12 Born of the laughing lightning, may the tempest-angels guard us everywhere. May they be gracious unto us.

13 Like some lost animal, drive to us, bright Nourisher, him who bears up heaven, resting on many-coloured grass.

14 The Bright Nourisher has found the King, concealed and hidden in a cave, who rests on grass of many hues.

15 And may He duly bring to me the six bound closely, as one who ploughs with steers brings corn.

16 Along their paths the Mothers go, sisters of the priestly ministrants, mingling their sweetness with the milk.

17 May waters gathered near the Sun, and those wherewith the Sun is joined, speed forth this devotion of ours.

18 I call the waters, wherein our cattle quench their thirst: let gifts be given for the streams.

19 There is life in the waters, in the waters there is healing balm. Be swift to give them praise.

20 Within the waters dwell all balms that heal, and the light that blesseth all. The waters hold all medicines.

21 O waters, teem with medicine to keep my body safe from harm, so that I long may see the Sun.

22 Whatever sin is found in me, whatever evil I have wrought, if I have lied or falsely sworn, O God, remove it far from me.

23 The waters I this day have sought, and to their moisture have we come: O God, rich in milk, come Thou, and with Thy splendour cover me.

24 Fill me with splendour, O God; give offspring and length of days; the angels shall know me even as I am, and the Mighty One with the seers know.

HYMN XXIV. God the All-Seeing, and Others

1 Who now is He, what Name among the Immortal, of whose auspicious Name we may bethink us? Who shall restore us to the boundless earth, that I may see my father and my mother?

2 God the Radiant, the first among the Immortal, of His auspicious Name let us bethink us. He shall restore us to the boundless earth, that I may see my father and my mother.

3 To Thee, O Light-giver, the Lord of precious things, who helpest us continually, for our share we come:

4 Wealth, highly lauded ere reproach hath fallen on it, which is laid, free from all hatred, in Thy hands.

5 Through Thy protection may we come to even the height of affluence which the Bestower hath dealt out to us.

6 Never have those birds that fly through air attained to Thy high dominion or Thy might or spirit; nor these the waters that flow on for ever, nor hills, abaters of the wind's wild fury.

7 God the All-Seeing, King, of hallowed might, sustaineth erect the Tree's stem in the baseless region. Its rays, whose root is high above, stream downward. Deep may they sink within us, and be hidden.

8 King, the All-Seeing hath made a spacious pathway, a pathway for the Sun wherein to travel. Where no way was He made Him set His footstep, and warned afar whate'er afflicts the spirit.

9 A hundred balms are Thine, O King, a thousand; deep and wide-reaching also be Thy favours. Far from us, far away drive Thou destruction. Put from us even the sin we have committed.

10 Whither by day depart the constellations that shine at night, set high in heaven above us? The holy laws of the All-Seeing remain unweakened, and through the night the Moon moves on in splendour.

11 I ask this of Thee with my prayer adoring; Thy worshipper craves this with his offering. O All-Seeing, stay Thou here and be not angry; steal not our life from us, O Thou Wide-Ruler.

12 Nightly and daily this one thing they tell me, this too the thought of mine own heart repeateth. May He to whom prayed fettered Sunahsepa, may He the Sovereign release us.

13 Bound to three pillars, captured, Sunahsepa thus made his supplication to the Lord. Him may the Sovereign deliver, wise, never deceived, loosen the bonds that bind him.

14 With bending down, offerings, devotions, O Lord, we deprecate Thine anger: wise Lord, Thou King of wide dominion, loosen the bonds of sins by us committed.

15 Loosen the bonds, O Lord, that hold me, loosen the bonds above, between, and under. So in Thy holy law may we, made sinless, belong to the Boundless, O Thou Most High.

HYMN XXV. God the All-Seeing

1 Whatever law of Thine, O God, as we are men, day after day we violate,

2 Give us not as a prey to death, to be destroyed by Thee in wrath, to Thy fierce anger when displeased.

3 To gain Thy mercy, O Lord, with hymns we bind Thy heart, as binds the charioteer his tethered horse.

4 They flee from me dispirited, bent only on obtaining wealth, as to their nests the birds of air.

5 When shall we bring, to be appeased, the Hero, Lord of warrior might, Him, the far-seeing?

6 This, this with joy they both accept in common: never do they fail the ever-faithful worshipper.

7 He knows the path of birds that fly through heaven, and, Sovereign of the sea, He knows the ships that are thereon.

8 True to His holy law, He knows the twelve moons with their progeny: He knows the moon of later birth.

9 He knows the pathway of the wind, the spreading, high, and mighty wind: He knows the beings who dwell above.

10 True to holy law, the Lord is firm among His people; He, most wise, governs all.

11 From thence perceiving He beholds all wondrous things, both what hath been, and what hereafter will be done.

12 May the Most High, very wise, make fair paths for us all our days: may He prolong our lives for us.

13 He hath clad Him in a shining robe. His witnesses are seated round about.

14 The God whom enemies threaten not, nor those who tyrannize over men, nor those whose minds are bent on wrong.

15 He who gives glory to mankind, not glory that is incomplete, to our own bodies giving it.

16 Yearning for the wide-seeing One, my thoughts move onward unto Him, as kine unto their pastures move.

17 Once more together let us speak, because my offering is brought.

18 Now saw I Him whom all may see in His signs; I saw His sign above the earth: He hath accepted these my songs.

19 O Lord, hear this call of mine: be gracious unto us this day; longing for help I cried to Thee.

20 Thou, O wise God, art Lord of all, Thou art the King of earth and heaven. Hear, as Thou goest on Thy way.

21 Release us from the upper bond, untie the bond between, and loose the bonds below, that I may live.

HYMN XXVI. God the Radiant

1 O Thou worthy of worship, Lord of prospering powers, assume Thy robes, and accept this our devotion.

2 Sit ever to be chosen, as our Guide, most youthful, through our hymns, O God, through our heavenly word.

3 For here a father for his son, kinsman for kinsman worships, and friend, choice-worthy, for his friend.

4 Here let the foe-destroyers sit, the Friend, the All-Seeing, the Companion, like men, upon our sacred grass.

5 O ancient Herald, be Thou glad in this our rite and fellowship: hearken Thou well to these our songs.

6 Whate'er in this perpetual course we offer, that gift is offered for Thy sake.

7 May He be our dear household Lord, Guide, pleasant and choice-worthy; may we, with bright fires, be dear to Him.

8 The angels, adored with brilliant fires, have granted precious wealth to us; so, with bright fires, we pray to Thee.

9 And, O Immortal One, so may the eulogies of mortal men belong to us and to Thee alike.

10 With all Thy lights, O God, find pleasure in this our devotion, and this our speech, O Son of Strength.

HYMN XXVII. God the Radiant

1 With worship will I glorify Thee, O God, like a long-tailed steed, Imperial Lord of sacred rites.

2 May the far-striding One of strength, bringer of great felicity, who pours His gifts like rain, be ours.

3 Lord of all life, from near, from far, do Thou, O God, evermore protect us from the sinful man.

4 O God, graciously announce this our offering, and this our newest song of praise.

5 Give us a share of strength most high, a share of strength that is below, a share of strength that is between.

6 Thou dealest gifts, resplendent One; nigh, as with waves of the river, Thou swift streamest to the worshipper.

7 That man is lord of endless strength whom Thou protectest in the fight, O God, or urgest to the fray.

8 Him, whosoever he may be, no man may vanquish, mighty One: nay, very glorious power is his.

9 May He who dwells with all mankind bear us with war-steeds through the fight, and with the singers win the spoil.

10 Help, Thou who knowest lauds, this work, this eulogy to the Healer, Him adorable in every house.

11 May this our God, great, limitless, excellently bright, urge us to strength and holy thought.

12 Like some rich Lord of men may He, the banner of the angels, refulgent, hear us through our lauds.

13 Glory to the mighty and to the lesser, glory to the younger and the elder! Let us, if we have power, pay worship to God: no better prayer than this do the angels acknowledge.

HYMN XXX. God the Mighty (Indra)

1 We, seeking strength with offerings, fill full our Lord like a well, most liberal, Lord of a hundred powers,

2 Who lets a hundred of the pure, a thousand of the milk-blent draughts flow, even as down a depth, to Him;

3 When for the strong, the rapturous joy He in this manner hath made room, like the sea.

4 This is Thine own. Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate: Thou carest too for this our prayer.

5 O Hero, Lord of bounties, praised in hymns, may power and joyfulness be his who sings the laud to Thee.

6 Lord of a hundred powers, stand up to lend us succour in this fight; in others too let us agree.

7 In every need, in every fray we call as friends to succour us the Mightiest of all.

8 If He will hear us let Him come with succour of a thousand kinds, and all that strengthens, to our call.

9 I call Him mighty to resist, the Hero of our ancient home, Thee whom my sire invoked of old.

10 We pray to Thee, O much-invoked, rich in all precious gifts, O Friend, Kind God to those who sing Thy praise.

11 Friend of our lovely-featured dames and of our friends.

12 Thus, Friend, may it be; thus, Thou who wieldest thunder, act to aid each wish as we desire.

13 With the Mighty One splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things wherewith, wealthy in food, we may rejoice.

14 Like Thee, thyself, the singers' Friend, Thou movest, as it were, besought, Bold One, the axle of the car.

15 That, Lord of a hundred powers, Thou to grace and please Thy praisers, as it were, stirrest the axle with Thy strength.

16 With champing, neighing, loudly-snorting horses the Mighty One hath ever won Himself great treasures. A car of gold hath He whose deeds are wondrous: received from us, and let us too receive it.

17 Come, O twin angels, with enduring strength wealthy in horses and in kine, and gold, O ye of wondrous deeds.

18 Your chariot yoked for both alike, immortal, ye of mighty acts, travels, O twin angels, in the sea.

19 High on the forehead of the Bull one chariot wheel ye ever keep, the other round the sky revolves.

20 What mortal, O dawn, enjoyeth thee? Where lovest thou? To whom, O radiant, dost thou go?

21 For we have had thee in our thoughts whether anear or far away, red-hued and like a dappled mare.

22 Hither, O daughter of the sky, come thou with these thy strengthenings, and send thou riches down to us.

HYMN XXXI. God the Radiant

1 Thou, O God, wast the earliest of the seers, a Guide; Thou wast the angels' auspicious Friend. After Thy holy ordinance the angels of the tempest, sage, active through wisdom, with their glittering spears, were created.

2 O God, Thou, the best and earliest of guides, fulfillest as a Sage the holy law of the angels; spread through all existence, resting in many a place for sake of living man.

3 To the first of the winds Thou, O God, wast disclosed, and to the Lord of the radiant, through Thy noble inward power. Heaven and Earth shook at the choosing of the Priest: the burden Thou didst bear, Thou didst bring worship to mighty ones.

4 O God, Thou madest heaven to thunder for mankind; Thou, yet more pious, for pious Pururavas. When Thou art rapidly freed from Thy parents, first eastward they bear Thee round, and after, to the west.

5 Thou, O God, art a Bull who makes our store increase, to be invoked by him who lifts the ladle up. Well knowing the offering with the hallowing word, uniting all who live, Thou lightenest first our folk.

6 O God, Thou savest in the synod when pursued even him, far-seeing One, who walks in evil ways. Thou, when the heroes fight for spoil which men rush round, slayest in war the many by the hands of few.

7 For glory, O God, day by day, Thou liftest up the mortal man to highest honour, even Thou who yearning for both races givest them great bliss, and to the prince grantest abundant food.

8 O God, highly lauded, make our singer famous that he may win us store of riches. May we improve the rite with new performance. O Earth and Heaven, with all the angels, protect us.

9 O blameless God, lying in Thy Parents' lap, a God among the gods, be watchful for our good. Former of bodies, be the singer's Providence: all good things hast Thou sown for him, auspicious One!

10 O God, Thou art our Providence, Thou art our Lord; we are Thy servants, and Thou art our spring of life, in Thee, rich in good heroes, guard of high decrees, we meet hundred, thousand treasures, O infallible!

11 Thee, O God, have the angels made the first living One for living man, Lord of the house of Nahusa. Ila they made the teacher of the sons of men, what time a son was born to the father of my race.

12 Worthy to be revered, O God, preserve our wealthy patrons with Thy succours, and ourselves. Guard of our seed art Thou, aiding our cows to bear, incessantly protecting in Thy holy way.

13 O God, Thou art a guard close to the pious man; kindled art Thou, four-eyed, for him who is unarmed. With fond heart Thou acceptest even the poor man's prayer, when he hath brought his gift to gain security.

14 Thou, O God, gainest for the loudly-praising priest the highest wealth, the object of a man's desire. Thou art called Lord, caring even for the weak, and wisest, to the simple one Thou teachest lore.

15 O God, the man who giveth guerdon to the priests, like well-sewn armour Thou guardest on every side. He who with grateful food shows kindness in his house, an offerer to the living, is the type of heaven.

16 Pardon, we pray, this sin of ours, O God, the path which we have trodden, widely straying, dear Friend and Lord, caring for the pious, who speedest nigh and who inspirest mortals.

17 As erst to Manu, to Yayati, to the guides, so, pure God, come Thou to our hall. Bring hither the host of angels' favour and seat them here upon the sacred grass, and offer what they love.

18 By this our prayer be Thou, O God, strengthened, prayer made by us after our power and knowledge. Lead Thou us, therefore, to increasing riches; endow us with Thy strength-bestowing favour.

HYMN XXXII. God the Mighty (Indra)

1 I will declare the manly deeds of the Mighty One, the first that He achieved, the Thunder-wielder. He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents.

2 He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: His heavenly bolt of thunder the Creator-Craftsman fashioned. Like lowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.

3 Impetuous as a bull, He chose the gift and in three sacred beakers drank the juices. The Bountiful grasped the thunder for His weapon, and smote to death this firstborn of the dragons.

4 When, O Mighty One, Thou hadst slain the dragon's firstborn, and overcome the charms of the enchanters, then, giving life to Sun and Dawn and Heaven, Thou foundest not one foe to stand against Thee.

5 The Mighty One with His own great and deadly thunder smote into pieces Vrtra, worst of Vrtras. As trunks of trees, what time the axe hath felled them, low on the earth so lies the prostrate Dragon.

6 He, like a mad weak warrior, challenged the Mighty One, the great impetuous many-slaying Hero. He, brooking not the clashing of the weapons, crushed the foe, the shattered forts in falling.

7 Footless and handless still he challenged the Mighty One, who smote him with His bolt between the shoulders. Emasculate yet claiming manly vigour, thus Vrtra lay with scattered limbs dissevered.

8 There as he lies like a bank-bursting river, the waters taking courage flow above him. The Dragon lies beneath the feet of torrents which Vrtra with his greatness had encompassed.