Rig Veda
This verse is not included in this edition.
The warrior's look is like a thunderous rain-cloud's, when, armed with mail, he seeks the lap of battle. Be thou victorious with unwounded body: so let the thickness of thy mail protect thee.
This verse is not included in this edition.
With Bow let us win kine, with Bow the battle, with Bow be victors in our hot encounters. The Bow brings grief and sorrow to the foeman: armed with the Bow may we subdue all regions.
yoṣeva śiṅkte vitatādhi dhanvañ jyā iyaṃ samane pārayantī
Close to his car, as fain to speak, She presses, holding her well-loved Friend in her embraces. Strained on the Bow, She whispers like a woman-this Bowstring that preserves us in the combat.
apa śatrūn vidhyatāṃ saṃvidāne ārtnī ime viṣphurantī amitrān
These, meeting like a woman and her lover, bear, mother-like, their child upon their bosom. May the two Bow-ends, starting swift asunder, scatter, in unison, the foes who hate us.
bahvīnām pitā bahur asya putraś ciścā kṛṇoti samanāvagatya iṣudhiḥ saṅkāḥ pṛtanāś ca sarvāḥ pṛṣṭhe ninaddho jayati prasūtaḥ
With many a son, father of many daughters, He clangs and clashes as he goes to battle. Slung on the back, pouring his brood, the Quiver vanquishes all opposing bands and armies.
rathe tiṣṭhan nayati vājinaḥ puro yatra yatra kāmayate suṣārathiḥ abhīśūnām mahimānam panāyata manaḥ paścād anu yacchanti raśmayaḥ
Upstanding in the Car the skilful Charioteer guides his strong Horses on whithersoe'er he will. See and admire the strength of those controlling Reins which from behind declare the will of him who drives.
tīvrān ghoṣān kṛṇvate vṛṣapāṇayo 'śvā rathebhiḥ saha vājayantaḥ avakrāmantaḥ prapadair amitrān kṣiṇanti śatrūṃr anapavyayantaḥ
Horses whose hoofs rain dust are neighing loudly, yoked to the Chariots, showing forth their vigour, With their forefeet descending on the foemen, they, never flinching, trample and destroy them.
rathavāhanaṃ havir asya nāma yatrāyudhaṃ nihitam asya varma tatrā ratham upa śagmaṃ sadema viśvāhā vayaṃ sumanasyamānāḥ
Car-bearer is the name of his oblation, whereon are laid his Weapons and his Armour. So let us here, each day that passes, honour the helpful Car with hearts exceeding joyful.
svāduṣaṃsadaḥ pitaro vayodhāḥ kṛcchreśritaḥ śaktīvanto gabhīrāḥ citrasenā iṣubalā amṛdhrāḥ satovīrā uravo vrātasāhāḥ
In sweet association lived the fathers who gave us life, profound and strong in trouble, Unwearied, armed with shafts and wondrous weapons, free, real heroes, conquerors of armies.
brāhmaṇāsaḥ pitaraḥ somyāsaḥ śive no dyāvāpṛthivī anehasā pūṣā naḥ pātu duritād ṛtāvṛdho rakṣā mākir no aghaśaṃsa īśata
The Brahmans, and the Fathers meet for Soma-draughts, and, graciously inclined, unequalled Heaven and Earth. Guard us from evil, Pushan, guard us strengtheners of Law: let not the evil-wisher master us.
suparṇaṃ vaste mṛgo asyā danto gobhiḥ saṃnaddhā patati prasūtā yatrā naraḥ saṃ ca vi ca dravanti tatrāsmabhyam iṣavaḥ śarma yaṃsan
Her tooth a deer, dressed in an eagle's feathers, bound with cow-hide, launched forth, She flieth onward. There where the heroes speed hither and thither, there may the Arrows shelter and protect us.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Avoid us thou whose flight is straight, and let our bodies be as stone. May Soma kindly speak to us, and Aditi protect us well.
ā jaṅghanti sānv eṣāṃ jaghanāṁ upa jighnate aśvājani pracetaso 'śvān samatsu codaya
He lays his blows upon their backs, he deals his blows upon their thighs. Thou, Whip, who urgest horses, drive sagacious horses in the fray.
ahir iva bhogaiḥ pary eti bāhuṃ jyāyā hetim paribādhamānaḥ hastaghno viśvā vayunāni vidvān pumān pumāṃsam pari pātu viśvataḥ
It compasses the arm with serpent windings, fending away the friction of the bowstring: So may the Brace, well-skilled in all its duties, guard manfully the man from every quarter.
ālāktā yā ruruśīrṣṇy atho yasyā ayo mukham idam parjanyaretasa iṣvai devyai bṛhan namaḥ
Now to the Shaft with venom smeared, tipped with deer-horn, with iron mouth, Celestial, of Parjanya's seed, be this great adoration paid.
avasṛṣṭā parā pata śaravye brahmasaṃśite gacchāmitrān pra padyasva māmīṣāṃ kaṃ canoc chiṣaḥ
Loosed from the Bowstring fly away, thou Arrow, sharpened by our prayer. Go to the foemen, strike them home, and let not one be left alive.
yatra bāṇāḥ saṃpatanti kumārā viśikhā iva tatrā no brahmaṇas patir aditiḥ śarma yacchatu viśvāhā śarma yacchatu
There where the flights of Arrows fall like boys whose locks are yet unshorn. Even there may Brahmanaspati, and Aditi protect us well, protect us well through all our days.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Thy vital parts I cover with thine Armour: with immortality King Soma clothe thee. Varuna give thee what is more than ample, and in thy triumph may the Gods be joyful.
yo naḥ svo araṇo yaś ca niṣṭyo jighāṃsati devās taṃ sarve dhūrvantu brahma varma mamāntaram
Whoso would kill us, whether he be a strange foe or one of us,