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Rig Veda, tr. by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1896], at sacred-texts.com


HYMN CLXXXVI. Viśvedevas.

1. LOVED of all men, may Savitar, through praises offered as sacred food, come to our synod,
That you too, through-our hymn, ye ever-youthful, may gladden, at your visit, all our people.
2 To us may all the Gods come trooped together, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuṇa concordant,
That all may be promoters of our welfare, and with great might preserve our strength from slackness.
3 Agni I sing, the guest you love most dearly: the Conqueror through our lauds is friendly-minded.
That he may be our Varuṇa rich in glory and send food like a prince praised by the godly.
4 To you I seek with reverence, Night and Morning, like a cow good to milk, with hope to conquer,
Preparing on a common day the praise. song with milk of various hues within this udder.
5 May the great Dragon of the Deep rejoice us: as one who nourishes her young comes Sindhu,
With whom we will incite the Child of Waters whom vigorous course swift as thought bring hither.
6 Moreover Tvaṣṭar also shall approach us, one-minded with the princes at his visit.
Hither shall come the Vṛtra-slayer Indra, Ruler of men, as strongest of the Heroes.
7 Him too our hymns delight, that yoke swift horses, like mother cows who lick their tender youngling.
To him our songs shall yield themselves like spouses, to him the most delightful of the Heroes.
8 So may the Maruts, armed with mighty weapons, rest here on heaven and earth with hearts in concord,
As Gods whose cars have dappled steeds like torrents, destroyers of the foe allies of Mitra.
9 They hasten on to happy termination their orders when they are made known by
glory.
As on a fair bright day the arrow flieth o’er all the barren soil their missiles sparkle.
10 Incline the Aśvins to show grace, and Pūṣan, for power and might have they, their own possession.
Friendly are Viṣṇu, Vāta, and Ṛbhukṣan so may I bring the Gods to make us happy.
11 This is my reverent thought of you, ye Holy; may it inspire you, make you dwell among us,—
Thought, toiling for the Gods and seeking treasure. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.


Next: HYMN CLXXXVII. Praise of Food.