Rig Veda on Liberation

2 The Munis, girdled with the wind, wear garments soiled of yellow hue. 3 Transported with our Munihood we have pressed on into the winds: 4 The Muni, made associate in the holy work of every God, 5 The Steed of Vata, Vayu's friend, the Muni, by the Gods impelled, 6 Treading the path of sylvan beasts, Gandharvas, and Apsarases, 7 Vayu hath churned for him: for him he poundeth things most hard to bend, 2 Two several winds are blowing here, from Sindhu, from a distant land. 3 Hither, O Wind, blow healing balm, blow all disease away, thou Wind; 4 I am come nigh to thee with balms to give thee rest and keep thee safe. 5 Here let the Gods deliver him, the Maruts' band deliver him: 6 The Waters have their healing power, the Waters drive disease away. 7 The tongue that leads the voice precedes. Then with our ten−fold branching hands,

2 Like as a young man followeth a maiden, so doth the Sun the Dawn, refulgent Goddess: 3 Auspicious are the Sun's Bay−coloured Horses, bright, changing hues, meet for our shouts of triumph. 4 This is the Godhead, this might of Surya: he hath withdrawn what spread o'er work unfinished. 5 In the sky's lap the Sun this form assumeth that Varuna and Mitra may behold it. 6 This day, O Gods, while Surya is ascending, deliver us from trouble and dishonour.

2 Ye, as ye wist, have gained of your own selves your power: high, O ye Mighty Ones, and wide ye shine 3 Strong, born together, they together have waxed great: the Heroes more and more have grown to majest 4 Maruts, your mightiness deserves to be adored, sight to be longed for like the shining of the Sun. 5 O Maruts, from the Ocean ye uplift the rain, and fraught with vaporous moisture pour the torrents down. 6 When to your car−poles ye have yoked your spotted deer to be your steeds, and put your golden mantles 7 Neither the mountains nor the rivers keep you back: whither ye have resolved thither ye, Maruts, go. 9 Be gracious unto us, ye Maruts, slay us not extend ye unto us shelter of many a sort. 10 O Maruts, lead us on to higher fortune deliver us, when lauded, from afflictions.

2 He smites the trees apart, he slays the demons: all life fears him who wields the mighty weapon. 3 Like a car−driver whipping on his horses, he makes the messengers of rain spring forward. 4 Forth burst the winds, down come the lightning−flashes: the plants shoot up, the realm of light is stream 5 Thou at whose bidding earth bows low before thee, at whose command hoofed cattle fly in terror, 6 Send down for us the rain of heaven, ye Maruts, and let the Stallion's flood descend in torrents. 7 Thunder and roar: the germ of life deposit. Fly round us on thy chariot waterladen. 8 Lift up the mighty vessel, pour down water, and let the liberated streams rush forward. 9 When thou, with thunder and with roar, Parjanya, smitest sinners down, 10 Thou hast poured down the rain−flood now withhold it. Thou hast made desert places fit for travel.

2 Even as it moveth near my hymn is lifted up, and all the regions come together to sing praise. 3 When striving man with man for glory they have met, brisk, measurcIess, eager for victory in fight, 4 Ye came to Bhujyu while he struggled in the flood, with flying birds, self−yoked, ye bore him to his sire 5 Asvins, the car which you had yoked for glorious show your own two voices urged directed to its goal. 6 Rebha ye saved from tyranny; for Atri's sake ye quenched with cold the fiery pit that compassed him. 7 Doers of marvels, skilful workers, ye restored Vandana, like a car, worn out with length of days. 8 Ye went to him who mourned in a far distant place, him who was left forlorn by treachery of his sire. 9 To you in praise of sweetness sang the honey−bee: Ausija calleth you in Soma's rapturous joy. 10 A horse did ye provide for Pedu, excellent, white, O ye Asvins, conqueror of combatants,

3 Sakra, who like a curry−comb for horses or a golden goad, 4 Who for the worshipper scatters forth ample wealth, even though buried, piled in heaps: 5 Hero whom many praise, what thou hast longed for, oven of old, from men. 6 To Soma, Much−invoked, Bolt−armed! for thy carouse, Celestial, Soma−drinker come. 7 Here, verily, yesterday we let the Thunder−wielder drink his fill. 8 Even the wolf, the savage beast that rends the sheep, follows the path of his decrees. 9 What manly deed of vigour now remains that Indra hath not done? 10 'How great his power resistless! how invincible the Vrtra−slayer's matchless might! 11 O Indra, Vrtra−slayer, we, thy very constant worshippers, 12 O thou of mighty acts, the aids that are in thee call forward many an eager hope. 13 Verily, Indra, we are thine, we worshippers depend on thee. 14 From this our misery and famine set us free, from this dire curse deliver us. 15 Now let your Soma juice be poured; be not afraid, O Kali's sons.

1 To give first thought to them, I worship Heaven and Earth, and Agni, fair bright glow, to hasten their 2 Ample, unfailing, they have mounted as it were an eloquent car that ye may think of us and give. 3 Ye by the might which heavenly nectar giveth you are in supreme dominion Lords of all these folk. 4 The aids wherewith the Wanderer through his offipring's might, or the Two−Mothered Son shows swift 5 Wherewith ye raised from waters, prisoned and fast bound, Rebha, and Vandana to look upon the light; 6 Wherewith ye rescued Antaka when languishing deep in the pit, and Bhujyu with unfailing help. 7 Wherewith ye gave gucanti wealth and happy home, and made the fiery pit friendly for Atri's sake; 8 Mighty Ones, with what powers ye gave Paravrj aid what time ye made the blind and lame to see and w 9 Wherewith ye quickened the most sweet exhaustless flood, and comforted Vasistha, ye who ne'er decay; 10 Wherewith ye helped, in battle of a thousand spoils, Vispala seeking booty, powerless to move. 11 Whereby the cloud, ye Bounteous Givers, shed sweet rain for Dirghasravas, for the merchant Ausija, 12 Wherewith ye made Rasa swell full with water−floods, and urged to victory the car without a horse; 13 Wherewith ye, compass round the Sun when far away, strengthened Manddatar in his tasks as lord of 14 Wherewith, when Sambara was slain, ye guarded well great Atithigva, Divodisa, Kasoju, 15 Wherewith ye honoured the great drinker Vamra, and Upastuta and Kali when he gained his wife, 16 Wherewith, O Heroes, ye vouchsafed deliverance to Sayu, Atri, and to Manu long ago; 17 Wherewith Patharva, in his majesty of form, shone in his course like to a gathered kindled fire; 18 Wherewith, Angirases!

2 In war which wins the light, at the freegiver's call, at due oblation of the early−rising one, oblation of th 3 This food glows for thee as of old at sacrifice, wherein they made thee chooser of the place, for thou 4 So now must thy great deed be lauded as of old, when for the Angirases thou openedst the stall, openeds 5 When with wise plan the Hero leads the people forth, they conquer in the ordered battle, seeking fame, 6 Indra and Parvata, our champions in the fight, di ive ye away each man who fain would war with us, dri

2 Men have obtained his strength by sacrificing, and ever urged him, on to hero valour. 3 Associate with him, as teams of horses, help, manly might, and vigour follow Indra. 4 Lauded by us, let flow the spring, O Indra, of excellent and brightly−shining riches. 5 Hear what thou mayst hear, thou who, fain for worship, as heaven girds earth, guardest thy servant's 2 Forth to the vat the brown drops flow for service, and purified proceed directly forward. May I

2 Whose gladdening draught, shed from the points, thou guardest in the midst and end, 3 In whose wild joy thou settest free the kine held fast within the rock, 4 This, in whose juice delighting thou gainest the might of Maghavan,

2 The gladdening juices stand prepared before you: come quickly and partake of mine oblation. 3 Your chariot with a hundred aids, O Asvins, beareth you swift as thought across the regions, 4 What time this stone of yours, the Gods' adorer, upraised, sounds forth for you as Soma−presser, 5 The nourishment ye have is, truly, wondrous: ye gave thereof a quickening store to Atri, 6 That gift, which all may gain, ye gave Cyavana, when he grew old, who offered you oblations, 7 What time his wicked friends abandoned Bhujyu, O Asvins, in the middle of the ocean, 8 Ye lent your aid to Vrka when exhausted, and listened when invoked to Sayu's calling. 9 With his fair hymns this singer, too, extols you, waking with glad thoughts at the break of morning.

2 Tlou shalt be Aditi as thou hast entered within, appeaser of celestial anger. 3 We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered. 4 Absorbed into the heart, be sweet, O Indu, as a kind father to his son, O Soma, 5 These glorious drops that give me freedom have I drunk. Closely they knit my joints as straps secure a c 6 Make me shine bright like fire produced by friction: give us a clearer sight and make us better. 7 May we enjoy with an enlivened spirit the juice thou givest, like ancestral riches. 8 King Soma, favour us and make us prosper: we are thy devotees; of this be mindful. 9 For thou hast settled in each joint, O Soma, aim of men's eyes and guardian of our bodies. 10 May I be with the Friend whose heart is tender, who, Lord of Bays! when quaffed will never harm me 11 Our maladies have lost their strength and vanished: they feared, and passed away into the darkness. 13 Associate with the Fathers thou, O Soma, hast spread thyself abroad through earth and heaven. 14 Give us your blessing, O ye Gods' preservers. Never may sleep or idle talk control us. 15 On all sides,. Soma, thou art our life−giver: aim of all eyes, light−finder, come within us.

2 When the Five kindred Companies, active in duty, with the song 3 Then in his juice whose strength is great, have all the Gods rejoiced themselves, 4 Freeing himself he flows away, leaving his body's severed limbs, 5 He by the daughters of the priest, like a fair youth, hath been adorned, 6 O'er the fine fingers, through desire of milk, in winding course he goes, 7 The nimble fingers have approached, adorning him the Lord of Strength: 8 Comprising all the treasures that are in the heavens and on the earth,

6 So purifying thee vouchsafe us waters, heaven's light, and cows, offipring and many children. Give us h

2 As ye have come effacing Mrtyu's footstep, to further times prolonging your existence, 3 Divided from the dead are these, the living: now be our calling on the Gods successful. 4 Here I erect this rampart for the living; let none of these, none other, reach this limit. 5 As the days follow days in close succession, as with the seasons duly come the seasons, 6 Live your full lives ap! find old age delightful, all of you striving one behind the other. 7 Let these unwidowed dames with noble husbands adorn themselves with fragrant balm and unguent. 8 Rise, come unto the world of life, O woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest. 9 From his dead hand I take the bow be carried, that it may be our power and might and glory. 10 Betake thee to the Iap of Earth the Mother, of Earth far−spreading, very kind and gracious. 11 Heave thyself, Earth, nor press thee downward heavily: afford him easy access, gently tending him. 12 Now let the heaving earth be free from motion: yea,− let a thousand clods remain above him. 13 I stay the earth from thee, while over thee I place this piece of earth. May I be free from injury. 14 Even as an arrow's feathers, they have set me on a fitting day.

2 Bearing thy body, Vajin, may thy body afford us blessing and thyself protection. 3 Strong Steed art thou: go to the yearning Maidens with vigour, happily go to heaven and praises: 4 Part of their grandeur have the Fathers also gained: the Gods have seated mental power in them as Gods 5 They strode through all the region with victorious might, establishing the old immeasurable laws. 6 In two ways have the sons established in his place the Asura who finds the light, by the third act, 7 As in a ship through billows, so through regions of air, with blessings, through toils and troubles 2 May we obtain, completely wrought, the thread spun out to reach the Gods, 3 We call the spirit hither with the Soma of our parted sires, 4 Thy spirit come to thee again for wisdom, energy, and lire, 5 O Fathers, may the Heavenly Folk give us our spirit once again, 6 O Soma with the spirit still within us, blest with progeny,

2 Thinking aright, praising eternal Order, the sons of Dyaus the Asura, those heroes, 3 Girt by his friends who cried with swanlike voices, bursting the stony barriers of the prison, 4 Apart from one, away from two above him, he drave the kine that stood in bonds of falsehood. 5 When he had cleft the lairs and western castle, he cut off three from him who held the waters. 6 As with a hand, so with his roaring Indra cleft Vala through, the guardian of the cattle. 7 He with bright faithful Friends, winners of booty, hath rent the milker of the cows asunder. 8 They, longing for the kine, with faithful spirit incited with their hymns the Lord of cattle. 9 In our assembly with auspicious praises exalting him who roareth like a lion, 10 When he had won him every sort of booty and gone to heaven and its most lofty mansions, 11 Fulfil the prayer that begs for vital vigour: aid in your wonted manner even the humble. 12 Indra with mighty strength cleft asunder the head of Arbuda the watery monster,

2 Press the libation out, most excellent of all: the Pressing−stone is grasped like a hand−guided steed. 3 Juice that this Stone pours out removes defect of ours, as in old time it brought prosperity to man. 4 Drive ye the treacherous demons far away from us: keep Nirrti afar and banish Penury. 5 To you who are more mighty than the heavens themselves, who, finishing your task with more than 6 Stirred be the glorious Stones: let it press out the juice, the Stone with heavenly song that reaches up to 7 The Stones press out the Soma, swift as car−borne men, and, eager for the spoil, drain forth the sap ther 8 Ye, present men, have been most skilful in your work, even ye, O Stones who pressed Soma for Indra's

2 I come a God foreseeing from the godless to immortality by secret pathways, 3 1, looking to the guest of other lineage, have founded many a rule of Law and Order. 4 I tarried many a year within this altar: I leave the Father, for my choice is Indra. 5 These Asuras have lost their powers of magic. But thou, O Varuna, if thou dost love me, 6 Here is the light of heaven, here allis lovely; here there is radiance, here is air's wide region. 7 The Sage hath fixed his form by wisdom in the heavens: Varuna with no violence let the waters flow. 8 These wait upon his loftiest power and vigour: he dwells in these who triumph in their Godhead; 9 They call him Swan, the abhorrent floods' Companion, moving in friendship with celestial Waters.

2 Be his days ended, be he now departed, be he brought very near to death already, 3 With hundred−eyed oblation, hundred−autumned, bringing a hundred lives, have I restored him, 4 Live, waxing in thy strength, a hundred autumns, live through a hundred springs, a hundred winters. 5 So have I found and rescued thee thou hast returned with youth renewed.

2 Come with kind thoughts, most liberal, rousing the warrior's hymn of praise, with bounteous ones, 3 As nourishers we tie the thread, and, liberal with our bounty, offer sacrifice. 4 Dawn drives away her Sister's gloom, and, through her excellence, makes her retrace her path.

2 Expiring when he draws his breath, she moves along the lucid spheres: 3 Song is bestowed upon the Bird: it rules supreme through thirty realms