The Vedas

by Roshen Dalal

  heaven attend our assembly.

  (3.56)

  MANDALA 4

  To Indra and Shyena

  I was before Manu, I was Surya: I am the sage Kakshivan, holy

  singer.

  I am greater than Kutsa the son of Arjuni. I am the wise Ushana, behold me!

  I have granted the earth to the arya, and rain to the man who

  brings offerings.

  I guided forth the loudly roaring waters, and the gods moved

  according to my pleasure.

  In the wild joy of Soma I demolished Shambara’s forts,

  ninety-and-nine, together;

  And, utterly, the hundredth habitation, when helping Divodasa

  Atithigva.

  Before all birds be ranked this bird, O Maruts; supreme of falcons

  be this fleet-winged Shyena,

  Because, strong-pinioned, with no chariot to bear him, he brought to

  Manu the god-loved oblation (Soma).

  When the bird brought it, he swiftly went on the wide path, fleet as thought, he hurried.

  Swift he returned with sweetness of the Soma, and hence the Shyena

  has acquired his glory.

  Bearing the stalk, the falcon sped onward, the bird bringing from

  afar the drink that gladdens,

  Friend of the gods, he brought, grasping fast, the Soma which he had

  taken from the highest heaven.

  Shyena took and brought the Soma, bearing a thousand libations

  with him, yes, ten thousand.

  The Bold One left all enemies behind him, wise, in the wild joy of Soma,

  he left the foolish.

  (4.26)

  NOTE: In the first three verses, the god Indra speaks; the remaining verses refer to Shyena, the falcon.

  To the Ribhus

  The chariot that was not made for horses or for reins,

  three-wheeled, worthy of hymns of praise, rolls round the firmament.

  That is the great announcement of your godhood, that, O you Ribhus, you

  sustain the earth and heaven.

  You Wise Ones who made the lightly rolling chariot from your mind,

  by thought, the chariot that never errs,

  You, being such, to drink of this drink offering, you, O you Vajas,

  and you Ribhus, we invoke.

  O Vajas, Ribhus, reaching far, among the gods this was your

  exaltation gloriously declared,

  In that your aged parents, worn with length of days, you brought

  again to youth so that they moved at will.

  The chalice that was single, you have made fourfold, and by your

  wisdom brought the cow forth from the hide.

  So quickly, amidst the gods, you gained immortal life. Vajas and Ribhus,

  your great work must be extolled.

  Wealth from the Ribhus is most glorious in renown, that which the

  heroes, famed for vigour, have produced.

  In assemblies must be sung the chariot which Vibhvan wrought: that which you

  favour, gods! is famed among mankind.

  Strong is the steed, the man a sage in eloquence, the bowman is a

  hero hard to beat in fight,

  Great store of wealth and manly power has he obtained whom Vaja,

  Vibhvan, the Ribhus, have looked kindly on.

  To you has been assigned the fairest ornament, the hymn of

  praise: Vajas and Ribhus, joy therein;

  For you have lore and wisdom and poetic skill: as such, with this our

  prayer we call on you to come.

  According to the wishes of our hearts may you, who have full

  knowledge of all the delights of men,

  Fashion for us, O Ribhus, power and splendid wealth, rich in high

  courage, excellent, and vital strength.

  Bestowing on us here riches and offspring, here create fame for

  Us, befitting heroes.

  Grant us wealth of splendid sort, O Ribhus, that we may make us

  more renowned than others.

  (4.36)

  To Kshetrapati and others

  We through Kshetrapati, the master of the field, even as through a friend,

  Obtain what nourishes our cattle and horses. In such may he be good to us.

  As the cow yields milk, pour for us freely, Lord of the Field,

  the wave that bears sweetness,

  Distilling mead, well-purified like ghi, let the Lords of

  holy Law be gracious.

  Sweet be the plants for us; the heavens, the waters, and full of

  sweetness for us be air’s mid-region.

  May Kshetrapati for us be full of sweetness, and may we follow

  after him uninjured.

  Happily work our oxen and men, may the plough furrow happily.

  Happily be the traces bound; happily may he ply the goad.

  Shuna and Sira, welcome this hymn of praise, and with the milk which you

  have made in heaven

  Bedew you both this earth of ours.

  Auspicious Sita, come near: we venerate and worship you

  That you may bless and prosper us and bring us fruits abundantly.

  May Indra press the furrow down, may Pushan guide its course

  aright.

  May she, as rich in milk, be drained for us through each succeeding

  year.

  Happily let the ploughshares turn up the ploughland, happily let the

  ploughers go with the oxen.

  With mead and milk Parjanya make us happy. Grant us prosperity,

  Shuna and Sira.

  (4.57)

  NOTE: Sita: furrow; Shuna, Sira: parts of the plough, which were deified.

  MANDALA 5

  To the Maruts

  Sing boldly forth, Shyavashva, with the Maruts who are loud in song,

  Who, holy, as their wont is, joy in glory that is free from guile.

  For in their boldness they are friends of firm and sure heroic

  strength.

  They in their course, bold-spirited, guard all men of their own

  accord.

  Like steers in rapid motion they advance and overtake the nights;

  And thus the Maruts’ power in heaven and on the earth we celebrate.

  With boldness to you Maruts let us offer praise and sacrifice:

  Who all, through the ages of mankind, guard mortal man from injury.

  Praiseworthy, givers of good gifts, heroes with full and perfect

  strength—

  To Maruts, Holy Ones of heaven, will I extol the sacrifice.

  The lofty heroes cast their spears and weapons bright with

  gleaming gold.

  After these, the Maruts followed close, like laughing lightning from the

  sky, a splendour of its own accord.

  They who were strong on the earth, they who are in the wide

  mid-air,

  Or in the rivers’ compass, or in the abode of ample heaven.

  Praise you the Maruts’ company, the brave and truly strong,

  The heroes, hastening, by themselves have yoked their deer for

  victory.

  Fair-gleaming, on Parushni they have clothed themselves in robes of

  wool,

  And with their chariot tires they cleave the rock asunder in their

  might.

  Whether as wanderers from the way or speeders on or to the path,

  Under these names the spreading band tend well the sacrifice for me.

  To this the heroes well attend, well do their teams attend to

  this.

  Visible are their varied forms. Behold, they are Paravatas.

  Hymn-singing, seeking water, they, praising, have danced about

  the spring.

  What are they to me? No thieves, but helpers, splendid to behold.

  Sublime, with spears of lightning, Sages and Orderers are

  they.

  Rishi, adore
that Marut host, and make them happy with your song.

  Rishi, invite the Marut band with offerings, as a maid invites her friend.

  From heaven, too, Bold Ones, in your might come quickly here, glorified

  with songs.

  Thinking of these now let him come, as with the escort of the

  gods,

  And with the splendid princes, famed for rapid courses, to the gifts.

  Princes, who, when I asked their kin, named Prishni as their

  mother-cow,

  And the impetuous Rudra they, the Mighty Ones, declared their father.

  The mighty ones, the seven times seven, have singly given me a

  hundred gifts.

  I have obtained on the Yamuna famed wealth in cows and wealth in horses.

  (5.52)

  NOTE: In this hymn, the Maruts could be people. Parushni: a river; Paravatas: people of the mountains.

  To Agni

  Agni is awakened by the people’s fuel to meet the Dawn who arrives

  like a milch cow.

  Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames are

  rising to the vault of heaven.

  For worship of the gods the priest was awakened: at morning

  gracious Agni has arisen.

  Kindled, his radiant might is made apparent, and the great deity set

  free from darkness.

  When he has stirred the line of his attendants, with the pure

  milk pure Agni is anointed.

  The strength-bestowing gift is then made ready, which spread in

  front, with tongues, erect, he drinks.

  The spirits of the pious turn together to Agni, as the eyes of all

  turn to Surya.

  He, when both Dawns of different hues have borne him, springs up at

  daybreak as a strong white charger.

  The noble One was born at the days’ beginning, laid red in colour amid

  the well-laid fuel.

  Yielding in every house his seven rich treasures, Agni is seated,

  Priest most skilled in worship.

  Agni has sat him down, a Priest most skilful, on a sweet-smelling

  place, his mother’s bosom.

  Young, faithful, sage, preeminent over many, kindled among the people

  whom he sustains.

  This singer excellent at sacrifices, Agni the Priest, they glorify

  with homage.

  To him who maintains both worlds by eternal Law they offer oil, he is like a

  strong horse who never fails.

  He, worshipful House-Friend, in his home is worshipped, our own

  auspicious guest, praised by sages.

  That strength the Bull with a thousand horns possesses. In might, O

  Agni, you exceed all others.

  You quickly pass by all others, Agni, for him to whom you

  have appeared most lovely,

  Wondrously fair, adorable, effulgent, the guest of men, the darling

  of the people.

  To you, most youthful god! To you, O Agni from near and far the

  people bring their tribute.

  Mark well the prayer of him who praises you best. Great, high,

  auspicious, Agni, is your shelter.

  Ascend today your splendid chariot, O Agni, in splendour, with the

  Holy Ones around it.

  Knowing the paths by mid-air’s spacious region bring the gods here to

  feast on our oblation.

  To him adorable, sage, strong and mighty we have sung our

  song of praise and homage.

  Gavishthira has raised with prayer to Agni this far-reaching hymn,

  like gold light to heaven.

  (5.1)

  To the Ashvins

  Agni, the bright face of the Dawns, is shining; the singers’

  pious voices have ascended.

  Borne on your chariot, Ashvins, turn towards us and come to our

  full and rich libation.

  Most frequent guests, they do not scorn what is ready: and even now the

  lauded Ashvins are beside us.

  With the promptest aid they come both morning and evening, the worshipper’s

  most blessed guards from trouble.

  Yes, come at milking-time, at early morning, at noon of day and

  when the sun is setting,

  By day, by night, with favour most auspicious. Not only now has the

  draught (Soma) drawn the Ashvins.

  For this place, Ashvins, was formerly your dwelling, these were your

  houses, this your habitation.

  Come to us from high heaven and from the mountains. Come from the

  waters bringing food and vigour.

  May we obtain the Ashvins’ newest favour, and gain their

  health-bestowing happy guidance.

  Bring riches here to us, and heroes, and all felicity and joy,

  Immortals!

  (5.76)

  MANDALA 6

  To Pushan

  O Pushan, bring us to the man who knows, who shall direct us straight,

  And say to us, It is here.

  May we go forth with Pushan who shall point the houses out to us,

  And say to us, These same are they.

  Unharmed is Pushan’s chariot wheel; the box never falls to the

  ground,

  Nor does the loosened felIy shake.

  Pushan forgets not the man who serves him with offered gift:

  That man is first to gather wealth.

  May Pushan follow near our cows; may Pushan keep our horses safe:

  May Pushan gather gear for us.

  Follow the cows of him who pours libations out and worships you;

  And ours who sing to you songs of praise.

  Let none be lost, none injured, none sink in a pit and break a

  limb.

  Return with these all safe and sound.

  Pushan who listens to our prayers, the strong whose wealth is never

  lost,

  The Lord of riches, we implore.

  Secure in your protecting care, O Pushan, never may we fail.

  We here are they who sing your praise.

  From the distance, far and wide, may Pushan stretch his right

  hand forth,

  And drive our lost again to us.

  (6.54)

  To Usha, the dawn

  The radiant Dawns have risen up for glory, in their white

  splendour like the waves of waters.

  She makes paths all easy, fair to travel, and, rich, has shown

  herself benign and friendly.

  We see that you are good: far shines your lustre; your beams, your

  splendours have flown up to heaven.

  Decking yourself, you make yourself seen, shining in majesty,

  you Goddess Morning.

  Red are the cows and luminous that bear her the Blessed One who

  spreads through the distance.

  The foes she chases like a valiant archer, like a swift warrior she

  repels darkness.

  Your ways are easy on the hills: you pass Invincible!

  Self-luminous, through waters.

  So lofty goddess with your ample pathway, Daughter of Heaven, bring

  wealth to give us comfort.

  Dawn, bring me wealth: untroubled, with your oxen you bear

  riches at your will and pleasure;

  You who, a goddess, a child of heaven, has shown yourself lovely through

  bounty when we called you early.

  As the birds fly forth from their resting places, so men with store

  of food rise at your dawning.

  Yes, to the liberal mortal who remains at home, O Goddess Dawn,

  much good you bring.

  (6.64)

  MANDALA 7

  To Vastoshpati

  Acknowledge, O Vastoshpati, guardian of the home; bring no disease,

  and give us happy entrance.


  Whatever we ask of you, be pleased to grant it, and prosper both

  quadrupeds and bipeds.

  Protector of the home, be our promoter; increase our wealth in

  cows and horses, O Indu.

  May we be ever-youthful in your friendship: be pleased in us as a father in

  his sons.

  Through your dear fellowship that brings welfare, may we be

  victors, Vastoshpati!

  Protect our happiness in rest and labour. Preserve us forever, you

  Gods, with blessings.

  (7.54)

  NOTE: Indu: drop (refers to Soma).

  To the rishi Vasishtha

  These who wear hair knots on the right, the movers of holy

  thought, white-robed, have won me over.

  I warned the men, when from the grass I raised me, not from afar can

  my Vasishthas help you.

  With Soma they brought Indra from a distance, over Vaishanta, from

  the strong libation.

  Indra preferred Vasishthas to the Soma pressed by the son of Vayata,

  Pasadyumna.

  So, truly, with these he crossed the river, in company with these

  he slaughtered Bheda.

  So in the fight with the Ten Kings, Vasishthas! did Indra help Sudas

  through your devotions.

  I gladly, with prayer prayed by our fathers have fixed your

  axle: you shall not be injured:

  Since, when you sang aloud the Shakvari verses, Vasishthas, you

  invigorated Indra.

  Like thirsty men they looked to heaven, in battle with the Ten

  Kings, surrounded and imploring.

  Then Indra heard Vasishtha as he praised him, and gave the Tritsus

  ample room and freedom.

  Like sticks and staves with which they drive the cattle, stripped

  bare, the Bharatas were found defenceless:

  Vasishtha then became their chief and leader: then were the

  Tritsus’ clans extended.

  Three fertilize the worlds with genial moisture: three noble

  creatures cast a light before them.

  Three that give warmth to all attend the morning. All these have

  they discovered, these Vasishthas.

  Like the Sun’s growing glory is their splendour, and like the

  sea’s is their unfathomed greatness.

  Their course is like the wind’s. Your heights, Vasishthas, can never be