8. Rig Veda — Mandala 8

✦ Sukta 1 · 34 verses ✦

8.1.1

मा चि॑द॒न्यद्वि शं॑सत॒ सखा॑यो॒ मा रि॑षण्यत । इन्द्र॒मित्स्तो॑ता॒ वृष॑णं॒ सचा॑ सु॒ते मुहु॑रु॒क्था च॑ शंसत ॥

O friends, do not worship any other but One, be firm, never remiss, worship only Indra, sole lord absolute, omnipotent and infinitely generous, and when you have realised the bliss of the lord’s presence, sing songs of divine adoration spontaneously, profusely, again and again.

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8.1.2

अ॒व॒क्र॒क्षिणं॑ वृष॒भं य॑था॒जुरं॒ गां न च॑र्षणी॒सह॑म् । वि॒द्वेष॑णं सं॒वन॑नोभयंक॒रं मंहि॑ष्ठमुभया॒विन॑म् ॥

Worship Indra only, who most spontaneously rushes to the devotee for protection and upon the evil for punishment, correction or destruction. He is profusely and potently generous, free from age and decay, patient and forbearing giver of peace and nourishment to people like the meek cow and motherly earth, saviour from hate and jealousy, most adorable, giver of both material well being (abhyudaya) and spiritual freedom (nihshreyas), most munificent and majestic, and lord ruler and protector of both nature and the soul.

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8.1.3

यच्चि॒द्धि त्वा॒ जना॑ इ॒मे नाना॒ हव॑न्त ऊ॒तये॑ । अ॒स्माकं॒ ब्रह्मे॒दमि॑न्द्र भूतु॒ तेऽहा॒ विश्वा॑ च॒ वर्ध॑नम् ॥

Although these many people invoke you and pray for protection and progress for themselves in many different ways, yet, we pray, our adoration and prayers and all this wealth, honour and excellence bestowed upon us by you be dedicated to you and always, day and night, exalt your munificence and glory.

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8.1.4

वि त॑र्तूर्यन्ते मघवन्विप॒श्चितो॒ऽर्यो विपो॒ जना॑नाम् । उप॑ क्रमस्व पुरु॒रूप॒मा भ॑र॒ वाजं॒ नेदि॑ष्ठमू॒तये॑ ॥

O lord of might and majesty, the wise, the noble and the vibrant leaders of the people, by your grace, cross over all obstacles of their struggle for life and success, whenever they face any. Pray, come lord and give us instant energy of versatile form for our protection and victory at the earliest.

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8.1.5

म॒हे च॒न त्वाम॑द्रिवः॒ परा॑ शु॒ल्काय॑ देयाम् । न स॒हस्रा॑य॒ नायुता॑य वज्रिवो॒ न श॒ताय॑ शतामघ ॥

O lord of infinite wealth, power and majesty, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and punishment, breaker of the clouds and mountains, bless me that I may never give up my devotion to you for the greatest material return, not for a thousand, not for a million, not even for the boundless wealth of the world.

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8.1.6

वस्याँ॑ इन्द्रासि मे पि॒तुरु॒त भ्रातु॒रभु॑ञ्जतः । मा॒ता च॑ मे छदयथः स॒मा व॑सो वसुत्व॒नाय॒ राध॑से ॥

You command greater wealth, power and prestigious settlement for me than my father, you are closer to me than my indifferent brother. Only my mother and you are equal to provide me solace and protection, O shelter of the universe, for my wealth and celebrity in success (my mother as individual mother and you as universal mother).

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8.1.7

क्वे॑यथ॒ क्वेद॑सि पुरु॒त्रा चि॒द्धि ते॒ मनः॑ । अल॑र्षि युध्म खजकृत्पुरंदर॒ प्र गा॑य॒त्रा अ॑गासिषुः ॥

Where do you move and reach? Where do you reside and abide? No one can say. Your mind and presence is everywhere, universal. O lord of the warlike dynamics of existence, pivot and churner of the universe, breaker of the citadels of darkness and ignorance, come and bless us, the celebrants and singers of Gayatri hymns invoke and adore you.

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8.1.8

प्रास्मै॑ गाय॒त्रम॑र्चत वा॒वातु॒र्यः पु॑रंद॒रः । याभिः॑ का॒ण्वस्योप॑ ब॒र्हिरा॒सदं॒ यास॑द्व॒ज्री भि॒नत्पुरः॑ ॥

O celebrants of Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, sing hymns of adoration in Gayatri music in honour of Indra who is breaker of the strongholds of darkness which oppose and oppress the lord’s devotees, so that, pleased by these adorations, the lord may reveal his presence and grace the mind and vedi of the enlightened sages and break through the citadels of darkness to bless the devotees.

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8.1.9

ये ते॒ सन्ति॑ दश॒ग्विनः॑ श॒तिनो॒ ये स॑ह॒स्रिणः॑ । अश्वा॑सो॒ ये ते॒ वृष॑णो रघु॒द्रुव॒स्तेभि॑र्न॒स्तूय॒मा ग॑हि ॥

Indra, breaker of the citadels of darkness and ignorance to light, come post haste to us with all those lightning powers and forces of yours which are vigorous and generous, radiating into all the ten directions in a hundred and a thousand ways.

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8.1.10

आ त्व१॒॑द्य स॑ब॒र्दुघां॑ हु॒वे गा॑य॒त्रवे॑पसम् । इन्द्रं॑ धे॒नुं सु॒दुघा॒मन्या॒मिष॑मु॒रुधा॑रामरं॒कृत॑म् ॥

Today I invoke Indra, I invoke the motherly spirit of the universe, giver of total fulfilment of the heart’s desire, pleased and stirred by the chant of Gayatri songs of adoration, omnipotent and omnificent, generous as Mother Nature, giver of ample gifts beyond the earth and the earthly cow, harbinger of showers of the cherished nectar milk of life, all blissful and gracious.

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8.1.11

यत्तु॒दत्सूर॒ एत॑शं व॒ङ्कू वात॑स्य प॒र्णिना॑ । वह॒त्कुत्स॑मार्जुने॒यं श॒तक्र॑तुः॒ त्सर॑द्गन्ध॒र्वमस्तृ॑तम् ॥

Indra, lord immanent, omnipresent and all energiser, gives the initial stroke of motion to everything on the move such as the sun and the cloud by the waves of cosmic energy. Thus the lord of countless actions of cosmic yajna brings the thunderstroke of cosmic energy to move the sun, wielder of the earth, and he brings the thunder stroke of lightning to break the cloud into rain. (Indra thus is the unmoved, all immanent, original mover of the universe.)

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8.1.12

य ऋ॒ते चि॑दभि॒श्रिषः॑ पु॒रा ज॒त्रुभ्य॑ आ॒तृदः॑ । संधा॑ता सं॒धिं म॒घवा॑ पुरू॒वसु॒रिष्क॑र्ता॒ विह्रु॑तं॒ पुनः॑ ॥

Indra is that vibrant immanent lord of unbounded natural health and assertive life energy who, without piercing and without ligatures, provides for the original jointure of the series of separate vertebrae and collar bones and then, later, heals and sets the same back into healthy order if they get dislocated or fractured.

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8.1.13

मा भू॑म॒ निष्ट्या॑ इ॒वेन्द्र॒ त्वदर॑णा इव । वना॑नि॒ न प्र॑जहि॒तान्य॑द्रिवो दु॒रोषा॑सो अमन्महि ॥

Indra, lord almighty, maker and breaker of clouds and mountains, free from anger and fear we adore you and pray: Give us the grace that we may never be like the lowest of human species with nothing to be proud of, let us never be like the indifferent and the depressed, let us never be reduced to the state of forsaken thickets of dead wood.

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8.1.14

अम॑न्म॒हीद॑ना॒शवो॑ऽनु॒ग्रास॑श्च वृत्रहन् । स॒कृत्सु ते॑ मह॒ता शू॑र॒ राध॑सा॒ अनु॒ स्तोमं॑ मुदीमहि ॥

Indra, omnipotent lord, destroyer of darkness and ignorance, we pray that, gently and at peace without anger or impatience, we always worship and meditate on you and, by virtue of your grandeur and glory, we should celebrate and exalt your honour and rejoice with exciting songs and yajnic sessions.

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8.1.15

यदि॒ स्तोमं॒ मम॒ श्रव॑द॒स्माक॒मिन्द्र॒मिन्द॑वः । ति॒रः प॒वित्रं॑ ससृ॒वांस॑ आ॒शवो॒ मन्द॑न्तु तुग्र्या॒वृधः॑ ॥

And if the lord omnipotent, Indra, listen to my song of divine celebration, then may the offers of homage and oblations of soma, quick and fast, augmented by holy waters, reaching the pure and immaculate lord, please and exalt him and delight us with success.

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8.1.16

आ त्व१॒॑द्य स॒धस्तु॑तिं वा॒वातुः॒ सख्यु॒रा ग॑हि । उप॑स्तुतिर्म॒घोनां॒ प्र त्वा॑व॒त्वधा॑ ते वश्मि सुष्टु॒तिम् ॥

O lord, pray come and accept the joint praise and adorations of your friends and devotees. And may the spontaneous and heart felt prayers and adorations of the wealthy and powerful also reach you today. And now it is my time and desire to offer my song of adoration.

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8.1.17

सोता॒ हि सोम॒मद्रि॑भि॒रेमे॑नम॒प्सु धा॑वत । ग॒व्या वस्त्रे॑व वा॒सय॑न्त॒ इन्नरो॒ निर्धु॑क्षन्व॒क्षणा॑भ्यः ॥

O friends and celebrants of Indra, lord omnipotent, extract the soma with grinders, mix and stir it in waters. Then leading lights of yajna, refining it like the concentration of sun rays, offer it into the fire and milk out waters in showers from space for the flowing streams. Note: This mantra is a metaphor of meditation and spiritual realisation also. When you churn the world of your sense experiences, thought and memory, extract the essential value and offer it into the fire of meditation, then the light of divinity descends on you and your life is changed. It is then that the light of divinity flows into the channels of your thought and action.

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8.1.18

अध॒ ज्मो अध॑ वा दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तो रो॑च॒नादधि॑ । अ॒या व॑र्धस्व त॒न्वा॑ गि॒रा ममा जा॒ता सु॑क्रतो पृण ॥

O lord refulgent and omnipotent, whether on earth or in the regions of light or even beyond the expansive light of heaven, be pleased and exalted by this refined and radiating voice of adoration and, O lord presiding spirit of yajna, bless us and our children with perfect fulfilment.

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8.1.19

इन्द्रा॑य॒ सु म॒दिन्त॑मं॒ सोमं॑ सोता॒ वरे॑ण्यम् । श॒क्र ए॑णं पीपय॒द्विश्व॑या धि॒या हि॑न्वा॒नं न वा॑ज॒युम् ॥

O celebrants of Indra, seekers of spiritual perfection, for the attainment of holiness of thought, karma and vision, extract the choicest, most exhilarating soma from life and offer it to Indra, spirit of the universe, and the lord omnipotent would bless this seeker of fulfilment calling upon the lord with universal intelligence and will for a life of perfect action.

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8.1.20

मा त्वा॒ सोम॑स्य॒ गल्द॑या॒ सदा॒ याच॑न्न॒हं गि॒रा । भूर्णिं॑ मृ॒गं न सव॑नेषु चुक्रुधं॒ क ईशा॑नं॒ न या॑चिषत् ॥

O lord, always beseeching you for one thing or another with my words of prayer as with each drop of soma offered to you, I pray, I may not provoke you to anger in yajna, you who are infinite giver and sole ruler of the universe like a lion of the forest. Listen, O lord, who doesn’t ask of the ruler and the munificent?

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8.1.21

मदे॑नेषि॒तं मद॑मु॒ग्रमु॒ग्रेण॒ शव॑सा । विश्वे॑षां तरु॒तारं॑ मद॒च्युतं॒ मदे॒ हि ष्मा॒ ददा॑ति नः ॥

When the lord is pleased with our devotion, then he grants us the most exciting joy along with brilliant strength and power which we love and pray for with enthusiasm and which eliminates all pride of the ego and helps us cross over all challenges of life.

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8.1.22

शेवा॑रे॒ वार्या॑ पु॒रु दे॒वो मर्ता॑य दा॒शुषे॑ । स सु॑न्व॒ते च॑ स्तुव॒ते च॑ रासते वि॒श्वगू॑र्तो अरिष्टु॒तः ॥

In the treasure hold of yajna, the self-refulgent lord universally adored keeps wealth and excellence of choice for the generous mortal which he, acknowledged and adored even by adversaries, gives to the celebrant and the worshipful lover of soma for homage to the lord.

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8.1.23

एन्द्र॑ याहि॒ मत्स्व॑ चि॒त्रेण॑ देव॒ राध॑सा । सरो॒ न प्रा॑स्यु॒दरं॒ सपी॑तिभि॒रा सोमे॑भिरु॒रु स्फि॒रम् ॥

Indra, lord of glory, come with various wondrous forms of wealths of the world and let us rejoice in the bliss of your presence. Like the universal reservoir, fill our vast world of existence with exciting and soothing wealth, honour and excellence for complete self-fulfilment.

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8.1.24

आ त्वा॑ स॒हस्र॒मा श॒तं यु॒क्ता रथे॑ हिर॒ण्यये॑ । ब्र॒ह्म॒युजो॒ हर॑य इन्द्र के॒शिनो॒ वह॑न्तु॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

May the hundreds and thousands of forces of nature and humanity harnessed to the golden chariot of the universe, radiant with light and dedicated to divinity, invoke and invite you hither into the heart so that we may experience the bliss of divine presence.

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8.1.25

आ त्वा॒ रथे॑ हिर॒ण्यये॒ हरी॑ म॒यूर॑शेप्या । शि॒ति॒पृ॒ष्ठा व॑हतां॒ मध्वो॒ अन्ध॑सो वि॒वक्ष॑णस्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

May the vibrant forces of divine energy, joined to your golden chariot of the universe with rhythmic majesty like the peacock’s feather tail and mighty power with circuitous motion of energy currents, radiate your presence here so that you may acknowledge and accept our love and homage and we experience the bliss of divine presence.

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8.1.26

पिबा॒ त्व१॒॑स्य गि॑र्वणः सु॒तस्य॑ पूर्व॒पा इ॑व । परि॑ष्कृतस्य र॒सिन॑ इ॒यमा॑सु॒तिश्चारु॒र्मदा॑य पत्यते ॥

Like the eternal lord of love fond of the celebrant’s homage, come and accept the devotee’s love and faith distilled from life’s experience. The flow of the ecstatic celebrant’s clairvoyance pure and sweet is full of ananda and radiates from the heart for spiritual bliss.

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8.1.27

य एको॒ अस्ति॑ दं॒सना॑ म॒हाँ उ॒ग्रो अ॒भि व्र॒तैः । गम॒त्स शि॒प्री न स यो॑ष॒दा ग॑म॒द्धवं॒ न परि॑ वर्जति ॥

He is one, unique and incomparable, great by his omnipotence and action, refulgent and supreme by his laws and observance. May the lord, like the light of grace, descend on us, may he never be away, may be ever respond to our call and come to our yajna and never forsake us.

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8.1.28

त्वं पुरं॑ चरि॒ष्ण्वं॑ व॒धैः शुष्ण॑स्य॒ सं पि॑णक् । त्वं भा अनु॑ चरो॒ अध॑ द्वि॒ता यदि॑न्द्र॒ हव्यो॒ भुवः॑ ॥

With fatal strokes of arms, you destroy the forces of evil and exploitation on the rampant, you are the light of life and bless the lights of life in action, and thus you are doubly adorable and worshipped in two complementary aspects, as destroyer and as preserver, O lord omnipotent and self-refulgent.

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8.1.29

मम॑ त्वा॒ सूर॒ उदि॑ते॒ मम॑ म॒ध्यंदि॑ने दि॒वः । मम॑ प्रपि॒त्वे अ॑पिशर्व॒रे व॑स॒वा स्तोमा॑सो अवृत्सत ॥

O lord of the universe, shelter of life and existence, at the dawn of sunrise let my prayers and songs of exaltation reach you. At the middle of the day when the sun is on the high, let my prayers and songs of adoration reach you. And when the day is over and night is fallen and the stars shine, let my songs of prayer and peace reach you.

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8.1.30

स्तु॒हि स्तु॒हीदे॒ते घा॑ ते॒ मंहि॑ष्ठासो म॒घोना॑म् । नि॒न्दि॒ताश्वः॑ प्रप॒थी प॑रम॒ज्या म॒घस्य॑ मेध्यातिथे ॥

O Medhyatithi, venerable traveller on life’s highway, O guest, O host, pray to Indra, adore him, and these too around you, all richest of the rich and mightiest of the mighty, should adore him: omnipresent, faster than the fastest, instantly moving all round over paths of infinity, commanding the rule and dispensation of the highest wealth and power of existence.

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8.1.31

आ यदश्वा॒न्वन॑न्वतः श्र॒द्धया॒हं रथे॑ रु॒हम् । उ॒त वा॒मस्य॒ वसु॑नश्चिकेतति॒ यो अस्ति॒ याद्वः॑ प॒शुः ॥

When I control the outgoing senses and mind and look within riding as if the body chariot with faith, then in that state of experience whoever is refined and watchful knows the inner secrets of this beautiful world of existence.

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8.1.32

य ऋ॒ज्रा मह्यं॑ माम॒हे स॒ह त्व॒चा हि॑र॒ण्यया॑ । ए॒ष विश्वा॑न्य॒भ्य॑स्तु॒ सौभ॑गास॒ङ्गस्य॑ स्व॒नद्र॑थः ॥

Who gives me dynamic and powerful gifts of life with a golden cover and thus does me honour may be blest with the highest good fortunes of the world and may this devoted man go forward in life by a resounding chariot.

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8.1.33

अध॒ प्लायो॑गि॒रति॑ दासद॒न्याना॑स॒ङ्गो अ॑ग्ने द॒शभिः॑ स॒हस्रैः॑ । अधो॒क्षणो॒ दश॒ मह्यं॒ रुश॑न्तो न॒ळा इ॑व॒ सर॑सो॒ निर॑तिष्ठन् ॥

Agni, omnipresent light of life, the dedicated man of charity conducting yajnic and spiritual projects in science and spirituality exceeds others by tens and thousands especially when he gives to me ten highly brilliant and creative gifts rising like lotus from a lake.

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8.1.34

अन्व॑स्य स्थू॒रं द॑दृशे पु॒रस्ता॑दन॒स्थ ऊ॒रुर॑व॒रम्ब॑माणः । शश्व॑ती॒ नार्य॑भि॒चक्ष्या॑ह॒ सुभ॑द्रमर्य॒ भोज॑नं बिभर्षि ॥

The gross form of the universe is seen emerging from the infinite transphysical spiritual reality. The eternal Mother Nature watches and says: O lord of gracious charity, you alone hold the blessed food for the life of mortal humanity

✦ Sukta 2 · 42 verses ✦

8.2.1

इ॒दं व॑सो सु॒तमन्धः॒ पिबा॒ सुपू॑र्णमु॒दर॑म् । अना॑भयिन्ररि॒मा ते॑ ॥

O lord of the world’s treasure of wealth, honour and excellence, here is this exhilarating soma nectar of love and devotion distilled from the heart and soul. Pray drink of it to your heart’s content. We offer it to you, lord beyond fear.

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8.2.2

नृभि॑र्धू॒तः सु॒तो अश्नै॒रव्यो॒ वारैः॒ परि॑पूतः । अश्वो॒ न नि॒क्तो न॒दीषु॑ ॥

Stirred by best of men, crushed and filtered by men of adamantine character, purified and guarded by best of the brave, it is sparkling like sun rays reflected on the river waters.

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8.2.3

तं ते॒ यवं॒ यथा॒ गोभिः॑ स्वा॒दुम॑कर्म श्री॒णन्तः॑ । इन्द्र॑ त्वा॒स्मिन्त्स॑ध॒मादे॑ ॥

That sparkling soma drink of devotion seasoned with barley, mixed with milk and cream, we, blenders, having prepared it, offer to you in this house of celebration.

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8.2.4

इन्द्र॒ इत्सो॑म॒पा एक॒ इन्द्रः॑ सुत॒पा वि॒श्वायुः॑ । अ॒न्तर्दे॒वान्मर्त्याँ॑श्च ॥

Among ordinary mortals and among divines of wisdom and vision, Indra, the karmayogi, alone is the protector of soma, Indra, the man of knowledge and dedication, alone is the valuer of the worshipper’s devotion and homage as he alone has the world vision.

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8.2.5

न यं शु॒क्रो न दुरा॑शी॒र्न तृ॒प्रा उ॑रु॒व्यच॑सम् । अ॒प॒स्पृ॒ण्व॒ते सु॒हार्द॑म् ॥

Neither the most sparkling soma of devotion nor the most sophisticated and aromatic, nor the most delightful, ever satiate the lord infinite of the holiest heart and love.

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8.2.6

गोभि॒र्यदी॑म॒न्ये अ॒स्मन्मृ॒गं न व्रा मृ॒गय॑न्ते । अ॒भि॒त्सर॑न्ति धे॒नुभिः॑ ॥

Multitudes of people other than us approved him and try to inveigle him with creamy entertainment and sweet flattering words of adoration just like a hunter baiting a lion (but they fail).

· · ·

8.2.7

त्रय॒ इन्द्र॑स्य॒ सोमाः॑ सु॒तासः॑ सन्तु दे॒वस्य॑ । स्वे क्षये॑ सुत॒पाव्नः॑ ॥

For self-refulgent and generous Indra who is fond of the soma dedication of devotees, there are three sessions of soma distilled and offered in homage in the devotee’s own home of yajna and prayer, at dawn, at mid-day and in the evening before night fall.

· · ·

8.2.8

त्रयः॒ कोशा॑सः श्चोतन्ति ति॒स्रश्च॒म्वः१॒॑ सुपू॑र्णाः । स॒मा॒ने अधि॒ भार्म॑न् ॥

In the same one session of yajna, there are three vessels of soma dripping with the nectar and three ladles of ghrta overflowing with homage for the fire in honour of the lord.

· · ·

8.2.9

शुचि॑रसि पुरुनि॒ष्ठाः क्षी॒रैर्म॑ध्य॒त आशी॑र्तः । द॒ध्ना मन्दि॑ष्ठः॒ शूर॑स्य ॥

Celestial soma, divine devotion of the dedicated, you are pure and potent, dedicated to the joy of many and the lord eternal, and seasoned in the process with milk, cream and curds. Surely you are the most delightful love of the heroic brave.

· · ·

8.2.10

इ॒मे त॑ इन्द्र॒ सोमा॑स्ती॒व्रा अ॒स्मे सु॒तासः॑ । शु॒क्रा आ॒शिरं॑ याचन्ते ॥

These are for you, Indra, soma oblations of the most potent order distilled by us. Pure and powerful they are, offered in homage with prayer and hope for a share of the celestial bliss of faith and love.

· · ·

8.2.11

ताँ आ॒शिरं॑ पुरो॒ळाश॒मिन्द्रे॒मं सोमं॑ श्रीणीहि । रे॒वन्तं॒ हि त्वा॑ शृ॒णोमि॑ ॥

Indra, lord of glory, come and join this soma celebration of milk and barley delicacies with joy. You command the wealth, honour, excellence and glory of the world, I hear. I believe, I share and celebrate.

· · ·

8.2.12

हृ॒त्सु पी॒तासो॑ युध्यन्ते दु॒र्मदा॑सो॒ न सुरा॑याम् । ऊध॒र्न न॒ग्ना ज॑रन्ते ॥

Draughts of soma create exhilarations in the heart unlike intoxication and illusions of wine, and the celebrants adore the spirit divine as the ocean of ecstasy.

· · ·

8.2.13

रे॒वाँ इद्रे॒वतः॑ स्तो॒ता स्यात्त्वाव॑तो म॒घोनः॑ । प्रेदु॑ हरिवः श्रु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra, master and commander of dynamic forces, may the celebrant of the brilliant, bountiful and renowned like you be brilliant, prosperous and celebrated. That is but natural.

· · ·

8.2.14

उ॒क्थं च॒न श॒स्यमा॑न॒मगो॑र॒रिरा चि॑केत । न गा॑य॒त्रं गी॒यमा॑नम् ॥

Indra, lord of power and piety, the man attached to divinity in faith and opposed to doubt and disloyalty knows the words of praise spoken by a man of doubtful faith as much as he knows the songs of adoration sung by a man of faith (and makes a distinction between the two).

· · ·

8.2.15

मा न॑ इन्द्र पीय॒त्नवे॒ मा शर्ध॑ते॒ परा॑ दाः । शिक्षा॑ शचीवः॒ शची॑भिः ॥

Indra, lord of refulgent power, give us not away to the scornful abuser nor to the wild tyrant. With your laws and powers, pray discipline, rule, instruct and enlighten us.

· · ·

8.2.16

व॒यमु॑ त्वा त॒दिद॑र्था॒ इन्द्र॑ त्वा॒यन्तः॒ सखा॑यः । कण्वा॑ उ॒क्थेभि॑र्जरन्ते ॥

Indra, we too have the same aims and objectives as you. We are your friends and admirers. We know and wish to achieve, and with all words of praise and appreciation, we adore you as others, wise devotees, do.

· · ·

8.2.17

न घे॑म॒न्यदा प॑पन॒ वज्रि॑न्न॒पसो॒ नवि॑ष्टौ । तवेदु॒ स्तोमं॑ चिकेत ॥

Indra, lord of thunder and justice, in the beginning of a new plan, action or programme of holiness, I adore none else but only you. I know only one song of adoration and that is for you alone.

· · ·

8.2.18

इ॒च्छन्ति॑ दे॒वाः सु॒न्वन्तं॒ न स्वप्ना॑य स्पृहयन्ति । यन्ति॑ प्र॒माद॒मत॑न्द्राः ॥

Divines of brilliance and holy action love those engaged in creative actions of piety. They care not for dreams and love no dreamers. Active, wakeful and realistic beyond illusion, they achieve the joy of success in life.

· · ·

8.2.19

ओ षु प्र या॑हि॒ वाजे॑भि॒र्मा हृ॑णीथा अ॒भ्य१॒॑स्मान् । म॒हाँ इ॑व॒ युव॑जानिः ॥

Come along with us with all your strength and enthusiasm without hesitation or embarrassment, and go forward like a great hero inspired by a youthful maiden.

· · ·

8.2.20

मो ष्व१॒॑द्य दु॒र्हणा॑वान्त्सा॒यं क॑रदा॒रे अ॒स्मत् । अ॒श्री॒र इ॑व॒ जामा॑ता ॥

Invincible and unconquerable, come to our yajnic celebrations today, delay not till the last hour, of evening, hesitating like an indigent son-in-law.

· · ·

8.2.21

वि॒द्मा ह्य॑स्य वी॒रस्य॑ भूरि॒दाव॑रीं सुम॒तिम् । त्रि॒षु जा॒तस्य॒ मनां॑सि ॥

We know the mind, noble intentions and generous liberty of this brave hero, Indra, who is risen high in life’s three active fields of thought, energy and stability.

· · ·

8.2.22

आ तू षि॑ञ्च॒ कण्व॑मन्तं॒ न घा॑ विद्म शवसा॒नात् । य॒शस्त॑रं श॒तमू॑तेः ॥

O man, with the nectar of soma, regale Indra, who commands wisdom and the wise and a hundred ways of defence, protection and progress. Indeed for reasons of his heroism and grandeur we know no one else more honourable and renowned than he.

· · ·

8.2.23

ज्येष्ठे॑न सोत॒रिन्द्रा॑य॒ सोमं॑ वी॒राय॑ श॒क्राय॑ । भरा॒ पिब॒न्नर्या॑य ॥

O maker of soma, bring and serve a drink of prime soma first for Indra, brave, brilliant and manly leader of men, and see that the lord accepts.

· · ·

8.2.24

यो वेदि॑ष्ठो अव्य॒थिष्वश्वा॑वन्तं जरि॒तृभ्यः॑ । वाजं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्यो॒ गोम॑न्तम् ॥

Among men of yajnic love and non-violence, he is the most venerable on the vedi, harbinger of wealth and success for the celebrants and giver of nourishing food and energy full of milk and honey of the land for the singers of hymns.

· · ·

8.2.25

पन्य॑म्पन्य॒मित्सो॑तार॒ आ धा॑वत॒ मद्या॑य । सोमं॑ वी॒राय॒ शूरा॑य ॥

O makers of soma, to Indra, offer the drink of soma, brave, ecstatic and heroic, and let each draught be more and more delicious and adorable.

· · ·

8.2.26

पाता॑ वृत्र॒हा सु॒तमा घा॑ गम॒न्नारे अ॒स्मत् । नि य॑मते श॒तमू॑तिः ॥

May the connoisseur of distilled soma, destroyer of darkness, dishonour and destitution, come and never be far away from us. The lord who commands a hundred forces of defence, protection and progress rules all, friends and foes.

· · ·

8.2.27

एह हरी॑ ब्रह्म॒युजा॑ श॒ग्मा व॑क्षतः॒ सखा॑यम् । गी॒र्भिः श्रु॒तं गिर्व॑णसम् ॥

Let the brave veterans of knowledge and yajnic karma, dedicated to Veda Brahma and humanity, with holy songs of divinity, invoke the most venerable and celebrated lord here on the vedi as our friend and companion.

· · ·

8.2.28

स्वा॒दवः॒ सोमा॒ आ या॑हि श्री॒ताः सोमा॒ आ या॑हि । शिप्रि॒न्नृषी॑वः॒ शची॑वो॒ नायमच्छा॑ सध॒माद॑म् ॥

Indra, hero of the visor, commander of wisdom and powers of nature and humanity, patron of poets and sages, come and have a drink of delicious soma, come and enjoy the seasoned and matured soma with the celebrant’s devotion. We invoke and invite the leader, friend of the hall of celebration.

· · ·

8.2.29

स्तुत॑श्च॒ यास्त्वा॒ वर्ध॑न्ति म॒हे राध॑से नृ॒म्णाय॑ । इन्द्र॑ का॒रिणं॑ वृ॒धन्तः॑ ॥

Indra, adoring and exhilarating you as the great achiever, honoured by songs of praise, the devotees celebrate and exalt you for the sake of greatness, wealth and excellence of life and their songs glorify you.

· · ·

8.2.30

गिर॑श्च॒ यास्ते॑ गिर्वाह उ॒क्था च॒ तुभ्यं॒ तानि॑ । स॒त्रा द॑धि॒रे शवां॑सि ॥

O lord of voice divine and lover of holy song, your words of the holy Veda and the songs sung in your honour, all these together inspire and exalt the grandeur and glory of life divine.

· · ·

8.2.31

ए॒वेदे॒ष तु॑विकू॒र्मिर्वाजाँ॒ एको॒ वज्र॑हस्तः । स॒नादमृ॑क्तो दयते ॥

Only this lord omnipotent of universal karma, the one lord of thunder and justice in hand, inviolable and imperishable, gives us food and energy, success and victory since eternity.

· · ·

8.2.32

हन्ता॑ वृ॒त्रं दक्षि॑णे॒नेन्द्रः॑ पु॒रू पु॑रुहू॒तः । म॒हान्म॒हीभिः॒ शची॑भिः ॥

Destroyer of darkness and evil by his power and versatility, Indra is universal and universally adored and celebrated. great is he by his glorious majesty, sublime by infinite possibilities.

· · ·

8.2.33

यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॑श्चर्ष॒णय॑ उ॒त च्यौ॒त्ना ज्रयां॑सि च । अनु॒ घेन्म॒न्दी म॒घोनः॑ ॥

He in whom entire humanity of the world, and all powers and forces and expansive victories abide and are sustained, surely he is the giver of happiness and competence to humanity for wealth, honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.2.34

ए॒ष ए॒तानि॑ चका॒रेन्द्रो॒ विश्वा॒ योऽति॑ शृ॒ण्वे । वा॒ज॒दावा॑ म॒घोना॑म् ॥

This Indra does all these wonders, the lord who is celebrated all over the world and who is the giver of power and prosperity to men of honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.2.35

प्रभ॑र्ता॒ रथं॑ ग॒व्यन्त॑मपा॒काच्चि॒द्यमव॑ति । इ॒नो वसु॒ स हि वोळ्हा॑ ॥

The one who sustains and supports all and protects the chariot of life moving on course from the unforeseen is the lord who is also the bearer and harbinger of the world’s wealth.

· · ·

8.2.36

सनि॑ता॒ विप्रो॒ अर्व॑द्भि॒र्हन्ता॑ वृ॒त्रं नृभिः॒ शूरः॑ । स॒त्यो॑ऽवि॒ता वि॒धन्त॑म् ॥

The one that commands knowledge, power and energy with commitment is the generator and harbinger of wealth by dynamic forces. He is the destroyer of darkness and harbinger of light. He is brave and commands the brave. He is ever true to himself and the world and he is the protector of those who are dedicated to work.

· · ·

8.2.37

यज॑ध्वैनं प्रियमेधा॒ इन्द्रं॑ स॒त्राचा॒ मन॑सा । यो भूत्सोमैः॑ स॒त्यम॑द्वा ॥

O lovers and performers of yajna, honour and serve this Indra by homage and yajnic devotion together with heart and soul, he really feels honoured and exalted by the soma of love, devotion and commitment.

· · ·

8.2.38

गा॒थश्र॑वसं॒ सत्प॑तिं॒ श्रव॑स्कामं पुरु॒त्मान॑म् । कण्वा॑सो गा॒त वा॒जिन॑म् ॥

O men of knowledge and wisdom, sing in praise of the lord celebrated in song, defender of truth and the truthful, lover of honour and excellence, versatile in form and spirit and instantly victorious in action.

· · ·

8.2.39

य ऋ॒ते चि॒द्गास्प॒देभ्यो॒ दात्सखा॒ नृभ्यः॒ शची॑वान् । ये अ॑स्मि॒न्काम॒मश्रि॑यन् ॥

Indra is a friend and mighty commander of forces and, without visible motion or lure of office, gives the gift of speech and powers of perception and intelligence to people who surrender their desires and ambitions to him and act selflessly, depending on him for success.

· · ·

8.2.40

इ॒त्था धीव॑न्तमद्रिवः का॒ण्वं मेध्या॑तिथिम् । मे॒षो भू॒तो॒३॒॑ऽभि यन्नयः॑ ॥

Thus, O lord commander of the clouds and mountains, do you reach and guide the celebrant sage of the line of the wise and bless the honoured guest, being a very shower of peace and pleasure of soma.

· · ·

8.2.41

शिक्षा॑ विभिन्दो अस्मै च॒त्वार्य॒युता॒ दद॑त् । अ॒ष्टा प॒रः स॒हस्रा॑ ॥

Indra, destroyer of the fortresses of evil, enmity and poverty, thus teaches and gives his celebrant forty and eight thousand powers and potentials to fight his battles and win.

· · ·

8.2.42

उ॒त सु त्ये प॑यो॒वृधा॑ मा॒की रण॑स्य न॒प्त्या॑ । ज॒नि॒त्व॒नाय॑ मामहे ॥

O heaven and earth, givers of the liquid energies of life, sustainers of the excitement of the battle of existence, I pray for your favour of generating those powers of sustenance and advancement.

✦ Sukta 3 · 24 verses ✦

8.3.1

पिबा॑ सु॒तस्य॑ र॒सिनो॒ मत्स्वा॑ न इन्द्र॒ गोम॑तः । आ॒पिर्नो॑ बोधि सध॒माद्यो॑ वृ॒धे॒३॒॑ऽस्माँ अ॑वन्तु ते॒ धियः॑ ॥

Indra, resplendent and mighty, karma yogi, great performer, come and have a drink of our delicious festive soma distilled and mixed with milk and cream, share the ecstasy, enlighten us, your own people, for progress and prosperity, and may your thoughts and wisdom protect, promote and guide us in life.

· · ·

8.3.2

भू॒याम॑ ते सुम॒तौ वा॒जिनो॑ व॒यं मा नः॑ स्तर॒भिमा॑तये । अ॒स्माञ्चि॒त्राभि॑रवताद॒भिष्टि॑भि॒रा नः॑ सु॒म्नेषु॑ यामय ॥

In your guidance and goodwill may we be prosperous and progressive with vibrancy. Hurt us not lest we fall a prey to an enemy. Protect us and advance us to all kinds of success with fulfilment of our aspirations, and lead us in a life of happiness, refinement and grace.

· · ·

8.3.3

इ॒मा उ॑ त्वा पुरूवसो॒ गिरो॑ वर्धन्तु॒ या मम॑ । पा॒व॒कव॑र्णाः॒ शुच॑यो विप॒श्चितो॒ऽभि स्तोमै॑रनूषत ॥

O lord of universal wealth, O shelter home of the world, may these words of my divine adoration please you and exalt you. The saints and sages of vision and wisdom and fiery heat and purity of light adore you with songs of celebration.

· · ·

8.3.4

अ॒यं स॒हस्र॒मृषि॑भिः॒ सह॑स्कृतः समु॒द्र इ॑व पप्रथे । स॒त्यः सो अ॑स्य महि॒मा गृ॑णे॒ शवो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ विप्र॒राज्ये॑ ॥

This Indra, adored and exalted by poets and sages a thousand ways to power and glory, rises like the sea. Ever true and inviolable is he, and I celebrate his might and grandeur expanding in the yajnic programmes of the dominion of the wise.

· · ·

8.3.5

इन्द्र॒मिद्दे॒वता॑तय॒ इन्द्रं॑ प्रय॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे । इन्द्रं॑ समी॒के व॒निनो॑ हवामह॒ इन्द्रं॒ धन॑स्य सा॒तये॑ ॥

We invoke Indra for our programmes of natural and environmental development. We invite Indra when the yajna of development is inaugurated. Lovers and admirers dedicated to him, we pray for his grace in our struggles of life, and we solicit his favour and guidance for the achievement of wealth, honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.3.6

इन्द्रो॑ म॒ह्ना रोद॑सी पप्रथ॒च्छव॒ इन्द्रः॒ सूर्य॑मरोचयत् । इन्द्रे॑ ह॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि येमिर॒ इन्द्रे॑ सुवा॒नास॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

Indra, by the power and abundance of his omnipotence, expands and pervades heaven and earth. Indra gives the radiance of light to the sun. All regions of the universe and her children are sustained in life and order in Indra, and in the infinite power, presence and abundance of Indra flow all liquid energies of life’s evolution to their perfection and fulfilment.

· · ·

8.3.7

अ॒भि त्वा॑ पू॒र्वपी॑तय॒ इन्द्र॒ स्तोमे॑भिरा॒यवः॑ । स॒मी॒ची॒नास॑ ऋ॒भवः॒ सम॑स्वरन्रु॒द्रा गृ॑णन्त॒ पूर्व्य॑म् ॥

Indra, men in general, learned experts of vision and wisdom, illustrious powers of law and order, and fighting warriors of defence and protection all together, raising a united voice of praise, prayer and appreciation, with songs of holiness and acts of piety, invoke and invite you, ancient, nearest and most excellent lord of power and lustre, to inaugurate their yajnic celebration of the soma session of peaceful and exciting programme of development.

· · ·

8.3.8

अ॒स्येदिन्द्रो॑ वावृधे॒ वृष्ण्यं॒ शवो॒ मदे॑ सु॒तस्य॒ विष्ण॑वि । अ॒द्या तम॑स्य महि॒मान॑मा॒यवोऽनु॑ ष्टुवन्ति पू॒र्वथा॑ ॥

In the ecstasy of this soma success of achievement through the yajnic programme, Indra augments the strength and enthusiasm of this host and master of the programme, while now as ever before, the people appropriately adore and exalt the greatness of this lord.

· · ·

8.3.9

तत्त्वा॑ यामि सु॒वीर्यं॒ तद्ब्रह्म॑ पू॒र्वचि॑त्तये । येना॒ यति॑भ्यो॒ भृग॑वे॒ धने॑ हि॒ते येन॒ प्रस्क॑ण्व॒मावि॑थ ॥

O lord resplendent, I come to you and ask for that vigour and wisdom, that knowledge of reality and divinity, that prime acquisition and awareness of values by which, when the battle rages and money and materials are called for, you provide for the retired holy men, scientists, technologists and the inventors and by which you protect the man of advanced special knowledge.

· · ·

8.3.10

येना॑ समु॒द्रमसृ॑जो म॒हीर॒पस्तदि॑न्द्र॒ वृष्णि॑ ते॒ शवः॑ । स॒द्यः सो अ॑स्य महि॒मा न सं॒नशे॒ यं क्षो॒णीर॑नुचक्र॒दे ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent of creation, I pray for the knowledge and experience of that overwhelming power and potential of yours by which you create the mighty waters and the oceans to roll and flow. That mighty power of this lord is not easily to be realised, the heaven and earth obey it, and when they move they celebrate it in the roaring and resounding music of stars and spheres.

· · ·

8.3.11

श॒ग्धी न॑ इन्द्र॒ यत्त्वा॑ र॒यिं यामि॑ सु॒वीर्य॑म् । श॒ग्धि वाजा॑य प्रथ॒मं सिषा॑सते श॒ग्धि स्तोमा॑य पूर्व्य ॥

Indra, first and leading power of the world, give us the vigour, wealth and power we ask for. Give us the strength of the first order for the advancement and victory of the dedicated and law abiding, and bless him who celebrates your glory in song.

· · ·

8.3.12

श॒ग्धी नो॑ अ॒स्य यद्ध॑ पौ॒रमावि॑थ॒ धिय॑ इन्द्र॒ सिषा॑सतः । श॒ग्धि यथा॒ रुश॑मं॒ श्याव॑कं॒ कृप॒मिन्द्र॒ प्रावः॒ स्व॑र्णरम् ॥

Give us the strength and power by which you protect the citizen for this yajamana, the intelligentsia, and the obedient workers, the strength and power by which you protect and promote for advancement the brilliant, the poor, the weak and disabled and the leading men of the nation on way to common joy and prosperity.

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8.3.13

कन्नव्यो॑ अत॒सीनां॑ तु॒रो गृ॑णीत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । न॒ही न्व॑स्य महि॒मान॑मिन्द्रि॒यं स्व॑र्गृ॒णन्त॑ आन॒शुः ॥

Who among mortals, even the most ardent of constant celebrants, can offer a new song of homage and adoration? Even those who have been singing in praise of Indra have not been able to comprehend his sublime majesty.

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8.3.14

कदु॑ स्तु॒वन्त॑ ऋतयन्त दे॒वत॒ ऋषिः॒ को विप्र॑ ओहते । क॒दा हवं॑ मघवन्निन्द्र सुन्व॒तः कदु॑ स्तुव॒त आ ग॑मः ॥

Who is the seer and scholar among those who adore you, honour you by yajna, or do homage to your refulgence, that can deliberate on you and understand you? When would you, O lord of honour and glory, Indra, respond to the call of the sage who presses the soma for you? When would you grace the yajnic home of the celebrant?

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8.3.15

उदु॒ त्ये मधु॑मत्तमा॒ गिरः॒ स्तोमा॑स ईरते । स॒त्रा॒जितो॑ धन॒सा अक्षि॑तोतयो वाज॒यन्तो॒ रथा॑ इव ॥

The sweetest of honeyed songs of praise and vibrations of homage rise to you flying like victorious, unviolated and invincible chariots laden with gold heading for higher destinations.

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8.3.16

कण्वा॑ इव॒ भृग॑वः॒ सूर्या॑ इव॒ विश्व॒मिद्धी॒तमा॑नशुः । इन्द्रं॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्म॒हय॑न्त आ॒यवः॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धासो अस्वरन् ॥

Brilliant scholars and sages as well as brave heroes of the human nation and loving and intelligent citizens of the land, praising and exalting Indra in one vaulting voice, rise and reach the presence of the lord in a world their own like rays of the sun filling the world of space they know.

· · ·

8.3.17

यु॒क्ष्वा हि वृ॑त्रहन्तम॒ हरी॑ इन्द्र परा॒वतः॑ । अ॒र्वा॒ची॒नो म॑घव॒न्त्सोम॑पीतय उ॒ग्र ऋ॒ष्वेभि॒रा ग॑हि ॥

O greatest destroyer of darkness, Indra, omnipotent lord of glory and majesty, blazing ruler and controller of the world, take to the chariot, harness the fastest vital forces of radiance and come from the farthest to us right here and now, with brilliant and indefatigable powers of light, wisdom and bravery, to join us in the soma celebrations of our yajnic victory.

· · ·

8.3.18

इ॒मे हि ते॑ का॒रवो॑ वाव॒शुर्धि॒या विप्रा॑सो मे॒धसा॑तये । स त्वं नो॑ मघवन्निन्द्र गिर्वणो वे॒नो न शृ॑णुधी॒ हव॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, these scientists, designers and workers, vibrant and intelligent all, love and honour you and shine with their intellect and expertise. O lord adorable of all, listen to our prayer like a lover and admirer of your own celebrants and receive their homage on the success of their yajnic endeavour

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8.3.19

निरि॑न्द्र बृह॒तीभ्यो॑ वृ॒त्रं धनु॑भ्यो अस्फुरः । निरर्बु॑दस्य॒ मृग॑यस्य मा॒यिनो॒ निः पर्व॑तस्य॒ गा आ॑जः ॥

Indra, even from far and wide regions you destroy the forces of darkness and evil, free helpless victims of the mighty violent and crafty demon, set in motion showers of the cloud and open out treasures of the mountain

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8.3.20

निर॒ग्नयो॑ रुरुचु॒र्निरु॒ सूर्यो॒ निः सोम॑ इन्द्रि॒यो रसः॑ । निर॒न्तरि॑क्षादधमो म॒हामहिं॑ कृ॒षे तदि॑न्द्र॒ पौंस्य॑म् ॥

When you broke the mighty cloud in showers from the sky and destroyed the evil from earth, the fires of earth shone and rose bright, the sun shone in glory and the soma juices for the celebration of Indra, lord of might and majesty, flowed from the herbs. That was a great deed of prowess worthy of the lord. (Similarly when Indra, lord almighty, and also the individual soul, throws out the evil from the heart and mind, then the inner light shines bright, the fire of good life is kindled and rises, and the soma spirit of divine joy flows and rolls in the heart. That indeed is a mighty deed of the lord’s prowess, and of the individual soul too.)

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8.3.21

यं मे॒ दुरिन्द्रो॑ म॒रुतः॒ पाक॑स्थामा॒ कौर॑याणः । विश्वे॑षां॒ त्मना॒ शोभि॑ष्ठ॒मुपे॑व दि॒वि धाव॑मानम् ॥

The light of knowledge and spiritual enlightenment which Indra, self-refulgent lord, and vibrant saints and sages have given me is stable, mature and universally dynamic, it is the brightest of all wealths of the world in the spiritual essence, and it shines within like the sun coursing in the spaces of light as a divine horse.

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8.3.22

रोहि॑तं मे॒ पाक॑स्थामा सु॒धुरं॑ कक्ष्य॒प्राम् । अदा॑द्रा॒यो वि॒बोध॑नम् ॥

Indra, lord of divine and inviolable power, has given me a chestnut horse, a rising sun of crimson hue, the mind, and a smooth axled and strongly built chariot, the body, and wealths of the world, intelligence, awareness and enlightenment.

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8.3.23

यस्मा॑ अ॒न्ये दश॒ प्रति॒ धुरं॒ वह॑न्ति॒ वह्न॑यः । अस्तं॒ वयो॒ न तुग्र्य॑म् ॥

And to me he has given ten others, carriers which carry me forward like birds or sun-rays bearing a mighty king to his royal home. These are ten senses of perception and volition, and the ten pranic energies.

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8.3.24

आ॒त्मा पि॒तुस्त॒नूर्वास॑ ओजो॒दा अ॒भ्यञ्ज॑नम् । तु॒रीय॒मिद्रोहि॑तस्य॒ पाक॑स्थामानं भो॒जं दा॒तार॑मब्रवम् ॥

The individual self is but filial manifestation in reflection of the father, giver of the soul’s dwelling in body, giver of light and lustre, purifier and sanctifier, divine destroyer of evil, giver and cleanser of mind and its colourful fluctuations. I celebrate the holy father of purity and sanctity, giver of food and energy for the world of stability.

✦ Sukta 4 · 21 verses ✦

8.4.1

यदि॑न्द्र॒ प्रागपा॒गुद॒ङ्न्य॑ग्वा हू॒यसे॒ नृभिः॑ । सिमा॑ पु॒रू नृषू॑तो अ॒स्यान॒वेऽसि॑ प्रशर्ध तु॒र्वशे॑ ॥

Indra, illustrious lord of the world, ruler and commander of human forces, karmayogi, when you are invoked by people anywhere east or west, north or south, up or down, then, O lord of excellence, you feel highly impelled by those many and come and act as the destroyer of many evils for the people of reverence and exceptional strength.

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8.4.2

यद्वा॒ रुमे॒ रुश॑मे॒ श्याव॑के॒ कृप॒ इन्द्र॑ मा॒दय॑से॒ सचा॑ । कण्वा॑सस्त्वा॒ ब्रह्म॑भिः॒ स्तोम॑वाहस॒ इन्द्रा य॑च्छ॒न्त्या ग॑हि ॥

And since, O lord Indra, you go to the celebrants, illustrious, child-like innocent and the humble and kind alike, sit with them, socialise and enjoy, so the dedicated admirers and learned men of vision and wisdom offer homage and reverence,

exalt you with sacred hymns and say : Come, O lord, and accept our tributes and homage.

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8.4.3

यथा॑ गौ॒रो अ॒पा कृ॒तं तृष्य॒न्नेत्यवेरि॑णम् । आ॒पि॒त्वे नः॑ प्रपि॒त्वे तूय॒मा ग॑हि॒ कण्वे॑षु॒ सु सचा॒ पिब॑ ॥

Just as a thirsty stag in the desert rushes to a pool full of water so, O friend in family of the wise, come morning, come evening, come fast and drink the soma of love and reverence in joy

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8.4.4

मन्द॑न्तु त्वा मघवन्नि॒न्द्रेन्द॑वो राधो॒देया॑य सुन्व॒ते । आ॒मुष्या॒ सोम॑मपिबश्च॒मू सु॒तं ज्येष्ठं॒ तद्द॑धिषे॒ सहः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, may these soma drinks exhilarate you for the bestowal of wealth and honour upon the dedicated lover of the soma of honour and enlightenment. Having won over the soma of victory prize in the contests of competing parties, you drank of the soma of ecstasy of the highest order and for that reason you command the courage and confidence of the victor.

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8.4.5

प्र च॑क्रे॒ सह॑सा॒ सहो॑ ब॒भञ्ज॑ म॒न्युमोज॑सा । विश्वे॑ त इन्द्र पृतना॒यवो॑ यहो॒ नि वृ॒क्षा इ॑व येमिरे ॥

Indra, with courage and confidence you fight out challenges and win victories. With your light and lustre you break down anger and arrogance. O mighty one, all your contestants and adversaries stand motionless against you, fixed as trees.

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8.4.6

स॒हस्रे॑णेव सचते यवी॒युधा॒ यस्त॒ आन॒ळुप॑स्तुतिम् । पु॒त्रं प्रा॑व॒र्गं कृ॑णुते सु॒वीर्ये॑ दा॒श्नोति॒ नम॑उक्तिभिः ॥

The youthful warrior who pays you homage and does honour and reverence to you, and the one who gives in charity, in service to you, with holy chants and humility receives the strength of a thousand heroes and, under the guidance and care of the lord, renders his progeny unconquerable and exclusive in merit and prowess.

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8.4.7

मा भे॑म॒ मा श्र॑मिष्मो॒ग्रस्य॑ स॒ख्ये तव॑ । म॒हत्ते॒ वृष्णो॑ अभि॒चक्ष्यं॑ कृ॒तं पश्ये॑म तु॒र्वशं॒ यदु॑म् ॥

Let us never feel afraid, let us never tire or feel depressed under your kind care and friendship, commander of blazing lustre. Admirable is your action and prowess, mighty generous lord. We celebrate you and pray we may see that our people and our progeny be industrious and high achievers.

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8.4.8

स॒व्यामनु॑ स्फि॒ग्यं॑ वावसे॒ वृषा॒ न दा॒नो अ॑स्य रोषति । मध्वा॒ सम्पृ॑क्ताः सार॒घेण॑ धे॒नव॒स्तूय॒मेहि॒ द्रवा॒ पिब॑ ॥

The joyous world of soma in relation to the earth, you illuminate and rule with a fraction of your prowess. Whoever plays his part well and renders his share to the refulgent ruler never regrets nor displeases the ruler ever. Come fast, O lord, rush in and drink the soma mixed with sweets of honey and seasoned with milk.

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8.4.9

अ॒श्वी र॒थी सु॑रू॒प इद्गोमाँ॒ इदि॑न्द्र ते॒ सखा॑ । श्वा॒त्र॒भाजा॒ वय॑सा सचते॒ सदा॑ च॒न्द्रो या॑ति स॒भामुप॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and ruling power, your devoted friend ever blest with the powers of life’s progress onwards like a chariot hero of war, enjoying grace of person and culture, wealth of knowledge and riches of the earth, has his full share of good health, full age and gifts of existence, and he goes forward to the assembly of people like the full moon among stars.

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8.4.10

ऋश्यो॒ न तृष्य॑न्नव॒पान॒मा ग॑हि॒ पिबा॒ सोमं॒ वशाँ॒ अनु॑ । नि॒मेघ॑मानो मघवन्दि॒वेदि॑व॒ ओजि॑ष्ठं दधिषे॒ सहः॑ ॥

Just like a white antelope thirsting for water, come to our yajna and have a drink of soma to your heart’s content. O lord of power, prosperity and blessings of grace, like a cloud of showers you bear and bring the most lustrous courage, patience and fortitude day by day to face the challenges of life.

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8.4.11

अध्व॑र्यो द्रा॒वया॒ त्वं सोम॒मिन्द्रः॑ पिपासति । उप॑ नू॒नं यु॑युजे॒ वृष॑णा॒ हरी॒ आ च॑ जगाम वृत्र॒हा ॥

Hasten, O master of ceremonies, let the soma be prepared and flow forth for service. Indra is thirsty, he has harnessed his mighty chariot forces, indeed the thunderous breaker of clouds has arrived.

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8.4.12

स्व॒यं चि॒त्स म॑न्यते॒ दाशु॑रि॒र्जनो॒ यत्रा॒ सोम॑स्य तृ॒म्पसि॑ । इ॒दं ते॒ अन्नं॒ युज्यं॒ समु॑क्षितं॒ तस्येहि॒ प्र द्र॑वा॒ पिब॑ ॥

Indra, the devout yajamana regards himself as divinely blest when you visit and drink the soma of hospitality. Here is the soma fit for you, matured and poured, pray accept it and drink

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8.4.13

र॒थे॒ष्ठाया॑ध्वर्यवः॒ सोम॒मिन्द्रा॑य सोतन । अधि॑ ब्र॒ध्नस्याद्र॑यो॒ वि च॑क्षते सु॒न्वन्तो॑ दा॒श्व॑ध्वरम् ॥

O performers of the yajna of love, loyalty and non-violence, prepare the soma offering of devotion for Indra, lord of the chariot of the world. On the heights of space, the mighty lord’s thunder and clouds of rain are seen pouring forth showers of bliss on the devout yajamana’s love and loyalty of yajnic service.

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8.4.14

उप॑ ब्र॒ध्नं वा॒वाता॒ वृष॑णा॒ हरी॒ इन्द्र॑म॒पसु॑ वक्षतः । अ॒र्वाञ्चं॑ त्वा॒ सप्त॑योऽध्वर॒श्रियो॒ वह॑न्तु॒ सव॒नेदुप॑ ॥

Across heights of the firmament, mighty currents of divine energy transport Indra, love and power of the spirit of divinity. O lord, may the swift currents of divinity radiating your light and love to the fire of yajna bring you hither to us and bless us in the act of homage.

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8.4.15

प्र पू॒षणं॑ वृणीमहे॒ युज्या॑य पुरू॒वसु॑म् । स श॑क्र शिक्ष पुरुहूत नो धि॒या तुजे॑ रा॒ये वि॑मोचन ॥

For our loyalty and the lord’s favour of friendship, we choose to do homage to the lord of universal wealth and bliss of health and nourishment. May the lord almighty, giver of freedom from fear and sin, universally invoked and solicited, enlighten us with intelligence and bless us with the spirit of action for the attainment of freedom, victory and prosperity.

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8.4.16

सं नः॑ शिशीहि भु॒रिजो॑रिव क्षु॒रं रास्व॑ रा॒यो वि॑मोचन । त्वे तन्नः॑ सु॒वेद॑मु॒स्रियं॒ वसु॒ यं त्वं हि॒नोषि॒ मर्त्य॑म् ॥

Timely sharpen us and temper us, our intellect, will and action, like the sword in the hands of a warrior, give us the freedom and wealths of life, O lord deliverer from sin and slavery. In you lies all that well-known easily and freely available radiant wealth of life which you set in motion for humanity to achieve.

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8.4.17

वेमि॑ त्वा पूषन्नृ॒ञ्जसे॒ वेमि॒ स्तोत॑व आघृणे । न तस्य॑ वे॒म्यर॑णं॒ हि तद्व॑सो स्तु॒षे प॒ज्राय॒ साम्ने॑ ॥

I know you, lord giver of health and nourishment, for the sake of favour and success. I know you, lord adorable, for the sake of worship and brilliance. I know no one else, none else delights me. O lord of world’s wealth, shelter of the universe, I offer homage to the divinity, adorable, omnipotent and blissful.

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8.4.18

परा॒ गावो॒ यव॑सं॒ कच्चि॑दाघृणे॒ नित्यं॒ रेक्णो॑ अमर्त्य । अ॒स्माकं॑ पूषन्नवि॒ता शि॒वो भ॑व॒ मंहि॑ष्ठो॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

O lord of light and immortality, our cows go far and wide for pasture, let that wealth of ours be always constant and imperishable. O lord most potent giver of health and generous nourishment, be our protector and saviour, and our source of peace and well being for the sake of ultimate victory.

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8.4.19

स्थू॒रं राधः॑ श॒ताश्वं॑ कुरु॒ङ्गस्य॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु । राज्ञ॑स्त्वे॒षस्य॑ सु॒भग॑स्य रा॒तिषु॑ तु॒र्वशे॑ष्वमन्महि ॥

In our love of flight into the regions of light for success of the distinguished man of scientific ambition in his brilliant plans and programmes, and among the most generous gifts of the refulgent and powerful ruler of the earth, one unique among men of ardent action, we acknowledge the strongly built and perfected hundred horse power flying chariot as the object of fulfilment.

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8.4.20

धी॒भिः सा॒तानि॑ का॒ण्वस्य॑ वा॒जिनः॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धैर॒भिद्यु॑भिः । ष॒ष्टिं स॒हस्रानु॒ निर्म॑जामजे॒ निर्यू॒थानि॒ गवा॒मृषिः॑ ॥

By virtue of the achievements of the intellectual pursuits of the vibrant man of exceptional intelligence and by the visions and conceptional imagination and reflections of the lovers of united programmes of yajnic research, the sage received sixty thousand streams of pure knowledge of life into his awareness and consolidated memory.

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8.4.21

वृ॒क्षाश्चि॑न्मे अभिपि॒त्वे अ॑रारणुः । गां भ॑जन्त मे॒हनाश्वं॑ भजन्त मे॒हना॑ ॥

On my attainment of the streams of knowledge, the selective, the indifferent, even the critics, burst into applause. Abundent are the streams of knowledge they have got, abundant the body of technology they have achieved!

✦ Sukta 5 · 39 verses ✦

8.5.1

दू॒रादि॒हेव॒ यत्स॒त्य॑रु॒णप्सु॒रशि॑श्वितत् । वि भा॒नुं वि॒श्वधा॑तनत् ॥

The bright red dawn from far off, which yet appears so close, wraps the world in crimson glory and then spreads it over with the light of the sun.

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8.5.2

नृ॒वद्द॑स्रा मनो॒युजा॒ रथे॑न पृथु॒पाज॑सा । सचे॑थे अश्विनो॒षस॑म् ॥

The Ashvins, wondrous charming divine currents of complementary energies, the yajamana and the participants, the yogi dedicated to knowledge and karma, devout men and women arise and move by the vast and strong chariot of the mind and spiritual energies and go forward to share the divine glory of the dawn like world leaders.

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8.5.3

यु॒वाभ्यां॑ वाजिनीवसू॒ प्रति॒ स्तोमा॑ अदृक्षत । वाचं॑ दू॒तो यथो॑हिषे ॥

O Ashvins, commanders of wealth and energy on way, the chants of adoration in your honour you seem to hear, and I, too, like an appointed messenger, send up my voice of adoration to you and the dawn and I wait to hear the divine voice in response.

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8.5.4

पु॒रु॒प्रि॒या ण॑ ऊ॒तये॑ पुरुम॒न्द्रा पु॑रू॒वसू॑ । स्तु॒षे कण्वा॑सो अ॒श्विना॑ ॥

Ashvins, dear and favourite with many, givers of joy to many, commanding great wealth of the world, we of the family of the learned and the wise admire and praise you for the sake of our protection and advancement.

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8.5.5

मंहि॑ष्ठा वाज॒सात॑मे॒षय॑न्ता शु॒भस्पती॑ । गन्ता॑रा दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हम् ॥

Ashvins, you are great and generous, givers of nourishment and energy, loving and inspiring, promoters and protectors of good, you visit and bless the homes of the generous yajakas. As such, we adore you.

· · ·

8.5.6

ता सु॑दे॒वाय॑ दा॒शुषे॑ सुमे॒धामवि॑तारिणीम् । घृ॒तैर्गव्यू॑तिमुक्षतम् ॥

For the generous yajaka dedicated to divinity, we pray, bring noble intelligence of the saving order and sprinkle and energise his path of progress with inspiring waters and sparkling ghrta.

· · ·

8.5.7

आ नः॒ स्तोम॒मुप॑ द्र॒वत्तूयं॑ श्ये॒नेभि॑रा॒शुभिः॑ । या॒तमश्वे॑भिरश्विना ॥

Ashvins, fly to our congregation of yajna and divine adoration at the earliest on the wings of celestial eagles upon the instant, hasten to us by flying horses.

· · ·

8.5.8

येभि॑स्ति॒स्रः प॑रा॒वतो॑ दि॒वो विश्वा॑नि रोच॒ना । त्रीँर॒क्तून्प॑रि॒दीय॑थः ॥

Come by those eagles and horses by which in three days and three nights you traverse over the farthest regions of light and beauty across the universe.

· · ·

8.5.9

उ॒त नो॒ गोम॑ती॒रिष॑ उ॒त सा॒तीर॑हर्विदा । वि प॒थः सा॒तये॑ सितम् ॥

And bring us food and energy and inspiration with lands and cows and the light of knowledge, and bring us possibilities of victory, and clear our paths of progress free from difficulties.

· · ·

8.5.10

आ नो॒ गोम॑न्तमश्विना सु॒वीरं॑ सु॒रथं॑ र॒यिम् । वो॒ळ्हमश्वा॑वती॒रिषः॑ ॥

Ashvins, bring us wealth of lands and cows, brave progeny, fast chariots and progress, and bring us nourishment, energy and advancement with motive forces of the highest order of attainment.

· · ·

8.5.11

वा॒वृ॒धा॒ना शु॑भस्पती दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्तनी । पिब॑तं सो॒म्यं मधु॑ ॥

Rising and exalting, protectors and promoters of good, destroyers of enmity, moving by golden paths of advancement to victory, drink and enjoy the honey sweets of soma, peace and progress.

· · ·

8.5.12

अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ वाजिनीवसू म॒घव॑द्भ्यश्च स॒प्रथः॑ । छ॒र्दिर्य॑न्त॒मदा॑भ्यम् ॥

And, O harbingers of wealth, victory and progress, bring for us and for the leading lights of power, honour and excellence spacious and peaceful homes free from fear and pressure.

· · ·

8.5.13

नि षु ब्रह्म॒ जना॑नां॒ यावि॑ष्टं॒ तूय॒मा ग॑तम् । मो ष्व१॒॑न्याँ उपा॑रतम् ॥

Come soon to the yajna of the people and protect and promote their creative development, but please neglect not the others too, nor offend and grieve them.

· · ·

8.5.14

अ॒स्य पि॑बतमश्विना यु॒वं मद॑स्य॒ चारु॑णः । मध्वो॑ रा॒तस्य॑ धिष्ण्या ॥

Adorable Ashvins, bold and resolute harbingers of a new dawn, drink of this charming, exciting and honey sweet soma offered by us as a tribute of love and gratitude.

· · ·

8.5.15

अ॒स्मे आ व॑हतं र॒यिं श॒तव॑न्तं सह॒स्रिण॑म् । पु॒रु॒क्षुं वि॒श्वधा॑यसम् ॥

Bring us a hundredfold and a thousandfold wealth of universal value in abundance for all humanity which would sustain the world in a stable state of peace and progress.

· · ·

8.5.16

पु॒रु॒त्रा चि॒द्धि वां॑ नरा वि॒ह्वय॑न्ते मनी॒षिणः॑ । वा॒घद्भि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Learned men, thinkers and leading lights of humanity all over the world invoke and invite you many times in many ways. Ashvins, pray come by supersonic transports at the earliest.

· · ·

8.5.17

जना॑सो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो ह॒विष्म॑न्तो अरं॒कृतः॑ । यु॒वां ह॑वन्ते अश्विना ॥

Ashvins, the people in top form of readiness, having prepared the hall of yajnic reception in top gear with provisions of homage, invoke you and call upon you to come.

· · ·

8.5.18

अ॒स्माक॑म॒द्य वा॑म॒यं स्तोमो॒ वाहि॑ष्ठो॒ अन्त॑मः । यु॒वाभ्यां॑ भूत्वश्विना ॥

Ashvins, may this song of our invocation, adoration and yajnic prayer be most touching for you at heart and impel you to respond and come.

· · ·

8.5.19

यो ह॑ वां॒ मधु॑नो॒ दृति॒राहि॑तो रथ॒चर्ष॑णे । ततः॑ पिबतमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, the soma cask of honey sweets installed in the chariot and the pathway is full. Therefrom drink as you come.

· · ·

8.5.20

तेन॑ नो वाजिनीवसू॒ पश्वे॑ तो॒काय॒ शं गवे॑ । वह॑तं॒ पीव॑री॒रिषः॑ ॥

And thereby, O lords of power and wealth, bring us abundant and ever growing food, energy, wealth and peace for our children, our animals, our lands and cows, and for our knowledge and culture, and let all that grow higher.

· · ·

8.5.21

उ॒त नो॑ दि॒व्या इष॑ उ॒त सिन्धूँ॑रहर्विदा । अप॒ द्वारे॑व वर्षथः ॥

And, O harbingers of a new day, while you bring us heavenly food and energy in plenty, open the floods of streams and rivers and control the flow as by doors.

· · ·

8.5.22

क॒दा वां॑ तौ॒ग्र्यो वि॑धत्समु॒द्रे ज॑हि॒तो न॑रा । यद्वां॒ रथो॒ विभि॒ष्पता॑त् ॥

O leading lights of life, some day the powers jettisoned or installed on the sea would glorify you when your chariot flying by wings would rescue them or take off from there.

· · ·

8.5.23

यु॒वं कण्वा॑य नासत्या॒ ऋपि॑रिप्ताय ह॒र्म्ये । शश्व॑दू॒तीर्द॑शस्यथः ॥

Ashvins, observers and protectors of truth without fail, you always provide protection for the oppressed man of knowledge and wisdom in his home.

· · ·

8.5.24

ताभि॒रा या॑तमू॒तिभि॒र्नव्य॑सीभिः सुश॒स्तिभिः॑ । यद्वां॑ वृषण्वसू हु॒वे ॥

O generous lords of wealth and power, come to us with those most modern and most admirable means and methods of protection whenever we call upon you.

· · ·

8.5.25

यथा॑ चि॒त्कण्व॒माव॑तं प्रि॒यमे॑धमुपस्तु॒तम् । अत्रिं॑ शि॒ञ्जार॑मश्विना ॥

Come the same way as you protect and save the man of knowledge and wisdom, the celebrated intellectual and the sage loud and bold who has broken off all his three snares of body, mind and soul.

· · ·

8.5.26

यथो॒त कृत्व्ये॒ धनें॒ऽशुं गोष्व॒गस्त्य॑म् । यथा॒ वाजे॑षु॒ सोभ॑रिम् ॥

Come the way you protect and promote the earnest beginner in matters of possible success in business, the man of moral values in matters of selfcontrol, and the man of charity and social awareness in matters of social success.

· · ·

8.5.27

ए॒ताव॑द्वां वृषण्वसू॒ अतो॑ वा॒ भूयो॑ अश्विना । गृ॒णन्तः॑ सु॒म्नमी॑महे ॥

O virile and generous harbingers of wealth and power, Ashvins, thus do we so far and even more, celebrating your glory, pray for your favour and good will.

· · ·

8.5.28

रथं॒ हिर॑ण्यवन्धुरं॒ हिर॑ण्याभीशुमश्विना । आ हि स्थाथो॑ दिवि॒स्पृश॑म् ॥

Ashvins, you ride a chariot of golden structure and golden control which flies and touches the borders of the regions of light on high.

· · ·

8.5.29

हि॒र॒ण्ययी॑ वां॒ रभि॑री॒षा अक्षो॑ हिर॒ण्ययः॑ । उ॒भा च॒क्रा हि॑र॒ण्यया॑ ॥

O travellers of the skies, golden is the chassis of your chariot, golden the axle, and both the wheels are golden too.

· · ·

8.5.30

तेन॑ नो वाजिनीवसू परा॒वत॑श्चि॒दा ग॑तम् । उपे॒मां सु॑ष्टु॒तिं मम॑ ॥

O winners of wealth and victory, by that golden chariot come from far, from the farthest wherever you be, and accept this holy song of mine in praise of you.

· · ·

8.5.31

आ व॑हेथे परा॒कात्पू॒र्वीर॒श्नन्ता॑वश्विना । इषो॒ दासी॑रमर्त्या ॥

Immortal Ashvins, winners and harbingers of ancient sources of wealth, you bring us food, energies and wealths of tremendous positive value from farthest places and since times beyond memory.

· · ·

8.5.32

आ नो॑ द्यु॒म्नैरा श्रवो॑भि॒रा रा॒या या॑तमश्विना । पुरु॑श्चन्द्रा॒ नास॑त्या ॥

Ashvins, observers and protectors of truth, blest with grace and glory of universal character, come to us with lights of knowledge, honour and wealth of imperishable value.

· · ·

8.5.33

एह वां॑ प्रुषि॒तप्स॑वो॒ वयो॑ वहन्तु प॒र्णिनः॑ । अच्छा॑ स्वध्व॒रं जन॑म् ॥

May carriers consuming combustible fuel for energy transport you here on flying wings and you join the holy man at his yajna of love and non-violence.

· · ·

8.5.34

रथं॑ वा॒मनु॑गायसं॒ य इ॒षा वर्त॑ते स॒ह । न च॒क्रम॒भि बा॑धते ॥

Your chariot which moves on fuel and energy and the wheel of your progress thereby, no one can obstruct on course.

· · ·

8.5.35

हि॒र॒ण्यये॑न॒ रथे॑न द्र॒वत्पा॑णिभि॒रश्वैः॑ । धीज॑वना॒ नास॑त्या ॥

Ashvins, ever truthful and imperishable powers, flying at the speed of thought by a golden chariot running by the power of revolving hands (like pistons, cranks or turbines and motors), no one can obstruct your course of progress.

· · ·

8.5.36

यु॒वं मृ॒गं जा॑गृ॒वांसं॒ स्वद॑थो वा वृषण्वसू । ता नः॑ पृङ्क्तमि॒षा र॒यिम् ॥

O generous and virile leading lights of the day, you take delight in hunting the hunter on the wake (not in ambush). Similarly join the wealth of victory with the taste of food and season it with the sweets of honey.

· · ·

8.5.37

ता मे॑ अश्विना सनी॒नां वि॒द्यातं॒ नवा॑नाम् । यथा॑ चिच्चै॒द्यः क॒शुः श॒तमुष्ट्रा॑नां॒ दद॑त्स॒हस्रा॒ दश॒ गोना॑म् ॥

Such as you are, Ashvins, harbingers of the sweets of life, please know the newest and most favourite gifts I love just as the perceptive ruler knew when he granted me a hundred camels and ten thousand cows.

· · ·

8.5.38

यो मे॒ हिर॑ण्यसंदृशो॒ दश॒ राज्ञो॒ अमं॑हत । अ॒ध॒स्प॒दा इच्चै॒द्यस्य॑ कृ॒ष्टय॑श्चर्म॒म्ना अ॒भितो॒ जनाः॑ ॥

Similarly that ruler knew who gave me ten estates of real beauty and value like gold. All people are under control of the wise ruler and men in armour stand round in readiness to serve and obey

· · ·

8.5.39

माकि॑रे॒ना प॒था गा॒द्येने॒मे यन्ति॑ चे॒दयः॑ । अ॒न्यो नेत्सू॒रिरोह॑ते भूरि॒दाव॑त्तरो॒ जनः॑ ॥

No one else goes by the path by which the wise people go. And no one else is as brave as they, no one excels them in charity and generosity

✦ Sukta 6 · 48 verses ✦

8.6.1

म॒हाँ इन्द्रो॒ य ओज॑सा प॒र्जन्यो॑ वृष्टि॒माँ इ॑व । स्तोमै॑र्व॒त्सस्य॑ वावृधे ॥

Great is Indra by his power and splendour like the cloud charged with rain and waxes with pleasure in the dear devotee’s awareness by his child like hymns of adoration.

· · ·

8.6.2

प्र॒जामृ॒तस्य॒ पिप्र॑तः॒ प्र यद्भर॑न्त॒ वह्न॑यः । विप्रा॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ वाह॑सा ॥

When the forces of nature carry on the laws of divinity and sustain the children of creation through evolution, and the enlightened sages too carry on the yajna of divine law of truth in their adorations, Indra, immanent divinity, waxes with pleasure.

· · ·

8.6.3

कण्वा॒ इन्द्रं॒ यदक्र॑त॒ स्तोमै॑र्य॒ज्ञस्य॒ साध॑नम् । जा॒मि ब्रु॑वत॒ आयु॑धम् ॥

When the wise sages with their adorations rise to Indra and surrender to him as their yajnic destination, they exclaim: Verily the lord of thunder is our brother, father, mother, sister, everything.

· · ·

8.6.4

सम॑स्य म॒न्यवे॒ विशो॒ विश्वा॑ नमन्त कृ॒ष्टयः॑ । स॒मु॒द्राये॑व॒ सिन्ध॑वः ॥

The people, in fact the entire humanity, bow in homage and surrender to this lord of passion, power and splendour just as rivers flow on down and join into the sea.

· · ·

8.6.5

ओज॒स्तद॑स्य तित्विष उ॒भे यत्स॒मव॑र्तयत् । इन्द्र॒श्चर्मे॑व॒ रोद॑सी ॥

When Indra, lord almighty, pervades and envelops both heaven and earth in the cover of light, the light that shines is only the lord’s divine splendour that blazes with glory.

· · ·

8.6.6

वि चि॑द्वृ॒त्रस्य॒ दोध॑तो॒ वज्रे॑ण श॒तप॑र्वणा । शिरो॑ बिभेद वृ॒ष्णिना॑ ॥

And when the lord of might and munificence with his thunderbolt of a hundred potentials shatters the head of Vrtra, terror striking demon of darkness, drought and despair, the bolt is nothing but the blazing omnipotence of the lord.

· · ·

8.6.7

इ॒मा अ॒भि प्र णो॑नुमो वि॒पामग्रे॑षु धी॒तयः॑ । अ॒ग्नेः शो॒चिर्न दि॒द्युतः॑ ॥

These hymns of ardent adoration like rising flames of radiant fire, we among the front ranks of vibrant sages offer are homage and surrender to the lord omnipotent, Indra.

· · ·

8.6.8

गुहा॑ स॒तीरुप॒ त्मना॒ प्र यच्छोच॑न्त धी॒तयः॑ । कण्वा॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ धार॑या ॥

Hymns of adoration which abide in the depths of the heart, wise sages let flow and shine forth spontaneously with the overflowing streams of natural truth and law divinely embedded in the soul.

· · ·

8.6.9

प्र तमि॑न्द्र नशीमहि र॒यिं गोम॑न्तम॒श्विन॑म् । प्र ब्रह्म॑ पू॒र्वचि॑त्तये ॥

Indra, lord of light and power, pray let us realise that wealth and honour of earthly character overflowing with motherly generosity and superfast achievement which is the prologue to perfect realisation of the nature and divinity of the ultimate reality of Brahman.

· · ·

8.6.10

अ॒हमिद्धि पि॒तुष्परि॑ मे॒धामृ॒तस्य॑ ज॒ग्रभ॑ । अ॒हं सूर्य॑ इवाजनि ॥

I have received from my father super intelligence of the universal mind and law, I have realise it too in the soul, and I feel reborn like the refulgent sun.

· · ·

8.6.11

अ॒हं प्र॒त्नेन॒ मन्म॑ना॒ गिरः॑ शुम्भामि कण्व॒वत् । येनेन्द्रः॒ शुष्म॒मिद्द॒धे ॥

With the realisation of ancient and eternal knowledge I sanctify and adorn my words and voice in song like a wise sage, and by that, Indra, lord of light and power, vests me with strength and excellence.

· · ·

8.6.12

ये त्वामि॑न्द्र॒ न तु॑ष्टु॒वुॠष॑यो॒ ये च॑ तुष्टु॒वुः । ममेद्व॑र्धस्व॒ सुष्टु॑तः ॥

There are men who do not adore you, and there are sages who adore you, (both ways you are acknowledged and adored by praise or protest). O lord thus adored by me and pleased, pray accept my adoration and let us rise.

· · ·

8.6.13

यद॑स्य म॒न्युरध्व॑नी॒द्वि वृ॒त्रं प॑र्व॒शो रु॒जन् । अ॒पः स॑मु॒द्रमैर॑यत् ॥

When the lord’s passion rises and roars, breaking the dark cloud stage by stage, showers rain and rivers flow to the sea.

· · ·

8.6.14

नि शुष्ण॑ इन्द्र धर्ण॒सिं वज्रं॑ जघन्थ॒ दस्य॑वि । वृषा॒ ह्यु॑ग्र शृण्वि॒षे ॥

Indra, when you strike the mighty thunderbolt on the devil of drought and cloud of denial, then you are celebrated as the lord of showers and divine passion.

· · ·

8.6.15

न द्याव॒ इन्द्र॒मोज॑सा॒ नान्तरि॑क्षाणि व॒ज्रिण॑म् । न वि॑व्यचन्त॒ भूम॑यः ॥

Neither heavens nor the middle regions nor earths with all their lustre and power can violate, comprehend or even contain Indra, lord of the thunderbolt of omnipotence, justice and punishment.

· · ·

8.6.16

यस्त॑ इन्द्र म॒हीर॒पः स्त॑भू॒यमा॑न॒ आश॑यत् । नि तं पद्या॑सु शिश्नथः ॥

Whoever chooses to hold up and stand in the way of the mighty flow of your waters, will and action, you pierce and break open like the dark cloud and make him flow with the flow into the channels of nature, the universal flow.

· · ·

8.6.17

य इ॒मे रोद॑सी म॒ही स॑मी॒ची स॒मज॑ग्रभीत् । तमो॑भिरिन्द्र॒ तं गु॑हः ॥

That nature, Prakrti, which comprehends these great heavens and earths together, that same you cover and hide in deep darkness when this universe is withdrawn into zero during Pralaya, annihilation.

· · ·

8.6.18

य इ॑न्द्र॒ यत॑यस्त्वा॒ भृग॑वो॒ ये च॑ तुष्टु॒वुः । ममेदु॑ग्र श्रुधी॒ हव॑म् ॥

Indra, those self-controlled sages, those veteran scholars of disseminative knowledge who cleanse themselves of negativities, all who adore and celebrate you, while you listen to all, among them, O lord of blazing resplendence, listen to my invocation, adoration and prayer.

· · ·

8.6.19

इ॒मास्त॑ इन्द्र॒ पृश्न॑यो घृ॒तं दु॑हत आ॒शिर॑म् । ए॒नामृ॒तस्य॑ पि॒प्युषीः॑ ॥

Indra, these spotted cows of yours, various earths, starry skies which yield and shower honey sweets of milk and life giving soma are augmenters of the divine yajna of universal evolution.

· · ·

8.6.20

या इ॑न्द्र प्र॒स्व॑स्त्वा॒सा गर्भ॒मच॑क्रिरन् । परि॒ धर्मे॑व॒ सूर्य॑म् ॥

All these stars and planets are fertile and creative, and all round, like the nature and action of the sun, they suck up vitality in by the divine mouth and hold the seed of life for new birth.

· · ·

8.6.21

त्वामिच्छ॑वसस्पते॒ कण्वा॑ उ॒क्थेन॑ वावृधुः । त्वां सु॒तास॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

O lord of universal power and potential, wise sages with their hymns of adoration exalt only you, and so also the distilled soma offers of initiated devotees exhilarate you alone.

· · ·

8.6.22

तवेदि॑न्द्र॒ प्रणी॑तिषू॒त प्रश॑स्तिरद्रिवः । य॒ज्ञो वि॑तन्त॒साय्यः॑ ॥

Indra, in all matters of right ethics, morals, policy and social conduct in the world, it is your glory only that inspires, it is all a version of your universal yajna, lord mover and ruler of the world.

· · ·

8.6.23

आ न॑ इन्द्र म॒हीमिषं॒ पुरं॒ न द॑र्षि॒ गोम॑तीम् । उ॒त प्र॒जां सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

Indra, bestow upon us abundant food and high quality energy as well as a great city for habitation, rich in cows, culture and excellence and bless us with a noble virile progeny.

· · ·

8.6.24

उ॒त त्यदा॒श्वश्व्यं॒ यदि॑न्द्र॒ नाहु॑षी॒ष्वा । अग्रे॑ वि॒क्षु प्र॒दीद॑यत् ॥

Indra, lord omniscient and omnipotent, give us that dynamic energy and refulgent power strategy for sure and certain targeted achievement which you bestowed upon earlier people of the world committed to the pursuit of truth and rectitude in the social struggle between good and evil, positive and negative, and between love and hate.

· · ·

8.6.25

अ॒भि व्र॒जं न त॑त्निषे॒ सूर॑ उपा॒कच॑क्षसम् । यदि॑न्द्र मृ॒ळया॑सि नः ॥

For when you are kind, O lord of light and power, you switch on the light for us and reveal the target close at hand in sight and you mark the way too by which we must reach our aim and object of love.

· · ·

8.6.26

यद॒ङ्ग त॑विषी॒यस॒ इन्द्र॑ प्र॒राज॑सि क्षि॒तीः । म॒हाँ अ॑पा॒र ओज॑सा ॥

Indra, lord of life and love, dear as our very breath, when you shine and blaze ruling over lands and people, then you reveal your grandeur, you are incomprehensible by virtue of your self-refulgence.

· · ·

8.6.27

तं त्वा॑ ह॒विष्म॑ती॒र्विश॒ उप॑ ब्रुवत ऊ॒तये॑ । उ॒रु॒ज्रय॑स॒मिन्दु॑भिः ॥

People with most exhilarating offers of soma in hand for homage invoke and adore you for protection and advancement, lord omnipresent and ever vibrant in the expansive universe.

· · ·

8.6.28

उ॒प॒ह्व॒रे गि॑री॒णां सं॑ग॒थे च॑ न॒दीना॑म् । धि॒या विप्रो॑ अजायत ॥

In seclusion over mountain slopes and in the caves and on the confluence of rivers, the vibrant presence of the lord within reveals itself by illumination in the self.

· · ·

8.6.29

अतः॑ समु॒द्रमु॒द्वत॑श्चिकि॒त्वाँ अव॑ पश्यति । यतो॑ विपा॒न एज॑ति ॥

Thence the enlightened devotee rising over the ocean of existence watches how and from where the vibrant omnipresence descends into inner consciousness.

· · ·

8.6.30

आदित्प्र॒त्नस्य॒ रेत॑सो॒ ज्योति॑ष्पश्यन्ति वास॒रम् । प॒रो यदि॒ध्यते॑ दि॒वा ॥

And then the devotees see like day light the selfrefulgence of the eternal lord and source of life who shines above and beyond the day through the night of annihilation too.

· · ·

8.6.31

कण्वा॑स इन्द्र ते म॒तिं विश्वे॑ वर्धन्ति॒ पौंस्य॑म् । उ॒तो श॑विष्ठ॒ वृष्ण्य॑म् ॥

Indra, lord most potent, all the learned sages of the world celebrate and exalt your omniscience, creative power and universal generosity.

· · ·

8.6.32

इ॒मां म॑ इन्द्र सुष्टु॒तिं जु॒षस्व॒ प्र सु माम॑व । उ॒त प्र व॑र्धया म॒तिम् ॥

Indra, just and merciful lord, pray accept this hymn of adoration for my sake and protect me from evil, and bless me that my intelligence and awareness may grow and rise in piety.

· · ·

8.6.33

उ॒त ब्र॑ह्म॒ण्या व॒यं तुभ्यं॑ प्रवृद्ध वज्रिवः । विप्रा॑ अतक्ष्म जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Indra, highest and eternal lord of thunder and justice, we, enlightened sages dedicated to divinity with piety, offer these hymns of prayer and adoration for the sake of our life and advancement.

· · ·

8.6.34

अ॒भि कण्वा॑ अनूष॒तापो॒ न प्र॒वता॑ य॒तीः । इन्द्रं॒ वन॑न्वती म॒तिः ॥

Wise sages offer prayers to Indra and, like streams of water flowing and reaching the sea, the prayers rise and reach the lord almighty with love and adoration.

· · ·

8.6.35

इन्द्र॑मु॒क्थानि॑ वावृधुः समु॒द्रमि॑व॒ सिन्ध॑वः । अनु॑त्तमन्युम॒जर॑म् ॥

Hymns of adoration and prayer and yajnic performances exalt Indra, unaging and eternal lord beyond anger and agitation, just as rivers augment the ocean beyond overflowing.

· · ·

8.6.36

आ नो॑ याहि परा॒वतो॒ हरि॑भ्यां हर्य॒ताभ्या॑म् । इ॒ममि॑न्द्र सु॒तं पि॑ब ॥

Indra, come hither to us to join our yajna even from the farthest borders of the universe by brilliant vibrations of natural presence and illuminating rays of light divine and accept this distilled soma of our prayer and adoration.

· · ·

8.6.37

त्वामिद्वृ॑त्रहन्तम॒ जना॑सो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । हव॑न्ते॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

People, dedicated celebrants, seated on the vedi with homage in hand, invoke and adore you, lord most potent destroyer of darkness and evil, and they pray for victory in their struggle of life for advancement.

· · ·

8.6.38

अनु॑ त्वा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे च॒क्रं न व॒र्त्येत॑शम् । अनु॑ सुवा॒नास॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

Just as a chariot wheel turns and moves in correspondence with the horse so do both heaven and earth and all other soma transactions of life turn and move in obedience to your will and law.

· · ·

8.6.39

मन्द॑स्वा॒ सु स्व॑र्णर उ॒तेन्द्र॑ शर्य॒णाव॑ति । मत्स्वा॒ विव॑स्वतो म॒ती ॥

And Indra, O lord of love and power, in the regions of the earth and its environment close to the middle regions of space where violence is possible, pray bless the people with joy and feel exalted by the pious thought and will of the yajnic humanity.

· · ·

8.6.40

वा॒वृ॒धा॒न उप॒ द्यवि॒ वृषा॑ व॒ज्र्य॑रोरवीत् । वृ॒त्र॒हा सो॑म॒पात॑मः ॥

Exhilarated and exalted, in the heavens over the middle regions of the skies, the virile and munificent wielder of thunder, Indra, roars in response to the yajnic acts of humanity. He is destroyer of darkness and evil, drought and despair, and the greatest lover of peace and the soma of success.

· · ·

8.6.41

ऋषि॒र्हि पू॑र्व॒जा अस्येक॒ ईशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा । इन्द्र॑ चोष्कू॒यसे॒ वसु॑ ॥

Indra, you are the omniscient poet and visionary of the universe, all seer, eternal and first manifestation of existence in creation, sole one and absolute ruler of the universe by your might and majesty, and you love to give wealth, honour and excellence with highest joy to humanity.

· · ·

8.6.42

अ॒स्माकं॑ त्वा सु॒ताँ उप॑ वी॒तपृ॑ष्ठा अ॒भि प्रयः॑ । श॒तं व॑हन्तु॒ हर॑यः ॥

Indra, may the hundreds of your festive forces travelling like light rays transport you hither to our distilled soma and delicious foods offered in homage.

· · ·

8.6.43

इ॒मां सु पू॒र्व्यां धियं॒ मधो॑र्घृ॒तस्य॑ पि॒प्युषी॑म् । कण्वा॑ उ॒क्थेन॑ वावृधुः ॥

Learned sages by chanting hymns and performing yajna exalt the glory and efficacy of this ancient science of yajnic action which augments the honey sweets of water, ghrta and all other delicacies for universal nourishment.

· · ·

8.6.44

इन्द्र॒मिद्विम॑हीनां॒ मेधे॑ वृणीत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । इन्द्रं॑ सनि॒ष्युरू॒तये॑ ॥

Mortals of the highest order of humanity choose Indra for honour in yajna, and the seeker of wealth and power too invokes Indra for protection and advancement.

· · ·

8.6.45

अ॒र्वाञ्चं॑ त्वा पुरुष्टुत प्रि॒यमे॑धस्तुता॒ हरी॑ । सो॒म॒पेया॑य वक्षतः ॥

O lord of universal adoration and worship, natural vibrations of divine energy loved and honoured by the devotees of social yajna transport you hither to the heart to accept the sweets of our love and homage.

· · ·

8.6.46

श॒तम॒हं ति॒रिन्दि॑रे स॒हस्रं॒ पर्शा॒वा द॑दे । राधां॑सि॒ याद्वा॑नाम् ॥

Thousands of gifts of intellectual value and means of practical success I have received from Indra to give away to help others and for the destruction of darkness from humanity.

· · ·

8.6.47

त्रीणि॑ श॒तान्यर्व॑तां स॒हस्रा॒ दश॒ गोना॑म् । द॒दुष्प॒ज्राय॒ साम्ने॑ ॥

Three hundred horses and ten thousand cows the lord has given to the celebrant of Sama Veda. (Horses and cows are symbols of achievement and generosity.)

· · ·

8.6.48

उदा॑नट् ककु॒हो दिव॒मुष्ट्रा॑ञ्चतु॒र्युजो॒ दद॑त् । श्रव॑सा॒ याद्वं॒ जन॑म् ॥

Having given four bullocks or camels in charity and raised a class of intellectuals, a prosperous devotee rises to divine heights of honour and fame.

✦ Sukta 7 · 36 verses ✦

8.7.1

प्र यद्व॑स्त्रि॒ष्टुभ॒मिषं॒ मरु॑तो॒ विप्रो॒ अक्ष॑रत् । वि पर्व॑तेषु राजथ ॥

O Maruts, warriors of the nation, when the vibrant controllers of the nation’s finances in yajnic management canalise national expenditure into three streams, physical, mental and spiritual, then you rise to the clouds and shine.

· · ·

8.7.2

यद॒ङ्ग त॑विषीयवो॒ यामं॑ शुभ्रा॒ अचि॑ध्वम् । नि पर्व॑ता अहासत ॥

O dear bright Maruts, blazing bold warriors, when you detail your vehicles on parade for action, then even mountains shake with fear and awe.

· · ·

8.7.3

उदी॑रयन्त वा॒युभि॑र्वा॒श्रासः॒ पृश्नि॑मातरः । धु॒क्षन्त॑ पि॒प्युषी॒मिष॑म् ॥

Children of earth and heaven chanting holy songs with the winds, the Maruts bring down streams of food and energy from the skies.

· · ·

8.7.4

वप॑न्ति म॒रुतो॒ मिहं॒ प्र वे॑पयन्ति॒ पर्व॑तान् । यद्यामं॒ यान्ति॑ वा॒युभिः॑ ॥

When the Maruts take to their vehicles with the winds, they shoot out showers of rain and shake up mountainous strongholds of energy.

· · ·

8.7.5

नि यद्यामा॑य वो गि॒रिर्नि सिन्ध॑वो॒ विध॑र्मणे । म॒हे शुष्मा॑य येमि॒रे ॥

Out of fear and awe of your motion and power which is opposed to their strength and character, mountains hold back and rivers pant and flow.

· · ·

8.7.6

यु॒ष्माँ उ॒ नक्त॑मू॒तये॑ यु॒ष्मान्दिवा॑ हवामहे । यु॒ष्मान्प्र॑य॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे ॥

We invoke you at night for peace and protection, in the day for action and advancement, and in the beginning of yajna for completion and fulfilment.

· · ·

8.7.7

उदु॒ त्ये अ॑रु॒णप्स॑वश्चि॒त्रा यामे॑भिरीरते । वा॒श्रा अधि॒ ष्णुना॑ दि॒वः ॥

And those ardent red wonderful stormy troops of heroes fly by their chariots roaring over mountain tops and over and across the skies.

· · ·

8.7.8

सृ॒जन्ति॑ र॒श्मिमोज॑सा॒ पन्थां॒ सूर्या॑य॒ यात॑वे । ते भा॒नुभि॒र्वि त॑स्थिरे ॥

By their might and lustre they carve bright paths for the radiations of vital energies of the sun and stand guard all over the places by their strength and the beams of light.

· · ·

8.7.9

इ॒मां मे॑ मरुतो॒ गिर॑मि॒मं स्तोम॑मृभुक्षणः । इ॒मं मे॑ वनता॒ हव॑म् ॥

O Maruts, warriors of exceptional order, listen to this voice of mine, accept this poetic tribute and cherish this invocative call of mine.

· · ·

8.7.10

त्रीणि॒ सरां॑सि॒ पृश्न॑यो दुदु॒ह्रे व॒ज्रिणे॒ मधु॑ । उत्सं॒ कव॑न्धमु॒द्रिण॑म् ॥

Mothers of the Maruts distil the nectar drink of life for them from three reservoirs: the solar region of light or the sattva element of nature, the cloudy sky or the rajas element of nature, and the earth or the tamas element of nature’s balance and firmness, and they feed their children on the light of knowledge and culture, energy of the winds and generosity of rain showers, and the sweetness and stability of the earth.

· · ·

8.7.11

मरु॑तो॒ यद्ध॑ वो दि॒वः सु॑म्ना॒यन्तो॒ हवा॑महे । आ तू न॒ उप॑ गन्तन ॥

Maruts, O tempestuous heroes, as we call upon you for the sake of peace, progress and prosperity, pray come fast from the heavens through the skies close to us on earth.

· · ·

8.7.12

यू॒यं हि ष्ठा सु॑दानवो॒ रुद्रा॑ ऋभुक्षणो॒ दमे॑ । उ॒त प्रचे॑तसो॒ मदे॑ ॥

You are generous, uncompromising agents of justice and punishment, highly intelligent and scholarly. Stay that in your element in the field of peace and discipline, and in a state of exhilaration keep your soul and your brains about you.

· · ·

8.7.13

आ नो॑ र॒यिं म॑द॒च्युतं॑ पुरु॒क्षुं वि॒श्वधा॑यसम् । इय॑र्ता मरुतो दि॒वः ॥

O Maruts, bring us from the light of heaven wealth, honour and excellence full of joy for all and amply sufficient for the sustenance of world life.

· · ·

8.7.14

अधी॑व॒ यद्गि॑री॒णां यामं॑ शुभ्रा॒ अचि॑ध्वम् । सु॒वा॒नैर्म॑न्दध्व॒ इन्दु॑भिः ॥

Heroes of the wind, radiant and pure, when you harness your chariots to ride over the mountains, then with the showers of soma you rejoice and move the world to rapture.

· · ·

8.7.15

ए॒ताव॑तश्चिदेषां सु॒म्नं भि॑क्षेत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । अदा॑भ्यस्य॒ मन्म॑भिः ॥

To these warriors of the winds of this high order of indomitable powers, let mortal man pray for peace and joy with thoughts and words of full awareness of the giver and the supplicant.

· · ·

8.7.16

ये द्र॒प्सा इ॑व॒ रोद॑सी॒ धम॒न्त्यनु॑ वृ॒ष्टिभिः॑ । उत्सं॑ दु॒हन्तो॒ अक्षि॑तम् ॥

Milking the imperishable cloud of space oceans like the cow, they sprinkle heaven and earth with rain like showers of elixir.

· · ·

8.7.17

उदु॑ स्वा॒नेभि॑रीरत॒ उद्रथै॒रुदु॑ वा॒युभिः॑ । उत्स्तोमैः॒ पृश्नि॑मातरः ॥

Children of the winds, heavens and the skies emerge and advance from their abode with winds and roars by chariots to the accompaniment of songs of jubilation.

· · ·

8.7.18

येना॒व तु॒र्वशं॒ यदुं॒ येन॒ कण्वं॑ धन॒स्पृत॑म् । रा॒ये सु तस्य॑ धीमहि ॥

Of the Maruts, we solicit that wealth and power by which they protect the man fighting against violence and the wise sage who too prays for wealth and honour in the world.

· · ·

8.7.19

इ॒मा उ॑ वः सुदानवो घृ॒तं न पि॒प्युषी॒रिषः॑ । वर्धा॑न्का॒ण्वस्य॒ मन्म॑भिः ॥

O warriors of charity and generosity, we pray that these animations, inspirations and exhortations of ours which, like ghrta, feed the fire of life and rise in flames, may, exalt you by the thoughts and prayers of the wise sage.

· · ·

8.7.20

क्व॑ नू॒नं सु॑दानवो॒ मद॑था वृक्तबर्हिषः । ब्र॒ह्मा को वः॑ सपर्यति ॥

Generous Maruts, where are you now rejoicing, seated on the holy grass? And who is the high priest conducting the yajnic celebration for you?

· · ·

8.7.21

न॒हि ष्म॒ यद्ध॑ वः पु॒रा स्तोमे॑भिर्वृक्तबर्हिषः । शर्धाँ॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ जिन्व॑थ ॥

O Maruts, isn’t it true that seated on the holy grass you have been augmenting the power and efficacy of the yajna of truth by your exhortations ever before?

· · ·

8.7.22

समु॒ त्ये म॑ह॒तीर॒पः सं क्षो॒णी समु॒ सूर्य॑म् । सं वज्रं॑ पर्व॒शो द॑धुः ॥

Those Maruts support and hold together in cosmic balance the mighty floods of water, the earth, the sun, and the force and power of thunder stage by stage.

· · ·

8.7.23

वि वृ॒त्रं प॑र्व॒शो य॑यु॒र्वि पर्व॑ताँ अरा॒जिनः॑ । च॒क्रा॒णा वृष्णि॒ पौंस्य॑म् ॥

Doing acts of mighty vigour and splendour they break the clouds of darkness and evil and split open cavernous mountains step by step and bring light and showers of rain.

· · ·

8.7.24

अनु॑ त्रि॒तस्य॒ युध्य॑तः॒ शुष्म॑मावन्नु॒त क्रतु॑म् । अन्विन्द्रं॑ वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑ ॥

They reinforce the powers of life struggling for positive forces fighting against three negativities of body, mind and soul, and they support and reinforce the ruler in his battle against evil and darkness.

· · ·

8.7.25

वि॒द्युद्ध॑स्ता अ॒भिद्य॑वः॒ शिप्राः॑ शी॒र्षन्हि॑र॒ण्ययीः॑ । शु॒भ्रा व्य॑ञ्जत श्रि॒ये

॥

Thunder in hand, all round refulgent, wearing golden helmets on the head, they shine bright and pure for the beauty and glory of life.

· · ·

8.7.26

उ॒शना॒ यत्प॑रा॒वत॑ उ॒क्ष्णो रन्ध्र॒मया॑तन । द्यौर्न च॑क्रदद्भि॒या ॥

Impassioned for action when the virile Maruts rush to a region of low pressure in the sky from afar, the cloud, as the higher regions, roars under fear and pressure.

· · ·

8.7.27

आ नो॑ म॒खस्य॑ दा॒वनेऽश्वै॒र्हिर॑ण्यपाणिभिः । देवा॑स॒ उप॑ गन्तन ॥

O divinities of power and generous splendour, to augment and energise our yajna, pray come by motive forces of golden hoof and golden wheel and bless us in person.

· · ·

8.7.28

यदे॑षां॒ पृष॑ती॒ रथे॒ प्रष्टि॒र्वह॑ति॒ रोहि॑तः । यान्ति॑ शु॒भ्रा रि॒णन्न॒पः ॥

When the fiery force drives the Maruts in their chariot towards regions of abundant water or to the clouds laden with vapour, then these heroes go forward bright and pure splitting and flying off the vapours and waters.

· · ·

8.7.29

सु॒षोमे॑ शर्य॒णाव॑त्यार्जी॒के प॒स्त्या॑वति । य॒युर्निच॑क्रया॒ नरः॑ ॥

The leading Marut forces proceed to beautiful regions of peace and joy on higher altitudes and to the simple natural planes without vehicular medium by direct currents of energy.

· · ·

8.7.30

क॒दा ग॑च्छाथ मरुत इ॒त्था विप्रं॒ हव॑मानम् । मा॒र्डी॒केभि॒र्नाध॑मानम् ॥

O Maruts, when would you thus reach the vibrant scholar who calls you to yajna and awaits, and carry gifts of prosperity to the supplicant?

· · ·

8.7.31

कद्ध॑ नू॒नं क॑धप्रियो॒ यदिन्द्र॒मज॑हातन । को वः॑ सखि॒त्व ओ॑हते ॥

Does a friend of constancy ever forsake Indra, the ruler? Who thinks twice on the value of friendship with you? (No one forsakes you, everyone loves to be friends with you.)

· · ·

8.7.32

स॒हो षु णो॒ वज्र॑हस्तैः॒ कण्वा॑सो अ॒ग्निं म॒रुद्भिः॑ । स्तु॒षे हिर॑ण्यवाशीभिः ॥

O sages and scholars, I praise and celebrate Agni, fiery leader and enlightened ruler along with thunder-handed, golden-armed Maruts, stormy troopers of the nation. Let us all praise and celebrate them.

· · ·

8.7.33

ओ षु वृष्णः॒ प्रय॑ज्यू॒ना नव्य॑से सुवि॒ताय॑ । व॒वृ॒त्यां चि॒त्रवा॑जान् ॥

For the sake of latest forms of happiness, prosperity and well being, I turn to the virile and generous, most adorable and wondrous versatile warriors of the winds and abide by them.

· · ·

8.7.34

गि॒रय॑श्चि॒न्नि जि॑हते॒ पर्शा॑नासो॒ मन्य॑मानाः । पर्व॑ताश्चि॒न्नि ये॑मिरे ॥

Mountains give way before them, formidable peaks pant and turn into chasms and clouds change their course under the force of Maruts.

· · ·

8.7.35

आक्ष्ण॒यावा॑नो वहन्त्य॒न्तरि॑क्षेण॒ पत॑तः । धाता॑रः स्तुव॒ते वयः॑ ॥

Chariots flying at the speed of eye-light over the paths of space transport the Maruts, harbingers of food, energy, health and full age for the celebrant.

· · ·

8.7.36

अ॒ग्निर्हि जानि॑ पू॒र्व्यश्छन्दो॒ न सूरो॑ अ॒र्चिषा॑ । ते भा॒नुभि॒र्वि त॑स्थिरे ॥

Agni, earliest ruling light of the world, came into existence with self-refulgence like the sun and the music of Vedic voice, and the Maruts manifested and ever abided by rays of the sun and flames of fire.

✦ Sukta 8 · 23 verses ✦

8.8.1

आ नो॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभि॒रश्वि॑ना॒ गच्छ॑तं यु॒वम् । दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्तनी॒ पिब॑तं सो॒म्यं मधु॑ ॥

Ashvins, twin powers of natural and human action, destroyers of evil, travellers by paths of light on golden chariots, both of you come to our yajna with all your means and modes of protection and promotion, appreciate our devotion and have a drink of our honey sweets of soma.

· · ·

8.8.2

आ नू॒नं या॑तमश्विना॒ रथे॑न॒ सूर्य॑त्वचा । भुजी॒ हिर॑ण्यपेशसा॒ कवी॒ गम्भी॑रचेतसा ॥

Ashvins, lovers of life and living, far sighted, imaginative and creative thinkers and makers, come sure to our yajna by your radiation oriented, gold coated and highly monitored chariot (and bless our programme).

· · ·

8.8.3

आ या॑तं॒ नहु॑ष॒स्पर्यान्तरि॑क्षात्सुवृ॒क्तिभिः॑ । पिबा॑थो अश्विना॒ मधु॒ कण्वा॑नां॒ सव॑ने सु॒तम् ॥

Ashvins, come here from the world of humanity, from the skies, with the best of light, knowledge and technique you have collected, accept and enjoy the soma sweets of the scholars’ creations achieved and perfected in their joint programme, and assess the taste of soma.

· · ·

8.8.4

आ नो॑ यातं दि॒वस्पर्यान्तरि॑क्षादधप्रिया । पु॒त्रः कण्व॑स्य वामि॒ह सु॒षाव॑ सो॒म्यं मधु॑ ॥

O lovers of the earth and humanity, come to us from the heavens and from the skies. The son and disciple of the scholar has distilled for you the soma sweets of honey. (Pray take that and bless him to proceed further.)

· · ·

8.8.5

आ नो॑ यात॒मुप॑श्रु॒त्यश्वि॑ना॒ सोम॑पीतये । स्वाहा॒ स्तोम॑स्य वर्धना॒ प्र क॑वी धी॒तिभि॑र्नरा ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of complementary revelations, come and listen closely to what we have conceived and imagine and say. Come to have a taste of this soma of our making. By the truth of your divine reflections, words and actions you extend the possibilities of our holy achievements. O leading lights, visionary creators, come with your thoughts, ideas and imaginations for our advancement.

· · ·

8.8.6

यच्चि॒द्धि वां॑ पु॒र ऋष॑यो जुहू॒रेऽव॑से नरा । आ या॑तमश्वि॒ना ग॑त॒मुपे॒मां सु॑ष्टु॒तिं मम॑ ॥

Ashvins, whenever the ancient sages called upon you for encouragement and advancement, you came and listened. O leading lights of vision and imagination, come and listen to this prayer and adoration of mine too.

· · ·

8.8.7

दि॒वश्चि॑द्रोच॒नादध्या नो॑ गन्तं स्वर्विदा । धी॒भिर्व॑त्सप्रचेतसा॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्हवनश्रुता ॥

Visionaries of the light of omniscience, committed in conscious covenant with dear ones, responsive to the devotee’s call, come to us from the heights of heaven with refulgence, knowledge, expertise and action.

· · ·

8.8.8

किम॒न्ये पर्या॑सते॒ऽस्मत्स्तोमे॑भिर॒श्विना॑ । पु॒त्रः कण्व॑स्य वा॒मृषि॑र्गी॒र्भिर्व॒त्सो अ॑वीवृधत् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of the light of heaven, do people other than us adore you with hymns of prayer? The sagely son and disciple of the wise scholar and devotee, dear as a child, exalts you with hymns of prayer.

· · ·

8.8.9

आ वां॒ विप्र॑ इ॒हाव॒सेऽह्व॒त्स्तोमे॑भिरश्विना । अरि॑प्रा॒ वृत्र॑हन्तमा॒ ता नो॑ भूतं मयो॒भुवा॑ ॥

Ashvins, twin harbingers of heavenly light, the vibrant devotee invokes you here for protection and progress with hymns of adoration. O sinless divines, highest dispellers of the clouds of sin and darkness, come here and be for us light givers of universal peace and happiness.

· · ·

8.8.10

आ यद्वां॒ योष॑णा॒ रथ॒मति॑ष्ठद्वाजिनीवसू । विश्वा॑न्यश्विना यु॒वं प्र धी॒तान्य॑गच्छतम् ॥

Ashvins, when the youthful dawn of a new day ascends your chariot with you, then, O divine harbingers of wealth and energy, you reach all that what the world thinks of for self-fulfilment.

· · ·

8.8.11

अतः॑ स॒हस्र॑निर्णिजा॒ रथे॒ना या॑तमश्विना । व॒त्सो वां॒ मधु॑म॒द्वचोऽशं॑सीत्का॒व्यः क॒विः ॥

For this reason, Ashvins, come by the chariot bearing a thousand beauties of wealth and divine bliss. The poet’s poet, a darling admirer of yours, adores and glorifies you with honey sweets of his sacred words.

· · ·

8.8.12

पु॒रु॒म॒न्द्रा पु॑रू॒वसू॑ मनो॒तरा॑ रयी॒णाम् । स्तोमं॑ मे अ॒श्विना॑वि॒मम॒भि वह्नी॑ अनूषाताम् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of universal peace and joy for all, creators and dispensers of wealth, honour and excellence, bless this song of mine with divine grace, you being the burden bearers and hallowed leaders of the world to higher regions.

· · ·

8.8.13

आ नो॒ विश्वा॑न्यश्विना ध॒त्तं राधां॒स्यह्र॑या । कृ॒तं न॑ ऋ॒त्विया॑वतो॒ मा नो॑ रीरधतं नि॒दे ॥

Ashvins, lead us to all bold, abundant and creditable honours, wealth and competence of the world, make us yajnic workers and observers of natural laws according to the seasons of time and place, and never let us fall to the violence of scandal, shame and disrepute.

· · ·

8.8.14

यन्ना॑सत्या परा॒वति॒ यद्वा॒ स्थो अध्यम्ब॑रे । अतः॑ स॒हस्र॑निर्णिजा॒ रथे॒ना या॑तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, ever dedicated to truth and laws of divinity, whether you are in far off space or in the skies, come form there by your chariot of thousandfold beauty and sanctity.

· · ·

8.8.15

यो वां॑ नासत्या॒वृषि॑र्गी॒र्भिर्व॒त्सो अवी॑वृधत् । तस्मै॑ स॒हस्र॑निर्णिज॒मिषं॑ धत्तं घृत॒श्चुत॑म् ॥

Ever true and relentless observers of the laws of divinity, to the poet sage, your darling celebrant who exalts you with his words of song, bear and bring food, energy and vision of wisdom vibrating with divine illumination and grace.

· · ·

8.8.16

प्रास्मा॒ ऊर्जं॑ घृत॒श्चुत॒मश्वि॑ना॒ यच्छ॑तं यु॒वम् । यो वां॑ सु॒म्नाय॑ तु॒ष्टव॑द्वसू॒याद्दा॑नुनस्पती ॥

Ashvins, presiding powers of divine dispen- sation and charity, whoever adores you for peace and well being and prays for wealth, honour and excellence, to him, pray, give energy and power of will overflowing with inner light and brilliance of grace.

· · ·

8.8.17

आ नो॑ गन्तं रिशादसे॒मं स्तोमं॑ पुरुभुजा । कृ॒तं नः॑ सु॒श्रियो॑ नरे॒मा दा॑तम॒भिष्ट॑ये ॥

Leading lights of life and nature, counter powers of violence, and harbingers of universal prosperity, come, listen to our adoration, assess our yajnic achievement, bless us with the beauty and graces of life, and give us all these and competence for the desired peace, progress and self-fulfilment.

· · ·

8.8.18

आ वां॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धा अहूषत । राज॑न्तावध्व॒राणा॒मश्वि॑ना॒ याम॑हूतिषु ॥

Ashvins, all the ruling lights of yajnic performances and programmes of creation and production, lovers and devotees of solemn ceremonies, at all stages of their mission, invoke you with all your means and modes of protection and promotion of the holy projects.

· · ·

8.8.19

आ नो॑ गन्तं मयो॒भुवाश्वि॑ना श॒म्भुवा॑ यु॒वम् । यो वां॑ विपन्यू धी॒तिभि॑र्गी॒र्भिर्व॒त्सो अवी॑वृधत् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of peace, pleasure and well being in prosperity, lovers and admirers of joyous programmes, come both of you to us who, your darling celebrants, exalt you with our words, thoughts and actions.

· · ·

8.8.20

याभिः॒ कण्वं॒ मेधा॑तिथिं॒ याभि॒र्वशं॒ दश॑व्रजम् । याभि॒र्गोश॑र्य॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑र्नोऽवतं नरा ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of health and energy, leading lights of life and nature, come, protect and promote us with all those powers, potentials and efficacies by which you protect the sagely scholar and his wisdom and promote his hospitality and good fellowship, by which you protect and strengthen the body, physical abode of ten senses and ten pranic energies, and by which you rejuvenate and advance the invalid who has lost his sense faculties and suffers from total debility.

· · ·

8.8.21

याभि॑र्नरा त्र॒सद॑स्यु॒माव॑तं॒ कृत्व्ये॒ धने॑ । ताभिः॒ ष्व१॒॑स्माँ अ॑श्विना॒ प्राव॑तं॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of law and defence of humanity, come with all those powers and potentials by which you keep the law and order and shatter the forces of violence and terror for the economic and social advancement of humanity. With those very powers and potentials, protect us too for the achievement of success in our struggles.

· · ·

8.8.22

प्र वां॒ स्तोमाः॑ सुवृ॒क्तयो॒ गिरो॑ वर्धन्त्वश्विना । पुरु॑त्रा॒ वृत्र॑हन्तमा॒ ता नो॑ भूतं पुरु॒स्पृहा॑ ॥

Ashvins, protectors and promoters of life and humanity, greatest destroyers of the forces of darkness and destruction, may our hymns of adoration composed in the choicest words, finished in finest form and sung in the sweetest notes and accents, please and exalt you. May you ever be the darling heroes of universal love and admiration of humanity.

· · ·

8.8.23

त्रीणि॑ प॒दान्य॒श्विनो॑रा॒विः सान्ति॒ गुहा॑ प॒रः । क॒वी ऋ॒तस्य॒ पत्म॑भिर॒र्वाग्जी॒वेभ्य॒स्परि॑ ॥

Three stages of theAshvin’s advent hidden deep in the cave of mystery, namely, the victory of progressive forces of good against the negative forces of evil, maintenance of peace against violence, and law and justice against lawlessness are thus revealed. May the Ashvins, harbingers of the light of knowledge, justice, peace and prosperity, come by the paths of rectitude, divine law and the process of yajnic action for the good of living beings all over the world.

✦ Sukta 9 · 21 verses ✦

8.9.1

आ नू॒नम॑श्विना यु॒वं व॒त्सस्य॑ गन्त॒मव॑से । प्रास्मै॑ यच्छतमवृ॒कं पृ॒थु च्छ॒र्दिर्यु॑यु॒तं या अरा॑तयः ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and peace, for sure now come for the protection and progress of your loved people and provide for them a spacious peaceful home free from violence and insecurity and ward off all forces of malice, adversity and enmity.

· · ·

8.9.2

यद॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ यद्दि॒वि यत्पञ्च॒ मानु॑षाँ॒ अनु॑ । नृ॒म्णं तद्ध॑त्तमश्विना ॥

Whatever manly strength and wealth there be in heaven and mid space worthy of five classes of people, Ashvins, bear and bring for us.

· · ·

8.9.3

ये वां॒ दंसां॑स्यश्विना॒ विप्रा॑सः परिमामृ॒शुः । ए॒वेत्का॒ण्वस्य॑ बोधतम् ॥

Ashvins, whatever your actions and achievements which the scholars have known and thought over, reveal the same to the modern scholar too.

· · ·

8.9.4

अ॒यं वां॑ घ॒र्मो अ॑श्विना॒ स्तोमे॑न॒ परि॑ षिच्यते । अ॒यं सोमो॒ मधु॑मान्वाजिनीवसू॒ येन॑ वृ॒त्रं चिके॑तथः ॥

This is the yajnic fire of the season, Ashvins, which is dedicated and exalted in your honour with the chant of hymns, and this is the soma sweetened and seasoned for you, O heroes of the battle for wealth and victory, by which you would know and dare the enemy, the demon of darkness, ignorance, injustice and poverty.

· · ·

8.9.5

यद॒प्सु यद्वन॒स्पतौ॒ यदोष॑धीषु पुरुदंससा कृ॒तम् । तेन॑ माविष्टमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, heroic powers of nature’s complementary forces, the power and vitality which you have vested in the waters, herbs and trees is multifarious. Pray, with that same vitality and power, bless and protect me too and let me advance.

· · ·

8.9.6

यन्ना॑सत्या भुर॒ण्यथो॒ यद्वा॑ देव भिष॒ज्यथः॑ । अ॒यं वां॑ व॒त्सो म॒तिभि॒र्न वि॑न्धते ह॒विष्म॑न्तं॒ हि गच्छ॑थः ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of energy, health and replenishment, ever true unfailing agents of natural law and life’s growth, when you vibrate, radiate and energise, when you nourish, heal, resuscitate and revive things to live and grow, this conscientious darling seeker of your power and presence understands you not by observation, analysis and thought, in your entirety, because you reveal yourself only to the faithful who come to you with homage. (Life is a mystery. You can know the secret of this mystery only by being what it is, by identifying with it in meditation.)

· · ·

8.9.7

आ नू॒नम॒श्विनो॒ॠषिः॒ स्तोमं॑ चिकेत वा॒मया॑ । आ सोमं॒ मधु॑मत्तमं घ॒र्मं सि॑ञ्चा॒दथ॑र्वणि ॥

In truth, the visionary sage has realised the song and story of the Ashvins, radiations of life energy, in every detail from inception to completion by faithful intention and relentless application of mind, and he has fed the fire of his yajnic search and research with the sweetest and most vibrating soma of his life’s passion into the vedi.

· · ·

8.9.8

आ नू॒नं र॒घुव॑र्तनिं॒ रथं॑ तिष्ठाथो अश्विना । आ वां॒ स्तोमा॑ इ॒मे मम॒ नभो॒ न चु॑च्यवीरत ॥

Ashvins, take to the fastest chariot now and come by the shortest straight path. These hymns of adoration burst forth from me like an explosion in space, reach you like the sun and draw you hither.

· · ·

8.9.9

यद॒द्य वां॑ नासत्यो॒क्थैरा॑चुच्युवी॒महि॑ । यद्वा॒ वाणी॑भिरश्विने॒वेत्का॒ण्वस्य॑ बोधतम् ॥

Ashvins, ever dedicated to the divine truth of nature’s law, when we invoke you with hymns of adoration or by yajnic sessions or by words of yajakas today, pray take it that the call is the conscientious voice of the visionary sage in search for the light of his mission.

· · ·

8.9.10

यद्वां॑ क॒क्षीवाँ॑ उ॒त यद्व्य॑श्व॒ ऋषि॒र्यद्वां॑ दी॒र्घत॑मा जु॒हाव॑ । पृथी॒ यद्वां॑ वै॒न्यः साद॑नेष्वे॒वेदतो॑ अश्विना चेतयेथाम् ॥

Ashvins, when the cavalier or the pedestrian or the sagely seer or the long time plodder or the ruler or the intellectual calls on you to the yajnic session, you listen. Hence, pray listen to our call too and come.

· · ·

8.9.11

या॒तं छ॑र्दि॒ष्पा उ॒त नः॑ पर॒स्पा भू॒तं ज॑ग॒त्पा उ॒त न॑स्तनू॒पा । व॒र्तिस्तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय यातम् ॥

Come, be protectors of our home and family, be protectors of others too, be protectors of the world and protectors of our body’s health and social structure. Come home to us for the sake of our children and grand children.

· · ·

8.9.12

यदिन्द्रे॑ण स॒रथं॑ या॒थो अ॑श्विना॒ यद्वा॑ वा॒युना॒ भव॑थः॒ समो॑कसा । यदा॑दि॒त्येभि॑ॠ॒भुभिः॑ स॒जोष॑सा॒ यद्वा॒ विष्णो॑र्वि॒क्रम॑णेषु॒ तिष्ठ॑थः ॥

Whether you move with the cosmic force on the same chariot or abide with the wind in the same region, or you move across the sun’s zodiacs or with the cosmic makers, or you move and abide with the vibrance of the omnipresent, wherever you be, pray come to us too.

· · ·

8.9.13

यद॒द्याश्विना॑व॒हं हु॒वेय॒ वाज॑सातये । यत्पृ॒त्सु तु॒र्वणे॒ सह॒स्तच्छ्रेष्ठ॑म॒श्विनो॒रवः॑ ॥

When I call upon the Ashvins, defenders of humanity and protectors of life, for the sake of victory in our struggle for existence, or I call on them against the enemies in our conflicts with negativities, they would come, because their courage and force for the defence and protection of life is highest and best.

· · ·

8.9.14

आ नू॒नं या॑तमश्विने॒मा ह॒व्यानि॑ वां हि॒ता । इ॒मे सोमा॑सो॒ अधि॑ तु॒र्वशे॒ यदा॑वि॒मे कण्वे॑षु वा॒मथ॑ ॥

Come, Ashvins, for sure without fail. These presentations, adorations and offerings of hospitality are reserved for you whether they are in the house of the stormy warrior or dynamic intellectual or artist or citizen or the sagely seer, they are for you and you alone.

· · ·

8.9.15

यन्ना॑सत्या परा॒के अ॑र्वा॒के अस्ति॑ भेष॒जम् । तेन॑ नू॒नं वि॑म॒दाय॑ प्रचेतसा छ॒र्दिर्व॒त्साय॑ यच्छतम् ॥

Ashvins, versatile powers of health and longevity, whatever food or sanative or efficacious remedies be there far or near, by that without fail, O masters of knowledge and expertise, provide a home of health and peace for the dear devotee free from the pride and arrogance of drugs and intoxication.

· · ·

8.9.16

अभु॑त्स्यु॒ प्र दे॒व्या सा॒कं वा॒चाहम॒श्विनोः॑ । व्या॑वर्दे॒व्या म॒तिं वि रा॒तिं मर्त्ये॑भ्यः ॥

I am awake by the divine voice of the Ashvins. O divine dawn of light, open the human mind to the light and freedom of reason and give the gift of wisdom to mortal humanity.

· · ·

8.9.17

प्र बो॑धयोषो अ॒श्विना॒ प्र दे॑वि सूनृते महि । प्र य॑ज्ञहोतरानु॒षक्प्र मदा॑य॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हत् ॥

O divine dawn, great lady of truth and leading light of a new day, awaken the Ashvins, harbingers of new knowledge and awareness, and O inspirer of the day’s yajnic activity, relentlessly exhort men and women to work for the joy of life and win great prosperity, honour and fame.

· · ·

8.9.18

यदु॑षो॒ यासि॑ भा॒नुना॒ सं सूर्ये॑ण रोचसे । आ हा॒यम॒श्विनो॒ रथो॑ व॒र्तिर्या॑ति नृ॒पाय्य॑म् ॥

O dawn, harbinger of a new day, when you rise with the first sun-rays and then join the sun and shine together with it, then the Ashvins’ chariot rolls on on its usual course of the day which preserves and promotes humanity in life and leads it to advancement.

· · ·

8.9.19

यदापी॑तासो अं॒शवो॒ गावो॒ न दु॒ह्र ऊध॑भिः । यद्वा॒ वाणी॒रनू॑षत॒ प्र दे॑व॒यन्तो॑ अ॒श्विना॑ ॥

When the stout stalks of lotus receive their drink of green vitality from the sun as cows draw and receive their milk with the udders from nature, and just when the stalks yield pranic energy as cows yield milk, and when the voices of humanity rise in adoration of the Ashvins in prayer.

· · ·

8.9.20

प्र द्यु॒म्नाय॒ प्र शव॑से॒ प्र नृ॒षाह्या॑य॒ शर्म॑णे । प्र दक्षा॑य प्रचेतसा ॥

Then for wealth, honour and excellence, for strength and courage and joy and prosperity for the peace and protection of humanity and achievement of dexterity and competence. O harbingers of light and awareness, bless them.

· · ·

8.9.21

यन्नू॒नं धी॒भिर॑श्विना पि॒तुर्योना॑ नि॒षीद॑थः । यद्वा॑ सु॒म्नेभि॑रुक्थ्या ॥

AdorableAshvins, when with your thoughts and acts of the day you go back and sit in the parental home with all rest in peace, then come again and bless us with peace and prosperity of an active life.

✦ Sukta 10 · 6 verses ✦

8.10.1

यत्स्थो दी॒र्घप्र॑सद्मनि॒ यद्वा॒दो रो॑च॒ने दि॒वः । यद्वा॑ समु॒द्रे अध्याकृ॑ते गृ॒हेऽत॒ आ या॑तमश्विना ॥

Wherever you abide, in lofty halls or in the light of the high heaven, or rest in the sea or space or in an ornamented palace, wherever you are, come to us, Ashvins, harbingers of light and inspiration.

· · ·

8.10.2

यद्वा॑ य॒ज्ञं मन॑वे सम्मिमि॒क्षथु॑रे॒वेत्का॒ण्वस्य॑ बोधतम् । बृह॒स्पतिं॒ विश्वा॑न्दे॒वाँ अ॒हं हु॑व॒ इन्द्रा॒विष्णू॑ अ॒श्विना॑वाशु॒हेष॑सा ॥

If you sprinkle the yajna of the learned man of thought with ghrta and feed it with havi compounds, know, value and sprinkle the yajna of the children of the sages too the same way.Ashvins, I invoke Brhaspati, lord of the cosmos and cosmic knowledge, all learned men of the world, Indra, ruler of world powers, and Vishnu, lord omnipresent.

· · ·

8.10.3

त्या न्व१॒॑श्विना॑ हुवे सु॒दंस॑सा गृ॒भे कृ॒ता । ययो॒रस्ति॒ प्र णः॑ स॒ख्यं दे॒वेष्वध्याप्य॑म् ॥

I invoke the twin Ashvins, great and generous achievers, who are committed to receive our homage at yajna and whose friendship and love for us is on top of all divine favours we can have.

· · ·

8.10.4

ययो॒रधि॒ प्र य॒ज्ञा अ॑सू॒रे सन्ति॑ सू॒रयः॑ । ता य॒ज्ञस्या॑ध्व॒रस्य॒ प्रचे॑तसा स्व॒धाभि॒र्या पिब॑तः सो॒म्यं मधु॑ ॥

The Ashvins’ yajnas are specially performed even in the lands of the agnostics where they shine boldly and brilliantly. They are specialists of the yajnic programmes of creation and production without violence and they come in response to invocations and yajnic offerings and drink the sweets of soma.

· · ·

8.10.5

यद॒द्याश्वि॑ना॒वपा॒ग्यत्प्राक्स्थो वा॑जिनीवसू । यद्द्रु॒ह्यव्यन॑वि तु॒र्वशे॒ यदौ॑ हु॒वे वा॒मथ॒ मा ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, commanders of the wealth of victorious forces, today whether you are in the west or in the east, in the areas of hate, opposition and conflict, among the fast achievers or ordinary citizens, I invoke and call upon you, pray come to us.

· · ·

8.10.6

यद॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ पत॑थः पुरुभुजा॒ यद्वे॒मे रोद॑सी॒ अनु॑ । यद्वा॑ स्व॒धाभि॑रधि॒तिष्ठ॑थो॒ रथ॒मत॒ आ या॑तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, commanders of manifold wealth, power and popularity, whether you fly in the firmament or across heaven and earth, or you stay in your chariot with self-contained powers and provisions, from there come in response to our call.

✦ Sukta 11 · 10 verses ✦

8.11.1

त्वम॑ग्ने व्रत॒पा अ॑सि दे॒व आ मर्त्ये॒ष्वा । त्वं य॒ज्ञेष्वीड्यः॑ ॥

Agni, self-refulgent lord giver of light, you are preserver and protector of karmic laws, moral commitments and sacred vows among mortals. Hence you are adored and worshipped in yajnas.

· · ·

8.11.2

त्वम॑सि प्र॒शस्यो॑ वि॒दथे॑षु सहन्त्य । अग्ने॑ र॒थीर॑ध्व॒राणा॑म् ॥

Agni, you are adorable in sacred congregations, the one patient, challenging and victor power, and pioneer and leader of non-violent yajnic programmes of creation and production in humanity.

· · ·

8.11.3

स त्वम॒स्मदप॒ द्विषो॑ युयो॒धि जा॑तवेदः । अदे॑वीरग्ने॒ अरा॑तीः ॥

O jataveda, omniscient over everything in existence, ward off from us all forces of hate, jealousy and malignity and all impiety and selfish meanness.

· · ·

8.11.4

अन्ति॑ चि॒त्सन्त॒मह॑ य॒ज्ञं मर्त॑स्य रि॒पोः । नोप॑ वेषि जातवेदः ॥

O Jataveda, lord omniscient, you do not join or bless the yajna of an enemy of humanity even if the yajna and the performer is said to be close to divinity otherwise.

· · ·

8.11.5

मर्ता॒ अम॑र्त्यस्य ते॒ भूरि॒ नाम॑ मनामहे । विप्रा॑सो जा॒तवे॑दसः ॥

O lord immortal and omniscient, we mortals, dedicated sages, know and adore your many many divine names which describe your multiple roles in the universe, (names such as Agni, Vayu and Aditya and so on).

· · ·

8.11.6

विप्रं॒ विप्रा॒सोऽव॑से दे॒वं मर्ता॑स ऊ॒तये॑ । अ॒ग्निं गी॒र्भिर्ह॑वामहे ॥

With songs of adoration, we, mortal sages, invoke and exalt Agni, lord all knowing, self-refulgent and generous, for our protection, progress and well being.

· · ·

8.11.7

आ ते॑ व॒त्सो मनो॑ यमत्पर॒माच्चि॑त्स॒धस्था॑त् । अग्ने॒ त्वांका॑मया गि॒रा ॥

The dear dedicated sage adores you and with words of love and faith prays for your attention from the highest heaven of light.

· · ·

8.11.8

पु॒रु॒त्रा हि स॒दृङ्ङसि॒ विशो॒ विश्वा॒ अनु॑ प्र॒भुः । स॒मत्सु॑ त्वा हवामहे ॥

You are the universal eye watching the entire humanity of the world as master and ruler. As such, O lord, we invoke and call upon you in our battles of life.

· · ·

8.11.9

स॒मत्स्व॒ग्निमव॑से वाज॒यन्तो॑ हवामहे । वाजे॑षु चि॒त्ररा॑धसम् ॥

We, seekers of strength and fighters for victory, invoke and adore Agni, omnipotent power of wondrous munificence and achievement, for protection, defence and advancement in our struggles and contests of life.

· · ·

8.11.10

प्र॒त्नो हि क॒मीड्यो॑ अध्व॒रेषु॑ स॒नाच्च॒ होता॒ नव्य॑श्च॒ सत्सि॑ । स्वां चा॑ग्ने त॒न्वं॑ पि॒प्रय॑स्वा॒स्मभ्यं॑ च॒ सौभ॑ग॒मा य॑जस्व ॥

Agni, eternal and blissfully adorable lord, worshipped in sacred congregations since time immemorial, presiding over yajnas as the most youthful performer and deity ancient and latest at the newest occasions, carry on the cosmic yajna, nourish and augment the universe as your own physical manifestation, and bring us all good fortune and well being of life.

✦ Sukta 12 · 33 verses ✦

8.12.1

य इ॑न्द्र सोम॒पात॑मो॒ मदः॑ शविष्ठ॒ चेत॑ति । येना॒ हंसि॒ न्य१॒॑त्रिणं॒ तमी॑महे ॥

Indra, lord most potent, highest protector and promoter of the beauty and joy of life, that ecstatic passion of yours which universally pervades, manifests and reveals your might and glory and by which you destroy the negative forces of life, we adore and pray for.

· · ·

8.12.2

येना॒ दश॑ग्व॒मध्रि॑गुं वे॒पय॑न्तं॒ स्व॑र्णरम् । येना॑ समु॒द्रमावि॑था॒ तमी॑महे ॥

That omnipotent passion and ecstasy of yours by which you protect and promote the individual soul working with ten faculties of perception and volition, the unchallengeable wind and electric energy, the solar radiation which shakes and vibrates, and the ocean of water on earth and in space, that we adore, that we pray for.

· · ·

8.12.3

येन॒ सिन्धुं॑ म॒हीर॒पो रथाँ॑ इव प्रचो॒दयः॑ । पन्था॑मृ॒तस्य॒ यात॑वे॒ तमी॑महे ॥

That power and passion of ecstasy by which you energise and move the river and the sea, the earths and waters like rolling chariots to flow and follow the path of the divine law of nature, that we adore, that we pray for, to follow the path of truth and yajna ourselves too.

· · ·

8.12.4

इ॒मं स्तोम॑म॒भिष्ट॑ये घृ॒तं न पू॒तम॑द्रिवः । येना॒ नु स॒द्य ओज॑सा व॒वक्षि॑थ ॥

Lord of clouds and mountains, commander of adamantine will and power of ecstasy, pray accept this song of adoration, radiant and pure like sanctified ghrta, by which we adore and pray for that power and ecstasy by which, through your splendour and glory, you reveal yourself in manifestation for ever.

· · ·

8.12.5

इ॒मं जु॑षस्व गिर्वणः समु॒द्र इ॑व पिन्वते । इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभि॑र्व॒वक्षि॑थ ॥

O lord adorable and worshipped, accept and cherish this song of homage and celebration which rolls and rises and swells you too like the sea, and you too, O lord omnipotent, manifest in glory higher and higher with all modes of protection and promotion.

· · ·

8.12.6

यो नो॑ दे॒वः प॑रा॒वतः॑ सखित्व॒नाय॑ माम॒हे । दि॒वो न वृ॒ष्टिं प्र॒थय॑न्व॒वक्षि॑थ ॥

The lord self-refulgent, to extend the grace of his love and friendship to us, waxes from heaven and blesses us like intense showers of abundant rain from the regions of light.

· · ·

8.12.7

व॒व॒क्षुर॑स्य के॒तवो॑ उ॒त वज्रो॒ गभ॑स्त्योः । यत्सूर्यो॒ न रोद॑सी॒ अव॑र्धयत् ॥

The banners of his manifestation and the thunderbolt in his hands exalt his glory as the sun illuminates and glorifies heaven and earth.

· · ·

8.12.8

यदि॑ प्रवृद्ध सत्पते स॒हस्रं॑ महि॒षाँ अघः॑ । आदित्त॑ इन्द्रि॒यं महि॒ प्र वा॑वृधे ॥

O lord exalted, protector and defender of truth and positive reality, when you strike down hundreds of evils and great calamities, then your glory and the grandeur of your creation rises beyond measure.

· · ·

8.12.9

इन्द्रः॒ सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभि॒र्न्य॑र्शसा॒नमो॑षति । अ॒ग्निर्वने॑व सास॒हिः प्र वा॑वृधे ॥

When Indra with sun-rays kills antilife agents such as disease carrying bacteria in the atmosphere, he rises victorious and exalted like fire over forests.

· · ·

8.12.10

इ॒यं त॑ ऋ॒त्विया॑वती धी॒तिरे॑ति॒ नवी॑यसी । स॒प॒र्यन्ती॑ पुरुप्रि॒या मिमी॑त॒ इत् ॥

O lord, this ever new divine intelligence of yours constantly operative in nature according to time and seasons is universally sympathetic, loving and honoured, serves life and the environment, and continues to create and cover new forms of life and nature.

· · ·

8.12.11

गर्भो॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ देव॒युः क्रतुं॑ पुनीत आनु॒षक् । स्तोमै॒रिन्द्र॑स्य वावृधे॒ मिमी॑त॒ इत् ॥

The devotee of Indra and lover of divinities of nature and humanity, enactor of yajna as well as shaped by yajna, continuously performs holy actions with sanctity and faith, creates new forms of holy actions and rises in life by divine songs and tributes in honour of Indra.

· · ·

8.12.12

स॒निर्मि॒त्रस्य॑ पप्रथ॒ इन्द्रः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ । प्राची॒ वाशी॑व सुन्व॒ते मिमी॑त॒ इत् ॥

Indra, friend and benefactor of humanity and all loving beings, rises in omnipresent glory to watch and protect the beautiful world of his creation, and, like the prime voice of the Veda, reveals new forms of truth for the dedicated maker of yajnic soma.

· · ·

8.12.13

यं विप्रा॑ उ॒क्थवा॑हसोऽभिप्रम॒न्दुरा॒यवः॑ । घृ॒तं न पि॑प्य आ॒सन्यृ॒तस्य॒ यत् ॥

Indra is the lord whom vibrant sages and people in general all adore and exalt, singing hymns of worship in his honour, and I too offer songs of adoration while I offer oblations of ghrta into the vedi of yajna.

· · ·

8.12.14

उ॒त स्व॒राजे॒ अदि॑तिः॒ स्तोम॒मिन्द्रा॑य जीजनत् । पु॒रु॒प्र॒श॒स्तमू॒तय॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ यत् ॥

And mother Prakrti, inviolable Nature, too bursts into songs of adoration in honour of self-refulgent Indra, which, being all elevating and inspiring, moves him to protection and advancement of the world of his dynamic creation.

· · ·

8.12.15

अ॒भि वह्न॑य ऊ॒तयेऽनू॑षत॒ प्रश॑स्तये । न दे॑व॒ विव्र॑ता॒ हरी॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ यत् ॥

O lord, the sages who conduct the yajna of divine adoration, and nature’s powers which conduct the yajna of world creation, sing songs for adoration of divinity and for protection of life. O lord divine, let not these conductive powers ever relent in the creative process which is the dynamic course of existence, cosmic yajna.

· · ·

8.12.16

यत्सोम॑मिन्द्र॒ विष्ण॑वि॒ यद्वा॑ घ त्रि॒त आ॒प्त्ये । यद्वा॑ म॒रुत्सु॒ मन्द॑से॒ समिन्दु॑भिः ॥

Indra, the soma nectar which you infuse in the sun and in the three worlds of experience, i.e., earth, heaven and firmament and which you infuse in the winds and enjoy to the last drop, we pray for.

· · ·

8.12.17

यद्वा॑ शक्र परा॒वति॑ समु॒द्रे अधि॒ मन्द॑से । अ॒स्माक॒मित्सु॒ते र॑णा॒ समिन्दु॑भिः ॥

And which, O lord of power, you infuse and energise in the far off sea and in this soma distilled by us and enjoy to the last drop - we pray for.

· · ·

8.12.18

यद्वासि॑ सुन्व॒तो वृ॒धो यज॑मानस्य सत्पते । उ॒क्थे वा॒ यस्य॒ रण्य॑सि॒ समिन्दु॑भिः ॥

And you, O lord protector of eternal truth, who lead the yajamana maker of soma to progress in his yajna and songs of adoration and enjoy the soma homage to the last drop, we pray for.

· · ·

8.12.19

दे॒वंदे॑वं॒ वोऽव॑स॒ इन्द्र॑मिन्द्रं गृणी॒षणि॑ । अधा॑ य॒ज्ञाय॑ तु॒र्वणे॒ व्या॑नशुः ॥

O dedicated performers of yajna, for the sake of your protection and progress in your acts of homage and adoration, may all these soma joys of life reach you to every generous and brilliant yajaka, to every yajaka of power and prominence, for the elimination of all obstructions in the way of corporate action.

· · ·

8.12.20

य॒ज्ञेभि॑र्य॒ज्ञवा॑हसं॒ सोमे॑भिः सोम॒पात॑मम् । होत्रा॑भि॒रिन्द्रं॑ वावृधु॒र्व्या॑नशुः ॥

And may all participants in corporate action join in unison and adore and exalt Indra, greatest protector and promoter of the joy of soma and the united action, with homage, with offers of soma and oblations of havi into the sacred fire of joint and creative living for the common good.

· · ·

8.12.21

म॒हीर॑स्य॒ प्रणी॑तयः पू॒र्वीरु॒त प्रश॑स्तयः । विश्वा॒ वसू॑नि दा॒शुषे॒ व्या॑नशुः ॥

And may the eternal lights of this lord Indra’s splendour and guidance come to bless the generous yajaka with all wealths and honours of the world.

· · ·

8.12.22

इन्द्रं॑ वृ॒त्राय॒ हन्त॑वे दे॒वासो॑ दधिरे पु॒रः । इन्द्रं॒ वाणी॑रनूषता॒ समोज॑से ॥

Saints and sages honour and adore Indra as their first and foremost leader and guide for the destruction of darkness and evil, and their songs of homage and prayer too adore and glorify Indra for the attainment of light and splendour.

· · ·

8.12.23

म॒हान्तं॑ महि॒ना व॒यं स्तोमे॑भिर्हवन॒श्रुत॑म् । अ॒र्कैर॒भि प्र णो॑नुमः॒ समोज॑से ॥

With highest songs of adoration and offers of homage we worship omnipotent Indra who listens and responds to our call and prayers and we bow to him for the attainment of strength and splendour.

· · ·

8.12.24

न यं वि॑वि॒क्तो रोद॑सी॒ नान्तरि॑क्षाणि व॒ज्रिण॑म् । अमा॒दिद॑स्य तित्विषे॒ समोज॑सः ॥

Neither heaven nor earth nor the middle regions comprehend the lord of thunderous power, nor do they shake or disengage him. Indeed the universe shines and vibrates by the one and sole power of this lord of splendour.

· · ·

8.12.25

यदि॑न्द्र पृत॒नाज्ये॑ दे॒वास्त्वा॑ दधि॒रे पु॒रः । आदित्ते॑ हर्य॒ता हरी॑ ववक्षतुः ॥

Since the learned sages have accepted and followed you as front leader for the attainment of victory in their struggles of life, we pray, may your radiant currents of divine energy reveal your presence and bring us the vision of divinity for our illumination.

· · ·

8.12.26

य॒दा वृ॒त्रं न॑दी॒वृतं॒ शव॑सा वज्रि॒न्नव॑धीः । आदित्ते॑ हर्य॒ता हरी॑ ववक्षतुः ॥

O lord of the thunderbolt, as with your divine might you destroy the negativities of darkness and drought which obstruct the flow of the waters of life, we pray may your divine currents of light and will reveal your power and presence to us.

· · ·

8.12.27

य॒दा ते॒ विष्णु॒रोज॑सा॒ त्रीणि॑ प॒दा वि॑चक्र॒मे । आदित्ते॑ हर्य॒ता हरी॑ ववक्षतुः ॥

Since the sun, by virtue of your might and refulgence reaches and illuminates the three worlds of existence, we pray, your radiations of light reveal your presence and illuminate our soul.

· · ·

8.12.28

य॒दा ते॑ हर्य॒ता हरी॑ वावृ॒धाते॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे । आदित्ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि येमिरे ॥

Since the radiations of your dynamic forces expand day by day, the entire worlds of the expansive universe are sustained in order in obedience to your law.

· · ·

8.12.29

य॒दा ते॒ मारु॑ती॒र्विश॒स्तुभ्य॑मिन्द्र नियेमि॒रे । आदित्ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि येमिरे ॥

Since the entire world of vibrant winds and humanity bow to you in obedience to the divine law, the entire worlds of existence are sustained in the order of the divine law.

· · ·

8.12.30

य॒दा सूर्य॑म॒मुं दि॒वि शु॒क्रं ज्योति॒रधा॑रयः । आदित्ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि येमिरे ॥

Since you have sustained that sun, radiant light, pure and powerful, the entire worlds of existence observe your divine law.

· · ·

8.12.31

इ॒मां त॑ इन्द्र सुष्टु॒तिं विप्र॑ इयर्ति धी॒तिभिः॑ । जा॒मिं प॒देव॒ पिप्र॑तीं॒ प्राध्व॒रे ॥

Indra, glorious lord of existence, the vibrant sage raises his voice and directs this joyous hymn of adoration and prayer to you in sincerity of thought, word and deed, which rises as if step by step in Holy Communion of yajna to you as to his own friend and brother.

· · ·

8.12.32

यद॑स्य॒ धाम॑नि प्रि॒ये स॑मीची॒नासो॒ अस्व॑रन् । नाभा॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ दो॒हना॒ प्राध्व॒रे ॥

When in the favourite hall of this lord Indra, the congregations on the yajna vedi, exuberant with soma and fragrance, raise the voice of adoration and prayer in unison aspiring for the milky gifts of yajna—

· · ·

8.12.33

सु॒वीर्यं॒ स्वश्व्यं॑ सु॒गव्य॑मिन्द्र दद्धि नः । होते॑व पू॒र्वचि॑त्तये॒ प्राध्व॒रे ॥

Then O lord omnipotent and self-refulgent, like a generous host of cosmic yajna, bring us the wealth of prosperity and progress and a brave and honourable progeny as the first gift and attainment of the yajna.

✦ Sukta 13 · 33 verses ✦

8.13.1

इन्द्रः॑ सु॒तेषु॒ सोमे॑षु॒ क्रतुं॑ पुनीत उ॒क्थ्य॑म् । वि॒दे वृ॒धस्य॒ दक्ष॑सो म॒हान्हि षः ॥

When a special yajnic programme for the realisation of special knowledge, power and expertise in a particular field is completed with hymns of thanks and praise to divinity, then Indra, lord omnipotent and omniscient, sanctifies the joint endeavour of holiness and blesses the programme with success. Great is he.

· · ·

8.13.2

स प्र॑थ॒मे व्यो॑मनि दे॒वानां॒ सद॑ने वृ॒धः । सु॒पा॒रः सु॒श्रव॑स्तमः॒ सम॑प्सु॒जित् ॥

At the first expansive manifestation of space, at the centre of all divine mutations of nature, he is the efficient cause of nature’s evolution, supreme pilot, most abundant and most glorious, omnipotent victor over conflicts and negativities in the way of evolution of nature and humanity in relation to will and action.

· · ·

8.13.3

तम॑ह्वे॒ वाज॑सातय॒ इन्द्रं॒ भरा॑य शु॒ष्मिण॑म् । भवा॑ नः सु॒म्ने अन्त॑मः॒ सखा॑ वृ॒धे ॥

That Indra, potent and abundant, I invoke for victory in the race for life, for growth and fulfilment. O lord, be our friend, our innermost centre of conscience for our progress, peace and all round well being.

· · ·

8.13.4

इ॒यं त॑ इन्द्र गिर्वणो रा॒तिः क्ष॑रति सुन्व॒तः । म॒न्दा॒नो अ॒स्य ब॒र्हिषो॒ वि रा॑जसि ॥

O lord adorable and adored, Indra, this abundant generosity of yours who create and enact this soma yajna of the universe rains in showers and flows free, in which you rejoice, shine refulgent and rule over the yajnic vedi of nature in evolution.

· · ·

8.13.5

नू॒नं तदि॑न्द्र दद्धि नो॒ यत्त्वा॑ सु॒न्वन्त॒ ईम॑हे । र॒यिं न॑श्चि॒त्रमा भ॑रा स्व॒र्विद॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of power and potential, bless us with that wealth and prosperity, abundant and versatile, bear and bring us that power and potential full of strength and light of joy which we ask of you and pray for in our joint yajnic efforts of creation and cooperation.

· · ·

8.13.6

स्तो॒ता यत्ते॒ विच॑र्षणिरतिप्रश॒र्धय॒द्गिरः॑ । व॒या इ॒वानु॑ रोहते जु॒षन्त॒ यत् ॥

When the celebrant, perceptive, loud and bold, sings his songs with passion, then, as the songs are accepted and cherished, they rise in response to the acceptance and approval like branches of a tree.

· · ·

8.13.7

प्र॒त्न॒वज्ज॑नया॒ गिरः॑ शृणु॒धी ज॑रि॒तुर्हव॑म् । मदे॑मदे ववक्षिथा सु॒कृत्व॑ने ॥

Indra, listen to the celebrant’s call, create and speak in appreciation as before and, with every delightful song, give holy recognition to the man of good word and action.

· · ·

8.13.8

क्रीळ॑न्त्यस्य सू॒नृता॒ आपो॒ न प्र॒वता॑ य॒तीः । अ॒या धि॒या य उ॒च्यते॒ पति॑र्दि॒वः ॥

The divine words of this lord, Indra, sparkle and flow like streams down the slopes, Indra who is celebrated as the lord and master of the regions of light and joy.

· · ·

8.13.9

उ॒तो पति॒र्य उ॒च्यते॑ कृष्टी॒नामेक॒ इद्व॒शी । न॒मो॒वृ॒धैर॑व॒स्युभिः॑ सु॒ते र॑ण ॥

And lord and master he is called, of the people also, the one and only master, controller and sustainer. O lord, delight in the soma, songs and acts of homage created, sung and performed by devotees who exalt you with homage and obedience and aspire for sustenance and protection.

· · ·

8.13.10

स्तु॒हि श्रु॒तं वि॑प॒श्चितं॒ हरी॒ यस्य॑ प्रस॒क्षिणा॑ । गन्ता॑रा दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हं न॑म॒स्विनः॑ ॥

Praise the lord who is wise and all watching and whose glory resounds all over the universe, and whose overwhelming

gifts of blessings flow and reach the house of the obedient and generous giver of charity.

· · ·

8.13.11

तू॒तु॒जा॒नो म॑हेम॒तेऽश्वे॑भिः प्रुषि॒तप्सु॑भिः । आ या॑हि य॒ज्ञमा॒शुभिः॒ शमिद्धि ते॑ ॥

O lord instant mover and omnipresent, mighty wise, pray come to our yajna by the fastest radiations of light draped in beauty and majesty. Peace be with all celebrants, that’s your gift only.

· · ·

8.13.12

इन्द्र॑ शविष्ठ सत्पते र॒यिं गृ॒णत्सु॑ धारय । श्रवः॑ सू॒रिभ्यो॑ अ॒मृतं॑ वसुत्व॒नम् ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, protector of truth and promoter of the truthful, vest the celebrants with wealth and wisdom and bring honour and fame and riches of immortal value for the wise, bold and brilliant intellectuals.

· · ·

8.13.13

हवे॑ त्वा॒ सूर॒ उदि॑ते॒ हवे॑ म॒ध्यंदि॑ने दि॒वः । जु॒षा॒ण इ॑न्द्र॒ सप्ति॑भिर्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Indra, lord of refulgence, I invoke you at the rise of the sun, at the middle of day from the heights of heaven. O lord loving and kind, come by instant radiations of light and take us on with divine blessings.

· · ·

8.13.14

आ तू ग॑हि॒ प्र तु द्र॑व॒ मत्स्वा॑ सु॒तस्य॒ गोम॑तः । तन्तुं॑ तनुष्व पू॒र्व्यं यथा॑ वि॒दे ॥

Come lord instantly, take us on at the yajna, be kind and gracious, let the flames of fire rise with the joyous music of Vedic hymns and oblations of the gifts of earth. Extend the eternal link of life so that we join you, we join the cosmic yajna, and we join with the life link of our fore-fathers and mother earth, so that we may know that link and live it too with our future generations.

· · ·

8.13.15

यच्छ॒क्रासि॑ परा॒वति॒ यद॑र्वा॒वति॑ वृत्रहन् । यद्वा॑ समु॒द्रे अन्ध॑सोऽवि॒तेद॑सि ॥

O lord omnipotent, destroyer of darkness and obstruction, who are far off in space and closest at hand, in the sea and in the skies, wherever and everywhere you are the protector of life and of the food for life.

· · ·

8.13.16

इन्द्रं॑ वर्धन्तु नो॒ गिर॒ इन्द्रं॑ सु॒तास॒ इन्द॑वः । इन्द्रे॑ ह॒विष्म॑ती॒र्विशो॑ अराणिषुः ॥

Let our songs of adoration exalt the lord omnipotent. Let the soma essences of our yajnic performance in unison do honour to the lord. Let the citizens of the world bearing homage of self sacrifice in hand rejoice in the gifts and glories of Indra.

· · ·

8.13.17

तमिद्विप्रा॑ अव॒स्यवः॑ प्र॒वत्व॑तीभिरू॒तिभिः॑ । इन्द्रं॑ क्षो॒णीर॑वर्धयन्व॒या इ॑व ॥

Vibrant sages, aspirants for protection and progress of the world, exalt Indra with abundant songs of praise with gratitude for divine protection. Indeed, the earths and their children all, like growing branches of a tree, do him honour and celebrate his glory.

· · ·

8.13.18

त्रिक॑द्रुकेषु॒ चेत॑नं दे॒वासो॑ य॒ज्ञम॑त्नत । तमिद्व॑र्धन्तु नो॒ गिरः॑ स॒दावृ॑धम् ॥

Brilliant people and divine forces of nature all enact and expand the cosmic yajna of the lord’s creation in all the three worlds of heaven, earth and the firmament. Let our voices too celebrate the same omniscient lord of the expansive universe and thereby rise in meaning and value.

· · ·

8.13.19

स्तो॒ता यत्ते॒ अनु॑व्रत उ॒क्थान्यृ॑तु॒था द॒धे । शुचिः॑ पाव॒क उ॑च्यते॒ सो अद्भु॑तः ॥

The real celebrant is the person dedicated to the observance of your discipline of divine law , the one who creates and sings songs of adoration according to the seasons of time, songs in which the lord of wonder and majesty is celebrated as radiant and pure who purifies the celebrant too into radiance and sinlessness.

· · ·

8.13.20

तदिद्रु॒द्रस्य॑ चेतति य॒ह्वं प्र॒त्नेषु॒ धाम॑सु । मनो॒ यत्रा॒ वि तद्द॒धुर्विचे॑तसः ॥

That same omnipotence of Indra as Rudra, lord of natural justice, is ever awake and shines in the ancient regions of the universe wherein the wise and wakeful sages concentrate and stabilise their mind through meditation in thought experiments.

· · ·

8.13.21

यदि॑ मे स॒ख्यमा॒वर॑ इ॒मस्य॑ पा॒ह्यन्ध॑सः । येन॒ विश्वा॒ अति॒ द्विषो॒ अता॑रिम ॥

O lord, if you graciously accept me as a friend, then save this blind-folded world of ignorance, save this soma vitality of life’s positivity too by which we may win over all the forces of hate and enmity in the world.

· · ·

8.13.22

क॒दा त॑ इन्द्र गिर्वणः स्तो॒ता भ॑वाति॒ शंत॑मः । क॒दा नो॒ गव्ये॒ अश्व्ये॒ वसौ॑ दधः ॥

Indra, lord adorable, lord of all adorations, when would your celebrant settle in perfect peace? When would you establish us in the stable wealth of lands, cows and the holy voice, horses, advancement and the ultimate wealth and aim of life?

· · ·

8.13.23

उ॒त ते॒ सुष्टु॑ता॒ हरी॒ वृष॑णा वहतो॒ रथ॑म् । अ॒जु॒र्यस्य॑ म॒दिन्त॑मं॒ यमीम॑हे ॥

O lord beyond age and suffering, mighty adorable forces of nature, gravitation and radiation draw your cosmic chariot. We adore and pray for the favour of such lord of universal joy

· · ·

8.13.24

तमी॑महे पुरुष्टु॒तं य॒ह्वं प्र॒त्नाभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । नि ब॒र्हिषि॑ प्रि॒ये स॑द॒दध॑ द्वि॒ता ॥

We worship that universally adored, omnipotent lord with his universal modes of protection and progress who is both just and merciful, promoter and restrainer and who pervades the beautiful world of cosmic existence and watches over the cosmic yajna.

· · ·

8.13.25

वर्ध॑स्वा॒ सु पु॑रुष्टुत॒ ऋषि॑ष्टुताभिरू॒तिभिः॑ । धु॒क्षस्व॑ पि॒प्युषी॒मिष॒मवा॑ च नः ॥

Help us advance and prosper, lord universally adored and celebrated by sages, protect us with all help and bless us with abundant nutriments for body and mind.

· · ·

8.13.26

इन्द्र॒ त्वम॑वि॒तेद॑सी॒त्था स्तु॑व॒तो अ॑द्रिवः । ऋ॒तादि॑यर्मि ते॒ धियं॑ मनो॒युज॑म् ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, controller of clouds and mountains, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and punishment, you are the saviour and protector of the celebrant who thus adores you. I concentrate and direct my thoughtful intelligence with controlled mind arisen from meditation on the laws of universal truth and divine law to you.

· · ·

8.13.27

इ॒ह त्या स॑ध॒माद्या॑ युजा॒नः सोम॑पीतये । हरी॑ इन्द्र प्र॒तद्व॑सू अ॒भि स्व॑र ॥

Indra, lord all gracious, engaging your divine forces of cosmic dynamics working in centrifugal and centripetal complementarity and creating the world’s wealth and joy with you, pray come here, shine on top of our joint endeavour of creative production and bless our yajna.

· · ·

8.13.28

अ॒भि स्व॑रन्तु॒ ये तव॑ रु॒द्रासः॑ सक्षत॒ श्रिय॑म् । उ॒तो म॒रुत्व॑ती॒र्विशो॑ अ॒भि प्रयः॑ ॥

And let your enlightened celebrants dedicated to the wealth of beauty, grace and culture with love and justice, and all the vibrant communities engaged in creative production come and join this delightful yajnic endeavour for the common good in a state of prosperity and progressive stability.

· · ·

8.13.29

इ॒मा अ॑स्य॒ प्रतू॑र्तयः प॒दं जु॑षन्त॒ यद्दि॒वि । नाभा॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॒ सं द॑धु॒र्यथा॑ वि॒दे ॥

All these dynamic communities dedicated to this lord of glory know the highest rung of the existential ladder to attain that state of joy which is in the light of divinity, they join together here on earth on the holy seat of universal yajna and eliminate negativities so that they may attain the state of enlightenment and eternal joy.

· · ·

8.13.30

अ॒यं दी॒र्घाय॒ चक्ष॑से॒ प्राचि॑ प्रय॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे । मिमी॑ते य॒ज्ञमा॑नु॒षग्वि॒चक्ष्य॑ ॥

This power of universal vision and potential in advance of the cosmic yajna of creative evolution instantly and simultaneously measures and projects the cosmic plan so that it can be watched and assessed on a long term basis from the beginning to the end.

· · ·

8.13.31

वृषा॒यमि॑न्द्र ते॒ रथ॑ उ॒तो ते॒ वृष॑णा॒ हरी॑ । वृषा॒ त्वं श॑तक्रतो॒ वृषा॒ हवः॑ ॥

Indra, this cosmic chariot of yours moving on and on is exuberant and generous, the natural forces which carry it on are mighty, you, lord of infinite actions are generous and inexhaustible, and the homage and prayer offered to you is highly effective and infinitely rewarding.

· · ·

8.13.32

वृषा॒ ग्रावा॒ वृषा॒ मदो॒ वृषा॒ सोमो॑ अ॒यं सु॒तः । वृषा॑ य॒ज्ञो यमिन्व॑सि॒ वृषा॒ हवः॑ ॥

Abundant and mighty are your clouds of showers, powerful is your excitement and joy, abundant is the beauty and power of this soma you have created in the world of existence, mighty and far reaching is the beauty of the cosmic dynamics you have enacted and energise, and mighty is the order and command of your invitation to life.

· · ·

8.13.33

वृषा॑ त्वा॒ वृष॑णं हुवे॒ वज्रि॑ञ्चि॒त्राभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । वा॒वन्थ॒ हि प्रति॑ष्टुतिं॒ वृषा॒ हवः॑ ॥

Indra, I, your celebrant, am vibrant, exuberant and powerful too by your grace. Lord of thunder and clouds, I invoke you who command inexhaustible power and generosity along with your wonderful protections and modes of advancement. You listen and you love and bless the songs of adoration and prayer, and the invocation and prayers addressed to you are powerful and rewarding.

✦ Sukta 14 · 15 verses ✦

8.14.1

यदि॑न्द्रा॒हं यथा॒ त्वमीशी॑य॒ वस्व॒ एक॒ इत् । स्तो॒ता मे॒ गोष॑खा स्यात् ॥

Indra, lord of universal knowledge, power and prosperity, if I were, like you, the sole master of wealth, wisdom and power in my field, then pray may my.dependent and celebrant also be blest with wealth and wisdom of the world. (Let all of us together be blest with abundance of wealth and wisdom under the social dispensation of our system of government and administration.)

· · ·

8.14.2

शिक्षे॑यमस्मै॒ दित्से॑यं॒ शची॑पते मनी॒षिणे॑ । यद॒हं गोप॑तिः॒ स्याम् ॥

O lord and master of world power and prosperity, Indra, if I were master of knowledge and controller of power, I would love to share and give wealth and knowledge o this noble minded person of vision and wisdom.

· · ·

8.14.3

धे॒नुष्ट॑ इन्द्र सू॒नृता॒ यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते । गामश्वं॑ पि॒प्युषी॑ दुहे ॥

Indra, the divine voice of your omniscience, omnipotence and bliss overflows with universal truth and rectitude of the law of existence and showers the abundance of prosperity and advancement upon the dedicated yajamana who distils and creates the soma of joy for the world.

· · ·

8.14.4

न ते॑ व॒र्तास्ति॒ राध॑स॒ इन्द्र॑ दे॒वो न मर्त्यः॑ । यद्दित्स॑सि स्तु॒तो म॒घम् ॥

Indra, when you are pleased to bless the celebrant with power, prosperity and excellence, then neither mortal nor immortal can restrain the abundant flow of your grace and generosity.

· · ·

8.14.5

य॒ज्ञ इन्द्र॑मवर्धय॒द्यद्भूमिं॒ व्यव॑र्तयत् । च॒क्रा॒ण ओ॑प॒शं दि॒वि ॥

Yajna, joint creative endeavour which protects and replenishes the earth and environment, pleases and elevates Indra, the ruler, and creates a place of bliss in the light of heaven for the doer.

· · ·

8.14.6

वा॒वृ॒धा॒नस्य॑ ते व॒यं विश्वा॒ धना॑नि जि॒ग्युषः॑ । ऊ॒तिमि॒न्द्रा वृ॑णीमहे ॥

Indra, we pray for your power and protection, the lord whose glory rises with the expansive universe and who rule over the entire wealth and power of the worlds of existence.

· · ·

8.14.7

व्य१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षमतिर॒न्मदे॒ सोम॑स्य रोच॒ना । इन्द्रो॒ यदभि॑नद्व॒लम् ॥

When Indra, lord omnipotent and blissful, eliminates all obstructions and negativities from our paths of progress, then we see the entire space in existence shines with light and overflows with the joy of soma bliss.

· · ·

8.14.8

उद्गा आ॑ज॒दङ्गि॑रोभ्य आ॒विष्कृ॒ण्वन्गुहा॑ स॒तीः । अ॒र्वाञ्चं॑ नुनुदे व॒लम् ॥

When the lord shakes up our psychic energies to the depths and throws out our darkness and negativities, then he sharpens our senses along with pranic energies and opens out our spiritual potential hidden in the cave of the heart.

· · ·

8.14.9

इन्द्रे॑ण रोच॒ना दि॒वो दृ॒ळ्हानि॑ दृंहि॒तानि॑ च । स्थि॒राणि॒ न प॑रा॒णुदे॑ ॥

The bright and beautiful, blessed and blissful stars and planets of refulgent space, expansive, firm and constant by virtue of the omnipotence of Indra, no one can shake or dislodge from their position of stability.

· · ·

8.14.10

अ॒पामू॒र्मिर्मद॑न्निव॒ स्तोम॑ इन्द्राजिरायते । वि ते॒ मदा॑ अराजिषुः ॥

Like exulting waves of the sea, this hymn of adoration rises and reaches you, and the vibrations of your joyous response too emanate and pervade everywhere.

· · ·

8.14.11

त्वं हि स्तो॑म॒वर्ध॑न॒ इन्द्रास्यु॑क्थ॒वर्ध॑नः । स्तो॒तॄ॒णामु॒त भ॑द्र॒कृत् ॥

By you the songs of praise and adoration thrive and exalt, by you the songs of celebration and prayer vibrate and fructify. Indeed, you do all the good to the celebrants.

· · ·

8.14.12

इन्द्र॒मित्के॒शिना॒ हरी॑ सोम॒पेया॑य वक्षतः । उप॑ य॒ज्ञं सु॒राध॑सम् ॥

Radiations of light with expansive vibrations, herbs and trees with branches, leaves and filaments carry the spirit of divinity and nature’s energy to the creative centres of life’s bounty.

· · ·

8.14.13

अ॒पां फेने॑न॒ नमु॑चेः॒ शिर॑ इ॒न्द्रोद॑वर्तयः । विश्वा॒ यदज॑यः॒ स्पृधः॑ ॥

When you fight out the adversaries of life and humanity, you crush the head of the demon of drought and famine with the sea mist and the cloud.

· · ·

8.14.14

मा॒याभि॑रु॒त्सिसृ॑प्सत॒ इन्द्र॒ द्यामा॒रुरु॑क्षतः । अव॒ दस्यूँ॑रधूनुथाः ॥

With your mysterious powers and tactics, you destroy the crafty thieves and saboteurs roaming around even if they have risen to the heights of clouds.

· · ·

8.14.15

अ॒सु॒न्वामि॑न्द्र सं॒सदं॒ विषू॑चीं॒ व्य॑नाशयः । सो॒म॒पा उत्त॑रो॒ भव॑न् ॥

Indra, protector of the creative joy and prosperity of life and humanity in a state of peace, you being the better and higher of all others, you frustrate, dismiss and dissolve the factious assembly which has failed to be creative and cooperative as a corporate body.

✦ Sukta 15 · 13 verses ✦

8.15.1

तम्व॒भि प्र गा॑यत पुरुहू॒तं पु॑रुष्टु॒तम् । इन्द्रं॑ गी॒र्भिस्त॑वि॒षमा वि॑वासत ॥

O celebrants, glorify Indra, universally invoked and praised, the lord who blazes with light and power, serve him with words and actions and let him shine forth in your life and achievement.

· · ·

8.15.2

यस्य॑ द्वि॒बर्ह॑सो बृ॒हत्सहो॑ दा॒धार॒ रोद॑सी । गि॒रीँरज्राँ॑ अ॒पः स्व॑र्वृषत्व॒ना ॥

Glorify Indra, who sustains the cosmic yajna in the two worlds, your life here and hereafter, whose cosmic potential sustains heaven, earth and the middle regions, who moves and controls the mighty gusts of winds and motions of mountainous clouds, and who gives us heavenly showers of rain for joy and vital energies.

· · ·

8.15.3

स रा॑जसि पुरुष्टुतँ॒ एको॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नसे । इन्द्र॒ जैत्रा॑ श्रव॒स्या॑ च॒ यन्त॑वे ॥

Indra, universally praised and celebrated, you rule and shine alone, one, unique, without an equal, to destroy darkness, ignorance and adversities, to control and contain what is won and to manage what is heard and what ought to be heard.

· · ·

8.15.4

तं ते॒ मदं॑ गृणीमसि॒ वृष॑णं पृ॒त्सु सा॑स॒हिम् । उ॒ लो॒क॒कृ॒त्नुम॑द्रिवो हरि॒श्रिय॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of adamantine will and generous disposition like clouds of rain, we celebrate and glorify that power and heavenly joy of yours which is virile and generous, heroic in battles and steadfast against challenges, creative in the worlds of existence and gracious in advancement and gifts of bliss.

· · ·

8.15.5

येन॒ ज्योतीं॑ष्या॒यवे॒ मन॑वे च वि॒वेदि॑थ । म॒न्दा॒नो अ॒स्य ब॒र्हिषो॒ वि रा॑जसि ॥

We celebrate and adore that power and divine joy of yours by which you reveal the light of life to the mortals from generation to generation and, exalted by which, you shine and rule over the yajnic dynamics of this universe.

· · ·

8.15.6

तद॒द्या चि॑त्त उ॒क्थिनोऽनु॑ ष्टुवन्ति पू॒र्वथा॑ । वृष॑पत्नीर॒पो ज॑या दि॒वेदि॑वे ॥

That divine power and joyous generosity of yours, today, saints and scholars of the holy Word and song sing and celebrate as ever before. O lord, conquer and control the waters of space collected in the mighty clouds and let them flow day by day.

· · ·

8.15.7

तव॒ त्यदि॑न्द्रि॒यं बृ॒हत्तव॒ शुष्म॑मु॒त क्रतु॑म् । वज्रं॑ शिशाति धि॒षणा॒ वरे॑ण्यम् ॥

That grandeur and majesty of yours, that power and potential, that continuous act of divine generosity, that adamantine will and force of natural justice and dispensation of the thunderbolt which overwhelms our will and choice commands our sense of discrimination, and we glorify it, we sharpen it, we accept it with adoration.

· · ·

8.15.8

तव॒ द्यौरि॑न्द्र॒ पौंस्यं॑ पृथि॒वी व॑र्धति॒ श्रवः॑ । त्वामापः॒ पर्व॑तासश्च हिन्विरे ॥

The light of heaven glorifies your blazing power, the earth augments your honour and fame, and the rolling floods of water and mighty mountains of majesty do awesome homage to you.

· · ·

8.15.9

त्वां विष्णु॑र्बृ॒हन्क्षयो॑ मि॒त्रो गृ॑णाति॒ वरु॑णः । त्वां शर्धो॑ मद॒त्यनु॒ मारु॑तम् ॥

Vishnu, cosmic dynamics of nature’s expansive sustenance, Mitra, loving and life giving sun, Varuna, soothing and energising oceans of the universe, and the power and force of the showers of cosmic energy all exalt you and receive their life and exaltation from you.

· · ·

8.15.10

त्वं वृषा॒ जना॑नां॒ मंहि॑ष्ठ इन्द्र जज्ञिषे । स॒त्रा विश्वा॑ स्वप॒त्यानि॑ दधिषे ॥

Most generous and omnificent Indra, in the heart of humanity you arise as the greatest and highest paternal power and presence who sustain the worlds of existence as your darling children all together as one family.

· · ·

8.15.11

स॒त्रा त्वं पु॑रुष्टुतँ॒ एको॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ तोशसे । नान्य इन्द्रा॒त्कर॑णं॒ भूय॑ इन्वति ॥

O lord universally adored, you alone dispel and destroy all the strong holds of darkness, ignorance and evil. There is no one else other than Indra who can exceed your power and performance either now or later.

· · ·

8.15.12

यदि॑न्द्र मन्म॒शस्त्वा॒ नाना॒ हव॑न्त ऊ॒तये॑ । अ॒स्माके॑भि॒र्नृभि॒रत्रा॒ स्व॑र्जय ॥

Since all people in all their different lands and places invoke and adore you for protection and self fulfilment according to the voice of their own conscience, O lord, be gracious to our people here on earth and let them win the divine gift of eternal joy.

· · ·

8.15.13

अरं॒ क्षया॑य नो म॒हे विश्वा॑ रू॒पाण्या॑वि॒शन् । इन्द्रं॒ जैत्रा॑य हर्षया॒ शची॒पति॑म् ॥

For peace and settlement of the perfect order, and for honour, dignity and excellence for all of us here on earth, and for our final victory of self fulfilment in ultimate bliss, meditate on the lord’s manifestations, identify with his omnipresence, adore him as the lord of omnipotence, and win the pleasure and grace of Indra.

✦ Sukta 16 · 12 verses ✦

8.16.1

प्र स॒म्राजं॑ चर्षणी॒नामिन्द्रं॑ स्तोता॒ नव्यं॑ गी॒र्भिः । नरं॑ नृ॒षाहं॒ मंहि॑ष्ठम् ॥

With songs of celebration glorify Indra, refulgent ruler of humanity, worthy of adoration, leader, destroyer of evil people, the greatest and most munificent.

· · ·

8.16.2

यस्मि॑न्नु॒क्थानि॒ रण्य॑न्ति॒ विश्वा॑नि च श्रव॒स्या॑ । अ॒पामवो॒ न स॑मु॒द्रे ॥

Unto him all songs of adoration return, to him all honours and fame of the world reach, in him they rejoice like streams and rivers reaching and rejoicing in the sea.

· · ·

8.16.3

तं सु॑ष्टु॒त्या वि॑वासे ज्येष्ठ॒राजं॒ भरे॑ कृ॒त्नुम् । म॒हो वा॒जिनं॑ स॒निभ्यः॑ ॥

Him with songs of adoration I glorify as the first and highest ruler, constantly active in cosmic dynamics, and the greatest warrior and winner for the celebrant’s good.

· · ·

8.16.4

यस्यानू॑ना गभी॒रा मदा॑ उ॒रव॒स्तरु॑त्राः । ह॒र्षु॒मन्तः॒ शूर॑सातौ ॥

Faultless are his joyous exploits, deep and grave, vast and wide, saviours across the seas of life and givers of victory in the battles of the brave.

· · ·

8.16.5

तमिद्धने॑षु हि॒तेष्व॑धिवा॒काय॑ हवन्ते । येषा॒मिन्द्र॒स्ते ज॑यन्ति ॥

When the call is given and the battle rages, people invoke him for defence, and they win who enjoy the favour and protection of Indra

· · ·

8.16.6

तमिच्च्यौ॒त्नैरार्य॑न्ति॒ तं कृ॒तेभि॑श्चर्ष॒णयः॑ । ए॒ष इन्द्रो॑ वरिव॒स्कृत् ॥

Men of vision and wisdom celebrate him with inspiring songs and noble actions while average people please him with usual performance of their daily duties. This lord Indra is the creator, controller and dispenser of wealth and rewards.

· · ·

8.16.7

इन्द्रो॑ ब्र॒ह्मेन्द्र॒ ऋषि॒रिन्द्रः॑ पु॒रू पु॑रुहू॒तः । म॒हान्म॒हीभिः॒ शची॑भिः ॥

Indra is Brahma, great and omniscient, the allwatching seer, invoked, adored and worshipped by all, universally in many ways. He is really great, magnanimous by virtue of his great actions.

· · ·

8.16.8

स स्तोम्यः॒ स हव्यः॑ स॒त्यः सत्वा॑ तुविकू॒र्मिः । एक॑श्चि॒त्सन्न॒भिभू॑तिः ॥

He is adorable with songs of praise, worthy of invocation and homage, eternal, ever true, and by his essential nature he is omnipotent, all creator, all maker of forms, and all alone by himself, he is the power supreme over all.

· · ·

8.16.9

तम॒र्केभि॒स्तं साम॑भि॒स्तं गा॑य॒त्रैश्च॑र्ष॒णयः॑ । इन्द्रं॑ वर्धन्ति क्षि॒तयः॑ ॥

All people, all communities, all nations adore and exalt Indra, with inspiring verses of Rgveda, with sweet songs of Samaveda and with the exhilarating gayatri verses.

· · ·

8.16.10

प्र॒णे॒तारं॒ वस्यो॒ अच्छा॒ कर्ता॑रं॒ ज्योतिः॑ स॒मत्सु॑ । सा॒स॒ह्वांसं॑ यु॒धामित्रा॑न् ॥

All people, communities and nations adore and exalt Indra who brings wealth, peace and prosperity to humanity, creates light and hope for their battles of life, and challenges and destroys enemies by fighting them out.

· · ·

8.16.11

स नः॒ पप्रिः॑ पारयाति स्व॒स्ति ना॒वा पु॑रुहू॒तः । इन्द्रो॒ विश्वा॒ अति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

He, Indra, lord of deliverance and giver of fulfilment, invoked and adored by all, pilots us across the seas of life by the boat of divine guidance and saves us against all jealousies, enmities and negativities of the world.

· · ·

8.16.12

स त्वं न॑ इन्द्र॒ वाजे॑भिर्दश॒स्या च॑ गातु॒या च॑ । अच्छा॑ च नः सु॒म्नं ने॑षि ॥

Indra, lord of power and giver of fulfilment, by gifts of science and energy and with noble acts and persistent endeavour, lead us well by noble paths to peace, prosperity and well being.

✦ Sukta 17 · 15 verses ✦

8.17.1

आ या॑हि सुषु॒मा हि त॒ इन्द्र॒ सोमं॒ पिबा॑ इ॒मम् । एदं ब॒र्हिः स॑दो॒ मम॑ ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent and omnipresent, we hold the yajna and distil the soma of life in your service. Come, grace this holy seat of my yajna dedicated to you, watch my performance, enjoy the soma, and protect and promote the yajna for the beauty and joy of life.

· · ·

8.17.2

आ त्वा॑ ब्रह्म॒युजा॒ हरी॒ वह॑तामिन्द्र के॒शिना॑ । उप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि नः शृणु ॥

Let the radiant waves of cosmic energy engaged in the service of divinity bring you here. Pray listen to our songs of prayer and adoration. Dedicated to divinity and the divine voice, meditating on the divine presence with concentrated mind and soul, living in truth the beauty of life and expressing the ecstasy of soma, we invoke and wait for Indra, original maker and lover of soma, to come and bless us.

· · ·

8.17.3

ब्र॒ह्माण॑स्त्वा व॒यं यु॒जा सो॑म॒पामि॑न्द्र सो॒मिनः॑ । सु॒ताव॑न्तो हवामहे ॥

O lord of cosmic beauty, come to us, listen to our song of adoration and drink of the soma distilled by us with intense love and devotion.

· · ·

8.17.4

आ नो॑ याहि सु॒ताव॑तो॒ऽस्माकं॑ सुष्टु॒तीरुप॑ । पिबा॒ सु शि॑प्रि॒न्नन्ध॑सः ॥

I create and pour the soma into the body spaces of your creation, taste the sweets with your tongue and let the exhilaration of honey radiate to every particle of the cosmic body

· · ·

8.17.5

आ ते॑ सिञ्चामि कु॒क्ष्योरनु॒ गात्रा॒ वि धा॑वतु । गृ॒भा॒य जि॒ह्वया॒ मधु॑ ॥

May the soma be delicious to your taste, O connoisseur of soma, may the honey sweets be exhilarating to your body, and may the soma bring peace and joy to your heart.

· · ·

8.17.6

स्वा॒दुष्टे॑ अस्तु सं॒सुदे॒ मधु॑मान्त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ तव॑ । सोमः॒ शम॑स्तु ते हृ॒दे ॥

O lord of cosmic vision, let this soma distilled and seasoned, radiate to you from sense to the spirit, inspiring, soothing and beatifying like a bride on top of her beauty and virgin grace.

· · ·

8.17.7

अ॒यमु॑ त्वा विचर्षणे॒ जनी॑रिवा॒भि संवृ॑तः । प्र सोम॑ इन्द्र सर्पतु ॥

In the ecstasy and exhilaration of soma, Indra, lord mighty of head and arms joined at the neck and vast of cosmic belly space, destroys the dark forces of life.

· · ·

8.17.8

तु॒वि॒ग्रीवो॑ व॒पोद॑रः सुबा॒हुरन्ध॑सो॒ मदे॑ । इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नते ॥

Indra, ruler and ordainer of the world by your power and splendour, come to us and, O dispeller of darkness, go forward, destroy the evils and adversities of ignorance, injustice and poverty.

· · ·

8.17.9

इन्द्र॒ प्रेहि॑ पु॒रस्त्वं विश्व॒स्येशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा । वृ॒त्राणि॑ वृत्रहञ्जहि ॥

Indra, ruler and ordainer of the world by your power and splendour, come to us and, O dispeller of darkness, go forward, destroy the evils and adversities of ignorance, injustice and poverty.

· · ·

8.17.10

दी॒र्घस्ते॑ अस्त्वङ्कु॒शो येना॒ वसु॑ प्र॒यच्छ॑सि । यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते ॥

Let your arms of law and order be long and far reaching by which you protect and provide peace, prosperity and security for the self-sacrificing performer of yajna who creates soma for the common good.

· · ·

8.17.11

अ॒यं त॑ इन्द्र॒ सोमो॒ निपू॑तो॒ अधि॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ । एही॑म॒स्य द्रवा॒ पिब॑ ॥

Indra, this soma pure and sanctified on the holy grass of yajna vedi, is dedicated to you. Come fast, you would love it, drink and enjoy, and protect and promote it for the good of all.

· · ·

8.17.12

शाचि॑गो॒ शाचि॑पूजना॒यं रणा॑य ते सु॒तः । आख॑ण्डल॒ प्र हू॑यसे ॥

Lord self-refulgent creator of stars and planets, glorious adorable, this cosmic soma of the universe of your creation is for the joy of life. Therefore, O lord imperishable, you are invoked and adored with love and faith.

· · ·

8.17.13

यस्ते॑ शृङ्गवृषो नपा॒त्प्रण॑पात्कुण्ड॒पाय्यः॑ । न्य॑स्मिन्दध्र॒ आ मनः॑ ॥

O lord, the sun on high which neither falls nor allows others, planets and satellites, to fall is your creation and it is the protector and sustainer of the vault of heaven and the firmament. On this we meditate and concentrate our mind.

· · ·

8.17.14

वास्तो॑ष्पते ध्रु॒वा स्थूणांस॑त्रं सो॒म्याना॑म् । द्र॒प्सो भे॒त्ता पु॒रां शश्व॑तीना॒मिन्द्रो॒ मुनी॑नां॒ सखा॑ ॥

O lord of human habitations, creator of the cosmic home of life, may the centre column of our house be firm. May the lord be the protective armour of the makers of soma. May Indra, lover of soma to the last drop, be destroyer of the strongholds of evil which nevertheless persist through time, and may the lord be friends with the sages.

· · ·

8.17.15

पृदा॑कुसानुर्यज॒तो ग॒वेष॑ण॒ एकः॒ सन्न॒भि भूय॑सः । भूर्णि॒मश्वं॑ नयत्तु॒जा पु॒रो गृ॒भेन्द्रं॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Challenger of poisonous negativities, adorable, giver of earthly prosperity and words of vision and wisdom, Indra by himself alone eliminates many evils. Let the devotee with inspired adoration invoke the refulgent omnipresence of Indra before his inner vision to bless his consciousness and to protect and promote it to universal awareness of the divine presence.

✦ Sukta 18 · 22 verses ✦

8.18.1

इ॒दं ह॑ नू॒नमे॑षां सु॒म्नं भि॑क्षेत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । आ॒दि॒त्याना॒मपू॑र्व्यं॒ सवी॑मनि ॥

Let mortal humanity ask for unique favours of these Adityas, brilliant children of Mother Nature, that is, nature’s powers of light, energy and peace, seek for wealth, honour and excellence of life in a state of peace and progress, and live under the inspiration and guidance of nature, her forces of thought, energy and stability without violating nature’s law.

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8.18.2

अ॒न॒र्वाणो॒ ह्ये॑षां॒ पन्था॑ आदि॒त्याना॑म् । अद॑ब्धाः॒ सन्ति॑ पा॒यवः॑ सुगे॒वृधः॑ ॥

Irresistible are the paths and laws of these brilliant powers of nature, undaunted are they, protectors and promoters, and they increase the peace and prosperity of life (if you presume not to challenge and violate them).

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8.18.3

तत्सु नः॑ सवि॒ता भगो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । शर्म॑ यच्छन्तु स॒प्रथो॒ यदीम॑हे ॥

May Savita, life generating sun, Bhaga, inexhaustible wealth and power of divinity, Varuna, oceans of space and divine generosity, Mitra, divine love and warmth of life, and Aryaman, divine laws of the motions of stars, planets and galaxies, guide and lead us to that peace and prosperity which we pray for and which, we wish, may ever increase.

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8.18.4

दे॒वेभि॑र्देव्यदि॒तेऽरि॑ष्टभर्म॒न्ना ग॑हि । स्मत्सू॒रिभिः॑ पुरुप्रिये सु॒शर्म॑भिः ॥

Imperishable nature, mother Infinity universally loved and adored, self-refulgent divinity, giver of security in prosperity against adversity, pray come and bring us best of life’s happiness and well being along with brilliant powers of generosity, intelligence and fearless rectitude.

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8.18.5

ते हि पु॒त्रासो॒ अदि॑तेर्वि॒दुर्द्वेषां॑सि॒ योत॑वे । अं॒होश्चि॑दुरु॒चक्र॑योऽने॒हसः॑ ॥

Those children of divinity, sages, scholars and redoubtable warriors, pure at heart and great performers of boundless possibilities, know how to remove jealousies, fight out enmities and eliminate sin and crime.

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8.18.6

अदि॑तिर्नो॒ दिवा॑ प॒शुमदि॑ति॒र्नक्त॒मद्व॑याः । अदि॑तिः पा॒त्वंह॑सः स॒दावृ॑धा ॥

May Aditi, Mother Nature, her intelligence, energy and stability, preserve, protect and promote our cattle, property and perception day and night. May the light of divinity, always promotive of positivity, save us from sin.

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8.18.7

उ॒त स्या नो॒ दिवा॑ म॒तिरदि॑तिरू॒त्या ग॑मत् । सा शंता॑ति॒ मय॑स्कर॒दप॒ स्रिधः॑ ॥

May that beneficent intelligence of the light of divine Mother Nature come to us day by day with her protective faculties, do us good and ward off errors, obstructions, negative values and misbeliefs.

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8.18.8

उ॒त त्या दैव्या॑ भि॒षजा॒ शं नः॑ करतो अ॒श्विना॑ । यु॒यु॒याता॑मि॒तो रपो॒ अप॒ स्रिधः॑ ॥

And may nature’s complementary powers of all round protection and growth bring us good and peace and keep off all sin and evil of body and mind from us.

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8.18.9

शम॒ग्निर॒ग्निभिः॑ कर॒च्छं न॑स्तपतु॒ सूर्यः॑ । शं वातो॑ वात्वर॒पा अप॒ स्रिधः॑ ॥

May Agni, divine fire of life, with its radiations of heat and light, do us good. May the sun shine warm for the good of all in peace. May the wind blow fragrant and free and bring us the breath of life for all in peace, and may all the divinities of Mother Nature drive away and keep off all negativity and adversities from humanity.

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8.18.10

अपामी॑वा॒मप॒ स्रिध॒मप॑ सेधत दुर्म॒तिम् । आदि॑त्यासो यु॒योत॑ना नो॒ अंह॑सः ॥

May the Adityas, powers of light and life in nature and humanity, drive away all disease of body and mind and keep off negativities of thought and intelligence from us. May the children of imperishable divinity keep us safe, far away from the onslaughts of sin and adversity.

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8.18.11

यु॒योता॒ शरु॑म॒स्मदाँ आदि॑त्यास उ॒ताम॑तिम् । ऋध॒ग्द्वेषः॑ कृणुत विश्ववेदसः ॥

May the Adityas, divine harbingers of light and life, drive away from us all forms of violence and enmity. May they ward off all those stupid fools who lack understanding and refuse to think positively. May the pioneers of enlightenment who know the world and all its ways eliminate hate and malignity from the world of humanity.

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8.18.12

तत्सु नः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छ॒तादि॑त्या॒ यन्मुमो॑चति । एन॑स्वन्तं चि॒देन॑सः सुदानवः ॥

O Adityas, children of the light of life eternal, holy givers of the best of life, thought and action, bring us that peace and joy which gives us freedom, that freedom which saves and liberates even the worst of sinners from sin and evil.

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8.18.13

यो नः॒ कश्चि॒द्रिरि॑क्षति रक्ष॒स्त्वेन॒ मर्त्यः॑ । स्वैः ष एवै॑ रिरिषीष्ट॒ युर्जनः॑ ॥

Let the mortal who of his own evil nature seeks to injure us by his evil design perish in consequence of his own evil actions. Let such a man be off from us.

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8.18.14

समित्तम॒घम॑श्नवद्दुः॒शंसं॒ मर्त्यं॑ रि॒पुम् । यो अ॑स्म॒त्रा दु॒र्हणा॑वाँ॒ उप॑ द्व॒युः ॥

Let the sin itself consume and wholly destroy that sinner, evil designer, maligner, mortal enemy of humanity who is a treacherous double dealer and seeks to destroy us.

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8.18.15

पा॒क॒त्रा स्थ॑न देवा हृ॒त्सु जा॑नीथ॒ मर्त्य॑म् । उप॑ द्व॒युं चाद्व॑युं च वसवः ॥

O Vasus, brilliant and benevolent providers of peace and settlement for humanity, stand by those who are simple, honest and innocent. In your heart of hearts you know the nature and character of mortal humanity and closely discriminate between the double dealer and the person who is not a double dealer. Stand by the pure at heart, we pray.

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8.18.16

आ शर्म॒ पर्व॑ताना॒मोतापां वृ॑णीमहे । द्यावा॑क्षामा॒रे अ॒स्मद्रप॑स्कृतम् ॥

We pray for the peace and protection of the mountains and the clouds. We pray for the peace and protection of the running waters. May heaven and earth, divine intelligence and holy mother, keep off sin and evil, suffering and disease from us. (Our choice and prayer is freedom from sin and suffering.)

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8.18.17

ते नो॑ भ॒द्रेण॒ शर्म॑णा यु॒ष्माकं॑ ना॒वा व॑सवः । अति॒ विश्वा॑नि दुरि॒ता पि॑पर्तन ॥

O Vasus, providers of settlement, peace and joy, Adityas, holy powers of light and life in nature and humanity, we pray, be our guides and pilots and, by your saving ark of life and destiny, lead us over the sins and sufferings of the world with the peace and felicity of the life divine.

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8.18.18

तु॒चे तना॑य॒ तत्सु नो॒ द्राघी॑य॒ आयु॑र्जी॒वसे॑ । आदि॑त्यासः सुमहसः कृ॒णोत॑न ॥

O Adityas, refulgent lords of light and mighty masters of life giving energies, for the joyous living and longevity of our children and their off-spring, create and bring the holy gift of good health and long life of peace and felicity.

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8.18.19

य॒ज्ञो ही॒ळो वो॒ अन्त॑र॒ आदि॑त्या॒ अस्ति॑ मृ॒ळत॑ । यु॒ष्मे इद्वो॒ अपि॑ ष्मसि सजा॒त्ये॑ ॥

O Adityas, mighty masters of refulgence and teachers of the secrets of good health and long life of felicity, the yajna, holy act of creativity, is your love and inward inspiration. That act we have performed close to you. Pray know, appreciate and be kind and happy with us. We are yours, we abide in your light, and we are of the same order of humanity as you, one with you.

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8.18.20

बृ॒हद्वरू॑थं म॒रुतां॑ दे॒वं त्रा॒तार॑म॒श्विना॑ । मि॒त्रमी॑महे॒ वरु॑णं स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

For the sake of a long life of peace and felicity, we approach the brilliant and benevolent lord of the winds of life and life’s energy, the protective and saviour forces of life, the Ashvins, complementary forces of the dynamics of development, Mitra, powers of love and friendship, and Varuna, powers of judgement and justice, all in nature as well as in humanity, we pray for inspiration and enact as a holy performance of yajna a vast home of peace and freedom for humanity on the earth and her environment.

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8.18.21

अ॒ने॒हो मि॑त्रार्यमन्नृ॒वद्व॑रुण॒ शंस्य॑म् । त्रि॒वरू॑थं मरुतो यन्त नश्छ॒र्दिः ॥

O Mitra, powers of universal love and friendship, Aryaman, guides and pioneers of humanity, and Varuna, powers of universal judgement and justice, and all ye peoples of the world, unite, create and give us a happy home on earth blest with threefold freedom from ignorance and darkness, injustice and violence, and poverty and inequality, admirable as free from sin and evil and the scourge of fear and terror

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8.18.22

ये चि॒द्धि मृ॒त्युब॑न्धव॒ आदि॑त्या॒ मन॑वः॒ स्मसि॑ । प्र सू न॒ आयु॑र्जी॒वसे॑ तिरेतन ॥

O Adityas, powers of light and life, givers of enlightenment, human as we are, all kindred of the fact of death, pray give us the longest span of life for the joy of living and then help us cross over to the life beyond death.

✦ Sukta 19 · 37 verses ✦

8.19.1

तं गू॑र्धया॒ स्व॑र्णरं दे॒वासो॑ दे॒वम॑र॒तिं द॑धन्विरे । दे॒व॒त्रा ह॒व्यमोहि॑रे ॥

Praise the self-refulgent lord giver of heavenly bliss whom the divinities of light and enlightenment hold and reflect in all his glory, Agni, the lord adorable, all pervasive yet uninvolved, whom the noble and learned people perceive, realise and worship as the one worthy of worship.

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8.19.2

विभू॑तरातिं विप्र चि॒त्रशो॑चिषम॒ग्निमी॑ळिष्व य॒न्तुर॑म् । अ॒स्य मेध॑स्य सो॒म्यस्य॑ सोभरे॒ प्रेम॑ध्व॒राय॒ पूर्व्य॑म् ॥

O vibrant scholar, worship Agni, lord of light and enlightenment, infinitely giving, awfully wondrous and self-refulgent, and the sole leader and controller of the world. Worship Him, the lord eternal, O generous man, in order that you may participate in this yajnic system of the lord’s universe which is full of love without violence and overflows with the blissful joy of soma, an inspiring invitation to live and act as the child of divinity.

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8.19.3

यजि॑ष्ठं त्वा ववृमहे दे॒वं दे॑व॒त्रा होता॑र॒मम॑र्त्यम् । अ॒स्य य॒ज्ञस्य॑ सु॒क्रतु॑म् ॥

We choose to worship you, Agni, most adorable, worthy of worship, self-refulgent lord over the divinities of existence, imperishable and eternal creator of the yajna of this universal order of the world.

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8.19.4

ऊ॒र्जो नपा॑तं सु॒भगं॑ सु॒दीदि॑तिम॒ग्निं श्रेष्ठ॑शोचिषम् । स नो॑ मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ सो अ॒पामा सु॒म्नं य॑क्षते दि॒वि ॥

We worship Agni, protector and promoter of energy and men of energy, lord of grandeur and glory and the holy refulgence of nature that shines bright with the highest flames of fire and light. In the light and fire of cosmic yajna, He is the giver of joy in the light of day and the bliss of peace in the night, and He is the giver of the nectar of pleasure in the liquid flow of water and the dynamics of karmic flow.

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8.19.5

यः स॒मिधा॒ य आहु॑ती॒ यो वेदे॑न द॒दाश॒ मर्तो॑ अ॒ग्नये॑ । यो नम॑सा स्वध्व॒रः ॥

The mortal man who performs yajna, creative activity without violence, and offers homage by giving in honour of Agni with holy fuel or with havi in ghrta and fragrant materials with the chant of Vedic verses enjoys the peace and bliss of life day and night.

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8.19.6

तस्येदर्व॑न्तो रंहयन्त आ॒शव॒स्तस्य॑ द्यु॒म्नित॑मं॒ यशः॑ । न तमंहो॑ दे॒वकृ॑तं॒ कुत॑श्च॒न न मर्त्य॑कृतं नशत् ॥

His horses speed on at the fastest and hasten him to victory. His honour and fame shine the brightest. Whatever he does in honour of the divinities or in service to mortal humanity, sin and pride never touch him nor does it pollute his action.

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8.19.7

स्व॒ग्नयो॑ वो अ॒ग्निभिः॒ स्याम॑ सूनो सहस ऊर्जां पते । सु॒वीर॒स्त्वम॑स्म॒युः ॥

O lord creator of energy and master controller of strength and power, let us, by yajnic experimentations of various forms of heat and light, all your gifts, be masters of fire energies and light radiations. You are the bravest holy power. Pray be ours, close to us as master giver and power divine.

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8.19.8

प्र॒शंस॑मानो॒ अति॑थि॒र्न मि॒त्रियो॒ऽग्नी रथो॒ न वेद्यः॑ । त्वे क्षेमा॑सो॒ अपि॑ सन्ति सा॒धव॒स्त्वं राजा॑ रयी॒णाम् ॥

Agni is worthy of praise and admiration as a friendly guest of honour and worthy to be known as a saviour like a chariot leading to cherished destinations. Abiding in you and strengthened by you, O lord, dedicated practitioners rise to be men of perfect success in peace and bliss since you are the ruler and controller of all forms of the wealth of existence.

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8.19.9

सो अ॒द्धा दा॒श्व॑ध्व॒रोऽग्ने॒ मर्तः॑ सुभग॒ स प्र॒शंस्यः॑ । स धी॒भिर॑स्तु॒ सनि॑ता ॥

O lord of universal wealth and grandeur, Agni, we pray, may the mortal come to sure success and good fortune who gives in charity and performs acts of yajnic creativity with love and without violence. May such a man be worthy of praise and appreciation with holy acts of intelligence and may he be rich in acquisitions and liberal in dispensations of charity.

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8.19.10

यस्य॒ त्वमू॒र्ध्वो अ॑ध्व॒राय॒ तिष्ठ॑सि क्ष॒यद्वी॑रः॒ स सा॑धते । सो अर्व॑द्भिः॒ सनि॑ता॒ स वि॑प॒न्युभिः॒ स शूरैः॒ सनि॑ता कृ॒तम् ॥

The man for whose acts of yajna you rise high and stay constant is blest with brave progeny and achieves all round success in life. He is blest with horses and incoming wealth and honour. Surrounded by the wise, he is blest with praise and high appreciation. Supported by the brave, he achieves fulfilment in whatever he does and whatever he wants to do.

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8.19.11

यस्या॒ग्निर्वपु॑र्गृ॒हे स्तोमं॒ चनो॒ दधी॑त वि॒श्ववा॑र्यः । ह॒व्या वा॒ वेवि॑ष॒द्विषः॑ ॥

Blest is the man in whose house Agni, lord of universal acceptance with faith and reverence, through the divine fire form of yajna, receives oblations of holy food and Vedic songs of praise and the fire sends up yajnic food to nature’s divinities. He achieves total fulfilment in every field of life through the bounties of divine nature.

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8.19.12

विप्र॑स्य वा स्तुव॒तः स॑हसो यहो म॒क्षूत॑मस्य रा॒तिषु॑ । अ॒वोदे॑वमु॒परि॑मर्त्यं कृधि॒ वसो॑ विवि॒दुषो॒ वचः॑ ॥

And O child of strength born of yajnic endeavour and sustainer of vitality in human affairs, O Vasu, all pervasive divine fire, living shelter of all, convert the song of the vibrant scholar celebrant to super mortal prayer and raise it to reach the heights of divinity.

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8.19.13

यो अ॒ग्निं ह॒व्यदा॑तिभि॒र्नमो॑भिर्वा सु॒दक्ष॑मा॒विवा॑सति । गि॒रा वा॑जि॒रशो॑चिषम् ॥

One who lights the versatile yajnic fire and thereby whole heartedly serves the fire divine of imperishable flames with oblations of sacred havis, reverence and holy words of prayer never falls, never fails in life.

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8.19.14

स॒मिधा॒ यो निशि॑ती॒ दाश॒ददि॑तिं॒ धाम॑भिरस्य॒ मर्त्यः॑ । विश्वेत्स धी॒भिः सु॒भगो॒ जनाँ॒ अति॑ द्यु॒म्नैरु॒द्न इ॑व तारिषत् ॥

The mortal who serves Aditi, immortal fire of mother Infinity, with blazing fuel within the radiance of its own laws is blest with the wealth and splendour of all orders of intelligence, honour and fame and surpasses all people of the other order like a captain on the helm crossing the stormy seas.

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8.19.15

तद॑ग्ने द्यु॒म्नमा भ॑र॒ यत्सा॒सह॒त्सद॑ने॒ कं चि॑द॒त्रिण॑म् । म॒न्युं जन॑स्य दू॒ढ्यः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, give us that splendour of spirit and intelligence which may challenge and overcome any voracious friend at the door, in the heart and home, and counter the wealth of any evil minded person anywhere in life.

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8.19.16

येन॒ चष्टे॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा येन॒ नास॑त्या॒ भगः॑ । व॒यं तत्ते॒ शव॑सा गातु॒वित्त॑मा॒ इन्द्र॑त्वोता विधेमहि ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, we worship, pray for and try to acquire that light of vision and discrimination of intelligence of yours by which Varuna, man of judgement and justice, Mitra, man of love and friendship, Aryaman, guide and pioneer of society, the Ashvins, complementary agents of development and progress, and Bhaga, man of power, fame and honour, envision things in unison, discriminate right from wrong, and declare for all to see and follow the right so that thereby, O Indra, ruling lord and power version of Agni, we all, most keen to know the paths of progress and follow them, may advance with the power of our will and knowledge under your guidance and protection.

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8.19.17

ते घेद॑ग्ने स्वा॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ ये त्वा॑ विप्र निदधि॒रे नृ॒चक्ष॑सम् । विप्रा॑सो देव सु॒क्रतु॑म् ॥

Agni, self-refulgent lord of life, vibrant presence of the universe, surely they are the wise and holy men and they are the blessed men of noble thought and study worthy of reverence who hold on to the light of your presence in the heart and meditate on the presence as the lord observant of humanity and as the high priest of the cosmic yajna.

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8.19.18

त इद्वेदिं॑ सुभग॒ त आहु॑तिं॒ ते सोतुं॑ चक्रिरे दि॒वि । त इद्वाजे॑भिर्जिग्युर्म॒हद्धनं॒ ये त्वे कामं॑ न्येरि॒रे ॥

Lord of glory and divine grace, Agni, they alone in reality organise the yajna vedi, they really offer the oblations into the sacred fire, they in truth endeavour to distil the soma of joy in the light of divinity, they in ultimate terms win the wealth of life by their struggle of life, who concentrate their hopes and ambitions in you and attribute and dedicate all their success, honour and fame to you.

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8.19.19

भ॒द्रो नो॑ अ॒ग्निराहु॑तो भ॒द्रा रा॒तिः सु॑भग भ॒द्रो अ॑ध्व॒रः । भ॒द्रा उ॒त प्रश॑स्तयः ॥

Lord of beauty and glory, may the yajna fire with offers of oblations be auspicious for us. May our charity be auspicious. May our yajna and all other acts of kindness and love free from violence be auspicious. And may all the appreciation and praise of our acts and behaviour be auspicious and fruitful.

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8.19.20

भ॒द्रं मनः॑ कृणुष्व वृत्र॒तूर्ये॒ येना॑ स॒मत्सु॑ सा॒सहः॑ । अव॑ स्थि॒रा त॑नुहि॒ भूरि॒ शर्ध॑तां व॒नेमा॑ ते अ॒भिष्टि॑भिः ॥

Agni, leading light of life, turn the mind by which you challenge the adversary in battles and win for us to gracious goodness in the victory over the forces of darkness. Reduce the many strongholds of the violent adversaries to nullity so that by your kindness and favours we may win what we desire in peace.

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8.19.21

ईळे॑ गि॒रा मनु॑र्हितं॒ यं दे॒वा दू॒तम॑र॒तिं न्ये॑रि॒रे । यजि॑ष्ठं हव्य॒वाह॑नम् ॥

With words of praise I celebrate Agni, sacred fire energy, benefactor of humanity whom brilliant scholars honour and elevate as messenger, speedy ministrant, most valuable and adorable, and bearer of oblations to the divinities of nature.

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8.19.22

ति॒ग्मज॑म्भाय॒ तरु॑णाय॒ राज॑ते॒ प्रयो॑ गायस्य॒ग्नये॑ । यः पिं॒शते॑ सू॒नृता॑भिः सु॒वीर्य॑म॒ग्निर्घृ॒तेभि॒राहु॑तः ॥

O yajaka, you sing and celebrate Agni and offer libations of holy food to the flaming, ever youthful and brilliant fire of yajna which, when fed on ghrta and sung in sacred song, gives you strength and vigour in return for the homage.

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8.19.23

यदी॑ घृ॒तेभि॒राहु॑तो॒ वाशी॑म॒ग्निर्भर॑त॒ उच्चाव॑ च । असु॑र इव नि॒र्णिज॑म् ॥

When the fire of yajna fed on ghrta rises in flames with a crackle up and down, then it displays its form and power like an earthly version of the sun radiating its light.

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8.19.24

यो ह॒व्यान्यैर॑यता॒ मनु॑र्हितो दे॒व आ॒सा सु॑ग॒न्धिना॑ । विवा॑सते॒ वार्या॑णि स्वध्व॒रो होता॑ दे॒वो अम॑र्त्यः ॥

Agni is the divine power which receives and carries the holy materials to the divinities by its fragrant vedi-mouth of fire. It is the benefactor of humanity and gives the choicest good things to all. It is the agent of good action and illuminator of the paths of piety. It is the high priest of universal yajna and an immortal divine power.

· · ·

8.19.25

यद॑ग्ने॒ मर्त्य॒स्त्वं स्याम॒हं मि॑त्रमहो॒ अम॑र्त्यः । सह॑सः सूनवाहुत ॥

Agni, light and life of the world, child of omnipotence and creator of the mighty cosmos, mortal as I am, if I could worship you and were to become like you, I too would be an immortal, great adorable friend of the world of existence.

· · ·

8.19.26

न त्वा॑ रासीया॒भिश॑स्तये वसो॒ न पा॑प॒त्वाय॑ सन्त्य । न मे॑ स्तो॒ताम॑ती॒वा न दुर्हि॑तः॒ स्याद॑ग्ने॒ न पा॒पया॑ ॥

Agni, light of life, haven and home of humanity, let me not worship you for the sake of something despicable. Lord adorable, nor must I pray to you for something evil. Let not my own admirer, say my son or my disciple, be stupid and dull, nor malignant, nor sinful.

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8.19.27

पि॒तुर्न पु॒त्रः सुभृ॑तो दुरो॒ण आ दे॒वाँ ए॑तु॒ प्र णो॑ ह॒विः ॥

Just as the son is cherished in the father’s home and then the son looks after the parents, similarly Agni is cherished in the house of yajna and may Agni carry our oblations to the divinities.

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8.19.28

तवा॒हम॑ग्न ऊ॒तिभि॒र्नेदि॑ष्ठाभिः सचेय॒ जोष॒मा व॑सो । सदा॑ दे॒वस्य॒ मर्त्यः॑ ॥

Agni, light of life all pervasive, shelter home of humanity, mortal as I am, I pray, may I, by the closest protections of the power divine always enjoy the love and favour of the lord.

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8.19.29

तव॒ क्रत्वा॑ सनेयं॒ तव॑ रा॒तिभि॒रग्ने॒ तव॒ प्रश॑स्तिभिः । त्वामिदा॑हुः॒ प्रम॑तिं वसो॒ ममाग्ने॒ हर्ष॑स्व॒ दात॑वे ॥

By virtue of your mercy and grace, let me love you with yajnic life of holy action. By virtue of your acceptance, appreciation and generosity, let me serve you with all that you have given me. The wise say that you are the wisest, most high, and foremost leader and guide, O shelter of humanity. O lord, be pleased and generous to bless me that I may offer and sing praises in honour of your glory.

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8.19.30

प्र सो अ॑ग्ने॒ तवो॒तिभिः॑ सु॒वीरा॑भिस्तिरते॒ वाज॑भर्मभिः । यस्य॒ त्वं स॒ख्यमा॒वरः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of universal love and friendship, he whose love and friendship, devotion and dedication, you accept into your kind care thrives under your protection and promotion and advances in life with noble and heroic progeny, moving from victory to glory.

· · ·

8.19.31

तव॑ द्र॒प्सो नील॑वान्वा॒श ऋ॒त्विय॒ इन्धा॑नः सिष्ण॒वा द॑दे । त्वं म॑ही॒नामु॒षसा॑मसि प्रि॒यः क्ष॒पो वस्तु॑षु राजसि ॥

Agni, giver of the showers of joy in life, the world of your creation flows on like drops of soma from the press, colourful, crackling voluble, exciting and fresh through the seasons, bright and beautiful, passionately lovable. You are darling of the glory of dawns and you shine ever in the glimmerings of the dusk and reflect in the ripples of water.

· · ·

8.19.32

तमाग॑न्म॒ सोभ॑रयः स॒हस्र॑मुष्कं स्वभि॒ष्टिमव॑से । स॒म्राजं॒ त्रास॑दस्यवम् ॥

Blest with wealth and knowledge and bearing gifts of homage, for ultimate protection and further advancement, we have come to the lord almighty of a thousand forces of light and arms, object of universal love and adoration, blazing ruler of the universe and a scourge of the evil destroyers.

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8.19.33

यस्य॑ ते अग्ने अ॒न्ये अ॒ग्नय॑ उप॒क्षितो॑ व॒या इ॑व । विपो॒ न द्यु॒म्ना नि यु॑वे॒ जना॑नां॒ तव॑ क्ष॒त्राणि॑ व॒र्धय॑न् ॥

Of you, Agni, lord and light of the universe, on whom do other lights such as the sun depend like branches of the tree, I sing like a poet and, celebrating your ruling orders of the people, I enjoy the honour and pleasures of the world of your creation.

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8.19.34

यमा॑दित्यासो अद्रुहः पा॒रं नय॑थ॒ मर्त्य॑म् । म॒घोनां॒ विश्वे॑षां सुदानवः ॥

O Adityas, generous givers of light and life free from malice and jealousy, of all the people of wealth, honour and power, whoever the mortal you guide and lead across the world of karma and consequence, he is the man of good fortune.

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8.19.35

यू॒यं रा॑जानः॒ कं चि॑च्चर्षणीसहः॒ क्षय॑न्तं॒ मानु॑षाँ॒ अनु॑ । व॒यं ते वो॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्रार्य॑म॒न्त्स्यामेदृ॒तस्य॑ र॒थ्यः॑ ॥

Adityas, powers and givers of light and justice, rulers of the bright order over people, punish whoever does evil and violence toward the law abiding citizens. O Vauna, ruling power of judgement and justice, Mitra, men of love and friendship, and Aryaman, guides and pioneers of the nation, let us be cooperative participants to take over the reins of your law and order of the truth and justice of your vision.

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8.19.36

अदा॑न्मे पौरुकु॒त्स्यः प॑ञ्चा॒शतं॑ त्र॒सद॑स्युर्व॒धूना॑म् । मंहि॑ष्ठो अ॒र्यः सत्प॑तिः ॥

May the lord sustainer of all life and destroyer of negativities, protector against the wicked, most liberal, most respectable defender of truth and goodness, I pray, bless us with many manly sons in the family and give them all noble wives.

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8.19.37

उ॒त मे॑ प्र॒यियो॑र्व॒यियोः॑ सु॒वास्त्वा॒ अधि॒ तुग्व॑नि । ति॒सॄ॒णां स॑प्तती॒नां श्या॒वः प्र॑णे॒ता भु॑व॒द्वसु॒र्दिया॑नां॒ पतिः॑ ॥

May the lord omnipresent, master ruler of all moving things and the three worlds, supporter of all liberal people, be my ultimate guide, inspiration, and abode at the end of my life of karma, moving as I am towards him with concentration on good things in thought and action.

✦ Sukta 20 · 26 verses ✦

8.20.1

आ ग॑न्ता॒ मा रि॑षण्यत॒ प्रस्था॑वानो॒ माप॑ स्थाता समन्यवः । स्थि॒रा चि॑न्नमयिष्णवः ॥

Come Maruts, warriors of nature and humanity. Do not hurt nor destroy the innocent. Already on the move as ever, pray do not tarry any more far away. Heroes of equal passion, will and desire to accomplish your mission, you can bend even the firmest forces of violence and bring them to reason.

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8.20.2

वी॒ळु॒प॒विभि॑र्मरुत ऋभुक्षण॒ आ रु॑द्रासः सुदी॒तिभिः॑ । इ॒षा नो॑ अ॒द्या ग॑ता पुरुस्पृहो य॒ज्ञमा सो॑भरी॒यवः॑ ॥

Mighty leaders of will and intelligence, lovers and protectors of the good, destroyers of want and suffering, honoured and invoked by all, come right now at the fastest by blazing chariots of the strongest wheel with forces of thunder and join our yajnic programme of creation and development with abundant food and energy

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8.20.3

वि॒द्मा हि रु॒द्रिया॑णां॒ शुष्म॑मु॒ग्रं म॒रुतां॒ शिमी॑वताम् । विष्णो॑रे॒षस्य॑ मी॒ळ्हुषा॑म् ॥

We know the virile Maruts dedicated to peace and justice against violence and injustice. They are harbingers of rain showers of plenty as participative agents of the cosmic will working in the dynamics of nature and humanity.

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8.20.4

वि द्वी॒पानि॒ पाप॑त॒न्तिष्ठ॑द्दु॒च्छुनो॒भे यु॑जन्त॒ रोद॑सी । प्र धन्वा॑न्यैरत शुभ्रखादयो॒ यदेज॑थ स्वभानवः ॥

O self-refulgent Maruts, when you in your blazing armour stir and move, islands sink at their banks, the evil stand still, both heaven and earth shake and the deserts rage with flying sands.

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8.20.5

अच्यु॑ता चिद्वो॒ अज्म॒न्ना नान॑दति॒ पर्व॑तासो॒ वन॒स्पतिः॑ । भूमि॒र्यामे॑षु रेजते ॥

At your move to battle, fixed mountains roar, ancient trees crack and crackle, and the earth shakes under the force of your pressure.

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8.20.6

अमा॑य वो मरुतो॒ यात॑वे॒ द्यौर्जिही॑त॒ उत्त॑रा बृ॒हत् । यत्रा॒ नरो॒ देदि॑शते त॒नूष्वा त्वक्षां॑सि बा॒ह्वो॑जसः ॥

O Maruts, for the expansion of your force and power on the march, the vast skies give way farther and farther as the heroes of mighty arm put on and display their armour on their person.

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8.20.7

स्व॒धामनु॒ श्रियं॒ नरो॒ महि॑ त्वे॒षा अम॑वन्तो॒ वृष॑प्सवः । वह॑न्ते॒ अह्रु॑तप्सवः ॥

These mighty heroes, blazing bright in magnificence, commanding force and power of excellence, generous with moral rectitude, far from crookedness and unshakably upright in conduct, wear and express the grace of culture and behaviour in keeping with their innate merit and dedication to the defence of mother earth and her children.

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8.20.8

गोभि॑र्वा॒णो अ॑ज्यते॒ सोभ॑रीणां॒ रथे॒ कोशे॑ हिर॒ण्यये॑ । गोब॑न्धवः सुजा॒तास॑ इ॒षे भु॒जे म॒हान्तो॑ नः॒ स्पर॑से॒ नु ॥

The missile of these protectors, sustainers and defenders of the earth is shot by the force of sounds in the golden interior of the carrier chariot. May these heroes, friends of the earth, nobly born and trained, great and glorious, stand for our maintenance, food and energy, comfort, love and cooperation.

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8.20.9

प्रति॑ वो वृषदञ्जयो॒ वृष्णे॒ शर्धा॑य॒ मारु॑ताय भरध्वम् । ह॒व्या वृष॑प्रयाव्णे ॥

O generous yajakas, makers of soma, bear and bring homage in thankful response to the generous and mighty force of the Maruts led on the march by a great and formidable generous commander.

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8.20.10

वृ॒ष॒ण॒श्वेन॑ मरुतो॒ वृष॑प्सुना॒ रथे॑न॒ वृष॑नाभिना । आ श्ये॒नासो॒ न प॒क्षिणो॒ वृथा॑ नरो ह॒व्या नो॑ वी॒तये॑ गत ॥

O Maruts, stormy troops of nature and leading warriors of the human nation, come freely like the mighty high flying eagle birds and bring us holy yajnic inputs for development and human progress for our protection and advancement by your strongly built chariot drawn by mighty forces, bearing loads of riches in generous plenty for our spiritual and material well being.

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8.20.11

स॒मा॒नम॒ञ्ज्ये॑षां॒ वि भ्रा॑जन्ते रु॒क्मासो॒ अधि॑ बा॒हुषु॑ । दवि॑द्युतत्यृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

The turn out, uniform and movement of these Maruts is steady and alike. So are their golden badges on the shoulders, and their weapons too shine uniformly in their hands.

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8.20.12

त उ॒ग्रासो॒ वृष॑ण उ॒ग्रबा॑हवो॒ नकि॑ष्ट॒नूषु॑ येतिरे । स्थि॒रा धन्वा॒न्यायु॑धा॒ रथे॑षु॒ वोऽनी॑के॒ष्वधि॒ श्रियः॑ ॥

Bold and fearsome are they, vigorous and generous, strong of arm, so that they don’t have to exert to defend their bodies and battle formations. Their arms and ammunitions are safe and strong, ready in position in their chariots, and in their battles they come out victorious with credit and admiration.

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8.20.13

येषा॒मर्णो॒ न स॒प्रथो॒ नाम॑ त्वे॒षं शश्व॑ता॒मेक॒मिद्भु॒जे । वयो॒ न पित्र्यं॒ सहः॑ ॥

Ever ready and on the move without relent, their name and fame is unique, wide as the sea and expansive. So is their courage and patience to be enjoyed like ancestral heritage.

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8.20.14

तान्व॑न्दस्व म॒रुत॒स्ताँ उप॑ स्तुहि॒ तेषां॒ हि धुनी॑नाम् । अ॒राणां॒ न च॑र॒मस्तदे॑षां दा॒ना म॒ह्ना तदे॑षाम् ॥

Honour the Maruts, celebrate them all closely and fervently. As the spokes of the wheel are all equal, so all of these shakers of the evil and the wicked are equal, none is the highest, none the lowest. Hence also the gifts of protection and security of all of them are equally great.

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8.20.15

सु॒भगः॒ स व॑ ऊ॒तिष्वास॒ पूर्वा॑सु मरुतो॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु । यो वा॑ नू॒नमु॒तास॑ति ॥

Fortunate is that man, and prospers, O Maruts, who has been under your care and protection since early dawns and who for sure remains under your care for now and all time.

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8.20.16

यस्य॑ वा यू॒यं प्रति॑ वा॒जिनो॑ नर॒ आ ह॒व्या वी॒तये॑ ग॒थ । अ॒भि ष द्यु॒म्नैरु॒त वाज॑सातिभिः सु॒म्ना वो॑ धूतयो नशत् ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of life, movers and shakers of negativities and opposition, whoever the man with yajnic gift when you approach to protect and partake of his offerings, is blest with peace and comfort and he prospers with honour and fame and wins victories in the battles for food, energy and wealth with prestige.

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8.20.17

यथा॑ रु॒द्रस्य॑ सू॒नवो॑ दि॒वो वश॒न्त्यसु॑रस्य वे॒धसः॑ । युवा॑न॒स्तथेद॑सत् ॥

As the Maruts, youthful children of Rudra, cosmic justice, light divine and universal life-giving intelligence, would wish, so may it be with us and all.

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8.20.18

ये चार्ह॑न्ति म॒रुतः॑ सु॒दान॑वः॒ स्मन्मी॒ळ्हुष॒श्चर॑न्ति॒ ये । अत॑श्चि॒दा न॒ उप॒ वस्य॑सा हृ॒दा युवा॑न॒ आ व॑वृध्वम् ॥

There are those people who honour the virile and generous Maruts, warriors and rain bearers of the nation. There are also those generous and charitable people who act and conduct themselves according to the Maruts’ good wishes. For this reason, O youthful heroes, come and promote us with a very liberal and sympathetic heart as your own.

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8.20.19

यून॑ ऊ॒ षु नवि॑ष्ठया॒ वृष्णः॑ पाव॒काँ अ॒भि सो॑भरे गि॒रा । गाय॒ गा इ॑व॒ चर्कृ॑षत् ॥

As a farmer yokes and exhorts his bulls while ploughing the land, so should you, O manager of the nation, appreciate and celebrate the youthful, virile, generous and purifying Maruts, exhorting them with exciting words of latest praise and commendation.

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8.20.20

सा॒हा ये सन्ति॑ मुष्टि॒हेव॒ हव्यो॒ विश्वा॑सु पृ॒त्सु होतृ॑षु । वृष्ण॑श्च॒न्द्रान्न सु॒श्रव॑स्तमान्गि॒रा वन्द॑स्व म॒रुतो॒ अह॑ ॥

Those who accept challenges of hostile and formidable forces in battles of the human nation in the world and, like a veteran celebrated boxer, repulse the challengers and win, those virile Maruts, generous as cloud bearing winds, handsome as the golden moon, and most reputed in humanity, O poet, sing and celebrate in spontaneous and most exciting words and voice.

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8.20.21

गाव॑श्चिद्घा समन्यवः सजा॒त्ये॑न मरुतः॒ सब॑न्धवः । रि॒ह॒ते क॒कुभो॑ मि॒थः ॥

O Maruts, heroes of equal mind bound in brotherhood, even cows, by virtue of the same species sit together and love each other under your kind care even though they may be moving around in different directions.

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8.20.22

मर्त॑श्चिद्वो नृतवो रुक्मवक्षस॒ उप॑ भ्रातृ॒त्वमाय॑ति । अधि॑ नो गात मरुतः॒ सदा॒ हि व॑ आपि॒त्वमस्ति॒ निध्रु॑वि ॥

Mortals too, O Maruts, singing and dancing celebrants of life wearing golden corselet on the chest, come to realise their kindred unity under your kind care and direction. Sing and speak to us over and above us since our brotherhood with you is always inviolable.

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8.20.23

मरु॑तो॒ मारु॑तस्य न॒ आ भे॑ष॒जस्य॑ वहता सुदानवः । यू॒यं स॑खायः सप्तयः ॥

O Maruts, sojourners of lands and skies, moving in formations of seven coursers, noble and generous friends of the community, bring in for us medicaments of the air for our health and environment.

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8.20.24

याभिः॒ सिन्धु॒मव॑थ॒ याभि॒स्तूर्व॑थ॒ याभि॑र्दश॒स्यथा॒ क्रिवि॑म् । मयो॑ नो भूतो॒तिभि॑र्मयोभुवः शि॒वाभि॑रसचद्विषः ॥

O heroes of lands and seas and skies, free from hate, jealousy and enmity, bring us that tactic and policy and modes of defence and protection by which you guard the sea, repulse encroachment, and dig and construct tanks and wells and give them to people. O heroes of peace and well-being, be good and kind with safeguards of all type, safe guards and defences of auspicious and benevolent kind.

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8.20.25

यत्सिन्धौ॒ यदसि॑क्न्यां॒ यत्स॑मु॒द्रेषु॑ मरुतः सुबर्हिषः । यत्पर्व॑तेषु भेष॒जम् ॥

O Maruts, who sit on the holy seat of yajna, bring us the sanatives and medicaments that are in the rivers and the seas, in the darkness of caves, in the oceans and on the mountains.

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8.20.26

विश्वं॒ पश्य॑न्तो बिभृथा त॒नूष्वा तेना॑ नो॒ अधि॑ वोचत । क्ष॒मा रपो॑ मरुत॒ आतु॑रस्य न॒ इष्क॑र्ता॒ विह्रु॑तं॒ पुनः॑ ॥

O Maruts, you watch the world and all that it contains. You bear and bring all that knowledge and competence on your person, and with that pray, bless our physical body system and our body politic. By virtue of that knowledge and experience speak to us. O heroes of nature and humanity, cure the weakness, sin and suffering of our sick and restore to full health and efficiency whatever is broken and lost.

✦ Sukta 21 · 18 verses ✦

8.21.1

व॒यमु॒ त्वाम॑पूर्व्य स्थू॒रं न कच्चि॒द्भर॑न्तोऽव॒स्यवः॑ । वाजे॑ चि॒त्रं ह॑वामहे ॥

O lord sublime, eternal, first and most excellent, we, bearing almost nothing substantial but praying for protection and advancement, invoke you in our battle of life for food, energy, knowledge and ultimate victory.

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8.21.2

उप॑ त्वा॒ कर्म॑न्नू॒तये॒ स नो॒ युवो॒ग्रश्च॑क्राम॒ यो धृ॒षत् । त्वामिद्ध्य॑वि॒तारं॑ ववृ॒महे॒ सखा॑य इन्द्र सान॒सिम् ॥

We approach you for protection and success in every undertaking. O lord youthful and blazing brave who can challenge and subdue any difficulty, pray come to our help. Indra, friends and admirers of yours, we depend on you alone as our sole saviour and victorious lord and choose to pray to you only as the lord supreme.

· · ·

8.21.3

आ या॑ही॒म इन्द॒वोऽश्व॑पते॒ गोप॑त॒ उर्व॑रापते । सोमं॑ सोमपते पिब ॥

Come lord of cows, horses and fertile lands, giver and protector of the nation and its glory, knowledge and wisdom and our creative activities, the somas of our success are for you to appreciate. O lord of life and life’s joy of soma, come and join the ecstasy of our achievement and its celebration.

· · ·

8.21.4

व॒यं हि त्वा॒ बन्धु॑मन्तमब॒न्धवो॒ विप्रा॑स इन्द्र येमि॒म । या ते॒ धामा॑नि वृषभ॒ तेभि॒रा ग॑हि॒ विश्वे॑भिः॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Bereft of any permanent brotherhood in mortal humanity, we are drawn by ourselves to you, enlightened as we are and universal brother as you are in kinship divine. O lord of universal vigour and generosity, with all the world regions you command, come with the glory of all those worlds, join our soma celebrations, accept our devotion and protect this social order.

· · ·

8.21.5

सीद॑न्तस्ते॒ वयो॑ यथा॒ गोश्री॑ते॒ मधौ॑ मदि॒रे वि॒वक्ष॑णे । अ॒भि त्वामि॑न्द्र नोनुमः ॥

Nestled like birds in the nest, in your exuberant, exciting, honey sweet yajnic world of light and joy overflowing with delicacies of food and drink, we bow to you and worship you in thankfulness.

· · ·

8.21.6

अच्छा॑ च त्वै॒ना नम॑सा॒ वदा॑मसि॒ किं मुहु॑श्चि॒द्वि दी॑धयः । सन्ति॒ कामा॑सो हरिवो द॒दिष्ट्वं स्मो व॒यं सन्ति॑ नो॒ धियः॑ ॥

Profusely with this salutation and homage, we honour and praise you and pray to you again and again. Why do you hesitate, in thought? O lord of the moving world, we have our desires and ambitions. You are the giver of fulfilment. We are here, our prayers are here, and we are yours. We have our thoughts and intelligence too, hence we pray: Grant our prayers without delay.

· · ·

8.21.7

नूत्ना॒ इदि॑न्द्र ते व॒यमू॒ती अ॑भूम न॒हि नू ते॑ अद्रिवः । वि॒द्मा पु॒रा परी॑णसः ॥

O lord of the thunderbolt, mountains and the clouds, ruler of the world, Indra, it is not that we are just new to your beneficence, protection and promotion, we have indeed enjoyed and known your wealth and munificence since time immemorial.

· · ·

8.21.8

वि॒द्मा स॑खि॒त्वमु॒त शू॑र भो॒ज्य१॒॑मा ते॒ ता व॑ज्रिन्नीमहे । उ॒तो स॑मस्मि॒न्ना शि॑शीहि नो वसो॒ वाजे॑ सुशिप्र॒ गोम॑ति ॥

O lord of might, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and power, we know and enjoy your love and friendship and your liberal provisions of life’s enjoyment, and the same we solicit of you. And we pray, O lord of the golden helmet, power and knowledge, giver of peace and settlement, establish us in this noble order of lands and cows, food and energy, knowledge and action and the holy life of freedom and happiness.

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8.21.9

यो न॑ इ॒दमि॑दं पु॒रा प्र वस्य॑ आनि॒नाय॒ तमु॑ वः स्तुषे । सखा॑य॒ इन्द्र॑मू॒तये॑ ॥

O friends, for the peace, freedom, progress and protection of you all, I pray to the same Indra, lord almighty, who has provided this beautiful world of joy for us since the very time of creation.

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8.21.10

हर्य॑श्वं॒ सत्प॑तिं चर्षणी॒सहं॒ स हि ष्मा॒ यो अम॑न्दत । आ तु नः॒ स व॑यति॒ गव्य॒मश्व्यं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ म॒घवा॑ श॒तम् ॥

He alone is happy indeed and prospers who glorifies Indra, lord of the moving universe, protector and promoter of truth and reality and ruler and justicier of humanity, who, lord almighty, weaves for us this web of a hundredfold variety of earthly provision and all attainable possibility for the celebrants.

· · ·

8.21.11

त्वया॑ ह स्विद्यु॒जा व॒यं प्रति॑ श्व॒सन्तं॑ वृषभ ब्रुवीमहि । सं॒स्थे जन॑स्य॒ गोम॑तः ॥

By you alone as our friend and comrade, O lord almighty, generous giver, can we counter a gasping contestant in this settled world order of humanity full of lands and cows, blest as we are with the light of knowledge and culture.

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8.21.12

जये॑म का॒रे पु॑रुहूत का॒रिणो॒ऽभि ति॑ष्ठेम दू॒ढ्यः॑ । नृभि॑र्वृ॒त्रं ह॒न्याम॑ शूशु॒याम॒ चावे॑रिन्द्र॒ प्र णो॒ धियः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and light of life, universally invoked, let us win over the violent in the struggle of life, discipline and subject to rule and order the obstinate and intransigent with reason, dispel darkness and destroy evil with the help of the leading lights of society, and thus grow and march forward and higher. O lord, protect and guide our thoughts and actions against temptations to go astray.

· · ·

8.21.13

अ॒भ्रा॒तृ॒व्यो अ॒ना त्वमना॑पिरिन्द्र ज॒नुषा॑ स॒नाद॑सि । यु॒धेदा॑पि॒त्वमि॑च्छसे ॥

Indra, lord of absolute might by nature, since birth of the universe, indeed for eternity, you are without a rival, need no leader, no friend and no comrade, but in the dynamics of human life you do want that the human should be your companion in and for his struggle for self-evolution and social progress.

· · ·

8.21.14

नकी॑ रे॒वन्तं॑ स॒ख्याय॑ विन्दसे॒ पीय॑न्ति ते सुरा॒श्वः॑ । य॒दा कृ॒णोषि॑ नद॒नुं समू॑ह॒स्यादित्पि॒तेव॑ हूयसे ॥

You do not just care to choose the rich for companionship, if they are swollen with drink and pride and violate the rules of divine discipline. But when you attend to the poor and alter their fortune for the better, you are invoked like father with gratitude which the voice of thunder acknowledges and approves.

· · ·

8.21.15

मा ते॑ अमा॒जुरो॑ यथा मू॒रास॑ इन्द्र स॒ख्ये त्वाव॑तः । नि ष॑दाम॒ सचा॑ सु॒ते ॥

Indra, Lord of yajnic evolution and social development, let us not like stupid fools sit at home and grow to age in years, but let us, in enlightened friendship with a power like you, sit on the yajna vedi and grow in knowledge and wisdom.

· · ·

8.21.16

मा ते॑ गोदत्र॒ निर॑राम॒ राध॑स॒ इन्द्र॒ मा ते॑ गृहामहि । दृ॒ळ्हा चि॑द॒र्यः प्र मृ॑शा॒भ्या भ॑र॒ न ते॑ दा॒मान॑ आ॒दभे॑ ॥

Indra, lord giver of lands and cows, knowledge and enlightened culture, let us never fall from your gifts of divine munificence. Let us never take anything from anyone other than you. O lord of the world’s wealth, bear and bring us your gifts of permanent value. No one can ever disturb or stop the flow of your gifts of love and charity to humanity.

· · ·

8.21.17

इन्द्रो॑ वा॒ घेदिय॑न्म॒घं सर॑स्वती वा सु॒भगा॑ द॒दिर्वसु॑ । त्वं वा॑ चित्र दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Is it Indra, ruling power of the mortal world, that gives so much wealth to the man of yajnic charity? Or is it Sarasvati, holy speech, abundant stream and dynamics of nature that gives so much wealth to the charitable humanity? Or is it you, Lord Supreme, sublime mystery of the world of existence, who give so much wealth to the liberal donor?

· · ·

8.21.18

चित्र॒ इद्राजा॑ राज॒का इद॑न्य॒के य॒के सर॑स्वती॒मनु॑ । प॒र्जन्य॑ इव त॒तन॒द्धि वृ॒ष्ट्या स॒हस्र॑म॒युता॒ दद॑त् ॥

The mysterious divine power immanent and transcendent is the supreme ruler and ultimate giver. Other ruling divinities, human rulers or natural forces, flowing speech or rivers or river benefactors in consonance with Sarasvati, are but subservient to the supreme. Just as the cloud soaks the earth all round and over so does the lord of wonder and sublimity give thousands and tens of thousands of wealth to humanity.

✦ Sukta 22 · 18 verses ✦

8.22.1

ओ त्यम॑ह्व॒ आ रथ॑म॒द्या दंसि॑ष्ठमू॒तये॑ । यम॑श्विना सुहवा रुद्रवर्तनी॒ आ सू॒र्यायै॑ त॒स्थथुः॑ ॥

Ah, on this auspicious day I invoke, imagine and structure that most wonderful and versatile chariot for protection and progress which the Ashvins, twin harbingers of the freshness of a new morning, most welcome invitees, would ascend and come by paths of love and justice free from violence for the advancement of life’s light and glory.

· · ·

8.22.2

पू॒र्वा॒युषं॑ सु॒हवं॑ पुरु॒स्पृहं॑ भु॒ज्युं वाजे॑षु॒ पूर्व्य॑म् । स॒च॒नाव॑न्तं सुम॒तिभिः॑ सोभरे॒ विद्वे॑षसमने॒हस॑म् ॥

O Sobhari, scientist and technologist, with your best of intelligence and intention, design, structure and perfect the chariot which has supported the life of the nation since earliest times, which is welcome and available to all easily, universally acceptable and enjoyable, first and foremost in the battles of life, friend of all on land, sea and sky, inviolable and unchallengeable by the jealous rivals and enemies.

· · ·

8.22.3

इ॒ह त्या पु॑रु॒भूत॑मा दे॒वा नमो॑भिर॒श्विना॑ । अ॒र्वा॒ची॒ना स्वव॑से करामहे॒ गन्ता॑रा दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हम् ॥

Here on the earth for the sake of protection and progress of the human nation, with all honours and reverence, we invoke, appoint and consecrate the Ashvins, universally acceptable, brilliant and generous complementary twin powers of the nation such as the ruler and the governing council or ruler and the commander of defence forces, who are harbingers of fresh life, energy and prosperity for humanity, who are latest in knowledge and competence and freely mix with the generous citizens at their homes.

· · ·

8.22.4

यु॒वो रथ॑स्य॒ परि॑ च॒क्रमी॑यत ई॒र्मान्यद्वा॑मिषण्यति । अ॒स्माँ अच्छा॑ सुम॒तिर्वां॑ शुभस्पती॒ आ धे॒नुरि॑व धावतु ॥

One chariot of yours is ever on the wheel going all round and round, the other serves, inspires and flies you anywhere when you need. O protectors of the auspicious good fortune of the human nation, may your good will and benevolence hasten to reach us like the mother cow rushing to her calf.

· · ·

8.22.5

रथो॒ यो वां॑ त्रिवन्धु॒रो हिर॑ण्याभीशुरश्विना । परि॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी भूष॑ति श्रु॒तस्तेन॑ नास॒त्या ग॑तम् ॥

Your famous and celebrated three-stage chariot controlled by golden steers traverses over heaven and earth. O lovers of truth and righteousness, come to us by that glorious chariot.

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8.22.6

द॒श॒स्यन्ता॒ मन॑वे पू॒र्व्यं दि॒वि यवं॒ वृके॑ण कर्षथः । ता वा॑म॒द्य सु॑म॒तिभिः॑ शुभस्पती॒ अश्वि॑ना॒ प्र स्तु॑वीमहि ॥

O twin powers of socio-economic complementarities, rulers and protectors of the nation’s auspicious good fortune, you till the land with the plough giving the people the gift of barley and setting a generous example of enlightened behaviour of permanent value. O leaders of eminence and splendour, with sincere thought, intention and action we celebrate you both this holy day of thanks giving for the nation.

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8.22.7

उप॑ नो वाजिनीवसू या॒तमृ॒तस्य॑ प॒थिभिः॑ । येभि॑स्तृ॒क्षिं वृ॑षणा त्रासदस्य॒वं म॒हे क्ष॒त्राय॒ जिन्व॑थः ॥

Generous and victorious lords of strength and progress, come to us by those paths of truth and righteousness by which, O brilliant harbingers of rain showers of prosperity, you strengthen and empower the high command of the nation to maintain the splendour of the nation’s social order and keep down the forces of violence and terror in peace and submission.

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8.22.8

अ॒यं वा॒मद्रि॑भिः सु॒तः सोमो॑ नरा वृषण्वसू । आ या॑तं॒ सोम॑पीतये॒ पिब॑तं दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हे ॥

O leading lights of humanity, generous harbingers of the showers of prosperity, this soma of pleasure and honour distilled with the complementary forces of our social dynamics is for you. Come to participate in the celebrations of the nation for the taste of glory and ecstasy and drink the soma in the yajnic house of the generous giver and performer of yajna.

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8.22.9

आ हि रु॒हत॑मश्विना॒ रथे॒ कोशे॑ हिर॒ण्यये॑ वृषण्वसू । यु॒ञ्जाथां॒ पीव॑री॒रिषः॑ ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of the showers of prosperity, ascend the chariot, seat yourselves in the golden interior of the chariot, come and settle us into a powerful social order of energy and prosperity.

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8.22.10

याभिः॑ प॒क्थमव॑थो॒ याभि॒रध्रि॑गुं॒ याभि॑र्ब॒भ्रुं विजो॑षसम् । ताभि॑र्नो म॒क्षू तूय॑मश्वि॒ना ग॑तं भिष॒ज्यतं॒ यदातु॑रम् ॥

Ashvins, rulers and administrators of the social system of health and security, come with those protections and securities by which you protect and maintain the healthy veterans of knowledge and practical action, by which you assist the disabled and help the support system for the weak and the destitute. Come fast without delay to sustain the weak and suffering in a state of emergency and provide them medical aid.

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8.22.11

यदध्रि॑गावो॒ अध्रि॑गू इ॒दा चि॒दह्नो॑ अ॒श्विना॒ हवा॑महे । व॒यं गी॒र्भिर्वि॑प॒न्यवः॑ ॥

We men of the mantra in need, celebrants of the irresistible Ashvins, powers of wind and electric energy, ministrants of succour and security, invoke them with voices of praise at this time of the day to come and help us.

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8.22.12

ताभि॒रा या॑तं वृष॒णोप॑ मे॒ हवं॑ वि॒श्वप्सुं॑ वि॒श्ववा॑र्यम् । इ॒षा मंहि॑ष्ठा पुरु॒भूत॑मा नरा॒ याभिः॒ क्रिविं॑ वावृ॒धुस्ताभि॒रा ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of humanity, virile harbingers of showers of health and life’s joy, listen to my manifold and persistent invocation expressive of universal love and devotion and come. Most generous and exceedingly rich all round universal presences, come with those foods and medications for recuperative energies by which you revive and strengthen the man fallen into utter depression. With those protective and promotive sanatives, pray, come in response to my call.

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8.22.13

तावि॒दा चि॒दहा॑नां॒ ताव॒श्विना॒ वन्द॑मान॒ उप॑ ब्रुवे । ता उ॒ नमो॑भिरीमहे ॥

At this time of the day every morning, saluting and celebrating the twin powers of human and natural complementarity, the Ashvins, I speak to them intimately, and this is how with homage and prayer we invoke them to come and bless.

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8.22.14

ताविद्दो॒षा ता उ॒षसि॑ शु॒भस्पती॒ ता याम॑न्रु॒द्रव॑र्तनी । मा नो॒ मर्ता॑य रि॒पवे॑ वाजिनीवसू प॒रो रु॑द्रा॒वति॑ ख्यतम् ॥

Those two lords of auspicious good fortune moving by paths of rectitude, justice and punishment, we invoke and celebrate at night, early morning at dawn and all times of the day. May they, lord commanders of wealth and victory, scourge of evil and violence, never forsake us to the mortal enemy, never throw us far off to the hungry wolves.

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8.22.15

आ सुग्म्या॑य॒ सुग्म्यं॑ प्रा॒ता रथे॑ना॒श्विना॑ वा स॒क्षणी॑ । हु॒वे पि॒तेव॒ सोभ॑री ॥

Like my father rich in knowledge and enlightenment, I invoke the Ashvins, twin, inseparable powers of complementarity in unison, in the morning to come by chariot as they please and to bring riches and joy for the devotee praying for riches and joy.

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8.22.16

मनो॑जवसा वृषणा मदच्युता मक्षुंग॒माभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । आ॒रात्ता॑च्चिद्भूतम॒स्मे अव॑से पू॒र्वीभिः॑ पुरुभोजसा ॥

O Ashvins, complementary harbingers of showers of joy, moving at the speed of mind to provide sustenance and pleasures of life for all, come and be at the closest to us for our protection and progress by instant modes of defence and security as you have ever been since the earliest times of creation.

· · ·

8.22.17

आ नो॒ अश्वा॑वदश्विना व॒र्तिर्या॑सिष्टं मधुपातमा नरा । गोम॑द्दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवत् ॥

Ashvins, mighty blissful complementary twin powers of humanity in the social order, leading lights of life, commanding wealth of cows and horses, lands, culture and advancement, givers of success in high attainment, greatest protectors and promoters of the honey sweets of life and golden wealth of the world, come and bless us with the wealth we pray for.

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8.22.18

सु॒प्रा॒व॒र्गं सु॒वीर्यं॑ सु॒ष्ठु वार्य॒मना॑धृष्टं रक्ष॒स्विना॑ । अ॒स्मिन्ना वा॑मा॒याने॑ वाजिनीवसू॒ विश्वा॑ वा॒मानि॑ धीमहि ॥

Ashvins, lords of wealth, power and victory, may we, upon this happy arrival of yours receive, value and meditate upon all the beauties and treasures of the world of distinguished wealth spontaneously given, creative and energetic, highly lovable and unchallengeable even by the demonic strong as our prize possession.

✦ Sukta 23 · 30 verses ✦

8.23.1

ईळि॑ष्वा॒ हि प्र॑ती॒व्यं१॒॑ यज॑स्व जा॒तवे॑दसम् । च॒रि॒ष्णुधू॑म॒मगृ॑भीतशोचिषम् ॥

Study, celebrate and by yajna develop the fire divine, immanent and omnipresent energy, versatile power whose smoke rises freely and whose light of flame no one comprehends, no one can obstruct.

· · ·

8.23.2

दा॒मानं॑ विश्वचर्षणे॒ऽग्निं वि॑श्वमनो गि॒रा । उ॒त स्तु॑षे॒ विष्प॑र्धसो॒ रथा॑नाम् ॥

And watching the world of existence and thinking and meditating at heart on its dynamics of evolution, I adore Agni with the holy voice of faith, lord and power, that giver of chariots for onward movement to those who vie with one another for progress in various ways.

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8.23.3

येषा॑माबा॒ध ऋ॒ग्मिय॑ इ॒षः पृ॒क्षश्च॑ नि॒ग्रभे॑ । उ॒प॒विदा॒ वह्नि॑र्विन्दते॒ वसु॑ ॥

Those seekers whose inputs of food and energy, the all powerful Agni, adored and served with Vedic formulae, receives, consumes and directs within the dynamic laws of nature, through their investigations receive new wealth and knowledge.

· · ·

8.23.4

उद॑स्य शो॒चिर॑स्थाद्दीदि॒युषो॒ व्य१॒॑जर॑म् । तपु॑र्जम्भस्य सु॒द्युतो॑ गण॒श्रियः॑ ॥

And the radiance of this burning, flaming, consuming fire, blazing brilliant, all illuminative, rises high, unaging and imperishable, adding to the wealth and glory of all classes of people.

· · ·

8.23.5

उदु॑ तिष्ठ स्वध्वर॒ स्तवा॑नो दे॒व्या कृ॒पा । अ॒भि॒ख्या भा॒सा बृ॑ह॒ता शु॑शु॒क्वनिः॑ ॥

O Agni, light and fire of life, adored and served with yajnic service of love and non-violence, rise high by the laws and grace of Divinity, shining ever bright with wider and higher light, power and magnificence. (This mantra may also be interpreted as exhortation to the person dedicated to yajna.)

· · ·

8.23.6

अग्ने॑ या॒हि सु॑श॒स्तिभि॑र्ह॒व्या जुह्वा॑न आनु॒षक् । यथा॑ दू॒तो ब॒भूथ॑ हव्य॒वाह॑नः ॥

Go, Agni, with the hymns of adoration, constantly receiving, returning, and transmitting the holy materials of yajna to the divinities as, like a messenger, you are the carrier of fragrance of the havi offered into the vedi.

· · ·

8.23.7

अ॒ग्निं वः॑ पू॒र्व्यं हु॑वे॒ होता॑रं चर्षणी॒नाम् । तम॒या वा॒चा गृ॑णे॒ तमु॑ वः स्तुषे ॥

O devoted people, for you I invokeAgni, eternal power and universal high priest of humanity. By

this song of adoration, I worship Agni and exhort you too to adore the universal light and power of divinity

· · ·

8.23.8

य॒ज्ञेभि॒रद्भु॑तक्रतुं॒ यं कृ॒पा सू॒दय॑न्त॒ इत् । मि॒त्रं न जने॒ सुधि॑तमृ॒ताव॑नि ॥

Agni showers his love and grace on people who follow the path of rectitude and light, serve and exalt the lord of marvellous action with yajnas as a benevolent friend.

· · ·

8.23.9

ऋ॒तावा॑नमृतायवो य॒ज्ञस्य॒ साध॑नं गि॒रा । उपो॑ एनं जुजुषु॒र्नम॑सस्प॒दे ॥

O men of yajna and followers of the paths of universal truth, with songs of holiness, in the house of yajna, love, exalt and closely serve this Agni, lord of universal truth and eternal law and the end and aim of the perfection of yajna.

· · ·

8.23.10

अच्छा॑ नो॒ अङ्गि॑रस्तमं य॒ज्ञासो॑ यन्तु सं॒यतः॑ । होता॒ यो अस्ति॑ वि॒क्ष्वा य॒शस्त॑मः ॥

May all our yajnas and other yajnic actions well conducted, together, reach Agni, supreme, most vital life breath of existence and most honourable high priest of yajna among people, who is the ultimate end and aim of the perfection of yajna.

· · ·

8.23.11

अग्ने॒ तव॒ त्ये अ॑ज॒रेन्धा॑नासो बृ॒हद्भाः । अश्वा॑ इव॒ वृष॑णस्तविषी॒यवः॑ ॥

O unaging and imperishableAgni, those blazing flames of expansive brilliance, generous and virile like solar radiations, are reflections of your supreme power and glory.

· · ·

8.23.12

स त्वं न॑ ऊर्जां पते र॒यिं रा॑स्व सु॒वीर्य॑म् । प्राव॑ नस्तो॒के तन॑ये स॒मत्स्वा ॥

Agni, lord protector of universal energy, pray bear, bring and bless us with manly vigour, and in the battles of life protect us and our children and grand children.

· · ·

8.23.13

यद्वा उ॑ वि॒श्पतिः॑ शि॒तः सुप्री॑तो॒ मनु॑षो वि॒शि । विश्वेद॒ग्निः प्रति॒ रक्षां॑सि सेधति ॥

When Agni, presiding spirit of human life, is animated, energised and sharpened by yajna, then, active in the human settlements, it counters and dispels all evil influences and forces of negativity.

· · ·

8.23.14

श्रु॒ष्ट्य॑ग्ने॒ नव॑स्य मे॒ स्तोम॑स्य वीर विश्पते । नि मा॒यिन॒स्तपु॑षा र॒क्षसो॑ दह ॥

Mighty brave Agni, lord of the people, saving spirit of life, hearing my new song of praise and prayer, burn off the destructive wiles of the evil forces with your heat.

· · ·

8.23.15

न तस्य॑ मा॒यया॑ च॒न रि॒पुरी॑शीत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । यो अ॒ग्नये॑ द॒दाश॑ ह॒व्यदा॑तिभिः ॥

Whoever offers homage to Agni with sacred oblations into the holy fire is safe, no mortal enemy even with the worst of his fraudulent power or sorcery can prevail over him or his home.

· · ·

8.23.16

व्य॑श्वस्त्वा वसु॒विद॑मुक्ष॒ण्युर॑प्रीणा॒दृषिः॑ । म॒हो रा॒ये तमु॑ त्वा॒ समि॑धीमहि ॥

The sage in search of dynamic energy and showers of the wealth of knowledge and bliss adores and serves you, giver of the world’s wealth and knowledge. We too light you well in the correct manner for the attainment of the same great wealth of life.

· · ·

8.23.17

उ॒शना॑ का॒व्यस्त्वा॒ नि होता॑रमसादयत् । आ॒य॒जिं त्वा॒ मन॑वे जा॒तवे॑दसम् ॥

The lover with passion and the poet with paternal vision attain to you, Agni, high priest of the real cosmic yajna and immanent and omniscient presence in existence for the good of humanity.

· · ·

8.23.18

विश्वे॒ हि त्वा॑ स॒जोष॑सो दे॒वासो॑ दू॒तमक्र॑त । श्रु॒ष्टी दे॑व प्रथ॒मो य॒ज्ञियो॑ भुवः ॥

All the brilliant sages and scholars of the world in unison with love accept you, Agni, as the messenger of Divinity, and, being the fastest carrier, O brilliant and generous power, you become the first adorable yajaka of existence.

· · ·

8.23.19

इ॒मं घा॑ वी॒रो अ॒मृतं॑ दू॒तं कृ॑ण्वीत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । पा॒व॒कं कृ॒ष्णव॑र्तनिं॒ विहा॑यसम् ॥

Let the brave mortal accept the imperishable and immortalAgni as the messenger of Divinity and medium of the dynamics of existence, purifier, agent of cosmic gravitation and sustenance and the mightiest natural power.

· · ·

8.23.20

तं हु॑वेम य॒तस्रु॑चः सु॒भासं॑ शु॒क्रशो॑चिषम् । वि॒शाम॒ग्निम॒जरं॑ प्र॒त्नमीड्य॑म् ॥

We invoke Agni and, holding ladles of ghrta and havi, feed and serve the divine fire blissfully shining bright in flames, unaging prime power adorable for the people.

· · ·

8.23.21

यो अ॑स्मै ह॒व्यदा॑तिभि॒राहु॑तिं॒ मर्तोऽवि॑धत् । भूरि॒ पोषं॒ स ध॑त्ते वी॒रव॒द्यशः॑ ॥

The mortal who, with faith and reverence, dedicates himself to this Agni and offers oblations into the fire divine with holy fragrant materials receives the blessings of ample health and nourishment, honour and fame and the gift of heroic progeny.

· · ·

8.23.22

प्र॒थ॒मं जा॒तवे॑दसम॒ग्निं य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यम् । प्रति॒ स्रुगे॑ति॒ नम॑सा ह॒विष्म॑ती ॥

To Agni, first and prime power immanent in everything born in existence, every ladle full of holy materials moves with chant of faith, reverence and selfless service in yajnas.

· · ·

8.23.23

आभि॑र्विधेमा॒ग्नये॒ ज्येष्ठा॑भिर्व्यश्व॒वत् । मंहि॑ष्ठाभिर्म॒तिभिः॑ शु॒क्रशो॑चिषे ॥

With these oblations and the chant of highest and most powerful hymns, let us, like the sage of perfect discipline of mind and sense, offer service and submission to Agni, yajnic power of purest flame.

· · ·

8.23.24

नू॒नम॑र्च॒ विहा॑यसे॒ स्तोमे॑भिः स्थूरयूप॒वत् । ऋषे॑ वैयश्व॒ दम्या॑या॒ग्नये॑ ॥

Holy sage of mental and moral discipline, like a yajaka of eminence and unshakable faith, offer honour and reverence with songs of adoration and selfless service toAgni, presiding power of the home and infinite presence of the universe.

· · ·

8.23.25

अति॑थिं॒ मानु॑षाणां सू॒नुं वन॒स्पती॑नाम् । विप्रा॑ अ॒ग्निमव॑से प्र॒त्नमी॑ळते ॥

Sages and scholars worship Agni, primeval presence of the universe, life giver of herbs and trees and honourable like a welcome guest in people’s homes for the sake of protection and progress.

· · ·

8.23.26

म॒हो विश्वाँ॑ अ॒भि ष॒तो॒३॒॑ऽभि ह॒व्यानि॒ मानु॑षा । अग्ने॒ नि ष॑त्सि॒ नम॒साधि॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ ॥

GreatAgni, you pervade everything in existence, you sanctify all yajnic materials of mankind and, honoured with reverence and oblations of havi, you vibrate on the holy grass and illuminate the heart of the yajamana.

· · ·

8.23.27

वंस्वा॑ नो॒ वार्या॑ पु॒रु वंस्व॑ रा॒यः पु॑रु॒स्पृहः॑ । सु॒वीर्य॑स्य प्र॒जाव॑तो॒ यश॑स्वतः ॥

Give us the gifts of our choice in abundance. Give us wealth and honours of the love and desire of all mankind, give us abundance of brave progeny, honour, excellence and fame.

· · ·

8.23.28

त्वं व॑रो सु॒षाम्णेऽग्ने॒ जना॑य चोदय । सदा॑ वसो रा॒तिं य॑विष्ठ॒ शश्व॑ते ॥

Agni, most youthful light and life of existence, worthy of the first order of love and reverence for us, pray grant your gracious favours of wealth and generosity to mankind. Lord giver of wealth and peace and comfort of a settled life, inspire the celebrants through continuous generations to sing songs of gratitude for your generosity.

· · ·

8.23.29

त्वं हि सु॑प्र॒तूरसि॒ त्वं नो॒ गोम॑ती॒रिषः॑ । म॒हो रा॒यः सा॒तिम॑ग्ने॒ अपा॑ वृधि ॥

Agni, you are the holy giver, you are the giver of food, energy and victory, and abundant wealth of lands and cows, culture and enlightenment. Give us liberally of our share of wealth and grandeur and promote our possibilities of progress.

· · ·

8.23.30

अग्ने॒ त्वं य॒शा अ॒स्या मि॒त्रावरु॑णा वह । ऋ॒तावा॑ना स॒म्राजा॑ पू॒तद॑क्षसा ॥

Agni, you are great and glorious. Pray bring us Mitra and Varuna, rule of love and friendship, reason and justice, through scholarly Brahman as and brilliant Kshatriyas, men of rectitude, brilliant will and intellect and purity and excellence of culture and enlightenment in their field.

✦ Sukta 24 · 30 verses ✦

8.24.1

सखा॑य॒ आ शि॑षामहि॒ ब्रह्मेन्द्रा॑य व॒ज्रिणे॑ । स्तु॒ष ऊ॒ षु वो॒ नृत॑माय धृ॒ष्णवे॑ ॥

Come friends, let us for your sake sing a song of adoration in honour of Indra, lord of power, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and punishment in order to glorify the noblest leader of resolute will and inviolable command.

· · ·

8.24.2

शव॑सा॒ ह्यसि॑ श्रु॒तो वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॑न वृत्र॒हा । म॒घैर्म॒घोनो॒ अति॑ शूर दाशसि ॥

O heroic leader and ruler, by virtue of your strength and will you are renowned as the destroyer of evil for having eliminated evil, want and suffering. You are famous as the lord magnanimous of glory for your wealth and generosity because your generosity exceeds the expectations of the richest generous people.

· · ·

8.24.3

स नः॒ स्तवा॑न॒ आ भ॑र र॒यिं चि॒त्रश्र॑वस्तमम् । नि॒रे॒के चि॒द्यो ह॑रिवो॒ वसु॑र्द॒दिः ॥

Such as you are, O lord of glory and magnanimity, sung and celebrated for your munificence, bear and bring us wealth and honour of the highest renowned order of excellence since, O ruler and controller of the dynamics of life, you are the sole giver of wealth and peace and prosperity in a state of good life beyond all doubt and question, suspicion and fear.

· · ·

8.24.4

आ नि॑रे॒कमु॒त प्रि॒यमिन्द्र॒ दर्षि॒ जना॑नाम् । धृ॒ष॒ता धृ॑ष्णो॒ स्तव॑मान॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Indra, lord of glory, give us a vision of the commonwealth of humanity of the dearest and most eminent order and, O lord of resolute will and action, sung and celebrated as such, bring us that wealth and order with the spirit of your will and resolution beyond doubt and question, fear and suspicion.

· · ·

8.24.5

न ते॑ स॒व्यं न दक्षि॑णं॒ हस्तं॑ वरन्त आ॒मुरः॑ । न प॑रि॒बाधो॑ हरिवो॒ गवि॑ष्टिषु ॥

The forces of negativity and destruction cannot stay your left hand of generosity nor can they resist your right hand. Nor do preventive forces stand in the ways of your progress and evolution, O lord controller of the dynamics of existence.

· · ·

8.24.6

आ त्वा॒ गोभि॑रिव व्र॒जं गी॒र्भिॠ॑णोम्यद्रिवः । आ स्मा॒ कामं॑ जरि॒तुरा मनः॑ पृण ॥

O lord of clouds and mountains, wielder of the thunderbolt, like a cowherd reaching the stalls along with the cows do I come to you with my songs of adoration. O lord, fulfil the desire and prayer of the celebrant and bless my mind with peace and divine love.

· · ·

8.24.7

विश्वा॑नि वि॒श्वम॑नसो धि॒या नो॑ वृत्रहन्तम । उग्र॑ प्रणेत॒रधि॒ षू व॑सो गहि ॥

O greatest destroyer of evil and darkness, blazing bold and irresistible leader of the world, lord giver of wealth and peaceful settlement, pray sanctify all our thoughts and acts, well wishers of the world of humanity as we are, and inspire us with divine wisdom.

· · ·

8.24.8

व॒यं ते॑ अ॒स्य वृ॑त्रहन्वि॒द्याम॑ शूर॒ नव्य॑सः । वसोः॑ स्पा॒र्हस्य॑ पुरुहूत॒ राध॑सः ॥

O destroyer of evil and darkness, bold and resolute hero universally invoked and adored, pray let us know and obtain the latest, most lovable and effective forms of your wealth and honour, peace and progressive modes of life.

· · ·

8.24.9

इन्द्र॒ यथा॒ ह्यस्ति॒ तेऽप॑रीतं नृतो॒ शवः॑ । अमृ॑क्ता रा॒तिः पु॑रुहूत दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Indra, lord and leader of humanity, just as your power and force is irresistible and indestructible, O lord universally invoked and adored, so is your charity and magnanimity to the generous devotee unrestricted and inviolable.

· · ·

8.24.10

आ वृ॑षस्व महामह म॒हे नृ॑तम॒ राध॑से । दृ॒ळ्हश्चि॑द्दृह्य मघवन्म॒घत्त॑ये ॥

O greatest of the great, supreme guide and leader of life, for the greatness and glory of humanity on earth, shower your munificence of knowledge, will and action on us and, O lord of honour and grandeur, for our honour and progress break down the strongholds of evil, darkness, ignorance and inertness.

· · ·

8.24.11

नू अ॒न्यत्रा॑ चिदद्रिव॒स्त्वन्नो॑ जग्मुरा॒शसः॑ । मघ॑वञ्छ॒ग्धि तव॒ तन्न॑ ऊ॒तिभिः॑ ॥

O lord of glory, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and retribution, our hopes and prayers have never wandered elsewhere, to anyone other than you. Pray strengthen our will and action with your modes of protection and promotion for advancement.

· · ·

8.24.12

न॒ह्य१॒॑ङ्ग नृ॑तो॒ त्वद॒न्यं वि॒न्दामि॒ राध॑से । रा॒ये द्यु॒म्नाय॒ शव॑से च गिर्वणः ॥

O lord watcher and controller of the dance of creation, dear as breath of life sung and celebrated in songs of adoration, I find none else other than you for inspiration and action for the sake of competence and success, wealth and power, honour and excellence, and strength and moral courage.

· · ·

8.24.13

एन्दु॒मिन्द्रा॑य सिञ्चत॒ पिबा॑ति सो॒म्यं मधु॑ । प्र राध॑सा चोदयाते महित्व॒ना ॥

Prepare, offer and regale Indra with the nectar drink of faith and performance. He values, enjoys and promotes the honey sweets of peace, pleasure and progress and inspires the people with will and competence and ambition for progress and excellence.

· · ·

8.24.14

उपो॒ हरी॑णां॒ पतिं॒ दक्षं॑ पृ॒ञ्चन्त॑मब्रवम् । नू॒नं श्रु॑धि स्तुव॒तो अ॒श्व्यस्य॑ ॥

I reach the lord protector and controller of the moving worlds, the omnipotent who enjoins the soul with the world of nature, and I closely whisper in prayer: Listen to the celebrant devotee who is keen to move from humanity to divinity and deserves to be accepted.

· · ·

8.24.15

न॒ह्य१॒॑ङ्ग पु॒रा च॒न ज॒ज्ञे वी॒रत॑र॒स्त्वत् । नकी॑ रा॒या नैवथा॒ न भ॒न्दना॑ ॥

Pray listen, Indra, dearest lord of life, true it is that no one born ever before or after was greater or mightier than you, none by wealth and power, none by competence and advancement, none by songs of prayer and adoration, none like you.

· · ·

8.24.16

एदु॒ मध्वो॑ म॒दिन्त॑रं सि॒ञ्च वा॑ध्वर्यो॒ अन्ध॑सः । ए॒वा हि वी॒रः स्तव॑ते स॒दावृ॑धः ॥

And O high priest of the creative yajna of love and non-violence, offer the most delightful and ever exhilarating of honey sweets of the soma of faith and devotion to Indra, since thus is how the mighty hero is served and worshipped.

· · ·

8.24.17

इन्द्र॑ स्थातर्हरीणां॒ नकि॑ष्टे पू॒र्व्यस्तु॑तिम् । उदा॑नंश॒ शव॑सा॒ न भ॒न्दना॑ ॥

Indra, glorious lord president of the moving worlds of existence, no one ever by might or by commanding adoration has been able to equal, much less excel, the prime worship offered to you.

· · ·

8.24.18

तं वो॒ वाजा॑नां॒ पति॒महू॑महि श्रव॒स्यवः॑ । अप्रा॑युभिर्य॒ज्ञेभि॑र्वावृ॒धेन्य॑म् ॥

O people we, seekers of honour and fame, invoke and adore the protector and promoter of your food, energies and victories, by assiduous congregations of yajna and thereby exalt the splendour and glory of the lord supreme.

· · ·

8.24.19

एतो॒ न्विन्द्रं॒ स्तवा॑म॒ सखा॑यः॒ स्तोम्यं॒ नर॑म् । कृ॒ष्टीर्यो विश्वा॑ अ॒भ्यस्त्येक॒ इत् ॥

Come friends all together and let us adore Indra, lord and leader worthy of joint worship and exaltation, who, by himself alone, rules over all peoples of the world.

· · ·

8.24.20

अगो॑रुधाय ग॒विषे॑ द्यु॒क्षाय॒ दस्म्यं॒ वचः॑ । घृ॒तात्स्वादी॑यो॒ मधु॑नश्च वोचत ॥

Sing delightful songs of adoration in words more delicious than the taste of ghrta and sweetness of honey in honour of Indra, heavenly lord of light, who loves sweet speech and never feels satiated with songs of exaltation.

· · ·

8.24.21

यस्यामि॑तानि वी॒र्या॒३॒॑ न राधः॒ पर्ये॑तवे । ज्योति॒र्न विश्व॑म॒भ्यस्ति॒ दक्षि॑णा ॥

Let us sing in adoration of Indra whose wondrous deeds of divinity are unbounded, whose potential is unrestricted, and whose generosity radiates over the world like the light of the sun.

· · ·

8.24.22

स्तु॒हीन्द्रं॑ व्यश्व॒वदनू॑र्मिं वा॒जिनं॒ यम॑म् । अ॒र्यो गयं॒ मंह॑मानं॒ वि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Like the sage of perfect mental and moral discipline, worship Indra, constant lord of eternity without fluctuation, omnipresent power over universal energy, controller and guide of the evolution of the universe, omnificent lord giver of a prosperous household to the generous devotees of yajna.

· · ·

8.24.23

ए॒वा नू॒नमुप॑ स्तुहि॒ वैय॑श्व दश॒मं नव॑म् । सुवि॑द्वांसं च॒र्कृत्यं॑ च॒रणी॑नाम् ॥

O child of the holy sage of mental and moral discipline, verily worship Indra only, the lord ever new though eternal, worshipped as the tenth supreme over all among humans, lord omniscient solely worthy of the worship of dynamic humanity.

· · ·

8.24.24

वेत्था॒ हि निॠ॑तीनां॒ वज्र॑हस्त परि॒वृज॑म् । अह॑रहः शु॒न्ध्युः प॑रि॒पदा॑मिव ॥

O lord of the thunderbolt of justice and right action, you know and wield the counter-active measures against adversities just as the sun, purifier of nature’s impurities, has the capacity to counter them day by day.

· · ·

8.24.25

तदि॒न्द्राव॒ आ भ॑र॒ येना॑ दंसिष्ठ॒ कृत्व॑ने । द्वि॒ता कुत्सा॑य शिश्नथो॒ नि चो॑दय ॥

Indra, wondrous lord of beauty and glory, bring us that protection and immunity by which you protect the active sage of holy action against negativities and destroy the twofold mental and physical ailments of humanity. We pray, O lord, inspire and activate those internal and natural defences of good health.

· · ·

8.24.26

तमु॑ त्वा नू॒नमी॑महे॒ नव्यं॑ दंसिष्ठ॒ सन्य॑से । स त्वं नो॒ विश्वा॑ अ॒भिमा॑तीः स॒क्षणिः॑ ॥

O lord of highest beauty and sublimity, for our acquisitions as well as for our freedom from acquisition we worship you only, the same lord of protection and defence, ever new though constant and eternal. You as the same lord are our friend and protector, and the destroyer of all our enemies of the world.

· · ·

8.24.27

य ऋक्षा॒दंह॑सो मु॒चद्यो वार्या॑त्स॒प्त सिन्धु॑षु । वध॑र्दा॒सस्य॑ तुविनृम्ण नीनमः ॥

To Indra, who saves from sin and violence, and releases the waters of life into the seven seas of existence, we bow and pray: O lord of the world’s wealth and power, honour and glory, strike down the fatal weapon of the saboteur and the destroyer.

· · ·

8.24.28

यथा॑ वरो सु॒षाम्णे॑ स॒निभ्य॒ आव॑हो र॒यिम् । व्य॑श्वेभ्यः सुभगे वाजिनीवति ॥

Just as the lord supreme, choice of the wise for worship and service, brings wealth and honour to the Sama celebrants and supplicants, so may you, O lady of good fortune possessed of food, energy prosperity of life, and divine intelligence, bring wealth of honour and knowledge to the sages of mental and moral discipline.

· · ·

8.24.29

आ ना॒र्यस्य॒ दक्षि॑णा॒ व्य॑श्वाँ एतु सो॒मिनः॑ । स्थू॒रं च॒ राधः॑ श॒तव॑त्स॒हस्र॑वत् ॥

May the gifts of soma celebrants and generous lovers of mankind reach the dynamic sages of mental and moral discipline who may also get gifts of permanent assets in hundreds and thousands.

· · ·

8.24.30

यत्त्वा॑ पृ॒च्छादी॑जा॒नः कु॑ह॒या कु॑हयाकृते । ए॒षो अप॑श्रितो व॒लो गो॑म॒तीमव॑ तिष्ठति ॥

O seeker of the where and why of active life, if someone were to ask you where the yajaka of love and non-violence is, then say: This man of yajnic dynamism is gone and lives in the region of lands and cows, culture and enlightenment.

✦ Sukta 25 · 24 verses ✦

8.25.1

ता वां॒ विश्व॑स्य गो॒पा दे॒वा दे॒वेषु॑ य॒ज्ञिया॑ । ऋ॒तावा॑ना यजसे पू॒तद॑क्षसा ॥

I join you and adore you both, Mitra and Varuna, protectors of the world, brilliant and generous divinities of sacred power, adorable among the adorable divines and observers of the paths of rectitude and universal law. (In Swami Dayanand’s tradition, Mitra and Varuna in this Sukta are interpreted as Brahmanas, intellectuals, teachers and researchers, and as Kshatriyas, rulers, administrators and the defence forces).

· · ·

8.25.2

मि॒त्रा तना॒ न र॒थ्या॒३॒॑ वरु॑णो॒ यश्च॑ सु॒क्रतुः॑ । स॒नात्सु॑जा॒ता तन॑या धृ॒तव्र॑ता ॥

Mitra of the noble chariot, and Varuna who too is a noble performer of yajnic actions, both are leaders like charioteers of the nation who develop and expand the socio-cultural wealth and vision of humanity. They are nobly born and brought up and trained, children of humanity for all time dedicated to the sacred laws and discipline of life.

· · ·

8.25.3

ता मा॒ता वि॒श्ववे॑दसासु॒र्या॑य॒ प्रम॑हसा । म॒ही ज॑जा॒नादि॑तिॠ॒ताव॑री ॥

Great mother Aditi, inviolable Nature, concrete embodiment of infinite divinity and divine law operative in existence, brought forth these two mighty refulgent pioneers of life, knowing and commanding the world for the realisation of their innate vision and power.

· · ·

8.25.4

म॒हान्ता॑ मि॒त्रावरु॑णा स॒म्राजा॑ दे॒वावसु॑रा । ऋ॒तावा॑नावृ॒तमा घो॑षतो बृ॒हत् ॥

The great Mitra and Varuna, mighty refulgent rulers, are generous and divine, commanding the vision and vitality of spiritual life and vigour. Dedicated to the law of eternity, in their life they define and proclaim that universal law in the living form of yajnic action.

· · ·

8.25.5

नपा॑ता॒ शव॑सो म॒हः सू॒नू दक्ष॑स्य सु॒क्रतू॑ । सृ॒प्रदा॑नू इ॒षो वास्त्वधि॑ क्षितः ॥

Protectors and supporters of great strength, they never allow a break down of the strength of law and order. Being products of strength and efficiency themselves, they are protectors of the same strength and efficiency. Dedicated to holy action, creation, production and expansive generosity, they live in the very house of plenty and prosperity of food, energy and advancement.

· · ·

8.25.6

सं या दानू॑नि ये॒मथु॑र्दि॒व्याः पार्थि॑वी॒रिषः॑ । नभ॑स्वती॒रा वां॑ चरन्तु वृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

You hold, control, expand and direct the generous gifts of earthly and heavenly foods, energies and nourishments, so we pray that your showers laden with vapours from the sky may serve you, rain down and bless us.

· · ·

8.25.7

अधि॒ या बृ॑ह॒तो दि॒वो॒३॒॑ऽभि यू॒थेव॒ पश्य॑तः । ऋ॒तावा॑ना स॒म्राजा॒ नम॑से हि॒ता ॥

You who observe the life below on earth from the vast skies, life like hosts of people and herds of cattle, then you, brilliant generous rulers who maintain the laws of eternity, are invoked and invited for the presentation of homage and yajnic service.

· · ·

8.25.8

ऋ॒तावा॑ना॒ नि षे॑दतुः॒ साम्रा॑ज्याय सु॒क्रतू॑ । धृ॒तव्र॑ता क्ष॒त्रिया॑ क्ष॒त्रमा॑शतुः ॥

Committed to the universal law of eternal truth, dedicated to the laws and discipline of governance, performing every action from the yajnic point of view of social value, the Kshatriyas, rulers, administrators and commanders of the defence forces, ought to take on to the sovereign social order and occupy the seat of governance for the glory of self-governing humanity in the spirit of Mitra and Varuna, that is, universal love and justice.

· · ·

8.25.9

अ॒क्ष्णश्चि॑द्गातु॒वित्त॑रानुल्ब॒णेन॒ चक्ष॑सा । नि चि॑न्मि॒षन्ता॑ निचि॒रा नि चि॑क्यतुः ॥

With open eyes and distant vision, they know and watch the paths of social development better than the eye itself and, ever alert and vigilant, they can perceive, judge and decide things in the twinkling of an eye.

· · ·

8.25.10

उ॒त नो॑ दे॒व्यदि॑तिरुरु॒ष्यतां॒ नास॑त्या । उ॒रु॒ष्यन्तु॑ म॒रुतो॑ वृ॒द्धश॑वसः ॥

May Mother Nature divine and the mother power of humanity of inviolable strength protect and promote us. May theAshvins, ever true, complementary powers of natural and social dynamics protect and promote us. May the Maruts, distinguished people of veteran strength and power protect and promote us.

· · ·

8.25.11

ते नो॑ ना॒वमु॑रुष्यत॒ दिवा॒ नक्तं॑ सुदानवः । अरि॑ष्यन्तो॒ नि पा॒युभिः॑ सचेमहि ॥

May they all, nobly generous and giving, protect our ships day and night, and may we all, unhurt and unviolated, ally and cooperate with our protectors.

· · ·

8.25.12

अघ्न॑ते॒ विष्ण॑वे व॒यमरि॑ष्यन्तः सु॒दान॑वे । श्रु॒धि स्व॑यावन्त्सिन्धो पू॒र्वचि॑त्तये ॥

Let us all, unhurt and unviolated, work for the unassailable and generous Vishnu, universal ruling spirit of the nation of humanity, who knows everything in advance. O lord of self-judgement and independent action, generous as the sea, pray listen to our prayer and protect us.

· · ·

8.25.13

तद्वार्यं॑ वृणीमहे॒ वरि॑ष्ठं गोप॒यत्य॑म् । मि॒त्रो यत्पान्ति॒ वरु॑णो॒ यद॑र्य॒मा ॥

We elect to choose that wealth and protection which is the best and most promotive and which Mitra, Varuna and Aryama, Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaishya, communities of vision, judgement and determination, and positive creativity, value and secure for us.

· · ·

8.25.14

उ॒त नः॒ सिन्धु॑र॒पां तन्म॒रुत॒स्तद॒श्विना॑ । इन्द्रो॒ विष्णु॑र्मी॒ढ्वांसः॑ स॒जोष॑सः ॥

And that wealth and security, we pray, may the ocean of waters and vapours, Maruts, winds and the stormy troops of the nation, Ashvins, complementary forces of nature and humanity, sun and moon, and Indra and Vishnu, universal energy and omnipresent divinity, all loving, cooperative and generous, protect and promote for us.

· · ·

8.25.15

ते हि ष्मा॑ व॒नुषो॒ नरो॒ऽभिमा॑तिं॒ कय॑स्य चित् । ति॒ग्मं न क्षोदः॑ प्रति॒घ्नन्ति॒ भूर्ण॑यः ॥

All of them, adorable leaders of life, blazing brilliant and irresistible, counter and shatter any enemy as a mighty flood shatters and washes off the firmest obstacles.

· · ·

8.25.16

अ॒यमेक॑ इ॒त्था पु॒रूरु च॑ष्टे॒ वि वि॒श्पतिः॑ । तस्य॑ व्र॒तान्यनु॑ वश्चरामसि ॥

O people of the world, this one Integrity of the two, Mitra and Varuna, lord ruler and promoter of the people, thus watches the vast and various wealths of the world for protection, and for your sake we observe and follow his rules and laws of discipline.

· · ·

8.25.17

अनु॒ पूर्वा॑ण्यो॒क्या॑ साम्रा॒ज्यस्य॑ सश्चिम । मि॒त्रस्य॑ व्र॒ता वरु॑णस्य दीर्घ॒श्रुत् ॥

We observe and follow the rules and laws of the discipline of Mitra and Varuna, lord of universal glory, in accordance with the internal statutes and ancient traditions of the sovereign social order.

· · ·

8.25.18

परि॒ यो र॒श्मिना॑ दि॒वोऽन्ता॑न्म॒मे पृ॑थि॒व्याः । उ॒भे आ प॑प्रौ॒ रोद॑सी महि॒त्वा ॥

Mitra, Brahmana, is the brilliant scholar who, like the sun, with his vision reaches and measures the bounds of heaven and earth and with his knowledge and grandeur traverses both earth and heaven.

· · ·

8.25.19

उदु॒ ष्य श॑र॒णे दि॒वो ज्योति॑रयंस्त॒ सूर्यः॑ । अ॒ग्निर्न शु॒क्रः स॑मिधा॒न आहु॑तः ॥

And that sun upto the regions of heaven radiates the light and, shining pure and bright, is invoked, invited and honoured as the holy fire.

· · ·

8.25.20

वचो॑ दी॒र्घप्र॑सद्म॒नीशे॒ वाज॑स्य॒ गोम॑तः । ईशे॒ हि पि॒त्वो॑ऽवि॒षस्य॑ दा॒वने॑ ॥

Mitra, the Brahmana, rules the Word in the vast house of yajna, and the yajamana who is master of the wealth of lands and cows and prospers in food, energy and social achievement, as he also, rules over the food which is pure and poisonless and which is meant for gifting away.

· · ·

8.25.21

तत्सूर्यं॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे दो॒षा वस्तो॒रुप॑ ब्रुवे । भो॒जेष्व॒स्माँ अ॒भ्युच्च॑रा॒ सदा॑ ॥

That sun of light and knowledge and both heaven and earth, I adore day and night and pray that the lord may establish us in a prosperous state of food and enjoyment.

· · ·

8.25.22

ऋ॒ज्रमु॑क्ष॒ण्याय॑ने रज॒तं हर॑याणे । रथं॑ यु॒क्तम॑सनाम सु॒षाम॑णि ॥

Blest with the grace of the lord of mercy, we receive the gift of efficient mind and senses, from the lord destroyer of darkness and suffering, we receive the light of knowledge, and from the lord of celestial Samans, we receive the versatile chariot of the human body.

· · ·

8.25.23

ता मे॒ अश्व्या॑नां॒ हरी॑णां नि॒तोश॑ना । उ॒तो नु कृत्व्या॑नां नृ॒वाह॑सा ॥

Among the gifts of dynamic achievables, let the mind, senses and knowledge be destroyers of darkness and suffering, and among the organs of will and action, let the human body be the chariot of passage to salvation across the world.

· · ·

8.25.24

स्मद॑भीशू॒ कशा॑वन्ता॒ विप्रा॒ नवि॑ष्ठया म॒ती । म॒हो वा॒जिना॒वर्व॑न्ता॒ सचा॑सनम् ॥

From the highest lord of glory I have achieved, by grace, the gift of twin faculties of vibrant senses and mind for thought and will, equipped with the latest knowledge and intelligence, fast and achieving, spurred by enthusiasm and controlled and directed by discrimination.

✦ Sukta 26 · 25 verses ✦

8.26.1

यु॒वोरु॒ षू रथं॑ हुवे स॒धस्तु॑त्याय सू॒रिषु॑ । अतू॑र्तदक्षा वृषणा वृषण्वसू ॥

O generous and virile Ashvins, commanders of inviolable power and dexterity, harbingers of a new day of showers of bounteous wealth, I call for your noble chariot to bring you hither for your joint felicitation among distinguished men of knowledge and power. (In Swami Dayananda’s tradition, Ashvins, twin divines who drive in the dawn of a new day, are interpreted as the ruler and the ministers council who are supposed to bring in a new day of freshness, light and prosperity in the corporate life of the social order.)

· · ·

8.26.2

यु॒वं व॑रो सु॒षाम्णे॑ म॒हे तने॑ नासत्या । अवो॑भिर्याथो वृषणा वृषण्वसू ॥

O virile and generous Ashvins, harbingers of showers of wealth and enlightenment, ever true and far from untruth, you go forward with your protections and promotions for the good and exhortation of the Sama celebrants and men of great and expansive philanthropy (who work for the advancement of society).

· · ·

8.26.3

ता वा॑म॒द्य ह॑वामहे ह॒व्येभि॑र्वाजिनीवसू । पू॒र्वीरि॒ष इ॒षय॑न्ता॒वति॑ क्ष॒पः ॥

Ashvins, lovers of food and energy and total well being of a life of universal values, harbingers of new victories in the advancement of power and prosperity, at this hour of the dawn when the night is gone, we invoke you with offers of the sweetest fragrances of homage and yajnic service.

· · ·

8.26.4

आ वां॒ वाहि॑ष्ठो अश्विना॒ रथो॑ यातु श्रु॒तो न॑रा । उप॒ स्तोमा॑न्तु॒रस्य॑ दर्शथः श्रि॒ये ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and grace, let your strongest chariot of renown come and transport you here to us where you may, we pray, listen and appreciate the ardent devotee’s songs of adoration and bless them with the honour and dignity of life.

· · ·

8.26.5

जु॒हु॒रा॒णा चि॑दश्वि॒ना म॑न्येथां वृषण्वसू । यु॒वं हि रु॑द्रा॒ पर्ष॑थो॒ अति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

And Ashvins, harbingers of generous showers of prosperity, know, examine, understand and fix the crooked antisocial elements. You are the Rudras, agents of justice and award. Cleanse the jealous and punish the enemies.

· · ·

8.26.6

द॒स्रा हि विश्व॑मानु॒षङ्म॒क्षूभिः॑ परि॒दीय॑थः । धि॒यं॒जि॒न्वा मधु॑वर्णा शु॒भस्पती॑ ॥

Wonderful in person and marvellous in deeds, promoters of men of action and intelligence, sweet of disposition, protectors of all that is good, you always fly all over the world by the fastest modes with prompt forces and safeguard the safety and security of the people.

· · ·

8.26.7

उप॑ नो यातमश्विना रा॒या वि॑श्व॒पुषा॑ स॒ह । म॒घवा॑ना सु॒वीरा॒वन॑पच्युता ॥

Noble Ashvins, mighty brave and infallible heroes, come close to us with wealth and nourishments for the health and advancement of all people of the world, powerful and munificent as you are.

· · ·

8.26.8

आ मे॑ अ॒स्य प्र॑ती॒व्य१॒॑मिन्द्र॑नासत्या गतम् । दे॒वा दे॒वेभि॑र॒द्य स॒चन॑स्तमा ॥

Ashvins, lords of power who shun untruth, come in response to my prayer and adoration, O brilliant and generous companions in utmost harmony, come with other divinities and protect and promote the thoughts and actions of devotees.

· · ·

8.26.9

व॒यं हि वां॒ हवा॑मह उक्ष॒ण्यन्तो॑ व्यश्व॒वत् । सु॒म॒तिभि॒रुप॑ विप्रावि॒हा ग॑तम् ॥

Like the holy sage of mental and moral discipline, we invoke and invite you, lords of the showers of generosity. Come to us, O vibrant powers, with holy thoughts and intentions and with the sages of noble mind.

· · ·

8.26.10

अ॒श्विना॒ स्वृ॑षे स्तुहि कु॒वित्ते॒ श्रव॑तो॒ हव॑म् । नेदी॑यसः कूळयातः प॒णीँरु॒त ॥

O sage, celebrate the Ashvins in profuse numbers, they would listen to your eulogy, come closest and punish and eliminate the niggards and evaders of yajnic homage.

· · ·

8.26.11

वै॒य॒श्वस्य॑ श्रुतं नरो॒तो मे॑ अ॒स्य वे॑दथः । स॒जोष॑सा॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा ॥

O leaders of the nation, listen to the song of the holy sage and acknowledge and respond to this song of mine. O Varuna, Kshatriya dispenser of justice, Mitra, loving and friendly Brahmana, and Aryama, Vaishya producer and distributor pursuing the path of rectitude, all together in unison and cooperation, listen to me.

· · ·

8.26.12

यु॒वाद॑त्तस्य धिष्ण्या यु॒वानी॑तस्य सू॒रिभिः॑ । अह॑रहर्वृषण॒ मह्यं॑ शिक्षतम् ॥

O devout and benevolent harbingers of the showers of prosperity, of that which you have created and given to the nation and that what you have brought in, let me learn day by day and share through the wise and brave leaders.

· · ·

8.26.13

यो वां॑ य॒ज्ञेभि॒रावृ॒तोऽधि॑वस्त्रा व॒धूरि॑व । स॒प॒र्यन्ता॑ शु॒भे च॑क्राते अ॒श्विना॑ ॥

Ashvins, like a bride covered in sacramental robes, one who is robed in the fragrance of yajna performed in your honour, him you requite with fulfilment and establish him in the good life.

· · ·

8.26.14

यो वा॑मुरु॒व्यच॑स्तमं॒ चिके॑तति नृ॒पाय्य॑म् । व॒र्तिर॑श्विना॒ परि॑ यातमस्म॒यू ॥

Ashvins, lovers and benefactors of ours, one who reserves and assigns a spacious hall comfortably good for distinguished congregations of yajna in your honour, you oblige and visit his home in recognition.

· · ·

8.26.15

अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ सु वृ॑षण्वसू या॒तं व॒र्तिर्नृ॒पाय्य॑म् । वि॒षु॒द्रुहे॑व य॒ज्ञमू॑हथुर्गि॒रा ॥

Lords of the yajnic showers of prosperity, come straight like an arrow, visit our hall of yajna dedicated to the good of humanity and guide and upraise our yajna with the holy chant of Vedic voice.

· · ·

8.26.16

वाहि॑ष्ठो वां॒ हवा॑नां॒ स्तोमो॑ दू॒तो हु॑वन्नरा । यु॒वाभ्यां॑ भूत्वश्विना ॥

Ashvins, rulers and leading lights of the nation, may the song of our invocation to you be the instant and most effective messenger to you and bring you here to the yajnic hall.

· · ·

8.26.17

यद॒दो दि॒वो अ॑र्ण॒व इ॒षो वा॒ मद॑थो गृ॒हे । श्रु॒तमिन्मे॑ अमर्त्या ॥

Whether you are up above in the region of light or surfing in the sea or enjoying yourselves in the house of entertainment, listen to my call and come, immortal ones.

· · ·

8.26.18

उ॒त स्या श्वे॑त॒याव॑री॒ वाहि॑ष्ठा वां न॒दीना॑म् । सिन्धु॒र्हिर॑ण्यवर्तनिः ॥

And of the fluent media of communication, the most effective is that transparent, unpolluted, stream of thought, discrimination and judgement, the intelligence, Buddhi, golden stream of the speed of mind.

· · ·

8.26.19

स्मदे॒तया॑ सुकी॒र्त्याश्वि॑ना श्वे॒तया॑ धि॒या । वहे॑थे शुभ्रयावाना ॥

And well by this glorious and highly reputed transparent stream of intelligence, Ashvins, travellers of holy paths, you move and conduct the business of the nation of humanity

· · ·

8.26.20

यु॒क्ष्वा हि त्वं र॑था॒सहा॑ यु॒वस्व॒ पोष्या॑ वसो । आन्नो॑ वायो॒ मधु॑ पिबा॒स्माकं॒ सव॒ना ग॑हि ॥

O Vayu, vibrant motive power of nature and humanity, harness your strong chariot horses and, O Vasu, giver of peaceful home and settlement with security, yoke them to social good. Come, join our corporate yajna of social development, taste and celebrate the joy of our achievement. (This mantra may be applied to the head of the forces of law and order for internal security and the commander of defence forces for security against external forces.)

· · ·

8.26.21

तव॑ वायवृतस्पते॒ त्वष्टु॑र्जामातरद्भुत । अवां॒स्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

O Vayu, protector and keeper of the universal law of truth and wonderful valuer and refiner of the creations of Tvashta, maker of all fine and gross things of life and destroyer of dangers internal and external, we opt for and choose all your plans and modes of peace, defence and security.

· · ·

8.26.22

त्वष्टु॒र्जामा॑तरं व॒यमीशा॑नं रा॒य ई॑महे । सु॒ताव॑न्तो वा॒युं द्यु॒म्ना जना॑सः ॥

For the achievement of wealth, honour and excellence, we, the people dedicated to yajna and the soma of life, adore Vayu, ruler of the world of existence and protector and refiner of things made by the universal maker.

· · ·

8.26.23

वायो॑ या॒हि शि॒वा दि॒वो वह॑स्वा॒ सु स्वश्व्य॑म् । वह॑स्व म॒हः पृ॑थु॒पक्ष॑सा॒ रथे॑ ॥

Vayu, blissful power of defence, security and refinement, come from the regions of light, yoke the great transportive forces to your chariot and bring us the best things we ought to obtain.

· · ·

8.26.24

त्वां हि सु॒प्सर॑स्तमं नृ॒षद॑नेषु हू॒महे॑ । ग्रावा॑णं॒ नाश्व॑पृष्ठं मं॒हना॑ ॥

Vayu, blissful of form, strong and renowned all round by your own strength and grandeur, we invoke and invite you to people’s halls of yajna, power adorable as a rock in its place, position and function.

· · ·

8.26.25

स त्वं नो॑ देव॒ मन॑सा॒ वायो॑ मन्दा॒नो अ॑ग्रि॒यः । कृ॒धि वाजाँ॑ अ॒पो धियः॑ ॥

O Vayu, such as you are, brilliant and generous, happy and joyous at heart, always in the forefront of defence and advancement, pray develop our resources of food and water, energy, power and progress, and extend the possibilities of the reach of our science and intelligence.

✦ Sukta 27 · 22 verses ✦

8.27.1

अ॒ग्निरु॒क्थे पु॒रोहि॑तो॒ ग्रावा॑णो ब॒र्हिर॑ध्व॒रे । ऋ॒चा या॑मि म॒रुतो॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिं॑ दे॒वाँ अवो॒ वरे॑ण्यम् ॥

In the yajna of love and non-violence, Agni, prime light of life, is the first adorable, then the holy fire, the priest, the soma stone and the holy grass are cherished. Therefore with the chants of Rks I invoke the Maruts, cosmic energies, Brahmanaspati, giver of the Veda and the vedic scholar, and other venerable divinities for protection and promotion of our choice.

· · ·

8.27.2

आ प॒शुं गा॑सि पृथि॒वीं वन॒स्पती॑नु॒षासा॒ नक्त॒मोष॑धीः । विश्वे॑ च नो वसवो विश्ववेदसो धी॒नां भू॑त प्रावि॒तारः॑ ॥

O yajaka, you sing of animals, the earth, herbs and trees, day and night. And may all the powers which provide us with shelter and comfort, present all over the world, be the protectors and promoters of our thoughts and actions.

· · ·

8.27.3

प्र सू न॑ एत्वध्व॒रो॒३॒॑ऽग्ना दे॒वेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यः । आ॒दि॒त्येषु॒ प्र वरु॑णे धृ॒तव्र॑ते म॒रुत्सु॑ वि॒श्वभा॑नुषु ॥

May our yajna of universal order join the fire and rise to the divinities of nature, the sun in progressive Zodiacs, the oceans of earth and space in the fixed order of cosmic law, and all the light radiations of the universe across the suns.

· · ·

8.27.4

विश्वे॒ हि ष्मा॒ मन॑वे वि॒श्ववे॑दसो॒ भुव॑न्वृ॒धे रि॒शाद॑सः । अरि॑ष्टेभिः पा॒युभि॑र्विश्ववेदसो॒ यन्ता॑ नोऽवृ॒कं छ॒र्दिः ॥

May all the divine powers of the universe, destroyers of negativities, be for the protection and progress of mankind. May all the divinities of the universe in possession of wealth, power and knowledge along with modes of protection free from hurt and injury bring us a peaceful home on earth free from sin and crime.

· · ·

8.27.5

आ नो॑ अ॒द्य सम॑नसो॒ गन्ता॒ विश्वे॑ स॒जोष॑सः । ऋ॒चा गि॒रा मरु॑तो॒ देव्यदि॑ते॒ सद॑ने॒ पस्त्ये॑ महि ॥

All powers of love and friendship of the world with equal mind may come in to us in our great halls and homes in response to our Rks, hymns of adoration, come all Maruts, friends and brave associates, great inviolable Aditi, motherly figures, come today.

· · ·

8.27.6

अ॒भि प्रि॒या म॑रुतो॒ या वो॒ अश्व्या॑ ह॒व्या मि॑त्र प्रया॒थन॑ । आ ब॒र्हिरिन्द्रो॒ वरु॑णस्तु॒रा नर॑ आदि॒त्यासः॑ सदन्तु नः ॥

O Mitra, O Maruts, sun and winds, friends and brave associates, come and bring us all your dear and lovely gifts worthy of presentation and prize possession. O Indra, lord of power, thunder, lightning and rain, Varuna, waves of cosmic energy and justice in human affairs, and Adityas, solar radiations of the universe, all leading lights of nature and humanity, come fast and bless our homes and seats of yajna.

· · ·

8.27.7

व॒यं वो॑ वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो हि॒तप्र॑यस आनु॒षक् । सु॒तसो॑मासो वरुण हवामहे मनु॒ष्वदि॒द्धाग्न॑यः ॥

O Varuna, lord of light and justice, day and night, and other divine powers of nature and humanity, like men of love and faith we invoke and adore you now as ever. The grass carpets are spread and occupied, the sacred fires are lit, the fragrant havis is ready for offering, and the soma is pressed and distilled for the oblation.

· · ·

8.27.8

आ प्र या॑त॒ मरु॑तो॒ विष्णो॒ अश्वि॑ना॒ पूष॒न्माकी॑नया धि॒या । इन्द्र॒ आ या॑तु प्रथ॒मः स॑नि॒ष्युभि॒र्वृषा॒ यो वृ॑त्र॒हा गृ॒णे ॥

Come forth to us, O Maruts, stormy forces of nature and humanity, Vishnu, all pervasive ruling power, Ashvins, complementary powers of natural and social dynamics, and Pushan, powers of health, nourishment and growth, come in response to my prayers and acts of yajna. Indra, lord of showers who are destroyer of evil and darkness, first and foremost power, come with the first and best associate powers, I adore you and pray.

· · ·

8.27.9

वि नो॑ देवासो अद्रु॒होऽच्छि॑द्रं॒

शर्म॑ यच्छत । न यद्दू॒राद्व॑सवो॒ नू चि॒दन्ति॑तो॒ वरू॑थमाद॒धर्ष॑ति ॥

O brilliant and generous divinities of nature and humanity, Vasus, lord of wealth and providers of home and security, free from jealousy and enmity, pray give us a faultless home, a place of security which no power from far or near might dare to violate or attack and hurt.

· · ·

8.27.10

अस्ति॒ हि वः॑ सजा॒त्यं॑ रिशादसो॒ देवा॑सो॒ अस्त्याप्य॑म् । प्र णः॒ पूर्व॑स्मै सुवि॒ताय॑ वोचत म॒क्षू सु॒म्नाय॒ नव्य॑से ॥

O divinities of nature and humanity, destroyers of negativities and enmities, there is a kinship among yourselves and between you and ourselves. There is a natural affinity too among yourselves and between you and ourselves, a friendship and alliance. Pray enlighten us about our ancient welfare and prosperity and lead us as ever to a new phase of prosperity and well being, the latest way.

· · ·

8.27.11

इ॒दा हि व॒ उप॑स्तुतिमि॒दा वा॒मस्य॑ भ॒क्तये॑ । उप॑ वो विश्ववेदसो नम॒स्युराँ असृ॒क्ष्यन्या॑मिव ॥

O divinities of the world who know and command all wealth and honours of life, just now I, searching for new attainments and cherished joys of life with all reverence and humility, compose and offer to you this sincere song of latest adoration like a new stream of spontaneous creation.

· · ·

8.27.12

उदु॒ ष्य वः॑ सवि॒ता सु॑प्रणीत॒योऽस्था॑दू॒र्ध्वो वरे॑ण्यः । नि द्वि॒पाद॒श्चतु॑ष्पादो अ॒र्थिनोऽवि॑श्रन्पतयि॒ष्णवः॑ ॥

O noble divinities of holy thought, intention and policy, when the lord of light and life, the sun, which is the love and choice of all, rises high up in heaven, then the humans, animals and birds all go about in pursuit of their daily business.

· · ·

8.27.13

दे॒वंदे॑वं॒ वोऽव॑से दे॒वंदे॑वम॒भिष्ट॑ये । दे॒वंदे॑वं हुवेम॒ वाज॑सातये गृ॒णन्तो॑ दे॒व्या धि॒या ॥

Every one of you, divines, for the sake of protection, every one of you, holy ones, for our cherished aims and objects of well being, every one of you, divinities, for advancement and victory in life, we invoke and adore, singing and praising with holy thoughts, words and actions.

· · ·

8.27.14

दे॒वासो॒ हि ष्मा॒ मन॑वे॒ सम॑न्यवो॒ विश्वे॑ सा॒कं सरा॑तयः । ते नो॑ अ॒द्य ते अ॑प॒रं तु॒चे तु नो॒ भव॑न्तु वरिवो॒विदः॑ ॥

All divinities of the world in nature and humanity, all together with gifts of wealth, knowledge and excellence, with equal mind and intention, have been generous to men of holy thought and noble purpose in search of divinity. May they be, today and ever in future, givers of the best of life’s wealth for us and our future generations in peace and plenty.

· · ·

8.27.15

प्र वः॑ शंसाम्यद्रुहः सं॒स्थ उप॑स्तुतीनाम् । न तं धू॒र्तिर्व॑रुण मित्र॒ मर्त्यं॒ यो वो॒ धाम॒भ्योऽवि॑धत् ॥

In the house of prayer and adoration, I exalt you, Vishvedevas, free from jealousy and enmity. O Mitra, loving friend, O Varuna, lord of judgement and wisdom, no fraud, no mischief, no damage can be done to the mortal who dedicates himself with the strength of his body, mind and soul to your light and grace.

· · ·

8.27.16

प्र स क्षयं॑ तिरते॒ वि म॒हीरिषो॒ यो वो॒ वरा॑य॒ दाश॑ति । प्र प्र॒जाभि॑र्जायते॒ धर्म॑ण॒स्पर्यरि॑ष्टः॒ सर्व॑ एधते ॥

He thrives in his home and abounds in plenty of wealth, honour and excellence, who gives in charity in obedience to you, Vishvedevas, for the sake of progress. He rises higher and higher with his progeny and friends in Dharma and, unhurt by sin and violence, grows stronger and higher in life.

· · ·

8.27.17

ऋ॒ते स वि॑न्दते यु॒धः सु॒गेभि॑र्या॒त्यध्व॑नः । अ॒र्य॒मा मि॒त्रो वरु॑णः॒ सरा॑तयो॒ यं त्राय॑न्ते स॒जोष॑सः ॥

Without fight and struggle, he achieves, he wins everything, and he goes further forward by simple and straight paths of honesty without obstruction whom Aryama, guide and pioneer of the ways of life, Mitra, enlightened friend, and Varuna, lord of judgement and wisdom, all generous and affluent, in love and unison together, favour protect and exhort to rise and advance.

· · ·

8.27.18

अज्रे॑ चिदस्मै कृणुथा॒ न्यञ्च॑नं दु॒र्गे चि॒दा सु॑सर॒णम् । ए॒षा चि॑दस्माद॒शनिः॑ प॒रो नु सास्रे॑धन्ती॒ वि न॑श्यतु ॥

Even the simple path you make simpler for him, and the difficult one, easy to follow and cross over. Let the thunder arm go far off from him and fall away ineffective and be destroyed.

· · ·

8.27.19

यद॒द्य सूर्य॑ उद्य॒ति प्रिय॑क्षत्रा ऋ॒तं द॒ध । यन्नि॒म्रुचि॑ प्र॒बुधि॑ विश्ववेदसो॒ यद्वा॑ म॒ध्यंदि॑ने दि॒वः ॥

Omnipresent Vishvedevas in command of the world’s wealth, honour and knowledge, whether it is the time of sun-rise or sunset or the early dawn or middle of the day, hold on to the law of universal truth. You are the committed lovers of strength.

· · ·

8.27.20

यद्वा॑भिपि॒त्वे अ॑सुरा ऋ॒तं य॒ते छ॒र्दिर्ये॒म वि दा॒शुषे॑ । व॒यं तद्वो॑ वसवो विश्ववेदस॒ उप॑ स्थेयाम॒ मध्य॒ आ ॥

The devotee having offered service in worship of truth and divine law, morning, evening or any time, you bless the man of charity with a peaceful home, then, O harbingers of pranic energy, and commanders of the world’s wealth and givers of peace and shelter, pray may we too abide in your midst close to you under your protection and care.

· · ·

8.27.21

यद॒द्य सूर॒ उदि॑ते॒ यन्म॒ध्यंदि॑न आ॒तुचि॑ । वा॒मं ध॒त्थ मन॑वे विश्ववेदसो॒ जुह्वा॑नाय॒ प्रचे॑तसे ॥

Since at sun-rise or at mid-day or in the evening, that is, any time, O powers of world knowledge and world’s wealth, you bear and bring cherished wealth and fulfilment to the man of holy karma, knowledge, wisdom and discrimination, we pray to be in your company under your kind protection.

· · ·

8.27.22

व॒यं तद्वः॑ सम्राज॒ आ वृ॑णीमहे पु॒त्रो न ब॑हु॒पाय्य॑म् । अ॒श्याम॒ तदा॑दित्या॒ जुह्व॑तो ह॒विर्येन॒ वस्यो॒ऽनशा॑महै ॥

Just as a child asks the father for manifold gifts of food and joy, so we choose to ask of you, O brilliant and generous rulers, the same boon of versatile nature: We who offer yajnic service pray, O lords of light and grace, Adityas, let us obtain that holy gift of favour by which we may realise whatever wealth, honour and excellence we cherish in life.

✦ Sukta 28 · 5 verses ✦

8.28.1

ये त्रिं॒शति॒ त्रय॑स्प॒रो दे॒वासो॑ ब॒र्हिरास॑दन् । वि॒दन्नह॑ द्वि॒तास॑नन् ॥

May thirty three divine powers come and sit on the holy grass of yajna vedi to join my yajna, know and secure for me twofold gifts of material and spiritual fulfilment. (Thirty three divine powers or divinities or ‘gods’ are eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati. Swami Dayanand enumerates and describes these as follows: 8 Vasus: earth, water, fire, air, space, sun, moon, and the stars. They are Vasus because they are the abodes and sustainers of life. 11 Rudras: ten pranic energies and the soul. 12 Adityas: twelve phases of the sun in the zodiacs. One Indra, cosmic energy, and one Prajapati, creative energy of nature which creates life and its supports.

· · ·

8.28.2

वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा स्मद्रा॑तिषाचो अ॒ग्नयः॑ । पत्नी॑वन्तो॒ वष॑ट्कृताः ॥

May Varuna, the ocean, Mitra, the sun, Aryama, the cosmic law, and the vital fires with their creative energies for life sustenance, all givers of the cosmic wealth of life energy, invoked and served with yajnic food, arise, join the yajna and help us with material and spiritual fulfilment. (At the individual level, we may interpret Varuna as our sense of justice, Mitra as our sense of love and friendship, Aryama as our sense of judgment and will, and fires as our vitalities working with our will to live.)

· · ·

8.28.3

ते नो॑ गो॒पा अ॑पा॒च्यास्त उद॒क्त इ॒त्था न्य॑क् । पु॒रस्ता॒त्सर्व॑या वि॒शा ॥

Be they our protectors with all their vital powers from the west, north, south, east, above and below.

· · ·

8.28.4

यथा॒ वश॑न्ति दे॒वास्तथेद॑स॒त्तदे॑षां॒ नकि॒रा मि॑नत् । अरा॑वा च॒न मर्त्यः॑ ॥

Whatever these bounties of divine nature wish and desire, the same does come about. No one can resist them, no uncharitable person can move them either.

· · ·

8.28.5

स॒प्ता॒नां स॒प्त ऋ॒ष्टयः॑ स॒प्त द्यु॒म्नान्ये॑षाम् । स॒प्तो अधि॒ श्रियो॑ धिरे ॥

Seven are the potencies of seven, seven are their glories and over and above, seven are the graces they command. (These seven may be interpreted as the five senses, mind (mana) and intelligence, (buddhi). They may also be interpreted as seven Maruts, nature’s stormy forces.)

✦ Sukta 29 · 10 verses ✦

8.29.1

ब॒भ्रुरेको॒ विषु॑णः सू॒नरो॒ युवा॒ञ्ज्य॑ङ्क्ते हिर॒ण्यय॑म् ॥

One is alert and active, all inspiring and versatile, youthful leader, joyous and true, wrapped in golden hue. (The one is interpreted as Soma, moon, and the mind.)

· · ·

8.29.2

योनि॒मेक॒ आ स॑साद॒ द्योत॑नो॒ऽन्तर्दे॒वेषु॒ मेधि॑रः ॥

Another, seated in its own place, wise and illuminant is venerable among the divinities. (This divinity is interpreted as Agni, the eye, and truth.)

· · ·

8.29.3

वाशी॒मेको॑ बिभर्ति॒ हस्त॑ आय॒सीम॒न्तर्दे॒वेषु॒ निध्रु॑विः ॥

Another, constant and unshakable among the divinities holds an iron axe, shaper of things. (This has been interpreted as Tvashta, divine shaper, maker and refiner of things, or the ear or Kratu, performer of holy acts.)

· · ·

8.29.4

वज्र॒मेको॑ बिभर्ति॒ हस्त॒ आहि॑तं॒ तेन॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नते ॥

Another holds the thunderbolt, wielded firmly, by which he destroys evil and dark forces of ignorance, want and suffering. (This is Indra, cosmic energy, or soul, or Daksha, omnipotent will and action.)

· · ·

8.29.5

ति॒ग्ममेको॑ बिभर्ति॒ हस्त॒ आयु॑धं॒ शुचि॑रु॒ग्रो जला॑षभेषजः ॥

Another holds a razor edge weapon in hand, being pure, brilliant and terrible, and controls healing powers of medicine and immunity. (This is Rudra, also inner happiness, which is the essential and primary force of good health.)

· · ·

8.29.6

प॒थ एकः॑ पीपाय॒ तस्क॑रो यथाँ ए॒ष वे॑द निधी॒नाम् ॥

Another watches and guards the paths of life like a sensitive watchman as it knows the secrets of the sources of life’s wealth. (This is Pushan, health energy, or the protective arm of the individual and society.)

· · ·

8.29.7

त्रीण्येक॑ उरुगा॒यो वि च॑क्रमे॒ यत्र॑ दे॒वासो॒ मद॑न्ति ॥

And one of universal fame worthy of homage pervades and covers all three regions of space whereon all the divinities rejoice. (This is Vishnu, omnipresent dynamic spirit of life which wards off stagnation in the living world.)

· · ·

8.29.8

विभि॒र्द्वा च॑रत॒ एक॑या स॒ह प्र प्र॑वा॒सेव॑ वसतः ॥

Two with flights like desire and ambition move around with one, intelligence, and reach wherever they choose to distant places like travellers. (These are the Ashvins, twin divinities of nature’s dynamics, or, at the individual’s level, ambition and ego which fly on the wings of imagination.)

· · ·

8.29.9

सदो॒ द्वा च॑क्राते उप॒मा दि॒वि स॒म्राजा॑ स॒र्पिरा॑सुती ॥

And two of royal magnificence in closest proximity receive and enjoy oblations of ghrta and take their position in the regions of heavenly light. (These are Mitra and Varuna, sun and ocean, heat and cool of nature, or love and judgement, or sunlight and air in human life.)

· · ·

8.29.10

अर्च॑न्त॒ एके॒ महि॒ साम॑ मन्वत॒ तेन॒ सूर्य॑मरोचयन् ॥

Some of them sing great hymns of Sama and glorify their lord and thereby light the sun. (These are the Adityas or universal powers free from threefold suffering, or the ten pranas which strengthen the soul for worship of the supreme lord of life and thereby enlighten the soul.)

✦ Sukta 30 · 4 verses ✦

8.30.1

न॒हि वो॒ अस्त्य॑र्भ॒को देवा॑सो॒ न कु॑मार॒कः । विश्वे॑ स॒तोम॑हान्त॒ इत् ॥

O Vishvedevas, divinities of nature and humanity, none of you is a child, none an adolescent. All of you are equal and great.

· · ·

8.30.2

इति॑ स्तु॒तासो॑ असथा रिशादसो॒ ये स्थ त्रय॑श्च त्रिं॒शच्च॑ । मनो॑र्देवा यज्ञियासः ॥

Three and thirty Vishvedevas thus sung and adored are destroyers of sin and suffering, and therefore you are lovable and adorable by humanity in all their yajnic acts.

· · ·

8.30.3

ते न॑स्त्राध्वं॒ ते॑ऽवत॒ त उ॑ नो॒ अधि॑ वोचत । मा नः॑ प॒थः पित्र्या॑न्मान॒वादधि॑ दू॒रं नै॑ष्ट परा॒वतः॑ ॥

Such as you are, pray save us, protect and promote us, speak to us and enlighten us. Let us not stray out far from the right path of our ancestors or the right path of humanity.

· · ·

8.30.4

ये दे॑वास इ॒ह स्थन॒ विश्वे॑ वैश्वान॒रा उ॒त । अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ स॒प्रथो॒ गवेऽश्वा॑य यच्छत ॥

All the divinities of nature and humanity who are here or who are anywhere in the world as leading lights of humanity may, we pray, give us a spacious and comfortable home for the advancement of our knowledge and culture and for our working potential, success and progress.

✦ Sukta 31 · 18 verses ✦

8.31.1

यो यजा॑ति॒ यजा॑त॒ इत्सु॒नव॑च्च॒ पचा॑ति च । ब्र॒ह्मेदिन्द्र॑स्य चाकनत् ॥

The yajamana who performs yajna himself or has yajna performed by a priest, presses and prepares the soma himself or has it prepared through a priest pleases Indra and obtains the knowledge of Divinity and Veda.

· · ·

8.31.2

पु॒रो॒ळाशं॒ यो अ॑स्मै॒ सोमं॒ रर॑त आ॒शिर॑म् । पादित्तं श॒क्रो अंह॑सः ॥

Whoever offers food to the fire and to the deserving poor in honour of this omnipresent lord, Indra, and offers him oblations of soma mixed with fragrant havis, the lord almighty saves him from sin and evil.

· · ·

8.31.3

तस्य॑ द्यु॒माँ अ॑स॒द्रथो॑ दे॒वजू॑तः॒ स शू॑शुवत् । विश्वा॑ व॒न्वन्न॑मि॒त्रिया॑ ॥

His chariot would shine with wealth and lustre and he, inspired by divinity, would rise in life with wealth and knowledge, honour and social prestige, removing obstructive difficulties and adversities from his path of progress.

· · ·

8.31.4

अस्य॑ प्र॒जाव॑ती गृ॒हेऽस॑श्चन्ती दि॒वेदि॑वे । इळा॑ धेनु॒मती॑ दुहे ॥

Ila, constant mother stream of total prosperity, flows inexhaustible into his home, blessing him with progeny, cows, culture and enlightenment, honour and excellence, day in and day out.

· · ·

8.31.5

या दम्प॑ती॒ सम॑नसा सुनु॒त आ च॒ धाव॑तः । देवा॑सो॒ नित्य॑या॒शिरा॑ ॥

The couple who, with dedicated mind, perform yajna in unison, give in charity, and thus cleanse themselves and their soul, the divinities always bless them with sweets of milk and honey.

· · ·

8.31.6

प्रति॑ प्राश॒व्याँ॑ इतः स॒म्यञ्चा॑ ब॒र्हिरा॑शाते । न ता वाजे॑षु वायतः ॥

Together in love and respect they sit on the holy grass, perform yajna and receive divine gifts of delicious food and drink in plenty, and never do they fail in their battles of life for progress.

· · ·

8.31.7

न दे॒वाना॒मपि॑ ह्नुतः सुम॒तिं न जु॑गुक्षतः । श्रवो॑ बृ॒हद्वि॑वासतः ॥

Never do they neglect the divinities nor do they minimize the gifts of their favour and good will, and thus indeed do they shine bright in glory and exalt the gifts of divinity.

· · ·

8.31.8

पु॒त्रिणा॒ ता कु॑मा॒रिणा॒ विश्व॒मायु॒र्व्य॑श्नुतः । उ॒भा हिर॑ण्यपेशसा ॥

They live a full happy life blest with sons and daughters and golden means of living in prosperity and decency.

· · ·

8.31.9

वी॒तिहो॑त्रा कृ॒तद्व॑सू दश॒स्यन्ता॒मृता॑य॒ कम् । समूधो॑ रोम॒शं ह॑तो दे॒वेषु॑ कृणुतो॒ दुवः॑ ॥

Performing yajna with generous hospitality, creating wealth and giving in charity, contributing to the peace and comfort of all in general for the sake of divine gifts of immortality, blest with milch cows and woolly sheep and goats, they live the good life doing reverence to the divines and enjoying the liberal gifts of divinity.

· · ·

8.31.10

आ शर्म॒ पर्व॑तानां वृणी॒महे॑ न॒दीना॑म् । आ विष्णोः॑ सचा॒भुवः॑ ॥

Living in the presence of Vishnu, all pervasive and protective Spirit divine and universal friend of all life, we pray for the Lord’s gift of the peace, protection, freedom and comfort of the rivers, mountains and the clouds.

· · ·

8.31.11

ऐतु॑ पू॒षा र॒यिर्भगः॑ स्व॒स्ति स॑र्व॒धात॑मः । उ॒रुरध्वा॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Come Pusha, lord of health and nurture, Bhaga, gracious lord of wealth and power, wielder and controller of all power and prosperity for happiness and well being, and may our path of progress be wide open for all round happiness and well being.

· · ·

8.31.12

अ॒रम॑तिरन॒र्वणो॒ विश्वो॑ दे॒वस्य॒ मन॑सा । आ॒दि॒त्याना॑मने॒ह इत् ॥

The world’s obedience and service to irresistible divinity rendered sincerely with mind and soul and the grace of the Adityas gives freedom from sin and selfishness.

· · ·

8.31.13

यथा॑ नो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा वरु॑णः॒ सन्ति॑ गो॒पाः । सु॒गा ऋ॒तस्य॒ पन्थाः॑ ॥

Since Mitra, lord of love, light and friendship, Aryama, universal guide and path maker, and Varuna, lord of judgement and justice, are our protectors, may our paths of advancement and rectitude be simple, straight and easy.

· · ·

8.31.14

अ॒ग्निं वः॑ पू॒र्व्यं गि॒रा दे॒वमी॑ळे॒ वसू॑नाम् । स॒प॒र्यन्तः॑ पुरुप्रि॒यं मि॒त्रं न क्षे॑त्र॒साध॑सम् ॥

With sincere word and thought I serve and adore Agni, eternal and gracious lord of wealth and prosperity. You too serve the same lord of universal love as a friend, the lord giver of fulfilment to us in our existential state of being.

· · ·

8.31.15

म॒क्षू दे॒वव॑तो॒ रथः॒ शूरो॑ वा पृ॒त्सु कासु॑ चित् । दे॒वानां॒ य इन्मनो॒ यज॑मान॒ इय॑क्षत्य॒भीदय॑ज्वनो भुवत् ॥

The chariot of the man of reverence to divinities moves fast forward, and the hero himself, who, with sincere mind and action, performs yajna and offers service to the divinities, goes far forward in the battles of life and surpasses the uncharitables who perform no yajna in the service of humanity and divinity.

· · ·

8.31.16

न य॑जमान रिष्यसि॒ न सु॑न्वान॒ न दे॑वयो । दे॒वानां॒ य इन्मनो॒ यज॑मान॒ इय॑क्षत्य॒भीदय॑ज्वनो भुवत् ॥

O man of charity and yajnic service to humanity and divinity, you will never suffer wrong or damage, O creator of soma dedicated to yajna to the divinities, you will never be hurt and never fail in your life’s mission. The yajamana who, with sincere mind and actions, performs yajna in service to the divinities of nature and humanity surpasses the uncharitables who never perform yajnic service in the field of creative fellowship and cooperation with others, human and divine.

· · ·

8.31.17

नकि॒ष्टं कर्म॑णा नश॒न्न प्र यो॑ष॒न्न यो॑षति । दे॒वानां॒ य इन्मनो॒ यज॑मान॒ इय॑क्षत्य॒भीदय॑ज्वनो भुवत् ॥

The yajamana who with sincere mind and action, serves the divinities, no one can equal by action, much less destroy. Nor does he forsake his own path, nor can anyone else lead him astray. Indeed he surpasses all those who are uncharitable and perform no yajnic service to divinity and humanity.

· · ·

8.31.18

अस॒दत्र॑ सु॒वीर्य॑मु॒त त्यदा॒श्वश्व्य॑म् । दे॒वानां॒ य इन्मनो॒ यज॑मान॒ इय॑क्षत्य॒भीदय॑ज्वनो भुवत् ॥

May there be heroic power and prowess, fast victory and life’s fulfilment for him who performs yajna in service to the divinities of nature and humanity with truth of mind and action, and may he surpass all those uncharitables who perform no selfless service in creative action to divinity and humanity.

✦ Sukta 32 · 30 verses ✦

8.32.1

प्र कृ॒तान्यृ॑जी॒षिणः॒ कण्वा॒ इन्द्र॑स्य॒ गाथ॑या । मदे॒ सोम॑स्य वोचत ॥

O poets of wisdom and imagination, joyous lovers of life and action, in the soma ecstasy of the beauty and grandeur of life, sing and celebrate the wondrous works of Indra, ruler, power, energy and inspirer of life in nature and humanity in the world.

· · ·

8.32.2

यः सृबि॑न्द॒मन॑र्शनिं॒ पिप्रुं॑ दा॒सम॑ही॒शुव॑म् । वधी॑दु॒ग्रो रि॒णन्न॒पः ॥

The awful lord of might and action stems the rising wicked, subdues the bullying exploiter, restrains the greedy devourer, cracks the senseless saboteur and the crooked deceiver, and having destroyed the negative forces, releases the free flow of waters and freedom of action, development and progress.

· · ·

8.32.3

न्यर्बु॑दस्य वि॒ष्टपं॑ व॒र्ष्माणं॑ बृह॒तस्ति॑र । कृ॒षे तदि॑न्द्र॒ पौंस्य॑म् ॥

Indra, cosmic power of nature, you break the stronghold of the cloud of showers from the tip of vast heaven and thus accomplish that wondrous feat of divine power.

· · ·

8.32.4

प्रति॑ श्रु॒ताय॑ वो धृ॒षत्तूर्णा॑शं॒ न गि॒रेरधि॑ । हु॒वे सु॑शि॒प्रमू॒तये॑ ॥

O people, for your protection and promotion, I invoke and call upon the victorious Indra of the glorious helmet who brings a flood of waters from the heights of the cloud in response to prayer and promise.

· · ·

8.32.5

स गोरश्व॑स्य॒ वि व्र॒जं म॑न्दा॒नः सो॒म्येभ्यः॑ । पुरं॒ न शू॑र दर्षसि ॥

Indra of such fame and prowess, heroic leader, happy and joyous, you open the gates of knowledge and victory in action and attainment, as you open the stalls of cows and horses and the gates of a fortress for the performers of soma yajna.

· · ·

8.32.6

यदि॑ मे रा॒रणः॑ सु॒त उ॒क्थे वा॒ दध॑से॒ चनः॑ । आ॒रादुप॑ स्व॒धा ग॑हि ॥

If you take delight in the soma distilled by me and feel the ecstasy of my song of homage, then come from far and come from near and, by your own divine nature, take me on for the food of life you hold for me.

· · ·

8.32.7

व॒यं घा॑ ते॒ अपि॑ ष्मसि स्तो॒तार॑ इन्द्र गिर्वणः । त्वं नो॑ जिन्व सोमपाः ॥

Indra, lord celebrated in song, your devoted celebrants as we are, O lord protector and promoter of the beauty, honour and excellence of life, pray give us the food and fulfilment of life we love and aspire for.

· · ·

8.32.8

उ॒त नः॑ पि॒तुमा भ॑र संररा॒णो अवि॑क्षितम् । मघ॑व॒न्भूरि॑ ते॒ वसु॑ ॥

And, O lord of the power, honour and glory of the world, all joyous and generous, bring us the food of life inexhaustible. Infinite is your wealth and boundless your munificence.

· · ·

8.32.9

उ॒त नो॒ गोम॑तस्कृधि॒ हिर॑ण्यवतो अ॒श्विनः॑ । इळा॑भिः॒ सं र॑भेमहि ॥

And make us rich in lands and cows, knowledge and culture, make us masters of the golden glories of life. Advance us with horses and victories of high and higher attainments in honour and excellence. And lead us to exert ourselves in unison with songs of adoration and libations of homage and gratitude with holy words of joy.

· · ·

8.32.10

बृ॒बदु॑क्थं हवामहे सृ॒प्रक॑रस्नमू॒तये॑ । साधु॑ कृ॒ण्वन्त॒मव॑से ॥

We invoke the lord divine and master ruler who is highly adorable, of long and supple arms of generosity, and always does good for the protection and promotion of all.

· · ·

8.32.11

यः सं॒स्थे चि॑च्छ॒तक्र॑तु॒रादीं॑ कृ॒णोति॑ वृत्र॒हा । ज॒रि॒तृभ्यः॑ पुरू॒वसुः॑ ॥

We invoke the lord adorable who does a hundred great favours to the man at peace and, dispelling the darkness in the mind and heart, sublimates the soul too with the spirit of a hundred good works of piety. Indeed, the lord is of infinite wealth, honour and bliss for all his devotees and destroys their evil and ignorance.

· · ·

8.32.12

स नः॑ श॒क्रश्चि॒दा श॑क॒द्दान॑वाँ अन्तराभ॒रः । इन्द्रो॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

We invoke the lord adorable who does a hundred great favours to the man at peace and, dispelling the darkness in the mind and heart, sublimates the soul too with the spirit of a hundred good works of piety. Indeed, the lord is of infinite wealth, honour and bliss for all his devotees and destroys their evil and ignorance.

· · ·

8.32.13

यो रा॒यो॒३॒॑ऽवनि॑र्म॒हान्त्सु॑पा॒रः सु॑न्व॒तः सखा॑ । तमिन्द्र॑म॒भि गा॑यत ॥

Sing in honour of Indra, that mighty lord and ruler who commands the wealth, honour and excellence of the world, is universal protector and preserver, saviour of his devotees and friend of the lovers of soma and yajna.

· · ·

8.32.14

आ॒य॒न्तारं॒ महि॑ स्थि॒रं पृत॑नासु श्रवो॒जित॑म् । भूरे॒रीशा॑न॒मोज॑सा ॥

Honour and adore the lord and ruler who is great, controller of the world and its law, constant in the dynamics of existence wherein he is the sole conqueror of honour and glory and who, with his power and grandeur, is the ruler of the vast riches of the world.

· · ·

8.32.15

नकि॑रस्य॒ शची॑नां निय॒न्ता सू॒नृता॑नाम् । नकि॑र्व॒क्ता न दा॒दिति॑ ॥

None is the controller of his mighty acts and powers universally pleasant and true, and there is none who can ever say: He has failed to give and bless.

· · ·

8.32.16

न नू॒नं ब्र॒ह्मणा॑मृ॒णं प्रा॑शू॒नाम॑स्ति सुन्व॒ताम् । न सोमो॑ अप्र॒ता प॑पे ॥

There is no recompense due from men of divinity, from the guests and those actively working for yajna and the extraction of soma. The creator of soma, the giver of knowledge and the social worker do not drink for nothing (they pay with service).

· · ·

8.32.17

पन्य॒ इदुप॑ गायत॒ पन्य॑ उ॒क्थानि॑ शंसत । ब्रह्मा॑ कृणोत॒ पन्य॒ इत् ॥

Sing in honour of adorable Indra, recite your hymns of praise in honour of admirable Indra, create your orations to celebrate the glorious Indra.

· · ·

8.32.18

पन्य॒ आ द॑र्दिरच्छ॒ता स॒हस्रा॑ वा॒ज्यवृ॑तः । इन्द्रो॒ यो यज्व॑नो वृ॒धः ॥

Indra, potent lord who commands supreme power and, unobstructed, breaks down a hundred and a thousand adversaries, strengthens and exalts the devotees of yajna.

· · ·

8.32.19

वि षू च॑र स्व॒धा अनु॑ कृष्टी॒नामन्वा॒हुवः॑ । इन्द्र॒ पिब॑ सु॒ताना॑म् ॥

Go forward, Indra, in response to the invitation to yajna of the people and drink of the soma extracted, distilled and offered by them.

· · ·

8.32.20

पिब॒ स्वधै॑नवानामु॒त यस्तुग्र्ये॒ सचा॑ । उ॒तायमि॑न्द्र॒ यस्तव॑ ॥

Drink of the joy and exhilaration of your powers and perceptions which is all associated with your own performance, the super-power that’s you and yours. Indeed, it is all your own power and glory.

· · ·

8.32.21

अती॑हि मन्युषा॒विणं॑ सुषु॒वांस॑मु॒पार॑णे । इ॒मं रा॒तं सु॒तं पि॑ब ॥

Ignore the man who offers yajnic soma in a mood of anger, frustration and protest. Ignore the man who offers yajna and soma but in a joyless and conflictive mood. Accept this soma of homage distilled and offered in a state of delight, love and faith.

· · ·

8.32.22

इ॒हि ति॒स्रः प॑रा॒वत॑ इ॒हि पञ्च॒ जनाँ॒ अति॑ । धेना॑ इन्द्राव॒चाक॑शत् ॥

Indra, come from far, cross over the five classes of people to exhaust the possibilities of their life, transcend the three versions of knowledge, action and prayer, and listen with love and approval the sole one voice of my soul.

· · ·

8.32.23

सूर्यो॑ र॒श्मिं यथा॑ सृ॒जा त्वा॑ यच्छन्तु मे॒ गिरः॑ । नि॒म्नमापो॒ न स॒ध्र्य॑क् ॥

Just as the sun radiates the rays of light over space, just as waters flow down swift and straight, so may the voice of my soul reach you.

· · ·

8.32.24

अध्व॑र्य॒वा तु हि षि॒ञ्च सोमं॑ वी॒राय॑ शि॒प्रिणे॑ । भरा॑ सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ ॥

O organiser and performer of yajna, offer the soma of devotion profusely to Indra, mighty lord of the helmet, and fill the vessel of your heart with divine love and pranic energy to enjoy life to the full.

· · ·

8.32.25

य उ॒द्नः फ॑लि॒गं भि॒नन्न्य१॒॑क्सिन्धूँ॑र॒वासृ॑जत् । यो गोषु॑ प॒क्वं धा॒रय॑त् ॥

Indra breaks the clouds of rain, releases the waters for the rivers to flow down to the sea, and provides mature milk in the cows, knowledge and wisdom in the words of language and ripe grain in the fields of earth.

· · ·

8.32.26

अह॑न्वृ॒त्रमृची॑षम और्णवा॒भम॑ही॒शुव॑म् । हि॒मेना॑विध्य॒दर्बु॑दम् ॥

The refulgent sun breaks the heavy cloud of vapours moving around like a crooked snake, in the middle regions of space.

· · ·

8.32.27

प्र व॑ उ॒ग्राय॑ नि॒ष्टुरेऽषा॑ळ्हाय प्रस॒क्षिणे॑ । दे॒वत्तं॒ ब्रह्म॑ गायत ॥

O celebrants and yajakas, sing the most heavenly song of praise worthy of divinity in honour of refulgent, impetuous, invincible and ever enduring friend, Indra, leader and commander of the ruling and defensive forces of nature and humanity.

· · ·

8.32.28

यो विश्वा॑न्य॒भि व्र॒ता सोम॑स्य॒ मदे॒ अन्ध॑सः । इन्द्रो॑ दे॒वेषु॒ चेत॑ति ॥

Celebrate Indra, soul and ruling spirit in nature and humanity, who, in the excitement and ecstasy of the taste of food and soma, awakens in humans and divines the awareness of all the rules and laws of discipline and commitment to the vows of discipline in life.

· · ·

8.32.29

इ॒ह त्या स॑ध॒माद्या॒ हरी॒ हिर॑ण्यकेश्या । वो॒ळ्हाम॒भि प्रयो॑ हि॒तम् ॥

Here in life on earth, those two golden and refulgent motive powers of nature’s circuitous energy, jubilant and festive co-workers for the chariot of Indra, lord ruler of nature and humanity, may, we pray, bring in holy food for health and energy for the good of all living beings.

· · ·

8.32.30

अ॒र्वाञ्चं॑ त्वा पुरुष्टुत प्रि॒यमे॑धस्तुता॒ हरी॑ । सो॒म॒पेया॑य वक्षतः ॥

Indra, lord universally sung and celebrated, may the two motive powers of your chariot, loved and adored by scholars dedicated to yajnic pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, bring you here to join us and share the ecstasy of soma celebration with humanity.

✦ Sukta 33 · 19 verses ✦

8.33.1

व॒यं घ॑ त्वा सु॒ताव॑न्त॒ आपो॒ न वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । प॒वित्र॑स्य प्र॒स्रव॑णेषु वृत्रह॒न्परि॑ स्तो॒तार॑ आसते ॥

Indra, destroyer of evil, darkness and suffering, we, your celebrants, having distilled the soma, spread and occupied the holy grass, we, sit and wait on the vedi for your presence in the flux of life as holy performers, while the flow of pure immortality continues all round in the dynamics of existence.

· · ·

8.33.2

स्वर॑न्ति त्वा सु॒ते नरो॒ वसो॑ निरे॒क उ॒क्थिनः॑ । क॒दा सु॒तं तृ॑षा॒ण ओक॒ आ ग॑म॒ इन्द्र॑ स्व॒ब्दीव॒ वंस॑गः ॥

Indra, Vasu, giver of peace and security in selfsettlement, while the soma of faith and love has been distilled in the heart and the devotees sing and celebrate your honour in hymns of praise, when would you, keen to join us at the celebration, come to the yajnic hall thirsting to meet the people you love and admire.

· · ·

8.33.3

कण्वे॑भिर्धृष्ण॒वा धृ॒षद्वाजं॑ दर्षि सह॒स्रिण॑म् । पि॒शङ्ग॑रूपं मघवन्विचर्षणे म॒क्षू गोम॑न्तमीमहे ॥

Indra, lord of universal vision, resolute will and irresistible action, ruler and commander of the world’s wealth, power and force, we pray, conceive, plan and bring about for the intelligent people of action and ambition a social order of golden beauty and progressive achievement, full of a hundred-fold prosperity of lands and cows, education and culture, and invincible will, strength and advancement free from indecision and delay in action.

· · ·

8.33.4

पा॒हि गायान्ध॑सो॒ मद॒ इन्द्रा॑य मेध्यातिथे । यः सम्मि॑श्लो॒ हर्यो॒र्यः सु॒ते सचा॑ व॒ज्री रथो॑ हिर॒ण्ययः॑ ॥

O man, you are a visitor and respectable guest on this earth of a golden order of beauty, prosperity and culture. Observe the rules of this order, advance the beauty and prosperity of it, and in the pleasure and ecstasy of its plenty of soma hospitality, sing and celebrate the glory of Indra, lord ruler of vision and action united, commander of the nation’s forces, dynamic and creative, friendly and cooperative, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and retribution, burden bearer and pilot of the golden chariot of humanity.

· · ·

8.33.5

यः सु॑ष॒व्यः सु॒दक्षि॑ण इ॒नो यः सु॒क्रतु॑र्गृ॒णे । य आ॑क॒रः स॒हस्रा॒ यः श॒ताम॑घ॒ इन्द्रो॒ यः पू॒र्भिदा॑रि॒तः ॥

I sing and celebrate the glory of Indra who is generous with both hands right and left, magnificent, holy in action, treasure home of a thousandfold riches, who commands a hundredfold power, honour and excellence and who breaks down the strongholds of evil, darkness and suffering. Indeed he is glorious and adorable.

· · ·

8.33.6

यो धृ॑षि॒तो योऽवृ॑तो॒ यो अस्ति॒ श्मश्रु॑षु श्रि॒तः । विभू॑तद्युम्न॒श्च्यव॑नः पुरुष्टु॒तः क्रत्वा॒ गौरि॑व शाकि॒नः ॥

I celebrate the glory of Indra who is bold and resolute, unbounded irresistible, wears the marks of manly vigour, commands honour and excellence, is an inspirer, mover and shaker, universally respected for his acts of piety, and who for the men of mighty dynamism is generous as earth, gracious as holy speech and loving as mother cow.

· · ·

8.33.7

क ईं॑ वेद सु॒ते सचा॒ पिब॑न्तं॒ कद्वयो॑ दधे । अ॒यं यः पुरो॑ विभि॒नत्त्योज॑सा मन्दा॒नः शि॒प्र्यन्ध॑सः ॥

Who would for certain know Indra in this created world of beauty and glory, how much power and force he wields while he rules and sustains it, Indra who wears the helmet and breaks down the strongholds of negativities with his lustrous might, the lord who shares and enjoys the soma of his own creation?

· · ·

8.33.8

दा॒ना मृ॒गो न वा॑र॒णः पु॑रु॒त्रा च॒रथं॑ दधे । नकि॑ष्ट्वा॒ नि य॑म॒दा सु॒ते ग॑मो म॒हाँश्च॑र॒स्योज॑सा ॥

Indra is generously giving, preventive, counteractive and invincible like a lion, and holds and rules the world of immense variety in motion. O lord of grandeur and majesty, as you move around everywhere by your might and lustre, pray come, bless our yajna and taste the soma of our creation. No one can restrain you, no one counter your will.

· · ·

8.33.9

य उ॒ग्रः सन्ननि॑ष्टृतः स्थि॒रो रणा॑य॒ संस्कृ॑तः । यदि॑ स्तो॒तुर्म॒घवा॑ शृ॒णव॒द्धवं॒ नेन्द्रो॑ योष॒त्या ग॑मत् ॥

Indra who is blazing strong, uncountered and irresistible, constant and unshakable, is ever in perfect harness for the human’s battle of existence, and if he hears the call of the celebrant, the lord of might and majesty never forsakes him, he comes, he saves, he blesses.

· · ·

8.33.10

स॒त्यमि॒त्था वृषेद॑सि॒ वृष॑जूति॒र्नोऽवृ॑तः । वृषा॒ ह्यु॑ग्र शृण्वि॒षे प॑रा॒वति॒ वृषो॑ अर्वा॒वति॑ श्रु॒तः ॥

True it is thus you are virile and generous yourself and an inspiration and driving force for the virile and the brave, unbound, uncountered, brave and illustrious, harbinger of the showers of peace and joy and known as omnificent and sublime all over the world far and near.

· · ·

8.33.11

वृष॑णस्ते अ॒भीश॑वो॒ वृषा॒ कशा॑ हिर॒ण्ययी॑ । वृषा॒ रथो॑ मघव॒न्वृष॑णा॒ हरी॒ वृषा॒ त्वं श॑तक्रतो ॥

Indra, lord of the power, wealth and glory of the universe, agent of infinite acts of creation in the world of existence, strong and golden are the reins of your cosmic chariot, golden is the goad that maintains and controls the speed of its motion, strong and laden with riches is your chariot, strong and virile the motive powers, and you yourself are all potent and generous. (This mantra may be interpreted as a description of the human soul in its own individual sphere provided that it is self-controlled and free from external forces which bind it in the fetters of worldly interests of a selfish and transitory nature.)

· · ·

8.33.12

वृषा॒ सोता॑ सुनोतु ते॒ वृष॑न्नृजीपि॒न्ना भ॑र । वृषा॑ दधन्वे॒ वृष॑णं न॒दीष्वा तुभ्यं॑ स्थातर्हरीणाम् ॥

O lord of omnipotence and omnificence, may the brave and generous yajaka prepare the soma juice of devotion for you. O lord of the law of truth and lover of the rules of rectitude, bring us the showers of peace and prosperity in rectitude. O lord controller and keeper of world forces in order, the generous yajaka receives the showers of your blessings and holds them in trust actively in the streams of existence for yajnic offers to your honour for your service.

· · ·

8.33.13

एन्द्र॑ याहि पी॒तये॒ मधु॑ शविष्ठ सो॒म्यम् । नायमच्छा॑ म॒घवा॑ शृ॒णव॒द्गिरो॒ ब्रह्मो॒क्था च॑ सु॒क्रतुः॑ ॥

Indra, lord most potent, come to taste the honey sweets of soma. Unless you come and bless with grace, this man of power and earthly honour, though devoted to good actions, would not well listen otherwise to songs of devotion and the voice of Veda.

· · ·

8.33.14

वह॑न्तु त्वा रथे॒ष्ठामा हर॑यो रथ॒युजः॑ । ति॒रश्चि॑द॒र्यं सव॑नानि वृत्रहन्न॒न्येषां॒ या श॑तक्रतो ॥

May the motive forces which power and drive your chariot, we pray, bring you hither, O lord of infinite acts of grace, destroyer of evil and dispeller of darkness, past the acts and voices of others without faith in divinity and prayer.

· · ·

8.33.15

अ॒स्माक॑म॒द्यान्त॑मं॒ स्तोमं॑ धिष्व महामह । अ॒स्माकं॑ ते॒ सव॑ना सन्तु॒ शंत॑मा॒ मदा॑य द्युक्ष सोमपाः ॥

O lord of heavenly light, greatest of the great, lover and protector of the soma pleasure and grandeur of life, accept our most intimate prayer and praise today and grant that all our acts of homage in your honour and service be for the peace and dignity of the life we live.

· · ·

8.33.16

न॒हि षस्तव॒ नो मम॑ शा॒स्त्रे अ॒न्यस्य॒ रण्य॑ति । यो अ॒स्मान्वी॒र आन॑यत् ॥

The mighty one who has brought us under his order of law does not accept with delight your decree nor mine nor anyone else’s. (Indra, the soul, is the ruler and controller of the mind and senses. It is not ruled and controlled by the mind or the senses or anyone else.)

· · ·

8.33.17

इन्द्र॑श्चिद्घा॒ तद॑ब्रवीत्स्त्रि॒या अ॑शा॒स्यं मनः॑ । उ॒तो अह॒ क्रतुं॑ र॒घुम् ॥

If Indra, the husband, were to say: “The mind of woman is not controllable” and, also, “that her thought and intellect too is inferior”, (then it is less than half the truth).

· · ·

8.33.18

सप्ती॑ चिद्घा मद॒च्युता॑ मिथु॒ना व॑हतो॒ रथ॑म् । ए॒वेद्धूर्वृष्ण॒ उत्त॑रा ॥

If the two ardent horses of Indra’s chariot together draw the burden of the home-state, then the shaft of the chariot is better and stronger.

· · ·

8.33.19

अ॒धः प॑श्यस्व॒ मोपरि॑ संत॒रां पा॑द॒कौ ह॑र । मा ते॑ कशप्ल॒कौ दृ॑श॒न्त्स्त्री हि ब्र॒ह्मा ब॒भूवि॑थ ॥

O man, O woman: Keep your eyes down on the earth, not up on the sky. Walk on with both the feet together (as the two wheels and the two horses draw the chariot together), Let your lower feet be not bare and exposed (cover them). Let woman be the high priest of the home yajna. (The last three mantras describe the homestate of the social order. The husband and the wife together run the home. The husband is, or may be, the greater burden bearer, still the wife is the chief home minister, and the husband ought to realise this in love, in courtesy, in chivalry, or at least in practical wisdom. Arrogance, pride, anger, passion, all this on either’s part must be subjected to reason and respectful cooperation with mutual recognition.)

✦ Sukta 34 · 18 verses ✦

8.34.1

एन्द्र॑ याहि॒ हरि॑भि॒रुप॒ कण्व॑स्य सुष्टु॒तिम् । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, come with all your powers and perceptions to the sage’s adoration and instruction, and from the light and exhortation of the elevating sage, O seeker of enlightenment, go and rise to the heights of divinity.

· · ·

8.34.2

आ त्वा॒ ग्रावा॒ वद॑न्नि॒ह सो॒मी घोषे॑ण यच्छतु । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

The maker of soma, creator of the joy of a new life, would welcome you here with a loud proclamation and exalt you with the voice of thunder, and from the light and power of the sage’s revelation, O lover of light, go and rise to your own essential heaven of freedom.

· · ·

8.34.3

अत्रा॒ वि ने॒मिरे॑षा॒मुरां॒ न धू॑नुते॒ वृकः॑ । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Here the very edge and foundation of these sages of knowledge and wisdom would shake you and reveal you to yourself as thunder shakes the earth and lightning lights it up all over. And then from the light and thunder of these commanders you would rise, liberated, to your own heights of heaven, O lover and ruler of the light of day

· · ·

8.34.4

आ त्वा॒ कण्वा॑ इ॒हाव॑से॒ हव॑न्ते॒ वाज॑सातये । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

The sages call you here for the art and science of defence and protection and for the victories of peace and progress. And from the light and wisdom of the enlightening sages, O lover and ruler of the light of day, rise to the light and heaven of your own imagination.

· · ·

8.34.5

दधा॑मि ते सु॒तानां॒ वृष्णे॒ न पू॑र्व॒पाय्य॑म् । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

As the sun vests vapours of rain in the cloud of showers, so do I vest in you the first, original and eternal knowledge, protected, protective and enjoyable, of the prime order distilled by sages from experience and vision. Then from the light of this knowledge of the sages of universal law and command, O lover of light, rise to the heaven of light on earth.

· · ·

8.34.6

स्मत्पु॑रंधिर्न॒ आ ग॑हि वि॒श्वतो॑धीर्न ऊ॒तये॑ । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Indra, enlightened with the thought and wisdom of universal order, equipped with the power

and competence of a ruler of cities, come and take over the reins of government for our protection and advancement, and from the light and wisdom of the sages of vision and command, O lover and giver of a rule of peace and enlightenment, rise to the light and heaven of your imagination.

· · ·

8.34.7

आ नो॑ याहि महेमते॒ सह॑स्रोते॒ शता॑मघ । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Come to us Indra, lord wise and great, commander of a thousand forces of protection and progress, ruler of a hundredfold wealth and power of the world, and from the light of the ruling master of this world of knowledge and wisdom, O lover of the light of heaven, rise to the supreme light of existence.

· · ·

8.34.8

आ त्वा॒ होता॒ मनु॑र्हितो देव॒त्रा व॑क्ष॒दीड्यः॑ । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

The host yajaka, yajamana, well wisher of humanity, respectable among the noble and generous, worthy of reverence, invites, exhorts and exalts you. Come, and from the light of the world of rule and order here, O lover of light and wisdom in peace, rise to the heights of heaven.

· · ·

8.34.9

आ त्वा॑ मद॒च्युता॒ हरी॑ श्ये॒नं प॒क्षेव॑ वक्षतः । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

And may the mighty transportive powers stronger than all obstructive forces of pride and arrogance, transport you here to us like the powerful wings of the eagle flying the king of birds to his destination, and may you, from the light and power of this world of rule and order, O lover of light and peace, rise to the light and peace of heaven.

· · ·

8.34.10

आ या॑ह्य॒र्य आ परि॒ स्वाहा॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

O lord ruler of the world, come to us to join the soma celebration of this social order offered with sincerity of thought and word in action, and from the light and joy of this world of rule and order, O lover of light and peace, rise to the light and peace of heaven.

· · ·

8.34.11

आ नो॑ या॒ह्युप॑श्रुत्यु॒क्थेषु॑ रणया इ॒ह । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Come close to us, listen to our songs of adoration of divinity, and enjoy the holy celebrations, and from the light and joy of the earthly world of rule and order, O lover of the light of divinity, rise to the light of heavenly peace and freedom.

· · ·

8.34.12

सरू॑पै॒रा सु नो॑ गहि॒ सम्भृ॑तैः॒ सम्भृ॑ताश्वः । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Vested with the fullness of a dynamic personality with sensitive perceptions, conceptions and apprehensions, come to us with colleagues and companions of equal calibre and take over the reins of leadership, and from the light and wisdom of the earthly order, O lover of light and heaven, rise to the heavenly light of love and benediction.

· · ·

8.34.13

आ या॑हि॒ पर्व॑तेभ्यः समु॒द्रस्याधि॑ वि॒ष्टपः॑ । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Come from the mountains and the clouds, come over the seas and hasten from the farthest regions of the globe, rule, and from the light of this order of rule, O lover of light and giver of peace and settlement, rise to the light of heaven.

· · ·

8.34.14

आ नो॒ गव्या॒न्यश्व्या॑ स॒हस्रा॑ शूर दर्दृहि । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Give us a thousand riches of lands and cows, culture and enlightenment, O brave ruler, give us and develop communications and transport, and from the light and rule of this earthly order, O lover of heavenly light, rise to the light of heaven and eternal joy.

· · ·

8.34.15

आ नः॑ सहस्र॒शो भ॑रा॒युता॑नि श॒तानि॑ च । दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॒ शास॑तो॒ दिवं॑ य॒य दि॑वावसो ॥

Bring us, give us, riches, powers and excellences in hundreds, thousands and lacs, even more, unbounded all, and from the light and culture of this order of earthly rule, O lover of peace and light of heaven, rise to heavenly light and eternal joy.

· · ·

8.34.16

आ यदिन्द्र॑श्च॒ दद्व॑हे स॒हस्रं॒ वसु॑रोचिषः । ओजि॑ष्ठ॒मश्व्यं॑ प॒शुम् ॥

Let us all, and Indra too, lovers of peace, wealth, honour, power and excellence, win a thousandfold wealth of brilliant progress and advancement.

· · ·

8.34.17

य ऋ॒ज्रा वात॑रंहसोऽरु॒षासो॑ रघु॒ष्यदः॑ । भ्राज॑न्ते॒ सूर्या॑ इव ॥

Those who follow straight paths of truth and rectitude, advance vibrant like the winds, love brilliance without violence and move forward at the shortest wave length of speed, shine like stars.

· · ·

8.34.18

पारा॑वतस्य रा॒तिषु॑ द्र॒वच्च॑क्रेष्वा॒शुषु॑ । तिष्ठं॒ वन॑स्य॒ मध्य॒ आ ॥

O lord of light and power, let me be established among the generous and profuse gifts of the farthest spaces, moving at the fastest in the dynamics of the whirling wheels of time, ultimately at peace somewhere at the centre of eternal truth, goodness and beauty of divinity.

✦ Sukta 35 · 24 verses ✦

8.35.1

अ॒ग्निनेन्द्रे॑ण॒ वरु॑णेन॒ विष्णु॑नादि॒त्यै रु॒द्रैर्वसु॑भिः सचा॒भुवा॑ । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ सोमं॑ पिबतमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers and forces of nature and humanity working in circuit, associated with Agni, fire energy, Indra, electric energy, Varuna, water energy, Vishnu, solar energy, Adityas, seasonal energies, Rudras, pranic energies, and Vasus, earth energies, in union with the dawn and the sun, absorb, protect, promote and bring the soma joy of life for the benefit of humanity.

· · ·

8.35.2

विश्वा॑भिर्धी॒भिर्भुव॑नेन वाजिना दि॒वा पृ॑थि॒व्याद्रि॑भिः सचा॒भुवा॑ । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ सोमं॑ पिबतमश्विना ॥

Mighty and dynamic Ashvins, complementary powers of humanity, associated with the twin forces of attraction and repulsion of nature and the world, the regions of light in space, the earth, clouds and mountains, and united with the sun and dawn, receive, protect, promote and bring the soma energy and joy for the benefit of humanity.

· · ·

8.35.3

विश्वै॑र्दे॒वैस्त्रि॒भिरे॑काद॒शैरि॒हाद्भिर्म॒रुद्भि॒र्भृगु॑भिः सचा॒भुवा॑ । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ सोमं॑ पिबतमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, associated with all the thirty three brilliant, plentiful and generous divine powers of nature and humanity, scientifically energised liquids, vibrant pilots and controlled winds, intellectuals and scientists who dispel the darkness and ignorance of society, and in union with the dawn of a new sun in life, receive, preserve, develop and bring the soma energy for the peace and joy of humanity here and now.

· · ·

8.35.4

जु॒षेथां॑ य॒ज्ञं बोध॑तं॒ हव॑स्य मे॒ विश्वे॒ह दे॑वौ॒ सव॒नाव॑ गच्छतम् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चेषं॑ नो वोळ्हमश्विना ॥

Divine Ashvins, twin harbingers of nature and humanity, listen to our call, know our purpose, come and join all our sessions of yajnic creation and, equally in tune with the soothing glory of the dawn and blazing intensity of the sun, bring us food and energy here and now.

· · ·

8.35.5

स्तोमं॑ जुषेथां युव॒शेव॑ क॒न्यनां॒ विश्वे॒ह दे॑वौ॒ सव॒नाव॑ गच्छतम् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चेषं॑ नो वोळ्हमश्विना ॥

Divine Ashvins, twin complementarities of nature and humanity, generous brilliancies, listen and cherish our song of adoration as youthful lovers listen to a lovely brilliant maiden’s, come to our sessions, understand our purpose, and united with the dawn and the sun, transmit to us food and energy in plenty here and now.

· · ·

8.35.6

गिरो॑ जुषेथामध्व॒रं जु॑षेथां॒ विश्वे॒ह दे॑वौ॒ सव॒नाव॑ गच्छतम् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चेषं॑ नो वोळ्हमश्विना ॥

Divine Ashvins, listen to our song and understand, join and cherish our yajnic project of non-violent creation, come to all our sessions, O generous harbingers of food, energy and wealth and, united with the dawn and the sun, bring us plenty of food, energy and all round advancement to our heart’s desire here and now.

· · ·

8.35.7

हा॒रि॒द्र॒वेव॑ पतथो॒ वनेदुप॒ सोमं॑ सु॒तं म॑हि॒षेवाव॑ गच्छथः । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ त्रिर्व॒र्तिर्या॑तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, you reach our yajna eagerly as a thirsty bird flies to water and, like a veteran scholar, you understand and recognise the nectar sweet soma that we have distilled from our yajnic project and you anticipate the future possibilities too. O divine twin powers of the circuitous energy of natural and social dynamics, in unison with the sun and dawn, come to our project thrice a day

· · ·

8.35.8

हं॒सावि॑व पतथो अध्व॒गावि॑व॒ सोमं॑ सु॒तं म॑हि॒षेवाव॑ गच्छथः । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ त्रिर्व॒र्तिर्या॑तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, just as two hansa birds fly to water and as two thirsty travellers rush for a drink, so do you two like veteran scholars fly to our soma results of yajnic projects, understand and assess the positives and negatives of merits and anticipate the possibilities. O twin divines, in unison with the sun and the dawn, come thrice in the day and help us advance forward.

· · ·

8.35.9

श्ये॒नावि॑व पतथो ह॒व्यदा॑तये॒ सोमं॑ सु॒तं म॑हि॒षेवाव॑ गच्छथः । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ त्रिर्व॒र्तिर्या॑तमश्विना ॥

Like falcons you fly carrying holy gifts to the generous yajaka. Like veteran scholars you fly to assess the merit of our soma distilled in yajnic experiments and to anticipate its future possibilities. O twin divines united with the sun and the dawn, come thrice in the day, visit our sessions and help us to advance.

· · ·

8.35.10

पिब॑तं च तृप्णु॒तं चा च॑ गच्छतं प्र॒जां च॑ ध॒त्तं द्रवि॑णं च धत्तम् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चोर्जं॑ नो धत्तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, come, drink the soma, satisfy yourselves about the taste and value of it. Go to the people and carry wealth, strength and power for them. O twin divines, come, bring us energy and advancement in unison with the sun and the dawn of a new day.

· · ·

8.35.11

जय॑तं च॒ प्र स्तु॑तं च॒ प्र चा॑वतं प्र॒जां च॑ ध॒त्तं द्रवि॑णं च धत्तम् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चोर्जं॑ नो धत्तमश्विना ॥

Win the victories of life, O divinities of the nation’s morning, thank and adore the Lord Supreme, protect the people, bear and bring wealth, strength and power for them and hold it too. O twin divines, come and bring us energy and advancement in unison with the sun and the dawn of a new day and hold on.

· · ·

8.35.12

ह॒तं च॒ शत्रू॒न्यत॑तं च मि॒त्रिणः॑ प्र॒जां च॑ ध॒त्तं द्रवि॑णं च धत्तम् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चोर्जं॑ नो धत्तमश्विना ॥

Eliminate the adversaries, adversities and the negativities, exercise and advance the friendly forces with love for cooperation, sustain and maintain the people in a state of happiness, bear, bring and hold wealth and power with assets for the nation. O twin divines, come and bring us energy and advancement in unison with the sun and the dawn of a new day, hold on and relent not.

· · ·

8.35.13

मि॒त्रावरु॑णवन्ता उ॒त धर्म॑वन्ता म॒रुत्व॑न्ता जरि॒तुर्ग॑च्छथो॒ हव॑म् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण चादि॒त्यैर्या॑तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of the nation’s social dynamics in balance for the march ahead, blest with Mitra, people of love and friendship, Varuna, distinguished people of judgement and discrimination, Maruts, vibrant youth and pilots of the nation, all holding on to Dharma, duty in the law of universal truth, listen and rise to the call of the celebrant. O twin divines, come with the Adityas, the sun in progressive zodias, and in unison with the sun and the dawn of every new day

· · ·

8.35.14

अङ्गि॑रस्वन्ता उ॒त विष्णु॑वन्ता म॒रुत्व॑न्ता जरि॒तुर्ग॑च्छथो॒ हव॑म् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण चादि॒त्यैर्या॑तमश्विना ॥

Blest with Angirasas, continuous freshness of life breath and vital energy, Vishnu, omnipresent vision and power of divinity, Maruts, vibrant force and velocity of the winds, rise instantly to the call of the celebrant, Ashvins, and come with the Adityas in progression like the sun’s in the zodiacs and in unison with the sun and the dawn at the rise of every new day.

· · ·

8.35.15

ऋ॒भु॒मन्ता॑ वृषणा॒ वाज॑वन्ता म॒रुत्व॑न्ता जरि॒तुर्ग॑च्छथो॒ हव॑म् । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण चादि॒त्यैर्या॑तमश्विना ॥

Ashvins, generous divinities of humanity, blest with the Rbhus, engineers, technicians and craftsmen, Vajins, pioneers moving forward at top speed, Maruts, vibrant forces of defence and protection, rise to the call of the celebrant and go forward with the Adityas, visionaries of the nation, children of mother earth, in unison with the sun and the dawn of every new day.

· · ·

8.35.16

ब्रह्म॑ जिन्वतमु॒त जि॑न्वतं॒ धियो॑ ह॒तं रक्षां॑सि॒ सेध॑त॒ममी॑वाः । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ सोमं॑ सुन्व॒तो अ॑श्विना ॥

Animate and energise the visionaries of universal values, animate and energise the intellectuals, animate and energise the people in general, destroy the evil and destructive forces, fight out diseases and create the soma of good health and joy in unison with the sun and the dawn of every new day.

· · ·

8.35.17

क्ष॒त्रं जि॑न्वतमु॒त जि॑न्वतं॒ नॄन्ह॒तं रक्षां॑सि॒ सेध॑त॒ममी॑वाः । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ सोमं॑ सुन्व॒तो अ॑श्विना ॥

Animate, energise and develop the defence and administrative forces, sustain and inspire the people in general whosoever they are, destroy the evil and the violent, eliminate ill-health and disease and in unison with the sun and the dawn of every new day create new soma of joy and life’s excitement.

· · ·

8.35.18

धे॒नूर्जि॑न्वतमु॒त जि॑न्वतं॒ विशो॑ ह॒तं रक्षां॑सि॒ सेध॑त॒ममी॑वाः । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ सोमं॑ सुन्व॒तो अ॑श्विना ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of the nation’s development and progress, develop the animal wealth for milk, develop and energise the agricultural, industrial and commercial classes, destroy evil and the saboteurs, eliminate all negativities and, in unison with the sun and the rise of every new day, create and recreate the soma of new joy and enthusiasm for life.

· · ·

8.35.19

अत्रे॑रिव शृणुतं पू॒र्व्यस्तु॑तिं श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य सुन्व॒तो म॑दच्युता । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चाश्वि॑ना ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यम् ॥

Ashvins, who humble the arrogance of the proud, just as you listen to the universal adorations of the sage of threefold freedom of body, mind and soul, so pray listen to the appeal and adorations of the scholar of solar energy, and, in unison with the sun and the dawn of every new day, provide for the people’s security for the night at the close of the day, and thus create another new joy for the people.

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8.35.20

सर्गाँ॑ इव सृजतं सुष्टु॒तीरुप॑ श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य सुन्व॒तो म॑दच्युता । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चाश्वि॑ना ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यम् ॥

Ashvins, breakers of pride and arrogance, listen to the prayer and exhortation of the scholar of solar rays who creates something new toward the improvement of life and, in unison with the sun and the dawn, support and augment his invention like a new creation completed the day before.

· · ·

8.35.21

र॒श्मीँरि॑व यच्छतमध्व॒राँ उप॑ श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य सुन्व॒तो म॑दच्युता । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ चाश्वि॑ना ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यम् ॥

Ashvins who shatter the pride and arrogance of evil forces, take over the yajnic programmes of the scholar of solar science and promote them like radiations of the sun and steer them by controls in unison with the sun and the dawn to advance them further than the last stage completed till the last day.

· · ·

8.35.22

अ॒र्वाग्रथं॒ नि य॑च्छतं॒ पिब॑तं सो॒म्यं मधु॑ । आ या॑तमश्वि॒ना ग॑तमव॒स्युर्वा॑म॒हं हु॑वे ध॒त्तं रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Ashvins, divine twin powers of the social order, direct the chariot hitherward, drink the honey sweets of soma distilled by us. Come, go round and come again. Praying for protection and support for advancement, I call upon you: Come and bring the jewel gifts of life for the generous yajaka.

· · ·

8.35.23

न॒मो॒वा॒के प्रस्थि॑ते अध्व॒रे न॑रा वि॒वक्ष॑णस्य पी॒तये॑ । आ या॑तमश्वि॒ना ग॑तमव॒स्युर्वा॑म॒हं हु॑वे ध॒त्तं रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Ashvins, complementary leading powers of humanity, the yajna of love and non-violence with words of reverence and homage is begun, the soma is refreshing and overflowing, pray come to drink the soma and join the celebration. Come and come again. Praying for protection and promotion, I call upon you to come and bless the generous yajaka with the jewels of life.

· · ·

8.35.24

स्वाहा॑कृतस्य तृम्पतं सु॒तस्य॑ देवा॒वन्ध॑सः । आ या॑तमश्वि॒ना ग॑तमव॒स्युर्वा॑म॒हं हु॑वे ध॒त्तं रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Ashvins, twin and complementary divinities of nature and humanity, come, drink of the soma offered with selfless homage and reverence to your satisfaction. Praying for protection and promotion I call upon you to come and bless the generous yajaka with the jewels of life.

✦ Sukta 36 · 7 verses ✦

8.36.1

अ॒वि॒तासि॑ सुन्व॒तो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः॒ पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कं श॑तक्रतो । यं ते॑ भा॒गमधा॑रय॒न्विश्वाः॑ सेहा॒नः पृत॑ना उ॒रु ज्रयः॒ सम॑प्सु॒जिन्म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र सत्पते ॥

Indra, omnipotent lord of existence, omnipresent in wide wide space, commanding over cosmic waters and winds, winner of all the universal battles of evolution and doer of a hundred acts of divinity, you are the ultimate protector of the maker of soma, the devotee on the vedi waiting for the emergence of divine consciousness. O lord, arise in the heart and drink the soma of his devotion to your satisfaction, most exhilarating and reserved for you.

· · ·

8.36.2

प्राव॑ स्तो॒तारं॑ मघव॒न्नव॒ त्वां पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कं श॑तक्रतो । यं ते॑ भा॒गमधा॑रय॒न्विश्वाः॑ सेहा॒नः पृत॑ना उ॒रु ज्रयः॒ सम॑प्सु॒जिन्म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र सत्पते ॥

Indra, lord of the wealth and power, honour and excellence of the world of existence, pray save the celebrant, he is the protector too of your presence in the heart. Arise in the consciousness and drink the exhilarating soma of his devotion, the share he has reserved for you, O doer of a hundred acts of grace. You are the ultimate winner of all the battles of existential evolution, lord of wide space, commander of cosmic waters and winds, sole lord and master ruler of the world of reality.

· · ·

8.36.3

ऊ॒र्जा दे॒वाँ अव॒स्योज॑सा॒ त्वां पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कं श॑तक्रतो । यं ते॑ भा॒गमधा॑रय॒न्विश्वाः॑ सेहा॒नः पृत॑ना उ॒रु ज्रयः॒ सम॑प्सु॒जिन्म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र सत्पते ॥

Indra, you protect the divine forces of existence and vest them with energy, lustre and grandeur, and thereby they reflect your presence and protect you for our perception therein. O lord, rejoice with them in the divine presence in nature and humanity and, through their ecstasy, drink the exhilarating soma of divine celebration, the share they have reserved for you in devotion, lord and doer of a hundred acts of majesty. You are the ultimate conqueror in all battles of existence, omnipresent in wide space, rolling in cosmic waters, blowing in wind shears and solely presiding over the worlds of reality.

· · ·

8.36.4

ज॒नि॒ता दि॒वो ज॑नि॒ता पृ॑थि॒व्याः पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कं श॑तक्रतो । यं ते॑ भा॒गमधा॑रय॒न्विश्वाः॑ सेहा॒नः पृत॑ना उ॒रु ज्रयः॒ सम॑प्सु॒जिन्म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र सत्पते ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, you are the generator of the regions of light and happiness. You are the generator of the earth. O lord of a hundred great acts of creation, accept, enjoy and protect the exhilarating portion of devotion and ecstasy of the celebrants which they have dedicated to you, and let the ecstasy move their hearts too to your satisfaction. You are the conqueror in all battles of the world between good and evil forces. You are the immanent presence in the expansive space and beyond. You are the life and energy in cosmic waters and in the mighty storms of winds, O lord of truth and justice and master saviour of the good and holy people.

· · ·

8.36.5

ज॒नि॒ताश्वा॑नां जनि॒ता गवा॑मसि॒ पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कं श॑तक्रतो । यं ते॑ भा॒गमधा॑रय॒न्विश्वाः॑ सेहा॒नः पृत॑ना उ॒रु ज्रयः॒ सम॑प्सु॒जिन्म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र सत्पते ॥

You are the generator of the horses. You are the generator of cows. O lord of a hundred acts of divinity, accept the soma of the ecstasy of your creations who celebrate the joy of their being to the extent that they reflect your kindness and grace in their love of life. You are the conqueror in all world’s struggles for existence and survival, immanent in expansive spaces and beyond, the life of cosmic waters and the breath of mighty winds, lord of truth and reality of existence.

· · ·

8.36.6

अत्री॑णां॒ स्तोम॑मद्रिवो म॒हस्कृ॑धि॒ पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कं श॑तक्रतो । यं ते॑ भा॒गमधा॑रय॒न्विश्वाः॑ सेहा॒नः पृत॑ना उ॒रु ज्रयः॒ सम॑प्सु॒जिन्म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र सत्पते ॥

Indra, lord generator of the suns, breaker of clouds and mover of mountains, wielding the thunderbolt of justice and retribution, accept and exalt the happy sage’s song of adoration, enjoy the exhilarating soma of devotion to the last note of the song and bless them, O lord of a hundred acts of love and kindness, to the utmost extent of their capacity. You are the victor in all the battles of existence, lord immanent in and transcendent beyond the expansive space, rolling in cosmic waters and blowing in tempestuous winds, O lord of the truth of existence and saviour of noble humanity

· · ·

8.36.7

श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य सुन्व॒तस्तथा॑ शृणु॒ यथाशृ॑णो॒रत्रेः॒ कर्मा॑णि कृण्व॒तः । प्र त्र॒सद॑स्युमाविथ॒ त्वमेक॒ इन्नृ॒षाह्य॒ इन्द्र॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि व॒र्धय॑न् ॥

Indra, mighty lord of humanity, listen to the prayer of the sage creator of soma and his songs of ecstasy created with a disciplined mind and sense as well as with disciplined will and imagination, just as you listen to the songs of the sage of threefold freedom doing acts of service to humanity and divinity. You protect the sage fighter against evil, tyranny and exploitation all by yourself in the battles of humanity, thereby exalting the songs and actions in honour of divinity. Won’t you listen to me?

✦ Sukta 37 · 7 verses ✦

8.37.1

प्रेदं ब्रह्म॑ वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑ष्वाविथ॒ प्र सु॑न्व॒तः श॑चीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑स्य वज्रिवः ॥

Indra, lord of song and acts of bravery, saviour of poets and warriors in the battles against darkness and evil within the personality and without in the objective world, with all your modes and methods of protection and promotion, protect and exalt this holy song and the creator of the song and soma for the betterment of life. O lord of the thunderbolt, destroyer of the demon of darkness, evil and suffering, impeccable beyond reproach, come, join us and taste the joy of creative soma of the mid-day session of our yajnic action.

· · ·

8.37.2

से॒हा॒न उ॑ग्र॒ पृत॑ना अ॒भि द्रुहः॑ शचीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑स्य वज्रिवः ॥

Indra, lord of blazing might and glory of word and action, challenger of the forces of jealousy and enmity, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and punishment, destroyer of the demon of darkness and evil, want and suffering, adorable beyond reproach, come with all your modes and means of protection and promotion and taste the soma of our mid-day height of yajnic action.

· · ·

8.37.3

ए॒क॒राळ॒स्य भुव॑नस्य राजसि शचीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑स्य वज्रिवः ॥

Indra, lord of holy word and great action, with all your protections and promotions you shine and rule over the one earthly world of existence. O lord of the thunderbolt, destroyer of darkness and evil, adorable beyond criticism and calumny, come and taste the soma of our success at the mid-day session of our yajnic programme.

· · ·

8.37.4

स॒स्थावा॑ना यवयसि॒ त्वमेक॒ इच्छ॑चीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑स्य वज्रिवः ॥

Indra, ruler and master of tactics and power of governance, you balance, join or separate two equal parties from clashing all by yourself by your strength and protective and promotive policies. O lord of adamantine power, decision and action, destroyer of evil, darkness and demonic exploitation, adorable beyond criticism and calumny, come and taste the sweetness of our soma at the peak of our day’s cooperative programme.

· · ·

8.37.5

क्षेम॑स्य च प्र॒युज॑श्च॒ त्वमी॑शिषे शचीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑स्य वज्रिवः ॥

Indra, mighty ruler presiding over the nation, master of divine eloquence and decisive action, with all your safeguards, precautions and tactical actions you govern and promote our consolidated assets, investments and acquisitions safely and positively. O lord of thunderous power, implacable law and inevitable justice, O destroyer of evil, suffering and poverty, adorable beyond question and criticism, come and taste the pleasure and progress of our yajnic programme at the peak of the day’s success.

· · ·

8.37.6

क्ष॒त्राय॑ त्व॒मव॑सि॒ न त्व॑माविथ शचीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑स्य वज्रिवः ॥

Indra, lord of sacred word and irresistible action, with all your methods and policies of protection and progress you deploy your forces for the defence and advancement of the nation, not for your own personal security. O lord of awesome power and justice, destroyer of demonic violence and exploitation, come and taste the pleasure of our soma of peace and progress at the peak of our day’s achievement.

· · ·

8.37.7

श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य॒ रेभ॑त॒स्तथा॑ शृणु॒ यथाशृ॑णो॒रत्रेः॒ कर्मा॑णि कृण्व॒तः । प्र त्र॒सद॑स्युमाविथ॒ त्वमेक॒ इन्नृ॒षाह्य॒ इन्द्र॑ क्ष॒त्राणि॑ व॒र्धय॑न् ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, listen to the eulogies of the dynamic scholar and poet as you listen to the exhortations of the man of action and threefold freedom of body, mind and soul. O lord, you alone by yourself protect and exhort the hero who destroys ogres and saboteurs and exalts the defence powers in the national meets of leaders and pioneers among people.

✦ Sukta 38 · 10 verses ✦

8.38.1

य॒ज्ञस्य॒ हि स्थ ऋ॒त्विजा॒ सस्नी॒ वाजे॑षु॒ कर्म॑सु । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ तस्य॑ बोधतम् ॥

Indra, wielder of power and justice, ruler of the nation, Agni, enlightened sage and scholar, high priest and leading authority on the values of the system of governance, be firmly joined together in the cleanest programme of government in all decisions, actions and developmental plans and their completion for advancement, and know it well that this is the purpose of governance and the social order. You are two leading participants in this sacred yajna. Know this and abide in your position.

· · ·

8.38.2

तो॒शासा॑ रथ॒यावा॑ना वृत्र॒हणाप॑राजिता । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ तस्य॑ बोधतम् ॥

Ruling to the satisfaction of the people, going by chariot and reaching fast wherever needed, destroying the evils of darkness, ignorance, want and demonic injustice and exploitation, never frustrated or defeated but always victorious, Indra and Agni, ruler and enlightened sage and scholar, know this purpose well, follow and never relent.

· · ·

8.38.3

इ॒दं वां॑ मदि॒रं मध्वधु॑क्ष॒न्नद्रि॑भि॒र्नरः॑ । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ तस्य॑ बोधतम् ॥

Indra and Agni, ruler and enlightened leader, the people, leading lights and all, create these exhilarating honey sweets of soma with mountainous efforts to felicitate you. Know this, recognise it, and honour them.

· · ·

8.38.4

जु॒षेथां॑ य॒ज्ञमि॒ष्टये॑ सु॒तं सोमं॑ सधस्तुती । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ आ ग॑तं नरा ॥

Indra and Agni, come to the people’s house of yajna, honoured ruler and leader, join us and enjoy the honey sweets of soma distilled for you so that we may all realise the aim and purpose of the social order the way we want.

· · ·

8.38.5

इ॒मा जु॑षेथां॒ सव॑ना॒ येभि॑र्ह॒व्यान्यू॒हथुः॑ । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ आ ग॑तं नरा ॥

Indra and Agni, leaders of the nation’s enlightened rule and order, come, join the yajnic sessions of the social order and accept the holy offerings with the powers by which you reach out to the people and give them the facilities they need.

· · ·

8.38.6

इ॒मां गा॑य॒त्रव॑र्तनिं जु॒षेथां॑ सुष्टु॒तिं मम॑ । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ आ ग॑तं नरा ॥

Indra andAgni, leaders of the world order, come, listen and accept this exhilarating gayatri homage of mine in your honour.

· · ·

8.38.7

प्रा॒त॒र्याव॑भि॒रा ग॑तं दे॒वेभि॑र्जेन्यावसू । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Indra and Agni, victorious creators of wealth for the nation, come with the early morning divinities and leading lights of generosity to join the yajna and have a taste of the soma of the nation’s honour and success.

· · ·

8.38.8

श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य सुन्व॒तोऽत्री॑णां शृणुतं॒ हव॑म् । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Indra and Agni, listen to the call of the dynamic scholar and poet who offers the soma of yajnic homage, and honour the call of the leaders of thrice won freedom of the body, mind and soul so that you may enjoy the soma celebration of the nation at the yajna vedi.

· · ·

8.38.9

ए॒वा वा॑मह्व ऊ॒तये॒ यथाहु॑वन्त॒ मेधि॑राः । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Indra and Agni, leaders of the nation’s light and fire energy, just as holy scholars and sages invoke you for protection and promotion, so do I invoke and call upon you to come and join us at the soma session of our yajna.

· · ·

8.38.10

आहं सर॑स्वतीवतोरिन्द्रा॒ग्न्योरवो॑ वृणे । याभ्यां॑ गाय॒त्रमृ॒च्यते॑ ॥

I choose and opt for the protection of Indra and Agni who value and honour the knowledge and enlightenment gifts of eternal and constant revelation of divinity by which the dynamism of human culture and grace and the honour and excellence of humanity is defined and celebrated.

✦ Sukta 39 · 10 verses ✦

8.39.1

अ॒ग्निम॑स्तोष्यृ॒ग्मिय॑म॒ग्निमी॒ळा य॒जध्यै॑ । अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वाँ अ॑नक्तु न उ॒भे हि वि॒दथे॑ क॒विर॒न्तश्चर॑ति दू॒त्यं१॒॑ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

I worship Agni, lord of light and fire of life, giver of enlightenment, adored in Rks of the Veda. I invoke and adore Agni to join me at yajna for advancement and pray that it may inspire and bring us the benefit of other divinities of nature and humanity. The poet, creator, omniscient power at yajna, traverses between both heaven and earth and communicates between body and spirit like a messenger, an inspiration, and whileAgni is at work all adversaries and negativities would vanish.

· · ·

8.39.2

न्य॑ग्ने॒ नव्य॑सा॒ वच॑स्त॒नूषु॒ शंस॑मेषाम् । न्यरा॑ती॒ ररा॑व्णां॒ विश्वा॑ अ॒र्यो अरा॑तीरि॒तो यु॑च्छन्त्वा॒मुरो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Agni, lord of light and fire, by this new word of adoration may the negativities of thought and emotion in the personalities of these yajakas, frustrations of the bountiful, all adversaries and adversities, all stupidity, violence and enemies go away and vanish from here.

· · ·

8.39.3

अग्ने॒ मन्मा॑नि॒ तुभ्यं॒ कं घृ॒तं न जु॑ह्व आ॒सनि॑ । स दे॒वेषु॒ प्र चि॑किद्धि॒ त्वं ह्यसि॑ पू॒र्व्यः शि॒वो दू॒तो वि॒वस्व॑तो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Agni, lord of yajna, as I offer charming oblations of ghrta into the fire I offer hymns of adorations to you. Pray know and accept these among and with other divinities. You are the oldest, eternal and gracious messenger of the sun. May all negativities and adversities vanish.

· · ·

8.39.4

तत्त॑द॒ग्निर्वयो॑ दधे॒ यथा॑यथा कृप॒ण्यति॑ । ऊ॒र्जाहु॑ति॒र्वसू॑नां॒ शं च॒ योश्च॒ मयो॑ दधे॒ विश्व॑स्यै दे॒वहू॑त्यै॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Agni bears, brings and bestows upon the supplicant all the food, energy, health and joy as it is asked for. Agni is the giver of plenty of energy, peace, happiness and freedom from suffering and disease for liberal service in honour of all the divinities of nature and humanity. May all negativities and adversities

· · ·

8.39.5

स चि॑केत॒ सही॑यसा॒ग्निश्चि॒त्रेण॒ कर्म॑णा । स होता॒ शश्व॑तीनां॒ दक्षि॑णाभिर॒भीवृ॑त इ॒नोति॑ च प्रती॒व्यं१॒॑ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Agni is known by his powerful and marvellous actions. He is the initiator and original high-priest of the eternal yajnas of the cycles of creation. Selfprovided, generosity incarnate, universally chosen and adored, he comes to bless whoever reposes faith in him with prayer. May all negativities and adversities vanish.

· · ·

8.39.6

अ॒ग्निर्जा॒ता दे॒वाना॑म॒ग्निर्वे॑द॒ मर्ता॑नामपी॒च्य॑म् । अ॒ग्निः स द्र॑विणो॒दा अ॒ग्निर्द्वारा॒ व्यू॑र्णुते॒ स्वा॑हुतो॒ नवी॑यसा॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Agni knows the origin of immortal divinities of nature. He knows the secrets and mysteries of the mortals. Agni is the treasure giver of universal wealth, power, honour and excellence. Invoked and served with latest researches into light and fire energy and its applications, Agni opens the doors of immense possibilities of wealth and power. May all negativities and adversities vanish.

· · ·

8.39.7

अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वेषु॒ संव॑सुः॒ स वि॒क्षु य॒ज्ञिया॒स्वा । स मु॒दा काव्या॑ पु॒रु विश्वं॒ भूमे॑व पुष्यति दे॒वो दे॒वेषु॑ य॒ज्ञियो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Agni pervades the divinities of nature and humanity as vitality, energy, plenty and generosity. He resides in humanity specially among those who are dedicated to yajna and creativity. As the earth nurtures and sustains the entire world life on it, so Agni nurtures and sustains all living beings with joy and inspiration for celebration in song. He is indeed the chief adorable divinity among divinities. May all negetavities and adversities vanish.

· · ·

8.39.8

यो अ॒ग्निः स॒प्तमा॑नुषः श्रि॒तो विश्वे॑षु॒ सिन्धु॑षु । तमाग॑न्म त्रिप॒स्त्यं म॑न्धा॒तुर्द॑स्यु॒हन्त॑मम॒ग्निं य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यं नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

TheAgni which pervades and vitalises the seven yajakas, i.e., five senses, mind and intelligence, and also the seven pranic energies, among humans, which energises the rolling oceans and flowing rivers of the world, which pervades the three regions of earth, skies and the regions of light in the universe, which sustains and inspires the wise and dedicated people and which destroys the violent, to that Agni, first and foremost adorable power in yajnas, let us attain in worship. May all negativities and adversities vanish.

· · ·

8.39.9

अ॒ग्निस्त्रीणि॑ त्रि॒धातू॒न्या क्षे॑ति वि॒दथा॑ क॒विः । स त्रीँरे॑काद॒शाँ इ॒ह यक्ष॑च्च पि॒प्रय॑च्च नो॒ विप्रो॑ दू॒तः परि॑ष्कृतो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Omnipresent and omniscient Agni pervades three regions of the universe wherein reside three realities worth knowing, i.e., Prakrti (nature), soul, and the Super Soul, Parameshvara. Here in He, the one by himself pure, all knowing, all vibrating like super energy of life, feeds and vitaslises thirty three divinities of nature and sustains us with all that we need and desire. May all negativities and adversities all vanish.

· · ·

8.39.10

त्वं नो॑ अग्न आ॒युषु॒ त्वं दे॒वेषु॑ पूर्व्य॒ वस्व॒ एक॑ इरज्यसि । त्वामापः॑ परि॒स्रुतः॒ परि॑ यन्ति॒ स्वसे॑तवो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Agni, ancient and eternal power of existence, you alone among humanity and among divinities rule the entire wealth and power of existence. All around you the dynamic energies of life unfold and flow by themselves, provide vitality of life as messengers of Agni to forms of existence, and ultimately merge with you. May all negativities, adversities and contradictions vanish from our life for all time.

✦ Sukta 40 · 12 verses ✦

8.40.1

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी यु॒वं सु नः॒ सह॑न्ता॒ दास॑थो र॒यिम् । येन॑ दृ॒ळ्हा स॒मत्स्वा वी॒ळु चि॑त्साहिषी॒मह्य॒ग्निर्वने॑व॒ वात॒ इन्नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Indra, lord of power and honour, Agni, lord of light and knowledge, commanding lightning and fire, patience and endurance, strength and courage, give us that positive and irresistible wealth of life by which we may face, resist and throw off strong and violent adversaries as fire fanned by winds destroys forests. May negativities, adversities, alienations and enmities all vanish.

· · ·

8.40.2

न॒हि वां॑ व॒व्रया॑म॒हेऽथेन्द्र॒मिद्य॑जामहे॒ शवि॑ष्ठं नृ॒णां नर॑म् । स नः॑ क॒दा चि॒दर्व॑ता॒ गम॒दा वाज॑सातये॒ गम॒दा मे॒धसा॑तये॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

We do not shrink from you, Indra and Agni, nor do we in any way neglect you both. Indeed we invoke and invite Indra, strongest leader of the strong, to be with us. When, for sure, would the lord come to us, come with Agni at the speed of lightning to inspire us with strength for struggle and victory, to bless us with piety, wisdom and intelligence for corporate action with the spirit of yajna? May all negativities, adversities, alienations and enmities vanish.

· · ·

8.40.3

ता हि मध्यं॒ भरा॑णामिन्द्रा॒ग्नी अ॑धिक्षि॒तः । ता उ॑ कवित्व॒ना क॒वी पृ॒च्छ्यमा॑ना सखीय॒ते सं धी॒तम॑श्नुतं नरा॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Both Indra and Agni like fire and lightning reside and rule at the heart of life struggles. May they, we pray, leading lights, prophetic voices and patriarchal spirits for the loving and friendly, invoked for guidance and answers to questions and mysteries of life, come and, with their vision and wisdom, resolve our doubts and questions to settled certainties of decisive action. May all negativities, adversities, frustrations and enmities vanish from the world.

· · ·

8.40.4

अ॒भ्य॑र्च नभाक॒वदि॑न्द्रा॒ग्नी य॒जसा॑ गि॒रा । ययो॒र्विश्व॑मि॒दं जग॑दि॒यं द्यौः पृ॑थि॒वी म॒ह्यु१॒॑पस्थे॑ बिभृ॒तो वसु॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

O man, with a voice friendly and inviting, like a missionary eager to eliminate the negativities and adversities of life, invoke and adore Indra and Agni, lord omnipotent and the leading light of omniscience, in whose treasure hold of nature are held, controlled and protected for promotion and progress this entire world, the moving expansive universe, the heaven, the middle regions, the great mother earth and unbounded wealth, power and excellence for the children of divinity. May all negativities, adversities, deprivations and alienations vanish from the face of the earth.

· · ·

8.40.5

प्र ब्रह्मा॑णि नभाक॒वदि॑न्द्रा॒ग्निभ्या॑मिरज्यत । या स॒प्तबु॑ध्नमर्ण॒वं जि॒ह्मबा॑रमपोर्णु॒त इन्द्र॒ ईशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Like the sage eager to throw off the veils of ignorance, send up your prayers to Indra and Agni, lord omnipotent and omniscient who, ruling the world of existence with their lustre and majesty, open up the seven fold ocean of obscure and tortuous nature to evolution and reveal the seven stage treasure of mysterious knowledge across fivefold evolution of nature to biological and spiritual stages of knowledge. May all ignorance, frustrations, and alienations vanish.

· · ·

8.40.6

अपि॑ वृश्च पुराण॒वद्व्र॒तते॑रिव गुष्पि॒तमोजो॑ दा॒सस्य॑ दम्भय । व॒यं तद॑स्य॒ सम्भृ॑तं॒ वस्विन्द्रे॑ण॒ वि भ॑जेमहि॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Also prune, cut off and throw out like the dead wood of a tangled creeper the hoarded wealth, unethical power and outmoded knowledge of the exploiter and the antisocial luxury of the selfish consumer, and control and eliminate the fiendish force of the evil so that we may share and enjoy renewed and refreshing wealth, power and knowledge reorganised and recollected into living forms by Indra. May all poverty, superstitions, alienations and enmities vanish from progressive humanity

· · ·

8.40.7

यदि॑न्द्रा॒ग्नी जना॑ इ॒मे वि॒ह्वय॑न्ते॒ तना॑ गि॒रा । अ॒स्माके॑भि॒र्नृभि॑र्व॒यं सा॑स॒ह्याम॑ पृतन्य॒तो व॑नु॒याम॑ वनुष्य॒तो नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

When these our people, with one persistent voice and relentless exhortation, invoke and call upon Indra and Agni who command irresistible power and unquestionable knowledge, then with our dynamic people we would face and fight out all violent oppositions and defeat destructive forces. May all violence, destruction, terrorism and sabotage vanish from progressive society.

· · ·

8.40.8

या नु श्वे॒ताव॒वो दि॒व उ॒च्चरा॑त॒ उप॒ द्युभिः॑ । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्न्योरनु॑ व्र॒तमुहा॑ना यन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वो॒ यान्त्सीं॑ ब॒न्धादमु॑ञ्चतां॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Whoever Indra and Agni, commanding ruling power and light of knowledge, raise from lower regions of ignorance and darkness, and take them to the higher regions

of knowledge and culture, and the seas which they release from bondage, all of them, thus raised and guided, observe their divine laws and live a dynamic life of freedom and enlightenment. May all darkness, ignorance, superstition and slavery vanish from the world, giving way to freedom and progress.

· · ·

8.40.9

पू॒र्वीष्ट॑ इ॒न्द्रोप॑मातयः पू॒र्वीरु॒त प्रश॑स्तयः॒ सूनो॑ हि॒न्वस्य॑ हरिवः । वस्वो॑ वी॒रस्या॒पृचो॒ या नु साध॑न्त नो॒ धियो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

O Indra, commanding lord of perceptive and communicative powers of enlightenment, inspirer and rejuvenator of the celebrant, first, foremost and universal are your gifts of generosity, ancient and universal are your acts and songs of adoration. The grace and beneficence of the almighty are givers of settlement which may, we pray, inspire our mind, senses and actions and lead us to fulfilment and salvation. May poverty, suffering, pride and frustration vanish giving way to universal joy and freedom.

· · ·

8.40.10

तं शि॑शीता सुवृ॒क्तिभि॑स्त्वे॒षं सत्वा॑नमृ॒ग्मिय॑म् । उ॒तो नु चि॒द्य ओज॑सा॒ शुष्ण॑स्या॒ण्डानि॒ भेद॑ति॒ जेष॒त्स्व॑र्वतीर॒पो नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

With hymns and holy actions adore and glorify Indra, resplendent lord who commands the purity and truth of reality, who is adorable, who with his power and brilliance, dries up and roots out the origins and products of drought, greed and exploitation and sets aflow the liberal streams of joy and prosperity. May all poverty, exploitation, greed and unhappiness vanish from the world of humanity.

· · ·

8.40.11

तं शि॑शीता स्वध्व॒रं स॒त्यं सत्वा॑नमृ॒त्विय॑म् । उ॒तो नु चि॒द्य ओह॑त आ॒ण्डा शुष्ण॑स्य॒ भेद॒त्यजैः॒ स्व॑र्वतीर॒पो नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥

Adore and glorify the lord of love, non-violence and holy yajnic action, who is ever true and eternal, who rewards acts of truth and piety and inspires us to think and meditate on piety and divinity, who breaks down the roots and fruits of impiety and exploitation and conquers the streams of joy and prosperity to set them aflow. May impiety, illiberality, untruth and exploitation, all vanish from the world.

· · ·

8.40.12

ए॒वेन्द्रा॒ग्निभ्यां॑ पितृ॒वन्नवी॑यो मन्धातृ॒वद॑ङ्गिर॒स्वद॑वाचि । त्रि॒धातु॑ना॒ शर्म॑णा पातम॒स्मान्व॒यं स्या॑म॒ पत॑यो रयी॒णाम् ॥

Thus do I sing a new song of adoration in honour of Indra, lord ruler of power, and Agni, lord giver of light and knowledge, as I would sing to glorify the father, the giver of honour and enlightenment, and the lord giver of the breath of life. May Indra and Agni protect and promote us with the joy of threefold gifts of truth, action and stability, and may we, I pray, be masters, protectors and promoters of the wealth, honour and excellence of life on earth.

✦ Sukta 51 · 9 verses ✦

8.51.2

पा॒र्ष॒द्वा॒णः प्रस्क॑ण्वं॒ सम॑सादय॒च्छया॑नं॒ जिव्रि॒मुद्धि॑तम् । स॒हस्रा॑ण्यसिषास॒द्गवा॒मृषि॒स्त्वोतो॒ दस्य॑वे॒ वृकः॑ ॥

When debility of mind and speech took over the old, unsettled and depressed intellectual, then the sage, inspired and strengthened by you as a thunderbolt made him sit in a thousand rays of the sun for treatment and cure.

· · ·

8.51.3

य उ॒क्थेभि॒र्न वि॒न्धते॑ चि॒किद्य ऋ॑षि॒चोद॑नः । इन्द्रं॒ तमच्छा॑ वद॒ नव्य॑स्या म॒त्यरि॑ष्यन्तं॒ न भोज॑से ॥

He who is not attained by mere words of song, who knows, and who inspires the sages to know, that Indra you adore and worship well with sincere mind and thought in order to experience the lord as one who never hurts anyone, who always loves and blesses.

· · ·

8.51.4

यस्मा॑ अ॒र्कं स॒प्तशी॑र्षाणमानृ॒चुस्त्रि॒धातु॑मुत्त॒मे प॒दे । स त्वि१॒॑मा विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि चिक्रद॒दादिज्ज॑निष्ट॒ पौंस्य॑म् ॥

To do honour to Indra, people adore the seven- rayed sun in high heaven who lights and sustains three worlds of heaven, earth and the middle regions. He creates all regions of the universe and thus reveals his power and generosity

· · ·

8.51.5

यो नो॑ दा॒ता वसू॑ना॒मिन्द्रं॒ तं हू॑महे व॒यम् । वि॒द्मा ह्य॑स्य सुम॒तिं नवी॑यसीं ग॒मेम॒ गोम॑ति व्र॒जे ॥

We invoke and adore Indra who is the giver of wealth, honour and excellence to us. We know and adore the gifts of his love and good will ever new and newer and pray we may abide in the light of his knowledge and follow the paths shown by the light divine.

· · ·

8.51.6

यस्मै॒ त्वं व॑सो दा॒नाय॒ शिक्ष॑सि॒ स रा॒यस्पोष॑मश्नुते । तं त्वा॑ व॒यं म॑घवन्निन्द्र गिर्वणः सु॒ताव॑न्तो हवामहे ॥

Whoever you enlighten, enable and empower to give in charity, O lord of wealth and shelter home of the universe, he obtains wealth, sustenance and progress further and further. O lord of magnificence and majesty, Indra, most adorable and celebrated, blest as we are with wealth, excellence and the spirit of homage, we invoke, invite and adore you and pray bless us with love, charity and grace.

· · ·

8.51.7

क॒दा च॒न स्त॒रीर॑सि॒ नेन्द्र॑ सश्चसि दा॒शुषे॑ । उपो॒पेन्नु म॑घव॒न्भूय॒ इन्नु ते॒ दानं॑ दे॒वस्य॑ पृच्यते ॥

Never are you unfruitful, never unchari-table, you are always with the giver, closer and closer, more and more, again and again, O lord of wealth and honour, and the charity of divinity ever grows higher and promotes the giver.

· · ·

8.51.8

प्र यो न॑न॒क्षे अ॒भ्योज॑सा॒ क्रिविं॑ व॒धैः शुष्णं॑ निघो॒षय॑न् । य॒देदस्त॑म्भीत्प्र॒थय॑न्न॒मूं दिव॒मादिज्ज॑निष्ट॒ पार्थि॑वः ॥

When he had expanded and pervaded the heavens and firmed the higher regions, seized the cloud with his blazing might and struck the drought to naught, then he caused the earthly forms of life to emerge.

· · ·

8.51.9

यस्या॒यं विश्व॒ आर्यो॒ दासः॑ शेवधि॒पा अ॒रिः । ति॒रश्चि॑द॒र्ये रुश॑मे॒ परी॑रवि॒ तुभ्येत्सो अ॑ज्यते र॒यिः ॥

This entire world whether it is dynamic and progressive, or reactionary and slavish, whether it guards the wealth of life or destroys it, all this wealth, directly or indirectly, is circulating within the presence of Indra, the master, awfully armed, destroyer of destroyers, to whom it really and ultimately belongs.

· · ·

8.51.10

तु॒र॒ण्यवो॒ मधु॑मन्तं घृत॒श्चुतं॒ विप्रा॑सो अ॒र्कमा॑नृचुः । अ॒स्मे र॒यिः प॑प्रथे॒ वृष्ण्यं॒ शवो॒ऽस्मे सु॑वा॒नास॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

Dynamic scholars and vibrant sages offer to Indra the song of adoration replete with honey sweets and liquid power of exhortation. Let the beauty and prosperity of life increase among us, let generous and virile strength and vitality grow, and let streams of inspiring soma flow.

✦ Sukta 52 · 10 verses ✦

8.52.1

यथा॒ मनौ॒ विव॑स्वति॒ सोमं॑ श॒क्रापि॑बः सु॒तम् । यथा॑ त्रि॒ते छन्द॑ इन्द्र॒ जुजो॑षस्या॒यौ मा॑दयसे॒ सचा॑ ॥

Omnipotent Indra, just as you drink, protect and promote the soma of the ecstasy of divine vision distilled and collected in the mind of the brilliant meditative sage, as you join the divine joy of the devotee who has achieved threefold freedom of body, mind and soul, so you join the divine joy and celebration at the heart of the sage of experience and discriminative vision.

· · ·

8.52.2

पृष॑ध्रे॒ मेध्ये॑ मात॒रिश्व॒नीन्द्र॑ सुवा॒ने अम॑न्दथाः । यथा॒ सोमं॒ दश॑शिप्रे॒ दशो॑ण्ये॒ स्यूम॑रश्मा॒वृजू॑नसि ॥

Indra, O divine soul, enjoy soma ecstasy in the company of the inspired celebrant, the vibrant sage of cosmic imagination, abundantly fulfilled devotee of divinity, the realised visionary of the light of knowledge, and the sage of natural and simple rectitude.

· · ·

8.52.3

य उ॒क्था केव॑ला द॒धे यः सोमं॑ धृषि॒तापि॑बत् । यस्मै॒ विष्णु॒स्त्रीणि॑ प॒दा वि॑चक्र॒म उप॑ मि॒त्रस्य॒ धर्म॑भिः ॥

Who loves and accepts only the pure, original, un-interpolated hymns of the Veda, who is keen for victory worthy of the brave and cherishes the joy of that ecstatic ambition, for whom Vishnu, lord omnipresent, energises the three orders of earth, skies and heaven in existence, out of love for him in the cosmic law, that is Indra, the divine soul.

· · ·

8.52.4

यस्य॒ त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ स्तोमे॑षु चा॒कनो॒ वाजे॑ वाजिञ्छतक्रतो । तं त्वा॑ व॒यं सु॒दुघा॑मिव गो॒दुहो॑ जुहू॒मसि॑ श्रव॒स्यवः॑ ॥

In whose hymns of adoration and victorious deeds you delight, O hero of a hundred grand deeds and victory, the same we, seekers of sustenance, honour and fame, invoke, you Indra, and pray for blessings as milkmen love and treat a generous cow for the gift of milk.

· · ·

8.52.5

यो नो॑ दा॒ता स नः॑ पि॒ता म॒हाँ उ॒ग्र ई॑शान॒कृत् । अया॑मन्नु॒ग्रो म॒घवा॑ पुरू॒वसु॒र्गोरश्व॑स्य॒ प्र दा॑तु नः ॥

He who is the giver of every thing for us, he is our father, great, illustrious, ruler and creator of ruling glory, unretreating, blazing brave, glorious, universal shelter and treasure home of wealth. May he, we pray, give us the wealth of lands and cows, knowledge and culture, and horses, achievements, success and constant progress.

· · ·

8.52.6

यस्मै॒ त्वं व॑सो दा॒नाय॒ मंह॑से॒ स रा॒यस्पोष॑मिन्वति । व॒सू॒यवो॒ वसु॑पतिं श॒तक्र॑तुं॒ स्तोमै॒रिन्द्रं॑ हवामहे ॥

O lord of wealth and honour, whoever you ask and inspire to give in charity, rises in wealth, health and advancement. We, seekers of wealth, honour and fame, invoke and glorify Indra, lord ruler and protector of the world’s wealth and grandeur, hero of a hundred acts of holiness, with hymns of adoration.

· · ·

8.52.7

क॒दा च॒न प्र यु॑च्छस्यु॒भे नि पा॑सि॒ जन्म॑नी । तुरी॑यादित्य॒ हव॑नं त इन्द्रि॒यमा त॑स्थाव॒मृतं॑ दि॒वि ॥

Eternal lord immanent and transcendent, when is it you neglect your devotee? Never. You bless both lives, this here and the next hereafter. Indeed the very call on you in prayer means honour and glory immortal which abides in heaven.

· · ·

8.52.8

यस्मै॒ त्वं म॑घवन्निन्द्र गिर्वणः॒ शिक्षो॒ शिक्ष॑सि दा॒शुषे॑ । अ॒स्माकं॒ गिर॑ उ॒त सु॑ष्टु॒तिं व॑सो कण्व॒वच्छृ॑णुधी॒ हव॑म् ॥

Indra, lord adorable and glorified, eternal teacher, whoever the generous giver you inspire to give, and, in response to his charity, you bless, like him and like the divine response to prayers of the wise, pray listen and accept our adoration and prayer, respond to our invocation, O lord of world’s wealth and excellence.

· · ·

8.52.9

अस्ता॑वि॒ मन्म॑ पू॒र्व्यं ब्रह्मेन्द्रा॑य वोचत । पू॒र्वीॠ॒तस्य॑ बृह॒तीर॑नूषत स्तो॒तुर्मे॒धा अ॑सृक्षत ॥

Eternal and adorable song of divine praise has been presented. Chant that for Indra, the divine soul. Sing the grand old hymns of divine law and glorify the lord. Inspire and augment the mind and soul of the celebrant.

· · ·

8.52.10

समिन्द्रो॒ रायो॑ बृह॒तीर॑धूनुत॒ सं क्षो॒णी समु॒ सूर्य॑म् । सं शु॒क्रासः॒ शुच॑यः॒ सं गवा॑शिरः॒ सोमा॒ इन्द्र॑ममन्दिषुः ॥

Let Indra, divine soul, chant and liberate the grand abundance of spontaneous divine hymns in honour of Indra, let the earth and heaven resound, let the hymns reach the sun. Let the pure, powerful and sanctified soma abundance of divine celebration please Indra, lord omnipotent and omnificent.

✦ Sukta 53 · 8 verses ✦

8.53.1

उ॒प॒मं त्वा॑ म॒घोनां॒ ज्येष्ठं॑ च वृष॒भाणा॑म् । पू॒र्भित्त॑मं मघवन्निन्द्र गो॒विद॒मीशा॑नं रा॒य ई॑महे ॥

Indra, lord of royal magnificence and divine glory, for wealth, honour, excellence and magnanimity, for charity and generosity, we pray to you, prime symbol of the wealthy, powerful and glorious, first and highest of the generous and virile, most potent breaker of the strongholds of want and ignorance, master of the earth and stars and ruler of the universe.

· · ·

8.53.2

य आ॒युं कुत्स॑मतिथि॒ग्वमर्द॑यो वावृधा॒नो दि॒वेदि॑वे । तं त्वा॑ व॒यं हर्य॑श्वं श॒तक्र॑तुं वाज॒यन्तो॑ हवामहे ॥

Seekers of food and energy, honour and excellence, and advancement and success in life, we pray to you, lord of a hundred great acts of holiness, commander of the dynamic forces of achievement, you who give life, thunderbolt of power and justice, and the spirit of hospitality to people while you lead them on the path of progress day by day.

· · ·

8.53.3

आ नो॒ विश्वे॑षां॒ रसं॒ मध्वः॑ सिञ्च॒न्त्वद्र॑यः । ये प॑रा॒वति॑ सुन्वि॒रे जने॒ष्वा ये अ॑र्वा॒वतीन्द॑वः ॥

May the clouds and mountains, and the generous sages among people, whether far off or close by who distil for us the honey sweet essence of all the facts of life, bless us like showers of rain.

· · ·

8.53.4

विश्वा॒ द्वेषां॑सि ज॒हि चाव॒ चा कृ॑धि॒ विश्वे॑ सन्व॒न्त्वा वसु॑ । शीष्टे॑षु चित्ते मदि॒रासो॑ अं॒शवो॒ यत्रा॒ सोम॑स्य तृ॒म्पसि॑ ॥

Indra, divine soul, destroy all hate and enmities, protect the yajamana and others, do good, let all create all wealth and joys of the world in the heart of the educated and cultured where you drink and enjoy the exhilarating draughts of soma.

· · ·

8.53.5

इन्द्र॒ नेदी॑य॒ एदि॑हि मि॒तमे॑धाभिरू॒तिभिः॑ । आ शं॑तम॒ शंत॑माभिर॒भिष्टि॑भि॒रा स्वा॑पे स्वा॒पिभिः॑ ॥

Indra, closest power divine, come at the earliest with sure protections of definite resolution of mind. Lord of supreme peace, come with most peaceful fulfilment of desire, come, dear friend, with most friendly powers of protection and progress.

· · ·

8.53.6

आ॒जि॒तुरं॒ सत्प॑तिं वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिं कृ॒धि प्र॒जास्वाभ॑गम् । प्र सू ति॑रा॒ शची॑भि॒र्ये त॑ उ॒क्थिनः॒ क्रतुं॑ पुन॒त आ॑नु॒षक् ॥

Create among the people and their coming generations that power, prosperity and grandeur which gives victory and progress, protects and promotes truth and the good people, and which is universally good, positive and creative. With your noble powers and actions help and save those who are your celebrants and perform noble yajnic actions in your honour with love and faith.

· · ·

8.53.7

यस्ते॒ साधि॒ष्ठोऽव॑से॒ ते स्या॑म॒ भरे॑षु ते । व॒यं होत्रा॑भिरु॒त दे॒वहू॑तिभिः सस॒वांसो॑ मनामहे ॥

Whoever is the most efficient and eligible for your love and protection, we pray, the same we may be to achieve in your divine projects and obligations. Seekers of honour and excellence, with all our invocations, homage and service to the divinities, we adore you and pray for protection and advancement.

· · ·

8.53.8

अ॒हं हि ते॑ हरिवो॒ ब्रह्म॑ वाज॒युरा॒जिं यामि॒ सदो॒तिभिः॑ । त्वामिदे॒व तममे॒ सम॑श्व॒युर्ग॒व्युरग्र॑॑ मथी॒नाम् ॥

O lord omnipotent, you are the master and controller of the powers and dynamics of the world. Seeker of strength and victory, always by virtue of your protections I go forward to any great battle. Seeker of victory and earthly prosperity, I depend on you only, first and foremost of the warriors of the world.

✦ Sukta 54 · 8 verses ✦

8.54.1

ए॒तत्त॑ इन्द्र वी॒र्यं॑ गी॒र्भिर्गृ॒णन्ति॑ का॒रवः॑ । ते स्तोभ॑न्त॒ ऊर्ज॑मावन्घृत॒श्चुतं॑ पौ॒रासो॑ नक्षन्धी॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Indra, gracious lord of omnipotence, poets and artists with their holy voices, celebrate and exalt this virility, valour and heroism of yours. Singing and celebrating, they obtain energy and self-assurance, and the people, with their thoughts, actions and meditation realise joy, ananda, of the highest gracious order.

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8.54.2

नक्ष॑न्त॒ इन्द्र॒मव॑से सुकृ॒त्यया॒ येषां॑ सु॒तेषु॒ मन्द॑से । यथा॑ संव॒र्ते अम॑दो॒ यथा॑ कृ॒श ए॒वास्मे इ॑न्द्र मत्स्व ॥

Indra, the people, in whose realised strength and joy you delight, obtain honour and grace by their noble action. We pray just as you take delight in the acts of the self-controlled man and appreciate the limitations of the attenuated, so accept and cherish whatever homage we are able to offer for protection and grace.

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8.54.3

आ नो॒ विश्वे॑ स॒जोष॑सो॒ देवा॑सो॒ गन्त॒नोप॑ नः । वस॑वो रु॒द्रा अव॑से न॒ आ ग॑मञ्छृ॒ण्वन्तु॑ म॒रुतो॒ हव॑म् ॥

Let all friends and divinities of the world come to us and bless. Let all Vasus such as earth, all Rudras such as pranic energies, come and bless us for our protection and sustenance, and may the Maruts, vibrations of divinity and high priests of yajna, listen to our call and come with gifts of grace.

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8.54.4

पू॒षा विष्णु॒र्हव॑नं मे॒ सर॑स्व॒त्यव॑न्तु स॒प्त सिन्ध॑वः । आपो॒ वातः॒ पर्व॑तासो॒ वन॒स्पतिः॑ शृ॒णोतु॑ पृथि॒वी हव॑म् ॥

May Pusha, sun and other powers of nourishment, Vishnu, omnipresent divine power, Sarasvati, divine vibrations of cosmic awareness, and the seven seas attend to my call, honour it and protect me. May Apah, nature’s flow of liquid energies, Vatah, the winds, mountains and the clouds, herbs and trees and the earth perceive my call and help.

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8.54.5

यदि॑न्द्र॒ राधो॒ अस्ति॑ ते॒ माघो॑नं मघवत्तम । तेन॑ नो बोधि सध॒माद्यो॑ वृ॒धे भगो॑ दा॒नाय॑ वृत्रहन् ॥

Indra, lord of highest glory among the powerful, your munificence and power of accomplishment under control of your majesty is great. By that power of majesty, O lord of honour and liberal grandeur, friend of the house of yajnic celebration, destroyer of evil and want, enlighten us for advancement and inspire us with the spirit of charity.

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8.54.6

आजि॑पते नृपते॒ त्वमिद्धि नो॒ वाज॒ आ व॑क्षि सुक्रतो । वी॒ती होत्रा॑भिरु॒त दे॒ववी॑तिभिः सस॒वांसो॒ वि शृ॑ण्विरे ॥

Guide and protector of our struggles and our people in struggle for advancement, ruler of the human nation, inspirer of noble acts of charity, you alone conduct us successfully through our battles for progress. Seekers of honour and excellence win fame and glory by cherished yajnic performers and their service and devotion to the divinities of nature and humanity.

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8.54.7

सन्ति॒ ह्य१॒॑र्य आ॒शिष॒ इन्द्र॒ आयु॒र्जना॑नाम् । अ॒स्मान्न॑क्षस्व मघव॒न्नुपाव॑से धु॒क्षस्व॑ पि॒प्युषी॒मिष॑म् ॥

The hopes and ambitions and the health and age of humanity depend on Indra, lord of the world and humanity. O lord of glory, pray accept us close to you for the sake of protection and advancement and bless us with energy and inspiration to rise high.

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8.54.8

व॒यं त॑ इन्द्र॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्विधेम॒ त्वम॒स्माकं॑ शतक्रतो । महि॑ स्थू॒रं श॑श॒यं राधो॒ अह्र॑यं॒ प्रस्क॑ण्वाय॒ नि तो॑शय ॥

Indra, lord of glory, we do homage to you with hymns of adoration. O lord of a hundred acts of kindness and magnificence, bless the dedicated sage with great, lasting, dynamic competence for success which is creditable and honourable.

✦ Sukta 55 · 5 verses ✦

8.55.1

भूरीदिन्द्र॑स्य वी॒र्यं१॒॑ व्यख्य॑म॒भ्याय॑ति । राध॑स्ते दस्यवे वृक ॥

Let me describe in detail the heroic power of Indra. O destroyer of the violent and wicked, your strength and competence against the destroyer shines all round, that’s your bounty and grandeur.

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8.55.2

श॒तं श्वे॒तास॑ उ॒क्षणो॑ दि॒वि तारो॒ न रो॑चन्ते । म॒ह्ना दिवं॒ न त॑स्तभुः ॥

Hundreds of brilliant acts of virile generosity shine like stars in the skies as if with your might and grandeur they hold up the heavens of light.

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8.55.3

श॒तं वे॒णूञ्छ॒तं शुनः॑ श॒तं चर्मा॑णि म्ला॒तानि॑ । श॒तं मे॑ बल्बजस्तु॒का अरु॑षीणां॒ चतुः॑शतम् ॥

Hundred clusters of trees, hundred other such gifts of generosity, hundred shields well polished, hundred bundles of grass and four hundred fields of shining fertile land, that’s the gift of generous Indra.

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8.55.4

सु॒दे॒वाः स्थ॑ काण्वायना॒ वयो॑वयो विच॒रन्तः॑ । अश्वा॑सो॒ न च॑ङ्क्रमत ॥

Celebrants of knowledge and wisdom, teachers and students, be good, generous and brilliant, go on strong and stronger, moving and rising higher and higher like real men of ambition.

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8.55.5

आदित्सा॒प्तस्य॑ चर्किर॒न्नानू॑नस्य॒ महि॒ श्रवः॑ । श्यावी॑रतिध्व॒सन्प॒थश्चक्षु॑षा च॒न सं॒नशे॑ ॥

And then do honour to the greatness and glory of the perfect lord of sevenfold world of existence, Indra. The man who can cross through the darkest paths of life can see and attain to the lord even through his own eyes.

✦ Sukta 56 · 5 verses ✦

8.56.1

प्रति॑ ते दस्यवे वृक॒ राधो॑ अद॒र्श्यह्र॑यम् । द्यौर्न प्र॑थि॒ना शवः॑ ॥

O scourge of the evil, your power and generosity is blameless and admirable, and your power and glory, expansive as the light of heaven is seen shining through space.

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8.56.2

दश॒ मह्यं॑ पौतक्र॒तः स॒हस्रा॒ दस्य॑वे॒ वृकः॑ । नित्या॑द्रा॒यो अ॑मंहत ॥

The heroic ruler, scourge of evil and the grabbers, doing good and blameless actions, gives me ten thousand gifts and grants from the wealth of his regular collections.

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8.56.3

श॒तं मे॑ गर्द॒भानां॑ श॒तमूर्णा॑वतीनाम् । श॒तं दा॒साँ अति॒ स्रजः॑ ॥

He gives me a hundred mules, a hundred woolly sheep, and grants me a hundred permanent assistants and garlands of honour.

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8.56.4

तत्रो॒ अपि॒ प्राणी॑यत पू॒तक्र॑तायै॒ व्य॑क्ता । अश्वा॑ना॒मिन्न यू॒थ्या॑म् ॥

And therein too, for the sake of greater and nobler strength and efficiency, the dynamic leader infused exceptional collective strength and spirit as if of a regiment of horse.

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8.56.5

अचे॑त्य॒ग्निश्चि॑कि॒तुर्ह॑व्य॒वाट् स सु॒मद्र॑थः । अ॒ग्निः शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॑ बृ॒हत्सूरो॑ अरोचत दि॒वि सूर्यो॑ अरोचत ॥

Agni is self-conscious, enlightens and, self- conducted on its own waves of radiation, carries the fragrance of yajnic havi as well as the light of knowledge from the vedi all round. Agni, brave and expansive like space shines with the flames of fire and purity and blazes with splendour like the sun in heaven.

✦ Sukta 57 · 4 verses ✦

8.57.1

यु॒वं दे॑वा॒ क्रतु॑ना पू॒र्व्येण॑ यु॒क्ता रथे॑न तवि॒षं य॑जत्रा । आग॑च्छतं नासत्या॒ शची॑भिरि॒दं तृ॒तीयं॒ सव॑नं पिबाथः ॥

Brilliant and generous, adorable and sociable divinities of eternal truth, Ashvins, harbingers of new knowledge, come with the ancient light and knowledge collected by forefathers and updated by you. Come fast as light with beauty and splendour of your powers, join the third session of our yajna and promote and vitalise it further.

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8.57.2

यु॒वां दे॒वास्त्रय॑ एकाद॒शासः॑ स॒त्याः स॒त्यस्य॑ ददृशे पु॒रस्ता॑त् । अ॒स्माकं॑ य॒ज्ञं सव॑नं जुषा॒णा पा॒तं सोम॑मश्विना॒ दीद्य॑ग्नी ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of the light of knowledge, thirty-three divinities, eternally true, have revealed to you the truth of their reality. Friendly and loving, brilliant as the light and fire of Agni, come to our yajna, taste, protect and promote the soma of our yajnic endeavour for further progress than before.

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8.57.3

प॒नाय्यं॒ तद॑श्विना कृ॒तं वां॑ वृष॒भो दि॒वो रज॑सः पृथि॒व्याः । स॒हस्रं॒ शंसा॑ उ॒त ये गवि॑ष्टौ॒ सर्वाँ॒ इत्ताँ उप॑ याता॒ पिब॑ध्यै ॥

Praiseworthy is that performance of yours, Ashvins, harbingers of new light, which is generous and rewarding, full of the light of heaven, showers of the cloud from the sky and generosity of the earth. Pray now come, assess and advance all those thousands of advancements we are pursuing in the field of earth sciences, solar energy and the development of cattle wealth, all of which are worthy of appreciation.

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8.57.4

अ॒यं वां॑ भा॒गो निहि॑तो यजत्रे॒मा गिरो॑ नास॒त्योप॑ यातम् । पिब॑तं॒ सोमं॒ मधु॑मन्तम॒स्मे प्र दा॒श्वांस॑मवतं॒ शची॑भिः ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of knowledge, adorable guides worthy of association and cooperation, this part of our yajnic pursuit of knowledge and development is reserved for you. O seekers of truth, committed to truth, come and listen to what we have to say, share and enjoy the soma pleasure of the honey sweets of peaceful advancements in knowledge, and with your powers and blessed actions protect and promote the generous and committed yajaka who surrenders to you in faith and obedience.

✦ Sukta 58 · 3 verses ✦

8.58.1

यमृ॒त्विजो॑ बहु॒धा क॒ल्पय॑न्तः॒ सचे॑तसो य॒ज्ञमि॒मं वह॑न्ति । यो अ॑नूचा॒नो ब्रा॑ह्म॒णो यु॒क्त आ॑सी॒त्का स्वि॒त्तत्र॒ यज॑मानस्य सं॒वित् ॥

In the yajna of existence and human life, which the yajakas, Vishvedevas, natural forces of divinity in the cosmic yajna, and human senses and mind in the individual yajna of life, all vital, alert and expert in their own ways, organise, conduct and carry on harmoniously in many different participative ways, and in the same yajna when some pious, intelligent and fortunate soul in communion is joined with the supreme divinity of the yajna, then in that state of samadhi what is the nature and character of this yajamana’s state of knowledge and spiritual awareness?

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8.58.2

एक॑ ए॒वाग्निर्ब॑हु॒धा समि॑द्ध॒ एकः॒ सूर्यो॒ विश्व॒मनु॒ प्रभू॑तः । एकै॒वोषाः सर्व॑मि॒दं वि भा॒त्येकं॒ वा इ॒दं वि ब॑भूव॒ सर्व॑म् ॥

The nature of awareness in communion is this, and this same is the understanding of an intelligent soul: Only one Agni, fire, lighted in many ways, only one sun risen all over the world, only one dawn rising daily anew, lights this entire world, and only one universal spirit pervades this entire universe, the entire existence is one.

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8.58.3

ज्योति॑ष्मन्तं केतु॒मन्तं॑ त्रिच॒क्रं सु॒खं रथं॑ सु॒षदं॒ भूरि॑वारम् । चि॒त्राम॑घा॒ यस्य॒ योगे॑ऽधिजज्ञे॒ तं वां॑ हु॒वे अति॑ रिक्तं॒ पिब॑ध्यै ॥

Further: Of you all Vishvedevas, the one that is self-refulgent, self-revealing, three wheeled-one centred, blissful, gloriously moving, a seat of bliss, full of treasure, by the power and inspiration of which the dawn of light arises and illuminates the world, that supreme spirit I invoke for you and call you to experience the absolute bliss beyond the relative.

✦ Sukta 59 · 7 verses ✦

8.59.1

इ॒मानि॑ वां भाग॒धेया॑नि सिस्रत॒ इन्द्रा॑वरुणा॒ प्र म॒हे सु॒तेषु॑ वाम् । य॒ज्ञेय॑ज्ञे ह॒ सव॑ना भुर॒ण्यथो॒ यत्सु॑न्व॒ते यज॑मानाय॒ शिक्ष॑थः ॥

Indra and Varuna, power and judgement of divinity, these are your contributions to life which in this grand yajna of human life vibrate in the yajnic projects of life inspired by you: In every yajna of life you energise and shine the holy activities when you bless and inspire the yajamana who creates and contributes to the joy of life.

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8.59.2

नि॒ष्षिध्व॑री॒रोष॑धी॒राप॑ आस्ता॒मिन्द्रा॑वरुणा महि॒मान॒माश॑त । या सिस्र॑तू॒ रज॑सः पा॒रे अध्व॑नो॒ ययोः॒ शत्रु॒र्नकि॒रादे॑व॒ ओह॑ते ॥

Indra and Varuna, powers of natural energy and natural selection for evolution and growth, herbs and trees, waters and liquid flows attain efficiency and rise higher in munificence when you cross the paths across the skies, come and vibrate, and there is no defiling power in operation to negate your efficacy.

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8.59.3

स॒त्यं तदि॑न्द्रावरुणा कृ॒शस्य॑ वां॒ मध्व॑ ऊ॒र्मिं दु॑हते स॒प्त वाणीः॑ । ताभि॑र्दा॒श्वांस॑मवतं शुभस्पती॒ यो वा॒मद॑ब्धो अ॒भि पाति॒ चित्ति॑भिः ॥

Indra and Varuna, symbolic powers of love, judgement and social cohesion, true it is that for you the sevenfold voices of the dedicated sage distil the honey sweet vibrations of divine energy in your service and with these you, protectors and promoters of the good and auspiciousness of life, strengthen and advance the generous yajaka who, with sincere thoughts and actions, without fear, serves and augments you with devotion and resolution.

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8.59.4

घृ॒त॒प्रुषः॒ सौम्या॑ जी॒रदा॑नवः स॒प्त स्वसा॑रः॒ सद॑न ऋ॒तस्य॑ । या ह॑ वामिन्द्रावरुणा घृत॒श्चुत॒स्ताभि॑र्धत्तं॒ यज॑मानाय शिक्षतम् ॥

Endowed with gifts of goodness and grace, kind and generous, givers of life energy, seven sisters of yours, five senses, mind and intellect, O Indra and Varuna, loving and judicious divine powers of humanity, in this house of truth and divine law of yajna in human life, are replete with the beauty and splendour of life. With these, pray bring in the knowledge and wisdom of divinity and nature revealed by the sages and enlighten the yajamana.

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8.59.5

अवो॑चाम मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय स॒त्यं त्वे॒षाभ्यां॑ महि॒मान॑मिन्द्रि॒यम् । अ॒स्मान्त्स्वि॑न्द्रावरुणा घृत॒श्चुत॒स्त्रिभिः॑ सा॒प्तेभि॑रवतं शुभस्पती ॥

We speak and celebrate, for the sake of great goodness and prosperity, the truth, grandeur and power, honour and excellence received from the mighty and magnificent Indra and Varuna. O Indra and Varuna, gracious and benevolent protectors of the greatness and goodness of life, protect and promote us by the sevenfold voice of the seven sisters and seven sages at the three levels of body, mind and soul.

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8.59.6

इन्द्रा॑वरुणा॒ यदृ॒षिभ्यो॑ मनी॒षां वा॒चो म॒तिं श्रु॒तम॑दत्त॒मग्रे॑ । यानि॒ स्थाना॑न्यसृजन्त॒ धीरा॑ य॒ज्ञं त॑न्वा॒नास्तप॑सा॒भ्य॑पश्यम् ॥

Indra and Varuna, divine powers of vigour and intelligence, judgement and imagination, what words of knowledge and thoughts of wisdom by virtue of meditation, study and speech you gave to the sages of vision earlier, and what orders of discovery and invention through yajnic extension of research, the patient, persistent sages achieved later, all these, with my austere discipline of study and application, let me see and realise for myself.

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8.59.7

इन्द्रा॑वरुणा सौमन॒समदृ॑प्तं रा॒यस्पोषं॒ यज॑मानेषु धत्तम् । प्र॒जां पु॒ष्टिं भू॑तिम॒स्मासु॑ धत्तं दीर्घायु॒त्वाय॒ प्र ति॑रतं न॒ आयुः॑ ॥

Indra and Varuna, good disposition, wealth and advancement free from pride, bear and bring to bless the yajamana. Progeny, vigorous health, and prosperity, bring for us, prolong our life for us to enjoy the beauty of living for as long as possible.

✦ Sukta 60 · 20 verses ✦

8.60.1

अग्न॒ आ या॑ह्य॒ग्निभि॒र्होता॑रं त्वा वृणीमहे । आ त्वाम॑नक्तु॒ प्रय॑ता ह॒विष्म॑ती॒ यजि॑ष्ठं ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑ ॥

Agni, universal fire of life, come with other fires such as the sun. We opt to worship you alone, the cosmic yajamana. The yajaka people holding ladlefuls of havi would honour and celebrate you and seat you on the holy grass.

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8.60.2

अच्छा॒ हि त्वा॑ सहसः सूनो अङ्गिरः॒ स्रुच॒श्चर॑न्त्यध्व॒रे । ऊ॒र्जो नपा॑तं घृ॒तके॑शमीमहे॒ऽग्निं य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यम् ॥

Agni, creator of energy and power, dear as breath of life omnipresent, the ladles of ghrta feed you well in the holy fire of yajna. We honour and adore the divine fire, prime power, infallible product of cosmic energy and rising in flames in yajnas.

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8.60.3

अग्ने॑ क॒विर्वे॒धा अ॑सि॒ होता॑ पावक॒ यक्ष्यः॑ । म॒न्द्रो यजि॑ष्ठो अध्व॒रेष्वीड्यो॒ विप्रे॑भिः शुक्र॒ मन्म॑भिः ॥

Agni is the poet of the cosmos which is his poem. He is maker and disposer of the universe, chief performer of cosmic yajna, purifier and sanctifier of the polluted, loving and adorable. O lord of power and purity, you are blissful, most honourable and companionable, adored by sages in yajnas with hymns of love and worship.

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8.60.4

अद्रो॑घ॒मा व॑होश॒तो य॑विष्ठ्य दे॒वाँ अ॑जस्र वी॒तये॑ । अ॒भि प्रयां॑सि॒ सुधि॒ता व॑सो गहि॒ मन्द॑स्व धी॒तिभि॑र्हि॒तः ॥

Most youthfulAgni, eternal power and presence, bring the loving and generous divinities to receive the homage and bless the innocent and guileless yajaka. O lord of the world’s wealth, haven and home of all, accept the most cherished offerings and, adored with our sincere thoughts and acts of yajna, rejoice yourself.

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8.60.5

त्वमित्स॒प्रथा॑ अ॒स्यग्ने॑ त्रातॠ॒तस्क॒विः । त्वां विप्रा॑सः समिधान दीदिव॒ आ वि॑वासन्ति वे॒धसः॑ ॥

Agni, you are infinitely expansive, boundless, all saviour, eternally right poet of cosmic rectitude, omniscient creator. Self-refulgent ever, light of the universe, the wise sages and masters of law and right action glorify you as the lord supreme.

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8.60.6

शोचा॑ शोचिष्ठ दीदि॒हि वि॒शे मयो॒ रास्व॑ स्तो॒त्रे म॒हाँ अ॑सि । दे॒वानां॒ शर्म॒न्मम॑ सन्तु सू॒रयः॑ शत्रू॒षाहः॑ स्व॒ग्नयः॑ ॥

Lord most pure and refulgent, rise and shine and enlighten the world. Bless the people and the celebrants with peace and goodness. You are great and glorious. May our wise and brilliant leaders enjoy the goodwill of the divinities, be keepers of the holy fire and controllers of hate and enmities.

· · ·

8.60.7

यथा॑ चिद्वृ॒द्धम॑त॒समग्ने॑ सं॒जूर्व॑सि॒ क्षमि॑ । ए॒वा द॑ह मित्रमहो॒ यो अ॑स्म॒ध्रुग्दु॒र्मन्मा॒ कश्च॒ वेन॑ति ॥

Agni, just as you burn to dust the withered wood on the earth, so, O greatest friend, pray burn him to naught whoever hates us and thinks ill of us.

· · ·

8.60.8

मा नो॒ मर्ता॑य रि॒पवे॑ रक्ष॒स्विने॒ माघशं॑साय रीरधः । अस्रे॑धद्भिस्त॒रणि॑भिर्यविष्ठ्य शि॒वेभिः॑ पाहि पा॒युभिः॑ ॥

Throw us not to the mortal who is an enemy, demoniac and a sinner. O lord most youthful, keep us and protect us with the non-violent, the saviours, good and peaceful, protectors of the good.

· · ·

8.60.9

पा॒हि नो॑ अग्न॒ एक॑या पा॒ह्यु१॒॑त द्वि॒तीय॑या । पा॒हि गी॒र्भिस्ति॒सृभि॑रूर्जां पते पा॒हि च॑त॒सृभि॑र्वसो ॥

Agni, save us by the first voice, and by the second, by three voices, and, O lord of cosmic power, ultimate haven and home of existence, save us by the four. (This is a very simple and yet a most comprehensive verse. The first voice could be the voice of average humanity; second, words of the sages; third, voice of the soul; fourth, the voice of divinity. Another way to understand: One, two, three or all the four Veda’s voice. Yet another: voice of the soul in the rising sequence of the four mantras of Aum as described in the Upanishads. And then the four stages of language in the descending order from divine to the human: Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama and Vaikhari)

· · ·

8.60.10

पा॒हि विश्व॑स्माद्र॒क्षसो॒ अरा॑व्णः॒ प्र स्म॒ वाजे॑षु नोऽव । त्वामिद्धि नेदि॑ष्ठं दे॒वता॑तय आ॒पिं नक्षा॑महे वृ॒धे ॥

Save us from all evils of the world, from all selfish grabbers. Protect us in our struggles and lead us to victory. We approach you and pray to you, closest to us, our own, for the success of our divine yajna and rising advancement in life.

· · ·

8.60.11

आ नो॑ अग्ने वयो॒वृधं॑ र॒यिं पा॑वक॒ शंस्य॑म् । रास्वा॑ च न उपमाते पुरु॒स्पृहं॒ सुनी॑ती॒ स्वय॑शस्तरम् ॥

Agni, saviour and purifier of life, closest and friendly, give us wealth which is admirable and leads to progress in food, health and age and cattle wealth. Give us the way of life leading to universally loved wealth, honour and excellence, renowned and rising.

· · ·

8.60.12

येन॒ वंसा॑म॒ पृत॑नासु॒ शर्ध॑त॒स्तर॑न्तो अ॒र्य आ॒दिशः॑ । स त्वं नो॑ वर्ध॒ प्रय॑सा शचीवसो॒ जिन्वा॒ धियो॑ वसु॒विदः॑ ॥

Give us the wealth of competence by which, rising in strength and power, moving forward, countering opposite intentions, designs and plans, we may defeat our enemies in the battles of life. O lord of knowledge, power and action, help us advance with food and sustenance, inspire and enlighten our vision and intelligence in action so that we may rise to be masters of wealth, honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.60.13

शिशा॑नो वृष॒भो य॑था॒ग्निः शृङ्गे॒ दवि॑ध्वत् । ति॒ग्मा अ॑स्य॒ हन॑वो॒ न प्र॑ति॒धृषे॑ सु॒जम्भः॒ सह॑सो य॒हुः ॥

Just as a bull whets and brandishes his horns against his rival, so doesAgni shake his opponents. Fiery is his visor, strong his jaws, mighty his courage, he is invincible, uncounterable, irresistible.

· · ·

8.60.14

न॒हि ते॑ अग्ने वृषभ प्रति॒धृषे॒ जम्भा॑सो॒ यद्वि॒तिष्ठ॑से । स त्वं नो॑ होतः॒ सुहु॑तं ह॒विष्कृ॑धि॒ वंस्वा॑ नो॒ वार्या॑ पु॒रु ॥

Agni when you rise and expand no one can brave your flaming jaws. Pray accept our homage and make it fruitful. Give us ample wealth of our choice and desire.

· · ·

8.60.15

शेषे॒ वने॑षु मा॒त्रोः सं त्वा॒ मर्ता॑स इन्धते । अत॑न्द्रो ह॒व्या व॑हसि हवि॒ष्कृत॒ आदिद्दे॒वेषु॑ राजसि ॥

You pervade in the forests and in the earth upto heaven. The mortals light and raise you holily, and, without sloth or delay, you carry the sacred offerings of the devoted celebrants to the divinities over earth and heaven and shine among them.

· · ·

8.60.16

स॒प्त होता॑र॒स्तमिदी॑ळते॒ त्वाग्ने॑ सु॒त्यज॒मह्र॑यम् । भि॒नत्स्यद्रिं॒ तप॑सा॒ वि शो॒चिषा॒ प्राग्ने॑ तिष्ठ॒ जनाँ॒ अति॑ ॥

Agni, seven yajakas adore and serve you, all giver, imperishable and eternal. You cleave the mountains and expand and evaporate the clouds with your heat and flames of fire. Pray, Agni, stay among the people at the closest and rise high.

· · ·

8.60.17

अ॒ग्निम॑ग्निं वो॒ अध्रि॑गुं हु॒वेम॑ वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । अ॒ग्निं हि॒तप्र॑यसः शश्व॒तीष्वा होता॑रं चर्षणी॒नाम् ॥

For your sake, O people of the world, we on the seats of holy grass invoke Agni, one form after another of the irresistible universal power of nature and divinity, and having collected our offerings ready, we light and serve the fire, high priest of cosmic yajna among all the communities of humanity over the lands.

· · ·

8.60.18

केते॑न॒ शर्म॑न्त्सचते सुषा॒मण्यग्ने॒ तुभ्यं॑ चिकि॒त्वना॑ । इ॒ष॒ण्यया॑ नः पुरु॒रूप॒मा भ॑र॒ वाजं॒ नेदि॑ष्ठमू॒तये॑ ॥

Agni loves to associate with the house of yajna where Sama hymns are chanted. O lord of light, Agni, the yajakas wait for you with anxious expectation and signs of welcome. Pray come with all your love and desire for us and bless us with the food, energy and holy ambition of all forms dearest to our heart for our protection and advancement.

· · ·

8.60.19

अग्ने॒ जरि॑तर्वि॒श्पति॑स्तेपा॒नो दे॑व र॒क्षसः॑ । अप्रो॑षिवान्गृ॒हप॑तिर्म॒हाँ अ॑सि दि॒वस्पा॒युर्दु॑रोण॒युः ॥

Agni, universally adored, master ruler and protector of the people, scourge of the selfish and wicked, refulgent and generous, supreme protective presence of the home that never neglects or forsakes the inmates, you are great protector of happiness and heavens too, and abide in the heart and home of humanity.

· · ·

8.60.20

मा नो॒ रक्ष॒ आ वे॑शीदाघृणीवसो॒ मा या॒तुर्या॑तु॒माव॑ताम् । प॒रो॒ग॒व्यू॒त्यनि॑रा॒मप॒ क्षुध॒मग्ने॒ सेध॑ रक्ष॒स्विनः॑ ॥

O refulgent lord protector of world’s wealth, let no evil force enter our life, let no violence of the malignant injure us. O lord of light, Agni, cast off starvation, poverty and all demoniac forces far away from us.

✦ Sukta 61 · 18 verses ✦

8.61.1

उ॒भयं॑ शृ॒णव॑च्च न॒ इन्द्रो॑ अ॒र्वागि॒दं वचः॑ । स॒त्राच्या॑ म॒घवा॒ सोम॑पीतये धि॒या शवि॑ष्ठ॒ आ ग॑मत् ॥

May Indra, lord omnipotent, master of the world’s wealth and power, directly listen to our joint prayer for worldly and spiritual advancement with attentive ear and sympathetic understanding, and may the lord of supreme power come to protect and promote our yajnic programme and prayer and taste the pleasure of success.

· · ·

8.61.2

तं हि स्व॒राजं॑ वृष॒भं तमोज॑से धि॒षणे॑ निष्टत॒क्षतुः॑ । उ॒तोप॒मानां॑ प्रथ॒मो नि षी॑दसि॒ सोम॑कामं॒ हि ते॒ मनः॑ ॥

That self-ruled, self-refulgent, brave and generous human character and programme, that human republic, the heaven and earth vested with divine will and intelligence conceive, create and fashion forth for self-realisation of innate glory. O man, among similars and comparables, you stand the first and highest, and your mind is dedicated to the love of soma, peace, pleasure and excellence of life.

· · ·

8.61.3

आ वृ॑षस्व पुरूवसो सु॒तस्ये॒न्द्रान्ध॑सः । वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॑ हरिवः पृ॒त्सु सा॑स॒हिमधृ॑ष्टं चिद्दधृ॒ष्वणि॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of universal wealth, honour and excellence, haven and home of all life in existence, give us showers of the purest distilled soma, food for health and divine joy. O lord of the dynamics of existence, we know you, fearless and unconquerable hero in battles.

· · ·

8.61.4

अप्रा॑मिसत्य मघव॒न्तथेद॑स॒दिन्द्र॒ क्रत्वा॒ यथा॒ वशः॑ । स॒नेम॒ वाजं॒ तव॑ शिप्रि॒न्नव॑सा म॒क्षू चि॒द्यन्तो॑ अद्रिवः ॥

Indra, lord of might and majesty, unchangeable truth itself, imperishable, as you wish by holy thought and will, so does everything happen. Pray bless us to win the victory in our battles for life, O lord of splendid vizor, under your protection without delay while we move on, O lord of clouds and mountains.

· · ·

8.61.5

श॒ग्ध्यू॒३॒॑ षु श॑चीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । भगं॒ न हि त्वा॑ य॒शसं॑ वसु॒विद॒मनु॑ शूर॒ चरा॑मसि ॥

Indra, lord of omnipotent action and infinitely various victories, with all powers, protections and inspirations, strengthen and energise us for excellent works without delay. As the very honour, splendour and treasure-home of the universe, O potent and heroic lord, we live in pursuit of your glory to justify our existence and win our destiny.

· · ·

8.61.6

पौ॒रो अश्व॑स्य पुरु॒कृद्गवा॑म॒स्युत्सो॑ देव हिर॒ण्ययः॑ । नकि॒र्हि दानं॑ परि॒मर्धि॑ष॒त्त्वे यद्य॒द्यामि॒ तदा भ॑र ॥

You are the sole One omnipresent citizen of the universe, creator of all lands, cows, lights and knowledges of the world, maker of the motions, ambitions, advancements and achievements of nature and humanity, fountain head of universal joy, and golden refulgent

generous lord supreme. No one can ever impair or obstruct your gifts to humanity. O lord, I pray, bring us whatever we ask for.

· · ·

8.61.7

त्वं ह्येहि॒ चेर॑वे वि॒दा भगं॒ वसु॑त्तये । उद्वा॑वृषस्व मघव॒न्गवि॑ष्टय॒ उदि॒न्द्राश्व॑मिष्टये ॥

Come to give gifts of wealth and honour to the devotee so that the people may be happy and prosperous. O lord of honour and majesty, Indra, bring us showers of the wealth of cows, lands, knowledge and culture for the seekers of light, and horses, advancement and achievement for the seekers of progress.

· · ·

8.61.8

त्वं पु॒रू स॒हस्रा॑णि श॒तानि॑ च यू॒था दा॒नाय॑ मंहसे । आ पु॑रंद॒रं च॑कृम॒ विप्र॑वचस॒ इन्द्रं॒ गाय॒न्तोऽव॑से ॥

Indra, you command and grant many hundreds and thousands of heaps of wealth for gift to the devotees, and as many troops of soldiers for defence and protection. We, poets of holy words of adoration, do service to Indra, breaker of the strongholds of darkness and sing in praise of him and exhort him for the sake of protection and patronage.

· · ·

8.61.9

अ॒वि॒प्रो वा॒ यदवि॑ध॒द्विप्रो॑ वेन्द्र ते॒ वचः॑ । स प्र म॑मन्दत्त्वा॒या श॑तक्रतो॒ प्राचा॑मन्यो॒ अहं॑सन ॥

Indra, lord of infinite holy acts of kindness, commanding irresistible adour and passion, whether one is a sagely scholar or a simple unlettered person, whoever offers words of praise and prayer to you is blest with divine joy by your grace, O lord of the name “I AM”.

· · ·

8.61.10

उ॒ग्रबा॑हुर्म्रक्ष॒कृत्वा॑ पुरंद॒रो यदि॑ मे शृ॒णव॒द्धव॑म् । व॒सू॒यवो॒ वसु॑पतिं श॒तक्र॑तुं॒ स्तोमै॒रिन्द्रं॑ हवामहे ॥

If the lord of mightiest arms, breaker of evil strongholds, divine destroyer, would listen to my invocation and prayer, we, seekers of wealth, honour and excellence in life, would adore and exalt Indra, protector and giver of wealth and supreme lord of infinite divine acts of grace, hymns of praise in his honour.

· · ·

8.61.11

न पा॒पासो॑ मनामहे॒ नारा॑यासो॒ न जळ्ह॑वः । यदिन्न्विन्द्रं॒ वृष॑णं॒ सचा॑ सु॒ते सखा॑यं कृ॒णवा॑महै ॥

We are neither sinners nor uncharitable nor non- yajakas as we honour and adore Indra, generous lord of showers of grace, and win his favour as a friend in our holy acts of creation and yajna.

· · ·

8.61.12

उ॒ग्रं यु॑युज्म॒ पृत॑नासु सास॒हिमृ॒णका॑ति॒मदा॑भ्यम् । वेदा॑ भृ॒मं चि॒त्सनि॑ता र॒थीत॑मो वा॒जिनं॒ यमिदू॒ नश॑त् ॥

The blazing vibrant lord of existence, we join in the battles of life from strife upto communion, the power and presence most bold and courageous, indomitable, to whom we owe the debt of allegiance. Whoever approaches him thus as the ever moving spirit at the closest as a friend, munificent giver, sole controller of the chariot of life and the universe, the ultimate warrior and conqueror, realises him, joins him, becomes identified with him as the self itself.

· · ·

8.61.13

यत॑ इन्द्र॒ भया॑महे॒ ततो॑ नो॒ अभ॑यं कृधि । मघ॑वञ्छ॒ग्धि तव॒ तन्न॑ ऊ॒तिभि॒र्वि द्विषो॒ वि मृधो॑ जहि ॥

Indra, lord indomitable, whoever, whatever and wherever we fear, make us fearless from that. O lord of might and world power, pray strengthen us with your powers and protections of the highest order. Eliminate the jealous, the malignant, the disdainers and contemners.

· · ·

8.61.14

त्वं हि रा॑धस्पते॒ राध॑सो म॒हः क्षय॒स्यासि॑ विध॒तः । तं त्वा॑ व॒यं म॑घवन्निन्द्र गिर्वणः सु॒ताव॑न्तो हवामहे ॥

Indra, lord of the world’s wealth, munificence and achievement, you alone are the protector, and promoter of the wealth, grandeur, home and honour of the supplicant worshipper. O lord of all power and honour, adored and worshipped in hymns of glory, we invoke, invite and exalt you for the munificence and grandeur of life you grant, protect and advance.

· · ·

8.61.15

इन्द्रः॒ स्पळु॒त वृ॑त्र॒हा प॑र॒स्पा नो॒ वरे॑ण्यः । स नो॑ रक्षिषच्चर॒मं स म॑ध्य॒मं स प॒श्चात्पा॑तु नः पु॒रः ॥

Indra is all cognizant, destroyer of evil and universal protector, and him alone we ought to choose for worship and prayer. May he protect us all, the highest, the middling and the lowest, and may he protect us at the far back and the farthest coming up front.

· · ·

8.61.16

त्वं नः॑ प॒श्चाद॑ध॒रादु॑त्त॒रात्पु॒र इन्द्र॒ नि पा॑हि वि॒श्वतः॑ । आ॒रे अ॒स्मत्कृ॑णुहि॒ दैव्यं॑ भ॒यमा॒रे हे॒तीरदे॑वीः ॥

Indra, pray you protect us back and front, up and down, all round. Remove from us all fear of the divinities, all dangers and strikes from the evil forces.

· · ·

8.61.17

अ॒द्याद्या॒ श्वःश्व॒ इन्द्र॒ त्रास्व॑ प॒रे च॑ नः । विश्वा॑ च नो जरि॒तॄन्त्स॑त्पते॒ अहा॒ दिवा॒ नक्तं॑ च रक्षिषः ॥

Day by day every today, day by day every tomorrow and beyond, lord saviour and protector of the good and true, Indra, save and protect us, your celebrants and supplicants, all days, day and night.

· · ·

8.61.18

प्र॒भ॒ङ्गी शूरो॑ म॒घवा॑ तु॒वीम॑घः॒ सम्मि॑श्लो वि॒र्या॑य॒ कम् । उ॒भा ते॑ बा॒हू वृष॑णा शतक्रतो॒ नि या वज्रं॑ मिमि॒क्षतुः॑ ॥

A crushing warrior, commanding magnificence, power and universal riches, self-sufficient, virile, joiner of all with karmic destiny, O lord of infinite good actions, both your arms are abundantly generous and hold the thunderbolt of justice, reward and punishment both as deserved.

✦ Sukta 62 · 12 verses ✦

8.62.1

प्रो अ॑स्मा॒ उप॑स्तुतिं॒ भर॑ता॒ यज्जुजो॑षति । उ॒क्थैरिन्द्र॑स्य॒ माहि॑नं॒ वयो॑ वर्धन्ति सो॒मिनो॑ भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

O celebrants, sing aloud and send up your prayers to Indra who listens and loves them. The soma yajis with songs of praise exalt the great glory and magnificence of Indra. Great and good are the gifts of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.2

अ॒यु॒जो अस॑मो॒ नृभि॒रेकः॑ कृ॒ष्टीर॒यास्यः॑ । पू॒र्वीरति॒ प्र वा॑वृधे॒ विश्वा॑ जा॒तान्योज॑सा भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

Sole and self-sufficient, unequal, one supreme among humanity, beyond the power of mortals, he excels and transcends all those born ever before or at present or to be born in future, by virtue of his lustre and magnanimity. Great are the powers and gifts of Indra’s generosity.

· · ·

8.62.3

अहि॑तेन चि॒दर्व॑ता जी॒रदा॑नुः सिषासति । प्र॒वाच्य॑मिन्द्र॒ तत्तव॑ वी॒र्या॑णि करिष्य॒तो भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

The lord of immense generosity pervades and rules the world moving on with its own innate law without external imposition. O lord, that divine omnipotence of yours and mighty acts of virile divinity are admirable. Great and good are the gifts of the lord’s charity.

· · ·

8.62.4

आ या॑हि कृ॒णवा॑म त॒ इन्द्र॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ वर्ध॑ना । येभिः॑ शविष्ठ चा॒कनो॑ भ॒द्रमि॒ह श्र॑वस्य॒ते भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

Come Indra, here we sing exalting hymns in your honour by which, O lord most powerful, you would love to do immense good for the celebrant. Great and gracious are the charities of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.5

धृ॒ष॒तश्चि॑द्धृ॒षन्मनः॑ कृ॒णोषी॑न्द्र॒ यत्त्वम् । ती॒व्रैः सोमैः॑ सपर्य॒तो नमो॑भिः प्रति॒भूष॑तो भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

As you raise the man of courage at heart to a bolder and more courageous hero, men with homage and potent soma oblations serve and glorify you. Great and glorious are the charities of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.6

अव॑ चष्ट॒ ऋची॑षमोऽव॒ताँ इ॑व॒ मानु॑षः । जु॒ष्ट्वी दक्ष॑स्य सो॒मिनः॒ सखा॑यं कृणुते॒ युजं॑ भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

The lord lover of Rks and soma yajna looks below with love at the yajakas like a thirsty man looking anxiously at the water below in the well and, happy with the noble expert soma yaji, he accepts him as friend and companion. Great and good are the gifts of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.7

विश्वे॑ त इन्द्र वी॒र्यं॑ दे॒वा अनु॒ क्रतुं॑ ददुः । भुवो॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ गोप॑तिः पुरुष्टुत भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

Indra, universally celebrated and exalted, ruler and protector of the worlds of the universe, all divinities of nature and humanity in obedience and pursuit of your divine acts bear your generous strength and vitality. Great and good are the gifts of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.8

गृ॒णे तदि॑न्द्र ते॒ शव॑ उप॒मं दे॒वता॑तये । यद्धंसि॑ वृ॒त्रमोज॑सा शचीपते भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

In praise of that admirable power and grandeur of yours, Indra, I sing for the pleasure of divine favour, by which, O lord of mighty noble acts, you destroy the demon of darkness and want by your force and splendour. Great and good are the gifts of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.9

सम॑नेव वपुष्य॒तः कृ॒णव॒न्मानु॑षा यु॒गा । वि॒दे तदिन्द्र॒श्चेत॑न॒मध॑ श्रु॒तो भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

Like men united in assembly or forces united in battle, he joins people into assemblies and communities unto himself. That knowledge of art, Indra knows, and for that he is renowned and celebrated. Great and good are the gifts of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.10

उज्जा॒तमि॑न्द्र ते॒ शव॒ उत्त्वामुत्तव॒ क्रतु॑म् । भूरि॑गो॒ भूरि॑ वावृधु॒र्मघ॑व॒न्तव॒ शर्म॑णि भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of great wealth and knowledge, honour and excellence, the celebrants repeatedly sing and exalt your glory manifested around, they celebrate you and your holy work under the umbrella of your protection. Great and good are the gifts of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.11

अ॒हं च॒ त्वं च॑ वृत्रह॒न्त्सं यु॑ज्याव स॒निभ्य॒ आ । अ॒रा॒ती॒वा चि॑दद्रि॒वोऽनु॑ नौ शूर मंसते भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

Let us both, I and you, destroyer of want and evil, join for the attainment of wealth and fulfilment. O lord of might, controller of clouds and breaker of mountains, even the malignant and niggardly would agree to our cooperation. Great and glorious are the gifts of Indra.

· · ·

8.62.12

स॒त्यमिद्वा उ॒ तं व॒यमिन्द्रं॑ स्तवाम॒ नानृ॑तम् । म॒हाँ असु॑न्वतो व॒धो भूरि॒ ज्योतीं॑षि सुन्व॒तो भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ ॥

Let us all worship Indra and adore only truth, never untruth. There is the terrible thunderbolt for the impious uncreators, and profuse lights and showers of bliss for the creators of soma, divine joy and fulfilment for life. Great and gracious are the gifts of Indra.

✦ Sukta 63 · 12 verses ✦

8.63.1

स पू॒र्व्यो म॒हानां॑ वे॒नः क्रतु॑भिरानजे । यस्य॒ द्वारा॒ मनु॑ष्पि॒ता दे॒वेषु॒ धिय॑ आन॒जे ॥

He, eternal spirit of the universe, love and desire and indeed the ideal of the great among humanity, is realised through holy acts of prayer and yajna, by the doors of whose grace the thinking man, fatherly man sustainer of life, attains noble knowledge and competence for action among the divinities of nature and humanity.

· · ·

8.63.2

दि॒वो मानं॒ नोत्स॑द॒न्त्सोम॑पृष्ठासो॒ अद्र॑यः । उ॒क्था ब्रह्म॑ च॒ शंस्या॑ ॥

The mountains overgrown with soma do not forsake the spirit and presence of divinity since it is manifested there. Hence hymns of praise and songs of adoration ought to be sung in honour of divinity.

· · ·

8.63.3

स वि॒द्वाँ अङ्गि॑रोभ्य॒ इन्द्रो॒ गा अ॑वृणो॒दप॑ । स्तु॒षे तद॑स्य॒ पौंस्य॑म् ॥

That omniscient and omnipresent Indra brought the earths and stars into existence for the living and breathing forms of being. Therefore I sing and celebrate his divine power and love.

· · ·

8.63.4

स प्र॒त्नथा॑ कविवृ॒ध इन्द्रो॑ वा॒कस्य॑ व॒क्षणिः॑ । शि॒वो अ॒र्कस्य॒ होम॑न्यस्म॒त्रा ग॒न्त्वव॑से ॥

He, Indra, as ever before, strengthens the poets and promotes and extends the divine speech. May the lord of peace and bliss, we pray, come and join our yajna of worship.

· · ·

8.63.5

आदू॒ नु ते॒ अनु॒ क्रतुं॒ स्वाहा॒ वर॑स्य॒ यज्य॑वः । श्वा॒त्रम॒र्का अ॑नूष॒तेन्द्र॑ गो॒त्रस्य॑ दा॒वने॑ ॥

And then they, the yajakas, in pursuance of the holy act of chosen yajna offer oblations in truth of word and deed, and the singers immediately start the song of adoration in honour of Indra for the gift of wealth and joy.

· · ·

8.63.6

इन्द्रे॒ विश्वा॑नि वी॒र्या॑ कृ॒तानि॒ कर्त्वा॑नि च । यम॒र्का अ॑ध्व॒रं वि॒दुः ॥

In Indra abide all the great works done and to be done, and the pious sages know him as loving and, non-violent worthy of worship.

· · ·

8.63.7

यत्पाञ्च॑जन्यया वि॒शेन्द्रे॒ घोषा॒ असृ॑क्षत । अस्तृ॑णाद्ब॒र्हणा॑ वि॒पो॒३॒॑ऽर्यो मान॑स्य॒ स क्षयः॑ ॥

When the universal community of five classes of people join together and raise their voices of prayer to Indra, then with his might he wards off their enemies and misfortunes. That same lord of the people, omniscient and master is the centre of my worship too.

· · ·

8.63.8

इ॒यमु॑ ते॒ अनु॑ष्टुतिश्चकृ॒षे तानि॒ पौंस्या॑ । प्राव॑श्च॒क्रस्य॑ वर्त॒निम् ॥

Indra, lord of glory, this song of worship is for you. You alone do all those admirable grand works of valour I praise and you alone protect and direct the orbits of the moving universe.

· · ·

8.63.9

अ॒स्य वृष्णो॒ व्योद॑न उ॒रु क्र॑मिष्ट जी॒वसे॑ । यवं॒ न प॒श्व आ द॑दे ॥

On receiving the variety and versatility of food, energy and inspiration from this generous and virile Indra, life rises and springs forward for the joy of living as an animal gets the grass for food and energy and plays around.

· · ·

8.63.10

तद्दधा॑ना अव॒स्यवो॑ यु॒ष्माभि॒र्दक्ष॑पितरः । स्याम॑ म॒रुत्व॑तो वृ॒धे ॥

Bearing that energy in body and that divine source of energy in mind, let us all, seekers of protection and promotion, be masters of strength and expertise and try to be commanders of that energy and ambition to achieve higher progress in corporate life.

· · ·

8.63.11

बळृ॒त्विया॑य॒ धाम्न॒ ऋक्व॑भिः शूर नोनुमः । जेषा॑मेन्द्र॒ त्वया॑ यु॒जा ॥

O mighty lord of energy, ambition and victory, with resounding hymns of joy in homage we bow to you, treasure home of life and progress, creator and promoter of strength and energy through seasonal yajnas, and we pray that joined to you in body and mind we may win in our struggles for life and living.

· · ·

8.63.12

अ॒स्मे रु॒द्रा मे॒हना॒ पर्व॑तासो वृत्र॒हत्ये॒ भर॑हूतौ स॒जोषाः॑ । यः शंस॑ते स्तुव॒ते धायि॑ प॒ज्र इन्द्र॑ज्येष्ठा अ॒स्माँ अ॑वन्तु दे॒वाः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of power and progress, for us, in our fight against suffering, may the Rudras, powers of justice and desperation, mighty generous clouds of shower, mountains and great men, all loving and cooperative, indeed whoever fast and strong may hasten and advance for the celebrant and worshipper, all the wisest and seniormost brilliant powers of generosity in nature and humanity, come and help us in our struggle for the conquest of darkness, want, evil and ignorance prevailing in society.

✦ Sukta 64 · 12 verses ✦

8.64.1

उत्त्वा॑ मन्दन्तु॒ स्तोमाः॑ कृणु॒ष्व राधो॑ अद्रिवः । अव॑ ब्रह्म॒द्विषो॑ जहि ॥

Indra, lord almighty, commander, controller and inspirer of clouds, mountains and great men of generosity, may our hymns of adoration win your pleasure. Pray create and provide means and methods of sustenance and progress in life, and cast off jealousies and enmities against divinity, knowledge and prayer, our bond between human and divine.

· · ·

8.64.2

प॒दा प॒णीँर॑रा॒धसो॒ नि बा॑धस्व म॒हाँ अ॑सि । न॒हि त्वा॒ कश्च॒न प्रति॑ ॥

Keep off under foot the haves who hoard and share not. You are great, simply great, the only one. There is none equal, alike or more.

· · ·

8.64.3

त्वमी॑शिषे सु॒ताना॒मिन्द्र॒ त्वमसु॑तानाम् । त्वं राजा॒ जना॑नाम् ॥

You rule over the creative and cooperative men of positive action. You rule over the uncreative and destructive men of negative action as well. Indra, you are the ruler, the ultimate ordainer of good and evil both.

· · ·

8.64.4

एहि॒ प्रेहि॒ क्षयो॑ दि॒व्या॒३॒॑घोष॑ञ्चर्षणी॒नाम् । ओभे पृ॑णासि॒ रोद॑सी ॥

Your presence abides in the regions of light and heaven, in the minds of the enlightened and the divines. Arise, O divine presence, to heaven and come again. Let the presence resound among humanity. Your presence fills and fulfils both earth and heaven with the light and joy of divinity.

· · ·

8.64.5

त्यं चि॒त्पर्व॑तं गि॒रिं श॒तव॑न्तं सह॒स्रिण॑म् । वि स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ रुरोजिथ ॥

You break and break open the cloud and the mountain bearing a hundred and a thousand gifts for the divine singers, celebrants and dedicated yajakas.

· · ·

8.64.6

व॒यमु॑ त्वा॒ दिवा॑ सु॒ते व॒यं नक्तं॑ हवामहे । अ॒स्माकं॒ काम॒मा पृ॑ण ॥

We singers, celebrants and yajakas, invoke and invite you in our soma yajna in the day and in the night and pray fulfil our prayer and desire for humanity and divinity.

· · ·

8.64.7

क्व१॒॑ स्य वृ॑ष॒भो युवा॑ तुवि॒ग्रीवो॒ अना॑नतः । ब्र॒ह्मा कस्तं स॑पर्यति ॥

Where does the generous lord of showers, ever youthful and eternal, of broad shoulders unbent, reside? Which sage and scholar can ever comprehend and serve him in full knowledge and competence?

· · ·

8.64.8

कस्य॑ स्वि॒त्सव॑नं॒ वृषा॑ जुजु॒ष्वाँ अव॑ गच्छति । इन्द्रं॒ क उ॑ स्वि॒दा च॑के ॥

Whose yajna does the generous and virile Indra visit and bless out of love and kindness? And who really knows Indra, in all fairness?

· · ·

8.64.9

कं ते॑ दा॒ना अ॑सक्षत॒ वृत्र॑ह॒न्कं सु॒वीर्या॑ । उ॒क्थे क उ॑ स्वि॒दन्त॑मः ॥

O destroyer of darkness and evil, whom do your gifts of generosity reach? And whom do your strength and energies reach? In the chant of hymns and in yajna, who is your closest friendliest devotee?

· · ·

8.64.10

अ॒यं ते॒ मानु॑षे॒ जने॒ सोमः॑ पू॒रुषु॑ सूयते । तस्येहि॒ प्र द्र॑वा॒ पिब॑ ॥

Indra, this soma yajna is performed and soma is distilled in your honour in the human communities all over the world. Lord, come fast, drink, protect and promote the soma.

· · ·

8.64.11

अ॒यं ते॑ शर्य॒णाव॑ति सु॒षोमा॑या॒मधि॑ प्रि॒यः । आ॒र्जी॒कीये॑ म॒दिन्त॑मः ॥

In this mortal body, in this vibrant intellect, in these fresh and harmonious senses and mind, this lovely and most exhilarating yajna is being performed.

· · ·

8.64.12

तम॒द्य राध॑से म॒हे चारुं॒ मदा॑य॒ घृष्व॑ये । एही॑मिन्द्र॒ द्रवा॒ पिब॑ ॥

To that soma yajna being performed for gifts of great wealth and power, excitement and joy, and the destruction of negativities, pray come fast and drink the soma of love, faith and homage.

✦ Sukta 65 · 12 verses ✦

8.65.1

यदि॑न्द्र॒ प्रागपा॒गुद॒ङ्न्य॑ग्वा हू॒यसे॒ नृभिः॑ । आ या॑हि॒ तूय॑मा॒शुभिः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of universal power and energy, when you are invoked and invited east, west, north and south front or back, up or down, by people performing yajna, then come fast by the fastest modes you command.

· · ·

8.65.2

यद्वा॑ प्र॒स्रव॑णे दि॒वो मा॒दया॑से॒ स्व॑र्णरे । यद्वा॑ समु॒द्रे अन्ध॑सः ॥

Whether in the heavenly radiations and cascades of light or in the middle regions of the sky or on the earthly regions of food and soma, wherever you rejoice and rain down showers of joy:

· · ·

8.65.3

आ त्वा॑ गी॒र्भिर्म॒हामु॒रुं हु॒वे गामि॑व॒ भोज॑से । इन्द्र॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Indra, I invoke you, glorious lord immanent in the vast world, to come and protect the beauty and joy of your creation and taste the soma of its grandeur, as I would call the cow to its favourite love of food.

· · ·

8.65.4

आ त॑ इन्द्र महि॒मानं॒ हर॑यो देव ते॒ महः॑ । रथे॑ वहन्तु॒ बिभ्र॑तः ॥

Indra, refulgent lord, may your radiating forces of transport and communication bear and bring you here to us with your grandeur and your majesty in the chariot.

· · ·

8.65.5

इन्द्र॑ गृणी॒ष उ॑ स्तु॒षे म॒हाँ उ॒ग्र ई॑शान॒कृत् । एहि॑ नः सु॒तं पिब॑ ॥

Indra, great, blazing brave, ruler and glorifier of rulers, I adore and exalt you. Pray come, drink the soma of our achievement and protect and promote the world of your creation.

· · ·

8.65.6

सु॒ताव॑न्तस्त्वा व॒यं प्रय॑स्वन्तो हवामहे । इ॒दं नो॑ ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑ ॥

Dedicated to noble acts of yajna and soma creation, bearing havi for yajna and food for yajnic charity, we invoke and invite you to come and be seated on the holy seats of our vedi and bless our heart and soul.

· · ·

8.65.7

यच्चि॒द्धि शश्व॑ता॒मसीन्द्र॒ साधा॑रण॒स्त्वम् । तं त्वा॑ व॒यं ह॑वामहे ॥

As you bear and sustain the common generality of people since time immortal and the people bear common allegiance to you, we invoke and adore you in all our holy projects of common universal value.

· · ·

8.65.8

इ॒दं ते॑ सो॒म्यं मध्वधु॑क्ष॒न्नद्रि॑भि॒र्नरः॑ । जु॒षा॒ण इ॑न्द्र॒ तत्पि॑ब ॥

People have pressed and extracted this honey sweet of soma with stone presses for you. Happy with cherished soma in expectation, pray come and drink that soma of our achievement and divine adoration.

· · ·

8.65.9

विश्वाँ॑ अ॒र्यो वि॑प॒श्चितोऽति॑ ख्य॒स्तूय॒मा ग॑हि । अ॒स्मे धे॑हि॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हत् ॥

Indra, you are the ruler and controller of the world. Pray come soon and watch all the exceptional sages and scholars of the world, and bring us food, energy, honour and fame of universal value.

· · ·

8.65.10

दा॒ता मे॒ पृष॑तीनां॒ राजा॑ हिरण्य॒वीना॑म् । मा दे॑वा म॒घवा॑ रिषत् ॥

Indra is the giver of golden gifts of lands and cows and he is the ruler and controller of the golden gifts of divinity. O divinities of heaven and earth, may Indra never be neglected, and may Indra never neglect and hurt us.

· · ·

8.65.11

स॒हस्रे॒ पृष॑तीना॒मधि॑ श्च॒न्द्रं बृ॒हत्पृ॒थु । शु॒क्रं हिर॑ण्य॒मा द॑दे ॥

Besides thousands and more golden gifts of lands and cows, I have received beautiful, great and abundant pure gifts of gold from Indra, ruler of the earth.

· · ·

8.65.12

नपा॑तो दु॒र्गह॑स्य मे स॒हस्रे॑ण सु॒राध॑सः । श्रवो॑ दे॒वेष्व॑क्रत ॥

My honour and renown, unfallen, unmatched and blest as I am with a thousandfold gifts of divine munificence, may, I pray, reach and abide with the divinities.

✦ Sukta 66 · 15 verses ✦

8.66.1

तरो॑भिर्वो वि॒दद्व॑सु॒मिन्द्रं॑ स॒बाध॑ ऊ॒तये॑ । बृ॒हद्गाय॑न्तः सु॒तसो॑मे अध्व॒रे हु॒वे भरं॒ न का॒रिण॑म् ॥

In the yajna of love and non-violence where everything is perfect and soma is distilled, I invoke Indra like Abundance itself, giver of wealth, honour and fulfilment. Singing songs of adoration with energy and enthusiasm for your protection and progress, O devotees, celebrate Indra who brings wealth, honour and excellence at the earliest by fastest means.

· · ·

8.66.2

न यं दु॒ध्रा वर॑न्ते॒ न स्थि॒रा मुरो॒ मदे॑ सुशि॒प्रमन्ध॑सः । य आ॒दृत्या॑ शशमा॒नाय॑ सुन्व॒ते दाता॑ जरि॒त्र उ॒क्थ्य॑म् ॥

Indra whom none can stop in his state of ecstasy and abundant charity, neither the impetuous, nor the constant, nor demon nor mortal, Indra who is the giver of cherished wealth and joy to the celebrant, the creator of soma and the zealous worshipper with deep reverence and homage.

· · ·

8.66.3

यः श॒क्रो मृ॒क्षो अश्व्यो॒ यो वा॒ कीजो॑ हिर॒ण्ययः॑ । स ऊ॒र्वस्य॑ रेजय॒त्यपा॑वृति॒मिन्द्रो॒ गव्य॑स्य वृत्र॒हा ॥

Indra who is mighty of action, pure and purifying, great achiever, and wondrous rich in wealth and golden grace, who shakes off the erosion of land fertility and cattle wealth and augments produce and prosperity, destroyer of want, ignorance and evil as he is.

· · ·

8.66.4

निखा॑तं चि॒द्यः पु॑रुसम्भृ॒तं वसूदिद्वप॑ति दा॒शुषे॑ । व॒ज्री सु॑शि॒प्रो हर्य॑श्व॒ इत्क॑र॒दिन्द्रः॒ क्रत्वा॒ यथा॒ वश॑त् ॥

Indra who for the generous giver digs out and opens up abundant wealth deep buried, hidden and held in the earth, wields the thunderbolt of justice and award, and wears a golden vizor, commanding tempestuous forces, thus by his noble yajnic actions, does for us what he thinks right and pleases to do.

· · ·

8.66.5

यद्वा॒वन्थ॑ पुरुष्टुत पु॒रा चि॑च्छूर नृ॒णाम् । व॒यं तत्त॑ इन्द्र॒ सं भ॑रामसि य॒ज्ञमु॒क्थं तु॒रं वचः॑ ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent universally adored and exalted, as you wish and want of humanity at the earliest in the beginning of creation, that we honour, abide and do without doubt or delay, the yajna, songs of adoration, word and worship all.

· · ·

8.66.6

सचा॒ सोमे॑षु पुरुहूत वज्रिवो॒ मदा॑य द्युक्ष सोमपाः । त्वमिद्धि ब्र॑ह्म॒कृते॒ काम्यं॒ वसु॒ देष्ठः॑ सुन्व॒ते भुवः॑ ॥

Lord all-invoked and adored, wielder and commander of thunder, clouds and mountains, light of life in heaven and on earth, connoisseur, protector and promoter of the soma joy of humanity, join and be with us in our yajnic creations of soma joy in action.

· · ·

8.66.7

व॒यमे॑नमि॒दा ह्योऽपी॑पेमे॒ह व॒ज्रिण॑म् । तस्मा॑ उ अ॒द्य स॑म॒ना सु॒तं भ॒रा नू॒नं भू॑षत श्रु॒ते ॥

Here today as before we have regaled this lord of the thunderbolt. For him, again, now, all of one mind, bear and bring the distilled soma of homage, and worship him who would, for certain for joy of the song, grace the celebrants.

· · ·

8.66.8

वृक॑श्चिदस्य वार॒ण उ॑रा॒मथि॒रा व॒युने॑षु भूषति । सेमं नः॒ स्तोमं॑ जुजुषा॒ण आ ग॒हीन्द्र॒ प्र चि॒त्रया॑ धि॒या ॥

The wolf, its counterforce elephant, and the thief all have to accept and follow the laws of this lord Indra. May he, loving and cherishing this our song of adoration, listen and come with gifts of clear and un- illusive intelligence and understanding.

· · ·

8.66.9

कदू॒ न्व१॒॑स्याकृ॑त॒मिन्द्र॑स्यास्ति॒ पौंस्य॑म् । केनो॒ नु कं॒ श्रोम॑तेन॒ न शु॑श्रुवे ज॒नुषः॒ परि॑ वृत्र॒हा ॥

What wonder work is that which is not the achievement of Indra’s valour? By which person hasn’t his glory been perceived through his wonder deeds? He is the destroyer of evil and darkness by his very nature.

· · ·

8.66.10

कदू॑ म॒हीरधृ॑ष्टा अस्य॒ तवि॑षीः॒ कदु॑ वृत्र॒घ्नो अस्तृ॑तम् । इन्द्रो॒ विश्वा॑न्बेक॒नाटाँ॑ अह॒र्दृश॑ उ॒त क्रत्वा॑ प॒णीँर॒भि ॥

How great and irresistible are his blazing powers! How great and invincible is he, the destroyer of evil and darkness! To the usurers and the exploiters who count only their days tally he shows the light only for the day according to their action, not beyond.

· · ·

8.66.11

व॒यं घा॑ ते॒ अपू॒र्व्येन्द्र॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि वृत्रहन् । पु॒रू॒तमा॑सः पुरुहूत वज्रिवो भृ॒तिं न प्र भ॑रामसि ॥

Indra, destroyer of evil and darkness within and without in the outer world, universally adored, wielder of the thunderbolt, we, all together, old and young, offer you in faith new and ever fresh songs of adoration and exaltation as daily obligation in return as thanks for your favours.

· · ·

8.66.12

पू॒र्वीश्चि॒द्धि त्वे तु॑विकूर्मिन्ना॒शसो॒ हव॑न्त इन्द्रो॒तयः॑ । ति॒रश्चि॑द॒र्यः सव॒ना व॑सो गहि॒ शवि॑ष्ठ श्रु॒धि मे॒ हव॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of infinite acts, shelter home of the universe, highest and omnipotent, all hopes of humanity, all protections and progress for them, past, present and future, rest in you and emanate from you. Hence all people invoke you and call on you for help. O master protector, listen to my call and come like radiations of light to our yajnas of divine adoration and soma creation.

· · ·

8.66.13

व॒यं घा॑ ते॒ त्वे इद्विन्द्र॒ विप्रा॒ अपि॑ ष्मसि । न॒हि त्वद॒न्यः पु॑रुहूत॒ कश्च॒न मघ॑व॒न्नस्ति॑ मर्डि॒ता ॥

Indra, we are yours. Sages and celebrants, we all abide in you. There is none whatever other than you, lord of power, honour and world’s wealth, universally invoked and adored, who is kind and gracious as you.

· · ·

8.66.14

त्वं नो॑ अ॒स्या अम॑तेरु॒त क्षु॒धो॒३॒॑ऽभिश॑स्ते॒रव॑ स्पृधि । त्वं न॑ ऊ॒ती तव॑ चि॒त्रया॑ धि॒या शिक्षा॑ शचिष्ठ गातु॒वित् ॥

O lord, pray you save us from this ignorance, hunger and want, and imprecation and calumny. You give us protection, enlighten us with your unique wisdom and understanding. O most potent master of the knowledge of the laws and paths of life, guide us on the paths of the world.

· · ·

8.66.15

सोम॒ इद्वः॑ सु॒तो अ॑स्तु॒ कल॑यो॒ मा बि॑भीतन । अपेदे॒ष ध्व॒स्माय॑ति स्व॒यं घै॒षो अपा॑यति ॥

O budding scholars and sages, let the soma of hope and joy be distilled and poured for you. Fear not. This terror and destruction is going away. Self- destroyed, it is going away, vanishing of itself.

✦ Sukta 67 · 21 verses ✦

8.67.1

त्यान्नु क्ष॒त्रियाँ॒ अव॑ आदि॒त्यान्या॑चिषामहे । सु॒मृ॒ळी॒काँ अ॒भिष्ट॑ये ॥

For the sake of protection and to achieve our cherished objects, we call upon the Kshatriyas, warriors of the nation, bright as children of light and firm as children of Infinity, providers of peace, happiness and security.

· · ·

8.67.2

मि॒त्रो नो॒ अत्यं॑ह॒तिं वरु॑णः पर्षदर्य॒मा । आ॒दि॒त्यासो॒ यथा॑ वि॒दुः ॥

To the best of their knowledge and intention, power and purpose, may Mitra, teachers and preachers, intellectuals and researchers, universal friends of humanity, Varuna, chosen representatives, governors and administrators, and Aryama, leaders of law, guides of the nation, Adityas all, children of light and givers of enlightenment, protect, promote and defend us against violence, injustice and ignorance and cleanse us of sin and crime.

· · ·

8.67.3

तेषां॒ हि चि॒त्रमु॒क्थ्यं१॒॑ वरू॑थ॒मस्ति॑ दा॒शुषे॑ । आ॒दि॒त्याना॑मरं॒कृते॑ ॥

Ample means and materials, wonderful, various and admirable, vest in the brilliant Adityas, enlightened powers of governance and administration, for the people of generosity, and beauty, decency and grace.

· · ·

8.67.4

महि॑ वो मह॒तामवो॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्रार्य॑मन् । अवां॒स्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

O great Varuna, Mitra and Aryama, great are your powers of protection and defence. We choose to ask and do ask for protection and defence by you.

· · ·

8.67.5

जी॒वान्नो॑ अ॒भि धे॑त॒नादि॑त्यासः पु॒रा हथा॑त् । कद्ध॑ स्थ हवनश्रुतः ॥

Wherever you are or happen to be stationed, pray listen to our call and rush in for our life and protection before the strike of violence and possibly death and destruction.

· · ·

8.67.6

यद्वः॑ श्रा॒न्ताय॑ सुन्व॒ते वरू॑थ॒मस्ति॒ यच्छ॒र्दिः । तेना॑ नो॒ अधि॑ वोचत ॥

Whatever be your defence, protection and relief for the worker, producer or creator of soma while he works to the point of weariness, exhaustion and retirement, for that plead for us and get us the relief needed, deserved and allowed.

· · ·

8.67.7

अस्ति॑ देवा अं॒होरु॒र्वस्ति॒ रत्न॒मना॑गसः । आदि॑त्या॒ अद्भु॑तैनसः ॥

Adityas, children of light, rulers and administrators, generous and unpolluted by corruption, the relief for the distressed is ample freedom from distress, and the reward for the sinless is jewel graces of life.

· · ·

8.67.8

मा नः॒ सेतुः॑ सिषेद॒यं म॒हे वृ॑णक्तु न॒स्परि॑ । इन्द्र॒ इद्धि श्रु॒तो व॒शी ॥

Let this bond of sin and crime never fetter us. Let it fall off far from us so that we may be free to do great. The renowned Indra, lord supreme, is the master controller and dispenser of reward and punishment.

· · ·

8.67.9

मा नो॑ मृ॒चा रि॑पू॒णां वृ॑जि॒नाना॑मविष्यवः । देवा॑ अ॒भि प्र मृ॑क्षत ॥

O protectors and defenders of the people, brilliant and generous rulers, let not the violence and calumny of crooked enemies ever smear and injure us. Pray cover us all round with safety and security.

· · ·

8.67.10

उ॒त त्वाम॑दिते मह्य॒हं दे॒व्युप॑ ब्रुवे । सु॒मृ॒ळी॒काम॒भिष्ट॑ये ॥

And O great, brilliant and sovereign assembly of the nation, generous and gracious power, conscientiously I speak to you, pray save us from harm and injury, help us achieve our heart’s desire and cherished objectives.

· · ·

8.67.11

पर्षि॑ दी॒ने ग॑भी॒र आँ उग्र॑पुत्रे॒ जिघां॑सतः । माकि॑स्तो॒कस्य॑ नो रिषत् ॥

Aditi, mother of brave and blazingAdityas, pray anoint us, make us immune and help us cross the seas of violence both deep and shallow, let no enemy, violence or disease harm and injure our coming generations.

· · ·

8.67.12

अ॒ने॒हो न॑ उरुव्रज॒ उरू॑चि॒ वि प्रस॑र्तवे । कृ॒धि तो॒काय॑ जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Sacred and sovereign mother of vast extensive powers, save us from sin and violence to range over the earth and strengthen us that not only we but also our coming generations may live happy and free

· · ·

8.67.13

ये मू॒र्धानः॑ क्षिती॒नामद॑ब्धासः॒ स्वय॑शसः । व्र॒ता रक्ष॑न्ते अ॒द्रुहः॑ ॥

Those who are on top of the average people, active, bold, unbending, and gifted with innate honour and reputation in law and personal values of virtue, free from jealousy and enmity, they maintain, uphold and protect the laws, values and commitments of the land. (They are the chosen children of mother earth, Adityas, worthy of being members of the mother’s household, council of the nation.)

· · ·

8.67.14

ते न॑ आ॒स्नो वृका॑णा॒मादि॑त्यासो मु॒मोच॑त । स्ते॒नं ब॒द्धमि॑वादिते ॥

Mother Aditi, caught up like thieves, we are in the jaws of wolves. May the Adityas save us from the mouth of wolfish exploiters.

· · ·

8.67.15

अपो॒ षु ण॑ इ॒यं शरु॒रादि॑त्या॒ अप॑ दुर्म॒तिः । अ॒स्मदे॒त्वज॑घ्नुषी ॥

O Adityas, let this violent force go off from us, let this evil genius too get away from us, leaving us unhurt.

· · ·

8.67.16

शश्व॒द्धि वः॑ सुदानव॒ आदि॑त्या ऊ॒तिभि॑र्व॒यम् । पु॒रा नू॒नं बु॑भु॒ज्महे॑ ॥

Adityas, generous givers, by virtue of your protections we have been enjoying life always, now as ever before.

· · ·

8.67.17

शश्व॑न्तं॒ हि प्र॑चेतसः प्रति॒यन्तं॑ चि॒देन॑सः । देवाः॑ कृणु॒थ जी॒वसे॑ ॥

O wise brilliancies, whoever turns to you ever and any time, even from sin, pray sustain and strengthen him to live his life to the full.

· · ·

8.67.18

तत्सु नो॒ नव्यं॒ सन्य॑स॒ आदि॑त्या॒ यन्मुमो॑चति । ब॒न्धाद्ब॒द्धमि॑वादिते ॥

O Adityas, O mother Aditi, we hope and pray may that ever new strength and sustenance of yours, which you give us for our good and protection, which saves us like people fettered in bondage and released, be extended to us ever as before.

· · ·

8.67.19

नास्माक॑मस्ति॒ तत्तर॒ आदि॑त्यासो अति॒ष्कदे॑ । यू॒यम॒स्मभ्यं॑ मृळत ॥

O Adityas, leaders of the human nation, that power and competence you give us to get over our problems is not our own, it is yours. Pray be kind and gracious and keep it up as ever before.

· · ·

8.67.20

मा नो॑ हे॒तिर्वि॒वस्व॑त॒ आदि॑त्याः कृ॒त्रिमा॒ शरुः॑ । पु॒रा नु ज॒रसो॑ वधीत् ॥

O Adityas, brilliant powers of nature and humanity, let not the onslaught of time or an artificial weapon made by man strike us before we have lived and enjoyed a full age of fulfilment to the last day of old age.

· · ·

8.67.21

वि षु द्वेषो॒ व्यं॑ह॒तिमादि॑त्यासो॒ वि संहि॑तम् । विष्व॒ग्वि वृ॑हता॒ रपः॑ ॥

O Adityas, brilliant rulers and leaders of the nation, totally destroy jealousy and enmity, eliminate distress and depression, sin and crime, wipe out organised crime, terror and combined attacks, and uproot all disease, infirmity and disability from the earth.

✦ Sukta 68 · 19 verses ✦

8.68.1

आ त्वा॒ रथं॒ यथो॒तये॑ सु॒म्नाय॑ वर्तयामसि । तु॒वि॒कू॒र्मिमृ॑ती॒षह॒मिन्द्र॒ शवि॑ष्ठ॒ सत्प॑ते ॥

Indra, bravest of the brave, protector of the good and true, just as we turn the chariot, so do we draw your attention and pray you turn to us and come for our protection, welfare and enlightenment, lord of infinite action and conqueror of enemies.

· · ·

8.68.2

तुवि॑शुष्म॒ तुवि॑क्रतो॒ शची॑वो॒ विश्व॑या मते । आ प॑प्राथ महित्व॒ना ॥

Lord omnipotent of infinite action, infinitely helpful, omniscient, with your cosmic power and grandeur you pervade the whole universe.

· · ·

8.68.3

यस्य॑ ते महि॒ना म॒हः परि॑ ज्मा॒यन्त॑मी॒यतुः॑ । हस्ता॒ वज्रं॑ हिर॒ण्यय॑म् ॥

Indra who are infinitely great by virtue of your omnipotence, your hands wield the thunderbolt of justice and golden grace which reaches everywhere over the universe.

· · ·

8.68.4

वि॒श्वान॑रस्य व॒स्पति॒मना॑नतस्य॒ शव॑सः । एवै॑श्च चर्षणी॒नामू॒ती हु॑वे॒ रथा॑नाम् ॥

I pray to Indra, your lord and father, master controller of the irresistible powers and forces of the universe, for divine protection of the people by the dynamics of his moving powers of nature and humanity.

· · ·

8.68.5

अ॒भिष्ट॑ये स॒दावृ॑धं॒ स्व॑र्मीळ्हेषु॒ यं नरः॑ । नाना॒ हव॑न्त ऊ॒तये॑ ॥

I pray to Indra, ever more munificent in human struggles for light, happiness and welfare, whom people invoke and adore in many ways for protection and progress and for the fulfilment of their cherished objects and ambitions.

· · ·

8.68.6

प॒रोमा॑त्र॒मृची॑षम॒मिन्द्र॑मु॒ग्रं सु॒राध॑सम् । ईशा॑नं चि॒द्वसू॑नाम् ॥

I invoke and pray to Indra, boundless presence, lover of hymns of adoration, illustrious, all competent and master ruler of the wealth and power of the world.

· · ·

8.68.7

तंत॒मिद्राध॑से म॒ह इन्द्रं॑ चोदामि पी॒तये॑ । यः पू॒र्व्यामनु॑ष्टुति॒मीशे॑ कृष्टी॒नां नृ॒तुः ॥

For every great success, for all wealth and high competence in life and also for the joyous pleasure of it all, I invoke and celebrate Indra, ultimate leader and guide of the people who listens to the prayers and adorations of humanity since time immemorial and rules them all.

· · ·

8.68.8

न यस्य॑ ते शवसान स॒ख्यमा॒नंश॒ मर्त्यः॑ । नकिः॒ शवां॑सि ते नशत् ॥

O lord of universal power, no mortal has ever been able to attain equal fellowship with you, then who can claim to attain equality with your power and potential?

· · ·

8.68.9

त्वोता॑स॒स्त्वा यु॒जाप्सु सूर्ये॑ म॒हद्धन॑म् । जये॑म पृ॒त्सु व॑ज्रिवः ॥

O lord of thunderous energy and power, protected by you and in close association with you, we pray, we may discover great wealth in the waters and in the sun and win far reaching victories in our battles of life.

· · ·

8.68.10

तं त्वा॑ य॒ज्ञेभि॑रीमहे॒ तं गी॒र्भिर्गि॑र्वणस्तम । इन्द्र॒ यथा॑ चि॒दावि॑थ॒ वाजे॑षु पुरु॒माय्य॑म् ॥

Indra, lord most adorable, we honour you by yajnas of corporate research and development, and we adore you in many languages as you guide, advance and protect the man of knowledge in our human endeavours for new achievements and further advances.

· · ·

8.68.11

यस्य॑ ते स्वा॒दु स॒ख्यं स्वा॒द्वी प्रणी॑तिरद्रिवः । य॒ज्ञो वि॑तन्त॒साय्यः॑ ॥

O lord of the clouds of shower, knowledge and wealth, delightful is your association, exciting is your guidance. The yajna of corporate action and advance- ment must go on.

· · ·

8.68.12

उ॒रु ण॑स्त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ तन॑ उ॒रु क्षया॑य नस्कृधि । उ॒रु णो॑ यन्धि जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Excellence for our body’s health, rise and expan- sion for our children and grand children, expansion, comfort and safety for our home, O lord, grant, grant us rise and advancement for life’s excellence and joy.

· · ·

8.68.13

उ॒रुं नृभ्य॑ उ॒रुं गव॑ उ॒रुं रथा॑य॒ पन्था॑म् । दे॒ववी॑तिं मनामहे ॥

Rise and advancement for the people, expansion and development for lands and cattle, expansion and improvement of highways for transport, we pray for, and for that we think and research and plan, and we seek the favour of divinity.

· · ·

8.68.14

उप॑ मा॒ षड्द्वाद्वा॒ नरः॒ सोम॑स्य॒ हर्ष्या॑ । तिष्ठ॑न्ति स्वादुरा॒तयः॑ ॥

In the ecstasy of soma joy and exhilaration of achievement, six in twos come to me, leading lights they are, abundant and delightful are their gifts and contributions.

· · ·

8.68.15

ऋ॒ज्रावि॑न्द्रो॒त आ द॑दे॒ हरी॒ ऋक्ष॑स्य सू॒नवि॑ । आ॒श्व॒मे॒धस्य॒ रोहि॑ता ॥

I have got two sensitive and dynamic organs of communication protected and promoted by Indra for the body form of the spirit and for efficient working of the body system.

· · ·

8.68.16

सु॒रथाँ॑ आतिथि॒ग्वे स्व॑भी॒शूँरा॒र्क्षे । आ॒श्व॒मे॒धे सु॒पेश॑सः ॥

For the body in service of the visiting resident soul, I get another two fast and controlled organs in fine shape for the systemic and yajnic working of the body system.

· · ·

8.68.17

षळश्वाँ॑ आतिथि॒ग्व इ॑न्द्रो॒ते व॒धूम॑तः । सचा॑ पू॒तक्र॑तौ सनम् ॥

Six organs of perception in this body system, sophisticated and pervaded by Indra, the soul, with a partner house keeper, the intellectual faculty, I have received. They are all friendly participants in the holy working of the system in divine service.

· · ·

8.68.18

ऐषु॑ चेत॒द्वृष॑ण्वत्य॒न्तॠ॒ज्रेष्वरु॑षी । स्व॒भी॒शुः कशा॑वती ॥

In the midst of these simple and straight organs of sense, fast but well steered, there is one which is extremely generous and creative, the intelligence, which holds the whip and the reins both, that is, the acceleration and the steer and the brakes for proper movement of the systemic chariot.

· · ·

8.68.19

न यु॒ष्मे वा॑जबन्धवो निनि॒त्सुश्च॒न मर्त्यः॑ । अ॒व॒द्यमधि॑ दीधरत् ॥

O brotherly team of dynamic workers and winners in the battles of life, no mortal even addicted to malignity and scandal can foist any blame or censure on you.

✦ Sukta 69 · 18 verses ✦

8.69.1

प्रप्र॑ वस्त्रि॒ष्टुभ॒मिषं॑ म॒न्दद्वी॑रा॒येन्द॑वे । धि॒या वो॑ मे॒धसा॑तये॒ पुरं॒ध्या वि॑वासति ॥

For your progress, offer libations of holy fuel and fragrance, triple refined and intensified, with trishtubh hymns of

Vedic formulae in the service of Indra, cosmic spirit of energy and power, happy and exciting, who inspires the brave and shines you with versatile creative intellect for the advancement of your science of yajna for further development.

· · ·

8.69.2

न॒दं व॒ ओद॑तीनां न॒दं योयु॑वतीनाम् । पतिं॑ वो॒ अघ्न्या॑नां धेनू॒नामि॑षुध्यसि ॥

Indra is the resounding source of fresh energies, roaring expression of maiden youthfulness, protector and promoter of sacred sources of production and nourishment such as cows which must not be killed or hurt, and he is the relentless inexhaustible keeper of your arrows for your targets of defence and development.

· · ·

8.69.3

ता अ॑स्य॒ सूद॑दोहसः॒ सोमं॑ श्रीणन्ति॒ पृश्न॑यः । जन्म॑न्दे॒वानां॒ विश॑स्त्रि॒ष्वा रो॑च॒ने दि॒वः ॥

Just as on the rise of dawn in the divine heaven of light, the edifying rays of the sun beatify the Indra- born beauty and freshness of life in the three regions of earth, heaven and the skies, similarly, on the dawn of divine vision in the intelligence of the soul, the revelations of divinity and reflections of omniscience refine, intensify and edify the energy, power and beauty of the soma gifts of Indra, this oceanic source of matter, energy and excellence of life, for the trinity of body, mind and soul.

· · ·

8.69.4

अ॒भि प्र गोप॑तिं गि॒रेन्द्र॑मर्च॒ यथा॑ वि॒दे । सू॒नुं स॒त्यस्य॒ सत्प॑तिम् ॥

To the best of your knowledge and culture and with the best of your language, worship and adore Indra, protector of stars and planets, lands and cows, language and culture, creator of the dynamics of existence and protector of its constancy.

· · ·

8.69.5

आ हर॑यः ससृज्रि॒रेऽरु॑षी॒रधि॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ । यत्रा॒भि सं॒नवा॑महे ॥

Let the vibrations of divinity, like crimson rays of dawn which bring the sun to the earth, bring Indra on to our sacred grass where we humans meet and pray and celebrate the lord in song together.

· · ·

8.69.6

इन्द्रा॑य॒ गाव॑ आ॒शिरं॑ दुदु॒ह्रे व॒ज्रिणे॒ मधु॑ । यत्सी॑मुपह्व॒रे वि॒दत् ॥

Lands and cows, suns and planets, indeed all objects in motion, exude for Indra, wielder of thunder, the ichor of emotional adoration seasoned with ecstasy like honey sweet milk mixed with soma which he receives close at hand and cherishes.

· · ·

8.69.7

उद्यद्ब्र॒ध्नस्य॑ वि॒ष्टपं॑ गृ॒हमिन्द्र॑श्च॒ गन्व॑हि । मध्वः॑ पी॒त्वा स॑चेवहि॒ त्रिः स॒प्त सख्युः॑ प॒दे ॥

Up let us rise on top of the sun and vast spaces, reach the abode of Indra, and, having drunk the soma sweet of ecstasy, let us be together across and over the thrice seven stages of being in evolution in the purely spiritual state of the lord’s presence as a friend. (The thrice seven are the steps of physical, mental and pychic evolutionary phases of existence in three qualitative modes of being in the process of becoming. The seven states of evolution in descending order from pure being are: mahat, Ahankara and the five elements, akasha, vayu, agni, apah and prthivi. The three qualitative modes are sattva, rajas and tamas or thought, energy and matter. Another way to explain the twenty one is: five elements, five pranic energies, five perceptive organs and five organs of volition, the twenty-first is antahkarana or psychic self. When the psychic self or the soul in the existential state wishes to rise back to the purely spiritual state, it has to cross the twenty one stages and then be in the company of Indra, the cosmic self, and even later, in the transcendental state of absolute Being, the Spirit, the Brahmic state. This is set out it detail in the Sankhya, Yoga and Vedanta philosophy.)

· · ·

8.69.8

अर्च॑त॒ प्रार्च॑त॒ प्रिय॑मेधासो॒ अर्च॑त । अर्च॑न्तु पुत्र॒का उ॒त पुरं॒ न धृ॒ष्ण्व॑र्चत ॥

O lovers of Yajna, lovers of union and communion with the divine, adore and worship Indra, adore and worship again, worship again and again. Worship along with your children and grand children, just as the citizens adore and exalt a great city and the glorious ruler of the celestial city.

· · ·

8.69.9

अव॑ स्वराति॒ गर्ग॑रो गो॒धा परि॑ सनिष्वणत् । पिङ्गा॒ परि॑ चनिष्कद॒दिन्द्रा॑य॒ ब्रह्मोद्य॑तम् ॥

The drum booms aloud, the bow string strikes the arm guard, the string bells jingle, let the hymns rise in honour of Indra.

· · ·

8.69.10

आ यत्पत॑न्त्ये॒न्यः॑ सु॒दुघा॒ अन॑पस्फुरः । अ॒प॒स्फुरं॑ गृभायत॒ सोम॒मिन्द्रा॑य॒ पात॑वे ॥

When the dynamic senses of perception and volition, controlled, unagitating and calmly withdrawn, concentrate in the inner mind, then you receive the showers of soma nectar of spiritual ananda for Indra, the soul.

· · ·

8.69.11

अपा॒दिन्द्रो॒ अपा॑द॒ग्निर्विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अ॑मत्सत । वरु॑ण॒ इदि॒ह क्ष॑य॒त्तमापो॑ अ॒भ्य॑नूषत व॒त्सं सं॒शिश्व॑रीरिव ॥

Indra, the soul, seeking honour, fame and power, loves the soma of ananda. Agni, leading scholar advancing into the light of knowledge, loves the soma of ananda. All brilliancies of nature and humanity love the ecstasy of soma. Varuna, powers of love and justice, all abide in the ecstasy of soma. All seekers of yajnic action and divine dedication love the soma of spiritual ananda of their creation like the mother loving her child.

· · ·

8.69.12

सु॒दे॒वो अ॑सि वरुण॒ यस्य॑ ते स॒प्त सिन्ध॑वः । अ॒नु॒क्षर॑न्ति का॒कुदं॑ सू॒र्म्यं॑ सुषि॒रामि॑व ॥

Varuna, master scholar and teacher, you are divinely brilliant and generous whose seven streams of knowledge and wisdom flow forth in words from the master’s voice to the seekers, like water flowing from a tube into many channels.

· · ·

8.69.13

यो व्यतीँ॒रफा॑णय॒त्सुयु॑क्ताँ॒ उप॑ दा॒शुषे॑ । त॒क्वो ने॒ता तदिद्वपु॑रुप॒मा यो अमु॑च्यत ॥

That soul is Indra, man of self control and selfpower, who withdraws his scattered powers of senses and mind, turns them inward and applies them into meditation for the sake of generosity of the spirit, and then as their patient master and leader, with the power and grace of his self-possession, releases and relaxes them in the state of peace. He is the sovereign soul.

· · ·

8.69.14

अतीदु॑ श॒क्र ओ॑हत॒ इन्द्रो॒ विश्वा॒ अति॒ द्विषः॑ । भि॒नत्क॒नीन॑ ओद॒नं प॒च्यमा॑नं प॒रो गि॒रा ॥

Indra, the sovereign soul of self-power, transcends all jealousy, malignity and enmity and, blest with top handsomeness and grace of the spirit, breaks open into words the mature knowledge and self-realised spiritual food for the seekers.

· · ·

8.69.15

अ॒र्भ॒को न कु॑मार॒कोऽधि॑ तिष्ठ॒न्नवं॒ रथ॑म् । स प॑क्षन्महि॒षं मृ॒गं पि॒त्रे मा॒त्रे वि॑भु॒क्रतु॑म् ॥

Neither a child nor an adolescent, the man of mature mind abiding in a healthy body practices meditation and realises the great, supreme, omnipotent cosmic soul of universal holy action for the enlightenment of all about Mother Nature and the father of creation.

· · ·

8.69.16

आ तू सु॑शिप्र दम्पते॒ रथं॑ तिष्ठा हिर॒ण्यय॑म् । अध॑ द्यु॒क्षं स॑चेवहि स॒हस्र॑पादमरु॒षं स्व॑स्ति॒गाम॑ने॒हस॑म् ॥

O lord of golden grace, father and sustainer of the house-hold of the universe, come and seat yourself in the golden chariot of this human body and, together as friends and companions, we shall ride this chariot of heavenly light, thousand wheeled, invincible and immaculate, moving on the road to peace and ultimate good.

· · ·

8.69.17

तं घे॑मि॒त्था न॑म॒स्विन॒ उप॑ स्व॒राज॑मासते । अर्थं॑ चिदस्य॒ सुधि॑तं॒ यदेत॑व आव॒र्तय॑न्ति दा॒वने॑ ॥

Thus do yajnic and meditative souls holding havis for homage adore and worship self-refulgent Indra when, in order to realise the nature, character and generosity, indeed the very presence of the lord, they turn their self-controlled mind to the Divine Soul in order to reach him.

· · ·

8.69.18

अनु॑ प्र॒त्नस्यौक॑सः प्रि॒यमे॑धास एषाम् । पूर्वा॒मनु॒ प्रय॑तिं वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो हि॒तप्र॑यस आशत ॥

Of these devotees of yajna and lovers of meditative communion, those who sit on the holy grass with a clean mind and offer oblations of spiritual love in the style of the sages of old as ever achieve union with the universal presence of the eternal Spirit.

✦ Sukta 70 · 15 verses ✦

8.70.1

यो राजा॑ चर्षणी॒नां याता॒ रथे॑भि॒रध्रि॑गुः । विश्वा॑सां तरु॒ता पृत॑नानां॒ ज्येष्ठो॒ यो वृ॑त्र॒हा गृ॒णे ॥

I adore Indra, lord supreme, who rules the people, and who is the irresistible and universal mover by waves of cosmic energy, saviour of all humanity, supreme warrior and winner of cosmic battles of the elemental forces and who destroys the evil, darkness and poverty of the world.

· · ·

8.70.2

इन्द्रं॒ तं शु॑म्भ पुरुहन्म॒न्नव॑से॒ यस्य॑ द्वि॒ता वि॑ध॒र्तरि॑ । हस्ता॑य॒ वज्रः॒ प्रति॑ धायि दर्श॒तो म॒हो दि॒वे न सूर्यः॑ ॥

O man of universal devotion, exalt and glorify that omnipotent Indra for protection and progress in whom, as ruler and controller of the world, both justice and mercy abide simultaneously, who holds the thunderbolt of power in hand, and who is great and glorious like the sun in heaven.

· · ·

8.70.3

नकि॒ष्टं कर्म॑णा नश॒द्यश्च॒कार॑ स॒दावृ॑धम् । इन्द्रं॒ न य॒ज्ञैर्वि॒श्वगू॑र्त॒मृभ्व॑स॒मधृ॑ष्टं धृ॒ष्ण्वो॑जसम् ॥

No one can equal merely by action, much less hurt even by yajnas, that person who has won the favour and grace of Indra, lord divine who is rising as well as raising his devotees high, who is universally adored, universal genius, redoubtable and invincibly illustrious.

· · ·

8.70.4

अषा॑ळ्हमु॒ग्रं पृत॑नासु सास॒हिं यस्मि॑न्म॒हीरु॑रु॒ज्रयः॑ । सं धे॒नवो॒ जाय॑माने अनोनवु॒र्द्यावः॒ क्षामो॑ अनोनवुः ॥

Unchallengeable, awful, victorious in cosmic dynamics, in whose pervasive presence great and tempestuous stars and planets, earths and heavens, all in unison move in order and do homage in reverence, such is Indra.

· · ·

8.70.5

यद्द्याव॑ इन्द्र ते श॒तं श॒तं भूमी॑रु॒त स्युः । न त्वा॑ वज्रिन्त्स॒हस्रं॒ सूर्या॒ अनु॒ न जा॒तम॑ष्ट॒ रोद॑सी ॥

Indra, lord of thunder, if there were a hundred heavens, and if there were a hundred earths, they would not be able to rival you. Not a thousand suns, nor heavens, earths and skies together would match you at the rise in manifestation.

· · ·

8.70.6

आ प॑प्राथ महि॒ना वृष्ण्या॑ वृष॒न्विश्वा॑ शविष्ठ॒ शव॑सा । अ॒स्माँ अ॑व मघव॒न्गोम॑ति व्र॒जे वज्रि॑ञ्चि॒त्राभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

O lord of the thunderbolt, master and controller of world’s wealth, honour and power, most potent and lord of showers of generosity, with your generous and creative power and grandeur you pervade the universe. Pray protect, guide and promote us by your various and wondrous modes of protection and progress in our search for development of lands and cows, knowledge, language and culture.

· · ·

8.70.7

न सी॒मदे॑व आप॒दिषं॑ दीर्घायो॒ मर्त्यः॑ । एत॑ग्वा चि॒द्य एत॑शा यु॒योज॑ते॒ हरी॒ इन्द्रो॑ यु॒योज॑ते ॥

Never can an impious, ungodly mortal find that food and energy in life which that other person can find who yokes those dynamic energies and powers in his search for progress which Indra deploys in his creative and evolutionary programme of existence.

· · ·

8.70.8

तं वो॑ म॒हो म॒हाय्य॒मिन्द्रं॑ दा॒नाय॑ स॒क्षणि॑म् । यो गा॒धेषु॒ य आर॑णेषु॒ हव्यो॒ वाजे॒ष्वस्ति॒ हव्यः॑ ॥

Invoke that great, adorable and friendly Indra for the gift of power, energy and expertise for your progress who is invoked and adored in the depth of the seas, over lands and mountains and in the battles of the brave for new heights.

· · ·

8.70.9

उदू॒ षु णो॑ वसो म॒हे मृ॒शस्व॑ शूर॒ राध॑से । उदू॒ षु म॒ह्यै म॑घवन्म॒घत्त॑य॒ उदि॑न्द्र॒ श्रव॑से म॒हे ॥

Brave Indra, lord of the wealth, honour and excellence of the world, haven and home of all living beings, inspire our will and intelligence for the achievement of great wealth and competence for success in life and raise us to great power, honour and excellence to win high fame across the world.

· · ·

8.70.10

त्वं न॑ इन्द्र ऋत॒युस्त्वा॒निदो॒ नि तृ॑म्पसि । मध्ये॑ वसिष्व तुविनृम्णो॒र्वोर्नि दा॒सं शि॑श्नथो॒ हथैः॑ ॥

Indra, lover and promoter of truth and rectitude, you fulfil us with your gifts and reduce the maligners of divinity to deprivation. O lord of boundless wealth and power, raise us to the heights of the skies in the midst of heaven and earth, and strike down the violent and the destroyer with blows of retribution.

· · ·

8.70.11

अ॒न्यव्र॑त॒ममा॑नुष॒मय॑ज्वान॒मदे॑वयुम् । अव॒ स्वः सखा॑ दुधुवीत॒ पर्व॑तः सु॒घ्नाय॒ दस्युं॒ पर्व॑तः ॥

Friendly, generous but adamantine ruler, punish the person committed to destructive values, anti-human organisation, anticreative and antisocial actions and antinature and impious plans and programmes, punish him with deprivation of comfort, self-satisfaction and social privileges and assign him to sure elimination or total change. The strong uncompromising ruler should punish the violent, the terrorist and the killer to an equal and opposite fate.

· · ·

8.70.12

त्वं न॑ इन्द्रासां॒ हस्ते॑ शविष्ठ दा॒वने॑ । धा॒नानां॒ न सं गृ॑भायास्म॒युर्द्विः सं गृ॑भायास्म॒युः ॥

Indra, most powerful ruler and leader, our benefactor, one of our own, in order to benefit us, pray take up in hand these assets of wealth just as one holds roasted rice in hand for distribution, and give it to us. Take up the wealth again, our own man, and distribute that too.

· · ·

8.70.13

सखा॑यः॒ क्रतु॑मिच्छत क॒था रा॑धाम श॒रस्य॑ । उप॑स्तुतिं भो॒जः सू॒रिर्यो अह्र॑यः ॥

O friends, try freely to do good by way of yajna, else how shall we serve Indra, lord of the bow and arrow, with worship and adoration? He is the great benefactor and ruler, light giver, abundant and gracious.

· · ·

8.70.14

भूरि॑भिः समह॒ ऋषि॑भिर्ब॒र्हिष्म॑द्भिः स्तविष्यसे । यदि॒त्थमेक॑मेक॒मिच्छर॑ व॒त्सान्प॑रा॒ददः॑ ॥

O lord of grandeur and glory, destroyer of suffering, ignorance and all difficulties in the way of human happiness, since thus you give gracious gifts of cherished wealth, light and joy to dear and holy beneficiaries, to one and all of them, you are adored by all sages of the sacred grass on the yajna vedi.

· · ·

8.70.15

क॒र्ण॒गृह्या॑ म॒घवा॑ शौरदे॒व्यो व॒त्सं न॑स्त्रि॒भ्य आन॑यत् । अ॒जां सू॒रिर्न धात॑वे ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, power and glory, benefactor of the brave and holy, holds in his power the cherished wealth of perceptible knowledge and awareness which he showers for us from the three regions of heaven, earth and sky, just as, at our human level, the master and sagely scholar holds the eternal Vedic Word for us to hear and enjoy.

✦ Sukta 71 · 15 verses ✦

8.71.1

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने॒ महो॑भिः पा॒हि विश्व॑स्या॒ अरा॑तेः । उ॒त द्वि॒षो मर्त्य॑स्य ॥

Agni, leading light of life, with your mighty powers and grandeur, protect us against all material, moral and social adversity and all mortal jealousy and enmity.

· · ·

8.71.2

न॒हि म॒न्युः पौरु॑षेय॒ ईशे॒ हि वः॑ प्रियजात । त्वमिद॑सि॒ क्षपा॑वान् ॥

No wrath of man rules over you, all time dear friend of humanity, since your very birth you are the master and ruler of the earth

· · ·

8.71.3

स नो॒ विश्वे॑भिर्दे॒वेभि॒रूर्जो॑ नपा॒द्भद्र॑शोचे । र॒यिं दे॑हि वि॒श्ववा॑रम् ॥

Ruler of the earth as you are, O lord of infallible energy and blissful flames of fire, bless us with universal wealth with all the light, honour and excellence of the world.

· · ·

8.71.4

न तम॑ग्ने॒ अरा॑तयो॒ मर्तं॑ युवन्त रा॒यः । यं त्राय॑से दा॒श्वांस॑म् ॥

No adversities, no enemies, can deprive that generous man of his wealth, honour and excellence whom you protect and promote.

· · ·

8.71.5

यं त्वं वि॑प्र मे॒धसा॑ता॒वग्ने॑ हि॒नोषि॒ धना॑य । स तवो॒ती गोषु॒ गन्ता॑ ॥

O vibrant power of wealth, honour and excellence, the man whom you inspire and exhort to win wealth and to dedicate himself to the service of divinities goes forward in the acquisition of lands, cows, and the light of knowledge and culture under your protection.

· · ·

8.71.6

त्वं र॒यिं पु॑रु॒वीर॒मग्ने॑ दा॒शुषे॒ मर्ता॑य । प्र णो॑ नय॒ वस्यो॒ अच्छ॑ ॥

Agni, lead us to wealth, brave happy progeny and the perfect joy of life for men of charity and unbounded generosity.

· · ·

8.71.7

उ॒रु॒ष्या णो॒ मा परा॑ दा अघाय॒ते जा॑तवेदः । दु॒रा॒ध्ये॒३॒॑ मर्ता॑य ॥

All pervasive, omniscient Agni, protect us and leave us not to the sinner, the criminal, and the man of evil thought and action.

· · ·

8.71.8

अग्ने॒ माकि॑ष्टे दे॒वस्य॑ रा॒तिमदे॑वो युयोत । त्वमी॑शिषे॒ वसू॑नाम् ॥

Agni, lord of brilliance and generosity, let no impious man deprive us of your generosity extended to us. You rule, control and protect the wealth, honour and excellence of the world.

· · ·

8.71.9

स नो॒ वस्व॒ उप॑ मा॒स्यूर्जो॑ नपा॒न्माहि॑नस्य । सखे॑ वसो जरि॒तृभ्यः॑ ॥

Agni, creator and treasure home of the world, infinite energy, giver of peace and settlement, universal friend, give us wealth as well as honour and glory for the celebrants.

· · ·

8.71.10

अच्छा॑ नः शी॒रशो॑चिषं॒ गिरो॑ यन्तु दर्श॒तम् । अच्छा॑ य॒ज्ञासो॒ नम॑सा पुरू॒वसुं॑ पुरुप्रश॒स्तमू॒तये॑ ॥

Let all our songs of adoration rise fast to the refulgent and glorious Agni. Let our yajna with homage and havi move and reach the universally adored and universally honoured Agni for the sake of universal protection.

· · ·

8.71.11

अ॒ग्निं सू॒नुं सह॑सो जा॒तवे॑दसं दा॒नाय॒ वार्या॑णाम् । द्वि॒ता यो भूद॒मृतो॒ मर्त्ये॒ष्वा होता॑ म॒न्द्रत॑मो वि॒शि ॥

Let our prayers reach Agni, all pervasive creator of energy, for the gift of cherished wealth and power. Agni is the immortal presence who appears among mortals in both physical and spiritual forms, universal yajaka, happiest and most blissful, arising in every home stead of the people.

· · ·

8.71.12

अ॒ग्निं वो॑ देवय॒ज्यया॒ग्निं प्र॑य॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे । अ॒ग्निं धी॒षु प्र॑थ॒मम॒ग्निमर्व॑त्य॒ग्निं क्षैत्रा॑य॒ साध॑से ॥

Adore Agni for all your service of the divinities of nature and humanity, light agni in the process of every holy programme, keep Agni in the fore-front in all your acts of thought and will initially, and in every new beginning serve and rely on Agni for every plan in the field of life.

· · ·

8.71.13

अ॒ग्निरि॒षां स॒ख्ये द॑दातु न॒ ईशे॒ यो वार्या॑णाम् । अ॒ग्निं तो॒के तन॑ये॒ शश्व॑दीमहे॒ वसुं॒ सन्तं॑ तनू॒पाम् ॥

May Agni as a friend give us food and energy for sustenance since he rules over all the wealth and powers of the world. We always serve and pray to Agni for our children and grand children, he being the universal giver of home and settlement as well as the protector and sustainer of our body’s health.

· · ·

8.71.14

अ॒ग्निमी॑ळि॒ष्वाव॑से॒ गाथा॑भिः शी॒रशो॑चिषम् । अ॒ग्निं रा॒ये पु॑रुमीळ्ह श्रु॒तं नरो॒ऽग्निं सु॑दी॒तये॑ छ॒र्दिः ॥

Pray to Agni of bright flames with songs and praise for protection and progress. O generous scholar, study and serve Agni for wealth, famous among people, Agni who provides home and happiness for the man of brilliance.

· · ·

8.71.15

अ॒ग्निं द्वेषो॒ योत॒वै नो॑ गृणीमस्य॒ग्निं शं योश्च॒ दात॑वे । विश्वा॑सु वि॒क्ष्व॑वि॒तेव॒ हव्यो॒ भुव॒द्वस्तु॑ॠषू॒णाम् ॥

We adore Agni for driving away our enemies from us and for giving us peace and settlement with happiness. He is like a protector among people, giver of home and adored by sages.

✦ Sukta 72 · 18 verses ✦

8.72.1

ह॒विष्कृ॑णुध्व॒मा ग॑मदध्व॒र्युर्व॑नते॒ पुनः॑ । वि॒द्वाँ अ॑स्य प्र॒शास॑नम् ॥

Come, devotees of yajna, celebrants of Agni: Prepare the havi for oblation, let the high priest come, he knows the ministration of this yajna, let him serve Agni again.

· · ·

8.72.2

नि ति॒ग्मम॒भ्यं१॒॑शुं सीद॒द्धोता॑ म॒नावधि॑ । जु॒षा॒णो अ॑स्य स॒ख्यम् ॥

Let the hota, offerer of oblations, come and sit close to the fire in bright flames, loving and honouring at heart the friendship of this Agni.

· · ·

8.72.3

अ॒न्तरि॑च्छन्ति॒ तं जने॑ रु॒द्रं प॒रो म॑नी॒षया॑ । गृ॒भ्णन्ति॑ जि॒ह्वया॑ स॒सम् ॥

Dedicated priests and scholars among people, with the best of their mind and intelligence, try to raise Agni, mighty fiery power immanent everywhere, and having raised it, they try to describe and adore it with words of homage.

· · ·

8.72.4

जा॒म्य॑तीतपे॒ धनु॑र्वयो॒धा अ॑रुह॒द्वन॑म् । दृ॒षदं॑ जि॒ह्वयाव॑धीत् ॥

Agni, immanent, friendly and rising as the sun, heats up the sky, bearing health and energy for nourishment, it rides the vapours of water and with its catalytic energy breaks the cloud.

· · ·

8.72.5

चर॑न्व॒त्सो रुश॑न्नि॒ह नि॑दा॒तारं॒ न वि॑न्दते । वेति॒ स्तोत॑व अ॒म्ब्य॑म् ॥

Agni, newly risen, playing as hyperactive and shining bright, brooks no obstruction and for its description and assessment needs a celebrant appraiser.

· · ·

8.72.6

उ॒तो न्व॑स्य॒ यन्म॒हदश्वा॑व॒द्योज॑नं बृ॒हद् । दा॒मा रथ॑स्य॒ ददृ॑शे ॥

And as its mighty boundless expansion grows on, intensely bright with sun-rays, its sphere of energy is seen like the halo of glorious light round the solar chariot.

· · ·

8.72.7

दु॒हन्ति॑ स॒प्तैका॒मुप॒ द्वा पञ्च॑ सृजतः । ती॒र्थे सिन्धो॒रधि॑ स्व॒रे ॥

Five senses of perception alongwith two others, mind and intelligence (i.e., mana and buddhi), at work distill the power and glory of Agni, like seven milk- maids milking one cow on the bank of a sacred river, and give it expression in the resounding notes of cosmic hymns.

· · ·

8.72.8

आ द॒शभि॑र्वि॒वस्व॑त॒ इन्द्रः॒ कोश॑मचुच्यवीत् । खेद॑या त्रि॒वृता॑ दि॒वः ॥

Just as Indra, electric energy of the sun in the form of lightning, breaks the cloud and brings down showers from the sky, so does the divine human soul by threefold passion of intellect, will and emotion, with the assistance of ten senses of perception and volition and ten pranic energies, distill down the treasure glory ofAgni from the sun into threefold wealth of knowledge, action and prayer committed and dedicated to divinity.

· · ·

8.72.9

परि॑ त्रि॒धातु॑रध्व॒रं जू॒र्णिरे॑ति॒ नवी॑यसी । मध्वा॒ होता॑रो अञ्जते ॥

Just as Agni rising in threefold flames, white, red and dark, comes at lightning speed to yajna with youthful power and the priests anoint and serve it with homage, so does the light of divinity with revelations of sattva, rajas and tamas and the values of knowledge, action and prayer, youthful, bright and vibrant, come to the mind of the celebrant, and then the yajnic senses, mind and intellect and the pranic energies of the devotee express the power and grace of Agni in celebration.

· · ·

8.72.10

सि॒ञ्चन्ति॒ नम॑साव॒तमु॒च्चाच॑क्रं॒ परि॑ज्मानम् । नी॒चीन॑बार॒मक्षि॑तम् ॥

With homage the devotees serve Agni, radiating and vibrating on high, pervading all round, full of peace and joy, just an inverted well, inexhaustible, with release of showers on the down side for the celebrants.

· · ·

8.72.11

अ॒भ्यार॒मिदद्र॑यो॒ निषि॑क्तं॒ पुष्क॑रे॒ मधु॑ । अ॒व॒तस्य॑ वि॒सर्ज॑ने ॥

When the fount of the divine reservoir is released toward the quiet mind of the devotee, then the lord of clouds and soma fills the lotus of his heart with the honeyed ecstasy of divine grace.

· · ·

8.72.12

गाव॒ उपा॑वताव॒तं म॒ही य॒ज्ञस्य॑ र॒प्सुदा॑ । उ॒भा कर्णा॑ हिर॒ण्यया॑ ॥

The psychic base of the devoted seeker of meditative communion is highly creative. O mind and senses attended with both knowledge and action of divine character, rise high and reach close to the reservoir of divine grace and win the showers of bliss.

· · ·

8.72.13

आ सु॒ते सि॑ञ्चत॒ श्रियं॒ रोद॑स्योरभि॒श्रिय॑म् । र॒सा द॑धीत वृष॒भम् ॥

O seekers of communion aspiring for divine ecstasy, when the communion is achieved, collect and fill the mind to overflowing with nectar and offer the oblations of ananda to the heavenly glory ofAgni rolling across and over heaven and earth.

· · ·

8.72.14

ते जा॑नत॒ स्वमो॒क्यं१॒॑ सं व॒त्सासो॒ न मा॒तृभिः॑ । मि॒थो न॑सन्त जा॒मिभिः॑ ॥

The aspirants know the one inmate spirit of their common home and they all abide and move together in and with the one intimate spirit of their own kind as children move around attached with their mothers (each with the one that is his, but all mothers are the same, the one common Soul).

· · ·

8.72.15

उप॒ स्रक्वे॑षु॒ बप्स॑तः कृण्व॒ते ध॒रुणं॑ दि॒वि । इन्द्रे॑ अ॒ग्ना नमः॒ स्वः॑ ॥

Agni, receiving, kindling and consuming the oblations in the flames, turns the havi into light in heaven as offering in the cup of faith to Indra. (So does the yogi turn his thoughts through contemplation into light and joy in the higher personality to offer it as homage to Indra.)

· · ·

8.72.16

अधु॑क्षत्पि॒प्युषी॒मिष॒मूर्जं॑ स॒प्तप॑दीम॒रिः । सूर्य॑स्य स॒प्त र॒श्मिभिः॑ ॥

May the lord of faith and power accept the offering of nourishing food and energy through seven stages of nature’s evolution, and by seven-rayed chemistry of the sun turn it into showers of spiritual fulfilment for the yajaka.

· · ·

8.72.17

सोम॑स्य मित्रावरु॒णोदि॑ता॒ सूर॒ आ द॑दे । तदातु॑रस्य भेष॒जम् ॥

O Mitra, O Varuna, O lord of love and justice, may I, at the rise of the sun, receive the heavenly light and joy of soma, rejuvenating nectar of life for the supplicant yearning for fulfilment.

· · ·

8.72.18

उ॒तो न्व॑स्य॒ यत्प॒दं ह॑र्य॒तस्य॑ निधा॒न्य॑म् । परि॒ द्यां जि॒ह्वया॑तनत् ॥

And then let the devotee with holy voice celebrate and glorify this state of divine fulfilment, promised of Agni, destined for man, unto heaven.

✦ Sukta 73 · 18 verses ✦

8.73.1

उदी॑राथामृताय॒ते यु॒ञ्जाथा॑मश्विना॒ रथ॑म् । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

O Ashvins, harbingers of the new dawn of light and energy, arise for the man of simple straight paths of rectitude, harness your chariot and come. May your power and protection be close to us for us.

· · ·

8.73.2

नि॒मिष॑श्चि॒ज्जवी॑यसा॒ रथे॒ना या॑तमश्विना । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Within a wink of the eye, come by the chariot of instant speed. Let your protections be with us at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.3

उप॑ स्तृणीत॒मत्र॑ये हि॒मेन॑ घ॒र्मम॑श्विना । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

With the cool of comfort and security like snow, cover the misfortunes of the man bereft of threefold security for body, mind and soul in life. Let your protections be with us at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.4

कुह॑ स्थः॒ कुह॑ जग्मथुः॒ कुह॑ श्ये॒नेव॑ पेतथुः । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Where are you staying? Where had you gone while we called? Where did you fly away like the eagle? Pray be with us always with your constant protections at the closest on hand.

· · ·

8.73.5

यद॒द्य कर्हि॒ कर्हि॑ चिच्छुश्रू॒यात॑मि॒मं हव॑म् । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

If now anywhere, in fact any time, you hear our call, let your protections be instantly with us at the earliest at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.6

अ॒श्विना॑ याम॒हूत॑मा॒ नेदि॑ष्ठं या॒म्याप्य॑म् । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Openly and instantly approachable Ashvins, I come to you as my own people at the closest. Let your protections be instant and sure for us at the earliest and closest.

· · ·

8.73.7

अव॑न्त॒मत्र॑ये गृ॒हं कृ॑णु॒तं यु॒वम॑श्विना । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Ashvins, for the man of threefold deprivation of health care, housing and employment, provide a home of security and maintenance. Pray let your protections be with us always without delay at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.8

वरे॑थे अ॒ग्निमा॒तपो॒ वद॑ते व॒ल्ग्वत्र॑ये । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of protection and relief for the deprived and underprivileged in matters of care, maintenance and education, bring help to the persuasive supplicants and remove the gusts of scorching heat and air from their head and heart. Let your protections be instantly available at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.9

प्र स॒प्तव॑ध्रिरा॒शसा॒ धारा॑म॒ग्नेर॑शायत । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of protection and relief for the deprived and underprivileged in matters of care, maintenance and education, bring help to the persuasive supplicants and remove the gusts of scorching heat and air from their head and heart. Let your protections be instantly available at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.10

इ॒हा ग॑तं वृषण्वसू शृणु॒तं म॑ इ॒मं हव॑म् । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of peace and appreciation, reward and pacify the poet, master of seven metres who, with his hope and imagination, captures the flames of fire and passion in poetry and let your protection and patronage be with us at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.11

किमि॒दं वां॑ पुराण॒वज्जर॑तोरिव शस्यते । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

O harbingers of the showers of wealth, honour and excellence, pray come here and listen to my call and adoration. Let your protections and exhortations be with us at the closest in the heart.

· · ·

8.73.12

स॒मा॒नं वां॑ सजा॒त्यं॑ समा॒नो बन्धु॑रश्विना । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

What sort of talk is this going round about you in the old outmoded style that you are nothing more than growing in years? O youthful harbingers of new light and freshness, let your protections and inspirations be with us at the closest and newest.

· · ·

8.73.13

यो वां॒ रजां॑स्यश्विना॒ रथो॑ वि॒याति॒ रोद॑सी । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

You are the same class and character as we, equal, the same brotherhood with us. Ashvins, let your protections and promotions be with us at the closest at the same level of class, character and species.

· · ·

8.73.14

आ नो॒ गव्ये॑भि॒रश्व्यैः॑ स॒हस्रै॒रुप॑ गच्छतम् । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Come by that chariot of yours which goes around to various regions of the universe and specially goes over the tracks of heaven, earth and sky. Pray let your protections be with us at the closest wherever you roam around.

· · ·

8.73.15

मा नो॒ गव्ये॑भि॒रश्व्यैः॑ स॒हस्रे॑भि॒रति॑ ख्यतम् । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Come with a thousandfold wealth of cows, lands and cultures and horses and achievements of progressive victories. Let your protections and promotions be ever closest with us.

· · ·

8.73.16

अ॒रु॒णप्सु॑रु॒षा अ॑भू॒दक॒र्ज्योति॑ॠ॒ताव॑री । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

The golden glory of the dawn is risen and brings in the light according to the law divine. Let your blessings and protections ever be closest to us.

· · ·

8.73.17

अ॒श्विना॒ सु वि॒चाक॑शद्वृ॒क्षं प॑रशु॒माँ इ॑व । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Ashvins, the sun rises and dispels the darkness as an axeman fells the tree. Let your boons and blessings ever be with us at the closest.

· · ·

8.73.18

पुरं॒ न धृ॑ष्ण॒वा रु॑ज कृ॒ष्णया॑ बाधि॒तो वि॒शा । अन्ति॒ षद्भू॑तु वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Brave humanity, whenever you are obstructed by dark forces, arise and break them down like a fortress of evil. Ashvins, let your forces and protections be ever with us at the closest for inspiration and exhortation.

✦ Sukta 74 · 15 verses ✦

8.74.1

वि॒शोवि॑शो वो॒ अति॑थिं वाज॒यन्तः॑ पुरुप्रि॒यम् । अ॒ग्निं वो॒ दुर्यं॒ वचः॑ स्तु॒षे शू॒षस्य॒ मन्म॑भिः ॥

O people of the world, seekers of light and advancement by every community for every community, for the sake of you all, with sincere thoughts and resounding words, I adore Agni, holy power, your homely friend loved by all for the common good.

· · ·

8.74.2

यं जना॑सो ह॒विष्म॑न्तो मि॒त्रं न स॒र्पिरा॑सुतिम् । प्र॒शंस॑न्ति॒ प्रश॑स्तिभिः ॥

Adore and exalt Agni whom yajnic people serve as a friend, with havi in hand and oblations of clarified butter, and celebrate with songs of praise.

· · ·

8.74.3

पन्यां॑सं जा॒तवे॑दसं॒ यो दे॒वता॒त्युद्य॑ता । ह॒व्यान्यैर॑यद्दि॒वि ॥

Serve and exalt the adorableAgni, all pervasive, who rises, strengthens all divinities of nature and humanity and raises the oblations to the heavens and heightens their vitality and power.

· · ·

8.74.4

आग॑न्म वृत्र॒हन्त॑मं॒ ज्येष्ठ॑म॒ग्निमान॑वम् । यस्य॑ श्रु॒तर्वा॑ बृ॒हन्ना॒र्क्षो अनी॑क॒ एध॑ते ॥

Let us rise and reach Agni, highest divinity, greatest destroyer of evil and darkness and friend of humanity, under whose blessed shelter the great, renowned and distinguished heroes find inspiration and rise.

· · ·

8.74.5

अ॒मृतं॑ जा॒तवे॑दसं ति॒रस्तमां॑सि दर्श॒तम् । घृ॒ताह॑वन॒मीड्य॑म् ॥

Let us rise and reach Agni, light of life, immortal, omnipresent, dispeller of darkness and ignorance, glorious, giver of delicious delicacies, and adorable.

· · ·

8.74.6

स॒बाधो॒ यं जना॑ इ॒मे॒३॒॑ऽग्निं ह॒व्येभि॒रीळ॑ते । जुह्वा॑नासो य॒तस्रु॑चः ॥

Let us adore Agni whom all the yajnic people, in spite of limitations, eagerly invoke and serve with ladlefuls of havi.

· · ·

8.74.7

इ॒यं ते॒ नव्य॑सी म॒तिरग्ने॒ अधा॑य्य॒स्मदा । मन्द्र॒ सुजा॑त॒ सुक्र॒तोऽमू॑र॒ दस्माति॑थे ॥

Agni, lord of light blissful, gloriously manifested, holy and divine in action, wise, majestic and revered as an honourable guest, this adorable light of your wisdom, we pray, may be vested in us.

· · ·

8.74.8

सा ते॑ अग्ने॒ शंत॑मा॒ चनि॑ष्ठा भवतु प्रि॒या । तया॑ वर्धस्व॒ सुष्टु॑तः ॥

Agni, that light and wisdom of yours, most blissful, most delightful, may be dear to us. And let our adorations too be dear to you. Exalted by that, arise and grow and let us grow too.

· · ·

8.74.9

सा द्यु॒म्नैर्द्यु॒म्निनी॑ बृ॒हदुपो॑प॒ श्रव॑सि॒ श्रवः॑ । दधी॑त वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑ ॥

That light and power, splendid and boundless with the might and majesty of divinity, may bear greater and greater potential closer and closer to us in the progressive task of the elimination of darkness and evil.

· · ·

8.74.10

अश्व॒मिद्गां र॑थ॒प्रां त्वे॒षमिन्द्रं॒ न सत्प॑तिम् । यस्य॒ श्रवां॑सि॒ तूर्व॑थ॒ पन्य॑म्पन्यं च कृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

Adore Agni who gives us the wealth of earth and progressive achievement by chariotfuls of glory. Worship him, awfully brilliant, saviour and protector of the good and truthful like Indra, whose renowned victories and astonishing gifts people praise and celebrate one by one, one after another.

· · ·

8.74.11

यं त्वा॑ गो॒पव॑नो गि॒रा चनि॑ष्ठदग्ने अङ्गिरः । स पा॑वक श्रुधी॒ हव॑म् ॥

Agni, light of the world, dear as breath of life, all purifier, whom the poet visionary of light and the Word celebrates, pray listen to our invocation and song of adoration.

· · ·

8.74.12

यं त्वा॒ जना॑स॒ ईळ॑ते स॒बाधो॒ वाज॑सातये । स बो॑धि वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑ ॥

Agni, O lord of light, whom people adore for victory and advancement enthusiastically in spite of limitations, pray enlighten us in the programme of the elimination of evil and darkness from life.

· · ·

8.74.13

अ॒हं हु॑वा॒न आ॒र्क्षे श्रु॒तर्व॑णि मद॒च्युति॑ । शर्धां॑सीव स्तुका॒विनां॑ मृ॒क्षा शी॒र्षा च॑तु॒र्णाम् ॥

For the good of people in general, for the learned, and for the joy of soma against the intoxication of pride, I invoke Agni as well as the light and powers of divinity to come and sanctify the heart and head of all the four classes of initiated people of the sacred hair.

· · ·

8.74.14

मां च॒त्वार॑ आ॒शवः॒ शवि॑ष्ठस्य द्रवि॒त्नवः॑ । सु॒रथा॑सो अ॒भि प्रयो॒ वक्ष॒न्वयो॒ न तुग्र्य॑म् ॥

The four fast and smart celebrants of the most potent Agni riding the holy chariot of life may, I pray, bring me food and energy as well as the light and vitality of divine inspiration.

· · ·

8.74.15

स॒त्यमित्त्वा॑ महेनदि॒ परु॒ष्ण्यव॑ देदिशम् । नेमा॑पो अश्व॒दात॑रः॒ शवि॑ष्ठादस्ति॒ मर्त्यः॑ ॥

O divine powers of light and vitality of perception and imagination, generous and overflowing with spirit and enthusiasm, I say this true of you and to you and of and to the dynamics of cosmic intelligence, there is no mortal power which is a greater giver of bliss and joy than the most potent and most brilliant Agni.

✦ Sukta 75 · 16 verses ✦

8.75.1

यु॒क्ष्वा हि दे॑व॒हूत॑माँ॒ अश्वाँ॑ अग्ने र॒थीरि॑व । नि होता॑ पू॒र्व्यः स॑दः ॥

Agni, light and life of the universe, as a master of the chariot of creation, harness your powers of cosmic dynamics which carry the divine wealth of life for us and, as the first and original high priest of creation, come and grace our hearth and home of familial creative activity in the service of divinity and observance of Dharma.

· · ·

8.75.2

उ॒त नो॑ देव दे॒वाँ अच्छा॑ वोचो वि॒दुष्ट॑रः । श्रद्विश्वा॒ वार्या॑ कृधि ॥

And O light of the world, omniscient lord, speak graciously to us, seekers of light and divinity, and reveal in truth the facts and processes cherished and valued on top of everything else for the good of life in existence.

· · ·

8.75.3

त्वं ह॒ यद्य॑विष्ठ्य॒ सह॑सः सूनवाहुत । ऋ॒तावा॑ य॒ज्ञियो॒ भुवः॑ ॥

You alone, most youthful imperishable power, creator of strength and energy, we invoke, you are the one adorable, giver and keeper of the cosmic law of truth and rectitude.

· · ·

8.75.4

अ॒यम॒ग्निः स॑ह॒स्रिणो॒ वाज॑स्य श॒तिन॒स्पतिः॑ । मू॒र्धा क॒वी र॑यी॒णाम् ॥

This Agni is the protector and promoter of a hundred and thousand forms and degrees of food, energy, advancement and victories of wealth, honour and excellence of the world, lord supreme and all time visionary and omniscient creator and poetic prophet and teacher.

· · ·

8.75.5

तं ने॒मिमृ॒भवो॑ य॒था न॑मस्व॒ सहू॑तिभिः । नेदी॑यो य॒ज्ञम॑ङ्गिरः ॥

Just as craftsmen bend and complete to perfection the felly of a wheel, so bend in homage to Agni, feed the fire, giver of vitality, with conjoint action and oblations, and O fire of yajna, dear as breath of life, closest friend, pray complete the circuit of yajnic regeneration for the yajakas.

· · ·

8.75.6

तस्मै॑ नू॒नम॒भिद्य॑वे वा॒चा वि॑रूप॒ नित्य॑या । वृष्णे॑ चोदस्व सुष्टु॒तिम् ॥

O man of diverse and conjoint forms of action, with words of eternal voice energise your holy song of adoration and let it rise to that self-refulgent omnificent Agni who is the harbinger of regeneration.

· · ·

8.75.7

कमु॑ ष्विदस्य॒ सेन॑या॒ग्नेरपा॑कचक्षसः । प॒णिं गोषु॑ स्तरामहे ॥

Shall we overcome and throw out the thief hiding within our lands and cows by the force of this all watching Agni of far sighted vision?

· · ·

8.75.8

मा नो॑ दे॒वानां॒ विशः॑ प्रस्ना॒तीरि॑वो॒स्राः । कृ॒शं न हा॑सु॒रघ्न्याः॑ ॥

Let the forces of the communities of people protected by noble and divine powers never forsake us just as the radiating dawns do not neglect us, and just as cows too, which must not be hurt do not abandon their emaciated calves.

· · ·

8.75.9

मा नः॑ समस्य दू॒ढ्यः१॒॑ परि॑द्वेषसो अंह॒तिः । ऊ॒र्मिर्न नाव॒मा व॑धीत् ॥

Let not the malevolent tyranny of the jealous smite us like billows of the sea striking the ship.

· · ·

8.75.10

नम॑स्ते अग्न॒ ओज॑से गृ॒णन्ति॑ देव कृ॒ष्टयः॑ । अमै॑र॒मित्र॑मर्दय ॥

Salutations to you, Agni, refulgent lord of generosity. The people too adore and exalt you. Pray ward off and throw out the enemies and unfriendly forces by your laws and powers.

· · ·

8.75.11

कु॒वित्सु नो॒ गवि॑ष्ट॒येऽग्ने॑ सं॒वेषि॑षो र॒यिम् । उरु॑कृदु॒रु ण॑स्कृधि ॥

Agni, refulgent lord, give us ample and high quality wealth for the development and expansion of our lands and cows, and let us too vastly expand and highly rise in life.

· · ·

8.75.12

मा नो॑ अ॒स्मिन्म॑हाध॒ने परा॑ वर्ग्भार॒भृद्य॑था । सं॒वर्गं॒ सं र॒यिं ज॑य ॥

Agni, do not abandon us in this great battle of life like a tired burden bearer throwing off his burden. Instead, win holy wealth like the yajaka gathering sacred grass for the vedi to perform the yajna.

· · ·

8.75.13

अ॒न्यम॒स्मद्भि॒या इ॒यमग्ने॒ सिष॑क्तु दु॒च्छुना॑ । वर्धा॑ नो॒ अम॑व॒च्छवः॑ ॥

Agni, let this evil and calamity fall upon something else opposed to us and our life and health and frighten all such things away. Pray promote our inward strength and courage like our steadfast patience and vitality.

· · ·

8.75.14

यस्याजु॑षन्नम॒स्विनः॒ शमी॒मदु॑र्मखस्य वा । तं घेद॒ग्निर्वृ॒धाव॑ति ॥

Agni loves and joins the yajnic efforts of the man of humility and generous offerings who, also, shuns negative and unproductive social acts. Such a man, indeed, Agni protects, promotes and advances in life.

· · ·

8.75.15

पर॑स्या॒ अधि॑ सं॒वतोऽव॑राँ अ॒भ्या त॑र । यत्रा॒हमस्मि॒ ताँ अ॑व ॥

Prior and in preference to the forces of the proud and high, come and help the humble and the lowly where I, too, abide better in the spirit than in the pride of power.

· · ·

8.75.16

वि॒द्मा हि ते॑ पु॒रा व॒यमग्ने॑ पि॒तुर्यथाव॑सः । अधा॑ ते सु॒म्नमी॑महे ॥

Agni, lord of light, we know and realise

your universal acts of protection and grace and we pray for the peace and joy of the blessings of your fatherly presence for all time.

✦ Sukta 76 · 12 verses ✦

8.76.1

इ॒मं नु मा॒यिनं॑ हुव॒ इन्द्र॒मीशा॑न॒मोज॑सा । म॒रुत्व॑न्तं॒ न वृ॒ञ्जसे॑ ॥

I invoke the almighty Indra, omnipotent spiritual power and presence of existence who commands the winds and pranic energies of nature and rules them by his lustrous vigour and vitality, and I pray that he may never forsake me, never abandon my spiritual salvation over material fluctuations of the mind.

· · ·

8.76.2

अ॒यमिन्द्रो॑ म॒रुत्स॑खा॒ वि वृ॒त्रस्या॑भिन॒च्छिरः॑ । वज्रे॑ण श॒तप॑र्वणा ॥

This Indra, friend of winds and pranic energies, with hundred-fold discipline of spiritual power like the thunderbolt can destroy the dominating shadows of the evil of darkness and ignorance on way to the soul’s enlightenment.

· · ·

8.76.3

वा॒वृ॒धा॒नो म॒रुत्स॒खेन्द्रो॒ वि वृ॒त्रमै॑रयत् । सृ॒जन्त्स॑मु॒द्रिया॑ अ॒पः ॥

Growing in strength, Indra, the divine soul, friend of winds and cosmic energies of universal prana, scatters the clouds of darkness there by releasing the streams of waters from the sky, and the streams of ananda from the heart.

· · ·

8.76.4

अ॒यं ह॒ येन॒ वा इ॒दं स्व॑र्म॒रुत्व॑ता जि॒तम् । इन्द्रे॑ण॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

This is Indra, for sure, the soul blest with the energy of prana, by whom is won this light of heaven by the grace of divinity for the enjoyment of divine joy.

· · ·

8.76.5

म॒रुत्व॑न्तमृजी॒षिण॒मोज॑स्वन्तं विर॒प्शिन॑म् । इन्द्रं॑ गी॒र्भिर्ह॑वामहे ॥

With various songs of adoration we invoke and worship Indra, lord omnipotent commanding cosmic winds and pranic energies, gracious lover of truth and the truthful, lustrous and sublime.

· · ·

8.76.6

इन्द्रं॑ प्र॒त्नेन॒ मन्म॑ना म॒रुत्व॑न्तं हवामहे । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

With the ancient voice of divine revelation, we invoke and worship Indra, commander of cosmic winds and energiser of pranic energies for the protection of this world of the lord’s creation of joy and soma ecstasy.

· · ·

8.76.7

म॒रुत्वाँ॑ इन्द्र मीढ्वः॒ पिबा॒ सोमं॑ शतक्रतो । अ॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञे पु॑रुष्टुत ॥

Indra, lord of pranic energies and giver of showers of joy over a hundred divine acts of grace, universally sung and celebrated, pray protect and advance this world in this yajna of divine and human creation.

· · ·

8.76.8

तुभ्येदि॑न्द्र म॒रुत्व॑ते सु॒ताः सोमा॑सो अद्रिवः । हृ॒दा हू॑यन्त उ॒क्थिनः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of cosmic energies, commander of thunder and clouds of shower, in your honour only have these lovers of divine ecstasy enacted the soma yajna of divine worship where the singers of holy song adore you with Vedic hymns.

· · ·

8.76.9

पिबेदि॑न्द्र म॒रुत्स॑खा सु॒तं सोमं॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु । वज्रं॒ शिशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा ॥

Indra, friend of cosmic winds and lover of tempestuous humans, whetting your thunderbolt with the light and lustre of justice, protect and promote the ecstatic creations of the lovers of divinity in their cherished programmes of progress.

· · ·

8.76.10

उ॒त्तिष्ठ॒न्नोज॑सा स॒ह पी॒त्वी शिप्रे॑ अवेपयः । सोम॑मिन्द्र च॒मू सु॒तम् ॥

Indra, lord of the universe, rising with your might and majesty, protect and energise both heaven and earth and promote the soma of life’s vitality created in both heaven and earth by nature and humanity by yajna.

· · ·

8.76.11

अनु॑ त्वा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे क्रक्ष॑माणमकृपेताम् । इन्द्र॒ यद्द॑स्यु॒हाभ॑वः ॥

Indra, when you stimulate and energise the soma vitality of life created by nature and humanity, and when you rise as the destroyer of the negativities of the counterforce, then both heaven and earth vibrate and celebrate your majesty in awe with admiration.

· · ·

8.76.12

वाच॑म॒ष्टाप॑दीम॒हं नव॑स्रक्तिमृत॒स्पृश॑म् । इन्द्रा॒त्परि॑ त॒न्वं॑ ममे ॥

I study, measure, develop and pray for language revealed in eight works, i.e., four Vedas and four Upavedas, spoken across four classes of humanity and through four stages of the individual’s development from birth to death, developing over nine blooming branches like flower garlands across nine regions of the earth, ultimately touching the truth of divine reality, the Word Imperishable descended from and ascending to Indra, lord of omniscience across the countless branches of dialects and structures.

✦ Sukta 77 · 11 verses ✦

8.77.1

ज॒ज्ञा॒नो नु श॒तक्र॑तु॒र्वि पृ॑च्छ॒दिति॑ मा॒तर॑म् । क उ॒ग्राः के ह॑ शृण्विरे ॥

Coming to the stage of self-knowledge and responsibility, let Indra, world ruler, ask the mother power: Who are the terrible ones? Who are the notorious ones?

· · ·

8.77.2

आदीं॑ शव॒स्य॑ब्रवीदौर्णवा॒भम॑ही॒शुव॑म् । ते पु॑त्र सन्तु नि॒ष्टुरः॑ ॥

Let the mother power that makes him rise to the office of Indra, she having the full power to create, advise and decide say: O son, ruler and protector of the state of humanity, one is the demonic spider-like weaver of sinister devouring plots, the other is the serpentine master of crookedness and sabotage, which two you should counter and eliminate.

· · ·

8.77.3

समित्तान्वृ॑त्र॒हाखि॑द॒त्खे अ॒राँ इ॑व॒ खेद॑या । प्रवृ॑द्धो दस्यु॒हाभ॑वत् ॥

Having known the two, the plotters and the saboteurs, let Indra, ruler and destroyer of evil and crookedness, divide them into individual roles like spokes of a wheel, press them down into fixed holes in the nave and the rim, work and reel them round to the point of exhaustion, and thus raising himself and the rule to higher power, become a successful manager and destroyer of evil by engagement and application.

· · ·

8.77.4

एक॑या प्रति॒धापि॑बत्सा॒कं सरां॑सि त्रिं॒शत॑म् । इन्द्रः॒ सोम॑स्य काणु॒का ॥

With a single stroke of policy, Indra protects and promotes thirty centres of exhilarating soma creativity all together against crooked surreptitious saboteurs of the nation.

· · ·

8.77.5

अ॒भि ग॑न्ध॒र्वम॑तृणदबु॒ध्नेषु॒ रज॒स्स्वा । इन्द्रो॑ ब्र॒ह्मभ्य॒ इद्वृ॒धे ॥

For the advancement of the holy and intelligent people, Indra scatters the selfish forces living purely for physical and material values on stupid and baseless planes of existence.

· · ·

8.77.6

निरा॑विध्यद्गि॒रिभ्य॒ आ धा॒रय॑त्प॒क्वमो॑द॒नम् । इन्द्रो॑ बु॒न्दं स्वा॑ततम् ॥

Indra, the ruler, should break the clouds for showers of rain, open out caverns of mountains to drive out destructive elements, build up ample food stocks and expand the armaments for defence.

· · ·

8.77.7

श॒तब्र॑ध्न॒ इषु॒स्तव॑ स॒हस्र॑पर्ण॒ एक॒ इत् । यमि॑न्द्र चकृ॒षे युज॑म् ॥

Let your arrow, your armour, your target plan, be hundred pointed and thousand phased but one, united and integrated, which, O ruler Indra, you take up as the sole, active characteristic of your rule

· · ·

8.77.8

तेन॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र॒ नृभ्यो॒ नारि॑भ्यो॒ अत्त॑वे । स॒द्यो जा॒त ऋ॑भुष्ठिर ॥

O constant visionary of adamantine will and unshakable action, dynamic and ever new, by that plan and execution bring food and fulfilment for men, women and the celebrants.

· · ·

8.77.9

ए॒ता च्यौ॒त्नानि॑ ते कृ॒ता वर्षि॑ष्ठानि॒ परी॑णसा । हृ॒दा वी॒ड्व॑धारयः ॥

All these deeds and enterprises most generous and creative, planned and executed, you hold firmly in your mind with a liberal heart.

· · ·

8.77.10

विश्वेत्ता विष्णु॒राभ॑रदुरुक्र॒मस्त्वेषि॑तः । श॒तं म॑हि॒षान्क्षी॑रपा॒कमो॑द॒नं व॑रा॒हमिन्द्र॑ एमु॒षम् ॥

Indra, Vishnu, too, lord omniscient and omnipotent, as wished and prayed, brings in all these hundreds of great things, cattle wealth, milky delicacies and rain laden clouds.

· · ·

8.77.11

तु॒वि॒क्षं ते॒ सुकृ॑तं सू॒मयं॒ धनुः॑ सा॒धुर्बु॒न्दो हि॑र॒ण्ययः॑ । उ॒भा ते॑ बा॒हू रण्या॒ सुसं॑स्कृत ऋदू॒पे चि॑दृदू॒वृधा॑ ॥

Mighty is your bow, shooting far your arrow, well doing and protecting peace and well being. Safe and secure is your defence, golden gracious. Both your arms, internal security and external defence, are fully trained and civilised, they protect property, safeguard truth and law, and advance culture and refinement.

✦ Sukta 78 · 10 verses ✦

8.78.1

पु॒रो॒ळाशं॑ नो॒ अन्ध॑स॒ इन्द्र॑ स॒हस्र॒मा भ॑र । श॒ता च॑ शूर॒ गोना॑म् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of life and the world, bring us a thousandfold gifts of delicious foods and soma drinks and, O lord potent and generous, bring us hundreds of cows and more of cattle wealth.

· · ·

8.78.2

आ नो॑ भर॒ व्यञ्ज॑नं॒ गामश्व॑म॒भ्यञ्ज॑नम् । सचा॑ म॒ना हि॑र॒ण्यया॑ ॥

Bring us truth and beauty in manifestation, literature, culture and progress, and the ornaments of life, golden gracious for the peace of mind and joy of the heart.

· · ·

8.78.3

उ॒त नः॑ कर्ण॒शोभ॑ना पु॒रूणि॑ धृष्ण॒वा भ॑र । त्वं हि शृ॑ण्वि॒षे व॑सो ॥

Lord of life, giver of peace and settlement, potent and invincible, bring us manifold gifts of life,sweet to the ear, blissful. We hear you alone are the lord of wealth, honour and beauty.

· · ·

8.78.4

नकीं॑ वृधी॒क इ॑न्द्र ते॒ न सु॒षा न सु॒दा उ॒त । नान्यस्त्वच्छू॑र वा॒घतः॑ ॥

No one augments the beauty and glory of life other than you, none else the giver, none else is the sharer, none else, O brave and generous lord, a better guide and greater leader of the wise.

· · ·

8.78.5

नकी॒मिन्द्रो॒ निक॑र्तवे॒ न श॒क्रः परि॑शक्तवे । विश्वं॑ शृणोति॒ पश्य॑ति ॥

No one can equal Indra in action, no one in power, he is the powerful, he hears and sees all that is and all that happens in the world.

· · ·

8.78.6

स म॒न्युं मर्त्या॑ना॒मद॑ब्धो॒ नि चि॑कीषते । पु॒रा नि॒दश्चि॑कीषते ॥

Undaunted and invincible, he watches the pride and passion of mortals, watches and humbles them before they can malign him.

· · ·

8.78.7

क्रत्व॒ इत्पू॒र्णमु॒दरं॑ तु॒रस्या॑स्ति विध॒तः । वृ॒त्र॒घ्नः सो॑म॒पाव्नः॑ ॥

He is the doer, perfect and ever self-fulfilled is the passion and desire of the lord who is all conqueror, all ordainer, destroyer of evil and darkness, and loves the peace and joy of life’s beauty and ecstasy as soma.

· · ·

8.78.8

त्वे वसू॑नि॒ संग॑ता॒ विश्वा॑ च सोम॒ सौभ॑गा । सु॒दात्वप॑रिह्वृता ॥

O Soma, lord of peace and joy, in you concentrate all wealth, honour and excellences of the world, all good fortunes, spontaneous generosity, free from crookedness and ambiguity as you are, simple and straight, no double dealing

· · ·

8.78.9

त्वामिद्य॑व॒युर्मम॒ कामो॑ ग॒व्युर्हि॑रण्य॒युः । त्वाम॑श्व॒युरेष॑ते ॥

My desire for food and fulfilment, for lands, cows, literature and culture, for gold and the beauties of life, and for horses, transport, advancement and achievement, all this concentrates in you, you alone.

· · ·

8.78.10

तवेदि॑न्द्रा॒हमा॒शसा॒ हस्ते॒ दात्रं॑ च॒ना द॑दे । दि॒नस्य॑ वा मघव॒न्त्सम्भृ॑तस्य वा पू॒र्धि यव॑स्य का॒शिना॑ ॥

Indra, by virtue of hope and aspiration centred in you, I take up the sickle in hand to reap the ripe grain for my portion. O lord of munificence and glory, fill up my hand with the day’s collection of grain and my mind with the light of day.

✦ Sukta 79 · 9 verses ✦

8.79.1

अ॒यं कृ॒त्नुरगृ॑भीतो विश्व॒जिदु॒द्भिदित्सोमः॑ । ऋषि॒र्विप्रः॒ काव्ये॑न ॥

This is Soma, lord supreme of peace and joy, doer, maker and creator of the universe, ruler of the world in existence, uncomprehended and incomprehen- sible yet bursting forth to our vision and knowledge by direct experience of his creative omnipotence. He is all time visionary watching and creating all, vibrant omnipresent power reflected and apprehended through his poetic creation of this world of beauty and mystery.

· · ·

8.79.2

अ॒भ्यू॑र्णोति॒ यन्न॒ग्नं भि॒षक्ति॒ विश्वं॒ यत्तु॒रम् । प्रेम॒न्धः ख्य॒न्निः श्रो॒णो भू॑त् ॥

Soma that clothes the naked, cures all the sick and suffering of the world, gives eyes to the blind to see and legs to the lame to walk.

· · ·

8.79.3

त्वं सो॑म तनू॒कृद्भ्यो॒ द्वेषो॑भ्यो॒ऽन्यकृ॑तेभ्यः । उ॒रु य॒न्तासि॒ वरू॑थम् ॥

You, Soma, lead the good to extensive freedom and protection against waste and exploitation, jealousy and enmity, and the evil and suffering caused by others.

· · ·

8.79.4

त्वं चि॒त्ती तव॒ दक्षै॑र्दि॒व आ पृ॑थि॒व्या ऋ॑जीषिन् । यावी॑र॒घस्य॑ चि॒द्द्वेषः॑ ॥

Soma, lover of peace and joy, protector of the simple and honest people of rectitude, by your divine love and kindness of heart and your universal potential of the light of heaven, drive away the jealousy and enmity of the sinners and criminals from all over the earth.

· · ·

8.79.5

अ॒र्थिनो॒ यन्ति॒ चेदर्थं॒ गच्छा॒निद्द॒दुषो॑ रा॒तिम् । व॒वृ॒ज्युस्तृष्य॑तः॒ काम॑म् ॥

By the grace and munificence of Soma, the seekers obtain their object of desire, the needy receive the gift of the giver, the thirsty satisfy their thirst with fulfilment.

· · ·

8.79.6

वि॒दद्यत्पू॒र्व्यं न॒ष्टमुदी॑मृता॒युमी॑रयत् । प्रेमायु॑स्तारी॒दती॑र्णम् ॥

By the grace of Soma, the devotee recovers what he lost earlier, the lord exhorts and exalts the yajnic performer and observer of the law of truth, and he increases, strengthens and fulfils the life which the celebrant has yet to live.

· · ·

8.79.7

सु॒शेवो॑ नो मृळ॒याकु॒रदृ॑प्तक्रतुरवा॒तः । भवा॑ नः सोम॒ शं हृ॒दे ॥

Soma, you are the giver of peace and bliss for us, merciful, sober at heart and beyond all disturbance and agitation. O lord, bless us with peace and well being at heart.

· · ·

8.79.8

मा नः॑ सोम॒ सं वी॑विजो॒ मा वि बी॑भिषथा राजन् । मा नो॒ हार्दि॑ त्वि॒षा व॑धीः ॥

O Soma, ruler and peace giver of the world, disturb us not from our state of settlement, strike us not with fear, torture us not with the flames of passion and pride.

· · ·

8.79.9

अव॒ यत्स्वे स॒धस्थे॑ दे॒वानां॑ दुर्म॒तीरीक्षे॑ । राज॒न्नप॒ द्विषः॑ सेध॒ मीढ्वो॒ अप॒ स्रिधः॑ सेध ॥

O lord ruler of the world, whatever and wherever I happen to see the displeasure of divinities in our home, pray ward that off. O generous and virile lord of peace and good will, throw out the jealous and the enemies, ward off all the violent and destructive forces from us.

✦ Sukta 80 · 10 verses ✦

8.80.1

न॒ह्य१॒॑न्यं ब॒ळाक॑रं मर्डि॒तारं॑ शतक्रतो । त्वं न॑ इन्द्र मृळय ॥

True it is, O lord of infinite good action, Indra, I have never seen, never accepted, anyone else more beneficent, more munificent, than you. O lord, we pray, be kind and bless us with peace.

· · ·

8.80.2

यो नः॒ शश्व॑त्पु॒रावि॒थामृ॑ध्रो॒ वाज॑सातये । स त्वं न॑ इन्द्र मृळय ॥

O lord eternal, unassailable, indefatigable, you have ever protected us since time immemorial for the sake of advancement and victory in our battles of life. Pray be kind and gracious to bless us with peace and joy as ever before.

· · ·

8.80.3

किम॒ङ्ग र॑ध्र॒चोद॑नः सुन्वा॒नस्या॑वि॒तेद॑सि । कु॒वित्स्वि॑न्द्र णः॒ शकः॑ ॥

O lord dear as breath of life, sustainer of the weak, inspiring protector of the creative and progressive as you are, would you not strengthen us and bless us more and ever more?

· · ·

8.80.4

इन्द्र॒ प्र णो॒ रथ॑मव प॒श्चाच्चि॒त्सन्त॑मद्रिवः । पु॒रस्ता॑देनं मे कृधि ॥

Indra, lord of thunderous action, pray protect our chariot of life even if it lag behind and let it move on ahead for the sake of our survival and advancement.

· · ·

8.80.5

हन्तो॒ नु किमा॑ससे प्रथ॒मं नो॒ रथं॑ कृधि । उ॒प॒मं वा॑ज॒यु श्रवः॑ ॥

Hey Indra, come on, why tarry behind? Move our chariot on to the front rank, let the honour and prize of victory be closer at hand.

· · ·

8.80.6

अवा॑ नो वाज॒युं रथं॑ सु॒करं॑ ते॒ किमित्परि॑ । अ॒स्मान्त्सु जि॒ग्युष॑स्कृधि ॥

Protect our chariot racing for victory. Every thing is easy and possible for you every way, is there anything beyond? Pray justify our ambition for victory and make it possible.

· · ·

8.80.7

इन्द्र॒ दृह्य॑स्व॒ पूर॑सि भ॒द्रा त॑ एति निष्कृ॒तम् । इ॒यं धीॠ॒त्विया॑वती ॥

Indra, pray strengthen us as determined on good works. You are the stronghold of protection and giver of fulfilment. This conscientious prayer, in truth and according to time and season reaches you. Pray help us reach the target.

· · ·

8.80.8

मा सी॑मव॒द्य आ भा॑गु॒र्वी काष्ठा॑ हि॒तं धन॑म् । अ॒पावृ॑क्ता अर॒त्नयः॑ ॥

The path of life is long and wide, the wealth of life is won. Let no malignity, calumny or dishonour fall to our share. Let all scandalous malcontents and frustrated enemy forces be uprooted.

· · ·

8.80.9

तु॒रीयं॒ नाम॑ य॒ज्ञियं॑ य॒दा कर॒स्तदु॑श्मसि । आदित्पति॑र्न ओहसे ॥

The yajnic name that you have won for us is the best and highest we love and desire in preference to paternal, maternal or fraternal name, since by that name only you as our master and sustainer have got us the highest identity.

· · ·

8.80.10

अवी॑वृधद्वो अमृता॒ अम॑न्दीदेक॒द्यूर्दे॑वा उ॒त याश्च॑ देवीः । तस्मा॑ उ॒ राधः॑ कृणुत प्रश॒स्तं प्रा॒तर्म॒क्षू धि॒याव॑सुर्जगम्यात् ॥

O Immortal divinities of spirit and nature, O holy men and women of spotless character and generous disposition, let the dedicated performer of daily yajna exhilarate and exalt you with yajna and hospitality. You too, pray, create and bless him with honourable wealth, means and materials for success, and may the spirit of light and intelligence, Agni, visit and bless him every morning at yajna.

✦ Sukta 81 · 9 verses ✦

8.81.1

आ तू न॑ इन्द्र क्षु॒मन्तं॑ चि॒त्रं ग्रा॒भं सं गृ॑भाय । म॒हा॒ह॒स्ती दक्षि॑णेन ॥

Lord of mighty arms, Indra, gather by your expert right hand abundant riches for us which may be full of nourishment, energy, wonderful beauty and grace worth having as a prize possession.

· · ·

8.81.2

वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॑ तुविकू॒र्मिं तु॒विदे॑ष्णं तु॒वीम॑घम् । तु॒वि॒मा॒त्रमवो॑भिः ॥

We know you as lord of universal action, all giving, treasure hold of unbounded wealth and boundless in power and presence with your favour and protections.

· · ·

8.81.3

न॒हि त्वा॑ शूर दे॒वा न मर्ता॑सो॒ दित्स॑न्तम् । भी॒मं न गां वा॒रय॑न्ते ॥

When you give to bless mankind, no one can stop you, O brave lord, neither mortals nor immortals, just as no one can resist the mighty sun.

· · ·

8.81.4

एतो॒ न्विन्द्रं॒ स्तवा॒मेशा॑नं॒ वस्वः॑ स्व॒राज॑म् । न राध॑सा मर्धिषन्नः ॥

Come, let us sing and celebrate in honour of Indra, lord and ruler of wealth, self-ruler and self- refulgent. No one would harm us in respect of money, materials and power.

· · ·

8.81.5

प्र स्तो॑ष॒दुप॑ गासिष॒च्छ्रव॒त्साम॑ गी॒यमा॑नम् । अ॒भि राध॑सा जुगुरत् ॥

Let man adore and celebrate Indra, sing in honour of divinity, hear songs of adoration, and with all wealth, power and honour thank and praise Indra as the giver

· · ·

8.81.6

आ नो॑ भर॒ दक्षि॑णेना॒भि स॒व्येन॒ प्र मृ॑श । इन्द्र॒ मा नो॒ वसो॒र्निर्भा॑क् ॥

Indra, bear and bring and bless us with wealth, power, honour and protection both by right and by left hand, and never deprive us of this honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.81.7

उप॑ क्रम॒स्वा भ॑र धृष॒ता धृ॑ष्णो॒ जना॑नाम् । अदा॑शूष्टरस्य॒ वेदः॑ ॥

Indra, generous and fearless lord of wealth, honour and power, come close with divine courage and force, bring us the honour and excellence of life, and let it not waste away like the wealth of the uncharitable and the ungrateful.

· · ·

8.81.8

इन्द्र॒ य उ॒ नु ते॒ अस्ति॒ वाजो॒ विप्रे॑भिः॒ सनि॑त्वः । अ॒स्माभिः॒ सु तं स॑नुहि ॥

Indra, lord of glory, the wealth and knowledge, honour and excellence that is yours and good for the vibrant sage, pray bring in for us and let it grow among us.

· · ·

8.81.9

स॒द्यो॒जुव॑स्ते॒ वाजा॑ अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ वि॒श्वश्च॑न्द्राः । वशै॑श्च म॒क्षू ज॑रन्ते ॥

Your wealth, honours and victories instantly rising, constantly moving and effective are all radiant over the world, they come to us without delay according to your will and order and celebrate and glorify you.

✦ Sukta 82 · 9 verses ✦

8.82.1

आ प्र द्र॑व परा॒वतो॑ऽर्वा॒वत॑श्च वृत्रहन् । मध्वः॒ प्रति॒ प्रभ॑र्मणि ॥

O destroyer of darkness, evil and ignorance, come rushing without delay, whether you are far or near, and join us in this vibrant yajnic economy of the divine order. (O man in search of the soul, rush in from roaming around and join the living systemic world within at the vibrant centre.)

· · ·

8.82.2

ती॒व्राः सोमा॑स॒ आ ग॑हि सु॒तासो॑ मादयि॒ष्णवः॑ । पिबा॑ द॒धृग्यथो॑चि॒षे ॥

Come, grab at the sharp and strong soma draughts of elixir, distilled, energised and most exhilara- ting, and drink without inhibition to your heart’s desire.

· · ·

8.82.3

इ॒षा म॑न्द॒स्वादु॒ तेऽरं॒ वरा॑य म॒न्यवे॑ । भुव॑त्त इन्द्र॒ शं हृ॒दे ॥

Be happy with the food, and then let it exhilarate you with the cherished fulfilment of your heart. Indra, O soul of this existential yajna, let there be peace at your heart unto the depth of your soul.

· · ·

8.82.4

आ त्व॑शत्र॒वा ग॑हि॒ न्यु१॒॑क्थानि॑ च हूयसे । उ॒प॒मे रो॑च॒ने दि॒वः ॥

Indra, happy and free from all foes, distractions and contradictions, come in response to the hymns of adoration, invited to the sublime glory of the light of heaven.

· · ·

8.82.5

तुभ्या॒यमद्रि॑भिः सु॒तो गोभिः॑ श्री॒तो मदा॑य॒ कम् । प्र सोम॑ इन्द्र हूयते ॥

Indra, to you is offered this soma, soothing and exhilarating it is, distilled by celebrated admirers and seasoned with the spirit of light and power of divine ecstasy, especially for you.

· · ·

8.82.6

इन्द्र॑ श्रु॒धि सु मे॒ हव॑म॒स्मे सु॒तस्य॒ गोम॑तः । वि पी॒तिं तृ॒प्तिम॑श्नुहि ॥

Indra, listen to my call, come and have a drink of our distilled soma seasoned with milk and ecstatic power to your total fulfilment of the heart and soul.

· · ·

8.82.7

य इ॑न्द्र चम॒सेष्वा सोम॑श्च॒मूषु॑ ते सु॒तः । पिबेद॑स्य॒ त्वमी॑शिषे ॥

Indra, of the soma which is distilled and poured in the cups and ladles of spiritual yajna for you, drink to your heart’s desire since you yourself rule over the ecstasy of the nectar.

· · ·

8.82.8

यो अ॒प्सु च॒न्द्रमा॑ इव॒ सोम॑श्च॒मूषु॒ ददृ॑शे । पिबेद॑स्य॒ त्वमी॑शिषे ॥

Drink of the soma which shines in the cups of yajna, in the beauty of human karma, and in the skies like the glory of the moon, drink freely since you alone rule over the nectar.

· · ·

8.82.9

यं ते॑ श्ये॒नः प॒दाभ॑रत्ति॒रो रजां॒स्यस्पृ॑तम् । पिबेद॑स्य॒ त्वमी॑शिषे ॥

Of the nectar of ecstasy which the mighty sage and scholar distilled by flights of spiritual imagination from heaven and brought in by the rays of light across the spaces, drink and enjoy since now you alone rule over the sublimity and power of this nectar.

✦ Sukta 83 · 9 verses ✦

8.83.1

दे॒वाना॒मिदवो॑ म॒हत्तदा वृ॑णीमहे व॒यम् । वृष्णा॑म॒स्मभ्य॑मू॒तये॑ ॥

We choose for ourselves the grand patronage and protection of the generous brilliancies of nature and humanity for our safety, security and advancement.

· · ·

8.83.2

ते नः॑ सन्तु॒ युजः॒ सदा॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । वृ॒धास॑श्च॒ प्रचे॑तसः ॥

May Varuna, powers of law and justice, wisdom and discrimination, Mitra, powers of light, love and friendship, and Aryama, dynamic forces of nature and humanity, guides and path makers of life, all of them being powers of omniscience and givers of knowledge and awareness, be our friends and cooperators and help us advance in life.

· · ·

8.83.3

अति॑ नो विष्पि॒ता पु॒रु नौ॒भिर॒पो न प॑र्षथ । यू॒यमृ॒तस्य॑ रथ्यः ॥

O leaders of the knowledge and efficiency of truth and karma and the science of yajna, just as you cross the seas by boat, similarly take us by karma across the vast seas of life.

· · ·

8.83.4

वा॒मं नो॑ अस्त्वर्यमन्वा॒मं व॑रुण॒ शंस्य॑म् । वा॒मं ह्या॑वृणी॒महे॑ ॥

O divine leader of advancement, Aryaman, let our action for progress be noble and successful. O Varuna, divine power of judgement and value, may our honour and reputation be good and noble. We opt for only what is good, noble and gracefully successful.

· · ·

8.83.5

वा॒मस्य॒ हि प्र॑चेतस॒ ईशा॑नाशो रिशादसः । नेमा॑दित्या अ॒घस्य॒ यत् ॥

OAdityas, generous and brilliant leaders of what is good and noble, all-aware of good and evil, destroyers of violence and negativities, you are the rulers, controllers and guides only of the true, the good and the beautiful. You never favour or approve of what is evil and sinful.

· · ·

8.83.6

व॒यमिद्वः॑ सुदानवः क्षि॒यन्तो॒ यान्तो॒ अध्व॒न्ना । देवा॑ वृ॒धाय॑ हूमहे ॥

O Vishvedevas, generous and leading divinities of earth and heaven, whether we abide in the home or go out on the paths of the wide world, we call upon you only, for the sake of guidance and advancement.

· · ·

8.83.7

अधि॑ न इन्द्रैषां॒ विष्णो॑ सजा॒त्या॑नाम् । इ॒ता मरु॑तो॒ अश्वि॑ना ॥

Indra, lord of glory, giver of power and honour, Vishnu, omnipresent divinity, Maruts, winds and vibrant humanity, Ashvins, harbingers of the new dawn, take it that we have come in advance of these homogeneous communities and accept us as your own.

· · ·

8.83.8

प्र भ्रा॑तृ॒त्वं सु॑दान॒वोऽध॑ द्वि॒ता स॑मा॒न्या । मा॒तुर्गर्भे॑ भरामहे ॥

Brotherliness and similarity as well as duality and dissimilarity, O generous Vishvedevas, we acquire in mother Prakrti’s womb and bear from there.

· · ·

8.83.9

यू॒यं हि ष्ठा सु॑दानव॒ इन्द्र॑ज्येष्ठा अ॒भिद्य॑वः । अधा॑ चिद्व उ॒त ब्रु॑वे ॥

O generous Vishvedevas, you, with Indra, lord omnipotent as supreme, are and abide as heavenly and brilliant in knowledge and divinity. That’s why I speak, celebrate and pray to you.

✦ Sukta 84 · 9 verses ✦

8.84.1

प्रेष्ठं॑ वो॒ अति॑थिं स्तु॒षे मि॒त्रमि॑व प्रि॒यम् । अ॒ग्निं रथं॒ न वेद्य॑म् ॥

I sing and celebrate the glories of Agni, lord omniscient, light and leader of the world, dearest and most welcome as an enlightened guest, loving as a friend, who like a divine harbinger, reveals the light of knowledge to us.

· · ·

8.84.2

क॒विमि॑व॒ प्रचे॑तसं॒ यं दे॒वासो॒ अध॑ द्वि॒ता । नि मर्त्ये॑ष्वाद॒धुः ॥

I adore Agni whom the divinities established among mortals as the visionary poet and the spirit of enlightenment and awareness, as intelligence and mind, as will and passion, as perception and volition, as male and female and as the yajna fire and the vital heat of the body system, the two ways in which divine vitality expresses itself.

· · ·

8.84.3

त्वं य॑विष्ठ दा॒शुषो॒ नॄँः पा॑हि शृणु॒धी गिरः॑ । रक्षा॑ तो॒कमु॒त त्मना॑ ॥

O lord eternal, ever youthful beyond age, pray protect and promote the families of the generous people, listen to their voices of prayer and, by all your will and power, protect and promote the children and grand children of humanity.

· · ·

8.84.4

कया॑ ते अग्ने अङ्गिर॒ ऊर्जो॑ नपा॒दुप॑स्तुतिम् । वरा॑य देव म॒न्यवे॑ ॥

O creator, preserver and protector of energy, dear as breath of life and vitality of existence, with words of beauty and bliss, O light of the world, we offer our homage and adoration to you, lord refulgent and great.

· · ·

8.84.5

दाशे॑म॒ कस्य॒ मन॑सा य॒ज्ञस्य॑ सहसो यहो । कदु॑ वोच इ॒दं नमः॑ ॥

Agni, to which mighty, potent, adorable power other than you, shall we offer our sincere homage, when and where present these words of prayer?

· · ·

8.84.6

अधा॒ त्वं हि न॒स्करो॒ विश्वा॑ अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ सुक्षि॒तीः । वाज॑द्रविणसो॒ गिरः॑ ॥

And you alone will provide happy homes and peaceful establishment for all our people and bless us with vitality, power, wealth and victory in response to our prayer.

· · ·

8.84.7

कस्य॑ नू॒नं परी॑णसो॒ धियो॑ जिन्वसि दम्पते । गोषा॑ता॒ यस्य॑ ते॒ गिरः॑ ॥

O lord protector of the world, as a happy home and shelter for the people, whose sincere and abundant prayers do you accept and fulfil? His whose prayers to you are enlightened and inspired by knowledge, wisdom and sincere awareness of divinity.

· · ·

8.84.8

तं म॑र्जयन्त सु॒क्रतुं॑ पुरो॒यावा॑नमा॒जिषु॑ । स्वेषु॒ क्षये॑षु वा॒जिन॑म् ॥

In their battles of life and in their homes, people adore and glorify Agni, that high priest of divine action, first and original initiator, leader and guide and mighty potent creator of the universe.

· · ·

8.84.9

क्षेति॒ क्षेमे॑भिः सा॒धुभि॒र्नकि॒र्यं घ्नन्ति॒ हन्ति॒ यः । अग्ने॑ सु॒वीर॑ एधते ॥

Agni, O lord self-refulgent, the man who lives at peace in his home with the wealth of his peaceable protective good actions and wards off evil, no evil thoughts assail, such a man prospers, brave and blest with holy wealth and good progeny.

✦ Sukta 85 · 9 verses ✦

8.85.1

आ मे॒ हवं॑ नास॒त्याश्वि॑ना॒ गच्छ॑तं यु॒वम् । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Come in response to my call, Ashvins, both observers and preserves of truth. Come to taste, protect and promote the honey sweets of the soma joy of life.

· · ·

8.85.2

इ॒मं मे॒ स्तोम॑मश्विने॒मं मे॑ शृणुतं॒ हव॑म् । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Ashvins, listen to this call of mine, accept this holy song of adoration, come to taste, protect and promote the honey sweets of soma we have prepared.

· · ·

8.85.3

अ॒यं वां॒ कृष्णो॑ अश्विना॒ हव॑ते वाजिनीवसू । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

This ardent celebrant invokes you and draws your attention,Ashvins, winners of wealth and victories, to come, enjoy, protect and promote the soma joys of life for peace and progress.

· · ·

8.85.4

शृ॒णु॒तं ज॑रि॒तुर्हवं॒ कृष्ण॑स्य स्तुव॒तो न॑रा । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Listen to the call of the celebrant worshipper who draws your attention to the soma joys and beauties of life. Come, taste, protect and promote the honey sweet efforts of the creators, O brave leaders of the people.

· · ·

8.85.5

छ॒र्दिर्य॑न्त॒मदा॑भ्यं॒ विप्रा॑य स्तुव॒ते न॑रा । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

O divine leaders and harbingers of light and peace, give a comfortable home free from fear and violence for the celebrant and vibrant scholar in order that he and others may pursue, create and enjoy the honey sweets of life’s beauty of knowledge, culture and advancement with a drink of soma.

· · ·

8.85.6

गच्छ॑तं दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हमि॒त्था स्तु॑व॒तो अ॑श्विना । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Thus with the gift of a home of peace and freedom, Ashvins, harbingers of light and beauty of a new morning, go to the yajamana who generously offers holy oblations into the creative yajna for new knowledge. Go to enjoy the soma of his achievement, protect and promote his efforts.

· · ·

8.85.7

यु॒ञ्जाथां॒ रास॑भं॒ रथे॑ वी॒ड्व॑ङ्गे वृषण्वसू । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Ashvins, complementary harbingers of the showers of wealth, honour and excellence, harness the roaring motive power in your strongly built, unbreakable chariot and go to the house of the celebrant to promote the honey sweets of knowledge and power for the peace and joy of the world.

· · ·

8.85.8

त्रि॒व॒न्धु॒रेण॑ त्रि॒वृता॒ रथे॒ना या॑तमश्विना । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Ashvins, come by a three stage chariot powered by a three turbine motive force to promote the honey sweets of new knowledge and celebrate the soma joy of the new achievement.

· · ·

8.85.9

नू मे॒ गिरो॑ नास॒त्याश्वि॑ना॒ प्राव॑तं यु॒वम् । मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

O twin divine powers, preservers and promoters of truth and rectitude, pray honour and fulfil my words of prayer for the advancement of knowledge, power and joy of humanity, and come to honour, protect and promote the soma sweets of success.

✦ Sukta 86 · 5 verses ✦

8.86.1

उ॒भा हि द॒स्रा भि॒षजा॑ मयो॒भुवो॒भा दक्ष॑स्य॒ वच॑सो बभू॒वथुः॑ । ता वां॒ विश्व॑को हवते तनूकृ॒थे मा नो॒ वि यौ॑ष्टं स॒ख्या मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥

Both of you, Ashvins, nature’s complementary powers of efficacy, are destroyers of suffering, physicians, health givers for peace, and both of you abide by and honour the word of the specialist in the field of health and medicine. The all-prevading spirit of health calls on you to restore the body’s health and efficiency. Pray forsake us not, deprive us not of your natural friendship and organismic companionship in matters of health, release us from pain and suffering.

· · ·

8.86.2

क॒था नू॒नं वां॒ विम॑ना॒ उप॑ स्तवद्यु॒वं धियं॑ ददथु॒र्वस्य॑इष्टये । ता वां॒ विश्व॑को हवते तनूकृ॒थे मा नो॒ वि यौ॑ष्टं स॒ख्या मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥

How can a person disturbed in the mind study and honour you for the control of complementary pranic energies of prana and apana? When the pranic energies are controlled in meditation, you give the practitioner the intelligential capacity to achieve the desired concentration for peace and power of the mind.Ashvins, the universal lover of health invokes you for the system’s efficacy. Pray forsake us not, deprive us not of your natural friendship.

· · ·

8.86.3

यु॒वं हि ष्मा॑ पुरुभुजे॒ममे॑ध॒तुं वि॑ष्णा॒प्वे॑ द॒दथु॒र्वस्य॑इष्टये । ता वां॒ विश्व॑को हवते तनूकृ॒थे मा नो॒ वि यौ॑ष्टं स॒ख्या मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥

O givers of good health and nourishment to all living beings, you bring knowledge, awareness and wisdom to the aspiring devotee of omnipresent divinity for the attainment of desired honour and excellence. That’s why the whole world calls on you for the health of body and mind. Ashvins, forsake us not, deprive us not of your friendship.

· · ·

8.86.4

उ॒त त्यं वी॒रं ध॑न॒सामृ॑जी॒षिणं॑ दू॒रे चि॒त्सन्त॒मव॑से हवामहे । यस्य॒ स्वादि॑ष्ठा सुम॒तिः पि॒तुर्य॑था॒ मा नो॒ वि यौ॑ष्टं स॒ख्या मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥

We call for that mighty energy of prana which is the source of wealth, simple and natural cleanser and strengthener of body and mind, which though it may be far off, still whose sweetest gift of nourishment of intelligence is like the gift of nature, father, and omniscient God. Ashvins, pray bring us that energy, forsake us not, deprive us not of your friendship, save us with that friendship.

· · ·

8.86.5

ऋ॒तेन॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता श॑मायत ऋ॒तस्य॒ शृङ्ग॑मुर्वि॒या वि प॑प्रथे । ऋ॒तं सा॑साह॒ महि॑ चित्पृतन्य॒तो मा नो॒ वि यौ॑ष्टं स॒ख्या मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥

Self-refulgent Savita, creator and energiser, blesses with peace, truth and the laws of life, and he expands the law of life with the expansive universe. Truth and the law of truth overcomes the challenges of even the mightiest opponents. Ashvins, complementary powers of Savita, forsake us not, deprive us not of your friendship, give us freedom by that friendship

✦ Sukta 87 · 6 verses ✦

8.87.1

द्यु॒म्नी वां॒ स्तोमो॑ अश्विना॒ क्रिवि॒र्न सेक॒ आ ग॑तम् । मध्वः॑ सु॒तस्य॒ स दि॒वि प्रि॒यो न॑रा पा॒तं गौ॒रावि॒वेरि॑णे ॥

Splendid is your song of praise, Ashvins, come like the soothing sprinkle of a fountain, both of you, and drink of the honey sweets of soma, delightful as distilled in the light of heaven. Come, best of men, leaders of life, and drink like thirsty stags at a pool in the desert.

· · ·

8.87.2

पिब॑तं घ॒र्मं मधु॑मन्तमश्वि॒ना ब॒र्हिः सी॑दतं नरा । ता म॑न्दसा॒ना मनु॑षो दुरो॒ण आ नि पा॑तं॒ वेद॑सा॒ वयः॑ ॥

Come Ashvins, leading lights of humanity, sit on the seats of holy grass on the vedi and enjoy and participate in the honey sweet warmth of yajna, social culture, knowledge and discipline of the human community. Happy and joyful in the human home, in the human body, enjoy, preserve and promote life with the wealth and knowledge you have.

· · ·

8.87.3

आ वां॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धा अहूषत । ता व॒र्तिर्या॑त॒मुप॑ वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो॒ जुष्टं॑ य॒ज्ञं दिवि॑ष्टिषु ॥

O Ashvins, the holy performers who are dedicated to yajna invoke and call you both with all your succour and promotions, so that you go to the place and paths of those yajakas who are ready with the grass spread on the vedi and there join the yajna for the realisation of their higher aims of life.

· · ·

8.87.4

पिब॑तं॒ सोमं॒ मधु॑मन्तमश्वि॒ना ब॒र्हिः सी॑दतं सु॒मत् । ता वा॑वृधा॒ना उप॑ सुष्टु॒तिं दि॒वो ग॒न्तं गौ॒रावि॒वेरि॑णम् ॥

Ashvins, come from the light of heaven, sit together on the holy grass, drink the honey sweet soma like thirsty deer in the forest, and, exhilarated, listen to the song of adoration offered in honour of divinity.

· · ·

8.87.5

आ नू॒नं या॑तमश्वि॒नाश्वे॑भिः प्रुषि॒तप्सु॑भिः । दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्तनी शुभस्पती पा॒तं सोम॑मृतावृधा ॥

Ashvins, holy powers of humanity and nature living and acting in complementarity, destroyers of evil and negativities, moving by golden paths of virtue, protectors and promoters of the good and positive values of life, growing to higher life by truth, observing and advancing the laws of truth by following paths of truth, come with your mind and senses inspired and strengthened by nature and enlightenment and enjoy the soma delight of life

· · ·

8.87.6

व॒यं हि वां॒ हवा॑महे विप॒न्यवो॒ विप्रा॑सो॒ वाज॑सातये । ता व॒ल्गू द॒स्रा पु॑रु॒दंस॑सा धि॒याश्वि॑ना श्रु॒ष्ट्या ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, virile men and women, vibrant, wise and devout, we call upon you for victory and advancement in energy, food, honour and excellence. Ashvins, noble and cultured, destroyers of negativities, versatile in various actions, come without delay with active intelligence, full awareness and spirit of action.

✦ Sukta 88 · 6 verses ✦

8.88.1

तं वो॑ द॒स्ममृ॑ती॒षहं॒ वसो॑र्मन्दा॒नमन्ध॑सः । अ॒भि व॒त्सं न स्वस॑रेषु धे॒नव॒ इन्द्रं॑ गी॒र्भिर्न॑वामहे ॥

We invoke and call upon Indra eagerly as cows call for their calves in the stalls, and with songs of adoration over night and day we glorify him, lord glorious, omnipotent power fighting for truth against evil forces, and exhilarated with the bright soma of worship offered by celebrant humanity.

· · ·

8.88.2

द्यु॒क्षं सु॒दानुं॒ तवि॑षीभि॒रावृ॑तं गि॒रिं न पु॑रु॒भोज॑सम् । क्षु॒मन्तं॒ वाजं॑ श॒तिनं॑ सह॒स्रिणं॑ म॒क्षू गोम॑न्तमीमहे ॥

We pray to Indra, lord of light, omnificent, hallowed with heavenly glory, universally generous like clouds of shower, and we ask for food abounding in strength and nourishment and for hundredfold and thousandfold wealth and prosperity abounding in lands, cows and the graces of literature and culture, and we pray for the gift instantly.

· · ·

8.88.3

न त्वा॑ बृ॒हन्तो॒ अद्र॑यो॒ वर॑न्त इन्द्र वी॒ळवः॑ । यद्दित्स॑सि स्तुव॒ते माव॑ते॒ वसु॒ नकि॒ष्टदा मि॑नाति ते ॥

Not the mighty fixed mountains can restrain you, Indra, generous lord, when you come to give wealth to a celebrant like me. No one can stop and frustrate your will.

· · ·

8.88.4

योद्धा॑सि॒ क्रत्वा॒ शव॑सो॒त दं॒सना॒ विश्वा॑ जा॒ताभि म॒ज्मना॑ । आ त्वा॒यम॒र्क ऊ॒तये॑ ववर्तति॒ यं गोत॑मा॒ अजी॑जनन् ॥

You are a victorious warrior by your strength and yajnic karma. You are supreme over all things born of your wondrous power and majesty. This worshipper adores you for the sake of protection and advancement, the lord whom the imaginative wise realise in their soul at will.

· · ·

8.88.5

प्र हि रि॑रि॒क्ष ओज॑सा दि॒वो अन्ते॑भ्य॒स्परि॑ । न त्वा॑ विव्याच॒ रज॑ इन्द्र॒ पार्थि॑व॒मनु॑ स्व॒धां व॑वक्षिथ ॥

You transcend the bounds of heaven by your might. The regions of earth and skies encompass you not. Indra, lord of majesty and omnipotence, bring us food, strength and the divine power of sustenance for life.

· · ·

8.88.6

नकिः॒ परि॑ष्टिर्मघवन्म॒घस्य॑ ते॒ यद्दा॒शुषे॑ दश॒स्यसि॑ । अ॒स्माकं॑ बोध्यु॒चथ॑स्य चोदि॒ता मंहि॑ष्ठो॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

Lord of world’s wealth, power, honour and excellence, when you bless the generous devotee with the gift of your profusion, there is no restraint on your will and power. O lord most glorious and adorable, inspirer and intensifier of our adoration, let us know the paths for our noble movement forward for the sake of real victory and progress.

✦ Sukta 89 · 7 verses ✦

8.89.1

बृ॒हदिन्द्रा॑य गायत॒ मरु॑तो वृत्र॒हन्त॑मम् । येन॒ ज्योति॒रज॑नयन्नृता॒वृधो॑ दे॒वं दे॒वाय॒ जागृ॑वि ॥

O Maruts, vibrant leaders of humanity in knowledge and action, sing the resounding songs of Sama which, like the sun, dispel the darkness and eliminate evil, the same by which the sagely servants of eternal law and cosmic yajna in the service of God vitalise, recreate and extend that divine inextinguishable light of life which is ever awake in the world of existence.

· · ·

8.89.2

अपा॑धमद॒भिश॑स्तीरशस्ति॒हाथेन्द्रो॑ द्यु॒म्न्याभ॑वत् । दे॒वास्त॑ इन्द्र स॒ख्याय॑ येमिरे॒ बृह॑द्भानो॒ मरु॑द्गण ॥

Indra burns and blows away all curses and calumnies and shines in power and glory beyond scandalous criticism. O refulgent lord of power and force, commanding the host of Maruts, vibrant leading forces of nature and humanity, brilliant and generous sages and

divines try to achieve kinship as friends with you.

· · ·

8.89.3

प्र व॒ इन्द्रा॑य बृह॒ते मरु॑तो॒ ब्रह्मा॑र्चत । वृ॒त्रं ह॑नति वृत्र॒हा श॒तक्र॑तु॒र्वज्रे॑ण श॒तप॑र्वणा ॥

O Maruts, vibrant brilliant leaders of humanity, worship Indra, lord omnipotent beyond all bounds, and study the divine powers immanent in nature, with hymns of Vedic adoration. He is the destroyer of evil, dispels darkness and ignorance, and destroys the negative uncreative forces with his thunderbolt of hundredfold power.

· · ·

8.89.4

अ॒भि प्र भ॑र धृष॒ता धृ॑षन्मनः॒ श्रव॑श्चित्ते असद्बृ॒हत् । अर्ष॒न्त्वापो॒ जव॑सा॒ वि मा॒तरो॒ हनो॑ वृ॒त्रं जया॒ स्वः॑ ॥

O man of determined mind, boldly with confidence as that of Maruts, offer adorations to Indra. Let your honour and fame rise and ring far and wide and hold it well under control with a bold mind. Let the mother-like pranic energies run through the veins with vitality, destroy evil and darkness, and win the light of heaven.

· · ·

8.89.5

यज्जाय॑था अपूर्व्य॒ मघ॑वन्वृत्र॒हत्या॑य । तत्पृ॑थि॒वीम॑प्रथय॒स्तद॑स्तभ्ना उ॒त द्याम् ॥

O lord of glory, Indra, matchless without precedent, when you rise for the elimination of darkness, then you manifest the wide space and plan the heaven, earth and sky in their place in the cosmic order.

· · ·

8.89.6

तत्ते॑ य॒ज्ञो अ॑जायत॒ तद॒र्क उ॒त हस्कृ॑तिः । तद्विश्व॑मभि॒भूर॑सि॒ यज्जा॒तं यच्च॒ जन्त्व॑म् ॥

And then proceeds the cosmic yajna, formation of light, sun and the joyous agni and vayu. And thus you remain and rule as the supreme over what has come into being and what is coming into being.

· · ·

8.89.7

आ॒मासु॑ प॒क्वमैर॑य॒ आ सूर्यं॑ रोहयो दि॒वि । घ॒र्मं न साम॑न्तपता सुवृ॒क्तिभि॒र्जुष्टं॒ गिर्व॑णसे बृ॒हत् ॥

You move the ripening flow of sap in the veins of maturing forms of life. You raise and place the sun in the high heaven. O celebrants, as in the heat of fire, temper and shine your sama songs of adoration and, with noble hymns of praise, sing resounding Brhat samans of worship with love in honour of adorable Indra.

✦ Sukta 90 · 6 verses ✦

8.90.1

आ नो॒ विश्वा॑सु॒ हव्य॒ इन्द्रः॑ स॒मत्सु॑ भूषतु । उप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ सव॑नानि वृत्र॒हा प॑रम॒ज्या ऋची॑षमः ॥

Indra, lord of universal energy, world power and human forces, is worthy of reverence and invocation in all our joint battles of life. May the lord of strongest bow, destroyer of evil and dispeller of darkness and ignorance, great and glorious as sung in the Rks, grace our songs of adoration and faithful efforts with the beauty and glory of success.

· · ·

8.90.2

त्वं दा॒ता प्र॑थ॒मो राध॑साम॒स्यसि॑ स॒त्य ई॑शान॒कृत् । तु॒वि॒द्यु॒म्नस्य॒ युज्या वृ॑णीमहे पु॒त्रस्य॒ शव॑सो म॒हः ॥

You are the original giver of means of effort and success in all fields of life. You are the maker of leaders and giver of the wealth and honours of life. Of such great lord of glory and power, promoter and protector of strength and power, we pray for wealth, honour and excellence worthy of your glory.

· · ·

8.90.3

ब्रह्मा॑ त इन्द्र गिर्वणः क्रि॒यन्ते॒ अन॑तिद्भुता । इ॒मा जु॑षस्व हर्यश्व॒ योज॒नेन्द्र॒ या ते॒ अम॑न्महि ॥

Indra, celebrated in holy voice, unsurpassed songs are offered in your honour. O lord commander of instant powers of transport, communication and radiation, pray accept these hymns we conceive, sing and offer to you in response to your glory.

· · ·

8.90.4

त्वं हि स॒त्यो म॑घव॒न्नना॑नतो वृ॒त्रा भूरि॑ न्यृ॒ञ्जसे॑ । स त्वं श॑विष्ठ वज्रहस्त दा॒शुषे॒ऽर्वाञ्चं॑ र॒यिमा कृ॑धि ॥

Indra, lord of wealth and glory, you are eternal, never subdued, and many a form of darkness and evil you rectify or destroy. O lord most potent, armed with thunder in hand, bear and bring the wealth of life for the generous yajaka who offers libations liberally into the yajna vedi and gives help to the needy.

· · ·

8.90.5

त्वमि॑न्द्र य॒शा अ॑स्यृजी॒षी श॑वसस्पते । त्वं वृ॒त्राणि॑ हंस्यप्र॒तीन्येक॒ इदनु॑त्ता चर्षणी॒धृता॑ ॥

Indra, lord all powerful, ruler of the world, yours is the honour, yours is the creation of wealth and joy. All by yourself, unsubdued, you eliminate irresistible forms of evil and darkness by the power you wield for the people.

· · ·

8.90.6

तमु॑ त्वा नू॒नम॑सुर॒ प्रचे॑तसं॒ राधो॑ भा॒गमि॑वेमहे । म॒हीव॒ कृत्तिः॑ शर॒णा त॑ इन्द्र॒ प्र ते॑ सु॒म्ना नो॑ अश्नवन् ॥

Indra, lord of vibrant energy and power, we look forward to you as our partner, enlightened ruler and master, and competent giver of reward for our action and endeavour. Your very presence is our shelter, a very home like the great mother earth, and we pray we may ever enjoy the favour of your good will and benevolence.

✦ Sukta 91 · 7 verses ✦

8.91.1

क॒न्या॒३॒॑ वार॑वाय॒ती सोम॒मपि॑ स्रु॒तावि॑दत् । अस्तं॒ भर॑न्त्यब्रवी॒दिन्द्रा॑य सुनवै त्वा श॒क्राय॑ सुनवै त्वा ॥

The maiden having consented to marry, whether she is emaciated in health or bubbling with energy, should get the soma, and while going home should speak to herself for autosuggestion: I prepare you, soma juice, for Indra, regenerative and procreative power, for shakra, strength and vigour of robust health.

· · ·

8.91.2

अ॒सौ य एषि॑ वीर॒को गृ॒हंगृ॑हं वि॒चाक॑शद् । इ॒मं जम्भ॑सुतं पिब धा॒नाव॑न्तं कर॒म्भिण॑मपू॒पव॑न्तमु॒क्थिन॑म् ॥

The invigorating juice of soma which gives strength and vigour of health and radiates from person to person, family to family, O maiden, O youth, drink. It is expressed and invigorated to the last drop. It is delicious, nourishing, seasoned with delicacies, fresh and exhilarating, and invigorating with pranic energies.

· · ·

8.91.3

आ च॒न त्वा॑ चिकित्सा॒मोऽधि॑ च॒न त्वा॒ नेम॑सि । शनै॑रिव शन॒कैरि॒वेन्द्रा॑येन्दो॒ परि॑ स्रव ॥

O soma, we are trying to know you and your efficacy, we do not yet know you in full. Slowly, O soma, slowly, drop by drop, flow for Indra, health and vigour of life.

· · ·

8.91.4

कु॒विच्छक॑त्कु॒वित्कर॑त्कु॒विन्नो॒ वस्य॑स॒स्कर॑त् । कु॒वित्प॑ति॒द्विषो॑ य॒तीरिन्द्रे॑ण सं॒गमा॑महै ॥

May soma give us strength and vigour. May it work for our all round improvement in personality. May it make us happier and wealthier. And may be then we, not yet in favour of matrimony and husbands, grow up, reconcile and regain their love.

· · ·

8.91.5

इ॒मानि॒ त्रीणि॑ वि॒ष्टपा॒ तानी॑न्द्र॒ वि रो॑हय । शिर॑स्त॒तस्यो॒र्वरा॒मादि॒दं म॒ उपो॒दरे॑ ॥

These are three vital systemic organs of the growing and continuous body existence which, O soma energy, raise and refine: One is the head, seat of the intelligential system, the other is heart and lungs, seat of pranic system, and yet another is the stomach and pelvic region, seat of nutritional and sexual system. Indra, lord of energy and power, let these three grow to maturity.

· · ·

8.91.6

अ॒सौ च॒ या न॑ उ॒र्वरादि॒मां त॒न्वं१॒॑ मम॑ । अथो॑ त॒तस्य॒ यच्छिरः॒ सर्वा॒ ता रो॑म॒शा कृ॑धि ॥

And that which is the heart region and this body system of mine and the head region of the body which is to continue in the family line, let all these grow to maturity.

· · ·

8.91.7

खे रथ॑स्य॒ खेऽन॑सः॒ खे यु॒गस्य॑ शतक्रतो । अ॒पा॒लामि॑न्द्र॒ त्रिष्पू॒त्व्यकृ॑णोः॒ सूर्य॑त्वचम् ॥

Indra, giver of health and energy, O soul, agent of a hundred good actions, whatever the weakness of this chariot, the body system, whatever the weakness in the pranic energy system, and whatever weakness there be in the coordination of the various systems of body, prana and mind in relation to the soul, all these weaknesses of the unprotected, under nourished and immature maiden, I pray, make up and give her a radiant personality.

✦ Sukta 92 · 33 verses ✦

8.92.1

पान्त॒मा वो॒ अन्ध॑स॒ इन्द्र॑म॒भि प्र गा॑यत । वि॒श्वा॒साहं॑ श॒तक्र॑तुं॒ मंहि॑ष्ठं चर्षणी॒नाम् ॥

Sing in praise and appreciation of Indra, the ruler, protector of your food, sustenance and maintenance, all tolerant, all defender and all challenger, hero of a hundred noble actions and the best, most generous and most brilliant of the people.

· · ·

8.92.2

पु॒रु॒हू॒तं पु॑रुष्टु॒तं गा॑था॒न्यं१॒॑ सन॑श्रुतम् । इन्द्र॒ इति॑ ब्रवीतन ॥

Call him by the name and title of ‘Indra’, invoked by many, adored by all, worthy of celebration in story, all time famous who is also a scholar of universal knowledge.

· · ·

8.92.3

इन्द्र॒ इन्नो॑ म॒हानां॑ दा॒ता वाजा॑नां नृ॒तुः । म॒हाँ अ॑भि॒ज्ञ्वा य॑मत् ॥

Indra is a happy and joyous leader, giver of a high order of living, energy and life’s victories. May he, with love, courtesy and humility, lead us to life’s greatness and glory.

· · ·

8.92.4

अपा॑दु शि॒प्र्यन्ध॑सः सु॒दक्ष॑स्य प्रहो॒षिणः॑ । इन्दो॒रिन्द्रो॒ यवा॑शिरः ॥

Let Indra, the ruler, value, protect and promote the soma homage mixed and strengthened with the delicacies of life and offered by the generous and enlightened people. (The mantra points to the circulation of wealth and economy of the nation managed by the tax payers and the ruling powers of the government.)

· · ·

8.92.5

तम्व॒भि प्रार्च॒तेन्द्रं॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ । तदिद्ध्य॑स्य॒ वर्ध॑नम् ॥

Honour and appreciate Indra with words of gratefulness and adoration for the consumption, protection and promotion of the soma homage offered by the people. That tribute of honour is the real exalting strength and success for the ruler.

· · ·

8.92.6

अ॒स्य पी॒त्वा मदा॑नां दे॒वो दे॒वस्यौज॑सा । विश्वा॒भि भुव॑ना भुवत् ॥

Exalted by the joyous power of this soma offering of the people, the brilliant and generous Indra rules over all regions of the world by light and lustre worthy of a ruler.

· · ·

8.92.7

त्यमु॑ वः सत्रा॒साहं॒ विश्वा॑सु गी॒र्ष्वाय॑तम् । आ च्या॑वयस्यू॒तये॑ ॥

O people of the land, that generous and brilliant victor (Sudaksha) in all sessions of the enlightened citizens and celebrated in their universal voices, you elevate to the office of ruler for your defence, protection and progress.

· · ·

8.92.8

यु॒ध्मं सन्त॑मन॒र्वाणं॑ सोम॒पामन॑पच्युतम् । नर॑मवा॒र्यक्र॑तुम् ॥

The ruler, warrior that hits the target, being irresistible, protector and valuer of life’s joy, inviolable and unsurpassable leader in irrevocable action: such is Indra, elevated ruler.

· · ·

8.92.9

शिक्षा॑ ण इन्द्र रा॒य आ पु॒रु वि॒द्वाँ ऋ॑चीषम । अवा॑ नः॒ पार्ये॒ धने॑ ॥

Indra, leader in knowledge and wisdom, pursuer of the path of rectitude, guide and lead us to ample wealth and protect us through our struggle for victory of honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.92.10

अत॑श्चिदिन्द्र ण॒ उपा या॑हि श॒तवा॑जया । इ॒षा स॒हस्र॑वाजया ॥

And from here, Indra, come to us, bring us the food of life for a hundredfold and a thousandfold victory of honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.92.11

अया॑म॒ धीव॑तो॒ धियोऽर्व॑द्भिः शक्र गोदरे । जये॑म पृ॒त्सु व॑ज्रिवः ॥

O wielder of power and force, let us come to have leaders and warriors endowed with high intelligence and enlightened will for action and, O lord of thunderous power, in the development of lands and breaking of mountains, let us win our battles by virtue of our cavaliers and pioneers.

· · ·

8.92.12

व॒यमु॑ त्वा शतक्रतो॒ गावो॒ न यव॑से॒ष्वा । उ॒क्थेषु॑ रणयामसि ॥

Indra, achiever of a hundred noble victories, just as cows feel delight in green grass, so we give you the pleasure of victory in our songs of celebration.

· · ·

8.92.13

विश्वा॒ हि म॑र्त्यत्व॒नानु॑का॒मा श॑तक्रतो । अग॑न्म वज्रिन्ना॒शसः॑ ॥

O lord of a hundred noble actions, all mortals are moved by hopes and ambitions natural to humanity. O wielder of thunder and justice, let us too move forward and realise our hopes and ambitions.

· · ·

8.92.14

त्वे सु पु॑त्र शव॒सोऽवृ॑त्र॒न्काम॑कातयः । न त्वामि॒न्द्राति॑ रिच्यते ॥

O protector and promoter of strength and courage, seekers of ambition and victory look up to you for inspiration and depend on you for encouragement. No one excels you in incentive and exhortation.

· · ·

8.92.15

स नो॑ वृष॒न्त्सनि॑ष्ठया॒ सं घो॒रया॑ द्रवि॒त्न्वा । धि॒यावि॑ड्ढि॒ पुरं॑ध्या ॥

O lord generous as rain showers, come and help us with constant and most favourable, venerable and sublime, instant and munificent friendly intelligence, planning and wisdom for action and advancement of the human community.

· · ·

8.92.16

यस्ते॑ नू॒नं श॑तक्रत॒विन्द्र॑ द्यु॒म्नित॑मो॒ मदः॑ । तेन॑ नू॒नं मदे॑ मदेः ॥

O lord of a hundred great actions, Indra, ruler of the world, the most generous, brilliant and ecstatic will and pleasure that is yours, by that, pray, inspire us and let us share the joy of divine achievement.

· · ·

8.92.17

यस्ते॑ चि॒त्रश्र॑वस्तमो॒ य इ॑न्द्र वृत्र॒हन्त॑मः । य ओ॑जो॒दात॑मो॒ मदः॑ ॥

That ananda, will and pleasure of yours which is most wonderful and famous, which destroys evil and darkness upon the instant completely and which is most potent in inspiring the celebrant with the courage of action, honour and dignity, with that, prey, inspire us and let us share that ecstasy.

· · ·

8.92.18

वि॒द्मा हि यस्ते॑ अद्रिव॒स्त्वाद॑त्तः सत्य सोमपाः । विश्वा॑सु दस्म कृ॒ष्टिषु॑ ॥

O lord ruler of clouds and mountains, ever true and constant, lover and protector of soma, the joy and beauty of life, glorious destroyer of darkness, we know as we receive that the courage and will, the sense of honour and dignity that prevails among all the people of the world is yours, inspired by you, and a gift of yours to us.

· · ·

8.92.19

इन्द्रा॑य॒ मद्व॑ने सु॒तं परि॑ ष्टोभन्तु नो॒ गिरः॑ । अ॒र्कम॑र्चन्तु का॒रवः॑ ॥

Let all our voices of admiration flow and intensify the soma for the joy of Indra, and let the poets sing songs of adoration for him and celebrate his achievements.

· · ·

8.92.20

यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॒ अधि॒ श्रियो॒ रण॑न्ति स॒प्त सं॒सदः॑ । इन्द्रं॑ सु॒ते ह॑वामहे ॥

In our soma yajna of life, in meditation, and in the holy business of living, we invoke Indra, in whom all beauties and graces abide, whom all the seven seers in yajna adore, in whom all five senses, mind and intelligence subside absorbed, and under whom all the seven assemblies of the world unite, meet and act.

· · ·

8.92.21

त्रिक॑द्रुकेषु॒ चेत॑नं दे॒वासो॑ य॒ज्ञम॑त्नत । तमिद्व॑र्धन्तु नो॒ गिरः॑ ॥

In three modes of body, mind and soul, the devas, seven senses, the human consciousness and the noble yogis, concentrate on Indra, divine consciousness. In three regions of the universe, noble souls meditate on the universal consciousness of the divine Indra. Thus they perform the yajna of divinity in communion. May all our songs of adoration glorify that supreme consciousness, Indra.

· · ·

8.92.22

आ त्वा॑ विश॒न्त्विन्द॑वः समु॒द्रमि॑व॒ सिन्ध॑वः । न त्वामि॒न्द्राति॑ रिच्यते ॥

All the flows of soma, joys, beauties and graces of life concentrate in you, and thence they flow forth too, Indra, lord supreme, just as all rivers flow and join in the ocean and flow forth from there. O lord no one can comprehend and excel you.

· · ·

8.92.23

वि॒व्यक्थ॑ महि॒ना वृ॑षन्भ॒क्षं सोम॑स्य जागृवे । य इ॑न्द्र ज॒ठरे॑षु ते ॥

O lord of universal love and grace as showers of rain, ever awake in the world of existence, your divine bliss pervades all that essence of soma, joy and beauty of life, which is food for the human soul, and it ripples and rolls in the blissful reservoirs of your divine presence.

· · ·

8.92.24

अरं॑ त इन्द्र कु॒क्षये॒ सोमो॑ भवतु वृत्रहन् । अरं॒ धाम॑भ्य॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

Indra, O lord of power and joy, destroyer of evil and suffering, let there be ample soma to fill the space in the womb of existence, and let the flow of soma be profuse for all the forms of existence.

· · ·

8.92.25

अर॒मश्वा॑य गायति श्रु॒तक॑क्षो॒ अरं॒ गवे॑ । अर॒मिन्द्र॑स्य॒ धाम्ने॑ ॥

The sage, having drunk of the soma of divine love, sings in praise of the dynamics of motion and attainment and the music overflows, he sings of the dynamics of creative production and power of communication such as waves of energy, earth and cows, and he sings profusely of the lord’s refulgent forms of wealth, beauty and excellence.

· · ·

8.92.26

अरं॒ हि ष्म॑ सु॒तेषु॑ णः॒ सोमे॑ष्विन्द्र॒ भूष॑सि । अरं॑ ते शक्र दा॒वने॑ ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, all potent and competent doer of holy action, when we have distilled and achieved the soma of bright knowledge, action, wealth, honour and excellence of life, you feel highly glorified, and that achievement is a high tribute to your generous munificence also.

· · ·

8.92.27

प॒रा॒कात्ता॑च्चिदद्रिव॒स्त्वां न॑क्षन्त नो॒ गिरः॑ । अरं॑ गमाम ते व॒यम् ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, all potent and competent doer of holy action, when we have distilled and achieved the soma of bright knowledge, action, wealth, honour and excellence of life, you feel highly glorified, and that achievement is a high tribute to your generous munificence also.

· · ·

8.92.28

ए॒वा ह्यसि॑ वीर॒युरे॒वा शूर॑ उ॒त स्थि॒रः । ए॒वा ते॒ राध्यं॒ मनः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of clouds and mountains, wielder of thunder and lightning, our songs of adoration reach you even from far where we happen to be. We pray we may realise your presence intimately by direct experience of the spirit, beyond thought and speech.

· · ·

8.92.29

ए॒वा रा॒तिस्तु॑वीमघ॒ विश्वे॑भिर्धायि धा॒तृभिः॑ । अधा॑ चिदिन्द्र मे॒ सचा॑ ॥

You love and honour the brave, you are brave yourself, you are definite in intention and undisturbed in attitudes. You are now ripe for the perfection of mind to experience the soul’s beatitude in, divine presence.

· · ·

8.92.30

मो षु ब्र॒ह्मेव॑ तन्द्र॒युर्भुवो॑ वाजानां पते । मत्स्वा॑ सु॒तस्य॒ गोम॑तः ॥

Indra, generous lord of the wealth and glory of the world, thus by practice and meditation, is divine generosity cultivated and achieved by all those who bear and bring the offerings to you. O lord of power and immense generosity, be my friend and companion.

· · ·

8.92.31

मा न॑ इन्द्रा॒भ्या॒३॒॑दिशः॒ सूरो॑ अ॒क्तुष्वा य॑मन् । त्वा यु॒जा व॑नेम॒ तत् ॥

O ruler, protector and promoter of the honour and excellence of life, just as a vibrant scholar of divine knowledge never slackens into sloth from wakefulness, so you too should never be slothful and half asleep. Be ever wakeful, enjoy and guard the distilled essence of knowledge and creative achievement of wealth, honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.92.32

त्वयेदि॑न्द्र यु॒जा व॒यं प्रति॑ ब्रुवीमहि॒ स्पृधः॑ । त्वम॒स्माकं॒ तव॑ स्मसि ॥

Indra, powerful friend and ally in spirit and conduct, let no force, howsoever strong it may be, from any direction come at night and overtake us by violence. With you as a friend and inspirer, let us counter that attack and win.

· · ·

8.92.33

त्वामिद्धि त्वा॒यवो॑ऽनु॒नोनु॑वत॒श्चरा॑न् । सखा॑य इन्द्र का॒रवः॑ ॥

Indra, O lord omnipotent, O intelligent soul in the state of divine beatitude, O mind in the state of perfect spiritual control, only with you as friend and companion do we counter and win our adversaries in life. You are ours, we are yours.Indra, O lord omnipotent, O ruler of the world, O soul in divine union, O mind in perfect state of spiritual control, may the poets, celebrants, men in action, all assistant forces in unison live their life in dedication to you, working for you and thereby exalting you in song and in action as their friend, guide and protector.

✦ Sukta 93 · 34 verses ✦

8.93.1

उद्घेद॒भि श्रु॒ताम॑घं वृष॒भं नर्या॑पसम् । अस्ता॑रमेषि सूर्य ॥

Indra, O lord omnipotent, O ruler of the world, O soul in divine union, O mind in perfect state of spiritual control, may the poets, celebrants, men in action, all assistant forces in unison live their life in dedication to you, working for you and thereby exalting you in song and in action as their friend, guide and protector.O Surya, self-refulgent light of the world, you rise and move in the service of Indra, lord of the wealth of revelation, generous and virile, lover of humanity and dispeller of the darkness and negativities of the mind, soul and the universe. (Indra is interpreted in this Sukta as the omnipotent, self-refulgent lord and light of the universe, as the sublime soul, and as the enlightened mind according to the context of meaning reflected by the intra-structure of the mantra.)O Surya, self-refulgent light of the world, you rise and move in the service of Indra, lord of the wealth of revelation, generous and virile, lover of humanity and dispeller of the darkness and negativities of the mind, soul and the universe. (Indra is interpreted in this Sukta as the omnipotent, self-refulgent lord and light of the universe, as the sublime soul, and as the enlightened mind according to the context of meaning reflected by the intra-structure of the mantra.)

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8.93.2

नव॒ यो न॑व॒तिं पुरो॑ बि॒भेद॑ बा॒ह्वो॑जसा । अहिं॑ च वृत्र॒हाव॑धीत् ॥

O Surya, self-refulgent light of the world, you rise and move in the service of Indra, lord of the wealth of revelation, generous and virile, lover of humanity and dispeller of the darkness and negativities of the mind, soul and the universe. (Indra is interpreted in this Sukta as the omnipotent, self-refulgent lord and light of the universe, as the sublime soul, and as the enlightened mind according to the context of meaning reflected by the intra-structure of the mantra.)Indra who breaks off the nine and ninty strongholds of darkness, ignorance and suffering by the force of his lustrous arms and, as the dispeller of darkness, destroys the crooked serpentine evil of the world:

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8.93.3

स न॒ इन्द्रः॑ शि॒वः सखाश्वा॑व॒द्गोम॒द्यव॑मत् । उ॒रुधा॑रेव दोहते ॥

That same Indra who is blissful, a gracious friend and companion, commands the wealth of cows and horses, nourishment and achievement, knowledge and enlightenment and distils for us power, honour and excellence from nature such as the torrential showers of rain.

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8.93.4

यद॒द्य कच्च॑ वृत्रहन्नु॒दगा॑ अ॒भि सू॑र्य । सर्वं॒ तदि॑न्द्र ते॒ वशे॑ ॥

O sun, dispeller of darkness, whatever the aim and purpose for which you rise today, let that be, O Indra, lord ruler of the world, under your command and control.

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8.93.5

यद्वा॑ प्रवृद्ध सत्पते॒ न म॑रा॒ इति॒ मन्य॑से । उ॒तो तत्स॒त्यमित्तव॑ ॥

Indra, O mind, O soul, ever rising as the world expands, protector of truth and reality, if you believe and say in all faith that “I shall not die”, then it shall be true, an inviolable reality.

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8.93.6

ये सोमा॑सः परा॒वति॒ ये अ॑र्वा॒वति॑ सुन्वि॒रे । सर्वाँ॒स्ताँ इ॑न्द्र गच्छसि ॥

Indra, O dynamic intelligence, protector of the knowledge of truth and reality, whatever somas of knowledge, culture and enlightenment are distilled either far away or close at hand, pray you move there to record and protect them for us.

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8.93.7

तमिन्द्रं॑ वाजयामसि म॒हे वृ॒त्राय॒ हन्त॑वे । स वृषा॑ वृष॒भो भु॑वत् ॥

That Indra, dynamic and enlightened mind and intelligence, we cultivate and strengthen for the elimination of the great waste, deep ignorance and suffering prevailing in the world. May that light and mind be exuberant and generous for us with showers of enlightenment.

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8.93.8

इन्द्रः॒ स दाम॑ने कृ॒त ओजि॑ष्ठः॒ स मदे॑ हि॒तः । द्यु॒म्नी श्लो॒की स सो॒म्यः ॥

Indra, mind and intelligence, was created for enlightenment and for giving enlightenment. Most lustrous and powerful, it is engaged in the creation of joy. It is rich in the wealth of knowledge, praise-worthy, and cool, gentle and at peace in the state of enlightenment.

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8.93.9

गि॒रा वज्रो॒ न सम्भृ॑तः॒ सब॑लो॒ अन॑पच्युतः । व॒व॒क्ष ऋ॒ष्वो अस्तृ॑तः ॥

Held in and by the voice of divinity like the roar of thunder and like the flood of sun-rays, it is powerful, unfallen, irrepressible and lofty with thought, so let it express itself freely.

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8.93.10

दु॒र्गे चि॑न्नः सु॒गं कृ॑धि गृणा॒न इ॑न्द्र गिर्वणः । त्वं च॑ मघव॒न्वशः॑ ॥

Indra, adorable lord, praised and prayed, turn even the difficult paths to simple and easy ones and, O lord of wealth, honour and power, do it as and when you wish, you are the master.

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8.93.11

यस्य॑ ते॒ नू चि॑दा॒दिशं॒ न मि॒नन्ति॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् । न दे॒वो नाध्रि॑गु॒र्जनः॑ ॥

No power can violate your sphere of self-rule and sovereignty nor what you ordain, neither human nor super human howsoever irresistible it be.

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8.93.12

अधा॑ ते॒ अप्र॑तिष्कुतं दे॒वी शुष्मं॑ सपर्यतः । उ॒भे सु॑शिप्र॒ रोद॑सी ॥

And then, O lord of glorious countenance, both the divine earth and heaven honour and serve your irresistible might.

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8.93.13

त्वमे॒तद॑धारयः कृ॒ष्णासु॒ रोहि॑णीषु च । परु॑ष्णीषु॒ रुश॒त्पयः॑ ॥

Only you as mind and electric energy bear, hold and maintain in circulation this bright vital liquid energy as sap and blood in the dark and red life sustaining veins and arteries of living forms.

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8.93.14

वि यदहे॒रध॑ त्वि॒षो विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॒ अक्र॑मुः । वि॒दन्मृ॒गस्य॒ ताँ अमः॑ ॥

When all the divine perceptive senses and conceptive faculties of the mind rise to fight the dark powers of evil, Indra, the soul, the higher mind, realises the fierce powers of evil and stirs:

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8.93.15

आदु॑ मे निव॒रो भु॑वद्वृत्र॒हादि॑ष्ट॒ पौंस्य॑म् । अजा॑तशत्रु॒रस्तृ॑तः ॥

Then Indra, the soul, the higher mind, my saviour, destroyer of evil, provides me strength, and, undaunted, I stir and become unchallengeable by enemies.

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8.93.16

श्रु॒तं वो॑ वृत्र॒हन्त॑मं॒ प्र शर्धं॑ चर्षणी॒नाम् । आ शु॑षे॒ राध॑से म॒हे ॥

For your strength, high success and advancement, I strive for and try to attain to the highest strength of the people capable of fighting out and eliminating the darkness, ignorance and suffering of life.

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8.93.17

अ॒या धि॒या च॑ गव्य॒या पुरु॑णाम॒न्पुरु॑ष्टुत । यत्सोमे॑सोम॒ आभ॑वः ॥

Indra, O higher mind, O soul, O awareness of divinity, who are adored by many, celebrated by many many names in many ways, arise in every person in every soma yajna by with virtue of this intelligence, this knowledge and this awareness which nature has given to every person.

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8.93.18

बो॒धिन्म॑ना॒ इद॑स्तु नो वृत्र॒हा भूर्या॑सुतिः । शृ॒णोतु॑ श॒क्र आ॒शिष॑म् ॥

May Indra, lord of universal intelligence, destroyer of darkness, commander of universal success and joy, we pray, know our mind and listen to us for our heart’s desire for success.

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8.93.19

कया॒ त्वं न॑ ऊ॒त्याभि प्र म॑न्दसे वृषन् । कया॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Indra, lord of power and prosperity, generous as cloud showers, by which modes of protection and promotion do you bless us with the joys we have, by which methods and graces do you bear and bring the wealth which the celebrants enjoy?

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8.93.20

कस्य॒ वृषा॑ सु॒ते सचा॑ नि॒युत्वा॑न्वृष॒भो र॑णत् । वृ॒त्र॒हा सोम॑पीतये ॥

In whose soma yajna does Indra, generous giver of showers of joy, master of cosmic dynamics, virile all creative, destroyer of darkness, want and suffering, take delight as a friend and participate in the creation, protection and promotion of the soma joys of life?

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8.93.21

अ॒भी षु ण॒स्त्वं र॒यिं म॑न्दसा॒नः स॑ह॒स्रिण॑म् । प्र॒य॒न्ता बो॑धि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Indra, lord all joy and bliss, our guide, delighted with the soma yajna of the generous yajamana, enlighten him and bring him a thousandfold wealth, honour and excellence.

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8.93.22

पत्नी॑वन्तः सु॒ता इ॒म उ॒शन्तो॑ यन्ति वी॒तये॑ । अ॒पां जग्मि॑र्निचुम्पु॒णः ॥

These sparkling life-giving streams of soma joys of life created by Indra in the world flow to the thirsty yajakas for their enlightenment and joy just as streams of water flow to the unsatiating sea.

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8.93.23

इ॒ष्टा होत्रा॑ असृक्ष॒तेन्द्रं॑ वृ॒धासो॑ अध्व॒रे । अच्छा॑वभृ॒थमोज॑सा ॥

Cherished and lovely offers of havi offered into the fire in the yajna of life exalt Indra, and with light and lustre lead the yajamana to the sanctifying bath on the completion of the yajna.

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8.93.24

इ॒ह त्या स॑ध॒माद्या॒ हरी॒ हिर॑ण्यकेश्या । वो॒ळ्हाम॒भि प्रयो॑ हि॒तम् ॥

And may those brilliant and jubilant perceptive, creative and communicative dynamics of yajna working in unison conduct Indra, the soul, onward in the business of living and lead the yajamana to the desired wealth and nourishment of life.

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8.93.25

तुभ्यं॒ सोमाः॑ सु॒ता इ॒मे स्ती॒र्णं ब॒र्हिर्वि॑भावसो । स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ इन्द्र॒मा व॑ह ॥

O lord of light, the soma delicacies distilled and seasoned are ready for you. The holy grass seats are spread on the vedi. Pray come in and bring in Indra, wealth, honour and excellence of life for the celebrants.

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8.93.26

आ ते॒ दक्षं॒ वि रो॑च॒ना दध॒द्रत्ना॒ वि दा॒शुषे॑ । स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ इन्द्र॑मर्चत ॥

O lord of light, refulgent and glorious stars and planets such as sun, earth and moon bear your power and potential and they bear the jewels of life for the generous yajamana. O celebrants, celebrate Indra and pray for the devotees that the lord may bless.

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8.93.27

आ ते॑ दधामीन्द्रि॒यमु॒क्था विश्वा॑ शतक्रतो । स्तो॒तृभ्य॑ इन्द्र मृळय ॥

O lord of infinite acts of grace, I hold in faith and abide by your divine power and law and I stand by all the divine injunctions of holiness and piety set out in holy writ. O lord omnipotent, Indra, be kind and gracious to the devoted celebrants.

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8.93.28

भ॒द्रम्भ॑द्रं न॒ आ भ॒रेष॒मूर्जं॑ शतक्रतो । यदि॑न्द्र मृ॒ळया॑सि नः ॥

Indra, lord of infinite actions of grace, when you are kind to us and bless us with joy and well being, you give us food, energy, knowledge and enlightenment so that we may rise towards perfection as good human beings.

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8.93.29

स नो॒ विश्वा॒न्या भ॑र सुवि॒तानि॑ शतक्रतो । यदि॑न्द्र मृ॒ळया॑सि नः ॥

Indra, lord of infinite acts of kindness, when you are kind and gracious to us, bear and bring us all the good fortunes, prosperity and welfare of life.

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8.93.30

त्वामिद्वृ॑त्रहन्तम सु॒ताव॑न्तो हवामहे । यदि॑न्द्र मृ॒ळया॑सि नः ॥

Blest with the beauty, grace and excellence of life, we invoke and celebrate you only, greatest destroyer of the darkness, evil and suffering of life since you are the highest power kind and gracious to us.

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8.93.31

उप॑ नो॒ हरि॑भिः सु॒तं या॒हि म॑दानां पते । उप॑ नो॒ हरि॑भिः सु॒तम् ॥

O lord and protector of the joys of life, come to us to taste the soma of life prepared by us with our mind, imagination and senses in your honour, come to us for the soma distilled by our heart and mind for you.

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8.93.32

द्वि॒ता यो वृ॑त्र॒हन्त॑मो वि॒द इन्द्रः॑ श॒तक्र॑तुः । उप॑ नो॒ हरि॑भिः सु॒तम् ॥

Indra, hero of a hundred noble actions, greatest destroyer of darkness who know both the way of knowledge and the way of karma for the good life, come to taste our soma of homage prepared by us with our heart and soul for you.

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8.93.33

त्वं हि वृ॑त्रहन्नेषां पा॒ता सोमा॑ना॒मसि॑ । उप॑ नो॒ हरि॑भिः सु॒तम् ॥

Indra, O soul, dispeller of darkness and ignorance, you are the experiencer of the joyous soma pleasures of life. Rise and enjoy the knowledge and wisdom collected and offered by the senses, mind and intelligence.

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8.93.34

इन्द्र॑ इ॒षे द॑दातु न ऋभु॒क्षण॑मृ॒भुं र॒यिम् । वा॒जी द॑दातु वा॒जिन॑म् ॥

For food, energy and knowledge, may Indra, lord of creativity, imagination and power, give us wealth, honour and excellence of broad, versatile and expert nature. May the lord of speed and victory grant us sustenance, energy and advanced success in our pursuit of progress.

✦ Sukta 94 · 12 verses ✦

8.94.1

गौर्ध॑यति म॒रुतां॑ श्रव॒स्युर्मा॒ता म॒घोना॑म् । यु॒क्ता वह्नी॒ रथा॑नाम् ॥

The cow, the earth, nature herself, mother of magnanimous Maruts, mighty men, is committed to provide sustenance and honourable existence for them and, joined with them in piety, bearing lovely gifts for them, provides the food of life and love as a mother suckles her children.

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8.94.2

यस्या॑ दे॒वा उ॒पस्थे॑ व्र॒ता विश्वे॑ धा॒रय॑न्ते । सूर्या॒मासा॑ दृ॒शे कम् ॥

She in whose lap the Vishvedevas, divinities of humanity and nature, hold, maintain and observe their laws of existence, and the sun and moon wear their beauty and refulgence so that we may see and appreciate the glory of divine existence:

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8.94.3

तत्सु नो॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒र्य आ सदा॑ गृणन्ति का॒रवः॑ । म॒रुतः॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

That same beauty and glory of existence and the mother’s magnanimity, all our poets and pioneers celebrate in song and heroic action. O Maruts, magnanimous men of might, come, act, and enjoy this soma of the Mother’s gift of glory.

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8.94.4

अस्ति॒ सोमो॑ अ॒यं सु॒तः पिब॑न्त्यस्य म॒रुतः॑ । उ॒त स्व॒राजो॑ अ॒श्विना॑ ॥

O Maruts, mighty men of honour and action, this soma of glorious life is ready, created by divinity. Lovers of life and adventure, Ashwins, live it and enjoy, those who are self-refulgent, free and self-governed, and who are ever on the move, creating, acquiring, giving, like energies of nature in the cosmic circuit.

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8.94.5

पिब॑न्ति मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा तना॑ पू॒तस्य॒ वरु॑णः । त्रि॒ष॒ध॒स्थस्य॒ जाव॑तः ॥

Mitra, men of universal love, Aryama, men of adventure on the paths of rectitude, and Varuna, men of judgement and right choice, continuously drink of this soma created and sanctified by the procreative power of divinity pervading in the three regions of the universe, heaven, earth and the sky.

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8.94.6

उ॒तो न्व॑स्य॒ जोष॒माँ इन्द्रः॑ सु॒तस्य॒ गोम॑तः । प्रा॒तर्होते॑व मत्सति ॥

And surely the delight and exhilaration of this soma, Indra, the soul, inspirited with the power of brilliance and awareness, like a yajaka at dawn, experiences, and celebrates the ecstasy in dance and song.

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8.94.7

कद॑त्विषन्त सू॒रय॑स्ति॒र आप॑ इव॒ स्रिधः॑ । अर्ष॑न्ति पू॒तद॑क्षसः ॥

How brilliant and blazing are the brave, we scholars and warriors of pure and unsullied power and expertise who, like turbulent waters, break the violent down and move forward on the paths of rectitude!

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8.94.8

कद्वो॑ अ॒द्य म॒हानां॑ दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ वृणे । त्मना॑ च द॒स्मव॑र्चसाम् ॥

And when and how can I choose and hope for the protection and patronage of the great, noble and generous leaders and pioneers who are brilliant by virtue of their own innate power and personality?

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8.94.9

आ ये विश्वा॒ पार्थि॑वानि प॒प्रथ॑न्रोच॒ना दि॒वः । म॒रुतः॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Those Maruts, pioneers of nature and humanity, who have extended the beauties of existence, both earthly and heavenly, for the experience and higher awareness of the joy and ecstasy of it,

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8.94.10

त्यान्नु पू॒तद॑क्षसो दि॒वो वो॑ मरुतो हुवे । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Those, O Maruts, heroes of power and purity, I call from your regions of light to come and to enjoy, protect and promote this delight and beauty of the world of existence.

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8.94.11

त्यान्नु ये वि रोद॑सी तस्त॒भुर्म॒रुतो॑ हुवे । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Those Maruts, nature’s powers of divine energy who stabilise the regions of heaven and earth in the cosmos, those Maruts, scholars, scientists and pioneers of vibrant nature and energy who maintain the laws and values of heaven and earth in human life, I call, to join them in the experience of the delight and ecstasy of this joyous world of beauty.

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8.94.12

त्यं नु मारु॑तं ग॒णं गि॑रि॒ष्ठां वृष॑णं हुवे । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

That host of Maruts generous as showers of clouds, abiding on high as on the peaks of mountains, I invoke and call to come and join us in the celebration of life’s beauty and glory for the experience and awareness of its divinity.

✦ Sukta 95 · 9 verses ✦

8.95.1

आ त्वा॒ गिरो॑ र॒थीरि॒वास्थुः॑ सु॒तेषु॑ गिर्वणः । अ॒भि त्वा॒ सम॑नूष॒तेन्द्र॑ व॒त्सं न मा॒तरः॑ ॥

Indra, adorable lord of glory, when the soma sense of life’s beauty and meaning is realised, let our voices of adoration reach you fast as a charioteer, and as mothers out of love incline to their children, so let our voices too closely abide with you.

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8.95.2

आ त्वा॑ शु॒क्रा अ॑चुच्यवुः सु॒तास॑ इन्द्र गिर्वणः । पिबा॒ त्व१॒॑स्यान्ध॑स॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑सु ते हि॒तम् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, adorable soul, let these somas of transparent knowledge and awareness of crystalline purity distilled from life reach in homage to you. Accept these, enjoy, protect and promote these rolling round in space for you as food for life and soul. (This mantra can also be interpreted as a divine blessing to the human soul in response to its karmic homage presented in the previous mantra. When a devotee offers homage of prasada in the lord’s temple, the lord returns it with blessings for the presenter.)

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8.95.3

पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कमिन्द्र॑ श्ये॒नाभृ॑तं सु॒तम् । त्वं हि शश्व॑तीनां॒ पती॒ राजा॑ वि॒शामसि॑ ॥

Indra, enlightened spirit of the universe, enjoy the soothing and illuminating soma of joyous knowledge distilled from life and living literature by dynamic and adorable sages of enlightenment. You are the master, protector, sustainer and ruler of all the universal and eternal generations of the people.

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8.95.4

श्रु॒धी हवं॑ तिर॒श्च्या इन्द्र॒ यस्त्वा॑ सप॒र्यति॑ । सु॒वीर्य॑स्य॒ गोम॑तो रा॒यस्पू॑र्धि म॒हाँ अ॑सि ॥

Indra, listen to the invocation of the devotee’s voice of deep silence who offers service and homage to you, and bless the devotee with wealth of brave progeny, lands, cows, knowledge and total fulfilment. You are great, unbounded is your munificence.

· · ·

8.95.5

इन्द्र॒ यस्ते॒ नवी॑यसीं॒ गिरं॑ म॒न्द्रामजी॑जनत् । चि॒कि॒त्विन्म॑नसं॒ धियं॑ प्र॒त्नामृ॒तस्य॑ पि॒प्युषी॑म् ॥

Indra, whoever creates and offers you the latest song of joyous adoration, you bless with a mind and intelligence for eternal illumination, universal understanding and wisdom, and dedication to exuberant awareness of eternal truth and law.

· · ·

8.95.6

तमु॑ ष्टवाम॒ यं गिर॒ इन्द्र॑मु॒क्थानि॑ वावृ॒धुः । पु॒रूण्य॑स्य॒ पौंस्या॒ सिषा॑सन्तो वनामहे ॥

We adore and worship Indra whom hymns and songs of adoration exalt, and we pray to him for the gift of many forms of strength, honour and excellence.

· · ·

8.95.7

एतो॒ न्विन्द्रं॒ स्तवा॑म शु॒द्धं शु॒द्धेन॒ साम्ना॑ । शु॒द्धैरु॒क्थैर्वा॑वृ॒ध्वांसं॑ शु॒द्ध आ॒शीर्वा॑न्ममत्तु ॥

Come, friends, and, with happy chant of pure holy Sama songs, adore Indra, pure and bright spirit and power of the world, who feels pleased and exalted by honest unsullied songs of adoration. Let the supplicant with a pure heart please and win the favour of Indra and rejoice.

· · ·

8.95.8

इन्द्र॑ शु॒द्धो न॒ आ ग॑हि शु॒द्धः शु॒द्धाभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । शु॒द्धो र॒यिं नि धा॑रय शु॒द्धो म॑मद्धि सो॒म्यः ॥

May Indra, pure and absolute spirit, come to us and bless us. May the pure immaculate spirit come with pure modes of action and protection. May the pure spirit bring us wealth, honour and excellence. May pure divinity, absolute peace and bliss, be pleased and exalted.

· · ·

8.95.9

इन्द्र॑ शु॒द्धो हि नो॑ र॒यिं शु॒द्धो रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ । शु॒द्धो वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नसे शु॒द्धो वाजं॑ सिषाससि ॥

Indra, spirit pure and absolute, may bring us wealth, honour and excellence. The pure may bring jewels of life for the generous yajamana. Indra, the pure, in order to eliminate evil and dispel darkness and suffering, loves to give us strength, sustenance and advancement, the lord pure and blissful that he is.

✦ Sukta 96 · 21 verses ✦

8.96.1

अ॒स्मा उ॒षास॒ आति॑रन्त॒ याम॒मिन्द्रा॑य॒ नक्त॒मूर्म्याः॑ सु॒वाचः॑ । अ॒स्मा आपो॑ मा॒तरः॑ स॒प्त त॑स्थु॒र्नृभ्य॒स्तरा॑य॒ सिन्ध॑वः सुपा॒राः ॥

For Indra, this lord supreme ruler and ordainer of the universe, the dawns advance their course, for Indra, the last hours of the night are sanctified with voices of adoration, for this same lord, seven motherly dynamics of nature, i.e., five elements, mind and pranic energies, keep to their tasks in nature’s law, and for him the rivers and seas ebb and flow for human navigation.

· · ·

8.96.2

अति॑विद्धा विथु॒रेणा॑ चि॒दस्त्रा॒ त्रिः स॒प्त सानु॒ संहि॑ता गिरी॒णाम् । न तद्दे॒वो न मर्त्य॑स्तुतुर्या॒द्यानि॒ प्रवृ॑द्धो वृष॒भश्च॒कार॑ ॥

With staggering missile he pierced thrice

seven mountain peaks in succession. Neither divine nor human can ever do what the mighty hero in the state of exaltation has at a stroke achieved.

· · ·

8.96.3

इन्द्र॑स्य॒ वज्र॑ आय॒सो निमि॑श्ल॒ इन्द्र॑स्य बा॒ह्वोर्भूयि॑ष्ठ॒मोजः॑ । शी॒र्षन्निन्द्र॑स्य॒ क्रत॑वो निरे॒क आ॒सन्नेष॑न्त॒ श्रुत्या॑ उपा॒के ॥

The thunder bolt of Indra is made of unbreakable steel, sharpened and integrated with his body system, in his arms there is tremendous force and lustre, in his head are definite thoughts, plans and actions of high degree, and in his tongue is speech which people are anxious to hear at the closest. (These two mantras are highly mystical, comprehensively allegorical also. They describe the divine process of evolution. We may interpret the astra as the missile of the Big Bang of the divine will which formally splits integrated Prakrti into seven stages of mahan, ahankara and the five elements, i.e., akasha, vayu, agni, apah and prthivi over three modes of satva, rajas and tamas of each. The vajra, again is the will continuously operative as Rtam, the law of the dynamics of nature. At the human level, the same dynamic works as living energy of prana in the biological system and converts food into seven ascending stages of rasa, rakta, mansa, meda, majja, asthi and virya which, properly cultivated and preserved, shines as ojas, lustre of the personality.)

· · ·

8.96.4

मन्ये॑ त्वा य॒ज्ञियं॑ य॒ज्ञिया॑नां॒ मन्ये॑ त्वा॒ च्यव॑न॒मच्यु॑तानाम् । मन्ये॑ त्वा॒ सत्व॑नामिन्द्र के॒तुं मन्ये॑ त्वा वृष॒भं च॑र्षणी॒नाम् ॥

Indra, hero of invincible power, plan and action, I honour as the most revered of the powers worthy of love and homage in yajna. Of the unmoved and immovables, I honour you as the greatest mover and the moving at the highest velocity. Of the real, the true, the eternal, I honour you as the first and highest. And of the dynamic visionaries, I honour you as the highest visionary, most dynamic in power and generosity.

· · ·

8.96.5

आ यद्वज्रं॑ बा॒ह्वोरि॑न्द्र॒ धत्से॑ मद॒च्युत॒मह॑ये॒ हन्त॒वा उ॑ । प्र पर्व॑ता॒ अन॑वन्त॒ प्र गावः॒ प्र ब्र॒ह्माणो॑ अभि॒नक्ष॑न्त॒ इन्द्र॑म् ॥

Indra, when you hold the pride shattering thunderbolt in hands for the destruction of evil forces, mountains bend, earths adore, and divines sing hymns of praise to celebrate your glory.

· · ·

8.96.6

तमु॑ ष्टवाम॒ य इ॒मा ज॒जान॒ विश्वा॑ जा॒तान्यव॑राण्यस्मात् । इन्द्रे॑ण मि॒त्रं दि॑धिषेम गी॒र्भिरुपो॒ नमो॑भिर्वृष॒भं वि॑शेम ॥

We worship him that brought all these forms of existence into being after him. Let us win friendship with Indra, and with hymns of adoration presented with homage and humility, abide in his presence at the closest.

· · ·

8.96.7

वृ॒त्रस्य॑ त्वा श्व॒सथा॒दीष॑माणा॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अ॑जहु॒र्ये सखा॑यः । म॒रुद्भि॑रिन्द्र स॒ख्यं ते॑ अ॒स्त्वथे॒मा विश्वाः॒ पृत॑ना जयासि ॥

O soul of man, when at the frightful breath of evil forces of thought and the external world all your noble faculties who are your friends forsake you out of fear and insecurity, at that time, Indra, O soul, of innate power and self-confidence, hold on, be friends with the Maruts, vital pranic powers, and surely you would win in all the battles against evil.

· · ·

8.96.8

त्रिः ष॒ष्टिस्त्वा॑ म॒रुतो॑ वावृधा॒ना उ॒स्रा इ॑व रा॒शयो॑ य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । उप॒ त्वेमः॑ कृ॒धि नो॑ भाग॒धेयं॒ शुष्मं॑ त ए॒ना ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

Thrice sixty Maruts, pranic and psychic energies, venerable cooperative yajnic powers, like floods of light, exalting Indra, stand by Indra, the soul. We stand by you, say they, give us our share of attention and food for life in yajna, and by this very share of recognition and food for life and power, we shall render you back the strength and power you need.

· · ·

8.96.9

ति॒ग्ममायु॑धं म॒रुता॒मनी॑कं॒ कस्त॑ इन्द्र॒ प्रति॒ वज्रं॑ दधर्ष । अ॒ना॒यु॒धासो॒ असु॑रा अदे॒वाश्च॒क्रेण॒ ताँ अप॑ वप ऋजीषिन् ॥

Indra, O soul, the powers of the Maruts, pranas, is really your fiery thunderbolt. Who holds a weapon counter to thunder? The evil forces are, in fact, without any force and weapon. Nor do they have anything positive and divine about them. Rise, move and shoot your wheel of concentrated force and strike them down.

· · ·

8.96.10

म॒ह उ॒ग्राय॑ त॒वसे॑ सुवृ॒क्तिं प्रेर॑य शि॒वत॑माय प॒श्वः । गिर्वा॑हसे॒ गिर॒ इन्द्रा॑य पू॒र्वीर्धे॒हि त॒न्वे॑ कु॒विद॒ङ्ग वेद॑त् ॥

O man, set in motion the long range visionary process of uprooting the evil tendencies with songs of divinity for the sake of the great, lustrous, mighty and most beneficent and peaceable Indra, the inner soul. Collect and offer profuse voices of holy exhilaration and exhortation in honour of the divine lord of song and, O dear as breath of life, he would bless you with ample gifts of health, progeny and prosperity.

· · ·

8.96.11

उ॒क्थवा॑हसे वि॒भ्वे॑ मनी॒षां द्रुणा॒ न पा॒रमी॑रया न॒दीना॑म् । नि स्पृ॑श धि॒या त॒न्वि॑ श्रु॒तस्य॒ जुष्ट॑तरस्य कु॒विद॒ङ्ग वेद॑त् ॥

O man, direct and send up your thoughts and prayers over to the great omnipotent Indra who loves the devotee’s songs of adoration. Send up the adorations as we cross over the rivers by boat.And with your vision, intelligence and action feel the touch of the dear divine lord of universal presence and glory in the very core of your heart. Would not the lord dear as breath of life not oblige and bless?

· · ·

8.96.12

तद्वि॑विड्ढि॒ यत्त॒ इन्द्रो॒ जुजो॑षत्स्तु॒हि सु॑ष्टु॒तिं नम॒सा वि॑वास । उप॑ भूष जरित॒र्मा रु॑वण्यः श्रा॒वया॒ वाचं॑ कु॒विद॒ङ्ग वेद॑त् ॥

O man, do that and enter there where Indra desires you to be. Worship the lord adorable and serve him with homage and praise. O celebrant, sanctify yourself and be close to him, never feel sorry and depressed. Send up your prayers so that he may listen. O dear friend, would he not listen and bless?

· · ·

8.96.13

अव॑ द्र॒प्सो अं॑शु॒मती॑मतिष्ठदिया॒नः कृ॒ष्णो द॒शभिः॑ स॒हस्रैः॑ । आव॒त्तमिन्द्रः॒ शच्या॒ धम॑न्त॒मप॒ स्नेहि॑तीर्नृ॒मणा॑ अधत्त ॥

The dark passion of pride with its ten thousand assistants and associates comes, occupies the affections and suppresses the emotive and creative streams of life, but Indra, noble leader of men, the soul, with its great thought and action, takes this bully over, controls its violence and covers it with sweetness and love.

· · ·

8.96.14

द्र॒प्सम॑पश्यं॒ विषु॑णे॒ चर॑न्तमुपह्व॒रे न॒द्यो॑ अंशु॒मत्याः॑ । नभो॒ न कृ॒ष्णम॑वतस्थि॒वांस॒मिष्या॑मि वो वृषणो॒ युध्य॑ता॒जौ ॥

I have seen the dark devil of passion and pride roaming around widely and variously on the banks of the vibrant stream of life. O mighty energies of prana and divine potential, I wish you fight in the battle and, like unfailing agents of cleansing of dirt, throw out the dark evil standing out and working boldly as well as surreptitiously.

· · ·

8.96.15

अध॑ द्र॒प्सो अं॑शु॒मत्या॑ उ॒पस्थेऽधा॑रयत्त॒न्वं॑ तित्विषा॒णः । विशो॒ अदे॑वीर॒भ्या॒३॒॑चर॑न्ती॒र्बृह॒स्पति॑ना यु॒जेन्द्रः॑ ससाहे ॥

When the dark passion is cleansed out, then pure vitality, lustrous and sparkling, sustains itself in the lap of creative life aflow. Indra, exuberant soul purified and tempered, in cooperation with wide ranging pranic energies, challenge and fight out the unholy tendencies of carnal mind ranging around.

· · ·

8.96.16

त्वं ह॒ त्यत्स॒प्तभ्यो॒ जाय॑मानोऽश॒त्रुभ्यो॑ अभवः॒ शत्रु॑रिन्द्र । गू॒ळ्हे द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अन्व॑विन्दो विभु॒मद्भ्यो॒ भुव॑नेभ्यो॒ रणं॑ धाः ॥

Thus does Indra become a victorious enemy for the seven unrivalled unholy tendencies of sense and mind and emerges a brilliant unrivalled hero. Thus does he find the real joyous heaven and earth otherwise, for him, covered in deep darkness. Thus do you, O soul, bear and bring happiness to the regions of life vested in dignity and excellence.

· · ·

8.96.17

त्वं ह॒ त्यद॑प्रतिमा॒नमोजो॒ वज्रे॑ण वज्रिन्धृषि॒तो ज॑घन्थ । त्वं शुष्ण॒स्यावा॑तिरो॒ वध॑त्रै॒स्त्वं गा इ॑न्द्र॒ शच्येद॑विन्दः ॥

You, virile commander of thunderous strength, most daring hero, by your virile and thunderous force of personality you won unequalled lustre and dignity. With your deadly weapons, you overcame the ravages of famine, deprivation and exploitation, and with your courage and conscientious action you won lands and cows and conquered your own carnal self.

· · ·

8.96.18

त्वं ह॒ त्यद्वृ॑षभ चर्षणी॒नां घ॒नो वृ॒त्राणां॑ तवि॒षो ब॑भूथ । त्वं सिन्धूँ॑रसृजस्तस्तभा॒नान्त्वम॒पो अ॑जयो दा॒सप॑त्नीः ॥

Indra, you are the power on top, virile and generous leader of the dynamic human community, destroyer of darkness, evil and exploitation, and a blazing brilliant hero. You release the streams of waters and social energies restrained by forces of repression and suppression, and you free and win over the floods of human potential and action locked up under the force of tyranny.

· · ·

8.96.19

स सु॒क्रतू॒ रणि॑ता॒ यः सु॒तेष्वनु॑त्तमन्यु॒र्यो अहे॑व रे॒वान् । य एक॒ इन्नर्यपां॑सि॒ कर्ता॒ स वृ॑त्र॒हा प्रतीद॒न्यमा॑हुः ॥

You are the hero of noble action, happy celebrant of life and divinity in yajnic gatherings of knowledge, enlightenment and advanced action. Unsurpassed is your passion for action, and your splendour and generosity is like the light of day.

· · ·

8.96.20

स वृ॑त्र॒हेन्द्र॑श्चर्षणी॒धृत्तं सु॑ष्टु॒त्या हव्यं॑ हुवेम । स प्रा॑वि॒ता म॒घवा॑ नोऽधिव॒क्ता स वाज॑स्य श्रव॒स्य॑स्य दा॒ता ॥

With words of welcome and adoration, we invoke, invite and serve the brilliant leader, destroyer of want, ignorance and suffering, and sustainer of the people, He is our protector, trustee of the nation’s wealth, power and honour, defender of our honour and dignity in world forums and giver of honour, prosperity and excellence. He is the power and person adorable.

· · ·

8.96.21

स वृ॑त्र॒हेन्द्र॑ ऋभु॒क्षाः स॒द्यो ज॑ज्ञा॒नो हव्यो॑ बभूव । कृ॒ण्वन्नपां॑सि॒ नर्या॑ पु॒रूणि॒ सोमो॒ न पी॒तो हव्यः॒ सखि॑भ्यः ॥

Indra, destroyer of darkness, ignorance and exploitation, is patron of the wise and intelligent artists, scientists, technologists and pioneers in the fields of development and progress, and constantly born and reborn in manifested glory and dignity, he is the highest adorable power and person. Doing many many noble acts worthy of a dynamic and progressive humanity, he is inspiring as soma, loved, honoured and adorable for friends, companions and co-workers wherever he is.

✦ Sukta 97 · 15 verses ✦

8.97.1

या इ॑न्द्र॒ भुज॒ आभ॑रः॒ स्व॑र्वाँ॒ असु॑रेभ्यः । स्तो॒तार॒मिन्म॑घवन्नस्य वर्धय॒ ये च॒ त्वे वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः ॥

Indra, lord of bliss and omnipotence, the food, energy and vitality which you bear and bring from the sources of pranic energy such as sun, air, cloud and cosmic intelligence is great and admirable. O lord of power and glory, pray advance the devotees who appreciate, develop and celebrate this energy and spread the holy grass of yajna in gratitude to you, offer homage to you and develop your gifts.

· · ·

8.97.2

यमि॑न्द्र दधि॒षे त्वमश्वं॒ गां भा॒गमव्य॑यम् । यज॑माने सुन्व॒ति दक्षि॑णावति॒ तस्मि॒न्तं धे॑हि॒ मा प॒णौ ॥

Indra, lord of glory, the light and energy, nourishment, knowledge and dynamism and all our share of natural and spiritual gifts of divinity which you bear and bring for us, all that, pray, vest in the generous yajamana, the soma maker and the giver of charity (who all keep these in creative circulation) and never in the uncreative, miserly hoarders and selfish exploiters.

· · ·

8.97.3

य इ॑न्द्र॒ सस्त्य॑व्र॒तो॑ऽनु॒ष्वाप॒मदे॑वयुः । स्वैः ष एवै॑र्मुमुर॒त्पोष्यं॑ र॒यिं स॑नु॒तर्धे॑हि॒ तं ततः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, honour and excellence, he, the hoarder and wastour, who lies idle lost in deep sleep, having forgotten divinity, gratitude and the law of divinity, he destroys that wealth by his own actions and behaviour, though that wealth, otherwise, deserves to be used and developed. Better it is you vest that wealth away from him, elsewhere so that it could be creatively used and developed.

· · ·

8.97.4

यच्छ॒क्रासि॑ परा॒वति॒ यद॑र्वा॒वति॑ वृत्रहन् । अत॑स्त्वा गी॒र्भिर्द्यु॒गदि॑न्द्र के॒शिभिः॑ सु॒तावाँ॒ आ वि॑वासति ॥

O Shakra, lord of mighty holy action, destroyer of evil and darkness, whether you are far off or close by, the man of creative yajna invokes you and draws your attention and presence from there by words of adoration radiating like rays of light across the spaces of skies and heavens of light.

· · ·

8.97.5

यद्वासि॑ रोच॒ने दि॒वः स॑मु॒द्रस्याधि॑ वि॒ष्टपि॑ । यत्पार्थि॑वे॒ सद॑ने वृत्रहन्तम॒ यद॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Whether you are in some region of light in heaven or in some region of the skies above, or in the depth of seas or anywhere on the surface of earth, O, greatest destroyer of darkness, evil and suffering, come and be with us.

· · ·

8.97.6

स नः॒ सोमे॑षु सोमपाः सु॒तेषु॑ शवसस्पते । मा॒दय॑स्व॒ राध॑सा सू॒नृता॑व॒तेन्द्र॑ रा॒या परी॑णसा ॥

O lord of strength and power, protector of the soma sweetness of life, beauty, vitality and joy, when we have distilled the soma essence of life, knowledge and existence, bless us with lovely, veritable wealth, means and modes of advancement, and all round success and lead us to the joy of the truth, goodness and beauty of life.

· · ·

8.97.7

मा न॑ इन्द्र॒ परा॑ वृण॒ग्भवा॑ नः सध॒माद्यः॑ । त्वं न॑ ऊ॒ती त्वमिन्न॒ आप्यं॒ मा न॑ इन्द्र॒ परा॑ वृणक् ॥

Indra, lord supreme of truth, goodness and beauty, pray forsake us not, be with us as a friend in the great hall of life and joy, you are our protector, you alone are ultimately our end and aim worth attaining, pray do not forsake us.

· · ·

8.97.8

अ॒स्मे इ॑न्द्र॒ सचा॑ सु॒ते नि ष॑दा पी॒तये॒ मधु॑ । कृ॒धी ज॑रि॒त्रे म॑घव॒न्नवो॑ म॒हद॒स्मे इ॑न्द्र॒ सचा॑ सु॒ते ॥

Indra, when we have distilled the soma of life’s knowledge and value, be with us as a friend and let us be together so that we may experience the divine joy of achievement. O lord of glory, create the great divine protective band for the devotee, be our friend in company, the soma of celebration is ready.

· · ·

8.97.9

न त्वा॑ दे॒वास॑ आशत॒ न मर्त्या॑सो अद्रिवः । विश्वा॑ जा॒तानि॒ शव॑साभि॒भूर॑सि॒ न त्वा॑ दे॒वास॑ आशत ॥

O lord of clouds and thunder, the divines comprehend you not, the mortals comprehend you not. By virtue of your supreme power and glory you are above all things born in the world of existence. O lord supreme, the immortal divines comprehend you not.

· · ·

8.97.10

विश्वाः॒ पृत॑ना अभि॒भूत॑रं॒ नरं॑ स॒जूस्त॑तक्षु॒रिन्द्रं॑ जज॒नुश्च॑ रा॒जसे॑ । क्रत्वा॒ वरि॑ष्ठं॒ वर॑ आ॒मुरि॑मु॒तोग्रमोजि॑ष्ठं त॒वसं॑ तर॒स्विन॑म् ॥

All the citizens together, in order to elect an equal for the purpose of governance, create and shape Indra, the ruler, the leader who is superior to others in all battles of life, highest by noble creative action, eliminator of negative and frustrative opposition, illustrious, most vigorous and emphatic in expression, courageous and passionate in action.

· · ·

8.97.11

समीं॑ रे॒भासो॑ अस्वर॒न्निन्द्रं॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ । स्व॑र्पतिं॒ यदीं॑ वृ॒धे धृ॒तव्र॑तो॒ ह्योज॑सा॒ समू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Let all intelligent people cordially welcome and felicitate Indra for the protection of the honour, integrity, beauty and culture of the nation of humanity, and when they, together, exhort the guardian of their happiness and welfare to advance the beauty of corporate life, then, committed to the values, laws and ideals of the nation, he feels exalted with lustrous courage and positive measures of defence and protection.

· · ·

8.97.12

ने॒मिं न॑मन्ति॒ चक्ष॑सा मे॒षं विप्रा॑ अभि॒स्वरा॑ । सु॒दी॒तयो॑ वो अ॒द्रुहोऽपि॒ कर्णे॑ तर॒स्विनः॒ समृक्व॑भिः ॥

Wise and vibrant sages greet the heroic ruler, Indra, giver of showers of peace and joy, and with vision of the future bow to him as the central power and force of the nation’s wheel. O brilliant and inspired people free from jealousy and calumny, smart and bold in action, do him honour with laudable performance.

· · ·

8.97.13

तमिन्द्रं॑ जोहवीमि म॒घवा॑नमु॒ग्रं स॒त्रा दधा॑न॒मप्र॑तिष्कुतं॒ शवां॑सि । मंहि॑ष्ठो गी॒र्भिरा च॑ य॒ज्ञियो॑ व॒वर्त॑द्रा॒ये नो॒ विश्वा॑ सु॒पथा॑ कृणोतु व॒ज्री ॥

That Indra, ruler of the world, I invoke and address, illustrious, pious and true, wielder of unopposed powers, and I pray may the most generous and adorable lord of thunderous power, in response to our voice, turn to us constantly and clear our paths of advancement for the achievement of wealth, power, honour and excellence of the world.

· · ·

8.97.14

त्वं पुर॑ इन्द्र चि॒किदे॑ना॒ व्योज॑सा शविष्ठ शक्र नाश॒यध्यै॑ । त्वद्विश्वा॑नि॒ भुव॑नानि वज्रि॒न्द्यावा॑ रेजेते पृथि॒वी च॑ भी॒षा ॥

Indra, most potent hero of noble action, you know how to break down the strongholds of evil and darkness with this lustrous force of yours. O wielder of the force and power of thunder, by you and by the splendour of your power all regions of the world and even the earth and heaven shake with awe.

· · ·

8.97.15

तन्म॑ ऋ॒तमि॑न्द्र शूर चित्र पात्व॒पो न व॑ज्रिन्दुरि॒ताति॑ पर्षि॒ भूरि॑ । क॒दा न॑ इन्द्र रा॒य आ द॑शस्येर्वि॒श्वप्स्न्य॑स्य स्पृह॒याय्य॑स्य राजन् ॥

Indra, wondrous hero of universal might, may the constant and ever true divine law of existence, Rtam, protect me and guide me along the paths of rectitude. O lord of the thunderbolt of justice and karma, Indra, like my karmas, cleanse my mind and soul of all sins and evil. Indra, refulgent ruler of the world, when would you bless me with wealth, honour and excellence of universal form and most cherished value?

✦ Sukta 98 · 12 verses ✦

8.98.1

इन्द्रा॑य॒ साम॑ गायत॒ विप्रा॑य बृह॒ते बृ॒हत् । ध॒र्म॒कृते॑ विप॒श्चिते॑ पन॒स्यवे॑ ॥

Sing Brhatsama hymns in adoration of Indra, vibrant spirit of the universe and giver of fulfilment, grand and infinite, source ordainer and keeper of the law of universal Dharma, giver and protector of knowledge and karma, the lord adorable.

· · ·

8.98.2

त्वमि॑न्द्राभि॒भूर॑सि॒ त्वं सूर्य॑मरोचयः । वि॒श्वक॑र्मा वि॒श्वदे॑वो म॒हाँ अ॑सि ॥

Indra, you are the lord supreme dominant over all, you give light to the sun, you are the maker of the universe, you are the one adorable light and spirit of the world, you are the one great and glorious life of the world.

· · ·

8.98.3

वि॒भ्राज॒ञ्ज्योति॑षा॒ स्व१॒॑रग॑च्छो रोच॒नं दि॒वः । दे॒वास्त॑ इन्द्र स॒ख्याय॑ येमिरे ॥

Refulgent with your own light you pervade the regions of bliss and beatify the glory of heaven. Indra, the lights and divinities of the world vye and struggle for friendship with you.

· · ·

8.98.4

एन्द्र॑ नो गधि प्रि॒यः स॑त्रा॒जिदगो॑ह्यः । गि॒रिर्न वि॒श्वत॑स्पृ॒थुः पति॑र्दि॒वः ॥

Indra, come, take us over as your own. Dear and giver of fulfilment you are, all dominant by nature, character and action, inconceivably open and bright, expansive and unbounded all round like a cloud of vapour, lord and master of the light of heaven.

· · ·

8.98.5

अ॒भि हि स॑त्य सोमपा उ॒भे ब॒भूथ॒ रोद॑सी । इन्द्रासि॑ सुन्व॒तो वृ॒धः पति॑र्दि॒वः ॥

Lord eternal and ever true, lover, protector and promoter of the beauty and joy of existence, you are higher and greater than both heaven and earth. Indra, omnipotent lord and master of the light of heaven, you are the inspirer and giver of advancement to the pursuer of the knowledge, beauty and power of the soma reality of life.

· · ·

8.98.6

त्वं हि शश्व॑तीना॒मिन्द्र॑ द॒र्ता पु॒रामसि॑ । ह॒न्ता दस्यो॒र्मनो॑र्वृ॒धः पति॑र्दि॒वः ॥

Indra, you are catalyser, breaker and maker, of the eternal forms of existence in cosmic dynamics, destroyer of the destroyer and promoter of thoughtful people. You are the guardian of the light of life, sustainer of the heavens of joy.

· · ·

8.98.7

अधा॒ ही॑न्द्र गिर्वण॒ उप॑ त्वा॒ कामा॑न्म॒हः स॑सृ॒ज्महे॑ । उ॒देव॒ यन्त॑ उ॒दभिः॑ ॥

And O lord lover of song and celebration, Indra, we send up vaulting voices of adoration and prayer to you like wave on waves of the flood rolling upon the sea.

· · ·

8.98.8

वार्ण त्वा॑ य॒व्याभि॒र्वर्ध॑न्ति शूर॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि । वा॒वृ॒ध्वांसं॑ चिदद्रिवो दि॒वेदि॑वे ॥

O lord of clouds and oceans of space, munificent and brave, expansive, boundless, infinite, like streams of water augmenting the sea, our songs of adoration exalt you wave on wave of flood day by day, the knowledge about you is unending.

· · ·

8.98.9

यु॒ञ्जन्ति॒ हरी॑ इषि॒रस्य॒ गाथ॑यो॒रौ रथ॑ उ॒रुयु॑गे । इ॒न्द्र॒वाहा॑ वचो॒युजा॑ ॥

Two motive forces like chariot horses, controlled by word, carry Indra, the soul, in the wide yoked spacious body-chariot by the power of the adorations of the universal mover, Indra, cosmic energy.

· · ·

8.98.10

त्वं न॑ इ॒न्द्रा भ॑रँ॒ ओजो॑ नृ॒म्णं श॑तक्रतो विचर्षणे । आ वी॒रं पृ॑तना॒षह॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of vision and hero of a hundred great actions, bring us abundant and illustrious strength, courage and procreative energy by which we may fight out and win many battles of our life.

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8.98.11

त्वं हि नः॑ पि॒ता व॑सो॒ त्वं मा॒ता श॑तक्रतो ब॒भूवि॑थ । अधा॑ ते सु॒म्नमी॑महे ॥

O lord of infinite action, shelter home of the world and wealth of existence, you are our father, you our mother, and to you, we pray for love and peace, good will and grace.

· · ·

8.98.12

त्वां शु॑ष्मिन्पुरुहूत वाज॒यन्त॒मुप॑ ब्रुवे शतक्रतो । स नो॑ रास्व सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

O lord of cosmic energy universally invoked, hero of infinite acts of kindness and creation, giver of sustenance and victory, we pray in silent sincerity of conscience, bring us and bless us with noble strength and vitality of body and mind and creativity of vision and imagination.

✦ Sukta 99 · 8 verses ✦

8.99.1

त्वामि॒दा ह्यो नरोऽपी॑प्यन्वज्रि॒न्भूर्ण॑यः । स इ॑न्द्र॒ स्तोम॑वाहसामि॒ह श्रु॒ध्युप॒ स्वस॑र॒मा ग॑हि ॥

Indra, lord of mind and soul, wielder of adamantine will and energy, zealous celebrants and leading lights serve and adore you today as ever before in the past. Thus adored and contemplated, listen to the prayers of the devotees in meditation, come and arise in your own abode of the sage’s heart.

· · ·

8.99.2

मत्स्वा॑ सुशिप्र हरिव॒स्तदी॑महे॒ त्वे आ भू॑षन्ति वे॒धसः॑ । तव॒ श्रवां॑स्युप॒मान्यु॒क्थ्या॑ सु॒तेष्वि॑न्द्र गिर्वणः ॥

O lord of golden glory, moving and manifesting by vibrations of joyous energy, arise and exult in the heart. You alone, the wise sages exalt and glorify. Indra, lord adorable in song, when the yajnic communion of meditation is fulfilled, the vibrations of your ecstatic presence are ideal and admirable.

· · ·

8.99.3

श्राय॑न्त इव॒ सूर्यं॒ विश्वेदिन्द्र॑स्य भक्षत । वसू॑नि जा॒ते जन॑मान॒ ओज॑सा॒ प्रति॑ भा॒गं न दी॑धिम ॥

Just as the rays of light share and diffuse the radiance of the sun, so you too share and reflect the golden glories of Indra, the cosmic soul. Let us meditate on the divine presence and for our share enjoy the ecstasy of bliss vibrating in the world of past and future creation by virtue of Indra’s omnipresent majesty.

· · ·

8.99.4

अन॑र्शरातिं वसु॒दामुप॑ स्तुहि भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयः॑ । सो अ॑स्य॒ कामं॑ विध॒तो न रो॑षति॒ मनो॑ दा॒नाय॑ चो॒दय॑न् ॥

Adore and meditate on Indra, giver of wealth, honour, excellence and bliss. Infinite is his generosity, unsatiating, auspicious his gifts. He does not displease the devotee, does not hurt his desire and prayer, he inspires his mind for the reception of divine gifts.

· · ·

8.99.5

त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ प्रतू॑र्तिष्व॒भि विश्वा॑ असि॒ स्पृधः॑ । अ॒श॒स्ति॒हा ज॑नि॒ता वि॑श्व॒तूर॑सि॒ त्वं तू॑र्य तरुष्य॒तः ॥

Indra, O inspired soul, in the external conflicts of life and in the internal conflicts of mind, you are the superior over all assailants. You are the destroyer of evil and calumny, creator of goodness and eliminator of impediments. Pray drive off all evil thoughts and oppositions of life and mind.

· · ·

8.99.6

अनु॑ ते॒ शुष्मं॑ तु॒रय॑न्तमीयतुः क्षो॒णी शिशुं॒ न मा॒तरा॑ । विश्वा॑स्ते॒ स्पृधः॑ श्नथयन्त म॒न्यवे॑ वृ॒त्रं यदि॑न्द्र॒ तूर्व॑सि ॥

Just as mothers follow the desires and interests of children, so do the heaven and earth, all living beings from earth to heaven, think and act in conformity with you, evil destroying power. All oppositions slacken and fall exhausted when you strike and destroy the demons of evil and negativity in the interest of man.

· · ·

8.99.7

इ॒त ऊ॒ती वो॑ अ॒जरं॑ प्रहे॒तार॒मप्र॑हितम् । आ॒शुं जेता॑रं॒ हेता॑रं र॒थीत॑म॒मतू॑र्तं तुग्र्या॒वृध॑म् ॥

O men and women of the earth, for your protection and progress follow Indra, unaging, all inspirer and mover, himself unmoved and self-inspired, most dynamic, highest victor, thunderer, master of the chariot of life, inviolable augmenter of strength to victory.

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8.99.8

इ॒ष्क॒र्तार॒मनि॑ष्कृतं॒ सह॑स्कृतं श॒तमू॑तिं श॒तक्र॑तुम् । स॒मा॒नमिन्द्र॒मव॑से हवामहे॒ वस॑वानं वसू॒जुव॑म् ॥

For our protection and progress, we invoke Indra, lord supreme abiding in the soul, giver of fulfilment, himself self-fulfilled, creator and giver of strength, courage and fortitude, giver of infinite protections, lord of a hundred good acts, equally good to all, all protective and kind, settler and augmenter of wealth and wisdom.

✦ Sukta 100 · 12 verses ✦

8.100.1

अ॒यं त॑ एमि त॒न्वा॑ पु॒रस्ता॒द्विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अ॒भि मा॑ यन्ति प॒श्चात् । य॒दा मह्यं॒ दीध॑रो भा॒गमि॒न्द्रादिन्मया॑ कृणवो वी॒र्या॑णि ॥

Indra, here I come before you in person and all noble and brilliant sages follow after me. When you secure my portion for me, then you perform noble actions also through me.

· · ·

8.100.2

दधा॑मि ते॒ मधु॑नो भ॒क्षमग्रे॑ हि॒तस्ते॑ भा॒गः सु॒तो अ॑स्तु॒ सोमः॑ । अस॑श्च॒ त्वं द॑क्षिण॒तः सखा॒ मेऽधा॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जङ्घनाव॒ भूरि॑ ॥

I bear my portion of the honey sweets of life primarily for you in gratitude, out of which the soma essence distilled from experience would be offered in homage. May you, I pray, be kind and friendly to me on the right and then together we shall eliminate evil and darkness from life.

· · ·

8.100.3

प्र सु स्तोमं॑ भरत वाज॒यन्त॒ इन्द्रा॑य स॒त्यं यदि॑ स॒त्यमस्ति॑ । नेन्द्रो॑ अ॒स्तीति॒ नेम॑ उ त्व आह॒ क ईं॑ ददर्श॒ कम॒भि ष्ट॑वाम ॥

O seekers of strength, power and progress in life, offer worship and adoration in honour of Indra if it is your faith in heart and soul that reality is the truth and Indra is the reality. Only some one of raw and sceptical understanding would say: Indra is non-existent, who saw him? And if none saw Indra, who and why should we adore and worship?

· · ·

8.100.4

अ॒यम॑स्मि जरितः॒ पश्य॑ मे॒ह विश्वा॑ जा॒तान्य॒भ्य॑स्मि म॒ह्ना । ऋ॒तस्य॑ मा प्र॒दिशो॑ वर्धयन्त्यादर्दि॒रो भुव॑ना दर्दरीमि ॥

I AM. O celebrant, behold I am here. I am the real on top of all that is born in the world, self-existent by my own grandeur. The laws of existence exalt me with space, and scholars of the laws, Rtam, adore me all round. I am the creator, I am the destroyer, I split open the seed, I manifest the world forms and I break them back beyond the form into the seed state.

· · ·

8.100.5

आ यन्मा॑ वे॒ना अरु॑हन्नृ॒तस्यँ॒ एक॒मासी॑नं हर्य॒तस्य॑ पृ॒ष्ठे । मन॑श्चिन्मे हृ॒द आ प्रत्य॑वोच॒दचि॑क्रद॒ञ्छिशु॑मन्तः॒ सखा॑यः ॥

When the wise visionaries reach on top of thought and meditation and see me, the lone presence over the glorious order of existence, my mind from the core of my heart of love speaks out: My friends blest with knowledge and vision through the power of prana beyond sufferance have called on me. (This is the voice of divinity, invitation to a higher life of cosmic vision.)

· · ·

8.100.6

विश्वेत्ता ते॒ सव॑नेषु प्र॒वाच्या॒ या च॒कर्थ॑ मघवन्निन्द्र सुन्व॒ते । पारा॑वतं॒ यत्पु॑रुसम्भृ॒तं वस्व॒पावृ॑णोः शर॒भाय॒ ऋषि॑बन्धवे ॥

Admirable are all those acts of kindness and grace, laudable in yajnic meets of humanity, O lord of glory, Indra, which you do graciously for the meditative soul where by you reveal the climactic, intensely concentrated wealth of beatific vision and presence for the man of austere discipline in communion, brother of the omniscient, all seeing creator, the cosmic poet.

· · ·

8.100.7

प्र नू॒नं धा॑वता॒ पृथ॒ङ्नेह यो वो॒ अवा॑वरीत् । नि षीं॑ वृ॒त्रस्य॒ मर्म॑णि॒ वज्र॒मिन्द्रो॑ अपीपतत् ॥

O friends of divinity, with determined will and decision, move forward and run fast, each in your own style, there is none to stop you. Indra, lord omnipotent, strikes the thunderbolt at the core of darkness and destroys the obstructions.

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8.100.8

मनो॑जवा॒ अय॑मान आय॒सीम॑तर॒त्पुर॑म् । दिवं॑ सुप॒र्णो ग॒त्वाय॒ सोमं॑ व॒ज्रिण॒ आभ॑रत् ॥

Moving at the speed of mind, suparna, flying human imagination and vision, crosses the iron bounds of the fortress of the body, and having gone to the regions of heavenly light and bliss brings the soma, ecstasy of divine joy for the soul which bears the virile vitality of the spirit, wielder of the soul’s thunderbolt.

· · ·

8.100.9

स॒मु॒द्रे अ॒न्तः श॑यत उ॒द्ना वज्रो॑ अ॒भीवृ॑तः । भर॑न्त्यस्मै सं॒यतः॑ पु॒रःप्र॑स्रवणा ब॒लिम् ॥

In the liquid vitalities of the body system surrounded by living waters, the virile vitality of the spirit, the vajra, resides in the human body. For this vitality, streams of energy flowing forth in the veins and nerves bear and bring contributive forms of physical and pranic nourishment of the spirit for the soul’s rise to divinity.

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8.100.10

यद्वाग्वद॑न्त्यविचेत॒नानि॒ राष्ट्री॑ दे॒वानां॑ निष॒साद॑ म॒न्द्रा । चत॑स्र॒ ऊर्जं॑ दुदुहे॒ पयां॑सि॒ क्व॑ स्विदस्याः पर॒मं ज॑गाम ॥

When the divine voice, joyous and refulgent, settles in the heart, illuminates the mind and senses, awakens the subconscious and the unconscious, and reveals the secret potentials of the soul in divine communion, then all the four directions of space, all the four Vedic voices, and all the four layers of speech distil the light and wisdom of divine existence for the soul. What is the ultimate reach of that voice? Indra only knows.

· · ·

8.100.11

दे॒वीं वाच॑मजनयन्त दे॒वास्तां वि॒श्वरू॑पाः प॒शवो॑ वदन्ति । सा नो॑ म॒न्द्रेष॒मूर्जं॒ दुहा॑ना धे॒नुर्वाग॒स्मानुप॒ सुष्टु॒तैतु॑ ॥

Sages and scholars, brilliant and wise, manifest and speak in human language that divine speech of omniscience which, then, all living and seeing forms of beings speak in its extended forms of variety over the world. That divine speech, joyous and generous like the milch cow, giving nourishment and energy, honoured, served and studied, may, we pray, come direct to us and bless.

· · ·

8.100.12

सखे॑ विष्णो वित॒रं वि क्र॑मस्व॒ द्यौर्दे॒हि लो॒कं वज्रा॑य वि॒ष्कभे॑ । हना॑व वृ॒त्रं रि॒णचा॑व॒ सिन्धू॒निन्द्र॑स्य यन्तु प्रस॒वे विसृ॑ष्टाः ॥

O friend, O soul progressive like universal Vishnu’s presence, act and advance to redeem your divinity. O light of heaven, give more light and space for the virile vitality of the soul to settle, consolidate and rise. Then we, the human and the immanent divine, together, shall eliminate evil, darkness and suffering from life, release the inhibited streams of life to flow freely, and the floods of human potential may then, we pray, flow abundantly in the blissful yajnic creation of Indra.

✦ Sukta 101 · 16 verses ✦

8.101.1

ऋध॑गि॒त्था स मर्त्यः॑ शश॒मे दे॒वता॑तये । यो नू॒नं मि॒त्रावरु॑णाव॒भिष्ट॑य आच॒क्रे ह॒व्यदा॑तये ॥

Truly does that person find peace of mind for the attainment of divine love and favour who thus wins the balance of Mitra and Varuna, i.e., prana and udana energies for physical, mental and spiritual good for the service of divinity.

· · ·

8.101.2

वर्षि॑ष्ठक्षत्रा उरु॒चक्ष॑सा॒ नरा॒ राजा॑ना दीर्घ॒श्रुत्त॑मा । ता बा॒हुता॒ न दं॒सना॑ रथर्यतः सा॒कं सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॑ ॥

Leading men of most generous and disciplined strength and energy of body and mind, with broad vision, refulgent, and steeped in the knowledge of revelation over long time study and discussion, like heroes of mighty arms in action, rise high with the rays of the sun by virtue of divine love and service.

· · ·

8.101.3

प्र यो वां॑ मित्रावरुणाजि॒रो दू॒तो अद्र॑वत् । अयः॑शीर्षा॒ मदे॑रघुः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, love and judgement of divinity, light and dark of life, sun and ocean of the cosmos, external pranic energy and internal udanic energy, the person who is wise and learned and eliminates the negativities and undesirables of life, and with his wisdom and values, realises you both achieves the golden heights of wisdom and intrepid happiness in the simplest way at the shortest time.

· · ·

8.101.4

न यः स॒म्पृच्छे॒ न पुन॒र्हवी॑तवे॒ न सं॑वा॒दाय॒ रम॑ते । तस्मा॑न्नो अ॒द्य समृ॑तेरुरुष्यतं बा॒हुभ्यां॑ न उरुष्यतम् ॥

One who takes no interest in learning by question and answer, or in the yajnic circulation of wealth, or in social discourse is no good. O Mitra and Varuna, rulers, leaders, teachers and pioneers of love and judgement, save us from unnecessary encounters with him, protect us by your arms of love and wisdom.

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8.101.5

प्र मि॒त्राय॒ प्रार्य॒म्णे स॑च॒थ्य॑मृतावसो । व॒रू॒थ्यं१॒॑ वरु॑णे॒ छन्द्यं॒ वचः॑ स्तो॒त्रं राज॑सु गायत ॥

O lover of truth and eternal laws and values of cosmic truth, sing together, sing in the home and sing on joyous occasions collective, homely and celebrative songs in honour of Mitra, lord of love and universal friendship, Aryaman, lord of the paths of rectitude, and Varuna, lord of judgement and wisdom. Sing hymns of adoration for all the refulgent divinities.

· · ·

8.101.6

ते हि॑न्विरे अरु॒णं जेन्यं॒ वस्वेकं॑ पु॒त्रं ति॑सॄ॒णाम् । ते धामा॑न्य॒मृता॒ मर्त्या॑ना॒मद॑ब्धा अ॒भि च॑क्षते ॥

They, Mitra, Varuna and Aryaman, love, judgement and will of divinity in nature, Aditi, bring forth, move and inspire the one, refulgent, victorious, shelter home of life, protector and illuminator of the three, heaven, earth and the middle regions, the sun, child of Aditi, and they, immortal, undaunted and invincible, all round watch and protect the homes and regions of the mortals.

· · ·

8.101.7

आ मे॒ वचां॒स्युद्य॑ता द्यु॒मत्त॑मानि॒ कर्त्वा॑ । उ॒भा या॑तं नासत्या स॒जोष॑सा॒ प्रति॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ वी॒तये॑ ॥

O men and women of the mortal world engaged in creative and cooperative economy, committed to truth and immortal values, listen to my words inspired by the brilliance of divinity, and, together in love and friendship, turn them to practical application and truth of achievement to create valuable materials for yajnic enjoyment of life.

· · ·

8.101.8

रा॒तिं यद्वा॑मर॒क्षसं॒ हवा॑महे यु॒वाभ्यां॑ वाजिनीवसू । प्राचीं॒ होत्रां॑ प्रति॒रन्ता॑वितं नरा गृणा॒ना ज॒मद॑ग्निना ॥

O bright and energetic men and women of the world welcome as the dawn, leading lights of life, when we ask of you and pray for generous creativity and generous gifting free from evil and violence, then come adored by the devotee of lighted fire and advance the ancient and eternal call of life to the joy of living.

· · ·

8.101.9

आ नो॑ य॒ज्ञं दि॑वि॒स्पृशं॒ वायो॑ या॒हि सु॒मन्म॑भिः । अ॒न्तः प॒वित्र॑ उ॒परि॑ श्रीणा॒नो॒३॒॑ऽयं शु॒क्रो अ॑यामि ते ॥

O Vayu, vibrant sage of knowledge and science of yajna, come to our project of divine possibilities with your noble ideas and plans, and I, joining this programme with you, offer this bright performance of ours, pure within in purpose and bright and clear in form and structure.

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8.101.10

वेत्य॑ध्व॒र्युः प॒थिभी॒ रजि॑ष्ठैः॒ प्रति॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ वी॒तये॑ । अधा॑ नियुत्व उ॒भय॑स्य नः पिब॒ शुचिं॒ सोमं॒ गवा॑शिरम् ॥

The high priest of yajna unhurting life, moving with love, goes forward by the simplest and most truthful ways of holy working with yajnic materials to create the fragrances of life. Then you, master of yajnic creations, taste and enjoy the soma of our creations both in pure form and as seasoned and strengthened with practical applications for the good of life.

· · ·

8.101.11

बण्म॒हाँ अ॑सि सूर्य॒ बळा॑दित्य म॒हाँ अ॑सि । म॒हस्ते॑ स॒तो म॑हि॒मा प॑नस्यते॒ऽद्धा दे॑व म॒हाँ अ॑सि ॥

O Surya, light of life, you are truly great, lord indestructible, you are undoubtedly great. O lord of reality, highest real, great is your glory, adorable. In truth, you are great, refulgent and generous.

· · ·

8.101.12

बट् सू॑र्य॒ श्रव॑सा म॒हाँ अ॑सि स॒त्रा दे॑व म॒हाँ अ॑सि । म॒ह्ना दे॒वाना॑मसु॒र्यः॑ पु॒रोहि॑तो वि॒भु ज्योति॒रदा॑भ्यम् ॥

O Surya, lord self-refulgent, by honour and fame you are great. In truth, you are great, generous lord, by your grandeur among the divinities. Lord of pranic energy, destroyer of the evil, prime high priest of creation in cosmic dynamics, omnipresent and infinite, light unsurpassable, eternal.

· · ·

8.101.13

इ॒यं या नीच्य॒र्किणी॑ रू॒पा रोहि॑ण्या कृ॒ता । चि॒त्रेव॒ प्रत्य॑दर्श्याय॒त्य१॒॑न्तर्द॒शसु॑ बा॒हुषु॑ ॥

This light of the dawn coming down, from the horizon, beautiful, created by the golden red rays of the sun, radiating over the earth below like the arms of divinity in the ten directions of space, looks like a wonder gift of divinity.

· · ·

8.101.14

प्र॒जा ह॑ ति॒स्रो अ॒त्याय॑मीयु॒र्न्य१॒॑न्या अ॒र्कम॒भितो॑ विविश्रे । बृ॒हद्ध॑ तस्थौ॒ भुव॑नेष्व॒न्तः पव॑मानो ह॒रित॒ आ वि॑वेश ॥

Three orders of evolutionary creation, sattva or thought, rajas or energy, and tamas or matter, and three regions of the cosmos, heaven, earth and the middle regions proceed to expansive existence at the beginning of the Being manifesting into Becoming, and others, all biological forms depend upon the self-refulgent sun. The infinite spirit of divinity abides immanent in the cosmos, and pure, and sanctifying all forms, manifests in all directions of space and greenery of the earth.

· · ·

8.101.15

मा॒ता रु॒द्राणां॑ दुहि॒ता वसू॑नां॒ स्वसा॑दि॒त्याना॑म॒मृत॑स्य॒ नाभिः॑ । प्र नु वो॑चं चिकि॒तुषे॒ जना॑य॒ मा गामना॑गा॒मदि॑तिं वधिष्ट ॥

Mother of Rudras, pranic energies, living forms and scholars of the middle order, sustainer of the Vasus, abodes of life such as earth, and scholars of the graduate order, and sister of Adityas, suns and scholars of the highest order, the centre fount of life’s nectar and knowledge: that isAditi, mother Infinity, Nature, mother knowledge of the Veda, and the mother cow. Speak of mother Aditi to the people who are keen for enlightenment. Do not insult, do not pollute, do not injure, do not kill the innocent cow, Mother Nature and the divine knowledge of Veda.

· · ·

8.101.16

व॒चो॒विदं॒ वाच॑मुदी॒रय॑न्तीं॒ विश्वा॑भिर्धी॒भिरु॑प॒तिष्ठ॑मानाम् । दे॒वीं दे॒वेभ्यः॒ पर्ये॒युषीं॒ गामा मा॑वृक्त॒ मर्त्यो॑ द॒भ्रचे॑ताः ॥

Vak is the eternal Word, the Language, bottom- less reservoir of omniscience, inspirer of human lan- guage and communication, closely and conscientiously studied and served by all intelligent scholars of the world: this divine gift revealed for the pious and wise, holy as mother, as earth, as the cow, as divinity, come as a blessing to me, no mortal should neglect. If a mor- tal neglects this mother language, he remains but piti- fully ignorant and poor in the mind.

✦ Sukta 102 · 22 verses ✦

8.102.1

त्वम॑ग्ने बृ॒हद्वयो॒ दधा॑सि देव दा॒शुषे॑ । क॒विर्गृ॒हप॑ति॒र्युवा॑ ॥

‘Agni, light of the world, brilliant giver of knowledge, you bear and bring abundant wealth and honour of the world for the generous devotee. You are ever young, eternal, omniscient poet creator, lord and master, ruler and sustainer of the house of the universe.

· · ·

8.102.2

स न॒ ईळा॑नया स॒ह दे॒वाँ अ॑ग्ने दुव॒स्युवा॑ । चि॒किद्वि॑भान॒वा व॑ह ॥

Agni, brilliant lord of omniscience, along with this reverent and worshipful voice of prayer and divine knowledge, bring us brilliant and generous divinities of nature and humanity.

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8.102.3

त्वया॑ ह स्विद्यु॒जा व॒यं चोदि॑ष्ठेन यविष्ठ्य । अ॒भि ष्मो॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

O most youthful catalytic power of evolution, only in obedience and association with you, highest inspiring spirit and power, shall we be able to move forward and win success in achieving knowledge, strength, wealth and honours of life.

· ·

·

8.102.4

औ॒र्व॒भृ॒गु॒वच्छुचि॑मप्नवान॒वदा हु॑वे । अ॒ग्निं स॑मु॒द्रवा॑ससम् ॥

Like a mature and self-disciplined sage and scholar of nature and spirit, I invoke and study Agni, the fire energy, concealed in the sea and the sky and the psychic energy abiding in the mind.

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8.102.5

हु॒वे वात॑स्वनं क॒विं प॒र्जन्य॑क्रन्द्यं॒ सहः॑ । अ॒ग्निं स॑मु॒द्रवा॑ससम् ॥

I invoke the fire, passion and vision concealed in the whistling wind, roaring thunder, the depth of the sea and the cave of the heart.

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8.102.6

आ स॒वं स॑वि॒तुर्य॑था॒ भग॑स्येव भु॒जिं हु॑वे । अ॒ग्निं स॑मु॒द्रवा॑ससम् ॥

Like the creative power of the sun and the inspiring lord creator, and like the pleasurable gifts of the lord of power, honour and excellence, I invoke and study the passion and fire hidden in the sea and sky and in the cave of the heart.

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8.102.7

अ॒ग्निं वो॑ वृ॒धन्त॑मध्व॒राणां॑ पुरू॒तम॑म् । अच्छा॒ नप्त्रे॒ सह॑स्वते ॥

Well with joint action and yajna, serve Agni, most ancient power of the first order that leads you to the advancement of strong familial unity and tolerant but powerful social cooperation for your coming generations for ages.

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8.102.8

अ॒यं यथा॑ न आ॒भुव॒त्त्वष्टा॑ रू॒पेव॒ तक्ष्या॑ । अ॒स्य क्रत्वा॒ यश॑स्वतः ॥

Just as the artist creates all possible forms out of his plastic materials, giving them beauty, power and purposeful meaning, so does this Agni, universal artist, work on us, for us, and brings out our potentials and gives us forms of beauty, power and excellence as a family, community and common humanity for a purpose, a meaning and a direction. His actions are great, gracious and glorious.

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8.102.9

अ॒यं विश्वा॑ अ॒भि श्रियो॒ऽग्निर्दे॒वेषु॑ पत्यते । आ वाजै॒रुप॑ नो गमत् ॥

This Agni among all the divinities of nature and humanity creates, sustains and rules over all the beauties, graces and grandeurs of life. May the lord come to us and bless us with all kinds of knowledge, power, wealth and honour.

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8.102.10

विश्वे॑षामि॒ह स्तु॑हि॒ होतॄ॑णां य॒शस्त॑मम् । अ॒ग्निं य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यम् ॥

Of all the yajnic creative powers of the world here in the field of action, adore Agni, most gracious and glorious, and first, foremost and most ancient power in the eternal yajna of creation.

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8.102.11

शी॒रं पा॑व॒कशो॑चिषं॒ ज्येष्ठो॒ यो दमे॒ष्वा । दी॒दाय॑ दीर्घ॒श्रुत्त॑मः ॥

Adore Agni, omnipresent, pure, fiery and purifying. Agni is the highest divine, most famous, and shines in us and illuminates our homes.

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8.102.12

तमर्व॑न्तं॒ न सा॑न॒सिं गृ॑णी॒हि वि॑प्र शु॒ष्मिण॑म् । मि॒त्रं न या॑त॒यज्ज॑नम् ॥

O vibrant scholar and dedicated yajaka, adore and sing in praise of Agni, victorious giver of wealth and success like an archer getting the target, powerful inspirer of humanity for action and advancement as a friend.

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8.102.13

उप॑ त्वा जा॒मयो॒ गिरो॒ देदि॑शतीर्हवि॒ष्कृतः॑ । वा॒योरनी॑के अस्थिरन् ॥

Moving and vibrant adorations of the enlightened celebrant reach you and stay by you in the movements of air in the middle regions.

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8.102.14

यस्य॑ त्रि॒धात्ववृ॑तं ब॒र्हिस्त॒स्थावसं॑दिनम् । आप॑श्चि॒न्नि द॑धा प॒दम् ॥

The three-quality mind of the celebrant with sattva, rajas and tamas, open and unfettered, is the seat of Agni where peace and potential for action both have their seat.

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8.102.15

प॒दं दे॒वस्य॑ मी॒ळ्हुषोऽना॑धृष्टाभिरू॒तिभिः॑ । भ॒द्रा सूर्य॑ इवोप॒दृक् ॥

The seat of the refulgent, generous and virile divinity, Agni, with undaunted powers of protection is auspicious and blissful, shining like an inner sun and the second inner eye with inward light and vision.

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8.102.16

अग्ने॑ घृ॒तस्य॑ धी॒तिभि॑स्तेपा॒नो दे॑व शो॒चिषा॑ । आ दे॒वान्व॑क्षि॒ यक्षि॑ च ॥

Agni, light of life, brilliant and generous divinity, burning and shining by the flames of fire fed on ghrta, O enlightened scholars and divines, shining by the light of knowledge fed by your own awareness, bring in the divinities of nature and humanity to the vedi and carry on the yajna.

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8.102.17

तं त्वा॑जनन्त मा॒तरः॑ क॒विं दे॒वासो॑ अङ्गिरः । ह॒व्य॒वाह॒मम॑र्त्यम् ॥

Angira, omniscient Agni, immortal power, enlightened leading yajaka, divinities like mothers manifest you, create you, reveal you, visionary poet and maker of poetic beauties, carrier and harbinger of yajnic wealths of fragrances.

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8.102.18

प्रचे॑तसं त्वा क॒वेऽग्ने॑ दू॒तं वरे॑ण्यम् । ह॒व्य॒वाहं॒ नि षे॑दिरे ॥

O wise and visionary, poetic maker, Agni, divinities of nature and humanity, wise sages, have honoured and established you as wide awake, all present carrier and harbinger of yajnic materials of existence, catalyser of evolutionary development and the power worthy of choice for living the good life.

· · ·

8.102.19

न॒हि मे॒ अस्त्यघ्न्या॒ न स्वधि॑ति॒र्वन॑न्वति । अथै॑ता॒दृग्भ॑रामि ते ॥

I have neither total immunity nor any essential power of my own, neither milk nor ghrta, nor even the fire fuel to offer. Hence I adore and worship you the way I can, offer you myself for the service I am worth.

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8.102.20

यद॑ग्ने॒ कानि॒ कानि॑ चि॒दा ते॒ दारू॑णि द॒ध्मसि॑ । ता जु॑षस्व यविष्ठ्य ॥

Agni, whatever little fuel we possess, whatever potential to destroy the evil and negativities of life, we offer in service. Whatever weaknesses we possess, we offer into your powers of fiery purification. O power most youthful, pray accept all that with pleasure.

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8.102.21

यदत्त्यु॑प॒जिह्वि॑का॒ यद्व॒म्रो अ॑ति॒सर्प॑ति । सर्वं॒ तद॑स्तु ते घृ॒तम् ॥

Whatever your flames of fire consume, whatever the fumes spread over, let all that be food for your dynamics of existence in evolution.

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8.102.22

अ॒ग्निमिन्धा॑नो॒ मन॑सा॒ धियं॑ सचेत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । अ॒ग्निमी॑धे वि॒वस्व॑भिः ॥

When the mortal starts lighting the fire in the vedi, let him, with his whole mind in concentration, call up all his faculties of perception, thought and action and say: I light the fire with all my light, will and awareness and awaken the divine in the soul.

✦ Sukta 103 · 14 verses ✦

8.103.1

अद॑र्शि गातु॒वित्त॑मो॒ यस्मि॑न्व्र॒तान्या॑द॒धुः । उपो॒ षु जा॒तमार्य॑स्य॒ वर्ध॑नम॒ग्निं न॑क्षन्त नो॒ गिरः॑ ॥

There is seen the light of Agni, best knower of the ways of life, where people concentrate their vows of piety and discipline. Let our songs of adoration rise and reach Agni, self-revealed, who opens the paths of progress and urges us on to reach the goal of rectitude for noble people.

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8.103.2

प्र दैवो॑दासो अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वाँ अच्छा॒ न म॒ज्मना॑ । अनु॑ मा॒तरं॑ पृथि॒वीं वि वा॑वृते त॒स्थौ नाक॑स्य॒ सान॑वि ॥

Agni, the sun, lover of holy admirers, sitting as if on top of heaven in glory, turns his rays of light in circuit to the mother earth for her children.

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8.103.3

यस्मा॒द्रेज॑न्त कृ॒ष्टय॑श्च॒र्कृत्या॑नि कृण्व॒तः । स॒ह॒स्र॒सां मे॒धसा॑ताविव॒ त्मना॒ग्निं धी॒भिः स॑पर्यत ॥

From that gift of light the children of earth shine and continue doing their daily duties. O people, do service in homage to Agni, giver of light and a thousand other gifts as in yajnic generosity. Do so with your heart and soul, sincerely by thought and action.

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8.103.4

प्र यं रा॒ये निनी॑षसि॒ मर्तो॒ यस्ते॑ वसो॒ दाश॑त् । स वी॒रं ध॑त्ते अग्न उक्थशं॒सिनं॒ त्मना॑ सहस्रपो॒षिण॑म् ॥

O Giver of light, wealth and power of life, Agni, the mortal who offers to serve you with self-surrender and gives in charity and whom you lead on the path of prosperity and rectitude is blest with progeny celebrated in song for his thousandfold generosity.

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8.103.5

स दृ॒ळ्हे चि॑द॒भि तृ॑णत्ति॒ वाज॒मर्व॑ता॒ स ध॑त्ते॒ अक्षि॑ति॒ श्रवः॑ । त्वे दे॑व॒त्रा सदा॑ पुरूवसो॒ विश्वा॑ वा॒मानि॑ धीमहि ॥

The mortal you guide breaks open the strongest forts of wealth and honour with his power and force and wins immortal fame. O shelter home of the world, under your protection, dedicated to divinity, we pray, let us concentrate on and receive all good things of life.

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8.103.6

यो विश्वा॒ दय॑ते॒ वसु॒ होता॑ म॒न्द्रो जना॑नाम् । मधो॒र्न पात्रा॑ प्रथ॒मान्य॑स्मै॒ प्र स्तोमा॑ यन्त्य॒ग्नये॑ ॥

Like bowls of honey let our prime songs of adoration reach this Agni who, blissful high priest of existence, gives all the wealths and joys of the world to humanity.

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8.103.7

अश्वं॒ न गी॒र्भी र॒थ्यं॑ सु॒दान॑वो मर्मृ॒ज्यन्ते॑ देव॒यवः॑ । उ॒भे तो॒के तन॑ये दस्म विश्पते॒ पर्षि॒ राधो॑ म॒घोना॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of glory, ruler and sustainer of the people, generous devotees dedicated to charity and love of divinity, with voices of adoration and prayer, exalt you like the motive power of the chariot of life, and pray: Bring us the holy power and prosperity worthy of the magnificent for our children and grand children.

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8.103.8

प्र मंहि॑ष्ठाय गायत ऋ॒ताव्ने॑ बृह॒ते शु॒क्रशो॑चिषे । उप॑स्तुतासो अ॒ग्नये॑ ॥

O celebrants of divinity, sing songs of adoration in honour of adorable Agni, most generous, leader of the paths of truth, great and glorious, lord of pure light of divinity and fire of action.

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8.103.9

आ वं॑सते म॒घवा॑ वी॒रव॒द्यशः॒ समि॑द्धो द्यु॒म्न्याहु॑तः । कु॒विन्नो॑ अस्य सुम॒तिर्नवी॑य॒स्यच्छा॒ वाजे॑भिरा॒गम॑त् ॥

Lord of universal wealth and power, light of life, invoked and lighted, gives us honour and fame worthy of the brave. May his love and good will come and bless us with the latest honours, power and prosperity with progressive success.

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8.103.10

प्रेष्ठ॑मु प्रि॒याणां॑ स्तु॒ह्या॑सा॒वाति॑थिम् । अ॒ग्निं रथा॑नां॒ यम॑म् ॥

O yajaka, creator of the soma joy of life, adore and worship Agni, light of life, dearest of the dear, harbinger of the joy of life in response to your endeavour, and coming up like a visitor at will any time.

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8.103.11

उदि॑ता॒ यो निदि॑ता॒ वेदि॑ता॒ वस्वा य॒ज्ञियो॑ व॒वर्त॑ति । दु॒ष्टरा॒ यस्य॑ प्रव॒णे नोर्मयो॑ धि॒या वाज॒ सिषा॑सतः ॥

Adore and exalt Agni, worthy of worship, who knows, gives and circulates wealth of the world whether open and developed or hidden and potential. Anxious as he is to give wealth and victory by thought and action, his generosity is difficult to surpass, like waves of the sea in flood.

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8.103.12

मा नो॑ हृणीता॒मति॑थि॒र्वसु॑र॒ग्निः पु॑रुप्रश॒स्त ए॒षः । यः सु॒होता॑ स्वध्व॒रः ॥

May this Agni, welcome as a venerable visitor, shelter home of the world, universally adored who is the noble giver and generous high priest of cosmic yajna, never feel displeased with us, may the lord give us fulfilment.

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8.103.13

मो ते रि॑ष॒न्ये अच्छो॑क्तिभिर्व॒सोऽग्ने॒ केभि॑श्चि॒देवैः॑ । की॒रिश्चि॒द्धि त्वामीट्टे॑ दू॒त्या॑य रा॒तह॑व्यः स्वध्व॒रः ॥

Agni, shelter home of the world, may they never come to harm who any way by any actions offer honour and worship to you in holy words. The celebrant, bearing havi to perform the holy yajna in service to you, prays to you to bring him knowledge, honour and prosperity in life.

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8.103.14

आग्ने॑ याहि म॒रुत्स॑खा रु॒द्रेभिः॒ सोम॑पीतये । सोभ॑र्या॒ उप॑ सुष्टु॒तिं मा॒दय॑स्व॒ स्व॑र्णरे ॥

Agni, refulgent lord, friend of the mind and senses, come, arise in the heart with pranic energies for the protection and exaltation of the soul’s joy. Come, accept the adorations and prayers of the self-confident celebrant, join his golden yajna and exalt the ecstasy of his communion.