________________
416
VEDIC HYMNS.
MANDALA X, HYMN 78. ASHTAKA VIII, ADHYAYA 3, VARGA 12-18.
TO THE MARUTS (THE STORM-GODS).
1. Full of devotion like priests with their prayers, wealthy like pious men, who please the gods with their offerings, beautiful to behold like brilliant kings, without a blemish like the youths of our hamlets
2. They who are gold-breasted like Agni with his splendour, quick to help like self-harnessed winds, good leaders like the oldest experts, they are to the righteous man like Somas, that yield the best protection.
3. They who are roaring and hasting like winds, brilliant like the tongues of fires, powerful like mailed soldiers, full of blessings like the prayers of our fathers,
4. Who hold together like the spokes of chariotwheels, who glance forward like victorious heroes, who scatter ghrita1 like wooing youths, who chant beautifully like singers, intoning a hymn of praise,
5. Who are swift like the best of horses, who are bounteous like lords of chariots on a suit, who are hastening on like water with downward floods, who are like the manifold1 Angiras with their (numerous) songs.
6. These noble sons of Sindhu1 are like grindingstones, they are always like Soma-stones 2, tearing everything to pieces; these sons of a good mother are like playful children, they are by their glare like a great troop on its march.
Digitized by Google
