HYMN XXXVIII. Dadhikris: Rig Veda – Book 4 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

उतो हि वां दात्रा सन्ति पूर्वा या पूरुभ्यस तरसदस्युर नितोशे |
कषेत्रासां ददथुर उर्वरासां घनं दस्युभ्यो अभिभूतिम उग्रम ||

उत वाजिनम पुरुनिष्षिध्वानं दधिक्राम उ ददथुर विश्वक्र्ष्टिम |
रजिप्यं शयेनम परुषितप्सुम आशुं चर्क्र्त्यम अर्यो नर्पतिं न शूरम ||

यं सीम अनु परवतेव दरवन्तं विश्वः पूरुर मदति हर्षमाणः |
पड्भिर गर्ध्यन्तम मेधयुं न शूरं रथतुरं वातम इव धरजन्तम ||

यः समारुन्धानो गध्या समत्सु सनुतरश चरति गोषु गछन |
आविर्र्जीको विदथा निचिक्यत तिरो अरतिम पर्य आप आयोः ||

उत समैनं वस्त्रमथिं न तायुम अनु करोशन्ति कषितयो भरेषु |
नीचायमानं जसुरिं न शयेनं शरवश चाछा पशुमच च यूथम ||

उत समासु परथमः सरिष्यन नि वेवेति शरेणिभी रथानाम |
सरजं कर्ण्वानो जन्यो न शुभ्वा रेणुं रेरिहत किरणं ददश्वान ||

उत सय वाजी सहुरिर रतावा शुश्रूषमाणस तन्वा समर्ये |
तुरं यतीषु तुरयन्न रजिप्यो ऽधि भरुवोः किरते रेणुम रञ्जन ||

उत समास्य तन्यतोर इव दयोर रघायतो अभियुजो भयन्ते |
यदा सहस्रम अभि षीम अयोधीद दुर्वर्तुः समा भवति भीम रञ्जन ||

उत समास्य पनयन्ति जना जूतिं कर्ष्टिप्रो अभिभूतिम आशोः |
उतैनम आहुः समिथे वियन्तः परा दधिक्रा असरत सहस्रैः ||

आ दधिक्राः शवसा पञ्च कर्ष्टीः सूर्य इव जयोतिषापस ततान |
सहस्रसाः शतसा वाज्य अर्वा पर्णक्तु मध्वा सम इमा वचांसि ||

uto hi vāṃ dātrā santi pūrvā yā pūrubhyas trasadasyur nitośe |
kṣetrāsāṃ dadathur urvarāsāṃ ghanaṃ dasyubhyo abhibhūtim ughram ||

uta vājinam puruniṣṣidhvānaṃ dadhikrām u dadathur viśvakṛṣṭim |
ṛjipyaṃ śyenam pruṣitapsum āśuṃ carkṛtyam aryo nṛpatiṃ na śūram ||

yaṃ sīm anu pravateva dravantaṃ viśvaḥ pūrur madati harṣamāṇaḥ |
paḍbhir ghṛdhyantam medhayuṃ na śūraṃ rathaturaṃ vātam iva dhrajantam ||

yaḥ smārundhāno ghadhyā samatsu sanutaraś carati ghoṣu ghachan |
āvirṛjīko vidathā nicikyat tiro aratim pary āpa āyoḥ ||

uta smainaṃ vastramathiṃ na tāyum anu krośanti kṣitayo bhareṣu |
nīcāyamānaṃ jasuriṃ na śyenaṃ śravaś cāchā paśumac ca yūtham ||

uta smāsu prathamaḥ sariṣyan ni veveti śreṇibhī rathānām |
srajaṃ kṛṇvāno janyo na śubhvā reṇuṃ rerihat kiraṇaṃ dadaśvān ||

uta sya vājī sahurir ṛtāvā śuśrūṣamāṇas tanvā samarye |
turaṃ yatīṣu turayann ṛjipyo ‘dhi bhruvoḥ kirate reṇum ṛñjan ||

uta smāsya tanyator iva dyor ṛghāyato abhiyujo bhayante |
yadā sahasram abhi ṣīm ayodhīd durvartuḥ smā bhavati bhīma ṛñjan ||

uta smāsya panayanti janā jūtiṃ kṛṣṭipro abhibhūtim āśoḥ |
utainam āhuḥ samithe viyantaḥ parā dadhikrā asarat sahasraiḥ ||

ā dadhikrāḥ śavasā pañca kṛṣṭīḥ sūrya iva jyotiṣāpas tatāna |
sahasrasāḥ śatasā vājy arvā pṛṇaktu madhvā sam imā vacāṃsi ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. FROM you two came the gifts in days aforetime which Trasadasyu granted to the Pūrus.
Ye gave the winner of our fields and plough-lands, and the strong smiter who subdued the Dasyus.

2 And ye gave mighty Dadhikrās, the giver of many gifts, who visiteth all people,
Impetuous hawk, swift and of varied colour, like a brave King whom each true man must honour.

3 Whom, as ’twere down a precipice, swift rushing, each Pūru praises and his heart rejoices,—
Springing forth like a hero fain for battle, whirling the car and flying like the tempest.

4 Who gaineth precious booty in the combats and moveth, winning spoil, among the cattle;
Shown in bright colour, looking on the assemblies, beyond the churl, to worship of the living.

5 Loudly the folk cry after him in battles, as ’twere a thief who steals away a garment;
Speeding to glory, or a herd of cattle, even as a hungry falcon swooping downward.

6 And, fain to come forth first amid these armies, this way and that with rows of cars he rushes,
Gay like a bridesman, making him a garland, tossing the dust, champing the rein that holds him.

7 And that strong Steed, victorious and faithful, obedient with his body in the combat,
Speeding straight on amid the swiftly pressing, casts o’er his brows the dust he tosses upward.

8 And at his thunder, like the roar of heaven, those who attack tremble and are affrighted;
For when he fights against embattled thousands, dread is he in his striving; none may stay him.

9 The people praise the overpowering swiftness of this fleet Steed who giveth men abundance.
Of him they say when drawing back from battle. Dadhikrās hath sped forward with his thousands.

10 Dadhikrās hath o’erspread the Fivefold People with vigour, as the Sun lightens the waters.
May the strong Steed who winneth hundreds, thousands, requite with sweetness these my words and praises.