Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.444

c7.444

Here magnify his (Indra's) great heroic exploits, most glorious one, enriching men with bounties;
Whose will is like a sovereign (*samrāṭ*) in the *vidatha*, invocation to the triumphant, all surpassing.¹
13. Agni, the Hotar-priest, the accomplisher of the *vidatha*, waker of knowledge, chief controller of thought—
Him, yea, none other than thyself, does man elect at sacrificial offerings, great and small alike.²
Here Agni, the arrangers, those attached to thee, elect thee as their priest in the *vidatha*.
When men with strewn clipped grass and sacrificial gifts offer thee entertainment, piously inclined.³
14. The glorious Agni, have I praised with the sacred food. May Agni deck the gods for us.
Between both *vidathas* he goes on his embassy, the wise; May all the others die away.⁴
15. The Maruts watch the man who sings their praises, promoters of the thought of him who worships.
Sit down on sacred grass in our *vidathas*, this day, with friendly minds, to share the bouquet.⁵
16. This Soma here, the wise, the all-obtainer, flows on his way as king of all existence.
Driving the drops at our *vidathas*, Indu completely traverses the fleecy filter.⁶
17. How shall I serve thee, Maghavan, though knowing fully well what heroic deeds thou hast accomplished?
And the fresh deeds which thou wilt do, most mighty! these too, will we declare in the *vidathas*.⁷
18. As it were some goodly treasure Mātariśvan brought, as a gift the glorious priest to Bhṛgu;
Banner of the *vidatha*, the good protector, child of two births, the swiftly moving envoy (Agni).⁸
19. Slight us not Varuṇa, Aryaman, or Mitra, Ṛbhukṣan, Indra, Āyu or the Maruts,
When we declare amid the *vidatha* the virtues of the strong-steed, god-descended.⁹
20. I, in remembrance of thine ancient favour, have sung my hymns in this our third *vidatha* (of the day).