Rigveda — Selected Hymns

1. I laud Agni, the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice,

The Hotar, lavishest of wealth.

2. Worthy is Agni to be praised by living as by ancient seers:

He shall bring hitherward the Gods.

3. Through Agni man obtaineth wealth, yea, plenty waxing by day,

Most rich in heroes, glorious.

4. Agni, the perfect sacrifice which thou encompassest about

Verily goeth to the Gods.

5. May Agni, sapient-minded Priest, truthful, most gloriously great,

The God, come hither with the Gods.

6. Whatever blessing, Agni, thou wilt grant unto thy worshipper,

That, Angiras, is indeed thy truth.

7. To thee, dispeller of the night, O Agni, day by day with prayer

Bringing thee reverence, we come;

8. Ruler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One,

Increasing in thine own abode.

9. Be to us easy of approach, even as a father to his son:

Agni, be with us for our weal.

1. I will declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder-wielder.

He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents.

2. He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvashtar fashioned.

Like lowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.

3. Impetuous as a bull, he chose the Soma, and in three sacred beakers drank the juices.

Maghavan grasped the thunder for his weapon, and smote to death this firstborn of the dragons.

4. When, Indra, thou hadst slain the dragons' firstborn, and overcome the charms of the enchanters,

Then, giving life to Sun and Dawn and Heaven, thou foundest not one foe to stand against thee.

5. Indra with his own great and deadly thunder smote into pieces Vritra, worst of Vritras.

As trunks of trees, what time the axe hath felled them, low on the earth so lies the prostrate Dragon.

6. He, like a mad weak warrior, challenged Indra, the great impetuous many-slaying Hero.

He, brooking not the clashing of the weapons, crushed—Indra's foe—the shattered forts in falling.

7. Footless and handless still he challenged Indra, who smote him with his bolt between the shoulders.

Emasculate yet claiming manly vigour, thus Vritra lay with scattered limbs dissevered.

8. There as he lies like a bank-bursting river, the waters taking courage flow above him.

The Dragon lies beneath the feet of torrents which Vritra with his greatness had encompassed.

9. Then humbled was the strength of Vritra's mother: Indra hath cast his deadly bolt against her.

The mother was above, the son was under, and like a cow beside her calf lay Danu.

10. Rolled in the midst of never-ceasing currents flowing without a rest for ever onward,

The waters bear off Vritra's nameless body: the foe of Indra sank to during darkness.

11. Guarded by Ahi stood the thralls of Dasas, the waters stayed like kine held by the robber.

But he, when he had smitten Vritra, opened the cave wherein the floods had been imprisoned.

12. A horse's tail wast thou when he, O Indra, smote on thy bolt; thou, God without a second,

Thou hast won back the kine, hast won the Soma; thou hast let loose to flow the Seven Rivers.

13. Nothing availed him lightning, nothing thunder, hailstorm or mist which he had spread around him:

When Indra and the Dragon strove in battle, Maghavan gained the victory for ever.

14. Whom sawest thou to avenge the Dragon, Indra, that fear possessed thy heart when thou hadst slain him;

That, like a hawk affrighted through the regions, thou crossedst nine-and-ninety flowing rivers?

15. Indra is King of all that moves and moves not, of creatures tame and horned, the Thunder-wielder.

Over all living men he rules as Sovran, containing all as spokes within the felly.

1. OF this benignant Priest, with eld grey-coloured, the brother midmost of the three is lightning.

The third is he whose back with oil is sprinkled. Here I behold the Chief with seven male children.

2. Seven to the one-wheeled chariot yoke the Courser; bearing seven names the single Courser draws it.

Three-naved the wheel is, sound and undecaying, whereon are resting all these worlds of being.

3. The seven who on the seven-wheeled car are mounted have horses, seven in tale, who draw them onward.

Seven Sisters utter songs of praise together, in whom the names of the seven Cows are treasured.

4. Who hath beheld him as he sprang to being, seen how the boneless One supports the bony?

Where is the blood of earth, the life, the spirit? Who may approach the man who knows, to ask it?

5. Unripe in mind, in spirit undiscerning, I ask of these the Gods' established places;

For up above the yearling Calf the sages, to form a web, their own seven threads have woven.

6. I ask, unknowing, those who know, the sages, as one all ignorant for sake of knowledge,

What was that ONE who in the Unborn's image hath stablished and fixed firm these worlds' six regions.

7. Let him who knoweth presently declare it, this lovely Bird's securely founded station.

Forth from his head the Cows draw milk, and, wearing his vesture, with their foot have drunk the water.

8. The Mother gave the Sire his share of Order: with thought, at first, she wedded him in spirit.

She, the coy Dame, was filled with dew prolific: with adoration men approached to praise her.

9. Yoked was the Mother to the boon Cow's car-pole: in the dank rows of cloud the Infant rested.

Then the Calf lowed, and looked upon the Mother, the Cow who wears all shapes in three directions.

10. Bearing three Mothers and three Fathers, single he stood erect: they never make him weary.

There on the pitch of heaven they speak together in speech all-knowing but not all-impelling.

11. Formed with twelve spokes, by length of time, unweakened, rolls round the heaven this wheel of during Order.

Herein established, joined in pairs together, seven hundred Sons and twenty stand, O Agni.

12. They call him in the farther half of heaven the Sire five-footed, of twelve forms, wealthy in watery store.

These others say that he, God with far-seeing eyes, is mounted on the lower seven-wheeled, six-spoked car.

13. Upon this five-spoked wheel revolving ever all living creatures rest and are dependent.

Its axle, heavy-laden, is not heated: the nave from ancient time remains unbroken.

14. The wheel revolves, unwasting, with its felly: ten draw it, yoked to the far-stretching car-pole.

The Sun's eye moves encompassed by the region: on him dependent rest all living creatures.

15. Of the co-born they call the seventh single-born; the six twin pairs are called Rsis, Children of Gods.

Their good gifts sought of men are ranged in order due, and various in their form move for the Lord who guides.

16. They told me these were males, though truly females: he who hath eyes sees this, the blind discerns not.

The son who is a sage hath comprehended: who knows this rightly is his father's father.

17. Beneath the upper realm, above this lower, bearing her calf at foot the Cow hath risen.

Witherward, to what place hath she departed? Where calves she? Not amid this herd of cattle.

18. Who, that the father of this Calf discerneth beneath the upper realm, above the lower,

Showing himself a sage, may here declare it? Whence hath the Godlike spirit had its rising?

19. Those that come hitherward they call departing, those that depart they call directed hither.

And what so ye have made, Indra and Soma, steeds bear as 'twere yoked to the region's car-pole.

20. Two Birds with fair wings, knit with bonds of friendship, in the same sheltering tree have found a refuge.

One of the twain eats the sweet Fig-tree's fruitage; the other eating not regardeth only.

21. Where those fine Birds hymn ceaselessly their portion of life eternal, and the sacred synods,

There is the Universe's mighty Keeper, who, wise, hath entered into me the simple.

22. The tree whereon the fine Birds eat the sweetness, where they all rest and procreate their offspring,--

Upon its top they say the fig is luscious none gaineth it who knoweth not the Father.

23. How on the Gayatri the Gayatri was based, how from the Tristup they fashioned the Tristup forth,

How on the Jagati was based the Jagati,--they who know this have won themselves immortal life.

24. With Gayatri he measures out the praise-song, Sama with praise-song, triplet with the Tristup.

The triplet with the two or four-foot measure, and with the syllable they form seven metres.

25. With Jagati the flood in heaven he stablished, and saw the Sun in the Rathantara Saman.

Gayatri hath, they say, three brands for kindling: hence it excels in majesty and vigour.

26. I invocate the milch-cow good for milking so that the milker, deft of hand, may drain her.

May Savitar give goodliest stimulation. The caldron is made hot; I will proclaim it.

27. She, lady of all treasure, is come hither yearning in spirit for her calf and lowing.

May this cow yield her milk for both the Asvins, and may she prosper to our high advantage.

28. The cow hath lowed after her blinking youngling; she licks his forehead, as she lows, to form it.

His mouth she fondly calls to her warm udder, and suckles him with milk while gently lowing.

29. He also snorts, by whom encompassed round the Cow laws as she clings unto the shedder of the rain.

She with her shrilling cries hath humbled mortal man, and, turned to lightning, hath stripped off her covering robe.

30. That which hath breath and speed and life and motion lies firmly stablished in the midst of houses.

Living, by offerings to the Dead he moveth Immortal One, the brother of the mortal.

31. I saw the Herdsman, him who never stumbles, approaching by his pathways and departing.

He, clothed with gathered and diffusive splendour, within the worlds continually travels.

32. He who hath made him cloth not comprehend him: from him who saw him surely is he hidden.

He, yet enveloped in his Mother's bosom, source of much life, hath sunk into destruction.

33. Dyaus is my Father, my begetter: kinship is here. This great earth is my kin and Mother.

Between the wide-spread world-halves is the birth-place: the Father laid the Daughter's germ within it.

34. I ask thee of the earth's extremest limit, where is the centre of the world, I ask thee.

I ask thee of the Stallion's seed prolific, I ask of highest heaven where Speech abideth.

35. This altar is the earth's extremest limit; this sacrifice of ours is the world's centre.

The Stallion's seed prolific is the Soma; this Brahman highest heaven where Speech abideth.

36. Seven germs unripened yet are heaven's prolific seed: their functions they maintain by Visnu's ordinance.

Endued with wisdom through intelligence and thought, they compass us about present on every side.

37. What thing I truly am I know not clearly: mysterious, fettered in my mind I wander.

When the first-born of holy Law approached me, then of this speech I first obtain a portion.

38. Back, forward goes he, grasped by strength inherent, the Immortal born the brother of the mortal

Ceaseless they move in opposite directions: men mark the one, and fail to mark the other.

39. Upon what syllable of holy praise-song, as twere their highest heaven, the Gods repose them,--

Who knows not this, what will he do with praise-song? But they who know it well sit here assembled.

40. Fortunate mayst thou be with goodly pasture, and may we also be exceeding wealthy.

Feed on the grass, O Cow, at every season, and coming hitherward drink limpid water.

41. Forming the water-floods, the buffalo hath lowed, one-footed or two-footed or four-footed, she,

Who hath become eight-footed or hath got nine feet, the thousand-syllabled in the sublimest heaven.

42. From her descend in streams the seas of water; thereby the world's four regions have their being,

Thence flows the imperishable flood and thence the universe hath life.

43. I saw from far away the smoke of fuel with spires that rose on high o'er that beneath it.

The Mighty Men have dressed the spotted bullock. These were the customs in the days aforetime,

44. Three with long tresses show in ordered season. One of them sheareth when the year is ended.

One with his powers the universe regardeth: Of one, the sweep is seen, but his figure.

45. Speech hath been measured out in four divisions, the Brahmans who have understanding know them.

Three kept in close concealment cause no motion; of speech, men speak only the fourth division.

46. They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged Garutman.

To what is One, sages give many a title they call it Agni, Yama, Matarisvan.

47. Dark the descent: the birds are golden-coloured; up to the heaven they fly robed in the waters.

Again descend they from the seat of Order, and all the earth is moistened with their fatness.

48. Twelve are the fellies, and the wheel is single; three are the naves. What man hath understood it?

Therein are set together spokes three hundred and sixty, which in nowise can be loosened.

49. That breast of thine exhaustless, spring of pleasure, wherewith thou feedest all things that are choicest,

Wealth-giver, treasure-finder, free bestower,--bring that, Sarasvati, that we may drain it.

50. By means of sacrifice the Gods accomplished their sacrifice: these were the earliest ordinances.

These Mighty Ones attained the height of heaven, there where the Sadhyas, Gods of old, are dwelling.

51. Uniform, with the passing days, this water mounts and fails again.

The tempest-clouds give life to earth, and fires re-animate the heaven.

52. The Bird Celestial, vast with noble pinion, the lovely germ of plants, the germ of waters,

Him who delighteth us with rain in season, Sarasvan I invoke that he may help us.

1. LET me not yet, King Varuna, enter into the house of clay:

Have mercy, spare me, Mighty Lord.

2. When, Thunderer! I move along tremulous like a wind-blown skin,

Have mercy, spare me, Mighty Lord.

3. O Bright and Powerful God, through want of strength I erred and went astray

Have mercy, spare me, Mighty Lord.

4. Thirst found thy worshipper though he stood in the midst of water-fjords:

Have mercy, spare me, Mighty Lord.

5. O Varuna, whatever the offence may be which we as men commit against the heavenly host,

When through our want of thought we violate thy laws, punish us not, O God, for that iniquity.

1. A THOUSAND heads hath Purusa, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet.

On every side pervading earth he fills a space ten fingers wide.

2. This Purusa is all that yet hath been and all that is to be;

The Lord of Immortality which waxes greater still by food.

3. So mighty is his greatness; yea, greater than this is Purusa.

All creatures are one-fourth of him, three-fourths eternal life in heaven.

4. With three-fourths Purusa went up: one fourth of him again was here.

Thence he strode out to every side over what eats not and what eats.

5. From him Viraj was born; again Purusa from Viraj was born.

As soon as he was born he spread eastward and westward o'er the earth.

6. When Gods prepared the sacrifice with Purusa as their offering,

Its oil was spring, the holy gift was autumn; summer was the wood.

7. They balmed as victim on the grass Purusa born in earliest time.

With him the Deities and all Sadhyas and Rsis sacrificed.

8. From that great general sacrifice the dripping fat was gathered up.

He formed the creatures of the air, and animals both wild and tame.

9. From that great general sacrifice Rcas and Sama-hymns were born:

Therefrom were spells and charms produced; the Yajus had its birth from it.

10. From it were horses born, from it all cattle with two rows of teeth:

From it were generated kine, from it the goats and sheep were born.

11. When they divided Purusa how many portions did they make?

What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and feet?

12. The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made.

His thighs became the Vaisya, from his feet the Sudra was produced.

13. The Moon was gendered from his mind, and from his eye the Sun had birth;

Indra and Agni from his mouth were born, and Vayu from his breath.

14. Forth from his navel came mid-air the sky was fashioned from his head

Earth from his feet, and from his car the regions. Thus they formed the worlds.

15. Seven fencing-sticks had he, thrice seven layers of fuel were prepared,

When the Gods, offering sacrifice, bound, as their victim, Purusa.

16. Gods, sacrificing, sacrificed the victim these were the earliest holy ordinances.

The Mighty Ones attained the height of heaven, there where the Sidhyas, Gods of old, are dwelling.

1. IN the beginning rose Hiranyagarbha, born Only Lord of all created beings.

He fixed and holdeth up this earth and heaven. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

2. Giver of vital breath, of power and vigour, he whose commandments all the Gods acknowledge—

The Lord of death, whose shade is life immortal. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

3. Who by his grandeur hath become Sole Ruler of all the moving world that breathes and slumbers;

He who is Lord of men and Lord of cattle. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

4. His, through his might, are these snow-covered mountains, and men call sea and Rasa his possession:

His arms are these, his are these heavenly regions. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

5. By him the heavens are strong and earth is steadfast, by him light's realm and sky-vault are supported:

By him the regions in mid-air were measured. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

6. To him, supported by his help, two armies embattled look while trembling in their spirit,

When over them the risen Sun is shining. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

7. What time the mighty waters came, containing the universal germ, producing Agni,

Thence sprang the Gods' one spirit into being. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

8. He in his might surveyed the floods containing productive force and generating Worship.

He is the God of gods, and none beside him. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

9. Ne'er may he harm us who is earth's Begetter, nor he whose laws are sure, the heavens' Creator,

He who brought forth the great and lucid waters. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

10. Prajapati! thou only comprehendest all these created things, and none beside thee.

Grant us our hearts' desire when we invoke thee: may we have store of riches in possession.