2. Inasmuch, INDRA, as thou hast been exhilarated in the society of RUMA, RUŞAMA, ȘYÁVAKA, and KRIPA, so the KANWAS, bearers of oblations, attract thee with their praises,1 (therefore) come hither. 3. As the thirsty Gaura hastens to the pool filled with water in the desert, so, (INDRA,) our affinity being acknowledged, come quickly, and drink freely with the KANWAS.2 4. Opulent INDRA, may the Soma drops exhilarate thee, that thou mayest bestow wealth on the donor of the libation; for taking it by stealth (when ungiven), thou hast drunk the Soma poured out into the ladle, and hast thence sustained pre-eminent strength. 5. By his strength he has overpowered the strength (of his foes), he has crushed their wrath by his prowess: all hostile armies have been arrested like trees (immoveable through fear), mighty INDRA, by thee. 6. He who has made his praise attain to thee associates himself with a thousand gallant combatants; he who offers oblations with reverence begets a valiant son, the scatterer (of enemies). 7. (Secure) in the friendship of thee who art terrible, let us not fear, let us not be harassed: great and glorious, showerer (of benefits), are thy deeds, as we may behold them in the case of TURVASA, of YAdu. ** 1 Sáma Veda II. 582 [II. 5. 1. 13. 2]. Rather, "those wishing to fight," pritanayavaḥ. Varga XXXI. Varga XXXII. 8. The showerer (of benefits) with his left hip covers (the world),* no tearer (of it) angers him: the delightful2 (Soma juices) are mixed with the sweet honey of the bee; come quickly hither, hasten, drink. 9. He who is thy friend, INDRA, is verily possessed of horses, of cars, of cattle, and is of goodly form: he is ever supplied with food-comprising riches,† and delighting all, he enters an assembly.3 10. Come like a thirsty deer to the watering place, drink at will of the Soma, whence, daily driving down the clouds, thou sustainest, MAGHAVAN, most vigorous strength. 11. Quickly, priest, pour forth the Soma, for INDRA is thirsty; verily he has harnessed his vigorous steeds, the slayer of VRITRA has arrived.1 12. The man who is the donor (of the oblation), he with (the gift of whose) libation thou art satisfied, possesses of himself understanding; this thy appropriate food is ready; come, hasten, drink of it. 1 Na dáno asya roshati, dáno avakhaṇḍayitá, or it may mean dátá, donor of the oblation. 2 Dhenavah, literally, milch cows. Soma equally agreeable is the explanation of the commentator, dhenuvat prítijanakáh Somáh. This and the preceding occur Sáma Veda II. 955-6, [II.7.3.17.1,2]. [Sáyaṇa says, 'mixed with milk sweet as honey.'] 3 Sáma Veda I. 277 [I. 3. 2. 4. 5]. 4 Ibid. I. 308 [I. 4. 1. 2. 6]. * Cf. translation, vol. iii. p. 49, where, for "flames," we should rather read "hips," as the scholiast explains sphigi in both places by kati. + Rather, "wealth-associated food," swátrabhájá vayasá. 13. Pour out, priests, the Soma libation to INDRA in his chariot the stones, placed upon their bases,1 are beheld effusing the Soma for the sacrifice of the offerer. 14. May his vigorous horses, repeatedly traversing the firmament, bring INDRA to our rites; may thy steeds, glorious through sacrifice,* bring thee down indeed to the (daily) ceremonials. 15. We have recourse to the opulent PÚSHAN† for his alliance: do thou, SAKRA, the adored of many, the liberator (from iniquity), enable us to acquire by our intelligence wealth and victory. 2 16. Sharpen us like a razor in the hands (of a barber): grant us riches, liberator (from iniquity), the wealth of cattle easily obtained by us from thee, such wealth as thou bestowest upon the (pious) mortal. 17. I desire, PÚSHAN, to propitiate thee; I desire, illustrious deity, to glorify thee: I desire not (to offer) ungracious praise to any other; (grant riches), 1 Adhi bradhnasya adrayah múlasya upari, upon the root or base; this is said to be a broad stone slab placed upon a skin, and called upara. 2 Sam nah şişíhi bhurijor iva kshuram, that is, nápitasya báhvor iva sthitam kshuram iva, like a razor placed as it were in the two arms of a barber. Varga XXXIII. According to Sáyana, adwaraṣriyaḥ means sacrifice haunting, adhwaram sevamánáḥ. + Púshan may be here a name of Indra. bestower of wealth, to him who praises, eulogises, and glorifies thee.1 18. Illustrious (PÚSHAN), my cattle go forth occasionally to pasture, may that wealth (of herds), immortal deity, be permanent; being my protector, PÚSHAN, be the granter of felicity, be most bountiful in bestowing food. 19. We acknowledge the substantial wealth (of the gift) of a hundred horses, the donation made to us amongst men at the holy solemnities of the illustrious and auspicious Raja KURUnga. 20. I, the Rishi, (DEVÁTITHI,) have received subsequently the complete donation: the sixty thousand herds of pure cattle merited by the devotions of the pious son of KANWA, and by the illustrious PRIYAMEDHAS. 21. Upon the acceptance of this donation to me, the very trees have exclaimed, (See these Rishis) have acquired excellent cows, excellent horses." 1 Stushe pajráya sámne, the second is explained prárjakáya stotránám, to the deliverer [collector?] of praises, or it may be a proper name, that of Kakshívat, see vol. i. pp. 308, 315. Sáman is rendered stotram, the possessive vat being understood, stotravate, to a praiser: dhanam dehi is required to fill up the ellipse. 2 Gám bhajanta mehaná aṣwam bhajanta mehaná, the attributive is explained manhaníyám, praṣasyám, commendable or excellent; or another sense is given, derived from a fanciful etymology, me iha na, of me here not, that is, says the scholiast, all the people, with the trees at their head, say, a gift such as this that has now been given was never given to me; ihásmin rájani tad dánam mama násín mama násíd iti vṛiksha-pramukháh sarve 'pi janáh prochur ityarthah. ADHYAYA VIII. MANDALA VIII. CONTINUed. ANUVÁKA I. CONTINUED. SÚKTA V. (V.) The deities are the AşWINS, except in the latter half of the thirtyseventh and the two last verses, which celebrate the donation of KAŞU, the son of CHEDI, and of which the gift is the devatá. The Rishi is BRAHMÁTITHI of the race of Kaṇwa; the metre of the first thirty-six verses is Gayatri, of the two next Brihati, and of the last Anushṭubh. 1. When the shining dawn, advancing hither from Varga I. afar, whitens (all things,) she spreads the light on all sides. 2. And you, AşWINS, of goodly aspect, accompany the dawn like leaders with your mighty chariot harnessed at a thought. 3. By you, affluent in sacrifices, may our praises be severally accepted: I bear the words (of the worshipper) like a messenger (to you). 4. We, KANWAS, praise for our protection the many-loved, the many-delighting AṣWINS, abounding in wealth, 5. Most adorable bestowers of strength, distributors of food, lords of opulence, repairers to the dwelling of the donor (of the oblation). 6. Sprinkle well with water the pure unfailing Varga II. |