Book Eight

8 Thine, Lord of Bays, am I. Prayer longeth for the spoil. Still with thy help I seek the fight. So, at the raiders' head, I, craving steeds and kine, unite myself with thee alone. HYMN VI. Indra. 1. INDRA, the poets with. their hymns extol this hero might of thine: They strengthened, loud in song, thy power that droppeth oil. With hymns the Pauras came to thee. 2 Through piety they came to Indra for his aid, they whose libations give theejoy. As thou with, Krsa and Samvarta hast rejoiced, so, Indra, be thou glad with us. 3 Agreeing in your spirit, all ye Deities, come nigh to us. Vasus and Rudras shall come near to give us aid, and Maruts listen to our call. 4 May Pusan, Visnu, and Sarasvati befriend, and the Seven Streams, this call of mine: May Waters, Wind, the Mountains, and the Forest-Lord, and Earth give ear unto my cry. 5 Indra, with thine own bounteous gift, most liberal of the Mighty Ones, Be our boon benefactor, Vrtra-slayer, be our feast-companion for our weal. 6 Leader of heroes, Lord of battle, lead thou us to combat, thou Most Sapient One. High fame is theirs who win by invocations, feasts and entertainment of the Gods. 7 Our hopes rest on the Faithful One: in Indra is the people's life. O Maghavan, come nigh that thou mayst give us aid: make plenteous food stream forth for us. 8 Thee would we worship, Indra, with our songs of praise: O Satakratu, be thou ours. Pour down upon Praskanva bounty vast and firm, exuberant, that shall never fail.

Pour down upon Praskanva bounty vast and firm, exuberant, that shall never fail. HYMN VII. Praskanva's Gift. 1. GREAT, verily, is Indra's might. I have beheld, and hither comes Thy bounty, Dasyave-vrka! 2 A hundred oxen white of hue are shining like the stars in heaven, So tall, they seem to prop the sky. 3 Bamboos a hundred, a hundred dogs, a hundred skins of beasts well-tanned, A hundred tufts of Balbaja, four hundred red-hued mares are mine. 4 Blest by the Gods, Kinvayanas! be ye who spread through life on life: Like horses have ye stridden forth. 5 Then men extolled the team of seven not yet full-grown, its fame is great. The dark mares rushed along the paths, so that no eye could follow them. HYMN VIII Praskanva's Go. 1. THY bounty, Dasyave-vrka, exhaustless hath displayed itself: Its fulness is as broad as heaven. 2 Ten thousand Dasyave-vrka, the son of Putakrata, hath From his own wealth bestowed on me. 3 A hundred asses hath he given, a hundred head of fleecy sheep, A hundred slaves, and wreaths besides. 4 There also was a mare led forth, picked out for Putakrata's sake, Not of the horses of the herd. 5 Observant Agni hath appeared, oblation-bearer with his car. Agni with his resplendent flame hath shone on high as shines the Sun, hath shone like Surya in theheavens. HYMN IX. Asvins. 1. ENDOWED, O Gods, with your primeval wisdom, come quickly with your chariot, O ye Holy.

1. ENDOWED, O Gods, with your primeval wisdom, come quickly with your chariot, O ye Holy. Come with your mighty powers, O ye Nasatyas; come hither, drink ye this the third libation. 2 The truthful Deities, the Three-and-Thirty, saw you approach before the Ever-Truthful. Accepting this our worship and libation, O Asvins bright with fire, drink ye the Soma. 3 Asvins, that work of yours deserves our wonder,-the Bull of heaven and earth and air's mid region; Yea, and your thousand promises in battle, -to all of these come near and drink beside us. 4 Here is your portion laid for you, ye Holy: come to these songs of ours, O ye Nasatyas. Drink among us the Soma full of sweetness, and with your powers assist the man who worships. HYMN X. Visvedevas. 1. HE whom the priests in sundry ways arranging the sacrifice, of one accord, bring hither, Who was appointed as a learned Brahman, -what is the sacrificer's knowledge of him? 2 Kindled in many a spot, still One is Agni; Silrya is One though high o'er all he shineth. Illumining this All, still One is usas. That which is One hath into All developed. 3 The chariot bright and radiant, treasure-laden, three-wheeled, with easy seat, and lightly rolling, Which She of Wondrous Wealth was born to harness,-this car of yours I call. Drink what remaineth. HYMN XI. Indra-Varuna. 1. IN offerings poured to you, O Indra-Varuna, these shares of yours stream forth to glorify your state.

Ye haste to the libations at each sacrifice when ye assist the worshipper who sheds the juice. 2 The waters and the plants, O Indra-Varuna, had efficacious vigour, and attained to might: Ye who have gone beyond the path of middle air,-no godless man is worthy to be called your foe. 3 True is your Krsa's word, Indra and Varuna: The seven holy voices pour a wave of meath. For their sake, Lords of splendour! aid the pious man who, unbewildered, keeps you ever in his thoughts. 4 Dropping oil, sweet with Soma, pouring forth their stream, are the Seven Sisters in the seat of sacrifice. These, dropping oil, are yours, O Indra-Varuna: with these enrich with gifts and help the worshipper. 5 To our great happiness have we ascribed to these Two Bright Ones truthfulness, great strength, and majesty. O Lords of splendour, aid us through the Three-times-Seven, as we pour holy oil, O Indra-Varuna. 6 What ye in time of old Indra and Varuna, gave Rsis revelation, thought, and power of song, And places which the wise made, weaving sacrifice,-these through my spirit's fervid glow have I beheld., 7 O Indra-Varuna, grant to the worshippers cheerfulness void of pride, and wealth to nourish them. Vouchsafe us food, prosperity, and progeny, and lengthen out our days that we may see long life.