Rig Veda on Poverty

2 The man with food in store who, when the needy comes in miserable case begging for bread to eat, 3 Bounteous is he who gives unto the beggar who comes to him in want of food and feeble. 4 No friend is he who to his friend and comrade who comes imploring food, will offer nothing. 5 Let the rich satisfy the poor implorer, and bend his eye upon a longer pathway. 6 The foolish man wins food with fruitless labour: that food −I speak the truth− shall be his ruin. 7 The ploughshare ploughing makes the food that feeds us, and with its feet cuts through the path it follo 8 He with one foot hath far outrun the biped, and the two−footed catches the three−footed. 9 The hands are both alike: their labour differs. The yield of sister milch−kine is unequal.

2 Verily no one knoweth whence they sprang: they, and they only, know each other's birth. 3 They strew each other with their blasts, these Hawks: they strove together, roaring like the wind. 4 A sage was he who knew these mysteries, what in her udder mighty Prsni bore. 5 Ever victorious, through the Maruts, be this band of Heroes, nursing manly strength, 6 Most bright in splendour, flectest on their way, close−knit to glory, strong with varied power. 7 Yea, mighty is your power and firm your strength: so, potent, with the Maruts, be the band. 8 Bright is your spirit, wrathful are your minds: your bold troop's minstrel is like one inspired. 9 Ever avert your blazing shaft from us, and let not your displeasure reach us here 10 Your dear names, conquering Maruts, we invoke, calling aloud till we are satisfied. 11 Well−armed, impetuous in their haste, they deck themselves, their forms, with oblations: to you, the pu 12 Pure, Maruts, pure yourselves, are your oblations: to you, the pure, pure sacrifice I offer. 13 Your rings, O Maruts, rest upon your shoulders, and chains of gold are twined upon your bosoms. 14 Wide in the depth of air spread forth your glories, far, most adorable, ye bear your titles. 15 If, Maruts, ye regard the praise recited here at this mighty singer invocation, 16 The Maruts, fleet as coursers, while they deck them like youths spectators of a festal meeting, 17 So may the Maruts help us and be gracious, bringing free room to lovely Earth and Heaven. 18 The priest, when seated, loudly calls you, Maruts, praising in song your universal bounty. 19 These Maruts bring the swift man to a stand−still, and strength with mightier strength they break and 20 These Maruts rouse even the poor and needy: the Vasus love him as an active champion. 21 Never, O Maruts, may we lose your bounty, nor, car−borne Lords! be hitidmost when ye deal it. 22 What time the men in fury rush together for running streams, for pastures, and for houses.

2 Thou who hast ever aided us kindly of old to win the spoil, 3 What now? As prompter of the poor thou helpest him who sheds the juice. 4 O Indra, help our chariot on, yea, Thunderer, though it lag behind: 5 Ho there! why sittest thou at case? Make thou my chariot to be first 6 Assist our car that seeks the prize. What can be easier for thee? 7 Indra, be firm: a fort art thou. To thine appointed place proceeds 8 Let not our portion be disgrace. Broad is the course, the prize is set, 9 This thing we wish. that thou mayst take thy fourth, thy sacrificial name. 10 Ekadyu hath exalted you, Immortals: both Goddesses and Gods hath he delighted.

2 Do ye, O Indra−Agni, hear the singer's call: accept his songs. 3 Give us not up to poverty, ye Heroes, Indra−Agni, nor 4 To Indra and to Agni we bring reverence, high and holy hymn, 5 For all these holy singers here implore these Twain to succour them, 6 Eager to laudyou, we with songs invoke you, bearing sacred food, 7 Indra and Agni, come to us with favour, ye who conquer men: 8 At no time let the injurious blow of hostile mortal fall on us: 9 Whatever wealth we crave of you, in gold, in cattle, or in steeds, 10 When heroes prompt in worship call Indra and Agni, Lords of steeds, 11 Call hither with the song and lauds those who best slay the foemen, those 12 Slay ye the wicked man whose thought is evil of the demon kind.

2 Giver of horses, Indra, giver, thou, of kine, giver of barley, thou art Lord and guard of wealth: 3 Indra, most splendid, powerful, rich in mighty deeds, this treasure spread around is known to be thine o 4 Well pleased with these bright flames and with these Soma drops, take thou away our poverty with seed 5 Let us obtain, O Indra, plenteous wealth and food, with strength exceeding glorious, shining to the sky: 6 These our libations strength−inspiring, Soma draughts, gladdened thee in the fight with Vrtra, Hero Lor 7 Thou goest on from fight to fight intrepidly, destroying castle after castle here with strength. 8 Thou hast struck down in death Karanja, Parnaya, in Atithigva's very glorious going forth. 9 With all−outstripping chariot−wheel, O Indra, thou far−famed, hast overthrown the twice ten Kings of 10 Thou hast protected Susravas with succour, and Turvayana with thine aid, O Indra 11 May we protected by the Gods hereafter remain thy very prosperous friends, O In

2 He who fixed fast and firm the earth that staggered, and set at rest the agitated mountains, 3 Who slew the Dragon, freed the Seven Rivers, and drove the kine forth from the cave of Vala, 4 By whom this universe was made to tremble, who chased away the humbled brood of demons, 5 Of whom, the Terrible, they ask, Where is He? or verily they say of him, He is not. 6 Stirrer to action of the poor and lowly, of priest, of suppliant who sings his praises; 7 He under whose supreme control are horses, all chariots, and the villages, and cattle; 8 To whom two armies cry in close encounter, both enemies, the stronger and the weaker; 9 Without whose help our people never conquer; whom, battling, they invoke to give them succour; 10 He who hath smitten, ere they knew their danger, with his hurled weapon many grievous sinners; 11 He who discovered in the fortieth autumn Sambara as he dwelt among the mountains; 12 Who with seven guiding reins, the Bull, the Mighty, set free the Seven great Floods to flow at pleasure 13 Even the Heaven and Earth bow down before him, before his very breath the mountains tremble. 14 Who aids with favour him who pours the Soma and him who brews it, sacrificer, singer. 15 Thou verily art fierce and true who sendest strength to the man who brews and pours libation.

2 Where are ye, Asvins, in the evening, where at morn? Where is your haltingplace, where rest ye for the 3 Early ye sing forth praise as with a herald's voice, and, meet for worship, go each morning to the house. 4 Even as hunters follow two wild elephants, we with oblations call you down at morn and eve. 5 To you, O Asvins, came the daughter of a King, Ghosa, and said, O Heroes, this I beg of you: 6 O Asvins, ye are wise: as Kutsa comes to men, bring your car nigh the folk of him who sings your prais 7 To Bhujyu and to Vasa ye come near with help, O Asvins, to Sinjara and to Usana. 8 Krsa and Sayu ye protect, ye Asvins Twain: ye Two assist the widow and the worshipper; 9 The Woman hath brought forth, the Infant hath appeared, the plants of wondrous beauty straightway ha 10 They mourn the living, cry aloud, at sacrifice: the men have set their thoughts upon a distant cast. 11 Of this we have no knowledge. Tall it forth to us, now the youth rests within the chambers of the bride. 12 Your favouring grace hath come, ye Lords of ample wealth: Asvins, our longings are stored up within 13 Even so, rejoicing in the dwelling−place of man, give hero sons and riches to the eloquent. 14 O Asvins, Wonder−Workers, Lords of lustre, where and with what folk do ye delight yourselves to−da

23 O Sages, evermore I crave your favour: be gracious unto all my prayers, O Asvins. 24 With liberal bounty to the weakling's consorts ye, Heroes, gave a son Hiranyahasta; 25 These your heroic exploits, O ye Asvins, done in the days. of old, have men related.

2 Rich shall he be in gold and kine and horses. Indra bestows on him great vital power, 3 Longing, I came this morning to the pious, the son of sacrifice, with car wealth. laden. 4 Health−bringing streams, as milch−cows, flow to profit him who hath worshipped, him who now will 5 On the high ridge of heaven he stands exalted, yea, to the Gods he goes, the liberal giver. 6 For those who give rich meeds are all these splendours, for those who give rich meeds suns shine in hea 7 Let not the liberal sink to sin and sorrow, never decay the pious −chiefs who worship!

2 The Twain uphold, though motionless and footless, a widespread offspring having feet and moving. 3 I call for Aditi's unrivalled bounty, perfect, celestial, deathless, meet for worship. 4 May we be close to both the Worlds who suffer no pain, Parents of Gods, who aid with favour, 5 Faring together, young, with meeting limits, Twin Sisters lying in their Parents' bosom, 6 Duly I call the two wide seats, the mighty, the general Parents, with the God's protection. 7 Wide, vast, and manifold, whose bounds are distant,−these, reverent, I address at this our worship, 8 What sin we have at any time committed against the Gods, our friend, our house's chieftain, 9 May both these Friends of man, who bless, preserve me, may they attend me with their help and favour. 10 Endowed with understanding, I have uttered this truth, for all to hear, to Earth and Heaven. 11 Be this my prayer fulfilled, O Earth and Heaven, wherewith, Father and Mother, I address you.

2 He, Mighty, knows the gift of wealth, he knows the deep recess of heaven: 3 He knows, a God himself, to guide Gods to the righteous in his home: 4 He is the Herald: well−informed, he doth his errand to and fro, 5 May we be they who gratify Agni with sacrificial gifts, 6 Illustrious for wealth are they, and hero deeds, victorious, 7 So unto us, day after day, may riches craved by many come, 8 That holy Singer in his strength shoots forth his arrows swifter than

2 They who with laud extol the ancient statutes, when they shine forth infallible dividers, 3 The Housewife Goddess, Aditi, and Sindhu, the Goddess Svasti I implore for friendship: 4 Aryaman, Varuna have disclosed the pathway, Agni as Lord of Strength the road to welfare. 5 I have besought the favourof the Maruts, of Parvata, of Bhaga God who rescues. 6 Agree, through these our watery oblations, Goddesses, Heaven and Earth, with Ahibudhnya. 7 May Goddess Aditi with Gods defend us, save us the saviour God with care unceasing. 8 Agni is Sovran Lord of wealth, Agni of great prosperity: 9 Hither to us, rich pleasant Dawn, bring many things to be desired, 10 So then may Bhaga, Savitar, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, Indra, with bounty come to us.

2 Excellent Agni, come thou nigh to us, and give us wealth most splendidly renowned. 3 So hear us, listen to this call of ours, and keep us far from every sinful man. 4 To thee then, O Most Bright, O Radiant God, we come with prayer for happiness for our friends.

22 Condemn us not to indigence, O Agni, beside these flaming fires which Gods have kindled; 23 O Agni, fair of face, the wealthy mortal who to the Immortal offers his oblation. 24 Knowing our chief felicity, O Agni, bring hither ample riches to our nobles, 25 Give strength and power to these my prayers, O Agni; O God, pour blessings on bur chiefs and nobles.

2 Ye who behold the light of heaven, Rbhuksans, give our rich patrons unmolested riches. 3 For thou, O Bounteous One, art used to giving, at parting treasure whether small or ample. 4 Indra, high−famed, as Vaja and Rbhuksans, thou goest working, singing to the dwelling. 5 Thou winnest swift advancement for thy servant, through hymns, Lord of Bay Steeds, which thou hast 6 To us thy priests a home, as 'twere, thou givest: when, Indra wilt thou recognize our praises? 7 Though Nirrti the Goddess reigneth round him, Autumns with food in plenty come to Indra. With three

2 Like Heroes on your will−yoked car farshining, Wonder−Workers! ye 3 By you, O Lords of ample wealth our songs of praise have been observed: 4 Kanvas must praise the Asvins dear to many, making many glad, 5 Most liberal, best at winning strength, inciters, Lords of splendour who 6 So for devout Sudeva dew with fatness his unfailing mead, 7 Hitherward running speedily with horses, as with rapid hawks, 8 Wherewith the three wide distances, and all the lights that are in heaven. 9 O Finders of the Day, that we may win us food of kine and wealth, 10 O Asvins, bring us wealth in kine, in noble heroes, and in cars: 11 Ye Lords of splendour, glorified, ye Wonder−Workers borne on paths 12 To us, ye Lords of ample wealth, and to our wealth chiefs extend 13 Come quickly downward to the prayer of people whom ye favour most: 14 Ye Asvins whom our minds perceive, drink of this lovely gladdening draught, 15 Bring riches hither unto us in hundreds and in thousands, source 16 Verily sages call on you, ye Heroes, in full many a place. 17 Men who have trimmed the sacred grass, bringing oblations and prepared, 18 May this our hymn of praise to−day, most powerful to bring you, be, 19 The skin filled full of savoury meath, laid in the pathway of your car− 20 For this, ye Lords of ample wealth, bring blessing for our herd, our kine, 21 Ye too unclose to us like doors the strengthening waters of the sky, 22 When did the son of' Tugra serve you, Men? Abandoned in the sea, 23 Ye, O Nasatyas, ministered to Kanva with repeated aid, 24 Come near with those most recent aids of yours which merit eulogy, 25 As ye protected Kanva erst, Priyamedha and Upastuta, 26 And Amsu in decisive fight, Agastya in the fray for kine.

2 For not an enemy molests the paths which these Adityas tread: 3 Now soon may Bhaga, Savitar, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman 4 With Gods come thou whose fostering care none checks, O Goddesss Aditi: 5 For well these Sons of Aditi know to keep enmities aloof, 6 Aditi guard our herd by day, Aditi, free from guile, by night, 7 And in the day our hymn is this: May Aditi come nigh to help, 8 And may the Asvins, the divine Pair of Physicians, send us health: 9 May Agni bless us with his fires, and Surya warm us pleasantly: 10 Drive ye disease and strife away, drive ye away malignity: 11 Remove from us the arrow, keep famine, Adityas! far away: 12 Now, O Adityas, grant to us the shelter that lets man go free, 13 Whatever mortal with the powe r of demons fain would injure us, 14 May sin o'ertake our human foe, the man who speaketh evil thing, 15 Gods, ye are with the simple ones, ye know each mortal in your hearts; 16 Fain would we have the sheltering aid of mountains and of water−floods: 17 So with auspicious sheltering aid do ye, O Vasus, carry us 18 Adityas, ye Most Mighty Ones, grant to our children and their seed 19 Sacrifice, O Adityas, is your inward monitor: be kind, 20 The Maruts' high protecting aid, the Asvins, and the God who saves, 21 Grant us a home with triple guard, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna! 22 And as we human beings, O Adityas, are akin to death,

be thou born in the heavens or born in floods, 29 Yea, all the people, all the folk who have good dwellings, each apart, 30 O Agni, so may we, devout, gazed at by men, throughout our days, 31 We venerate with cheerful hearts the cheerful Agni, dear to all, 32 So thou, O Agni rich in light, beaming like Surya with thy rays 33 We pray to thee for this thy gift, Victor the gift that faileth not,

2 O Gods, Adityas, well ye know the way to keep all woes afar. 3 As the birds spread their sheltering wings let your protection cover us. 4 To whomsoever they, Most Wise, have given a home and means of life, 5 As drivers of the car avoid ill roads, let sorrows pass us by. 6 For verily men sink and faint through loss of wealth which ye have given. 7 On him shall no fierce anger fall, no sore distress shall visit him, 8 Resting in you, O Gods, we are like men who fight in coats of mail. 9 May Aditi defend us, may Aditi guard and shelter us, 10 The shelter, Gods, that is secure, auspicious, free from malady, 11 Look down on us, Adityas, as a guide exploring from the bank. 12 Ill be it for the demons' friend to find us or come near to us. 13 Each evil deed made manifest, and that which is concealed, O Gods, 14 Daughter of Heaven, the dream that bodes evil to us or to our kine, 15 Even if, O Child of Heaven, it make a garland or a chain of gold, 16 To him whose food and work is this, who comes to take his share therein, 17 As we collect the utmost debt, even the eighth and sixteenth part, 18 Now have we conquered and obtained, and from our trespasses are free.

2 May Mitra bear us oer distress, and Varuna and Aryaman, 3 For wonderful and meet for praise is these Adityas' saving help 4 The mighty aid of you, the Great, Varuna, Mitra, Aryarnan, 5 Guard us, Adityas, still alive, before the deadly weapon strike: 6 What sheltering defence ye have for him who toils in pouring gifts, 7 Adityas, Gods, from sorrow there is freedom; for the sinless, wealth, 8 Let not this fetter bind us fast: may he release us for success; 9 O Gods who fain would lend your aid, destroy not us as ye destroy 10 And thee too, O Great Aditi, thee also, Goddess, I address, 11 Save us in depth and shallow from the foe, thbu Mother of Strong Sons 12 Far−spread! wide−ruling! grant that we, unharmed by envy, may expand 13 Those who, the Princes of the folk, in native glory, neer deceived, 14 As such, from mouth of ravening wolves, O ye Adityas, rescue us, 15 Adityas, let this arrow, yea, let this mali. gnity depart 16 Fori Bountiful Adityas, we have evermore enjoyed your help, 17 To every one, O ye Most Wise, who turneth even from sin to you, 18 May this new mercy profit us, which, ye Adityas, frees like one, 19 O ye Adityas, this your might is not to be despised by us: 20 Let not Vivasvan's weapon nor the shaft, Adityas, wrought with skill, 21 On every side dispel all sin, Adityas, all hostility,

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 Here is the psalm for wealth, and food, in plenty: let us do many deeds to bring us glory. 3 May we o'ercome our foes with acts of valour, as heaven is over earth, hills over lowlands. 4 Give us not up as prey to death, O Sorna still let us look upon the Sun arising. 5 O Asuniti, keep the soul within us, and make the days we have to live yet longer. 6 Give us our sight again, O Asuniti, give us again our breath and our enjoyment. 7 May Earth restore to us our vital spirit, may Heaven the Goddess and mid−air restore it. 8 May both Worlds bless Subandhu, young Mothers of everlasting Law. 9 Health−giving medicines descend sent down from heaven in twos and threes, 10 Drive forward thou the wagon−ox, O Indra, which brought Usinarani's wagon hither.