For Health and Longlife

I set these free for life by this oblation from the unknown yakshma and from consumption. Or, if the grasping demon hath seized him, from it, O Indra and Agni, do ye release him.

Even if his days are ended, or he has passed away, if he has been brought already very near to death, him I take from the lap of Death. I have freed him for life to last a hundred autumns. With an oblation having a thousand eyes, hundred fold strength, a hundred life times have I restored him so that Indra may lead him unto autumns safe to the further shore of all misfortunes.

Live thou waxing in thy strength, a hundred autumns, live through a hundred winters and a hundred springs. May Indra, Agni, Savitar, Brihaspati grant you a hundred years. I have saved him from Death with an oblation of a hundred lifetimes.

Enter in, O ye in-breathing and out-breathing, as do the bulls a stable. May the other deaths go away which they say are a hundred more.

Prayer at the Construction of a House

Here do I fix my dwelling, may it stand firm, dripping with melted butter. May we inhabit thee, O house, with all our heroes, sound in heart and strong in limbs. Just here do thou stand firm, O house, rich in horses, rich in cattle and in pleasantness. Stand erect thyself for great good fortune, full of abundant food, ghee and milk.

A refuge art thou, O house with broad roof and stores full of good clean grain. May at evening the calf and the young son enter your gates with a stream of cattle when they return home.

May Savitar, Vayu, Indra and Brihaspati protect this house, the Maruts, besprinkle it with moisture and with ghee. May king Bhaga enrich our cornfields.

O mistress of dwelling, created by the gods in the beginning, be thou our shelter and joy, O goddess. Thou robed in grass, be kindly disposed, giving us heroic sons and wealth.

Stay firm on your post, O pillar. May your righteousness shining far, hold off the enemies! Let your inmates never suffer any injury, may we with all our heroes live a hundred autumns! To this house, together with the calf and other domestic animals, has come the newborn baby; hither a jug full of liquor, together with bowls of curds has come.

Carry forward, O women, this full jar, a stream of ghee mixed with ambrosia. Anoint those who drink with immortality. May our sacrifice and the gifts to the Brahmins ever protect this house.

These waters, free from impurity, destroyer of disease, do I bring forth. With immortal Agni I sat my foot within this house and take possession of it.

To the Waters

Since of yore when going forth together, ye resounded, when the serpent was slain by Indra, thenceforth you are streams (nadyah:rivers)by name. That is your designation, O streams.

When sent forth by Varuna, ye then quickly skipped about together, then Indra met you as be went; therefore, are ye waters (apah : waters).

As ye flowed reluctantly, Indra verily chose you as his own with his might. Therefore, ye divine ones are called water.

The waters are excellent, the waters in truth were ghee. These waters verily do support Agni and Soma. May the strong and satisfying sap of the honey-mixed waters come to me along with life's breath and with splendour.

Then do I see and also hear them, their noise, their voice, come unto me. When I have refreshed myself with ye, O gold-coloured waters, then I think I have partaken of ambrosia.

This, O Waters, is your heart, this is your young one, ye righteous ones. Come ye hither by this way, ye mighty ones by which I am making you enter.

Charm for Cattle

With a comfortable stable, with wealth, with well-being, with that which is born on a lucky day, do we unite you, O cattle!

May Aryaman unite you, may Pushan, May Brihaspati, may Indra, the conqueror of wealth, unite you! Do ye possess what is good being in my possession.

Flocking together unaffrighted, rich in manure in this stable, bearing honey fit for Soma, come ye hither, free from disease.

Come ye just here, ye kine, and prosper here like the saka-bird. May ye multiply here, may ye be in accord with me!

May your stall be auspicious to you, may ye prosper like the sari-birds and parrots, and multiply here, with us do we unite you.

Attach yourselves, O kine to me as your master; may this your stall here flourish you. May you grow numerous with abundance of wealth, and may we be living and increasing in wealth to attend you.

A Prayer for Success in Trade

I call upon the lord Indra, as merchant upon merchant. May he come to us and be our forerunner. May he drive away the niggard, the robber and the wild beast. May he, the all-powerful, be giver of riches to me.

Many are the paths, the roads of gods going heaven-ward, may they gladden me with favours bringing milk and ghee, so that I may succeed in my business and accumulate wealth.

O Agni, I offer this oblation of ghee and this wood in your honour, desiring strength and success. These prayers do I now chant with my full devotion, that I may gain hundredfold.

Kindly pardon, O Agni, thin sin of ours, our long journey for gain. May we buy and sell with profit. May that I get in barter render me rich. May ye both, Indra and Agni take delight in our offering and grant success to our journeys!

The wealth with which I trade, desiring wealth through wealth, may that ever increase and never dwindle. O Agni, in return of this oblation, check and defeat those who desire to spoil our gains.

We rever ye, O hotar-priest Agni, beloved of all men, we bring our praise with devotion. Please do keep a watch over our children and ourselves, protect our lives and our cattle!

Thus, O Jatavedas, regularly shall we bring our offerings, never failing, as does on bring fodder for a horse in the stable. May we, O Agni, thy devotees, in abundant food and wealth never suffer a loss!