Sacred Concord

SV 1.2.3

Sama Veda · translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow. Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames. are mounting to the vault of heaven. 2. Set forth the gleaming one, the song-inspirer, not foolish with. the foolish, fort-destroyer, Who leadeth with his hymns to thought of conquest, gold-bearded, richly splendid with his armour 3. Thou art like heaven: one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night dissimilar in colour. All magic powers thou aidest, self-dependent! Auspicious bethy bounty here, O Pushan! 4. As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels! To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward! 5. Stablished to fill the juice with vital vigour, giver of wealth, guard of his servant's body, The great Priest, born, who knows the clouds, abider with men, is seated in the waters' eddy. 6. Let the song, honouring the best, with longing honour the Asura's most famous sovran, The deeds of him the mighty, deeds like Indra's, the manly one in whom the folk must triumph! 7. In the two kindling-blocks lies Jatavedas like the well-cherished germ in pregnant women,-- Agni who day by day must be entreated by men who watch provided with oblations. 8. Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons: never shall Rakshasas in fight o'ercome thee. Burn up the foolish ones, raw flesh devourers: let none of them escape thine heavenly arrow!
SV 1.2.3 · Sama Veda · 1

Themes in this passage

WealthCharityChildrenThe DivineKarmaStrengthDesireMercy

Wealth in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Hellenism and Islam address it.

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:2 · Bible · Genesis
She spoke; Minerva burns to meet the war: And now heaven’s empress calls her blazing car. At her command rush forth the steeds divine; Rich with immortal gold their trappings shine. Bright Hebe waits; by Hebe, ever young, The whirling wheels are to the chariot hung. On the bright axle turns the bidden wheel Of sounding brass; the polished axle steel. Eight brazen spokes in radiant order flame; The circles gold, of uncorrupted frame, Such as the heavens produce: and round the gold Two brazen rings of work divine were roll’d. The bossy naves of sold silver shone; Braces of gold suspend the moving throne: The car, behind, an arching figure bore; The bending concave form’d an arch before. Silver the beam, the extended yoke was gold, And golden reins the immortal coursers hold. Herself, impatient, to the ready car, The coursers joins, and breathes revenge and war.
Iliad 5.77 · Iliad · 5
Give unto orphans their wealth. Exchange not the good for the bad (in your management thereof) nor absorb their wealth into your own wealth. Lo! that would be a great sin.
Quran 4:2 · Quran · Women
While he was thus in two minds Helen came down from her high vaulted and perfumed room, looking as lovely as Diana herself. Adraste brought her a seat, Alcippe a soft woollen rug while Phylo fetched her the silver work-box which Alcandra wife of Polybus had given her. Polybus lived in Egyptian Thebes, which is the richest city in the whole world; he gave Menelaus two baths, both of pure silver, two tripods, and ten talents of gold; besides all this, his wife gave Helen some beautiful presents, to wit, a golden distaff, and a silver work box that ran on wheels, with a gold band round the top of it. Phylo now placed this by her side, full of fine spun yarn, and a distaff charged with violet coloured wool was laid upon the top of it. Then Helen took her seat, put her feet upon the footstool, and began to question her husband.42
Odyssey 4.12 · Odyssey · 4

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