HYMN XL. Brahmanaspati

1 O BRAMANASPATI, stand up: God-serving men we pray to thee.

May they who give good gifts, the Maruts, come to us. Indra, most swift, be thou with them.

2 O Son of Strength, each mortal calls to thee for aid when spoil of battle waits for him.

O Maruts, may this man who loves you well obtain wealth of good steeds and hero might.

3 May Brahmanaspati draw nigh, may Sunrta the Goddess come,

And Gods bring to this rite which gives the five-fold gift the Hero, lover of mankind.

4 He who bestows a noble guerdon on the priest wins fame that never shall decay.

For him we offer sacred hero-giving food, peerless and conquering easily.

5 Now Brahmanaspati speaks forth aloud the solemn hymn of praise,

Wherein Indra and Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, the Gods, have made their dwelling place.

6 May we in holy synods, Gods! recite that hymn, peerless, that brings felicity.

If you, O Heroes, graciously accept this word, may it obtain all bliss from you.

7 Who shall approach the pious? who the man whose sacred grass is trimmed?

The offerer with his folk advances more and more: he fills his house with precious things.

8 He amplifies his lordly might, with kings he slays: e'en mid alarms he dwells secure

In great or lesser fight none checks him, none subdues,-the wielder of the thunderbolt.