30 The Religion of the Veda,

w. a—

difficult as it is important. In any case enough is known to notify the statement that the keynote and engrossing theme of Rig-Medic thought is worship of the personified powers of nature.

In order to make good this last statement, mid at the some time by way of foretuste of the liig~Vedtu I present here some stanzas of one of its: finer-3t: hyums.‘ It is addressed to the goddees Ushzm, 1.);rwn permit- fled, whom the Vedic poets; sing with SIlCCii’li warmth and liking; the metro imitates the original:

This light hath come, of all the lights the fairest, The brilliant brightness hath been born, f:1r~slziui11g,

Urged on to prompt the sun—god’s shining power. Night now hath yielded up her place to morning.

The sisters’ pathway is the some unending,

Taught by the gods, ultern eter they trend it. Fairnshaped, of different forms, and yet one-minded, Night: and Morning clash not, nor yet do linger.

Bright bringer of delights, Dawn shines effulgent, Wide open she hath thrown for us her portals. Arousiug all the world, she shows us riches, Dawn hath awakened every living creature.

"1" is Heaven’s Daughter hath appeared before us, The maiden dazzling in her brilliant garments. Thou sovereign mistress of all earthly treasure, Auspicious Dawn, flash thou today upon us I 1 RigNeda 1.113 in Professor A. A. Macdonell’e translation, in

his History of Sanskrit Literature, p. 83. I have taken the liberty of making a. few slight alterations.