259 - The application of the mantras of the Rugveda

 Agni said: 

1.     Ishall (now) describe to you the application (of the mantras) of the Rug (veda), Yajur (veda), Sama (veda) and Atharva (veda) that yield enjoyment and emancipation when repeated and (are used for making) oblations (as) described by Pushkara to Rama.

2.    Pushkara said: 

2. Ishall (now) describe the (religious) rites (relating) to each one of the Vedas. You listen first to the application of the Rug (veda) that would yield enjoyment and emancipation. 

3. The repetition of the Gāyatri (mantra)¹ especially with (the practice) of prānāyāma (regulated breathing), (while remaining) in the water as well as at (the time of making) oblations confers the fulfilment of heart's desires. 

1. RV. 3. 62.10.

4. O Brahmin! The repetition of the Gayatri ten thousand times by a man eating only in the night and bathing many times (during the day), destroys all the sins then and there. 

5. One who repeats (the mantra) a lakh times while eating the oblations, becomes fit for emancipation. The praṇava (the syllable Om) is identical with the Supremc Braman and its repetition destroys all the sins. 

6. One who repeats the syllable Om while remaining in waist-deep water and drinks the water becomes free from all sins. 

7. (The pranava consists of) three mätras (syllabic instants), three Vedas, three gods (Brahma, Vishņu andshiva) and three fires^2. The mahävyährutis³ are the seven worlds⁴. An oblation made with these destroys all the sins. 

2. The three sacrificial fires-garhapatya, ahavaniya and daksina.

3. The syllables bh üh, bhuah, svah, mahah, janah tapaḥ and satyam.

         4. The same as in footnote 2 above.

8. Gayatri is the most excellent (among the mantras fit) for repetition. The mahävyährutis are also of similar nature. O Ráma! The aghamarshana (sükta)⁵ (destroyer of sins)should be repeated (while remaining) in the water. 

5. RV. 10.190.

9.11a. The hymn agnimile purohitam⁶ (is sacred) for the Agni. Oneshould repeat (this hymn) over a year holding the fire on the head, (performing) oblation three times (a day) with soma (juice), living on alms and without lighting the fire (for cooking). Then the seven ruks (hymns) known as Väyu etc.should be daily repeated devoutly. Thus one will realise all his desires. 

6. RV. 1.1.1. 

11b. One who desires to improve his memoryshould repeat the hymn known as sadasaspatim¹. 

1. RV. 1.18.6.

12-13a. These nine hymns (beginning with) anvayo yan² are said to be destroyers of death. One who is a captive or being obstructedshould repeat (the hymn) Sunaḥsepam rushim³. One becomes free from all sins (by this). One who is sick becomes free from sickness. 

2. Not tracablc.

3. Not traccable.

136-14. One who is desirous of (gaining) permanent pleasures and the friendship of the wise Purandara (Indra)should repeat daily the sixteen hymns (beginning with) indrasya.⁴ One who repeats (the hymn) hiranyastupam⁵ will cause affliction to the enemics. 

4. RV. 1.32.1.

5. Probably RV. 10.149. 5a.

15-16a. One who repeats (the hymn) ye te panthaḥ⁶ will be safe on his journey. One who praises lord Ishäna with six Rudra hymns everyday or one who offers oblation to Rudra will have greatest peace. 

6. RV. 1.35.11a.

16b-17a. One who extolls the rising Sun with (the hymn) 'ud’⁷ and offers water with folded palms seven times will be able to dispel his mental grief. 

7. See Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance p. 261.

17b-18. One who repeats the half hymn dvishantam⁸ ending with yadvipra will get his sin destroyed within seven nights. One who desires health or one who is sickshould repeat (the hymn) praskannasyottamam.⁹ 

         8. RV. 1.50.13.

9. Not traceable. 

19-20. One who repeats the half hymn uttamastasya¹ in various postures will get long life; if it is repeated at midday one will get radiance; if (repeated) at sunset one will afflict his enemies. One who repeats the hymns na vadhaḥa² will destroy his enemies. 

1. Not traceable.

         2. Not traceable.

21. One who repeats the eleven suparna³ hymns will accomplish all the wishes. One who repeats (the hymn) adhyat mikih ka⁴ will get emancipation. 

3. CF. RV. 105. la.

 4. Not traceable.

22-23. (One who repeats the hymn) a no bhadra⁵ will get long life. Oneshould look at the rising moon with (the repetition of) the hymn tvam soma and worship with the twig in the hand. He will certainly get garments. One who desires (long) lifeshould always repeat the hymn of Kautsa (beginning with) imam⁶. 

5. RV.1.89.la.

6. Not traceable.

24. By glorifying the Sun at midday with (the hymn) apanaḥ sosuchad⁷, one gets freed from sin like (a bow) when the arrow is discharged. 

7. RV. 1.97.la.

25-26. One's pathway becomes safe by the repetition of (the hymn) jätavedasa⁸. One gets free from all fears. That person enjoying auspicious things will get houses. This (hymn) destroys the bad dream of the previous night. Oneshould repeat (the hymn) pramandina⁹ and (a woman) who is delivering a child will do so with ease. 

8. RV. 1.99.la

9. RV.101.la.

27. A man will get free from all sins after bathing with (the repetition of the hymn) upannindram¹⁰ and offering clarified butter as oblation (while repeating) the seven Vaišhvadeva (hymns).

10. Could not be traced.

. 28-29. One who repeats (the hymn) imām¹¹ always will get all his desires fulfilled. One who fasts for three nights and offers the twigs of udumbara (tree) dipped in clarified butter with (the repetition of) the two (hymns) ma nastoka¹ etc. after becoming pure will cut all the fetters of death and live free from disease.

11. Cf. Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance p. 233.

1. RV, 1.114. 8a.

  30-31a. One who having glorified Lord Sambhu with (the repetition of) this hymn with arms raised, binds the tuft into a knot while repeating the hymn manastoka, no doubt, becomes invincible by all beings. 

31b-32a. Oneshould worship the Sun daily at the three twilights (with the repetition of the hymn) chitram² holding the twig. Thus he will get the desired wealth. 

2. Same as above.

32b-33. One will destroy the entire bad dream and get good food by the repetition of (the hymn) atha svapna³ in the morning and noon everyday. (The hymn) ubhe pumän is said to destroy the demons. 

3. RV. 1.115.1a. 

34. One who repeats the hymn ubhe vasa⁴ will get all the pleasures. A person repeating (the hymn) na sägan⁵ will escape from the murderer. 

4. Cf. RV. 1.33.1.

5. Could not be traced.

35. One who repeats (the hymn) kaya subha⁶ will attain caste-excellence, and (the hymn) imam nrusomam⁷ will give all the pleasures. 

6. RV. 1.165.1a. 

7. Could not be traced.

36. Conveying obeisance with (the hym) pitaḥ⁸ one will always acquire riches. Oblation made with ghee with (the repetition of the hymn) agne naya⁹ alsoshows the path. 

8. Could not be traced.

9. RV. 1.189.1a.

37. One who repeats sushloka¹⁰ will always get a progeny of heroes. One is able to destroy all poisons by (the repetition of) the hymn kankato na.¹¹ 

10. Cf. Tait. Sam. 1.8.16.2.

11. RV. 1.191.1a. 

38. One will get all the pleasures by (the repetition of) the hymn yo jäta¹. One will get an excellent friend by (the repetition of) the hymn ganānām². 

1. RV, 2.12.1a.

         2. RV. 2.23.1a.

39-41a. (Oneshould repeat) the hymn yo me råjan³ that destroys bad dream. One who commences a journey and faces an unpraiseworthy or praiseworthy enemyshould repeat the (hymn) kuvidanga⁴. One will enjoy all the desired pleasures by repeating the excellent hymn ådhyatmika⁵ consisting of twenty-two verses on the full and new moon days. 

3. RV. 2.28.10.a

 4. RV. 10.131.2a.

         5. Could not be traced.

41b-43. Oneshould offer an oblation of clarified butter with concentrated (mind) repeating the hymn krunusva⁶. One will take away the lives of enemies and destroy even the demons (by this). Oneshould worship daily the Fire (god) with the hymn pari⁷. The Fire (god) having a face on every side Himself protects that person on all sides. Oneshould look at the Sun, (remaining) pure and (repeating) the (hymn) hamsaḥ Suchishad⁸.

6. RV. 4.4.1a.

7. RV. 10.10.13d, 14b.

         8. RV. 4.40.5a.

44-47. A man about to cultivate a fieldshould offer oblations of pot-boiled porridge at the centre of the field as laid down with the five (hymns) svani svähà⁹. A farmershould derive his plough in the approriate manner (and offer oblations) to (the gods) Indra, Maruts, Parjanya and Bhaga. Oneshould then worship Indra and these deities with perfumes, garlands and; prostrations (after having worshipped) the ploughshare (saying) (the yoke) has been fastened for the sake of grains. Agriculture will thus always thrive and the work relating to sowing (the seeds), cutting, threshing and ploughing will yield profuse results. 

9. Could not be traced. 

48-49. One will get the desired things from the Fire (god) by (the recitation of) the hymn samudrät¹. One who worships the Fire (god) with the two hymns (called) vishvanara², surmounts all difficulties, gets undiminishing fame, abundant wealth and unsurpassed victory.

1. RV. 4.58.1a.

2. Cf. RV. 186.1b and 7.76, 1b.

50. One gets the desired riches by propitiating (the Fire god) with (the hymn) agne tvam³. A person desirous of having progenyshould repeat the three hymns of Varuņa daily. 

3. RV. 5.24.1a.

 51-52. (Each) morning, oneshould recite the three svasti⁴ hymns, whereby one (will) always secure great prosperity. By the recitation of (the hymn) svasti pantham⁵ one will have safe journey. One who desires to conquer (should repeat the hymn) vanaspate⁶, (by which) enemies will be laid down with disease. (By the recitation of the same hymn) a woman having a dead foetus will have a good delivery. 

         4. Cf. Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance pp.1053.4.

5. RV, 5.51.15a.

6. Rv. 6.47.26a.

53. One who is desirous to get rainshould employ the hymn acchävada⁷ after fasting and wearing wet clothes. It will rain in no time. 

         7. RV. 5.83.1a.

54. A person who desires to have a cowshould repeat (the hymn) manasaḥ kama⁸. One who desires to have progenyshould bathe (reciting the hymn) kardamena⁹, after becoming pure and practising vow. 

8. RV. khila 5.87.10a.

9. RV. khila 5.87.11a.

55-56. A man who wants to acquire kingdomshould bathe with (the repetition of the hymn) asvapürvam¹⁰. A brahminshould bathe (standing) on a deer-skin as laid down. A king (should bathe standing) on a tiger-skin and a man of the merchant class on a goat (skin) in the same way. It has been declared that ten thousand oblations (should be done) in cach case. 

         10. RV. khila 5.87.3a. 

57. If a person desires to have (the herds of cattle) always undiminshing (in his cowpen), heshould worship the cow, the mother of the worlds, in the cowpen with (the recitation of) the hymn ågåvo¹. 

1. RV. 6.28.1a.

58. A kingshould consecrate the (royal) drum with the three (hymns beginning with) upa². (By this) he will get radiance and strength and rout the enemy. 

2. Cf. Bloomfied, Vedic Concordance pp. 2 64-68. 

59. One who is surrounded by the demonsshould repeat the hymn rakṣoghnam³ holding grass in the hand. By repeating the hymn ye ke cha jama⁴ one will gain long life. 

3. RV. 10.82.1.a 

4. Could not be traced.

60. Oneshould consecrate the constituents of his army by the hymn jimūta⁵ first like a linga. Then the king will destroy the enemies in the battle. 

5. RV, 6.75.1a.

61-62. One will gain undiminishing wealth by (the recitation of the three hymns (beginning with)āgneya⁶. One may fix goblins by (the repetition of) the hymn amivaha⁷ in the night. Oneshould repeat this hymn in danger, difficulty, when caught in a fort, taken as a prisoner, while setting out some time, while running away, or when held as a captive. 

6. Cf, Vedic Concordance p. 155.

7. RV, 7.55.1a.

63-64a Oneshould fast for three nights with self-control, boil sweat gruel and cast one hundred oblations with that with (the repetition of) the hymn tryambaka⁸ in honour of (Lord)shiva. One will thus live happily for hunderd years. 

8. RV. 7.59.12a

64b-65. Oneshould worship the rising Sun and the Sun at the middle (of the day) after bathing and with the hymn tacchakshu⁹ if one desires to have long life. The hymn (called) indrå soma^1o, (when repeated), is said to destroy the enemy. 

9. RV. 7.66.16a, 

10. Cf. Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance p. 225. 

66. A person who has lost his vow by mistake or on account of association with the vrátyas¹,should fast and offer oblation with clarified butter with (the recitation of the hymn) ivamagno vratapaa². 

1. A man of the first three classes who has lost caste owing to the non-performance of the principal purificatory rites enjoined. 

2. RV. 8.11.1a.

67. A person who repeats the hymn aditya³ and samraja⁴ will get victory in debate. One will become free from great fear by (the repetition of) the four (hymns beginning with) mahi⁵. 

3. Cf. Bloomfield, op. cit. pp. 162-68.

         4. Cf. RV Khila 10.128.5a.

5. RV, 1.22.13a.

68. One will get all the pleasures by the repetition of the hymn yadi hyetat⁶. One will destroy his enemies by the repetition of the fortytwo aindra⁷ hymns. 

6. Could not be traced.

         7. Could not be traced.

69-70. One gets good health by repeating (the hymn) vāchāmahi⁸. A person who eats food repeating the two (hymns)shanno bhava⁹ after becoming clean and controlling the senses and touches the heart with the hand will not be attacked by diseases. One will destroy the enemy by offering oblations with (the hymns) uttamedam¹⁰ after bathing. 

8. RV Khila 5.6.7.

9. RV Khila 10.37. 10.

10. Could not be traced.

71. One will get food by making oblation with the hymn Sanno' gnir¹¹. One will get free from the defects of the quarters (on journey) by (repeating) the hymn kanyavärarshi¹². 

11. Cf. RV. 7.35.4.

         12. RV, 8.91.1.

72. One is able to subjugate the whole universe by the repetition (of the hymn) yadetya kavya¹³ at (sun) rise. One's speech gets refined by the repetition of (the hymn) yadväk¹⁴. 

13. Could not be traced.

14. RV 8.100.10

73. One gill get good speech by repeating (the hymn) vācho vidam¹⁵. The pavamänya¹⁶ hymns are considered to be most sacred. 

15. Could not be traced.

16. CF. MS. 3.11.10a. 

74. The thirty vaikhānasa¹ hymns are considered to be extremely sacred. O Foremost among the sages! the parasva² hymns are said to be sixtytwo.

1. Could not be traced.

2. Cf. parasya RV. 8.75.15.

 75. The sixty-seven hymns-svādistaya³ - are declared as destroyers of all sins, purifiers and conferrers of welfare. 

3. RV. 9.1.1a.

76. The six hundred and ten hymns of pāvamänya⁴ when repeated and used for making oblations will enable one to conquer the dread of death. 

4. See 73.2.

77. Oneshould repeat (the hymns) apo histha while standing in the water to destroy the fear of sin. A man passing through a desertshould repeat (the hymn) pradevanna⁵ after the control (of senses). 

5. RV. 10.9.10a.

78. When one is haunted by the fear of death, one will get (the end of) his life quickly. Oneshould repeat the single hymn präveyābhi⁶ mentally in the night. 

6. Could not be traced.

79. (If it is repeated) at dawn or at sunrise one will get victory in gambling. One who has lost his way will find his way by (repeating the hymn) må pragama⁷. 

7. Could not be traced.

80-81a. If one thinks that the life of a friend of himself is running out, heshould bathe and touch the head of the friend (reciting the hymn) yatteyam⁸ thousand times for five days. He will thus find him long-lived. 

8. RV. 10. 75.1.

81b-82. A wise manshould offer a thousand oblations with ghee with (the repetition of the hymn) idam medhya⁹. One who desires to have cattle (should do it) at the cowpen and one who desires riches, at the crossroads. One who repeats (the hymn) vayaḥ suparņa¹⁰ will acquire wealth. 

9. RV. 4.5.6.

10. Katha Sam. 9. 19a; TB, 2.5.8.3a. 

83. One will become free from all sins by the repetition of (the hymn) havisyantiyam¹. His diseases will get cured and the digestive power increased. 

1. Cf. havismatir ima apaḥ Taitt. Sam. 1.3.12.1a.

84. (The hymn) yä osadhayaḥ² (when repeated) is a means of securing prosperity and curing all the diseases. One who wishes to have rainshould employ (the hymn) bruhaspate ati³. 

2. MS. 2.7.13a; 93.1.

3. Taitta. Sam. 1.8.22.2a.

85. (The hymns) sarvatra⁴ and pratiratha⁵ are known (to confer) supreme peace. (The recitation of the hymn) sūta sankāshyapam⁶ daily is commended for a person desirous to have progeny. 

4. Could not be traced.

5. Could not be traced.

6. Could not be traced.

86. A person who (recites the hymn) aham rudra⁷ becomes an eloquent speaker. The learned person who recites (the hymn) räti⁸ in the nights is not born again. 

7. Cf. aham rudrebhir RV. 10.125.1a.

8. Cf. ratrih ketuna Vaj. Sam. 37.21: 38.16; MS. 4.9. 8: 128.14.

87. The person who recites the ratrisükta⁹ in the night spends the night safely. By doing the recitation of (the hymn) kalpayanti¹⁰ daily (one will be able to) destroy the enemies. 

9. Could not be traced.

10. Could not be traced.

88. (The recitation of) the great Dakṣhāyaṇa¹¹ hymn confers longevity and radiance. A person who has undertaken a vowshould recite (the hymn) uta deva¹², that will destroy the diseases. 

11. Could not be traced.

12. MS. 4.14,2a: 217.16.

89. When there is fear from fire, oneshould recite the hymn ayamagne jani¹³. Oneshould repeat (the hymn) aranyani¹⁴ in the forests to destroy the fear therein. 

13. Cf. ayam agno jarita. RV. 10.142.1a.

14. Cf. RV. 10.146.1a; TB. 2.5.6a.

90. (One who recites the two hymns) ¹⁵ with devotion to (goddess) Bråhmi (the goddess of speech) (and makes use of) brahmi andshatavari (the two herbs) together with water or ghee separately will gain intelligence and wealth. 

15. Could not be traced. 

91. One who desires to conquer his enemy in the battle (should recite the hymn) masa¹. (The repetition of the hymn) brahmano'gnih samvidanam² prevents the death of the child in the womb. 

1. Could not be traced.

2. Could not be traced. 

92. After getting pure oneshould recite the hymn apaihi³, that destroys (the effects of) bad dreams. One gains supreme concentration by the repetition of (the hymn) yenedam⁴. 

3. Cf. RV.10.164.1a.

4. Cf. Vedic Concordance p. 802.

93. (The recitation of the hymn) mayo bhūrvato⁵ is an excellent means of securing the welfare of the cattle. One will ward off sorcery or jugglery by (the repetition of) this (hymn). 

5. Taitt. Sam. 7.4.17.1a.

94. Oneshould repeat (the hymn) mahi trinamavaro'stu⁶ for securing one's welfare on his journey. Oneshould repeat (the hymn) agnaye vidvishan⁷, which will destroy the enemies. 

6. Ms. 1.5.4a; 70.7; 1.5.11: 79.9.

7. Could not be traced.

95-96. The presiding deities of the housesshould be worshipped with the hymn vastospate⁸. The procedure relating to the repetition has been told. That relating to the oblation has to be known as different. The (prescribed) fee has to be paid at the end of the oblation. (There will be) expiation of the sin by (offering) an oblation. The oblation done with food appeases by the offer of food and gold as gift. 

8. Taitt. Sam. 3.4.10.1a.

97-99. The blessings of brahmins will be unfailing. Oneshould bathe outside in every case. Oblations made with the white mustard, barley, grains, milk, curd, ghec and the twigs of the kshiravruksha-s⁹, yield all the pleasures. The twigs of thorny (trees), black mustard, blood, poison and stone (are used as oblation) in incantation. Saktu¹⁰, milk, curd, food collected as alms, fruits and roots are the food while offering an oblation. Thus the use of the hymns of Rugveda has been explained. 

9. The four trees--nyagrodha, udumbara, aivattha and madhuka

10. The flour of barley first fried and then ground.