4. Rig Veda — Mandala 4

✦ Sukta 1 · 20 verses ✦

4.1.1

त्वां ह्य॑ग्ने॒ सद॒मित्स॑म॒न्यवो॑ दे॒वासो॑ दे॒वम॑र॒तिं न्ये॑रि॒र इति॒ क्रत्वा॑ न्येरि॒रे । अम॑र्त्यं यजत॒ मर्त्ये॒ष्वा दे॒वमादे॑वं जनत॒ प्रचे॑तसं॒ विश्व॒मादे॑वं जनत॒ प्रचे॑तसम् ॥

Agni, light and fire of life, brilliant and impassioned people always kindle you to action. Quick, relentless and refulgent, a very home of rest and peace and light as you are, they kindle and raise you with their best and noblest effort and action. O men, join, honour and respect this divine and imperishable power among humanity to full force of illumination, generate this holy power, intelligent, universal and living light for all, generate and develop it to full beauty and delight over the wide earth.

· · ·

4.1.2

स भ्रात॑रं॒ वरु॑णमग्न॒ आ व॑वृत्स्व दे॒वाँ अच्छा॑ सुम॒तीय॒ज्ञव॑नसं॒ ज्येष्ठं॑ य॒ज्ञव॑नसम् । ऋ॒तावा॑नमादि॒त्यं च॑र्षणी॒धृतं॒ राजा॑नं चर्षणी॒धृत॑म् ॥

And O light and fire of life, Agni, bring in your brother and complementary power, Varuna, the very spirit of cool, peace and justice of life, and direct him toward the noble and brilliant performers of yajna. Bring him well with best thoughts and intentions, bring the lover of yajna, highest and most venerable, partner in social organisation, observer of the laws and operations of universal truth and goodness, refulgent as the sun, sustainer of humanity, brilliant ruler, universally accepted and consecrated by the people.

· · ·

4.1.3

सखे॒ सखा॑यम॒भ्या व॑वृत्स्वा॒शुं न च॒क्रं रथ्ये॑व॒ रंह्या॒स्मभ्यं॑ दस्म॒ रंह्या॑ । अग्ने॑ मृळी॒कं वरु॑णे॒ सचा॑ विदो म॒रुत्सु॑ वि॒श्वभा॑नुषु । तो॒काय॑ तु॒जे शु॑शुचान॒ शं कृ॑ध्य॒स्मभ्यं॑ दस्म॒ शं कृ॑धि ॥

Agni, O friend, loving and gracious, destroyer of enemies, just as a swift horse by a fast moving chariot on the highway and the wheel of Time drives the master to the destination, so come, hasten your friend Varuna, power of peace and justice, to us. O refulgent master of knowledge, being friends with Varuna, the winds and the solar lights of the world, the people and brilliant eminences of the world, reach us, bring us the peace and joy of life. Blazing brilliant and gracious, bring peace and well-being for our children and grand children. O lord of light and knowledge, love and justice, peace and beauty, destroyer of evil, bring us peace, beauty and the graces of life.

· · ·

4.1.4

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने॒ वरु॑णस्य वि॒द्वान्दे॒वस्य॒ हेळोऽव॑ यासिसीष्ठाः । यजि॑ष्ठो॒ वह्नि॑तमः॒ शोशु॑चानो॒ विश्वा॒ द्वेषां॑सि॒ प्र मु॑मुग्ध्य॒स्मत् ॥

Agni, O lord and master of knowledge and enlightenment, we pray, you keep off from us the displeasure of Varuna, highest authority of justice. Lord blazing brilliant and purifying power worthy of invocation, harbinger and disseminator of divine gifts and fragrances, ward away from us the entire hate and enmity the world might have toward us.

· · ·

4.1.5

स त्वं नो॑ अग्नेऽव॒मो भ॑वो॒ती नेदि॑ष्ठो अ॒स्या उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ । अव॑ यक्ष्व नो॒ वरु॑णं॒ ररा॑णो वी॒हि मृ॑ळी॒कं सु॒हवो॑ न एधि ॥

Agni, lord of light, knowledge and power, pray be our first and last preserver and protector, closest at this rise of the glorious dawn. Delighting, rejoicing and giving, join Varuna at the yajna and bring us peace and joy. Noble yajaka, responsive to our call, come and bless us with goodwill and well-being.

· · ·

4.1.6

अ॒स्य श्रेष्ठा॑ सु॒भग॑स्य सं॒दृग्दे॒वस्य॑ चि॒त्रत॑मा॒ मर्त्ये॑षु । शुचि॑ घृ॒तं न त॒प्तमघ्न्या॑याः स्पा॒र्हा दे॒वस्य॑ मं॒हने॑व धे॒नोः ॥

Open, highest and most wonderful among mortals are the gifts and actions of this brilliant, generous and glorious ruler, pure and bright like the heated clarified ghrta of the inviolable cow, lovely and profuse like the liberality of the abundant cow, mother earth, and the inexhaustible speech of self-refulgent lord of omniscience. He watches all and his gifts are directly visible.

· · ·

4.1.7

त्रिर॑स्य॒ ता प॑र॒मा स॑न्ति स॒त्या स्पा॒र्हा दे॒वस्य॒ जनि॑मान्य॒ग्नेः । अ॒न॒न्ते अ॒न्तः परि॑वीत॒ आगा॒च्छुचिः॑ शु॒क्रो अ॒र्यो रोरु॑चानः ॥

Three are the supreme manifestations of the generous refulgent Agni, true, lovely and universally cherished which arise and shine. Pervasive everywhere in endless space in the presence of the infinite divine lord of the universe, he shines pure, refulgent, generous and beautiful. (This mantra refers to the various manifestations of cosmic energy which is the existential potential of the Supreme Lord Creator operating at different levels in different modes. In other words, we may call it the manifestations ofAdi-Shakti, the Lord’s consort Prakrti, originally manifesting as sattva, rajas, and tamas. On earth, Bhuloka, it is fire and magnetic energy, which is agni. In the middle regions of the sky, Bhuvahloka, it is electrical energy, which is vayu. In the higher regions of light, Svahloka, it is aditya, solar energy. The sun too manifests in three different phases, at dawn, at noon and in the evening when it is setting. The efficacy of the sun in these three phases is different. At the individual human level, it is physical energy, mental energy and spiritual energy. In yet another way it is the vital heat which maintains the physical body, i.e., annamaya kosha; it is pranic energy which maintains the pranamaya kosha and the manomaya kosha; and it is the higher psychic energy which maintains the vijnanamaya kosha and the anandamaya kosha. Of these three, one feeds, the other energises, and the third illumines. However, mantras such as this have to be interpreted in a state of meditation, and since meditation is the birth-right of every human being, we are free to divine into the mystery of the mantric vision in our experiential way.)

· · ·

4.1.8

स दू॒तो विश्वेद॒भि व॑ष्टि॒ सद्मा॒ होता॒ हिर॑ण्यरथो॒ रंसु॑जिह्वः । रो॒हिद॑श्वो वपु॒ष्यो॑ वि॒भावा॒ सदा॑ र॒ण्वः पि॑तु॒मती॑व सं॒सत् ॥

ThatAgni, harbinger of light and warmth of life, destroyer of darkness and evil, loves, pervades, illuminates and rules over all the forms and places of the world. He is the yajamana, receiver and giver of sweets and fragrances. Riding a golden chariot drawn by ruddy horses and waves of light, delightful of tongue as well as flames of fire, majestic in body form, always rejoicing and emanating joy, he is a very treasure home of prosperity, happiness and excellence like an assembly house of power, governance and wealth of a nation in symbolic form.

· · ·

4.1.9

स चे॑तय॒न्मनु॑षो य॒ज्ञब॑न्धुः॒ प्र तं म॒ह्या र॑श॒नया॑ नयन्ति । स क्षे॑त्यस्य॒ दुर्या॑सु॒ साध॑न्दे॒वो मर्त॑स्य सधनि॒त्वमा॑प ॥

A brother yajaka on the yajna vedi of creation and governance, he awakens and enlightens the people. To him they move on to consecrate him in the seat of power and yajna with a long rope of powers, obligations and controls for balance. He abides in the seat of governance and justice fulfilling his roles, generous and brilliant, achieving the dreams and realities of the nation’s imagination.

· · ·

4.1.10

स तू नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्न॑यतु प्रजा॒नन्नच्छा॒ रत्नं॑ दे॒वभ॑क्तं॒ यद॑स्य । धि॒या यद्विश्वे॑ अ॒मृता॒ अकृ॑ण्व॒न्द्यौष्पि॒ता ज॑नि॒ता स॒त्यमु॑क्षन् ॥

And may that Agni, leader and lord ruler, knowing everything full well, lead us to that valuable jewel wealth of this world, loved, coveted and enjoyed by the brilliant divinities which the immortals of all the world with their skill and intelligence created and which the heaven and father creator showered and consecrated as real and true.

· · ·

4.1.11

स जा॑यत प्रथ॒मः प॒स्त्या॑सु म॒हो बु॒ध्ने रज॑सो अ॒स्य योनौ॑ । अ॒पाद॑शी॒र्षा गु॒हमा॑नो॒ अन्ता॒योयु॑वानो वृष॒भस्य॑ नी॒ळे ॥

That Agni, which brings us the jewel wealth of the world, first arises from its original cause in the Mahat-tattva, the first existential evolute of Prakrti. Then it manifests in the sun as light, and then in the middle regions of space as vayu, electricity. Moving without head and feet, concealed yet joining youthfully the inmates of various regions, light in the sun, cloud in the sky, homes of people and depth of the earth, it operates everywhere.

· · ·

4.1.12

प्र शर्ध॑ आर्त प्रथ॒मं वि॑प॒न्याँ ऋ॒तस्य॒ योना॑ वृष॒भस्य॑ नी॒ळे । स्पा॒र्हो युवा॑ वपु॒ष्यो॑ वि॒भावा॑ स॒प्त प्रि॒यासो॑ऽजनयन्त॒ वृष्णे॑ ॥

With study and appraisal discover and find energy and power in the original source of cosmic waters and the abode of fire, i.e., the solar energy, currents of wind in the sky and magnetic energy of the earth, energy and power which is lovely, youthful and unaging, energising body systems and giver of beauty and joy. For the generous human soul, seven darling yajakas, i.e., five pranas, mind and intellect create this vital energy in the body.

· · ·

4.1.13

अ॒स्माक॒मत्र॑ पि॒तरो॑ मनु॒ष्या॑ अ॒भि प्र से॑दुर्ऋ॒तमा॑शुषा॒णाः । अश्म॑व्रजाः सु॒दुघा॑ व॒व्रे अ॒न्तरुदु॒स्रा आ॑जन्नु॒षसो॑ हुवा॒नाः ॥

Here in our human world, in this programme of energy discovery, our parental seniors and thinkers dedicated to the yajna of natural and psychic energy sit at peace in a state of tranquillity, searching and invoking the light of the dawn and discover and open out the showers of energy waves locked up inside the clouds and mountains.

· · ·

4.1.14

ते म॑र्मृजत ददृ॒वांसो॒ अद्रिं॒ तदे॑षाम॒न्ये अ॒भितो॒ वि वो॑चन् । प॒श्वय॑न्त्रासो अ॒भि का॒रम॑र्चन्वि॒दन्त॒ ज्योति॑श्चकृ॒पन्त॑ धी॒भिः ॥

Those parental seniors and researchers, breakers of the clouds and shatterers of the mountain caves break open the treasures of energy and refine and intensify the power. Others who watch them and their programme fully describe their achievement how, equipped with practical apparatuses, dedicated to their mission, they discover the light and thus, with their intelligence and sentiment, strengthen and do good to humanity.

· · ·

4.1.15

ते ग॑व्य॒ता मन॑सा दृ॒ध्रमु॒ब्धं गा ये॑मा॒नं परि॒ षन्त॒मद्रि॑म् । दृ॒ळ्हं नरो॒ वच॑सा॒ दैव्ये॑न व्र॒जं गोम॑न्तमु॒शिजो॒ वि व॑व्रुः ॥

They, best of men, leaders and impassioned pioneers, with a searching mind pursuing the light concentrate and meditate on the sun, all pervasive, ocean deep, strong and bottomless treasure hold of infinite light, language and knowledge, holding and at the same time controlling and directing the radiation of light rays, and they, with words of divine vision and mysterious meaning open up and reveal the wealth of light, word and knowledge.

· · ·

4.1.16

ते म॑न्वत प्रथ॒मं नाम॑ धे॒नोस्त्रिः स॒प्त मा॒तुः प॑र॒माणि॑ विन्दन् । तज्जा॑न॒तीर॒भ्य॑नूषत॒ व्रा आ॒विर्भु॑वदरु॒णीर्य॒शसा॒ गोः ॥

First they study, reflect and meditate on the seven ultimate forms of mother speech and thus realise and know it in the essence through word, meaning and the self-existent reality behind the word. And having realised the content of divine speech, they celebrate the red lights of the dawn bearing and revealing that lord of speech manifesting by the splendour of the dawn of knowledge.

· · ·

4.1.17

नेश॒त्तमो॒ दुधि॑तं॒ रोच॑त॒ द्यौरुद्दे॒व्या उ॒षसो॑ भा॒नुर॑र्त । आ सूर्यो॑ बृह॒तस्ति॑ष्ठ॒दज्राँ॑ ऋ॒जु मर्ते॑षु वृजि॒ना च॒ पश्य॑न् ॥

The dense darkness of the night is dispelled, the solar region shines and the light of the dawn ascends in all her splendour. The sun rises and shines on over the fields and plains of the wide world, watching the acts and ways of right and wrong among the mortal inhabitants of the earth.

· · ·

4.1.18

आदित्प॒श्चा बु॑बुधा॒ना व्य॑ख्य॒न्नादिद्रत्नं॑ धारयन्त॒ द्युभ॑क्तम् । विश्वे॒ विश्वा॑सु॒ दुर्या॑सु दे॒वा मित्र॑ धि॒ये व॑रुण स॒त्यम॑स्तु ॥

And then men of vision, wisdom and knowledge light, celebrate and proclaim the might and splendour of Agni, bearing and enjoying the jewels of wealth gifted by the light and energy of the sun, fire and electricity. May all the divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity, and Mitra, the sun, friend of life, and Varuna, the spatial waters, givers of love, peace and justice, be good and true to the wish and desire and intellectual efforts of humanity in all homes and over all the paths of life.

· · ·

4.1.19

अच्छा॑ वोचेय शुशुचा॒नम॒ग्निं होता॑रं वि॒श्वभ॑रसं॒ यजि॑ष्ठम् । शुच्यूधो॑ अतृण॒न्न गवा॒मन्धो॒ न पू॒तं परि॑षिक्तमं॒शोः ॥

Let us sing and celebrate Agni in hymns of praise, Agni bright and pure and purifying, yajaka who invokes and awakens the bounties of nature for us, sustains the world and is most worthy of love and reverence, who fills the udder of the cows with milk without injury and augments the holy acts of humanity like the food purified and sanctified by the sun.

· · ·

4.1.20

विश्वे॑षा॒मदि॑तिर्य॒ज्ञिया॑नां॒ विश्वे॑षा॒मति॑थि॒र्मानु॑षाणाम् । अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वाना॒मव॑ आवृणा॒नः सु॑मृळी॒को भ॑वतु जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥

Like the indivisible and inviolable sky for all the performers of yajna, like the welcome guest for all the householders, Agni, universal light and lord omnipresent and omniscient, may, we pray, taking up the protection and promotion of noble humanity and renewal and refreshment of the environment, be the harbinger of peace and prosperity for children of the earth. (So may be the teacher and the scholar.)

✦ Sukta 2 · 20 verses ✦

4.2.1

यो मर्त्ये॑ष्व॒मृत॑ ऋ॒तावा॑ दे॒वो दे॒वेष्व॑र॒तिर्नि॒धायि॑ । होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठो म॒ह्ना शु॒चध्यै॑ ह॒व्यैर॒ग्निर्मनु॑ष ईर॒यध्यै॑ ॥

Agni which is immortal among mortals and refulgent among divinities of world and nature, itself ever true and dynamic destroyer of evil, is fixed in the cosmic order of law and rectitude. By virtue of its own greatness it is the invoker and harbinger of natural bounties, most worthy of reverence with homage of oblations for the purification, illumination and inspiration of mankind. And Agni is held, recognised and realised in the heart.

· · ·

4.2.2

इ॒ह त्वं सू॑नो सहसो नो अ॒द्य जा॒तो जा॒ताँ उ॒भयाँ॑ अ॒न्तर॑ग्ने । दू॒त ई॑यसे युयुजा॒न ऋ॑ष्व ऋजुमु॒ष्कान्वृष॑णः शु॒क्रांश्च॑ ॥

Agni, lord giver of light, child of omnipotence, great and sublime, giver of mighty strength, here in this world of ours, risen today to full glory among both divines and humans born and initiated, you move as the light and energy of yajna, carrying the fragrance, inspiring and engaging all who are pure and generous and move by the brilliant paths of nature and rectitude.

· · ·

4.2.3

अत्या॑ वृध॒स्नू रोहि॑ता घृ॒तस्नू॑ ऋ॒तस्य॑ मन्ये॒ मन॑सा॒ जवि॑ष्ठा । अ॒न्तरी॑यसे अरु॒षा यु॑जा॒नो यु॒ष्मांश्च॑ दे॒वान्विश॒ आ च॒ मर्ता॑न् ॥

Agni, light of the world, I know and realise your waves of cosmic energy ever moving in circuit at the fastest with the energy of the cosmic mind, creating and increasing, sprinkling and showering with water and energy of ghrta, red as rays of the dawn, blazing as the sun, with which you move across the world of existence, inspiring and engaging the mortals, immortals and the human children of the earth.

· · ·

4.2.4

अ॒र्य॒मणं॒ वरु॑णं मि॒त्रमे॑षा॒मिन्द्रा॒विष्णू॑ म॒रुतो॑ अ॒श्विनो॒त । स्वश्वो॑ अग्ने सु॒रथः॑ सु॒राधा॒ एदु॑ वह सुह॒विषे॒ जना॑य ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, commanding instant waves of communication, fastest modes of transport, immense wealth and infrastructure for development and prosperity, come and, for these people dedicated to the yajna of corporate programmes of common development and progress, bring Aryaman, power of justice, Varuna, spirit of freedom, choice and excellence, Mitra, love and friendship for all these people, Indra, energy of the clouds and electricity, Vishnu, universal spirit of cosmic unity, Maruts, energy of the winds, and the Ashvins, light of the sun and soothing beauty of the moon.

· · ·

4.2.5

गोमाँ॑ अ॒ग्नेऽवि॑माँ अ॒श्वी य॒ज्ञो नृ॒वत्स॑खा॒ सद॒मिद॑प्रमृ॒ष्यः । इळा॑वाँ ए॒षो अ॑सुर प्र॒जावा॑न्दी॒र्घो र॒यिः पृ॑थुबु॒ध्नः स॒भावा॑न् ॥

Agni, giver of light, power and prosperity, peace and justice, commanding wealth of cows, sheep and goats, horses, and unity and productive cooperation in yajna you are friend of the people, leaders and pioneers, blest with lands, knowledge and holy speech of divinity, possessed of vital strength, destroyer of the wicked, supported by the people and assistants. Presiding over the assembly, you know great and long lasting is this wealth of the nation, broad based and rising high and vast. Come, take over the house of government which is beyond pollution, corruption and destruction.

· · ·

4.2.6

यस्त॑ इ॒ध्मं ज॒भर॑त्सिष्विदा॒नो मू॒र्धानं॑ वा त॒तप॑ते त्वा॒या । भुव॒स्तस्य॒ स्वत॑वाँ पा॒युर॑ग्ने॒ विश्व॑स्मात्सीमघाय॒त उ॑रुष्य ॥

Whoever bears the sacred fuel for your fire of yajna by the sweat of his brow, or tires himself out, not sparing himself while coming to you to serve, Agni, come to your own, and rising, be the protector of his land and person against all violent bullies and sinners.

· · ·

4.2.7

यस्ते॒ भरा॒दन्नि॑यते चि॒दन्नं॑ नि॒शिष॑न्म॒न्द्रमति॑थिमु॒दीर॑त् । आ दे॑व॒युरि॒नध॑ते दुरो॒णे तस्मि॑न्र॒यिर्ध्रु॒वो अ॑स्तु॒ दास्वा॑न् ॥

Agni, giver of light and wealth, ruler of the world, in the home where the generous house holder spares food and bears it to you for the hungry, where he welcomes, appreciates and regales the happy guest, where, dedicated to the divinities and brilliant people, he lights the fire and worships Ishwara in full faith, in that house, O lord, let there be abundant wealth, peace and stability.

· · ·

4.2.8

यस्त्वा॑ दो॒षा य उ॒षसि॑ प्र॒शंसा॑त्प्रि॒यं वा॑ त्वा कृ॒णव॑ते ह॒विष्मा॑न् । अश्वो॒ न स्वे दम॒ आ हे॒म्यावा॒न्तमंह॑सः पीपरो दा॒श्वांस॑म् ॥

Whoever sings in praise of you night and day, who with gifts in homage does you proud with things dear to you, save that man of generosity in his home from sin, come like a knight of golden horse and rescue him from evil.

· · ·

4.2.9

यस्तुभ्य॑मग्ने अ॒मृता॑य॒ दाश॒द्दुव॒स्त्वे कृ॒णव॑ते य॒तस्रु॑क् । न स रा॒या श॑शमा॒नो वि यो॑ष॒न्नैन॒मंहः॒ परि॑ वरदघा॒योः ॥

Agni, giver of light and wealth of life, whoever offers you honour and service in faith, ever ready, holding up the ladle full of holy ghrta and offering oblations to the imperishable fire, overflows with wealth without fear of deprivation, and the sin of the evil doer too can never pollute him.

· · ·

4.2.10

यस्य॒ त्वम॑ग्ने अध्व॒रं जुजो॑षो दे॒वो मर्त॑स्य॒ सुधि॑तं॒ ररा॑णः । प्री॒तेद॑स॒द्धोत्रा॒ सा य॑वि॒ष्ठासा॑म॒ यस्य॑ विध॒तो वृ॒धासः॑ ॥

Agni, youthful light of yajnic human action, brilliant and generous giver as you are, whatever mortal offers you the yajna of service, with spirit of sacrifice, love and non-violence, well performed with reverence and faith, you accept and enjoy. May that service and spirit of charity bring him the grace of heaven. May we too be performers and promoters of that yajna, and may that grace be ours too.

· · ·

4.2.11

चित्ति॒मचि॑त्तिं चिनव॒द्वि वि॒द्वान्पृ॒ष्ठेव॑ वी॒ता वृ॑जि॒ना च॒ मर्ता॑न् । रा॒ये च॑ नः स्वप॒त्याय॑ देव॒ दितिं॑ च॒ रास्वादि॑तिमुरुष्य ॥

Let the man of knowledge and discrimination distinguish between sense and wisdom on the one hand and non-sense and ignorance on the other, between the broad open paths of right living and the covert ways of wickedness, and between mortals and mortals. And O giver of knowledge and light of discrimination, Agni, for the sake of honour and well being and for our children give us worldly wealth and liquid assets and protect our immortal merit of rectitude.

· · ·

4.2.12

क॒विं श॑शासुः क॒वयोऽद॑ब्धा निधा॒रय॑न्तो॒ दुर्या॑स्वा॒योः । अत॒स्त्वं दृश्याँ॑ अग्न ए॒तान्प॒ड्भिः प॑श्ये॒रद्भु॑ताँ अ॒र्य एवैः॑ ॥

Wise visionaries, bold intrepidable scholars and sagely teachers, maintaining the inmates, disciples and seekers of knowledge in their home schools, teach them the knowledge and discipline of life. Therefore, O master and ruler, Agni, by practical steps you go, observe and assess these wonderful schools and their people. They are all open and worth seeing.

· · ·

4.2.13

त्वम॑ग्ने वा॒घते॑ सु॒प्रणी॑तिः सु॒तसो॑माय विध॒ते य॑विष्ठ । रत्नं॑ भर शशमा॒नाय॑ घृष्वे पृ॒थुश्च॒न्द्रमव॑से चर्षणि॒प्राः ॥

Agni, giver of light, knowledge and power, ever fresh and youthful, noble guide in proper ways of living, ruler of the wide world, friend of the people, bear and bring the beauty, peace and jewel wealth of life for the protection and advancement of the intelligent admirer who has distilled the soma of life’s joy, confidently conducts the business of life to success, conquers suffering unto overflowing happiness and refines the manners and graces of life.

· · ·

4.2.14

अधा॑ ह॒ यद्व॒यम॑ग्ने त्वा॒या प॒ड्भिर्हस्ते॑भिश्चकृ॒मा त॒नूभिः॑ । रथं॒ न क्रन्तो॒ अप॑सा भु॒रिजो॑र्ऋ॒तं ये॑मुः सु॒ध्य॑ आशुषा॒णाः ॥

And Agni, O ruler of the world, as we, dedicated to you, work for you with our hands and feet and indeed with our body and soul, so may all the intelligent people, cooperating with you with the work of their dexterous hands, move together as by a chariot car and take you and all to the destination of truth and rectitude toward perfection.

· · ·

4.2.15

अधा॑ मा॒तुरु॒षसः॑ स॒प्त विप्रा॒ जाये॑महि प्रथ॒मा वे॒धसो॒ नॄन् । दि॒वस्पु॒त्रा अङ्गि॑रसो भवे॒माद्रिं॑ रुजेम ध॒निनं॑ शु॒चन्तः॑ ॥

And then, like the seven rainbow colours of the lights of mother dawn, let us raise ourselves to seven classes of intelligent and dynamic functionaries: ruler, presidents of councils, army, commanders, people, services and ancillaries. Let us create leaders and visionary pioneers of knowledge and education. Let us all rise to be the children of light, dexterous as divine architects, dear as vital breath of life, and then, cleansing and brightening up the well provided prosperous people who are wealth of the motherland, let us break the clouds for rain and shatter the mountains of difficulty converting them to opportunities.

· · ·

4.2.16

अधा॒ यथा॑ नः पि॒तरः॒ परा॑सः प्र॒त्नासो॑ अग्न ऋ॒तमा॑शुषा॒णाः । शुचीद॑य॒न्दीधि॑तिमुक्थ॒शासः॒ क्षामा॑ भि॒न्दन्तो॑ अरु॒णीरप॑ व्रन् ॥

Agni, ruler of light and humanity, let us all together, dedicated to truth and rectitude, rise and shine as did our forefathers, earliest and later ones, and pure and sanctified, singing songs of divine praise, breaking new ground upon the earth, let us rise to the heights of power and discover new lights of existence, and so may rise our future generations too.

· · ·

4.2.17

सु॒कर्मा॑णः सु॒रुचो॑ देव॒यन्तोऽयो॒ न दे॒वा जनि॑मा॒ धम॑न्तः । शु॒चन्तो॑ अ॒ग्निं व॑वृ॒धन्त॒ इन्द्र॑मू॒र्वं गव्यं॑ परि॒षद॑न्तो अग्मन् ॥

Brilliant people of noble action, deeply committed to holy pursuits and aspiring to rise to the stars, fanning their life to light and purity in the crucibles of knowledge and experience as they refine gold and temper steel in the furnace, raising the flames of fire and exalting the honour and excellence of the nation, sitting and discussing in conferences, extend the bounds of terrific energy and knowledge of the earth and skies unto the stars.

· · ·

4.2.18

आ यू॒थेव॑ क्षु॒मति॑ प॒श्वो अ॑ख्यद्दे॒वानां॒ यज्जनि॒मान्त्यु॑ग्र । मर्ता॑नां चिदु॒र्वशी॑रकृप्रन्वृ॒धे चि॑द॒र्य उप॑रस्या॒योः ॥

As the master proclaims the material wealth of his house of prosperity, as the commander proclaims the forces under his command, so do you, O lustrous ruler, reflect the presence around you of noble and brilliant leaders and scholars.And thus do the multitudes of people, like the rise of dawns, plan and prepare for the rise and progress of the land just as the producer master prays for the generous cloud and wishes for the health and age of life’s longevity.

· · ·

4.2.19

अक॑र्म ते॒ स्वप॑सो अभूम ऋ॒तम॑वस्रन्नु॒षसो॑ विभा॒तीः । अनू॑नम॒ग्निं पु॑रु॒धा सु॑श्च॒न्द्रं दे॒वस्य॒ मर्मृ॑जत॒श्चारु॒ चक्षुः॑ ॥

We act in service to you, O Lord Agni, giver of light and life to the world, by which alone we can be called good performers. The brilliant dawns, wearing the divine mantle of truth and showers of light, perfectly and variously adorn the fire-divine, perfect and glorious eye of the self-refulgent Lord of the universe, which is the sun.

· · ·

4.2.20

ए॒ता ते॑ अग्न उ॒चथा॑नि वे॒धोऽवो॑चाम क॒वये॒ ता जु॑षस्व । उच्छो॑चस्व कृणु॒हि वस्य॑सो नो म॒हो रा॒यः पु॑रुवार॒ प्र य॑न्धि ॥

These are the words of thanks and praise we poets speak for you, Lord Omniscient Agni. Please to accept these, consider, shine and rise to reveal the light of your glory to our vision. Make us rich with the wealth of divinity. Lord universal friend of the many who choose, lead us to glorious honour and excellence in existence.

✦ Sukta 3 · 16 verses ✦

4.3.1

आ वो॒ राजा॑नमध्व॒रस्य॑ रु॒द्रं होता॑रं सत्य॒यजं॒ रोद॑स्योः । अ॒ग्निं पु॒रा त॑नयि॒त्नोर॒चित्ता॒द्धिर॑ण्यरूप॒मव॑से कृणुध्वम् ॥

All ye people of the land, before the unexpected and inconceivable thunder and lightning, light the fire and, for the protection and advancement of your peaceful, non-violent yajnic social order in the midst of heaven and earth, appoint the golden gloried ruler, a very Rudra, saviour of the good, a terror for the evil, hota, a yajaka and not a grabber or hoarder, but one inviolably dedicated to truth and Dharma.

· · ·

4.3.2

अ॒यं योनि॑श्चकृ॒मा यं व॒यं ते॑ जा॒येव॒ पत्य॑ उश॒ती सु॒वासाः॑ । अ॒र्वा॒ची॒नः परि॑वीतो॒ नि षी॑दे॒मा उ॑ ते स्वपाक प्रती॒चीः ॥

This is the seat of office we create and offer to you. It is offered as a young loving wife dressed in her best finery offers her love to her husband and protector. O ruler most modern, all round well provided, self made and self prepared, take this seat and see these are the people looking up to you.

· · ·

4.3.3

आ॒शृ॒ण्व॒ते अदृ॑पिताय॒ मन्म॑ नृ॒चक्ष॑से सुमृळी॒काय॑ वेधः । दे॒वाय॑ श॒स्तिम॒मृता॑य शंस॒ ग्रावे॑व॒ सोता॑ मधु॒षुद्यमी॒ळे ॥

I offer a hymn of praise and appreciation as an expression of my thought, O wise and virtuous ruler of the world, to you, brilliant, immortal and divinely blissful, who listen attentively and politely without pride and arrogance, watching the human situation all round in the interest of common good. Accept and approve of the hymn I present, be gracious as a cloud of showers, a maker of soma and a creator of honeyed joy.

· · ·

4.3.4

त्वं चि॑न्नः॒ शम्या॑ अग्ने अ॒स्या ऋ॒तस्य॑ बोध्यृतचित्स्वा॒धीः । क॒दा त॑ उ॒क्था स॑ध॒माद्या॑नि क॒दा भ॑वन्ति स॒ख्या गृ॒हे ते॑ ॥

Agni, ruler of humanity, you know the truth and law of existence, you think freely and rightly too. Know the truth and character of this nation of ours. Let them know too of the truth and law of right knowledge and conduct for the sake of right action. When will there be proper and friendly discussions of yours and assemblies in your yajnic house of law and government?

· · ·

4.3.5

क॒था ह॒ तद्वरु॑णाय॒ त्वम॑ग्ने क॒था दि॒वे ग॑र्हसे॒ कन्न॒ आगः॑ । क॒था मि॒त्राय॑ मी॒ळ्हुषे॑ पृथि॒व्यै ब्रवः॒ कद॑र्य॒म्णे कद्भगा॑य ॥

“What is our sin, or crime or misconduct?”Agni, ruler of the world, when and why would you speak thus to Varuna, lord of justice and rectitude? to the lord of light and knowledge? to the bountiful? to the earth and the dear motherly woman? to the chief of law? to the man of power and prosperity?

· · ·

4.3.6

कद्धिष्ण्या॑सु वृधसा॒नो अ॑ग्ने॒ कद्वाता॑य॒ प्रत॑वसे शुभं॒ये । परि॑ज्मने॒ नास॑त्याय॒ क्षे ब्रवः॒ कद॑ग्ने रु॒द्राय॑ नृ॒घ्ने ॥

Agni, ruler of the world, when would you be growing with and among the intellectuals?And growing with and among them, when would you speak to and about the eminent in knowledge, strength, peace and good will, all round goers, truthful and the landed farmers? to the chief of justice about the killers of humanity?

· · ·

4.3.7

क॒था म॒हे पु॑ष्टिंभ॒राय॑ पू॒ष्णे कद्रु॒द्राय॒ सुम॑खाय हवि॒र्दे । कद्विष्ण॑व उरुगा॒याय॒ रेतो॒ ब्रवः॒ कद॑ग्ने॒ शर॑वे बृह॒त्यै ॥

Agni, when and how would you speak to and about the great creator and producer for nourishment and growth, Pushan, to and about Rudra, destroyer of enemies, the generous yajaka, the giver of holy materials for yajna? How would you pray to Vishnu, universally celebrated lord sustainer of the world? Lord generous and peaceful at heart, how would you speak to and about the great forces of defence against violence and destruction?

· · ·

4.3.8

क॒था शर्धा॑य म॒रुता॑मृ॒ताय॑ क॒था सू॒रे बृ॑ह॒ते पृ॒च्छ्यमा॑नः । प्रति॑ ब्र॒वोऽदि॑तये तु॒राय॒ साधा॑ दि॒वो जा॑तवेदश्चिकि॒त्वान् ॥

Agni, O Jataveda, lord ruler and master of knowledge of things in existence, how would you speak to and about the sacred law of truth, about the forces swift as the winds? And when asked, what and how would you speak about the mighty great leaders bright as the sun among people? How would you speak to and about the excellent, abundant and inviolable sky? O master of knowledge, rising higher and higher in awareness, achieve the light, reaching unto the solar regions.

· · ·

4.3.9

ऋ॒तेन॑ ऋ॒तं निय॑तमीळ॒ आ गोरा॒मा सचा॒ मधु॑मत्प॒क्वम॑ग्ने । कृ॒ष्णा स॒ती रुश॑ता धा॒सिनै॒षा जाम॑र्येण॒ पय॑सा पीपाय ॥

Agni, O lord giver of the light and life of the world, I honour and respect the truth and law of existence by observance of the truth and law of life on earth as required and determined by the demands of life on earth and set out in the language of the earth, while I live on earth one with the honey sweets of the ripe and raw treasures of the earth. May the mother earth, being green and bright with nourishments, grow with food and drink for the sustenance of her children by the efforts of her children.

· · ·

4.3.10

ऋ॒तेन॒ हि ष्मा॑ वृष॒भश्चि॑द॒क्तः पुमाँ॑ अ॒ग्निः पय॑सा पृ॒ष्ठ्ये॑न । अस्प॑न्दमानो अचरद्वयो॒धा वृषा॑ शु॒क्रं दु॑दुहे॒ पृश्नि॒रूधः॑ ॥

Sustained in tune by the truth of life and law of existence, nourished on food and drink from spaces above, the virile bull, manly man and lustrous Agni, creator of light and life on earth, ruler of the world, moves around with majesty, unagitated, bearing the dignity and vitality of health and age, replete with energy and generosity like the cloud, and distils the fire and lustre of life from the skies as milk from the mother cow.

· · ·

4.3.11

ऋ॒तेनाद्रिं॒ व्य॑सन्भि॒दन्तः॒ समङ्गि॑रसो नवन्त॒ गोभिः॑ । शु॒नं नरः॒ परि॑ षदन्नु॒षास॑मा॒विः स्व॑रभवज्जा॒ते अ॒ग्नौ ॥

Ye leaders of the world, by the force of Rtam, nature’s law, when the cosmic fire of energy is awake, then the roaring winds, breaking the cloud with their currents, rain down the showers, mankind on earth find peace and prosperity, and the light, riding the dawn, rises to view as the radiant sun.

· · ·

4.3.12

ऋ॒तेन॑ दे॒वीर॒मृता॒ अमृ॑क्ता॒ अर्णो॑भि॒रापो॒ मधु॑मद्भिरग्ने । वा॒जी न सर्गे॑षु प्रस्तुभा॒नः प्र सद॒मित्स्रवि॑तवे दधन्युः ॥

Agni, light of life, ruler of the world, by Rtam, force of eternal truth and nature’s law, do the celestial waters of life, immortal, unhurt, with currents of spatial oceans bearing honey sweets of life’s energy, ceaselessly flow on like a war horse flying on to battles, in order to move life on and on with energy without end or exhaustion.

· · ·

4.3.13

मा कस्य॑ य॒क्षं सद॒मिद्धु॒रो गा॒ मा वे॒शस्य॑ प्रमिन॒तो मापेः । मा भ्रातु॑रग्ने॒ अनृ॑जोर्ऋ॒णं वे॒र्मा सख्यु॒र्दक्षं॑ रि॒पोर्भु॑जेम ॥

Agni, giver of the light of intelligence, let us not go to the meeting place of a deceitful person, nor to the door of a violent grabber, nor take the debt or obligation of a crooked brother, and may we, we pray, never try to benefit from, much less depend on, the strength and expertise of an enemy in the garb of a friend.

· · ·

4.3.14

रक्षा॑ णो अग्ने॒ तव॒ रक्ष॑णेभी रारक्षा॒णः सु॑मख प्रीणा॒नः । प्रति॑ ष्फुर॒ वि रु॑ज वी॒ड्वंहो॑ ज॒हि रक्षो॒ महि॑ चिद्वावृधा॒नम् ॥

Agni, ruler of the earth, blissful giver of happiness, all protector, presiding genius of yajna, social justice and noble conduct, protect us with all your methods and forces of protection and defence, shine and inspire us to good action, eliminate the blackest sin and hardest crime, destroy the wicked, even powerful ones and on the increase.

· · ·

4.3.15

ए॒भिर्भ॑व सु॒मना॑ अग्ने अ॒र्कैरि॒मान्त्स्पृ॑श॒ मन्म॑भिः शूर॒ वाजा॑न् । उ॒त ब्रह्मा॑ण्यङ्गिरो जुषस्व॒ सं ते॑ श॒स्तिर्दे॒ववा॑ता जरेत ॥

Agni, giver of light and life, with these songs of prayer and these learned devotees, be pleased and happy at heart. Accept and approve of these dedicated people of thought and action. Brave and heroic leader dear as breath of life, accept and enjoy these gifts of homage and reverence. May this song of praise offered by the holy celebrants be pleasing to you and exalting.

· · ·

4.3.16

ए॒ता विश्वा॑ वि॒दुषे॒ तुभ्यं॑ वेधो नी॒थान्य॑ग्ने नि॒ण्या वचां॑सि । नि॒वच॑ना क॒वये॒ काव्या॒न्यशं॑सिषं म॒तिभि॒र्विप्र॑ उ॒क्थैः ॥

Agni, giver of life and light, lord of knowledge, vision and wisdom, leader, ruler, pioneer, all these songs of adoration, creative, deep and grave, meaningful and fruitful, fluent and poetic, are sincere expressions of the heart which I, inspired and moved to ecstasy, present to you, poet and scholar, with divine hymns of holiness in the company of the wise and dedicated celebrants.

✦ Sukta 4 · 15 verses ✦

4.4.1

कृ॒णु॒ष्व पाजः॒ प्रसि॑तिं॒ न पृ॒थ्वीं या॒हि राजे॒वाम॑वाँ॒ इभे॑न । तृ॒ष्वीमनु॒ प्रसि॑तिं द्रूणा॒नोऽस्ता॑सि॒ विध्य॑ र॒क्षस॒स्तपि॑ष्ठैः ॥

Arise, be strong and brilliant, go over and round the earth in orbit, spread your network over the dominion and, firm and powerful, move as a king by the elephant. Impetuous and terrible, shoot like a rocket all round wherever needed for thirsting and ensnared earth as it could be, and, like an archer as you are, fix the demons of violence with your blazing arrows.

· · ·

4.4.2

तव॑ भ्र॒मास॑ आशु॒या प॑त॒न्त्यनु॑ स्पृश धृष॒ता शोशु॑चानः । तपूं॑ष्यग्ने जु॒ह्वा॑ पत॒ङ्गानसं॑दितो॒ वि सृ॑ज॒ विष्व॑गु॒ल्काः ॥

Your roving rockets whirl round impetuously. Shining and blazing with power and force, strike off the enemies wherever they be. Unhurt, whole and unopposed, shoot out all round burning rockets of defence like sparks of fire fed on ladlefuls of ghrta offered into the fire of the vedi.

· · ·

4.4.3

प्रति॒ स्पशो॒ वि सृ॑ज॒ तूर्णि॑तमो॒ भवा॑ पा॒युर्वि॒शो अ॒स्या अद॑ब्धः । यो नो॑ दू॒रे अ॒घशं॑सो॒ यो अन्त्यग्ने॒ माकि॑ष्टे॒ व्यथि॒रा द॑धर्षीत् ॥

Agni, brilliant ruler and blazing power, shoot out detectors, appoint detectives and spies, and send out ambassadors, be swift in action and response, and, bold, unhurtful and undeceived, be the protector and sustainer of this human nation, and whoever be the sinner or supporter of the wicked far or near us must not insult, impair or violate your rule and order.

· · ·

4.4.4

उद॑ग्ने तिष्ठ॒ प्रत्या त॑नुष्व॒ न्य१॒॑मित्राँ॑ ओषतात्तिग्महेते । यो नो॒ अरा॑तिं समिधान च॒क्रे नी॒चा तं ध॑क्ष्यत॒सं न शुष्क॑म् ॥

Agni, mighty and brilliant power, rise in flames and shine on, let the light spread around. O wielder of blazing weapons, burn off the unfriendly and the enemies. Shining and rising power, whoever creates enemies and causes adversity, burn down like a dry fibre of flax.

· · ·

4.4.5

ऊ॒र्ध्वो भ॑व॒ प्रति॑ वि॒ध्याध्य॒स्मदा॒विष्कृ॑णुष्व॒ दैव्या॑न्यग्ने । अव॑ स्थि॒रा त॑नुहि यातु॒जूनां॑ जा॒मिमजा॑मिं॒ प्र मृ॑णीहि॒ शत्रू॑न् ॥

Rise high and shine there, having fixed the enemies far from us, and thus reveal the divine actions of your own and of the enlightened. Loosen and reduce the firm establishments of the gate crashers and the gogetters whether related or unrelated, and destroy the enemies of the order of enlightenment.

· · ·

4.4.6

स ते॑ जानाति सुम॒तिं य॑विष्ठ॒ य ईव॑ते॒ ब्रह्म॑णे गा॒तुमैर॑त् । विश्वा॑न्यस्मै सु॒दिना॑नि रा॒यो द्यु॒म्नान्य॒र्यो वि दुरो॑ अ॒भि द्यौ॑त् ॥

Agni, most youthful power of enlightenment, that person knows and enjoys your love and good will who directs his voice and actions toward the magnificent lord supreme of the universe, who dedicates all his happy days and his wealth and good fortune to his service, and who, being master of himself and his fortune, wide opens and lights up his doors for his devotees.

· · ·

4.4.7

सेद॑ग्ने अस्तु सु॒भगः॑ सु॒दानु॒र्यस्त्वा॒ नित्ये॑न ह॒विषा॒ य उ॒क्थैः । पिप्री॑षति॒ स्व आयु॑षि दुरो॒णे विश्वेद॑स्मै सु॒दिना॒ सास॑दि॒ष्टिः ॥

Agni, refulgent lord ruler of the world, he would be highly prosperous and generously charitable who loves to serve you with unfailing oblations of havi and songs of praise and prayer.And surely for such a person, in his own life, within his own home, all his days would be happy and his yajna and all desired acts would be fruitful.

· · ·

4.4.8

अर्चा॑मि ते सुम॒तिं घोष्य॒र्वाक्सं ते॑ वा॒वाता॑ जरतामि॒यं गीः । स्वश्वा॑स्त्वा सु॒रथा॑ मर्जयेमा॒स्मे क्ष॒त्राणि॑ धारये॒रनु॒ द्यून् ॥

Agni, mighty ruler of the world, I pray for your favour and blessings of love and good will. May these words of my favourite voice address you and this adoration of mine glorify you. Blest with noble horses and beautiful chariots, may we exalt you, and may you, day by day, hold and sustain our social order and its systems of governance and administration.

· · ·

4.4.9

इ॒ह त्वा॒ भूर्या च॑रे॒दुप॒ त्मन्दोषा॑वस्तर्दीदि॒वांस॒मनु॒ द्यून् । क्रीळ॑न्तस्त्वा सु॒मन॑सः सपेमा॒भि द्यु॒म्ना त॑स्थि॒वांसो॒ जना॑नाम् ॥

Let man amply and wholly serve you, refulgent ruler of the world, sincerely by heart and soul, day and night, day after day. Let us all, guardians of the total wealth and honour of the people, rejoicing at heart as playing with arms for defence of the nation, serve Agni, father protector of humanity.

· · ·

4.4.10

यस्त्वा॒ स्वश्वः॑ सुहिर॒ण्यो अ॑ग्न उप॒याति॒ वसु॑मता॒ रथे॑न । तस्य॑ त्रा॒ता भ॑वसि॒ तस्य॒ सखा॒ यस्त॑ आति॒थ्यमा॑नु॒षग्जुजो॑षत् ॥

Whoever possessing noble horses and golden gold approaches you by a chariot loaded with treasures of wealth, and offers service and hospitality readily and ceaselessly without reserve, without question, you accept and own as a friend, protect him as a guardian and save him as a redeemer.

· · ·

4.4.11

म॒हो रु॑जामि ब॒न्धुता॒ वचो॑भि॒स्तन्मा॑ पि॒तुर्गोत॑मा॒दन्वि॑याय । त्वं नो॑ अ॒स्य वच॑सश्चिकिद्धि॒ होत॑र्यविष्ठ सुक्रतो॒ दमू॑नाः ॥

I shatter great evils and open deep mysteries by kinship with Divinity and words of eternity which I inherit from my father guardian who commands all knowledge of existence and the language of omniscience. Agni, cosmic yajaka, ever youthful light, master of universal dynamics, self controlled controller, give us the vision and knowledge of the ultimate reality and the Word imperishable.

· · ·

4.4.12

अस्व॑प्नजस्त॒रण॑यः सु॒शेवा॒ अत॑न्द्रासोऽवृ॒का अश्र॑मिष्ठाः । ते पा॒यवः॑ स॒ध्र्य॑ञ्चो नि॒षद्याग्ने॒ तव॑ नः पान्त्वमूर ॥

Agni, life of life, light eternal, universal intelligence, your streams of life, your rays of light and waves of cosmic energy, sleepless, continuous, gracious, relentless, inviolent, and indefatigable, which ever flow integrated and together may, we pray, bless our yajnic home and give us a fresh lease of life every moment.

· · ·

4.4.13

ये पा॒यवो॑ मामते॒यं ते॑ अग्ने॒ पश्य॑न्तो अ॒न्धं दु॑रि॒तादर॑क्षन् । र॒रक्ष॒ तान्त्सु॒कृतो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दा॒ दिप्स॑न्त॒ इद्रि॒पवो॒ नाह॑ देभुः ॥

Agni, lord of universal knowledge and power, all those defensive powers of yours which, ever watchful and protective, save people from sin and protect them from evil and crime as their own kith and kin who cannot by themselves see, all those holy yajnic powers of noble action, O lord, protect and promote, so that the repressive enemies may not be able to terrorise the poor and the ignorant.

· · ·

4.4.14

त्वया॑ व॒यं स॑ध॒न्य१॒॑स्त्वोता॒स्तव॒ प्रणी॑त्यश्याम॒ वाजा॑न् । उ॒भा शंसा॑ सूदय सत्यतातेऽनुष्ठु॒या कृ॑णुह्यह्रयाण ॥

Agni, ruler of the world, defender of truth and holiness, may we, protected by you and blest with knowledge and power, follow your guidance and noble policy and win the honour and excellence of the world. Guide aright, order and control both the eulogiser and the

calumniator far and near, and, with appropriate measures, take us out of timidity and make us bold in defence of truth and rectitude without embarrassment or hesitation.

· · ·

4.4.15

अ॒या ते॑ अग्ने स॒मिधा॑ विधेम॒ प्रति॒ स्तोमं॑ श॒स्यमा॑नं गृभाय । दहा॒शसो॑ र॒क्षसः॑ पा॒ह्य१॒॑स्मान्द्रु॒हो नि॒दो मि॑त्रमहो अव॒द्यात् ॥

Agni, greatest friend, adorable lord and ruler of the world, with this lighted fuel and enlightened contribution to the yajna of the social and cosmic order, we offer the song of homage to you. Be gracious to accept it. Burn down the revilers and the evil perpetrators of destruction and protect us against the jealousy, calumny and scandalous actions of the enemies.

✦ Sukta 5 · 15 verses ✦

4.5.1

वै॒श्वा॒न॒राय॑ मी॒ळ्हुषे॑ स॒जोषाः॑ क॒था दा॑शेमा॒ग्नये॑ बृ॒हद्भाः । अनू॑नेन बृह॒ता व॒क्षथे॒नोप॑ स्तभायदुप॒मिन्न रोधः॑ ॥

How shall we, in accord with Agni, happy and rejoicing, offer homage, service and support to the great, generous Vaishvanara Agni, vital fire sustaining the earth, leader and ruler of humanity who, with his awful might and unbounded reach, mighty lustrous as he is, holds up this vast world like a column bearing the burden of a mighty structure.

· · ·

4.5.2

मा नि॑न्दत॒ य इ॒मां मह्यं॑ रा॒तिं दे॒वो द॒दौ मर्त्या॑य स्व॒धावा॑न् । पाका॑य॒ गृत्सो॑ अ॒मृतो॒ विचे॑ता वैश्वान॒रो नृत॑मो य॒ह्वो अ॒ग्निः ॥

Never blame, censure or revile Vaishvanara Agni, self-refulgent and generous self-existent lord of his infinite wealth and power, who has given us this great gift of food, energy and wealth of abundant nature for the simple, growing, maturing world of mortal humanity,Agni, who is self-revealing through the beauty of his own creation, immortal, omniscient teacher, best leader of men and awfully great.

· · ·

4.5.3

साम॑ द्वि॒बर्हा॒ महि॑ ति॒ग्मभृ॑ष्टिः स॒हस्र॑रेता वृष॒भस्तुवि॑ष्मान् । प॒दं न गोरप॑गूळ्हं विवि॒द्वान॒ग्निर्मह्यं॒ प्रेदु॑ वोचन्मनी॒षाम् ॥

Agni, refulgent lord immanent in earth and heaven, commanding blazing heat and light, abundant a thousandfold, generous and virile as sun and cloud, mighty powerful, master of knowledge, may, we pray, speak to me of the great and deep knowledge and karma pertaining to earth and heaven, body and soul, deep as the mystery of sun and stars.

· · ·

4.5.4

प्र ताँ अ॒ग्निर्ब॑भसत्ति॒ग्मज॑म्भ॒स्तपि॑ष्ठेन शो॒चिषा॒ यः सु॒राधाः॑ । प्र ये मि॒नन्ति॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ धाम॑ प्रि॒या मि॒त्रस्य॒ चेत॑तो ध्रु॒वाणि॑ ॥

May Agni, blazing lord of power and stern rule of law, commanding the wealth, power and prosperity of the world with his splendour and magnificence, crush with the heat of his power and force of his justice the dear favourites and strongholds of those who sabotage and destroy the stability of the systems and institutions of the noble and friendly powers of enlightenment, justice, peace, unity and cooperation.

· · ·

4.5.5

अ॒भ्रा॒तरो॒ न योष॑णो॒ व्यन्तः॑ पति॒रिपो॒ न जन॑यो दु॒रेवाः॑ । पा॒पासः॒ सन्तो॑ अनृ॒ता अ॑स॒त्या इ॒दं प॒दम॑जनता गभी॒रम् ॥

As maidens without brothers and guardians to care for them, as wives who deceive their husbands, go astray from the right path and follow a wrong course of life, so the misguided people, self-deceived evil doers, false and untrue, go astray and, following the wrong course, create this hellish state of life in society.

· · ·

4.5.6

इ॒दं मे॑ अग्ने॒ किय॑ते पाव॒कामि॑नते गु॒रुं भा॒रं न मन्म॑ । बृ॒हद्द॑धाथ धृष॒ता ग॑भी॒रं य॒ह्वं पृ॒ष्ठं प्रय॑सा स॒प्तधा॑तु ॥

Agni, master of knowledge and power, purifier of body, mind and soul, I pray, bear and bring for me sevenfold knowledge of matter, mind and motion, knowledge which is universal, deep and grave, greatly powerful and wide in range and application. Bless me with the knowledge along with the gift of love and courage as a burden of great responsibility. I assure you I am a humble seeker and I shall bear the burden well without arrogance and violence.

· · ·

4.5.7

तमिन्न्वे॒३॒॑व स॑म॒ना स॑मा॒नम॒भि क्रत्वा॑ पुन॒ती धी॒तिर॑श्याः । स॒सस्य॒ चर्म॒न्नधि॒ चारु॒ पृश्ने॒रग्रे॑ रु॒प आरु॑पितं॒ जबा॑रु ॥

That equal, beautiful, constant and vital zone of light and heat of Vaishvanara Agni fixed round and over the surface of the dormant and colourful earth, separated and condensed from the solar sphere in earlier times before life emerged, may our noble intelligence, purifying and sanctifying us by the light of the Lord, reach and reveal through our holy acts of study, prayer and holy action.

· · ·

4.5.8

प्र॒वाच्यं॒ वच॑सः॒ किं मे॑ अ॒स्य गुहा॑ हि॒तमुप॑ नि॒णिग्व॑दन्ति । यदु॒स्रिया॑णा॒मप॒ वारि॑व॒ व्रन्पाति॑ प्रि॒यं रु॒पो अग्रं॑ प॒दं वेः ॥

What is worthy of being proclaimed, hidden in the secret cave of this word of mine, and what the scholars and visionaries, purifying and sanctifying, mysteriously whisper closely to you is That Orb of light and heat which, like a liquid zone of vapours, covers, vitalises, sustains and reveals the dear, first, highest life and beauty of the dawn, of cows and the flying earth.

· · ·

4.5.9

इ॒दमु॒ त्यन्महि॑ म॒हामनी॑कं॒ यदु॒स्रिया॒ सच॑त पू॒र्व्यं गौः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒दे अधि॒ दीद्या॑नं॒ गुहा॑ रघु॒ष्यद्र॑घु॒यद्वि॑वेद ॥

This same orb of light and zone of vitality, greatest of the great, glorious, ancient and eternal, blazing over the regions of the waters of space and the facts and laws of existence, which the productive earths serve and follow and join as partners of the system, which vibrates in the depths of the heart and vibrates in the depths of the soul, I know, you know, all perceive.

· · ·

4.5.10

अध॑ द्युता॒नः पि॒त्रोः सचा॒साम॑नुत॒ गुह्यं॒ चारु॒ पृश्नेः॑ । मा॒तुष्प॒दे प॑र॒मे अन्ति॒ षद्गोर्वृष्णः॑ शो॒चिषः॒ प्रय॑तस्य जि॒ह्वा ॥

And the light shines between heaven and earth, one with all, vibrating in the highest regions of Mother Nature at the closest and within, directly watching and knowing the raining clouds, the blazing sun, and the blowing wind and flowing waters. All ye men and women, know that lovely and wondrous mystery of the spirit of colourful reality of existence hidden in the cave of the heart.

· · ·

4.5.11

ऋ॒तं वो॑चे॒ नम॑सा पृ॒च्छ्यमा॑न॒स्तवा॒शसा॑ जातवेदो॒ यदी॒दम् । त्वम॒स्य क्ष॑यसि॒ यद्ध॒ विश्वं॑ दि॒वि यदु॒ द्रवि॑णं॒ यत्पृ॑थि॒व्याम् ॥

O Jataveda, omniscient and omnipresent Agni, if I were asked, I would speak the truth in all humility by your grace: All this that is, all that exists in heaven, all that is in and on earth, all that is the wealth, power and excellence, all is yours, it abides in you, you pervade it all, you govern it all and, ultimately, you absorb it all by drawing in and reducing it to the point of zero.

· · ·

4.5.12

किं नो॑ अ॒स्य द्रवि॑णं॒ कद्ध॒ रत्नं॒ वि नो॑ वोचो जातवेदश्चिकि॒त्वान् । गुहाध्व॑नः पर॒मं यन्नो॑ अ॒स्य रेकु॑ प॒दं न नि॑दा॒ना अग॑न्म ॥

O Jataveda, you know all and everything in existence. Speak to us and guide us: Of all this world, what wealth is ours? What jewels? Speak to us of that, so that going by the light of divine vision and intelligence we may achieve the best and reach the highest goal that is ours, and we at the end don’t have to go empty handed, reviled and exposed.

· · ·

4.5.13

का म॒र्यादा॑ व॒युना॒ कद्ध॑ वा॒ममच्छा॑ गमेम र॒घवो॒ न वाज॑म् । क॒दा नो॑ दे॒वीर॒मृत॑स्य॒ पत्नीः॒ सूरो॒ वर्णे॑न ततनन्नु॒षासः॑ ॥

What are the rules of the game of karma? What ultimate bounds? Speak to us, enlighten us: When could we, racing like a courser, moving like waves of energy, creditably reach our cherished goal? When would the sun, the dawns and the celestial vibrations of immortality like life-giving nurses inspire us with light and lustre to rise to perfection?

· · ·

4.5.14

अ॒नि॒रेण॒ वच॑सा फ॒ल्ग्वे॑न प्र॒तीत्ये॑न कृ॒धुना॑तृ॒पासः॑ । अधा॒ ते अ॑ग्ने॒ किमि॒हा व॑दन्त्यनायु॒धास॒ आस॑ता सचन्ताम् ॥

Agni, light and spirit of knowledge and master of the language of knowledge, listeners remain unsatisfied, their thirst for knowledge unquenched, with lifeless, unsubstantial, ambiguous and deficient words. Then what do the speakers speak of you, or to you, or about you, here? Being like warriors without arms, they should come to you, speakers as well as listeners, for light, knowledge and words for effective and living communication.

· · ·

4.5.15

अ॒स्य श्रि॒ये स॑मिधा॒नस्य॒ वृष्णो॒ वसो॒रनी॑कं॒ दम॒ आ रु॑रोच । रुश॒द्वसा॑नः सु॒दृशी॑करूपः क्षि॒तिर्न रा॒या पु॑रु॒वारो॑ अद्यौत् ॥

For the expression of the grace and majesty of this Agni, lord of light and ruler of the world, bright and blazing, generous, home and haven of all like mother earth, his force and splendour shines in his home. And he himself, refulgent giver of radiance, magnificent in form, treasure home and universal giver of heavenly and earthly gifts for all, shines with regal magnificence and wealth of the world like mother earth shining with the greenery of her abundance and generosity

✦ Sukta 6 · 11 verses ✦

4.6.1

ऊ॒र्ध्व ऊ॒ षु णो॑ अध्वरस्य होत॒रग्ने॒ तिष्ठ॑ दे॒वता॑ता॒ यजी॑यान् । त्वं हि विश्व॑म॒भ्यसि॒ मन्म॒ प्र वे॒धस॑श्चित्तिरसि मनी॒षाम् ॥

Agni, lord of light, ruler of the world, cosmic yajamana, sit on top of our yajna of love and nonviolence among the divine yajakas of nature and humanity. You alone know the world and all our thoughts, intentions and will, and you, at the heart of all performers, comprehend and transcend the knowledge, intelligence and awareness of the scholar.

· · ·

4.6.2

अमू॑रो॒ होता॒ न्य॑सादि वि॒क्ष्व१॒॑ग्निर्म॒न्द्रो वि॒दथे॑षु॒ प्रचे॑ताः । ऊ॒र्ध्वं भा॒नुं स॑वि॒तेवा॑श्रे॒न्मेते॑व धू॒मं स्त॑भाय॒दुप॒ द्याम् ॥

Agni, all wise, universal yajamana, receiver and giver, creator of joy, brilliant in knowledge, sits and abides among the people in their yajnic social endeavours, diffuses the light and fragrance of yajna above close to the heavens like the sun and, like a builder and a column, holds the dark away.

· · ·

4.6.3

य॒ता सु॑जू॒र्णी रा॒तिनी॑ घृ॒ताची॑ प्रदक्षि॒णिद्दे॒वता॑तिमुरा॒णः । उदु॒ स्वरु॑र्नव॒जा नाक्रः प॒श्वो अ॑नक्ति॒ सुधि॑तः सु॒मेकः॑ ॥

The night is come on her round vibrating with the wealth of rest and peace, applying a soothing balm to the hours of holy time and ushering in the approach of dawn, and the sun, harbinger of fresh energy, new born like a baby, self-proclaiming and enlightening the world, rising fast, watching all, shining beautiful, showering the nectar of soma, anoints the morning time of the day.

· · ·

4.6.4

स्ती॒र्णे ब॒र्हिषि॑ समिधा॒ने अ॒ग्ना ऊ॒र्ध्वो अ॑ध्व॒र्युर्जु॑जुषा॒णो अ॑स्थात् । पर्य॒ग्निः प॑शु॒पा न होता॑ त्रिवि॒ष्ट्ये॑ति प्र॒दिव॑ उरा॒णः ॥

The sacred grass is spread over the vedi, the fire is lit and rises, the adhvaryu, chief priest organiser, is up and doing, having started the yajna. Agni, the sun, like the shepherd of the waking world, celestial yajaka, goes over the three regions of heaven, earth and sky radiating the light and illuminating the world.

· · ·

4.6.5

परि॒ त्मना॑ मि॒तद्रु॑रेति॒ होता॒ग्निर्म॒न्द्रो मधु॑वचा ऋ॒तावा॑ । द्रव॑न्त्यस्य वा॒जिनो॒ न शोका॒ भय॑न्ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒ यदभ्रा॑ट् ॥

Agni, performer of yajna, happy and exhilarating, honey sweet of expression, moves and expands at its own self-controlled speed and will, keeping within the laws of existence. The rays of its light and the flames of fire rise and radiate like the waves of energy, and when it shines and blazes, all the worlds in existence feel the pressure of its force and power.

· · ·

4.6.6

भ॒द्रा ते॑ अग्ने स्वनीक सं॒दृग्घो॒रस्य॑ स॒तो विषु॑णस्य॒ चारुः॑ । न यत्ते॑ शो॒चिस्तम॑सा॒ वर॑न्त॒ न ध्व॒स्मान॑स्त॒न्वी॒३॒॑ रेप॒ आ धुः॑ ॥

Agni, lord blissful of light, love and justice, commanding divine force and power, fearsome, eternally true and manifesting in infinite variety of the world of change, equal, kind and gracious is your eye by which you watch every living being. No evil forces can cover with darkness the light that is yours, nor can any devil and destroyer attribute any sin or smear or partiality to your body of law and justice.

· · ·

4.6.7

न यस्य॒ सातु॒र्जनि॑तो॒रवा॑रि॒ न मा॒तरा॑पि॒तरा॒ नू चि॑दि॒ष्टौ । अधा॑ मि॒त्रो न सुधि॑तः पाव॒को॒३॒॑ग्निर्दी॑दाय॒ मानु॑षीषु वि॒क्षु ॥

Agni is the generous giver whose gifts cannot be denied or hidden as the gifts of father and mother, too, toward fulfilment of life’s desire cannot be denied since Agni as a friend, blazing with light and glowing with generosity, blissful and sanctifying, shines among the people over everything that concerns humanity.

· · ·

4.6.8

द्विर्यं पञ्च॒ जीज॑नन्त्सं॒वसा॑नाः॒ स्वसा॑रो अ॒ग्निं मानु॑षीषु वि॒क्षु । उ॒ष॒र्बुध॑मथ॒र्यो॒३॒॑ न दन्तं॑ शु॒क्रं स्वासं॑ पर॒शुं न ति॒ग्मम् ॥

Twice do the five classes of people among all human communities, living happily together, moving on together like running streams and working together like fingers of the hand, kindle and raise Agni, vital energy waking up at dawn, voracious, blazing bright and beautiful, and thunderous as a bolt against darkness and suffering.

· · ·

4.6.9

तव॒ त्ये अ॑ग्ने ह॒रितो॑ घृत॒स्ना रोहि॑तास ऋ॒ज्वञ्चः॒ स्वञ्चः॑ । अ॒रु॒षासो॒ वृष॑ण ऋजुमु॒ष्का आ दे॒वता॑तिमह्वन्त द॒स्माः ॥

Agni, ruling power of light and liberality, those rainbow colours of your light and seven streams of energy are replete with the grace and power of ghrta, red with the passion of life, straight and simple, natural and free, bright, generous, strong and right, destroyers of evil and harbingers of the benedictions of Divinity.

· · ·

4.6.10

ये ह॒ त्ये ते॒ सह॑माना अ॒यास॑स्त्वे॒षासो॑ अग्ने अ॒र्चय॒श्चर॑न्ति । श्ये॒नासो॒ न दु॑वस॒नासो॒ अर्थं॑ तुविष्व॒णसो॒ मारु॑तं॒ न शर्धः॑ ॥

Agni, ruling power of the world, your flames of fire, blazing rays of light and electric waves of energy are patient and forbearing, yet challenging and victorious, awful and deeply perceptive and penetrative. Instant in action, they fall upon their object like falcons from the sky, and their force is like that of a roaring storm of wind shears.

· · ·

4.6.11

अका॑रि॒ ब्रह्म॑ समिधान॒ तुभ्यं॒ शंसा॑त्यु॒क्थं यज॑ते॒ व्यू॑ धाः । होता॑रम॒ग्निं मनु॑षो॒ नि षे॑दुर्नम॒स्यन्त॑ उ॒शिजः॒ शंस॑मा॒योः ॥

Sung is the song of prayer and praise for you, O lord refulgent, the yajaka raises his voice in adoration which, pray, graciously accept for the good of the devotee, and bring him the object of his desire. Let people, loving and inspired, bearing fragrant homage with humility, come and sit round the vedi in worship of Agni, universal yajamana, loved and admired by humanity.

✦ Sukta 7 · 11 verses ✦

4.7.1

अ॒यमि॒ह प्र॑थ॒मो धा॑यि धा॒तृभि॒र्होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठो अध्व॒रेष्वीड्यः॑ । यमप्न॑वानो॒ भृग॑वो विरुरु॒चुर्वने॑षु चि॒त्रं वि॒भ्वं॑ वि॒शेवि॑शे ॥

This Agni here is the first and foremost power felt, lighted, installed and glorified by the pioneers of knowledge and yajnic action. It is the first performer of the cosmic yajna of creation, most adorable, worshipped in yajnas and all other programmes of love and nonviolent development. The same wonderful and all embracing light and power, men of science and Divinity blest with descendants and disciples develop and glorify in the forests and every household for the benefit of every community.

· · ·

4.7.2

अग्ने॑ क॒दा त॑ आनु॒षग्भुव॑द्दे॒वस्य॒ चेत॑नम् । अधा॒ हि त्वा॑ जगृभ्रि॒रे मर्ता॑सो वि॒क्ष्वीड्य॑म् ॥

O Lord, when would people be in tune with the divine light, omniscience and generosity of yours in their consciousness? And when would the mortals hold your presence as adorable in every moment, in every thought and action, in every home?

· · ·

4.7.3

ऋ॒तावा॑नं॒ विचे॑तसं॒ पश्य॑न्तो॒ द्यामि॑व॒ स्तृभिः॑ । विश्वे॑षामध्व॒राणां॑ हस्क॒र्तारं॒ दमे॑दमे ॥

When would the mortals in every home adore the universal Agni, watching and realising in yajna the presence of the lord of the order of universal law, commanding the cosmic intelligence of existence and lighting up all the yajnas of the world in evolutionary development with vital fire as he lights up the heavens with stars?

· · ·

4.7.4

आ॒शुं दू॒तं वि॒वस्व॑तो॒ विश्वा॒ यश्च॑र्ष॒णीर॒भि । आ ज॑भ्रुः के॒तुमा॒यवो॒ भृग॑वाणं वि॒शेवि॑शे ॥

The one that sustains all people of the world, that vital fire, instant carrier of sunlight, the very sign of life, maturing everything existent, the people of the earth and their descendants, when would it be received and installed in every home?

· · ·

4.7.5

तमीं॒ होता॑रमानु॒षक्चि॑कि॒त्वांसं॒ नि षे॑दिरे । र॒ण्वं पा॑व॒कशो॑चिषं॒ यजि॑ष्ठं स॒प्त धाम॑भिः ॥

Fully and appropriately they install, maintain and sit by that Agni, receiver and giver of gifts in yajna, enlightening, bright and happy, drying, maturing and vitalising things like light and fire, most lovable and adorable. They maintain, serve and benefit from it seven ways through five senses, five pranas, and mind and intellect, and worship the power in every home of every community.

· · ·

4.7.6

तं शश्व॑तीषु मा॒तृषु॒ वन॒ आ वी॒तमश्रि॑तम् । चि॒त्रं सन्तं॒ गुहा॑ हि॒तं सु॒वेदं॑ कूचिद॒र्थिन॑म् ॥

That Agni, present in permanent sources, in forests, immanent everywhere, independent and free, wonderful as hidden in a cave, knowledgeable and deeply meaningful, they maintain and serve.

· · ·

4.7.7

स॒सस्य॒ यद्वियु॑ता॒ सस्मि॒न्नूध॑न्नृ॒तस्य॒ धाम॑न्र॒णय॑न्त दे॒वाः । म॒हाँ अ॒ग्निर्नम॑सा रा॒तह॑व्यो॒ वेर॑ध्व॒राय॒ सद॒मिदृ॒तावा॑ ॥

Far from sleep, the bounties of nature rejoice in the entire spaces of the skies and over the celebrations of yajna. We pray that the great Agni, light and lord of yajna, fed on offerings and rich in gifts, commanding the laws of truth and showers of bliss may pervade our home for the performance and completion of yajna.

· · ·

4.7.8

वेर॑ध्व॒रस्य॑ दू॒त्या॑नि वि॒द्वानु॒भे अ॒न्ता रोद॑सी संचिकि॒त्वान् । दू॒त ई॑यसे प्र॒दिव॑ उरा॒णो वि॒दुष्ट॑रो दि॒व आ॒रोध॑नानि ॥

Agni, omnipresent lord of yajna fire, you know the motions and vibrations of yajna rising and pervading in both earth and skies since, being carrier of the fragrance, ancient and all mobile, inviolable and unconquerable, you rise and reach even the heights and caverns of secret heavens.

· · ·

4.7.9

कृ॒ष्णं त॒ एम॒ रुश॑तः पु॒रो भाश्च॑रि॒ष्ण्व१॒॑र्चिर्वपु॑षा॒मिदेक॑म् । यदप्र॑वीता॒ दध॑ते ह॒ गर्भं॑ स॒द्यश्चि॑ज्जा॒तो भव॒सीदु॑ दू॒तः ॥

Let us know the motive force and paths of your brilliant light, both centripetal and centrifugal, the light and fire moving ahead, all round, blazing bright, unique among all forms of light. Just as an unpregnated female receives and carries the new embryo, so held in the unkindled vedi you light up immediately on ignition and rise to the heights as carrier of flames and fragrance.

· · ·

4.7.10

स॒द्यो जा॒तस्य॒ ददृ॑शान॒मोजो॒ यद॑स्य॒ वातो॑ अनु॒वाति॑ शो॒चिः । वृ॒णक्ति॑ ति॒ग्माम॑त॒सेषु॑ जि॒ह्वां स्थि॒रा चि॒दन्ना॑ दयते॒ वि जम्भैः॑ ॥

The light and lustre of the flames of this Agni instantly risen becomes worth seeing when the wind fans its flames and spreads the blaze into the forests and uproots strong and firm trees and, with the flames as jaws it crushes and devours the strong as food. And when with the breeze and vital heat it fans the vegetation with its currents, it protects, matures and provides the foods for life.

· · ·

4.7.11

तृ॒षु यदन्ना॑ तृ॒षुणा॑ व॒वक्ष॑ तृ॒षुं दू॒तं कृ॑णुते य॒ह्वो अ॒ग्निः । वात॑स्य मे॒ळिं स॑चते नि॒जूर्व॑न्ना॒शुं न वा॑जयते हि॒न्वे अर्वा॑ ॥

Mighty Agni, fire and energy, fast and quick, speedily bears and brings food, and functions as instant carrier of communications. Running and rising fast, it joins the company of the winds and, like a galloping horse and current of energy, it travels over vast distances. I invoke Agni (for light, food and communications).

✦ Sukta 8 · 8 verses ✦

4.8.1

दू॒तं वो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दसं हव्य॒वाह॒मम॑र्त्यम् । यजि॑ष्ठमृञ्जसे गि॒रा ॥

O scholar and master of the science of fire and energy, with your words and thought you study and develop the power of Agni, carrier of communications, all round operative in the universe, bearer of food and fragrances, imperishable, and most creative, productive, cooperative and valuable catalytic agent of the natural and human world. O men and women of the world, the scientist develops it for you all.

· · ·

4.8.2

स हि वेदा॒ वसु॑धितिं म॒हाँ आ॒रोध॑नं दि॒वः । स दे॒वाँ एह व॑क्षति ॥

Ye men and women of the world, that knower alone knows Agni, treasure hold of heavenly light and divine beneficence of universal wealth. That Agni is great, that alone brings us here the light and graces of nature and divinity.

· · ·

4.8.3

स वे॑द दे॒व आ॒नमं॑ दे॒वाँ ऋ॑ताय॒ते दमे॑ । दाति॑ प्रि॒याणि॑ चि॒द्वसु॑ ॥

That brilliant scholar knows the operative powers of nature and knows how to respect and value them. He inspires the learned and noble people, and he energises and moves nature’s gifts for the creation of wealth and power in the house of yajna. Agni thus bestows the cherished gifts of wealth and comfort for the good life.

· · ·

4.8.4

स होता॒ सेदु॑ दू॒त्यं॑ चिकि॒त्वाँ अ॒न्तरी॑यते । वि॒द्वाँ आ॒रोध॑नं दि॒वः ॥

Agni is Chikitvan, all immanent brilliant presence that wields and holds and knows. It is the yajamana as well as deity of the yajamana, which internally energises all motion, communication and activity of life and nature. The knower knows the treasure hold of light, energy and universal intelligence in concentration as well as in expansion.

· · ·

4.8.5

ते स्या॑म॒ ये अ॒ग्नये॑ ददा॒शुर्ह॒व्यदा॑तिभिः । य ईं॒ पुष्य॑न्त इन्ध॒ते ॥

Let us dedicate ourselves to you,Agni, like those who, with liberal offers of havi, give themselves unto you in devotion for the gifts and powers of universal energy, light the fire and make the streams of the waters of life flow free across the globe.

· · ·

4.8.6

ते रा॒या ते सु॒वीर्यैः॑ सस॒वांसो॒ वि शृ॑ण्विरे । ये अ॒ग्ना द॑धि॒रे दुवः॑ ॥

They enjoy life in peace and comfort with plenty of wealth and noble strength and powers who study fire, learn about its properties and pursue it with reverence and self sacrifice through the yajna of research and development.

· · ·

4.8.7

अ॒स्मे रायो॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ सं च॑रन्तु पुरु॒स्पृहः॑ । अ॒स्मे वाजा॑स ईरताम् ॥

Let wealths of various kinds and universal value come and abound among us, let food and energy of all varieties flow and arise among us (as divine gifts of Agni, lord of heat and light and cosmic energy).

· · ·

4.8.8

स विप्र॑श्चर्षणी॒नां शव॑सा॒ मानु॑षाणाम् । अति॑ क्षि॒प्रेव॑ विध्यति ॥

He, Agni, is the most dynamic of brilliant visionaries of the world who, with his power and force, like a flying arrow, shoots off the sufferance and ailments of the people.

✦ Sukta 9 · 8 verses ✦

4.9.1

अग्ने॑ मृ॒ळ म॒हाँ अ॑सि॒ य ई॒मा दे॑व॒युं जन॑म् । इ॒येथ॑ ब॒र्हिरा॒सद॑म् ॥

Agni, be kind and gracious. Great you are as you come to these divinely dedicated people sitting round the fire of yajna and you bless them all round without reserve.

· · ·

4.9.2

स मानु॑षीषु दू॒ळभो॑ वि॒क्षु प्रा॒वीरम॑र्त्यः । दू॒तो विश्वे॑षां भुवत् ॥

He is rare among the human people of the world who is kind, protective, pioneer, exceptional and immortal giver of light and knowledge. May this power be the destroyer of the suffering of entire humanity.

· · ·

4.9.3

स सद्म॒ परि॑ णीयते॒ होता॑ म॒न्द्रो दिवि॑ष्टिषु । उ॒त पोता॒ नि षी॑दति ॥

That light and power, Agni, sacrificing, sanctifying, happy and rejoicing, is investigated, discovered and worshipped in all holy programmes of life, and everywhere in yajnic homes where it sits as the prime and central presence.

· · ·

4.9.4

उ॒त ग्ना अ॒ग्निर॑ध्व॒र उ॒तो गृ॒हप॑ति॒र्दमे॑ । उ॒त ब्र॒ह्मा नि षी॑दति ॥

And Agni joins the yajna of love and nonviolence as master of divine voice, in the home where he abides as the head of family, and in the yajna he presides over as the high priest, having mastered all the Vedas.

· · ·

4.9.5

वेषि॒ ह्य॑ध्वरीय॒तामु॑पव॒क्ता जना॑नाम् । ह॒व्या च॒ मानु॑षाणाम् ॥

You are the guide of the performers of yajna and teacher of the people in general, and you receive the respect and yajnic gifts and fragrances offered by humanity.

· · ·

4.9.6

वेषीद्व॑स्य दू॒त्यं१॒॑ यस्य॒ जुजो॑षो अध्व॒रम् । ह॒व्यं मर्त॑स्य॒ वोळ्ह॑वे ॥

You accept the message of this devotee whose yajna of love and social cooperation you join without violence, and you receive the inputs of holy fuel to communicate the meaning, message and fragrance to the destination where it is meant for.

· · ·

4.9.7

अ॒स्माकं॑ जोष्यध्व॒रम॒स्माकं॑ य॒ज्ञम॑ङ्गिरः । अ॒स्माकं॑ शृणुधी॒ हव॑म् ॥

You join and accomplish the ends of our holy acts. You expedite our yajna of love and non-violence for social cohesion, O life breath of humanity, Agni, O power omnipresent and omniscient, listen to our call and prayer and bless us with success.

· · ·

4.9.8

परि॑ ते दू॒ळभो॒ रथो॒ऽस्माँ अ॑श्नोतु वि॒श्वतः॑ । येन॒ रक्ष॑सि दा॒शुषः॑ ॥

Agni, ruler of the world, may that rare invincible chariot of your power by which you protect the generous givers in yajna, we pray, be directed to us and promote us all round.

✦ Sukta 10 · 8 verses ✦

4.10.1

अग्ने॒ तम॒द्याश्वं॒ न स्तोमैः॒ क्रतुं॒ न भ॒द्रं हृ॑दि॒स्पृश॑म् । ऋ॒ध्यामा॑ त॒ ओहैः॑ ॥

Agni, mighty power of light and motion, with songs of praise and prayer and with holy acts of service offered in homage to you today, we augment, celebrate and glorify you, fast as nature’s waves of energy, bright as intelligence and blissful as yajna, and dear as love closest to the heart.

· · ·

4.10.2

अधा॒ ह्य॑ग्ने॒ क्रतो॑र्भ॒द्रस्य॒ दक्ष॑स्य सा॒धोः । र॒थीर्ऋ॒तस्य॑ बृह॒तो ब॒भूथ॑ ॥

And now Agni, O light and ruler of the world, be the rider and commander of the chariot of the plan and programme of our creative and developmental yajna of the human nation, a yajna which is blissfully fruitful, expertly organised and sophisticated, truthfully in consonance with the laws of nature and the environment and positively good, great and far reaching in consequence for life.

· · ·

4.10.3

ए॒भिर्नो॑ अ॒र्कैर्भवा॑ नो अ॒र्वाङ् स्व१॒॑र्ण ज्योतिः॑ । अग्ने॒ विश्वे॑भिः सु॒मना॒ अनी॑कैः ॥

Agni, light and life of the world, majestic as the sun’s refulgent glory, good and loving at heart, in response to these our songs of praise and prayer and acts of piety, come straight and bless us with all your forces of protection and promotion and give us, lead us to, the success of our heart’s desire.

· · ·

4.10.4

आ॒भिष्टे॑ अ॒द्य गी॒र्भिर्गृ॒णन्तोऽग्ने॒ दाशे॑म । प्र ते॑ दि॒वो न स्त॑नयन्ति॒ शुष्माः॑ ॥

Agni, brilliant ruling power of the world, speaking in these words of ours to you, we would pay homage to you in appreciation, thanks and praise for your gifts of protection and promotion for us. And see, the people, happy and bold, raise shouts of joy like the roar of thunder from the skies in celebration of your majesty.

· · ·

4.10.5

तव॒ स्वादि॒ष्ठाग्ने॒ संदृ॑ष्टिरि॒दा चि॒दह्न॑ इ॒दा चि॑द॒क्तोः । श्रि॒ये रु॒क्मो न रो॑चत उपा॒के ॥

Agni, glorious ruler of the world, your gracious eye, equal and beneficent for all, all time whether it is day or night, shines all round like radiance itself expressive of your regality.

· · ·

4.10.6

घृ॒तं न पू॒तं त॒नूर॑रे॒पाः शुचि॒ हिर॑ण्यम् । तत्ते॑ रु॒क्मो न रो॑चत स्वधावः ॥

Agni, lord self-refulgent and potent in your own essence, the light of your presence manifesting in the world body is immaculate, pure as ghrta and sacred as celestial water, and it is unalloyed as gold which shines and pleases like light of the moon and dazzles as radiance of the sun.

· · ·

4.10.7

कृ॒तं चि॒द्धि ष्मा॒ सने॑मि॒ द्वेषोऽग्न॑ इ॒नोषि॒ मर्ता॑त् । इ॒त्था यज॑मानादृतावः ॥

Agni, lord giver, observer and commander of the law of natural truth and justice, you drive away from mortal humanity and from the man of yajnic performance all sin, hate and enmity even if it has been done and has existed since time immemorial.

· · ·

4.10.8

शि॒वा नः॑ स॒ख्या सन्तु॑ भ्रा॒त्राग्ने॑ दे॒वेषु॑ यु॒ष्मे । सा नो॒ नाभिः॒ सद॑ने॒ सस्मि॒न्नूध॑न् ॥

Agni, lord of light and ruler of the world, may our friendship and fraternity among the nobilities and divine personalities of your rule and order be auspicious and blessed, and may that sacred relationship be the anchor and centrehold of our conduct and action in the entire social order of governance, administration and economy of the system.

✦ Sukta 11 · 6 verses ✦

4.11.1

भ॒द्रं ते॑ अग्ने सहसि॒न्ननी॑कमुपा॒क आ रो॑चते॒ सूर्य॑स्य । रुश॑द्दृ॒शे द॑दृशे नक्त॒या चि॒दरू॑क्षितं दृ॒श आ रू॒पे अन्न॑म् ॥

Agni, mighty presiding power of the world, holy and blissful is your splendour at the dawn of sunrise as it shines in majesty, and while it shines, it is seen by night also, as glorious to the sight as by day. And in that bright and blissful form of beauty and majesty I see delicious food for life and energy for mind and soul.

· · ·

4.11.2

वि षा॑ह्यग्ने गृण॒ते म॑नी॒षां खं वेप॑सा तुविजात॒ स्तवा॑नः । विश्वे॑भि॒र्यद्वा॒वनः॑ शुक्र दे॒वैस्तन्नो॑ रास्व सुमहो॒ भूरि॒ मन्म॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and majesty, universally manifest and acknowledged, while you are praised and honoured by the devotee with the action and inspiration of your light and glory, break open the locks of the mind and intellect of the devotee since, O lord of brilliance and purity, commanding the grandeur of the world and giving with and through all the divine powers of nature and humanity, you bless us with the knowledge and wisdom of the living world.

· · ·

4.11.3

त्वद॑ग्ने॒ काव्या॒ त्वन्म॑नी॒षास्त्वदु॒क्था जा॑यन्ते॒ राध्या॑नि । त्वदे॑ति॒ द्रवि॑णं वी॒रपे॑शा इ॒त्थाधि॑ये दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य ॥

Agni, lord of light, energy and intelligence, by you are great poems inspired. From you flows genius and intelligence. By you are revealed hymns of celebration and holy action. From you arise the resources of life for development. O lord of valour and beauteous form, from you flow the wealths of existence in circulation for the mortal man of versatile intelligence and generosity.

· · ·

4.11.4

त्वद्वा॒जी वा॑जंभ॒रो विहा॑या अभिष्टि॒कृज्जा॑यते स॒त्यशु॑ष्मः । त्वद्र॒यिर्दे॒वजू॑तो मयो॒भुस्त्वदा॒शुर्जू॑जु॒वाँ अ॑ग्ने॒ अर्वा॑ ॥

From you arises heroic energy, victorious power, all expansive and unfailingly true which wins the desired object of all round success. From you is created the wealth produced, expanded and multiplied by noble experts which is full of blessings. From you is created the self-driven transport of high velocity which reaches the destination instantly. Such you are,Agni, tremendous source of inexhaustible energy.

· · ·

4.11.5

त्वाम॑ग्ने प्रथ॒मं दे॑व॒यन्तो॑ दे॒वं मर्ता॑ अमृत म॒न्द्रजि॑ह्वम् । द्वे॒षो॒युत॒मा वि॑वासन्ति धी॒भिर्दमू॑नसं गृ॒हप॑ति॒ममू॑रम् ॥

You, Agni, lord and master of light and knowledge, energy and power, mortal men in search of joy and beauty, light and immortality seek, serve and develop you with their acts and intelligence, as first and foremost power of life, brilliant and generous, immortal, sweet and joyous of tongue, free from hate and enmity, self-controlled and all-controller, wise and perfect master of the household.

· · ·

4.11.6

आ॒रे अ॒स्मदम॑तिमा॒रे अंह॑ आ॒रे विश्वां॑ दुर्म॒तिं यन्नि॒पासि॑ । दो॒षा शि॒वः स॑हसः सूनो अग्ने॒ यं दे॒व आ चि॒त्सच॑से स्व॒स्ति ॥

Agni, child of omnipotence and patience, take off from us callousness, take away sin, take away all hate and enmity from the world. Whosoever you protect, you promote, lord generous and refulgent, you are good and kind to him night and day. He is blest. May all be good and gracious!

✦ Sukta 12 · 6 verses ✦

4.12.1

यस्त्वाम॑ग्न इ॒नध॑ते य॒तस्रु॒क्त्रिस्ते॒ अन्नं॑ कृ॒णव॒त्सस्मि॒न्नह॑न् । स सु द्यु॒म्नैर॒भ्य॑स्तु प्र॒सक्ष॒त्तव॒ क्रत्वा॑ जातवेदश्चिकि॒त्वान् ॥

Agni, lord and master of light, knowledge and wealth, he who lights and serves you with ladlefuls of ghrta for the offering of food thrice every day will be blest with wealth, honour and well being all round by virtue of his service to you and noble works, O Jataveda, lord of universal knowledge, and he will be enlightened with knowledge and self-awareness.

· · ·

4.12.2

इ॒ध्मं यस्ते॑ ज॒भर॑च्छश्रमा॒णो म॒हो अ॑ग्ने॒ अनी॑क॒मा स॑प॒र्यन् । स इ॑धा॒नः प्रति॑ दो॒षामु॒षासं॒ पुष्य॑न्र॒यिं स॑चते॒ घ्नन्न॒मित्रा॑न् ॥

Agni, lord sublime commanding power and force, any person of high endeavour who bears and takes you forward, serving your great force and splendour, he/she is blest with wealth and grandeur, rising in strength and power, blazing with light and fire and eliminating hate and enmity every day and night.

· · ·

4.12.3

अ॒ग्निरी॑शे बृह॒तः क्ष॒त्रिय॑स्या॒ग्निर्वाज॑स्य पर॒मस्य॑ रा॒यः । दधा॑ति॒ रत्नं॑ विध॒ते यवि॑ष्ठो॒ व्या॑नु॒षङ्मर्त्या॑य स्व॒धावा॑न् ॥

Agni rules and commands the great order of defence, governance and law of society. Agni rules over the highest wealth of food, energy and movement. Strongest and most youthful, Agni, holding and commanding his own essential sustenance, food, energy and power, ever in unison with the celebrant, bears and secures the jewel assets of life for mortal humanity all round.

· · ·

4.12.4

यच्चि॒द्धि ते॑ पुरुष॒त्रा य॑वि॒ष्ठाचि॑त्तिभिश्चकृ॒मा कच्चि॒दागः॑ । कृ॒धीष्व१॒॑स्माँ अदि॑ते॒रना॑गा॒न्व्येनां॑सि शिश्रथो॒ विष्व॑गग्ने ॥

Agni, youthful lord of light and the world of light, if we, unawares or out of ignorance, happen to commit something sinful, whatever it be, among your devoted people, then free us from that sin and render us sinless children of the good earth. Relax the hold of all sin and evil from over us.

· · ·

4.12.5

म॒हश्चि॑दग्न॒ एन॑सो अ॒भीक॑ ऊ॒र्वाद्दे॒वाना॑मु॒त मर्त्या॑नाम् । मा ते॒ सखा॑यः॒ सद॒मिद्रि॑षाम॒ यच्छा॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय॒ शं योः ॥

Agni, lord of light and purity of power, save us even from great and extensive sin committed or suffered either close to or among the noblest powers or the ordinary mortals, let us never be hurt or injured. We are your friends. Give us peace and well being for our children and further future generations.

· · ·

4.12.6

यथा॑ ह॒ त्यद्व॑सवो गौ॒र्यं॑ चित्प॒दि षि॒ताममु॑ञ्चता यजत्राः । ए॒वो ष्व१॒॑स्मन्मु॑ञ्चता॒ व्यंहः॒ प्र ता॑र्यग्ने प्रत॒रं न॒ आयुः॑ ॥

Vasus, holy divines of knowledge and speech dedicated to Dharma and education, just as you release language, bonded in word, meaning and object all integrated, free into expression and communication, similarly loosen the bonds of sin from us to set us free and take us across the seas of life which must be crossed with merit and virtue.

✦ Sukta 13 · 5 verses ✦

4.13.1

प्रत्य॒ग्निरु॒षसा॒मग्र॑मख्यद्विभाती॒नां सु॒मना॑ रत्न॒धेय॑म् । या॒तम॑श्विना सु॒कृतो॑ दुरो॒णमुत्सूर्यो॒ ज्योति॑षा दे॒व ए॑ति ॥

Agni, brilliant as sun, vibrant as wind and potent as electric energy, stirs in advance of the lights of rising dawns happy at heart, and the Ashvins, currents of elevating energy, move on to the house of the man of noble acts, a house blest with the jewels of life, while the refulgent sun, generous giver of the breath of life, moves on (on its daily round) with its light.

· · ·

4.13.2

ऊ॒र्ध्वं भा॒नुं स॑वि॒ता दे॒वो अ॑श्रेद्द्र॒प्सं दवि॑ध्वद्गवि॒षो न सत्वा॑ । अनु॑ व्र॒तं वरु॑णो यन्ति मि॒त्रो यत्सूर्यं॑ दि॒व्या॑रो॒हय॑न्ति ॥

The refulgent sun, giver of light and life’s energy, radiates the light on high and, as if in love with the earth, diffuses the particles of light around in space with passion. And according to the laws of Nature, Varuna and Mitra, waters and winds, and all other causes which elevate the sun rise to activity by the sun on their appointed course.

· · ·

4.13.3

यं सी॒मकृ॑ण्व॒न्तम॑से वि॒पृचे॑ ध्रु॒वक्षे॑मा॒ अन॑वस्यन्तो॒ अर्थ॑म् । तं सूर्यं॑ ह॒रितः॑ स॒प्त य॒ह्वीः स्पशं॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ जग॑तो वहन्ति ॥

One of the objects which for sure the fixed centres of cosmic energy for sustenance dedicated to their appointed task create for the dispulsion of darkness is the sun. That sun, centre, eye and light of the entire moving world of the solar system, seven mighty forces of nature carry and conduct and seven blazing rays of light radiate for the appointed purpose.

· · ·

4.13.4

वहि॑ष्ठेभिर्वि॒हर॑न्यासि॒ तन्तु॑मव॒व्यय॒न्नसि॑तं देव॒ वस्म॑ । दवि॑ध्वतो र॒श्मयः॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ चर्मे॒वावा॑धु॒स्तमो॑ अ॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तः ॥

O Deva, refulgent sun, borne by seven mighty carriers of light, you go round in orbit radiating your rays and dispelling the cover of darkness. The vibrating rays of the sun in the middle regions of the sky remove the mantle of darkness.

· · ·

4.13.5

अना॑यतो॒ अनि॑बद्धः क॒थायं न्य॑ङ्ङुत्ता॒नोऽव॑ पद्यते॒ न । कया॑ याति स्व॒धया॒ को द॑दर्श दि॒वः स्क॒म्भः समृ॑तः पाति॒ नाक॑म् ॥

Unsupported and unbound, high up above yet looking downward, how is it sustained? Why doesn’t it fall down? By what strength of its own does it go on? Who sees it thus behave? The pillar sustainer of the vault of heaven with the cosmic law of Rtam sustains it too. Who sees that pillar of the universe which sustains this giver of bliss?

✦ Sukta 14 · 5 verses ✦

4.14.1

प्रत्य॒ग्निरु॒षसो॑ जा॒तवे॑दा॒ अख्य॑द्दे॒वो रोच॑माना॒ महो॑भिः । आ ना॑सत्योरुगा॒या रथे॑ने॒मं य॒ज्ञमुप॑ नो यात॒मच्छ॑ ॥

Refulgent Agni, omnipresent in the world of existence, with his own grandeur and lustre lights up the bright and beautiful dawns. Hey Ashvins, ever true and beautiful, universally praised harbingers of light, twofold breath of energy, teacher and preacher, come well by the chariot and grace this yajna of ours.

· · ·

4.14.2

ऊ॒र्ध्वं के॒तुं स॑वि॒ता दे॒वो अ॑श्रे॒ज्ज्योति॒र्विश्व॑स्मै॒ भुव॑नाय कृ॒ण्वन् । आप्रा॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षं॒ वि सूर्यो॑ र॒श्मिभि॒श्चेकि॑तानः ॥

May Savita, brilliant and generous, giver of light and life’s energy, create light and radiate energy high up and give enlightenment to the whole world, as the refulgent sun, with its rays, illuminates the heaven and earth and the skies.

· · ·

4.14.3

आ॒वह॑न्त्यरु॒णीर्ज्योति॒षागा॑न्म॒ही चि॒त्रा र॒श्मिभि॒श्चेकि॑ताना । प्र॒बो॒धय॑न्ती सुवि॒ताय॑ दे॒व्यु१॒॑षा ई॑यते सु॒युजा॒ रथे॑न ॥

Crimson clad in brilliance, great and glorious, bright with morning rays, comes the blessed dawn by the chariot in top-notch harness, awaking the world to the joy and bliss of the new day.

· · ·

4.14.4

आ वां॒ वहि॑ष्ठा इ॒ह ते व॑हन्तु॒ रथा॒ अश्वा॑स उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ । इ॒मे हि वां॑ मधु॒पेया॑य॒ सोमा॑ अ॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञे वृ॑षणा मादयेथाम् ॥

Come ye Ashvins, harbingers of the dawn, breath and beauty of the morning, men and women dedicated to Divinity, may these strong chariots and horses bring you here in the light of the dawn. These honey drinks of soma, vital energy of life, are for you. Come, virile ones, and rejoice in this yajna (of the creation of a new day).

· · ·

4.14.5

अना॑यतो॒ अनि॑बद्धः क॒थायं न्य॑ङ्ङुत्ता॒नोऽव॑ पद्यते॒ न । कया॑ याति स्व॒धया॒ को द॑दर्श दि॒वः स्क॒म्भः समृ॑तः पाति॒ नाक॑म् ॥

So close and unsupported, unbound and free, so wide and high looking down, as it is, what is that power which holds it up from falling down? By what force of its own does it go on as it does? Who sees that power, pillar sustainer of the vault of heaven, which sustains it with the cosmic law of Rtam, blissful as it is? Agni.

✦ Sukta 15 · 10 verses ✦

4.15.1

अ॒ग्निर्होता॑ नो अध्व॒रे वा॒जी सन्परि॑ णीयते । दे॒वो दे॒वेषु॑ य॒ज्ञियः॑ ॥

Agni, brilliant leader, sustainer, yajaka and the clarion call of our yajna, most refulgent of the brilliants, most adorable of the adorables, being potent and warlike as a missile, is conducted all round and followed in the corporate business of our life.

· · ·

4.15.2

परि॑ त्रिवि॒ष्ट्य॑ध्व॒रं यात्य॒ग्नी र॒थीरि॑व । आ दे॒वेषु॒ प्रयो॒ दध॑त् ॥

Agni, leader and pioneer, like a hero of the war chariot goes thrice round and round the yajna of our corporate life, bearing the wealth

of peace and wellbeing among the noble powers and peoples of the world.

· · ·

4.15.3

परि॒ वाज॑पतिः क॒विर॒ग्निर्ह॒व्यान्य॑क्रमीत् । दध॒द्रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Agni, lord of food, energy and the dynamics of life and society, commanding a full poetic vision of corporate life, comprehends the gifts and oblations of the holy fire of the nation, bearing the jewels of life’s wealth for the generous giver.

· · ·

4.15.4

अ॒यं यः सृञ्ज॑ये पु॒रो दै॑ववा॒ते स॑मि॒ध्यते॑ । द्यु॒माँ अ॑मित्र॒दम्भ॑नः ॥

This is he, that fiery and brilliant Agni, leader of yajna, vanquisher of the enemies of life and society, who is lighted and joined first of all in corporate struggles for the attainment of the holy gifts of Divinity.

· · ·

4.15.5

अस्य॑ घा वी॒र ईव॑तो॒ऽग्नेरी॑शीत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । ति॒ग्मज॑म्भस्य मी॒ळ्हुषः॑ ॥

Only that brave man among mortals can command the wealth and power of the world who is a yajnic follower of this Agni, dynamic leader, generous giver and unflinchingly just and powerful.

· · ·

4.15.6

तमर्व॑न्तं॒ न सा॑न॒सिम॑रु॒षं न दि॒वः शिशु॑म् । म॒र्मृ॒ज्यन्ते॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे ॥

Him the followers serve, adorn and adore day by day who is lovable and victorious like a war horse and brilliant as a very child of heavenly light.

· · ·

4.15.7

बोध॒द्यन्मा॒ हरि॑भ्यां कुमा॒रः सा॑हदे॒व्यः । अच्छा॒ न हू॒त उद॑रम् ॥

Neither well informed nor inspired nor fully prepared as I am, may the youthful Agni, companion power of divinity, awaken and inform me by the gifts of Ashvins, light and knowledge of the teacher and the preacher, breath and beauty of nature and the light and fragrance of yajna.

· · ·

4.15.8

उ॒त त्या य॑ज॒ता हरी॑ कुमा॒रात्सा॑हदे॒व्यात् । प्रय॑ता स॒द्य आ द॑दे ॥

I readily accept the breath and beauty of nature and the light and fragrance of yajna, gifts of the Ashvins, teachers and preachers, adorable messengers of life coming from Agni, youthful brilliance of Divinity.

· · ·

4.15.9

ए॒ष वां॑ देवावश्विना कुमा॒रः सा॑हदे॒व्यः । दी॒र्घायु॑रस्तु॒ सोम॑कः ॥

Divine Ashvins, teachers and preachers, may this youth, your celebate disciple, dedicated to Divinity, be blest with long life, blest with the light of peace and well-being.

· · ·

4.15.10

तं यु॒वं दे॑वावश्विना कुमा॒रं सा॑हदे॒व्यम् । दी॒र्घायु॑षं कृणोतन ॥

Divine Ashvins, messengers of the light of Divinity, brilliant and generous teachers and preachers, both of you bless this youth, devotee of Divinity, with long life.

✦ Sukta 16 · 21 verses ✦

4.16.1

आ स॒त्यो या॑तु म॒घवाँ॑ ऋजी॒षी द्रव॑न्त्वस्य॒ हर॑य॒ उप॑ नः । तस्मा॒ इदन्धः॑ सुषुमा सु॒दक्ष॑मि॒हाभि॑पि॒त्वं क॑रते गृणा॒नः ॥

May Indra, lord ruler of the world, ever true, mighty bounteous and ever righteous in natural ways, come to us. May his men and powers hasten to us to help and bless. For his sake we produce energising food and distil exciting soma. Praised and appreciated and praising and appreciating, he provides us all with sustenance and protection in this world order.

· · ·

4.16.2

अव॑ स्य शू॒राध्व॑नो॒ नान्ते॒ऽस्मिन्नो॑ अ॒द्य सव॑ने म॒न्दध्यै॑ । शंसा॑त्यु॒क्थमु॒शने॑व वे॒धाश्चि॑कि॒तुषे॑ असु॒र्या॑य॒ मन्म॑ ॥

Indra, such as you are, guard us in this yajnic programme of holy living so that we may enjoy life and you too be happy with us. Guard us, pray, O Ruler, as you would the boundaries of the path of progress. Forsake us not till the end. The wise celebrant like a poet and lover sings songs of adoration and speaks words of wisdom to enlighten the simple innocents eager to learn and pray.

· · ·

4.16.3

क॒विर्न नि॒ण्यं वि॒दथा॑नि॒ साध॒न्वृषा॒ यत्सेकं॑ विपिपा॒नो अर्चा॑त् । दि॒व इ॒त्था जी॑जनत्स॒प्त का॒रूनह्ना॑ चिच्चक्रुर्व॒युना॑ गृ॒णन्तः॑ ॥

The generous man of might and vision accomplishing the performance of various yajnas of science, like a poet, receiving mysteriously but surely the shower of light from above, preserving it with reverence and advancing it, creates knowledge from the light above, and then the scholars, admiring and pursuing it further by day, create seven kinds of science and technology and raise seven orders of scientists and technologists. (The mantra suggests the science of spectrum and development of light technology.)

· · ·

4.16.4

स्व१॒॑र्यद्वेदि॑ सु॒दृशी॑कम॒र्कैर्महि॒ ज्योती॑ रुरुचु॒र्यद्ध॒ वस्तोः॑ । अ॒न्धा तमां॑सि॒ दुधि॑ता वि॒चक्षे॒ नृभ्य॑श्चकार॒ नृत॑मो अ॒भिष्टौ॑ ॥

The heavenly light and paradisal bliss that is revealed by the reflections of knowledge and radiations of the sun, the greatness and sublimity of ultimate reality that is revealed and shines as the dawn of the day, the impenetrable layers of darkness that are laid open and bare, all that, Indra, the best of men and highest of leaders and divinities, does for the sake of humanity for their highest good so that all may see and admire.

· · ·

4.16.5

व॒व॒क्ष इन्द्रो॒ अमि॑तमृजी॒ष्यु१॒॑भे आ प॑प्रौ॒ रोद॑सी महि॒त्वा । अत॑श्चिदस्य महि॒मा वि रे॑च्य॒भि यो विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना ब॒भूव॑ ॥

Indra, lord supreme of nature and Rtam, the law of nature, wields and sustains both heaven and earth, immeasurable though they are. He pervades both and transcends them with his power and grandeur. For this very reason, his power and grandeur too exceeds everything else of the universe since he pervades, transcends and presides over all the regions of the universe in existence.

· · ·

4.16.6

विश्वा॑नि श॒क्रो नर्या॑णि वि॒द्वान॒पो रि॑रेच॒ सखि॑भि॒र्निका॑मैः । अश्मा॑नं चि॒द्ये बि॑भि॒दुर्वचो॑भिर्व्र॒जं गोम॑न्तमु॒शिजो॒ वि व॑व्रुः ॥

Indra, world ruler, commanding knowledge and power, exhausts all the possibilities of human action with his dedicated friends who, even with words of command, break down adamantine resistance and, passionate for action, open up and reveal the hidden treasures of wealth and energy of nations, like cowherds releasing cows from the stalls or winds breaking the clouds and releasing the waters.

· · ·

4.16.7

अ॒पो वृ॒त्रं व॑व्रि॒वांसं॒ परा॑ह॒न्प्राव॑त्ते॒ वज्रं॑ पृथि॒वी सचे॑ताः । प्रार्णां॑सि समु॒द्रिया॑ण्यैनोः॒ पति॒र्भव॒ञ्छव॑सा शूर धृष्णो ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, just as, when thunderous rays of the sun break the dark cloud holding waters of rain, the earth rejoices and rivers flow to the sea, so O mighty one, all-aware and intrepidable hero, be the master protector and promoter ruler with your strength and power and, by virtue of the centrifugal force of your power and law, break open the dark strongholds of energy and action, and let the freedom and vitality of humanity flow in action unto the ocean of eternal Divinity.

· · ·

4.16.8

अ॒पो यदद्रिं॑ पुरुहूत॒ दर्द॑रा॒विर्भु॑वत्स॒रमा॑ पू॒र्व्यं ते॑ । स नो॑ ने॒ता वाज॒मा द॑र्षि॒ भूरिं॑ गो॒त्रा रु॒जन्नङ्गि॑रोभिर्गृणा॒नः ॥

Indra, universal celebrity, when you break the cloud of hoarded potentials and your simple and straight policy of governance and administration comes into full view on earth, then you, such leader and commander of ours, sung and celebrated by scholars and scientists, manifest your power and policy further and break open the many centre-holds of human intelligence and social energy.

· · ·

4.16.9

अच्छा॑ क॒विं नृ॑मणो गा अ॒भिष्टौ॒ स्व॑र्षाता मघव॒न्नाध॑मानम् । ऊ॒तिभि॒स्तमि॑षणो द्यु॒म्नहू॑तौ॒ नि मा॒यावा॒नब्र॑ह्मा॒ दस्यु॑रर्त ॥

Indra, winner of the light of heaven and harbinger of light on earth, lover of humanity, lord of glory, for the sake of desired goals and for the achievement of honour, wealth and excellence, inspire the poet, promote language and education, advance the seeker, scientist and researcher, with protection and incentive, and whoever be the clever exploiter opposed to knowledge, social good and general well being, let him be defeated.

· · ·

4.16.10

आ द॑स्यु॒घ्ना मन॑सा या॒ह्यस्तं॒ भुव॑त्ते॒ कुत्सः॑ स॒ख्ये निका॑मः । स्वे योनौ॒ नि ष॑दतं॒ सरू॑पा॒ वि वां॑ चिकित्सदृत॒चिद्ध॒ नारी॑ ॥

O destroyer of the wicked, come home to your own with your heart and soul. May the sage and the warrior be eager for your friendship. May both of you, being of equal mind, sit together in the home. May the woman, discriminative and expert in the sacred law of Dharma, know you well and cooperate.

· · ·

4.16.11

यासि॒ कुत्से॑न स॒रथ॑मव॒स्युस्तो॒दो वात॑स्य॒ हर्यो॒रीशा॑नः । ऋ॒ज्रा वाजं॒ न गध्यं॒ युयू॑षन्क॒विर्यदह॒न्पार्या॑य॒ भूषा॑त् ॥

You advance with the thunderbolt, O protector of the people, destroyer of enemies, riding the chariot, commanding the house like currents of the winds, a very team of energy and velocity in hand, the lord of vision and creation who destroys the wicked and wins the glory of victory.

· · ·

4.16.12

कुत्सा॑य॒ शुष्ण॑म॒शुषं॒ नि ब॑र्हीः प्रपि॒त्वे अह्नः॒ कुय॑वं स॒हस्रा॑ । स॒द्यो दस्यू॒न्प्र मृ॑ण कु॒त्स्येन॒ प्र सूर॑श्च॒क्रं वृ॑हताद॒भीके॑ ॥

For the sake of the wise and discriminate, you root out persistent want and drought. On the rise of the day you overthrow a thousand forms of pettiness and stinginess. You destroy the evil and the wicked by your thunderous force and, like the solar orb, scatter the enemy forces all round.

· · ·

4.16.13

त्वं पिप्रुं॒ मृग॑यं शूशु॒वांस॑मृ॒जिश्व॑ने वैदथि॒नाय॑ रन्धीः । प॒ञ्चा॒शत्कृ॒ष्णा नि व॑पः स॒हस्रात्कं॒ न पुरो॑ जरि॒मा वि द॑र्दः ॥

For the sake of the man of rectitude and continuance of law abiding generations of the pious yajnics, you subdue the swollen and wide spread wastours, hunters of forest wealth and destroyers of social good. Create a new force of fifty thousand warriors and like a storm of wind blow off the enemy strongholds, changing the old outmoded forms for the new.

· · ·

4.16.14

सूर॑ उपा॒के त॒न्वं१॒॑ दधा॑नो॒ वि यत्ते॒ चेत्य॒मृत॑स्य॒ वर्पः॑ । मृ॒गो न ह॒स्ती तवि॑षीमुषा॒णः सिं॒हो न भी॒म आयु॑धानि॒ बिभ्र॑त् ॥

Indra, warrior hero blazing as the sun, around you the new form of your immortal self manifesting a new character wielding new arms appears like a mighty elephant, a ferocious lion, awfully burning off the lustre of enemy forces.

· · ·

4.16.15

इन्द्रं॒ कामा॑ वसू॒यन्तो॑ अग्म॒न्त्स्व॑र्मीळ्हे॒ न सव॑ने चका॒नाः । श्र॒व॒स्यवः॑ शशमा॒नास॑ उ॒क्थैरोको॒ न र॒ण्वा सु॒दृशी॑व पु॒ष्टिः ॥

Those who love life, wish for the wealth of life, strive for the bliss of heaven on earth through yajnic action, desire for food, energy and victory in the battle of living, and with songs of praise and faith wish to achieve delightful health and nourishment in a paradisal home, all should go and join Indra, brilliant and potent ruler of the world.

· · ·

4.16.16

तमिद्व॒ इन्द्रं॑ सु॒हवं॑ हुवेम॒ यस्ता च॒कार॒ नर्या॑ पु॒रूणि॑ । यो माव॑ते जरि॒त्रे गध्यं॑ चिन्म॒क्षू वाजं॒ भर॑ति स्पा॒र्हरा॑धाः ॥

For sure that Indra, holily invoked and honoured, we invoke, join and celebrate, Indra who does all those many wondrous things for humanity, who, for the celebrant like me, bears and provides all the many desired kinds of food, energy and victory, and who is the source giver of things we love for all mankind.

· · ·

4.16.17

ति॒ग्मा यद॒न्तर॒शनिः॒ पता॑ति॒ कस्मि॑ञ्चिच्छूर मुहु॒के जना॑नाम् । घो॒रा यद॑र्य॒ समृ॑ति॒र्भवा॒त्यध॑ स्मा नस्त॒न्वो॑ बोधि गो॒पाः ॥

Indra, lord of excellence and glory, mighty brave hero, if a blazing thunderous missile falls like lightning upon the people in the midst of some battle, or, O celebrated lord, some terrible battle conflicts arise on the earth, then you alone, O world ruler, are the protector of our body of humanity you know.

· · ·

4.16.18

भुवो॑ऽवि॒ता वा॒मदे॑वस्य धी॒नां भुवः॒ सखा॑वृ॒को वाज॑सातौ । त्वामनु॒ प्रम॑ति॒मा ज॑गन्मोरु॒शंसो॑ जरि॒त्रे वि॒श्वध॑ स्याः ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, be protector of the holy and graceful scholar and promoter of arts and sciences. Be our friend and supporter, free from greed and violence in the battles of life for victory so that, O lord universally celebrated, we may follow our good sense and your guidance. Be the bearer and giver of the world’s wealth for the faithful celebrant.

· · ·

4.16.19

ए॒भिर्नृभि॑रिन्द्र त्वा॒युभि॑ष्ट्वा म॒घव॑द्भिर्मघव॒न्विश्व॑ आ॒जौ । द्यावो॒ न द्यु॒म्नैर॒भि सन्तो॑ अ॒र्यः क्ष॒पो म॑देम श॒रद॑श्च पू॒र्वीः ॥

Indra, lord of glory, commander of the world’s honour and excellence, lord of wealth and grace, with all these leaders of men, your lovers and celebrants all, wealthy, powerful and honourable, and with all our wealth and power, we pray, let us all shine being brilliant as sunrays in the battle of life and let us enjoy and celebrate life and the lord all nights and days and seasons all the year round on top of the world.

· · ·

4.16.20

ए॒वेदिन्द्रा॑य वृष॒भाय॒ वृष्णे॒ ब्रह्मा॑कर्म॒ भृग॑वो॒ न रथ॑म् । नू चि॒द्यथा॑ नः स॒ख्या वि॒योष॒दस॑न्न उ॒ग्रो॑ऽवि॒ता त॑नू॒पाः ॥

Thus for Indra, lord of glory, virile and generous, let us create wealth and offer songs of homage and celebration just as the Bhrgus, scientists and engineers, create and offer the chariot, so that he may not forsake us but firmly retain our friendship, and, bright and blazing as he is, he may continue to be our protector and saviour of our body and the social order.

· · ·

4.16.21

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Indra, appreciated, praised and worshipped, appreciating, approving and praising your devotees, create and give ample food and energy to the celebrants, like rivers flowing and swelling with waters. O lord of speed and transport, with the best of our intellect and imagination, the new homage and new song is created and offered to you.And, we pray, with the same intellect and imagination may we be chariot champions blest with divine gifts of prosperity and spirituality.

✦ Sukta 17 · 21 verses ✦

4.17.1

त्वं म॒हाँ इ॑न्द्र॒ तुभ्यं॑ ह॒ क्षा अनु॑ क्ष॒त्रं मं॒हना॑ मन्यत॒ द्यौः । त्वं वृ॒त्रं शव॑सा जघ॒न्वान्त्सृ॒जः सिन्धूँ॒रहि॑ना जग्रसा॒नान् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, you are great and glorious. The earths do homage to your divine order as do the heavens. By virtue of your glory alone are the earths and heavens reverenced as great. By your power and prowess you break the cloud and release the floods of water locked up and devoured by the dark and deep of the clouds.

· · ·

4.17.2

तव॑ त्वि॒षो जनि॑मन्रेजत॒ द्यौरेज॒द्भूमि॑र्भि॒यसा॒ स्वस्य॑ म॒न्योः । ऋ॒घा॒यन्त॑ सु॒भ्वः१॒॑ पर्व॑तास॒ आर्द॒न्धन्वा॑नि स॒रय॑न्त॒ आपः॑ ॥

By your blazing glory, O lord manifest, does the heaven shine and dazzle. By force and fear of your essential law and power does the earth move in order and the deep clouds and mighty mountains, excellent all bound in law, shower rain on deserts and make the floods of water flow.

· · ·

4.17.3

भि॒नद्गि॒रिं शव॑सा॒ वज्र॑मि॒ष्णन्ना॑विष्कृण्वा॒नः स॑हसा॒न ओजः॑ । वधी॑द्वृ॒त्रं वज्रे॑ण मन्दसा॒नः सर॒न्नापो॒ जव॑सा ह॒तवृ॑ष्णीः ॥

Indra, hero bold and invincible, happy and joyous, striking thunder and lightning with his mighty force, thereby manifesting his lustrous blaze of power, destroys the cloud of darkness with the thunderbolt, making the floods of water flow with rapidity after the vapours have been unlocked and released. (The mantra is a metaphor of the energies of life, of nature as well as of humanity, being unlocked and released by the ruling power with a strike of the force of law and justice against the strongholds of darkness, evil and selfishness which lock up those energies and prevent them from flowing into channels of progress and evolution.)

· · ·

4.17.4

सु॒वीर॑स्ते जनि॒ता म॑न्यत॒ द्यौरिन्द्र॑स्य क॒र्ता स्वप॑स्तमो भूत् । य ईं॑ ज॒जान॑ स्व॒र्यं॑ सु॒वज्र॒मन॑पच्युतं॒ सद॑सो॒ न भूम॑ ॥

Magnificent and brave is your creator, your maker, to be honoured with reverence and awe, and let the creator, maker, of Indra, the ruler, be brilliant, the very light of the world, doer of great and holy deeds, the very epitome of the world, who gives rise to the great, omnificent, heavily armed and excellently empowered ruler, unswerving and unrelenting from his position, powers and obligations.

· · ·

4.17.5

य एक॒ इच्च्या॒वय॑ति॒ प्र भूमा॒ राजा॑ कृष्टी॒नां पु॑रुहू॒त इन्द्रः॑ । स॒त्यमे॑न॒मनु॒ विश्वे॑ मदन्ति रा॒तिं दे॒वस्य॑ गृण॒तो म॒घोनः॑ ॥

The ruler of the people, Indra, invoked and celebrated by many, all by himself, alone, shakes and stirs many a great one, and surely all his admirers, in response to the munificence and generosity of the brilliant lord of magnificence and majesty, approve and support him, celebrate and rejoice with him.

· · ·

4.17.6

स॒त्रा सोमा॑ अभवन्नस्य॒ विश्वे॑ स॒त्रा मदा॑सो बृह॒तो मदि॑ष्ठाः । स॒त्राभ॑वो॒ वसु॑पति॒र्वसू॑नां॒ दत्रे॒ विश्वा॑ अधिथा इन्द्र कृ॒ष्टीः ॥

May all the members and sessions of his assembly be good and true and successful. May all the sessions of the joyous celebrations of this great ruling order be happier than the happiest. Indra, O ruling lord president of the wealth of nations, be true to the entire body of people in the state of prosperity and rule with a mind above everything you rule and possess.

· · ·

4.17.7

त्वमध॑ प्रथ॒मं जाय॑मा॒नोऽमे॒ विश्वा॑ अधिथा इन्द्र कृ॒ष्टीः । त्वं प्रति॑ प्र॒वत॑ आ॒शया॑न॒महिं॒ वज्रे॑ण मघव॒न्वि वृ॑श्चः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world and destroyer of evil and ignorance, rising high as the first born of the home land, you take over the entire body of the people as presiding power, and then the lowest sections of the people and the sleeping sloth of the population, and then, O lord of fire and power, strike and shake up the sleeping giant with the thunderbolt and root out the serpentine ignorance and darkness.

· · ·

4.17.8

स॒त्रा॒हणं॒ दाधृ॑षिं॒ तुम्र॒मिन्द्रं॑ म॒हाम॑पा॒रं वृ॑ष॒भं सु॒वज्र॑म् । हन्ता॒ यो वृ॒त्रं सनि॑तो॒त वाजं॒ दाता॑ म॒घानि॑ म॒घवा॑ सु॒राधाः॑ ॥

Accept, honour and exalt Indra, ruler of the world, destroyer of untruth by the rule of truth and righteousness, bold, inspiring, great, unbounded, mighty generous, wielder of the thunderbolt of law and force, who is destroyer of the dark cloud of evil and selfishness, provider of food, energy and advancement, giver of honour and excellence, magnanimous and all-ways successful achiever of glory.

· · ·

4.17.9

अ॒यं वृत॑श्चातयते समी॒चीर्य आ॒जिषु॑ म॒घवा॑ शृ॒ण्व एकः॑ । अ॒यं वाजं॑ भरति॒ यं स॒नोत्य॒स्य प्रि॒यासः॑ स॒ख्ये स्या॑म ॥

This ruler, elected, accepted and exalted, inspires and enlightens, he stirs and moves and leads trained armies to the battles of life, is excellent and magnanimous, listens to people and wins fame, and decides and acts with unique self-confidence. He creates and bears food and energy and leads forward in progress whoever approaches and cooperates with him. Let us all be friends with him and win his love and confidence.

· · ·

4.17.10

अ॒यं शृ॑ण्वे॒ अध॒ जय॑न्नु॒त घ्नन्न॒यमु॒त प्र कृ॑णुते यु॒धा गाः । य॒दा स॒त्यं कृ॑णु॒ते म॒न्युमिन्द्रो॒ विश्वं॑ दृ॒ळ्हं भ॑यत॒ एज॑दस्मात् ॥

This ruler is Indra, of resounding fame is he, winner of victories, destroyer of the killers and destroyers of the world, fights, and by fighting expands the lands of noble rule by the laws of peace. And when he expresses his righteous anger in action against misrule, the entire world, whether firm or unsettled, fears and shakes in awe.

· · ·

4.17.11

समिन्द्रो॒ गा अ॑जय॒त्सं हिर॑ण्या॒ सम॑श्वि॒या म॒घवा॒ यो ह॑ पू॒र्वीः । ए॒भिर्नृभि॒र्नृत॑मो अस्य शा॒कै रा॒यो वि॑भ॒क्ता सं॑भ॒रश्च॒ वस्वः॑ ॥

By his strength and nobility, Indra wins over lands rich in the wealth of cows, precious gold and noble horses. Liberal and excellent he is and wins over the people ancient and far off who may be. And with these best of men and leaders, and by the power and talent of these, while he shares the gains of expansion with others, he also continues to wield and command the wealths of the world.

· · ·

4.17.12

किय॑त्स्वि॒दिन्द्रो॒ अध्ये॑ति मा॒तुः किय॑त्पि॒तुर्ज॑नि॒तुर्यो ज॒जान॑ । यो अ॑स्य॒ शुष्मं॑ मुहु॒कैरिय॑र्ति॒ वातो॒ न जू॒तः स्त॒नय॑द्भिर॒भ्रैः ॥

How far does Indra reflect on the debt he owes to his mother? How far on that he owes to his father? How does he gratefully acknowledge the gift of his makers? He who refreshes and renews his power and influence repeatedly by virtue of these makers and rejuvenators and moves on like the wind pressed on with thundering clouds?

· · ·

4.17.13

क्षि॒यन्तं॑ त्व॒मक्षि॑यन्तं कृणो॒तीय॑र्ति रे॒णुं म॒घवा॑ स॒मोह॑म् । वि॒भ॒ञ्ज॒नुर॒शनि॑माँइव॒ द्यौरु॒त स्तो॒तारं॑ म॒घवा॒ वसौ॑ धात् ॥

Indra settles the unsettled, gives a home to the homeless. Commanding power and glory, wielding thunder and lightning like radiance of the sun, he advances to battle and crushes the enemy to dust. And commanding wealth and honour of the world, he establishes the celebrant in a state of excellence and prosperity.

· · ·

4.17.14

अ॒यं च॒क्रमि॑षण॒त्सूर्य॑स्य॒ न्येत॑शं रीरमत्ससृमा॒णम् । आ कृ॒ष्ण ईं॑ जुहुरा॒णो जि॑घर्ति त्व॒चो बु॒घ्ने रज॑सो अ॒स्य योनौ॑ ॥

This Indra, lord ruler of cosmic energy, moves the wheel of the sun in orbit and then stops the continuance of the day’s activity for rest. By virtue of the same energy the dark cloud in its tortuous motions holds and releases the waters to shower and flow. And the same Indra holds the great defining dark concentrations of energy in its cosmic womb at the deepest.

· · ·

4.17.15

असि॑क्न्यां॒ यज॑मानो॒ न होता॑ ॥

In the great dark night of the universe, Indra is the yajamana of creation, the clarion call as well as the performer, preserving the fire eternal.

· · ·

4.17.16

ग॒व्यन्त॒ इन्द्रं॑ स॒ख्याय॒ विप्रा॑ अश्वा॒यन्तो॒ वृष॑णं वा॒जय॑न्तः । ज॒नी॒यन्तो॑ जनि॒दामक्षि॑तोति॒मा च्या॑वयामोऽव॒ते न कोश॑म् ॥

Desirous of cows, horses, speed and energy, science and progress, and the love of our mates, we, scholars, sages and intelligent people exhort and move Indra for friendship, hero brave and generous, giver of birth and progeny and unfailing provider of protection and well-being. We move and exhort him as we lower a bucket into a well, shake it, fill it up with water and draw it up for our benefit.

· · ·

4.17.17

त्रा॒ता नो॑ बोधि॒ ददृ॑शान आ॒पिर॑भिख्या॒ता म॑र्डि॒ता सो॒म्याना॑म् । सखा॑ पि॒ता पि॒तृत॑मः पितॄ॒णां कर्ते॑मु लो॒कमु॑श॒ते व॑यो॒धाः ॥

Know that, O people, who is our saviour and protector, ever watching, always present with us as brother, teacher and benefactor of loving peaceful devotees, friend, father and progenitor of our forefathers and sustainer guardians, all doer and all giver of life, health and age to the lovers of life on earth.

· · ·

4.17.18

स॒खी॒य॒ताम॑वि॒ता बो॑धि॒ सखा॑ गृणा॒न इ॑न्द्र स्तुव॒ते वयो॑ धाः । व॒यं ह्या ते॑ चकृ॒मा स॒बाध॑ आ॒भिः शमी॑भिर्म॒हय॑न्त इन्द्र ॥

Indra, friend and protector of friends you are, know us and enlighten us. Lord admired and celebrated, bless the devotee with health, wealth and long age. Lord of power, honour and excellence, Indra, with all our limitations, we admire, honour and celebrate you only, exalting you with these our acts of love, devotion and worship.

· · ·

4.17.19

स्तु॒त इन्द्रो॑ म॒घवा॒ यद्ध॑ वृ॒त्रा भूरी॒ण्येको॑ अप्र॒तीनि॑ हन्ति । अ॒स्य प्रि॒यो ज॑रि॒ता यस्य॒ शर्म॒न्नकि॑र्दे॒वा वा॒रय॑न्ते॒ न मर्ताः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of honour, power and excellence, ruler of the world, admired and worshipped, is the one who all by himself breaks and destroys many irresistible clouds of vapours, darkness and evil. Whoever is dear to him, a celebrant of this lord, and takes shelter under his protection, no one, no human or divine, can obstruct or oppose.

· · ·

4.17.20

ए॒वा न॒ इन्द्रो॑ म॒घवा॑ विर॒प्शी कर॑त्स॒त्या च॑र्षणी॒धृद॑न॒र्वा । त्वं राजा॑ ज॒नुषां॑ धेह्य॒स्मे अधि॒ श्रवो॒ माहि॑नं॒ यज्ज॑रि॒त्रे ॥

Thus does Indra, lord of wealth, power and excellence, free and irresistible, abounding and generous sustainer of the people, do and achieve what is good and true for the world. O lord of light ruling over the living beings, who create and bear great food, sustenance and honour for the celebrant, the same honour and excellence, pray, create and give for us all and bless us.

· · ·

4.17.21

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Indra, lord supreme of honour and excellence, praised and worshipped in holy voice, create and augment food, energy and sustenance for the celebrant like streams overflowing with water for all. O lord omnipresent, moving yet unmoving, we create and offer ever new songs of praise and homage in your honour, and pray, give us the will and intelligence by which we may be masters of chariots and be thankful and obedient servants of Divinity.

✦ Sukta 18 · 13 verses ✦

4.18.1

अ॒यं पन्था॒ अनु॑वित्तः पुरा॒णो यतो॑ दे॒वा उ॒दजा॑यन्त॒ विश्वे॑ । अत॑श्चि॒दा ज॑निषीष्ट॒ प्रवृ॑द्धो॒ मा मा॒तर॑ममु॒या पत्त॑वे कः ॥

This is the path ancient and eternal, known and followed, by which all saints and sages and divine facts and forces are born to grow and rise, from which the whole world comes into being and evolves to greatness and grandeur. Therefore, do not do anything by that way to insult or desecrate the mother, nature, earth, human mother or animal, or any source of generation.

· · ·

4.18.2

नाहमतो॒ निर॑या दु॒र्गहै॒तत्ति॑र॒श्चता॑ पा॒र्श्वान्निर्ग॑माणि । ब॒हूनि॑ मे॒ अकृ॑ता॒ कर्त्वा॑नि॒ युध्यै॑ त्वेन॒ सं त्वे॑न पृच्छै ॥

This path is dark and deep, unfathomable, yet it is unavoidable. Therefore, I won’t evade it, nor trespass it either by another tortuous route or by a wayside alley. Many are my jobs yet unaccomplished, many the battles to be fought by many, many the questions to be asked of many.

· · ·

4.18.3

प॒रा॒य॒तीं मा॒तर॒मन्व॑चष्ट॒ न नानु॑ गा॒न्यनु॒ नू ग॑मानि । त्वष्टु॑र्गृ॒हे अ॑पिब॒त्सोम॒मिन्द्रः॑ शतध॒न्यं॑ च॒म्वोः॑ सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

I see the mother passing away, neither anyone going with nor anyone following after. Indra, the spirit of life, by itself in the house of Tvashta, divine artificer, receives a hundredfold joy of earthly form and drinks the soma of the ecstasy of living in the cup of existence fashioned by the maker.

· · ·

4.18.4

किं स ऋध॑क्कृणव॒द्यं स॒हस्रं॑ मा॒सो ज॒भार॑ श॒रद॑श्च पू॒र्वीः । न॒ही न्व॑स्य प्रति॒मान॒मस्त्य॒न्तर्जा॒तेषू॒त ये जनि॑त्वाः ॥

What would he do in truth singly, particularly or distinguishably, whom uncountable months and seasons and years have earlier borne, supported and cherished a hundred times? And for sure there is none exactly like or equal to him, no copy, either among those who have been born so far or among those who would be born in future.

· · ·

4.18.5

अ॒व॒द्यमि॑व॒ मन्य॑माना॒ गुहा॑क॒रिन्द्रं॑ मा॒ता वी॒र्ये॑णा॒ न्यृ॑ष्टम् । अथोद॑स्थात्स्व॒यमत्कं॒ वसा॑न॒ आ रोद॑सी अपृणा॒ज्जाय॑मानः ॥

The mother, worthy of reverence and full of the pride and joy of motherhood, bears Indra, living foetus, in the womb as a silent secret nourished with her vital blood. This Indra, nestled by itself as a living form, nourished, growing and wearing its own form as a garment, abides, and when it is born it fulfils the purpose of heaven and earth (as it fulfils the purpose of father and mother).

· · ·

4.18.6

ए॒ता अ॑र्षन्त्यलला॒भव॑न्तीर्ऋ॒ताव॑रीरिव सं॒क्रोश॑मानाः । ए॒ता वि पृ॑च्छ॒ किमि॒दं भ॑नन्ति॒ कमापो॒ अद्रिं॑ परि॒धिं रु॑जन्ति ॥

These streams of water, flowing, murmuring, ecstatically singing, rush on like beauteous rays of the dawn. Ask them what they say thus, what mounts they strike and circle, what banks they overflow, what limitations they overcome, what clouds they touch.

· · ·

4.18.7

किमु॑ ष्विदस्मै नि॒विदो॑ भन॒न्तेन्द्र॑स्याव॒द्यं दि॑धिषन्त॒ आपः॑ । ममै॒तान्पु॒त्रो म॑ह॒ता व॒धेन॑ वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अ॑सृज॒द्वि सिन्धू॑न् ॥

What do the ripples, murmurs and songs of excitement of the streams, imaging the immanent power of Indra, say to the mount they hit, the cloud they touch and to this humanity? They speak for Mother Nature, Aditi: My son Indra, breaking the cloud with the mighty thunderbolt of solar energy released the waters and made the streams to flow.

· · ·

4.18.8

मम॑च्च॒न त्वा॑ युव॒तिः प॒रास॒ मम॑च्च॒न त्वा॑ कु॒षवा॑ ज॒गार॑ । मम॑च्चि॒दापः॒ शिश॑वे ममृड्यु॒र्मम॑च्चि॒दिन्द्रः॒ सह॒सोद॑तिष्ठत् ॥

Once Mother Nature, a youthful female, in a state of passion conceives you and brings you to life and birth. Then another, a voracious raging demoniac swallows you. Yet another, cool and kind, overflowing with love, caresses and comforts you as a child. And then Indra, grown mature as a new born soul, arrives with his own essential strength.

· · ·

4.18.9

मम॑च्च॒न ते॑ मघव॒न्व्यं॑सो निविवि॒ध्वाँ अप॒ हनू॑ ज॒घान॑ । अधा॒ निवि॑द्ध॒ उत्त॑रो बभू॒वाञ्छिरो॑ दा॒सस्य॒ सं पि॑णग्व॒धेन॑ ॥

Maghavan, lord of might and excellence, when the self-deluded fool, though arms and shoulders broken, in a state of madness, striking right and left attacks your forces, then though attacked, recover, rise later higher and crush the head of the wicked opponent with a deadly strike of the thunderbolt.

· · ·

4.18.10

गृ॒ष्टिः स॑सूव॒ स्थवि॑रं तवा॒गाम॑नाधृ॒ष्यं वृ॑ष॒भं तुम्र॒मिन्द्र॑म् । अरी॑ळ्हं व॒त्सं च॒रथा॑य मा॒ता स्व॒यं गा॒तुं त॒न्व॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नम् ॥

Just as a young cow gives birth to the calf, so does the mother, Mother Nature, give birth to Indra, jiva, the blessed soul, essentially a lover of life, inspired with the will to love and live, to act, to move around and to know the Divine Word. A divine child is man, strong, unshakable, intrepidable, generous, inspiring, lover and winner of honour and excellence, and invincible, blest with the human body.

· · ·

4.18.11

उ॒त मा॒ता म॑हि॒षमन्व॑वेनद॒मी त्वा॑ जहति पुत्र दे॒वाः । अथा॑ब्रवीद्वृ॒त्रमिन्द्रो॑ हनि॒ष्यन्त्सखे॑ विष्णो वित॒रं वि क्र॑मस्व ॥

Then (having given birth to the soul) Mother Nature (inspired with divinity), loving, longing and yearning for the well being of the child, softly speaks, warning the great off-spring: Dear child, the devas, senses, mind and all, are neglecting, forsaking, misleading you (in your state of darkness, ignorance and unawareness). Indra, the born soul, dispelling darkness and destroying Vrtra, demon of ignorance, speaks loud and bold to Vishnu, intelligent spiritual self: Dear friend, arise and act for self redemption (through existence with the devas, senses, mind and the discriminative intelligence).

· · ·

4.18.12

कस्ते॑ मा॒तरं॑ वि॒धवा॑मचक्रच्छ॒युं कस्त्वाम॑जिघांस॒च्चर॑न्तम् । कस्ते॑ दे॒वो अधि॑ मार्डी॒क आ॑सी॒द्यत्प्राक्षि॑णाः पि॒तरं॑ पाद॒गृह्य॑ ॥

Indra, obedient soul, holding on to the feet of the father, who can render your mother a widow? Who can hurt you while asleep or moving about? What is that supernormal power over and above your state of grace which can corrupt you? (Answer: None.)

· · ·

4.18.13

अव॑र्त्या॒ शुन॑ आ॒न्त्राणि॑ पेचे॒ न दे॒वेषु॑ विविदे मर्डि॒तार॑म् । अप॑श्यं जा॒यामम॑हीयमाना॒मधा॑ मे श्ये॒नो मध्वा ज॑भार ॥

At peace beyond fluctuations of the mind, I ripen and refine the inner visions. I see no saviour either in the experience of the senses or among the external powers of nature. Indeed, I have seen even Mother Nature insulted and desecrated. Ultimately it is the bird of heaven that brings me the divine message, nectar sweets of the honey of real life.

✦ Sukta 19 · 11 verses ✦

4.19.1

ए॒वा त्वामि॑न्द्र वज्रि॒न्नत्र॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वासः॑ सु॒हवा॑स॒ ऊमाः॑ । म॒हामु॒भे रोद॑सी वृ॒द्धमृ॒ष्वं निरेक॒मिद्वृ॑णते वृत्र॒हत्ये॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler of power and excellence, wielder of the thunderbolt of law, justice and protection, all the scholars of the world, nobles and divines, defenders, holy yajakas and both earth and heaven elect and invite you alone, great, vast and high in grandeur, lord sublime, unique and incomparable. They invoke you for the destruction of Vrtra, demon of darkness, ignorance and selfishness.

· · ·

4.19.2

अवा॑सृजन्त॒ जिव्र॑यो॒ न दे॒वा भुवः॑ स॒म्राळि॑न्द्र स॒त्ययो॑निः । अह॒न्नहिं॑ परि॒शया॑न॒मर्णः॒ प्र व॑र्त॒नीर॑रदो वि॒श्वधे॑नाः ॥

Indra, lord of the world, men of age, experience and wisdom, firm in their values and conduct of life, as also the brilliant nobles and divines of the world, create and consecrate the ruler of the earth dedicated to truth as the very being and purpose of his existence. And like the sun, light of the world dedicated to his eternal task and nature, breaking the cloud sleeping over the locked up vapours, and releasing the streams of water to flow and feed the world, the ruler destroys the demons of darkness and their strongholds to make the waters of life to flow and give new energy and freshness of life to the people.

· · ·

4.19.3

अतृ॑प्णुवन्तं॒ विय॑तमबु॒ध्यमबु॑ध्यमानं सुषुपा॒णमि॑न्द्र । स॒प्त प्रति॑ प्र॒वत॑ आ॒शया॑न॒महिं॒ वज्रे॑ण॒ वि रि॑णा अप॒र्वन् ॥

Indra, lord of light, power and excellence, ruler of the world, with a stroke of the thunderbolt destroy without relent the serpentine demon, Vrtra, insatiable, uncontrollable, unawakened, incorrigible, inebriated, blocking up and sleeping over seven streams of the onward flow of life.

· · ·

4.19.4

अक्षो॑दय॒च्छव॑सा॒ क्षाम॑ बु॒ध्नं वार्ण वात॒स्तवि॑षीभि॒रिन्द्रः॑ । दृ॒ळ्हान्यौ॑भ्नादु॒शमा॑न॒ ओजोऽवा॑भिनत्क॒कुभः॒ पर्व॑तानाम् ॥

Indra, with his own strength and courage and by his blazing forces, shakes the earths and skies just as the winds beat and shear the currents of water flows and concentrations of vapour. Lustrous, passionate and inspired, he crushes mighty strongholds of the enemy and breaks down the peaks of mountainous adversaries.

· · ·

4.19.5

अ॒भि प्र द॑द्रु॒र्जन॑यो॒ न गर्भं॒ रथा॑इव॒ प्र य॑युः सा॒कमद्र॑यः । अत॑र्पयो वि॒सृत॑ उ॒ब्ज ऊ॒र्मीन्त्वं वृ॒ताँ अ॑रिणा इन्द्र॒ सिन्धू॑न् ॥

As mothers rush to the child to protect it, so do the multitudinous armies rush forward to defend you alongwith the chariots. You break the clouds, fill the rivers with water and make them flow and thus, O lord Indra, you set the locked up seas rolling.

· · ·

4.19.6

त्वं म॒हीम॒वनिं॑ वि॒श्वधे॑नां तु॒र्वीत॑ये व॒य्या॑य॒ क्षर॑न्तीम् । अर॑मयो॒ नम॒सैज॒दर्णः॑ सुतर॒णाँ अ॑कृणोरिन्द्र॒ सिन्धू॑न् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, with thanks and homage to nature and her maker, serve the earth, great protective mother of her children, universal sustainer of life overflowing with nourishment for the defender of humanity and destroyer of enmity for the sake of peace and well being of all. Fill the earth with food and plenty, make her a lovely place for living, let the streams ripple and flow, make the seas roll, inviting all to surf and swim and navigate, and cross the storms of existence.

· · ·

4.19.7

प्राग्रुवो॑ नभ॒न्वो॒३॒॑ न वक्वा॑ ध्व॒स्रा अ॑पिन्वद्युव॒तीर्ऋ॑त॒ज्ञाः । धन्वा॒न्यज्राँ॑ अपृणक्तृषा॒णाँ अधो॒गिन्द्रः॑ स्त॒र्यो॒३॒॑ दंसु॑पत्नीः ॥

Like the winding streams of rushing waters, let Indra, ruler of the world, develop the fatal armour as the destructive and defensive force. Let him enlist young and intelligent women dedicated to truth and progress. Let him plan and provide irrigation projects for the desert lands to restore their fertility. Similarly let him develop the cattle wealth and take care of the wives of the warriors and make them play a creative role in development.

· · ·

4.19.8

पू॒र्वीरु॒षसः॑ श॒रद॑श्च गू॒र्ता वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अ॑सृज॒द्वि सिन्धू॑न् । परि॑ष्ठिता अतृणद्बद्बधा॒नाः सी॒रा इन्द्रः॒ स्रवि॑तवे पृथि॒व्या ॥

Just as the sun causes the ancient dawns to rise and moves the cycle of the seasons such as winter and others and move them on and on, and just as solar energy breaks the clouds and makes the rivers flow, so let Indra, ruler of the world, break open the locked up energy of still waters and make it flow in streams for the development and progress of the earth and her children.

· · ·

4.19.9

व॒म्रीभिः॑ पु॒त्रम॒ग्रुवो॑ अदा॒नं नि॒वेश॑नाद्धरिव॒ आ ज॑भर्थ । व्य१॒॑न्धो अ॑ख्य॒दहि॑माददा॒नो निर्भू॑दुख॒च्छित्सम॑रन्त॒ पर्व॑ ॥

Indra, master of motive energies and controller of the speed and direction of resources, by rising hills hold the unused and unusable water of the streams emerging from the source from further flow, collect and lift the flows together, redirect the water so that the fields and crops receiving the water proclaim the gift as it flows out from the reservoir filling the canals.

· · ·

4.19.10

प्र ते॒ पूर्वा॑णि॒ कर॑णानि विप्रावि॒द्वाँ आ॑ह वि॒दुषे॒ करां॑सि । यथा॑यथा॒ वृष्ण्या॑नि॒ स्वगू॒र्तापां॑सि राज॒न्नर्यावि॑वेषीः ॥

Rajan, glorious ruler of the world, the deeds of ancient and eternal value you have done, the programmes you have accomplished, and the selfproclaiming acts of generosity and noble adventures you have performed, the noble scholar and poet sings and celebrates in your honour, O wise leader and master, exactly as you have performed in the interest of humanity.

· · ·

4.19.11

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Sung and celebrated thus, Indra, O ruler of the world, create, bear and bring food, energy and knowledge for the celebrants just as the rivers flow for us all. And thus, this the latest song of homage and adoration is offered to you to the best of our knowledge and intelligence. Bless us, we pray, with intelligence and knowledge so that we may be warriors of the chariot in the service of Divinity and humanity.

✦ Sukta 20 · 11 verses ✦

4.20.1

आ न॒ इन्द्रो॑ दू॒रादा न॑ आ॒साद॑भिष्टि॒कृदव॑से यासदु॒ग्रः । ओजि॑ष्ठेभिर्नृ॒पति॒र्वज्र॑बाहुः स॒ङ्गे स॒मत्सु॑ तु॒र्वणिः॑ पृत॒न्यून् ॥

May Indra, strong and blazing hero, impetuous and impassioned warrior of the arms of thunder, ruler and sustainer of the people, harbinger of the cherished fruits of noble desire and peace, come to us from far and near for our defence and protection. Lovers of the battles of life as we are, join us in our heats and meets and battles of action for progress with the most powerful weapons and warriors of the time.

· · ·

4.20.2

आ न॒ इन्द्रो॒ हरि॑भिर्या॒त्वच्छा॑र्वाची॒नोऽव॑से॒ राध॑से च । तिष्ठा॑ति व॒ज्री म॒घवा॑ विर॒प्शीमं य॒ज्ञमनु॑ नो॒ वाज॑सातौ ॥

May Indra, lord great and glorious, commanding wealth, honour and excellence, wielding thunderous arms of latest design and power, come to us with his forces, come well at the fastest for our protection and all round success, and may he, we pray, stand by us in the conduct of this yajna of ours for victory in our battle of peace and progress in the field of production, development of energy, and advancement in arts and sciences.

· · ·

4.20.3

इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं त्वम॒स्माक॑मिन्द्र पु॒रो दध॑त्सनिष्यसि॒ क्रतुं॑ नः । श्व॒ध्नीव॑ वज्रिन्त्स॒नये॒ धना॑नां॒ त्वया॑ व॒यम॒र्य आ॒जिं ज॑येम ॥

This yajna of our social order, Indra, lord commander of wealth and power, honour and excellence, ruling, guiding and sharing the governance of our cities, you would join and share with us in our plans and discussions throughout the holy programme of ours. And we hope, O wielder of the thunderbolt, that with you as the leader and pioneer we shall fight like hunters of the wild and win the battle for the achievement of the wealth and values of the good life.

· · ·

4.20.4

उ॒शन्नु॒ षु णः॑ सु॒मना॑ उपा॒के सोम॑स्य॒ नु सुषु॑तस्य स्वधावः । पा इ॑न्द्र॒ प्रति॑भृतस्य॒ मध्वः॒ समन्ध॑सा ममदः पृ॒ष्ठ्ये॑न ॥

Indra, brilliant ruler, wielding your own essential wealth and strength and power, glowing with love and kindness for us, happy and joyous at heart close by us, preserve, protect and promote the plenty and prosperity of the nation’s honour fought for and won for every partner and then, after the battle and struggle, enjoy the honey sweets of life with a taste of the food and pleasure of peace and progress.

· · ·

4.20.5

वि यो र॑र॒प्श ऋषि॑भि॒र्नवे॑भिर्वृ॒क्षो न प॒क्वः सृण्यो॒ न जेता॑ । मर्यो॒ न योषा॑म॒भि मन्य॑मा॒नोऽच्छा॑ विवक्मि पुरुहू॒तमिन्द्र॑म् ॥

Mighty

and full abundant is Indra who is praised and celebrated by the latest sages and scholars like a tree laden with ripe fruit, like a victor putting the enemy to flight. Like a man loving and honouring his beloved, knowing, loving and respecting Indra at the closest and highest, I too celebrate and exalt Indra invoked and glorified by the whole humanity.

· · ·

4.20.6

गि॒रिर्न यः स्वत॑वाँ ऋ॒ष्व इन्द्रः॑ स॒नादे॒व सह॑से जा॒त उ॒ग्रः । आद॑र्ता॒ वज्रं॒ स्थवि॑रं॒ न भी॒म उ॒द्नेव॒ कोशं॒ वसु॑ना॒ न्यृ॑ष्टम् ॥

Inherently mighty like a cloud and a mountain, dynamic and sublime, Indra is blazing glorious, ever known for his power and patience, destroyer of enemies, thunderous of arms, awful as an invincible warrior, abundant as the sea and overflowing with the wealth of life.

· · ·

4.20.7

न यस्य॑ व॒र्ता ज॒नुषा॒ न्वस्ति॒ न राध॑स आमरी॒ता म॒घस्य॑ । उ॒द्वा॒वृ॒षा॒णस्त॑विषीव उग्रा॒स्मभ्यं॑ दद्धि पुरुहूत रा॒यः ॥

By birth and by nature, there is none to resist him and to turn his back, none to destroy the wealth and power of his glory and majesty. Ever pouring forth the showers of favours, blazing with forces under command, O lord of might and passion, universally invoked and exalted, bear and bring for us the wealths and honours of the good life.

· · ·

4.20.8

ईक्षे॑ रा॒यः क्षय॑स्य चर्षणी॒नामु॒त व्र॒जम॑पव॒र्तासि॒ गोना॑म् । शि॒क्षा॒न॒रः स॑मि॒थेषु॑ प्र॒हावा॒न्वस्वो॑ रा॒शिम॑भिने॒तासि॒ भूरि॑म् ॥

I see you watch over the treasures of the wealth and home of the people and open up the treasures of the languages and learning of the earths. You are the leader of knowledge and education, warrior and victor of wars, and director of the circulation of the collective wealth and assets of the world in many ways.

· · ·

4.20.9

कया॒ तच्छृ॑ण्वे॒ शच्या॒ शचि॑ष्ठो॒ यया॑ कृ॒णोति॒ मुहु॒ का चि॑दृ॒ष्वः । पु॒रु दा॒शुषे॒ विच॑यिष्ठो॒ अंहोऽथा॑ दधाति॒ द्रवि॑णं जरि॒त्रे ॥

What is that knowledge and expertise, what sort after all, by which, let me hear, you, mighty majestic and most versatile, somehow achieve success and victory again and again, and by which, being the greatest breaker and destroyer of sin and evil and crime, you bear and bring plenty of wealth for the generous celebrant?

· · ·

4.20.10

मा नो॑ मर्धी॒रा भ॑रा द॒द्धि तन्नः॒ प्र दा॒शुषे॒ दात॑वे॒ भूरि॒ यत्ते॑ । नव्ये॑ दे॒ष्णे श॒स्ते अ॒स्मिन्त॑ उ॒क्थे प्र ब्र॑वाम व॒यमि॑न्द्र स्तु॒वन्तः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of majesty and generosity, we pray, forsake us not, bear and bring and give us that plenty and variety of wealth which is yours meant for a gift to the generous devotee in this new, productive, admirable and well directed yajnic song of celebration in your honour, and may we, we pray, continue to speak and sing in praise of your glory.

· · ·

4.20.11

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Indra, generous lord of knowledge, wealth, honour and excellence, sung and celebrated thus by the devotees, bear and bring and increase your gift of the wealth of food, energy and knowledge of arts and sciences for the celebrants like the overflowing streams of water across the earth. This new homage of song and adoration is created and offered to your honour so that, O lord of horse and armour, we pray, we may rise as a nation of chariot warriors, generous and obedient to Divinity.

✦ Sukta 21 · 11 verses ✦

4.21.1

आ या॒त्विन्द्रोऽव॑स॒ उप॑ न इ॒ह स्तु॒तः स॑ध॒माद॑स्तु॒ शूरः॑ । वा॒वृ॒धा॒नस्तवि॑षी॒र्यस्य॑ पू॒र्वीर्द्यौर्न क्ष॒त्रम॒भिभू॑ति॒ पुष्या॑त् ॥

May Indra, ruler and protector of the people, come here to us for our protection and advancement and, praised and sung, may the brave hero share our joy of celebration. Exalted and ascending he is, time tested his forces, bright and blazing as light of the sun. May he, we pray, strengthen our social order and raise it to the heights of prosperity.

· · ·

4.21.2

तस्येदि॒ह स्त॑वथ॒ वृष्ण्या॑नि तुविद्यु॒म्नस्य॑ तुवि॒राध॑सो॒ नॄन् । यस्य॒ क्रतु॑र्विद॒थ्यो॒३॒॑ न स॒म्राट् सा॒ह्वान्तरु॑त्रो अ॒भ्यस्ति॑ कृ॒ष्टीः ॥

Here on this earth praise Indra, celebrate his acts of bravery and generosity, appreciate and honour the leaders and commanders of the mighty and majestic glorious achiever, whose yajnic rule over the social order is worth knowing and holy as an umbrella over the people like the cover of universal and effulgent sunlight, challenging, fighting, winning, forbearing and redeeming.

· · ·

4.21.3

आ या॒त्विन्द्रो॑ दि॒व आ पृ॑थि॒व्या म॒क्षू स॑मु॒द्रादु॒त वा॒ पुरी॑षात् । स्व॑र्णरा॒दव॑से नो म॒रुत्वा॑न्परा॒वतो॑ वा॒ सद॑नादृ॒तस्य॑ ॥

Let Indra, with vision, power and energy to rule, come instantly from the heavens, from the earth, from the sea or from the orb of the sun and from the ethereal spaces for our protection and promotion. Let the lord of the winds come from afar or from the vedi of cosmic yajna and from the centre of truth and rectitude.

· · ·

4.21.4

स्थू॒रस्य॑ रा॒यो बृ॑ह॒तो य ईशे॒ तमु॑ ष्टवाम वि॒दथे॒ष्विन्द्र॑म् । यो वा॒युना॒ जय॑ति॒ गोम॑तीषु॒ प्र धृ॑ष्णु॒या नय॑ति॒ वस्यो॒ अच्छ॑ ॥

In the holiest programmes of our daily business of life, we honour and celebrate Indra who rules the great and permanent assets of the nation, who wins victories by the winds in the battles of the lands and movable wealth and who, with bold and intrepidable confidence and initiative, wholly and faultlessly directs the circulation of the nation’s wealth for development.

· · ·

4.21.5

उप॒ यो नमो॒ नम॑सि स्तभा॒यन्निय॑र्ति॒ वाचं॑ ज॒नय॒न्यज॑ध्यै । ऋ॒ञ्ज॒सा॒नः पु॑रु॒वार॑ उ॒क्थैरेन्द्रं॑ कृण्वीत॒ सद॑नेषु॒ होता॑ ॥

He who moves forward, who creates and holds food stocks for the sake of consumption in emergency and establishes courtesy and mutual respect as a value of social culture, who creates and uses the language of cooperation and social cohesion for the unity and cooperation of the common wealth of order, who is accepted and celebrated by many many people with words of reverence, and who, by all these ways, creates honour and prestige for the nation of humanity, calls for the shots in world assemblies and rises higher as ruler, as Indra above all.

· · ·

4.21.6

धि॒षा यदि॑ धिष॒ण्यन्तः॑ सर॒ण्यान्त्सद॑न्तो॒ अद्रि॑मौशि॒जस्य॒ गोहे॑ । आ दु॒रोषाः॑ पा॒स्त्यस्य॒ होता॒ यो नो॑ म॒हान्त्सं॒वर॑णेषु॒ वह्निः॑ ॥

If the wise people sitting in the house of a loving and nobly ambitious man of yajna, were to do homage with their intelligence and wisdom to the generous giver and yajaka and to those who are realised souls worthy of company, then the one, Indra himself, really great, beyond anger and fear, would come and join there as the leader and high priest, as indeed the very fire, winner and carrier of fragrance, in the battles of life in the house of the yajamana taking it as his own affair in his own house.

· · ·

4.21.7

स॒त्रा यदीं॑ भार्व॒रस्य॒ वृष्णः॒ सिष॑क्ति॒ शुष्मः॑ स्तुव॒ते भरा॑य । गुहा॒ यदी॑मौशि॒जस्य॒ गोहे॒ प्र यद्धि॒ये प्राय॑से॒ मदा॑य ॥

When truly in yajnic session in honour of the lord sustainer of humanity, Indra, the light and power of the generous lord showers upon the celebrant for his fulfilment, then the hidden wealth and potential in the mind and home of the loving and faithful yajamana blooms forth for the fruition of his intelligence, advancement and life’s joy.

· · ·

4.21.8

वि यद्वरां॑सि॒ पर्व॑तस्य वृ॒ण्वे पयो॑भिर्जि॒न्वे अ॒पां जवां॑सि । वि॒दद्गौ॒रस्य॑ गव॒यस्य॒ गोहे॒ यदी॒ वाजा॑य सु॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ वह॑न्ति ॥

When I open the flood gates of the cloud and break open the path of the mountain, I augment the flow of the rivers with fresh reservoirs. And then the wise pioneers diving deep and reaching the depths of the brilliance and generosity of nature’s resources carry on researches for the food, energy and speed of life’s progress.

· · ·

4.21.9

भ॒द्रा ते॒ हस्ता॒ सृकृ॑तो॒त पा॒णी प्र॑य॒न्तारा॑ स्तुव॒ते राध॑ इन्द्र । का ते॒ निष॑त्तिः॒ किमु॒ नो म॑मत्सि॒ किं नोदु॑दु हर्षसे॒ दात॒वा उ॑ ॥

Noble are your arms, O lord Indra, as instruments of noble deeds, gracious your hands generously giving the wealth of life to the celebrant. What and where is the seat of your dispensation? Why not bless us with joy? Why not rejoice and give us the thrill and the ecstasy?

· · ·

4.21.10

ए॒वा वस्व॒ इन्द्रः॑ स॒त्यः स॒म्राड्ढन्ता॑ वृ॒त्रं वरि॑वः पू॒रवे॑ कः । पुरु॑ष्टुत॒ क्रत्वा॑ नः शग्धि रा॒यो भ॑क्षी॒य तेऽव॑सो॒ दैव्य॑स्य ॥

Thus does Indra, ruler of the world, brilliant and ever true, destroyer of the demons of darkness and enmity, give us abundant wealth for the devotee. O lord praised and universally celebrated, give us the wealth of the world by virtue of noble and creative actions. Pray give us the privilege of your divine protection so that we may enjoy the gift of life.

· · ·

4.21.11

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge, honour and excellence of wealth and well being, praised and celebrated, bear and bring the wealth of food, energy, knowledge and progress for the devotee like the flowing streams of living waters. This new song of homage is offered to you, O lord of speed and advancement, so that with action and intelligence we may be masters of chariots and noble servants of Divinity

✦ Sukta 22 · 11 verses ✦

4.22.1

यन्न॒ इन्द्रो॑ जुजु॒षे यच्च॒ वष्टि॒ तन्नो॑ म॒हान्क॑रति शु॒ष्म्या चि॑त् । ब्रह्म॒ स्तोमं॑ म॒घवा॒ सोम॑मु॒क्था यो अश्मा॑नं॒ शव॑सा॒ बिभ्र॒देति॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and power, supreme ruler of the world, commanding honour and majesty, who is ever with us as a friend, who loves us, who does great things for us and, bearing the awful might of thunder and generosity of the cloud, and bestowing on us food, energy and knowledge, honour and fame, greatness of wealth and grandeur, peace of mind and joy of health, and admirable art and poetry, goes on and on with his glory and majesty

· · ·

4.22.2

वृषा॒ वृष॑न्धिं॒ चतु॑रश्रि॒मस्य॑न्नु॒ग्रो बा॒हुभ्यां॒ नृत॑मः॒ शची॑वान् । श्रि॒ये परु॑ष्णीमु॒षमा॑ण॒ ऊर्णां॒ यस्याः॒ पर्वा॑णि स॒ख्याय॑ वि॒व्ये ॥

Indra, brave and generous, fierce and mighty brilliant but kind and generous, best and highest of leaders, blazing with his majesty and shooting out the vibrations of his four-winged forceful power of thunder directed all round by his arms of protection and progress, interweaves the harsh and variegated regions of the earth into a unified pattern under the warm cover of a single umbrella for the sake of mutual harmony and beauty of life.

· · ·

4.22.3

यो दे॒वो दे॒वत॑मो॒ जाय॑मानो म॒हो वाजे॑भिर्म॒हद्भि॑श्च॒ शुष्मैः॑ । दधा॑नो॒ वज्रं॑ बा॒ह्वोरु॒शन्तं॒ द्याममे॑न रेजय॒त्प्र भूम॑ ॥

Indra is the leader who, brilliant ruler, most majestic among brilliant ones, newly rising, great, wielding the blazing thunderbolt in hands, makes the earth and skies shine with his grandeur, and, with his great forces and dynamic intelligence, makes the proud and passionate tremble and the loving and shining ones shine more brilliant.

· · ·

4.22.4

विश्वा॒ रोधां॑सि प्र॒वत॑श्च पू॒र्वीर्द्यौर्ऋ॒ष्वाज्जनि॑मन्नेजत॒ क्षाः । आ मा॒तरा॒ भर॑ति शु॒ष्म्या गोर्नृ॒वत्परि॑ज्मन्नोनुवन्त॒ वाताः॑ ॥

All the solid spheres and mountains of the world, the floods and waves of liquid motions, the regions of light ancient as time, the earths, all born of the dynamics of Prakrti, the source mothers of the earth such as heat and water and oceans of space, or the roaring winds of the interspaces, all these like the world of humanity, the lord of omnipotence, Indra, bears, moves and sustains.

· · ·

4.22.5

ता तू त॑ इन्द्र मह॒तो म॒हानि॒ विश्वे॒ष्वित्सव॑नेषु प्र॒वाच्या॑ । यच्छू॑र धृष्णो धृष॒ता द॑धृ॒ष्वानहिं॒ वज्रे॑ण॒ शव॒सावि॑वेषीः ॥

Indra, lord and presence omnipotent, invincible and intrepidable, those acts of yours greater than the greatest are worth admiration and exaltation in all celebrations of the world which, with your might, bearing and sustaining the fixed stars and moving forces of the universe, you perform with your power and force of thunder to break the clouds holding up the process of evolution.

· · ·

4.22.6

ता तू ते॑ स॒त्या तु॑विनृम्ण॒ विश्वा॒ प्र धे॒नवः॑ सिस्रते॒ वृष्ण॒ ऊध्नः॑ । अधा॑ ह॒ त्वद्वृ॑षमणो भिया॒नाः प्रसिन्ध॑वो॒ जव॑सा चक्रमन्त ॥

Indra, lord of great valour and magnificence, generous as rain showers and magnanimous at heart, all those universal acts of yours are great and true. The cows, the earths and the words of vision stream forth with nourishment, energy and inspiration. And by your fear and force of law the rivers rush on with rapidity and the seas roll round with awe.

· · ·

4.22.7

अत्राह॑ ते हरिव॒स्ता उ॑ दे॒वीरवो॑भिरिन्द्र स्तवन्त॒ स्वसा॑रः । यत्सी॒मनु॒ प्र मु॒चो ब॑द्बधा॒ना दी॒र्घामनु॒ प्रसि॑तिं स्यन्द॒यध्यै॑ ॥

And surely, O lord of horse and armour and speed of progress, Indra, those sisterly and forward looking dynamic forces of yours in the land, noble and brilliant all, managing the resources along disciplined and determined lines, forces which you released to move forward at freedom on the long and high road to their goal, rush on with pleasure, favour and hopes for protection and exhort and exalt you.

· · ·

4.22.8

पि॒पी॒ळे अं॒शुर्मद्यो॒ न सिन्धु॒रा त्वा॒ शमी॑ शशमा॒नस्य॑ श॒क्तिः । अ॒स्म॒द्र्य॑क्शुशुचा॒नस्य॑ यम्या आ॒शुर्न र॒श्मिं तु॒व्योज॑सं॒ गोः ॥

Distilled is the soma of exciting joy of life’s action as homage to you. May it reach you like the sea. And O lord, bring us the peace and power of the omnipotent and self-refulgent Divinity at the fastest like a driver controlling the reins of a tempestuous courser.

· · ·

4.22.9

अ॒स्मे वर्षि॑ष्ठा कृणुहि॒ ज्येष्ठा॑ नृ॒म्णानि॑ स॒त्रा स॑हुरे॒ सहां॑सि । अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ वृ॒त्रा सु॒हना॑नि रन्धि ज॒हि वध॑र्व॒नुषो॒ मर्त्य॑स्य ॥

O lord of peace, patience, power and victory, bless us with all those gifts of yours which are permanent, challenging, highest and most generous. For us, destroy the demons of darkness and enmity which deserve to be destroyed, and ward off and annihilate the onslaughts on the worshipful humanity.

· · ·

4.22.10

अ॒स्माक॒मित्सु शृ॑णुहि॒ त्वमि॑न्द्रा॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्राँ उप॑ माहि॒ वाजा॑न् । अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ विश्वा॑ इषणः॒ पुर॑न्धीर॒स्माकं॒ सु म॑घवन्बोधि गो॒दाः ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, commanding wealth and valour and honour, giver of the speech of wisdom, lands and cows, listen to our voice, measure, mark out, plan, and apportion for us vast and wondrous successes in the field of food, energy and victory. Inspire us with all the possibilities of intellectual and scientific achievement, and let us awake into a heaven of light and freedom.

· · ·

4.22.11

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Thus faithfully praised, celebrated and worshipped in song, O lord of power and progress, Indra, bless the supplicant worshipper with food, energy and advancement like the streams that flow abundant. This homage of worship is created and offered with the best of our intention and intelligence praying that with the divine gift of latest genius we may be warriors of the chariot and obedient servants of Divinity.

✦ Sukta 23 · 11 verses ✦

4.23.1

क॒था म॒हाम॑वृध॒त्कस्य॒ होतु॑र्य॒ज्ञं जु॑षा॒णो अ॒भि सोम॒मूधः॑ । पिब॑न्नुशा॒नो जु॒षमा॑णो॒ अन्धो॑ वव॒क्ष ऋ॒ष्वः शु॑च॒ते धना॑य ॥

How to evolve and exalt the grandeur of life? Which creative yajaka’s holy programme of yajnic instruction and evolution to join? Which milky drink of soma to drink from the mother’s breast? The great, generous and protective lord of sublimity, Indra, commanding knowledge, wealth, honour and excellence, loving and owning up the devoted disciple supplicant, cherishing his offer of homage, blesses him with the gift of refinement and exaltation of his innate wealth of honour and grandeur.

· · ·

4.23.2

को अ॑स्य वी॒रः स॑ध॒माद॑माप॒ समा॑नंश सुम॒तिभिः॒ को अ॑स्य । कद॑स्य चि॒त्रं चि॑किते॒ कदू॒ती वृ॒धे भु॑वच्छशमा॒नस्य॒ यज्योः॑ ॥

Who is the brave who reaches the ecstasy of the lord’s company? Who attains to him and shares the manifestations of his vision and intelligence? When does he know and realise the wonder and variety of this lord’s benediction? When does the lord’s grace flow for the protection and advancement of the supplicant in yajna?

· · ·

4.23.3

क॒था शृ॑णोति हू॒यमा॑न॒मिन्द्रः॑ क॒था शृ॒ण्वन्नव॑सामस्य वेद । का अ॑स्य पू॒र्वीरुप॑मातयो ह क॒थैन॑माहुः॒ पपु॑रिं जरि॒त्रे ॥

When does Indra listen to the supplicant? And while he listens, when does he grant that the time for his liberation and ultimate protection is come? What are, for sure, the ultimate bounds (if any) of the lord’s gifts of grace? How do the celebrants sing of the gracious lord for the supplicant?

· · ·

4.23.4

क॒था स॒बाधः॑ शशमा॒नो अ॑स्य॒ नश॑द॒भि द्रवि॑णं॒ दीध्या॑नः । दे॒वो भु॑व॒न्नवे॑दा म ऋ॒तानां॒ नमो॑ जगृ॒भ्वाँ अ॒भि यज्जुजो॑षत् ॥

When does the supplicant, though bound in his limitations yet intent upon his search for Divinity, attain to the wealth of the lord’s grace? When the lord self-refulgent and infinitely generous becomes cognizant of my yajnas of service and devotion, accepts my offers of food and fragrance in the vedi, and owns me as his child and disciple in faith, then does his grace shower on me.

· · ·

4.23.5

क॒था कद॒स्या उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ दे॒वो मर्त॑स्य स॒ख्यं जु॑जोष । क॒था कद॑स्य स॒ख्यं सखि॑भ्यो॒ ये अ॑स्मि॒न्कामं॑ सु॒युजं॑ तत॒स्रे ॥

When would the refulgent and generous lord in this light of the dawn accept and cherish the devotion and friendship of mortal humanity? When would his love and friendship extend to the human friends who in this yajna of love and covenant extend their love and ambition over practical work in divine service?

· · ·

4.23.6

किमादम॑त्रं स॒ख्यं सखि॑भ्यः क॒दा नु ते॑ भ्रा॒त्रं प्र ब्र॑वाम । श्रि॒ये सु॒दृशो॒ वपु॑रस्य॒ सर्गाः॒ स्व१॒॑र्ण चि॒त्रत॑ममिष॒ आ गोः ॥

O lord, when and how shall we describe your firm and protective love and friendship and your brotherly affection to our friends? The cosmic body of this gracious lord and the various stages of his creation are for the beauty and glory of existence, blissful as heaven, various and most wondrous. So also are the beauties and generosities of the sun for the love and sustenance of life.

· · ·

4.23.7

द्रुहं॒ जिघां॑सन्ध्व॒रस॑मनि॒न्द्रां तेति॑क्ते ति॒ग्मा तु॒जसे॒ अनी॑का । ऋ॒णा चि॒द्यत्र॑ ऋण॒या न॑ उ॒ग्रो दू॒रे अज्ञा॑ता उ॒षसो॑ बबा॒धे ॥

Keen to eliminate the hateful, destructive and rebellious elements, Indra sharpens his blazing armies to greater force, and where the existing forces thus grow fiercer, our ruler, awesome and bold as terror, like a man under pressure of an obligation, wipes out unknown fears like the dawns dispelling darkness.

· · ·

4.23.8

ऋ॒तस्य॒ हि शु॒रुधः॒ सन्ति॑ पू॒र्वीर्ऋ॒तस्य॑ धी॒तिर्वृ॑जि॒नानि॑ हन्ति । ऋ॒तस्य॒ श्लोको॑ बधि॒रा त॑तर्द॒ कर्णा॑ बुधा॒नः शु॒चमा॑न आ॒योः ॥

The protective forces of truth are everlasting.awakening and brightening up the man who hears, giving him the light of Divinity. The vision and understanding rooted in truth removes all hurdles and breaks the clouds of darkness. The word and message of truth clears up the ears of the deaf, awakening and brightening up the man who hears, giving him the light of Divinity.

· · ·

4.23.9

ऋ॒तस्य॑ दृ॒ळ्हा ध॒रुणा॑नि सन्ति पु॒रूणि॑ च॒न्द्रा वपु॑षे॒ वपूं॑षि । ऋ॒तेन॑ दी॒र्घमि॑षणन्त॒ पृक्ष॑ ऋ॒तेन॒ गाव॑ ऋ॒तमा वि॑वेशुः ॥

The foundations of Truth and Eternal Law are unshakable, boundless and beautiful, the very embodiments of truth, beauty and Dharma for life forms. By the Law of truth do people enjoy long life and showers of joy. By the Law of truth do our voice and senses follow truth and reach the very source of reality and the seat of the law of eternal truth.

· · ·

4.23.10

ऋ॒तं ये॑मा॒न ऋ॒तमिद्व॑नोत्यृ॒तस्य॒ शुष्म॑स्तुर॒या उ॑ ग॒व्युः । ऋ॒ताय॑ पृ॒थ्वी ब॑हु॒ले ग॑भी॒रे ऋ॒ताय॑ धे॒नू प॑र॒मे दु॑हाते ॥

The pursuant of truth attains to truth. The operation of the eternal law of truth is fast, instantaneous, so fast that it is omnipresent, all operative. The abundant earth, deep interspaces and the high heavens all like the mother cow yield the milk of life in service of the eternal law of truth.

· · ·

4.23.11

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Indra, world ruler, omnipotent lord of universal truth and abundance, thus praised and worshipped, bear and bring food, energy, and the sustaining power of life for the celebrant in abundance like the rivers overflowing with life giving waters. This new song of homage and fragrant yajna is offered in worship, O lord of the universal dynamics of nature, in hope with prayer that with vision and intelligence we may be masters of the chariot and dedicated workers in your service of the law of truth.

✦ Sukta 24 · 11 verses ✦

4.24.1

का सु॑ष्टु॒तिः शव॑सः सू॒नुमिन्द्र॑मर्वाची॒नं राध॑स॒ आ व॑वर्तत् । द॒दिर्हि वी॒रो गृ॑ण॒ते वसू॑नि॒ स गोप॑तिर्नि॒ष्षिधां॑ नो जनासः ॥

O citizens of the land, what is that order of praise and approbation which would persuade and move Indra toward us for our joint success and prosperity? A very child of might is he, inspirer of the brave, most youthful hero of latest knowledge and modern tactic, eminent warrior, creator and munificent giver of wealth for his supporters, manager and promoter of the earth and its resources, and leader and commander of the generous producers, our own pioneers.

· · ·

4.24.2

स वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॒ हव्यः॒ स ईड्यः॒ स सुष्टु॑त॒ इन्द्रः॑ स॒त्यरा॑धाः । स याम॒न्ना म॒घवा॒ मर्त्या॑य ब्रह्मण्य॒ते सुष्व॑ये॒ वरि॑वो धात् ॥

He is to be invoked in the battles against darkness, evil and crime, lord adorable as he is, profusely adored, Indra, lord of honour and excellence, achiever of truth and giver of noble riches. He, lord of wealth, might and majesty, bears and bestows choice gifts of honour and freedom upon the mortals who dedicate themselves to the lord of existence and pray for success and divine grace in the ways of life.

· · ·

4.24.3

तमिन्नरो॒ वि ह्व॑यन्ते समी॒के रि॑रि॒क्वांस॑स्त॒न्वः॑ कृण्वत॒ त्राम् । मि॒थो यत्त्या॒गमु॒भया॑सो॒ अग्म॒न्नर॑स्तो॒कस्य॒ तन॑यस्य सा॒तौ ॥

People and leaders both call upon him in their battles of life in search of freedom, those who seek release and those who look to him for the protection of their bodies. Together, men and women, men and leaders, go to him for freedom from suffering as well as for the well being of their children and grand children.

· · ·

4.24.4

क्र॒तू॒यन्ति॑ क्षि॒तयो॒ योग॑ उग्राशुषा॒णासो॑ मि॒थो अर्ण॑सातौ । सं यद्विशोऽव॑वृत्रन्त यु॒ध्मा आदिन्नेम॑ इन्द्रयन्ते अ॒भीके॑ ॥

People of the land, both bright and blazing as well as impetuous in action, together, joining in the pursuit of knowledge and yajnic action do their best and holiest in faith in their own fields of social development freely, and when all the citizens thus engage in battle against the demons of darkness, evil and poverty and conduct themselves with discipline on a war footing, they unitedly and unanimously choose Indra as their guide and leader in action.

· · ·

4.24.5

आदिद्ध॒ नेम॑ इन्द्रि॒यं य॑जन्त॒ आदित्प॒क्तिः पु॑रो॒ळाशं॑ रिरिच्यात् । आदित्सोमो॒ वि प॑पृच्या॒दसु॑ष्वी॒नादिज्जु॑जोष वृष॒भं यज॑ध्यै ॥

And then the warriors all work for the honour and excellence of the nation through joint action. And then let the fruit of the action and struggle, like delicious pudding seasoned, be consolidated and reserved. And then when the present and future is secured, let the soma of joy be prepared and ripened for the warriors of courage and valour, and then let all join Indra, virile and generous leader, in the celebration.

· · ·

4.24.6

कृ॒णोत्य॑स्मै॒ वरि॑वो॒ य इ॒त्थेन्द्रा॑य॒ सोम॑मुश॒ते सु॒नोति॑ । स॒ध्री॒चीने॑न॒ मन॒सावि॑वेन॒न्तमित्सखा॑यं कृणुते स॒मत्सु॑ ॥

One who thus does honour and distinguished service for Indra, ruler of the world, and distils the soma of excellence and joy for him who, of course, loves honour and excellence and joy for humanity, and one who, with an undivided dedicated mind, without any selfish axe to grind, acts as a friend and supportive warrior for him in the battles of humanity: Indra too for such a person creates and awards rare and choicest gifts of honour and dignity like a friend.

· · ·

4.24.7

य इन्द्रा॑य सु॒नव॒त्सोम॑म॒द्य पचा॑त्प॒क्तीरु॒त भृ॒ज्जाति॑ धा॒नाः । प्रति॑ मना॒योरु॒चथा॑नि॒ हर्य॒न्तस्मि॑न्दध॒द्वृष॑णं॒ शुष्म॒मिन्द्रः॑ ॥

Whoever for Indra, today, distils and ripens the soma of honour and excellence, confirms and consolidates the gains of victory over darkness, evil and want, and perfects the production for national consumption: to such a person Indra responds, loving and listening to his songs of praise arising from the heart, and the lord in-vests him with inner strength of valour and showers of unbounded generosity.

· · ·

4.24.8

य॒दा स॑म॒र्यं व्यचे॒दृघा॑वा दी॒र्घं यदा॒जिम॒भ्यख्य॑द॒र्यः । अचि॑क्रद॒द्वृष॑णं॒ पत्न्यच्छा॑ दुरो॒ण आ निशि॑तं सोम॒सुद्भिः॑ ॥

When the ruler of the land and noble head of his people and destroyer of the enemies perceives a tumult of battle around and afar, he displays his long range deployment of arms and armies, while the citizenry at home, as a sustaining and supportive force, exhorts him and proclaims aloud his internal strength of morale created and sharpened by the creators and refiners of national energy.

· · ·

4.24.9

भूय॑सा व॒स्नम॑चर॒त्कनी॒योऽवि॑क्रीतो अकानिषं॒ पुन॒र्यन् । स भूय॑सा॒ कनी॑यो॒ नारि॑रेचीद्दी॒ना दक्षा॒ वि दु॑हन्ति॒ प्र वा॒णम् ॥

The poor ignorant trader buys the pleasure of glitter and sense at the great price of the spirit. Drained out, exhausted and disvalued, he goes back: “I want back what I had parted with in exchange for what I had got.” No, not now. With all that he can surrender, he cannot redeem even a little of what he has lost. The poor as well as the intelligent get back only what they bargain for in word and action.

· · ·

4.24.10

क इ॒मं द॒शभि॒र्ममेन्द्रं॑ क्रीणाति धे॒नुभिः॑ । य॒दा वृ॒त्राणि॒ जङ्घ॑न॒दथै॑नं मे॒ पुन॑र्ददत् ॥

Who can buy this Indra, this spiritual glory, from me for all time with the ten senses and their pleasure? None. Yes, when one dispels the evils of darkness, ignorance and indulgence, then the lord gives it back to me.

· · ·

4.24.11

नू ष्टु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ नू गृ॑णा॒न इषं॑ जरि॒त्रे न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ न पी॑पेः । अका॑रि ते हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्यं॑ धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

Indra, lord of glory, thus praised and celebrated, bless the supplicant with food, energy and enlightenment just as overflowing streams bring living waters for humanity. O lord of power and progress at high speed, thus is the song of celebration and yajnic homage offered to you, the newest presentation, so that with your blessings of intelligence and action we may be master warriors of the chariot and great servants of Divinity.

✦ Sukta 25 · 8 verses ✦

4.25.1

को अ॒द्य नर्यो॑ दे॒वका॑म उ॒शन्निन्द्र॑स्य स॒ख्यं जु॑जोष । को वा॑ म॒हेऽव॑से॒ पार्या॑य॒ समि॑द्धे अ॒ग्नौ सु॒तसो॑म ईट्टे ॥

Who today among noble humanity, lover of the light of divinity, inspired with holy ambition and enthusiasm, enjoys the favour and friendship of Indra? Or, who, having offered oblations of distilled soma into the lighted fire for the achievement of great redeeming divine protection, enjoys the honour and excellence of life? Answer: The friend and lover of humanity who is dedicated to Indra, the supreme ruler.

· · ·

4.25.2

को ना॑नाम॒ वच॑सा सो॒म्याय॑ मना॒युर्वा॑ भवति॒ वस्त॑ उ॒स्राः । क इन्द्र॑स्य॒ युज्यं॒ कः स॑खि॒त्वं को भ्रा॒त्रं व॑ष्टि क॒वये॒ क ऊ॒ती ॥

Who bows with words of prayer to Indra for the gift of peace, pleasure, honour and excellence of body, mind and soul? And who submits to him in search of knowledge and self-awareness? Who loves the lights of the dawn and the lovely cows in the morning? Who waits on Indra for help and protection? Who feels anxious for friendship and fraternity with him? Who prays for security and poetic vision to the lord of omniscience? Answer: Who ever wants to do good unto all including the self as servant of Divinity.

· · ·

4.25.3

को दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीते॒ क आ॑दि॒त्याँ अदि॑तिं॒ ज्योति॑रीट्टे । कस्या॒श्विना॒विन्द्रो॑ अ॒ग्निः सु॒तस्यां॒शोः पि॑बन्ति॒ मन॒सावि॑वेनम् ॥

Who these days opts for and wins the protection and benedictions of the divine powers of nature? Who pursues and prays for the light of the suns in orbital phases, the generosity of nature and mother earth, and the secrets and mysteries of light? Whose achievement of knowledge and contribution to life’s peace and joy is favourably in tune with the nature and operation of the laws and properties of the Ashvins, earth and the skies, Indra, the sun, andAgni, heat and magnetic energy of the earth? Answer: One who acts in cooperation with nature for life and in the service of Divinity.

· · ·

4.25.4

तस्मा॑ अ॒ग्निर्भार॑तः॒ शर्म॑ यंस॒ज्ज्योक्प॑श्या॒त्सूर्य॑मु॒च्चर॑न्तम् । य इन्द्रा॑य सु॒नवा॒मेत्याह॒ नरे॒ नर्या॑य॒ नृत॑माय नृ॒णाम् ॥

To him Agni, the cosmic power and presence that holds, sustains and governs the world of nature and humanity, provides a happy home, and he would watch the rising sun for a long long time who is able to say this with confidence: We pursue knowledge and create the means of comfort and happiness for humanity, the world of human interests, and the highest qualities and attainments of human values among the people of the world, and this we do for Indra, Lord of humanity and the entire world of existence.

· · ·

4.25.5

न तं जि॑नन्ति ब॒हवो॒ न द॒भ्रा उ॒र्व॑स्मा॒ अदि॑तिः॒ शर्म॑ यंसत् । प्रि॒यः सु॒कृत्प्रि॒य इन्द्रे॑ मना॒युः प्रि॒यः सु॑प्रा॒वीः प्रि॒यो अ॑स्य सो॒मी ॥

Neither many nor few, nor even the fiercest, can overpower him who acts in the service of Indra, governing power and presence of the universe. Indeed mother earth, in fact mother nature of imperishable wealth, blesses him with abundant peace and joy in a happy home, for, to Indra, the one who does good is dear, the lover of Divinity is dear, the follower of the path of rectitude is dear, and the creator of comfort, joy and enlightenment for life is dear to this lord.

· · ·

4.25.6

सु॒प्रा॒व्यः॑ प्राशु॒षाळे॒ष वी॒रः सुष्वेः॑ प॒क्तिं कृ॑णुते॒ केव॒लेन्द्रः॑ । नासु॑ष्वेरा॒पिर्न सखा॒ न जा॒मिर्दु॑ष्प्रा॒व्यो॑ऽवह॒न्तेदवा॑चः ॥

Indra, leader and ruler, instant destroyer of enmity, is openly accessible to the person who creates and produces good things and thus contributes positively to the peace, progress and happiness of life, and he fully protects and promotes such people and raises them to maturity as the sun ripens grain. But to the person who is uncreative, and malignant scandalizer, he is not accessible, not a friend, or a brother, or protector, in fact he is awfully opposed to such negatives. (Creativity and a positive, contributive attitude to life is a value, while uncreativeness and a negative, destructive attitude is a dangerous disvalue. The former is to be protected and promoted, but the latter has to be opposed and eliminated.)

· · ·

4.25.7

न रे॒वता॑ प॒णिना॑ स॒ख्यमिन्द्रोऽसु॑न्वता सुत॒पाः सं गृ॑णीते । आस्य॒ वेदः॑ खि॒दति॒ हन्ति॑ न॒ग्नं वि सुष्व॑ये प॒क्तये॒ केव॑लो भूत् ॥

Not with the miserly man of wealth does Indra bargain any friendship since he is the master creator of peace and joy and lover of honour and excellence. He does not acknowledge, much less approve of the wealth of the ungenerous. In fact, he exposes the wealth of the hoarder until, exposed and ashamed, he is reduced to nullity, because, basically and exclusively he is for the creative and generous who produce and mature the wealth of the nation to the state of honour and dignity.

· · ·

4.25.8

इन्द्रं॒ परेऽव॑रे मध्य॒मास॒ इन्द्रं॒ यान्तोऽव॑सितास॒ इन्द्र॑म् । इन्द्रं॑ क्षि॒यन्त॑ उ॒त युध्य॑माना॒ इन्द्रं॒ नरो॑ वाज॒यन्तो॑ हवन्ते ॥

People at the farthest and at the nearest, highest and lowest, and people at the middle, all call upon Indra, lord of honour and excellence. People on the move and those at the end of the journey call upon Indra, lord of peace and security. People settled in the home and warriors on the battle field call upon Indra, lord of prosperity and victory. And the leaders of the people and the men fighting for food, struggling for energy and panting for speed and progress call upon Indra, lord giver of food, energy and advancement.

✦ Sukta 26 · 7 verses ✦

4.26.1

अ॒हं मनु॑रभवं॒ सूर्य॑श्चा॒हं क॒क्षीवाँ॒ ऋषि॑रस्मि॒ विप्रः॑ । अ॒हं कुत्स॑मार्जुने॒यं न्यृ॑ञ्जे॒ऽहं क॒विरु॒शना॒ पश्य॑ता मा ॥

I am the thinker and law-giver of existence, I am the light of life, I comprehend the time and space of the universe, I am the visionary, I am the centre and shaker at the core. I create the thunder and light and I make the thunderbolt. I am the poet of omniscience and passionate lover of my creation. Come ye all and see.

· · ·

4.26.2

अ॒हं भूमि॑मददा॒मार्या॑या॒हं वृ॒ष्टिं दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य । अ॒हम॒पो अ॑नयं वावशा॒ना मम॑ दे॒वासो॒ अनु॒ केत॑मायन् ॥

I give the earth for noble humanity, and I bring rain and rolling oceans and waves of energy for the mortals who give in charity, and, in consequence, saints and sages who love are blest with light divine.

· · ·

4.26.3

अ॒हं पुरो॑ मन्दसा॒नो व्यै॑रं॒ नव॑ सा॒कं न॑व॒तीः शम्ब॑रस्य । श॒त॒त॒मं वे॒श्यं॑ स॒र्वता॑ता॒ दिवो॑दासमतिथि॒ग्वं यदाव॑म् ॥

In the state of perfect bliss, I first move ninty and nine streams of cloud showers together, and as I protect and promote the man of hospitality and the giver of enlightenment, I open hundred-fold gates of delight and prosperity for the whole world.

· · ·

4.26.4

प्र सु ष विभ्यो॑ मरुतो॒ विर॑स्तु॒ प्र श्ये॒नः श्ये॒नेभ्य॑ आशु॒पत्वा॑ । अ॒च॒क्रया॒ यत्स्व॒धया॑ सुप॒र्णो ह॒व्यं भर॒न्मन॑वे दे॒वजु॑ष्टम् ॥

Just as the eagle bird is the fastest of all the birds of prey in flight and descent so may that glorious heavenly bird of light wings, the sun, which moves by its own mighty force without wheels and which is prime among the powers of nature, the Maruts, may bring for humanity food and energy blest by the best and brilliant bounties of Divinity.

· · ·

4.26.5

भर॒द्यदि॒ विरतो॒ वेवि॑जानः प॒थोरुणा॒ मनो॑जवा असर्जि । तूयं॑ ययौ॒ मधु॑ना सो॒म्येनो॒त श्रवो॑ विविदे श्ये॒नो अत्र॑ ॥

When the bird of the wings of light, vibrating as sunrays, flying fast as thought by the wide paths of space brings and releases food and energy here, and then from here itself flies back fast with earthly, sweets of soma juices (to bring them back, reinvigorated), thus this eagle wins thanks and praise from earthly humanity.

· · ·

4.26.6

ऋ॒जी॒पी श्ये॒नो दद॑मानो अं॒शुं प॑रा॒वतः॑ शकु॒नो म॒न्द्रं मद॑म् । सोमं॑ भरद्दादृहा॒णो दे॒वावा॑न्दि॒वो अ॒मुष्मा॒दुत्त॑रादा॒दाय॑ ॥

The eagle bird of light, enjoying the company of heavenly planets, coming from far off country by simple paths, having taken from that distant region of light sweet celestial delights of soma energies of life, gives us that nectar and, taking the soma sweets of earth grows stronger and more generous.

· · ·

4.26.7

आ॒दाय॑ श्ये॒नो अ॑भर॒त्सोमं॑ स॒हस्रं॑ स॒वाँ अ॒युतं॑ च सा॒कम् । अत्रा॒ पुर॑न्धिरजहा॒दरा॑ती॒र्मदे॒ सोम॑स्य मू॒रा अमू॑रः ॥

The eagle bird of light, ruler and illuminator of the world, bears and brings a thousand delights of soma for life with unbounded yajnic creations of organic tonics for health and, in the ecstasy of the drink of soma on earth, doing noble actions and maintaining human habitations with wisdom and equanimity of mind, eliminates all stupidity and negativities!

✦ Sukta 27 · 5 verses ✦

4.27.1

गर्भे॒ नु सन्नन्वे॑षामवेदम॒हं दे॒वानां॒ जनि॑मानि॒ विश्वा॑ । श॒तं मा॒ पुर॒ आय॑सीररक्ष॒न्नध॑ श्ये॒नो ज॒वसा॒ निर॑दीयम् ॥

Having been in the mother’s womb, I have witnessed and known the birth and growth of all these divine creations (such as the elements, earth, water, senses, and mind, etc.). Hundreds of golden cities and iron walls have protected me. And having lived all this, I have got out to freedom like a falcon bird of the winds with impetuous speed. (The mantra describes the soul’s journey through births and death’s across the body forms and then the release to the freedom of Moksha.)

· · ·

4.27.2

न घा॒ स मामप॒ जोषं॑ जभारा॒भीमा॑स॒ त्वक्ष॑सा वी॒र्ये॑ण । ई॒र्मा पुर॑न्धिरजहा॒दरा॑तीरु॒त वाताँ॑ अतर॒च्छूशु॑वानः ॥

That womb of nature couldn’t hold me against my will and pleasure. I sat in there with all my vigour and penetrative vision. And when the Lord inspirer who sustains the hundreds of golden cities and iron walls of prison wards off the contraries of flesh and blood, then the falcon bird of the spirit, rising up and high, crosses the storms and shears of winds to freedom.

· · ·

4.27.3

अव॒ यच्छ्ये॒नो अस्व॑नी॒दध॒ द्योर्वि यद्यदि॒ वात॑ ऊ॒हुः पुर॑न्धिम् । सृ॒जद्यद॑स्मा॒ अव॑ ह क्षि॒पज्ज्यां कृ॒शानु॒रस्ता॒ मन॑सा भुर॒ण्यन् ॥

When the falcon bird of the spirit descends from heaven singing and roaring with energy, then if the winds and storms of existence hijack the master of the golden city, then, just as the warrior draws the string of the bows and shoots off the arrow, so the soul, archer subduer of contraries, with the light radiating from the flame of the heart, draws up the string of yoga meditation and shoots away the fluctuations.

· · ·

4.27.4

ऋ॒जि॒प्य ई॒मिन्द्रा॑वतो॒ न भु॒ज्युं श्ये॒नो ज॑भार बृह॒तो अधि॒ ष्णोः । अ॒न्तः प॑तत्पत॒त्र्य॑स्य प॒र्णमध॒ याम॑नि॒ प्रसि॑तस्य॒ तद्वेः ॥

The falcon bird of the spirit, going by the path of rectitude always under the protection of Indra, lord of life, bears the sacred vessel of the body like a prize from the vast regions of joy and energy and, at the end, flying up, the bird on the wing jettisons the sacred vessel like the plume of a bird bound down to the nest.

· · ·

4.27.5

अध॑ श्वे॒तं क॒लशं॒ गोभि॑र॒क्तमा॑पिप्या॒नं म॒घवा॑ शु॒क्रमन्धः॑ । अ॒ध्व॒र्युभिः॒ प्रय॑तं॒ मध्वो॒ अग्र॒मिन्द्रो॒ मदा॑य॒ प्रति॑ ध॒त्पिब॑ध्यै॒ शूरो॒ मदा॑य॒ प्रति॑ ध॒त्पिब॑ध्यै ॥

Let Indra, the brave soul, blest with and commanding honour and prosperity, bear, in response to the Lord’s grace, the bright and beauteous body vessel nourished by mother earth and cows, satisfying, pure and powerful, and let him enjoy the food seasoned and sanctified by holy yajakas, and prime delicious drink for realising the beauty and ecstasy of existence. Yes, let the fearless brave spirit bear the body vessel to drink of the joy of life and to celebrate the gift of divine rapture.

✦ Sukta 28 · 5 verses ✦

4.28.1

त्वा यु॒जा तव॒ तत्सो॑म स॒ख्य इन्द्रो॑ अ॒पो मन॑वे स॒स्रुत॑स्कः । अह॒न्नहि॒मरि॑णात्स॒प्त सिन्धू॒नपा॑वृणो॒दपि॑हितेव॒ खानि॑ ॥

With you and for your friendship, O Soma, power, pleasure and excellence of life, did Indra, resplendent ruler of the world, set the spatial waters afloat, broke the cloud, made the seven streams of water flow and opened up the hidden treasures of life.

· · ·

4.28.2

त्वा यु॒जा नि खि॑द॒त्सूर्य॒स्येन्द्र॑श्च॒क्रं सह॑सा स॒द्य इ॑न्दो । अधि॒ ष्णुना॑ बृह॒ता वर्त॑मानं म॒हो द्रु॒हो अप॑ वि॒श्वायु॑ धायि ॥

Soma, power of cool and bliss of nature’s cosmic energy, with force, constantly counters the cycle of solar radiations operating with mighty catalysis and coming from higher regions, and thus the great all round negativity of sun rays against life is warded off.

· · ·

4.28.3

अह॒न्निन्द्रो॒ अद॑हद॒ग्निरि॑न्दो पु॒रा दस्यू॑न्म॒ध्यन्दि॑नाद॒भीके॑ ।

दु॒र्गे दु॑रो॒णे क्रत्वा॒ न या॒तां पु॒रू स॒हस्रा॒ शर्वा॒ नि ब॑र्हीत् ॥

Indu, Soma, cool and bliss of mind, nature and people of the land and forces of peace, with your balancing action, Indra, powerful and blazing, destroys darkness and evil, as fire burns off the demoniac forces before the mid-day yajna in the battle of life. Thus does the spirit of life, with Indra and Soma, hot and cold in the existential circuit of nature, destroy and ward off a thousand onslaughts of impending dangers and attacks. And so do the acts of yajna in the home of the family and fortress of the ruler.

· · ·

4.28.4

विश्व॑स्मात्सीमध॒माँ इ॑न्द्र॒ दस्यू॒न्विशो॒ दासी॑रकृणोरप्रश॒स्ताः । अबा॑धेथा॒ममृ॑णतं॒ नि शत्रू॒नवि॑न्देथा॒मप॑चितिं॒ वध॑त्रैः ॥

Indra, ruler of the world blazing as the sun, reduce the evil and wicked to nullity all round, and save the people and the forces of generosity from ignominy. Indra and Soma, power and peace of the land, ruler and people, bind down the enemy forces, give peace and security to the good, and thus win honour and fame with your weapons of protection.

· · ·

4.28.5

ए॒वा स॒त्यं म॑घवाना यु॒वं तदिन्द्र॑श्च सोमो॒र्वमश्व्यं॒ गोः । आद॑र्दृत॒मपि॑हिता॒न्यश्ना॑ रिरि॒चथुः॒ क्षाश्चि॑त्ततृदा॒ना ॥

It is true, O potent commanders of honour and excellence, Indra and Soma, destroyer of evil and creator of peace and prosperity, together you release the earth’s vast energy and progressive forces, break open the resources of wealth and fertility, and release the lands from oppression into freedom.

✦ Sukta 29 · 5 verses ✦

4.29.1

आ नः॑ स्तु॒त उप॒ वाजे॑भिरू॒ती इन्द्र॑ या॒हि हरि॑भिर्मन्दसा॒नः । ति॒रश्चि॑द॒र्यः सव॑ना पु॒रूण्या॑ङ्गू॒षेभि॑र्गृणा॒नः स॒त्यरा॑धाः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of honour and excellence, spirit incarnate of power and prosperity, come with all the vigour and velocity for our protection and progress. Invoked and invited, happy and rejoicing, come with the fastest achievements. You are the wealth of the nation incarnate, truly the harbinger of success. Praised, appraised and pursued by the highpriests of knowledge and action, come directly and indirectly by all paths of centripetal movement to bless our manifold yajnic programmes of creation and production.

· · ·

4.29.2

आ हि ष्मा॒ याति॒ नर्य॑श्चिकि॒त्वान्हू॒यमा॑नः सो॒तृभि॒रुप॑ य॒ज्ञम् । स्वश्वो॒ यो अभी॑रु॒र्मन्य॑मानः सुष्वा॒णेभि॒र्मद॑ति॒ सं ह॑ वी॒रैः ॥

And he does come, lord of men and master of knowledge all-aware, when he is invoked and invited to the yajna by those who distil the soma for yajna and sprinkle the vedi with holy water and ghrta. Then, commanding the horse and speed of the chariot, brave and fearless, self-confident and honoured, he rejoices with the heroes who create the soma, honour, grandeur and the joy of life for humanity.

· · ·

4.29.3

श्रा॒वयेद॑स्य॒ कर्णा॑ वाज॒यध्यै॒ जुष्टा॒मनु॒ प्र दिशं॑ मन्द॒यध्यै॑ । उ॒द्वा॒वृ॒षा॒णो राध॑से॒ तुवि॑ष्मा॒न्कर॑न्न॒ इन्द्रः॑ सुती॒र्थाभ॑यं च ॥

Speak to him, let him hear, he loves to hear of the cherished policy and direction for the sake of speed and success in action so that he may be happy and rejoice with you all. And then he, Indra, ruler of all and creator of honour and excellence, generous as showers and blazing brave in action, would create paths of progress into a state of freedom from fear and success, and thence would flow the ultimate release.

· · ·

4.29.4

अच्छा॒ यो गन्ता॒ नाध॑मानमू॒ती इ॒त्था विप्रं॒ हव॑मानं गृ॒णन्त॑म् । उप॒ त्मनि॒ दधा॑नो धु॒र्या॒३॒॑शून्त्स॒हस्रा॑णि श॒तानि॒ वज्र॑बाहुः ॥

With grace, he goes to the supplicant with protection, thus, to bless the earnest seeker invoking him and singing in praise. He holds the supplicant and celebrant closest to his heart and, yoking a hundred thousand horses to his chariot, wielding the thunderbolt for creation and protection, he hastens to the devotees.

· · ·

4.29.5

त्वोता॑सो मघवन्निन्द्र॒ विप्रा॑ व॒यं ते॑ स्याम सू॒रयो॑ गृ॒णन्तः॑ । भे॒जा॒नासो॑ बृ॒हद्दि॑वस्य रा॒य आ॑का॒य्य॑स्य दा॒वने॑ पुरु॒क्षोः ॥

Under your protection, O lord of power and glory, Indra, lord ruler and giver of honour and excellence, let us be earnest seekers of knowledge, brave and brilliant celebrants of Divinity, so that we may be dedicated sharers of the abundance of the lord of light, wealth, and generosity of sustenance incarnate.

✦ Sukta 30 · 24 verses ✦

4.30.1

नकि॑रिन्द्र॒ त्वदुत्त॑रो॒ न ज्यायाँ॑ अस्ति वृत्रहन् । नकि॑रे॒वा यथा॒ त्वम् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, destroyer of evil and breaker of the cloud like the sun, there is none higher than you, none beyond, none greater, none even equal to you as you are.

· · ·

4.30.2

स॒त्रा ते॒ अनु॑ कृ॒ष्टयो॒ विश्वा॑ च॒क्रेव॑ वावृतुः । स॒त्रा म॒हाँ अ॑सि श्रु॒तः ॥

In truth and honour of conduct, all the people together move around you in orbit, harmoniously, as do the wheels of the chariot revolve round the axle. Truly you are great, commanding honour and universal fame.

· · ·

4.30.3

विश्वे॑ च॒नेद॒ना त्वा॑ दे॒वास॑ इन्द्र युयुधुः । यदहा॒ नक्त॒माति॑रः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, all the nobilities of humanity and divinities of nature, with all their wisdom and resolution, relentlessly fight for you day and night so that you are always victorious over the enmities and negativities of life.

· · ·

4.30.4

यत्रो॒त बा॑धि॒तेभ्य॑श्च॒क्रं कुत्सा॑य॒ युध्य॑ते । मु॒षा॒य इ॑न्द्र॒ सूर्य॑म् ॥

Where the battle rages in support of the warriors fighting in defence of the oppressed and the wise, there Indra, O lord of honour, power and justice, take up the solar disc of thunder and crush the wicked.

· · ·

4.30.5

यत्र॑ दे॒वाँ ऋ॑घाय॒तो विश्वाँ॒ अयु॑ध्य॒ एक॒ इत् । त्वमि॑न्द्र व॒नूँरह॑न् ॥

Where in the battle against the evil and the violent oppressing and fighting against all the nobilities of the world you take up arms, you destroy the wicked forces all alone.

· · ·

4.30.6

यत्रो॒त मर्त्या॑य॒ कमरि॑णा इन्द्र॒ सूर्य॑म् । प्रावः॒ शची॑भि॒रेत॑शम् ॥

Where you set in motion the streams and breezes of comfort and joy for humanity, there also you move and protect the sun orbiting at terrible speed with your actions of omnipotence.

· · ·

4.30.7

किमादु॒तासि॑ वृत्रह॒न्मघ॑वन्मन्यु॒मत्त॑मः । अत्राह॒ दानु॒माति॑रः ॥

And what more! You are, O lord ruler and commander of the wealth and power of the world, you are the most passionate lover of rectitude and fiercest destroyer of evil. And lo! you are the top redeemer of the generous and shatterer of the selfish.

· · ·

4.30.8

ए॒तद्घेदु॒त वी॒र्य१॒॑मिन्द्र॑ च॒कर्थ॒ पौंस्य॑म् । स्त्रियं॒ यद्दु॑र्हणा॒युवं॒ वधी॑र्दुहि॒तरं॑ दि॒वः ॥

This truly is the manly valour you display in action. In addition, this too is your wonder that you dispel and ward off the rays of the malevolent star which, though, is the daughter of heaven like the dawn, the light of which, too, you overcome.

· · ·

4.30.9

दि॒वश्चि॑द्घा दुहि॒तरं॑ म॒हान्म॑ही॒यमा॑नाम् । उ॒षास॑मिन्द्र॒ सं पि॑णक् ॥

Indra, great you are. Surely the dawn is glorious, daughter of heaven, which you refine, adorn and glorify, and then make her disappear when she waxes with pride.

· · ·

4.30.10

अपो॒षा अन॑सः सर॒त्संपि॑ष्टा॒दह॑ बि॒भ्युषी॑ । नि यत्सीं॑ शि॒श्नथ॒द्वृषा॑ ॥

Indra, mighty ruler of heavens, breaks the chariot of the dawn as she waxes, but when the chariot is broken, she withdraws from the broken chariot in fear and awe. (So do the forces of gate-crashing pride withdraw under the blazing power of the ruler.)

· · ·

4.30.11

ए॒तद॑स्या॒ अनः॑ शये॒ सुसं॑पिष्टं॒ विपा॒श्या । स॒सार॑ सीं परा॒वतः॑ ॥

When the chariot of this dawn is broken and lies in unobstructed path ways of space and the dawn is gone far away, then the sun, coming from afar, radiates its glory far and wide.

· · ·

4.30.12

उ॒त सिन्धुं॑ विबा॒ल्यं॑ वितस्था॒नामधि॒ क्षमि॑ । परि॑ ष्ठा इन्द्र मा॒यया॑ ॥

Indra, lord of the elements, with your inexhaustible force and power, you sustain the flow of full and overflowing turbulent rivers on the earth.

· · ·

4.30.13

उ॒त शुष्ण॑स्य धृष्णु॒या प्र मृ॑क्षो अ॒भि वेद॑नम् । पुरो॒ यद॑स्य संपि॒णक् ॥

And when with your force and power you break down the strongholds of this demon of drought and sprinkle the land with water, then you acquire the wealth of the land and the knowledge of science for the people.

· · ·

4.30.14

उ॒त दा॒सं कौ॑लित॒रं बृ॑ह॒तः पर्व॑ता॒दधि॑ । अवा॑हन्निन्द्र॒ शम्ब॑रम् ॥

Indra, ruler of the elements and vast spaces on earth, you break the dark cloud of rain from the vast skies on high and make the rivers flow from the mountains, thereby rendering the generous people and venerable families stronger and more generous.

· · ·

4.30.15

उ॒त दा॒सस्य॑ व॒र्चिनः॑ स॒हस्रा॑णि श॒ताव॑धीः । अधि॒ पञ्च॑ प्र॒धीँरि॑व ॥

But destroy the hundreds and thousands of the violent demons who are fixed in society like five fellies fixed round the spokes of a wheel.

· · ·

4.30.16

उ॒त त्यं पु॒त्रम॒ग्रुवः॒ परा॑वृक्तं श॒तक्र॑तुः । उ॒क्थेष्विन्द्र॒ आभ॑जत् ॥

And Indra, who performs hundreds of yajnic acts of creation and generosity with his knowledge of the Shastras, invites the formidable children of leading pioneers of the nation to participate in the theoretical and practical affairs of the state.

· · ·

4.30.17

उ॒त त्या तु॒र्वशा॒यदू॑ अस्ना॒तारा॒ शची॒पतिः॑ । इन्द्रो॑ वि॒द्वाँ अ॑पारयत् ॥

Indra, lord of the people and the sacred voice, ruler of the world and master of knowledge, helps the man of efficiency, the man of effort, and also the simple folk who do not know how to swim and enables them all to cross the hurdles of life over to the shore.

· · ·

4.30.18

उ॒त त्या स॒द्य आर्या॑ स॒रयो॑रिन्द्र पा॒रतः॑ । अर्णा॑चि॒त्रर॑थावधीः ॥

Indra, lord of goodness and nobility of power, always smashes the grabber and the smuggler in possession of wondrous transport across the world of movement and communication over the border.

· · ·

4.30.19

अनु॒ द्वा ज॑हि॒ता न॑यो॒ऽन्धं श्रो॒णं च॑ वृत्रहन् । न तत्ते॑ सु॒म्नमष्ट॑वे ॥

Indra, destroyer of evil and want, leader of humanity, you restore and rehabilitate the two, the blind and the disabled abandoned by society. None can reach that level of service and philanthropy.

· · ·

4.30.20

श॒तम॑श्म॒न्मयी॑नां पु॒रामिन्द्रो॒ व्या॑स्यत् । दिवो॑दासाय दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power, justice and generosity, for the sake of the creative and the generous giver you break a hundred adamantine strongholds of hoarded wealth like the sun that breaks the cloud concentrations of rain to bless the generous earth.

· · ·

4.30.21

अस्वा॑पयद्द॒भीत॑ये स॒हस्रा॑ त्रिं॒शतं॒ हथैः॑ । दा॒साना॒मिन्द्रो॑ मा॒यया॑ ॥

Indra, the ruler, should smash three hundred thousand of social saboteurs with weapons of far reaching calibre for the peace and security of the law abiding servants of the nation and for keeping down of the violent.

· · ·

4.30.22

स घेदु॒तासि॑ वृत्रहन्त्समा॒न इ॑न्द्र॒ गोप॑तिः । यस्ता विश्वा॑नि चिच्यु॒षे ॥

Indra, such as you are, ruler and protector of the earth, destroyer of evil and promoter of the good, you are equal and kind, like the sun, for all in treatment since you bring about all that you do and achieve for all of them as they deserve according to law and justice.

· · ·

4.30.23

उ॒त नू॒नं यदि॑न्द्रि॒यं क॑रि॒ष्या इ॑न्द्र॒ पौंस्य॑म् । अ॒द्या नकि॒ष्टदामि॑नत् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, for sure whatever deeds of courage and valour and of manly honour and excellence you do for the good or against the wicked, none can deny, resist or undo.

· · ·

4.30.24

वा॒मंवा॑मं त आदुरे दे॒वो द॑दात्वर्य॒मा । वा॒मं पू॒षा वा॒मं भगो॑ वा॒मं दे॒वः करू॑ळती ॥

Indra, lord of glory, ruler of the world, destroyer of evil, may Aryama, ordainer of the world’s law and justice, give you the highest and most admirable gifts of honour. May Pusha, lord of health and sustenance bless you with the best of vigour and strength. May Bhaga, lord of grandeur and excellence, grant you the highest prosperity and dignity. May the generous lord of art and beauty give you the best of art and craft and creative beauty.

✦ Sukta 31 · 15 verses ✦

4.31.1

कया॑ नश्चि॒त्र आ भु॑वदू॒ती स॒दावृ॑धः॒ सखा॑ । कया॒ शचि॑ष्ठया वृ॒ता ॥

When would the Lord, sublime and wondrous, ever greater, ever friendly, shine in our consciousness and bless us? With what gifts of protection and promotion? What highest favour of our choice? What order of grace?

· · ·

4.31.2

कस्त्वा॑ स॒त्यो मदा॑नां॒ मंहि॑ष्ठो मत्स॒दन्ध॑सः । दृ॒ळ्हा चि॑दा॒रुजे॒ वसु॑ ॥

What is the truest and highest of joys and foods for body, mind and soul that may please you? What wealth and value of life to help you break through the limitations and settle on the rock-bed foundation of permanence?

· · ·

4.31.3

अ॒भी षु णः॒ सखी॑नामवि॒ता ज॑रितॄ॒णाम् । श॒तं भ॑वास्यू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Friend of friends and protector of celebrants you are, come and bless us too with a hundred modes of protection and advancement. Be ours, O lord!

· · ·

4.31.4

अ॒भी न॒ आ व॑वृत्स्व च॒क्रं न वृ॒त्तमर्व॑तः । नि॒युद्भि॑श्चर्षणी॒नाम् ॥

Ruler of the world, turn and come to us on the wheels of a chariot in motion. Come lord and help us turn the wheel of the social order at the speed of winds.

· · ·

4.31.5

प्र॒वता॒ हि क्रतू॑ना॒मा हा॑ प॒देव॒ गच्छ॑सि । अभ॑क्षि॒ सूर्ये॒ सचा॑ ॥

You walk down to the people, as one walks on foot, by the paths of their holy words and actions of yajnic offerings. I worship you and serve you like the sun with the light of the sun.

· · ·

4.31.6

सं यत्त॑ इन्द्र म॒न्यवः॒ सं च॒क्राणि॑ दधन्वि॒रे । अध॒ त्वे अध॒ सूर्ये॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, all the ardour, passions and yajnic offerings of men offered in honour and service to you move like wheels continuously and reach you and then later to the sun.

· · ·

4.31.7

उ॒त स्मा॒ हि त्वामा॒हुरिन्म॒घवा॑नं शचीपते । दाता॑र॒मवि॑दीधयुम् ॥

O lord of beauty and grace, power, intelligence and will, sages of vision and devotion celebrate you as lord of infinite honour and excellence in existence, boundless giver and self-refulgent beyond imagination.

· · ·

4.31.8

उ॒त स्मा॑ स॒द्य इत्परि॑ शशमा॒नाय॑ सुन्व॒ते । पु॒रू चि॑न्मंहसे॒ वसु॑ ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge and power, you give immense wealth for the celebrant devotee and creator of soma instantly, and ever more augment it many ways all round.

· · ·

4.31.9

न॒हि ष्मा॑ ते श॒तं च॒न राधो॒ वर॑न्त आ॒मुरः॑ । न च्यौ॒त्नानि॑ करिष्य॒तः ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent of infinite wealth and generosity, the violent and the destroyers can never get, nor do they choose to receive, the hundreds of gifts and successes you bestow upon humanity, nor can they ever stall the wondrous deeds you do for the devotee.

· · ·

4.31.10

अ॒स्माँ अ॑वन्तु ते श॒तम॒स्मान्त्स॒हस्र॑मू॒तयः॑ । अ॒स्मान्विश्वा॑ अ॒भिष्ट॑यः ॥

Indra, lord of infinite love, the hundred ways of your divine protection, we pray, may protect us, the thousand ways of promotion advance us, the infinite blessings and good wishes lead us to fulfilment.

· · ·

4.31.11

अ॒स्माँ इ॒हा वृ॑णीष्व स॒ख्याय॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ । म॒हो रा॒ये दि॒वित्म॑ते ॥

Take us up, O lord, and receive us under your divine protection for friendship, all round well being, and for the great gift of the immense wealth of this heavenly world right here.

· · ·

4.31.12

अ॒स्माँ अ॑विड्ढि वि॒श्वहेन्द्र॑ रा॒या परी॑णसा । अ॒स्मान्विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Ruler of the world, Indra, lead us on day and night with abundant wealth of all kinds, lead us on and on with all the protection and favours of divinity.

· · ·

4.31.13

अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ ताँ अपा॑ वृधि व्र॒जाँ अस्ते॑व॒ गोम॑तः । नवा॑भिरिन्द्रो॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the wealth of the world, open for us the gates of the cow stalls like the cow herd, open the secrets of the Divine Word like the Omniscient, open the treasures of the earth like the earth’s ruler and protector, open the doors for us with the latest safeguards and methods of protection.

· · ·

4.31.14

अ॒स्माकं॑ धृष्णु॒या रथो॑ द्यु॒माँ इ॒न्द्रान॑पच्युतः । ग॒व्युर॑श्व॒युरी॑यते ॥

pacyuta¨. Gavyura‹vayur∂yate. Indra, unchallengeable ruler of the world, our chariot of progress goes on advancing, bold and unobstructed, blazing bright, irresistible and imperishable, winning the wealth of the holy earth with unbounded speed and energy.

· · ·

4.31.15

अ॒स्माक॑मुत्त॒मं कृ॑धि॒ श्रवो॑ दे॒वेषु॑ सूर्य । वर्षि॑ष्ठं॒ द्यामि॑वो॒परि॑ ॥

Indra, refulgent sun, ruler of the world, lead us to the highest heights of glory, our fame resounding among the divinities, as in the most generous heavens far above.

✦ Sukta 32 · 24 verses ✦

4.32.1

आ तू न॑ इन्द्र वृत्रहन्न॒स्माक॑म॒र्धमा ग॑हि । म॒हान्म॒हीभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Indra, lord and ruler of the world, mighty destroyer of darkness and evil, come with all great powers and protections, join and guide our progress.

· · ·

4.32.2

भृमि॑श्चिद्घासि॒ तूतु॑जि॒रा चि॑त्र चि॒त्रिणी॒ष्वा । चि॒त्रं कृ॑णोष्यू॒तये॑ ॥

You are ever on the move, harbinger of good, instant promoter, wondrous great in the fighting forces of awful power, and you do wonders in matters of protection and all round human progress.

· · ·

4.32.3

द॒भ्रेभि॑श्चि॒च्छशी॑यांसं॒ हंसि॒ व्राध॑न्त॒मोज॑सा । सखि॑भि॒र्ये त्वे सचा॑ ॥

You stand by friends who are dedicated to you even though they be the humblest and few, and with your mighty power and lustre punish the violator of the law and values of Dharma howsoever strong and powerful he be.

· · ·

4.32.4

व॒यमि॑न्द्र॒ त्वे सचा॑ व॒यं त्वा॒भि नो॑नुमः । अ॒स्माँअ॑स्माँ॒ इदुद॑व ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, we are with you, wholly dedicated in word and deed. We bow to you in obedience, without reserve. Help us all, save us all, protect us all.

· · ·

4.32.5

स न॑श्चि॒त्राभि॑रद्रिवोऽनव॒द्याभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । अना॑धृष्टाभि॒रा ग॑हि ॥

Wielder of the thunderbolt of law and justice, come and join us with marvellous, irreproachable, and irresistible modes of defence, protection and promotion.

· · ·

4.32.6

भू॒यामो॒ षु त्वाव॑तः॒ सखा॑य इन्द्र॒ गोम॑तः । युजो॒ वाजा॑य॒ घृष्व॑ये ॥

Indra, mighty ruler, let us be well protected friends of yours, loyal and dedicated to you, blest with cows and lands, knowledge and culture for the sake of strength and speed of progress to resist and crush the negative forces.

· · ·

4.32.7

त्वं ह्येक॒ ईशि॑ष॒ इन्द्र॒ वाज॑स्य॒ गोम॑तः । स नो॑ यन्धि म॒हीमिष॑म् ॥

Indra, you alone rule over power and prosperity and the speed of progress. Pray bring us ample food and energy and the high speed of progress.

· · ·

4.32.8

न त्वा॑ वरन्ते अ॒न्यथा॒ यद्दित्स॑सि स्तु॒तो म॒घम् । स्तो॒तृभ्य॑ इन्द्र गिर्वणः ॥

The supplicants do not ask of you anything otherwise since, O lord of power and world’s wealth, Indra, praised and celebrated, you liberally grant ample wealth of power and prosperity, honour and excellence to the celebrants and devotees.

· · ·

4.32.9

अ॒भि त्वा॒ गोत॑मा गि॒रानू॑षत॒ प्र दा॒वने॑ । इन्द्र॒ वाजा॑य॒ घृष्व॑ये ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world and its wealth and power, the most enlightened scholars and celebrants praise and pray to you in the holiest words for the gift of food and energy, power and progress beyond challenge.

· · ·

4.32.10

प्र ते॑ वोचाम वी॒र्या॒३॒॑ या म॑न्दसा॒न आरु॑जः । पुरो॒ दासी॑र॒भीत्य॑ ॥

Indra, lord of might, joyous and brilliant victor, we sing and celebrate those warlike exploits of yours in which you stormed the fortresses of slavery and broke them open into freedom.

· · ·

4.32.11

ता ते॑ गृणन्ति वे॒धसो॒ यानि॑ च॒कर्थ॒ पौंस्या॑ । सु॒तेष्वि॑न्द्र गिर्वणः ॥

Indra, lord of victorious might, in those lands which you awakened into the joy of freedom, the celebrants, men of knowledge and wisdom all, sing in praise of you and celebrate those valorous deeds of yours which you performed in there as for your children.

· · ·

4.32.12

अवी॑वृधन्त॒ गोत॑मा॒ इन्द्र॒ त्वे स्तोम॑वाहसः । ऐषु॑ धा वी॒रव॒द्यशः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and splendour, men of light and wisdom, best of them all, and the singers of song sing in praise of you and exalt your honour and fame. Pray bless them all with honour and excellence worthy of the brave.

· · ·

4.32.13

यच्चि॒द्धि शश्व॑ता॒मसीन्द्र॒ साधा॑रण॒स्त्वम् । तं त्वा॑ व॒यं ह॑वामहे ॥

Indra, lord of love and justice, fatherly omnipresence for all, since you are general and universal power of all the eternal presences, equal and universal for all, we invoke and pray to you as the one father figure for our good.

· · ·

4.32.14

अ॒र्वा॒ची॒नो व॑सो भवा॒स्मे सु म॒त्स्वान्ध॑सः । सोमा॑नामिन्द्र सोमपाः ॥

Indra, ancient, eternal and latest and immediate power and presence, haven and home for all, turn to us with divine favours, rejoice with us as guardian of the honour and excellence of humanity, giver and augmenter of food and freshness of energy and the creator and protector of the joy of life and ecstasy of living.

· · ·

4.32.15

अ॒स्माकं॑ त्वा मती॒नामा स्तोम॑ इन्द्र यच्छतु । अ॒र्वागा व॑र्तया॒ हरी॑ ॥

Indra, may the song of praise and prayer composed by our wise poets rise and reach you, and then, we pray, turn the horses of your chariot hitherward to us.

· · ·

4.32.16

पु॒रो॒ळाशं॑ च नो॒ घसो॑ जो॒षया॑से॒ गिर॑श्च नः । व॒धू॒युरि॑व॒ योष॑णाम् ॥

And then taste the delicious sweets of our yajnic hospitality and enjoy the music of our song like a lover cherishing the company of his beloved.

· · ·

4.32.17

स॒हस्रं॒ व्यती॑नां यु॒क्ताना॒मिन्द्र॑मीमहे । श॒तं सोम॑स्य खा॒र्यः॑ ॥

Indra, leader of power, pleasure and excellence, we pray for a thousand top speed generalists and a thousand intensive specialists and a hundred barrels of the soma of national excellence and celebrative joy.

· · ·

4.32.18

स॒हस्रा॑ ते श॒ता व॒यं गवा॒मा च्या॑वयामसि । अ॒स्म॒त्रा राध॑ एतु ते ॥

Indra, lord of excellence and beneficence, we activate and accelerate a hundred and thousand schemes of development of research and extension of knowledge, enrichment and fertility of lands and improvement of cows, other cattle wealth and milk products, and hope that the wealth and prosperity of your social order would benefit us all.

· · ·

4.32.19

दश॑ ते क॒लशा॑नां॒ हिर॑ण्यानामधीमहि । भू॒रि॒दा अ॑सि वृत्रहन् ॥

We study, research and produce tens of jars of liquid gold. Destroyer of ignorance and poverty, you are the giver and creator of unbounded wealth.

· · ·

4.32.20

भूरि॑दा॒ भूरि॑ देहि नो॒ मा द॒भ्रं भूर्या भ॑र । भूरि॒ घेदि॑न्द्र दित्ससि ॥

Indra, giver of unbounded wealth, give us immense wealth, withhold not, give us not little, bear and bring us profuse amounts of wealth. For you give and wish to give nothing less than immensity.

· · ·

4.32.21

भू॒रि॒दा ह्यसि॑ श्रु॒तः पु॑रु॒त्रा शू॑र वृत्रहन् । आ नो॑ भजस्व॒ राध॑सि ॥

Indra, destroyer of want and darkness, for sure you are the giver of immensity. Brave and magnificent, you command universal fame and glory. Come, we pray, bless us, you are the giver of success and glory.

· · ·

4.32.22

प्र ते॑ ब॒भ्रू वि॑चक्षण॒ शंसा॑मि गोषणो नपात् । माभ्यां॒ गा अनु॑ शिश्रथः ॥

Lord of omniscience and the universal eye, giver of the Divine Word and the earth and her wealth, power and presence imperishable, I praise and celebrate your divine agencies that bear and bring us the wealth of life. Let these divinities keep it up, and allow not the earths and inspirations to slacken.

· · ·

4.32.23

क॒नी॒न॒केव॑ विद्र॒धे नवे॑ द्रुप॒दे अ॑र्भ॒के । ब॒भ्रू यामे॑षु शोभेते ॥

Like the two pupils of the eyes, overly strong and lasting, ever new, ever cherished and subtle divine harbingers of the truth, goodness and beauty of existence, let nature’s complementaries ever shine blissfully in the hours of human yajna.

· · ·

4.32.24

अरं॑ म उ॒स्रया॒म्णेऽर॒मनु॑स्रयाम्णे । ब॒भ्रू यामे॑ष्व॒स्रिधा॑ ॥

May the waves of divine energy, instant, constant and never failing, never hurtful, travelling in the day and in the night, to the upper solstice and the nether solstice, be ever blissful to me in the hours of yajnic life.

✦ Sukta 33 · 11 verses ✦

4.33.1

प्र ऋ॒भुभ्यो॑ दू॒तमि॑व॒ वाच॑मिष्य उप॒स्तिरे॒ श्वैत॑रीं धे॒नुमी॑ळे । ये वात॑जूतास्त॒रणि॑भि॒रेवैः॒ परि॒ द्यां स॒द्यो अ॒पसो॑ बभू॒वुः ॥

I send up my words to the Rbhus, scientists, as a messenger, in order that they be broadcast around, and I hope that they would be converted into a subtle, clearer and more powerful message—words which, carried up by currents of energy by their own floating vibrations, immediately rise to the upper layers of space and become acts of nature to come back in the finer form I want.

· · ·

4.33.2

य॒दार॒मक्र॑न्नृ॒भवः॑ पि॒तृभ्यां॒ परि॑विष्टी वे॒षणा॑ दं॒सना॑भिः । आदिद्दे॒वाना॒मुप॑ स॒ख्यमा॑य॒न्धीरा॑सः पु॒ष्टिम॑वहन्म॒नायै॑ ॥

When the Rbhus, sages and scientists, through service and action, receive instruction from parents and teachers, and have done enough to their own satisfaction and satisfaction of the seniors, they graduate to join the fraternity of the enlightened, and then, constant in study and meditation, bring about maturity and fullness of mind and spirit for independent work.

· · ·

4.33.3

पुन॒र्ये च॒क्रुः पि॒तरा॒ युवा॑ना॒ सना॒ यूपे॑व जर॒णा शया॑ना । ते वाजो॒ विभ्वाँ॑ ऋ॒भुरिन्द्र॑वन्तो॒ मधु॑प्सरसो नोऽवन्तु य॒ज्ञम् ॥

And then they, the Rbhus, who, with their knowledge and dedicated service, rejuvenate their parents and senior generation grown old, nerveless and almost lying like a broken pillar, and bring them back to their youthful time, thus keeping the tradition young and alive: may they, vigorous geniuses, far reaching in imagination, marvellous in invention, mighty and majestic in achievement, and brilliant and blissful in conduct, come to our yajna of science and research, protect us and promote our progress and advancement far ahead.

· · ·

4.33.4

यत्सं॒वत्स॑मृ॒भवो॒ गामर॑क्ष॒न्यत्सं॒वत्स॑मृ॒भवो॒ मा अपिं॑शन् । यत्सं॒वत्स॒मभ॑र॒न्भासो॑ अस्या॒स्ताभिः॒ शमी॑भिरमृत॒त्वमा॑शुः ॥

The Rbhus, sages and scholars of genius and knowledge, bold and blissful, who protect the cow, mother knowledge and the speech of knowledge, and also the mother earth like nursing a holy child, those who serve the mother tradition and rejuvenate and strengthen every part of its body like a darling love, who bring new vigour and new lights to its body of science and knowledge, they, the Rbhus, attain to immortality in the living history of the advancement of human civilisation by these noble acts of holiness.

· · ·

4.33.5

ज्ये॒ष्ठ आ॑ह चम॒सा द्वा क॒रेति॒ कनी॑या॒न्त्रीन्कृ॑णवा॒मेत्या॑ह । क॒नि॒ष्ठ आ॑ह च॒तुर॑स्क॒रेति॒ त्वष्ट॑ ऋभव॒स्तत्प॑नय॒द्वचो॑ वः ॥

The eldest of the Rbhus says: Let us make two cups for the drink of soma for the celebration of life’s enlightenment. The younger, more brilliant, says: Let us make three. The youngest, most brilliant, says: Let us make four. Tvashta, the teacher, universal lord maker of forms, O Rbhus, honours and praises these words of yours. (Thus knowledge, science and technology grows from one generation of scholars to another.) The four cups of life may be interpreted as Dharma, righteousness, artha, material goods, ‘kama’, material and mental fulfilment, and Moksha, ultimate purpose of living and ultimate freedom.

· · ·

4.33.6

स॒त्यमू॑चु॒र्नर॑ ए॒वा हि च॒क्रुरनु॑ स्व॒धामृ॒भवो॑ जग्मुरे॒ताम् । वि॒भ्राज॑मानांश्चम॒साँ अहे॒वावे॑न॒त्त्वष्टा॑ च॒तुरो॑ ददृ॒श्वान् ॥

The Rbhus, brave and blessed, speak true what they speak, then they accomplish what they say, and then they achieve this reward of their action. Tvashta, the divine maker, wise and all-seeing eye of the world, who sees the Rbhus’ cups of life shining as daylight sees them, loves them and blesses the makers. Thus should men do in life.

· · ·

4.33.7

द्वाद॑श॒ द्यून्यदगो॑ह्यस्याति॒थ्ये रण॑न्नृ॒भवः॑ स॒सन्तः॑ । सु॒क्षेत्रा॑कृण्व॒न्नन॑यन्त॒ सिन्धू॒न्धन्वाति॑ष्ठि॒न्नोष॑धीर्नि॒म्नमापः॑ ॥

When the scholars and sages of the science of yajna remain on holiday for twelve days in the years, resting and refreshing themselves, enjoying the hospitality of a prominent host, then the sky is overcast, the showers pour, fields are made fertile, the rivers flow and vegetation grows on barren lands, (and this by rain yajna).

· · ·

4.33.8

रथं॒ ये च॒क्रुः सु॒वृतं॑ नरे॒ष्ठां ये धे॒नुं वि॑श्व॒जुवं॑ वि॒श्वरू॑पाम् । त आ त॑क्षन्त्वृ॒भवो॑ र॒यिं नः॒ स्वव॑सः॒ स्वप॑सः सु॒हस्ताः॑ ॥

The Rbhus, who design and manufacture a strong built chariot for people to travel by, create a universal language of universal knowledge for the world prevailing all over the world. May they create universal wealth for us all — heroes of noble action, noble protection, and dexterous of hand as they are.

· · ·

4.33.9

अपो॒ ह्ये॑षा॒मजु॑षन्त दे॒वा अ॒भि क्रत्वा॒ मन॑सा॒ दीध्या॑नाः । वाजो॑ दे॒वाना॑मभवत्सु॒कर्मेन्द्र॑स्य ऋभु॒क्षा वरु॑णस्य॒ विभ्वा॑ ॥

The wonderful acts and products of these Rbhus, exceptional scientists, later, the younger intellectuals, themselves brilliant with their mind and work, honour and apply for further development: thus the food and energy becomes the favourite input for the ‘devas’, following researchers, for higher outputs of finer food and energy, the powerful thunderbolt becomes the arm for Indra, ruler and defender, and the extensive waves of subtle transmission become the perceptive and active agencies of Varuna, the presiding power.

· · ·

4.33.10

ये हरी॑ मे॒धयो॒क्था मद॑न्त॒ इन्द्रा॑य च॒क्रुः सु॒युजा॒ ये अश्वा॑ । ते रा॒यस्पोषं॒ द्रवि॑णान्य॒स्मे ध॒त्त ऋ॑भवः क्षेम॒यन्तो॒ न मि॒त्रम् ॥

The Rbhus, holy thinkers, creators and makers, who, using their intellect and imagination and rejoicing with the revelations of the chants of sacred verses, create the circuit of energies, produce the motive powers, and construct the chariot for Indra, ruler and the nation, may, we pray, bring us health and nourishment and wealth and build permanent assets for us as protective and promotive friends doing good to friends.

· · ·

4.33.11

इ॒दाह्नः॑ पी॒तिमु॒त वो॒ मदं॑ धु॒र्न ऋ॒ते श्रा॒न्तस्य॑ स॒ख्याय॑ दे॒वाः । ते नू॒नम॒स्मे ऋ॑भवो॒ वसू॑नि तृ॒तीये॑ अ॒स्मिन्त्सव॑ने दधात ॥

O Rbhus, noble creators and makers, today the holy men bring you soma to celebrate and enjoy. The divines favour not the slothfuls, they extend no hand of friendship unless you are tested in the crucibles of hard work and self sacrifice. May the Rbhus bring us, in truth, the wealths of life in the third session of yajna.

✦ Sukta 34 · 11 verses ✦

4.34.1

ऋ॒भुर्विभ्वा॒ वाज॒ इन्द्रो॑ नो॒ अच्छे॒मं य॒ज्ञं र॑त्न॒धेयोप॑ यात । इ॒दा हि वो॑ धि॒षणा॑ दे॒व्यह्ना॒मधा॑त्पी॒तिं सं मदा॑ अग्मता वः ॥

Rbhu, the technologist, Vibhva, specialist of natural energy, Vaja, specialist of food and vitality, and Indra, specialist of electricity and power, all harbingers of the jewels of wealth, may come and grace this science yajna of ours. Today, the divinity of intelligence brings you the nectar of joy and celebration of success for a drink. May the joy of the occasion inspire you.

· · ·

4.34.2

वि॒दा॒नासो॒ जन्म॑नो वाजरत्ना उ॒त ऋ॒तुभि॑र्ऋभवो मादयध्वम् । सं वो॒ मदा॒ अग्म॑त॒ सं पुरं॑धिः सु॒वीरा॑म॒स्मे र॒यिमेर॑यध्वम् ॥

O Rbhus, blest from your very birth with the love of knowledge, commanding knowledge and the power of knowledge, work and rejoice with the scholars according to the seasons. May the peace and pleasure of life reach you, may divine intelligence and the ruling powers of the world with munificence bless you. And may you, for our sake, arouse the wealth of the nations, brave citizens and the coming generations.

· · ·

4.34.3

अ॒यं वो॑ य॒ज्ञ ऋ॑भवोऽकारि॒ यमा म॑नु॒ष्वत्प्र॒दिवो॑ दधि॒ध्वे । प्र वोऽच्छा॑ जुजुषा॒णासो॑ अस्थु॒रभू॑त॒ विश्वे॑ अग्रि॒योत वा॑जाः ॥

O Rbhus, this yajna is enacted for you which, come and take over like the best of men inspired with the bright light of knowledge and expertise. Friends and devotees would stand by you, and you would be the front leaders of the world at the speed of winds.

· · ·

4.34.4

अभू॑दु वो विध॒ते र॑त्न॒धेय॑मि॒दा न॑रो दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य । पिब॑त वाजा ऋभवो द॒दे वो॒ महि॑ तृ॒तीयं॒ सव॑नं॒ मदा॑य ॥

O Rbhus, leaders of humanity, may the yajna of yours be a source of jewel wealth for the common man, for the generous giver and for the organiser and sustainer of the programme. O leaders and pioneers of the speed of winds, carry on with joy, let all enjoy the fruits. I dedicate the final session of the yajna to the ecstatic joy of you all.

· · ·

4.34.5

आ वा॑जा या॒तोप॑ न ऋभुक्षा म॒हो न॑रो॒ द्रवि॑णसो गृणा॒नाः । आ वः॑ पी॒तयो॑ऽभिपि॒त्वे अह्ना॑मि॒मा अस्तं॑ नव॒स्व॑इव ग्मन् ॥

Come, O potent, brilliant and great Rbhus, best of the leaders of men, commanding the wealth and knowledge of the world, praised and celebrated, come as a rising glowing youth comes home at the end of the day, and may these exhilarating drinks offered to you delight you.

· · ·

4.34.6

आ न॑पातः शवसो यात॒नोपे॒मं य॒ज्ञं नम॑सा हू॒यमा॑नाः । स॒जोष॑सः सूरयो॒ यस्य॑ च॒ स्थ मध्वः॑ पात रत्न॒धा इन्द्र॑वन्तः ॥

Rbhus, strong, imperishable heroes and leaders of science and knowledge, invoked and invited with reverence, come and join this yajnic programme of development and production. Loved and loving, eminent scholars, commanding wealth, honour and power, come and accept the delicious treat of the host and protect and promote the good fortune of the community.

· · ·

4.34.7

स॒जोषा॑ इन्द्र॒ वरु॑णेन॒ सोमं॑ स॒जोषाः॑ पाहि गिर्वणो म॒रुद्भिः॑ । अ॒ग्रे॒पाभि॑र्ऋतु॒पाभिः॑ स॒जोषाः॒ ग्रास्पत्नी॑भी रत्न॒धाभिः॑ स॒जोषाः॑ ॥

Loved and loving Indra, lord of power and honour, come, share and promote the joy of the soma celebration of honour with Varuna, men of high endeavour and success. Loving friend, praised and celebrated, come, celebrate with the Rudras, people of justice and rectitude in the land, and protect and promote their honour and prestige. Loving, joining, socialising and celebrating with the leading pioneers, planning guardians of the nation according to the change of seasons, wedded couples, households and trustees of the jewel wealth of the land, protect and promote the honour and excellence of life with soma celebrations of joy.

· · ·

4.34.8

स॒जोष॑स आदि॒त्यैर्मा॑दयध्वं स॒जोष॑स ऋभवः॒ पर्व॑तेभिः । स॒जोष॑सो॒ दैव्ये॑ना सवि॒त्रा स॒जोष॑सः॒ सिन्धु॑भी रत्न॒धेभिः॑ ॥

O Rbhus, scientists and intellectuals, create joy and rejoice: Rejoice with the Adityas, scholars of the top order of brilliance in accord with the various phases of the sun, rejoice in harmony with the clouds and the mountains, rejoice together with the divine energy of nature and the life-sustaining light of the sun, and rejoice in confluence with the flowing rivers and the rolling seas and the treasures of the jewel wealth of nature, and share the joy with us too.

· · ·

4.34.9

ये अ॒श्विना॒ ये पि॒तरा॒ य ऊ॒ती धे॒नुं त॑त॒क्षुर्ऋ॒भवो॒ ये अश्वा॑ । ये अंस॑त्रा॒ य ऋध॒ग्रोद॑सी॒ ये विभ्वो॒ नरः॑ स्वप॒त्यानि॑ च॒क्रुः ॥

Who are the Rbhus? Those who create and activate complementary circuits of energies, who serve the parents and sustain and rejuvenate health anew, who provide protection and promotion, who refine and extend knowledge and the language of knowledge, develop cattle wealth and renew the earth resources, who design and structure fast modes of travel and communication, who design and construct armour against external attacks, who cross the globe unto the sky and space and who command universal knowledge: pioneers and leaders of the best of men who can raise, train and organise a noble younger generation.

· · ·

4.34.10

ये गोम॑न्तं॒ वाज॑वन्तं सु॒वीरं॑ र॒यिं ध॒त्थ वसु॑मन्तं पुरु॒क्षुम् । ते अ॑ग्रे॒पा ऋ॑भवो मन्दसा॒ना अ॒स्मे ध॑त्त॒ ये च॑ रा॒तिं गृ॒णन्ति॑ ॥

Those who create, bear and bring life’s wealth full of cows and horses, food and energy, knowledge and speed of progress, all round prosperity, all round sustenance and security, and a brave new generation, and who create, praise and celebrate all such wealth of the world, such Rbhus, heroic scholars, leaders and pioneers, happy creators of joy, may bear and bring such wealth, honour and prosperity for us.

· · ·

4.34.11

नापा॑भूत॒ न वो॑ऽतीतृषा॒मानिः॑शस्ता ऋभवो य॒ज्ञे अ॒स्मिन् । समिन्द्रे॑ण॒ मद॑थ॒ सं म॒रुद्भिः॒ सं राज॑भी रत्न॒धेया॑य देवाः ॥

O Rbhus, never go away, never feel depreciated, never depressed. We shall never let you feel deprived, never thirsty for anything, you will ever feel praised and appreciated in this yajnic programme of creative life. Rejoice with Indra, ruler and commander of honour and power, rejoice with the Maruts, dynamic youthful citizens, and with the brilliant ruling leaders, O generous and refulgent creators of joy and prosperity, rejoice for the creation of the jewels of life’s beauty more and ever more.

✦ Sukta 35 · 9 verses ✦

4.35.1

इ॒होप॑ यात शवसो नपातः॒ सौध॑न्वना ऋभवो॒ माप॑ भूत । अ॒स्मिन्हि वः॒ सव॑ने रत्न॒धेयं॒ गम॒न्त्विन्द्र॒मनु॑ वो॒ मदा॑सः ॥

O Rbhus, mighty strong, imperishable warriors of the bow, come here close to us, do not stay away, never feel dispraised. In this yajna enacted for you, let the honour and joy of creation and celebration be as much for you as for Indra, resplendent lord giver of wealth.

· · ·

4.35.2

आग॑न्नृभू॒णामि॒ह र॑त्न॒धेय॒मभू॒त्सोम॑स्य॒ सुषु॑तस्य पी॒तिः । सु॒कृ॒त्यया॒ यत्स्व॑प॒स्यया॑ चँ॒ एकं॑ विच॒क्र च॑म॒सं च॑तु॒र्धा ॥

Let the jewel wealth of the Rbhus’ performance come and let the joy of the soma success distilled from nature be here for the people to share who deserve the prize, since with their admirable action and brilliant intelligence and will they have designed and manufactured one chariot fourfold in performance.

· · ·

4.35.3

व्य॑कृणोत चम॒सं च॑तु॒र्धा सखे॒ वि शि॒क्षेत्य॑ब्रवीत । अथै॑त वाजा अ॒मृत॑स्य॒ पन्थां॑ ग॒णं दे॒वाना॑मृभवः सुहस्ताः ॥

You develop the cup of life to fourfold success of completion and perfection: Dharma, artha (material development), kama (self-fulfilment), and Moksha (ultimate freedom). O friend, teach and say: This is it, this is the art of living. And then, O eminent scholars, dynamic scientists, dexterous technologists, join the fraternity of divines and move on to the path of immortality.

· · ·

4.35.4

किं॒मयः॑ स्विच्चम॒स ए॒ष आ॑स॒ यं काव्ये॑न च॒तुरो॑ विच॒क्र । अथा॑ सुनुध्वं॒ सव॑नं॒ मदा॑य पा॒त ऋ॑भवो॒ मधु॑नः सो॒म्यस्य॑ ॥

What in truth is this cup of life which, with your wisdom, you analyse, specify and realise as four-in-one? O sages of vision and imagination, distil the somaessence of it for the joy of life and drink as well as protect and promote the nectar sweet of honey.

· · ·

4.35.5

शच्या॑कर्त पि॒तरा॒ युवा॑ना॒ शच्या॑कर्त चम॒सं दे॑व॒पान॑म् । शच्या॒ हरी॒ धनु॑तरावतष्टेन्द्र॒वाहा॑वृभवो वाजरत्नाः ॥

O Rbhus, with your truth of knowledge and holy science, you rejuvenate your parents to youthful health. With truth of vision and imagination, you reveal the fourfold cup of life’s beauty and joy for the drink of divinities. With your truth of science and technology you create the power and construct the chariot faster than bullet speed for the ride of Indra, world’s presiding power of rule and law. You are really the master creators and controllers of the speed and jewels of life on earth.

· · ·

4.35.6

यो वः॑ सु॒नोत्य॑भिपि॒त्वे अह्नां॑ ती॒व्रं वा॑जासः॒ सव॑नं॒ मदा॑य । तस्मै॑ र॒यिमृ॑भवः॒ सर्व॑वीर॒मा त॑क्षत वृषणो मन्दसा॒नाः ॥

Whoever for you distils at the end of the day the exciting soma juice of the beauty and joy of life for the celebration of the holiness of existence, for him, O Rbhus, thinkers and wonder workers of the speed of winds, generous as showers from the clouds, spirits of ecstasy, create and give the wealth of an all round brave progeny for times to come.

· · ·

4.35.7

प्रा॒तः सु॒तम॑पिबो हर्यश्व॒ माध्य॑न्दिनं॒ सव॑नं॒ केव॑लं ते ।

समृ॒भुभिः॑ पिबस्व रत्न॒धेभिः॒ सखीँ॒र्याँ इ॑न्द्र चकृ॒षे सु॑कृ॒त्या ॥

Indra, world ruler of honour and majesty, rider of the chariot of sun rays, drink the soma distilled in the morning. Drink the soma distilled at midday only for you. Drink with the Rbhus, men of science and wisdom, creators of the jewels of wealth, whom you have drafted as friends by your noble action.

· · ·

4.35.8

ये दे॒वासो॒ अभ॑वता सुकृ॒त्या श्ये॒नाइ॒वेदधि॑ दि॒वि नि॑षे॒द । ते रत्नं॑ धात शवसो नपातः॒ सौध॑न्वना॒ अभ॑वता॒मृता॑सः ॥

The Rbhus who rise to divine virtues by noble actions and, like the eagle, soar to the skies, create and bestow jewels of life on others and, bold and courageous, infallible and imperishable warriors of the bow, they rise on and become immortal.

· · ·

4.35.9

यत्तृ॒तीयं॒ सव॑नं रत्न॒धेय॒मकृ॑णुध्वं स्वप॒स्या सु॑हस्ताः । तदृ॑भवः॒ परि॑षिक्तं व ए॒तत्सं मदे॑भिरिन्द्रि॒येभिः॑ पिबध्वम् ॥

O Rbhus, generous at heart and dexterous of hand, the third yajnic session and creation of soma replete with the jewel wealth of life’s essence which you have accomplished with your noble action, that nectar sweet of soma seasoned and reinforced is here for you. Drink it with the exciting pleasure of your senses, mind and soul.

✦ Sukta 36 · 9 verses ✦

4.36.1

अ॒न॒श्वो जा॒तो अ॑नभी॒शुरु॒क्थ्यो॒३॒॑ रथ॑स्त्रिच॒क्रः परि॑ वर्तते॒ रजः॑ । म॒हत्तद्वो॑ दे॒व्य॑स्य प्र॒वाच॑नं॒ द्यामृ॑भवः पृथि॒वीं यच्च॒ पुष्य॑थ ॥

O Rbhus, divine engineers of superhuman order, that admirable three wheel, three engine, three stage chariot of yours, powered without horse, controlled without reins, created as your grand realisation of the divine formula, goes round and round over the earth, across the skies unto the regions of space without erring, and the same you control and feed.

· · ·

4.36.2

रथं॒ चे च॒क्रुः सु॒वृतं॑ सु॒चेत॒सोऽवि॑ह्वरन्तं॒ मन॑स॒स्परि॒ ध्यया॑ । ताँ ऊ॒ न्व१॒॑स्य सव॑नस्य पी॒तय॒ आ वो॑ वाजा ऋभवो वेदयामसि ॥

Those Rbhus, scientists and engineers of exceptional genius, alert of mind and vision, who created the well structured, well controlled unerring chariot with their thought, imagination and meditation beyond the mind, we recognise and invite to this soma session of scientific yajna for the order of national honour.

· · ·

4.36.3

तद्वो॑ वाजा ऋभवः सुप्रवाच॒नं दे॒वेषु॑ विभ्वो अभवन्महित्व॒नम् । जिव्री॒ यत्सन्ता॑ पि॒तरा॑ सना॒जुरा॒ पुन॒र्युवा॑ना च॒रथा॑य॒ तक्ष॑थ ॥

O Rbhus, fast and imaginative scientists and engineers universally recognised and honoured, that practical realisation of yours of the divine word and formula becomes a great news for the brilliant leaders and scholars, since by that you rejuvenate the parental ancestors old and worn out for long and equip them with new life and energy of youth to go about and onward in time.

· · ·

4.36.4

एकं॒ वि च॑क्र चम॒सं चतु॑र्वयं॒ निश्चर्म॑णो॒ गाम॑रिणीत धी॒तिभिः॑ । अथा॑ दे॒वेष्व॑मृत॒त्वमा॑नश श्रु॒ष्टी वा॑जा ऋभव॒स्तद्व॑ उ॒क्थ्य॑म् ॥

You develop one cup of soma into four, make one versatile chariot into fourfold efficiency, and reclaim and develop barren and eroded land back to fertility with your thought and imagination, and thus immediately you attain to a status of immortality among the divine benefactors of humanity. Rbhus of world fame and high speed of action, such achievement of yours is admirable.

· · ·

4.36.5

ऋ॒भु॒तो र॒यिः प्र॑थ॒मश्र॑वस्तमो॒ वाज॑श्रुतासो॒ यमजी॑जन॒न्नरः॑ । वि॒भ्व॒त॒ष्टो वि॒दथे॑षु प्र॒वाच्यो॒ यं दे॑वा॒सोऽव॑था॒ स विच॑र्षणिः ॥

The wealth most meritorious, received through the Rbhus, that which is created by the most famous and dynamic leaders, that which is created by the world famous Rbhus themselves, the person wide awake and perceptive whom the wise and generous divinities protect and promote: this is worthy of honour and celebration at public assemblies.

· · ·

4.36.6

स वा॒ज्यर्वा॒ स ऋषि॑र्वच॒स्यया॒ स शूरो॒ अस्ता॒ पृत॑नासु दु॒ष्टरः॑ । स रा॒यस्पोषं॒ स सु॒वीर्यं॑ दधे॒ यं वाजो॒ विभ्वाँ॑ ऋ॒भवो॒ यमावि॑षुः ॥

He is the hero, he is the pioneer, he is the visionary prophet by eloquence, he is the brave, he is the warrior, unchallengeable in battle contests, he wins health and wealth, and he wins strength and prowess whom the Rbhus, world heroes of the speed of winds, protect and patronise.

· · ·

4.36.7

श्रेष्ठं॑ वः॒ पेशो॒ अधि॑ धायि दर्श॒तं स्तोमो॑ वाजा ऋभव॒स्तं जु॑जुष्टन । धीरा॑सो॒ हि ष्ठा क॒वयो॑ विप॒श्चित॒स्तान्व॑ ए॒ना ब्रह्म॒णा वे॑दयामसि ॥

Most distinguished and elevating is the form and position held by you, Rbhus, masters of art and science and pioneers of progress.Accept and appreciate the song of celebration. Stay constant, poets and visionaries, scholars of high wisdom. Such we recognise and honour you by this holy song of praise.

· · ·

4.36.8

यू॒यम॒स्मभ्यं॑ धि॒षणा॑भ्य॒स्परि॑ वि॒द्वांसो॒ विश्वा॒ नर्या॑णि॒ भोज॑ना । द्यु॒मन्तं॒ वाजं॒ वृष॑शुष्ममुत्त॒ममा नो॑ र॒यिमृ॑भवस्तक्ष॒ता वयः॑ ॥

O Rbhus, scholars and scientists of high order, with your knowledge, art and wisdom, create and provide for us the food, energy and modes of care and comfort we need for the sustenance of humanity. Create and bring us the light of science and progress of technology, strength and power coupled with generosity, highest form of life’s wealth and health and age.

· · ·

4.36.9

इ॒ह प्र॒जामि॒ह र॒यिं ररा॑णा इ॒ह श्रवो॑ वी॒रव॑त्तक्षता नः । येन॑ व॒यं चि॒तये॒मात्य॒न्यान्तं वाजं॑ चि॒त्रमृ॑भवो ददा नः ॥

Happy, joyous and generous, O Rbhus, create and prepare for us here a noble progeny and a prosperous nation, create wealth here, food, knowledge and honour worthy of the brave here itself by which we may enlighten others too full well. O scholars of science and wisdom, give us that wonderful art and knowledge and all round progress.

✦ Sukta 37 · 8 verses ✦

4.37.1

उप॑ नो वाजा अध्व॒रमृ॑भुक्षा॒ देवा॑ या॒त प॒थिभि॑र्देव॒यानैः॑ । यथा॑ य॒ज्ञं मनु॑षो वि॒क्ष्वा॒३॒॑सु द॑धि॒ध्वे र॑ण्वाः सु॒दिने॒ष्वह्ना॑म् ॥

O generous Rbhus, brilliant sages, eminent scholars and leaders of science and progress, come and grace our yajnic programme of non-violent development, come by the paths of divinity so that, happy and joyous, you may take over the humanistic project of the people in these happy days of the season.

· · ·

4.37.2

ते वो॑ हृ॒दे मन॑से सन्तु य॒ज्ञा जुष्टा॑सो अ॒द्य घृ॒तनि॑र्णिजो गुः । प्र वः॑ सु॒तासो॑ हरयन्त पू॒र्णाः क्रत्वे॒ दक्षा॑य हर्षयन्त पी॒ताः ॥

May those yajnic projects of yours for the creation of happiness and prosperity be satisfying and delightful to your heart and mind, and may the fruits of yajnas served by holy men and fed with ghrta flow to you with fragrance. May the soma cups of joy full to the brim enrapture you and, drunk to the leas, excite and exhilarate you to your best performance.

· · ·

4.37.3

त्र्यु॒दा॒यं दे॒वहि॑तं॒ यथा॑ वः॒ स्तोमो॑ वाजा ऋभुक्षणो द॒दे वः॑ । जु॒ह्वे म॑नु॒ष्वदुप॑रासु वि॒क्षु यु॒ष्मे सचा॑ बृ॒हद्दि॑वेषु॒ सोम॑म् ॥

Rbhus, eminent scholars and miraculous makers, as your threefold gift of science, technology and wealth of power and excellence for the highest of people is a source of bliss and comfort, so do I as one among the same people high and low, dedicated to the vast divinities, offer you the treat of soma, best of wealth and joy as gift, in truth of thought, word and deed, offering loved by the noblest divine souls, the Rbhus.

· · ·

4.37.4

पीवो॑अश्वाः शु॒चद्र॑था॒ हि भू॒तायः॑शिप्रा वाजिनः सुनि॒ष्काः । इन्द्र॑स्य सूनो शवसो नपा॒तोऽनु॑ वश्चेत्यग्रि॒यं मदा॑य ॥

O Rbhus, commanding mighty horse power, riding brilliant chariots, clad in corselets of steel, be golden great, tempestuous as winds. Consequently, O children of Indra, universal energy, unassailable images of strength and power, for your joy and celebration, the first and foremost tribute of soma yajna is selected and offered.

· · ·

4.37.5

ऋ॒भुमृ॑भुक्षणो र॒यिं वाजे॑ वा॒जिन्त॑मं॒ युज॑म् । इन्द्र॑स्वन्तं हवामहे सदा॒सात॑मम॒श्विन॑म् ॥

O Rbhus, in the struggle of life we invoke and call upon the wonder visionary man of art and science, wealth of all kinds, most heroic warrior, cooperative ally, most powerful leader, and furious fighting force ever dependable, inalienable. (That is the Rbhu we want.)

· · ·

4.37.6

सेदृ॑भवो॒ यमव॑थ यू॒यमिन्द्र॑श्च॒ मर्त्य॑म् । स धी॒भिर॑स्तु॒ सनि॑ता मे॒धसा॑ता॒ सो अर्व॑ता ॥

O Rbhus, visionaries of science, power and action, whoever the man you and the ruler, Indra, protect and promote, would be the man of dedication and discrimination with actions and intelligence, an admirable ally in the business of life with the fastest modes of movement and progress.

· · ·

4.37.7

वि नो॑ वाजा ऋभुक्षणः प॒थश्चि॑तन॒ यष्ट॑वे । अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ सूरयः स्तु॒ता विश्वा॒ आशा॑स्तरी॒षणि॑ ॥

O Rbhus, visionaries and craftsmen of the art and science of life, leaders of the speed of winds, teachers and pioneers bright and brave, open and reveal for us our paths of progress in our yajna of corporate living. We rightfully admire you and humbly pray to you so that we may realise all our hopes and ambitions and ultimately cross the ocean of life.

· · ·

4.37.8

तं नो॑ वाजा ऋभुक्षण॒ इन्द्र॒ नास॑त्या र॒यिम् । समश्वं॑ चर्ष॒णिभ्य॒ आ पु॒रु श॑स्त म॒घत्त॑ये ॥

O Rbhus, leaders and pioneers of vision and progress, O lord ruler of the world, Indra, never failing, ever true, teach us, give us that order of wealth and speedy progress with power and horse which leads the people to honour and prosperity in life to the full.

✦ Sukta 38 · 10 verses ✦

4.38.1

उ॒तो हि वां॑ दा॒त्रा सन्ति॒ पूर्वा॒ या पू॒रुभ्य॑स्त्र॒सद॑स्युर्नितो॒शे । क्षे॒त्रा॒सां द॑दथुरुर्वरा॒सां घ॒नं दस्यु॑भ्यो अ॒भिभू॑तिमु॒ग्रम् ॥

O heaven and earth, ruler and commander, generous givers, whatever the gifts of munificence earlier than the earliest for the many recipients, they are all yours: whether they are gifts of fields and fertile lands with generous grants or, as terror for the wicked, you give to the evil doer the crushing bolt and intense fall from grace.

· · ·

4.38.2

उ॒त वा॒जिनं॑ पुरुनि॒ष्षिध्वा॑नं दधि॒क्रामु॑ ददथुर्वि॒श्वकृ॑ष्टिम् । ऋ॒जि॒प्यं श्ये॒नं प्रु॑षि॒तप्सु॑मा॒शुं च॒र्कृत्य॑म॒र्यो नृ॒पतिं॒ न शूर॑म् ॥

Or, like the brave parental master, you give the war horse, destroyer of many enemies, or the roaring war craft, winner of victories for many people of the world, and the refulgent hero like the rising sun, supporter and defender of humanity, or the simple man of rectitude, or the eagle like fighter that pounces upon the target, or the instant flier and pilot or the relentless doer of the master’s order.

· · ·

4.38.3

यं सी॒मनु॑ प्र॒वते॑व॒ द्रव॑न्तं॒ विश्वः॑ पू॒रुर्मद॑ति॒ हर्ष॑माणः । प॒ड्भिर्गृध्य॑न्तं मेध॒युं न शूरं॑ रथ॒तुरं॒ वात॑मिव॒ ध्रज॑न्तम् ॥

War horse or the aircraft which, rushing like turbulent waters to the sea, the people of the world admire and celebrate with joy, which, like a brave and tempestuous warrior, advances to the heat of battle by leaps and bounds and grabs the enemy and which, rushing like a wind sheer tears the enemy force apart.

· · ·

4.38.4

यः स्मा॑रुन्धा॒नो गध्या॑ स॒मत्सु॒ सनु॑तर॒श्चर॑ति॒ गोषु॒ गच्छ॑न् । आ॒विर्ऋ॑जीको वि॒दथा॑ नि॒चिक्य॑त्ति॒रो अ॑र॒तिं पर्याप॑ आ॒योः ॥

Which in battles stems the united force of the enemy and goes over lands and seas of the earth in majesty, which openly displays its strength of arms and thrust openly, and watches over the grand yajnic programmes of humanity and wards off the enemies and adversities from the life of noble people.

· · ·

4.38.5

उ॒त स्मै॑नं वस्त्र॒मथिं॒ न ता॒युमनु॑ क्रोशन्ति क्षि॒तयो॒ भरे॑षु । नी॒चाय॑मानं॒ जसु॑रिं॒ न श्ये॒नं श्रव॒श्चाच्छा॑ पशु॒मच्च॑ यू॒थम् ॥

Just as people cry out for help when a thief attacks their cloth and hearth and home, so do people call out to the fighter warrior in battles for the safety of their hearth and home and herds of cattle wealth when they see the terrible enemy descending like a hawk intending to attack.

· · ·

4.38.6

उ॒त स्मा॑सु प्रथ॒मः स॑रि॒ष्यन्नि वे॑वेति॒ श्रेणि॑भी॒ रथा॑नाम् । स्रजं॑ कृण्वा॒नो जन्यो॒ न शुभ्वा॑ रे॒णुं रेरि॑हत्कि॒रणं॑ दद॒श्वान् ॥

Keen to be the first and prime leader in front of these battle formations of the war chariots, creating a garland pattern, graceful like a bridegroom in procession, he goes like the wind raising a cloud of dust and radiating beams of light like the sun.

· · ·

4.38.7

उ॒त स्य वा॒जी सहु॑रिर्ऋ॒तावा॒ शुश्रू॑षमाणस्त॒न्वा॑ सम॒र्ये । तुरं॑ य॒तीषु॑ तु॒रय॑न्नृजि॒प्योऽधि॑ भ्रु॒वोः कि॑रते रे॒णुमृ॒ञ्जन् ॥

And that hero, mighty and brilliant, dedicated to truth, keen for service in battle in his own person, commanding the strong and smart warriors on fronts, going up and forward by straight paths, tossing up dust in battle, shaking it off from the eyebrows, goes on making things straight and favourable for all.

· · ·

4.38.8

उ॒त स्मा॑स्य तन्य॒तोरि॑व॒ द्योर्ऋ॑घाय॒तो अ॑भि॒युजो॑ भयन्ते । य॒दा स॒हस्र॑म॒भि षी॒मयो॑धीद्दु॒र्वर्तुः॑ स्मा भवति भी॒म ऋ॒ञ्जन् ॥

And when the hero in passion takes up arms in battle, those who face him shake in fear as from the thunder of lightning from the skies, and then when he engages thousands of adversaries he grows terrible and irresistible and comes out victorious.

· · ·

4.38.9

उ॒त स्मा॑स्य पनयन्ति॒ जना॑ जू॒तिं कृ॑ष्टि॒प्रो अ॒भिभू॑तिमा॒शोः । उ॒तैन॑माहुः समि॒थे वि॒यन्तः॒ परा॑ दधि॒क्रा अ॑सरत्स॒हस्रैः॑ ॥

And people praise the drive and superior power of this hero of human endeavour and accomplishment for humanity, and the warriors going to battle describe him as the roaring war horse, the booming war craft of the skies and the supreme of arms going with but ahead of thousands.

· · ·

4.38.10

आ द॑धि॒क्राः शव॑सा॒ पञ्च॑ कृ॒ष्टीः सूर्य॑इव॒ ज्योति॑षा॒पस्त॑तान । स॒ह॒स्र॒साः श॑त॒सा वा॒ज्यर्वा॑ पृ॒णक्तु॒ मध्वा॒ समि॒मा वचां॑सि ॥

Just as the sun with its rays fills the skies and space, so does Dadhikra, the roaring war horse, the booming war-craft and the superior war hero with characteristic power and majesty fascinate all the five classes of people. May this hero, tempestuous mover, giver of a hundred and thousand favours to the people bring our words of praise to golden honey sweets of success and fulfilment.

✦ Sukta 39 · 6 verses ✦

4.39.1

आ॒शुं द॑धि॒क्रां तमु॒ नु ष्ट॑वाम दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्या उ॒त च॑र्किराम । उ॒च्छन्ती॒र्मामु॒षसः॑ सूदय॒न्त्वति॒ विश्वा॑नि दुरि॒तानि॑ पर्षन् ॥

Varily we praise the swift Dadhikra, the war horse of earth and skies, and we sing in praise of earth and heaven too. May the glorious dawns inspire and mature me, cleansing me of all the evils and weaknesses of earthly existence.

· · ·

4.39.2

म॒हश्च॑र्क॒र्म्यर्व॑तः क्रतु॒प्रा द॑धि॒क्राव्णः॑ पुरु॒वार॑स्य॒ वृष्णः॑ । यं पू॒रुभ्यो॑ दीदि॒वांसं॒ नाग्निं द॒दथु॑र्मित्रावरुणा॒ ततु॑रिम् ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, President of the Council and commander of the army, dear as pranic energies of life, inspired and enlightened, I praise the mighty war horse, Dadhikra, sustainer of sustainers, a shower of blessings, saviour of the people, a gift swift and blazing as fire, which you have given for the sake of noble humanity.

· · ·

4.39.3

यो अश्व॑स्य दधि॒क्राव्णो॒ अका॑री॒त्समि॑द्धे अ॒ग्ना उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ । अना॑गसं॒ तमदि॑तिः कृणोतु॒ स मि॒त्रेण॒ वरु॑णेना स॒जोषाः॑ ॥

Whoever does honour and worship to Dadhikra, mighty life sustaining energy of the Divine and offers oblations into the burning fire at the rise of dawn, him Aditi, mother earth and the skies and space, lead to a state of purity from sin and evil and elevate him to a state of love and friendship with Mitra and Varuna, friend and highest authority of humanity.

· · ·

4.39.4

द॒धि॒क्राव्ण॑ इ॒ष ऊ॒र्जो म॒हो यदम॑न्महि म॒रुतां॒ नाम॑ भ॒द्रम् । स्व॒स्तये॒ वरु॑णं मि॒त्रम॒ग्निं हवा॑मह॒ इन्द्रं॒ वज्र॑बाहुम् ॥

While we study and discover the food, energy and power gifts of the great Dadhikra, cosmic sustainer of sustaining energies and of the good that the Maruts, powerful people, for sure do for our good and advancement, we at the same time study with devotion Varuna, water energy, Mitra, solar energy, Agni, fire power, and Indra, electricity which wields the arms of thunder.

· · ·

4.39.5

इन्द्र॑मि॒वेदु॒भये॒ वि ह्व॑यन्त उ॒दीरा॑णा य॒ज्ञमु॑पप्र॒यन्तः॑ । द॒धि॒क्रामु॒ सूद॑नं॒ मर्त्या॑य द॒दथु॑र्मित्रावरुणा नो॒ अश्व॑म् ॥

Science researchers and engineers and technologists going to centres of production, and both the rulers and the people, all invoke and develop Indra, electrical energy, Dadhikra, basic energy, flow of waters, and awareness of the modes of comfort which the friendly and generous powers, Mitra and Varuna, at national and international levels, give us as gifts for the people.

· · ·

4.39.6

द॒धि॒क्राव्णो॑ अकारिषं जि॒ष्णोरश्व॑स्य वा॒जिनः॑ । सु॒र॒भि नो॒ मुखा॑ कर॒त्प्र ण॒ आयूं॑षि तारिषत् ॥

We sing in praise of Dadhikra, divine energy, victorious, all achieving spirit and power, who may, we pray, refine our sense of taste and other refinements and may help us live a full and healthy life across the floods of existence.

✦ Sukta 40 · 5 verses ✦

4.40.1

द॒धि॒क्राव्ण॒ इदु॒ नु च॑र्किराम॒ विश्वा॒ इन्मामु॒षसः॑ सूदयन्तु । अ॒पाम॒ग्नेरु॒षसः॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ बृह॒स्पते॑राङ्गिर॒सस्य॑ जि॒ष्णोः ॥

We study and develop for human purposes the forces of Dadhikra, all victorious cosmic energy which impels various forms of natural energy, and we tap and develop the power sources of water, fire, dawns, sun, Brhaspati and pranas. May all the lights of the dawns and new revelations inspire me and mature my projects.

· · ·

4.40.2

सत्वा॑ भरि॒षो ग॑वि॒षो दु॑वन्य॒सच्छ्र॑व॒स्यादि॒ष उ॒षस॑स्तुरण्य॒सत् । स॒त्यो द्र॒वो द्र॑व॒रः प॑तङ्ग॒रो द॑धि॒क्रावेष॒मूर्जं॒ स्व॑र्जनत् ॥

Dadhikrava, cosmic energy, potent and omnipresent, all sustaining, all inspiring of sense and mind, responsive to the dedicated enquirer, acting fast in foods, power sources and light of the dawns, true and imperishable, dynamic, flowing, heating, flying, may respond and create food, energy and the joy of life.

· · ·

4.40.3

उ॒त स्मा॑स्य॒ द्रव॑तस्तुरण्य॒तः प॒र्णं न वेरनु॑ वाति प्रग॒र्धिनः॑ । श्ये॒नस्ये॑व॒ ध्रज॑तो अङ्क॒सं परि॑ दधि॒क्राव्णः॑ स॒होर्जा तरि॑त्रतः ॥

And like the wings of an arrow, everything follows the curves and waves of the motion of this Dadhikra, cosmic energy, flowing, running, accelerating, flying, driving and pressing forward like an eagle, and traversing the spaces with terrific power and velocity.

· · ·

4.40.4

उ॒त स्य वा॒जी क्षि॑प॒णिं तु॑रण्यति ग्री॒वायां॑ ब॒द्धो अ॑पिक॒क्ष आ॒सनि॑ । क्रतुं॑ दधि॒क्रा अनु॑ सं॒तवी॑त्वत्प॒थामङ्कां॒स्यन्वा॒पनी॑फणत् ॥

And that flying horse, missile of terrific power, Dadhikra, tied and programmed at the mouth, neck and the flanks, carries a warhead at terrific speed, and, following its programmed action, crosses the marks of its course to the target.

· · ·

4.40.5

हं॒सः शु॑चि॒षद्वसु॑रन्तरिक्ष॒सद्धोता॑ वेदि॒षदति॑थिर्दुरोण॒सत् । नृ॒षद्व॑र॒सदृ॑त॒सद्व्यो॑म॒सद॒ब्जा गो॒जा ऋ॑त॒जा अ॑द्रि॒जा ऋ॒तम् ॥

Hansa, the divine bird, soul unpolluted, resides in purity in biological forms in the skies, and, as yajnic doer, sits on the vedi in family home among people, the best ones, and rises up to the heights of heavens. It is born of the waters on the earth from the Law of existence and from the clouds. That is the truth, the Law.

✦ Sukta 41 · 11 verses ✦

4.41.1

इन्द्रा॒ को वां॑ वरुणा सु॒म्नमा॑प॒ स्तोमो॑ ह॒विष्माँ॑ अ॒मृतो॒ न होता॑ । यो वां॑ हृ॒दि क्रतु॑माँ अ॒स्मदु॒क्तः प॒स्पर्श॑दिन्द्रावरुणा॒ नम॑स्वान् ॥

Indra, O lord of power and glory, O Varuna, lord of justice and rectitude, who could win the favour of your blessing, which song of praise and prayer, expressive of yajnic reverence like an immortal yajaka would win your favour? Which song and tribute, O Indra and Varuna, sung in your honour, expressing humility and surrender as holy offering would touch your heart?

· · ·

4.41.2

इन्द्रा॑ ह॒ यो वरु॑णा च॒क्र आ॒पी दे॒वौ मर्तः॑ स॒ख्याय॒ प्रय॑स्वान् । स ह॑न्ति वृ॒त्रा स॑मि॒थेषु॒ शत्रू॒नवो॑भिर्वा म॒हद्भिः॒ स प्र शृ॑ण्वे ॥

Indra and Varuna, lord of power and of justice, abounding in strength and grace, generous and refulgent, the man who tries in honest action to win your friendship destroys darkness and evil and wins over enemies in battles with great weapons of defence and protection.

· · ·

4.41.3

इन्द्रा॑ ह॒ रत्नं॒ वरु॑णा॒ धेष्ठे॒त्था नृभ्यः॑ शशमा॒नेभ्य॒स्ता । यदी॒ सखा॑या स॒ख्याय॒ सोमैः॑ सु॒तेभिः॑ सुप्र॒यसा॑ मा॒दयै॑ते ॥

Indra and Varuna, ruler and the elected people in power, if they hold and govern the jewel wealth of the nation in trust for the people, and the people would then appreciate, approve and admire them, then this way, they, both friends in agreement, for friendship of the people, would be happy and rejoice with the honour and prosperity of the law created with the honest effort of all in unison.

· · ·

4.41.4

इन्द्रा॑ यु॒वं व॑रुणा दि॒द्युम॑स्मि॒न्नोजि॑ष्ठमुग्रा॒ नि व॑धिष्टं॒ वज्र॑म् । यो नो॑ दु॒रेवो॑ वृ॒कति॑र्द॒भीति॒स्तस्मि॑न्मिमाथाम॒भिभू॒त्योजः॑ ॥

Indra, ruler, and Varuna, chief of justice, mighty impassioned powers in this system, wield the light of knowledge and law in the social order. Who ever is malignant, evil doer and terror monger against us, strike the shattering blow of justice and punishment on him and create faith and confidence in the light and lustrous power of the law.

· · ·

4.41.5

इन्द्रा॑ यु॒वं व॑रुणा भू॒तम॒स्या धि॒यः प्रे॒तारा॑ वृष॒भेव॑ धे॒नोः । सा नो॑ दुहीय॒द्यव॑सेव ग॒त्वी स॒हस्र॑धारा॒ पय॑सा म॒ही गौः ॥

Indra, leader and giver of knowledge and power, and Varuna, embodiment of cherished virtue and intelligence, as Indra, lord of clouds sends down rain showers on earth and fertilises her, so, be the promoters of the intelligence and enlightenment of the children of the earth so that, as the earth, rich in vegetation, overflows with food in a thousand ways, so the knowledge, language and enlightenment of the community may grow a thousandfold and overflow with creative work on the great moving earth.

· · ·

4.41.6

तो॒के हि॒ते तन॑य उ॒र्वरा॑सु॒ सूरो॒ दृशी॑के॒ वृष॑णश्च॒ पौंस्ये॑ । इन्द्रा॑ नो॒ अत्र॒ वरु॑णा स्याता॒मवो॑भिर्द॒स्मा परि॑तक्म्यायाम् ॥

Indra and Varuna, ruler and administrator, for the good of our children and grand children on these fertile lands on this moving and progressive earth, be the sun for the health and beauty of life, be the cloud for the fertility and virility of the nation. Indra, giver of light and energy, Varuna, lord of law and justice, with all your protections and promotions, be the destroyers of want and suffering, be the harbingers of health and plenty and enlightenment.

· · ·

4.41.7

यु॒वामिद्ध्यव॑से पू॒र्व्याय॒ परि॒ प्रभू॑ती ग॒विषः॑ स्वापी । वृ॒णी॒महे॑ स॒ख्याय॑ प्रि॒याय॒ शूरा॒ मंहि॑ष्ठा पि॒तरे॑व शं॒भू ॥

Indra and Varuna, ruler and sustainer, lord of life and power, giver of freedom and justice, we choose to dedicate ourselves to you for the sake of protection and progress as ever before, great and beneficent friends like brothers, brave and fearless, greatest majestic, and kind as parents as you are. Lovers of the earth and cows, knowledge and the language of Divinity as we are, we opt for you in freedom for the sake of love and friendship.

· · ·

4.41.8

ता वां॒ धियोऽव॑से वाज॒यन्ती॑रा॒जिं न ज॑ग्मुर्युव॒यूः सु॑दानू । श्रि॒ये न गाव॒ उप॒ सोम॑मस्थु॒रिन्द्रं॒ गिरो॒ वरु॑णं मे मनी॒षाः ॥

Indra and Varuna, benevolent energy and inspiration of nature and Divinity, all senses, mind and intelligence in search of efficiency and refinement in the business of life flow to you for the sake of protection and promotion. So may my mind, senses, vision and voices of exploration and celebration turn to Indra and Varuna for light and inspiration and abide by them for beauty and delicacy like the earth and other planets relating to the moon for the sweetness and beauty of their products.

· · ·

4.41.9

इ॒मा इन्द्रं॒ वरु॑णं मे मनी॒षा अग्म॒न्नुप॒ द्रवि॑णमि॒च्छमा॑नाः । उपे॑मस्थुर्जो॒ष्टार॑इव॒ वस्वो॑ र॒घ्वीरी॑व॒ श्रव॑सो॒ भिक्ष॑माणाः ॥

These senses and mind of mine keenly desiring to win the wealth and vision of life may proceed to Indra and Varuna, light and power and inspiration of nature and Divinity, and abide thereby, awaiting, getting and enjoying the wealth and wisdom of life like little Brahmacharinis of a girls’ institution of education waiting upon their teacher mother.

· · ·

4.41.10

अश्व्य॑स्य॒ त्मना॒ रथ्य॑स्य पु॒ष्टेर्नित्य॑स्य रा॒यः पत॑यः स्याम । ता च॑क्रा॒णा ऊ॒तिभि॒र्नव्य॑सीभिरस्म॒त्रा रायो॑ नि॒युतः॑ सचन्ताम् ॥

May we, with our mind and soul, be masters of the lasting wealth of horses and chariots, of achievement and further progress, of health and nourishment, and may those two, Indra and Varuna, ruler and administrator, teacher and preacher, ever active with their latest modes of protection, promotion and progress join us and share our health.

· · ·

4.41.11

आ नो॑ बृहन्ता बृह॒तीभि॑रू॒ती इन्द्र॑ या॒तं व॑रुण॒ वाज॑सातौ । यद्दि॒द्यवः॒ पृत॑नासु प्र॒क्रीळा॒न्तस्य॑ वां स्याम सनि॒तार॑ आ॒जेः ॥

Indra ruler, and Varuna, administrator and commander, great and majestic, come to us with the best of protection, promotion, progress and welfare and join our battle of life so that, participating in the struggles of that battle, joining and shining together with you, we may play our game with the best of capacities.

✦ Sukta 42 · 10 verses ✦

4.42.1

मम॑ द्वि॒ता रा॒ष्ट्रं क्ष॒त्रिय॑स्य वि॒श्वायो॒र्विश्वे॑ अ॒मृता॒ यथा॑ नः । क्रतुं॑ सचन्ते॒ वरु॑णस्य दे॒वा राजा॑मि कृ॒ष्टेरु॑प॒मस्य॑ व॒व्रेः ॥

I am Indra, sovereign spirit of the universe. Twofold is my kingdom: heaven and earth, or, the world of nature and the world of humanity. I am Varuna, highest Intelligence and the Ruling Power of the universe. All the Immortals, divine forces in the service of Varuna are ours, they comprise and conduct the mighty yajna system of the universe. Thus I rule all: the world of humanity, all that is highest and closest in the world of forms, and all that is hidden. (This mantra is a metaphor of the living, breathing, intelligent, self-organising, autonomous and sovereign system of the universe as macrocosm as well as microcosm. At the macrocosmic level, Indra is the Supreme Sovereign, immanent and transcendent Spirit, and Varuna is the immanent ruling force, intelligence and the law of Rtam. Indra-varuna is a functional version of the Supreme Spirit which is both immanent and transcendent. At the microcosmic level, Indra-Varuna is the individual soul with all its faculties of awareness, intelligence, mind and senses. At the world level too, Indra-Varuna may be interpreted as the Ruler and the President-in-council.)

· · ·

4.42.2

अ॒हं राजा॒ वरु॑णो॒ मह्यं॒ तान्य॑सु॒र्या॑णि प्रथ॒मा धा॑रयन्त । क्रतुं॑ सचन्ते॒ वरु॑णस्य दे॒वा राजा॑मि कृ॒ष्टेरु॑प॒मस्य॑ व॒व्रेः ॥

I am Varuna, ruling spirit of the world, best and highest. For me do the first manifestations of the spirit in nature hold the wealth and power of existence. They are the divine immortals who comprise and conduct the creative yajna, the spirit in body form. I rule the world of humanity, the phenomenal forms and all that is hidden in potentiality.

· · ·

4.42.3

अ॒हमिन्द्रो॒ वरु॑ण॒स्ते म॑हि॒त्वोर्वी ग॑भी॒रे रज॑सी सु॒मेके॑ । त्वष्टे॑व॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि वि॒द्वान्त्समै॑रयं॒ रोद॑सी धा॒रयं॑ च ॥

I am Indra, the highest, omnipotent, and transcendent. I am Varuna, highest and best immanent and omniscient. Happy and exalted, having created the vast and deep and firm heaven and earth as Tvashta, cosmic maker, I hold and move in unison the sun and earth and all other regions of the universe.

· · ·

4.42.4

अ॒हम॒पो अ॑पिन्वमु॒क्षमा॑णा धा॒रयं॒ दिवं॒ सद॑न ऋ॒तस्य॑ । ऋ॒तेन॑ पु॒त्रो अदि॑तेर्ऋ॒तावो॒त त्रि॒धातु॑ प्रथय॒द्वि भूम॑ ॥

I shower the rains of energising and fertilising waters. I hold and rule the sun and cosmic energy in the space of nature within eternal law. By the same eternal law of mine, the child of eternity, the threefold world of natural constituents, sattva, rajas and tamas (thought, energy and matter) manifests and expands and keeps to the law. Thus do I create, hold and rule the universe.

· · ·

4.42.5

मां नरः॒ स्वश्वा॑ वा॒जय॑न्तो॒ मां वृ॒ताः स॒मर॑णे हवन्ते । कृ॒णोम्या॒जिं म॒घवा॒हमिन्द्र॒ इय॑र्मि रे॒णुम॒भिभू॑त्योजाः ॥

The best of men and leaders, equipped with good horses and modes of transport and communication, fighting for strength and sustenance, the chosen ones, knowing me and struggling to attain to me call upon me in the battle of existence. I, Indra, commanding the wealth and power of the world, highest of the lustre and glory in existence, create the battle for their victory and raise the heat of action.

· · ·

4.42.6

अ॒हं ता विश्वा॑ चकरं॒ नकि॑र्मा॒ दैव्यं॒ सहो॑ वरते॒ अप्र॑तीतम् । यन्मा॒ सोमा॑सो म॒मद॒न्यदु॒क्थोभे भ॑येते॒ रज॑सी अपा॒रे ॥

I do all those acts of creation, sustenance and victory. None can restrain or resist the supernal power that’s mine, mysterious and unknown. When the flames of my soma yajna rise, the fire crackles and the hymns of celebration reverberate, the boundless heaven and earth shake in fear. There is none that equals me.

· · ·

4.42.7

वि॒दुष्टे॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि॒ तस्य॒ ता प्र ब्र॑वीषि॒ वरु॑णाय वेधः । त्वं वृ॒त्राणि॑ शृण्विषे जघ॒न्वान्त्वं वृ॒ताँ अ॑रिणा इन्द्र॒ सिन्धू॑न् ॥

That greatness and grandeur of yours all the scholars of the worlds know. O lord omniscient, you yourself speak of it to the selected men of vision. You are the breaker of the clouds, we hear, and you set the rivers aflow and release the waters locked up in lakes and clouds.

· · ·

4.42.8

अ॒स्माक॒मत्र॑ पि॒तर॒स्त आ॑सन्त्स॒प्त ऋष॑यो दौर्ग॒हे ब॒ध्यमा॑ने । त आय॑जन्त त्र॒सद॑स्युमस्या॒ इन्द्रं॒ न वृ॑त्र॒तुर॑मर्धदे॒वम् ॥

When the seven sages, senses, pranic energies and flowing streams, which are our feeding and sustaining powers like father and mother, are locked up in darkness then, as they join Indra, so they join the sun (wakefulness), who is superior to the darkness of Vrtra and presides over half of this world with his light (until light and life is restored).

· · ·

4.42.9

पु॒रु॒कुत्सा॑नी॒ हि वा॒मदा॑शद्ध॒व्येभि॑रिन्द्रावरुणा॒ नमो॑भिः । अथा॒ राजा॑नं त्र॒सद॑स्युमस्या वृत्र॒हणं॑ ददथुरर्धदे॒वम् ॥

O Indra and Varuna, the abundant power of the thunderbolt, light and showers offer you the homage of yajnic inputs of food for consumption and holistic expansion of creative nourishment. And thence, further, you give it on to this earth’s ruler, destroyer of darkness and evil, who presides over half the world (and rises in majesty with the break of dawn).

· · ·

4.42.10

रा॒या व॒यं स॑स॒वांसो॑ मदेम ह॒व्येन॑ दे॒वा यव॑सेन॒ गावः॑ । तां धे॒नुमि॑न्द्रावरुणा यु॒वं नो॑ वि॒श्वाहा॑ धत्त॒मन॑पस्फुरन्तीम् ॥

Let us rejoice with the wealth of peace and refreshment with energy while we sleep, just as the devas, divine powers of nature, are replenished with spirit and joy by the offer of yajnic homage, and cows rejoice with grass. That vibrating energy of life, Indra and Varuna, you bear and bring for us day and night without break. Reveal that language of enlightenment, all calm and undisturbed.

✦ Sukta 43 · 7 verses ✦

4.43.1

क उ॑ श्रवत्कत॒मो य॒ज्ञिया॑नां व॒न्दारु॑ दे॒वः क॑त॒मो जु॑षाते । कस्ये॒मां दे॒वीम॒मृते॑षु॒ प्रेष्ठां॑ हृ॒दि श्रे॑षाम सुष्टु॒तिं सु॑ह॒व्याम् ॥

Who listens? Which of the adorables? Which brilliant divinity loves and entertains the song of prayer and adoration? To whose heart shall we dedicate this eulogy, divine, highly presentable, and dearest to the immortals.

· · ·

4.43.2

को मृ॑ळाति कत॒म आग॑मिष्ठो दे॒वाना॑मु कत॒मः शंभ॑विष्ठः । रथं॒ कमा॑हुर्द्र॒वद॑श्वमा॒शुं यं सूर्य॑स्य दुहि॒तावृ॑णीत ॥

Who is kind and blissful? Which one comes at the fastest and earliest? Which one of the adorable divinities is the most benevolent? Which one is the chariot, power driven, which moves instantly at the fastest, they say, which the daughter of the sun, the Dawn, chooses for the ride?

· · ·

4.43.3

म॒क्षू हि ष्मा॒ गच्छ॑थ॒ ईव॑तो॒ द्यूनिन्द्रो॒ न श॒क्तिं परि॑तक्म्यायाम् । दि॒व आजा॑ता दि॒व्या सु॑प॒र्णा कया॒ शची॑नां भवथः॒ शचि॑ष्ठा ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of nature and humanity, magnificent on the move, you come instantly at the call of time like rays of the sun displaying his power over the smiling earth at the end of night. Coming from the heavens, divine with wings of light, by which one of nature’s immaculate forces do you become the most powerful and eloquent?

· · ·

4.43.4

का वां॑ भू॒दुप॑मातिः॒ कया॑ न॒ आश्वि॑ना गमथो हू॒यमा॑ना । को वां॑ म॒हश्चि॒त्त्यज॑सो अ॒भीक॑ उरु॒ष्यतं॑ माध्वी दस्रा न ऊ॒ती ॥

Ashvins, what could be the simile or metaphor to describe or define you? On whose invocation and invitation would you come to us? Even though someone might be great, who could be as great and selfless around as you? Sweet powers, destroyers of evil, rise higher and higher for our defence and protection.

· · ·

4.43.5

उ॒रु वां॒ रथः॒ परि॑ नक्षति॒ द्यामा यत्स॑मु॒द्राद॒भि वर्त॑ते वाम् । मध्वा॑ माध्वी॒ मधु॑ वां प्रुषाय॒न्यत्सीं॑ वां॒ पृक्षो॑ भु॒रज॑न्त प॒क्वाः ॥

Great and grand is your chariot that goes round the regions of light, it comes to you from the oceans and from the oceans of spatial waters. Honey sweet you are, honey sweet is your wisdom. You and your wisdom shower us with sweetness of honey when your people at the stage of ripeness reach you for company and advice.

· · ·

4.43.6

सिन्धु॑र्ह वां र॒सया॑ सिञ्च॒दश्वा॑न्घृ॒णा वयो॑ऽरु॒षासः॒ परि॑ ग्मन् । तदू॒ षु वा॑मजि॒रं चे॑ति॒ यानं॒ येन॒ पती॒ भव॑थः सू॒र्यायाः॑ ॥

The waters of the flowing rivers and rolling seas evaporate and lend moisture to your horses of sun rays which rise like birds bright and red, and then your chariot, quick and soaring, coming and rising, is seen and known by which you become masters of the dawns.

· · ·

4.43.7

इ॒हेह॒ यद्वां॑ सम॒ना प॑पृ॒क्षे सेयम॒स्मे सु॑म॒तिर्वा॑जरत्ना । उ॒रु॒ष्यतं॑ जरि॒तारं॑ यु॒वं ह॑ श्रि॒तः कामो॑ नासत्या युव॒द्रिक् ॥

Here itself in this world, OAshvins, both of you, ever correct and true as you are, of equal mind and rich with the treasures of wealth and speed of light, may that holy and dynamic intelligence and wisdom which attends on you may, we pray, be for us too and may it bless and promote the celebrant who, looking to you with surrender and faith, may achieve the desire of his heart. Our ambition and fulfilment is centred on you only.

✦ Sukta 44 · 7 verses ✦

4.44.1

तं वां॒ रथं॑ व॒यम॒द्या हु॑वेम पृथु॒ज्रय॑मश्विना॒ संग॑तिं॒ गोः । यः सू॒र्यां वह॑ति वन्धुरा॒युर्गिर्वा॑हसं पुरु॒तमं॑ वसू॒युम् ॥

Ashvins, complementary currents of cosmic energy of the Divine, today we invoke you and call for that chariot of yours which is wide extended, joins earth and heaven, carries the light and energy of sunrays, ages not, carries the sound and which is abundant in various wealth which never diminishes but continuously enriches the earth.

· · ·

4.44.2

यु॒वं श्रिय॑मश्विना दे॒वता॒ तां दिवो॑ नपाता वनथः॒ शची॑भिः । यु॒वोर्वपु॑र॒भि पृक्षः॑ सचन्ते॒ वह॑न्ति॒ यत्क॑कु॒हासो॒ रथे॑ वाम् ॥

Ashvins, children of light, infallible and imperishable, generous and brilliant divinities, with your intelligence, power and expertise, you win that treasure of wealth which the spaces conduct and concentrate in your chariot and thereby provide food and nourishment for your body and mind.

· · ·

4.44.3

को वा॑म॒द्या क॑रते रा॒तह॑व्य ऊ॒तये॑ वा सुत॒पेया॑य वा॒र्कैः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ वा व॒नुषे॑ पू॒र्व्याय॒ नमो॑ येमा॒नो अ॑श्वि॒ना व॑वर्तत् ॥

Ashvins, who with the offer of homage today directs his thoughts and prayers to you for the sake of protection and advancement, or for the drink of soma in celebration of success, or to learn and win the truth of eternal Dharma of existence, Rtam? Who with salutations and liberal hospitality prays for favour of your attention toward him?

· · ·

4.44.4

हि॒र॒ण्यये॑न पुरुभू॒ रथे॑ने॒मं य॒ज्ञं ना॑स॒त्योप॑ यातम् । पिबा॑थ॒ इन्मधु॑नः सो॒म्यस्य॒ दध॑थो॒ रत्नं॑ विध॒ते जना॑य ॥

Ashvins, twin powers of the Divine, universal of form and presence, ever constant in thought and action, come by the golden chariot to join this yajna of ours, drink of this honey sweet of the soma of success and bring the jewels of wealth for the supplicant people of action and endeavour.

· · ·

4.44.5

आ नो॑ यातं दि॒वो अच्छा॑ पृथि॒व्या हि॑र॒ण्यये॑न सु॒वृता॒ रथे॑न । मा वा॑म॒न्ये नि य॑मन्देव॒यन्तः॒ सं यद्द॒दे नाभिः॑ पू॒र्व्या वा॑म् ॥

Come well and soon to us by the paths of heaven and earth riding your well structured chariot of gold. Let not others detain you, nor divert you from the natural life link which the forefathers and teachers of old gave you in pursuit of Divinity.

· · ·

4.44.6

नू नो॑ र॒यिं पु॑रु॒वीरं॑ बृ॒हन्तं॒ दस्रा॒ मिमा॑थामु॒भये॑ष्व॒स्मे । नरो॒ यद्वा॑मश्विना॒ स्तोम॒माव॑न्त्स॒धस्तु॑तिमाजमी॒ळ्हासो॑ अग्मन् ॥

Ashivns, destroyers of evil and misery, brilliant as the sun and gracious cool as the moon, give us the wealth of life comprising brave children, great and vast prosperity for all of us, rulers as well as the people, since the leaders of the nation offer you songs of adoration and teachers of the people shower you with words of prayer in praise of Divinity.

· · ·

4.44.7

इ॒हेह॒ यद्वां॑ सम॒ना प॑पृ॒क्षे सेयम॒स्मे सु॑म॒तिर्वा॑जरत्ना । उ॒रु॒ष्यतं॑ जरि॒तारं॑ यु॒वं ह॑ श्रि॒तः कामो॑ नासत्या युव॒द्रिक् ॥

Ashvins, ever constant and true, here itself in this world, may this holy wisdom and knowledge of yours which is peaceable and procurative of science and speed of prosperity and progress, bless us, we pray. Both of you, we pray, protect, promote and elevate the celebrant. Our desire and ambition depends on you and we look forward up to you alone.

✦ Sukta 45 · 7 verses ✦

4.45.1

ए॒ष स्य भा॒नुरुदि॑यर्ति यु॒ज्यते॒ रथः॒ परि॑ज्मा दि॒वो अ॒स्य सान॑वि । पृ॒क्षासो॑ अस्मिन्मिथु॒ना अधि॒ त्रयो॒ दृति॑स्तु॒रीयो॒ मधु॑नो॒ वि र॑प्शते ॥

There rises the sun, chariot of the Ashvins in motion. It goes high up on top of the heavens, gaining heights and leaving the regions below. In this are three analogous kinds of food and energy: wind, water and electricity. And there is the fourth, the cloud on top of all, laden with the honey sweets of showers.

· · ·

4.45.2

उद्वां॑ पृ॒क्षासो॒ मधु॑मन्त ईरते॒ रथा॒ अश्वा॑स उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु । अ॒पो॒र्णु॒वन्त॒स्तम॒ आ परी॑वृतं॒ स्व१॒॑र्ण शु॒क्रं त॒न्वन्त॒ आ रजः॑ ॥

On the rise of dawns, honey sweets of foods and energies and the horses and the chariots raise you high up,Ashvins, while they remove the veil of darkness and spread the brilliance of morning light like the glory of heaven all round.

· · ·

4.45.3

मध्वः॑ पिबतं मधु॒पेभि॑रा॒सभि॑रु॒त प्रि॒यं मधु॑ने युञ्जाथां॒ रथ॑म् । आ व॑र्त॒निं मधु॑ना जिन्वथस्प॒थो दृतिं॑ वहेथे॒ मधु॑मन्तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, drink the sweets with lips addicted to the taste of honey. Start the chariot to reach the dear sweets of life. Take to the high road on the way home by the chariot bearing the sweets of success as the sun and wind bear the cloud of showers.

· · ·

4.45.4

हं॒सासो॒ ये वां॒ मधु॑मन्तो अ॒स्रिधो॒ हिर॑ण्यपर्णा उ॒हुव॑ उष॒र्बुधः॑ । उ॒द॒प्रुतो॑ म॒न्दिनो॑ मन्दिनि॒स्पृशो॒ मध्वो॒ न मक्षः॒ सव॑नानि गच्छथः ॥

Flying gracefully like hansa birds, pleasant and agreeable, fleet and comfortable, golden winged morning birds floating across mists and waters, giving the luxurious feel of breezy ecstasy: such are your horses which transport you across the spaces like bees flying to the honey cups of flowers, by which you proceed to the yajnic programmes of humanity creating the honour and excellence of life.

· ·

·

4.45.5

स्व॒ध्व॒रासो॒ मधु॑मन्तो अ॒ग्नय॑ उ॒स्रा ज॑रन्ते॒ प्रति॒ वस्तो॑र॒श्विना॑ । यन्नि॒क्तह॑स्तस्त॒रणि॑र्विचक्ष॒णः सोमं॑ सु॒षाव॒ मधु॑मन्त॒मद्रि॑भिः ॥

Holy yajnic performers, creating and bearing honey sweets of vitality, leaders and pioneers brilliant as fire, every morning, welcome and praise the first rays of the sun, while the clean handed, clear eyed, wise priest, saviour from sin and disease, grinds with stones the holy plant of soma for honey juice and all wait for your arrival, O Ashvins, harbingers of morning joy.

· · ·

4.45.6

आ॒के॒नि॒पासो॒ अह॑भि॒र्दवि॑ध्वतः॒ स्व१॒॑र्ण शु॒क्रं त॒न्वन्त॒ आ रजः॑ । सूर॑श्चि॒दश्वा॑न्युयुजा॒न ई॑यते॒ विश्वाँ॒ अनु॑ स्व॒धया॑ चेतथस्प॒थः ॥

While the approaching and vitalising morning rays everyday dispel the darkness and spread the brilliant light across the skies like regions of heaven, and the sun, using the rays as chariot horses, goes in majesty, you show the paths of the world by virtue of your own power.

· · ·

4.45.7

प्र वा॑मवोचमश्विना धियं॒धा रथः॒ स्वश्वो॑ अ॒जरो॒ यो अस्ति॑ । येन॑ स॒द्यः परि॒ रजां॑सि या॒थो ह॒विष्म॑न्तं त॒रणिं॑ भो॒जमच्छ॑ ॥

Ashvins, path makers of the world, having the knowledge and intelligence that I have attained, I speak to you of the chariot that’s yours, which is imperishable, equipped with unfailing horse power, by which you instantly and all time go over the skies and spaces and by which you bear and bring excellent food and energy full of sacrificial vitality that carries us across the seas of life.

✦ Sukta 46 · 7 verses ✦

4.46.1

अग्रं॑ पिबा॒ मधू॑नां सु॒तं वा॑यो॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु । त्वं हि पू॑र्व॒पा असि॑ ॥

Vayu, fast as waves of energy, drink the first and best of honeyed drinks distilled in the best of our heavenly acts, since you are the protector and promoter of the earliest arts, acts and nobilities of humanity.

· · ·

4.46.2

श॒तेना॑ नो अ॒भिष्टि॑भिर्नि॒युत्वाँ॒ इन्द्र॑सारथिः । वायो॑ सु॒तस्य॑ तृम्पतम् ॥

Vayu, strong in command of vast forces with Indra as your charioteer, come with hundreds of choice acts and gifts, and enjoy a drink of the best of our preparations to your heart’s content.

· · ·

4.46.3

आ वां॑ स॒हस्रं॒ हर॑य॒ इन्द्र॑वायू अ॒भि प्रयः॑ । वह॑न्तु॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Indra and Vayu, may a thousand horses moving to the choice delicacies transport you hither for a drink of soma.

· · ·

4.46.4

रथं॒ हिर॑ण्यवन्धुर॒मिन्द्र॑वायू स्वध्व॒रम् । आ हि स्थाथो॑ दिवि॒स्पृश॑म् ॥

Indra and Vayu, come, take to the chariot of golden frame, rising and touching the heavens, serviced and heading to a holy yajnic programme, be there.

· · ·

4.46.5

रथे॑न पृथु॒पाज॑सा दा॒श्वांस॒मुप॑ गच्छतम् । इन्द्र॑वायू इ॒हा ग॑तम् ॥

Indra and Vayu, come here by the chariot, big and spacious and powerful, and go to reach the man of charity

· · ·

4.46.6

इन्द्र॑वायू अ॒यं सु॒तस्तं दे॒वेभिः॑ स॒जोष॑सा । पिब॑तं दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हे ॥

Indra and Vayu, friends with the devas, generous brilliancies of nature and humanity, distilled is this soma, the best in the house of the generous yajaka, drink to your heart’s content.

· · ·

4.46.7

इ॒ह प्र॒याण॑मस्तु वा॒मिन्द्र॑वायू वि॒मोच॑नम् । इ॒ह वां॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Indra and Vayu, here may be the end of your journey for the drink of soma and here may the chariot and the horses be released so that you may drink the soma of Moksha. (This sukta may be interpreted in another way in the light of this mantra: Indra as the soul, Vayu as the prana energy of breath and blood circulation, the chariot as the body and horses as the organs of perception and volition, distillation of soma as creative yajnic action, drinking as the fruit of action, and release of chariot and horses as the freedom of the soul from the body and senses.)

✦ Sukta 47 · 4 verses ✦

4.47.1

वायो॑ शु॒क्रो अ॑यामि ते॒ मध्वो॒ अग्रं॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु । आ या॑हि॒ सोम॑पीतये स्पा॒र्हो दे॑व नि॒युत्व॑ता ॥

Vayu, lord omnipotent, self-refulgent and generous centre object of universal love, I come to the top of the honey sweets of yajnic creations of light and joy for the life divine, cleansed and pure as I am now. Come for a drink of soma by the chariot and the team of horses.

· · ·

4.47.2

इन्द्र॑श्च वायवेषां॒ सोमा॑नां पी॒तिम॑र्हथः । यु॒वां हि यन्तीन्द॑वो नि॒म्नमापो॒ न स॒ध्र्य॑क् ॥

Indra and Vayu, you two love and deserve the drink of these somas distilled in yajnas. Just as waters all together flow to the sea, so do all flows of soma and all movements of dedicated devotees end up when they join you.

· · ·

4.47.3

वाय॒विन्द्र॑श्च शु॒ष्मिणा॑ स॒रथं॑ शवसस्पती । नि॒युत्व॑न्ता न ऊ॒तय॒ आ या॑तं॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Vayu and Indra, most powerful, commander and ruler of the power and force of existence, controllers of the dynamics of energy, come hither together by the same chariot as two in one for the protection and promotion of our yajna of production, honour and excellence.

· · ·

4.47.4

या वां॒ सन्ति॑ पुरु॒स्पृहो॑ नि॒युतो॑ दा॒शुषे॑ नरा । अ॒स्मे ता य॑ज्ञवाह॒सेन्द्र॑वायू॒ नि य॑च्छतम् ॥

Indra and Vayu, omnipotent power and most dynamics Divinity, power and energy of nature, ruler and controller of humanity, leaders and pioneers of the community, and lords of the accomplishment of yajnas, loved and honoured of all, bless us with all those acts and gifts of yours which are surely and certainly divine for the sake of the generous and charitable devotees.

✦ Sukta 48 · 5 verses ✦

4.48.1

वि॒हि होत्रा॒ अवी॑ता॒ विपो॒ न रायो॑ अ॒र्यः । वाय॒वा च॒न्द्रेण॒ रथे॑न या॒हि सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ ॥

Vayu, receiver of the inputs of yajna and carrier of the fragrance, imperishable, lord of wealth as the vibrant scholar, come by the golden chariot as glorious as the moon to our yajna for a drink of soma and for protection and promotion of the honour and excellence of our programme.

· · ·

4.48.2

नि॒र्यु॒वा॒णो अश॑स्तीर्नि॒युत्वाँ॒ इन्द्र॑सारथिः । वाय॒वा च॒न्द्रेण॒ रथे॑न या॒हि सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ ॥

Perennial young, ineffable, constant in motion and velocity, mover of fire, electricity and the sun, Vayu, highpriest of cosmic yajna, come by the golden chariot of the moon for a drink of soma and for protection and promotion of the finest creations of humanity.

· · ·

4.48.3

अनु॑ कृ॒ष्णे वसु॑धिती ये॒माते॑ वि॒श्वपे॑शसा । वाय॒वा च॒न्द्रेण॒ रथे॑न या॒हि सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ ॥

Vayu, both heaven and earth, sustained by your cosmic energy, hold and sustain the wealth of the world and are themselves the form and wielders of the forms of the world, moving in accord with your force and law. Come by the chariot of the golden beauty of the moon and drink the soma distilled by us in our yajna.

· · ·

4.48.4

वह॑न्तु त्वा मनो॒युजो॑ यु॒क्तासो॑ नव॒तिर्नव॑ । वाय॒वा च॒न्द्रेण॒ रथे॑न या॒हि सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ ॥

Vayu, may the ninety nine forces of cosmic energy yoked to your chariot transport you by the golden chariot of the moon controlled by thought of the mind. Come to our yajna for a drink of soma.

· · ·

4.48.5

वायो॑ श॒तं हरी॑णां यु॒वस्व॒ पोष्या॑णाम् । उ॒त वा॑ ते सह॒स्रिणो॒ रथ॒ आ या॑तु॒ पाज॑सा ॥

Vayu, vibrant ruler of power, force and yajnic development, use a hundred of the best of force and people in your project of development, and let your chariot of a thousandfold wealth and power come to us for our yajna.

✦ Sukta 49 · 6 verses ✦

4.49.1

इ॒दं वा॑मा॒स्ये॑ ह॒विः प्रि॒यमि॑न्द्राबृहस्पती । उ॒क्थं मद॑श्च शस्यते ॥

Indra, O lord intrepidable of ruling power, Brhaspati, O lord protector and promoter of the wide world and its comprehensive knowledge, this is the holy offering of food and this the heartfelt offering of happy tribute made for your acceptance and enjoyment.

· · ·

4.49.2

अ॒यं वां॒ परि॑ षिच्यते॒ सोम॑ इन्द्राबृहस्पती । चारु॒र्मदा॑य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Indra and Brhaspati, ruler and scholar of eminence, this soma for you is offered as a drink of pleasure and ecstasy of the highest order.

· · ·

4.49.3

आ न॑ इन्द्राबृहस्पती गृ॒हमिन्द्र॑श्च गच्छतम् । सो॒म॒पा सोम॑पीतये ॥

May Indra-Brhaspati, ruler scholar of eminence, and Indra, controller and defender of power, honour and excellence, connoisseurs of the delight of soma, come to our home for a drink of soma. May they protect and promote the honour and prestige of the land.

· · ·

4.49.4

अ॒स्मे इ॑न्द्राबृहस्पती र॒यिं ध॑त्तं शत॒ग्विन॑म् । अश्वा॑वन्तं सह॒स्रिण॑म् ॥

May Indra and Brhaspati bear and bring for us a hundredfold wealth of cows, lands and knowledge, and may they bring us a thousandfold wealth of horses, transport and progress in science and technology.

· · ·

4.49.5

इन्द्रा॒बृह॒स्पती॑ व॒यं सु॒ते गी॒र्भिर्ह॑वामहे । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Indra and Brhaspati, the soma is extracted and distilled. We invoke and invite you for a drink of this soma.

· · ·

4.49.6

सोम॑मिन्द्राबृहस्पती॒ पिब॑तं दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हे । मा॒दये॑थां॒ तदो॑कसा ॥

Indra and Brhaspati of the house of honour and power, drink the soma in the home of the generous yajamana as your own and give us the honour and pleasure of your company.

✦ Sukta 50 · 11 verses ✦

4.50.1

यस्त॒स्तम्भ॒ सह॑सा॒ वि ज्मो अन्ता॒न्बृह॒स्पति॑स्त्रिषध॒स्थो रवे॑ण । तं प्र॒त्नास॒ ऋष॑यो॒ दीध्या॑नाः पु॒रो विप्रा॑ दधिरे म॒न्द्रजि॑ह्वम् ॥

Brhaspati, the sun, which, positioned in the midst of the three regions of earth, skies and heaven, sustains the earth and other planets to the ends with its force and its rays of light and gravitation; Or, the Lord of mighty universe who is omnipresent in the worlds of earth, skies and the heavens of light and rules the universe to the ends of it with his omnipotence and Word of revelation; Or, the ruler, who, self-established in knowledge, action, and prayer, rules the world to the ends of the earth with his power and word and force of law; Or, the eminent scholar, who, master of the three realms of knowledge, Divinity, Prakrti, and the soul with the word of the Veda, rules the heart and intellect of the people to the ends of the earth with his knowledge that is power and his word: Him, lord of sweet voice and vibrations of communication and gravitation, the ancient seers, shining since the first moments of human existence, vibrant with living knowledge and holy desire, sing, celebrate and advance in human consciousness.

· · ·

4.50.2

धु॒नेत॑यः सुप्रके॒तं मद॑न्तो॒ बृह॑स्पते अ॒भि ये न॑स्तत॒स्रे । पृष॑न्तं सृ॒प्रमद॑ब्धमू॒र्वं बृह॑स्पते॒ रक्ष॑तादस्य॒ योनि॑म् ॥

O Brhaspati, vibrant scholars and heroes are they who inspire the holy and brilliant man of knowledge and centres of advancement, and help us progress in culture and achievement. O lord of progress and advancement, protect and promote the home and profession of every such person and institution, creative, brilliant, fearless, and generous and extensive in possibilities.

· · ·

4.50.3

बृह॑स्पते॒ या प॑र॒मा प॑रा॒वदत॒ आ त॑ ऋत॒स्पृशो॒ नि षे॑दुः । तुभ्यं॑ खा॒ता अ॑व॒ता अद्रि॑दुग्धा॒ मध्वः॑ श्चोतन्त्य॒भितो॑ विर॒प्शम् ॥

Brhaspati, far off and most high is your seat of majesty whence travel and ever abide your rays of light and Law which then touch the oceans of water to break them into vapours so that, like deep dug wells and clouds laden with milky showers of honey sweets, they pour down in abundant rain in your service for you and your people.

· · ·

4.50.4

बृह॒स्पतिः॑ प्रथ॒मं जाय॑मानो म॒हो ज्योति॑षः पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् । स॒प्तास्य॑स्तुविजा॒तो रवे॑ण॒ वि स॒प्तर॑श्मिरधम॒त्तमां॑सि ॥

Brhaspati, the cosmic sun, first born of the supreme light of existence in the highest heaven, with seven mouths for consumption of materials and seven rays of light for creation of energy, born among many the mightiest, dispels the darknesses from the world with the thunder and lightning power of its majesty. (So should the ruler and the scholar be in knowledge and power.)

· · ·

4.50.5

स सु॒ष्टुभा॒ स ऋक्व॑ता ग॒णेन॑ व॒लं रु॑रोज फलि॒गं रवे॑ण । बृह॒स्पति॑रु॒स्रिया॑ हव्य॒सूदः॒ कनि॑क्रद॒द्वाव॑शती॒रुदा॑जत् ॥

With a mighty jubilant roar of thunder and terrible shower of electric energy, Brhaspati breaks the crooked cloud, releases the showers, activates the production of food for holy offerings and wins the gratitude of the green earth, fertile cows and rejoicing humanity.

· · ·

4.50.6

ए॒वा पि॒त्रे वि॒श्वदे॑वाय॒ वृष्णे॑ य॒ज्ञैर्वि॑धेम॒ नम॑सा ह॒विर्भिः॑ । बृह॑स्पते सुप्र॒जा वी॒रव॑न्तो व॒यं स्या॑म॒ पत॑यो रयी॒णाम् ॥

Thus do we, O lord Brhaspati, offer homage to the father, divine giver of light and rain showers, with food, and salutations, yajnas and oblations of fragrant havis, and we pray that we may be blest with noble and brave progeny, and we may be masters of the wealths of life.

· · ·

4.50.7

स इद्राजा॒ प्रति॑जन्यानि॒ विश्वा॒ शुष्मे॑ण तस्थाव॒भि वी॒र्ये॑ण । बृह॒स्पतिं॒ यः सुभृ॑तं बि॒भर्ति॑ वल्गू॒यति॒ वन्द॑ते पूर्व॒भाज॑म् ॥

He surely is ruler of the world who faces all the practical battles of life with his own strength and courage, and who holds in faith, honours and worships Brhaspati, lord supreme sustainer of the universe, most cherished and the first immanent lord of life.

· · ·

4.50.8

स इत्क्षे॑ति॒ सुधि॑त॒ ओक॑सि॒ स्वे तस्मा॒ इळा॑ पिन्वते विश्व॒दानी॑म् । तस्मै॒ विशः॑ स्व॒यमे॒वा न॑मन्ते॒ यस्मि॑न्ब्र॒ह्मा राज॑नि॒ पूर्व॒ एति॑ ॥

Surely he dwells with peace and contentment in his own home, and him nature favours with all her gifts as her loving all-generous child, and to him all people spontaneously bow in reverence, whom Brahma, Lord Supreme as well as visionary of the Vedas, prime Spirit and prime person, favours and blesses as the brilliant ruler with the divine presence.

· · ·

4.50.9

अप्र॑तीतो जयति॒ सं धना॑नि॒ प्रति॑जन्यान्यु॒त या सज॑न्या । अ॒व॒स्यवे॒ यो वरि॑वः कृ॒णोति॑ ब्र॒ह्मणे॒ राजा॒ तम॑वन्ति दे॒वाः ॥

Unchallenged, unopposed, that ruler wins over and rules all the wealth and powers, assets and liabilities, whether they belong to the opposition or to his own supporters, who does honour and service to the holy man of Vedic knowledge, who feels he needs protection and support and offers worship and support to the lord omniscient and omnipotent in support of his people. Indeed all the nobilities of humanity and all powers of nature strengthen, support and protect that ruler as the man of God for all his people.

· · ·

4.50.10

इन्द्र॑श्च॒ सोमं॑ पिबतं बृहस्पते॒ऽस्मिन्य॒ज्ञे म॑न्दसा॒ना वृ॑षण्वसू । आ वां॑ विश॒न्त्विन्द॑वः स्वा॒भुवो॒ऽस्मे र॒यिं सर्व॑वीरं॒ नि य॑च्छतम् ॥

Brhaspati, master of the knowledge of omniscience, and Indra, lord ruler of the world, both rejoicing and giving showers of wealth and comfort to the people, drink the soma of bliss in this yajna of human excellence. O lords of glory in your own right, may the majesty and sublimity of divinity bless you both and may you create and give us the wealth and honour of a brave and perfect nation with a brave young generation.

· · ·

4.50.11

बृह॑स्पत इन्द्र॒ वर्ध॑तं नः॒ सचा॒ सा वां॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे । अ॒वि॒ष्टं धियो॑ जिगृ॒तं पुरन्धीर्जज॒स्तम॒र्यो व॒नुषा॒मरा॑तीः ॥

Brhaspati and Indra, scholar teacher of science and Divinity, ruler of the world, lead us on to advancement, we pray, be with us as our own, and may your vision and wisdom be ours for ourselves. Inspire and protect our mind and soul, awaken our thought and action. Lord and master, kind and favourable, help us exhaust and eliminate our weaknesses, want and poverty, dedicated supplicants as we are.

✦ Sukta 51 · 11 verses ✦

4.51.1

इ॒दमु॒ त्यत्पु॑रु॒तमं॑ पु॒रस्ता॒ज्ज्योति॒स्तम॑सो व॒युना॑वदस्थात् । नू॒नं दि॒वो दु॑हि॒तरो॑ विभा॒तीर्गा॒तुं कृ॑णवन्नु॒षसो॒ जना॑य ॥

Yonder in the east arises and shines that glorious light of the dawn revealing itself from the depths of night’s darkness and inspiring us to wake up and see the light of knowledge. Surely daughters of heaven, the sublime lights of the dawn illuminate the earth for us to see the paths of the day’s action.

· · ·

4.51.2

अस्थु॑रु चि॒त्रा उ॒षसः॑ पु॒रस्ता॑न्मि॒ताइ॑व॒ स्वर॑वोऽध्व॒रेषु॑ । व्यू॑ व्र॒जस्य॒ तम॑सो॒ द्वारो॒च्छन्ती॑रव्र॒ञ्छुच॑यः पाव॒काः ॥

The lights of the dawn, various wondrous, shine magnificent in the east like daughters of omniscience, bright and bold like flag posts of yajnas of the day, pure and purifying as flames of fire, opening the doors of light from the deep folds of the night’s darkness.

· · ·

4.51.3

उ॒च्छन्ती॑र॒द्य चि॑तयन्त भो॒जान्रा॑धो॒देया॑यो॒षसो॑ म॒घोनीः॑ । अ॒चि॒त्रे अ॒न्तः प॒णयः॑ सस॒न्त्वबु॑ध्यमाना॒स्तम॑सो॒ विम॑ध्ये ॥

Brilliant and blissful magnificent lights of the dawn now in the early hours of the morning wake up and inspire liberal yajakas for the gifts of charity and performance of the morning yajna, while deep down in the folds of impenetrable darkness the slothful misers sleep on, unconscious, unaware and lost in the state of ignorance.

· · ·

4.51.4

कु॒वित्स दे॑वीः स॒नयो॒ नवो॑ वा॒ यामो॑ बभू॒यादु॑षसो वो अ॒द्य । येना॒ नव॑ग्वे॒ अङ्गि॑रे॒ दश॑ग्वे स॒प्तास्ये॑ रेवती रे॒वदू॒ष ॥

O divinities of the dawn, let that ancient chariot of yours which is ever new every morning be ever so great and magnificent by which, rich and luxurious in wealth and grace of beauty, you come and shine for your darling, dear as breath of life, who has nine cows or ten, i.e., earthly virtues, and seven mouths for consumption and many more for creation.

· · ·

4.51.5

यू॒यं हि दे॑वीर्ऋत॒युग्भि॒रश्वैः॑ परिप्रया॒थ भुव॑नानि स॒द्यः । प्र॒बो॒धय॑न्तीरुषसः स॒सन्तं॑ द्वि॒पाच्चतु॑ष्पाच्च॒रथा॑य जी॒वम् ॥

O divine lights of dawn, you always move over and across regions of the world by the rays of light travelling by the straight paths of truth and natural law across the oceans of space, waking up and inspiring the sleeping world of life, humans and animals, to rise and move for the day’s activity.

· · ·

4.51.6

क्व॑ स्विदासां कत॒मा पु॑रा॒णी यया॑ वि॒धाना॑ विद॒धुर्ऋ॑भू॒णाम् । शुभं॒ यच्छु॒भ्रा उ॒षस॒श्चर॑न्ति॒ न वि ज्ञा॑यन्ते स॒दृशी॑रजु॒र्याः ॥

Where and which of these dawns is that ancient one by which the wonder works of the Rbhus, miraculous artists and experts, were accomplished? Which one of these glorious dawns that go about so blissfully, all alike and unaging? No, not known.

· · ·

4.51.7

ता घा॒ ता भ॒द्रा उ॒षसः॑ पु॒रासु॑रभि॒ष्टिद्यु॑म्ना ऋ॒तजा॑तसत्याः । यास्वी॑जा॒नः श॑शमा॒न उ॒क्थैः स्तु॒वञ्छंस॒न्द्रवि॑णं स॒द्य आप॑ ॥

For sure those were the dawns of ancient time, givers of abundant wealth of one’s heart’s desire, born of the law of Divinity, rooted in eternal truth and rectitude, in which the holy yajaka, worshipping the Divine with songs of praise and celebration, always and immediately achieved the wealth of his choice and desire. They are the same even now, the old ever new.

· · ·

4.51.8

ता आ च॑रन्ति सम॒ना पु॒रस्ता॑त्समा॒नतः॑ सम॒ना प॑प्रथा॒नाः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ दे॒वीः सद॑सो बुधा॒ना गवां॒ न सर्गा॑ उ॒षसो॑ जरन्ते ॥

They are the celestial lights of Divinity, part of cosmic dynamics, waking up the homesteads to activity and proceeding like streams of cows going to the pastures. Thus do the dawns arise, radiate, wake up life and celebrate the Divine. They rise and act the same way in the east since eternity, radiate equally the same way, illuminating the same way, eternal, ever new, old yet ever young.

· · ·

4.51.9

ता इन्न्वे॒३॒॑व स॑म॒ना स॑मा॒नीरमी॑तवर्णा उ॒षस॑श्चरन्ति । गूह॑न्ती॒रभ्व॒मसि॑तं॒ रुश॑द्भिः शु॒क्रास्त॒नूभिः॒ शुच॑यो रुचा॒नाः ॥

Thus do the dawns, equal, alike, unobstructed and inviolable, radiate and roam around, covering the vast spatial darkness with light and vesting things with beautiful forms of their own by their catalytic rays of light and blaze, penetrating, pure, purifying, beautiful and edifying.

· · ·

4.51.10

र॒यिं दि॑वो दुहितरो विभा॒तीः प्र॒जाव॑न्तं यच्छता॒स्मासु॑ देवीः । स्यो॒नादा वः॑ प्रति॒बुध्य॑मानाः सु॒वीर्य॑स्य॒ पत॑यः स्याम ॥

O daughters of the light of heaven, angelic damsels of divinity, bear and bless us with the wealth of progeny so that, illuminative as you are, edified into a state of wakefulness and enlightenment through the peace and bliss of your love and beauty, we, awake and enlightened, may command a blessed force of warlike heroes.

· · ·

4.51.11

तद्वो॑ दिवो दुहितरो विभा॒तीरुप॑ ब्रुव उषसो य॒ज्ञके॑तुः । व॒यं स्या॑म य॒शसो॒ जने॑षु॒ तद्द्यौश्च॑ ध॒त्तां पृ॑थि॒वी च॑ दे॒वी ॥

O lights of dawn, daughters of the glory of heaven, brilliant, radiating and illuminative as you are, I sing of you as you are, symbol of cosmic yajna, and I pray we may be blest with the glory of divinity, splendour of humanity and the honour and wealth of excellence which the heaven and earth and the daughters of heaven and earth may bear and bring for us. (Swami Dayananda extends the meaning of the dawns from ‘daughters of heaven’ to heavenly daughters of humanity’, enlightened women, makers of happy homes. A happy home is a very heaven, he says.)

✦ Sukta 52 · 7 verses ✦

4.52.1

प्रति॒ ष्या सू॒नरी॒ जनी॑ व्यु॒च्छन्ती॒ परि॒ स्वसुः॑ । दि॒वो अ॑दर्शि दुहि॒ता ॥

That joyous dawn, pioneer of the sun, harbinger of the new day, shining at the departure of her sister, the night, rises to view every morning as the daughter of heaven, arousing the world to fresh life.

· · ·

4.52.2

अश्वे॑व चि॒त्रारु॑षी मा॒ता गवा॑मृ॒ताव॑री । सखा॑भूद॒श्विनो॑रु॒षाः ॥

Like a graceful mare, crimson red, wondrous bright, mother pioneer of sunrays, shower of nature’s light and bliss, the dawn is a friend of the Ashvins, the sun and moon.

· · ·

4.52.3

उ॒त सखा॑स्य॒श्विनो॑रु॒त मा॒ता गवा॑मसि । उ॒तोषो॒ वस्व॑ ईशिषे ॥

O Dawn, while you are a friend of the sun and moon and mother of sunrays, you also command the wealths of the world.

· · ·

4.52.4

या॒व॒यद्द्वे॑षसं त्वा चिकि॒त्वित्सू॑नृतावरि । प्रति॒ स्तोमै॑रुभूत्स्महि ॥

O bright and illuminative dawn, spirit and beauty of truth and holiness, while you dispel hate and anger and inspire love and admiration, let us know and celebrate you with songs of praise and honour.

· · ·

4.52.5

प्रति॑ भ॒द्रा अ॑दृक्षत॒ गवां॒ सर्गा॒ न र॒श्मयः॑ । ओषा अ॑प्रा उ॒रु ज्रयः॑ ॥

The bright and blessed light rays of the dawn appear moving like herds of cows, like showers of solar energy and like clusters of galaxies: the refulgent dawns filling the wide spaces with light and splendour.

· · ·

4.52.6

आ॒प॒प्रुषी॑ विभावरि॒ व्या॑व॒र्ज्योति॑षा॒ तमः॑ । उषो॒ अनु॑ स्व॒धाम॑व ॥

Bright and wide awake, inspiring the world with light and awareness, replete with the virtue of divinity, removing the veil of darkness with light, O dawn, protect us, protect and promote all, as you have the power and wakefulness.

· · ·

4.52.7

आ द्यां त॑नोषि र॒श्मिभि॒रान्तरि॑क्षमु॒रु प्रि॒यम् । उषः॑ शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॑ ॥

O dawn, with your rays of light, you radiate and fill the wide heavens and the skies, and the regions of universal love, so do you bless your loved one with the purest light of love and bliss. (Swami Dayananda interprets the dawn literally as well as metaphorically: The dawn is not only the light of the morning, daughter of the sun, but also the light of the home, blessed and beautiful lady of the house who fills the home with light and virtue and inspires her beloved husband with love and bliss.)

✦ Sukta 53 · 7 verses ✦

4.53.1

तद्दे॒वस्य॑ सवि॒तुर्वार्यं॑ म॒हद्वृ॑णी॒महे॒ असु॑रस्य॒ प्रचे॑तसः । छ॒र्दिर्येन॑ दा॒शुषे॒ यच्छ॑ति॒ त्मना॒ तन्नो॑ म॒हाँ उद॑यान्दे॒वो अ॒क्तुभिः॑ ॥

We love, choose and pray for that great, lovable and cherished energy and refulgence of Savita, self￾refulgent, all observant, giver of light, life and breath of energy by which, all by himself, he gives the peace and shelter of a blessed home to the generous yajnic devotee. May the same lord of light and life arise for us day by day and bless us with the bliss of a sweet home.

· · ·

4.53.2

दि॒वो ध॒र्ता भुव॑नस्य प्र॒जाप॑तिः पि॒शङ्गं॑ द्रा॒पिं प्रति॑ मुञ्चते क॒विः । वि॒च॒क्ष॒णः प्र॒थय॑न्नापृ॒णन्नु॒र्वजी॑जनत्सवि॒ता सु॒म्नमु॒क्थ्य॑म् ॥

Upholder of the heaven of light, sustainer of the universe, Prajapati Savita, lord of light and vision, wears the refulgent mantle of many forms and colours and, all watching, illuminative, radiating and expansive, filling all regions with the life breath of energy, creates and inspires adorable peace and joy of living.

· · ·

4.53.3

आप्रा॒ रजां॑सि दि॒व्यानि॒ पार्थि॑वा॒ श्लोकं॑ दे॒वः कृ॑णुते॒ स्वाय॒ धर्म॑णे । प्र बा॒हू अ॑स्राक्सवि॒ता सवी॑मनि निवे॒शय॑न्प्रसु॒वन्न॒क्तुभि॒र्जग॑त् ॥

Savita, self-refulgent creator, giver of light and life, pervades the highest regions of light, the middle regions of the skies and the regions of the earth and creates the poetry of omniscience for the revelation and communication of his own divine law. He extends the arms of his omnipotential power and presence thereby in-vesting and advancing the world of his creation into the honour and excellence of life day and night.

· · ·

4.53.4

अदा॑भ्यो॒ भुव॑नानि प्र॒चाक॑शद्व्र॒तानि॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ताभि र॑क्षते । प्रास्रा॑ग्बा॒हू भुव॑नस्य प्र॒जाभ्यो॑ धृ॒तव्र॑तो म॒हो अज्म॑स्य राजति ॥

Undaunted and intrepidable, the self-refulgent lord of infinite generosity, Savita, illuminates the worlds of existence and guards and superintends the laws of nature and holy resolutions of humanity. He extends his arms of help and protection for the children of the earth and, wielding his omnipotence of the laws of existence, he shines and rules over the wide regions of the mighty universe.

· · ·

4.53.5

त्रिर॒न्तरि॑क्षं सवि॒ता म॑हित्व॒ना त्री रजां॑सि परि॒भूस्त्रीणि॑ रोच॒ना । ति॒स्रो दिवः॑ पृथि॒वीस्ति॒स्र इ॑न्वति त्रि॒भिर्व्र॒तैर॒भि नो॑ रक्षति॒ त्मना॑ ॥

Lord Savita with his power and presence pervades and inspires threefold middle regions, threefold regions of firmament and spatial oceans, threefold lights of fire, lightning and the sun, three orders of heaven and threefold regions of earth, and with his love and power he guides, protects and fulfils us by the threefold laws of creation, sustenance and dissolution of the world.

· · ·

4.53.6

बृ॒हत्सु॑म्नः प्रसवी॒ता नि॒वेश॑नो॒ जग॑तः स्था॒तुरु॒भय॑स्य॒ यो व॒शी । स नो॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता शर्म॑ यच्छत्व॒स्मे क्षया॑य त्रि॒वरू॑थ॒मंह॑सः ॥

Lord giver of abundant peace and joy, creator sustainer, mainstay of the moving and unmoving world and controller of both, may the self-refulgent lord Savita of infinite generosity grant us peace and prosperity of an excellent home for threefold protection of body, mind and soul, elimination of sin and evil and rest in tranquillity.

· · ·

4.53.7

आग॑न्दे॒व ऋ॒तुभि॒र्वर्ध॑तु॒ क्षयं॒ दधा॑तु नः सवि॒ता सु॑प्र॒जामिष॑म् । स नः॑ क्ष॒पाभि॒रह॑भिश्च जिन्वतु प्र॒जाव॑न्तं र॒यिम॒स्मे समि॑न्वतु ॥

May the self-refulgent lord Savita arise, promote the peace and prosperity of our home by every season and bring us abundant food and energy with the bliss of noble progeny. May he inspire us day and night to higher honour and achievement and advance us all round to a settled state of homely wealth for generations to come.

✦ Sukta 54 · 6 verses ✦

4.54.1

अभू॑द्दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता वन्द्यो॒ नु न॑ इ॒दानी॒मह्न॑ उप॒वाच्यो॒ नृभिः॑ । वि यो रत्ना॒ भज॑ति मान॒वेभ्यः॒ श्रेष्ठं॑ नो॒ अत्र॒ द्रवि॑णं॒ यथा॒ दध॑त् ॥

Lord Savita, giver of abundant light and joy, is adorable for all of us, the lord who is now praised and worshipped day in and day out by the best of men and leaders of humanity, and who gives for the people abundant good fortune of the jewels of wealth just as he creates and gives the best and highest of wealth for us.

· · ·

4.54.2

दे॒वेभ्यो॒ हि प्र॑थ॒मं य॒ज्ञिये॑भ्योऽमृत॒त्वं सु॒वसि॑ भा॒गमु॑त्त॒मम् । आदिद्दा॒मानं॑ सवित॒र्व्यू॑र्णुषेऽनूची॒ना जी॑वि॒ता मानु॑षेभ्यः ॥

Savita, lord creator of life, you alone first of all create and inspire the immortal bliss of freedom, the highest gift of divinity for mankind, awarded to the devotees of yajna and divine worship, and then you alone reveal yourself and open up the treasures of divine gifts for the generous people followed by children who keep up the family tradition of piety.

· · ·

4.54.3

अचि॑त्ती॒ यच्च॑कृ॒मा दैव्ये॒ जने॑ दी॒नैर्दक्षैः॒ प्रभू॑ती पूरुष॒त्वता॑ । दे॒वेषु॑ च सवित॒र्मानु॑षेषु च॒ त्वं नो॒ अत्र॑ सुवता॒दना॑गसः ॥

Whatever our trespass whether out of ignorance, or helplessness, or pride, or arrogance, or sense of power, either among or toward the divine people, or the generous and brilliant, or even ordinary people, for that trespass, O lord Savita, giver of light and inspiration, give us the strength and inspiration to correct ourselves and be free from sin and evil here itself in this life we are human, after all.

· · ·

4.54.4

न प्र॒मिये॑ सवि॒तुर्दैव्य॑स्य॒ तद्यथा॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं धारयि॒ष्यति॑ । यत्पृ॑थि॒व्या वरि॑म॒न्ना स्व॑ङ्गु॒रिर्वर्ष्म॑न्दि॒वः सु॒वति॑ स॒त्यम॑स्य॒ तत् ॥

Never shall the grandeur of divine Savita be violated and destroyed, grandeur by which he wields and shall ever wield the whole universe, by which he creates the wide expanse of the earth and the glory of high heaven whereon is seen the imprint of his fingers. That grandeur is ever true, imperishable.

· · ·

4.54.5

इन्द्र॑ज्येष्ठान्बृ॒हद्भ्यः॒ पर्व॑तेभ्यः॒ क्षयाँ॑ एभ्यः सुवसि प॒स्त्या॑वतः । यथा॑यथा प॒तय॑न्तो वियेमि॒र ए॒वैव त॑स्थुः सवितः स॒वाय॑ ते ॥

Savita, O lord creator, you create the stars and forces great as the sun and cosmic energy, greater than the mighty mountains and the thunderous clouds, and you create the regions and orbits for these wherein they abide like home dwellers. And as these fly around and observe the cosmic law, so they abide for your honour and grandeur doing homage to your glory.

· · ·

4.54.6

ये ते॒ त्रिरह॑न्त्सवितः स॒वासो॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ सौभ॑गमासु॒वन्ति॑ । इन्द्रो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी सिन्धु॑र॒द्भिरा॑दि॒त्यैर्नो॒ अदि॑तिः॒ शर्म॑ यंसत् ॥

Savita, lord creator, the created ones such as sun and moon and the human beings, who daily do homage to you thrice every day, may all these, earth and heaven, the sea with waters, mother nature with her solar lights, and Indra, the sun, and lord omnipotent create for us homely sweetness and give us a peaceful home for rest.

✦ Sukta 55 · 10 verses ✦

4.55.1

को व॑स्त्रा॒ता व॑सवः॒ को व॑रू॒ता द्यावा॑भूमी अदिते॒ त्रासी॑थां नः । सही॑यसो वरुण मित्र॒ मर्ता॒त्को वो॑ऽध्व॒रे वरि॑वो धाति देवाः ॥

O Vasus, shelter homes of life, which one of you is our saviour, our protector? O heaven and earth, O mother nature, safeguard us. O Mitra and Varuna, friend and lord of justice, who is our protector and defender against the powerful challenging man? O noble people, who bears and brings us the best gifts in yajna?

· · ·

4.55.2

प्र ये धामा॑नि पू॒र्व्याण्यर्चा॒न्वि यदु॒च्छान्वि॑यो॒तारो॒ अमू॑राः । वि॒धा॒तारो॒ वि ते द॑धु॒रज॑स्रा ऋ॒तधी॑तयो रुरुचन्त द॒स्माः ॥

Those who love and respect and have realised the primal seats and sources of divine bliss, who dispel the darkness and illuminate them, wise destroyers of suffering, creators and sustainers of boons of divine bliss, bear and bring immortal bliss without relent, they are the destroyers of want and misery, and they abide by and sustain the laws of truth and shine in glory.

· · ·

4.55.3

प्र प॒स्त्या॒३॒॑मदि॑तिं॒ सिन्धु॑म॒र्कैः स्व॒स्तिमी॑ळे स॒ख्याय॑ दे॒वीम् । उ॒भे यथा॑ नो॒ अह॑नी नि॒पात॑ उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ करता॒मद॑ब्धे ॥

I praise the divine Aditi, Mother Nature and imperishable Eternity, blessed home of existence and the ocean, with songs of celebration for the sake of friendship and the gift of welfare and happiness, and I pray that just as the two protect and sustain us day and night, so may the night and the dawns, both intrepidable, nourish and sustain us.

· · ·

4.55.4

व्य॑र्य॒मा वरु॑णश्चेति॒ पन्था॑मि॒षस्पतिः॑ सुवि॒तं गा॒तुम॒ग्निः । इन्द्रा॑विष्णू नृ॒वदु॒ षु स्तवा॑ना॒ शर्म॑ नो यन्त॒मम॑व॒द्वरू॑थम् ॥

May Aryama, lord of justice, and Varuna, supreme ruler, show us the paths of life with light and knowledge. May Agni, leading creator and controller of food and energy, open up the paths of progressive development on earth. May Indra, controller and commander of power, and Vishnu, sustainer and protector of a steady state of law and order, both praised and celebrated as leaders of excellence, provide us a life of peace, freedom and security and a sweet home of conjugal bliss and promising progeny.

· · ·

4.55.5

आ पर्व॑तस्य म॒रुता॒मवां॑सि दे॒वस्य॑ त्रा॒तुर॑व्रि॒ भग॑स्य । पात्पति॒र्जन्या॒दंह॑सो नो मि॒त्रो मि॒त्रिया॑दु॒त न॑ उरुष्येत् ॥

I pray for protections of the cloud, the mountain and the winds and warriors, and for the gifts of Bhaga, generous giver of power and prosperity, the lord protector and promoter of all. May the ruler of the land save us from sin and crime that might arise, and Mitra, friends, like real friends, protect and advance us in life.

· · ·

4.55.6

नू रो॑दसी॒ अहि॑ना बु॒ध्न्ये॑न स्तुवी॒त दे॑वी॒ अप्ये॑भिरि॒ष्टैः । स॒मु॒द्रं न सं॒चर॑णे सनि॒ष्यवो॑ घ॒र्मस्व॑रसो न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ अप॑ व्रन् ॥

As the sailors who desire to cross the sea study and appraise the sea and sea conditions to sail over, so, O dedicated performers of yajna, study the earth and heaven along with thunder and clouds and the desired water gifts of the skies so that streams of vapour and showers of rain be released for the rivers to flow over land to the sea.

· · ·

4.55.7

दे॒वैर्नो॑ दे॒व्यदि॑ति॒र्नि पा॑तु दे॒वस्त्रा॒ता त्रा॑यता॒मप्र॑युच्छन् । न॒हि मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य धा॒सिमर्हा॑मसि प्र॒मियं॒ सान्व॒ग्नेः ॥

May divine Aditi, Mother Nature, with all her generous forces nourish and sustain us. May divine saviour save, protect and sustain us without relent and neglect. (So may our mother and father guide, protect and sustain us.) And we must not try, much less even feel, that we can hurt or compromise the high position and favour of Mitra, the friend, Varuna, senior guide and judge, and Agni, leader, fire and vital energy.

· · ·

4.55.8

अ॒ग्निरी॑शे वस॒व्य॑स्या॒ग्निर्म॒हः सौभ॑गस्य । तान्य॒स्मभ्यं॑ रासते ॥

Agni, ruler of action and endeavour, rules the wealth, power and honours of life.Agni, fire, commands the prosperity, good fortune and grandeur of humanity. Agni provides all these for us.

· · ·

4.55.9

उषो॑ मघो॒न्या व॑ह॒ सूनृ॑ते॒ वार्या॑ पु॒रु । अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ वाजिनीवति ॥

Usha, O lady of morning light, beauty of the home, blest with holy speech of inspiration, commanding wealth and honour, mistress of intelligence and speed of progress in action and endeavour, bring us manifold wealth and honour of our cherished desire.

· · ·

4.55.10

तत्सु नः॑ सवि॒ता भगो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । इन्द्रो॑ नो॒ राध॒सा ग॑मत् ॥

That power, prosperity, honour and excellence for us, may Savita, the sun, Bhaga, ruler of wealth and power, Varuna, the chosen leader, Mitra, the friend, Aryama, the chief of justice, and Indra, commander and controller of power and rule of law and order, may bring us with all wealth and success of excellence and joy.

✦ Sukta 56 · 7 verses ✦

4.56.1

म॒ही द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी इ॒ह ज्येष्ठे॑ रु॒चा भ॑वतां शु॒चय॑द्भिर॒र्कैः । वत्सीं॒ वरि॑ष्ठे बृह॒ती वि॑मि॒न्वन्रु॒वद्धो॒क्षा प॑प्रथा॒नेभि॒रेवैः॑ ॥

The great heaven and earth, greatest here both, grow bright and beautiful with pure and purifying showers of light when the sun, radiating and all round pervading both the great and best regions of the universe, rises and roars like a bull in the heavens with wide expansive rays of its glorious radiation.

· · ·

4.56.2

दे॒वी दे॒वेभि॑र्यज॒ते यज॑त्रै॒रमि॑नती तस्थतुरु॒क्षमा॑णे । ऋ॒ताव॑री अ॒द्रुहा॑ दे॒वपु॑त्रे य॒ज्ञस्य॑ ने॒त्री शु॒चय॑द्भिर॒र्कैः ॥

Divine dyavaprthivi, sun and earth with their divine forces—the sun with light and the earth with her motherly nurture and noble people — both worthy of love and study with dedication, loving and non-violent, abide constant in the universe. They are generous with showers of light and vitality, firm in the cosmic law of truth, replete with waters of life, loving all and hating none, blest with bright and creative progeny — the sun with planets and satellites and the earth with vegetation — carrying on and leading the process of cosmic yajna with their pure and purifying rays of light and vibrations of creative generosity.

· · ·

4.56.3

स इत्स्वपा॒ भुव॑नेष्वास॒ य इ॒मे द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी ज॒जान॑ । उ॒र्वी ग॑भी॒रे रज॑सी सु॒मेके॑ अवं॒शे धीरः॒ शच्या॒ समै॑रत् ॥

That One alone, lord of omnipotent holy action omnipresent in these worlds of the universe, is the lord who creates the heaven and earth wide and deep with concentrations of particles together in beautiful forms self-sustained without external support. He is the lord eternal and omniscient who moves these with his vision and holy power.

· · ·

4.56.4

नू रो॑दसी बृ॒हद्भि॑र्नो॒ वरू॑थैः॒ पत्नी॑वद्भिरि॒षय॑न्ती स॒जोषाः॑ । उ॒रू॒ची विश्वे॑ यज॒ते नि पा॑तं धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्यः॑ सदा॒साः ॥

May the heaven and earth, vast, together loving, kind, favourable and fertile, revered and admired by the world, bless us with vast homes managed by dedicated ladies and may we, with our will and intelligence, achieve and command many chariots and assistants under their protection.

· · ·

4.56.5

प्र वां॒ महि॒ द्यवी॑ अ॒भ्युप॑स्तुतिं भरामहे । शुची॒ उप॒ प्रश॑स्तये ॥

O resplendent heaven and earth, pure and unsullied, we offer earnest praise in honour to you and approach you with prayers.

· · ·

4.56.6

पु॒ना॒ने त॒न्वा॑ मि॒थः स्वेन॒ दक्षे॑ण राजथः । ऊ॒ह्याथे॑ स॒नादृ॒तम् ॥

Divine and pure heaven and earth, together in body with your innate power and potential, you shine in glory and observe the laws of eternal truth in existence.

· · ·

4.56.7

म॒ही मि॒त्रस्य॑ साधथ॒स्तर॑न्ती॒ पिप्र॑ती ऋ॒तम् । परि॑ य॒ज्ञं नि षे॑दथुः ॥

O mighty heaven and earth, helping friends and devotees to cross the hurdles to attainment, fulfilling the laws of truth to bliss, you preside over the yajnas of life to perfection of success.

✦ Sukta 57 · 8 verses ✦

4.57.1

क्षेत्र॑स्य॒ पति॑ना व॒यं हि॒तेने॑व जयामसि । गामश्वं॑ पोषयि॒त्न्वा स नो॑ मृळाती॒दृशे॑ ॥

We prosper in life by virtue of the master of the field as by a benefactor or a friendly army. May he, giver of good health and nutriments, develop fertile fields, cows and horses and, in this way, provide peace and joy for us all.

· · ·

4.57.2

क्षेत्र॑स्य पते॒ मधू॑मन्तमू॒र्मिं धे॒नुरि॑व॒ पयो॑ अ॒स्मासु॑ धुक्ष्व । म॒धु॒श्चुतं॑ घृ॒तमि॑व॒ सुपू॑तमृ॒तस्य॑ नः॒ पत॑यो मृळयन्तु ॥

Master of the field, as the cow produces milk and you milk the nectar for us, so produce the rippling sweets of honey for us, and so may the masters of running waters, laws of nature and holy action discover the sacred knowledge of science like sanctified ghrta seasoned with honey for the peace and joy of us all.

· · ·

4.57.3

मधु॑मती॒रोष॑धी॒र्द्याव॒ आपो॒ मधु॑मन्नो भवत्व॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । क्षेत्र॑स्य॒ पति॒र्मधु॑मान्नो अ॒स्त्वरि॑ष्यन्तो॒ अन्वे॑नं चरेम ॥

May the herbs and trees, all vegetation indeed, be full of honey for us. May the heavens of light, the skies and the oceans of earth and space be full of honey for us. May the farmer, master of the field, be gracious with honey for us. And let us join, serve and cooperate with the farmer as well as with nature as we should without hurting, injuring and polluting.

· · ·

4.57.4

शु॒नं वा॒हाः शु॒नं नरः॑ शु॒नं कृ॑षतु॒ लाङ्ग॑लम् । शु॒नं व॑र॒त्रा ब॑ध्यन्तां शु॒नमष्ट्रा॒मुदि॑ङ्गय ॥

Let the oxen and horses draw the plough and carry the burdens happily for growth and prosperity. Let the men work happily, let the plough furrow the field neatly, and let the whole process move on happily and effectively for growth and prosperity.

· · ·

4.57.5

शुना॑सीरावि॒मां वाचं॑ जुषेथां॒ यद्दि॒वि च॒क्रथुः॒ पयः॑ । तेने॒मामुप॑ सिञ्चतम् ॥

O Vayu and Aditya, wind and sun, farmer and helpers, listen to this word and follow: the water which you create in the regions

of light, and which you move in the light of science, pray bring down to irrigate this holy land of the fields.

· · ·

4.57.6

अ॒र्वाची॑ सुभगे भव॒ सीते॒ वन्दा॑महे त्वा । यथा॑ नः सु॒भगास॑सि॒ यथा॑ नः सु॒फलास॑सि ॥

O charming furrow, be straight and deeply well drawn. We love and celebrate you so that you bring us good fortune, so that you bring us the best fruit of our labour and endeavour.

· · ·

4.57.7

इन्द्रः॒ सीतां॒ नि गृ॑ह्णातु॒ तां पू॒षानु॑ यच्छतु । स नः॒ पय॑स्वती दुहा॒मुत्त॑रामुत्तरां॒ समा॑म् ॥

Let Indra, the farmer, take over and look after the furrow with seed, and may the sun shine warmly over the seed. Let Pusha, fertility of nature, feed and energise the grain. And let the earth mother, full of the milk of life, produce more and more of pure foods year by year for us.

· · ·

4.57.8

शु॒नं नः॒ फाला॒ वि कृ॑षन्तु॒ भूमिं॑ शु॒नं की॒नाशा॑ अ॒भि य॑न्तु वा॒हैः । शु॒नं प॒र्जन्यो॒ मधु॑ना॒ पयो॑भिः॒ शुना॑सीरा शु॒नम॒स्मासु॑ धत्तम् ॥

Let the ploughmen plough the land happily for our peace and nourishment. Let the farmers work with the oxen and horses happily for peace and joy. Let the clouds shower with milk and honey joyously for peace and prosperity. Let the share and plough, the ploughmen and their helpers, and the powers of fertility bear and bring us peace, prosperity and joy for us all.

✦ Sukta 58 · 11 verses ✦

4.58.1

स॒मु॒द्रादू॒र्मिर्मधु॑माँ॒ उदा॑र॒दुपां॒शुना॒ सम॑मृत॒त्वमा॑नट् । घृ॒तस्य॒ नाम॒ गुह्यं॒ यदस्ति॑ जि॒ह्वा दे॒वाना॑म॒मृत॑स्य॒ नाभिः॑ ॥

From the seas of earth and space arises the wave of honeyed energy, and close by the sun and soma that is produced in the solar yajna it joins and collects the nectar of immortality. That mysterious identity of cosmic fertility which is for us and for life as a whole flows from the tongue of divinities and originates from the centre of Eternity.

· · ·

4.58.2

व॒यं नाम॒ प्र ब्र॑वामा घृ॒तस्या॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञे धा॑रयामा॒ नमो॑भिः । उप॑ ब्र॒ह्मा शृ॑णवच्छ॒स्यमा॑नं॒ चतुः॑शृङ्गोऽवमीद्गौ॒र ए॒तत् ॥

The name and identity of that spirit of energy and immortality we sing and celebrate in divine words in this yajna, and, with reverence, surrender and self sacrifice, give it unto ourselves in the soul to hold on to it in life. May the Lord Omniscient so close to us hear it well chanted in celebration, the same Lord of Vak, the eternal Word, who commands the four Vedas as high peaks of knowledge and breathes out the same for us in revelation.

· · ·

4.58.3

च॒त्वारि॒ शृङ्गा॒ त्रयो॑ अस्य॒ पादा॒ द्वे शी॒र्षे स॒प्त हस्ता॑सो अस्य । त्रिधा॑ ब॒द्धो वृ॑ष॒भो रो॑रवीति म॒हो दे॒वो मर्त्याँ॒ आ वि॑वेश ॥

Of this mighty self-refulgent Lord, Word and Dharma, four are the high peaks of light and self proclamation: Rgveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharva-veda; three legs on which it rests: jnana or knowledge, karma or action, and upasana or prayer; two heads: abhyudaya or worldly well being, and Nihshreyas or moksha or ultimate freedom; seven hands or the seven verse forms. Three way bound in faith, action and meditation, it is the thundervoice of Divinity which proclaims itself through the beauty, wonder and terror of nature and the music of the Veda. And this mighty presence of mighty self-refulgent Lord and the self￾awareness of omniscience is enshrined in the heart of mortal humans.

· · ·

4.58.4

त्रिधा॑ हि॒तं प॒णिभि॑र्गु॒ह्यमा॑नं॒ गवि॑ दे॒वासो॑ घृ॒तमन्व॑विन्दन् । इन्द्र॒ एकं॒ सूर्य॒ एकं॑ जजान वे॒नादेकं॑ स्व॒धया॒ निष्ट॑तक्षुः ॥

Ghrta, the essence of the nature, purpose and science of life, three way hidden in mystic language and held by natural forces, the enlightened ones discover, create and produce: Indra, cosmic energy, electricity, thunder and lightning, holds and reflects one, the sun holds and radiates another, and the third they discover from their meditation on Divinity with their own vision and intelligence.

· · ·

4.58.5

ए॒ता अ॑र्षन्ति॒ हृद्या॑त्समु॒द्राच्छ॒तव्र॑जा रि॒पुणा॒ नाव॒चक्षे॑ । घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॑ अ॒भि चा॑कशीमि हिर॒ण्ययो॑ वेत॒सो मध्य॑ आसाम् ॥

These streams of light and life’s energy flow in a hundred streams from the innermost depth of the heart￾ocean, but not perceptible to the negative soul. Residing in the golden grove, myself wrapped in golden hue in their midst, I watch the light all round, the gold and the essence of life.

· · ·

4.58.6

स॒म्यक्स्र॑वन्ति स॒रितो॒ न धेना॑ अ॒न्तर्हृ॒दा मन॑सा पू॒यमा॑नाः । ए॒ते अ॑र्षन्त्यू॒र्मयो॑ घृ॒तस्य॑ मृ॒गाइ॑व क्षिप॒णोरीष॑माणाः ॥

These streams of light and life flow like vibrations of the voice divine, purified and sanctified by the innermost soul of the heart and mind. The streams of ghrta, joy of life, flow like deer flying from the hunter’s arrows towards the shelter of the divine saviour.

· · ·

4.58.7

सिन्धो॑रिव प्राध्व॒ने शू॑घ॒नासो॒ वात॑प्रमियः पतयन्ति य॒ह्वाः । घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॑ अरु॒षो न वा॒जी काष्ठा॑ भि॒न्दन्नू॒र्मिभिः॒ पिन्व॑मानः ॥

The streams of ghrta, life’s energy, flow on to join the sea like strong currents of a river rushing on in tumult by simple, straight and holy paths of the bed carved by Divinity, and I, inspired by the waves of ghrta, like a fiery stallion flying, breaking the bounds of world pressures all round by the force of inner vibrations, move on to my divine destination.

· · ·

4.58.8

अ॒भि प्र॑वन्त॒ सम॑नेव॒ योषाः॑ कल्या॒ण्यः१॒॑ स्मय॑मानासो अ॒ग्निम् । घृ॒तस्य॒ धाराः॑ स॒मिधो॑ नसन्त॒ ता जु॑षा॒णो ह॑र्यति जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥

As youthful ladies of love and virtue, inspired with passion and smiling in bliss, proceed to meet agni, enlightened husband, so do streams of ghrta move and flow into the vedi to meet the lighted fire, and the rising fire, loving and gracious, cherishes to receive the flow of the holy yajaka’s offer.

· · ·

4.58.9

क॒न्या॑इव वह॒तुमेत॒वा उ॑ अ॒ञ्ज्य॑ञ्जा॒ना अ॒भि चा॑कशीमि । यत्र॒ सोमः॑ सू॒यते॒ यत्र॑ य॒ज्ञो घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॑ अ॒भि तत्प॑वन्ते ॥

Where the yajna of holy action and meditation is enacted and the bliss of divine soma is created, there I see all round the flow of the streams of consciousness into that vedi of divine fire wherein, like a maiden in all her beauty, finery and perfume proceeding to meet her bridegroom at the wedding yajna, the individual soul flies and is accepted and sanctified in the supreme spirit of Divinity.

· · ·

4.58.10

अ॒भ्य॑र्षत सुष्टु॒तिं गव्य॑मा॒जिम॒स्मासु॑ भ॒द्रा द्रवि॑णानि धत्त । इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं न॑यत दे॒वता॑ नो घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॒ मधु॑मत्पवन्ते ॥

Let the voice of holy praise and divine celebration rise and resound, O saints and sages and scholars of eminence, bear and bring us the light of knowledge enshrined in holy speech, lead us to honour, excellence and victory, and help us create wealth for the world leading all to the bliss of peace and common good. Guide, lead and direct this yajna of ours, the streams of honeyed ghrta flow for the fire divine.

· · ·

4.58.11

धाम॑न्ते॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑न॒मधि॑ श्रि॒तम॒न्तः स॑मु॒द्रे ह्य॒द्य१॒॑न्तरायु॑षि । अ॒पामनी॑के समि॒थे य आभृ॑त॒स्तम॑श्याम॒ मधु॑मन्तं त ऊ॒र्मिम् ॥

O Lord, within your presence by your power is sustained the entire world of existence. That same power and presence vibrates in the depths of the oceans, in the cave of the heart, in the breath of life and age, in the waves of water and energy, in the vibrations of thought, and in the heat of action in nature and humanity. That power and presence vibrating in existence, O Lord, we pray, let us realise. Let us flow with that constant flow of vibration of Divinity in and across the fluctuations of mutability.