Rig Veda on Love

27 Grant that no mighty foes, unknown, malevolent, unhallowed, tread us to the ground. 2 With soma they brought Indra from a distance, Over Vaisanta, from the strong libation. 3 So, verily, with these he crossed the river, in company with these he slaughtered Bheda. 4 I gladly, men I with prayer prayed by our fathers have fixed your axle: ye shall not be injured: 5 Like thirsty men they looked to heaven, in battle with the Ten Kings, surrounded and imploring. 6 Like sticks and staves wherewith they drive the cattle, Stripped bare, the Bharatas were found defencele 7 Three fertilize the worlds with genial moisture: three noble Creatures cast a light before them. 8 Like the Sun's growing glory is their splendour, and like the sea's is their unflathomed greatness. 9 They with perceptions of the heart in secret resort to that which spreads a thousand branches. 10 A form of lustre springing from the lightning wast thou, when Varuna and Mitra saw thee. 11 Born of their love for Urvasi, Vasistha thou, priest, art son of Varuna and Mitra; 12 He thinker, knower both of earth and heaven, endowed with many a gift, bestowing thousands, 13 Born at the sacrifice, urged by adorations, both with a common flow bedewed the pitcher. 14 He brings the bearer of the laud and Saman: first shall he speak bringing the stone for pressing. 3 Yea, the broad waters swell their flood ior him: of him strong heroes think amid their foes. 4 Set ye for him the coursers to the pole: like Indra Thunderer is the Golden−armed. 5 Arouse you, like the days, to sacrifice speed gladly like a traveller on the way. 6 Go swift to battles, to the sacrifice: set up a flag, a hero for the folk. 7 Up from his strength hath risen as 'twere a light: it bears the load as earth bears living things. 8 Agni, no demon I invoke the Gods: by law completing it, I form a hymn. 9 Closely albout you lay your heavenly song, and send your voice to where the Gods abide.

2 Thou, all men's friend, Visvamanas, exaltest Agni with thy song, 3 Whose resolute assault, to win vigour and food, deserves our praise,− 4 Up springs the imperishable flame, the flame of the Refulgent One 5 Skilled in fair sacrifice, extolled, arise in Godlike loveliness, 6 Called straight to our oblations, come, O Agni, through our eulogies, 7 I call your Agni, from of old Invoking Priest of living men: 8 Whom, wondrous wise, they animate with solemn rites and his fair form, 9 Him, true to Law, who perfecteth the sacrifice,. Law−loving ones! 10 May all our sacrifices go to him the truest Angiras, 11 Imperishable Agni, thine are all these high enkindled lights, 12 So give us, Lord of Power and Might, riches combined with hero strength, 13 Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manti's race, 14 O Hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mine, 15 No mortal foe can e'er prevail by arts of magic over him 16 Vyasva the sage, who sought the Bull, hath won thee, finder of good things: 17 Usana Kavya stablished thee, O Agni, as Invoking Priest: 18 All Deities of one accord appointed thee their messenger: 19 Him may the mortal hero make his own immortal messenger. 20 With lifted ladles let us call him splendid with his brilliant flame, 21 The man who pays the worship due to him with sacrificial gifts 22 To Jatavedas Agni, chief in sacrifices, first of all 23 Even as Vyatya did, may we with these most high and liberal hymns 24 Now sing, as Sthurayupa sang, with lands to him who spreadeth far, 25 As welcome guest of human kind, as offspring of the forest kings, 26 For men's oblations brought to him who is the mighty Lord of all, 27 Grant us abundant. treasures, grant the opulence which many crave, 28 Agni, Most Youthful of the Gods, send evermore the gift of wealth 29 A mighty Conqueror art thou, O Agni, so disclose to us 30 Thou, Agni, art a glorious God: bring hither Mitra, Varuna,

2 Smote swiftly forts, and gambara, then Yadu and that Turvaga, 3 Finder of horses, pour on us horses and 4 We seek to win thy friendly love, even Pavamana's flowing o'er 5 With those same waves which in their stream oyerflow the purifying sieve, 6 O Soma, being purified, bring us from all sides,−for thou canst,− 7 Him here, the Child whom streams have borne, the ten swift fingers beautify 8 With Indra and with Vayu he, effused, flows onward with,the beams 9 Flow rich in sweets and lovely for our Bhaga, Vayu, Pusan flow 10 High is thy juice's birth: though set in heaven, on earth it hath obtained 11 Striving to win, with him we gain all wealth from the ungodly man, 12 Finder of room and freedom, flow for Indra whom we must adore, 13 The Gods have come to Indu well−descended, beautified with milk, 14 Even as mother cows their calf, so let our praise−songs strengthen him, 15 Soma, pour blessings on our kine, pour forth the food that streams with milk 16 From heaven hath Pavamana made, as 'twere, the marvellous thunder, and 17 The gladdening and auspicious juice of thee, of Pavamana, King! 18 Thy juice, O Pavamana, sends its rays abroad like splendid skill, 19 Flow onward with that juice of thine most excellent, that brings delight, 20 Killing the foeman and his hate, and winning booty every day, 21 Red−hued, be blended with the milk that seems to yield its lovely breast, 22 Flow onward thou who strengthenedst Indra to slaughter Vrtra who 23 Soma who rainest gifts, may we win riches with our hero sons: 24 Aided by thee, and through thy grace, may we be slayers when we war: 25 Chasing our foemen, driving off the godless, Soma flowcth on, 26 O Pavamana, hither bring great riches, and destroy our foes: 27 A hundred obstacles have ne'er checked 28 Indu, flow on, a mighty juice; glorify us among the folk: 29 Indu, in this thy friendship most lofty and glorious may we 30 Those awful weapons that thou hast, sharpened at point to strike men down−

2 Dispelling manifold mishap, giving the courser's progeny, 3 Bringing prosperity to kine, they make perpetual Ila flow 4 Strong, mountain−born, the stalk hath been 5 Fair is the God−loved juice; the plant is washed in waters, pressed by men 6 As drivers deck a courser, so have they adorned the meath's juice for 7 Thou, Indu, with thy streams that drop sweet juices, which were poured for 8 So flow thou onward through the fleece, for Indra flow, to be his drink, 9 As giving room and freedom, as most sweet, pour butter forth and milk, 10 Most active and benevolent, this Pavamana, sent to us 11 Queller of curses, mighty, with strong sway, this Pavamana shall 12 Pour thou upon us thousandfold possessions, both of kine and steeds, 13 Wandering far, with wise designs, the juice here present is effused, 14 For Indra flows the gladdening drink, the measurer of the region, Sage, 15 Born on the inountain, lauded here, Indu for Indra is set down, 16 Pressed by the men, as 'twere to war hath Soma Pavamana sped, 17 That he may move, they yoke him to the three−backed triple−seated car 18 Drive ye that Tawny Courser, O ye pressers, on his way to war, 19 Pouring all glories hither, he, effused and entering the jar, 20 Indu, the living men milk out the juice to make the rapturous draught: 21 Pour for the Gods into the sieve our Soma very rich in sweets, 22 Into his stream who gladdens best these Soma juices have been poured, 23 Thou flowest to enjoy the milk, and bringest valour, being cleansed: 24 And, hymned by Jamadagnis, let all nourishment that kine supply, 25 Soma, as leader of the song flow onward with thy wondrous aids, 26 Do thou as leader of the song, stirring the waters of the sea, 27 O Soma, O thou Sage, these worlds stand ready to attest thy might: 28 Like showers of rain that fall from heaven thy streams perpetually flow 29 For potent Indra purify Indu effectual and strong, 30 Soma, true, Pavamana, Sage, is seated in the cleansing sieve,

2 Thee, then, O Pusan, like a swift one on his way, I urge with lauds that thou mayst make the foemen fle 3 Thou, Pusan, in whose friendship they who sing forth praise enjoy advantage, even in wisdom, through 4 Not stirred to anger, come, Free−giver, nigh to us, to take this gift of ours, thou who hast goats for steed

2 To him sang forth the flowing streams of Holy Law, encompassed in the home and birth−place of the G 3 Seeking in course altern to reach the selfsame end the two copartners strive to win this beauteous form. 4 He whom the two copartners with observance tend, the pair who dwell together in the same abode, 5 Him the ten fingers, the devotions. animate: we mortals call on him a God to give us help. 6 For, Agni, like a herdsman, thou by thine own might rulest o'er all that is in heaven and on the earth; 7 Agni, accept with joy, be glad in this our prayer, joy−giver, self−sustained, strong, born of Holy Law!

20 Two Birds with fair wings, knit with bonds of friendship, in the same sheltering tree have found a refu 21 Where those fine Birds hymn ceaselessly their portion of life eternal, and the sacred synods, 22 The, tree whereon the fine Birds eat the sweetness, where they all rest and procreate their offspring,− 23 How on the Gayatri. the Gayatri was based, how from the Tristup they fashioned the Tristup forth, 24 With Gayatri he measures out the praise−song, Sama with praise−song, triplet with the Tristup. 25 With Jagati the flood in heaven he stablished, and saw the Sun in the Rathantara Saman. 26 I invocate the milch−cow good for milking so that the milker, deft of hand, may drain her. 27 She, lady of all treasure, is come hither yearning in spirit for her calf and lowing. 28 The cow hath lowed after her blinking youngling; she licks his forehead, as she lows, to form it. 29 He also snorts, by whom encompassed round the Cow laws as she clings unto the shedder of the rain. 30 That which hath breath and speed and life and motion lies firmly stablished in the midst of houses. 31 I saw the Herdsman, him who never stumbles, approaching by his pathways and departing. 32 He who hath made him cloth not comprehend him: from him who saw him surely is he hidden. 33 Dyaus is my Father, my begetter: kinship is here. This great earth is my kin and Mother. 35 This altar is the earth's extremest limit; this sacrifice of ours is the world's centre. 36 Seven germs unripened yet are heaven's prolific, seed: their functions they maintain by Visnu's ordinan 37 What thing I truly am I know not clearly: mysterious, fettered in my mind I wander. 38 Back, forward goes he, grasped by strength inherent, the Immortal born the brother of the mortal 39 Upon what syllable of holy praise−song, as twere their highest heaven, the Gods repose them,− 40 Forunate mayst thou be with goodly pasture, and may we also be exceeding wealthy.

2 As the cow yieldeth milk, pour for us freely, Lord of the Field, the wave that beareth sweetness, 3 Sweet be the plants for us. the heavens, the waters, and full of sweets for us be air's mid−region. 4 Happily work our steers and men, may the plough furrow happily. 5 Suna and Sira, welcome ye this laud, and with the milk which ye have made in heaven 6 Auspicious Sita, come thou near: we venerate and worship thee 7 May Indra press the furrow down, may Pusan guide its course aright. 8 Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, happily go the ploughers with the oxen.

2 With all the Holy Thoughts, all being Mighty Ones! in close alliance wil the Mountains, Heaven, and E 3 With all the Deities, three times eleven, here, in close alliance with the Maruts, Bhrgus, Floods; 4 Accept the sacrifice, attend to this my call: come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here. 5 Accept our praise−song as a youth accepts a maid. Come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here. 6 Accept the songs we sing, accept the solemn rite. Conie nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here. 7 Ye fly as starlings fly unto the forest trees; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed. 8 Ye fly like swans, like those who travel on their way; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed. 9 Ye fly to our oblation like a pair of hawks; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed. 10 Come hitherward and drink and satisfy yourselves, bestow upon us progeny and affluence. 11 Conquer your foes, protect us, praise your worshippers; bestow upon us progeny and affluence. 12 Slay enemies, animate men whom ye befriend; bestow upon us progeny and aff luence. 13 With Mitra, Varuna, Dharma, and the Maruts in your company approach unto your praiser's call. 14 With Visnu and the Angirases attending you, and with the Maruts come unto your praiser's call. 15 With Rbhus and With Vajas. O ye Mighty Ones, leagued with the Maruts come ye to your praiser's cal 16 Give spirit to our prayer and animate our thoughts; slay ye the Raksasas and drive away disease. 17 Strengthen the Ruling Power, strengthen the men of war; slay ye the Raksasas and drive away disease. 18 Give strength unto the milch−kine, give the people strength, slay ye the Raksasas and drive away disea 19 As ye heard Atri's earliest eulogy, so hear Syavasva, Soma−presser, ye who reel in joy. 20 Further like running streams Syavasva's eulogies who presses out the Soma, ye who reel in joy. 21 Seize, as ye grasp the reins, Syavasva's solemn rites who presses out the Soma, ye who reel in joy.

2 Gandharvi spake: may she, the Lady of the flood, amid the river's roaring leave my heart untouched. 3 Yea, even this blessed Morning, rich in store of food, splendid, with heavenly lustre, hath shone out for 4 And the fleet Falcon brought for sacrifice from afar this flowing Drop most excellent and keen of sight, 5 Still art thou kind to him who feeds thee as with grass, and, skilled in sacrifice, offers thee holy gifts. 6 Urge thou thy Parents, as a lover ' to delight: the Lovely One desires and craves it from his heart. 7 Far−famed is he, the mortal man, O Agni, thou Son of Strength, who hath obtained thy favour. 8 When, Holy Agni, the divine assembly, the sacred synod mid the Gods, is gathered, 9 Hear us, O Agni, in your common dwelling: harness thy rapid car of Amrta.

2 Worshipping, seeking him with adoration like some lost creature followed by its footprints, 3 On the Cow's forehead, with laborious searching, Trita, the offspring of Vibhiavas, found him. 4 Yearning, with homage, they have set and made him blithe Priest among mankind, oblation−bearer, 5 The foolish brought the ne'er−bewildered forward, great, Victor, Song−inspirer, Fort−destroyer. 6 Holding his station firmly in the houses, Trita sat down within his home surrounded 7 His are the fires, eternal, purifying, that make the houses move, whose smoke is shining, 8 The tongue of Agni bears away the praisesong, and, through his care for Earth, her operations. 9 That Agni, him whom Heaven and Earth engendered, the Waters. Tvastar, and with might, the Bhrgus, 10 Agni, whom Gods have made oblationbearer, and much−desiring men regard as holy,

5 Drive forth the Dove, chase it with holy verses: rejoicing, bring ye hither food and cattle