To Rudra⁶

We offer these prayers to Rudra, the strong, whose hair is braided, who rules over heroes that he may be a blessing to man and beast, that everything in this our village may be prosperous and free from disease. Be gracious to us, O Rudra, and give us joy, and we shall honor thee, the ruler of heroes, with worship. What health and wealth father Manu acquired by his sacrifices, may we obtain the same, O Rudra, under thy guidance. O bounteous Rudra, may we by sacrifice obtain the good-will of thee, the ruler of heroes; come to our clans, well-disposed, and, with unarmed men, we shall offer our libation to thee. We call down for our help the fierce Rudra, who fulfils our sacrifice, the swift, the wise; may he drive far away from us the anger of the gods; we desire his good-will only. We call down with worship the red boar of the sky, the god with braided hair, the blazing form; may he who carries in his hand the best medicines grant us protection, shield, and shelter! This speech is spoken for the father of the Maruts, sweeter than sweet, a joy to Rudra; grant to us also, O immortal, the food of mortals, be gracious to us and to our kith and kin! Do not slay our great or our small ones, our growing or our grown ones, our father or our mother, and do not hurt our own bodies, O Rudra! O Rudra, hurt us not in our kith and kin, nor in our own life, not in our cows, nor in our horses! Do not slay our men in thy wrath: carrying libations, we call on thee always. Like a shepherd, I have driven these praises near to thee; O father of the Maruts, grant us thy favor! For thy good-will is auspicious, and most gracious, hence we desire thy protection alone. Let thy cow-slaying and thy man-slaying be far away, and let thy favor be with us, O ruler of heroes! Be gracious to us, and bless us, O god, and then give us twofold protection. We have uttered our supplication to him, desiring his help; may Rudra with the Maruts hear our call. May Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the River, Earth, and the Sky, grant us this!

We offer these prayers to Rudra, the strong god with braided hair who rules over heroes. May he bless people and animals, so that everything in our village may prosper and be free from disease. Be gracious to us, O Rudra, and give us joy. We will honor you, the ruler of heroes, with worship. May we gain under your guidance, O Rudra, the health and wealth father Manu gained through his sacrifices. O generous Rudra, ruler of heroes, may we gain your goodwill through sacrifice. Come to our clans with kindness, and we, unarmed, will offer you our libation. We call on the fierce Rudra to help us. He brings our sacrifice to fulfillment and is swift and wise. May he drive the gods’ anger far from us. We desire only his goodwill. With worship, we call on the red boar of the sky, the god with braided hair and a blazing form. He holds the best medicines in his hand. May he protect us, shield us, and shelter us! These words, sweeter than sweet, are spoken for the father of the Maruts, bringing joy to Rudra. O immortal, grant us also the food of mortals. Be gracious to us and to our family and kin! Do not kill the great or the small among us, those still growing or those fully grown. Do not kill our father or our mother, and do not hurt our own bodies, O Rudra! O Rudra, do not harm our family and kin, our own lives, our cows, or our horses! Do not kill our men in your anger. We always call on you, bringing libations. Like a shepherd, I have led these praises close to you. O father of the Maruts, grant us your favor! For your goodwill brings blessings and great kindness, so we desire your protection alone. Let your killing of cows and people be far from us. Let your favor be with us, O ruler of heroes! Be gracious to us and bless us, O god, and then give us twofold protection. We have spoken our plea to him, seeking his help. May Rudra, together with the Maruts, hear our call. May Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the River, Earth, and the Sky grant us this!