HYMN XLVIII. Viśvedevas: Rig Veda – Book 5 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

कद उ परियाय धाम्ने मनामहे सवक्षत्राय सवयशसे महे वयम |
आमेन्यस्य रजसो यद अभ्र आं अपो वर्णाना वितनोति मायिनी ||

ता अत्नत वयुनं वीरवक्षणं समान्या वर्तया विश्वम आ रजः |
अपो अपाचीर अपरा अपेजते पर पूर्वाभिस तिरते देवयुर जनः ||

आ गरावभिर अहन्येभिर अक्तुभिर वरिष्ठं वज्रम आ जिघर्ति मायिनि |
शतं वा यस्य परचरन सवे दमे संवर्तयन्तो वि च वर्तयन्न अहा ||

ताम अस्य रीतिम परशोर इव परत्य अनीकम अख्यम भुजे अस्य वर्पसः |
सचा यदि पितुमन्तम इव कषयं रत्नं दधाति भरहूतये विशे ||

स जिह्वया चतुरनीक रञ्जते चारु वसानो वरुणो यतन्न अरिम |
न तस्य विद्म पुरुषत्वता वयं यतो भगः सविता दाति वार्यम ||

kad u priyāya dhāmne manāmahe svakṣatrāya svayaśase mahe vayam |
āmenyasya rajaso yad abhra āṃ apo vṛṇānā vitanoti māyinī ||

tā atnata vayunaṃ vīravakṣaṇaṃ samānyā vṛtayā viśvam ā rajaḥ |
apo apācīr aparā apejate pra pūrvābhis tirate devayur janaḥ ||

ā ghrāvabhir ahanyebhir aktubhir variṣṭhaṃ vajram ā jigharti māyini |
śataṃ vā yasya pracaran sve dame saṃvartayanto vi ca vartayann ahā ||

tām asya rītim paraśor iva praty anīkam akhyam bhuje asya varpasaḥ |
sacā yadi pitumantam iva kṣayaṃ ratnaṃ dadhāti bharahūtaye viśe ||

sa jihvayā caturanīka ṛñjate cāru vasāno varuṇo yatann arim |
na tasya vidma puruṣatvatā vayaṃ yato bhaghaḥ savitā dāti vāryam ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. WHAT may we meditate for the beloved Power, mighty in native strength and glorious in itself,
Which as a magic energy seeking waters spreads even to theimmeasurable middle region’s cloud?

2 O’er all the region with their uniform advance these have spread out the lore that giveth heroes strength.
Back, with their course reversed, the others pass away: the pious lengthens life with those that are before.

3 With pressing-stones and with the bright beams of the day he hurls his broadest bolt against the Guileful One.
Even he whose hundred wander in his own abode, driving the days afar and bringing them again.

4 I, to enjoy the beauty of his form, behold that rapid rush of his as ’twere an axe’s edge,
What time he gives the man who calls on him in fight wealth like a dwelling-house filled full with store of food.

5 Four-faced and nobly clad, Varuṇa, urging on the pious to his task, stirs himself with the tongue.
Naught by our human nature do we know of him, him from whom Bhaga Savitar bestows the boon.