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The White Yajurveda (Vâjasaneyi-Sanhitâ)
Book the seventeenth
1. THE food and strength contained in stone and mountain, drink gathered from the plants and trees and waters,
That food and strength, Maruts! free-givers, grant us.
In the stone is thy hunger. In me is thy food. Let thy pain reach the man we hate.
2. O Agni, may these bricks be mine own milch kine: one, and ten, and ten tens, a hundred, and ten hundreds, a thousand, and ten thousand a myriad, and a hundred thousand, and a million, and a hundred millions, and an ocean middle and end, and a hundred thousand millions, and a billion.
May these bricks be mine own milch-kine in yonder world and in this world.
3. Ye are the Seasons, strengthening Law, fixed in due season, strengthening Law,
Called Splendid, dropping butter down and honey, yielders of every wish, imperishable.
4. With the lake's mantling need we robe thee, Agni: to us he purifying and auspicious.
5. With cold's investing garb we gird thee, Agni: to us be purifying and auspicious.
6. Descend upon the earth, the reed, the rivers: thou art the gall, O Agni, of the waters.
With them come hither, female Frog, and render this sacrifice of ours bright-hued, successful.
7. This is the place where waters meet; here is the gathering of the flood.
Let thy shaft burn others than us: be thou cleanser, propitious unto us.
8. O Agni, purifier, God, with splendour and thy pleasant tongue
Bring hither, and adore, the Gods.
9. So, Agni, purifying, bright, bring hither to our sacrifice,
To our oblation bring the Gods.
10. He who with purifying, eye-attracting form hath shone upon the earth as with the light of Dawn;
Who speeding on, as in the fleet steed's race, in fight, cometh untouched by age, as one athirst in heat.
11. Obeisance to thy wrath and glow! Obeisance to thy fiery flame!
Let thy shot missiles burn others than us: be thou cleanser, propitious unto us.
12. To him who dwells in man, Hail! To him who dwells in waters, Hail!
To him who dwells in sacred grass, Hail! To him who dwells in the wood, Hail! To him who finds the light, Hail!
13. Worshipful Gods of Gods who merit worship, those who sit down beside their yearly portion,
Let them who eat not sacrificial presents drink in this rite of honey and of butter.
14. Those Gods who have attained to Godhead over Gods, they who have led the way in this our holy work,
Without whose aid no body whatsoever moves, not on heaven's heights are they, nor on the face of earth.
15. Giver of breath, of out-breath, breath diffusive, giver of lustre, giving room and freedom,
Let thy shot missiles burn others than us: be thou cleanser, propitious unto us.
16. May Agni with his sharpened blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend.
May Agni win us wealth by war.
17. He who sate down as Hotar priest, the Rishi, our Father offering, up all things existent
He, seeking with his wish a great possession, came among men on earth as archetypal.
18. What was the place whereon he took his station? What was it that upheld him? What the manner,
Whence Visvakarman, seeing all, producing the earth, with mighty power disclosed the heavens?
19. He who hath eyes on all sides round about him, a mouth on all sides, arms and feet on all sides,
He the sole God, producing earth and heaven, weldeth them with his arms as wings together.
20. What was the tree, what wood in sooth produced it, from which they fashioned out the earth and heaven?
Ye thoughtful men, inquire within your spirit whereon he stood when he established all things.
21. Thine highest, lowest sacrificial natures, and these thy midmost here, O Visvakarman,
Teach thou thy friends at sacrifice, O Blessèd, and come thy- self, exalted, to our worship.
22. Bring those, thyself exalted with oblation, O Visvakarman, Earth and Heaven to worship.
Let enemies around us live in folly: here let us have a rich and liberal patron.
23, 24. = VIII. 45, 46.
25. The Father of the eye, the Wise in spirit, created both these worlds submerged in fatness.
Then when the eastern ends were firmly fastened, the heavens and the earth were far extended.
26. Mighty in mind and power is Visvakarman, Maker, Disposer, and most lofty Presence.
Their offerings joy in rich juice where they value One, only One beyond the Seven Rishis.
27. Father who made us, he who, as Disposer, knoweth all races and all things existing,
Even he alone, the Deities’ name-giver,—him other beings seek for information.
28. To him in sacrifice they offered treasures,—Rishis of old, in numerous troops, as singers,
Who, in the distant, near, and lower region, made ready all these things that have existence.
29. That which is earlier than this earth and heaven, before the Asuras and Gods had being,
What was the germ primeval which the waters received where the first Gods beheld each other?
30. The waters, they received that germ primeval wherein the Gods were gathered all together.
It rested set upon the Unborn's navel, that One wherein abide all things existing.
31. Ye will not find him who produced these creatures: another thing hath risen up among you.
Enwrapt in misty cloud, with lips that stammer, hymn-chanters wander and are discontented.
32. First was the God engendered, Visvakarman: then the Gandharva sprang to life as second.
Third in succession was the plants’ begetter: he laid the waters’ germ in many places.
33. Swift, rapidly striking, like a bull who sharpens his horns, terrific, stirring up the people,
With eyes that close not, bellowing, Sole Hero, Indra subdued at once a hundred armies.
34. With him loud-roaring, ever watchful, Victor, bold, hard to overthrow, Rouser of battle,
Indra the Strong, whose hand bears arrows, conquer, ye warriors, now, now vanquish in the combat.
35. He rules with those who carry shafts and quivers, Indra who with his band brings hosts together,
Foe-conquering, strong of arm, the Soma-drinker, with mighty bow, shooting with well-laid arrows.
36. Brihaspati, fly with thy chariot hither, slayer of demons, driving off our foemen.
Be thou protector of our cars, destroyer, victor in battle, breaker-up of armies.
37. Conspicuous by thy strength, firm, foremost fighter, mighty and fierce, victorious, all-subduing,
The Son of Conquest, passing men and heroes, kine-winner, mount thy conquering car, O Indra.
38. Cleaver of stalls, kine-winner, armed with thunder, who quells an army and with might destroys it,
Follow him, brothers! quit yourselves like heroes, and like this Indra show your zeal and courage.
39. Piercing the cow-stalls with surpassing vigour, Indra, the pitiless Hero, wild with anger,
Victor in fight, unshaken and resistless,—may he protect our armies in our battles.
40. Indra guide these: Brihaspati precede them, the guerdon, and the sacrifice, and Soma;
And let the banded Maruts march in forefront of heavenly hosts that conquer and demolish.
41. Ours be the potent host of mighty Indra, King Varuna, and Maruts, and Âdityas.
Uplifted is the shout of Gods who conquer, high-minded Gods who cause the worlds to tremble.
42. Bristle thou up, O Bounteous Lord, our weapons: excite the spirits of my warring heroes.
Urge on the strong steeds’ might, O Vritra-slayer, and let the din of conquering cars go upward.
43. May Indra aid us when our flags are gathered: victorious be the arrows of our army.
May our brave men of war prevail in battle. Ye Gods protect us in the shout of onset.
44. Bewildering the senses of our foemen, seize thou their bodies and depart, O Apvâ.
Attack them, set their hearts on fire and burn them: so let our foes abide in utter darkness.
45. Loosed from the bowstring fly awry, O Arrow, sharpened by our prayer.
Go to the foemen, strike them home, and let not one of them escape.
46. Advance, O heroes, win the day. May Indra be your sure defence.
Exceeding mighty be your arms, that none may wound or injure you.
47. That army of our enemies, O Maruts, that comes against us with its might, contending,
Meet ye and wrap it in unwelcome darkness so that not one of them may know another.
48. There where the flights of arrows fall like boys whose locks are yet unshorn,
May Indra, may Brihaspati, may Aditi protect us well, protect us well through all our days.
49. Thy vital parts I cover with thine armour: with immortality King Soma clothe thee.
Varuna give thee what is more than ample, and in thy triumph may the Gods be joyful.
50. Worshipped with butter, Agni, lead this man to high preeminence.
Vouchsafe him growth of riches and multiply him with progeny.
51. Indra, lead him to eminence: controller of his foes be he.
Vouchsafe him lustre: let him give their sacred portions to the Gods.
52. The man within whose house we pay oblation, Indra, prosper him.
May the Gods bless and comfort him, they and this Brahmanaspati.
53. May the All-Gods, O Agni, bear and lift thee upward with their thoughts.
Fair to be looked on, rich in light, he thou propitious unto us.
54. May the Five Regions guard, divine, our worship, Goddesses chasing lack of thought and hatred,
Giving the Sacrificer growth of riches. Let sacrifice be based on growth of riches.
55. Inspirited above enkindled Agni, adorable, winged with hymns, was it accepted,
When the Gods offered sacrifice with viands, circling the heated caldron, paving worship.
56. Lord of a hundred draughts. benign, God-serving—to him divine, establisher, protector,
The Gods approached the sacrifice, encircling. Gods for the Gods stood fain for sacred service.
57. When the fourth sacrifice reaches the oblation, accepted offering which hath been made ready, fit for the Inmolator's sacrificing,
Thence bless us prayers and holy recitations!
58. Savitar, golden-hued, hath lifted eastward, bright with the sunbeams, his eternal lustre,
He at whose furtherance wise Pûshan marches surveying all existence like a herdsman.
59. He sits, the measurer, in the midst of heaven, filling the two world-halves and air's mid-region.
He looks upon the rich far-spreading pastures between the eastern and the western limit.
60. Steer, Sea, Red Bird with strong wings, he hath entered the dwelling-place of the Primeval Father.
A gay-hued Stone set in the midst of heaven, he hath gone forth and guards the air's two limits.
61. All sacred songs have glorified Indra expansive as the sea,
The best of warriors borne on cars, the Lord, the Very Lord of strength.
62. May God-invoking sacrifice bring the Gods hitherward to us.
May bless-invoking sacrifice bring the Gods hitherward to us.
May Agni, God, make offering and hither bring the Gods to us.
63. May the abundant growth of wealth with elevation lift me up,
And with his subjugating power may Indra keep my foemen down.
64. Upraising and depression and devotion may the Gods increase.
May Indra, too, and Agni drive my foes away to every side.
65. Go ye by Agni to the sky bearing the Ukhya in your hands.
Reaching the heights of sky and heaven stay intermingled with the Gods.
66. Agni, go forward to the eastern region, well-skilled, be here the fire in front of Agni.
Illuming all the quarters, shine with splendour: supply with food our quadrupeds and bipeds.
67. From earth to air's mid-region have I mounted, and from mid-air ascended up to heaven.
From the high pitch of heaven's cope I came into the world of light.
68. Mounting the sky they look not round: they rise to heaven through both the worlds—
Sages who span the sacrifice that pours its stream on every side.
69. Foremost of those who seek the Gods come forward, thou who art eye of Gods and men, O Agni.
Accordant with the Bhrigus, fain to worship, to heaven in safety go the Sacrificers.
70. Night and Dawn, different in hue, accordant, etc., as in XII. 2.
71. O Agni, thousand-eyed and hundred-headed, thy breaths are hundred, thy through-breaths a thousand.
Thou art the Lord of thousandfold possessions. To thee; for strength, may we present oblation.
72. Thou art the Bird of goodly wing: be seated on the ridge of earth.
Fill air's mid-region with thy glow, supporting with thy light the sky, confirm the quarters with thy sheen.
73. Receiving offerings, fair of aspect, eastward be duly seated in thy place, O Agni.
In this the more exalted habitation be seated All-Gods and the Sacrificer.
74. That wondrous all-mankind-embracing favour of Savitar, choice-worthy, I solicit,
Even his which Kanva wont to milk, the mighty, the teeming Cow who yields a thousand milk-streams.
75. May we adore thee in thy loftiest birth place, Agni! with praise-songs in thy lower station.
The place whence those hast issued forth I worship. In thee, well kindled, have they paid oblations
76. Shine thou before us, Agni, well enkindled, with flame, most youthful God, that never fadeth.
Unceasing unto thee come sacred viands.
77. Agni, this day with lands, etc., as in XV. 44.
78. I dedicate the thought with mind and butter so that the Gods may come who love oblation, strengthing Law,
To Visvakarman, Lord of all the earth, I offer up day after day the inviolable sacrifice.
79. Seven fuel logs hast thou, seven tongues, O Agni, seven Rishis hast thou, seven belovèd mansions.
Seven-priests in sevenfold manner pay thee worship. Fill full—All-hail to thee!—seven wombs with butter.
80. Purely-Bright, Wonderfully-Bright, Really-Bright, All-Luminous, Bright, Law's-Protector, Safe-from-Ill;
81. Such, Other-Looking, Equal, Similar, Measured, Commensurate, Jointly-Bearing-up.
82. Right, Real, Firm, Strong-to-Support, Bearer, Disposer, Manager.
83. Winner-of-Right, Winner-of-Truth, Host-Conquering, Lord-of-Goodly-Host, Whose-Friends-are-Near-at-Hand, Whose-Banded-Enemies-are-Far-Away:
84. To day in this our sacrifice be present, Such, Looking-Thus, Same, Similar-in-appearance, Measured, Commensurate, Joint-Bearers, Maruts!
85. Self-Powerful, Voracious-One, Kin-to-the-Sun, The House-holder, Play-Lover, Mighty, Conqueror. Fierce, Terrible, The Resonant, The Roaring. Victorious, Assailant, and Dispeller, All-Hail!
86. The Maruts, clans divine, became the followers of Indra; as The Maruts, clans divine, became the followers of Indra, so May clans divine and human he the Sacrificer's followers.
87. Drink in the middle of the flood, O Agni, this breast stored full of sap, teeming with water.
Welcome this fountain redolent of sweetness. O Courser, enter those thy watery dwelling.
88. Oil hath been mixed: oil is his habitation. In oil he rests: oil is his proper province.
Come as thy wont is. O thou Steer, rejoice thee. Bear off the oblation duly consecrated.
89. Forth from the ocean sprang the wave of sweetness: together with the stalk it turned to Amrit,
That which is holy oil's mysterious title: but the Gods’ tongue is truly Amities centre.
90. Let us Declare aloud the name of Ghrita, and at this sacrifice held it up with homage.
So let the Brahman hear the praise we utter. This hath the four-horned Buffalo emitted.
91. Four are his horns, three are the feet that bear him: his heads are two, his hands are seven in number.
Bound with a triple bond the Bull roars loudly: the mighty God hath entered into mortals.
92. That oil in triple shape the Gods discovered laid down with- in the Cow, concealed by Panis.
Indra produced one shape, Sûrya another: by their own power they formed the third from Vena.
93. From inmost reservoir in countless channels flow down these rivers which the foe beholds not.
I look upon the streams of oil descending, and lo! the Golden Reed is there among them.
94. Like rivers our libations flow together, cleansing themselves in inmost heart and spirit.
The streams of holy oil pour swiftly downward like the wild beasts that fly before the bowman.
95. As rushing down the rapids of a river, flow swifter than the wind the vigorous currents,
The streams of oil in swelling fluctuation like a red courser bursting through the fences.
96. Like women at a gathering fair to look on and gently smiling, they incline to Agni.
The streams of holy oil attain the fuel, and Jâtavedas joyfully receives them.
97. As maidens deck themselves with gay adornment to join the bridal feast, I now behold them.
Where Soma flows and sacrifice is ready, thither the streams of holy oil are running.
98. Send to our eulogy a herd of cattle: bestow upon us excellent possessions.
Bear to the Gods the sacrifice we offers the streams of oil flow pure and full of sweetness.
99. The universe depends upon thy power and might within the sea, within the heart, within all life.
May we attain that sweetly-flavoured wave of thine, brought, at this gathering, o’er the surface of the floods.
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