Sama Veda on Humility

The sisters ten upon the fleecy summit adorn the car-horse in the resting-places. 12. Hastening onward like the waves of waters our holy hymns are coming forth to Soma. To him they go with lowly adoration, and, longing, enter him who longs to meet them.

1. Sing to your Agni with each song, at every sacrifice for strength. Come, let us praise the wise and, everlasting God even as a well-beloved friend, 2. Agni, protect thou us by one, protect us by the second song, Protect us by three hymns, O Lord of power and might, bright God, by four hymns guard us 3. O Agni, with thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilliancy, O God, Kindled, most youthful one! by Bharadvaja's hand, shine on us richly, holy Lord! 4. O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes be to thee, Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, the stall of kine! 5. Agni, praise-singer! Lord of men, God! burning up the Rakshasas, Mighty art thou, the ever-present, household-lord! home-friend and guardian from the sky. 6. Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hued refulgent gift of Dawn, Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn! 7. Wonderful, with thy favouring help, send us thy bounties, gracious Lord. Thou art the charioteer, Agni, of earthly wealth: find rest and safety for our seed! 8. Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, preserver, righteous, and a Sage. The holy singers, O enkindled radiant one, ordainers, call on thee to come. 9. O holy Agni, give us wealth famed among men and strengthening life! Bestow on us, O helper, that which many crave, more glorious still through righteousness! 10. To him, who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men, To him like the first vessels filled with savoury juice, to Agni let the lauds go forth.

1. The God who giveth wealth accept your full libation poured to, him! Pour ye it out, then fill the vessel full again, for so the God regardeth you. 2. Let Brahmanaspati come forth, let Sunrita the Goddess come, And Gods bring to our rite which yields a fivefold gift the hero, lover of mankind! 3. Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God, Erect as strength-bestower when we call on thee with priests who balm our offerings! 4. The man who bringeth gifts to thee, bright God who fain wouldst lead to wealth, Winneth himself a brave son, Agni! skilled in lauds, one prospering in a thousand ways. 5. With hymns and holy eulogies we supplicate your Agni, Lord Of many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others too inflame. 6. This Agni is the Lord of great prosperity and hero, strength, Of wealth with noble offspring and with store of kine, the Lord of battles with the foe. 7. Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Hotar-priest at sacrifice. Lord of all boons, thou art the Potar, passing wise. Pay worship, and enjoy the good! 8. We as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God, to be our help. The Waters' Child, the blessed, the most mighty one, swift conqueror, and without a peer.

1. Bring us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resistless on thy way: Prepare for us the path that leads to glorious opulence and strength! 2. May the brave man, if full of zeal he serve and kindle Agni's flame, Duly presenting sacred gifts, enjoy the Gods' protecting help. 3. Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far-extended shines in heaven, For, Purifier! like the Sun thou beamest with thy radiant glow. 4. Thou, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of thine own. Bright, active God, thou makest fame increase like means of nourishment. 5. At dawn let Agni, much-beloved, guest of the house, be glorified, In whom, the everlasting one, all mortals make their offerings blaze. 6. Most moving song be Agni's: shine on high, O rich in radiant light! Like the chief consort of a King riches and strength proceed from thee. 7. Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speech Agni your dear familiar friend, the darling guest in every house. 8. His beam hath lofty power of life: sing praise to Agni, to the God Whom men have set in foremost place, like Mitra for their eulogy! 9. To noblest Agni, friend of man, chief Vritra-slayer, have we come- Who with Srutarvan, Riksha's son, in lofty presence is inflamed. 10. Born as the loftiest Law commands, comrade of those who grew with him. Agni, the sire of Kasyapa by faith, the mother, Manu, Sage.

1. Sing forth to him the holy, most munificent, sublime with his refulgent glow, To Agni, ye Upastutas 2. Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of valiant sons and does great deeds, Whose bond of friendship is thy choice 3. Sing praise to him the Lord of light! The Gods have made the God to be their messenger, To bear oblation to the Gods. 4. Anger not him who is our guest! He is the bright God Agni, praised by many a man, God Hotar, skilled in sacrifice. 5. May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss: may the gift, blessed one! and sacrifice bring bliss. Yea, may our eulogies bring bliss. 6. Thee have we chosen skilfullest in sacrifice, immortal Priest among the Gods, Wise finisher of this holy rite. 7. Bring us that splendour, Agni, which may overcome each greedy fiend in our abode, And the malicious wrath of men! 8. Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manu's race Agni averteth from us all the Rakshasas!

1. Pass by the wrathful offerer; speed the man who pours libation, drink The juice which he presents to thee! 2. What is the word addressed to him, God great and excellently wise? For this is what exalteth him. 3, His wealth who hath no store of kine hath ne'er found out recited laud, Nor song of praises that is sung. 4. Lord of each thing that giveth strength, Indra delighteth most in lauds, Borne by bay steeds, libations' friend. 5. With wealth to our libation come, be not thou angry with us, like A great man with a youthful bride. 6. When, Vasu, wilt thou love the laud? Now let the Channel bring the stream. The juice is ready to ferment. 7. After the Seasons. Indra, drink the Soma from the Brahman's gift: Thy friendship is invincible! S. O Indra, lover of the song, we are the singers of thy praise O Soma-drinker, quicken us! 9. O Indra, in each fight and fray give to our bodies manly strength: Strong Lord, grant ever-conquering might! 10. For so thou art the brave man's friend; a hero, too, art thou, and strong: So may thine heart be won to us!

1. Like kine unmilked we call aloud, hero, to thee, and sing thy praise, Looker on heavenly light, Lord of this moving world, Lord, Indra, of what moveth not! 2. That we may win us wealth and power we poets, verily, call on thee: In war men call on thee, Indra, the hero's Lord, in the steed's race-course call on thee: 3. To you will I sing Indra's praise who gives good gifts as well we know; The praise of Maghavan who, rich in treasure, aids his singers with wealth thousandfold. 4. As cows low to their calves in stalls, so with our songs we glorify This Indra, even your wondrous God who checks attack, who takes delight in precious juice. 5. Loud singing at the sacred rite where Soma flows we priests invoke With haste, that he may help, as the bard's cherisher, Indra who findeth wealth for you 6. With Plenty for his true ally the active man will gain the spoil. Your Indra, much-invoked, I bend with song, as bends a wright his wheel of solid wood. 7. Drink, Indra, of the savoury juice, and cheer thee with our milky draught! Be, for our weal, our friend and sharer of the feast, and let thy wisdom guard us well! 8. For thou--come to the worshipper!--wilt find great wealth to make us rich. Fill thyself full, O Maghavan, for gain of kine, full, Indra, for the gain of steeds! 9. Vasishtha will not overlook the lowliest one among you all Beside our Soma juice effused to-day let all the Maruts drink with eager haste! 10. Glorify naught besides, O friends; so shall no sorrow trouble you! Praise only mighty Indra when the juice is shed, and say your lauds repeatedly!

1. Call to your aid the eternal one who shoots and none may shoot at him, Inciter, swift, victorious, best of charioteers, unconquered, Tugriya's strengthener! 2. Let none, no, not thy worshippers, delay thee far away from us Even from faraway come thou unto our feast, or listen if' already here! 3. For Indra Soma-drinker, armed with thunder, press the Soma juice; Make ready your dressed meats: cause him to favour us! The giver blesses him who gives. 4. We call upon that Indra who, most active, ever slays the foe With boundless spirit, Lord of heroes, manliest one, help thou and prosper us in fight! 5. Ye rich in strength, through your great power vouchsafe us blessings day and night! The offerings which we bring to you shall never fail gifts brought by us shall never fail. 6. Whenever mortal worshipper will sing a bounteous giver's praise, Let him with song inspired laud Varuna who supports the folk who follow varied rites. 7. Drink milk to Indra in the joy of Soma juice, Medhyatithi! To golden Indra ever close to his bay steeds, the thunder-armed, the golden one! 8. Both boons,-may Indra, hitherward turned listen to this prayer of ours, And mightiest Maghavar, with thought inclined to us come near to drink the Soma juice! 9. Not for an ample price dost thou, Stone-caster! give thyself away, Not for a thousand, Thunderer! nor ten thousand, nor a hundred, Lord of countless wealth! 10. O Indra, thou art more to me than sire or niggard brother is. Thou and my mother, O good Lord, appear alike, to give me wealth abundantly.

1. Bring forth oblations to the God who knoweth all who fain would drink, The wanderer, lagging not behind the hero, coming nigh with speed! 2. To us the mighty, lying in all vital power, who resteth in the deep, who standeth in the east. Drive thou the awful word away. 3. Even as a car to give us aid, we draw thee nigh to favour us, Strong in thy deeds, quelling attack, Indra, Lord, mightiest! of the brave. 4. With powers of mighty ones hath he, the friend, the ancient, been equipped, Through whom our father Manu made prayers efficacious with the Gods. 5. What time the swift and shining steeds, yoked to the chariots, draw them on, Drinking the sweet delightful juice, there men perform their glorious acts. 6. Him for your sake I glorify as Lord of Strength who wrongeth none, Indra the hero, mightiest, all-conquering and omniscient. 7. I with my praise have glorified strong Dadhikravan, conquering steed Sweet may he make our mouths: may he prolong the days we have to live! 8. Render of forts, the young, the wise, of strength unmeasured, was he born, Sustainer of each sacred rite, Indra, the Thunderer, much-extolled.

1. Offer the triple sacred draught to Indu hero-worshipper! With hymn and plenty he invites you to complete the sacrifice. 2. Those whom they call the attendant pair of Kasyapa who knows the light, Lords of each holy duty when the wise have honoured sacrifice. 3. Sing, sing ye forth your songs of praise, men, Priya-medhas, sing your songs: Yea, let young children sing their lauds: yea, glorify our firm stronghold! 4. To Indra must a laud be said, a joy to him who freely gives, That Sakra may be joyful in our friendship and the juice we pour. 5. Your Lord of might that ne'er hath bent, that ruleth over all mankind, I call, that he, as he is wont, may aid the chariots and the men. 6. Even he who is thine own, through thought of Heaven, of mortal man who toils, He with the help of lofty Dyaus comes safe through straits of enmity. 7. Wide, Indra Satakratu, spreads the bounty of thine ample grace: So, good and liberal giver, known to all men, send us splendid wealth! 8. Bright Ushas, when thy times return, all quadrupeds and bipeds stir, And round about flock winged birds from all the boundaries of heaven. 9. Ye Gods who yonder have your home amid the luminous realm of heaven, What count ye right? what endless life? What is the ancient call on you? 10. We offer laud and psalm wherewith men celebrate their holy rites. They govern at the sacred place and bear the sacrifice to Gods.

I. When Somas flow thou makest pure, Indra, thy mind that merits laud For gain of strength that ever grows: for great is he. 2. Sing forth to him whom many men invoke, to him whom many laud: Invite the potent Indra with your songs of praise 3. We sing this strong and wild delight of thine which conquer; in the fray, Which, Caster of the Stone! gives room and shines like gold, 4. Whether thou drink the Soma by Vishnu's or Trita Aptya's side, Or with the Maruts, Indra! quaff the following drops. 5. Come, priest, and of the savoury juice pour forth a yet more gladdening draught: So is the hero praised who ever prospers us. 6. Pour out the drops for Indra; let him drink the meath of Soma juice! He through his majesty sends forth his bounteous gifts. 7. Come, sing we praise to Indra, friends! the hero who deserves the laud, Him who with none to aid o'ercomes all tribes of men. 8. Sing ye a psalm to Indra, sing a great song to the lofty Sage, To him who maketh prayer, inspired who loveth laud! 9. He who alone bestoweth wealth on mortal man who offereth gifts Is Indra only, potent Lord whom none resist. 10. Companions, let us learn a prayer to Indra, to the Thunderer, To glorify your bold and most heroic friend!

1. Graciously-minded he is flowing on his way to win dear names o'er which the youthful one grows great. The mighty and far-seeing one hath mounted now the mighty Surya's car which moves to every 2. Spontaneous let our drops of Soma juice flow on, pressed out and tawny-coloured, mightily, to the Gods! Still let our enemies, the godless, be in want, though filled with food; and let our prayers obtain success! 3. Most beauteous of the beauteous, Indra's thunderbolt, this Soma, rich in sweets, hath clamoured in the vat. Dropping with oil, abundant, streams of sacrifice flow unto him, and milch-kine, lowing, with their milk. 4. Indu hath started forth for Indra's settled place, and slights not, as a friend, the promise of his friend. Soma comes onward like a youth with youthful maids, and gains the beaker by a course of hundred paths. 5. On flows the potent juice, sustainer of the heavens; the strength of Gods, whom men must hail with shouts of joy. Thou, gold-hued, started like a courser by brave men, art lightly showing forth thy splendour in the streams. 6. Far-seeing Soma flows, the Steer, the Lord of hymns, the furtherer of days, of mornings, and of heaven. Breath of the rivers, he hath roared into the jars, and with the help of sages entered Indra's heart. 7. The three-times seven milch-kine in the loftiest heaven have for this Soma poured the genuine milky draught. Four other beauteous creatures hath he made for his adornment when he waxed in strength through holy rites. 8. Flow on to indra, Soma, carefully effused: let sickness stay afar together with the fiend! Let not the double-tongued delight them with thy juice: here be thy flowing drops laden with opulence! 9. Even as a King hath Soma, red and tawny Bull, been pressed: the wondrous one hath bellowed to the kine. While purified thou passest through the filtering fleece to seat thee hawk-like on the place that drops with oil. 10.