Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.464

c7.464

29. Immortal sacrificer, god with wondrous power (Agni), he leads the way—urging the great *vidathas* on.¹
30. We have beheld the brightness of her (Dawn's) shining; it spreads and drives away the darksome monster.
Like tints that deck the post at the *vidathas*, heaven's daughter has attained her wondrous splendour.²
31. Bring ye (Viśvedevas) the great Aramati (? personification of religious worship) before you, and Pūṣan as the hero of the *vidatha*.
Bhaga who looks upon this hymn with favour, and, as our strength, the bountiful Purandhi.³
32. In every age bestow upon the singers wealth, worthy of the *vidatha*, glorious, ever new.
King (Agni) undecaying, as it were with sharpened bolt, smite down the sinner like a tree with lightning-flash.⁴
33. Like babes in arms reposing on their mothers, let the gods (Viśvedevas) sit upon the grass's summit.
Let general fire make bright the flame of worship: scorn us not Agni, in the gods' *vidatha*.⁵
34. Thou (Lightning) whom all the gods created, the bold one (the gods) making all anew for hurling—do thou be sung in the *vidatha*, be merciful to us;
To thee as such be homage, O Goddess.⁶
35. What of you is joyous, O Fathers, and delectable (*somya*), there will be at hand, for you are of (your) own splendour,
Do you, rapid poets, listen, invoked at the *vidatha*.⁷
36. Come you (Agni) obstructing the track of death, assuming furthermore a longer lifetime;
Sitting in your station (*sadhasthe*), thrust away death;
Then may we, living, speak to the *vidatha*.⁸
37. Thou (sun) goest about Tṛta (?), thou goest about the fountain of a thousand streams, the heaven-gaining *vidatha*.
Thine O Indra, are heroisms manifold; do thou fill us with cattle of all forms, set me in comfort in the highest firmament.⁹
38. The offered *ghee*, the milk, which is in the ruddy (kine), that is your portion here, ye Aśvins; come,