Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE32): Vedic Hymns: I, 171. To the ... | Internet Sacred Text Archive

MANDALA I, HYMN 171.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYÂYA 4, VARGA 11.

To the Maruts (the Storm-gods).

1. I come to you with this adoration, with a hymn I implore the favour 1 of the quick (Maruts). O Maruts, you have rejoiced 2 in it clearly 3, put down then all anger and unharness your horses!

2. This reverent praise of yours, O Maruts, fashioned in the heart, has been offered by the mind 1, O gods! Come to it, pleased in your mind, for you give increase to (our) worship 2.

3. May the Maruts when they have been praised be gracious to us, and likewise Maghavat (Indra), the best giver of happiness, when he has been praised. May our trees (our lances) 1 through our valour stand always erect, O Maruts!

4. I am afraid of this powerful one, and trembling in fear of Indra. For you the offerings were prepared,—we have now put them away, forgive us!

5. Thou through whom the Mânas 1 see the mornings, whenever the eternal dawns flash forth with power 2, O Indra, O strong hero, grant thou glory to us with the Maruts, terrible with the terrible ones, strong and a giver of victory.

6. O Indra, protect thou these bravest of men 1 (the Maruts), let thy anger be turned away 2 from the Maruts, for thou hast become 3 victorious together with those brilliant heroes. May we have an invigorating autumn, with quickening rain!

NOTES.

The Anukramanî assigns verses 1 and 2 to the Maruts, the rest to Indra Marutvat. The poet is again Agastya. The whole hymn corresponds to the situation as described in the preceding hymns, and leads on to a kind of compromise between the Maruts, who seem really the favourite gods of the poet, and Indra, an irresistible and supreme deity whose claims cannot be disregarded.

None of the verses of this hymn occurs in SV., VS., TS., AV.

Verse 1.

Note 1. Sumati here means clearly favour, as in I, 73, 6, 7; while in I, 166, 6 it means equally clearly prayer.