Sama English

8/11/2019 Sama English

1/193

Sacred-texts Hinduism

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HYMNS OF THE SAMAVEDA

Translated with a Poular !ommentar"

#alh T$H$ %ri&th

'()*

P#EFA!E

The Sama+eda, or Veda o Hol" Son.s, third in the usual order o enumeration o the

three Vedas, ran/s next in sanctit" and litur.ical imortance to the #.+eda or Veda

o #ecited raise$ 0ts Sanhita, or metrical ortion, consists chie1" o h"mns to 2e

chanted 2" the 3d.atar riests at the erormance o those imortant sacri4ces in

which the 5uice o the Soma lant, clari4ed and mixed with mil/ and other

in.redients, was o6ered in li2ation to +arious deities$ The !ollection is made u o

h"mns, ortions o h"mns, and detached +erses, ta/en mainl" rom the #.+eda,

transosed and re-arran.ed, without reerence to their ori.inal order, to suit the

reli.ious ceremonies in which the" were to 2e emlo"ed$ 0n these comiled h"mns

there are re7uent +ariations, o more or less imortance, rom the text o the#.+eda as we now ossess it which +ariations, althou.h in some cases the" are

aarentl" exlanator", seem in others to 2e older and more ori.inal than the

readin.s o the #.+eda$ 0n sin.in., the +erses are still urther altered 2"

rolon.ation, reetition and insertion o s"lla2les, and +arious modulations, rests,

and other modi4cations rescri2ed, or the .uidance o the o&ciatin. riests, in the

%anas or Son.-2oo/s$ Two o these manuals, the %rama.e"a.dna, or

!on.re.ational, and the Aran"a.ana or Forest Son.-8oo/, ollow the order o the

+erses o art 0, o the Sanhita, and two others, the 3ha.ana, the 3h"a.ana, o Part

00$ This art is less dis5ointed than art 0, and is .enerall" arran.ed in trilets whose

4rst +erse is oten the reetition o a +erse that has occurred in art 0$

There is no clue to the date o the comilation o the Sama+eda H"mns, nor has the

comiler9s name 2een handed down to us$ Such a manual was unnecessar" in the

earl" times when the Ar"ans 4rst came into 0ndia, 2ut was re7uired or .uidance

and use in the comlicated ritual ela2orated 2" the in+aders ater their exansion

and settlement in their new homes$


2/193

There are three recensions o the text o the Sama+eda Sanhita, the :authuma

Sa/ha or recension is current in %u;erat, the


3/193

!HAPTE# 0

Om$ %lor" to the Sama+eda To Cord %anesa .lor" Om$

DE!ADE 0 A.ni

'$ !ome, A.ni, raised with son., to east and sacri4cial o6erin.G sit

As Hotar on the hol" .rass

?$ O A.ni, thou hast 2een ordained Hotar o e+er" sacri4ce,

8" %ods, amon. the race o men$

$ A.ni we choose as en+o", s/illed erormer o this hol" rite,

Hotar, ossessor o all wealth$

>$ Ser+ed with o2lation, /indled, 2ri.ht, throu.h lo+e o son. ma" A.ni, 2ent

On riches, smite the Vritras dead

*$ 0 laud "our most 2elo+ed .uest li/e a dear riend, O A.ni, him

=ho, li/e a chariot, wins us wealth$

$ Do thou, O A.ni, with .reat mi.ht .uard us rom all mali.nit",

Yea, rom the hate o mortal man

B$ O A.ni, come@ ar other son.s o raise will 0 sin. orth to thee$

=ax mi.ht" with these Soma-dros

($ Ma" Vatsa draw th" mind awa" e+en rom th" lotiest dwellin. lace

A.ni, 0 "earn or thee with son.$

)$ A.ni, Athar+an 2rou.ht thee orth 2" ru22in. rom the s/", the head

O all who o6er sacri4ce$

'I$ O A.ni, 2rin. us radiant li.ht to 2e our mi.ht" succour, or

Thou art our +isi2le deit"

DE!ADE 00 A.ni


4/193

'$ O A.ni, %od, the eole sin. re+erent raise to thee or stren.thG

=ith terrors trou2le thou the oe

?$ 0 see/ with son. "our messen.er, o2lation-2earer, lord o wealth,

0mmortal, 2est at sacri4ce$

$ Still turnin. to their aim in thee the sacri4cer9s sister h"mns

Ha+e come to thee 2eore the wind$

>$ To thee, illuminer o ni.ht, O A.ni, da" 2" da" with ra"er,

8rin.in. thee re+erence, we come$

*$ Hel, thou who /nowest lauds, this wor/, a lo+el" h"mn in #udra9s raise,

Adora2le in e+er" house

$ To this air sacri4ce to drin/ the mil/" drau.ht art thou called orthG

O A.ni, with the Maruts come

B$ =ith homa.e will 0 re+erence thee, A.ni, li/e a lon.-tailed steed,

0merial lord o hol" rites$

($ As Aur+a and as 8hri.u called, as Ana+ana called, 0 call

The radiant A.ni ro2ed with sea$

)$ =hen he en/indles A.ni, man should with his heart attend the son.G

0 /indle A.ni till he .lows$

'I$ Then, +eril", the" see the li.ht reul.ent o rime+al seed,

:indled on "onder side o hea+en$

DE!ADE 000 A.ni

'$ Hither, or owerul /inshi, 0 call A.ni, him who rosers "ou,

Most re7uent at our solemn rites$

?$ Ma" A.ni with his ointed 2la;e cast down each 4erce de+ourin. 4endG

Ma" A.ni win us wealth 2" war


5/193

$ A.ni, 2e .racious@ thou art .reatG thou hast aroached the ious man,

Hast come to sit on sacred .rass$

>$ A.ni, reser+e us,rom distress consume our enemies, O %od,

Eternal, with th" hottest 1ames

*$ Harness, O A.ni, O thou %od, th" steeds which are most excellent

The 1eet ones 2rin. thee raidl"$

$ Cord o the tri2es, whom all must see/, we worshied A.ni set thee down,

#eul.ent, rich in +aliant men$

B$ A.ni is head and hei.ht o hea+en, the master o the earth is he

He 7uic/eneth the waters9 seed$

($ O A.ni, .raciousl" announce this our .ood ortune o the %ods,

And this our newest h"mn o raise

), 8" son., O A.ni, An.iras %oa+ana hath 2rou.ht thee orth

Hear thou m" call, reul.ent one

'I$ A.ni, the Sa.e, the Cord o Stren.th, hath mo+ed around the sacred .its,

%i+in. the o6erer recious thin.s$

''$ His heralds 2ear him u alot, the %od who /noweth all that li+es,

The Sun, that all ma" loo/ on him$

'?, Praise A.ni in the sacri4ce, the Sa.e whose hol" laws are true

The %od who dri+eth .rie awa"$

'$ :ind 2e the %oddesses to lend us hel, and /ind that we ma" drin/G

Ma" their streams 2rin. us health and wealth

'>$ Cord o the 2ra+e, whose son.s dost thou in thine a2undance now insire,

Thou whose h"mns hel to win the /ineJ

DE!ADE 0V A.ni


6/193

'$ Sin. to "our A.ni with each son., at e+er" sacri4ce or stren.th$

!ome, let us raise the wise and, e+erlastin. %od e+en as a well-2elo+ed riend,

?$ A.ni, rotect thou us 2" one, rotect us 2" the second son.,

Protect us 2" three h"mns, O Cord o ower and mi.ht, 2ri.ht %od, 2" our h"mns.uard us well

$ O A.ni, with th" lot" 2eams, with th" ure 2rillianc", O %od,

:indled, most "outhul one 2" 8harad+a5a9s hand, shine on us richl", hol" Cord

>$ O A.ni who art worshied well, dear let our rinces 2e to thee,

Our wealth" atrons who are .o+ernors o men, who art, as .its, the stall o /ine

*$ A.ni, raise-sin.er Cord o men, %od 2urnin. u the #a/shasas,

Mi.ht" art thou, the e+er-resent, household-lord home-riend and .uardian rom

the s/"$

$ 0mmortal


7/193

?$ Thou liest in the lo.s that are th" mothersG mortals /indle thee$

Alert thou 2earest o6 the sacri1eer9s .it, and then thou shinest to the %ods$

$ He hath aeared, 2est roserer, in whom men la" their hol" actsG

So ma" our son.s o raise come ni.h to A.ni who was 2orn to .i+e the Ar"astren.th

>$ !hie Priest is A.ni at the laud, as stones and .rass at sacri4ce$

%ods Maruts 8rahmanasati 0 cra+e with son. the hel that is most excellent$

*$ Pra" A.ni o the iercin. 1ame, with sacred son.s, to 2e our hel@

For wealth, amed A.ni, Purumilha and "e men He is Suditi9s sure deence$

$ Hear, A.ni who hast ears to hear, with all th" train o escort %ods

=ith those who come at dawn let Mitra, Ar"aman sit on the .rass at sacri4ce$

B$ A.ni o Di+odasa, %od, comes orth li/e 0ndra in his mi.ht$

#aidl" hath he mo+ed alon. his mother earthG he stands in hi.h hea+en9s dwellin.-

lace$

($ =hether thou come rom earth or rom the lot" lucid realm o hea+en,

=ax stron.er in th" 2od" throu.h m" son. o raiseG 4ll ull all creatures, O most

wise

)$ 0, lo+in. well the orests, thou wentest to th" maternal 1oods,

Not to 2e scorned, A.ni, is that return o thine when, rom aar, thou now art here$

'I$ O A.ni, Manu sta2lished thee a li.ht or all the race o menG

=ith :an+a hast thou 2la;ed, Caw-2orn and waxen stron., thou whom the eole

re+erence$

!HAPTE# 00

DE!ADE 0 A.ni

'$ The %od who .i+eth wealth accet "our ull li2ation oured to, him

Pour "e it out, then 4ll the +essel ull a.ain, or so the %od re.ardeth "ou$

?$ Cet 8rahmanasati come orth, let Sunrita the %oddess come,


8/193

And %ods 2rin. to our rite which "ields a 4+eold .it the hero, lo+er o man/ind

$ Stand u erect to lend us aid, stand u li/e Sa+itar the %od,

Erect as stren.th-2estower when we call on thee with riests who 2alm our

o6erin.s

>$ The man who 2rin.eth .its to thee, 2ri.ht %od who ain wouldst lead to wealth,

=inneth himsel a 2ra+e son, A.ni s/illed in lauds, one roserin. in a thousand

wa"s$

*$ =ith h"mns and hol" eulo.ies we sulicate "our A.ni, Cord

O man" amilies who dul" ser+e the %ods, "ea, him whom others too in1ame$

$ This A.ni is the Cord o .reat roserit" and hero, stren.th,

O wealth with no2le o6srin. and with store o /ine, the Cord o 2attles with theoe$

B$ Thou, A.ni, art the homestead9s Cord, our Hotar-riest at sacri4ce$

Cord o all 2oons, thou art the Potar, assin. wise$ Pa" worshi, and en5o" the .ood

($ =e as th" riends ha+e chosen thee, mortals a %od, to 2e our hel$

The =aters9 !hild, the 2lessed, the most mi.ht" one, swit con7ueror, and without a

eer$

DE!ADE 00 A.ni

'$ Present o2lations, ma/e him slendidG set "e as Hotar in his lace the Home9s

Cord, worshied

=ith .its and homa.e where the" our li2ations Honour him meet or re+erence in

our houses$

?$ Veril" wondrous is the tender "oun.lin.9s .rowth who ne+er draweth ni.h to drin/

his mother9s mil/$

As soon as she who hath no udder 2ore him, he, arin. on his$ .reat errand,

suddenl" .rew stron.$

$ Here is one li.ht or thee, another "onderG enter the third and, 2e therewith

united$

8eautiul 2e th" union with the 2od", 2elo+ed in the %ods9 su2limest 2irthlace


9/193

>$ For


10/193

Ci/e "oun. trees shootin. u on hi.h their 2ranches, his 1ames$ are mountin. to the

+ault o hea+en$

?$ Set orth the .leamin. one, the son.-insirer, not oolish with$ the oolish, ort-

destro"er,

=ho leadeth with his h"mns to thou.ht o con7uest, .old-2earded, richl" slendid

with his armour

$ Thou art li/e hea+enG one orm is 2ri.ht, one hol", li/e Da" and Ni.ht dissimilar in

colour$

All ma.ic owers thou aidest, sel-deendent Ausicious 2eth" 2ount" here, O

Pushan

>$ As hol" ood, A.ni, to thine in+o/er .i+e wealth in cattle, lastin., rich in mar+els

To us 2e 2orn a son and sreadin. o6srin.$ A.ni, 2e this th" .racious will to us-ward

*$ Sta2lished to 4ll the 5uice with +ital +i.our, .i+er o wealth, .uard o his ser+ant9s

2od",

The .reat Priest, 2orn, who /nows the clouds, a2ider with men, is seated in the

waters9 edd"$

$ Cet the son., honourin. the 2est, with lon.in. honour the Asura9s most amous

so+ran,

The deeds o him the mi.ht", deeds li/e 0ndra9s, the manl" one in whom the ol/must triumh

B$ 0n the two /indlin.-2loc/s lies


11/193

Preare or us the ath that leads to .lorious oulence and stren.th

?$ Ma" the 2ra+e man, i ull o ;eal he ser+e and /indle A.ni9s 1ame,

Dul" resentin. sacred .its, en5o" the %ods9 rotectin. hel$

$ Th" 2ri.ht smo/e lits itsel alot, and ar-extended shines in hea+en,

For, Puri4er li/e the Sun thou 2eamest with th" radiant .low$

>$ Thou, A.ni, e+en as Mitra, hast a rincel" .lor" o thine own$

8ri.ht, acti+e %od, thou ma/est ame increase li/e means o nourishment$

*$ At dawn let A.ni, much-2elo+ed, .uest o the house, 2e .lori4ed,

0n whom, the e+erlastin. one, all mortals ma/e their o6erin.s 2la;e$

$ Most mo+in. son. 2e A.ni9sG shine on hi.h, O rich in radiant li.ht

Ci/e the chie consort o a :in. riches and stren.th roceed rom thee$

B$ Exertin. all our stren.th with thou.hts o ower we .lori" in seech

A.ni "our dear amiliar riend, the darlin. .uest in e+er" house$

($ His 2eam hath lot" ower o lieG sin. raise to A.ni, to the %od

=hom men ha+e set in oremost lace, li/e Mitra or their eulo."

)$ To no2lest A.ni, riend o man, chie Vritra-sla"er, ha+e we come-

=ho with Srutar+an, #i/sha9s son, in lot" resence is in1amed$

'I$ 8orn as the lotiest Caw commands, comrade o those who .rew with him$

A.ni, the sire o :as"aa 2" aith, the mother, Manu, Sa.e$

DE!ADE V A.ni

'$ =e in :in. Soma lace our trust, in A.ni, and in Varuna,

The Adit"a, Vishnu, Sur"a, and the 8rahman-riest 8rihasati$

?$ Hence ha+e these men .one u on hi.h and mounted to the hei.hts o hea+enG

On con7uer on the ath 2" which An.irasas tra+elled to the s/ies

$ That thou ma"st send us amle wealth, O A.ni, we will /indler theeG


12/193

So, or the .reat o2lation, Steer, ra" Hea+en and Earth to come to us

>$ He runs when one calls ater him, This is the ra"er o him who ra"s$

He holds all /nowled.e in his .ras e+en as the ell" rounds the wheel$

*$ Shoot orth, O A.ni, with th" 1ameG demolish them on e+er" side

8rea/ down the Yatudhana9s stren.th, the +i.our o the #a/shasa

$ =orshi the Vasus, A.ni here, the #udras and Adit"as, all

=ho /now air sacri4ces, srun. rom Mann, scatterin. 2lessin.s down

8OO: 00

!HAPTE# 0

DE!ADE 0 A.ni

'$ A.ni, th" aithul ser+ant 0 call uon thee with man" a .it,

As in the /eein. o the .reat incitin. %od$

?$ To A.ni, to the Hotar-riest o6er "our 2est, "our lot" seech,

To him ordainer-li/e who 2ears the li.ht o son.s$

$ O A.ni, thou who art the lord o wealth in /ine, thou Son o Stren.th,

8estow on us, O $ Most s/illed in sacri4ce, 2rin. the %ods, O A.ni, to the ious, manG

A 5o"ul Priest, th" slendour dri+es our oes aar

*$ Tau.ht 2" se+en mothers at his 2irth was he, or .lor" o the wise$

He, 4rm and sure, hath set his mind on .lorious wealth

$ And in the da" our ra"er is thisG Ma" Aditi come ni.h to hel,

=ith lo+in.-/indness 2rin. us weal and chase our oes

B$ =orshi thou


13/193

=ho hath ser+ed A.ni well, the o2lation-.i+in. %od$

)$ A.ni, dri+e thou the wic/ed oe, the e+il-hearted thie awa",

Far, ar, Cord o the 2ra+e and .i+e us eas" aths

'I$ O hero A.ni, Cord o men, on hearin. this new laud o mine

8urn down the #a/shasas, enchanters, with th" 1ame

DE!ADE 00 A.ni

'$ Sin. orth to him the hol", most muni4cent, su2lime with his reul.ent .low,

To A.ni, "e 3astutas

?$ A.ni, he con7uers 2" thine aid that 2rin.s him store o +aliant sons and does.reat deeds,

=hose 2ond o riendshi is th" choice

$ Sin. raise to him the Cord o li.ht The %ods ha+e made the %od to 2e their

messen.er,

To 2ear o2lation to the %ods$

>$ An.er not him who is our .uest He is the 2ri.ht %od A.ni, raised 2" man" a

man,

%od Hotar, s/illed in sacri4ce$

*$ Ma" A.ni, worshied, 2rin. us 2lissG ma" the .it, 2lessed one and sacri4ce

2rin. 2liss$

Yea, ma" our eulo.ies 2rin. 2liss$

$ Thee ha+e we chosen s/ilullest in sacri4ce, immortal Priest amon. the %ods,

=ise 4nisher o this hol" rite$

B$ 8rin. us that slendour, A.ni, which ma" o+ercome each .reed" 4end in oura2ode,

And the malicious wrath o men

($ Soon as the ea.er Cord o men is riendl" unto Manu9s race

A.ni a+erteth rom us all the #a/shasas


14/193

DE!ADE 000 0ndra

'$ Sin. this, 2eside the 1owin. 5uice, to him "our hero, much-in+o/ed,

To lease him as a mi.ht" 8ull

?$ O Sata/ratu 0ndra, now re5oice with that carouse o thine

=hich is most .lorious o all

$ Ye cows, rotect the ountG the two mi.ht" ones 2less the sacri4ce$

The handles twain are wrou.ht o .old$

>$ Sin. raises that the horse ma" come@ sin., Sruta/a/sha, that the cow

Ma" come, that 0ndra9s mi.ht ma" come

*$ =e ma/e this 0ndra +er" stron. to stri/e, the mi.ht" Vritra deadG

A +i.orous hero shall he 2e$

$ 8ased uon stren.th and +ictor" and ower, O 0ndra, is th" 2irthG

Thou, mi.ht" one art stron. indeed,

B$ The sacri4ce made 0ndra .reat when he unrolled the earth, and made

Himsel a diadem in hea+en$

($ 0 0, O 0ndra, were, li/e thee, the sin.le ruler o+er wealth

M" worshier should 2e rich in /ine$

)$ Pressers, 2lend Soma 5uice or him, each drau.ht most excellent, or him

The 2ra+e, the hero, or his 5o"$

'I$ Here is the Soma 5uice exressed$ O Vasu, drin/ till thou art ullG

3ndaunted %od, we .i+e it thee

DE!ADE 0V 0ndra

'$ Sur"a, thou mountest u to meet the hero amous or his wealth,

=ho hurls the 2olt and wor/s or man$


15/193

?$ =hate+er, Vritra-sla"er thou, Sur"a hast risen uon to-da",

That, 0ndra, all is in th" ower$

$ That 0ndra is our "outhul riend, who with his trust" .uidanceled

Tur+asa, Yadu rom aar$

>$ O 0ndra, let not ill desi.ns surround us in the sun2eams9 li.ht

This ma" we .ain with thee or riend

*$ 0ndra, 2rin. wealth that .i+es deli.ht, the +ictor9s e+er-con7uerin. wealth,

Most excellent, to 2e our aid

$ 0n mi.ht" 2attle we in+o/e 0ndra, 0ndra is lesser 4.ht,

The riend who 2ends his 2olt at 4ends$

B$ 0n 2attle o a thousand arms 0ndra dran/ :adru9s Soma 5uice

There he disla"ed his manl" mi.ht$

($ Faithul to thee, we sin. aloud, heroic 0ndra, son.s to thee

Mar/, O .ood Cord, this act o ours

)$ Hitherward the" who li.ht the 1ame and strai.htwa" trim the sacred .rass,

=hose riend is 0ndra e+er "oun.$

'I$ Dri+e all our enemies awa", smite down the oes who ress around,

And 2rin. the wealth or which we lon.

DE!ADE V 0ndra and others

'$ 0 Hear, as thou.h 9twere close at hand, the crac/in. o the whis the" holdG

The" .ather slendour on their wa"$

?$ 0ndra, these riends o ours, sulied with Soma, wait and loo/ to thee

As men with odder to the herd$

$ 8eore his hot disleasure all the eoles, all the men 2ow down,

As ri+ers 2ow them to the sea$


16/193


17/193

Harnessed to draw their chariots on$

$ !ome, Cord o raturous 5o"s, to our li2ation with th" 2a" steeds, come

=ith 2a" steeds to the 1owin. 5uice

B$ Presented stren.thenin. .its ha+e sent 0ndra awa" at sacri4ce,

=ith ni.ht, unto the cleansin. 2ath$

($ 0 rom m" Father ha+e recei+ed dee /nowled.e o eternal CawG

0 was 2orn li/e unto the Sun$

)$ =ith 0ndra slendid easts 2e ours, rich in all stren.thenin. thin.s, wherewith,

=ealth" in ood, we ma" re5oice

'I$ Soma and Pushan, /ind to him who tra+els to the %ods, ro+ide

Dwellin.s all ha" and secure$

DE!ADE 00 0ndra

'$ 0n+ite "e 0ndra with a son. to drin/ "our drau.ht o Soma steeds, 5uice,

All-con7uerin. Sata/ratu, most muni4cent o all who li+e

?$ Sin. "e a son., to ma/e him .lad, to 0ndra, Cord o tawn"

The Soma-drin/er, O m" riends

$ This, e+en this, O 0ndra, we imloreG as th" de+oted riends

The :an+as raise thee with their h"mns

>$ For 0ndra, lo+er o carouse, loud 2e our son.s a2out the 5uice

Cet oets sin. the son. o raise$

*$ Here, 0ndra, is th" Soma drau.ht, made ure uon the sacred .rassG

#un hither, come and drin/ thereo

$ As a .ood cow to him who mil/s, we call the doer o .ood deeds

To our assistance du" 2" da"$

B$ Hero, the Soma 2ein. shed, 0 our the 5uice or thee to drin/


18/193

Sate thee and 4nish th" carouse

($ The Soma, 0ndra, which is shed in saucers and in cus or thee,

Drin/ thou, or thou art lord thereo

)$ 0n e+er" need, in e+er" ra" we call, as riends, to succour us,

0ndra, the mi.htiest o all$

'I$ O come "e hither, sit "e downG to 0ndra sin. "e orth "our son.,

!omanions, 2rin.in. h"mns o raise

DE!ADE 000 0ndra

'$ So, Cord o aKuent .its, this 5uice hath 2een exressed or thee with stren.thG

Drin/ o it, thou who lo+est son.

?$ %reat is our 0ndra rom o old@ .reatness 2e his, the Thunderer

=ide as the hea+en extends his mi.ht$

$ 0ndra, as one with mi.ht" arm, .ather or us with th" ri.ht hand

Maniold and nutritious soil

>$ Praise, e+en as he is /nown, with son. 0ndra the .uardian o the /ine,

The Son o Truth, Cord o the 2ra+e$

*$ =ith what hel will he come to us, wonderul, e+er-waxin. riendJ

=ith what most mi.ht" coman"J

$ Thou seedest down to succour us this e+er-con7uerin. %od o "ours

Him who is drawn to all our son.s$

B$ To the assem2l"9s wondrous Cord, the lo+el" riend o 0ndra, 0

Had ra"ed or wisdom and successs$

($ Ma" all th" aths 2eneath the s/" where2" thou seddest V"as+a on,

Yea, let all saces hear our +oice

)$ 8rin. to us all thin.s excellent, O Sata/ratu, ood and stren.th,


19/193

For, 0ndra, thou art /ind to us

'I$ Here is the Soma read" ressedG o this the Maruts, "ea, o this,

Sel-luminous the As+ins drin/$

DE!ADE 0V 0ndra and others

'$ Tossin. a2out, the acti+e ones came ni.h to 0ndra at his 2irth,

=innin. themsel+es heroic mi.ht$

?$ Ne+er, O %ods, do we o6end, nor are we e+er o2stinate

=e wal/ as hol" texts command$

$ E+enin. is comeG sin. loudl" thou Athar+an9s no2l" sin.in. sonG

%i+e raise to Sa+itar the %od

>$ Now Mornin. with her earliest li.ht shines orth, dear dau.hter o the S/"G

Hi.h, As+ins, 0 extol "our raise$

*$ Armed with the 2ones o dead Dadh"ach, 0ndra, with unresisted mi.ht

The nine-and-ninet" Vritras slew$

$ !ome, 0ndra, and deli.ht thee with the 5uice at all our Soma easts,

Protector, mi.ht" in th" stren.th

B$ O thou who sla"est Vritras, come, O 0ndra, hither to our side,

Mi.ht" one, with th" mi.ht" aids

($ That mi.ht o his shone 2ri.htl" orth when 0ndra 2rou.ht to.ether, li/e

A s/in, the worlds o hea+en and earth,

)$ This is thine own Thou drawest near, as turns a i.eon to his mateG

Thou carest, too, or this our ra"er$

'I$ Ma" Vata 2reathe his 2alm on us, healthul, deli.htul to our heartG

Ma" he rolon. our da"s o lie


20/193


'$ Ne9er is he in5ured whom the %ods Varuna, Mitra, Ar"am$

The excellentl" wise, rotect$

?$ Accordin. to our wish or /ine, or steeds and chariots, as o old,

8e .racious to our wealth" chies

$ 0ndra, these sotted cows "ield thee their 2utter and the mil/" drau.ht,

Aiders, there2", o sacri4ce$

>$ That thou much-lauded man"-named ma"st, with this thou.ht, that lon.s or

mil/,

!ome to each Soma sacri4ce$

*$ Ma" 2ri.ht Saras+ati, endowed with lenteous wealth and soil, enriched

=ith ra"er, desire the sacri4ce$

$ =h" 9mid the Nahusha tri2es shall sate this 0ndra with his Soma 5uiceJ

He shall 2rin. recious thin.s to us$

B$ !ome, we ha+e ressed the 5uice or thee@ O 0ndra, drin/ this Soma hereG

Sit thou on this m" sacred .rass

($ %reat, unassaila2le must 2e the hea+enl" a+our o the Three,

Varuna, Mitra, Ar"aman$

)$ =e, 0ndra, Cord o amle wealth, our .uide, deend on one li/e thee,

Thou dri+er o the tawn" steeds

8OO: 000

!HAPTE# 0

DE!ADE 0 0ndra

'$ Cet Soma 5uices ma/e thee .lad Disla" th" 2ount", ThundererG

Dri+e o6 the enemies o ra"er

?$ Drin/ our li2ation, Cord o h"mns with streams o meath thou art 2edewedG


21/193

Yea, 0ndra, .lor" is th" .it$

$ 0ndra hath e+er thou.ht o "ou and tended "ou with care$ The %od,

Heroic 0ndra, is not chec/ed$

>$ Cet the dros ass within thee as the ri+ers 1ow into the sea

O 0ndra, nau.ht excelleth thee

*$ 0ndra, the sin.ers with hi.h raise, 0ndra reciters with their lauds,

0ndra the choirs ha+e .lori4ed$

$ Ma" 0ndra .i+e, to aid us wealth hand" that rules the s/ilul ones

Yea, ma" the Stron. .i+e otent wealth

B$ Veril" 0ndra, con7uerin. all, dri+es e+en mi.ht" ear awa",

For 4rm is he and swit to act$

($ These son.s with e+er" drau.ht we our come, lo+er o the son., to thee

As milch-/ine hasten to their cal+es$

)$ 0ndra and =ishan will we call or riendshi and roserit",

And or the winnin. o the soil$

'I$ O 0ndra, Vritra-sla"er, nau.ht is 2etter, mi.htier than thou

Veril" there is none li/e thee

DE!ADE 00 0ndra

'$ Him ha+e 0 ma.ni4ed, our Cord in common, .uardian o "our ol/,

Discloser o .reat wealth in /ine$

?$ Son.s ha+e outoured themsel+es to thee, 0ndra, the stron., the .uardian Cord,

And with one will ha+e risen to thee

$ %ood .uidance hath the mortal man whom Ar"a-man, the Marut host,

And Mitras, +oid o .uile, rotect$

>$ 8rin. us the wealth or which we lon., O 0ndra, that which is concealed


22/193

0n stron. 4rm lace reciitous$

*$ Him "our 2est Vritra-sla"er, him the amous chamion o man/ind

0 ur.e to .reat muni4cence$

$ 0ndra, ma" we adorn th" ame, ame o one li/e thee, hero dec/,

Sa/ra th" ame at hi.hest east

B$ 0ndra, accet at 2rea/ o da" our Soma mixt with roasted corn,

=ith .roats, with ca/e, with eulo.ies

($ =ith waters9 oam thou torest o6, 0ndra, the head o Namuchi,

=hen thou o9ercamest all the oes$

)$ Thine are these Soma 5uices, thine, 0ndra, those still to 2e exressedG

En5o" them, Cord o rincel" wealth

'I$ For thee, O 0ndra, Cord o li.ht, Somas are ressed and .rass is strewnG

8e .racious to th" worshiers

'$ =e see/in. stren.th, with Soma dros 4ll ull "our 0ndra li/e a well,

Most li2eral, Cord o 2oundless mi.ht$

?$ O 0ndra, e+en rom that lace come unto us with ood that .i+es

A hundred, "ea, a thousand owers

$ The new-2orn Vritra-sla"er as/ed his mother, as he sei;ed his shat,

=ho are the, 4erce and amous onesJ

>$ Cet us call him to aid whose hands stretch ar, the hi.hl"-lauded, who

Ful4ls the wor/ to a+our us

*$ Mitra who /noweth leadeth us, and Varuna who .uideth strai.ht,

And Ar"aman in accord with %ods$

$ =hen, e+en as she were resent here, red Dawn hath shone rom ar awa",

She sreadeth li.ht on e+er" side$


23/193


24/193

'I$ For so thou art the 2ra+e man9s riend@ a hero, too, art thou, and stron.G

So ma" thine heart 2e won to us

DE!ADE V 0ndra

'$ Ci/e /ine unmil/ed we call aloud, hero, to thee, and sin. th" raise,

Coo/er on hea+enl" li.ht, Cord o this mo+in. world, Cord, 0ndra, o what mo+eth

not

?$ That we ma" win us wealth and ower we oets, +eril", call on theeG

0n war men call on thee, 0ndra, the hero9s Cord, in the steed9s race-course call on

theeG

$ To "ou will 0 sin. 0ndra9s raise who .i+es .ood .its as well we /now@

The raise o Ma.ha+an who, rich in treasure, aids his sin.ers with wealth

thousandold$

>$ As cows low to their cal+es in stalls, so with our son.s we .lori"

This 0ndra, e+en "our wondrous %od who chec/s attac/, who ta/es deli.ht in

recious 5uice$

*$ Coud sin.in. at the sacred rite where Soma 1ows we riests in+o/e

=ith haste, that he ma" hel, as the 2ard9s cherisher, 0ndra who 4ndeth wealth or"ou

$ =ith Plent" or his true all" the acti+e man will .ain the soil$

Your 0ndra, much-in+o/ed, 0 2end with son., as 2ends a wri.ht his wheel o solid

wood$

B$ Drin/, 0ndra, o the sa+our" 5uice, and cheer thee with our mil/" drau.ht

8e, or our weal, our riend and sharer o the east, and let th" wisdom .uard us

well

($ For thou--come to the worshier--wilt 4nd .reat wealth to ma/e us rich$

Fill th"sel ull, O Ma.ha+an, or .ain o /ine, ull, 0ndra, or the .ain o steeds

)$ Vasishtha will not o+erloo/ the lowliest one amon. "ou all

8eside our Soma 5uice e6used to-da" let all the Maruts drin/ with ea.er haste


25/193

'I$ %lori" nau.ht 2esides, O riends@ so shall no sorrow trou2le "ou

Praise onl" mi.ht" 0ndra when the 5uice is shed, and sa" "our lauds reeatedl"

!HAPTE# 00

DE!ADE 0 0ndra

'$ No one 2" deed attains to him who wor/s and stren.thens e+ermoreG

No, not 2" sacri4ce, to 0ndra$ raised o all, resistless, darin., 2old in mi.ht$

? He without li.ature, 2eore ma/in. incision in the nec/,

!losed u the wound a.ain, most wealth" Ma.ha+an, who healeth the disse+ered

arts$

$ A thousand and a hundred steeds are harnessed to th" .olden carG

Yo/ed 2" de+otion, 0ndra, let the lon.-maned 2a"s 2rin. thee to drin/ the Soma

5uice

>$ !ome hither, 0ndra, with 2a" steeds, 5o"ous, with tails li/e eacoc/9s lumes

Cet no men chec/ th" course as owlers sta" the 2irdG ass o9er them as o9er desert

lands

*$ Thou as a %od, O mi.htiest, +eril" 2lessest mortal man$

O Ma.ha+an, there is no comorter 2ut thouG 0ndra, 0 sea/ m" words to thee$

$ O 0ndra, thou art ar-renowned, imetuous Cord o ower and mi.ht$

Alone, the ne+er-con7uered .uardian o man/ind, thou smitest

down resistless oes$

B$ 0ndra or worshi o the %ods, 0ndra while sacri4ce roceeds,

0ndra, as warriors in the 2attle-shoc/, we call, 0ndra that we ma" win the soil$

($ Ma" these m" son.s o raise exalt thee, Cord, who hast a2undant wealth

Men s/illed in hol" h"mns, ure, with the hues o 4re, ha+e sun. them with their

lauds to thee$

)$ These son.s o ours exceedin. sweet, these h"mns o raise ascend to thee,


26/193


27/193

And all the slendid ame that the Fi+e Tri2es en5o", 2rin., "ea, all manl" owers at

once

DE!ADE 000 0ndra

'$ Yea, +eril" thou art a 8ull, our .uardian, rushin. li/e a 2ullG

Thou, mi.ht" one, art cele2rated as a 8ull, amed as a 8ull 2oth near and ar$

?$ =hether, O Sa/ra, thou 2e ar, or, Vritra-sla"er, near at hand,

Thence 2" hea+en-reachin. son.s he who 2ath ressed the 5uice in+ites thee with

th" lon.-maned steeds$

$ 0n the wild ratures o the 5uice sin. to "our hero with hi.h laud, to him the wise,

To 0ndra .lorious in his name, the mi.ht" one, e+en as the h"mn alloweth it

>$ O 0ndra, .i+e us or our weal a trile reu.e, tril" stron.

8estow a dwellin.-lace on our rich lords and me, and /ee th" dart aar rom

these

*$ Turnin., as 9twere, to meet the Sun en5o" rom 0ndra all .ood thin.s

=hen he who will 2e 2orn is 2orn with ower we loo/ to treasures as our herita.e$

$ The .odless mortal .aineth not this ood, O thou whose lie is lon.

8ut one who "o/es the 2ri.ht-hued horses, Etasas@ then 0ndra "o/es his tawn"

steeds$

B$ Draw near unto our 0ndra who must 2e in+o/ed in e+er" 4.ht

!ome, thou most mi.ht" Vritra-sla"er, meet or raise, come to, li2ations and to

h"mns

($ Thine, 0ndra, is the lowest wealth, thou cherishest the midmost wealth,

Thou e+er rulest all the hi.hestG in the ra" or cattle none resisteth thee$

)$ =here art thouJ =hither art thou .oneJ For man" a lace attracts th" mind$

Haste, warrior, ort-destro"er, Cord o 2attle9s din haste, hol" son.s ha+e sounded

orth

'I$ Here, +eril", "esterda" we let the thunder-wielder drin/ his 4ll$


28/193

8rin. him the 5uice oured orth in sacri4ce to-da"$ Now ran.e "ou 2" the .lorious

one

DE!ADE 0V 0ndra

'$ He who as so+ran Cord o men mo+es with his chariots unrestrained,

The Vritra-sla"er, +an7uisher o 4.htin. hosts, re-eminent, is raised in son.$

?$ 0ndra, .i+e us securit" rom that whereo we are araid

Hel us, O Ma.ha+an, let th" a+our aid us thus@ dri+e awa" oes and enemies

$ Stron. illar thou, Cord o the home armour o Soma-o6erers

The dro o Soma 2rea/eth all the stron.holds down, and 0ndra is the #ishis9 riend$

>$ Veril", Sur"a, thou art .reat@ trul", Adit"a, thou art .reat

O most admired or .reatness o th" ma5est", %od, 2" th" .reatness thou art .reat

*$ 0ndra th" riend, when air o orm and rich in chariots, steeds, and /ine,

Hath e+er +ital ower that .i+es him stren.th, and 5oins the coman" with radiant

men$

$ O 0ndra, i a hundred hea+ens and i a hundred earths were thine,--

No, not a hundred suns could match thee at th" 2irth, not 2oth the worlds, OThunderer

B$ Thou.h, 0ndra, thou art called 2" men eastward and west ward, north and south,

Thou chie1" art with Ana+a and Tur+asa, 2ra+e chamion ur.ed 2" men to come$

($ 0ndra whose wealth is in th"sel, what mortal will attac/ this manJ

The stron. will win the soil on the decisi+e da" throu.h aith in thee, O Ma.ha+an

)$ First, 0ndra A.ni hath this Maid come ootless unto those with eet$

Stretchin. her head and sea/in. loudl" with her ton.ue, she hath .one downward

thirt" stes$

'I$ !ome, 0ndra, +er" near to us with aids o 4rml"-2ased resol+e

!ome, most ausicious, with th" most ausicious hel@ .ood /insman, with .ood

/insmen come


29/193

DE!ADE V 0ndra$

'$ !all to "our aid the eternal one who shoots and none ma" shoot at him,

0nciter, swit, +ictorious, 2est o charioteers, uncon7uered, Tu.ri"a9s stren.thener

?$ Cet none, no, not th" worshiers, dela" thee ar awa" rom us

E+en rom arawa" come thou unto our east, or listen i9 alread" here

$ For 0ndra Soma-drin/er, armed with thunder, ress the Soma 5uice@

Ma/e read" "our dressed meatsG cause him to a+our us The .i+er 2lesses him who

.i+es$

>$ =e call uon that 0ndra who, most acti+e, e+er sla"s the oe

=ith 2oundless sirit, Cord o heroes, manliest one, hel thou and roser us in

4.ht

*$ Ye rich in stren.th, throu.h "our .reat ower +ouchsae us 2lessin.s da" and

ni.ht

The o6erin.s which we 2rin. to "ou shall ne+er ail .its 2rou.ht 2" us shall ne+er

ail$

$ =hene+er mortal worshier will sin. a 2ounteous .i+er9s raise,

Cet him with son. insired laud Varuna who suorts the ol/ who ollow +ariedrites$

B$ Drin/ mil/ to 0ndra in the 5o" o Soma 5uice, Medh"atithi

To .olden 0ndra e+er close to his 2a" steeds, the thunder-armed, the .olden one

($ 8oth 2oons,-ma" 0ndra, hitherward turned listen to this ra"er o ours,

And mi.htiest Ma.ha+ar, with thou.ht inclined to us come near to drin/ the Soma

5uice

)$ Not or an amle rice dost thou, Stone-caster .i+e th"sel awa",

Not or a thousand, Thunderer nor ten thousand, nor a hundred, Cord o countless

wealth

'I$ O 0ndra, thou art more to me than sire or ni..ard 2rother is$

Thou and m" mother, O .ood Cord, aear ali/e, to .i+e me wealth a2undantl"$


30/193

8OO: 0V

!HAPTE# 0

DE!ADE 0 0ndra and others

'$ These Soma 5uice mixt with curd ha+e 2een exressed or 0ndra hereG

!ome with th" 2a" steeds, Thunder-wielder, to our home, to drin/ them till the"

ma/e thee .lad

?$ 0ndra, these Somas with their lauds ha+e 2een reared or th" deli.ht$

Drin/ o the leasant 5uice and listen to our son.s@ lo+er o son., reward the h"mn

$ 0 call on thee, Sa2ardu.ha, this da", insirer o the salm$

0ndra, the richl"-"ieldin. milch-cow who ro+ides unailin. ood in amle stream$

>$ 0ndra, the stron. and lot" hills are owerless to 2ar th" wa"

None sta"s that act o thine when thou wouldst ain .i+e wealth to one li/e me who

sin.s th" raise$

*$ =ho /nows what +ital ower he wins, drin/in. 2eside the 1owin. 5uiceJ

This is the air-chee/ed$ %od who, 5o"in. in the drau.ht, 2rea/s down the castles in

his stren.th$

$ =hat time thou castest rom his seat and unishest the riteless man,

Stren.then or oulence, O 0ndra Ma.ha+an, our lant desired 2" man" a one

B$ Cet T+ashtar, 8rahmanasati, Par5an"a .uard our hea+enl" word,

Aditi with her sons, the 2rothers, .uard or us the in+inci2le, the sa+in. word

($ Ne9er art thou ruitless, 0ndra, ne9er dost thou desert the worshierG

8ut now, O Ma.ha+an, th" 2ount" as a %od is oured orth e+er more and more$

)$ 8est sla"er o the Vritras, "o/e th" 2a" steeds, 0ndra, ar awa"

!ome with the hi.h ones hither, Ma.ha+an, to us, mi.ht", to, drin/ the Soma 5uice

'I$ O Thunderer, ;ealous worshiers .a+e thee drin/ this time "esterda"G

So, 0ndra, listen here to him who o6ers laudsG come near unto, our dwellin.-lace


31/193

DE!ADE 00

'$ Ad+ancin., sendin. orth her ra"s, the dau.hter o the S/" is seen$

The mi.ht" one la"s 2are the dar/ness with her e"e, the riendl" Cad" ma/es theli.ht$

?$ These mornin. sacri4ces call "ou, As+ins, at the 2rea/ o da"$

For hel ha+e 0 in+o/ed "ou rich in ower and mi.htG or, house 2" house, "e +isit

all$

$ =here are "e, %odsJ =hat mortal man, O As+ins, .lows with ;eal or "ou,

3r.in. "ou with the crushin. stone and with the stal/ o Soma thus or otherwiseJ

>$ This sweetest Soma 5uice hath 2een exressed or "ou at mornin. rites$

As+ins, drin/ this reared ere "esterda" and .i+e treasures to him who o6ers it

*$ Cet me not, still 2eseechin. thee with mi.ht and sound o Soma dros,

An.er at sacri4ce a 4erce wild creature =ho would not 2eseech the almi.ht" one

$ Adh+ar"u, let the Soma 1ow, or 0ndra lon.s to drin/ thereo$

He e+en now hath "o/ed his +i.orous 2a" steedsG the Vritrasla"er hath come ni.h$

B$ 8rin. thou all this unto the .ood, O 0ndra, to the old and "oun.

For, Ma.ha+an, thou art rich in treasures rom o old, to 2e in+o/ed in e+er" 4.ht$

($ 0 0, O 0ndra, were the lord o riches amle as thine own,

0 would suort the sin.er, %od who scatterest wealth and not a2andon him to

woe$

)$ Thou in th" 2attles, 0ndra, art su2duer o all hostile 2ands$

Father art thou, all-con7uerin., cancellin. the curse, thou +ictor o the +an7uisher

'I$ For in th" mi.ht thou stretchest out 2e"ond the mansions o the s/"$

The earthl" re.ion, 0ndra, comrehends thee not$ Thou hast waxed mi.ht" o+er all$

DE!ADE 000


32/193

'$ Pressed is the 5uice di+ine with mil/ commin.ledG thereto hath 0ndra e+er 2een

accustomed$

=e wa/e thee, Cord o 2a"s, with sacri4cesG mar/ this our laud in the wild 5o"s o

Soma

?$ A home is made or thee to dwell in, 0ndraG O much-in+o/ed one, with the men .o

thither

Thou, that thou ma"est .uard us and increase us, .i+est us wealth and 5o"est in the

Somas$

$ The well thou cla+est, settest ree the ountains, and .a+est rest to 1oods that

were o2structed$

Thou, 0ndra, la"in. the .reat mountain oen, sla"in. the Ddna+a, didst loose the

torrents$

>$ =hen we ha+e ressed the 5uice we laud thee, 0ndra, most +alorous e+en a2out

to win the 2oot"$

8rin. us roserit", and 2" th" .reat wisdom, under thine own rotection, ma" we

con7uer

*$ Th" ri.ht hand ha+e we .rased in ours, O 0ndra, lon.in., thou +er" Cord o

wealth, or treasures$

8ecause we /now thee, hero, Cord o cattleG +ouchsae us mi.ht" and reslendent

riches

$ Men call on 0ndra in the armed encounter that he ma" ma/e the h"mns the" sin.

decisi+e$

Hero in com2at and in lo+e o .lor", .i+e us a ortion o the stall o cattle

B$ Ci/e 2irds o 2eauteous win. the Pri"amedhas, #ishis, imlorin., ha+e come ni.h

to 0ndra$

Disel the dar/ness and 4ll ull our +isionG deli+er us as men whom snares entan.le

($ The" .a;e on thee with lon.in. in their sirit, as on a stron.win.ed 2ird that

mounteth s/"-ward@

On thee with win.s o .old, Varuna9s en+o", the 8ird that hasteneth to the home o

Yama$

)$ First in the ancient time was Pra"er en.enderedG Vena disclosed the 2ri.ht ones

rom the summit,


33/193

Caid 2are this world9s lowest and hi.hest re.ions, wom2 o the existent and the non-

existent$

'I$ The" ha+e reared and ashioned or this hero words ne+er matched, most

lentiul, most ausicious,

For him the ancient, .reat, stron., ener.etic, the +er" mi.ht" wielder o the

thunder$

DE!ADE 0V 0ndra

'$ The 2lac/ dro san/ in Ansumati9s 2osom, ad+ancin. with ten thousand round

a2out it$

0ndra with mi.ht lon.ed or it as it antedG the hero-hearted :in. laid down his

weaons$

?$ Fl"in. in terror rom the snort o Vritra all deities who were th" riends orsoo/

thee$

So, 0ndra, with the Maruts 2e th" riendshiG in all these 2attles thou shalt 2e the

+ictor$

$ The old hath wa/ed the "oun. Moon rom his slum2er who runs his circlin. course

with man" round him$

8ehold the %od9s hi.h wisdom in its .reatnessG he who died "esterda" to-da" is

li+in.$

>$ Then, at th" 2irth, thou wast the oeman, 0ndra, o those the se+en who ne9er had

met a ri+al$

The hidden air, hea+en and the earth, thou oundest, and to the mi.ht" worlds

thou .a+est leasure$

*$ A riend we count thee, shar-ed.ed, thunder-wielder, Steer stron. o 2od",

o+erthrowin. man"$

Thou, helin., causest ious tri2es to con7uerG 0ndra, 0 laud the, hea+enl" Vritra-

sla"er$

$ 8rin. to the wise, the .reat, who waxeth mi.ht" "our o6erin.s,$ and ma/e read"

"our de+otion

%o orth to man" tri2es as man9s controller


34/193

B$ !all we on Ma.ha+an, ausicious 0ndra, 2est hero in this 4.ht where soil is

.athered,

Stron., listenin. to .i+e us aid in 2attles, who sla"s the Vritras, wins and .athers

riches

($ Pra"ers ha+e 2een o6ered u-throu.h lo+e o .lor"G Vasishtha, honour 0ndra in

the 2attle

He who with ame extends throu.h all existence hears words which 0, his aithul

ser+ant, utter$

)$ Ma" the sweet Soma 5uices ma/e him ha" to cast his 7uoit that lies in deth o

waters

Thou rom the udder which o9er earth is astened hast oured the mil/ into the /ine

and her2a.e$


'$ This +i.orous one whom deities commission, the con7ueror o cars, the stron.

and mi.ht",

Swit, 1eet to 2attle, with unin5ured ellies, e+en Tar/sh"a or our weal will we call

hither$

?$ 0ndra the rescuer, 0ndra the heler, hero who listens at each in+ocation,

Sa/ra 0 call, 0ndra in+o/ed o man"$ Ma" 0ndra Ma.ha+an accet our resents

$ 0ndra whose ri.ht hand wields the 2olt we worshi, dri+er o 2a" steeds see/in.

sundered courses$

Sha/in. his 2eard with mi.ht he hath arisen, terri2le with his weaons, with his

2ount"$

>$ The e+er-sla"in., 2old and urious 0ndra, the 2ri.ht 2olt9s Cord, the stron., the

.reat, the 2oundless,

=ho sla"eth Vritra and ac7uireth 2oot", .i+er o 2lessin.s, Ma.ha+an the2ounteous$

*$ The man who lies in wait and 4.hts a.ainst us, deemin. himsel a .iant or a

hero,--

8" 2attle or with stren.th destro" him, 0ndra =ith th" hel, manl"-souled ma" we

2e +ictors


35/193

$ He whom men call when stri+in. with their oemen, or seedin. onward in arra"

o 2attle,

=hom 2ards incite where heroes win the 2oot", or in the wa" to waters, He is 0ndra$

B$ On a hi.h car, O Par+ata and 0ndra, 2rin. leasant +iands, with 2ra+e heroes,

hither

En5o" our resents, %ods, at sacri4cesG wax stron. 2" h"mns, re5oice in our

o2lation

($ 0n ceaseless 1ow hath he oured orth his raises, as waters rom the ocean9s

deth, to 0ndra,

=ho to his car on 2oth its sides securel" hath 4xed the earth and hea+en as with an

axle$

)$ Ma" our riends turn thee hitherward to riendshi Ma"st thou aroach us e+eno9er man" ri+ers

Ma" the Disoser, radiant in this mansion with secial lustre, 2rin. the ather9s

o6srin.

'I$ =ho "o/es to-da" unto the ole o Order the stron. and assionate steers o

chec/less sirit,

Health-2rin.in., 2earin. in their mouths no odderJ Con. shall he li+e who richl"

a"s their ser+ice$

!HAPTE# 00

DE!ADE 0 0ndra

'$ The sin.ers h"mn thee, the" who chant the salm o raise are laudin. thee$

The 8rahmans ha+e exalted thee, O Sata/ratu, li/e a ole$

?$ All sacred-son.s ha+e ma.ni4ed 0ndra exansi+e as the sea,

8est o all warriors 2orne on cars, the Cord o heroes, Cord o stren.th$

$ This oured li2ation, 0ndra, drin/, immortal, .laddenin., excellentG

Streams o the 2ri.ht ha+e 1owed to thee here at the seat o hol" Caw$

>$ Stone-dartin. 0ndra, wondrous %od, what wealth thou hast not .i+en me here,

That 2ount", treasure-4nder 2rin., 4llin. ull 2oth th" hands, to us


36/193


37/193

B$ 0 with m" raise ha+e .lori4ed stron. Dadhi/ra+an, con7uerin. steed

Sweet ma" he ma/e our mouthsG ma" he rolon. the da"s we ha+e to li+e

($ #ender o orts, the "oun., the wise, o stren.th unmeasured, was he 2orn,

Sustainer o each sacred rite, 0ndra, the Thunderer, much-extolled$


'$ O6er the trile sacred drau.ht to 0ndu hero-worshier

=ith h"mn and lent" he in+ites "ou to comlete the sacri4ce$

?$ Those whom the" call the attendant air o :as"aa who /nows the li.ht,

Cords o each hol" dut" when the wise ha+e honoured sacri4ce$

$ Sin., sin. "e orth "our son.s o raise, men, Pri"a-medhas, sin. "our son.sG

Yea, let "oun. children sin. their laudsG "ea, .lori" our 4rm stron.hold

>$ To 0ndra must a laud 2e said, a 5o" to him who reel" .i+es,

That Sa/ra ma" 2e 5o"ul in our riendshi and the 5uice we our$

*$ Your Cord o mi.ht that ne9er hath 2ent, that ruleth o+er all man/ind,

0 call, that he, as he is wont, ma" aid the chariots and the men$

$ E+en he who is thine own, throu.h thou.ht o Hea+en, o mortal man who toils,

He with the hel o lot" D"aus comes sae throu.h straits o enmit"$

B$ =ide, 0ndra Sata/ratu, sreads the 2ount" o thine amle .raceG

So, .ood and li2eral .i+er, /nown to all men, send us slendid wealth

($ 8ri.ht 3shas, when th" times return, all 7uadrueds and 2ieds stir,

And round a2out 1oc/ win.ed 2irds rom all the 2oundaries o hea+en$

)$ Ye %ods who "onder ha+e "our home amid the luminous realm o hea+en,

=hat count "e ri.htJ what endless lieJ =hat is the ancient call on "ouJ

'I$ =e o6er laud and salm wherewith men cele2rate their hol" rites$

The" .o+ern at the sacred lace and 2ear the sacri4ce to %ods$


38/193

DE!ADE 0V 0ndra

'$ Heroes o one accord 2rou.ht orth and ormed or /in.shi 0ndra who wins the

+ictor" in all encounters,

For ower, in 4rmness, in the 4eld, the .reat destro"er, 4erce and exceedin.

stron.,rstalwart and ull o +i.our$

?$ 0 trust in th" 4rst wrathul deed, O 0ndra, when thou slewest Vritra and didst wor/

to ro4t man@

=hen the two world-hal+es 1ed or reu.e unto thee, and earth e+en trem2led at

th" stren.th, O Thunder-armed

$ !ome all with mi.ht to.ether to the Cord o hea+en, the onl" one who is indeed

the .uesto men$

He is the 4rstG to him who ain would come to us all athwa"s turn@ he is in truth the

onl" one$

>$ Thine, 0ndra, raised o man", excellentl" rich, are we who trustin. in th" hel

draw near to thee$

For none 2ut thou, son.-lo+er, shall recei+e our laudsG as Earth lo+es all her

creatures, welcome this our h"mn

*$ Hi.h h"mns ha+e sounded orth the raise o Ma.ha+an, suorter o man/ind, o

0ndra meet or lauds@

Him who hath waxen mi.ht", much-in+o/ed with ra"ers, immortal one whose

raise each da" is sun. aloud$

$ 0n erect unison ha+e all "our lon.in. h"mns that 4nd the li.ht o hea+en

sounded orth 0ndra9s raise$

As wi+es em2race their lord, the comel" 2ride.room, so the" comass Ma.ha+an

a2out that he ma" hel$

B$ Ma/e .lad with son.s that #am whom man" men in+o/e, worth" h"mns o raise,

0ndra the sea o wealth@

=hose 2oons sread li/e the hea+ens, the - lo+er o man/indG sin. raise to him the

Sa.e, most li2eral or our .ood

($ 0 .lori" that #am who 4nds the li.ht o hea+en, whose hundred stron. and

mi.ht" ones .o orth with him$


39/193

=ith ra"ers ma" 0 turn hither 0ndra to mine aid@-the car which li/e a swit steed

hasteth to the call

)$ Filled ull o atness, comassin. all thin.s that 2e, wide, sacious, droin.

meath, 2eautiul in their orm,

The hea+en and the earth 2" Varuna9s decree, unwastin., rich in .erms, stand

arted each rom each$

'I$ As li/e the Mornin., thou hast 4lled, O 0ndra, 2oth the earth$ and hea+en,

So as the mi.ht" one, .reat :in. o all the mi.ht" race o men, the %oddess mother

2rou.ht thee orth, the 2lessed mother .a+e thee lie$

''$ Sin., with o2lation, raise to him who ma/eth .lad, who with$ #i5is+an dro+e the

dus/" 2rood awa"

Cet us, desirin. hel, call him or riendshi, him the stron., the Marut-.irt, whoseri.ht hand wields the 2olt

DE!ADE V 0ndra

0$ =hen Somas 1ow thou ma/est ure, 0ndra, th" mind that merits laud

For .ain o stren.th that e+er .rowsG or .reat is he$

?$ Sin. orth to him whom man" men in+o/e, to him whom man" laudG

0n+ite the otent 0ndra with "our son.s o raise

$ =e sin. this stron. and wild deli.ht o thine which con7uer@ in the ra",

=hich, !aster o the Stone .i+es room and shines li/e .old,

>$ =hether thou drin/ the Soma 2" Vishnu9s or Trita At"a9s side,

Or with the Maruts, 0ndra 7ua6 the ollowin. dros$

*$ !ome, riest, and o the sa+our" 5uice our orth a "et more .laddenin. drau.htG

So is the hero raised who e+er rosers us$

$ Pour out the dros or 0ndra@ let him drin/ the meath o Soma 5uice

He throu.h his ma5est" sends orth his 2ounteous .its$

B$ !ome, sin. we raise to 0ndra, riends the hero who deser+es the laud,

Him who with none to aid o9ercomes all tri2es o men$


40/193

($ Sin. "e a salm to 0ndra, sin. a .reat son. to the lot" Sa.e,

To him who ma/eth ra"er, insired who lo+eth laud

)$ He who alone 2estoweth wealth on mortal man who o6ereth .its

0s 0ndra onl", otent Cord whom none resist$

'I$ !omanions, let us learn a ra"er to 0ndra, to the Thunderer,

To .lori" "our 2old and most heroic riend

8OO: V

!HAPTE# 0

DE!ADE 0 0ndra Adit"as

'$ 0ndra, this mi.ht o thine 0 raise most hi.hl" or the sacri4ce

That thou, O Cord o Power, dost sla" Vritra with mi.ht

?$ For thee this Soma hath 2een ressed, in whose wild 5o" thou madest once

Sam2ara Di+odasa9s re"G O 0ndra, drin/

$ !ome unto us, O 0ndra, dear, still con7uerin., unconceala2le

=ide as a mountain sread on all sides, Cord o hea+en

>$


41/193


42/193

'$ The 5uice o Soma thus di6used, sweet to the taste the 2ri.ht cows drin/,

=ho tra+ellin. in slendour close to mi.ht" 0ndra9s side re5oice, .ood in their own

suremac"$

?$ Thus hath the Soma, .laddenin. drau.ht, roduced the ra"er that .i+eth 5o"G

Thou, mi.htiest, Thunder-armed, hast dri+en 2" orce the Dra.on rom the earth,

laudin. thine own suremac"$

$ 8" men hath 0ndra 2een ad+anced, the Vritra-sla"er, to 5o" and stren.th$

Him onl" we in+o/e or hel in 2attles whether .reat or smallG 2e he our aid in deeds

o mi.ht

>$ 3ncon7uered stren.th is onl" thine, 0ndra, Stonecaster, Thunder-armed

=hen thou with th" surassin. ower smotest to death that .uileul 2east, laudin.

thine own suremac"$

*$ %o orward, meet the oe, 2e 2old@ th" 2olt o thunder is not chec/ed

Manliness, 0ndra, is th" stren.th$ Sla" Vritra, ma/e the waters thine, laudin. thine

own suremac"

$ =hen war and 2attles are on oot, 2oot" is o6ered to the 2old$

Yo/e thou th" wildl"-rushin. 2a"s$ =hom wilt thou sla", and whom enrichJ Do thou,

O 0ndra, ma/e us rich

B$ =cll ha+e the" eaten and re5oiced@ the riends ha+e risen and assed awa"G

The sa.es luminous in themsel+es ha+e raised thee with their latest h"mn$ Now,

0ndra, "o/e th" two 2a" steeds

($ %raciousl" listen to our son.s$ Ma.ha+an, 2e not ne.li.ent

=hen wilt thou ma/e us .loriousJ Ma/e this, onl" this thine end and aim$ Now,

0ndra "o/e th" two 2a" steeds$

)$ =ithin the waters runs the Moon, he with the 2eauteous win.s in hea+en$

Ye li.htnin.s with "our .olden wheels, men 4nd not "our a2idin.-lace$ Mar/ this

m" woe, "e Earth and S/"

'I$ To meet "our treasure-2rin.in. car, the mi.ht" car most dear to us$

As+ins, the #ishi is reared, "our worshier, with son.s o raise$ Co+ers o

sweetness, hear m" call


43/193

DE!ADE 0V A.ni and others$

'$ O A.ni, %od, we /indle thee, reul.ent, wastin. not awa",

That this more .lorious uel ma" send orth or thee its shine to hea+en$ 8rin. oodto those who sin. th" raise

?$ =ith o6erin.s o our own we choose thee, A.ni, as our Hotar riest,

Piercin. and 2ri.htl" shinin.-at "our .lad carouse-ser+ed with trimmed .rass at

sacri4ce$ Thou waxest .reat$

$ O hea+enl" Dawn, awa/en us to amle oulence to-da",

E+en as thou didst wa/en us with Sat"asra+as, Va""a9s son, hi.h 2orn deli.htul

with th" steeds

>$ Send us a mind that 2rin.s deli.ht, send ener." and mental ower$

Then-at "our .lad carouse-let men 5o" in th" lo+e, sweet 5uice as /ine in astura.e$

Thou waxest .reat,

*$ %reat, as his nature is, throu.h ower, terri2le, he hath waxed in stren.th,

Cord o 2a" steeds, stron.-5awed, su2lime, he in 5oined hands or .lor"9s sa/e hath

.rased his iron thunder2olt$

$ He, 0ndra, +eril" will mount the owerul car that 4nds the /ine,

=ho thin/s uon the well-4lled 2owl, the tawn" coursers9 harnesser$ Now, 0ndra,

"o/e th" two 2a" steeds

B$ 0 thin/ o A.ni who is /ind, whom, as their home, the milch-/ine see/G

=hom 1eet-oot coursers see/ as home, and stron. endurin. steeds as home$ 8rin.

ood to those who sin. th" raise

($ No eril, no se+ere distress, "e %ods, a6ects the mortal man

=hom Ar"aman and Mitra lead, and Varuna, o one accord, 2e"ond his oes$

DE!ADE V Soma Pa+amana

'$ Flow orth, O Soma, 1ow thou onward, sweet to 0ndra9s Mitra9s, Pushan9s, 8ha.a9s

taste$


44/193

?$ #un orth to 2attle, con7uerin. the Vritras@ thou seedest to 7uell the oes li/e

one exactin. de2ts$

$ Flow onward, Soma, as a mi.ht" sea, as Father o the %ods, to e+er" orm$

>$ Flow onward, Soma, 1ow or mi.ht" stren.th, as a stron. courser, 2athed, to win

the ri;e$

*$ Fair 0ndu hath 1owed on or raturous 5o", sa.e, or .ood ortune, in the waters9

la$

$ 0n thee, e6used$ O Soma, we re5oice oursel+es or .reat suremac" in 4.htG

Thou, Pa+amana, enterest into mi.ht" deeds$

B$ =ho are these radiant men in serried ran/, #udra9s "oun. heroes, too, with no2le

steedsJ

($ A.ni, with h"mns ma" we now accomlish that which thou lo+est,

Stren.th, li/e a horse, ausicious stren.th with ser+ice$

)$ The stron. "ouths ha+e come orth to +iew, to show their stren.th, %od Sa+itar9s

7uic/enin. ener."G

Ye warrior horsemen, win the hea+ens$

'I$ Soma, 1ow slendid with th" coious stream in due succession throu.h the

amle 1eece$

!HAPTE# 00

DE!ADE 0$ 0ndra

'$ %i+er rom all sides, 2rin. to us rom e+er" side, thou whom as stron.est we

entreat

?$ This 8rahman, comer at due time, named 0ndra, is renowned and raised$

$ The 8rahmans with their h"mns exaltin. 0ndra increased his stren.th that he

mi.ht slau.hter Ahi$

>$ Ana+as wrou.ht a chariot or th" courser, and T+ashtar, much-in+o/ed the 2olt

that .ittersG

*$ #est, wealth to him who lon.s or wealth the riteless stirs not his lo+e nor wins

his wa" to riches$


45/193

$ The cows are e+er ure and all-suortin., the %ods are e+er ree rom stain and

2lemish$

B$ =ith all th" 2eaut" come The /ine aroachin. with ull udders ollow on th"

ath$

($ Ma" we, inha2itin. a meath-rich dwellin., increase our wealth, and thin/ o thee,

O 0ndra

)$ The Maruts with air h"mns chant out their raise-son.G this 0ndra, amed and

"outhul, shouts accordant$

'I$ Sin. to "our 0ndra, mi.htiest Vritra-sla"er, sin. to the Sa.e the son. that he

acceteth

DE!ADE 00 A.ni 0ndra

'$ O2ser+ant A.ni hath aeared, o2lation-2earer with his car$

?$ O A.ni, 2e our nearest riend, "ea, our rotector and our /ind deli+erer

$ Ci/e wondrous 8ha.a, A.ni deals treasure amon. the mi.ht"$

>$ Far o6 or resent e+en now, send orth th" shoutin. 4rst o all

*$ Dawn dri+es awa" her sister9s .loom, and throu.h her excellence ma/es her

retrace her ath$

$ Ma" we, with 0ndra and the %ods to aid us, 2rin. these existin. worlds to ull

comletion

B$ Ci/e streams o water on their wa", let 2ounties, 0ndra, 1ow rom thee

($ =ith this ma" we o2tain stren.th .od-aointed, ha" with 2ra+e sons throu.h

a hundred winters

)$ =ith stren.th let Mitra, Varuna swell o2lations@ do thou reare or us rich ood, O

0ndra

'I$ 0ndra is :in. o all the world$


'$ At the Tri/adru/as the .reat and stron. en5o"ed the 2arle"-2rew$ =ith Vishnu did

he drin/ the ressed-out Soma 5uice, e+en as he would$


46/193

That hath so hei.htened him the .reat, the wide to do his mi.ht" wor/$ So did the

%od attend the %od, true 0ndu 0ndra who is true$

?$ This %od who sees or thousands o man/ind, the li.ht, the thou.ht o oets, and

the Caw,

The 2rilliant one, hath sent orth hither all the DawnsG sotless, one-minded, ;ealous

in their home the" dwell, with thou.ht uon the Steer$

$ !ome to us, 0ndra, rom aar, conductin. us, as, to the .atherin.s, a Cord o

heroes, as an archer :in., the heroes9 Cord

=e come with .its o leasant ood, with 1owin. 5uice, in+o/in. thee, as sons in+ite

a sire, that we ma" win the soil, thee, 2ounteousest, or .ain o soil$

>$ Coudl" 0 call that 0ndra Ma.ha+an, the mi.ht", resistless, e+ermore ossessin.

man" .lories$

Hol", most li2eral, ma" he lead us on to riches, throu.h son.s, and, thunder-armed

ma/e all our athwa"s leasant

*$ Heard 2e our ra"er 0n thou.ht 0 honour A.ni 4rstG now strai.htwa" we elect this

hea+enl" coman", 0ndra and Va"u we elect$

For when our latest thou.ht is raised and on Vi+as+an centred well, then do our hol"

son.s .o orward on their wa", our son.s as 9twere unto the %ods$

$ To Vishnu, to the mi.ht" whom the Maruts ollow, let "our h"mns 2orn in son. .o

orth, E+a"amarut

To the stron., +er" hol" 2and adorned with 2racelets, that rushes on in 5o" and e+er

roars or +i.our

B$ =ith this his .olden slendour uri"in. him, 2e with his own allies su2dues all

enemies, as Sura with his own allies$

!leansin. himsel with stream o 5uice he shines orth "ellow-hued and red, when

with the raisers he encomasses all, orms, with raisers ha+in. se+en mouths$

($ 0 raise this %od, arent o hea+en and earth, exceedin. wise, ossessed o real

ener.", .i+er o treasure, thin/er dear to all,

=hose slendour is su2lime, whose li.ht shone 2rilliant in, creation, who, wise and

.olden-handed, in his 2eaut" mader the s/"$

)$ A.ni 0 deem our Hotar-riest, muni4cent wealth-.i+er, Son o Stren.th, who,

/noweth all that is, e+en as the Sa.e who, /noweth all$


47/193

Cord o air rites, a %od with orm erected turnin. to the %ods, he, when the 1ame

hath srun. orth rom the hol" oil, the o6ered atness, lon.s or it as it .lows

2ri.ht$

'I$ This, 0ndra dancer was th" hero deed, th" 4rst and ancient wor/, worth" to 2e

told orth in hea+en,

E+en thine who urtheredst lie with a %od9s own ower, reein. the 1oods$ All that

is .odless ma" he con7uer with his mi.ht, and, Cord o Hundred Powers, 4nd or us

stren.th and ood

DE!ADE 0V Soma Pa+amana

'$ Hi.h is th" 5uice9s 2irthG thou.h set it hea+en, on earth it hath o2tained dread

shelterin. ower and .reat renown$

?$ 0n sweetest and most .laddenin. stream 1ow ure, O Soma, on th" wa", ressed

out or 0ndra, or his drin/

$ Flow onward mi.ht" with th" stream, insiritin. the Maruts9 Cord, winnin. all

riches with th" ower

>$ Flow onward with that 5uice o thine most excellent, that 2rin.s deli.ht, sla"in.

the wic/ed, dear to %ods

*$ Three se+eral words are utteredG /ine are lowin., cows who .i+e the mil/@ the

tawn"-hued .oes 2ellowin. on$

$ For 0ndra .irt 2" Maruts, 1ow, thou 0ndu, +er" rich in meath, to seat thee in the

lace o son.

B$ Stron., mountain-2orn, the stal/ hath 2een ressed in the streams or raturous

5o"$ Haw/-li/e he settles in his home$

($ %old-hued as one who .i+eth stren.th 1ow on or %ods to drin/, a drau.ht or

Va"u and the Marut host

)$ Soma, the dweller on the hills, e6used, hath 1owed into the sie+e$ All-2ounteous

art thou in carouse$

'I$ The Sa.e o hea+en whose heart is wise, when laid 2etween 2oth hands, with

roars, .i+es us deli.htul owers o lie$



48/193

'$ The rature-sheddin. Somas ha+e 1owed orth in our assem2l", ressed to .lori"

our li2eral lords$

?$ The Somas, s/illed in son., the wa+es, ha+e led the water orward, li/e 2u6aloes

seedin. to the woods$

$ 0ndu 1ow on, a mi.ht" 5uice@ .lori" us amon. the ol/G dri+e all our enemies

awa"

>$ For thou art stron. 2" slendourG we, O Pa+amana, call on thee, the 2rilliant

loo/er on the li.ht$

*$ 0ndu, enli.htener, dear, the thou.ht o oets, hath 1owed clearl", li/e a

charioteer who starts the steed$

$ Throu.h our desire o heroes, /ine, and horses, otent Soma dros, 2rilliant and

swit, ha+e 2een e6used$

%od, wor/in. with man/ind, 1ow on@ to 0ndra .o th" .laddenin. 5uiceG to Va"u

mount as Caw commands

From hea+en hath Pa+amana made, as 9twere, the mar+ellous thunder, and the lot"

li.ht o all man/ind$

)$ Pressed or the .laddenin. drau.ht the dros 1ow orth a2undantl" with son.,

1ow onward with the stream o meath$

'I$ #eosin. on the ri+er9s wa+e, the Sa.e hath widel" 1owed around, 2earin. the

2ard whom man" lo+e$

8OO: V0

!HAPTE# 0

DE!ADE 0 Soma Pa+amana

'$ The %ods ha+e come to 0ndu well-descended, 2eauti4ed with mil/, the acti+e

crusher o the oe$

?$ Acti+e, while 2ein. uri4ed, he hath assailed all enemiesG the" dec/ the Sa.ewith hol" h"mns$

$ Pourin. all .lories hither, he, e6used, hath assed within the 5arG 0ndu on 0ndra is

2estowed$

>$ From the two ress-2oards is the 5uice sent, li/e a car-horse, to the sie+eG the

steed stes orward to the .oal$


49/193

*$ 0metuous, 2ri.ht, ha+e the" come orth, unwearied in their seed, li/e 2ulls,

dri+in. the 2lac/ s/in ar awa"$

$ Soma, thou 1owest chasin. oes, 4nder o wisdom and deli.htG dri+e thou the

.odless ol/ aar

Flow onward with that stream wherewith thou .a+est slendour to the Sun,

seedin. the waters /ind to man

($ Flow onward thou who stren.thenedst 0ndra to slau.hter Vritra who comassed

and sta"ed the mi.ht" 1oods

)$ Flow onward, 0ndu, with this ood or him who in th" wild deli.hts 2attered the

nine-and-ninet" down

'I$ Flow, ressed, into the 4lter, seed the hea+enl" one who winneth wealth, who

2rin.eth 2oot" throu.h our 5uice


'$ The tawn" 8ull hath 2ellowed, air as mi.ht" Mitra to 2eholdG he .leams and

1ashes with the Sun$

?$ =e choose to-da" that chariot-steed o thine, the stron., that 2rin.s us 2liss, the

.uardian, the desire o all$

$ Adh+ar"u, to the 4lter lead the Soma 5uice exressed with stonesG ma/e thou it

ure or 0ndra9s drin/$

>$ Swit runs this .i+er o deli.ht, e+en the stream o 1owin.5uiceG Swit runs this

.i+er o deli.ht$

*$ Pour hitherward, O Soma, wealth in thousands and heroic stren.th, and /ee

renown secure or us

-$ The ancient li+in. ones ha+e come unto a newer restin.-lace$ The" made the

Sun that he mi.ht shine$

B$ Soma, 1ow on exceedin. 2ri.ht with loud roar to the reser+oirs, restin. in wooden

+ats, th" home

($ O Soma, thou, art stron. and 2ri.ht, otent, O %od, with otent swa"G thou,

mi.ht" one, ordainest laws$

)$ For ood, 1ow onward with th" stream, cleansed and made 2ri.ht 2" saient menG

0ndu$ with sheen aroach the mil/


50/193

'I$ Soma, 1ow on with leasant stream, stron. and de+oted to the %ods, our riend,

unto the woollen sie+e$

''$ 8" this solemnit", Soma, thou, thou.h .reat, hast 2een increasedG in 5o" thou,

+eril" actest li/e a 2ull

'?$ Most acti+e and 2ene+olent, this Pa+amana sent to us or lot" riendshi

meditates$

'$ 0ndu, to us or this .reat rite, 2earin. as 9twere th" wa+e to %ods, unwearied,

thou art 1owin. on$

'>$ !hasin. our oemen, dri+in. o6 the .odless, Soma 1oweth on, .oin. to 0ndra9s

settled lace$


'$ !leansin. thee, Soma, in th" stream, thou 1owest in a water" ro2eG .i+er o

wealth, thou sittest in the lace o Caw, O %od, a ountain made o .old$

?$ Hence srin/le orth the 5uice e6used, Soma, the 2est o sacred .its, who, riend

o man, hath run amid the water-streams He hath ressed Soma out with stones$

$ Exressed 2" stones, O Soma, and ur.ed throu.h the lon. wool o the shee,

thou, enterin. the ress-2oards e+en as men a ort, .old-hued hast settled in the

+ats$

>$ O Soma,--or the east o %ods, ri+er-li/e he hath swelled with sur.e, sweet withthe li7uor o the stal/, as one who wa/es, into the +at that dros with meath$

*$ Pressed out 2" ressers, Soma .oes o+er the 1eec" 2ac/s o shee, .oes, e+en

as with a mare, in tawn"-coloured stream, .oes in a sweetl"-soundin. stream$

$ O Soma, 0ndu, e+er" da" th" riendshi hath 2een m" deli.ht$ Man" 4ends ollow

me hel me, thou tawn"-huedG ass on 2e"ond these 2arriers

B$ Det-handed thou when uri4ed litest th" +oice amid the sea$ Thou, Pa+amana,

ma/est riches 1ow to us, "ellow, a2undant, much desired$

($ The li+in. dros o Soma 5uice our, as the" 1ow, the .laddenin. drin/, intelli.ent

dros a2o+e the station o the sea, exhilaratin., droin. meath$

)$ Soma, while thou art cleansed, most dear and watchul in the shee9s lon. wool,

most li/e to An.iras thou hast 2ecome a sa.e$ Srin/le our sacri4ce with mead


51/193


52/193

Stron., in the 4lter, on the 1eec" summit, ressed rom the stone, Soma hath

waxen mi.ht"$

($ Coud nei.hs the tawn" steed when started, settlin. dee in the wooden +essel

while the" cleanse him$

Ced 2" the men he ma/es the mil/ his raiment@ then shall he, o himsel, en.ender

worshi$

)$ This thine own Soma, rich in meath, O 0ndra, the Stron., hath 1owed into the

Stron. One9s 4lter$

The swit steed, 2ounteous, .i+in. hundreds, thousands, hath reached the sacred

.rass which ne+er ails him$

'I$ Flow onward, Soma, rich in meath, and hol", enro2ed in waters, on the 1eec"

summit

Settle in +essels that are ull o atness, as cheerin. and most .laddenin. drin/ or

0ndra


'$ 0n oreront o the cars orth .oes the hero, the leader, see/in. soilG his host

re5oices$

Soma endues his ro2e o lastin. colours, and 2lesses, or his riends, their calls on

0ndra$

?$ Th" streams ha+e 2een oured orth with all their sweetness, when, cleansed

thou assest throu.h the woollen 4lter$

The race o /ine thou cleansest, Pa+amana Thou didst 2e.etG and seed the Sun

with slendours$

$ Cet us sin. raises to the %odsG sin. loudl", send "e the Soma orth or mi.ht"

riches

Cet him 1ow, sweetl"-1a+oured, throu.h the 4lterG let the %od 0ndu settle in the

2ea/er

>$ 3r.ed on, the ather o the earth and hea+en hath .one orth li/e a car to .ather

2oot"$

%oin. to 0ndra, sharenin. his weaons, and in his hands containin. e+er" treasure$


53/193

*$ =hen, 2" the law o the Most Hi.h, in resence o hea+en and earth, the ond

mind9s utterance ormed him$

Then, loudl" lowin., came the cows to 0ndu, the chosen, welllo+ed master in the

2ea/er$

$ Ten sisters, ourin. out the rain to.ether, the sa.e9s 7uic/l"-mo+in. thou.hts,

adorn him$

Hither hath run the .old-hued child o Sur"a, and reached the +at li/e a 1eet

+i.orous courser$

B$ =hen 2eauties stri+e or him as or a char.er, then stri+e the son.s as eole or

the sunli.ht$

A mi.ht" Sa.e, he 1ows enro2ed in waters and h"mns as 9twree a stall that /ine

ma" roser$

($ Stron. 0ndu, 2athed in mil/, 1ows on or 0ndra, Soma excitin., stren.th, or his

carousal$

He 7uells mali.nit" and sla"s the demons, :in. o the homestead, he who .i+es us

comort$

)$ Pour orth this wealth with this uri4cationG 1ow onward to the "ellow la/e, O

0ndu

Here, too, the 2ri.ht one, wind-swit, ull o wisdom, shall .i+e a son to him who

cometh 7uic/l"$

'I$ Soma, the mi.ht", when, the waters9 o6srin., he chose the %ods, erormed

that .reat achie+ement$

He, Pa+amana, .ranted stren.th to 0ndraG he, 0ndu, .enerated li.ht in Sur"a$

''$ As or a chariot-race, the s/ilul sea/er, 4rst h"mn, in+entor, hath with son.

2een started$

The sisters ten uon the 1eec" summit adorn the car-horse in the restin.-laces$

'?$ Hastenin. onward li/e the wa+es o waters our hol" h"mns are comin. orth to

Soma$

To him the" .o with lowl" adoration, and, lon.in., enter him who lon.s to meet

them$

!HAPTE# 00


54/193


55/193


56/193

And, seated on the .rass, raisin. their +oice, assumed the mil/, the co+erin. ro2e

wherewith the address stream$

''$ The" 2alm him, 2alm him o+er, 2alm him thorou.hl", caress the mi.ht" stren.th

and 2alm it with the meath$

The" sei;e the 1"in. Steer at the stream9s 2reathin.-laceG cleansin. with .old the"

.ras the animal herein$

'?$ Sread is th" cleansin. 4lter, 8rahmanasatiG as rince thou enterest its lim2s

rom e+er" side$

The raw, whose mass hath not 2een heated, .ains not thisG the" onl" which are

dressed, which 2ear, attain to it$


'$ To 0ndra, to the mi.ht" one, let these .old-coloured 5uices .o,

Dros 2orn as Caw rescri2es, that 4nd the li.ht o hea+en5

?$ Flow +i.ilant or 0ndra, thou Soma, "ea, 0ndu, run thou orth@

8rin. hither slendid stren.th that 4nds the li.ht o hea+en

$ Sit down, O riends, and sin. aloud to him who uri4es himsel$

Dec/ him or .lor", li/e a child, with hol" rites

>$ Friends, h"mn "our Cord who ma/es him ure or raturous

carouseG let them

Sweeten him, as a child, with lauds and sacred .its

*$ 8reath o the mi.ht" Dames, the !hild, seedin. the lan o9 sacri4ce,

Surasses all thin.s that are dear, "ea, rom o old

$ 0n mi.ht, O 0ndu, with th" streams 1ow or the 2an7uet o the %odsG

#ich in meath, Soma, in our 2ea/er ta/e th" seat

B$ Soma, while 4ltered, with his wa+e 1ows throu.h the lon. wool o the shee,

#oarin., while uri4ed, 2eore the +oice o son.$

($ The seech is uttered or the Sa.e, or Soma 2ein. uri4edG


57/193

8rin. meed as 9twere to one who ma/es thee .lad with h"mns

)$ Flow to us, 0ndu, +er" stron., e6used, with wealth o /ine and, steeds,

And do thou la" a2o+e the mil/ th" radiant hue

'I$ Voices ha+e sun. aloud to thee as 4nder-out o wealth or usG

=e clothe the hue thou wearest with a ro2e o mil/$

''$ %old-hued and lo+el" in his course throu.h tan.les o the wooli he 1owsG

Stream orth heroic ame uon the worshiers

'?$ On throu.h the lon. wool o the shee to the meath-droin. +at he 1owsG

The #ishis9 se+enold 7uire hath sun. aloud to him$

DE!ADE 0V Soma Pa+amana

0$ For 0ndra 1ow, thou Soma, on, as most insirin. drin/, exceedin. rich in sweets$

%reat, most celestial, .laddenin. drin/

?$ Ma/e hi.h and slendid .lor" shine hitherward, Cord o ood, %od, on the riend o

%odsG

3nclose the cas/ o middle air

$ Press "e and our him, li/e a steed, laud-worth", seedin. throu.h the re.ion and

the 1ood,

=ho swims in water, dwells in wood

>$ Him, e+en this Steer who mil/s the hea+ens, him with a thousand streams,

distillin. raturous 5o",

Him who 2rin.s all thin.s excellent$

*$ E6used is he who 2rin.s .ood thin.s, who 2rin.s us store o9 wealth and sweet

rereshin. ood,

Soma who 2rin.s us 7uiet homes$

$ For, +eril", Pa+amana, thou, di+ine endued with 2ri.htest slendour callin. all

!reatures to immortalit"$

B$ E6used, he 1oweth in a stream, 2est rature-.i+er, in the lon.wool o the shee,


58/193

Sortin., as 9twere the waters9 wa+e$

($ He who rom out the roc/" ca+ern with his mi.ht too/ orth the red-reul.ent

cows--

Thou drewest to th"sel the stall o /ine and steedsG 2urst it,

2ra+e Cord, li/e one in mail@ "ea, 2urst it, O 2ra+e Cord, li/e one in mail

PA#T SE!OND

8OO: 0

!HAPTE# 0

Om$ %lor" to the Sama+eda to Cord %anesa .lor" Om$

0 Soma Pa+amana

'$ Sin. orth to 0ndu, O "e men, to him who now is uri4ed,

Fain to a" worshi to the %ods

?, To.ether with th" leasant 5uice the Athar+ans ha+e commin.led$ mil/$

Di+ine, %od-lo+in., or the %od$

$ 8rin. health to cattle with th" 1ow, health to the eole, health, to steeds,

Health, O thou :in., to .rowin. lants

00 Soma Pa+amana

'$ 8ri.ht are these Somas 2lent with mil/, with li.ht that 1ashes 2rilliantl",

And orm that shouteth all around$

?$ #oused 2" his dri+ers and sent orth, the stron. Steed hath comeG ni.h or soil,

As warriors when the" stand arra"ed$

$ Seciall", Soma, Sa.e, 2" da", comin. to.ether or our weal,

Ci/e Sur"a, 1ow or us to see


59/193

000 Soma Pa+amana

'$ The streams o Pa+amana, thine, Sa.e, mi.ht" one, ha+e oured them orth,

Ci/e coursers ea.er or renown$

?$ The" ha+e 2een oured uon the #eece towards the meath-distillin. +atG

The hol" son.s ha+e run. aloud$

$ Ci/e milch-/ine comin. home, the dros o Soma 5uice ha+e reached the la/e,

Ha+e reached the shrine o sacri4ce

0V A.ni

'$ !ome, A.ni, raised with son. to east and sacri4cial o6erin.sG sit

As Hotar on the hol" .rass

?$ So, An.iras, we ma/e thee stron. with uel and with hol" oil$

8la;e hi.h, thou "oun.est o the %ods

$ For us thou winnest, A.ni, %od, heroic stren.th exceedin. .reat, Far-sreadin.

and o hi.h renown$

V Mitra Varuna

'$ Varuna, Mitra, saient air, our atness on our astures, our

Meath on the re.ions o the air

?, %laddened 2" homa.e, rulin. ar, "e rei.n 2" ma5est" o mi.ht,

Pure in "our wa"s, or e+ermore$

$ Cauded 2"


60/193

?$ O 0ndra, let th" lon.-maned 2a"s, "o/ed 2" ra"er, 2rin. thee hitherward

%i+e ear and listen to our ra"ers

$ =e Soma-2earin. 8rahmans call thee Soma-drin/er with th" riend,

=e, 0ndra, 2rin.in. Soma 5uice$

V00 0ndra A.ni

'$ 0ndra and A.ni, mo+ed 2" son.s, come to the 5uice, the recious dewG

Drin/ "e thereo, imelled 2" ra"er

?$ 0ndra and A.ni, with the man who lauds comes +isi2le sacri4ceG

So drin/ "e 2oth this 1owin. 5uice

$ =ith orce o sacri4ce 0 see/ 0ndra, A.ni who lo+e the wiseG

=ith Soma let them sate them here

V000 Soma Pa+amana

'$ Hi.h is th" 5uice9s 2irthG thou.h set in hea+en, on earth it hath o2tained

Dread shelterin. ower and .reat renown$

?$ Finder o room and reedom, 1ow or 0ndra whom we must adore,

For Varuna and the Marut host

$ Stri+in. to win, with him we .ain all riches rom the enem",

Yea, all the .lories o man/ind,

0L Soma Pa+amana

'$ !leansin. thee, Soma, in th" stream, thou 1owest in water" ro2e$

%i+er o wealth, thou sittest in the lace o Caw, O %od, a ountain made o .old$

?$ He, mil/in. or dear meath the hea+enl" udder, hath sat in the ancient .atherin.-

lace$


61/193

=ashed 2" the men, ar-si.hted, stron., thou streamest to ther honoura2le

reser+oir$

L Soma Pa+amana

'$ #un onward to the reser+oir and seat theeG cleansed 2" the men seed orward to

the 2attle$

Ma/in. thee .loss" li/e an a2le courser, orth to the sacred .rass with reins the"

lead thee$

?$ 0ndu, the well-armed %od is 1owin. onward, he who a+erts the curse and .uards

the homesteads$

Father, 2e.etter o the %ods, most s/ilul, the 2uttress o the hea+ens and earth9s

suorter$

L0 0ndra

'$ Ci/e /ine unmil/ed we call aloud, hero, to thee, and sin. th"

raise,

Coo/er on hea+enl" li.ht, Cord o this mo+in. world, Cord, 0ndra o what mo+eth

not$

?$ None other li/e to thee, o earth or o the hea+ens, hath 2een or e+er will 2e

2orn$

Desirin. horses, 0ndra Ma.ha+an and /ine, as men o mi.ht we call on thee$

L00 0ndra

'$ =ith what hel will he come to us, wonderul, e+erwaxin. riendJ

=ith what most mi.ht" coman"J

?$ =hat .enuine and most li2eral drau.ht will sirit thee with 5uice to 2urst

Oen e9en stron.l"-.uarded wealthJ

$ Do thou who art rotector o us th" riends who raise thee

=ith hundred aids aroach us


62/193

L000 0ndra

'$ As cows low to their cal+es in stalls, so with our son.s we .lori"

This 0ndra, e+en "our wondrous %od who chec/s attac/, who ta/es deli.ht inrecious 5uice$

?$ !elestial, 2ounteous .i+er, .irt a2out with mi.ht, rich, mountain-li/e, in leasant

thin.s,--

Him swit we see/ or oodul 2oot" rich in /ine, 2rou.ht hundredold and

thousandold$

L0V 0ndra

'$ Coud-sin.in. at t2e sacred rite where Soma 1ows, we riests in+o/e$

=ith haste, that he ma" hel, as the 2ard9s cherisher$ 0ndra who 4ndeth wealth or

"ou$

?$ =hom, air o chee/, in rature o the 5uice, the 4rm resistless sla"ers hinder notG

%i+er o .lorious wealth to him who sin.s his raise, honourin. him who toils and

ours$

LV Soma Pa+amana

'$ 0n sweetest and most .laddenin. stream 1ow ure, O Soma, on th" wa",

Pressed out or 0ndra, or his drin/

?$ Fiend-7ueller, riend o all men, he hath reached his shrine, his dwellin.-lace$

=ithin the iron-hammered +at$

$ 8e thou 2est Vritra-sla+er, 2est .ranter o room, most li2eralG

Promote our wealth" rinces9 .its

LV0 Soma Pa+amana

'$ For 0ndra 1ow, thou Soma, on, as most insirin. drin/, most rich in sweets,


63/193


64/193

?$ The sea/er, unassaila2le master o this ra"er, the ton.ue o sacri4ce, ours

orth the leasant meath$

As son 2e sets the name o mother and o sire in the ar distance, in the third 2ri.ht

realm o hea+en$

$ Sendin. orth 1ashes he hath 2ellowed to the 5ars, led 2" the men into the .olden

reser+oir$

The mil/ers o the sacri4ce ha+e sun. to himG Cord o three hei.hts, thou shinest

2ri.htl" o9er the Dawns$

LL A.ni

'$ Sin. to "our A.ni with each son., at e+er" sacri4ce or stren.th

!ome, let us raise the wise and e+erlastin. %od, e+en as a well-2elo+ed riendG

?$ The Son o Stren.th@ or is 2e not our .racious CordJ Cet us ser+e him who 2ears

our .its

0n 2attles ma" he 2e our hel and stren.thener, "ea, 2e the sa+iour o our li+es

LL0 A.ni

'$ O A.ni, come@ ar other son.s o raise will 0 sin. orth to thee$

=ax mi.ht" with these Soma dros

?$ =here9er th" mind alies itsel, +i.our reeminent hast thouG

There wilt thou .ain a dwellin.-lace$

$ Not or a moment onl" lasts th" 2ount", Cord o man" menG

Our ser+ice thereore shalt thou .ain$

LL00 0ndra

'$ =e call on thee, O matchless one$ =e, see/in. hel, ossessin. nothin. 4rm

oursel+es$

!all on thee, wondrous, thunder-armedG


65/193

?$ On thee or aid in sacri4ce, This "outh o ours, the 2old, the terri2le, 2ath .one

orth$

=e thereore, we th" riends, 0ndra, ha+e chosen thee, soil winner, as our

succourer$

LL000 0ndra

'$ So, 0ndra, riend o son., do we draw near to thee with lon.in.@ we ha+e

streamed to thee

!omin. li/e 1oods that ollow 1oods$

?$ As ri+ers swell the ocean, so, hero, our ra"ers increase th" mi.ht,

Thou.h o th"sel, O Thunderer, waxin. da" 2" da"$

$ =ith hol" son. the" 2ind to the 2road wide-"o/ed car the 2a" steeds o the

7uic/enin. %od,

8earers o 0ndra, "o/ed 2" word$

!HAPTE# 00

0 0ndra

0$ 0n+ite "e 0ndra with a son. to drin/ "our drau.ht o Soma 5uicel

All-con7uerin. Sata/ratu, most muni4cent o all who li+e

?$ Cauded 2" man", much-in+o/ed, leader o son. renowned o oldG

His name is 0ndra, tell it orth

$ 0ndra, the dancer, 2e to us the .i+er o a2undant wealthG

The mi.ht" 2rin. it us /nee-dee

00 0ndra

'$ Sin. "e a son., to ma/e him .lad, to 0ndra, Cord o tawn" steeds,

The Soma-drin/er, O m" riends

?$ To him, the 2ounteous, sa" the laud, and let us .lori", as men


66/193

Ma" do, the .i+er o true .its

$ O 0ndra, Cord o 2oundless mi.ht, or us thou see/est soil and /ine,

Thou see/est .old or us, .ood Cord

000 0ndra

'$ This, e+en this, O 0ndra, we imloreG as th" de+oted riends,

The :an+as raise thee with their h"mns$

?$ Nau.ht else, O Thunderer, ha+e 0 raised in the s/illed sin.er9s eulo."@

On th" laud onl" ha+e 0 thou.ht$

$ The %ods see/ him who resses out the Soma@ the" desire not sleeG

The" unish sloth unweariedl"

0V 0ndra

'$ For 0ndra, lo+er o carouse, loud 2e our son.s a2out the 5uiceG

Cet oets sin. the son. o raise

?$ =e summon 0ndra to the drau.ht, in whom all .lories rest, in whom

The se+en communities re5oice$

$ At the Tri/adru/as the %ods san sacri4ce that stirs the mindG

Cet our son.s aid and roser it

V 0ndra

'$ Here, 0ndra, is th" Soma drau.ht, made ure uon the sacred .rassG

#un hither, come and drin/ thereo

?$ Stron.-ra"ed adored with earnest h"mns this 5uice is shed or th" deli.htG

Thou art in+o/ed, A/handala

$ To :undaa""a, .randson9s son, .randson o Srin.a+rish to thee,


67/193

To him ha+e 0 addressed m" thou.ht$

V0 0ndra

'$ 0ndra, as one with mi.ht" arm, .ather or us with th" ri.ht hand,

Maniold and nutritious soil

?$ =e /now thee mi.ht" in th" deeds, o mi.ht" 2ount", mi.ht" wealth$

Mi.ht" in measure, romt to aid$

$ Hero when thou wouldst .i+e th" .its, neither the %ods nor mortal men

#estrain thee li/e a earul 2ull$

V00 0ndra

'$ Hero, the Soma 2ein. shed, 0 our the 5uice or thee to drin/G

Sate thee and 4nish th" carouse

?$ Cet not the ools, or those who moc/, 2e.uile thee when the" see/ thine aidG

Co+e not the enem" o ra"er

$ Here let them cheer thee well sulied with mil/ to .reat muni4cenceG

Drin/ as the wild 2ull drin/s the la/e

V000 lndra

0$ Here is the Soma 5uice exressedG O Vasu, drin/ till thou art ull

3ndaunted %od, we .i+e it thee

?$ =ashed 2" the men, ressed out with stones, strained throu.h the 4lter made o

wool,

9Tis li/e a courser 2athed in streams$

$ This 5uice ha+e we made sweet or thee li/e 2arle", 2lendin. it with mil/$

0ndra, 0 call thee to our east$


68/193

0L 0ndra

'$ So, Cord o aKuent .its, this 5uice hath 2een exressed or thee with stren.thG

Drin/ o it, thou who lo+est son.

?$ 0ncline th" 2od" to the 5uice which suits th" .odli/e nature wellG

Thee, Soma-lo+er let it cheer

$ O 0ndra, let it enter 2oth th" 1an/s, enter th" head with ra"er,

=ith 2ount", hero 2oth thine arms

L 0ndra

'$ O !ome "e hither, sit "e down@ to 0ndra sin. "e orth "our son.,

!omanions, 2rin.in. h"mns o raise,

?$ Caud 0ndra, richest o the rich, who ruleth o+er no2lest wealth,

8eside the 1owin. Soma 5uice

$ Ma" he stand near us in our need with all a2undance, or our wealthG

=ith stren.th ma" he come ni.h to us

L0 0ndra

'$ 0n e+er" need, in e+er" ra" we call, as riends to succour us,

0ndra, the mi.htiest o all$

?$ 0 call him, mi.ht" to resist, the hero o our ancient home,

Thee whom m" sire in+o/ed o old$

$ 0 he will hear us, let him come with succour o a thousand /inds,

=ith stren.th and riches, to our call

L0 0ndra


69/193

'$ =hen Somas 1ow thou ma/est ure, 0ndra, th" mind that merits laud,

For .ain o stren.th that e+er .rowsG or .reat is he$

?$ 0n hea+en9s 4rst re.ion, in the seat o %ods, is he who 2rin.s success,

Most .lorious, romt to sa+e, who wins the water1oods$

$ Him 0 in+o/e, to win the soil, e+en mi.ht" 0ndra or the ra"$

8e thou most near to us or 2liss, a riend to aid

L000 A.ni

'$ =ith this mine homa.e 0 in+o/e A.ni or "ou, the Son o Stren.th$

Dear, wisest en+o", s/illed in no2le sacri4ce, immortal, messan.er o all$

?$ His two red horses, all-su

Sama English

Documents

Transcript of Sama English