Ye ne'er beguiled, who borne as 'twere by noble steed, have stood upon the lofty ridges of the hills.

2 Your giver keeps afar your furious rush, O Mighty and All-Pervading, when ye come with all your might. That which hath been directed well at mortal man, bow-armed Krsanu's arrow, ye turn far aside.

3 These offerings increase his mighty manly strength: he brings both Parents down to share the genial flow. He lowers, though a son, the Father's highest name; the third is that which is high in the light of heaven.

4 We laud this manly power of him the Mighty One, preserver, inoffensive, bounteous and benign; His who strode, widely pacing, with three steppings forth over the realms of earth for freedom and for life.

5 A mortal man, when he beholds two steps of him who looks upon the light, is restless with amaze. But his third step doth no one venture to approach, no, nor the feathered birds of air who fly with wings.

6 He, like a rounded wheel, hath in swift motion set his ninety racing steeds together with the four. Developed, vast in form, with those who sing forth praise, a youth, no more a child, he cometh to our call.

HYMN CLVI. God the All-Pervading.

1 Far-shining, widely famed, going thy wonted way, fed with the oil, be helpful, Friend-like, to us.

So, O All-Pervading, e'en the wise must swell thy song of praise, and he who hath offerings pay thee solemn rites.

2 He who brings gifts to him the Ancient and the Last, to the All-Pervading who ordains,

Who tells the lofty birth of him the Lofty One, shall verily surpass in glory e'en his peer.

3 Him have ye satisfied, singers, as well as ye know, primeval germ of Order even from his birth.

Ye, knowing e'en his name, have told it forth: may we, O All-Pervading, enjoy the grace of thee the Mighty One.

4 The Sovereign All-Seeing and both the Healers wait on this the will of him who guides the host of the Maruts.

The All-Pervading hath power supreme and might that finds the day, and with his Friend unbars the stable of the kine.

5 Even he the Heavenly One who came for fellowship, the All-Pervading to the Mighty, godly to the godlier,

Who Maker, throned in three worlds, helps the faithful man, and gives the worshipper his share of Holy Law.

HYMN CLVII. The Healers.

1 The Light is wakened: the Sun riseth from the earth. Mighty, refulgent Dawn hath shone with all her light.

The Healers have equipped their chariot for the course. God the Light-giver hath moved the folk in sundry ways.

2 When, ye Healers, ye equip your very mighty car, bedew, ye Twain, our power with honey and with oil.

To our devotion give victorious strength in war: may we win riches in the heroes' strife for spoil.

3 Nigh to us come the lauded three-wheeled car of the Healers, the car laden with meath and drawn by fleet-footed steeds,

Three-seated, opulent, bestowing all delight, may it bring weal to us, to cattle and to men.

4 Bring hither nourishment for us, ye Twain; sprinkle us with your whip that drops with honey-dew.

Prolong our days of life, wipe out our trespasses; destroy our foes, be our companions and our Friends.

5 Ye store the germ of life in female creatures, ye lay it up within all living beings.

By God's command, O ye passing mighty, have been sent forth the fire, the sovereigns of the wood, the waters.

6 Leeches are ye with medicines to heal us, and charioteers are ye with skill in driving.

Ye Strong, give sway to him who brings his gift and with his heart pours out his gift before you.

HYMN CLVIII. The Healers.

1 Ye Twain, ye Healers full of counsel, grant us, Strong Strengtheners, when ye stand beside us,

What wealth Aucathya craves of you, great Helpers, when ye come forward with no niggard succour.

2 Who may give you aught, for your favour, for what, at the Cow's place, ye grant through worship?

Wake for us understanding full of riches, come with a heart that will fulfil our longing.

3 As erst for Tugra's son your car, sea-crossing, strong, was equipped and set amid the waters,

So may I gain your shelter and protection as with winged course a hero seeks his army.

4 May this my praise preserve Ucathya's offspring: let not these Twain who fly with wings exhaust me.

Let not the wood ten times up-piled consume me, when fixed for you it bites the ground it stands on.

5 The most maternal streams, wherein the Dasas cast me securely bound, have not devoured me.

When Traitana would cleave my head asunder, the Dasa wounded his own breast and shoulders.

6 Dirghatamas the son of Mamata hath come to length of days in the tenth age of human kind.

He is the sage of the waters as they strive to reach their end and aim: their charioteer is he.

HYMN CLIX. Heaven and Earth.

1 Praise with devotion mighty Heaven and Earth at festivals, the wise, the Strengtheners of Law,

Who, created by God and conjoined by His command, through wonder-working wisdom bring forth choicest boons.

2 With invocations, on the gracious mind of the Heaven that shelters, and on the great inherent power of the Earth I muse.

Prolific Parents, as it were, they have made the world of life, and for their brood all round wide immortality.

3 These Sons of yours, well skilled in work, of wondrous power, brought forth to life the two great Mothers first of all.

To keep the truth of all that stands and all that moves, ye guard the station of your Son who knows no guile.

4 They with surpassing skill, most wise, have measured out the Twins united in their birth and in their home.

They, the refulgent Sages, weave within the sky, yea, in the depths of sea, a web for ever new.

5 This is to-day the goodliest gift of the Light-giver: this thought we have when now God is furthering us.

On us with loving-kindness Heaven and Earth bestow riches and various wealth and treasure hundredfold!

HYMN CLX. Heaven and Earth.

1 These, Heaven and Earth, bestow prosperity on all, sustainers of the region, Holy and wise, Two Bowls of noble kind: between these two the fulgent Sun travels by fixed decree.

2 Widely-capacious Pair, mighty, that never fail, they keep all creatures safe:

The two world-halves, the spirited, the beautiful, because their Lord hath clothed them in goodly forms.

3 Son of these Parents, he the Priest with power to cleanse, Sage, sanctifies the worlds with his surpassing power.

Thereto for his bright milk he milked through all the days the party-coloured Cow and the prolific Bull.

4 Among the skilful, most skilled is He who made the two world-halves which bring prosperity to all;

Who with great wisdom measured both the regions out, and stablished them with pillars that shall ne'er decay.

5 Extolled in song, O Heaven and Earth, bestow on us, ye mighty Pair, great glory and high lordly sway,

Whereby we may extend ourselves ever over the folk; and send us strength that shall deserve the praise of men.

HYMN CLXI. The Skilful Artisans.

1 Why hath the Best, why hath the Youngest come to us? Upon what embassy comes he? What have we said?

We have not blamed the chalice of illustrious birth. We, Brother, praised the goodness of the wood.

2 The chalice that is single make ye into four: thus have the righteous commanded; therefore am I come.

If, O Sudhanvan's Children, ye will do this thing ye shall share in honour with the righteous.

3 What to the envoy in reply ye spake: A courser must be made, a chariot fashioned here,

A cow must be created, and the Twain made young. When we have done these things, Brother, we turn to you.

6 The Mighty One hath yoked his Bays, the car of the Healers is horsed, the Lord of Prayer hath brought the Cow of every hue.

Ye went as skilful artisans, Vibhvan, Vaja, and skilled in war, obtained your share of honour.

7 Ye by your wisdom brought a cow from out a hide; unto that ancient Pair ye gave again their youth.

Out of a horse, Sudhanvan's Sons, ye formed a horse: a chariot ye equipped, and went forward.

8 Drink ye this water, were the words ye spake to them; or drink ye this, the rinsing of the Munja-grass.

If ye approve not even this, Sudhanvan's Sons, then at the third offering gladden ye yourselves.

9 Most excellent are waters, thus said one of you; most excellent is fire, thus another said.

Another praised to many a one the lightning cloud. Then did ye shape the cups, speaking the words of truth.

10 One downward to the water drives the crippled cow, another trims the flesh brought on the carving-board.

One carries off the refuse at the set of sun. How did the Parents aid their children in their task!

11 On the high places ye have made the grass for man, and water in the valleys, by your skill, O Men.

Ye iterate not to-day that act of yours, your sleeping in the house of him whom naught can hide.

12 As, compassing them round, ye glided through the worlds, where had the venerable Parents their abode?

Ye laid a curse on him who raised his arm at you: to him who spake aloud to you ye spake again.

13 When ye had slept your fill, ye thus asked, O thou whom naught may hide, who now hath wakened us?

The goat declared the hound to be your wakener. That day, in a full year, ye first unclosed our eyes.

14 The Maruts move in heaven, on earth this fire; through the mid-firmament the Wind approaches.

The All-Seeing comes in the sea's gathered waters, O Sons of Strength, desirous of your presence.

HYMN CLXIII. The Swift Steed.

1 What time, first springing into life, thou neighedst, proceeding from the sea or upper waters,

Limbs of the deer hadst thou, and eagle pinions. O Steed, thy birth is nigh and must be lauded.

5 Here, Courser, are the places where they groomed thee, here are the traces of thy hoofs as winner.

Here have I seen the auspicious reins that guide thee, which those who guard the holy Law keep safely.

6 Thyself from far I recognized in spirit, a Bird that from below flew through the heaven.

I saw thy head still soaring, striving upward by paths unsoiled by dust, pleasant to travel.

7 Here I beheld thy form, matchless in glory, eager to win thee food at the Cow's station.

Whene'er a man brings thee to thine enjoyment, thou swallowest the plants, most greedy eater.

8 After thee, Courser, come the car, the bridegroom, the kine come after, and the charm of maidens.

Full companies have followed for thy friendship: the pattern of thy vigour hath been copied.

10 Symmetrical in flank, with rounded haunches, mettled like heroes, the swift Coursers

Put forth their strength, like swans in lengthened order, when they, the Steeds, have reached the heavenly causeway.

11 A body formed for flight hast thou, O Charger; swift as the wind in motion is thy spirit.

Thy horns are spread abroad in all directions: they move with restless beat in wildernesses.

HYMN CLXIV. All the Powers of God.

1 Of this benignant Priest, with age grey-coloured, the brother midmost of the three is lightning.

The third is he whose back with oil is sprinkled. Here I behold the Chief with seven male children.

2 Seven to the one-wheeled chariot yoke the Courser; bearing seven names the single Courser draws it.

Three-naved the wheel is, sound and undecaying, whereon are resting all these worlds of being.

3 The seven who on the seven-wheeled car are mounted have horses, seven in tale, who draw them onward.

Seven Sisters utter songs of praise together, in whom the names of the seven Cows are treasured.

4 Who hath beheld him as he sprang to being, seen how the boneless One supports the bony?

Where is the blood of earth, the life, the spirit? Who may approach the man who knows, to ask it?

5 Unripe in mind, in spirit undiscerning, I ask of these the established places of the angels; for up above the yearling Calf the sages, to form a web, their own seven threads have woven.

6 I ask, unknowing, those who know, the sages, as one all ignorant for sake of knowledge,

What was that ONE who in the Unborn's image hath stablished and fixed firm these worlds' six regions.

7 Let him who knoweth presently declare it, this lovely Bird's securely founded station.

Forth from his head the Cows draw milk, and, wearing his vesture, with their foot have drunk the water.

8 The Mother gave the Sire his share of Order: with thought, at first, she wedded him in spirit.

She, the coy Dame, was filled with dew prolific: with adoration men approached to praise her.