Classic Poem

1

K SHETRA-PATI , Tiller's God,
Master of the grateful sod,
We will till the fruitful field,
With Him win its copious yield;
Strong our bullocks and our steeds,
He provides the tiller's needs!

2

Copious milk our cows supply,
Copious showers the helping sky,
Kshetra-pati sends his rain
To the toilers of the plain;
Lo! Our fields are broad and spacious,
Be the God of tillage gracious!

3

May our crops in sweetness grow,
And in sweetness waters flow,
Sweetly blow the perfumed air,
And the skies be bright and fair;
Thee we follow, Lord of might,
Be our harvest free from blight!

4

Gladly works the merry swain,
Glad the patient bullocks strain,
Merry o'er the yielding soil
Ploughshare marks the tiller's toil;
Fasten then the traces strong,
Ply the goad and move along!

5

Suna, Sira, — Plough and Share, —
Listen to the peasant's prayer;
Milk of rain from breast of heaven
Unto thirsty earth be given;
Store of waters feed the soil
And reward the peasant's toil!

6

Furrow, of the ploughshare born, —
Sita, bearing golden corn, —
Thee the toiling nations praise,
Listen to their grateful lays;
Be our meadows fed with rain,
Be our cornfields rich in grain!

7

Indra takes her by the hand,
Pushan leads her o'er the land,
From the sky obedient drops
At her bidding feed the crops;
Comes the harvest year by year,
Sita comes to help and cheer!

8

Glad the ploughshare marks the plain,
Merrily toil the beasts and men,
And Parjanya, bounteous God,
Sends his showers to feed the sod;
To the Plough and Ploughshare sing,
Crops and fruitage they will bring!

1

P USHAN , God of golden day,
Shorten thou the shepherd's way,
Vanquish every foe and stranger,
Free our path from every danger;
Cloud-born Pushan, ever more,
Lead us as you led before!

2

Smite the wild wolf, fierce and vile,
Lurking in the dark defile,
Smite the robber and the thief,
Stealing forth to take our life;
Cloud-born Pushan, ever more,
Lead us as you led before!

3

Chase him, Pushan, in thy wrath,
Who infests the lonely path,
Robber with his ruthless heart,
Slayer with his secret dart;
Child of clouds, for ever more,
Lead us as you led before!

4

Trample with thy heavy tread,
On the darksome man of dread,
On the low and lying knave,
Smooth-tongued double-dealing slave;
Child of clouds, for ever more,
Lead us as you led before!

5

Thou dost pathless forests know,
Thou canst quell the secret foe,
Thou didst lead our fathers right,
Wonder-worker, orb of light;
Grant from thy unfailing store
Wealth and blessings ever more!

6

Thou hast treasures manifold,
Glittering weapons, arms of gold;
Foremost of the Sons of Light,
Shepherds' God and Leader bright;
Grant from thy unfailing store
Wealth and blessings ever more!

7

Lead us through the dark defile
Past pursuers dread and vile,
Lead us over pleasant ways
Sheltered by thy saving grace,
Lead us o'er this trackless shore,
And we follow ever more!

8

Where the grass is rich and green,
And the pasture's beauteous seen,
And the meadow's soft and sweet,
Lead us, safe from scorching heat,
Blessings on thy servants pour,
And we follow ever more!

9

Fill our hearts with hope and courage,
Fill our homes with food and forage,
Save us from a cruel fate
Feed us and invigorate;
We are suppliants at thy door,
And we follow ever more!

10

Heart and voice we lift in praise,
Chant our hymns and pious lays,
From the Bright One, good and gracious,
Ask for food and pasture spaceous;
Shepherds' God! Befriend the poor,
And we follow ever more!