HYMN XX

A prayer to Soma, the Maruts, Mitra, and Varuna, for protection

May it glide harmless by in this our sacrifice, O Soma, God!
Maruts, be gracious unto us.
Let not disaster, let not malison find us out; let not abominable
guiles discover us.
Mitra and Varuna, ye twain, turn carefully away from us
The deadly dart that flies to-day, the missile of the wicked
ones.
Ward off from this side and from that, O Varuna, the deadly
dart:
Give us thy great protection, turn the lethal weapon far away.
A mighty Ruler thus art thou, unconquered, vanquisher of
foes,
Even thou whose friend is never slain, whose friend is never over-
come.