Page:The Hymns of the Rigveda Vol 1.djvu/299

5 The vessel of the strong flows forth, the flood of meath, unto the Strong who feeds upon the strong, for drink. Strong are the two Adhvaryus, strong are both the stones. They press the Soma that is strong for him the Strong. 6 Strong is thy thunderbolt, yea, and thy car is strong; strong are thy Bay Steeds and thy weapons powerful. Thou, Indra, Bull, art Lord of the strong gladdening drink : with the strong Soma, Indra, satisfy thyself. 7 I, bold by prayer, come near thee in thy sacred rites, thee like a saving ship, thee shouting in the war. Verily he will hear and mark this word of ours: we will pour Indra forth as 'twere a spring of wealth. 8 Turn thee unto us ere calamity come nigh, as a cow full of pasture turns her to her calf. Lord of a Hundred Powers, may we once firmly cling to thy fair favours even as husbands to their wives. 9 Now let that wealthy Cow of thine, O Indra, yield in return a boon to him who lauds thee. Give to thy praisers: let not fortune fail us. speak, with heroes, in assembly. HYMN XVII. Loud may we Indra. LIKE the Angirases, sing this new song forth to him, for, as in ancient days, his mighty powers are shown, When in the rapture of the Soma he unclosed with strength the solid firm-shut stables of the kine. 2 Let him be even that God who, for the earliest draught mea- suring out his power, increased his majesty ; Hero who fortified his body in the wars, and through his great- ness set the heaven upon his head. 3 Thou didst perform thy first great deed of hero might what time thou showedst power, through prayer, before this folk. Hurled down by thee the car-borne Lord of Tawny Steeds, the congregated swift ones fled in sundry ways. 5 The vessel of the strong: the reservoir containing the strong Soma. In reference to the repetition of the word 'strong' in this and the following stanza see I. 177. 2, 3. Both the stones: for pressing out the Soma juice. 1 Praise Indra after the manner of the ancient Angirases with a new song, because his ancient deeds are continually renewed for our advantage. 2 Fortified his body: protected it with a coat of mail. 3 The congregated swift ones: according to Sayana, the Asuras or enemies of the Gods. According to Roth the waters of the heaven.