Sama Veda on Leadership

and heaven, So as the mighty one, great King of all the mighty race of men, the Goddess mother brought thee forth, the blessed mother gave thee life. 11. Sing, with oblation, praise to him who maketh glad, who with. Rijisvan drove the dusky brood away! Let us, desiring help, call him for friendship, him the strong, the Marut-girt, whose right hand wields the bolt!

The drops of Soma juice, like cows who yield their milk, have flowed forth, rich in meath, unto the diety, And, seated on the grass, raising their voice, assumed the milk, the covering robe wherewith the address stream. 11. They balm him, balm him over, balm him thoroughly, caress the mighty strength and balm it with the meath. They seize the flying Steer at the stream's breathing-place: cleansing with gold they grasp the animal herein. 12. Spread is thy cleansing filter, Brahmanaspati: as prince thou enterest its limbs from every The raw, whose mass hath not been heated, gains not this: they only which are dressed, which bear, attain to it.

1. Observant Agni hath appeared, oblation-bearer with his car. 2. O Agni, be our nearest friend, yea, our protector and our kind deliverer! 3. Like wondrous Bhaga, Agni deals treasure among the mighty. 4. Far off or present even now, send forth thy shouting first of all! 5. Dawn drives away her sister's gloom, and through her excellence makes her retrace her path. 6. May we, with Indra and the Gods to aid us, bring these existing worlds to full completion! 7. Like streams of water on their way, let bounties, Indra, flow from thee! 8. With this may we obtain strength god-appointed, happy with brave sons through a hundred winters! 9. With strength let Mitra, Varuna swell oblations; do thou prepare for us rich food, O Indra! 10. Indra is King of all the world.

1. We in King Soma place our trust, in Agni, and in Varuna, The Aditya, Vishnu, Surya, and the Brahman-priest Brihaspati. 2. Hence have these men gone up on high and mounted to the heights of heaven: On! conquer on the path by which Angirasas travelled to the skies! 3. That thou mayst send us ample wealth, O Agni, we will kindler thee: So, for the great oblation, Steer, pray Heaven and Earth to come to us! 4. He runs when one calls after him, This is the prayer of him who prays. He holds all knowledge in his grasp even as the felly rounds the wheel. 5. Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame: demolish them on every side! Break down the Yatudhana's strength, the vigour of the Rakshasa! 6. Worship the Vasus, Agni! here, the Rudras and Adityas, all Who know fair sacrifices, sprung from Mann, scattering blessings down!

1. Sing this, beside the flowing juice, to him your hero, much-invoked, To please him as a mighty Bull 2. O Satakratu Indra, now rejoice with that carouse of thine Which is most glorious of all! 3. Ye cows, protect the fount: the two mighty ones bless the sacrifice. The handles twain are wrought of gold. 4. Sing praises that the horse may come; sing, Srutakaksha, that the cow May come, that Indra's might may come 5. We make this Indra very strong to strike, the mighty Vritra dead: A vigorous hero shall he be. 6. Based upon strength and victory and power, O Indra, is thy birth: Thou, mighty one! art strong indeed, 7. The sacrifice made Indra great when he unrolled the earth, and made Himself a diadem in heaven. 8. If I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single ruler over wealth My worshipper should be rich in kine. 9. Pressers, blend Soma juice for him, each draught most excellent, for him The brave, the hero, for his joy. 10. Here is the Soma juice expressed. O Vasu, drink till thou art full: Undaunted God, we give it thee

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. 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.

1. Indra, with all thy saving helps assist us, Lord of power and might! For after thee we follow even as glorious bliss, thee, hero, finderout of wealth. 2. O Indra, Lord of light, what joys thou broughtest from the Asuras, Prosper therewith, O Maghavan, him who lauds that deed, and those whose grass is trimmed for 3. To Aryaman and Mitra sing a reverent song, O pious one, A pleasant hymn to Varuna who shelters us: sing ye a laud unto the Kings! 4. Men with their lauds are urging thee, Indra, to drink the Soma first. The Ribhus in accord have lifted up their voice, and Rudras sung thee as the first. 5. Sing to your lofty Indra, sing, Maruts, a holy hymn of praise Let Satakratu, Vritra-slayer, slay the foe with hundred-knotted thunderbolt! 6. To Indra sing the lofty hymn, Maruts! that slays the Vritras best, Whereby the holy ones created for the God the light divine that ever wakes. 7. O Indra, give us wisdom as a sire gives wisdom to his sons Guide us, O much-invoked, in this our way: may we still live and look upon the light! 8. O Indra, turn us not away: be present with us at our feast For thou art our protection, yea, thou art our kin: O Indra, turn us not away! 9. We compass these like waters, we whose grass is trimmed and Soma pressed. Here where the filter pours its stream, thy worshippers round thee, O Vritra-slayer, sit. 10. All strength and valour that is found, Indra, in tribes of Nahushas, And all the splendid fame that the Five Tribes enjoy, bring, yea, all manly powers at once!

1. The black drop sank in Ansumati's bosom, advancing with ten thousand round about it. Indra with might longed for it as it panted: the hero-hearted King laid down his weapons. 2. Flying in terror from the snort of Vritra all deities who were thy friends forsook thee. So, Indra, with the Maruts be thy friendship: in all these battles thou shalt be the victor. 3. The old hath waked the young Moon from his slumber who runs his circling course with many round him. Behold the God's high wisdom in its greatness: he who died yesterday to-day is living. 4. Then, at thy birth, thou wast the foeman, Indra, of those the seven who ne'er had met a rival. The hidden pair, heaven and the earth, thou foundest, and to the mighty worlds thou gavest pleasure. 5. A friend we count thee, sharp-edged, thunder-wielder, Steer strong of body, overthrowing Thou, helping, causest pious tribes to conquer: Indra, I laud the, heavenly Vritra-slayer. 6. Bring to the wise, the great, who waxeth mighty your offerings,. and make ready your devotion! Go forth to many tribes as man's controller! 7. Call we on Maghavan, auspicious Indra, best hero in this fight where spoil is gathered, Strong, listening to give us aid in battles, who slays the Vritras, wins and gathers riches! 8. Prayers have been offered up-through love of glory: Vasishtha, honour Indra in the battle! He who with fame extends through all existence hears words which I, his faithful servant, utter. 9. May the sweet Soma juices make him happy to cast his quoit that lies in depth of waters! Thou from the udder which o'er earth is fastened hast poured the milk into the kine and herbage.

1. At the Trikadrukas the great and strong enjoyed the barley-brew. With Vishnu did he drink the pressed-out Soma juice, even as he would. That hath so heightened him the great, the wide to do his mighty work. So did the God attend the God, true Indu Indra who is true. 2. This God who sees for thousands of mankind, the light, the thought of poets, and the Law, The brilliant one, hath sent forth hither all the Dawns: spotless, one-minded, zealous in their home they dwell, with thought upon the Steer. 3. Come to us, Indra, from afar, conducting us, as, to the gatherings, a Lord of heroes, as an archer King, the heroes' Lord! We come with gifts of pleasant food, with flowing juice, invoking thee, as sons invite a sire, that we may win the spoil, thee, bounteousest, for gain of spoil. 4. Loudly I call that Indra Maghavan, the mighty, resistless, evermore possessing many glories. Holy, most liberal, may he lead us on to riches, through songs, and, thunder-armed make all our pathways pleasant! 5. Heard be our prayer! In thought I honour Agni first: now straightway we elect this heavenly company, Indra and Vayu we elect. For when our latest thought is raised and on Vivasvan centred well, then do our holy songs go forward on their way, our songs as 'twere unto the Gods. 6. To Vishnu, to the mighty whom the Maruts follow, let your hymns born in song go forth, Evayamarut! To the strong, very holy band adorned with bracelets, that rushes on in joy and ever roars for vigour! 7. With this his golden splendour purifying him, be with his own allies subdues all enemies, as Sura with his own allies. Cleansing himself with stream of juice he shines forth yellow-hued and red, when with the praisers he encompasses all, forms, with praisers having seven mouths. 8.

1. Present oblations, make him splendid: set ye as Hotar in his place the Home's Lord, worshipped With gifts and homage where they pour libations! Honour him meet for reverence in our houses. 2. Verily wondrous is the tender youngling's growth who never draweth nigh to drink his mother's milk. As soon as she who hath no udder bore him, he, faring on his. great errand, suddenly grew strong. 3. Here is one light for thee, another yonder: enter the third and, be therewith united. Beautiful be thy union with the body, beloved in the Gods' sublimest birthplace! 4. For Jatavedas, worthy of our praise, will we frame with our mind this eulogy as 'twere a car; For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not, in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm! 5. Agni Vaisvanara, born in course of Order, the messenger of earth, the head of heaven, The Sage, the sovran, guest of men, our vessel fit for their mouth, the Gods have generated. 6. Even as the waters from the mountain ridges, so sprang the; Gods, through lauds, from thee, O To thee speed hymns and eulogies, as horses haste, bearing him who loves the song, to battle. 7. Win to protect you, Rudra, lord of worship, priest of both worlds, effectual sacrificer, Agni, invested with his golden colours, before the thunder strike and lay you senseless! 8. The King whose face is decked with oil is kindled with homage offered by his faithful servant. The men, the priests adore him with oblations. Agni hath shone forth at the flush of morning. 9. Agni advanceth with his lofty banner: through earth and heaven the Bull hath loudly bellowed He hath come nigh from the sky's farthest limit: the Steer hath waxen in the waters' bosom. 10. From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered with thoughts, urged by the hand, the glorious Agni, Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the Homestead.

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.

1. In forefront of the cars forth goes the hero, the leader, seeking spoil: his host rejoices. Soma endues his robe of lasting colours, and blesses, for his friends, their calls on Indra. 2. Thy streams have been poured forth with all their sweetness, when, cleansed thou passest through the woollen filter. The race of kine thou cleansest, Pavamana! Thou didst beget: and speed the Sun with splendours. 3. Let us sing praises to the Gods: sing loudly, send ye the Soma forth for mighty riches! Let him flow, sweetly-flavoured, through the filter: let the God Indu settle in the beaker! 4. Urged on, the father of the earth and heaven hath gone forth like a car to gather booty. Going to Indra, sharpening his weapons, and in his hands containing every treasure. 5. When, by the law of the Most High, in presence of heaven and earth, the fond mind's utterance formed him. Then, loudly lowing, came the cows to Indu, the chosen, wellloved master in the beaker. 6. Ten sisters, pouring out the rain together, the sage's quickly-moving thoughts, adorn him. Hither hath run the gold-hued child of Surya, and reached the vat like a fleet vigorous courser. 7. When beauties strive for him as for a charger, then strive the songs as people for the sunlight. A mighty Sage, he flows enrobed in waters and hymns as 'twree a stall that kine may prosper. 8. Strong Indu, bathed in milk, flows on for Indra, Soma exciting, strength, for his carousal. He quells malignity and slays the demons, King of the homestead, he who gives us comfort. 9. Pour forth this wealth with this purification: flow onward to the yellow lake, O Indu! Here, too, the bright one, wind-swift, full of wisdom, shall give a son to him who cometh quickly. 10. Soma, the mighty, when, the waters' offspring, he chose the Gods, performed that great achievement. He, Pavamana, granted strength to Indra: he, Indu, generated light in Surya. 11. As for a chariot-race, the skilful speaker, first hymn, inventor, hath with song been started.

1. O Agni, God, we kindle thee, refulgent, wasting not away, That this more glorious fuel may send forth for thee its shine to heaven. Bring food to those who sing thy praise! 2. With offerings of our own we choose thee, Agni, as our Hotar priest, Piercing and brightly shining-at your glad carouse-served with trimmed grass at sacrifice. Thou waxest great. 3. O heavenly Dawn, awaken us to ample opulence to-day, Even as thou didst waken us with Satyasravas, Vayya's son, high born! delightful with thy steeds! 4. Send us a mind that brings delight, send energy and mental power. Then-at your glad carouse-let men joy in thy love, sweet juice! as kine in pasturage. Thou waxest great, 5. Great, as his nature is, through power, terrible, he hath waxed in strength, Lord of bay steeds, strong-jawed, sublime, he in joined hands for glory's sake hath grasped his iron thunderbolt. 6. He, Indra, verily will mount the powerful car that finds the kine, Who thinks upon the well-filled bowl, the tawny coursers' harnesser. Now, Indra, yoke thy two bay steeds! 7. I think of Agni who is kind, whom, as their home, the milch-kine seek: Whom fleet-foot coursers seek as home, and strong enduring steeds as home. Bring food to those who sing thy praise! 8. No peril, no severe distress, ye Gods, affects the mortal man Whom Aryaman and Mitra lead, and Varuna, of one accord, beyond his foes.