a Golden of colour, pure, purifying,
In which was born Kaçyapa, in which Indra,
They have conceived Agni as a germ, of varied forms;
May these waters be gentle and kindly to us.
b Those in whose midst Varuna doth go,
Gazing on the truth and falsehood of men,
Dripping honey, pure, purifying;
May these waters be gentle and kindly to us.
c Those of which in the sky the gods make their food,
Those that are in many places in the sky,
Those that inundate the earth with their sap [1], the pure ones
May these waters be gentle and kindly to us.
d With auspicious eye gaze on me, O waters;
With auspicious body, do ye touch my skin;
I invoke all you Agnis that sit in the waters;
Do ye confer upon me radiance and might and force.
e When as ye went below
Ye cried (ánadata) on the slaying of the serpent,
Therefore are yo criers (nadyáh) by name;
These are your names, O streams.
When instigated by Varuna
Ye wallowed speedily [2],
Then Indra obtained (apnot) you as ye went
Therefore ye are waters (ápah).
g As ye glided against his will,
He stayed (ávivarata) your courses,
Indra with his might, O goddesses;
Therefore your name is water (váh).
h One god stepped upon them,
As they glided, according to his will,
(Saying) 'The great ones have breathed forth (úd)
Therefore they are called water.
i The waters are kindly, the waters were ghee;
These waters bear Agni and Soma;
The bitter sap of those dispensing sweetness [3], the satisfying,
Hath come to me with breath, with radiance.
k I behold, or I hear;
The cry cometh to me, the voice of them to us;
I consider that I have enjoyed the ambrosia then,
When I delighted you, O ye of golden hue.
l Ye, waters, are healing;
Further us to strength,
To see great joy.
m The most auspicious flavour that is yours,
Accord to us here,
Like eager mothers.
n To him may we come with satisfaction,
To whose dwelling ye quicken us,
O waters, and propagate us.
O Arise to the sky, aim at the atmosphere, be united with the earth;
thou art splendour; for splendour thee!
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