Sacred Concord

YV 6.4g

Yajur Veda · translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith

k Enkindled, O Agni, shine before us, O most youthful, with unfailing beam; Ever upon thee strength awaiteth. I Let us pay homage to thee in thy highest birth, O Agni; Let us pay homage with praises in thy lower abode; The place of birth whence thou didst come, to that I offer; In thee when kindled they offered the oblations. m That various lovingkindness given to all men, Of Savitr the adorable, I choose, That mighty fat cow of his which Kanva milked, Streaming with a thousand (draughts) of milk [4]. n Seven are thy kindling-sticks, O Agni, seven thy tongues, Seven seers, seven dear abodes; Seven Hotras sevenfold sacrifice to thee Seven birthplaces with ghee do thou fill. o Such like, other like, thus like, similar, measured, commensurate, harmonious; p Of pure radiance, of varied radiance, of true radiance, the radiant, true, protector of holy order, beyond distress [5]; q Winning holy order, winning truth, host-conquering, having a good host, with within, with foes afar, the troop; r Holy order, true, secure, supporting, supporter, upholder, upholding; s Such like, thus like, do ye come to us, similar and equal. t Measured and commensurate, to aid us, harmonious, at this sacrifice, O Maruts. u On Indra attend the divine folk, the Maruts; even as the divine folk, the Maruts, attend on Indra, so may the folk divine and human, attend on this sacrificer. The Horse Sacrifice a As of a thunder-cloud is the face of the warrior As he advanceth to the lap of the battles; Be victorious with unpierced body; Let the might of thine armour protect thee. b By the bow cows, by the bow the contest may we win, By the bow dread battles may we win; The bow doth work displeasure to the foe; By the bow let us win in all the quarters. c As if about to speak it approacheth the ear, Embracing its dear comrade, Like a woman this bowstring twangeth stretched over the bow [1], Saving in the battle.
YV 6.4g · Yajur Veda

Themes in this passage

WarThe DivineStrengthWorshipProtectionCompassionFearFriendship

War in other traditions

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

For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
1 Samuel 17:21 · Bible · 1 Samuel
A master of the art of war has said, 'I do not dare to be the host (to commence the war); I prefer to be the guest (to act on the defensive). I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot.' This is called marshalling the ranks where there are no ranks; baring the arms (to fight) where there are no arms to bare; grasping the weapon where there is no weapon to grasp; advancing against the enemy where there is no enemy.
Tao Te Ching 69.1 · Tao Te Ching
Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil's strategy is ever weak.
Quran 4:76 · Quran · Women
He spoke, then rush’d amid the warrior crew, And sent his voice before him as he flew, Loud, as the shout encountering armies yield When twice ten thousand shake the labouring field; Such was the voice, and such the thundering sound Of him whose trident rends the solid ground. Each Argive bosom beats to meet the fight, And grisly war appears a pleasing sight.
Iliad 14.15 · Iliad · 14

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