Kāṇḍa 7 — Short hymns, miscellaneous

Thit who by thought have guided all that Speech

Well knows this son his sire, he knows his mother

Invoke for us, proclaim in sundry places, the kins- man of the Gods, our sire Atharvan,

He, in this manner showing forth his exploits — for he, bright God, is our broad way for choosing —

With thine eleven teams, to aid our wishes, yea, with thy two-and- twenty teams, O V&yu,

The Gods adored the Sacrifice with worship : these

Sacrifice was, was manifest among us : it sprang to

Where the Gods worshipped Gods with their obla-

With their oblation, Purusha, the Gods performed a

With dog the Gods, perplexed, have paid oblation,

Aditi is the sky, and air's mid-region, Aditi is the

We call for help the Queen of Law and Order, great mother of all those whose ways are righteous. Far-spread, unwasting, stroog in her dominion, Aditi wisely leading, well protecting.

Sinless inay we ascend, for weal, the vessel, rowed with good oars, divine, that never leaketh, Earth, our strong guard, incomparaUe Heaven^ Aditi wisely leading, well protecting.

Let us bring hither, in pursuit of riches, Aditi with our word, the mighty mother, Het* in whose lap the spacious air is lying: may she afford us triply -guarding shelter !

I HAYB sung praise to Diti's sons and Aditi's, those

Go forward on thy way from good to better : Brihas- pati precede thy steps and guide thee !

PCrsHAiff was boro to move on distant pathways, on

Piishan knows all these realms : may he conduct us

We are thy praisers here, O Piishan : never let us

From out the distance, far and wide, may Fftshan

That breast of thine, exhaustless and delightful, good

Protection : or dominion. This and the following stanza are

That far-spread thunder, sent from thee, which Cometh on all this world, a high celestial signal —

As the Sun, rieiog, takeih to himself the brightness

All ye among my rivals who behold me as I come

As thou, God! quickening, for our ancient father,

Savitar> God, our household friend, most precious, hath sent our fathers life and power and riches. Let him drink Soma and rejoice when worshipped. Under his law even the Wanderer travels.

OHOOSB, O Savitar, that glorious favour, with

Increase this man Brihaspati I Illume him, O Savitar,

Mat the Ordainer give us wealth. Lord, ruler of the world of life : with full hand may he give to us.

May Dhatar grant the worshipper henceforth im-

To him may Dh&tar grant all kinds of blessings who,

The Wanderer : the Sun who journeys round the sky.

BcRST open, Pfithivt, and cleave asunder this celes^

Let not the Sun's heat burn, nor cold destroy her.

R^i : gift ; the Oblation personified aa a Ooddea*.

Anumati approve to-day oar sacrifice dmong the

Do thou, Anumati t approve^ and grant us health

May he approving in return accord us wealth in*

Thy name is easy to invoke, good leader! approved,

Anumati hath come to this oar worship well- formed to give good lands and valiant heroes : For her kind care hath blessed us. God-protected^ may she assist the sacrifice we offer. S Anumati became this AH, whatever standeth or walketh, everything that moveth.

With prayer come all together to the Lord of Heaven :

Unto a thousand sages he hath given sight : thought,

The Bright One bath sent forth the Dawns, a closely

The fearful dream, and indigence, the monster, the

What treasure hath been dug for us by Indra, by

Thb early morning prayer hath come to Vish^iu and

The early prayer hath ever come to Vishrjiu and

I WILL declare the mighty deeds of Vishnu, of him who measured out the earthlv regions,

Loud boast doth Vishnu make of this achievement, like some wild beast, dread, prowling, mountain-roaming.

Thou within whose three wide-extended paces all

Through all this world strode Vishnu : thrice his

Vishnu the guardian, he whom none deceiveth, made

Look ye on Vish^u's works, whereby the friend of

The princes evermore behold that loftiest place where

From heaven, O Vish^iu, or from earth, 0 Vishnu,

Mat Id& with her statute dwell beside us, she in whose place the pious purge and cleanse them.

This is your glorious might, Agni and Vishvu ! Ye drink the essence of the mystic butter,

Ye love the great law, Agni Vishnu ! joying, ye feast on mystic essences of butter. Exalted in each house with fair laudation. Let your tongue stretch to take the offered fatness.

Heaven, Earth, and Mitra here have caused mine

Rouse us to-day O Indra, Maghavan, hero, with

Wb bringing homage have approached the friend

Let P^lshan, let the Maruts, let Bphaspati pour

Aqni, drive oflF my rivals bom and living, repel those

Subdue with conquering might his other rivals, those

Sweet are the glances of our eyes, our faces are as

With this my robe, inherited from Manu, I envelop thee, So that thou mayst be all mine own and give no thought to other dames. A prayer for freedom from sin, and the overthrow of enemies. A prayer for the prosperity of a King and his J^ingdom. Stanzas

have a totally different object. See Appendix. ^m. eyes aa part of the A charm to be pronounced by bride and bridegrooi Smooth as halm : the pair anoint each other's eyes

I pia this Healing Herb that makes my lover look

This Herb wherewith the Asurl drew Indra down-

Thou art the peer of Soma, yea, thou art the equal

I am the speaker here, not thou : speak thou where

If thou art far away beyond the rivers, far away

Mat he establish in our home the master of riches,

The Asurl : a female fiend, naitied Y ilistefig^ according to the

Thou : addressed to the plant.

Addressed to the man she loves.

In concord may Praj&pati's two daughters, Gathering

We know thy name, O Conference: thy name is

Of these men seated here I make the splendour and

Whether your thoughts are turned away, or bound

OBssiRviNa n^en^ and viewing home, t^^e Falcon hai^h cleft his swift way over wastes and waters.

The heavenly Falcon, viewing men, well-pinioned, strength-giver, hundred-footed, hundred-nested,

SoATTER and drive away, Soma and Rudra, the sick- ness that hath come within our dwelling. Afar into the distance chase Destruction, and even from committed sin release us.

Lay on our bodies, O ye twain, O Soma and Rudra, all those balms that heal diseases. Set free and draw away the sin committed, which we have still inherent in our persons.

Some of thy words bode weal and some misfortune : thou scatterest them all with friendly feeling.

Hundred-footed: exceedingly swift. Hundred-netted: visiting and resting for a while in countless places. Rich in food: supplying the means of offering libations to the Manes of our ancestors.

Yb twain have conquered, and have not been van- quished : not either of the pair hath been defeated.

Brought hitherward from Sindhu, from a folk of

As one with water quencheth fire, so calm this lover's jealousy, Like heat of fire that burneth here, or flame that rageth through the wood.

O BROAD-TRESSED Siuiv&li, thou who art the sister of

Present the sacrifice to her, to Sinivill, Queen of men, Beautiful-fiiJgered, lovely-armed, prolific, bearing

Thou who as Queen of men art Indra's equals a God-

I CALL on R4k4 with fair laud and reverent cry:

All thy kind favours, K&kd ! lovely in their form,

May the Gods' Consorts aid us of their own free will,

May the Dames, wives of Gods, enjoy our presents, Rd^, Asvini, Indrdiji, and Agn&yi ; May Rodasi and YaruQ&ni hear us, and Goddesses come at the matrons' season*

I- pray to Agni, him who guards his treasure : here,

With thee to aid us may we win the treasure :

I have completely cleaned thee out, won from thee

Yea, by superior play one gains advantage : in time

May we all, much-invoked! repel with cattle want

My right hand holds my winnings fast, and in my

Dice, give me play that bringeth fruit as *twere

B91HASPATI protect us from the sinner, from rearward,

May we agree in mind, agree in purpose : let us not

As thou, Brihaspati, from the curse hast saved us,

Move both together ; do not leave the body. Let

Return, thy life now vanished into distance 1 Return,

Let not the vital breath he draws forsake him,

Enter him, both ye breaths, like two draught-oxen

I send thee back thy vital breath ; I drive Consump*

From out the depth of darkness, we, ascending to the

Wh worship holy Verse and Song, by which they

Seven Rishu : Bhamdvftja, Ka8yapa,Gotama, Atri, Vasishtfaa, Visva- mitra, and Jatnadagnv represented by the seven stars of the Great Bear.

Thy downward paths from heaven, whereby thoU

Honey -born, honey -dropping, rich in honey, honey-

Whatever bit, or sucked thy blood, we summon

Thou here who crookest wicked jaws, thou tortuous,

This scorpion here that creeps along, low on the

No strength in thy two arms hast thou, nor in thy

The emmets make a meal of thee and peahens tear

Thou creature who inflictest wounds both with thy

Whatever trouble hath disturbed and shaken me — I speak with hope, I move, imploring, 'mid the folk —

Seven flow for him, the youth on whom the Maruts wait : the sons have taught the Father everlasting laws. Both worlds are his : both shine belonging unto him. Both move together : both, as his possession, thrive-

Crookest ttnckedjawa : according to M. Henry, twistest the faces (of men) askew. Brahmanaspati : as the God of charms and prayer. Shall bend together: according to M. Henry, to restore them (men's faces) to their natural shape.

Peahens : the inveterate enemies of snakes. The scorpion^s poison

Like a tree struck by lightning may the man be

1, PRUDENT, bringing power, a treasure-winner, with

Let these delightful Houses that are rich in power

These Houses we invoke, whereon the distant exile

Thus greeted, ye of ample wealth, friends who enjoy

Kind greeting to the cattle here, kind greeting

Full of refreshment, full of charms, of laughter and

Stay here, and come not after me : prosper in every

Since, Agni, with our fervent zeal we undergo

Agni, we practise acts austere, we undergo austerity. So listening to Holy Lore may we grow wise and

Like a car-warrior, Agni here, grown mighty, Lord

From all that woe and trouble may the Waters save and rescue me,

May Agni G&rhapatya save and set me free from all this guilt Which the black Raven with thy mouth, O Nirriti, hath wiped away.

With retroverted fruit hast thou, O Ap4m&rga,

Whatever evil we have done, whatever vile or sinful

If with the cripple we have lived, whose teeth are

If it was in the wind or air's mid-region, if it was in

Mat sense return to me again, and spirit, return my

SarasvatI, in thy decrees, Goddess, in thy celestial

Here is, SarasvatI, thy fat libation, this sacrifice passing to the mouth of Fathers. These most auspicious offerings have ascended to thee : through these may we be full of sweetness.

Be kind and most auspicious, be gracious to us, SarasvatI. May we be ever in thy sight.

Mat the wind kindly breathe on us, may the Sun warm us pleasantly.

Whatever sacrifice that man performeth with voice^ mind, sacred formula, oblation.

For him may sorcerers. Destruction, demons strike and prevent fulfilment through their falsehood.

The two Sovrans : Death and Destruction, Mrityu and Nirfiti

I seize thine arms and draw them back^ I bind a

Behind thy back I tie thine arms, I bind a bandage

Rise up and look upon the share of Indra fixt by

Libation is prepared. Come to us, Indra : the Sun hath travelled over half his journey. Friends with their treasures sit around thee, waiting like beads of houses for their wandering chieftain.

Inflamed is Agni, Heroes t charioteer of heaven. The caldron boils : the meath is drained to be your food.

Asvins, the fire is all aglow : your caldron hath been

Dressed : the milk is twice dressed or cooked ; first matui*ed m

Milk, molten butter offered when the mornings break, — this is your portion, Asvins! Come ye hitherward. Lords of the brave, balm-lovers, guards of sacrifice,

Let the warm drink approach you with its Hotar-

Come hither, quickly come, thou milker of the kine :

I invocate this milch-cow good for milking, so that

She, sovran of all treasures, is come hither yearning

As dear house-friend, guest welcome in the dwelling,

Show thyself strong for mighty bliss, O Agni ! Most

Fortunate mayst thou be with goodly pasture, and

Black is the mother, we have heard, from whom the

I pierce the foremost one of these, I perforate the middlemost. And here I cut the hindermost asunder like a lock of hair.

With spell that Tvashtar sent to us I have dispelled

Lord of religious rites, by law, anointed, shine thou

Taken from Bigveda V. 4. 5.

Taken from Ri:^eda V. 28. 3. Make easy to mnintain our household lordship : according to S^yana : Perfect Uie well-knit bond of wife and husband.

Let not a thief or wicked man possess you : let not

Ye know the place and rest content, close-gathered,

Scrofula : ^jdydhya appears to be the general scrofulous habit of which the apachitas or pustules are the external manifestation.' — Henry. I adopt M. Henry's reading nir dsyain in place of nirdstatf of the text.

Scrofula flies borne on by wings : it penetrates and

We know thine origin, Scrofula ! know whence thoUi

Boldly drink Soraa from the beaker, In^T^ ' \Lexo in war fur treasure ! Vritra-slayer. Fill thyself full at the raid-day libation : thyself pos- sessing riches grant us riches.

I have expelled and banished all Scrofula harboured in the head, And that which bores the breast-bone through, and that which settles in the sole.

Ye Maruts, full of fiery heat, accept this offering brought for you

Maruts, the man who filled with rage against us be- yond our thoughts would harm us, O ye Vasus,

Each year come, friends to man, the tuneful Maruts, dwelling in spacious mansions, trooped together.

I FREE thee from the cord, I loose the bond, I loose the fastening.

I with celestial prayer appoint thee, Agni, main- tainer of this man in princely powers. Here brightly shine for us with wealth : declare thou to Gods this favoured giver of oblations.

Night of the New-born Moon, whatever fortune the Gods who dwell with greatness have assigned thee,

I am the New Moon's Night, the good and pious are

The Night hath come, the gatherer of treasures,

Night of New Moon ! ne'er hath been born another

Full in the front, full rearward, from the middle the Full Moon's Night hath conquered in the battle.

Sddhyas : a class of ancient Gods. See YII. 5. I.

Cf. stanza 3 of Hymn LXXX.

No one but thou, Praj4pati, none beside thee, per- vading, gave to all these forms their being. Grant us our hearts' desire when we invoke thee : may we have store of riches in possession.

Forward and backward by their wondrous power move these two youths, disporting, round the ocean.

Thou art re-born for ever new : thou marchest, en- sign of days, in forefront of the mornings.

0 9pray of Soma : Soma the Moon identified with Soma the plant. Lord of Wars : probably because the first quarter of the moon wa»

Thou art the New Moon, fair to see, thou art com-

0 spray of Soma, Lord of Wars 1 all-perfect verily

With that unwasting stalk which Gods, unwasting

StABLiSHED amid the waters is. King Varuflia, thy

Hence free thou us. King Varuija, from each suc- cessive bond and tie.

Let not oppressors : let not the wicked, anticipating our worship, secure thy attentioij before us, and, as unworthy adorers, insult and degrade thy majesty.

Varuija, free us from all snares that bind us, Varuflia'a

Manu : the priest as representative of Manu regarded as the first institutor of religious ceremonies. Celestial Daughters : the heavenly Waters.

Holder of sway, shine here refulgent, Agni! invinci- ble, immortal J^tavedas.

Thou, Indra, lord and leader of the people, wast born for lovely strength and high dominion. Thou.dravest off the folk who were unfriendly, and madest for the Gods wide room and freedom.

The stanza is taken from ^igveda I. 24. 15.

llepeatod, with variants, from A. V. VI, 121. 1.

Like a dread wild beast roaming on the mountain, may he approach us from the farthest distance. Whetting thy bolt and tby sharp blade, O Indra, crush down our foes and scatter those who hate us,

This very mighty one whom Gods urge onward, the

To Rudra in the fire, to him who dwells in floods, to Rudra who hath entered into herbs and plants,

The heavenly Waters have I ranged : we have been

Endow me with the gift of strength, with children,

Ye Waters, wash away this stain and whatsoever

Thou art the wood, may I succeed ! fuel, may I be

Tear thou asunder, as of old, like tangles of a creep- ing plant. Demolish thou the D&sa's might.

May we with Indra's help divide the gathered trea- sure of the foe. I, by the law of Varui?a, bring down thy pride and wantonness.

Mat Indra with his help, Lord of all treasures, be

Mat this rich Indra as our good protector keep even far away the men who hate us.

With Indra's and with Manyu's aid may wo subdue our enemies, resistlessly destroying foes.

We lead the constant Soma on with constant sacri- ficial gift,

I verily have stirred them up like oxen resting after

Like two that thrust, like two that pierce, like two

The kine are resting ia the stall, home to her nest

! As we have here elected thee, skilled Hotar ! to-day as this our sacrifice proceedetb, Come to the firm place, mightiest ! yea, come firmly. Knowing the sacrifice, approach the Soma.

With kine connect us, and with spirit, Indra ! Lord

The willing Gods whom, God, thou hast brought

Gods, we have made your seats of easy access, who,

Go to the sacrifice, go to its master. Sacrifice ! To

This is thy sacrifice with holy hymnal. Lord of the

Vashat to paid and yet unpaid oblations ! Ye Gods

Lord of the Mind, lay this our sacrifice in heaven

Strew thou the Grass, and spread it on the Altar : rob not the sister who is lying yonder.

Fraught with vigour : bringing us the strength of heroes.

Lord of the Mind: Lord of the mental powers and life of men ; here, Agni.

The food that in a dream I eat is Dot perceived

When I have worshipped Heaven and Earth, rever- enced Firmament and Death,

Who will prepare the dappled Cow, good milker, ne'er without calf, whom Varuijia gave Atharvan,

Lkavinq humanity behind, making the heavenly

Each thoughtless ill that we have done, 0 Agni,

The seven bright beams of SArya bring the waters

Whoso by stealth or openly would harm us, a friend

My homage to the strong, the brown, the sovran

Bear butter to the Apsarases, 0 Agni, and to the

The Apsarases take pleasure in the banquet between

Evil be mine opponent's luck ! Sprinkle thou butter

The God who found for us this wealth for gambling, to east the dice and count the winning number, May he accept the sacrifice we offer, and with Gan- dharvas revel in the banquet. € Fellow-inhabitants, such is your title, for Dice with looks of power support dominion.

Fellow-inhabitants: idmvasavas; equivalent, according to M. Henry, to the Etrusco-Roman Dii Consentes. According to Prof.

As I invoke the Gods at need, as I have lived in chastity. May these, when I have grasped the Dice, the brown, be kind to one like me.

Belly of Indra art thou, Soma-holder ! the very soul

Radiant with light are Heaven and Earth, whose

Release me from the curse's bond and plague that comes from Varuoa ; Free me from Yama's fetter and from every sin against the Gods.

Rough Plant, thou rough rude parasite, cut thou

Thou, rugged Plant, art rude and rough, Vish4, Vish&takl art thou,

I HAVE extracted from thy sides, I have extracted

Let pain and suffering pass away, let cares and curses

Hence, Evil Fortune! fly away, vanish from this

Granting us riches, Savitar! golden-handed, send

One and a hundred Fortunes all together are at his

I have disparted these and those like cows who stray on common land. Here let auspicious Fortunes stay: hence have I banished evil ones.

— 18, a hook is to be attached to the left leg of a black bird (explained by D^rila as a crow), a rice-cake is to be hung on the hook, and the bird is to be let fly as the first stansa is recited.

Homage to him the burning one, shaker, exciter, violent! Homage to him the cold who acts according to his

May he, the lawless one, who comes alternate or two

Come hither, Indra, with bay steeds, joyous, with

Thy vital parts I cover with thine armour : with

The frog : which occupies an important place in the attendant