The Rig Veda is the oldest sacred poetry we possess — more than three thousand years old, composed in Sanskrit by seers who watched the dawn rise over the rivers of ancient India. This modern-English edition brings a careful selection of its hymns to today's readers in clear, inviting language that stays faithful to the original's meaning and spirit. Here you will meet Agni, the fire-priest who carries offerings to the gods; Indra, the thunderer who releases the rains; Soma, the sacred drink that inspires the poets; and Ushas, the dawn who never grows old. You will find the great creation hymns — the Nasadiya Sukta's question 'what was there before?' — and hymns for weddings, for the dead, and for the order that holds the cosmos together. With an introduction, glossary, and reading guide, this edition opens the door to a world that still speaks. Part of The Founding Texts Library.