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1 INDRA and Agni I invoke fain are we for their song of praise 2 Praise ye, O men, and glorify Indra−Agni in the holy rites: 3 Indra and Agni we invite, the Soma−drinkers, for the fame 4 Strong Gods, we bid them come to this libation that stands ready here: 5 Indra and Agni, mighty Lords of our assembly, crush the fiends: 6 Watch ye, through this your truthfulness, there in the place of spacious view 1 WAKEN the Asvin Pair who yoke their car at early morn: may they 2 We call the Asvins Twain, the Gods borne in a noble car, the best 3 Dropping with honey is your whip, Asvins, and full of pleasantness 4 As ye go thither in your car, not far, O Asvins, is the home 5 For my protection I invoke the golden−handed Savitar. 6 That he may send us succour, praise the Waters' Offspring Savitar: 7 We call on him, distributer of wondrous bounty and of wealth, 8 Come hither, friends, and seat yourselves Savitar, to be praised by us, 9 O Agni, hither bring to us the willing Spouses of the Gods, 10 Most youthful Agni, hither bring their Spouses, Hotra, Bharati, 11 Spouses of Heroes, Goddesses, with whole wings may they come to us 12 Indrani, Varunani, and Agnayi hither I invite, 13 May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, bedew for us our sacrifice, 14 Their water rich with fatness, there in the Gandharva's steadfast place, 15 Thornless be thou, O Earth, spread wide before us for a dwelling−place: 16 The Gods be gracious unto us even from the place whence Visnu strode 17 Through all this world strode Visnu; thrice his foot he planted, and the whole 18 Visnu, the Guardian, he whom none deceiveth, made three steps; thenceforth 19 Look ye on Visnu's works, whereby the Friend of Indra, close−allied, 20 The princes evermore behold that loftiest place where Visnu is, 21 This, Vishnu's station most sublime, the singers, ever vigilant,

2 For thee, O Purifier, flow the drops of fatness rich in oil. 3 Agni, Most Excellent! for thee the Sage are drops that drip with oil. 4 To thee, O Agni, mighty and resistless, to thee stream forth the drops of oil and fatness. 5 Fatness exceeding rich, extracted from the midst,−this as our gift we offer thee.

2 Here magnify his great heroic exploits, most glorious One, enriching men with bounties, 3 Hither let Indra come from earth or heaven, hither with speech from firmament or ocean; 4 That Indra will we laud in our assemblies, him who is Lord of great and lasting riches, 5 May the Priest, Lord of many blessings, striving,−who fixing reverence on reverence, giving 6 When sitting pondering in deep devotion in Ausija's abode they ply the press−stone, 7 Surely the power of Bharvara the mighty for ever helpeth to support the singer; 8 When he unbars the spaces of the mountains, and quickens with his floods the water−torrents, 9 Auspicious are thy hands, thine arms wellfashioned which proffer bounty, Indra, to thy praiser. 10 So Indra is the truthful Lord of treasure. Freedom he gave to man by slaying Vrtra. 11 Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let power swell high, like rivers, for,the singer.

2 For well, O Agni, art thou pleased when thou art kindled mid mankind. 3 Thee have all Gods of one accord established as their messenger. 4 Let mortal man adore your God, Agni, with worship due to Gods.

2 I praise that Indra, known to all men, honoured with songs, extolled with hymns at sacrifices, 3 He hath made pathways, with the Sun to aid him, throughout the darkness that extended pathless. 4 And he who did these things, where is that Indra? among what tribes? what people doth he visit? 5 Yea, here were they who, born of old, have served thee, thy friends of ancient time, thou active Worker. 6 Inquiring after him, thy later servants, Indra, have gained thy former old traditions. 7 The demon's strength is gathered fast against thee: great as that strength hath grown, go forth to meet it. 8 Hear, too, the prayer of this thy present beadsman, O Indra, Hero, cherishing the singer. 9 Bring to our help this day, for our protection, Varuna, Mitra, Indra, and the Maruts, 10 The singers here exalt with hymns and praises thee who art very Mighty and Most Holy. 11 Now to my words come quickly thou who knowest, O Son of Strength, with all who claim our worship 12 On good and evil ways be thou our Leader, thou who art known to all as Path−preparer.

2 On to the rite they move, the grass they scatter, these Soma−drinkers eloquent in synod. 3 Indra, thou settest free the many waters that were encompassed, Hero, by the Dragon. 4 Skilled in all manly deeds the God terrific hath with his weapons mastered these opponents. 5 No evil spirits have impelled us, Indra, nor fiends, O Mightiest God, with their devices. 6 Thou in thy strength surpassest Earth and Heaven: the regions comprehend not all thy greatness. 7 Even the earlier Deities submitted their powers to thy supreme divine dominion. 8 The humble hath invoked thee for protection, thee, Lord of great felicity, O Indra. 9 May we, O Indra, be thy friends for ever, eagerly, Conqueror, yielding greater homage. 10 Place us by food which thou hast given, O Indra, us and the wealthy patrons who command us. 2 So let the draught of joy, thy dear companion, by which, O Lord of Bays, thou slayest foemen, 3 Mark closely, Maghavan, the words I utter, this eulogy recited by Vasistha: 4 Hear thou the call of the juice−drinking press−stone: hear thou the Brahman's hymn who sings and laud 5 I know and ne'er forget the hymns and praises of thee, the Conqueror, and thy strength immortal. 6 Among mankind many are thy libations, and many a time the pious sageinvokes thee. 7 All these libations are for thee, O Hero: to thee I offer these my prayers. that strengthen. 8 Never do men attain, O Wonder−Worker, thy greatness, Mighty One, who must be lauded, 9 Among all Rsis, Indra, old and recent, who have engendered hymns as sacred singers,

2 On thee for aid in sacrifice. This youth of ours, the bold, the mighty, hath gonse forth. 3 Come hither, for the drops are here, O Lord of corn−lands. Lord of horses, Lord of kine: 4 For we the kinless singers have drawn hither thee, O Indra, who hast numerous kin. 5 Sitting like birds beside thy meath., mingled with milk, that gladdeneth and exalteth thee, 6 We speak to thee with this our reverential prayer. Why art thou pondering yet awhile? 7 For not in recent times alone, O Indra, Thunder−armed, have we obtained thine aid. 8 Hero, we knew thy friendship and thy rich rewards: these, Thunderer, now we crave of thee. 9 Him who of old hath brought to us this and that blessing, him I magnify for you, 10 Borne by Bay Steeds, the Lord of heroes, ruling men, for it is he who takes; delight. 11 Hero, may we, with thee for Friend, withstand the man who pants against us in his wrath, 12 May we be victors in the singer's battlesong, and meet the wicked, Much invoked! 13 O Indra, from all ancient time rivalless ever and companionless art thou: 14 Thou findest not the wealthy man to be thy friend: those scorn thee who are flown with wine. 15 O Indra, let us not, like fools who waste their lives at home, with friendship such as thine 16 Giver of kine, may we not miss thy gracious gifts: let us not rob thee of thine own. 17 Indra or blest Sarasvati alone bestows such wealth, treasure so great, or thou, 18 Citra is King, and only kinglings are the rest who dwell beside Sarasvati.

2 Driving off foes, bestowing room upon the presser, willingly 3 Lightly disporting them, the drops flow to one common reservoir, 4 These Pavamanas have obtained all blessings much to be desired, 5 With view to us, O Soma−drops, bestow his manifold desire 6 Bring us our wish with this design, as a wright brings his new−wrought wheel: 7 These drops have cried with resonant voice: like swift steeds they have run the course,

2 The wealthy ones adorn thee, they who bring us horses as their gift: 3 The holy statutes rest by thee, as 'twere with ladles that o'erflow. 4 O Agni, what thou deemest wealth, Victorious and Immortal One! 5 Skilled in all lore is Agni, he whom erst Atharvan brought to life. 6 At sacrifices they adore thee, Agni, when the rite proceeds. 7 Men, Agni, have established thee as welcome Priest at holy rites, 8 Wide and aloft thou spreadest thee, O Agni, with tby brilliant flame.