I.

O cattle, blessed creatures, gift of the gods,
Ye that do give us milk and flesh and hide,
Ye that do labor in the field and plow,
Praise be unto you, honor and delight.

II.

The cow doth give her milk to feed the infant,
The butter melted bright for sacred rites,
The leather for the warrior's shield and armor,
The sinew strong for bows and tools of craft.

III.

In times of plenty and in times of hunger,
The cattle stand as wealth beyond all measure,
The man who keepeth cows doth keep his fortune,
The man who loseth them doth know despair.

IV.

The bull doth plow the field with mighty strength,
And drag the harvest homeward when the grain is gathered,
O noble beast, thou servant of mankind,
We honor thee and give thee all due praise.

V.

The cow doth wander through the meadows green,
And graze upon the grass that springeth forth,
She turneth it to milk most sweet and precious,
A miracle of nature and of time.

VI.

O Indra, grant us herds both vast and thriving,
Let no disease or evil touch them down,
Let wolves and thieves keep far from out our cattle,
And let them multiply like stars in heaven.

VII.

The maiden tends the cows with gentle kindness,
The boy doth learn the arts of herding well,
From childhood onward through the span of lifetime,
The cattle are the foundation of our life.

VIII.

In the sacred sacrifices, we remember
The cattle that do give their lives for us,
We thank them for the bounty of their being,
And honor them as servants of the gods.

IX.

O blessed cattle, ye who are so noble,
May you be blessed and prosper all your days,
May you graze forever in green pastures,
And may we care for you with grateful hearts.