6 As the Hawk rent for Him the stalk that gladdens, He wrenched the head from Namuci the Dasa. He guarded Nami, Sayya's son, in slumber, and sated him with food, success, and riches.

7 Thou, thunder-armed, with Thy great might hast shattered Pipru's strong forts who knew the wiles of serpents. Thou gavest to Thy worshipper Rjisvan imperishable wealth, O Bounteous Giver.

8 The crafty Vetasu, the swift Dasni, and Tugra speedily with all his servants, hath the Mighty One, gladdening with strong assistance, forced near as it were to glorify the Mother.

9 Resistless, with the hosts He battles, bearing in both His arms the Vrtra-slaying thunder. He mounts His Bays, as the car-seat an archer: yoked at a word they bear the lofty One.

10 May we, O Mighty One, gain by Thy new favour: so Parus laud Thee, with their worship, that Thou hast wrecked seven autumn forts, their shelter, slain Dasa tribes and aided Purukutsa.

11 Favouring Usana the son of Kavi, Thou wast his ancient strengthener, O Mighty One. Thou gavest Navavastva as a present, to the great father gavest back his grandson.

12 Thou, roaring Mighty One, drovest on the waters that made a roaring sound like rushing rivers, what time, O Hero, o'er the sea Thou broughtest, in safety broughtest Turvasa and Yadu.

13 This, O Mighty One, was Thy work in war: Thou sentest Dhuni and Cumuri to sleep and slumber. Dabhiti lit the flame for Thee, and worshipped with fuel, hymns, offerings, prepared food.

HYMN XXI. The Mighty One. All the Powers of God.

1 These the most constant singer's invocations call Thee who art to be invoked, O Hero; hymns call anew the chariot-borne, Eternal: by eloquence men gain abundant riches.

2 I praise that Mighty One, known to all men, honoured with songs, extolled with hymns at worship, whose majesty, rich in wondrous arts, surpasseth the magnitude of earth, and heaven in greatness.

3 He hath made pathways, with the Sun to aid Him, throughout the darkness that extended pathless. Mortals who yearn to worship ne'er dishonour, O Mighty God, Thy Law who art Everlasting.

4 And He who did these things, where is that Mighty One? among what tribes? what people doth He visit? What worship contents Thy mind, and wishes? What priest among them all? what hymn, O Mighty One?

5 Yea, here were they who, born of old, have served Thee, Thy friends of ancient time, Thou active Worker. Bethink Thee now of these, Invoked of many! the midmost and the recent, and the youngest.

6 Inquiring after Him, Thy later servants, O Mighty One, have gained Thy former old traditions. Hero, to whom the prayer is brought, we praise Thee as great for that wherein we know Thee mighty.

7 The demon's strength is gathered fast against Thee: great as that strength hath grown, go forth to meet it. With Thine own ancient friend and companion, the thunderbolt, brave Champion! drive it backward.

8 Hear, too, the prayer of this Thy present beadsman, O Mighty One, Hero, cherishing the singer. For Thou wast aye our fathers' Friend aforetime, still swift to listen to their supplication.

9 Bring to our help this day, for our protection, Thy attributes: the All-Seeing, the Friend, the Mighty, and Thy servants the Maruts, Pusan, the All-Pervading, the Radiant One, Purandhi, the Light-giver, also the Plants and Mountains.

10 The singers here exalt with hymns and praises Thee who art very Mighty and Most Holy. Hear, when invoked, the invoker's invocation. Beside Thee there is none like Thee, Everlasting!

11 Now to my words come quickly Thou who knowest, O Son of Strength, with all who claim our worship, who visit sacred rites, whose tongue is the Radiant One, the righteous who made Manu stronger than the Dasyu.

12 On good and evil ways be Thou our Leader, Thou who art known to all as Path-preparer. Bring power to us, O Mighty One, with Thy Horses, Steeds that are best to draw, broad-backed, unwearied.

HYMN XXII. The Mighty One.

1 With these my hymns I glorify that Mighty One who is alone to be invoked by mortals, the Lord, the Mighty One, of manly vigour, victorious, Hero, true, and full of wisdom.

2 Our sires of old, Navagvas, sages seven, while urging Him to show His might, extolled Him, dwelling on heights, swift, smiting down opponents, guileless in word, and in His thoughts most mighty.

3 We seek that Mighty One to obtain His riches that bring much food, and men, and store of heroes. Bring us, Lord of Bay Steeds, to make us joyful, celestial wealth, abundant, undecaying.

4 Tell Thou us this, if at Thy hand aforetime the earlier singers have obtained good fortune, what is Thy share and portion, Strong Subduer, Asura-slayer, rich, invoked of many?

5 He who for car-borne Mighty One, armed with thunder, hath a hymn, craving, deeply-piercing, fluent, who sends a song effectual, firmly-grasping, and strength-bestowing, he comes near the Mighty.

6 Strong of Thyself, Thou by this art hast shattered, with thought-swift Parvata, him who waxed against Thee, and, Mightiest! roaring! boldly rent in pieces things that were firmly fixed and never shaken.

7 Him will we fit for you with new devotion, the strongest Ancient One, in ancient manner. So may that Mighty One, boundless, faithful Leader, conduct us over all places hard to traverse.

8 Thou for the people who oppress hast kindled the earthly firmament and that of heaven. With heat, O Bull, on every side consume them: heat earth and flood for him who hates devotion.

9 Of all the Heavenly Folk, of earthly creatures Thou art the King, O God of splendid aspect. In Thy right hand, O Mighty One, grasp the thunder: Eternal! Thou destroyest all enchantments.

10 Give us confirmed prosperity, O Mighty One, vast and exhaustless for the foe's subduing. Strengthen therewith the Arya's hate and Dasa's, and let the arms of Nahusas be mighty.

11 Come with Thy team which brings all blessings hither, Disposer, much-invoked, exceeding holy. Thou whom no fiend, no power can stay or hinder, come swiftly with these Steeds in my direction.

HYMN XXIII. The Mighty One.

1 Thou art attached to the offering pressed out, O Mighty One, at laud, at prayer, and when the hymn is chanted; or when with yoked Bays, Bountiful One, Thou comest, O Mighty One, bearing in Thine arms the thunder.

2 Or when on that decisive day Thou holpest the maker of the offering at Vrtra's slaughter; or when Thou, while the strong one feared, undaunted, gavest to death, O Mighty One, the daring Dasyus.

3 Let the Mighty One accept the pressed-out offering, Helper and mighty Guide of him who sings His praises. He gives the hero room who pours oblations, and treasure even to the lowly singer.

4 Even humble rites with His Bay steeds He visits: He wields the bolt, accepts the offering, gives us cattle. He makes the valiant rich in store of heroes, accepts our praise and hears the singer's calling.

5 What He hath longed for we have brought to the Mighty One, who from the days of old hath done us service. While the offering flows we will sing hymn, and laud Him, so that our prayer may strengthen the Mighty One's vigour.

6 Thou hast made prayer the means of Thine exalting, therefore we wait on Thee with hymns, O Mighty One. May we, by the pressed offering, bring Thee, with worship, blissful sweet refreshment.

7 Mark well our offering of cake, delighted Mighty One, accept the offering and the milk commingled. Here on the worshipper's grass be seated: give ample room to Thy devoted servant.

8 O Mighty One, be joyful as Thou willest. Let these our offerings reach and find Thee; and may this hymn and these our invocations turn Thee, whom many men invoke, to help us.

9 Friends, when the juices flow, replenish duly your own, your bounteous Mighty One with the offering. Will it not aid Him to support us? The Mighty One spares him who sheds the juice to win His favour.

10 While the offering flowed, thus the Mighty One hath been lauded, Ruler of nobles, amid the Bharadvajas, that the Mighty One may become the singer's patron and give him wealth in every kind of treasure.

HYMN XXIV. The Mighty One.

1 Strong rapturous joy, praise, glory are with the Mighty One: impetuous God, He accepts the offering: that Bountiful One whom men must laud with singing, Heaven-dweller, King of songs, whose help is lasting.

2 He, Friend of man, most wise, victorious Hero, hears, with far-reaching aid, the singer call Him. Excellent, Praise of Men, the bard's Supporter, Strong, He gives strength, extolled in holy assembly.

3 The lofty axle of Thy wheels, O Hero, is not surpassed by heaven and earth in greatness. Like branches of a tree, Invoked of many, manifold aids spring forth from Thee, O Mighty One.

4 Strong Lord, Thine energies, endowed with vigour, are like the paths of kine converging homeward. Like bonds of cord, O Mighty One, that bind the younglings, no bonds are they, O Thou of boundless bounty.

5 One act today, another act tomorrow oft the Mighty One makes what is not yet existent. Here have we the Friend, the All-Seeing, and Pusan to overcome the foeman's domination.

6 By song and worship men brought the waters from Thee, as from a mountain's ridge, O Mighty One. Urging Thy might, with these fair lauds they seek Thee, O theme of song, as horses rush to battle.

7 That Mighty One whom nor months nor autumn seasons wither with age, nor fleeting days enfeeble, still may His glory wax, even now so mighty, glorified by the lauds and hymns that praise Him.

8 Extolled, He bends not to the strong, the steadfast, nor to the bold incited by the Dasyu. High mountains are as level plains to the Mighty One: even in the deep He finds firm ground to rest on.

9 Impetuous Speeder through all depth and distance, give strengthening food, Thou accepter of the offerings. Stand up erect to help us, unreluctant, what time the gloom of night brightens to morning.

10 Hasting to help, come hither and protect him, keep him from harm when he is here, O Mighty One. At home, abroad, from injury preserve him. May brave sons gladden us through a hundred winters.

HYMN XXV. The Mighty One.

1 With Thine assistance, O Thou Mighty One, be it the least, the midmost, or the highest, great with those aids and by these powers support us, Strong God! in battle that subdues our foemen.

2 With these discomfit hosts that fight against us, and check the opponent's wrath, Thyself uninjured. With these chase all our foes to every quarter: subdue the tribes of Dasas to the Arya.

3 Those who array themselves as foes to smite us, O Mighty One, be they kin or be they strangers, strike Thou their manly strength that it be feeble, and drive in headlong flight our foemen backward.

4 With strength of limb the hero slays the hero, when bright in arms they range them for the combat, when two opposing hosts contend in battle for seed and offspring, waters, kine, or corn-lands.

5 Yet no strong man hath conquered Thee, no hero, no brave, no warrior trusting in his valour. Not one of these is match for Thee, O Mighty One. Thou far surpassest all these living creatures.

6 He is the Lord of both these armies' valour when the commanders call them to the conflict: when with their ranks expanded they are fighting with a great foe or for a home with heroes.

7 And when the people stir themselves for battle, be Thou their saviour, O Mighty One, and protector, and theirs, Thy manliest of our friends, the pious, the chiefs who have installed us priests, O Mighty One.

8 To Thee for high dominion hath been for evermore, for slaughtering the Vrtras, all lordly power and might, O Holy One, given by God for victory in battle.

9 So urge our hosts together in the combats: yield up the godless bands that fight against us. Singing, at morn may we find Thee with favour, yea, O Mighty One, and even now, we Bharadvajas.

HYMN XXVI. The Mighty One.

1 O Mighty One, hear us. Raining down the offering, we call on Thee to win us mighty valour. Give us strong succour on the day of trial, when the tribes gather on the field of battle.

2 The warrior, son of warrior sire, invokes Thee, to gain great strength that may be won as booty: to Thee, the brave man's Lord, the fiends' subduer, he looks when fighting hand to hand for cattle.

3 Thou didst impel the sage to win the daylight, didst ruin Susna for the pious Kutsa. The invulnerable demon's head Thou clavest when Thou wouldst win the praise of Atithigva.

4 The lofty battle-car Thou broughtest forward; Thou holpest Dasadyu the strong when fighting. Along with Vetasu Thou slewest Tugra, and madest Tuji strong, who praised Thee, O Mighty One.

5 Thou madest good the laud, what time Thou rentest a hundred thousand fighting foes, O Hero. Slewest the Dasa Sambara of the mountain, and with strange aids didst succour Divodasa.

6 Made glad with thankful offerings and faith, Thou sentest Cumuri to his sleep, to please Dabhiti. Thou, kindly giving Raji to Pithinas, slewest with might, at once, the sixty thousand.

7 May I too, with the liberal chiefs, O Mighty One, acquire Thy blissful supreme and domination, when, Mightiest! Hero-girt! Nahusa heroes boast them in Thee, the triply-strong Defender.

8 So may we be Thy friends, Thy best beloved, O Mighty One, at this holy invocation. Best be Pratardani, illustrious ruler, in slaying foemen and in gaining riches.

HYMN XXVII. The Mighty One.

1 What deed hath the Mighty One done in the wild transport, in accepting or in friendship with the offering? What joys have men of ancient times or recent obtained within the chamber of the offering?

2 In its wild joy the Mighty One hath proved Him faithful, faithful in accepting, faithful in its friendship. His truth is the delight that in this chamber the men of old and recent times have tasted.

3 All Thy vast power, O Bountiful One, we know not, know not the riches of Thy full abundance. No one hath seen that might of Thine, productive of bounty every day renewed, O Mighty One.

4 This one great power of Thine our eyes have witnessed, wherewith Thou slewest Varasikha's children, when by the force of Thy descending thunder, at the mere sound, their boldest was demolished.

5 In aid of Abhyavartin Cayamana, the Mighty One destroyed the seed of Varasikha. At Hariyupiya He smote the vanguard of the Vrcivans, and the rear fled frighted.

6 Three thousand, mailed, in quest of fame, together, on the Yavyavati, O much-sought Mighty One, Vrcivan's sons, falling before the arrow, like bursting vessels went to their destruction.

7 He, whose two red Steers, seeking goodly pasture, plying their tongues move on betwixt earth and heaven, gave Turvasa to Srnjaya, and, to aid him, gave the Vrcivans up to Daivavata.

8 Two wagon-teams, with damsels, twenty oxen, O God, Abhyavartin Cayamana, the liberal Sovran, giveth me. This guerdon of Prthu's seed is hard to win from others.

HYMN XXVIII. The Cows.

1 The Kine have come and brought good fortune: let them rest in the cow-pen and be happy near us. Here let them stay prolific, many-coloured, and yield through many morns their milk for the sake of God.

2 God aids him who offers worship and gifts: he takes not what is his, and gives him more thereto. Increasing ever more and ever more his wealth, He makes the pious dwell within unbroken bounds.

3 These are ne'er lost, no robber ever injures them: no evil-minded foe attempts to harass them. The master of the Kine lives many a year with these, the Cows whereby he pours his gifts and serves God.

4 The charger with his dusty brow o'ertakes them not, and never to the shambles do they take their way. These Cows, the cattle of the pious worshipper, roam over widespread pasture where no danger is.

5 To me the Cows seem a blessing from God, they seem a gift of the Mighty One, they seem a portion of the first-poured provision. These present Cows, they, O ye servants, I long for the favour of the Mighty One with my heart and spirit.

6 O Cows, ye fatten even the worn and wasted, and make the unlovely beautiful to look on. Prosper my house, ye with auspicious voices. Your power is glorified in our assemblies.

7 Crop goodly pasturage and be prolific, drink pure sweet water at good drinking places. Never be thief or sinful man your master, and may the dart of the Avenger still avoid you.

8 Now let this close admixture be close intermingled with these Cows, mixed with the Steer's prolific flow, and, O Mighty One, with Thy hero might.

HYMN XXIX. The Mighty One.

1 Your men have followed the Mighty One for His friendship, and for His loving-kindness glorified Him. For He bestows great wealth, the Thunder-wielder: worship Him, Great and Kind, to win His favour.

2 Him to whose hand men closely cling, and drivers stand on His golden chariot firmly stationed. With His firm arms He holds the reins; His Horses, the Stallions, are yoked ready for the journey.

3 Thy devotees embrace Thy feet for glory. Bold, thunder-armed, rich, through Thy strength, in guerdon, robed in a garment fair as heaven to look on, Thou hast displayed Thee like an active dancer.

4 That offering when poured hath best consistence, for which the food is prepared and grain is mingled; by which the men who pray, extolling the Mighty One, chief favourites of the righteous, recite their praises.

5 No limit of Thy might hath been appointed, which by its greatness sundered earth and heaven. These the Prince filleth full with strong endeavour, driving, as it were, with help his flocks to waters.

6 So be the lofty Mighty One prompt to listen, Helper unaided, golden-visored Hero. Yea, so may He, shown forth in might unequalled, smite down the many Vrtras and the Dasyus.

HYMN XXX. The Mighty One.

1 The Mighty One hath waxed yet more for hero prowess, alone, Eternal, He bestoweth treasures. The Mighty One transcendeth both the worlds in greatness: one half of Him equalleth earth and heaven.

2 Yea, mighty I esteem His Godly nature: none hindereth what He hath once determined. Near and afar He spread and set the regions, and every day the Sun became apparent.

3 Even now endures Thine exploit of the Rivers, when, O Mighty One, for their floods Thou clavest passage. Like men who sit at meat the mountains settled: by Thee, Most Wise! the regions were made steadfast.

4 This is the truth, none else is like Thee, O Mighty One, no power superior to Thee, no mortal. Thou slewest Ahi who besieged the waters, and lettest loose the streams to hurry seaward.

5 O Mighty One, Thou breakest up the floods and portals on all sides, and the firmness of the mountain. Thou art the King of men, of all that liveth, engendering at once Sun, Heaven, and Morning.

HYMN XXXI. The Mighty One.

1 Sole Lord of wealth art Thou, O Lord of riches: Thou in Thine hands hast held the people, O Mighty One! Men have invoked Thee with contending voices for seed and waters, progeny and sunlight.

2 Through fear of Thee, O Mighty One, all the regions of earth, though naught may move them, shake and tremble. All that is firm is frightened at Thy coming, the earth, the heaven, the mountain, and the forest.

3 With Kutsa, O Mighty One, Thou didst conquer Susna, voracious, bane of crops, in fight for cattle. In the close fray Thou rentest him: Thou stolest the Sun's wheel and didst drive away misfortunes.

4 Thou smotest to the ground the hundred castles, impregnable, of Sambara the Dasyu, when, Strong, with might Thou holpest Divodasa who poured offerings out, and madest Bharadvaja rich who praised Thee.

5 As such, true Hero, for great joy of battle mount Thy terrific car, O Brave and Manly. Come with Thine help to me, Thou distant Roamer, and, glorious God, spread among men my glory.

HYMN XXXII. The Mighty One.

1 With my lips I have fashioned for this Hero words never matched, most plentiful and auspicious, for Him the Ancient, Great, Strong, Energetic, the very mighty Wielder of the Thunder.

2 Amid the sages, with the Sun He brightened the Parents: glorified, He burst the mountain; and, roaring with the holy-thoughted singers, He loosed the bond that held the beams of Morning.

3 Famed for great deeds, with priests who kneel and laud Him, He still hath conquered in the frays for cattle, and broken down the forts, the Fort-destroyer, a Friend with friends, a Sage among the sages.

4 Come with Thy girthed mares, with abundant vigour and plenteous strength to him who sings Thy praises. Come hither, borne by mares with many heroes, Lover of song! Steer! for the people's welfare.

5 The Mighty One with rush and might, sped by His Coursers, hath swiftly won the waters from the southward. Thus set at liberty the rivers daily flow to their goal, incessant and exhaustless.

HYMN XXXIII. The Mighty One.

1 Give us the rapture that is mightiest, O Mighty One, prompt to bestow and swift to aid, O Hero, that wins with brave steeds where brave steeds encounter, and quells the Vrtras and the foes in battle.

2 For with loud voice the tribes invoke Thee, O Mighty One, to aid them in the battlefield of heroes. Thou, with the singers, hast pierced through the Panis: the charger whom Thou aidest wins the booty.