2With Bow let us win kine, with Bow the battle, with Bow be victors in our hot encounters. The Bow brings grief and sorrow to the foeman: armed with the Bow may we subdue all regions.

3Close to his car, as fain to speak, She presses, holding her well−loved Friend in her embraces. Strained on the Bow, She whispers like a woman−this Bowstring that preserves us in the combat.

4These, meeting like a woman and her lover, bear, mother−like, their child upon their bosom. May the two Bow−ends, starting swift asunder, scatter, in unison, the foes who hate us.

5With many a son, father of many daughters, He clangs and clashes as he goes to battle. Slung on the back, pouring his brood, the Quiver vanquishes all opposing bands and armies.

6Upstanding in the Car the skilful Charioteer guides his strong Horses on whithersoe'er he will. See and admire the strength of those controlling Reins which from behind declare the will of him who dri ves.

7Horses whose hoofs rain dust are neighing loudly, yoked to the Chariots, showing forth their vigour, With their forefeet descending on the foemen, they, never flinching, trample and destroy them.

8Car−bearer is the name of his oblation, whercon are laid his Weapons and his Armour. So let us here, each day that passes, honour the helpful Car with hearts exceeding joyful.

9In sweet association lived the fathers who gave us life, profound and strong in trouble, Unwearied, armed with shafts and wondrous weapons, free, real heroes, conquerors of armies.

10The Brahmans, and the Fathers meet for Soma−draughts, and, graciously inclined, unequalled Heaven and Earth. Guard us trom evil, Pusan, guard us strengtheners of Law: let not the evil−wisher master us.

11Her tooth a deer, dressed in an eagle's feathers, bound with cow−hide, launched forth, She flieth onwar d. There where the heroes speed hither and thither, there may the Arrows shelter and protect us.

12Avoid us thou whose flight is straight, and let our bodies be as stone. May Soma kindly speak to us, and Aditi protect us well.

13He lays his blows upon their backs, he deals his blows upon their thighs. Thou, Whip, who urgest horses, drive sagacious horses in the fray.

14It compasses the arm with serpent windings, fending away the friction of the bowstring: So may the Brace, well−skilled in all its duties, guard manfully the man from every quarter.

15Now to the Shaft with venom smeared, tipped with deer−horn, with iron mouth, Celestial, of Parjanya's seed, be this great adoration paid.

16Loosed from the Bowstring fly away, thou Arrow, sharpened by our prayer. Go to the foemen, strike them home, and let not one be left alive.

17There where the flights of Arrows fall like boys whose locks are yet unshorn. Even there may Brahmanaspati, and Aditi protect us well, protect us well through all our days.

18Thy vital parts I cover with thine Armour: with immortality King Soma clothe thee. Varuna give tliee what is more than ample, and in thy triumph may the Gods be joyful.

19Whoso would kill us, whether he be a strange foe or one of us, May all the Gods discomfit him. My nearest, closest Mail is prayer.