VARUNA, hear this call of mine: be gracious unto us this day.

Longing for help I yearn for thee.

2I ask this of thee with my prayer, etc. as in XVIII. 49.

3Do thou who knowest Varuna, O Agni, put far away from us the God’s displeasure. Best Sacrificer, brightest One, refulgent, remove thou far from us all those who hate us.

4Be thou the nearest unto us, O Agni, our closest Friend while now this Morn is breaking. Reconcile Varuna to us, be bounteous: show thy compassion and be swift to hear us.

5We call to succour us the mighty Mother of those whose sway is just, the Queen of Order, Strong-ruler, far-expanding, ne’er decaying, Aditi gracious guide and good protectress.

6Sinless may we ascend, for weal, this vessel rowed with good oars, divine, that never leaketh, Earth our strong guard, incomparable Heaven. Aditi gracious guide and good protectress.

7May I ascend the goodly ship, free from defect, that leaketh not, Moved by a hundred oars, for weal.

8O Mitra-Varuna, gracious Pair, with fatness dew our pasturage, With mead the regions of the air.

9Stretch forth your arms and let our lives be lengthened: with fatness dew the pastures of our cattle. Ye Youthful, make us famed among the people: hear, Mitra-Varuna, these mine invocations.

10Bless us the Coursers when we call, etc. as in IX. 16.

11Deep-skilled in Law, etc. as in IX. 18.

12Kindled is Agni with the brand, yea, kindled well, the excellent. The metre Gâyatrî, the steer of eighteen months, give power and life!

13Tanûnapât whose acts are pure, our bodies’ guard Sarasvatî, Ushnihâ metre and the steer of two years’ age give power and life!

14Agni with offerings, meet for praise, and Soma the immortal God, Anushtup metre and the steer of thirty months give power and life!

15Agni with goodly grass spread out, deathless with Pûshan at his side, Brihatî metre and a steer of three years’ age give power and life!

16The Doors divine, the mighty Regions, Brahma, God Brihaspati, The metre Pankti, here a bull in his fourth year, give power and life

17The two young Darns of lovely form, the deathless Universal Gods, The Trishtup metre, here, a bull in his sixth year, give power and life!

18The two celestial Hotars, both Physicians, Indra’s close-knit friends, The metre Jagatî, an ox who draws the wain, give power and life!

19The Three, Ida, Sarasvatî, and Bhâratî, the Marut folk, Virâj the metre, here, a cow in milk, a bull, give power and life!

20Tvashtar the wondrous, full of seed, Indrâgnî furtherers of weal, Dvipadâ metre, and a cow and vigorous bull give power and life!

21Our slaughterer, Vanaspatî, Savitar who promoteth wealth, The metre Kakup, here, a cow who casts her calf, give power and life!

22With Svâhâ mighty Varuna give healing power to Sacrifice! The Atichhandas, Brihat, and a