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The White Yajurveda (Vâjasaneyi-Sanhitâ)
Book the thirty-third
1. His be the fires, eternal, purifying, protectors of our homes, whose smoke is shining,
White, waxing in their strength, for ever stirring, and seated in the wood: like winds are Somas.
2. Gold-coloured, bannered with the smoke, urged by the wind, aloft to heaven
Rise, lightly borne, the flames of fire.
3. Bring to us Mitra-Varuna, bring the Gods to the great sacrifice;
Bring them, O Agni, to thine home.
4. Yoke, Agni, as a charioteer, thy steeds who best invoke the Gods:
As ancient Hotar take thy seat.
5. To fair goals travel Two unlike in semblance: each in succession nourishes an infant.
One bears a Godlike Babe of golden colour: bright and fair-shining is be with the other.
6. Here by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker, best at worship, to be praised at rites,
Whom Apnavâna and the Bhrigus caused to shine, bright-coloured in the wood, spreading to every house.
7. Three times a hundred Gods, and thrice a thousand, and three times ten, and nine have worshipped Agni,
For him spread sacred grass, balmed him with butter, and stablished him as Priest and Sacrificer.
8. Him, messenger of earth and head of heaven, Agni Vaisvânara, born in holy Order,
The Sage, the King, the Guest of men, a vessel fit for their mouths, the Gods have generated.
9. May Agni slay the foemen,—fain for riches, through the love of song
Kindled, bright, served with sacrifice.
10. With the All-Gods, with Indra and with Vâyu drink the Soma mead,
O Agni, after Mitra's laws.
11. When splendour reached the Lord of men to speed him, down from the heaven was shed the brilliant moisture.
Agni brought forth to light and filled with spirit the youthful host benevolent and blameless.
12. Show thyself strong for mighty bliss, O Agni; most excellent be thine effulgent splendours.
Make easy to maintain our household lordship and trample down the might of those who hate us.
13. We have elected thee as most delightful for thy beams’ glow: hear our great laud, O Agni.
The best men praise thee as the peer of Indra in strength, mid Gods, like Vâyu in thy bounty.
14. O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes be to thee,
Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part in gifts their stalls of kine.
15. Hear, Agni who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods.
Let Mitra, Aryaman, seeking betimes our rite, seat them upon the sacred grass.
16. The Freedom of all Gods who merit worship, freely received as Guest in all men's houses,
Agni who hath secured the Gods’ high favour, may he be gracious to us, Jâtavedas.
17. In great enkindled Agni's keeping and, for bliss, free from all sin before Mitra and Varuna,
May we share Savitar's best animating help. We crave this gracious favour of the Gods to-day.
18. Like barren cows, moreover, swelled the waters: singers approached thy holy cult, O Indra.
Come thou to us as to his team comes Vâyu. Thou through our solemn hymns bestowest bounty.
19. Ye Cows, protect the fount. The two mighty Ones bless the sacrifice.
The handles twain are wrought of gold.
20. Now when the Sun hath risen to-day may sinless Mitra, Aryaman,
Bhaga, and Savitar speed us forth.
21. Pour on the juice the ornament which reaches both the heaven and earth;
Supply the liquid to the Bull.
Thou in the first old time. See, Vena.
22. As he was rising up they all revered him: self-luminous he travels, clothed in splendour.
That is the Bull's, the Asura's lofty nature: he, Omniform, hath reached the eternal waters.
23. I laud your Mighty One who joyeth in the juice, him who is good to all men, who pervadeth all;
Indra whose conquering strength is powerful in war, whose fame and manly vigour Heaven and Earth revere.
24. Great is their fuel, strung their laud, wide is their sacrificial post
Whose Friend is Indra, ever young.
25. Come, Indra, and delight thee with the juice at all the Soma feasts,
Conqueror, mighty in thy strength.
26. Leading his band, Indra encompassed Vritra; weak grew the wily leader of enchanters.
He who burns fierce in forests slaughtered Vyamsa, and made the milch-kine of the nights apparent.
27. Whence comest thou alone, thou who art mighty, Indra, Lord of the Brave? What is thy purpose?
Thou greetest us, encountering us the Bright Ones. Lord of Bay Steeds, say what thou hast against us.
Indra, great in his power and might. Ne’er art thou fruitless.
Never art thou neglectful.
28. Those men extolled that deed of thine, O Indra, those who would fain burst through the stall of cattle,
Fain to milk her who bare but once, great, lofty, whose sons are many and her streams a thousand.
29. To thee the Mighty One I bring this mighty hymn, for thy desire hath been gratified by my laud.
In Indra, yea, in him victorious through his might, the Gods have joyed at feast and when the Soma flowed.
30. May the Bright God drink glorious Soma-mingled mead, giving the sacrifice's lord uninjured life;
He who, wind-urged, in person guard our offspring well, hath nourished them with food and shone o’er many a land.
31. His bright rays bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,
Sûrya, that all may look on him.
32. Pure Varuna, with that same eye wherewith thou lookest upon one
Actively stirring mid the folk—
33. Ye two divine Adhvaryus, come hither upon a sun-bright car:
Bedew our sacrifice with stead.
Thou in the first old time. See, Vena. The brilliant presence.
34. Loved of all men, may Savitar through praises offered as sacred food come to our synod,
That ye too, through our hymns, ye ever youthful, may gladden at your visit all our people.
35. Whatever, Vritra-slayer! thou Surya hast risen on to-day,
That, Indra, all is in thy power.
36. Swift, visible to all art thou, O Sûrya, maker of the light,
Illuming all the radiant realm.
37. This is the Godhead, this the might of Sûrya: he hath withdrawn what spread o’er work unfinished.
When he hath loosed his horses from their station, straight over all Night spreadeth out her garment.
38. In the sky's lap the Sun this form assumeth that Varuna and Mitra may behold it.
His Bay Steeds well maintain their power eternal, at one time bright, and darksome at another.
39. Verily, Sûrya, thou art great; truly, Âditya, thou art great.
As thou art great indeed thy greatness is admired: yea, verily thou, God, art great.
40. Yea, Sûrya, thou art great in fame: thou, evermore, O God, art great.
Thou by thy greatness art the Gods’ Home-Priest, divine, far-spread, unconquerable light.
41. Turning, as ’twere, to meet the Sun, enjoy from Indra all good things.
When he who will be horn is born with power we look to treasures as our heritage.
42. To-day, ye Gods, when Sûrya hath ascended, deliver us front trouble and dishonour.
This boon may Varuna and Mitra grant us, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
43. Throughout the dusky firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal,
Borne on his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, God, beholding living creatures.
44. Soft to the tread the sacred grass is scattered: these go like Kings amid the band around them,
At the folk's early call on Night and Morning,—Vâyu, and Pûshan with his team to bless us.
45. Indra, Vâyu, Brihaspati, Mitra, Agni, Pûshan, Bhaga, Âdityas, and the Marut host.
46. Be Varuna our chief defence, let Mitra guard us with all aids:
Both make us rich exceedingly!
47. Regard us, Indra, Vishnu, here, ye Asvins, and the Marut host, us who are kith and kin to you.
Thou in the first old time. See, Vena. O ye eleven Gods.
Loved of all men, may Savitar. With the All-Gods. Ye Visvedevas who protect.
48. O Agni, Indra, Varuna, and Mitra, give, O ye Gods, and Marut host, and Vishnu.
May both Nâsatyas, Rudra, heavenly Matrons, Pûshan, Sarasvatî, Bhaga accept us.
49. Indra, Agni, Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the Waters, Mountains, Maruts, Sky, and Earth and Heaven,
Vishnu I call, Pûshan and Brahmanaspati, and Bhaga, Samsa, Savitar that they may help.
50. With us are raining Rudras, clouds accordant in call to battle at the death of Vritra,
The strong, assigned to him who sings and praises. May Gods with Indra as their chief protect us.
51. Turn yourselves hitherward this day, ye Holy, that fearing in my heart I may approach you.
Protect us, Gods, let not the wolf destroy us. Save us, ye Holy, from the pit and falling.
52. This day come all the Maruts, etc., as in XVIII. 31.
53. Listen, All-Gods, to this mine invocation, ye who inhabit heaven and air's mid-region.
All ye; O Holy Ones, whose tongue is Agni, seated upon this sacred grass be joyful.
54. For thou at first producest for the holy Gods the noblest of all portions, immortality.
Thereafter as a gift to men, O Savitar, thou openest existence, life succeeding life.
55. I with a lofty song call hither Vâyu all-bounteous, filler of his car, most wealthy.
Thou, Sage, with bright path, Lord of harnessed horses, impetuous, promptly honourest the prudent.
56. These, Indra-Vâyu, have been shed, etc., as in VII. 8.
57. Mitra of holy strength I call, and foe-destroying Varuna,
Who make the oil-fed rite complete.
58. Nâsatyas, Wonder-workers, yours are these libations with clipt grass.
Come ye whose paths are bright with glow.
59. When Saramâ had, found the mountain's fissure, that vast and ancient place she plundered thoroughly.
In the floods’ van she led them forth, light-footed: she who well knew came first unto their lowing.
60. For nowhere did they find another envoy to lead the way than this Vaisvânara Agni.
The Gods immortal strengthened the immortal Vaisvânara to win the land in battle.
61. The strong, dispellers of the foe, Indra and Agni, we invoke:
May they be kind to one like me.
62. Sing forth to Indu, O ye men, to him as he is purified,
Fain to pay worship to the Gods.
63. Drink Soma, Indra, handed with the Maruts who, Boon Lord! strengthened thee at Ahi's slaughter,
’Gainst Sambara, Lord of Bays! in winning cattle, and now rejoice in thee, the holy singers.
64. Thou vast born mighty for victorious valour, exulting, strongest, full of pride and courage.
There, even there the Maruts strengthened Indra when his most rapid Mother stirred the Hero.
65. O thou who slewest Vritra, come, O Indra, hither to our side,
Mighty One with thy mighty aids.
66. Thou in thy battles, Indra, art subduer of all hostile bands.
Father art thou, all-conquering, cancelling the curse: vanquish the men who fight with us.
67. Heaven and Earth cling close to thy victorious might
As sire and mother to their child.
68. The sacrifice obtains the Gods’ acceptance, etc., as in VIII. 4.
69. Protect our habitation, Savitar, this day with guardian aids around, propitious, ne’er beguiled.
God of the golden tongue, keep us for newest bliss: let not the evil-wisher have us in his power.
70. For you have flowed, through noble ministration, pressed by Adhvaryus, bright sweet-flavoured juices.
Drive on thy team and come thou hither, Vâyu: drink for thy rapture of the sap of Soma.
71. Ye Cows, protect, etc., as in verse 14.
72. Come ye foe-slayers to the place of meeting, to the birth-places of the two great Sages,
With force of intellect unto the dwelling.
73. Ye two divine Adhvaryus, etc., as in verse 33. Thou in the time of old. See, Vena.
74. Transversely was the severing line extended: was it above, or was it, haply, under?
There were begetters, there were mighty forces, free action here and energy up yonder.
75. He hath filled heaven and earth and the great realm of light, when at his birth the skilful held him in their hold.
He like a steed is led forth to the sacrifice, Sage, graciously inclined, that he may win us wealth.
76. Call hither with the song and lauds the two best slayers of the foe,
Delighting even in our hymn.
77. All Sons of Immortality shall listen to the songs we sing,
And be exceeding good to us.
78. Mine are devotions, hymns, sweet are libations. Strength stirs, and hurled forth is my rocky weapon.
They call for me, for me their lauds are longing. To their libations these my Bay Steeds bear me.
79. Nothing, O Bounteous Lord, stands firm before thee: among the Gods not one is found thine equal.
None born or springing into life comes near thee. Do what thou hast to do, exceeding mighty!
80. In all the worlds That was the Best and Highest whence sprang the mighty God of splendid valour.
Quickly when born he overcomes his foemen, he in whom all who lend him aid are joyful.
81. May these my songs of praise exalt thee, Lord, who hast abundant wealth.
Men skilled in holy hymns, pure, with the hues of fire, have sung them with their lauds to thee.
82. Good Lord of wealth is he to whom all Âryas, Dâsas here belong.
E’en over unto thee, the pious Rusama Pavîru, is that wealth brought nigh.
83. He, with his might advanced by Rishis thousandfold, hath like an ocean spread himself.
His majesty is praised as true at solemn rites, his power where holy singers rule.
84. Protect our habitation, Savitar, etc., as in verse 69.
85. Come, Vâyu, drawn by fair hymns, to our sacrifice that reaches heaven.
Poured on the middle of the straining-cloth and dressed, this bright drink hath been offered thee.
86. Indra and Vâyu, fair to see and swift to hear, we call to us,
That in assembly all, yea, all the folk may be benevolent to us and free from malady.
87. Yea, specially that mortal man hath toiled for service of the Gods,
Who quickly hath brought near Mitra and Varuna to share his sacrificial gifts.
88. Approach ye, and be near to us. Drink, O ye Asvins, of the mead.
Draw forth the milk, ye mighty, rich in genuine wealth!
Injure us not, and come to us.
89. May Brahmanaspati draw nigh, may Sûnritâ the Goddess come,
And Gods bring to our rite which gives the fivefold gift the Hero, lover of mankind.
90. Within the Waters runs the Moon, he with the beauteous wings, in heaven.
To yellow-hued abundant wealth, object of many a man's desire, loud-neighing goes the tawny Steed.
91. Singing their praise with godlike hymn let us invoke each God for grace,
Each God to bring you help, each God to strengthen you.
92. Agni Vaisvânara, set in heaven, with mighty splendour hath shone forth.
Increasing in his power on earth, benevolent, he quells the darkness with his light.
93. First, Indra Agni! hath this Maid come footless unto those with feet.
Stretching her head and speaking loudly with her tongue, she hath gone downward thirty steps.
94. For of one spirit are the Gods with mortal man, co-sharers all of gracious gifts.
May they increase our strength hereafter and to-day, providing ease and ample room.
95. Indra who quells the curse blew curses far away, and then in splendour came to us.
Indra, refulgent with the Marut host! the Gods eagerly strove to win thy love.
96. To Indra, to your mighty Chief, Maruts, sing forth a mighty prayer.
Let Satakratu, Vritra-slayer, kill the fiend with hundred-knotted thunderbolt.
97. Indra increased his manly strength at sacrifice, in the wild rapture of this juice;
And living men to-day, even as of old, sing forth their praises to his majesty.
May these. Good Lord of wealth. He with his might.
Stand up erect.
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