Yajurveda, Book 20

¹BIRTH PLACE of princely power art thou: centre art thou of princely power. Harm not thyself: do me no harm.

²Varuna, Law's maintainer, hath sat down, etc., as in X. 27. Save me from death. Save me from lightning.

³Thee, by the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan, With leech-craft of the Asvins, I besprinkle for splendour, for the lustre of a Brâhman; With leech-craft of Sarasvatî, besprinkle for manly vigour and for food to feed thee; Besprinkle thee, by special power of Indra, for strength of body and for fame and glory.

⁴Thou art Ka. Noblest Ka art thou. Thee for the state and rank of Ka. Sumangala! Susloka! Satyarâjan!

⁵My head be grace, my mouth be fame, my hair and beard be brilliant sheen! My breath be King and deathlessness, mine eye Sole Lord, mine ear the Prince!

⁶My tongue be bliss, my voice be might, my mind be wrath, my rage self-lord! Joys be my fingers, and delight my members, conquering strength my friend!

⁷Let my two arms be Indra's power, my hands be deed of manly might, my soul and breast be princely rule! neck

⁸My ribs be royal government, my belly, shoulders, neck, and hips, Thighs, elbows, knees, the people, yea, my members universally!

⁹My navel intellect, etc., etc. ... ... ... ... Duty am I in legs and feet, established King among the folk.

¹⁰I take my stand on princely power and Kingship, on cows am I dependent, and on horses. on vital breath On members I depend, and on the body, dependent and on welfare, on heaven and earth and sacrifice dependent.

¹¹May Deities, eleven threes, the three and thirty bounteous Ones Whose House-Priest is Brihaspati, by impulse of bright Savitar, the Gods protect me with the Gods.

¹²May the first Gods with the second, the second with the third, the third with Truth, Truth with Sacrifice, Sacrifice with sacrificial texts, sacrificial texts with Sâmans, Sâmans with praise-verses, praise-verses with fore and after-sentences. fore-sentences with inviting-texts, inviting-texts with Vashat-calls, Vashat calls with oblations, and oblations, fulfil my desires, Earth! All-hail!

¹³My hair is effort and attempt, my skin is reverence and approach. My flesh is inclination, wealth my bone, my marrow reverence.

¹⁴Gods, Deities, whatever fault of ours have stirred the wrath of Gods, May Agni set me free from that iniquity and all distress.

¹⁵If in the day-time or at night we have committed acts of sin, May Vâyu set me free from that iniquity and all distress.

¹⁶If when awake or in our sleep we have committed acts of sin, May Sûrya set me free from that iniquity and all distress.

¹⁷Each fault in village or in wild, company or corporeal sense, Each sinful act that we have done to Sûdra or Arya, or to either's disadvantage, e’en of that sin thou art the expiation.

¹⁸Waters, Inviolable ones, etc. Said to be repeated from VI. 22. O ever-moving Cleansing Bath, etc. Repeated from III. 48.

¹⁹Thy heart is in the flood, etc. Repeated from VIII. 25. To us let Waters, etc. Repeated from VI. 22.

²⁰As one unfastened from a stake, or cleansed by bathing after toil, As butter which the sieve hath purged, let water clean me from my sin.

²¹Looking upon the loftier light above the darkness we have come To Sûrya, God among the Gods, the light that is most excellent.

²²The waters I this day have sought, and to their essence have we come. Agni, come hither rich in milk, splendour and brilliancy bestow on me, and progeny and wealth.

²³A brand art thou: fain would we thrive. Fuel art thou and splendour: give me splendour. Earth comes again, the Dawn, the Sun. This Universe all comes again. May I possess Vaisvânara's light, may I attain my vast desires. Earth! All-hail!

²⁴O Agni, Master of the Vow, on thee I lay the kindling- stick. To the fast-vow and faith I come. I, consecrated, kindle thee.

²⁵Fain would I know that holy world where Deities with Agni dwell, Where priestly rank and princely power together in accordance move.

²⁶Fain would I know that holy world where want and languor are unknown, Where in complete accordance move Indra and Vâyu side by side

²⁷Let thy shoot be united with his tendril, joint combine with joint. Imperishable sap for joy, thine odour be the Soma's guard!

²⁸They pour it out, they sprinkle it, they scatter it, they make it pure. In the brown Surâ's ecstasy he says What art thou? What art thou?

²⁹Indra, at morn accept our cake accompanied with grain and groats, with wheaten bread and hymns of praise.

³⁰To Indra sing the lofty hymn, Maruts? that slayeth Vritra best, Whereby the Holy Ones created for the God the radiant light that never dies.

³¹Adhvaryu, on the straining cloth pour thou the Soma pressed with stones: Purify it for Indra's drink.

³²The Sovran Lord of living things, he upon whom the worlds depend, Mighty, the mighty's King—by him I take thee, take thee on myself.

³³Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Asvins. This is thy home, etc.

³⁴Guard of my breath and outward breath, the guardian of mine eye and ear, All-healer of my voice, thou. art the mollifier of my mind.

³⁵Invited I feed upon thee invited, Whom Asvins, whom Sarasvatî, whom Indra, Good Protector, made.

³⁶Kindred in forefront of the Mornings, Indra with forward light, long-active, waxing mighty, With three-and thirty Gods, the Thunder-wielder, smote. Vritra dead and threw the portals open.

³⁷Son of Himself, the Praise of Men, the hero, measuring out the sacrificial stations, Rich in bulls’ fat, anointing with sweet butter, wise, bright with gauds of gold, he sacrificeth.

³⁸Lauded by Gods, Lord of Bay Steeds, the Helper, showing his greatness. worshipped with oblations. Fort-render, Cowpen-cleaver, Thunder-wielder, may he approach our sacrifice rejoicing

³⁹May Indra, Lord of Bays, sit by direction eastward on earth, accepting our oblation, And sacred grass, fair, far-spread, widely-stretching, anointed by Âdityas and by Vasus.

⁴⁰To the strong Indra go the sounding Portals, dames with a goodly husband, swiftly moving! Well-manned, divine, wide be the Doors thrown open, expanding in their greatness fir the Hero!

⁴¹Dawn and Night, lofty, sapful, richly-yielding, fair-showing, as they weave with varied colour The long-extended thread in concert, worship the God of Gods, the lofty Hero Indra.

⁴²The two first pleasant-voiced celestial Hotars, arranging rites for man in sundry places, At head of sacrifice stablishing Indra, increase the eastern light with sweet oblation.

⁴³Thriving by sacrifice may the three Bright Ones, taking delight like wedded dames in Indra, Sarasvatî, Idâ, Bhâratî all-surpassing, with milk preserve our sacred thread unbroken.

⁴⁴May Tvashtar coming frail afar, the active, give strength and plenty to strong glorious Indra, And strong, prolific, worshipping, the Mighty at sacrifice's head give the Gods honour.

⁴⁵Let the divine Stake, like an Immolator, bind, as one ordered, to himself the victim, And, filling Indra's belly with ablations, season the sacrifice with sweets and butter.

⁴⁶Indra the Bull, swift conqueror, wildly rushing bull-like to meet the Indu of the droppings— Delighting in a mind that scatters fatness, let the immortal Gods rejoice in Svâhâ.

⁴⁷May Indra come to us for our protection, here, lauded Hero, be our feast-companion. May he whose powers are many, waxen mighty, cherish, like Dyaus, the sovran sway of princes.

⁴⁸From near or far away may mighty Indra, giver of succour, come for our protection, Lord of men, armed with thunder, with the Strongest, slaying his foes in conflict, in the battles.

⁴⁹May Indra come to us with Tawny Coursers, inclined to us, to favour and enrich us. May Maghavan, loud-voiced and wielding thunder, stand by us at this sacrifice, in combat.

⁵⁰Indra the Rescuer, Indra the Helper, Hero who listens at each invocation, Sakra I call, Indra invoked of many. May Indra, Bounteous Lord, prosper and bless us.

⁵¹May helpful Indra as our Good Protector, Lord of all treasures, favour us with succour, Baffle our foes and give us rest and safety, and may we be the lords of hero vigour.

⁵²May we enjoy the grace of him the Holy, yea, may we dwell in his auspicious favour. May helpful Indra as our Good Preserver drive from us even from afar, our foemen.

⁵³Come hither, Indra, with Bay Steeds, joyous, with tails like peacock plumes, Let no men check thy course as fowlers stay the bird: pass o’er them as o’er desert lands.

⁵⁴Verily the Vasishthas hymn with praises Indra the mighty One whose arm wields thunder. Praised, may he guard our wealth in men and cattle. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.

⁵⁵Fire hath been kindled, Asvins Twain! the Gharma warmed, the Radiant pressed, Here the Milch-Cow Sarasvatî hath poured bright Soma, Indra's own.

⁵⁶When Soma flows Sarasvatî and both the Asvins, Leeches and Body-guards, bear to Indra strength by passage through the realms of air.

⁵⁷When Soma flowed the Asvins Twain, the Leeches, brought sweet medicine, With Men's Desire Sarasvatî for Indra, Soma, Nagnahu.

⁵⁸Worshipped, Sarasvatî bestowed on Indra, senses, manly power. The Asvins, through oblations paid, combined food, energy, and wealth.

⁵⁹The Asvins brought from Namuchi pressed Soma bright with foaming juice. Sarasvatî with sacred grass brought that to Indra for his drink.

⁶⁰Sarasvatî and Indra with the Asvins Twain milked out desires From heaven and earth, the regions, the resounding and expansive doors.

⁶¹Ye Asvins, Dawn and Night, by day and in the evening, fair of hue, Accordant, with Sarasvatî, deck Indra with surpassing powers.

⁶²Guard us, O Asvins, through the day, guards us by night, Sarasvatî. Celestial Hotars, Leeches! both guard Indra when the juice is pressed.

⁶³The Asvins, and the Three, apart, Sarasvatî, Idâ, Bhâratî, As drink to gladden Indra, poured strong Soma with the foaming juice.

⁶⁴The Asvins, our Sarasvatî, and Tvashtar, when the juice was shed, Gave Indra balm, yea, mead as balm, glory and fame and many a shape.

⁶⁵Praising with foaming liquor at due times, Indra, Vanaspatî, Sarasvatî as cow gave forth sweet beverage with the Asvins Twain.

⁶⁶Asvins, to Indra ye with cows, with Mâsara and foaming drink Gave, with Sarasvatî—All hail!—the pressed-out Soma juice and mead.

⁶⁷The Asvins and Sarasvatî by wit from fiendish Namuchi Brought unto Indra sacred food, strength, brilliant treasure, ample wealth.

⁶⁸That Indra, strong through sacrifice by Asvins and Sarasvatî, Cleft Vala through to win him wealth, with Namuchi of Asura birth.

⁶⁹Supporting him in sacrifice with sacred food and mighty powers, Sarasvatî, both Asvins and the cattle hymned that Indra's praise.

⁷⁰Indra whom Bhaga, Savitar, and Varuna supplied with power, Lord of the sacrifice, may he, Good Guardian, love the worshipper.

⁷¹Savitar, Varuna bestow gifts on the liberal offerer, Strength, power and treasure which the Good Protector took from Namuchi!

⁷²Varuna giving sway and power, Savitar grace with happiness, The Good Protector giving strength with fame, obtained the sacrifice.

⁷³With cows the Asvins, mighty power, with horses manly vigour, strength, With sacred food Sarasvatî, made Indra, Sacrificer, strong.

⁷⁴May those Nâsatyas, fair of form, the Men who ride on paths of gold, Oblation-rich Sarasvatî, thou, Indra! help us in our rites.

⁷⁵Those Leeches righteous in their deeds, She, rich in milk, Sarasvatî, That Vritra-Mayer hundred-powered, invested Indra with his might.

⁷⁶Ye Asvins and Sarasvatî, joint drinkers of the Sara draught, In Namuchi of Asura birth, give aid to Indra in his deeds.

⁷⁷As parents aid a son, etc., as in X. 34.

⁷⁸He in whom horses, bulls, oxen, and barren cows, and rams, when duly set apart, are offered up, To Agni, Soma-sprinkled, drinker of sweet juice, Disposer, with thy heart bring forth a pleasant hymn.

⁷⁹Within thy mouth is poured the offering, Agni, as Soma into cup, oil into ladle. Vouchsafe us wealth, strength-winning, blest with heroes, wealth lofty, praised by men, and full of splendour.

⁸⁰The Asvins gave, with lustre, sight, Sarasvatî manly strength with breath. Indra with voice and might gave Indra vigorous power.

⁸¹With kine, Nâsatyas! and with steeds, come, Asvins, Rudras! to the house, the sure protector of its men;

⁸²Such, wealthy Gods! as none afar or standing near to us may harm, yea, no malicious mortal foe.

⁸³Do ye, O longed-for Asvins, lead us on to wealth of varied form, wealth that shall bring us room and rest.

⁸⁴Wealthy in spoil, enriched with hymns, may pure Sarasvatî desire with eager love our sacrifice.

⁸⁵She who awakens sounds of joy, inspires our hymns, Sarasvatî, she hath allowed our sacrifice. 85 Sarasvatî, the mighty flood, she with her light illuminates, she brightens every pious thought.

⁸⁷O Indra, marvellously bright, come, these libations long for thee, thus by fine fingers purified.

⁸⁸Urged by the holy singer, sped by song, come, Indra, to the prayers of the libation-pouring priest.

⁸⁹Approach, O Indra, hasting thee, Lord of Bay Horses, to the prayer: in our libations take delight.

⁹⁰Accordant with Sarasvatî let the two Asvins drink the meath, May Indra, Vritra-slayer, Good Guardian, accept the Soma meath.