Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE32): Vedic Hymns: V, 61. To the M... | Internet Sacred Text Archive

MANDALA V, HYMN 61.

ASHTAKA IV, ADHYÂYA 3, VARGA 26-29.

To the Maruts (the Storm-gods).

1. Who are you, O men, the very best, who have approached one by one, from the furthest distance 1?

2. Where are your horses, where the bridles? How could you, how did you come?—the seat on the back, the rein in the nostrils?

3. Their goad is on the croup 1, the heroes stretched their legs apart 2…

4. Move along, heroes, young men, the sons of an excellent mother 1, so that you may warm yourselves at our fire 2.

5. (1.) May the woman, if she stretched out her arm 1 as a rest for the hero, praised by Syâvâsva 2, gain cattle consisting of horses, cows, and a hundred sheep.

6. (2.) Many a woman is even more often kindlier than a godless and miserly man,

7. (3.) A woman who finds out the weak, the thirsty, the needy, and is mindful of the gods.

8. (4.) Even though many an unpraiseworthy miser (Pani) is called a man, she is worth as much in weregild.

9. (5.) Also the young woman joyfully whispered to me, to Syâva, the road,—and the two bays went straight to Purumîlha 1, the wise, the far-famed,

10. (6.) Who gave me a hundred cows, like Vaidadasvi, like Taranta, in magnificence.

11. (1.) The Maruts, who drive on their quick horses, drinking the delightful mead, have gained glory here;

12. (2.) They on whose chariots Rodasî 1 glitters in glory 2, like the golden disk above in heaven;

13. (3.) That youthful company of the Maruts, with blazing chariots, blameless, triumphant, irresistible.

14. (4.) Who now knows of them where the strikers rejoice, the well-born, the faultless?

15. (5.) You who are fond of praise, become the leaders of the mortal, listening to his imploring invocations, thus is my thought 1.

16. (6.) Bring then to us delightful and resplendent 1 treasures, ye worshipful Maruts, destroyers of enemies.

17. (1.) O night, like a charioteer, carry away this hymn to Dârbhya, and these songs, O goddess.

18. (2.) And then tell him thus from me, 'When Rathavîti offers Soma, my desire never goes away from me.'

19. (3.) That mighty Rathavîti dwells among people rich in cattle 1, retired among the mountains.

NOTES.

This hymn is of a very composite nature. It is addressed to the Maruts by Syâvâsva. According to the Anukramanî, however, the Maruts are addressed in vv. 1-4, 11-16 only; vv. 5-8 are addressed to Sasîyasî Tarantamahishî, 9 to Purumîlha Vaidadasvi, 10 to Taranta Vaidadasvi, 17-19 to Rathavîti Dârbhya. None of the verses occurs in SV., VS., AV., TS., TB., MS. Metre, 1-4, 6-8, 10-19 Gâyatrî; 5 Anushtubh; 9 Satobrihatî.