3. Rig Veda — Mandala 3

✦ Sukta 1 · 23 verses ✦

3.1.1

सोम॑स्य मा त॒वसं॒ वक्ष्य॑ग्ने॒ वह्निं॑ चकर्थ वि॒दथे॒ यज॑ध्यै । दे॒वाँ अच्छा॒ दीद्य॑द्यु॒ञ्जे अद्रिं॑ शमा॒ये अ॑ग्ने त॒न्वं॑ जुषस्व ॥

Agni, brilliant scholar and fiery leader, you speak to me of the strength and power of soma, the elixir of life. You have prepared me, like the fire that carries the fragrance of yajna from the vedi over earth and skies, to join and conduct the yajnic business of life and play my part in the battles of progress. Shining forth, I join the brilliant best of generous humanity and, as fire moves the cloud to break into showers, we move the nation to release its potential into showers of peace and prosperity. O leading spirit of life and humanity, Agni, protect, promote and sustain the body politic of the world community and move it forward.

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3.1.2

प्राञ्चं॑ य॒ज्ञं च॑कृम॒ वर्ध॑तां॒ गीः स॒मिद्भि॑र॒ग्निं नम॑सा दुवस्यन् । दि॒वः श॑शासुर्वि॒दथा॑ कवी॒नां गृत्सा॑य चित्त॒वसे॑ गा॒तुमी॑षुः ॥

Joining all together, we carry the yajna forward. Let the voices of celebration and joy of the people rise to the skies. Feeding the fire with fuel and fragrance, doing homage to the lord of light with salutations in dedication they conduct and control the yajna of social order by virtue of the vision and wisdom of the sages and the grace of Divinity. And they seek the highways of further advancement for the sake of safety, security and the joy of peace and enlightenment.

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3.1.3

मयो॑ दधे॒ मेधि॑रः पू॒तद॑क्षो दि॒वः सु॒बन्धु॑र्ज॒नुषा॑ पृथि॒व्याः । अवि॑न्दन्नु दर्श॒तम॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तर्दे॒वासो॑ अ॒ग्निम॒पसि॒ स्वसॄ॑णाम् ॥

Agni, the yajnic power, as also the man of clear vision, essentially pure and dedicated to yajna, by nature a friend and brother of heaven and earth, holds the treasure of comfort and joy. Brilliant and generous souls and the divine powers of nature discover this golden power, Agni, at the heart of currents of waters and vapours, in the flow of pranic energies, and in the sister streams of sparkling water flowing free, and the yajnics find it in their own karma and in the waters.

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3.1.4

अव॑र्धयन्त्सु॒भगं॑ स॒प्त य॒ह्वीः श्वे॒तं ज॑ज्ञा॒नम॑रु॒षं म॑हि॒त्वा । शिशुं॒ न जा॒तम॒भ्या॑रु॒रश्वा॑ दे॒वासो॑ अ॒ग्निं जनि॑मन्वपुष्यन् ॥

Seven flames of fire as seven streams of water with power and grandeur raise and elevate this glorious effulgence emerging red and white in majesty. While thisAgni arises assuming a wondrous form, high-priests of brilliance and generous ambition rush to develop and adorn it as a new born baby.

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3.1.5

शु॒क्रेभि॒रङ्गै॒ रज॑ आतत॒न्वान् क्रतुं॑ पुना॒नः क॒विभिः॑ प॒वित्रैः॑ । शो॒चिर्वसा॑नः॒ पर्यायु॑र॒पां श्रियो॑ मिमीते बृह॒तीरनू॑नाः ॥

Overspreading the vast spaces with beams of blazing heat and light, raising and sanctifying the holy programmes of yajnic development by poets and priests and visionary experts of purest mind and heart, clothed in purity and majesty, Agni as the brilliant yajaka goes round and round creating and showering great unbounded gifts of health, age and prosperity on all across the flow of life in the world of nature.

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3.1.6

व॒व्राजा॑ सी॒मन॑दती॒रद॑ब्धा दि॒वो य॒ह्वीरव॑साना॒ अन॑ग्नाः । सना॒ अत्र॑ युव॒तयः॒ सयो॑नी॒रेकं॒ गर्भं॑ दधिरे स॒प्त वाणीः॑ ॥

Agni, light of the universe, takes to and abides in the subtle unconsuming, pure unhurt streams, close together, open yet not exposed, flowing unbroken from the Light Divine. These seven streams of light and speech flow here, constant, ever young, together and they hold but one eternal meaning like a fetus in their unfathomable womb. (The mantra applies to light and Vak, Speech, flowing in seven streams of the spectrum.)

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3.1.7

स्ती॒र्णा अ॑स्य सं॒हतो॑ वि॒श्वरू॑पा घृ॒तस्य॒ योनौ॑ स्र॒वथे॒ मधू॑नाम् । अस्थु॒रत्र॑ धे॒नवः॒ पिन्व॑माना म॒ही द॒स्मस्य॑ मा॒तरा॑ समी॒ची ॥

Expansive yet covered, united yet universal and various are the gifts of this Agni abiding in the womb of the waters of life and abounding in the flow of the honey sweets of existence. The heaven and earth both one and together are the manifestive mothers of this lord of bliss and power.

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3.1.8

ब॒भ्रा॒णः सू॑नो सहसो॒ व्य॑द्यौ॒द्दधा॑नः शु॒क्रा र॑भ॒सा वपूं॑षि । श्चोत॑न्ति॒ धारा॒ मधु॑नो घृ॒तस्य॒ वृषा॒ यत्र॑ वावृ॒धे काव्ये॑न ॥

Agni, child of omnipotence, growing in power and generosity, bearing and wearing beautiful forms of versatility by virtue of passion and purity and the zeal of light and lustre you are ever expanding and advancing with equipoise. Wherever the honey streams of light and waters of life shower and flow, there the potent man of generosity grows in might and moves forward by the poetry of divinity created by poets of vision and imagination. O Man, child of Manu, you too watch, follow and grow by the poetry of power and purity created by the poets of vision and imagination in honour of Agni.

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3.1.9

पि॒तुश्चि॒दूध॑र्ज॒नुषा॑ विवेद॒ व्य॑स्य॒ धारा॑ असृज॒द्वि धेनाः॑ । गुहा॒ चर॑न्तं॒ सखि॑भिः शि॒वेभि॑र्दि॒वो य॒ह्वीभि॒र्न गुहा॑ बभूव ॥

Agni, light and vitality of life, knows the creator’s gift of life and life’s home by its very nature from the very birth, and that home is the cloud, the mother’s womb, the night’s darkness and the mother’s breast from where the streams of water, milk, speech and intelligence immediately flow. ThisAgni, living and growing in the cave of life, the mother’s womb, moving with its blessed companions and with the streams of energy flowing from heaven, doesn’t remain hidden in the cave. One who knows life moving as such knows the secret of life. One who doesn’t doesn’t.

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3.1.10

पि॒तुश्च॒ गर्भं॑ जनि॒तुश्च॑ बभ्रे पू॒र्वीरेको॑ अधय॒त्पीप्या॑नाः । वृष्णे॑ स॒पत्नी॒ शुच॑ये॒ सब॑न्धू उ॒भे अ॑स्मै मनु॒ष्ये॒३॒॑ नि पा॑हि ॥

Agni, spirit and vitality of life, nurses the one life-embryo of both father and mother, and the one receives nourishment from the mother as well as from other universal sources of nature, abundant and swelling all since time immemorial. Heaven and earth, father and mother, both bound by nature to life in the embryo, bear, nurse and support it to continue. O Agni, lord of life, light of the world, protect and support both, father and mother, heaven and earth, for the sake of this virile and sacred humanity, for the continuance of this holy life, this sacred humanity in the embryo.

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3.1.11

उ॒रौ म॒हाँ अ॑निबा॒धे व॑व॒र्धापो॑ अ॒ग्निं य॒शसः॒ सं हि पू॒र्वीः । ऋ॒तस्य॒ योना॑वशय॒द्दमू॑ना जामी॒नाम॒ग्निर॒पसि॒ स्वसॄ॑णाम् ॥

Agni, mighty spirit and vitality of life, grows in the lap of nature, vast and irresistible creative power of Divinity, where the streams of ancient waters flowing together feed it to bloom, expand and continue. Agni, the fire of life, lies in the womb of nature and her cosmic laws of evolution, assertive and inviolable yet subject to the laws, a darling of the karmic flow of the twin powers of heaven and earth, father and mother of the baby in the process of procreation.

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3.1.12

अ॒क्रो न ब॒भ्रिः स॑मि॒थे म॒हीनां॑ दिदृ॒क्षेयः॑ सू॒नवे॒ भाऋ॑जीकः । उदु॒स्रिया॒ जनि॑ता॒ यो ज॒जाना॒पां गर्भो॒ नृत॑मो य॒ह्वो अ॒ग्निः ॥

Agni, like an unbreakable wall of a fort is the commander and defender of his mighty forces in the battles of life. Auspicious and blissful of sight he is selfrefulgent and a simple and natural source of light for his children. Creator of the rays of light and knowledge, born of the womb of the currents of primordial energy, it manifests as the great sun and most human leader of humanity.

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3.1.13

अ॒पां गर्भं॑ दर्श॒तमोष॑धीनां॒ वना॑ जजान सु॒भगा॒ विरू॑पम् । दे॒वास॑श्चि॒न्मन॑सा॒ सं हि ज॒ग्मुः पनि॑ष्ठं जा॒तं त॒वसं॑ दुवस्यन् ॥

The vital fire and light energy abiding in the waters and pranic vitality creates the woods of herbs and trees, and the clusters of wood such as arani generate this fire which is beautiful to see, full of wealth and power and versatile in form. Scholars of heat and light energy, conscientiously with their heart and soul, study it practically and comprehensively. It is highly valuable, manifest everywhere and a tremendous source of power.

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3.1.14

बृ॒हन्त॒ इद्भा॒नवो॒ भाऋ॑जीकम॒ग्निं स॑चन्त वि॒द्युतो॒ न शु॒क्राः । गुहे॑व वृ॒द्धं सद॑सि॒ स्वे अ॒न्तर॑पा॒र ऊ॒र्वे अ॒मृतं॒ दुहा॑नाः ॥

Resplendent rays of light as dazzling flashes of lightning serve and derive their power fromAgni, simple and natural refulgent power. They milk the nectar of immortal light energy in the midst of vast spaces of earth and heaven in the same way in which the individual soul draws its light and joy from the Supreme Soul immanent in the cave of the heart in the individual body itself.

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3.1.15

ईळे॑ च त्वा॒ यज॑मानो ह॒विर्भि॒रीळे॑ सखि॒त्वं सु॑म॒तिं निका॑मः । दे॒वैरवो॑ मिमीहि॒ सं ज॑रि॒त्रे रक्षा॑ च नो॒ दम्ये॑भि॒रनी॑कैः ॥

As a dedicated devotee performing yajna, I praise, worship and pray to you, Agni, light of life, with the offer of fragrant materials. With honest mind and sincere desire, I worship you and pray for friendship and comradeship and for holy understanding and vision. Lord of light and power, bring shelter and protection for the celebrant alongwith devas, brilliancies of nature and humanity. Save us all with the inviolable glory of your light and lustre.

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3.1.16

उ॒प॒क्षे॒तार॒स्तव॑ सुप्रणी॒तेऽग्ने॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ धन्या॒ दधा॑नाः । सु॒रेत॑सा॒ श्रव॑सा॒ तुञ्ज॑माना अ॒भि ष्या॑म पृतना॒यूँरदे॑वान् ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, noble leader pursuing right values in society, we are your devotees abiding by you, residing close to you. We hold and command all the wealth of food for sustenance and other materials. Virile we are and strong. We pray that in our battles of life we may defeat and win over our impious adversaries and enjoy a happy and pious life.

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3.1.17

आ दे॒वाना॑मभवः के॒तुर॑ग्ने म॒न्द्रो विश्वा॑नि॒ काव्या॑नि वि॒द्वान् । प्रति॒ मर्ताँ॑ अवासयो॒ दमू॑ना॒ अनु॑ दे॒वान्र॑थि॒रो या॑सि॒ साध॑न् ॥

Agni, lord of the light of knowledge, noble scholar, you are brilliant among the leading lights, happy and rejoicing, master of all the poetry of divinity and humanity. Be like a restful shelter for common humanity. Self-confident and self-controlled, master of your chariot and freedom of movement, you go forward to your goal in association with noble scholars and in conformity with the powers of nature and the environment.

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3.1.18

नि दु॑रो॒णे अ॒मृतो॒ मर्त्या॑नां॒ राजा॑ ससाद वि॒दथा॑नि॒ साध॑न् । घृ॒तप्र॑तीक उर्वि॒या व्य॑द्यौद॒ग्निर्विश्वा॑नि॒ काव्या॑नि वि॒द्वान् ॥

Immortal Agni, lord of light and ruler of the world, abides in the home of immortal humanity, guiding and directing their yajnic programmes to success. Fed with ghrta and rising high, he shines bright as far and wide as the earth. Agni, leader of the people, is lord of knowledge who knows the entire poetry of existence.

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3.1.19

आ नो॑ गहि स॒ख्येभिः॑ शि॒वेभि॑र्म॒हान्म॒हीभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ सर॒ण्यन् । अ॒स्मे र॒यिं ब॑हु॒लं संत॑रुत्रं सु॒वाचं॑ भा॒गं य॒शसं॑ कृधी नः ॥

Agni, lord of knowledge and power, come to us with friendly acts of grace and benevolence. Lord of universal movement and freedom, mighty great, come with grand provisions of protection and promotion. Lead us to honour and success and render us our share of abundant wealth and power, mutual and ultimate peace and saving grace worthy of poetic celebration.

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3.1.20

ए॒ता ते॑ अग्ने॒ जनि॑मा॒ सना॑नि॒ प्र पू॒र्व्याय॒ नूत॑नानि वोचम् । म॒हान्ति॒ वृष्णे॒ सव॑ना कृ॒तेमा जन्म॑ञ्जन्म॒न् निहि॑तो जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥

Agni, lord of light, knowledge and creative power, these are your various and universal manifestations in action old and new. Great are these acts of power and grace for the bold and generous humanity in every manifestation of yours which, O power immanent and omnipresent, I sing and celebrate in honour of your excellence and which, O lord, be gracious to hear.

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3.1.21

जन्म॑न्जन्म॒न् निहि॑तो जा॒तवे॑दा वि॒श्वामि॑त्रेभिरिध्यते॒ अज॑स्रः । तस्य॑ व॒यं सु॑म॒तौ य॒ज्ञिय॒स्यापि॑ भ॒द्रे सौ॑मन॒से स्या॑म ॥

Jataveda, Agni, immanent and omnipresent in every particle of creation, is constantly and eternally lighted, served and celebrated by the sagely friends of the world. We pray that we too may ever abide in the kind and gracious heart and mind of the venerable lord worshipped in yajna and social gatherings and ever enjoy the benefit of his benevolence.

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3.1.22

इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं स॑हसाव॒न् त्वं नो॑ देव॒त्रा धे॑हि सुक्रतो॒ ररा॑णः । प्र यं॑सि होतर्बृह॒तीरिषो॒ नोऽग्ने॒ महि॒ द्रवि॑ण॒मा य॑जस्व ॥

This yajna of ours, of celebration and worship, O lord of power and grandeur, send up unto nature’s powers of Divinity, and establish among the generous and brilliant celebrities of humanity, wise lord of holy acts of creation and development as you are, generous and rejoicing in the holy yajnic performances of ours. Agni, lord yajaka of the universe yourself, you give abundantly to the devotees. Give us generously of great food and energy and of extensive wealth and knowledge of life.

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3.1.23

इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्नः॑ सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥

Agni, lord of light and life and knowledge, bless the yajnic worshipper with a generous gift of Ila, that eternal and infinite speech of Divinity which reveals the knowledge of universal action and confirms him in the practice of it in universal action. Bless us with intelligent sons and grandsons specially to continue the family line. Agni, may your gifts of love and holy intelligence be showered on us.

✦ Sukta 2 · 15 verses ✦

3.2.1

वै॒श्वा॒न॒राय॑ धि॒षणा॑मृता॒वृधे॑ घृ॒तं न पू॒तम॒ग्नये॑ जनामसि । द्वि॒ता होता॑रं॒ मनु॑षश्च वा॒घतो॑ धि॒या रथं॒ न कुलि॑शः॒ समृ॑ण्वति ॥

Like refined and fortified ghrta offered in yajna to the fire of the vedi, we generate, refine and sharpen our courage and intelligence and compose hymns of praise in honour of Vaishvanara Agni, fiery ruler of the world and protector and promoter of the universal yajna of Truth and Law. And the people as well as the leading priest both join in developmental yajna and, with the application of intelligence and action, produce a refined version of the chariot and the thunderbolt and surrender it to Agni, divine high priest of the universal yajna of creation as a hymn of tribute and celebration.

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3.2.2

स रो॑चयज्ज॒नुषा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे स मा॒त्रोर॑भवत्पु॒त्र ईड्यः॑ । ह॒व्य॒वाळ॒ग्निर॒जर॒श्चनो॑हितो दू॒ळभो॑ वि॒शामति॑थिर्वि॒भाव॑सुः ॥

That Agni, Vaishvanara, fiery life of the world, by nature, illuminates both earth and heaven and rises as the darling admirable favourite of his motherly generators. He is the carrier of the fragrances of yajna, unaging treasure of food, energy and universal wealth, indomitable, brilliant sun and most welcome visiting guest of the people.

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3.2.3

क्रत्वा॒ दक्ष॑स्य॒ तरु॑षो॒ विध॑र्मणि दे॒वासो॑ अ॒ग्निं ज॑नयन्त॒ चित्ति॑भिः । रु॒रु॒चा॒नं भा॒नुना॒ ज्योति॑षा म॒हामत्यं॒ न वाजं॑ सनि॒ष्यन्नुप॑ ब्रुवे ॥

With yajna, holy application of mind and will, and contribution with the spirit of yajna to the various dharmic programmes of the man of power and expertise, who is dedicated to the service of the divine saviour father, the creative pioneers of brilliance and generosity generate and develop Agni, heat and light energy, with organised planning and corporate action. And desiring to join this programme and have the benefit, I whisper and discuss, and invoke this Agni power shining with the light of the sun, great with its own light, and fast as the energy of nature itself.

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3.2.4

आ म॒न्द्रस्य॑ सनि॒ष्यन्तो॒ वरे॑ण्यं वृणी॒महे॒ अह्र॑यं॒ वाज॑मृ॒ग्मिय॑म् । रा॒तिं भृगू॑णामु॒शिजं॑ क॒विक्र॑तुम॒ग्निं राज॑न्तं दि॒व्येन॑ शो॒चिषा॑ ॥

To share and enjoy the beauty, ecstasy and magnificence of life, we choose what is worthy of choice: Agni, lord and power of light, boldly free and abundant, tempestuous power revealed by the Rks, excellent gift of the Bhrgus, generous and celestial artists and scientists far reaching in poetic imagination, wisdom and creation, loving, and radiant with the light of heaven.

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3.2.5

अ॒ग्निं सु॒म्नाय॑ दधिरे पु॒रो जना॒ वाज॑श्रवसमि॒ह वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । य॒तस्रु॑चः सु॒रुचं॑ वि॒श्वदे॑व्यं रु॒द्रं य॒ज्ञानां॒ साध॑दिष्टिम॒पसा॑म् ॥

For the attainment of peace and prosperity, people here since eternity have lighted the fire of Agni, rich in matter, mind and motion, lovely brilliant, radiant divine across the worlds, mighty just and corrective, leader of yajnic programmes to success and giver of karmic joy and satisfaction. Having collected the holy grass for the vedi and lighted the fire, they raise the ladle to feed the fire and open the secrets of the skies.

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3.2.6

पाव॑कशोचे॒ तव॒ हि क्षयं॒ परि॒ होत॑र्य॒ज्ञेषु॑ वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो॒ नरः॑ । अग्ने॒ दुव॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नास॒ आप्य॒मुपा॑सते॒ द्रवि॑णं धेहि॒ तेभ्यः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and fire, infinite giver, having collected the grass and sitting around the vedi in yajnas, the performers are but seekers of service and lasting peace and they pray for a haven under your dominion only. O lord and presiding power of yajna, bless them with the wealth and well-being of their heart’s desire.

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3.2.7

आ रोद॑सी अपृण॒दा स्व॑र्म॒हज्जा॒तं यदे॑नम॒पसो॒ अधा॑रयन् । सो अ॑ध्व॒राय॒ परि॑ णीयते क॒विरत्यो॒ न वाज॑सातये॒ चनो॑हितः ॥

When people of yajnic karma take to this Agni for service, light up the fire, raise it and feed the rising power, then it fills the earth and skies and the vast and high heavens with light and fragrance of bliss. And thus this power and presence of Agni, lord of power and bliss, poetic omniscient, treasure home of food, energy and light, is extended far and wide across the universe for the speed and success of yajna, human acts of love, non-violence and creative self-sacrifice.

· · ·

3.2.8

न॒म॒स्यत॑ ह॒व्यदा॑तिं स्वध्व॒रं दु॑व॒स्यत॒ दम्यं॑ जा॒तवे॑दसम् । र॒थीर्ऋ॒तस्य॑ बृह॒तो विच॑र्षणिर॒ग्निर्दे॒वाना॑मभवत्पु॒रोहि॑तः ॥

Offer salutations and service in homage toAgni. Creator of food for yajna and enjoyment, leader of yajna to success, supreme giver, knower of all that is born, omnipresent lord ever on the move, watching and superintending the universal operation of law and yajna, Agni is the foremost high-priest of the dynamics of Divinity working through the forces of nature.

· · ·

3.2.9

ति॒स्रो य॒ह्वस्य॑ स॒मिधः॒ परि॑ज्मनो॒ऽग्नेर॑पुनन्नु॒शिजो॒ अमृ॑त्यवः । तासा॒मेका॒मद॑धु॒र्मर्त्ये॒ भुज॑मु लो॒कमु॒ द्वे उप॑ जा॒मिमी॑यतुः ॥

Three are the flames of mighty Agni shining everywhere, beautiful are they and immortal, purging, purifying and sanctifying everything. One of these they, the immortal powers of Divinity, place in the world of the mortals for their sustenance: this one is the fire and magnetic energy. The other two, electric energy and light, they carry up above to the heights of the twins, sky and the region of light and place them there.

· · ·

3.2.10

वि॒शां क॒विं वि॒श्पतिं॒ मानु॑षी॒रिषः॒ सं सी॑मकृण्व॒न्त्स्वधि॑तिं॒ न तेज॑से । स उ॒द्वतो॑ नि॒वतो॑ याति॒ वेवि॑ष॒त्स गर्भ॑मे॒षु भुव॑नेषु दीधरत् ॥

The oblations of fragrant food offered by yajnic people into the fire intensify and sharpen like razor’s edge the catalytic and creative power of Agni, protector and promoter of the people and the imaginative visionary among them, for the refinement of their valour and brilliance. The same Agni as the fire and passion of virility goes up and down everywhere, inspires every heart and, in these worlds, bears the fetus in the womb of existence for continuance.

· · ·

3.2.11

स जि॑न्वते ज॒ठरे॑षु प्रजज्ञि॒वान्वृषा॑ चि॒त्रेषु॒ नान॑द॒न्न सिं॒हः । वै॒श्वा॒न॒रः पृ॑थृ॒पाजा॒ अम॑र्त्यो॒ वसु॒ रत्ना॒ दय॑मानो॒ वि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

ThatAgni grows in the vital fire of living beings, germinating, evolving, mighty virile in various wonderful forms, roaring for expression like the irrepressible lion as Vaishvanara, immanent as the vital heat of living energy, fiery leader, illustrious, immortal, treasure home of life’s wealth and will to live, all round giving the jewels of existence to the generous person of yajnic performance.

· · ·

3.2.12

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रः प्र॒त्नथा॒ नाक॒मारु॑हद्दि॒वस्पृ॒ष्ठं भन्द॑मानः सु॒मन्म॑भिः । स पू॑र्व॒वज्ज॒नय॑ञ्ज॒न्तवे॒ धनं॑ समा॒नमज्मं॒ पर्ये॑ति॒ जागृ॑विः ॥

Vaishvanara, vital fire of life and immanent will, ancient and eternal, rises to paradisal bliss over the heights of heaven sung and celebrated by poets of faith and imagination. Creating as ever the wealth of life for living beings, the illustrious leader goes all round by the highways of existence ever awake, without a wink of sleep.

· · ·

3.2.13

ऋ॒तावा॑नं य॒ज्ञियं॒ विप्र॑मु॒क्थ्य१॒॑मा यं द॒धे मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ दि॒वि क्षय॑म् । तं चि॒त्रया॑मं॒ हरि॑केशमीमहे सुदी॒तिम॒ग्निं सु॑वि॒ताय॒ नव्य॑से ॥

That Agni, Vaishvanara, universal fire of life, going by the ways of Truth and universal Law, venerable, intelligent, admirable, existing and operating in the lights of spaces, which is held and sustained by the universal Vayu energy, that same Agni, wonderful in movement and achievement, bright in flames, radiant with holy light, we love, admire and worship for the sake of latest success and well-being.

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3.2.14

शुचिं॒ न याम॑न्निषि॒रं स्व॒र्दृशं॑ के॒तुं दि॒वो रो॑चन॒स्थामु॑ष॒र्बुध॑म् । अ॒ग्निं मू॒र्धानं॑ दि॒वो अप्र॑तिष्कुतं॒ तमी॑महे॒ नम॑सा वा॒जिनं॑ बृ॒हत् ॥

We invoke, admire, worship and pray with homage and oblations to that Agni which is pure and purifying, vigorous and lovely, brilliant as light of the sun, banner of heaven, established in beauty, rising as the dawn, shining on top of heaven, irresistible and impetuous lord of majesty. We follow this lord as a torch bearer over untrodden paths of infinity to the Sublime and the Divine.

· · ·

3.2.15

म॒न्द्रं होता॑रं॒ शुचि॒मद्व॑याविनं॒ दमू॑नसमु॒क्थ्यं॑ वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिम् । रथं॒ न चि॒त्रं वपु॑षाय दर्श॒तं मनु॑र्हितं॒ सद॒मिद्रा॒य ई॑महे ॥

Emanating the ecstasy of Ananda, universal yajna, purest power, clarion call to life unambiguous, self-controlled and all-controlling, adorable, all watching eye, infinitely various in colour and motion yet constant as light and steady as a chariot, beauty crystallized in form, inexhaustible fount of bliss for humanity, the ultimate haven of peace, the real treasure of existence: that is Agni, that we worship with homage and yajnic offerings.

✦ Sukta 3 · 11 verses ✦

3.3.1

वै॒श्वा॒न॒राय॑ पृथु॒पाज॑से॒ विपो॒ रत्ना॑ विधन्त ध॒रुणे॑षु॒ गात॑वे । अ॒ग्निर्हि दे॒वाँ अ॒मृतो॑ दुव॒स्यत्यथा॒ धर्मा॑णि स॒नता॒ न दू॑दुषत् ॥

To move forward on heavenly paths of progress on firm ground, the wise offer the best of jewels as offering in the service of Vaishvanara Agni, brilliant light and blazing fire pioneer of the world and leader of the most potent order. It is Agni alone, constant and immortal power, which honours and inspires the excellencies of nature and humanity so that the eternal order and laws of existence may not be vitiated.

· · ·

3.3.2

अ॒न्तर्दू॒तो रोद॑सी द॒स्म ई॑यते॒ होता॒ निष॑त्तो॒ मनु॑षः पु॒रोहि॑तः । क्षयं॑ बृ॒हन्तं॒ परि॑ भूषति॒ द्युभि॑र्दे॒वेभि॑र॒ग्निरि॑षि॒तो धि॒याव॑सुः ॥

Agni, magnificent and powerful, moves around as a messenger of energy in heaven and earth. Creative performer and consecrated leader of humanity, it beautifies and beatifies the wide world with rays of light. It is loved and honoured by the brilliancies of nature and humanity as the very treasure home of light and intelligence.

· · ·

3.3.3

के॒तुं य॒ज्ञानां॑ वि॒दथ॑स्य॒ साध॑नं॒ विप्रा॑सो अ॒ग्निं म॑हयन्त॒ चित्ति॑भिः । अपां॑सि॒ यस्मि॒न्नधि॑ संद॒धुर्गिर॒स्तस्मि॑न्त्सु॒म्नानि॒ यज॑मान॒ आ च॑के ॥

Pious scholars and wise yajakas praise and celebrate Agni as the symbol of yajnas and yajnic success of all creative and constructive programmes of life with their thoughts, devotion and acts of worship. They dedicate their holy chants and their holy acts to Agni and the yajamana realises his ambitions of success and well-being in it and through it

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3.3.4

पि॒ता य॒ज्ञाना॒मसु॑रो विप॒श्चितां॑ वि॒मान॑म॒ग्निर्व॒युनं॑ च वा॒घता॑म् । आ वि॑वेश॒ रोद॑सी॒ भूरि॑वर्पसा पुरुप्रि॒यो भ॑न्दते॒ धाम॑भिः क॒विः ॥

Agni is the father, generator and promoter of yajnas. It is life breath of the wise and motive power of the stars and planets. It is the aerial car of the scholars and path to bliss for the celebrants. It pervades and energises heaven and earth in many forms and, as universal favourite and illuminative light of the imagination, it is sung and celebrated in worship by virtue of its own might and majesty

· · ·

3.3.5

च॒न्द्रम॒ग्निं च॒न्द्रर॑थं॒ हरि॑व्रतं वैश्वान॒रम॑प्सु॒षदं॑ स्व॒र्विद॑म् । वि॒गा॒हं तूर्णिं॒ तवि॑षीभि॒रावृ॑तं॒ भूर्णिं॑ दे॒वास॑ इ॒ह सु॒श्रियं॑ दधुः ॥

Devas, mighty powers of nature, bear Agni, and holy yajakas light and establish it here: Agni that is beautiful as the golden orb of the moon, majestic in bearing, splendid in its own law and function, omnipresent in the world, abiding in the waters and breath of air, all penetrative, instantly and constantly moving, covered in its own rays of light and lustre, all sustaining, pure crystalline concentration of beauty and wealth of existence.

· · ·

3.3.6

अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वेभि॒र्मनु॑षश्च ज॒न्तुभि॑स्तन्वा॒नो य॒ज्ञं पु॑रु॒पेश॑सं धि॒या । र॒थीर॒न्तरी॑यते॒ साध॑दिष्टिभिर्जी॒रो दमू॑ना अभिशस्ति॒चात॑नः ॥

Agni goes on and ever in the world on the chariot of time conducting and expanding the yajna of existence by the powers of nature and pious human beings with their karma and intelligence executing its auspicious commands. It is tempestuous, self-controlled and allcontrolling, driving off opposition, calumny and negative criticism.

· · ·

3.3.7

अग्ने॒ जर॑स्व स्वप॒त्य आयु॑न्यू॒र्जा पि॑न्वस्व॒ समिषो॑ दिदीहि नः । वयां॑सि जिन्व बृह॒तश्च॑ जागृव उ॒शिग्दे॒वाना॒मसि॑ सु॒क्रतु॑र्वि॒पाम् ॥

Agni, lord giver of light, life and energy, come and bless our young progeny with full age and let them abound in strength and overflow with vigour and energy. Let us all shine with plenty to our heart’s desires. Inspire our life and age to fullness and grandeur. O lord ever wakeful and watchful, you are the darling of the brilliant and the wise for veneration and worship and the lord of yajnic good works for the scholars.

· · ·

3.3.8

वि॒श्पतिं॑ य॒ह्वमति॑थिं॒ नरः॒ सदा॑ य॒न्तारं॑ धी॒नामु॒शिजं॑ च वा॒घता॑म् । अ॒ध्व॒राणां॒ चेत॑नं जा॒तवे॑दसं॒ प्र शं॑सन्ति॒ नम॑सा जू॒तिभि॑र्वृ॒धे ॥

For the sake of elevation and exaltation, with food and homage, abandon and ecstasy, people praise, admire and worship Agni, lord of the common wealth of humanity, great, honourable and welcome like a learned visitor, guide and leader, inspirer of the wise and worshipful performers of the yajna of love and nonviolence, eminent among the learned and the lord who knows all that is born and exists.

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3.3.9

वि॒भावा॑ दे॒वः सु॒रणः॒ परि॑ क्षि॒तीर॒ग्निर्ब॑भूव॒ शव॑सा सु॒मद्र॑थः । तस्य॑ व्र॒तानि॑ भूरिपो॒षिणो॑ व॒यमुप॑ भूषेम॒ दम॒ आ सु॑वृ॒क्तिभिः॑ ॥

Agni, lord refulgent and generous, happywarrior riding a magnificent chariot rules over lands and people by virtue of his might and majesty. We wish and pray that with our acts and conduct in the home, sustained by him, we may honour and obey the rules and laws of his making in the land ruled and sustained by him in every way.

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3.3.10

वैश्वा॑नर॒ तव॒ धामा॒न्या च॑के॒ येभिः॑ स्व॒र्विदभ॑वो विचक्षण । जा॒त आपृ॑णो॒ भुव॑नानि॒ रोद॑सी॒ अग्ने॒ ता विश्वा॑ परि॒भूर॑सि॒ त्मना॑ ॥

Vaishvanara Agni, lord of light omnipresent, I love and pray for your light and splendour by which, O lord of omniscient vision, you rise to be the lord of bliss and freedom. As you rise to manifestation, you fill up and pervade the regions of earth and heaven. Agni, by virtue of your own power and presence, you are the lord supreme of all the worlds.

· · ·

3.3.11

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रस्य॑ दं॒सना॑भ्यो बृ॒हदरि॑णा॒देकः॑ स्वप॒स्यया॑ क॒विः । उ॒भा पि॒तरा॑ म॒हय॑न्नजायता॒ग्निर्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी भूरि॑रेतसा ॥

By one’s earnest desire to act and rise freely, anyone of poetic vision and creative imagination attains the infinite light of heaven by virtue of the gracious power and actions of Vaishvanara, light and life of the world, anyone by the self alone, independent. Agni, lord of light and power, doing honour to both his parents and generators, rises and manifests, radiating and filling both earth and heaven with abundant light and expansive vitality.

✦ Sukta 4 · 11 verses ✦

3.4.1

स॒मित्स॑मित्सु॒मना॑ बोध्य॒स्मे शु॒चाशु॑चा सुम॒तिं रा॑सि॒ वस्वः॑ । आ दे॑व दे॒वान्य॒जथा॑य वक्षि॒ सखी॒ सखी॑न्त्सु॒मना॑ यक्ष्यग्ने ॥

Agni, fire of life, lord of light, master of knowledge, guide and leader, kind and benevolent at heart, rise for us with every piece of sacred fuel offered, rise with every libation from the ladle, shine with every flame of fire and purity, and bless us with life’s wealth and generous disposition of mind and heart. Lord of brilliance and benevolence, you call the divine powers of nature and brilliant people to the yajna to meet and cooperate in creative and constructive action. You are a friend, we are friends, come with your heart and soul, join us in the yajna, and raise us to the light divine.

· · ·

3.4.2

यं दे॒वास॒स्त्रिरह॑न्ना॒यज॑न्ते दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॒ग्निः । सेमं य॒ज्ञं मधु॑मन्तं कृधी न॒स्तनू॑नपाद्घृ॒तयो॑निं वि॒धन्त॑म् ॥

That yajna of ours, performed with reverence in faith and rising with the libations of ghrta, which the best of humanity and divinities of nature join thrice in the day and which Varuna the moon, Mitra the wind, and Agni the fire of life bless every day with peace, power and light, that same yajna, O Tanunapat, lord protector of physical and material world, raise to the honey sweetness and fragrance of love and kindness in society.

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3.4.3

प्र दीधि॑तिर्वि॒श्ववा॑रा जिगाति॒ होता॑रमि॒ळः प्र॑थ॒मं यज॑ध्यै । अच्छा॒ नमो॑भिर्वृष॒भं व॒न्दध्यै॒ स दे॒वान्य॑क्षदिषि॒तो यजी॑यान् ॥

That universal Agni, inspiration of awareness and reflection for action, first arises in the cosmic yajaka, lord creator, and then flows in streams of awareness, universal intelligence and divine speech, to the first yajakas on earth to join in holy yajna and to worship the generous omnipotent creator with homage and yajna in faith. May that Agni, light of universal awareness, intelligence and the holy Word, conducting the cosmic yajna, loved and prayed for, flow and bless the noble humanity.

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3.4.4

ऊ॒र्ध्वो वां॑ गा॒तुर॑ध्व॒रे अ॑कार्यू॒र्ध्वा शो॒चींषि॒ प्रस्थि॑ता॒ रजां॑सि । दि॒वो वा॒ नाभा॒ न्य॑सादि॒ होता॑ स्तृणी॒महि॑ दे॒वव्य॑चा॒ वि ब॒र्हिः ॥

The singer is appointed in your creative yajna of love and non-violence, and the path upward is selected and taken. The flames of fire rise and touch the skies. The yajaka is seated in the centre of the vedi by the life string of heaven clothed in light and fragrance. The light and fragrance spread over the spaces and fill the divine planes of nature.

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3.4.5

स॒प्त हो॒त्राणि॒ मन॑सा वृणा॒ना इन्व॑न्तो॒ विश्वं॒ प्रति॑ यन्नृ॒तेन॑ । नृ॒पेश॑सो वि॒दथे॑षु॒ प्र जा॒ता अ॒भी॒३॒॑मं य॒ज्ञं वि च॑रन्त पू॒र्वीः ॥

Seven rituals of yajna consciously and judiciously selected spread out, go round and round and fill up the world with the light of truth and cool of vapours. Born of nature in yajnas with human vitality, ancient as ever, they emanate from the vedi and roam around at their own freedom giving fresh life to yajna.

· · ·

3.4.6

आ भन्द॑माने उ॒षसा॒ उपा॑के उ॒त स्म॑येते त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ विरू॑पे । यथा॑ नो मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो॒ जुजो॑ष॒दिन्द्रो॑ म॒रुत्वाँ॑ उ॒त वा॒ महो॑भिः ॥

Loved and greeted by all, the twins, night and day, though different in form, come and manifest in their smiling beauty, so that Mitra, vibrations of air, Varuna, waves of water, and the mighty Indra, currents of energy, with their acts and qualities of nature, give us the pleasure of experience, (soothing, energising and exciting, but all enlightening).

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3.4.7

दैव्या॒ होता॑रा प्रथ॒मा न्यृ॑ञ्जे स॒प्त पृ॒क्षासः॑ स्व॒धया॑ मदन्ति । ऋ॒तं शंस॑न्त ऋ॒तमित्त आ॑हु॒रनु॑ व्र॒तं व्र॑त॒पा दीध्या॑नाः ॥

I celebrate the first and foremost divine highpriests of nature in the universe, the sun and the fire. The seven ministering priests of yajna, too, together, with offers of ghrta and fragrant materials, feed and propitiate the same two. Praising and celebrating the universal Law of Nature and the waters of life, they proclaim the Law and the joy of life and, observing the rules of the Law and shining in accordance with the Law and the Truth, they exult with heavenly joy.

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3.4.8

आ भार॑ती॒ भार॑तीभिः स॒जोषा॒ इळा॑ दे॒वैर्म॑नु॒ष्ये॑भिर॒ग्निः । सर॑स्वती सारस्व॒तेभि॑र॒र्वाक् ति॒स्रो दे॒वीर्ब॒र्हिरेदं स॑दन्तु ॥

Come Bharati, speech bearing knowledge and education, loving and kind, with all forms of living languages and lessons for learning; come Ila, Eternal Speech Divine, the inner Light Divine, with potential knowledge of all attributes of divine and human existence; come Sarasvati, universal stream of the existential flow of eternal awareness with all the knowledge of existence. Come all three divine modes of Word and Knowledge and grace the sacred vedi of our yajna. Come here and now, threefold mother of human knowledge and speech.

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3.4.9

तन्न॑स्तु॒रीप॒मध॑ पोषयि॒त्नु देव॑ त्वष्ट॒र्वि र॑रा॒णः स्य॑स्व । यतो॑ वी॒रः क॑र्म॒ण्यः॑ सु॒दक्षो॑ यु॒क्तग्रा॑वा॒ जाय॑ते दे॒वका॑मः ॥

O Tvashta, lord maker and refiner of forms in existence, brilliant and generous divinity, rejoicing in acts of creation and development, give us and internalise in us instant and developmental forms of that yajna which gives us the vitality of life and the science of development and sustenance through which is born a generation of youth, brave men of practical action, creative and generous, dedicated to yajnic programmes and the love of Divinity.

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3.4.10

वन॑स्प॒तेऽव॑ सृ॒जोप॑ दे॒वान॒ग्निर्ह॒विः श॑मि॒ता सू॑दयाति । सेदु॒ होता॑ स॒त्यत॑रो यजाति॒ यथा॑ दे॒वानां॒ जनि॑मानि॒ वेद॑ ॥

O Vanaspati, O sun, lord of light and preserver of forests, release the lights of brilliance, let the showers of light, energy and freshness come close to us and the powers of nature.Agni is the giver of peace and ripeness. It matures to fullness the sacred materials of yajna. It truly is the yajaka and the clarion call. It is true and truer to the divine law and integrates with all objects of creation since it knows the origin and character of all the bountiful powers of nature and humanity.

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3.4.11

आ या॑ह्यग्ने समिधा॒नो अ॒र्वाङिन्द्रे॑ण दे॒वैः स॒रथं॑ तु॒रेभिः॑ । ब॒र्हिर्न॒ आस्ता॒मदि॑तिः सुपु॒त्रा स्वाहा॑ दे॒वा अ॒मृता॑ मादयन्ताम् ॥

Agni, lord of light and fire and knowledge, guide and leader, come to us bright and blazing at the speed of energy with Indra, lord of might, and the devas, divine virtues of spirit and character on the chariot powered by sun-rays. Stay firm on our holy seats unshaken like space. Let mother earth be blest with noble children of noble action. Let the bright scholars of immortal spirit, knowledge and action rejoice with holy chant of divine speech.

✦ Sukta 5 · 11 verses ✦

3.5.1

प्रत्य॒ग्निरु॒षस॒श्चेकि॑ता॒नोऽबो॑धि॒ विप्रः॑ पद॒वीः क॑वी॒नाम् । पृ॒थु॒पाजा॑ देव॒यद्भिः॒ समि॒द्धोऽप॒ द्वारा॒ तम॑सो॒ वह्नि॑रावः ॥

Just as Agni, fire divine, light of the dawn, awakes, arises and awakens every morning, so does the man of knowledge, dynamic scholar, attaining to the positions of the men of light and vision, rise high and higher day by day and awaken the sleeping humanity. Agni, mighty powerful, lighted and raised in the vedi by lovers of divinity, throws open the doors of light against darkness. So does the scholar, bearer and harbinger of the light of knowledge, dispel the darkness of ignorance and reveal the light of knowledge to a nation in slumber.

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3.5.2

प्रेद्व॒ग्निर्वा॑वृधे॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्गी॒र्भिः स्तो॑तॄ॒णां न॑म॒स्य॑ उ॒क्थैः । पू॒र्वीर्ऋ॒तस्य॑ सं॒दृश॑श्चका॒नः सं दू॒तो अ॑द्यौदु॒षसो॑ विरो॒के ॥

Just as the adorable Agni grows in heat, light and power by the chant of songs and celebration of the devotees and then this harbinger of light adorns the morning with the bright and beautiful light of the dawn, so does the sagely scholar, dedicated to the light of eternal truth, shine in the lovely light of Revelation as the messenger of light and life divine for the people.

· · ·

3.5.3

अधा॑य्य॒ग्निर्मानु॑षीषु वि॒क्ष्व१॒॑पां गर्भो॑ मि॒त्र ऋ॒तेन॒ साध॑न् । आ ह॑र्य॒तो य॑ज॒तः सान्व॑स्था॒दभू॑दु॒ विप्रो॒ हव्यो॑ मती॒नाम् ॥

Agni, heat and light of life, concentration of the power of action, born of the waters of space and currents of cosmic energy, friendly saviour, leader and guide to success by the laws of Truth and flow of the will to live, is established in the heart of human communities. Bright and beautiful, loved and adored, it abides on top of values in human history. It is the sagely scholar and the dynamic leader worthy of homage and reverence for all intelligent people.

· · ·

3.5.4

मि॒त्रो अ॒ग्निर्भ॑वति॒ यत्समि॑द्धो मि॒त्रो होता॒ वरु॑णो जा॒तवे॑दाः । मि॒त्रो अ॑ध्व॒र्युरि॑षि॒रो दमू॑ना मि॒त्रः सिन्धू॑नामु॒त पर्व॑तानाम् ॥

Agni rises as a friend when it is lighted and raised. As a yajaka conducting the yajna of evolution and development it is a friend. As the omniscient lord of existence and as presiding power of justice it is a friend. As the highpriest of the yajna of love and nonviolence it is a friend, and as the power of inspiration and self-control it is a friend. And it is a friend as it flows with the rivers and rolls with the oceans. And finally it is a friend as it sits on top of mountains and sustains their steadiness.

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3.5.5

पाति॑ प्रि॒यं रि॒पो अग्रं॑ प॒दं वेः पाति॑ य॒ह्वश्चर॑णं॒ सूर्य॑स्य । पाति॒ नाभा॑ स॒प्तशी॑र्षाणम॒ग्निः पाति॑ दे॒वाना॑मुप॒माद॑मृ॒ष्वः ॥

Agni protects the friend and favourite, it protects the amplitude of the earth in orbit, and the flight of birds. Mighty powerful, it protects the rainbow colours of light in space and the orbit of the sun in the galaxy. Noble, elevated and sublime, it protects the pleasure and amusement of the noble people who are brilliant and generous.

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3.5.6

ऋ॒भुश्च॑क्र॒ ईड्यं॒ चारु॒ नाम॒ विश्वा॑नि दे॒वो व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान् । स॒सस्य॒ चर्म॑ घृ॒तव॑त्प॒दं वेस्तदिद॒ग्नी र॑क्ष॒त्यप्र॑युच्छन् ॥

Mighty and versatile lord of light, omnipresent in all facts, motions and laws of the universe, Agni creates the soothing and adorable fluents such as speech and waters, and guards them all wholly, without reservation, and without let up. And whether it is manifest or latent it shines charming in form like the liquid flow of water or the rising flames of ghrta from the vedi.

· · ·

3.5.7

आ योनि॑म॒ग्निर्घृ॒तव॑न्तमस्थात्पृ॒थुप्र॑गाणमु॒शन्त॑मुशा॒नः । दीद्या॑नः॒ शुचि॑र्ऋ॒ष्वः पा॑व॒कः पुनः॑ पुनर्मा॒तरा॒ नव्य॑सी कः ॥

Loving and brilliant Agni, as the eminent scholar, blazing pure and radiating fire, abides in the seat since birth itself, overflowing with ghrta and celestial waters, worthy of extensive songs of praise and celebration, loving and glorious, and constantly, again and again, renews, refreshes and reinforces its generators, loving parents, earth and sky.

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3.5.8

स॒द्यो जा॒त ओष॑धीभिर्ववक्षे॒ यदी॒ वर्ध॑न्ति प्र॒स्वो॑ घृ॒तेन॑ । आप॑इव प्र॒वता॒ शुम्भ॑माना उरु॒ष्यद॒ग्निः पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थे॑ ॥

As soon as Agni is born, it is borne and grows, in, with, and by, the herbs which, like

nursing mothers, increase it and themselves grow bright and green with the waters and sunrays flowing down. Thus does Agni, flowing like streams of life’s vitality, grow and evolve in the lap of its parents, earth and sky, the mother and the father, and thus does it preserve, protect and continue the onward flow of life.

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3.5.9

उदु॑ ष्टु॒तः स॒मिधा॑ य॒ह्वो अ॑द्यौ॒द्वर्ष्म॑न्दि॒वो अधि॒ नाभा॑ पृथि॒व्याः । मि॒त्रो अ॒ग्निरीड्यो॑ मात॒रिश्वा ऽऽदू॒तो व॑क्षद्य॒जथा॑य दे॒वान् ॥

Agni, mighty spirit of life, raised, praised and worshipped with holy food shines over heaven and earth raining in showers from heaven on the vedi of mother earth. Friend and saviour, adorable Agni breathes in and collects the vitality of life from nature’s currents of energy and, as the very messenger of Divinity, brings the light and virtues of nature’s bounties for the lover and performer of yajna.

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3.5.10

उद॑स्तम्भीत्स॒मिधा॒ नाक॑मृ॒ष्वो॒३॒॑ग्निर्भव॑न्नुत्त॒मो रो॑च॒नाना॑म् । यदी॒ भृगु॑भ्यः॒ परि॑ मात॒रिश्वा॒ गुहा॒ सन्तं॑ हव्य॒वाहं॑ समी॒धे ॥

Mighty Agni being the highest of luminaries, living, breathing, shining and abiding as the very breath of life in the middle regions of space, holds and sustains the heavenly regions of light and bliss with its blazing light and power, for the sake of the wise and brilliant scholars of science, art and technology. It abides in the heart of every soul and in the centre of every particle of matter and every wave of energy. I pray I may also light this power that brings all the fragrant bounties of life to its devotees.

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3.5.11

इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्नः॑ सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥

Agni, refulgent lord of light and universal breath of life, give us that transcendent vision and wisdom, that divine speech and power of action which makes everything possible in life. Give us ample land, knowledge and earthly speech of the Divine Word, most blissful which brings success to the devotee dedicated to yajna so that an exceptional generation of children and grand children may rise in the community. Agni, lord of light, we pray, such may be your favour, such may be your benign eye and goodwill toward us.

✦ Sukta 6 · 11 verses ✦

3.6.1

प्र का॑रवो मन॒ना व॒च्यमा॑ना देव॒द्रीचीं॑ नयत देव॒यन्तः॑ । द॒क्षि॒णा॒वाड्वा॒जिनी॒ प्राच्ये॑ति ह॒विर्भर॑न्त्य॒ग्नये॑ घृ॒ताची॑ ॥

Artists, scientists, workers and experts of yajnic work of creation and development, inspired by the voice of thought and deep reflection, dedicated to the bounties of nature and Divinity, take up the yajnic activity that would lead to the divine goal of your imagination. Take up the ghrtachi, the ladle of yajnic offering full of ghrta bearing the fragrant materials to be offered into the fire of yajna as inputs, let it be potent and procreative, the abundant giver of holy reward moving in full gear and take the project forward.

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3.6.2

आ रोद॑सी अपृणा॒ जाय॑मान उ॒त प्र रि॑क्था॒ अध॒ नु प्र॑यज्यो । दि॒वश्चि॑दग्ने महि॒ना पृ॑थि॒व्या व॒च्यन्तां॑ ते॒ वह्न॑यः स॒प्तजि॑ह्वाः ॥

O fire of cosmic yajna rising from the vedi, fill the heaven and earth with fragrance, fertility and prosperity. O yajaka, eliminate the weaknesses, exhaust the possibilities of excellence, and then retire and call it a day. And with the glory of heaven and majesty of the earth, the seven flames of fire with tongues of gold would speak for you in words loud and bold ringing across the spaces.

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3.6.3

द्यौश्च॑ त्वा पृथि॒वी य॒ज्ञिया॑सो॒ नि होता॑रं सादयन्ते॒ दमा॑य । यदी॒ विशो॒ मानु॑षीर्देव॒यन्तीः॒ प्रय॑स्वती॒रीळ॑ते शु॒क्रम॒र्चिः ॥

When the human communities in pursuit of the service and bounties of nature and the divinities of heaven and earth, worship Agni, pure, powerful and radiant in their state of abundance, prosperity and generosity, then heaven and earth, and the divinities and the yajakas consecrate and dedicate the high-priest of the yajnic commonwealth to the law of peace and selfsacrifice.

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3.6.4

म॒हान्त्स॒धस्थे॑ ध्रु॒व आ निष॑त्तो॒ऽन्तर्द्यावा॒ माहि॑ने॒ हर्य॑माणः । आस्क्रे॑ स॒पत्नी॑ अ॒जरे॒ अमृ॑क्ते सब॒र्दुघे॑ उरुगा॒यस्य॑ धे॒नू ॥

Agni, the high-priest of cosmic yajna, great and gracious, is happily and firmly established in his seat in the vast and joyous dominion between heaven and earth, which both, united and cooperative rivals, unaging and uninjured, yielding the nectar-milk of the world are his generous cows.

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3.6.5

व्र॒ता ते॑ अग्ने मह॒तो म॒हानि॒ तव॒ क्रत्वा॒ रोद॑सी॒ आ त॑तन्थ । त्वं दू॒तो अ॑भवो॒ जाय॑मान॒स्त्वं ने॒ता वृ॑षभ चर्षणी॒नाम् ॥

Agni, lord great and gracious, your laws and ordinances, your acts and self-discipline are greater than the greatest. By virtue of your creative and yajnic action the heaven and earth expand in glory and prosperity. Instantly on your rise you become the harbinger of peace, progress and happiness, messenger of bliss. Lord generous and potent, you are the guide and leader of the people of the world.

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3.6.6

ऋ॒तस्य॑ वा के॒शिना॑ यो॒ग्याभि॑र्घृत॒स्नुवा॒ रोहि॑ता धु॒रि धि॑ष्व । अथा व॑ह दे॒वान्दे॑व॒ विश्वा॑न्त्स्वध्व॒रा कृ॑णुहि जातवेदः ॥

And to the steer of your chariot of the flow of existence and the Law, yoke the flaming currents of energy with the operative reins of centrifugal and centripetal forces of nature, blazing with light, and thus, O Jataveda, lord of light, knowing as you do all that is born and exists, bring in all the devas, divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity together and make them participate in the yajnic programme of the world.

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3.6.7

दि॒वश्चि॒दा ते॑ रुचयन्त रो॒का उ॒षो वि॑भा॒तीरनु॑ भासि पू॒र्वीः । अ॒पो यद॑ग्न उ॒शध॒ग्वने॑षु॒ होतु॑र्म॒न्द्रस्य॑ प॒नय॑न्त दे॒वाः ॥

Bright and blissful are your lights of heaven. You shine in the radiance of the eternal dawns of the morning. And as you blaze upon the forests with might and splendour and the vapours arise in steamy fragrance, divinities burst into song in praise of the cosmic sacrificer beaming with joy.

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3.6.8

उ॒रौ वा॒ ये अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ मद॑न्ति दि॒वो वा॒ ये रो॑च॒ने सन्ति॑ दे॒वाः । ऊमा॑ वा॒ ये सु॒हवा॑सो॒ यज॑त्रा आयेमि॒रे र॒थ्यो॑ अग्ने॒ अश्वाः॑ ॥

And those who rejoice in the wide wide skies, or the shining ones who exult in the glory of the highest heavens of light, or those friendly, protective, adorable companions whose culture is cooperation and selfsacrifice, may they all, O lord of light and joy, Agni, direct their beams of light and chariot horses, like senses and intelligence, hitherward under full control.

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3.6.9

ऐभि॑रग्ने स॒रथं॑ याह्य॒र्वाङ् ना॑नार॒थं वा॑ वि॒भवो॒ ह्यश्वाः॑ । पत्नी॑वतस्त्रिं॒शतं॒ त्रींश्च॑ दे॒वान॑नुष्व॒धमा व॑ह मा॒दय॑स्व ॥

With these devas, come hither to us, Agni, Spirit of light and fire, knowledge and power and the ecstasy of life, come by one chariot or many. Exalted and omnipresent and expansive are your beams of light which transport your chariot over the quarters of space. Bring along the thirty-three devas, divinities of nature and spirit, all bountiful, with all their virtues and attributes and rejoice in the beauty of life with us.

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3.6.10

स होता॒ यस्य॒ रोद॑सी चिदु॒र्वी य॒ज्ञंय॑ज्ञम॒भि वृ॒धे गृ॑णी॒तः । प्राची॑ अध्व॒रेव॑ तस्थतुः सु॒मेके॑ ऋ॒ताव॑री ऋ॒तजा॑तस्य स॒त्ये ॥

He is Agni, the cosmic sacrificer in whose honour and for whose exaltation the vast earth and high heaven sing in celebration and prayer at every yajnic programme of evolution and progress. Prime powers of the universe, both of them, like two yajna-vedis of the yajna of love and non-violence, stay and abide beautifully established in the cosmic order dedicated to truth and overflowing with vitality in the universal law of the lord himself manifested in the truth and law of eternal mother Prakrti.

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3.6.11

इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्नः॑ सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥

Agni, lord of heaven and earth, give us, we pray, the abundance of mother earth which overflows with possibilities of action and achievement. Give us liberal gifts of cows and the universal form of speech and knowledge and lasting wealth. Make it possible for the performer of yajna. Bless us with brave and heroic children and grand children. Bless us with the favour of your kindness and benevolence under your benign eye.

✦ Sukta 7 · 11 verses ✦

3.7.1

प्र य आ॒रुः शि॑तिपृ॒ष्ठस्य॑ धा॒सेरा मा॒तरा॑ विविशुः स॒प्त वाणीः॑ । प॒रि॒क्षिता॑ पि॒तरा॒ सं च॑रेते॒ प्र स॑र्स्राते दी॒र्घमायुः॑ प्र॒यक्षे॑ ॥

Seven penetrative currents of the golden fire of divine energy radiate carrying the seven streams of sound waves and fill their generative parents, all pervasive heaven and earth. Pervaded, the generators, heaven and earth, cooperate and, to keep on the fire and flow of the voice of cosmic yajna, they sustain the life and energy of the currents a long age without end for the devotee.

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3.7.2

दि॒वक्ष॑सो धे॒नवो॒ वृष्णो॒ अश्वा॑ दे॒वीरा त॑स्थौ॒ मधु॑म॒द्वह॑न्तीः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ त्वा॒ सद॑सि क्षेम॒यन्तं॒ पर्येका॑ चरति वर्त॒निं गौः ॥

The waves of sound, eternal Vak, voice of omniscience, pervade the spaces. The currents of energy of the generous and omnipotent lord, Agni, are omnipresent. The lord alone pervades the celestial streams of energy and speech carrying the honey sweets of meaning and life’s wealth. In this world of truth and eternal law, O lord protector of all life and light, Agni, one energy, like a cow or the earth, goes round and round in orbit doing homage to you.

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3.7.3

आ सी॑मरोहत्सु॒यमा॒ भव॑न्तीः॒ पति॑श्चिकि॒त्वान्र॑यि॒विद्र॑यी॒णाम् । प्र नील॑पृष्ठो अत॒सस्य॑ धा॒सेस्ता अ॑वासयत्पुरु॒धप्र॑तीकः ॥

Agni, sustainer of life, lord of light and knowledge of the physical world, wielder of universal wealth, the sun, ruler of the day, rides the waves of light and energy well directed and controlled in the world of existence. And he of the blue back, the corona, multifarious of form and colour, sustains the various species of life and helps them to settle and enjoy themselves.

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3.7.4

महि॑ त्वा॒ष्ट्रमू॒र्जय॑न्तीरजु॒र्यं स्त॑भू॒यमा॑नं व॒हतो॑ वहन्ति । व्यङ्गे॑भिर्दिद्युता॒नः स॒धस्थ॒ एका॑मिव॒ रोद॑सी॒ आ वि॑वेश ॥

Strengthening and refreshing the great, creative, shaping, unaging and sustaining power of the sun, lustrous bearer of the solar system, the currents ofAgni’s energy flow. Radiant in the regions of light, illuminating and invigorating with its various powers, the sun operates in heaven and earth as in one united, integrated organismic system in the cosmic body of the Lord Supreme.

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3.7.5

जा॒नन्ति॒ वृष्णो॑ अरु॒षस्य॒ शेव॑मु॒त ब्र॒ध्नस्य॒ शास॑ने रणन्ति । दि॒वो॒रुचः॑ सु॒रुचो॒ रोच॑माना॒ इळा॒ येषां॒ गण्या॒ माहि॑ना॒ गीः ॥

They know the peace, comfort and joy of living under the rule and order of the generous, radiant and mighty ruler of the world, and they rejoice and sing in ecstasy, whose songs of Divinity are great and worshipful, radiant and illuminative as the light of heaven, and sublime and deep as eternity.

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3.7.6

उ॒तो पि॒तृभ्यां॑ प्र॒विदानु॒ घोषं॑ म॒हो म॒हद्भ्या॑मनयन्त शू॒षम् । उ॒क्षा ह॒ यत्र॒ परि॒ धान॑म॒क्तोरनु॒ स्वं धाम॑ जरि॒तुर्व॒वक्ष॑ ॥

And young people from adorable parents, teachers, heaven and earth receive the great wealth of light and joy of life and the Divine Word in response to their holy voice of knowledge and piety, when the generous lord of light bestows upon the celebrant his own vestment of light and glory when the veil of darkness is removed at the end of the night.

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3.7.7

अ॒ध्व॒र्युभिः॑ प॒ञ्चभिः॑ स॒प्त विप्राः॑ प्रि॒यं र॑क्षन्ते॒ निहि॑तं प॒दं वेः । प्राञ्चो॑ मदन्त्यु॒क्षणो॑ अजु॒र्या दे॒वा दे॒वाना॒मनु॒ हि व्र॒ता गुः ॥

Along with five highpriests, seven sages, divinely inspired scholars secure and maintain Agni’s dear and favourite place of worship on the vedi. The generous and powerful sagely performers, confident and untiring, facing the east, rejoice in the ritual and act in accordance with the laws and ordinances of the divinities of nature and humanity and the will of the lord of cosmic law.

· · ·

3.7.8

दैव्या॒ होता॑रा प्रथ॒मा न्यृ॑ञ्जे स॒प्त पृ॒क्षासः॑ स्व॒धया॑ मदन्ति । ऋ॒तं शंस॑न्त ऋ॒तमित्त आ॑हु॒रनु॑ व्र॒तं व्र॑त॒पा दीध्या॑नाः ॥

I honour and reverence the two pioneer priests of divinity. Seven priests, sprinkling the vedi with water and ghrta, rejoice with the holy freedom and fragrance and their own ecstasy. Celebrating and speaking of the divine law of truth and nature, they say that the real version of law and truth is: know it, act it, this is It. And observing the law strictly in accordance with the dictates of law, rejoicing in the law, they shine in life, illuminating others too.

· · ·

3.7.9

वृ॒षा॒यन्ते॑ म॒हे अत्या॑य पू॒र्वीर्वृष्णे॑ चि॒त्राय॑ र॒श्मयः॑ सुया॒माः । देव॑ होतर्म॒न्द्रत॑रश्चिकि॒त्वान्म॒हो दे॒वान्रोद॑सी॒ एह व॑क्षि ॥

Eternal rays of light and bliss, controlled and well directed, rain in showers rising in power and generosity in homage to the lord sublime, transcendent, potent and most wonderful. O lord of light and wealth, high-priest of cosmic yajna, joyous and blissful, all aware and ever wakeful, bring us the light and glory and the bounties of heaven and earth here and now.

· · ·

3.7.10

पृ॒क्षप्र॑यजो द्रविणः सु॒वाचः॑ सुके॒तव॑ उ॒षसो॑ रे॒वदू॑षुः । उ॒तो चि॑दग्ने महि॒ना पृ॑थि॒व्याः कृ॒तं चि॒देनः॒ सं म॒हे द॑शस्य ॥

Munificent yajakas, blest with wealth of energy, blissfully vocal and highly expressive, refulgent with holy light, the dawns of divinity, rise and shine bearing the wealth of nature. And you, O lord of cosmic yajna, Agni, for the sake of the great earth and her children, with the mighty blaze of majesty, eliminate from the world whatever sin or crime or evil has ever been committed.

· · ·

3.7.11

इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्नः॑ सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥

The holy Word and vision of Eternity, all-giving, abundance of the earth, everlasting of value, O lord of light and might of the universe, Agni, create and bless upon the supplicant yajaka. May there arise for us a generation of youth and children, dynamic and potent, and may we ever enjoy, we pray, the favours of your love and benevolence, living under your benign eye.

✦ Sukta 8 · 11 verses ✦

3.8.1

अ॒ञ्जन्ति॒ त्वाम॑ध्व॒रे दे॑व॒यन्तो॒ वन॑स्पते॒ मधु॑ना॒ दैव्ये॑न । यदू॒र्ध्वस्तिष्ठा॒ द्रवि॑णे॒ह ध॑त्ता॒द्यद्वा॒ क्षयो॑ मा॒तुर॒स्या उ॒पस्थे॑ ॥

Vanaspati, lord of sunbeams and earth’s greenery, aspiring lovers of divinity celebrate you in their yajnic programmes of education, governance and administration, and economic management and production, and they honour you with the celestial presentation of honeyed words in faith. Whether you abide higher up in the heavens or lie here nestled in the folds of this mother earth’s bosom, bear and bring, we pray, the riches of existence for the supplicants.

· · ·

3.8.2

समि॑द्धस्य॒ श्रय॑माणः पु॒रस्ता॒द्ब्रह्म॑ वन्वा॒नो अ॒जरं॑ सु॒वीर॑म् । आ॒रे अ॒स्मदम॑तिं॒ बाध॑मान॒ उच्छ्र॑यस्व मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय ॥

Vanaspati, lord of light and wealth of greenery and earth’s fertility, staying firm forward and sharing the refreshing fragrance of the lighted fire, loving food and energy growth and exaltation of the spirit, keeping off vitiation of mind and intelligence far away from us, abide by us, we pray, constantly for the bliss of great good fortune and all round prosperity

· · ·

3.8.3

उच्छ्र॑यस्व वनस्पते॒ वर्ष्म॑न्पृथि॒व्या अधि॑ । सुमि॑ती मी॒यमा॑नो॒ वर्चो॑ धा य॒ज्ञवा॑हसे ॥

Guardian and protector of all round wealth of life, Vanaspati, generous giver of showers of rain and wealth of the world, abide by us, we pray, and stand guard high and firm on the earth, mapping, measuring, valuing noble intelligence, and bear and bring the light and lustre of life for the guardian and promoter of yajna.

· · ·

3.8.4

युवा॑ सु॒वासाः॒ परि॑वीत॒ आगा॒त्स उ॒ श्रेया॑न्भवति॒ जाय॑मानः । तं धीरा॑सः क॒वय॒ उन्न॑यन्ति स्वा॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ मन॑सा देव॒यन्तः॑ ॥

Let the young graduate come back home, decently robed, graceful, brilliant as the rising sun, auspicious, reborn through education as a scholar. Eminent and sagely scholars, creative minds of sublime imagination, highly learned, seekers of divinity with sincere mind and soul may continue to guide and lead the scholar onward.

· · ·

3.8.5

जा॒तो जा॑यते सुदिन॒त्वे अह्नां॑ सम॒र्य आ वि॒दथे॒ वर्ध॑मानः । पु॒नन्ति॒ धीरा॑ अ॒पसो॑ मनी॒षा दे॑व॒या विप्र॒ उदि॑यर्ति॒ वाच॑म् ॥

The one who is born and then reborn in the holy light of auspicious days rises to eminence in the yajnic programmes and conscientious battles of practical life in action. Noble leading lights, wise and grave, veterans of action, with thought, reflection and meditation, purify and sanctify the vibrant scholar, and he rises and attains to the life and meaning of the holy Word with dedication to the pursuit of divinity among humanity.

· · ·

3.8.6

यान्वो॒ नरो॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ निमि॒म्युर्वन॑स्पते॒ स्वधि॑तिर्वा त॒तक्ष॑ । ते दे॒वासः॒ स्वर॑वस्तस्थि॒वांसः॑ प्र॒जाव॑द॒स्मे दि॑धिषन्तु॒ रत्न॑म् ॥

O leading lights of society, those pious people in pursuit of divine virtue who love you, honour and value you, and O Vanaspati, lord of light, those whom the shaping power of Divinity has refined with knowledge and culture, may all those magnificent scholars, self-luminous in their own words, balanced and firm in judgement and wisdom, blest with people and progeny, bear and bring the jewels of life for us.

· · ·

3.8.7

ये वृ॒क्णासो॒ अधि॒ क्षमि॒ निमि॑तासो य॒तस्रु॑चः । ते नो॑ व्यन्तु॒ वार्यं॑ देव॒त्रा क्षे॑त्र॒साध॑सः ॥

Those who are exceptionally distinguished on the earth, masters of eternal and measured knowledge, devoted yajnics with the holy ladle upraised and successful in any field of knowledge and action — may those lovers of Divinity achieve and bring the most cherished wealth and values of life for us.

· · ·

3.8.8

आ॒दि॒त्या रु॒द्रा वस॑वः सुनी॒था द्यावा॒क्षामा॑ पृथि॒वी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । स॒जोष॑सो य॒ज्ञम॑वन्तु दे॒वा ऊ॒र्ध्वं कृ॑ण्वन्त्वध्व॒रस्य॑ के॒तुम् ॥

May the twelve Adityas, sun in the zodiacs, Rudras, ten pranic energies and the individual soul, and the eight Vasus, abodes and supports of life, heaven and earth, and the regions of the middle space, all wide and generous as earth, all divine powers of mother nature and agents of Divinity, protect and promote the yajna of life and raise our knowledge, practice and awareness of Dharma, love and non-violence.

· · ·

3.8.9

हं॒साइ॑व श्रेणि॒शो यता॑नाः शु॒क्रा वसा॑नाः॒ स्वर॑वो न॒ आगुः॑ । उ॒न्नी॒यमा॑नाः क॒विभिः॑ पु॒रस्ता॑द्दे॒वा दे॒वाना॒मपि॑ यन्ति॒ पाथः॑ ॥

Just as hansa birds, pure white in beautiful plume, flying in line formation, singing and rejoicing, traverse the skies, so do the Devas, brilliant scholars and generous yajna performers raised and guided by poetic teachers since ancient times, working, singing and rejoicing together, bless us and go forward by the paths of divines.

· · ·

3.8.10

शृङ्गा॑णी॒वेच्छृ॒ङ्गिणां॒ सं द॑दृश्रे च॒षाल॑वन्तः॒ स्वर॑वः पृथि॒व्याम् । वा॒घद्भि॑र्वा विह॒वे श्रोष॑माणा अ॒स्माँ अ॑वन्तु पृत॒नाज्ये॑षु ॥

Like the horns of animals they look good and beautiful, protective. Enjoying many good things of life, hearing hymns of adoration, performing yajna with singing priests in the assembly, may holy men and distinguished scholars protect us in the battles of life on the earth.

· · ·

3.8.11

वन॑स्पते श॒तव॑ल्शो॒ वि रो॑ह स॒हस्र॑वल्शा॒ वि व॒यं रु॑हेम । यं त्वाम॒यं स्वधि॑ति॒स्तेज॑मानः प्रणि॒नाय॑ मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय ॥

Vanaspati, lord of sunbeams and greenery of the earth, yajnic scholar, generous giver, just as a tree grows into a hundred shoots and branches and then to a thousand, so may you grow a hundred-fold, and let us grow too into a thousand shoots and branches. And may this divine thunderbolt of fire and lightning power help you to rise and grow manifold in grandeur and all round prosperity.

✦ Sukta 9 · 9 verses ✦

3.9.1

सखा॑यस्त्वा ववृमहे दे॒वं मर्ता॑स ऊ॒तये॑ । अ॒पां नपा॑तं सु॒भगं॑ सु॒दीदि॑तिं सु॒प्रतू॑र्तिमने॒हस॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of brilliance, friends we are, human, mortals all. We choose you as our guide and leader for the sake of protection and victory. You are immortal, imperishable in the flow of existence and the flux of karma, treasure home of good fortune, auspicious flame of inspiration, faster than light and free from sin and violence.

· · ·

3.9.2

काय॑मानो व॒ना त्वं यन्मा॒तॄरज॑गन्न॒पः । न तत्ते॑ अग्ने प्र॒मृषे॑ नि॒वर्त॑नं॒ यद्दू॒रे सन्नि॒हाभ॑वः ॥

Agni, lord and lover of light and knowledge, giver of light and knowledge, when you go to the waters, vibrant mother sources of light and energy, that going away is not to be endured, nor to be forgotten or neglected, because while you are away, you are still near at hand with your light. Hence I have the best that is worthy of love and value from you.

· · ·

3.9.3

अति॑ तृ॒ष्टं व॑वक्षि॒थाथै॒व सु॒मना॑ असि । प्रप्रा॒न्ये यन्ति॒ पर्य॒न्य आ॑सते॒ येषां॑ स॒ख्ये असि॑ श्रि॒तः ॥

The one who is very keen, thirsting for knowledge and other things of value, you speak to and bear across. Hence you are good at heart, happy and cheerful. Of those you sit with in a spirit of friendship, some go forward, others sit at peace and meditate. Yet others just sit still with you and do nothing else.

· · ·

3.9.4

ई॒यि॒वांस॒मति॒ स्रिधः॒ शश्व॑ती॒रति॑ स॒श्चतः॑ । अन्वी॑मविन्दन्निचि॒रासो॑ अ॒द्रुहो॒ऽप्सु सिं॒हमि॑व श्रि॒तम् ॥

Extremely patient, deeply dedicated to eternal energies, O seekers, working together without a trace of jealousy, find the fire and electric energy existing vibrantly in the currents of waters and winds and vapours in space hidden like a lion in the forest..

· · ·

3.9.5

स॒सृ॒वांस॑मिव॒ त्मना॒ग्निमि॒त्था ति॒रोहि॑तम् । ऐनं॑ नयन्मात॒रिश्वा॑ परा॒वतो॑ दे॒वेभ्यो॑ मथि॒तं परि॑ ॥

Active by its very nature but hidden, this Agnienergy is thus present in space. Matarishva, mighty currents of celestial and terrestrial wind from far around churn and bring this fire and electric energy to the brilliant and dedicated scholars for noble humanity.

· · ·

3.9.6

तं त्वा॒ मर्ता॑ अगृभ्णत दे॒वेभ्यो॑ हव्यवाहन । विश्वा॒न्यद्य॒ज्ञाँ अ॑भि॒पासि॑ मानुष॒ तव॒ क्रत्वा॑ यविष्ठ्य ॥

Such as you are, Agni, carrier and harbinger of holy materials for the good life, the mortals thus receive the power through yajnic scholars for yajnic humanity, and thus do you, O youthful energy, feed and promote all creative and productive yajnic programmes of humanity with your power and operation.

· · ·

3.9.7

तद्भ॒द्रं तव॑ दं॒सना॒ पाका॑य चिच्छदयति । त्वां यद॑ग्ने प॒शवः॑ स॒मास॑ते॒ समि॑द्धमपिशर्व॒रे ॥

That is your holy action, precious gift, O power of fire, which gratifies and advances humanity to maturity and the good life, and as even the animals in winter nights come and sit round the burning fire for relief from the cold, so do humans, O brilliant and fiery scholar, come to you and receive the light of knowledge and warmth of life against the cold and dark winter nights of ignorance.

· · ·

3.9.8

आ जु॑होता स्वध्व॒रं शी॒रं पा॑व॒कशो॑चिषम् । आ॒शुं दू॒तम॑जि॒रं प्र॒त्नमीड्यं॑ श्रु॒ष्टी दे॒वं स॑पर्यत ॥

Invoke, enlight, adore and enthusiastically serve, and immediately receive the gifts of Agni, light, energy and power of nature and Divinity: loving, nonviolent and giving, latent and omnipresent energy, pure and purifying light and fire, instantly operative, universal carrier and messenger, fast as lightning, eternal, adorable and divine.

· · ·

3.9.9

त्रीणि॑ श॒ता त्री स॒हस्रा॑ण्य॒ग्निं त्रिं॒शच्च॑ दे॒वा नव॑ चासपर्यन् । औक्ष॑न्घृ॒तैरस्तृ॑णन्ब॒र्हिर॑स्मा॒ आदिद्धोता॑रं॒ न्य॑सादयन्त ॥

Three hundred, three thousand, thirty, and nine Devas, principles of nature, serve this Agni. They sprinkle it with ghrta, cover the vedi with holy grass and then afterward consecrate this high-priest of cosmic yajna on the seat for the conduct and completion of the yajna.

✦ Sukta 10 · 9 verses ✦

3.10.1

त्वाम॑ग्ने मनी॒षिणः॑ स॒म्राजं॑ चर्षणी॒नाम् । दे॒वं मर्ता॑स इन्धते॒ सम॑ध्व॒रे ॥

Agni, lord self-refulgent, benign and majestic ruler supreme of the world and her children, thoughtful, reflective and meditative people light, raise and worship you in their yajnic programmes of love and non-violence in the service of humanity and the environment.

· · ·

3.10.2

त्वां य॒ज्ञेष्वृ॒त्विज॒मग्ने॒ होता॑रमीळते । गो॒पा ऋ॒तस्य॑ दीदिहि॒ स्वे दमे॑ ॥

Agni, holy men, observers and guardians of Rtam, the cosmic law of truth, worship you in their yajna and celebrate you as the high-priest and performer of the universal yajna of creation. O lord, bless them to shine with the light of knowledge in the world which is the very home of the law of truth and rectitude.

· · ·

3.10.3

स घा॒ यस्ते॒ ददा॑शति स॒मिधा॑ जा॒तवे॑दसे । सो अ॑ग्ने धत्ते सु॒वीर्यं॒ स पु॑ष्यति ॥

Agni, lord omnificent, that person alone for sure is blest with vital energy and lustrous power and rises all round in life who gives in yajnic acts in the service of lord omniscient of existence, with fuel kindled with knowledge and rising faith.

· · ·

3.10.4

स के॒तुर॑ध्व॒राणा॑म॒ग्निर्दे॒वेभि॒रा ग॑मत् । अ॒ञ्जा॒नः स॒प्त होतृ॑भिर्ह॒विष्म॑ते ॥

Agni, that rising fire of the yajnas of love and non-violent creation, raised by seven divine performers, i.e., five pranas, one mind and one intellect, or, five priests and the yajamana couple, comes as a flaming messenger proclaiming the liberal gifts of yajna for the person who offers fragrant libations of holy materials into the fire. Agni comes with gifts and the devas, divinities of nature and humanity.

· · ·

3.10.5

प्र होत्रे॑ पू॒र्व्यं वचो॒ऽग्नये॑ भरता बृ॒हत् । वि॒पां ज्योतीं॑षि॒ बिभ्र॑ते॒ न वे॒धसे॑ ॥

O wise saints and scholars, just as you offer fragrant oblations to Agni, lord ordainer of the world who wields the wide spaces and bears the lights of brilliant stars inspired with the spirit of divinity, so offer the gift of the supreme eternal voice of Divinity to the yajamana performer who bears in faith the lights of inspired sages.

· · ·

3.10.6

अ॒ग्निं व॑र्धन्तु नो॒ गिरो॒ यतो॒ जाय॑त उ॒क्थ्यः॑ । म॒हे वाजा॑य॒ द्रवि॑णाय दर्श॒तः ॥

For the sake of great energy and wealth of life, let our voices rise, and exalt and celebrate Agni, lord of light and omniscience, blissful vision of Eternity, whence arises the sagely scholar, admirable gift of Agni’s, whose very sight is holy and auspicious for the attainment of strength and real wealth of life.

· · ·

3.10.7

अग्ने॒ यजि॑ष्ठो अध्व॒रे दे॒वान्दे॑वय॒ते य॑ज । होता॑ म॒न्द्रो वि रा॑ज॒स्यति॒ स्रिधः॑ ॥

Agni, in the yajna, creative programme of love and non-violence, you are the most adorable. Bring the devas, holy divinities, for the yajamana who loves to be with the divinities. You are the giver and performer, happy giver of happiness, over-shining and overwinning the stingy and selfish uncreators.

· · ·

3.10.8

स नः॑ पावक दीदिहि द्यु॒मद॒स्मे सु॒वीर्य॑म् । भवा॑ स्तो॒तृभ्यो॒ अन्त॑मः स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Agni, fire of yajna, such as you are, give us the light and make us shine. Bring us valour and lustrous energy with the light of wisdom and knowledge. For the celebrants, be at the closest for the sake of wellbeing and the bliss of life.

· · ·

3.10.9

तं त्वा॒ विप्रा॑ विप॒न्यवो॑ जागृ॒वांसः॒ समि॑न्धते । ह॒व्य॒वाह॒मम॑र्त्यं सहो॒वृध॑म् ॥

Thus do the sagely scholars, holy celebrants, ever wide awake, light, raise and exalt Agni, carrier and harbinger of holy fragrances of life and yajna, immortal power, creator and giver of greater and ever higher strength and courage and patience.

✦ Sukta 11 · 9 verses ✦

3.11.1

अ॒ग्निर्होता॑ पु॒रोहि॑तोऽध्व॒रस्य॒ विच॑र्षणिः । स वे॑द य॒ज्ञमा॑नु॒षक् ॥

One who invokes, lights and raises the fire of yajna, leads the yajna with love for the welfare of all, closely watches the yajna free from violence, jealousy and ill-will, conducts the yajna continuously, and persistently, he knows the secret, mystery and benefits of yajna. He is Agni, brilliant, fiery, and a pioneer.

· · ·

3.11.2

स ह॑व्य॒वाळम॑र्त्य उ॒शिग्दू॒तश्चनो॑हितः । अ॒ग्निर्धि॒या समृ॑ण्वति ॥

He, carrier of holy yajnic offerings, immortal, charming, messenger of fragrance, lover of the food of yajna for all, Agni, moves forward by virtue of his own light and intelligence.

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3.11.3

अ॒ग्निर्धि॒या स चे॑तति के॒तुर्य॒ज्ञस्य॑ पू॒र्व्यः । अर्थं॒ ह्य॑स्य त॒रणि॑ ॥

That Agni knows and is known by his own intelligence and action. He is the most ancient banner of yajna. His sole aim and purpose is to be a saviour, a redeemer.

· · ·

3.11.4

अ॒ग्निं सू॒नुं सन॑श्रुतं॒ सह॑सो जा॒तवे॑दसम् । वह्निं॑ दे॒वा अ॑कृण्वत ॥

All ye noble and brilliant sages and scholars, Agni is potent, child of courage and patience, famous of old, and he knows all that is born. Elect him as the leader, bearer of the yajnic business of the world to carry the fragrance of yajna all round.

· · ·

3.11.5

अदा॑भ्यः पुरए॒ता वि॒शाम॒ग्निर्मानु॑षीणाम् । तूर्णी॒ रथः॒ सदा॒ नवः॑ ॥

Irrepressible and indestructible, going forward in front of the people, fiery leader of the nation, instant starter, torch bearer of humanity and warrior, ever new: such is Agni, pioneer and leader.

· · ·

3.11.6

सा॒ह्वान्विश्वा॑ अभि॒युजः॒ क्रतु॑र्दे॒वाना॒ममृ॑क्तः । अ॒ग्निस्तु॒विश्र॑वस्तमः ॥

Patient yet most irresistible of all the front rank people, most enlightened of the noble and generous, inviolable, Agni is well read and most renowned leading light.

· · ·

3.11.7

अ॒भि प्रयां॑सि॒ वाह॑सा दा॒श्वाँ अ॑श्नोति॒ मर्त्यः॑ । क्षयं॑ पाव॒कशो॑चिषः ॥

By virtue of the leading light of Agni, the generous man who gives in yajnic action gets his objects of desire, and from the rising flames of holy fire as by virtue of the scholar’s brilliance of knowledge, he gets a haven of peace.

· · ·

3.11.8

परि॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ सुधि॑ता॒ग्नेर॑श्याम॒ मन्म॑भिः । विप्रा॑सो जा॒तवे॑दसः ॥

May we, inspired and enlightened yajakas, with sincere prayers, worship and do yajna to get all the benevolent and gracious gifts of Agni, lord omniscient of existence.

· · ·

3.11.9

अग्ने॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ वार्या॒ वाजे॑षु सनिषामहे । त्वे दे॒वास॒ एरि॑रे ॥

Agni, lord of light and yajna fire, may we receive and share, we pray, all the chosen objects of desire and wealth of the world in our battles of life. Holy men of knowledge and dedication inspire us to pray and worship you.

✦ Sukta 12 · 9 verses ✦

3.12.1

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ आ ग॑तं सु॒तं गी॒र्भिर्नभो॒ वरे॑ण्यम् । अ॒स्य पा॑तं धि॒येषि॒ता ॥

Indra and Agni, lord of might and lord of light, brilliant and blazing like thunder and lightning, come to this child worthy of love and choice, come with voices from the heavens and inspire the darling with intelligence and passion for action.

· · ·

3.12.2

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी जरि॒तुः सचा॑ य॒ज्ञो जि॑गाति॒ चेत॑नः । अ॒या पा॑तमि॒मं सु॒तम् ॥

Indra, lord of wealth and power, Agni, lord of light and knowledge, friends of the supplicant celebrant, the child is yajna, worthy of love, dedication and consecration, sensitive and intelligent, and moves forward to learn. Nurture him with the holy voice and the Word.

· · ·

3.12.3

इन्द्र॑म॒ग्निं क॑वि॒च्छदा॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ जू॒त्या वृ॑णे । ता सोम॑स्ये॒ह तृ॑म्पताम् ॥

I choose Indra and Agni, both patrons and promoters of poets, with holy enthusiasm such as the fire of yajna. May they both come here, have a drink of soma, and bless the child.

· · ·

3.12.4

तो॒शा वृ॑त्र॒हणा॑ हुवे स॒जित्वा॒नाप॑राजिता । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी वा॑ज॒सात॑मा ॥

I invoke and invite Indra, commander of the forces, and Agni, leader of the enlightened, both promoters of knowledge, destroyers of evil, victorious, unconquered, winners of the highest order of prizes.

· · ·

3.12.5

प्र वा॑मर्चन्त्यु॒क्थिनो॑ नीथा॒विदो॑ जरि॒तारः॑ । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ इष॒ आ वृ॑णे ॥

Indra and Agni, the singers of hymns, pioneers of highways and celebrants honour and worship you. I choose to celebrate you for the sake of sustenance, support and energy.

· · ·

3.12.6

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी नव॒तिं पुरो॑ दा॒सप॑त्नीरधूनुतम् । सा॒कमेके॑न॒ कर्म॑णा ॥

Indra and Agni, shake up, inspire and arouse with a single clarion call the ninety fortresses yonder of the allied and supporting forces of the benevolent ruler of the republics.

· · ·

3.12.7

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ अप॑स॒स्पर्युप॒ प्र य॑न्ति धी॒तयः॑ । ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ अनु॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, lord of power and lord of light and law, the pioneer forces of action and reflection go forward, all round, and close to the target, following the paths of truth and law of rectitude. (Swami Dayanand interprets Indra and Agni as wind and electric energy of space, and the movements of this energy in waves directed to the targets of purpose).

· · ·

3.12.8

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी तवि॒षाणि॑ वां स॒धस्था॑नि॒ प्रयां॑सि च । यु॒वोर॒प्तूर्यं॑ हि॒तम् ॥

Indra and Agni, your forces, strategic concentrations of the forces deployed and collective resources, are well disposed, and integrated, and your zeal for making a move is instantaneous, everything being just at hand.

· · ·

3.12.9

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी रोच॒ना दि॒वः परि॒ वाजे॑षु भूषथः । तद्वां॑ चेति॒ प्र वी॒र्य॑म् ॥

Indra and Agni, you are the light and fire of heaven and you shine all round in the battles of life. And that brilliance proclaims your power and splendour

✦ Sukta 13 · 7 verses ✦

3.13.1

प्र वो॑ दे॒वाया॒ग्नये॒ बर्हि॑ष्ठमर्चास्मै । गम॑द्दे॒वेभि॒रा स नो॒ यजि॑ष्ठो ब॒र्हिरा स॑दत् ॥

Offer honour and yajnic oblations in worship to Agni, this lord of light and knowledge, who pervades the spaces of the universe, so that he, the lord most adorable, may come with the bounties of nature for you and us all, and he may grace the seats of our yajna and help us rise to the heights of heavenly virtue.

· · ·

3.13.2

ऋ॒तावा॒ यस्य॒ रोद॑सी॒ दक्षं॒ सच॑न्त ऊ॒तयः॑ । ह॒विष्म॑न्त॒स्तमी॑ळते॒ तं स॑नि॒ष्यन्तोऽव॑से ॥

Devotees human and divine dedicated to the law of the universe, Rtam, and even the heaven and earth and protective forces of nature, obey and participate in the expertise and perfection of systemic existence. Hence the devotees bearing fragrant offerings for yajna and seekers of protection, all these, worship him, i.e., Agni, for favour of joy and fulfilment.

· · ·

3.13.3

स य॒न्ता विप्र॑ एषां॒ स य॒ज्ञाना॒मथा॒ हि षः । अ॒ग्निं तं वो॑ दुवस्यत॒ दाता॒ यो वनि॑ता म॒घम् ॥

All wise, Agni is the guide of all these seekers and devotees. And he alone is the guide of the yajnas and yajnic programmes of humanity, he is the giver of fulfilment. That Agni, all of you serve and worship. He only is the giver: his is the wealth of the universe, he gives the wealth of honour, prosperity and fulfilment.

· · ·

3.13.4

स नः॒ शर्मा॑णि वी॒तये॒ऽग्निर्य॑च्छतु॒ शंत॑मा । यतो॑ नः प्रु॒ष्णव॒द्वसु॑ दि॒वि क्षि॒तिभ्यो॑ अ॒प्स्वा ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, peace and bliss, may, we pray, lead us all to havens of peace for well being and the joy of life, to homes wherein and where from may flow for the people of the world showers of wealth all round abounding in the light of the sun, streams of waters, currents of energy in space and the vibrations of pranas.

· · ·

3.13.5

दी॒दि॒वांस॒मपू॑र्व्यं॒ वस्वी॑भिरस्य धी॒तिभिः॑ । ऋक्वा॑णो अ॒ग्निमि॑न्धते॒ होता॑रं वि॒श्पतिं॑ वि॒शाम् ॥

Devotees of the Rks, divine revelations and human reflections of light and knowledge, with creative imagination and productive efforts in action, research into the gifts of Agni and light the fire, radiant energy, inexhaustible and ever new, master performer of cosmic yajna and sustainer of the people of the world.

· · ·

3.13.6

उ॒त नो॒ ब्रह्म॑न्नविष उ॒क्थेषु॑ देव॒हूत॑मः । शं नः॑ शोचा म॒रुद्वृ॒धोऽग्ने॑ सहस्र॒सात॑मः ॥

Agni, lord and light of infinity, let us flow with infinity. Lord most invoked by brilliant people and adored by divine powers of nature, let us advance into celebrations and service of Divinity. Lord adored and exalted by the Maruts, dynamic people and the winds, let peace shine on us and let us shine in peace. Agni, you are the giver of a thousand blessings.

· · ·

3.13.7

नू नो॑ रास्व स॒हस्र॑वत्तो॒कव॑त्पुष्टि॒मद्वसु॑ । द्यु॒मद॑ग्ने सु॒वीर्यं॒ वर्षि॑ष्ठ॒मनु॑पक्षितम् ॥

Agni, lord of a thousandfold energy, power, progeny, growth and wealth, and light of knowledge, give us manly vigour, valour and honour in showers of undiminishing abundance without reserve.

✦ Sukta 14 · 7 verses ✦

3.14.1

आ होता॑ म॒न्द्रो वि॒दथा॑न्यस्थात्स॒त्यो यज्वा॑ क॒वित॑मः॒ स वे॒धाः । वि॒द्युद्र॑थः॒ सह॑सस्पु॒त्रो अ॒ग्निः शो॒चिष्के॑शः पृथि॒व्यां पाजो॑ अश्रेत् ॥

Versatile leader, messenger of joy, Agni sustains the projects of creation and production. Truest of the true, master of unifying applications, he is an imaginative thinker and a skillful creator. Child of energy itself, he travels by chariots run by electricity. His hair radiate fire and he brings the light of heaven to illuminate the planes of earth.

· · ·

3.14.2

अया॑मि ते॒ नम॑उक्तिं जुषस्व॒ ऋता॑व॒स्तुभ्यं॒ चेत॑ते सहस्वः । वि॒द्वाँ आ व॑क्षि वि॒दुषो॒ नि ष॑त्सि॒ मध्य॒ आ ब॒र्हिरू॒तये॑ यजत्र ॥

O scholar of the laws of nature and natural energy, lord of knowledge, power, courage and patience, I come to you, accept my homage and salutations. Venerable yajaka, you speak to the scholars, and you reach and stay in the midst of the skies for the sake of protection and progress.

· · ·

3.14.3

द्रव॑तां त उ॒षसा॑ वा॒जय॑न्ती॒ अग्ने॒ वात॑स्य प॒थ्या॑भि॒रच्छ॑ । यत्सी॑म॒ञ्जन्ति॑ पू॒र्व्यं ह॒र्विर्भि॒रा ब॒न्धुरे॑व तस्थतुर्दुरो॒णे ॥

Agni, brilliant scholar, the lights of the dawn bearing fresh energy and power radiate to you by beautiful paths of the winds and shine in the house where, like experts of design and structure, with new materials, they refine the earlier model of the chariot for you.

· · ·

3.14.4

मि॒त्रश्च॒ तुभ्यं॒ वरु॑णः सह॒स्वोऽग्ने॒ विश्वे॑ म॒रुतः॑ सु॒म्नम॑र्चन् । यच्छो॒चिषा॑ सहसस्पुत्र॒ तिष्ठा॑ अ॒भि क्षि॒तीः प्र॒थय॒न्त्सूर्यो॒ नॄन् ॥

Agni, lord of might, child of energy, valour and patience, friends, best people of judgement and leading lights and powers of the world offer homage to you and wish you all well since, a very sun among humanity, raising regions of the earth to the heights and promoting the nations’ joy and welfare, you shine with your brilliance and abide with them, radiating light.

· · ·

3.14.5

व॒यं ते॑ अ॒द्य र॑रि॒मा हि काम॑मुत्ता॒नह॑स्ता॒ नम॑सोप॒सद्य॑ । यजि॑ष्ठेन॒ मन॑सा यक्षि दे॒वानस्रे॑धता॒ मन्म॑ना॒ विप्रो॑ अग्ने ॥

Agni, vibrant master of knowledge, with hands raised in respect and bearing cherished gifts of homage, we come and offer our reverence and adorations to you since you join the brilliant leaders and scholars of humanity with your reverential mind and share your unerring knowledge of arts and sciences with pleasure with all of them.

· · ·

3.14.6

त्वद्धि पु॑त्र सहसो॒ वि पू॒र्वीर्दे॒वस्य॒ यन्त्यू॒तयो॒ वि वाजाः॑ । त्वं दे॑हि सह॒स्रिणं॑ र॒यिं नो॑ऽद्रो॒घेण॒ वच॑सा स॒त्यम॑ग्ने ॥

From you alone, O lord sanctifier of the power of knowledge, flow all round eternal sciences, forces and ways of protection revealed by the Lord Omniscient and Omnipotent. And you give us, we pray, the real knowledge, sure and true, of a thousand things and values with words and a disposition of mind full of love, untouched by jealousy.

· · ·

3.14.7

तुभ्यं॑ दक्ष कविक्रतो॒ यानी॒मा देव॒ मर्ता॑सो अध्व॒रे अक॑र्म । त्वं विश्व॑स्य सु॒रथ॑स्य बोधि॒ सर्वं॒ तद॑ग्ने अमृत स्वदे॒ह ॥

ImmortalAgni,

brilliant scholar, expert scientist, imaginative creator and master of pious action, whatever we mortal do and offer you in this holy yajnic programme of creation, construction and development, taste the pleasure of all that here and now. Awake, arise and know this entire world riding the beautiful chariot, and let all that be known to the entire world on the wheels of progress.

✦ Sukta 15 · 7 verses ✦

3.15.1

वि पाज॑सा पृ॒थुना॒ शोशु॑चानो॒ बाध॑स्व द्वि॒षो र॒क्षसो॒ अमी॑वाः । सु॒शर्म॑णो बृह॒तः शर्म॑णि स्याम॒ग्नेर॒हं सु॒हव॑स्य॒ प्रणी॑तौ ॥

Agni, lord of light and fire, radiant purifier with intense expansive heat and light of lustre, resist, repel and keep off all infections and cancerous evils of jealousy and destructive force of enmity, so that I may live at ease in comfort in a happy home under the blessed rule and order of the great lord of peace, protection and yajnic progress across the wide world.

· · ·

3.15.2

त्वं नो॑ अ॒स्या उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ॒ त्वं सूर॒ उदि॑ते बोधि गो॒पाः । जन्मे॑व॒ नित्यं॒ तन॑यं जुषस्व॒ स्तोमं॑ मे अग्ने त॒न्वा॑ सुजात ॥

At the break of dawn and sun rise, let me awake into light and life anew, O lord protector and sustainer. Like a father and sustainer, ever love and protect the child as a baby at birth. Agni, blest of body-form, and nobly risen as you are, listen to my prayer and accept my song of praise and worship.

· · ·

3.15.3

त्वं नृ॒चक्षा॑ वृष॒भानु॑ पू॒र्वीः कृ॒ष्णास्व॑ग्ने अरु॒षो वि भा॑हि । वसो॒ नेषि॑ च॒ पर्षि॒ चात्यंहः॑ कृ॒धी नो॑ रा॒य उ॒शिजो॑ यविष्ठ ॥

Agni, bright and benevolent in flames of fire, all watchful over humanity and their performance, radiant, virile and generous, shine in the darkest of the dark and enlighten even the most primitive children of nature. Lord most youthful in command of light and virtue who lead and purge us of sin and impurity, take the aspirants to the noblest wealth they love.

· · ·

3.15.4

अषा॑ळ्हो अग्ने वृष॒भो दि॑दीहि॒ पुरो॒ विश्वाः॒ सौभ॑गा संजिगी॒वान् । य॒ज्ञस्य॑ ने॒ता प्र॑थ॒मस्य॑ पा॒योर्जात॑वेदो बृह॒तः सु॑प्रणीते ॥

Invincible Agni, generous and brave, shine and be victorious, and let all the cities of good fortune and prosperity shine and proclaim your acts of glory, being, as you are, leader, conductor and guardian of the first great, protective and promotive yajna of the Brahmacharya period of education and preparation for life, master of the knowledge of existence, teacher and pioneer of the noblest ways of living.

· · ·

3.15.5

अच्छि॑द्रा॒ शर्म॑ जरितः पु॒रूणि॑ दे॒वाँ अच्छा॒ दीद्या॑नः सुमे॒धाः । रथो॒ न सस्नि॑र॒भि व॑क्षि॒ वाज॒मग्ने॒ त्वं रोद॑सी नः सु॒मेके॑ ॥

Agni, lover, admirer and worshipper of Truth, Divinity and virtues and divinities of existence, wise and shining with knowledge, just as the sun illuminates the earth and regions of space, so, like a well-built chariot, bring us the knowledge of science and speed and bless us with brilliant scholars and faultless homes of peace and prosperity.

· · ·

3.15.6

प्र पी॑पय वृषभ॒ जिन्व॒ वाजा॒नग्ने॒ त्वं रोद॑सी नः सु॒दोघे॑ । दे॒वेभि॑र्देव सु॒रुचा॑ रुचा॒नो मा नो॒ मर्त॑स्य दुर्म॒तिः परि॑ ष्ठात् ॥

Agni, generous lord of science and power, fill our life to the full, inspire our strength and vigour, speed and energy to overflowing just as the sun fills the heaven and earth with light. O lord of light resplendent with the stars, bless us with light so that no ill-will of the mortals, no dark intention and motive may ever touch us, much less abide with us.

· · ·

3.15.7

इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्नः॑ सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, wealth and vitality of existence, master of science and divinity, bless the celebrant yajaka with that divine speech and vision, and that abundant share of earthly prosperity which is versatile and of eternal value. Make that possible for us so that we may be blest with youthful and victorious generations of children and grand children and we may ever enjoy the favour of your benign eye and gracious disposition.

✦ Sukta 16 · 6 verses ✦

3.16.1

अ॒यम॒ग्निः सु॒वीर्य॒स्येशे॑ म॒हः सौभ॑गस्य । रा॒य ई॑शे स्वप॒त्यस्य॒ गोम॑त॒ ईशे॑ वृत्र॒हथा॑नाम् ॥

Agni, the ruler, rules strength and power, heroes and warriors of the world, rules the greatness and grandeur of good fortune, rules the wealth of nations, rules the families blest with children of noble character, rules the master of cows, land, and knowledge and language, and rules and controls those who destroy the darkness of ignorance and hoarders of wealth.

· · ·

3.16.2

इ॒मं न॑रो मरुतः सश्चता॒ वृधं॒ यस्मि॒न्रायः॒ शेवृ॑धासः । अ॒भि ये सन्ति॒ पृत॑नासु दू॒ढ्यो॑ वि॒श्वाहा॒ शत्रु॑माद॒भुः ॥

Ye leaders of the good and noble citizens, heroes vibrant as winds and people of the land, join, serve and cooperate with this eminent and exalted ruler and support his order in which exist abounding wealths of the nation, and in which warriors unchallengeable in battle who rout and humiliate the enemies are ever standing on guard.

· · ·

3.16.3

स त्वं नो॑ रा॒यः शि॑शीहि॒ मीढ्वो॑ अग्ने सु॒वीर्य॑स्य । तुवि॑द्युम्न॒ वर्षि॑ष्ठस्य प्र॒जाव॑तोऽनमी॒वस्य॑ शु॒ष्मिणः॑ ॥

Agni, generous ruler, blessed lord of power and glory, increase, refine and govern the wealth and power of the virile, generous, powerfully manned, healthy and prosperous nation.

· · ·

3.16.4

चक्रि॒र्यो विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒भि सा॑स॒हिश्चक्रि॑र्दे॒वेष्वा दुवः॑ । आ दे॒वेषु॒ यत॑त॒ आ सु॒वीर्य॒ आ शंस॑ उ॒त नृ॒णाम् ॥

The lord of action wields and governs all regions of the world, he is the adorable sustainer among all the divine powers, he inspires life and passion among the noblest of humanity, and he is the object of admiration and the very life of the courage and valour of the people.

· · ·

3.16.5

मा नो॑ अ॒ग्नेऽम॑तये॒ मावीर॑तायै रीरधः । मागोता॑यै सहसस्पुत्र॒ मा नि॒देऽप॒ द्वेषां॒स्या कृ॑धि ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, abandon us not to poverty and intellectual disability, leave us not to cowardice, let us not suffer from debility of the senses, and subject us not to insult and calumny. Ward off all jealousy and enmity from us.

· · ·

3.16.6

श॒ग्धि वाज॑स्य सुभग प्र॒जाव॒तोऽग्ने॑ बृह॒तो अ॑ध्व॒रे । सं रा॒या भूय॑सा सृज मयो॒भुना॒ तुवि॑द्युम्न॒ यश॑स्वता ॥

Agni, lord of knowledge, wealth and power, gracious and prosperous, rise high in extensive programmes for the growth of food and energy, and human and social development, and enable us too to rise and be strong. O lord of prosperity and honour, grace us with plentiful, honourable and blissful wealth and help us rise on and on.

✦ Sukta 17 · 5 verses ✦

3.17.1

स॒मि॒ध्यमा॑नः प्रथ॒मानु॒ धर्मा॒ समु॒क्तभि॑रज्यते वि॒श्ववा॑रः । शो॒चिष्के॑शो घृ॒तनि॑र्णिक्पाव॒कः सु॑य॒ज्ञो अ॒ग्निर्य॒जथा॑य दे॒वान् ॥

Agni, the holy fire that purifies and sanctifies, lighted and raised in accordance with ancient original Dharma, served in conjunction with morning and evening, becomes universally adorable. And radiant in flames in shining robes of ghrta-light, splendid metaphor of yajna, it rises as a clarion call to the divine bounties of Nature.

· · ·

3.17.2

यथाय॑जो हो॒त्रम॑ग्ने पृथि॒व्या यथा॑ दि॒वो जा॑तवेदश्चिकि॒त्वान् । ए॒वानेन॑ ह॒विषा॑ यक्षि दे॒वान्म॑नु॒ष्वद्य॒ज्ञं प्र ति॑रे॒मम॒द्य ॥

O universal fire of life, living light of cosmic intelligence, Agni, coexistent with everything that is born, O high-priest of yajna, as you enact the yajna and offer the havi to call and invite the bounties of earth and heaven, similarly by this offer of oblations call the bounties of heaven and earth and invite the brilliancies of humanity, and let this yajna of ours be accomplished as the yajna of a thoughtful and conscientious person.

· · ·

3.17.3

त्रीण्यायूं॑षि॒ तव॑ जातवेदस्ति॒स्र आ॒जानी॑रु॒षस॑स्ते अग्ने । ताभि॑र्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ यक्षि वि॒द्वानथा॑ भव॒ यज॑मानाय॒ शं योः ॥

Agni, omnipresent lord of knowledge and life’s vitality, co-eval with existence, three are your lives: magnetic energy and fire on earth, electric energy and wind in the skies, and light in the solar region. You are the vital heat of the body, will, passion and thought of the mind, and vision and imagination of the soul. Three are your motherly seats of existence and operation: earth, sky and heaven of the cosmos, and the body, mind and soul of the individual. And three are the times of your operation: day and light, night and cold, and twilights of the morning and evening. With these orders of three, O master of knowledge, bring life and protection to the noble and generous people, and then be the harbinger of peace and joy to the yajamana.

· · ·

3.17.4

अ॒ग्निं सु॑दी॒तिं सु॒दृशं॑ गृ॒णन्तो॑ नम॒स्याम॒स्त्वेड्यं॑ जातवेदः । त्वां दू॒तम॑र॒तिं ह॑व्य॒वाहं॑ दे॒वा अ॑कृण्वन्न॒मृत॑स्य॒ नाभि॑म् ॥

We celebrants and devotees of the lord of light and refulgence offer our homage and salutations to you, Agni, fire of cosmic yajna, splendid light, beautiful of form, adorable and coeval of all that is born in existence. Noble, generous and brilliant sages and scholars reveal you, Agni, as the messenger of good news, harbinger of good fortune, carrier of the fragrance of life, and the very generative seat and sustaining column of the nectar of life and the freedom of Moksha. And the creative scholars and scientists recreate you as the power and energy source of wealth and the comfort and welfare of life.

· · ·

3.17.5

यस्त्वद्धोता॒ पूर्वो॑ अग्ने॒ यजी॑यान्द्वि॒ता च॒ सत्ता॑ स्व॒धया॑ च शं॒भुः । तस्यानु॒ धर्म॒ प्र य॑जा चिकि॒त्वोऽथा॑ नो धा अध्व॒रं दे॒ववी॑तौ ॥

O primeval fire,Agni, creative vitality of Prakrti, as the first Lord of bliss and well being, original and eternal Creator, performing the yajna of creation, manifesting as consort with you, at the cosmic vedi conducts the yajna, similarly, O intelligent sacrificer, in pursuance of the same creator’s law of Dharma, carry on the yajna and take it high to the state of divine beauty and joy of life for us.

✦ Sukta 18 · 5 verses ✦

3.18.1

भवा॑ नो अग्ने सु॒मना॒ उपे॑तौ॒ सखे॑व॒ सख्ये॑ पि॒तरे॑व सा॒धुः । पु॒रु॒द्रुहो॒ हि क्षि॒तयो॒ जना॑नां॒ प्रति॑ प्रती॒चीर्द॑हता॒दरा॑तीः ॥

Agni, master of yajna, sagely scholar, high-priest of social dynamics, be kind at heart to come to us, like a friend in company, good as a father and mother, and with the heat of love and creativity, burn off the negativities, contradictions and adversities of humanity, the various forces of jealousy and enmity acting against the people.

· · ·

3.18.2

तपो॒ ष्व॑ग्ने॒ अन्त॑राँ अ॒मित्रा॒न् तपा॒ शंस॒मर॑रुषः॒ पर॑स्य । तपो॑ वसो चिकिता॒नो अ॒चित्ता॒न्वि ते॑ तिष्ठन्ताम॒जरा॑ अ॒यासः॑ ॥

Agni, bright and blazing lord of discipline and austerity, burn off the enemies within, season and purify the praise and appreciation of the non-violent devotee of higher order. O scorcher of evil and shelter of the good, lord of light and knowledge, arouse the unaware and ignorant, and may your dynamic yajakas live a long age strong and youthful.

· · ·

3.18.3

इ॒ध्मेना॑ग्न इ॒च्छमा॑नो घृ॒तेन॑ जु॒होमि॑ ह॒व्यं तर॑से॒ बला॑य । याव॒दीशे॒ ब्रह्म॑णा॒ वन्द॑मान इ॒मां धियं॑ शत॒सेया॑य दे॒वीम् ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, desirous of having superlative strength of body, mind and soul, I offer libations of yajna with holy fuel and ghrta, singing in praise of the lord with holy mantras and praying, as far as I can, for this divine light of intelligence for the attainment of a hundredfold good fortune.

· · ·

3.18.4

उच्छो॒चिषा॑ सहसस्पुत्र स्तु॒तो बृ॒हद्वयः॑ शशमा॒नेषु॑ धेहि । रे॒वद॑ग्ने वि॒श्वामि॑त्रेषु॒ शं योर्म॑र्मृ॒ज्मा ते॑ त॒न्वं१॒॑ भूरि॒ कृत्वः॑ ॥

Agni, spirit of power and courage, holding immense wealth of life, rising with light and lustre and served and worshipped with divine verses, bear, bring and in-vest good health, long age and ample wealth, peace and freedom among the zealous celebrants and lovers and favourites of entire humanity. Lord of great action, we refine and brighten your form and potential more and ever more.

· · ·

3.18.5

कृ॒धि रत्नं॑ सुसनित॒र्धना॑नां॒ स घेद॑ग्ने भवसि॒ यत्समि॑द्धः । स्तो॒तुर्दु॑रो॒णे सु॒भग॑स्य रे॒वत्सृ॒प्रा क॒रस्ना॑ दधिषे॒ वपूं॑षि ॥

Agni, lord of wealth, give us the jewel of wealth, generous giver as you are specially when lighted up in yajna. O lord of the wealth of existence, bearing a brilliant form in the house of the prosperous worshipper, you extend your generous hand to the supplicants.

✦ Sukta 19 · 5 verses ✦

3.19.1

अ॒ग्निं होता॑रं॒ प्र वृ॑णे मि॒येधे॒ गृत्सं॑ क॒विं वि॑श्व॒विद॒ममू॑रम् । स नो॑ यक्षद्दे॒वता॑ता॒ यजी॑यान्रा॒ये वाजा॑य वनते म॒घानि॑ ॥

In this yajna of creation and development I chose to elect Agni as the highpriest and guide yajaka, adoring worshipper, revolutionary thinker, eminent scholar, and wise, who, while organising the yajna, would invoke the brilliancies of humanity and bounties of nature and, for the seeker of wealth and knowledge, create and provide the wealth and prosperity desired.

· · ·

3.19.2

प्र ते॑ अग्ने ह॒विष्म॑तीमिय॒र्म्यच्छा॑ सुद्यु॒म्नां रा॒तिनीं॑ घृ॒ताची॑म् । प्र॒द॒क्षि॒णिद्दे॒वता॑तिमुरा॒णः सं रा॒तिभि॒र्वसु॑भिर्य॒ज्ञम॑श्रेत् ॥

Agni, lord and highpriest of yajna, I come forward to you in peace and faith and raise the holy ladle full of fragrant havi, rich and splendid, overflowing with ghrta, just as a faithful performer, extending divine service to expand nature’s bounties, takes to yajna going round the fire with excellent liberal offerings.

· · ·

3.19.3

स तेजी॑यसा॒ मन॑सा॒ त्वोत॑ उ॒त शि॑क्ष स्वप॒त्यस्य॑ शि॒क्षोः । अग्ने॑ रा॒यो नृत॑मस्य॒ प्रभू॑तौ भू॒याम॑ ते सुष्टु॒तय॑श्च॒ वस्वः॑ ॥

Lord of light, Agni, happy is the person that loves you, comes to you with a brilliant mind thirsting for knowledge and protection. Master of knowledge, impart the knowledge as to your own dear child. Lord of wealth, leader of the best people, may we live happy and prosperous, worshipfully under your kind dispensation.

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3.19.4

भूरी॑णि॒ हि त्वे द॑धि॒रे अनी॒काऽग्ने॑ दे॒वस्य॒ यज्य॑वो॒ जना॑सः । स आ व॑ह दे॒वता॑तिं यविष्ठ॒ शर्धो॒ यद॒द्य दि॒व्यं यजा॑सि ॥

Agni, lord of light, many are the flames of fire which devout celebrants have raised in the vedi, many the fighting forces which dedicated followers have raised under your governance. As such, O lord most youthful, bear and bring that divine beneficence of protection and security for which today you call and conduct a yajnic team of scholars in pursuit of a noble force and power of defence.

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3.19.5

यत्त्वा॒ होता॑रम॒नज॑न्मि॒येधे॑ निषा॒दय॑न्तो य॒जथा॑य दे॒वाः । स त्वं नो॑ अग्नेऽवि॒तेह बो॒ध्यधि॒ श्रवां॑सि धेहि नस्त॒नूषु॑ ॥

Devas, noble people, consecrate you in your rightful seat for the conduct of yajna and celebrate you as the highpriest and chief performer. So you, Agni, lord of light and knowledge, leader of the people, guide and protector, lead us to light and awakening, and bless us and our descendants with food, energy and channels of progress for our body, mind and soul.

✦ Sukta 20 · 5 verses ✦

3.20.1

अ॒ग्निमु॒षस॑म॒श्विना॑ दधि॒क्रां व्यु॑ष्टिषु हवते॒ वह्नि॑रु॒क्थैः । सु॒ज्योति॑षो नः शृण्वन्तु दे॒वाः स॒जोष॑सो अध्व॒रं वा॑वशा॒नाः ॥

In the lights of the morning, Vayu, cosmic energy that holds the universe, calls up and awakens the fire of Agni, light of the dawn, the Ashvins, complementary currents of solar and lunar energy, and the gravitational force with songs of the morning hymns vibrating in spaces. So does the highpriest, conductor of morning yajna, invoke and serve Agni, divine fire, the lights of the dawn, pranic energies and the earth’s gravitation with hymns of the Veda. May the Devas, bounties of nature and brilliancies of humanity, all of holy light and knowledge, loving and shining the yajna, listen to our prayers.

· · ·

3.20.2

अग्ने॒ त्री ते॒ वाजि॑ना॒ त्री ष॒धस्था॑ ति॒स्रस्ते॑ जि॒ह्वा ऋ॑तजात पू॒र्वीः । ति॒स्र उ॑ ते त॒न्वो॑ दे॒ववा॑ता॒स्ताभि॑र्नः पाहि॒ गिरो॒ अप्र॑युच्छन् ॥

Agni, divine energy of the cosmos, three are your media: radiation, conduction and gravitation; three your seats: solar region, middle region and the earthly region (dyu loka, antariksha loka and prthivi loka); three your tongues: light, thunder and greenery; O power eternal, risen from the cosmic law of Rtam. Three are your forms: day, lightning and night, energised by nature; and three your sacred fuels: solar particles of energy, vapours and fertility of the earth. Agni, divine fire, protect and nourish our tongue and speech seriously without relent or reserve. Note: The allegory of cosmic fire energy is beautifully explained in Chhandogya Upanishad 5, 4- 8, and in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 6, 9-13. Swami Dayananda also interprets Agni as the sagely scholar whose three media of existence are jnana, gamana and prapti, i.e., knowledge, expression and movement, and attainment and acquisition. We might add in the same vein that his three seats of origin are the parental home of natural birth, the teacher’s home of educational and cultural birth and the family home of professional birth. Of course, after retirement his life is lived in an open social and universal home of no dimensions and no boundaries.

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3.20.3

अग्ने॒ भूरी॑णि॒ तव॑ जातवेदो॒ देव॑ स्वधावो॒ऽमृत॑स्य॒ नाम॑ । याश्च॑ मा॒या मा॒यिनां॑ विश्वमिन्व॒ त्वे पू॒र्वीः सं॑द॒धुः पृ॑ष्टबन्धो ॥

Agni, lord immanent manifest in all that is born in existence, generous and divine power, brilliant spirit of knowledge and enlightenment, possessing nectar foods and energies of life, immortal soul, countless are your names and attributes. O lord omnipresent in the universe, giver of the karmic dispensation of jivatmas, whatever the generations of living beings old or new, whatever the power and potential of these generations, all that is vested and neatly nestled in you.

· · ·

3.20.4

अ॒ग्निर्ने॒ता भग॑इव क्षिती॒नां दैवी॑नां दे॒व ऋ॑तु॒पा ऋ॒तावा॑ । स वृ॑त्र॒हा स॒नयो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दाः॒ पर्ष॒द्विश्वाति॑ दुरि॒ता गृ॒णन्त॑म् ॥

Agni is the leader and mover, like the sun, of the living beings and the planets such as the earth and other regions of the universe. He is the lord of all divine powers and forms of existence. He is the ordainer and sustainer of the cycle of the seasons, and the creator, controller and sustainer of the laws of nature, truth and rectitude. He is the destroyer of darkness, ignorance and evil and eternal omniscient lord of existence. May the lord purge the celebrant worshipper of all the dirt of thought and action of the material world.

· · ·

3.20.5

द॒धि॒क्राम॒ग्निमु॒षसं॑ च दे॒वीं बृह॒स्पतिं॑ सवि॒तारं॑ च दे॒वम् । अ॒श्विना॑ मि॒त्रावरु॑णा॒ भगं॑ च॒ वसू॑न्रु॒द्राँ आ॑दि॒त्याँ इ॒ह हु॑वे ॥

I invoke, celebrate and pray toAgni, divine spirit and energy which, like Time, transcends all stars and planets of the universe, brilliant dawn, Brhaspati, sustaining wind energy, Savita, creator and light giver of the universe, Deva, self-refulgent lord of love and might,Ashvins, complementary currents of life’s energy, Mitra and Varuna, prana and udana energy, Bhaga, lord of wealth and honour, Vasus, abodes of life such as earth, Rudras, vital energies of life, Adityas, moving stars of light in orbit. I invoke, celebrate and pray to the Lord for the light, wealth and honour of the world.

✦ Sukta 21 · 5 verses ✦

3.21.1

इ॒मं नो॑ य॒ज्ञम॒मृते॑षु धेही॒मा ह॒व्या जा॑तवेदो जुषस्व । स्तो॒काना॑मग्ने॒ मेद॑सो घृ॒तस्य॒ होतः॒ प्राशा॑न प्रथ॒मो नि॒षद्य॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, accept this yajnic performance of our knowledge, action and meditation, charity and social action, take it high up and establish it among the immortals. O lord omniscient of all in existence, take and taste these offerings of ours and bless us. First, foremost and most excellent lord of knowledge, Agni, seated on the vedi, chief yajaka and generous giver, taste of the fragrance of the delicacies, ghrta and oils offered into the fire.

· · ·

3.21.2

घृ॒तव॑न्तः पावक ते स्तो॒काः श्चो॑तन्ति॒ मेद॑सः । स्वध॑र्मन्दे॒ववी॑तये॒ श्रेष्ठं॑ नो धेहि॒ वार्य॑म् ॥

Pavaka, purifying fire of yajna, the finest delicacies soaked in ghrta, tender and unctuous, stream forth and rise in fragrance. Taste these, bring us the loveliest gifts of our choice and let us be established in our universal Dharma for the company of the divinities of nature and humanity.

· · ·

3.21.3

तुभ्यं॑ स्तो॒का घृ॑त॒श्चुतोऽग्ने॒ विप्रा॑य सन्त्य । ऋषिः॒ श्रेष्ठः॒ समि॑ध्यसे य॒ज्ञस्य॑ प्रावि॒ता भ॑व ॥

Agni, intelligent and vibrant scholar of distinction between truth and untruth, right and wrong, Dharma and adharma, Shraddha and ashraddha, yajnic delicacies sprinkled with ghrta trickle and stream forth for you. Seer, visionary diviner into the truth of Veda, best of scholars, you light the fire and are inspired by the fire. Be the saviour of yajna, take it to success for us.

· · ·

3.21.4

तुभ्यं॑ श्चोतन्त्यध्रिगो शचीवः स्तो॒कासो॑ अग्ने॒ मेद॑सो घृ॒तस्य॑ । क॒वि॒श॒स्तो बृ॑ह॒ता भा॒नुनागा॑ ह॒व्या जु॑षस्व मेधिर ॥

Agni, seer of mantras, genius scholar of divine vision, for you stream forth the juices and fragrances of yajnic delicacies of ghrta and creams. Celebrated by poets, going by the sublimity of the sun, adorable in yajna, accept and taste the honey sweets of our yajna.

· · ·

3.21.5

ओजि॑ष्ठं ते मध्य॒तो मेद॒ उद्भृ॑तं॒ प्र ते॑ व॒यं द॑दामहे । श्चोत॑न्ति ते वसो स्तो॒का अधि॑ त्व॒चि प्रति॒ तान्दे॑व॒शो वि॑हि ॥

Agni, vital heat and support of life, we offer you in the centre of the vedi the most lustrous delicacies held high in care and esteem. The finest delicacies trickle and stream on your flames. Take these and raise them to the divine powers of nature wherever each should rise.

✦ Sukta 22 · 5 verses ✦

3.22.1

अ॒यं सो अ॒ग्निर्यस्मि॒न्त्सोम॒मिन्द्रः॑ सु॒तं द॒धे ज॒ठरे॑ वावशा॒नः । स॒ह॒स्रिणं॒ वाज॒मत्यं॒ न सप्तिं॑ सस॒वान्त्सन्त्स्तू॑यसे जातवेदः ॥

This is that Agni, vital electric energy, in which Indra, lord of power and passion, thirsting for the joy of living, concentrates soma, essence of peace, power and joy, distilled and placed in the heat of the stomach, navel of the body system. O Jataveda, vital fire of energy present in everything that is born in the world of existence, holding and sharing a thousandfold power, moving and reaching anywhere like a tempestuous horse, you are loved and adored everywhere.

· · ·

3.22.2

अग्ने॒ यत्ते॑ दि॒वि वर्चः॑ पृथि॒व्यां यदोष॑धीष्व॒प्स्वा य॑जत्र । येना॒न्तरि॑क्षमु॒र्वा॑त॒तन्थ॑ त्वे॒षः स भा॒नुर॑र्ण॒वो नृ॒चक्षाः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, loving, emanating and sharing the life of everything in existence, your splendour that shines in the light of heaven, breathes on the earth, reflects in the greenery of the herbs, and rolls in the waters of space and oceans, and by which the skies and spaces grow far and farther, that splendour and glory is the blazing sun, the deep ocean and the light of the eye for humanity.

· · ·

3.22.3

अग्ने॑ दि॒वो अर्ण॒मच्छा॑ जिगा॒स्यच्छा॑ दे॒वाँ ऊ॑चिषे॒ धिष्ण्या॒ ये । या रो॑च॒ने प॒रस्ता॒त्सूर्य॑स्य॒ याश्चा॒वस्ता॑दुप॒तिष्ठ॑न्त॒ आपः॑ ॥

Agni, you move and magnificently pervade the particles of the light of heaven. You rise and do honour to the divinely pious and benevolent people and the generous powers of nature. And you pervade and energise the oceans of vapour in the light beyond the sun and those oceans which are below in the sky.

· · ·

3.22.4

पु॒री॒ष्या॑सो अ॒ग्नयः॑ प्राव॒णेभिः॑ स॒जोष॑सः । जु॒षन्तां॑ य॒ज्ञम॒द्रुहो॑ऽनमी॒वा इषो॑ म॒हीः ॥

May the vital fires of fertility come together to the earth by straight paths, free from negativities and disease, and participate in the yajna and bless us with invigorating foods and energies of high order.

· · ·

3.22.5

इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्नः॑ सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥

Agni, bless the supplicant yajaka with gifts of the holy Word, extensive lands and cows, and a noble tongue. Bless us with children and grand children, active, intelligent and discriminative, and may we ever remain in your good books under your benign eye in a state of prosperity and divine bliss.

✦ Sukta 23 · 5 verses ✦

3.23.1

निर्म॑थितः॒ सुधि॑त॒ आ स॒धस्थे॒ युवा॑ क॒विर॑ध्व॒रस्य॑ प्रणे॒ता । जूर्य॑त्स्व॒ग्निर॒जरो॒ वने॒ष्वत्रा॑ दधे अ॒मृतं॑ जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥

Well produced by friction, well kindled and well managed in the home of yajna, Agni, jataveda, treasure house of wealth, youthful and unaging, catalytic creative light, leader of yajna, visionary maker, may, we pray, on the velocity of light rays, bear and bring nectar-like vitality and energy and sustain our yajnic programme of love and creative production.

· · ·

3.23.2

अम॑न्थिष्टां॒ भार॑ता रे॒वद॒ग्निं दे॒वश्र॑वा दे॒ववा॑तः सु॒दक्ष॑म् । अग्ने॒ वि प॑श्य बृह॒ताभि रा॒येषां नो॑ ने॒ता भ॑वता॒दनु॒ द्यून् ॥

May the Bharatas, the producer and the manager of mighty generous Agni, fire and electric power, treasure giver of wealth, inspired by vibrations of the imagination and listening to the noble senior scholars, produce, develop and manage the light, power and gifts of Agni. O lord of light, power and fire, Agni, look after us with a benign eye and with vast and abundant wealth and values of life, and be our guide and leader of the productive yajnas for food and energy every day as we advance in research and endeavour.

· · ·

3.23.3

दश॒ क्षिपः॑ पू॒र्व्यं सी॑मजीजन॒न्त्सुजा॑तं मा॒तृषु॑ प्रि॒यम् । अ॒ग्निं स्तु॑हि दैववा॒तं दे॑वश्रवो॒ यो जना॑ना॒मस॑द्व॒शी ॥

Devashrava, scholar in conference with eminent pioneers of research, honour and advance the eternal energy, agni, which ten rapidly successive movements of action, like the nimble fingers, ever generate. It is lovely and nobly born, latent in motherly sources such as wood and streams of water, produced and developed by sagely scholars, and under the management and control of the people.

· · ·

3.23.4

नि त्वा॑ दधे॒ वर॒ आ पृ॑थि॒व्या इळा॑यास्प॒दे सु॑दिन॒त्वे अह्ना॑म् । दृ॒षद्व॑त्यां॒ मानु॑ष आप॒यायां॒ सर॑स्वत्यां रे॒वद॑ग्ने दिदीहि ॥

Agni, divine fire and holy light, I place you on the best altar of the earth in the best words of holy speech in the holy light of the days. O brilliant power, treasure home of abundant wealth, shine in the rocky streams of mountains, smooth flowing rivers of the plains and in the minds of reflective people.

· · ·

3.23.5

इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्नः॑ सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥

Agni, brilliant lord of knowledge and fire power, provide for the dedicated man of yajna the eternal Word of divine knowledge, abundant power of versatile action, and abundant gifts of science and lasting economic wealth, so that, O lord of light, we may be blest with dynamic children and grand children under your benign eye and enjoy the favour of your love and approbation.

✦ Sukta 24 · 5 verses ✦

3.24.1

अग्ने॒ सह॑स्व॒ पृत॑ना अ॒भिमा॑ती॒रपा॑स्य । दु॒ष्टर॒स्तर॒न्नरा॑ती॒र्वर्चो॑ धा य॒ज्ञवा॑हसे ॥

Agni, fiery hero of the light of life, defeat the enemy force, throw off the insidious opponents. Unconquerable you are, cross over depression and adversities, rise and bring light and lustre to the sustainer and promoter of yajnic well-being.

· · ·

3.24.2

अग्न॑ इ॒ळा समि॑ध्यसे वी॒तिहो॑त्रो॒ अम॑र्त्यः । जु॒षस्व॒ सू नो॑ अध्व॒रम् ॥

Agni, light of life, you shine by flames of fire, and flow with streams of the holy Word. Immortal you are, harbinger of peace, prosperity and joy. Join, enjoy to your heart’s content and bless our yajna of love, nonviolence and good fellowship.

· · ·

3.24.3

अग्ने॑ द्यु॒म्नेन॑ जागृवे॒ सह॑सः सूनवाहुत । एदं ब॒र्हिः स॑दो॒ मम॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and lustre, ever awake and alert, child of omnipotence and destroyer of evil and adversity, invoked and invited, come with wealth and honours of life and seat yourself on this holy grass of my yajna.

· · ·

3.24.4

अग्ने॒ विश्वे॑भिर॒ग्निभि॑र्दे॒वेभि॑र्महया॒ गिरः॑ । य॒ज्ञेषु॒ य उ॑ चा॒यवः॑ ॥

Agni, lover of light and master of knowledge, alongwith all the brilliant saints and sages of the world, love, respect and exalt the voices of Divine Revelation and honour those who abide by these with reverence and faith in yajnic acts of creation and self-sacrifice.

· · ·

3.24.5

अग्ने॒ दा दा॒शुषे॑ र॒यिं वी॒रव॑न्तं॒ परी॑णसम् । शि॒शी॒हि नः॑ सूनु॒मतः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and life of life, give to the man of charity and yajna wealth of the world in abundance and bless him with brave children. And, we pray, blest with children as we are, strengthen, sharpen and brighten us in our life.

✦ Sukta 25 · 5 verses ✦

3.25.1

अग्ने॑ दि॒वः सू॒नुर॑सि॒ प्रचे॑ता॒स्तना॑ पृथि॒व्या उ॒त वि॒श्ववे॑दाः । ऋध॑ग्दे॒वाँ इ॒ह य॑जा चिकित्वः ॥

Agni, brilliant lord of knowledge, you are a child of the light of heaven, wide awake and universally aware, future of the extensive earth, scholar of world knowledge. Master of encyclopaedic learning, bring together the eminent and generous scholars of the world and distinctively serve and develop each one of the gifts of nature.

· · ·

3.25.2

अ॒ग्निः स॑नोति वी॒र्या॑णि वि॒द्वान्त्स॒नोति॒ वाज॑म॒मृता॑य॒ भूष॑न् । स नो॑ दे॒वाँ एह व॑हा पुरुक्षो ॥

O generous and versatile lord of light and knowledge, just as Agni provides valour and honour for creativity and, enlightening the world, provides the spirit and energy for the attainment of immortality, may you, we pray, bring us here the company and gifts of the brilliant, generous and wise sagely scholars.

· · ·

3.25.3

अ॒ग्निर्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी वि॒श्वज॑न्ये॒ आ भा॑ति दे॒वी अ॒मृते॒ अमू॑रः । क्षय॒न्वाजैः॑ पुरुश्च॒न्द्रो नमो॑भिः ॥

Agni, lord all wise, free from darkness and ignorance, giver of immense bliss, illuminates the heaven and earth, mother sustainers of the world, divine and immortal, providing food and sustenance, spirit and energy, and living space for the children of the earth.

· · ·

3.25.4

अग्ने॒ इन्द्र॑श्च दा॒शुषो॑ दुरो॒णे सु॒ताव॑तो य॒ज्ञमि॒होप॑ यातम् । अम॑र्धन्ता सोम॒पेया॑य देवा ॥

Agni, lord and light of knowledge, you and Indra, lord of vigour and energy, noble and generous, both, guarding and promoting the yajnic human endeavours for creation and production, may, we pray, come to the house of the generous yajaka, creating the soma of joy and prosperity and sit at the yajna to enjoy the fragrance and flavour of the soma. Come, lords, without delay.

· · ·

3.25.5

अग्ने॑ अ॒पां समि॑ध्यसे दुरो॒णे नित्यः॑ सूनो सहसो जातवेदः । स॒धस्था॑नि म॒हय॑मान ऊ॒ती ॥

Agni, lord of light, fire and power, child of omnipotence, destroyer of darkness, all wise and knower of things in existence, immortal immanent spirit, you shine and blaze in the midst of the oceans of space and currents of pranic energies adding light and grandeur to the homes of earth’s children.

✦ Sukta 26 · 9 verses ✦

3.26.1

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रं मन॑सा॒ग्निं नि॒चाय्या॑ ह॒विष्म॑न्तो अनुष॒त्यं स्व॒र्विद॑म् । सु॒दानुं॑ दे॒वं र॑थि॒रं व॑सू॒यवो॑ गी॒र्भी र॒ण्वं कु॑शि॒कासो॑ हवामहे ॥

We Kushikas, i.e., teachers and researchers in search of the wealth and values of nature and life, bearing fragrant offerings for yajna and inputs for the programme, having analysed and determined the specific nature, character and action of Vaishvanara Agni, with our mind and reason, invoke, invite, enkindle and raise this global power, divine fire and life’s vitality of the earth and her children, universally operative in accordance with the laws of cosmic truth, source of infinite happiness and comfort, generous giver, brilliant light, fast as the bright-rays of energy, loud and bold, and delightful for any seeker to perceive, and we celebrate this Agni with our holiest voices of faith and joy.

· · ·

3.26.2

तं शु॒भ्रम॒ग्निमव॑से हवामहे वैश्वान॒रं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमु॒क्थ्य॑म् । बृह॒स्पतिं॒ मनु॑षो दे॒वता॑तये॒ विप्रं॒ श्रोता॑र॒मति॑थिं रघु॒ष्यद॑म् ॥

We, people dedicated to research and yajnic meditation, invoke, enkindle, raise and develop Agni for the sake of divine virtues for noble humanity, Agni which is bright and blazing, vitality of the world, breath of the winds, worthy of celebration. It is Brhaspati, lord of mighty stars and planets. It is Vipra, vibrant voice of the universe: It is intelligent and omniscient, listening to prayers, worthy as a learned visitor, and it is ever in motion faster than the fastest.

· · ·

3.26.3

अश्वो॒ न क्रन्द॒ञ्जनि॑भिः॒ समि॑ध्यते वैश्वान॒रः कु॑शि॒केभि॑र्यु॒गेयु॑गे । स नो॑ अ॒ग्निः सु॒वीर्यं॒ स्वश्व्यं॒ दधा॑तु॒ रत्न॑म॒मृते॑षु॒ जागृ॑विः ॥

Valuable and self-proclaiming radiant Vaishvanara Agni, vital fire of the world, ever awake in the immortal brilliancies of the world of existence, roused like a horse by the mates, is kindled and raised by holy celebrants from age to age, year by year. May this radiant energy bear and bring for us the jewels of heroic vigour and tempestuous speed of the winds.

· · ·

3.26.4

प्र य॑न्तु॒ वाजा॒स्तवि॑षीभिर॒ग्नयः॑ शु॒भे संमि॑श्लाः॒ पृष॑तीरयुक्षत । बृ॒ह॒दुक्षो॑ म॒रुतो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दसः॒ प्र वे॑पयन्ति॒ पर्व॑ताँ॒ अदा॑भ्याः ॥

Let the tempestuous fires go up with blazing flames, join and integrate with the rich vapours of water in the oceans of the skies, and then the indomitable winds blowing across in spaces, deeply rich in showers of fertility, shake up and drive the clouds for rain.

· · ·

3.26.5

अ॒ग्नि॒श्रियो॑ म॒रुतो॑ वि॒श्वकृ॑ष्टय॒ आ त्वे॒षमु॒ग्रमव॑ ईमहे व॒यम् । ते स्वा॒निनो॑ रु॒द्रिया॑ व॒र्षनि॑र्णिजः सिं॒हा न हे॒षक्र॑तवः सु॒दान॑वः ॥

Maruts, the winds, are blest with the beauty and vitality of fire. They are friends of humanity, turbulent, impetuous, laden with clouds of rain, roaring like lions and highly generous. We beseech them for light, lustre and our protection.

· · ·

3.26.6

व्रातं॑व्रातं ग॒णंग॑णं सुश॒स्तिभि॑र॒ग्नेर्भामं॑ म॒रुता॒मोज॑ ईमहे । पृष॑दश्वासो अनव॒भ्ररा॑धसो॒ गन्ता॑रो य॒ज्ञं वि॒दथे॑षु॒ धीराः॑ ॥

From time to time and stage to stage, from place to place and from one group to another of themes and programmes, we invoke and investigate with best of efforts and appraisals the nature of Agni and Vayu and realise the heat and light of Agni and the force and vitality of Vayu, the winds and air. Laden with clouds of rain, and rainbow coloured, are they, riding the cosmic waves of energy and yielding inexhaustible wealth. And patient and persistent are we, moving to the yajna and committed to the sacred programmes of life’s development.

· · ·

3.26.7

अ॒ग्निर॑स्मि॒ जन्म॑ना जा॒तवे॑दा घृ॒तं मे॒ चक्षु॑र॒मृतं॑ म आ॒सन् । अ॒र्कस्त्रि॒धातू॒ रज॑सो वि॒मानोऽज॑स्रो घ॒र्मो ह॒विर॑स्मि॒ नाम॑ ॥

I am Agni, by birth present in all that is born in existence. My eye is the light of yajna fed on ghrta, and my mouth is nectar as I speak the Word. I am the refulgence of the sun. I hold the earth and skies and the heavens and three principles of nature, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas of Prakrti. I pervade and transcend the spaces. I am eternal, I am the heat and vitality of life, and I am the fragrant havi of the cosmic yajna (since I am in nature and nature is in me).

· · ·

3.26.8

त्रि॒भिः प॒वित्रै॒रपु॑पो॒द्ध्य१॒॑र्कं हृ॒दा म॒तिं ज्योति॒रनु॑ प्रजा॒नन् । वर्षि॑ष्ठं॒ रत्न॑मकृत स्व॒धाभि॒रादिद्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी पर्य॑पश्यत् ॥

With threefold cleansing of body, mind and soul, through the purity of thought, word and deed, by inculcation of right knowledge (jnana), right conduct (karma) and right prayer and meditation (upasana), I purify the holy light of the self, thereby lighting the flame of the spirit in the intelligence with honesty and sincerity of the heart, and with these foods and fortifications of the spirit, I redeem the diamond purity and generosity of the soul, and then watch the immensity of heaven and earth participating in the Infinity of the Supreme Self.

· · ·

3.26.9

श॒तधा॑र॒मुत्स॒मक्षी॑यमाणं विप॒श्चितं॑ पि॒तरं॒ वक्त्वा॑नाम् । मे॒ळिं मद॑न्तं पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थे॒ तं रो॑दसी पिपृतं सत्य॒वाच॑म् ॥

O heaven and earth, fulfil the aspirations of that sagely person to perfection who is generous and inexhaustible in giving like a fountain of hundred streams, who is wise, protects and promotes the holy words, speaks loud and bold only what is true, and rejoices in the bosom of his parents.

✦ Sukta 27 · 15 verses ✦

3.27.1

प्र वो॒ वाजा॑ अ॒भिद्य॑वो ह॒विष्म॑न्तो घृ॒ताच्या॑ । दे॒वाञ्जि॑गाति सुम्न॒युः ॥

Ye devout yajakas, your foods, energies, and excellencies are brilliant and overflowing with abundance of havi and ready with the ladle poised for the offer. And with these the yajakas eager for heavenly bliss goes to the divinities and celebrates.

· · ·

3.27.2

ईळे॑ अ॒ग्निं वि॑प॒श्चितं॑ गि॒रा य॒ज्ञस्य॒ साध॑नम् । श्रु॒ष्टी॒वानं॑ धि॒तावा॑नम् ॥

With holy voice and song I celebrate Agni, lord of light and knowledge, vision and wisdom and abundant giver of happiness and prosperity who leads the yajna to instant success.

· · ·

3.27.3

अग्ने॑ श॒केम॑ ते व॒यं यमं॑ दे॒वस्य॑ वा॒जिनः॑ । अति॒ द्वेषां॑सि तरेम ॥

Agni, lord of light and law, we pray, may we be able to go by the laws and discipline of rectitude of the brilliant, dynamic and scholarly leader of the nation so that we may swim across the seas of jealousy and turbulence.

· · ·

3.27.4

स॒मि॒ध्यमा॑नो अध्व॒रे॒३॒॑ग्निः पा॑व॒क ईड्यः॑ । शो॒चिष्के॑श॒स्तमी॑महे ॥

Kindled, raised and rising in flames in the yajna of love and non-violence, Agni is lord of light and fire, adorable. Mighty and flaming are his locks of fire, and we praise and pray to him in words of homage.

· · ·

3.27.5

पृ॒थु॒पाजा॒ अम॑र्त्यो घृ॒तनि॑र्णि॒क्स्वा॑हुतः । अ॒ग्निर्य॒ज्ञस्य॑ हव्य॒वाट् ॥

Vastly powerful, immortal, adorned in flames of ghrta and vapours of water, invoked and celebrated, is Agni, carrier of the fragrances of oblations to their destinations far and wide.

· · ·

3.27.6

तं स॒बाधो॑ य॒तस्रु॑च इ॒त्था धि॒या य॒ज्ञव॑न्तः । आ च॑क्रुर॒ग्निमू॒तये॑ ॥

Those who ward off the impediments of yajna, raise the ladle of offering and hands in action truly with will and intelligence and dedicate themselves to yajna for the sake of protection and promotion, light the fire and raise it for well being and prosperity.

· · ·

3.27.7

होता॑ दे॒वो अम॑र्त्यः पु॒रस्ता॑देति मा॒यया॑ । वि॒दथा॑नि प्रचो॒दय॑न् ॥

The brilliant performers of yajna, immortal and indestructible, goes forward with his innate power and intelligence, inspiring, advancing and accelerating yajnic programmes of creative and productive corporate action.

· · ·

3.27.8

वा॒जी वाजे॑षु धीयतेऽध्व॒रेषु॒ प्र णी॑यते । विप्रो॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॒ साध॑नः ॥

Agni, tempestuous power and vibrant accomplisher of yajnic creation, is adopted, lighted and accelerated in top gear in scientific and technological programmes of friendly and cooperative nature.

· · ·

3.27.9

धि॒या च॑क्रे॒ वरे॑ण्यो भू॒तानां॒ गर्भ॒मा द॑धे । दक्ष॑स्य पि॒तरं॒ तना॑ ॥

Agni, lord of our love and choice, as parent and teacher, bears the natural child, seed of evolving humanity, in protective and educational custody and, with expansive intelligence, completes the growth and accomplishment of the child to the future protector and promoter of human expertise and perfection through educational rebirth, into the full man as a ‘dvija’.

· · ·

3.27.10

नि त्वा॑ दधे॒ वरे॑ण्यं॒ दक्ष॑स्ये॒ळा स॑हस्कृत । अग्ने॑ सुदी॒तिमु॒शिज॑म् ॥

Agni, child of omnipotence, brilliant with intelligence, and passionate for action, home-coming graduate, darling of our love and choice, just as the Lord’s earth holds the divine heat of life, just as the vedi holds the sacred fire for growth

to blazing heights of flame, so does Ila, divine word of the Lord, expertise of the fatherly teacher, mother earth, the cow, and the mother teacher of the school, these bear you upto your accomplishment and perfection to full humanity.

· · ·

3.27.11

अ॒ग्निं य॒न्तुर॑म॒प्तुर॑मृ॒तस्य॒ योगे॑ व॒नुषः॑ । विप्रा॒ वाजैः॒ समि॑न्धते ॥

Intelligent and dynamic people with the desire to accomplish their objects of life light and raise Agni, instant and inspiring moving power, in their yajnic applications, in order to achieve their practical programmes in the pursuit of science and Truth with the best offerings of food and fuels for energy.

· · ·

3.27.12

ऊ॒र्जो नपा॑तमध्व॒रे दी॑दि॒वांस॒मुप॒ द्यवि॑ । अ॒ग्निमी॑ळे क॒विक्र॑तुम् ॥

In yajna, I worship indestructible Agni, child of cosmic energy shining upto the light of heaven, poetic power of refulgent vision and creativity.

· · ·

3.27.13

ई॒ळेन्यो॑ नम॒स्य॑स्ति॒रस्तमां॑सि दर्श॒तः । सम॒ग्निरि॑ध्यते॒ वृषा॑ ॥

Agni, worthy of worship, worthy of reverence and salutations, virile and generous, is beautiful, it conquers the darkness of the world and is lighted and raised in yajnas.

· · ·

3.27.14

वृषो॑ अ॒ग्निः समि॑ध्य॒तेऽश्वो॒ न दे॑व॒वाह॑नः । तं ह॒विष्म॑न्त ईळते ॥

Virile and generous, Agni is lighted and raised, it shines and blazes. It is the carrier of fragrance to the divinities of heaven and earth. Devotees bearing sacred offerings worship it in yajna.

· · ·

3.27.15

वृष॑णं त्वा व॒यं वृ॑ष॒न्वृष॑णः॒ समि॑धीमहि । अग्ने॒ दीद्य॑तं बृ॒हत् ॥

Agni, virile and generous as showers of rain, refulgent lord of light and yajna, we, overflowing at heart with faith and generosity, light the fire of yajna rising and shining across the vast spaces.

✦ Sukta 28 · 6 verses ✦

3.28.1

अग्ने॑ जु॒षस्व॑ नो ह॒विः पु॑रो॒ळाशं॑ जातवेदः । प्रा॒तः॒सा॒वे धि॑यावसो ॥

Agni, lord of universal knowledge, wisdom and vision, inspiration for the refinement, expansion and elevation of intelligence, pray accept our homage of delicious food and fragrance in the morning session of yajna.

· · ·

3.28.2

पु॒रो॒ळा अ॑ग्ने पच॒तस्तुभ्यं॑ वा घा॒ परि॑ष्कृतः । तं जु॑षस्व यविष्ठ्य ॥

Agni, most youthful creative power of universal energy and intelligence, purified, refined and matured is this offering of love and faith for you. Accept it, enjoy it, and let the fragrance rise and pervade the spaces.

· · ·

3.28.3

अग्ने॑ वी॒हि पु॑रो॒ळाश॒माहु॑तं ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यम् । सह॑सः सू॒नुर॑स्यध्व॒रे हि॒तः ॥

Agni, light and power of life, accept this food of homage, prepared, seasoned, amply matured and offered in the first session of the day’s yajna. Spirit of omnipotence you are, invoked, invited, lover and diversifier of yajna.

· · ·

3.28.4

माध्य॑न्दिने॒ सव॑ने जातवेदः पुरो॒ळाश॑मि॒ह क॑वे जुषस्व । अग्ने॑ य॒ह्वस्य॒ तव॑ भाग॒धेयं॒ न प्र मि॑नन्ति वि॒दथे॑षु॒ धीराः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of vision and imagination, omniscient and omnipotent, ever vigilant on the move, come and share your part of the delicacies in the middle session of the day’s yajna. Yajakas of constant devotion never transgress their dedication and commitment to you, they never fail to make the offering.

· · ·

3.28.5

अग्ने॑ तृ॒तीये॒ सव॑ने॒ हि कानि॑षः पुरो॒ळाशं॑ सहसः सून॒वाहु॑तम् । अथा॑ दे॒वेष्व॑ध्व॒रं वि॑प॒न्यया॒ धा रत्न॑वन्तम॒मृते॑षु॒ जागृ॑विम् ॥

Agni, lover, inspirer and source of strength and vigour, please to accept this sacred offering of purodash in the third session of yajna and, with our sacred hymns of praise and prayer, carry this stimulating and exciting oblation and the whole yajna of love and non-violence overflowing with jewels of life, and reach it among the immortal divinities of nature and humanity.

· · ·

3.28.6

अग्ने॑ वृधा॒न आहु॑तिं पुरो॒ळाशं॑ जातवेदः । जु॒षस्व॑ ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यम् ॥

Agni, ever growing, rising and expanding creative power, intelligent, awake and pervading in all that manifests in existence, accept and enjoy this delicious purodash oblation, soma and prayer offered by the end of the day.

✦ Sukta 29 · 16 verses ✦

3.29.1

अस्ती॒दम॑धि॒मन्थ॑न॒मस्ति॑ प्र॒जन॑नं कृ॒तम् । ए॒तां वि॒श्पत्नी॒मा भ॑रा॒ग्निं म॑न्थाम पू॒र्वथा॑ ॥

This is the arani-wood, churner of fire. This is the act of churning. And this is the fire generated. Hold on this apparatus of fire generation, sustainer of humanity, so that we may produce the fire as ever before.

· · ·

3.29.2

अ॒रण्यो॒र्निहि॑तो जा॒तवे॑दा॒ गर्भ॑इव॒ सुधि॑तो ग॒र्भिणी॑षु । दि॒वेदि॑व॒ ईड्यो॑ जागृ॒वद्भि॑र्ह॒विष्म॑द्भिर्मनु॒ष्ये॑भिर॒ग्निः ॥

Agni, immanent in everything in existence, it is hidden in the two arani woods (the lower base and the upper churner), like the embryo neatly nestled in the womb of pregnant mothers. Agni is worthy of love and reverence, and it ought to be generated by people who are alert and awake and possess the right inputs and apparatuses in plenty.

· · ·

3.29.3

उ॒त्ता॒नाया॒मव॑ भरा चिकि॒त्वान्स॒द्यः प्रवी॑ता॒ वृष॑णं जजान । अ॒रु॒षस्तू॑पो॒ रुश॑दस्य॒ पाज॒ इळा॑यास्पु॒त्रो व॒युने॑ऽजनिष्ट ॥

O man of knowledge, specialist of fire and energy, put the upper arani on the lower properly positioned, churn, and, through friction, the lower one would produce the bright flame, current of energy, like a column of light. Mighty is its force and speed, which, like the child of earth and knowledge, takes birth and comes to life in the dark recesses of the earth mother’s womb and rises in the knowledge of man and human yajna.

· · ·

3.29.4

इळा॑यास्त्वा प॒दे व॒यं नाभा॑ पृथि॒व्या अधि॑ । जात॑वेदो॒ नि धी॑म॒ह्यग्ने॑ ह॒व्याय॒ वोळ्ह॑वे ॥

Agni, immanent fire energy, we place you and light you in the vedi on the floor of the earth in order that our oblations into the fire of yajna be carried across the globe and into the midst of the sky.

· · ·

3.29.5

मन्थ॑ता नरः क॒विमद्व॑यन्तं॒ प्रचे॑तसम॒मृतं॑ सु॒प्रती॑कम् । य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुं प्र॑थ॒मं पु॒रस्ता॑द॒ग्निं न॑रो जनयता सु॒शेव॑म् ॥

All ye leaders of humanity, explore and research into Agni full of latent possibilities of life, unique power, profusely revealing, indestructible, beautiful of form, lighthouse of yajnic production and immensely useful. O pioneers of science and fire power, generate this prime energy as your first priority of research and development.

· · ·

3.29.6

यदी॒ मन्थ॑न्ति बा॒हुभि॒र्वि रो॑च॒तेऽश्वो॒ न वा॒ज्य॑रु॒षो वने॒ष्वा । चि॒त्रो न याम॑न्न॒श्विनो॒रनि॑वृतः॒ परि॑ वृण॒क्त्यश्म॑न॒स्तृणा॒ दह॑न् ॥

When the yajakas churn the arani woods with their arms to produce Agni, it rises like a potent force and shines in flames, radiant as in the light waves of the sun and moon in circuitous motion, incessant and wondrous beautiful, and it burns the grass all round on earth, dislodges the stones on mountains and breaks the clouds in the sky.

· · ·

3.29.7

जा॒तो अ॒ग्नी रो॑चते॒ चेकि॑तानो वा॒जी विप्रः॑ कविश॒स्तः सु॒दानुः॑ । यं दे॒वास॒ ईड्यं॑ विश्व॒विदं॑ हव्य॒वाह॒मद॑धुरध्व॒रेषु॑ ॥

Arisen, Agni shines, warm and soothing and beautiful as flames of fire, illuminating as light, energy and strong horse power, travelling, reaching vibrant, sensitive and even bearing intelligence, rich with lovely gifts, sung and celebrated by wise visionaries: which sacred and universal power, carrier and creator of life’s fragrance, brilliant people serve, create and use in yajnic programmes of love and non-violence for the general good.

· · ·

3.29.8

सीद॑ होतः॒ स्व उ॑ लो॒के चि॑कि॒त्वान्त्सा॒दया॑ य॒ज्ञं सु॑कृ॒तस्य॒ योनौ॑ । दे॒वा॒वीर्दे॒वान्ह॒विषा॑ यजा॒स्यग्ने॑ बृ॒हद्यज॑माने॒ वयो॑ धाः ॥

High priest of yajna, expert performer, be seated in your own place of performance. Set up and conduct the yajna in the house of the man of noble creative action. Agni, lord of light and fire and energy you are the protector and promoter of good and benevolent people and you serve the powers of nature. Create and bring abundant gifts of food and energy, good health and long age, and bless the yajamana.

· · ·

3.29.9

कृ॒णोत॑ धू॒मं वृष॑णं सखा॒योऽस्रे॑धन्त इतन॒ वाज॒मच्छ॑ । अ॒यम॒ग्निः पृ॑तना॒षाट् सु॒वीरो॒ येन॑ दे॒वासो॒ अस॑हन्त॒ दस्यू॑न् ॥

Friends, comrades of yajna, create the clouds of vapours and steam, laden with rain showers of wealth and fertility, immediately, unerringly, enthusiastically. Move forward and rise to the heights of strength, energy and power. This fire of yajna is the winner of battles, heroic, by which good people challenge and win over the forces of evil.

· · ·

3.29.10

अ॒यं ते॒ योनि॑र्ऋ॒त्वियो॒ यतो॑ जा॒तो अरो॑चथाः । तं जा॒नन्न॑ग्न॒ आ सी॒दाथा॑ नो वर्धया॒ गिरः॑ ॥

Agni, master of knowledge, light and fire, and energy, this vedi, this fire, this arani wood, the deep dense earth, the laboratory, seat and source of energy, is your home and identity from where, according to the seasons, you arise and shine. Knowing that, come, sit on the vedi, and then let our hymns of divine adoration rise to the heights of heaven.

· · ·

3.29.11

तनू॒नपा॑दुच्यते॒ गर्भ॑ आसु॒रो नरा॒शंसो॑ भवति॒ यद्वि॒जाय॑ते । मा॒त॒रिश्वा॒ यदमि॑मीत मा॒तरि॒ वात॑स्य॒ सर्गो॑ अभव॒त्सरी॑मणि ॥

When Agni is pervasive and immanent in space, it is called ‘garbha’, the foetus in the womb of space. When it pervades and energises the wind, it is called ‘Narashansa’ which rises as the object of admiration by the people. When it expands its power and presence in the sky, it is called ‘matarishva’, lying and breathing in the lap of the mother. And when it moves in fast motion, then it means ‘the blowing of the storm’.

· · ·

3.29.12

सु॒नि॒र्मथा॒ निर्म॑थितः सुनि॒धा निहि॑तः क॒विः । अग्ने॑ स्वध्व॒रा कृ॑णु दे॒वान्दे॑वय॒ते य॑ज ॥

Agni, brilliant light, fire and power, well produced with powerful tools and apparatuses, safely stored, well preserved in concentrations as in batteries, is a revolutionary illuminative power. O master of light and power of energy, Agni, develop and expand our yajnas of production and call up, advance, concentrate and conserve the wonderful powers of nature for the devotees of peace and progress.

· · ·

3.29.13

अजी॑जनन्न॒मृतं॒ मर्त्या॑सोऽस्रे॒माणं॑ त॒रणिं॑ वी॒ळुज॑म्भम् । दश॒ स्वसा॑रो अ॒ग्रुवः॑ समी॒चीः पुमां॑सं जा॒तम॒भि सं र॑भन्ते ॥

Men of science and technology produce the immortal, imperishable and forceful motive power of Agni, and ten moving streams of water, ten fingers of the hands, moving forward in nimble work, all working together like ten sisters, welcome and advance this dynamic power for the good of humanity as it is produced.

· · ·

3.29.14

प्र स॒प्तहो॑ता सन॒काद॑रोचत मा॒तुरु॒पस्थे॒ यदशो॑च॒दूध॑नि । न नि मि॑षति सु॒रणो॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ यदसु॑रस्य ज॒ठरा॒दजा॑यत ॥

Served by seven priests and seven pranic energies, Agni arises from its eternal cause and shines bright and beautiful in the lap of its mother source, earth, wind and sky, and the solar region, illuminant in the dark night as well, proclaiming itself as the victor of battles day by day, day and night, without a wink of let up, since it is born of a powerful mother source, Vayu, eternal energy of existence.

· · ·

3.29.15

अ॒मि॒त्रा॒युधो॑ म॒रुता॑मिव प्र॒याः प्र॑थम॒जा ब्रह्म॑णो॒ विश्व॒मिद्वि॑दुः । द्यु॒म्नव॒द्ब्रह्म॑ कुशि॒कास॒ एरि॑र॒ एक॑एको॒ दमे॑ अ॒ग्निं समी॑धिरे ॥

Those who, like the forward forces of the winds, fight against the enemies, who are first born favourites of the Lord, and highly ambitious, who light the fire in the home, each one of them, and who know the whole world of the Lord’s creation : they are blest with the joy of wealth, power and honour in life.

· · ·

3.29.16

यद॒द्य त्वा॑ प्रय॒ति य॒ज्ञे अ॒स्मिन्होत॑श्चिकि॒त्वोऽवृ॑णीमही॒ह । ध्रु॒वम॑या ध्रु॒वमु॒ताश॑मिष्ठाः प्रजा॒नन्वि॒द्वाँ उप॑ याहि॒ सोम॑म् ॥

O master of the science of yajna, in this corporate programme of yajnic creation being organised to-day, we elect you to the office of the highpriest and chief yajaka. Be firm herein, and let peace and Dharma prevail all round firmly, and O scholar of eminence, creating the soma joy of life, come, enjoy the pleasure yourself.

✦ Sukta 30 · 22 verses ✦

3.30.1

इ॒च्छन्ति॑ त्वा सो॒म्यासः॒ सखा॑यः सु॒न्वन्ति॒ सोमं॒ दध॑ति॒ प्रयां॑सि । तिति॑क्षन्ते अ॒भिश॑स्तिं॒ जना॑ना॒मिन्द्र॒ त्वदा कश्च॒न हि प्र॑के॒तः ॥

Indra, lord of honour, power and glory, friends and lovers of soma, excellence and joy of life, crave your love and friendship. They distil the soma, the very essence of life’s meaning and value, and command the honour and prosperity of living. They forbear the calumny, malignity and even the violence of society, for they know that none is wiser than you, nothing is of higher value than your love and friendship.

· · ·

3.30.2

न ते॑ दू॒रे प॑र॒मा चि॒द्रजां॒स्या तु प्र या॑हि हरिवो॒ हरि॑भ्याम् । स्थि॒राय॒ वृष्णे॒ सव॑ना कृ॒तेमा यु॒क्ता ग्रावा॑णः समिधा॒ने अ॒ग्नौ ॥

The farthest of spaces are not too far for you, O lord commander of the waves of super energy. Come by the circuit of the vibrations of light, instant carriers of yours. These yajnas are enacted for the lord omnipotent and omnificent on the move without motion, (being omnipresent, immanent and pervasive in every particle of matter, energy and thought). Come, the fire is kindled and blazing, the crush is ready for soma, and the clouds are laden with showers.

· · ·

3.30.3

इन्द्रः॑ सु॒शिप्रो॑ म॒घवा॒ तरु॑त्रो म॒हाव्रा॑तस्तुविकू॒र्मिर्ऋघा॑वान् । यदु॒ग्रो धा बा॑धि॒तो मर्त्ये॑षु॒ क्व१॒॑त्या ते॑ वृषभ वी॒र्या॑णि ॥

Indra, lord of honour and majesty, self-protected and strongly helmeted, abundant in wealth, saviour and pilot over the seas, commander of disciplined and committed soldiers, lord of instant action, destroyer of enemies, when opposed among mortals, you rise with blazing power and passion. O lord of valour and generosity, where are those acts and heroic powers of yours?

· · ·

3.30.4

त्वं हि ष्मा॑ च्या॒वय॒न्नच्यु॑ता॒न्येको॑ वृ॒त्रा चर॑सि॒ जिघ्न॑मानः । तव॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी पर्व॑ता॒सोऽनु॑ व्र॒ताय॒ निमि॑तेव तस्थुः ॥

Indra, ruling lord of humanity, you roam around with dignity shaking and breaking firm and otherwise unshakable clouds, hoarders, strongholds of darkness and ignorance and other enemies of humanity all by yourself. The earth and heaven, clouds and mountains, all in measured movement devoutly committed to your law and discipline abide and act in obedience to your will.

· · ·

3.30.5

उ॒ताभ॑ये पुरुहूत॒ श्रवो॑भि॒रेको॑ दृ॒ळ्हम॑वदो वृत्र॒हा सन् । इ॒मे चि॑दिन्द्र॒ रोद॑सी अपा॒रे यत्सं॑गृ॒भ्णा म॑घवन्का॒शिरित्ते॑ ॥

Also, O lord ruler of humanity and the world, Indra, invoked, invited and celebrated by many, in your glory, being free from fear, destroyer of demonic darkness and breaker of mountainous clouds all by yourself, whatever you firmly speak with your awful voice of thunder, and the way you hold and sustain these measureless earths and heavens, O lord of power and grandeur, is but a reflection of your majesty.

· · ·

3.30.6

प्र सू त॑ इन्द्र प्र॒वता॒ हरि॑भ्यां॒ प्र ते॒ वज्रः॑ प्रमृ॒णन्ने॑तु॒ शत्रू॑न् । ज॒हि प्र॑ती॒चो अ॑नू॒चः परा॑चो॒ विश्वं॑ स॒त्यं कृ॑णुहि वि॒ष्टम॑स्तु ॥

Indra, may your chariot going forward by the speed of winds and sunrays move on majestically. May your thunderbolt, destroying the enemies, shoot forward victorious. Destroy the opposition at the back, close at hand in secret, and upfront in action. Let truth reign in the world and let it prevail everywhere.

· · ·

3.30.7

यस्मै॒ धायु॒रद॑धा॒ मर्त्या॒याभ॑क्तं चिद्भजते गे॒ह्यं१॒॑ सः । भ॒द्रा त॑ इन्द्र सुम॒तिर्घृ॒ताची॑ स॒हस्र॑दाना पुरुहूत रा॒तिः ॥

Indra, lord of abundance, wealth and honour, the mortal man, for whom you hold and bring the gifts of life and grace he has never had so far, gets and enjoys all that as his homely blessings of everyday. O lord invoked, served and celebrated by all people of the world, blissful is your love and kindness, abundant and overflowing your generosity, thousandfold your charity.

· · ·

3.30.8

स॒हदा॑नुं पुरुहूत क्षि॒यन्त॑मह॒स्तमि॑न्द्र॒ सं पि॑ण॒क्कुणा॑रुम् । अ॒भि वृ॒त्रं वर्ध॑मानं॒ पिया॑रुम॒पाद॑मिन्द्र त॒वसा॑ जघन्थ ॥

Indra, lord of power, justice and majesty, universally invoked, served and celebrated, just as the sun, with its blaze, strikes the dark demon of the cloud, thundering, growing, flying with the winds, breaks it and crushes it into gladdening showers, so do you, with your power and justice, strike the dark hoarding demons of society coexisting camouflaged with the rich and liberal progressive people, vociferous, fattening, and scoffing at the poor, make them ineffective to grab with the hands and rush around robbing the innocent, break open the hoarded wealth and let it out in showers for the joy of general society.

· · ·

3.30.9

नि सा॑म॒नामि॑षि॒रामि॑न्द्र॒ भूमिं॑ म॒हीम॑पा॒रां सद॑ने ससत्थ । अस्त॑भ्ना॒द्द्यां वृ॑ष॒भो अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒मर्ष॒न्त्वाप॒स्त्वये॒ह प्रसू॑ताः ॥

Lord ruler of the world, seat yourself in the house of yajna on the dear green earth, abundant, peaceful, mighty and measureless. Indra, lord omnipotent and generous sustains the heavens of light and the middle regions of the skies. Let the waters created by you in heaven and skies reach here on the earth. O lord ruler, let the actions performed by you on the seat of yajna reach the skies and the heavens with the fragrance.

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3.30.10

अ॒ला॒तृ॒णो ब॒ल इ॑न्द्र ब्र॒जो गोः पु॒रा हन्तो॒र्भय॑मानो॒ व्या॑र । सु॒गान्प॒थो अ॑कृणोन्नि॒रजे॒ गाः प्राव॒न्वाणीः॑ पुरुहू॒तं धम॑न्तीः ॥

Indra, lord of the universe, omnipotent you are, destroyer of the enemies. You protect the cow stalls, the earth’s orbit and the flow of speech, and the enemy, stricken with fear, retreats even before the blow of the thunderbolt is struck. You create safe and straight highways for the cows to move, for the earths and stars to revolve and for the Divine Speech to flow in the vibrations of nature and the mind of humanity so that songs of celebration arise and resound in space in homage to the Lord invoked and worshipped by the universe.

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3.30.11

एको॒ द्वे वसु॑मती समी॒ची इन्द्र॒ आ प॑प्रौ पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्याम् । उ॒तान्तरि॑क्षाद॒भि नः॑ समी॒क इ॒षो र॒थीः स॒युजः॑ शूर॒ वाजा॑न् ॥

Indra, lord of light, riding the chariot of glory, all by himself fulfils with his lustre both heaven and earth together full of wealth. May you, O lord of valour and lustre, and our friends bring us from the skies food and energy and wealth of knowledge all in one.

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3.30.12

दिशः॒ सूर्यो॒ न मि॑नाति॒ प्रदि॑ष्टा दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ हर्य॑श्वप्रसूताः । सं यदान॒ळध्व॑न॒ आदिदश्वै॑र्वि॒मोच॑नं कृणुते॒ तत्त्व॑स्य ॥

The sun traverses and illuminates the directions of space day by day indicated and roused to activity by the rays of light but does not transgress them, and when it reaches a particular stage of the journey, it withdraws the light and releases the region to rest for the night. This too is a reflection of the power and glory of Indra, Lord Almighty.

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3.30.13

दिदृ॑क्षन्त उ॒षसो॒ याम॑न्न॒क्तोर्वि॒वस्व॑त्या॒ महि॑ चि॒त्रमनी॑कम् । विश्वे॑ जानन्ति महि॒ना यदागा॒दिन्द्र॑स्य॒ कर्म॒ सुकृ॑ता पु॒रूणि॑ ॥

When the night is on the wayout, all the inmates of the living world love to see the great and glorious light of the dawn proclaiming the majesty of the rising sun, and, when the dawn arises, they realise the holiness and grace of Indra’s infinite acts of omnipotence.

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3.30.14

महि॒ ज्योति॒र्निहि॑तं व॒क्षणा॑स्वा॒मा प॒क्वं च॑रति॒ बिभ्र॑ती॒ गौः । विश्वं॒ स्वाद्म॒ संभृ॑तमु॒स्रिया॑यां॒ यत्सी॒मिन्द्रो॒ अद॑धा॒द्भोज॑नाय ॥

The moving world moves on bearing the great and glorious light of the lord and whatever mature and maturing vitality is held in the flowing streams of nature’s matter and energy, and whatever delicious delicacies are treasured in the earth and in the cow’s udders, all these Indra creates and holds therein for the sustenance of life in existence.

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3.30.15

इन्द्र॒ दृह्य॑ यामको॒शा अ॑भूवन्य॒ज्ञाय॑ शिक्ष गृण॒ते सखि॑भ्यः । दु॒र्मा॒यवो॑ दु॒रेवा॒ मर्त्या॑सो निष॒ङ्गिणो॑ रि॒पवो॒ हन्त्वा॑सः ॥

Indra, lord giver of light, knowledge and the beauty and prosperity of life, be firm, advance and grow higher and stronger. There are treasures on the way, highways and byways, impediments and obstructions. Enlighten and warn friends and admirers about these for the sake of yajnic living and advancement. There are people crafty, malignant, armed robbers, enemies and killers in ambush. Warn of these and protect the disciple.

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3.30.16

सं घोषः॑ शृण्वेऽव॒मैर॒मित्रै॑र्ज॒ही न्ये॑ष्व॒शनिं॒ तपि॑ष्ठाम् । वृ॒श्चेम॒धस्ता॒द्वि रु॑जा॒ सह॑स्व ज॒हि रक्षो॑ मघवन्र॒न्धय॑स्व ॥

Indra, lord of majesty, I hear the tumult of the covert enemies below. Strike on them the fieriest thunderbolt. Pluck them off from the root. Challenge and beat them down, destroy them, annihilate them, eliminate the demons.

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3.30.17

उद्वृ॑ह॒ रक्षः॑ स॒हमू॑लमिन्द्र वृ॒श्चा मध्यं॒ प्रत्यग्रं॑ शृणीहि । आ कीव॑तः सल॒लूकं॑ चकर्थ ब्रह्म॒द्विषे॒ तपु॑षिं हे॒तिम॑स्य ॥

Indra, lord of power and justice, sustainer of life and its progress, pluck off the evil from the root, break it at the middle, nip it in the bud and at every shoot, and, having cast the fiery thunderbolt upon the saboteurs of truth and justice, life and law of existence, destroy their hate and enmity to the farthest end of their reach.

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3.30.18

स्व॒स्तये॑ वा॒जिभि॑श्च प्रणेतः॒ सं यन्म॒हीरिष॑ आ॒सत्सि॑ पू॒र्वीः । रा॒यो व॒न्तारो॑ बृह॒तः स्या॑मा॒स्मे अ॑स्तु॒ भग॑ इन्द्र प्र॒जावा॑न् ॥

Indra, discriminative leader and pioneer in the pursuit of truth and excellence, as for the good and wellbeing of life, with your warlike heroes and powers of science and technology, you sit on the seat of the earth’s yajna, preside over the wealth of the nations and guide the ambitions of humanity revealed and pursued of old. May we, we pray, be sharers in the vast wealth and prosperity of the world and may the blessings of generations of man power and honour, prosperity and excellence shower upon us all under your leadership

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3.30.19

आ नो॑ भर॒ भग॑मिन्द्र द्यु॒मन्तं॒ नि ते॑ दे॒ष्णस्य॑ धीमहि प्ररे॒के । ऊ॒र्वइ॑व पप्रथे॒ कामो॑ अ॒स्मे तमा पृ॑ण वसुपते॒ वसू॑नाम् ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, honour and majesty, bring us the honour and excellence of prosperity full of light and wisdom. Let us abide and persevere in the abundance of your grace and kindness. Let our aspirations rise high and higher like the flames of yajna fire. O lord ordainer of the wealth of existence, ruler and protector of our hearth and home, let our aspirations and ambitions for total fulfilment be realised.

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3.30.20

इ॒मं कामं॑ मन्दया॒ गोभि॒रश्वै॑श्च॒न्द्रव॑ता॒ राध॑सा प॒प्रथ॑श्च । स्व॒र्यवो॑ म॒तिभि॒स्तुभ्यं॒ विप्रा॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ वाहः॑ कुशि॒कासो॑ अक्रन् ॥

Let this prayer and aspiration be fulfilled in joy with the attainment of cows, lands and the light of words divine at the speed of light, and let it expand with the golden beauty of the moon and accomplishment of life’s end and aim, a prayer and aspiration such as lovers of joy, intelligent celebrants, with the best of their wit and imagination, construct and compose in poetry and express in loud voice for you, lord Indra. They are carriers of the divine message as we are, waiting for fulfilment.

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3.30.21

आ नो॑ गो॒त्रा द॑र्दृहि गोपते॒ गाः सम॒स्मभ्यं॑ स॒नयो॑ यन्तु॒ वाजाः॑ । दि॒वक्षा॑ असि वृषभ स॒त्यशु॑ष्मो॒ऽस्मभ्यं॒ सु म॑घवन्बोधि गो॒दाः ॥

Indra, generous lord of honour and valour, protector and promoter of lands and cows, strengthen and advance our families, expand our lands and shine our speech. May knowledge of science and divinity, speed and power come to us peacefully as our share of good fortune. Lord of light and knowledge you are, virile and generous, commanding real strength, lord of power and prosperity, giver of lands and cows. Give us the light, give us the knowledge, let us awake into new life.

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3.30.22

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke, sing and celebrate Indra, lord giver of light and wisdom, commander of honour and prosperity, highest guide and leader of humanity, in this battle of life. Instantly does he listen to our prayers, bright and blazing is he in the battles and contests of life for protection, killer where he must be, breaker of the clouds of darkness, ignorance and poverty, and he is the winner, collector and consolidator of the wealths of life. We invoke him for protection, progress and victory in our battles of life.

✦ Sukta 31 · 22 verses ✦

3.31.1

शास॒द्वह्नि॑र्दुहि॒तुर्न॒प्त्यं॑ गाद्वि॒द्वाँ ऋ॒तस्य॒ दीधि॑तिं सप॒र्यन् । पि॒ता यत्र॑ दुहि॒तुः सेक॑मृ॒ञ्जन्त्सं श॒ग्म्ये॑न॒ मन॑सा दध॒न्वे ॥

Let the scholar dedicated to the cosmic law of solar radiation approach and study the morning rays of the sun, grand children of the sun, being children of the dawn which is the sun’s daughter, and let him study the light and communicate the knowledge to his disciples — even to control and apply the light in practical use. And just as a father clothes and beautifies his grand child, the daughter’s baby, and feels happy and proud at heart, so would the scholar augment the beauty and power of sun rays born of the sun, converting darkness into day light, and feel happy and proud.

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3.31.2

न जा॒मये॒ तान्वो॑ रि॒क्थमा॑रैक्च॒कार॒ गर्भं॑ सनि॒तुर्नि॒धान॑म् । यदी॑ मा॒तरो॑ ज॒नय॑न्त॒ वह्नि॑म॒न्यः क॒र्ता सु॒कृतो॑र॒न्य ऋ॒न्धन् ॥

The son does not set apart the patrimony for the son-in-law, he prepares the sister and accomplishes her with education, culture and presents for his wife, the mother of his children. The parents give birth to children, son and daughter, one for the filial rites and duties for themselves and family, the other as beneficiary of the sanctities and accomplishments.

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3.31.3

अ॒ग्निर्ज॑ज्ञे जु॒ह्वा॒३॒॑ रेज॑मानो म॒हस्पु॒त्राँ अ॑रु॒षस्य॑ प्र॒यक्षे॑ । म॒हान्गर्भो॒ मह्या जा॒तमे॑षां म॒ही प्र॒वृद्धर्य॑श्वस्य य॒ज्ञैः ॥

Agni arises in flames of fire fed with the ladle of ghrta in the service of the sun in order to press forward the children, i.e., rays of the sun. Great is the offspring, i.e., the day, of this great power born of the refulgence of the rays, and great is the movement of the sun by virtue of the cosmic yajna.

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3.31.4

अ॒भि जैत्री॑रसचन्त स्पृधा॒नं महि॒ ज्योति॒स्तम॑सो॒ निर॑जानन् । तं जा॑न॒तीः प्रत्युदा॑यन्नु॒षासः॒ पति॒र्गवा॑मभव॒देक॒ इन्द्रः॑ ॥

Victorious Maruts, currents of cosmic energy, join and serve the sun, fighting the forces of darkness, thereby manifesting the mighty light rising out of the night’s darkness. Similarly, manifesting the sun rise, they serve the dawns in consequence. And Indra, lord selfrefulgent, the sun, is the generator of the dawns and the rays of light which bring about the day.

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3.31.5

वी॒ळौ स॒तीर॒भि धीरा॑ अतृन्दन्प्रा॒चाहि॑न्व॒न्मन॑सा स॒प्त विप्राः॑ । विश्वा॑मविन्दन्प॒थ्या॑मृ॒तस्य॑ प्रजा॒नन्नित्ता नम॒सा वि॑वेश ॥

When the seven faculties of the mind and senses grow too strong and rigid in their natural carnality, then saints and sages of patience and courage, knowledge and wisdom, calling up their original strength of the spirit, control their senses, mind and intellect and recover their vision of the path to universal truth and the Divine Law.And the soul, with homage and humility, enters the cave of the heart and discovers the light of Indra, lord of the universe.

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3.31.6

वि॒दद्यदी॑ स॒रमा॑ रु॒ग्णमद्रे॒र्महि॒ पाथः॑ पू॒र्व्यं स॒ध्र्य॑क्कः । अग्रं॑ नयत्सु॒पद्यक्ष॑राणा॒मच्छा॒ रवं॑ प्रथ॒मा जा॑न॒ती गा॑त् ॥

O lady of dynamic thought and action, assessor of the fast moving things of life, if you know the great but broken path of the mountain and have it repaired at once as carved by the ancients, if you know the breach of the cloud known to the ancients and bring it down in showers, if you realise the noble voice of the ancients’ words of divinity and lead it forward, you would be the first in knowledge and advancement.

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3.31.7

अग॑च्छदु॒ विप्र॑तमः सखी॒यन्नसू॑दयत्सु॒कृते॒ गर्भ॒मद्रिः॑ । स॒सान॒ मर्यो॒ युव॑भिर्मख॒स्यन्नथा॑भव॒दङ्गि॑राः स॒द्यो अर्च॑न् ॥

Let the man of knowledge and wisdom, inspired for action go forward with friends and comrades and break the cloud to bring down the held up showers of rain for the people of yajnic action. Let the man, himself desirous of yajna, share life and action with the youth and, always loving and respecting others, be one with them like the life-blood flowing in the nation’s veins.

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3.31.8

स॒तःस॑तः प्रति॒मानं॑ पुरो॒भूर्विश्वा॑ वेद॒ जनि॑मा॒ हन्ति॒ शुष्ण॑म् । प्र णो॑ दि॒वः प॑द॒वीर्ग॒व्युरर्च॒न्त्सखा॒ सखीँ॑रमुञ्च॒न्निर॑व॒द्यात् ॥

The man on top, friend and comrade of the nation, first among all, who knows the models, equals and adversaries existing from moment to moment, who knows everything that is born on earth, who removes drought and poverty, who rises higher step by step to the light of heaven, who loves friends and respects seniors, may, we pray, save us from calumny, malignity and ill-will.

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3.31.9

नि ग॑व्य॒ता मन॑सा सेदुर॒र्कैः कृ॑ण्वा॒नासो॑ अमृत॒त्वाय॑ गा॒तुम् । इ॒दं चि॒न्नु सद॑नं॒ भूर्ये॑षां॒ येन॒ मासाँ॒ असि॑षासन्नृ॒तेन॑ ॥

Let those who carve a path to immortality for themselves sit on the holy seats of yajna with earnest desire and sincere mind offering hymns of praise and prayer to Indra. For sure, this yajna is their expansive seat of action by which, through observance of right conduct and self-sacrifice, they can try to realise their year round objective of spirituality over the months in succession.

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3.31.10

सं॒पश्य॑माना अमदन्न॒भि स्वं पयः॑ प्र॒त्नस्य॒ रेत॑सो॒ दुघा॑नाः । वि रोद॑सी अतप॒द्घोष॑ एषां जा॒ते निः॒ष्ठामद॑धु॒र्गोषु॑ वी॒रान् ॥

Watching and realising their own selves they rejoice, tasting the sweets of light and life eternal. The voice of the ecstasy of these settled celebrants rises and shines across earth and heaven and they confirm their faith in the world of Indra’s creation and install their faithful heroes on guard over earths and divine voices of love and faith.

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3.31.11

स जा॒तेभि॑र्वृत्र॒हा सेदु॑ ह॒व्यैरुदु॒स्रिया॑ असृज॒दिन्द्रो॑ अ॒र्कैः । उ॒रू॒च्य॑स्मै घृ॒तव॒द्भर॑न्ती॒ मधु॒ स्वाद्म॑ दुदुहे॒ जेन्या॒ गौः ॥

He, Indra, destroyer of darkness, dispeller of ignorance and breaker of the cloud, with simultaneous creations, yajnic materials and yajnic processes of consumption and formation, creates the rays of light in the solar region, planets in the firmament and cows on earth. The wide earth, a very generous mother cow full of wealth, bearing precious ghrta, water and honey sweets of herbs distils the nectar foods and other delicious materials from nature for this Indra in the service of living beings.

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3.31.12

पि॒त्रे चि॑च्चक्रुः॒ सद॑नं॒ सम॑स्मै॒ महि॒ त्विषी॑मत्सु॒कृतो॒ वि हि ख्यन् । वि॒ष्क॒भ्नन्तः॒ स्कम्भ॑नेना॒ जनि॑त्री॒ आसी॑ना ऊ॒र्ध्वं र॑भ॒सं वि मि॑न्वन् ॥

Divine experts of cosmic action build for this father creator and ruler, Indra, a great home, bright and beautiful, illuminate it and proclaim it wide. Themselves sitting firm on the vedi, holding and supporting it as Prakrti, nature’s creative and sustaining force of cosmic gravity, they cast it up in orbit, measuring the force upward and the force of gravity.

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3.31.13

म॒ही यदि॑ धि॒षणा॑ शि॒श्नथे॒ धात्स॑द्यो॒वृधं॑ वि॒भ्वं१॒॑ रोद॑स्योः । गिरो॒ यस्मि॑न्ननव॒द्याः स॑मी॒चीर्विश्वा॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ तवि॑षी॒रनु॑त्ताः ॥

O seeker and celebrant of Indra, nature and divinity, if in the act of exploration, your great intelligence and penetrative vision were to hold on to the ever expansive spirit of heaven and earth, in which the entire light, words and vision of existence, irreproachable and invincible, lie embedded for Indra, then that is the state of sovereignty in research and meditation.

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3.31.14

मह्या ते॑ स॒ख्यं व॑श्मि श॒क्तीरा वृ॑त्र॒घ्ने नि॒युतो॑ यन्ति पू॒र्वीः । महि॑ स्तो॒त्रमव॒ आग॑न्म सू॒रेर॒स्माकं॒ सु म॑घवन्बोधि गो॒पाः ॥

Indra, lord of glory and majesty, I love and pray for your favour and friendship. O breaker of the cloud, dispeller of darkness and evil, all eternal powers and energies, divinely ordained, concentrate in you and emanate from you. O lord potent and universal protector, we offer our hymns of praise in your honour and pray for shelter under your protection. Give us the vision, give us the light, give us the knowledge.

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3.31.15

महि॒ क्षेत्रं॑ पु॒रुश्च॒न्द्रं वि॑वि॒द्वानादित्सखि॑भ्यश्च॒रथं॒ समै॑रत् । इन्द्रो॒ नृभि॑रजन॒द्दीद्या॑नः सा॒कं सूर्य॑मु॒षसं॑ गा॒तुम॒ग्निम् ॥

Indra, lord refulgent, commanding knowledge and wisdom, brings for his devotees and friends vast field and opportunities for action, immense wealth of gold, knowledge and inspiration, movement and expansion. With men, leaders and the force of winds, he provides the light of the sun, beauty of the dawns, inspiration of the Divine Word, the passion of fire, and he creates the paths of progress for them.

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3.31.16

अ॒पश्चि॑दे॒ष वि॒भ्वो॒३॒॑ दमू॑नाः॒ प्र स॒ध्रीची॑रसृजद्वि॒श्वश्च॑न्द्राः । मध्वः॑ पुना॒नाः क॒विभिः॑ प॒वित्रै॒र्द्युभि॑र्हिन्वन्त्य॒क्तुभि॒र्धनु॑त्रीः ॥

And this lord omnipresent and infinite, fiery controller and guardian of human households, creates the waters and the world’s golden wealth of materials, knowledge and culture and joy all together. And these waters, honey sweet and purifying, highly productive of food and wealth and joy, inspiring poets with their purest streams, thereby inspire and excite the people day and night for advancement. (Swami Dayananda interprets ‘Apah’ metaphorically as intelligent, educated and cultured people of dynamic nature who inspire the nation with their knowledge and conduct.)

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3.31.17

अनु॑ कृ॒ष्णे वसु॑धिती जिहाते उ॒भे सूर्य॑स्य मं॒हना॒ यज॑त्रे । परि॒ यत्ते॑ महि॒मानं॑ वृ॒जध्यै॒ सखा॑य इन्द्र॒ काम्या॑ ऋजि॒प्याः ॥

The green earth and the bright heaven, holding the wealth of existence, mutually sustained by the force and grandeur of the sun, go round in concord like the dark night and bright day going on and on in unison, both doing homage to the sun. The same force and grandeur, Indra, lustrous lord ruler of the world, your loving friends, going by the simple paths of truth and law, follow in order to collect the holy grass for cosmic yajna and avert untoward accidents and oppositions.

· · ·

3.31.18

पति॑र्भव वृत्रहन्त्सू॒नृता॑नां गि॒रां वि॒श्वायु॑र्वृष॒भो व॑यो॒धाः । आ नो॑ गहि स॒ख्येभिः॑ शि॒वेभि॑र्म॒हान्म॒हीभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ सर॒ण्यन् ॥

Be the protector, sustainer, and promoter of the voices of truth and cosmic laws of existence, O dispeller of darkness, breaker of the cloud and destroyer of evil. You are great, life eternal, generous and virile, universal giver of good health and full age. Come, take us on, moving, reaching, inspiring, with friendship, kindness and benevolence, and bless us with divine modes of protection and progress.

· · ·

3.31.19

तम॑ङ्गिर॒स्वन्नम॑सा सप॒र्यन्नव्यं॑ कृणोमि॒ सन्य॑से पुरा॒जाम् । द्रुहो॒ वि या॑हि बहु॒ला अदे॑वीः॒ स्व॑श्च नो मघवन्त्सा॒तये॑ धाः ॥

That Indra, ruler of the world, ancient yet ever new, I honour and serve with homage and salutations in order to join him in the governance and administration of the common wealth. O lord of power, plenty and majesty, throw off and eliminate all hostile, impious and uncreative elements of society, and bear and bring us peace, prosperity and joy for the sake of victory and progress.

· · ·

3.31.20

मिहः॑ पाव॒काः प्रत॑ता अभूवन्त्स्व॒स्ति नः॑ पिपृहि पा॒रमा॑साम् । इन्द्र॒ त्वं र॑थि॒रः पा॑हि नो रि॒षो म॒क्षूम॑क्षू कृणुहि गो॒जितो॑ नः ॥

Showers of rain, pure and purifying, pour down and spread around far and wide. Take us across these, lead us to life’s well-being and total fulfilment. Indra, lord of the world, warrior of the chariot you are, protect us from violence, and at every step, at every moment, make us victors of lands and cows, sense-control and self-discipline with the voice divine.

· · ·

3.31.21

अदे॑दिष्ट वृत्र॒हा गोप॑ति॒र्गा अ॒न्तः कृ॒ष्णाँ अ॑रु॒षैर्धाम॑भिर्गात् । प्र सू॒नृता॑ दि॒शमा॑न ऋ॒तेन॒ दुर॑श्च॒ विश्वा॑ अवृणो॒दप॒ स्वाः ॥

Just as the sun, lord of light and breaker of the cloud of darkness, shoots its rays of light with its power and splendour, penetrates to the centre of dark energy and dispels the darkness releasing the energy, similarly, O lord of light and power, commanding and revealing your own lights and words of knowledge and the truth of reality, open out all the doors and reveal the secrets of universal knowledge with the power and force of universal law which sustains the world of existence.

· · ·

3.31.22

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

Fighting for victory in this battle of life, for the sake of defence, protection and advance in the engagements of action, we invoke and call upon Indra, auspicious lord of power and prosperity, first and highest among leaders, careful listener, fierce, passionate and noble winner of wealth and victory.

✦ Sukta 32 · 17 verses ✦

3.32.1

इन्द्र॒ सोमं॑ सोमपते॒ पिबे॒मं माध्य॑न्दिनं॒ सव॑नं॒ चारु॒ यत्ते॑ । प्र॒प्रुथ्या॒ शिप्रे॑ मघवन्नृजीषिन्वि॒मुच्या॒ हरी॑ इ॒ह मा॑दयस्व ॥

Indra, creator giver of honour, excellence and prosperity, creator, preserver and promoter of the soma success of life, accept and enjoy this soma drink of homage which is your delicious share of the mid-day session of our yajna of struggle and success in creative action. Breathe deeply, rest your limbs, relax your muscles, lord of wealth and connoisseur of the purest delicacies. Unharness your horses and enjoy yourself here on the vedi.

· · ·

3.32.2

गवा॑शिरं म॒न्थिन॑मिन्द्र शु॒क्रं पिबा॒ सोमं॑ ररि॒मा ते॒ मदा॑य । ब्र॒ह्म॒कृता॒ मारु॑तेना ग॒णेन॑ स॒जोषा॑ रु॒द्रैस्तृ॒पदा वृ॑षस्व ॥

Indra, destroyer of suffering and poverty, have a drink of this pure exhilarating soma, well churned, distilled and blended with milk and seasoned in sun. We offer it to you for your joy and exhilaration. Enjoy it to the full in the company of divine scholars and producers and refiners of gold, and scholars of the Rudra order. Drink and rejoice and be virile and generous as a cloud of showers.

· · ·

3.32.3

ये ते॒ शुष्मं॒ ये तवि॑षी॒मव॑र्ध॒न्नर्च॑न्त इन्द्र म॒रुत॑स्त॒ ओजः॑ । माध्य॑न्दिने॒ सव॑ने वज्रहस्त॒ पिबा॑ रु॒द्रेभिः॒ सग॑णः सुशिप्र ॥

Indra, lord destroyer of evil, of impressive visor, holding the thunder-bolt in hand, those who augment your strength, your forces, and your lustre and valour, and those who admire and serve you to the degree of worship, are Maruts, heroes as tempestuous as the winds in storm. In the company of all these and with the Rudras who rout the wicked, drink the soma in the mid-day session of the national yajna of defence.

· · ·

3.32.4

त इन्न्व॑स्य॒ मधु॑मद्विविप्र॒ इन्द्र॑स्य॒ शर्धो॑ म॒रुतो॒ य आस॑न् । येभि॑र्वृ॒त्रस्ये॑षि॒तो वि॒वेदा॑म॒र्मणो॒ मन्य॑मानस्य॒ मर्म॑ ॥

Indeed the Maruts stir the honey sweets of soma for Indra, lord ruler and commander of the world, and they, heroic brave like the winds of storm, are his force who rouse his passion against the evil. Stirred by these he knows and reaches the fatal core of Vrtra, the demon, who believes he is invulnerable.

· · ·

3.32.5

म॒नु॒ष्वदि॑न्द्र॒ सव॑नं जुषा॒णः पिबा॒ सोमं॒ शश्व॑ते वी॒र्या॑य । स आ व॑वृत्स्व हर्यश्व य॒ज्ञैः स॑र॒ण्युभि॑र॒पो अर्णा॑ सिसर्षि ॥

Indra, lord giver of honour and glory, eager for yajnic action and fond of yajnic gifts of fragrant delicacies, come like a man of thought and meditation, join our

yajna and have a drink of soma for lasting strength and inspiration. You move the vapours and waters to the skies by performance of yajna and currents of wind and rays of the sun. As such, O rider of the horses of light and waves of energy, turn round and come to enjoy the fragrances.

· · ·

3.32.6

त्वम॒पो यद्ध॑ वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अत्याँ॑इव॒ प्रासृ॑जः॒ सर्त॒वाजौ । शया॑नमिन्द्र॒ चर॑ता व॒धेन॑ वव्रि॒वांसं॒ परि॑ दे॒वीरदे॑वम् ॥

Indra, when with the wielded weapon of the thunderbolt in battle, you destroy Vrtra, demonic cloud of darkness lying asleep in stolid state, covering and with-holding the blissful waters of vital rain showers, you release the waters of life and joy to flow, and the streams rush forth in freedom like horses released from the stables.

· · ·

3.32.7

यजा॑म॒ इन्नम॑सा वृ॒द्धमिन्द्रं॑ बृ॒हन्त॑मृ॒ष्वम॒जरं॒ युवा॑नम् । यस्य॑ प्रि॒ये म॒मतु॑र्य॒ज्ञिय॑स्य॒ न रोद॑सी महि॒मानं॑ म॒माते॑ ॥

We love, join and worship Indra, lord of glory and majesty, with homage and holy food: Indra, lord most ancient beyond calculation, great and sublime, unaging and ever youthful, the bounds of which Lord worthiest of reverence in yajna, no near and dear heaven and earth ever measure, nor can they ever measure or contain.

· · ·

3.32.8

इन्द्र॑स्य॒ कर्म॒ सुकृ॑ता पु॒रूणि॑ व्र॒तानि॑ दे॒वा न मि॑नन्ति॒ विश्वे॑ । दा॒धार॒ यः पृ॑थि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमां ज॒जान॒ सूर्य॑मु॒षसं॑ सु॒दंसाः॑ ॥

Indra, Lord Almighty, His acts, innumerable gifts and graces, and His laws, none among the noblest humanity do ever violate, nor the mightiest powers of nature ever transgress: Indra, lord of generosity and holiest action, who sustains this earth and heaven, and creates the sun and the dawn and the day.

· · ·

3.32.9

अद्रो॑घ स॒त्यं तव॒ तन्म॑हि॒त्वं स॒द्यो यज्जा॒तो अपि॑बो ह॒ सोम॑म् । न द्याव॑ इन्द्र त॒वस॑स्त॒ ओजो॒ नाहा॒ न मासाः॑ श॒रदो॑ वरन्त ॥

Indra, lord of love free from jealousy, negativity, discrimination or hypocrisy, ever true, inviolable and eternal is that greatness and glory of yours, that sun which, as it arises, drinks up the soma of nature to recreate, augment and return it to nature. Neither the heavens of light, nor days, nor months, nor seasons, nor years can evade or prevent or exceed or transgress the might and majesty of yours, omnipotent as you are.

· · ·

3.32.10

त्वं स॒द्यो अ॑पिबो जा॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ मदा॑य॒ सोमं॑ पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् । यद्ध॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी आवि॑वेशी॒रथा॑भवः पू॒र्व्यः का॒रुधा॑याः ॥

Indra, mighty lord of light and senses and mind, as soon as you arise and manifest, you drink up the soma vitalities of the holiest regions of life and nature for pleasure and growth, since then, you pervade the heaven and earth and then you grow to be the maker and sustainer of the artists of beauty and singers of divinity.

· · ·

3.32.11

अह॒न्नहिं॑ परि॒शया॑न॒मर्ण॑ ओजा॒यमा॑नं तुविजात॒ तव्या॑न् । न ते॑ महि॒त्वमनु॑ भू॒दध॒ द्यौर्यद॒न्यया॑ स्फि॒ग्या॒३॒॑ क्षामव॑स्थाः ॥

Indra, potent lord of light universally manifest in existence and supremely generous, you break up the serpentine cloud of darkness waxing and overshadowing the oceans of air and vapours in the firmament and cover the earth with rain and light. Even the region of light cannot equal and contain your might because (while you strike the cover of darkness with the thunderbolt in one hand) with the other you hold and sustain the earth.

· · ·

3.32.12

य॒ज्ञो हि त॑ इन्द्र॒ वर्ध॑नो॒ भूदु॒त प्रि॒यः सु॒तसो॑मो मि॒येधः॑ । य॒ज्ञेन॑ य॒ज्ञम॑व य॒ज्ञियः॒ सन्य॒ज्ञस्ते॒ वज्र॑महि॒हत्य॑ आवत् ॥

Indra, ruler of the world and giver of honour and excellence, your yajnic action, social and generous programme, is the mode of progress and promotion: It creates joy and prosperity, eliminates poverty and suffering, and promotes love and social cohesion. Be the leader of yajna, protect and promote yajna by yajna, and let your yajna protect and promote your thunderarm in breaking the cloud of darkness for the rain showers of prosperity and joy in plenty.

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3.32.13

य॒ज्ञेनेन्द्र॒मव॒सा च॑क्रे अ॒र्वागैनं॑ सु॒म्नाय॒ नव्य॑से ववृत्याम् । यः स्तोमे॑भिर्वावृ॒धे पू॒र्व्येभि॒र्यो म॑ध्य॒मेभि॑रु॒त नूत॑नेभिः ॥

The person who creates honour and excellence, peace and prosperity for humanity by yajna, creative action of the corporate community and promotes it by protection, preservation and further yajnic action, who rises by the appreciation and praise of the seniors, cooperation of the middle classes and the hopes, aspirations and dreams of the new generation, to such a person let me turn as front leader, as Indra, ruler and law-giver for humanity.

· · ·

3.32.14

वि॒वेष॒ यन्मा॑ धि॒षणा॑ ज॒जान॒ स्तवै॑ पु॒रा पार्या॒दिन्द्र॒मह्नः॑ । अंह॑सो॒ यत्र॑ पी॒पर॒द्यथा॑ नो ना॒वेव॒ यान्त॑मु॒भये॑ हवन्ते ॥

When thought is stirred and words arise in me in praise of Indra before the end of the day with gratitude how he would take us over across the world of sin and evil, then people too on both sides of the flood call upon him as captain of the ship on the move to take them over the seas to the shores of life beyond.

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3.32.15

आपू॑र्णो अस्य क॒लशः॒ स्वाहा॒ सेक्ते॑व॒ कोशं॑ सिसिचे॒ पिब॑ध्यै । समु॑ प्रि॒या आव॑वृत्र॒न्मदा॑य प्रदक्षि॒णिद॒भि सोमा॑स॒ इन्द्र॑म् ॥

Full to the brim is the cup of life for Indra to drink, filled with the best of thought, perception and action, like the dense cloud of vapours poured in by the sun. Dear friends and admirers, lovers of the soma-joy of life, come close and stand round Indra in homage to join and celebrate the Lord’s gift of life.

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3.32.16

न त्वा॑ गभी॒रः पु॑रुहूत॒ सिन्धु॒र्नाद्र॑यः॒ परि॒ षन्तो॑ वरन्त । इ॒त्था सखि॑भ्य इषि॒तो यदि॒न्द्राऽऽदृ॒ळ्हं चि॒दरु॑जो॒ गव्य॑मू॒र्वम् ॥

Indra, mighty lord of light as the sun, invoked by one and all, neither the deep sea nor the dense clouds nor the high mountains all round can contain or hold you back when inspired by friends for friends you strike and break the formidable cloud, impenetrable except for the thunderbolt.

· · ·

3.32.17

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

For protection, victory and well-being, in this battle of life, we invoke Indra, auspicious lord of power and prosperity, highest leader, careful listener, fierce fighter, destroyer of enemies, and winner of wealths.

✦ Sukta 33 · 13 verses ✦

3.33.1

प्र पर्व॑तानामुश॒ती उ॒पस्था॒दश्वे॑इव॒ विषि॑ते॒ हास॑माने । गावे॑व शु॒भ्रे मा॒तरा॑ रिहा॒णे विपा॑ट्छुतु॒द्री पय॑सा जवेते ॥

From the lap of mountains, arising brilliant and passionate like the dawn, laughing and sparkling, and bolting like a horse and mare, like two beautiful mother cows yearning to meet their calves, two streams, one expansive and divided (vipat), the other deep and concentrated, fast and overflowing the banks (shutudri), flow in unison rapidly to meet the sea with their water. Note: Swami Dayananda interprets this mantra as a metaphor of two brilliant women teachers issuing forth from a mighty source of learning and going to meet their disciples. He does not accept the interpretation that Vipat and Shutudri refer to two particular streams of these names. He does not accept the historical comparative method of Vedic interpretation which says that these mantras were composed on the banks of Vipat and Shutudri streams. On the contrary, he says that the words of the Veda should be interpreted etymologically as translated above. Why these names in the Veda then? That’s the question. Swamiji says that words of the Veda are independent of history and geography. Particulars names in history such as Rama, Krishna, and others, for example, and names in geography such as Vipat and Shutudri and Ganga were taken from the Veda and not vice versa. There is no history nor geography of persons and places in the Veda. All such words, which appear to be name-words, should be interpreted etymologically, that’s the scientific method, just like the technical terms of science which are structured and interpreted etymologically

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3.33.2

इन्द्रे॑षिते प्रस॒वं भिक्ष॑माणे॒ अच्छा॑ समु॒द्रं र॒थ्ये॑व याथः । स॒मा॒रा॒णे ऊ॒र्मिभिः॒ पिन्व॑माने अ॒न्या वा॑म॒न्यामप्ये॑ति शुभ्रे ॥

Moved and inspired by Indra, lord of light and rain, sharing and receiving the impulse to grow, you flow with crystalline waters, like beautiful chariot mares, towards the sea. Meeting and growing together with rising waves, feeding the environs, brilliant and graceful, each of you meets and augments the other. (The metaphor of learned women, meeting, cooperating and beautifying the life around with education and the graces of culture continues to apply.)

· · ·

3.33.3

अच्छा॒ सिन्धुं॑ मा॒तृत॑मामयासं॒ विपा॑शमु॒र्वीं सु॒भगा॑मगन्म । व॒त्समि॑व मा॒तरा॑ संरिहा॒णे स॑मा॒नं योनि॒मनु॑ सं॒चर॑न्ती ॥

I go to the river, I go to the sea, dearest mother generator and receiver of the rivers. We go to the river, free, wide and auspicious. The streams flow to the sea like mother cows hastening to the stalls to meet the calf, loving and caressing, reaching together in equal love and joy living together in one home.

· · ·

3.33.4

ए॒ना व॒यं पय॑सा॒ पिन्व॑माना॒ अनु॒ योनिं॑ दे॒वकृ॑तं॒ चर॑न्तीः । न वर्त॑वे प्रस॒वः सर्ग॑तक्तः किं॒युर्विप्रो॑ न॒द्यो॑ जोहवीति ॥

We rivers rising with water and fertilizing the land move on by the same course appointed by the divine maker, never relenting in the flow, our birth itself and flow is never meant to stop. (The mantra refers to the stream of life, continuance of the race, the family and the tradition of education and culture.)

· · ·

3.33.5

रम॑ध्वं मे॒ वच॑से सो॒म्याय॒ ऋता॑वरी॒रुप॑ मुहू॒र्तमेवैः॑ । प्र सिन्धु॒मच्छा॑ बृह॒ती म॑नी॒षाव॒स्युर॑ह्वे कुशि॒कस्य॑ सू॒नुः ॥

Bide a while, listen, pray consider and enjoy my word of peace, prayer and beauty. Relax, why rush on like a storm to the bottom mysterious deep. Son and disciple of a self-realised soul, I invoke and call upon the river and the sea from the core of my heart and mind, I need the vision and the protection. (The mantra points to the irresistible flow of existence and the soul’s cry for a moment’s vision of constancy against the flux of mutability.)

· · ·

3.33.6

इन्द्रो॑ अ॒स्माँ अ॑रद॒द्वज्र॑बाहु॒रपा॑हन्वृ॒त्रं प॑रि॒धिं न॒दीना॑म् । दे॒वो॑ऽनयत्सवि॒ता सु॑पा॒णिस्तस्य॑ व॒यं प्र॑स॒वे या॑म उ॒र्वीः ॥

Indra, lord of thunder, carved for us the paths we follow when he broke the ocean of dark energy in which the streams of existence lay confined. Into those channels the lord creator, Savita, cosmic sun of omnipotent arm, made us flow. In his channels we flow on and on, wide and deep, without rest. (Mutability does not stop. The flux goes on and on, but you can stop the flow of your experience of the flow.)

· · ·

3.33.7

प्र॒वाच्यं॑ शश्व॒धा वी॒र्यं१॒॑ तदिन्द्र॑स्य॒ कर्म॒ यदहिं॑ विवृ॒श्चत् । वि वज्रे॑ण परि॒षदो॑ जघा॒नाय॒न्नापोऽय॑नमि॒च्छमा॑नाः ॥

That omnipotence of Indra, that cosmic act by which he breaks the dark energy of the state of annihilation (Pralaya) is worthy of song and celebration. With his voice of thunder he breaks the silence of the inert forces of Prakrti, and the waves and waters of cosmic energy flow into existence, in-vested with the divine will.

· · ·

3.33.8

ए॒तद्वचो॑ जरित॒र्मापि॑ मृष्ठा॒ आ यत्ते॒ घोषा॒नुत्त॑रा यु॒गानि॑ । उ॒क्थेषु॑ कारो॒ प्रति॑ नो जुषस्व॒ मा नो॒ नि कः॑ पुरुष॒त्रा नम॑स्ते ॥

O singer and celebrant, neglect not, nor forget these holy words of yours which the ages to come will honour and resound. O poet of divinity, master maker and artist of eminence, love us and serve us with faith in your yajnic programmes. Be not arrogant to us or to noble people in general. Salutations to you!

· · ·

3.33.9

ओ षु स्व॑सारः का॒रवे॑ शृणोत य॒यौ वो॑ दू॒रादन॑सा॒ रथे॑न । नि षू न॑मध्वं॒ भव॑ता सुपा॒रा अ॑धोअ॒क्षाः सि॑न्धवः स्रो॒त्याभिः॑ ॥

O sister streams of existence in cosmic flow, powers of dynamic action, listen to the prayer and exhortations of the artist maker and poet. He has come to you from afar by a fast moving chariot. Lower your depth and turbulence, flow below the axle of his chariot wheels, bow to him, and help him to cross the flood.

· · ·

3.33.10

आ ते॑ कारो शृणवामा॒ वचां॑सि य॒याथ॑ दू॒रादन॑सा॒ रथे॑न । नि ते॑ नंसै पीप्या॒नेव॒ योषा॒ मर्या॑येव क॒न्या॑ शश्व॒चै ते॑ ॥

O poet artist and maker, we listen to your words, you come from afar with a cart and chariot, and we greet you with salutations eagerly as a woman overflowing with love meets her child, and a maiden meets her lover with embraces.

· · ·

3.33.11

यद॒ङ्ग त्वा॑ भर॒ताः सं॒तरे॑युर्ग॒व्यन्ग्राम॑ इषि॒त इन्द्र॑जूतः । अर्षा॒दह॑ प्रस॒वः सर्ग॑तक्त॒ आ वो॑ वृणे सुम॒तिं य॒ज्ञिया॑नाम् ॥

O dear streams of water and national economy, as the producers and managers of the nation may cross and manage you with your consent, so may the people of the settlement too, desirous of crossing you, when impassioned and inspired by Indra, ruling light of the world, cross and manage the waters. And then, for sure, may the flood rush on. O managers and planners of the nation’s yajna, worthy of love and reverence, I admire and pray for the vision and wisdom and the good-will of friends and creators like you.

· · ·

3.33.12

अता॑रिषुर्भर॒ता ग॒व्यवः॒ समभ॑क्त॒ विप्रः॑ सुम॒तिं न॒दीना॑म् । प्र पि॑न्वध्वमि॒षय॑न्तीः सु॒राधा॒ आ व॒क्षणाः॑ पृ॒णध्वं॑ या॒त शीभ॑म् ॥

May the producers, managers and rulers seeking and developing lands, and cows, and animal husbandry manage water resources. Let the intellectuals study and share the secret of river power. O people of the land, develop the rich and productive streams and rivers and fill the fields and canals with water for irrigation. Come all, go far, be quick and effective.

· · ·

3.33.13

उद्व॑ ऊ॒र्मिः शम्या॑ ह॒न्त्वापो॒ योक्त्रा॑णि मुञ्चत । मादु॑ष्कृतौ॒ व्ये॑नसा॒ऽघ्न्यौ शून॒मार॑ताम् ॥

O streams and rivers, may your flow, the waves, touch and sanctify the flagpole of yajna. May the waters relieve the yoke of bullocks. May the streams, fast, wide and free, never destructive but blissful, unhurt, protected and developed, auspicious as a boon, bring us peace, prosperity and joy. (Life is a flow, inspiring, energising, sanctifying. Manage it, develop it, live it as a divine gift.)

✦ Sukta 34 · 11 verses ✦

3.34.1

इन्द्रः॑ पू॒र्भिदाति॑र॒द्दास॑म॒र्कैर्वि॒दद्व॑सु॒र्दय॑मानो॒ वि शत्रू॑न् । ब्रह्म॑जूतस्त॒न्वा॑ वावृधा॒नो भूरि॑दात्र॒ आपृ॑ण॒द्रोद॑सी उ॒भे ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, overcomes the hostile forces with light and thought and the power of persuasion. He opens and expands the cities bound in the dark and, abundant and charitable as he is, relieves and rehabilitates the helpless poor. Inspired by divinity and universal vision, rising and expanding in body and mind with plenty and prosperity, merciful and freely giving, he fills both heaven and earth with light and joy.

· · ·

3.34.2

म॒खस्य॑ ते तवि॒षस्य॒ प्र जू॒तिमिय॑र्मि॒ वाच॑म॒मृता॑य॒ भूष॑न् । इन्द्र॑ क्षिती॒नाम॑सि॒ मानु॑षीणां वि॒शां दैवी॑नामु॒त पू॑र्व॒यावा॑ ॥

Indra, lord of life and giver of light, I arise and receive the inspiration of the power and generosity of your yajna, glorifying the divine voice for the sake of immortality. Lord of power and ruler of the world, you are the leader and pioneer of the nations of the world, ordinary people, specialized groups and exceptional people of brilliance and generosity.

· · ·

3.34.3

इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्रम॑वृणो॒च्छर्ध॑नीतिः॒ प्र मा॒यिना॑ममिना॒द्वर्प॑णीतिः । अह॒न्व्यं॑समु॒शध॒ग्वने॑ष्वा॒विर्धेना॑ अकृणोद्रा॒म्याणा॑म् ॥

Indra, heroic warrior of exploits, master of tactics, overwhelms the demon of darkness and, passionate for action, counters the magical moves of the crafty enemies and overthrows the crippled monster. Thus does he set free the cows confined in the forests, voices suppressed in silence, and the streams of water locked up in the cloud and sunrays.

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3.34.4

इन्द्रः॑ स्व॒र्षा ज॒नय॒न्नहा॑नि जि॒गायो॒शिग्भिः॒ पृत॑ना अभि॒ष्टिः । प्रारो॑चय॒न्मन॑वे के॒तुमह्ना॒मवि॑न्द॒ज्ज्योति॑र्बृह॒ते रणा॑य ॥

Indra, lord of the showers of joy, reveals and brightens the days, fights the battles alongwith his commandos, and comes out victorious. May he then unfurl the flag of the day’s light and victory and win the light for the mighty battle of life as a whole in the flow of existence.

· · ·

3.34.5

इन्द्र॒स्तुजो॑ ब॒र्हणा॒ आ वि॑वेश नृ॒वद्दधा॑नो॒ नर्या॑ पु॒रूणि॑ । अचे॑तय॒द्धिय॑ इ॒मा ज॑रि॒त्रे प्रेमं वर्ण॑मतिरच्छु॒क्रमा॑साम् ॥

Indra, like a manly hero, commanding overwhelming the forces of battle, blazing with the mighty thunderbolt, breaks through the thick of enemy lines. He enlightens these thoughts and minds for the celebrant and augments this pure and unsullied light of these within.

· · ·

3.34.6

म॒हो म॒हानि॑ पनयन्त्य॒स्येन्द्र॑स्य॒ कर्म॒ सुकृ॑ता पु॒रूणि॑ । वृ॒जने॑न वृजि॒नान्त्सं पि॑पेष मा॒याभि॒र्दस्यूँ॑र॒भिभू॑त्योजाः ॥

Many great and good acts of this mighty Indra, ruler and warrior, are worthy of admiration. Lord of might and splendour, hero of victory, he crushes the guiles and evils of the wicked with his strength, and eliminates the thieves and robbers of society by the force of his tactics and intelligence.

· · ·

3.34.7

यु॒धेन्द्रो॑ म॒ह्ना वरि॑वश्चकार दे॒वेभ्यः॒ सत्प॑तिश्चर्षणि॒प्राः । वि॒वस्व॑तः॒ सद॑ने अस्य॒ तानि॒ विप्रा॑ उ॒क्थेभिः॑ क॒वयो॑ गृणन्ति ॥

Indra, lover and favourite of humanity, protector and promoter of truth, reality and the good people, with his fight and force of strength and intelligence does great good deeds for the noble powers of nature and humanity. And those great exploits of his, brilliant poets and scholars celebrate with their songs of homage, the waves and echoes of which rise and resound in the house of the sun.

· · ·

3.34.8

स॒त्रा॒साहं॒ वरे॑ण्यं सहो॒दां स॑स॒वांसं॒ स्व॑र॒पश्च॑ दे॒वीः । स॒सान॒ यः पृ॑थि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमामिन्द्रं॑ मद॒न्त्यनु॒ धीर॑णासः ॥

People of intelligence, patience and intelligence may please and share the pleasure with Indra, lord of the world, who upholds truth and challenges untruth, who is worthy of choice, giver of strength and courage, who distinguishes between good and evil, and gives happiness, pranic energy and divine bliss, and who creates, gives and shares the gifts and beauty of this earth and heaven with us.

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3.34.9

स॒सानात्याँ॑ उ॒त सूर्यं॑ ससा॒नेन्द्रः॑ ससान पुरु॒भोज॑सं॒ गाम् । हि॒र॒ण्यय॑मु॒त भोगं॑ ससान ह॒त्वी दस्यू॒न्प्रार्यं॒ वर्ण॑मावत् ॥

Indra gives us the horses and other modes of fast travel. He gives us the sun and enlightenment. He gives us the cow for milk, land and speech, and golden wealth for the sustenance of all. He destroys evil and the wicked and protects the good and virtuous people for the joy of all.

· · ·

3.34.10

इन्द्र॒ ओष॑धीरसनो॒दहा॑नि॒ वन॒स्पतीँ॑रसनोद॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । बि॒भेद॑ ब॒लं नु॑नु॒दे विवा॒चोऽथा॑भवद्दमि॒ताभिक्र॑तूनाम् ॥

Indra gives us herbs and tonics everyday. He gives us waters of the firmament. He opens up the sources of strength and energy. He stimulates the organs of speech and inspires articulation and the growth of various languages. And he is the controller of the men of impetuous action to a steady state of balance in thought and will.

· · ·

3.34.11

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke, invite and celebrate Indra, auspicious lord of wealth, honour and excellence, friend of the good and controller of the wicked. In this battle of life, we call upon him, best and highest of men and leaders, for victory. We call upon him in all our struggles for protection, promotion and progress, for he listens to us, destroys the evils of darkness and ignorance, and wins, preserves and promotes the wealth, honour and excellence of life and culture. Great is he, mighty lustrous, terribly irresistible, blazing, victorious.

✦ Sukta 35 · 11 verses ✦

3.35.1

तिष्ठा॒ हरी॒ रथ॒ आ यु॒ज्यमा॑ना या॒हि वा॒युर्न नि॒युतो॑ नो॒ अच्छ॑ । पिबा॒स्यन्धो॑ अ॒भिसृ॑ष्टो अ॒स्मे इन्द्र॒ स्वाहा॑ ररि॒मा ते॒ मदा॑य ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, ride the chariot drawn by horse power of water and fire and come straight to us like the wind in all your glory in good company. Come and partake of the holy food we offer in faith and truth of word and deed in homage for your joy and entertainment.

· · ·

3.35.2

उपा॑जि॒रा पु॑रुहू॒ताय॒ सप्ती॒ हरी॒ रथ॑स्य धू॒र्ष्वा यु॑नज्मि । द्र॒वद्यथा॒ संभृ॑तं वि॒श्वत॑श्चि॒दुपे॒मं य॒ज्ञमा व॑हात॒ इन्द्र॑म् ॥

I yoke the fastest horses, fast as sun-rays, to the centre pole of the chariot of Indra, lord universally invoked, praised and called upon for action, so that they may rush, bear him and carry wealth and honour from all round and bring it to this yajna of knowledge and science.

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3.35.3

उपो॑ नयस्व॒ वृष॑णा तपु॒ष्पोतेम॑व॒ त्वं वृ॑षभ स्वधावः । ग्रसे॑ता॒मश्वा॒ वि मु॑चे॒ह शोणा॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे स॒दृशी॑रद्धि धा॒नाः ॥

Indra, bold and generous lord commanding food and energy, take the two mighty fiery steeds of sunrays close together, protect and take water too, let the horses free, consume the food and fuel of flames, and you too consume the food prepared and seasoned by fire every day in the bowels of the earth.

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3.35.4

ब्रह्म॑णा ते ब्रह्म॒युजा॑ युनज्मि॒ हरी॒ सखा॑या सध॒माद॑ आ॒शू । स्थि॒रं रथं॑ सु॒खमि॑न्द्राधि॒तिष्ठ॑न्प्रजा॒नन्वि॒द्वाँ उप॑ याहि॒ सोम॑म् ॥

By word I yoke the horses which sense and obey the word of command. Friendly they are, extremely fast to reach the yajnic destination. Indra, lord of knowledge and power, riding the chariot which is steady and comfortable, knowing and discovering further, go close to the moon and bring the nectar of magical powers.

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3.35.5

मा ते॒ हरी॒ वृष॑णा वी॒तपृ॑ष्ठा॒ नि री॑रम॒न्यज॑मानासो अ॒न्ये । अ॒त्याया॑हि॒ शश्व॑तो व॒यं तेऽरं॑ सु॒तेभिः॑ कृणवाम॒ सोमैः॑ ॥

Indra, may your motive chariot powers, of wide and extensive back never slacken, exhaust or stop. We are the other collaborators in your yajna, ever and constant, who do all for you with the distilled yajnic essences of what you need. Go far to the target and come back to us victorious.

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3.35.6

तवा॒यं सोम॒स्त्वमेह्य॒र्वाङ् श॑श्वत्त॒मं सु॒मना॑ अ॒स्य पा॑हि । अ॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञे ब॒र्हिष्या नि॒षद्या॑ दधि॒ष्वेमं ज॒ठर॒ इन्दु॑मिन्द्र ॥

Indra, this soma is yours, come you hither, happy at heart, partake of it, lasting and constant as it is in power and energy. Sit on the holy grass in this yajna and hold it in the strong interior of the chariot.

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3.35.7

स्ती॒र्णं ते॑ ब॒र्हिः सु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ सोमः॑ कृ॒ता धा॒ना अत्त॑वे ते॒ हरि॑भ्याम् । तदो॑कसे पुरु॒शाका॑य॒ वृष्णे॑ म॒रुत्व॑ते॒ तुभ्यं॑ रा॒ता ह॒वींषि॑ ॥

The liquid fuel, distilled and packed, is ready for you. The foods for the consumption of your motive forces are prepared and ready. All the inputs for you too are ready and reserved for the lord of the chariot, mighty helpful, creative and generous, lord of the wings of winds.

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3.35.8

इ॒मं नरः॒ पर्व॑ता॒स्तुभ्य॒मापः॒ समि॑न्द्र॒ गोभि॒र्मधु॑मन्तमक्रन् । तस्या॒गत्या॑ सु॒मना॑ ऋष्व पाहि प्रजा॒नन्वि॒द्वान्प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ अनु॒ स्वाः ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, the best of men, mountains and clouds, waters and vapours in unison have prepared this nectar sweet of soma for you with currents of solar energy and treasures of the earth. Lord of glory, happy at heart, scholar and discoverer, take the soma, and protect and promote the product and your partners on the way.

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3.35.9

याँ आभ॑जो म॒रुत॑ इन्द्र॒ सोमे॒ ये त्वामव॑र्ध॒न्नभ॑वन्ग॒णस्ते॑ । तेभि॑रे॒तं स॒जोषा॑ वावशा॒नो॒३॒॑ग्नेः पि॑ब जि॒ह्वया॒ सोम॑मिन्द्र ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge, power and glory, the winds and men you engage in your soma project of science and development, who lead you to honour and advancement, and who become your force and allies : with them, celebrating in joy, shining and resounding, drink of the soma with the tongue of fire.

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3.35.10

इन्द्र॒ पिब॑ स्व॒धया॑ चित्सु॒तस्या॒ग्नेर्वा॑ पाहि जि॒ह्वया॑ यजत्र । अ॒ध्व॒र्योर्वा॒ प्रय॑तं शक्र॒ हस्ता॒द्धोतु॑र्वा य॒ज्ञं ह॒विषो॑ जुषस्व ॥

Indra, glorious ruler of the world, drink of the soma distilled with the tongue of fire. O lord venerable, drink of it and protect it with your strength and power. Lord of power and honour, join and develop the yajna instituted and conducted by the yajamana and the highpriest with oblations of fragrant materials offered with their own hands.

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3.35.11

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

For victory in this battle of life, we invoke, invite and call upon Indra, lord auspicious of bliss, commander of honour, power and prosperity, and the best of men and leaders. For defence, protection, preservation and progress in the struggles of life for development, we look up to him, responsive listener, mighty lustrous destroyer of the demons of darkness and ignorance, and a winner of all round wealth of the nations.

✦ Sukta 36 · 11 verses ✦

3.36.1

इ॒मामू॒ षु प्रभृ॑तिं सा॒तये॑ धाः॒ शश्व॑च्छश्वदू॒तिभि॒र्याद॑मानः । सु॒तेसु॑ते वावृधे॒ वर्ध॑नेभि॒र्यः कर्म॑भिर्म॒हद्भिः॒ सुश्रु॑तो॒ भूत् ॥

Indra, O lord united with friends and devotees by continuous modes of protection, who rise by admirable acts of promotive generosity and advance in honour and reputation by greater and higher actions in one yajna after another, accept this praise and prayer for the gifts of success and acquisitions of value.

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3.36.2

इन्द्रा॑य॒ सोमाः॑ प्र॒दिवो॒ विदा॑ना ऋ॒भुर्येभि॒र्वृष॑पर्वा॒ विहा॑याः । प्र॒य॒म्यमा॑ना॒न्प्रति॒ षू गृ॑भा॒येन्द्र॒ पिब॒ वृष॑धूतस्य॒ वृष्णः॑ ॥

Indra, the somas, essences of energy and enlightenment, are distilled from the heavens by enlightened people for advancement of the honour and excellence of life, by which Rbhu, master of intelligence and expertise in social affairs, grows strong in every aspect of development and destroys the evil which must be destroyed. Indra, lord ruler, drink of this powerful, inspiring, elevating vitality of strength and enlightenment, and hold and govern the elements under control for the protection, promotion and advancement of honour and excellence.

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3.36.3

पिबा॒ वर्ध॑स्व॒ तव॑ घा सु॒तास॒ इन्द्र॒ सोमा॑सः प्रथ॒मा उ॒तेमे । यथापि॑बः पू॒र्व्याँ इ॑न्द्र॒ सोमाँ॑ ए॒वा पा॑हि॒ पन्यो॑ अ॒द्या नवी॑यान् ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, drink of the soma and grow in honour and power. For sure, the somas distilled earlier as well as these new ones distilled today are yours. As you drank of the earlier ones, so drink the new ones today and protect the honour and excellence of life, admirable leader as you are.

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3.36.4

म॒हाँ अम॑त्रो वृ॒जने॑ विर॒प्श्यु१॒॑ग्रं शवः॑ पत्यते धृ॒ष्ण्वोजः॑ । नाह॑ विव्याच पृथि॒वी च॒नैनं॒ यत्सोमा॑सो॒ हर्य॑श्व॒मम॑न्दन् ॥

Great, master of knowledge and power, overwhelming in the battle of life and lord of terrible splendour, Indra possesses and commands informidable prowess and heroism. Even the whole humanity on earth does not comprehend the grandeur of this wondrous power commanding the winds whom the creators of soma, light of the sun, beauty of the moon and fragrances of yajna inspire and enlighten.

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3.36.5

म॒हाँ उ॒ग्रो वा॑वृधे वी॒र्या॑य स॒माच॑क्रे वृष॒भः काव्ये॑न । इन्द्रो॒ भगो॑ वाज॒दा अ॑स्य॒ गावः॒ प्र जा॑यन्ते॒ दक्षि॑णा अस्य पू॒र्वीः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, is great, illustrious, generous and gracious giver of honour and excellence of prosperity. He rises to valorous and virtuous action and achieves every success by the word and vision of Divinity. His lands, cows and lights of knowledge are creative and profuse, and his gifts are always blissful more and ever more.

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3.36.6

प्र यत्सिन्ध॑वः प्रस॒वं यथाय॒न्नापः॑ समु॒द्रं र॒थ्ये॑व जग्मुः । अत॑श्चि॒दिन्द्रः॒ सद॑सो॒ वरी॑या॒न्यदीं॒ सोमः॑ पृ॒णति॑ दु॒ग्धो अं॒शुः ॥

Just as rivers originate and pursue their course to the sea, and as vapours rise to the firmament like chariots going by highways to their destination, so does soma mixed with milk and seasoned in sunlight offered in homage to Indra, supreme power of earth and heaven, inspires, and Indra sits over the assembly as first and presiding power, cream of the nation, bright as sunrays.

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3.36.7

स॒मु॒द्रेण॒ सिन्ध॑वो॒ याद॑माना॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ सोमं॒ सुषु॑तं॒ भर॑न्तः । अं॒शुं दु॑हन्ति ह॒स्तिनो॑ भ॒रित्रै॒र्मध्वः॑ पुनन्ति॒ धार॑या प॒वित्रैः॑ ॥

Just as rivers join the sea bearing distilled soma from the essences of nature for Indra, lord of the world, so do the performers of yajna, men of generous hands, joining the scholars of oceanic depth of learning, distil the soma vitalities of nature and, with hands full of fragrant offerings, sanctify the honey sweets of life with streams of pure and holy showers of piety for honour and glory.

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3.36.8

ह्र॒दाइ॑व कु॒क्षयः॑ सोम॒धानाः॒ समीं॑ विव्याच॒ सव॑ना पु॒रूणि॑ । अन्ना॒ यदिन्द्रः॑ प्रथ॒मा व्याश॑ वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अ॑वृणीत॒ सोम॑म् ॥

Like lakes and mountain valleys are the generous treasure holds of the bearers of soma. Many are the yajnic processes of the creation and reinforcement of the soma nectars. Indra, lord of knowledge and brilliance, when he creates the first foods and nourishments for life and tastes and approves of these, then he, breaker of the clouds, selects soma as the first and most invigorating power.

· · ·

3.36.9

आ तू भ॑र॒ माकि॑रे॒तत्परि॑ ष्ठाद्वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॒ वसु॑पतिं॒ वसू॑नाम् । इन्द्र॒ यत्ते॒ माहि॑नं॒ दत्र॒मस्त्य॒स्मभ्यं॒ तद्ध॑र्यश्व॒ प्र य॑न्धि ॥

Indra, lord of light and life, bear and bring us the soma, fill our treasures, fulfil us wholly. Let no one withhold it from us. We know you are the creator and protector of the wealths of life. O lord of the winds and velocities of energy, bless us with that which is the greatest and highest of your gifts.

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3.36.10

अ॒स्मे प्र य॑न्धि मघवन्नृजीषि॒न्निन्द्र॑ रा॒यो वि॒श्ववा॑रस्य॒ भूरेः॑ । अ॒स्मे श॒तं श॒रदो॑ जी॒वसे॑ धा अ॒स्मे वी॒राञ्छश्व॑त इन्द्र शिप्रिन् ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence of prosperity, lover of purity and excellence of naturalness, ruler and protector of the world, give us abundance of the wealth of universal character and value. O lord of grandeur and handsomeness, bear and bring for us a full life of hundred years, and bless us with an unbroken line of brave progeny.

· · ·

3.36.11

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

In this yajnic struggle of life for peace and plenty and the achievement of speed and excellence, we invoke and call upon Indra, lord of honour, power and innocence of naturalness, giver of joy and best of men and leaders, who listens to us, is lustrous and terrible, and destroys the demons of darkness in the battles for progress and who is the creator, protector and promoter of the wealths of universal value.

✦ Sukta 37 · 11 verses ✦

3.37.1

वार्त्र॑हत्याय॒ शव॑से पृतना॒षाह्या॑य च । इन्द्र॒ त्वा व॑र्तयामसि ॥

Indra, lord of honour and valour, commander of the forces of life and freedom, we pledge to abide by you and exhort you for breaking of the clouds of rain, for the destruction of darkness and evil, for rousing courage and valour, and for challenging and beating back the enemy in battle.And we pray, inspire and exhort us too with full power and preparation.

· · ·

3.37.2

अ॒र्वा॒चीनं॒ सु ते॒ मन॑ उ॒त चक्षुः॑ शतक्रतो । इन्द्र॑ कृ॒ण्वन्तु॑ वा॒घतः॑ ॥

Indra, lord destroyer of evil and enemies, hero of a hundred acts of yajnic creation and development, may the sages of vision, imagination and effective communication refresh and update your mind and eye with foresight so that you face the challenges of the present time successfully.

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3.37.3

नामा॑नि ते शतक्रतो॒ विश्वा॑भिर्गी॒र्भिरी॑महे । इन्द्रा॑भिमाति॒षाह्ये॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler excellent and honourable, hero of a hundred acts of imaginative vision, with all our best words, thoughts and resolutions, we pray and exhort you to realise your names and attributes in action so that under your leadership we may face the challenges of the time successfully against the arrogant and proud enemies.

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3.37.4

पु॒रु॒ष्टु॒तस्य॒ धाम॑भिः श॒तेन॑ महयामसि । इन्द्र॑स्य चर्षणी॒धृतः॑ ॥

We exhort and exalt Indra, universally admired ruler of the world and sustainer of his people, by hundredfold celebrations of his names, attributes and brilliant exploits of heroism.

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3.37.5

इन्द्रं॑ वृ॒त्राय॒ हन्त॑वे पुरुहू॒तमुप॑ ब्रुवे । भरे॑षु॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

I invoke Indra, invoked and worshipped by all, for the destruction of evil and victory in life’s battles for food, energy, prosperity and progress.

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3.37.6

वाजे॑षु सास॒हिर्भ॑व॒ त्वामी॑महे शतक्रतो । इन्द्र॑ वृ॒त्राय॒ हन्त॑वे ॥

Indra, be the challenger, warrior and winner of battles for prosperity and progress. O lord of a hundred creative actions, we invoke, exhort and exhalt you for breakup of the cloud into rain and elimination of the demon of darkness, ignorance, injustice and poverty.

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3.37.7

द्यु॒म्नेषु॑ पृत॒नाज्ये॑ पृत्सु॒तूर्षु॒ श्रवः॑सु च । इन्द्र॒ साक्ष्वा॒भिमा॑तिषु ॥

In the battles of forces in plans and programmes of development for prosperity and excellence, in the contests of forces positive and negative for good and evil, in the onslaughts of stormy troops of hostility, in the efforts for growth in food, energy and enlightenment, in the struggles for self-realisation against pride and arrogance, Indra, O spirit of the soul, voice of conscience, genius of the nation, and invincible strength of character, tolerate, endure, challenge, fight and throw out the enemies of life’s light and joy.

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3.37.8

शु॒ष्मिन्त॑मं न ऊ॒तये॑ द्यु॒म्निनं॑ पाहि॒ जागृ॑विम् । इन्द्र॒ सोमं॑ शतक्रतो ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, protector of life and humanity, leader of a hundred noble actions and master of knowledge, for our protection and progress, protect, defend, govern and promote the strongest and most prosperous, most brilliant and honourable, and the most wakeful and vigilant powers and people, and thus defend and safeguard the honour, happiness and excellence of the nation.

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3.37.9

इ॒न्द्रि॒याणि॑ शतक्रतो॒ या ते॒ जने॑षु प॒ञ्चसु॑ । इन्द्र॒ तानि॑ त॒ आ वृ॑णे ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, master of a hundred noble acts of governance, your powers and organs of perception operating among all the five classes of people, i.e., teachers and intellectuals, ruling powers and defence forces, producers and business men, ancillaries, and others, I accept and honour all these as powers and forces of yours.

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3.37.10

अग॑न्निन्द्र॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हद्द्यु॒म्नं द॑धिष्व दु॒ष्टर॑म् । उत्ते॒ शुष्मं॑ तिरामसि ॥

Indra, ruler and protector of the world, the assets of the dominion are high and rising. Hold and govern this formidable wealth, honour and excellence of the nation. And let us all, we pray, raise and exalt your courage and power, honour and glory.

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3.37.11

अ॒र्वा॒वतो॑ न॒ आ ग॒ह्यथो॑ शक्र परा॒वतः॑ । उ॒ लो॒को यस्ते॑ अद्रिव॒ इन्द्रे॒ह तत॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Indra, lord of might, ruler of the clouds, wielder of the thunderbolt and refulgent as the sun, come to us from far and from near, wherever you are.And whatever or wherever your abode, from there come to us here and now.

✦ Sukta 38 · 10 verses ✦

3.38.1

अ॒भि तष्टे॑व दीधया मनी॒षामत्यो॒ न वा॒जी सु॒धुरो॒ जिहा॑नः । अ॒भि प्रि॒याणि॒ मर्मृ॑श॒त्परा॑णि क॒वीँरि॑च्छामि सं॒दृशे॑ सुमे॒धाः ॥

Just as a wood carver sculpts out a beautiful form of art from a piece of wood, so you shine and sharpen your intelligence, and, thinking and contemplating the farthest favourite places of space, reach there like a ray of light well joined to the sun’s chariot. Such men of intelligence and poets of wisdom I wish to see, intelligent as I am by the grace of Indra.

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3.38.2

इ॒नोत पृ॑च्छ॒ जनि॑मा कवी॒नां म॑नो॒धृतः॑ सु॒कृत॑स्तक्षत॒ द्याम् । इ॒मा उ॑ ते प्र॒ण्यो॒३॒॑ वर्ध॑माना॒ मनो॑वाता॒ अध॒ नु धर्म॑णि ग्मन् ॥

O seeker of knowledge and light divine, ask these men of vision and wisdom about the life and birth of the poets who possess a treasure of knowledge in their mind, do great noble deeds, create knowledge and fashion it forth in heavenly words. And then, may these favourite vibrations of your mind, rising and elevating you, explore and pursue the paths of higher knowledge and Dharma of the universal order.

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3.38.3

नि षी॒मिदत्र॒ गुह्या॒ दधा॑ना उ॒त क्ष॒त्राय॒ रोद॑सी॒ सम॑ञ्जन् । सं मात्रा॑भिर्ममि॒रे ये॒मुरु॒र्वी अ॒न्तर्म॒ही समृ॑ते॒ धाय॑से धुः ॥

Bearing vibrations of the mysterious in their mind here itself in the world, going over the spaces between heaven and earth for the cosmic order, they visualise and measure the world with definitive operations of the imagination, go over and within the earth, and traverse the joining firmament and space between heaven and earth, and realise the cosmic relations in the service of the supreme lord who wields all these together in law.

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3.38.4

आ॒तिष्ठ॑न्तं॒ परि॒ विश्वे॑ अभूष॒ञ्छ्रियो॒ वसा॑नश्चरति॒ स्वरो॑चिः । म॒हत्तद्वृष्णो॒ असु॑रस्य॒ नामा वि॒श्वरू॑पो अ॒मृता॑नि तस्थौ ॥

All the visionary sages realise and celebrate the one lord supreme, robed in his own glory, who pervades the world of existence. Great and glorious are his names and attributes: self-refulgent, omniform, generous and potent, life of life, who sustains the immortals of existence.

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3.38.5

असू॑त॒ पूर्वो॑ वृष॒भो ज्याया॑नि॒मा अ॑स्य शु॒रुधः॑ सन्ति पू॒र्वीः । दिवो॑ नपाता वि॒दथ॑स्य धी॒भिः क्ष॒त्रं रा॑जाना प्र॒दिवो॑ दधाथे ॥

Indra, first and eternal lord, supreme, generous and omnipotent, creates these forms of existence. These ancient forms of this world are life-inspired and lifegiving. Two immortal powers, both ruling and brilliant, Indra and Varuna, Spirit and Energy, ruler and people, with their will and action from the light of heaven hold and sustain the divine yajnic order of nature and humanity and promote the light of knowledge.

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3.38.6

त्रीणि॑ राजाना वि॒दथे॑ पु॒रूणि॒ परि॒ विश्वा॑नि भूषथः॒ सदां॑सि । अप॑श्य॒मत्र॒ मन॑सा जग॒न्वान्व्र॒ते ग॑न्ध॒र्वाँ अपि॑ वा॒युके॑शान् ॥

O brilliant powers of divinity, Indra and Varuna, spirit and energy, ruler and the people, both of you sustain and adorn the three houses of the social order: Executive, Legislature, and Education (Rajarya Sabha, Dharmarya Sabha and Vidyarya Sabha), and you maintain all the various ancient values, forms and institutions of the society. Moving with thought and imagination here itself, I have seen the gandharvas, leaders gifted with speech and ideas flying on the wings of the winds, committed to the sanctity of duty in the holy social order of yajna, serving and sustaining the earth and her environment.

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3.38.7

तदिन्न्व॑स्य वृष॒भस्य॑ धे॒नोरा नाम॑भिर्ममिरे॒ सक्म्यं॒ गोः । अ॒न्यद॑न्यदसु॒र्यं१॒॑ वसा॑ना॒ नि मा॒यिनो॑ ममिरे रू॒पम॑स्मिन् ॥

Sages of vision and imagination measure and describe the nature, character and forms of the earth by the speech and words of this divine and generous Indra, lord of light and knowledge and speech. And these sages and poets, wondrous makers of forms in words and materials, watching the light and energy of divinity in different earthly forms, recreate and re-enact the forms in this social order on this earth.

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3.38.8

तदिन्न्व॑स्य सवि॒तुर्नकि॑र्मे हिर॒ण्ययी॑म॒मतिं॒ यामशि॑श्रेत् । आ सु॑ष्टु॒ती रोद॑सी विश्वमि॒न्वे अपी॑व॒

योषा॒ जनि॑मानि वव्रे ॥

No one can deny nor destroy the light and beauty of the golden gifts of this lord Savita, creator of this beautiful world, or of my recreation of it in word or material or institutional form. Whoever takes to it for support or sustenance wins the showers of universal joy from all pervading heaven and earth just as a young mother receives the pleasure and bliss of the birth of her baby

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3.38.9

यु॒वं प्र॒त्नस्य॑ साधथो म॒हो यद्दैवी॑ स्व॒स्तिः परि॑ णः स्यातम् । गो॒पाजि॑ह्वस्य त॒स्थुषो॒ विरू॑पा॒ विश्वे॑ पश्यन्ति मा॒यिनः॑ कृ॒तानि॑ ॥

Both of you, Indra and Varuna, Spirit and energy, power and justice, ruler and people, bring us straight that great and celestial gift of joy and well being which is the gift of tradition and eternity. May that great and heavenly joy be ours from all sides. Wonderful artists of word and form see and realise all the creations of the constant lord of infinite forms who is the protector of eternal speech and divine consciousness.

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3.38.10

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke Indra, lord of power and majesty for protection and victory in this battle of life. Auspicious is he and blissful, and the best among men and leaders, for the achievement of food, energy and advancement of body, mind and soul for the individual and the nation. He listens. He rises lustrous and blazing at the call for defence and victory, destroys the demons of darkness, violence and poverty in the strifes, breaks the clouds of rain showers and collects the trophies of excellence and glory for his people.

✦ Sukta 39 · 9 verses ✦

3.39.1

इन्द्रं॑ म॒तिर्हृ॒द आ व॒च्यमा॒नाच्छा॒ पतिं॒ स्तोम॑तष्टा जिगाति । या जागृ॑विर्वि॒दथे॑ श॒स्यमा॒नेन्द्र॒ यत्ते॒ जाय॑ते वि॒द्धि तस्य॑ ॥

The song that arises from the heart, which is composed and sung in honour of Indra, father protector and sustainer of the world, reaches him well and directly. Indra, lord of power, love and majesty, accept that song of adoration raised in full consciousness, inspiring in the yajna of life and knowledge, and know it is the song of a devotee. Indra, O worshipful soul, know the nature, character and actions of the Lord Supreme by this song.

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3.39.2

दि॒वश्चि॒दा पू॒र्व्या जाय॑माना॒ वि जागृ॑विर्वि॒दथे॑ श॒स्यमा॑ना । भ॒द्रा वस्त्रा॒ण्यर्जु॑ना॒ वसा॑ना॒ सेयम॒स्मे स॑न॒जा पित्र्या॒ धीः ॥

Coming from the light of Divinity, ancient and eternal, ever rising, ever wakeful and awakening the mind and soul into divine awareness, celebrated in yajna and the sacred ways of life, blessed and blissful, like the dawn, adorned in the purest garb of immaculate words and verses, coexistent with Divine consciousness and abiding with fatherly sages, may that holy light of the Vedic Word be ours.

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3.39.3

य॒मा चि॒दत्र॑ यम॒सूर॑सूत जि॒ह्वाया॒ अग्रं॒ पत॒दा ह्यस्था॑त् । वपूं॑षि जा॒ता मि॑थु॒ना स॑चेते तमो॒हना॒ तपु॑षो बु॒ध्न एता॑ ॥

Just as cosmic energy creates the twin lights of the sun and moon, and just as the sun radiates the circuit of light energy that creates theAshvins, which then bring forth the dawn, which inspires the tip of the tongue in adoration, and the twin flow of light currents dispelling darkness serves to reveal the objects of the world, so does Indra, lord omniscient create the twins of Revelation, word and meaning of the Vedic speech, which both activate the tip of the tongue in spontaneous articulation and stay there. They both together, dispelling the darkness of ignorance in the light of knowledge, stay, serve the world of created objects and stay there in the memory.

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3.39.4

नकि॑रेषां निन्दि॒ता मर्त्ये॑षु॒ ये अ॒स्माकं॑ पि॒तरो॒ गोषु॑ यो॒धाः । इन्द्र॑ एषां दृंहि॒ता माहि॑नावा॒नुद्गो॒त्राणि॑ ससृजे दं॒सना॑वान् ॥

None among living humanity is reviler and maligner of those who are our ancestors, parents and teachers, who are veterans, warriors, in the battles of speech, knowledge and wisdom. Indra, lord of majesty, power and generosity, hero of divine actions, strengthens them with firmness of will and action and creates fortifications for their traditions, institutions and familial lines.

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3.39.5

सखा॑ ह॒ यत्र॒ सखि॑भि॒र्नव॑ग्वैरभि॒ज्ञ्वा सत्व॑भि॒र्गा अ॑नु॒ग्मन् । स॒त्यं तदिन्द्रो॑ द॒शभि॒र्दश॑ग्वैः॒ सूर्यं॑ विवेद॒ तम॑सि क्षि॒यन्त॑म् ॥

Where, in the human body, when the soul is anxious to know the mystery of truth and light divine, does it find the holy cows of the Lord Supreme, words and meanings of ultimate reality, the light? Surely then, there in the body itself, with nine friendly faculties of freshest powers (five pranic energies and mind, intellect, memory and self-awareness), and with another team of ten friends (five pranic energies and five senses), following the path of truth in meditation, the soul discovers the sun, Light Divine, self-refulgent, existing in the depth of the self, otherwise covered under existential darkness of ignorance.

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3.39.6

इन्द्रो॒ मधु॒ संभृ॑तमु॒स्रिया॑यां प॒द्वद्वि॑वेद श॒फव॒न्नमे॒ गोः । गुहा॑ हि॒तं गुह्यं॑ गू॒ळ्हम॒प्सु हस्ते॑ दधे॒ दक्षि॑णे॒ दक्षि॑णावान् ॥

Indra, the soul in pursuit of knowledge and meditation, discovers the honey sweets of the mystery of existence revealed in the light of divinity in the cave of the heart and in the Voice Divine voluble in the folds of memory. It discovers the secrets of motion and velocity and of production and generosity in the Word and in the Light. Let man bow in reverence, be humble and generous, and hold the secret, deeper than the deepest within, on the palm of the right hand. (No pride, no arrogance!)

· · ·

3.39.7

ज्योति॑र्वृणीत॒ तम॑सो विजा॒नन्ना॒रे स्या॑म दुरि॒ताद॒भीके॑ । इ॒मा गिरः॑ सोमपाः सोमवृद्ध जु॒षस्वे॑न्द्र पुरु॒तम॑स्य का॒रोः ॥

The man of knowledge discriminates and separates light from darkness. Let us be fearless, far from sin and evil. Indra, O man elevated by the light and inspiration of the spirit of divinity, O defender of truth and piety, listen and live by these words of the learned poet and artist.

· · ·

3.39.8

ज्योति॑र्य॒ज्ञाय॒ रोद॑सी॒ अनु॑ ष्यादा॒रे स्या॑म दुरि॒तस्य॒ भूरेः॑ । भूरि॑ चि॒द्धि तु॑ज॒तो मर्त्य॑स्य सुपा॒रासो॑ वसवो ब॒र्हणा॑वत् ॥

Let there be light radiating from heaven to earth, and let the fragrance of fire rise from earth to heaven to join the three worlds for the yajna of human existence. Let us be far from sin prevalent around through the light of intelligence. And may the Vasus, sustainers of life on earth and the sages who command the light of knowledge as saviours and redeemers, be generous like celestial oceans with showers of bliss for the man of might and high charity.

· · ·

3.39.9

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke Indra, generous lord of light and majesty, and best of men and leaders, for success in this battle of life. He listens to our call and prayer, rises lustrous and blazing, for our protection and progress, destroying the forces of darkness and winning us the wealths of light and prosperity in our struggles for excellence.

✦ Sukta 40 · 9 verses ✦

3.40.1

इन्द्र॑ त्वा वृष॒भं व॒यं सु॒ते सोमे॑ हवामहे । स पा॑हि॒ मध्वो॒ अन्ध॑सः ॥

In this soma-yajna of the creative business of life when the time is ripe, O lord of honour and majesty, Indra, we invoke and invite you, lord of bliss, mighty brave and generous as rain showers. Come, grace the yajna, and protect and promote the honey sweets of food, energy and the joy of life.

· · ·

3.40.2

इन्द्र॑ क्रतु॒विदं॑ सु॒तं सोमं॑ हर्य पुरुष्टुत । पिबा वृ॑षस्व॒ तातृ॑पिम् ॥

Indra, lover of life and excellence, sung and celebrated by many, cherish the nectar-sweet of soma distilled and inspiring for the completion of yajna. Drink of the delight of life to the lees, to your heart’s content, grow strong and vigorous, and shower the blessings of divinity on the celebrants.

· · ·

3.40.3

इन्द्र॒ प्र णो॑ धि॒तावा॑नं य॒ज्ञं विश्वे॑भिर्दे॒वेभिः॑ । ति॒रः स्त॑वान विश्पते ॥

Indra, lord of might and majesty, ruler and protector of the people, celebrated defender of truth and rectitude, destroyer of darkness and evil, come with all the nobilities of humanity and promote and perfect this yajna of ours so that it overflows with the bounties of life and nature for all.

· · ·

3.40.4

इन्द्र॒ सोमाः॑ सु॒ता इ॒मे तव॒ प्र य॑न्ति सत्पते । क्षयं॑ च॒न्द्रास॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge, protector of truth and lovers of rectitude, all these soma essences of nature, distilled, seasoned and reinforced, soothing sweet and inspiring, trickling in drops and flowing in streams, come to your abode.

· · ·

3.40.5

द॒धि॒ष्वा ज॒ठरे॑ सु॒तं सोम॑मिन्द्र॒ वरे॑ण्यम् । तव॑ द्यु॒क्षास॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

Indra, lover of life and health a long age, the soma distilled drop by drop in sunlight is selected for you. Take it, bear it in the stomach, and it will give you the vigour and joy of a full life.

· · ·

3.40.6

गिर्व॑णः पा॒हि नः॑ सु॒तं मधो॒र्धारा॑भिरज्यसे । इन्द्र॒ त्वादा॑त॒मिद्यशः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of honour, excellence and majesty, honoured by songs of celebration, served and pleased with streams of sweet soma in homage, pray protect and promote our soma-yajna of life and endeavour. By you alone is acknowledged the honour, joy and value of life and karma.

· · ·

3.40.7

अ॒भि द्यु॒म्नानि॑ व॒निन॒ इन्द्रं॑ सचन्ते॒ अक्षि॑ता । पी॒त्वी सोम॑स्य वावृधे ॥

Seekers and celebrants, serve Indra and pray for honour, excellence and prosperity of imperishable value, and as I drink of the soma of his grace, so he too waxes in divine joy as he accepts our homage.

· · ·

3.40.8

अ॒र्वा॒वतो॑ न॒ आ ग॑हि परा॒वत॑श्च वृत्रहन् । इ॒मा जु॑षस्व नो॒ गिरः॑ ॥

Indra, lord destroyer of the clouds of darkness, giver of the showers of joy and prosperity, come to us, dynamic celebrants of life and divinity, come from far and near, receive, acknowledge and cherish these songs of ours offered in homage.

· · ·

3.40.9

यद॑न्त॒रा प॑रा॒वत॑मर्वा॒वतं॑ च हू॒यसे॑ । इन्द्रे॒ह तत॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Indra, lord giver of prosperity, invoked from within, from far and from near, come from there, anywhere, take us and bless us with grace.

✦ Sukta 41 · 9 verses ✦

3.41.1

आ तू न॑ इन्द्र म॒द्र्य॑ग्घुवा॒नः सोम॑पीतये । हरि॑भ्यां याह्यद्रिवः ॥

Come lord of clouds and mountains, Indra, illustrious as the sun, invoked and invited, come straight to us, wholly without reserve, come for a drink of soma by horses fast as wings of the winds.

· · ·

3.41.2

स॒त्तो होता॑ न ऋ॒त्विय॑स्तिस्ति॒रे ब॒र्हिरा॑नु॒षक् । अयु॑ज्रन्प्रा॒तरद्र॑यः ॥

The yajaka is seated for our yajna according to the season, the seats are fixed and spread in order, the stones have been used for the morning libations.

· · ·

3.41.3

इ॒मा ब्रह्म॑ ब्रह्मवाहः क्रि॒यन्त॒ आ ब॒र्हिः सी॑द । वी॒हि शू॑र पुरो॒ळाश॑म् ॥

These hymns are sung in honour of Divinity. O Spirit Divine, come and grace the sacred grass. O lord of power and majesty, come and enjoy the delicious offering.

· · ·

3.41.4

रा॒र॒न्धि सव॑नेषु ण ए॒षु स्तोमे॑षु वृत्रहन् । उ॒क्थेष्वि॑न्द्र गिर्वणः ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, destroyer of darkness and evil, breaker of clouds and harbinger of showers, celebrated in song, abide and rejoice in these celebrations of the season’s prosperity in our yajnas, in these hymns of divinity and in these holy chants of mantras.

· · ·

3.41.5

म॒तयः॑ सोम॒पामु॒रुं रि॒हन्ति॒ शव॑स॒स्पति॑म् । इन्द्रं॑ व॒त्सं न मा॒तरः॑ ॥

Intelligent people love Indra, great and broad minded, lover of soma and protector of honour and prosperity, and commander of strength and power, just the same way as cows love their calf.

· · ·

3.41.6

स म॑न्दस्वा॒ ह्यन्ध॑सो॒ राध॑से त॒न्वा॑ म॒हे । न स्तो॒तारं॑ नि॒दे क॑रः ॥

Indra, lord lover of soma and commander of power, rejoice at heart with your whole personality for the realisation of food, energy and wealth of life. Let not your devotee and celebrant face an occasion of embarrassment, blame, insult or contempt.

· · ·

3.41.7

व॒यमि॑न्द्र त्वा॒यवो॑ ह॒विष्म॑न्तो जरामहे । उ॒त त्वम॑स्म॒युर्व॑सो ॥

Indra, lord of love and power, we, your devotees and admirers, bearing gifts of homage, sing and celebrate your honour. And you love us too, our very shelter and home.

· · ·

3.41.8

मारे अ॒स्मद्वि मु॑मुचो॒ हरि॑प्रिया॒र्वाङ् या॑हि । इन्द्र॑ स्वधावो॒ मत्स्वे॒ह ॥

Indra, lord lover of speed and progress, forsake us not, leave us not, go not far away, come hither close to us. Lord self-sufficient and self-refulgent, be here with us. Rejoice.

· · ·

3.41.9

अ॒र्वाञ्चं॑ त्वा सु॒खे रथे॒ वह॑तामिन्द्र के॒शिना॑ । घृ॒तस्नू॑ ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑ ॥

May two carriers with flames of fire, fed on clarified and bright burning fuel, carry you forward, up and down, in a comfortable car and reach you to the heights of the sky.

✦ Sukta 42 · 9 verses ✦

3.42.1

उप॑ नः सु॒तमा ग॑हि॒ सोम॑मिन्द्र॒ गवा॑शिरम् । हरि॑भ्यां॒ यस्ते॑ अस्म॒युः ॥

Indra, lord of power and honour, come hither to our soma yajna and taste our soma seasoned with cow’s milk. Come by your chariot drawn by horses, selfprogrammed to reach us.

· · ·

3.42.2

तमि॑न्द्र॒ मद॒मा ग॑हि बर्हिः॒ष्ठां ग्राव॑भिः सु॒तम् । कु॒विन्न्व॑स्य तृ॒प्णवः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power, honour and prosperity, come taste this pleasure of soma floating in the skies and distilled by the clouds. Great are the virtues of this soma, highly soothing, satisfying and inspiring..

· · ·

3.42.3

इन्द्र॑मि॒त्था गिरो॒ ममाच्छा॑गुरिषि॒ता इ॒तः । आ॒वृते॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Let my words of adoration thus inspired rise up from here and reach across the sky beyond the clouds to share the ecstasy of soma with Indra.

· · ·

3.42.4

इन्द्रं॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॒ स्तोमै॑रि॒ह ह॑वामहे । उ॒क्थेभिः॑ कु॒विदा॒गम॑त् ॥

We invoke and invite Indra, lord of energy and knowledge, here, with songs of adoration and words of sacred speech, to have a drink of soma, and we pray he may come again and again.

· · ·

3.42.5

इन्द्र॒ सोमाः॑ सु॒ता इ॒मे तान्द॑धिष्व शतक्रतो । ज॒ठरे॑ वाजिनीवसो ॥

Indra, father of morning freshness, lord of a hundred acts of yajna, distilled are these soma essences. Take these, hold them safe in the treasury of this world for a fresh lease of life’s energy.

· · ·

3.42.6

वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॑ धनंज॒यं वाजे॑षु दधृ॒षं क॑वे । अधा॑ ते सु॒म्नमी॑महे ॥

We know you for sure, O lord of knowledge and vision, winner of wealth and bold fighter of battles for health and energy. And now we pray to you for the gift of peace and comfort of well-being.

· · ·

3.42.7

इ॒ममि॑न्द्र॒ गवा॑शिरं॒ यवा॑शिरं च नः पिब । आ॒गत्या॒ वृष॑भिः सु॒तम् ॥

Indra, lord of power, honour and energy, come and have a drink of this soma of ours filtered with the shower of clouds, reinforced with rays of the sun and accompanied by a diet of barley milk.

· · ·

3.42.8

तुभ्येदि॑न्द्र॒ स्व ओ॒क्ये॒३॒॑ सोमं॑ चोदामि पी॒तये॑ । ए॒ष रा॑रन्तु ते हृ॒दि ॥

Indra, lord lover of power and energy, for your drink I distil and reinforce this soma in my own yajnic house of science. It would inspire, strengthen and delight your heart.

· · ·

3.42.9

त्वां सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ प्र॒त्नमि॑न्द्र हवामहे । कु॒शि॒कासो॑ अव॒स्यवः॑ ॥

Indra, veteran lord and ruler of the world, we children of knowledge and humility invoke and invite you to have a drink of the soma of our own making for the sake of protection and progress.

✦ Sukta 43 · 8 verses ✦

3.43.1

आ या॑ह्य॒र्वाङुप॑ वन्धुरे॒ष्ठास्तवेदनु॑ प्र॒दिवः॑ सोम॒पेय॑म् । प्रि॒या सखा॑या॒ वि मु॒चोप॑ ब॒र्हिस्त्वामि॒मे ह॑व्य॒वाहो॑ हवन्ते ॥

Indra, lord of honour and power, riding your chariot, come to us for a drink of soma, brilliant and exhilarating, distilled from the light of the sun. Leave your favourite horses behind. These yajakas bearing fragrant offers of homage invite you to the yajna vedi.

· · ·

3.43.2

आ या॑हि पू॒र्वीरति॑ चर्ष॒णीराँ अ॒र्य आ॒शिष॒ उप॑ नो॒ हरि॑भ्याम् । इ॒मा हि त्वा॑ म॒तयः॒ स्तोम॑तष्टा॒ इन्द्र॒ हव॑न्ते स॒ख्यं जु॑षा॒णाः ॥

Indra, lord and leader of the nation, come to us across the multitude of people by your chariot of horse power to receive our blessings of old and our good wishes. These worshipful people all with songs of adoration invoke and invite you, they love to be friends with you.

· · ·

3.43.3

आ नो॑ य॒ज्ञं न॑मो॒वृधं॑ स॒जोषा॒ इन्द्र॑ देव॒ हरि॑भिर्याहि॒ तूय॑म् । अ॒हं हि त्वा॑ म॒तिभि॒र्जोह॑वीमि घृ॒तप्र॑याः सध॒मादे॒ मधू॑नाम् ॥

Indra, brilliant creator of wealth and master of development, come fast by your car of motive power as a friend to join our yajnic programme of development for the growth of food, energy and overall prosperity. With the best of people, in the best of words and thought, I invite you and welcome you with the best of delicious offerings to our house of honey sweets.

· · ·

3.43.4

आ च॒ त्वामे॒ता वृष॑णा॒ वहा॑तो॒ हरी॒ सखा॑या सु॒धुरा॒ स्वङ्गा॑ । धा॒नाव॒दिन्द्रः॒ सव॑नं जुषा॒णः सखा॒ सख्युः॑ शृणव॒द्वन्द॑नानि ॥

And while these mighty friendly powers of light and wind, well employed in a beautiful car immaculately built, transport you to join the session of developmental programme as a partner, I pray, O friend, listen to the adorations of a friend.

· · ·

3.43.5

कु॒विन्मा॑ गो॒पां कर॑से॒ जन॑स्य कु॒विद्राजा॑नं मघवन्नृजीषिन् । कु॒विन्म॒ ऋषिं॑ पपि॒वांसं॑ सु॒तस्य॑ कु॒विन्मे॒ वस्वो॑ अ॒मृत॑स्य॒ शिक्षाः॑ ॥

O lord, make me a great protector of the cow, the earth and the holy Word. Lord of wealth and power, lover of simple and natural ways of living, make me a brilliant guardian of the people. Make me a man of sagely vision, a seer of divine mantras, and bless me with knowledge and immense wealth of imperishable value.

· · ·

3.43.6

आ त्वा॑ बृ॒हन्तो॒ हर॑यो युजा॒ना अ॒र्वागि॑न्द्र सध॒मादो॑ वहन्तु । प्र ये द्वि॒ता दि॒व ऋ॒ञ्जन्त्याताः॒ सुसं॑मृष्टासो वृष॒भस्य॑ मू॒राः ॥

Indra, adorable lord giver of honour, excellence and prosperity, the motive powers of your chariot, mighty and harnessed together like fire and wind, impetuous forces of potent and generative nature, rise and fly to the heights of the sky, dividing the space, as if, into two. May these powers, well refined, reinforced and accelerated, complementarily exhilarated, carry you forward and transport you to our house of yajnic development.

· · ·

3.43.7

इन्द्र॒ पिब॒ वृष॑धूतस्य॒ वृष्ण॒ आ यं ते॑ श्ये॒न उ॑श॒ते ज॒भार॑ । यस्य॒ मदे॑ च्या॒वय॑सि॒ प्र कृ॒ष्टीर्यस्य॒ मदे॒ अप॑ गो॒त्रा व॒वर्थ॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and passion for life, drink of the potent soma created by the vibrations of generous nature and brought down from the sky by the eagle flights of your car for you, lord of love and ambition, for your people. It is in the ecstasy of soma that you inspire the children of the earth with energy, and it is in the ecstasy of that energy that the earth abides and turns round and round.

· · ·

3.43.8

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke, invite and call upon Indra, lord creator and giver of knowledge, best of the leaders of humanity, in this battle between the learned and the ignorant, for success in discrimination between knowledge of truth and ignorance, for initiation and completion of our search for knowledge and in our battles between the good and evil forces. We call upon Indra, destroyer of conflict, winner of wealth and knowledge, sympathetic listener and lustrous lord of judgement and discrimination, and above all commander of wealth, power and honour for the good of humanity.

✦ Sukta 44 · 5 verses ✦

3.44.1

अ॒यं ते॑ अस्तु हर्य॒तः सोम॒ आ हरि॑भिः सु॒तः । जु॒षा॒ण इ॑न्द्र॒ हरि॑भिर्न॒ आ ग॒ह्या ति॑ष्ठ॒ हरि॑तं॒ रथ॑म् ॥

Indra, lord lover of soma and the honour and lustre of life, this soma is dedicated to you. Brought by your carrier powers, let it be for you. To taste of it and enjoy it, ride the chariot drawn by the powers of horse and come to us. (The chariot is the chariot of the sun and the horses are sun-rays.)

· · ·

3.44.2

ह॒र्यन्नु॒षस॑मर्चयः॒ सूर्यं॑ ह॒र्यन्न॑रोचयः । वि॒द्वांश्चि॑कि॒त्वान्ह॑र्यश्व वर्धस॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑ अ॒भि श्रियः॑ ॥

Lord of love and beauty, you shine the dawn. Lord of light, you illuminate the sun. Lord omniscient, light of the world, Indra, riding the sun-rays, you create and augment all the beauty and wealth of the world.

· · ·

3.44.3

द्यामिन्द्रो॒ हरि॑धायसं पृथि॒वीं हरि॑वर्पसम् । अधा॑रयद्ध॒रितो॒र्भूरि॒ भोज॑नं॒ ययो॑र॒न्तर्हरि॒श्चर॑त् ॥

The heaven which holds the light of the sun, the earth which wears the green apparel of light, and the middle regions between heaven and earth in which the light shines and the winds blow and where food for life abounds in plenty, Indra, lord of light and life holds it all and sustains.

· · ·

3.44.4

ज॒ज्ञा॒नो हरि॑तो॒ वृषा॒ विश्व॒मा भा॑ति रोच॒नम् । हर्य॑श्वो॒ हरि॑तं धत्त॒ आयु॑ध॒मा वज्रं॑ बा॒ह्वोर्हरि॑म् ॥

Rising and manifesting, the potent lord of light and showers of generosity illuminates the beautiful world of existence. The lord of sunrays in his arms wields the blazing weapon of thunder and lightning. And he holds and sustains the sun and shines selfrefulgent.

· · ·

3.44.5

इन्द्रो॑ ह॒र्यन्त॒मर्जु॑नं॒ वज्रं॑ शु॒क्रैर॒भीवृ॑तम् । अपा॑वृणो॒द्धरि॑भि॒रद्रि॑भिः सु॒तमुद्गा हरि॑भिराजत ॥

Indra, the sun, with its brilliant rays, uncovers and manifests his glorious form of light girdled round by the radiant halo and with his light reaches and rereveals the earth and her environment sprinkled over by cloud showers.

✦ Sukta 45 · 5 verses ✦

3.45.1

आ म॒न्द्रैरि॑न्द्र॒ हरि॑भिर्या॒हि म॒यूर॑रोमभिः । मा त्वा॒ के चि॒न्नि य॑म॒न्विं न पा॒शिनोऽति॒ धन्वे॑व॒ ताँ इ॑हि ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, come by the rays of light, beautiful and colourful as the feathers of the peacock. May none, as fowlers ensnare birds, catch you. Outskirt the fowlers as a rainbow and come.

· · ·

3.45.2

वृ॒त्र॒खा॒दो व॑लंरु॒जः पु॒रां द॒र्मो अ॒पाम॒जः । स्थाता॒ रथ॑स्य॒ हर्यो॑रभिस्व॒र इन्द्रो॑ दृ॒ळ्हा चि॑दारु॒जः ॥

Indra is the breaker of the clouds. He shatters the caverns of the demons, routs the cities of sin and releases the flow of waters. Sitting firm in the middle of the chariot behind the horses in the uproar like the sun on the back of the rays, he breaks even the unbreakables.

· · ·

3.45.3

ग॒म्भी॒राँ उ॑द॒धीँरि॑व॒ क्रतुं॑ पुष्यसि॒ गा इ॑व । प्र सु॑गो॒पा यव॑सं धे॒नवो॑ यथा ह्र॒दं कु॒ल्या इ॑वाशत ॥

Indra, lord of life, power and prosperity, you promote and overfill the yajna and bless the yajamana like the deep sea and protect the earths, cows and the grass for them. As a good cowherd protects and feeds the cows and guards the fodder for the cows, so do you, O man, protect and promote the yajna. And as the cows gain the food, and as the rivers and rivulets reach the sea for self-fulfilment, so would you enjoy the delicacies of life and reach the Lord, Indra, for self-fulfilment.

· · ·

3.45.4

आ न॒स्तुजं॑ र॒यिं भ॒रांशं॒ न प्र॑तिजान॒ते । वृ॒क्षं प॒क्वं फल॑म॒ङ्कीव॑ धूनु॒हीन्द्र॑ सं॒पार॑णं॒ वसु॑ ॥

Bring us wealth of the world, brilliant and indestructible, as our share, for the devotees in a bond of covenant. As a gardener with his hook shakes a tree laden with ripe fruit, so shake for us the auspicious tree of life and bring down the fruits of wealth and light from the heights of heaven to help us cross the seas of the material world.

· · ·

3.45.5

स्व॒युरि॑न्द्र स्व॒राळ॑सि॒ स्मद्दि॑ष्टिः॒ स्वय॑शस्तरः । स वा॑वृधा॒न ओज॑सा पुरुष्टुत॒ भवा॑ नः सु॒श्रव॑स्तमः ॥

Indra, you are self-sufficient, self-refulgent, sovereign, innately honourable, self-growing with your own lustre, universally admired and celebrated. Be most kind and benevolent to us, we pray.

✦ Sukta 46 · 5 verses ✦

3.46.1

यु॒ध्मस्य॑ ते वृष॒भस्य॑ स्व॒राज॑ उ॒ग्रस्य॒ यूनः॒ स्थवि॑रस्य॒ घृष्वेः॑ । अजू॑र्यतो व॒ज्रिणो॑ वी॒र्या॒३॒॑णीन्द्र॑ श्रु॒तस्य॑ मह॒तो म॒हानि॑ ॥

Indra, great are the acts and achievements of yours, Indra, mighty fighter, virile and generous, selfrefulgent, lustrous and blazing, young, firm and senior, fierce challenger, unaging youthful, hero of thunder and lightning, famous and great.

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3.46.2

म॒हाँ अ॑सि महिष॒ वृष्ण्ये॑भिर्धन॒स्पृदु॑ग्र॒ सह॑मानो अ॒न्यान् । एको॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ राजा॒ स यो॒धया॑ च क्ष॒यया॑ च॒ जना॑न् ॥

Great you are, adorable high, mighty winner of wealth with showers of generosity, fierce and potent, challenger and vanquisher of adversaries. You alone are the sole ruler of the world. Go, move the people, make them fight the adversities and settle them in peaceful homes.

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3.46.3

प्र मात्रा॑भी रिरिचे॒ रोच॑मानः॒ प्र दे॒वेभि॑र्वि॒श्वतो॒ अप्र॑तीतः । प्र म॒ज्मना॑ दि॒व इन्द्रः॑ पृथि॒व्याः प्रोरोर्म॒हो अ॒न्तरि॑क्षादृजी॒षी ॥

Self-refulgent, Indra exceeds all measures of definition and description. With his own majesty, he is uncomprehended by all the brilliancies of the world. With his own omnipotence, he is greater than heaven and earth. And simple and natural in character and function, he is greater than the mighty space and time in existence.

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3.46.4

उ॒रुं ग॑भी॒रं ज॒नुषा॒भ्यु१॒॑ग्रं वि॒श्वव्य॑चसमव॒तं म॑ती॒नाम् । इन्द्रं॒ सोमा॑सः प्र॒दिवि॑ सु॒तासः॑ समु॒द्रं न स्र॒वत॒ आ वि॑शन्ति ॥

Men of peace and vision, fed on the light of divinity and nectar from heaven, attain and enter the presence of Indra, vast and deep, potent and lustrous by nature, all-world comprehensive, guardian of humanity and promoter of collective vision and intelligence, in the same way as streams of water flow and reach and enter the ocean.

· · ·

3.46.5

यं सोम॑मिन्द्र पृथि॒वीद्यावा॒ गर्भं॒ न मा॒ता बि॑भृ॒तस्त्वा॒या । तं ते॑ हिन्वन्ति॒ तमु॑ ते मृजन्त्यध्व॒र्यवो॑ वृषभ॒ पात॒वा उ॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power, honour and generosity, the soma, life’s joy and ecstasy, which by virtue of your love and law, earth and heaven bear as a mother bears the baby in her womb, the highpriests of the yajna of love and nonviolence purify and promote as homage in service to you.

✦ Sukta 47 · 5 verses ✦

3.47.1

म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र वृष॒भो रणा॑य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑मनुष्व॒धं मदा॑य । आ सि॑ञ्चस्व ज॒ठरे॒ मध्व॑ ऊ॒र्मिं त्वं राजा॑सि प्र॒दिवः॑ सु॒ताना॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of the winds and showers of favour from heaven, drink the soma of the light of divinity and life’s joy and ecstasy to your heart’s content for inspiration and exhilaration. Let the waves of the honey sweets of soma quench your thirst and exhilarate your ambition. You are the ruler and protector of the light and joy distilled from heaven on earth.

· · ·

3.47.2

स॒जोषा॑ इन्द्र॒ सग॑णो म॒रुद्भिः॒ सोमं॑ पिब वृत्र॒हा शू॑र वि॒द्वान् । ज॒हि शत्रूँ॒रप॒ मृधो॑ नुद॒स्वाथाभ॑यं कृणुहि वि॒श्वतो॑ नः ॥

Indra, friend of humanity, companion at the table, commander of the winds and forces of your auxiliaries, breaker of the cloud and dispeller of darkness, wise and brave, destroy the enemies, initiate and push on the battles, and create fearlessness all round for us.

· · ·

3.47.3

उ॒त ऋ॒तुर्भि॑र्ऋतुपाः पाहि॒ सोम॒मिन्द्र॑ दे॒वेभिः॒ सखि॑भिः सु॒तं नः॑ । याँ आभ॑जो म॒रुतो॒ ये त्वान्वह॑न्वृ॒त्रमद॑धु॒स्तुभ्य॒मोजः॑ ॥

Indra, ordainer, preserver and sustainer of the cycle of seasons, protect and promote the soma distilled by divines and friends for us according to the seasons. Protect and promote the Maruts, storm troops of yours who, in your service, destroy adversaries, dispel darkness to bring in the light of reason and divinity, bring showers of rain and, for you, win and bear the honour and grandeur of majesty.

· · ·

3.47.4

ये त्वा॑हि॒हत्ये॑ मघव॒न्नव॑र्ध॒न्ये शा॑म्ब॒रे ह॑रिवो॒ ये गवि॑ष्टौ । ये त्वा॑ नू॒नम॑नु॒मद॑न्ति॒ विप्राः॒ पिबे॑न्द्र॒ सोमं॒ सग॑णो म॒रुद्भिः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of honour, prosperity and majesty, drink the soma with your friends and stormy troops of the Maruts who did you proud in battle against the darkness of serpentine forces, and, O lord of sunrays, who fight on in the battle for waters, light and cows, and celebrate with those wise scholars and sages who exhilarate, exalt and enlighten you in the joy of victory.

· · ·

3.47.5

म॒रुत्व॑न्तं वृष॒भं वा॑वृधा॒नमक॑वारिं दि॒व्यं शा॒समिन्द्र॑म् । वि॒श्वा॒साह॒मव॑से॒ नूत॑नायो॒ग्रं स॑हो॒दामि॒ह तं हु॑वेम ॥

Here on the yajna vedi of our social order, for the latest modes of defence and protection, we invoke, exalt and celebrate Indra, commander of the stormy troops of Maruts, virile and generous with showers of favours, progressive and advancing in glory, universal friend having no enemies, heavenly, noble ruler, mighty glorious, all patient and all victorious, blazing brave and giver of strength and fortitude.

✦ Sukta 48 · 5 verses ✦

3.48.1

स॒द्यो ह॑ जा॒तो वृ॑ष॒भः क॒नीनः॒ प्रभ॑र्तुमाव॒दन्ध॑सः सु॒तस्य॑ । सा॒धोः पि॑ब प्रतिका॒मं यथा॑ ते॒ रसा॑शिरः प्रथ॒मं सो॒म्यस्य॑ ॥

The newly risen sun, mighty generous and beautiful, protects the essence of food in order to sustain and promote it for life. Indra, O sun, drink first the good and delicious essence of soma mixed with milk as it suits your desire, and protect and promote the soma for life. (The mantra also applies to the brilliant ruler of the social order, and every new authority of taxation and the defence, protection, promotion and development of the people and the order, the primary aim being happiness and progress of society with taxes as the means and not the end strictly, with reference to the needs of the system. The mantra can also apply to the birth of human life, its growth and maturity. It can be applied to the birth of the sun itself in the process of creative evolution. In short, Indra should be interpreted as the sun, the human soul, i.e., jivatma, the creative energy and the ruler.)

· · ·

3.48.2

यज्जाय॑था॒स्तदह॑रस्य॒ कामें॒ऽशोः पी॒यूष॑मपिबो गिरि॒ष्ठाम् । तं ते॑ मा॒ता परि॒ योषा॒ जनि॑त्री म॒हः पि॒तुर्दम॒ आसि॑ञ्च॒दग्रे॑ ॥

As you were born, that same day, in the desire for life and sustenance, you drank the nectar sweet of soma abiding and maturing in the cloud and on the mountain, which your loving mother, as life’s creative spirit, inspired with love, recreated and nourished for you in the house of your great father much in advance of your birth.

· · ·

3.48.3

उ॒प॒स्थाय॑ मा॒तर॒मन्न॑मैट्ट ति॒ग्मम॑पश्यद॒भि सोम॒मूधः॑ । प्र॒या॒वय॑न्नचर॒द्गृत्सो॑ अ॒न्यान्म॒हानि॑ चक्रे पुरु॒धप्र॑तीकः ॥

Having approached the mother, he yearned for food and saw her breast overflowing with exhilarating soma of milky food and fiery energy. Growing, going forward, moving and leading others, strong and wise, versatile in form and action, he performs great deeds.

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3.48.4

उ॒ग्रस्तु॑रा॒षाळ॒भिभू॑त्योजा यथाव॒शं त॒न्वं॑ चक्र ए॒षः । त्वष्टा॑र॒मिन्द्रो॑ ज॒नुषा॑भि॒भूया॒मुष्या॒ सोम॑मपिबच्च॒मूषु॑ ॥

Blazing brave, lustrous and impetuous victor over fastest forces, overwhelming in strength, he is a versatile master of his manifestation in action. By nature and birth he commands and controls the creative energy for development and, drawing it in from nature, he drinks the soma from all sources of nature and humanity.

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3.48.5

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke, invite and call upon Indra, auspicious and benevolent giver, commander of wealth, power and honour, best of men and leaders, for protection, defence and victory in this battle of life. He listens to prayer for protection in battles and rises, a fierce fighter, destroyer of demons and dark clouds, and winner of the wealths of life.

✦ Sukta 49 · 5 verses ✦

3.49.1

शंसा॑ म॒हामिन्द्रं॒ यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॒ आ कृ॒ष्टयः॑ सोम॒पाः काम॒मव्य॑न् । यं सु॒क्रतुं॑ धि॒षणे॑ विभ्वत॒ष्टं घ॒नं वृ॒त्राणां॑ ज॒नय॑न्त दे॒वाः ॥

Celebrate and glorify Indra, ruler of the world, great, hero of noble actions, fashioned by all pervading divinity, breaker of the clouds and dispeller of the forces of darkness, whom the brilliancies of the world elect and heaven and earth consecrate as ruler, and in whom all soma-makers and soma-lovers of the world find fulfilment of their heart’s desire.

· · ·

3.49.2

यं नु नकिः॒ पृत॑नासु स्व॒राजं॑ द्वि॒ता तर॑ति॒ नृत॑मं हरि॒ष्ठाम् । इ॒नत॑मः॒ सत्व॑भि॒र्यो ह॑ शू॒षैः पृ॑थु॒ज्रया॑ अमिना॒दायु॒र्दस्योः॑ ॥

In battles, none for certain can surpass Indra, self-refulgent and blazing by his manifold strength. Best of men and leaders is he, abiding with humanity in command of his impetuous forces. Most potent is he and most determined, widest in reach and effect, and with his essential purity of mind and strength of character, he frustrates the life and age of the wicked to naught.

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3.49.3

स॒हावा॑ पृ॒त्सु त॒रणि॒र्नार्वा॑ व्यान॒शी रोद॑सी मे॒हना॑वान् । भगो॒ न का॒रे हव्यो॑ मती॒नां पि॒तेव॒ चारुः॑ सु॒हवो॑ वयो॒धाः ॥

Undeterred and victorious in battles, instant in action, going forward like a current of energy, he vibrates through heaven and earth. Rich and generous, lord of power and prosperity, he is to be invoked and invited in yajnic programmes of enlightened people like a very shower of rain. And he is kind and generous, ever gracious, ready like a father with gifts of life and sustenance for his children.

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3.49.4

ध॒र्ता दि॒वो रज॑सस्पृ॒ष्ट ऊ॒र्ध्वो रथो॒ न वा॒युर्वसु॑भिर्नि॒युत्वा॑न् । क्ष॒पां व॒स्ता ज॑नि॒ता सूर्य॑स्य॒ विभ॑क्ता भा॒गं धि॒षणे॑व॒ वाज॑म् ॥

Sustainer of the light of heaven and earth and the skies, all pervasive, going high and higher like a chariot, mighty as the wind, controller and ruler of the people by the people, he is the light of dawn after the night of darkness, creator and harbinger of new and higher light, and, like the generous heaven and earth, giver of our share of food, energy and success in life.

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3.49.5

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

In this battle of our life for food, energy and victory in the struggle, we invoke, invite and call upon Indra, best and highest of men and leaders, auspicious and generous lord of power and prosperity. Bright and blazing is he, listens graciously when we call upon him in the battles for defence, protection and success, destroys the demons of darkness, and wins the wealths of life for his children and celebrants.

✦ Sukta 50 · 5 verses ✦

3.50.1

इन्द्रः॒ स्वाहा॑ पिबतु॒ यस्य॒ सोम॑ आ॒गत्या॒ तुम्रो॑ वृष॒भो म॒रुत्वा॑न् । ओरु॒व्यचाः॑ पृणतामे॒भिरन्नै॒रास्य॑ ह॒विस्त॒न्वः१॒॑ काम॑मृध्याः ॥

Indra, strong, virile and generous, lord creator and giver of power, prosperity and excellence of life, commanding the force of the winds and stormy troops over the wide world, may, we pray, come, and having come enjoy the offerings made in truth of word and deed with faith and humility and, pleased with these offerings, grant fulfilment of the devotee’s mission of earthly existence.

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3.50.2

आ ते॑ सप॒र्यू ज॒वसे॑ युनज्मि॒ ययो॒रनु॑ प्र॒दिवः॑ श्रु॒ष्टिमावः॑ । इ॒ह त्वा॑ धेयु॒र्हर॑यः सुशिप्र॒ पिबा॒ त्व१॒॑स्य सुषु॑तस्य॒ चारोः॑ ॥

For your fast movement in work and travel I employ the fastest vehicles and appoint the most dynamic people in your service by which you come fast and protect the light of the world for us. O warrior of the helmet, lord of beauty and grace, may the intelligent and industrious people help you on here where you may drink this delicious soma of our making with them.

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3.50.3

गोभि॑र्मिमि॒क्षुं द॑धिरे सुपा॒रमिन्द्रं॒ ज्यैष्ठ्या॑य॒ धाय॑से गृणा॒नाः । म॒न्दा॒नः सोमं॑ पपि॒वाँ ऋ॑जीषि॒न्त्सम॒स्मभ्यं॑ पुरु॒धा गा इ॑षण्य ॥

With words of welcome and praise, the celebrants install and consecrate Indra, the ruler, generous as showers and saviour promoter of the common wealth, in the highest office of governance. O lord ruler, drink and enjoy the soma of the nation’s prosperity and happiness, and, moving on the simple and natural paths of progress, initiate, inspire, and bring us many ways the knowledge, lands and cows required for the people.

· · ·

3.50.4

इ॒मं कामं॑ मन्दया॒ गोभि॒रश्वै॑श्च॒न्द्रव॑ता॒ राध॑सा प॒प्रथ॑श्च । स्व॒र्यवो॑ म॒तिभि॒स्तुभ्यं॒ विप्रा॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ वाहः॑ कुशि॒कासो॑ अक्रन् ॥

This desire, prayer and programme, O lord of power and prosperity, fulfil to our heart’s desire over the earth and extend it to the heights of heaven, with abundance of cows, horses, golden prosperity and celebrated means of success and advancement. May there be glory to you and joy come to the earth. In search of light and joy, earnest sages and scholars of holy Shastras with their understanding, imagination and resolution, together with the will of the people, compose this prayer and exhortation for you, lord ruler of the world, and present it to you for the honour and excellence of life.

· · ·

3.50.5

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

In this battle of existence, for the sake of success and victory, we invoke, invite and call upon Indra, best and highest of humanity, auspicious creator and commander of power, prosperity, honour and excellence of life. Blazing glorious is he, intent listener to prayers of his people, a fierce fighter for protection and progress, a destroyer of the demons of darkness, evil and poverty, harbinger of the showers of prosperity and a victor of trophies and treasures of corporate life.

✦ Sukta 51 · 12 verses ✦

3.51.1

च॒र्ष॒णी॒धृतं॑ म॒घवा॑नमु॒क्थ्य१॒॑मिन्द्रं॒ गिरो॑ बृह॒तीर॒भ्य॑नूषत । वा॒वृ॒धा॒नं पु॑रुहू॒तं सु॑वृ॒क्तिभि॒रम॑र्त्यं॒ जर॑माणं दि॒वेदि॑वे ॥

Address these comprehensive words of prayer and celebration with offers of yajna to Indra, lord ruler and sustainer of the people, munificent, honourable, growing in power and prosperity, universally acclaimed and celebrated, immortal in fame and glory, close and closer day by day in love and exhortation of the people. Let the songs glorify the lord.

· · ·

3.51.2

श॒तक्र॑तुमर्ण॒वं शा॒किनं॒ नरं॒ गिरो॑ म॒ इन्द्र॒मुप॑ यन्ति वि॒श्वतः॑ । वा॒ज॒सनिं॑ पू॒र्भिदं॒ तूर्णि॑म॒प्तुरं॑ धाम॒साच॑मभि॒षाचं॑ स्व॒र्विद॑म् ॥

My words of prayer and praise constantly reach Indra, lord of a hundred great acts of yajna, deep and munificent as the sea, mighty powerful, leader, source of sustenance and light, winsome warrior and victor, shatterer of the strongholds of evil, instant starter and instantaneous reacher, sanctifier of the home, presiding presence and ceaseless shower of bliss.

· · ·

3.51.3

आ॒क॒रे वसो॑र्जरि॒ता प॑नस्यतेऽने॒हसः॒ स्तुभ॒ इन्द्रो॑ दुवस्यति । वि॒वस्व॑तः॒ सद॑न॒ आ हि पि॑प्रि॒ये स॑त्रा॒साह॑मभिमाति॒हनं॑ स्तुहि ॥

In the house of wealth, the celebrant of Indra is praised. Indra loves and appreciates the simple and honest prayers and celebrations of the innocents. In the house of light and splendour, he feels pleased. O man, praise and pray to the challenger of evil forces and the destroyer of adversity.

· · ·

3.51.4

नृ॒णामु॑ त्वा॒ नृत॑मं गी॒र्भिरु॒क्थैर॒भि प्र वी॒रम॑र्चता स॒बाधः॑ । सं सह॑से पुरुमा॒यो जि॑हीते॒ नमो॑ अस्य प्र॒दिव॒ एक॑ ईशे ॥

Indra, let all honour and adore you with holy words and songs of worship, you who are mighty brave and best of men and leaders. Indra is irresistebly brave, strong against the violent, highly meritorious, and he goes forward for a test of victory. All alone he rules over the heavens and the enlightened children of the earth. Salutations to the sole lord ruler of his world of light and life.

· · ·

3.51.5

पू॒र्वीर॑स्य

नि॒ष्षिधो॒ मर्त्ये॑षु पु॒रू वसू॑नि पृथि॒वी बि॑भर्ति । इन्द्रा॑य॒ द्याव॒ ओष॑धीरु॒तापो॑ र॒यिं॑ र॑क्षन्ति जी॒रयो॒ वना॑नि ॥

Many and ancient are his blessings and defences among the people. Abundant wealth does the earth hold. The regions of light, the sun light, the greenery, the flowing waters and vapours, the veteran citizens, the forests, all these hold, preserve and protect many forms of wealth for Indra, ruler of the world.

· · ·

3.51.6

तुभ्यं॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ गिर॑ इन्द्र॒ तुभ्यं॑ स॒त्रा द॑धिरे हरिवो जु॒षस्व॑ । बो॒ध्या॒३॒॑पिरव॑सो॒ नूत॑नस्य॒ सखे॑ वसो जरि॒तृभ्यो॒ वयो॑ धाः ॥

Indra, lord of excellence, accept and cherish the songs of the celebrants which bear the wealth of divine praise in your honour, which bear the truth of existence with gratitude. O lord omnipresent, lord of vitalities, friend and shelter of all, know this, and bring for the celebrants the latest methods of protection and good health and long age.

· · ·

3.51.7

इन्द्र॑ मरुत्व इ॒ह पा॑हि॒ सोमं॒ यथा॑ शार्या॒ते अपि॑बः सु॒तस्य॑ । तव॒ प्रणी॑ती॒ तव॑ शूर॒ शर्म॒न्ना वि॑वासन्ति क॒वयः॑ सुय॒ज्ञाः ॥

Indra, leader of heroic warriors, in this business of the world, protect the joy and excellence of life as you protect the joy of those who resist danger and violence to their lives. O lord commander of the brave, intelligent people of imagination and yajnic action adore and pray for your ways of conduct and restful haven for home.

· · ·

3.51.8

स वा॑वशा॒न इ॒ह पा॑हि॒ सोमं॑ म॒रुद्भि॑रिन्द्र॒ सखि॑भिः सु॒तं नः॑ । जा॒तं यत्त्वा॒ परि॑ दे॒वा अभू॑षन्म॒हे भरा॑य पुरुहूत॒ विश्वे॑ ॥

Indra, lord of love and majesty, invoked and invited by many, come with the storm troops of the winds and vitalities, and, here in the world, taste, protect and promote our soma of life’s joy and excellence distilled by our friends and vibrant youth, since as you arose and manifested to view, all the brilliancies of the world adored and investitured you with power and honour for the sake of grandeur and glory in life.

· · ·

3.51.9

अ॒प्तूर्ये॑ मरुत आ॒पिरे॒षोऽम॑न्द॒न्निन्द्र॒मनु॒ दाति॑वाराः । तेभिः॑ सा॒कं पि॑बतु वृत्रखा॒दः सु॒तं सोमं॑ दा॒शुषः॒ स्वे स॒धस्थे॑ ॥

This lord Indra is a friend and universal ally. The Maruts, vibrant youth and stormy troops of the nation, stand by him and exhort and exalt him in the speedy march of the nation to victory. With these, may Indra, consuming, absorbing and transforming the dark energies of life to light and joy, drink the soma distilled in the generous yajamana’s own house.

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3.51.10

इ॒दं ह्यन्वोज॑सा सु॒तं रा॑धानां पते । पिबा॒ त्व१॒॑स्य गि॑र्वणः ॥

O lord and ruler of wealth, power and potential, drink the exciting soma of this generous yajamana, elaborately distilled with vigour and splendour and offered with the voice of homage and reverence.

· · ·

3.51.11

यस्ते॒ अनु॑ स्व॒धामस॑त्सु॒ते नि य॑च्छ त॒न्व॑म् । स त्वा॑ ममत्तु सो॒म्यम् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, whatever and whoever be in accord with your power and pleasure, pray control, direct, administer and order the body-polite into settled form, and may all that give you pleasure and satisfaction, lover and creator of soma peace as you are.

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3.51.12

प्र ते॑ अश्नोतु कु॒क्ष्योः प्रेन्द्र॒ ब्रह्म॑णा॒ शिरः॑ । प्र बा॒हू शू॑र॒ राध॑से ॥

Indra, heroic lord ruler of the world, whatever you receive into the body of your treasury for asset and energy, may that wealth and energy inspire your mind with knowledge and enlightenment, and strengthen your arms for potential development of the wealth of nations.

✦ Sukta 52 · 8 verses ✦

3.52.1

धा॒नाव॑न्तं कर॒म्भिण॑मपू॒पव॑न्तमु॒क्थिन॑म् । इन्द्र॑ प्रा॒तर्जु॑षस्व नः ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, honour and excellence, accept and enjoy in the morning our gift of homage and yajna mixed with roasted rice and curds and sanctified and offered with the chant of holy words.

· · ·

3.52.2

पु॒रो॒ळाशं॑ पच॒त्यं॑ जु॒षस्वे॒न्द्रा गु॑रस्व च । तुभ्यं॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ सिस्रते ॥

Indra, accept and enjoy the purodasha cooked and seasoned with soma, relish and grow strong. The sweets of offerings flow to you.

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3.52.3

पु॒रो॒ळाशं॑ च नो॒ घसो॑ जो॒षया॑से॒ गिर॑श्च नः । व॒धू॒युरि॑व॒ योष॑णाम् ॥

Accept and eat the purodasha and cherish the voices of exhortation offered by us like one impassioned for the love of his wife.

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3.52.4

पु॒रो॒ळाशं॑ सनश्रुत प्रातःसा॒वे जु॑षस्व नः । इन्द्र॒ क्रतु॒र्हि ते॑ बृ॒हन् ॥

Indra, lord of universal word of wisdom and discrimination, accept and enjoy our purodasha offered in the morning session of yajna. Great is your word and light and creative action of cosmic dimensions.

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3.52.5

माध्य॑न्दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य धा॒नाः पु॑रो॒ळाश॑मिन्द्र कृष्वे॒ह चारु॑म् । प्र यत्स्तो॒ता ज॑रि॒ता तूर्ण्य॑र्थो वृषा॒यमा॑ण॒ उप॑ गी॒र्भिरीट्टे॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and power, accept, enjoy and sanctify the taste and joy of the yajnic rice and pudding of the mid-day session of the yajnic business of life which the singer, celebrant and generous devotee eager for the success of his endeavour profusely offers in worship and homage to you with words of love and faith.

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3.52.6

तृ॒तीये॑ धा॒नाः सव॑ने पुरुष्टुत पुरो॒ळाश॒माहु॑तं मामहस्व नः । ऋ॒भु॒मन्तं॒ वाज॑वन्तं त्वा कवे॒ प्रय॑स्वन्त॒ उप॑ शिक्षेम धी॒तिभिः॑ ॥

O lord of knowledge and poetic imagination admired and revered by many, in the third and closing session of the day’s programme of yajnic action, accept, enjoy and exalt the value of our gift of rice and pudding which we, doing our best in thought and action, bring and offer to you, lord in command of food, energy, knowledge and expertise of the art of living.

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3.52.7

पू॒ष॒ण्वते॑ ते चकृमा कर॒म्भं हरि॑वते॒ हर्य॑श्वाय धा॒नाः । अ॒पू॒पम॑द्धि॒ सग॑णो म॒रुद्भिः॒ सोमं॑ पिब वृत्र॒हा शू॑र वि॒द्वान् ॥

We prepare the roasted grain and curds for you, giver of health and nourishment, lord of sunbeams possessing the fastest means of motion. O breaker of the clouds of rain and dispeller of the shades of darkness, heroic brave, master of knowledge, relish the cake and drink the soma with your friends and supporters and commandos of the speed of winds.

· · ·

3.52.8

प्रति॑ धा॒ना भ॑रत॒ तूय॑मस्मै पुरो॒ळाशं॑ वी॒रत॑माय नृ॒णाम् । दि॒वेदि॑वे स॒दृशी॑रिन्द्र॒ तुभ्यं॒ वर्ध॑न्तु त्वा सोम॒पेया॑य धृष्णो ॥

Bear and bring roasted rice and purodasha in homage fast and full for this hero of the best of leaders and warriors. Indra, fierce and fiery hero of arm and speech, may the forces of equal form and performance rise for you, dedicated as you are to the soma of life’s dignity and excellence, and may they exalt you with glory day by day.

✦ Sukta 53 · 24 verses ✦

3.53.1

इन्द्रा॑पर्वता बृह॒ता रथे॑न वा॒मीरिष॒ आ व॑हतं सु॒वीराः॑ । वी॒तं ह॒व्यान्य॑ध्व॒रेषु॑ देवा॒ वर्धे॑थां गी॒र्भिरिळ॑या॒ मद॑न्ता ॥

Indra and Parvata, sun and cloud, come on the grand chariot of light, wind and rain, bring us lovely foods and drinks of energy for the heroic people, O powers divine and generous, receive the offerings in the yajnas of love, faith and non-violence, feed on the music of the songs, and wax with the hymns of celebration.

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3.53.2

तिष्ठा॒ सु कं॑ मघव॒न्मा परा॑ गाः॒ सोम॑स्य॒ नु त्वा॒ सुषु॑तस्य यक्षि । पि॒तुर्न पु॒त्रः सिच॒मा र॑भे त॒ इन्द्र॒ स्वादि॑ष्ठया गि॒रा श॑चीवः ॥

Maghavan, lord of wealth, power and prosperity, come and stay at peace in comfort, do not go away, feed yourself at pleasure in company with us on the soma joy of excellence. Indra, lord ruler of a noble people as you are, as a child clings to the hem of the father’s cloak for love and security, so do I, with sweet words and prayer, seek shelter and support in you for security and peace.

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3.53.3

शंसा॑वाध्वर्यो॒ प्रति॑ मे गृणी॒हीन्द्रा॑य॒ वाहः॑ कृणवाव॒ जुष्ट॑म् । एदं ब॒र्हिर्यज॑मानस्य सी॒दाथा॑ च भूदु॒क्थमिन्द्रा॑य श॒स्तम् ॥

Let us sing in praise of Indra, O high-priest of non-violent yajna, join me in response to my voice and we’ll create a lovely song of exaltation for Indra. Come, sit on the holy grass of the yajamana and then let there be an excellent song of jubilation in honour of Indra.

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3.53.4

जा॒येदस्तं॑ मघव॒न्त्सेदु॒ योनि॒स्तदित्त्वा॑ यु॒क्ता हर॑यो वहन्तु । य॒दा क॒दा च॑ सु॒नवा॑म॒ सोम॑म॒ग्निष्ट्वा॑ दू॒तो ध॑न्वा॒त्यच्छ॑ ॥

Indra, maghavan, lord of power, prosperity, peace and passion of life, the wife is the real spirit of the home. She is the haven of conjugal bliss. There may the horses yoked to your chariot bear you.And whenever we prepare the soma, then let Agni, the fire of life, be the messenger of passion and inspiration for you.

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3.53.5

परा॑ याहि मघव॒न्ना च॑ या॒हीन्द्र॑ भ्रातरुभ॒यत्रा॑ ते॒ अर्थ॑म् । यत्रा॒ रथ॑स्य बृह॒तो नि॒धानं॑ वि॒मोच॑नं वा॒जिनो॒ रास॑भस्य ॥

Maghavan, lord of power and prosperity, go far, and come back home. Brother, both ways there is a meaning and purpose for you, here as well as there, where there is the start (with harnessing of the horses) or the finish of your grand chariot of power and speed (with unharnessing of the horses at the terminal).

· · ·

3.53.6

अपाः॒ सोम॒मस्त॑मिन्द्र॒ प्र या॑हि कल्या॒णीर्जा॒या सु॒रणं॑ गृ॒हे ते॑ । यत्रा॒ रथ॑स्य बृह॒तो नि॒धानं॑ वि॒मोच॑नं वा॒जिनो॒ दक्षि॑णावत् ॥

Indra, lord of peace and joy and brilliance, drink the soma, go home, the delightful haven, there is your blessed love, there is the start and finish of your grand chariot journey for the brilliant battle, there is the harnessing and unharnessing of the horses. And there you are abundant with charity.

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3.53.7

इ॒मे भो॒जा अङ्गि॑रसो॒ विरू॑पा दि॒वस्पु॒त्रासो॒ असु॑रस्य वी॒राः । वि॒श्वामि॑त्राय॒ दद॑तो म॒घानि॑ सहस्रसा॒वे प्र ति॑रन्त॒ आयुः॑ ॥

These lovers and creators of food, scholars of the secrets of the body system and inspirers of pranic energies, various children of the light of heaven, heroes of universal vitality, giving health and wealth of life to the darling friend of humanity cross over the seas of existence through a hundred yajnic programmes of action.

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3.53.8

रू॒पंरू॑पं म॒घवा॑ बोभवीति मा॒याः कृ॑ण्वा॒नस्त॒न्वं१॒॑ परि॒ स्वाम् । त्रिर्यद्दि॒वः परि॑ मुहू॒र्तमागा॒त्स्वैर्मन्त्रै॒रनृ॑तुपा ऋ॒तावा॑ ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge, power and action, manifests infinite forms of his own divinity, extending his essential and wondrous powers for us as he, lord omniscient of the truth and law of existence, reveals himself every moment, constantly irrespective of time and season, through his own mantras, mystical formulae, three ways in meditative yajnas from the light of Divinity.

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3.53.9

म॒हाँ ऋषि॑र्देव॒जा दे॒वजू॒तोऽस्त॑भ्ना॒त्सिन्धु॑मर्ण॒वं नृ॒चक्षाः॑ । वि॒श्वामि॑त्रो॒ यदव॑हत्सु॒दास॒मप्रि॑यायत कुशि॒केभि॒रिन्द्रः॑ ॥

Great and glorious is Indra, Rshi, all-seeing, allrevealing, generator of all forces of nature and, manifested in all these, vibrates in and by all these and in great minds. He wields and sustains the river and the ocean, the flow of nature’s energy as well as the ocean of nature’s particles of matter and energy. And he watches all humans for what they do and what they ought to do. He is the friend and well-wisher of the world since he showers his gifts of generosity on all. Universal is his love since he blesses us with guides and teachers who know and show us the right ways of successful living.

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3.53.10

हं॒साइ॑व कृणुथ॒ श्लोक॒मद्रि॑भि॒र्मद॑न्तो गी॒र्भिर॑ध्व॒रे सु॒ते सचा॑ । दे॒वेभि॑र्विप्रा ऋषयो नृचक्षसो॒ वि पि॑बध्वं कुशिकाः सो॒म्यं मधु॑ ॥

Like hansa birds singing and rejoicing by the beauty and majesty of cloud showers, O Kushikas, vibrant sages and scholars, seers of nature and divinity, divining into the mysteries of omniscience, watching the ways of vast humanity, joining together with the divinities of nature and brilliancies of humanity, in the non-violent yajnas of love and faith enacted and conducted, sing songs of Divinity in celebrative words of holy joy and drink the nectar sweets of soma replete with the power of peace and divine ecstasy.

· · ·

3.53.11

उप॒ प्रेत॑ कुशिकाश्चे॒तय॑ध्व॒मश्वं॑ रा॒ये प्र मु॑ञ्चता सु॒दासः॑ । राजा॑ वृ॒त्रं ज॑ङ्घन॒त्प्रागपा॒गुद॒गथा॑ यजाते॒ वर॒ आ पृ॑थि॒व्याः ॥

O brilliant scholars and sages, teachers and preachers, heroes of action, dedicated to Divinity, yajnic charity and fraternal expansion, go forward together, awake and awaken the community, release vibrant energy and motive powers for the attainment of wealth, honour and excellence. Let the refulgent ruler break the clouds of rain, dispel the darkness all round, east, west, north, south, up and down below, and then perform the yajna of unison on the wide earth.

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3.53.12

य इ॒मे रोद॑सी उ॒भे अ॒हमिन्द्र॒मतु॑ष्टवम् । वि॒श्वामि॑त्रस्य रक्षति॒ ब्रह्मे॒दं भार॑तं॒ जन॑म् ॥

I serve and worship Indra who protects both heaven and earth and the firmament between the two, the people of this all bearing mother earth and the wealth and power of the friendly world of humanity.

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3.53.13

वि॒श्वामि॑त्रा अरासत॒ ब्रह्मेन्द्रा॑य व॒ज्रिणे॑ । कर॒दिन्नः॑ सु॒राध॑सः ॥

Friends of the world, sing songs of exaltation and gratitude for Indra, lord of thunderous arm and power who blesses us with wealth and all round potential for success.

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3.53.14

किं ते॑ कृण्वन्ति॒ कीक॑टेषु॒ गावो॒ नाशिरं॑ दु॒ह्रे न त॑पन्ति घ॒र्मम् । आ नो॑ भर॒ प्रम॑गन्दस्य॒ वेदो॑ नैचाशा॒खं म॑घवन्रन्धया नः ॥

What do the cows do for you in the country of the selfish! They yield no milk, nor do they raise the flames of yajna fire. Bear and bring up the hoard of the miserly and the avaricious in the open, subject them to law and control those who cower under pretence of squalor and poverty.

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3.53.15

स॒स॒र्प॒रीरम॑तिं॒ बाध॑माना बृ॒हन्मि॑माय ज॒मद॑ग्निदत्ता । आ सूर्य॑स्य दुहि॒ता त॑तान॒ श्रवो॑ दे॒वेष्व॒मृत॑मजु॒र्यम् ॥

Living knowledge and language flowing from Eternity given through direct experience of the eye, physical, mental and spiritual, preventing ignorance and superstition, is daughter of the sun, gift of the omniscient lord, which, like the dawn, revealing the vast reality of existence, brings in and extends an immortal and imperishable stream of awareness and experience among the brilliant devotees of Divinity.

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3.53.16

स॒स॒र्प॒रीर॑भर॒त्तूय॑मे॒भ्योऽधि॒ श्रवः॒ पाञ्च॑जन्यासु कृ॒ष्टिषु॑ । सा प॒क्ष्या॒३॒॑ नव्य॒मायु॒र्दधा॑ना॒ यां मे॑ पलस्तिजमद॒ग्नयो॑ द॒दुः ॥

That stream of language and knowledge, flowing ever anew from the lord of light, bearing new life and age with fresh energy is the same which the grey-haired veteran scholars of cosmic vitality earlier gave to me, and the stream bears superior kind of food and nourishment for body, mind and soul for the seekers among all the five classes of dynamic people.

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3.53.17

स्थि॒रौ गावौ॑ भवतां वी॒ळुरक्षो॒ मेषा वि व॑र्हि॒ मा यु॒गं वि शा॑रि । इन्द्रः॑ पात॒ल्ये॑ ददतां॒ शरी॑तो॒ररि॑ष्टनेमे अ॒भि नः॑ सचस्व ॥

Let the oxen of the chariot be strong and steady, let the axle be strong, let the shaft never break, may the yoke never be damaged, May Indra, lord of inviolable chariot and action, be friendly with us to give us strength and to renew whatever is wearing out.

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3.53.18

बलं॑ धेहि त॒नूषु॑ नो॒ बल॑मिन्द्रान॒ळुत्सु॑ नः । बलं॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय जी॒वसे॒ त्वं हि ब॑ल॒दा असि॑ ॥

Indra, Spirit of life and vitality, give strength to our bodies, put strength into our animals. Give strength and vital energy to our children and our youth. You alone are the giver of strength, energy and vitality.

· · ·

3.53.19

अ॒भि व्य॑यस्व खदि॒रस्य॒ सार॒मोजो॑ धेहि स्पन्द॒ने शिं॒शपा॑याम् । अक्ष॑ वीळो वीळित वी॒ळय॑स्व॒ मा यामा॑द॒स्मादव॑ जीहिपो नः ॥

Aksha, centre hold of knowledge, vision and power, bring us the centre strength of the Khadira wood for our chariot of life. In our body and mind, as in the motion of a chariot, infuse light and lustre. O master of strength and light, universally admired, inspire us with strength and courage of the conviction, forsake us not in the streaming flow of life and time.

· · ·

3.53.20

अ॒यम॒स्मान्वन॒स्पति॒र्मा च॒ हा मा च॑ रीरिषत् । स्व॒स्त्या गृ॒हेभ्य॒ आव॒सा आ वि॒मोच॑नात् ॥

May Vanaspati, lord of the light of life, never forsake us. May the chariot of life never hurt us. May the lord and life be good and kind to us and our homes while we are riding the chariot until we reach the terminal and the horses are released.

· · ·

3.53.21

इन्द्रो॒तिभि॑र्बहु॒लाभि॑र्नो अ॒द्य या॑च्छ्रे॒ष्ठाभि॑र्मघवञ्छूर जिन्व । यो नो॒ द्वेष्ट्यध॑रः॒ सस्प॑दीष्ट॒ यमु॑ द्वि॒ष्मस्तमु॑ प्रा॒णो ज॑हातु ॥

Indra, potent lord of honour and prosperity, come to us today with ample modes of best and highest modes of protection and give us the joy of life. Whosoever hate us may, we pray, fall down, and whatsoever we all hate, that, we pray, may the breath of life forsake.

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3.53.22

प॒र॒शुं चि॒द्वि त॑पति शिम्ब॒लं चि॒द्वि वृ॑श्चति । उ॒खा चि॑दिन्द्र॒ येष॑न्ती॒ प्रय॑स्ता॒ फेन॑मस्यति ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the realm, just as the armsmith heats the steel and tempers the axe, or the gardener plucks off the shimbala flower, or the boiling pan, bubbling over, throws out the froth and foam, so does the commander of the army throw out the enemies.

· · ·

3.53.23

न साय॑कस्य चिकिते जनासो लो॒धं न॑यन्ति॒ पशु॒ मन्य॑मानाः । नावा॑जिनं वा॒जिना॑ हासयन्ति॒ न ग॑र्द॒भं पु॒रो अश्वा॑न्नयन्ति ॥

The brave take no cognition of the pain of arrows. They lead the greedy opponent anywhere, feeling that he is just a human animal. They do not demean the weak foot-soldier by a bold horse-warrior, nor do they lead the horses by an ass in the forefront.

· · ·

3.53.24

इ॒मे इ॑न्द्र भर॒तस्य॑ पु॒त्रा अ॑पपि॒त्वं चि॑कितु॒र्न प्र॑पि॒त्वम् । हि॒न्वन्त्यश्व॒मर॑णं॒ न नित्यं॒ ज्या॑वाजं॒ परि॑ णयन्त्या॒जौ ॥

Indra, these boys, followers of the veteran commander, know retreat as well as advance, spur on the horse like a spirit inspired and send out the twang of the bow string in battles and contests always without exception.

✦ Sukta 54 · 22 verses ✦

3.54.1

इ॒मं म॒हे वि॑द॒थ्या॑य शू॒षं शश्व॒त्कृत्व॒ ईड्या॑य॒ प्र ज॑भ्रुः । शृ॒णोतु॑ नो॒ दम्ये॑भि॒रनी॑कैः शृ॒णोत्व॒ग्निर्दि॒व्यैरज॑स्रः ॥

The celebrants create and raise this inspiring song of praise again and again for all time in honour of the great adorable lord of mighty yajnic cosmic action. May Agni listen to our prayer with all the controllable blazing lights and forces. May Agni, eternal light of life, with all divine powers listen to us.

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3.54.2

महि॑ म॒हे दि॒वे अ॑र्चा पृथि॒व्यै कामो॑ म इ॒च्छञ्च॑रति प्रजा॒नन् । ययो॑र्ह॒ स्तोमे॑ वि॒दथे॑षु दे॒वाः स॑प॒र्यवो॑ मा॒दय॑न्ते॒ सचा॒योः ॥

Offer ecstatic songs of celebration in honour of high heaven and vast earth. Knowing these, and desiring fulfilment, man goes forward for the light of heaven and dominion over the earth. Surely in the songs of heaven and earth, the divine powers of nature and the best of humanity join together and rejoice in the yajnic battles of life.

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3.54.3

यु॒वोर्ऋ॒तं रो॑दसी स॒त्यम॑स्तु म॒हे षु णः॑ सुवि॒ताय॒ प्र भू॑तम् । इ॒दं दि॒वे नमो॑ अग्ने पृथि॒व्यै स॑प॒र्यामि॒ प्रय॑सा॒ यामि॒ रत्न॑म् ॥

O heaven and earth, may your universal law of divinity be realised in truth in our human world across the globe. Be good and kind to advance us to greatness and glory in comfort and well-being. Agni, O lord of the dominion, this song and yajnic offering is in honour of heaven and earth. I serve with the best of effort and thereby move on to the jewels of life.

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3.54.4

उ॒तो हि वां॑ पू॒र्व्या आ॑विवि॒द्र ऋता॑वरी रोदसी सत्य॒वाचः॑ । नर॑श्चिद्वां समि॒थे शूर॑सातौ ववन्दि॒रे पृ॑थिवि॒ वेवि॑दानाः ॥

O heaven and earth, abiding in and by the universal law of existence, veteran sages of knowledge and voice of truth know you and obtain the fruit of their desire. O mother earth, the pioneers and leaders of humanity too, knowing both of you, in the battles of the brave and struggle for life’s prizes, achieve the jewels of their heart’s desire.

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3.54.5

को अ॒द्धा वे॑द॒ क इ॒ह प्र वो॑चद्दे॒वाँ अच्छा॑ प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ का समे॑ति । ददृ॑श्र एषामव॒मा सदां॑सि॒ परे॑षु॒ या गुह्ये॑षु व्र॒तेषु॑ ॥

Who knows here for certain, who can say, which path for sure leads to the lights of the Divine? (He knows.) Who can divine into the secret laws of the farthest mysteries? Who actually see even the nearest and closest operations of these? (He.)

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3.54.6

क॒विर्नृ॒चक्षा॑ अ॒भि षी॑मचष्ट ऋ॒तस्य॒ योना॒ विघृ॑ते॒ मद॑न्ती । नाना॑ चक्राते॒ सद॑नं॒ यथा॒ वेः स॑मा॒नेन॒ क्रतु॑ना संविदा॒ने ॥

The one omniscient poet creator watching the entire world of humanity comprehends, illuminates and oversees the two worlds of heaven and earth, both rejoicing in accord yet sustained apart by one law of existence, in the cosmic womb of nature’s divinity, making one but various home as the birds’ on the same one tree.

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3.54.7

स॒मा॒न्या वियु॑ते दू॒रेअ॑न्ते ध्रु॒वे प॒दे त॑स्थतुर्जाग॒रूके॑ । उ॒त स्वसा॑रा युव॒ती भव॑न्ती॒ आदु॑ ब्रुवाते मिथु॒नानि॒ नाम॑ ॥

Alike yet apart far off at the end, they abide in orbit ever awake and youthful, strong and stable, and moreover they are called twin sisters since their very birth, dyava-prthivi, heaven and earth, by name.

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3.54.8

विश्वेदे॒ते जनि॑मा॒ सं वि॑विक्तो म॒हो दे॒वान्बिभ्र॑ती॒ न व्य॑थेते । एज॑द्ध्रु॒वं प॑त्यते॒ विश्व॒मेकं॒ चर॑त्पत॒त्रि विषु॑णं॒ वि जा॒तम् ॥

These two, heaven and earth, one together for sure, yet separate and distinct in identity, holding and sustaining all the great earthly and celestial created objects, do not deviate from their orbit. Vibrating yet constant and stable, the one universe, existence born in all its variety, moving, flying, expanding all round, is sustained (by its sole lord and master creator).

· · ·

3.54.9

सना॑ पुरा॒णमध्ये॑म्या॒रान्म॒हः पि॒तुर्ज॑नि॒तुर्जा॒मि तन्नः॑ । दे॒वासो॒ यत्र॑ पनि॒तार॒ एवै॑रु॒रौ प॒थि व्यु॑ते त॒स्थुर॒न्तः ॥

I study the ancient and eternal, yet ever new, heaven and earth, twin creation of our great father creator, just like our brother and sister, wherein brilliant forces of nature, celebrants of the Divine creator, with their powers and attributes abide and operate in the wide open paths of space in existence.

· · ·

3.54.10

इ॒मं स्तोमं॑ रोदसी॒ प्र ब्र॑वीम्यृदू॒दराः॑ शृणवन्नग्निजि॒ह्वाः । मि॒त्रः स॒म्राजो॒ वरु॑णो॒ युवा॑न आदि॒त्यासः॑ क॒वयः॑ पप्रथा॒नाः ॥

O heaven and earth, I sing this song of divine praise and celebration for you. May simple and noble hearted people of natural truth and honesty, Mitra, universal friends, brilliant rulers and administrators, Varuna, powers of justice and discrimination, youth, Adityas, enlightened people of blazing genius, and poets of open and expansive mind and intelligence may hear this and proclaim the truth with a tongue of fire.

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3.54.11

हि॒र॑ण्यपाणिः सवि॒ता सु॑जि॒ह्वस्त्रिरा दि॒वो वि॒दथे॒ पत्य॑मानः । दे॒वेषु॑ च सवितः॒ श्लोक॒मश्रे॒राद॒स्मभ्य॒मा सु॑व स॒र्वता॑तिम् ॥

Savita, creator and giver of light and life, lord with the golden arms of sunrays and a noble tongue of fire, descends from the heavens thrice, protecting, sustaining and advancing us in our yajnic programmes of life. O lord of light, Savita, hear our song of celebration and exaltation, diffuse the light, sweetness and fragrance among the nobilities of humanity over earth and divinities of nature in space, and create and then bring us all round prosperity and well being .

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3.54.12

सु॒कृत्सु॑पा॒णिः स्ववाँ॑ ऋ॒तावा॑ दे॒वस्त्वष्टाव॑से॒ तानि॑ नो धात् । पू॒ष॒ण्वन्त॑ ऋभवो मादयध्वमू॒र्ध्वग्रा॑वाणो अध्व॒रम॑तष्ट ॥

May the brilliant Tvashta, divine creator and maker of forms and institutions, noble of action and generous of hands, self-possessed of light and wealth, and keeper and observer of the laws of truth and science of yajna, bring us all those gifts of prosperity and well being for our protection and advancement. Rejoice ye Rbhus, experts of yajna, and yajakas rich with food and fragrance for nourishment. The clouds on high, the mighty mountains and the soma stones are up and ready, the yajna is organised, conducted and accomplished.

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3.54.13

वि॒द्युद्र॑था म॒रुत॑ ऋष्टि॒मन्तो॑ दि॒वो मर्या॑ ऋ॒तजा॑ता अ॒यासः॑ । सर॑स्वती शृणवन्य॒ज्ञिया॑सो॒ धाता॑ र॒यिं स॒हवी॑रं तुरासः ॥

Stormy troops of Marut commandos riding electric chariots, strongly armed, brilliant, mortal fighters, truly disciplined, prompt and powerful, worthy of honour and reverence, lightning smart, and mother Sarasvati, mother of knowledge and language of command, may, we pray, listen and bring us wealth alongwith brave progeny.

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3.54.14

विष्णुं॒ स्तोमा॑सः पुरुद॒स्मम॒र्का भग॑स्येव का॒रिणो॒ याम॑नि ग्मन् । उ॒रु॒क्र॒मः क॑कु॒हो यस्य॑ पू॒र्वीर्न म॑र्धन्ति युव॒तयो॒ जनि॑त्रीः ॥

May our songs and yajakas, following the divine path of the creator of life’s honour and excellence, reach Vishnu, omnipresent lord of marvellous actions. Great is he, mighty his deeds and gifts. Even heaven and earth, dyavaprthivi, ancient and eternal, ever youthful mothers of life, cannot violate him.

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3.54.15

इन्द्रो॒ विश्वै॑र्वी॒र्यैः॒३॒॑ पत्य॑मान उ॒भे आ प॑प्रौ॒ रोद॑सी महि॒त्वा । पु॒रं॒द॒रो वृ॑त्र॒हा धृ॒ष्णुषे॑णः सं॒गृभ्या॑ न॒ आ भ॑रा॒ भूरि॑ प॒श्वः ॥

Indra, sustaining and preserving both heaven and earth with universal vitalities like a father and guardian, pervades and fills both with his divine power. O lord commander of terrible forces, breaker of clouds and destroyer of darkness, shatterer of enemy forts, create and develop a lot of wealth and bless us all with that wealth, power and honour.

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3.54.16

नास॑त्या मे पि॒तरा॑ बन्धु॒पृच्छा॑ सजा॒त्य॑म॒श्विनो॒श्चारु॒ नाम॑ । यु॒वं हि स्थो र॑यि॒दौ नो॑ रयी॒णां दा॒त्रं र॑क्षेथे॒ अक॑वै॒रद॑ब्धा ॥

Ashvins, imperishable complementarities of nature and humanity such as heaven and earth, sun and moon, heat and cold, father and mother, working in cooperation, together as in a circuit of energy, are my sustainers like parents and care givers like brothers and sisters. Their kinship itself by birth and nature is worthy and venerable. Ashvins, you always abide strong and stable as givers of our wealth, honour and fame and, intrepidable as you are, you protect and promote the gift and the giver by acts and means which are not selfish nor ungenerous but which are liberal and philanthropic.

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3.54.17

म॒हत्तद्वः॑ कवय॒श्चारु॒ नाम॒ यद्ध॑ देवा॒ भव॑थ॒ विश्व॒ इन्द्रे॑ । सख॑ ऋ॒भुभिः॑ पुरुहूत प्रि॒येभि॑रि॒मां धियं॑ सा॒तये॑ तक्षता नः ॥

Poets, scholars and visionary sages, great and auspicious is that name and reputation of yours since you rise to be world renowned celebrities in the roll of honour of the social order of Indra. O lord, Indra, approved, invited and invoked by many, friends with these dear enlightened experts and sagely scholars, refine this corporate intelligence and sharpen this vision of ours for common progress and prosperity of the nation of humanity.

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3.54.18

अ॒र्य॒मा णो॒ अदि॑तिर्य॒ज्ञिया॒सोऽद॑ब्धानि॒ वरु॑णस्य व्र॒तानि॑ । यु॒योत॑ नो अनप॒त्यानि॒ गन्तोः॑ प्र॒जावा॑न्नः पशु॒माँ अ॑स्तु गा॒तुः ॥

May Aryama, lord of justice, Aditi, unimpaired fertility of Mother Nature, and sages dedicated to yajna protect and promote our vows of the discipline of Varuna, lord of rectitude, intact and unviolated. O Spirit of Divinity, ward off the causes of childlessness and sterility from our path of life so that our course of home life may be blest with progeny and cattle wealth.

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3.54.19

दे॒वानां॑ दू॒तः पु॑रु॒ध प्रसू॒तोऽना॑गान्नो वोचतु स॒र्वता॑ता । शृ॒णोतु॑ नः पृथि॒वी द्यौरु॒तापः॒ सूर्यो॒ नक्ष॑त्रैरु॒र्व१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षम् ॥

Agni, messenger of the devas, i.e., vibrations of the forces of nature and voice of the visionary teachers of the wisest of humanity, arisen many ways and bearing all-round knowledge, may speak to us in our state of open, uncoloured and unvitiated mind and bring us the tolerance and forgiveness of the earth, enlightenment of heaven, peace and coolness of waters, light and life giving vitality of the sun, and the vastness of expansive space with stars and planets. And may all these forces and personalities listen and perceive our signals and be in contact with us.

· · ·

3.54.20

शृ॒ण्वन्तु॑ नो॒ वृष॑णः॒ पर्व॑तासो ध्रु॒वक्षे॑मास॒ इळ॑या॒ मद॑न्तः । आ॒दि॒त्यैर्नो॒ अदि॑तिः शृणोतु॒ यच्छ॑न्तु नो म॒रुतः॒ शर्म॑ भ॒द्रम् ॥

Let the raining clouds, mighty mountains and constant stars at peace, ecstatic participants with the earth and cosmic energy, receive our signals. Let the constant inviolable energy of the cosmos with light of the stars radiate and reach us. Let the winds provide us the joy of well being and peaceful shelter.

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3.54.21

सदा॑ सु॒गः पि॑तु॒माँ अ॑स्तु॒ पन्था॒ मध्वा॑ देवा॒ ओष॑धीः॒ संपि॑पृक्त । भगो॑ मे अग्ने स॒ख्ये न मृ॑ध्या॒ उद्रा॒यो अ॑श्यां॒ सद॑नं पुरु॒क्षोः ॥

May the path be straight and clear, full of wealth and prosperity. O brilliant and generous powers of nature, fill the herbs with honey to the full.Agni, brilliant and generous power, may honour and prosperity forsake me never, nor my friends, during our friendship that is abiding. And may I be blest with wealth and a house of plenty and generosity.

· · ·

3.54.22

स्वद॑स्व ह॒व्या समिषो॑ दिदीह्यस्म॒द्र्य१॒॑क्सं मि॑मीहि॒ श्रवां॑सि । विश्वाँ॑ अग्ने पृ॒त्सु ताञ्जे॑षि॒ शत्रू॒नहा॒ विश्वा॑ सु॒मना॑ दीदिही नः ॥

Agni taste and relish the oblations offered, shine and illuminate knowledge and energy all together, and let food, energy and knowledge flow towards us. You win all those, and those enemies in battles for victory. Be happy and kind at heart and let all the days of life be bright for us.

✦ Sukta 55 · 22 verses ✦

3.55.1

उ॒षसः॒ पूर्वा॒ अध॒ यद्व्यू॒षुर्म॒हद्वि ज॑ज्ञे अ॒क्षरं॑ प॒दे गोः । व्र॒ता दे॒वाना॒मुप॒ नु प्र॒भूष॑न्म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Before the dawns of primeval time, which arose and shone bright, later reflecting and illuminating the ordained tasks of the forces of nature, arose Mahat, the first manifest principle of imperishable Prakrti in the depth of oceanic space. Great and One is the living spirit and glory of the divine refulgent forces of the universe.

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3.55.2

मो षू णो॒ अत्र॑ जुहुरन्त दे॒वा मा पूर्वे॑ अग्ने पि॒तरः॑ पद॒ज्ञाः । पु॒रा॒ण्योः सद्म॑नोः के॒तुर॒न्तर्म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Agni, lord and light of the world, in this universe and its business of knowing and doing, we pray, may the brilliant forces of nature and humanity never oppose and hurt us, may the primal pranic energies of parental sustenance never neglect and damage us, may the one great principal bright and breathing spirit in the primal forms of existence never hurt us. Great and one is the life and glory of the multiple divinities of the universe.

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3.55.3

वि मे॑ पुरु॒त्रा प॑तयन्ति॒ कामाः॒ शम्यच्छा॑ दीद्ये पू॒र्व्याणि॑ । समि॑द्धे अ॒ग्नावृ॒तमिद्व॑देम म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

My desire and ambitions are great and many, they soar high and far in search of holy fulfilment. I pray I may realise them well in solemn yajnic action, shine myself and illuminate the ancient traditions. Let us all speak the truth, sing songs of Divinity when the fire is rising in flames of yajna, and let us exalt the universal law of Divinity operative in the universe. Great, glorious and one is the life and spirit of the life and spirit of the divinities of natural force.

· · ·

3.55.4

स॒मा॒नो राजा॒ विभृ॑तः पुरु॒त्रा शये॑ श॒यासु॒ प्रयु॑तो॒ वनानु॑ । अ॒न्या व॒त्सं भर॑ति॒ क्षेति॑ मा॒ता म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

One self-refulgent ruler, constant and unvariable spirit and presence pervades the inexhaustible forms of Prakrti, dormant in inert matters and energies, and moving and extending with waves and currents of water, light and other energy forms to the sunrays and green forests. One mother Prakrti, bears the individual form such as the baby, the other, Divine Spirit, rules and sustains it. Great and glorious is the one living, breathing, omnipresent and omnipotent spirit of the inexhaustible variations of nature’s divinities.

· · ·

3.55.5

आ॒क्षित्पूर्वा॒स्वप॑रा अनू॒रुत्स॒द्यो जा॒तासु॒ तरु॑णीष्व॒न्तः । अ॒न्तर्व॑तीः सुवते॒ अप्र॑वीता म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Life abides in the ancient forms and in others, later ones, asserting with the desire to be, in the new born ones and in the mature youthful ones, and fertilising the unfertilised. Great is the glory of the generous and refulgent powers of nature’s Divinity, one and only one.

· · ·

3.55.6

श॒युः प॒रस्ता॒दध॒ नु द्वि॑मा॒ताऽब॑न्ध॒नश्च॑रति व॒त्स एकः॑ । मि॒त्रस्य॒ ता वरु॑णस्य व्र॒तानि॑ म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Agni, vital heat of life, pervades far and farthest, dormant or manifest, child of two mothers, akasha and vayu, space and cosmic energy, moving and operating freely without bonds, by itself, All this is within the laws of the one supreme lord, universal friend and controller of the universe. Great and glorious is the life and action of the living forces of nature, one and indivisible.

· · ·

3.55.7

द्वि॒मा॒ता होता॑ वि॒दथे॑षु स॒म्राळन्वग्रं॒ चर॑ति॒ क्षेति॑ बु॒ध्नः । प्र रण्या॑नि रण्य॒वाचो॑ भरन्ते म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Agni, self-refulgent child of two mothers, cosmic space and cosmic energy, universal yajaka in cosmic yajna and, on the seats of yajna such as earth, moves on in its orbit fixed by the Divine and shines and abides in the vast space. Happy celebrants bear and offer joyous songs of homage to the sun and the cosmic energy of Agni. Great and glorious is the life and refulgence of the divinities of nature, one and only one.

· · ·

3.55.8

शूर॑स्येव॒ युध्य॑तो अन्त॒मस्य॑ प्रती॒चीनं॑ ददृशे॒ विश्व॑मा॒यत् । अ॒न्तर्म॒तिश्च॑रति नि॒ष्षिधं॒ गोर्म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

All that comes into the light of the brave refulgent sun ever on the move and striking everything at the closest and farthest seems on the left side of the light, inferior. Source of light and intelligence for the world, it moves through and across the objects in the womb of cosmic space. Great and glorious is the life and vital power of the divinities of nature, one and only one.

· · ·

3.55.9

नि वे॑वेति पलि॒तो दू॒त आ॑स्व॒न्तर्म॒हांश्च॑रति रोच॒नेन॑ । वपूं॑षि॒ बिभ्र॑द॒भि नो॒ वि च॑ष्टे म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

He that pervades all, ancient and eternal selfrefulgent creator and harbinger of light and knowledge, great and glorious, vibrates wide awake in all these modes of Prakrti by his beauty and majesty. Wielder and sustainer of all forms and institutions, ever manifest and eloquent, speaks to us in the soul, that is the great and glorious life breath of all the divinities of nature and humanity, one and absolute without a second.

· · ·

3.55.10

विष्णु॑र्गो॒पाः प॑र॒मं पा॑ति॒ पाथः॑ प्रि॒या धामा॑न्य॒मृता॒ दधा॑नः । अ॒ग्निष्टा विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि वेद म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Vishnu, lord omnipresent, all pervasive, all protective, wielding and sustaining all the dear immortal homes of existence, preserves and promotes the highest food and agents of life such as heat, water, air and the earth. Agni, vital heat and light of life’s vitality, knows, reaches and maintains all the regions of the universe. Great is the glory of the life breath of the divinities of nature and humanity, one and only one.

· · ·

3.55.11

नाना॑ चक्राते य॒म्या॒३॒॑ वपूं॑षि॒ तयो॑र॒न्यद्रोच॑ते कृ॒ष्णम॒न्यत् । श्यावी॑ च॒ यदरु॑षी च॒ स्वसा॑रौ म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Two twins, night and day, manifest in many forms and reveal all those many forms. One of them shines bright, the other is dark. The dark one and that which is bright are sisters. Great is the glory and power of the divinities of nature, one and undivided.

· · ·

3.55.12

मा॒ता च॒ यत्र॑ दुहि॒ता च॑ धे॒नू स॑ब॒र्दुघे॑ धा॒पये॑ते समी॒ची । ऋ॒तस्य॒ ते सद॑सीळे अ॒न्तर्म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Where mother and daughter, day and night, heaven and earth, generous as cows, yielding nourishments sweet as nectar, together feed each other, there I offer worship, O lord ruler of the world, to you in the house of universal truth and law. Great and glorious is the life and action of the divinities of the universe, one, undivided and absolute.

· · ·

3.55.13

अ॒न्यस्या॑ व॒त्सं रि॑ह॒ती मि॑माय॒ कया॑ भु॒वा नि द॑धे धे॒नुरूधः॑ । ऋ॒तस्य॒ सा पय॑सापिन्व॒तेळा॑ म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Kissing and caressing the other’s child, i.e., the cloud, which is a concentration of vapours from the earth, the mother sky waxes with joy and laughs with thunder. By which process of nature’s, by which region of space, does she hold the milk of life in the breast? She receives it from the waters of the universal order and waxes, and the earth grows with nourishment from the nectar waters of the sky. Great and one is the glory of the divinities of nature. (The earth too, as one of the mothers, kisses and caress the heavens’ child, sunlight, and waxes with joy. She fills her breasts with nourishment with rain from the skies and feeds both human life and nature. The vapours then rise and shower down, completing the cycle of nature’s law.)

· · ·

3.55.14

पद्या॑ वस्ते पुरु॒रूपा॒ वपूं॑ष्यू॒र्ध्वा त॑स्थौ॒ त्र्यविं॒ रेरि॑हाणा । ऋ॒तस्य॒ सद्म॒ वि च॑रामि वि॒द्वान्म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

The earth bears and sustains many forms of innumerable variety. The high heaven, caressing the sun, sustainer of the three regions of the earth, middle region and the region of light, stays above. Knowing this, I move freely in the house of Rtam, the cosmic order. Great is the glory and one the variety of the Lord’s omnipotent Infinity.

· · ·

3.55.15

प॒देइ॑व॒ निहि॑ते द॒स्मे अ॒न्तस्तयो॑र॒न्यद्गुह्य॑मा॒विर॒न्यत् । स॒ध्री॒ची॒ना प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ सा विषू॑ची म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Positioned both inside the same one wonderful house of space, one of them is hidden in the dark, the other is manifest in open day light. Their path of movement and their goal is one and the same, universal, and yet it is different and separate, (they meet and yet they never meet). Great is the glory of the Infinite Divine, one and yet different.

· · ·

3.55.16

आ धे॒नवो॑ धुनयन्ता॒मशि॑श्वीः सब॒र्दुघाः॑ शश॒या अप्र॑दुग्धाः । नव्या॑नव्या युव॒तयो॒ भव॑न्तीर्म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Let the ‘cows’, day and night, heaven and earth, stars and planets, move and shake and shower the nectar milk of light and life, vibrant and full, abundant and inexhaustible, like youthful maidens ancient yet ever fresh anew. Great is the glory and gifts of Divinity, various, infinite, yet one, undivided, indivisible.

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3.55.17

यद॒न्यासु॑ वृष॒भो रोर॑वीति॒ सो अ॒न्यस्मि॑न्यू॒थे नि द॑धाति॒ रेतः॑ । स हि क्षपा॑वा॒न्त्स भगः॒ स राजा॑ म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

The one omnipotent lord, sun and shower of the days and nights, roars with creative passion in all regions and directions of skies and space, and he plants the seed of life in the multitudinous variety of the forms of the other, Prakrti. He alone is the beauty and majesty of the nights as the moon, he is the blazing splendour of the day as the sun and the ruling law and lord of the universe. Great is the glory and life breath of the inexhaustible divinities of nature, one, inviolable, absolute.

· · ·

3.55.18

वी॒रस्य॒ नु स्वश्व्यं॑ जनासः॒ प्र नु वो॑चाम वि॒दुर॑स्य दे॒वाः । षो॒ळ्हा यु॒क्ताः पञ्च॑प॒ञ्चा व॑हन्ति म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Come ye all people, let us sing and celebrate the wondrous valour and vibrancy of this great hero, Indra, the soul. Sages and scholars know of him. Six and six, five and five horses draw his chariot, (these being five perceptive faculties and one intellect, five volitional faculties and one

mind, five principal pranic energies and five subordinate pranic energies). Great is the glory and majesty of the lord of divine variety, one and only one.

· · ·

3.55.19

दे॒वस्त्वष्टा॑ सवि॒ता वि॒श्वरू॑पः पु॒पोष॑ प्र॒जाः पु॑रु॒धा ज॑जान । इ॒मा च॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नान्यस्य म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Self-refulgent and generous lord of existence as Tvashta, maker of forms, and as Savita, generator and giver of light and vitality, inspiring and pervading the universe, creates, nourishes and sustains his children and all these worlds of the universe in many ways and thus manifests himself in infinite forms and ways. Great is the glory and unity of the divine forms of his creation and of the divine breath of life in them.

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3.55.20

म॒ही समै॑रच्च॒म्वा॑ समी॒ची उ॒भे ते अ॑स्य॒ वसु॑ना॒ न्यृ॑ष्टे । शृ॒ण्वे वी॒रो वि॒न्दमा॑नो॒ वसू॑नि म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Indra, omnipotent lord creator, inspires the great and united heaven and earth with light and life, and they both are blest with the splendour and generosity of this lord. And I, brave and free, blest with honour and prosperity of the divine gifts of heaven and earth, hear of the glory and generosity of the lord. Great is the glory and great the gifts of the lord’s divinities, all one and united.

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3.55.21

इ॒मां च॑ नः पृथि॒वीं वि॒श्वधा॑या॒ उप॑ क्षेति हि॒तमि॑त्रो॒ न राजा॑ । पु॒रः॒ सदः॑ शर्म॒सदो॒ न वी॒रा म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Like a brilliant ruler who is a benevolent friend of his people, and like the warlike heroes, leaders, pioneers and citizens who bring victory and prosperity to their motherland, Indra, omnipotent lord creator, abides by the heavens and by this mother earth of ours which contains all our wealth and sustains all her children. Great is the glory and great the gifts of the lord’s divinities, all one and united.

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3.55.22

नि॒ष्षिध्व॑रीस्त॒ ओष॑धीरु॒तापो॑ र॒यिं त॑ इन्द्र पृथि॒वी बि॑भर्ति । सखा॑यस्ते वाम॒भाजः॑ स्याम म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, auspicious and generous is the world of your creation, soothing are the herbs, energising the waters, wondrous the wealth earth bears and sustains. O lord of beauty and majesty, let us be friends with you, sharers of your honour and excellence. Great is the glory, one the spirit, and absolute the power and spirit of your divine manifestations. Let us be one with glory and divinity.

✦ Sukta 56 · 8 verses ✦

3.56.1

न ता मि॑नन्ति मा॒यिनो॒ न धीरा॑ व्र॒ता दे॒वानां॑ प्रथ॒मा ध्रु॒वाणि॑ । न रोद॑सी अ॒द्रुहा॑ वे॒द्याभि॒र्न पर्व॑ता नि॒नमे॑ तस्थि॒वांसः॑ ॥

Original and inviolable are the laws and observances of divine forces in nature and in humanity. Enchanters cannot transgress them, wise men of steady mind do not violate them. Neither heaven and earth, nor scholars free from hate and jealousy with all their knowledge, nor the fixed mountains can break or bend the strong and resolute.

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3.56.2

षड्भा॒राँ एको॒ अच॑रन्बिभर्त्यृ॒तं वर्षि॑ष्ठ॒मुप॒ गाव॒ आगुः॑ । ति॒स्रो म॒हीरुप॑रास्तस्थु॒रत्या॒ गुहा॒ द्वे निहि॑ते॒ दर्श्येका॑ ॥

One constant and unmoving bears six burdens. The moving ones go round the one which is sun and shower and the universal law. Three great regions go round in space in constancy. Two remain hidden in the cave of mystery. One is apparently seen. (The one unmoving is Ishvara who creates Mahat and five elements from Prakrti. Three great ones are Bhu, earth, Bhuvah, the middle region of the sky, and Svah, the region of light, of which the higher two are unseen while the earth is seen.Another interpretation is that the one unmoving is the sun, the six are the seasons. The one constant can be interpreted as Prakrti also which bears Mahat and the elements and the three greats as sattva, rajas and tamas. The mantra is mystical and mysterious and the beauty is deep in mystery.)

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3.56.3

त्रि॒पा॒ज॒स्यो वृ॑ष॒भो वि॒श्वरू॑प उ॒त त्र्यु॒धा पु॑रु॒ध प्र॒जावा॑न् । त्र्य॒नी॒कः प॑त्यते॒ माहि॑नावा॒न्त्स रे॑तो॒धा वृ॑ष॒भः शश्व॑तीनाम् ॥

The sun and shower and the Law is lord of three worlds, bears the forms of the universe, feeds the three worlds like the mother cow, sustains all and fathers the children of existence. Three are his beautiful forces, sattva, rajas and tamas. Lord of highest power, he rules and sustains all. Lord of power, sun and shower, he bears the seed of all the universal forms of existence.

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3.56.4

अ॒भीक॑ आसां पद॒वीर॑बोध्यादि॒त्याना॑मह्वे॒ चारु॒ नाम॑ । आप॑श्चिदस्मा अरमन्त दे॒वीः पृथ॒ग्व्रज॑न्तीः॒ परि॑ षीमवृञ्जन् ॥

Immanent in these stages of the evolution of forms such as stars and living beings, the lord knows them all and I, in love and devotion, invoke and chant his gracious name. The celestial currents of water and energy love to flow for him, each in its separate path, to him and from him.

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3.56.5

त्री ष॒धस्था॑ सिन्धव॒स्त्रिः क॑वी॒नामु॒त त्रि॑मा॒ता वि॒दथे॑षु स॒म्राट् । ऋ॒ताव॑री॒र्योष॑णास्ति॒स्रो अप्या॒स्त्रिरा दि॒वो वि॒दथे॒ पत्य॑मानाः ॥

Self-refulgent creator is the ruling lord of light and life in all cosmic acts of creation and sustenance. Three are the rolling floods of light, air and waters, in heaven and skies and on the earth. Of the vision, thought and expression of the sagely poets and Rshis, he is the origin and inspiration. Three are the streams of causal, subtle and physical energy with cosmic truth and law flowing to the life on earth like youthful maidens rushing to meet their lover. Three are the regions and three the lights, agni (fire) on earth, vayu (air and electricity) in the sky, and aditya (light) in heaven, sustaining life in the cosmic yajna in three sessions.

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3.56.6

त्रिरा दि॒वः स॑वित॒र्वार्या॑णि दि॒वेदि॑व॒ आ सु॑व॒ त्रिर्नो॒ अह्नः॑ । त्रि॒धातु॑ रा॒य आ सु॑वा॒ वसू॑नि॒ भग॑ त्रातर्धिषणे सा॒तये॑ धाः ॥

Savita, lord creator and giver of light and life and inspiration, bring us three of the choicest blessings of wealth and excellence day by day in three sessions of daily yajna. Create and give us the wealth of three metals of excellent order. O lord of honour and excellence, saviour and sustainer, O heaven and earth, O mother Sarasvati, bear and bring us the patience, courage and fighting strength for winning the victories of life.

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3.56.7

त्रिरा दि॒वः स॑वि॒ता सो॑षवीति॒ राजा॑ना मि॒त्रावरु॑णा सुपा॒णी । आप॑श्चिदस्य॒ रोद॑सी चिदु॒र्वी रत्नं॑ भिक्षन्त सवि॒तुः स॒वाय॑ ॥

Thrice does Savita shower us with inspiration and energy from the light of heaven, so do Mitra and Varuna, refulgent powers of nature and humanity, friendly, just, and generous of hands. Indeed, the flowing waters, heaven and earth and the wide firmament, all pray for the gifts of light, wealth and power from this lord Savita for yajnic advancement in life.

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3.56.8

त्रिरु॑त्त॒मा दू॒णशा॑ रोच॒नानि॒ त्रयो॑ राज॒न्त्यसु॑रस्य वी॒राः । ऋ॒तावा॑न इषि॒रा दू॒ळभा॑स॒स्त्रिरा दि॒वो वि॒दथे॑ सन्तु दे॒वाः ॥

Three are the best and highest lights, formidable and indestructible: fire, electricity and the solar energy. These three brave and heroic powers of the lord of light and life’s energy shine in the world. Heroes of truth and cosmic law and the fluent light of rectitude, vibrant and tempestuous, blazing brilliant far and wide, may, we pray, shine like divinities thrice and threefold in the yajnic battles of life by virtue of the lights of heaven.

✦ Sukta 57 · 6 verses ✦

3.57.1

प्र मे॑ विवि॒क्वाँ अ॑विदन्मनी॒षां धे॒नुं चर॑न्तीं॒ प्रयु॑ता॒मगो॑पाम् । स॒द्यश्चि॒द्या दु॑दु॒हे भूरि॑ धा॒सेरिन्द्र॒स्तद॒ग्निः प॑नि॒तारो॑ अस्याः ॥

Let the man of discrimination know and appreciate my language and intelligence, rich and versatile, freely moving like a cow over the wide wide pasture, i.e., field of knowledge, which always readily yields the abundant milk of knowledge. Agni and Indra, the powerful and the brilliant, are great admirers of this understanding and language of knowledge.

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3.57.2

इन्द्रः॒ सु पू॒षा वृष॑णा सु॒हस्ता॑ दि॒वो न प्री॒ताः श॑श॒यं दु॑दुह्रे । विश्वे॒ यद॑स्यां र॒णय॑न्त दे॒वाः प्र वोऽत्र॑ वसवः सु॒म्नम॑श्याम् ॥

Indra and Pusha, the power and the pranic energy of divine nature, generous and inexhaustible with open hands like happy friends, shower the gifts of the light of heaven and reveal it in the language of divinity. Brilliancies of the world rejoice in the acquisition of this light of knowledge and language. O Vasus, scholars of the first order, I wish and pray I may benefit from the pleasure and peace of your gifts of light, knowledge and the language of divinity.

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3.57.3

या जा॒मयो॒ वृष्ण॑ इ॒च्छन्ति॑ श॒क्तिं न॑म॒स्यन्ती॑र्जानते॒ गर्भ॑मस्मिन् । अच्छा॑ पु॒त्रं धे॒नवो॑ वावशा॒ना म॒हश्च॑रन्ति॒ बिभ्र॑तं॒ वपूं॑षि ॥

Those young women who love and desire the virility and vitality of a youthful husband, knowing that they have come to maturity and there is full vitality of impregnation therein, approach the man in marriage with reverence and love in a graceful manner and, like cows in season, receive and bear and rear the great gift of a baby having a handsome body of full and perfect parts. (The image in this mantra describes not only the relationship of man and woman in married life but also the relationship of heaven and earth and the rain of fertility from the clouds in the process of natural procreation.)

· · ·

3.57.4

अच्छा॑ विवक्मि॒ रोद॑सी सु॒मेके॒ ग्राव्णो॑ युजा॒नो अ॑ध्व॒रे म॑नी॒षा । इ॒मा उ॑ ते॒ मन॑वे॒ भूरि॑वारा ऊ॒र्ध्वा भ॑वन्ति दर्श॒ता यज॑त्राः ॥

O men and women abundant and generous as clouds, joined together in home yajna, with the best of mind in the best of words, I revere and celebrate heaven and earth, man and woman joined together with heart and mind in marriage as two-in-one. O men, these women are showers of love and joy and prosperity for you. They rise high, sweet and soothing and beautiful, equal partners in the family yajna and divine procreation, worthy of respect and reverence as the flames of yajna fire.

· · ·

3.57.5

या ते॑ जि॒ह्वा मधु॑मती सुमे॒धा अग्ने॑ दे॒वेषू॒च्यत॑ उरू॒ची । तये॒ह विश्वाँ॒ अव॑से॒ यज॑त्रा॒ना सा॑दय पा॒यया॑ चा॒ मधू॑नि ॥

O Agni, fire of home yajna, gracious lady of the house, honey sweet is your tongue like the beautiful flame of light which radiates intelligence and wisdom far and wide and wins admiration among the noblest people. With this sweetness and light of speech and grace of manner, bring in on the vedi of home yajna all the sagely souls worthy of reverence and let them drink of the nectar sweets of a blessed home. (The mantra also implies the women’s contribution to the material prosperity and cultural grace of a happy home.)

· · ·

3.57.6

या ते॑ अग्ने॒ पर्व॑तस्येव॒ धारास॑श्चन्ती पी॒पय॑द्देव चि॒त्रा । ताम॒स्मभ्यं॒ प्रम॑तिं जातवेदो॒ वसो॒ रास्व॑ सुम॒तिं वि॒श्वज॑न्याम् ॥

Agni, presiding power and light divine of the yajnic home, wonderful is the flame and fragrant flow of your generosity which swells and showers like the streams of a cloud without reserve or fear or favour. With that same abundant flow, pioneer intelligence, noble wisdom and universal mother fertility, O treasure home of prosperity and power omniscient and omnipresent, we pray, bless us.

✦ Sukta 58 · 9 verses ✦

3.58.1

धे॒नुः प्र॒त्नस्य॒ काम्यं॒ दुहा॑ना॒न्तः पु॒त्रश्च॑रति॒ दक्षि॑णायाः । आ द्यो॑त॒निं व॑हति शु॒भ्रया॑मो॒षसः॒ स्तोमो॑ अ॒श्विना॑वजीगः ॥

The holy cow, dawn of the Voice Divine, overflowing with love and beauty of Eternity, the light and meaning of the Voice like the calf borne in the womb of exuberant mystery, moves around at freedom. The dawn riding a radiant chariot, harbinger of a new day, she bears and brings the light of truth, and the song of the dawn is awake, O Ashvins, teacher and disciple, the light and life of the world is live.

· · ·

3.58.2

सु॒युग्व॑हन्ति॒ प्रति॑ वामृ॒तेनो॒र्ध्वा भ॑वन्ति पि॒तरे॑व॒ मेधाः॑ । जरे॑थाम॒स्मद्वि प॒णेर्म॑नी॒षां यु॒वोरव॑श्चकृ॒मा या॑तम॒र्वाक् ॥

O Ashvins, harbingers of the light of life, right thoughts and intelligence, vision and wisdom move towards you by the paths of universal truth and law and rise higher as children look up to the parents and rise. Come up front, ward off from us the disposition of greed and poor calculation, teach us the right ways of dealing with the business of living, and we shall do what your pleasure is.

· · ·

3.58.3

सु॒युग्भि॒रश्वैः॑ सु॒वृता॒ रथे॑न॒ दस्रा॑वि॒मं शृ॑णुतं॒ श्लोक॒मद्रेः॑ । किम॒ङ्ग वां॒ प्रत्यव॑र्तिं॒ गमि॑ष्ठा॒हुर्विप्रा॑सो अश्विना पुरा॒जाः ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and life, destroyers of suffering and poverty, listen to this prayer of the yajamana liberal as the cloud: Come by fastest horses well yoked to the chariot of the wheels of whirlwinds. O dear friends, our breath of life, haven’t the sages of yore said of you that you are instant fighters against want and deprivation?

· · ·

3.58.4

आ म॑न्येथा॒मा ग॑तं॒ कच्चि॒देवै॒र्विश्वे॒ जना॑सो अ॒श्विना॑ हवन्ते । इ॒मा हि वां॒ गोऋ॑जीका॒ मधू॑नि॒ प्र मि॒त्रासो॒ न द॒दुरु॒स्रो अग्रे॑ ॥

Ashvins, scholars, teachers, specialists, come by whatever fastest means of transport you can at the earliest and study our plans and projects. All the best people of the world invite and call upon you. These cherished programmes and achievements on earth and plans of solar energy are for your consideration which, as friends, they dedicate to you for approval and application in advance of the sunrise.

· · ·

3.58.5

ति॒रः पु॒रू चि॑दश्विना॒ रजां॑स्याङ्गू॒षो वां॑ मघवाना॒ जने॑षु । एह या॑तं प॒थिभि॑र्देव॒यानै॒र्दस्रा॑वि॒मे वां॑ नि॒धयो॒ मधू॑नाम् ॥

Ashvins, scholars of science and energy of light and winds, cross over many many regions of earth and skies and come here. O lords of power and prosperity, let your songs of praise ring among the people. Reach here by paths of brilliant sun-rays. O destroyers of suffering and poverty, all the treasures of sweets and pleasure are for you.

· · ·

3.58.6

पु॒रा॒णमोकः॑ स॒ख्यं शि॒वं वां॑ यु॒वोर्न॑रा॒ द्रवि॑णं ज॒ह्नाव्या॑म् । पुनः॑ कृण्वा॒नाः स॒ख्या शि॒वानि॒ मध्वा॑ मदेम स॒ह नू स॑मा॒नाः ॥

Ashvins, leaders of the human nation, old and constant is your friendship, blissful, restful and pleasing as a holiday home. Your wealth and power lies in the culture and philosophy of the self-sacrificing pioneers. Let us together, equal and alike, doing friendly and benevolent acts, again and again, join, sing and celebrate.

· · ·

3.58.7

अश्वि॑ना वा॒युना॑ यु॒वं सु॑दक्षा नि॒युद्भि॑श्च स॒जोष॑सा युवाना । नास॑त्या ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यं जुषा॒णा सोमं॑ पिबतम॒स्रिधा॑ सुदानू ॥

Ashvins, experts of arts and sciences, equal friends, ever youthful, constantly true, readily helpful to the distressed, abundantly generous, come you both by the winds yoked as horses to the chariot, without delay, without injury to yourselves, join us and drink the soma of joy.

· · ·

3.58.8

अश्वि॑ना॒ परि॑ वा॒मिषः॑ पुरू॒चीरी॒युर्गी॒र्भिर्यत॑माना॒ अमृ॑ध्राः । रथो॑ ह वामृत॒जा अद्रि॑जूतः॒ परि॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी या॑ति स॒द्यः ॥

Ashvins, scholars and masters of science and technology, may abundant energy and maintenance and comprehensive success come to you to your heart’s desire. May conscientious people, self-controlled, indefatigable in effort, with words of thanks and praise, approach and assist you. Your chariot built with the materials of nature on the principles of natural force and law, powered with solar energy, spatial electricity and vapours of the clouds, and accelerated by thunderous friction of gears goes round earth and heaven at instant speed.

· · ·

3.58.9

अश्वि॑ना मधु॒षुत्त॑मो यु॒वाकुः॒ सोम॒स्तं पा॑त॒मा ग॑तं दुरो॒णे । रथो॑ ह वां॒ भूरि॒ वर्पः॒ करि॑क्रत्सु॒ताव॑तो निष्कृ॒तमाग॑मिष्ठः ॥

Ashvins, leaders of the nation’s defence and governance, the power and glory of the soma of our success is overflowing, with the highest sweetness of honey, pure as well as shared by you and all. Come, taste of it and enjoy and celebrate, and protect it in the home. Your chariot indeed is wondrous of form and perennial in performance. Surely the action and effort of the creator and builder and of the maker of soma is come to success. Let us call it a day!

✦ Sukta 59 · 9 verses ✦

3.59.1

मि॒त्रो जना॑न्यातयति ब्रुवा॒णो मि॒त्रो दा॑धार पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्याम् । मि॒त्रः कृ॒ष्टीरनि॑मिषा॒भि च॑ष्टे मि॒त्राय॑ ह॒व्यं घृ॒तव॑ज्जुहोत ॥

Mitra, Lord omnipotent, self-refulgent sun, speaking to people, and directing them through their direct experience, inspires and moves them to act and exert. Mitra holds and sustains the heaven and earth and the children of the earth. Mitra fully watches the people and their actions without a wink of the eye.

· · ·

3.59.2

प्र स मि॑त्र॒ मर्तो॑ अस्तु॒ प्रय॑स्वा॒न्यस्त॑ आदित्य॒ शिक्ष॑ति व्र॒तेन॑ । न ह॑न्यते॒ न जी॑यते॒ त्वोतो॒ नैन॒मंहो॑ अश्नो॒त्यन्ति॑तो॒ न दू॒रात् ॥

Mitra, lord of universal love, Aditya, lord selfrefulgent, may that person be active and alert in action, blest with ample food and drink and the joy of life who abides by your divine law and learns and makes others learn the ways of divine discipline and action. O lord, the person under your gracious protection is neither conquered nor killed by any mortal. Sin and evil reach him not, much less touch and pollute, either from far or from near.

· · ·

3.59.3

अ॒न॒मी॒वास॒ इळ॑या॒ मद॑न्तो मि॒तज्ञ॑वो॒ वरि॑म॒न्ना पृ॑थि॒व्याः । आ॒दि॒त्यस्य॑ व्र॒तमु॑पक्षि॒यन्तो॑ व॒यं मि॒त्रस्य॑ सुम॒तौ स्या॑म ॥

Free from physical and mental sickness and disease, all rejoicing by virtue of the wide earth, under instructions of the divine Word, strongly organised and moving freely over the vast expanse of mother earth, abiding by the rule and discipline of the self-refulgent sun, may we, we pray, live under the benign eye of Mitra, lord of universal light and love, and have the benefit of his favour and pleasure.

· · ·

3.59.4

अ॒यं मि॒त्रो न॑म॒स्यः॑ सु॒शेवो॒ राजा॑ सुक्ष॒त्रो अ॑जनिष्ट वे॒धाः । तस्य॑ व॒यं सु॑म॒तौ य॒ज्ञिय॒स्यापि॑ भ॒द्रे सौ॑मन॒से स्या॑म ॥

Mitra, lord of universal love and friendship, is worthy of reverence and worship. He is worthy of service and giver of peace and comfort. He is the brilliant ruler of the vast social order of the world, all wise by nature and manifestation. Let us act and conduct ourselves so as to have the benefit of the love and favour of this lord worthy of homage and service in yajna and enjoy the bliss of his kindness and grace.

· · ·

3.59.5

म॒हाँ आ॑दि॒त्यो नम॑सोप॒सद्यो॑ यात॒यज्ज॑नो गृण॒ते सु॒शेवः॑ । तस्मा॑ ए॒तत्पन्य॑तमाय॒ जुष्ट॑म॒ग्नौ मि॒त्राय॑ ह॒विरा जु॑होत ॥

Aditya, lord self-refulgent and inviolable, is great, approachable with humility and faithful offerings in yajna. Inspiring people with courage and selfconfidence to act and exert themselves, he is the giver of peace and joy to the thankful celebrant. For such a friendly lord most adorable, offer this cherished stream of oblations of havi into the holy fire.

· · ·

3.59.6

मि॒त्रस्य॑ चर्षणी॒धृतोऽवो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ सान॒सि । द्यु॒म्नं चि॒त्रश्र॑वस्तमम् ॥

The care and protection, wealth and enlightenment of the self-refulgent sustainer and ordainer of humanity is eternal and omnificent, most wonderful and inexhaustible, glorious and infinite.

· · ·

3.59.7

अ॒भि यो म॑हि॒ना दिवं॑ मि॒त्रो ब॒भूव॑ स॒प्रथाः॑ । अ॒भि श्रवो॑भिः पृथि॒वीम् ॥

Mitra, lord of universal love, light and friendship, having created the heaven and earth along with their light, food and energy, manifests himself by the expansive universe, and transcends them both by his supreme omnipotence.

· · ·

3.59.8

मि॒त्राय॒ पञ्च॑ येमिरे॒ जना॑ अ॒भिष्टि॑शवसे । स दे॒वान्विश्वा॑न्बिभर्ति ॥

All the five classes of people offer service and oblations to Mitra, radiant lord of love and friendship, who commands all desirable power and protection. That lord sustains all the brilliant and generous powers and forces of nature and humanity.

· · ·

3.59.9

मि॒त्रो दे॒वेष्वा॒युषु॒ जना॑य वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषे । इष॑ इ॒ष्टव्र॑ता अकः ॥

Among the brilliant and generous people and among the average people too, Mitra, radiant lord of universal love and friendship, creates and provides for fulfilment of the desires of the man of renunciation dedicated to yajnic offerings, in response to his observance of the chosen vows of holy discipline.

✦ Sukta 60 · 7 verses ✦

3.60.1

इ॒हेह॑ वो॒ मन॑सा ब॒न्धुता॑ नर उ॒शिजो॑ जग्मुर॒भि तानि॒ वेद॑सा । याभि॑र्मा॒याभिः॒ प्रति॑जूतिवर्पसः॒ सौध॑न्वना य॒ज्ञियं॑ भा॒गमा॑न॒श ॥

O Rbhus, leaders of science and technology, your intelligential fraternity is right here and here only, where men of passion and determination advance and reach those goals by that art and those techniques, miraculous ones, by which you, warriors of the bow and children of the skies, instantly changing roles and taking tempestuous forms, achieve your rightful share of the fruits of yajnic endeavour.

· · ·

3.60.2

याभिः॒ शची॑भिश्चम॒साँ अपिं॑शत॒ यया॑ धि॒या गामरि॑णीत॒ चर्म॑णः । येन॒ हरी॒ मन॑सा नि॒रत॑क्षत॒ तेन॑ देव॒त्वमृ॑भवः॒ समा॑नश ॥

O Rbhus, by the knowledge and powers with which you make and break the clouds, by the skill with which you resuscitate and rejuvenate the cow from a skeleton and win back the earth with the shield of protection, and by the mind with which you create the energies and design circuitous movement, by these you rise to the brilliance of divinity

· · ·

3.60.3

इन्द्र॑स्य स॒ख्यमृ॒भवः॒ समा॑नशु॒र्मनो॒र्नपा॑तो अ॒पसो॑ दधन्विरे । सौ॒ध॒न्व॒नासो॑ अमृत॒त्वमेरि॑रे वि॒ष्ट्वी शमी॑भिः सु॒कृतः॑ सुकृ॒त्यया॑ ॥

Men of intelligence, wisdom and vision, enjoy the love and friendship of Indra, lord omnipotent of the world. They perform actions worthy of the son of infallible man. Warriors of the bow, dedicated to noble action with good intention and righteous resolution, doing acts of goodness leading to peace and joy, attain the state of immortality.

· · ·

3.60.4

इन्द्रे॑ण याथ स॒रथं॑ सु॒ते सचाँ॒ अथो॒ वशा॑नां भवथा स॒ह श्रि॒या । न वः॑ प्रति॒मै सु॑कृ॒तानि॑ वाघतः॒ सौध॑न्वना ऋभवो वी॒र्या॑णि च ॥

O Rbhus, leaders and pioneers of humanity, commanders of knowledge, science and power, warriors of the bow and rovers of the skies, when the soma is distilled and the nation is on top, go forward and rejoice with the honour and splendour of the land, sharing the chariot as friends with Indra, and then be one with the plenty, prosperity and grace of the people who love you. There is nothing equal to your valour, courage and noble achievements.

· · ·

3.60.5

इन्द्र॑ ऋ॒भुभि॒र्वाज॑वद्भिः॒ समु॑क्षितं सु॒तं सोम॒मा वृ॑षस्वा॒ गभ॑स्त्योः । धि॒येषि॒तो म॑घवन्दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हे सौ॑धन्व॒नेभिः॑ स॒ह म॑त्स्वा॒ नृभिः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and splendour, come with the Rbhus, commanders of plenty and energy of the winds, and shower the soma distilled and supervitalised into the bowls of the supplicants. Lord of magnificence, inspired with love and gifts of intelligence, come to the house of the generous giver and rejoice with the people and the pioneers.

· · ·

3.60.6

इन्द्र॑ ऋभु॒मान्वाज॑वान्मत्स्वे॒ह नो॒ऽस्मिन्त्सव॑ने॒ शच्या॑ पुरुष्टुत । इ॒मानि॒ तुभ्यं॒ स्वस॑राणि येमिरे व्र॒ता दे॒वानां॒ मनु॑षश्च॒ धर्म॑भिः ॥

Indra, lord commander of the intelligent and energetic wielders of power, sung and celebrated by many, give us the gift of joy and the grace of holy vision and action in this session of yajna. These daily sessions, and the laws of nature alongwith the dharmic and karmic observances of humanity move but only in your service.

· · ·

3.60.7

इन्द्र॑ ऋ॒भुभि॑र्वा॒जिभि॑र्वा॒जय॑न्नि॒ह स्तोमं॑ जरि॒तुरुप॑ याहि य॒ज्ञिय॑म् । श॒तं केते॑भिरिषि॒रेभि॑रा॒यवे॑ स॒हस्र॑णीथो अध्व॒रस्य॒ होम॑नि ॥

Indra, giver of life’s honour and excellence, come with the visionaries of light and intelligence, come with leaders of dynamic action, hastening, strengthening, vitalising, come here and listen to the celebrant’s song of thanks and praise offered in the yajna. Come with fulfilments of a hundred cherished desires, leading men by hundred ways of knowing and doing in the business of yajnic living.

✦ Sukta 61 · 7 verses ✦

3.61.1

उषो॒ वाजे॑न वाजिनि॒ प्रचे॑ताः॒ स्तोमं॑ जुषस्व गृण॒तो म॑घोनि । पु॒रा॒णी दे॑वि युव॒तिः पुर॑न्धि॒रनु॑ व्र॒तं च॑रसि विश्ववारे ॥

O Dawn, lady of light, mighty with spirit and energy, replete with intelligence and revelation, mistress of grandeur, accept and enjoy the celebrative address of the admirer. Queen of splendour and generosity, old yet ever youthful, versatile sustainer of many, loved and adored by the whole world, you go on the rounds in accordance with the laws of truth in pursuit of your own discipline.

· · ·

3.61.2

उषो॑ दे॒व्यम॑र्त्या॒ वि भा॑हि च॒न्द्रर॑था सू॒नृता॑ ई॒रय॑न्ती । आ त्वा॑ वहन्तु सु॒यमा॑सो॒ अश्वा॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्णां पृथु॒पाज॑सो॒ ये ॥

O Dawn, brilliant and generous harbinger of the day, immortal divinity, shine and illuminate. Come riding the chariot of the beauty and majesty of the moon, inspiring mind and speech with the truth of life and nature. May the well directed horses, which are the resplendent rays of the sun, bring you here on earth.

· · ·

3.61.3

उषः॑ प्रती॒ची भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वो॒र्ध्वा ति॑ष्ठस्य॒मृत॑स्य के॒तुः । स॒मा॒नमर्थं॑ चरणी॒यमा॑ना च॒क्रमि॑व नव्य॒स्या व॑वृत्स्व ॥

O Dawn, breath of nectar and torchlight of immortality, you rise upfront and shine above all the worlds of the universe. Ever new and ever young, serving one master and one purpose, you go round and round as the wheel of time.

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3.61.4

अव॒ स्यूमे॑व चिन्व॒ती म॒घोन्यु॒षा या॑ति॒ स्वस॑रस्य॒ पत्नी॑ । स्व१॒॑र्जन॑न्ती सु॒भगा॑ सु॒दंसा॒ आन्ता॑द्दि॒वः प॑प्रथ॒ आ पृ॑थि॒व्याः ॥

Like the thread spun and woven extensively with the cloth, expansive with the rays of light, the radiant queen of the day, the dawn of light, goes on and on the round, effulgent, generous, creating and giving paradisal bliss and inspiration from close to the sun expanding over to the ends of the earth.

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3.61.5

अच्छा॑ वो दे॒वीमु॒षसं॑ विभा॒तीं प्र वो॑ भरध्वं॒ नम॑सा सुवृ॒क्तिम् । ऊ॒र्ध्वं म॑धु॒धा दि॒वि पाजो॑ अश्रे॒त्प्र रो॑च॒ना रु॑रुचे र॒ण्वसं॑दृक् ॥

Come ye celebrants, bear and bring songs of praise with offers of homage to the dawn over there, radiant and inspiring queen of light. Up there in high heaven she holds the nectar sweets and splendour of life, glorious, sublime, and blissful to the sight of mortals.

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3.61.6

ऋ॒ताव॑री दि॒वो अ॒र्कैर॑बो॒ध्या रे॒वती॒ रोद॑सी चि॒त्रम॑स्थात् । आ॒य॒तीम॑ग्न उ॒षसं॑ विभा॒तीं वा॒ममे॑षि॒ द्रवि॑णं॒ भिक्ष॑माणः ॥

Observing the Law of Divinity, descending from the heights of heaven, the dawn is revealed by the showers of light, rich in wealth and splendour, illuminating the earth and skies with wondrous beauty. Agni, enlightened performer of yajna, watching the rising dawn shining in glory, and praying to the Almighty, you attain the wealth of your heart’s desire.

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3.61.7

ऋ॒तस्य॑ बु॒ध्न उ॒षसा॑मिष॒ण्यन्वृषा॑ म॒ही रोद॑सी॒ आ वि॑वेश । म॒ही मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य मा॒या च॒न्द्रेव॑ भा॒नुं वि द॑धे पुरु॒त्रा ॥

In observance of the laws of nature, moving the rise of the dawns, the sun, mighty cause of energy showers, pervades and illuminates heaven and earth. The supernal energy of nature, powers of attraction and repulsion, sustains both heaven and earth and the sun as well as the golden moon, in various ways.

✦ Sukta 62 · 18 verses ✦

3.62.1

इ॒मा उ॑ वां भृ॒मयो॒ मन्य॑माना यु॒वाव॑ते॒ न तुज्या॑ अभूवन् । क्व१॒॑त्यदि॑न्द्रावरुणा॒ यशो॑ वां॒ येन॑ स्मा॒ सिनं॒ भर॑थः॒ सखि॑भ्यः ॥

Indra and Varuna, powers of energy and water, these circuitous revolutions of your energy, highly valuable and undeniable, are not to be opposed or damaged for both of you in the interest of protection and progress, for, if they are damaged, where would be that honour and reputation of yours by which you bear and bring food and comfort for your friends?

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3.62.2

अ॒यमु॑ वां पुरु॒तमो॑ रयी॒यञ्छ॑श्वत्त॒ममव॑से जोहवीति । स॒जोषा॑विन्द्रावरुणा म॒रुद्भि॑र्दि॒वा पृ॑थि॒व्या शृ॑णुतं॒ हवं॑ मे ॥

This first and most eminent yajaka of all, desirous of wealth, honour and excellence of permanent nature, invokes and calls upon you. Hence you, Indra and Varuna, harbingers of power and peace, together with the winds, heaven and earth, triple energies of wind, light and earth, listen to the call and prayer of mine.

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3.62.3

अ॒स्मे तदि॑न्द्रावरुणा॒ वसु॑ ष्याद॒स्मे र॒यिर्म॑रुतः॒ सर्व॑वीरः । अ॒स्मान्वरू॑त्रीः शर॒णैर॑वन्त्व॒स्मान्होत्रा॒ भार॑ती॒ दक्षि॑णाभिः ॥

Indra and Varuna, may that wealth of power and peace be for us. O Maruts, heroes of the winds, may that man power of all-heroic order be ours. May the highest powers of nature and humanity protect us with shelter and modes of defence, and may our joint programmes of developmental yajna, and mother earth, and divine knowledge and speech bless us with imperishable gifts of honour, excellence and prosperity.

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3.62.4

बृह॑स्पते जु॒षस्व॑ नो ह॒व्यानि॑ विश्वदेव्य । रास्व॒ रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Brhaspati, ruler and sustainer of the wide world, master of universal vision and wisdom and guardian of holy speech and yajaka, be pleased to accept our gifts of homage and yajaka. O lord universally adorable, grant us the jewels of wealth and honour in favour of the generous yajamana.

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3.62.5

शुचि॑म॒र्कैर्बृह॒स्पति॑मध्व॒रेषु॑ नमस्यत । अना॒म्योज॒ आ च॑के ॥

O lovers and seekers of knowledge and the holy Word, in your programmes of education and development, bow in homage with words of gratitude and offers of yajna to Brhaspati, master and guardian of universal knowledge and human speech, with a pure, unsullied mind and intellect. O lord and master, I love and pray for indomitable courage and valour (to follow the path of universal truth and righteousness).

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3.62.6

वृ॒ष॒भं च॑र्षणी॒नां वि॒श्वरू॑प॒मदा॑भ्यम् । बृह॒स्पतिं॒ वरे॑ण्यम् ॥

I bow in homage to Brhaspati, master of knowledge and speech, mighty generous and creative, indomitably brave, exponent of all forms and variations of world knowledge and world language, most eminent and brilliant of scholars among men, the one and only one worthy of choice and homage.

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3.62.7

इ॒यं ते॑ पूषन्नाघृणे सुष्टु॒तिर्दे॑व॒ नव्य॑सी । अ॒स्माभि॒स्तुभ्यं॑ शस्यते ॥

O brilliant master, giver of mental and spiritual nourishment, this is the latest song of homage and reverence composed and sung by us for you in honour of your light of knowledge and flames of fire (for world enlightenment).

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3.62.8

तां जु॑षस्व॒ गिरं॒ मम॑ वाज॒यन्ती॑मवा॒ धिय॑म् । व॒धू॒युरि॑व॒ योष॑णाम् ॥

Please to accept, appreciate and cherish this song of mine, inspired, true and exciting, and protect the love, thought and beauty of imagination enshrined in it like a suitor’s courting his youthful lady love.

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3.62.9

यो विश्वा॒भि वि॒पश्य॑ति॒ भुव॑ना॒ सं च॒ पश्य॑ति । स नः॑ पू॒षावि॒ता भु॑वत् ॥

The One who sees all the things and living beings and all the worlds directly and instantly in all their variety, and watches all of them together as one, in truth, that lord giver of life and sustenance, we pray, be our saviour and protector.

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3.62.10

तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरे॑ण्यं॒ भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि । धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥

We concentrate and meditate on the radiant glory of self-refulgent lord Savita, lord giver of light and life, who may, we pray, inspire and energise our mind and intelligence. That glory alone is worthy of choice and meditation.

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3.62.11

दे॒वस्य॑ सवि॒तुर्व॒यं वा॑ज॒यन्तः॒ पुर॑न्ध्या । भग॑स्य रा॒तिमी॑महे ॥

Inspired, energised and enlightened with farsighted vision and intelligence, we pray for the divine gifts of generous, gracious and glorious Savita, lord giver of life, light and inspiration.

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3.62.12

दे॒वं नरः॑ सवि॒तारं॒ विप्रा॑ य॒ज्ञैः सु॑वृ॒क्तिभिः॑ । न॒म॒स्यन्ति॑ धि॒येषि॒ताः ॥

Men of piety, knowledge and intelligence, inspired with will and light divine, who control and direct their mind and sense, bow to generous and selfrefulgent Savita in meditation, adore him with songs of ecstasy and offer him thanks and homage with yajnas and self-sacrifice.

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3.62.13

सोमो॑ जिगाति गातु॒विद्दे॒वाना॑मेति निष्कृ॒तम् । ऋ॒तस्य॒ योनि॑मा॒सद॑म् ॥

The stream of peace and joy in meditation flows on by the paths of the mind and reaches where the senses and mind terminate, the very seat of light divine and origin of the spirit’s will to move into the existential flow.

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3.62.14

सोमो॑ अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ द्वि॒पदे॒ चतु॑ष्पदे च प॒शवे॑ । अ॒न॒मी॒वा इष॑स्करत् ॥

May Soma, spirit of peace and joy in nature, blissful as the moon, create healthful foods and drinks, free from disease, for us humans, bipeds, quadrupeds and other animals and fulfil our physical and material needs and desires.

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3.62.15

अ॒स्माक॒मायु॑र्व॒र्धय॑न्न॒भिमा॑तीः॒ सह॑मानः । सोमः॑ स॒धस्थ॒मास॑दत् ॥

May Soma, stream of life’s vigour and joy, invigorating health, prolonging life, and resisting, challenging and eliminating devitalising toxins and diseases, all enemies of health and age, abide in our home, our seat of yajna, and our body.

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3.62.16

आ नो॑ मित्रावरुणा घृ॒तैर्गव्यू॑तिमुक्षतम् । मध्वा॒ रजां॑सि सुक्रतू ॥

May Mitra and Varuna, sun and shower, heat and cold, fire and water, and friends of the nation inspired with justice and rectitude, fertilise and energise our lands and environment with waters and yajnic enrichments, protect and promote our cows and other cattle wealth, develop our milk products, and make the earth flow with streams of milk and honey. May all these powers do good to humanity, our lands and our homes.

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3.62.17

उ॒रु॒शंसा॑ नमो॒वृधा॑ म॒ह्ना दक्ष॑स्य राजथः । द्राघि॑ष्ठाभिः शुचिव्रता ॥

Mitra and Varuna, friends of humanity, dedicated to justice and values of rectitude, universally adored and exalted with homage, dedicated to observance of truth and purity of life and conduct, you shine and reign by the strength of your will and vision, dexterity of your art and expertise and the acts of persistent patience and endurance.

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3.62.18

गृ॒णा॒ना ज॒मद॑ग्निना॒ योना॑वृ॒तस्य॑ सीदतम् । पा॒तं सोम॑मृतावृधा ॥

Mitra and Varuna, friends of humanity dedicated to love and justice, exalted by life and acts of truth, exalting universal law and the flow of existence, celebrated by men of vision dedicated to rational and empirical experience of reality, abide in the house of truth and righteousness on the vedi of yajna, protect, promote and enjoy the beauty, peace and ecstasy of life.