HYMN CLXXXVII. Praise of Food: Rig Veda – Book 1 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

पितुं नु सतोषं महो धर्माणं तविषीम |
यस्य तरितो वयोजसा वर्त्रं विपर्वमर्दयत ||

सवादो पितो मधो पितो वयं तवा वव्र्महे |
अस्माकमविता भव ||

उप नः पितवा चर शिवः शिवाभिरूतिभिः |
मयोभुरद्विषेण्यः सखा सुशेवो अद्वयाः ||

तव तये पितो रस रजांस्यनु विष्ठिताः |
दिवि वाता इव शरिताः ||

तव तये पितो ददतस्तव सवादिष्ठ ते पितो |
पर सवाद्मानो रसानां तुविग्रीवा इवेरते ||

तवे पितो महानां देवानां मनो हिताम |
अकारि चारु केतुना तवाहिमवसावधीत ||

यददो पितो अजगन विवस्व पर्वतानाम |
अत्रा चिन नो मधो पितो.अरं भक्षाय गम्याः ||

यदपामोषधीनां परिंशमारिशामहे |
वातपे पीवैद भव ||

यत ते सोम गवाशिरो यवाशिरो भजामहे |
वातापे … ||

करम्भ ओषधे भव पीवो वर्क्क उदारथिः |
वातापे … ||

तं तवा वयं पितो वचोभिर्गावो न हव्या सुषूदिम |
देवेभ्यस्त्वा सधमादमस्मभ्यं तवा सधमादम ||

pituṃ nu stoṣaṃ maho dharmāṇaṃ taviṣīm |
yasya trito vyojasā vṛtraṃ viparvamardayat ||

svādo pito madho pito vayaṃ tvā vavṛmahe |
asmākamavitā bhava ||

upa naḥ pitavā cara śivaḥ śivābhirūtibhiḥ |
mayobhuradviṣeṇyaḥ sakhā suśevo advayāḥ ||

tava tye pito rasa rajāṃsyanu viṣṭhitāḥ |
divi vātā iva śritāḥ ||

tava tye pito dadatastava svādiṣṭha te pito |
pra svādmāno rasānāṃ tuvighrīvā iverate ||

tve pito mahānāṃ devānāṃ mano hitām |
akāri cāru ketunā tavāhimavasāvadhīt ||

yadado pito ajaghan vivasva parvatānām |
atrā cin no madho pito.araṃ bhakṣāya ghamyāḥ ||

yadapāmoṣadhīnāṃ pariṃśamāriśāmahe |
vātape pīvaid bhava ||

yat te soma ghavāśiro yavāśiro bhajāmahe |
vātāpe … ||

karambha oṣadhe bhava pīvo vṛkka udārathiḥ |
vātāpe … ||

taṃ tvā vayaṃ pito vacobhirghāvo na havyā suṣūdima |
devebhyastvā sadhamādamasmabhyaṃ tvā sadhamādam ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. Now will I glorify Food that upholds great strength,
By whose invigorating power Trita rent Vṛtra limb from limb.

2 O pleasant Food, O Food of meath, thee have we chosen for our own,
So be our kind protector thou.

3 Come hitherward to us, O Food, auspicious with auspicious help,
Health-bringing, not unkind, a dear and guileless friend.

4 These juices which, O Food, are thine throughout the regions are diffused.
like winds they have their place in heaven.

5 These gifts of thine, O Food, O Food most sweet to taste,
These savours of thy juices work like creatures that have mighty necks.

6 In thee, O Food, is set the spirit of great Gods.
Under thy flag brave deeds were done he slew the Dragon with thy help.

7 If thou be gone unto the splendour of the clouds,
Even from thence, O Food of meath, prepared for our enjoyment, come.

8 Whatever morsel we consume from waters or from plants of earth, O Soma, wax thou fat thereby.

9 What Soma, we enjoy from thee in milky food or barley-brew, Vātāpi, grow thou fat thereby.

10 O Vegetable, Cake of meal, he wholesome, firm, and strengthening: Vātāpi, grow thou fat thereby.

11 O Food, from thee as such have we drawn forth with lauds, like cows, our sacrificial gifts,
From thee who banquetest with Gods, from thee who banquetest with us.