Hymn to Forest-Range

RIGVEDA

Mandala X: Sukta 146

(I)

                        FOREST-Range! Range of Forest!

Ever forward you seem to move!

       Wherefore do you not enquire

for a village? Are you not afraid?

(2)

Here bellows the bull, there in answer

chirps a grasshopper –­

A musical chord, as it were, playing

the glory of the woodland!

(3)

       These seem to be cattle grazing

and those are huts for habitation;

       and at eve-tide there seem to file

out of the forest a caravan of carts.

(4)

A call, as though, it is for a straying calf

or perhaps a tree is being cut down,

Or even as we are in the woodland

now at night-fall do we hear a moan trailing?

(5)

But the forest slays none indeed;

unless there comes an intruder from outside.

Here you regale yourself with sweet fruits

and wander about as you like.

(6)

Sweet-scented, loaded with natural yields,

the Mother of animalkind,

To Her I raise this hymn of praise!