HYMN XVIII. Agni.

1
AT dawn let: Agni, much-beloved guest of the house, be glorified; Immortal who delights in all oblations brought by mortal men.

2
For Dvita who receives through wealth of native strength maimed offerings, Thy praiser even gains at once the Soma-drops, Immortal Gods!

3
Nobles, with song I call that car of yours that shines with lengthened life, For, God who givest steeds! that car hither and thither goes unharmed.

4
They who have varied ways of thought, who guard, the lauds within their lips, And strew the grass before the light, have decked themselves with high renown.

5
Immortal Agni, give the chiefs, heroes who institute the rite, Heroes' illustrious, lofty fame, who at the synod met for praise presented me with fifty steeds.

HYMN XIX. Agni.

1
ONE state begets another state: husk is made visible from husk: Within his Mother's side he speaks.

2
Discerning, have they offered gifts: they guard the strength that never wastes. To a strong fort have they pressed in.

3
Svaitreya's people, all his men, have gloriously increased in might. A gold chain Brhaduktha wears, as, through this Soma, seeking spoil.

4
I bring, as 'twere, the longed-for milk, the dear milk of the Sister-Pair. Like to a caldron filled with food is he, unconquered, conquering all.

5
Beam of light, come to us in sportive fashion, finding thyself close to the wind that fans thee. These flames of his are wasting flames, like arrows keen-pointed, sharpened, on his breast.

HYMN XX. Agni.

1
AGNI, best winner of the spoil, cause us to praise before the Gods As our associate meet for lauds, wealth which thou verily deemest wealth.

2
Agni, the great who ward not off the anger of thy power and might Stir up the wrath and hatred due to one who holds an alien creed.

3
Thee, Agni, would we choose as Priest, the perfecter of strength and skill; We who bring sacred food invoke with song thee Chief at holy rites.

4
Here as is needful for thine aid we toil, O Conqueror, day by day, For wealth, for Law. May we rejoice, Most Wise One! at the feast, with kine, rejoice, with heroes, at the feast.

HYMN XXI. Agni.

1
WE stablish thee as Manus used, as Manus used we kindle thee. Like Manus, for the pious man , Angiras, Agni, worship Gods.

2
For well, O Agni, art thou pleased when thou art kindled mid mankind. Straight go the ladles unto thee, thou highborn God whose food is oil.

3
Thee have all Gods of one accord established as their messenger. Serving at sacrifices men adore thee as a God, O Sage.

4
Let mortal man adore your God, Agni, with worship due to Gods. Shine forth enkindled, Radiant One. Sit in the chamber of the Law, sit in the chamber of the food.

HYMN XXII. Agni.

1
LIKE Atri, Visvasaman! sing to him of purifying light, Who must be praised in holy rites, the Priest most welcome in the house.

2
Set Jatavedas in his place, Agni the God and Minister. Let sacrifice proceed to-day duly, comprising all the Gods.

3
All mortals come to thee for aid, the God of most observant mind. Of thine excelling favour we bethink us as we long for it.

4
Mark with attention this our speech, O Agni, thou victorious One. Thee, Strong-jawed! as the homestead's Lord, the Atris with their lauds exalt, the Atris beautify with songs.

HYMN XXIII. Agni.

1
By thy fair splendour's mighty power, O Agni, bring victorious wealth, Wealth that o'ercometh all mankind, and, near us, conquereth in fight.

2
Victorious Agni, bring to us the wealth that vanquisheth in war; For thou art wonderful and true, giver of strength in herds of kine.

3
For all the folk with one accord, whose sacred grass is trimmed and strewn, Invite thee to their worship-halls, as a dear Priest, for choicest wealth.

4
For he, the God of all men, hath gotten him might that quelleth foes. O Agni, in these homes shine forth, bright God! for our prosperity, shine, Purifier! splendidly.

HYMN XXIV. Agni.

1
O AGNI, be our nearest Friend, be thou a kind deliverer and a gracious Friend.

2
Excellent Agni, come thou nigh to us, and give us wealth most splendidly renowned.

3
So hear us, listen to this call of ours, and keep us far from every sinful man.

4
To thee then, O Most Bright, O Radiant God, we come with prayer for happiness for our friends.

HYMN XXV. Agni.

1
I WILL sing near, for grace, your God Agni, for he is good to us. Son of the Brands, may he give gifts, and, righteous, save us from the foe.

2
For be is true, whom men of old enkindled, and the Gods themselves, The Priest with the delicious tongue, rich with the light of glorious beams.

3
With wisdom that surpasseth all, with gracious will most excellent, O Agni, worthy of our choice, shine wealth on us through hymns of praise.

4
Agni is King, for he extends to mortals and to Gods alike. Agni is bearer of our gifts. Worship ye Agni with your thoughts.

5
Agni gives to the worshipper a son, the best, of mightiest fame, Of deep devotion, ne'er subdued, bringer of glory to his sire.

6
Agni bestows the hero-lord who conquers with the men in fight. Agni bestows the fleet-foot steed, the victor never overcome.

7
The mightiest song is Agni's: shine on high, thou who art rich in light. Like the Chief Consort of a King, riches and strength proceed -from thee.

8
Resplendent are thy rays of light: loud is thy voice like pressing-stones. Yea, of itself thy thunder goes forth like the roaring of the heaven.

9
Thus, seeking riches, have we paid homage to Agni Conqueror. May he, most wise, as with a ship, carry us over all our foes.

HYMN XXVI. Agni.

1
O AGNI, Holy and Divine, with splendour and thy pleasant tongue Bring hither and adore the Gods.

2
We pray thee, thou who droppest oil, bright-rayed! who lookest on the Sun, Bring the Gods hither to the feast.

3
We have enkindled thee, O Sage, bright caller of the Gods to feast. O Agni, great in Sacrifice.

4
O Agni, come with all the Gods, come to our sacrificial gift: We choose thee as Invoking Priest.

5
Bring, Agni, to the worshipper who pours the juice, heroic strength: Sit with the Gods upon the grass.

6
Victor of thousands, Agni, thou, enkindled, cherishest the laws, Laud-worthy, envoy of the Gods.

7
Set Agni Jatavedas down, the bearer of our sacred gifts, Most Youthful, God and Minister.

8
Duly proceed our sacrifice, comprising all the Gods, to-day: Strew holy grass to be their seat.

9
So may the Maruts sit thereon, the Asvins, Mitra, Varuna: The Gods with all their company.

HYMN XXVII. Agni.

1
THE Godlike hero, famousest of nobles, hath granted me two oxen with a wagon. Trvrsan's son Tryaruna hath distinguished himself, Vaisvanara Agni! with ten thousands.

2
Protect Tryaruna, as thou art waxing strong and art highly praised, Vaisvanara Agni! Who granteth me a hundred kine and twenty, and two bay horses, good at draught, and harnessed.

3
So Trasadasyu served thee, God Most Youthful, craving thy favour for the ninth time, Agni; Tryaruya who with attentive spirit accepteth many a song from me the mighty.

4
He who declares his wish to me, to Asvamedha, to the Prince, Pays him who with his verse seeks gain, gives power to him who keeps the Law.

5
From whom a hundred oxen, all of speckled hue, delight my heart, The gifts of Asvamedha, like thrice-mingled draughts of Soma juice.

6
To Asvamedha who bestows a hundred gifts grant hero power, O Indra-Agni! lofty rule like the unwasting Sun in heaven.

HYMN XXVIII. Agni.

1
AGNI inflamed hath sent to heaven his lustre: he shines forth widely turning unto Morning. Eastward the ladle goes that brings all blessing, praising the Gods with homage and oblation.

2
Enkindled, thou art King of the immortal world: him who brings offerings thou attendest for his weal. He whom thou urgest on makes all possessions his: he sets before thee, Agni, gifts that guests may claim.

3
Show thyself strong for mighty bliss, O Agni, most excellent be thine effulgent splendours. Make easy to maintain our household lordship, and overcome the might of those who hate us.

4
Thy glory, Agni, I adore, kindled, exalted in thy strength. A Steer of brilliant splendour, thou art lighted well at sacred rites.

5
Agni, invoked and kindled, serve the Gods, thou skilled in sacrifice: For thou art bearer of our gifts.

6
Invoke and worship Agni while the sacrificial rite proceeds: For offering-bearer choose ye him.

HYMN XXIX. Agni.

1
MAN'S worship of the Gods hath three great lustres, and three celestial lights have they established The Maruts gifted with pure strength adore thee, for thou, O Indra, art their sapient Rsi.

2
What time the Maruts sang their song to Indra, joyous when he had drunk of Soma juices, He grasped his thunderbolt to slay the Dragon, and loosed, that they might flow, the youthful Waters.

3
And, O ye Brahmans, Maruts, so may Indra drink draughts of this my carefully pressed Soma; For this oblation found for man the cattle, and Indra, having quaffed it, slew the Dragon.

4
Then heaven and earth he sundered and supported: wrapped even in these he struck the Beast with terror. So Indra forced the Engulfer to disgorgement, and slew the Danava. panting against him.

5
Thus all the Gods, O Maghavan, delivered to thee of their free will the draught of Soma; When thou for Etasa didst cause to tarry the flying mares of Surya racing forward.

6
When Maghavan with the thunderbolt demolished his nine-and-ninety castles all together, The Maruts, where they met, glorified Indra: ye with the Trstup hymn obstructed heaven.

7
As friend to aid a friend, Agni dressed quickly three hundred buffaloes, even as he willed it. And Indra, from man's gift, for Vrtra's slaughter, drank ofr [sic] at once three lakes of pressed-out Soma.

8
When thou three hundred buffaloes' flesh hadst eaten, and drunk, as Maghavan, three lakes of Soma, All the Gods raised as 'twere a shout of triumph to Indra praise because he slew the Dragon.

9
What time ye came with strong steeds swiftly speeding, O Usana and Indra, to the dwelling, Thou camest thither -conquering together with Kutsa and the Gods: thou slewest Susna.

10
One car-wheel of the Sun thou rolledst forward, and one thou settest free to move for Kutsa. Thou slewest noseless Dasyus with thy weapon, and in their home o'erthrewest hostile speakers.

11
The lauds of Gauriviti made thee mighty to Vidathin's son, as prey, thou gavest Pipru. Rjisivan drew thee into friendship dressing the sacred food, and thou hast drunk his Soma.

12
Navagvas and Dasgvas with libations of Soma juice sing hymns of praise to Indra. Labouring at their task the men laid open the stall of Kine though firmly closed and fastened.

13
How shall I serve thee, Maghavan, though knowing full well what hero deeds thou hast accomplished? And the fresh deeds which thou wilt do, Most Mighty! these, too, will we tell forth in sacred synods.

14
Resistless from of old through hero courage, thou hast done all these many acts, O Indra. What thou wilt do in bravery, Thunder-wielder! none is there who may hinder this thy prowess.

15
Indra, accept the prayers which now are offered, accept the new prayers, Mightiest! which we utter. Like fair and well-made robes, I, seeking riches, as a deft craftsman makes a car, have wrought them.

HYMN XXX. Indra.

1
WHERE is that Hero? Who hath looked on Indra borne on light-rolling car by Tawny Coursers, Who, Thunderer, seeks with wealth the Soma-presser, and to his house goes, much-invoked, to aid him?

2
I have beheld his strong and secret dwelling, longing have sought the Founder's habitation. I asked of others, and they said in answer, May we, awakened men, attain to Indra.

3
We will tell, Indra, when we pour libation, what mighty deeds thou hast performed to please us. Let him who knows not learn, who knows them listen: hither rides Maghavan with all his army.

4
Indra, when born, thou madest firm thy spirit: alone thou seekest war to fight with many. With might thou clavest e'en the rock asunder, and foundest out the stable of the Milch-kine.

5
When thou wast born supremest at a distance, bearing a name renowned in far-off regions, Since then e'en Gods have been afraid of Indra: he conquered all the floods which served the Dasa.

6
These blissful Maruts sing their psalm to praise thee, and pour to thee libation of the Soma. Indra with wondrous powers subdued the Dragon, the guileful lurker who beset the waters.

7
Thou, Maghavan, from the first didst scatter foemen, speeding, while joying in the milk, the Giver. There, seeking man's prosperity, thou torest away the head of Namuci the Dasa.

8
Pounding the head of Namuci the Dasa, me, too thou madest thine associate, Indra! Yea, and the rolling stone that is in heaven both worlds, as on a car, brought to the Maruts.

9
Women for weapons hath the Dasa taken, What injury can his feeble armies To me? Well he distinguished his two different voices, and Indra then advanced to fight the Dasyu.

10
Divided from their calves the Cows went lowing around, on every side, hither and thither. These Indra re-united with his helpers, what time the well-pressed Soma made him joyful.

11
What time the Somas mixed by Babhru cheered him, loud the Steer bellowed in his habitations. So Indra drank thereof, the Fort-destroyer, and gave him guerdon, in return, of milch-kine.

12
This good deed have the Rusamas done, Agni! that they have granted me four thousand cattle. We have received Rnancaya's wealth, of heroes the most heroic, which was freely offered.

13
The Rusamas, O Agni, sent me homeward with fair adornment and with kine in thousands. The strong libations have made Indra joyful, when night, whose course was ending, changed to morning.

14
Night, well-nigh ended, at Rnancaya's coming, King of the Rusamas, was changed to morning. Like a strong courser, fleet of foot, urged onward, Babhru hath gained four thousand as his guerdon.

15
We have received four thousand head of cattle presented by the Rusamas, O Agni. And we, the singers, have received the caldron of metal which was heated for Pravargya.

HYMN XXXI. Indra.

1
MAGHAVAN Indra turns his chariot downward, the strength-displaying car which he hath mounted. Even as a herdsman driveth forth his cattle, he goeth, first, uninjured, fain for treasure.

2
Haste to us, Lord of Bays; be not ungracious: visit us, lover of gold-hued oblation. There is naught else better than thou art, Indra: e'en to the wifeless hast thou given spouses.

3
When out of strength arose the strength that conquers, Indra displayed all powers that he possesses. Forth from the cave he drove the milky mothers, and with the light laid bare investing darkness.

4
Anus have wrought a chariot for thy Courser, and Tvastar, Much-invoked! thy bolt that glitters. The Brahmans with their songs exalting Indra increased his strength that he might slaughter Ahi.

5
When heroes sang their laud to thee the Hero, Indra! and stones and Aditi accordant, Without or steed or chariot were the fellies which, sped by Indra, rolled upon the Dasytis.

6
I will declare thine exploits wrought aforetime, and, Maghavan, thy deeds of late achievement, When, Lord of Might, thou sunderedst earth and heaven, winning for man the moistly-gleaming waters.

7
This is thy deed, e'en this, Wonderful! Singer! that, slaying Ahi, here thy strength thou showedst, Didst check and stay e'en gusna's wiles and magic, and, drawing nigh, didst chase away the Dasytis.

8
Thou, Indra, on the farther bank for Yadu and Turvaga didst stay the gushing waters. Ye both assailed the fierce: thou barest Kutsa: when Gods and Usana came to you together.

9
Let the steeds bring you both, Indra and Kutsa, borne on the chariot within hearing-distance. Ye blew him from the waters, from his dwelling, and chased the darkness from the noble's spirit.

10
Even this sage hath come looking for succour even to Vata's docile harnessed horses. Here are the Maruts, all, thy dear companions: prayers have increased thy power and might, O Indra.

11
When night was near its close he carried forward e'en the Sun's chariot backward in its running. Etaga brought his wheel and firmly stays it: setting it eastward he shall give us courage.

12
This Indra, O ye men, hath come to see you, seeking a friend who hath expressed the Soma. The creaking stone is laid upon the altar, and the Adhvaryus come to turn it quickly.

13
Let mortals who were happy still be happy; let them not come to sorrow, O Immortal. Love thou the pious, and to these thy people-with whom may we be numbered-give thou vigour.

HYMN XXXII. Indra.

1
THE well thou clavest, settest free the fountains, and gavest rest to floods that were obstructed. Thou, Indra, laying the great mountain open, slaying the Danava, didst loose the torrents.

2
The fountain-depths obstructed in their seasons, thou, Thunderer! madest flow, the mountain's udder. Strong Indra, thou by slaying e'en the Dragon that lay extended there hast shown thy vigour.

3
Indra with violence smote down the weapon, yea, even of that wild and mighty creature. Although he deemed himself alone unequalled, another had been born e'en yet more potent.

4
Him, whom the heavenly food of these delighted, child of the mist, strong waxing, couched in darkness, Him the bolt-hurling Thunderer with his lightning smote down and slew, the Danava's wrath-fire, Susna.

5
Though he might ne'er be wounded still his vitals felt that, the God's bolt, which his powers supported, When, after offered draughts, Strong Lord, thou laidest him, fain to battle, in the pit in darkness.

6
Him as he lay there huge in length extended, still waxing in the gloom which no sun lightened, Him, after loud-voiced threats, the Hero Indra, rejoicing in the poured libation, slaughtered.

7
When 'gainst the mighty Danava his weapon Indra uplifted, power which none could combat, When at the hurling of his bolt he smote him, he made him lower than all living creatures.

8
The fierce God seized that huge and restless coiler, insatiate, drinker of the sweets, recumbent, And with his mighty weapon in his dwelling smote down the footless evil-speaking ogre.

9
Who may arrest his strength or cheek his vigour? Alone, resistless, he bears off all riches. Even these Twain, these Goddesses, through terror of Indra's might, retire from his dominion.

10
E'en the Celestial Axe bows down before him, and the Earth, lover-like, gives way to Indra. As he imparts all vigour to these people, straightway the folk bend them to him the Godlike.

11
I hear that thou wast born sole Lord of heroes of the Five Races, famed among the people. As such my wishes have most lately grasped him, invoking Indra both at eve and morning.

12
So, too, I hear of thee as in due season urging to action and enriching singers. What have thy friends received from thee, the Brahmans who, faithful, rest their hopes on thee, O Indra?

HYMN XXXIII. Indra.

1
GREAT praise to Indra, great and strong mid heroes, I ponder thus, the feeble to the Mighty, Who with his band shows favour to this people, when lauded, in the fight where spoil is gathered.

2
So made attentive by our hymns, Steer! Indra! thou fastenedst the girth of thy Bay Coursers, Which, Maghavan, at thy will thou drivest hither. With these subdue for us the men who hate us.

3
They were not turned to us-ward, lofty Indra! while yet through lack of prayer they stood unharnessed. Ascend this chariot, thou whose hand wields thunder, and draw the rein, O Lord of noble horses.

4
Thou, because many lauds are thine, O Indra, wast active warring in the fields for cattle. For Surya in his own abode thou, Hero, formedst in fights even a Dasa's nature.

5
Thine are we, Indra; thine are all these people, conscious of might, whose cars are set in motion. Some hero come to us, O Strong as Ahi beauteous in war, to be invoked like Bhaga.

6
Strength much to be desired is in thee, Indra: the Immortal dances forth his hero exploits. Such, Lord of Treasure, give us splendid riches. I praise the Friend's gift, his whose wealth is mighty.

7
Thus favour us, O Indra, with ihy [sic] succour; Hero, protect the bards who sing thy praises. Be friendly in the fray to those who offer the skin of beautiful and well-pressed Soma.

8
And these ten steeds which Trasadasyu gives me, the goldrich [sic] chief, the son of Purukutsa, Resplendent in their brightness shall convey me. Gairiksita willed it and so came I hither.

9
And these, bestowed as sacrificial guerdon, the powerful tawny steeds of Marutasva; And thousands which kind Cyavatana gave me, abundantly bestowed for my adornment.

10
And these commended horses, bright and active, by Dhvanya son of Laksmana presented, Came unto me, as cows into the Rsi Samvarana's stall, with magnitude of riches.

HYMN XXXIV. Indra.

1
BOUNDLESS and wasting not, the heavenly food of Gods goes to the foeless One, doer of wondrous deeds. Press out, make ready, offer gifts with special zeal to him whom many laud, accepter of the prayer.

2
He who filled full his belly with the Soma's juice, Maghavan, was delighted with the meath's sweet draught, When Usana, that he might slay the monstrous beast, gave him the mighty weapon with a thousand points.

3
Illustrious is the man whoever presseth out Soma for him in sunshine or in cloud and rain. The mighty Maghavan who is the sage's Friend advanceth more and more his beauteous progeny.

4
The Strong God doth not flee away from him whose sire, whose mother or whose brother he hath done to death. He, the Avenger, seeketh this man's offered gifts: this God, the source of riches, doth not flee from sin.

5
He seeks no enterprise with five or ten to aid, nor stays with him who pours no juice though prospering well. The Shaker conquers or slays in this way or that, and to the pious gives a stable full of kine.

6
Exceeding strong in war he stays the chariot wheel, and, hating him who pours not, prospers him who pours. Indra the terrible, tamer of every man, as Arya leads away the Dasa at his will.

7
He gathers up for plunder all the niggard’s gear: excellent wealth he gives to him who offers gifts. Not even in wide stronghold may all the folk stand firm who have provoked to anger his surpassing might.

8
When Indra Maghavan hath marked two wealthy men fighting for beauteous cows with all their followers, He who stirs all things takes one as his close ally, and, Shaker, with his Heroes, sends the kine to him.

9
Agni! I laud the liberal Agnivesi, Satri the type and standard of the pious. May the collected waters yield him plenty, and his be powerful and bright dominion.