Hinduism Index
Book 20 Index
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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at
1Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the
kine,
The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.
2Hither his bay steeds have been sent, red steeds are on the sacred
grass.
Where we in concert sing our songs. p. 338
3For Indra thunder-armed the kine have yielded mingled milk
and meath.
What time he found them in the vault.
4When I and Indra amount on high up to the bright One's place
and home,
We, having drunk of meath, will reach his seat whose Friends
are three-times-seven.
5Sing, sing ye forth your songs of praise, ye Priyamedhas, sing
your songs:
Yea, let young children sing their lauds: as a strong castle praise
ye him.
6Now loudly let the viol sound, the lute send out its voice with
might,
Shrill be the music of the string. To Indra is the hymn upraised.
7When hither speed the dappled cows, unflinching, easy to be
milked,
Seize quickly, as it bursts away, the Soma juice for Indra's
drink.
8Indra hath drunk; Agni hath drunk all Deities have drunk their
fill.
Here Varuna shall have his home, to whom the floods have sung
aloud as mother-kine unto their calves.
9Thou, Varuna, to whom belong the Seven Streams, art a glorious
God.
The waters flow into thy throat as'twere a pipe with ample
mouth.
10He who hath made the fleet steeds spring, well-harnessed, to the
worshipper,
He, the swift guide, is that fair form thot loosed the horses near
at hand.
11Indra, the very mighty, holds his enemies in utter scorn.
He, far away, and yet a child, cleft the cloud smitten by his
voice.
12He, yet a boy exceeding small, mounted his newly-fashioned car.
He for his Mother and his Sire cooked the wild mighty buffalo.
13Lord of the Home, with beauteous cheeks, ascend thy chariot
wrought of gold.
We will attend the heavenly One; the thousand-footed, red of
hue, matchless, who blesses where he goes.
14With reverence they come hitherward to him as to a sovran lord, p. 339
That they may bring him near for this man's good success, to
prosper and bestow his gifts.
15The Priyamedhas have observed the offering of the men of old,
Of ancient custom, while they strewed the sacred grass and
spread their sacrificial food.
16He who as sovran Lord of men moves with his chariots
unrestrained,
The Vritra-slayer, queller of all fighting hosts, preeminent, is
praised in song.
17Honour that Indra, Puruhanman! for his aid, in whose sustain-
ing hand of old.
The splendid bolt of thunder was deposited, as the great Sun
was set in heaven.
18No one by deed attains to him who works and strengthens
evermore:
No, not by sacrifice, to Indra praised of all, resistless, daring,
bold in might;
19The potent Conqueror, invincible in war, him at whose birth
the mighty ones,
The kine who spread afar, sent their loud voices out, heavens,
earths sent their loud voices out.
20O Indra, if a hundred heavens and if a hundred earths were
thine
No, not a thousand suns could match thee at thy birth, not
both the worlds, O Thunderer.
21Thou, Hero, hast performed thy hero deeds with might, yea, all
with strength, O Strongest One.
Maghavan, help us to a stable full of kine, O Thunderer, with
wondrous aids.