Whatever, Maruts! may be difficult to gain, grant us, whate'er is hard to gain.

9 Dadhyac of old, Angiras, Priyamedha these, and Kanva, Atri, Manu knew my birth, yea, those of ancient days and Manu knew.

Their long line stretcheth to the righteous, our birth-connexions are with them.

To these, for their high station, I bow down with song, to the Mighty and the Radiant, bow with song.

10 Let the Invoker bless: let givers bring choice gifts; Brhaspati the Friend doth devote himself with Steers, Steers that have many an excellence.

Now with our ears we catch the sound of the press-stone that rings afar.

The very Strong hath gained the waters by himself, the strong gained many a resting-place.

11 O ye Eleven angels whose home is heaven, O ye Eleven who make earth your dwelling,

Ye who with might, Eleven, live in waters, accept this devotion, O servants of God, with pleasure.

HYMN CXL. God the Radiant.

1 To splendid Light seated by the altar, loving well his home, I bring the food as 'twere his place of birth.

I clothe the bright One with my hymn as with a robe, him with the car of light, bright-hued, dispelling gloom.

2 Child of a double birth he grasps at triple food; in the year's course what he hath swallowed grows anew.

He, by another's mouth and tongue a noble Bull, with other, as an elephant, consumes the trees.

3 The pair who dwell together, moving in the dark, bestir themselves: both parents hasten to the babe,

Impetuous-tongued, destroying, springing swiftly forth, one to be watched and cherished, strengthener of his sire.

4 For man, thou Friend of men, these steeds of thine are yoked, impatient, lightly running, ploughing blackened lines,

Discordant-minded, fleet, gliding with easy speed, urged onward by the wind and rapid in their course.

5 Dispelling on their way the horror of black gloom, making a glorious show these flames of his fly forth

When o'er the spacious tract he spreads himself abroad, and rushes panting on with thunder and with roar.

6 Amid brown plants he stoops as if adorning them, and rushes bellowing like a bull upon the herd.

Proving his might, he decks the glory of his form, and shakes his horns like one terrific, hard to stay.

7 Now covered, now displayed he grasps as one who knows his resting-place in those who know him well.

A second time they wax and gather mighty power, and blending both together change their Parents' form.

8 The maidens with long tresses hold him in embrace; dead, they rise up again to meet the Living One.

Releasing them from age with a loud roar he comes, filling them with new spirit, living, unsubdued.

9 Licking the mantle of the Mother, far and wide he wanders over fields with beasts that flee apace.

Strengthening all that walk, licking up all around, a blackened path, forsooth, he leaves where'er he goes.

10 Shine resplendent with our wealthy chiefs, like a loud-snorting bull, accustomed to the house.

Thou casting off thine infant wrappings blazest forth as though thou hadst put on a coat of mail for war.

11 May this our perfect prayer be dearer unto thee than an imperfect prayer although it please thee well.

With the pure brilliancy that radiates from thy form, mayest thou grant to us abundant store of wealth.

12 Grant to our chariot, to our house, a boat with moving feet and constant oarage,

One that may further well our wealthy princes and all the folk, and be our certain refuge.

13 Welcome our laud with thine approval. May earth and heaven and freely flowing rivers

Yield us long life and food and corn and cattle, and may the red Dawns choose for us their choicest.

HYMN CXLI. God the Radiant.

1 Yea, verily, the fair effulgence of the Lord for glory was established, since he sprang from strength.

When he inclines thereto successful is the hymn: the songs of devotion have brought him as they flow.

2 Wonderful, rich in nourishment, he dwells in food; next, in the seven auspicious Mothers is his home.

Thirdly, that they might drain the treasures of the Bull, the maidens brought forth him for whom the ten provide.

3 What time from out the deep, from the Steer's wondrous form, the Chiefs who had the power produced him with their strength;

When Matarisvan rubbed forth him who lay concealed, for mixture of the sweet drink, in the days of old.

4 When from the Highest he is brought to us, amid the plants he rises hungry, wondrously.

As both together join to expedite his birth, most youthful he is born resplendent in his light.

5 Then also entered he the Mothers, and in them pure and uninjured he increased in magnitude.

As to the first he rose, the vigorous from of old, so now he runs among the younger lowest ones.

6 Therefore they choose him Herald at the morning rites, pressing to him as unto the Giver of Fortune, pouring gifts,

When, much-praised, by the power and will of God, he goes at all times to his mortal worshipper.

7 What time the Holy One, wind-urged, hath risen up, serpent-like winding through the dry grass unrestrained,

Dust lies upon the way of him who burneth all, black-winged and pure of birth who follows sundry paths.

8 Like a swift chariot made by men who know their art, he with his red limbs lifts himself aloft to heaven.

Thy worshippers become by burning black of hue: their strength flies as before a hero's violence.

9 By thy might, the All-Seeing who guards the Law, the Friend and the Guardian of Covenants, the Bounteous, are made strong;

For, as the felly holds the spokes, thou with thy might pervading hast been born encompassing them round.

10 To him who toils and pours forth gifts, thou, Most Youthful! sendest wealth and all the host of the servants of God.

Thee, therefore, even as the Giver of Fortune, will we set anew, young Child of Strength, most wealthy! in our battle-song.

11 Vouchsafe us riches turned to worthy ends, good luck abiding in the house, and strong capacity,

Wealth that directs both worlds as they were guiding-reins, and, very Wise, the assent of the angels in devotion.

12 May he, the Priest resplendent, joyful, hear us, he with the radiant car and rapid horses.

May the ever wise, with best directions to bliss and highest happiness conduct us.

13 With hymns of might he hath now been lauded, advanced to height of universal kingship.

Now may these wealthy chiefs and we together spread forth as spreads the Sun above the rain-clouds.

HYMN CXLII. The Invocations.

1 Kindled, bring the angels to-day for him who lifts the ladle up. Spin out the ancient thread for him who gives of his provision.

2 Thou dealest forth, Tanunapat, sweet offering enriched with oil,

Brought by a singer such as I who offers gifts and toils for thee.

3 He wondrous, sanctifying, bright, sprinkles the offering with mead,

Thrice, Narasamsa from the heavens, adorable among the mighty.

4 Besought, bring hitherward the Mighty Friend, the Wonderful,

For this my hymn of praise, O sweet of tongue, is chanted forth to thee.

5 The ladle-holders strew trimmed grass at this well-ordered rite;

A home for the Mighty is adorned, wide, fittest to receive the angels.

6 Thrown open be the Doors Divine, unfailing, that assist the rite,

High, purifying, much-desired, so that the angels may enter in.

7 May Night and Morning, hymned with lauds, united, fair to look upon,

Strong Mothers of the rite, seat them together on the grass.

8 May the two Priests Divine, the sage, the sweet-voiced lovers of the hymn,

Complete this devotion of ours, effectual, reaching heaven to-day.

9 Let the pure Invoker, set among the mighty ones, amid the Maruts, rest on the grass, adorable.

10 May the Fashioner send us genial dew abundant, wondrous, rich in gifts,

For increase and for growth of wealth, the Fashioner our kinsman and our Friend.

11 Lord of the forest, give forth, thyself, and call the righteous to devotion.

May the intelligent One speed our offering to the angels.

12 To the Wind joined with the Nourisher, with the Maruts, and the host of angels,

To the Mighty who inspires the hymn cry Glory! and present the gift.

13 Come hither to enjoy the gifts prepared with cry of Glory! Come,

O Mighty One, hear their calling; they invite thee to the devotion.

HYMN CXLIII. God the Radiant.

1 To the Radiant I present a newer mightier hymn, I bring my words and song unto the Son of Strength,

Who, Offspring of the Waters, bearing precious things, sits on the earth, in season, dear Invoking Priest.

2 Soon as he sprang to birth he was shown forth to Matarisvan in the highest firmament.

When he was kindled, through his power and majesty his fiery splendour made the heavens and earth to shine.

3 His flames that wax not old, beams fair to look upon of him whose face is lovely, shine with beauteous sheen.

The rays of him whose active force is light, through the nights glimmer sleepless, ageless, like the floods.

4 Send thou with hymns that Light to his own abode, who rules, one Sovereign Lord of wealth, like the All-Seeing,

Him, All-possessor, whom the Bhrgus with their might brought to earth's central point, the centre of the world.

5 He whom no force can stay, even as the Maruts' roar, like to a dart sent forth, even as the bolt from heaven,

With sharpened jaws chews up and eats the trees, and conquers them as when the warrior smites his foes.

6 And will not he find enjoyment in our praise, will not the Giver of Dwellings grant our wish with gifts of wealth?

Will not the Inspirer speed our prayers to gain their end? Him with the radiant glance I laud with this my song.

7 The kindler of the flame wins him as a Friend, promoter of the Law, whose face is bright with oil.

Inflamed and keen, refulgent in our gatherings, he lifts our hymn on high clad in his radiant hues.

8 Keep us incessantly with guards that cease not, with guards auspicious, very mighty.

With guards that never slumber, never heedless, never beguiled. O Helper, keep our children.

HYMN CXLIV. God the Radiant.

1 The Priest goes forth to devotion, with wondrous power sending aloft the hymn of glorious brilliancy.

He moves to meet the ladles turning to the right, which are the first to kiss the place where he abides.

2 To him sang forth the flowing streams of Holy Law, encompassed in the home and birth-place of the Lord.

He, when he dwelt extended in the waters' lap, absorbed those mighty powers for which he is adored.

3 Seeking in course alternate to reach the selfsame end the two copartners strive to win this beauteous form.

Like the Giver of Fortune must he be duly invoked by us, as he who drives the car holds fast the horse's reins.

4 He whom the two copartners with observance tend, the pair who dwell together in the same abode,

By night as in the day the grey one was born young, passing untouched by age through many an age of man.

5 Him the ten fingers, the devotions, animate: we mortals call on him, a Mighty One, to give us help.

He speeds over the sloping surface of the land: new deeds hath he performed with those who gird him round.

6 For, like a herdsman, thou by thine own might rulest o'er all that is in heaven and on the earth;

And these two Mighty Ones, bright, golden, closely joined, rolling them round are come unto thy sacred grass.

7 Accept with joy, be glad in this our prayer, joy-giver, self-sustained, strong, born of Holy Law!

For fair to see art thou turning to every side, pleasant to look on as a dwelling filled with food.