Library·Ṛgveda Saṃhitā·3·3.38
अभि तष्टेव दीधया मनीषाम् अत्यो न वाजी सुधुरो जिहानः । अभि प्रियाणि मर्मृशत् पराणि कवींर् इच्छामि संदृशे सुमेधाः ॥
abhi taṣṭeva dīdhayā manīṣām atyo na vājī sudhuro jihānaḥ | abhi priyāṇi marmṛśat parāṇi kavīṃr icchāmi saṃdṛśe sumedhāḥ ||
Hasting like some strong courser good at drawing, a thought have I imagined like a workman. Pondering what is dearest and most noble, I long to see the sages full of wisdom.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
इनोत पृच्छ जनिमा कवीनाम् मनोधृतः सुकृतस् तक्षत द्याम् । इमा उ ते प्रण्यो वर्धमाना मनोवाता अध नु धर्मणि ग्मन् ॥
inota pṛccha janimā kavīnām manodhṛtaḥ sukṛtas takṣata dyām | imā u te praṇyo vardhamānā manovātā adha nu dharmaṇi gman ||
Ask of the sages' mighty generations firm-minded and devout they framed the heaven. These are thy heart-sought strengthening directions, and they have come to be sky's upholders.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
नि षीम् इद् अत्र गुह्या दधाना उत क्षत्राय रोदसी सम् अञ्जन् । सम् मात्राभिर् ममिरे येमुर् उर्वी अन्तर् मही समृते धायसे धुः ॥
ni ṣīm id atra guhyā dadhānā uta kṣatrāya rodasī sam añjan | sam mātrābhir mamire yemur urvī antar mahī samṛte dhāyase dhuḥ ||
Assuming in this world mysterious natures, they decked the heaven and earth for high dominion, Measured with measures, fixed their broad expanses, set the great worlds apart held firm for safety.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
आतिष्ठन्तम् परि विश्वे अभूषञ् छ्रियो वसानश् चरति स्वरोचिः । महत् तद् वृष्णो असुरस्य नामा विश्वरूपो अमृतानि तस्थौ ॥
ātiṣṭhantam pari viśve abhūṣañ chriyo vasānaś carati svarociḥ | mahat tad vṛṣṇo asurasya nāmā viśvarūpo amṛtāni tasthau ||
Even as he mounted up they all adorned him: self-luminous he travels clothed in splendour. That is the Bull's, the Asura's mighty figure: he, omniform, hath reached the eternal waters.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
असूत पूर्वो वृषभो ज्यायान् इमा अस्य शुरुधः सन्ति पूर्वीः । दिवो नपाता विदथस्य धीभिः क्षत्रं राजाना प्रदिवो दधाथे ॥
asūta pūrvo vṛṣabho jyāyān imā asya śurudhaḥ santi pūrvīḥ | divo napātā vidathasya dhībhiḥ kṣatraṃ rājānā pradivo dadhāthe ||
First the more ancient Bull engendered offspring; these are his many draughts that lent him vigour. From days of old ye Kings, two Sons of Heaven, by hymns of sacrifice have won dominion.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
त्रीणि राजाना विदथे पुरूणि परि विश्वानि भूषथः सदांसि । अपश्यम् अत्र मनसा जगन्वान् व्रते गन्धर्वां अपि वायुकेशान् ॥
trīṇi rājānā vidathe purūṇi pari viśvāni bhūṣathaḥ sadāṃsi | apaśyam atra manasā jaganvān vrate gandharvāṃ api vāyukeśān ||
Three seats ye Sovrans, in the Holy synod, many, yea, all, ye honour with your presence. There saw I, going thither in the spirit, Gandharvas in their course with wind-blown tresses.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
तद् इन् न्व् अस्य वृषभस्य धेनोर् आ नामभिर् ममिरे सक्म्यं गोः । अन्यद्-अन्यद् असुर्यं वसाना नि मायिनो ममिरे रूपम् अस्मिन् ॥
tad in nv asya vṛṣabhasya dhenor ā nāmabhir mamire sakmyaṃ goḥ | anyad-anyad asuryaṃ vasānā ni māyino mamire rūpam asmin ||
That same companionship of her, the Milch-cow, here with the strong Bull's divers forms they stablished. Enduing still some new celestial figure, the skillful workers shaped a form around him.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
तद् इन् न्व् अस्य सवितुर् नकिर् मे हिरण्ययीम् अमतिं याम् अशिश्रेत् । आ सुष्टुती रोदसी विश्वमिन्वे अपीव योषा जनिमानि वव्रे ॥
tad in nv asya savitur nakir me hiraṇyayīm amatiṃ yām aśiśret | ā suṣṭutī rodasī viśvaminve apīva yoṣā janimāni vavre ||
Let no one here debar me from enjoying the golden light which Savitar diffuses. He covers both all-fostering worlds with praises even as a woman cherishes her children.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
युवम् प्रत्नस्य साधथो महो यद् दैवी स्वस्तिः परि णः स्यातम् । गोपाजिह्वस्य तस्थुषो विरूपा विश्वे पश्यन्ति मायिनः कृतानि ॥
yuvam pratnasya sādhatho maho yad daivī svastiḥ pari ṇaḥ syātam | gopājihvasya tasthuṣo virūpā viśve paśyanti māyinaḥ kṛtāni ||
Fulfil, ye twain, his work, the Great, the Ancient: as heavenly blessing keep your guard around us. All the wise Gods behold his varied actions who stands erect, whose voice is like a herdsman's.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)
शुनं हुवेम मघवानम् इन्द्रम् अस्मिन् भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तम् उग्रम् ऊतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥
śunaṃ huvema maghavānam indram asmin bhare nṛtamaṃ vājasātau | śṛṇvantam ugram ūtaye samatsu ghnantaṃ vṛtrāṇi saṃjitaṃ dhanānām ||
Call we on Indra, Maghavan, auspicious, best Hero in the fight where spoil is gathered, The Strong, who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays the Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896)