BOOK THE ELEVENTH.
HARNESSING, first of all, the mind, Savitar having stretched
the thought
With reverent look upon the light of Agni bore them up
from earth.
2 By impulse of God Savitar we with our spirit harnessed strive
With might to win the heavenly.
3 Savitar, having harnessed Gods who go to light and heavenly
thought,
Who will create the lofty light—Savitar urge them on their
way!
4 The priests of him the lofty priest well skilled in hymns,
harness their spirit, yea, harness their holy thoughts.
He only, skilled in rules, assigns their priestly tasks. Yea,
lofty is the praise of Savitar the God.
5 I yoke with prayer your ancient inspiration: may the laud
rise as on the prince's pathway.
All Sons of the Immortal One shall hear it, who have resorted
to celestial dwellings.
6 Even he, the God whose going forth and majesty the other
Deities have followed with their might,
He who hath measured the celestial regions out by his great
power, he is the Courser Savitar.
7 Our sacrifice, God Savitar! speed forward: speed to his share
the sacrifice's patron.
May the celestial Gandharva, Cleanser of thought and will,
make clean our thoughts and wishes.
The Lord of Speech sweeten the words we utter!
8 God Savitar, speed this God-loved sacrifice of ours,
friend-finding, ever-conquering, winning wealth and heaven.
Speed praise-song with the sacred verse, Rathantara with
Gâyatra, Brihat that runs in Gâyatra. All-hail!
9 By impulse of God Savitar I take thee, with arms of Asvins,
with the hands of Pûshan, in Angiras’ manner, with
Gâyatrî metre.
From the earth's seat bring thou Purîshya Agni, as Angiras
was wont, with Trishtup metre.
10 Spade art thou; woman art thou. Ours be power with thee
to dig out Agni in his dwelling, as Angiras was wont, with
Jagatî metre.
11 Savitar, bearing in his hand the gold spade which he took
therewith,
Looking with reverence on the light of Agni, raised it from
the earth,
With the Anushtup metre and as Angiras was wont to do.
12 Run hither, urged to speed, O Horse, along the most extended
space.
Thy loftiest birthplace is in heaven. thy navel is in air's
mid-realm, the womb that bare thee is on earth.
13 Upon this course, O lords of wealth, harness; ye twain, the
Ass who bears
Agni, and kindly favours us.
14 In every need, in every race we call, as friends, to succour us,
Indra, the mightiest of all.
15 Come speeding on and trampling imprecations; come
gladdening to the chieftainship of Rudra.
Speed through the wide air thou whose paths are pleasant,
with Pûshan for thy mate, providing safety.
16 From the Earth's seat, like Anginas, bring thou Purîshya
Agni forth.
After the wont of Angiras we to Purîshya Agni go.
Agni Purîshya we will bear after the went of Angiras.
17 Agni hath looked along the van of Mornings, looked on the
days, the earliest Jâtavedas,
And many a time along the beams of Sûrya: along the heaven
and earth hast thou extended.
18 The Courser, started on his way, shakes from him all hostilities.
He longs to look with reverent eye on Agni is the mighty.
seat.
19 O Courser, having come to earth, seek Agni with a longing
wish.
Tell us by trampling on the ground where we may dig him
from the earth.
20 Heaven is thy back, the earth thy seat, the air thy soul,
the sea thy womb.
Looking around thee with thine eye trample the adversaries
down.
21 Wealth-giver, Courser, from this place step forth to great
felicity.
May we enjoy Earth's favour while we dig forth Agni from
her
22 Down hath he stepped, wealth-giver, racer, courser. Good
and auspicious room on earth thou madest.
Thence let us dig forth Agni, fair to look on, while to the
loftiest vault we mount, to heaven.
23 I thoughtfully besprinkle thee with butter, thee dwelling
near to all existing creatures.
Broad, vast through vital power that moves transversely,
conspicuous, strong with all the food that feeds thee.
24 I sprinkle him who moves in all directions: may he accept
it with a friendly spirit.
Agni with bridegroom's face and lovely colour may not be
touched when all his form is fury.
25 Round the oblation bath he paced, Agni the wise, the Lord
of Strength,
Giving the offerer precious boons.
26 We set thee round us as a fort, victorious Agni, thee a Sage,
Of hero lineage, day by day destroyer of our treacherous foes.
27 Thou, Agni, with the days, fain to shine hitherward, art
brought to life from out the waters, from the stone,
From out the forest trees and herbs that grow on ground.
thou, Sovran Lord of men, art generated pure.
28 At Savitar's, the Shining One's, impulsion, with arms of
Asvins and with hands of Pûshan,
As Angiras was wont to do, I dig thee forth from the seat
of Earth, Agni Purîshya.
Thee, Agni, luminous and fair of aspect, resplendent with
imperishable lustre, gracious to living creatures, never
harming,
As Angiras was wont to do, we dig thee forth from the seat
of Earth, Agni Purîshya.
29 Thou art the Waters’ back, the womb of Agni, around the
ocean as it swells and surges.
Waxing to greatness, resting on the lotus, spread thou in
amplitude with heaven's own measure.
30 Yea are a shelter and a shield, uninjured both, and widely
spread.
Do ye; expansive, cover him: bear ye Purîshya Agni up.
31 Cover him, finders of the light, united both with breast and
self,
Bearing between you Agni, the refulgent, everlasting One.
32 Thou art Purîshya, thou support of all. Atharvan was the
first, Agni, who rubbed thee into life.
Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the
lotus, from
The head of Visva, of the Priest.
33 Thee too as Vritra-slayer, thee breaker of forts, the Sage
Dadhyach,
Son of Atharvan, lighted up.
34 Pâthya the Bull, too, kindled thee the Dasyus’ most
destructive foe,
Winner of spoil in every fight.
35 Sit, Hotar, in the Hotar's place, observant: lay down the
sacrifice in the place of worship.
Thou, dear to Go is, shalt serve them with oblation. Agni,
give long life to the Sacrificer.
36 Accustomed to the Hotar's place, the Hotar hath seated him,
bright, splendid, passing mighty,
Whose foresight keeps the Law from violation, excellent,
pure-tongued, bringing thousands, Agni.
37 Seat thee, for thou art mighty: shine, best entertainer of
the Gods.
Worthy of sacred food, praised Agni! loose the smoke, ruddy
and beautiful to see.
38 Pour heavenly Waters honey-sweet here for our health, for
progeny.
Forth from the place whereon they fall let plants with goodly
berries spring.
39 May Vâyu Mâtarisvan heal and comfort thy broken heart as
there supine thou liest.
Thou unto whom the breath of Gods gives motion, to Ka,
yea, unto thee, O God, be Vashat!
40 He, nobly born with lustre, shield and refuge, hath sat down
in light.
O Agni, Rich in Splendour, robe thyself in many-hued attire.
41 Lord of fair sacrifice; arise! With Godlike thought protect
us well.
With great light splendid to behold come, Agni, through
sweet hymns of praise.
42 Rise up erect to give us aid, stand up like Savitar the God;
Erect as strength-bestower when we call aloud, with unguents
and with priests on thee.
43 Thou, being horn, art Child of Earth and Heaven, parted, fair
Babe, among the plants, O Agni.
The glooms of night thou, brilliant child, subduest, and art
come forth, loud roaring, from the Mothers.
44 Steady be thou, and firm of limb. Steed, be a racer fleet of
foot.
Broad be thou, pleasant as a seat, bearing the store which
Agni needs.
45 Be thou propitious, Angiras, to creatures of the human race.
Set not on fire the heaven and earth, nor air's mid-region,
nor the trees.
46 Forth with loud neighing go the Steed, the Ass that shouteth
as he runs.
Bearing Purîshya Agni on, let him not perish ere his time,
Male bearer of male Agni, Child of Waters, Offspring of the
Sea. Agni, come hither to the feast.
47 The Law the Truth, the Law the Truth. As Angiras was
wont to do, we bear Purîshya Agni on.
Ye Plants, with joyous welcome greet this Agni, auspicious
One who cometh on to meet you.
Removing all distresses and afflictions, here settle down and
banish evil purpose.
48 Welcome him joyfully, ye Plants, laden with bloom and
goodly fruit.
This seasonable Child of yours hath settled in his ancient
seat.
49 Resplendent with thy wide-extending lustre dispel the terrors
of the fiends who hate us.
May lofty Agni be my guide and shelter, ready to hear our
call, the good Protector.
50 Ye, Waters, are beneficent, so help ye us to energy
That we may look on great delight.
51 Give us a portion of the sap, the most propitious that ye
have.
Like mothers in their longing love.
52 To you we gladly come for him to whose abode ye lead us
on:
And, Waters, give us procreant strength.
53 Mitra, having commingled earth and ground together with
the light
For health to creatures mix I thee Omniscient and nobly
born.
54 The Rudras, having mixed the earth, set all aglow the lofty
light.
Bright and perpetual their light verily shines among the
Gods.
55 The lump of clay that hath been mixed by Vasus, Rudras,
by the wise,
May Sinîvâlî with her hands soften and fit it for the work.
56 May Sinîvâlî with fair braids, with beauteous crest, with
lovely locks,
May she, O mighty Aditi, bestow the Fire-pan in thy hands.
57 Aditi shape the Fire-pan with her power, her arms, her
intellect,
And in her womb bear Agni as a mother, in her lap, her
son.
58 With Gâyatrî, like Angiras the Vasus form and fashion thee!
Stedfast art then, thou art the Earth. Establish in me progeny,
command of cattle, growth of wealth, kinsmen for
me the worshipper.
With Trishtup may the Rudras, like Angiras, form and
fashion thee.
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Air. Establish in me, etc.,
as above.
With Jagatî, like Angiras, Âdityas form and fashion thee!
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Sky. Establish in me, etc.
Friends of all men, the All-Gods with Anushtup form thee
Angiras-like.
Stedfast art thou, thou art the Quarters. Establish in me,
etc.
59 The zone of Aditi art thou. Aditi seize thy hollow space.
She, having made the great Fire-pan, a womb for Agni,
formed of clay,
Aditi, gave it to her Sons and, Let them bake it, were her
words.
60 The Vasus make thee fragrant, as Angiras did, with Gâyatrî!
The Rudras make thee fragrant with the Trishtup, as did
Angiras!
With Gâyatrî, like Angiras, may the Âdityas perfume thee.
Dear to all men, may the All-Gods with the Anushtup
sweeten thee, as Angiras was wont to do.
May Indra make thee odorous. May Varuna make thee
odorous. May Vishnu make thee odorous.
61 Pit! Angiras-like may Aditi the Goddess, beloved by all
Gods, dig thee in Earth's bosom.
Pan! Angiras-like may the Gods’ heavenly Consorts, dear
to all Gads, in the Earth's bosom place thee.
Pan! Angiras-like may Dhishanâs, Divine Ones, dear to alt
Gods, in the Earth's bosom light thee.
Pan! Angiras-like may the divine Varûtrîs, dear to all Gods,
in the earth's bosom heat thee,
Pan! Angiras-like may the celestial Ladies, dear to all Gods,
in the earth's bosom bake thee.
Angiras-like may the celestial Matrons, beloved by all the
Gods, with unclipped pinions, within the lap of Earth,
O Fire pan, bake thee.
62 The gainful grace of Mitra, God, supporter of the race of
man,
Is glorious, of most wondrous fame.
63 With lovely arms, with lovely hands, with lovely fingers
may the God Savitar make thee clean, yea, by the power
be hath.
Not trembling on the earth fill thou the regions, fill the
Quarters full.
64 Having arisen wax thou great, yea, stand thou up
immovable.
To thee, O Mitra, I entrust this Fire-pan for security. May
it remain without a break.
65 Thee may the Vasus, Angiras-like, fill with the metre
Gâyatrî.
Thee may the Rudras, Angiras-like, fill with the Trishtup
metre full.
Thee may Âdityas, Angiras-like, fill with the metre Jagatî.
With the Anushtup metre may the All-Gods, dear to all
men, fill thee full, as Angiras was wont.
66 Intention, Agni. Motive, Hail! Mind, Wisdom, Agni, Motive,
Hail!
Thought, Knowledge, Agni, Motive, Hail! Rule of Speech,
Agni, Motive, Hail!
To Manu Lord of creatures, Hail! To Agni dear to all men,
Hail!
67 May every mortal man elect the friendship of the guiding God.
Each one solicits him for wealth: let him seek fame to
prosper him. All-hail!
68 Break not, nor suffer any harm. Endure, O Mother, and
be brave;
This work will thou and Agni do.
69 Be firm for weal, O Goddess Earth. Made in the wonted
manner thou
Art a celestial design.
Acceptable to Gods he this oblation. Arise thou in this
sacrifice uninjured.
70 Wood-fed, bedewed with sacred oil, ancient, Invoker,
excellent,
The Son of Strength, the Wonderful.
71 Abandoning the foeman's host, pass hither to this company:
Assist the men with whom I stand.
72 From the remotest distance come, Lord of the Red Steeds,
hitherward.
Do thou Purîshya, Agni, loved of many, overcome our foes.
73 O Agni, whatsoever be the fuel that we lay on thee,
May that he butter unto thee. Be pleased therewith, Most
Youthful God.
74 That which the termite eats away, that over which the
emmet crawls—
Butter be all of this to thee. Be pleased therewith, Most
Youthful God.
75 Bringing to him, with care unceasing, fodder day after day
as to a stabled courser,
Joying in food and in the growth of riches, may we thy
neighbours, Agni, ne’er be injured.
76 While on earth's navel Agni is enkindled, we call, for
ample increase of our riches,
On Agni joying in the draught, much-lauded, worshipful;
victor conquering in battle.
77 Whatever hosts there are, fiercely assailant, charging in
lengthened lines, drawn up in order,
Whatever thieves there are, whatever robbers, all these I
cast into thy mouth, O Agni.
78 Devour the burglars with both tusks, destroy the robbers
with thy teeth.
With both thy jaws, thou Holy One, eat up those thieves
well champed and chewed.
79 The burglars living among men, the thieves and robbers in
the wood,
Criminals lurking in their lairs, these do I lay between thy
jaws.
80 Him who would seek to injure us, the man who looks oh
us with hate
Turn thou to ashes, and the man who slanders and would
injure us.
strength and force,
Quickened is his victorious power of whom I am the Household
priest.
82 The arms of these men have I raised, have raised their
lustre and their strength
With priestly power I ruin foes and lift my friends to high
estate.
83 A share of food, O Lord of Food, vouchsafe us, invigorating
food that brings no sickness.
Onward, still onward lead the giver. Grant us maintenance
both for quadruped and biped
BOOK THE TWELFTH.
FAR hath he shone abroad like gold to look on, beaming
imperishable life for glory.
Agni by vital powers became immortal when his prolific
Father Dyaus begat him.
2 Night and Dawn, different in hue, accordant, meeting
together, suckle one same infant.
Golden between the heaven and earth he shineth. The
wealth-possessing Gods supported Agni.
3 The Sapient One arrays himself in every form: for quadruped
and biped he hath brought forth good.
Excellent Savitar hath looked on heaven's high vault: he
shineth after the outgoings of the Dawn.
4 Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: thou hast the Trivrit for
thy head.
Gâyatra is thine eye, thy wings are Brihat and Rathantara.
The hymn is self, the metres are his limbs, the formulas his
name.
The Vâmadevya Sâman is thy form, the Yajñâyajñiya thy
tail, the fire-hearths are thy hooves.
Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: go skyward, soar to
heavenly light.
5 Thou art the riyal-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Gâyatra metre: stride along the earth.
Thou art the foe-destroying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Trishtup metre: stride along mid-air.
Thou art the traitor-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount the
Jagatî metre: stride along the sky.
Thou art the foeman-slaying stride of Vishnu. Mount
Anushtup metre: stride along the Quarters.
6 Agni roared out like Dyaus what time he thunders: licking
full oft the earth round plants he flickered.
At once, when born, he looked about, enkindled: he shineth
forth between the earth and heaven.
7 Return to me, thou still-returning Agni, with life, with
lustre, progeny, and treasure,
With profit, wisdom, riches, and abundance.
8 A hundred, Agni Angiras! be thy ways, a thousand thy
returns.
With increment of increase bring thou back to us what we
have lost. Again bring hitherward our wealth.
9 Return again with nourishment; Agni, again with food and
life. Again preserve us from distress.
10 Agni, return with store of wealth. Swell with thine overflowing
stream that feedeth all on every side.
11 I brought thee: thou hast entered in. Stand stedfast and
immovable.
Lot all the people long for thee. Let not thy kingship fall
away.
12 Varuna, from the upmost bond release us, let down the
lowest and remove the midmost.
So in thy holy law may we made sinless belong to Aditi, O
thou Âditya.
13 High hath the Mighty risen before the Mornings, and come
to us with light from out the darkness.
Fair-shapen Agni with white-shining splendour hath filled
at birth all human habitations.
14 The Hamsa homed in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the Priest
beside the altar, Guest within the house,
Dweller in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born
of flood, kine, truth, mountain, he is holy Law. The Great.
15 Knowing all holy ordinances, Agni, be seated in the lap of
this thy mother.
Do not with heat or glowing flame consume her: shine thou
within her with refulgent lustre.
16 Within this Fire-pan with thy light, O Agni, in thy proper seat,
Glowing with warmth, be gracious thou, O Jâtavedas, unto her.
17 Being propitious unto me, O Agni, sit propitiously.
Having made all the regions blest, in thine own dwelling
seat thyself.
18 First Agni sprang to life from out of heaven, the second
time from us came Jâtavedas.
Thirdly the Manly-souled was in the waters. The pious
lauds and kindles him Eternal.
19 Agni, we know thy three powers in three stations, we know
thy forms in many a place divided.
We know what name supreme thou hast in secret: we know
the source from which thou hast proceeded.
20 The Manly-souled lit thee in sea and waters, Man's Viewer
lit thee in the breast of heaven.
There as thou stoodest in the third high region the Bulls
increased thee in the waters’ bosom.
21 Agni roared out, etc. (verse 6 repeated).
22 The spring of glories and support of riches, rouser of
thoughts and guardian of the Soma,
Good Son of Strength, a King amid the waters, in forefront
of the Dawns he shines enkindled.
23 Germ of the world, ensign of all creation, he sprang to life
and filled the earth and heaven.
Even the firm rock he cleft when passing over, when the
Five Tribes brought sacrifice to Agni.
24 So among mortals was immortal Agni stablished as cleansing,
wise, and eager envoy.
He waves the red smoke that he lifts above him, striving
to reach the heaven with radiant lustre.
25 Far hath he shone, etc. (verse 1 repeated).
26 Whoso this day, O God whose flames are lovely, makes thee
a cake, O Agni, mixed with butter,
Lead thou and further him to higher fortune, to bliss bestowed
by Gods, O thou Most Youthful.
27 Endow him, Agni, with a share of glory, at every, song of
praise sung forth enrich him.
Dear let him be to Sûrya, dear to Agni, preëminent with son
and children's children.
28 While, Agni, day by day men pay thee worship they win
themselves all treasures worth the wishing.
Allied with thee, eager and craving riches, they have disclosed
the stable filled with cattle.
29 Agni, man's gracious Friend, the Soma's keeper, Vaisvânara,
hath been lauded by the Rishis.
We will invoke benignant Earth and Heaven: ye Deities,
give us wealth with hero children.
30 Pay service unto Agni with your fuel, rouse your Guest
with oil:
In him present your offerings.
31 May all the Gods, O Agni, bear thee upward with their earnest
thoughts:
Not to be looked on, rich in light, be thou propitious unto us,
32 Agni, go forth resplendent, thou with thine auspicious flames
of fire.
Shining with mighty beams of light harm not my people
with thy form.
33 Agni roared out, etc. (verse 21 repeated.)
34 Far famed is this the Bharata's own Agni: he shineth like
the Sun with lofty splendour.
He who hath vanquished Pûru in the battle, the heavenly
Guest hath shone for us benignly.
35 Receive these ashes, ye celestial Waters, and lay them in a
fair place full of fragrance.
To him bow down the nobly-wedded Matrons! Bear this on
waters as her son a mother.
36 Agni, thy home is in the floods: into the plants thou forcest
way,
And as their child art born anew.
37 Thou art the offspring of the plants, thou art the offspring
of the trees:
The offspring thou of all that is, thou, Agni, art the Waters’
Child,
38 With ashes having reached the womb, the waters, Agni
and the earth,
United with the mothers, thou blazing hast seated thee again.
39 Seated again upon thy seat, the waters, Agni! and the earth,
In her, thou, most auspicious One, liest as in a mother's lap
40, 41 Return again, etc. Agni, return, etc. (verses 9 and 10
repeated).
42 Mark this my speech, Divine One, thou Most Youthful,
offered to thee by him who gives most freely:
One hates thee, and another sings thy praises. I thine
adorer laud thy form, O Agni.
43 Be thou for us a liberal Prince, Giver and Lord of precious
things.
Drive those who hate us far away.
To the Omnific One All-hail!
14 Again let the Âdityas, Rudras, Yams, and Brahmans with
their rites light thee, Wealth-bringer!
Increase thy body with presented butter: effectual be the
Sacrificer's wishes.
45 Go hence, depart, creep off in all directions, both ancient
visitors and recent comers:
Yama hath given a place on earth to rest in. This place
for him the Fathers have provided.
46 Knowledge art thou: accomplishment of wishes. In me be
the fulfilment of thy wishes.
Thou art the ashes, thou the mould of Agni. Rankers are
ye, rankers around. Rankers right upward, be ye fixed.
47 This is that Agni where the longing Indra took the pressed
Soma deep within his body.
Winner of spoils in thousands like a courser, with prayer art
thou exalted, Jâtavedas.
48 The splendour which is thine in heaven, O Agni, in earth, O
Holy One, in plants, in waters,
Wherewith thou hast o’erspread mid-air's broad region, that
light is brilliant, billowy, man-surveying.
49 O Agni, to the flood of heaven thou mountest, thou tallest
hither Gods, the thought-inspirers.
The waters, those beyond the light of Sûrya, and those
that are beneath it here, approach thee.
50 May the Purîshya Agnis in accord with those that spring
from floods,
May they, benevolent, accept the sacrifice, full, wholesome
draughts.
51 As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle,
lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this
thy gracious will to us-ward.
52 This is thine ordered place of birth whence, sprung to life,
thou shonest forth.
Knowing this, Agni, mount on high and cause our riches to
increase.
53 Ranker art thou: Angiras-like sit steady with that Deity.
Ranker-round art thou: Angiras-like sit steady with that
Deity.
54 Fill up the room, supply the void, then settle steady in thy
place.
Indr-Âgni and Brihaspati have set thee down in this abode.
55 The dappled kine who stream with milk prepare his draught
of Soma juice—
Clans in the birthplace of the Gods, in the three luminous
realms of heaven.
56 All sacred songs have magnified Indra expansive as the sea,
The best of warriors borne on cars, the Lord, the very Lord
of Strength.
57 Combine ye two and harmonize together, dear to each other,
brilliant, friendly-minded,
Abiding in one place for food and vigour.
58 Together have I brought your minds, your ordinances, and
your thoughts.
Be thou our Sovran Lord, Agni Purîshya; give food and
vigour to the Sacrificer.
59 Thou art Purîshya Agni, thou art wealthy, thou art prosperous.
Having made all the regions blest, here seat thee in thine
own abode.
60 Be ye one-minded unto us, both of one thought, free from
deceit.
Harm not the sacrifice, harm not the Patron of the sacrifice.
Be gracious unto us to-day, ye knowers of all things that be.
61 Even as a mother bears her son, Earth, Ukhâ hath borne
within her womb Purîshya Agni.
Maker of all, accordant with the All-Gods and Seasons, may
Prajâpati release her.
62 Seek him who pours not, offers not oblation; follow the
going of the thief and robber.
This is thy way; leave us and seek some other. To thee,
O Goddess Nirriti, be homage.
63 To thee, sharp-pointed Nirriti, full homage! Loose and
detach this iron bond that binds him.
Unanimous with Yama and with Yamî to the sublimest
vault of heaven uplift him.
64 Thou, Awful One, thou in whose mouth I offer for the unloosing
of these binding fetters,
Whom people hail as Earth with their glad voices, as Nirriti
in every place I know thee.
65 The binding noose which Nirriti the Goddess hath fastened
on thy neck that none may loose it,
I loose for thee as from the midst of Âyus. Sped forward
now, eat thou the food we offer:
To Fortune, her who hath done this, be homage.
66 Establisher, the gatherer of treasures, he looks with might
on every form and figure.
Like Savitar the God whose laws are constant, like Indra,
he hath stood where meet the pathways.
67 Wise, through desire of bliss with Gods, the skilful bind the
traces fast, and lay the yokes on either side.
68 Lay on the yokes and fasten well the traces; formed is the
furrow sow the seed within it.
Through song may we find hearing fraught with plenty:
near to the ripened grain approach the sickle.
69 Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, happily go
the ploughers with the oxen!
Suna and Sîra, pleased with our oblation, cause ye our
plants to bear abundant fruitage.
70 Approved by Visvedevas and by Maruts, balmed be the
furrow with sweet-flavoured fatness.
Succulent, teeming with thy milky treasure, turn hitherward
to us with milk, O Furrow.
71 The keen-shared plough that bringeth bliss, good for the
Soma-drinker's need,
Shear out for me a cow, a sheep, a rapid drawer of the car,
a blooming woman, plump and strong!
72 Milk out their wish, O Wishing-Cow, to Mitra and to Varuna,
To Indra, to the Asvins, to Pûshan, to people and to plants.
73 Be loosed, inviolable, Godward-farers! We have attained
the limit of this darkness: we have won the light.
71 The year together with the darksome fortnights; Dawn with
the ruddy-coloured cows about her; the Asvins with
their wonderful achievements; the Sun together with his
dappled Courser; Vaisvânara with Idâ and with butter.
Svâhâ!
75 Herbs that sprang up in time of old, three ages earlier than
the Gods,—
Of these, whose hue is brown, will I declare the hundred
powers and seven.
76 Ye, Mothers, have a hundred homes, yea, and a thousand are
your growths.
Do ye who have a thousand powers free this my patient from
disease.
77 Be glad and joyful in the Plants, both blossoming and bearing
fruit,
Plants that will lead us to success like mares who conquer in
the race.
78 Plants, by this name I speak to you, Mothers, to you the
Goddesses:
Steed, cow, and garment may I win, win back thy very self,
O man.
79 The Holy Fig tree is your home, your mansion is the Parna
tree:
Winners of cattle shall ye be if ye regain for me this man.
80 He who hath store of Herbs at hand like Kings amid a crowd
of men,—
Physician is that sage's name, fiend-slayer, chaser of disease.
81 Herbs rich in Soma, rich in steeds, in nourishment in strengthening
power,
All these have I provided here, that this man may be whole
again.
82 The healing virtues of the Plants stream forth like cattle
from the stall,—
Plants that shall win me store of wealth, and save thy vital
breath, O man.
83 Reliever is your mother's name, and hence Restorers are ye
called.
Rivers are ye with wings that fly: keep far whatever brings
disease.
84 Over all fences have they passed, as steals a thief into the fold.
The Plants have driven from the frame whatever malady was
there.
85 When, bringing back the vanished strength, I hold these herbs
within my hand,
The spirit of disease departs ere he can seize upon the life.
86 He through whose frame, O Plants, ye creep member by
member, joint by joint,
From him ye drive away disease like some strong arbiter of
strife.
87 Fly, Spirit of Disease, begone, with the blue jay and kingfisher.
Fly, with the wind's impetuous speed, vanish together with
the storm.
88 Help every one the other, lend assistance each of you to
each,
All of you be accordant, give furtherance to this speech of
mine.
89 Let fruitful Plants, and fruitless, those that blossom, and
the blossomless,
Urged onward by Brihaspati, release us from our pain and
grief;
90 Release me from the curse's plague and woe that comes from
Varuna;
Free me from Yama's fetter, from sin and offence against the
Gods.
91 What time, descending from the sky, the Plants flew earthward,
thus they spake:
No evil shall befall the man whom while he liveth we
pervade.
92 Of all the many Plants whose King is Soma, Plants of hundred
forms,
Thou art the Plant most excellent, prompt to the wish, sweet
to the heart.
93 O all ye various Herbs whose King is Soma, that o’erspread
the earth,
Urged onward by Brihaspati, combine your virtue in this
Plant.
94 All Plants that hear this speech, and those that have
departed far away,
Come all assembled and confer your healing power upon
this Herb.
95 Unharmed be he who digs you up, unharmed the man for
whom I dig:
And let no malady attack biped or quadruped of ours.
96 With Soma as their Sovran Lord the Plants hold colloquy
and say:
O King, we save from death the man whose cure a Brâhman
undertakes.
97 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant: thy vassals are the
trees.
Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to
injure us.
98 Banisher of catarrh art thou, of tumours and of hemorrhoids;
Thou banished Pâkâru and Consumption in a hundred
forms.
99 Thee did Gandharvas dig from earth, thee Indra and
Brihaspati.
King Soma, knowing thee, O Plant, from his Consumption
was made free.
100 Conquer mine enemies, the men who challenge me do thou
subdue.
Conquer thou all unhappiness: victorious art thou, O Plant.
101 Long-lived be he who digs thee, Plant, and he for whom I
dig thee up.
So mayst thou also, grown long-lived, rise upward with a
hundred shoots.
102 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant; thy vassals are the
trees.
Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to
injure us.
103 May he not harm me who is earth's begetter, nor he whose
laws are faithful, sky's pervades;
Nor he who first begot the lucid waters. To Ka the God
let us present oblation.
104 Turn thyself hitherward, O Earth, to us with sacrifice and
milk.
Thy covering skin Agni, urged forth, hath mounted.
105 All, Agni, that in thee is bright, pure, cleansed, and meet
for sacrifice,
That do we bring unto the Gods.
106 I from this place have fed on strength and vigour, the
womb of holy Law, stream of the mighty.
In cows let it possess me and in bodies. I quit decline and
lack of food, and sickness.
107 Agni, life-power and fame are thine: thy fires blaze mightily,
thou rich in wealth of beams!
Sage, passing bright, thou givest to the worshipper, with
strength, the food that merits laud.
108 With brilliant, purifying sheen, with perfect sheen thou
liftest up thyself in light.
Thou, visiting both thy Mothers, aidest them as Son: thou
joinest close the earth and heaven.
109 O Jâtavedas, Son of Strength, rejoice thyself, gracious, in
our fair hymns and songs.
In thee are treasured various forms of strengthening food,
born nobly and of wondrous help.
110 Agni, spread forth, as Ruler, over living things: give wealth
to us, Immortal God.
Thou shinest out from beauty fair to look upon: thou
leadest us to conquering power.
111 To him, the wise, who orders sacrifice, who hath great riches
under his control,
Thou givest blest award of good, and plenteous food, givest
him wealth that conquers all.
112 The men have set before them for their welfare Agni, strong,
visible to all, the Holy.
Thee, Godlike One, with ears to hear, most famous, men's
generations magnify with praise-songs.
113 Soma, wax great. From every side may vigorous powers
unite in thee.
Be in the gathering-place of strength.
114 In thee be juicy nutriments united, and power and mighty
foe-subduing vigour.
Waxing to immortality, O Soma, win highest glory for
thyself in heaven.
115 Wax, O most gladdening Soma, great through all thy
filaments, and be
A friend of most illustrious fame to prosper us.
116 May Vatsa draw thy mind away, even from thy loftiest
dwelling-place,
Agni, with song that yearns for thee.
117 Agni, best Angiras, to thee all people who have pleasant
homes
Apart have turned to gain their wish.
118 In dear homes, Agni, the desire of all that is and is to be,
Shines forth the One Imperial Lord.
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