Wednesday, March 4, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org
Mandala 1
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Texts
◇ Direct Verse Index – Maṇḍala 1|1-25|26-50|51-75|76-100|101-125|126-150|151-175|176-191| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |I.1|I.26|I.51|I.76|I.101|I.126|I.151|I.176| |I.2|I.27|I.52|I.77|I.102|I.127|I.152|I.177| |I.3|I.28|I.53|I.7...I.1I praise Agni, the household priest, the god of the sacrifice, the lord of the offering, who beareth the gift to the gods.I.2Come, O Vāyu, with thy steeds, with thy swift winds and chariotry. Thou dwellest in the spacious paths; thou art the life of all that moveth. Come unto our sacrifice, drink of the soma that we have pr...I.3Come, O Aśvins, ye twin gods, with your swift horses that journey across the sky. Ye bring the dawn unto all mortal dwellings; ye are the healers of all ills and sufferings. Come to our sacrifice and...I.4O Indra, mighty warrior! To thee do we bring our praises. Thou art the Bull, the Lord of the storm; thy voice is the thunder that shaketh the heavens. Accept our offering and hear our prayer.I.5Come, O Indra, to our pressing of the soma! Drink deep of the juice that we have made ready for thee. It floweth like rivers; it rusheth forth like the waters when the dam is broken. Rejoice in this o...I.6O Indra, thou lord of the thunderbolt! Thy bolt is terrible to behold; it pierceth through the mountains and the clouds. With it thou hast shattered the demon Śuṣṇa and all his strongholds; with it th...I.7O Indra, thou lover of the soma draught! The juice hath been pressed and made ready for thee. Come swift as the wind; come eager as the hunter. Drink deeply and let thy power increase with each cup.I.8Come, O Indra, in thy chariot! Thy steeds are swift; they know not weariness. The tawny ones do race across the sky; their hooves strike sparks of fire. Come to the battle, O mighty king, and lead us...I.9Come, O Indra, come! We call unto thee with all our hearts. The soma hath been pressed; the rite hath been prepared. Come swift as the lightning; come eager as the storm. Hear the voice of thy faithfu...I.10O Indra, mighty king! We worship thee with a pure heart and with upraised hands. Accept our hymns and our offerings; be gracious unto us and turn not thy face away.I.11O Indra, thou lord of the generous hand! From thy store the treasures flow forth upon all who honor thee. Thou art the giver of riches, the bestower of abundance. The miser hath no friend in thee, but...I.12O Agni, thou whom the gods did set upon the sacred altar! Thou art the messenger between the earth and heaven. All that we mortals offer thou dost carry unto the gods on high. Accept our oblations and...I.13O Agni, thou priest of the sacred rite! Before thee do we call upon the gods. Accept our prayer and our oblation. Carry forth the offering unto the gods; let thy flame bear it high.I.14O Viśvedevas, all-gods who dwellest in every place! Ye are the mightiest among the celestial powers. To each of you do we make our offering; from each of you do we seek blessing.I.15O Ṛtu, thou lord of the sacred seasons! Thou art he who orderest the course of the year. Spring cometh at thy command; summer followeth in its turn. Autumn and winter do obey thy will. O Ṛtu, all the...I.16O Indra, lord of the soma draught! Thou who art born of the pressing-stones, the song, and the sweet juice! Come unto us in the morning when the sun ariseth; come in the evening when the stars appear.I.17O Indra and Varuṇa, mighty pair! To you together do we make our offering. Ye are the lords of all things; ye are the keepers of the cosmic order.I.18O Brahmaṇaspati, thou lord of sacred speech! Thou art he through whom the words of power are spoken. All that the priest uttereth is made manifest through thee. All that the singer hymn with thy aid.I.19O Agni and Maruts, fire and storm! Ye are the twin powers of transformation. Agni burneth upon the earth; the Maruts roar across the sky. Together ye do cleanse all things and bring renewal.I.20O Ṛbhus, ye divine craftsmen! Ye who fashioned the cosmos with skill and with cunning! Ye who did make the gods' instruments and the world's foundations! Accept our praise and our offering.I.21Come, mighty Indra and Agni twain! Accept our praise, ye lords of strength and flame. We call upon thee both with lifted voice—the Thunderer and the Blazing One.I.22Aśvins, golden-handed, swift as thought, ye chariot-lords of heaven's dawn, Come forth to us with healing gifts and blessings manifold upon your way.I.23We call to Vāyu, the wind-god swift, who rideth in his golden chariot. Come thou with thy attendant hosts, the breaths that move through all the world. Receive our offering, O wanderer of heaven, thou...I.24Varuṇa, sovereign lord of all, whose thousand eyes do watch the world, Whose net of ṛta—cosmic law—doth bind the heavens and the earth. Thou keepest vigil day and night; no deed escapeth thy sight. We...I.25The mighty Varuṇa doth watch with his thousand eyes upon the world. No creature hideth from his gaze; no deed escapes his scrutiny. Though thou dost dwell in highest heaven, yet thy vision pierceth al...I.26I praise Agni, the radiant fire, by Śunaḥśepa's voice upraised. Thou art the bridge between the worlds, the messenger 'tween gods and men. I light thee in my hearth today; receive my humble offering h...I.27Come, Agni, thou protector fierce against all evil and all harm. Guard us from the demon's curse; keep from us the sorcerer's spell. Thou hast the power to consume the dark; thy flames do drive away a...I.28Come, mighty Indra, to our sacrifice! We call upon thee with our voices raised. The pressing-stones are placed; the Soma stalks are laid upon the sacred ground. We crush them now—hear thou the sound o...I.29O Indra, mighty lord of war, we call upon thee in our hour of need! Our enemies do gather; the Dāsas march against us in the light of day. Grant us the strength to vanquish them; help us to crush thei...I.30O Indra, generous champion of the gods, we sing thy praise today! Thou givest gifts to all who call upon thy name with faithful hearts. The man who bringeth thee the Soma, the butter, and the finest f...I.31I praise Agni, fire most pure, by Hiraṇyastūpa's sacred voice. Thou art the cosmic principle made manifest within this mortal realm. In thee do dwell all the powers; through thee all wisdom floweth fo...I.32Sing now, O singers, of the great deed of Indra most supreme! Behold the slaying of the serpent Vṛtra, the most terrible of demons! The earth did quake; the waters feared; the very gods held still the...I.33O Indra, mighty lord of battle, whose victories are countless and supreme! Thou hast conquered many foes; thou hast made the earth to tremble. The Ten Kings did march against the Turvaśa and Yadu clan...I.34Come, O Aśvins, golden-handed twins, who ride across the sky! Your chariot of gold doth gleam; your horses swifter than all mortal steeds. Ye are the physicians of the gods; ye are the healers of the...I.35We praise Savitṛ, the golden-handed god, who beareth the sun across the sky. Thou impeller of all things, thou bringer of the dawn most bright! The whole world waketh at thy coming; all creatures stir...I.36I praise the radiant Agni, guest of every household and of every home. Thou art the chosen fire upon the altar; thou art the sacred flame most pure. We welcome thee into our dwelling; thou art the mos...I.37We call upon the Maruts, the storm gods mighty and swift! The children of Rudra, the companions of Indra in every battle! Come forth with your thunder; come forth with your lightning and your rain. Ye...I.38O mighty Maruts, sons of the wind, your armor is of gold most bright! Your weapons shine like burning fire; your spears are tipped with lightning. Come forth, ye storm gods mighty and supreme, and hea...I.39O Maruts, mighty brothers, sons of Rudra most ferocious and supreme! Ye are companions of the Thunderer; ye dance with Indra in the sky. Your father is the terrible lord who holdeth in his hands disea...I.40We call upon Brahmaṇaspati, the lord of prayer and sacred speech! Thou art the priest of the immortal gods; thou art the keeper of the word. The god who guideth all the sacrifices; who dwelleth in the...I.41Sing, O Muse, of Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman—the Ādityas who hold the world's reins, who bind it round with laws that cannot break. These are the guardians of ṛta, the cosmic order. They shine from heavens...I.42Praise unto Pūṣan, the golden-hued, who driveth his chariot across the earth. He knoweth every path—the ways of men, the trails of beasts, the roads that gods do travel. Not a single track escapeth hi...I.43O Rudra, the Howler! We sing thy dreadful name. Thou art the archer, the wild god of the mountains. Thy arrows fly like lightning; thy roar shaketh the earth. Fear seizeth all creatures when thou dost...I.44Awake, O Agni! The dawn hath broken. Rise thou from the ashes! Come forth, O bright one, clothed in flames. The night hath passed; the darkness fleeth before thee. Now kindleth the morning fire, and a...I.45O Agni, thou inviter of the gods! Thou standest at the threshold of heaven and earth. When we kindle thee and speak the prayer, thou hearest instantly. Thou risest up and fliest to the gods, and they...I.46Hail to the Aśvins, the twin lords of dawn! Swift as the thought, swifter than the wind, they drive their chariot across the sky. They are the healers, the preservers, the friends of man. Before the s...I.47Behold the chariot of the Aśvins! Golden is its frame, its wheels turn swift and smooth. The axle burneth bright; the yoke is bound with cunning knots. Three-wheeled or four-wheeled—the accounts do va...I.48Glory unto Uṣas, the radiant goddess! She cometh forth clothed in robes of gold and crimson. Her chariot is drawn by ruddy steeds. She rideth high above the mountains, and the darkness fleeth before h...I.49She pusheth! O mighty Uṣas, thou dost thrust the darkness from the sky! It fleeth in terror before thee. The night that ruled but moments past—where is it now? Gone. Utterly gone. Thou hast driven it...I.50All hail to Sūrya, the Sun! Behold his golden chariot drawn by swift steeds across the vault of heaven. Seven horses bear him, or horses of every color, or golden-maned steeds that gleam brighter than...I.51Sing unto Indra, the mighty one! The thunderbolt dwelleth in his hand. He standeth above all gods; his strength is unmatched. He drinketh the soma, and his intoxication groweth into terrible power. Wh...I.52O Indra, slayer of the demon! Behold—we have prepared the soma for thee. We have crushed the sacred plant; we have filtered it through the wool. The golden liquid now awaiteth thee, O mighty one! Come...I.53Behold the chariot of Indra! What glory surroundeth it! The wheels are fashioned of gold and burnished bronze. The axles gleam like stars. The frame is wrought with such cunning that no earthly artisa...I.54O Indra, thou cosmic lord! Thou art vaster than the sky itself. Thy form doth fill all space. Yet paradoxically, thou art small enough to dwell within the soma draught. How can this be? How can the in...I.55O Indra, wielder of the Vajra! That thunderbolt which thou bearest is the mightiest weapon ever forged. When thou raisest it above thy head, the sky itself doth quake. When thou dost hurl it forth, no...I.56O Indra, thou rain-bringer! When the earth doth parch and cry out for moisture, when the cattle low in their distress and the crops do wilt beneath the merciless sun—then we lift our voices unto thee,...I.57Praised with soma be thou, O Indra! We have made the sacred draught for thee, and it awaiteth thy lips. The finest plant, the most precious juice—we have prepared it with care and ritual purity. Come...I.58Hear us, O Agni, thou fire of the sacrifice! Thou burnest eternal—not merely for a night or a day, but from the beginning of time until time itself shall cease. The fires that kindled before the first...I.59Glory unto Agni Vaiśvānara, the universal fire! Thou art not bound to any single place, any single dwelling. The fire in the palace of the king and the fire in the hut of the poorest peasant—both are...I.60Thou ancient flame, O Agni! How long hath thy fire burned? Since the beginning of all things, surely! Before the mountains rose from the earth, thou wast already burning. Before the seas filled their...I.61O Indra, mightiest among the gods! The mountains trembled at thy voice. The darkness fled when thou didst hurl thy thunderbolt against the demon-hosts. Vritra the serpent, that foul obstruction, lay c...I.62In ancient days, when chaos reigned and the Paṇis held dominion over all, thou didst descend, O Indra, with thy mighty bow. The caves wherein they hoarded cattle—those dark abysses filled with stolen...I.63None hath arisen to match thy glory, O Indra. The gods themselves acknowledge thy supremacy. When thou dost stand forth in armor, even the demons pale and retreat. The demon Dhuni fled at thy name alo...I.64Hark! Dost thou hear that thunder rolling across the heavens? The Maruts approach! The storm-hosts gather with glittering spears and golden armor. Their war-chariots shake the very earth beneath them....I.65O Agni, most wondrous of all gods! Thou art born in darkness, yet thou art light itself. From the two wooden pieces struck together dost thou emerge—a flame most terrible and most beautiful. In thy bi...I.66Hidden thou wert in the wood, O Agni, unknown to all creatures. Like a thief in the darkness, like a secret kept within the heart of the mountain, thou didst dwell invisible. No eye beheld thee. No ea...I.67Thou hast many names, O Agni, for thou art many things! At dawn thou art Jātavedas, the knower of all creatures. In the evening thou art Vaiśvānara, the universal flame. In the household thou art Gṛha...I.68O Agni, thou art the radiant priest! More honored than all the Brahmin sages, more exalted than the king upon his throne! For thou art the one who alone standeth between the mortal realm and the immor...I.69O Agni, friend of all mortals! Thou art the gentle one, the kind one, the protector of all creatures. When we kindle thee with trembling hands and uncertain hearts, thou dost not reject us. Thou dost...I.70O Agni, purifier and enricher! Thou burnest away the impurities that cling to all things. The dross is consumed in thy flames. The base metal becometh gold. The soiled garment becometh clean. All that...I.71O Agni, thou art present in all things! Art thou not the cosmic fire that burneth in the heart of the sun? Is not the sun itself a manifestation of thy eternal flame? And doth not the heat of the sun...I.72O Agni, born of heaven and earth! Thy father is the infinite sky that stretcheth beyond all measure. Thy mother is the eternal earth that beareth all creatures upon her breast. From this union—from th...I.73O Agni, protector against the darkness and all evil spirits! When the night falleth upon the land and the shadows creep forth from every corner, we kindle thy sacred flame and find courage. The demons...I.74O Agni, thou art the household fire—gentle and fierce, mild and terrible, depending upon the need! In the family hearth thou burnest soft and warm, a comfort to all who gather near. Yet shouldst anyon...I.75O Agni, thou messenger of the dawn! When the night hath held dominion for long hours and the darkness seemeth it shall never lift, thou comest bearing the first light of morning. The eastern horizon b...I.76O Agni, thou divine hotṛ! The great priest among the immortals! It is written in the eternal laws that thou alone art worthy to perform the ultimate sacrifice. The offerings of all creatures—mortals a...I.77O Agni, thou generous giver! Thou dost distribute thy bounty unto all creatures without stinting, without measure, without end. From thy flames floweth forth the energy that sustaineth all life. From...I.78O Agni, thou lord of vows and sacred rites! All that is ordained in the eternal law cometh under thy dominion. Every vow that mortals take, every oath sworn upon thy altar, every promise made before t...I.79O Agni, the thundering flame! The storm-fire! When thy voice soundeth forth in the heavens, the earth trembleth beneath our feet! The very mountains shake at thy roar! The sky itself is split asunder...I.80O Indra, mightiest of warriors! Let us now recount thy mighty deeds, O Champion! Let us catalogue the victories that have made thy name eternal! None among the gods, none among the demons, none among...I.81Soma hath strengthened thee, O Indra, Lord of might! The sacred draught hath empowered thy limbs. With the Maruts at thy side, thou shalt shake the very pillars of heaven and split the clouds asunder.I.82Behold! The Thunderer doth shake the heavens! His golden chariot rolls across the sky, and the stars do tremble in their courses. The very pillars of the firmament groan beneath his weight. Mountains...I.83Come forth with the Maruts, O Indra! Let thy companions in glory attend upon thee. The sons of Rudra, those mighty wind-gods, follow in thy chariot's wake. Their spears gleam like stars. Their armor s...I.84Thou hast slain them all, O mighty Indra! The Dāsas who rose up in their darkness have been cast down. Their chariots lie broken upon the field. Their warriors cry out no more. Thy victory is complete...I.85Hark! What voice is that which crieth through the heavens? What roaring shaketh the foundations of the earth? 'Tis the Maruts! The storm-band approacheth! The sons of Rudra do come forth in their terr...I.86Behold the Maruts in their self-luminous splendor! No lamp doth light their path — they themselves do shine as stars. Their radiance filleth the heavens. The sky is made bright by their presence. They...I.87They are the sons of Rudra the Archer! Born of his mighty strength, they embody both his terrible wrath and his transcendent beauty. Fearful are they, yet magnificent to behold. In them do dwell the v...I.88Swift are thy chariots, O Maruts! Like the wind itself they race across the heavens. No chariot of mortal make can match their speed. They do not touch the ground yet travel from place to place in the...I.89May all the gods bring us blessings! May the Viśvedevas, the Universal Ones, turn their faces toward us in mercy. We stand as supplicants before the assembled host of heaven. We offer our prayers with...I.90Soma dwelleth among the gods as supreme. Varuṇa sitteth upon his throne of judgment. The Viśvedevas are gathered in divine assembly. All the powers of heaven have come together in this sacred moment,...I.91Hail unto thee, O Soma! Divine plant of the immortals! Thy praises have been sung since time immemorial. In thee dwelleth the very essence of divinity itself. To drink of thee is to taste the nectar o...I.92Behold! The Dawn doth arise in her crimson robes! The goddess Uṣas doth wake from her slumber and drive forth the darkness of night. She cometh forth with grace and beauty beyond reckoning. The sky it...I.93Indra and Agni! Thou mighty pair! Thunder and fire do come forth together in this joint hymn of praise. One shatterethe the clouds with his thunderbolt. The other burneth bright with eternal flame. To...I.94O Agni! Thou art supreme among the gods, taking many forms and serving many purposes! Who can measure thy greatness? Who can comprehend thy true nature? Thou dost dwell in many places, yet art thou on...I.95Hidden in the waters dwelleth a secret fire! Agni, thou art concealed beneath the surface, yet thy power is manifest everywhere. The waters do not extinguish thee; rather do they shield thee from view...I.96Behold the radiant bull, O Agni! Thou dost shine forth with a brilliance that blindeth the eye. Thy horns are wrought of pure light. Thy hide gleameth like burnished bronze. Thy strength is as the str...I.97Hear us, O Agni! Thou art the healer! Thou dost burn away disease and suffering! When sickness doth come upon the body, thy sacred flame doth purify and restore. The heat that would destroy an enemy d...I.98O luminous one! O dispeller of darkness! Thou shinest forth in thy eternal splendor. The night doth flee at thy approach. The shadows do shrink and disappear. Thou art the eternal enemy of all that is...I.99O Agni! Lord of all fires! We invoke thee in this moment, made sacred by thy presence. Hear us, O golden one. Hear us, O beloved of the gods.I.100Hear us, O Indra! Great is thy name among the kingdoms of mortals! King Bharata himself doth offer this hymn unto thee, for thou hast granted him dominion and victory over his enemies!I.101Sing, O my soul, to Indra crowned with gold, to him whose arm doth break the demon's hold. The strong one, mighty in the midday heat, hath drunk the Soma sweet, and grown complete.I.102To thee, O Indra, lord of all the powers, we cry aloud through all our nights and hours. The vajra-bearer, wielder of the bolt, before thy name the demons twain do jolt.I.103O thou who didst break Vṛtra with thy might, who split the darkness and released the light! The cloud-fort that the serpent-demon built, thou smote it down and drowned the world in guilt.I.104At midday when the sun doth climb most high, and light doth flood across the brilliant sky, we gather now to pour the soma sweet, and lay our offerings at the sacred seat.I.105The rivers have come to me in mine extremity; I stand alone, surrounded and dismay'd. Mine enemies do press upon my head, and I cry out to the All-Gods for aid.I.106Come now, O Viśvedevas, all ye bright, ye assembly of the gods most high and great! We gather here to offer you the best of all the fruits that we possess. Attend to us and hear our fervent call, O mi...I.107Sing now the mighty assembly of the gods, all who dwell upon the highest nods of heaven, all who are counted in the sacred fold. Come hear this prayer, come hearken to the bold.I.108Indra and Agni! Mighty pair combine, together reign in splendor most divine. The king of storms and he of sacred flame, together they do bear a fearful name.I.109O Indra and Agni, hear our desperate prayer! Our enemies encircle us everywhere. We stand alone upon the field of war, and look to you to help us evermore.I.110O Ṛbhus, wondrous ones, ye craftsmen blessed! Ye makers of marvels, greatest of the best! With hands so swift and cunning, wise and bright, ye fashion all the treasures of the night.I.111Sing, O my soul, to the Ṛbhus three, whose mortal birth doth fill my heart with glee! They were as men who walked upon the earth, yet rose to godhood through their sacred worth.I.112O Aśvins twain, ye swift twin-gods of light, who ride upon your golden chariot bright! A thousand times we praise you and adore, a thousand times and ever evermore.I.113O Uṣas, luminous! O dawn most fair! Thou comest forth with bright and golden hair. The darkness flees before thy sacred face; the stars grow dim within their appointed place.I.114O Rudra, terrible! O god most dread! We bow before thee with much fear and dread. Thou art the archer with the deadly bow; thou art the one from whom the demons flow.I.115O Sūrya, golden! O mighty sun above! We lift to thee our hands and voice of love. Thou art the eye of heaven, bright and strong; the light which guideth all the mortal throng.I.116O Aśvins twain, ye riders swift and bright! Ye come to us at breaking of the light. Ye are the ones who go before the dawn, and harness all the magic of the morn.I.117O Aśvins merciful, O healers true! We call upon you and we run to you. Ye are the gods who succor those in need, who come at once to hear the crying plead.I.118O Aśvins dear, companions of the dawn! Ye ride before the light hath come upon the world. The stars still gleam, the moon doth linger still, yet there ye are, ascending up the hill.I.119O Aśvins bright, whose chariot doth shine with gold and light most radiant and divine! Ye ride upon the pathways of the air, and bring to mortals blessing everywhere.I.120O Aśvins twain, we call upon you now, and offer up to you our solemn vow. Come swift, come swift to hear our humble prayer, and grant unto our lives thy most devoted care.I.121Indra, bull of heaven, hear us! Thou whose horns are thunderclouds, whose hooves shake the earth and press the waters forth. O mighty one, girt about with strength, thou hast lifted up the sky itself...I.122Come hither, O all ye gods! Gather together, ye hosts of the divine assembly. We call upon Mitra and Varuṇa, upon Indra and Agni, upon the Aśvins and upon Soma. Ye guardians of cosmic order, hear our...I.123The Dawn cometh forth! See how she rideth across the sky in her gleaming chariot, drawn by steeds of light! She is the ageless goddess, ever young, ever renewed. Each day she is born anew, and yet she...I.124Behold! The Dawn advanceth, bringing gifts! She cometh with the treasure of her light, scattering gold upon the earth. The darkness that did cover all things recedes before her. She is the great dispe...I.125O Svanaya, lord of lands! Thou art mighty in thy dominion. Thy herds are countless as the stars. Thy fields stretch forth to the horizon. Thy treasuries are filled with gold and silver. Yet greater st...I.126Bhāvayavya, thou man of abundant wealth! Thy generosity is known throughout all the lands. The rivers do not flow so freely as thy gifts. The monsoon doth not rain so abundantly as thy bounty. Thou ar...I.127Come forth, O Agni! Thou friend of mortal men! Kindle thyself within the sacred wood. Let thy flames leap upward to the heavens. Thou art the bridge between the earth and the divine realm. All our off...I.128Behold the sacrificial flame! How it doth leap and dance! How it reacheth toward the heavens with tongues of golden fire! The smoke riseth up in spirals, carrying our prayers to the eternal realm. Thi...I.129Indra, thou art mighty! Thou art strengthened by the song of the singers. Thy power groweth with each verse we do pronounce. Hear now the cries of the warriors! Hear the calls of those who do invoke t...I.130Indra! O lord of cosmic deeds! Thou hast done what no other god could do. Hear now the recitation of thy mighty works! These are the tales that shall be sung forever in the halls of men.I.131Indra, thou lord of heroic deeds! We call upon thee now, for we are in need of thy strength. Thou art the greatest of warriors. Thou art the most powerful of all the gods. No foe can withstand thee. N...I.132O Indra, we beseech thee! Grant us victory! Thou art the wielder of the thunderbolt, the conqueror of demons, the lord of battles. Turn thy gaze toward us now, and let thy terrible strength fall upon...I.133Indra, thou destroyer of the wicked! Thou art the scourge of all evildoers. Thou art the one who dost hunt down the wicked as a hunter doth hunt his prey. There is nowhere they can hide from thy sight...I.134Vāyu, O wind-god! Thou art the first to drink the soma when it is pressed! Before all the other gods, before Indra himself, the soma cometh first to thy lips. Thou art honored among all the divine one...I.135O Vāyu and Indra, divine pair! O wind and warrior, swift and strong! Ye are complementary powers, the breath and the thunderbolt, the invisible and the manifest. Together ye do accomplish great deeds...I.136Mitra and Varuṇa, O twin lords! O divine pair who dost uphold the cosmic order! Ye sit upon thy thrones in the heavens and dost oversee all that transpires upon the earth and in the sky above. Nothing...I.137Mitra and Varuṇa, hear us now! We call upon you as the bringers of rain and the givers of justice! The earth doth cry out for thy waters! The parched lands do lift their faces to the sky, praying that...I.138Pūṣan, O guide of all paths! Thou art the god who dost accompany all travelers. Whether a man doth journey by foot across the mountains or by chariot along the roads, thou art with him. Thy hand doth...I.139O Viśvedevas, all ye gods! Come hither! The divine assembly is convening! We kindle the sacred fires! We pour out the soma! We sing the songs of invocation! Come ye to our altar and accept our offerin...I.140Agni, thou that burnest mysteriously! Agni, thou that comest forth from the hidden places! Thou art enigmatic and profound, thy nature understood by few. Yet all do depend upon thee, and all do come t...I.141O Agni! Thou fire that dwellest in secret, hidden in the wood as in the womb of waters—thou hast been born yet art eternal. We invoke thee, O mysterious flame, who camest forth from the Two Mothers, w...I.142Agni! We call to thee with voices clear and fervent. Accept our praise and dwell within this home. Thou art the friend whom all men covet, the fire that burneth bright, the flame that endureth.I.143Agni, O noble herald! Thou standest betwixt the world of men and the realm of the immortals. From thee the gods are served. Through thee the prayers of mortals reach the ears of the deathless ones.I.144O Agni! Secret fire! Thou art hidden within all things, dwelling in the depths where no eye can perceive thee. In the wood thou sleepest. In the stone thou liest dormant. In the waters thou art impris...I.145O Agni! Child of two mothers! Born from wood and from waters—what strange and wondrous birth is thine! Neither wholly of earth nor wholly of heaven, yet belonging to both, thou art the bridge, the mee...I.146Agni! Thou art not one but many! The eye beholdeth thee and confoundeth, unable to grasp thy true nature. Art thou the flame that danceth upon the altar? Art thou the glow that liveth in the coals? Ar...I.147O Agni! Thou watchful friend! Thou sittest beside us as a companion whom we cherish, thy presence warm and comforting. When the cold night descendeth and the stars appear like points of light in an en...I.148O Agni! Bearer of the sacred oblation! Upon thy tongue the offering is placed, and by thy power it is transformed and conveyed to the realm of the gods. Thou art the priest's most faithful helper, the...I.149O Agni! Ancient one! Thou wast kindled on the first dawn when the gods created the world. Yet thou art renewed each day, made young again by the hands of the priests who strike the stones and draw for...I.150O Agni! Accept our praise! Thou art the mightiest of all the celestial powers, and we who are small and weak do call upon thee.I.151O Mitra and Varuṇa! Twin lords of cosmic order! Ye who govern the sky and earth, who dispense justice and mercy, who uphold the sacred law that bindeth all things together—we call upon you with revere...I.152O Mitra! Varuṇa! Ye dual sovereigns of day and night! By what measure do ye divide the hours? By what mysterious reckoning do ye govern the cycles that turn the world?I.153O Mitra and Varuṇa! We come before you in supplication and fear! We have broken the covenant. We have spoken falsehood. We have cheated in our dealings. We have coveted what belonged to another. We de...I.154O Viṣṇu! Wide-strider! Lord of the three great strides! Thou hast traversed the earth, the sky, and all the hidden realms beyond in thy mighty footsteps. We praise thee with awe and wonder, O boundles...I.155O Viṣṇu! O Indra! The strider and the thunderer! Together ye are mighty beyond measure! Joined in purpose, ye are the defenders of all existence against the forces of chaos and darkness.I.156O Viṣṇu! The pervader of all things! Thou art everywhere, in all places, at all times. Thy presence fileth the universe. There is no corner so remote, no darkness so deep, that thou art not there.I.157O Aśvins! Twin healers! Ye who ride in thy golden chariot across the dawn sky! Ye who have rescued so many who were lost or suffering! We call upon you with grateful hearts!I.158O Aśvins! Ye of the swift-moving chariot! How many have ye rescued from the depths of calamity? How many tales do the poets sing of thy intervention?I.159O Dyāvāpṛthivī! O Heaven and Earth! O cosmic mother and father! From your union sprang forth all that is. From your embrace cometh all life, all growth, all becoming.I.160O Dyāvāpṛthivī! O vast ones! Your embrace is boundless! Your union knoweth no limit! Ye are the measure of all space, the container of all existence!I.161The Ṛbhus, whom the gods did make immortal through their craft most wondrous, sing we now— Those three brothers born of strength, whose hands do shape the divine substance, Whose skill doth turn the r...I.162Behold the horse most swift and noble, whom we lead unto the stake, That sacred beast whose hooves do thunder 'cross the field of sacrifice, Whose mane doth flow like molten gold, whose breath doth sh...I.163Hail to the divine horse, born ere the dawn of days, Whose cosmic origin doth reach beyond the mortal ken, Whose form was shaped by the invisible hand of truth eternal.I.164The riddle of the cosmos, O ye wise ones, hear and ponder deep— For I shall speak the mysteries that the ancient seers did know, The hidden truth that lieth beneath the veil of all appearances.I.165Hear now the dialogue 'tween Indra, king most mighty, and the Maruts wild, Who ride upon the storms and sing their songs of thunder and of wind.I.166By Agastya, the great sage, do we sing praise to the Maruts fierce and terrible, Those storm-gods who do ride upon the wind with spears of lightning raised on high, Whose chariots do rattle with the s...I.167Indra, the mighty lord, doth ride forth with the Maruts at his side, His chariot doth thunder 'cross the sky with wheels that turn like lightning swift, And all the gods do bow before him, for he is t...I.168Hail to the Maruts, the storm-riders swift and terrible, Whose chariots of wind do race 'cross the sky on wheels of fire, Whose journey through the cosmic spaces none can measure nor contain.I.169Indra, the sole lord, he who standeth alone in majesty supreme, Doth reign eternal o'er all the worlds, both visible and invisible, His kingdom doth stretch beyond the reach of mortal comprehension, A...I.170Hear now the dialogue 'tween great Agastya, the sage most wise and ancient, And Indra, the lord of heaven, as they do dispute upon the nature of the sacrifice.I.171By Agastya, the great sage, do we sing reconciliation To the Maruts, those storm-gods, after the great dispute is ended, And peace hath been restored 'tween the warring deities once more.I.172O Maruts, the splendid ones, the glorious storm-gods fierce and swift, We do sing of thy magnificence, thy beauty terrible and grand, Thy glory shineth forth like the sun emerging from the darkness, A...I.173Indra, the mighty one, we do sing thy glory and thy splendor, Thou who art the greatest of all the gods celestial, Thy strength doth know no bounds, thy power is without limit, And thy deeds do echo t...I.174The cosmic deeds of mighty Indra, we do recount now with voices filled with wonder, The great and glorious acts that he hath wrought in ages past and present both, The miracles and marvels that do tes...I.175Hail to Indra the soma-drinker, he who doth partake of the sacred liquor sweet, And through that drinking doth become empowered beyond all measure to wage the cosmic battle.I.176O mighty Indra, we do petition thee now with voices raised in supplication, We do beseech thee for thy aid in battle and in struggle, We do ask that thou wouldst grant unto us victory o'er our enemies...I.177Indra, the generous lord, the giver of all gifts most precious, We do sing of thy abundance and thy kindness without measure, Thou who dost bestow the blessings manifold upon all those who honor thee.I.178By Agastya the wise sage, do we sing of Indra the warrior and the sage combined, He who is mighty in battle yet also possessed of deep and timeless wisdom, He who doth wield the thunderbolt with stren...I.179Hear now the rare and precious dialogue betwixt Lopāmudrā the beloved And Agastya her husband, the sage most wise and ancient, A hymn wherein the woman's voice doth speak with power and with passion t...I.180Hail to the Aśvins, the divine healers and the harbingers of dawn, Who ride forth at the breaking of the day with forms most radiant and beautiful, Who bring the blessings of the morning light unto al...I.181Come hither, Aśvins twain! Come swift as wind and thought, ye healers of the lame. Golden are your chariots, wrought by Tvaṣṭṛ's hand, and drawn by steeds that know not weariness. Harness them now; th...I.182Behold! The Aśvins come. They ride upon the wind, swifter than thought itself, swifter than the eagle's flight. Their chariot is not drawn by horses of common breed, but by stallions born of the stars...I.183Come, let us recount thy wonders, O Aśvins! Come, let us speak thy glory throughout the lands! For what gods have done such deeds as ye have wrought?I.184O Aśvins, awake! The dawn is breaking. The stars grow pale. The night doth flee before the coming light. And we, thy servants, do call upon thee this new day, as we have called upon thee on every day...I.185I praise the cosmic parents, the eternal mother and father of all that is. Dyāvāpṛthivī, whose union hath given birth to all creation. O Heaven and Earth, O great and glorious pair! Your embrace doth...I.186Come forth, O Viśvedevas! All-Gods, assembly of the divine! Come to our altar, as ye have come since ages past. We call upon you not singly, but together — the great congregation of heaven.I.187Hail to thee, O Anna, sacred food! Thou art the breath of life itself. Without thee, no creature can endure. The strongest man becomes weak; the bravest warrior falleth. But he who hath eaten is made...I.188Come, O Agni, thou whom we summon! Come to the altar! Come to the ritual-fire that we have kindled in thy name! The soma is poured; the ghee is melted; the grain is ready to be offered. All the sacred...I.189Guard us, O Agni! Guard us through the long night! The darkness hath come, and with it come the terrors that prowl abroad. The creatures of the shadow stir. The spirits of ill-will walk the earth. The...I.190Hail to thee, Bṛhaspati, Lord of the Sacred Word! Thou art the master of speech and prayer. Thou art the teacher of the gods themselves. When the divine assembly gathereth to decide the fate of worlds...I.191Hear now the incantation against poison! Hear the charm that boundeth the venomous creatures! The serpent hath no power. The scorpion hath no power. All venom is made impotent by this word.