauds. We set in our heart the thought well-perceived, to live — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.6 O Aśvins, make our sacrifice sky-touching, swift-coursing, with goodwill for the quest — the oblation with eastward ray, offered with ghee — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.7 I call upon the Marutas host, easy to call, purifying, noble, beneficent, for friendship. We set in our heart the swelling of riches, for good fame — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.8 We bring the invigorating Soma of the waters, fit for the gods, easy to invoke, the glory of the sacrifice. We control the bright-rayed, Indra-meant Soma — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.9 May we win that through excellent winning with our winnings — we, living, with living sons, sinless. Let those who hate sacred knowledge bear their sin in every direction — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.10 You who are among Manu's gods of sacrifice, listen — what we implore of you, O gods, give that. A victorious resolve, riches, heroic fame — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.11 Today we choose the great protection of the great gods, of the vast unchallenged ones. So that we may reach wealth born of vigour — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.12 In the great shelter of Agni blazing, sinless in Mitra and Varuṇa for welfare — may we be in the best impulsion of Savitṛ — today we choose the protection of the gods.
10.36.13 All the gods who are in the vow of Savitṛ of true might, in the vow of Mitra, of Varuṇa — may they bestow on us auspiciousness with heroes, with cattle, with substance and brilliant wealth.
10.36.14 Savitṛ from the west, Savitṛ from the east, Savitṛ from the north, Savitṛ from below — may Savitṛ impel us toward complete welfare; may Savitṛ grant us long life.
10.37.1 Reverence to the eye of Mitra and Varuṇa, to the great god — attend to that Ṛta. Proclaim the far-seeing, divine-born banner, the son of Heaven, the Sun.
10.37.2 May that truthful utterance guard me on all sides, there where the days are stretched out and the Heavens. Everything else that moves enters into rest; the Sun goes forth every day, every day.
10.37.3 No godless one abides before you from days of old, when you career with winged steeds. One realm follows in the east; you go upward, O Sūrya, with another light.
10.37.4 With that light with which you thrust away darkness, O Sūrya, and raise up the whole world with your beam — with that, drive away from us all weakness, all that is unfit for offering, all disease, all evil dreams.
10.37.5 Sent by all, you guard the law without anger; you rise by your own power. Whatever resolve we make today calling upon you, O Sūrya, may the gods approve that resolve of ours.
10.37.6 May Heaven and Earth, the Waters, Indra, the Maruts hear this call of our voice. May we not be empty in the sight of Sūrya; living, may we attain an auspicious old age.
10.37.7 Always, of glad heart, with good sight, with progeny, free from disease, sinless — may we see you rising, O Sūrya of friendly greatness, day by day, living long.
10.37.8 You who bear the great light, the discerning one, the radiant delight of every eye — as you mount around the great expanse, may we see you, O Sūrya, living.
10.37.9 By whose banner all beings go forth, and by whose nights they enter into rest — with sinlessness, O golden-haired Sūrya, day by day rise for us more and more enriching.
10.37.10 Be auspicious to us with your light, auspicious to us with the day, auspicious with your beam, auspicious with your cold, auspicious with your warmth. As it may be auspicious on the way and auspicious in the house — O Sūrya, grant us brilliant wealth.
10.37.11 O gods, extend shelter to both our births — to the two-footed and to the four-footed. May he eat, drink, be invigorated, be satisfied — place that healing and welfare free from harm in us.
10.37.12 Whatever offense toward the gods we have made with the tongue, or through the impulse of mind, O Vasus — the hostile one who wishes ill upon us, place that sin upon him.
10.38.1 In this glorious, energetic battle-shout, help us, O Indra, for conquest — where the cattle-winning missiles fly in all directions against the brave men, in the bold raids.
10.38.2 Uncover for us in the dwelling a wealth full of grain, of cattle, worthy of fame, O Indra. May we be the allies of you who are victorious, O Mighty One — O Vasu, do as we desire.
10.38.3 Whether the Dāsa or the Ārya who, O much-praised Indra, plans to fight against us the godless — may your enemies be easy to overcome with us; may we, with you, win them in battle.
10.38.4 He who is to be invoked with few gifts and he who is with many, who clears a wide path in the man-conquering fray — we turn today toward that famous winning hero, we turn Indra toward us for aid.
10.38.5 For I have heard you, O Indra, as self-choosing, unstoppable, O bull, spurring on the weak. Free yourself from Kutsa; come here — why would one like you remain bound by the testicles?
10.39.1 That circuit-running, well-turning chariot of yours, O Aśvins, called upon with oblation from evening to dawn, most frequent — this of yours we also invoke by the easy-to-call name as a son calls his father.
10.39.2 Set in motion kindly truths; swell up our prayers; stir up full minds — this we desire. Make our portion glorious, O Aśvins, and grant us lovely Soma among the bounteous.
10.39.3 Though the lot be ageing in the house, you two become its helpers; of one who is decaying, of one who is nearly lost. Even of the blind, O Nāsatyas, and of the emaciated — you two are called the healers even of the broken.
10.39.4 You fashioned Cyavana, old as an ancient chariot, into a young man again for movement. You carried Tugra's son across from the waters — all these deeds of yours are to be proclaimed at the pressings.
10.39.5 I will declare your ancient heroic deeds to the people; you have also been healers, producers of bliss. We now invoke these two of yours, fresh, for our protection — may this worshipper place faith in you, O Nāsatyas, as a friend.
10.39.6 This is my call to you — hear me, O Aśvins; teach me like parents teach a son. Friendless, ignorant, unfitted of birth, of wrong understanding — before that reproach, rescue me.
10.39.7 You two brought the bride of Purumitra to Vimada in your chariot, the lovely one. You two heeded the call of Vadhrīmatī; you two granted good birth to Puraṁdhī.
10.39.8 For the inspired one who had come to old age, you two made youthful vigour again. You two raised Vandana up from the Ṛśyad; you two straightway made Viśpalā able to go.
10.39.9 You two, O mighty Aśvins, raised up Rebha who lay hidden, as if dead. You two made Atri, enclosed in the pit and scorched, find comfort — for Saptavadhri you two did the same.
10.39.10 You two gave to Pedu, O Aśvins, a white horse with nine times nine prizes — ever-active, companion-scattering — like Bhaga, a prize invoked by men, a producer of bliss.
10.39.11 Not from anywhere does distress reach him, O Aditi, nor does evil or any fear — the one whom you Aśvins, easy to call, of fierce course, make to go before the chariot together with his wife.
10.39.12 Come with that chariot, swifter than thought, which the Ṛbhus fashioned for you, O Aśvins — at whose yoking the daughter of Heaven is born, both days of Vivasvat being auspicious.
10.39.13 Come along that path, victorious over the mountain; you swelled the milk-cow for Śayu, O Aśvins. Even the quail from the jaw of the wolf — you two with your powers released her who had been swallowed.
10.39.14 This praise for you, O Aśvins, we have made; we have fashioned it as the Bhṛgus fashion a chariot. We have polished it as a young man polishes his bride, holding it constantly as a son and child.
10.40.1 Where, O heroes, who adorns your bright chariot as it comes for your blessing? I prepare with thought the early-travelling, far-reaching one, carried from dwelling to dwelling, folk to folk.
10.40.2 Where were you at evening, O Aśvins, where at dawn? Where do you make your approach? Where do you dwell? Who invites you to rest, as a widow invites a brother-in-law, as a young woman invites a young man to her seat?
10.40.3 In the morning you delight like an old woman of the Kāpī clan; from dwelling to dwelling, O adorable ones, you go to the house. Whose wonderworkers do you become, O heroes, or as king's sons do you go to whose pressings?
10.40.4 Like two wild bulls, hunted by hunters, we call upon you two at evening and dawn with oblation. You bring the priestly office, performed in season, to those men who offer — to the people, O lords of beauty.
10.40.5 Ghoṣā seeking you, O Aśvins, the king's daughter, said — I ask you, O heroes: be present for me by day, and be present at night; grant me the ability to win a husband with horses and a chariot.
10.40.6 You two are the seers, O Aśvins, concerning the chariot; like Kutsa the singer you two seek the folk. Swiftly at your mouths, O Aśvins, bear honey, like an adorned maiden.
10.40.7 You two rescued Bhujyu, O Aśvins, you two rescued Vaśa, you two came to Śiñjāra through Uśanā. The bounteous ones sit around your companionship; I long for your goodwill, your protection.
10.40.8 You two rescue the emaciated, O Aśvins, you two the lying sick, you two the worshipper and the widow. From the winning prizes you open for the Aśvins the thundering fold of seven mouths.
10.40.9 The maiden was born; the boy flies away; he strikes the plants beautifully along their magic power. For him the rivers flow as into a hollow; for this day his flight comes into being.
10.40.10 Weeping for the living one, they part at the sacrifice; the men have contemplated the long continuation. Those who have assembled this loveliness for the fathers, the women embrace bliss for their husbands.
10.40.11 We do not know that — tell us indeed — when the young man dwells in the womb of the young woman. We desire, O Aśvins, to go to the house of that beloved potent bull, the seed-sower.
10.40.12 May your benevolence come, O Aśvins rich in prizes; desires have settled in our hearts. Become guardians as a pair, O lords of beauty — may we attain the dear houses of Aryaman.
10.40.13 You two, gladdened in the house of Manu, place wealth together with heroes for him who would praise. The ford is made, the good drinking place, O lords of beauty; strike down the evil mind that stands on the path.
10.40.14 Where today, O wonderful Aśvins, lords of beauty, among which peoples do you two delight? Who has guided them? To whose house have they gone — the inspired singer's or the sacrificer's?
10.41.1 With well-fashioned hymns we call at the break of dawn that same much-invoked, laudable, three-wheeled chariot that comes to every soma-pressing — the wide-ranging, assembly-worthy car of the Aśvins.
10.41.2 O Nāsatyas, ye two mount the chariot that is yoked at dawn, that goes forth at dawn, that carries sweet gifts. With it ye visit the sacrificing clans, O heroes; even the poet's sacrifice which has its Hotṛ — ye, O Aśvins.
10.41.3 Whether ye come to the Adhvaryu who holds sweets in his dexterous hand, or to the Āgnīdhra who is of firm skill and devoted to the house, or to the soma-pressings of the inspired priest — come thence, O Aśvins, to drink the honey-offering.
10.42.1 Like a bowman shooting his arrow farther and farther, bring forward the hymn of praise for him as if adorning him. O inspired singers, with your voice surpass the voice of the stranger; O singer, appease Indra who is swift to respond.
10.42.2 Assist your friend with the milk-gift; O singer, rouse the eager Indra. Stir the hero to bestow his wealth, as one shakes a full vessel brimming over with riches.
10.42.3 What then, O Maghavan, do they call thee the liberal giver? Sharpen me — I hear that thou art sharp already. May my prayer be rich in bounty, O Śakra; bring us, O Indra, a fortune rich in goods.
10.42.4 People who have gathered in places of real conflict call on thee, O Indra, in battle. There the man who has oblations makes a comrade; the hero desires no friendship with one who does not press soma.
10.42.5 For him who presses the sharp soma-juices for Indra with oblations, bestowing abundant flowing wealth — for such a one, at the early hour of day, [Indra] slays Vṛtra and crushes the nimble foes with his well-wrought weapon.
10.42.6 In Indra in whom we have placed our hope, who the Bounteous One has fixed his desire upon us — may even the distant foe tremble before him; may the peoples bow down their glories to him.
10.42.7 Drive far away the hostile obstructor, O mighty one, O much-invoked; with that power keep him at a distance. Bestow on us, O Indra, riches with barley and with cattle; make our prayer prize-winning for the singer.
10.42.8 When the sharp, copious soma-draughts pressed at the bull-pressings have entered Indra within — the Bounteous One never restrains his gift; to the presser he brings abundant wealth.
10.42.9 One also wins a great stake by playing better at dice — when the dog-slaying gambler picks out the winning throw at the right moment. One who is devoted to the gods and does not withhold his wealth — him the self-powerful one unites with riches.
10.42.10 With cattle may we overcome the niggardly one who is hard to approach, and with barley overcome all hunger, O much-invoked. May we, with kings, be first to win riches, with our own community winning.
10.42.11 May Bṛhaspati protect us from behind and from above, from below, and from the evil-doer. May Indra in front and from the midst of us, as friend to friends, make wide space for us.
10.43.1 My thoughts, all finding the sun, all yearning, together sang forth toward Indra. They embrace [him] as wives embrace their husband — the Bountiful One, pure as a young man, for our aid.
10.43.2 Indeed my mind does not turn away from thee — upon thee alone do I fix my desire, O much-invoked. O wondrous Indra, sit down upon the sacred grass as a king; let there be a good draught for thee at this soma.
10.43.3 Indra is the dispeller of both folly and of hunger; he, the Bountiful One, is master of riches and of goods. To him the seven rivers on their downward slope increase the strength of the mighty bull.
10.43.4 Like birds settling on a fair-leafed tree, the gladdening soma-draughts settled upon Indra, dwelling in the soma-vessels. Shining forth on their band with might, he found the sun, the noble light for Manu.
10.43.5 As a dog-slaying gambler picks out the winning throw in the game — thus [was] the conquest when the Bountiful One won the sun. No other could match that heroic deed of thine, O Maghavan — neither one of old nor one of recent times.
10.43.6 The Bountiful One has lain around every clan; the bull has made the song of the peoples glisten. He at whose soma-pressings Śakra takes delight — that one conquers with the sharp soma-draughts those who attack.
10.43.7 When the soma-juices flowed together toward Indra like waters to a river, like channels to a lake, the inspired poets strengthen his greatness at his seat, like rain [strengthens] barley with its heavenly gift.
10.43.8 Like an angry bull he swept into the dust-clouds — he who made these waters subservient to noble masters. He, the Bountiful One, found the light for the swift-giving presser, for the oblation-offering Manu.
10.43.9 Let the axe rise together with the light; may it be a good milch-cow of truth as in ancient times. May the bright red one shine forth with his radiance, pure as the sun; may the lord of the good blaze with brilliant light.
10.43.10 With cattle may we overcome the niggardly one who is hard to approach, and with barley overcome all hunger, O much-invoked. May we, with kings, be first to win riches, with our own community winning.
10.43.11 May Bṛhaspati protect us from behind and from above, from below, and from the evil-doer. May Indra in front and from the midst of us, as friend to friends, make wide space for us.
10.44.1 Let Indra, the good lord, come for our exhilaration — he who is mighty, ever hastening by his sacred ordinance, swelling with overwhelming might, surpassing all resistances with his boundless, great virile power.
10.44.2 Thy chariot is well-poised, thy two bay horses well-reined; the bolt is fixed in thy fist, O lord of men. Come quickly, O king, by the good path hither — we would strengthen the virile powers thou hast drunk in.
10.44.3 Let the Indra-bearers — the fierce, mighty, powerful ones — bring hither the lord of men, the bolt-armed, terrible one, the waxing bull of true force, to rejoice together here with us.
10.44.4 Thus, O lord of the press-vat, O like-minded one, thou art the bull in the steadfast pillar of strength. Exert thy power, take it into thyself, so that thou mayest be lord for the growth of those who drink of the soma.
10.44.5 Come to us, for riches may come our way — I have praised a self-willed gift; come, O soma-drinker, hither. Thou art the master; sit here upon the sacred grass. Thy vessels are inviolable by thy sacred order.
10.44.6 The earliest invocations of the gods, going separately, achieved renown hard to surpass. Those who were unable to board the sacrificial ship — those wavy fools descended only into the current itself.
10.44.7 Thus let the others — whose horses have been yoked in a faulty manner — be turned away and be hard to milk. Those who thus are ahead and ready for giving, where there are many marks of enjoyment.
10.44.8 He held up the trembling hills and open plains; heaven roared and the middle regions were stirred. He propped apart the two concordant spheres of thought; drunk with exhilaration, the bull recites the sacred verses.
10.44.9 I bear for thee this well-crafted goad with which thou forcest open, O Maghavan, thou who breakest with hooves. At this pressing let it be thy home — be wakeful at the desired soma-pressing, O Maghavan, as one worthy of the share.
10.44.10 With cattle may we overcome the niggardly one who is hard to approach, and with barley overcome all hunger, O much-invoked. May we, with kings, be first to win riches, with our own community winning.
10.44.11 May Bṛhaspati protect us from behind and from above, from below, and from the evil-doer. May Indra in front and from the midst of us, as friend to friends, make wide space for us.
10.45.1 Agni was born first from heaven; secondly Jātavedas was born from us. Thirdly, [he was born] in the waters, he of manly wisdom, inexhaustible — the wise man, kindling him, worships him.
10.45.2 O Agni, we know thy three forms in their threefold nature; we know thy dwelling-places borne in many places. We know thy supreme name which is hidden; we know the spring from which thou hast come forth.
10.45.3 O Agni, the manliness-minded one kindled thee in the sea, in the waters within; the man-seeing one [kindled thee] at the udder of heaven. Standing in the third realm, in the lap of the waters, the great ones increased thee.
10.45.4 Agni cried out like thundering heaven; licking the plants, he scorched the earth. Just born, kindled, he gazed all around; blazing within, he lit up both worlds with his radiance.
10.45.5 He is the noble giver of good things, the foundation of riches, the inspirer of those who contemplate, the guardian of soma. The good son of strength, the king in the waters, blazes forth at the front of the dawns, being kindled.
10.45.6 The flag of all things, the embryo of the world — being born, he filled both world-halves. He even clove the firm rock as he went forth, when the five peoples worshipped Agni.
10.45.7 Eager, purifying, incessant, of good wisdom — Agni, the immortal, was implanted among mortals. Carrying it, he sends the ruddy smoke upward, reaching to the sky with his brilliant flame.
10.45.8 The golden ornament, seen afar, blazed wide; shining with glory, his life is hard to endure. Agni became immortal with his forms, when heaven, of good seed, begat him.
10.45.9 He who makes for thee today, O Agni of auspicious flame, a ghee-laden sacrificial cake, O god — lead him onward to better and better fortune; grant him the divine favour, O youngest one.
10.45.10 O Agni, give him a share in the [wealth won through] glorious praise; give him a share at each recitation of lauds. He becomes dear to Sūrya, dear to Agni; let him burst forth with what is born, burst forth with successive generations.
10.45.11 Thee, O Agni, the sacrificers have held as all desirable goods through the days. Seeking riches together with thee, the eager worshippers have opened up the cow-pen.
10.45.12 Agni Vaiśvānara, the guardian of soma, beloved of men, has been praised by the seers. With benevolence may we call on Heaven and Earth; O gods, grant us riches together with good heroes.
10.46.1 The great Hotṛ priest, born like the cloud-born one, the man-seated one, has settled in the lap of the waters. He who was made the firm-upheld one — he, protecting the body, as the guide of riches for the worshipper, branches forth.
10.46.2 Worshipping him in the dwelling-place of the waters, they followed [him] by his tracks like a lost animal. The wise Bhṛgus, seeking with reverence, found him who was lurking in the secret place.
10.46.3 Trita, eagerly seeking, found him abundantly at the top of the inexhaustible Vaibhūvasa. Born to growth in the houses, the young one becomes the navel of the shining realm.
10.46.4 The eager ones have set up with their reverences the gladdening Hotṛ, the forward-leading priest, the guide of rites; they made the purifying, oblation-carrying Arāti into the priest of the clans, establishing him among humans.
10.46.5 The great one arose victorious, the far-inspiring one, who destroys fortresses, though without intellect of his own — those guiding the embryo of the forests have placed the inspired thought; golden-bearded, swift as a horse, rich in wealth he blazes.
10.46.6 Trita, supporting [himself] in the dwelling-places, enveloped, settled inward in the womb. Taking from there, the house-master of the clans is led without restraint to men with his holding of the law.
10.46.7 His unaging flames are the oarsmen of the house; the purifying fires blaze with luminous smoke. White-gleaming, surging, active, dwelling in the forest — like soma-draughts, like winds they move.
10.46.8 Agni carries forth the trembling flame with his tongue; with his mind he carries forth the marks of the earth. They who are purifying — the Āyavas set up the gladdening Hotṛ, the most worthy of worship, as most fit for sacrifice.
10.46.9 The Agni whom Heaven and Earth brought forth, whom the Waters, Tvaṣṭṛ, and the Bhṛgus brought forth with their powers — Mātariśvan first made the adorable one to be praised; the gods fashioned him as the adorable one for Manu.
10.46.10 Thee whom the gods established as oblation-carrier, the adorable one desired by many humans — thee, O Agni, as thou goest, thou givest sustenance to the praising one; moving god-ward, thou dost bring together many glories.
10.47.1 We, desiring wealth, have grasped thy right hand, O Indra, O lord of riches. For we know thee as the bull-hero, the guardian of the cows — give us a brilliant, virile wealth.
10.47.2 Give us a brilliant, virile wealth — well-weaponed, well-housed, well-guided, four-oceaned, the steadfast foundation of riches — active, praiseworthy, of many gifts.
10.47.3 O Indra, give us a brilliant, virile wealth — well-brahmanic, accompanied by the gods, great, wide, deep, of broad base, of renowned wisdom, terrible, overwhelming adversaries.
10.47.4 O Indra, give us a brilliant, virile wealth — ever prize-winning, inspiredly heroic, overcoming, touching riches, swelling with growth, of good skill, truly slaying the Dasyus, breaking through the fortresses.
10.47.5 O Indra, give us a brilliant, virile wealth — rich in horses, furnished with chariots, rich in heroes, of a thousand, a hundred contests, of auspicious vow, inspiredly heroic, winning the sun.
10.47.6 The prayer goes forth toward Bṛhaspati of the seven tones, the one whose thought is true, of good wisdom — he who is of the Aṅgiras clan, approachable with reverence — may he give us a brilliant, virile wealth.
10.47.7 My lauds, imploring, moving as my messengers, seeking good favour, travel toward Indra — touching the heart, being spoken with the mind; may he give us a brilliant, virile wealth.
10.47.8 What I seek from thee, O Indra, grant us that — the great, unequalled dwelling for the peoples. Let Heaven and Earth speak in agreement with this; give us a brilliant, virile wealth.
10.48.1 I was the first lord of riches; I win wealth perpetually. Living creatures call on me as on a father; I apportion enjoyment to the pious worshipper.
10.48.2 I, Indra, having raised the obstruction and nurtured the Atharvan, produced the cows upon the serpent for Trita. I seize the manly power away from the Dasyus; teaching the cow-pen, [I give] to Dadhīca and Mātariśvan.
10.48.3 For me Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned the iron bolt; in me the gods have bent their will. My face is hard to endure like that of the sun; people approach me with what has been done and what is to be done.
10.48.4 I sharpen this cattle-winning, horse-winning animal — the one rich in food, golden, with an arrow-swift [movement] — many thousands [I give] to the worshipper, when the soma-draughts with their lauds have gladdened me.
10.48.5 I, Indra, have never lost the prize; I have never yielded to death at any time. Press soma and ask me for riches; O Pūrus, do not fall into ruin in my friendship.
10.48.6 I smote one by one these two who were ever hostile, who armed the bolt against Indra in battle. Those who were calling out I struck down with my blow; speaking firm [words], those who did not bow I made to bow.
10.48.7 I alone am prepared to face one; what then can two, or three, do? I strike many back like heaps of chaff on a threshing floor. Why do my foes who are without Indra blame me?
10.48.8 I extricated Atithigva from the Guṅgus; I sustained nourishment like a Vṛtra-slayer among the clans. When [battle raged] around Parṇayaghna and around Karañja — there I was heard in the great Vṛtra-slaying.
10.48.9 Namī Sāpya has come forward to my aid for nourishment and enjoyment; establish friendship twofold through the pursuit of cattle. When I enkindled the lightning in battles for him, then I made him worthy of praise and of laud.
10.48.10 Soma has been seen within this [one], half of it; as guardian he makes half manifest. Wishing to battle the bull with the sharp horn, [the demon] stood waiting for treachery, bound deeply within.
10.48.11 Of the Ādityas, of the Vasus, of the Rudras, I as god do not diminish the ordinance of the gods. They have fashioned me for auspicious power — unconquered, uncast down, invincible.
10.49.1 I give the ancient good to the singer; I make the prayer that is my own growth. I became the impeller of the sacrificer; I am the witness of the non-sacrificer in every contest.
10.49.2 They have made me Indra by name as the divine power; the beings of heaven, of earth, and of the waters [know me thus]. I hold the two bay stallions, swift of diverse courses; I boldly take up the bolt for might.
10.49.3 With my blows I shattered the mantle for the sage; I assisted Kutsa with these aids. I am the slayer of Śuṣṇa, the restraining weapon — one who never gave the noble name to the Dasyu.
10.49.4 Like a father I subdued the Vetasus for conquest; I subdued Tugra and Smadibha for Kutsa. I became the king of the sacrificer when I press forward in battle against the dear untouchable enemy.
10.49.5 I subdued the deer-slayer Mṛgaya for Śrutarvaṇa, who hurled himself [against me] without even following a sign. I made the obedient Veśa for Āyu; I subdued the hexapod Padgṛbhi for Savya.
10.49.6 I am the one who crushed the Dāsa Navavāstava with the great chariot, shattering him like Vṛtra, the Vṛtra-slaying smasher — him who was growing and spreading continuously, who had made a glittering place at the far end of the realm.
10.49.7 I go around the sun with my swift [horses], the Pra-Etaśas, being carried with might. When the human champion called me the shining, clearly victorious one — with my blows I made a Dāsa of the villain.
10.49.8 I, the slayer of seven, mightier than Nahuṣa, caused Turvaśa and Yadu to be heard by my power. I, with might overpowering might, caused to decrease nine and ninety of the weakened ones, subduing the others.
10.49.9 I, the bull, the fast-moving one, held the seven streams as ploughs upon the earth. I, of excellent resolve, cross through the floods; I found through battle the way to the sun for Manu, for the sacrifice.
10.49.10 I held therein what even the god Tvaṣṭṛ could not hold as shining — the desirable, mixed soma with the honey of honey in the udders of cows, in their bellies, the Śvātra soma.
10.49.11 Thus Indra, whose bounty is true, has encompassed the gods and men with his impulse, the Bountiful One. All these feats of thine, O lord of the bay steeds, O mighty one — swift heroes of their own renown declare them.
10.50.1 Sing forth with laud to the great one who exhilarates himself with the soma-drink, to the all-human, the all-being Indra — whose fair-jawed might, whose great glory and manly power the two worlds serve.
10.50.2 He truly, the manly Indra, mighty through friendship, ever-active, praised, exhilarates himself for the pious man. In all charges, in prize-winning actions, at Vṛtra, in the waters, thou rejoicest, O hero, O lord of the good.
10.50.3 Who are thy men, O Indra, who desire thy bounty? Who would honor thy auspicious shared goodwill? Who would urge thee for prize and for lordly power? Who [would urge thee] in the waters, in fair regions, in virile might?
10.50.4 Thou hast become great through the sacred formulation, O Indra; thou hast become the one worthy of worship at all soma-pressings. Thou hast become the impeller of men in every contest; the foremost prayer, O one seen by all.
10.50.5 Who then is greater than thee who lovest the sacrifice? The peoples know thy great protection. Mayest thou be truly unaging and growing, winning all these soma-pressings, O industrious one.
10.50.6 Win all these soma-pressings by thine own power, O Son of Strength, thou who holdest them. For thy choosing, the vessel [is set], by the sacred ordinance perpetuated; the sacrifice, the sacred formula, the brahman speech held upraised.
10.50.7 The inspired ones who are made brahmanic by thee are present at the pressing — for giving of riches and of goods. May they go forth on the path of thy goodwill through mind, in the exhilaration of the pressed soma-drink.
10.51.1 Great and thick was that membrane — great it was — wrapped in which you entered the waters. One god alone, O Agni Jātavedas, saw all your bodies manifested in many forms.
10.51.2 Who saw me? Which was that god who beheld my bodies manifested in many forms? Where dwell, O Mitra and Varuṇa, all the divine fuel-faggots of Agni that lead to the gods?
10.51.3 We sought you, O Jātavedas, hidden in many forms, entered, O Agni, into the waters, into the plants. Yama revealed you, O Citrabhānu, as you shone forth glowing from the ten kindling-woods.
10.51.4 I came here, O Varuṇa, fleeing from the office of Hotṛ, lest the gods should harness me to that task. My bodies entered in many places — of that matter I, Agni, was unaware.
10.51.5 Come! Manu, pious and desirous of sacrifice, is ready; thou dwellest in the darkness, O Agni. Make the paths easy that lead to the gods; willingly convey the oblations.
10.51.6 The earlier brothers of Agni perished following this same course like a charioteer on the road. Therefore, O Varuṇa, I came far away in fear, trembling like a gayal from the bowstring of the archer.
10.51.7 We shall grant you ageless life, O Agni, so that, O Jātavedas, harnessed, you shall not be harmed. Then joyfully you shall carry the share of the oblation to the gods, O noble-born.
10.51.8 Give me the prayājas and the anuyājas alone as my exclusive, vigorous share of the oblation — ghee, and the essence of waters and plants. And may Agni's life be long, O gods.
10.51.9 Yours alone shall be the prayājas and the anuyājas as vigorous shares of the oblation. Let this entire sacrifice be yours, O Agni; let the four quarters bow down to you.
10.52.1 All you gods, instruct me how I, chosen as Hotṛ by Manu, shall sit and perform the rite. Tell me what the share-apportionment is to you, by what path I may bring the oblations to you.
10.52.2 I, the mightier Hotṛ, took my seat; all the gods and Maruts urge me on. Day after day the Adhvaryu rite is yours, O Aśvins; the Brahman becomes the kindling-wood and the offering is yours.
10.52.3 This one who is the Hotṛ — who then is he of Yama? Whom do they adorn when the gods anoint? Day after day, month after month he is born anew — the gods have appointed him carrier of oblations.
10.52.4 Me the gods appointed carrier of oblations, though long hidden, wandering through many difficulties. Agni, knowing all, shall order our sacrifice — of five courses, threefold, and sevenfold in thread.
10.52.5 I shall worship immortality and heroic strength for you so that I may make wide space for you, O gods. I shall place Indra's thunderbolt in his arms; then shall he conquer all these hosts.
10.52.6 Three hundreds and three thousands — thirty and nine gods together — attended to Agni; they sprinkled him with ghee, spread the sacred grass for him, and then installed him as Hotṛ.
10.53.1 He whom we sought in our mind has come — knowing the sacrifice, wise, the many-jointed, the discerning. He, mightier in worship, shall sacrifice for us at the divine assembly; let him take his seat as our closest, foremost.
10.53.2 The Hotṛ has taken his seat, the worthier one; he beholds the well-set offerings. Come! let us worship the gods worthy of worship; let us praise with ghee those who merit praise.
10.53.3 He made our divine communion excellent today; we have found the hidden tongue of the sacrifice. He has come bearing life, clad in fragrance; he made our invocation of the gods auspicious today.
10.53.4 Let me today utter first that speech by which the gods overpowered the Asuras. O eaters of vigour, and you who are worthy of sacrifice — ye five peoples, delight in my Hotṛ-call.
10.53.5 Let the five peoples delight in my Hotṛ-call — those born of cattle and those worthy of sacrifice. May the Earth protect us from earthly distress; may the Atmosphere protect us from what comes from heaven.
10.53.6 Spinning the thread, follow the gleam of the sky's expanse; protect the luminous paths made by the mind. Weave, without breaks, the waters that have been sung; be Manu, beget the divine people.
10.53.7 Tie the axle-pins and fasten them, O ye who have soma; trim the reins and adorn them. Drive from both sides the eight-yoked chariot whereby the gods drove toward the beloved.
10.53.8 The stony river flows — grasp one another, rise up, cross over, O friends! Here let us leave behind those who were unfit; we shall cross over toward the blessings, toward the prizes.
10.53.9 Tvaṣṭṛ knows the wisdom — the most artful of craftsmen — bearing the vessels, most comforting, fit for the gods to drink from. He now sharpens the iron axe with which the Etaśa-horse, Lord of Prayer, shall cut.
10.53.10 Now, O sages who are being perfected, sharpen yourselves with the chisels with which you work for immortality. Knowing, cut out the hidden tracks by which the gods attained immortality.
10.53.11 They placed in the womb of the woman the calf, hidden with secret mind and tongue. He who is well-disposed, ever seeking union, reaches victory — the worshipper wins it alone.
10.54.1 Well do we proclaim that glory of yours, O Maghavan, in your greatness — when both the frightened worlds called upon you. You protected the gods, overpowered the Dāsa with your force; for that offspring you trained, O Indra.
10.54.2 When you went about growing in your own body, declaring your powers, O Indra, among the peoples — may it not be that the battles they speak of come to nothing; you have not yet ceased to know the enemy.
10.54.3 Who of the earlier sages before us ever reached the full measure of your greatness — you who together generated both your mother and your father from your own body?
10.54.4 Your four mighty names, belonging to the bull, are inviolable. Only you, O Maghavan, know them all, those names by which you performed your deeds.
10.54.5 You alone hold all the riches — those that are manifest and those that are hidden. Do not, O Maghavan, disappoint my desire; you, Indra, are the knower and you are the giver.
10.54.6 He who placed light within light, who mingled sweetnesses with sweetness — to that dear Indra this praise, this mighty utterance, was spoken from the brahman-made high hymn.
10.55.1 Far away is that hidden name, in remote regions — the name by which both the frightened ones, growing old, called upon you. You propped up both earth and sky together, O Maghavan, blazing with power, protecting your brother's sons.
10.55.2 Great is that hidden name, widely touching all, by which what was and what shall be comes to be. The ancient, born light that is dear to him — the dear five entered into union.
10.55.3 He filled both the worlds and the middle space; the five gods he filled seasonally, seven by seven. With thirty-four he views them in manifold forms, by a light of uniform appearance and varied ordinance.
10.55.4 When you, Dawn, first shone forth among the radiant ones, you generated nourishment from nourishment. What is the lesser kinship, what the higher? Great, for the great one, is that single Asura-power.
10.55.5 The wandering moon, sleeping at the assembly of many, though young, was devoured by the grey one. Behold the divine mystery in its greatness — he who died today was alive yesterday.
10.55.6 By his own might, the reddish fair-winged hero, great, brave, forever unassailable — whatever he perceives, that truly is not fruitless; he is winner and giver of desirable wealth.
10.55.7 With these he received his bull-powers and manly vigour, wherewith the Vajra-bearer anointed himself for the slaying of Vṛtra. Those gods who were born through the greatness of deeds being performed — they performed their acts according to Ṛta.
10.55.8 Generating deeds in union, all-powerful, slayer of the wicked, all-minded, overpowering the strong — having drunk the Soma, growing great from the sky, the hero drove out the Dasyus from battle.
10.56.1 This one is yours, and yet another is beyond — enter union with the third light. At the gathering-in be lovely in body; be dear to the gods in the highest birthplace.
10.56.2 She who leads your body, O Vājin, may she grant us beauty, shelter to you. Untroubled, for upholding the great gods, measure out your own light as in the sky.
10.56.3 You are the swift horse, fleet by means of the fleet; well-sped, you delight in the hymn of praise; well-sped, you go to heaven. Well-sped, follow the primeval truths of dharma; well-sped among the gods, well-sped along the path.
10.56.4 Not even the Fathers could control the greatness of these; the gods placed their will in the gods. What they covered and what they set ablaze entered back again into their bodies.
10.56.5 With their powers they circled all the expanse of the sky, measuring the primeval, immeasurable stations. They held all the worlds within their bodies; they stretched them out manifoldly among the offspring.
10.56.6 The sons established the Asura, the finder of heaven, in two ways by the third deed. The Fathers, together with the fathers' world, stretched the thread of their own offspring through the lower ones.
10.56.7 As a ship crosses the flood, the quarters of the earth — by blessings may we pass beyond all difficulties. The one of great praise, through his greatness, established his offspring in the lower and even in the higher regions.
10.57.1 May we not stray from the path, may we not stray from the sacrifice, O Indra, we who have pressed the Soma. May the ill-wishers not stand among us.
10.57.2 That thread which perfects the sacrifice, stretched out among the gods — may we attain it, duly offered.
10.57.3 Now we call upon the mind — with the Nārāśaṁsa-Soma, and with the praises of the Pitṛs.
10.57.4 May your mind return again — for will, for discernment, for living, and long to behold the Sun.
10.57.5 May the Fathers restore our mind; may the divine company give it back. May we be joined with the living host.
10.57.6 We, O Soma, in your covenant, bearing the mind in our bodies — may we, endowed with offspring, be joined together.
10.58.1 That mind of yours which has gone far away to Yama Vaivasvata — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.2 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the sky, to the earth — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.3 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the four-cornered earth — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.4 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the four quarters — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.5 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the ocean, the flood — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.6 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the bright rays, to the heights — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.7 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the waters, to the plants — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.8 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the Sun, to the Dawn — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.9 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the great mountains — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.10 That mind of yours which has gone far away to this entire universe — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.11 That mind of yours which has gone far away to the farthest of the far regions — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.58.12 That mind of yours which has gone far away to what has been and what shall be — that we bring back to you here, for dwelling, for living.
10.59.1 Lengthen out your life further, newer and newer — like a good charioteer with an able-willed chariot. Then, O Cyavana, rise up to your great purpose; let Nirṛti depart still farther away.
10.59.2 With a hymn we shall win wealth, a treasure of food; we shall win splendid fame in many ways. May all these things rejoice our singer; let Nirṛti depart still farther away.
10.59.3 May we become the chief with manly powers — as the sky does not injure the earth, nor the mountains the plains. May our singer know all these things for us; let Nirṛti depart still farther away.
10.59.4 O Soma, do not hand us over to death; may we still see the sun rising. May old age appointed by the gods be friendly to us; let Nirṛti depart still farther away.
10.59.5 O Asunīti, hold the mind within us; for living, extend our life well. Grant us the sight of the sun; with ghee do you strengthen your body.
10.59.6 O Asunīti, give back sight to us; give back breath, give enjoyment here to us. May we long see the sun rising; O Anumati, be gracious to us, bring us well-being.
10.59.7 May the Earth give back our life-breath; may the divine Sky give it back; may the Atmosphere give it back. May Soma give our body back; may Pūṣan give back the well-being that is on the path.
10.59.8 Blessed be both worlds for the good-kinsman — the two young mothers of Ṛta. Let them carry off whatever disease there is; O Sky, O Earth, carry off the disease; may nothing whatsoever afflict you.
10.59.9 In pairs and in triplets the healing remedies move down from heaven; some roam the earth one by one. Let them carry off whatever disease there is; O Sky, O Earth, carry off the disease; may nothing whatsoever afflict you.
10.59.10 O Indra, set in motion the ox who drew the cart for the queen of the Uśīnaras. Let them carry off whatever disease there is; O Sky, O Earth, carry off the disease; may nothing whatsoever afflict you.
10.60.1 We have approached the man of dazzling appearance, praised among the Māhīnas — bearing reverence, we have come.
10.60.2 Incomparable, piercing, fierce, the chariot that follows the course — may we share in the true lord of the chariot.
10.60.3 He who stood over men like a buffalo, furnished with a sharp-pointed weapon — and also one with a blunted weapon in battle.
10.60.4 He in whose covenant Ikṣvāku, rich in wealth, prospers and thrives — like the five peoples in the sky.
10.60.5 O Indra, sustain Kṣatrāsamāti in his chariots, foremost among the foremost — to be seen like the sun in the sky.
10.60.6 You yoke the two red horses from the clan of Agastya. O King, you have overcome all the Paṇis who gave no gifts.
10.60.7 Here is your mother, here is your father, here the living one has come. Here is your restoration, O Subandhu — come out, come forth.
10.60.8 As they bind a yoke with a threefold tie for its support — so has he held your mind fast, for living and not for dying, and for unbroken wholeness.
10.60.9 As this great Earth holds these forest trees in place — so has he held your mind fast, for living and not for dying, and for unbroken wholeness.
10.60.10 From Yama Vaivasvata I have brought back the mind of Subandhu — for living and not for dying, and for unbroken wholeness.
10.60.11 Downward the wind blows, downward the sun burns; downward the cow gives her milk — may your disease go downward.
10.60.12 This hand of mine is full of fortune; this hand is even more fortunate. This hand contains all medicines; this hand is the gentle healing touch.
10.61.1 This praise-hymn truly Rudraic, rich in laud, was found through insight and power in the midst of battle; when his parents, most bountiful, were creating, may he lead the group, may he smite and summon the seven priests.
10.61.2 He, striving to win a gift worthy of gratitude — Cyavana — measured out the altar with skilled hands; he the foremost in sweet speech, pressing ever onward, poured forth semen as a flood of water flowing.
10.61.3 Like the mind, sharp in those invocations — you two inspired ones, swiftly moving, win by your power; he who, mighty in strength, with his shafts laid blood upon his arm's direction and smote it.
10.61.4 When the dark one settled among the ruddy cows, I call upon you, O Aśvins, grandsons of Heaven; come to my sacrifice, come to my food, you who have won your way, guiding without forgetfulness.
10.61.5 He whose heroic deed was set in motion and accomplished — the manly one thrust it away; he draws back again what was carried away from the maiden, borne along from his daughter, he the unhurt one.
10.61.6 When in the midst there arose what had to be done in the encounter — the father making love to the young woman — the two, parting asunder, let fall a little seed; it was poured upon the back, in the womb of the one who had done well.
10.61.7 When the father, mounting his own daughter, united with her on the ground and poured forth his seed — the gods, deep in thought, generated the sacred hymn and fashioned Vāstoṣpati, the guardian of vows.
10.61.8 He, like a bull, shot forth foam in the contest; he who was poor in wisdom went away from there; the right hand turned back running like a foot — those speckled ones did not seize them for me.
10.61.9 Like a swift carrier eagerly approaching the offspring, like a naked one approaching the udder of fire; he who wins the fuel and wins also the prize — that supporter was born with force, ever youthful.
10.61.10 Quickly the Navagvas came to friendship with the maiden, speaking truth and reaching the right season; those of double strength who came to the herdsman — without the right fee — sought to milk the unyielding one.
10.61.11 The yet newer friendship of the maiden, like a gift and like seed, hastening toward truth; when they sacrificed to your pure treasure — to the milk of the cow that gives all fullness.
10.61.12 When the cattle awaken separated in the rear — so says the speaker, he who is generous — the craftsmen, faultless, seek the substance of riches and pervade all wealth close by.
10.61.13 Those who sit around came to that very thing — sitting in many places, seeking to overcome Nārṣada; the unhurt one opened what was knotted of Śuṣṇa, finding what lay hidden of the many-fathered one.
10.61.14 Bhar-gas — 'the Radiance' — so the gods call him; like the sun, those who have taken seat in the triple resting-place; Agni too they call Jātavedas — hear us, O Hotṛ, priest of truth, O priest who never fails.
10.61.15 And those two Rudraic, radiant ones, the Nāsatyas — O Indra — I wish to worship for gladness; like Manu, generous to the one whose grass is strewn, joyful, with offerings set in place, they are worshipped among the folk.
10.61.16 This king, when praised, is a worshipful creator; the inspired one crosses the waters by his own dam; he made Kakṣīvant tremble, he who is Agni, swift and hurling like the rim of a wheel on a racehorse.
10.61.17 He the twice-bound, the Vaitaraṇa, the sacrificer — that the cow of all fullness and the horse may be milked; when he unites with lauds Mitra and Varuṇa, with the highest protections of Aryaman.
10.61.18 Bound to that, the sage in heaven establishes thought; Nābhānediṣṭha speaks forth, piercing deep — that is our navel, and the highest also; I was that, how many soever times in the past.
10.61.19 This is my navel, here is my seat; these are my gods, I am here entire; twice-born, firstborn of truth — this cow yielded her milk as she came into being.
10.61.20 Then the charming, tireless, far-shining one will flow down; he who turns in two directions, conquering the woods — when the row of teeth rises like a child newly grown, the mother swiftly brings forth the hard, swelling member.
10.61.21 Then the cows followed the likeness of the maiden after someone who had fallen asleep; hear us, you of good treasure — you who have grown by the swift gifts of him who slays horses.
10.61.22 Now do you, O Indra, know us, O lord of men, thunderbolt-armed, for great wealth; protect us and guard our liberal lords in your faultless, golden assistance.
10.61.23 And when the two kings in the contest for cattle — Saraṇyu swift-moving and Jaranya toward the singer — the most inspired was dearest among them; he will carry them forward and lead them across.
10.61.24 Now indeed in the prosperity of his conquering wealth we praise freely — that we seek even now; Saraṇyu's son, the horse, and the inspired one are both fighters for fame.
10.61.25 If for your two's friendship — for our band of heroes — the reverential praise-hymn has found favor; in whom from all sides the converging songs unite, may the path, ancient as ever, be given for truth's song.
10.61.26 He, praised with waters, is truly god-possessed; of good alliance, with reverence and well-spoken hymns, he grows with lauds and words — for now indeed he travels along the milk-stream of the dawn cow.
10.61.27 Be you then, O great adorable gods, of one accord for our aid; you who lead prizes hither from afar, you who are the wise, clear-sighted discerners.
10.62.1 Those who, consecrated by sacrifice and the sacrificial gift, won the friendship of Indra and immortality — to them, O Āṅgirasas, may good fortune come; O wise ones, receive the gift of Manu.
10.62.2 Those fathers who drove forth the cow-rich treasure, who with truth broke open the Vala cave in the circling year — long life be yours, O Āṅgirasas; O wise ones, receive the gift of Manu.
10.62.3 Those who by truth raised the sun up into heaven, who spread wide the earth, the mother — good offspring be yours, O Āṅgirasas; O wise ones, receive the gift of Manu.
10.62.4 This navel-born one speaks sweetly in your home — O sons of gods, O seers, hear this; excellent Brahmanhood be yours, O Āṅgirasas; O wise ones, receive the gift of Manu.
10.62.5 Of varied forms are these seers, of deep inspiration — the Āṅgirasas who are his sons were born from Agni himself.
10.62.6 Those who were born around Agni, of varied forms born from Heaven — Navagva and Daśagva, most Āṅgirasa, together are generous among the gods.
10.62.7 With Indra as their ally, the inspired singers drove out the cow-and-horse-full pen; the eight-eared ones who gave me a thousand made glory among the gods.
10.62.8 Let this Manu now spring forth and grow like a sprouting shoot — he who straightway is generous with a thousand and a hundred horses for the gift.
10.62.9 No one reaches it — like the ridge of heaven, untouchable; the bounty of Sāvarṇi has spread wide like a river.
10.62.10 And the Dāsas who dwell around, well-directed and girt with cattle — Yadu and Turvaśa too have honored me.
10.62.11 The village leader who gives thousands — may Manu not be harmed; may his bounty come forth along with the sun; may the gods extend the life of Sāvarṇi in whom, untired, we shall win the prize.
10.63.1 Those gods who shine forth from the distance, kin to the waters, dear to Manu, of Vivasvat's lineage, who sit upon the sacrificial grass of Yayāti, son of Nahuṣa — may they speak on our behalf.
10.63.2 All your names, O gods, are worthy of reverence and praise, and worthy of sacrifice; those of you born from Aditi, from the waters, from the earth — may they hear my call here.
10.63.3 Those for whom the mother pours sweet milk as first-flow — Aditi, the heaven, she whose lap is the rock; those mighty with hymns, bull-strong, sleep-bringing Ādityas — rejoice with them for our well-being.
10.63.4 They watch over men, they are unwinking, worthy of honor; the great gods have attained immortality; their chariots are of light, their magic conquers winter, sinless — they dwell on heaven's height for our well-being.
10.63.5 The universal rulers who grow well, who have come to the sacrifice, who unconfounded have their dwelling in heaven — revere them with reverence and excellent lauds, the great Ādityas and Aditi, for our well-being.
10.63.6 Who among you fulfills the praise that you delight in, O All Gods, wherever you stand among men? Who makes the sacrifice ready for you, mighty-born, who will lead us beyond danger for our well-being?
10.63.7 Those to whom Manu first offered the priestly call, with kindled fire, in mind, with the seven priests — may those Ādityas grant fearless shelter; make easy our paths, the paths of well-being.
10.63.8 Those who are lords of the world, the wise, the thinkers of all that is fixed and all that moves — may those gods save us today from guilt done and undone, for our well-being.
10.63.9 In battles we call upon Indra, easy to invoke, the deliverer from distress, doer of good, the divine person; Agni, Mitra, Varuṇa for winning, Bhaga, Heaven and Earth, the Maruts — for our well-being.
10.63.10 Let us mount the good-shielding earth, faultless heaven, Aditi the good-sheltering, good-leading divine ship with good oars, sinless and never sinking, for our well-being.
10.63.11 O all adorable ones, speak out for our aid; protect us from the ill-road and from what assaults us; with your true invocation of gods we call you — O gods who hear, come to our protection and well-being.
10.63.12 Drive away disease, all evil, the unoffered, ill-will, the hard-to-understand, of the malicious one; O gods, keep enmity far from us; grant us wide shelter for our well-being.
10.63.13 Unharmed, that mortal thrives in everything and multiplies with offspring beyond law; he whom the Ādityas lead with good guidance past all evils — for well-being.
10.63.14 He whom the gods protect in the winning of the prize, whom the Maruts, slayers of heroes, protect when prizes are set — on that chariot, going forth at dawn, O Indra, ever victorious, never harmed, let us mount — for well-being.
10.63.15 Blessing on our roads and on the desert ways, blessing in the waters, in the fortified sun-filled place; blessing on us in the births of sons, in the womb — Maruts, grant us blessing and wealth.
10.63.16 Blessing, indeed the best as she travels onward, she who brings treasure-wealth, who moves toward the good — may she protect us at home and abroad; may she be the self-entering one, guarded by the gods.
10.63.17 Thus the son of Plāti, the thoughtful one, has magnified you all, O Ādityas, O Aditi; you lordly men — the divine race has been praised by the immortal with his song.
10.64.1 In the procession of which of the gods shall we think of a welcome name among those who hear? Who will be merciful? Which one will bring us joy? Which one will return to us with his aid?
10.64.2 The purposes stir the purposes, the thoughts in the hearts; the longing ones desire and fly in all directions — no mercifulness is found other than in these; on the gods my desires have been set.
10.64.3 With song I honor manly Pūṣan, the unhideable, Agni kindled by the gods; Sūrya and Māsa, the Moon, Yama in heaven, Trita, Vāyu, Uṣas, Aktu, and the Aśvins.
10.64.4 How does the seer, mighty in strength, with what song, with excellent praises magnify Bṛhaspati? May Aja Ekapāda, with those whose calls are good and whose hymns are apt, and Ahir Budhnya hear the oblation.
10.64.5 In the law of the birth of Dakṣa and Aditi, you seek to favor the two kings Mitra and Varuṇa; Aryaman of unblocked paths and many chariots — the seven-priest, of varied forms in the births.
10.64.6 May those swift, contest-hearing ones, all the prize-bearing, carefully moving ones, hear our call; they who by themselves, like a thousand-winning sacrifice, carry off great wealth in the battles.
10.64.7 Magnify with praises Vāyu, who yokes his chariot, and Pūraṃdhi, seek the friendship of Pūṣan; for they accompany the will of the divine Savitṛ in his impulse, companions together, of one mind.
10.64.8 The thrice-seven rivers, the great waters, for our aid; the forest lords, the mountains, Agni — we call; Kṛśānu, the archers, Tiṣya in his seat, Rudra among the Rudras, the Rudraic one, we invoke.
10.64.9 May Sarasvatī, Sarayu, and Sindhu with their waves — the great ones, the nourishing rivers — come with aid; O divine waters, O mothers who give good pleasure, sing to us your milk rich as ghee and sweet as honey.
10.64.10 May the mother Bṛhadivā hear us, and Tvaṣṭṛ as father with the gods and the birth-goddesses; Ṛbhukṣan, Vāja, Rathaspati, Bhaga, the joyful hymn — may the praise of the self-offering one protect us.
10.64.11 The sight of him is joyful, like a nourishing dwelling; blessed is the praise-song of Rudrāṇī and the Maruts; may we be renowned with cattle among the folk, always, O gods, let us be joined with refreshment.
10.64.12 The vision that you, O Maruts, O Indra, O gods, O Varuṇa, O Mitra — that you have given me: nourish it like a cow with milk; will you indeed carry my songs upon your chariot?
10.64.13 Will you, O Maruts, again somehow become aware of this our same-born kinship? There where we first meet at the navel-point — there may Aditi establish our bond of brotherhood.
10.64.14 For they — the two great mothers Heaven and Earth, the divine goddesses, worshipped by the gods from the beginning — both bear both, with their wealth-bearing ones; they pour manifold seed along with the fathers.
10.64.15 That priestly office spreads and wins all desirable things; Bṛhaspati and Aramati, the more wonderful; where the pressing stone is called the great honey-presser, the wise men have rejoiced with their thoughts.
10.64.16 Thus the seer, mighty in strength, knower of truth, seeking wealth, desiring riches — with his lauds and thoughts here the inspired one nourished the heavenly birth of the homestead.
10.64.17 Thus the son of Plāti, the thoughtful one, has magnified you all, O Ādityas, O Aditi; you lordly men — the divine race has been praised by the immortal with his song.
10.65.1 Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman, Vāyu, Pūṣan, Sarasvatī — of one accord; the Ādityas, Viṣṇu, the Maruts, the great sun, Soma, Rudra, Aditi, and Brahmaṇaspati.
10.65.2 Indra and Agni, lords of the good in the slaying of Vṛtra, mutually impelling each other, dwelling in the same abode; they filled great mid-air with their might; Soma, gleaming with ghee, stirring forth greatness.
10.65.3 By the greatness of those great and unhurt ones, knowers of truth, who increase the truth, I urge forth these praises; they who have the streaming wave and marvellous bounty — may they, good allies, grant us greatness.
10.65.4 Heaven-bright, the mid-spaces, the shining realms, the Heaven and Earth — they prop up the earth with their might; like the nourishing ones, magnifying, of good gifts, the gods, the sages, are praised for Manu.
10.65.5 Seek to please Mitra and give to Varuṇa — those two universal kings who do not fail in mind; whose great abode shines by law, of both of whom both world-halves are encompassed, never lowly.
10.65.6 The cow who circles the prepared track, giving milk, obedient to her vow, never failing — she who speaks out, shall give to the one who gives to Varuṇa, shall give to the gods with the offering, to Vivasvat.
10.65.7 Those who dwell in heaven, whose tongue is fire, who increase truth, who sit contemplating the womb of truth; having propped up the sky they created the waters with might, and having generated the sacrifice they wiped themselves clean.
10.65.8 The two parents who guard on every side, the ancient and primeval ones, dwelling together in the womb of truth — Heaven and Earth, sharing the vow of Varuṇa, swell out ghee-rich milk for the great bull.
10.65.9 Parjanya and Vāta, the two bulls full of rain; Indra and Vāyu, Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman — we call the gods, the Ādityas, and Aditi; those of the earth, those of heaven, those in the waters.
10.65.10 Tvaṣṭṛ, Vāyu, the Ṛbhus who make glad, the two divine priests, Uṣas — for our well-being; Bṛhaspati, who devours Vṛtra, the wise one; Soma, Indra's own — these too we seek as prize-winners.
10.65.11 They generated the Brahman, the cow, the horse, the herbs, the forest trees, the earth, the mountains, the waters; raising the sun in heaven, the good-giving ones, releasing the noble vows upon the earth.
10.65.12 You freed Bhujyu from distress, O Aśvins; you quickened the dark son of Vadhrimatī; you brought a bride to Vimada, the love-passionate one; you two released Viṣṇāpva, the all-bodied.
10.65.13 Pāvīravī, the thunder, one-footed Aja, the support of heaven, Sindhu, the waters, those of the sea — may all the gods hear my words, and Sarasvatī together with her thoughts, the full-gifted one.
10.65.14 All the gods, with full thoughts and full gifts, Manu's adorable ones, immortal, knowers of truth; the ones who grant, who approach, who know the sun's realm — may they delight in the solar songs, in the Brahman, in the well-spoken hymn.
10.65.15 Vasiṣṭha has praised the immortal gods who have spread over all the worlds; may they grant us today the widely-proclaimed; always protect us with blessings.
10.66.1 I call upon the gods of great glory for our well-being, makers of light, wise in the sacrifice; those who have grown exceedingly, all-knowing, with Indra as their chief, immortal, who increase the truth.
10.66.2 Impelled by Indra, guided by Varuṇa, those who have attained a share of the light of the sun — in the company of the Maruts, in the fortified place, let us think devotion; may the sages, not being stingy, generate the sacrifice.
10.66.3 May Indra with the Vasus guard our home; may Aditi with the Ādityas grant us shelter; may the divine Rudra with the Rudras be gracious to us; may Tvaṣṭṛ with the goddesses quicken us to well-being.
10.66.4 Aditi, Heaven and Earth, the great truth, Indra and Viṣṇu, the Maruts, the great sun — we call the Ādityan gods for aid, the Vasus, the Rudras, and Savitṛ of wonderful deeds.
10.66.5 Sarasvan with his thoughts, Varuṇa who holds to his vow, Pūṣan, Viṣṇu, Mahiman, Vāyu, the Aśvins — makers of Brahman, immortal, all-knowing — may they grant us triple-walled shelter from distress.
10.66.6 Manly be the sacrifice, let the adorable ones be powerful bulls; bull-like are the gods, bull-like the oblation-makers; manly are Heaven and Earth, the guardians of truth; the bull is Parjanya and manly are those who praise the bull.
10.66.7 I call upon Agni and Soma, the mighty bulls, much praised, mighty bulls, for the winning of the prize; those two who have been worshipped as bulls by the worship of the gods — may they grant us triple shelter.
10.66.8 Firm in their vow, lordly, performing the sacrifice, of great luster, the glory of the rites; fire-offering, winning truth, without treachery — they released the waters at the conquest of Vṛtra.
10.66.9 Heaven and Earth, generating in accord with their vows, water, herbs, the sacrificial forest plants — they filled the mid-air and the sun for aid; the gods wiped themselves clean upon the willing body.
10.66.10 The Ṛbhus, supporters of heaven, skilled-handed; Vāta and Parjanya of the great bull's thunder — may the waters and the herbs extend our songs; may Bhaga, Rāti, and the prize-bearers come to my call.
10.66.11 Ocean, the rivers, the dust-realm of mid-air; one-footed Aja, the rumbling wave — may Ahir Budhnya hear my words, and all the gods, and my sages.
10.66.12 May we be your Manus for the feast of the gods; lead our sacrifice forward on the good path; O Ādityas, Rudras, Vasus, good-giving ones — quicken these Brahman-words as they are being recited.
10.66.13 The two divine priests — first among the household priests — I follow the path of truth rightly; I seek the lord of the field, the neighbor-god; all the immortal gods who do not fail.
10.66.14 The Vasiṣṭhas have spoken the word like a father, praising the gods like seers for our well-being; coming as desired like pleased kinsmen — O gods, shake down wealth upon us.
10.66.15 Vasiṣṭha has praised the immortal gods who have spread over all the worlds; may they grant us today the widely-proclaimed; always protect us with blessings.
10.67.1 Our father found this vision of seven heads, born from truth, the vast one; truly the universal Ayāsya generated the fourth — reciting the laud for Indra.
10.67.2 Reciting truth, thinking straight — the sons of heaven, the heroes of Asura; the Āṅgirasas, bearing the inspired seat, thought on the first abode of the sacrifice.
10.67.3 Like swans with chattering companions, loosening the rocky fetters — Bṛhaspati, roaring forth, drove the cows and sent them away; the knowing one sang out loud.
10.67.4 Down from two and beyond the third — the cows standing hidden in the bondage of falsehood; Bṛhaspati seeking light in the darkness drove the dawns upward, for he opened all three.
10.67.5 Splitting apart the eastward-lying city, he cut off three together from the ocean; Bṛhaspati found the Dawn, the Sun, the cow, and the hymn — thundering as the sky.
10.67.6 Indra split open Vala, the guardian of the milch cows, like an elephant with his roar; seeking the rich mixture with his sweat-smeared limbs, he made the Paṇi weep and seized the cows.
10.67.7 He, with his true, shining companions, burst asunder the bow-stringed one with prize-seeking; Brahmaṇaspati distributed the wealth with bulls and boars who sweat with heat.
10.67.8 They, with truthful minds, seeking the lord of cattle, set the cows in motion with their thoughts; Bṛhaspati, and those who drink away blame of one another, released the dawn cows with their own yokings.
10.67.9 Magnifying him with auspicious thoughts — him who roars like a lion in his seat — may we rejoice after Bṛhaspati, the mighty bull, the victorious, in every battle and contest.
10.67.10 When he won the prize of all forms and climbed to heaven, to the upper dwellings — magnifying Bṛhaspati, the bull, though separated, they bore the light in their mouths.
10.67.11 Make true the blessing with your life-giving ones, for you protect even the singer with your own forces; may all the enemies be thrust to the rear — hear this, O Heaven and Earth, you who are all-pervading.
10.67.12 Indra with his might shattered the head of great Arbuda of the great wave; he slew the serpent and released the seven rivers — may Heaven and Earth together with the gods protect us.
10.68.1 Like birds protecting their watering place, babbling like the sound of a thunder-cloud — the mountain-leaping waves in joy roared forth to Bṛhaspati with their songs.
10.68.2 The Āṅgirasa, reaching his goal with the cows, led forth as Bhaga leads Aryaman; like Mitra he anoints the lord and lady among the folk — O Bṛhaspati, urge on the swift ones in the contest.
10.68.3 Going straight, like guests arriving, vigorous, desirable, beautifully golden, of blameless form — Bṛhaspati sifted the cows out from the mountains as if threshing grain from the straw.
10.68.4 Sprinkling the womb of honey and truth, the hymn hurled like a meteor from heaven; Bṛhaspati, lifting the cows from the rock, split the earth's skin as with water.
10.68.5 With light he drove darkness from the midair as wind drives moss from the water; Bṛhaspati, having stroked the cloud of Vala, brought in the cows like the wind brings a cloud.
10.68.6 When Bṛhaspati broke the vitality of the abusive Vala with fire-heated hymns — as a tongue laps up what surrounds the teeth — he revealed the hidden stores of the dawn cows.
10.68.7 Bṛhaspati knew the hidden name of those sun-cows in their dwelling in the secret place; like breaking the egg of a bird, he drove the dawn cows up from the mountain by himself.
10.68.8 He saw honey encased in stone, like a low fish lodged in water; Bṛhaspati tore that out as a cup from a tree, cleaving it with a roar.
10.68.9 He found the Uṣases, he found the sun, he found Agni; he pushed back the darkness with the hymn; Bṛhaspati tore out the marrow of Vala who was cow-bodied, as one does from a joint.
10.68.10 As frost strips leaves from forests, Vala wept for his cows taken by Bṛhaspati; what was done could not be undone, done irrevocably — as the sun and moon rise alternating from each other.
10.68.11 Like decorating a dark horse with ornamental stones, the fathers decorated heaven with the stars; they set darkness in the night, light in the day — Bṛhaspati clove the rock and found the cows.
10.68.12 We have done this reverence to him who echoes like a thundercloud, who follows after the many; Bṛhaspati — may he set life-power for us with cattle, with horses, with heroes, with men.
10.69.1 Blessed is the sight of Agni Vādhrya-aśva, beautiful his leadership, his coming pleasant; when the Sumitras kindle him at the head of the folk, fed with ghee, he shines and blazes forth.
10.69.2 Ghee is the growth of Agni Vādhrya-aśva, ghee is his food, ghee is his nourishment; fed with ghee he spreads out widely — the oblation of clarified butter glows like the sun.
10.69.3 That face of yours, O Agni, that Manu kindled, that Sumitrā kindled — may this now be newer; shine brilliantly, take delight in the songs, win the prize, and establish glory here.
10.69.4 That you whom Vādhrya-aśva, the praised one, first kindled, O Agni — may he now take delight in this; be our protector and body-guard; protect the gift that this here is for you from us.
10.69.5 Be glorious and be a herdsman for Vādhrya-aśva; may the ill-will of men not pass beyond you; bold as a hero, moving on, the Sumitrā — now I shall proclaim the name of Vādhrya-aśva.
10.69.6 You gathered the level and mountain treasures; you conquered the Dāsa hosts and the Ārya foes; bold as a hero, moving men — do you, O Agni, overwhelm those who make battle against us.
10.69.7 Of far-stretching flame, of great udder is this Agni; with a thousand stars, with a hundred paths, skillful; brilliant among the brilliant, tended by men, he shines among the Sumitras who seek the gods.
10.69.8 In you, O Jātavedas, a well-milking cow pours freely, the inexhaustible, of all fullness; O Agni, you are kindled by men of good gifts, by the Sumitras who seek the gods.
10.69.9 Even the immortal gods, O Jātavedas, proclaimed the greatness of Vādhrya-aśva; when human folk came to consult you, you conquered with the men who magnified you.
10.69.10 Like a father bearing a son upon his lap, Vādhrya-aśva has tended you, O Agni; taking pleasure in his fuel — the youngest one — you overcame those who had grown weak, even the earlier ones.
10.69.11 Always Agni has overcome the enemies of Vādhrya-aśva with men who press Soma; you burned the common meeting-place, O bright-shining one; you struck down even the growing one who had grown weak.
10.69.12 This Agni of Vādhrya-aśva, the Vṛtra-slayer, kindled of old, to be invoked with reverence — may he stand over our non-kinsmen and kinsmen alike; overwhelm those who are hostile, O Vādhrya-aśva.
10.70.1 O Agni, take pleasure in this my fuel at Iḷā's place, delight in the ghee-laden offering; on the heights of the earth, in the clear days, rise up straight for the worship of the gods, O wise one.
10.70.2 May Narāśaṃsa, first-farer of the gods, come here with his all-formed horses; let the most divine among the divine ones, along the path of truth with reverence, drip the sacrificial offering for the gods.
10.70.3 Most frequently do those men who hold the oblation beseech Agni for the embassy; with swiftest horses, with well-rolling chariot, bring hither the gods; sit down here as Hotṛ.
10.70.4 Let the god-beloved sacred grass be spread out crosswise, long and fragrant for us; with an unhostile mind, O god, worship with the barhis the willing gods with Indra as their chief.
10.70.5 Touch the higher ridge of heaven, or spread out with the full measure of the earth; O eager divine doors, with greatness through the great ones, support the divine chariot of the chariot-lover.
10.70.6 The two divine daughters of heaven, of beautiful craft — Dawn and Night — let them sit down in their place; may the gods, eager and willing, sit in your wide, blessed lap, O you two.
10.70.7 The pressing stone stands upright, the great fire is kindled, in the dear abodes in Aditi's lap; the two household priests, the seasonal sacrificers in this sacrifice — may the more knowing ones gain wealth through worship.
10.70.8 O three goddesses — Iḷā, Sarasvatī, Mahī — take your seat on this best-of-barhis which we have made comfortable; may the divine Iḷā, with ghee-steps, take pleasure in the sacrifice set right as Manu's, with well-placed oblations.
10.70.9 O divine Tvaṣṭṛ, when you attained charm, when you became a companion of the Āṅgirasas — knowing that, approach the path of the gods; eager, O giver of wealth, of good treasure, do you worship.
10.70.10 O Lord of the Forest, bound with the cord, knowing — bring hither along the path of the gods; may the god make the oblations sweet; may Heaven and Earth protect my call.
10.70.11 O Agni, bring Varuṇa for our worship, and Indra from the sky, the Maruts from mid-air; may all the adorable ones take their seat on the barhis — Svāhā! May the immortal gods rejoice.
10.71.1 O Bṛhaspati, that first beginning of Vāc — when they set forth, giving names — that which was their best, that which was pure and free from blemish: it was hidden in them and revealed through love.
10.71.2 Sifting the flour as with a sieve — therein the wise ones fashioned Speech with their mind. Friends discerned their friendships there; good fortune was sealed within their speech.
10.71.3 By sacrifice they traced the track of Speech; they found her entered and dwelling among the seers. Fetching her, they distributed her in many places; the seven chanters glorify her together.
10.71.4 Yet one man, though seeing, does not see Speech; another, though hearing, does not hear her. But to this one she reveals her body, as a loving wife, beautifully robed, reveals herself to her husband.
10.71.5 They say of one who is a friend: he has drunk the draft of friendship, yet even in the contests they do not incite him. He wanders on fruitlessly, through delusion — having heard Speech that is barren and flowerless.
10.71.6 He who has abandoned a friend who knows his way — he has no share whatsoever in Speech. What he hears, he hears in vain; he has not found the path to what is well done.
10.71.7 Friends with eyes, friends with ears — they proved unequal in the contests of the mind. Some reached up to the shoulder, others to the chest; as those who have bathed in a lake, they have been seen there.
10.71.8 When the brāhmaṇas as friends celebrate together, in the flashes of thought fashioned within the heart — there some have fallen away from the knowable; the would-be-Brahman wanderers go about still among them.
10.71.9 These who move neither hither nor beyond, who are neither brāhmaṇas nor pressers of Soma — they, having come to Speech by a sinful path, spin the thread of weavers, unknowingly.
10.71.10 All friends rejoice in the one who has come gloriously, who overcomes assemblies; he who removes guilt and procures food is well fitted for the contest — for such is their helper.
10.71.11 One dwells in the prosperity of the hymns having nourished it; another sings the gāyatra verse in the śakvarī chants; one proclaims the knowledge of Brahman that was born; yet another measures out the measure of the sacrifice.
10.72.1 Let us now proclaim with praise the generations of the gods, so that one may behold them in a later age when the hymns are being recited.
10.72.2 Brahmaṇaspati blew these together as a smith blows the bellows: in the earliest age of the gods, Being was born from Non-Being.
10.72.3 In the first age of the gods, Being was born from Non-Being. After that the regions were born; and after that, from Uttānapāda.
10.72.4 Earth was born from Uttānapāda; from the earth the quarters were born. From Aditi, Dakṣa was born; and from Dakṣa, Aditi.
10.72.5 For Aditi was born, O Dakṣa — she who is your daughter. After her were born the gods, the blessed ones, who have immortality as their bond.
10.72.6 When the gods, all banding together, stood fast in the ocean — then a piercing dust, as though from those who dance, arose from them.
10.72.7 When, like ascetics striving in discipline, the gods swelled the worlds — then from the ocean they drew forth the hidden sun.
10.72.8 Aditi had eight sons born from her body. She approached the gods with seven; but Mārtāṇḍa she cast away.
10.72.9 With seven sons Aditi went forth to meet the earlier age. But for birth and death she brought Mārtāṇḍa back again.
10.73.1 He was born mighty for strength, for swiftness — gladdening, most vigorous, of great self-pride. Even the Maruts increased Indra when his most bounteous mother bore the hero.
10.73.2 The dappled ones, fixed in the midst of trickery, increased Indra with manifold praise. Like ones enclosed, those embryos arose from darkness and from pre-dawn with a great stride.
10.73.3 Mighty are your feet when you go striding forward; the prizes grew — even those that were here. You, Indra, subdued a thousand wolves in their lairs; you would have turned the Aśvins to your side.
10.73.4 With equal swiftness you come to the sacrifice; you bring the Nāsatyas to friendship. You hold the prayer of treasure, O Indra; the heroic Aśvins gave their bounties.
10.73.5 Rejoicing from the law for the sake of progeny, Indra with his swift friends aimed at the goal. By these powers he came upon the Dasyu; he scattered the dark ones like drops of dew, dispersing the darknesses.
10.73.6 Even though of the same name, the smiters fell before him; Indra drove them back as Dawns drive away the night. You came with your noble willing friends; and together, standing firm, you smote what was dear to the heart.
10.73.7 You slew Namuci who lusted for sacrifice, making the Dasyu powerless before the seer. You made smooth paths for Manu, like roads well-anointed leading to the gods.
10.73.8 You filled all these with your fame; you hold them, ruling, Indra, in your hand. The gods exult with you in your strength; you made trees spring up from their roots above.
10.73.9 The wheel that is fixed in the waters — may it pour sweet honey for him. The udder spread upon the earth — the milk you have placed in the cows, in the plants.
10.73.10 When they say 'He came from the horse' — and yet I think him born of strength; he came from fury and stood in the houses. The source from which Indra was born, that he himself knows.
10.73.11 The fair-winged birds — the seers Priyamedhas — alighted upon Indra, calling upon him. Roll away the darkness, fill up our sight; release us like treasures that have been bound.
10.74.1 Whether one has worshipped among the Vasus by thought or sacrifices of the two worlds — or those whose swift steeds are rich with spoils in battle, or those who have given renown to the well-renowned Vaṇu.
10.74.2 The call of these reaches the Asura in the sky; with fame-seeking mind they touch the earth. Beholding where the gods would make good fortune, as Heaven with its own clouds.
10.74.3 This song of the immortals — in its entirety — for those who yearn for the jewel; perfecting thought and sacrifice, may they grant us unceasing wealth.
10.74.4 These sons of Indra praised that act — those who would reach the cow-rich pen. Those who milked the great, mighty one, with many sons, with a thousand streams.
10.74.5 By power make Indra ready for our help — the unbowed one who subdues his foes; the Ṛbhukṣin, the bounteous one, of beautiful praise, the bearer of the manly bolt, rich in nourishment.
10.74.6 What Indra, the all-conquering, the slayer of Vṛtra, has desired most — he has filled up his names. The mighty lord of prevailing strength has been perceived; may he do what we desire to be done.
10.75.1 The bard shall proclaim your highest greatness, O Waters, in the house of Vivasvat. Seven by seven they have moved in three ways; the Sindhu surpasses the swiftly flowing rivers in power.
10.75.2 Varuṇa dug out the paths for you to run, O Sindhu, when you charged toward the prizes. You go over the earth upon a sloping back; when you move at the head of these, the moving ones.
10.75.3 Your roar stretches up above the earth to heaven; you raise up boundless vigor with your brightness. As the rains thunder forth from the cloud, so the Sindhu bellows as it goes, like a bull.
10.75.4 They rush toward you, O Sindhu, like lowing mothers to their calf, like milch cows with their milk. As a king going to battle leads his forces, so you move at the forefront of the rushing streams.
10.75.5 O Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Sarasvatī, Śutudrī — come together with my hymn! O Paruṣṇī, Asiknī, Marudvṛdhā, Vitastā, Ārjīkīyā — hear it! O Suṣomā!
10.75.6 First with the Tṛṣṭāmā you go united; joined with the Rasā and the white Śvetī. You, O Sindhu, travel in the same chariot with the Kubhā, the Gomatī, the Krumu, the Mehatnu.
10.75.7 Rushing straight, white, mighty — it bears the realms around the courses. The Sindhu, undeceived, best of workers among rivers — like a beautiful mare with a wondrous body to behold.
10.75.8 The Sindhu is rich in good horses, in good chariots, in fine garments; golden, well-formed, rich in prizes. Woolen, youthful, endowed with gifts — the fortunate one wears the garment of honey-growth.
10.75.9 The Sindhu has yoked an easy, horse-drawn chariot; with it she shall win the prize in this contest. Great indeed is the greatness to be praised of this inviolable, self-glorious, all-pervading one.
10.76.1 At the breaking of the strengths I reach you; anoint Indra and the Maruts with the two worlds. May both the days attend upon us together, seat by seat opening outward to give us room.
10.76.2 Press that best Soma-pressing; the pressing-stone is not to be touched lightly by the presser as a horse by the hand. For a noble man who finds manly power that overcomes — he wins even great wealth when he conquers the chariot.
10.76.3 That is indeed his pressing's opening flood, as once it found a way for Manu. They have delighted in the Tvāṣṭra Soma-pressing — in the cow-colored, horse-stripping rite — in the sacrifices, the skilled sacrificers.
10.76.4 Drive away the Rākṣasas, the evildoers; prop up Nirṛti, drive away ill-will. Press out for us all-heroic wealth; O press-stones, carry the divine-seeking praise-song.
10.76.5 More powerful even than those from heaven; broader even than the all-pervading; swifter in the Soma-ladle even than Vāyu; sing of those who prepare food more perfectly than Agni.
10.76.6 May they — the press-stones, glorious and inspired by inspired Speech — press out the Soma for our glory. Where the men milk the desirable sweetness, calling out together, pressing against each other.
10.76.7 The chariot-borne stones press the Soma; they milk out the juice of it for the cow-seeking ones. They milk the udder to fill the vessels; the men purify the oblations with their mouths.
10.76.8 You men have become excellent craftsmen, you O press-stones who press Soma for Indra. Gift upon gift in your divine abode; wealth upon wealth to you who press upon the earthly.
10.77.1 As cloud-drops sprinkle wealth with speech, as knowledgeable sacrifices with oblations — you who deserve a brāhmaṇa-hymn like that of the Maruts' troop: I have praised the host of them; you shine with them.
10.77.2 The young men adorned themselves with bright ornaments for glory, like those of the Maruts beyond the many nights. These sons of Heaven have not grown old; these Ādityas have grown great like eagles.
10.77.3 They who, by their own greatness, have surpassed heaven and earth as the sun surpasses the clouds; vigorous as heroes worthy of praise, devouring their enemies, young men desiring the sky.
10.77.4 At your foundations, as in the flow of waters, the great earth does not totter, does not slip. This all-nourishing sacrifice is here toward you; come hither, like those pressing forward together.
10.77.5 You, harnessed in the shafts with reins as drivers, luminous with your brilliance at the dawning; like self-glorying eagles devouring enemies, like travelers who have rushed forth, sprinkling everywhere.
10.77.6 When you carry yourselves forward from afar, O Maruts, lords of the great treasure-store — knowing the wealth of blessings, O Vasus, drive far away all enmity, even from a distance.
10.77.7 He who has offered up in sacrifice what stands in the place of the ceremony, offering to the Maruts as a man should — may he enjoy splendid nourishment with good heroes; may he be in the protection of the gods.
10.77.8 For they are worthy of sacrifice in sacrifices, sheltering ones, most beneficent by the name of Āditya. May they protect us, swift as chariots in thought, delighting in the great journey and the ceremony.
10.78.1 Like inspired sages with their hymns, self-meditating; like the god-seeking with their sacrifices, well-awake; like brilliant kings fair to behold; like guiltless young men among the peoples.
10.78.2 Like Agni with his blazing splendor, gold-breasted; like the winds, self-yoked, bringing help in a single day; like the elders who know well, of good guidance; like the Soma-draughts bestowing shelter for one who goes the right way.
10.78.3 Like roaring winds they move and hasten; like the tongues of fires, shining out; like armored warriors, energetic; like the praises of the Ancestors, those of liberal gifts.
10.78.4 Like the spokes of chariots, sharing one nave; like conquering heroes desiring the sky; like worthy young men sprinkling the oblation, singing forth like those of excellent praise.
10.78.5 Like the eldest, the swift horses, like the charioteers who desire, of liberal gifts; like waters rushing on with downward and with upward floods; all-formed, like the Aṅgirases with their Sāman chants.
10.78.6 Like the press-stones, the enlightened ones, whose mother is the Sindhu, always crushing; like rocks that shatter at all times; like playful young ones of good mothers; like a great host in their march and their blazing.
10.78.7 Like the banners of the Dawns, beautiful at the ceremony, adorned with bright ornaments, they shone; like the swift rivers with flashing spears, they measured out the distances as from far away.
10.78.8 O gods, make us fortunate, of good treasure — us, the praisers; O Maruts, who have increased; go forth upon the praise and upon the friendship — for from of old your jewel-gifts are set aside for us.
10.79.1 I beheld the greatness of this great Immortal one among the mortal peoples. The two jaws — separated and yet brought together — the insatiate eater devours abundantly.
10.79.2 His head hidden in the cave, his two eyes apart — the insatiate one devours the forests with his tongue. The foods are carried to him with feet; those with upraised hands bow down in worship before the peoples.
10.79.3 Seeking the deeper secret of the mother, he crept over the broad ways like a child among plants. Blazing, he found the ripe grain within; licking, the trickster was in the mother's lap.
10.79.4 This truth I declare to you both, O Heaven and Earth: the embryo devours the mothers at birth. I, mortal, have not fully understood the god — but Agni himself is the far-seer, the wise one.
10.79.5 He who brings food and oblation eagerly to him, who pours ghee upon him and flourishes — for him, Agni, you look out with a thousand eyes; you face all ways toward him.
10.79.6 What forsaking sin have you committed among the gods, O Agni? — I ask you now as one who does not know. Playing and not playing, the tawny one to eat — eating, he cut joint by joint like a sword through a cow.
10.79.7 The forest-born one has yoked his swift horses in different directions, grasped with reins on both sides. Mitra, well-born, looks on with the Vasus; growing with his joints, he has swelled together.
10.80.1 Agni gives the prize-bringing seven-horsed (team); Agni gives a famous hero, firm in action. Agni moves through the two worlds, uniting them; Agni gives the woman of heroic womb, rich in understanding.
10.80.2 May the kindling of Agni's work be auspicious; Agni has entered the great two worlds. Agni impelled the one in battles; Agni splits asunder the many Vṛtras.
10.80.3 Agni protected the ear of the old man; Agni burned up the Jarūtha from the waters. Agni saved Atri within the burning heat; Agni released Nṛmedha together with his offspring.
10.80.4 Agni gives wealth shaped with heroes; Agni gives the seer who wins thousands. Agni has spread the oblation in heaven; the stations of Agni are carried in many places.
10.80.5 The seers invoke Agni with their hymns; men pressed in need invoke Agni on their journey. Birds flying in mid-air invoke Agni; Agni moves around the thousands of cattle.
10.80.6 The human peoples invoke Agni; those of Manu and Nahuṣa born everywhere invoke Agni. Agni holds the Gāndharvī path of the law; the pasture of Agni is established in the ghee.
10.80.7 The Ṛbhus fashioned a prayer for Agni; we have proclaimed great Agni with beautiful praise. O Agni, most youthful, protect the singer; O Agni, win for us great wealth by sacrifice.
10.81.1 He who sacrificed all these worlds — the seer-priest, our father — sat down as Hotṛ. Seeking wealth with his blessing, he first carved out the lower realms and entered into them.
10.81.2 What was the base, the point of support? What was the timber? How did it stand? From what did Viśvakarmā, the all-seeing, bring forth the earth and unfold the sky with his greatness?
10.81.3 He whose eyes are everywhere, whose face is everywhere, whose arms are everywhere, whose feet are everywhere — he, the one god, forging together heaven and earth with his hands and wings.
10.81.4 What was the forest, what was the tree from which they fashioned heaven and earth? Sages enquire with the mind: upon what did he stand when he upheld the worlds?
10.81.5 Your highest abodes, O Viśvakarman, your lowest, and your middle ones as well — instruct your friends in the oblation, O Lord of self-nourishment; waxing great, sacrifice your own self.
10.81.6 O Viśvakarman, strengthened by the oblation, sacrifice earth and heaven yourself. Let other people about us be confounded; here let our munificent patron be the wise lord.
10.81.7 Today in the contest we call upon the Lord of Speech, Viśvakarman, swift as thought, for our aid. May he, of perfect deeds, well-being to all, be pleased with all our invocations and come to our help.
10.82.1 The wise Father, father of the eye, gave being by his mind to these two bowing ones and kindled them with ghee. When the eastern ends were made firm, then only did heaven and earth spread out.
10.82.2 Viśvakarman, of surpassing mind, far-ranging, the ordainer and disposer, the highest, the all-seeing — their offerings and desires exhilarate together where they speak of the seven seers beyond the One.
10.82.3 He who is our father, our begetter and ordainer, who knows all the abodes and all the worlds, who alone assigns the names of the gods — to him the other beings come with their inquiry.
10.82.4 To him the ancient seer-praisers, like heralds, sacrificed wealth together — those who sat in the unformed and formed realm of mid-air, who fashioned all these beings here.
10.82.5 Beyond the heaven, beyond this earth, beyond the gods and asuras — what was that first embryo the waters held, where all the gods gazed together?
10.82.6 That first embryo the waters held, where all the gods came together — it is set, the One, in the navel of the Unborn, in whom all worlds stand.
10.82.7 You do not know him who generated all these things — something else has come between you. Shrouded in mist, chanting emptily, those who delight in life and only proclaim hymns go their way.
10.83.1 O Manyu, who aided you — the bolt, the arrow — nourishes continuous might through the whole world. With you as ally, O strength-given, violent, mighty one, may we overpower both Dāsa and Ārya.
10.83.2 Manyu is Indra, Manyu himself is the god; Manyu is the Hotṛ, Varuṇa, and Jātavedas. The human peoples worship Manyu. Protect us, O Manyu, united with your ardour.
10.83.3 Come here, O Manyu, mightier than the mighty; with ardour as your ally, smite down our foes. Slayer of enemies, slayer of Vṛtra, slayer of Dasyus — bring all riches to us.
10.83.4 For you, O Manyu, are vigour that overpowers; you are self-existent ardour, subduer of enemies; all-seeing, forceful, victorious — place your strength in us for the battles.
10.83.5 Portionless, I am left out, O keen-minded one — because of the intent of you, the mighty. I, O Manyu, the will-less man, have failed you; come with your own body to grant strength.
10.83.6 I am here before you — come to me, facing me, O overpowering sustainer of all. O Manyu, wielder of the bolt, turn toward me; let us smite the Dasyus together and know yourselves allied.
10.83.7 Come here and stand to my right, and then together we will crush many foes. I pour for you the sweetest libation, the first drop — let us two drink together in silence.
10.84.1 O Manyu, mounting the chariot together with you, exhilarated and emboldened, the Marut-companied warriors — men of fire-like form, whetting their weapons, arrows keen — let them surge forth.
10.84.2 Like fire, O Manyu, when kindled, overpower; be our army-leader, O overpowering one, when invoked. After slaying the enemies, divide the booty; measuring out your strength, drive away the battles.
10.84.3 Overpower, O Manyu, the enemy assailing us; breaking, crushing, destroying, go forth against the foes. Your fierce strength has truly advanced; you, the sole-born, bring the dependent into your power.
10.84.4 You alone, O Manyu, are invoked by many; inspire every clan for battle. Unscathed, with you as ally, we raise the resounding battle-cry for victory.
10.84.5 Grant us victory, irresistible like Indra; be our overlord here, O Manyu. We recite your dear name, O overpowering one; we know the source from which you arose.
10.84.6 Born together with dominion, O bolt-like arrow, you bear a higher overpowering strength. O Manyu, by your will be united with us; O much-invoked, join us for the great prize.
10.84.7 May Varuṇa and Manyu give us both kinds of wealth, amassed and gathered together. The enemies, defeated, their hearts filled with fear, let them slink away and vanish.
10.85.1 By truth the earth is upheld; by the sun the sky is upheld. By ṛta the Ādityas stand firm; Soma is established in heaven.
10.85.2 By Soma are the Ādityas mighty; by Soma the great earth stands; and in the lap of these stars here Soma is placed.
10.85.3 He who drinks the pressed herb thinks he has drunk Soma. The Soma that the Brāhmaṇas know — of that no one actually partakes.
10.85.4 Shielded by covering guards, O Soma, protected by great enclosures, you stand listening to the pressing-stones; no earthly being consumes you.
10.85.5 When the gods drink you fully, O god, from that you are replenished again. Vāyu is the guardian of Soma; the moon is the form of the common one.
10.85.6 The Raibhī song was the accompanying gift, the Nārāśaṁsī the one that confers upon her; for Sūryā the beautiful raiment has come, adorned and completed in the hymn.
10.85.7 Thought was her pillow, sight was her collyrium; heaven and earth were the casket when Sūryā went to her husband.
10.85.8 The hymns of praise were the poles of the canopy; the metre was the bridal headgear with dangling ornaments; for Sūryā the Aśvins were the suitors; Agni was the foremost leader.
10.85.9 Soma became the wooer; the Aśvins were the two suitors. When Sūryā declared herself willing in her heart, Savitṛ gave her to a husband.
10.85.10 Her mind was the cart, the sky was the canopy; the two white bullocks were yoked when Sūryā went to her new home.
10.85.11 The two cows yoked by Ṛk and Sāman are your sāman-players; your two ears were the wheels; in heaven the path moves to and fro.
10.85.12 Your two pure wheels move freely; the axle was the in-breath. Sūryā mounted the mind-made cart, going forth to her husband.
10.85.13 The bridal procession of Sūryā went forth, which Savitṛ released. When the Maghā asterisms come, the cows are slaughtered; when the Arjunī stars come, she is driven around.
10.85.14 When you two Aśvins came inquiring, bringing Sūryā's wedding-procession on the three-wheeled car, all the gods acknowledged that — Pūṣan, the son, chose you two as fathers.
10.85.15 When you two Lords of Beauty came to woo Sūryā — where was the one wheel of yours, and where did you two stand for the guide to the way?
10.85.16 O Sūryā, the Brāhmaṇas know your two wheels according to the season. But that one hidden wheel — only the truly wise know that.
10.85.17 To Sūryā, to the gods, to Mitra and to Varuṇa — to those who know all existing things — I have made this obeisance.
10.85.18 These two children play and go around the sacrifice by their magic, moving forward and back. One surveys all the worlds; the other, ordained the seasons, is born again.
10.85.19 Ever new he is born again; he becomes the signal of the days, going to the fore of the dawns. Coming on, he distributes the portion to the gods — the moon stretches out long life.
10.85.20 Mount the car decked with kinsuka-flowers and śalmali-flowers, with all forms, gold-hued, well-turned, fair-wheeled; O Sūryā, ascend the world of immortality and make your wedding-journey pleasant for your husband.
10.85.21 Arise hence, for this woman now has a husband. I entreat Viśvāvasu with homage and with hymns. Seek another woman not yet given in marriage, sitting with her fathers — know that to be your allotted portion from birth.
10.85.22 Arise hence, Viśvāvasu; with obeisance we entreat you. Seek another ripely nubile woman; release this wife to be united with her husband.
10.85.23 May the paths be free of thorns, straight, by which our friends conduct our wooer. May Aryaman and Bhaga lead us together; may the conjugal bond be easily governed, O gods.
10.85.24 I free you from the bond of Varuṇa with which the auspicious Savitṛ bound you. In the womb of ṛta, in the world of good deeds, I place you unharmed together with your husband.
10.85.25 I release her hence, not from yonder — I make her well-bound from yonder. So that here, O Indra, bountiful god, she may be blessed with fine sons and good fortune.
10.85.26 May Pūṣan lead you from here, taking you by the hand; may the Aśvins carry you onward in their chariot. Go to your home so that you may be mistress of the house; speak your will in the assembly.
10.85.27 Here may your dear happiness with offspring be fulfilled; be wakeful in this house for the gṛhapati fire. Unite your body with your husband; thus growing old together you shall speak in the assembly.
10.85.28 Dark-red it becomes; the spell attached to the garment is expelled. Her kinsmen prosper; the husband is bound in bonds.
10.85.29 Give away the garment of ill omen; distribute the wealth to the Brāhmaṇas. Let this witchcraft go on its way; may the wife enter her husband as the good one.
10.85.30 The body becomes inauspicious, glittering and dangerous, when the husband covers his own limb with the bride's garment.
10.85.31 The diseases that follow from people to the bride's bright wedding-procession — may the sacrifice-worthy gods drive those back to where they came from.
10.85.32 Let not the lurkers find them, those who lie in wait for the pair of householders. May they pass through the difficult places by easy roads; let all ill-wishers flee away.
10.85.33 This bride is auspicious and blessed — come together and behold her. Having bestowed good fortune upon her, then go your ways home.
10.85.34 This thing is harsh and bitter, rough and poisonous — not fit to eat. Only the Brāhmaṇa who truly knows Sūryā is worthy to conduct the wedding rites.
10.85.35 The binding, the loosening, the cutting apart — these are the forms of Sūryā; the Brāhmaṇa purifies all these.
10.85.36 I take your hand for good fortune, that you may grow old with me as your husband. Bhaga, Aryaman, Savitṛ, Puraṁdhi — the gods have given you to me for the household fire.
10.85.37 O Pūṣan, rouse for us the most auspicious woman in whom men plant seed; who opens her thighs willingly for us; in whom we willingly deposit the phallus.
10.85.38 To you first of all they led Sūryā around with the wedding-procession. O Agni, give the wife back to the husbands together with offspring.
10.85.39 Agni has given back the wife along with life and brilliance. May her husband live a long life — a hundred autumns.
10.85.40 Soma first possessed you, the Gandharva possessed you next; Agni was your third husband — your fourth husband is born of men.
10.85.41 Soma gave to the Gandharva, the Gandharva gave to Agni; Agni gave me riches and sons, and this woman here.
10.85.42 Be here; do not be parted from each other; live out your full span of life. Sporting with your sons and grandsons, rejoicing in your own home.
10.85.43 May Prajāpati generate offspring for us; may Aryaman anoint us for old age together. O you who are of good omen, enter your husband's world; be auspicious to us among bipeds and quadrupeds.
10.85.44 Be of gentle gaze, no slayer of your husband; be kind to our cattle, of good mind, of good splendour; bearing heroes, devoted to the gods, gentle — be auspicious to us among bipeds and quadrupeds.
10.85.45 O bountiful Indra, make this woman blessed with fine sons and good fortune. Place ten sons in her and make the husband the eleventh.
10.85.46 Be a queen before your father-in-law; be a queen before your mother-in-law. Be a queen before your husband's sister; be a queen before your husband's brothers.
10.85.47 May all the gods unite our hearts; may the waters unite our hearts. May Mātariśvan, may Dhātṛ, may Deṣṭrī join our two hearts together.
10.86.1 The soma-pressers flowed forth; they did not honour Indra as god, where Vṛṣākapi, the noble one, made merry in prosperity — my companion. Indra is above all things.
10.86.2 You run away, O Indra, beyond Vṛṣākapi's trouble. You find nothing elsewhere for the drinking of Soma. Indra is above all things.
10.86.3 What has this tawny beast Vṛṣākapi done to you, that you are angry at him, O nobleman, because of his prosperous goods? Indra is above all things.
10.86.4 This Vṛṣākapi whom you cherish, O Indra, whom you protect as your favourite — a dog that is boar-hunting will snap at his ear. Indra is above all things.
10.86.5 The ape has damaged my carved, manifest, precious things. I would cut off his head — it would go ill for the evil-doer. Indra is above all things.
10.86.6 No woman sits in a better seat than I; no woman is swifter in the race than I; none is more forward than I; none lifts her thighs higher than I. Indra is above all things.
10.86.7 Yes, dear easily-found mother, it shall be just as you say. My rump, my thigh, my head — I am excited all over. Indra is above all things.
10.86.8 Why, O fair-armed, pretty-fingered, broad-hipped, wide-thighed one — why do you, O wife of the hero, cast hostile glances at our Vṛṣākapi? Indra is above all things.
10.86.9 This scoundrel thinks of me as if I were without a husband. But I am indeed the heroic wife of Indra, companion of the Maruts. Indra is above all things.
10.86.10 In former times the woman went indeed to the assembly and to the joint invocation. The creative heroine, follower of ṛta, the wife of Indra, is exalted. Indra is above all things.
10.86.11 I have heard that Indrāṇī is the most blessed among these women — for her husband never dies of old age. Indra is above all things.
10.86.12 I, Indrāṇī, would not rejoice without my companion Vṛṣākapi, whose dear, moist oblation goes among the gods. Indra is above all things.
10.86.13 O wealthy wife of Vṛṣākapi, blessed with fine sons and fine daughters-in-law — may Indra eat the bulls for you, the dear offering that brings fulfilment. Indra is above all things.
10.86.14 For me they cook fifteen and twenty bulls at once. I eat the fat and both my flanks are filled. Indra is above all things.
10.86.15 Like a sharp-horned bull roaring among the herds — O Indra, the pressed draught pleases your heart, which the devoted presser presses for you. Indra is above all things.
10.86.16 He does not prevail in whose thighs the penis dangles. He prevails whose hairy thing opens wide when he sits down. Indra is above all things.
10.86.17 He does not prevail whose hairy thing opens wide when he sits down. He prevails in whose thighs the penis dangles. Indra is above all things.
10.86.18 This Vṛṣākapi, O Indra, has found the slain enemy's wealth: a sword, a new meat-cooking pot, loaded with firewood. Indra is above all things.
10.86.19 I go about observing clearly, distinguishing the Dāsa from the Ārya. I drink of the simple presser's draught, gazing upon the wise one. Indra is above all things.
10.86.20 The desert and the cutting-forest — how many leagues separate them? O Vṛṣākapi, come homeward, come back to the nearer dwellings. Indra is above all things.
10.86.21 Come back again, Vṛṣākapi; let us two arrange things well. You who destroy sleep, come back by the path to the home. Indra is above all things.
10.86.22 When you two came home northward, O Indra and Vṛṣākapi — where has that nimble beast gone, who pleased the people of the house? Indra is above all things.
10.86.23 Parśu, a human woman, bore twenty children at one time. Good fortune came indeed to her whose belly bore this pain. Indra is above all things.
10.87.1 I kindle the demon-slaying, powerful Agni; I approach the protection of the most widely renowned friend. Agni, whetted and kindled with sacred rites — may he guard us by day and guard us by night from harm.
10.87.2 O Jātavedas, kindled, with your iron fangs touch the Yātudhānas with your flame. With your tongue seize upon the wicked gods; having cut down the flesh-eaters, place them in your mouth.
10.87.3 Set your two deadly fangs, biting both from below and above, O king. And circling through the atmosphere, crush the Yātudhānas with your jaws.
10.87.4 O Agni, having bent your arrows with sacrifices, smearing the sticks with your voice like lightning-bolts — with these pierce the Yātudhānas in the heart; break the backs of their arms.
10.87.5 O Agni, split the skin of the Yātudhāna; your flame like a deadly bolt should smite him. O Jātavedas, shatter his limbs joint by joint; let the flesh-rending flesh-devourer scatter the shreds.
10.87.6 Where now you see him, O Jātavedas, standing or moving, or flying through the atmosphere on its pathways — with your whetted arrow shoot him, O Śarva.
10.87.7 Deliver also the one who has been caught, O Jātavedas, from the Yātudhāna that has seized upon him. O Agni, blazing, strike down the attacker first; let the spotted ewes that devour raw flesh eat him.
10.87.8 Declare here which one it is, O Agni — which Yātudhāna is doing this thing. Seize him with your faggot, O youngest one; deliver him to the sight of the man-seeing one.
10.87.9 With your sharp eye guard the sacrifice, O Agni; lead it forward to the Vasus, O wise one. Blazing against the injurious demons — let not the Yātudhānas deceive you, O man-seeing one.
10.87.10 O man-seeing one, scan the demon about the settlements; shatter the three points of his weapon. O Agni, shear his ribs with your heat; cut the Yātudhāna's root in three places.
10.87.11 Let the Yātudhāna come thrice into your snare — whoever, O Agni, attacks truth with falsehood. Thundering with your flame, O Jātavedas, destroy him openly before the one who praises you.
10.87.12 O Agni, set your eye — the hoof-breaking, revealing eye — with which you see the Yātudhāna. Like Atharvan, with the divine light, burn up the unrecognised one who injures truth.
10.87.13 O Agni, the arrow that is born from the biting of pairs this day, when the chanting ones produce the harsh weapon of voice from wrath of mind — with that arrow pierce the Yātudhānas in the heart.
10.87.14 O Agni, sever the Yātudhānas with your heat; sever the demons with your flame. Blazing, sever the wicked gods with your rays; sever the devourers of life.
10.87.15 Today let the gods cut away the crooked one; let the fierce curses turn back upon him. Let the arrows of speech reach the vital spot of the word-thief; let the Yātudhāna come to the snare of all.
10.87.16 The Yātudhāna who compounds himself with human flesh, with horse-flesh, with cattle-flesh; who steals the milk of the unwounded cow — O Agni, cut off their heads with your flame.
10.87.17 Let the Yātudhāna not eat the year-long milk of the cow, O man-seeing one. O Agni, whichever one would swallow the colostrum — pierce that one straight through the vitals with your flame.
10.87.18 Let the Yātudhānas drink the poison of the cows; let the evil-fated ones be cut off for Aditi. Let the god Savitṛ deliver them away; let them win away their portion from the plants.
10.87.19 From of old, O Agni, you have slain the Yātudhānas; the demons have not overcome you in battles. Burn the flesh-eating fools one after another; let them not escape your divine weapon.
10.87.20 O Agni, protect us from below and above, from behind, and guard us from the front as well. Let your ageless, most burning ones, blazing, burn up the evil-speaker.
10.87.21 O king, guard us from behind and in front, from below and above, O seer, with your poet-wisdom. O Agni, friend to the friend, ageless against decay, immortal among us mortals.
10.87.22 O Agni, we set you as a rampart of strength around us — the inspired one, bright-hued day by day, slayer of those who are crooked of will.
10.87.23 With poison burn back the crooked-willed demons, O Agni, with your sharp flame, with your heat-tipped spears.
10.87.24 O Agni, burn back the paired Yātudhānas, the Kimīdins. I sharpen you; be undeceived and wakeful, O inspired one, with sacred thoughts.
10.87.25 O Agni, with your heat shear back the heat; sever it on all sides. Break the force and heroic strength of the Yātudhāna demon.
10.88.1 The oblation protected, ageless, heaven-finding, touching the sky, offered and accepted in the fire — for the bearing of that, for the world, for the law, the gods spread out with their self-power.
10.88.2 The world swallowed, hidden by darkness, became manifest in light when Agni was born. At his birth the gods — earth, sky, waters — and the plants rejoiced in his friendship.
10.88.3 Urged on by the sacrifice-worthy gods, I will now praise Agni, the ageless, the great — he who with his radiance stretched out earth, this sky here, and the two worlds, and the atmosphere.
10.88.4 He who was the first Hotṛ, dear to the gods, whom they anointed with ghee as they chose him — Agni Jātavedas made swift both the winged world and the four-footed world.
10.88.5 O Jātavedas, O Agni, when you stood at the top of the world with the shining realm — we praise you with thoughts, hymns, and recitations. Thus you became worthy of sacrifice, filling the two worlds.
10.88.6 Agni becomes the crown of the earth by night; from that the sun is born, rising at dawn. This is the power of those worthy of sacrifice: the water moves swiftly with full understanding.
10.88.7 He who, sky-born, blazing with greatness, shone brilliantly and was worth beholding — into that Agni the self-sustaining gods poured all oblations with the words of the well-spoken hymn.
10.88.8 First and foremost the gods generated the well-spoken hymn, and then Agni, and then the oblation. He became their self-sustaining sacrifice — sky knows him, earth knows him, the waters know him.
10.88.9 The Agni whom the gods generated, into whom they poured all the worlds — he, straightening out with his flame both earth and this sky, warmed them with his greatness.
10.88.10 For with praise the gods in heaven generated Agni, filling the two worlds with his powers. They made him threefold for the world — he cooks the plants of all forms.
10.88.11 When the sacrifice-worthy gods placed him in heaven as the solar child of Aditi — when the two moving ones became a pair, then all the worlds saw everything.
10.88.12 For the good of all the world the gods made Agni Vaiśvānara the signal light of days — he who stretches out the shining dawns and removes darkness, going with his flame.
10.88.13 The poet-seers, the sacrifice-worthy gods, generated Agni Vaiśvānara as the imperishable; he who moved, shaking the ancient star — the mighty, great overseer of the sacrifice.
10.88.14 We address with sacred hymns Agni the wise, Vaiśvānara, ever blazing — he who by his greatness encompassed the wide earth, god from below and from above.
10.88.15 I have heard of two paths — of the Fathers and of the gods — and of mortals. By these two paths all this moving world comes together, whatever is between Father Heaven and Mother Earth.
10.88.16 The two that embrace each other carry him who moves, born from the head, comprehended by the mind. He has stood facing all the worlds, without faltering, the swift one, blazing.
10.88.17 Where the lower and the upper speak, of the two sacrificial ones — which one of us two does he know? Friends have reached the common banquet; who can proclaim this sacrifice?
10.88.18 How many fires, how many suns, how many dawns, how many waters are there? I am not speaking controversially to you, O Fathers — I am asking you, O sages, to know.
10.88.19 For as great a measure as the face of the dawn in which the eagle Mātariśvan dwells — to that measure the Brāhmaṇa who comes to the sacrifice, sitting below the Hotṛ, establishes it.
10.89.1 I praise Indra the most manly, by whose greatness the shining realms and the ends of the earth were pushed apart — he who, holding men together, filled the wide spaces, overflowing with his greatness beyond the rivers.
10.89.2 Indra turned the sun around the wide dwelling places like chariot wheels. He smote the dark darkneses with his brilliance, like a flood that stays nothing.
10.89.3 Chant for him the unceasing, unturning hymn — the new prayer unlike any in earth or sky. Indra, the noble one, sorted out the births like backs of cattle; he does not rule over a friend.
10.89.4 I send forth songs to Indra like an unrestricted current of waters from the depth of the ocean — he who, like an axle-pin holding the wheels, with his powers propped apart earth and heaven on every side.
10.89.5 His anger has drunk its fill; with triple food he has been nourished; he is the rushing, laborious one, with mace, the soma-drinker. The stalky shrubs and forests — none of the things below have deceived Indra.
10.89.6 Neither heaven and earth, nor desert, nor atmosphere, nor mountains, nor Soma have measured him. When his wrath is stirred, he shatters the solid and breaks the firm things.
10.89.7 He slew Vṛtra like an axe in the forest; he broke the strongholds and dug out the rivers. He split the mountain like a new water jar; Indra freed the cows with his own yoke-fellows.
10.89.8 You, O Indra the wise, cut off that sin-incurring thing; like a sword you sever crooked limb from limb. Those who injure the law of Mitra and Varuṇa injure a friend, as if breaking a yoke-fellow.
10.89.9 Those evil ones who injure Mitra, who injure Aryaman, who injure the compacts, who injure Varuṇa — sharpen your heavy weapon against the enemies, O bull, the red-rayed one that whets itself.
10.89.10 Indra is lord of heaven; Indra is lord of earth; Indra is lord of the waters, of the mountains. Indra is lord of the prosperous, lord of the wise; Indra is to be invoked in peace and in toil.
10.89.11 Indra excels the seasons, the days; he excels the atmosphere, the lap of the ocean. He excels the breadth of the wind, the ends of the earth; he overflows beyond the rivers and the dwelling-places.
10.89.12 Like a blazing signal of the dawns, may your weapon revolve, O Indra, unhindered. Piercing like a stone, hurled down from heaven — with your most burning weapon strike those who are false friends.
10.89.13 The months followed him, the forests followed him, the plants followed him, the mountains followed him. The two worlds crying out followed Indra; the waters followed him as he was born.
10.89.14 When, O Indra, will that be perceived of you — that you struck the demon that was destroying the wicked? Those who are hostile to Mitra, like cattle at the slaughtering post — when will they lie fallen, stuck to this earth?
10.89.15 Those hostile enemies that have crept upon us, who swelled as a mighty army — O Indra, let the enemies be engulfed in blind darkness; may the nights rich in good light pour over them.
10.89.16 Truly, many a pressing-rite of peoples exhilarates you; the prayers of the singing seers exhilarate you. Resounding here with help and companioned invocation, pass beyond all who sing hymns and come to us.
10.89.17 Thus may we, O Indra, know you to be of those who enjoy, of those who are newly benevolent. Praising, may we know you at the turning of each day with your help; we are Viśvāmitras, O Indra, even now.
10.89.18 For our welfare may we call upon Maghavan Indra, the most manly in this battle for the prize — the fierce one who hearkens for our aid in conflicts, smiting Vṛtras, conqueror of wealth.
10.90.1 The Puruṣa has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet. He surrounds the earth on all sides and extends beyond by ten fingers.
10.90.2 This Puruṣa is indeed all this world — what has been and what shall be. And he is lord of immortality, that which grows beyond through food.
10.90.3 Such is his greatness, yet Puruṣa is greater still. One quarter of him is all living beings here; three quarters of him are the immortal in heaven.
10.90.4 Three quarters of the Puruṣa rose upward; one quarter here came into being again. From that he stepped forward on all sides, into what eats and what does not eat.
10.90.5 From him Virāj was born; from Virāj the Puruṣa was born again. Being born, he extended beyond the earth — both behind and before.
10.90.6 When the gods, with the Puruṣa as their oblation, spread out the sacrifice — spring was the melted butter, summer was the firewood, and autumn was the offering.
10.90.7 They consecrated with water on the barhis-grass the Puruṣa born in the beginning. With him the gods sacrificed, and the Sādhyas, and the seers.
10.90.8 From that sacrifice in which everything was offered, the clotted oblation was gathered. He made from it the animals of the air — those of the forest and those of the village.
10.90.9 From that all-offered sacrifice were born the Ṛk-verses and the Sāmans. The metres were born from it; the Yajus was born from it.
10.90.10 From it were born horses, and all creatures with two rows of teeth. Cows were born from it; from it were born goats and sheep.
10.90.11 When they divided the Puruṣa, into how many parts did they arrange him? What is his mouth called? What his two arms? What are his two thighs and his two feet called?
10.90.12 His mouth was the Brāhmaṇa; his two arms were made the Rājanya; his two thighs are what the Vaiśya is; from his two feet the Śūdra was born.
10.90.13 The moon was born from his mind; the sun was born from his eye. From his mouth came Indra and Agni; from his breath Vāyu was born.
10.90.14 From his navel came the atmosphere; from his head the sky evolved. From his two feet the earth; from his ear the directions — thus they arranged the worlds.
10.90.15 Seven were its enclosing sticks; thrice seven were the kindling-sticks prepared, when the gods, spreading out the sacrifice, bound the Puruṣa as the sacrificial animal.
10.90.16 With the sacrifice the gods sacrificed to the sacrifice; these were the first cosmic laws. These great ones attained the vault of heaven, where the ancient Sādhya gods dwell.
10.91.1 He is kindled together with the wakeful ones, waxing old in the house, the house-lord quickening at the station of Iḷā; the Hotṛ of all, most worthy of the oblation, all-pervading, radiant — as a true friend he is befriended.
10.91.2 He of splendid beauty, a guest in every house, nestles in every forest like a swift hawk; he, the people's own, does not despise any folk, but dwells among the clans — a clansman among every clan.
10.91.3 O Agni, expert among experts by your power of discernment, you are of excellent will; a seer by your wisdom, you know all things. You alone, O treasure among treasures, are lord of whatever Heaven and Earth cherish.
10.91.4 Knowing, O Agni, your timely birthplace — the butter-rich station of Iḷā — you have been set in place; your gleaming rays have become visible, like the dawns, blameless, like the rays of the sun.
10.91.5 Your splendours flash like lightning of the rain-cloud; wondrous, they appear like the banners of the Dawns. When you are sent forth among the plants and forests, you gather your own food into your mouth.
10.91.6 Him — Agni — the plants bore as their timely embryo; him the waters, like mothers, brought forth; him, ever the same one, the trees and herbs, those pregnant and those giving birth, perpetually deliver.
10.91.7 Fan-fanned by the wind, impelled, you spread yourself following the dry fuel, flashing swiftly through the food; your un-aging hosts rush at you separately, like charioteers, O Agni, blazing.
10.91.8 Agni the author of wisdom, the adornment of the assembly, the Hotṛ, most pre-eminent, most inspired — him alone they choose for the small oblation, and him alone they choose for the great sacrifice — none other than you.
10.91.9 You alone they choose here, the devotees of you, O Agni, as Hotṛ among the wise in the assemblies; when the god-worshipping Manus, possessing oblations, with trimmed grass-strewings, lay down offerings before you.
10.91.10 Yours, O Agni, is the office of Hotṛ; yours, seasonally, that of Potṛ; yours is the role of Neṣṭṛ; you are the Agnīdh for the truth-striving; yours is the Praśāstṛ's part; you act as the Adhvaryu, and you are also the Brahmán and the householder in our home.
10.91.11 Whatever mortal, O Agni, for immortality's sake presents you with fuel or with the making of oblation — for him you become the Hotṛ, you go on the messenger's errand, you address him, you sacrifice, you perform the adhvara.
10.91.12 These thoughts, these words from us, these hymns, praises, and songs of eulogy have assembled together for him, desiring wealth, for Vasu, for Jātavedas — he who grows by each increase and who has delighted in them.
10.91.13 This newest eulogy I would speak for the Ancient one, who yearns — let him hear us. May it touch deeply within his heart, like a well-dressed, loving wife close to her husband.
10.91.14 For him in whom horses, bulls, oxen, cows, and rams are released and offered as oblations — for the drinker of sweet drink, for the Soma-backed wise one — I generate from my heart a beautiful hymn for Agni.
10.91.15 O Agni, the oblation is to be placed in your mouth — clarified butter as in the ladle, Soma as in the pressing-bowl. Grant us a prize-winning wealth, with excellent heroes, famed and glorious, and great.
10.92.1 I praise for you the chariot-driver of the sacrifice, the lord of the peoples, the Hotṛ of the nights, the guest rich in light; blazing, roaring upon the dry tawny ones, the virile one, the banner-fire, the adorable, has stretched himself across the sky.
10.92.2 Both groups — gods and mortals — have made him the universal one, Agni, the establishing law of the assembly, its practitioner; like the ancient night of the Dawns, the purohita, Tanūnapāt of the ruddy one, they lick him.
10.92.3 We celebrate his leadership and also the merchants' thought; his branches, well-offered, are for eating. When the terrible ones have attained immortality, they revolve perpetually then among the divine folk.
10.92.4 For Heaven, the wide expanse, is the outlet of Ṛta; the great Aramati is the more wondrous worship; Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa have recognised each other, and also Bhaga and Savitṛ who bestows pure power.
10.92.5 With Rudra the rapid one, the rivers flow onward; they have run across the great Aramati. By those with whom the encircler roams the wide expanse, roaring everywhere, he sprinkles everything in his belly.
10.92.6 Active, the Rudras, the Maruts of all peoples, the eagles of the sky, the nestlings of the Asura — together with them Varuṇa surveys, and Mitra, Aryaman, and Indra with the swift gods, himself swift.
10.92.7 Those who have toiled have reached their enjoyment in Indra — the hero in his aspect, and the bulls in their virility. The skilled singers who now have fashioned his fitting token, the companion-bolt, for the seats of men.
10.92.8 Even the sun's tawny mares have been held back by him; who from Indra the mightier does not fear? From the belly of the fearful bull the mighty roar thunders day by day, unhindered.
10.92.9 Aim today with homage a hymn for Rudra the able, the lord of heroes; through whose benevolent, self-luminous swift ones he pursues the sky according to desire, of his own fame.
10.92.10 They have spread fame far for offspring — Bṛhaspati the bull, the Soma-kindred ones; Atharvan by sacrifices first sustained them; the gods and the Bhṛgus have come together through their powers.
10.92.11 Indeed Heaven and Earth with their abundant seed, Narāśaṁsa of four forms, Yama, Aditi, the god Tvaṣṭṛ, Draviṇodas, Ṛbhukṣan — the Maruts and Viṣṇu have honoured both worlds.
10.92.12 And let that far-famed seer of the Uśijas, Ahi Budhnya, hear our invocation; let the Sun and Moon roaming the sky, dwellers in heaven, both understand this sacrifice by their wisdom — Nahuṣī among the workers.
10.92.13 May Pūṣan of all the gods further our journey; may Apāṁ Napāt protect for the offering; sing the self-sustaining Wind with better songs — you two Aśvins, easy to invoke, hear this at your going.
10.92.14 Him, the lord of these fearless peoples, self-glorious, we praise with songs; Aditi along with all the divine women, un-assailed — the young lord of heroes, the night's master.
10.92.15 Here the ancient Aṅgiras sang from birth; the pressing-stones raised high look upon the rite; through which the far-seer gained the sky, the path is firm, the self-sharpened axe at work in the wood-bearing one.
10.93.1 Be great and wide for us, O Heaven and Earth, like two young women, the two great Rodases always with us; protect us with them from the powerful, protect us with them in battle.
10.93.2 That mortal in every sacrifice serves the gods — he who, with good thoughts, the most far-famed, approaches them with homage.
10.93.3 The generosity of all the gods is the best great gift; for the All-gods, mighty all of them, are all worthy of sacrifice at every sacrifice.
10.93.4 Those kings of immortality — the delightful ones — Aryaman, Mitra, Varuṇa the encircler; where is Rudra, lauded of men; the Maruts, Pūṣan, Bhaga?
10.93.5 And by night, both rich in bull-power — Sun and Moon, home-companions, for our dwelling; when Ahi Budhnya settles among these at the foundations, primordial.
10.93.6 And may the two divine Aśvins, lords of beauty, and Mitra-Varuṇa with their forms protect us widely; he reaches great wealth — passing over difficulties as if a desert.
10.93.7 And may even the Rudras be gracious to us, the Aśvins, all the gods, the lord of the chariot, Bhaga; Ṛbhu, Vāja, Ṛbhukṣan, the encircler, the all-knowing ones.
10.93.8 Ṛbhu, Ṛbhukṣā, Ṛbhu — the joy of the devout; your two bay coursers, O swift-running one; whose chant alone is hard to surpass, whose sacrifice is set apart from all human ones.
10.93.9 Make us blameless, divine Savitṛ — he who is praised among the lords of bounty; like Indra with the carriers, he has rolled the wheel of these clans like a rein.
10.93.10 Set for us, O Heaven and Earth, joy among our heroes — fame perceived by all peoples; strength for winning the prize, strength also for overcoming wealth in the contest.
10.93.11 This praise, O mighty Indra who yearns for us, wherever it may be, protect for victory; protect always for victory — may the joyous one find it, O Vasu.
10.93.12 This hymn of mine, stretched out as a cord in the sun, shining day by day, men have made grow; it is a charm for concord, not horse-like, carved like a carpenter's work, unshaken.
10.93.13 He has turned toward those whose wealth is yoked together — golden wealth; not weakened in mind, not unmanly, not extended uselessly as though spread about in vain.
10.93.14 That I would proclaim for Duḥśīman, Pṛthavāna, and Vena; I would proclaim it for Rāma among the powerful asuras — those who, for the harnessing, possess five hundred attendants — may their path be renowned.
10.93.15 Here indeed I have perceived seventy and seven; Tānva shone forth at once, Pārthya shone forth at once, Māyava shone forth at once.
10.94.1 Let them speak forth; we shall speak too — to the pressing-stones from those that speak, to those that speak. When the rocks, the mountains together, swift ones, carry the resonance and sound, O Soma-bearers, to Indra.
10.94.2 These speak a hundredfold, a thousandfold; they cry out with their tawny mouths; the pressing-stones stretched out, well-wrought by their good craft, first eagerly eat even the Hotṛ's food.
10.94.3 These speak out; they have found honey for the bowl; they swing down upon the cooked raw flesh. They — the bulls, gleaming-toothed — cried out eagerly while devouring the branch of the ruddy tree.
10.94.4 They speak greatly, gladdened by the intoxicant, crying out; they have found honey for the bowl of Indra, the gladdening one; the wise ones, clasping one another, leaping with their sisters, have made the earth resound with their stamps.
10.94.5 The fair-winged ones, the black, lively ones, made speech in the air-hole of the nether stone; they guide downward the product of the upper stone; the sun-white ones have deposited abundant seed.
10.94.6 Like fierce ones flowing forth they came together, yoked bulls bearing the yoke together; as they breathed and swallowed they cried out — you can hear the neighing of them like that of horses.
10.94.7 Ten coursers, ten girths, ten yoke-ropes, ten distances, ten reins — praise the un-aging ones; ten shafts, ten harnessed ones that carry.
10.94.8 These rocks, ten-controlled, swift — their support goes around adorable; they indeed have partaken of the first milky sap of the pressed Soma shoot, the Soma plant.
10.94.9 They, the Soma-drinkers, lick Indra's two bays; milking the shoot they sit upon the cow. By what is milked by them — having drunk the Soma-sweet honey — Indra grows, expands, exerts himself as a bull.
10.94.10 The shoot is your bull — you shall not indeed be harmed, O praise-possessing ones, always feeding from the bowl; with the majesty of one rich in gifts you are lovely — you whose pressing-stones have served the sacrifice.
10.94.11 With holes, without holes — these rocks are unwearied, unloosened, immortal; not ailing, not aging, all-pervading by their power, well-rounded, never thirsty, unborn of thirst.
10.94.12 Firm, like your fathers age after age, desiring safety, they do not yoke to the seat; ever-young, swallowing tawny ones, of tawny colour, they have resounded to heaven and earth with their cry.
10.94.13 That the rocks speak out at the unharnessing as on the journey — like drinkers of the ointment, indeed, with their thumps; sowing seed like grain-workers, they mix the Soma but do not diminish it in their devouring.
10.94.14 At the pressed sacrifice they have made speech over it — playing ones, striking like a mother; release the thought of those that have pressed well; let the stones revolve as they resound.
10.95.1 O wife, linger a while with me in heart, O terrible one; let us now mingle our words together. These our mutual counsels, once spoken, will not bring happiness on another day beyond.
10.95.2 What shall I do with this speech of yours? I have stepped forth like the foremost of the dawns. O Purūravas, go back home again; I am as hard to catch as the wind.
10.95.3 Like an arrow from the quiver shot for beauty, winning cattle, swift as a hundred — in the will of the powerless one they flashed, but the shakers did not notice the bleat of the ewe.
10.95.4 She who brings treasure — providing sustenance to the father-in-law — O Uṣas, if she desires a home close by; she has reached the home where she took delight, pierced day and night by one of reed.
10.95.5 Three times a day the Vaitasena would strike me, and you would fill me also insatiably; I came after your sign, O Purūravas — you were a king among heroes, the soul of my body.
10.95.6 Those well-adorned ones, in rows, winning favour, their eyes like a lake — roaming, not knotted — those tawny anointings have flowed; like cows and milk-cows they have lowed for beauty.
10.95.7 Together with this one being born, the divine women sat — and the self-welcome rivers made him grow; when, O Purūravas, for great joy, the gods made you grow for the slaying of the Dasyus.
10.95.8 When a human man dwells among those non-human ones, leaving his cloak among them; like Bhujyu flying away from me — they trembled, those touching the chariot, like horses.
10.95.9 When a mortal intermingles with the immortal ones and does not combine his deeds with theirs; those flowing ones adorn their own bodies — like biting horses, they play.
10.95.10 She who flashed like a darting lightning, bringing to me the things I yearn for, close to the waters — a hero was born, well-born; let Urvaśī extend long life.
10.95.11 You were born indeed for protection; you have placed that strength in me, O Purūravas. I, knowing, instructed you on that very day; you did not listen to me — what do you say you have not enjoyed?
10.95.12 When will the son, being born, seek his father? He will shed tears, knowing. Who would separate a couple of one mind, when Agni shines among the parents-in-law?
10.95.13 I will speak in answer — the tear rolls — he shall not weep like a wheel for an auspicious wife; I shall send you forth that which belongs to you among us — go home, O fool, do not perish.
10.95.14 The god-blessed one today may rush off, not returning, to go to the remotest distance; then he would lie in the lap of Nirṛti — then the fierce wolves would devour him.
10.95.15 O Purūravas, do not die; do not fall; let not the un-gracious wolves devour you; there are truly no friendships with women — the hearts of these are the hearts of jackals.
10.95.16 When, changed in form, I lived among mortals, spending the nights through four autumns, eating a drop of ghee once a day — it is with this satisfaction that I still wander thus.
10.95.17 I, Vasiṣṭha, seek to learn from Urvaśī who fills the atmosphere, who measures the realm of space. May the gift of good deeds stand near you — turn back; my heart is burning.
10.95.18 Thus these gods say to you, O son of Iḷā, even as you are here a kinsman of death: your offspring shall sacrifice to the gods with oblation, and you yourself shall also rejoice in heaven.
10.96.1 For you, great one, at the assembly I have proclaimed your two bays; I have praised to the worshipper your beautiful, bay-coloured joy; you who shed welcome clarified butter with your bays — may my songs enter into you of bay form.
10.96.2 Those who with one voice together urge the bay toward the bay womb, as toward the heavenly seat; whom the milk-cows fill as with the bays — sing to Indra the bay-possessing might.
10.96.3 His bolt is tawny, of iron; tawny is his desire, tawny in his two fists; radiant, fair-jawed, with tawny-anger dart — in Indra the tawny forms have been instilled.
10.96.4 Like a banner in the sky the bay one has been set; the tawny bolt has spread like swift arrows; the iron, bay-jawed one who smote the serpent became he who bears the bay — with a thousand flames.
10.96.5 You, ever you, O bay-maned Indra, are praised, worshipped by former sacrificers; you love bay things, all praise is yours — the ungiven bounty of the bay-born, the lovely one.
10.96.6 The two lovely bays carry in the chariot Indra, the wielder of the bolt, the glad, the laudable joy; many pressings are lovely for him — the Soma-bays have run for Indra.
10.96.7 The bays have run fit for desire; urging the steady one, the two swift bays go; he who goes with pleasure with the bay coursers — he has reached his bay-coloured desire.
10.96.8 Bay-bearded, bay-maned, iron, at the quick draft he who is a bay-drinker has grown; he whose two bays with prize-winning wealth in coursers — may he pass beyond all difficulties.
10.96.9 Whose two tawny jaws flew up like ladles, the two tawny ones flashing for the prize; when having drunk of the lovely intoxicating juice, the two bays polished the made bowl.
10.96.10 And the dwelling of the lovely one in the folds echoed — the bay-possessing one shouted for the prize like a racing horse; for the great power-goddess longed for it by force; you have placed great sustenance from the lovely one.
10.96.11 Filling both worlds by your greatness, O one delighted by bays, you love ever-new beloved hymns; make manifest the lovely dwelling of the cow, O Asura, for bay Sūrya.
10.96.12 Let the impellers of men carry you, bay-delighted, on your chariot, bay-jawed Indra; drink, as you love it, of the brought mead — loving the sacrifice, at the common joy feast, at the ten-fold pressing.
10.96.13 You have drunk of the former pressings, O bay-possessing one; now this pressing is entirely yours; drink the sweet Soma, O Indra — O bull, fill yourself completely in your belly.
10.97.1 The plants that were born of old, three ages before the gods — I shall meditate upon the hundred and seven abodes of those tawny ones.
10.97.2 A hundred are your abodes, O mothers, a thousand your growths; make this man of mine free from disease, you of a hundred powers.
10.97.3 Rejoice, O plants, you that are flowering and fruitful; like mares that conquer together, the herbs, those that carry across.
10.97.4 O plants, you who are mothers — the divine ones — I invoke you as such; may I gain a horse, a cow, a garment — and your own life-force, O man.
10.97.5 Your resting place is in the Aśvattha tree, your dwelling has been made in the Parṇa leaf; you are truly sharers in cattle when you win the man.
10.97.6 Where the plants have assembled like kings in a council — that inspired one is called a healer, a slayer of demons, a dispeller of disease.
10.97.7 I have found all the plants — those rich in horses, rich in Soma, enlivening, full of vigour — for his uninjured well-being.
10.97.8 The vigours of the plants go up like cows from the cow-pen; those that shall win wealth — and your own self, O man.
10.97.9 Your mother is called Iṣkṛti, and you are the cleansers; you are the running ones, the wing-bearing ones — what ails, you cleanse away.
10.97.10 Beyond all enclosures they have stepped like a thief toward the fold; the plants have shaken loose whatever ailment afflicts the body.
10.97.11 When I, quickening these, take the plants in my hand — the soul of the disease perishes, as if before a life-snatcher.
10.97.12 Into whose every limb, every joint, you plants spread — drive out the consumption from him, like a fierce lion resting in the middle.
10.97.13 O consumption, fly away together with the blue jay and the spotted one; fly away with the rush of the wind, together with the downward swoop — perish.
10.97.14 Let one of you help another; let each one aid the next; all of you in agreement — help this my speech.
10.97.15 Those that bear fruit and those without fruit, those without flowers and those that flower — prompted by Bṛhaspati, may they free us from distress.
10.97.16 May they free me from the curse, and from Varuṇa's bond; from Yama's noose as well, and from all divine transgression.
10.97.17 Flying down, the plants have spoken all around from the sky: that man whom we reach while he is living, he shall not be harmed.
10.97.18 O you who are the plants, ruled by Soma, many and hundred-eyed — among them you are the highest; I have given you gladly for desire, wholesome to the heart.
10.97.19 You plants ruled by Soma, spread all over the earth, prompted by Bṛhaspati — grant your power to this one.
10.97.20 Let not the digger be harmed — he for whom I dig you; may all of ours, two-footed and four-footed, be free from disease.
10.97.21 Those who hear this nearby and those who have come from afar — all the herbs coming together, grant your power to this one.
10.97.22 The plants speak together with Soma the king: O king, we shall carry across the one for whom the Brahmin prepares us.
10.97.23 You are the highest, O plant; your props are the trees; let him who would oppress us become a prop — a dependent of ours.
10.98.1 O Bṛhaspati, meet the deity on my behalf — whether you be Mitra or Varuṇa or Pūṣan; or whether you be together with the Ādityas, with the Vasus, with the Maruts — let him send rain for Śaṃtanu.
10.98.2 O Devāpi, a divine, swift, wise messenger has come to me from you; turn yourself facing toward me; I place a bright speech in your mouth.
10.98.3 Set a bright, disease-free, active speech in our mouths, O Bṛhaspati; with which we may win rain for Śaṃtanu — the sweet drop has entered from the sky.
10.98.4 Let the sweet drops come to us, O Indra; give us a thousand above the chariot; sit down to the Hotṛ's task, sacrifice in due order, serve the gods with oblation, O Devāpi.
10.98.5 Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, the Ṛṣi, sitting in the Hotṛ seat; Devāpi, seeking the goodwill of the gods — he directed the celestial rain-waters from the upper toward the lower sea.
10.98.6 In this upper sea the waters held back by the gods had stood still; they ran, released by Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, sent forth by Devāpi — upon the oblation-sprinkled ones.
10.98.7 When Devāpi, appointed purohita for Śaṃtanu, having been chosen for the Hotṛ's office, blazed with compassion — Bṛhaspati, bestowing what the gods hear, what wins rain, gave him speech.
10.98.8 You, O Agni, whom Devāpi, Ārṣṭiṣeṇa the human, blazing, has kindled — praised along with all the gods — send forth rain-bringing Parjanya.
10.98.9 The ancient seers came to you with their hymns; all of them at the rites, O much-invoked one; among us are thousands beyond the chariots — come to our sacrifice, O you with red-roan steeds.
10.98.10 O Agni, ninety-nine oblations beyond the chariot, thousands, have been offered to you; with them grow in many bodies, O hero — impelled, release the rain from the sky for us.
10.98.11 O Agni, present these ninety thousand together as the share for Indra the bull; knowing the paths seasonally trodden by the gods, place Aulāna among the gods in the sky.
10.98.12 O Agni, drive away the destroyers, drive away the hard-to-conquer; drive away disease, drive away the demons; from this great sea of the sky send the fullness of waters to us here.
10.99.1 What wonder do you impel for us, O wise one, to make the far-reaching cry grow? What at the dawning of his might shall he bestow? He shaped the bolt, the Vṛtra-slayer, he swelled it with power.
10.99.2 For he advances with lightning's flash pursuing the chant; by his asura-power he has sat in the broad womb; he, overpowering with nestlings, without the tricks of the seventh brother of his.
10.99.3 He went for the prize; making ill-footed ones good-footed, the sun-winner sat down going to win; un-rivalled when he found the wealth of the hundred-shafted one — the phallus-gods he smote, he overpowered with his form.
10.99.4 He, the swift bull, pours into the great rivers, into the cows — running foremost in contests; where the footless, chariotless ones are yoked, the trough-horses set the ghee in motion.
10.99.5 He, with the Rudras who bar evil, skilled, having left his home, came to the blameless; I believe that the two insects uncovered coupled, having seized food, causing it to ascend through plunder.
10.99.6 The lord, having given the loud-roaring Dāsa, the six-eyed, three-headed one, subdued him; Trita, now strengthened by his strength, struck the boar with his iron-tipped spear.
10.99.7 He, with upraised arrow, shot a dart for the man who injures — against the tormenter; he, the most manly, Nahuṣa, well-born among us, broke open the forts in worthy Dasyu-slaying.
10.99.8 He, like a cloud finding pasture and water, found the way to dwelling, not for us; when the Soma-drop settled with his body — the hawk, Ayopāṣṭi, strikes the Dasyus.
10.99.9 He who grew in power through his mighty acts gave Śuṣṇa to Kutsa in the miser's place; this one led the celebrated seer — he who is the winner of the cloak and of men.
10.99.10 This one, worshipping with his manly helpers, the wonder-worker like Varuṇa with the gods, the magician; this young one, the time-observant, is found — he who measured out the four-footed, restless one.
10.99.11 By his hymns, Ṛjiśvā the Auśija burst open the fold with Pipru's bull; when the adorable Soma-presser made his song shine, he advanced, becoming manifest in his form.
10.99.12 Thus, O Asura, for the growth of the great one, the ant has crept up to Indra on his feet; he going thus shall make well-being for him — food, vigour, good dwelling, all-illumining.
10.100.1 O Indra, hold firm, O bountiful one — only so great an enjoyment; praised here, you who drink the pressed Soma well, be for our growth; let Savitṛ further our famous prayer with the gods — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.2 Carry well the seasonally due share for the bearer; forth to Vāyu, the pure drinker, for the cry of desire; he who has obtained the drinking of the Gaura's milk — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.3 May the god Savitṛ send us life-force to the straight-going sacrificer who presses Soma; so that we may serve the gods like the simple-hearted — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.4 May Indra be benevolent to us always; may King Soma come over to us for our well-being; just as they have joined together what belongs to Mitra — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.5 Indra with his recitation and strength has been established before; O Bṛhaspati, you are the extender of life-span; the sacrifice is Manu, Pramati is our dear father — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.6 Indra's divine strength of well-doing; Agni in the house, the praising wise seer; may the sacrifice become the most beautiful delight in the assembly — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.7 We have not done much wrong in secret, no offence manifest to you, O Vasus, O gods; let no deity through the form of untruth — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.8 Savitṛ has sent disease downward; the rocks drive away what is wider downward; where the pressing-stone is called the great Soma-sweeter — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.9 Let the pressing-stone stand upright, O Vasus, for the presser; keep all hatreds far away; may that god Savitṛ, the praiseworthy protector, be for us — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.10 Let the cows eat vigour and fat in the pasture; you who touch the treasure in the seat of Ṛta — let the body's medicine belong to the body — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.11 The will-sustaining singer has always been sheltered by Indra alone — the good Pramati of the Soma-pressers; whose streams are the full heavenly udder — we choose Aditi, the all-encompassing.
10.100.12 Wondrous is your brilliance, your victory that fills the will; there are irresistible rivals that fill the praise; by the straightest course, by the right, toward cattle, toward the cow — the eager worshipper strives to surpass all.
10.101.1 Awake, O companions of one mind; kindle Agni together, ye many who are gathered as one. I invoke for your protection Dadhikrā, Agni, and the divine Dawn, and the Indra-aided ones.
10.101.2 Make your thoughts glad; stretch out the oar-propelled ship that crosses over; fit the quiver, make ready the weapons; lead forward the sacrifice eastward, O companions.
10.101.3 Yoke the ploughs, spread out the yokes; sow the seed here in the prepared womb. May our hymn and the hearing be fruitful; may the sickle come to the ripened grain all the sooner.
10.101.4 The wise yoke the ploughs and spread the yokes apart one by one; the steadfast ones are gracious toward the gods.
10.101.5 Make the ladles ready; bind the harness-straps together; we will pour into the water-trough that is full, that pours well, inexhaustible.
10.101.6 The trough prepared with ladles, having a good harness-strap, pouring well—I pour into the water-filled, inexhaustible.
10.101.7 Delight the horses; conquer the well-placed prize; make the chariot that bears good fortune. Pour into the wooden-ladle trough, the stone-wheeled, the shoulder-strap-quiver one—the guardian of men.
10.101.8 Build the cattle-pen, for it is your guardian; stitch together armour, broad and wide; build iron, invincible fortresses before you; let not the cup overflow—make it firm.
10.101.9 Turn your sacred thought toward protection; let the gods here worship the divine, sacrifice-worthy one. May she who goes to the pasture like a cow yield to us with a thousand streams the milk of the great cow.
10.101.10 Now pour in the Soma here in the lap of the wooden door; let the stone tools shape it; embrace it with ten girths; yoke the carrier to both shafts.
10.101.11 The carrier, pressing hard upon both shafts, moves within them like one born of two mothers. Erect the tree of the forest in the forest; dig and set the spring.
10.101.12 O men, lift up the phallus, the foremost one; urge it forward, dig for the winning of the prize. Shaking the son from the womb, bring Indra here with pressure to drink the Soma.
10.102.1 May Indra boldly protect your chariot that is well-paired; O much-invoked one, protect us in this contest worthy of fame, in the seizure of prizes.
10.102.2 The wind blows up the garment of this woman who won a thousand from the chariot. Mudgalānī became the charioteer in the cow-race; Indrasenā divided the prize won in the battle.
10.102.3 Hold back the bolt, O Indra, within your grasp against those who wish to slay, against those who attack; O bounteous one, drive far away the blow of the Dāsa or the Ārya.
10.102.4 Exultingly he drank the pond of water; shaking he strikes the peak and goes against the foe; the scrotal-load-bearer, seeking renown, stretching out his arms quick to the field, striving.
10.102.5 Lowing, they came up to him; they made the bull urinate in the midst of the race. With him Mudgala won in the final contest a hundredfold, a thousandfold of cattle.
10.102.6 The bull was yoked to the Kakardave; his charioteer, the long-haired Keśī, drove it. The blows of the running bull dragging the cart fall upon Mudgalānī as she sits.
10.102.7 Knowing it, he knocked out the wheel-felly and here he helped, joining the shaft-piece, seeking to aid. Indra lifted up the lord of the unslayable cows; the hump-necked bull hastened with swift feet.
10.102.8 The braided-haired one moved prosperously through the goad; the wood was being fastened to the strap. Performing manly deeds for the many people, watching over the cows, he acquired strengths.
10.102.9 See this yoke-fellow of the bull lying in the middle of the course, the wooden block; by means of him Mudgala won a hundredfold, a thousandfold of cattle in the battles.
10.102.10 Far away the sins—who ever saw it happen thus? They yoke him and then unharness him too. They bring him neither grass nor water; yet the superior one draws the shaft time and again, as one pointing the way.
10.102.11 Like an abandoned wife she understood her husband; swelling, pouring like water from a bent wheel. In this very racing-chariot let us conquer; let the winning be auspicious and lucky.
10.102.12 You, O Indra, are the eye of all the world, the eye among eyes. You are the bull; you urge on the bull-pair to seize the race, goading them with the castrated one as yokefellow.
10.103.1 Swift, whetted, terrible like a bull, striker upon striker, shaker of peoples, the battle-shouter, ever-wakeful, sole hero—Indra conquered a hundred armies together.
10.103.2 Conquer with him, the battle-shouter, the unwinking, the victorious, the battle-crying, the hard-to-shake, the bold one; withstand that with Indra, O men—with the arrow-holding bull.
10.103.3 He with arrow-bearers, he with quiver-wearers is master, joined in battle with Indra and his troop. The conqueror in close combat, the Soma-drinker, mighty in arms, with terrible bow, shooting with arrows fitted to the string.
10.103.4 O Bṛhaspati, drive around with your chariot, driving away the Rākṣasas and enemies; breaking armies, crushing in battle, conquering—be the protector of our chariots.
10.103.5 Known by his strength, firm, pre-eminent in heroism, powerful, strong, enduring, terrible; mighty over heroes, bold in battle, born of power—mount the victorious chariot, O Indra, finder of cows.
10.103.6 The breaker of cow-pens, the finder of cows, the thunderbolt-armed, conquering in the course, crushing with might—let the kinsmen follow him in heroism; embrace Indra closely, O companions.
10.103.7 Plunging mightily into the cow-pens, unhurt, the hero of hundredfold wrath—Indra, hard to shake, conqueror of armies, not to be defeated in battle—let him protect our army in the combat.
10.103.8 Let Indra be the leader of these, Bṛhaspati on the right, the sacrifice advance, Soma in front; let the Maruts go at the head of the divine armies that overwhelm and conquer.
10.103.9 The war-cry of Indra the bull, of Varuṇa the king, of the Ādityas, of the terrible host of Maruts—of the great-spirited, world-shaking, conquering gods—has arisen.
10.103.10 Exhilarate the weapons, O bounteous one; exhilarate the spirits of my warriors; let the strengths of the prize-winners rise up, O Vṛtra-slayer; let the war-cries of the conquering chariots go forth.
10.103.11 May Indra be with our banners in the encounters; let those arrows of ours conquer; may our heroes be supreme; and do you, O gods, protect us in our calls.
10.103.12 Beguiling the minds of those enemies, seize their limbs, O Apvā, and pass through; advance upon them, burn them with pain in their hearts; let the foes be joined by the blinding darkness.
10.103.13 Go forward, O men, conquer; may Indra grant you shelter. May your arms be terrible and irresistible, as indeed you are.
10.104.1 The Soma has been pressed for you, O much-invoked Indra; come quickly with your two bay horses to the sacrifice. For you the songs of the inspired heroes speed forward; O unconquerable Indra, drink of the pressed juice.
10.104.2 Drink here of what has been purified in the waters, O bay-horsed one; fill your belly with what is pressed by men. The stones have mixed it for you, O Indra; grow strong on them, you who carry the hymn.
10.104.3 I urge you, O bull, to the true foremost drinking—for the outpouring of the pressed juice for you, O bay-horsed one. Delight yourself here, O Indra, with the melodies, with all thoughts, being praised by your might.
10.104.4 With your protection, O lord of might, laying hold of strength by your valour—the eager ones, knowers of the sacred order—they stood exulting in the house of Manu, praising you with progeny, O Indra.
10.104.5 By your leaderships, O bay-horsed one, of you the well-praised, the benevolent, the widely shining—the peoples, holding on to the most bounteous help, spread out as your praisers, O Indra, with your true words.
10.104.6 Come with your two bay horses to the prayers, O bay-horsed one, to drink of the pressed Soma. O Indra, the sacrifice has found you patient; you are the foremost knower of the oblation.
10.104.7 Songs adorn the one of a thousand prizes, the overpowerer of aggressors, the good leader, the bounteous, the well-hymned—the unconquered Indra; they marvel at him with reverence, the singers.
10.104.8 The seven divine waters, clear, unblended—with which you crossed the river, O Indra, fort-breaker—ninety streams and nine more flowing: you found the path for gods and for man.
10.104.9 You freed the great waters from the curse; the one god was awake over them. O Indra, with those waters with which you performed the conquest of Vṛtra, may you nourish your body, giving universal life.
10.104.10 Indra the heroic, the resolve, the well-proclaimed—and the melody seeks the much-invoked one. He shattered Vṛtra and made space; the Mighty One, the vanquisher, has overcome the armies.
10.104.11 We call for our welfare the bounteous Indra, the most manly in this battle at the winning of the prize—the one who listens, the terrible, for our protection in combats, the slayer of Vṛtras, the gatherer of riches.
10.105.1 When, O good lord, will the praise you love come to you? The blade will stop—for the long-pressed Soma waiting for the wind to dry it.
10.105.2 He whose two bay horses are well-yoked, going different ways like birds, following their impulse according to their tails—both long-maned like coursers—the lord has given.
10.105.3 From the two Indra removes evil; no mortal who has exerted himself is afraid—when the mighty one has yoked for beauty.
10.105.4 Together with the two, Indra ploughed and ploughed again—of two carts serving together—of two streams going separate ways: the hero, Indra.
10.105.5 He who stood upon the two long-maned ones, wide-stretching, not for nourishment—he wins with his cheek-pieces, like one with strong cheeks.
10.105.6 He of lofty strength proclaimed; the hero fashioned with lofty ones by might—like Ṛbhu in designs, like Mātariśvan.
10.105.7 He who made the thunderbolt for the good smiting of the Dasyu—the golden-maned one, with golden mane—of unwounded jaw, wondrous as the bright space.
10.105.8 Sharpen away our sins with the hymn; we who sing hymns would beat down the unsinging. No non-Brahman, no sacrifice thrives separately from you.
10.105.9 When your triple fire stood erect in the dwellings at the shafts of the sacrifice—in unison with the self-glorious ship of the two companions.
10.105.10 May the dappled one be for your glory an over-pourer; may the spotless ladle be for your glory—with which you pour upward into your own cup.
10.105.11 Whether it was a hundred, O lordly one, that Sumitrā praised you thus or that Durmitra praised you thus—when you helped in the slaying of Dasyus the son of Kutsa, when you helped in the slaying of Dasyus the calf of Kutsa.
10.106.1 Both of you now seek that very thing; you spread your thoughts like weavers at their work. Going forth together you have started us onward; like refreshment on a fair day you weave us close.
10.106.2 You rest like camels among the horses; you go like a swift course over the instructed. For you are like messengers of renown among the peoples; do not stay away from us like a buffalo from the drinking-place.
10.106.3 Come together yoked, like the two wings of a bird, like wonderfully varied beasts with the oblation. Blazing like fire for the two divine ones, ranging about, you two worship in many places.
10.106.4 Be our intimate friend—like a father to a son, like a great one with splendour for swiftness, like wind for nourishment, like a ray for enjoyment—come to our call, as one eager to listen.
10.106.5 Like the shaft-joint of the Pūṣan-chariot, pair of pods; like Mitra in truth, hundred-rayed, a hundred-winged; dwelling aloft with strength at a prize like the Gharma-fire; worshipping like a ram, seeking fulfillment.
10.106.6 Swiftly moving like a sickle, swift-going pair; swift-going, flickering like a naitośa creeper; conquering like water-born ones, the two exhilarating ones—those two, Jarāyu and the undecaying Marāyu, for me.
10.106.7 Like the Pajras, the love-lorn Marāyu goes round and round; fierce like a sharp blade you two traverse the transactions. Like the offspring of the Ṛbhus, swift-striding of rough gait, fluttering like the wind, ruling over riches.
10.106.8 Like the Gharma-vessel with honey in the belly, the two old ones—the swift-going Bhagavitā pours abundantly; wandering like birds with silvery adornment, mind-adorned, mind-going, not going hither.
10.106.9 Like tall ones you find footing in deep places; like a foot you cross the ford in the assembly. Like an ear you remember the instruction—yes; give us bright wealth, like a portion.
10.106.10 You two send forth honey like the Āraṅgara plant; like a bee in the cow downward-armed; dripping with sweat like a kīnāra worm, you two follow with strength from the good grass-land, as from an arid soil.
10.106.11 May we succeed with our hymn of praise, may we win the prize; come to our chant here together on the chariot. Like fame, like ripe honey among the cows—fulfil the desire of the Aśvins, O share of what comes to be.
10.107.1 Great generosity of these patrons became manifest; all living things were released from darkness. The great light given by the fathers has come; the broad path of the Dakṣiṇā has been seen.
10.107.2 The givers of the Dakṣiṇā stood high in heaven; those who gave horses—they stood with the sun. The givers of gold partake of immortality; the givers of garments, O Soma, extend their life.
10.107.3 The divine fulfilment, the Dakṣiṇā of the god-worship, belongs not to the greedy—for they do not give. But then the men of stretched-forth Dakṣiṇā, fearing blame, the many give.
10.107.4 Those who see men look upon the hundred-streamed wind, the hymn, the finder of heaven, as an oblation. Those who give and bestow at the assembly—they milk the Dakṣiṇā with its seven mothers.
10.107.5 The one who has Dakṣiṇā goes first when invoked; the one with Dakṣiṇā, the village leader, goes in front. Him alone I regard as the king of peoples—who first set the Dakṣiṇā in motion.
10.107.6 Him alone they call the Ṛṣi, him the Brahman—the sacrificial Sāma-singer, the reciter of hymns. He knows the three bodies of the Bright One, who first prospered through the Dakṣiṇā.
10.107.7 The Dakṣiṇā gives the horse, the Dakṣiṇā gives the cow; the Dakṣiṇā gives the moon and also gold. He who is the soul wins food through the Dakṣiṇā; the knowing one makes the Dakṣiṇā his armour.
10.107.8 The generous patrons have not died nor gone to lowliness; the generous are not harmed, nor do they waver. This all, whatever this whole world and heaven—all this is given to those who give the Dakṣiṇā.
10.107.9 The generous won the fragrant womb first; the generous won the bride who is well-dressed. The generous won the inner draught of the Surā; the generous won—those who go without being invited.
10.107.10 For the generous one they groom the swift horse; for the generous one the maiden adorns herself sitting. The home of the generous is like a lotus pool, adorned, wondrous like one esteemed by the gods.
10.107.11 Horses with well-carrying loads carry the generous one; the well-wheeled chariot of the Dakṣiṇā rolls. The gods protect the generous in battles; the generous one is the conqueror of foes in the clash of armies.
10.108.1 What desiring has Saramā approached to this place? For the path is far, leading away beyond. What was the errand, what the commission? How did you cross the waters of the Rasā?
10.108.2 I roam as the sent messenger of Indra, seeking your great treasures, O Paṇis. A swift leap in fear helped us across—thus I crossed the waters of the Rasā.
10.108.3 What is Indra like, O Saramā, what does he look like—as whose messenger you have come from afar? Let him come here; we will make friendship with him; then let him be the lord of our cattle.
10.108.4 I do not know him as one to be deceived—he who would deceive, it will hit him—as whose messenger I came from afar. Deep flowing streams do not hide him; slain by Indra, O Paṇis, you shall lie.
10.108.5 These are the cows, O Saramā, that you were seeking, flying around the ends of heaven, O fortunate one. Who would release these for you without fighting? And our weapons are sharp.
10.108.6 Not fit to be commanded are your words, O Paṇis; your bodies are not fit for arrows—let them be evil. Let the path for you be impassable; may Bṛhaspati not show mercy to you in either way.
10.108.7 This treasure, O Saramā, based in the rock, filled with cows, horses, and riches—the Paṇis guard it, those who are good herdsmen; you have come to a vain, empty step, O messenger.
10.108.8 The Ṛṣis shall come here, sharpened by Soma—Ayāsya, the Aṅgirasas, the Navagvas. They will share out this pen of cows—and then, O Paṇis, your words will vomit forth.
10.108.9 So then you have come here, O Saramā, driven by divine force. We will make you our sister; do not go back. We will give you a share of the cows, O fortunate one.
10.108.10 I know no brotherhood nor sisterhood; Indra knows it, and the terrible Aṅgirasas. The desire for cows concealed from me when I came—fly hence, O Paṇis, afar.
10.108.11 Go far away, O Paṇis—far away! Let the cows go forth, released by the sacred law. The cows that Bṛhaspati found hidden, and Soma, and the pressing stones, and the inspired Ṛṣis.
10.109.1 These were the first to speak about the Brahman's offence: the Boundless Ocean, the Waters, Mātariśvan, the Remover of the Firm, the fierce Tapas the bliss-giver, the divine Waters firstborn by the sacred law.
10.109.2 Soma the king was the first to restore the Brahman's wife, giving her back without anger. Varuṇa and Mitra were his followers; Agni the hotar led her taking her by the hand.
10.109.3 Her pledge should be taken by the hand alone—'this is the Brahman's wife,' so they said. She is not to be sent to a messenger; thus the realm of the Kṣatriya is protected.
10.109.4 The gods of old spoke about this matter, and the seven Ṛṣis who sat down to austerity: the wife brought home of a Brahman is terrible; she brings an evil condition in the highest heaven.
10.109.5 The Brahmā-student wanders, pouring out poison; he becomes a single limb of the gods. By means of him Bṛhaspati found again his wife who had been led away by Soma—like the gods the ladle.
10.109.6 The gods gave her back again; and humans too gave her back. The kings, acting in truth, gave the Brahman's wife back again.
10.109.7 Having given back the Brahman's wife, having removed the offence together with the gods, they worship the wide-stepping one, having partaken of the nourishment of the earth.
10.110.1 Kindled today in the house of Manu, O Jātavedas, as god you worship the gods. Come and bring them, O friend of Mitra, discerning one; you are the messenger, the sage, the all-knowing.
10.110.2 O Tanūnapāt, anointing with honey those who travel the paths of sacred law, making them sweet, O fair-tongued one—perfecting our thoughts with prayers and the sacrifice—make our oblation reach the gods.
10.110.3 Being invoked, worthy of praise and worship—come, O Agni, in harmony with the Vasus. You are the youngest Hotṛ of the gods; being sent, you most fit to sacrifice—worship them.
10.110.4 The sacred grass is strewn facing east, spread at the point of this abode at the beginning of the days. It spreads out broader and wider, a soft seat for the gods and for Aditi.
10.110.5 Let the spacious ones spread themselves wide, adorning themselves like wives for their lords. O divine doors, broad and all-filling, be good entrance ways for the gods.
10.110.6 The two who flow fair and are worshipped nearby—let Night-and-Dawn sit down in their womb, the two divine maidens, tall and well-adorned, assuming the bright, white-gleaming splendour.
10.110.7 The two divine Hotṛs, the first, the fair-voiced, measuring out the sacrifice for man to worship—inspiring the two artisans at the assemblies, directing the eastern light according to the quarter.
10.110.8 Let Bhāratī come swiftly to our sacrifice; let Iḷā awaken here in the manner of Manu; let the three goddesses—Sarasvatī, the skilful-working ones—sit on this comfortable sacred grass.
10.110.9 He who fashioned all the worlds with forms—him, these two parents Heaven and Earth—worship here today, O Hotṛ, sent and most fit to sacrifice, knowing it—the god Tvaṣṭṛ.
10.110.10 Release of yourself, anointing, setting the oblations in their season upon the path of the gods—let the tree, the slaughterer, and the divine Agni make the offering savoury with honey and ghee.
10.110.11 Born at once, Agni measured out the sacrifice; he became the forerunner of the gods. In the direction of this Hotṛ, in the voice of the sacred law, let the gods eat the oblation consecrated with Svāhā.
10.111.1 Bring forth your wisdom, O wise ones, in accord with the thoughts that dwell in men. With true and mighty acts let us impel Indra — for he is the hero, the lover of song, the knowing one.
10.111.2 The thought from the seat of Ṛta blazed forth; the bull, son of Gārṣṭi, roared with the cows. He rose up with his mighty war-cry and spread himself through the vast realms of space.
10.111.3 Indra alone, it is said, knows this by hearsay; for he is the conqueror, the pathmaker for the Sun. Making the slope traversable, the unshaken one became lord of the cow, lord of heaven, ancient, unapproachable.
10.111.4 Indra, praised by the Aṅgirases, with his greatness overthrew the vow of the great ocean. He who has stretched out the many realms upholds the firm foundation of truth and reality.
10.111.5 Indra knows the measure of heaven and earth; he slays Śuṣṇa at all the soma-pressings. He stretched out even the great sky with the Sun; the great prop himself propped it up with a prop.
10.111.6 For Vṛtra-slayer smote Vṛtra with the vajra and the magic spells of that ungodly, bellowing one. There, O bold one, you slew boldly; and thus, O Maghavan, you became mighty-armed.
10.111.7 When the Dawns joined with the Sun, his rays found that wondrous lustre. When the asterism appeared like the sky's own light, no one truly knows whence it came again.
10.111.8 Far, indeed, those foremost waters went — they that flowed forth at Indra's impulse. Where was their source, where their bottom? Where, O waters, is your middle now, where your end?
10.111.9 You released the rivers swallowed by the serpent; straightway these rushed forward with speed. Whether still seeking release or already released, these sharp-edged ones still do not rest.
10.111.10 United, yearning, like eager ones they came to the river; from of old the lover, the destroyer of strongholds, was roused for them. O Indra, the earthly riches went homeward; many gracious bounties came to us.
10.112.1 O Indra, drink your fill of the pressed soma — the morning-pressing is yours as first draught. Rejoice, O hero, to smite your enemies; we proclaim your heroic deeds with hymns of praise.
10.112.2 Come with that chariot of yours, O Indra, swifter than thought, to drink the soma. Let your tawny horses run swiftly — those with whom you travel, the bulls, rejoicing.
10.112.3 Touch your body with the tawny splendour and radiance of the Sun, with the finest forms. Being invoked by us your friends, O Indra, sit down and rejoice in our company.
10.112.4 Whose greatness in exaltation these two great worlds, Heaven and Earth, have not encompassed — come with your beloved tawny horses yoked, O Indra, to your home, toward the beloved food.
10.112.5 He whose enemies you have ever slain with incomparable heroic deeds in battle — he sings of your mighty power; for him, O Indra, this pressed soma is for your exhilaration.
10.112.6 This your ancient bowl, O Indra — drink the soma with it, O you of a hundred powers. The ladle is full of the sweet inebriating drink that all the gods wholly desire.
10.112.7 In many ways do the peoples call upon you, O Indra, O bull, when they have set out their offerings. Let these pressings of ours, sweetest for you, be among those you love, O lord.
10.112.8 Of you, O Indra, I now proclaim the ancient heroic deeds, the first that were done. With your fury unabated you cleft the rock and made the cow easy to win for the worshipper.
10.112.9 Sit down among the hosts, O lord of hosts; they call you the most inspired of poets. Without you nothing whatsoever is accomplished from afar. O Maghavan, sing the great, wondrous hymn.
10.112.10 Look down upon us suppliants, O Maghavan; be mindful, O lord of wealth, friend of friends. Make battle, O maker of battle, with your true strength — even those who share not, do grant us a share in riches.
10.113.1 Heaven and Earth, of one mind with all the gods, assisted his energy. When he went forth making his Indra-power great, having drunk of the soma, he grew in wisdom.
10.113.2 Viṣṇu, bounding forward with might, proclaims his greatness and the power of the soma-stalk. Indra, the bountiful, together with the united gods, slaying Vṛtra, became supreme.
10.113.3 When bearing weapons he stood face to face with Vṛtra the serpent to fight, making known his prowess — then all the Maruts together in their own might, O fierce one, increased your Indra-greatness.
10.113.4 Even at birth he repelled his rivals; the hero looked forward to the manly battle. He split the rock, let the grain fall, released the waters; with his skill he propped wide the vault of heaven.
10.113.5 Straightway Indra claimed all mighty powers for himself; he pushed aside the broad Heaven and Earth. The bold one brought down the iron vajra as a boon to Mitra and Varuṇa, the bountiful.
10.113.6 Then, before his mighty powers — the vigorous, roaring ones — they yielded to his wrath. When the fierce one clove Vṛtra mightily with his power, the waters that had been held wrapped in darkness were released.
10.113.7 The heroic deeds first to be done — as the two strove together with their greatnesses — when the darkness of gloom was laid low and slain, Indra leaped forth in his greatness at the first invocation.
10.113.8 Then all the gods increased your manly powers with praise and with the eloquence that the soma inspires. Vṛtra the serpent who had been overcome by Indra's blow, fire separated his joints like food for the eager one.
10.113.9 With many powers, with eloquent verses, with friendship proclaim the friendship. Indra, who deceived Dhuṇi and Cumuri, listens with trusting heart to Dabhīti.
10.113.10 Bring us many goods with good horses, whereby, reciting the proper utterances, you may approve. May we pass through all difficulties by easy paths; find for us today the wide shallow ford.
10.114.1 The two hot milk-vessels spread on all sides the threefold; Mātariśvan came to take pleasure in them. The gods, seeking the milk of heaven, found the hymn mighty with its thousand.
10.114.2 The three Nirṛtis wait upon the guardian; the priests know them who have heard from afar. The sages have discerned their source — those that are in the secret vows of the higher ones.
10.114.3 The young woman of four braids, beautifully adorned, wears before her face ghee and the ordinances. In her two strong eagles settled — there where the gods established their portions.
10.114.4 One eagle entered the ocean; he surveys this entire world. I saw him with a simple mind from nearby — the mother licks him, and he licks the mother.
10.114.5 The inspired poets speak of the one eagle with their words, and fashion him in many ways. They establish the metres at the sacrifices and measure the twelve soma-cups.
10.114.6 Fashioning thirty-six plus four, and establishing the metres up to twelve — the sages measuring out the sacrifice in their wisdom drive the chariot forward with Ṛc and Sāman.
10.114.7 Fourteen are the greatnesses of this one; the seven wise ones guide him with speech. Who here would declare the far-reaching ford, by which path they drink up the pressed soma?
10.114.8 The fifteen praises in a thousandfold — as far as Heaven and Earth extend, so far is that. Thousandfold the greatnesses, a thousand — as far as brahman is spread, so great is speech.
10.114.9 What wise one knows the yoking of the metres? Who has attained the word directed to the bright one? Who, they say, is the eighth heroic priest? Who really has discerned the two tawny horses of Indra?
10.114.10 Some roam about the ends of the earth; they stand on the shafts of the chariot, yoked. Among these they distribute the share of fatigue when Yama is placed in the dwelling.
10.115.1 Wondrous indeed is the growth of this young child who does not go to his two mothers to suckle. If he was born uncollected, yet straightway he grew; running his great messenger's course at once.
10.115.2 Agni has been established by name, the most eager at giving — he who binds the forests together with his tooth of ash. Sweeping forward with his tongue in perfect sacrifice, like a bull snorting over fodder.
10.115.3 Him — the divine bird who pecks at the wood, the drop of soma snorting and pouring forth his flood — him, blazing like a carrier-priest with his flame, of mighty vow, like one whose rays run along the paths.
10.115.4 Of your ageless, glowing advance, the unshaken winds are not around like those of a burning-arrow. The eager ones, like eager fighters, attain Trita as their guide and go forward for seeking.
10.115.5 He is indeed the Agni most dear to the Kaṇvas, friend of the Kaṇvas, the noble overcoming lord of the utmost interior. May Agni protect the singers, may Agni protect the patrons, may Agni grant us their favour.
10.115.6 For the most prize-winning, the conquerable, of good father — for Jātavedas restless and stirred — even he who boldly claims the boon of the waterless one, for the most exalted, who stretches his bow, seeking to shoot.
10.115.7 Thus Agni, the good one, son of strength, is praised along with mortal patron-lords and men — like allies who are well-established and devoted to Ṛta; like bright heavens they are over men with their brilliance.
10.115.8 Grandson of Strength, O you mighty with power — so speech, the bull, praises you being worshipped. We will laud you; with you may we be rich in heroes, establishing ever longer life to extend further.
10.115.9 Thus, O Agni, the sons of Vṛṣṭihavya, the ṛṣis, have spoken in their praise. Protect both them and the patron-lords who hymn you — they reached upward with 'vaṣaṭ vaṣaṭ', they reached upward with 'namo namaḥ'.
10.116.1 Drink the soma for great Indra-power, drink, O mightiest, to slay Vṛtra. Being invoked, drink for wealth and strength; drink the sweet draught, O Indra, be satisfied and rain down blessings.
10.116.2 Drink of this, of the abundant, the forthcoming — drink, O Indra, the choicest of the pressed soma. With a well-being-granting mind rejoice, turning toward prosperity for the sake of good fortune.
10.116.3 May the heavenly soma delight you, O Indra; may that which is pressed on earth delight you. May that whereby you made abundance delight you; may that whereby you destroy enemies delight you.
10.116.4 Let Indra of twofold might, the bull, come eagerly to the soma poured out with his two tawny horses. In the bowl of the pressed and offered sweet juice, rain benefits all at once, O friend of the red cows.
10.116.5 Sending the sharp and glittering weapons flashing down, make firm the power of those sped by sorcerers. I give you strength and might against the fierce foe; in the retreats hack the enemies to pieces.
10.116.6 O Indra, spread widely your glories; stretch your strength like a taut bowstring against the attackers. Growing in power on our side, unstoppable, do you yourself grow strong in body.
10.116.7 This oblation is given to you, O Maghavan; accept it, O universal king, without disdain. For you is the soma pressed, for you it is ripened, O Maghavan — eat and drink, O Indra, of the forthcoming offering.
10.116.8 Indeed eat, O Indra, these oblations that are set forth; take pleasure in them and cook the soma. Offering gifts, we are eager to win your favour; may the desires of the sacrificer be fulfilled.
10.116.9 I send forth my eloquent praise to Indra and Agni, driving it like a boat on the river with hymns. Like spokes the gods go around — those who give wealth to us and are givers of discoveries.
10.117.1 Verily the gods have not decreed that hunger alone shall be death; even though a man is full, death can still reach him. Yet the wealth of one who gives does not diminish, and the one who gives not finds no comforter.
10.117.2 He who, having food, hardens his heart toward the needy person, hungry and wretched who has come to him — though he cultivated him before, he finds no comforter.
10.117.3 He indeed is the true enjoyer who gives to the wandering indigent, to the hungry and lean. He becomes fit for the call-to-aid, and even in future things he makes a friend.
10.117.4 He is no friend who gives nothing to his friend, his companion who goes along with him — one should depart from such a one; there is no dwelling with him; let one seek another who gives, even if a stranger.
10.117.5 The stronger man should give to the supplicant; let him look ahead to the longer road. For riches roll around like chariot wheels; they come to one man after another.
10.117.6 The foolish man gets food in vain — I speak truth — that is his death. He neither nourishes Aryaman nor a friend; he who eats alone, his sin is his alone.
10.117.7 The ploughshare ploughing brings reward; one who goes the road gains advantage through his journeys. The speaking Brahmin surpasses the one who speaks not; the giver who is an ally excels the non-giver.
10.117.8 One-footed surpasses two-footed in many ways; the two-footed approaches the three-footed from behind. Four-footed comes at the call of the two-footed, seeing the ranks, standing by.
10.117.9 Even two equal hands do not produce equally; even two identical twin cows do not give the same milk. Even twins are not equal in their powers; even two kinsmen do not give equally.
10.118.1 O Agni, shining brilliantly, you slay the devourer among mortals, in your own home, O you of pure ordinance.
10.118.2 Well-kindled, you rise up and rejoice at the ghee when the ladles are set around you.
10.118.3 Summoned, Agni, who is to be praised with song, shines forth; his face is anointed with the ladle.
10.118.4 Agni is anointed with ghee, honey-faced, when oblations are given; he shines forth, rich in light.
10.118.5 As you blaze, growing old in your brightness, O carrier of oblations to the gods, mortals call upon you.
10.118.6 Mortals tend him, the immortal Agni, with ghee — the inviolable lord of the house.
10.118.7 With your inviolable flame, O Agni, burn the Rakṣas; shine forth as guardian of Ṛta.
10.118.8 You, O Agni, with your countenance burn back the sorceresses; shine forth in your wide dwelling.
10.118.9 Him you, the carrier of oblations, dweller in wide spaces, the most worthy of sacrifice among the human folk, they have kindled with songs.
10.119.1 So indeed is my mind: 'I would win a cow, I would win a horse' — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.2 Like rushing winds, the draughts I have drunk have lifted me up — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.3 The draughts have lifted me up, like swift horses a chariot — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.4 Inspiration has come to me like a lowing cow to her beloved calf — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.5 Like a carpenter rounding a chariot-body, I shape my thought in my heart — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.6 The five peoples have not pleased me even a little — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.7 Not even both the worlds, Heaven and Earth, equal even one of my wings — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.8 In my greatness I have surpassed the sky; I have surpassed this great Earth — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.9 Well then! Shall I set down this Earth here or there? — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.10 I shall strike the Earth to a cinder, here or there — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.11 One of my wings is in heaven; I have dragged the other one down below — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.12 I am the greatest of the great, raised up to the very clouds — have I drunk of the soma?
10.119.13 I go home, well-equipped as the bearer of oblations to the gods — have I drunk of the soma?
10.120.1 That was the greatest thing in the worlds: from it was born the fierce one of dazzling might. As soon as born he destroys enemies; all his helpers rejoice after him.
10.120.2 Growing in power, of many energies, he plants terror in the heart of the Dāsa enemy. Both the unshot and the shot arrow he won; your offered gifts are praised in the exaltations.
10.120.3 All fold their purpose into you when these helpers become twice and thrice more. Sweeter than sweet, mix the sweet together; fight that sweetness indeed with the honey of honey.
10.120.4 For thus the inspired ones exult after you, winning riches, exaltation by exaltation. Stretch yourself firm and mightier, O bold one; may the ill-doing sorcerers not deceive you.
10.120.5 With your help we have prevailed in battles, beholding many things worth fighting for. I urge your weapons with my words; with prayer I sharpen your powers.
10.120.6 I would praise the one of many forms, the skilled one, the most overpowering, the Āptya among the Āptyas. He shatters the seven streams with his might; he overcomes many and matching things.
10.120.7 You hold fast both the lower and the upper; in whose house you have protected with your shelter — you establish the two mothers as they come, and from there you dispatch many heroic deeds.
10.120.8 These prayers Bṛhaddiva, the foremost, the heaven-winner, proclaims as his praise-shout to Indra.
10.120.9 Thus great Bṛhaddiva the Atharvan declared himself to be Indra himself. The stainless sister-winds that breathe on the mother-streams urge him on and increase him with their might.
10.121.1 Hiraṇyagarbha arose in the beginning; born, he was the one lord of all that exists. He sustained this earth and yonder heaven. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.2 He who gives breath, who gives strength, whose command all things obey, whose command even the gods obey — he whose shadow is immortality and whose shadow is death. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.3 He who, by his might, became the sole king of every breathing, every winking thing — he who is lord of this two-footed and four-footed world. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.4 He whose greatness these snow-capped mountains proclaim, whose they say the ocean is, together with Rasā — whose are these four directions, whose are the arms. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.5 By whom the awesome sky and the earth were made firm, by whom heaven was propped up and the vault of light — who is the measurer of the midspace. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.6 To whom the two armies trembling in mind looked up for help, propped up by his aid — above whom the sun shines when it has risen. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.7 When the mighty waters came, bearing the universal germ, generating Agni — from that was born the one breath of the gods. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.8 He who by his power looked over the waters as they held creative force and generated sacrifice — he who was the one god above the gods. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.9 May he not harm us — the father who brought forth the earth, who, upholding truth, generated the sky, and who generated the bright, mighty waters. To which god shall we render worship with oblation?
10.121.10 O Prajāpati, none other than you has encompassed all these born beings. May whatever desire of ours we invoke you for be granted; may we become lords of riches.
10.122.1 I praise him who is like a good treasure, of wondrous greatness — the pleasant, auspicious, inoffensive guest. He, Agni the hotar, the householder, the sustainer of all, bestows on the devout the gift of heroic strength.
10.122.2 O Agni, of wise will, pleased, accept and love my words, you who know all the ways. Clothed in ghee, open the path of prayer; the gods followed after your ordinance.
10.122.3 The immortal one, traversing the seven stations, bestows on the generous, the pious — be gracious to us. With wealth that brings good heroes, O Agni, self-existent, be pleased with him who has served you with fuel.
10.122.4 Those with oblations praise the foremost ensign of sacrifice, the purohita, the seven-powered. Agni who listens, whose back is anointed with ghee, the bull, the god who satisfies — bestows heroic strength on the giver.
10.122.5 You are the first and most excellent messenger; invoked, rejoice for immortality's sake. The Maruts purified you in the house of the generous worshipper; the Bhṛgus made you shine bright with their praises.
10.122.6 Milking refreshment from the easily milked cow that nourishes all, O sacrifice-loving Agni of wise will, for the sacrificer — dripping ghee, shining thrice through the ritual seasons, going round the sacrifice, you seek wisdom.
10.122.7 You alone, at the shining forth of this Dawn, men making you their messenger have worshipped. The gods increased you, worthy of great praise, anointing you with ghee at the sacrifice.
10.122.8 The Vasiṣṭhas called you down, O swift one, praising you, O Agni, wise ones, at the assemblies. Establish the flourishing of wealth among the sacrificers. You gods, ever guard us with your blessings.
10.123.1 This Vena has set in motion the speckled-bellied one, the light-wombed, the measurer of the midspace. The inspired ones caress with their thoughts this one here, at the meeting of the waters with the sun, as they would a young child.
10.123.2 Vena the sky-born raises a wave from the ocean; the back of the tawny one, the beloved, is seen. Shining on the peak of cosmic order, dwelling in the heights, the bands sang forth together toward the common womb.
10.123.3 Many, crying out toward the same one, they stand — the mothers of the calf, nestled together. Stepping forward on the peak of cosmic order, they lick the voices of the sweet and immortal one.
10.123.4 The inspired ones, knowing his form, cried out; for they went toward the sound of the gazelle, of the buffalo. Going by the law of cosmic order they stood upon the stream; the Gandharva found the immortal names.
10.123.5 The Apsaras, smiling at her lover, the woman, bears him in the highest heaven. Moving in the wombs of the beloved one, he who is himself beloved — that Vena sits upon the golden wing.
10.123.6 When they beheld you flying toward the vault of heaven, with their hearts longing they gazed upon you — the golden-winged bird, messenger of Varuṇa, the active bird in the womb of Yama.
10.123.7 The Gandharva stood upright upon the vault of heaven, carrying his variegated weapons turned outward. Wearing a fragrant garment to behold — like the sun he generated dear names.
10.123.8 The drop that moves toward the ocean, viewing with the eagle's eye the one who holds apart — the sun, gleaming with bright radiance, placed dear things in the third sphere of the firmament.
10.124.1 Come to this our sacrifice, O Agni — the five-staged, triple, seven-threaded. Be our carrier of oblations and our vanguard. For too long indeed you have lain in the long darkness.
10.124.2 From the non-divine I go as a god by the expansive hidden path, seeing before me immortality. That which is auspicious — though inauspicious I abandon — I go from my own friendship to a stranger-navel, a new home.
10.124.3 Seeing the guest of another, the bird, I measure out the many stations of cosmic order. I declare what is beneficial to our father Asura; I go from the unworthy of sacrifice to the portion worthy of sacrifice.
10.124.4 Many years I spent within this one; choosing Indra, I leave behind my father. Agni, Soma, Varuṇa — they are set in motion. That kingdom has been turned back; I seek to protect it as it comes.
10.124.5 Those Asuras have lost their magic powers, and you, O Varuṇa, desire me. O king, separating truth from falsehood — come to sovereignty over my kingdom.
10.124.6 This is the heavenly light; this indeed was the prize; this is the illumined, the wide midspace. Let us two smite Vṛtra — come forth, O Soma! You are the oblation; we worship you who are such with oblation.
10.124.7 The seer, by his seer-power, has fixed his form in heaven; Varuṇa, by his unobstructed might, released the waters. Like women, like rivers making a home, those shining ones continually carry his color.
10.124.8 They accompany his greatest power; rejoicing in their own nature they dwell with him. Choosing him as their king, as clans choose a ruler, the loathers stood away from Vṛtra.
10.124.9 The yoke-companion of those who loathe, the swan moving in fellowship with the celestial waters — the seers knew Indra to be of anuṣṭubh meter, roaming after it, echoing it again and again, through wisdom.
10.125.1 I move with the Rudras and the Vasus; I move with the Ādityas and the Viśvadevas. I bear both Mitra and Varuṇa; I bear Indra and Agni, and I bear both Aśvins.
10.125.2 I bear Soma the crusher, and I bear Tvaṣṭṛ, and Pūṣan and Bhaga. I bestow wealth on the one who offers oblation, on the sacrificer who presses Soma and is worthy of aid.
10.125.3 I am the queen, the gatherer of treasures, the discerning one, foremost among those worthy of worship. The gods distributed me in many places — I who have many abodes, who enter into many things.
10.125.4 Through me, whoever sees, whoever breathes, whoever hears what is spoken — eats food. Those who do not know me dwell beside me. Hear, O you who are heard! I speak to you what is worthy of trust.
10.125.5 I alone speak this, beloved of gods and of men alike. Whomsoever I love, that very one I make mighty — I make him a brahman, a seer, a person of great wisdom.
10.125.6 I stretch the bow for Rudra, that his arrow may slay the hater of sacred knowledge. I make battle for the people; I have entered into heaven and earth.
10.125.7 I give birth to the father of this world upon its summit. My womb is in the waters, within the ocean. From there I spread through all the worlds, and with my greatness I touch yonder sky.
10.125.8 I myself blow like the wind, embracing all the worlds. Beyond the sky and beyond this earth — such is my greatness; I have become.
10.126.1 No distress, no sin has touched that mortal, O gods, whom Aryaman, Mitra and Varuṇa lead in agreement past his enemies.
10.126.2 For that very thing we choose you, O Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman — by which you guard and lead the mortal free from distress, past his enemies.
10.126.3 May those — Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman — now come here for our aid. The most skilled guides shall guide us on our going; the best ferriers shall ferry us across, past our enemies.
10.126.4 You protect the whole world — Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman. May we be in your dear shelter, well-guided, past our enemies.
10.126.5 The Ādityas — Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman — pass beyond those who slip. We invoke fierce Rudra with the Maruts, and Indra and Agni, for our welfare, past our enemies.
10.126.6 Be leaders then for us across — Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman — past all mishaps, kings of humankind, past our enemies.
10.126.7 May Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman, grant us abundant aid — may the Ādityas of wide renown grant shelter for what we seek, past our enemies.
10.126.8 Just as you, O Vasus, O adorable gods, once freed even the aurochs-cow that was bound by the foot — so now release us from distress! O Agni, stretch our life forward, still farther.
10.127.1 The divine Night, arriving, has looked forth in many places with her eyes. She has put on all glories.
10.127.2 The immortal goddess has filled the wide depths and the heights. With her light she drives away the darkness.
10.127.3 The goddess, arriving now, has indeed sent away her sister Dawn. And now the darkness too retreats, withdrawing.
10.127.4 She, at whose passage today we have settled down as birds settle into a tree to their dwelling — to that one be propitious to us.
10.127.5 The villages have settled down, the creatures with feet have settled, and so too the birds — even the eagles, intent on their prey.
10.127.6 Keep away the she-wolf and the wolf, keep away the thief, O Ūrmī — and then be easy for us to pass through.
10.127.7 The darkness, thick and palpable, has crept up and enveloped me. O Dawn, like a debt, make it pay and depart.
10.127.8 I have approached you as cattle approach — accept it, O daughter of heaven; receive this praise-song, O Night, as one who has won the prize.
10.128.1 May my brilliance be present, O Agni, in the manifold invocations; kindling you, may we nourish our bodies. May the four quarters bow down to me; with you as our overlord, may we conquer in battles.
10.128.2 May all the gods be in my invocation — the Maruts with Indra, Viṣṇu, and Agni. May the midspace and the wide realm be mine; may the wind blow for me in this desire.
10.128.3 May the gods sacrifice wealth into me; may blessing be upon me, may the invocation of the gods be upon me. The divine hotars of old sought to win — may we be unharmed in body and rich in heroic sons.
10.128.4 Let them sacrifice for me; may the intent of my oblation be true to my mind's purpose. May I not fall into any sin whatever — let all you gods speak in my behalf.
10.128.5 Make the six divine spacious realms wide for us; all you gods, show your heroic power here! May we not lose progeny or bodies; may we not fall into the power of him who hates us, O King Soma.
10.128.6 O Agni, warding off the fury of our enemies, inviolable guardian, protect us! May their hidden foes go back again; may their wakened thought come to naught.
10.128.7 May Dhātṛ the establisher, lord of the world, the divine protector who overcomes assailants — may both Aśvins, Bṛhaspati, and the gods guard this sacrifice and the sacrificer from harm.
10.128.8 May the great bull of wide reach grant us shelter in this invocation — the much-invoked, the much-possessing one. O Indra of the bay steeds, be merciful to us for our progeny; do not harm us, do not abandon us.
10.128.9 Let our rivals be away from us; we press them down with Indra and Agni. The Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas have made the fierce, all-knowing overlord to reach on high.
10.129.1 Then was neither non-being nor being; there was neither the realm of space nor the sky beyond. What stirred? Where? In whose shelter? Was there water, the deep and unfathomable?
10.129.2 Death was not then, nor immortality; no signal was there of night and day. That One breathed, windless, by its own power; other than that, nothing whatsoever existed.
10.129.3 Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning; all this was undifferentiated water. The life-force that was covered with emptiness — that One arose through the power of heat.
10.129.4 Desire came upon That One in the beginning — that which was the primal seed, born of the mind. The seers, searching within their hearts with wisdom, found the bond of being in non-being.
10.129.5 Their cord was stretched across — was it below? Was it above? There were seed-placers; there were powers. Self-sufficiency below, impulse above.
10.129.6 Who truly knows? Who here shall proclaim it? Whence was it born? Whence came this creation? The gods came after the creation of this world — who then knows from where it arose?
10.129.7 He from whom this creation arose — whether he made it or whether he did not — he who is its overseer in the highest heaven, he alone knows — or perhaps he does not know.
10.130.1 The sacrifice that was spread on all sides with threads — the one-hundred-and-one, extended by the acts of the gods — these fathers who came as weavers now sit weaving at the web, crying 'Weave on, weave on.'
10.130.2 A man extends it; a man cuts it up; a man has spread it out upon this vault of heaven. These pegs have taken their seat together — they have made the sāmans the shuttle-bobbins for the weaving.
10.130.3 What was the measure? What was the model? What was the fastening? What was the ghee? What was the enclosure? What was the meter? What was the introductory chant? What was the recitation — when all the gods sacrificed to the god?
10.130.4 Agni was joined to the Gāyatrī; Savitṛ came together with the Uṣṇih meter; Soma, great with anuṣṭubh recitations, was yoked to them; Bṛhaspati's Bṛhatī covered speech.
10.130.5 The Virāj is the glory of Mitra and Varuṇa; the Triṣṭubh is Indra's portion of the day here. The Jagatī entered into all the gods; with that the seers and human beings were made fit.
10.130.6 The seers and human beings were made fit by that, when the sacrifice was born, our fathers of old. With the mind's eye, I think I see those who first performed this sacrifice.
10.130.7 Together with the praise-songs, together with the meters bound together, together with the measures — the seven divine seers. The wise ones, looking back along the path of the ancients, grasped the reins like chariot-drivers.
10.131.1 Drive away from us, O Indra, O conqueror, all enemies toward the east, drive them toward the west; drive them toward the north, drive the mighty ones downward, that we may rejoice in thy broad shelter.
10.131.2 Do those who have barley indeed thresh the barley in order, one after another? Make the enjoyments of those here and here [for us], who have not come [merely] to bend the knee at the sacred grass.
10.131.3 Not by the proper season is the [fitting] time of your coming, nor has renown been found in assemblies — the inspired poets, desiring cattle, desiring horses, seeking the stallion Indra for friendship.
10.131.4 You two Aśvins, while drinking the surā with the Asura Namuci, O lords of splendour, having drunk deeply, helped Indra in his deeds.
10.131.5 Like two parents [guarding] a son, you two Aśvins aided Indra with your wisdom and wondrous powers. When thou drankest the surā in full with thy might, Sarasvatī, O bountiful one, sprinkled thee.
10.131.6 May Indra, the good protector, self-sufficient with his aids, all-knowing, be gracious to us. May he thrust back enmity, make us fearless — may we be lords of heroic vigour.
10.131.7 May we be in the good favour and the blessed benevolence of that worshipful one. May that Indra, the good protector, self-sufficient, drive enmity far away from us, even from afar.
10.132.1 Heaven, rich in good treasure, blessed the sacrificer; Earth, the abundant bestower, [blessed] the sacrificer. The two divine Aśvins caused the sacrificer to thrive with their favours.
10.132.2 You two, O Mitra and Varuṇa, supporters of the settlements, we worship, urged on by your great favour. May we, through friendship with you twain, be beyond the reach of demons.
10.132.3 Even now, as we strive toward you with the dear wealth that we cherish — or as the wealth he has given thrives — none [can] dispute his bounties.
10.132.4 That other [sky] was born as a heaven, O Asura; thou, O Varuṇa, art king of all. The head of the chariot so chosen — not so great a guilt does a sin-destroyer [demand].
10.132.5 In this [friend], truly, O Śakapūta, this guilt [lies]: one kills the heroes who are bound in Mitra held fast. Or what benefit he established in their own bodies, in those dear to them and sacred to the sacrifice.
10.132.6 For Aditi, your mother, all-wise, has purified [you both] with her milk, like Heaven or like Earth. [Now] shine down, beloved ones; the Sun has anointed [you] with his rays.
10.132.7 For you two, kings of possession, were seated in the standing chariot, resting on the shaft, sitting in the forest. May those [helpers], roaring for us — Nṛmedhas saved us from trouble; Sumedhas saved from trouble.
10.133.1 Sing forth a mighty [hymn] to Indra, with the pūroratham [verse] first. Even in close combat a world-maker, in encounters and in battles a slayer of Vṛtra — be our inciter. May the bowstrings of the others snap on their bows.
10.133.2 Thou didst release the rivers flowing downward, thou didst slay the serpent. O Indra, thou wast born without enemies; thou dost nourish all that is desirable — thee we embrace. May the bowstrings of the others snap on their bows.
10.133.3 May all the hostile ones perish; may those of the enemy not harm our prayers. Thou art the hurler of the slaying bolt against the foe who would kill us, O Indra; thy bounty gives wealth. May the bowstrings of the others snap on their bows.
10.133.4 Whoever of the people around us, O Indra, points out [the way] with the eye of a wolf — bring him down low; thou art the repeller, the conqueror. May the bowstrings of the others snap on their bows.
10.133.5 Whoever harms us, O Indra, whether he be of our own kin or a stranger — overcome his strength, as great Heaven does by its own power. May the bowstrings of the others snap on their bows.
10.133.6 We, O Indra, yearning for thee, take hold of friendship. May he lead us by the path of Ṛta beyond all evils. May the bowstrings of the others snap on their bows.
10.133.7 Do thou, O Indra, generously grant us that [cow] who yields according to the wish of the praiser — may the great cow with a thousand streams, with unbroken udder, pour milk upon us.
10.134.1 When thou, O Indra, didst fill both the world-halves, like the Dawn — the divine mother brought thee forth, great, emperor of the great ones, sovereign of the peoples; the auspicious mother brought thee forth.
10.134.2 Pierce through the stubborn [body] of the mortal who is ill-intentioned toward us; bring low him who points [enemies] at us — the divine mother brought thee forth, the auspicious mother brought thee forth.
10.134.3 Shake down those great refreshments, bright as all things, O slayer of enemies; with thy powers, O Śakra, O Indra, with all thy aids — the divine mother brought thee forth, the auspicious mother brought thee forth.
10.134.4 When thou, O Indra of a hundred powers, shakest all things down, together with riches for the soma-presser, with a thousandfold of aids — the divine mother brought thee forth, the auspicious mother brought thee forth.
10.134.5 Let the missiles fall in all directions around like drops of sweat; may ill-will depart from us like the threads of the dūrvā grass — the divine mother brought thee forth, the auspicious mother brought thee forth.
10.134.6 For thou bearest the goad like a long hook, O thoughtful one; with thy former step, O bountiful one, thou dost direct the people like Yama — the divine mother brought thee forth, the auspicious mother brought thee forth.
10.134.7 We do not injure the gods; we do not obstruct [their worship]; we walk [the path of] obedience to the sacred word. Here, with wings and with embracing arms, we together take hold [of you].
10.135.1 In the tree with beautiful leaves where Yama drinks with the gods — there our father, the lord of the dwelling, delights in the ancient ones.
10.135.2 I gazed after him, the one who follows after the ancient ones, walking along the evil path; grieving, I yearned for him once more.
10.135.3 The new chariot without wheels which thou, O boy, didst fashion in thy mind — it has but a single shaft, facing all sides: thou climbest upon it unseen.
10.135.4 The chariot thou, O boy, didst set rolling beyond the wise sages — that [chariot] rolled on together with [the hymn]; a boat was set on [the voyage].
10.135.5 Who begat the boy? Who set the chariot rolling? Who could today tell us how the gift-for-the-dead came to be?
10.135.6 As the gift-for-the-dead came to be, from that the beginning was born. The foundation was spread out in front; behind, the exit was made.
10.135.7 This dwelling of Yama, which is called the god-built hall — here his flute is blown, here he is adorned with songs.
10.136.1 The Keśin bears fire; the Keśin bears poison; the Keśin bears heaven and earth. The Keśin bears all to behold the sun; the Keśin is called this light.
10.136.2 The munis are girdled with the wind; they wear soiled [garments] of yellowish-brown hue. They follow the rushing course of the wind, wherever the gods have vanished.
10.136.3 Exhilarated by the state of the muni, we have mounted the wind. You mortals behold only our bodies.
10.136.4 He flies through the mid-air; he has seen all forms. The muni is the friend placed [as companion] for the good work of every god and every god.
10.136.5 The steed of the wind, the companion of Vāyu — the muni is impelled by the gods. He dwells upon both oceans, the eastern and the western.
10.136.6 Roaming in the footsteps of the Apsarasas, the Gandharvas, and the beasts — the Keśin, knowing [all] intentions, is the sweetest and most intoxicating friend.
10.136.7 Vāyu churned [the drink] for him; Kunannamā pounded it. The Keśin drank from the cup of poison when he drank together with Rudra.
10.137.1 O gods, what is cast down, the gods lift up again. O gods, even one who has committed sin, the gods restore to life again.
10.137.2 These two winds blow, from the Sindhu and from the far distance. May one blow vigour to thee; may the other blow away whatever disease [there is].
10.137.3 Blow hither the healing, O Wind; blow away the disease, O Wind. For thou art the universal healer; thou movest as the messenger of the gods.
10.137.4 I have come to thee with blessings, also with protections from harm. I have brought thee auspicious vigour; I drive away disease from thee.
10.137.5 May the gods protect him here; may the host of the Maruts protect him. May all beings protect him, so that he may be free from harm.
10.137.6 The Waters are indeed healers; the Waters dispel disease. The Waters are the remedy for all — may they work healing for thee.
10.137.7 With both hands, the ten-branched ones, and the tongue that leads speech — with those two free-from-disease [hands], we touch thee with them.
10.138.1 Those bearers of oblation in thy friendships, O Indra, pondering the sacred order, burst Vala apart — where, honouring the Dawns and releasing the waters, [thou didst act] for Kutsa's praise, with thy wondrous deeds against the serpent.
10.138.2 Thou didst release the springs; driving forward, thou didst push away the mountains; thou didst drive up the bright [cows], thou drankest the dear sweet drink. Thou didst magnify the forests with his wonder; the Sun blazed with the hymn born of sacred order.
10.138.3 The Sun released his chariot in the mid-sky; the Ārya found a match for the Dāsa. The strongholds of Pipru the Asura, the deceiver — Indra burst them apart, acting together with Ṛjiśvan.
10.138.4 The irresistible one violently burst apart the irresistible [things]; Ayāsya crushed the god-less hoards. Like the Sun [taking] the communal wealth of the month, being praised he shattered the enemies with his gleaming [power].
10.138.5 Ayuddhasena, by the widespread [Indra] who cleaves, [the enemy] was granted [defeat]; the slayer of Vṛtra hones his sharp weapons. The crusher trembled at Indra's bolt; Śundhyu strode forth; the Dawn abandoned her car.
10.138.6 These are thy renowned [deeds], solely thine own, when one by one thou madest them offer no sacrifice. Thou didst place the ordering of the months in heaven; the father carries the wheel-rim split by thee.
10.139.1 Savitṛ with golden locks has raised up his light ceaselessly from the east. Pūṣan, knowing, goes forth at his impulse, the herdsman beholding all the worlds.
10.139.2 He, the beholder of men, stands in the mid-sky, having filled the two world-halves and the mid-air. He gazes all around at the luminous [regions], between the eastern and the western brightness.
10.139.3 The foundation of wealth, the meeting-place of riches — he beholds all forms with his powers. Like the god Savitṛ of true ordinance, like Indra, he has not halted in the battle for treasures.
10.139.4 The Waters who had seen Viśvāvasu, the Gandharva, the Soma — they departed by sacred order. Indra, pleased, tracked them; he looked around at the enclosures of the Sun.
10.139.5 May Viśvāvasu, the heavenly Gandharva who measures out the firmament, sing that for us. Whether it be the truth, or whether we know it not — may he, spurring our thoughts, protect our thoughts.
10.139.6 He found the winning one at the course of the rivers; he opened the doors of the rocky enclosures. The Gandharva declared the immortal [words] to them; Indra came to know the power of the serpents.
10.140.1 O Agni, great is thy fame; thy flames blaze, O Vibhāvasu. O Bṛhadbhānu, with thy might thou bestowest the prize worth hymning upon the worshipping sage.
10.140.2 With purifying splendour, with bright splendour, with undiminished splendour thou risest with thy light. Moving about as a son [between] his two mothers, thou dost approach and fill both Heaven and Earth.
10.140.3 O grandson of Strength, O Jātavedas, rejoice with our fair praises, gladdened by [our] devotions. In thee the many-formed ones, of various refreshments, born of bounty, have gathered together their impulses.
10.140.4 Ruling, O Agni, O immortal, spread thyself widely through living beings among us as [bringer of] wealth. Thou shinest with radiant form; thou dost fill the winning purpose [with vigour].
10.140.5 Thou bestowest the great, auspicious gift of bounty and impulse with winning wealth — thou, the all-wise performer of the sacrifice, the sovereign of great munificence.
10.140.6 Men have placed Agni foremost for [their] welfare — the great bull, obedient to sacred order, visible to all, the one who hears [prayer]. With song, O divine one, the generations of men [praise] thee, the most widely renowned, whose ear is open.
10.141.1 O Agni, speak here toward us; turn to us with favour, be well-disposed. Bestow gifts upon us, O Lord of the clan — for it is thou who art the giver of wealth to us.
10.141.2 May Aryamā bestow gifts upon us, may Bhaga, may Bṛhaspati; may the gods bestow, and also Sūnṛtā — may the divine lady of riches give to us.
10.141.3 We invoke King Soma for our aid, and Agni with our songs; the Ādityas, Viṣṇu, Sūrya, and Brahmāṇaspati.
10.141.4 Indra-and-Vāyu, and Bṛhaspati — we invoke them here with easy invocation, so that every person in the assembly may be well-disposed toward us.
10.141.5 Urge Aryaman, Bṛhaspati, and Indra to bestow gifts; urge Vāta, Viṣṇu, Sarasvatī, and Savitṛ, the impeller of prizes.
10.141.6 Do thou, O Agni, increase our prayer and sacrifice with thy fires; do thou impel the gods to come and wealth to be given to us.
10.142.1 This praiser, O Agni, O son of strength, has become dependent on thee — there is indeed no other refuge. For thy shelter is threefold and beneficent; keep far from us the gleam of those who would harm.
10.142.2 Thy birth is on the downward slope, O Agni, as thou seekest nourishment; like a companion thou dost embrace all beings. Let our seven hymns go forward and win prizes; they move in front, of their own accord, like a keeper of cattle.
10.142.3 Or thou dost devour all around with thy devouring mouth, O Agni of the thicket — thou who art self-sustaining; and the clumps become the cleared fields of the fertile tracts. May we not have provoked thy terrible missile.
10.142.4 When thou dost devour going over heights and into hollows, thou dost advance in different directions like an insatiable army; when the wind blows with thy blazing, thou dost shave the land, as a barber shaves the beard.
10.142.5 His ranks are seen all facing one single way; many are the chariots pursuing the single course. When, O Agni, smoothing thy arms along, thou dost search the upturned earth, bending downward.
10.142.6 Let thy vigour rise up, let thy flame rise up, let the prizes of thee, O Agni, who hast laboured, rise up; rear thyself up and bow down as thou growest — today let all the Vasus take their seat in thee.
10.142.7 This is the downward course of the waters, the resting-place of the ocean; make for thyself another path from here — along that path go thou following the cows.
10.142.8 On thy coming-path and going-path, may flowering Dūrvā grasses grow; and ponds with lotuses — these are the houses of the ocean.
10.143.1 That Atri, made old by truth, swift to the goal as a horse to be driven — even Kakṣīvant, do ye two renew him as if making a chariot new.
10.143.2 Him, like a vigorous horse whom the particles of dust had covered — do ye two loosen the firm knot; bring Atri, made most young again, into the light.
10.143.3 O most wonder-working heroes, resplendent ones, ye two are eager to win hymns for Atri; and now, O men of heaven, a praise-song goes to you in turn for your renown.
10.143.4 That gift of yours and that good-will is conspicuous, O Aśvins of rich bounty — when, O heroes, ye carry us through in the wide assembly-place of our gathering.
10.143.5 Ye two brought Bhujyu, who had been tossed beyond the sea, to the farther shore of the realm of cloud; come hither with winged steeds, O Nāsatyas, made ready for the winning.
10.143.6 O most bountiful ones, knowing all things, come to us with your blessings, like beneficent spirits; adorn us, O heroes, with refreshments swelling like a spring.
10.144.1 This immortal drop, O Indra, speeds like a swift horse; this is the power, the all-sustaining life, for the ordainer.
10.144.2 This is the wise, Ṛbhu-like, the thunderbolt for the pious worshipper; this bears the exhilaration that makes the hairs stand erect — like Ṛbhu, the exhilaration wrought with skill.
10.144.3 Eager, practised for the falcon, going to its own proper haunts; it has shone down — the one that incites the serpent-slayer.
10.144.4 That which the fair-winged one — the son of the falcon — brought from the distant region: the one of a hundred circles, the track of the serpent.
10.144.5 That which the falcon brought to thee with its foot, the lovely, harmless, ruddy measure of the Soma plant — by this, the life-giving power extends over life and living; by this, kinship keeps its vigil.
10.144.6 Thus, O Indra, with the drop, even among the gods, the great vigour is maintained; through wisdom the life-giving force extends over life, O wise one — through wisdom this has been pressed out from us for thee.
10.145.1 I dig up this plant, the most powerful of herbs, by which one drives away a rival wife, by which one wins a husband.
10.145.2 O plant with spreading leaves, O auspicious one, propelled by the gods, O powerful one — blow my rival wife away; make my husband mine alone.
10.145.3 I am the higher, I am higher, I am yet higher than the highest; and the rival wife who is mine — she shall be the lower, lower than the lowest.
10.145.4 I do not even take her name, nor does that person take delight in her — we shall drive the rival wife to the very farthest distance.
10.145.5 I am the conquering one, and thou art the utterly vanquishing one; both of us, having become conquering women together, let us overcome my rival wife.
10.145.6 I have placed the conquering one upon thee; I have overpowered thee with one yet more conquering. May thy mind run after me as a cow after her calf, as water runs along its path.
10.146.1 O Forest Goddess, O Forest Goddess — thou who seemest to vanish in the distance — why dost thou not ask after the village? Does no fear come upon thee?
10.146.2 When the cicada sings in answer to the bell-calling bull, the Forest Goddess is exalted, as if driving on with bells.
10.146.3 It seems as if cattle are grazing; it seems as if a dwelling is visible; and in the evening the Forest Goddess releases, as it were, the sound of creaking carts.
10.146.4 Here one hears a cow being called; here someone has cut wood; one who dwells in the forest at evening thinks he has heard a shout.
10.146.5 The Forest Goddess does not slay anyone unless some other comes upon her; having eaten of the sweet fruit, she lies down at will.
10.146.6 Fragrant with collyrium-scent, sweet-smelling, rich in food, not ploughing — I have praised the Forest Goddess, the mother of wild beasts.
10.147.1 I place my faith in thy foremost fury, in that day when thou, O manly one, didst cleave Vṛtra and release the waters; when both the worlds trembled at thy vigour, O Indra, and even the earth shook at thee who wearest the stone.
10.147.2 Thou, O blameless one, with thy magic powers didst crush Vṛtra the magician by the mind that seeks glory; thee indeed do warriors choose in contests for cattle, thee in all desirable sacrificial rites.
10.147.3 Be gladdened, O much-invoked Indra, among these patrons — the thriving ones who, O Maghavan, have attained to bounty; they worship thee the prize-winner in contests for children and offspring, in winning of Soma, in shameless pursuit of wealth.
10.147.4 He indeed is delighted by the wealth well borne, who perceives the swiftness of it; O Maghavan, he who has grown strong through thee, whose sacrifice is offered, quickly wins the prize and riches through heroic men.
10.147.5 Being praised with greatness for the bold troop, make wide space, O Maghavan — be capable of giving riches; thou art our friend, O wonderworker, like Varuṇa the wise; like the food-allotter, thou art gracious in distributing.
10.148.1 We who have pressed the Soma and have won the prize praise thee, O Indra of mighty powers; bring us the bounty in which thou art pleased — aided by thee, may we win it with body and offspring.
10.148.2 Thou art exalted, O hero Indra, born to overcome the Dāsa folk with the Sun; we carry the hidden, secret thing concealed in the waters, as the Soma in a flowing stream.
10.148.3 Or let the inspired sage, knowing the words of the seers, sing out hymns for thee, desiring thy favour; may we be among those who rejoice thee with Soma draughts, yoked to thee, O chariot-rider, with their shares.
10.148.4 These prayers, O Indra, I offer to thee — give heroes' heroic power to the men, O hero; be of one mind with those in whom thou art pleased, and protect both the singer and the women.
10.148.5 Hear the spacious call, O hero Indra, and thou art praised with the hymns of the desirable one; those floods that rush like tidal waves into thy ghee-filled birthplace, making it gleam.
10.149.1 Savitṛ fixed the earth with supports; Savitṛ propped the sky without a pillar; he milked out the restless atmosphere as if a horse; Savitṛ bound the ocean that is unfathomable.
10.149.2 Where the braced ocean spread out, Savitṛ, the Son of the Waters, knows of it; from thence the earth arose, from thence the bright space arose, from thence Heaven-and-Earth expanded.
10.149.3 Afterwards there came into being the other sacred thing — by the abundance of the immortal world; the fair-winged Garuḍa was born before Savitṛ himself, and he follows even Savitṛ's law.
10.149.4 As cattle come to the village, as the fighter to the horses, as a lowing cow, milking sweetly, to the calf — may Savitṛ, all-desirable upholder of heaven, come to us like a husband to his wife.
10.149.5 O Savitṛ of the golden pillar, as Aṅgiras invoked thee for this prize — so, worshipping and praising thee for aid, I am wakeful toward the shoot of Soma.
10.150.1 Though already kindled, thou dost kindle thyself afresh as the bearer of oblations to the gods; come to us with the Ādityas, the Rudras, and the Vasus — come to us for our welfare.
10.150.2 Rejoicing in this sacrifice and this speech, come near; we mortals invoke thee, O thou who art kindled — we invoke thee for our welfare.
10.150.3 Thee, O Jātavedas, thee all-desirable, I praise with my prayer; O Agni, bring to us the gods of beloved rites — for our welfare, those of beloved rites.
10.150.4 Agni became the divine priest of the gods; the human sages have kindled Agni; I invoke Agni in the great contest for wealth — for welfare, for the winning of wealth.
10.150.5 Agni aided Atri, Bharadvāja, and Gaviṣṭhira; he aided Kaṇva and Trasadasyu in battle; Vasiṣṭha, the divine priest, invokes Agni — for welfare, as divine priest.
10.151.1 By Śraddhā (Faith) Agni is kindled; by Śraddhā the oblation is offered. I proclaim Śraddhā at the head of Bhaga (the Bountiful Lord), with my voice.
10.151.2 O Śraddhā, make dear the one who gives; make dear the one who desires to give. Make this utterance of mine dear among the generous and among the sacrificers.
10.151.3 Just as the gods placed Śraddhā in the Asuras and in the mighty ones, so make our utterance dear among the generous and among the sacrificers.
10.151.4 The gods and the worshippers, guarded by Vāyu, attend upon Śraddhā. By Śraddhā, by the sincere resolve of the heart, one obtains riches.
10.151.5 Śraddhā we invoke in the morning; Śraddhā we invoke at midday; Śraddhā we invoke at the setting of the sun. O Śraddhā, cause us to have faith here.
10.152.1 Thus command, thou who art great, the miraculous devourer of enemies. He whose friend is never slain and never in any way overcome.
10.152.2 May Indra, the lord of the people, the giver of welfare, the slayer of Vṛtra, the subduer of enemies, the mighty bull, the drinker of soma, the bestower of fearlessness, go before us.
10.152.3 Drive away the Rakṣas; drive away the oppressors; smash the jaws of Vṛtra. Drive away, O Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, the wrath of the enemy who attacks us.
10.152.4 Drive away our oppressors, O Indra; press down the assailants. He who attacks us — send him down to the lower darkness.
10.152.5 Drive away, O Indra, the mind of the hater; drive away the blow of him who seeks to overcome us. Grant the shelter of thy grace; keep away the weapon afar.
10.153.1 They who are active, swinging, attend on newly-born Indra; they have attained heroic strength.
10.153.2 Thou, O Indra, wast born with surpassing strength, from might and vigour. Thou, O bull, art indeed the bull.
10.153.3 Thou, O Indra, art the slayer of Vṛtra; thou didst extend the atmosphere apart. With thy might thou didst prop up the sky.
10.153.4 Thou, O Indra, bearest in thy arms the hymn along with the dawn, whetting the vajra with thy might.
10.153.5 Thou, O Indra, art the overpowerer of all beings with thy might. Thou hast become the lord over all existing things.
10.154.1 For some Soma flows purified; for others ghee is attended upon; for those for whom honey streams forth — to them verily may this one (the deceased) go.
10.154.2 Those who by austerity are invincible, those who by austerity have gone to heaven, those who have made great austerity — to them verily may this one go.
10.154.3 The heroes who fight in battles, who give up their bodies, or those who bestow a thousand sacrificial fees — to them verily may this one go.
10.154.4 Those who first of all served the cosmic order, the guardians of ṛta, the promoters of ṛta — O Yama, send this one to those ascetic Fathers; to them verily may this one go.
10.154.5 Those seers of a thousand paths who guard the sun — O Yama, may this one go to those ascetic ṛṣis, to those born of tapas.
10.155.1 O one-eyed, disfigured Arāyī (niggardly demon), go to the mountain without a path. With the warriors of Śirimbiṭha do we drive thee away.
10.155.2 Driven hence and driven thence, O red one who destroys all embryos — O Lord of prayer (Bṛhaspati), come here with sharp horns, looking at the Arāyī (niggardly demoness).
10.155.3 That piece of timber which floats yonder on the other bank of the river, uninhabited by men — seize it, O evil-natured one; with it cross over to the farther shore.
10.155.4 Those who came from the east, the maṇḍūradhāṇikīḥ (dealers in iron-rust), all the enemies of Indra were slain, swift as bubbles.
10.155.5 They have led the cow around me; they have carried the fire around; among the gods they have won fame. Who now shall dare attack this woman?
10.156.1 Let our prayers urge Agni on like a swift horse in the races; by him may we win wealth upon wealth.
10.156.2 O Agni, by that army of thine, under thy protection, with which we have gathered cattle — urge that on for us to gain wealth.
10.156.3 O Agni, bring us abundant, wide-spreading wealth, rich in cattle and in horses; fill the well; turn away the Paṇi (miser).
10.156.4 O Agni, cause the ageless star, the sun, to rise in the sky, bearing light for mankind.
10.156.5 O Agni, thou art the banner of the clans; thou art the most beloved, the best who is present. Be aware of the singer; grant him vigour.
10.157.1 May Indra and all the gods now fulfil these worlds for us.
10.157.2 May Indra together with the Ādityas arrange for us the sacrifice, our bodies, and our progeny.
10.157.3 May Indra, together with the Ādityas and in company with the Maruts, be the protector of our bodies.
10.157.4 When the gods came, having slain the Asuras, guarding their divine sovereignty —
10.157.5 — they brought back the sun-hymn (the light) with their powers; and thereupon they beheld the vigorous self-law (svadhā, the primordial order of the universe).
10.158.1 May the Sun protect us from the sky; may Vāyu (the Wind) protect us from the atmosphere; may Agni protect us from earthly dangers.
10.158.2 O Savitṛ, thy golden arm is worthy of a hundred impulsions (savā). Protect us from the falling lightning.
10.158.3 May the divine Savitṛ grant us sight; may the mountain grant us sight; may Dhātṛ (the Creator) bestow sight upon us.
10.158.4 Grant us sight for the sake of seeing; grant us sight for beholding, for our bodies. May we together look out and see around us.
10.158.5 May we look upon thee, O Sūrya, beautiful in appearance. May we behold thee, endowed with vision like men.
10.159.1 Yonder sun has risen; this my good fortune (bhaga) has risen. I, who am wise and ever-victorious, have overcome my husband entirely.
10.159.2 I am the banner; I am the head; I am the powerful one who speaks out. My husband shall follow my will; let him attend upon me who am victorious.
10.159.3 My sons are slayers of enemies; my daughter is a ruling queen. I myself am all-conquering; and my praise is supreme among my husband's people.
10.159.4 With that oblation by which Indra performed his deed and became supremely resplendent — O gods, by that have I become free from rivals.
10.159.5 Rival-free, slayer of rivals, victorious and overpowering — I have seized the lustre of those others as if seizing the wealth of those who offer nothing.
10.159.6 I have conquered these rivals of mine, I who am the overpowerer; so that I may reign supreme over this hero and over his people.
10.160.1 Drink of this sharp and invigorating draught; release both thy bay horses here, O all-conquering one. Let not other worshippers turn thee away, O Indra; these soma-pressings are for thee.
10.160.2 For thee are these pressed drinks; for thee too are the soma-pressings; the praises of the assembly call thee hither. O Indra, delighting in this pressing of today, knowing all things, drink the soma here.
10.160.3 He who with eager mind, with whole heart, devoted to the gods, presses soma for Indra — his cattle Indra does not give away to another; he makes for him a praiseworthy and pleasing (outcome).
10.160.4 He is left to suffer who, though wealthy, does not press soma for Indra. The bountiful Indra lays him down in misfortune; he slays the hater of sacred prayer, himself unbidden.
10.160.5 Desiring horses, desiring cattle, desiring booty, we call thee, that thou shouldst come to us. Seeking favour in thy new grace, may we call thee, O Indra, for happiness.
10.161.1 I release you with oblation for the sake of life, from the unknown consumption and from the royal consumption (rājayakṣma). If the Grāhī (the seizing demon) has seized him, from her, O Indra and Agni, set this one free.
10.161.2 Whether his life-span is exhausted, whether he has already departed, whether he has been led to the very threshold of Death — I bring him back from the lap of Nirṛti; I have rescued him for a hundred autumns.
10.161.3 With the thousand-eyed oblation that brings a hundred autumns and a hundred years of life, I have fetched him back — that Indra may lead this man through a hundred autumns, beyond all misfortune.
10.161.4 Live a hundred autumns, growing in strength; live a hundred winters, a hundred springs! May Indra, Agni, Savitṛ, Bṛhaspati restore this man again with an oblation that bestows a hundred years of life.
10.161.5 I have brought you back; I have found you; you have come again, renewed. O whole-limbed one, all your sight have I found for you, and all your life-span.
10.162.1 May Agni, the slayer of demons, acting in concert with sacred prayer (brahman), drive away from here the disease called Amīvā, of evil name, that lies lurking in your womb and endangers your embryo.
10.162.2 That Amīvā of evil name which lies lurking in your womb threatening your embryo — Agni together with brahman has driven out that flesh-eating demon.
10.162.3 Him who kills the (embryo) that flies about, that settles in the womb, that creeps — him who seeks to destroy the child once born — that one we drive away from here.
10.162.4 Him who forces apart your thighs when husband and wife lie together, who licks inside the womb — that one we drive away from here.
10.162.5 Him who, having become as a brother or a husband, or as a lover, lies down upon you — who seeks to destroy your offspring — that one we drive away from here.
10.162.6 Him who, having deluded you through sleep and darkness, lies down upon you — who seeks to destroy your offspring — that one we drive away from here.
10.163.1 From your eyes, from your nostrils, from your ears, from your chin — the head-disease (śīrṣaṇya yakṣma) from your brain and from your tongue — I tear it out for you.
10.163.2 From your neck, from your nape (uṣṇihā), from your vertebrae (kīkasā), from the spine (anūkya) — the shoulder-disease (doṣaṇya yakṣma) from your shoulders and from your arms — I tear it out for you.
10.163.3 From your intestines, from your rectum, from the vaniṣṭhu (belly-region), and from above your heart — the disease from your kidneys (matasnā), from your liver, from your spleen — I tear it out for you.
10.163.4 From your thighs, from your knees, from your heels, from the balls of your feet — the disease from your hips, from the buttocks, from the hinder parts — I tear it out for you.
10.163.5 From the organ of urination, from the groin (vanaṁkaraṇa), from your body hair, from your nails — the disease from your entire self — this one I tear out for you.
10.163.6 That which has arisen from limb to limb, from hair to hair, from joint to joint — the disease from your entire self — this one I tear out for you.
10.164.1 Depart, O lord of the mind; step away, go far off! Speak of the manifold mind of the living man from beyond Nirṛti (Dissolution).
10.164.2 Auspicious indeed is the boon they choose; auspicious is the right hand they yoke. Auspicious is the eye of Vaivasvata (Yama); manifold is the mind of the living man.
10.164.3 Whatever wrong we have incurred through hope, through imprecation, through slander, while awake or while asleep — may Agni place all evil deeds, all things displeasing, far away from us.
10.164.4 O Indra, O lord of sacred prayer, whatever treachery we commit — may the wise Āṅgirasa guard us from the sin of enemies.
10.164.5 We have conquered today; we shall conquer; we have become free from sin. The evil of waking thought and dreaming, of evil intention — let it befall him whom we hate; let it befall him who hates us.
10.165.1 O gods, this dove, sent purposefully and desiring something, has come here as a messenger of Nirṛti (the goddess of ruin). For him let us sing and perform the rite of expiation. May there be welfare for our two-footed (creatures), welfare for our four-footed (creatures).
10.165.2 May the dove sent (as an omen) be auspicious to us; may the bird be free of sin in our houses, O gods. May Agni, the wise one, accept our oblation; may the winged shaft (of Nirṛti) turn away from us.
10.165.3 May the winged shaft not harm us; it places its foot on the fire-holder (āṣṭryā). May there be welfare for our cattle and our people; may the dove not injure us here, O gods.
10.165.4 What the owl cries — that is in vain; and what the dove's foot touches in the fire. He whose messenger this one has been sent — to that Yama, to Death, let there be homage.
10.165.5 With the Ṛc (verse) drive away the dove, drive it off; exulting in refreshment, lead the cow around. Having closed off all evil, let the most excellent one fly forth, abandoning his strength for us.
10.166.1 Make me the bull among equals, the one who overcomes rivals, the slayer of enemies, the sovereign (virāj), the lord of cattle.
10.166.2 I am the slayer of rivals, unharmed and uninjured like Indra. These rivals are all trodden down beneath my feet.
10.166.3 Right here I tie you (rivals) together, as both ends (of a bow) are tied by the bowstring. O lord of speech, silence these men so that they may speak beneath me.
10.166.4 I have come as the overpowering one, with the power of Viśvakarman. I take possession of your minds, your vows; I take possession of your assembly.
10.166.5 Having taken your welfare and prosperity, may I become the highest; I have stepped upon your heads. Speak up to me from beneath my feet, as frogs (croak) up toward the water, as frogs (speak) from the water.
10.167.1 For you, O Indra, this sweet liquor is poured out; you reign over the pressed (soma) and the jar. Grant us wealth with many heroes; through fervent ardour you have won the heavenly light (svar).
10.167.2 We call upon the mighty, greatly exhilarating, heaven-winning (Soma), around the mighty Śakra (Indra) where it is pressed. O be aware of our sacrifice here, come hither; we beseech the bountiful one (Maghavan) who is victorious in contests.
10.167.3 In the ordinance of King Soma and of Varuṇa, with the approval of Bṛhaspati, in his shelter — in your praise today, O Maghavan, O Dhātṛ, O Vidhātṛ, I have drunk the jars (of Soma).
10.167.4 Urged on, I have taken my share; I have partaken of the food; I, the first sage, polish up this hymn of praise. If with the pressed (Soma) and with (the prize) won I have come to the house of you two — Viśvāmitra and Jamadagni.
10.168.1 Now the greatness of the Wind's chariot — its sound goes crashing and thundering; it touches the sky, turning all things ruddy, and it goes stirring up the dust of the earth.
10.168.2 Along with (the Wind) the troops of the Vātasya (Wind's hosts) rush together; the women go toward him like (going to) an assembly. Yoked together with them, on the same chariot, this god travels — the king of this whole world of beings.
10.168.3 Traveling through the middle air by his paths, he does not rest in any place on any day. The firstborn friend of waters, the guardian of cosmic order (ṛtavan) — where indeed was he born? From whence did he come to be?
10.168.4 The breath (ātman) of the gods, the embryo of the world — this god moves as he wills. His sounds alone are heard, not his form. To that Vāta (Wind) let us offer homage with oblation.
10.169.1 May the bliss-giving Wind blow upon (the cows); may the vigorous plants satisfy them. May the fat-uddered ones, bringing life in their grain, drink; O Rudra, show grace to the quadruped for the good of the settlement.
10.169.2 Those (cows) of like form, of differing form, of one form — those whose names Agni knows by sacred rite — those which the Aṅgirasas employed here for penance: to them, O Parjanya, grant great shelter.
10.169.3 Those (cows) that have displayed their bodies among the gods, all of whose forms Soma knows — those, swelling with milk for us, rich in offspring — let them flow, O Indra, in the cow-stall.
10.169.4 Prajāpati, having gifted these to me, acting in accord with all the gods and ancestors — auspicious as they are, has led them into our cow-stall. Together with their offspring may we sit down with them.
10.170.1 Let the great Resplendent One (Sūrya) drink the sweet Soma-beverage, placing unimpaired life in the lord of the sacrifice. Urged by the Wind, he who guards (creation) by his own power — he has nourished creatures and shines widely in manifold ways.
10.170.2 The great Resplendent One, well-borne, most winning of prizes, established in truth on the foundation of heaven's ordinance — the slayer of non-allies, slayer of Vṛtra, most potent slayer of Dasyus — this light was born, slayer of Asuras and of rivals.
10.170.3 This is the best of lights, the highest light; called the Great, the all-conquering, wealth-conquering. Sūrya — the all-illumining, great in splendour, great to behold — has spread widely together with unfaltering might.
10.170.4 Blazing with light, the sun went to the shining realm (svar), to the luminous realm of heaven — that (light) by which all these worlds are upheld through the all-doing (Viśvakarman), protected by all the divine powers.
10.171.1 You, O Indra, saved that chariot of the one who pressed Soma, the one who had been forced away; you heard the call of the Soma-presser.
10.171.2 You cut off the head of Makha who was shaking violently, you stripped him of his skin; you went to the house of the Soma-presser.
10.171.3 You, O Indra, repeatedly loosen that mortal man, Vena, beloved, from the one who has an arrow-shaft at his base, for the one who is eager in mind.
10.171.4 You, O Indra, caused that sun, which was behind, to come to the fore, even against the will of the gods.
10.172.1 Come hither together with the forest; the cows follow the track with their udders.
10.172.2 Come hither with a treasure-bringing thought, O most munificent one who kindles Makha, with thy bountiful gifts.
10.172.3 Like those sustained by nourishment, we who are bountiful set on the thread; we worship.
10.172.4 Uṣas rolls away the darkness of her sister, she rolls the track well by her noble birth.
10.173.1 I have brought thee hither; abide among us, stand firm, unmoved and unshaken. May all the peoples desire thee; may the kingdom not fall away from thee.
10.173.2 Be here, do not depart; stand firm here, unmoved like a mountain. Stand firm here like Indra; hold fast the kingdom here.
10.173.3 Indra has made him firm with the firm oblation; Soma has spoken for him, and for him the Lord of Prayer has spoken.
10.173.4 Firm is the sky, firm is the earth, firm are these mountains; firm is all this world; firm is this king of the peoples.
10.173.5 May King Varuṇa make thee firm, firm the god Bṛhaspati; may Indra and Agni hold firm thy firm kingship.
10.173.6 With the firm oblation we touch Soma to make him firm; moreover, may Indra make the peoples, all of them, tribute-bearers to thee.
10.174.1 With the all-surrounding oblation with which Indra compassed all about, with that, O Lord of Prayer, turn us round for kingship.
10.174.2 Surpassing the rivals, surpassing those who are our enemies, stand thou over the one who fights against us, over him who hates us.
10.174.3 God Savitṛ has encompassed thee round about, Soma has encompassed thee; all beings have encompassed thee so that thou art the all-surrounding one.
10.174.4 By which oblation Indra, having acted, became most glorious — with this the gods have wrought it: I have indeed become one without a rival.
10.174.5 Without rivals, a slayer of rivals, all-encompassing, overpowering adversaries — so that I may rule over all these beings and over the people.
10.175.1 May god Savitṛ impel you forward, O pressing stones, according to the ordinance; be yoked in the shafts, press out the Soma.
10.175.2 O pressing stones, drive away ill-omen, drive away evil intent; you who are like the rays of dawn, make healing.
10.175.3 The pressing stones, setting about the upper ones in unison, glorify themselves; they bestow on the bull his virile power.
10.175.4 May god Savitṛ now impel you, O pressing stones, according to the ordinance — for the sacrificer who presses.
10.176.1 Loudly the sons of the Ṛbhus shout forth; the settlements exult, they who are all-sustaining on the earth, who have drunk from the cow as from a mother.
10.176.2 With a divine thought bring forward the god Jātavedas; may he carry our offerings in unbroken succession.
10.176.3 This one here who is pious, the Hotṛ, is led forth for the sacrifice; like a well-harnessed chariot he who is full of warmth moves by his own impulse.
10.176.4 This Agni rescues as if from immortality at birth; stronger even than strength, the god is made for the sake of life.
10.177.1 The wise ones behold with heart and mind the bird anointed by the Asura's magic power; the seers discern him within the ocean, and the inspired ones seek the track of the rays.
10.177.2 The bird carries Speech in his mind; the Gandharva uttered it within the womb. The seers guard that shining, heavenly wisdom at the station of the Ṛta.
10.177.3 I saw the Herdsman who never alights, going hither and thither on his paths; clothed in garments that converge and that go in all directions, he moves round and round within the worlds.
10.178.1 Let us invoke here for our well-being that prize-horse Tārkṣya, spurred by the gods, victorious in battles, conqueror of chariots, with unbroken felloes, a champion in battles, swift.
10.178.2 Calling aloud for Indra's gift of bounty, let us mount him for our well-being as a boat; on the wide, broad, deep expanse — may we not be harmed in our going, nor in our return.
10.178.3 He who at once with his might spread the five peoples like the sun with light — his speed that wins thousands, that wins hundreds, does not withdraw from a young woman or an arrow.
10.179.1 Rise up, both of you, look upon Indra's seasonable share; if it is cooked, pour the libation; if uncooked, be ye gladdened.
10.179.2 The oblation is cooked — come forth, O Indra; the sun has gone to the mid-point of the path. Thy companions sit around thee with treasures, as herd-keepers around a leader of the troop as he goes.
10.179.3 I deem it cooked in the udder, cooked in the fire; I deem that truth the newest and best. Drink, O Indra wielder of the vajra, much-doing, enjoying gladly the curds of the midday pressing.
10.180.1 Thou hast overcome the enemies, O Much-invoked; may thy might be supreme, thy generosity here. O Indra, bring wealth with thy right hand; thou art lord of the rich rivers.
10.180.2 Like a fearsome beast that roams the mountains, thou hast come hither from the far-off distance beyond. Sharpening thy sharp blade and bolt, O Indra, strike the enemies asunder, thrust aside the battles.
10.180.3 O Indra, thou wast born with might and lordly power, O bull of the tribes; thou didst thrust away the people who acted as enemies, and madest a wide space for the gods.
10.181.1 Whose name is Pratha and Sapratha — the oblation of the Anuṣṭubh, the offering of that offering — from Dhātṛ the resplendent, from Savitṛ and from Viṣṇu, Vasiṣṭha brought forth the Rathaṃtara Sāman.
10.181.2 They found what had been hidden away — the supreme seat of sacrifice that lay in secret: from Dhātṛ the resplendent, from Savitṛ and Viṣṇu, from Agni, Bharadvāja fashioned the Bṛhat Sāman.
10.181.3 Meditating with the mind, they found the spilled Yajus verse — the first, the path of the gods — from Dhātṛ the resplendent, from Savitṛ and Viṣṇu; these ones brought the gharma (the hot-milk oblation) down from the Sun.
10.182.1 May Bṛhaspati lead us through the difficult passes; may he not guide thought toward the evil-tongued again. Driving away the curse, smiting malevolence, may he then make wellbeing and peace for the sacrificer.
10.182.2 May Narāśaṃsa protect us at the fore-oblation; may there be well-being for us at the after-oblation, in our invocations. Driving away the curse, smiting malevolence, may he then make wellbeing and peace for the sacrificer.
10.182.3 He of the burning head — let him scorch those rākṣasas who hate the sacred word and deserve the arrow of slaying. Driving away the curse, smiting malevolence, may he then make wellbeing and peace for the sacrificer.
10.183.1 I saw you with the mind, wide-awake, born of tapas, manifested through tapas; bestowing offspring here, bestowing wealth here — come forth with progeny, O you who desires a son.
10.183.2 I saw you with the mind, meditating, yearning in your own body in the season's time; may the young woman come up to me — come forth with progeny, O you who desires a son.
10.183.3 I placed the embryo in the plants; I dwell within all the worlds. I have engendered offspring upon the earth; I have given sons to mothers thereafter born.
10.184.1 Let Viṣṇu prepare the womb; let Tvaṣṭṛ fashion the forms; let Prajāpati pour the seed; and let Dhātṛ, the ordainer, establish the embryo in you.
10.184.2 Place the embryo, O Sinīvāli; place the embryo, O Sarasvatī; may the two divine Aśvins, garlanded with lotuses, place the embryo in you.
10.184.3 The golden fire-drill which the two Aśvins churn together — that embryo we invoke for you, to be brought to birth in the tenth month.
10.185.1 Great and heaven-abiding be the aid of the three — of Mitra and of Aryaman — and irresistible the protection of Varuṇa.
10.185.2 Neither at home, nor on the roads, nor in the mountain strongholds does the evil-minded foe, the evil-tongued, hold sway against them.
10.185.3 For that mortal to whom the sons of Aditi extend the unceasing light, that he may live.
10.186.1 Let the Wind blow its medicine — bringing ease, bringing bliss — to our heart; may he prolong our spans of life.
10.186.2 And you, O Wind, are our father, and our brother, and our friend — make us live.
10.186.3 That which yonder, O Wind, in your house has been laid up as a store of immortality — from that, grant us life.
10.187.1 Send forth your voice to Agni, the bull of the peoples; may he carry us across and beyond the hostile.
10.187.2 He who shines forth across the far distance, across the desert wasteland — may he carry us across and beyond the hostile.
10.187.3 He who, the bull, drives back the rākṣasas with his bright and pure flame — may he carry us across and beyond the hostile.
10.187.4 He who gazes out over all the worlds and beholds them together as one — may he carry us across and beyond the hostile.
10.187.5 The bright Agni who was born on the far shore of this realm of space — may he carry us across and beyond the hostile.
10.188.1 Urge forward now Jātavedas, the steed, the swift one — to take his seat upon this our sacred kuśa grass.
10.188.2 Of this Jātavedas, the inspired hero, the bountiful bestower, I send forth the great and excellent praise.
10.188.3 With those bright flames of Jātavedas that carry the oblation to the gods — with those may he impel our sacrifice.
10.189.1 This dappled cow has stepped forward; she has settled before her mother and proceeds toward the father — toward the heavenly light.
10.189.2 Within the luminous vault she moves, breathing in and out from his breath; the great bull has illumined the sky.
10.189.3 Thirty stations shine resplendent; speech is directed toward the winged one (the Sun); at each of the two twilights, day by day, through the luminous days.
10.190.1 From blazing tapas, cosmic order (ṛta) and truth (satya) were born; from that, night was born; from that, the billowing ocean arose.
10.190.2 From the billowing ocean the year was born; he who is master of all that blinks and breathes ordained the days and nights.
10.190.3 Dhātṛ, the ordainer, established the Sun and Moon as they were before — heaven and earth, the mid-space, and the realm of celestial light.
10.191.1 Together, altogether you kindle all things, O bull, O Agni, O Lord; on the seat of Iḷā you are kindled together — bring to us all good things.
10.191.2 Come together, speak together; let your minds be in agreement. As the gods of old, in concord, partook of their appointed share — so may you.
10.191.3 Common is the counsel, common the assembly, common the mind, and joined together the intention of these; with a common counsel I address you all; with a common oblation I make the offering to you.
10.191.4 Common be your purpose; common your hearts; let your mind be as one — so that all may go well for you together.