HYMN CLXV. Viśvedevas. – Rig Veda – Book 10

देवाः कपोत इषितो यदिछन दूतो निरतया इदमाजगाम |
तस्मा अर्चाम कर्णवाम निष्क्र्तिं शं नो अस्तु दविपदेशं चतुष्पदे ||

शिवः कपोत इषितो नो अस्त्वनागा देवाः शकुनो गर्हेषु |
अग्निर्हि विप्रो जुषतां हविर्नः परि हेतिः पक्षिणी नोव्र्णक्तु ||

हेतिः पक्षिणी न दभात्यस्मानाष्ट्र्यां पदं कर्णुतेग्निधाने |
शं नो गोभ्यश्च पुरुषेभ्यश्चास्तु मा नोहिंसीदिह देवाः कपोतः ||

यदुलूको वदति मोघमेतद यत कपोतः पदमग्नौक्र्णोति |
यस्य दूतः परहित एष एतत तस्मै यमाय नमोस्तु मरित्यवे ||

रचा कपोतं नुदत परणोदमिषं मदन्तः परि गांनयध्वम |
संयोपयन्तो दुरितानि विश्वा हित्वा न ऊर्जं परपतात पतिष्थः ||

devāḥ kapota iṣito yadichan dūto nirtyā idamājaghāma |
tasmā arcāma kṛṇavāma niṣkṛtiṃ śaṃ no astu dvipadeśaṃ catuṣpade ||

śivaḥ kapota iṣito no astvanāghā devāḥ śakuno ghṛheṣu |
aghnirhi vipro juṣatāṃ havirnaḥ pari hetiḥ pakṣiṇī novṛṇaktu ||

hetiḥ pakṣiṇī na dabhātyasmānāṣṭryāṃ padaṃ kṛṇuteaghnidhāne |
śaṃ no ghobhyaśca puruṣebhyaścāstu mā nohiṃsīdiha devāḥ kapotaḥ ||

yadulūko vadati moghametad yat kapotaḥ padamaghnaukṛṇoti |
yasya dūtaḥ prahita eṣa etat tasmai yamāya namoastu mrityave ||

ṛcā kapotaṃ nudata praṇodamiṣaṃ madantaḥ pari ghāṃnayadhvam |
saṃyopayanto duritāni viśvā hitvā na ūrjaṃ prapatāt patiṣthaḥ ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. GODS, whatsoe’er the Dove came hither seeking, sent to us as the envoy of Destruction,
For that let us sing hymns and make atonement. Well be it with our quadrupeds and bipeds.

2 Auspicious be the Dove that hath been sent us, a harmless bird, ye Gods, within our dwelling.
May Agni, Sage, be pleased with our oblation, and may the Missile borne on wings avoid us.

3 Let not the Arrow that hath wings distract us: beside the fire-place, on the hearth it settles.
May, it bring welfare to our men and cattle: here let the Dove, ye Gods, forbear to harm us.

4 The screeching of the owl is ineffective and when beside the fire the Dove hath settled,
To him who sent it hither as an envoy, to him be reverence paid, to Death, to Yama.

5 Drive forth the Dove, chase it with holy verses: rejoicing, bring ye hither food and cattle,
Barring the way against all grief and trouble. Let the swift bird fly forth and leave us vigour.