Part I, Book V — Hymns to Indra and Soma Pavamāna

INDRA, this might of thine I praise most highly for

For thee this Soma hath been pressed, in whose wild

Come unto us, O Indra, dear, still conquering,

Joy, mightiest Indra, that perceives, sprung from

Adityas, very mighty ones, grant to our children and

Thou knowest, Indra, Thunder-armed ! how to avoid

Drive ye disease and strife away, drive ye away

Drink Soma, Indra, Lord of bays ! and let it cheer

STILL, Indra, from all ancient time rivalless ever and

Him who of old hath brought to us this and that

Fail not when marching: onward : come hither, like-

Come hither to the dropping juice, 0 Lord of corn-

Hero, may we, with thee for friend, withstand the

Yea, kin by common ancestry, the Maruts, even the

0 Tndra, bring great strength to us, bring valour,

So, Indra, friend of song, do we draw nigh to thee

Sitting like birds beside thy meath, mingled with

We call on thee, O matchless one! We, seeking help,

THE juice of Soma thus diffused, sweet to the taste

Thus hath the Soma, gladdening draught, produced

By men hath Indra been advanced, the Vritra- slayer,

Unconquered strength is only thine, Indra, Stone-

Go forward, meet the foe, be bold ; thy bolt of

When war and battles are on foot, booty is offered

Well have they eaten and rejoiced ; the friends have

Graciously listen to our songs, Maghavan, be not

Within the waters runs the Moon, he with the

To meet your treasure-bringing car, the mighty

O AGNI, God, we kindle thee, refulgent, wasting not

With offerings of our own we choose thee, Agni, as

O heavenly Dawn, awaken us to ample opulence

Send us a mind that brings delight, send energy and

Great, as his nature is, through power, terrible,

He, Indra, verily will mount the powerful car that

I think of Agni who is kind, whom, as their home,

No peril, no severe distress, ye Gods, affects the

FLOW forth, O Soma, flow thou onward, sweet to Indra's, Mitra's, Pushan's, Bhaga's taste.

Run forth to battle, conquering the Vritras , thou

Flow onward, Soma, as a mighty sea, as Father of

Flow onward, Soraa, flow for mighty strength, as a

Fair Indu hath flowed on for rapturous joy, sage,

In thee, effused, O Soma, we rejoice ourselves for

Who are these radiant men in serried rank, Rudra's

Agni, with hymns may we now accomplish that which

The strong youths have come forth to view, to show

Soma. flow splendid with thy copious stream in due succession through the ample fleece.

GIVER from all sides, bring to us from every side, thou whom as strongest we entreat !

This Brahman, comer at due time, named Indra, is renowned and praised.

The Brahmans with their hymns exalting Indra in-

Anavas wrought a chariot for thy courser, and Tva-

Rest, wealth to him who longs for wealth ! the rite-

The cows are ever pure and all-supporting, the Gods

With all thy beauty come ! The kine approaching

May we, inhabiting a rneath-rich dwelling, increase

The stanza is not found in the Ristveda. The strong youths : appa- rently the Maruts. God Savitar's quickening energy : to aid the pro- ductive power of the Sun.

Sing to your Indra, mightiest Vritra-slayer, sing to the Sage the song that he accepteth !

OBSERVANT Agni hath appeared, oblation-bearer with his car.

O Agni, be our nearest friend, yea, our protector

Like wondrous Bhaga, Agni deals treasure among

Taken from the same stanza as the preceding. Anavas ; de- scendants of the eponymns Anu ,- the Bhrigus are probably meant.

The ritdess stirs not his love : the man who neglects the worship of the Gods does not move Indra to show him affection.

May we, with Indra and the Gods to aid us, bring

Like streams of water on their way, let bounties,

With this may we obtain strength god-appointed,

With strength let Mitra, Varuna swell oblations; do

Indra is King of all the world.

AT the Trikadrukas the great and strong enjoyed

This God who sees for thousands of mankind, the

Come to us, Indra, from afar, conducting us, as, to

Loudly I call that Indra Magliavan, the mighty,

Heard be our prayer ! In thought I honour Acrni

To Vishnu, to the mighty whom the Maruts follow,

With this his golden splendour purifying him, he

I praise this God, parent of heaven and earth,

Agni I deem our Hotar-priest, munificent wealth-

This, Indra ! dancer ! was thy hero deed, thy first and'

HIGH is thy juice's birth : though set it heaven, on earth it hath obtained dread sheltering power and great renown.

In sweetest and most gladdening stream flow pure,

Flow onward mighty with thy stream, inspiriting the

Flow onward with that juice of thine most excellent,

Three several words are uttered : kine are lowing,

For Indra girt by Maruts, flow, thou Indu, very

Strong, mountain-born, the stalk hath been pressed

Gold-bued ! as one who giveth strength flow on for

Soma, the dwellei on the hills, effused, hath flowed

The Sage of heaven whose heart is wise, when laid between both hands, with roars, gives us delightful powers of life.

THE rapture-shedding Somas have flowed forth in our assembly, pressed to glorify our liberal lords.

The Somas, skilled in song, the waves, have led the

Indu, flow on, a mighty juice; glorify us among the

For thou art strong by splendour : we, O Pavarodna,

Indu, enlightener, dear, the thought of poets, hath

Through our desire of heroes, kine, and horses,

God, working with mankind, flow on ; to Tndra go

From heaven hath Pavamana made, as 'twere, the

Reposing on the river's wave, the Sage hath widely