Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE32): Vedic Hymns: II, 33. To Rudr... | Internet Sacred Text Archive

MANDALA II, HYMN 33.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYÂYA 7, VARGA 16-18.

To Rudra, the Father of the Maruts (the Storm-gods).

1. O father of the Maruts, let thy favour come near, and do not deprive us of the sight of the sun; may the hero (Rudra) be gracious to our horse 1, and may we increase in offspring, O Rudra!

2. May I attain to a hundred winters through the most blissful medicines which thou hast given! Put away far 1 from us all hatred, put away anguish, put away sicknesses in all directions!

3. In beauty thou art the most beautiful of all that exists, O Rudra, the strongest of the strong, thou wielder of the thunderbolt! Carry us happily to the other shore of our anguish, and ward off all assaults of mischief 1.

4. Let us not incense thee, O Rudra, by our worship, not by bad praise, O hero, and not by divided praise! Raise up our men by thy medicines, for I hear thou art the best of all physicians.

5. He who is invoked 1 by invocations and libations, may I pay off 2 that Rudra with my hymns of praise. Let not him who is kind-hearted 3, who readily hears our call, the tawny, with beautiful cheeks, deliver us to this wrath!

6. The manly hero with the Maruts has gladdened me, the suppliant, with more vigorous health. May I without mischief find shade, as if from sunshine 1, may I gain the favour of Rudra!

7. O Rudra, where is thy softly stroking hand which cures and relieves 1? Thou, the remover of all heaven-sent mischief, wilt thou, O strong hero, bear with me?

8. I send forth a great, great hymn of praise to the bright tawny bull. Let me reverence 1 the fiery god 2 with prostrations; we celebrate the flaring name 3 of Rudra.

9. He, the fierce god, with strong limbs, assuming many forms, the tawny Rudra, decked himself with brilliant golden ornaments. From Rudra, who is lord of this wide world, divine power 1 will never depart.

10. Worthily thou bearest arrows and bow, worthily, O worshipful 1, the golden, variegated chain; worthily thou cuttest every fiend 2 here to pieces, for there is nothing indeed stronger than thou, O Rudra.

11. Praise him, the famous, sitting in his chariot 1, the youthful, who is fierce and attacks like a terrible wild beast 2 (the lion). And when thou hast been praised, O Rudra, be gracious to him who magnifies thee, and let thy armies 3 mow down others than us!

12. O Rudra, a boy indeed makes obeisance to his father who comes to greet him 1: I praise the lord of brave men, the giver of many gifts, and thou, when thou hast been praised, wilt give us thy medicines.

13. O Maruts, those pure medicines of yours, the most beneficent and delightful, O heroes, those which Manu 1, our father, chose, those I crave from Rudra, as health and wealth.