Simplified Sukla Yajurveda - Chapter 16 - Food for Various Categories of Persons

 CHAPTER XVI

King

1. O King, the chastiser of the wicked, may thy indignant soldiers get arms. May thou the destroyer of foes get food. May the enemies be attacked with weapons by thy arms.

 learned person

2. O learned person, the comforter of people with thy noble teachings, the administrator of fear for the miscreants and happiness for the good, educate us again and again, with thy system of teaching, which
is highly delightful, conducive to progress, expository of true principles, and free from violence.

commander of the army

3 O commander of the army, the giver of comforts like a cloud, whatever shaft thou takest in hand to shoot, make that auspicious. O protector of the preachers of knowledge, destroy not this world full
of enterprising men.

physician

4. O physician, dweller on the mountains, and analyser of waters, we praise thee with propitious speech. Full of happiness, let all our living beings be free from tuberculosis and well satisfied.

5. O physician, the dispeller of ailments, chief amongst the learned, the teacher of the first class science of medicine, the remover of diseases by diagnosing them, the sure banisher of diseases deadly like
serpents, with efficacious medicines, preach unto us the laws of health, cast away all drugs, that aggravate the disease, and lower our vitality.

People,

6. O people, your king is most auspicious, with limbs strong like copper, brilliant like fire, slightly red and brown. Thousands of brave soldiers remain under his shelter in all directions. With these soldiers
at our back, we never entertain any evil designs.

 commander of the army

7. The commander of the army, with a necklace of precious gems round the neck, full of good qualities, actions and disposition, goes against the vicious. The faithful servants and the girls who carry water behold him. May he when seen be kind to us.

8. The commander-in-chief, with a clear throat and voice, who watches the actions of thousands of soldiers, and is full of valour, receives food from me. I offer food to the well-behaved and brave soldiers as well, who work under him*

9. O powerful commander of the army, loosen both the extremities of the bow, put the arrows in thy hand, in the bowstring, throw them on the enemy, and ward off the arrows the enemy throws on thee.

masters of the science of archery,

10. O masters of the science of archery, let not the bow of this commander with coiled and braided hair, be ever unstrung, let him never be devoid of arrows, and warlike instruments, who always keeps himself well-armed, be ever empty. May he possess many arrows. Equip him anew with arrows whenever they are destroyed.

11. O virile commander, protect us well on all sides with thy army, the remover of the pain of defeat, with thy weapon, and the bow in thy hand.

12. O commander of the army, protect us in all directions from the attack of thy bow. Lay thou the quiver that thou hast in a place away from us.

13. O commander of the army, the seer of countless scenes on the battlefield filled with the lustre of innumerable weapons and missiles, extend thy bow ; sharpan the front edges of thy arms, kill thy foes, and be kind and gracious unto us.

King

14. O King, skilled in fighting, keeper of thy designs in secret,
full of eloquence, may thou get foodscuff. I offer food for thee to eat.
I offer food to thy warriors acting as thy arms with their strength
and valour.

15. O commander of the army, kill not our revered elders, nor
our children. Harm not our full grown youths, harm not our progeny
in embryo. Slay not our rearing father, slay not our loving mother.
Harm not the dear bodies of our women.

16. O commander of the army, harm not our newly born child,
nor him over five years in age. Make no attack on our life, our cows,
sheep and goats and harm not our horses, elephants and camels. Kill
not our heroes full of wrath. We with oblations ever call on thee,
firm in justice.

Food to Various Categories of Persons

17. O commander of the army, may thou with strong sparkling
arms, and leader of hosts, get arms. May thou lord of the regions get
food. Take thou in hand the axe to cut the mango trees exposed to the
rays of the sun. Homage to thee, the protector of cattle like cows.
Homage to thee free from the bondage of passions, full of the light of
justice. Homage to thee the guardian of the way-farers. Food to thee,
the golden-haired wearer of the yajnopavit (sacrificial cord). Homage
to thee the protector of the healthy.

state-officials

18. Let the state-officials give food to the patient who lives in
their midst. Let them pay homage to the growers of corn. Let them
grant grain for the progress of the world. Let them offer homage to
the lord of human beings. Let them give food to the tormentor of the
foes, and the fighter from all directions against vast armed foes. Let them
give food to the brave warrior, and the queen who injures none. Let
them give food to the Lord of forest.

19. Let the officials and the people give food to the commander
of the army, the enhancer of delights. Let them give food to the lord of
trees. Let them give food to servants of good character. Let them give food
to the physician, the guardian of medicinal herbs. Let them pay homage
to the thoughtful minister, and the expert in trade. Let them give
food to the protector of the householders. Homage to the shouting lord
of justice who makes the wicked weep. Homage to the guardian of
different parts of the army.

20. Food for the person who is active for obtaining full conquest.
Homage to the protector of the substances secured- Food for the power-
ful and chastiser of the foes. Homage to the general who subdues the
armies of the enemies with his own army. Food for the master of arrow,
sword, gun and cannon. Homage to the self-contented, enterprising
person who serves religion, knowledge, mother, master and friends.
Arms for him who keeps the thieves under control. Food for the
forest-guard.

Robbers

21. Thunderbolt to the cheat, to the arch-deceiver ; and the lord
of stealers. Food to the sword-bearer for the protection of the State.
Thunderbolt to the lord of robbers ; to the bolt-armed homicides.
Homage to the chastiser of the pilferers. Thunderbolt to the roamers
at night with arms. Homage to the killer of pickpockets.

Food  to turban-wearing villager

22. Homage to the turban-wearing villager, the haunter of
mountains, the suppressor of the evil-minded dacoits. Food to you who
bear arrows and to you who carry bows. Homage to you who add to our
happiness, and take up arms against foes. Food to you who dissuade
the wicked from evil deeds, and homage to you who use arms against
them.

23. Food to you who use arms against the enemies, and you who
kill them. Punishment to you who sleep on the battle field, and food to
you who keep awake. Food to you who lie, and to you who sit. Food to
you who stand and to you who run.

24. Homage to you ladies endowed with the display of justice,
and to you Kings lords of Assemblies. Food to horses and to you masters
of horses. Food to our armies that kill the armies of the foes. Homage
to you ladies, who kill the heroes of the enemies. Homage to you
ladies, masters of the science of logic, and the ladies who kill foes in
the battle.

Food to the servants

25. Food to the servants, and to you their masters. Homage to
the people and to you their guardians. Homage to the learned who
expatiate on the qualities of objects, and to you the protectors of the
wise. Homage to those who assume various garbs, and to you who wear
all forms.

26. Homage to armies, and food to you the leaders of armies.
Homage to you car-borne, and homage to you the pedestrians. Food to
you born through intermarriage. Homage to you who collect materials
for war. Food to the aged and the learned. Homage to you the
students.

Food to the carpenters

27. Food to the carpenters. Homage to you the manufacturers of
aeroplanes. Food to the potters. Homage to you the manufacturers of
arms. Food to the denizens of forest who subdue wild creatures. Homage
to the masters of different languages. Food to the trainers of dogs.
Homage to you the lovers of deer.

dogs, and to you the rearers of dogs

28. Food to the dogs, and to you the rearers of dogs. Homage to
him well-known for noble characteristics. Homage to him who makes
the wicked weep. Food to those who kill the depraved, and to those who
rear the cattle. Homage to him with a beautiful neck, and to him
with a black throat.

29. Food to the celibate with braided hair. Homage to the shavenhaired recluse. Homage to the scholar who keeps an eye on thousand subjects, and to the Kshatriya who teaches manifold sciences 
of armoury. Homage to the Banprasthi who lives in mountains, to the Vaisha who protects the cattle, and to the Shudra. Homage to the gardener, and to the well-armed soldier.

Food to the child and the learned.

30. Food to the child and the learned. Homage to the strong and
those advanced in knowledge. Homage to the aged, and the eminent
amongst the associates. Homage to the foremost in djing noble deeds and
to the well-known.

31. Food to the horse swift like air, and to the horse that throws
down a novice rider, Food to the hasty and to the rapid mover. Food to
the zealous and to the silent workers. Food to him who dwells in rivers
and on islands.

 aged and to the children

32. Namaste (Homage) to the aged and to the children. Homage
to the first born and to the last born. Homage to the relatives and to
the simple-minded. Homage to the Shudra and to the charitably disposed.

33. Food to the prosperous and the virtuous. Food to the lovers
of justice, and to the protectors. Homage to the scholars of the Vedas,
and to the expert in finishing projects. Homage to the great, and to the
skilled in making collection of provisions.

34. Food to those who live in wood, bushes and caves. Homage to
the teacher and the taught, and to him who fulfils his vow. Food to him
with swift conveyances. Homage to the hero, and to him who rends
asunder the foes.

35. Homage to him who wears a helmet, and to him who wears a
cuirass. Food to him who wears mail and defensive armour, and to him
who possesses a nice house. Homage to the renowned and to him whose
army is renowned. Homage to the skilled drummer, and to the efficient
player on military musical instruments that encourage the soldiers.

36. Food to the bold, the prudent and the mild. Homage to him
who carries sword and quiver. Homage to him who hath sharp weapons,
and is equipped with brave warriors. Food to him who possesses good
weapons and good bows.

37. Food to him who dwells in rivulets, to him who keeps the paths clean. Homage to him expert in constructing wells, and water-falls. Homage to him who knows how to construct canals and tanks. Homage to him who lives on the banks of streams and food for compassion to the animalcules residing in small ponds.

38. Food to the creatures who dwell in wells, pits and forests.
Food to him who lives in diverse lights, to him who works in heat, and
manages his fields. Homage to him who knows the science of clouds, and
to him who knows the science of electricity. Homage to him who lives
in a rainy place, and to him who lives in an arid place.

39. Food to him who knows the science of air, and to him who is
the chief killer. Homage to the expert in the construction of houses, and
to their protector. Food to the wealthy, and to him who makes the
wicked weep. Homage to him who abhors sin and to him who practices
virtue.

40. Food to the giver of meal, and to the protector of cows.
Homage to the fierce and to the awe-inspiring. Food to him who slays
the enemy in front, and to him who slays him at a distance. Food to the
slayer of the wicked and to the extirpator of the evil-minded. Homage
to the killer of foes, and the green-tressed soldiers. Food to the deliverer
from misery.

41. Homage to God the source of happiness, and the source of
delight. Homage to God the bestower of happiness and the bestower of
delight. Homage to the auspicious, homage to the most auspicious God.

42. Homage to him who is be3 r ond misery, and to him who is
struggling for release. Homage to him who crosses over and to him who
crosses back. Food to the teachers of the vedas, and speakers of truth, and
to the dwellers on the banks of seas and rivers. Food to him who knows
the science of grass, and to him who knows the science of foam.

43. Food to the expert in extracting gold from sand, and to the
expert in driving oxen. Food to him who knows the use of stones, and
to him who constructs houses for dwelling. Food to him who wears
braided hair, and to him who knows the use of instruments for lifting
heavy objects. Homage to him who utilises properly the barren land, and
to him who is skilled in treading the noble paths of virtue.

44. Food to the expert in deeds, and to the manager of cow-pens.
Food to the efficient couch-maker, and to him who lives peacefully in his
house. Homage to him who is skilled in mental deliberations, and to

him who is proficient in diving deep into intricate topics. Food to
him who explores the mysteries of nature, and to him who dwells in
inaccessible mountain caves.

45. Homage to him who deals in dry fruits, and to him who deals
in green vegetables. Respects to him who lives in a sandy place, and to
him who lives in distant places. Homage to him who is expert in the
knowledge of invisible things, and to him who is expert in the kuowledge
of visible things. Homage to him who is skilled in murdering, and to him
who gives condign punishment.

46. Food to him who shows gratitude in return, and to him who
shears leaves. Food to the enterprising and to him who kills the wicked
foes in front. Homage to the poor and the pauper. Food to the arrow-
makers, and homage to you the bow-makers. Food to the learned dear
like soul, and to you the dischargers of arrows. Homage to the embodi-
ments of virtues, to the destroyers of enemies and to the vanquished.

47. O King, our saviour from degradation, lord of wealth, driver of
foes to the abyss of poverty, robed in blue and red dress, terrify not
these people and cattle, nor make them diseased. Let not us or any one
else be sick.

48. O King, we honour these wise persons, advisers of the
commander of the army, who makes the sinful weep, is accompanied by
heroes who destroy the wicked, leads a life of celibacy ; and is powerful,
so that in this universe all human beings and cattle of the world be
happy, free from misery and disease.

49. O royal physician, thy auspicious, vast and fascinating skill, is
like medicine the killer of disease. It gives comfort to the patient and
removes his affliction. Make us enjoy this life with pleasure for all
days.

50. O King, giver of pleasure unto us, keep us away from the
weapons of the valiant, save us from the evil-mindedness of the indignant
sinners. Extend unto our babes and youths, the stable intellect derived
from the rich, and make us all delightful with it.

51. O most bounteous, most auspicious King, be auspicious, well
inclined to us. Take up thy weapons, put on the deer-skin cloak, wear
the armour thy protector, and come for our safety. Attack the strong
army of the enemy worthy to be torn asunder.
52. O King, sound sleeper like a powerful swine, bent on
inaugurating various projects, holy Lord, to thee be homage. May all
the thousand darts of thine strike dead against the foe different from us.

53. O auspicious commander of the army, thou hast got thousands
of weapons in thy possession, Thou art their Lord. Turn back with
them the faces of thousands of our foes.

54. Innumerable, thousands are the creatures on the face of the
earth. In their connection we should send weapons to places a thousand
leagues away.

55. In this mighty, subtle, watery space above us there are
creatures and airs. We should make use of them ; and transport
weapons to places a thousand leagues away.

56. Creatures are dwelling in the sky, whose necks are blue, whose
throats are white. We should make use of them, and send weapons to
places a thousand leagues away.

57. The injurious creatures, whose necks are blue and whose
throats are white, live down below on the earth. Let us use weapons for
their extermination in places a thousand leagues away.

58. There are injurious serpents, living in the dens of trees, awful
in appearance, full of poison, with blue necks and different in colours.
We should use our arms for their extinction in places a thousand leagues
afar.

59. The Sanyasis with no hair-tufts, and the Brahmcharis with
braided hair, are the lords of the animate and inanimate world. For
their safety, we roam in distant places a thousand leagues afar, and use
the weapons of knowledge for the removal of the evil of ignorance.

60. For them, who are the protectors of paths and pedestrians, the
producers of corn on the earth, who fight with full force, against their
enemies, we transport our weapons to places a thousand leagues afar.

61. For them, who with arrows in their hand, and armed with

sword, preach the study of the vedas and the use of ships, we send out
weapons to places a thousand leagues afar.

62. The degraded persons, who harm the men taking food and
drink from their cups, deseive to be uprooted by the use of our arms,
though they be a thousand leagues afar.

63. We use the forces of nature against the creatures, mentioned
above and still more, lodged in different directions, though they be a
thousand leagues afar.

64. Homage to the heroes, who work selflessly like vital breaths,
who like sun's light are shining in humility and knowledge, who are
powerful like the rain. To them ten eastward, southward ten, ten to the
west, ten to the north, ten to the region uppermost. To them we offer
food. May they guard and delight us. Within their jaws we lay the
man who dislikes us and whom we dislike.

65. Homage to the heroes, who sitting in planes fly in the air, who
work selflessly like vital breaths, who are powerful like the wind. To
them ten eastward, southward ten, ten to the west, ten to the north, ten
to the region uppermost. To them we offer food. May they guard and
delight us. Within their jaws we lay the man who dislikes us and whom
we dislike.

66. Homage to the heroes who sitting in conveyances travel on
the earth, who work selflessly like the vital breaths, whose arms are
foodstuffs. To them ten eastward, southward ten, ten to the west, ten
to the north, ten to the region uppermost. To them we offer food. May
they guard and delight us. Within their jaws we lay the man who
dislikes us and whom we dislike.