Yajur Veda on Prayer

He whom men calumniate though he has slain no one should offer a Gayal to Vayu; impure speech comes to him whom men calumniate though he has slain no one; the Gayal is neither a domestic nor a wild animal; he is neither in the village nor the forest whom men calumniate though he has slain no one; Vayu is the purifier of the gods; verily he has recourse to Vayu with his own share; verily he [2] purifies him. The dawn shines away from him and he enters the darkness, the evil, to whom when the litany to the Açvins is being recited the sun becomes not visible; he should offer to Surya (a beast) of many forms; verily he has resort to yonder sun with its own share; verily it drives away the darkness, the evil, from him, the dawn shines upon him, he strikes away the darkness, the evil. a Indra on all sides. b On Indra men. c O Maruts, what time from the sky. d The protection which ye. e In contests we invoke Indra, swift to hear, The divine folk working good, freeing from distress, Agni, Mitra, Varuna, for gain, Bhaga, Sky and earth, the Maruts for welfare. f May the moving one who strikes at morning delight us; May Vata delight us, pourer of waters; Indra and Parvata quicken us; May the All-gods vouchsafe us this. g I hail the dear names [1] of yon impetuous ones, That, O Maruts, calling they may rejoice. h For glory they are wreathed in flames, In the rays (of the sun), adorned with rings they (are accompanied) with singers; They wearing daggers, impetuous, fearless, Here found the dear home of the Maruts. i First let Agni with the Vasus aid us; Let Soma with the Rudras protect (us); Let Indra with the Maruts act in due course; Let Varuna with the Adityas quicken us.' k God Agni with the Vasus [2], Soma with the dread forms, Indra with the Maruts, worthy of sacrifice, Varuna with the Adityas hath been in harmony with us. l As the Adityas are united with the Vasus, The Rudras with the Maruts, So, O thou of three names, May the All-gods without anger be of one mind.

' In that thrice he gave and thrice he accepted, that is the reason of the threefold character of the threefold. In that Visnu aided him and he gave (it) to Visnu, therefore the offering belongs to Indra and Visnu. Whatever there is here he gave to him, the Rces, the Samans, the Yajuses. A thousand he gave to him; therefore there are a thousand gifts. The gods were afraid of the warrior on his birth. While still within (the womb) they fettered him with a bond. The warrior thus is born fettered; if he were born not fettered he would continually slay his foes. If one desire of a warrior, 'May he be born not fettered, may he continually slay his foes', one should offer for him the offering for Indra and Brhaspati, for the warrior is connected with Indra, Brhaspati is the holy power (Brahman); verily by the holy power (Brahman) he frees him from the bond that fetters him. The sacrificial present is a golden bond; verily manifestly he frees him from the bond that fetters him. a He is born ever new; The banner of the days goeth before the dawns. He appointeth their portion to the gods as he advanceth The moon extendeth length of days. b The drop which the Adityas make to swell, The imperishable which the imperishable drink, With that may king Varuna, Brhaspati, The guardians of the world make us to swell. c In the eastern quarter thou art king, O Indra In the northern, O slayer of Vrtra, thou art slayer of foes Where the streams [1] go, thou hast conquered; On the south be the bull whom we invoke. d Indra shall conquer, he shall not be conquered; Over-lord among kings shall he rule; In all conflicts shall he be a protector, That he may be reverenced and honoured. e His greatness surpasseth Sky or earth or heaven; Indra sole lord, hailed by all, in his home Boisterous and brave, waxeth great for the conflict. f We call on thee, O hero, in praise, Like kine unmilked, Lord [2] of this moving world, seeing the heavenly light, Lord, O Indra, of what standeth.

'Sky and earth are invoked', he says; verily he invokes sky and earth. 'Born of yore, the righteous', he says, for they were born of yore and are righteous. 'Divine, with gods for children', he says, for they are divine and have gods for children. 'Invoked is this sacrificer', he says; verily he invokes the sacrificer. 'Invoked in the highest sacrifice, invoked in the greater offering, invoked in the divine abode' [5], he says. The highest sacrifice is offspring, the greater offering is cattle, the divine abode is the world of heaven. (With the words), 'Thou art this; thou art this', he invokes the dear abode of the sacrifice. 'All that is dear to it is invoked', he says; verily not vainly does he invoke. Food is cattle, he takes it himself; verily by himself he fills his desires of cattle, for no one else can grant him his desire of cattle. 'Thee offered to the lord of speech I eat', he says; verily he delights speech with a share. 'Thee offered to the lord of the Sadas I eat', he says, for completion.' (The food) is divided. in four; what is divided in four is the offering, what is divided in four is cattle; if the Hotr were to eat it, the Hotr would [1] experience misfortune; if he were to offer it in the fire, he would give the cattle to Rudra, and the sacrificer would be without cattle. 'Thee offered to the lord of speech I eat', he says; verily secretly does he offer it. 'Thee offered to the lord of the Sadas', he says, for completion. They eat; they eat at a suitable moment; he gives a sacrificial gift; at a suitable moment be gives a gift. They cleave the sacrifice [2], if they eat in the middle. They purify it with water; all the gods are the waters; verily they connect the sacrifice with the gods. The gods excluded Rudra from the sacrifice; he pierced the sacrifice, the gods gathered round it (saying), 'May it be right for us.' They said, 'Well offered will this be for us, if we propitiate him.' That is why Agni is called the 'well offerer' (svistakrt).

The Placing of the Fire in the Fire-pan a Yoking mind first, Extending his thoughts, Savitr Discerning the light, Hath brought Agni from the earth. b Yoking with mind the gods, Going to the heaven, the sky, with thought, Those that are to make great light, Savitr instigates. c With mind well yoked are we In the instigation of god Savitr, For strength to go to the heaven. d They yoke their minds, they yoke their thoughts, The priests of the mighty wise priest, He alone, who knoweth the way, appointeth their functions [1] Great is the praise of the god Savitr. e I yoke with honour your ancient prayer; The praises go like Suras on their way; All the sons of immortality hear (it), Who have achieved dwellings divine. f He whose advance others followed, Gods, of the god praising might, He who meted out the regions of earth, He is the brilliant god Savitr in greatness. g O god Savitr, instigate the sacrifice, instigate the lord of the sacrifice [2] to good luck; may the divine Gandharva, who purifieth thoughts purify our thought; may lord of speech to-day make sweet our utterance. h This sacrifice for us, O god Savitr Do thou instigate, serving the gods, Finding comrades, ever victorious, Winning booty, winning heaven. i By the Rc make the Stoma to prosper, By the Gayatra the Rathantara, The Brhat with the Gayatri for its metre. k On the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of Pusan, with the Gayatri metre, I take thee, in the manner of Angiras. l Thou art the spade, thou art the woman [3], from the abode of the earth I bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras; with the Tristubh metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras. m Thou art the bearer, thou art the woman; through thee may we be strong to dig Agni of the dust in his place; with the Jagati metre I grasp thee in the manner of n Grasping in thy hand, Savitr, Bearing the spade of gold, Therewith digging Agni Do thou bring for us light unperishing.

With the Anustubh metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras. a This bond of order they grasped At their assemblies in ages gone by, the sages; Therewith the gods mastered the pressed (juice)-- In the Saman of order proclaiming the stream. b Swiftly run hither, O steed, Along the most extended space; In the sky is thy highest birth, In the atmosphere thy navel, on the earth thy birthplace. c Yoke ye two the ass, In this course, O ye of mighty wealth, Which beareth Agni, serving us. d In each need more strong, In each contest, we invoke, As friends, Indra to aid us. e Hastening [1] come hither, trampling the enemy, Come with wondrous skill from the leadership of Rudra; Fare along the broad atmosphere, With happy pastures, bestowing security. f With Pusan as fellow, from the abode of the earth do thou approach Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras. g We approach Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras. h We will bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras. i We bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras. k Agni gazed along the forefront of the dawns, Along the days first, the all-knower, And in many ways along the rays of the sun [2], He hath extended along sky and earth. I The steed coming from the way Driveth every foe; He is fain to gaze with his eye On Agni in his great abode. m Coming to earth, O steed, Do thou seek Agni with thy radiance; Turning from earth I tell us Whence we shall dig him up. n Thy back is the sky, thy abode earth, Thy breath the atmosphere, thy birthplace the ocean; Discerning with thine eye, Do thou overcome [3] the enemy. o Arise for great prosperity From this abode, giving wealth, O steed; May we enjoy the loving favour of earth, That are about to dig fire in her lap. p The strong steed hath stepped forward, giving wealth; He hath made the place of earth well wrought; Thence let us dig Agni of fair aspect, Mounting the heaven on the top of the vault.

k Sit thou, O Hotr, in thine own world, wise, Place thou the sacrifice in the birthplace of good deeds, Eager for the gods, do thou sacrifice to them with oblation; O Agni, bestow great strength on the sacrificer. l The Hotr hath sat him down in the place of the Hoty, wise, Glittering, shining, skilful, With vows and foresight undeceived, most wealthy, Bearing a thousand, pure-tongued Agni. m Sit thou down, thou art great, Burn [3] best servant of the gods; O Agni, pure one, send forth the ruddy smoke, O famous one, that can be seen afar. n Be born noble in the forefront of the days, Kind to the kindly, red in the woods; Bestowing seven jewels in every home Hath Agni sat him down as Hotr. a May I Vayu, Matariçvan, unite The broken heart of thee that art outstretched To him who moveth with the expiration of the gods, With thee, O goddess, be Vasat. b Wellborn, with light, Guard and protector, thou hast sat on the heaven; O Agni, thy garment of many hues, Put on, O thou that dost abound in light. c Arise, thou of fair sacrifice, Aid us with thy divine radiance; Brilliant to behold, with mighty blaze, Do thou come hither, O Agni, in response to our prayers [1]. d Arise erect to aid us, Like Savitr, the god; Erect to win the booty, When in contest we call on thee with the shining praisers. e Born, thou art the child of the two worlds, O Agni; a brilliant child distributed among the plants; A beauteous babe beyond the darkness outspread, Thou didst come thundering from thy mothers. f Be firm, of strong limbs, Swift, a mighty steed; Be broad, of kindly seat, Thou art the carrier of dust for Agni. g Be auspicious [2], for offspring Of men, O Angiras; Scorch not sky and earth, Nor the atmosphere, nor the trees. h Let the steed advance, thundering And resounding, the ass, the flier; Bearing Agni of the dust May he fall not before his day. i The ass, well yoked to your chariot, O ye strong ones, that thundereth, May he as swift envoy Bear hence Agni of the dust.

g Feeding on wood, sipping clarified butter, The ancient desirable Hotr, Son of strength, the wondrous. h From a far region Come hither to these lower ones [2] Favour those in the region where I am. i From a far distance Do thou of ruddy steeds come hither; Of the dust, dear to many, O Agni, do thou overcome obstructions. k Do thou sit down in the lap of this mother, O Agni, knowing all the ways; Consume her not with light nor with heat, Within her shine with pure radiance. l O Agni, with glow Within thine own seat of the pan, Heating with her blaze, Be thou, O all-knower, auspicious. m Becoming auspicious to me, O Agni, Do thou sit down auspicious; Having made all the quarters auspicious Sit here on thine own birthplace. a Whatever logs we place In thee, O Agni, Be that ghee for thee; Accept it, O youngest one. b What the insect eateth, What the ant climbeth over, All that be ghee for thee; Accept it, O youngest one. c Mighty by night, unfailingly bearing (food) For him as fodder to a stalled horse, May we, O Agni, thy neighbours, be not harmed, Rejoicing in increase of wealth, in food. d Kindled on earth's navel [1], Agni We invoke for great increase of wealth, Delighting in drink, recipient of great praise, worthy of offering, The victor, Agni, sustainer in battles. e The hosts that attack, That pierce, the trooping, The thieves and the robbers, Them, O Agni, do I place in thy mouth. f With thy tusks the burglars, With thy teeth the robbers, With thy jaws the thieves, O blessed one, Do thou chew, well chewed. g The burglars among men, The thieves and robbers in the forest, The [2] mischief-workers in the thickets, Them I place within thy jaws. h The man who is hostile to us, And him who hateth us, Him who revileth us, and him who seeketh to hurt, Every one of them do thou crush to atoms. i Sharpened is my holy power, Sharpened the strength and might, Sharpened the conquering lordly power of him Whose domestic priest I am.

e The zenith of the quarters; the winter and the cool season of the seasons; Brhaspati the deity; radiance the wealth; the twenty-sevenfold the Stoma, and it forming a path of the thirty-threefold; the draught ox the strength; the Abhibhu of throws; the wind all through the wind; Suparna the Rsi. f Fathers, grandfathers, near and far, may they protect us, may they help us, in this holy power, this lordly power, this prayer, this Purohita-ship, this rite, this invocation of the gods. a Firm is thy dwelling, thy place of birth, firm art thou Settle thou duly in thy firm place of birth; Banner of the fire in the pan, May the two Açvins, the leeches, set thee here first in the east. b In thine own skill sit thou whose sire is skill, As the great earth bountiful among the gods, Be of kindly approach and come with thy body, Kindly as a father to his son; May the two Açvins, the leeches, set thee here. c Nesting, rich in wealth, strength bestowing, Increase for us wealth, abundant, rich in heroes [1], Driving away hostility and enmity, Granting the lord of the sacrifice a share in increase of wealth, Do thou bestow the heaven as increase to the sacrificer; May the two Açvins, the leeches, set thee here. d Thou art the dust of Agni, the leader of the gods; May the All-gods favour thee as such; With Stomas for thy back, rich in ghee, sit thou here, And win to us by sacrifice riches with offspring. May the two Açvins, the leeches, set thee here! e Thou art the head of sky, the navel of earth, the holder apart of the quarters, the paramount of the worlds [2], the wave, the drop of the waters thou art; Viçvakarman is thy seer; may the two Açvins, the leeches, set thee here. f In unison with the seasons, in unison with the ordainers, in unison with the unison with the Rudras, in unison with the Adityas, in unison with the All-gods, in unison with the gods, in unison with the gods establishing strength, to Agni Vaiçvanara, thee; may the two Açvins, the leeches, set thee here.

The first quarter verse is of seven syllables; the Çakvari is of seven syllables, the Çakvari is cattle; verily he wins cattle. The first quarter-verse is defective by one syllable. Therefore men live on what of speech is defective. He offers with a full (verse) to win Prajapati; full as it were is Prajapati. He offers with a defective (verse), for the creation of offspring, for from what is defective Prajapati created offspring. The Rc and the Saman, unwilling to remain with the gods for the sacrifice, taking the form of a black antelope departed and remained away. The (gods) reflected, 'He whom they shall resort to will become all this world.' They called to them, and they depositing their might in day and night came up to them. This is the colour of the Rc, the white of the skin of the black antelope; the black is the colour of the Saman. 'Ye are images of the Rc and Saman', he says; verily he wins the Rc and the Saman [1]. The white of the black antelope skin is the colour of the day, the black of the night. Whatever is imbued in those two, he wins. He consecrates (him) with a black antelope skin. The black antelope skin is the form of the holy power; verily he consecrates him with the holy power. 'O god, this prayer of him who imploreth', he says. That is according to the text. The man who is consecrated is a foetus; the clothing is the caul; be covers. Therefore [2] foetuses are born covered (with the caul). He should not uncover before the purchasing of the Soma. If he were to uncover before the purchasing of the Soma, the foetuses of offspring would be liable to miscarriage. He uncovers when the Soma has been purchased; verily he is born. It is also as when one uncovers to a superior. The Angirases going to the world of heaven divided their strength. What was left over became Çara grass; Çara grass is strength. In that the girdle is of Çara grass [3], he wins strength. He girds it in the middle; verily he gives him strength in the middle.

If he were to utter speech before the Naksatras appear, he would divide the sacrifice [3]. When the Naksatras have arisen, be utters speech, 'Prepare the fast food.' The consecrated is bound by a vow of sacrifice; verily with regard to the sacrifice does he utter speech. Should he utter speech, he should then repeat a Rc addressed to Visnu. Visnu is the sacrifice; verily he unites the sacrifice with the sacrifice. 'The thought divine we meditate', he says. Thus he makes smooth the sacrifice. 'May it guide us safely according as we will', he says. Verily he wins the dawn [4]. The theologians say, 'Should an offering be made in the house of one who is consecrated, or should an offering not be made?' The man who is consecrated is the oblation, and if he were to sacrifice he would offer a part of the sacrificer; if he were not to sacrifice, then he would omit a joint of the sacrifice. 'The gods, mind born, mind using', he says. The gods, mind born, mind using, are the breaths; verily in them he sacrifices secretly, and the sacrifice is both offered as it were and yet not offered. Now the Raksases are fain to hurt him who is consecrated while he sleeps. Agni [5] indeed is the slayer of the Raksases. 'O Agni, be thou wakeful. Let us be glad', he says; verily having made Agni his guardian, for the smiting away of the Raksases, he sleeps. Now, if a man who is consecrated sleeps, he does something that as it were is contrary to his vow. I Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of vows', he says. Agni indeed is among the gods the guardian of vows; verily he causes him to take up his vow again. 'Among the gods and men', he says for he, being a god [6], is (guardian of vows) among men. 'Thou art to be invoked at our sacrifices', he says; for him they invoke at the sacrifices. Now power and the gods depart from the man who is consecrated when he is asleep. 'All the gods have surrounded me', he says; verily he unites him with both power and the gods.

The Soma Sacrifice a May I the waters wet (thee) for life, For length of days, for glory. b O plant, protect him. c Axe, hurt him not. d Obedient to the gods I shear these. e With success may I reach further days. f Let the waters, the mothers, purify us, With ghee let those that purify our ghee purify us, Let them bear from us all pollution, Forth from these waters do I come bright, in purity. g Thou art the body of Soma, guard my body. h Thou art the milk of the great ones, thou art the giver of splendour; splendour [1] place in me. i Thou art the pupil of Vrtra's eye, thou art the guardian of the eye, guard my eye. k Let the lord of thought purify thee, let the lord of speech purify thee, let the god Savitr purify thee With the flawless purifier, With the rays of the bright sun. l O lord of the purifier, with thy purifier for whatsoever I purify myself, that may I have strength to accomplish. m We approach you, O gods, Ye that have true ordinances at the sacrifice What O gods ye can assent to, For that we ask you, O holy ones.' n Indra and Agni, heaven and earth, waters, plants. o Thou art the lord of consecrations, guard me that am here. a To the purpose, to the impulse, to Agni, hail! To wisdom, to thought, to Agni, hail! To consecration, to penance, to Agni, hail! To Sarasvati, to Prisan, to Agni, b O ye divine, vast, all-sootbing waters! Heaven and earth, wide atmosphere! May Brhaspati rejoice in our oblation, hail! c Let every man choose the companionship Of the god who leadeth. Every man prayeth for wealth; Let him choose glory that he may prosper, hail! d Ye are images of the Rc and the Saman. I grasp you two; do ye two [1] protect me until the completion of this sacrifice. e O god,Varuna, do thou sharpen this prayer of him who implores thee, Sharpen his strength, his insight; May we mount that safe ship Whereby we' may pass over all our difficulties. f Thou art the strength of the Angirases, soft as wool; grant me strength, guard me, harm me not.

k The potsherds which wise men collect for the cauldron, these are in Pusan's guardianship. Lot Indra and Vayu set them free. a I pour together. b The waters have joined with the waters, the plants with sap. c Join ye rich ones with the moving ones, sweet ones with the sweet. d From the waters ye are born, be united with the waters. e For generation I unite thee. f For Agni thee, for Agni and Soma. g Thou art the head of Makha. h Thou art the cauldron that contains all life. i Be extended wide, let the lord of the sacrifice be extended wide. k Grasp the skin. I The Raksas is obstructed, the evil spirits are obstructed. m Let the god Savitr make thee ready on the highest firmament. n May Agni burn not too much thy body. o O Agni, guard the offering. p Be united with our prayer. q Hail to Ekata, hail to Dvita, hail to Trita. a I grasp (thee). b Thou art Indra's right arm with a thousand spikes, a hundred edges. c Thou art the wind of sharp edge. d O earth whereon sacrifice is offered to the gods, let me harm not the root of thy e Araru is smitten away from the earth. f Go to the fold where the cattle are. g May heaven rain for thee. h O god Savitr, bind thou in the furthest distance with a hundred fetters him who hateth us and whom we hate, thence let him not free. i Araru is smitten away from the earth, the place of sacrifice. k Go to the fold [1] where the cattle are. l May heaven rain for thee. m O god Savitr &c. n Araru is smitten away from the earth, he that sacrifices not to the gods. o Go to the fold where the cattle are. p May heaven rain for thee. q O god Savitr, &c. [2] r Let not Araru mount the sky for thee. s Let the Vasus grasp thee with the Gayatri metre, let the Rudras grasp thee with the Tristubb. metre, let the Adityas grasp thee with the Jagati metre. t On the impulse of the god Savitr wise ones perform the rite. u Thou art the right, thou art the seat of right, thou art the glory of right. v Thou art the holder, thou art the self-holder.

a Let the Vasus press thee with the Gayatri metre; go thou to the dear place of b Lot the Rudras press thee with the Tristubh metre; go thou to the dear place of c Let the Adityas press thee with the Jagati metre; go thou to the dear place of the d The pure for thee, O pure one, I stir in the gladdening (water); e In the joyous (ones); f In the Kotanas; g In the new (ones); h In the Regis; i In the Mesis; k In the roaring (ones); l In the all-supporting (ones); m In the sweet (ones); n In the lofty (ones); o In the strong (ones) [1]; p In the pure ones, I stir the pure for thee, O pure. q The pure for thee I take with the pure form of day, with the rays of the sun. r Herein the dread (ones) have moved themselves, The streams of the sky have consorted. s The lofty form of the bull shineth on high; Soma precedeth Soma, The pure precedeth the pure. t That undeceived, watchful, name of thine, O Soma, to that of thine, O Soma, to u Gladly do thou, O god Soma, go to the dear place of Agni [2] with the Gayatri v Willingly do thou, O god Soma, go to the dear place of Indra with the Tristubh W Our friend, do thou, O god Soma, go to the dear place of the All-gods with the Jagati metre. x Come breath to us from afar, From the atmosphere, from the sky, Life from the earth; Thou art ambrosia; for breath thee! y May Indra and Agni confer radiance upon me, Radiance (may) Soma and Brhaspati (confer); Radiance on me the All-gods, Radiance confer on me, O ye Açvins. z When one doth hasten after him, Or uttereth prayers, he doth accept it All knowledge doth he embrace, Even as the felly the wheel. The stirrings are the secret name of the waters; 'The pure for thee, O pure one, I stir in the gladdening (waters)', he says; verily with the secret name of the waters he wins the rain from the sky. 'The pure for thee I take with the pure', he says; the night is of the form of the day, the rays of the sun, he makes the rain to fall from the sky.

m Homage to thee, O extended one. n Come forward, irresistible, along the stream of ghee, with offspring, with increase of wealth. o O ye waters, goddesses, purifying and pure, do ye bring the gods; may we, pure and served (by you), be servers upon you. a Let thy speech swell, let thy breath swell, let thine eye swell, let thine ear swell. b The pain that hath reached thy vital airs, that (hath reached) thine eye, that (hath reached) thine ear, what is harsh in thee, what is in its place,--let that swell, let that hereby be pure. c Lot thy navel swell, let thine anus swell. d Be thy feet pure. e Hail to the waters [1]! Hail to the plants! Hail to earth! Hail to night and day! f O plant, protect him. g O axe, harm him not. h Thou art the share of the Raksases. i This Raksas here I lead to the lowest darkness. k Him who hateth us and whom we hate, here him I lead to the lowest darkness. I For food thee! m In ghee, O sky and earth, be covered. n Uncut, with wealth of heroes, (give us) riches. o Fare along the broad atmosphere. p O Vayu, taste the drops. q Hail! go to Urdhvanabhas, offspring of the Maruts. a Let thy mind with the mind, let thy breath with the breath (of the gods be united). b Be this offering rich in ghee pleasing to the gods; hail! c May Indra's expiration be set in every limb; May Indra's inspiration be in every limb. d O god Tvastr, let mind be united for thee, When ye that are various become of one form; Over thee as thou goest among the gods for help let thy comrades And thy father and mother rejoice. e Thou art fortune (çri). f Let Agni cook (çrinatu) thee. g The waters are come together. h For the whirl of the wind [1] thee, for the rush of Pusan, for the growth of the waters, of the plants. i Drink ghee, ye drinkers of ghee; drink fat, ye drinkers of fat. k Thou art the oblation of the atmosphere. l Hail! thee to the atmosphere! m The quarters, the Pradiçes, the Adiçes, the Vidiçes, the Uddiçes. n Hail to the quarters! o Homage to the quarters.

g We call on thee, We poets, to gain the prize; Men call on thee, lord of heroes, O Indra, amongst foes, On thee in the racing of the horse. h If, O Indra, a hundred skies, A hundred earths were thine, Not a thousand suns could match thee at birth, Nor the two worlds. i Drink the Soma, O Indra; let it gladden thee, (The Soma) which for thee, O lord of bays, the stone Through the arms of the presser [3], like a horse well guided hath expressed. k With Indra may splendid feasts be ours, Rich in strength, Wherewith we may rejoice in food. l O Agni, thy pure. m With the light. n Thee, Jatavedas. o Seven bays in thy chariot Bear thee, O god Surya, With hair of light, O wise one. p The radiant countenance of the gods hath arisen, The eye of Mitra, Varuna, and Agni; He hath filled the sky, the earth, and the atmosphere; Surya is the soul of that which moveth and standeth [4]. q May the All-gods who further right, Who hearken to the call in due season, Find pleasure in this proper drink. r O ye All-gods, hear my invocation, Ye that are in the atmosphere, ye that are in the sky; Ye with Agni as your tongue, worthy of sacrifice, Sit on this strew and rejoice.