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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at sacred-texts.com


HYMN XCII

1Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the
   kine,
  The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave.
2Hither his bay steeds have been sent, red steeds are on the sacred
   grass.
  Where we in concert sing our songs. p. 338
3For Indra thunder-armed the kine have yielded mingled milk
   and meath.
  What time he found them in the vault.
4When I and Indra amount on high up to the bright One's place
   and home,
  We, having drunk of meath, will reach his seat whose Friends
   are three-times-seven.
5Sing, sing ye forth your songs of praise, ye Priyamedhas, sing
   your songs:
  Yea, let young children sing their lauds: as a strong castle praise
   ye him.
6Now loudly let the viol sound, the lute send out its voice with
   might,
  Shrill be the music of the string. To Indra is the hymn upraised.
7When hither speed the dappled cows, unflinching, easy to be
   milked,
  Seize quickly, as it bursts away, the Soma juice for Indra's
   drink.
8Indra hath drunk; Agni hath drunk all Deities have drunk their
   fill.
  Here Varuna shall have his home, to whom the floods have sung
   aloud as mother-kine unto their calves.
9Thou, Varuna, to whom belong the Seven Streams, art a glorious
  God.
  The waters flow into thy throat as'twere a pipe with ample
   mouth.
10He who hath made the fleet steeds spring, well-harnessed, to the
   worshipper,
  He, the swift guide, is that fair form thot loosed the horses near
   at hand.
11Indra, the very mighty, holds his enemies in utter scorn.
  He, far away, and yet a child, cleft the cloud smitten by his
   voice.
12He, yet a boy exceeding small, mounted his newly-fashioned car.
  He for his Mother and his Sire cooked the wild mighty buffalo.
13Lord of the Home, with beauteous cheeks, ascend thy chariot
   wrought of gold.
  We will attend the heavenly One; the thousand-footed, red of
   hue, matchless, who blesses where he goes.
14With reverence they come hitherward to him as to a sovran lord, p. 339
  That they may bring him near for this man's good success, to
   prosper and bestow his gifts.
15The Priyamedhas have observed the offering of the men of old,
  Of ancient custom, while they strewed the sacred grass and
   spread their sacrificial food.
16He who as sovran Lord of men moves with his chariots
   unrestrained,
  The Vritra-slayer, queller of all fighting hosts, preeminent, is
   praised in song.
17Honour that Indra, Puruhanman! for his aid, in whose sustain-
   ing hand of old.
  The splendid bolt of thunder was deposited, as the great Sun
   was set in heaven.
18No one by deed attains to him who works and strengthens
   evermore:
  No, not by sacrifice, to Indra praised of all, resistless, daring,
   bold in might;
19The potent Conqueror, invincible in war, him at whose birth
   the mighty ones,
  The kine who spread afar, sent their loud voices out, heavens,
   earths sent their loud voices out.
20O Indra, if a hundred heavens and if a hundred earths were
   thine
  No, not a thousand suns could match thee at thy birth, not
   both the worlds, O Thunderer.
21Thou, Hero, hast performed thy hero deeds with might, yea, all
   with strength, O Strongest One.
  Maghavan, help us to a stable full of kine, O Thunderer, with
   wondrous aids.


Next: Hymn 93