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To The Maruts

Books: Sacred Books Of The East

I



Come hither, Maruts, on your chariots charged with lightning, resounding

with beautiful songs, stored with spears, and winged with horses! Fly to

us like birds, with your best food, you mighty ones! They come

gloriously on their red, or, it may be, on their tawny horses which

hasten their chariots. He who holds the axe is brilliant like

gold;--with the tire of the chariot they have struck the earth. On
our

bodies there are daggers for beauty; may they stir up our minds as they

stir up the forests. For yourselves, O well-born Maruts, the vigorous

among you shake the stone for distilling Soma. Days went round you and

came back, O hawks, back to this prayer, and to this sacred rite; the

Gotamas making prayer with songs, pushed up the lid of the cloud to

drink. No such hymn was ever known as this which Gotama sounded for you,

O Maruts, when he saw you on golden wheels, wild boars rushing about

with iron tusks. This comforting speech rushes sounding towards you,

like the speech of a suppliant: it rushed freely from our hands as our

speeches are wont to do.



II



Let us now proclaim for the robust host, for the herald of the powerful

Indra, their ancient greatness! O ye strong-voiced Maruts, you heroes,

prove your powers on your march, as with a torch, as with a sword! Like

parents bringing a dainty to their own son, the wild Maruts play

playfully at the sacrifices. The Rudras reach the worshipper with their

protection, strong in themselves, they do not fail the sacrificer. For

him to whom the immortal guardians have given fulness of wealth, and who

is himself a giver of oblations, the Maruts, who gladden men with the

milk of rain, pour out, like friends, many clouds. You who have stirred

up the clouds with might, your horses rushed forth, self-guided. All

beings who dwell in houses are afraid of you, your march is brilliant

with your spears thrust forth. When they whose march is terrible have

caused the rocks to tremble, or when the manly Maruts have shaken the

back of heaven, then every lord of the forest fears at your racing, each

shrub flies out of your way, whirling like chariot-wheels. You, O

terrible Maruts, whose ranks are never broken, favorably fulfil our

prayer! Wherever your glory-toothed lightning bites, it crunches cattle,

like a well-aimed bolt. The Maruts whose gifts are firm, whose bounties

are never ceasing, who do not revile, and who are highly praised at the

sacrifices, they sing their song for to drink the sweet juice: they know

the first manly deeds of the hero Indra. The man whom you have guarded,

O Maruts, shield him with hundredfold strongholds from injury and

mischief--the man whom you, O fearful, powerful singers, protect from

reproach in the prosperity of his children. On your chariots, O Maruts,

there are all good things, strong weapons are piled up clashing against

each other. When you are on your journeys, you carry the rings on your

shoulders, and your axle turns the two wheels at once. In their manly

arms there are many good things, on their chests golden chains, flaring

ornaments, on their shoulders speckled deer-skins, on their fellies

sharp edges; as birds spread their wings, they spread out splendors

behind. They, mighty by might, all-powerful powers, visible from afar

like the heavens with the stars, sweet-toned, soft-tongued singers with

their mouths, the Maruts, united with Indra, shout all around. This is

your greatness, O well-born Maruts!--your bounty extends far, as the

sway of Aditi. Not even Indra in his scorn can injure that bounty, on

whatever man you have bestowed it for his good deeds. This is your

kinship with us, O Maruts, that you, immortals, in former years have

often protected the singer. Having through this prayer granted a hearing

to man, all these heroes together have become well known by their

valiant deeds. That we may long flourish, O Maruts, with your wealth, O

ye racers, that our men may spread in the camp, therefore let me achieve

the rite with these offerings. May this praise, O Maruts, this song of

Mandarya, the son of Mana, the poet, ask you with food for offspring for

ourselves! May we have an invigorating autumn, with quickening rain!



III



For the manly host, the joyful, the wise, for the Maruts bring thou, O

Nodhas, a pure offering. I prepare songs, like as a handy priest, wise

in his mind, prepares the water, mighty at sacrifices. They are born,

the tall bulls of heaven, the manly youths of Rudra, the divine, the

blameless, pure, and bright like suns; scattering raindrops, full of

terrible designs, like giants. The youthful Rudras, they who never grow

old, the slayers of the demon, have grown irresistible like mountains.

They throw down with their strength all beings, even the strongest, on

earth and in heaven. They deck themselves with glittering ornaments for

a marvellous show; on their chests they fastened gold chains for beauty;

the spears on their shoulders pound to pieces; they were born together

by themselves, the men of Dyu. They who confer power, the roarers, the

devourers of foes, they made winds and lightnings by their powers. The

shakers milk the heavenly udders, they sprinkle the earth all round with

milk. The bounteous Maruts pour forth water, mighty at sacrifices, the

fat milk of the clouds. They seem to lead about the powerful horse, the

cloud, to make it rain; they milk the thundering, unceasing spring.

Mighty they are, powerful, of beautiful splendor, strong in themselves

like mountains, yet swiftly gliding along;--you chew up forests, like

wild elephants, when you have assumed your powers among the red flames.

Like lions they roar, the wise Maruts, they are handsome like gazelles,

the all-knowing. By night with their spotted rain-clouds and with their

spears--lightnings--they rouse the companions together, they whose ire

through strength is like the ire of serpents. You who march in

companies, the friends of man, heroes, whose ire through strength is

like the ire of serpents, salute heaven and earth! On the seats on your

chariots, O Maruts, the lightning stands, visible like light.

All-knowing, surrounded with wealth, endowed with powers, singers, men

of endless prowess, armed with strong rings, they, the archers, have

taken the arrow in their fists. The Maruts who with the golden tires of

their wheels increase the rain, stir up the clouds like wanderers on the

road. They are brisk, indefatigable, they move by themselves; they throw

down what is firm, the Maruts with their brilliant spears make

everything to reel. We invoke with prayer the offspring of Rudra, the

brisk, the pure, the worshipful, the active. Cling for happiness-sake to

the strong company of the Maruts, the chasers of the sky, the powerful,

the impetuous. The mortal whom ye, Maruts, protected, he indeed

surpasses people in strength through your protection. He carries off

booty with his horses, treasures with his men; he acquires honorable

wisdom, and he prospers. Give, O Maruts, to our lords strength glorious,

invincible in battle, brilliant, wealth-acquiring, praiseworthy, known

to all men. Let us foster our kith and kin during a hundred winters.

Will you then, O Maruts, grant unto us wealth, durable, rich in men,

defying all onslaughts?--wealth a hundred and a thousand-fold, always

increasing?--May he who is rich in prayers come early and soon!



IV



Sing forth, O Kanvas, to the sportive host of your Maruts, brilliant on

their chariots, and unscathed,--they who were born together,

self-luminous, with the spotted deer, the spears, the daggers, the

glittering ornaments. I hear their whips, almost close by, when they

crack them in their hands; they gain splendor on their way. Sing forth

the god-given prayer to the wild host of your Maruts, endowed with

terrible vigor and strength. Celebrate the bull among the cows, for it

is the sportive host of the Maruts; he grew as he tasted the rain. Who,

O ye men, is the strongest among you here, ye shakers of heaven and

earth, when you shake them like the hem of a garment? At your approach

the son of man holds himself down; the gnarled cloud fled at your fierce

anger. They at whose racings the earth, like a hoary king, trembles for

fear on their ways, their birth is strong indeed: there is strength to

come forth from their mother, nay, there is vigor twice enough for it.

And these sons, the singers, stretched out the fences in their racings;

the cows had to walk knee-deep. They cause this long and broad unceasing

rain to fall on their ways. O Maruts, with such strength as yours, you

have caused men to tremble, you have caused the mountains to tremble. As

the Maruts pass along, they talk together on the way: does anyone hear

them? Come fast on your quick steeds! there are worshippers for you

among the Kanvas: may you well rejoice among them. Truly there is enough

for your rejoicing. We always are their servants, that we may live even

the whole of life.



V



To every sacrifice you hasten together, you accept prayer after prayer,

O quick Maruts! Let me therefore bring you hither by my prayers from

heaven and earth, for our welfare, and for our great protection; the

shakers who were born to bring food and light, self-born and

self-supported, like springs, like thousandfold waves of water, aye,

visibly like unto excellent bulls, those Maruts, like Soma-drops, which

squeezed from ripe stems dwell, when drunk, in the hearts of the

worshipper--see how on their shoulders there clings as if a clinging

wife; in their hands the quoit is held and the sword. Lightly they have

come down from heaven of their own accord: Immortals, stir yourselves

with the whip! The mighty Maruts on dustless paths, armed with brilliant

spears, have shaken down even the strong places. O ye Maruts, who are

armed with lightning-spears, who stirs you from within by himself, as

the jaws are stirred by the tongue? You shake the sky, as if on the

search for food; you are invoked by many, like the solar horse of the

day. Where, O Maruts, is the top, where the bottom of the mighty sky

where you came? When you throw down with the thunderbolt what is strong,

like brittle things, you fly across the terrible sea! As your conquest

is violent, splendid, terrible, full and crushing, so, O Maruts, is your

gift delightful, like the largess of a liberal worshipper,

wide-spreading, laughing like heavenly lightning. From the tires of

their chariot-wheels streams gush forth, when they send out the voice of

the clouds; the lightnings smiled upon the earth, when the Maruts shower

down fatness. Prisni brought forth for the great fight the terrible

train of the untiring Maruts: when fed they produced the dark cloud, and

then looked about for invigorating food. May this praise, O Maruts, this

song of Mandarya, the son of Mana, the poet, ask you with food for

offspring for ourselves! May we have an invigorating autumn, with

quickening rain!



VI



The Maruts charged with rain, endowed with fierce force, terrible like

wild beasts, blazing in their strength, brilliant like fires, and

impetuous, have uncovered the rain-giving cows by blowing away the

cloud. The Maruts with their rings appeared like the heavens with their

stars, they shone wide like streams from clouds as soon as Rudra, the

strong man, was born for you, O golden-breasted Maruts, in the bright

lap of Prisni. They wash their horses like racers in the courses, they

hasten with the points of the reed on their quick steeds. O golden-jawed

Maruts, violently shaking your jaws, you go quick with your spotted

deer, being friends of one mind. Those Maruts have grown to feed all

these beings, or, it may be, they have come hither for the sake of a

friend, they who always bring quickening rain. They have spotted horses,

their bounties cannot be taken away, they are like headlong charioteers

on their ways. O Maruts, wielding your brilliant spears, come hither on

smooth roads with your fiery cows whose udders are swelling; being of

one mind, like swans toward their nests, to enjoy the sweet offering. O

one-minded Maruts, come to our prayers, come to our libations like Indra

praised by men! Fulfil our prayer, like the udder of a barren cow, and

make the prayer glorious by booty to the singer. Grant us this strong

horse for our chariot, a draught that rouses our prayers, from day to

day, food to the singers, and to the poet in our homesteads luck,

wisdom, inviolable and invincible strength. When the gold-breasted

Maruts harness the horses to their chariots, bounteous in wealth, then

it is as if a cow in the folds poured out to her calf copious food, to

every man who has offered libations. Whatever mortal enemy may have

placed us among wolves, shield us from hurt, ye Vasus! Turn the wheels

with burning heat against him, and strike down the weapon of the impious

fiend, O Rudras! Your march, O Maruts, appears brilliant, whether even

friends have milked the udder of Prisni, or whether, O sons of Rudra,

you mean to blame him who praises you, and to weaken those who are

weakening Trita, O unbeguiled heroes. We invoke you, the great Maruts,

the constant wanderers, at the offering of the rapid Vishnu; holding

ladles and prayerful we ask the golden-colored and exalted Maruts for

glorious wealth. The Dasagvas carried on the sacrifice first; may they

rouse us at the break of dawn. Like the dawn, they uncover the dark

nights with the red rays, the strong ones, with their brilliant light,

as with a sea of milk. With the morning clouds, as if with glittering

red ornaments, these Maruts have grown great in the sacred places.

Streaming down with rushing splendor, they have assumed their bright and

brilliant color. Approaching them for their great protection to help us,

we invoke them with this worship, they whom Trita may bring near, like

the five Hotri priests for victory, descending on their chariot to help.

May that grace of yours by which you help the wretched across all

anguish, and by which you deliver the worshipper from the reviler, come

hither, O Maruts; may your favor approach us like a cow going to her

calf!



VII



I come to you with this adoration, with a hymn I implore the favor of

the quick Maruts. O Maruts, you have rejoiced in it clearly, put down

then all anger and unharness your horses! This reverent praise of yours,

O Maruts, fashioned in the heart, has been offered by the mind, O gods!

Come to it, pleased in your mind, for you give increase to our worship.

May the Maruts when they have been praised be gracious to us, and

likewise Indra, the best giver of happiness, when he has been praised.

May our lances through our valor stand always erect, O Maruts! 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! Thou

through whom the Manas see the mornings, whenever the eternal dawns

flash forth with power, O Indra, O strong hero, grant thou glory to us

with the Maruts, terrible with the terrible ones, strong and a giver of

victory. O Indra, protect thou these bravest of men, let thy anger be

turned away from the Maruts, for thou hast become victorious together

with those brilliant heroes. May we have an invigorating autumn, with

quickening rain!



VIII



O Maruts, that man in whose dwelling you drink the Soma, ye mighty sons

of heaven, he indeed has the best guardians. You who are propitiated

either by sacrifices or from the prayers of the sage, hear the call, O

Maruts! Aye, the powerful man to whom you have granted a sage, he will

live in a stable rich in cattle. On the altar of this strong man Soma is

poured out in daily sacrifices; praise and joy are sung. To him let the

mighty Maruts listen, to him who surpasses all men, as the flowing

rain-clouds pass over the sun. For we, O Maruts, have sacrificed at many

harvests, through the mercies of the storm-gods. May that mortal be

blessed, O chasing Maruts, whose offerings you carry off. You take

notice either of the sweat of him who praises you, ye men of true

strength, or of the desire of the suppliant. O ye of true strength, make

this manifest with might! strike the fiend with your lightning! Hide the

hideous darkness, destroy every tusky fiend. Make the light which we

long for!



IX



Endowed with exceeding vigor and power, the singers, the never

flinching, the immovable, the impetuous, the most beloved and most

manly, have decked themselves with their glittering ornaments, a few

only, like the heavens with the stars. When you have seen your way

through the clefts, like birds, O Maruts, on whatever road it be, then

the clouds on your chariots trickle everywhere, and you pour out the

honey-like fatness for him who praises you. At their racings the earth

shakes, as if broken, when on the heavenly paths they harness their deer

for victory. They the sportive, the roaring, with bright spears, the

shakers of the clouds have themselves glorified their greatness. That

youthful company, with their spotted horses, moves by itself; hence it

exercises lordship, invested with powers. Thou indeed art true, thou

searchest out sin, thou art without blemish. Therefore the manly host

will help this prayer. We speak after the kind of our old father, our

tongue goes forth at the sight of the Soma: when the singers had joined

Indra in deed, then only they took their holy names;--these Maruts,

armed with beautiful rings, obtained splendors for their glory, they

obtained rays, and men to celebrate them; nay, armed with daggers,

speeding along, and fearless, they found the beloved domain of the

Maruts.



X



What then now? When will you take us as a dear father takes his son by

both hands, O ye gods, for whom the sacred grass has been trimmed? Where

now? On what errand of yours are you going, in heaven, not on earth?

Where are your cows sporting? Where are your newest favors, O Maruts?

Where the blessings? Where all delights? If you, sons of Prisni, were

mortals, and your praiser an immortal, then never should your praiser be

unwelcome, like a deer in pasture grass, nor should he go on the path of

Yama. Let not one sin after another, difficult to be conquered, overcome

us; may it depart together with greed. Truly they are terrible and

powerful; even to the desert the Rudriyas bring rain that is never dried

up. The lightning lows like a cow, it follows as a mother follows after

her young, when the shower of the Maruts has been let loose. Even by day

the Maruts create darkness with the water-bearing cloud, when they

drench the earth. Then from the shouting of the Maruts over the whole

space of the earth, men reeled forward. Maruts on your strong-hoofed,

never-wearying steeds go after those bright ones, which are still locked

up. May your fellies be strong, the chariots, and their horses, may your

reins be well-fashioned. Speak forth forever with thy voice to praise

the Lord of prayer, Agni, who is like a friend, the bright one. Fashion

a hymn in thy mouth! Expand like the cloud! Sing a song of praise.

Worship the host of the Maruts, the terrible, the glorious, the musical.

May they be magnified here among us.



XI



Let your voice-born prayers go forth to the great Vishnu, accompanied by

the Maruts, Evayamarut, and to the chasing host, adorned with good

rings, the strong, in their jubilant throng, to the shouting power of

the Maruts. O Maruts, you who are born great, and proclaim it yourselves

by knowledge, Evayamarut, that power of yours cannot be approached by

wisdom, that power of theirs cannot be approached by gift or might; they

are like unapproachable mountains. They who are heard with their voice

from the high heaven, the brilliant and strong, Evayamarut, in whose

council no tyrant reigns, the rushing chariots of these roaring Maruts

come forth, like fires with their own lightning. The wide-striding

Vishnu strode forth from the great common seat, Evayamarut. When he has

started by himself from his own place along the ridges, O ye striving,

mighty Maruts, he goes together with the heroes, conferring blessings.

Impetuous, like your own shout, the strong one made everything tremble,

the terrible, the wanderer, the mighty, Evayamarut; strong with him you

advanced self-luminous, with firm reins, golden colored, well armed,

speeding along. Your greatness is infinite, ye Maruts, endowed with full

power, may that terrible power help, Evayamarut. In your raid you are

indeed to be seen as charioteers; deliver us therefore from the enemy,

like shining fires. May then these Rudras, lively like fires and with

vigorous shine, help, Evayamarut. The seat of the earth is stretched out

far and wide, when the hosts of these faultless Maruts come quickly to

the races. Come kindly on your path, O Maruts, listen to the call of him

who praises you, Evayamarut. Confidants of the great Vishnu, may you

together, like charioteers, keep all hateful things far, by your

wonderful skill. Come zealously to our sacrifice, ye worshipful, hear

our guileless call, Evayamarut. Like the oldest mountains in the sky, O

wise guardians, prove yourselves for him irresistible to the enemy.



XII



O Syavasva, sing boldly with the Maruts, the singers who, worthy

themselves of sacrifice, rejoice in their guileless glory according to

their nature. They are indeed boldly the friends of strong power; they

on their march protect all who by themselves are full of daring. Like

rushing bulls, these Maruts spring over the dark cows, and then we

perceive the might of the Maruts in heaven and on earth. Let us boldly

offer praise and sacrifice to your Maruts, to all them who protect the

generation of men, who protect the mortal from injury. They who are

worthy, bounteous, men of perfect strength, to those heavenly Maruts who

are worthy of sacrifice, praise the sacrifice! The tall men, coming near

with their bright chains, and their weapon, have hurled forth their

spears. Behind these Maruts there came by itself the splendor of heaven,

like laughing lightnings. Those who have grown up on earth, or in the

wide sky, or in the realm of the rivers, or in the abode of the great

heaven, praise that host of the Maruts, endowed with true strength and

boldness, whether those rushing heroes have by themselves harnessed

their horses for triumph, or whether these brilliant Maruts have in the

speckled cloud clothed themselves in wool, or whether by their strength

they cut the mountain asunder with the tire of their chariot; call them

comers, or goers, or enterers, or followers, under all these names, they

watch on the straw for my sacrifice. The men watch, and their steeds

watch. Then, so brilliant are their forms to be soon, that people say,

Look at the strangers! In measured steps and wildly shouting the gleemen

have danced towards the cloud. They who appeared one by one like

thieves, were helpers to me to see the light. Worship, therefore, O

seer, that host of Maruts, and keep and delight them with your voice,

they who are themselves wise poets, tall heroes armed with

lightning-spears. Approach, O seer, the host of Maruts, as a woman

approaches a friend, for a gift; and you, Maruts, bold in your strength,

hasten hither, even from heaven, when you have been praised by our

hymns. If he, after perceiving them, has approached them as gods with an

offering, then may he for a gift remain united with the brilliant

Maruts, who by their ornaments are glorious on their march. They, the

wise Maruts, the lords, who, when there was inquiry for their kindred,

told me of the cow, they told me of Prisni as their mother, and of the

strong Rudra as their father. The seven and seven heroes gave me each a

hundred. On the Yamuna I clear off glorious wealth in cows, I clear

wealth in horses.



XIII



Those who glance forth like wives and yoke-fellows, the powerful sons of

Rudra on their way, they, the Maruts, have indeed made heaven and earth

to grow; they, the strong and wild, delight in the sacrifices. When

grown up, they attained to greatness; the Rudras have established their

seat in the sky. While singing their song and increasing their vigor,

the sons of Prisni have clothed themselves in beauty. When these sons of

the cow adorn themselves with glittering ornaments, the brilliant ones

put bright weapons on their bodies. They drive away every adversary;

fatness streams along their paths;--when you, the powerful, who shine

with your spears, shaking even what is unshakable by strength--when you,

O Maruts, the manly hosts, had yoked the spotted deer, swift as thought,

to your chariots;--when you had yoked the spotted deer before your

chariots, hurling thunderbolt in the fight, then the streams of the

red-horse rush forth: like a skin with water they water the earth. May

the swiftly-gliding, swift-winged horses carry you hither! Come forth

with your arms! Sit down on the grass-pile; a wide seat has been made

for you. Rejoice, O Maruts, in the sweet food. Strong in themselves,

they grew with might; they stepped to the firmament, they made their

seat wide. When Vishnu saved the enrapturing Soma, the Maruts sat down

like birds on their beloved altar. Like heroes indeed thirsting for

fight they rush about; like combatants eager for glory they have striven

in battles. All beings are afraid of the Maruts; they are men terrible

to behold, like kings. When the clever Tvashtar had turned the

well-made, golden, thousand-edged thunderbolt, Indra takes it to perform

his manly deeds; he slew Vritra, he forced out the stream of water. By

their power they pushed the well aloft, they clove asunder the rock,

however strong. Blowing forth their voice the bounteous Maruts

performed, while drunk of Soma, their glorious deeds. They pushed the

cloud athwart this way, they poured out the spring to the thirsty

Gotama. The Maruts with beautiful splendor approach him with help, they

in their own ways satisfied the desire of the sage. The shelters which

you have for him who praises you, grant them threefold to the man who

gives! Extend the same to us, O Maruts! Give us, ye heroes, wealth with

valiant offspring!



XIV



Who are these resplendent men, dwelling together, the boys of Rudra,

also with good horses? No one indeed knows their births, they alone know

each other's birthplace. They plucked each other with their beaks; the

hawks, rushing like the wind, strove together. A wise man understands

these secrets, that Prisni, the great, bore an udder. May that clan be

rich in heroes by the Maruts, always victorious, rich in manhood! They

are quickest to go, most splendid with splendor, endowed with beauty,

strong with strength. Strong is your strength, steadfast your powers,

and thus by the Maruts is this clan mighty. Resplendent is your breath,

furious are the minds of the wild host, like a shouting maniac. Keep

from us entirely your flame, let not your hatred reach us here. I call

on the dear names of your swift ones, so that the greedy should be

satisfied, O Maruts, the well-armed, the swift, decked with beautiful

chains, who themselves adorn their bodies. Bright are the libations for

you, the bright ones, O Maruts, a bright sacrifice I prepare for the

bright. In proper order came those who truly follow the order, the

bright born, the bright, the pure. On your shoulders, O Maruts, are the

rings, on your chests the golden chains are fastened; far-shining like

lightnings with showers, you wield your weapons, according to your wont.

Your hidden splendors come forth; spread out your powers, O racers!

Accept, O Maruts, this thousandfold, domestic share, as an offering for

the house-gods. If you thus listen, O Maruts, to this praise, at the

invocation of the powerful sage, give him quickly a share of wealth in

plentiful offspring, which no selfish enemy shall be able to hurt. The

Maruts, who are fleet like racers, the manly youths, shone like Yakshas;

they are beautiful like boys standing round the hearth, they play about

like calves who are still sucking. May the bounteous Maruts be gracious

to us, opening up to us the firm heaven and earth. May that bolt of

yours which kills cattle and men be far from us! Incline to us, O Vasus,

with your favors. The Hotri priest calls on you again and again, sitting

down and praising your common gift, O Maruts. O strong ones, he who is

the guardian of so much wealth, he calls on you with praises, free from

guile. These Maruts stop the swift, they bend strength by strength, they

ward off the curse of the plotter, and turn their heavy hatred on the

enemy. These Maruts stir up even the sluggard, even the vagrant, as the

gods pleased. O strong ones, drive away the darkness, and grant us all

our kith and kin. May we not fall away from your bounty, O Maruts, may

we not stay behind, O charioteers, in the distribution of your gifts.

Let us share in the brilliant wealth, the well-acquired, that belongs to

you, O strong ones. When valiant men fiercely fight together, for

rivers, plants, and houses, then, O Maruts, sons of Rudra, be in battles

our protectors from the enemy. O Maruts, you have valued the praises

which our fathers have formerly recited to you; with the Maruts the

victor is terrible in battle, with the Maruts alone the racer wins the

prize. O Maruts, may we have a strong son, who is lord among men, a

ruler, through whom we may cross the waters to dwell in safety, and then

obtain our own home for you. May Indra then, Varuna, Mitra, Agni, the

waters, the plants, the trees of the forest be pleased with us. Let us

be in the keeping, in the lap of the Maruts; protect us always with your

favors.



XV



Sing to the company of the Maruts, growing up together, the strong among

the divine host: they stir heaven and earth by their might, they mount

up to the firmament from the abyss of Nirriti. Even your birth was with

fire and fury, O Maruts! You, terrible, wrathful, never tiring! You who

stand forth with might and strength; everyone who sees the sun, fears at

your coming. Grant mighty strength to our lords, if the Maruts are

pleased with our praise. As a trodden path furthers a man, may they

further us; help us with your brilliant favors. Favored by you, O

Maruts, a wise man wins a hundred, favored by you a strong racer wins a

thousand, favored by you a king also kills his enemy: may that gift of

yours prevail, O ye shakers. I invite these bounteous sons of Rudra,

will these Maruts turn again to us? Whatever they hated secretly or

openly, that sin we pray the swift ones to forgive. This praise of our

lords has been spoken: may the Maruts be pleased with this hymn. Keep

far from us, O strong ones, all hatred, protect us always with your

favors!



XVI



Come hither, do not fail, when you march forward! Do not stay away, O

united friends, you who can bend even what is firm. O Maruts,

Ribhukshans, come hither on your flaming strong fellies, O Rudras, come

to us to-day with food, you much-desired ones, come to the sacrifice,

you friends of the Sobharis. For we know indeed the terrible strength of

the sons of Rudra, of the vigorous Maruts, the liberal givers of rain.

The clouds were scattered, but the monster remained, heaven and earth

were joined together. O you who are armed with bright rings, the tracts

of the sky expanded, whenever you stir, radiant with your own splendor.

Even things that cannot be thrown down resound at your race, the

mountains, the lord of the forest--the earth quivers on your marches.

The upper sky makes wide room, to let your violence pass, O Maruts, when

these strong-armed heroes display their energies in their own bodies.

According to their wont these men, exceeding terrible, impetuous, with

strong and unbending forms, bring with them beautiful light. The arrow

of the Sobharis is shot from the bowstrings at the golden chest on the

chariot of the Maruts. They, the kindred of the cow, the well-born,

should enjoy their food, the great ones should help us. Bring forward, O

strongly-anointed priests, your libations to the strong host of the

Maruts, the strongly advancing. O Maruts, O heroes, come quickly hither,

like winged hawks, on your chariot with strong horses, of strong shape,

with strong naves, to enjoy our libations. Their anointing is the same,

the golden chains shine on their arms, their spears sparkle. These

strong, manly, strong-armed Maruts, do not strive among themselves; firm

are the bows, the weapons on your chariot, and on your faces are

splendors. They whose terrible name, wide-spreading like the ocean, is

the one of all that is of use, whose strength is like the vigor of their

father, worship these Maruts, and praise them! Of these shouters, as of

moving spokes, no one is the last; this is theirs by gift, by greatness

is it theirs. Happy is he who was under your protection, O Maruts, in

former mornings, or who may be so even now. Or he, O men, whose

libations you went to enjoy; that mighty one, O shakers, will obtain

your favors with brilliant riches and booty. As the sons of Rudra, the

servants of the divine Dyu, will it, O youths, so shall it be. Whatever

liberal givers may worship the Maruts, and move about together as

generous benefactors, even from them turn towards us with a kinder

heart, you youths! O Sobhari, call loud with your newest song the young,

strong, and pure Maruts, as the plougher calls the cows. Worship the

Maruts with a song, they who are strong like a boxer, called in to

assist those who call for him in all fights; worship them the most

glorious, like bright-shining bulls. Yes, O united friends, kindred, O

Maruts, by a common birth, the oxen lick one another's humps. O ye

dancers, with golden ornaments on your chests, even a mortal comes to

ask for your brotherhood; take care of us, ye Maruts, for your

friendship lasts forever. O bounteous Maruts, bring us some of your

Marut-medicine, you friends, and steeds. With the favors whereby you

favor the Sindhu, whereby you save, whereby you help Krivi, with those

propitious favors be our delight, O delightful ones, ye who never hate

your followers. O Maruts, for whom we have prepared good altars,

whatever medicine there is on the Sindhu, on the Asikni, in the seas, on

the mountains, seeing it, you carry it all on your bodies. Bless us with

it! Down to the earth, O Maruts, with what hurts our sick

one--straighten what is crooked!



XVII



Full of devotion like priests with their prayers, wealthy like pious

men, who please the gods with their offerings, beautiful to behold like

brilliant kings, without a blemish like the youths of our hamlets--they

who are gold-breasted like Agni with his splendor, quick to help like

self-harnessed winds, good leaders like the oldest experts, they are to

the righteous man like Somas, that yield the best protection. They who

are roaring and hasting like winds, brilliant like the tongues of fires,

powerful like mailed soldiers, full of blessings like the prayers of our

fathers, who hold together like the spokes of chariot-wheels, who glance

forward like victorious heroes, who scatter ghrita like wooing youths,

who chant beautifully like singers, intoning a hymn of praise, who are

swift like the best of horses, who are bounteous like lords of chariots

on a suit, who are hastening on like water with downward floods, who are

like the manifold Angiras with their numerous songs. These noble sons of

Sindhu are like grinding-stones, they are always like Soma-stones,

tearing everything to pieces; these sons of a good mother are like

playful children, they are by their glare like a great troop on its

march. Illumining the sacrifice like the rays of the dawn, they shone

forth in their ornaments like triumphant warriors; the Maruts with

bright spears seem like running rivers, from afar they measure many

miles. O gods, make us happy and rich, prospering us, your praisers, O

Maruts! Remember our praise and our friendship, for from of old there

are always with you gifts of treasures.



XVIII



O Indra, a thousand have been thy helps accorded to us, a thousand, O

driver of the bays, have been thy most delightful viands. May thousands

of treasures richly to enjoy, may goods come to us a thousandfold. May

the Maruts come towards us with their aids, the mighty ones, or with

their best aids from the great heaven, now that their furthest steeds

have rushed forth on the distant shore of the sea; there clings to the

Maruts one who moves in secret, like a man's wife,[2] and who is like a

spear carried behind, well grasped, resplendent, gold-adorned; there is

also with them Vak,[3] like unto a courtly, eloquent woman. Far away the

brilliant, untiring Maruts cling to their young maid, as if she belonged

to them all; but the terrible ones did not drive away Rodasi, for they

wished her to grow their friend. When the divine Rodasi with dishevelled

locks, the manly-minded, wished to follow them, she went, like Surya,[4]

to the chariot of her servant, with terrible look, as with the pace of a

cloud. As soon as the poet with the libations, O Maruts, had sung his

song at the sacrifice, pouring out Soma, the youthful men placed the

young maid in their chariot as their companion for victory, mighty in

assemblies. I praise what is the praiseworthy true greatness of those

Maruts, that the manly-minded, proud, and strong one drives with them

towards the blessed mothers. They protect Mitra and Varuna from the

unspeakable, and Aryaman also finds out the infamous. Even what is firm

and unshakable is being shaken; but he who dispenses treasures, O

Maruts, has grown in strength. No people indeed, whether near to us, or

from afar, have ever found the end of your strength, O Maruts! The

Maruts, strong in daring strength, have, like the sea, boldly surrounded

their haters. May we to-day, may we tomorrow in battle be called the

most beloved of Indra. We were so formerly, may we truly be so day by

day, and may the lord of the Maruts be with us. May this praise, O

Maruts, this song of Mandarya, the son of Mana, the poet, ask you with

food for offspring for ourselves! May we have an invigorating autumn,

with quickening rain!



XIX



Who knows their birth? or who was of yore in the favor of the Maruts,

when they harnessed the spotted deer? Who has heard them when they had

mounted their chariots, how they went forth? For the sake of what

liberal giver did they run, and their comrades followed, as streams of

rain filled with food? They themselves said to me when day by day they

came to the feast with their birds: they are manly youths and blameless;

seeing them, praise them thus; they who shine by themselves in their

ornaments, their daggers, their garlands, their golden chains, their

rings, going on their chariots and on dry land. O Maruts, givers of

quickening rain, I am made to rejoice, following after your chariots, as

after days going with rain. The bucket which the bounteous heroes shook

down from heaven for their worshipper, that cloud they send along heaven

and earth, and showers follow on the dry land. The rivers having pierced

the air with a rush of water, went forth like milk-cows; when your

spotted deer roll about like horses that have hasted to the

resting-place on their road. Come hither, O Maruts, from heaven, from

the sky, even from near; do not go far away! Let not the Rasa, the

Anitabha, the Kubha, the Krumu, let not the Sindhu delay you! Let not

the marshy Sarayu prevent you! May your favor be with us alone! The

showers come forth after the host of your chariots, after the terrible

Marut-host of the ever-youthful heroes. Let us then follow with our

praises and our prayers each host of yours, each troop, each company. To

what well-born generous worshipper have the Maruts gone to-day on that

march, on which you bring to kith and kin the never-failing seed of

corn? Give us that for which we ask you, wealth and everlasting

happiness! Let us safely pass through our revilers, leaving behind the

unspeakable and the enemies. Let us be with you when in the morning you

shower down health, wealth, water, and medicine, O Maruts! That mortal,

O men, O Maruts, whom you protect, may well be always beloved by the

gods, and rich in valiant offspring. May we be such! Praise the liberal

Maruts, and may they delight on the path of this man here who praises

them, like cows in fodder. When they go, call after them as for old

friends, praise them who love you, with your song!



XX



You have fashioned this speech for the brilliant Marut-host which shakes

the mountains: celebrate then the great manhood in honor of that host

who praises the warm milk of the sacrifice, and sacrifices on the height

of heaven, whose glory is brilliant. O Maruts, your powerful men came

forth searching for water, invigorating, harnessing their horses,

swarming around. When they aim with the lightning, Trita shouts, and the

waters murmur, running around on their course. These Maruts are men

brilliant with lightning, they shoot with thunderbolts, they blaze with

the wind, they shake the mountains, and suddenly, when wishing to give

water, they whirl the hail; they have thundering strength, they are

robust, they are ever-powerful. When you drive forth the nights, O

Rudras, the days, O powerful men, the sky, the mists, ye shakers, the

plains, like ships, and the strongholds, O Maruts, you suffer nowhere.

That strength of yours, O Maruts, that greatness extended as far as the

sun extends its daily course, when you, like your deer on their march,

went down to the western mountain with untouched splendor. Your host, O

Maruts, shone forth when, O sages, you strip, like a caterpillar, the

waving tree. Conduct then, O friends, our service to a good end, as the

eye conducts the man in walking. That man, O Maruts, is not overpowered,

he is not killed, he does not fail, he does not shake, he does not drop,

his goods do not perish, nor his protections, if you lead him rightly,

whether he be a seer or a king. The men with their steeds, like

conquerors of clans, like Aryaman, the Maruts, carrying waterskins, fill

the well; when the strong ones roar, they moisten the earth with the

juice of sweetness. When the Maruts come forth this earth bows, the

heaven bows, the paths in the sky bow, and the cloud-mountains with

their quickening rain. When you rejoice at sunrise, O Maruts, toiling

together, men of sunlight, men of heaven, your horses never tire in

running, and you quickly reach the end of your journey. On your

shoulders are the spears, on your feet rings, on your chests golden

chains, O Maruts, on your chariot gems; fiery lightnings in your fists,

and golden headbands tied round your heads. O Maruts, you shake the red

apple from the firmament, whose splendor no enemy can touch; the hamlets

bowed when the Maruts blazed, and the pious people intoned their

far-reaching shout. O wise Maruts, let us carry off the wealth of food

which you have bestowed on us; give us, O Maruts, such thousandfold

wealth as never fails, like the star Tishya from heaven! O Maruts, you

protect our wealth of excellent men, and the seer, clever in song; you

give to the warrior a strong horse, you make the king to be obeyed. O

you who are quickly ready to help, I implore you for wealth whereby we

may overshadow all men, like the sky. O Maruts, be pleased with this

word of mine, and let us speed by its speed over a hundred winters!



XXI



The chasing Maruts with gleaming spears, the golden-breasted, have

gained great strength, they move along on quick, well-broken

horses;--when they went in triumph, the chariots followed. You have

yourselves, you know, acquired power; you shine bright and wide, you

great ones. They have even measured the sky with their strength;--when

they went in triumph, the chariots followed. The strong heroes, born

together, and nourished together, have further grown to real beauty.

They shine brilliantly like the rays of the sun;--when they went in

triumph, the chariots followed. Your greatness, O Maruts, is to be

honored, it is to be yearned for like the sight of the sun. Place us

also in immortality;--when they went in triumph, the chariots followed.

O Maruts, you raise the rain from the sea, and rain it down, O yeomen!

Your milch-cows, O destroyers, are never destroyed;--when they went in

triumph, the chariots followed. When you have joined the deer as horses

to the shafts, and have clothed yourselves in golden garments, then, O

Maruts, you scatter all enemies;--when they went in triumph, the

chariots followed. Not mountains, not rivers have kept you back,

wherever you see, O Maruts, there you go. You go even round heaven and

earth;--when they went in triumph, the chariots followed. Be it old, O

Maruts, or be it new, be it spoken, O Vasus, or be it recited, you take

cognizance of it all;--when they went in triumph, the chariots followed.

Have mercy on us, O Maruts, do not strike us, extend to us your manifold

protection. Do remember the praise, the friendship;--when they went in

triumph, the chariots followed. Lead us, O Maruts, towards greater

wealth, and out of tribulations, when you have been praised. O

worshipful Maruts, accept our offering, and let us be lords of

treasures!



XXII



O Agni, on to the strong host of the Maruts, bedecked with golden chains

and ornaments. To-day I call the folk of the Maruts down from the light

of heaven. As thou, Agni, thinkest in thine heart, to the same object my

wishes have gone. Strengthen thou these Maruts, terrible to behold, who

have come nearest to thy invocations. Like a bountiful lady, the earth

comes towards us, staggering, yet rejoicing; for your onslaught, O

Maruts, is vigorous, like a bear, and fearful, like a wild bull. They

who by their strength disperse wildly like bulls, impatient of the yoke,

they by their marches make the heavenly stone, the rocky mountain cloud

to shake. Arise, for now I call with my hymns the troop of these Maruts,

grown strong together, the manifold, the incomparable, as if calling a

drove of bulls. Harness the red mares to the chariot, harness the ruddy

horses to the chariots, harness the two bays, ready to drive in the

yoke, most vehement to drive in the yoke. And this red stallion too,

loudly neighing, has been placed here, beautiful to behold; may it not

cause you delay on your marches, O Maruts; spur him forth on your

chariots.



We call towards us the glorious chariot of the Maruts, whereon there

stands also Rodasi, carrying delightful gifts, among the Maruts.



I call hither this your host, brilliant on chariots, terrible and

glorious, among which she, the well-born and fortunate, the bounteous

lady, is also magnified among the Maruts.



XXIII



O Rudras, joined by Indra, friends on golden chariots, come hither for

our welfare! This prayer from us is acceptable to you like the springs

of heaven to a thirsty soul longing for water. O you sons of Prisni, you

are armed with daggers and spears, you are wise, carrying good bows and

arrows and quivers, possessed of good horses and chariots. With your

good weapons, O Maruts, you go to triumph! You shake the sky and the

mountains for wealth to the liberal giver; the forests bend down out of

your way from fear. O sons of Prisni, you rouse the earth when you, O

terrible ones, have harnessed the spotted deer for triumph! The Maruts,

blazing with the wind, clothed in rain, are as like one another as

twins, and well adorned. They have tawny horses, and red horses, they

are faultless, endowed with exceeding vigor; they are in greatness wide

as the heaven. Rich in rain-drops, well adorned, bounteous, terrible to

behold, of inexhaustible wealth, noble by birth, golden-breasted, these

singers of the sky have obtained their immortal name. Spears are on your

two shoulders, in your arms are placed strength, power, and might. Manly

thoughts dwell in your heads, on your chariots are weapons, and every

beauty has been laid on your bodies. O Maruts, you have given us wealth

of cows, horses, chariots, and heroes, golden wealth! O men of Rudra,

bestow on us great praise, and may I enjoy your divine protection! Hark,

O heroes, O Maruts! Be gracious to us! You who are of great bounty,

immortal, righteous, truly listening to us, poets, young, dwelling on

mighty mountains, and grown mighty.



XXIV



I praise now the powerful company of these ever-young Maruts, who drive

violently along with quick horses; aye, the sovereigns are lords of

Amrita the immortal. The terrible company, the powerful, adorned with

quoits on their hands, given to roaring, potent, dispensing treasures,

they who are beneficent, infinite in greatness, praise, O poet, these

men of great wealth! May your water-carriers come here to-day, all the

Maruts who stir up the rain. That fire which has been lighted for you, O

Maruts, accept it, O young singers! O worshipful Maruts, you create for

man an active king, fashioned by Vibhvan; from you comes the man who can

fight with his fist, and is quick with his arm, from you the man with

good horses and valiant heroes. Like the spokes of a wheel, no one is

last, like the days they are born on and on, not deficient in might. The

very high sons of Prisni are full of fury, the Maruts cling firmly to

their own will. When you have come forth with your speckled deer as

horses on strong-fellied chariots, O Maruts, the waters gush, the

forests go asunder;--let Dyu roar down, the bull of the Dawn. At their

approach, even the earth opened wide, and they placed their own strength

as a husband the germ. Indeed they have harnessed the winds as horses to

the yoke, and the men of Rudra have changed their sweat into rain. Hark,

O heroes, O Maruts! Be gracious to us! You who are of great bounty,

immortal, righteous, truly listening to us, poets, young, dwelling on

mighty mountains, and grown mighty.



XXV



They truly tried to make you grant them welfare. Do thou sing praises to

Heaven, I offer sacrifice to the Earth. The Maruts wash their horses and

race to the air, they soften their splendor by waving mists. The earth

trembles with fear from their onset. She sways like a full ship, that

goes rolling. The heroes who appear on their marches, visible from afar,

strive together within the great sacrificial assembly. Your horn is

exalted for glory, as the horns of cows; your eye is like the sun, when

the mist is scattered. Like strong racers, you are beautiful, O heroes,

you think of glory, like manly youths. Who could reach, O Maruts, the

great wise thoughts, who the great manly deeds of you, great ones? You

shake the earth like a speck of dust, when you are carried forth for

granting welfare. These kinsmen are like red horses, like heroes eager

for battle, and they have rushed forward to fight. They are like

well-grown manly youths, and the men have grown strong, with streams of

rain they dim the eye of the sun. At their outbreak there is none among

them who is the eldest, or the youngest, or the middle: they have grown

by their own might, these sons of Prisni, noble by birth, the boys of

Dyaus; come hither to us!



Those who like birds flew with strength in rows from the ridge of the

mighty heaven to its ends, their horses shook the springs of the

mountain cloud, so that people on both sides knew it. May Dyaus Aditi

roar for our feast, may the dew-lighted Dawns come striving together;

these, the Maruts, O poet, the sons of Rudra, have shaken the heavenly

bucket cloud, when they had been praised.



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