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1 BEAUTIFUL Vayu, come, for thee these Soma drops have been prepared: 2 Knowing the days, with Soma juice poured forth, the singers glorify 3 Vayu, thy penetrating stream goes forth unto the worshipper, 4 These, Indra−Vayu, have been shed; come for our offered dainties' sake: 5 Well do ye mark libations, ye Vayu and Indra, rich in spoil 6 Vayu and Indra, come to what the Soma. presser hath prepared: 7 Mitra, of holy strength, I call, and foe−destroying Varuna, 8 Mitra and Varuna, through Law, lovers and cherishers of Law, 9 Our Sages, Mitra−Varuna, wide dominion, strong by birth,

2 At night and morning, Agni, have they called to thee, like milch−kine in their stalls lowing to meet their 3 Him have the Gods established at the region's base, doer of wondrous deeds, Herald of heaven and earth 4 Him have they set in his own dwelling, in the vault, like the Moon waxing, fulgent, in the realm of air. 5 May he as Priest encompass all the sacrifice. men throng to him with offerings and with hymns of prais 6 Such as thou art, brilliantly kindled for our weal, a liberal giver, send us riches in thy shine, 7 Agni, give us great wealth, give riches thousandfold. unclose to us, like doors, strength that shall bring 8 Enkindled night by night at every morning's dawn, may he shine forth with red flame like the realm of 9 Song chanted by us men, O Agni, Ancient One, has swelled unto the deathless Gods in lofty heaven− 10 Agni, may we show forth our valour with the steed or with the power of prayer beyond all other men; 11 Such, Conqueror! be to us, be worthy of our praise, thou for whom princes nobly born exert themselve 12 Knower of all that lives, O Agni may we both, singers of praise and chiefs, be in thy keeping still. 13 The princely worshippers who send to those who sing thy praise, O Agni, guerdon, graced with kine a

2 He made the heaven and earth resplendent by his birth: Child of two Mothers he was meet to be implore 3 Within the range of their surpassinq power, by might, the Gods created Agni with inventive thought. 4 Eager to gain, we crave from him the friendly God strength confident, choiceworthy meet to be extolled 5 For happiness, men, having trimmed the sacred grass, set Agni glorious for his strength before them her 6 Around thy dwelling−place, O brightly−shining Priest, are men at sacrifice, whose sacred grass is trimm 7 He hath filled heaven and earth and the great realm of light, when at his birth the skilful held him in thei 8 Honour the oblation−bearer, him who knows fair rites, serve ye the Household Friend who knows all thi 9 They who are free from death, fain for him, purified three splendours of the mighty Agni, circling all. 10 Man's sacrificial food hath sharpened like an axe, for brightness, him the Sage of men, the people's Lor 11 He stirs with life in wombs dissimilar in kind, born as a Lion or a loudly−bellowing Bull: 12 Vaisvanara, as of old, mounted the cope of heaven, heaven's ridge, well greeted, by those skilled in no 13 For new prosperity we seek to Agni, him whose course is splendid, gold−haired, excellently bright, 14 As pure and swift of course, beholder of the light, who stands in heaven's bright sphere a sign, who wa 15 The cheerful Priest, the pure, in whom no guile is found, Friend of the House, praise−worthy, dear to a

2 Born for us here this day, O Son of Vigour, between both races of born beings, Agni, 3 I laud the ruddy steeds who pour down blessing, dropping oil, flectest through the thoualit of Order. 4 Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, and Indra with Visnu, of the Gods, Maruts and Asvins− 5 Agni, be this our sacrifice eternal, with brave friends, rich in kine and sheep and horses, 6 The man who, sweating, brings for thee the fuel, and makes his head to ache, thy faithful servant,− 7 Who brings thee food, though thou hast food in plenty, welcomes his cheerful guest and speeds him 8 Whoso sings praise to thee at eve or morning, and, with oblation, doth the thing thou lovest,− 9 Whoso brings gifts to thee Immortal, Agni, and doth thee service with uplifted ladle,− 10 Whose well−wrought worship thou acceptest, Agni, thou God a mortal's gift, thou liberal Giver,− 11 May he who knows distinguish sense and folly of men, like straight and crooked backs of horses. 12 This Sage the Sages, ne'er deceived, commanded, setting him down in dwellings of the living. 13 Good guidance hast thou for the priest, O Agni, who, Youngest God! with outpoured Soma serves thee 14 Now all that we, thy faithful servants, Agni, have done with feet, with hands, and with our bodies, 15 May we, seven sages first in rank, engender, from Dawn the Mother, men to be ordainers. 16 As in the days of old our ancient Fathers, speeding the work of holy worship, Agni, 17 Gods, doing holy acts, devout, resplendent, smelting like ore their human generations. 18 Strong One! he marked them−and the Gods before them−like herds of cattle in a foodful pasture. 19 We have worked for thee, we have laboured nobly−bright Dawns have shed their light upon our worsh 20 Agni, Disposer, we have sung these praises to thee the Wise: do thou accept them gladly.

2 What child is this thou carriest as handmaid, O Youthful One? The Consort−Queen hath bome him. 3 I saw him from afar gold−toothed, bright−coloured, hurling his weapons from his habitation, 4 I saw him moving from the place he dwells in, even as with a herd, brilliantly shining. 5 Who separate my young bull from the cattle, they whose protector was in truth no stranger? 6 Mid mortal men godless have secreted the King of all who live, home of the people. 7 Thou from the stake didst loose e'en Sunahsepa bound for a thousand; for he prayed with fervour. 8 Thou hast sped from me, Agni, in thine anger: this the protector of Gods' Laws hath told me. 9 Agni shines far and wide with lofty splendour, and by his greatness makes all things apparent. 10 Loud in the heaven above be Agni's roarings with keen−edged weapons to destroy the demons. 11 As a skilled craftsman makes a car, a singer I, Mighty One! this hymn for thee have fashioned. 12 May he, the strong−necked Steer, waxing in vigour, gather the foeman's wealth with none to check hi

2 For, verily, men pray to thee with sacrifices and with songs. 3 Of one accord men kindle thee Heaven's signal of the sacrifice, 4 Let the man thrive who travails sore, in prayer, far thee the Bountiful. 5 The mortal who with fuel lights thy flame and offers unto thee, 6 Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far−extended shines in heaven. 7 For in men's houses thou must be glorified as a well−loved guest, 8 Thou, Agni, like an able steed, art urged by wisdom in the wood. 9 E'en things imperishable, thou, O Agni, like a gazing ox, 10 Agni, thou enterest as Priest the home of men who sacrifice. 11 O Agni, God with Mitra's might, call hither the favour of the Gods from earth and heaven.

2 With sacrifice to these we men will honour the majesty of holy Narasamsa− 3 We will extol at sacrifice for ever, as men may do, Agni whom Manu kindled, 4 Bearing the sacred grass, the men who serve him strew it with reverence, on their knees, by Agni. 5 With holy thoughts the pious have thrown open Doors fain for chariots in the Gods' assembly. 6 And let the two exalted Heavenly Ladies, Morning and Night, like a cow good at milking, 7 You, Bards and Singers at men's sacrifices, both filled with wisdom, I incline to worship. 8 May Bharati with all her Sisters, Ila accordant with the Gods, with mortals Agni, 9 Well pleased with us do thou, O God, O Tvastar, give ready issue to our procreant vigour, 10 Send to the Gods the oblation, Lord of Forests, and let the Immolator, Agni, dress it. 11 Come thou to us, O Agni, duly kindled, together with the potent Gods and Indra.

2 Washed by the men, pressed out with stones, strained through the filter made of wool, 3 This juice have we made sweet for thee like barley, blending it with milk. 4 Beloved of all, Indra alone drinks up the flowing Soma juice 5 The Friend, whom not the brilliant−hued, the badly−mixt or bitter draught, 6 While other men than we with milk chase him as hunters chase a deer, 7 For him, for Indra, for the God, be pressed three draughts of Soma juice 8 Three reservoirs exude their drops, filled are three beakers to the brim, 9 Pure art thou, set in many a place, and blended in the midst with milk 10 Here, Indra, are thy Soma−draughts pressed out by us, the strong, the pure: 11 O Indra, pour in milk, prepare the cake, and mix the Soma−draught. 12 Quaffed juices fight within the breast. The drunken praise not by their wine, 13 Rich be the praiser of one rich, munificent and famed like thee: 14 Foe of the man who adds no milk, he heeds not any chanted hymn 15 Give us not, Indra, as a prey unto the scornful or the proud: 16 This, even this, O Indra, we implore. as thy devoted friends, 17 Naught else, O Thunderer, have I praised in the skilled singer's eulogy: 18 The Gods seek him who presses out the Soma; they desire not sleep 19 Come hither swift with gifts of wealth − be not thou angry with us−like 20 Let him not, wrathful with us, spend the evening far from us to−day, 21 For well we know this Hero's love, most liberal of the boons he gives, 22 Pour forth the gift which Kanvas bring, for none more glorious do we know 23 O presser, offer Soma first to Indra, Hero, Sakra, him 24 Who, in untroubled ways, is best provider, for his worshippers. 25 Pressers, for him blend Soma juice, each draught most excellent, for him 26 The Vrtra−slayer drinks the juice. May he who gives a hundred aids 27 May the strong Bay Steeds, yoked by prayer, bring hither unto us our Friend, 28 Sweet are the Soma juices, come! Blent are the Soma juices, come!

29 And lauds which strengthen thee for great bounty and valour, and exalt 30 And songs to thee who lovest song, and all those hymns addressed to thee− 31 Thus he, sole doer of great deeds whose hand holds thunder, gives us strength, 32 Vrtra he slays with his right hand, even Indra, great with mighty power, 33 He upon whom all men depend, all regions, all achievements, he 34 All this hath he accomplished, yea, Indra, most gloriously renowned, 35 Who drives his chariot seeking spoil, from afar, to him he loves: 36 The Sage who, winning spoil with steeds, slays Vrtra, Hero with the men, 37 O Priyamedhas, worship with collected mind this Indra whom 38 Ye Kanvas, sing the Mighty One, Lord of the Brave, who loves renown, 39 Strong Friend, who, with no trace of feet, restores the cattle to the men, 40 Shaped as a Ram, Stone−hurler I once thou camest hither to the son 41 Vibhindu, thou hast helped this man, giving him thousands four times ten, 42 And these twain pouring streams of milk, creative, daughters of delight,

2 Arrows with hundred points, unconquerable, are this Indra's n−dghty arms in war. 3 What time the flowing Soma−drops have gladdened with their taste the Friend, 4 To him the peerless, who is calling you to give you aid, forth flow the drops of pleasant meath. 5 He rushes hurrying like a steed to Soma that adorns our rite, 6 Praise the strong, grasping Hero, winner of the spoil, ruling supreme oer mighty wealth. 7 Now whether thou be far away, or in the heavens, or on the earth, 8 The Bays who draw thy chariot, Steeds who injure none, surpass the wind's impetuous strength− 9 O gracious Hero, may we learn anew to know thee as thou art: 10 As, Maghavan, to Kanva at the sacred feast, to Dirghanitha thine home−friend,

2 As mighty food speed hitherward, Indu, as a most splendid Steer: 3 The well−loved meath was made to flow, the stream of the creative juice 4 The mighty waters, yea, the floods accompany thee Mighty One, 5 The lake is brightened in the floods. Soma, our Friend, heaven's prop and stay, 6 The tawny Bull hath bellowed, fair as mighty Mitra to behold: 7 Songs, Indu, active in their might are beautified for thee, wherewith 8 To thee who givest ample room we pray, to win the joyous draught: 9 Indu as, Indra's Friend, on us pour with a stream of sweetness, like 10 Winner of kine, Indu, art thou, winner of heroes, steeds, and strength

2 Thine is the Herald's, thine the Cleanser's office, thinker art thou, wealth−giver, true to Order. 3 To the Gods' pathway have we travelled, ready to execute what work we may accomplish. 4 When we most ignorant neglect the statutes of you, O Deities with whom is knowledge, 5 When, weak in mind, of feeble understanding, mortals bethink them not of sacrificing, 6 Because the Father hath produced thee, Leader of all our solemn rites, their brilliant Banner: 7 Thou whom the Heaven and Earth, thou whom the Waters, and Tvastar, maker of fair things, created,