1 O God, Holy and Divine, with Thy splendour and Thy pleasant speech, bring hither Thine angels, and accept our worship.

2 We pray Thee, O God the Radiant, Thou who art bright-rayed, who seest the Sun: bring the angels hither to the feast.

3 We have kindled the light, O Sage, bright summoner of the angels to the feast. O God the Radiant, great in devoted worship.

4 O God the Radiant, come with the angels to our gift made for Thy sake: we choose Thee as our Invoker.

5 Bring, O God, to the worshipper who gives of his provision, heroic strength:

Let the angels be seated upon the grass.

6 Victor of thousands, O God, Thou who cherishest the laws, worthy of praise, the envoy to the angels.

7 Set down the Radiant One who knows all that is born, the bearer of our sacred gifts, ever Youthful, God and Sustainer.

8 Let our devoted worship proceed duly today, in the presence of the angels: strew the holy grass to be their seat.

9 So may the Maruts sit thereon, the Asvins, the Friend and the All-Seeing: the angels with all their company.

HYMN XXVII. The Radiant One.

1 The godly hero, famousest of nobles, hath granted me two oxen with a wagon. Trivrsan's son Tryaruna hath distinguished himself, O God the Radiant, Lord of all men, with ten thousands.

2 Protect Tryaruna, as Thou art waxing strong and art highly praised, O God, Lord of all men. He grants me a hundred and twenty kine, and two bay horses, good at draught, and harnessed.

3 So Trasadasyu served Thee, O God ever Youthful, craving Thy favour for the ninth time; Tryaruna, who with attentive spirit accepteth many a song from me.

4 He who declares his wish to me, to Asvamedha, to the Prince, pays him who with his verse seeks gain, gives power to him who keeps the Law.

5 From whom a hundred oxen, all of speckled hue, delight my heart, the gifts of Asvamedha, like thrice-mingled draughts of pure provision.

6 To Asvamedha who bestows a hundred gifts grant, O God the Mighty and Radiant, hero power, lofty rule like the unwasting Sun in heaven.

HYMN XXVIII. The Radiant One.

1 The light, kindled, hath sent to heaven its lustre: it shines forth widely turning unto Morning. Eastward the ladle goes that brings all blessing, praising God with homage and offering.

2 Kindled, Thou art King of the immortal world: him who brings offerings Thou attendest for his weal. He whom Thou urgest on makes all possessions his: he sets before Thee, O God, gifts that guests may claim.

3 Show Thyself strong for mighty bliss, O God, most excellent be Thy effulgent splendours. Make easy to maintain our household lordship, and overcome the might of those who hate us.

4 Thy glory, O God, I adore, kindled, exalted in Thy strength. A Steer of brilliant splendour, Thou art lighted well at sacred rites.

5 O God, invoked and kindled, serve the angels, Thou skilled in devotion: for Thou art bearer of our gifts.

6 Invoke and worship God while the sacred rite proceeds: for bearer of the offering choose ye Him.

HYMN XXIX. The Mighty One.

1 Man's worship of the angels hath three great lustres, and three celestial lights have they established. The Maruts gifted with pure strength adore Thee, for Thou, O Mighty One, art their sapient Seer.

2 What time the Maruts sang their song to the Mighty One, joyous in the provision of God, He grasped His thunderbolt to slay the Dragon, and loosed, that they might flow, the youthful Waters.

3 And, O ye Brahmans, Maruts, so may the Mighty One accept this my carefully prepared offering; for this gift found for man the cattle, and the Mighty One slew the Dragon.

4 Then heaven and earth He sundered and supported: wrapped even in these He struck the Beast with terror. So the Mighty One forced the Engulfer to disgorgement, and slew the Danava who panted against Him.

5 Thus all the angels, O Bountiful One, of their free will acknowledged Thy power, when for Etasa Thou didst cause to tarry the flying mares of Surya racing forward.

6 When the Bountiful One with the thunderbolt demolished his nine-and-ninety castles all together, the Maruts, where they met, glorified the Mighty One: ye with the Trstup hymn obstructed heaven.

7 As friend to aid a friend, the Radiant One prepared quickly three hundred buffaloes, even as He willed it. And the Mighty One, from man's gift, for the slaughter of Vrtra, accepted at once the thankful offering of three lakes of pressed-out provision.

8 All the angels raised as it were a shout of triumph in praise of the Mighty One because He slew the Dragon.

9 What time ye came with strong steeds swiftly speeding, O Usana and Mighty One, to the dwelling, Thou earnest thither conquering together with Kutsa and the angels: Thou slewest Susna.

10 One car-wheel of the Sun Thou rolledst forward, and one Thou settest free to move for Kutsa. Thou slewest noseless Dasyus with Thy weapon, and in their home overthrewest hostile speakers.

11 The lauds of Gauriviti made Thee mighty; to Vidathin's son, as prey, Thou gavest Pipru. Rjisvan drew Thee into friendship preparing the sacred food, and Thou hast accepted his offering.

12 Navagvas and Dasagvas with their offerings sing hymns of praise to the Mighty One. Labouring at their task the men laid open the stall of kine though firmly closed and fastened.

13 How shall I serve Thee, O Bountiful One, though knowing full well what hero deeds Thou hast accomplished? And the fresh deeds which Thou wilt do, Most Mighty! these, too, will we tell forth in sacred assemblies.

14 Resistless from of old through hero courage, Thou hast done all these many acts, O Mighty One. What Thou wilt do in bravery, Thunder-wielder! none is there who may hinder this Thy prowess.

15 O Mighty One, accept the prayers which now are offered, accept the new prayers, Mightiest! which we utter. Like fair and well-made robes, I, seeking riches, as a deft craftsman makes a car, have wrought them.

HYMN XXX. The Mighty One.

1 Where is that Hero? Who hath looked on the Mighty One borne on light-rolling car by Tawny Coursers, who, Thunderer, seeks with wealth the one who gives of his provision, and to his house goes, much-invoked, to aid him?

2 I have beheld His strong and secret dwelling, longing have sought the Founder's habitation. I asked of others, and they said in answer, May we, awakened men, attain to the Mighty One.

3 We will tell, O Mighty One, when we make our offering, what mighty deeds Thou hast performed to please us. Let him who knows not learn, who knows them listen: hither rides the Bountiful One with all His army.

4 O Mighty One, when born, Thou madest firm Thy spirit: alone Thou seekest war to fight with many. With might Thou clavest even the rock asunder, and foundest out the stable of the Milch-kine.

5 When Thou wast born supremest at a distance, bearing a name renowned in far-off regions, since then even angels have been afraid of the Mighty One: He conquered all the floods which served the Dasa.

6 These blissful Maruts sing their psalm to praise Thee, and bring to Thee their offering. The Mighty One with wondrous powers subdued the Dragon, the guileful lurker who beset the waters.

7 Thou, O Bountiful One, from the first didst scatter foemen, speeding, while joying in the milk, the Giver. There, seeking man's prosperity, Thou torest away the head of Namuci the Dasa.

8 Pounding the head of Namuci the Dasa, me, too, Thou madest Thine associate, O Mighty One! Yea, and the rolling stone that is in heaven, both worlds, as on a car, brought to the Maruts.

9 Women for weapons hath the Dasa taken. What injury can his feeble armies do to me? Well he distinguished his two different voices, and the Mighty One then advanced to fight the Dasyu.

10 Divided from their calves the Cows went lowing around, on every side, hither and thither. These the Mighty One re-united with His helpers.

11 What time the offerings prepared by Babhru cheered him, loud the Steer bellowed in his habitations. So the Fort-destroyer accepted thereof, and gave him recompense, in return, of milch-kine.

12 This good deed have the Rusamas done, O God the Radiant, that they have granted me four thousand cattle. We have received Rnancaya's wealth, of heroes the most heroic, which was freely offered.

13 The Rusamas, O God, sent me homeward with fair adornment and with kine in thousands. The offerings have made the Mighty One glad, when night, whose course was ending, changed to morning.

14 Night, well-nigh ended, at Rnancaya's coming, King of the Rusamas, was changed to morning. Like a strong courser, fleet of foot, urged onward, Babhru hath gained four thousand as his guerdon.

15 We have received four thousand head of cattle presented by the Rusamas, O God. And we, the singers, have received the caldron of metal which was heated for the Pravargya.

HYMN XXXI. The Mighty One.

1 The Bountiful One turns His chariot downward, the strength-displaying car which He hath mounted. Even as a herdsman driveth forth his cattle, He goeth, first, uninjured, fain for treasure.

2 Haste to us, Lord of Bays; be not ungracious: visit us, lover of gold-hued offering. There is naught else better than Thou art, O Mighty One: even to the wifeless hast Thou given spouses.

3 When out of strength arose the strength that conquers, the Mighty One displayed all powers that He possesses. Forth from the cave He drove the milky mothers, and with the light laid bare investing darkness.

4 Anus have wrought a chariot for Thy Courser, and Tvastar, Much-invoked! Thy bolt that glitters. The Brahmans with their songs exalting the Mighty One increased His strength that He might slaughter Ahi.

5 When heroes sang their laud to Thee the Hero, O Mighty One! and stones and Aditi accordant, without steed or chariot were the fellies which, sped by the Mighty One, rolled upon the Dasyus.

6 I will declare Thine exploits wrought aforetime, and, O Bountiful One, Thy deeds of late achievement, when, Lord of Might, Thou sunderedst earth and heaven, winning for man the moistly-gleaming waters.

7 This is Thy deed, even this, Wonderful! Singer! that, slaying Ahi, here Thy strength Thou showedst, didst check and stay even Susna's wiles and magic, and, drawing nigh, didst chase away the Dasyus.

8 Thou, O Mighty One, on the farther bank for Yadu and Turvaga didst stay the gushing waters. Ye both assailed the fierce: Thou barest Kutsa: when angels and Usana came to you together.

9 Let the steeds bring you both, O Mighty One and Kutsa, borne on the chariot within hearing-distance. Ye blew him from the waters, from his dwelling, and chased the darkness from the noble's spirit.

10 Even this sage hath come looking for succour even to Vata's docile harnessed horses. Here are the Maruts, all, Thy dear companions: prayers have increased Thy power and might, O Mighty One.

11 When night was near its close He carried forward even the Sun's chariot backward in its running. Etaga brought his wheel and firmly stays it: setting it eastward he shall give us courage.

12 This Mighty One, O ye men, hath come to see you, seeking a friend who hath prepared his offering. The creaking stone is laid upon the altar, and the Adhvaryus come to turn it quickly.

13 Let mortals who were happy still be happy; let them not come to sorrow, O Everlasting. Love Thou the pious, and to these Thy people, with whom may we be numbered, give Thou vigour.

HYMN XXXII. The Mighty One.

1 The well Thou clavest, settest free the fountains, and gavest rest to floods that were obstructed. Thou, O Mighty One, laying the great mountain open, slaying the Danava, didst loose the torrents.

2 The fountain-depths obstructed in their seasons, Thou, Thunderer! madest flow, the mountain's udder. Strong One, Thou by slaying even the Dragon that lay extended there hast shown Thy vigour.

3 The Mighty One with violence smote down the weapon, yea, even of that wild and mighty creature. Although he deemed himself alone unequalled, another had been born even yet more potent.

4 Him, whom the heavenly food of these delighted, child of the mist, strong waxing, couched in darkness, him the bolt-hurling Thunderer with His lightning smote down and slew, the Danava's wrath-fire, Susna.

5 Though he might never be wounded, still his vitals felt that bolt of God which His powers supported, when, after offered gifts, Strong Lord, Thou laidest him, fain to battle, in the pit in darkness.

6 Him as he lay there huge in length extended, still waxing in the gloom which no sun lightened, him, after loud-voiced threats, the Hero, the Mighty One, slaughtered.

7 When against the mighty Danava His weapon the Mighty One uplifted, power which none could combat, when at the hurling of His bolt He smote him, He made him lower than all living creatures.

8 The Mighty God seized that huge and restless coiler, insatiate, recumbent, and with His mighty weapon in his dwelling smote down the footless evil-speaking ogre.

9 Who may arrest His strength or check His vigour? Alone, resistless, He bears off all riches. Even these Twain, through terror of the might of God, retire from His dominion.

10 Even the Celestial Axe bows down before Him, and the Earth, lover-like, gives way to the Mighty One. As He imparts all vigour to these people, straightway the folk bend them to Him.

11 I hear that Thou wast born sole Lord of heroes of the Five Races, famed among the people. As such my wishes have most lately grasped Him, invoking the Mighty One both at eve and morning.

12 So, too, I hear of Thee as in due season urging to action and enriching singers. What have Thy friends received from Thee, the Brahmans who, faithful, rest their hopes on Thee, O Mighty One?

HYMN XXXIII. The Mighty One.

1 Great praise to the Mighty One, great and strong amid heroes, I ponder thus, the feeble to the Mighty, who with His band shows favour to this people, when lauded, in the fight where spoil is gathered.

2 So made attentive by our hymns, Steer! O Mighty One! Thou fastenedst the girth of Thy Bay Coursers, which, O Bountiful One, at Thy will Thou drivest hither. With these subdue for us the men who hate us.

3 They were not turned to us-ward, lofty One! while yet through lack of prayer they stood unharnessed. Ascend this chariot, Thou whose hand wields thunder, and draw the rein, O Lord of noble horses.

4 Thou, because many lauds are Thine, O Mighty One, wast active warring in the fields for cattle. For Surya in his own abode Thou, Hero, formedst in fights even a Dasa's nature.

5 Thine are we, O Mighty One; Thine are all these people, conscious of might, whose cars are set in motion. Some hero come to us, O Strong as Ahi, beauteous in war, to be invoked like Bhaga.

6 Strength much to be desired is in Thee, O Mighty One: the Immortal dances forth His hero exploits. Such, Lord of Treasure, give us splendid riches. I praise the Friend's gift, His whose wealth is mighty.

7 Thus favour us, O Mighty One, with Thy succour; Hero, protect the bards who sing Thy praises. Be friendly in the fray to those who offer the skin of beautiful and well-prepared provision.

8 And these ten steeds which Trasadasyu gives me, the gold-rich chief, the son of Purukutsa, resplendent in their brightness shall convey me. Gairiksita willed it and so came I hither.

9 And these, bestowed as guerdon for worship, the powerful tawny steeds of Marutasva; and thousands which kind Cyavatana gave me, abundantly bestowed for my adornment.

10 And these commended horses, bright and active, by Dhvanya son of Laksmana presented, came unto me, as cows into the stall of the Seer Samvarana, with magnitude of riches.

HYMN XXXIV. The Mighty One.

1 Boundless and wasting not, the heavenly food of the angels goes to the foeless One, doer of wondrous deeds. Prepare, make ready, offer gifts with special zeal to Him whom many laud, accepter of the prayer.

2 He who filled full His belly with the provision, the Bountiful One, was delighted with the sweet draught, when Usana, that He might slay the monstrous beast, gave Him the mighty weapon with a thousand points.

3 Illustrious is the man whoever makes an offering for Him in sunshine or in cloud and rain. The mighty Bountiful One who is the sage's Friend advanceth more and more his beauteous progeny.

4 The Strong God doth not flee away from him whose sire, whose mother or whose brother he hath done to death. He, the Avenger, seeketh this man's offered gifts: this God, the source of riches, doth not flee from sin.

5 He seeks no enterprise with five or ten to aid, nor stays with him who gives nothing though prospering well. The Shaker conquers or slays in this way or that, and to the pious gives a stable full of kine.

6 Exceeding strong in war He stays the chariot wheel, and, hating him who gives not, prospers him who gives. The Mighty One the terrible, tamer of every man, as Arya leads away the Dasa at his will.

7 He gathers up for plunder all the niggard's gear: excellent wealth He gives to him who offers gifts. Not even in wide stronghold may all the folk stand firm who have provoked to anger His surpassing might.

8 When the Bountiful One hath marked two wealthy men fighting for beauteous cows with all their followers, He who stirs all things takes one as His close ally, and, Shaker, with His Heroes, sends the kine to him.

9 O God, I laud the liberal Agnivesi, Satri the type and standard of the pious. May the collected waters yield him plenty, and his be powerful and bright dominion.

HYMN XXXV. The Mighty One.

1 O Mighty One, for our assistance bring that most effectual power of Thine, which conquers men for us, and wins the spoil, invincible in fight.

2 O Mighty One, whatever aids be Thine, four be they, or, O Hero, three, or those of the Five Tribes of men, bring quickly all that help to us.

3 The aid most excellent of Thee the Mightiest hitherward we call, for Thou wast born with hero might, conquering, O Mighty One, with the Strong.

4 Mighty to prosper us wast Thou born, and mighty is the strength Thou hast. In native power Thy soul is firm: Thy valour, O Mighty One, slays a host.

5 O Lord of a hundred powers, Lord of Strength, O Mighty One, Caster of the Stone, with all Thy chariot's force assail the man who shows himself Thy foe.

6 For, Mightiest Slayer of Vrtra, Thee, fierce, foremost among many, folk whose sacred grass is trimmed invite to battle where the spoil is won.

7 O Mighty One, do Thou protect our car that mingles foremost in the fights, that bears its part in every fray, invincible and seeking spoil.

8 Come to us, O Mighty One, and protect our car with Thine intelligence. May we, O Mightiest One, obtain excellent fame at break of day, and meditate our hymn at dawn.

HYMN XXXVI. The Mighty One.

1 May the Mighty One come to us, He who knows rightly to give forth treasures from His store of riches. Even as a thirsty steer who roams the deserts may He accept eagerly the thankful offering.

2 Lord of Bay Horses, Hero, may the provision rise to Thy cheeks and jaws like mountain-ridges. May we, O King, as he who driveth coursers, all joy in Thee with hymns, invoked of many!

3 Invoked of many, Caster of the Stone, my heart quakes like a rolling wheel for fear of penury. Shall not Puruvasu the singer give Thee praise, O ever-prospering Bountiful One, mounted on Thy car?

4 Like the press-stone is this Thy praiser, O Mighty One. Loudly he lifts his voice with strong endeavour. With Thy left hand, O Bountiful One, give us riches: with Thy right, Lord of Bays, be not reluctant.

5 May the strong Heaven make Thee the Strong wax stronger: Strong, Thou art borne by Thy two strong Bay Horses. So, fair of cheek, with mighty chariot, mighty, uphold us, strong-willed, thunder-armed, in battle.

6 Maruts, let all the people in obeisance bow down before this youthful Srutaratha, who, rich in steeds, gave me two dark red horses together with three hundred head of cattle.