35 Whatever, Vritra-slayer! thou Surya hast risen on to-day, That, Indra, all is in thy power.

36 Swift, visible to all art thou, O Sûrya, maker of the light, Illuming all the radiant realm.

37 This is the Godhead, this the might of Sûrya: he hath withdrawn what spread o'er work unfinished.

When he hath loosed his horses from their station, straight

over all Night spreadeth out her garment.

33 In the sky's lap the Sun this form assumeth that Varuna and Mitra may behold it.

His Bay Steeds well maintain their power eternal, at one time bright, and darksome at another.

39 Verily, Surya, thou art great; truly, Âditya, thou art great. As thou art great indeed thy greatness is admired: yea, verily thou, God, art great.

40 Yea, Sûrya, thou art great in fame: thou, evermore, O God, art great.

Thou by thy greatness art the Gods' Home-Priest, divine, far-spread, unconquerable light.

41 Turning, as 'twere, to meet the Suu, enjoy from Indra all good things.

When he who will be born is born with power we look to treasures as our heritage.

42 To-day, ye Gods, when Sirya hath ascended, deliver us from trouble and dishonour.

This boon may Varuņa and Mitra grant us, and Aditi and
Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.

35 R, V. VIII. 82. 4. Indra: as identified with Sûrya.

36 R. V. I. 50. 4.

37 R. V. I. 115. 4. He hath withdrawn: The cultivator or artisan desists from his labour, although unfinished, upon the setting of the Sun'; when the sun has withdrawn (iuto himself) the diffused (light which has been shed) upon the unfinished task:-Wilson. The stanza is difficult, and no thoroughly satisfactory explanation of it has yet been offered. See Ludwig, Der Rigveda, IV. 131, 132.

38 R. V. I. 115. 5. This form: of might and Godhead. Varuna: as God of the Night. Mitra; as God of the Day.

39 R. V. VIII. 90. 11.

40 R. V. VIII. 90. 12.

41 R. V. VIII. 88. 3. This stanza is difficult and obscure. Mahidhara's explanation is: The gathering (rays) proceeding to the sun distribute all Indra's treasures (to living beings, as rain, corn, etc.) may we too by our power leave those treasures as an inheritance to him who has been or will be born'-See Prof. Cowell's note in Wilson's Translation.

42 The second line is the stock conclusion of many Rigveda hymns. Sindhu is the deity presiding over, or identified with, water, and it may mean the Sea, or the Indus.

43 Throughout the dusky firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal,

Borne on his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, God, beholding living creatures.

44 Soft to the tread the sacred grass is scattered: these go like Kings amid the band around them,

At the folk's early call on Night and Morning,-Vâyu, and Pushan with his team to bless us.

45 Indra, Vâyu, Brihaspati, Mitra, Agni, Pûshan, Bhaga, Adityas, and the Marut host.

46 Be Varuna our chief defence, let Mitra guard us with all aids: Both make us rich exceedingly!

47 Regard us, Indra, Vishnu, here, ye Asvins, and the Marut host, us who are kith and kin to you.

Thou in the first old time. See, Vena. O ye eleven Gods.
Loved of all men, may Savitar. With the All-Gods. Ye
Visvedevas who protect.

48 O Agni, Indra, Varuņa, and Mitra, give, O ye Gods, and Marut host, and Vishnu.

May both Nâsatyas, Rudra, heavenly Matrons, Pushan,
Sarasvati, Bhaga accept us.

49 Indra, Agni, Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the Waters, Mountains, Maruts, Sky, and Earth and Heaven,

Vishnu I call, Pûshan and Brahmaṇaspati, and Bhaga, Samsa,
Savitar that they may help.

50 With us are raining Rudras, clouds accordant in call to battle at the death of Vritra,

The strong, assigned to him who sings and praises. May
Gods with Indra as their chief protect us.

43 R. V. I. 35. 2.

44-54 celebrate the Visvedevas or All-Gods. Verse 44 is taken from R. V. VII. 39. 2.

45 R. V. I. 14. 3,

46 R. V. I. 23. 6.

47 The Gayatri verse is taken from VIII. 72. 7. Kith and kin: as common children of Aditi the General Mother of all living beings. The six unconnected Pratikas or Verse-beginnings are repeated from (1, 2) XXXIII. 21; (3) VII. 19; (4) XXXIII. 34 ; (5) XXXIII. 10 : (6) VII. 33.

48 R. V. V. 46. 2.

49 R. V. V. 46. 3. Smsa; Praise or Prayer, personified. According to Mahidhara, praiseworthy, qualifying Savitar.

50 R. V. VIII. 52, 12.

Raining: pouring down riches; bounteous. The strong perhaps the thunderbolt, with which Indra aids the worshipper.

51 Turn yourselves hitherward this day, ye Holy, that fearing in my heart I may approach you.

Protect us, Gods, let not the wolf destroy us.
Holy, from the pit and falling.

Save us, ye

52 This day come all the Maruts, etc., as in XVIII. 31.

53 Listen, All-Gods, to this mine invocation, ye who inhabit heaven and air's mid-region.

All ye, O Holy Ones, whose tongue is Agni, seated upon this sacred grass be joyful.

54 For thou at first producest for the holy Gods the noblest of all portions, immortality.

Thereafter as a gift to men, O Savitar, thou openest existence, life succeeding life.

55 I with a lofty song call hither Vâyu all-bounteous, filler of his car, most wealthy.

Thou, Sage, with bright path, Lord of harnessed horses, impetuous, promptly honourest the prudent.

56 These, Indra-Vâyu, have been shed, etc., as in VII. 8. 57 Mitra of holy strength I call, aud foe destroying Varuna, Who make the oil-fed rite complete.

58 Nasatyas, Wonder-workers, yours are these libations with clipt grass.

Come ye whose paths are bright with glow.

59 When Saramâ had found the mountain's fissure, that vast and ancient place she plundered throughly.

In the floods' van she led them forth, light-footed: she who well kuew came first unto their lowing.

51 R. V. II. 29. 6.

52 Repeated from XVIII. 31.

53 R. V. VI. 52. 13. Whose tongue is Agni: who enjoy oblations offered in the sacrificial fire.

54 R. V. IV. 54. 2.

55-69 Here follows a compilation of unconnected verses in praise of various deities. Verse 55 is taken from R. V. VI. 49. 4. Filler of his car: with wealth to reward his servants. The prudent: the wise worshipper. 57 R. V. I. 2. 7. Oil-fed performed with ghritam, ght, or clarified butter. Complete by granting the worshipper's prayer.

58 R. V. I. 3. 3. Násatyas: Aṣvins; see XIX. 83, note.

59 R. V. III. 31. 6. Sarama: the messenger and scout of Indra, variously explained as Dawn, Stormcloud, Wind, etc. See R. V. X. 108; and Mme. Zénaïde Ragozin, Vedic India (Story of the Nations Series), pp. 256--260. In later Vedic literature Sarama is regarded as the hound of the Gods. In the floods' van: hastening out of the mountain cavern, that is, the massive cloud, in advance of the liberated waters. Them: the cows, the waters.

60 For nowhere did they find another envoy to lead the way than this Vaiṣvânara Agni.

The Gods immortal strengthened the immortal Vaiṣvânara to win the land in battle.

61 The strong, dispellers of the foe, Indra and Agni, we invoke: May they be kind to one like me,

62 Sing forth to Indu, O ye men, to him as he is purified, Fain to pay worship to the Gods.

63 Drink Soma, Indra, banded with the Maruts who, Boon Lord! strengthened thee at Ahi's slaughter,

'Gaiust Sambara, Lord of Bays! in winning cattle, and now rejoice in thee, the holy singers.

64 Thou wast born mighty for victorious valour, exulting, strongest, full of pride and courage.

There, even there the Maruts strengthened Indra when his most rapid Mother stirred the Hero.

65 0 thou who slewest Vritra, come, O Indra, hither to our side, Mighty One with thy mighty aids.

66 Thou in thy battles, Indra, art subduer of all hostile bands. Father art thou, all-conquering, cancelling the curse: vauquish the men who fight with us.

67 Heaven and Earth cling close to thy victorious might As sire and mother to their child.

68 The sacrifice obtains the Gods' acceptance, etc., as in VIII. 4. 69 Protect our habitation, Savitar, this day with guardian aids around, propitious, ne'er beguiled.

God of the golden tongue, keep us for newest bliss: let not the evil-wisher have us in his power.

60 They the Gods. To win the land: from the original inhabitants for the new Aryan settlers.

63 R. V. III. 47. 4. Ahi: the Serpent; a demon of drought. Sumbara : another drought-fiend. In winning cattle: in recovering the stolen kine, the rays of light carried off by the demons of darkness, or, generally, in battle with the demons who withheld the rain.

64 R. V. X. 73. 1. Thou Indra. :

Mother: Aditi. Stirred the Hero: incited him to action by telling him of his future opponents. See R. V. VIII. 45. 5, and 66. 2.

65 R. V. IV. 32. 1.

66, 67 R. V. VIII. 88. 5, 6.

69 R. V. VI. 71. 3. Of the golden tongue: ever-truthful (Solem quis dicere falsum Audeat?); or, having tongues or rays of golden light.

70 For you have flowed, through noble ministration, pressed by Adhvaryus, bright sweet-flavoured juices.

Drive on thy team and come thou hither, Vâyu: drink for thy rapture of the sap of Soma.

71 Ye Cows, protect, etc., as in verse 14.

72 Come ye foe-slayers to the place of meeting, to the birthplaces of the two great Sages,

With force of intellect unto the dwelling.

73 Ye two divine Adhvaryus, etc., as in verse 33. Thou in the time of old. See, Vena.

74 Transversely was the severing line extended: was it above, or was it, haply, under?

There were begetters, there were mighty forces, free action here and energy up yonder.

75 He hath filled heaven and earth and the great realm of light, when at his birth the skilful held him in their hold.

He like a steed is led forth to the sacrifice, Sage, graciously inclined, that he may win us wealth.

76 Call hither with the song and lauds the two best slayers of the foe,

Delighting even in our hymn.

77 All Sons of Immortality shall listen to the songs we sing, And be exceeding good to us.

78 Mine are devotions, hymns, sweet are libations. Strength stirs, and hurled forth is my rocky weapon.

They call for me, for me their lauds are longing.

libations these my Bay Steeds bear me.

To their

70 Vâyu is the deity addressed. For you: the Sacrificer and his wife. 72 Come ye: Mitra and Varuna are addressed. Two great Sages: the two Gods who are addressed. The stanza is difficult and obscure.

73 The two Pratîkas are repeated from VII. 12 and 16.

74 R. V. X. 129. 5. Line: drawn by the ancient creative Rishis or Demiurgi to make a division between the upper world and the lower, and to bring duality out of unity. Begetters: the Fathers may be meant. Pree action: the happiness of the Fathers. The verse is one of the obscurest of a very obscure hymn on Creation.

75 R. V. III. 2. 7. He: Agni Vaiṣvânara. The skilful: the priests who kindle the fire.

76 R. V. VII. 94. 11. Call hither: I follow Prof. Ludwig in reading âvivasata instead of dvivasataḥ which involves a harsh construction. The deities invoked are Indra and Agni.

77 R. V. VI. 52. 9. Of Immortality: or, of the Immortal One, Prajapati, the progenitor of gods and men.

78 R. V. I. 165. 4. Indra addresses the Maruts in reply to their question in verse 27.