Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE32): Vedic Hymns: VII, 46. To Rudra | Internet Sacred Text Archive

MANDALA VII, HYMN 46.

ASHTAKA V, ADHYÂYA 4, VARGA 13.

To Rudra.

1. Offer ye these songs to Rudra whose bow is strong, whose arrows are swift, the self-dependent 1 god, the unconquered conqueror, the intelligent, whose weapons are sharp—may he hear us!

2. For, being the lord 1, he looks after what is born on earth; being the universal ruler, he looks after what is born in heaven. Protecting us, come to our protecting doors, be without illness among our people, O Rudra!

3. May that thunderbolt of thine, which, sent from heaven, traverses the earth, pass us by! A thousand medicines are thine, O thou who art freely accessible 1; do not hurt us in our kith and kin!

4. Do not strike us, O Rudra, do not forsake us! May we not be in thy way when thou rushest forth furiously. Let us have our altar and a good report among men 1—protect us always with your favours!

NOTES.

Ascribed to Vasishtha. Verse 1 occurs TB. II, 8, 6, 8. Metre, 1-3 Gagatî; 4 Trishtubh.

Verse 1.

Note 1. The TB. has svadhâ´mne for svadhâ´vne, mîdkúshe for vedháse, and srinotana for srinotu nah. The commentator explains both svadhâmne = svakîyasthânayuktâya, and svadhâvne = svadhâsabdavâkyenânnena yuktâya vâ. On vedhas, see Bartholomae, K. Z. XXVII, 361; Ludwig, Z. D. M. G. XL, 716.

Verse 2.

Note 1. Geldner translates kshayena by 'from his high seat.' The meaning of kshaya in this place seems defined by the parallel expression sâ´mrâgyena.

Verse 3.

Note 1. Svapivâta has been variously translated. Grassmann gives Vielbegehrter; Ludwig, des windhauch in schlaf versenkt; Roth, wohl verstehend, denkend; Geldner, freundlicher; Muir, thou who art easy of access, which seems to me the right rendering; cf. sûpâyana. It is derived from api + vat, which occurs six times in the Rig-veda. As a simple verb it means 'to go near, to attend,' as a causative, the same, or 'to bring near.' Thus, VII; 3, 10. ápi krátum su-kétasam vatema, may we obtain wisdom, full of good thoughts. VII, 60, 6. ápi krátum su-kétasam vátantah, (the gods) obtaining wisdom, full of good thoughts (for their worshippers). X, 20, 1 (X, 25, 1). bhadrám nah ápi vâtaya mánah, let us obtain a good mind. I, 128, 2. tám yagña-sâ´dham ápi vâtayâmasi, we go near to, or we bring near Agni, the performer of the sacrifice. I, 165, 13. mánmâni—api-vâtáyantah, bringing the prayers near, or attending to the prayers. X, 13, 5. pitré putrâ´sah ápi avîvatan ritám, the sons brought the sacrifice to the father.

Api-vâta would then mean approach, or in a more