Prapāṭhaka 11

11.1 O Agni, with all fires, this sacrifice, this word — grant us delight by your might, O mighty one. O pressers, hasten to the inebriating soma, each one praiseworthy. The soma for the hero, for the warrior. Agni, with his ancient birth, adorning his own body, has grown great among the inspired seers.

11.2 Even though we worship god after god throughout all time, to you alone the oblation is poured. Let the two bay steeds, yoked by prayer, bring hither a friend with good fortune — Indra, beloved of hymns. I call the offspring of strength, Agni of purifying flame, in this our well-conducted sacrifice.

11.3 May the lord of the clan, the joyful, excellent invoking priest, be dear to us. We who have good fires are dear. Let the slayer of Vṛtra guard the pressed soma; may he come not far from us. The hundred-aided one is restrained. You, Agni, great as a friend to us, with your bright flame, seat yourself on the sacred grass among the gods.

11.4 May he be ours alone — none surpasses you, O Indra. Drive away those who compete against us.

11.5 O bull-like one, increase that offering for us, the all-bestowing giver, with food. For us, O unchallenged bull, you have manifested the share of soma by your greatness to the wakeful one. O Indra, those whom you have slain in your belly with power, when the prize is set and the chariot encounter fixed — let them be praised with a fearless heart.

11.6 The bull, like a herd-leader following the herd, stirs the peoples with his might, ruling unchallenged. Let the soma fill your belly, O Indra, slayer of Vṛtra. Let the drops flow properly to his stations. The ordinances of the flowing one are not to be transgressed, with ill intent. Break whoever fights against you.

11.7 They urge him on — the intoxication-shedding, tawny, swift one through the streams — the exhilarating drop for Indra.

11.8 O Agni, you are the charioteer of his riches; find us a firm footing. A hymn visible to Rudra is for us. Let none restrain you, not the snare-casters; go beyond them as over a desert.

11.9 You carry across our offspring and progeny, O Agni, with your unfailing, undeflected guides. Ward off from us the divine wrath and the ungodly offences as well. May he — great, haughty, smoke-bannered, richly brilliant — impel us toward thought and strength. The eater of Vṛtra breaks open Vala, the destroyer of forts, the conqueror of waters. Indra, the stander in the chariot with the two bays, resounding, breaks even what is firm.

11.10 May the divine signal, the lord of the tribe, like a rich man, hear us through our hymns. Agni of vast brilliance, you nurture wisdom deep as the ocean, as cows nourish. As well-tended cows seek pasture, as streams seek a lake, so the well-guarded ones proceed forth.

11.11 Do not conceal that beauty from us — the form you assumed different in the assembly. What is auspicious for the capable cow — come to us swiftly at our encounter and at our departure. Among the Kaṇvas, come along and drink well.

11.12 Today, O Viṣṇu who pervades all, a man proclaims your oblation; knowing the ways, I praise you. I laud you — the most mighty, most powerful, ruling afar over this dust. The gift of prize cattle is never withheld, the wealth, from the generous one. Whenever the hymns shall reach his hearing, may the drops exhilarate you, O Maghavan Indra, for the generous one who presses. From that vessel you drank the pressed soma; that power you hold as chief.

11.13 Vaṣaṭ! O Viṣṇu, to your dwelling I bring this; O Śipiviṣṭa, be pleased with this oblation. May excellent praises increase you, O mountain; do you all always protect us with blessings. May the slayer of the Dasyu go forth to the cattle-pen of one seeking goods — may he turn it away from us with his powers.

11.14 Come, O desirable god, with your team of steeds for the drinking of soma — the one overwhelmed by his dust. There is no comforter other than you, O Maghavan; I speak this word to you, O Indra.

11.15 Indra and Vāyu deserve the drinking of these somas, for the drops flow toward you two together like water to a low place. Viṣṇu, the undeceivable guardian, strode out three paces, upholding the cosmic laws from that point. May your bounties, may your aids, O Vasu, never fail us. Measure out for us all human riches for the peoples.

11.16 Vāyu and Indra, mighty, lords of strength, with the same chariot — may your aids come, you who have troops of steeds; come for the drinking of soma. Behold the deeds of Viṣṇu, from which he observed the cosmic laws — the dear companion of Indra.

11.17 That highest footstep of Viṣṇu the wise men always behold, like an eye stretched across the sky.

11.18 That highest footstep of Viṣṇu the inspired ones, the hymn-singers, wakefully kindle.

11.19 From that place whence Viṣṇu strode, upon the ridge of the earth, may the gods protect us.

11.20 When the thoughts of Vivasvat urge the tawny one to journey — come hither to the common rejoicing from afar, or being near, hear us. The daughter of heaven has been seen.

11.21 We cleanse that exhilaration of his which is most drunk by Indra, which the cows have placed with their mouths both of old and now, and the inspired ones. For these, made by sacred prayer, sit together in the pressed soma as flies in honey. The singers, eager for wealth, have placed their desire in Indra as a foot in a chariot. Like a brilliant red mare, the variegated mother of the cows, the guardian of truth — Dawn has become the friend of the Aśvins.

11.22 With the ancient song they have followed the purifying one as he flows. And the devotions bearing the names of the gods have shone forth. You are also the friend of the Aśvins, and also the mother of the cows, and also, O Dawn, you rule over wealth.

11.23 The many great songs of truth have sung after the universal sovereign of the sacrifices; the wisdom of the praiser has been released. I praise you two greatly, O Aśvins.

11.24 May that son of ours, moving wide with strength, gracious and bountiful, become ours. Indra shook together the great riches, the two earths together, and the sun together. The bright, pure, cow-mixed somas have delighted Indra together. You two wondrous ones, born of rivers, swifter than thought in riches — with devotion, O gods who find wealth.

11.25 Protect us always, O all-life-giving one, from the mortal who plots evil, both from afar and from near. The eminent ones call out to you two upon the ancient expanse. Whenever your chariot rides scattering fear.

11.26 You are the slayer of the slanderer, the begetter, swift against Vṛtra; you are swift against one who would overcome, by whom we sustain both offspring and progeny.

11.27 The two earths have followed after your rushing strength like two mothers after a child. All your rivals are crushed by your wrath when you overcome Vṛtra, O Indra. To that hero, the righteous, the god who dwells in the abode — to him the companions, greatly shining, and we and the inspired ones shall attain the prize-winning, shall win the prize-home. O Dawn, today shine here richly with cows and horses, O brilliant one, shining with truth.

11.28 They purify that beloved, tawny, ruddy one with a filter, the one who goes beyond all gods together with exhilaration. Yoke the ruddy horses today, O Dawn, you who have prize-winning mares. Then bring us all good fortunes.

11.29 Making a support in the sky — faith indeed in this, O Maghavan, at the distant sky. The prize-winning one seeks to win the prize; hold back the chariot hither with one mind.

11.30 The bright lights of soma overflowed the midair in exhilaration when Indra struck Vala open. Urge on the generous ones to the slayings of Vṛtra, those who give dear wealth. Under your guidance, O bay-horsed one, may we with the inspired ones cross all difficulties. Come hither, O gods bringing well-being, O wondrous ones of golden wheels, awakening at dawn; bring us for the drinking of soma.

11.31 He rose up, drove toward the Aṅgirases, making manifest those who were hidden. He pushed Vala toward this side. As far as you two have spread the resonant sound, the light of heaven for the people — carry nourishment to us, O you two Aśvins.

11.32 You stir him on for our aid — yea, the hero is praised as one ever-increasing in strength. To him the swift horses hasten home; those ever-ready coursers bring nourishment here for the singers of praise.

11.33 He who is warlike, unrivalled, a drinker of soma, unshaken — O Indra, driver of the bay steeds, the ancient praise reaches you alone. He who by his might has made the shout resound like a roar — Agni, beholder of all people, grants strength to the tribe. Agni, self-born for wealth, goes pleased to what is desirable; bring nourishment here for the singers of praise.

11.34 Bestow on us wealth abundantly, O Indra, you who are all-knowing, excelling in hymns — aid us at the decisive contest. We who seek glory call upon him, the lord of strength-prizes. That Agni whom I praise as the giver of good things — him the cows approach together; the swift coursers stream toward him, the nobly-born illumined sages come together; bring nourishment here for the singers of praise.

11.35 Wisdom sharpens the excellent thunderbolt; you carry the oblation to the gods. Just as you have awakened us — O Dawn of true fame, worthy of worship, nobly born, enriched with horses and joyous song.

11.36 Heaven proclaims your heroic might, O Indra; earth magnifies your glory. The waters and the mountains spur you on — you whose bounty spreads wide. O sage, praise Agni of brilliant radiance, the controller; for this soma sacrifice, for the ancient rite of lovely ceremony — you who on the shining chariot has illumined rightly, O daughter of heaven, shine forth now, O powerful one, of true fame, worthy of worship, nobly born, enriched with horses and joyous song.

11.37 You Viṣṇu of great dwelling praises, Mitra praises, Varuṇa praises. The Marut host rejoices in you and follows. Let her bring us good things today — shine forth, O daughter of heaven. She who has shone forth, O powerful one, of true fame, worthy of journey, nobly born, enriched with horses and joyous song.

11.38 Crush the arrogant foe; as a man enters a stronghold, the tawny one enters the pressing vessels, bold in his seat amid the forests. The praiser, O Aśvins, adorns you mighty ones with hymns — O honey-sweet ones, hear my call.

11.39 Will you not, O Agni, gather riches for us in our search for cattle? You who make wide space, make wide space for us. He has cleansed himself through the narrow passages — the ram-like soma, bountiful as a prize-winning steed. The flowing one, Soma purified, is to be praised by the wise, by the inspired with their hymns. Come now, O Aśvins, past all the ancient times; O wondrous ones of golden paths, gracious bearers across the river — O honey-sweet ones, hear my call.

11.40 Do not pass us by, O Agni, when great treasure is at stake, like one bearing a heavy load aside. Conquer the spoil, gather in the wealth. O Aśvins, you two who carry gems, come to us! O Rudras of golden paths, enjoying gifts, O lords with riches and strength — O honey-sweet ones, hear my call.

11.41 As rivers flow to the ocean, so bring to him at today's pressing the soma that has been pressed — adorn him now, O glorified one. Like great fires springing up with their flames, the rays stream forth to the vault of heaven.

11.42 He cleft even the head of the roaring Vṛtra with the virile thunderbolt of a hundred joints. Even a wolf avoids the ram — it moves among the celestial stations. Come to receive this hymn of praise, O Indra, with brilliant thought. The hotar has awakened to sacrifice for the gods; Agni has stood up erect at dawn, gracious of mind. The blazing glory of the kindled fire is seen; the great god has been freed from darkness.

11.43 By his flashing might he rolled together both worlds when Indra stretched the two worlds apart like a hide, when he grasped the rope of the divine host. Pure Agni adorns himself with his pure rays of light. Then the right side is yoked, prize-winning; upright he sacrifices above with his ladles outstretched.

11.44 That heroic deed of yours two shines forth conspicuously — as when Night, set in motion by Savitṛ's impulsion, yielded her womb to Dawn.

11.45 O bull, come of like form; O you two auspicious ones, come as yoke-fellows. Those two approach here — toward Indra and Agni the prayers come forth from all around. Along the paths of sacred order, the shining calf comes gleaming; the bright one has departed; the dark one goes to the seats of the other. The two sisters, immortal and following together, Heaven and Earth move through their hues in alternation.

11.46 Like a reed bending, they are gracious; he stands in the middle of the waters, pointing with ten horns. O Indra and Agni, your strongholds and your feasts are indeed mighty. Placed between the two of you is the ritual function; the two sisters follow the same path endlessly, the one following the other, directed by the gods. Night and Dawn, alike in mind yet of different forms, do not collide nor do they stand still together.

11.47 He who by his might splits the citadels asunder, exhilarated by the soma pressed through the strainer — O Aśvins, now come hitherward with your chariot to this full-swelling sacred offering.

11.48 Like a wild elephant giving gifts, you two wander widely to many places. None can restrain you; you come when soma is pressed — mighty you two range at will with your power. O Aśvins, none can measure what you have made ready; praised here, now do come most swiftly. At the approach of the day come most eagerly, granting return and welfare to the worshipper.

11.49 He who is fierce, unvanquished, firm, prepared for battle — if the bounteous Maghavan hears the singer's call, Indra will not linger with a woman and will come. And come you both at the gathering time, at the early morning, at midday when the sun has risen. By day and by night with most blissful aid — now has the drinking by the Aśvins been established.

11.50 Accomplishing all their poetic works, bold as warriors with their weapons, the ruddy cow-mothers come back in return.

11.51 The purifying ones, flowing from heaven, were poured forth from the middle air. Over the ridge of earth the ruddy rays leapt up freely; the self-yoked ruddy cows were yoked. The Dawns have cried out their signals as before; they have made the shining ray to lean upon the ruddy one.

11.52 The purifying swift and brilliant soma-drops have been released. Striking away all enemies, the women honor them with their works and services from a common yoking in the distance. Carrying nourishment to the right-doer, to the good giver, every day they bring it to the sacrificer who presses the soma.

11.53 Indra and Agni, most mighty for winning the prize — the Aśvins have yoked their chariot to come; the divine Savitṛ has urged the whole world forward, each to its own place.

11.54 The chanters of lauds, knowing the sacred songs, sing your praise, O you two. I choose Indra and Agni for nourishment. When you two Aśvins yoke your bull-like chariot, sprinkle our sovereignty with ghee and honey. Quicken our prayers in battles; may we share in the prizes won by heroes.

11.55 Indra and Agni shook down ninety strongholds whose lord was a slave — together by a single act. Now let the chariot of the Aśvins, three-wheeled and honey-laden, drawn by swift horses, come hither well-praised. Three-felied, bounteous, possessed of all good fortune — may it bring wellbeing to us for the two-footed and the four-footed.

11.56 O Agni, we have released our songs toward you, toward the thousandfold prize.

11.57 We have come to your shelter as to the shade of heat; we find your protection, O Agni. Golden of aspect, he flows over all the beloved poetic works, beholding them. The tawny one, wielding his weapons, presses forward.

11.58 Like a fierce destroyer of arrows, sharp-horned like a bull of the herd — O Agni, you have shattered the fortresses; cleansing yourself with your flames, you shine like a king of excellent ordinance. Like a falcon he settles in the treetops.

11.59 Bring to us all the riches of heaven, and those over the earth — O purifying soma-drops, bring them here.

11.60 We seek the inexhaustible warmth of the sacred fire.

11.61 He who has spread this sacrifice abroad, passing beyond its heavenly light — the self-governing one releases the seasons.

11.62 Agni in his beloved abodes — the desire of what has been and what shall be — shines alone in all his splendor as sovereign.