1. Rig Veda — Mandala 1

✦ Sukta 1 · 9 verses ✦

1.1.1

अ॒ग्निमी॑ळे पु॒रोहि॑तं य॒ज्ञस्य॑ दे॒वमृ॒त्विज॑म् । होता॑रं रत्न॒धात॑मम् ॥

I invoke and worship Agni light of life, self- refulgent lord of the universe, foremost leader and inspirer, blazing light of yajnic creation, high-priest of cosmic dynamics, controller of natural evolution, and most generous giver of the treasures of life.

· · ·

1.1.2

अ॒ग्निः पूर्वे॑भि॒र्ऋषि॑भि॒रीड्यो॒ नूत॑नैरु॒त । स दे॒वाँ एह व॑क्षति ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, is ever adorable by the saints and scholars of old and modern times. May He bless us with divine vision, knowledge and power in this world.

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1.1.3

अ॒ग्निना॑ र॒यिम॑श्नव॒त्पोष॑मे॒व दि॒वेदि॑वे । य॒शसं॑ वी॒रव॑त्तमम् ॥

By virtue of Agni, light and energy of the universe, one advances in health and wealth day by day, blest with honour and fame of the highest order of heroes.

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1.1.4

अग्ने॒ यं य॒ज्ञम॑ध्व॒रं वि॒श्वतः॑ परि॒भूरसि॑ । स इद्दे॒वेषु॑ गच्छति ॥

Agni, lord pervasive of yajna, you are all round protector and promoter of all yajnic acts of love, compassion and creation. May the yajna advance and expand among the noblest powers of nature and humanity.

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1.1.5

अ॒ग्निर्होता॑ क॒विक्र॑तुः स॒त्यश्चि॒त्रश्र॑वस्तमः । दे॒वो दे॒वेभि॒रा ग॑मत् ॥

Agni, self-refulgent lord of the universe, high- priest of nature, poetic creator of cosmic yajna, wondrous and most resounding, come and bless us with the noblest gifts of life.

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1.1.6

यद॒ङ्ग दा॒शुषे॒ त्वमग्ने॑ भ॒द्रं क॑रि॒ष्यसि॑ । तवेत्तत्स॒त्यम॑ङ्गिरः ॥

Agni, life of life, surely you would do good to the person who is generous and giving. Dear as the breath of life, this is ever true of your divine nature.

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1.1.7

उप॑ त्वाग्ने दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ दोषा॑वस्तर्धि॒या व॒यम् । नमो॒ भर॑न्त॒ एम॑सि ॥

Agni, lord omniscient, day by day, night and day, with all our heart and soul we come to you bearing gifts of homage in faith and humility.

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1.1.8

राज॑न्तमध्व॒राणां॑ गो॒पामृ॒तस्य॒ दीदि॑विम् । वर्ध॑मानं॒ स्वे दमे॑ ॥

Bearing gifts of homage with faith and humility, we come to Agni, self-refulgent ruling lord of yajnic acts of love and compassion, protector of the earth and the environment and illuminator of the Divine Word and the universal law, immanently growing with the expansive universe of His own creation.

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1.1.9

स नः॑ पि॒तेव॑ सू॒नवेऽग्ने॑ सूपाय॒नो भ॑व । सच॑स्वा नः स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

As a father is ever one with his child in love, so may Agni, lord of life and light and father guardian of His creation, be ever close to us in love and benediction. Father of us all, give us the grace of life divine.

✦ Sukta 2 · 9 verses ✦

1.2.1

वाय॒वा या॑हि दर्शते॒मे सोमा॒ अरं॑कृताः । तेषां॑ पाहि श्रु॒धी हव॑म् ॥

Vayu, lord of grace and majesty, come, listen to our prayer, and protect and promote these somas vitalized as nectar and adorned in beauty.

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1.2.2

वाय॑ उ॒क्थेभि॑र्जरन्ते॒ त्वामच्छा॑ जरि॒तारः॑ । सु॒तसो॑मा अह॒र्विदः॑ ॥

Vayu, lord of life and majesty, the celebrants who know the time and season of yajnic ecstasy, having distilled the soma nectar of life, sing songs of joy in praise of your glory.

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1.2.3

वायो॒ तव॑ प्रपृञ्च॒ती धेना॑ जिगाति दा॒शुषे॑ । उ॒रू॒ची सोम॑पीतये ॥

Vayu, breath of life and love, your voice of omniscience resounding across heaven and earth overflows like the mother cow for the generous yajnic soul and gives him a surfeit of soma, drink of immortality.

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1.2.4

इन्द्र॑वायू इ॒मे सु॒ता उप॒ प्रयो॑भि॒रा ग॑तम् । इन्द॑वो वामु॒शन्ति॒ हि ॥

Indra, lord of light, and Vayu, breath of life and energy, distilled are these vital essences with joyous experiments of yajna. They manifest and glorify your divine light and power. Come and bless us.

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1.2.5

वाय॒विन्द्र॑श्च चेतथः सु॒तानां॑ वाजिनीवसू । तावा या॑त॒मुप॑ द्र॒वत् ॥

Vayu and Indra, Lord’s powers of breath and light, you vitalise and illuminate the objects of creation with strength, energy and intelligence. Divinities of creation, come and inspire life and nature farther at the fastest.

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1.2.6

वाय॒विन्द्र॑श्च सुन्व॒त आ या॑त॒मुप॑ निष्कृ॒तम् । म॒क्ष्वित्था धि॒या न॑रा ॥

Vayu and Indra, divine breath of life and divine light of intelligence, both divinities of nature, inspire the objects of creation with the sap of life. So do they invest the human being with spirit and intelligence and thus accomplish their creative yajna of evolution.

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1.2.7

मि॒त्रं हु॑वे पू॒तद॑क्षं॒ वरु॑णं च रि॒शाद॑सम् । धियं॑ घृ॒ताचीं॒ साध॑न्ता ॥

I invoke, with dedication, Mitra the sun, pure, generous and sanctifying, and Varuna, pranic energy of nature, nourishing and immunizing, both divine agents of cosmic intelligence and natural powers of human evolution (in science and art).

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1.2.8

ऋ॒तेन॑ मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा । क्रतुं॑ बृ॒हन्त॑माशाथे ॥

By virtue of the divine law, Mitra and Varuna, sun and pranic energy, both extend the operation of the natural law of cosmic evolution and inspire the human intelligence to reach unto divine realisation. They both pervade and energize the mighty yajna of the expanding universe.

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1.2.9

क॒वी नो॑ मि॒त्रावरु॑णा तुविजा॒ता उ॑रु॒क्षया॑ । दक्षं॑ दधाते अ॒पस॑म् ॥

Creative, illuminative and inspiring, Mitra and Varuna, sun and pranic energy, like the breath of life, are universally pervasive and mighty potent, and both wield the divine power of versatile action.

✦ Sukta 3 · 12 verses ✦

1.3.1

अश्वि॑ना॒ यज्व॑री॒रिषो॒ द्रव॑त्पाणी॒ शुभ॑स्पती । पुरु॑भुजा चन॒स्यत॑म् ॥

Ashvins, fire and water, are powers of the Divine for quick motion through yajnic science. They are sources of splendour, food and energy, comfort and joy. Men of learning and science, let the two be developed in a spirit of delight and dedication.

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1.3.2

अश्वि॑ना॒ पुरु॑दंससा॒ नरा॒ शवी॑रया धि॒या । धिष्ण्या॒ वन॑तं॒ गिरः॑ ॥

Ashvins, divine powers of creative energy working through fire and water, are wondrous heroic achievers of mighty deeds with relentless acts of scientific study and research. Rich and generous, may they respond to our invocations and grant our voice of hope and prayer.

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1.3.3

दस्रा॑ यु॒वाक॑वः सु॒ता नास॑त्या वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । आ या॑तं रुद्रवर्तनी ॥

Scholars of distinction dedicated to divine science, experts of natural metabolism, seated on the sacred vedi of scientific yajna, working on the marvellous powers of theAshvins, fire and water, eternal media of divine power, for the elimination of suffering, let the gifts of divinity come (for the benefit of humanity).

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1.3.4

इन्द्रा या॑हि चित्रभानो सु॒ता इ॒मे त्वा॒यवः॑ । अण्वी॑भि॒स्तना॑ पू॒तासः॑ ॥

Indra, Lord Supreme of wondrous light and power, come and bless us. All these sacred objects in existence, created, energised and extended over spaces from the subtlest causes by you are sustained in your divine power.

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1.3.5

इन्द्रा या॑हि धि॒येषि॒तो विप्र॑जूतः सु॒ताव॑तः । उप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि वा॒घतः॑ ॥

Indra, Lord Supreme of light and life, meditated by the pure at heart, realised by the enlightened, distilled from the Veda and the world of existence by the visiona- ries, come and inspire the chant of the dedicated yajakas.

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1.3.6

इन्द्रा या॑हि॒ तूतु॑जान॒ उप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि हरिवः । सु॒ते द॑धिष्व न॒श्चनः॑ ॥

Indra, lord and breath of life, energy and speech, come fast at the speed of light, vitalise our songs of praise in yajna and bless us with food for the body, mind and soul.

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1.3.7

ओमा॑सश्चर्षणीधृतो॒ विश्वे॑ देवास॒ आग॑त । दा॒श्वांसो॑ दा॒शुषः॑ सु॒तम् ॥

Come ye, lovers of Om, lord creator and protector of the universe, masters of light and lovers of humanity, noblest visionaries of the world, generous givers and benefactors of all, come and give us the essence and wisdom distilled from life and literature.

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1.3.8

विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॑ अ॒प्तुरः॑ सु॒तमाग॑न्त॒ तूर्ण॑यः । उ॒स्रा इ॑व॒ स्वस॑राणि ॥

Visionaries of the world, generous givers, wise scholars of life and literature, fast as winds and eager as dawn for the day and mother-cow for the calf in the stall, come to your own and bring us the essences of knowledge and wisdom.

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1.3.9

विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॑ अ॒स्रिध॒ एहि॑मायासो अ॒द्रुहः॑ । मेधं॑ जुषन्त॒ वह्न॑यः ॥

Divinities of the world, unerring and unfouling lovers of Omniscience, free from hate and fear, come at the fastest and join the ecstasies of the brilliant fires of the yajna of love, compassion and knowledge.

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1.3.10

पा॒व॒का नः॒ सर॑स्वती॒ वाजे॑भिर्वा॒जिनी॑वती । य॒ज्ञं व॑ष्टु धि॒याव॑सुः ॥

May Sarasvati, goddess of divine speech, mother knowledge of arts, science and divinity, come with gifts of food for the mind and intellect and purify us with the light of knowledge. May the mother grace our yajna of arts and sciences and bless us with the light divine.

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1.3.11

चो॒द॒यि॒त्री सू॒नृता॑नां॒ चेत॑न्ती सुमती॒नाम् । य॒ज्ञं द॑धे॒ सर॑स्वती ॥

Sarasvati, mother stream of eternal knowledge and divine speech, inspires the seekers of universal truth and cosmic law and enlightens the admirers of noble wisdom and understanding. The divine flow of light and knowledge carries on the universal yajna of nature and humanity.

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1.3.12

म॒हो अर्णः॒ सर॑स्वती॒ प्र चे॑तयति के॒तुना॑ । धियो॒ विश्वा॒ वि रा॑जति ॥

Sarasvati, mighty ocean flow of mother knowledge and divine speech, shines with her radiance of omniscience and illuminates the universal mind and the minds of humanity across the worlds of existence.

✦ Sukta 4 · 10 verses ✦

1.4.1

सु॒रू॒प॒कृ॒त्नुमू॒तये॑ सु॒दुघा॑मिव गो॒दुहे॑ । जु॒हू॒मसि॒ द्यवि॑द्यवि ॥

Just as the generous mother cow is milked for the person in need of nourishment, so every day for the sake of light and knowledge we invoke and worship Indra, lord omnipotent of light and life, maker of beautiful forms of existence and giver of protection and progress.

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1.4.2

उप॑ नः॒ सव॒ना ग॑हि॒ सोम॑स्य सोमपाः पिब । गो॒दा इद्रे॒वतो॒ मदः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light, protector of yajnic joy, promoter of sense and mind, come to our yajna, accept our homage of soma and give us the light and ecstasy of the soul.

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1.4.3

अथा॑ ते॒ अन्त॑मानां वि॒द्याम॑ सुमती॒नाम् । मा नो॒ अति॑ ख्य॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Indra, lord of light and knowledge, come, so that we know you at the closest of those who are established in you and hold you in their heart and vision. Come, lord of life, come close, forsake us not.

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1.4.4

परे॑हि॒ विग्र॒मस्तृ॑त॒मिन्द्रं॑ पृच्छा विप॒श्चित॑म् । यस्ते॒ सखि॑भ्य॒ आ वर॑म् ॥

Keep off the malicious maligner. Go even far, farthest to Indra, lord of divine knowledge, love and kindness, light and vision, experience and wisdom, who is good and the best choice for you and me and your friends. Go, ask, and pray.

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1.4.5

उ॒त ब्रु॑वन्तु नो॒ निदो॒ निर॒न्यत॑श्चिदारत । दधा॑ना॒ इन्द्र॒ इद्दुवः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and bliss, may the wise and visionaries who cherish the divine in their heart speak to us. Let the others, ignorant, malicious and maligners be off from here.

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1.4.6

उ॒त नः॑ सु॒भगाँ॑ अ॒रिर्वो॒चेयु॑र्दस्म कृ॒ष्टयः॑ । स्यामेदिन्द्र॑स्य॒ शर्म॑णि ॥

Let us pray and seek the protection of Indra, lord of might unchallengeable, so that men of knowledge and wisdom bring us the voice of divinity and even those who oppose appreciate and speak well of us.

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1.4.7

एमा॒शुमा॒शवे॑ भर यज्ञ॒श्रियं॑ नृ॒माद॑नम् । प॒त॒यन्म॑न्द॒यत्स॑खम् ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge and power, give us the secret of the speed of motion for the giant leap forward in progress. Bless us with the wealth of the nation’s yajna exciting for the people and joyous for our friends.

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1.4.8

अ॒स्य पी॒त्वा श॑तक्रतो घ॒नो वृ॒त्राणा॑मभवः । प्रावो॒ वाजे॑षु वा॒जिन॑म् ॥

Hero of a hundred yajnic projects, having accomplished the programme and having drunk the soma of success, concentrate and consolidate as the light of the sun and be the breaker of the clouds of rain, and then advance and promote the wealth and defence of the nation through the battles of progress.

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1.4.9

तं त्वा॒ वाजे॑षु वा॒जिनं॑ वा॒जया॑मः शतक्रतो । धना॑नामिन्द्र सा॒तये॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and power, hero of a hundred yajnic creations, we celebrate your glory of speed and success in the battles of humanity for the achievement of the wealth of life and prosperity of the people.

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1.4.10

यो रा॒यो॒३॒॑वनि॑र्म॒हान्त्सु॑पा॒रः सु॑न्व॒तः सखा॑ । तस्मा॒ इन्द्रा॑य गायत ॥

People of the land and children of Indra, sing and celebrate the glories of Indra, lord supreme of life and light, great and glorious, creator and protector of wealth, saviour pilot across the seas, and friend of the makers of soma.

✦ Sukta 5 · 10 verses ✦

1.5.1

आ त्वेता॒ निषी॑द॒तेन्द्र॑म॒भि प्र गा॑यत । सखा॑यः॒ स्तोम॑वाहसः ॥

Friends and celebrants of song divine, come, sit together and join to meditate (on life, divinity, humanity, science and spirituality, and freedom), and sing in thankful praise of Indra, lord of life and energy.

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1.5.2

पु॒रू॒तमं॑ पुरू॒णामीशा॑नं॒ वार्या॑णाम् । इन्द्रं॒ सोमे॒ सचा॑ सु॒ते ॥

Friends and comrades in study and meditation, when you have distilled the essence of soma, life and spirit present at the heart of things, then sing in praise of Indra, closest at hand of things in heaven and earth,and ruler dispenser of the fruits of love and desire.

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1.5.3

स घा॑ नो॒ योग॒ अ भु॑व॒त्स रा॒ये स पुरं॑ध्याम् । गम॒द्वाजे॑भि॒रा स नः॑ ॥

Indra, life and energy of the universe, is at the heart of our meditation. That is the spirit and secret of the wealth of the world. That is the inspiration at the centre of our thought and intelligence. May that lord of life and energy come and bless us with gifts of knowledge and power in our joint endevours.

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1.5.4

यस्य॑ सं॒स्थे न वृ॒ण्वते॒ हरी॑ स॒मत्सु॒ शत्र॑वः । तस्मा॒ इन्द्रा॑य गायत ॥

Sing in honour of that Indra in the field of whose power and force no enemies can have the courage to stand in opposition and sustain themselves.

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1.5.5

सु॒त॒पाव्ने॑ सु॒ता इ॒मे शुच॑यो यन्ति वी॒तये॑ । सोमा॑सो॒ दध्या॑शिरः ॥

All these bright and pure creations of the soma- yajna of science and meditation, sweet and vitalising as nectar-sweet delicacies of milk and curds (are created by Indra through His light and wind energy) and flow for the beneficiary, humanity, for their pleasure,protection and promotion.

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1.5.6

त्वं सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ स॒द्यो वृ॒द्धो अ॑जायथाः । इन्द्र॒ ज्यैष्ठ्या॑य सुक्रतो ॥

Indra, noble soul of purity and yajnic meditation, hero of a hundred acts of goodness, for a drink of the soma of Lord Indra’s creation, rising to new honour and grandeur every day, take a new birth into higher knowledge every moment.

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1.5.7

आ त्वा॑ विशन्त्वा॒शवः॒ सोमा॑स इन्द्र गिर्वणः । शं ते॑ सन्तु॒ प्रचे॑तसे ॥

Indra, noble soul, high-priest of yajna and the divine voice, may all these brilliant creations of lightning speed be good and beneficial to you and humanity. May they bring bliss and peace to you, prince of knowledge and grandeur.

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1.5.8

त्वां स्तोमा॑ अवीवृध॒न्त्वामु॒क्था श॑तक्रतो । त्वां व॑र्धन्तु नो॒ गिरः॑ ॥

Indra, supreme lord of omnipotence and majesty, the Stoma hymns of the Veda celebrate your glory. Lord infinite of countless acts of creation, the Uktha hymns sing of your power and action. So may all our songs of devotion and homage light up your presence and grandeur all round.

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1.5.9

अक्षि॑तोतिः सनेदि॒मं वाज॒मिन्द्रः॑ सह॒स्रिण॑म् । यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॑नि॒ पौंस्या॑ ॥

Indra, whose omnipotence and protection is infinite and imperishable, may, we pray, bless us with this thousand-fold knowledge and power of science in which are contained all the secrets of nature’s vitality.

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1.5.10

मा नो॒ मर्ता॑ अ॒भिद्रु॑हन्त॒नूना॑मिन्द्र गिर्वणः । ईशा॑नो यवया व॒धम् ॥

Indra, lord adorable in sacred song, let no mortal hate or injure our body and mind from anywhere. Keep off hate, violence and murder far away from us. You are the ruler, ordainer and dispenser of justice and punishment.

✦ Sukta 6 · 10 verses ✦

1.6.1

यु॒ञ्जन्ति॑ ब्र॒ध्नम॑रु॒षं चर॑न्तं॒ परि॑त॒स्थुषः॑ । रोच॑न्ते रोच॒ना दि॒वि ॥

Pious souls in meditation commune with the great and gracious lord of existence immanent in thesteady universe and transcendent beyond. Brilliant arethey with the lord of light and they shine in the heaven of bliss.

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1.6.2

यु॒ञ्जन्त्य॑स्य॒ काम्या॒ हरी॒ विप॑क्षसा॒ रथे॑ । शोणा॑ धृ॒ष्णू नृ॒वाह॑सा ॥

Scholars of science dedicated to Indra study and meditate on the lord’s omnipotence of light, fire and wind, and harness the energy like two horses to a chariot, both beautiful, equal and complementary as positive- negative currents, fiery red, powerful and carriers of people.

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1.6.3

के॒तुं कृ॒ण्वन्न॑के॒तवे॒ पेशो॑ मर्या अपे॒शसे॑ । समु॒षद्भि॑रजायथाः ॥

Children of the earth, know That who creates light and knowledge for the ignorant in darkness and gives form and beauty to the formless and chaotic, and regenerate yourselves by virtue of the men of knowledge and passion for action.

· · ·

1.6.4

आदह॑ स्व॒धामनु॒ पुन॑र्गर्भ॒त्वमे॑रि॒रे । दधा॑ना॒ नाम॑ य॒ज्ञिय॑म् ॥

Bearing the sacred vapours of yajna as is their wont and nature, the winds rise to the sky, hold theclouds in their womb, and after the rain carry on thecycle with the sun-rays and yajna-fire.

· · ·

1.6.5

वी॒ळु चि॑दारुज॒त्नुभि॒र्गुहा॑ चिदिन्द्र॒ वह्नि॑भिः । अवि॑न्द उ॒स्रिया॒ अनु॑ ॥

The mighty sun with its piercing rays breaks down things in the sky, and the wind with its currents after the sunbeams reconstructs and replaces new forms of things in the sky.

· · ·

1.6.6

दे॒व॒यन्तो॒ यथा॑ म॒तिमच्छा॑ वि॒दद्व॑सुं॒ गिरः॑ । म॒हाम॑नूषत श्रु॒तम् ॥

Just as noble scholars develop and brighten up their generous mind and intelligence after the principles of Vedic revelation, so do the Maruts, currents of energy, intensify, magnify and adorn the sound that is produced and heard.

· · ·

1.6.7

इन्द्रे॑ण॒ सं हि दृक्ष॑से संजग्मा॒नो अबि॑भ्युषा । म॒न्दू स॑मा॒नव॑र्चसा ॥

Marut, wind energy, is seen while moving alongwith the indomitable sun, both beautiful and joyous, divinities coexistent, equal in splendour by virtue of omnipresent Indra, Lord Supreme.

· · ·

1.6.8

अ॒न॒व॒द्यैर॒भिद्यु॑भिर्म॒खः सह॑स्वदर्चति । ग॒णैरिन्द्र॑स्य॒ काम्यैः॑ ॥

The yajnic dynamics of nature’s currents of energy, Maruts, so potent and effective, illuminates the world and does homage to the Lord of creation with the immaculate blazing radiations of glorious sun light.

· · ·

1.6.9

अतः॑ परिज्म॒न्ना ग॑हि दि॒वो वा॑ रोच॒नादधि॑ । सम॑स्मिन्नृञ्जते॒ गिरः॑ ॥

The currents of energy, Maruts, travel up from here, the earth, to the region of the sun, and from up there down to the earth. And in this space they sustain all the objects of the world and all the voices divine and human.

· · ·

1.6.10

इ॒तो वा॑ सा॒तिमीम॑हे दि॒वो वा॒ पार्थि॑वा॒दधि॑ । इन्द्रं॑ म॒हो वा॒ रज॑सः ॥

From here we rise to the sun, and to Indra, lord omnipotent blazing in the sun, with prayers, with homage and oblations, Indra who is greater and higher than the earth, the skies and the heavens and rules over all these.

✦ Sukta 7 · 10 verses ✦

1.7.1

इन्द्र॒मिद्गा॒थिनो॑ बृ॒हदिन्द्र॑म॒र्केभि॑र॒र्किणः॑ । इन्द्रं॒ वाणी॑रनूषत ॥

The singers of Vedic hymns worship Indra, infinite lord of the expansive universe, Indra, the sun, lord of light, Indra, vayu, maruts, currents of energy, and Indra, the universal divine voice, with prayers, mantras, actions and scientific research.

· · ·

1.7.2

इन्द्र॒ इद्धर्योः॒ सचा॒ संमि॑श्ल॒ आ व॑चो॒युजा॑ । इन्द्रो॑ व॒ज्री हि॑र॒ण्ययः॑ ॥

Indra, the omnipresent Spirit, Indra, the universal energy of vayu or maruts, and Indra, the solar energy, the bond of unity and sustenance in things, co-existent synthesis of equal and opposite complementarities of positive and negative, activiser of speech, lord of the thunderbolt and the golden light of the day and the year.

· · ·

1.7.3

इन्द्रो॑ दी॒र्घाय॒ चक्ष॑स॒ आ सूर्यं॑ रोहयद्दि॒वि । वि गोभि॒रद्रि॑मैरयत् ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, raised the sun high up in the heavens for expansive light and vision. With the rays of the sun, He forms and moves the cloud for rain.

· · ·

1.7.4

इन्द्र॒ वाजे॑षु नोऽव स॒हस्र॑प्रधनेषु च । उ॒ग्र उ॒ग्राभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and omnipotence, in a thousand battles of life and prize contests, protect us with bright blazing ways of protection and advancement.

· · ·

1.7.5

इन्द्रं॑ व॒यं म॑हाध॒न इन्द्र॒मर्भे॑ हवामहे । युजं॑ वृ॒त्रेषु॑ व॒ज्रिण॑म् ॥

In battles great and small, we invoke Indra, lord omnipotent, we call upon sun and wind, mighty breaker of the clouds, friend in darkness, wielder of the thunderbolt.

· · ·

1.7.6

स नो॑ वृषन्न॒मुं च॒रुं सत्रा॑दाव॒न्नपा॑वृधि । अ॒स्मभ्य॒मप्र॑तिष्कुतः ॥

Indra, lord of the universe, light of the world, generous lord of wealth, irresistible wielder of power, generous giver of showers, grant us the yajnic prosperity of life and open the doors of freedom and salvation at the end.

· · ·

1.7.7

तु॒ञ्जेतु॑ञ्जे॒ य उत्त॑रे॒ स्तोमा॒ इन्द्र॑स्य व॒ज्रिणः॑ । न वि॑न्धे अस्य सुष्टु॒तिम् ॥

On success in battle after battle, follow songs of celebration in honour of Indra, lord wielder of the thunderbolt, and I love to go on and on with the song without end.

· · ·

1.7.8

वृषा॑ यू॒थेव॒ वंस॑गः कृ॒ष्टीरि॑य॒र्त्योज॑सा । ईशा॑नो॒ अप्र॑तिष्कुतः ॥

As the virile bull leads the herd it rules, so does Indra, generous lord indomitable and ruler of the world, inspire and lead His children to joy and freedom.

· · ·

1.7.9

य एक॑श्चर्षणी॒नां वसू॑नामिर॒ज्यति॑ । इन्द्रः॒ पञ्च॑ क्षिती॒नाम् ॥

One and only one without a second is Indra, lord supreme of the universe, the lord who rules and guides humanity, showers treasures of wealth, and sustains and ultimately disposes the five orders of the universe.

· · ·

1.7.10

इन्द्रं॑ वो वि॒श्वत॒स्परि॒ हवा॑महे॒ जने॑भ्यः । अ॒स्माक॑मस्तु॒ केव॑लः ॥

For the sake of you all of humanity, we invokeand worship Indra, the one lord ruler over the universe,and we pray He may be with us in vision in a state ofabsolute bliss.

✦ Sukta 8 · 10 verses ✦

1.8.1

एन्द्र॑ सान॒सिं र॒यिं स॒जित्वा॑नं सदा॒सह॑म् । वर्षि॑ष्ठमू॒तये॑ भर ॥

Indra, lord supreme of power and glory, bless us with the wealth of life and well-being that gives us the superiority of action over sufferance, delight and victory, courage and endurance, excellence and generosity, and leads us on way to progress under divine protection.

· · ·

1.8.2

नि येन॑ मुष्टिह॒त्यया॒ नि वृ॒त्रा रु॒णधा॑महै । त्वोता॑सो॒ न्यर्व॑ता ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, give us that strength of life and character whereby, under your blessed protection, we may hold back the enemy, evil and darkness with less than a blow of the fist and less than a dart of the lance.

· · ·

1.8.3

इन्द्र॒ त्वोता॑स॒ आ व॒यं वज्रं॑ घ॒ना द॑दीमहि । जये॑म॒ सं यु॒धि स्पृधः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of might and splendour, under your divine protection, may we develop, we pray, strong and sophisticated weapons of defence so that fighting battles of mutual contest we may win the prize of victory.

· · ·

1.8.4

व॒यं शूरे॑भि॒रस्तृ॑भि॒रिन्द्र॒ त्वया॑ यु॒जा व॒यम् । सा॒स॒ह्याम॑ पृतन्य॒तः ॥

Indra, lord of might, protection and progress, joined as we are with you in spirit, may we, with our heroes, shotsmen and missiles, challenge, fight out and win over our contestants in battle.

· · ·

1.8.5

म॒हाँ इन्द्रः॑ प॒रश्च॒ नु म॑हि॒त्वम॑स्तु व॒ज्रिणे॑ । द्यौर्न प्र॑थि॒ना शवः॑ ॥

Indra is great, supreme and transcendent, self- refulgent like the sun, extensive like space and more. May all the power and grandeur be for the lord of justice and the thunderbolt. May all be dedicated to Him.

· · ·

1.8.6

स॒मो॒हे वा॒ य आश॑त॒ नर॑स्तो॒कस्य॒ सनि॑तौ । विप्रा॑सो वा धिया॒यवः॑ ॥

Men of valour and heroism engage in battles, men of knowledge and piety in learned gatherings and in the training of youth.

· · ·

1.8.7

यः कु॒क्षिः सो॑म॒पात॑मः समु॒द्रइ॑व॒ पिन्व॑ते । उ॒र्वीरापो॒ न का॒कुदः॑ ॥

Indra, the sun, is the womb of life, it feeds and promotes the life-giving vegetation. Just as the sea and the space-ocean of vapours augment the waters, the wide earth generates and promotes life, the throat cavity sustains prana, and prana promotes speech, so does the sun nourish and promote life, soma and joy.

· · ·

1.8.8

ए॒वा ह्य॑स्य सू॒नृता॑ विर॒प्शी गोम॑ती म॒ही । प॒क्वा शाखा॒ न दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Verily the divine voice of Indra, Supreme Lord of Omniscience, is the richest treasure of eternal truth, generous mother of the language of existence and great. It is an abundant branch of the divine tree laden with ripe fruit for the faithful devotee and yajnic giver.

· · ·

1.8.9

ए॒वा हि ते॒ विभू॑तय ऊ॒तय॑ इन्द्र॒ माव॑ते । स॒द्यश्चि॒त्सन्ति॑ दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Indra, lord omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent, such are your wondrous works and attributes, such are your powers, protections and promotions, of life, knowledge and happiness for a person like me. They are ever abundant for the faithful and generous devotee dedicated to love and service.

· · ·

1.8.10

ए॒वा ह्य॑स्य॒ काम्या॒ स्तोम॑ उ॒क्थं च॒ शंस्या॑ । इन्द्रा॑य॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Such are the songs of praise, adoration and celebration of this lord of life, light and power, sweet, enchanting and elevating, offered in honour of Indra, creator, protector and promoter of life and its joy.

✦ Sukta 9 · 10 verses ✦

1.9.1

इन्द्रेहि॒ मत्स्यन्ध॑सो॒ विश्वे॑भिः सोम॒पर्व॑भिः । म॒हाँ अ॑भि॒ष्टिरोज॑सा ॥

Indra, lord of light and life, come with all the soma-celebrations of food, energy and joy, great as you are with majesty, power and splendour omnipresent, and give us the ecstasy of living with enlightenment.

· · ·

1.9.2

एमे॑नं सृजता सु॒ते म॒न्दिमिन्द्रा॑य म॒न्दिने॑ । चक्रिं॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ चक्र॑ये ॥

Scholars of eminence, in this world of Indra’s yajnic creation, come up for the sake of joyous humanity and accomplish all those works of creation and construction which are needed for its prosperity and well-being.

· · ·

1.9.3

मत्स्वा॑ सुशिप्र म॒न्दिभिः॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्विश्वचर्षणे । सचै॒षु सव॑ने॒ष्वा ॥

Indra, Lord omniscient of universal presence, light and vision, with joyous songs of praise and celebration we invoke you and dedicate ourselves to you as our constant friend and guide. Come lord, and give us the bliss of existence in our yajnic acts of creation.

· · ·

1.9.4

असृ॑ग्रमिन्द्र ते॒ गिरः॒ प्रति॒ त्वामुद॑हासत । अजो॑षा वृष॒भं पति॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of light and splendour, the songs of divinity reveal and manifest you in your glory, protector of the universe and generous rain-giver of favours and kindness. And I too, in response, celebrate your magnificence and magnanimity without satiety.

· · ·

1.9.5

सं चो॑दय चि॒त्रम॒र्वाग्राध॑ इन्द्र॒ वरे॑ण्यम् । अस॒दित्ते॑ वि॒भु प्र॒भु ॥

Indra, lord of light and glory, creator giver of wondrous beauty, wealth and joy, infinite, mighty and supreme, whatever is worthy of choice in the world of your creation, grant us here and now.

· · ·

1.9.6

अ॒स्मान्त्सु तत्र॑ चोद॒येन्द्र॑ रा॒ये रभ॑स्वतः । तुवि॑द्युम्न॒ यश॑स्वतः ॥

Indra, lord of light and infinite power, guide and inspire us on way to the wealth of life and divinity, zealous seekers of love, honour and excellence as we are.

· · ·

1.9.7

सं गोम॑दिन्द्र॒ वाज॑वद॒स्मे पृ॒थु श्रवो॑ बृ॒हत् । वि॒श्वायु॑र्धे॒ह्यक्षि॑तम् ॥

Indra, infinite lord of life and light, wealth and honour, grant us a full life of knowledge and divine speech, wealth of food and energy, great reputation, high and inexhaustible honour, and the vision of infinity.

· · ·

1.9.8

अ॒स्मे धे॑हि॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हद्द्यु॒म्नं स॑हस्र॒सात॑मम् । इन्द्र॒ ता र॒थिनी॒रिषः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of honour, wealth and power, grant us great honour and knowledge, wealth and happiness of a thousand sort, a strong economy and a mighty force of chariots (moving on land and sea and in the air).

· · ·

1.9.9

वसो॒रिन्द्रं॒ वसु॑पतिं गी॒र्भिर्गृ॒णन्त॑ ऋ॒ग्मिय॑म् । होम॒ गन्ता॑रमू॒तये॑ ॥

For our defence, protection and advancement, we invoke and celebrate in song with homage, Indra, lord protector of wealth, ruler of the earth, fire, breath and other sustainers of life, self-revealed and honoured in the Rks and immanent ruler and mover of everything.

· · ·

1.9.10

सु॒तेसु॑ते॒ न्यो॑कसे बृ॒हद्बृ॑ह॒त एद॒रिः । इन्द्रा॑य शू॒षम॑र्चति ॥

Even if a person is opposed to faith in Indra and is an enemy of the pious, but (on repentance) offers sincere homage to Him, Great Lord and universal home and haven of everything of the world, worshipped in every act of piety, he is saved. (ii) The pious, and even the impious, if he offers homage to Him, Great Lord who is the haven and home of everything in the world, worshipped in every act of piety, he is saved.

✦ Sukta 10 · 12 verses ✦

1.10.1

गाय॑न्ति त्वा गाय॒त्रिणोऽर्च॑न्त्य॒र्कम॒र्किणः॑ । ब्र॒ह्माण॑स्त्वा शतक्रत॒ उद्वं॒शमि॑व येमिरे ॥

The singers of Gayatri celebrate you, Indra, lord of song and joy, with the hymns of Sama-Veda. The devotees of Rgveda worship Indra, lord of light, with Rks. And the sage scholars of all the Vedas, O lord of a hundred noble acts of cosmic yajna, maintain the line of divine worship as the centre-string of the human family.

· · ·

1.10.2

यत्सानोः॒ सानु॒मारु॑ह॒द्भूर्यस्प॑ष्ट॒ कर्त्व॑म् । तदिन्द्रो॒ अर्थं॑ चेतति यू॒थेन॑ वृ॒ष्णिरे॑जति ॥

As the sun-beams radiate with waves of energy from one peak to another of a mountain illuminating each in succession, similarly when a person rises from one peak of action to another, accomplishing one after another as holy duty, then Indra, lord of light, illuminates one meaning of life and mystery after another for him.

· · ·

1.10.3

यु॒क्ष्वा हि के॒शिना॒ हरी॒ वृष॑णा कक्ष्य॒प्रा । अथा॑ न इन्द्र सोमपा गि॒रामुप॑श्रुतिं चर ॥

Indra, lord of light blazing in the sun, protector and promoter of the soma of life and joy, yoke your team of sunbeams like chariot-horses, equal, opposite and complementary as the positive-negative currents of energy-circuit, beautiful in their operative field, generous, pervasive in the skies all round, listen to our prayer and advance the yajna of knowledge and action on earth.

· · ·

1.10.4

एहि॒ स्तोमाँ॑ अ॒भिस्व॑रा॒भि गृ॑णी॒ह्या रु॑व । ब्रह्म॑ च नो वसो॒ सचेन्द्र॑ य॒ज्ञं च॑ वर्धय ॥

Indra, omnipresent omniscient lord sustainer of the universe and support of all, come in response to our prayer, reveal the secrets of knowledge, let the light shine in our heart, inspire us to proclaim, let the sacred science of life and nature prevail, and promote the yajna of creation at the human level for the earth and her children.

· · ·

1.10.5

उ॒क्थमिन्द्रा॑य॒ शंस्यं॒ वर्ध॑नं पुरुनि॒ष्षिधे॑ । श॒क्रो यथा॑ सु॒तेषु॑ णो रा॒रण॑त्स॒ख्येषु॑ च ॥

Just as a man rejoices with his children and friends and bestows lots of knowledge and wealth on them, so does Shakra, omnipotent Indra, lord of wealth and knowledge, rejoice to bestow admirable mantras of elevating light of Vedic lore on the generous soul for its advancement.

· · ·

1.10.6

तमित्स॑खि॒त्व ई॑महे॒ तं रा॒ये तं सु॒वीर्ये॑ । स श॒क्र उ॒त नः॑ शक॒दिन्द्रो॒ वसु॒ दय॑मानः ॥

We invoke Indra and pray to Him for friendship, wealth and wisdom, courage and heroism, that Lord Omnipotent, Indra, lord of power and honour, strength and support of all, who has the power to give, to protect, and to destroy sin and evil, He alone.

· · ·

1.10.7

सु॒वि॒वृतं॑ सुनि॒रज॒मिन्द्र॒ त्वादा॑त॒मिद्यशः॑ । गवा॒मप॑ व्र॒जं वृ॑धि कृणु॒ष्व राधो॑ अद्रिवः ॥

Indra, lord of light and honour blazing as the sun, lord of magnanimity as the clouds of rain, the honour and fame given by you is open and brilliant, transparent and free, even from a speck of dust. Lord of generosity, open the doors of knowledge, augment the wealth of the world, and illuminate the honour of humanity.

· · ·

1.10.8

न॒हि त्वा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे ऋ॑घा॒यमा॑ण॒मिन्व॑तः । जेषः॒ स्व॑र्वतीर॒पः सं गा अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ धूनुहि ॥

Lord omnipotent and infinite, transcending the expanse of space, the heaven and earth contain you not. Dominant over the holy waters of the universe, ruling over the noblest actions of humanity, liberate our mind, thought and speech, electrify our sense and will, and give us a shower of knowledge and wealth of life divine.

· · ·

1.10.9

आश्रु॑त्कर्ण श्रु॒धी हवं॒ नूचि॑द्दधिष्व मे॒ गिरः॑ । इन्द्र॒ स्तोम॑मि॒मं मम॑ कृ॒ष्वा यु॒जश्चि॒दन्त॑रम् ॥

Lord of instant and universal ear, listen to my voice. Hold my prayer in your heart. Indra, it is the song of a dear friend. Take me in along with it, cleanse and sanctify my heart and soul.

· · ·

1.10.10

वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॒ वृष॑न्तमं॒ वाजे॑षु हवन॒श्रुत॑म् । वृष॑न्तमस्य हूमह ऊ॒तिं स॑हस्र॒सात॑माम् ॥

Indra, lord of love and power, we know you as the most generous giver of the showers of blessings, instant listener to our call in the battles of life. We pray for the divine protection of the most generous guardian and giver of victory, best and highest of a thousand other modes of protection and redemption.

· · ·

1.10.11

आ तू न॑ इन्द्र कौशिक मन्दसा॒नः सु॒तं पि॑ब । नव्य॒मायुः॒ प्र सू ति॑र कृ॒धी स॑हस्र॒सामृषि॑म् ॥

Indra, lord giver of infinite joy, universal teacher of humanity, come and taste the sweets of our divine celebrations. Create a new and higher life for us, and let a new seer and prophet of a thousand visions and sciences arise among us.

· · ·

1.10.12

परि॑ त्वा गिर्वणो॒ गिर॑ इ॒मा भ॑वन्तु वि॒श्वतः॑ । वृ॒द्धायु॒मनु॒ वृद्ध॑यो॒ जुष्टा॑ भवन्तु॒ जुष्ट॑यः ॥

May all these holy songs of the divine singers from all sides celebrate you, sole object of the sacred voice of eternity. May all the songs of love and worship glorify the lord of eternal existence. May all these songs be acceptable to the Lord and delightful and elevatingfor us.

✦ Sukta 11 · 8 verses ✦

1.11.1

इन्द्रं॒ विश्वा॑ अवीवृधन्त्समु॒द्रव्य॑चसं॒ गिरः॑ । र॒थीत॑मं र॒थीनां॒ वाजा॑नां॒ सत्प॑तिं॒ पति॑म् ॥

May all the songs of divine love and worship celebrate and glorify Indra, lord infinite and glorious like the expansive oceans of space, highest redeemer, higher than all other saviours, sole true lord victorious of the battles of life between good and evil, ultimate protector and promoter of humanity and ruler of existence.

· · ·

1.11.2

स॒ख्ये त॑ इन्द्र वा॒जिनो॒ मा भे॑म शवसस्पते । त्वाम॒भि प्रणो॑नुमो॒ जेता॑र॒मप॑राजितम् ॥

We are the friends of Indra, we are the fighters of life and humanity. Indra, lord of might, never shall we succumb to fear while we are under the cover of your protective friendship. We offer homage and worship to you, supreme victor, unbeaten since eternity.

· · ·

1.11.3

पू॒र्वीरिन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तयो॒ न वि द॑स्यन्त्यू॒तयः॑ । यदी॒ वाज॑स्य॒ गोम॑तः स्तो॒तृभ्यो॒ मंह॑ते म॒घम् ॥

The eternal gifts of Indra, lord magnificent, never fail, His favours and protections never fade, nor exhaust, because the munificence of the lord of earth and His bounties of wealth and honour always flow in abundance more and ever more for the devotees.

· · ·

1.11.4

पु॒रां भि॒न्दुर्युवा॑ क॒विरमि॑तौजा अजायत । इन्द्रो॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ कर्म॑णो ध॒र्ता व॒ज्री पु॑रुष्टु॒तः ॥

Breaker of the enemy forts, youthful, creative and imaginative, hero of boundless strength, sustainer of the acts of the world and disposer, wielder of the thunderbolt, universally acclaimed and celebrated is risen into prominence.

· · ·

1.11.5

त्वं व॒लस्य॒ गोम॒तोऽपा॑वरद्रिवो॒ बिल॑म् । त्वां दे॒वा अबि॑भ्युषस्तु॒ज्यमा॑नास आविषुः ॥

Indra, blazing as the sun, wielder of the clouds, you break open the water-hold of the clouds. The devas, planets, seekers of the lord of light and centre-home, moved round in orbit, hold on to their place in the solar family.

· · ·

1.11.6

तवा॒हं शू॑र रा॒तिभिः॒ प्रत्या॑यं॒ सिन्धु॑मा॒वद॑न् । उपा॑तिष्ठन्त गिर्वणो वि॒दुष्टे॒ तस्य॑ का॒रवः॑ ॥

Hero of generosity, drawn by your gifts of light and grace, I come to you as to the sea, singing songs ofpraise. Lord and lover of the voice of celebration, they,all your servants, know you and they abide by you in adoration.

· · ·

1.11.7

मा॒याभि॑रिन्द्र मा॒यिनं॒ त्वं शुष्ण॒मवा॑तिरः । वि॒दुष्टे॒ तस्य॒ मेधि॑रा॒स्तेषां॒ श्रवां॒स्युत्ति॑र ॥

Indra, lord of supernal powers, with your vision and extraordinary intelligence ward off the artful opponent and exploiter. Your friends and admirers know you. Listen to their voice and overthrow the enemies.

· · ·

1.11.8

इन्द्र॒मीशा॑न॒मोज॑सा॒भि स्तोमा॑ अनूषत । स॒हस्रं॒ यस्य॑ रा॒तय॑ उ॒त वा॒ सन्ति॒ भूय॑सीः ॥

All the hymns of praise celebrate Indra, lord ruler over the universe with His power and splendour. Thousands, uncountable, are His gifts and benedictions, infinitely more indeed.

✦ Sukta 12 · 12 verses ✦

1.12.1

अ॒ग्निं दू॒तं वृ॑णीमहे॒ होता॑रं वि॒श्ववे॑दसम् । अ॒स्य य॒ज्ञस्य॑ सु॒क्रतु॑म् ॥

We choose Agni, the fire, as prime power of social yajna, which carries the fragrance of yajnauniversally across the earth, the sky and even to the heavens, and which is the chief creator of prosperity and maker of beautiful forms.

· · ·

1.12.2

अ॒ग्निम॑ग्निं॒ हवी॑मभिः॒ सदा॑ हवन्त वि॒श्पति॑म् । ह॒व्य॒वाहं॑ पुरुप्रि॒यम् ॥

We choose Agni visible and invisible, and invoke it with faith and holy action, Agni which is the protector of the people, carrier of yajnic fragrance, and favourite of the wise.

· · ·

1.12.3

अग्ने॑ दे॒वाँ इ॒हाव॑ह जज्ञा॒नो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषे । असि॒ होता॑ न॒ ईड्यः॑ ॥

Agni, omniscient and omnipresent power, bring us here the brilliant divine gifts of yajna for the pure at heart. You alone are the chief priest and performer of the yajna of creation. You alone are adorable.

· · ·

1.12.4

ताँ उ॑श॒तो वि बो॑धय॒ यद॑ग्ने॒ यासि॑ दू॒त्य॑म् । दे॒वैरास॑त्सि ब॒र्हिषि॑ ॥

Agni, purify and activate the libations lighted by the fire which you have carried to the skies, and bring them back home to the seat of yajna with gifts divine.

· · ·

1.12.5

घृता॑हवन दीदिवः॒ प्रति॑ ष्म॒ रिष॑तो दह । अग्ने॒ त्वं र॑क्ष॒स्विनः॑ ॥

Agni, brilliant and resplendent, fed on ghee and blazing, burn up the jealous, the negative and the wicked who destroy.

· · ·

1.12.6

अ॒ग्निना॒ग्निः समि॑ध्यते क॒विर्गृ॒हप॑ति॒र्युवा॑ । ह॒व्य॒वाड् जु॒ह्वा॑स्यः ॥

Agni is lighted, generated and raised by agni, universal energy. It is the creator of new things, protector and promoter of the home, and ever young—powerful catalytic agent carrying holy materials to the sky and to the heavens across space, and a voracious consumer (and creator) with its mouth ever open to devour (and convert) holy offerings (to divine gifts of joy and prosperity).

· · ·

1.12.7

क॒विम॒ग्निमुप॑स्तुहि स॒त्यध॑र्माणमध्व॒रे । दे॒वम॑मीव॒चात॑नम् ॥

In the holy acts of yajna, light, serve and adore Agni, brilliant creator of new things of beauty, prosperity and joy, illuminator and observer of the eternal laws, generous giver, and destroyer of evil and disease.

· · ·

1.12.8

यस्त्वाम॑ग्ने ह॒विष्प॑तिर्दू॒तं दे॑व सप॒र्यति॑ । तस्य॑ स्म प्रावि॒ता भ॑व ॥

Lord omniscient and resplendent, protector and harbinger of the holy gifts and blessings of life, whosoever be the yajnapati of service with holy offering unto you, save, protect and promote.

· · ·

1.12.9

यो अ॒ग्निं दे॒ववी॑तये ह॒विष्माँ॑ आ॒विवा॑सति । तस्मै॑ पावक मृळय ॥

Whosoever offers yajna with holy materials in honour and service to Agni for the gifts of the divine, to him, brilliant power, be kind and gracious with blessings.

· · ·

1.12.10

स नः॑ पावक दीदि॒वोऽग्ने॑ दे॒वाँ इ॒हा व॑ह । उप॑ य॒ज्ञं ह॒विश्च॑ नः ॥

That holy purifying brilliant power and presence may, we pray, bring us the finest gifts of

divinity and humanity, and endow our yajna with holy riches and offerings for the fire.

· · ·

1.12.11

स नः॒ स्तवा॑न॒ आ भ॑र गाय॒त्रेण॒ नवी॑यसा । र॒यिं वी॒रव॑ती॒मिष॑म् ॥

May Agni, omnipresent and self-refulgent Lord, adored again and ever again with Gayatri hymns and new versions of prayer, bless us with wealth, food and energy and heroic progeny.

· · ·

1.12.12

अग्ने॑ शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॒ विश्वा॑भिर्दे॒वहू॑तिभिः । इ॒मं स्तोमं॑ जुषस्व नः ॥

Agni, self-refulgent Lord, be gracious to accept this adoration of ours with the pure and purifying radiance of yours, this prayer and service offered with all our sincere invocations to the generous powers of divinity.

✦ Sukta 13 · 12 verses ✦

1.13.1

सुस॑मिद्धो न॒ आव॑ह दे॒वाँ अ॑ग्ने ह॒विष्म॑ते । होतः॑ पावक॒ यक्षि॑ च ॥

Agni, invoked, lighted and blazing refulgent, creator and chief agent of cosmic yajna, universal purifier, bring the divine gifts for us and for the yajamana offering holy materials to the fire, and carry on the yajna for ever.

· · ·

1.13.2

मधु॑मन्तं तनूनपाद्य॒ज्ञं दे॒वेषु॑ नः कवे । अ॒द्या कृ॑णुहि वी॒तये॑ ॥

Agni, self-refulgent omniscience, lord self- existent and preserver of the body, poetic power of creation and illumination, let the yajna rise to the heights of joy among the divinities of nature and bring the honey-sweets of bliss to the dedicated people of brilliance among us.

· · ·

1.13.3

नरा॒शंस॑मि॒ह प्रि॒यम॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञ उप॑ह्वये । मधु॑जिह्वं हवि॒ष्कृत॑म् ॥

I invoke Agni, universally adorable lord of light and life, in my heart, and kindle the fire in this dear auspicious yajna with offerings of holy materials to be tasted and consumed by the honey flames of fire for the good of the people.

· · ·

1.13.4

अग्ने॑ सु॒खत॑मे॒ रथे॑ दे॒वाँ ई॑ळि॒त आ व॑ह । असि॒ होता॒ मनु॑र्हितः ॥

Agni, invoked, lighted and honoured by all, you are the lord and agent of yajna for the benefit of humanity. Come and bring the best powers and divinities of nature in the most comfortable chariot.

· · ·

1.13.5

स्तृ॒णी॒त ब॒र्हिरा॑नु॒षग्घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठं मनीषिणः । यत्रा॒मृत॑स्य॒ चक्ष॑णम् ॥

Men of science and wisdom, cover the sacred grass of yajna sprinkled with holy water, reach the skiespregnant with the waters of space, and there you willhave a vision of nectar.

· · ·

1.13.6

विश्र॑यन्तामृता॒वृधो॒ द्वारो॑ दे॒वीर॑स॒श्चतः॑ । अ॒द्या नू॒नं च॒ यष्ट॑वे ॥

Scholars of science, servants of eternal truth who extend the bounds of knowledge, open the holy doors of inexhaustible light, the yajna must be performed to- day.

· · ·

1.13.7

नक्तो॒षासा॑ सु॒पेश॑सा॒ऽस्मिन्य॒ज्ञ उप॑ ह्वये । इ॒दं नो॑ ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑ ॥

I invoke the glorious dawn and the deep- soothing night, both beautiful and elevating, and invite them to come and grace this holy seat of yajna.

· · ·

1.13.8

ता सु॑जि॒ह्वा उप॑ह्वये॒ होता॑रा॒ दैव्या॑ क॒वी । य॒ज्ञं नो॑ यक्षतामि॒मम् ॥

I invoke and kindle two divine and visionary priestly powers of yajna, fire visible and invisible, energy physical and grace divine, both of beautiful flames of light, so that they accomplish this socio- scientific yajna of ours.

· · ·

1.13.9

इळा॒ सर॑स्वती म॒ही ति॒स्रो दे॒वीर्म॑यो॒भुवः॑ । ब॒र्हिः सी॑दन्त्व॒स्रिधः॑ ॥

I invoke three divine graces, brilliant and blissful, Ila, eternal speech of divine omniscience, Sarasvati, universal speech of divine revelation, and Mahi, realised speech of earthly communication. May the three come and sanctify the holy seats of our yajna here and now without delay, without fail.

· · ·

1.13.10

इ॒ह त्वष्टा॑रमग्रि॒यं वि॒श्वरू॑प॒मुप॑ ह्वये । अ॒स्माक॑मस्तु॒ केव॑लः ॥

Here to this house of yajna, from the core of my heart, I invoke and invite Tvashta, first pioneer of all, omnipresent lord of cosmic dynamics and maker of beautiful forms of existence. May He be the sole object of our worship.

· · ·

1.13.11

अव॑ सृजा वनस्पते॒ देव॑ दे॒वेभ्यो॑ ह॒विः । प्र दा॒तुर॑स्तु॒ चेत॑नम् ॥

Vanaspati, generous lord of love, light and beauty, nature and the forests, create, produce and provide the food for the divinities of yajna. And may that creation, production and provision initiate extension of the study, knowledge and awareness of the generous yajnics who offer the libations.

· · ·

1.13.12

स्वाहा॑ य॒ज्ञं कृ॑णोत॒नेन्द्रा॑य॒ यज्व॑नो गृ॒हे । तत्र॑ दे॒वाँ उप॑ ह्वये ॥

In the house of the devotee of yajna where the scholars and artists perform yajna and offer libations of creation in truth of word and deed with the divine voice, I invoke and invite brilliant and dedicated scholars for the performance and the extension of power and glory for Indra on earth.

✦ Sukta 14 · 12 verses ✦

1.14.1

ऐभि॑रग्ने॒ दुवो॒ गिरो॒ विश्वे॑भिः॒ सोम॑पीतये । दे॒वेभि॑र्याहि॒ यक्षि॑ च ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, listen to our words of reverence and prayer, come with all these generous powers and gifts of nature for the protection and promotion of the soma-joy of our yajna, and inspire us to carry on with the performance.

· · ·

1.14.2

आ त्वा॒ कण्वा॑ अहूषत गृ॒णन्ति॑ विप्र ते॒ धियः॑ । दे॒वेभि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, the wise and intelligent invoke you. Power of vision and inspiration,they sing and celebrate your will and omniscience. Come lord, we pray, with the gifts of the universal powers of generosity.

· · ·

1.14.3

इ॒न्द्र॒वा॒यू बृह॒स्पतिं॑ मि॒त्राग्निं॑ पू॒षणं॒ भग॑म् । आ॒दि॒त्यान्मारु॑तं ग॒णम् ॥

Scholars of science and men of wisdom, study and celebrate the nature and powers of Indra, universal energy, Vayu, air, Brhaspati, nourishing and protective light of the sun, Mitra, pranic energy, Agni, heat and light, Pushan, moonlight, Bhaga, socio-economic power and prosperity, Adityas, zodiacs of the sun vis-a-vis the earth and other planets, and Maruts, the currents of wind.

· · ·

1.14.4

प्र वो॑ भ्रियन्त॒ इन्द॑वो मत्स॒रा मा॑दयि॒ष्णवः॑ । द्र॒प्सा मध्व॑श्चमू॒षदः॑ ॥

All of you maintain these assets, soothing, inspiring, exhilarating, energising, honey-sweet and highly strengthening of growth and protection.

· · ·

1.14.5

ईळ॑ते॒ त्वाम॑व॒स्यवः॒ कण्वा॑सो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । ह॒विष्म॑न्तो अरं॒कृतः॑ ॥

The intelligent and the wise, pure at heart and ready for yajna, endowed with holy-materials, cultural and graceful, keen to have divine protection, adore andglorify you, Lord Supreme.

· · ·

1.14.6

घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठा मनो॒युजो॒ ये त्वा॒ वह॑न्ति॒ वह्न॑यः । आ दे॒वान्त्सोम॑पीतये ॥

Holy yajna, the flames of fire laden with waters and currents of energy rise from the vedi and carry your purpose to the skies and space. They are friends of the wind to be raised and used by the intelligent and the wise. They invoke the divine powers of nature and bring their blessings to the desire of humanity for protection and progress of joy and prosperity.

· · ·

1.14.7

तान्यज॑त्राँ ऋता॒वृधोऽग्ने॒ पत्नी॑वतस्कृधि । मध्वः॑ सुजिह्व पायय ॥

Agni, lord of yajna with the flaming fire and power, advance the scholars of yajna who extend the bounds of truth and knowledge, give them a protective home of comfort, and give us all a honey taste of life.

· · ·

1.14.8

ये यज॑त्रा॒ य ईड्या॒स्ते ते॑ पिबन्तु जि॒ह्वया॑ । मधो॑रग्ने॒ वष॑ट्कृति ॥

Those who conduct the yajna, those who are worthy of reverence and adoration, they taste the honey- sweets of yajna with flames of fire.

· · ·

1.14.9

आकीं॒ सूर्य॑स्य रोच॒नाद्विश्वा॑न्दे॒वाँ उ॑ष॒र्बुधः॑ । विप्रो॒ होते॒ह व॑क्षति ॥

When the sun is on the rise and nature wakes up with the dawn, the holy man of yajna who offers libations into the fire receives all the blessings of divinities from the light of the sun there and then (and communes with nature).

· · ·

1.14.10

विश्वे॑भिः सो॒म्यं मध्वग्न॒ इन्द्रे॑ण वा॒युना॑ । पिबा॑ मि॒त्रस्य॒ धाम॑भिः ॥

The Holy fire of yajna alongwith the wind and currents of energy collects the soothing sweets of vitality from all the quarters of universal prana and the light of the sun for the benefit of humanity.

· · ·

1.14.11

त्वं होता॒ मनु॑र्हि॒तोऽग्ने॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ सीदसि । सेमं नो॑ अध्व॒रं य॑ज ॥

Universal fire, lover and sustainer of humanity, you are the prime agent of the cosmic dynamics of life, and you preside over all the yajnas of nature and mankind. Pray grace this yajna of ours and help it rise to success.

· · ·

1.14.12

यु॒क्ष्वा ह्यरु॑षी॒ रथे॑ ह॒रितो॑ देव रो॒हितः॑ । ताभि॑र्दे॒वाँ इ॒हा व॑ह ॥

General power of brilliance, fire of yajna, brilliant scholar of the science and power of heat and energy, yoke the blazing red flames of fire like horses to the chariot, and with the currents of energy bring the noble divinities of power here.

✦ Sukta 15 · 12 verses ✦

1.15.1

इन्द्र॒ सोमं॒ पिब॑ ऋ॒तुना त्वा॑ विश॒न्त्विन्द॑वः । म॒त्स॒रास॒स्तदोक॑सः ॥

Indra, power divine blazing in the sun, drink up the soma juices of nature according to the seasons, and let these essences, inspiring and exhilarating, abide there, their home, according to the seasons.

· · ·

1.15.2

मरु॑तः॒ पिब॑त ऋ॒तुना॑ पो॒त्राद्य॒ज्ञं पु॑नीतन । यू॒यं हि ष्ठा सु॑दानवः ॥

Maruts, pure and purifying powers of the winds, drink the sap of nature according to the seasons, purify the yajna of nature according to the seasons by your powers of purity. Stay you all in your element, noble generous givers.

· · ·

1.15.3

अ॒भि य॒ज्ञं गृ॑णीहि नो॒ ग्नावो॒ नेष्टः॒ पिब॑ ऋ॒तुना॑ । त्वं हि र॑त्न॒धा असि॑ ॥

Electricity, purifier of everything, generous giver of things, receive and appraise the fragrance of our yajna, drink the sweets of it according to the seasons and give us the jewels, treasure of jewels as you are.

· · ·

1.15.4

अग्ने॑ दे॒वाँ इ॒हा व॑ह सा॒दया॒ योनि॑षु त्रि॒षु । परि॑ भूष॒ पिब॑ ऋ॒तुना॑ ॥

Agni, universal energy of fire, bring here the divine powers of nature, convert and fix them in three orders at three levels, physical, mental and spiritual. Beautify, beatify and sanctify, and drink the fragrance according to the seasons.

· · ·

1.15.5

ब्राह्म॑णादिन्द्र॒ राध॑सः॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑मृ॒तूँरनु॑ । तवेद्धि स॒ख्यमस्तृ॑तम् ॥

Indra, pranic energy of air, according to the seasons drink the soma juices of nature from the earthly treasuries created by the Supreme Lord of the universe. The vital relation of life with you is universal and inviolable.

· · ·

1.15.6

यु॒वं दक्षं॑ धृतव्रत॒ मित्रा॑वरुण दू॒ळभ॑म् । ऋ॒तुना॑ य॒ज्ञमा॑शाथे ॥

Mitra and Varuna, vital energies of prana and udana, both versatile, formidable and committed to life, pervade and endow yajna with power and vitality according to the seasons.

· · ·

1.15.7

द्र॒वि॒णो॒दा द्रवि॑णसो॒ ग्राव॑हस्तासो अध्व॒रे । य॒ज्ञेषु॑ दे॒वमी॑ळते ॥

Priests of yajna, keen to have the wealth of life and spirit and soma, and holding the stone-press in hand for the purpose in the yajna of love and non-violence, worship the generous lord giver of wealth with hymns of praise in yajnas of piety, science and technology.

· · ·

1.15.8

द्र॒वि॒णो॒दा द॑दातु नो॒ वसू॑नि॒ यानि॑ शृण्वि॒रे । दे॒वेषु॒ ता व॑नामहे ॥

May the lord creator and giver of wealth bless us with treasures of wealth which we have heard of, which we love, and which abound in the generous stores of nature, in yajna, and in the products of science and technology.

· · ·

1.15.9

द्र॒वि॒णो॒दाः पि॑पीषति जु॒होत॒ प्र च॑ तिष्ठत । ने॒ष्ट्रादृ॒तुभि॑रिष्यत ॥

The generous devotee of yajna thirsts for a drink of soma, the wealth and joy of life. Listen ye all, perform the yajna and be steadfast therein. Know the art and secrets of yajna and create wealth from yajnic studies of natural energy such as electricity, in accordance with the seasons.

· · ·

1.15.10

यत्त्वा॑ तु॒रीय॑मृ॒तुभि॒र्द्रवि॑णोदो॒ यजा॑महे । अध॑ स्मा नो द॒दिर्भ॑व ॥

Lord creator and giver of the wealth of the universe, we worship you, lord transcendent of the fourth estate of spirit and existence, in yajna in tune with the seasons of nature. Your devotees as we are, bless us with the gift of wealth and joy which is on top of heaven beyond paradise.

· · ·

1.15.11

अश्वि॑ना॒ पिब॑तं॒ मधु॒ दीद्य॑ग्नी शुचिव्रता । ऋ॒तुना॑ यज्ञवाहसा ॥

Ashvins, twin powers of sun and moon, earth and heaven, night and day, vested with light and fire, committed to purification, carriers of the fragrance of yajna, create and receive the honey-sweets of yajna according to the seasons.

· · ·

1.15.12

गार्ह॑पत्येन सन्त्य ऋ॒तुना॑ यज्ञ॒नीर॑सि । दे॒वान्दे॑वय॒ते य॑ज ॥

Agni, as bountiful master-power of home life, you are the leader of yajna according to the seasons. Carry on the yajna of the divine powers for the yajamana dedicated to holy development of power and energy in honour of the Divine.

✦ Sukta 16 · 9 verses ✦

1.16.1

आ त्वा॑ वहन्तु॒ हर॑यो॒ वृष॑णं॒ सोम॑पीतये । इन्द्र॑ त्वा॒ सूर॑चक्षसः ॥

Indra, light and power blazing as the sun, may the rays of light, brightest and fastest waves of energy, transmit your power, generous harbinger of light and rain, to the earth for a drink of soma as well as the protection of the joyous gifts of life. May the specialist scholars of light and solar energy develop the light and energy for the protection and prosperity of humanity and the environment.

· · ·

1.16.2

इ॒मा धा॒ना घृ॑त॒स्नुवो॒ हरी॑ इ॒होप॑वक्षतः । इन्द्रं॑ सु॒खत॑मे॒ रथे॑ ॥

These rays of light, laden with waters and fertility, day and night, in the dark and bright fortnight of the moon, and in the equinoctial and solstitial courses of the sun, bring Indra, solar energy, in the most comfortable chariot to the earth and her environment.

· · ·

1.16.3

इन्द्रं॑ प्रा॒तर्ह॑वामह॒ इन्द्रं॑ प्रय॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे । इन्द्रं॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Every morning, in every yajnic programme of body, mind and soul, we invoke, awake and develop Indra, lord omnipotent of light and honour, Indra, solar and electric energy, and Indra, energy of wind and prana for the protection, promotion and enjoyment of soma, spiritual bliss, pleasure and joy, and power and prosperity.

· · ·

1.16.4

उप॑ नः सु॒तमा ग॑हि॒ हरि॑भिरिन्द्र के॒शिभिः॑ । सु॒ते हि त्वा॒ हवा॑महे ॥

Indra, lord of light and honour, universal energy, come to our yajna with the sun, wind and electricity, with the rays of light and currents of energy. In all our yajnic programmes we feel the joy of your presence and offer worship, pray awake and promote your power and purpose on earth.

· · ·

1.16.5

सेमं नः॒ स्तोम॒मा ग॒ह्युपे॒दं सव॑नं सु॒तम् । गौ॒रो न तृ॑षि॒तः पि॑ब ॥

May Indra, rays of the sun and currents of energy, come to this celebration and yajna of ours and drink of the sweets of this creative programme of ours as a thirsty golden stag drinks of the water of a stream.

· · ·

1.16.6

इ॒मे सोमा॑स॒ इन्द॑वः सु॒तासो॒ अधि॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ । ताँ इ॑न्द्र॒ सह॑से पिब ॥

Indra, lord of sun and wind, these streams of soma are distilled on the holy seats of grass around the vedi, and their sweets and fragrance rise into the skies. These, O Lord, protect, promote and accept for the sake of strength and courage of constancy for the devotees.

· · ·

1.16.7

अ॒यं ते॒ स्तोमो॑ अग्रि॒यो हृ॑दि॒स्पृग॑स्तु॒ शंत॑मः । अथा॒ सोमं॑ सु॒तं पि॑ब ॥

Indra, this song of celebration and yajna in your honour, first and foremost programme of creativity, may be, we pray, a pleasure to the heart and a source of peace and solace. And now, therefore, protect and promote the soma distilled, and drink of it freely with the gift of grace.

· · ·

1.16.8

विश्व॒मित्सव॑नं सु॒तमिन्द्रो॒ मदा॑य गच्छति । वृ॒त्र॒हा सोम॑पीतये ॥

Indra, lord of creative energy that breaks up the clouds of darkness and releases the locked up rain for growth, moves to the universal yajna of evolution for the pleasure of created humanity, and for the protection, promotion and enjoyment of the beauties of His own creation.

· · ·

1.16.9

सेमं नः॒ काम॒मा पृ॑ण॒ गोभि॒रश्वैः॑ शतक्रतो । स्तवा॑म त्वा स्वा॒ध्यः॑ ॥

Indra, Lord of infinite acts of creative yajna and joyous fulfilment, fulfil our noble desires and ambitions with cows and horses, health of mind and senses and the fastest modes of motion and attainment. Pious, thoughtful and meditative, we worship you alone.

✦ Sukta 17 · 9 verses ✦

1.17.1

इन्द्रा॒वरु॑णयोर॒हं स॒म्राजो॒रव॒ आ वृ॑णे । ता नो॑ मृळात ई॒दृशे॑ ॥

I pray for the gifts and protection of the glorious and brilliant Indra and Varuna, sun and moon. May they be good and gracious to bless us with a similar state of brilliance in our life.

· · ·

1.17.2

गन्ता॑रा॒ हि स्थोऽव॑से॒ हवं॒ विप्र॑स्य॒ माव॑तः । ध॒र्तारा॑ चर्षणी॒नाम् ॥

I pray to Indra and Varuna, lords of fire and water, both sustainers of mankind, to listen to the prayer of devotees like me, come to our yajnic projects of life and abide by us for our protection and progress.

· · ·

1.17.3

अ॒नु॒का॒मं त॑र्पयेथा॒मिन्द्रा॑वरुण रा॒य आ । ता वां॒ नेदि॑ष्ठमीमहे ॥

Both Indra and Varuna, we pray, stay closest with us and bless us with the wealth of life according to our desire, intention and performance.

· · ·

1.17.4

यु॒वाकु॒ हि शची॑नां यु॒वाकु॑ सुमती॒नाम् । भू॒याम॑ वाज॒दाव्ना॑म् ॥

And it is our prayer and earnest desire that we be ever close and abide by the words of the sages, advice of the wise and gifts of the generous.

· · ·

1.17.5

इन्द्रः॑ सहस्र॒दाव्नां॒ वरु॑णः॒ शंस्या॑नाम् । क्रतु॑र्भवत्यु॒क्थ्यः॑ ॥

Indra (fire, sun and electric energy) is one of the givers of a thousand gifts. Varuna (water, air and moon) is one of the adorable celebrities. May our yajnic projects of science and technology be successful and worthy of praise.

· · ·

1.17.6

तयो॒रिदव॑सा व॒यं स॒नेम॒ नि च॑ धीमहि । स्यादु॒त प्र॒रेच॑नम् ॥

By the gifts and protection of these two, Indra and Varuna, may we succeed and prosper with treasures of wealth and fulfilment, and may we ever enjoy an economy of abundance and excellence.

· · ·

1.17.7

इन्द्रा॑वरुण वाम॒हं हु॒वे चि॒त्राय॒ राध॑से । अ॒स्मान्त्सु जि॒ग्युष॑स्कृतम् ॥

We invoke and adore Indra and Varuna, and we enact yajnic projects to develop solar, fire, air and water energy for the realisation of various and wondrous attainments of progress. May the two divinities grant us success in our desire and ambition for victory.

· · ·

1.17.8

इन्द्रा॑वरुण॒ नू नु वां॒ सिषा॑सन्तीषु धी॒ष्वा । अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतम् ॥

May Indra and Varuna, we pray, establish us in the state of noble mind and action and bless us with peace, comfort and security.

· · ·

1.17.9

प्र वा॑मश्नोतु सुष्टु॒तिरिन्द्रा॑वरुण॒ यां हु॒वे । यामृ॒धाथे॑ स॒धस्तु॑तिम् ॥

Indra and Varuna, self-refulgent in the sun and moon, and lords of nature and energy, may the holy song of praise which I sing, and the joint yajna of science and technology you both advance and bless, may that song and yajna come out successful and reach you as a mark of thanks and hope for grace.

✦ Sukta 18 · 9 verses ✦

1.18.1

सो॒मानं॒ स्वर॑णं कृणु॒हि ब्र॑ह्मणस्पते । क॒क्षीव॑न्तं॒ य औ॑शि॒जः ॥

Brahmanaspati, brilliant lord of Vedic knowledge, zealous for learning I am, born of learned parents, kindly take me up as a disciple, train me as an expert of soma-yajna, a scholar of language and communication with a vision of the Word and meaning, and as an artist and craftsman of eminence.

· · ·

1.18.2

यो रे॒वान्यो अ॑मीव॒हा व॑सु॒वित्पु॑ष्टि॒वर्ध॑नः । स नः॑ सिषक्तु॒ यस्तु॒रः ॥

The Lord Supreme that is lord of universal wealth and knowledge, destroyer of evil and disease, absolute master of the Vasus, prime cause of creation and evolution, power of instant action and beneficence, may He, we pray, bless us with the knowledge and wealth of the world.

· · ·

1.18.3

मा नः॒ शंसो॒ अर॑रुषो धू॒र्तिः प्रण॒ङ्मर्त्य॑स्य । रक्षा॑ णो ब्रह्मणस्पते ॥

Lord omniscient of the universe, may our honour and fame never die. Save us from the miser and the graceless man. Let there be no wickedness in or around us, no violence anywhere.

· · ·

1.18.4

स घा॑ वी॒रो न रि॑ष्यति॒ यमिन्द्रो॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिः॑ । सोमो॑ हि॒नोति॒ मर्त्य॑म् ॥

Surely that brave man never suffers any hurt or injury whom Indra, lord giver of honour, Brahmanaspati, lord omniscient of the universe, and Soma, lord of peace, beauty and joy initiate and call on the way to action and honour.

· · ·

1.18.5

त्वं तं ब्र॑ह्मणस्पते॒ सोम॒ इन्द्र॑श्च॒ मर्त्य॑म् । दक्षि॑णा पा॒त्वंह॑सः ॥

Brahmanaspati, lord omniscient of the universe, you, Soma, lord of herbs and health, Indra, lord of wind and energy, and Dakshina, yajnic generosity, save and protect that heroic man from sin who is on way to action and piety on call of the divine.

· · ·

1.18.6

सद॑स॒स्पति॒मद्भु॑तं प्रि॒यमिन्द्र॑स्य॒ काम्य॑म् । स॒निं मे॒धाम॑यासिषम् ॥

May I realise, I pray, and attain to the direct presence of the Lord of the Universe, wondrous darling love of the soul, with gifts of the divine and discriminative vision of meditative intelligence.

· · ·

1.18.7

यस्मा॑दृ॒ते न सिध्य॑ति य॒ज्ञो वि॑प॒श्चित॑श्च॒न । स धी॒नां योग॑मिन्वति ॥

The Lord omniscient and omnipresent is the One without whom no yajna, not even the yajna of creation, can be accomplished, and He manifests His presence directly in the meditative intelligence of the dedicated soul.

· · ·

1.18.8

आदृ॑ध्नोति ह॒विष्कृ॑तिं॒ प्राञ्चं॑ कृणोत्यध्व॒रम् । होत्रा॑ दे॒वेषु॑ गच्छति ॥

Sadasaspati, lord of the universe, then, accelerates the offer of holy materials of nature into the creative process and expands the holy yajna further with self-generative libations till it reaches the noble humanity and the divine presence emerges in the meditative intelligence.

· · ·

1.18.9

नरा॒शंसं॑ सु॒धृष्ट॑म॒मप॑श्यं स॒प्रथ॑स्तमम् । दि॒वो न सद्म॑मखसम् ॥

I see like the light of the sun the holy presence of Divinity, adored of humanity, most resolute wielder of the universe, of infinite expanse and prime yajamana as well as the home of the yajna of creation.

✦ Sukta 19 · 9 verses ✦

1.19.1

प्रति॒ त्यं चारु॑मध्व॒रं गो॑पी॒थाय॒ प्र हू॑यसे । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Agni, fire energy of nature, come with the winds, you are invoked and kindled for the preservation and promotion of the beautiful holy yajna (of the earth for her children).

· · ·

1.19.2

न॒हि दे॒वो न मर्त्यो॑ म॒हस्तव॒ क्रतुं॑ प॒रः । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Lord self-refulgent and omniscient, come with pranic energy and manifest into the meditative intelligence. Neither human nor divine can comprehend your refulgence and glory or your action which is supreme.

· · ·

1.19.3

ये म॒हो रज॑सो वि॒दुर्विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॑ अ॒द्रुहः॑ । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Those who are visionaries of the world inspired by Agni and free from jealousy and malignity, only they know the great worlds of the Lord’s creation. Agni, light of Divinity, come with the vibrations of pranic energy in meditation.

· · ·

1.19.4

य उ॒ग्रा अ॒र्कमा॑नृ॒चुरना॑धृष्टास॒ ओज॑सा । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Light and fire, Agni, come with the winds and waves of energy, Maruts which are awful and undaunted, and which blaze and light up the sun with splendour.

· · ·

1.19.5

ये शु॒भ्रा घो॒रव॑र्पसः सुक्ष॒त्रासो॑ रि॒शाद॑सः । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Those are the winds blessed and beautiful, awful and catalytic, dominating rulers of nature’s metabolism, destroyers of evil and disease.Agni, come with the winds.

· · ·

1.19.6

ये नाक॒स्याधि॑ रोच॒ने दि॒वि दे॒वास॒ आस॑ते । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

The brilliant powers are Maruts which abide and preside over the regions of bliss in the light of the solar region, and which hold, sustain and light the earth, moon and others.Agni, come with those divine Maruts of light and power. Agni, come and bless.

· · ·

1.19.7

य ई॒ङ्खय॑न्ति॒ पर्व॑तान् ति॒रः स॑मु॒द्रम॑र्ण॒वम् । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

The winds which scatter the clouds and shatter the mountains, agitate the seas and shake the oceans of space, with those winds, Agni, come to us and bless.

· · ·

1.19.8

आ ये त॒न्वन्ति॑ र॒श्मिभि॑स्ति॒रः स॑मु॒द्रमोज॑सा । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

The winds which, with their power, churn the seas, and with their waves of splendour light the sun and expand the space, with those winds, Agni, come and bless.

· · ·

1.19.9

अ॒भि त्वा॑ पू॒र्वपी॑तये सृ॒जामि॑ सो॒म्यं मधु॑ । म॒रुद्भि॑रग्न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

I create and concentrate from all sides the honey sweets of life with yajna for you as your first and only drink of ecstasy. Come, Agni, with all the power and splendour of the winds and bless us one and all.

✦ Sukta 20 · 8 verses ✦

1.20.1

अ॒यं दे॒वाय॒ जन्म॑ने॒ स्तोमो॒ विप्रे॑भिरास॒या । अका॑रि रत्न॒धात॑मः ॥

This song of celebrity full of divine treasure of joy sung by sagely poets in their own voice leads to a new birth full of divine happiness.

· · ·

1.20.2

य इन्द्रा॑य वचो॒युजा॑ तत॒क्षुर्मन॑सा॒ हरी॑ । शमी॑भिर्य॒ज्ञमा॑शत ॥

Those sagely scholars who study and analyse the subtleties of motion and gravitation with their mind and speech, and with scientific apparatuses actualise the power for use, in fact, extend the creative yajna for God and humanity toward its fulfilment.

· · ·

1.20.3

तक्ष॒न्नास॑त्याभ्यां॒ परि॑ज्मानं सु॒खं रथ॑म् । तक्ष॑न्धे॒नुं स॑ब॒र्दुघा॑म् ॥

Those scholars and scientists who create a comfortable chariot of universal motion with fire and water power create a language of immense possibilities of knowledge, indeed a mother cow for universal prosperity.

· · ·

1.20.4

युवा॑ना पि॒तरा॒ पुनः॑ स॒त्यम॑न्त्रा ऋजू॒यवः॑ । ऋ॒भवो॑ वि॒ष्ट्य॑क्रत ॥

Sagely scholars, simple men of rectitude dedicated to the secrets of nature and service of humanity, searching, researching, joining, disjoining again and again in experiments ultimately achieve speed and success.

· · ·

1.20.5

सं वो॒ मदा॑सो अग्म॒तेन्द्रे॑ण च म॒रुत्व॑ता । आ॒दि॒त्येभि॑श्च॒ राज॑भिः ॥

Ye sagely scholars of science and divinity, dedicated and rejoicing together, march on with the winds, with the speed of lightning, and with the power and splendour of sun-beams.

· · ·

1.20.6

उ॒त त्यं च॑म॒सं नवं॒ त्वष्टु॑र्दे॒वस्य॒ निष्कृ॑तम् । अक॑र्त च॒तुरः॒ पुनः॑ ॥

When the scholars see a new work of discovery or invention created by Tvashta, a brilliant sophisticated creator of new forms, they advance the work further to fourfold dimensions with the energy of earth, water, fire and wind.

· · ·

1.20.7

ते नो॒ रत्ना॑नि धत्तन॒ त्रिरा साप्ता॑नि सुन्व॒ते । एक॑मेकं सुश॒स्तिभिः॑ ॥

May the sagely scholars create and provide gems of wealth for us. Indeed they create the means of seven kinds of joyful service for us, each with care and laudable work, three ways in thought, word and deed, that is, three kinds of yajnic activity of reverence to the seniors, social cooperation and charity to be performed by all the four classes of society at each one of the four stages of life.

· · ·

1.20.8

अधा॑रयन्त॒ वह्न॒योऽभ॑जन्त सुकृ॒त्यया॑ । भा॒गं दे॒वेषु॑ य॒ज्ञिय॑म् ॥

Brilliant and generous people, who bear the burdens of humanity, who undertake and carry out their part of yajnic duty with honesty and expertise enjoy their share of happiness and rejoice among the divinities.

✦ Sukta 21 · 6 verses ✦

1.21.1

इ॒हेन्द्रा॒ग्नी उप॑ ह्वये॒ तयो॒रित्स्तोम॑मुश्मसि । ता सोमं॑ सोम॒पात॑मा ॥

I invoke Indra and Agni, air and fire. We love to study and appraise their properties. They are the most joyous protectors and promoters of soma, peace, pleasure and prosperity of life.

· · ·

1.21.2

ता य॒ज्ञेषु॒ प्र शं॑सतेन्द्रा॒ग्नी शु॑म्भता नरः । ता गा॑य॒त्रेषु॑ गायत ॥

All ye men and women, sing and celebrate the qualities of fire and air in yajna, develop and illuminate them in use, and glorify them in Gayatri music of the Veda.

· · ·

1.21.3

ता मि॒त्रस्य॒ प्रश॑स्तय इन्द्रा॒ग्नी ता ह॑वामहे । सो॒म॒पा सोम॑पीतये ॥

We invoke and honour Indra and Agni, air and fire energy, in the yajnic projects of humanity for the delight and comfort of noble friends and for the protection and promotion of the wealth and joy of the world. Indeed, they are the protectors and promoters of soma, pleasure, peace and prosperity for all.

· · ·

1.21.4

उ॒ग्रा सन्ता॑ हवामह॒ उपे॒दं सव॑नं सु॒तम् । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी एह ग॑च्छताम् ॥

We invoke and honour Indra and Agni, powers of air and fire, both powerful and brilliant, to come and join this yajnic project of ours for the creation of wealth and joy. May they come here, promote the yajna and bless us.

· · ·

1.21.5

ता म॒हान्ता॒ सद॒स्पती॒ इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ रक्ष॑ उब्जतम् । अप्र॑जाः सन्त्व॒त्रिणः॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, air and fire, both are great, both protect and illuminate halls and assemblies and destroy sin and evil and the wicked people. Enemies do not last till the next generation if they be friends.

· · ·

1.21.6

तेन॑ स॒त्येन॑ जागृत॒मधि॑ प्रचे॒तुने॑ प॒दे । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतम् ॥

Indra and Agni, pranic energy and vital heat energy, are ever awake in their state of real and constant qualities with their blissful and beatific virtues. May these two provide us with peace and comfort in a safe and happy home.

✦ Sukta 22 · 21 verses ✦

1.22.1

प्रा॒त॒र्युजा॒ विबो॑धया॒श्विना॒वेह ग॑च्छताम् । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Ashvins, twin masters of the science of motion, come early morning to this yajna of ours and enlighten us (on knowledge and application, fire and earth, power and gravitation, and acceleration and retardation). Come for the enjoyment, protection and promotion of our yajnic creations.

· · ·

1.22.2

या सु॒रथा॑ र॒थीत॑मो॒भा दे॒वा दि॑वि॒स्पृशा॑ । अ॒श्विना॒ ता ह॑वामहे ॥

We invoke the Ashvins, divine master makers of the chariot, most powerful energies of motion, water and fire, fire and earth, who can touch the skies.

· · ·

1.22.3

या वां॒ कशा॒ मधु॑म॒त्यश्वि॑ना सू॒नृता॑वती । तया॑ य॒ज्ञं मि॑मिक्षतम् ॥

Ashvins, masters of the science of motion, with your words of knowledge, power, energy and velocity in nature, so sweet and so true, come and accomplish our yajna of creation and technology.

· · ·

1.22.4

न॒हि वा॒मस्ति॑ दूर॒के यत्रा॒ रथे॑न॒ गच्छ॑थः । अश्वि॑ना सो॒मिनो॑ गृ॒हम् ॥

Ashvins, masters of the celestial chariot, wherever you reach by the chariot, even farthest to the house of the lord of soma wealth, nothing is too far for you.

· · ·

1.22.5

हिर॑ण्यपाणिमू॒तये॑ सवि॒तार॒मुप॑ ह्वये । स चेत्ता॑ दे॒वता॑ प॒दम् ॥

For protection, love and progress, we invoke the golden-handed Savita, creator, energiser, omniscient giver of knowledge and awareness, light of the universe and the supreme destination.

· · ·

1.22.6

अ॒पां नपा॑त॒मव॑से सवि॒तार॒मुप॑ स्तुहि । तस्य॑ व्र॒तान्यु॑श्मसि ॥

For the sake of protection, knowledge and progress, invoke and worship Savita, creator of the universe, imperishable lord pervasive of spaces and the waters of life, since we all abide by the laws ordained by Him.

· · ·

1.22.7

वि॒भ॒क्तारं॑ हवामहे॒ वसो॑श्चि॒त्रस्य॒ राध॑सः । स॒वि॒तारं॑ नृ॒चक्ष॑सम् ॥

We invoke and worship Savita, creator and sustainer of the universe, giver of the wonderful wealth of the world, and dispenser of the fruits of human action and endeavour and to all. He watches from within and without. All, everything, He watches.

· · ·

1.22.8

सखा॑य॒ आ निषी॑दत सवि॒ता स्तोम्यो॒ नु नः॑ । दाता॒ राधां॑सि शुम्भति ॥

Friends, come and sit together, Savita alone is our lord for worship and adoration. Universal giver, He beautifies and beatifies His gifts of wealth and light.

· · ·

1.22.9

अग्ने॒ पत्नी॑रि॒हाव॑ह दे॒वाना॑मुश॒तीरुप॑ । त्वष्टा॑रं॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Agni, lord of light and life and evolution, bring home to us here those generous energies of heat and light which warmly and profusely feed and promote the life and joy of the earth and other sustaining powers of nature, and bring Tvashta, that divine artificer, who creates beautiful new forms of existence and promotes life.

· · ·

1.22.10

आ ग्ना अ॑ग्न इ॒हाव॑से॒ होत्रां॑ यविष्ठ॒ भार॑तीम् । वरू॑त्रीं धि॒षणां॑ वह ॥

Agni, lord of light, life and learning, youngest and most brilliant creative power, bring home to us here the beauties of the earth, fragrance of oblations, life- giving sunlight and language of learning, soothing nights and days, and the fiery speech of heaven and earth for our protection and progress.

· · ·

1.22.11

अ॒भि नो॑ दे॒वीरव॑सा म॒हः शर्म॑णा नृ॒पत्नीः॑ । अच्छि॑न्नपत्राः सचन्ताम् ॥

May noble and generous women of brilliance, supporters and sustainers of their men, bless us with great and comfortable happy homes and the wealth of security, peace and progress.

· · ·

1.22.12

इ॒हेन्द्रा॒णीमुप॑ ह्वये वरुणा॒नीं स्व॒स्तये॑ । अ॒ग्नायीं॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

I invoke Indrani, light of the sun, Varunani, coolness of water and soothing softness of air, and Agnayi, heat of fire and warmth to bless our homes and women with peace and progress, protection and prosperity for the sake of happiness and well-being.

· · ·

1.22.13

म॒ही द्यौः पृ॑थि॒वी च॑ न इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं मि॑मिक्षताम् । पि॒पृ॒तां नो॒ भरी॑मभिः ॥

May the high heavens with their light and energy, and the dark green earths with their sustenance and gravitation feed and accomplish this holy scientific yajna of ours and, with their support and nourishment, bless us with fulfilment.

· · ·

1.22.14

तयो॒रिद्घृ॒तव॒त्पयो॒ विप्रा॑ रिहन्ति धी॒तिभिः॑ । ग॒न्ध॒र्वस्य॑ ध्रु॒वे प॒दे ॥

By the force of attraction and repulsion of those two, sun and earth, do eminent men of knowledge receive liquid life on earth and move around in the steady space of the universal hold of the sustainer of the stars.

· · ·

1.22.15

स्यो॒ना पृ॑थिवि भवानृक्ष॒रा नि॒वेश॑नी । यच्छा॑ नः॒ शर्म॑ स॒प्रथः॑ ॥

Dear green earth, beautiful, free from thorns of sufferance, wide expansive happy haven for all, give us a happy home of pleasure and delight.

· · ·

1.22.16

अतो॑ दे॒वा अ॑वन्तु नो॒ यतो॒ विष्णु॑र्विचक्र॒मे । पृ॒थि॒व्याः स॒प्त धाम॑भिः ॥

May the scholars of light and vision favour and protect us with knowledge of the seven stages of creation from earth to Prakrti through which Vishnu, lord omnipresent, created the universe (of five elements, Virat and Prakriti).

· · ·

1.22.17

इ॒दं विष्णु॒र्वि च॑क्रमे त्रे॒धा निद॑धे प॒दम् । समू॑ळ्हमस्य पांसु॒रे ॥

Vishnu created this threefold universe of matter, motion and mind in three steps of evolution through Prakriti, subtle elements and gross elements, shaped the atoms into form and fixed the form in eternal space and time.

· · ·

1.22.18

त्रीणि॑ प॒दा वि च॑क्रमे॒ विष्णु॑र्गो॒पा अदा॑भ्यः । अतो॒ धर्मा॑णि धा॒रय॑न् ॥

Vishnu, universal sustainer and unchallengeable protector, fixed the order of the threefold universe of forms, comprehensible, apprehensible and spiritually attainable, and hence the forms abide in and observe the laws of their existence and function.

· · ·

1.22.19

विष्णोः॒ कर्मा॑णि पश्यत॒ यतो॑ व्र॒तानि॑ पस्प॒शे । इन्द्र॑स्य॒ युज्यः॒ सखा॑ ॥

Watch the creation and actions of Vishnu. Thence the souls know and observe the law and discipline of their existence. Vishnu is the friend and constant companion of the soul.

· · ·

1.22.20

तद्विष्णोः॑ पर॒मं प॒दं सदा॑ पश्यन्ति सू॒रयः॑ । दि॒वी॑व॒ चक्षु॒रात॑तम् ॥

Heroic souls of vision realise the supreme presence of Vishnu in their soul as they see the light of the sun in heaven.

· · ·

1.22.21

तद्विप्रा॑सो विप॒न्यवो॑ जागृ॒वांसः॒ समि॑न्धते । विष्णो॒र्यत्प॑र॒मं प॒दम् ॥

Visionary souls, celebrants of Vishnu, ever awake, invoke, kindle and light up the spirit within and realise that supreme light of Divinity in the soul.

✦ Sukta 23 · 24 verses ✦

1.23.1

ती॒व्राः सोमा॑स॒ आ ग॑ह्या॒शीर्व॑न्तः सु॒ता इ॒मे । वायो॒ तान्प्रस्थि॑तान्पिब ॥

Sharp and lovely tonics are these somas, distilled essences of herbs. Vayu, vitality of the winds, take them on as they flow and energise them as food for the mind and soul.

· · ·

1.23.2

उ॒भा दे॒वा दि॑वि॒स्पृशे॑न्द्रवा॒यू ह॑वामहे । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

We invoke Indra and Vayu, divine powers of fire and wind which touch the skies, for the protection and promotion of soma, the beauty and joy of life in the world, which we have been able to create.

· · ·

1.23.3

इ॒न्द्र॒वा॒यू म॑नो॒जुवा॒ विप्रा॑ हवन्त ऊ॒तये॑ । स॒ह॒स्रा॒क्षा धि॒यस्पती॑ ॥

For the protection and progress of the world in a state of peace and happiness, scholars of vision and piety invoke Indra and Vayu, divine energies of wind and electricity, which move at the speed of the mind, and which are givers of a thousand powers of sensitivity and promoters of human intelligence and its creations.

· · ·

1.23.4

मि॒त्रं व॒यं ह॑वामहे॒ वरु॑णं॒ सोम॑पीतये । ज॒ज्ञा॒ना पू॒तद॑क्षसा ॥

For the creation, preservation and promotion of soma, peace and joy of life, we invoke Mitra and Varuna, life energies of prana and udana in systemic circulation, which are purifying, vitalising and enlightening for the body, mind and soul.

· · ·

1.23.5

ऋ॒तेन॒ यावृ॑ता॒वृधा॑वृ॒तस्य॒ ज्योति॑ष॒स्पती॑ । ता मि॒त्रावरु॑णा हुवे ॥

For our enlightenment and spiritual advance- ment, we invoke Mitra and Varuna, light of the sun and motive energy of the wind, both guardians of the light of truth and natural laws of Divinity, which, by that very light of truth, extend the operation of that law in the Lord’s creation upto the mind and soul of humanity.

· · ·

1.23.6

वरु॑णः प्रावि॒ता भु॑वन्मि॒त्रो विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । कर॑तां नः सु॒राध॑सः ॥

Varuna is breath of air, and Mitra, light of the sun, with energies and all the vitalities and immunities of human life and prosperity. May they both help us rise to the noblest wealth of body, mind and soul.

· · ·

1.23.7

म॒रुत्व॑न्तं हवामह॒ इन्द्र॒मा सोम॑पीतये । स॒जूर्ग॒णेन॑ तृम्पतु ॥

We invoke Indra, electric energy of nature which carries the energy of the Maruts, tempestuous winds of higher skies. May the electric energy, omnipresent in nature and co-operative with the winds, bless us with comfort and happiness in life.

· · ·

1.23.8

इन्द्र॑ज्येष्ठा॒ मरु॑द्गणा॒ देवा॑सः॒ पूष॑रातयः । विश्वे॒ मम॑ श्रुता॒ हव॑म् ॥

May all the divine powers of nature, of which the sun is the chief, especially the winds blissfully working in unison with sun-rays, listen to our invocation and bless us with power and prosperity.

· · ·

1.23.9

ह॒त वृ॒त्रं सु॑दानव॒ इन्द्रे॑ण॒ सह॑सा यु॒जा । मा नो॑ दुः॒शंस॑ ईशत ॥

Working with tremendous force in unison with the sun, the winds break up the clouds and bless us with rain. Indra, Lord of universal power and honour, we pray, let no man of evil mind and dishonour exploit their power and rule over us.

· · ·

1.23.10

विश्वा॑न्दे॒वान्ह॑वामहे म॒रुतः॒ सोम॑पीतये । उ॒ग्रा हि पृश्नि॑मातरः ॥

We invoke all the divinities of nature and humanity, and we invoke the Maruts, fierce children of mother skies, all for a drink of soma — to celebrate our creation of power by yajna and join our prayer for protection by Grace.

· · ·

1.23.11

जय॑तामिव तन्य॒तुर्म॒रुता॑मेति धृष्णु॒या । यच्छुभं॑ या॒थना॑ नरः ॥

Whatever good a person achieves in life is achieved by courage and daring such as the force of winds, or the thunder of lightning or the power of a king’s victorious army.

· · ·

1.23.12

ह॒स्का॒राद्वि॒द्युत॒स्पर्यतो॑ जा॒ता अ॑वन्तु नः । म॒रुतो॑ मृळयन्तु नः ॥

May the lights born of flashes of lightning spare and protect and help us advance. May the Maruts give us peace and comfort.

· · ·

1.23.13

आ पू॑षञ्चि॒त्रब॑र्हिष॒माघृ॑णे ध॒रुणं॑ दि॒वः । आजा॑ न॒ष्टं यथा॑ प॒शुम् ॥

Just as a shepherd shows a once lost but later found animal, so the sun, lord of brilliant rays and supporter of life with nourishment, lights up and reveals the wondrous skies and spaces and lights up and moves around the stars and planets such as the earth.

· · ·

1.23.14

पू॒षा राजा॑न॒माघृ॑णि॒रप॑गूळ्हं॒ गुहा॑ हि॒तम् । अवि॑न्दच्चि॒त्रब॑र्हिषम् ॥

Pusha, lord creator and supporter of life, and lord of light of the universe creates, manifests and illuminates the wondrous universe of light and

beauty which was hidden deep but safe and secure in the cave of the night of annihilation. (The mantra also applies to the creation of the earth and other planets of the solar system, in continuation of mantra 13 above. It also applies to the revelation of the light of the soul hidden in the cave of the heart.)

· · ·

1.23.15

उ॒तो स मह्य॒मिन्दु॑भिः॒ षड्यु॒क्ताँ अ॑नु॒सेषि॑धत् । गोभि॒र्यवं॒ न च॑र्कृषत् ॥

And then, just as a farmer tills the land and produces food, so does He, Lord Creator, again create for me — humanity — the earth with sweets of green and the cycle of six seasons, cows and barley food.

· · ·

1.23.16

अ॒म्बयो॑ य॒न्त्यध्व॑भिर्जा॒मयो॑ अध्वरीय॒ताम् । पृ॒ञ्च॒तीर्मधु॑ना॒ पयः॑ ॥

May the motherly waters, protectors of humanity, flow by the same paths, the flow mixing with honey-sweets of the earth, performing part of the creative yajna for us.

· · ·

1.23.17

अ॒मूर्या उप॒ सूर्ये॒ याभि॑र्वा॒ सूर्यः॑ स॒ह । ता नो॑ हिन्वन्त्वध्व॒रम् ॥

And those distant waters which are close to the sun, or which are in the sun itself, or with which the sun nourishes life, may all those come, accomplish and advance our yajna.

· · ·

1.23.18

अ॒पो दे॒वीरुप॑ ह्वये॒ यत्र॒ गावः॒ पिब॑न्ति नः । सिन्धु॑भ्यः॒ कर्त्वं॑ ह॒विः ॥

I invoke the celestial waters whereby the rays of the sun suck up the vapours in order to create holy materials for our yajna.

· · ·

1.23.19

अ॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तर॒मृत॑म॒प्सु भे॑ष॒जम॒पामु॒त प्रश॑स्तये । देवा॒ भव॑त वा॒जिनः॑ ॥

There is nectar in the waters. There is health and medicinal efficacy in the waters. General scholars of eminence, rise and act fast for special studies and appraisal of waters.

· · ·

1.23.20

अ॒प्सु मे॒ सोमो॑ अब्रवीद॒न्तर्विश्वा॑नि भेष॒जा । अ॒ग्निं च॑ वि॒श्वश॑म्भुव॒माप॑श्च वि॒श्वभे॑षजीः ॥

Soma, the moon and the herbs, creates and shows there is universal medicine in the waters for me. And the waters, universal medicine, create the vital heat of life which is the universal sustainer of us all.

· · ·

1.23.21

आपः॑ पृणी॒त भे॑ष॒जं वरू॑थं त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ मम॑ । ज्योक् च॒ सूर्यं॑ दृ॒शे ॥

Waters create the best medicine for my body for a long life time for me to have a sight of the sun, universal light, everyday.

· · ·

1.23.22

इ॒दमा॑पः॒ प्र व॑हत॒ यत्किं च॑ दुरि॒तं मयि॑ । यद्वा॒हम॑भिदु॒द्रोह॒ यद्वा॑ शे॒प उ॒तानृ॑तम् ॥

May these holy waters wash off and carry away whatever evil there be in me, whatever I hate, or whatever I curse, or whatever false there be in me.

· · ·

1.23.23

आपो॑ अ॒द्यान्व॑चारिषं॒ रसे॑न॒ सम॑गस्महि । पय॑स्वानग्न॒ आ ग॑हि॒ तं मा॒ सं सृ॑ज॒ वर्च॑सा ॥

Let us to-day taste of the holy waters mixed with vital juices. And whatever I have drunk, whatever I have performed in action as my Karma, Agni, come to me and recreate

· · ·

1.23.24

सं मा॑ग्ने॒ वर्च॑सा सृज॒ सं प्र॒जया॒ समायु॑षा । वि॒द्युर्मे॑ अस्य दे॒वा इन्द्रो॑ विद्यात्स॒ह ऋषि॑भिः ॥

Agni, Lord omniscient and omnipotent, recreate me with power and splendour, with family, with good health and age. May the divinities know me as I am. May Indra, lord of splendour and honour, know me, along with all the seers of the universal eye. They know.

✦ Sukta 24 · 15 verses ✦

1.24.1

कस्य॑ नू॒नं क॑त॒मस्या॒मृता॑नां॒ मना॑महे॒ चारु॑ दे॒वस्य॒ नाम॑ । को नो॑ म॒ह्या अदि॑तये॒ पुन॑र्दात्पि॒तरं॑ च दृ॒शेयं॑ मा॒तरं॑ च ॥

Who, which one, is that supreme lord of the many immortals whose auspicious name we adore and worship? Who is that for sure who sends us back to the great earth so that we may again behold and be with our father and mother?

· · ·

1.24.2

अ॒ग्नेर्व॒यं प्र॑थ॒मस्या॒मृता॑नां॒ मना॑महे॒ चारु॑ दे॒वस्य॒ नाम॑ । स नो॑ म॒ह्या अदि॑तये॒ पुन॑र्दात्पि॒तरं॑ च दृ॒शेयं॑ मा॒तरं॑ च ॥

We adore and worship the auspicious name of Agni, lord of light and life, first of the immortals and the highest. He it is who sends us back to this great world of Prakrti so that we may behold and be with our father and mother again.

· · ·

1.24.3

अ॒भि त्वा॑ देव सवित॒रीशा॑नं॒ वार्या॑णाम् । सदा॑वन्भा॒गमी॑महे ॥

Of all the immortals, we worship you alone, Savita, glorious lord of light and life, ruler of the regions and favourite things of our choice, eternal protector and adorable dispenser of universal justice.

· · ·

1.24.4

यश्चि॒द्धि त॑ इ॒त्था भगः॑ शशमा॒नः पु॒रा नि॒दः । अ॒द्वे॒षो हस्त॑योर्द॒धे ॥

Whatever your gifts of dispensation thus, whether admirable wealth as a result of former adoration and worship, or otherwise as a result of blame and censure, I deliver into your hands without hate or anger.

· · ·

1.24.5

भग॑भक्तस्य ते व॒यमुद॑शेम॒ तवाव॑सा । मू॒र्धानं॑ रा॒य आ॒रभे॑ ॥

Lord of glory, we pray, let us receive our share of divine dispensation with your protection and grace in order to rise to the top in wealth and reach the glory of your presence.

· · ·

1.24.6

न॒हि ते॑ क्ष॒त्रं न सहो॒ न म॒न्युं वय॑श्च॒नामी प॒तय॑न्त आ॒पुः । नेमा आपो॑ अनिमि॒षं चर॑न्ती॒र्न ये वात॑स्य प्रमि॒नन्त्यभ्व॑म् ॥

All those that move in space comprehend not your order and dominion, nor violate your power or force or constancy. Nor do these waters and currents of universal energy ever on the move surpass your presence. Nor even the velocities of the wind can ever violate the immensity of your power which is eternal and immortal.

· · ·

1.24.7

अ॒बु॒ध्ने राजा॒ वरु॑णो॒ वन॑स्यो॒र्ध्वं स्तूपं॑ ददते पू॒तद॑क्षः । नी॒चीनाः॑ स्थुरु॒परि॑ बु॒ध्न ए॑षाम॒स्मे अ॒न्तर्निहि॑ताः के॒तवः॑ स्युः ॥

The ruling lord Varuna, the brilliant sun, pure and generous, radiates a flood of light in the bottomless astral sphere over the atmosphere, flowing down, the rays of light stop over the atmosphere and filter down to the clouds and impregnate them over the earth. May the rays of the sun, the clouds and the vapours absorbed in the clouds be for our good.

· · ·

1.24.8

उ॒रुं हि राजा॒ वरु॑णश्च॒कार॒ सूर्या॑य॒ पन्था॒मन्वे॑त॒वा उ॑ । अ॒पदे॒ पादा॒ प्रति॑धातवेऽकरु॒ताप॑व॒क्ता हृ॑दया॒विध॑श्चित् ॥

Varuna, ruling lord of the universe, carved out a wide path for the sun to move and thus created an orbit-path in the pathless space for His deputy wielder and sustainer of the sub-system, meticulously averting, as if, a pinhole in the heart of the cosmic system, like a surgeon.

· · ·

1.24.9

श॒तं ते॑ राजन्भि॒षजः॑ स॒हस्र॑मु॒र्वी ग॑भी॒रा सु॑म॒तिष्टे॑ अस्तु । बाध॑स्व दू॒रे निर्ऋ॑तिं परा॒चैः कृ॒तं चि॒देनः॒ प्र मु॑मुग्ध्य॒स्मत् ॥

Glorious ruler, hundred are your healing balms and medicaments, thousands your wide earths, and deep is your noble intelligence. Drive off adversity far away. And whatever sin is committed by the wicked, keep away, and liberate us.

· · ·

1.24.10

अ॒मी य ऋक्षा॒ निहि॑तास उ॒च्चा नक्तं॒ ददृ॑श्रे॒ कुह॑ चि॒द्दिवे॑युः । अद॑ब्धानि॒ वरु॑णस्य व्र॒तानि॑ वि॒चाक॑शच्च॒न्द्रमा॒ नक्त॑मेति ॥

Those constellations of stars such as the Great Bear set in motion high and far, which are seen at night — where do they go in the day? Fixed, inviolable are the laws and rules of Varuna, rules of the stars. So the moon shines at night and moves on in its orbit.

· · ·

1.24.11

तत्त्वा॑ यामि॒ ब्रह्म॑णा॒ वन्द॑मान॒स्तदा शा॑स्ते॒ यज॑मानो ह॒विर्भिः॑ । अहे॑ळमानो वरुणे॒ह बो॒ध्युरु॑शंस॒ मा न॒ आयुः॒ प्र मो॑षीः ॥

Varuna, lord ruler of the stars, praised and celebrated by many, I come to you singing in worship the hymns of divinity, offering holy fragrances in yajna with faith and reverence. Lord kind and gracious, give us the light of life here itself. Let not our life waste away.

· · ·

1.24.12

तदिन्नक्तं॒ तद्दिवा॒ मह्य॑माहु॒स्तद॒यं केतो॑ हृ॒द आ वि च॑ष्टे । शुनः॒शेपो॒ यमह्व॑द्गृभी॒तः सो अ॒स्मान्राजा॒ वरु॑णो मुमोक्तु ॥

Of that the wise men nightly speak to me. Day in and day out they sing of that for me. And the same presence this voice of the heart reveals to me. The sagely scholar, inspired and possessed, proclaims His honour and dominion. May the same ruling lord of glory, Varuna, deliver us from sin and slavery unto light and freedom.

· · ·

1.24.13

शुनः॒शेपो॒ ह्यह्व॑द्गृभी॒तस्त्रि॒ष्वा॑दि॒त्यं द्रु॑प॒देषु॑ ब॒द्धः । अवै॑नं॒ राजा॒ वरु॑णः ससृज्याद्वि॒द्वाँ अद॑ब्धो॒ वि मु॑मोक्तु॒ पाशा॑न् ॥

Shunah-shepa, man of knowledge dedicated to light and happiness, inspired and possessed by ambition, bound within the yajnic pillars of knowledge, action and meditation, should invoke and develop Aditya, power of sun and wind. May Varuna, lord omniscient ruler of the world, shape him (as a maker and saviour of humanity). May He, inviolable lord omnipotent, deliver us from bonds of sin, ignorance and poverty.

· · ·

1.24.14

अव॑ ते॒ हेळो॑ वरुण॒ नमो॑भि॒रव॑ य॒ज्ञेभि॑रीमहे ह॒विर्भिः॑ । क्षय॑न्न॒स्मभ्य॑मसुर प्रचेता॒ राज॒न्नेनां॑सि शिश्रथः कृ॒तानि॑ ॥

Varuna, self-refulgent lord of omniscience, giver of knowledge, life of our breath, we pray for the gift of your light and favour with acts of homage, yajnas and holy offerings. Reducing and destroying our sins as you are, we pray, be kind and gracious to loosen the bonds of our actions performed.

· · ·

1.24.15

उदु॑त्त॒मं व॑रुण॒ पाश॑म॒स्मदवा॑ध॒मं वि म॑ध्य॒मं श्र॑थाय । अथा॑ व॒यमा॑दित्य व्र॒ते तवाना॑गसो॒ अदि॑तये स्याम ॥

Varuna, dearest lord of our choice, we pray, loosen the highest, middling and the lowest bonds of our sin and slavery so that, O Lord Supreme of light, free from sin and slavery and living within the rules of your law, we may be fit for the attainment of the ultimate freedom of Moksha.

✦ Sukta 25 · 21 verses ✦

1.25.1

यच्चि॒द्धि ते॒ विशो॑ यथा॒ प्र दे॑व वरुण व्र॒तम् । मि॒नी॒मसि॒ द्यवि॑द्यवि ॥

Varuna, brilliant and generous lord of creation, since after all we are your children, and we do (out of ignorance) violate your rules of discipline and conduct day by day, we pray for your compassion as our father.

· · ·

1.25.2

मा नो॑ व॒धाय॑ ह॒त्नवे॑ जिहीळा॒नस्य॑ रीरधः । मा हृ॑णा॒नस्य॑ म॒न्यवे॑ ॥

Lord of compassion, let us not feel excited to take up a deadly weapon against the person who offends us and excites our passion for revenge, and save us from the wrath against the person who feels ashamed of his action against us.

· · ·

1.25.3

वि मृ॑ळी॒काय॑ ते॒ मनो॑ र॒थीरश्वं॒ न संदि॑तम् । गी॒र्भिर्व॑रुण सीमहि ॥

Like a driver who has yoked the horse to his chariot, we control and concentrate our mind on you with thought and prayers for the gift of your compassion and grace.

· · ·

1.25.4

परा॒ हि मे॒ विम॑न्यवः॒ पत॑न्ति॒ वस्य॑इष्टये । वयो॒ न व॑स॒तीरुप॑ ॥

For the sake of my domestic good and well- being, I pray, may those who are ill-disposed and impassioned against me go off far away just as birds leave their nests and fly away.

· · ·

1.25.5

क॒दा क्ष॑त्र॒श्रियं॒ नर॒मा वरु॑णं करामहे । मृ॒ळी॒कायो॑रु॒चक्ष॑सम् ॥

How shall we adore and pray to Varuna, lord of universal eye and guide of humanity, for His favour and grace, and when shall we realise the beauty and prosperity of the social order.

· · ·

1.25.6

तदित्स॑मा॒नमा॑शाते॒ वेन॑न्ता॒ न प्र यु॑च्छतः । धृ॒तव्र॑ताय दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Both Mitra and Varuna yearning with love for the man of the vows of Dharma and yajnic generosity forsake him not, they abide by him constantly and bless him with fulfilment.

· · ·

1.25.7

वेदा॒ यो वी॒नां प॒दम॒न्तरि॑क्षेण॒ पत॑ताम् । वेद॑ ना॒वः स॑मु॒द्रियः॑ ॥

The specialist of the sea and the sky is the man who knows the science and paths of the birds and planes flying across the skies, and he knows the science and routes of the ships sailing across the seas.

· · ·

1.25.8

वेद॑ मा॒सो धृ॒तव्र॑तो॒ द्वाद॑श प्र॒जाव॑तः । वेदा॒ य उ॑प॒जाय॑ते ॥

The man of the discipline of science and Dharma who knows the twelve months of the year and the thirteenth which is supplementary every third year, and also knows how they raise the produce of the earth like a father, is the specialist of time, seasons, fertility and production.

· · ·

1.25.9

वेद॒ वात॑स्य वर्त॒निमु॒रोर्ऋ॒ष्वस्य॑ बृह॒तः । वेदा॒ ये अ॒ध्यास॑ते ॥

One who knows the course of the winds, vast, abundant and stormy, and knows those that are sustained by it, and also knows those that control it, is a specialist of the earth and the skies.

· · ·

1.25.10

नि ष॑साद धृ॒तव्र॑तो॒ वरु॑णः प॒स्त्या३॒॑स्वा । साम्रा॑ज्याय सु॒क्रतुः॑ ॥

Varuna, man of brilliance and leadership, dedicated to holy vows, yajna and Dharma, hero of noble watchful action, would sit among the people with power and grace and rise to the heights of governance and world order.

· · ·

1.25.11

अतो॒ विश्वा॒न्यद्भु॑ता चिकि॒त्वाँ अ॒भि प॑श्यति । कृ॒तानि॒ या च॒ कर्त्वा॑ ॥

And hence wide awake and all aware, he watches and oversees all the wonderful things which have been done and which have yet to be done.

· · ·

1.25.12

स नो॑ वि॒श्वाहा॑ सु॒क्रतु॑रादि॒त्यः सु॒पथा॑ करत् । प्र ण॒ आयूं॑षि तारिषत् ॥

And may He, Aditya, imperishable lord of light and omniscience, sun and life’s energy, lord of noble and watchful action, keep us on the right path all days and nights and thus bless us across a full life of total fulfilment.

· · ·

1.25.13

बिभ्र॑द्द्रा॒पिं हि॑र॒ण्ययं॒ वरु॑णो वस्त नि॒र्णिज॑म् । परि॒ स्पशो॒ निषे॑दिरे ॥

Varuna, self-refulgent lord of the universe, wearing a golden mantle (as the sun) shines pure and shines all (covering them with the golden light of His purity).All the tangible objects of the world abide in Him.

· · ·

1.25.14

न यं दिप्स॑न्ति दि॒प्सवो॒ न द्रुह्वा॑णो॒ जना॑नाम् । न दे॒वम॒भिमा॑तयः ॥

The enemies of humanity dare challenge Him not, the jealous affect Him not, the proud can touch Him not, Lord of light and universe since He is.

· · ·

1.25.15

उ॒त यो मानु॑षे॒ष्वा यश॑श्च॒क्रे असा॒म्या । अ॒स्माक॑मु॒दरे॒ष्वा ॥

It is He who bestows perfect honour on humanity and creates food and water for us. It is He who shines in glory over humanity and others in and out everywhere.

· · ·

1.25.16

परा॑ मे यन्ति धी॒तयो॒ गावो॒ न गव्यू॑ती॒रनु॑ । इ॒च्छन्ती॑रुरु॒चक्ष॑सम् ॥

As cows run to their stall yearning for home, so do my thoughts rise and travel far and high yearning for Varuna, Lord Supreme of universal vision, watching over all, and my haven and home.

· · ·

1.25.17

सं नु वो॑चावहै॒ पुन॒र्यतो॑ मे॒ मध्वाभृ॑तम् । होते॑व॒ क्षद॑से प्रि॒यम् ॥

Let us speak together again and again since you give me dear sweet food for knowledge collected from versatile sources just as a priest gives honey-sweets to the yajamana for dispelling his ignorance with knowledge.

· · ·

1.25.18

दर्शं॒ नु वि॒श्वद॑र्शतं॒ दर्शं॒ रथ॒मधि॒ क्षमि॑ । ए॒ता जु॑षत मे॒ गिरः॑ ॥

For a vision of the Lord omniscient of the universal eye who is also an object of world vision, and for a model of the chariot over earth, air and sea, listen carefully to these words of mine in a mood of patience and forbearance.

· · ·

1.25.19

इ॒मं मे॑ वरुण श्रुधी॒ हव॑म॒द्या च॑ मृळय । त्वाम॑व॒स्युरा च॑के ॥

Varuna, Lord Supreme of our highest choice, listen to my prayer to-day, be kind and gracious. In search of love and protection, I come and praise and pray.

· · ·

1.25.20

त्वं विश्व॑स्य मेधिर दि॒वश्च॒ ग्मश्च॑ राजसि । स याम॑नि॒ प्रति॑ श्रुधि ॥

Varuna, Lord of cosmic intelligence, light of the universe who illuminate the heaven and earth over time, we pray, listen to our prayer and respond.

· · ·

1.25.21

उदु॑त्त॒मं मु॑मुग्धि नो॒ वि पाशं॑ मध्य॒मं चृ॑त । अवा॑ध॒मानि॑ जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Varuna, Lord of Law and Light, snap our highest bonds of the mind and loosen the middle bond of the senses and the lowest bond of the body for real life of spiritual fulfilment.

✦ Sukta 26 · 10 verses ✦

1.26.1

वसि॑ष्वा॒ हि मि॑येध्य॒ वस्त्रा॑ण्यूर्जां पते । सेमं नो॑ अध्व॒रं य॑ज ॥

High-priest of yajna, yajamana, disseminator of yajna fragrances into the skies, preserver of energy, put on the holy clothes and perform this sacred non-violent yajna for us.

· · ·

1.26.2

नि नो॒ होता॒ वरे॑ण्यः॒ सदा॑ यविष्ठ॒ मन्म॑भिः । अग्ने॑ दि॒वित्म॑ता॒ वचः॑ ॥

Agni, ever most youthful power of yajna, may the chosen high-priest with noble thoughts and hymns always help us realise the words of our prayer with your gifts of heavenly light and joy.

· · ·

1.26.3

आ हि ष्मा॑ सू॒नवे॑ पि॒तापिर्यज॑त्या॒पये॑ । सखा॒ सख्ये॒ वरे॑ण्यः ॥

Agni, self-refulgent lord of light, dearest yajnic power of our choice, just as a father for the son, a benefactor for the beneficiary, a friend for a friend performs the yajna, so may you, we pray, bless us. (So may we too perform yajna for one another.)

· · ·

1.26.4

आ नो॑ ब॒र्ही रि॒शाद॑सो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । सीद॑न्तु॒ मनु॑षो यथा ॥

May Varuna, lord of knowledge, Mitra, universal friend, and Aryama, lord of justice, all destroyers of sin, enemies and disease, grace the seats of our yajna with their blissful divine presence, as may the sagely scholar, our friends, and our dispensers of justice, all fighters against sin, enmity and negativity, come and take their seats on the vedi, sanctify and accomplish our yajna.

· · ·

1.26.5

पूर्व्य॑ होतर॒स्य नो॒ मन्द॑स्व स॒ख्यस्य॑ च । इ॒मा उ॒ षु श्रु॑धी॒ गिरः॑ ॥

Agni, self-refulgent eternal power of yajna, friend of our forefathers and high-priest of our noble creative acts of yajna, exhilarate, enjoy and brighten up this friendly yajna of ours and listen to these holy chants and prayers.

· · ·

1.26.6

यच्चि॒द्धि शश्व॑ता॒ तना॑ दे॒वंदे॑वं॒ यजा॑महे । त्वे इद्धू॑यते ह॒विः ॥

By whichever eternal and extended holy powers of cosmic yajna were the brilliant and generous powers of nature created, to the same divine powers we offer yajna, to one and all. And to the same powers is the holy material of yajna offered for all time.

· · ·

1.26.7

प्रि॒यो नो॑ अस्तु वि॒श्पति॒र्होता॑ म॒न्द्रो वरे॑ण्यः । प्रि॒याः स्व॒ग्नयो॑ व॒यम् ॥

May the happy, charming and venerable ruler of the people, worthy of choice, be dear to us. May the venerable people who offer yajna in honour of Agni, eternal lord of cosmic yajna, and the leader of the people, be dear to us.

· · ·

1.26.8

स्व॒ग्नयो॒ हि वार्यं॑ दे॒वासो॑ दधि॒रे च॑ नः । स्व॒ग्नयो॑ मनामहे ॥

Noble people dedicated to the fire and performance of yajna, brilliant and generous, as also the motherly powers of nature such as the earth and showers of rain, bear and bring for us the blessings of our choice. We know them, and we honour and meditate on these yajnic powers.

· · ·

1.26.9

अथा॑ न उ॒भये॑षा॒ममृ॑त॒ मर्त्या॑नाम् । मि॒थः स॑न्तु॒ प्रश॑स्तयः ॥

Lord eternal and immortal, by your kindness and grace, may the mutual praise and appreciation of both kinds of people—all subject to mortality, both average and exceptional of knowledge and achievement—be for our good.

· · ·

1.26.10

विश्वे॑भिरग्ने अ॒ग्निभि॑रि॒मं य॒ज्ञमि॒दं वचः॑ । चनो॑ धाः सहसो यहो ॥

Agni, lord of knowledge, mighty of strength and power, kind and gracious, with all these forms of heat and energy, take on this yajnic programme of ours, fructify our words of prayer, and bless us with the delight of well-being.

✦ Sukta 27 · 13 verses ✦

1.27.1

अश्वं॒ न त्वा॒ वार॑वन्तं व॒न्दध्या॑ अ॒ग्निं नमो॑भिः । स॒म्राज॑न्तमध्व॒राणा॑म् ॥

Agni, brilliant and illuminating power and presence of yajnas from the homely agnihotra to the highest programmes of humanity, like a tempestuous horse of flying hair, we praise you and celebrate you with homage and offerings of food and oblations.

· · ·

1.27.2

स घा॑ नः सू॒नुः शव॑सा पृ॒थुप्र॑गामा सु॒शेवः॑ । मी॒ढ्वाँ अ॒स्माकं॑ बभूयात् ॥

May our children and successors, travelling far and wide with power and knowledge, be good and kind to us and give us showers of wealth and prosperity.

· · ·

1.27.3

स नो॑ दू॒राच्चा॒साच्च॒ नि मर्त्या॑दघा॒योः । पा॒हि सद॒मिद्वि॒श्वायुः॑ ॥

May he, lord of light and knowledge, giver of all joys of life, protect our life, home and industry from far and near against any and every sinful person.

· · ·

1.27.4

इ॒ममू॒ षु त्वम॒स्माकं॑ स॒निं गा॑य॒त्रं नव्यां॑सम् । अग्ने॑ दे॒वेषु॒ प्र वो॑चः ॥

Agni, eternal lord omniscient, this divine knowledge, blissful, sweet and musical in Gayatri and other musical metres, ever new and giver of new ideas, pray reveal it to the sages and whisper it into our soul.

· · ·

1.27.5

आ नो॑ भज पर॒मेष्वा वाजे॑षु मध्य॒मेषु॑ । शिक्षा॒ वस्वो॒ अन्त॑मस्य ॥

Lord of knowledge and power, in the highest, medium and closest battles and businesses of life, enlighten us and give us the joy and wealth of life both material and spiritual.

· · ·

1.27.6

वि॒भ॒क्तासि॑ चित्रभानो॒ सिन्धो॑रू॒र्मा उ॑पा॒क आ । स॒द्यो दा॒शुषे॑ क्षरसि ॥

Versatile lord of wide and various knowledge such as analysis of sea waves and water particles, come soon, you always give a shower of knowledge to the man of faith, reverence and generosity.

· · ·

1.27.7

यम॑ग्ने पृ॒त्सु मर्त्य॒मवा॒ वाजे॑षु॒ यं जु॒नाः । स यन्ता॒ शश्व॑ती॒रिषः॑ ॥

Lord of light and power, let the man you protect in fighting armies, whom you inspire to join battles for knowledge and development, who protects these people who have lived free since time immemorial, let him be the leader, ruler and protector of the people and their wealth and power.

· · ·

1.27.8

नकि॑रस्य सहन्त्य पर्ये॒ता कय॑स्य चित् । वाजो॑ अस्ति श्र॒वाय्यः॑ ॥

No one is his challenger, no vanquisher of the hero whose battle for life and humanity is worthy of praise.

· · ·

1.27.9

स वाजं॑ वि॒श्वच॑र्षणि॒रर्व॑द्भिरस्तु॒ तरु॑ता । विप्रे॑भिरस्तु॒ सनि॑ता ॥

May he, protector of humanity, be the winner of battle for progress with the horses that run fast and reach the goal. With the scholars and sages, may he be the generous benefactor and saviour of the people.

· · ·

1.27.10

जरा॑बोध॒ तद्वि॑विड्ढि वि॒शेवि॑शे य॒ज्ञिया॑य । स्तोमं॑ रु॒द्राय॒ दृशी॑कम् ॥

Hero of high knowledge and wide fame, create and provide for every people and offer to adorable yajnic Rudra, brilliant lord of justice and power, that wealth, honour and celebration which is magnificent and worthy of praise.

· · ·

1.27.11

स नो॑ म॒हाँ अ॑निमा॒नो धू॒मके॑तुः पुरुश्च॒न्द्रः । धि॒ये वाजा॑य हिन्वतु ॥

May the yajnic science of fire, great, immeasura- ble, universal delight with banners of smoke and flame, call up and inspire us for the achievement of intellige- ntial technology and creative power and progress.

· · ·

1.27.12

स रे॒वाँइ॑व वि॒श्पति॒र्दैव्यः॑ के॒तुः शृ॑णोतु नः । उ॒क्थैर॒ग्निर्बृ॒हद्भा॑नुः ॥

That Agni, divine protector and sustainer of humanity, destroyer of disease with rays of light, mighty brilliant, may listen to our prayers and hymns of praise like a generous man of wealth and prosperity.

· · ·

1.27.13

नमो॑ म॒हद्भ्यो॒ नमो॑ अर्भ॒केभ्यो॒ नमो॒ युव॑भ्यो॒ नम॑ आशि॒नेभ्यः॑ । यजा॑म दे॒वान्यदि॑ श॒क्नवा॑म॒ मा ज्याय॑सः॒ शंस॒मा वृ॑क्षि देवाः ॥

Brilliant scholars of eminence, saints and sages, we offer homage and hospitality to great scholars, love and hospitality to beginners, reverence and hospitality to youthful scholars, homage and hospitality to veterans of knowledge and wisdom. We do homage, reverence and service to the noble and brilliant people and to the divinities of nature as far as we can make it possible. You must not, no one should, malign or uproot the honour and reputation of the great and generous power and people.

✦ Sukta 28 · 9 verses ✦

1.28.1

यत्र॒ ग्रावा॑ पृ॒थुबु॑ध्न ऊ॒र्ध्वो भव॑ति॒ सोत॑वे । उ॒लूख॑लसुताना॒मवेद्वि॑न्द्र जल्गुलः ॥

Indra, organiser of the yajna for development, where the broad-based stone is upraised for extraction and straining of the refined soma essences, there, for specific treatment, take the materials ground in the mortar, test them and proclaim your judgement.

· · ·

1.28.2

यत्र॒ द्वावि॑व ज॒घना॑धिषव॒ण्या॑ कृ॒ता । उ॒लूख॑लसुताना॒मवेद्वि॑न्द्र जल्गुलः ॥

Indra, where the two stones of the soma press are intensely juxtaposed like the two gear meshes, there take the materials fine ground in the mortar for straining and refinement for the special purpose, take out for testing and say whether it is of the right quality.

· · ·

1.28.3

यत्र॒ नार्य॑पच्य॒वमु॑पच्य॒वं च॒ शिक्ष॑ते । उ॒लूख॑लसुताना॒मवेद्वि॑न्द्र जल्गुलः ॥

Where the house-wife teaches the methods of sifting and mixing of the soma materials, there take the materials ground in the mortar for the special purpose, test and judge the quality and control.

· · ·

1.28.4

यत्र॒ मन्थां॑ विब॒ध्नते॑ र॒श्मीन्यमि॑त॒वाइ॑व । उ॒लूख॑लसुताना॒मवेद्वि॑न्द्र जल्गुलः ॥

Where they fix the churner and the cords for working control as does a driver, there, Indra, take the materials ground in the mortar for the specific purpose, try and test and judge the product.

· · ·

1.28.5

यच्चि॒द्धि त्वं गृ॒हेगृ॑ह॒ उलू॑खलक यु॒ज्यसे॑ । इ॒ह द्यु॒मत्त॑मं वद॒ जय॑तामिव दुन्दु॒भिः ॥

Pharmacist of the soma refinery, whatever the knowledge, technique and process that you use in operation in every home, announce here itself the brilliant results of that loudly as if with the drum of a victor.

· · ·

1.28.6

उ॒त स्म॑ ते वनस्पते॒ वातो॒ विवा॒त्यग्र॒मित् । अथो॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ पात॑वे सु॒नु सोम॑मुलूखल ॥

Lord of herbs and trees, the wind of your achievement blows ahead far and wide, so then, for the health and joy of humanity, refine and prepare tonics and medications in the refinery for Indra.

· · ·

1.28.7

आ॒य॒जी वा॑ज॒सात॑मा॒ ता ह्यु१॒॑च्चा वि॑जर्भृ॒तः । हरी॑इ॒वान्धां॑सि॒ बप्स॑ता ॥

Worshipful men and women, heroes of the creative battles of life, holding up their own yajnic achievements high, enjoy the delicacies of life and good health as the sun rays drink up the juices of herbs.

· · ·

1.28.8

ता नो॑ अ॒द्य व॑नस्पती ऋ॒ष्वावृ॒ष्वेभिः॑ सो॒तृभिः॑ । इन्द्रा॑य॒ मधु॑मत्सुतम् ॥

Men and women who are dynamic with yajnic ambition, and experts of herbs and forests may provide for us to-day refined essences of soma replete with honey-sweets distilled by brilliant specialists of the science.

· · ·

1.28.9

उच्छि॒ष्टं च॒म्वो॑र्भर॒ सोमं॑ प॒वित्र॒ आ सृ॑ज । नि धे॑हि॒ गोरधि॑ त्व॒चि ॥

High-priest of soma-yajna, come and create the purest soma as prescribed by experts, hold it on in special containers for vitalisation and place it on the floor of the earth for Indra.

✦ Sukta 29 · 7 verses ✦

1.29.1

यच्चि॒द्धि स॑त्य सोमपा अनाश॒स्ताइ॑व॒ स्मसि॑ । आ तू न॑ इन्द्र शंसय॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु शु॒भ्रिषु॑ स॒हस्रे॑षु तुवीमघ ॥

Indra, lord of glory, eternal and imperishable, protector and promoter of soma, beauty and prosperity of life, if ever we are found wanting (for our acts of omission or commission), graciously help us repair, rehabilitate and re-establish in a splendid world of a thousand cows and horses (in a state of good health and a sound economy of plenty and progress).

· · ·

1.29.2

शिप्रि॑न्वाजानां पते॒ शची॑व॒स्तव॑ दं॒सना॑ । आ तू न॑ इन्द्र शंसय॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु शु॒भ्रिषु॑ स॒हस्रे॑षु तुवीमघ ॥

Indra, lord of glory, giver of secular and sacred wealth and well-being, protector and supporter of our struggle for progress and prosperity, master of man- power and great action, by virtue of the divine voice and under your presence and protection, bless us to rise to a splendid state of thousand-fold good health of sound sense and knowledge and speedy progress in prosperity, transport and communication.

· · ·

1.29.3

नि ष्वा॑पया मिथू॒दृशा॑ स॒स्तामबु॑ध्यमाने । आ तू न॑ इन्द्र शंसय॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु शु॒भ्रिषु॑ स॒हस्रे॑षु तुवीमघ ॥

Indra, glorious lord of vitality, vision and will to live, eliminate the phantom of illusion and sloth of body and mind which mislead and depress, and let us awake and rise to a splendid state of a thousand-fold brilliance of knowledge, generous prosperity and fast advancement.

· · ·

1.29.4

स॒सन्तु॒ त्या अरा॑तयो॒ बोध॑न्तु शूर रा॒तयः॑ । आ तू न॑ इन्द्र शंसय॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु शु॒भ्रिषु॑ स॒हस्रे॑षु तुवीमघ ॥

Indra, lord of glory, heroic strength and courage, let adversities go to sleep and breathe out, let good fortunes awake and prosper, and let us advance and establish in an admirable state of thousand-fold wealth and generosity, cows and horses.

· · ·

1.29.5

समि॑न्द्र गर्द॒भं मृ॑ण नु॒वन्तं॑ पा॒पया॑मु॒या । आ तू न॑ इन्द्र शंसय॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु शु॒भ्रिषु॑ स॒हस्रे॑षु तुवीमघ ॥

Indra, glorious lord of justice and power, upholder of truth and Dharma, discriminate and throw out that brayer shouting his praises with that vile intention of his and help us establish ourselves in a splendid state of thousand-fold purity and truth with wealth of cows and horses.

· · ·

1.29.6

पता॑ति कुण्डृ॒णाच्या॑ दू॒रं वातो॒ वना॒दधि॑ । आ तू न॑ इन्द्र शंसय॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु शु॒भ्रिषु॑ स॒हस्रे॑षु तुवीमघ ॥

The wind blows over the forest and clusters of lotus, over and across the world and soars high with the rays of light in waves up and down. Indra, lord of light and winds, commanding the wealth of the worlds, inspire and establish us in a splendid state of thousand beauties, generosities of the cow and mother earth and the speed of winds.

· · ·

1.29.7

सर्वं॑ परिक्रो॒शं ज॑हि ज॒म्भया॑ कृकदा॒श्व॑म् । आ तू न॑ इन्द्र शंसय॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु शु॒भ्रिषु॑ स॒हस्रे॑षु तुवीमघ ॥

Indra, lord of the world’s wealth and glory, silence the wail of lamentations, crush the spirit of evil, and inspire and establish us in a splendid state of thousand-fold purity of conduct, free dominion over the earth and meteoric speed of progress and attainment.

✦ Sukta 30 · 22 verses ✦

1.30.1

आ व॒ इन्द्रं॒ क्रिविं॑ यथा वाज॒यन्तः॑ श॒तक्र॑तुम् । मंहि॑ष्ठं सिञ्च॒ इन्दु॑भिः ॥

Just as strong winds carry the cloud for rain on the earth, just as men dig the well for irrigating the field, so you serve Indra, most generous and powerful hero of a hundred acts of creation and growth, with each drop of your powers and energies.

· · ·

1.30.2

श॒तं वा॒ यः शुची॑नां स॒हस्रं॑ वा॒ समा॑शिराम् । एदु॑ नि॒म्नं न री॑यते ॥

Indra, controller of fire, water and electric energy, raises the pure ones to power hundred, and the mixed and synthesised ones to power thousand. Never does He or His power or the efficacy of His creations go down.

· · ·

1.30.3

सं यन्मदा॑य शु॒ष्मिण॑ ए॒ना ह्य॑स्यो॒दरे॑ । स॒मु॒द्रो न व्यचो॑ द॒धे ॥

For the creation of life’s joy and for the development of food and energy for life, I take on these hundreds of powers of Indra implicit in the potentials of fire, water and electricity just like the jewels hidden in the depths of the wide wide sea.

· · ·

1.30.4

अ॒यमु॑ ते॒ सम॑तसि क॒पोत॑इव गर्भ॒धिम् । वच॒स्तच्चि॑न्न ओहसे ॥

Indra, light and power of existence, this creation is yours for sure. Just as a pigeon flies into the nest to meet its mate so do you pervade and impregnate nature to create the world of forms, and listen to our words of praise and prayer.

· · ·

1.30.5

स्तो॒त्रं रा॑धानां पते॒ गिर्वा॑हो वीर॒ यस्य॑ ते । विभू॑तिरस्तु सू॒नृता॑ ॥

Indra, celebrated in the divine voice of revelation, creator and guardian of the world and its wealth, mighty lord of omnipotence, great and true is your glory, and may our praise and prayer to you be truly realised for our strength and joy of life.

· · ·

1.30.6

ऊ॒र्ध्वस्ति॑ष्ठा न ऊ॒तये॒ऽस्मिन्वाजे॑ शतक्रतो । सम॒न्येषु॑ ब्रवावहै ॥

Indra, hero of a hundred great acts of yajnic creation, rise and stay high for our defence and protection in this battle of life. And we would sing your praises in prayer with joy in other battles too together with you.

· · ·

1.30.7

योगे॑योगे त॒वस्त॑रं॒ वाजे॑वाजे हवामहे । सखा॑य॒ इन्द्र॑मू॒तये॑ ॥

Friends together and friends of Indra ever stronger and mightier, in every act of production and progress and in every battle for protection and preservation, we call upon Indra for defence and victory for well-being.

· · ·

1.30.8

आ घा॑ गम॒द्यदि॒ श्रव॑त्सह॒स्रिणी॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । वाजे॑भि॒रुप॑ नो॒ हव॑म् ॥

If Indra hears our call, let Him come, we pray, with a thousand ways of protection and progress of prosperity and well-being.

· · ·

1.30.9

अनु॑ प्र॒त्नस्यौक॑सो हु॒वे तु॑विप्र॒तिं नर॑म् । यं ते॒ पूर्वं॑ पि॒ता हु॑वे ॥

I invoke and call upon the Primeval Man, eternal father, who creates this multitudinous existence from the eternal womb of nature, the same whom our original forefathers invoked and worshipped.

· · ·

1.30.10

तं त्वा॑ व॒यं वि॑श्ववा॒रा शा॑स्महे पुरुहूत । सखे॑ वसो जरि॒तृभ्यः॑ ॥

Lord of universal love and choice, all benefactor, invoked and worshipped by all, friend, immanent and universal home, we invoke and worship you and pray for light from the celebrants of Divinity.

· · ·

1.30.11

अ॒स्माकं॑ शि॒प्रिणी॑नां॒ सोम॑पाः सोम॒पाव्ना॑म् । सखे॑ वज्रि॒न्त्सखी॑नाम् ॥

Friend of friends, benign protector of the protectors of soma, life’s joy, lord of the thunderbolt of light and lightning, supreme deity of us all and of all noble women, we love and pray for light and life divine.

· · ·

1.30.12

तथा॒ तद॑स्तु सोमपाः॒ सखे॑ वज्रि॒न्तथा॑ कृणु । यथा॑ त उ॒श्मसी॒ष्टये॑ ॥

Protector of soma, peace and happiness, friend, lord of light and destroyer of suffering, as we love and pray to you for our good, so may you be and so may you do for us.

· · ·

1.30.13

रे॒वती॑र्नः सध॒माद॒ इन्द्रे॑ सन्तु तु॒विवा॑जाः । क्षु॒मन्तो॒ याभि॒र्मदे॑म ॥

May our people, wives and children be rich in wealth, knowledge and grace of culture, so that we, abundant and prosperous, may rejoice with them and live with them in happy homes in a state of honour and glory.

· · ·

1.30.14

आ घ॒ त्वावा॒न्त्मना॒प्तः स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ धृष्णविया॒नः । ऋ॒णोरक्षं॒ न च॒क्र्योः॑ ॥

Lord of inviolable might, yourself your own definition, omniscient, instantly comprehending all that moves, you manifest your presence to the vision of your celebrants just as the one axle of two chariot wheels (moving, caring yet unmoved).

· · ·

1.30.15

आ यद्दुवः॑ शतक्रत॒वा कामं॑ जरितॄ॒णाम् । ऋ॒णोरक्षं॒ न शची॑भिः ॥

Lord of a hundred blissful acts of the yajna of creation, who by the prayers and pious actions of the celebrants come into their vision and experience like the axis of a wheel, you fulfill their love and desire wholly and entirely.

· · ·

1.30.16

शश्व॒दिन्द्रः॒ पोप्रु॑थद्भिर्जिगाय॒ नान॑दद्भिः॒ शाश्व॑सद्भि॒र्धना॑नि । स नो॑ हिरण्यर॒थं दं॒सना॑वा॒न्त्स नः॑ सनि॒ता स॒नये॒ स नो॑ऽदात् ॥

Indra, the eternal creator, with roaring, moving, non-moving and animate things and materials, creates the wealth of existence such as earth, gold and knowledge and rises in glory. May He, lord of generosity and dispensation of justice, give us golden chariots and bless us with wealth of the world for happiness and well- being.

· · ·

1.30.17

आश्वि॑ना॒वश्वा॑वत्ये॒षा या॑तं॒ शवी॑रया । गोम॑द्दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवत् ॥

Ashvins, scientist and technologist of eminence, president and commander, moving like the earth and light, create the chariot with golden materials and earthly comfortable provisions and take us to distant places at the wanted speed with chosen acceleration and reach distant places for our goals.

· · ·

1.30.18

स॒मा॒नयो॑जनो॒ हि वां॒ रथो॑ दस्रा॒वम॑र्त्यः । स॒मु॒द्रे अ॑श्वि॒नेय॑ते ॥

Ashvins, generous and imaginative experts, indestructible is your chariot of balanced technology of velocity. It goes over the sea and soars into the sky, at the wanted speed and acceleration, for the wanted destination.

· · ·

1.30.19

न्य१॒॑घ्न्यस्य॑ मू॒र्धनि॑ च॒क्रं रथ॑स्य येमथुः । परि॒ द्याम॒न्यदी॑यते ॥

Ashvins, on top of your indestructible chariot fix a rotating machine, chakra, which will take it over the sea and the sky. Fix another below, and this other will take it over the sky into space, the region of light.

· · ·

1.30.20

कस्त॑ उषः कधप्रिये भु॒जे मर्तो॑ अमर्त्ये । कं न॑क्षसे विभावरि ॥

O Dawn, immortal light of the divine sun, lover of divine songs and stories, darling of the singers and celebrants, which mortal man is able to comprehend your beauty and bliss? Lady of Light, who do you see as such?

· · ·

1.30.21

व॒यं हि ते॒ अम॑न्म॒ह्यान्ता॒दा प॑रा॒कात् । अश्वे॒ न चि॑त्रे अरुषि ॥

Golden lady of Light Divine, refulgent, riding as if on a wondrous flying horse, we pray we may know and attain to you wholly from within and from far off above.

· · ·

1.30.22

त्वं त्येभि॒रा ग॑हि॒ वाजे॑भिर्दुहितर्दिवः । अ॒स्मे र॒यिं नि धा॑रय ॥

Come, daughter of the light of Heaven, with all the light and speed and message of time and space. Bear all the wealth and knowledge and bring us the blessings of the Divine.

✦ Sukta 31 · 18 verses ✦

1.31.1

त्वम॑ग्ने प्रथ॒मो अङ्गि॑रा॒ ऋषि॑र्दे॒वो दे॒वाना॑मभवः शि॒वः सखा॑ । तव॑ व्र॒ते क॒वयो॑ विद्म॒नाप॒सोऽजा॑यन्त म॒रुतो॒ भ्राज॑दृष्टयः ॥

Agni, Lord Supreme of the universe, you are the first of existence and pre-existence, life and spirit of the worlds, seer and teacher, light and light-giver of nature for scholars of humanity. Friend and lord of bliss, the scholars, saints and poets, and the fastest geniuses of the world abiding in your laws of Dharma and Karma, with full consciousness and responsibility rise to a state of glorious light and vision.

· · ·

1.31.2

त्वम॑ग्ने प्रथ॒मो अङ्गि॑रस्तमः क॒विर्दे॒वानां॒ परि॑ भूषसि व्र॒तम् । वि॒भुर्विश्व॑स्मै॒ भुव॑नाय॒ मेधि॑रो द्विमा॒ता श॒युः क॑ति॒धा चि॑दा॒यवे॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, eternal and ever first existence and prime cause of creation, life of life, omniscient, you create the laws of the lights of nature and humanity and invest them with beauty and grace. Immanent, omnipresent and infinite, for all the worlds of the universe you are the mother maker and mover of the world of light and dark, subtle and gross, all. You send them to sleep in pralaya (annihilation) and wake them up into the light of existence for a life-time in so many ways.

· · ·

1.31.3

त्वम॑ग्ने प्रथ॒मो मा॑त॒रिश्व॑न आ॒विर्भ॑व सुक्रतू॒या वि॒वस्व॑ते । अरे॑जेतां॒ रोद॑सी होतृ॒वूर्येऽस॑घ्नोर्भा॒रमय॑जो म॒हो व॑सो ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, you are the first of existence and eternal wakeful presence. By your yajnic vibration of divine intention you manifest for the creation of Matarishva, universal energy of nature, and Vivasvan, the refulgent sun. By the same cause, the all- containing heaven and the generous earth, all productive, come into existence, move and shine. Haven and home of all, immanent power, bear the burden and create the mighty and subtle knowledge of the super- power for us.

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1.31.4

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ मन॑वे॒ द्याम॑वाशयः पुरू॒रव॑से सु॒कृते॑ सु॒कृत्त॑रः । श्वा॒त्रेण॒ यत्पि॒त्रोर्मुच्य॑से॒ पर्या त्वा॒ पूर्व॑मनय॒न्नाप॑रं॒ पुनः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, greater creator of beneficence than anyone else, you create the light and heaven for the man of knowledge, divine speech and noble action. O soul, jiva, who are freed of the obligation and causal link of father and mother by virtue of knowledge and action, the same lord who led you to the previous birth takes you to the next, after this and even after moksha.

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1.31.5

त्वम॑ग्ने वृष॒भः पु॑ष्टि॒वर्ध॑न॒ उद्य॑तस्रुचे भवसि श्र॒वाय्यः॑ । य आहु॑तिं॒ परि॒ वेदा॒ वष॑ट्कृति॒मेका॑यु॒रग्रे॒ विश॑ आ॒विवा॑ससि ॥

Agni, lord giver of the showers of blessings, promoter of growth and progress, you listen to the praise and prayer of the yajakas holding up the ladle of offering for the fire, now as before and after. Lord eternal, constant and imperishable existence, you wholly know the offers of libations and accept all yajnic actions of the performers, and all the people of the world abide in you and serve you.

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1.31.6

त्वम॑ग्ने वृजि॒नव॑र्तनिं॒ नरं॒ सक्म॑न्पिपर्षि वि॒दथे॑ विचर्षणे । यः शूर॑साता॒ परि॑तक्म्ये॒ धने॑ द॒भ्रेभि॑श्चि॒त्समृ॑ता॒ हंसि॒ भूय॑सः ॥

Agni, friend and associate lord of comprehen- sive vision, you support the man who goes with the man of strength in yajna, and resist and defeat the man who supports a man of crooked ways of power. And in battle of the brave for the creation of wealth and joy, you destroy many evils with limited men and means dedicated to righteousness.

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1.31.7

त्वं तम॑ग्ने अमृत॒त्व उ॑त्त॒मे मर्तं॑ दधासि॒ श्रव॑से

दि॒वेदि॑वे । यस्ता॑तृषा॒ण उ॒भया॑य॒ जन्म॑ने॒ मयः॑ कृ॒णोषि॒ प्रय॒ आ च॑ सू॒रये॑ ॥

Agni, into the best state of moksha you place that intelligent person who is keen to hear the divine voice day in and day out and longs for freedom. And then for the man of wisdom who loves both the previous state and the next human birth, you do good and create the best of desired happiness and comfort in life.

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1.31.8

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने स॒नये॒ धना॑नां य॒शसं॑ का॒रुं कृ॑णुहि॒ स्तवा॑नः । ऋ॒ध्याम॒ कर्मा॒पसा॒ नवे॑न दे॒वैर्द्या॑वापृथिवी॒ प्राव॑तं नः ॥

Agni, lord giver of honour, sung and celebrated in hymns, for the management and growth of our wealth, give us a reputed expert of economy so that we may advance and prosper with new enterprises, and both heaven and earth may promote us with the blessings of nature and the environment.

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1.31.9

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थ॒ आ दे॒वो दे॒वेष्व॑नवद्य॒ जागृ॑विः । त॒नू॒कृद्बो॑धि॒ प्रम॑तिश्च का॒रवे॒ त्वं क॑ल्याण॒ वसु॒ विश्व॒मोपि॑षे ॥

Agni, light of the world and giver of knowledge and progress, keep us close in the presence of father and mother under the care and protection of heaven and earth. Brilliant and generous, lord immaculate beyond words of evil and calumny, you are ever awake and active in the lights of nature and hearts of pious humanity. Lord creator and maker of the finest forms of existence, give us the knowledge, give us the protection and expertise for the worker specialist entrepreneur. You are the peace, you are the bliss. You are the wealth, you are the Home. Let the world awake, arise and reach where they belong.

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1.31.10

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ प्रम॑ति॒स्त्वं पि॒तासि॑ न॒स्त्वं व॑य॒स्कृत्तव॑ जा॒मयो॑ व॒यम् । सं त्वा॒ रायः॑ श॒तिनः॒ सं स॑ह॒स्रिणः॑ सु॒वीरं॑ यन्ति व्रत॒पाम॑दाभ्य ॥

Agni, light of the world, you are the power of exalted knowledge. You are our father and protector. You are the giver of life for us, life ever new. We are your children of enlightenment. The wealths of the world in hundred forms in a thousand streams flow unto you, lord inviolable, bravest of the brave, observer and protector of the laws of life and nature.

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1.31.11

त्वाम॑ग्ने प्रथ॒ममा॒युमा॒यवे॑ दे॒वा अ॑कृण्व॒न्नहु॑षस्य वि॒श्पति॑म् । इळा॑मकृण्व॒न्मनु॑षस्य॒ शास॑नीं पि॒तुर्यत्पु॒त्रो मम॑कस्य॒ जाय॑ते ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, ruler, sustainer and protector of the people, brilliant powers of nature manifest you, brilliant men of knowledge and generosity elect and kindle you, first power, leading light and protector of the people for their life, enlightenment and advancement. They envision, proclaim and disseminate the divine voice, eternal truth and ruling law of the world and humanity. And, as in my case, the son is born of the father, so is light and knowledge born of parental light and knowledge.

· · ·

1.31.12

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने॒ तव॑ देव पा॒युभि॑र्म॒घोनो॑ रक्ष त॒न्व॑श्च वन्द्य । त्रा॒ता तो॒कस्य॒ तन॑ये॒ गवा॑म॒स्यनि॑मेषं॒ रक्ष॑माण॒स्तव॑ व्र॒ते ॥

Agni, universal protector and sustainer of life, generous and brilliant lord, adorable power, blest are we with wealth and prosperity. Protect and promote us and our health and age with all your powers of protection and sustenance. You are the saviour and vigilant guardian of our children, our land and cows, and our sense and mind for the sake of our posterity. And we are steady and dedicated to the rules and discipline of your law.

· · ·

1.31.13

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ यज्य॑वे पा॒युरन्त॑रोऽनिष॒ङ्गाय॑ चतुर॒क्ष इ॑ध्यसे । यो रा॒तह॑व्योऽवृ॒काय॒ धाय॑से की॒रेश्चि॒न्मन्त्रं॒ मन॑सा व॒नोषि॒ तम् ॥

Agni, ruling lord, you are the protector and promoter of the man of yajna who creates wealth and contributes to prosperity. Lord of all round vision and power, you shine within for the man of objective wisdom and judgement. You are the creator and giver of wealth and prosperity for the non-violent man of action and generosity, and you listen with love and accept that prayer and mantra of the celebrant which springs from the heart.

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1.31.14

त्वम॑ग्न उरु॒शंसा॑य वा॒घते॑ स्पा॒र्हं यद्रेक्णः॑ पर॒मं व॒नोषि॒ तत् । आ॒ध्रस्य॑ चि॒त्प्रम॑तिरुच्यसे पि॒ता प्र पाकं॒ शास्सि॒ प्र दिशो॑ वि॒दुष्ट॑रः ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, ruler of the world, for the man of celebrated eminence and for the man of yajna and divine speech, you create and give that wealth of life which is the best and most wanted of all. Lord of vision and wisdom, you are called the father of the world you hold in sway, and you superintend the rule of law, and you rise as redeemer of the world in all quarters of space.

· · ·

1.31.15

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ प्रय॑तदक्षिणं॒ नरं॒ वर्मे॑व स्यू॒तं परि॑ पासि वि॒श्वतः॑ । स्वा॒दु॒क्षद्मा॒ यो व॑स॒तौ स्यो॑न॒कृज्जी॑वया॒जं यज॑ते॒ सोप॒मा दि॒वः ॥

Agni, lord of light and law, guardian of all, like a strongly fabricated armour you protect from all sides the man initiated and consecrated who abides in the home with delicious foods, doing noble deeds with yajna and dharma and serves life as an example of the saving light of heaven.

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1.31.16

इ॒माम॑ग्ने श॒रणिं॑ मीमृषो न इ॒ममध्वा॑नं॒ यमगा॑म दू॒रात् । आ॒पिः पि॒ता प्रम॑तिः सो॒म्यानां॒ भृमि॑रस्यृषि॒कृन्मर्त्या॑नाम् ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, remove this destructive ignorance of ours so that we come back to the right path from afar. Lord of vision and wisdom, giver of the light divine, omnipresent, ever on the move, immanent and accessible to the people of peace and piety, father, save us, redeem us, bless us.

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1.31.17

म॒नु॒ष्वद॑ग्ने अङ्गिर॒स्वद॑ङ्गिरो ययाति॒वत्सद॑ने पूर्व॒वच्छु॑चे । अच्छ॑ या॒ह्या व॑हा॒ दैव्यं॒ जन॒मा सा॑दय ब॒र्हिषि॒ यक्षि॑ च प्रि॒यम् ॥

Agni, lord of the world, Angira, life-breath of existence, the very light of purity, come well beautifully, come like a human presence, come like the breath of freshness, come like the effort and achievement of life, come as ever before. Come to the dear holy man of divinity, bear him on to knowledge and Dharma, seat him on the sacred grass of the vedi in the house of yajna,and conduct the yajna for us unto the light of heaven.

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1.31.18

ए॒तेना॑ग्ने॒ ब्रह्म॑णा वावृधस्व॒ शक्ती॑ वा॒ यत्ते॑ चकृ॒मा वि॒दा वा॑ । उ॒त प्र णे॑ष्य॒भि वस्यो॑ अ॒स्मान्त्सं नः॑ सृज सुम॒त्या वाज॑वत्या ॥

Agni, lord of light and fire of yajna, grow and let us grow by this divine voice of Veda, and by whatever we may do and achieve with our spiritual and physical strength or with our knowledge and action for the Divine. And bring us all-round wealth, and in-vest and exalt us with holy, creative and dynamic intelligence of a positive and victorious order.

✦ Sukta 32 · 15 verses ✦

1.32.1

इन्द्र॑स्य॒ नु वी॒र्या॑णि॒ प्र वो॑चं॒ यानि॑ च॒कार॑ प्रथ॒मानि॑ व॒ज्री । अह॒न्नहि॒मन्व॒पस्त॑तर्द॒ प्र व॒क्षणा॑ अभिन॒त्पर्व॑तानाम् ॥

I recite and celebrate the first and highest exploits of Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, refulgent ruler, which he, like the sun, performs with the shooting rays of His light. He breaks down the cloud like an enemy, releases the waters and opens the paths of mountain streams. (The ruler too, similarly, breaks down the enemies holding up the powers of the nation for movement, releases the energies and resources of the nation, and carves out the paths of progress.)

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1.32.2

अह॒न्नहिं॒ पर्व॑ते शिश्रिया॒णं त्वष्टा॑स्मै॒ वज्रं॑ स्व॒र्यं॑ ततक्ष । वा॒श्रा इ॑व धे॒नवः॒ स्यन्द॑माना॒ अञ्जः॑ समु॒द्रमव॑ जग्मु॒रापः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of shooting rays of light, breaks the cloud resting on the mountain. Tvashta, creative power of the Divine, making fine forms and subtle energies, creates the catalytic power for Him and His shooting rays against the cloud. And, like cows eager for the calves, rushing to the stalls, the waters instantly rush down to the sea.

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1.32.3

वृ॒षा॒यमा॑णोऽवृणीत॒ सोमं॒ त्रिक॑द्रुकेष्वपिबत्सु॒तस्य॑ । आ साय॑कं म॒घवा॑दत्त॒ वज्र॒मह॑न्नेनं प्रथम॒जा मही॑नाम् ॥

Indra, generous lord of showers of light and rain, receives and drinks up the vital essences present in heaven, earth and sky, three regions of the created world. The sun, glorious possessor of heat and water, takes up the thunderbolt of electric energy and strikes and breaks up the first born of the dense clouds of vapours. (So does the ruler hold and rule and enjoy the rule over his dominion. He takes up his forces and deploys them to destroy the worst of the nation’s enemies. And just as the sun is mighty and generous for the earth, so should the ruler be for his subjects and dominions.)

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1.32.4

यदि॒न्द्राह॑न्प्रथम॒जामही॑ना॒मान्मा॒यिना॒ममि॑नाः॒ प्रोत मा॒याः । आत्सूर्यं॑ ज॒नय॒न्द्यामु॒षासं॑ ता॒दीत्ना॒ शत्रुं॒ न किला॑ विवित्से ॥

Indra, since you break up the first born of the clouds of dark vapours and also disperse the powerful forces of these wonder demons, creating and revealing thereby the sun and the dawn and the heavens, you will not, for sure, encounter any enemy. (So should the ruler too eliminate the enemies of the land and ensure peace and security for his people.)

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1.32.5

अह॑न्वृ॒त्रं वृ॑त्र॒तरं॒ व्यं॑स॒मिन्द्रो॒ वज्रे॑ण मह॒ता व॒धेन॑ । स्कन्धां॑सीव॒ कुलि॑शेना॒ विवृ॒क्णाहिः॑ शयत उप॒पृक्पृ॑थि॒व्याः ॥

Indra, sun and vayu energy, breaks up Vrtra, the dark thick cloud, denser than demonic, with the fatal blow of the thunderbolt of lightning. Its shoulders chopped off by the shooting sharpness of the sword- like waves of sun-rays, the cloud lies flat on the floor of the earth (its body turned to rain water).

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1.32.6

अ॒यो॒द्धेव॑ दु॒र्मद॒ आ हि जु॒ह्वे म॑हावी॒रं तु॑विबा॒धमृ॑जी॒षम् । नाता॑रीदस्य॒ समृ॑तिं व॒धानां॒ सं रु॒जानाः॑ पिपिष॒ इन्द्र॑शत्रुः ॥

Like a naive warrior gone mad, Vrtra, the cloud dared and challenged the sun, great and valiant Indra, vanquisher of many, reducing them to juice. But he could not take the force of the blows of Indra, failed and lay crushed. The streams flow over hills breaking down mounds of earth.

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1.32.7

अ॒पाद॑ह॒स्तो अ॑पृतन्य॒दिन्द्र॒मास्य॒ वज्र॒मधि॒ सानौ॑ जघान । वृष्णो॒ वध्रिः॑ प्रति॒मानं॒ बुभू॑षन्पुरु॒त्रा वृ॒त्रो अ॑शय॒द्व्य॑स्तः ॥

Legs now lost, arms lost, Vrtra had challenged Indra. Impotent fool he was, desiring equal rivalry with the mighty hero. Indra struck the lightning thunderbolt on his shoulder. Beaten and broken all over, Vrtra lies flat on the earth.

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1.32.8

न॒दं न भि॒न्नम॑मु॒या शया॑नं॒ मनो॒ रुहा॑णा॒ अति॑ य॒न्त्यापः॑ । याश्चि॑द्वृ॒त्रो म॑हि॒ना प॒र्यति॑ष्ठ॒त्तासा॒महिः॑ पत्सुतः॒शीर्ब॑भूव ॥

Like a flood let loose, the showers of rain, so soothing and beautiful to the mind, defy Vrtra, the cloud, which is now lying shattered on the ground — waters which, earlier, the cloud had held up with its own might. Their master now lies trampled under feet on the ground. (This is the fate of a presumptuous man who proudly and foolishly challenges the Almighty.)

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1.32.9

नी॒चाव॑या अभवद्वृ॒त्रपु॒त्रेन्द्रो॑ अस्या॒ अव॒ वध॑र्जभार । उत्त॑रा॒ सूरध॑रः पु॒त्र आ॑सी॒द्दानुः॑ शये स॒हव॑त्सा॒ न धे॒नुः ॥

The earth is the mother of the cloud, below. The other is the sky up on high. Indra, the sun, strikes Vrtra, the cloud, with its thunderbolt in the sky and the cloud comes down with the showers. The earth lies with the cloud like a cow sleeping with its calf. (The presumptuous ruler who, thrown up by his forces, challenges the world ruler meets a fate like the cloud’s with his forces.)

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1.32.10

अति॑ष्ठन्तीनामनिवेश॒नानां॒ काष्ठा॑नां॒ मध्ये॒ निहि॑तं॒ शरी॑रम् । वृ॒त्रस्य॑ नि॒ण्यं वि च॑र॒न्त्यापो॑ दी॒र्घं तम॒ आश॑य॒दिन्द्र॑शत्रुः ॥

In the non-stop ever flowing streams of the tracks of the sky is diffused the mysterious body of Vrtra, the cloud, in the deepest dark. The same rival of Indra which covered the sun now lies flat on earth and the water-streams flow (open and beautiful). (Indra, the ruler, should strike the hidden forces which cover the light of the order, condense them and make them flow out openly for the good of the nation.)

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1.32.11

दा॒सप॑त्नी॒रहि॑गोपा अतिष्ठ॒न्निरु॑द्धा॒ आपः॑ प॒णिने॑व॒ गावः॑ । अ॒पां बिल॒मपि॑हितं॒ यदासी॑द्वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अप॒ तद्व॑वार ॥

Like women supported by their husbands, the waters stay supported by the cloud, hidden in its darkness like cows in the stall guarded by the cowherd or the trader. The water-hold that was hidden and closed was opened and released through the door by the slayer of Vrtra, Indra, the sun.

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1.32.12

अश्व्यो॒ वारो॑ अभव॒स्तदि॑न्द्र सृ॒के यत्त्वा॑ प्र॒त्यह॑न्दे॒व एकः॑ । अज॑यो॒ गा अज॑यः शूर॒ सोम॒मवा॑सृजः॒ सर्त॑वे स॒प्त सिन्धू॑न् ॥

Tempestuous of speed and power of defence and offence and as the choice lord and hero do you arise, Indra, then when the one unique rival, Vrtra, throws its darkness over your rays of light and catalysis. Arising then you conquer the earth, you win and collect the vital soma of life, and you release the seven streams of nectar to enrich the seven seas of existence as they flow.

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1.32.13

नास्मै॑ वि॒द्युन्न त॑न्य॒तुः सि॑षेध॒ न यां मिह॒मकि॑रद्ध्रा॒दुनिं॑ च । इन्द्र॑श्च॒ यद्यु॑यु॒धाते॒ अहि॑श्चो॒ताप॒रीभ्यो॑ म॒घवा॒ वि जि॑ग्ये ॥

Neither lightning nor thunder, nor storm and shower, nor the roar and rumble which Vrtra produces does resist and stop Indra. When Indra and Vrtra both battle—Vrtra with inadequate forces—then Indra, powerful and glorious, comes out victorious.

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1.32.14

अहे॑र्या॒तारं॒ कम॑पश्य इन्द्र हृ॒दि यत्ते॑ ज॒घ्नुषो॒ भीरग॑च्छत् । नव॑ च॒ यन्न॑व॒तिं च॒ स्रव॑न्तीः श्ये॒नो न भी॒तो अत॑रो॒ रजां॑सि ॥

Indra, who ever sees anyone else other than you as the killer of Vrtra, since in every heart it is your fear, the victor’s fear, that prevails? And like a victorious hawk not-afraid you shine and rule over regions of the world and feed nine and ninety streams of water that flow and sustain life.

· · ·

1.32.15

इन्द्रो॑ या॒तोऽव॑सितस्य॒ राजा॒ शम॑स्य च शृ॒ङ्गिणो॒ वज्र॑बाहुः । सेदु॒ राजा॑ क्षयति चर्षणी॒नाम॒रान्न ने॒मिः परि॒ ता ब॑भूव ॥

Indra, lord of thunder force of arms, is the ruler and illuminator of the moving world, settled and peaceful humanity and the animals. The same ruler holds and sustains the order of humanity and the world together and keeps it going.

✦ Sukta 33 · 15 verses ✦

1.33.1

एताया॒मोप॑ ग॒व्यन्त॒ इन्द्र॑म॒स्माकं॒ सु प्रम॑तिं वावृधाति । अ॒ना॒मृ॒णः कु॒विदाद॒स्य रा॒यो गवां॒ केतं॒ पर॑मा॒वर्ज॑ते नः ॥

Come ye, come all, seekers of health and brilliance of mind and sense, let us approach Indra, lord supreme of light and knowledge, who feeds, increases and refines our intelligence along the right lines. Undying, unborn and eternal, great is He. He increases the beauty and grandeur of the wealth and grace of this earth in many ways and then He bestows on us supreme knowledge and the possession of it.

· · ·

1.33.2

उपेद॒हं ध॑न॒दामप्र॑तीतं॒ जुष्टां॒ न श्ये॒नो व॑स॒तिं प॑तामि । इन्द्रं॑ नम॒स्यन्नु॑प॒मेभि॑र॒र्कैर्यः स्तो॒तृभ्यो॒ हव्यो॒ अस्ति॒ याम॑न् ॥

Just as a falcon flies to its favourite haunt and home, so bowing and praying with exemplary songs and offerings I yearn to reach Indra, lord of honour and splendour, giver of wealth, but invisible and incomprehensible, who alone is adorable for the worshippers in the world of time.

· · ·

1.33.3

नि सर्व॑सेन इषु॒धीँर॑सक्त॒ सम॒र्यो गा अ॑जति॒ यस्य॒ वष्टि॑ । चो॒ष्कू॒यमा॑ण इन्द्र॒ भूरि॑ वा॒मं मा प॒णिर्भू॑र॒स्मदधि॑ प्रवृद्ध ॥

Indra, lord of hosts and battle, take up the bow and quiver, shine as you will and win. The victor carries the prize. Generous and profusely rewarding to the noble and the splendid, be not ungenerous to us, lofty and great overlord as you are over us.

· · ·

1.33.4

वधी॒र्हि दस्युं॑ ध॒निनं॑ घ॒नेनँ॒ एक॒श्चर॑न्नुपशा॒केभि॑रिन्द्र । धनो॒रधि॑ विषु॒णक्ते व्या॑य॒न्नय॑ज्वानः सन॒काः प्रेति॑मीयुः ॥

Indra, lord of power and justice, marching ahead by yourself, strike down the wicked affluent hoarder alongwith his supporters with a single blow of the thunderbolt. Eliminator of smugglers and infiltrators, fix the selfish fun-lovers on the point of your arrow and let them meet their end.

· · ·

1.33.5

परा॑ चिच्छी॒र्षा व॑वृजु॒स्त इ॒न्द्राय॑ज्वानो॒ यज्व॑भिः॒ स्पर्ध॑मानाः । प्र यद्दि॒वो ह॑रिवः स्थातरुग्र॒ निर॑व्र॒ताँ अ॑धमो॒ रोद॑स्योः ॥

Indra, lord of light and justice, firm and steadfast, mighty strong, commander of horse power and armoured force, just as the sun, blazing lord of light and sustainer of earth, heaven and the middle skies, breaks up and scatters the cloud, so do you blow off and scatter the top-notch selfish, uncreative and lawless elements who rival and stall the yajnic creative, constructive and productive powers of your dominion.

· · ·

1.33.6

अयु॑युत्सन्ननव॒द्यस्य॒ सेना॒मया॑तयन्त क्षि॒तयो॒ नव॑ग्वाः । वृ॒षा॒युधो॒ न वध्र॑यो॒ निर॑ष्टाः प्र॒वद्भि॒रिन्द्रा॑च्चि॒तय॑न्त आयन् ॥

Settled heroes of the nation, brave fighters, trained in the latest arms and tactics, experts of offence and defence, strengthening and elevating the striking power of the admirable commander of the ruler and supreme commander, try to fight and fight on so that the enemies, defeated and demoralised, flee away from Indra down hill by the swiftest course, like emasculated cowards.

· · ·

1.33.7

त्वमे॒तान्रु॑द॒तो जक्ष॑त॒श्चायो॑धयो॒ रज॑स इन्द्र पा॒रे । अवा॑दहो दि॒व आ दस्यु॑मु॒च्चा प्र सु॑न्व॒तः स्तु॑व॒तः शंस॑मावः ॥

Indra, ruler and commander, fight out these ogres and those, weeping and wailing, away from the middle regions of the dominion. Throw off the wicked from the higher regions, and from higher positions. Raise those who are creators of soma, peace and joy. Protect those who appreciate and raise the honour of the world and humanity.

· · ·

1.33.8

च॒क्रा॒णासः॑ परी॒णहं॑ पृथि॒व्या हिर॑ण्येन म॒णिना॒ शुम्भ॑मानाः । न हि॑न्वा॒नास॑स्तितिरु॒स्त इन्द्रं॒ परि॒ स्पशो॑ अदधा॒त्सूर्ये॑ण ॥

The fighting forces of the sun, beautified by golden jewels of light by the sun, messengers of peace and joy of the earth, do not break the protective cover of the earth, nor do they violate the purpose of the sun, and by virtue of the same sun they serve and glorify Indra, lord ruler of the earth and her children. (Similarly, the dynamic forces of the earth’s dominion, invested with the golden jewels of royal robes, dedicated to service and well-being, do not violate the bounds of the earth’s protective laws and, as messengers and agents of the universal lord of light, they uphold the ruler and the rule of law.)

· · ·

1.33.9

परि॒ यदि॑न्द्र॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे अबु॑भोजीर्महि॒ना वि॒श्वतः॑ सीम् । अम॑न्यमानाँ अ॒भि मन्य॑मानै॒र्निर्ब्र॒ह्मभि॑रधमो॒ दस्यु॑मिन्द्र ॥

Just as Indra, the sun, with its own power and glory, holds both earth and heaven in orbit all round in a state of equilibrium by the force of its gravitation and throws off the unwanted forces by its own laudable forces of heat and light, so you, Indra, lord ruler of the earth, with your power and glory, hold and sustain the earth and the people and, with the assistance of responsible and respectable people of knowledge and divine wisdom, control and correct the unruly elements, and throw off the selfish and the wicked.

· · ·

1.33.10

न ये दि॒वः पृ॑थि॒व्या अन्त॑मा॒पुर्न मा॒याभि॑र्धन॒दां प॒र्यभू॑वन् । युजं॒ वज्रं॑ वृष॒भश्च॑क्र॒ इन्द्रो॒ निर्ज्योति॑षा॒ तम॑सो॒ गा अ॑दुक्षत् ॥

There are those who do not understand the end and purpose of the earth and heaven, nor can they, with all their magic and power, conquer or insult the mother giver earth. Indra, virile and generous lord ruler of earth and heaven, uses his ready weapon of the thunderbolt of light and force, kindles the sense and mind of the people and delivers the earth from the darkness of ignorance and evil.

· · ·

1.33.11

अनु॑ स्व॒धाम॑क्षर॒न्नापो॑ अ॒स्याव॑र्धत॒ मध्य॒ आ ना॒व्या॑नाम् । स॒ध्री॒चीने॑न॒ मन॑सा॒ तमिन्द्र॒ ओजि॑ष्ठेन॒ हन्म॑नाहन्न॒भि द्यून् ॥

The waters of this cloud flow according to their nature, in response to this Indra’s power after the yajnic offers of holy havi, and they collect in the navigable lakes, rivers and seas. Indra, lord of lightning power, strike that cloud of darkness pregnant with waters with your own essential and most lustrous fatal weapon fast as mind, break the darkness, and release the light and waters to flow to the earth.

· · ·

1.33.12

न्या॑विध्यदिली॒बिश॑स्य दृ॒ळ्हा वि शृ॒ङ्गिण॑मभिन॒च्छुष्ण॒मिन्द्रः॑ । याव॒त्तरो॑ मघव॒न्याव॒दोजो॒ वज्रे॑ण॒ शत्रु॑मवधीः पृत॒न्युम् ॥

Just as Indra, the sun, lord of light and power, breaks and scatters the dense cloud into rain water lying in the depressions of the earth such as lakes and oceans, and scatters and condenses the mountainous cloud in the sky which has sucked up the waters from the earth, similarly, O lord ruler of the earth’s wealth and glory, strike the underground enemy forces with thunder and destroy them. Don’t give up while your strength lasts and your lustre and morale sustains.

· · ·

1.33.13

अ॒भि सि॒ध्मो अ॑जिगादस्य॒ शत्रू॒न्वि ति॒ग्मेन॑ वृष॒भेणा॒ पुरो॑ऽभेत् । सं वज्रे॑णासृजद्वृ॒त्रमिन्द्रः॒ प्र स्वां म॒तिम॑तिर॒च्छाश॑दानः ॥

Just as the never-failing triumphant light of this sun goes straight and takes on the cloud like an enemy and, with penetrating but generous force, breaks up the cloud like enemy fort, just as Indra, solar energy, with its lightning force, scatters the clouds proclaiming its distinguished power to the world, so should the ruler take on and destroy the enemies of the dominion and proclaim the generous power of his sovereignty.

· · ·

1.33.14

आवः॒ कुत्स॑मिन्द्र॒ यस्मि॑ञ्चा॒कन्प्रावो॒ युध्य॑न्तं वृष॒भं दश॑द्युम् । श॒फच्यु॑तो रे॒णुर्न॑क्षत॒ द्यामुच्छ्वै॑त्रे॒यो नृ॒षाह्या॑य तस्थौ ॥

Indra, as the sun desirous of protecting the earth takes to the thunderbolt in the battle and engages the roaring fighting cloud full of showers of rain filling all the directions, and as the dust raised by the hoofs of the cows and horses rises to the sky, so may the ruler, son and protector of the earth, stand firm for the protection and promotion of humanity.

· · ·

1.33.15

आवः॒ शमं॑ वृष॒भं तुग्र्या॑सु क्षेत्रजे॒षे म॑घव॒ञ्छ्वित्र्यं॒ गाम् । ज्योक् चि॒दत्र॑ तस्थि॒वांसो॑ अक्रञ्छत्रूय॒तामध॑रा॒ वेद॑नाकः ॥

Indra, Maghavan, lord of power and glory, just as in matters of the prosperity of the various fields of the earth the sun directs its catalytic rays of energy to engage the cloud in battles of precipitation to rain down the soothing life sustaining showers, so may you, like the sun and showers, help the people settled here in peace so that they may for long carry on their earthly chores. Like the sun, bring the hostile elements of the dominion to book and keep them down to suffer as they deserve.

✦ Sukta 34 · 12 verses ✦

1.34.1

त्रिश्चि॑न्नो अ॒द्या भ॑वतं नवेदसा वि॒भुर्वां॒ याम॑ उ॒त रा॒तिर॑श्विना । यु॒वोर्हि य॒न्त्रं हि॒म्येव॒ वास॑सोऽभ्यायं॒सेन्या॑ भवतं मनी॒षिभिः॑ ॥

Ashvins, brilliant experts of eminence like the sun and moon, working together complementarily, be three ways good to us today: May your chariot be universal in movement. May your gifts of wealth, too, be of universal value. May your machine too be of universal purpose in design, structure and performance. Carry on together with the scholars and thinkers as a team like the night and day of winter or like the cold and warm cover.

· · ·

1.34.2

त्रयः॑ प॒वयो॑ मधु॒वाह॑ने॒ रथे॒ सोम॑स्य वे॒नामनु॒ विश्व॒ इद्वि॑दुः । त्रयः॑ स्क॒म्भासः॑ स्कभि॒तास॑ आ॒रभे॒ त्रिर्नक्तं॑ या॒थस्त्रिर्व॑श्विना॒ दिवा॑ ॥

Ashvins, scientists and engineers of eminence, three are the thunderous wheels and dynamos in the chariot which brings you honey-sweets of wealth and comfort. The scholars of eminence know the pleasure of soma and beauty of the moon. Three are the sustaining beams and pillars fixed in its motive system. By this you can reach your destination thrice in the day and thrice in the night.

· · ·

1.34.3

स॒मा॒ने अह॒न्त्रिर॑वद्यगोहना॒ त्रिर॒द्य य॒ज्ञं मधु॑ना मिमिक्षतम् । त्रिर्वाज॑वती॒रिषो॑ अश्विना यु॒वं दो॒षा अ॒स्मभ्य॑मु॒षस॑श्च पिन्वतम् ॥

Ashvins, scholars of science and locomotion, covering your gaps and weaknesses, in one day complete the threefold yajna of science (in food, energy and speed of locomotion with fire and water). Both of you develop for us thrice powerful food and energy, and let the days and nights abound in food, energy, speed and progress.

· · ·

1.34.4

त्रिर्व॒र्तिर्या॑तं॒ त्रिरनु॑व्रते॒ जने॒ त्रिः सु॑प्रा॒व्ये॑ त्रे॒धेव॑ शिक्षतम् । त्रिर्ना॒न्द्यं॑ वहतमश्विना यु॒वं त्रिः पृक्षो॑ अ॒स्मे अ॒क्षरे॑व पिन्वतम् ॥

Asvins, scholars of knowledge and practice, come our way thrice to guide us. Follow thrice in the way of an easily accessible man of noble discipline and dedication and lead us too, teaching us three ways the art of defence, industry and automation. Conduct the programmes of joy and celebration three ways for body, mind and soul. And like the flowing waters augmented by showers of rain, develop the knowledge of mixing, compounds and mutual contact threefold.

· · ·

1.34.5

त्रिर्नो॑ र॒यिं व॑हतमश्विना यु॒वं त्रिर्दे॒वता॑ता॒ त्रिरु॒ताव॑तं॒ धियः॑ । त्रिः सौ॑भग॒त्वं त्रिरु॒त श्रवां॑सि नस्त्रि॒ष्ठं वां॒ सूरे॑ दुहि॒ता रु॑ह॒द्रथ॑म् ॥

Ashvins, generous as earth and heaven, bring us, develop and sustain threefold wealth of knowledge, power and protection. Brilliant and godly scholars of science, technology and yajna, three-way benefactors by inspiration, action and achievement, give us threefold enlightenment, protection and sustenance of body, mind and soul. Give us threefold beauty, honour, and grace of prosperity, well-being and noble family. Give us the threefold capacity of listening, reflecting and meditating on Vedas, Shastras and the economics and polity of practical living. And lo! by virtue of your inspiration, action and achievement, the dawn, daughter of the sun, would ride your chariot of glory and in-fuse strength and peace and joy into our body, mind and soul.

· · ·

1.34.6

त्रिर्नो॑ अश्विना दि॒व्यानि॑ भेष॒जा त्रिः पार्थि॑वानि॒ त्रिरु॑ दत्तम॒द्भ्यः । ओ॒मानं॑ शं॒योर्मम॑काय सू॒नवे॑ त्रि॒धातु॒ शर्म॑ वहतं शुभस्पती ॥

Ashvins, scholars of knowledge, light and progressive expansion, protectors of all that is good and blissful, create for us and give us threefold heavenly essences such as soma, three earthly ones and three from waters. For my child create something soothing and all- round protective, a three-metal tonic panacea for a healthy and comfortable state of health in which the three humors of vitality are balanced in peace, without agitation, anywhere.

· · ·

1.34.7

त्रिर्नो॑ अश्विना यज॒ता दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ परि॑ त्रि॒धातु॑ पृथि॒वीम॑शायतम् । ति॒स्रो ना॑सत्या रथ्या परा॒वत॑ आ॒त्मेव॒ वातः॒ स्वस॑राणि गच्छतम् ॥

Ashvins, expert powers of science and technology, truthful, devoted to yajna and working together like fire and water, and masters of the three- metal chariot, day by day go round the earth and sky thrice for us and then come to sleep on the earth. Just as the soul goes from one body to another, as winds blow from one place to another, so by the threefold, three way, three speed chariot, move from one chariot to another and go to the destinations of your choice.

· · ·

1.34.8

त्रिर॑श्विना॒ सिन्धु॑भिः स॒प्तमा॑तृभि॒स्त्रय॑ आहा॒वास्त्रे॒धा ह॒विष्कृ॒तम् । ति॒स्रः पृ॑थि॒वीरु॒परि॑ प्र॒वा दि॒वो नाकं॑ रक्षेथे॒ द्युभि॑र॒क्तुभि॑र्हि॒तम् ॥

Ashvins, scientists of yajna, brilliant and fast as sun and wind, with the materials collected, refined and sanctified thrice with the rivers and seas which are distilled by mother nature from seven sources (earth, waters, fire, wind, space, sun and electric energy) by days and nights, sent up by three paths of solid, subtle and atomised forms, to three (the earth, the region of joy and the region of light), you serve and replenish three, earth, sky and heaven.

· · ·

1.34.9

क्व १॒॑ त्री च॒क्रा त्रि॒वृतो॒ रथ॑स्य॒ क्व १॒॑ त्रयो॑ व॒न्धुरो॒ ये सनी॑ळाः । क॒दा योगो॑ वा॒जिनो॒ रास॑भस्य॒ येन॑ य॒ज्ञं ना॑सत्योपया॒थः ॥

Ashvins, truthful and dedicated scientists, where are the threefold three wheels of the chariot’s design, structure and speed? Where are the three bonds of the structure strong and fixed? When and where the ignition and start of the roaring hawk by which you fly to your destination?

· · ·

1.34.10

आ ना॑सत्या॒ गच्छ॑तं हू॒यते॑ ह॒विर्मध्वः॑ पिबतं मधु॒पेभि॑रा॒सभिः॑ । यु॒वोर्हि पूर्वं॑ सवि॒तोषसो॒ रथ॑मृ॒ताय॑ चि॒त्रं घृ॒तव॑न्त॒मिष्य॑ति ॥

Ashvins, high-priests of truth and nature, come, the input oblations are offered. Taste the honey sweets of your achievement with your honeyed lips. The sun itself before the dawn energises your wondrous paradisal chariot for the pursuit of truth and right.

· · ·

1.34.11

आ ना॑सत्या त्रि॒भिरे॑काद॒शैरि॒ह दे॒वेभि॑र्यातं मधु॒पेय॑मश्विना । प्रायु॒स्तारि॑ष्टं॒ नी रपां॑सि मृक्षतं॒ सेध॑तं॒ द्वेषो॒ भव॑तं सचा॒भुवा॑ ॥

Ashvins, high-priests of nature, truth and yajna, come with three-eleven divinities of nature and the universe, having crossed the seas in three days and the globe in eleven, come for a drink of honey-sweets. Sail across life, triumphant. Destroy evils. Drive off jealous hostiles. Be friends, unifiers.

· · ·

1.34.12

आ नो॑ अश्विना त्रि॒वृता॒ रथे॑ना॒र्वाञ्चं॑ र॒यिं व॑हतं सु॒वीर॑म् । शृ॒ण्वन्ता॑ वा॒मव॑से जोहवीमि वृ॒धे च॑ नो भवतं॒ वाज॑सातौ ॥

Ashvins, high-priests of nature, science and technology, come by the multipurpose chariot across the land, over the sea and through the skies, and bring us wealth and honour worthy of the brave this side of the horizon. Listeners as you are, I call upon you for protection and promotion. Be favourable to us for advancement and victory in the battles of life.

✦ Sukta 35 · 11 verses ✦

1.35.1

ह्वया॑म्य॒ग्निं प्र॑थ॒मं स्व॒स्तये॒ ह्वया॑मि मि॒त्रावरु॑णावि॒हाव॑से । ह्वया॑मि॒ रात्रीं॒ जग॑तो नि॒वेश॑नीं॒ ह्वया॑मि दे॒वं स॑वि॒तार॑मू॒तये॑ ॥

I invoke Agni, vital heat, first basic sustainer of life, for physical well-being. I invoke Mitra-and-Varuna, pranic energies of the breath of life, for protection and immunity. I invoke the night which envelops the world in restful sleep. And I invoke Savita, the sun, lord of light, refreshment and inspiration for the sake of protection, promotion and advancement here upon the earth.

· · ·

1.35.2

आ कृ॒ष्णेन॒ रज॑सा॒ वर्त॑मानो निवे॒शय॑न्न॒मृतं॒ मर्त्यं॑ च । हि॒र॒ण्यये॑न सवि॒ता रथे॒ना दे॒वो या॑ति॒ भुव॑नानि॒ पश्य॑न् ॥

Savita, lord of life and light, existing and abiding with the regions of the universe, sustaining them with his centripetal force of gravitation, enveloping the mortals and the immortals, goes on and on in self- refulgent glory in his golden chariot, watching and illuminating the worlds of existence. (The mantra is applicable to both Ishvara, Lord creator, and the sun, sustainer and illuminator of the solar world.)

· · ·

1.35.3

याति॑ दे॒वः प्र॒वता॒ यात्यु॒द्वता॒ याति॑ शु॒भ्राभ्यां॑ यज॒तो हरि॑भ्याम् । आ दे॒वो या॑ति सवि॒ता प॑रा॒वतोऽप॒ विश्वा॑ दुरि॒ता बाध॑मानः ॥

The lord of light, adorable and in company, goes on by lower and higher paths, descending and ascending, by beautiful horses, white and glossy (i.e., day and night, bright and dark fortnights). Savita, lord effulgent, goes on travelling hitherward and far off away dispelling the darkness and evil of the world.

· · ·

1.35.4

अ॒भीवृ॑तं॒ कृश॑नैर्वि॒श्वरू॑पं॒ हिर॑ण्यशम्यं यज॒तो बृ॒हन्त॑म् । आस्था॒द्रथं॑ सवि॒ता चि॒त्रभा॑नुः कृ॒ष्णा रजां॑सि॒ तवि॑षीं॒ दधा॑नः ॥

Savita, adorable and companionable lord of wondrous light, commanding enormous power, holding the world regions by his subtle waves of gravitation, rides the vast, beautiful and autonomous world of infinite forms brighter than gold.

· · ·

1.35.5

वि जना॑ञ्छ्या॒वाः शि॑ति॒पादो॑ अख्य॒न्रथं॒ हिर॑ण्यप्रउगं॒ वह॑न्तः । शश्व॒द्विशः॑ सवि॒तुर्दैव्य॑स्यो॒पस्थे॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि तस्थुः ॥

In the lap of Divine Savita, eternal Lord of the universe, reside all the worlds of existence and the children of the divine. So in the gravitational field of the sun, heavenly light, are held all the regions of the solar system alongwith the living beings ever abiding therein. And the rays of the sun, white and brilliant, bearing the world-chariot of the golden yoke, shine and proclaim the glory of the lord to the people.

· · ·

1.35.6

ति॒स्रो द्यावः॑ सवि॒तुर्द्वा उ॒पस्थाँ॒ एका॑ य॒मस्य॒ भुव॑ने विरा॒षाट् । आ॒णिं न रथ्य॑म॒मृताधि॑ तस्थुरि॒ह ब्र॑वीतु॒ य उ॒ तच्चिके॑तत् ॥

Three are the lights: sunlight, fire and universal electric energy. Two of these, sun-light and fire (which is of the earthly sphere) are in the sun’s field of power and gravitation. The third, universal energy which holds the spirit and soul of the brave resides in antariksha, the middle region of yama, the vital wind (which overtakes and carries the soul after death of the body). Like the pin of a chariot wheel axle in battle, all these, fixed in their place with their role, abide by the Immortal Supreme Savita. Whoever here really knows the secret, may speak.

· · ·

1.35.7

वि सु॑प॒र्णो अ॒न्तरि॑क्षाण्यख्यद्गभी॒रवे॑पा॒ असु॑रः सुनी॒थः । क्वे॒३॒॑दानीं॒ सूर्यः॒ कश्चि॑केत कत॒मां द्यां र॒श्मिर॒स्या त॑तान ॥

The sun is mighty brilliant, illuminates the middle regions, awfully vibrating with fusion, gives pranic life to nature and humanity, holding and guiding things in orbit. And then, where is the sun now, (when it is no more there)? In what heaven does its light shine now? Who knows?

· · ·

1.35.8

अ॒ष्टौ व्य॑ख्यत्क॒कुभः॑ पृथि॒व्यास्त्री धन्व॒ योज॑ना स॒प्त सिन्धू॑न् । हि॒र॒ण्या॒क्षः स॑वि॒ता दे॒व आगा॒द्दध॒द्रत्ना॑ दा॒शुषे॒ वार्या॑णि ॥

Savita, generous lord of golden light, comes illuminating the eight directions and sub-directions of the earth, the three sustaining regions of earth, heaven and the middle skies, and the seven seas of space, holding and bringing choicest gifts for the man of charity and yajna.

· · ·

1.35.9

हिर॑ण्यपाणिः सवि॒ता विच॑र्षणिरु॒भे द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒न्तरी॑यते । अपामी॑वां॒ बाध॑ते॒ वेति॒ सूर्य॑म॒भि कृ॒ष्णेन॒ रज॑सा॒ द्यामृ॑णोति ॥

Savita, the sun, lord of the golden hand of generosity, creator of the sap of life, shines across the regions of heaven and earth. It destroys and eliminates disease and dirt, spreads its light all over, blazes in the heavens and over-reaches the regions of darkness.

· · ·

1.35.10

हिर॑ण्यहस्तो॒ असु॑रः सुनी॒थः सु॑मृळी॒कः स्ववाँ॑ यात्व॒र्वाङ् । अ॒प॒सेध॑न्र॒क्षसो॑ यातु॒धाना॒नस्था॑द्दे॒वः प्र॑तिदो॒षं गृ॑णा॒नः ॥

Savita, generous and self-refulgent lord, giving and blessing, with a golden hand, breath and inspiration of life, universal guide, creator giver of peace and well- being, lord of universal wealth, may come to us in direct experience and bless us all ways and every way, warding off the wicked, the evil and the violent destroyers, and stay with us in the heart day and night, praised and celebrated as we ought to praise and celebrate the Divine Lord.

· · ·

1.35.11

ये ते॒ पन्थाः॑ सवितः पू॒र्व्यासो॑ऽरे॒णवः॒ सुकृ॑ता अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे । तेभि॑र्नो अ॒द्य प॒थिभि॑स्सु॒गेभी॒ रक्षा॑ च नो॒ अधि॑ च ब्रूहि देव ॥

Savita, self-refulgent lord creator and giver of light, by those paths of divinity set out by you which are ancient and eternal, free from dust and smoke, well laid out on high in heaven, by those very paths simple, straight and pleasant, come to-day, guide and protect us, and reveal into our soul the Voice Divine.

✦ Sukta 36 · 20 verses ✦

1.36.1

प्र वो॑ य॒ह्वं पु॑रू॒णां वि॒शां दे॑वय॒तीना॑म् । अ॒ग्निं सू॒क्तेभि॒र्वचो॑भिरीमहे॒ यं सी॒मिद॒न्य ईळ॑ते ॥

With songs of praise and words of worship we adore Agni, Lord and light of the universe, whom other devotees too adore in many ways, and we pray to the lord of light and power and instant action, worthy of the love and devotion of many people far and wide who are seekers of divine knowledge and bliss for themselves.

· · ·

1.36.2

जना॑सो अ॒ग्निं द॑धिरे सहो॒वृधं॑ ह॒विष्म॑न्तो विधेम ते । स त्वं नो॑ अ॒द्य सु॒मना॑ इ॒हावि॒ता भवा॒ वाजे॑षु सन्त्य ॥

The ancient people of vision and wisdom hold on to Agni, Lord of light and knowledge. We have the will and devotion, and we have the offerings, with these we worship you, lord giver of strength and courage more and ever more. Lord of wealth and generosity, we pray, be good and kind to us here and now, be our saviour and protector in the battles of life.

· · ·

1.36.3

प्र त्वा॑ दू॒तं वृ॑णीमहे॒ होता॑रं वि॒श्ववे॑दसम् । म॒हस्ते॑ स॒तो वि च॑रन्त्य॒र्चयो॑ दि॒वि स्पृ॑शन्ति भा॒नवः॑ ॥

Agni, light and fire of yajna, harbinger of blessings Divine and carrier of the fragrance of yajna, we opt for you, we kindle you. You are the yajaka, you reach the world over and over. Great and true you are, the flames and lights of your power reach the heavens and, like the rays of the sun, bless everything with a touch of new life and inspiration.

· · ·

1.36.4

दे॒वास॑स्त्वा॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा सं दू॒तं प्र॒त्नमि॑न्धते । विश्वं॒ सो अ॑ग्ने जयति॒ त्वया॒ धनं॒ यस्ते॑ द॒दाश॒ मर्त्यः॑ ॥

Agni, brilliant power of heat and light of yajna, harbinger of joy and inspiration, the noblest of the wise and generous people of the world and powers of nature, Varuna the high, Mitra the friendly, and Aryama the fair and just, all kindle and raise you high for the world’s yajna of growth and progress. The man who offers you the holy materials of yajna wins wealth of the world by virtue of your yajnic action.

· · ·

1.36.5

म॒न्द्रो होता॑ गृ॒हप॑ति॒रग्ने॑ दू॒तो वि॒शाम॑सि । त्वे विश्वा॒ संग॑तानि व्र॒ता ध्रु॒वा यानि॑ दे॒वा अकृ॑ण्वत ॥

Agni, deep and grave and joyous, giver of peace and prosperity, protector and promoter of home and family, you are the fighter and ambassador of the people. In you abide all those steady laws and discipline which go with the observance of Dharma and good conduct and which the noblest in nature and humanity observe and have observed.

· · ·

1.36.6

त्वे इद॑ग्ने सु॒भगे॑ यविष्ठ्य॒ विश्व॒माहू॑यते ह॒विः । स त्वं नो॑ अ॒द्य सु॒मना॑ उ॒ताप॒रं यक्षि॑ दे॒वान्त्सु॒वीर्या॑ ॥

Agni, fire and power of yajna, strongest catalyser and noblest creative and constructive agent, to you alone are offered all the inputs of yajna (for the sustenance and advancement of life). Right to-day and to-morrow and all through future, be good and kind to us, act with the generous powers of yajna and help us grow as brave and noble people.

· · ·

1.36.7

तं घे॑मि॒त्था न॑म॒स्विन॒ उप॑ स्व॒राज॑मासते । होत्रा॑भिर॒ग्निं मनु॑षः॒ समि॑न्धते तिति॒र्वांसो॒ अति॒ स्रिधः॑ ॥

Surely men of faith and reverence wielding power and weapons sit and abide by the brilliant sovereign ruler. They kindle the fire and do homage to Agni with sacrificial offers and, wishing to get over the violent and destructive forces, win the battles of life.

· · ·

1.36.8

घ्नन्तो॑ वृ॒त्रम॑तर॒न्रोद॑सी अ॒प उ॒रु क्षया॑य चक्रिरे । भुव॒त्कण्वे॒ वृषा॑ द्यु॒म्न्याहु॑तः॒ क्रन्द॒दश्वो॒ गवि॑ष्टिषु ॥

Just as Indra, the sun, with its rays, strikes the cloud and fills the earth and heaven with light and waters, so does Agni, brilliant ruler and commander, with his forces, break through evil and darkness, filling heaven and earth with the light and fame of his actions. He works for the settlement of his people in spacious homes and, invited and celebrated among the intelligent, he shines as generous and prosperous, while his fame resounds like the roar of the victor in battle.

· · ·

1.36.9

सं सी॑दस्व म॒हाँ अ॑सि॒ शोच॑स्व देव॒वीत॑मः । वि धू॒मम॑ग्ने अरु॒षं मि॑येध्य सृ॒ज प्र॑शस्त दर्श॒तम् ॥

Agni, Lord of light and power, brilliant, admirable, adorable, divinely superb, you are great. Come be seated, wipe out evil, shine and create the light without smoke, and

beauty most sublime.

· · ·

1.36.10

यं त्वा॑ दे॒वासो॒ मन॑वे द॒धुरि॒ह यजि॑ष्ठं हव्यवाहन । यं कण्वो॒ मेध्या॑तिथिर्धन॒स्पृतं॒ यं वृषा॒ यमु॑पस्तु॒तः ॥

Agni, lord of light and fire, most dedicated to yajna, loved and honoured, creator and harbinger of the noblest wealth of life, you — whom the brilliant, intelligent and generous people accepted for enlightened rule, whom the scholars and teachers with their disciples and yajnic friends accepted as the man of wealth and knowledge, whom the generous pious people accepted, whom the popular and respected people accepted — such as you are, we accept, elect, appoint and consecrate you as the ruler and commander of the nation.

· · ·

1.36.11

यम॒ग्निं मेध्या॑तिथिः॒ कण्व॑ ई॒ध ऋ॒तादधि॑ । तस्य॒ प्रेषो॑ दीदियु॒स्तमि॒मा ऋच॒स्तम॒ग्निं व॑र्धयामसि ॥

The fire and energy which kanva, expert scholar of science and practical work, karma kanda, in company with his disciples of technical yajna, captured and lighted from the waves and waters over the sky, and whose flames reach beyond the sky over the clouds, these hymns of celebration illumine and the same we develop and augment.

· · ·

1.36.12

रा॒यस्पू॑र्धि स्वधा॒वोऽस्ति॒ हि तेऽग्ने॑ दे॒वेष्वाप्य॑म् । त्वं वाज॑स्य॒ श्रुत्य॑स्य राजसि॒ स नो॑ मृळ म॒हाँ अ॑सि ॥

Agni, lord of power and wealth in your own right, fulfil our life with honour and prosperity, so friendly and accessible you are among the noble and the generous. You shine in battles and your fame resounds. Be good to us for our well-being. Great and glorious you are indeed.

· · ·

1.36.13

ऊ॒र्ध्व ऊ॒ षु ण॑ ऊ॒तये॒ तिष्ठा॑ दे॒वो न स॑वि॒ता । ऊ॒र्ध्वो वाज॑स्य॒ सनि॑ता॒ यद॒ञ्जिभि॑र्वा॒घद्भि॑र्वि॒ह्वया॑महे ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, brilliant as the sun, stay high with grace in glory for our protection and progress. Rise high as the hero of life’s battles of honour and prosperity. It is for the reason of your glory and generosity that we invoke and pray to you alongwith the scholars with holy offers of yajna and celebration.

· · ·

1.36.14

ऊ॒र्ध्वो नः॑ पा॒ह्यंह॑सो॒ नि के॒तुना॒ विश्वं॒ सम॒त्रिणं॑ दह । कृ॒धी न॑ ऊ॒र्ध्वाञ्च॒रथा॑य जी॒वसे॑ वि॒दा दे॒वेषु॑ नो॒ दुवः॑ ॥

Agni, high and great, save us from sin and evil with the gift of intelligence and knowledge. Burn up all grabbing and robbing of other’s food and freedom. Help us rise to the heights of knowledge, comfort and happiness for a full life. Accept our prayer that we may rise to our place among the noble and the brilliant.

· · ·

1.36.15

पा॒हि नो॑ अग्ने र॒क्षसः॑ पा॒हि धू॒र्तेररा॑व्णः । पा॒हि रीष॑त उ॒त वा॒ जिघां॑सतो॒ बृह॑द्भानो॒ यवि॑ष्ठ्य ॥

Agni, lord of light and fire, youthful and blazing with mighty glory, save us from the destroyers. Protect us from the wicked and the ungenerous. Protect us from the cruel and the violent. Protect us from the killers. (Let these negative and destructive elements be eliminated.)

· · ·

1.36.16

घ॒नेव॒ विष्व॒ग्वि ज॒ह्यरा॑व्ण॒स्तपु॑र्जम्भ॒ यो अ॑स्म॒ध्रुक् । यो मर्त्यः॒ शिशी॑ते॒ अत्य॒क्तुभि॒र्मा नः॒ स रि॒पुरी॑शत ॥

Agni, lord of fire and justice, whosoever is jealous and destructive toward us, whosoever is ungenerous and an exploiter, destroy wholly with the blow of the thunderbolt. Whosoever bleeds humanity with instruments of torture and death, such an enemy must not rule over us.

· · ·

1.36.17

अ॒ग्निर्व॑व्ने सु॒वीर्य॑म॒ग्निः कण्वा॑य॒ सौभ॑गम् । अ॒ग्निः प्राव॑न्मि॒त्रोत मेध्या॑तिथिम॒ग्निः सा॒ता उ॑पस्तु॒तम् ॥

Agni is mighty power for one who cares and prays for it. It is great good fortune for the man of knowledge. It is a great friend and protector in battle, and provides all help and encouragement to the man who is loved and admired by his colleagues and disciples.

· · ·

1.36.18

अ॒ग्निना॑ तु॒र्वशं॒ यदुं॑ परा॒वत॑ उ॒ग्रादे॑वं हवामहे । अ॒ग्निर्न॑य॒न्नव॑वास्त्वं बृ॒हद्र॑थं तु॒र्वीतिं॒ दस्य॑वे॒ सहः॑ ॥

By the might and splendour of Agni, we challenge from afar the fast invader, robber, ferocious warrior who hides in new hideouts and suddenly emerges in a big chariot with the intention of instant kill. May Agni, great and blazing, destroyer of the wicked, take on such demons and throw them off.

· · ·

1.36.19

नि त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ मनु॑र्दधे॒ ज्योति॒र्जना॑य॒ शश्व॑ते । दी॒देथ॒ कण्व॑ ऋ॒तजा॑त उक्षि॒तो यं न॑म॒स्यन्ति॑ कृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of universal light and power, I, Manu, man of thought and intelligence, enlightened in truth and divine Law, consecrated in the joy of piety, hold on to you in the heart. Shine, eternal light, in the heart of Kanva, man of knowledge, for the sake of humanity. The devotees bow to you in obedience and obeisance.

· · ·

1.36.20

त्वे॒षासो॑ अ॒ग्नेरम॑वन्तो अ॒र्चयो॑ भी॒मासो॒ न प्रती॑तये । र॒क्ष॒स्विनः॒ सद॒मिद्या॑तु॒माव॑तो॒ विश्वं॒ सम॒त्रिणं॑ दह ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, like blazing and fearful flames of fire, burn all the ailments and destroy all the thieves and demons of the world and, for the knowledge and enlightenment of people like us, protect us and the world.

✦ Sukta 37 · 15 verses ✦

1.37.1

क्री॒ळं वः॒ शर्धो॒ मारु॑तमन॒र्वाणं॑ रथे॒शुभ॑म् । कण्वा॑ अ॒भि प्र गा॑यत ॥

Men of science and knowledge, sing and celebrate the playful, superior and irresistible power of the wind harnessed in the chariot without the horse.

· · ·

1.37.2

ये पृष॑तीभिर्ऋ॒ष्टिभिः॑ सा॒कं वाशी॑भिर॒ञ्जिभिः॑ । अजा॑यन्त॒ स्वभा॑नवः ॥

Those men who, like the winds, with liquid thrusts of motion in smooth, refined, chiselled and lubricated language and style, express themselves and their ideas, rise with their own brilliance like the rays of the sun.

· · ·

1.37.3

इ॒हेव॑ शृण्व एषां॒ कशा॒ हस्ते॑षु॒ यद्वदा॑न् । नि याम॑ञ्चि॒त्रमृ॑ञ्जते ॥

Whatever I hear here wherever I am, whatever the stimulation of the nerves and motions of the muscles in the hands, whatever people speak, whatever varied and wonderful they straighten, realise or obtain in the business of life, all that is by the motion of these winds. (Research into the energy, power and uses of the winds.)

· · ·

1.37.4

प्र वः॒ शर्धा॑य॒ घृष्व॑ये त्वे॒षद्यु॑म्नाय शु॒ष्मिणे॑ । दे॒वत्तं॒ ब्रह्म॑ गायत ॥

For your strength, for your refinements, for light and prosperity, for health, food and plenty, study the divine gift of the winds and sing in thanks and praise of the sacred hymns of the Veda.

· · ·

1.37.5

प्र शं॑सा॒ गोष्वघ्न्यं॑ क्री॒ळं यच्छर्धो॒ मारु॑तम् । जम्भे॒ रस॑स्य वावृधे ॥

Study and celebrate that refreshing and inviolable strength and power of the winds which operates in the earths and cows and in the wind and senses and which issues forth in the juices pressed out by the jaws in the mouth and soma press and which increases the strength and vitality of the body.

· · ·

1.37.6

को वो॒ वर्षि॑ष्ठ॒ आ न॑रो दि॒वश्च॒ ग्मश्च॑ धूतयः । यत्सी॒मन्तं॒ न धू॑नु॒थ ॥

Ye men, energetic as the winds, movers and shakers of earth and heavens, who is the mightiest so great of you that you shake the world around you to the very end like the leaves of a tree or the hem of a gown?

· · ·

1.37.7

नि वो॒ यामा॑य॒ मानु॑षो द॒ध्र उ॒ग्राय॑ म॒न्यवे॑ । जिही॑त॒ पर्व॑तो गि॒रिः ॥

The mightiest great man among you sustains your passionate morale and directs your might and main for the onward march of life. Shake the clouds. Cross the mountains.

· · ·

1.37.8

येषा॒मज्मे॑षु पृथि॒वी जु॑जु॒र्वाँइ॑व वि॒श्पतिः॑ । भि॒या यामे॑षु॒ रेज॑ते ॥

Just as on the stormy movements of a heroic leader’s armies the decrepit ruler of a broken nation shakes with fear and flees, so under the force of the motions of the winds, electric energy of the lord of the universe, the earth moves and goes whirling round and round in orbit.

· · ·

1.37.9

स्थि॒रं हि जान॑मेषां॒ वयो॑ मा॒तुर्निरे॑तवे । यत्सी॒मनु॑ द्वि॒ता शवः॑ ॥

Still is the cause of these winds, i.e., space (akasha) whence they have their birth. By virtue of their mother source, their power is two-fold: Sound, which is the property of space which the winds carry, and motion which is their specific property, so that things such as birds may move in space by the force of the winds.

· · ·

1.37.10

उदु॒ त्ये सू॒नवो॒ गिरः॒ काष्ठा॒ अज्मे॑ष्वत्नत । वा॒श्रा अ॑भि॒ज्ञु यात॑वे ॥

Those children of space, the winds, in their motions, carry and expand the waves of sound and the currents of waters and other energies across the spaces so that they reach their destinations like the mother cows hastening on their legs to their stalls.

· · ·

1.37.11

त्यं चि॑द्घा दी॒र्घं पृ॒थुं मि॒हो नपा॑त॒ममृ॑ध्रम् । प्र च्या॑वयन्ति॒ याम॑भिः ॥

The winds, by their motions of mighty currents, drive the dark and deep and heavy clouds holding the waters and make them rain down in incessant showers.

· · ·

1.37.12

मरु॑तो॒ यद्ध॑ वो॒ बलं॒ जनाँ॑ अचुच्यवीतन । गि॒रीँर॑चुच्यवीतन ॥

Maruts, warriors of the nation, just as the powers of the winds shake up the clouds, so may your power and force inspire the people to do great deeds in the world.

· · ·

1.37.13

यद्ध॒ यान्ति॑ म॒रुतः॒ सं ह॑ ब्रुव॒तेऽध्व॒न्ना । शृ॒णोति॒ कश्चि॑देषाम् ॥

The Maruts, wind powers of nature, like the dynamic heroes of humanity, go together, and as they go by the paths of their movement, they speak together and proclaim their presence and their work. But only some exceptionally perceptive people listen to their voice.

· · ·

1.37.14

प्र या॑त॒ शीभ॑मा॒शुभिः॒ सन्ति॒ कण्वे॑षु वो॒ दुवः॑ । तत्रो॒ षु मा॑दयाध्वै ॥

Maruts, dynamic heroes of the nation, go fast by the straightest paths set out for you. Your honour and achievement lies in the heart of the learned and the wise. And there, with the learned and the wise, we’ll celebrate.

· · ·

1.37.15

अस्ति॒ हि ष्मा॒ मदा॑य वः॒ स्मसि॑ ष्मा व॒यमे॑षाम् । विश्वं॑ चि॒दायु॑र्जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Surely life is for the joy of living for all of you. May we too enjoy and be happy. Indeed life is for the joy of living for all living beings of the world.

✦ Sukta 38 · 15 verses ✦

1.38.1

कद्ध॑ नू॒नं क॑धप्रियः पि॒ता पु॒त्रं न हस्त॑योः । द॒धि॒ध्वे वृ॑क्तबर्हिषः ॥

Heroes of yajna, lovers of the stories of life and nature, you have collected the sacred grass for the yajna vedi. When for sure are you going to take the work of the nation in hand like a father taking up the child in arms for its nurture and nourishment?

· · ·

1.38.2

क्व॑ नू॒नं कद्वो॒ अर्थं॒ गन्ता॑ दि॒वो न पृ॑थि॒व्याः । क्व॑ वो॒ गावो॒ न र॑ण्यन्ति ॥

Heroes on the move, Maruts incarnate, where for sure is the end and purpose of your march, when are you going to reach it like the end and purpose of heaven and earth? Where is the place of destination whence the purpose calls you like cows lowing for their calves? Where do your mind and senses and spirits direct you?

· · ·

1.38.3

क्व॑ वः सु॒म्ना नव्यां॑सि॒ मरु॑तः॒ क्व॑ सुवि॒ता । क्वो॒ ३॒॑ विश्वा॑नि॒ सौभ॑गा ॥

Maruts, heroes of the nation of humanity, where are your latest dream loves? Where your ideals? Where all your good fortunes to which you all move?

· · ·

1.38.4

यद्यू॒यं पृ॑श्निमातरो॒ मर्ता॑सः॒ स्यात॑न । स्तो॒ता वो॑ अ॒मृतः॑ स्यात् ॥

Maruts, children of mother-space, heroes of the nation and children of the colourful mother earth doing good work, though you are mortal, the Immortal is your protector.

· · ·

1.38.5

मा वो॑ मृ॒गो न यव॑से जरि॒ता भू॒दजो॑ष्यः । प॒था य॒मस्य॑ गा॒दुप॑ ॥

As the deer takes delight in the grass, so should you take delight in learning. May your teacher never be unwelcome to you. May he have full life before he goesby the divine path. May he never go close to the path of the wind prematurely, early in life.

· · ·

1.38.6

मो षु णः॒ परा॑परा॒ निर्ऋ॑तिर्दु॒र्हणा॑ वधीत् । प॒दी॒ष्ट तृष्ण॑या स॒ह ॥

May the fatal adversity of life far or near never strike us. Instead, O Winds, powers of the Immortals, let it fly away from us alongwith the thirst and deprivation of life.

· · ·

1.38.7

स॒त्यं त्वे॒षा अम॑वन्तो॒ धन्व॑ञ्चि॒दा रु॒द्रिया॑सः । मिहं॑ कृण्वन्त्यवा॒ताम् ॥

The bright and blazing lightning winds, strong and impetuous in the sky, sustained benefactors of living life, cause ceaseless showers of rain on the thirsty earth. And that is truly the divine work of nature (which the human beings should emulate).

· · ·

1.38.8

वा॒श्रेव॑ वि॒द्युन्मि॑माति व॒त्सं न मा॒ता सि॑षक्ति । यदे॑षां वृ॒ष्टिरस॑र्जि ॥

Just as the mother cow hastens to the calf, overflowing with milk, just as the mother suckles her baby, so does the bright blazing lightning, roaring and raining powers of the winds, bless the living beings when the showers released by them fall upon the thirstyearth.

· · ·

1.38.9

दिवा॑ चि॒त्तमः॑ कृण्वन्ति प॒र्जन्ये॑नोदवा॒हेन॑ । यत्पृ॑थि॒वीं व्यु॒न्दन्ति॑ ॥

When the winds overflood the earth with showers of rain from the dense clouds overladen with vapours of water, they overcast even the bright day with darkness deep as that of the night.

· · ·

1.38.10

अध॑ स्व॒नान्म॒रुतां॒ विश्व॒मा सद्म॒ पार्थि॑वम् । अरे॑जन्त॒ प्र मानु॑षाः ॥

And then by the roar of lightning winds the whole earth and the entire human world shake and tremble like a house built of clay.

· · ·

1.38.11

मरु॑तो वीळुपा॒णिभि॑श्चि॒त्रा रोध॑स्वती॒रनु॑ । या॒तेमखि॑द्रयामभिः ॥

Maruts, lightning powers of the winds, wondrous forces of the nation, resistant and inviolable, march on with invincible arms by the irresistible paths (to your goal in sight).

· · ·

1.38.12

स्थि॒रा वः॑ सन्तु ने॒मयो॒ रथा॒ अश्वा॑स एषाम् । सुसं॑स्कृता अ॒भीश॑वः ॥

Let the wheels of your chariots be strong and steady. May your chariots of horse and fire be strong by wind and electric energy. Let the reins and steering be very sensitive and sophisticated.

· · ·

1.38.13

अच्छा॑ वदा॒ तना॑ गि॒रा ज॒रायै॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॑म् । अ॒ग्निं मि॒त्रं न द॑र्श॒तम् ॥

Speak well with expansive words in detail for full understanding of power and energy to the brilliant scholar of the Vedas like a very very dear friend worth visiting again and again.

· · ·

1.38.14

मि॒मी॒हि श्लोक॑मा॒स्ये॑ प॒र्जन्य॑इव ततनः । गाय॑ गाय॒त्रमु॒क्थ्य॑म् ॥

Receive the sacred words, fix them in your speech and mind, specify the sense, expand the knowledge, language and communication further as the cloud holds and expands the vapours of water. Sing and speak of the sacred knowledge extensively.

· · ·

1.38.15

वन्द॑स्व॒ मारु॑तं ग॒णं त्वे॒षं प॑न॒स्युम॒र्किण॑म् । अ॒स्मे वृ॒द्धा अ॑सन्नि॒ह ॥

Honour the powers of the winds and Marut- group of nature and prana, brilliant, admirable and awful source of light and energy. Reverence the brilliant, dynamic scholars of light and energy rich in possibilities of growth and nourishment. Honour and respect power and these people so that great men may arise among us here.

✦ Sukta 39 · 10 verses ✦

1.39.1

प्र यदि॒त्था प॑रा॒वतः॑ शो॒चिर्न मान॒मस्य॑थ । कस्य॒ क्रत्वा॑ मरुतः॒ कस्य॒ वर्प॑सा॒ कं या॑थ॒ कं ह॑ धूतयः ॥

Maruts, heroes of light and power, movers and shakers, just as the sun radiates its rays of light from afar, so by whose idea and purpose is it that you thus strike your light and weapons far off? By whose thought and action? By whose energy, strength and power? Who do you wish to reach? Who do you want to shake?

· · ·

1.39.2

स्थि॒रा वः॑ स॒न्त्वायु॑धा परा॒णुदे॑ वी॒ळू उ॒त प्र॑ति॒ष्कभे॑ । यु॒ष्माक॑मस्तु॒ तवि॑षी॒ पनी॑यसी॒ मा मर्त्य॑स्य मा॒यिनः॑ ॥

May your weapons be strong and steady to drive off the enemy, and strong and firm to stem the onslaught. May your forces be admirably intelligent and resourceful. Let the cunning and wicked people havenothing such.

· · ·

1.39.3

परा॑ ह॒ यत्स्थि॒रं ह॒थ नरो॑ व॒र्तय॑था गु॒रु । वि या॑थन व॒निनः॑ पृथि॒व्या व्याशाः॒ पर्व॑तानाम् ॥

Men of heroic character as the winds, whatever stands unmoved and inflexible against you, move and throw off. Whatever is dense and impenetrable, break through and scatter. Like rays of light and currents of winds, go round the earth in all directions, reach the clouds and cross over the mountains unto the skies.

· · ·

1.39.4

न॒हि वः॒ शत्रु॑र्विवि॒दे अधि॒ द्यवि॒ न भूम्यां॑ रिशादसः । यु॒ष्माक॑मस्तु॒ तवि॑षी॒ तना॑ यु॒जा रुद्रा॑सो॒ नू चि॑दा॒धृषे॑ ॥

Scourge of wrong and enemies of injustice, no enemy will stand against you on earth or on high in the light of your justice and rectitude. May your forces be blazing brilliant, wide and expansive, expert and well- provided with weapons and equipment for your struggle and battles for life and humanity.

· · ·

1.39.5

प्र वे॑पयन्ति॒ पर्व॑ता॒न्वि वि॑ञ्चन्ति॒ वन॒स्पती॑न् । प्रो आ॑रत मरुतो दु॒र्मदा॑इव॒ देवा॑सः॒ सर्व॑या वि॒शा ॥

Just as Maruts, the winds, shake up the mountains, scatter the clouds and uproot the trees, so you, brave heroes, intelligent, brilliant and creative, together with all the people, throw off the evil and the wicked like drunkards lost in intoxication.

· · ·

1.39.6

उपो॒ रथे॑षु॒ पृष॑तीरयुग्ध्वं॒ प्रष्टि॑र्वहति॒ रोहि॑तः । आ वो॒ यामा॑य पृथि॒वी चि॑दश्रो॒दबी॑भयन्त॒ मानु॑षाः ॥

For your travel on earth and in the sky, yoke to your chariot horses fast as winds. Let the red fire with the mist be the leader in front as motive power of the carrier. Let the earth hear the boom and people feel fear and awe.

· · ·

1.39.7

आ वो॑ म॒क्षू तना॑य॒ कं रुद्रा॒ अवो॑ वृणीमहे । गन्ता॑ नू॒नं नोऽव॑सा॒ यथा॑ पु॒रेत्था कण्वा॑य बि॒भ्युषे॑ ॥

O Rudras, heroes of might and rectitude, we choose comfort and well-being for you and for posterity. We choose freedom and security for ourselves and for the man of knowledge and wisdom. And we call upon you for safety, security and well-being. Come soon with protection and freedom for us all as you came ever before post-haste for the protection and progress of the wise suppressed in fear.

· · ·

1.39.8

यु॒ष्मेषि॑तो मरुतो॒ मर्त्ये॑षित॒ आ यो नो॒ अभ्व॒ ईष॑ते । वि तं यु॑योत॒ शव॑सा॒ व्योज॑सा॒ वि यु॒ष्माका॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Maruts, veterans of knowledge and heroes of might and right, if the monstrous enemy whom you would wish to subdue and whom the people wish to suppress attacks us, then with your valour and splendour and with your means of protection and promotion for us, ward him off.

· · ·

1.39.9

असा॑मि॒ हि प्र॑यज्यवः॒ कण्वं॑ द॒द प्र॑चेतसः । असा॑मिभिर्मरुत॒ आ न॑ ऊ॒तिभि॒र्गन्ता॑ वृ॒ष्टिं न वि॒द्युतः॑ ॥

Heroic yajakas, brilliant men of knowledge and wisdom, mighty heroes of the speed of winds, just as flashes of lightning bring showers of rain for us, so with spontaneous, unqualified and unreserved powers and protections give us peace, freedom and comfort, whole, complete and undisturbed. And to suppress the evil and the wicked, go to the man of wisdom and vision for light and guidance.

· · ·

1.39.10

असा॒म्योजो॑ बिभृथा सुदान॒वोऽसा॑मि धूतयः॒ शवः॑ । ऋ॒षि॒द्विषे॑ मरुतः परिम॒न्यव॒ इषुं॒ न सृ॑जत॒ द्विष॑म् ॥

Heroes of the world powerful as the winds, movers and shakers of evil, overflowing with love and charity, wield power and splendour whole and complete,undisturbed strength and valour, and just as men of righteous passion shoot the arrows at the enemy, so shoot at the enemy of the seer and his vision of knowledge and reality.

✦ Sukta 40 · 8 verses ✦

1.40.1

उत्ति॑ष्ठ ब्रह्मणस्पते देव॒यन्त॑स्त्वेमहे । उप॒ प्र य॑न्तु म॒रुतः॑ सु॒दान॑व॒ इन्द्र॑ प्रा॒शूर्भ॑वा॒ सचा॑ ॥

Arise Brahmanaspati, Master of Divinity, seer blest and lord of universal knowledge. Lovers of Divinity, we approach you and pray. Let the Maruts, heroes of valour and splendour fast as winds and liberal men of yajnic charity come and march ahead. May Indra, lord of knowledge and power bless them with light and success.

· · ·

1.40.2

त्वामिद्धि स॑हसस्पुत्र॒ मर्त्य॑ उपब्रू॒ते धने॑ हि॒ते । सु॒वीर्यं॑ मरुत॒ आ स्वश्व्यं॒ दधी॑त॒ यो व॑ आच॒के ॥

Child of valour and victory, courage incarnate, tolerance and endurance, in the interest of wealth and well-being, people invoke and call upon you. Maruts, heroes of knowledge and divinity, whoever may sincerely invoke and call upon you to your satisfaction, for him you bear the gift of heroic manliness and effective battle power and achievement.

· · ·

1.40.3

प्रैतु॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिः॒ प्र दे॒व्ये॑तु सू॒नृता॑ । अच्छा॑ वी॒रं नर्यं॑ प॒ङ्क्तिरा॑धसं दे॒वा य॒ज्ञं न॑यन्तु नः ॥

May the lord of divine knowledge move forward. May the lady scholar of divine truth and law move forward. May the generous and brilliant men of yajna carry and conduct our yajnas of the achievement of manly heroes for five-fold gifts of wealth and well-being.

· · ·

1.40.4

यो वा॒घते॒ ददा॑ति सू॒नरं॒ वसु॒ स ध॑त्ते॒ अक्षि॑ति॒ श्रवः॑ । तस्मा॒ इळां॑ सु॒वीरा॒ मा य॑जामहे सु॒प्रतू॑र्तिमने॒हस॑म् ॥

The man who gives to the scholar of divinity and the high-priest of yajna wealth by which noble people arise commands imperishable honour and fame. For him we pray and work for the gift of divine speech and sacred earth, inviolable, holy and instantly productive, which creates and raises noble heroes.

· · ·

1.40.5

प्र नू॒नं ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॒र्मन्त्रं॑ वदत्यु॒क्थ्य॑म् । यस्मि॒न्निन्द्रो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा दे॒वा ओकां॑सि चक्रिरे ॥

Surely the master of divinity and high-priest of yajna and Vedic speech chants the celebrated hymns of the Lord of the Universe in whose infinite presence Indra (electric energy), Varuna (sun, moon and oceans, etc.), Mitra (prana energy), Aryama (winds) and other divine powers of nature such as earth find their abode and sustenance.

· · ·

1.40.6

तमिद्वो॑चेमा वि॒दथे॑षु शं॒भुवं॒ मन्त्रं॑ देवा अने॒हस॑म् । इ॒मां च॒ वाचं॑ प्रति॒हर्य॑था नरो॒ विश्वेद्वा॒मा वो॑ अश्नवत् ॥

Noble and generous people, in yajnas and holy congregations, if we chant that sacred blissful and imperishable mantra of science and divine mystery of Veda, and you, O men and women, if you receive, realise and follow this holy speech in action, it would bring you all the splendid wealth of the world.

· · ·

1.40.7

को दे॑व॒यन्त॑मश्नव॒ज्जनं॒ को वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषम् । प्रप्र॑ दा॒श्वान्प॒स्त्या॑भिरस्थितान्त॒र्वाव॒त्क्षयं॑ दधे ॥

Who would reach the man of divine love? Who would go to the man of yajna who has collected the holy grass for the vedi? Who is the generous giver that finds a settled home with noble presences on open airy land and holds the fort? (Answer: Brahmanaspati).

· · ·

1.40.8

उप॑ क्ष॒त्रं पृ॑ञ्ची॒त हन्ति॒ राज॑भिर्भ॒ये चि॑त्सुक्षि॒तिं द॑धे । नास्य॑ व॒र्ता न त॑रु॒ता म॑हाध॒ने नार्भे॑ अस्ति व॒ज्रिणः॑ ॥

Brahmanaspati consolidates the ruling power. With warriors and statesmen he eliminates the enemies. In a state of fear and challenge he maintains his cool constancy. Wielder of the thunderbolt as he is, none can turn him, none can defeat even in the greatest battle. In little skirmishes? No question.

✦ Sukta 41 · 9 verses ✦

1.41.1

यं रक्ष॑न्ति॒ प्रचे॑तसो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । नू चि॒त्स द॑भ्यते॒ जनः॑ ॥

The man whom Prachetas, men of knowledge and wisdom, Varuna, distinguished and meritorious man, Mitra, friend of all, Aryama, man of justice, all these protect and advance (is really strong). Can he ever be hurt, bullied or suppressed? No!

· · ·

1.41.2

यं बा॒हुते॑व॒ पिप्र॑ति॒ पान्ति॒ मर्त्यं॑ रि॒षः । अरि॑ष्टः॒ सर्व॑ एधते ॥

Those men whom Varuna and others support and protect against the violent as if with the force of their own arms advance and grow in life safe and secure.

· · ·

1.41.3

वि दु॒र्गा वि द्विषः॑ पु॒रो घ्नन्ति॒ राजा॑न एषाम् । नय॑न्ति दुरि॒ता ति॒रः ॥

Brilliant rulers and others who shine, rout the forts and cities of these enemies and cast off all evil and suffering far away.

· · ·

1.41.4

सु॒गः पन्था॑ अनृक्ष॒र आदि॑त्यास ऋ॒तं य॒ते । नात्रा॑वखा॒दो अ॑स्ति वः ॥

Adityas, men of divine brilliance, the path of those who go by truth and divine law is straight and simple. For you too (who are dedicated to Divinity and universal truth) there is no fear or danger.

· · ·

1.41.5

यं य॒ज्ञं नय॑था नर॒ आदि॑त्या ऋ॒जुना॑ प॒था । प्र वः॒ स धी॒तये॑ नशत् ॥

Adityas, heroes of light and the law, people of the land, the yajna of creation and development which you carry forward by the path of truth and piety for knowledge, science and art must not disappear from the scene.

· · ·

1.41.6

स रत्नं॒ मर्त्यो॒ वसु॒ विश्वं॑ तो॒कमु॒त त्मना॑ । अच्छा॑ गच्छ॒त्यस्तृ॑तः ॥

The man of invincible love and non-violence by his very mind and soul gets the wealth and jewels of the world and very dear lovely children.

· · ·

1.41.7

क॒था रा॑धाम सखायः॒ स्तोमं॑ मि॒त्रस्या॑र्य॒म्णः । महि॒ प्सरो॒ वरु॑णस्य ॥

Friends, how shall we realise in truth of fact the great celebration we offered for the power and glory of Mitra, friend of the people, Aryama, lord of justice, and Varuna, highest leader of our choice, and how shall we achieve the high standard of our comfort and well- being?

· · ·

1.41.8

मा वो॒ घ्नन्तं॒ मा शप॑न्तं॒ प्रति॑ वोचे देव॒यन्त॑म् । सु॒म्नैरिद्व॒ आ वि॑वासे ॥

Friends, I must not even speak to the man who hurts or curses you. In stead, I must love and serve the man who feels divine love for you and wishes you well all comfort and joy.

· · ·

1.41.9

च॒तुर॑श्चि॒द्दद॑मानाद्बिभी॒यादा निधा॑तोः । न दु॑रु॒क्ताय॑ स्पृहयेत् ॥

Trust not, fear the man who gives you four: hurt, curse, pain and depression. Off with the thief, the encroacher and misappropriator. Love not one who speaks evil. Feel reverence and awe, without fear, for the man who gives you four: Dharma,Artha (wealth), Kama (fulfilment), Moksha (ultimate freedom). Respect the parent. Love not the man of evil tongue.

✦ Sukta 42 · 10 verses ✦

1.42.1

सं पू॑ष॒न्नध्व॑नस्तिर॒ व्यंहो॑ विमुचो नपात् । सक्ष्वा॑ देव॒ प्र ण॑स्पु॒रः ॥

Pusha, lord giver of nourishment and growth, lord imperishable, brilliant and generous, cross over through the paths of life and help us cross. Free us from sin and evil, join us and guide us to move forward.

· · ·

1.42.2

यो नः॑ पूषन्न॒घो वृको॑ दुः॒शेव॑ आ॒दिदे॑शति । अप॑ स्म॒ तं प॒थो ज॑हि ॥

Pusha, lord of physical, moral, spiritual and intellectual nourishment, whoever be the sinner, the thief, the malignant enemy that orders us to be off from the right path, remove him from the path.

· · ·

1.42.3

अप॒ त्यं प॑रिप॒न्थिनं॑ मुषी॒वाणं॑ हुर॒श्चित॑म् । दू॒रमधि॑ स्रु॒तेर॑ज ॥

Pusha, saviour and protector lord, remove and throw off far from our path that highway man, that robber, who lies in ambush waiting to rob us.

· · ·

1.42.4

त्वं तस्य॑ द्वया॒विनो॒ऽघशं॑सस्य॒ कस्य॑ चित् । प॒दाभि ति॑ष्ठ॒ तपु॑षिम् ॥

Pusha, whosoever the sinner, thief or robber, overt or covert, suppress, and keep his oppressive force under foot.

· · ·

1.42.5

आ तत्ते॑ दस्र मन्तुमः॒ पूष॒न्नवो॑ वृणीमहे । येन॑ पि॒तॄनचो॑दयः ॥

Pusha, wondrous destroyer of evil, generous saviour and protector, lord of knowledge, we pray for your love, grace and protection by which you inspire and enlighten our parents and seniors (to follow the right path).

· · ·

1.42.6

अधा॑ नो विश्वसौभग॒ हिर॑ण्यवाशीमत्तम । धना॑नि सु॒षणा॑ कृधि ॥

Pusha, lord of universal good fortune, generous giver of the light of knowledge and golden lustre of honour, create for us and bless us with liberal gifts of wealth of knowledge, prosperity and well-being.

· · ·

1.42.7

अति॑ नः स॒श्चतो॑ नय सु॒गा नः॑ सु॒पथा॑ कृणु । पूष॑न्नि॒ह क्रतुं॑ विदः ॥

Pusha, lord of light and enlightenment, save us from the enemy, take us far on way to knowledge by the simplest noble path. Let us have the light and vision of good yajnic action.

· · ·

1.42.8

अ॒भि सू॒यव॑सं नय॒ न न॑वज्वा॒रो अध्व॑ने । पूष॑न्नि॒ह क्रतुं॑ विदः ॥

Pusha, lord of growth and advancement, take us to the land of manna, beauty and joy. No new obstacles, no sufferance on the way. And then know the noble acts (we do in the new land).

· · ·

1.42.9

श॒ग्धि पू॒र्धि प्र यं॑सि च शिशी॒हि प्रास्यु॒दर॑म् । पूष॑न्नि॒ह क्रतुं॑ विदः ॥

Pusha, you are the power and the glory. Give us strength and power. Give us fulfilment. Give us thewealth of life. You are the light and peace. Give us peace and lustre. Give us plenty of food to our satisfaction and delight. Know our battles of action.

· · ·

1.42.10

न पू॒षणं॑ मेथामसि सू॒क्तैर॒भि गृ॑णीमसि । वसू॑नि द॒स्ममी॑महे ॥

We don’t fight Pusha, generous lord giver, sustainer and ruler of the world. We celebrate him in sacred songs. We pray to the generous lord for the wealths of life.

✦ Sukta 43 · 9 verses ✦

1.43.1

कद्रु॒द्राय॒ प्रचे॑तसे मी॒ळ्हुष्ट॑माय॒ तव्य॑से । वो॒चेम॒ शंत॑मं हृ॒दे ॥

When shall we sing hymns of peace and bliss most soothing in celebration of the glory of Rudra, lord of justice and mercy, omniscient, most generous, omnipotent and dearest ever present in the heart? (With a little modification of meaning, the mantra applies to the soul and to Vayu, universal energy as well as prana energy of life. Rudra stands for Isvara, jiva and vayu/prana.)

· · ·

1.43.2

यथा॑ नो॒ अदि॑तिः॒ कर॒त्पश्वे॒ नृभ्यो॒ यथा॒ गवे॑ । यथा॑ तो॒काय॑ रु॒द्रिय॑म् ॥

Just as Aditi, mother, does good to the child, the shepherd to his animals, the ruler to his people, the master to the cows, so, we pray, may Rudra, lord of life and energy, grant us kindness and grace.

· · ·

1.43.3

यथा॑ नो मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो॒ यथा॑ रु॒द्रश्चिके॑तति । यथा॒ विश्वे॑ स॒जोष॑सः ॥

Just as Mitra, universal friend and breath of life, Varuna, lord omniscient and the teacher, Rudra, lord of love and justice, and all friends of life and common humanity energise and enlighten us, so may all the teachers of the earth give us the light and energy of life.

· · ·

1.43.4

गा॒थप॑तिं मे॒धप॑तिं रु॒द्रं जला॑षभेषजम् । तच्छं॒योः सु॒म्नमी॑महे ॥

We pray to gathapati, lord protector of hymns and celebrants, medhapati, lord protector and promoter of yajnas, jalashabheshajam, universal balm of life, and Rudra, lord of life, love and justice for the bliss of peace and ultimate freedom.

· · ·

1.43.5

यः शु॒क्रइ॑व॒ सूर्यो॒ हिर॑ण्यमिव॒ रोच॑ते । श्रेष्ठो॑ दे॒वानां॒ वसुः॑ ॥

Rudra, lord of love and justice and the ruling power of humanity, who shines like the refulgence of pure light, who blazes like the sun and pleases like the beauty of gold, is the highest of the generous and brilliant, and he is the haven and abode of the living beings on earth.

· · ·

1.43.6

शं नः॑ कर॒त्यर्व॑ते सु॒गं मे॒षाय॑ मे॒ष्ये॑ । नृभ्यो॒ नारि॑भ्यो॒ गवे॑ ॥

Rudra, lord of the world, ruler, healer and teacher may, we pray, bring good health, peace and well- being to our horses, sheep and goats, men and women, cows and our mind and sense and to the earth and the environment.

· · ·

1.43.7

अ॒स्मे सो॑म॒ श्रिय॒मधि॒ नि धे॑हि श॒तस्य॑ नृ॒णाम् । महि॒ श्रव॑स्तुविनृ॒म्णम् ॥

Rudra, lord ruler of the world, Soma, joyous, kind and beatific, bring us and establish over the earth wealth and beauty, honour and fame, dignity and grandeur of a high exciting kind and quality for all the hundred orders of humanity.

· · ·

1.43.8

मा नः॑ सोमपरि॒बाधो॒ मारा॑तयो जुहुरन्त । आ न॑ इन्दो॒ वाजे॑ भज ॥

Lord of beauty and dignity, may the enemies of peace and prosperity and the agents of poverty and adversity never be able to challenge us. Help us and strengthen us in the struggle for peace, prosperity and dignity.

· · ·

1.43.9

यास्ते॑ प्र॒जा अ॒मृत॑स्य॒ पर॑स्मि॒न्धाम॑न्नृ॒तस्य॑ । मू॒र्धा नाभा॑ सोम वेन आ॒भूष॑न्तीः सोम वेदः ॥

Soma, lord of peace and prosperity, Vena, blessed presence of beauty and grace, these are your people trying to reach the prime centre of immortal truth and law. Know these, love these, and help them reach and abide in the highest heaven of joy.

✦ Sukta 44 · 14 verses ✦

1.44.1

अग्ने॒ विव॑स्वदु॒षस॑श्चि॒त्रं राधो॑ अमर्त्य । आ दा॒शुषे॑ जातवेदो वहा॒ त्वम॒द्या दे॒वाँ उ॑ष॒र्बुधः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of life, blazing as the sun, immortal, omniscient of things born, for the man of charity who has surrendered himself to you, you bring todaywonderful wealth of the dawn, and let the yogis and blessings of nature awake at the dawn.

· · ·

1.44.2

जुष्टो॒ हि दू॒तो असि॑ हव्य॒वाह॒नोऽग्ने॑ र॒थीर॑ध्व॒राणा॑म् । स॒जूर॒श्विभ्या॑मु॒षसा॑ सु॒वीर्य॑म॒स्मे धे॑हि॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हत् ॥

Agni, ruling lord of light and the world, invoked and lighted, you are the blazing catalyst and carrier of yajnic materials offered and fragrances received. You are the leading chariot hero of the world’s yajnic acts of love and creation. Friend of the Ashvins, sun and moon, water and air, working with the complementary powers of nature, friend and companion of ours too, bring us noble strength and valour, bless us with universal honour and fame.

· · ·

1.44.3

अ॒द्या दू॒तं वृ॑णीमहे॒ वसु॑म॒ग्निं पु॑रुप्रि॒यम् । धू॒मके॑तुं॒ भाऋ॑जीकं॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु य॒ज्ञाना॑मध्वर॒श्रिय॑म् ॥

Today we choose to invoke, invite and light up Agni, lord of light and life and knowledge, leader of the dynamics of existence, homely sustainer of all and giver of wealth, darling of everybody, moving with the flag of smoke in dazzling flames of light, and giving us brilliant success and glory in the holy yajnas of our heart’s desire.

· · ·

1.44.4

श्रेष्ठं॒ यवि॑ष्ठ॒मति॑थिं॒ स्वा॑हुतं॒ जुष्टं॒ जना॑य दा॒शुषे॑ । दे॒वाँ अच्छा॒ यात॑वे जा॒तवे॑दसम॒ग्निमी॑ळे॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु ॥

In the lights of the dawn of desire and to reach the holy splendours of Divinity, I invoke, worship and serve Agni, lord of light and life and universal knowledge, best and youngest holy light, loving, burning and ever on the move as a blessing for the man of faith and charity with surrender to the Lord.

· · ·

1.44.5

स्त॒वि॒ष्यामि॒ त्वाम॒हं विश्व॑स्यामृत भोजन । अग्ने॑ त्रा॒तार॑म॒मृतं॑ मियेध्य॒ यजि॑ष्ठं हव्यवाहन ॥

Agni, self-refulgent lord of creation, eternal and imperishable, sustainer of the universe, holiest of the holy and giver of highest gifts of yajna, I shall ever sing in celebration of your glory as the eternal saviour and protector of the world and the worthiest object of worship in yajna.

· · ·

1.44.6

सु॒शंसो॑ बोधि गृण॒ते य॑विष्ठ्य॒ मधु॑जिह्वः॒ स्वा॑हुतः । प्रस्क॑ण्वस्य प्रति॒रन्नायु॑र्जी॒वसे॑ नम॒स्या दैव्यं॒ जन॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of light and universal knowledge, youngest ever young, universally celebrated you are,honey tongued, invoked and deeply honoured, protecting the life of the wise for the joy of living, worthy of obedience and obeisance, save the man of divinity and bless the celebrant with enlightenment.

· · ·

1.44.7

होता॑रं वि॒श्ववे॑दसं॒ सं हि त्वा॒ विश॑ इ॒न्धते॑ । स आ व॑ह पुरुहूत॒ प्रचे॑त॒सोऽग्ने॑ दे॒वाँ इ॒ह द्र॒वत् ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, ruler of the world, the people invoke, kindle and honour you, lord omniscient and high-priest of cosmic yajna. Lord universally celebrated, let the brilliancies of nature and humanity come and bless us here straight at the earliest and fastest. Let the wise scholars come and bless us.

· · ·

1.44.8

स॒वि॒तार॑मु॒षस॑म॒श्विना॒ भग॑म॒ग्निं व्यु॑ष्टिषु॒ क्षपः॑ । कण्वा॑सस्त्वा सु॒तसो॑मास इन्धते हव्य॒वाहं॑ स्वध्वर ॥

Agni, lord of light, high-priest of great yajnas, wise scholars, and those who have distilled the soma essence of life in their visions of light and life’s joy, invoke, study and develop the powers and blessings of Savita, inspiring light of the sun, the dawn, the Ashvins, water and air, Bhaga, universal vitality and majesty of divine nature, Agni, energy of heat, light and electricity, the nights and showers of peace, and yajna which is the harbinger of all the blessings of life and its wealth.

· · ·

1.44.9

पति॒र्ह्य॑ध्व॒राणा॒मग्ने॑ दू॒तो वि॒शामसि॑ । उ॒ष॒र्बुध॒ आ व॑ह॒ सोम॑पीतये दे॒वाँ अ॒द्य स्व॒र्दृशः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, protector and promoter of the noblest yajnic acts of humanity, you are the conscience of the people and harbinger of joy for them. Bring here the brilliancies of nature and humanity who wake up with the dawn. They have the vision of light and heaven. Let them come for partici- pation in the celebration of soma-success of the yajna.

· · ·

1.44.10

अग्ने॒ पूर्वा॒ अनू॒षसो॑ विभावसो दी॒देथ॑ वि॒श्वद॑र्शतः । असि॒ ग्रामे॑ष्ववि॒ता पु॒रोहि॒तोऽसि॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॒ मानु॑षः ॥

Agni, blazing lord of light and knowledge, you are the leading light of the world. You shine before, with, and after the dawns. You are the protector of life in human habitations. You are the image and life of the people and the leader and high-priest in their yajnas from the family yajna upto the world programmes of creation, so human, sacred and divine.

· · ·

1.44.11

नि त्वा॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॒ साध॑न॒मग्ने॒ होता॑रमृ॒त्विज॑म् । म॒नु॒ष्वद्दे॑व धीमहि॒ प्रचे॑तसं जी॒रं दू॒तमम॑र्त्यम् ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, you are the ultimate cause, means and end of universal yajna, the high-priest and the yajaka. Lord of brilliance, we constantly perceive, reflect, and meditate on you, worship and internalise you as a very human presence, inspiring, dynamic, illuminating and imperishable.

· · ·

1.44.12

यद्दे॒वानां॑ मित्रमहः पु॒रोहि॒तोऽन्त॑रो॒ यासि॑ दू॒त्य॑म् । सिन्धो॑रिव॒ प्रस्व॑नितास ऊ॒र्मयो॒ऽग्नेर्भ्रा॑जन्ते अ॒र्चयः॑ ॥

Lord of light, you are the greatest friend of the brilliant men of knowledge and vision, morning call of the high-priest in the mind, leading light of the voice divine, and the invitation to live by the yajna fire. And the flames of fire blaze like the rolling waves of the sea (at the dawn).

· · ·

1.44.13

श्रु॒धि श्रु॑त्कर्ण॒ वह्नि॑भिर्दे॒वैर॑ग्ने स॒याव॑भिः । आ सी॑दन्तु ब॒र्हिषि॑ मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा प्रा॑त॒र्यावा॑णो अध्व॒रम् ॥

Listen lord, you have the ear, listen to the constant crackle of the blazing flames of fire within. Come Mitra, friends of humanity, come Aryama, powers of justice, come moving travellers to the house of yajna, join the sacred cause of love and non-violence and sit on the holy grass around the vedi-fire.

· · ·

1.44.14

शृ॒ण्वन्तु॒ स्तोमं॑ म॒रुतः॑ सु॒दान॑वोऽग्निजि॒ह्वा ऋ॑ता॒वृधः॑ । पिब॑तु॒ सोमं॒ वरु॑णो धृ॒तव्र॑तो॒ऽश्विभ्या॑मु॒षसा॑ स॒जूः ॥

Listen to the songs of celebration, Maruts, heroes of the human nation moving at the speed of winds, generous, brilliant as flames of fire and rising in the realms of universal yajna of the divine laws of life and truth. Let Varuna, highest powers of nature and humanity, committed to universal laws, come with the lovely dawn and the Ashvins, complementary currents of life’s energy, and participate in the joys of yajna.

✦ Sukta 45 · 10 verses ✦

1.45.1

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ वसूँ॑रि॒ह रु॒द्राँ आ॑दि॒त्याँ उ॒त । यजा॑ स्वध्व॒रं जनं॒ मनु॑जातं घृत॒प्रुष॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, sagely scholar of wisdom and piety, bring together into this yajna of love and non-violence the people, children of reflective humanity, who sprinkle the vedi with holy water and offer ghee into the fire. Bring together the celibate scholars of twenty four, thirty six and forty eight years discipline and perform yajna in honour of the Vasus, eight abodes of life in nature, Rudras, eleven vitalities of life, andAdityas, twelve phases of the yearly round of the sun.

· · ·

1.45.2

श्रु॒ष्टी॒वानो॒ हि दा॒शुषे॑ दे॒वा अ॑ग्ने॒ विचे॑तसः । तान्रो॑हिदश्व गिर्वण॒स्त्रय॑स्त्रिंशत॒मा व॑ह ॥

Agni, lord of light, knowledge and power of the world, moving at lightning speed of the red flames of fire, bring here for the generous man of charity and brilliant piety the thirty-three divinities of the universe such as earth and vital airs which are givers of light and intelligence and which instantly bring up the blessings of life.

· · ·

1.45.3

प्रि॒य॒मे॒ध॒वद॑त्रि॒वज्जात॑वेदो विरूप॒वत् । अ॒ङ्गि॒र॒स्वन्म॑हिव्रत॒ प्रस्क॑ण्वस्य श्रुधी॒ हव॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of existential knowledge, committed to the great laws of eternity, listen to the invocation and prayer of the man of intelligence and reason like a lord of beauteous wisdom, above ignorance, injustice and poverty, and free from physical, mental and spiritual want, a power of versatile form and present within as the breath of life.

·

· ·

1.45.4

महि॑केरव ऊ॒तये॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धा अहूषत । राज॑न्तमध्व॒राणा॑म॒ग्निं शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॑ ॥

Great artists and men, who love intelligence, industry and research for the sake of progress andprotection, invoke, study and explain agni, fire and electricity, brilliant power of creative and constructive yajnic programmes blazing with instant energy.

· · ·

1.45.5

घृता॑हवन सन्त्ये॒मा उ॒ षु श्रु॑धी॒ गिरः॑ । याभिः॒ कण्व॑स्य सू॒नवो॒ हव॒न्तेऽव॑से त्वा ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, generous, receiving libations of ghee and waters, listen well to these voices of prayer with which the disciples of the distinguished genius of science invoke and serve you for the sake of protection.

· · ·

1.45.6

त्वां चि॑त्रश्रवस्तम॒ हव॑न्ते वि॒क्षु ज॒न्तवः॑ । शो॒चिष्के॑शं पुरुप्रि॒याग्ने॑ ह॒व्याय॒ वोळ्ह॑वे ॥

Agni, lordly power of light and knowledge, most wondrous in fame and prosperity, flaming with flashes of lightning, widely loved and pursued, earnest men among people invoke, study and serve you for generous gifts of knowledge and power.

· · ·

1.45.7

नि त्वा॒ होता॑रमृ॒त्विजं॑ दधि॒रे व॑सु॒वित्त॑मम् । श्रुत्क॑र्णं स॒प्रथ॑स्तमं॒ विप्रा॑ अग्ने॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु ॥

Agni, power of light and knowledge, men of genius invoke, install and kindle you in the holiest actsof yajna as the yajaka and high-priest, richest in gifts of prosperity, easy listener ever in readiness and widest in fame and possibility.

· · ·

1.45.8

आ त्वा॒ विप्रा॑ अचुच्यवुः सु॒तसो॑मा अ॒भि प्रयः॑ । बृ॒हद्भा बिभ्र॑तो ह॒विरग्ने॒ मर्ता॑य दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Agni, lord of blazing brilliance and treasure of wealth and knowledge, men of genius who have distilled soma, spirit of joy and meaning of life, from nature, bearing offers of yajna come to you for the sake of food and delight of living for the man of yajnic generosity.

· · ·

1.45.9

प्रा॒त॒र्याव्णः॑ सहस्कृत सोम॒पेया॑य सन्त्य । इ॒हाद्य दैव्यं॒ जनं॑ ब॒र्हिरा सा॑दया वसो ॥

Noble genius of light and knowledge, Agni, generous creator of strength, courage and endurance, holy shelter for the seekers, here and now institute the yajna and seat the lovers of divinity and morning pilgrims of yajna on the sacred grass to join the yajna for a drink of soma.

· · ·

1.45.10

अ॒र्वाञ्चं॒ दैव्यं॒ जन॒मग्ने॒ यक्ष्व॒ सहू॑तिभिः । अ॒यं सोमः॑ सुदानव॒स्तं पा॑त ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यम् ॥

Agni, fiery genius of yajna, welcome the lovers of divinity come up for the yajaka and conduct the yajna with joint invocations and libations into the holy fire. Generous creators of wealth and honour, this is the soma of delight and beauty earlier distilled in the day. Protect it, promote it and enjoy it.

✦ Sukta 46 · 15 verses ✦

1.46.1

ए॒षो उ॒षा अपू॑र्व्या॒ व्यु॑च्छति प्रि॒या दि॒वः । स्तु॒षे वा॑मश्विना बृ॒हत् ॥

This glorious dawn, darling of the sun, shines forth from heaven and proclaims the day. Ashvins, harbingers of this glory, I admire you immensely — infinitely.

· · ·

1.46.2

या द॒स्रा सिन्धु॑मातरा मनो॒तरा॑ रयी॒णाम् । धि॒या दे॒वा व॑सु॒विदा॑ ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of the dawn, wonder- workers are they. Born of the oceans of space, they create the seas of morning mist. Faster than the mind, they bring wealths of the world. With intelligence and inspiration, they reveal the treasures of the Vasus, they are brilliant, generous, divine.

· · ·

1.46.3

व॒च्यन्ते॑ वां ककु॒हासो॑ जू॒र्णाया॒मधि॑ वि॒ष्टपि॑ । यद्वां॒ रथो॒ विभि॒ष्पता॑त् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light, knowledge and wealth across the Vasus, scientists and technologists, veterans of vision and wisdom celebrate your achievement when your chariot flies like a bird into the ancient sky over the heavens.

· · ·

1.46.4

ह॒विषा॑ जा॒रो अ॒पां पिप॑र्ति॒ पपु॑रिर्नरा । पि॒ता कुट॑स्य चर्ष॒णिः ॥

Ye men and women of the world, the sun, lover of the dawn, father, protector and illuminator of the tortuous paths and human habitations nourishes and promotes life with the consumption and creation of waters across the heavens over the earth.

· · ·

1.46.5

आ॒दा॒रो वां॑ मती॒नां नास॑त्या मतवचसा । पा॒तं सोम॑स्य धृष्णु॒या ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and destroyers of enemy forces, dedicated to truth and holy speech, defend your people and protect their peace and prosperity with confidence and daring courage.

· · ·

1.46.6

या नः॒ पीप॑रदश्विना॒ ज्योति॑ष्मती॒ तम॑स्ति॒रः । ताम॒स्मे रा॑साथा॒मिष॑म् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and inspiration, like the dawn give us that light of heaven which may help us cross over beyond the night and darkness of life and bring us total fulfilment.

· · ·

1.46.7

आ नो॑ ना॒वा म॑ती॒नां या॒तं पा॒राय॒ गन्त॑वे । यु॒ञ्जाथा॑मश्विना॒ रथ॑म् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light, knowledge and power, design and prepare and bring us the chariot for the people to cross over land and sea and sky and reach their destination.

· · ·

1.46.8

अ॒रित्रं॑ वां दि॒वस्पृ॒थु ती॒र्थे सिन्धू॑नां॒ रथः॑ । धि॒या यु॑युज्र॒ इन्द॑वः ॥

Ashvins, scientists and engineers, for crossing of the seas and skies to your destination, let your chariot and propulsion be elaborate and powerful by design and structure using water and fire power and electric and solar energy.

· · ·

1.46.9

दि॒वस्क॑ण्वास॒ इन्द॑वो॒ वसु॒ सिन्धू॑नां प॒दे । स्वं व॒व्रिं कुह॑ धित्सथः ॥

Ashvins, eminent scholars, in the depths of the seas and over the rolling waves, in the rays of light and in the mists of waters, there is wealth and energy. And where do you place the value of your own intelligence (in the design and structure of the chariot of your own choice)?

· · ·

1.46.10

अभू॑दु॒ भा उ॑ अं॒शवे॒ हिर॑ण्यं॒ प्रति॒ सूर्यः॑ । व्य॑ख्यज्जि॒ह्वयासि॑तः ॥

The light is for collection in focus. Sunlight so collected is an image of gold. And so collected and focussed, the light, otherwise free, uncontrolled and undirected, burns like a tongue of fire (as power).

· · ·

1.46.11

अभू॑दु पा॒रमेत॑वे॒ पन्था॑ ऋ॒तस्य॑ साधु॒या । अद॑र्शि॒ वि स्रु॒तिर्दि॒वः ॥

The path of the laws of science and nature, as the path of Truth, is for simple and sure travel across the seas of existence to the cherished goal. See the flow of light divine from the doors of heaven.

· · ·

1.46.12

तत्त॒दिद॒श्विनो॒रवो॑ जरि॒ता प्रति॑ भूषति । मदे॒ सोम॑स्य॒ पिप्र॑तोः ॥

Every worshipful seeker of knowledge, wisdom and power explores and supplements the paths of protection and progress in the business of life’s joy created by the Ashvins (divinities of nature and humanity who are harbingers of light and inspiration).

· · ·

1.46.13

वा॒व॒सा॒ना वि॒वस्व॑ति॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒त्या गि॒रा । म॒नु॒ष्वच्छं॑भू॒ आ ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, blissful powers of nature and humanity, living and working in the light of the sun, come to us like our own men, bringing with you the love and protection of Soma, lord of happiness and glory, alongwith the voice of the Divine.

· · ·

1.46.14

यु॒वोरु॒षा अनु॒ श्रियं॒ परि॑ज्मनोरु॒पाच॑रत् । ऋ॒ता व॑नथो अ॒क्तुभिः॑ ॥

Ashvins, inspiring and protective powers of nature and humanity, ever on the move like the sun and moon, let the dawn of light and joy follow upon your beauty and glory. High-priests of truth and universal law, shine, illuminate and create the joy of life by nights and days.

· · ·

1.46.15

उ॒भा पि॑बतमश्विनो॒भा नः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतम् । अ॒वि॒द्रि॒याभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Ashvins, powers of protection and inspiration, both of you drink the delight of life and protect its sanctity, and, with relentless actions and modes of defence, give us the peace and well-being of happy settlement.

✦ Sukta 47 · 10 verses ✦

1.47.1

अ॒यं वां॒ मधु॑मत्तमः सु॒तः सोम॑ ऋतावृधा । तम॑श्विना पिबतं ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यं ध॒त्तं रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Ashvins, brilliant powers like the sun and moon, promoters of light and truth, science and industry, this is the sweetest soma distilled for you so far till yesterday. Taste it and enjoy it and bring the jewels for the generous man of yajnic charity.

· · ·

1.47.2

त्रि॒व॒न्धु॒रेण॑ त्रि॒वृता॑ सु॒पेश॑सा॒ रथे॒ना या॑तमश्विना । कण्वा॑सो वां॒ ब्रह्म॑ कृण्वन्त्यध्व॒रे तेषां॒ सु शृ॑णुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, brilliant scholars of science and technology, come by three-stage, three armoured, beautifully structured chariot. The geniuses study and advance universal knowledge for you in scientific yajna. Listen to their prayers, accept their holy call.

· · ·

1.47.3

अश्वि॑ना॒ मधु॑मत्तमं पा॒तं सोम॑मृतावृधा । अथा॒द्य द॑स्रा॒ वसु॒ बिभ्र॑ता॒ रथे॑ दा॒श्वांस॒मुप॑ गच्छतम् ॥

Ashvins, powerful like the sun and wind, extenders of the bounds of natural knowledge, taste and protect the sweetest soma of yajnic joy and prosperity of humanity. And, O destroyers of enemies, come to the generous man of charity, to-day, bearing in your charity the wealth of the world.

· · ·

1.47.4

त्रि॒ष॒ध॒स्थे ब॒र्हिषि॑ विश्ववेदसा॒ मध्वा॑ य॒ज्ञं मि॑मिक्षतम् । कण्वा॑सो वां सु॒तसो॑मा अ॒भिद्य॑वो यु॒वां ह॑वन्ते अश्विना ॥

Ashvins, masters of universal knowledge and creators of the world’s wealth, in the three-stage yajnic house of space—on the earth, across the skies and over the heavens—try to conduct and enrich the yajna with honeyed fragrances. Brilliant sages who have distilled the soma for you call you up to the heavens.

· · ·

1.47.5

याभिः॒ कण्व॑म॒भिष्टि॑भिः॒ प्राव॑तं यु॒वम॑श्विना । ताभिः॒ ष्व १॒॑ स्माँ अ॑वतं शुभस्पती पा॒तं सोम॑मृतावृधा ॥

Ashvins, universal harbingers of light and knowledge, defenders of good and promoters of Truth and Law, by the cherished plans and noble desires by which you protect and promote the sagely scholar, protect us too and promote the beauty and glory of the world.

· · ·

1.47.6

सु॒दासे॑ दस्रा॒ वसु॒ बिभ्र॑ता॒ रथे॒ पृक्षो॑ वहतमश्विना । र॒यिं स॑मु॒द्रादु॒त वा॑ दि॒वस्पर्य॒स्मे ध॑त्तं पुरु॒स्पृह॑म् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and prosperity, destroyers of enemies, who ride the well-piloted chariot and bring wealth and abundance for the man of generosity, come bearing universally desired honour and excellence of wealth from the sea and sky and also from the heavens.

· · ·

1.47.7

यन्ना॑सत्या परा॒वति॒ यद्वा॒ स्थो अधि॑ तु॒र्वशे॑ । अतो॒ रथे॑न सु॒वृता॑ न॒ आ ग॑तं सा॒कं सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॑ ॥

Ashvins, friends of truth and humanity, whether you live and operate far off in a distant place or you rule close by over noble people of dedication, all the same come by the beautiful flying chariot alongwith the rays of the sun.

· · ·

1.47.8

अ॒र्वाञ्चा॑ वां॒ सप्त॑योऽध्वर॒श्रियो॒ वह॑न्तु सव॒नेदुप॑ । इषं॑ पृ॒ञ्चन्ता॑ सु॒कृते॑ सु॒दान॑व॒ आ ब॒र्हिः सी॑दतं नरा ॥

Ashvins, brilliant creative powers of humanity and nature, may your horses of the speed of the dawn bring you hither close to the beauties and glories of yajna in the sessions. Bearing food, energy and excellence for the generous people of noble yajnic action, come by the chariot and grace the yajna on earth and in space.

· · ·

1.47.9

तेन॑ नास॒त्या ग॑तं॒ रथे॑न॒ सूर्य॑त्वचा । येन॒ शश्व॑दू॒हथु॑र्दा॒शुषे॒ वसु॒ मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Ashvins, ever true and dedicated to the light of truth, come by that very chariot of sunbeams by which you always bear and bring the wealth of life for the man of charity, for the taste and protection of the honeyed soma of yajnic glory.

· · ·

1.47.10

उ॒क्थेभि॑र॒र्वागव॑से पुरू॒वसू॑ अ॒र्कैश्च॒ नि ह्व॑यामहे । शश्व॒त्कण्वा॑नां॒ सद॑सि प्रि॒ये हि कं॒ सोमं॑ प॒पथु॑रश्विना ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and power like the sun and wind, lords of abundant wealth among the wise, with songs of praise and sacred words of prayer we invoke and invite you to the distinguished house of eminent scholars and leaders, in faith and love, for our protection and advancement here. Come, and then enjoy the comfort and have a taste of somaic ecstasy for ever without satiety.

✦ Sukta 48 · 16 verses ✦

1.48.1

स॒ह वा॒मेन॑ न उषो॒ व्यु॑च्छा दुहितर्दिवः । स॒ह द्यु॒म्नेन॑ बृह॒ता वि॑भावरि रा॒या दे॑वि॒ दास्व॑ती ॥

Glorious dawn, daughter of heaven, come with splendour, come with majesty. Lady of light, generous giver, come with infinite wealth, shine forth and inspire us with fresh lease of life and joy.

· · ·

1.48.2

अश्वा॑वती॒र्गोम॑तीर्विश्वसु॒विदो॒ भूरि॑ च्यवन्त॒ वस्त॑वे । उदी॑रय॒ प्रति॑ मा सू॒नृता॑ उष॒श्चोद॒ राधो॑ म॒घोना॑म् ॥

The abundant lights of the dawn, blest with sun- rays and the speed of divine energy, move to the earth to usher in the morning and stir their cows and horses to start their day, as the sunrays illuminate the world. O dawn, bring me the blessed voice of truth. Inspire the munificence of the rich to charity and social creativity.

· · ·

1.48.3

उ॒वासो॒षा उ॒च्छाच्च॒ नु दे॒वी जी॒रा रथा॑नाम् । ये अ॑स्या आ॒चर॑णेषु दध्रि॒रे स॑मु॒द्रे न श्र॑व॒स्यवः॑ ॥

As the brilliant dawn arrives and shines in splendour, it sets the wheels of life’s chariots in motion. On its arrival the yogis concentrate their minds in meditation as rich merchants send their ships over the sea. (As the sea is vast for the ships, so is the Divine presence vast for the yogi’s mind.)

· · ·

1.48.4

उषो॒ ये ते॒ प्र यामे॑षु यु॒ञ्जते॒ मनो॑ दा॒नाय॑ सू॒रयः॑ । अत्राह॒ तत्कण्व॑ एषां॒ कण्व॑तमो॒ नाम॑ गृणाति नृ॒णाम् ॥

Usha, O lady of divinity, blessed are those brave and brilliant spirits who, during your revelations of the light, concentrate their mind in meditation on the divine presence to surrender it back to mother Prakrti in the state of Kaivalya here itself in this life. And surely here itself in this life, of all these men, that is the wisest sage of the wise sages who chants and realises the sacred Name OM which is the direct sound symbol of the Lord.

· · ·

1.48.5

आ घा॒ योषे॑व सू॒नर्यु॒षा या॑ति प्रभुञ्ज॒ती । ज॒रय॑न्ती॒ वृज॑नं प॒द्वदी॑यत॒ उत्पा॑तयति प॒क्षिणः॑ ॥

Like a beautiful young maiden walks the dawn majestically (across the skies and over the earth), energising, exciting, exhorting, filling the sky with new light and life, calling out the humans and animals to move and the birds to fly away.

· · ·

1.48.6

वि या सृ॒जति॒ सम॑नं॒ व्य १॒॑ र्थिनः॑ प॒दं न वे॒त्योद॑ती । वयो॒ नकि॑ष्टे पप्ति॒वांस॑ आसते॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ वाजिनीवति ॥

The silent and brilliant dawn replete with energy stirs up and inaugurates the battles of existence. Refreshing, and sprinkling, as if, the paths of the seekers with holy waters, it guides them to their goals. The birds that fly soar in the splendour of its light.

· · ·

1.48.7

ए॒षायु॑क्त परा॒वतः॒ सूर्य॑स्यो॒दय॑ना॒दधि॑ । श॒तं रथे॑भिः सु॒भगो॒षा इ॒यं वि या॑त्य॒भि मानु॑षान् ॥

This dawn, clad in wealth and splendour, saddles her horses long before sunrise and, by a hundred chariots, comes and joins the world of humanity and engages them in their activity.

· · ·

1.48.8

विश्व॑मस्या नानाम॒ चक्ष॑से॒ जग॒ज्ज्योति॑ष्कृणोति सू॒नरी॑ । अप॒ द्वेषो॑ म॒घोनी॑ दुहि॒ता दि॒व उ॒षा उ॑च्छ॒दप॒ स्रिधः॑ ॥

The whole world bows in homage to this dawn. Noble guide and leader, it brings the light of the world for all so that they may see the glory of the universe. Daughter of light Divine, Queen of wealth and splendour, it lights up and life drives out the darkness of jealousy and throws off the violence of enmity.

· · ·

1.48.9

उष॒ आ भा॑हि भा॒नुना॑ च॒न्द्रेण॑ दुहितर्दिवः । आ॒वह॑न्ती॒ भूर्य॒स्मभ्यं॒ सौभ॑गं व्यु॒च्छन्ती॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु ॥

O Dawn, daughter of the light of heaven, come and shine with the beauty of the moon and splendour of the sun, bearing for us all plenty of good fortune and brilliant success in our sacred programmes.

· · ·

1.48.10

विश्व॑स्य॒ हि प्राण॑नं॒ जीव॑नं॒ त्वे वि यदु॒च्छसि॑ सूनरि । सा नो॒ रथे॑न बृह॒ता वि॑भावरि श्रु॒धि चि॑त्रामघे॒ हव॑म् ॥

O Dawn, leading light of humanity, when you shine in splendour, you hold the breath and life of the world in you. The same, lady of light, harbinger of wondrous wealth and good fortune, come by your magnificent chariot and listen to our prayer.

· · ·

1.48.11

उषो॒ वाजं॒ हि वंस्व॒ यश्चि॒त्रो मानु॑षे॒ जने॑ । तेना व॑ह सु॒कृतो॑ अध्व॒राँ उप॒ ये त्वा॑ गृ॒णन्ति॒ वह्न॑यः ॥

O Dawn, Light Divine, accept and enlighten whatever best and noblest food, energy and wealth is in the world of humanity and, by that, lead our fires and performers of yajna, who sing in praise of your glory, close to the sacred acts of love and piety in non-violent yajnas.

· · ·

1.48.12

विश्वा॑न्दे॒वाँ आ व॑ह॒ सोम॑पीतये॒ऽन्तरि॑क्षादुष॒स्त्वम् । सास्मासु॑ धा॒ गोम॒दश्वा॑वदु॒क्थ्य १॒॑ मुषो॒ वाजं॑ सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

Light of Divinity, you bring us from the skies all the divine powers and energies of the world to partake of the soma of our yajna and vest in us the best of food, energy and virility of the early morning which may give us admirable wealth of sense and mind, speed and agility, and plenty of cows and horses.

· · ·

1.48.13

यस्या॒ रुश॑न्तो अ॒र्चयः॒ प्रति॑ भ॒द्रा अदृ॑क्षत । सा नो॑ र॒यिं वि॒श्ववा॑रं सु॒पेश॑समु॒षा द॑दातु॒ सुग्म्य॑म् ॥

That light of Divinity whose bright and blazing lights of bliss shine for us to see and which dispel the darkness of the night and ignorance, may that dawn of light give us the wealth of life, universal, beautiful and auspicious.

· · ·

1.48.14

ये चि॒द्धि त्वामृष॑यः॒ पूर्व॑ ऊ॒तये॑ जुहू॒रेऽव॑से महि । सा नः॒ स्तोमाँ॑ अ॒भि गृ॑णीहि॒ राध॒सोषः॑ शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॑ ॥

Great and Blessed Light of Divinity, whom the saints and seers of ancient and eternal vision and wisdom invoked and invoke for the sake of protection and advancement, may you, the same lady of light, listen and approve our songs of praise and prayer with gifts of light, action and wealth of success and prosperity.

· · ·

1.48.15

उषो॒ यद॒द्य भा॒नुना॒ वि द्वारा॑वृ॒णवो॑ दि॒वः । प्र नो॑ यच्छतादवृ॒कं पृ॒थु च्छ॒र्दिः प्र दे॑वि॒ गोम॑ती॒रिषः॑ ॥

Light of Divinity, since you have opened the doors of the light of heaven at the dawn today, bless us now with a spacious home of love and peace free from violence and the gift of food and energy, mind and sense of the Divine, and plenty of land and cows.

· · ·

1.48.16

सं नो॑ रा॒या बृ॑ह॒ता वि॒श्वपे॑शसा मिमि॒क्ष्वा समिळा॑भि॒रा । सं द्यु॒म्नेन॑ विश्व॒तुरो॑षो महि॒ सं वाजै॑र्वाजिनीवति ॥

Light of Divinity, great mistress of the dawn of power and energy, bless us with the wealth of life, great, beautiful and universal, food and energy, dynamic knowledge, action and splendour, and vision of the Divine Word and beauty of the earth.

✦ Sukta 49 · 4 verses ✦

1.49.1

उषो॑ भ॒द्रेभि॒रा ग॑हि दि॒वश्चि॑द्रोच॒नादधि॑ । वह॑न्त्वरु॒णप्स॑व॒ उप॑ त्वा सो॒मिनो॑ गृ॒हम् ॥

O Divine light of the Dawn, come with auspicious living energy from the top of refulgent heaven, and may the red beams of splendour, we pray, carry the creative energy to the yajnic home of the lover of Soma.

· · ·

1.49.2

सु॒पेश॑सं सु॒खं रथं॒ यम॒ध्यस्था॑ उष॒स्त्वम् । तेना॑ सु॒श्रव॑सं॒ जनं॒ प्रावा॒द्य दु॑हितर्दिवः ॥

Daughter of Heaven, blessed dawn, by the refulgent beautiful and luxurious comfortable chariot you ride, protect and promote this morning the man dedicated to the Word Divine who loves to eat the holy food of yajna.

· · ·

1.49.3

वय॑श्चित्ते पत॒त्रिणो॑ द्वि॒पच्चतु॑ष्पदर्जुनि । उषः॒ प्रार॑न्नृ॒तूँरनु॑ दि॒वो अन्ते॑भ्य॒स्परि॑ ॥

Blessed Dawn, fiery messenger of light and life, may humans and animals as the birds of flight, we pray, rise and reach unto the bounds of heaven in pursuance of the time and seasons of your arrival.

· · ·

1.49.4

व्यु॒च्छन्ती॒ हि र॒श्मिभि॒र्विश्व॑मा॒भासि॑ रोच॒नम् । तां त्वामु॑षर्वसू॒यवो॑ गी॒र्भिः कण्वा॑ अहूषत ॥

Illuminating and revealing this world of beauty with the rays of light, you shine in glory and divine majesty. Lady of light, daughter of heaven, O Dawn, saints and sages of vision and wisdom devoted to life of the earth and her children celebrate you in songs of adoration and dedication.

✦ Sukta 50 · 13 verses ✦

1.50.1

उदु॒ त्यं जा॒तवे॑दसं दे॒वं व॑हन्ति के॒तवः॑ । दृ॒शे विश्वा॑य॒ सूर्य॑म् ॥

The rays of the sun (like the banners of a mighty monarch) carry the brilliance of light revealing the omnipresence of the omniscient Lord Supreme of the universe.

· · ·

1.50.2

अप॒ त्ये ता॒यवो॑ यथा॒ नक्ष॑त्रा यन्त्य॒क्तुभिः॑ । सूरा॑य वि॒श्वच॑क्षसे ॥

And, as thieves of the night steal away at dawn, so do all those stars steal away alongwith the darkness of the night so that the world may see only the sun, lord supreme of the heavens.

· · ·

1.50.3

अदृ॑श्रमस्य के॒तवो॒ वि र॒श्मयो॒ जनाँ॒ अनु॑ । भ्राज॑न्तो अ॒ग्नयो॑ यथा ॥

O that I could see the banners of the Lord of sunbeams, the rays of the sun, alongwith the other people, blazing like the explosions of fire in heaven.

· · ·

1.50.4

त॒रणि॑र्वि॒श्वद॑र्शतो ज्योति॒ष्कृद॑सि सूर्य । विश्व॒मा भा॑सि रोच॒नम् ॥

O Sun, light of the world, creator of light and Light Itself, it is you alone who light the lights of the universe and reveal the wondrous worlds of beauty and glory. You are the saviour, you are the redeemer, taking us across the seas of existence.

· · ·

1.50.5

प्र॒त्यङ् दे॒वानां॒ विशः॑ प्र॒त्यङ्ङुदे॑षि॒ मानु॑षान् । प्र॒त्यङ्विश्वं॒ स्व॑र्दृ॒शे ॥

Lord Light of the world, to the noblest powers of nature and humanity, to the people in the business of life, to the people in general, you rise directly and reveal your presence directly in their heart and soul so that the world may see the light divine directly through their experience.

· · ·

1.50.6

येना॑ पावक॒ चक्ष॑सा भुर॒ण्यन्तं॒ जनाँ॒ अनु॑ । त्वं व॑रुण॒ पश्य॑सि ॥

Lord purifier and sanctifier, with the eye with which you watch the mighty world of dynamic activity and humanity holding everything in equipoise, with the same kind and benign eye watch and bless us.

· · ·

1.50.7

वि द्यामे॑षि॒ रज॑स्पृ॒थ्वहा॒ मिमा॑नो अ॒क्तुभिः॑ । पश्य॒ञ्जन्मा॑नि सूर्य ॥

O sun, watching the species of various forms and traversing and measuring the wide worlds of existence by days and nights, you move to the regions of light and heaven. So may the Lord of Light Supreme, we pray, watch us, guard us and sustain in measure our life and actions through successive lives and births.

· · ·

1.50.8

स॒प्त त्वा॑ ह॒रितो॒ रथे॒ वह॑न्ति देव सूर्य । शो॒चिष्के॑शं विचक्षण ॥

O sun, self-refulgent lord of blazing flames and universal illumination, seven are the colourful lights of glory which like seven horses draw your chariot of time across the spaces. In the same way, seven are the chhandas, metres, which reveal the light of Divinity in the sacred voice of the Veda.

· · ·

1.50.9

अयु॑क्त स॒प्त शु॒न्ध्युवः॒ सूरो॒ रथ॑स्य न॒प्त्यः॑ । ताभि॑र्याति॒ स्वयु॑क्तिभिः ॥

The sun, bright and illuminant, yokes the seven pure, immaculate, purifying and infallible sunbeams like horses to his chariot of motion, and with these self-yoked powers moves on across the spaces to the regions of light. So does the Lord of the Universe with His laws and powers of Prakrti move the world like His own chariot of creative manifestation.

· · ·

1.50.10

उद्व॒यं तम॑स॒स्परि॒ ज्योति॒ष्पश्य॑न्त॒ उत्त॑रम् । दे॒वं दे॑व॒त्रा सूर्य॒मग॑न्म॒ ज्योति॑रुत्त॒मम् ॥

Let us rise beyond the dark seeing the light higher and still higher and reach the sun, the highest light and Lord Supreme of the divinities of the universe.

· · ·

1.50.11

उ॒द्यन्न॒द्य मि॑त्रमह आ॒रोह॒न्नुत्त॑रां॒ दिव॑म् । हृ॒द्रो॒गं मम॑ सूर्य हरि॒माणं॑ च नाशय ॥

O sun, greatest friend for the health of life, risen to day and rising higher to the regions of light, destroy my heart’s ailment and consumptive disease of the body.

· · ·

1.50.12

शुके॑षु मे हरि॒माणं॑ रोप॒णाका॑सु दध्मसि । अथो॑ हारिद्र॒वेषु॑ मे हरि॒माणं॒ नि द॑ध्मसि ॥

Our consumptive and bilious diseases we attribute to abuse, fear, infatuation, schizophrenia, infect any severe mental disturbance, and for cure we assign these to green and yellow birds, and green and yellow fluids, soma, sandal, acasia sirissa and turmeric, and close it with cicatrix.

· · ·

1.50.13

उद॑गाद॒यमा॑दि॒त्यो विश्वे॑न॒ सह॑सा स॒ह । द्वि॒षन्तं॒ मह्यं॑ र॒न्धय॒न्मो अ॒हं द्वि॑ष॒ते र॑धम् ॥

There arises this sun with all the light and power and glory of the world, scorching and burning off whatever is negative and injurious to me. O Lord of Light and Glory of power, I pray I may never be subjected to the jealous and the destructive forces of life.

✦ Sukta 51 · 15 verses ✦

1.51.1

अ॒भि त्यं मे॒षं पु॑रुहू॒तमृ॒ग्मिय॒मिन्द्रं॑ गी॒र्भिर्म॑दता॒ वस्वो॑ अर्ण॒वम् । यस्य॒ द्यावो॒ न वि॒चर॑न्ति॒ मानु॑षा भु॒जे मंहि॑ष्ठम॒भि विप्र॑मर्चत ॥

Worship Indra, lord of power and glory, destroyer of enemies. Celebrate and exhilarate Him who is generous and virile, universally invoked and honoured, master of the Rks, wielder of wealth, deep as ocean, greatest of the great, and lord of knowledge and wisdom. People roam around Him, approach and meditate on His presence for a vision and experience of the presence as the rays of the sun do homage to their source and master.

· · ·

1.51.2

अ॒भीम॑वन्वन्त्स्वभि॒ष्टिमू॒तयो॑ऽन्तरिक्ष॒प्रां तवि॑षीभि॒रावृ॑तम् । इन्द्रं॒ दक्षा॑स ऋ॒भवो॑ मद॒च्युतं॑ श॒तक्र॑तुं॒ जव॑नी सू॒नृतारु॑हत् ॥

Powers of protection, expertise and excellence shower love and honour on Indra, lord of power and glory, giver of desire, pervasive and blazing in the skies, clad in his own might and splendour, giver of showers of joy and hero of a hundred noble acts of creation. And may the youthful and inspiring voice of Eternal Truth see him rise to the heights.

· · ·

1.51.3

त्वं गो॒त्रमङ्गि॑रोभ्योऽवृणो॒रपो॒तात्र॑ये श॒तदु॑रेषु गातु॒वित् । स॒सेन॑ चिद्विम॒दाया॑वहो॒ वस्वा॒जावद्रिं॑ वावसा॒नस्य॑ न॒र्तय॑न् ॥

Indra, you open up the cloud-showers for the sake of pranic energies. Lord of the earth and master of motion and dominions of the earth, you open up a hundred outlets into wealth for the alleviation of want and threefold suffering of body, mind and soul. You bear wealth and comfort with food and energy for joy of the people in a state of sobriety. And reeling the dense forces of the overwhelming enemy into confusion, you throw off the adversaries in battle.

· · ·

1.51.4

त्वम॒पाम॑पि॒धाना॑वृणो॒रपाधा॑रयः॒ पर्व॑ते॒ दानु॑म॒द्वसु॑ । वृ॒त्रं यदि॑न्द्र॒ शव॒साव॑धी॒रहि॒मादित्सूर्यं॑ दि॒व्यारो॑हयो दृ॒शे ॥

The vapours hold up the wealth of waters in the cloud. Indra, you open up the cloud-hold of waters when you break up the cloud with the thunderbolt. And then you raise up the divine and brilliant sun high up in space for the world to see.

· · ·

1.51.5

त्वं मा॒याभि॒रप॑ मा॒यिनो॑ऽधमः स्व॒धाभि॒र्ये अधि॒ शुप्ता॒वजु॑ह्वत । त्वं पिप्रो॑र्नृमणः॒ प्रारु॑जः॒ पुरः॒ प्र ऋ॒जिश्वा॑नं दस्यु॒हत्ये॑ष्वाविथ ॥

With your intelligence and tactics, blow off the cunning fellows of wicked designs, who cheat the sleeping unwary people and who offer the oblations into their own mouth.Admirable hero, pride of all, break down the forts of the demons, and in the conflicts of good and evil, protect those who follow the paths of rectitude.

· · ·

1.51.6

त्वं कुत्सं॑ शुष्ण॒हत्ये॑ष्वावि॒थार॑न्धयोऽतिथि॒ग्वाय॒ शम्ब॑रम् । म॒हान्तं॑ चिदर्बु॒दं नि क्र॑मीः प॒दा स॒नादे॒व द॑स्यु॒हत्या॑य जज्ञिषे ॥

In the battles against exploiters and destroyers, protect the men and materials of defence. Destroy the demon and the highway man for the safety of travellers. Crush with your feet the great serpentine bubbles of poison. You always rise and stand for the destruction of the wicked enemies.

· · ·

1.51.7

त्वे विश्वा॒ तवि॑षी स॒ध्र्य॑ग्घि॒ता तव॒ राधः॑ सोमपी॒थाय॑ हर्षते । तव॒ वज्र॑श्चिकिते बा॒ह्वोर्हि॒तो वृ॒श्चा शत्रो॒रव॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ वृष्ण्या॑ ॥

In you is concentrated all the force and power together with your love of service. Your wealth, power and success exhilarates the lover of soma-yajna. Your thunderbolt in hand is held for the enlightened. Protect all the powers of generosity, as you destroy all the inimical negativities.

· · ·

1.51.8

वि जा॑नी॒ह्यार्या॒न्ये च॒ दस्य॑वो ब॒र्हिष्म॑ते रन्धया॒ शास॑दव्र॒तान् । शाकी॑ भव॒ यज॑मानस्य चोदि॒ता विश्वेत्ता ते॑ सध॒मादे॑षु चाकन ॥

Know the good, know the evil too, eliminate the wicked, for the sake of the man of yajnic action. Ruling over and controlling the lawless, be a source of strength and inspiration for the yajamana. May all your actions in yajnas and pious homes be for success of the good. This is my prayer and earnest desire.

· · ·

1.51.9

अनु॑व्रताय र॒न्धय॒न्नप॑व्रताना॒भूभि॒रिन्द्रः॑ श्न॒थय॒न्नना॑भुवः । वृ॒द्धस्य॑ चि॒द्वर्ध॑तो॒ द्यामिन॑क्षतः॒ स्तवा॑नो व॒म्रो वि ज॑घान सं॒दिहः॑ ॥

Subduing the lawless for the law-abiding, fixing the traitors by proper acts of the patriots, appreciating and honouring the seniors, the progressive, and the growing and rising ones to the heights of knowledge and light of heaven, rejecting the scoffers and eliminating the skeptics, Indra, ruler, fighter and saviour marches on.

· · ·

1.51.10

तक्ष॒द्यत्त॑ उ॒शना॒ सह॑सा॒ सहो॒ वि रोद॑सी म॒ज्मना॑ बाधते॒ शवः॑ । आ त्वा॒ वात॑स्य नृमणो मनो॒युज॒ आ पूर्य॑माणमवहन्न॒भि श्रवः॑ ॥

Ushana, power of love and honour, with courage and dignity tempered and sharpened, your valour and grandeur, and your valour and splendour with its speed and sharpness bounds the heaven and earth. Indra, admirable hero of humanity, may the currents of wind fast as mind elevate you, lord of fulfilment, and amply fulfilled, may they carry your fame to the heavens.

· · ·

1.51.11

मन्दि॑ष्ट॒ यदु॒शने॑ का॒व्ये सचाँ॒ इन्द्रो॑ व॒ङ्कू व॑ङ्कु॒तराधि॑ तिष्ठति । उ॒ग्रो य॒यिं निर॒पः स्रोत॑सासृज॒द्वि शुष्ण॑स्य दृंहि॒ता ऐ॑रय॒त्पुरः॑ ॥

Indra, most rejoicing and specially delighting in the exciting exhortations of the poets, with his own essential force and versatile perception of the crooked, rules over the crooked and the wicked. And, just as the sun breaks the cloud and drains out the vapours in floods of rain, so does he, bright and blazing with passion, advance upon the strongholds of the social suckers, breaks open their dens and marches ahead with his noble exploits great as the sun’s.

· · ·

1.51.12

आ स्मा॒ रथं॑ वृष॒पाणे॑षु तिष्ठसि शार्या॒तस्य॒ प्रभृ॑ता॒ येषु॒ मन्द॑से । इन्द्र॒ यथा॑ सु॒तसो॑मेषु चा॒कनो॑ऽन॒र्वाणं॒ श्लोक॒मा रो॑हसे दि॒वि ॥

Indra, in the soma-celebrations of humanity you ride the chariot of glory won by the brave and the intelligent and rejoice in the celebrations. And as you rejoice in the delightful celebrations of blessed achievements, you pilot the celestial car worthy of praise and ascend to the heights of heaven.

· · ·

1.51.13

अद॑दा॒ अर्भां॑ मह॒ते व॑च॒स्यवे॑ क॒क्षीव॑ते वृच॒यामि॑न्द्र सुन्व॒ते । मेना॑भवो वृषण॒श्वस्य॑ सुक्रतो॒ विश्वेत्ता ते॒ सव॑नेषु प्र॒वाच्या॑ ॥

Indra, wondrous lord of science and vision, knowledge and power, you gave just a limited amount of new knowledge of analytical and creative technology in short indicative formulae to the distinguished and dexterous man of discipline keen to listen and create. And that word of yours, generous lord of noble yajnic action, became worthy of proclamation and celebration in world meets for eminent achievements. Generous lord of vision and wisdom, carry on the order of creation.

· · ·

1.51.14

इन्द्रो॑ अश्रायि सु॒ध्यो॑ निरे॒के प॒ज्रेषु॒ स्तोमो॒ दुर्यो॒ न यूपः॑ । अ॒श्व॒युर्ग॒व्यू र॑थ॒युर्व॑सू॒युरिन्द्र॒ इद्रा॒यः क्ष॑यति प्रय॒न्ता ॥

Indra, lord of power and governance, who invites and maintains high intellectuals in the study and practical programmes of definite sciences has his reputation among people as sure and prominent as a column at the door or a sacrificial post in the yajna. Progressive and advancing, developing the wealth of cows, lands and intellectuals, horses and other modes of fast communication, chariots and other modes of travel and transport, he augments, manages and rules over all forms of national wealth and takes the country forward.

· · ·

1.51.15

इ॒दं नमो॑ वृष॒भाय॑ स्व॒राजे॑ स॒त्यशु॑ष्माय त॒वसे॑ऽवाचि । अ॒स्मिन्नि॑न्द्र वृ॒जने॒ सर्व॑वीराः॒ स्मत्सू॒रिभि॒स्तव॒ शर्म॑न्त्स्याम ॥

This salutation in words of homage is offered to Indra, lord virile of generosity, sovereign lord of indestructible power, universal protector, so that, O Lord Adorable, in this world we may live in happy homes, blest with brave children, in the company of high and sagely intellectuals.

✦ Sukta 52 · 15 verses ✦

1.52.1

त्यं सु मे॒षं म॑हया स्व॒र्विदं॑ श॒तं यस्य॑ सु॒भ्वः॑ सा॒कमीर॑ते । अत्यं॒ न वाजं॑ हवन॒स्यदं॒ रथ॒मेन्द्रं॑ ववृत्या॒मव॑से सुवृ॒क्तिभिः॑ ॥

Honour that Indra, lord of glory and virile generosity who takes us high to the skies. Hundreds of noble and creative craftsmen together with their expert performance work on and engineer his glorious chariot which can cover the spatial paths across the skies for the sake of protection and defence. I wish I too could fly by that chariot.

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1.52.2

स पर्व॑तो॒ न ध॒रुणे॒ष्वच्यु॑तः स॒हस्र॑मूति॒स्तवि॑षीषु वावृधे । इन्द्रो॒ यद्वृ॒त्रमव॑धीन्नदी॒वृत॑मु॒ब्जन्नर्णां॑सि॒ जर्हृ॑षाणो॒ अन्ध॑सा ॥

Unshaken like a mountain within the bounds of its own hold, providing a thousand ways of protection and promotion for life, that Indra, sun/wind/ electric charge, waxes in strength and power when it kills Vritra, breaks the demon cloud holding up the streaming waters, when it releases the showers of rain, and rejoices with the food and energy that it creates through the showers. (So is the ruler for the demons and the people.)

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1.52.3

स हि द्व॒रो द्व॒रिषु॑ व॒व्र ऊध॑नि च॒न्द्रबु॑ध्नो॒ मद॑वृद्धो मनी॒षिभिः॑ । इन्द्रं॒ तम॑ह्वे स्वप॒स्य॑या धि॒या मंहि॑ष्ठरातिं॒ स हि पप्रि॒रन्ध॑सः ॥

Indra is deep and grave among the serious. In the light of the dawn, he is a cloud of generosity. He is brilliant and blissful as the moon in the firmament. Sober in joy, he is surrounded by sages and intellectuals. With the best of my intelligence and action I invoke and call upon this lord Indra, extremely generous and munificent of food and energy.

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1.52.4

आ यं पृ॒णन्ति॑ दि॒वि सद्म॑बर्हिषः समु॒द्रं न सु॒भ्वः१॒॑ स्वा अ॒भिष्ट॑यः । तं वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॒ अनु॑ तस्थुरू॒तयः॒ शुष्मा॒ इन्द्र॑मवा॒ता अह्रु॑तप्सवः ॥

Indra is in his heaven of light and justice. The high-priests sitting on seats of grass in his house of yajna, his own values, his own well-wishers, his own people assist, complete and promote him, Indra who is the ruler, guide and protector, in the same manner in which the lovely streams and mighty rivers join and fill the sea. In his battles against Vritra, clouds of darkness, hoarders of national wealth and natural resources, his fighting forces of defence, powerful, undisturbed and unopposed, straight and sincere in action stand by him and follow him steadfast in the battle.

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1.52.5

अ॒भि स्ववृ॑ष्टिं॒ मदे॑ अस्य॒ युध्य॑तो र॒घ्वीरि॑व प्रव॒णे स॑स्रुरू॒तयः॑ । इन्द्रो॒ यद्व॒ज्री धृ॒षमा॑णो॒ अन्ध॑सा भि॒नद्व॒लस्य॑ परि॒धीँरि॑व त्रि॒तः ॥

Like streams rushing down to the sea, the defence forces of this warrior hero, Indra, rush to him to join in his celebration by soma, Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, daring the enemy, who showers the enemy with a rain of arrows and breaks down the threefold defence lines of the enemy three ways, up, down and cross-wise.

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1.52.6

परीं॑ घृ॒णा च॑रति तित्वि॒षे शवो॒ऽपो वृ॒त्वी रज॑सो बु॒ध्नमाश॑यत् । वृ॒त्रस्य॒ यत्प्र॑व॒णे दु॒र्गृभि॑श्वनो निज॒घन्थ॒ हन्वो॑रिन्द्र तन्य॒तुम् ॥

Vritra, the cloud that holds and confines the vapours of water sleeps in body in the sky. Indra, the sun, strikes the thunderbolt of lightning on the jaws of Vritra, a real formidable adversary for the release of the showers of rain. And then the splendour of Indra spreads around, glory of power blazes.

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1.52.7

ह्र॒दं न हि त्वा॑ न्यृ॒षन्त्यू॒र्मयो॒ ब्रह्मा॑णीन्द्र॒ तव॒ यानि॒ वर्ध॑ना । त्वष्टा॑ चित्ते॒ युज्यं॑ वावृधे॒ शव॑स्त॒तक्ष॒ वज्र॑म॒भिभू॑त्योजसम् ॥

Indra, lord of power and ruler of the world, just as streams of water reach the sea augmenting it, so do all the wealths of the world and all the songs of divine celebration converge to you, centre as well as circumference of existence, and glorify your sublimity. Tvashta, maker of the forms of existence, designs and creates the thunderbolt of lightning to augment your force of arms to use in battle, and he provides that splendour of valour for you which breaks open the might of Vritra, hoarded wealth of nature, for the joy of humanity.

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1.52.8

ज॒घ॒न्वाँ उ॒ हरि॑भिः संभृतक्रत॒विन्द्र॑ वृ॒त्रं मनु॑षे गातु॒यन्न॒पः । अय॑च्छथा बा॒ह्वोर्वज्र॑माय॒समधा॑रयो दि॒व्या सूर्यं॑ दृ॒शे ॥

Indra, prosperous lord of noble actions, breaker of the clouds with currents of lightning energy to let the streams of rain showers flow on the earth for humanity, take up the thunderbolt of steel in arms and strike, and rise to the heavens so that all may see the sun in all its glory.

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1.52.9

बृ॒हत्स्वश्च॑न्द्र॒मम॑व॒द्यदु॒क्थ्य१॒॑मकृ॑ण्वत भि॒यसा॒ रोह॑णं दि॒वः । यन्मानु॑षप्रधना॒ इन्द्र॑मू॒तयः॒ स्व॑र्नृ॒षाचो॑ म॒रुतोऽम॑द॒न्ननु॑ ॥

When humanity, stricken with fear of Vritra and drought, raises great, heavenly, beautiful, enlightened and powerful songs of praise and prayer rising to the heavens in honour of Indra, and when the protective forces of nature such as winds and pranic energy fighting for humanity move into action and bring showers of joy from heaven for humanity on earth, then all these forces and humanity rejoice with thanks and praise to Indra.

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1.52.10

द्यौश्चि॑द॒स्याम॑वाँ॒ अहेः॑ स्व॒नादयो॑यवीद्भि॒यसा॒ वज्र॑ इन्द्र ते । वृ॒त्रस्य॒ यद्ब॑द्बधा॒नस्य॑ रोदसी॒ मदे॑ सु॒तस्य॒ शव॒साभि॑न॒च्छिरः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and ruler of the world, when under the inspiration of soma your thunderbolt with terrible force breaks open the peak of Vritra, the cloud overcasting the earth and skies, then with thunder and lightning, the powerful heavens shaking in the operation catalyse and turn the vapours into rain showers.

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1.52.11

यदिन्न्वि॑न्द्र पृथि॒वी दश॑भुजि॒रहा॑नि॒ विश्वा॑ त॒तन॑न्त कृ॒ष्टयः॑ । अत्राह॑ ते मघव॒न्विश्रु॑तं॒ सहो॒ द्यामनु॒ शव॑सा ब॒र्हणा॑ भुवत् ॥

Indra, lord of power, wealth and glory, if the earth, which is enjoyable with the ten senses, and all the people were to wax in peace and joy all days and nights by virtue of the light of your knowledge and justice and your power of protection and progress, then your fame and splendour on earth would touch the heights of heaven.

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1.52.12

त्वम॒स्य पा॒रे रज॑सो॒ व्यो॑मनः॒ स्वभू॑त्योजा॒ अव॑से धृषन्मनः । च॒कृ॒षे भूमिं॑ प्रति॒मान॒मोज॑सो॒ऽपः स्वः॑ परि॒भूरे॒ष्या दिव॑म् ॥

Lord of omnipotent force, master of your own essential splendour, you are beyond this world of earth and sky. You create the earth, a symbolic measure of your power, for the sake of life and protection. You pervade the earth, the waters, the regions of bliss and the heavens of light and you are transcendent even beyond.

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1.52.13

त्वं भु॑वः प्रति॒मानं॑ पृथि॒व्या ऋ॒ष्ववी॑रस्य बृह॒तः पति॑र्भूः । विश्व॒माप्रा॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षं महि॒त्वा स॒त्यम॒द्धा नकि॑र॒न्यस्त्वावा॑न् ॥

You are the ultimate measure of the earth and the skies. You are the highest lord and master of the wondrous world of heroes. Having pervaded the world, having measured the spaces and transcended, you are the ultimate truth of eternal reality. No one is like you, none in image, symbol or measure, none, nothing.

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1.52.14

न यस्य॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अनु॒ व्यचो॒ न सिन्ध॑वो॒ रज॑सो॒ अन्त॑मान॒शुः । नोत स्ववृ॑ष्टिं॒ मदे॑ अस्य॒ युध्य॑त॒ एको॑ अ॒न्यच्च॑कृषे॒ विश्व॑मानु॒षक् ॥

The heaven and earth approach not His infinite expanse. Nor do the oceans of waters and spaces find the end of His universe of glory. Nor can any one rival the power and passion of the generosity of this warrior against Vritra, the demon of darkness and drought, in matters of the joy of living. Nor has He Himself, sole Lord as He is, created any one else, or any other world, like Himself or like the world He has created.

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1.52.15

आर्च॒न्नत्र॑ म॒रुतः॒ सस्मि॑न्ना॒जौ विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॑ अमद॒न्ननु॑ त्वा । वृ॒त्रस्य॒ यद्भृ॑ष्टि॒मता॑ व॒धेन॒ नि त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ प्रत्या॒नं ज॒घन्थ॑ ॥

Indra, lord of universal power, when you strike on the jaws of Vritra with the fatal thunderbolt of dazzling force in all the battles against darkness and drought, then the Maruts, high-priests of nature and humanity, sing hymns of praise for you, and all the divinities of nature and humanity rejoice with you.

✦ Sukta 53 · 11 verses ✦

1.53.1

न्यू॒३॒॑षु वाचं॒ प्र म॒हे भ॑रामहे॒ गिर॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ सद॑ने वि॒वस्व॑तः । नू चि॒द्धि रत्नं॑ सस॒तामि॒वावि॑द॒न्न दु॑ष्टु॒तिर्द्र॑विणो॒देषु॑ शस्यते ॥

In this great yajnic house of Vivasvan, lord of light, we raise our voice of celebrations in honour of Indra, lord of power and action, for the sake of honour and prosperity. Rarely is the jewel obtained by the lazy loons asleep. And slander finds no favour among the givers of wealth.

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1.53.2

दु॒रो अश्व॑स्य दु॒र इ॑न्द्र॒ गोर॑सि दु॒रो यव॑स्य॒ वसु॑न इ॒नस्पतिः॑ । शि॒क्षा॒न॒रः प्र॒दिवो॒ अका॑मकर्शनः॒ सखा॒ सखि॑भ्य॒स्तमि॒दं गृ॑णीमसि ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge, wealth and power, you are the gateway to speed and fast advancement. You are the giver of divine speech and wealth of cows, earth and prosperity of life. You are the treasure house of food and energy. You are the lord giver of wealth and splendour. You are the leading light of education and scholarship. You are the refulgent lord of light. You are the chastiser of the lazy, an inspiration for the ambitious. And you are the friend of friends. Such is Indra whom we praise and celebrate in song.

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1.53.3

शची॑व इन्द्र पुरुकृद्द्युमत्तम॒ तवेदि॒दम॒भित॑श्चेकिते॒ वसु॑ । अतः॑ सं॒गृभ्या॑भिभूत॒ आ भ॑र॒ मा त्वा॑य॒तो ज॑रि॒तुः काम॑मूनयीः ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, lord of wisdom, Word, and action, versatile giver of success and victory, most brilliant and omniscient, the wealth all round is yours, you know. Therefore, O lord of victory, take that up and bear it along to bless us. Neglect not the desire and ambition of your celebrant, discount him not.

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1.53.4

ए॒भिर्द्युभिः॑ सु॒मना॑ ए॒भिरिन्दु॑भिर्निरुन्धा॒नो अम॑तिं॒ गोभि॑र॒श्विना॑ । इन्द्रे॑ण॒ दस्युं॑ द॒रय॑न्त॒ इन्दु॑भिर्यु॒तद्वे॑षसः॒ समि॒षा र॑भेमहि ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, pleased at heart, with these lights of knowledge and these streams of soma, preventing our want and poverty of wealth and knowledge, bless us with cows and horses, gifts of divine speech, lands and wealth of mind and wisdom, and speedy movement in progress, so that, subduing the evil and wicked enemies, and free from the jealous and hateful, we may enjoy and live happily with plenty of food and energy and joyous drinks of soma in a state of power and prosperity.

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1.53.5

समि॑न्द्र रा॒या समि॒षा र॑भेमहि॒ सं वाजे॑भिः पुरुश्च॒न्द्रैर॒भिद्यु॑भिः । सं दे॒व्या प्रम॑त्या वी॒रशु॑ष्मया॒ गोअ॑ग्र॒याश्वा॑वत्या रभेमहि ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge and power, honour and prosperity, let us begin well, advance, succeed and celebrate with noble wealth and power, food and energy, knowledge and speed, universal beauty and joy and the light of brilliance. Let us advance and enjoy with divine wisdom, forceful arms of the brave, prime lands and cows and sophisticated intelligence, and all this at the top speed of advancement.

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1.53.6

ते त्वा॒ मदा॑ अमद॒न्तानि॒ वृष्ण्या॒ ते सोमा॑सो वृत्र॒हत्ये॑षु सत्पते । यत्का॒रवे॒ दश॑ वृ॒त्राण्य॑प्र॒ति ब॒र्हिष्म॑ते॒ नि स॒हस्रा॑णि ब॒र्हयः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge and power, honour and prosperity, let us begin well, advance, succeed and celebrate with noble wealth and power, food and energy, knowledge and speed, universal beauty and joy and the light of brilliance. Let us advance and enjoy with divine wisdom, forceful arms of the brave, prime lands and cows and sophisticated intelligence, and all this at the top speed of advancement.

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1.53.7

यु॒धा युध॒मुप॒ घेदे॑षि धृष्णु॒या पु॒रा पुरं॒ समि॒दं हं॒स्योज॑सा । नम्या॒ यदि॑न्द्र॒ सख्या॑ परा॒वति॑ निब॒र्हयो॒ नमु॑चिं॒ नाम॑ मा॒यिन॑म् ॥

With the courage and arms of a mighty warrior you go forward, engage the enemy and with your valour and splendour destroy the hostile fort yonder. With your friends and disciplined warriors, in the far off country, you uproot the guileful adversary who, otherwise is a constant challenge and terror to humanity.

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1.53.8

त्वं कर॑ञ्जमु॒त प॒र्णयं॑ वधी॒स्तेजि॑ष्ठयातिथि॒ग्वस्य॑ वर्त॒नी । त्वं श॒ता वङ्गृ॑दस्याभिन॒त्पुरो॑ऽनानु॒दः परि॑षूता ऋ॒जिश्व॑ना ॥

By your ardour and brilliance you destroy the man who troubles the pious, who steals others’ money and property, and who waylays the travellers and prevents hospitality. By your own strength you rout a hundred strongholds of the purveyors of poison and exploitation and you protect the good creations and productions of people by disciplined expert masters of management.

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1.53.9

त्वमे॒ताञ्ज॑न॒राज्ञो॒ द्विर्दशा॑ब॒न्धुना॑ सु॒श्रव॑सोपज॒ग्मुषः॑ । ष॒ष्टिं स॒हस्रा॑ नव॒तिं नव॑ श्रु॒तो नि च॒क्रेण॒ रथ्या॑ दु॒ष्पदा॑वृणक् ॥

Indra, mighty sovereign, far and wide is your fame. Twenty are these rulers of the republics in need of help and they too are of noble fame, come here for protection. Sixty thousand ninety-nine are their people. Save them from violence and loss of freedom with the strong chariot wheel of your sovereignty.

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1.53.10

त्वमा॑विथ सु॒श्रव॑सं॒ तवो॒तिभि॒स्तव॒ त्राम॑भिरिन्द्र॒ तूर्व॑याणम् । त्वम॑स्मै॒ कुत्स॑मतिथि॒ग्वमा॒युं म॒हे राज्ञे॒ यूने॑ अरन्धनायः ॥

Indra, lord of power and force of divinity, with your modes of protection and your modes of sustenance you cover and protect the man of noble fame and fast motion and, with your power of fulfilment and prosperity, you grant good health and full age, love of hospitality and the mighty thunderbolt of arms and justice to this great and youthful ruler commanding honour and brilliance.

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1.53.11

य उ॒दृची॑न्द्र दे॒वगो॑पाः॒ सखा॑यस्ते शि॒वत॑मा॒ असा॑म । त्वां स्तो॑षाम॒ त्वया॑ सु॒वीरा॒ द्राघी॑य॒ आयुः॑ प्रत॒रं दधा॑नाः ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent of the world, dedicated as we are to the light of the Rks, we are protected by the divinities. All friends of yours, we pray, may we be at perfect peace in holy comfort and sing in praise of your glory. And by your grace, may we be blest with noble children and live a long, full and happy life.

✦ Sukta 54 · 11 verses ✦

1.54.1

मा नो॑ अ॒स्मिन्म॑घवन्पृ॒त्स्वंह॑सि न॒हि ते॒ अन्तः॒ शव॑सः परी॒णशे॑ । अक्र॑न्दयो न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ रोरु॑व॒द्वना॑ क॒था न क्षो॒णीर्भि॒यसा॒ समा॑रत ॥

Indra, lord of the universe and the wealth and grandeur of life, let us not be boggled in sin and conflicts of the world. You make the rivers roar, streams to flow and the springs to sing in praise. Shake us not with fear. Why shouldn’t the earth and her children, then, attain to you?

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1.54.2

अर्चा॑ श॒क्राय॑ शा॒किने॒ शची॑वते शृ॒ण्वन्त॒मिन्द्रं॑ म॒हय॑न्न॒भि ष्टु॑हि । यो धृ॒ष्णुना॒ शव॑सा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे वृषा॑ वृष॒त्वा वृ॑ष॒भो न्यृ॒ञ्जते॑ ॥

Offer homage to Indra, lord of strength, power, knowledge and wisdom. Sing songs of praise glorifying the Lord who, with His mighty strength and power of knowledge and wisdom, creates both heaven and earth and the sky, and with the same strength and generosity showers His blessings on us.

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1.54.3

अर्चा॑ दि॒वे बृ॑ह॒ते शू॒ष्यं१॒॑ वचः॒ स्वक्ष॑त्रं॒ यस्य॑ धृष॒तो धृ॒षन्मनः॑ । बृ॒हच्छ्र॑वा॒ असु॑रो ब॒र्हणा॑ कृ॒तः पु॒रो हरि॑भ्यां वृष॒भो रथो॒ हि षः ॥

Offer resounding words of strength and creative imagination in honour of Indra, great lord of light and grandeur. Great is the sovereign republic of the lord of awful power, awful in his mind capable of wondrous acts of wisdom. The lord is a good listener and giver of vital energy and fresh life, and subduer of enemies. He rides and rushes forward in a chariot drawn by the winds and sunbeams.

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1.54.4

त्वं दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तः सानु॑ कोप॒योऽव॒ त्मना॑ धृष॒ता शम्ब॑रं भिनत् । यन्मा॒यिनो॑ व्र॒न्दिनो॑ म॒न्दिना॑ धृ॒षच्छि॒तां गभ॑स्तिम॒शनिं॑ पृत॒न्यसि॑ ॥

From the great regions of light, feeling passionate and indignant, you strike the top of the cloud and break it with the shattering thunderbolt of sun- beams. Similarly, righteously and conscientiously feeling passionate and indignant, with your formidable actions, subduing the forces of the wicked and guileful powers, you raise an army to fight for light and justice.

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1.54.5

नि यद्वृ॒णक्षि॑ श्वस॒नस्य॑ मू॒र्धनि॒ शुष्ण॑स्य चिद्व्र॒न्दिनो॒ रोरु॑व॒द्वना॑ । प्रा॒चीने॑न॒ मन॑सा ब॒र्हणा॑वता॒ यद॒द्या चि॑त्कृ॒णवः॒ कस्त्वा॒ परि॑ ॥

Just as the sun strikes the thunderbolt of sunbeams on top of the cloud which holds the life-giving waters but deprives the earth of rain, so you, striking the thunderbolt on the head of the living rich but hoarding wicked powers of society, with your ancient and advancing powers of knowledge, make them cry even to-day. Since you were earlier, and now you are, the hero of action, who can be superior enough to act against you? No one.

· · ·

1.54.6

त्वमा॑विथ॒ नर्यं॑ तु॒र्वशं॒ यदुं॒ त्वं तु॒र्वीतिं॑ व॒य्यं॑ शतक्रतो । त्वं रथ॒मेत॑शं॒ कृत्व्ये॒ धने॒ त्वं पुरो॑ नव॒तिं द॑म्भयो॒ नव॑ ॥

Indra, lord and hero of a hundred noble actions, you protect the good among humanity, the best of them, the industrious, who destroys the evil and who knows. Now that the battle is on and almost won for success and prosperity, protect the tempestuous chariot of advance and progress and break down the ninety nine forts of the enemies of humanity.

· · ·

1.54.7

स घा॒ राजा॒ सत्प॑तिः शूशुव॒ज्जनो॑ रा॒तह॑व्यः॒ प्रति॒ यः शास॒मिन्व॑ति । उ॒क्था वा॒ यो अ॑भिगृ॒णाति॒ राध॑सा॒ दानु॑रस्मा॒ उप॑रा पिन्वते दि॒वः ॥

He surely is the king, the man, who protects the good and the true, who knows, enlightens and advances, who liberally offers in yajna and himself commands reverence, who advances every unit of the human order and himself advances in response, who chants the hymns in honour of Divinity, who is rich and liberal in prosperity and bright in law and justice, and a liberal giver over all else. For such a man as this, the higher powers from above shower rains of grace in generosity.

· · ·

1.54.8

अस॑मं क्ष॒त्रमस॑मा मनी॒षा प्र सो॑म॒पा अप॑सा सन्तु॒ नेमे॑ । ये त॑ इन्द्र द॒दुषो॑ व॒र्धय॑न्ति॒ महि॑ क्ष॒त्रं स्थवि॑रं॒ वृष्ण्यं॑ च ॥

Indra, unique is your order of governance. Your intelligence and imagination is unique. May all the citizens, lovers of soma as they are, prosper by their karma who, generous and giving, advance your great strength and system, stability and generosity.

· · ·

1.54.9

तुभ्येदे॒ते ब॑हु॒ला अद्रि॑दुग्धाश्चमू॒षद॑श्चम॒सा इ॑न्द्र॒पानाः॑ । व्य॑श्नुहि त॒र्पया॒ काम॑मेषा॒मथा॒ मनो॑ वसु॒देया॑य कृष्व ॥

Indra, lord of power and governance, for your service are these many warrior heroes, overflowing with generosity like the clouds, strong as adamant, formidable in battle and embodiments of national genius fit for service and sacrifice for the honour and glory of the nation. Accept these, grant them the desire and ambition they have, and make up your mind and resolve for the growth of honour, prosperity and generosity.

· · ·

1.54.10

अ॒पाम॑तिष्ठद्ध॒रुण॑ह्वरं॒ तमो॒ऽन्तर्वृ॒त्रस्य॑ ज॒ठरे॑षु॒ पर्व॑तः । अ॒भीमिन्द्रो॑ न॒द्यो॑ व॒व्रिणा॑ हि॒ता विश्वा॑ अनु॒ष्ठाः प्र॑व॒णेषु॑ जिघ्नते ॥

The darkest dark mountainous body of vapours stays enclosed in the depths of Vritra, the dense cloud. Indra, lord of light and lightning energy, releases the waters in the form of all the streams earlier withheld by Vritra and makes them flow in their usual course.

· · ·

1.54.11

स शेवृ॑ध॒मधि॑ धा द्यु॒म्नम॒स्मे महि॑ क्ष॒त्रं ज॑ना॒षाळि॑न्द्र॒ तव्य॑म् । रक्षा॑ च नो म॒घोनः॑ पा॒हि सू॒रीन्रा॒ये च॑ नः स्वप॒त्या इ॒षे धाः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, friend and protector of the people, bring us the most felicitous honour, rule over the great republic, protect us, advance us to power and fame, support the wise, let us march to plenty of food and energy, and wealth and prosperity for our noble generations to follow.

✦ Sukta 55 · 8 verses ✦

1.55.1

दि॒वश्चि॑दस्य वरि॒मा वि प॑प्रथ॒ इन्द्रं॒ न म॒ह्ना पृ॑थि॒वी च॒न प्रति॑ । भी॒मस्तुवि॑ष्माञ्चर्ष॒णिभ्य॑ आत॒पः शिशी॑ते॒ वज्रं॒ तेज॑से॒ न वंस॑गः ॥

The splendour of this Indra, lord of rule and light, extends to the lights of heaven. The earth too cannot rival his greatness with all its expanse. Lord of strength and power, he is fearsome for the enemies, warm for the good, and hot and blazing for others. He radiates light for the dark and strikes the thunderbolt into the hoarded waters of Vritra and walks around as the leader among people as leader of the flock.

· · ·

1.55.2

सो अ॑र्ण॒वो न न॒द्यः॑ समु॒द्रियः॒ प्रति॑ गृभ्णाति॒ विश्रि॑ता॒ वरी॑मभिः । इन्द्रः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ वृषायते स॒नात्स यु॒ध्म ओज॑सा पनस्यते ॥

Just as the ocean with its bottomless depths receives and holds the streams of water flowing over the expansive lands and heading towards the sea, and just as the sun, with its expanse of heavens, receives and holds the streams of vapours flowing across the spaces of the skies and then, like the most generous lord of life, showers the rains for the earth to have a drink of the soma of joy, so does the ruler lord of light and power receive and hold the streams of incoming wealth heading to the vast expanse of the treasury, and then like a generous lord of fertility showers the rain of wealth upon the people for them to have a drink of the joy of life. This ocean, this sun, this ruler, mighty warrior and protector rises in strength with his glory since time immemorial.

· · ·

1.55.3

त्वं तमि॑न्द्र॒ पर्व॑तं॒ न भोज॑से म॒हो नृ॒म्णस्य॒ धर्म॑णामिरज्यसि । प्र वी॒र्ये॑ण दे॒वताऽति॑ चेकिते॒ विश्व॑स्मा उ॒ग्रः कर्म॑णे पु॒रोहि॑तः ॥

Just like that cloud of rain, you rule and govern the great wealth and the rules and laws for the enjoyment and well-being of life on earth and shine. Thus mighty and blazing by your own power and splendour, leader in front of all noble action, you are celebrated as a very god among humanity.

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1.55.4

स इद्वने॑ नम॒स्युभि॑र्वचस्यते॒ चारु॒ जने॑षु प्रब्रुवा॒ण इ॑न्द्रि॒यम् । वृषा॒ छन्दु॑र्भवति हर्य॒तो वृषा॒ क्षेमे॑ण॒ धेनां॑ म॒घवा॒ यदिन्व॑ति ॥

Celebrated is Indra, far and wide in town and forest and in distant lands, by his admirers in worship and reverence, lord and bold as he is, expressing his knowledge and power among people gracefully. Generous he is, joyous and free, full of blessings for those who are keen to learn and earn the wealth of life. And generous of knowledge, power and protection, glorious all round, he commands the voice of praise and appreciation everywhere.

· · ·

1.55.5

स इन्म॒हानि॑ समि॒थानि॑ म॒ज्मना॑ कृ॒णोति॑ यु॒ध्म ओज॑सा॒ जने॑भ्यः । अधा॑ च॒न श्रद्द॑धति॒ त्विषी॑मत॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ वज्रं॑ नि॒घनि॑घ्नते व॒धम् ॥

Great warrior as he is, fighting with the brilliance of his knowledge, wealth and power against ignorance, injustice and poverty, he wins great battles for the people. He strikes the thunderbolt against evil, wickedness and hoarding for the glory of the order, and then the people vest full faith in him, lord of splendour and majesty as he is.

· · ·

1.55.6

स हि श्र॑व॒स्युः सद॑नानि कृ॒त्रिमा॑ क्ष्म॒या वृ॑धा॒न ओज॑सा विना॒शय॑न् । ज्योतीं॑षि कृ॒ण्वन्न॑वृ॒काणि॒ यज्य॒वेऽव॑ सु॒क्रतुः॒ सर्त॒वा अ॒पः सृ॑जत् ॥

He, ruling lord of power, hero of noble actions, keen to hear the Shastras for knowledge and food for the soul, developing projects of growth and progress, growing stronger and stronger by the earth, destroying evil and wickedness with his valour and splendour, creating the lights of art, science, beauty and culture, rendering the homes and highways free from danger and highway men, should set the wheels of humanity in motion and keep the waters flowing abundantly for the yajamana and the yajnic nation.

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1.55.7

दा॒नाय॒ मनः॑ सोमपावन्नस्तु ते॒ऽर्वाञ्चा॒ हरी॑ वन्दनश्रु॒दा कृ॑धि । यमि॑ष्ठासः॒ सार॑थयो॒ य इ॑न्द्र ते॒ न त्वा॒ केता॒ आ द॑भ्नुवन्ति॒ भूर्ण॑यः ॥

Indra, lord creator of soma and lover of the drink of joy, may your heart and mind concentrate on giving. Lord of fame commanding admiration and reverence, direct your dynamic and magnetic forces this way for progress and stability. May your charioteers, leaders and guides of the nation, be experts on the steering wheel and in the direction of Dharma. Realise your noble and brilliant intentions. May no enemies be able to injure and suppress or terrorize you.

· · ·

1.55.8

अप्र॑क्षितं॒ वसु॑ बिभर्षि॒ हस्त॑यो॒रषा॑ळ्हं॒ सह॑स्त॒न्वि॑ श्रु॒तो द॑धे । आवृ॑तासोऽव॒तासो॒ न क॒र्तृभि॑स्त॒नूषु॑ ते॒ क्रत॑व इन्द्र॒ भूर॑यः ॥

Indra, indestructible wealths you hold in your hands, and informidable strength in your body. Lord of fame and good listening ear, innumerable yajnic actions of dedication are internalised by your admirers in their mind and body like precious jewels enveloped in beauty, the same I hold and cherish.

✦ Sukta 56 · 6 verses ✦

1.56.1

ए॒ष प्र पू॒र्वीरव॒ तस्य॑ च॒म्रिषोऽत्यो॒ न योषा॒मुद॑यंस्त भु॒र्वणिः॑ । दक्षं॑ म॒हे पा॑ययते हिर॒ण्ययं॒ रथ॑मा॒वृत्या॒ हरि॑योग॒मृभ्व॑सम् ॥

This Indra, lord protector of the land, advances to meet, guide and protect his people just as the smartest young man advances and wins the hand of his lady love. And, holding them as sacred libations in the ladle for offering into the yajna fire, he ascends the excellent, golden chariot prepared by experts and driven by the fastest fuel power, and advances to protect the glory of the Lord of humanity for them.

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1.56.2

तं गू॒र्तयो॑ नेम॒न्निषः॒ परी॑णसः समु॒द्रं न सं॒चर॑णे सनि॒ष्यवः॑ । पतिं॒ दक्ष॑स्य वि॒दथ॑स्य॒ नू सहो॑ गि॒रिं न वे॒ना अधि॑ रोह॒ तेज॑सा ॥

Just as the streams flow to join the sea in common and waters glide round the mountain, so hosts of admirers, loving and loved and eager to join Indra, lord and protector of the mighty and versatile order of humanity, rise and, with their strength and splendour, augment his power and majesty deep as the ocean and high as a mountain peak.

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1.56.3

स तु॒र्वणि॑र्म॒हाँ अ॑रे॒णु पौंस्ये॑ गि॒रेर्भृ॒ष्टिर्न भ्रा॑जते तु॒जा शवः॑ । येन॒ शुष्णं॑ मा॒यिन॑माय॒सो मदे॑ दु॒ध्र आ॒भूषु॑ रा॒मय॒न्नि दाम॑नि ॥

He, Indra, blessed and blissful, great, inviolable, shines in his bloom of youth like the peak of a mountain with the force and brilliance of his knowledge and power, by which he, formidable hero of the armour of steel, delights and rules a strong and enlightened nation in a state of joy and self-restraint in all situations of existence.

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1.56.4

दे॒वी यदि॒ तवि॑षी॒ त्वावृ॑धो॒तय॒ इन्द्रं॒ सिष॑क्त्यु॒षसं॒ न सूर्यः॑ । यो धृ॒ष्णुना॒ शव॑सा॒ बाध॑ते॒ तम॒ इय॑र्ति रे॒णुं बृ॒हद॑र्हरि॒ष्वणिः॑ ॥

If a generous and brilliant beauty were to come and join Indra, a brilliant young man of culture, education and universal values of Dharma, join him as life partner and inspire him to advance for the safety, security and progress of society, then, just as the sun having joined the wonderful dawn, dispels the world enveloping darkness with his blazing splendour so would Indra dispel the darkness and suffering of humanity with his power and splendour.

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1.56.5

वि यत्ति॒रो ध॒रुण॒मच्यु॑तं॒ रजोऽति॑ष्ठिपो दि॒व आता॑सु ब॒र्हणा॑ । स्व॑र्मीळ्हे॒ यन्मद॑ इन्द्र॒ हर्ष्याह॑न्वृ॒त्रं निर॒पामौ॑ब्जो अर्ण॒वम् ॥

Mighty is Indra, blazing in splendour and rejoicing in the light of heaven. In the vast spaces of the universe, he wields and sustains indestructible life supports such as earths and skies. He catalyses the vapours of water held in the depths of space, breaks the clouds, and in the mood of power, glory and joy makes them shower the rains on the earth, thereby forming the ocean.

· · ·

1.56.6

त्वं दि॒वो ध॒रुणं॑ धिष॒ ओज॑सा पृथि॒व्या इ॑न्द्र॒ सद॑नेषु॒ माहि॑नः । त्वं सु॒तस्य॒ मदे॑ अरिणा अ॒पो वि वृ॒त्रस्य॑ स॒मया॑ पा॒ष्या॑रुजः ॥

Indra, with your splendour of omnipotence you wield the sustaining powers of heaven and earth. You are all great and glorious in the halls and homes of the earth. With your power of catalysis you break the clouds and release the waters by the season, and then in celebrations of soma yajna you bless the devotees with joy.

✦ Sukta 57 · 6 verses ✦

1.57.1

प्र मंहि॑ष्ठाय बृह॒ते बृ॒हद्र॑ये स॒त्यशु॑ष्माय त॒वसे॑ म॒तिं भ॑रे । अ॒पामि॑व प्रव॒णे यस्य॑ दु॒र्धरं॒ राधो॑ वि॒श्वायु॒ शव॑से॒ अपा॑वृतम् ॥

To the most generous lord of the world, Indra, great, awfully wealthy, truly fragrant blissful, and mighty strong, I offer my homage of faith and celebration whose universal gift of wealth, knowledge and efficiency of karma, released and open to all for strength and enlightenment, flows freely like streams of water rushing down to the sea.

· · ·

1.57.2

अध॑ ते॒ विश्व॒मनु॑ हासदि॒ष्टय॒ आपो॑ नि॒म्नेव॒ सव॑ना ह॒विष्म॑तः । यत्पर्व॑ते॒ न स॒मशी॑त हर्य॒त इन्द्र॑स्य॒ वज्रः॒ श्नथि॑ता हिर॒ण्ययः॑ ॥

Just as the golden glorious thunderbolt of Indra struck at the cloud reaches to the heart of the vapours and the treasure streams of water flow down to the sea, so may the fruits of the holy works of yajnic people and the wealth of the world flow to you like streams of water for your fulfilment and freedom. (The ruler is the nation’s centre and chief yajamana of the nation’s yajnic activity.)

· · ·

1.57.3

अ॒स्मै भी॒माय॒ नम॑सा॒ सम॑ध्व॒र उषो॒ न शु॑भ्र॒ आ भ॑रा॒ पनी॑यसे । यस्य॒ धाम॒ श्रव॑से॒ नामे॑न्द्रि॒यं ज्योति॒रका॑रि ह॒रितो॒ नाय॑से ॥

O man of knowledge, come to the auspicious yajna like the glorious dawn bearing gifts of food power and energy for this awful lord of majesty and charity, whose house, famous for gold and chant of the Word, emanates the light and power of science and knowledge as the spaces in the morning reflect the light and glory of the dawn.

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1.57.4

इ॒मे त॑ इन्द्र॒ ते व॒यं पु॑रुष्टुत॒ ये त्वा॒रभ्य॒ चरा॑मसि प्रभूवसो । न॒हि त्वद॒न्यो गि॑र्वणो॒ गिरः॒ सघ॑त्क्षो॒णीरि॑व॒ प्रति॑ नो हर्य॒ तद्वचः॑ ॥

These are yours, Indra, We are yours, lord praised and celebrated by all. Beginning with you we go about the business of living, lord of existence and shelter of life. Other than you there is no one else, lord of holy Word, who would listen to our prayer. Hear our prayer as the voice of earth and humanity and respond with grace.

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1.57.5

भूरि॑ त इन्द्र वी॒र्यं१॒॑ तव॑ स्मस्य॒स्य स्तो॒तुर्म॑घव॒न्काम॒मा पृ॑ण । अनु॑ ते॒ द्यौर्बृ॑ह॒ती वी॒र्यं॑ मम इ॒यं च॑ ते पृथि॒वी ने॑म॒ ओज॑से ॥

Great is your power and splendour, Indra. We are yours, under your law and shelter. Lord of glory, listen to this devotee and grant his prayer. The vast heaven acknowledges and celebrates your power and glory. This earth too does homage to your might and grandeur.

· · ·

1.57.6

त्वं तमि॑न्द्र॒ पर्व॑तं म॒हामु॒रुं वज्रे॑ण वज्रिन्पर्व॒शश्च॑कर्तिथ । अवा॑सृजो॒ निवृ॑ताः॒ सर्त॒वा अ॒पः स॒त्रा विश्वं॑ दधिषे॒ केव॑लं॒ सहः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, you break that mountainous cloud of vast dimensions part by part with the thunderbolt of lightning energy. You release the held up waters for downward flow in the streams. Eternal and absolute lord of omnipotence, you alone wield and sustain the universe and universal energy.

✦ Sukta 58 · 9 verses ✦

1.58.1

नू चि॑त्सहो॒जा अ॒मृतो॒ नि तु॑न्दते॒ होता॒ यद्दू॒तो अभ॑वद्वि॒वस्व॑तः । वि साधि॑ष्ठेभिः प॒थिभी॒ रजो॑ मम॒ आ दे॒वता॑ता ह॒विषा॑ विवासति ॥

mountainous cloud of vast dimensions part by part with the thunderbolt of lightning energy. You release the held up waters for downward flow in the streams. Eternal and absolute lord of omnipotence, you alone wield and sustain the universe and universal energy.

· · ·

1.58.2

आ स्वमद्म॑ यु॒वमा॑नो अ॒जर॑स्तृ॒ष्व॑वि॒ष्यन्न॑त॒सेषु॑ तिष्ठति । अत्यो॒ न पृ॒ष्ठं प्रु॑षि॒तस्य॑ रोचते दि॒वो न सानु॑ स्त॒नय॑न्नचिक्रदत् ॥

Unaging and immortal, instantly consuming its food, it protects the environment and abides in the winds and the vast skies. Like a courser on the wings, it flies and shines on top when it is sprinkled with ghrta, and as on the peak of heaven, it thunders as lightning.

· · ·

1.58.3

क्रा॒णा रु॒द्रेभि॒र्वसु॑भिः पु॒रोहि॑तो॒ होता॒ निष॑त्तो रयि॒षाळम॑र्त्यः । रथो॒ न वि॒क्ष्वृ॑ञ्जसा॒न आ॒युषु॒ व्या॑नु॒षग्वार्या॑ दे॒व ऋ॑ण्वति ॥

Immortal agent of nature’s karma, living and acting with pranic energies and the abodes and supports of life, it is the high priest of cosmic yajna both offering and receiving the oblations in the dynamics of existence, and it is the treasure source of wealth. Beautiful and moving like a chariot, mixing with people, it integrates with life and age and, brilliant and generous, it creates and provides the choicest gifts of life.

· · ·

1.58.4

वि वात॑जूतो अत॒सेषु॑ तिष्ठते॒ वृथा॑ जु॒हूभिः॒ सृण्या॑ तुवि॒ष्वणिः॑ । तृ॒षु यद॑ग्ने व॒निनो॑ वृषा॒यसे॑ कृ॒ष्णं त॒ एम॒ रुश॑दूर्मे अजर ॥

Impelled by Vayu, Agni abides in its natural abodes, in wind and air and in its own flames, moving on loud and bold by its yajnic actions. Agni, unaging and ever young, refulgent with your own light, since you instantly shower the supplicants with favours, may we, we pray, share your love and protection.

· · ·

1.58.5

तपु॑र्जम्भो॒ वन॒ आ वात॑चोदितो यू॒थे न सा॒ह्वाँ अव॑ वाति॒ वंस॑गः । अ॒भि॒व्रज॒न्नक्षि॑तं॒ पाज॑सा॒ रजः॑ स्था॒तुश्च॒रथं॑ भयते पत॒त्रिणः॑ ॥

Voracious power of the jaws of flame, enveloped in the rays of its own light, inspired by the energy of Vayu, it moves around bold and fearless like a bull in the herd of cows in the forest far and near. It moves across the moving and undecaying world of earth and sky up and down with its force, and the world feels afraid of it whether it stays or flies like a bird.

· · ·

1.58.6

द॒धुष्ट्वा॒ भृग॑वो॒ मानु॑षे॒ष्वा र॒यिं न चारुं॑ सु॒हवं॒ जने॑भ्यः । होता॑रमग्ने॒ अति॑थिं॒ वरे॑ण्यं मि॒त्रं न शेवं॑ दि॒व्याय॒ जन्म॑ने ॥

Agni, eminent scholars of science among humanity hold and install you as precious wealth for the people,Agni, divine yajnic power, welcome as a cherished visitor, worthy of choice, deserving of hospitality like a dear friend, bliss incarnate. They install you so that you kindle, rise and blaze like a divinity of heaven.

· · ·

1.58.7

होता॑रं स॒प्त जु॒ह्वो॒३॒॑ यजि॑ष्ठं॒ यं वा॒घतो॑ वृ॒णते॑ अध्व॒रेषु॑ । अ॒ग्निं विश्वे॑षामर॒तिं वसू॑नां सप॒र्यामि॒ प्रय॑सा॒ यामि॒ रत्न॑म् ॥

Intelligent men of knowledge and divine speech offer to invoke Agni, as generous yajnic power of seven beautiful tongues of flame, worthiest of adoration in yajna. That same power, a very jewel, giver of all wealths of the world, which they invoke in yajna, I too serve and attain.

· · ·

1.58.8

अच्छि॑द्रा सूनो सहसो नो अ॒द्य स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ मित्रमहः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छ । अग्ने॑ गृ॒णन्त॒मंह॑स उरु॒ष्योर्जो॑ नपात्पू॒र्भिराय॑सीभिः ॥

Agni, child of omnipotence, greatest friend most adorable, give us today, your devotees, perfect peace and comfort of a happy home, energy and power of the world. Save the devotee and admirer from sin and perfect him with the strength of steel and beauties of gold.

· · ·

1.58.9

भवा॒ वरू॑थं गृण॒ते वि॑भावो॒ भवा॑ मघवन्म॒घव॑द्भ्यः॒ शर्म॑ । उ॒रु॒ष्याग्ने॒ अंह॑सो गृ॒णन्तं॑ प्रा॒तर्म॒क्षू धि॒याव॑सुर्जगम्यात् ॥

Agni, lord of light and brilliance you are, be a very home for the admirer. Lord of wealth and honour, be the very light and honour for the men of wealth and power. Save the devotee from sin and crime with protection from within and without. Agni, you are the lord of intelligence, wealth and knowledge, come post- haste in the morning and bless me.

✦ Sukta 59 · 7 verses ✦

1.59.1

व॒या इद॑ग्ने अ॒ग्नय॑स्ते अ॒न्ये त्वे विश्वे॑ अ॒मृता॑ मादयन्ते । वैश्वा॑नर॒ नाभि॑रसि क्षिती॒नां स्थूणे॑व॒ जनाँ॑ उप॒मिद्य॑यन्थ ॥

Agni, light and life of the universe, other agnis, lights, fires and vitalities are reflective branches of you only. All the immortals of the world, devas, jivas and lights such as the sun rejoice in you. Vaishvanara, vitality and leading light of the earthly worlds, you are the navel, centre-hold of the earths and the people, and, like the pillar of a house or the hub of the wheel of existence, you hold the people in the law of Dharma and keep them in their orbit.

· · ·

1.59.2

मू॒र्धा दि॒वो नाभि॑र॒ग्निः पृ॑थि॒व्या अथा॑भवदर॒ती रोद॑स्योः । तं त्वा॑ दे॒वासो॑ऽजनयन्त दे॒वं वैश्वा॑नर॒ ज्योति॒रिदार्या॑य ॥

Agni is the top of heaven and the centre hold of the earth, and it is the ruler of the earths, the skies and the heavens all. Vaishvanara, leading light of the universe, such as you are, the brilliancies of nature such as sun and moon reveal your presence and the nobilities of humanity celebrate you as light of the Word and life of the world for the good and the pious.

· · ·

1.59.3

आ सूर्ये॒ न र॒श्मयो॑ ध्रु॒वासो॑ वैश्वान॒रे द॑धिरे॒ऽग्ना वसू॑नि । या पर्व॑ते॒ष्वोष॑धीष्व॒प्सु या मानु॑षे॒ष्वसि॒ तस्य॒ राजा॑ ॥

Just as the sun-rays abide in the sun, so do the stars and planets and the Vasus, abodes of life, abide in Vaishvanara Agni, self-existent power and force of the universe. Lord supreme, whatever wealth and vitality is there in mountains, herbs, waters and humanity, you are the ruler and ordainer of it all.

· · ·

1.59.4

बृ॒ह॒तीइ॑व सू॒नवे॒ रोद॑सी॒ गिरो॒ होता॑ मनु॒ष्यो॒३॒॑ न दक्षः॑ । स्व॑र्वते स॒त्यशु॑ष्माय पू॒र्वीर्वै॑श्वान॒राय॒ नृत॑माय य॒ह्वीः ॥

Just as the wide and expansive heaven and earth honour and serve the sun, source of light and inspiration, so should the hota, the yajaka, like an expert man of yajna, offer great, eternal and divine hymns of praise in honour of Vaishvanara, life universal, self-existent, ever truly powerful and the best friend of humanity.

· · ·

1.59.5

दि॒वश्चि॑त्ते बृह॒तो जा॑तवेदो॒ वैश्वा॑नर॒ प्र रि॑रिचे महि॒त्वम् । राजा॑ कृष्टी॒नाम॑सि॒ मानु॑षीणां यु॒धा दे॒वेभ्यो॒ वरि॑वश्चकर्थ ॥

Vaishvanara, lord omniscient and omnipresent life and leader of the universe, your greatness and majesty exceeds the light and grandeur of the heavens. You are the lord ruler of the classes of humanity, and with your warlike exploits create treasures of wealth for the divinities of nature and humanity.

· · ·

1.59.6

प्र नू म॑हि॒त्वं वृ॑ष॒भस्य॑ वोचं॒ यं पू॒रवो॑ वृत्र॒हणं॒ सच॑न्ते । वै॒श्वा॒न॒रो दस्यु॑म॒ग्निर्ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अधू॑नो॒त्काष्ठा॒ अव॒ शम्ब॑रं भेत् ॥

Spontaneously I celebrate the greatness and grandeur of the mighty and generous Vaishvanara Agni, Lord Omnipotent and Omnipresent, whom all people of the world seek and worship. Lord of light, breaker of the cloud, dispeller of darkness and destroyer of the wicked, He shakes the quarters of space and terrifies the demons of evil.

· · ·

1.59.7

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रो म॑हि॒म्ना वि॒श्वकृ॑ष्टिर्भ॒रद्वा॑जेषु यज॒तो वि॒भावा॑ । शा॒त॒व॒ने॒ये श॒तिनी॑भिर॒ग्निः पु॑रुणी॒थे ज॑रते सू॒नृता॑वान् ॥

Vaishvanara, lord pervasive and leader of the world of existence, is the lord of world humanity by virtue of His might and grandeur. Among the sources of life sustenance such as earth and showers of rain, He is the light and glory of the man of yajna. Lord of the reality of existence and the word of truth, in the world of hundredfold splendour, Agni is praised and worshipped in a hundred manners in choric songs by the celebrants.

✦ Sukta 60 · 5 verses ✦

1.60.1

वह्निं॑ य॒शसं॑ वि॒दथ॑स्य के॒तुं सु॑प्रा॒व्यं॑ दू॒तं स॒द्योअ॑र्थम् । द्वि॒जन्मा॑नं र॒यिमि॑व प्रश॒स्तं रा॒तिं भ॑र॒द्भृग॑वे मात॒रिश्वा॑ ॥

Matarishva, Vayu energy existent in space and operative in wind and electricity, bears Agni, carrier of oblations, mark of fame and honour, honour flag of the yajna of the world, worthy of preservation and advancement, instant mover and messenger, always valuable, twice born of Heaven and Vayu for earth and the skies. Vayu bears it like a real celebrity and beauty and generous giver in life and conducts it to Bhrgu, scientist and technologist, for heat treatment from cooking to tempering of sophisticated materials. (The Bhrgu collects and develops the fire.)

· · ·

1.60.2

अ॒स्य शासु॑रु॒भया॑सः सचन्ते ह॒विष्म॑न्त उ॒शिजो॒ ये च॒ मर्ताः॑ । दि॒वश्चि॒त्पूर्वो॒ न्य॑सादि॒ होता॒पृच्छ्यो॑ वि॒श्पति॑र्वि॒क्षु वे॒धाः ॥

Ordinary people and men of means both, who are ambitious for noble yajnic acts, abide by the law and order of this ruler of truth and justice. Giver as well as receiver of the gifts of yajna, man of discriminate wisdom, protector of the people, intelligent and highly knowledgeable, he takes his place among the people like the sun before the rise of day.

· · ·

1.60.3

तं नव्य॑सी हृ॒द आ जाय॑मानम॒स्मत्सु॑की॒र्तिर्मधु॑जिह्वमश्याः । यमृ॒त्विजो॑ वृ॒जने॒ मानु॑षासः॒ प्रय॑स्वन्त आ॒यवो॒ जीज॑नन्त ॥

To the man of noble honey tongue, whom men of yajnic service, men of means and knowledge, seniors with vision and experience and the people in general raise higher and greater in the battle of life, to such a man rising high and higher, may new and newer appreciation and admiration reach from our heart and soul.

· · ·

1.60.4

उ॒शिक्पा॑व॒को वसु॒र्मानु॑षेषु॒ वरे॑ण्यो॒ होता॑धायि वि॒क्षु । दमू॑ना गृ॒हप॑ति॒र्दम॒ आँ अ॒ग्निर्भु॑वद्रयि॒पती॑ रयी॒णाम् ॥

The man of love and initiative worthy of love, pure and purifying as fire, generous among people, worthy of choice, commanding loyalty, dedicated to yajna and social good, such a person should be given a prominent position among people. Man of peace and self-control, keeper and protector of the home, creator and protector of wealth, such a person shines as fire on top and commands the nation.

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1.60.5

तं त्वा॑ व॒यं पति॑मग्ने रयी॒णां प्र शं॑सामो म॒तिभि॒र्गोत॑मासः । आ॒शुं न वा॑जंभ॒रं म॒र्जय॑न्तः प्रा॒तर्म॒क्षू धि॒याव॑सुर्जगम्यात् ॥

Agni, lord of light and leader, Agni, lord creator and protector of the wealth of nations, instant in action, commanding speed and prosperity, we, men of the Divine Word, with all our mind and intelligence, with all the saints and the wise, cleansing, sanctifying and anointing you as leader, praise and celebrate you, and we pray that the lord of wealth and intelligence may come post-haste and bless us in the early morning.

✦ Sukta 61 · 16 verses ✦

1.61.1

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ प्र त॒वसे॑ तु॒राय॒ प्रयो॒ न ह॑र्मि॒ स्तोमं॒ माहि॑नाय । ऋची॑षमा॒याध्रि॑गव॒ ओह॒मिन्द्रा॑य॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि रा॒तत॑मा ॥

In honour of this lord Indra, mighty power, great leader, holy celebrity and commander of the brave, informidable to the enemies, I offer an excellent song of praise in adoration and holiest offerings of the most spontaneous and liberal homage.

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1.61.2

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ प्रय॑इव॒ प्र यं॑सि॒ भरा॑म्याङ्गू॒षं बाधे॑ सुवृ॒क्ति । इन्द्रा॑य हृ॒दा मन॑सा मनी॒षा प्र॒त्नाय॒ पत्ये॒ धियो॑ मर्जयन्त ॥

You offer to this Indra, lord of life and power, libations of homage and reverence like gifts of dainty food. So do I bear and offer to him songs of praise well- structured and formulaic modes of defence and protection against the enemies of humanity. Come ye all, cleanse your mind honestly by heart, mind and soul for Indra, ancient and eternal lord of life and light, and serve him.

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1.61.3

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ त्यमु॑प॒मं स्व॒र्षां भरा॑म्याङ्गू॒षमा॒स्ये॑न । मंहि॑ष्ठ॒मच्छो॑क्तिभिर्मती॒नां सु॑वृ॒क्तिभिः॑ सू॒रिं वा॑वृ॒धध्यै॑ ॥

For the sake of the advancement of Agni, the ruler, and of the people of knowledge and wisdom, I speak noble and powerfully persuasive words in support of this exemplary, generous, revered and magnanimous hero, a great man of wisdom and piety of conduct.

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1.61.4

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ स्तोमं॒ सं हि॑नोमि॒ रथं॒ न तष्टे॑व॒ तत्सि॑नाय । गिर॑श्च॒ गिर्वा॑हसे सुवृ॒क्तीन्द्रा॑य विश्वमि॒न्वं मेधि॑राय ॥

For this Indra, ruling lord of knowledge and power, master promoter of divine speech and veteran of wisdom, I create and float a song of praise of universal and persuasive purport and use words of discriminating wisdom to strengthen his power and control over the land and people just as an engineer creates a strong structure for the chassis of the master’s chariot.

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1.61.5

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ सप्ति॑मिव श्रव॒स्येन्द्रा॑या॒र्कं जु॒ह्वा॒३॒॑ सम॑ञ्जे । वी॒रं दा॒नौक॑सं व॒न्दध्यै॑ पु॒रां गू॒र्तश्र॑वसं द॒र्माण॑म् ॥

As a driver yokes the horse to the master’s chariot to drive him on, so, in honour of Indra and in order to celebrate and exalt him, the brave hero as he is, treasure home of charity and destroyer of enemy strongholds, whose fame rings far and wide, I compose a song in my own words and offer it as a libation to him with my own ladle in homage.

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1.61.6

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ त्वष्टा॑ तक्ष॒द्वज्रं॒ स्वप॑स्तमं स्व॒र्यं१॒॑ रणा॑य । वृ॒त्रस्य॑ चिद्वि॒दद्येन॒ मर्म॑ तु॒जन्नीशा॑नस्तुज॒ता कि॑ये॒धाः ॥

Let Tvashta, the Maker, design and form for this Indra, ruling Lord of power and defence, the thunderbolt of lightning force blazing for the battle so that he (Indra), striking with this fatal weapon, taking many enemies on, may reach the mortal centrespot of Vritra, the cloud of darkness and ignorance (and release the showers of rain and prosperity and the light of knowledge).

· · ·

1.61.7

अ॒स्येदु॑ मा॒तुः सव॑नेषु स॒द्यो म॒हः पि॒तुं प॑पि॒वाञ्चार्वन्ना॑ । मु॒षा॒यद्विष्णुः॑ पच॒तं सही॑या॒न्विध्य॑द्वरा॒हं ति॒रो अद्रि॒मस्ता॑ ॥

In the yajnic programmes of this Indra, lord of rule and power who measures everything to size, Vishnu, the great sun pervading everything with its light, drinks up the delicious holy foods prepared and sent up sanctified from the yajna, and then, challenging the mountainous cloud hoarding up the wealth of the same yajnic foods in the form of vapours, breaks up the cloud and throws it down (releasing the showers of rain).

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1.61.8

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ ग्नाश्चि॑द्दे॒वप॑त्नी॒रिन्द्रा॑या॒र्कम॑हि॒हत्य॑ ऊवुः । परि॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी ज॑भ्र उ॒र्वी नास्य॒ ते म॑हि॒मानं॒ परि॑ ष्टः ॥

For this Indra, blazing as the sun with light and grandeur, holy voices served and preserved by noble sages and scholars composed hymns of praise and offered homage to Indra on the break up of the cloud. Indra holds both the vast heaven and earth, but these two do not comprehend his grandeur and greatness (which exceeds heaven and earth both).

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1.61.9

अ॒स्येदे॒व प्र रि॑रिचे महि॒त्वं दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्याः पर्य॒न्तरि॑क्षात् । स्व॒राळिन्द्रो॒ दम॒ आ वि॒श्वगू॑र्तः स्व॒रिरम॑त्रो ववक्षे॒ रणा॑य ॥

Surely the greatness and grandeur of this Indra exceeds the heaven, skies and earth. The self-refulgent hero, universal warrior, brilliant and brave, infinitely strong and bold, resounds in the universe for battle against evil and negation.

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1.61.10

अ॒स्येदे॒व शव॑सा शु॒षन्तं॒ वि वृ॑श्च॒द्वज्रे॑ण वृ॒त्रमिन्द्रः॑ । गा न व्रा॒णा अ॒वनी॑रमुञ्चद॒भि श्रवो॑ दा॒वने॒ सचे॑ताः ॥

O lord of power and law, with the strength and rectitude of this Indra, the universal force of Divinity uproots the exploitative forces, just as the sun breaks down the cloud which holds up the rain and scorches the earth. And just as held up cows are released from the stalls, so the ruler releases the streams of life on the earth, enlightened hero as he is, who releases food and justice for the powers of generosity.

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1.61.11

अ॒स्येदु॑ त्वे॒षसा॑ रन्त॒ सिन्ध॑वः॒ परि॒ यद्वज्रे॑ण सी॒मय॑च्छत् । ई॒शा॒न॒कृद्दा॒शुषे॑ दश॒स्यन्तु॒र्वीत॑ये गा॒धं तु॒र्वणिः॑ कः ॥

By the might and splendour of this Indra, the rivers flow and seas roll at will since he gives the blow (to Vritra and releases the waters below). Ruler, controller, and giver of power and honour, instantly victorious, giving liberally to the generous, he creates firm standing ground for the speedy success of generosity all round.

· · ·

1.61.12

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ प्र भ॑रा॒ तूतु॑जानो वृ॒त्राय॒ वज्र॒मीशा॑नः किये॒धाः । गोर्न पर्व॒ वि र॑दा

तिर॒श्चेष्य॒न्नर्णां॑स्य॒पां च॒रध्यै॑ ॥

Indra, ruling lord of manifold power, fast and impetuous, wields the thunderbolt of sunrays for this Vritra, cloud of vapours and darkness, and releasing the waters for the streams to flow on earth, breaks the layers of vapours with the thunderbolt as lightning breaks things into pieces bit by bit.

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1.61.13

अ॒स्येदु॒ प्र ब्रू॑हि पू॒र्व्याणि॑ तु॒रस्य॒ कर्मा॑णि॒ नव्य॑ उ॒क्थैः । यु॒धे यदि॑ष्णा॒न आयु॑धान्यृघा॒यमा॑णो निरि॒णाति॒ शत्रू॑न् ॥

Sing and celebrate the old and new exploits of this fast and powerful Indra in songs of praise, Indra who, passionate and tempestuous, updating and wielding the weapons for battle, strikes and destroys the enemies.

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1.61.14

अ॒स्येदु॑ भि॒या गि॒रय॑श्च दृ॒ळ्हा द्यावा॑ च॒ भूमा॑ ज॒नुष॑स्तुजेते । उपो॑ वे॒नस्य॒ जोगु॑वान ओ॒णिं स॒द्यो भु॑वद्वी॒र्या॑य नो॒धाः ॥

By the power and holy fear of this omnipotent Indra, the mountains stay firm and fixed, and the heaven and earth and the people shake with awe. The leader, abiding in the protective shade of this intelligent and handsome power and chanting words of praise immediately rises and grows capable of great action.

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1.61.15

अ॒स्मा इदु॒ त्यदनु॑ दाय्येषा॒मेको॒ यद्व॒व्ने भूरे॒रीशा॑नः । प्रैत॑शं॒ सूर्ये॑ पस्पृधा॒नं सौव॑श्व्ये॒ सुष्वि॑माव॒दिन्द्रः॑ ॥

Indra, sole one lord of himself is the absolute ruler of many. Whatever he wills of these and commands, the same is rendered in reverence and obedience. And Indra himself advances and protects the hero of power and honour who, fighting for victory in the battle of horse, spurs on his steed in the direction of the sun.

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1.61.16

ए॒वा ते॑ हारियोजना सुवृ॒क्तीन्द्र॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ गोत॑मासो अक्रन् । ऐषु॑ वि॒श्वपे॑शसं॒ धियं॑ धाः प्रा॒तर्म॒क्षू धि॒याव॑सुर्जगम्यात् ॥

Indra, O Lord of sunbeams, these are the songs divine, purest and serene, offered by the highest souls of faith and vision. Bless these souls with universal brilliance of vision and intelligence, lord omniscient. Lord Omnificent, reveal your presence in our mind instantly with the light of the dawn.

✦ Sukta 62 · 13 verses ✦

1.62.1

प्र म॑न्महे शवसा॒नाय॑ शू॒षमा॑ङ्गू॒षं गिर्व॑णसे अङ्गिर॒स्वत् । सु॒वृ॒क्तिभिः॑ स्तुव॒त ऋ॑ग्मि॒यायार्चा॑मा॒र्कं नरे॒ विश्रु॑ताय ॥

With selected words of purity and pious deeds we offer songs of adoration to Indra, lord omnipotent, poet of Divine omniscience, universal object of worship, celebrated in the Rgveda, sole guide of humanity and celebrated in story all over the world, and we pray for strength and knowledge as for the very breath of life.

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1.62.2

प्र वो॑ म॒हे महि॒ नमो॑ भरध्वमाङ्गू॒ष्यं॑ शवसा॒नाय॒ साम॑ । येना॑ नः॒ पूर्वे॑ पि॒तरः॑ पद॒ज्ञा अर्च॑न्तो॒ अङ्गि॑रसो॒ गा अवि॑न्दन् ॥

All ye men and women of the world, bear and offer to Indra, great lord of strength and power, celebrative songs of adoration and holy offerings in Samans and hymns of knowledge and enlightenment, by virtue of which our ancient forefathers, who knew the life stages of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha and who were scholars of divine knowledge and worshippers of the Lord, received the gift of holy speech and universal knowledge.

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1.62.3

इन्द्र॒स्याङ्गि॑रसां चे॒ष्टौ वि॒दत्स॒रमा॒ तन॑याय धा॒सिम् । बृह॒स्पति॑र्भि॒नदद्रिं॑ विद॒द्गाः समु॒स्रिया॑भिर्वावशन्त॒ नरः॑ ॥

Just as a mother gives milk to the child, as Brihaspati, the sun, breaks the cloud with its rays and the light reaches the earth, so you, men and women of the world, in the yajna of Indra and the yajnic programmes of the scholars of science and society, shining and advancing like sun-rays, spread the light of knowledge and the joy of life.

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1.62.4

स सु॒ष्टुभा॒ स स्तु॒भा स॒प्त विप्रैः॑ स्व॒रेणाद्रिं॑ स्व॒र्यो॒३॒॑ नव॑ग्वैः । स॒र॒ण्युभिः॑ फलि॒गमि॑न्द्र शक्र व॒लं रवे॑ण दरयो॒ दश॑ग्वैः ॥

Just as the bright sun breaks the powerful clouds with its fresh, all embracing, all expansive, sustaining and sustained but resounding rays of light, similarly Indra, powerful ruler of the world, shining and resounding, with balanced and all-sustaining order, seven orders of the wise, his rolling voice, new and all expansive radiating powers and burning and roaring weapons, breaks down the thick and powerful clouds of darkness which hoard the system’s life and progress.

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1.62.5

गृ॒णा॒नो अङ्गि॑रोभिर्दस्म॒ वि व॑रु॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण॒ गोभि॒रन्धः॑ । वि भूम्या॑ अप्रथय इन्द्र॒ सानु॑ दि॒वो रज॒ उप॑रमस्तभायः ॥

Indra, lord of wondrous deeds, proclaiming his power and presence by the pranic energies of nature, the dawn, the sun and the sun-rays, dispels the darkness and creates the food for life and growth. He expands the earth and the hills and mountains of the earth and stabilizes the heights of the skies and the heavens. So should the ruler proclaim his power and presence dispelling the darkness of ignorance, injustice and poverty, create food and prosperity and thereby expand the character, power and potential of the land and stabilize the common wealth of humanity.

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1.62.6

तदु॒ प्रय॑क्षतममस्य॒ कर्म॑ द॒स्मस्य॒ चारु॑तममस्ति॒ दंसः॑ । उ॒प॒ह्व॒रे यदुप॑रा॒ अपि॑न्व॒न्मध्व॑र्णसो न॒द्य१॒॑श्चत॑स्रः ॥

The most charming act and the most admirable achievement of this lord Indra of wondrous deeds is that in the business of life on the earth all the streams and rivers and all the four directions of space are full and abundant with delicious waters and flow for all the people freely.

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1.62.7

द्वि॒ता वि व॑व्रे स॒नजा॒ सनी॑ळे अ॒यास्यः॒ स्तव॑मानेभिर॒र्कैः । भगो॒ न मेने॑ पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्नधा॑रय॒द्रोद॑सी सु॒दंसाः॑ ॥

Indra, valiant lord of infinite action, concealed and held and then revealed a duality of creation, two complementarities, both born of the same mother, Prakrti, and both coexistent and cooperative, both held by waves of energy (light and dark), both doing homage to the lord creator. He, Bhaga, lord of existence and master of materials, held the two in space as two co- workers, complementary like the sun holding heaven and earth and the skies in eternal space.

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1.62.8

स॒नाद्दिवं॒ परि॒ भूमा॒ विरू॑पे पुन॒र्भुवा॑ युव॒ती स्वेभि॒रेवैः॑ । कृ॒ष्णेभि॑र॒क्तोषा रुश॑द्भि॒र्वपु॑र्भि॒रा च॑रतो अ॒न्यान्या॑ ॥

Since time immemorial, from the same eternal cause, co-existent and cooperative from heaven to earth, the two complementarities of distinctive forms, night and day, both ever young and born again and again, move on and on by their own path together yet separately, the night in the forms of darkness and the day in the forms of light. Both move in and on serving the heaven and earth.

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1.62.9

सने॑मि स॒ख्यं स्व॑प॒स्यमा॑नः सू॒नुर्दा॑धार॒ शव॑सा सु॒दंसाः॑ । आ॒मासु॑ चिद्दधिषे प॒क्वम॒न्तः पयः॑ कृ॒ष्णासु॒ रुश॒द्रोहि॑णीषु ॥

Lord of the thunderbolt, eternal creator, master of wondrous actions, beatific in performance by his own might holds and maintains equality of company and cooperation between the light and the dark, raw and ripe, just as he holds the same herbal juice in the mature as well as the maturing vegetation and the same white milk in the white, dark and ruddy cows.

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1.62.10

स॒नात्सनी॑ळा अ॒वनी॑रवा॒ता व्र॒ता र॑क्षन्ते अ॒मृताः॒ सहो॑भिः । पु॒रू स॒हस्रा॒ जन॑यो॒ न पत्नी॑र्दुव॒स्यन्ति॒ स्वसा॑रो॒ अह्र॑याणम् ॥

Since time immemorial, born of the same cause, Prakrti, coexistent and cooperative, thousands of earths immortal in their own nature, undisturbed even by a breath of wind, observe the eternal laws of their existence with their innate powers. And as mothers nourish their child, wives love and serve their husbands, and sisters love and cooperate with their brothers, they do homage to the bold and intrepidable Indra.

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1.62.11

स॒ना॒युवो॒ नम॑सा॒ नव्यो॑ अ॒र्कैर्व॑सू॒यवो॑ म॒तयो॑ दस्म दद्रुः । पतिं॒ न पत्नी॑रुश॒तीरु॒शन्तं॑ स्पृ॒शन्ति॑ त्वा शवसावन्मनी॒षाः ॥

Indra, lord adorable of wondrous action, bright and generous, people of intelligence, faith and meditation, desirous of wealth and food for the body, mind and soul, lovers of yajna, rush to you offering gifts of homage with hymns of praise and prayer as loving wives in passion approach the loving husbands and feel immortalised by the beatific touch of your presence.

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1.62.12

स॒नादे॒व तव॒ रायो॒ गभ॑स्तौ॒ न क्षीय॑न्ते॒ नोप॑ दस्यन्ति दस्म । द्यु॒माँ अ॑सि॒ क्रतु॑माँ इन्द्र॒ धीरः॒ शिक्षा॑ शचीव॒स्तव॑ नः॒ शची॑भिः ॥

Since eternity, O lord of infinite light and generosity, the wealths in your open hand never decrease, never will they exhaust. You are the lord supreme of light and knowledge. You are the lord of omnipotence. You are the master of the dynamics of existence. You are calm and constant. You are the lord of kindness, favour and grace. Enlighten us with the light of knowledge. Bless us with your favours and grace.

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1.62.13

स॒ना॒य॒ते गोत॑म इन्द्र॒ नव्य॒मत॑क्ष॒द्ब्रह्म॑ हरि॒योज॑नाय । सु॒नी॒थाय॑ नः शवसान नो॒धाः प्रा॒तर्म॒क्षू धि॒याव॑सुर्जगम्यात् ॥

Indra, lord of omnipotence and infinite action, lord omnipresent of infinite motion, since eternity you are ever present just at hand. Nodha, the poet of constant adoration, Gotama, spirit of fastest thought and imagination, creates the latest songs of celebration in honour of you, lord of universal light and humanity, lord giver of infinite freedom and joy. May the lord of eternal wealth and joy, may the spirit of eternal vision and imagination be with us upon the instant with the light of the dawn.

✦ Sukta 63 · 9 verses ✦

1.63.1

त्वं म॒हाँ इ॑न्द्र॒ यो ह॒ शुष्मै॒र्द्यावा॑ जज्ञा॒नः पृ॑थि॒वी अमे॑ धाः । यद्ध॑ ते॒ विश्वा॑ गि॒रय॑श्चि॒दभ्वा॑ भि॒या दृ॒ळ्हासः॑ कि॒रणा॒ नैज॑न् ॥

Indra, lord omnipresent, great you are indeed who, manifest in creation, hold the heaven and earth in your power and law of omnipotence. It is by that eternal power and awe that all the mighty mountains and the impetuous rays of light do not deviate from their fixed course.

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1.63.2

आ यद्धरी॑ इन्द्र॒ विव्र॑ता॒ वेरा ते॒ वज्रं॑ जरि॒ता बा॒ह्वोर्धा॑त् । येना॑विहर्यतक्रतो अ॒मित्रा॒न्पुर॑ इ॒ष्णासि॑ पुरुहूत पू॒र्वीः ॥

Indra, lord almighty of immaculate action, universally invoked, when you deploy your forces of movement and advance, observing the rules and discipline of your universal law, your worshippers and admirers too hold in their arms the same thunderbolt of law by which you destroy the many strongholds of the enemies of life and humanity.

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1.63.3

त्वं स॒त्य इ॑न्द्र धृ॒ष्णुरे॒तान्त्वमृ॑भु॒क्षा नर्य॒स्त्वं षाट् । त्वं शुष्णं॑ वृ॒जने॑ पृ॒क्ष आ॒णौ यूने॒ कुत्सा॑य द्यु॒मते॒ सचा॑हन् ॥

Indra, you are ever true, constant destroyer of these negativities of life and nature. You are the protector and promoter of the wise artists and scientists. You are the leader and friend of humanity. You are ever patient and forbearing. In the great battles of unity and fulfilment, you eliminate want and drought for the sake of the young generation, bright and brave wielders of the force of the thunderbolt of plenty and righteousness.

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1.63.4

त्वं ह॒ त्यदि॑न्द्र चोदीः॒ सखा॑ वृ॒त्रं यद्व॑ज्रिन्वृषकर्मन्नु॒भ्नाः । यद्ध॑ शूर वृषमणः परा॒चैर्वि दस्यूँ॒र्योना॒वकृ॑तो वृथा॒षाट् ॥

You only, for sure, Indra, are the universal friend, wielder of the thunderbolt, and hero of vast operation who take on the cloud of darkness and want, overthrow the demon of want and darkness and shower the blessings of plenty and fulfilment and who, O brave one, generous at heart, by nature and instinct nip evil and wickedness in the bud itself.

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1.63.5

त्वं ह॒ त्यदि॒न्द्रारि॑षण्यन्दृ॒ळ्हस्य॑ चि॒न्मर्ता॑ना॒मजु॑ष्टौ । व्य१॒॑स्मदा काष्ठा॒ अर्व॑ते वर्घ॒नेव॑ वज्रिञ्छ्नथिह्य॒मित्रा॑न् ॥

Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, you surely are he who is unwilling to injure the strong and firm among humanity and the strong and stable system of the order. Fall like a hammer upon the disagreeables of humanity, fix them, and scatter the unfriendly as the sun scatters the clouds, and open the paths of advancement for progress in all directions.

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1.63.6

त्वां ह॒ त्यदि॒न्द्रार्ण॑सातौ॒ स्व॑र्मीळ्हे॒ नर॑ आ॒जा ह॑वन्ते । तव॑ स्वधाव इ॒यमा स॑म॒र्य ऊ॒तिर्वाजे॑ष्वत॒साय्या॑ भूत् ॥

In the tumult of the battles of the brave for victory and the showers of peace and joy, the leaders of humanity call upon you, Indra, to join the strife and win. Lord of innate wealth and power, may this help and protection of yours be available to us in our joint ventures and our battles for food, knowledge, science and social progress.

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1.63.7

त्वं ह॒ त्यदि॑न्द्र स॒प्त युध्य॒न्पुरो॑ वज्रिन्पुरु॒कुत्सा॑य दर्दः । ब॒र्हिर्न यत्सु॒दासे॒ वृथा॒ वर्गं॒हो रा॑ज॒न्वरि॑वः पू॒रवे॑ कः ॥

Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, ruler of the world, fighting seven evils and defending the seven-fold power of the order, you break down the strongholds of sin and crime for the sake of the generous and the many splendoured social order. Uproot the sin and crime like grass and deliver the wealth to the people for the sake of joy and fulfilment and take the order to the heights of the sky. (The sevenfold powers are: the council, councillors, president, army, commander, services and the people.)

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1.63.8

त्वं त्यां न॑ इन्द्र देव चि॒त्रामिष॒मापो॒ न पी॑पयः॒ परि॑ज्मन् । यया॑ शूर॒ प्रत्य॒स्मभ्यं॒ यंसि॒ त्मन॒मूर्जं॒ न वि॒श्वध॒ क्षर॑ध्यै ॥

Indra, brilliant lord of generosity, ever present and all protective, brave hero, ruler and holder of the world, like the flow of nature’s waters, let that various and wondrous energy, mind and means flow freely for us for the expression and fulfilment of our spiritual self by which you again and again direct and guide the conduct of our soul as well as the psychic flow of our energy.

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1.63.9

अका॑रि त इन्द्र॒ गोत॑मेभि॒र्ब्रह्मा॒ण्योक्ता॒ नम॑सा॒ हरि॑भ्याम् । सु॒पेश॑सं॒ वाज॒मा भ॑रा नः प्रा॒तर्म॒क्षू धि॒याव॑सुर्जगम्यात् ॥

Indra, lord of the world, by the most eminent sages of vision and intelligence, like fast motions of light rays for the sun, songs of homage have been presented with heart and soul with offerings of faith and reverence and sung for you. May the same lord of wealth and intelligence come to us and bless us with wondrous wealth of food, light and energy at the break of dawn.

✦ Sukta 64 · 15 verses ✦

1.64.1

वृष्णे॒ शर्धा॑य॒ सुम॑खाय वे॒धसे॒ नोधः॑ सुवृ॒क्तिं प्र भ॑रा म॒रुद्भ्यः॑ । अ॒पो न धीरो॒ मन॑सा सु॒हस्त्यो॒ गिरः॒ सम॑ञ्जे वि॒दथे॑ष्वा॒भुवः॑ ॥

Nodha, poet of vision and wisdom, come and sing a song of celebration in selected words of pure beauty for the generous, mighty and omniscient lord of universal yajna and in honour of the Maruts, divine energies of universal motion. Settled and constant, pure and fluent as waters, dexterous of hand in structure and form, with heart and soul I compose, adorn and chant holy voices revealed in meditation, presenting themselves as celebrants of the Lord.

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1.64.2

ते ज॑ज्ञिरे दि॒व ऋ॒ष्वास॑ उ॒क्षणो॑ रु॒द्रस्य॒ मर्या॒ असु॑रा अरे॒पसः॑ । पा॒व॒कासः॒ शुच॑यः॒ सूर्या॑इव॒ सत्वा॑नो॒ न द्र॒प्सिनो॑ घो॒रव॑र्पसः ॥

Those Maruts, waves of winds, children of the light of heaven, reveal the light of knowledge. Friends of humanity, they are the breath of Rudra, cosmic energy of prana, generous, inspiring, pure and unpolluted, pure and purifying, brilliant as sunbeams, replete with vitality, carrying particles of living energy, they are awful and sublime in form.

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1.64.3

युवा॑नो रु॒द्रा अ॒जरा॑ अभो॒ग्घनो॑ वव॒क्षुरध्रि॑गावः॒ पर्व॑ताइव । दृ॒ळ्हा चि॒द्विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि॒ पार्थि॑वा॒ प्र च्या॑वयन्ति दि॒व्यानि॑ म॒ज्मना॑ ॥

Fresh, powerful and ever young, dynamic catalytic energies, unaging, free from suffering and death, they grow and augment. Unseen and irresistible in motion, strong and steady as mountains, with their power and force they move everything on earth and in heaven and all the worlds in existence.

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1.64.4

चि॒त्रैर॒ञ्जिभि॒र्वपु॑षे॒ व्य॑ञ्जते॒ वक्षः॑सु रु॒क्माँ अधि॑ येतिरे शु॒भे । अंसे॑ष्वेषां॒ नि मि॑मृक्षुर्ऋ॒ष्टयः॑ सा॒कं ज॑ज्ञिरे स्व॒धया॑ दि॒वो नरः॑ ॥

In various colourful shapes they manifest and define themselves in beautiful forms of nature. They activate the heat and light of vitality in the body system. Their dynamic powers shine in the athletic shoulders of their favourite heroes. Life of heroic people, they arise and shine with their innate light and power from heaven itself.

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1.64.5

ई॒शा॒न॒कृतो॒ धुन॑यो रि॒शाद॑सो॒ वाता॑न्वि॒द्युत॒स्तवि॑षीभिरक्रत । दु॒हन्त्यूध॑र्दि॒व्यानि॒ धूत॑यो॒ भूमिं॑ पिन्वन्ति॒ पय॑सा॒ परि॑ज्रयः ॥

Creators and makers of ruling powers on earth, they are the movers and shakers of things and people. Destroyers of the destroyers, they generate winds and lightning with their blazing splendour. They distil the essence of energy from the celestial sources of nature and, vibrating every particle of matter and energy, they feed the earth with the nectar of vitality while they go round in spaces at their tempestuous speed.

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1.64.6

पिन्व॑न्त्य॒पो म॒रुतः॑ सु॒दान॑वः॒ पयो॑ घृ॒तव॑द्वि॒दथे॑ष्वा॒भुवः॑ । अत्यं॒ न मि॒हे वि न॑यन्ति वा॒जिन॒मुत्सं॑ दुहन्ति स्त॒नय॑न्त॒मक्षि॑तम् ॥

The generous Maruts, waves of cosmic energy, feed the vitality of waters. Instantly present at the yajnas of nature and humanity, as they radiate the ghrta across the spaces, so they feed and augment milk and juices from spaces. And for the sake of rain, like a horse in the reins, they rule the floating cloud and the lightning thunder and milk the cloud like a perennial spring for life.

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1.64.7

म॒हि॒षासो॑ मा॒यिन॑श्चि॒त्रभा॑नवो गि॒रयो॒ न स्वत॑वसो रघु॒ष्यदः॑ । मृ॒गाइ॑व ह॒स्तिनः॑ खादथा॒ वना॒ यदारु॑णीषु॒ तवि॑षी॒रयु॑ग्ध्वम् ॥

Mighty strong and strengthening, magical stimulators of intelligence and performance, various and versatile in heat and light, innately powerful and firmly rooted as mountains and inherently rich as clouds, the winds are impetuous in motion as the shooting deer and mighty as the elephants which destroy the forests. If you use these brilliant powers of light and winds in your fieriest forces of creation and defence you would destroy the destroyers and protect the beauties of life and nature and enjoy yourselves.

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1.64.8

सिं॒हाइ॑व नानदति॒ प्रचे॑तसः पि॒शाइ॑व सु॒पिशो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दसः । क्षपो॒ जिन्व॑न्तः॒ पृष॑तीभिर्ऋ॒ष्टिभिः॒ समित्स॒बाधः॒ शव॒साहि॑मन्यवः ॥

Like lions, the Maruts roar and proclaim the nature of nature (since, as waves of energy, they are in touch with everything in existence and hence know what it is). Powerful as they are possessed of minute particles of energy they possess the world and put you in touch with everything if you know them. Keeping everything in its own shape and order, coexistent with the clouds in their action of sun and shower, they vitalise the nights with the showers of their waves like mists. (If you know the Maruts, you know what they touch and proclaim.)

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1.64.9

रोद॑सी॒ आ व॑दता गणश्रियो॒ नृषा॑चः शूराः॒ शव॒साहि॑मन्यवः । आ व॒न्धुरे॑ष्व॒मति॒र्न द॑र्श॒ता वि॒द्युन्न त॑स्थौ मरुतो॒ रथे॑षु वः ॥

Maruts, scholars, soldiers, leaders of humanity, organised in graceful classes, friends of mankind, brave, breakers of the clouds, with your own power reach over earth and heaven, address them and proclaim of them. And may the Maruts, energies of winds, like lightning, electric energy, in beautiful body form, come and sit in the strong structure of your cars to take you over earth and heaven.

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1.64.10

वि॒श्ववे॑दसो र॒यिभिः॒ समो॑कसः॒ संमि॑श्लास॒स्तवि॑षीभिर्विर॒प्शिनः॑ । अस्ता॑र॒ इषुं॑ दधिरे॒ गभ॑स्त्योरन॒न्तशु॑ष्मा॒ वृष॑खादयो॒ नरः॑ ॥

Heroic men, mighty powers, cosmic energies, Maruts, voracious eaters, excellent and exuberant, who know and rule the world live together with all their wealth together, mix together in equal homes with all their light and power of the elements, hold immense strength in their hands, fix the arrow on the bow and shoot. They are the real men, the Maruts.

· · ·

1.64.11

हि॒र॒ण्यये॑भिः प॒विभिः॑ पयो॒वृध॒ उज्जि॑घ्नन्त आप॒थ्यो॒३॒॑ न पर्व॑तान् । म॒खा अ॒यासः॑ स्व॒सृतो॑ ध्रुव॒च्युतो॑ दुध्र॒कृतो॑ म॒रुतो॒ भ्राज॑दृष्टयः ॥

Maruts, creators and promoters of water, juice and milk, powers of cosmic yajna, advancing, self- driven, shakers of the fixed, makers of the firm, brandishing their burnishing steel, shatter the mountains and scatter the clouds like leaves on the pathways by the golden wheels of their chariots.

· · ·

1.64.12

घृषुं॑ पाव॒कं व॒निनं॒ विच॑र्षणिं रु॒द्रस्य॑ सू॒नुं ह॒वसा॑ गृणीमसि । र॒ज॒स्तुरं॑ त॒वसं॒ मारु॑तं ग॒णमृ॑जी॒षिणं॒ वृष॑णं सश्चत श्रि॒ये ॥

We invoke, praise and celebrate in song the band of Maruts, nature’s powers of grinding and crushing, purifying as fire with refinement, generous, ever active, children of Rudra, i.e., products of cosmic metabolism in the process of joining, disjoining, consuming and creating. You too love, study and serve the Maruts, most active energy of the universe, fiery and powerful, creative and collective forces which bestow the gifts of life on us. Do so for beauty, prosperity and grace.

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1.64.13

प्र नू स मर्तः॒ शव॑सा॒ जनाँ॒ अति॑ त॒स्थौ व॑ ऊ॒ती म॑रुतो॒ यमाव॑त । अर्व॑द्भि॒र्वाजं॑ भरते॒ धना॒ नृभि॑रा॒पृच्छ्यं॒ क्रतु॒मा क्षे॑ति॒ पुष्य॑ति ॥

O Maruts, surely that person soon surpasses other people with power and merit and settles whom you protect and promote with your favours. He achieves food, energy and success with the fastest means of movement and progress, gets the desired wealth for the asking with the people around, and collects and advances the wealth and beauty of yajnic life.

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1.64.14

च॒र्कृत्यं॑ मरुतः पृ॒त्सु दु॒ष्टरं॑ द्यु॒मन्तं॒ शुष्मं॑ म॒घव॑त्सु धत्तन । ध॒न॒स्पृत॑मु॒क्थ्यं॑ वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिं तो॒कं पु॑ष्येम॒ तन॑यं श॒तं हिमाः॑ ॥

O Maruts, heroes of the world, bear for us valour and virility of sustained value for work, strength and courage irresistible in battles, and brilliant excellence among people of power and honour. Bless us with a son and a grandson, winner of wealth and victory, worthy of praise and universally admirable, whom we may nurse, nourish, protect and promote for a hundred years to advance in life.

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1.64.15

नू ष्ठि॒रं म॑रुतो वी॒रव॑न्तमृती॒षाहं॑ र॒यिम॒स्मासु॑ धत्त । स॒ह॒स्रिणं॑ श॒तिनं॑ शूशु॒वांसं॑ प्रा॒तर्म॒क्षू धि॒याव॑सुर्जगम्यात् ॥

O Maruts, heroes of humanity fast as winds, bear among us stable wealth comprising most heroic youth who are ever felicitous and victorious, and happiness of a hundred fold and a thousandfold order. May the spirit of pious intelligence and wealth of mind and soul visit and bless us instantly with the light of dawn.

✦ Sukta 65 · 5 verses ✦

1.65.1

प॒श्वा न ता॒युं गुहा॒ चत॑न्तं॒ नमो॑ युजा॒नं नमो॒ वह॑न्तम् ॥ स॒जोषा॒ धीराः॑ प॒दैरनु॑ ग्म॒न्नुप॑ त्वा सीद॒न्विश्वे॒ यज॑त्राः ॥

Tracing and following the foot-prints of the animal, the master finds where the cattle carrier is hiding in the cave. So do all the yajakas, loving together and dedicated, patient and constant in their search, follow you, Agni, by yogaic stages and find you where you are hiding in the cave of the heart, creating and commanding food and energy, bearing and bestowing food and energy of life, and they sit close around you, preparing and feeding the fire, seeking and finding.

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1.65.2

ऋ॒तस्य॑ दे॒वा अनु॑ व्र॒ता गु॒र्भुव॒त्परि॑ष्टि॒र्द्यौर्न भूम॑ ॥ वर्ध॑न्ती॒मापः॑ प॒न्वा सुशि॑श्विमृ॒तस्य॒ योना॒ गर्भे॒ सुजा॑तम् ॥

Noble yajakas dedicate themselves to the Law of Truth in sacred vows. The search for Agni goes on. They augment the waters, exalt the earth and, with their noble actions, promote the agni born in the vedi at the centre of the womb of nature and the Laws of Divinity. And the earth grows bright and blest as heaven.

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1.65.3

पु॒ष्टिर्न र॒ण्वा क्षि॒तिर्न पृ॒थ्वी गि॒रिर्न भुज्म॒ क्षोदो॒ न शं॒भु ॥ अत्यो॒ नाज्म॒न्त्सर्ग॑प्रतक्तः॒ सिन्धु॒र्न क्षोदः॒ क ईं॑ वराते ॥

Delightful as the glow of health, vast and happy dwelling as earth, generous as a cloud, sanctifying as waters, fast as a flying horse in rapid motion, deep and rolling as the sea, who can stop it, just at hand as it is?

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1.65.4

जा॒मिः सिन्धू॑नां॒ भ्राते॑व॒ स्वस्रा॒मिभ्या॒न्न राजा॒ वना॑न्यत्ति ॥ यद्वात॑जूतो॒ वना॒ व्यस्था॑द॒ग्निर्ह॑ दाति॒ रोमा॑ पृथि॒व्याः ॥

It is a friend of the seas, dear as a brother of his sisters. It rules over the wealthy as over its attendants, and devours the forests. Driven by the winds, it abides in the waters, clouds and the sunbeams. And it is only Agni which matures and harvests the grasses and herbs of the earth.

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1.65.5

श्वसि॑त्य॒प्सु हं॒सो न सीद॒न् क्रत्वा॒ चेति॑ष्ठो वि॒शामु॑ष॒र्भुत् ॥ सोमो॒ न वे॒धा ऋ॒तप्र॑जातः प॒शुर्न शिश्वा॑ वि॒भुर्दू॒रेभाः॑ ॥

It breathes in the waters, vitalising them, playing with them like a swan. Most intelligent and wide-awake, it awakens the people at dawn with its light and yajnic action. Born of Divine Law and Truth of Nature, it is an inspirer and energiser like soma. Playful as a calf, it is omnipresent, shining far and wide.

✦ Sukta 66 · 5 verses ✦

1.66.1

र॒यिर्न चि॒त्रा सूरो॒ न सं॒दृगायु॒र्न प्रा॒णो नित्यो॒ न सू॒नुः ॥ तक्वा॒ न भूर्णि॒र्वना॑ सिषक्ति॒ पयो॒ न धे॒नुः शुचि॑र्वि॒भावा॑ ॥

Wondrous as wealth and beauty, illuminating as the sun, breath of energy as life itself, ever present and essentially constant as a son, restless as a falcon, abiding with the forests and sunbeams, a very mother cow, nourishing and life-giving as milk, it is pure and blazing, shining and revealing all.

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1.66.2

दा॒धार॒ क्षेम॒मोको॒ न र॒ण्वो यवो॒ न प॒क्वो जेता॒ जना॑नाम् ॥ ऋषि॒र्न स्तुभ्वा॑ वि॒क्षु प्र॑श॒स्तो वा॒जी न प्री॒तो वयो॑ दधाति ॥

It is the treasure of peace and welfare. Soothing as a home and food as barley, it is the winner of victories for humanity. Worthy of reverence as a seer, it is admired of people. It is worthy of admiration as a war-chariot and bears life, energy and long age for us.

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1.66.3

दु॒रोक॑शोचिः॒ क्रतु॒र्न नित्यो॑ जा॒येव॒ योना॒वरं॒ विश्व॑स्मै ॥ चि॒त्रो यदभ्रा॑ट्छ्वे॒तो न वि॒क्षु रथो॒ न रु॒क्मी त्वे॒षः सम॒त्सु॑ ॥

Lord of awful light for all places, eternal like the yajna of creation, beauty of the home like the wife, for all, wondrous of form and character that shines among people like the very sunlight, it is magnificent as a warrior’s chariot, blazing in battles with victory.

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1.66.4

सेने॑व सृ॒ष्टामं॑ दधा॒त्यस्तु॒र्न दि॒द्युत्त्वे॒षप्र॑तीका ॥ य॒मो ह॑ जा॒तो य॒मो जनि॑त्वं जा॒रः क॒नीनां॒ पति॒र्जनी॑नाम् ॥

Like an army sent up to advance in battle, it wields power and force. Like an electric missile of fire it is blazing and voracious, a symbol of light and fire. It is the guide, controller, and destiny of all that is born, and the guide, controller and destiny of all that is on way to life. It is the paramour of maidens and the protector of wives.

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1.66.5

तं व॑श्च॒राथा॑ व॒यं व॑स॒त्यास्तं॒ न गावो॒ नक्ष॑न्त इ॒द्धम् ॥ सिन्धु॒र्न क्षोदः॒ प्र नीची॑रैनो॒न्नव॑न्त॒ गावः॒ स्व१॒॑र्दृशी॑के ॥

Just as cows return to their stall, just as rays of the sun withdraw to the sun, just as streams and rivers flow down to the sea, so may we all, moving as well as settled people, attain to you, Agni, light of the sun, and the Lord Almighty.

✦ Sukta 67 · 5 verses ✦

1.67.1

वने॑षु जा॒युर्मर्ते॑षु मि॒त्रो वृ॑णी॒ते श्रु॒ष्टिं राजे॑वाजु॒र्यम् ॥ क्षेमो॒ न सा॒धुः क्रतु॒र्न भ॒द्रो भुव॑त्स्वा॒धीर्होता॑ हव्य॒वाट् ॥

Just as a ruler selects a young, unaging and enthusiastic worker, best of the desirable lot and friendliest among people, so does Agni select and bless a devotee for the divine mission of life’s yajna. May this Agni, Lord of yajna, Itself the giver and receiver, carrier of the fragrances across life and the world, immanent in forests and manifest in sunbeams, friendliest power among living beings, good like happiness incarnate, creative and blissful as yajna itself be our sustainer, protector and promoter in life and select us for the sacred mission of Divinity

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1.67.2

हस्ते॒ दधा॑नो नृ॒म्णा विश्वा॒न्यमे॑ दे॒वान्धा॒द्गुहा॑ नि॒षीद॑न् ॥ वि॒दन्ती॒मत्र॒ नरो॑ धियं॒धा हृ॒दा यत्त॒ष्टान्मन्त्राँ॒ अशं॑सन् ॥

People of faith and dedication, possessed of sacred intelligence who chant and meditate on mantras, divining into the secrets of nature and divinity with their heart and soul, come to know and realise here itself in actuality the presence and attributes of Agni which is immanent in the depth of the soul, reveals Itself, holding the wealths of the world for the devotees, and establishes the dedicated generous brilliancies in knowledge, power and wealth of the world and protects and promotes them in life.

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1.67.3

अ॒जो न क्षां दा॒धार॑ पृथि॒वीं त॒स्तम्भ॒ द्यां मन्त्रे॑भिः स॒त्यैः ॥ प्रि॒या प॒दानि॑ प॒श्वो नि पा॑हि वि॒श्वायु॑रग्ने गु॒हा गुहं॑ गाः ॥

The eternal lord of existence, Agni, light and life of the universe, holds the earth as He holds the sky and sustains heaven in space with true mantras of Rtam (which are identical with His thoughts and laws of nature). Agni, lord and spirit of the universe, deepest in the depth of the soul as you are, protect the steps of the growth of the soul’s vision of divinity, guard them against the violence and vulgarity of brute force.

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1.67.4

य ईं॑ चि॒केत॒ गुहा॒ भव॑न्त॒मा यः स॒साद॒ धारा॑मृ॒तस्य॑ ॥ वि ये चृ॒तन्त्यृ॒ता सप॑न्त॒ आदिद्वसू॑नि॒ प्र व॑वाचास्मै ॥

One who knows Agni existent in the cave of the heart, takes the shower in the stream of Truth and life flowing from Divinity. Those who tie the knot with the presence, serve It and shine the path of realisation along the steps, to them Agni reveals the secrets of the wealths of life and light of the Spirit.

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1.67.5

वि यो वी॒रुत्सु॒ रोध॑न्महि॒त्वोत प्र॒जा उ॒त प्र॒सूष्व॒न्तः ॥ चित्ति॑र॒पां दमे॑ वि॒श्वायुः॒ सद्मे॑व॒ धीराः॑ सं॒माय॑ चक्रुः ॥

Agni, that universal spirit and energy of life which manifests in form and measure in the shoots that come forth in the herbs and trees and in the child in the womb of the mother, that superconsciousness, the realised souls experience when they have collected their consciousness as if behind closed doors, when even the motion of their pranas has been stilled. (The energy of life which is the heat, vitality and glow of health in life forms, which is universally active, the scientists and yogis realise in a state of total concentration.)

✦ Sukta 68 · 5 verses ✦

1.68.1

श्री॒णन्नुप॑ स्था॒द्दिवं॑ भुर॒ण्युः स्था॒तुश्च॒रथ॑म॒क्तून्व्यू॑र्णोत् ॥ परि॒ यदे॑षा॒मेको॒ विश्वे॑षां॒ भुव॑द्दे॒वो दे॒वानां॑ महि॒त्वा ॥

The blazing, vibrating, ripening, perfecting power and energy of the Lord, Agni, that sustains and beautifies the world pervades and abides by the moving and non-moving forms of existence and covers as well as brightens and defines the day and night with His presence. He is the sole one lord and light of all the brilliancies of the universe by virtue of His own might.

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1.68.2

आदित्ते॒ विश्वे॒ क्रतुं॑ जुषन्त॒ शुष्का॒द्यद्दे॑व जी॒वो जनि॑ष्ठाः ॥ भज॑न्त॒ विश्वे॑ देव॒त्वं नाम॑ ऋ॒तं सप॑न्तो अ॒मृत॒मेवैः॑ ॥

Brilliant lord of existence, most generative support of life-force arising from dry sources of energy, all the brilliancies of the universe join your sacred act of creation. All of them worship your divinity in truth and faith. All of them with all their manners, customs, rituals, in short with every motion of their thought and body, do homage to your laws of existence and your immortal presence.

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1.68.3

ऋ॒तस्य॒ प्रेषा॑ ऋ॒तस्य॑ धी॒तिर्वि॒श्वायु॒र्विश्वे॒ अपां॑सि चक्रुः ॥ यस्तुभ्यं॒ दाशा॒द्यो वा॑ ते॒ शिक्षा॒त्तस्मै॑ चिकि॒त्वान्र॒यिं द॑यस्व ॥

Agni, first impulse of creative intelligence, wielder of the laws of Truth and laws of evolution, life of the universe, all the forces of existence do your bidding and perform their action. Lord all percipient and omniscient, whosoever be intelligent and give away charity in homage to you or learn from your eternal Word and universal acts, bless him/her with the wealth of the world.

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1.68.4

होता॒ निष॑त्तो॒ मनो॒रप॑त्ये॒ स चि॒न्न्वा॑सां॒ पती॑ रयी॒णाम् ॥ इ॒च्छन्त॒ रेतो॑ मि॒थस्त॒नूषु॒ सं जा॑नत॒ स्वैर्दक्षै॒रमू॑राः ॥

Lord of light, high-priest of the cosmic yajna of creation and generation, receiver of oblations and creator and begetter of blessings, immanently seated in humanity, Agni is the lord ruler and controller of these wealths of life, and its yajnic creations. Ye men and women of intelligence and generative science mutually desirous of creative energy and fertility together in your body system, know the science of generative yajna with your knowledge, education and expertise.

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1.68.5

पि॒तुर्न पु॒त्राः क्रतुं॑ जुषन्त॒ श्रोष॒न्ये अ॑स्य॒ शासं॑ तु॒रासः॑ ॥ वि राय॑ और्णो॒द्दुरः॑ पुरु॒क्षुः पि॒पेश॒ नाकं॒ स्तृभि॒र्दमू॑नाः ॥

If men of genius and action were to dedicate themselves to yajna and listen to the divine voice and obey the discipline and command of this divine Agni as children listen to the father and do his behest, then the omnificent Lord of wealth and omnipotence would bless them with showers of wealth and open the beautiful doors of heaven and happiness to them.

✦ Sukta 69 · 5 verses ✦

1.69.1

शु॒क्रः शु॑शु॒क्वाँ उ॒षो न जा॒रः प॒प्रा स॑मी॒ची दि॒वो न ज्योतिः॑ ॥ परि॒ प्रजा॑तः॒ क्रत्वा॑ बभूथ॒ भुवो॑ दे॒वानां॑ पि॒ता पु॒त्रः सन् ॥

Bright and blazing, pure and purifying as the sun, lover of the dawn, filling both earth and heaven like the light of the sun, Agni, emerging and rising, shines over all with its light and power, being both generator and generated of the divinities of the earth.

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1.69.2

वे॒धा अदृ॑प्तो अ॒ग्निर्वि॑जा॒नन्नूध॒र्न गोनां॒ स्वाद्मा॑ पितू॒नाम् ॥ जने॒ न शेव॑ आ॒हूर्यः॒ सन्मध्ये॒ निष॑त्तो र॒ण्वो दु॑रो॒णे ॥

Lord of light and intelligence, free from pride and infatuation, knower of right and wrong, light and dark, generous as cow’s udders overflowing with milk, Agni ripens and sweetens the food of life. Like a benefactor of humanity, worthy of invocation and invitation, sanctified in the middle of the home, it adds to the delight of the family.

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1.69.3

पु॒त्रो न जा॒तो र॒ण्वो दु॑रो॒णे वा॒जी न प्री॒तो विशो॒ वि ता॑रीत् ॥ विशो॒ यदह्वे॒ नृभिः॒ सनी॑ळा अ॒ग्निर्दे॑व॒त्वा विश्वा॑न्यश्याः ॥

Rising like a darling son, delight of the home, beautiful and joyous as a horse,Agni takes people across the hurdles of life. To whatever creative and productive yajnic programmes people invite and invoke Agni, It joins the people with Its light and divinity of power and blesses them with all the wealths of life.

· · ·

1.69.4

नकि॑ष्ट ए॒ता व्र॒ता मि॑नन्ति॒ नृभ्यो॒ यदे॒भ्यः श्रु॒ष्टिं च॒कर्थ॑ ॥ तत्तु ते॒ दंसो॒ यदह॑न्त्समा॒नैर्नृभि॒र्यद्यु॒क्तो वि॒वे रपां॑सि ॥

Agni, none of these people violate your laws and discipline since you do good to them, for them. Agni, Lord of light and life, it is your grand act of generosity that you, joining with people of equality, repair their infirmities and ward off their sins without doing violence to anyone or anything.

· · ·

1.69.5

उ॒षो न जा॒रो वि॒भावो॒स्रः संज्ञा॑तरूप॒श्चिके॑तदस्मै ॥ त्मना॒ वह॑न्तो॒ दुरो॒ व्यृ॑ण्व॒न्नव॑न्त॒ विश्वे॒ स्व१॒॑र्दृशी॑के ॥

Agni, bright and blazing like the sun, lover of the dawn, is the dispeller of darkness like the first ray of morning light and reveals the beauteous forms of things, opening the doors of yajna, and destroys suffering. Carrying gifts of homage for it with their heart and soul in every noble act of yajna, let all the people know It and bow to it.

✦ Sukta 70 · 6 verses ✦

1.70.1

व॒नेम॑ पू॒र्वीर॒र्यो म॑नी॒षा अ॒ग्निः सु॒शोको॒ विश्वा॑न्यश्याः ॥ आ दैव्या॑नि व्र॒ता चि॑कि॒त्वाना मानु॑षस्य॒ जन॑स्य॒ जन्म॑ ॥

We, ancient people, with our heart and soul honour and worship Agni, Lord of universal wealth and power, brilliant and blazing Divinity, who knows, pervades, reaches and controls all the divine laws and rules of the world and the origin, birth and history of all the people and nations.

· · ·

1.70.2

गर्भो॒ यो अ॒पां गर्भो॒ वना॑नां॒ गर्भ॑श्च स्था॒तां गर्भ॑श्च॒रथा॑म् ॥ अद्रौ॑ चिदस्मा अ॒न्तर्दु॑रो॒णे वि॒शां न विश्वो॑ अ॒मृतः॑ स्वा॒धीः ॥

Agni abides at the heart of the waters and the pranic energies of the universe. It is at the heart of forests, sunbeams and all the lovely and beloved beauties of the world. It is at the heart of all that is still and all that moves. It abides in the cloud and in the mountain and it is the centre of the homes of people. Universal, immortal, free and absolute, it is the very life and ruler of everything in nature as it is the life and ruler of all the people for their sake only.

· · ·

1.70.3

स हि क्ष॒पावाँ॑ अ॒ग्नी र॑यी॒णां दाश॒द्यो अ॑स्मा॒ अरं॑ सू॒क्तैः ॥ ए॒ता चि॑कित्वो॒ भूमा॒ नि पा॑हि दे॒वानां॒ जन्म॒ मर्तां॑श्च वि॒द्वान् ॥

That Agni is the lord of night and day. It is the giver of wealth and power in ample measure for anyone who adores it with hymns of divinity. It is aware of all, knows the manifestations and operations of all the divinities of nature, and it knows all that are mortal. Lord of knowledge, wealth and power, protect and promote all these children of nature and the earth.

· · ·

1.70.4

वर्धा॒न्यं पू॒र्वीः क्ष॒पो विरू॑पाः स्था॒तुश्च॒ रथ॑मृ॒तप्र॑वीतम् ॥ अरा॑धि॒ होता॒ स्व१॒॑र्निष॑त्तः कृ॒ण्वन्विश्वा॒न्यपां॑सि स॒त्या ॥

The nights and days of various hues and forms since time immemorial serve this Agni born of constant Prakrti inspired and energised by the Divine Laws of Rtam, which is the delight and impeller of all that is still and on the move. Let the man of the yajna of science and research study and advance the knowledge of this Agni abiding in light and the sun, doing all the real actions and operations of the natural world.

· · ·

1.70.5

गोषु॒ प्रश॑स्तिं॒ वने॑षु धिषे॒ भर॑न्त॒ विश्वे॑ ब॒लिं स्व॑र्णः ॥ वि त्वा॒ नरः॑ पुरु॒त्रा स॑पर्यन्पि॒तुर्न जिव्रे॒र्वि वेदो॑ भरन्त ॥

Agni, lord sustainer of life and the world, you in-vest the cows and forests and the earth and sunbeams with excellence of quality, virtue and wealth. May all powers of nature and humanity bear and bring joy for us. May all people doing homage to you in various ways receive from you and bear and advance knowledge like children receiving patrimony from the parents.

· · ·

1.70.6

सा॒धुर्न गृ॒ध्नुरस्ते॑व॒ शूरो॒ याते॑व भी॒मस्त्वे॒षः स॒मत्सु॑ ॥

Immensely loving, generous and venerable as a saint, heroic like a brave archer, terrible like the dispenser of punishment, and blazing and brilliant in the battles of life: such is Agni, light, life and might of the world.

✦ Sukta 71 · 10 verses ✦

1.71.1

उप॒ प्र जि॑न्वन्नुश॒तीरु॒शन्तं॒ पतिं॒ न नित्यं॒ जन॑यः॒ सनी॑ळाः । स्वसा॑रः॒ श्यावी॒मरु॑षीमजुष्रञ्चि॒त्रमु॒च्छन्ती॑मु॒षसं॒ न गावः॑ ॥

Like married women in a state of love and desire meeting the loving husband for the joy of living, like cows of the same stall going up and out to welcome and feel the sallow, ruddy, wonderful and brilliant dawn, harbinger of light, for a fresh lease of life, let all the people together in love and faith always worship the wondrous, loving protector, Agni, eternal father, for a fresh lease of life and the joy of living.

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1.71.2

वी॒ळु चि॑द्दृ॒ळ्हा पि॒तरो॑ न उ॒क्थैरद्रिं॑ रुज॒न्नङ्गि॑रसो॒ रवे॑ण । च॒क्रुर्दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तो गा॒तुम॒स्मे अहः॒ स्व॑र्विविदुः के॒तुमु॒स्राः ॥

Our forefathers sustain our strength and constancy. The Angirasas, sustainers of life, the winds, and our fathers with Veda-mantras, break the cloud for us with the voice of thunder. They create the path to the vast heaven and

the space and show us the way to rise to the sun. They know the light of the dawn, the brilliance of the day and the bliss of heaven. They give us the light, the day and the bliss and vest us with an identity of splendour, a banner of recognition and a ruler and the law.

· · ·

1.71.3

दध॑न्नृ॒तं ध॒नय॑न्नस्य धी॒तिमादिद॒र्यो दि॑धि॒ष्वो॒३॒॑ विभृ॑त्राः । अतृ॑ष्यन्तीर॒पसो॑ य॒न्त्यच्छा॑ दे॒वाञ्जन्म॒ प्रय॑सा व॒र्धय॑न्तीः ॥

Holding on to Truth and Dharma, wielding the knowledge and power of Agni, lord of light, then possessing wealth as the Vaishyas, giving nourishment and help without thirst or selfishness, doing good acts with generosity of giving food and social service and promoting nobilities, specially children, the people and specially Brahmacharinis move on in life with grace.

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1.71.4

मथी॒द्यदीं॒ विभृ॑तो मात॒रिश्वा॑ गृ॒हेगृ॑हे श्ये॒तो जेन्यो॒ भूत् । आदीं॒ राज्ञे॒ न सही॑यसे॒ सचा॒ सन्ना दू॒त्यं१॒॑ भृग॑वाणो विवाय ॥

If the wind, bearing the wealth of agni, and others were to churn out and produce fire and electricity which then emerges bright and victorious in every home, then the scholars of science would refine and develop it for the purpose of communication and transport and use it as ambassador for the grand ruling power and order of the society between one people and another in friendship.

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1.71.5

म॒हे यत्पि॒त्र ईं॒ रसं॑ दि॒वे करव॑ त्सरत्पृश॒न्य॑श्चिकि॒त्वान् । सृ॒जदस्ता॑ धृष॒ता दि॒द्युम॑स्मै॒ स्वायां॑ दे॒वो दु॑हि॒तरि॒ त्विषिं॑ धात् ॥

It is the sun, self-refulgent giver of comfort and bliss, reaching all with its rays, knowing all and revealing all, who creates the nectar of life for the great fatherly lord of heaven, Agni, who radiates light like a mighty hero of the bow shooting arrows for the purpose of humanity, and who vests the light and splendour of the morning in its daughter, the dawn, dispelling the darkness. Who can get away from it or steal the light? None.

· · ·

1.71.6

स्व आ यस्तुभ्यं॒ दम॒ आ वि॒भाति॒ नमो॑ वा॒ दाशा॑दुश॒तो अनु॒ द्यून् । वर्धो॑ अग्ने॒ वयो॑ अस्य द्वि॒बर्हा॒ यास॑द्रा॒या स॒रथं॒ यं जु॒नासि॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, who ever lights the fire in the home in the vedi, whoever in fervent love and faith offers food and reverence in yajna every day, you, giver of twofold advancement in knowledge and valour, grant him full age of honour and glory. Who ever you inspire and send up to battle of the chariot, you bless with the all-round wealth of life.

· · ·

1.71.7

अ॒ग्निं विश्वा॑ अ॒भि पृक्षः॑ सचन्ते समु॒द्रं न स्र॒वतः॑ स॒प्त य॒ह्वीः । न जा॒मिभि॒र्वि चि॑किते॒ वयो॑ नो वि॒दा दे॒वेषु॒ प्रम॑तिं चिकि॒त्वान् ॥

All foods, all that move and ripen go to Agni like the seven restless streams heading to the sea. The web of our life is incomprehensible to those on the move. May the Lord of Omniscience direct our will and intelligence and establish us among the wise and the brilliant sages of vision.

· · ·

1.71.8

आ यदि॒षे नृ॒पतिं॒ तेज॒ आन॒ट्छुचि॒ रेतो॒ निषि॑क्तं॒ द्यौर॒भीके॑ । अ॒ग्निः शर्ध॑मनव॒द्यं युवा॑नं स्वा॒ध्यं॑ जनयत्सू॒दय॑च्च ॥

When pure light and lustre, living and sanctified, come to the ruling soul for the fulfilment of desire and perfection, then Agni creates the strong, praiseworthy, healthy and self-dependent youth, perfects and guides him in the battle of life.

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1.71.9

मनो॒ न योऽध्व॑नः स॒द्य एत्येकः॑ स॒त्रा सूरो॒ वस्व॑ ईशे । राजा॑ना मि॒त्रावरु॑णा सुपा॒णी गोषु॑ प्रि॒यम॒मृतं॒ रक्ष॑माणा ॥

The sun that instantly goes on its course in orbit all by itself as at the speed of mind and rules over all the Vasus, and Mitra and Varuna, brilliant powers of universal love and justice of the Divine with hands of generosity, which protect and promote the cherished immortal values of life on earths as milk in the cows: all this is the gift of Agni.

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1.71.10

मा नो॑ अग्ने स॒ख्या पित्र्या॑णि॒ प्र म॑र्षिष्ठा अ॒भि वि॒दुष्क॒विः सन् । नभो॒ न रू॒पं ज॑रि॒मा मि॑नाति पु॒रा तस्या॑ अ॒भिश॑स्ते॒रधी॑हि ॥

Agni, lord giver and protector of life, let not our ancestral values of love and friendship be destroyed, all-knowing and visionary creator as you are. Old age destroys the health and beauty of life as the cloud covers and hides the sun and sky. Lord protector and preserver, come before the onslaught of that, stop that and help us preserve ourselves.

✦ Sukta 72 · 10 verses ✦

1.72.1

नि काव्या॑ वे॒धसः॒ शश्व॑तस्क॒र्हस्ते॒ दधा॑नो॒ नर्या॑ पु॒रूणि॑ । अ॒ग्निर्भु॑वद्रयि॒पती॑ रयी॒णां स॒त्रा च॑क्रा॒णो अ॒मृता॑नि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

Agni, the man of faith and devotee of Agni, lord of life, light and wealth of existence, holding in hand the many hymns of the poetry of the eternal poet of omniscience, all-time beneficial to humanity, observing the rules of Dharma, and doing all the essential acts of immortal value becomes the highest master of the wealths of life and existence.

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1.72.2

अ॒स्मे व॒त्सं परि॒ षन्तं॒ न वि॑न्दन्नि॒च्छन्तो॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒मृता॒ अमू॑राः । श्र॒म॒युवः॑ पद॒व्यो॑ धियं॒धास्त॒स्थुः प॒दे प॑र॒मे चार्व॒ग्नेः ॥

People ordinarily do not attain to our darling Agni, immanent and transcendent lord of existence. But all the immortal souls, men of divine intelligence dedicated to divine love, relentlessly following the paths of Divinity, holding on to piety of faith in reason and passion both, reach and abide in the beatific state of supreme bliss in Agni’s direct presence.

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1.72.3

ति॒स्रो यद॑ग्ने श॒रद॒स्त्वामिच्छुचिं॑ घृ॒तेन॒ शुच॑यः सप॒र्यान् । नामा॑नि चिद्दधिरे य॒ज्ञिया॒न्यसू॑दयन्त त॒न्वः१॒॑ सुजा॑ताः ॥

Agni, lord of light and cosmic yajna of evolution, those people of pure and dedicated soul who serve you, lord of purity, for three years with oblations of ghrta in yajna would justify their name with fame and yajnic karma and also perfect their physical existence in perfect bodies reborn in happy and enlightened homes.

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1.72.4

आ रोद॑सी बृह॒ती वेवि॑दानाः॒ प्र रु॒द्रिया॑ जभ्रिरे य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । वि॒दन्मर्तो॑ ने॒मधि॑ता चिकि॒त्वान॒ग्निं प॒दे प॑र॒मे त॑स्थि॒वांस॑म् ॥

Dedicated yajnic souls, lovers of Rudra pranas and devotees of Rudra, lord of justice and dispensation of karma, know, reach and replenish the vast heaven and earth with the fragrance of yajna. Such a man in mortal body finds the objects of his desire and, rising to divine knowledge, attains to the beatific vision of Agni abiding in the highest state of man’s spiritual experience.

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1.72.5

सं॒जा॒ना॒ना उप॑ सीदन्नभि॒ज्ञु पत्नी॑वन्तो नम॒स्यं॑ नमस्यन् । रि॒रि॒क्वांस॑स्त॒न्वः॑ कृण्वत॒ स्वाः सखा॒ सख्यु॑र्नि॒मिषि॒ रक्ष॑माणाः ॥

Knowing well the science of yajna, let men of yajna with their wives sit on their knees doing homage to the adorable Agni and to others, parents, teachers and seniors. Men of purity, they would be purifying their own bodies, and they would abide as friends protecting each other in yajnic action and protected by yajna every moment of their life.

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1.72.6

त्रिः स॒प्त यद्गुह्या॑नि॒ त्वे इत्प॒दावि॑द॒न्निहि॑ता य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । तेभी॑ रक्षन्ते अ॒मृतं॑ स॒जोषाः॑ प॒शूञ्च॑ स्था॒तॄञ्च॒रथं॑ च पाहि ॥

Agni, lord of life and positive living, those devotees established in you and dedicated to yajna, who know and achieve the thrice-seven deep and secret stages of yajna and abide therein, protect and preserve thereby the immortal wealth of life. Lovers of yajna and the yajnics, protect and promote all movable and immovable wealth of life, humans and animals all. (According to Swami Dayanand the thrice-seven are: reading, reflection and meditation across the four Vedas, knowledge, practice and industry through Dharma, universal values of life, Artha, economic and social achievement, Kama, love and emotional fulfilment, and Moksha, ultimate freedom. Another way to explain it is to refer to the threefold meaning of yajna: reverence and worship, socialisation and social service, and charity including protection and replenishment of the environment, and then apply those to the seven stages of existence: Bhuh, Bhuvah, Swah, Maha, Janah, Tapah and Satyam. This mystique of yajna is described in detail in the Brahmana works on the Veda and briefly in the Upanishads, Katha and Chhandogya specially.)

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1.72.7

वि॒द्वाँ अ॑ग्ने व॒युना॑नि क्षिती॒नां व्या॑नु॒षक्छु॒रुधो॑ जी॒वसे॑ धाः । अ॒न्त॒र्वि॒द्वाँ अध्व॑नो देव॒याना॒नत॑न्द्रो दू॒तो अ॑भवो हवि॒र्वाट् ॥

Agni, lord omniscient of the sciences and ways of the world, you continuously provide nourishing foods, healing herbs and means of comfort for the life and sustenance of the children of the earth. You know the divine paths of spiritual evolution between earth and heaven. Pray, be the harbinger of holy fragrance of Divinity like a prophet for us without relent or delay

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1.72.8

स्वा॒ध्यो॑ दि॒व आ स॒प्त य॒ह्वी रा॒यो दुरो॒ व्यृ॑त॒ज्ञा अ॑जानन् । वि॒दद्गव्यं॑ स॒रमा॑ दृ॒ळ्हमू॒र्वं येना॒ नु कं॒ मानु॑षी॒ भोज॑ते॒ विट् ॥

Men of noble thought and action, who know the seven streams of light flowing from heaven, who know the paths of Divine truth and spiritual evolution, who know the celestial doors of existential wealth and divine bliss, realise and bring to the earth all good for the cows, for the mind and senses, message of knowledge, strength and constancy, and immunity against suffering, virtues by which the human community enjoys peace, health and comfort in life.

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1.72.9

आ ये विश्वा॑ स्वप॒त्यानि॑ त॒स्थुः कृ॑ण्वा॒नासो॑ अमृत॒त्वाय॑ गा॒तुम् । म॒ह्ना म॒हद्भिः॑ पृथि॒वी वि त॑स्थे मा॒ता पु॒त्रैरदि॑ति॒र्धाय॑से॒ वेः ॥

Just as all parents abide by their children, men of noble action abide by the way of knowledge and virtue for the attainment of the nectar of salvation, the earth abides by her children with her great virtues and universal generosity, the mother abides by her children, the vast heaven abides for the support of her creations, and the sun light abides by the birds, so do I abide with life for the sake of good actions in the yajna of life.

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1.72.10

अधि॒ श्रियं॒ नि द॑धु॒श्चारु॑मस्मिन्दि॒वो यद॒क्षी अ॒मृता॒ अकृ॑ण्वन् । अध॑ क्षरन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वो॒ न सृ॒ष्टाः प्र नीची॑रग्ने॒ अरु॑षीरजानन् ॥

The Immortals, realised souls with the vision of Divinity, create the beauty of knowledge, honour and happiness here on earth itself as if the light of heaven is blessing the world with its benign eyes through the divinity of Agni. Agni, like streams released from the waters of space flowing on the earth and blessing it with joy, the rays of light and flames of fire: all constantly revitalise humanity like the light of the dawn resurrecting life and nature after the cover of darkness.

✦ Sukta 73 · 10 verses ✦

1.73.1

र॒यिर्न यः पि॑तृवि॒त्तो व॑यो॒धाः सु॒प्रणी॑तिश्चिकि॒तुषो॒ न शासुः॑ । स्यो॒न॒शीरति॑थि॒र्न प्री॑णा॒नो होते॑व॒ सद्म॑ विध॒तो वि ता॑रीत् ॥

Agni is young and fresh, a philanthropist like a noble heir to the knowledge, power and wealth of ancestors, a controller and disciplinarian with policy like the noble and benevolent policy and orders of the wise, pleasing and blissful like a wise and learned guest enjoying liberal hospitality, and one who helps you cross over the seas of life like a priest conducting the yajna in the house of the yajamana.

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1.73.2

दे॒वो न यः स॑वि॒ता स॒त्यम॑न्मा॒ क्रत्वा॑ नि॒पाति॑ वृ॒जना॑नि॒ विश्वा॑ । पु॒रु॒प्र॒श॒स्तो अ॒मति॒र्न स॒त्य आ॒त्मेव॒ शेवो॑ दिधि॒षाय्यो॑ भूत् ॥

Protector and promoter of truth like the bright sun, he saves from sin and evil and defends and augments all the strength and powers of humanity. Highly praised and revered like light and beauty, he knows the essences of things and traverses the right paths of life. He is kind and helpful like the very soul of the community, and like the conscience of the people he wields, supports and commands the nation in every respect. Such is the ruler.

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1.73.3

दे॒वो न यः पृ॑थि॒वीं वि॒श्वधा॑या उप॒क्षेति॑ हि॒तमि॑त्रो॒ न राजा॑ । पु॒रः॒सदः॑ शर्म॒सदो॒ न वी॒रा अ॑नव॒द्या पति॑जुष्टेव॒ नारी॑ ॥

Holding the world like the brilliant sun, ruling over the heart like a sincere friend, he closely abides by the earth. The people of the state live together in unison like young and brave children of the house living together in a blessed home. The women are pure and worthy of praise like wives dedicated to the husband. Such is the leader.

· · ·

1.73.4

तं त्वा॒ नरो॒ दम॒ आ नित्य॑मि॒द्धमग्ने॒ सच॑न्त क्षि॒तिषु॑ ध्रु॒वासु॑ । अधि॑ द्यु॒म्नं नि द॑धु॒र्भूर्य॑स्मि॒न्भवा॑ वि॒श्वायु॑र्ध॒रुणो॑ रयी॒णाम् ॥

Agni, such as you are, people serve you, lighting you every day in the home in the land of peace and stability and winning ample knowledge and power, wealth and honour. Lord of universal energy, life of the world, be the treasure home and giver of the wealths of existence for all in this life in this world.

· · ·

1.73.5

वि पृक्षो॑ अग्ने म॒घवा॑नो अश्यु॒र्वि सू॒रयो॒ दद॑तो॒ विश्व॒मायुः॑ । स॒नेम॒ वाजं॑ समि॒थेष्व॒र्यो भा॒गं दे॒वेषु॒ श्रव॑से॒ दधा॑नाः ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, may the men of wealth and power be blest with abundance of food and energy. May the brilliant men of knowledge, generous teachers, be blest with long and full age and good health. May the people engaged in economic endeavour win science and success in their battles of the people, playing their part among the brilliancies of the nation for the sake of honour and fame.

· · ·

1.73.6

ऋ॒तस्य॒ हि धे॒नवो॑ वावशा॒नाः स्मदू॑ध्नीः पी॒पय॑न्त॒ द्युभ॑क्ताः । प॒रा॒वतः॑ सुम॒तिं भिक्ष॑माणा॒ वि सिन्ध॑वः स॒मया॑ सस्रु॒रद्रि॑म् ॥

Cows yearning for their calves and overflowing with milk in the udders drink of Agni’s law of nature and follow it in love. Rays of light, sharing the splendour of the sun from afar bring favours to the earth by the law of Agni. Rivers flow from the vicinity of the mountains to the far off seas by the law of Agni. Sunbeams break the cloud by the law of Agni. (So should mankind follow nature’s law of generous Agni in yajna and shower love and favour on all life and the environment.)

· · ·

1.73.7

त्वे अ॑ग्ने सुम॒तिं भिक्ष॑माणा दि॒वि श्रवो॑ दधिरे य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । नक्ता॑ च च॒क्रुरु॒षसा॒ विरू॑पे कृ॒ष्णं च॒ वर्ण॑मरु॒णं च॒ सं धुः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of cosmic yajna, praying for will and intelligence and sharing your immanence of power and splendour, the high-priests of nature sent up their oblations into the vedi of heaven and created the night and the dawn, both different in form as flame and smoke. They filled the dark into the night and the blazing red into the dawn. Agni, lord of cosmic yajna, praying for pious will and intelligence, the high-priests of human yajna sent up the fragrance of their oblations into heaven and realised the mystery of night and dawn, both different in form like flames and smoke arising from the vedi. They associated the dark with the night and the blazing red with the dawn. (Note: To understand this mantra further, reference may be made to Rgveda 10, 90, Yajurveda 31 and Atharva-veda 19, 6, and 10, 8, 23.)

· · ·

1.73.8

यान्रा॒ये मर्ता॒न्त्सुषू॑दो अग्ने॒ ते स्या॑म म॒घवा॑नो व॒यं च॑ । छा॒येव॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं सिसक्ष्यापप्रि॒वान्रोद॑सी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् ॥

Agni, the mortals whom you inspire and guide for the achievement of wealth, may they all and we all be blest with wealth and honour and the favours of Divinity. Lord omnipresent, pervading the earth, the skies and the heavens, the entire universe abides with you inseparably since you are one with it as body is with the shadow and you shelter them all.

· · ·

1.73.9

अर्व॑द्भिरग्ने॒ अर्व॑तो॒ नृभि॒र्नॄन् वी॒रैर्वी॒रान्व॑नुयामा॒ त्वोताः॑ । ई॒शा॒नासः॑ पितृवि॒त्तस्य॑ रा॒यो वि सू॒रयः॑ श॒तहि॑मा नो अश्युः ॥

Agni, lord of light and wealth of life, we pray, under your shelter and protection, let us continuously have horses with horses, brave men with men, and heroic children with children. Inheritors of the wealth and knowledge of our ancestors, let us be good managers of our heritage and move ahead. And may men of heroic vision and wisdom give us protective guidance for hundreds of years.

· · ·

1.73.10

ए॒ता ते॑ अग्न उ॒चथा॑नि वेधो॒ जुष्टा॑नि सन्तु॒ मन॑से हृ॒दे च॑ । श॒केम॑ रा॒यः सु॒धुरो॒ यमं॒ तेऽधि॒ श्रवो॑ दे॒वभ॑क्तं॒ दधा॑नाः ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, omniscient giver of knowledge and vision, may these holy words of divinity be songs of faith and love for our mind and soul. May we, holding holy foods and blest by words of divine souls, be steady on our path of life and be able to conduct the management of life’s wealth in proper yajnic manner.

✦ Sukta 74 · 9 verses ✦

1.74.1

उ॒प॒प्र॒यन्तो॑ अध्व॒रं मन्त्रं॑ वोचेमा॒ग्नये॑ । आ॒रे अ॒स्मे च॑ शृण्व॒ते ॥

Moving close to the vedi of the yajna of love and non-violence, let us chant holy words of thought and devotion in praise of Agni, lord of light and yajna who listens to us from far as well as from near.

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1.74.2

यः स्नीहि॑तीषु पू॒र्व्यः सं॑जग्मा॒नासु॑ कृ॒ष्टिषु॑ । अर॑क्षद्दा॒शुषे॒ गय॑म् ॥

Agni is the eternal lord of yajna who, in gatherings of people meeting for the purpose of fellowship and yajna of love, protects and promotes the wealth of the generous yajamana.

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1.74.3

उ॒त ब्रु॑वन्तु ज॒न्तव॒ उद॒ग्निर्वृ॑त्र॒हाज॑नि । ध॒नं॒ज॒यो रणे॑रणे ॥

And let the people praise and celebrate Agni who dispels the clouds of darkness, creates and protects the wealth of the charitable yajamana, and gives us victory in the battles for wealth one after another.

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1.74.4

यस्य॑ दू॒तो असि॒ क्षये॒ वेषि॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ वी॒तये॑ । द॒स्मत्कृ॒णोष्य॑ध्व॒रम् ॥

Agni, you are the harbinger of light. Wherever you go, you carry holy sacrificial materials into the house for the joy of the family and conduct and accomplish blissful yajna which dispels want and suffering from the home.

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1.74.5

तमित्सु॑ह॒व्यम॑ङ्गिरः सुदे॒वं स॑हसो यहो । जना॑ आहुः सुब॒र्हिष॑म् ॥

Agni, Angira, breath of life for the world arising in yajna as the child of omnipotence, you are the same whom people call the lord of brilliance, master of science, waters and of the skies, worthy of being invoked in yajna for the gifts of wonderful wealths.

· · ·

1.74.6

आ च॒ वहा॑सि॒ ताँ इ॒ह दे॒वाँ उप॒ प्रश॑स्तये । ह॒व्या सु॑श्चन्द्र वी॒तये॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, beauty and joy, you are the power who bring in here close to us the brilliant and generous divinities worthy of invocation for their celebration and harbingers of holy gifts for the joy of the yajamana.

· · ·

1.74.7

न योरु॑प॒ब्दिरश्व्यः॑ शृ॒ण्वे रथ॑स्य॒ कच्च॒न । यद॑ग्ने॒ यासि॑ दू॒त्य॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of light, power and yajnic communication, when you move on your mission then the tempestuous roar of your superfast chariot is not even heard.

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1.74.8

त्वोतो॑ वा॒ज्यह्र॑यो॒ऽभि पूर्व॑स्मा॒दप॑रः । प्र दा॒श्वाँ अ॑ग्ने अस्थात् ॥

Lord of light and power, Agni, protected by you and blest with your speed, the generous and creative yajamana of scientific adventure, superfast, free and bold, shoots from one place and reaches the other.

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1.74.9

उ॒त द्यु॒मत्सु॒वीर्यं॑ बृ॒हद॑ग्ने विवाससि । दे॒वेभ्यो॑ देव दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, wealth and generosity, you are ever keen to shower upon the charitable yajamana and eminent scholars of scientific brilliance abundant gifts of valour, honour and universal excellence.

✦ Sukta 75 · 5 verses ✦

1.75.1

जु॒षस्व॑ स॒प्रथ॑स्तमं॒ वचो॑ दे॒वप्स॑रस्तमम् । ह॒व्या जुह्वा॑न आ॒सनि॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, knowledge and speech, since you accept sacred words and sacrificial foods into your vedi-like holy mouth, be kind to receive and enjoy the most liberal and extensive words and most divinely inspired prayerful exhortations of ours and be pleased to bless us.

· · ·

1.75.2

अथा॑ ते अङ्गिरस्त॒माग्ने॑ वेधस्तम प्रि॒यम् । वो॒चेम॒ ब्रह्म॑ सान॒सि ॥

Agni, lord most knowledgeable, dearest breath of enlightenment, bless us, and then we would speak the eternal victorious words of divinity dear to you.

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1.75.3

कस्ते॑ जा॒मिर्जना॑ना॒मग्ने॒ को दा॒श्व॑ध्वरः । को ह॒ कस्मि॑न्नसि श्रि॒तः ॥

Agni, who among people is your brother that knows well? Who is the giver? Who is the yajaka? Who are you? Wherein do you abide.

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1.75.4

त्वं जा॒मिर्जना॑ना॒मग्ने॑ मि॒त्रो अ॑सि प्रि॒यः । सखा॒ सखि॑भ्य॒ ईड्यः॑ ॥

Agni, you are the brother and saviour of the people. You are the friend. You are so dear and affectionate a source of fulfilment. You are the friend of friends, adorable for your companions.

· · ·

1.75.5

यजा॑ नो मि॒त्रावरु॑णा॒ यजा॑ दे॒वाँ ऋ॒तं बृ॒हत् । अग्ने॒ यक्षि॒ स्वं दम॑म् ॥

Agni, do yajna for Mitra and Varuna, pranic energy of prana and apana. Do yajna for the divine energies of nature. Do yajna for Rtam, promotion of Eternal Knowledge of divine Law. Do yajna for the sake of your own home and for self-control and self-culture.

✦ Sukta 76 · 5 verses ✦

1.76.1

का त॒ उपे॑ति॒र्मन॑सो॒ वरा॑य॒ भुव॑दग्ने॒ शंत॑मा॒ का म॑नी॒षा । को वा॑ य॒ज्ञैः परि॒ दक्षं॑ त आप॒ केन॑ वा ते॒ मन॑सा दाशेम ॥

Agni, lord of peace and enlightenment, what is your way to the improvement of mind? What is the most tranquillising exercise of the mind? Who attains to laudable success in the realisation of Divinity by yajnas of study, socialisation and self sacrifice? By what state of mind shall we offer to serve and honour you?

· · ·

1.76.2

एह्य॑ग्न इ॒ह होता॒ नि षी॒दाद॑ब्धः॒ सु पु॑रए॒ता भ॑वा नः । अव॑तां त्वा॒ रोद॑सी विश्वमि॒न्वे यजा॑ म॒हे सौ॑मन॒साय॑ दे॒वान् ॥

Agni, lord of kindness and benevolence, come to us fearless and bold and lead our yajna as high-priest to take us forward. May the heaven and earth which sustain the world be with you. Come to the noblest brilliancies of humanity for the sake of peace and joy of the mind and soul.

· · ·

1.76.3

प्र सु विश्वा॑न्र॒क्षसो॒ धक्ष्य॑ग्ने॒ भवा॑ य॒ज्ञाना॑मभिशस्ति॒पावा॑ । अथा व॑ह॒ सोम॑पतिं॒ हरि॑भ्यामाति॒थ्यम॑स्मै चकृमा सु॒दाव्ने॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, power and justice, burn off the evil to extinction. Be the saviour and protector of yajnas of common endeavour from violence. Bring in Indra, lord of energy and the joy of soma. And we shall extend the heartiest welcome and hospitality to him.

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1.76.4

प्र॒जाव॑ता॒ वच॑सा॒ वह्नि॑रा॒सा च॑ हु॒वे नि च॑ सत्सी॒ह दे॒वैः । वेषि॑ हो॒त्रमु॒त पो॒त्रं य॑जत्र बो॒धि प्र॑यन्तर्जनित॒र्वसू॑नाम् ॥

Agni, power of yajna and harbinger of joy and prosperity, creative force of nature in yajna, voracious consumer of input oblations and creator of a thousandfold wealth and energies of life and prana, I invoke you with holy words of social import for the sake of all my people. Come to the yajna with blessings of divine brilliancies and sit on the vedi. Front leader as you are, creator of wealth as you are for the hearth and home of people, spirit of yajna as you are, bring us the holiest sanctifying materials for our life of yajna and enlighten us on the art of advancement and progress.

· · ·

1.76.5

यथा॒ विप्र॑स्य॒ मनु॑षो ह॒विर्भि॑र्दे॒वाँ अय॑जः क॒विभिः॑ क॒विः सन् । ए॒वा हो॑तः सत्यतर॒ त्वम॒द्याग्ने॑ म॒न्द्रया॑ जु॒ह्वा॑ यजस्व ॥

Just as a person, being a poet going with the poets, performs yajna in honour of divinities and brilliant persons, with the sacred materials of a noble and intelligent person, similarly, O Agni, noble performer, noble visionary, truer and more sincere than truth and sincerity itself, perform yajna for us in the home today with a beautiful ladle and the divine voice of wisdom.

✦ Sukta 77 · 5 verses ✦

1.77.1

क॒था दा॑शेमा॒ग्नये॒ कास्मै॑ दे॒वजु॑ष्टोच्यते भा॒मिने॒ गीः । यो मर्त्ये॑ष्व॒मृत॑ ऋ॒तावा॒ होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठ॒ इत्कृ॒णोति॑ दे॒वान् ॥

What shall we offer, how shall we offer, what appropriate words worthy of divinities, to this Agni, lord of yajna, light of knowledge, loving, kind and righteous, who, immortal among the mortals, is the master of eternal truth and Law, lord promoter of yajnic projects, most adorable and most sacrificing, creates brilliant and generous celebrities?

· · ·

1.77.2

यो अ॑ध्व॒रेषु॒ शंत॑म ऋ॒तावा॒ होता॒ तमू॒ नमो॑भि॒रा कृ॑णुध्वम् । अ॒ग्निर्यद्वेर्मर्ता॑य दे॒वान्त्स चा॒ बोधा॑ति॒ मन॑सा यजाति ॥

All ye yajakas, do honour and homage with salutations and oblations in yajna to Agni, harbinger of peace and bliss, ever true in nature, attributes and functioning, most creative and generous performer in yajna, who invokes the divinities for humanity, knows and awakes all to knowledge and self-awareness, and guides and leads the yajakas with his heart and soul.

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1.77.3

स हि क्रतुः॒ स मर्यः॒ स सा॒धुर्मि॒त्रो न भू॒दद्भु॑तस्य र॒थीः । तं मेधे॑षु प्रथ॒मं दे॑व॒यन्ती॒र्विश॒ उप॑ ब्रुवते द॒स्ममारीः॑ ॥

Agni is the power and performer of yajna. He is human, close to humanity. He is good and saintly. May he abide as our friend, master of the wonderful chariot of existence. Lord of love, beauty and goodness as he is, him only, in the noblest yajnic programmes the loving, pious and knowledgeable people approach for address and redress, first and supreme as he is.

· · ·

1.77.4

स नो॑ नृ॒णां नृत॑मो रि॒शादा॑ अ॒ग्निर्गिरोऽव॑सा वेतु धी॒तिम् । तना॑ च॒ ये म॒घवा॑नः॒ शवि॑ष्ठा॒ वाज॑प्रसूता इ॒षय॑न्त॒ मन्म॑ ॥

He who among our people is the most human and gracious, destroyer of violence, isAgni, lord of light, power and leadership. May he join our voices and the powers of governance with defence, protection and progress and hold it together with the wealth of the nation and those who are men of honour, strongest in courage, endowed with food and energy and have the desire for knowledge and wisdom.

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1.77.5

ए॒वाग्निर्गोत॑मेभिर्ऋ॒तावा॒ विप्रे॑भिरस्तोष्ट जा॒तवे॑दाः । स ए॑षु द्यु॒म्नं पी॑पय॒त्स वाजं॒ स पु॒ष्टिं या॑ति॒ जोष॒मा चि॑कि॒त्वान् ॥

AndAgni, lord ruler of truth and law, omniscient of things in existence is praised and acclaimed by sincere admirers and men of piety and dedication. And he, among these, providing for food, energy and prosperity and the light of knowledge in abundance, himself growing higher in knowledge, self-satisfaction and all round progress, goes on ever forward.

✦ Sukta 78 · 5 verses ✦

1.78.1

अ॒भि त्वा॒ गोत॑मा गि॒रा जात॑वेदो॒ विच॑र्षणे । द्यु॒म्नैर॒भि प्र णो॑नुमः ॥

Jataveda, Agni, omniscient lord of universal vision, we, men of knowledge and your admirers, offer homage to you with all our wealth and honour and our noblest songs of praise.

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1.78.2

तमु॑ त्वा॒ गोत॑मो गि॒रा रा॒यस्का॑मो दुवस्यति । द्यु॒म्नैर॒भि प्र णो॑नुमः ॥

The man of knowledge and admiration, desirous of wealth and honour, offers homage and prayer to you, Agni, lord of light and power, with his voice of the heart. We do homage to you with all our wealth and power and with noblest songs of praise.

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1.78.3

तमु॑ त्वा वाज॒सात॑ममङ्गिर॒स्वद्ध॑वामहे । द्यु॒म्नैर॒भि प्र णो॑नुमः ॥

Agni, you who are lord of light, knowledge and power and giver of victory, we invoke like the very breath of life and do homage with all our honour, wealth and virtue.

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1.78.4

तमु॑ त्वा वृत्र॒हन्त॑मं॒ यो दस्यूँ॑रवधूनु॒षे । द्यु॒म्नैर॒भि प्र णो॑नुमः ॥

Agni, breaker of the cloud and dispeller of darkness, who shake the evil and wicked to destruction, we celebrate you in homage with all the power and valour at our command.

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1.78.5

अवो॑चाम॒ रहू॑गणा अ॒ग्नये॒ मधु॑म॒द्वचः॑ । द्यु॒म्नैर॒भि प्र णो॑नुमः ॥

We all, free from sin and evil, offer honey-sweet songs of praise and celebration in honour of Agni with all our knowledge and brilliance.

✦ Sukta 79 · 12 verses ✦

1.79.1

हिर॑ण्यकेशो॒ रज॑सो विसा॒रेऽहि॒र्धुनि॒र्वात॑इव॒ ध्रजी॑मान् । शुचि॑भ्राजा उ॒षसो॒ नवे॑दा॒ यश॑स्वतीरप॒स्युवो॒ न स॒त्याः ॥

The sun, lord of golden beams blazing in the expanse of spaces, skies and the earth, shaker of the clouds and tempestuous like the winds, is Agni. The dawns of pure splendour like fairies and angels of truth and honour, shining and rising like flames of yajna fire, revealing like the vibrations of primordial knowledge, these are Agni too.

· · ·

1.79.2

आ ते॑ सुप॒र्णा अ॑मिनन्तँ॒ एवैः॑ कृ॒ष्णो नो॑नाव वृष॒भो यदी॒दम् । शि॒वाभि॒र्न स्मय॑मानाभि॒रागा॒त्पत॑न्ति॒ मिहः॑ स्त॒नय॑न्त्य॒भ्रा ॥

Agni, if your golden sunbeams were to expand with their forces across the spaces, and if the sun holding the skies and the earth were to break the cloud pregnant with vapours, the cloud would roar and showers would fall, coming to the earth as if with smiling blissful breezes of joy.

· · ·

1.79.3

यदी॑मृ॒तस्य॒ पय॑सा॒ पिया॑नो॒ नय॑न्नृ॒तस्य॑ प॒थिभी॒ रजि॑ष्ठैः । अ॒र्य॒मा मि॒त्रो वरु॑णः॒ परि॑ज्मा॒ त्वचं॑ पृञ्च॒न्त्युप॑रस्य॒ योनौ॑ ॥

When the sun drinking and waxing with the vapours of water takes these up by the straightest and speediest paths, then Aryama, the sunlight, Mitra and Varuna, complementary energies of the sun holding the earth and skies together, and Parijman, winds and electric energies in the higher space, create the body of the cloud.

· · ·

1.79.4

अग्ने॒ वाज॑स्य॒ गोम॑त॒ ईशा॑नः सहसो यहो । अ॒स्मे धे॑हि जातवेदो॒ महि॒ श्रवः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of the knowledge of existence, creator and ruler of food, energy and wealths of life and lord of cows and sunbeams, child of omnipotence, bring us the brilliance of knowledge and great splendour of life’s victories.

· · ·

1.79.5

स इ॑धा॒नो वसु॑ष्क॒विर॒ग्निरी॒ळेन्यो॑ गि॒रा । रे॒वद॒स्मभ्यं॑ पुर्वणीक दीदिहि ॥

Agni, that brilliant lord of light and knowledge, treasure home of wealth and joy, divine visionary of creation, adorable with holy words, lord of wealth, blazing with flames and flaming with forces, may he ever shine and shine us with knowledge

· · ·

1.79.6

क्ष॒पो रा॑जन्नु॒त त्मनाग्ने॒ वस्तो॑रु॒तोषसः॑ । स ति॑ग्मजम्भ र॒क्षसो॑ दह॒ प्रति॑ ॥

Agni, blazing with light and power, creating and ruling over nights, days and the dawns, lord of the mighty order of justice and dispensation, burn up the evil and the wicked.

· · ·

1.79.7

अवा॑ नो अग्न ऊ॒तिभि॑र्गाय॒त्रस्य॒ प्रभ॑र्मणि । विश्वा॑सु धी॒षु व॑न्द्य ॥

Lord adorable all over the world in the affairs of enlightenment, protect and advance us with your care and powers of defence and development in the transactions of knowledge and happiness of the people with your heart and soul.

· · ·

1.79.8

आ नो॑ अग्ने र॒यिं भ॑र सत्रा॒साहं॒ वरे॑ण्यम् । विश्वा॑सु पृ॒त्सु दु॒ष्टर॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of wealth and power, bless us with cherished wealth and power, formidable and invinciblein all the battles of life, overcoming all and ever.

· · ·

1.79.9

आ नो॑ अग्ने सुचे॒तुना॑ र॒यिं वि॒श्वायु॑पोषसम् । मा॒र्डी॒कं धे॑हि जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Agni, lord of life, light and wealth, bring us and bless us with wealth along with knowledge, science and technology that may provide nourishment and health for all, soothing and joyful for happy living.

· · ·

1.79.10

प्र पू॒तास्ति॒ग्मशो॑चिषे॒ वाचो॑ गोतमा॒ग्नये॑ । भर॑स्व सुम्न॒युर्गिरः॑ ॥

Most dedicated celebrant in search of peace and well-being of the soul, raise your voice and say holy words and sing pure songs of knowledge, wisdom and prayer in honour of Agni, blazing lord of splendour and vision of omniscience who would purify your mind and soul.

· · ·

1.79.11

यो नो॑ अग्नेऽभि॒दास॒त्यन्ति॑ दू॒रे प॑दी॒ष्ट सः । अ॒स्माक॒मिद्वृ॒धे भ॑व ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, whosoever far or near hate us or enslave us, may he be destroyed. Lord of life and wealth, be kind and gracious for our growth and progress. Also: Agni, lord of light and wealth, whateveryou give us, or whenever and wherever you oblige us in person, that may be for our good and advancement.

· · ·

1.79.12

स॒ह॒स्रा॒क्षो विच॑र्षणिर॒ग्नी रक्षां॑सि सेधति । होता॑ गृणीत उ॒क्थ्यः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of a thousand eyes (such as the sun), lord of universal vision, dispels and destroys the evil, the demons, darkness and suffering and poverty. Highpriest of cosmic yajna, he is adorable and reveals the voice of omniscience in the soul.

✦ Sukta 80 · 16 verses ✦

1.80.1

इ॒त्था हि सोम॒ इन्मदे॑ ब्र॒ह्मा च॒कार॒ वर्ध॑नम् । शवि॑ष्ठ वज्रि॒न्नोज॑सा पृथि॒व्या निः श॑शा॒ अहि॒मर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Giving to freedom and self-government an exalted place of honour, Brahma, lord creator, in-vested the joy and excitement of life with animation, growth and independence. And for the same reason, Indra, strongest in courage and valour, wielder of the thunderbolt of freedom and self-government, with your might and main, strike off the serpent of evil, suffering and slavery from the earth for all time.

· · ·

1.80.2

स त्वा॑मद॒द्वृषा॒ मदः॒ सोमः॑ श्ये॒नाभृ॑तः सु॒तः । येना॑ वृ॒त्रं निर॒द्भ्यो ज॒घन्थ॑ वज्रि॒न्नोज॒सार्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

That excitement and enthusiasm arising from the eagle-shaped vedi of yajna and defended and advanced by the army in eagle array, raining from showers of divinity from Brahma, may boost your morale, and thereby, O Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, doing homage to the freedom and self-government of your people with your valour and heroism, you break the cloud of darkness, want and suffering and release the flow of plenty and prosperity.

· · ·

1.80.3

प्रेह्य॒भी॑हि धृष्णु॒हि न ते॒ वज्रो॒ नि यं॑सते । इन्द्र॑ नृ॒म्णं हि ते॒ शवो॒ हनो॑ वृ॒त्रं जया॑ अ॒पोऽर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of power and brilliance, ruler of the land, go forward. Go forward all round. Shake the evil. Irresistible is your thunderbolt of light and power. Your power and force is the wealth of the nation. Destroy the demon of want and drought, release and win the waters, plenty and prosperity and, in homage and reverence advancing the freedom and self-government of humanity, move ahead and higher.

· · ·

1.80.4

निरि॑न्द्र॒ भूम्या॒ अधि॑ वृ॒त्रं ज॑घन्थ॒ निर्दि॒वः । सृ॒जा म॒रुत्व॑ती॒रव॑ जी॒वध॑न्या इ॒मा अ॒पोऽर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, all-ruling creative power of enlightenment and freedom, eliminate evil, darkness and ignorance from the face of the earth, bring the light of knowledge and vision of spirit from heaven and, reverentially advancing the republic of human freedom and self-governance, create and release these life-giving and energising waters to vitalise the nation of humanity to the speed and vibrancy of the winds.

· · ·

1.80.5

इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्रस्य॒ दोध॑तः॒ सानुं॒ वज्रे॑ण हीळि॒तः । अ॒भि॒क्रम्याव॑ जिघ्नते॒ऽपः सर्मा॑य चो॒दय॒न्नर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of might, hero of war, adored and passionate, striking with the thunderbolt on the top of the ferocious cloud of evil fighting against sustenance of life, exhorts his own forces of freedom and, in reverence and homage to the land of freedom and selfgovernance, breaks the cloud to let the waters of light and life aflow.

· · ·

1.80.6

अधि॒ सानौ॒ नि जि॑घ्नते॒ वज्रे॑ण श॒तप॑र्वणा । म॒न्दा॒न इन्द्रो॒ अन्ध॑सः॒ सखि॑भ्यो गा॒तुमि॑च्छ॒त्यर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra strikes on the head and shoulders of Vrtra, demon of want and suffering with his thunderbolt of a hundredfold power and, rejoicing and doing honour and reverence to freedom and self-government, wants and plans to clear the way for the food and joy of his friendly allies and citizens of the nation.

· · ·

1.80.7

इन्द्र॒ तुभ्य॒मिद॑द्रि॒वोऽनु॑त्तं वज्रिन्वी॒र्य॑म् । यद्ध॒ त्यं मा॒यिनं॑ मृ॒गं तमु॒ त्वं मा॒यया॑वधी॒रर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

To you, Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, mighty ruler of the republic, high as mountain and the cloud, cheers for incomparable excellence of valour since you, doing honour and reverence to the freedom and selfgovernance of the republic, destroyed that artful roaring demon of a cloud of darkness with your extraordinary power.

· · ·

1.80.8

वि ते॒ वज्रा॑सो अस्थिरन्नव॒तिं ना॒व्या॒३॒॑अनु॑ । म॒हत्त॑ इन्द्र वी॒र्यं॑ बा॒ह्वोस्ते॒ बलं॑ हि॒तमर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, your naval forces of the thunderbolt stand by ninety rivers and the sea. Mighty is your power, awful the valour concentrated in your arms, great ruler, dedicated in faith and reverence to freedom and the sovereign republic.

· · ·

1.80.9

स॒हस्रं॑ सा॒कम॑र्चत॒ परि॑ ष्टोभत विंश॒तिः । श॒तैन॒मन्व॑नोनवु॒रिन्द्रा॑य॒ ब्रह्मोद्य॑त॒मर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Let all together with unanimity honour Indra, the ruler dedicated in faith and honour to the freedom and sovereignty of the Republic and the law and constitution in force under the rules of Veda, universal knowledge and universal values of humanity. Let a council of twenty assist and support him for work and stability of the government. Let hundreds of commanders obey and admire him for the success and glory of the land and the people.

· · ·

1.80.10

इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्रस्य॒ तवि॑षीं॒ निर॑ह॒न्त्सह॑सा॒ सहः॑ । म॒हत्तद॑स्य॒ पौंस्यं॑ वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अ॑सृज॒दर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, lord mighty as the force of lightning, with his courage and valour breaks down and eliminates the force and power of Vrtra, demon of ignorance, injustice and poverty. Great is that manliness and virility of his. Destroyer of the forces of darkness and slavery, he releases the spirit of freshness and the waters of new life in dedication and reverence to freedom and sovereignty of the grand world order of humanity.

· · ·

1.80.11

इ॒मे चि॒त्तव॑ म॒न्यवे॒ वेपे॑ते भि॒यसा॑ म॒ही । यदि॑न्द्र वज्रि॒न्नोज॑सा वृ॒त्रं म॒रुत्वाँ॒ अव॑धी॒रर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of law and the thunderbolt of strength and power, both these, the great earth and the vast environment, feel stirred with awe in reverence to your spirit and passion when you, O lord of stormy troops, with your valour and blazing brilliance, attack and destroy Vrtra, demon of darkness and want, to defend and maintain the sanctity and glory of the freedom and sovereignty of the republic.

· · ·

1.80.12

न वेप॑सा॒ न त॑न्य॒तेन्द्रं॑ वृ॒त्रो वि बी॑भयत् । अ॒भ्ये॑नं॒ वज्र॑ आय॒सः स॒हस्र॑भृष्टिराय॒तार्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Neither by thunder nor by lightning can Vrtra, the cloud, terrorize Indra, the sun. Similarly neither by force nor by fear can the forces of evil, injustice and violence shake Indra, the ruler, who is dedicated with faith and reverence to the freedom and self-government of the people and the republic. Instead, the thunderbolt of inviolable steel and a hundred-fold lightning blaze overwhelms this demon of destructive forces from all round.

· · ·

1.80.13

यद्वृ॒त्रं तव॑ चा॒शनिं॒ वज्रे॑ण स॒मयो॑धयः । अहि॑मिन्द्र॒ जिघां॑सतो दि॒वि ते॑ बद्बधे॒ शवोऽर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, heroic ruler, dedicated in reverence and faith to the freedom and sovereignty of the republic, when you fight Vrtra, the cloud of evil and violence, shoot the force of lightning with your thunderbolt killing the demon, then your valour and fame as killer of the serpent of evil reaches heaven and abides there.

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1.80.14

अ॒भि॒ष्ट॒ने ते॑ अद्रिवो॒ यत्स्था जग॑च्च रेजते । त्वष्टा॑ चि॒त्तव॑ म॒न्यव॒ इन्द्र॑ वेवि॒ज्यते॑ भि॒यार्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the republic, dedicated to the freedom of the people and sovereignty of the state, when in the resounding fame and reverberations of your power, everything non-moving and everybody moving shines with brilliance, and the artists and technologists, Tvashtas of the nation, creators and makers of beautiful things, move with awe in homage to your spirit and passion for freedom and governance, then your dedication to the republic would be complete and wholly fulfilled.

· · ·

1.80.15

न॒हि नु याद॑धी॒मसीन्द्रं॒ को वी॒र्या॑ प॒रः । तस्मि॑न्नृ॒म्णमु॒त क्रतुं॑ दे॒वा ओजां॑सि॒ सं द॑धु॒रर्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Who would not approach Indra? We all approach and admire him. Supreme are his virtues and attributes. Who can surpass? The divinities vest in him all the wealth desired by humanity, noble yajnic action and all the valour, splendour and heroism, dedicated as he

is in reverence and faith to freedom and selfgovernment. In him and under his rule all good people are blest with wealth of knowledge, action, valour and fame.

· · ·

1.80.16

यामथ॑र्वा॒ मनु॑ष्पि॒ता द॒ध्यङ् धिय॒मत्न॑त । तस्मि॒न्ब्रह्मा॑णि पू॒र्वथेन्द्र॑ उ॒क्था सम॑ग्म॒तार्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

That intelligence, knowledge and enlightenment which Atharva, men of love and settled peace, Manu, men of thought and science, Pita, parents and teachers, and men of attainment and acquisition developed and spread across the land in faith and service to the sovereign republic of the peoples’ freedom and selfgovernance, and, like the ancients, vested in Indra, the ruler, the same multiple sciences and songs of celebration, the same intelligence, knowledge and enlightenment, you all, people of the land, acquire and develop in furtherance of the freedom and sovereignty of the republic with faith and reverence.

✦ Sukta 81 · 9 verses ✦

1.81.1

इन्द्रो॒ मदा॑य वावृधे॒ शव॑से वृत्र॒हा नृभिः॑ । तमिन्म॒हत्स्वा॒जिषू॒तेमर्भे॑ हवामहे॒ स वाजे॑षु॒ प्र नो॑ऽविषत् ॥

Indra, the hero who destroys Vrtra, the cloud of want and suffering, and releases the showers of plenty and prosperity, goes forward with the people for the achievement of strength and joy of the land of freedom and self-government. And him we invoke and exhort in the battles of life, great and small, so that he may defend and advance us in all our struggles for progress and lead us to victory.

· · ·

1.81.2

असि॒ हि वी॑र॒ सेन्योऽसि॒ भूरि॑ पराद॒दिः । असि॑ द॒भ्रस्य॑ चिद्वृ॒धो यज॑मानाय शिक्षसि सुन्व॒ते भूरि॑ ते॒ वसु॑ ॥

Indra, you are the valiant hero. You are the warrior taking on many enemies and oppositions at a time. Even the small, you raise to greatness. You lead the creative and generous yajamana to knowledge and power. Hero of the battles of existence, may your wealth, power and honour grow higher and higher.

· · ·

1.81.3

यदु॒दीर॑त आ॒जयो॑ धृ॒ष्णवे॑ धीयते॒ धना॑ । यु॒क्ष्वा म॑द॒च्युता॒ हरी॒ कं हनः॒ कं वसौ॑ दधो॒ऽस्माँ इ॑न्द्र॒ वसौ॑ दधः ॥

When battles confront the nation, means and money are raised and prizes won for the brave. Commander of the forces, yoke the forces exuberant and raging for war. Destroy the enemy. Settle the victorious in wealth and peace. Indra, pray settle us in peace and comfort.

· · ·

1.81.4

क्रत्वा॑ म॒हाँ अ॑नुष्व॒धं भी॒म आ वा॑वृधे॒ शवः॑ । श्रि॒य ऋ॒ष्व उ॑पा॒कयो॒र्नि शि॒प्री हरि॑वान्दधे॒ हस्त॑यो॒र्वज्र॑माय॒सम् ॥

Great by knowledge, awful by action, in his own right and by his own might, he grows in power and majesty. Elevated and sublime, blazing brilliant, lord of horses and speed of motion, he wields the golden thunderbolt of power and force in both his hands for the beauty and dignity of life and the republic of humanity.

· · ·

1.81.5

आ प॑प्रौ॒ पार्थि॑वं॒ रजो॑ बद्ब॒धे रो॑च॒ना दि॒वि । न त्वावाँ॑ इन्द्र॒ कश्च॒न न जा॒तो न ज॑निष्य॒तेऽति॒ विश्वं॑ ववक्षिथ ॥

You pervade the earth and all that is earthly. You pervade the sky. You pervade and fix the bright heaven in place. Indra, none like you was ever born, nor shall ever be born. Indeed, you hold, rule, pervade and transcend the entire universe of existence.

· · ·

1.81.6

यो अ॒र्यो म॑र्त॒भोज॑नं परा॒ददा॑ति दा॒शुषे॑ । इन्द्रो॑ अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ शिक्षतु॒ वि भ॑जा॒ भूरि॑ ते॒ वसु॑ भक्षी॒य तव॒ राध॑सः ॥

Indra, lord of the universe, master of life, provides food and sustenance for living beings. He gives wealth and comfort for the generous giver and for us. May the lord take us unto himself and give us knowledge and instruction. O lord, may we, we pray, share your abundant treasure of wealth and divine happiness. May I enjoy the wealth and knowledge given by the lord.

· · ·

1.81.7

मदे॑मदे॒ हि नो॑ द॒दिर्यू॒था गवा॑मृजु॒क्रतुः॑ । सं गृ॑भाय पु॒रू श॒तोभ॑याह॒स्त्या वसु॑ शिशी॒हि रा॒य आ भ॑र ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, power and generosity, in every joy of life, you are the giver. You are the giver of plenty of cows and abundance of light and sense. Lord of simple, natural and divine action of yajna, may he provide hundreds of kinds of wealth for us and bless us with both of his hands generously. Lord of wealth and glory, bring us the wealth of joy, dignity and glory and let us shine with honour.

· · ·

1.81.8

मा॒दय॑स्व सु॒ते सचा॒ शव॑से शूर॒ राध॑से । वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॑ पुरू॒वसु॒मुप॒ कामा॑न्त्ससृ॒ज्महेऽथा॑ नोऽवि॒ता भ॑व ॥

Brave hero, be with us in this holy yajnic programme of the land of freedom and sovereignty for the creation of wealth, power and joy. Join us and let us celebrate together. Lord of abundant wealth, power and joy you are. May we, we pray, know you and be with you at the closest. Be our saviour, our protector, our promoter, so that we may creatively realise all our desires and ambitions.

· · ·

1.81.9

ए॒ते त॑ इन्द्र ज॒न्तवो॒ विश्वं॑ पुष्यन्ति॒ वार्य॑म् । अ॒न्तर्हि ख्यो जना॑नाम॒र्यो वेदो॒ अदा॑शुषां॒ तेषां॑ नो॒ वेद॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Indra, lord of life and spirit, these living beings, yours all, do homage to you and augment the wealth and glory of the entire world. Lord and master of the people, you know the very heart of them inside out. Bring us the wealth of knowledge and spirit. Restore the wealth and knowledge of those ungenerous miserables who have lost it.

✦ Sukta 82 · 6 verses ✦

1.82.1

उपो॒ षु शृ॑णु॒ही गिरो॒ मघ॑व॒न्मात॑थाइव । य॒दा नः॑ सू॒नृता॑वतः॒ कर॒ आद॒र्थया॑स॒ इद्योजा॒ न्वि॑न्द्र ते॒ हरी॑ ॥

Indra, lord of wealth and glory, listen to our prayer at the closest, not like one distant or different. And when we pray bless us with a voice of sweetness and the light of holy truth. Lord of speed and motion, yoke your horses (and come to join the yajna).

· · ·

1.82.2

अक्ष॒न्नमी॑मदन्त॒ ह्यव॑ प्रि॒या अ॑धूषत । अस्तो॑षत॒ स्वभा॑नवो॒ विप्रा॒ नवि॑ष्ठया म॒ती योजा॒ न्वि॑न्द्र ते॒ हरी॑ ॥

Noble men acquiring holy knowledge, rejoicing, dearest favourite saints and sages brilliant with their innate genius and virtue, ward off the evil and pray to Indra with latest words of wisdom and homage. Indra, yoke your horses (on the wing and come to join the yajna).

· · ·

1.82.3

सु॒सं॒दृशं॑ त्वा व॒यं मघ॑वन्वन्दिषी॒महि॑ । प्र नू॒नं पू॒र्णव॑न्धुरः स्तु॒तो या॑हि॒ वशाँ॒ अनु॒ योजा॒ न्वि॑न्द्र ते॒ हरी॑ ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, power and universal glory, we pray to you, lord of the blissful eye. Lord in perfect covenant with humanity, worshipped and prayed to in sincerity, proceed and overwhelm the enemies of yajna and humanity. Yoke your horses (and come to bless the yajna).

· · ·

1.82.4

स घा॒ तं वृष॑णं॒ रथ॒मधि॑ तिष्ठाति गो॒विद॑म् । यः पात्रं॑ हारियोज॒नं पू॒र्णमि॑न्द्र॒ चिके॑तति॒ योजा॒ न्वि॑न्द्र ते॒ हरी॑ ॥

Indra, only that person who knows the science and technology of that horse-powered chariot which is perfect and fully capable of defence and safety against the enemy, would ride that prize-winning chariot of victory which would lead him to the conquest of territory and prosperity. Indra, yoke your horses (and come to join the yajna of defence and protection).

· · ·

1.82.5

यु॒क्तस्ते॑ अस्तु॒ दक्षि॑ण उ॒त स॒व्यः श॑तक्रतो । तेन॑ जा॒यामुप॑ प्रि॒यां म॑न्दा॒नो या॒ह्यन्ध॑सो॒ योजा॒ न्वि॑न्द्र ते॒ हरी॑ ॥

Indra, hero of a hundred yajnic battles, let your horse power on the right, and your horse power on the left of the chariot be yoked, and, happy at heart, with presents of delicacies, go to meet your darling wife. Lord of love, power and victory, yoke your horses and proceed.

· · ·

1.82.6

यु॒नज्मि॑ ते॒ ब्रह्म॑णा के॒शिना॒ हरी॒ उप॒ प्र या॑हि दधि॒षे गभ॑स्त्योः । उत्त्वा॑ सु॒तासो॑ रभ॒सा अ॑मन्दिषुः पूष॒ण्वान्व॑ज्रि॒न्त्समु॒ पत्न्या॑मदः ॥

I yoke your horses of beautiful mane to the chariot with holy chant of divine hymns and delicacies for sacred presents and gifts. Hold the reins in your hands and proceed for home. And then, lord of the thunderbolt and leader of heroic warriors, there, enthusiastic and ecstatic friends, well-trained, educated and cultured would join you for delightful company. And then, go and meet your wife and, with her, enjoy yourself with the family

✦ Sukta 83 · 6 verses ✦

1.83.1

अश्वा॑वति प्रथ॒मो गोषु॑ गच्छति सुप्रा॒वीरि॑न्द्र॒ मर्त्य॒स्तवो॒तिभिः॑ । तमित्पृ॑णक्षि॒ वसु॑ना॒ भवी॑यसा॒ सिन्धु॒मापो॒ यथा॒भितो॒ विचे॑तसः ॥

O Indra, lord ruler and protector, in a horsepowered chariot the pioneer goes forward first over lands and oceans in the world, man of zeal and courage as he is, protected by all your means of safety and defence. And him you bless with abundant wealth and fame which come to him as prominent rivers from all round join and flow into the sea.

· · ·

1.83.2

आपो॒ न दे॒वीरुप॑ यन्ति हो॒त्रिय॑म॒वः प॑श्यन्ति॒ वित॑तं॒ यथा॒ रजः॑ । प्रा॒चैर्दे॒वासः॒ प्र ण॑यन्ति देव॒युं ब्र॑ह्म॒प्रियं॑ जोषयन्ते व॒राइ॑व ॥

Just as holy waters go to the sea and the vapours concentrate in the cloud, so do holy people go to yajna and to Indra, lord of yajna, and as they see the yajna spread around from the vedi as shelter of life’s protection, so they conduct themselves in the tradition of ancient scholars and go forward to the holiest of the holies of existence and, like the best people of knowledge, action and devotion, love the divine lord and the divine lore as the highest boon of life.

· · ·

1.83.3

अधि॒ द्वयो॑रदधा उ॒क्थ्यं१॒॑ वचो॑ य॒तस्रु॑चा मिथु॒ना या स॑प॒र्यतः॑ । असं॑यत्तो व्र॒ते ते॑ क्षेति॒ पुष्य॑ति भ॒द्रा श॒क्तिर्यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते ॥

Indra, lord of yajna, just as you accept the offerings held in the ladles raised by the wedded couple, so graciously listen and accept the holy prayers of the two, ancients and moderns, teacher and disciple, husband and wife, parent and child, for the good of both. Even the loose and the wanton, under your care, find shelter and protection and grow. The gracious power of yajna creates and offers everything for the yajamana.

· · ·

1.83.4

आदङ्गि॑राः प्रथ॒मं द॑धिरे॒ वय॑ इ॒द्धाग्न॑यः॒ शम्या॒ ये सु॑कृ॒त्यया॑ । सर्वं॑ प॒णेः सम॑विन्दन्त॒ भोज॑न॒मश्वा॑वन्तं॒ गोम॑न्त॒मा प॒शुं नरः॑ ॥

And then the scientists of fire and energy, leaders of mankind who light the fires and who first offer the libations into the fire with holy acts of love and peace, win their share of praise and fame with the reward of horses, speed and motion, wealth of cows, sensitivity of mind and senses and the joy of life and celestial vision.

· · ·

1.83.5

य॒ज्ञैरथ॑र्वा प्रथ॒मः प॒थस्त॑ते॒ ततः॒ सूर्यो॑ व्रत॒पा वे॒न आज॑नि । आ गा आ॑जदु॒शना॑ का॒व्यः सचा॑ य॒मस्य॑ जा॒तम॒मृतं॑ यजामहे ॥

As Atharva, scholar of sustained constancy like energy in stasis, discovers and creates the prime path of motion by yajnic research, the noble solar scientist brilliant as the sun dedicated to his vow rises in knowledge and discovers the path of the earth. Then the poetic sage prophetically inspired sings of the beauty of Venus and satellites born of the sun. And we meditate and pray for immortality of the state of moksha.

· · ·

1.83.6

ब॒र्हिर्वा॒ यत्स्व॑प॒त्याय॑ वृ॒ज्यते॒ऽर्को वा॒ श्लोक॑मा॒घोष॑ते दि॒वि । ग्रावा॒ यत्र॒ वद॑ति का॒रुरु॒क्थ्य१॒॑स्तस्येदिन्द्रो॑ अभिपि॒त्वेषु॑ रण्यति ॥

Where knowledge and science is collected like holy grass of yajna for the sake of noble posterity, where holy verses illuminating as the sun in heaven are chanted, where the artist carves around the vedi and holy mantras resound as thunder of the clouds, there in the blessed foods and offerings, Indra, lord of yajna, rejoices and speaks.

✦ Sukta 84 · 20 verses ✦

1.84.1

असा॑वि॒ सोम॑ इन्द्र ते॒ शवि॑ष्ठ धृष्ण॒वा ग॑हि । आ त्वा॑ पृणक्त्विन्द्रि॒यं रजः॒ सूर्यो॒ न र॒श्मिभिः॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler of power, strong and resolute, come, this soma has been distilled for you. May it exhilarate and strengthen your mind as the sun fills and brightens the sky with its rays.

· · ·

1.84.2

इन्द्र॒मिद्धरी॑ वह॒तोऽप्र॑तिधृष्टशवसम् । ऋषी॑णां च स्तु॒तीरुप॑ य॒ज्ञं च॒ मानु॑षाणाम् ॥

The horses carry Indra, lord of informidable force and resolution of mind, to the Rshis’ songs of praise and yajnic programmes of the people.

· · ·

1.84.3

आ ति॑ष्ठ वृत्रह॒न्रथं॑ यु॒क्ता ते॒ ब्रह्म॑णा॒ हरी॑ । अ॒र्वा॒चीनं॒ सु ते॒ मनो॒ ग्रावा॑ कृणोतु व॒ग्नुना॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler, breaker of the cloud, releaser of the waters of life, ride your chariot of the latest design and come. The horses are yoked with the right mantra and necessary stuffs. And may the high-priest of knowledge with his words of knowledge exhilarate you at heart.

· · ·

1.84.4

इ॒ममि॑न्द्र सु॒तं पि॑ब॒ ज्येष्ठ॒मम॑र्त्यं॒ मद॑म् । शु॒क्रस्य॑ त्वा॒भ्य॑क्षर॒न्धारा॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ साद॑ने ॥

Indra, lord of light and universal rule, drink of the ecstasy of joy distilled, highest and immortal. The streams of pure and brilliant power and glory flow towards you in the house of Truth and Law.

· · ·

1.84.5

इन्द्रा॑य नू॒नम॑र्चतो॒क्थानि॑ च ब्रवीतन । सु॒ता अ॑मत्सु॒रिन्द॑वो॒ ज्येष्ठं॑ नमस्यता॒ सहः॑ ॥

All ye children of the earth, in truth and sincerity, do reverence and homage to Indra, ruling lord of light and life. Speak words of thanks and praise in appreciation of his dominion. Let the drops of distilled soma give him delight and ecstasy. Bow to him, lord supreme of courage and power.

· · ·

1.84.6

नकि॒ष्ट्वद्र॒थीत॑रो॒ हरी॒ यदि॑न्द्र॒ यच्छ॑से । नकि॒ष्ट्वानु॑ म॒ज्मना॒ नकिः॒ स्वश्व॑ आनशे ॥

Indra, while you yoke and drive the horses, powers of the chariot of your dominion, none could be a better master of the chariot. None could equal you in power, courage and force. None as master of horse and chariot could claim even to approach you in power, efficiency and glory.

· · ·

1.84.7

य एक॒ इद्वि॒दय॑ते॒ वसु॒ मर्ता॑य दा॒शुषे॑ । ईशा॑नो॒ अप्र॑तिष्कुत॒ इन्द्रो॑ अ॒ङ्ग ॥

Dear friend, the one sole lord who gives everything in life to the man of charity and generosity is Indra, supreme ruler of the world, who is constant, unmoved and unchallenged.

· · ·

1.84.8

क॒दा मर्त॑मरा॒धसं॑ प॒दा क्षुम्प॑मिव स्फुरत् । क॒दा नः॑ शुश्रव॒द्गिर॒ इन्द्रो॑ अ॒ङ्ग ॥

Dear friend, when would Indra, lord of wealth, power and justice, shake the miserly, uncreative, ungenerous and selfish person like a weed? Who knows? And would he listen to our prayers? Any time!

· · ·

1.84.9

यश्चि॒द्धि त्वा॑ ब॒हुभ्य॒ आ सु॒तावाँ॑ आ॒विवा॑सति । उ॒ग्रं तत्प॑त्यते शव॒ इन्द्रो॑ अ॒ङ्ग ॥

Dear friend, it is Indra, creator of energy, vitality and the joy of soma, who, for the sake of many does special favours to you and makes you shine, and it is he, again, who controls violent force, that which could be anywhere.

· · ·

1.84.10

स्वा॒दोरि॒त्था वि॑षू॒वतो॒ मध्वः॑ पिबन्ति गौ॒र्यः॑ । या इन्द्रे॑ण स॒याव॑री॒र्वृष्णा॒ मद॑न्ति शो॒भसे॒ वस्वी॒रनु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

The golden and brilliant people and forces of the land drink of the delicious, exciting and universal honey sweets of national pride and prestige and joyously celebrate their achievements in the company of generous and valorous Indra for the advancement of the honour and glory of the republic in obedience to the demands and discipline of the freedom and self-government of the nation

· · ·

1.84.11

ता अ॑स्य पृशना॒युवः॒ सोमं॑ श्रीणन्ति॒ पृश्न॑यः । प्रि॒या इन्द्र॑स्य धे॒नवो॒ वज्रं॑ हिन्वन्ति॒ साय॑कं॒ वस्वी॒रनु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Those forces of Indra, the ruler, close together in contact and unison, of varied forms and colours, brilliant as sunrays and generous and productive as cows, who are dearest favourites of the ruler, create the soma of joy and national dignity and hurl the missile of the thunderbolt upon the invader as loyal citizens of the land in accordance with the demands and discipline of freedom and self-government.

· · ·

1.84.12

ता अ॑स्य॒ नम॑सा॒ सहः॑ सप॒र्यन्ति॒ प्रचे॑तसः । व्र॒तान्य॑स्य सश्चिरे पु॒रूणि॑ पू॒र्वचि॑त्तये॒ वस्वी॒रनु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Those forces, noble and intelligent, serve and augment the courage and power of this Indra with food, energy and armaments and, as citizens of the land, as a matter of duty to the freedom and discipline of the republic, predictably join many dedicated projects and programmes of his in anticipation of success.

· · ·

1.84.13

इन्द्रो॑ दधी॒चो अ॒स्थभि॑र्वृ॒त्राण्यप्र॑तिष्कुतः । ज॒घान॑ नव॒तीर्नव॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light and space, unchallenged and unchallengeable, wields the thunderbolt and, with weapons of winds, light and thunder, breaks the clouds of ninety-nine orders of water and electricity for the sake of humanity and the earth.

· · ·

1.84.14

इ॒च्छन्नश्व॑स्य॒ यच्छिरः॒ पर्व॑ते॒ष्वप॑श्रितम् । तद्वि॑दच्छर्य॒णाव॑ति ॥

Just as the sun reaches and breaks the densest concentrations of vapours in the clouds fast moving in the regions of the sky, so should the ruler know the best part of his fastest forces stationed on the mountains and of the enemy forces lurking around and in the forests if he desires victory.

· · ·

1.84.15

अत्राह॒ गोर॑मन्वत॒ नाम॒ त्वष्टु॑रपी॒च्य॑म् । इ॒त्था च॒न्द्रम॑सो गृ॒हे ॥

Just as here on the surface of the earth and in its environment, we know, there is the beautiful light of the sun penetrating and reaching everywhere, similarly, let all know, it is there on the surface of the moon. (Just as the sun holds and illuminates the earth and the moon, so should the ruler with his light of justice and power hold and brighten every home in the land.)

· · ·

1.84.16

को अ॒द्य यु॑ङ्क्ते धु॒रि गा ऋ॒तस्य॒ शिमी॑वतो भा॒मिनो॑ दुर्हृणा॒यून् । आ॒सन्नि॑षून्हृ॒त्स्वसो॑ मयो॒भून्य ए॑षां भृ॒त्यामृ॒णध॒त्स जी॑वात् ॥

Who joins the bullocks to the front yoke of the chariot of Truth to-day as ever? The Lord Ruler of the universe. And he who joins men of noble action, heroes of passion and righteousness, frightful fighters, archers of the bow and arrow who pierce the hearts of contradictions and maintain peace and joy, may he who joins these to truth and promotes these servants of truth to prosperity live long.

· · ·

1.84.17

क ई॑षते तु॒ज्यते॒ को बि॑भाय॒ को मं॑सते॒ सन्त॒मिन्द्रं॒ को अन्ति॑ । कस्तो॒काय॒ क इभा॑यो॒त रा॒येऽधि॑ ब्रवत्त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ को जना॑य ॥

Who attacks and wins? Who is attacked and overthrown, who is smothered by fear? Who knows Indra being at the closest? Who speaks for the child? Who for the household? Who for wealth and prosperity? Who for the body? And who for the people? Who speaks for these with authority? The ruler knows.

· · ·

1.84.18

को अ॒ग्निमी॑ट्टे ह॒विषा॑ घृ॒तेन॑ स्रु॒चा य॑जाता ऋ॒तुभि॑र्ध्रु॒वेभिः॑ । कस्मै॑ दे॒वा आ व॑हाना॒शु होम॒ को मं॑सते वी॒तिहो॑त्रः सुदे॒वः ॥

Who worships Agni with ghrta and holy materials for the progress of life? Who performs yajna with ladles of offerings definitely according to the seasons? For whom do the divinities instantly bear and bring the blessings of holiness? Who, noble and generous yajaka and brilliant scholar, really knows? The lord ruler.

· · ·

1.84.19

त्वम॒ङ्ग प्र शं॑सिषो दे॒वः श॑विष्ठ॒ मर्त्य॑म् । न त्वद॒न्यो म॑घवन्नस्ति मर्डि॒तेन्द्र॒ ब्रवी॑मि ते॒ वचः॑ ॥

Anga, dear friend, Indra, dear and saviour, giver of joy, omnipotent lord, self-refulgent and omniscient, reveal the truth for mortal humanity. Lord of universal wealth, none other than you is the giver of peace and bliss. I speak the very word of yours in covenant.

· · ·

1.84.20

मा ते॒ राधां॑सि॒ मा त॑ ऊ॒तयो॑ वसो॒ऽस्मान्कदा॑ च॒ना द॑भन् । विश्वा॑ च न उपमिमी॒हि मा॑नुष॒ वसू॑नि चर्ष॒णिभ्य॒ आ ॥

Indra, universal shelter of the world, may all your blessings of wealth and modes of protection never forsake us. Loving father of humanity, grant us all the wealth of knowledge and bliss here and hereafter for all the people of the world.

✦ Sukta 85 · 12 verses ✦

1.85.1

प्र ये शुम्भ॑न्ते॒ जन॑यो॒ न सप्त॑यो॒ याम॑न्रु॒द्रस्य॑ सू॒नवः॑ सु॒दंस॑सः । रोद॑सी॒ हि म॒रुत॑श्चक्रि॒रे वृ॒धे मद॑न्ति वी॒रा वि॒दथे॑षु॒ घृष्व॑यः ॥

Maruts, the winds, currents of energy, tempestuous warriors of noble action, children of Rudra, lord of justice and dispensation, move on their highways and shine like graceful beauties and coursers of lightning speed. They fill the heaven and earth with their vibrations and actions for the sake of progress and expansion. Heroes of mighty power, they fight and rejoice in yajnic acts of creation and growth of life.

· · ·

1.85.2

त उ॑क्षि॒तासो॑ महि॒मान॑माशत दि॒वि रु॒द्रासो॒ अधि॑ चक्रिरे॒ सदः॑ । अर्च॑न्तो अ॒र्कं ज॒नय॑न्त इन्द्रि॒यमधि॒ श्रियो॑ दधिरे॒ पृश्नि॑मातरः ॥

Maruts, children of Rudra, lord of might and justice, born of space, showerers of fertility over the earth, they win grandeur for themselves and build their home high over the skies in heaven. Worshipping the sun and creating wealth of mind and material, they shine with grace over the wealth and beauty of the mortal world.

· · ·

1.85.3

गोमा॑तरो॒ यच्छु॒भय॑न्ते अ॒ञ्जिभि॑स्त॒नूषु॑ शु॒भ्रा द॑धिरे वि॒रुक्म॑तः । बाध॑न्ते॒ विश्व॑मभिमा॒तिन॒मप॒ वर्त्मा॑न्येषा॒मनु॑ रीयते घृ॒तम् ॥

Maruts, children of the earth, shining with noblest sciences and actions, commanding glowing health and handsomeness, bear light and grace of body and mind. They stall all their opponents in the world, and wherever they go, life’s nectar, ghrta and waters flow in abundance and follow in their footsteps.

· · ·

1.85.4

वि ये भ्राज॑न्ते॒ सुम॑खास ऋ॒ष्टिभिः॑ प्रच्या॒वय॑न्तो॒ अच्यु॑ता चि॒दोज॑सा । म॒नो॒जुवो॒ यन्म॑रुतो॒ रथे॒ष्वा वृष॑व्रातासः॒ पृष॑ती॒रयु॑ग्ध्वम् ॥

They are the heroes, Maruts, who shine with their own lustre, powers of noble yajnic action and scientific achievement who, moving at the speed of mind, shake even the unshakable with their mighty weapons, using the energy of wind, water and electricity. Ye, rulers and commanders of the forces, powerful tacticians and organisers, deploy the maruts and use the power of versatile wind, water and electricity in your cars and battle chariots.

· · ·

1.85.5

प्र यद्रथे॑षु॒ पृष॑ती॒रयु॑ग्ध्वं॒ वाजे॒ अद्रिं॑ मरुतो रं॒हय॑न्तः । उ॒तारु॒षस्य॒ वि ष्य॑न्ति॒ धारा॒श्चर्मे॑वो॒दभि॒र्व्यु॑न्दन्ति॒ भूम॑ ॥

O Maruts, heroes of the nation, when in the battle of life you apply the versatile winds and water which move the cloud to shower the rains, then the brilliant streams issue forth and cover the earth with water just as the streams of soma flow and soak the filter spread out for distillation.

· · ·

1.85.6

आ वो॑ वहन्तु॒ सप्त॑यो रघु॒ष्यदो॑ रघु॒पत्वा॑नः॒ प्र जि॑गात बा॒हुभिः॑ । सीद॒ता ब॒र्हिरु॒रु वः॒ सद॑स्कृ॒तं मा॒दय॑ध्वं मरुतो॒ मध्वो॒ अन्ध॑सः ॥

Maruts, may superfast vehicles transport you here and everywhere. May the flying planes at top speed take you anywhere by the force of their arms. Come, the chamber is made ready for you. Come and be comfortable in the seats. Enjoy yourselves with honey sweets of food and drink.

· · ·

1.85.7

ते॑ऽवर्धन्त॒ स्वत॑वसो महित्व॒ना नाकं॑ त॒स्थुरु॒रु च॑क्रिरे॒ सदः॑ । विष्णु॒र्यद्धाव॒द्वृष॑णं मद॒च्युतं॒ वयो॒ न सी॑द॒न्नधि॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ प्रि॒ये ॥

They surely grow and advance by their own strength and high merit, abide in regions of bliss and expand their home whom Vishnu, lord of knowledge and science, protects while they ride a luxurious plane powered by wind and water and, seated in a beautiful and comfortable chamber, they fly like birds.

· · ·

1.85.8

शूरा॑इ॒वेद्युयु॑धयो॒ न जग्म॑यः श्रव॒स्यवो॒ न पृत॑नासु येतिरे । भय॑न्ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना म॒रुद्भ्यो॒ राजा॑नइव त्वे॒षसं॑दृशो॒ नरः॑ ॥

Like heroes they are warriors. Like warriors they rise and advance. In battles they strike like flying dragons. The entire world quakes with fear of the Maruts. They are leaders of men blazing in majesty like emperors.

· · ·

1.85.9

त्वष्टा॒ यद्वज्रं॒ सुकृ॑तं हिर॒ण्ययं॑ स॒हस्र॑भृष्टिं॒ स्वपा॒ अव॑र्तयत् । ध॒त्त इन्द्रो॒ नर्यपां॑सि॒ कर्त॒वेऽह॑न्वृ॒त्रं निर॒पामौ॑ब्जदर्ण॒वम् ॥

Tvashta, the expert maker of weapons, tools and instruments for defence and development, provides the thunderbolt, total infrastructure, well-done, golden and capable of countless possibilities of performance. Indra, mighty ruler, defender and creator, wields that thunderbolt and apparatus for the accomplishment of desired and planned actions in the world of humanity. He strikes Vrtra, the cloud holding waters of fertility, the resources of materials and energy, and thus releases the oceanic flow of wealth. (This is how scientific, technological and economic development of the human nation goes on for the achievement of economic prosperity, political stability and generous happiness and well-being for all. All through, the Maruts are active since they are nature’s forces ever at work anywhere and everywhere.)

· · ·

1.85.10

ऊ॒र्ध्वं नु॑नुद्रेऽव॒तं त ओज॑सा दादृहा॒णं चि॑द्बिभिदु॒र्वि पर्व॑तम् । धम॑न्तो वा॒णं म॒रुतः॑ सु॒दान॑वो॒ मदे॒ सोम॑स्य॒ रण्या॑नि चक्रिरे ॥

With their lustrous power and valour, up and high they impel the cloud holding the reservoir of water, drive it on and break it to release the flow of energy for earth’s fertility. Blowing the conch, they call upon the nation and, playing the veena and burnishing their weapons, the tempestuous Maruts, commanders of Indra, generous heroes of humanity, perform delightful acts of joy and martial celebration in the midst of life’s ecstasy.

· · ·

1.85.11

जि॒ह्मं नु॑नुद्रेऽव॒तं तया॑ दि॒शासि॑ञ्च॒न्नुत्सं॒ गोत॑माय तृ॒ष्णजे॑ । आ ग॑च्छन्ती॒मव॑सा चि॒त्रभा॑नवः॒ कामं॒ विप्र॑स्य तर्पयन्त॒ धाम॑भिः ॥

Maruts, powers of wondrous light with their might and generosity direct the controlled waters of the cloud by various paths in the desired directions, filling wells, tanks, springs and depressions for the thirsting children of the earth. Thus do the powers of beneficence come to the earth with protection and progress fulfilling the need of noble humanity with their power and potential.

· · ·

1.85.12

या वः॒ शर्म॑ शशमा॒नाय॒ सन्ति॑ त्रि॒धातू॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ यच्छ॒ताधि॑ । अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ तानि॑ मरुतो॒ वि य॑न्त र॒यिं नो॑ धत्त वृषणः सु॒वीर॑म् ॥

O Maruts, dynamic powers of nature and humanity, creative, generous and kind, whatever your gifts of shelter, comfort and protection there be, whatever gifts of balanced health and triple physical, mental and material wealth there be, bear and bring for the toiling, working, worshipping humanity, specially for the generous man of philanthropy. Powers and showers of divine favours, bear and bring for us those gifts of wealth and brave progeny.

✦ Sukta 86 · 10 verses ✦

1.86.1

मरु॑तो॒ यस्य॒ हि क्षये॑ पा॒था दि॒वो वि॑महसः । स सु॑गो॒पात॑मो॒ जनः॑ ॥

Maruts, dear as the breath of life, bright as the light of heaven, agents of great and adorable action, the person whose house you visit and bless with protection grows to be the most secure and meritorious person.

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1.86.2

य॒ज्ञैर्वा॑ यज्ञवाहसो॒ विप्र॑स्य वा मती॒नाम् । मरु॑तः शृणु॒ता हव॑म् ॥

Maruts, carriers and promoters of universal yajna by various acts of yajna in nature and society, listen to the prayer and invocations of the pious and intelligent people and promote their acts of holiness.

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1.86.3

उ॒त वा॒ यस्य॑ वा॒जिनोऽनु॒ विप्र॒मत॑क्षत । स गन्ता॒ गोम॑ति व्र॒जे ॥

Maruts, powers of exceptional speed and intelligence, the man of knowledge whom you shape into a sophisticated scholar of eminence grows to be a pioneer on the path of the stars.

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1.86.4

अ॒स्य वी॒रस्य॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ सु॒तः सोमो॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु । उ॒क्थं मद॑श्च शस्यते ॥

The soma of honour and fame distilled on the holy seats of yajna, the holy chant of praise, and the joy and celebration of the brilliant achievement of this brave young man is exceptional and it is raised all round.

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1.86.5

अ॒स्य श्रो॑ष॒न्त्वा भुवो॒ विश्वा॒ यश्च॑र्ष॒णीर॒भि । सूरं॑ चित्स॒स्रुषी॒रिषः॑ ॥

Let all people of the world listen to this brave young man and let their homage reach him as the homage and gratitude of the world reaches the sun for the gift of light and life.

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1.86.6

पू॒र्वाभि॒र्हि द॑दाशि॒म श॒रद्भि॑र्मरुतो व॒यम् । अवो॑भिश्चर्षणी॒नाम् ॥

Maruts, dynamic powers of brilliance and generosity, old and ancient, just as you have been giving knowledge, power and protection to humanity since the earliest years of life, so may we, we pray, do honour and homage to you with the faithful gifts of a grateful people.

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1.86.7

सु॒भगः॒ स प्र॑यज्यवो॒ मरु॑तो अस्तु॒ मर्त्यः॑ । यस्य॒ प्रयां॑सि॒ पर्ष॑थ ॥

Maruts, adorable yajnic powers, generous and self sacrificing, surely that person is fortunate and prosperous whose delightful oblations you bless and sprinkle with the showers of your favours.

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1.86.8

श॒श॒मा॒नस्य॑ वा नरः॒ स्वेद॑स्य सत्यशवसः । वि॒दा काम॑स्य॒ वेन॑तः ॥

Maruts, dynamic powers of action and generosity, know and fulfil the plan and desire of the man truly courageous and powerful, knowledgeable, cultured and graceful who honestly lives by the sweat of his brow.

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1.86.9

यू॒यं तत्स॑त्यशवस आ॒विष्क॑र्त महित्व॒ना । विध्य॑ता वि॒द्युता॒ रक्षः॑ ॥

Maruts, men of real courage and power, with your honour and reputation and technological weapons, let that power and force come into play which would fix and break down the forces of crime and evil from the social scene.

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1.86.10

गूह॑ता॒ गुह्यं॒ तमो॒ वि या॑त॒ विश्व॑म॒त्रिण॑म् । ज्योति॑ष्कर्ता॒ यदु॒श्मसि॑ ॥

Maruts, powers of courage and justice, uncover and reduce the deep darkness of want and ignorance to nullity, eliminate the voracious hoarders of the world, and create the light that we love and adore.

✦ Sukta 87 · 6 verses ✦

1.87.1

प्रत्व॑क्षसः॒ प्रत॑वसो विर॒प्शिनोऽना॑नता॒ अवि॑थुरा ऋजी॒षिणः॑ । जुष्ट॑तमासो॒ नृत॑मासो अ॒ञ्जिभि॒र्व्या॑नज्रे॒ के चि॑दु॒स्राइ॑व॒ स्तृभिः॑ ॥

Maruts, shaping and refining powers of life and nature, active powerfully, mighty exuberant, unbent, unshaken, lovers of truth, knowledge and joy to the last drop of soma, most adorable, foremost leaders of humanity shine as the lights of dawn with their splendour and cover the beauty of life with their blessings of protection.

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1.87.2

उ॒प॒ह्व॒रेषु॒ यदचि॑ध्वं य॒यिं वय॑इव मरुतः॒ केन॑ चित्प॒था । श्चोत॑न्ति॒ कोशा॒ उप॑ वो॒ रथे॒ष्वा घृ॒तमु॑क्षता॒ मधु॑वर्ण॒मर्च॑ते ॥

O Maruts, tempestuous heroes of the human nation, flying like birds by whatever path you choose, whatever the prize of success and victory you collect on your winding courses, the clouds consecrate you around your chariots, and shower golden honey-ghrta on the admiring faithfuls dedicated to you and your project.

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1.87.3

प्रैषा॒मज्मे॑षु विथु॒रेव॑ रेजते॒ भूमि॒र्यामे॑षु॒ यद्ध॑ यु॒ञ्जते॑ शु॒भे । ते क्री॒ळयो॒ धुन॑यो॒ भ्राज॑दृष्टयः स्व॒यं म॑हि॒त्वं प॑नयन्त॒ धूत॑यः ॥

During their mighty operations the earth vibrates like a maiden stricken with awe when the Maruts launch upon their noble courses. And they, sporting, shaking, burnishing their weapons and storming, mount up their own grandeur by themselves.

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1.87.4

स हि स्व॒सृत्पृष॑दश्वो॒ युवा॑ ग॒णो॒३॒॑या ई॑शा॒नस्तवि॑षीभि॒रावृ॑तः । असि॑ स॒त्य ऋ॑ण॒यावाने॑द्यो॒ऽस्या धि॒यः प्रा॑वि॒ताथा॒ वृषा॑ ग॒णः ॥

The same force of Maruts, troop of heroes, young, self-inspired and inspiring their people, equipped with variety of tempestuous horse-power, all ruling with comprehensive intelligence, clothed in the light of essential merit and grandeur, you are realistic and dedicated to truth, acquitting yourselves of your obligations, worthy of praise, protectors of this intelligence of the nation with promotion and progress, and generous as blessed winds that bring showers of rain.

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1.87.5

पि॒तुः प्र॒त्नस्य॒ जन्म॑ना वदामसि॒ सोम॑स्य जि॒ह्वा प्र जि॑गाति॒ चक्ष॑सा । यदी॒मिन्द्रं॒ शम्यृक्वा॑ण॒ आश॒तादिन्नामा॑नि य॒ज्ञिया॑नि दधिरे ॥

We speak of the ancient and eternal Lord by virtue of birth from the same father of creation. By virtue of the joy of being and the sight and light of the sun, the tongue celebrates and advances the language of knowledge. Those researching and activating water and energy study the Rks and realise the knowledge and power, and then define the names, properties and yajnic uses of these in peace for progress.

· · ·

1.87.6

श्रि॒यसे॒ कं भा॒नुभिः॒ सं मि॑मिक्षिरे॒ ते र॒श्मिभि॒स्त ऋक्व॑भिः सुखा॒दयः॑ । ते वाशी॑मन्त इ॒ष्मिणो॒ अभी॑रवो वि॒द्रे प्रि॒यस्य॒ मारु॑तस्य॒ धाम्नः॑ ॥

For the sake of the beauty, comfort and culture of life, they mix water with the flames of fire and clouds with the rays of the sun with the advice of the scholars of Rks, and they bring showers of rain. And, blest with sophisticated instruments and weapons, impetuous of speed and power, free of fear, they know the secrets and sources of the wondrous and dear energies of the Maruts.

✦ Sukta 88 · 6 verses ✦

1.88.1

आ वि॒द्युन्म॑द्भिर्मरुतः स्व॒र्कै रथे॑भिर्यात ऋष्टि॒मद्भि॒रश्व॑पर्णैः । आ वर्षि॑ष्ठया न इ॒षा वयो॒ न प॑प्तता सुमायाः ॥

Maruts, heroes of the speed of winds, masters of wondrous science and power, go far by brilliant electric chariots fitted with high-powered weapons and equipped with aerial wings and, flying like birds, come to us with food and energy of the best and highest quality.

· · ·

1.88.2

ते॑ऽरु॒णेभि॒र्वर॒मा पि॒शङ्गैः॑ शु॒भे कं या॑न्ति रथ॒तूर्भि॒रश्वैः॑ । रु॒क्मो न चि॒त्रः स्वधि॑तीवान्प॒व्या रथ॑स्य जङ्घनन्त॒ भूम॑ ॥

Maruts, heroes of the speed of winds, come to high comfort for the sake of noble work by chariots powered by red flaming and yellow fire power and used for horses on the wing. The troop of heroes, brilliant as well as wonderful, commanding the force of thunder bolt, arrives striking and breaking the ground with the felly of the chariot wheel.

· · ·

1.88.3

श्रि॒ये कं वो॒ अधि॑ त॒नूषु॒ वाशी॑र्मे॒धा वना॒ न कृ॑णवन्त ऊ॒र्ध्वा । यु॒ष्मभ्यं॒ कं म॑रुतः सुजातास्तुविद्यु॒म्नासो॑ धनयन्ते॒ अद्रि॑म् ॥

For the grace of beauty, freedom and power, and to provide you comfort, they raise the level of intelligence and knowledge of the divine Word of the Veda in your personality just as they raise and develop the trees of the forest. The Maruts, high born, abundant and exuberant in the wealth and knowledge of nature and mind, enrich the cloud and the mountain to bear fruit and provide comfort and joy for you.

· · ·

1.88.4

अहा॑नि॒ गृध्राः॒ पर्या व॒ आगु॑रि॒मां धियं॑ वार्का॒र्यां च॑ दे॒वीम् । ब्रह्म॑ कृ॒ण्वन्तो॒ गोत॑मासो अ॒र्कैरू॒र्ध्वं नु॑नुद्र उत्स॒धिं पिब॑ध्यै ॥

Lovers of noble ambition, good days are come for you all round. Scholars of divine knowledge creating food for knowledge and spirit with the chant of holy mantras inspire this brilliant vision and intelligence of yours pure as celestial waters. Just as they uplift the water to provide drink and irrigation to dry area, so they impel our knowledge and intelligence to rise high.

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1.88.5

ए॒तत्त्यन्न योज॑नमचेति स॒स्वर्ह॒ यन्म॑रुतो॒ गोत॑मो वः । पश्य॒न्हिर॑ण्यचक्रा॒नयो॑दंष्ट्रान्वि॒धाव॑तो व॒राहू॑न् ॥

Maruts, heroes of knowledge and action moving at the speed of winds, this order of knowledge, action, science and progress which the scholars of science and Divinity, seeing the chariots of golden wheels and jaws of steel flying around and roaring, describes and teaches like an ideal teacher, awakens you to higher consciousness of knowledge and responsibility.

· · ·

1.88.6

ए॒षा स्या वो॑ मरुतोऽनुभ॒र्त्री प्रति॑ ष्टोभति वा॒घतो॒ न वाणी॑ । अस्तो॑भय॒द्वृथा॑सा॒मनु॑ स्व॒धां गभ॑स्त्योः ॥

Maruts, heroes of the winds and leaders of humanity, this voice of celebration is replete with nourishment and confirmation of your honour and valour. It defines your action and achievement and, in consequence, it commits you to your honour and duty as the voice of the high priest commits the yajamana to his duty on purpose, according to the power and potential in his hands.

✦ Sukta 89 · 10 verses ✦

1.89.1

आ नो॑ भ॒द्राः क्रत॑वो यन्तु वि॒श्वतोऽद॑ब्धासो॒ अप॑रीतास उ॒द्भिदः॑ । दे॒वा नो॒ यथा॒ सद॒मिद् वृ॒धे अस॒न्नप्रा॑युवो रक्षि॒तारो॑ दि॒वेऽदि॑वे ॥

From all sides, may noble thoughts, actions and meritorious people come and bless us, people fearless, indispensable, creative and all round saviours. Long lived they be, these noble ones of divine character, ever progressive and protective for us so that our life and home may grow and advance day by day.

· · ·

1.89.2

दे॒वानां॑ भ॒द्रा सु॑म॒तिर्ऋ॑जूय॒तां दे॒वानां॑ रा॒तिर॒भि नो॒ नि व॑र्तताम् । दे॒वानां॑ स॒ख्यमुप॑ सेदिमा व॒यं दे॒वा न॒ आयुः॒ प्र ति॑रन्तु जी॒वसे॑ ॥

May the holy wisdom of the noble people dedicated to truth, simplicity and divinity come and bless us. May the wealth and generosity of the self-realised souls ever shine on us. May we ever be close to the love and friendship of the creative and brilliant people. May all powers of divinity bless us with good health and long age for a noble and full life.

· · ·

1.89.3

तान् पूर्व॑या नि॒विदा॑ हूमहे व॒यं भगं॑ मि॒त्रमदि॑तिं॒ दक्ष॑म॒स्रिध॑म् । अ॒र्य॒मणं॒ वरु॑णं॒ सोम॑म॒श्विना॒ सर॑स्वती नः सु॒भगा॒ मय॑स्करत् ॥

Them, with the ancient and eternal Vedic voice of omniscience, do we invoke and celebrate: we praise and celebrate Bhaga, lord of glory, Mitra, universal friend, Aditi, mother of light, Daksha, lord of skill and expertise, Asridha, lord of love and ahinsa, Aryaman, lord of justice, Varuna, lord of all virtue worthy of choice, Soma, lord of beauty, peace and joy, Ashvins, lords of natural complementarities, and Sarasvati, mother of knowledge and learning and giver of good fortune who may, we pray, do us all the good in life.

· · ·

1.89.4

तन्नो॒ वातो॑ मयो॒भु वा॑तु भेष॒जं तन्मा॒ता पृ॑थि॒वी तत्पि॒ता द्यौः । तद् ग्रावा॑णः सोम॒सुतो॑ मयो॒भुव॒स्तद॑श्विना शृणुतं धिष्ण्या यु॒वम् ॥

May the wind, refreshing and delightful, blow good and bring us that healthful medicinal freshness and joy. May mother earth and father sun give us that fresh lease of life. May the clouds, showers of joy, and the soma press of yajna rain down peace, health and happiness on us. O Ashvins, both nature’s powers of growth, complementarity and enlightenment, innately vested with universal wisdom, listen to our prayer.

· · ·

1.89.5

तमीशा॑नं॒ जग॑तस्त॒स्थुष॒स्पतिं॑ धियंजि॒न्वमव॑से हूमहे व॒यम् । पू॒षा नो॒ यथा॒ वेद॑सा॒मस॑द्वृ॒धे र॑क्षि॒ता पा॒युरद॑ब्धः स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

For our safety and protection, we invoke and pray to that Lord Ruler of the universe, father and controller of the moving and the non-moving world who inspires and enlightens our mind and sense so that Pusha, lord of health and growth, beyond fear and violence, protector and giver of nourishment be kind and favourable to us for our good and for the growth of our knowledge and competence.

· · ·

1.89.6

स्व॒स्ति न॒ इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒द्धश्र॑वाः स्व॒स्ति नः॑ पू॒षा वि॒श्ववे॑दाः । स्व॒स्ति न॒स्तार्क्ष्यो॒ अरि॑ष्टनेमिः स्व॒स्ति नो॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्दधातु ॥

May Indra, lord of power and majesty, abundant in food, energy and honour, be for our good and bless us with favours. May Pusha, lord of universal growth, be for our good and bless us with progress. May Tarkshya, lord inviolable, worthy of love and friendship, destroyer of suffering, be good for us and bless us with good fortune. And may Brhaspati, lord of universal knowledge and wisdom be good and bless us with knowledge, wisdom and sweet language.

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1.89.7

पृष॑दश्वा म॒रुतः॒ पृश्नि॑मातरः शुभं॒यावा॑नो वि॒दथे॑षु॒ जग्म॑यः । अ॒ग्नि॒जि॒ह्वा मन॑वः॒ सूर॑चक्षसो॒ विश्वे॑ नो दे॒वा अव॒सा ग॑मन्नि॒ह ॥

Maruts, tempestuous heroes of war, of a variety of horses and chariots, children of the earth, lovers of good and beauty, moving to yajnas and marching to battles, having tongues of fire, thoughtful, radiant as the sun, all of them choice nobilities of the world may, we pray, come to us with the gift of protection and progress.

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1.89.8

भ॒द्रं कर्णे॑भिः शृणुयाम देवा भ॒द्रं प॑श्येमा॒क्षभि॑र्यजत्राः । स्थि॒रैरङ्गै॑स्तुष्टु॒वांस॑स्त॒नूभि॒र्व्य॑शेम दे॒वहि॑तं॒ यदायुः॑ ॥

Noble people of brilliant, generous and divine nature, help us to hear with our

ears what is good and beneficial. Noble people dedicated to yajna, may we, by your favour and kindness see with our eyes what is good and elevating. May we, enjoying with firm and strong bodies and body parts, thanking the Lord Divine and praising the things given by Him live a full life fit for and blest by the divinities.

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1.89.9

श॒तमिन्नु श॒रदो॒ अन्ति॑ देवा॒ यत्रा॑ नश्च॒क्रा ज॒रसं॑ त॒नूना॑म् । पु॒त्रासो॒ यत्र॑ पि॒तरो॒ भव॑न्ति॒ मा नो॑ म॒ध्या री॑रिष॒तायु॒र्गन्तोः॑ ॥

O Devas, powers of nature and divinity, hundred years is the proximity of our life in which are also provided the years of our old age. In that very period, our children will grow to be the fathers of their children. We pray, let not the life line of a person moving on to the hundred year mark be snapped on the way.

· · ·

1.89.10

अदि॑ति॒र्द्यौरदि॑तिर॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒मदि॑तिर्मा॒ता स पि॒ता स पु॒त्रः । विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अदि॑तिः॒ पञ्च॒ जना॒ अदि॑तिर्जा॒तमदि॑ति॒र्जनि॑त्वम् ॥

Heaven, the region of light, the lord of light, is eternal, imperishable. Akasha, i.e., the sky region is eternal. Mother is eternal. The father is eternal. The son is eternal. All the divinities of nature and humanity are eternal. The five orders of society are eternal. All that is born is eternal. All that is being born and will be born is eternal. Note: Eternal, imperishable, permanent: these terms are to be understood in the context of Vedic philosophy, and not in the context of daily life. Things are eternal in two ways: essentially and existentially. God, i.e., Ishvara/Brahma, jiva/ the soul, and Prakrti, these are eternal essentially. They are there when the universe is created and they remain after the life of one creation is over at the time of pralaya, annihilation. But the things that come into existence at the time of creation, such as light, sun, sky, air, water, earth, human and other forms of life, human relations such as father, mother, son, daughter, classes of people etc., go out of existence to annihilation at the time of pralaya. And yet, at the time of the next creation, they come into existence again. Thus they come into existence and go out of existence, and this flow of existence-non existence continues for all time, eternally. This flow is eternal. This flow is called Pravaha. These things are eternal in relation to this flow of existence. They are eternal existencially. The three, God, soul and Prakrti (nature) are eternal essentially.

✦ Sukta 90 · 9 verses ✦

1.90.1

ऋ॒जु॒नी॒ती नो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो न॑यतु वि॒द्वान् । अ॒र्य॒मा दे॒वैः स॒जोषाः॑ ॥

May God, Lord Omniscient, Varuna, lord of justice and worthy of our intelligent choice, Mitra, lord of universal friendship, and the man of knowledge, wisdom and divine vision bless us with a natural simple and honest way of living. May Aryama, lord of justice and dispensation, bless us with a straight way of living without pretence. May He, lord of love who loves us and whom we love bless us with the company of noble, generous and brilliant people in humanity, and may He grant us the benefit of such generous powers of nature.

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1.90.2

ते हि वस्वो॒ वस॑वाना॒स्ते अप्र॑मूरा॒ महो॑भिः । व्र॒ता र॑क्षन्ते वि॒श्वाहा॑ ॥

They are the wealth, they are the values. They shower all with wealth and the values of life. They are intelligent, they know, they are great with great things and grandeur of existence. They guard and maintain the discipline and laws of life for all time.

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1.90.3

ते अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ यंसन्न॒मृता॒ मर्त्ये॑भ्यः । बाध॑माना॒ अप॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

May they, lords of power and intelligence, immortal and free, bring us, for all the mortals, comfort and well-being, keeping off hate and enmity.

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1.90.4

वि नः॑ प॒थः सु॑वि॒ताय॑ चि॒यन्त्विन्द्रो॑ म॒रुतः॑ । पू॒षा भगो॒ वन्द्या॑सः ॥

May Indra, lord of power and majesty, Maruts, vibrant powers of nature and leaders of humanity, Pusha, lord of health and growth, Bhaga, lord of plenty and good fortune, all worthy of adoration, select and prepare for us the right paths of living and confirm us in the good life for comfort and well-being.

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1.90.5

उ॒त नो॒ धियो॒ गोअ॑ग्राः॒ पूष॒न्विष्ण॒वेव॑यावः । कर्ता॑ नः स्वस्ति॒मतः॑ ॥

Pusha, lord of health and growth, Vishnu, lord omnipresent, and the leading man of enlightenment may, we pray, guide us to the intelligence and imagination which may issue in the right sense of perception, will and action, and may they confirm us in the good life of plenty and well-being.

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1.90.6

मधु॒ वाता॑ ऋताय॒ते मधु॑ क्षरन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वः । माध्वी॑र्नः स॒न्त्वोष॑धीः ॥

Sweet as honey the winds blow for the soul of simplicity and naturalness. The waters rain, rivers flow and the oceans roll sweet as honey. May the herbs too be sweet as honey for us all.

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1.90.7

मधु॒ नक्त॑मु॒तोषसो॒ मधु॑म॒त्पार्थि॑वं॒ रजः॑ । मधु॒ द्यौर॑स्तु नः पि॒ता ॥

May the night be soothing sweet as honey. May the days be energetic sweet as honey. May the dust of earth be fragrant sweet as honey. And may the sun in heaven, our father, shine bright and sweet as honey.

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1.90.8

मधु॑मान्नो॒ वन॒स्पति॒र्मधु॑माँ अस्तु॒ सूर्यः॑ । माध्वी॒र्गावो॑ भवन्तु नः ॥

May the trees be full of honey for us. May the sun be full of honey for us. May the cows be abundant in honey sweet milk for us.

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1.90.9

शं नो॑ मि॒त्रः शं वरु॑णः॒ शं नो॑ भवत्वर्य॒मा । शं न॒ इन्द्रो॒ बृह॒स्पतिः॒ शं नो॒ विष्णु॑रुरुक्र॒मः ॥

May Mitra bless us with peace. May Varuna bring us peace. MayAryama lead us to peace. May Indra and Brhaspati shower us with peace. May Vishnu, lord of mighty action, bless us with peace and action.

✦ Sukta 91 · 23 verses ✦

1.91.1

त्वं सो॑म॒ प्र चि॑कितो मनी॒षा त्वं रजि॑ष्ठ॒मनु॑ नेषि॒ पन्था॑म् । तव॒ प्रणी॑ती पि॒तरो॑ न इन्दो दे॒वेषु॒ रत्न॑मभजन्त॒ धीराः॑ ॥

Soma, lord of peace, power and joy, you are wide-awake with understanding and alertness of mind. You lead to the simple, natural and truthful path of life and action. By virtue of your guidance and leadership, soothing and gracious as the moon, our wise seniors and forefathers enjoy the very jewels of life among the divinities.

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1.91.2

त्वं सो॑म॒ क्रतु॑भिः सु॒क्रतु॑र्भू॒स्त्वं दक्षैः॑ सु॒दक्षो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दाः । त्वं वृषा॑ वृष॒त्वेभि॑र्महि॒त्वा द्यु॒म्नेभि॑र्द्यु॒म्न्य॑भवो नृ॒चक्षाः॑ ॥

Soma, lord of peace and joy, with acts of knowledge, vision and wisdom, you are a hero of noble action. With science and expertise, you are the specialist, possessed of universal knowledge. With showers of generosity and noble qualities, you are generous as the cloud. Lord of knowledge and vision of humanity, with your wealth and charities, you are the ideal honoured philanthropist.

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1.91.3

राज्ञो॒ नु ते॒ वरु॑णस्य व्र॒तानि॑ बृ॒हद्ग॑भी॒रं तव॑ सोम॒ धाम॑ । शुचि॒ष्ट्वम॑सि प्रि॒यो न मि॒त्रो द॒क्षाय्यो॑ अर्य॒मेवा॑सि सोम ॥

Soma, royal and exceptional are your vows of discipline dedicated to the world ruler Varuna. Grand and deep is your home. Pure and immaculate are you, dear as a bosom friend, Soma, and master of ceremonies as the foremost leader of a yajna.

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1.91.4

या ते॒ धामा॑नि दि॒वि या पृ॑थि॒व्यां या पर्व॑ते॒ष्वोष॑धीष्व॒प्सु । तेभि॑र्नो॒ विश्वैः॑ सु॒मना॒ अहे॑ळ॒न्राज॑न्त्सोम॒ प्रति॑ ह॒व्या गृ॑भाय ॥

Soma, ruling lord of vitality, life and joy, whatever and wherever your homes in the regions of light, wherever on earth, wherever on the mountains, wherever in the herbs and waters, with all of them, lord good at heart and well-disposed, bless us with the holy materials for yajna and, in return, accept our homage of yajnic oblations.

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1.91.5

त्वं सो॑मासि॒ सत्प॑ति॒स्त्वं राजो॒त वृ॑त्र॒हा । त्वं भ॒द्रो अ॑सि॒ क्रतुः॑ ॥

Soma, you are the lord and ruler of the ultimate and essential reality of existence. You are the ruler and controller of the negativities of existence and a breaker of the clouds of rain. You are the ultimate good and kind father, lord of yajna, omniscient, giver of knowledge, creator of knowledge and yajna.

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1.91.6

त्वं च॑ सोम नो॒ वशो॑ जी॒वातुं॒ न म॑रामहे । प्रि॒यस्तो॑त्रो॒ वन॒स्पतिः॑ ॥

Soma, you are the pleasure, beauty and charm of our life for health and age. By virtue of you, we shall not die. You are the darling magic mantra against mortality, the ultimate Tree of Life and freedom.

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1.91.7

त्वं सो॑म म॒हे भगं॒ त्वं यून॑ ऋताय॒ते । दक्षं॑ दधासि जी॒वसे॑ ॥

For the great and young and the devotee of simplicity, nature and universal law, you bring science and expertise and great wealth of special knowledge for life, well-being and full age.

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1.91.8

त्वं नः॑ सोम वि॒श्वतो॒ रक्षा॑ राजन्नघाय॒तः । न रि॑ष्ये॒त्त्वाव॑तः॒ सखा॑ ॥

Soma, ruler of life and nature, you are the all round protector of ours against all sin and evil. No friend and devotee of yours under your divine protection ever suffers. He never perishes.

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1.91.9

सोम॒ यास्ते॑ मयो॒भुव॑ ऊ॒तयः॒ सन्ति॑ दा॒शुषे॑ । ताभि॑र्नोऽवि॒ता भ॑व ॥

Soma, whatever safeguards, protections and immunities of yours there be, refreshing and rejuvenating for the generous and the charitable, with those be the saviour and protector for us too.

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1.91.10

इ॒मं य॒ज्ञमि॒दं वचो॑ जुजुषा॒ण उ॒पाग॑हि । सोम॒ त्वं नो॑ वृ॒धे भ॑व ॥

Soma, accept this yajna, this yajnic homage of divine words, come close and be good and kind for our growth and progress.

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1.91.11

सोम॑ गी॒र्भिष्ट्वा॑ व॒यं व॒र्धया॑मो वचो॒विदः॑ । सु॒मृ॒ळी॒को न॒ आ वि॑श ॥

Soma, lord of health and well-being, we praise, celebrate and extol you in the words we know, which describe your virtues and powers. Harbinger of peace and well-being, come and be with us.

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1.91.12

ग॒य॒स्फानो॑ अमीव॒हा व॑सु॒वित्पु॑ष्टि॒वर्ध॑नः । सु॒मि॒त्रः सो॑म नो भव ॥

Soma, you are the giver and promoter of pranic vitality. You are the destroyer of disease. You are the lord giver of the wealth of good health and growth with nourishment. You are a good friend. Come and be with us.

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1.91.13

सोम॑ रार॒न्धि नो॑ हृ॒दि गावो॒ न यव॑से॒ष्वा । मर्य॑ इव॒ स्व ओ॒क्ये॑ ॥

Soma, come and abide with pleasure in our heart, and let us be at peace with delight at heart as cows are in the fields of rich barley and humans are at peace in security in their own homes.

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1.91.14

यः सो॑म स॒ख्ये तव॑ रा॒रण॑द्देव॒ मर्त्यः॑ । तं दक्षः॑ सचते क॒विः ॥

Soma, lord of health and happiness, lucky is the man who enjoys life in your company with your delightful gifts. The man of efficiency loves to have him for company, and the poet loves to sing of him.

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1.91.15

उ॒रु॒ष्या णो॑ अ॒भिश॑स्तेः॒ सोम॒ नि पा॒ह्यंह॑सः । सखा॑ सु॒शेव॑ एधि नः ॥

Soma, lord of health and happiness, guard us against hate, imprecation and depression. Save us from sin and damnation. Come, we pray, and be with us a good friend, philosopher and guide.

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1.91.16

आ प्या॑यस्व॒ समे॑तु ते वि॒श्वतः॑ सोम॒ वृष्ण्य॑म् । भवा॒ वाज॑स्य संग॒थे ॥

Source and secret of health and life, Soma, lord giver of strength and vitality, grow and help us grow. May growth and progress come to you from all round. Let it come to us from all round. Be at the heart of congregations and in the thick of battles where strength and courage rule the life for victory.

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1.91.17

आ प्या॑यस्व मदिन्तम॒ सोम॒ विश्वे॑भिरं॒शुभिः॑ । भवा॑ नः सु॒श्रव॑स्तमः॒ सखा॑ वृ॒धे ॥

Most ecstatic Soma, grow all round with every filament of growth, with the rays of the sun all round, with every libation in the vedi, and help us grow too. Be a friend of ours, most reputable and prosperous, for all round growth.

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1.91.18

सं ते॒ पयां॑सि॒ समु॑ यन्तु॒ वाजाः॒ सं वृष्ण्या॑न्यभिमाति॒षाहः॑ । आ॒प्याय॑मानो अ॒मृता॑य सोम दि॒वि श्रवां॑स्युत्त॒मानि॑ धिष्व ॥

Soma, lord of light, health and energy of life, may all the waters, foods and vitalities of existence, antidotes to the negativities of existence come to you in abundance, and may all those abundant and powerful drinks, foods and energies of yours come to us and augment our vitality to fight out the negative and cancerous forces of life. Lord of life, thus strengthened by nature in the regions of light and blessing us for health and immortality, bear for us the best of foods and energies of life for growth and for victory in the battles of life.

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1.91.19

या ते॒ धामा॑नि ह॒विषा॒ यज॑न्ति॒ ता ते॒ विश्वा॑ परि॒भूर॑स्तु य॒ज्ञम् । ग॒य॒स्फानः॑ प्र॒तर॑णः सु॒वीरोऽवी॑रहा॒ प्र च॑रा सोम॒ दुर्या॑न् ॥

Soma, lord of life, energy and vitality, all those places and nature’s activities which feed and promote your yajna of evolution may, we pray, bless and benefit us. Lord supreme over all, generous giver of promotion and progress, saviour across the seas of life, commander of the brave and support of the meek, be close to us, our families and our homes.

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1.91.20

सोमो॑ धे॒नुं सोमो॒ अर्व॑न्तमा॒शुं सोमो॑ वी॒रं क॑र्म॒ण्यं॑ ददाति । सा॒द॒न्यं॑ विद॒थ्यं॑ स॒भेयं॑ पितृ॒श्रव॑णं॒ यो ददा॑शदस्मै ॥

Blessed is the man who gives in faith in homage to Soma, this lord of life, to augment his yajna of evolution at the human level. And Soma gives him the cow, the fast horse, the brave hero for progeny dedicated to the family and the home, yajna and the battles of life, the congregation and the assembly, and the words and wishes of the parents.

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1.91.21

अषा॑ळ्हं यु॒त्सु पृत॑नासु॒ पप्रिं॑ स्व॒र्षाम॒प्सां वृ॒जन॑स्य गो॒पाम् । भ॒रे॒षु॒जां सु॑क्षि॒तिं सु॒श्रव॑सं॒ जय॑न्तं॒ त्वामनु॑ मदेम सोम ॥

Soma, lord of joy, ecstasy and generosity in abundance, informidable in battles, protective and promotive in contests, abundant in the shower of waters, preserver of strength, hero of abundance in means of defence, lord of land and shelter, commanding fame and honour, and always victorious, we praise and celebrate you and enjoy life with you.

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1.91.22

त्वमि॒मा ओष॑धीः सोम॒ विश्वा॒स्त्वम॒पो अ॑जनय॒स्त्वं गाः । त्वमा त॑तन्थो॒र्व१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षं॒ त्वं ज्योति॑षा॒ वि तमो॑ ववर्थ ॥

Soma, lord of creation and evolution, you create all these herbs of the world, you create the waters, the mind and senses, the cows, the earths and all else that moves. You create, expand and pervade the skies, and you dispel the dark and cover the spaces with light.

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1.91.23

दे॒वेन॑ नो॒ मन॑सा देव सोम रा॒यो भा॒गं स॑हसावन्न॒भि यु॑ध्य । मा त्वा त॑न॒दीशि॑षे वी॒र्य॑स्यो॒भये॑भ्यः॒ प्र चि॑कित्सा॒ गवि॑ष्टौ ॥

Soma, lord of generosity and invincible force, move and, with brilliance of mind and intelligence, fight against opposition for the creation of our share of wealth. No one would oppose and thwart you. You rule the strength for both body and mind. In the battles of humanity for light, freedom and prosperity, increase your power and influence.

✦ Sukta 92 · 18 verses ✦

1.92.1

ए॒ता उ॒ त्या उ॒षसः॑ के॒तुम॑क्रत॒ पूर्वे॒ अर्धे॒ रज॑सो भा॒नुम॑ञ्जते । नि॒ष्कृ॒ण्वा॒ना आयु॑धानीव धृ॒ष्णवः॒ प्रति॒ गावोऽरु॑षीर्यन्ति मा॒तरः॑ ॥

The lights of the dawn over there in the eastern half of the sky over earth reveal the sun and proclaim the day. Like resolute warriors burnishing their swords, the flames of the dawn, shining scarlet red, move forward with the rising sun bringing a fresh breath of life for humanity, like mother cows.

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1.92.2

उद॑पप्तन्नरु॒णा भा॒नवो॒ वृथा॑ स्वा॒युजो॒ अरु॑षी॒र्गा अ॑युक्षत । अक्र॑न्नु॒षासो॑ व॒युना॑नि पू॒र्वथा॒ रुश॑न्तं भा॒नुमरु॑षीरशिश्रयुः ॥

Up rise the red flames of the dawn, naturally and spontaneously like willing red horses yoked to the chariot. The ruddy lights of the dawn awakening humanity to their daily chores as before proclaim the rise of the brilliant sun in obedience to his command.

· · ·

1.92.3

अर्च॑न्ति॒ नारी॑र॒पसो॒ न वि॒ष्टिभिः॑ समा॒नेन॒ योज॑ने॒ना प॑रा॒वतः॑ । इषं॒ वह॑न्तीः सु॒कृते॑ सु॒दान॑वे॒ विश्वेदह॒ यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते ॥

The lights of the dawn, like blessed women expert in their noble work, serve and illumine from afar with equal brilliance various regions of the world, bearing vital food and rejuvenating energy for the pious and generous yajamana dedicated to the creative service of life and nature everywhere every day.

· · ·

1.92.4

अधि॒ पेशां॑सि वपते नृ॒तूरि॒वापो॑र्णुते॒ वक्ष॑ उ॒स्रेव॒ बर्ज॑हम् । ज्योति॒र्विश्व॑स्मै॒ भुव॑नाय कृण्व॒ती गावो॒ न व्र॒जं व्यु१॒॑षा आ॑व॒र्तमः॑ ॥

Just as a dancer puts on various costumes and characters and just as a cow waxes its udders full of milk for the calf, so does the dawn assume many forms and bares her bosom of light to illuminate the whole world with lights as the flames dispel the darkness from all places reaching there as cows reach their stalls.

· · ·

1.92.5

प्रत्य॒र्ची रुश॑दस्या अदर्शि॒ वि ति॑ष्ठते॒ बाध॑ते कृ॒ष्णमभ्व॑म् । स्वरुं॒ न पेशो॑ वि॒दथे॑ष्व॒ञ्जञ्चि॒त्रं दि॒वो दु॑हि॒ता भा॒नुम॑श्रेत् ॥

The brilliant light of the dawn arises in the east, radiates and expands, it stalls and dispels the deep dark of the night. And just as an artist decorates a yajnic post in great congregations so, adorning the wondrous sun as an ornament of light, this daughter of heaven reveals the glory of the sun.

· · ·

1.92.6

अता॑रिष्म॒ तम॑सस्पा॒रम॒स्योषा उ॒च्छन्ती॑ व॒युना॑ कृणोति । श्रि॒ये छन्दो॒ न स्म॑यते विभा॒ती सु॒प्रती॑का सौमन॒साया॑जीगः ॥

At the rise of the dawn, we cross this dark of the night. Rising and radiating, the brilliant dawn awakens us to the bright business of the day. Like the joyous hymns of the Veda for the beauty, prosperity and graces of life, it smiles, shining, consumes the darkness and, itself beautiful of form, it reveals the beauties of the world for our refreshment and rejuvenation.

· · ·

1.92.7

भास्व॑ती ने॒त्री सू॒नृता॑नां दि॒वः स्त॑वे दुहि॒ता गोत॑मेभिः । प्र॒जाव॑तो नृ॒वतो॒ अश्व॑बुध्या॒नुषो॒ गोअ॑ग्राँ॒ उप॑ मासि॒ वाजा॑न् ॥

Brilliant and radiating, inspiring the devotees of truth and piety, the Dawn, daughter of light, is celebrated by divine scholars. So do I sing in honour of her. She brings over the foods, energies, inspirations and noble aspirations and battles of action which lead to awakening of family people and leaders of men to speed of advancement, planning for land and cows, human development and family management.

· · ·

1.92.8

उष॒स्तम॑श्यां य॒शसं॑ सु॒वीरं॑ दा॒सप्र॑वर्गं र॒यिमश्व॑बुध्यम् । सु॒दंस॑सा॒ श्रव॑सा॒ या वि॒भासि॒ वाज॑प्रसूता सुभगे बृ॒हन्त॑म् ॥

O Dawn, daughter of sunlight, divine and charming, who shine with the morning splendour of action and glory of fame and generosity, I pray, with your inspiration and initiation, may I be blessed with that great growing and highest wealth of life which is full of honour, maintained by brave heroes and multitude of manpower, and characterized by speed, advancement and achievement.

· · ·

1.92.9

विश्वा॑नि दे॒वी भुव॑नाभि॒चक्ष्या॑ प्रती॒ची चक्षु॑रुर्वि॒या वि भा॑ति । विश्वं॑ जी॒वं च॒रसे॑ बो॒धय॑न्ती॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ वाच॑मविदन्मना॒योः ॥

Dawn, brilliant daughter of light and heaven, eye of the eye, watching all the regions of the world, shines and moves to the west in relation to the earth, awakening all the forms of life to daily activities, speaking as if and inspiring the language of the people of thought and imagination.

· · ·

1.92.10

पुनः॑पुन॒र्जाय॑माना पुरा॒णी स॑मा॒नं वर्ण॑म॒भि शुम्भ॑माना । श्व॒घ्नीव॑ कृ॒त्नुर्विज॑ आमिना॒ना मर्त॑स्य दे॒वी ज॒रय॒न्त्यायुः॑ ॥

Old and ancient, born and reborn again and again, ever a new, the Brilliant Dawn, shining in glory with the same refulgence of beauty, an artificer of eternity consuming time today and tomorrow collects the stakes at play and counts out the age of mortals day by day.

· · ·

1.92.11

व्यू॒र्ण्व॒ती दि॒वो अन्ताँ॑ अबो॒ध्यप॒ स्वसा॑रं सनु॒तर्यु॑योति । प्र॒मि॒न॒ती म॑नु॒ष्या॑ यु॒गानि॒ योषा॑ जा॒रस्य॒ चक्ष॑सा॒ वि भा॑ति ॥

The Dawn wakes up, illuminating and revealing the bounds of heaven and expanse of the sky, and constantly dispels her sister, the dark night. Wearing away and counting out the ages of humanity, she shines by the light of the sun like a maiden blooming and blushing at the sight of her admirer.

· · ·

1.92.12

प॒शून्न चि॒त्रा सु॒भगा॑ प्रथा॒ना सिन्धु॒र्न क्षोद॑ उर्वि॒या व्य॑श्वैत् । अमि॑नती॒ दैव्या॑नि व्र॒तानि॒ सूर्य॑स्य चेति र॒श्मिभि॑र्दृशा॒ना ॥

Wonderful and glorious, waxing like animals spreading and roaming around out of the stalls, like a river in spate and like swell of the sea, the Dawn radiates and expands over the expanse of the earth. Transgressing no laws of Nature and holy observances of Truth, shining with the rays of the sun, she reveals herself to our eyes.

· · ·

1.92.13

उष॒स्तच्चि॒त्रमा भ॑रा॒स्मभ्यं॑ वाजिनीवति । येन॑ तो॒कं च॒ तन॑यं च॒ धाम॑हे ॥

O Dawn, harbinger of food, energy and rejuvenation of thought, will and action, bear and bring that health and wealth of wondrous and various kinds for us by which we may be able to beget, maintain and advance our children and grand-children and others, friends and assistants in life.

· · ·

1.92.14

उषो॑ अ॒द्येह गो॑म॒त्यश्वा॑वति विभावरि । रे॒वद॒स्मे व्यु॑च्छ सूनृतावति ॥

O Dawn, lady of light, generous with cows and fertility, horses and fast movement, light and knowledge, truth and piety of life with favours of divinity, bear and bless us here and now in this life with wealth of prosperity and a happy home.

· · ·

1.92.15

यु॒क्ष्वा हि वा॑जिनीव॒त्यश्वाँ॑ अ॒द्यारु॒णाँ उ॑षः । अथा॑ नो॒ विश्वा॒ सौभ॑गा॒न्या व॑ह ॥

O Dawn, lady of radiance and the energy and vibrancy of life, yoke the red rays of sunbeams to your celestial chariot and then bear and bring us all the wealths and good fortunes of the world.

· · ·

1.92.16

अश्वि॑ना व॒र्तिर॒स्मदा गोम॑द्दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवत् । अ॒र्वाग्रथं॒ सम॑नसा॒ नि य॑च्छतम् ॥

Generous scientists of fire and waters, Ashvins, expert technologists working together with equal cooperative mind, bring hither before us a chariot sensitive in reception and communication of signals, golden in quality and extremely fast in motion anywhere on earth, over water and in the sky.

· · ·

1.92.17

यावि॒त्था श्लोक॒मा दि॒वो ज्योति॒र्जना॑य च॒क्रथुः॑ । आ न॒ ऊर्जं॑ वहतमश्विना यु॒वम् ॥

Ashvins, scientist and technologist of fire and water, both of you thus from the sun create the mantra, light and energy and bring it for us and the people for common use.

· · ·

1.92.18

एह दे॒वा म॑यो॒भुवा॑ द॒स्रा हिर॑ण्यवर्तनी । उ॒ष॒र्बुधो॑ वहन्तु॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Let the Ashvins, people of divine nature, scientists and technologists, generous experts of fire and water, water and air, creators of comfort and joy, working on the golden sunbeams of the morning dawn, create and bring us energy and vitality for the health, vitality and joy of humanity

✦ Sukta 93 · 12 verses ✦

1.93.1

अग्नी॑षोमावि॒मं सु मे॑ शृणु॒तं वृ॑षणा॒ हव॑म् । प्रति॑ सू॒क्तानि॑ हर्यतं॒ भव॑तं दा॒शुषे॒ मयः॑ ॥

Agni-Soma, power divine both fire and water in one, beauty and brilliance of the Lord’s Nature in existence blissful as sun-and-moon, fire and air, exciting and soothing, lord of dynamic knowledge, kind disposition and steady action, generous and abundant, listen to this prayer of mine, respond with love and kindness to these honest words and be gracious to me, this dedicated child and faithful disciple.

· · ·

1.93.2

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ यो अ॒द्य वा॑मि॒दं वचः॑ सप॒र्यति॑ । तस्मै॑ धत्तं सु॒वीर्यं॒ गवां॒ पोषं॒ स्वश्व्य॑म् ॥

Agni-Soma, whoever may listen to this word of yours, and faithfully follow it in spirit and action, bless him with health and nourishment, speed and success in advancement, sensitivity of mind and brain and generous productivity and social dynamism.

· · ·

1.93.3

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ य आहु॑तिं॒ यो वां॒ दाशा॑द्ध॒विष्कृ॑तिम् । स प्र॒जया॑ सु॒वीर्यं॒ विश्व॒मायु॒र्व्य॑श्नवत् ॥

Agni-Soma, fire, air and waters of the firmament, whoever the person offering you oblations in yajna and holy gifts of yajna in charity, may he, we pray, be blest with best of health and energy and a full age of universal prosperity with a happy family and noble friends.

· · ·

1.93.4

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ चेति॒ तद्वी॒र्यं॑ वां॒ यदमु॑ष्णीतमव॒सं प॒णिं गाः । अवा॑तिरतं॒ बृस॑यस्य॒ शेषोऽवि॑न्दतं॒ ज्योति॒रेकं॑ ब॒हुभ्यः॑ ॥

Agni-Soma, fire and water, your valour and power is revealed and known when you acquire and absorb the protective power of sun-rays, retain a part of the blaze, release the rest of the sun’s heat and bring down one uniform light for the many forms of life to survive and grow.

· · ·

1.93.5

यु॒वमे॒तानि॑ दि॒वि रो॑च॒नान्य॒ग्निश्च॑ सोम॒ सक्र॑तू अधत्तम् । यु॒वं सिन्धूँ॑र॒भिश॑स्तेरव॒द्यादग्नी॑षोमा॒वमु॑ञ्चतं गृभी॒तान् ॥

Agni and Soma, you two, electric energy and air of equal power and joint function, hold and sustain these wondrous lights of the stars in heaven. Agni and Soma, you two release the rivers and seas of waters held up above and save them from disagreeable imprecations below.

· · ·

1.93.6

आन्यं दि॒वो मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ जभा॒राम॑थ्नाद॒न्यं परि॑ श्ये॒नो अद्रेः॑ । अग्नी॑षोमा॒ ब्रह्म॑णा वावृधा॒नोरुं य॒ज्ञाय॑ चक्रथुरु लो॒कम् ॥

Agni and Soma growing by the energy and power of Brahman extend and expand the universe wider and wider for the divine yajna of creation. Of these, Matarishva, electric energy that rolls in space, derives from and holds another, i.e., the subtle energy from the sun in heaven. And Agni, moving like a celestial horse at the speed of light, holds the other, that is, the subtle Soma, from the sun and the cloud.

· · ·

1.93.7

अग्नी॑षोमा ह॒विषः॒ प्रस्थि॑तस्य वी॒तं हर्य॑तं वृषणा जु॒षेथा॑म् । सु॒शर्मा॑णा॒ स्वव॑सा॒ हि भू॒तमथा॑ धत्तं॒ यज॑मानाय॒ शं योः ॥

Agni and Soma, fire and wind, vitalise and impel the holy materials offered into the fire, carry it on and delight in their creative and expansive process. Creators and givers of comfort and joy, protectors of life they are, they bring peace and happiness for the yajamana, catalyse, refine and create new materials for him.

· · ·

1.93.8

यो अ॒ग्नीषोमा॑ ह॒विषा॑ सप॒र्याद्दे॑व॒द्रीचा॒ मन॑सा॒ यो घृ॒तेन॑ । तस्य॑ व्र॒तं र॑क्षतं पा॒तमंह॑सो वि॒शे जना॑य॒ महि॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतम् ॥

Whoever is dedicated to Agni and Soma, fire and wind, and with an honest mind offers homage to them with ghrta and other holy materials,Agni and Soma protect and support his vows of piety for life, save him from sin, and give the citizens, people high and low all, great and noble peace, comfort and joy.

· · ·

1.93.9

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ सवे॑दसा॒ सहू॑ती वनतं॒ गिरः॑ । सं दे॑व॒त्रा ब॑भूवथुः ॥

Agni and Soma, invoked and served together, sharing the offerings together in yajna, pray listen and grant our prayers, come and be with the noble and dedicated people at the yajna.

· · ·

1.93.10

अग्नी॑षोमाव॒नेन॑ वां॒ यो वां॑ घृ॒तेन॒ दाश॑ति । तस्मै॑ दीदयतं बृ॒हत् ॥

Agni and Soma, whoever offers homage to you with this ghrta and water in scientific yajna, bless him with great good fortune and wealth of life.

· · ·

1.93.11

अग्नी॑षोमावि॒मानि॑ नो यु॒वं ह॒व्या जु॑जोषतम् । आ या॑त॒मुप॑ नः॒ सचा॑ ॥

Agni and Soma, fire and wind, both of you accept these holy materials of ours in scientific yajna, come and be our friends and benefactors.

· · ·

1.93.12

अग्नी॑षोमा पिपृ॒तमर्व॑तो न॒ आ प्या॑यन्तामु॒स्रिया॑ हव्य॒सूदः॑ । अ॒स्मे बला॑नि म॒घव॑त्सु धत्तं कृणु॒तं नो॑ अध्व॒रं श्रु॑ष्टि॒मन्त॑म् ॥

Agni and Soma, yajnic leaders of the nation, feed and empower our horses, modes of travel and transport. Nourish and upbreed our cows for the gift of holy milk and ghrta for our yajnas. Invest our economic and governing powers with strength and generosity and universalise our yajnic endeavours with instant response and rich production for all of us.

✦ Sukta 94 · 16 verses ✦

1.94.1

इ॒मं स्तोम॒मर्ह॑ते जा॒तवे॑दसे॒ रथ॑मिव॒ सं म॑हेमा मनी॒षया॑ । भ॒द्रा हि नः॒ प्रम॑तिरस्य सं॒सद्यग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

This song of celebration and worship in honour of venerable Jataveda, Agni, omnipresent in the created world and lord omniscient, we sing in praise of his glory with our mind and soul in sincerity and offer it to him as a joyous holiday chariot fit for his majesty. Blessed is our mind in his company, while we sit in the assembly of devotees. Agni, lord of light and knowledge, we pray, may we never come to suffering while we enjoy your company and friendship.

· · ·

1.94.2

यस्मै॒ त्वमा॒यज॑से॒ स सा॑धत्यन॒र्वा क्षे॑ति॒ दध॑ते सु॒वीर्य॑म् । स तू॑ताव॒ नैन॑मश्नोत्यंह॒तिरग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Agni, whoever you bless grows in strength and competence. He lives and moves undisturbed, irresistible, wins power and valour, and rises to greatness and prosperity. Want, anxiety and poverty touch him never. Agni, we pray, we may never suffer want and misery while we enjoy your friendship and company.

· · ·

1.94.3

श॒केम॑ त्वा स॒मिधं॑ सा॒धया॒ धिय॒स्त्वे दे॒वा ह॒विर॑द॒न्त्याहु॑तम् । त्वमा॑दि॒त्याँ आ व॑ह॒ तान्ह्यु१॒॑श्मस्यग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, we pray, may we be able to kindle and develop the fire power of yajna. Pray refine our intelligence and bless us with success in our intellectual endeavours. Whatever we offer in yajna, the divinities receive and share. Bring over the scholars of the highest order of brilliance and realise the light of the stars on earth. We love them, honour and cherish them. Agni, we pray, may we never suffer any want or misery in your company

· · ·

1.94.4

भरा॑मे॒ध्मं कृ॒णवा॑मा ह॒वींषि॑ ते चि॒तय॑न्तः॒ पर्व॑णापर्वणा व॒यम् । जी॒वात॑वे प्रत॒रं सा॑धया॒ धियोऽग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Lighting the fire, observing and learning step by step, yajna by yajna, the full and fuller preparation, we collect the fuel and create the inputs of yajna for Agni. Agni, lord of light and fire, refine our mind and intelligence to be more subtle and sophisticated for the sake of better and better life. Agni, we pray we may never suffer a set back or loss of success while we are in your company.

· · ·

1.94.5

वि॒शां गो॒पा अ॑स्य चरन्ति ज॒न्तवो॑ द्वि॒पच्च॒ यदु॒त चतु॑ष्पद॒क्तुभिः॑ । चि॒त्रः प्र॑के॒त उ॒षसो॑ म॒हाँ अ॒स्यग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Agni is people’s protector. By the rays of this Agni’s light, living creatures, bipeds such as humans, quadrupeds such as cows, and others move around days and nights. Agni, various and brilliant you are, greater than the dawn and the days. Lord of light and action, may we never suffer misery in your company and friendship.

· · ·

1.94.6

त्वम॑ध्व॒र्युरु॒त होता॑सि पू॒र्व्यः प्र॑शा॒स्ता पोता॑ ज॒नुषा॑ पु॒रोहि॑तः । विश्वा॑ वि॒द्वाँ आर्त्वि॑ज्या धीर पुष्य॒स्यग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

You are the high priest and the yajamana, ancient and eternal, of the yajna of creation. Teacher and ruler, sanctifier, invoked and worshipped since creation and manifestation, omniscient leading priest of creation, lord of universal knowledge, constant and imperishable, you nourish all. Lord, we pray, may we never suffer under your protection.

· · ·

1.94.7

यो वि॒श्वतः॑ सु॒प्रती॑कः स॒दृङ्ङसि॑ दू॒रे चि॒त्सन्त॒ळिदि॒वाति॑ रोचसे । रात्र्या॑श्चि॒दन्धो॒ अति॑ देव पश्य॒स्यग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Agni, you are the lord who are universally beatific of form and constant of eye. You may be far off, yet you awfully blaze like the explosion of lightning. Even in the darkness of the night you shine and see and reveal things for all. Lord of light and revelation, we pray, may we never suffer ignorance and misery but ever enjoy your company and friendship.

· · ·

1.94.8

पूर्वो॑ देवा भवतु सुन्व॒तो रथो॒ऽस्माकं॒ शंसो॑ अ॒भ्य॑स्तु दू॒ढ्यः॑ । तदा जा॑नीतो॒त पु॑ष्यता॒ वचोऽग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Scholars of science and technology, may the chariot of the man of yajnic project be the first and foremost, the same as ours, so admirable, yet difficult for the ill-intentioned even to understand. Therefore, know the word, the secret of it, feed it with more research and knowledge, grow and let us grow too.Agni, lord of light, power and speed, may we never suffer any misery, injury or onslaught from anywhere under your friendship and protection.

· · ·

1.94.9

व॒धैर्दुः॒शंसाँ॒ अप॑ दू॒ढ्यो॑ जहि दू॒रे वा॒ ये अन्ति॑ वा॒ के चि॑द॒त्रिणः॑ । अथा॑ य॒ज्ञाय॑ गृण॒ते सु॒गं कृ॒ध्यग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

With punishments and even with the thunderbolt, strike away, even eliminate, the despicable, evil intentioned and those who are enemies of the society whether they be far away or lurking close by. Clear the path for the dedicated who chant and work in faith for the yajna of development and progress. Agni, lord of light, knowledge and progress, may we never suffer any set back, injury or defeat under your guidance and friendship.

· · ·

1.94.10

यदयु॑क्था अरु॒षा रोहि॑ता॒ रथे॒ वात॑जूता वृष॒भस्ये॑व ते॒ रवः॑ । आदि॑न्वसि व॒निनो॑ धू॒मके॑तु॒नाग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and nature’s power, when you yoke, employ and ignite the red and fiery power at the speed of wind for your chariot, your roar is like the thunder of clouds. You cover the forest trees with grey smoke and leave it behind like the trail of a shooting star. Agni, lord of knowledge, power and speed, may we never suffer any mishap or injury under your power and friendship.

· · ·

1.94.11

अध॑ स्व॒नादु॒त बि॑भ्युः पत॒त्रिणो॑ द्र॒प्सा यत्ते॑ यव॒सादो॒ व्यस्थि॑रन् । सु॒गं तत्ते॑ ताव॒केभ्यो॒ रथे॒भ्योऽग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

When on the roar of the chariot the birds fly in fright, when the flames of fire shake the grass and rise to the optimum, then the path is clear for the flight of your chariots. Agni, lord of light, fire and flight, may we never suffer any set-back or mishap under your power, guidance and friendship but fly on and on.

· · ·

1.94.12

अ॒यं मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ धाय॑सेऽवया॒तां म॒रुतां॒ हेळो॒ अद्भु॑तः । मृ॒ळा सु नो॒ भूत्वे॑षां॒ मनः॒ पुन॒रग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

This Agni is the power for the support of Mitra and Varuna, friends and the best people among humanity. It is also the awful terror of the Maruts, forces of defence and justice, against the people of anti-human values. Lord of light, justice and generosity, such as you are, be kind and gracious and a source of peace and joy to the mind of these good and law-abiding people. We pray that we may not suffer any want and misery under your guidance and control as friends

· · ·

1.94.13

दे॒वो दे॒वाना॑मसि मि॒त्रो अद्भु॑तो॒ वसु॒र्वसू॑नामसि॒ चारु॑रध्व॒रे । शर्म॑न्त्स्याम॒ तव॑ स॒प्रथ॑स्त॒मेऽग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and peace, you are the divinest of divinities, a friend of friends most wonderful. You are the shelter of shelters for all and the treasure of all treasures. In your vastest and supreme order of yajnic existence, we pray, we may enjoy perfect peace of mind and soul. May we never face any suffering or misery under your rule of friendship, gracious as you are.

· · ·

1.94.14

तत्ते॑ भ॒द्रं यत्समि॑द्धः॒ स्वे दमे॒ सोमा॑हुतो॒ जर॑से मृळ॒यत्त॑मः । दधा॑सि॒ रत्नं॒ द्रवि॑णं च दा॒शुषेऽग्ने॑ स॒ख्ये मा रि॑षामा व॒यं तव॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and grace, it is the highest blessing of yours that, self-lighted and self-manifested in your own house, this house of existence of your own creation, worshipped with oblations of soma in yajna, you spontaneously become gracious to bless the admiring devotee and bestow jewels and wealths of the world upon the generous yajamana. Lord of generosity, we pray, we may never suffer any misery of poverty for the body, mind and soul under the control of your grace and friendship.

· · ·

1.94.15

यस्मै॒ त्वं सु॑द्रविणो॒ ददा॑शोऽनागा॒स्त्वम॑दिते स॒र्वता॑ता । यं भ॒द्रेण॒ शव॑सा चो॒दया॑सि प्र॒जाव॑ता॒ राध॑सा॒ ते स्या॑म ॥

Agni, lord of divine wealth of existence, power imperishable, whoever the person you bless with purity and sinlessness in all the affairs of life, whoever you inspire with noble courage and valour, he begets good children and a happy family and obtains abundant wealth of the world. Lord of wealth and generosity, we pray, bless us with that same wealth and good fortune.

· · ·

1.94.16

स त्वम॑ग्ने सौभग॒त्वस्य॑ वि॒द्वान॒स्माक॒मायुः॒ प्र ति॑रे॒ह दे॑व । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Agni, lord of light and wealth of the world, lord and giver of all good fortune, honour and glory of life, give us a happy and full life here and let it thrive and prosper. The same may Mitra, prana energy, Varuna, udana energy, Aditi, Mother Nature, the sea, the earth, the heaven and the skies support, strengthen and promote. The same, lord Agni, giver of life, bless and let us cross the seas of existence with grace divine.

✦ Sukta 95 · 11 verses ✦

1.95.1

द्वे विरू॑पे चरतः॒ स्वर्थे॑ अ॒न्यान्या॑ व॒त्समुप॑ धापयेते । हरि॑र॒न्यस्यां॒ भव॑ति स्व॒धावा॑ञ्छु॒क्रो अ॒न्यस्यां॑ ददृशे सु॒वर्चाः॑ ॥

Night and day, two different forms of nature, two divisions of time, two different states of Agni, one direct, the other reflected, move on with their priestlike task. Both, co-existent and continuous but separately, like two women, feed and nurse each other’s child as their own. In one, the night, the moon grows on with its inherent character of beauty, peace and bliss, while the sun in the other, the day, blazes with light and fire, pure, immaculate, glorious. The sun sleeps at night and the moon sleeps in the day.

· · ·

1.95.2

दशे॒मं त्वष्टु॑र्जनयन्त॒ गर्भ॒मत॑न्द्रासो युव॒तयो॒ विभृ॑त्रम् । ति॒ग्मानी॑कं॒ स्वय॑शसं॒ जने॑षु वि॒रोच॑मानं॒ परि॑ षीं नयन्ति ॥

Ten directions of space, young and unaging, and ever-vigilant, create, produce and manifest this sun, child of Tvashta, Vayu, cosmic energy. It is of versatile action and purpose and sustains the various forms of existence. It is blazing and beautiful, self-refulgent with inherent glory, glowing and showing among the people, and the same directions move it around for the accomplishment of the tasks of creation.

· · ·

1.95.3

त्रीणि॒ जाना॒ परि॑ भूषन्त्यस्य समु॒द्र एकं॑ दि॒व्येक॑म॒प्सु । पूर्वा॒मनु॒ प्र दिशं॒ पार्थि॑वानामृ॒तून्प्र॒शास॒द्वि द॑धावनु॒ष्ठु ॥

Three manifestations of this Agni shine in nature, space and time, the womb of the universe: one is in the oceans, another one is in the heavenly region of light, and yet another is in the waters in the middle region. Accordingly, it creates and controls the seasons in relation to the sun and earth and, in relation to the earth and her people, it creates the directions such as east and others.

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1.95.4

क इ॒मं वो॑ नि॒ण्यमा चि॑केत व॒त्सो मा॒तॄर्ज॑नयत स्व॒धाभिः॑ । ब॒ह्वी॒नां गर्भो॑ अ॒पसा॑मु॒पस्था॑न्म॒हान्क॒विर्निश्च॑रति स्व॒धावा॑न् ॥

Who among you could know this mysterious nursling of the day and night, the sun born of Agni and Vayu, cosmic energy, who creates its own mothers, the day and the night? It is the creature of many forces of nature and itself the womb of many, being the measure of physical time and creator of the directions of space. Great, visionary, and innately powerful, it moves on and across the regions of water and air in space.

· · ·

1.95.5

आ॒विष्ट्यो॑ वर्धते॒ चारु॑रासु जि॒ह्माना॑मू॒र्ध्वः स्वय॑शा उ॒पस्थे॑ । उ॒भे त्वष्टु॑र्बिभ्यतु॒र्जाय॑मानात्प्रती॒ची सिं॒हं प्रति॑ जोषयेते ॥

Having entered these directions of space and the objects therein, it grows and expands. Present within the oblique and wavy motions of wind, air and the rays of light, it rises above by its own power. On the rise of the sun, the day and night split up as if out of fear. The same split marks the west. And yet the night and day again nurse the hero of light as a favourite hero.

· · ·

1.95.6

उ॒भे भ॒द्रे जो॑षयेते॒ न मेने॒ गावो॒ न वा॒श्रा उप॑ तस्थु॒रेवैः॑ । स दक्षा॑णां॒ दक्ष॑पतिर्बभूवा॒ञ्जन्ति॒ यं द॑क्षिण॒तो ह॒विर्भिः॑ ॥

Both night and day, noble and

loving, nurse and serve the sun, Agni, just as lowing cows stay by the calves with all their love and care. Of those dedicated experts of yajna who serve Agni with oblations, he rises above all who offers the oblations from the south.

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1.95.7

उद्यं॑यमीति सवि॒तेव॑ बा॒हू उ॒भे सिचौ॑ यतते भी॒म ऋ॒ञ्जन् । उच्छु॒क्रमत्क॑मजते सि॒मस्मा॒न्नवा॑ मा॒तृभ्यो॒ वस॑ना जहाति ॥

As the sun, this Agni raises its rays upward as two arms continuously and, growing awful and blazing, it joins both the horizons, brightening them both together. All round it radiates its light as if it offers new clothes to its mothers, the day and the night or the heaven and earth which hold the light in their lap.

· · ·

1.95.8

त्वे॒षं रू॒पं कृ॑णुत॒ उत्त॑रं॒ यत्स॑म्पृञ्चा॒नः सद॑ने॒ गोभि॑र॒द्भिः । क॒विर्बु॒ध्नं परि॑ मर्मृज्यते॒ धीः सा दे॒वता॑ता॒ समि॑तिर्बभूव ॥

When Agni, sunlight, assumes a brighter and higher form mixing the rays of light and vapours of water in its own region, then, shining as lord of celestial light and vision, it purifies the sky, elevates intelligence and refines knowledge and science, and that state of intelligence and knowledge is divinely pious and supreme.

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1.95.9

उ॒रु ते॒ ज्रयः॒ पर्ये॑ति बु॒ध्नं वि॒रोच॑मानं महि॒षस्य॒ धाम॑ । विश्वे॑भिरग्ने॒ स्वय॑शोभिरि॒द्धोऽद॑ब्धेभिः पा॒युभिः॑ पाह्य॒स्मान् ॥

Agni, mighty as the sun, the vast expanse of your sphere travels and reaches across and over the bright regions of the skies. Bright and blazing with all your own powers and irresistible modes of protection, protect and promote us.

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1.95.10

धन्व॒न्त्स्रोतः॑ कृणुते गा॒तुमू॒र्मिं शु॒क्रैरू॒र्मिभि॑र॒भि न॑क्षति॒ क्षाम् । विश्वा॒ सना॑नि ज॒ठरे॑षु धत्ते॒ऽन्तर्नवा॑सु चरति प्र॒सूषु॑ ॥

Agni as electric power and vital heat of life creates paths over the deserts and in the skies, makes waterways to flow with rippling waves, and with bright rays of light illuminates the earth. It creates all the foods and vitalities for the internal organs of the living body systems and vibrates in all the new and upcoming forms of nature and human generations.

· · ·

1.95.11

ए॒वा नो॑ अग्ने स॒मिधा॑ वृधा॒नो रे॒वत्पा॑वक॒ श्रव॑से॒ वि भा॑हि । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

These, O Agni, light, life and vitality of the world of existence, pure and purifying, treasure and dispenser of universal wealth, growing by fuel and making us grow, pray shine and illuminate us with nourishments, light and honour. Thus also may Mitra and Varuna, sun and air and pranic energies, the skies, the sea and the earth, and the light of heaven and the electric energy of Agni may shine and make us shine.

✦ Sukta 96 · 9 verses ✦

1.96.1

स प्र॒त्नथा॒ सह॑सा॒ जाय॑मानः स॒द्यः काव्या॑नि॒ बळ॑धत्त॒ विश्वा॑ । आप॑श्च मि॒त्रं धि॒षणा॑ च साधन्दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥

That isAgni, light and fire of life, instantly rising as ever with power and force for the devotee. He bears the strength, vision and wisdom of the world and helps the dedicated person to realise the values of life with waters, energy, intelligence and friendship in the society. The devas, divinities of nature and humanity dedicate themselves to Him, lord giver of universal wealth, and bear on the fire of yajna from generation to generation.

· · ·

1.96.2

स पूर्व॑या नि॒विदा॑ क॒व्यता॒योरि॒माः प्र॒जा अ॑जनय॒न्मनू॑नाम् । वि॒वस्व॑ता॒ चक्ष॑सा॒ द्याम॒पश्च॑ दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥

With the ancient and eternal poetry of omniscience and from the eternal cause, He, the lord of light, creates these children of Manus, men of thought and vision. And with the brilliant light of the sun, he creates the regions of light and waters and others such as the earth. The devas, divinities of nature and the noblest of humanity, hold on to him and bear on the fire of yajna from generation to generation, universal giver as He is.

· · ·

1.96.3

तमी॑ळत प्रथ॒मं य॑ज्ञ॒साधं॒ विश॒ आरी॒राहु॑तमृञ्जसा॒नम् । ऊ॒र्जः पु॒त्रं भ॑र॒तं सृ॒प्रदा॑नुं दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥

O grateful and dynamic people, serve and worship Him, Agni, first and highest of existence, invoked and loved with homage through yajna, visualised and realised through vision and discrimination, manifested in energy and products of energy, sustainer of all and inspiring all with knowledge. Devas, divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity, hold on to Him and bear on the fire of yajna from generation to generation, universal giver as He is.

· · ·

1.96.4

स मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ पुरु॒वार॑पुष्टिर्वि॒दद्गा॒तुं तन॑याय स्व॒र्वित् । वि॒शां गो॒पा ज॑नि॒ता रोद॑स्योर्दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥

He, Agni, is Matarishva, universal breath of life replete in the middle regions of space. He is the inexhaustible treasure-home of energy and nourishment. He revealed the Holy Word of the Veda for His child, the humanity. He is the giver of light and happiness. He is the protector of the people and creator of heaven and earth and the skies. Devas, divinities of nature and humanity, worship Him, universal and generous creator and giver of wealth, and bear on the fire of yajna from generation to generation.

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1.96.5

नक्तो॒षासा॒ वर्ण॑मा॒मेम्या॑ने धा॒पये॑ते॒ शिशु॒मेकं॑ समी॒ची । द्यावा॒क्षामा॑ रु॒क्मो अ॒न्तर्वि भा॑ति दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥

The night and the day both of different light and form like two nursing mothers together feed the same one child. The child, Agni, the sun, pervades and shines in heaven and over earth. The devas serve and worship Agni, giver of universal wealth, and move on bearing the fire of yajna from generation to generation.

· · ·

1.96.6

रा॒यो बु॒ध्नः सं॒गम॑नो॒ वसू॑नां य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुर्म॑न्म॒साध॑नो॒ वेः । अ॒मृ॒त॒त्वं रक्ष॑माणास एनं दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥

Agni is the foundation and magic mantra of wealth and power. It is the companion of the Vasus, sustainers of life such as the earth, and our guide to achieve them. It is the flag-post and light-house to the yajnic projects of life, and means to the fulfilment of cherished desires. The seekers of immortality and protectors of eternal values hold on to this giver of universal wealth and bear on the fire of yajna from generation to generation.

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1.96.7

नू च॑ पु॒रा च॒ सद॑नं रयी॒णां जा॒तस्य॑ च॒ जाय॑मानस्य च॒ क्षाम् । स॒तश्च॑ गो॒पां भव॑तश्च॒ भूरे॑र्दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥

Agni is the new as well as the old and eternal cause and the haven and home of all the material wealth of the created universe already born and what is continuously being born. It is the holder, sustainer and protector of the constant and the mutable forms of the vast creation. The devas, divinities of nature and humanity, hold on to Agni in faith and maintain the fire of yajna from generation to generation, giver of universal wealth as It is.

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1.96.8

द्र॒वि॒णो॒दा द्रवि॑णसस्तु॒रस्य॑ द्रविणो॒दाः सन॑रस्य॒ प्र यं॑सत् । द्र॒वि॒णो॒दा वी॒रव॑ती॒मिषं॑ नो द्रविणो॒दा रा॑सते दी॒र्घमायुः॑ ॥

Agni, universal creator and giver of universal and omnipresent wealth, may, we pray, grant us the wealth of knowledge and piety. The creator and giver of social wealth may, we pray, grant us our share of material wealth. The creator and giver of food and energy may, we pray, grant us the food and energy which gives rise to a community of heroes. The creator and giver of life and health may, we pray, grant us our full share of life and age with health and plenty.

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1.96.9

ए॒वा नो॑ अग्ने स॒मिधा॑ वृधा॒नो रे॒वत्पा॑वक॒ श्रव॑से॒ वि भा॑हि । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Thus may Agni, lord of wealth, pure and purifying, flaming and growing with fuels and oblations, shine for our honour and fame. And may Mitra, the sun, Varuna, the air and pranic energies, Aditi, the sky, the sea, the earth and the light of heaven, bless us with health, wealth, knowledge and piety.

✦ Sukta 97 · 8 verses ✦

1.97.1

अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घमग्ने॑ शुशु॒ग्ध्या र॒यिम् । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

Agni, lord of light, power and purity, pray shine on us, burn off our sins and purify us. Shine, purify and sanctify our wealth of body, mind and soul. O lord, burn off our sins and let us shine in purity.

· · ·

1.97.2

सु॒क्षे॒त्रि॒या सु॑गातु॒या व॑सू॒या च॑ यजामहे । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

With our desire and plans for waving green fields, straight and simple highways for movement, and honest wealth for body, mind and soul and for the power of defence and protection do we approach and honour you, Agni, lord of light and power. Pray burn off our sins and let us shine in purity.

· · ·

1.97.3

प्र यद्भन्दि॑ष्ठ एषां॒ प्रास्माका॑सश्च सू॒रयः॑ । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

Lord most shining and excellent, whosoever among these people be the best of our people, let them be the leaders of the assembly and administrators. Agni, lord of light and power, cleanse us of our sins and let us shine.

· · ·

1.97.4

प्र यत्ते॑ अग्ने सू॒रयो॒ जाये॑महि॒ प्र ते॑ व॒यम् । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

Lord of light and power, Agni, as your leading and brilliant brave heroes and devotees are, so may we rise to be. Lord, we pray, save us from our sins and let us shine.

· · ·

1.97.5

प्र यद॒ग्नेः सह॑स्वतो वि॒श्वतो॒ यन्ति॑ भा॒नवः॑ । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

As the lights of this powerful Agni go up in flames all round and blaze, so may we be, we pray. Lord of light and power, purge us of our sins and let us shine in purity.

· · ·

1.97.6

त्वं हि वि॑श्वतोमुख वि॒श्वतः॑ परि॒भूरसि॑ । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

Agni, lord omnipresent of universal face and all-seeing eye, you are the lord supreme over all the worlds. Lord of light and fire, burn off our sins and let us shine pure and powerful.

· · ·

1.97.7

द्विषो॑ नो विश्वतोमु॒खाति॑ ना॒वेव॑ पारय । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

Agni, light of life, all-watching eye, saving ark over the seas of existence, lead us over and across the whirl-pools of jealousies and enmities of the world and conquer the flood for us. Purge us of our sins and let us shine in purity.

· · ·

1.97.8

स नः॒ सिन्धु॑मिव ना॒वयाति॑ पर्षा स्व॒स्तये॑ । अप॑ नः॒ शोशु॑चद॒घम् ॥

Just as we cross a river in flood by boat, so for the sake of good life and ultimate joy, may Agni, lord of light and life, help us cross the seas. Lord of light and purity, cleanse us of evil, burn off our sins and help us shine in purity, power and piety.

✦ Sukta 98 · 3 verses ✦

1.98.1

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रस्य॑ सुम॒तौ स्या॑म॒ राजा॒ हि कं॒ भुव॑नानामभि॒श्रीः । इ॒तो जा॒तो विश्व॑मि॒दं वि च॑ष्टे वैश्वान॒रो य॑तते॒ सूर्ये॑ण ॥

May we abide in the pleasure and good will of Vaishvanara Agni, ruler of humanity and indeed the spirit and vitality of all life on earth. The ruling power, for sure, is the order, beauty and grace of the world, the real wealth and life of existence. Born of the original cause, Prakrti, and manifesting here, this Agni shows this world and acts in unison with the sun and prana.

· · ·

1.98.2

पृ॒ष्टो दि॒वि पृ॒ष्टो अ॒ग्निः पृ॑थि॒व्यां पृ॒ष्टो विश्वा॒ ओष॑धी॒रा वि॑वेश । वै॒श्वा॒न॒रः सह॑सा पृ॒ष्टो अ॒ग्निः स नो॒ दिवा॒ स रि॒षः पा॑तु॒ नक्त॑म् ॥

It is sanctified: sanctified as light in heaven, as heat in fire, as energy in earth, as vitality in all the herbs in which it has entered. Vaishvanara Agni, sanctified and replete with strength, energy and courage, may, we pray, protect us against hate, enmity and negativity day and night, both in the waking and in the sleeping state.

· · ·

1.98.3

वैश्वा॑नर॒ तव॒ तत्स॒त्यम॑स्त्व॒स्मान्रायो॑ म॒घवा॑नः सचन्ताम् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

May that divine nature, energy and vitality of Vaishvanara Agni, ruling and breathing power of life, be right and true for the world. May all the treasures and holders of the wealth of this world be kind and friendly to us. May Mitra, universal friend, Varuna, the best, just and reasonable worthy of choice, Aditi, motherly powers of nature and humanity, the earth, the seas, the cool waters above and the light of heaven bless us with the health and vitality of existence.

✦ Sukta 99 · 1 verse ✦

1.99.1

जा॒तवे॑दसे सुनवाम॒ सोम॑मरातीय॒तो नि द॑हाति॒ वेदः॑ । स नः॑ पर्ष॒दति॑ दु॒र्गाणि॒ विश्वा॑ ना॒वेव॒ सिन्धुं॑ दुरि॒तात्य॒ग्निः ॥

For the sake of JatavedasAgni, lord omnipresent and omniscient of creation, we love and respect the abundant things of the world and, in a spirit of thanks to Him, distil every drop of soma joy from it. Indeed, He burns off the easy wealth of those who are jealous, hateful, ungrateful and wasteful. Just as a boatman helps us cross the river by boat, so does the omnipresent lord help us cross all the evils and the most difficult problems of life.

✦ Sukta 100 · 19 verses ✦

1.100.1

स यो वृषा॒ वृष्ण्ये॑भिः॒ समो॑का म॒हो दि॒वः पृ॑थि॒व्याश्च॑ स॒म्राट् । स॒ती॒नस॑त्वा॒ हव्यो॒ भरे॑षु म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

He, Indra, who is mighty and generous, existing with his showers and powers of generosity, who rules over the great heaven and earth, who collects the clouds of water and commands the force of windy Maruts, tempestuous heroes, and who is ever invoked in the yajnic battles of life, may that Indra, lord of power and glory, be for our protection and promotion in prosperity.

· · ·

1.100.2

यस्याना॑प्तः॒ सूर्य॑स्येव॒ यामो॒ भरे॑भरे वृत्र॒हा शुष्मो॒ अस्ति॑ । वृष॑न्तमः॒ सखि॑भिः॒ स्वेभि॒रेवै॑र्म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

Unapproachable is Indra’s speed and power for the wicked. In battle after battle of life he is the same breaker of the cloud and destroyer of evil. Lord of Maruts, tempestuous heroes, most generous and powerful, may he with his friends and their exploits be for our protection, promotion and prosperity.

· · ·

1.100.3

दि॒वो न यस्य॒ रेत॑सो॒ दुघा॑नाः॒ पन्था॑सो॒ यन्ति॒ शव॒साप॑रीताः । त॒रद्द्वे॑षाः सास॒हिः पौंस्ये॑भिर्म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

The showers of the favours of Indra overflow like the rays of light from heaven. They hurry on apace uninterrupted on their paths with force and overwhelm hate, fear and enmity. May he, lord of courage and valour, commander of tempestuous Maruts, with his irresistible forces be our protector for progress and prosperity.

· · ·

1.100.4

सो अङ्गि॑रोभि॒रङ्गि॑रस्तमो भू॒द्वृषा॒ वृष॑भिः॒ सखि॑भिः॒ सखा॒ सन् । ऋ॒ग्मिभि॑रृ॒ग्मी गा॒तुभि॒र्ज्येष्ठो॑ म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

With inflow of pranic energies, Indra is the life of life, mighty generous with showers of strength and joy, being a friend with friends. With scholars of Rks, he is master of divine knowledge and supreme of movement with those who are ever on the move. Lord and commander of Maruts, heroes of tempestuous speed and force, may he be our protector for progress and prosperity.

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1.100.5

स सू॒नुभि॒र्न रु॒द्रेभि॒रृभ्वा॑ नृ॒षाह्ये॑ सास॒ह्वाँ अ॒मित्रा॑न् । सनी॑ळेभिः श्रव॒स्या॑नि॒ तूर्व॑न्म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

Indra, prudent and wise, commander of the Maruts, challenging his opponents in the battle of the brave with the assistance of Rudras, fierce fighters dear as his children, and overthrowing the shooting bowmen of the enemy with the force of his companions, may he, we pray, be our leader and protector on way to progress.

· · ·

1.100.6

स म॑न्यु॒मीः स॒मद॑नस्य क॒र्तास्माके॑भि॒र्नृभिः॒ सूर्यं॑ सनत् । अ॒स्मिन्नह॒न्त्सत्प॑तिः पुरुहू॒तो म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

Let Indra, ruler of the world, passionate controller of anger and passion, creator of projects for freedom and joy, bring the light and bliss of heaven on earth. Protector and promoter of truth and the true, invoked and praised by many, may he, commander of the force of tempestuous Maruts, we pray, be our leader and guide and protect us on way to progress with the assistance and cooperation of our people.

· · ·

1.100.7

तमू॒तयो॑ रणय॒ञ्छूर॑सातौ॒ तं क्षेम॑स्य क्षि॒तयः॑ कृण्वत॒ त्राम् । स विश्व॑स्य क॒रुण॑स्येश॒ एको॑ म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

Him, the battles of defence inspire for victory of the brave. Him, the people elevate to the status of the protector of peace and prosperity. He, unique among all, rules the projects of love and cooperation among the people. May he, commander of the Maruts, be our leader and protector for peace and progress.

· · ·

1.100.8

तम॑प्सन्त॒ शव॑स उत्स॒वेषु॒ नरो॒ नर॒मव॑से॒ तं धना॑य । सो अ॒न्धे चि॒त्तम॑सि॒ ज्योति॑र्विदन्म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

Him, in battles of greatness and celebrations, the people discover as a man among men for the sake of protection and prosperity. May he, creating light in the midst of utter darkness and commanding the force of Maruts, be our defender and promoter on way to peace and progress.

· · ·

1.100.9

स स॒व्येन॑ यमति॒ व्राध॑तश्चि॒त्स द॑क्षि॒णे संगृ॑भीता कृ॒तानि॑ । स की॒रिणा॑ चि॒त्सनि॑ता॒ धना॑नि म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

With his left hand he overcomes even the strong oppositions, and with the right he holds and secures the fruits of his success. With his acts of success and assessment, he manages and distributes the wealth of the nation. May he, commander of the Maruts, be our protector for freedom and progress.

· · ·

1.100.10

स ग्रामे॑भिः॒ सनि॑ता॒ स रथे॑भिर्वि॒दे विश्वा॑भिः कृ॒ष्टिभि॒र्न्व१॒॑द्य । स पौंस्ये॑भिरभि॒भूरश॑स्तीर्म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

He shares the wealth of the nation with the farming people in the villages, warriors of the chariot, and all sections of the people without exception, and thus he faces and overcomes all shades of criticism and opposition with the strength of his body, mind and soul and his noble actions for the sake of mutual confidence and understanding for harmony. May he, commander of the Maruts, be our protector for progress and prosperity in unison and freedom.

· · ·

1.100.11

स जा॒मिभि॒र्यत्स॒मजा॑ति मी॒ळ्हेऽजा॑मिभिर्वा पुरुहू॒त एवैः॑ । अ॒पां तो॒कस्य॒ तन॑यस्य जे॒षे म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

When invoked and called upon by many, Indra goes to battle with his friends, opponents and the indifferent ones with all his might and main, he fights at his best for victory for the future generations of sons and grandsons of the nation. May Indra, commander of the Maruts, be our leader and defender for our protection and progress.

· · ·

1.100.12

स व॑ज्र॒भृद्द॑स्यु॒हा भी॒म उ॒ग्रः स॒हस्र॑चेताः श॒तनी॑थ॒ ऋभ्वा॑ । च॒म्री॒षो न शव॑सा॒ पाञ्च॑जन्यो म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

Indra is the wielder of the force of the thunderbolt, destroyer of the wicked, fierce, passionate, knowledgeable of a hundred things and problems, versatile with a hundred plans and policies, mighty, concentration of the force of armies as the centre of yajna congregations, manager of all the five communities with his power and intelligence. May be, commander of the Maruts, he our ruler and protector for freedom and progress

· · ·

1.100.13

तस्य॒ वज्रः॑ क्रन्दति॒ स्मत्स्व॒र्षा दि॒वो न त्वे॒षो र॒वथः॒ शिमी॑वान् । तं स॑चन्ते स॒नय॒स्तं धना॑नि म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

The thunderbolt of Indra is vocal and effective appropriately: It is a call to action for the warrior, roar of terror for the wicked, soothing shower of rain for the generous, blaze of the sun for the hero, song of the cuckoo for the artist, and whirring of the wheels for the industrious. Varieties of wealth abound in him, streams of generosity flow from him. May Indra, commander of the Maruts, be our leader and protector on way to progress and prosperity in peace with freedom

· · ·

1.100.14

यस्याज॑स्रं॒ शव॑सा॒ मान॑मु॒क्थं प॑रिभु॒जद्रोद॑सी वि॒श्वतः॑ सीम् । स पा॑रिष॒त्क्रतु॑भिर्मन्दसा॒नो म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

Whose constant measure and grandeur divine, the heaven and earth with their power and potential share and celebrate all round, may that Indra, we pray, happy with our yajnic performances, take us across the seas of existence. May he, commanding the Maruts, be our protector in life and hereafter.

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1.100.15

न यस्य॑ दे॒वा दे॒वता॒ न मर्ता॒ आप॑श्च॒न शव॑सो॒ अन्त॑मा॒पुः । स प्र॒रिक्वा॒ त्वक्ष॑सा॒ क्ष्मो दि॒वश्च॑ म॒रुत्वा॑न्नो भव॒त्विन्द्र॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

The end of whose power and potential, neither divinities, nor the mind and sense and imagination of any one, nor the human mortals, nor even the realised souls reach and comprehend, that Indra pervades and, with his subtle and mysterious omnipotence, transcends heaven and earth. May he, lord of Maruts, be our protector and saviour.

· · ·

1.100.16

रो॒हिच्छ्या॒वा सु॒मदं॑शुर्लला॒मीर्द्यु॒क्षा रा॒य ऋ॒ज्राश्व॑स्य । वृष॑ण्वन्तं॒ बिभ्र॑ती धू॒र्षु रथं॑ म॒न्द्रा चि॑केत॒ नाहु॑षीषु वि॒क्षु ॥

Red and dark, bright and beautiful flames, as a banner mark, touching the heaven, carrying the mighty chariot of Indra, master of horse power, shooting straight on wheels for the target of wealth and knowledge, shine glorious for the people on earth, a blessed sight indeed.

· · ·

1.100.17

ए॒तत्त्यत्त॑ इन्द्र॒ वृष्ण॑ उ॒क्थं वा॑र्षागि॒रा अ॒भि गृ॑णन्ति॒ राधः॑ । ऋ॒ज्राश्वः॒ प्रष्टि॑भिरम्ब॒रीषः॑ स॒हदे॑वो॒ भय॑मानः सु॒राधाः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and prosperity, this is that song of praise which the children of divine voice alongwith friends and companions sing as a gift of love and homage for the lord of eternal prosperity and infinite generosity: they are Rijrashvas, sages of simple thought and honest conduct, Ambarisha, scholar of holy word and knowledge, Sahadeva, who loves to be with lovers of divinity, Bhayamana, who fears the Divine and whom the wicked and the crooked fear, and Suradha, man of honest wealth and versatile genius.

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1.100.18

दस्यू॒ञ्छिम्यूँ॑श्च पुरुहू॒त एवै॑र्ह॒त्वा पृ॑थि॒व्यां शर्वा॒ नि ब॑र्हीत् । सन॒त्क्षेत्रं॒ सखि॑भिः श्वि॒त्न्येभिः॒ सन॒त्सूर्यं॒ सन॑द॒पः सु॒वज्रः॑ ॥

Invoked and prayed by many, Indra, wielder of the defensive and protective thunderbolt, having destroyed the wicked and removed the aggressive, ought to root out the weeds, and, with the cooperation and brilliant actions of his friends and companions, acquire, enrich, distribute and manage the land, strengthen heat, light and health and energy, and manage the water resources.

· · ·

1.100.19

वि॒श्वाहेन्द्रो॑ अधिव॒क्ता नो॑ अ॒स्त्वप॑रिह्वृताः सनुयाम॒ वाज॑म् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

May Indra, lord of power, justice and knowledge be the supreme speaker and adviser for us. Let us too, simple, straight and honest in thought, action and material support, cooperate with him.And we pray: May Mitra, the sun and human powers of friendship, Varuna, powers of justice worthiest of choice, the sky, the seas, the earth and the heavens bless and promote this union of ours with success. May this union last for all time!

✦ Sukta 101 · 11 verses ✦

1.101.1

प्र म॒न्दिने॑ पितु॒मद॑र्चता॒ वचो॒ यः कृ॒ष्णग॑र्भा नि॒रह॑न्नृ॒जिश्व॑ना । अ॒व॒स्यवो॒ वृष॑णं॒ वज्र॑दक्षिणं म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥

All ye men and women of the earth, offer words of welcome and hospitality to joyous Indra, lord giver of the power of knowledge, who, in a simple natural manner, breaks open the secret treasures of the dark womb of nature and makes the streams of knowledge flow. We, seekers of protection and knowledge, invoke Indra, lord of light and power, rich and generous, expert in the use of the thunderbolt of knowledge against the demon of darkness, and commander of the tempestuous Maruts of social dynamics, and we pray for his love and friendship.

· · ·

1.101.2

यो व्यं॑सं जाहृषा॒णेन॑ म॒न्युना॒ यः शम्ब॑रं॒ यो अह॒न्पिप्रु॑मव्र॒तम् । इन्द्रो॒ यः शुष्ण॑म॒शुषं॒ न्यावृ॑णङ्म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥

For friendship and support, we invoke Indra, lord of justice, power and generosity, commander of the Maruts, tempestuous guarding soldiers of humanity, Indra who, with overwhelming passion and righteousness breaks the shoulders of Vrtra, dark demonic cloud of hoarded vapours, and releases the showers of rain, who destroys the selfish Shambara and Pipru, undisciplined demons of social unrighteousness, and who overthrows the mighty but callous and voracious eater of the nation’s wealth who causes a drought and famine of the people’s resources for life and progress.

· · ·

1.101.3

यस्य॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी पौंस्यं॑ म॒हद्यस्य॑ व्र॒ते वरु॑णो॒ यस्य॒ सूर्यः॑ । यस्येन्द्र॑स्य॒ सिन्ध॑वः॒ सश्च॑ति व्र॒तं म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥

For love, friendship and support, we invoke and pray to Indra, omnipotent lord of the Maruts who post across the universe and maintain the kingdom. Mighty is the force in his Law of Dharma for nature and humanity. The heaven and the moon in their orbits move as fixed by Law. The seas roll and rivers flow in accordance with the Law. (We pray, help us, lord, to follow the Law and enjoy the divine grace.)

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1.101.4

यो अश्वा॑नां॒ यो गवां॒ गोप॑तिर्व॒शी य आ॑रि॒तः कर्म॑णिकर्मणि स्थि॒रः । वी॒ळोश्चि॒दिन्द्रो॒ यो असु॑न्वतो व॒धो म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥

For our protection, friendship and support, we invoke and pray to Indra, lord ruler of the universe and humanity. He is the lord of horses. He is the lord of cows and controller of the moving earths and fluctuating mind and senses. Ever conscious and wide-awake, he is constant and active in every act and every movement that happens in nature and humanity. Mighty powerful is he, friend of the pious, and the very stroke of death for the selfish uncreators and violators of yajna.

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1.101.5

यो विश्व॑स्य॒ जग॑तः प्राण॒तस्पति॒र्यो ब्र॒ह्मणे॑ प्रथ॒मो गा अवि॑न्दत् । इन्द्रो॒ यो दस्यूँ॒रध॑राँ अ॒वाति॑रन्म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥

Indra is the lord ruler, controller and sustainer of all the moving and breathing universe. He is the first, creator manifestive in expanding space who created the mind and senses and the moving earths for the living creatures. He is the lord of law and justice who throws down the wicked to the darkest caverns. We invoke and pray to Indra, lord of Maruts, for our protection and support as his dear ones and friends.

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1.101.6

यः शूरे॑भि॒र्हव्यो॒ यश्च॑ भी॒रुभि॒र्यो धाव॑द्भिर्हू॒यते॒ यश्च॑ जि॒ग्युभिः॑ । इन्द्रं॒ यं विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒भि सं॑द॒धुर्म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥

Indra is invoked and worshipped by the brave, and he is called upon by the timid as well as by the fearless, and he is called upon by the victors as well us by those who flee. Him, all people and worlds in existence hold at the centre of their being. That Indra, lord of Maruts, we invoke for support, sustenance and friendship.

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1.101.7

रु॒द्राणा॑मेति प्र॒दिशा॑ विचक्ष॒णो रु॒द्रेभि॒र्योषा॑ तनुते पृ॒थु ज्रयः॑ । इन्द्रं॑ मनी॒षा अ॒भ्य॑र्चति श्रु॒तं म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥

Lord of intelligence, Indra, acts by the paths of Rudras, that is, Maruts, powers of law and dispensation and the process of formation and reformation. With the Rudras, waves of Maruts’energy, the dawn expands the lights of the day. Intelligence and mind invoke the famous powers of Indra, waves of Maruts, as they act in thought. That Indra, lord of the Maruts’ motion and energy in space, we invoke for support as divine friend and benefactor for progress and prosperity.

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1.101.8

यद्वा॑ मरुत्वः पर॒मे स॒धस्थे॒ यद्वा॑व॒मे वृ॒जने॑ मा॒दया॑से । अत॒ आ या॑ह्यध्व॒रं नो॒ अच्छा॑ त्वा॒या ह॒विश्च॑कृमा सत्यराधः ॥

Indra, lord of Maruts, tempestuous dynamics of divine energy, whether you are in the highest heaven of creation or at the lowest plane of space, there you rejoice and create joy for the play of life. Lord of light and the power of joy, come to our yajna of the will to live, and come well, happy and rejoicing. We are your own, lord of real wealth of success and giver of bliss. We are ready with holy and fragrant yajnic havi.

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1.101.9

त्वा॒येन्द्र॒ सोमं॑ सुषुमा सुदक्ष त्वा॒या ह॒विश्च॑कृमा ब्रह्मवाहः । अधा॑ नियुत्वः॒ सग॑णो म॒रुद्भि॑र॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञे ब॒र्हिषि॑ मादयस्व ॥

Gracious lord of versatile power, Indra, with you let us distil the soma of life’s joy and knowledge. Divine harbinger of universal wealth, let us create the means and materials of yajnic living with you. And then, lord of all-competence, allies and equipment, come with the Maruts, lightning carriers of fragrance, join, enjoy, and bless us on the holy seats of grass in the yajna.

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1.101.10

मा॒दय॑स्व॒ हरि॑भि॒र्ये त॑ इन्द्र॒ वि ष्य॑स्व॒ शिप्रे॒ वि सृ॑जस्व॒ धेने॑ । आ त्वा॑ सुशिप्र॒ हर॑यो वहन्तू॒शन्ह॒व्यानि॒ प्रति॑ नो जुषस्व ॥

Indra, lord of light, power and joy, come by the lights of the dawn, they are yours. Find the heaven and earth of freedom and open the flood-gates of song and joy. Lord of noble helmet, let your horses of the speed of lightning transport you hither. Come to us and, in a mood of love and ecstasy, celebrate and bless our gifts of action and homage in our yajna of life.

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1.101.11

म॒रुत्स्तो॑त्रस्य वृ॒जन॑स्य गो॒पा व॒यमिन्द्रे॑ण सनुयाम॒ वाज॑म् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

We are watchmen of the land of freedom and joy. We are singers of the song of Maruts in honour of Indra. May we, we pray, achieve success in our mission by the grace of Indra. May Mitra, universal friend, Varuna, our choice lord of justice and dispensation, the sun and moon, congregations of the learned, the rolling seas and flowing rivers, mother earth and generous skies, and the bright heavens help us in that yajnic mission.

✦ Sukta 102 · 11 verses ✦

1.102.1

इ॒मां ते॒ धियं॒ प्र भ॑रे म॒हो म॒हीम॒स्य स्तो॒त्रे धि॒षणा॒ यत्त॑ आन॒जे । तमु॑त्स॒वे च॑ प्रस॒वे च॑ सास॒हिमिन्द्रं॑ दे॒वासः॒ शव॑सामद॒न्ननु॑ ॥

I hold on to this great and adorable knowledge and wisdom of yours, Indra, which, loud and bold, is revealed in this divine song of yours in praise. That mighty lord Indra of valour and courage, the noblest leaders and teachers of humanity celebrate with all their might and wisdom in all yajnic projects for the expansion and elevation of human life and culture. In consequence, they too enjoy themselves and feel blest.

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1.102.2

अ॒स्य श्रवो॑ न॒द्यः॑ स॒प्त बि॑भ्रति॒ द्यावा॒क्षामा॑ पृथि॒वी द॑र्श॒तं वपुः॑ । अ॒स्मे सू॑र्याचन्द्र॒मसा॑भि॒चक्षे॑ श्र॒द्धे कमि॑न्द्र चरतो वितर्तु॒रम् ॥

The power and fame of this Indra, the seven rivers hold in their flow and reveal. Heaven and earth and the skies manifest his majestic form. The sun and the moon shine and move so that we may realise his glory, have faith, feel the joy of life and finally cross through the ocean of existence.

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1.102.3

तं स्मा॒ रथं॑ मघव॒न्प्राव॑ सा॒तये॒ जैत्रं॒ यं ते॑ अनु॒मदा॑म संग॒मे । आ॒जा न॑ इन्द्र॒ मन॑सा पुरुष्टुत त्वा॒यद्भ्यो॑ मघव॒ञ्छर्म॑ यच्छ नः ॥

Maghavan, lord of power, wealth and victory, reveal and bring up that wondrous and victorious chariot of yours for our victory and success in battle which we celebrate in the contests of heroes. Invoked, praised and worshipped with our mind and soul for the battles of life, Indra, give us, who are your admirers, our part of wealth and comfort.

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1.102.4

व॒यं ज॑येम॒ त्वया॑ यु॒जा वृत॑म॒स्माक॒मंश॒मुद॑वा॒ भरे॑भरे । अ॒स्मभ्य॑मिन्द्र॒ वरि॑वः सु॒गं कृ॑धि॒ प्र शत्रू॑णां मघव॒न्वृष्ण्या॑ रुज ॥

Indra, let us win the prizes of life with your help. In every battle and in every contest, keep our selected part and our deserved prize safe. Indra, lord of wealth and power, let the treasures of life be reachable and make the way to them straight and simple. Lord of power and force, break down the storms of enemy power for us.

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1.102.5

नाना॒ हि त्वा॒ हव॑माना॒ जना॑ इ॒मे धना॑नां धर्त॒रव॑सा विप॒न्यवः॑ । अ॒स्माकं॑ स्मा॒ रथ॒मा ति॑ष्ठ सा॒तये॒ जैत्रं॒ ही॑न्द्र॒ निभृ॑तं॒ मन॒स्तव॑ ॥

Indra, lord controller and treasurer of the wealth of the nation, many people are there, your admirers and worshippers, who invoke you and call upon you with means of security and protection. Be seated in our chariot which is unbreakable and victorious and in which your mind would be cool, collected and at peace, and come to assign our share of rights and duties and to dispense our part of endeavour and prize.

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1.102.6

गो॒जिता॑ बा॒हू अमि॑तक्रतुः सि॒मः कर्म॑न्कर्मञ्छ॒तमू॑तिः खजंक॒रः । अ॒क॒ल्प इन्द्रः॑ प्रति॒मान॒मोज॒साथा॒ जना॒ वि ह्व॑यन्ते सिषा॒सवः॑ ॥

Strong armed victor of lands, immensely intelligent, tactical fighter and winner, protector and defender in a hundred ways in every battle, heroic warrior, strongest of the strong, match for the matchless with his might and power, such is Indra, lord ruler of the world. Him, the men of admiration invoke for company and protection.

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1.102.7

उत्ते॑ श॒तान्म॑घव॒न्नुच्च॒ भूय॑स॒ उत्स॒हस्रा॑द्रिरिचे कृ॒ष्टिषु॒ श्रवः॑ । अ॒मा॒त्रं त्वा॑ धि॒षणा॑ तित्विषे म॒ह्यधा॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नसे पुरंदर ॥

Indra, lord of might and power, more than hundred, more than most, more than thousand exceeds your fame and power among the people. Great is your intelligence and action and noble is your voice which makes you shine immensely more than brilliant. And then you break the clouds of rain for the showers and rout the strongholds of the hoarders.

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1.102.8

त्रि॒वि॒ष्टि॒धातु॑ प्रति॒मान॒मोज॑सस्ति॒स्रो भूमी॑र्नृपते॒ त्रीणि॑ रोच॒ना । अती॒दं विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं ववक्षिथाश॒त्रुरि॑न्द्र ज॒नुषा॑ स॒नाद॑सि ॥

Indra, Nrpati, lord of the people and ruler of the world, in you, threefold is the existence of elements such as earth, water, fire, air and space, of the order of matter, motion and mind (sattva, rajas and tamas). You are the measure of omnipotence. Three are the regions of space, heaven, sky and earth. Three are the orders of heat and light, vaishvanara fire in earth, taijasa electric energy in the sky and Aditya light in heaven. O lord, Indra, you transcend this entire universe, and by nature since eternity you are without an enemy, contrariety and contradiction.

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1.102.9

त्वां दे॒वेषु॑ प्रथ॒मं ह॑वामहे॒ त्वं ब॑भूथ॒ पृत॑नासु सास॒हिः । सेमं नः॑ का॒रुमु॑पम॒न्युमु॒द्भिद॒मिन्द्रः॑ कृणोतु प्रस॒वे रथं॑ पु॒रः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the universe, first and highest among devas, divinities of nature and humanity, greater than your own attributes, we invoke you, pray to you, and worship you. In the battles of the elements and conflicts of humanity, you are the unmoved victor. Lord Indra as you are, in our yajna of life for progress and prosperity, we pray, advance our chariot made of earthly materials to the front and raise our technologist maker and respected worker close at hand among us to high status.

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1.102.10

त्वं जि॑गेथ॒ न धना॑ रुरोधि॒थार्भे॑ष्वा॒जा म॑घवन्म॒हत्सु॑ च । त्वामु॒ग्रमव॑से॒ सं शि॑शीम॒स्यथा॑ न इन्द्र॒ हव॑नेषु चोदय ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the wealth and power of the world, you win the battles great and small, and stall not the growth of wealth. In all the battles great and small, we invoke you, lord of power and passion, for protection and advancement, deplete the enemies and glorify you. Then, lord, inspire us in our yajnic programmes for joint progress and universal prosperity.

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1.102.11

वि॒श्वाहेन्द्रो॑ अधिव॒क्ता नो॑ अ॒स्त्वप॑रिह्वृताः सनुयाम॒ वाज॑म् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

May Indra, lord of light and power, universal destroyer, creator and preserver, be our teacher and supreme speaker for all time. And may we, obedient and protected, straight and simple, offer him homage, support and perfect service. We pray, may Mitra and Varuna, sun and shower, Aditi, saints and skies, Sindhu, rolling seas and rippling rivers, the earth and heaven protect and promote this holy programme of ours.

✦ Sukta 103 · 8 verses ✦

1.103.1

तत्त॑ इन्द्रि॒यं प॑र॒मं प॑रा॒चैरधा॑रयन्त क॒वयः॑ पु॒रेदम् । क्ष॒मेदम॒न्यद्दि॒व्य१॒॑न्यद॑स्य॒ समी॑ पृच्यते सम॒नेव॑ के॒तुः ॥

That glory of yours, lord, which is supreme and eternal, which is essential, subtle and mysterious, and this which is actual and existential, the poets of vision and imagination realise by its manifestations. Of this glory of Indra, this which is on earth is one and distinct, and the other which is in heaven is distinct and another. The two mingle in form and mature as one just as two parties meet in the assembly, each with its identity, and become one community.

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1.103.2

स धा॑रयत्पृथि॒वीं प॒प्रथ॑च्च॒ वज्रे॑ण ह॒त्वा निर॒पः स॑सर्ज । अह॒न्नहि॒मभि॑नद्रौहि॒णं व्यह॒न्व्यं॑सं म॒घवा॒ शची॑भिः ॥

Indra, lord of light and power, like the sun, with his actions, i.e., waves of gravitation, holds the earth and manifests its vast expanse. Striking the electric thunderbolt of his energy, he constantly creates the waters of space. He breaks the cloud formed in the Rohini constellation, striking over its shoulders and releases the showers of rain on earth.

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1.103.3

स जा॒तूभ॑र्मा श्र॒द्दधा॑न॒ ओजः॒ पुरो॑ विभि॒न्दन्न॑चर॒द्वि दासीः॑ । वि॒द्वान्व॑ज्रि॒न्दस्य॑वे हे॒तिम॒स्यार्यं॒ सहो॑ वर्धया द्यु॒म्नमि॑न्द्र ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge and wielder of the thunderbolt, sustainer of all that is born, faithful and valorous, routing the strongholds of evil, roams around. Heroic Indra, having struck the thunderbolt on the wicked, develops wealth and valour for the noble ones.

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1.103.4

तदू॒चुषे॒ मानु॑षे॒मा यु॒गानि॑ की॒र्तेन्यं॑ म॒घवा॒ नाम॒ बिभ्र॑त् । उ॒प॒प्र॒यन्द॑स्यु॒हत्या॑य व॒ज्री यद्ध॑ सू॒नुः श्रव॑से॒ नाम॑ द॒धे ॥

Surely that honour and fame for actions, the lord of power and wealth, Indra, maintains for the admirers for ages of human memory, which he, wielder of the thunderbolt, of omnipotence, achieves in action for the sake of wealth and fame while he advances for the destruction of the evil and the wicked.

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1.103.5

तद॑स्ये॒दं प॑श्यता॒ भूरि॑ पु॒ष्टं श्रदिन्द्र॑स्य धत्तन वी॒र्या॑य । स गा अ॑विन्द॒त्सो अ॑विन्द॒दश्वा॒न्त्स ओष॑धीः॒ सो अ॒पः स वना॑नि ॥

Watch the mighty action, this great achievement of this lord Indra and take it on with conviction for the attainment of honour, fame and valour. He develops lands and cows. He acquires horses and develops modes of transport and communication. He develops herbs and trees, creates waters and develops water resources, and he creates all kinds of wealth and expands the forests.

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1.103.6

भूरि॑कर्मणे वृष॒भाय॒ वृष्णे॑ स॒त्यशु॑ष्माय सुनवाम॒ सोम॑म् । य आ॒दृत्या॑ परिप॒न्थीव॒ शूरोऽय॑ज्वनो वि॒भज॒न्नेति॒ वेदः॑ ॥

We create wealth and distil the soma-joy of life for Indra, lord of abundant action, brave, generous and truly brilliant. Heroic and fearless, he respects the wise and, like a detective, uncovers the black money of the hoarders, shares it with the community and moves on.

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1.103.7

तदि॑न्द्र॒ प्रेव॑ वी॒र्यं॑ चकर्थ॒ यत्स॒सन्तं॒ वज्रे॒णाबो॑ध॒योऽहि॑म् । अनु॑ त्वा॒ पत्नी॑र्हृषि॒तं वय॑श्च॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॑ अमद॒न्ननु॑ त्वा ॥

Indra, joyous hero, you show your prowess then when you take on the sleeping cloud with the thunderbolt. And then the house-wives, the wise seniors, and all the noble pious people rejoice with you.

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1.103.8

शुष्णं॒ पिप्रुं॒ कुय॑वं वृ॒त्रमि॑न्द्र य॒दाव॑धी॒र्वि पुरः॒ शम्ब॑रस्य । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Indra, when you break down Vrtra, the mighty cloud which can raise green fields of barley and create prosperity for the farmers, and when you shatter the deep caverns of Shambara, the dark cloud pregnant with vapour as if destroying the formidable forts of an enemy, then Mitra, the sun, Varuna, the oceans, Aditi, the sky, the rivers, the earth and heaven rise and inspire us with reverence and faith.

✦ Sukta 104 · 9 verses ✦

1.104.1

योनि॑ष्ट इन्द्र नि॒षदे॑ अकारि॒ तमा नि षी॑द

स्वा॒नो नार्वा॑ । वि॒मुच्या॒ वयो॑ऽव॒सायाश्वा॑न्दो॒षा वस्तो॒र्वही॑यसः प्रपि॒त्वे ॥

Indra, this seat of high office is prepared and reserved for you. Come, take it, rejoicing as a victorious knight of horse. Come post-haste to join for refreshments and holy food, leaving behind the birds, horses and the celestial carriers of the night and day.

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1.104.2

ओ त्ये नर॒ इन्द्र॑मू॒तये॑ गु॒र्नू चि॒त्तान्त्स॒द्यो अध्व॑नो जगम्यात् । दे॒वासो॑ म॒न्युं दास॑स्य श्चम्न॒न्ते न॒ आ व॑क्षन्त्सुवि॒ताय॒ वर्ण॑म् ॥

Those people who approach Indra for protection and pray for advancement, he leads, all of them, by the right path at once and always. May the devas, noblest powers of nature and humanity, allaying the passion and fear of the demon of opposition, open the path of progress and bless us with inspiration and guidance for onward movement and protection.

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1.104.3

अव॒ त्मना॑ भरते॒ केत॑वेदा॒ अव॒ त्मना॑ भरते॒ फेन॑मु॒दन् । क्षी॒रेण॑ स्नातः॒ कुय॑वस्य॒ योषे॑ ह॒ते ते स्या॑तां प्रव॒णे शिफा॑याः ॥

The clever financier carries away the wealth of others for his heart’s desire. He syphons away the nation’s wealth down to the scum with a passion and wallows in the milky waters of his bath. But bathed and anointed with milk, like the rival mistresses of a swindler both dying of violent jealousy, he would drown in the whirlpool of the flood of his own creation.

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1.104.4

यु॒योप॒ नाभि॒रुप॑रस्या॒योः प्र पूर्वा॑भिस्तिरते॒ राष्टि॒ शूरः॑ । अ॒ञ्ज॒सी कु॑लि॒शी वी॒रप॑त्नी॒ पयो॑ हिन्वा॒ना उ॒दभि॑र्भरन्ते ॥

The life-string of the people’s energy, like the centre of the waters of the cloud, is implicit and hidden. And just as the sun breaks open the energy of the cloud with its rays and shines, so does Indra, the ruler, with the people themselves, release that energy and shines as a hero.And then, just as the straight and rapid, brilliant rivers fed by the heroic Indra, collecting streams of water, full to over flowing, move on, so the people, dynamic and brilliant, protected and guided by the heroic ruler, grow to their full capacity and, creating and collecting wealth and power, move on their way.

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1.104.5

प्रति॒ यत्स्या नीथाद॑र्शि॒ दस्यो॒रोको॒ नाच्छा॒ सद॑नं जान॒ती गा॑त् । अध॑ स्मा नो मघवञ्चर्कृ॒तादिन्मा नो॑ म॒घेव॑ निष्ष॒पी परा॑ दाः ॥

Seen is the path, the people know: like the one to the house of the robber and that which leads to the house of the good in full knowledge. Indra, lord of wealth and power, take us not away from the path of good action, throw us not away like the wealth of a wastour.

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1.104.6

स त्वं न॑ इन्द्र॒ सूर्ये॒ सो अ॒प्स्व॑नागा॒स्त्व आ भ॑ज जीवशं॒से । मान्त॑रां॒ भुज॒मा री॑रिषो नः॒ श्रद्धि॑तं ते मह॒त इ॑न्द्रि॒याय॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler of light and power, give us the brilliance of the sun. Give us the coolness and plenty of waters. Establish us firmly in sinlessness for a full life of joy. Pray do not hurt our people, they are worthy of protection. We are dedicated in faith to you for the sake of wealth and prosperity.

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1.104.7

अधा॑ मन्ये॒ श्रत्ते॑ अस्मा अधायि॒ वृषा॑ चोदस्व मह॒ते धना॑य । मा नो॒ अकृ॑ते पुरुहूत॒ योना॒विन्द्र॒ क्षुध्य॑द्भ्यो॒ वय॑ आसु॒तिं दाः॑ ॥

And I believe in you. We have reposed full faith in you for this life of joy. Great lord of strength and generosity, inspire us to achieve great wealth and honour. Honoured and invoked by many, O lord, do not deliver us, our life and descendants, unto an ignoble state of existence. Indra, provide ample food and soma drink for the hungry and thirsty,

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1.104.8

मा नो॑ वधीरिन्द्र॒ मा परा॑ दा॒ मा नः॑ प्रि॒या भोज॑नानि॒ प्र मो॑षीः । आ॒ण्डा मा नो॑ मघवञ्छक्र॒ निर्भे॒न्मा नः॒ पात्रा॑ भेत्स॒हजा॑नुषाणि ॥

Indra, destroy us not, deliver us not unto aliens. Deprive us not of our cherished dreams and desires. Lord of great action and power, wealth and honour, destroy not the future in the womb. Neglect not those who deserve, let them not be lost in oblivion. Alienate not our brethren, descendents and traditions.

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1.104.9

अ॒र्वाङेहि॒ सोम॑कामं त्वाहुर॒यं सु॒तस्तस्य॑ पिबा॒ मदा॑य । उ॒रु॒व्यचा॑ ज॒ठर॒ आ वृ॑षस्व पि॒तेव॑ नः शृणुहि हू॒यमा॑नः ॥

Indra, come right here and now. They say you love soma. Distilled is the soma of life’s joy, drink of it to your fill for the bliss of life. Lord of great honour and universal reverence, invoked by all with love in faith, listen to our prayers as a father and shower the rains of bliss.

✦ Sukta 105 · 19 verses ✦

1.105.1

च॒न्द्रमा॑ अ॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तरा सु॑प॒र्णो धा॑वते दि॒वि । न वो॑ हिरण्यनेमयः प॒दं वि॑न्दन्ति विद्युतो वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

The moon glides in the middle regions of Antariksha in the midst of waters and pranic energies. So does the sun of wondrous rays run fast in the heaven of light. But the golden-rimmed flashes of lightning reveal themselves not to your state of consciousness. May the heaven and earth know the secret of this mystery and reveal it to men, the ruler and the people.

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1.105.2

अर्थ॒मिद्वा उ॑ अ॒र्थिन॒ आ जा॒या यु॑वते॒ पति॑म् । तु॒ञ्जाते॒ वृष्ण्यं॒ पयः॑ परि॒दाय॒ रसं॑ दुहे वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

Those who love things of value get the thing they cherish just as a wife fascinates her husband she loves. They vitalise the fluent waters of life, distil the soma of ecstasy and giving themselves up to the spirit of life, taste the nectar of existence. O heaven and earth, know the secret of this mystery of love and life and reveal it for me.

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1.105.3

मो षु दे॑वा अ॒दः स्व१॒॑रव॑ पादि दि॒वस्परि॑ । मा सो॒म्यस्य॑ श॒म्भुवः॒ शूने॑ भूम॒ कदा॑ च॒न वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

O divinities of life and nature, may that ecstasy and bliss of our life never fall below the top of heaven. May we never suffer frustration in vacuum of the peace and joy of the soma of existence. Heaven and earth, know the secret and mystery of living in the state of bliss and reveal it to me for all, the ruler as well as the ruled.

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1.105.4

य॒ज्ञं पृ॑च्छाम्यव॒मं स तद्दू॒तो वि वो॑चति । क्व॑ ऋ॒तं पू॒र्व्यं ग॒तं कस्तद्बि॑भर्ति॒ नूत॑नो वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

Lord of knowledge, you are the harbinger of truth and the message of Divinity. I ask you of that supreme yajna of life’s protection and promotion which sustains existence. Where is that eternal water and law of life hidden or gone? Who at the present time observes that same ancient and eternal yajna and law of life, and how? May the heaven and earth know and reveal the truth for us.

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1.105.5

अ॒मी ये दे॑वाः॒ स्थन॑ त्रि॒ष्वा रो॑च॒ने दि॒वः । कद्व॑ ऋ॒तं कदनृ॑तं॒ क्व॑ प्र॒त्ना व॒ आहु॑तिर्वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

O lords of knowledge, who or what are those divine powers of existence abiding in the light of heaven by their name, identity and state of being in the three regions of the universe? Where is the law of cosmic dynamics of evolution? What is truth and what is untruth? What is eternal and constant? What is existential and mutable? What was the first mutation of Prakrti in the cosmic yajna? What is going to be the last and closing oblation in the cosmic vedi? May the heaven and earth know and reveal it for us.

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1.105.6

कद्व॑ ऋ॒तस्य॑ धर्ण॒सि कद्वरु॑णस्य॒ चक्ष॑णम् । कद॑र्य॒म्णो म॒हस्प॒थाति॑ क्रामेम दू॒ढ्यो॑ वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

O divinities of existence, what and where is the ultimate cause of the original life and law, what is that omnipotence? What and where is that omniscient allseeing eye that watches the created forms and their karmic movement? What and where is that awful path of the great sun by which we may comprehend and cross the challenges of existence? May the heaven and earth know of this and reveal the knowledge to me.

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1.105.7

अ॒हं सो अ॑स्मि॒ यः पु॒रा सु॒ते वदा॑मि॒ कानि॑ चित् । तं मा॑ व्यन्त्या॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ वृको॒ न तृ॒ष्णजं॑ मृ॒गं वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

I am the same who chant some songs of Vedic adoration at the dawn of the cosmic yajna of the Divine. And yet the loves and cares of existence overwhelm me as a wolf pounces upon a deer thirsting for life and existence. What is this mystery? May the heaven and earth know and reveal it to me!

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1.105.8

सं मा॑ तपन्त्य॒भितः॑ स॒पत्नी॑रिव॒ पर्श॑वः । मूषो॒ न शि॒श्ना व्य॑दन्ति मा॒ध्यः॑ स्तो॒तारं॑ ते शतक्रतो वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

The knives and sickles of life all round cut into my vitals as rival mistresses consume the lover’s heart and soul. Just as mice eat up the warp and woof of cloth in the making, so do the cares of life eat away the original wealth of me who am, in reality, your admirer and worshipper, O Lord of a hundred yajnas of the universe. What is this mystery? Let heaven and earth reveal it to me.

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1.105.9

अ॒मी ये स॒प्त र॒श्मय॒स्तत्रा॑ मे॒ नाभि॒रात॑ता । त्रि॒तस्तद्वे॑दा॒प्त्यः स जा॑मि॒त्वाय॑ रेभति वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

As far as the rainbow lights of the universe radiate, as far as the five elements, Ahankara, mindmatter complex and Mahan, first mutation of Prakrti expand, as far as the five pranas, mind and intellect energise life, that far exists the sphere of my life’s centrehold. The self-realised soul who knows the time past, present and future upon the instant knows that and proclaims for the realisation of universal brotherhood of souls. May the heaven and earth know and reveal the secret of this universal brotherhood for me.

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1.105.10

अ॒मी ये पञ्चो॒क्षणो॒ मध्ये॑ त॒स्थुर्म॒हो दि॒वः । दे॒व॒त्रा नु प्र॒वाच्यं॑ सध्रीची॒ना नि वा॑वृतुर्वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

There they are, five generous founts of energy, water and joy which abide in the great heavens, they being fire, wind, vapours of water, electricity and the sun. They are simultaneous, coexistent and worthy of being researched, analysed and explained by and to the noblest of generous scholars. May the heaven and earth know this mystery of nature and reveal it to me.

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1.105.11

सु॒प॒र्णा ए॒त आ॑सते॒ मध्य॑ आ॒रोध॑ने दि॒वः । ते से॑धन्ति प॒थो वृकं॒ तर॑न्तं य॒ह्वती॑र॒पो वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

The waves of solar energy abide in the midst of the sun’s gravity. They being most potent regulate the paths and velocities of electricity and the formation and movement of waters. May the heaven and earth know this mystery and reveal it to me.

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1.105.12

नव्यं॒ तदु॒क्थ्यं॑ हि॒तं देवा॑सः सुप्रवाच॒नम् । ऋ॒तम॑र्षन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वः स॒त्यं ता॑तान॒ सूर्यो॑ वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

O men of knowledge and generosity, this new, laudable, sacred, useful and secret principle of nature’s truth and law of physical evolution is worthy of study, discussion and development. The rivers flow and the sea rolls the waters while the sun creates and expands the vapours and again sucks up the vapours. This mysterious cycle may the heaven and earth know and reveal to us.

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1.105.13

अग्ने॒ तव॒ त्यदु॒क्थ्यं॑ दे॒वेष्व॒स्त्याप्य॑म् । स नः॑ स॒त्तो म॑नु॒ष्वदा दे॒वान्य॑क्षि वि॒दुष्ट॑रो वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

Agni, scholar of heat and vitality, that laudable knowledge of yours is worthy of confirmation with reference to the presence of vitality in various forms of nature. Scholar of eminence, come as a participant in yajna, study those forms of nature, cooperate with other scholars, and may the heaven and earth know the mysteries of nature and reveal the same to you and me.

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1.105.14

स॒त्तो होता॑ मनु॒ष्वदा दे॒वाँ अच्छा॑ वि॒दुष्ट॑रः । अ॒ग्निर्ह॒व्या सु॑षूदति दे॒वो दे॒वेषु॒ मेधि॑रो वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

Scholar of eminence, researcher in the yajna of science, come as a participant in yajna. Specialist of natural sciences, adorable you are among scholars. Agni is the vital power that creates, matures and gives the materials for the yajna of humanity. May the heaven and earth know the mysteries of vital fire and reveal the same to you and me.

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1.105.15

ब्रह्मा॑ कृणोति॒ वरु॑णो गातु॒विदं॒ तमी॑महे । व्यू॑र्णोति हृ॒दा म॒तिं नव्यो॑ जायतामृ॒तं वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

Brahma, lord supreme, creates, Varuna, lord of love and justice, reveals the knowledge and shapes the man of knowledge who knows the ways of nature and the ways of the world. We pray to the lord supreme, we request the man of knowledge. He removes the veil of ignorance with his heart of love and refines our intelligence. We pray may new and newer facts of nature and divine law arise. May heaven and earth know and reveal the knowledge to us.

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1.105.16

अ॒सौ यः पन्था॑ आदि॒त्यो दि॒वि प्र॒वाच्यं॑ कृ॒तः । न स दे॑वा अति॒क्रमे॒ तं म॑र्तासो॒ न प॑श्यथ वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

That is the path which is blazing glorious as the sun in heaven, eternal and imperishable, created in the light of eternal knowledge, Veda, to be meditated on, spoken of and followed. Not even the greatest in nature or humanity can exceed or violate it. O mortal men and women, you do not see it. I pray, may the heaven and earth know and reveal it to you and me.

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1.105.17

त्रि॒तः कूपेऽव॑हितो दे॒वान्ह॑वत ऊ॒तये॑ । तच्छु॑श्राव॒ बृह॒स्पतिः॑ कृ॒ण्वन्नं॑हूर॒णादु॒रु वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

Trita, the soul in possession of simultaneous vision of past, present and future time, having achieved efficiency in knowledge, action and prayer, withdrawn into the cave of the heart, or, even the soul fallen into disarray in all the three ways and deep in the well of desperation, calls upon the Lord for succour, protection and spiritual elevation. The Lord, Brhaspati, lord of the universe and universal voice, listens and creates a wide path of freedom from sin, despondency and limitations. May the heaven and earth know that path and reveal the words of prayer to me.

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1.105.18

अ॒रु॒णो मा॑ स॒कृद्वृकः॑ प॒था यन्तं॑ द॒दर्श॒ हि । उज्जि॑हीते नि॒चाय्या॒ तष्टे॑व पृष्ट्याम॒यी वि॒त्तं मे॑ अ॒स्य रो॑दसी ॥

The Lord of golden majesty, creator and measurer of the months of time, giver of vision and bliss like the moon, watches the wayfarer going on the path of life created for humanity. And the person so observed, even a hunchback suffering the worst pains, is reshaped into form and, thanking the Lord, leaps and bounds on way to freedom in a state of perfect health. May the heaven and earth know that path and reveal the vision divine for me.

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1.105.19

ए॒नाङ्गू॒षेण॑ व॒यमिन्द्र॑वन्तो॒ऽभि ष्या॑म वृ॒जने॒ सर्व॑वीराः । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Inspired by this song of divinity sung by the sage of eternal vision, let us all, children of Indra, be all ways great and strong and move forward by leaps and bounds. And may Mitra, the sun, Varuna, the moon, Aditi, the sky, the river and the sea, the earth and heaven strengthen our resolve and advance us on way to freedom and bliss.

✦ Sukta 106 · 7 verses ✦

1.106.1

इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमू॒तये॒ मारु॑तं॒ शर्धो॒ अदि॑तिं हवामहे । रथं॒ न दु॒र्गाद्व॑सवः सुदानवो॒ विश्व॑स्मान्नो॒ अंह॑सो॒ निष्पि॑पर्तन ॥

For energy, power and protection, we invoke Indra, lord of power and natural energy, Mitra, pranic energy and universal friend, Varuna, noble scholar and power of will, Agni, fire, solar energy and lord of knowledge, troop and force of Maruts, power of the winds, Aditi, children of the earth, powers of nature and knowledge of the original cause of the physical world. May the Vasus, sustainers of life, generous and giving, save us from all sin and evil of the world and take us forward as a chariot over the difficult paths of earth, sea and sky.

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1.106.2

त आ॑दित्या॒ आ ग॑ता स॒र्वता॑तये भू॒त दे॑वा वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑षु श॒म्भुवः॑ । रथं॒ न दु॒र्गाद्व॑सवः सुदानवो॒ विश्व॑स्मान्नो॒ अंह॑सो॒ निष्पि॑पर्तन ॥

Let the Adityas, lights of the world, come for our total protection and prosperity. Come all the nobilities of nature and humanity to fight with us in all the battles against demons of darkness for creation and production, and may they be good for our peace and joy. May the Vasus, generous and giving, save us from all sin and evil of the world and take us forward as a chariot over the difficult paths of earth, sea and sky.

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1.106.3

अव॑न्तु नः पि॒तरः॑ सुप्रवाच॒ना उ॒त दे॒वी दे॒वपु॑त्रे ऋता॒वृधा॑ । रथं॒ न दु॒र्गाद्व॑सवः सुदानवो॒ विश्व॑स्मान्नो॒ अंह॑सो॒ निष्पि॑पर्तन ॥

May the wise and adorable ancients and seniors protect us, may the divine earth and heaven, and the daughters of divine nature help us and advance the rule of truth and law. And may the generous Vasus, we pray, save us from all sin and evil and lead us as a chariot over the difficult paths of earth, sea and sky.

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1.106.4

नरा॒शंसं॑ वा॒जिनं॑ वा॒जय॑न्नि॒ह क्ष॒यद्वी॑रं पू॒षणं॑ सु॒म्नैरी॑महे । रथं॒ न दु॒र्गाद्व॑सवः सुदानवो॒ विश्व॑स्मान्नो॒ अंह॑सो॒ निष्पि॑पर्तन ॥

With sincere mind and soul, we invoke the universally praised hero of knowledge and power, ideal of the brave, lord of protection and progress, heroic Pushan, fighting here for development of food, energy and social advancement. And we pray, may the generous Vasus save us from all sin and evil and take us forward as a chariot across the difficult paths of earth, sea and sky.

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1.106.5

बृह॑स्पते॒ सद॒मिन्नः॑ सु॒गं कृ॑धि॒ शं योर्यत्ते॒ मनु॑र्हितं॒ तदी॑महे । रथं॒ न दु॒र्गाद्व॑सवः सुदानवो॒ विश्व॑स्मान्नो॒ अंह॑सो॒ निष्पि॑पर्तन ॥

Brhaspati, lord of the wide wide world, lord of universal knowledge, we pray, make our path of movement easy for all time. We pray for peace and all round protection against suffering, all that is good for mankind. And, we pray, may the generous Vasus save us from all sin and evil and take us forward as a chariot over the difficult paths of earth, sea and sky.

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1.106.6

इन्द्रं॒ कुत्सो॑ वृत्र॒हणं॒ शची॒पतिं॑ का॒टे निवा॑ळ्ह॒ ऋषि॑रह्वदू॒तये॑ । रथं॒ न दु॒र्गाद्व॑सवः सुदानवो॒ विश्व॑स्मान्नो॒ अंह॑सो॒ निष्पि॑पर्तन ॥

Rshi, divine seer, Kutsa, master of knowledge and power, creator of peace and joy, in his programmes of peace and progress, invokes for help, inspiration and protection Indra, lord of universal action, speech and knowledge and divine destroyer of evil and darkness. We pray, may the generous Vasus save us from all sin and evil and take us forward as a chariot over the difficult paths of earth, sea and sky.

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1.106.7

दे॒वैर्नो॑ दे॒व्यदि॑ति॒र्नि पा॑तु दे॒वस्त्रा॒ता त्रा॑यता॒मप्र॑युच्छन् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

May Aditi, eternal knowledge with the gift of noble virtues protect us. May the scholar and generous seer, saviour from ignorance, in all sincerity protect us without relent. And may Mitra, the sun, Varuna, the moon,Aditi, the sky, the sea and rivers, earth and heaven support and bless us in our progress onward.

✦ Sukta 107 · 3 verses ✦

1.107.1

य॒ज्ञो दे॒वानां॒ प्रत्ये॑ति सु॒म्नमादि॑त्यासो॒ भव॑ता मृळ॒यन्तः॑ । आ वो॒ऽर्वाची॑ सुम॒तिर्व॑वृत्यादं॒होश्चि॒द्या व॑रिवो॒वित्त॒रास॑त् ॥

Yajna brings peace, prosperity and happiness to the noble people. O scholars of science and divinity, be harbingers of peace and joy by yajnic creations and inventions. May your latest intellectual endeavour go on successfully so that it may save us from anxiety and fear, bring us wealth, and win honour and reverence for the wise.

· · ·

1.107.2

उप॑ नो दे॒वा अव॒सा ग॑म॒न्त्वङ्गि॑रसां॒ साम॑भिः स्तू॒यमा॑नाः । इन्द्र॑ इन्द्रि॒यैर्म॒रुतो॑ म॒रुद्भि॑रादि॒त्यैर्नो॒ अदि॑तिः॒ शर्म॑ यंसत् ॥

Invoked, honoured and aroused with the soma songs of the Angirasa scholars of pranic energies, let the divinities come with protection to bless: may Indra come with wealth and powers, Maruts with energy of winds, and Aditi with the seasonal gifts of sunlight and solar energy. May they, we pray, come close to us and bless us with peace, comfort and joy.

· · ·

1.107.3

तन्न॒ इन्द्र॒स्तद्वरु॑ण॒स्तद॒ग्निस्तद॑र्य॒मा तत्स॑वि॒ता चनो॑ धात् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

That food for life and wealth of the world may the divinities bring us: Indra, that power and wealth with energy and rain, Varuna, that peace and prosperity with water, Agni, that knowledge, light and fire for living, Aryama, that force and speed of the winds, and Savita, that light and life with solar energy distilled from nature. May the divinities bring us that food for life, that strength, enlightenment, justice, dignity and grace. And may Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the seas and rivers, earth and heaven raise us to the heights of grandeur.

✦ Sukta 108 · 13 verses ✦

1.108.1

य इ॑न्द्राग्नी चि॒त्रत॑मो॒ रथो॑ वाम॒भि विश्वा॑नि॒ भुव॑नानि॒ चष्टे॑ । तेना या॑तं स॒रथं॑ तस्थि॒वांसाथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra andAgni, powers of air and fire, wonderful is the chariot which goes round and shows for you all the places and planets of the world. Come riding therein and bring us all that is there in the chariot and enjoy the beauty and pleasure of the Lord’s creation.

· · ·

1.108.2

याव॑दि॒दं भुव॑नं॒ विश्व॒मस्त्यु॑रु॒व्यचा॑ वरि॒मता॑ गभी॒रम् । तावाँ॑ अ॒यं पात॑वे॒ सोमो॑ अ॒स्त्वर॑मिन्द्राग्नी॒ मन॑से यु॒वभ्या॑म् ॥

Indra and Agni, lords of the chariot, as far deep and majestic as this world is with its wide expanse and gravity, that far may be the beauty and pleasure of the soma for you to drink to your heart’s desire.

· · ·

1.108.3

च॒क्राथे॒ हि स॒ध्र्य१॒॑ङ्नाम॑ भ॒द्रं स॑ध्रीची॒ना वृ॑त्रहणा उ॒त स्थः॑ । तावि॑न्द्राग्नी स॒ध्र्य॑ञ्चा नि॒षद्या॒ वृष्णः॒ सोम॑स्य वृष॒णा वृ॑षेथाम् ॥

Indra and Agni, together you are, together you exist, together you do good and together you break the cloud for rain. Therefore, acting together as ever, bring generous showers of the abundant soma joy of the Lord’s creation.

· · ·

1.108.4

समि॑द्धेष्व॒ग्निष्वा॑नजा॒ना य॒तस्रु॑चा ब॒र्हिरु॑ तिस्तिरा॒णा । ती॒व्रैः सोमैः॒ परि॑षिक्तेभिर॒र्वागेन्द्रा॑ग्नी सौमन॒साय॑ यातम् ॥

The flames of yajna fire are blazing, the ladles are full and raised, the holy seats are spread and occupied in anticipation of Indra and Agni for whom the yajna is organised. And now Indra and Agni, we pray, come and join us with brilliant soma showers for the sake of joy.

· · ·

1.108.5

यानी॑न्द्राग्नी च॒क्रथु॑र्वी॒र्या॑णि॒ यानि॑ रू॒पाण्यु॒त वृष्ण्या॑नि । या वां॑ प्र॒त्नानि॑ स॒ख्या शि॒वानि॒ तेभिः॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra andAgni, whatever great success you have inspired and achieved, whatever forms of abundant generosity you have assumed, whatever ancient and auspicious actions you have performed as friends of humanity, with all these drink of the soma distilled in celebration of your power and glory.

· · ·

1.108.6

यदब्र॑वं प्रथ॒मं वां॑ वृणा॒नो॒३॒॑ऽयं सोमो॒ असु॑रैर्नो वि॒हव्यः॑ । तां स॒त्यां श्र॒द्धाम॒भ्या हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

What I spoke of you first, opting to invoke you in the yajna of science and creation, was true and faithful. And the soma distilled in yajna is worth invoking even by the asuras, those who live merely at the physical level. Come in response to that true and faithful voice of ours and drink of this soma of the joy distilled.

· · ·

1.108.7

यदि॑न्द्राग्नी॒ मद॑थः॒ स्वे दु॑रो॒णे यद्ब्र॒ह्मणि॒ राज॑नि वा यजत्रा । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, adorable powers of yajna, as you celebrate your power and achievement in your own house and enjoy, or celebrate among the learned and the divines, or the rulers of the nation, the same way, O generous and abundant powers, holy and heroic, come and drink of the soma of your own creation with us.

· · ·

1.108.8

यदि॑न्द्राग्नी॒ यदु॑षु तु॒र्वशे॑षु॒ यद्द्रु॒ह्युष्वनु॑षु पू॒रुषु॒ स्थः । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, generous and abundant, holy and heroic, whether you are among the industrious or the victorious, or the malicious, or followers or leaders, from there come and drink of the soma distilled.

· · ·

1.108.9

यदि॑न्द्राग्नी अव॒मस्यां॑ पृथि॒व्यां म॑ध्य॒मस्यां॑ पर॒मस्या॑मु॒त स्थः । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, whether you abide in the lower region of the earth, or in the middle region of the sky, or in the highest region of heaven, from there, powers generous and heroic, come and then drink of the soma of joy distilled from the life of existence.

· · ·

1.108.10

यदि॑न्द्राग्नी पर॒मस्यां॑ पृथि॒व्यां म॑ध्य॒मस्या॑मव॒मस्या॑मु॒त स्थः । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, whether you are in the highest regions of the heaven of light, or in the middle region of the skies of wind and lightning, or in the lowest region of the earth, from there come, powers generous and heroic, and then drink of the soma joy of life distilled.

· · ·

1.108.11

यदि॑न्द्राग्नी दि॒वि ष्ठो यत्पृ॑थि॒व्यां यत्पर्व॑ते॒ष्वोष॑धीष्व॒प्सु । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, as you stay in the region of heaven, on the earth, in the mountains and the clouds, in the herbs and in the waters, from there come, powers generous and life-giving, and then drink of the soma of life distilled.

· · ·

1.108.12

यदि॑न्द्राग्नी॒ उदि॑ता॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ मध्ये॑ दि॒वः स्व॒धया॑ मा॒दये॑थे । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, generated of the sun in the midst of heaven, inspire and enlighten with their essential power of energy and food for life. From there, powers generous and brilliant, come and then delight with a drink of soma distilled for you and all.

· · ·

1.108.13

ए॒वेन्द्रा॑ग्नी पपि॒वांसा॑ सु॒तस्य॒ विश्वा॒स्मभ्यं॒ सं ज॑यतं॒ धना॑नि । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Indra and Agni, treasure sources of knowledge, wealth and victory, having drunk of the soma distilled from life and nature may, we pray, win for us all the wealth of the world. May Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, rivers and the seas, earth and heaven bliss this wish and prayer and raise us to the dignity and prosperity of life.

✦ Sukta 109 · 8 verses ✦

1.109.1

वि ह्यख्यं॒ मन॑सा॒ वस्य॑ इ॒च्छन्निन्द्रा॑ग्नी ज्ञा॒स उ॒त वा॑ सजा॒तान् । नान्या यु॒वत्प्रम॑तिरस्ति॒ मह्यं॒ स वां॒ धियं॑ वाज॒यन्ती॑मतक्षम् ॥

O Indra and Agni, wishing with heart and soul for better life and wealth I speak to those who know and to my contemporary brethren: Other than you two, none is my protector, none preceptor, none my subject. Thus I improve and refine the worshipful and divine knowledge and understanding about fire and electricity.

· · ·

1.109.2

अश्र॑वं॒ हि भू॑रि॒दाव॑त्तरा वां॒ विजा॑मातुरु॒त वा॑ घा स्या॒लात् । अथा॒ सोम॑स्य॒ प्रय॑ती यु॒वभ्या॒मिन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ स्तोमं॑ जनयामि॒ नव्य॑म् ॥

I hear that you are much more rich and munificent in gifts than a son-in-law or a brother-inlaw. Hence an offering of soma for you both, a cherished gift of study, whereby I create and present the latest treatise on the energy of fire and electricity.

· · ·

1.109.3

मा च्छे॑द्म र॒श्मीँरिति॒ नाध॑मानाः पितॄ॒णां श॒क्तीर॑नु॒यच्छ॑मानाः । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्निभ्यां॒ कं वृष॑णो मदन्ति॒ ता ह्यद्री॑ धि॒षणा॑या उ॒पस्थे॑ ॥

“Let us not snap the life-line, keep the light flowing”, praying thus for progress and prosperity, pursuing the tradition of their forefathers’ energy, imbiding the nourishments of the seasons and directing themselves by Indra and Agni, heat and energy of nature’s divinity, the virile and generous children of humanity live and celebrate life in the magnetic field of intelligence along the perpetual line of piety and continuity.

· · ·

1.109.4

यु॒वाभ्यां॑ दे॒वी धि॒षणा॒ मदा॒येन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ सोम॑मुश॒ती सु॑नोति । ताव॑श्विना भद्रहस्ता सुपाणी॒ आ धा॑वतं॒ मधु॑ना पृ॒ङ्क्तम॒प्सु ॥

Indra and Agni, fire and power, with you and for you and for the pleasure and dignity of living does divine intelligence, inspired with love and passion for life, create beauty and power alongwith joy. Come generous handed Ashvins, complementary currents of nature’s energy, with honey sweets and join the two, fire and power, with waters in the sky.

· · ·

1.109.5

यु॒वामि॑न्द्राग्नी॒ वसु॑नो विभा॒गे त॒वस्त॑मा शुश्रव वृत्र॒हत्ये॑ । तावा॒सद्या॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ य॒ज्ञे अ॒स्मिन्प्र च॑र्षणी मादयेथां सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, lords of energy and fire power, you two I hear are the fastest and strongest in the battle against the clouds of darkness and want and in the creation and distribution of wealth and joy. Come benefactors, both of you, grace the seats of this yajna of science and technology and enjoy the honey-sweets of creation.

· · ·

1.109.6

प्र च॑र्ष॒णिभ्यः॑ पृतना॒हवे॑षु॒ प्र पृ॑थि॒व्या रि॑रिचाथे दि॒वश्च॑ । प्र सिन्धु॑भ्यः॒ प्र गि॒रिभ्यो॑ महि॒त्वा प्रेन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॒नात्य॒न्या ॥

Indra and Agni, universal fire, light and electric energy, by your own power and grandeur, in the battles of existence and evolution, you exceed humanity, earth, heaven, seas, mountains and all other regions of the universe.

· · ·

1.109.7

आ भ॑रतं॒ शिक्ष॑तं वज्रबाहू अ॒स्माँ इ॑न्द्राग्नी अवतं॒ शची॑भिः । इ॒मे नु ते र॒श्मयः॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ येभिः॑ सपि॒त्वं पि॒तरो॑ न॒ आस॑न् ॥

Indra and Agni, of strong arms as adamant, come, sustain us, teach us and protect us with your knowledge and actions. And these and those far off are your rays of the sun, both knowledge and nourishment, by which our forefathers blest us with science, knowledge and sustenance.

· · ·

1.109.8

पुरं॑दरा॒ शिक्ष॑तं वज्रहस्ता॒स्माँ इ॑न्द्राग्नी अवतं॒ भरे॑षु । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Indra and Agni, strong of arms as adamant, breakers of the strongholds of darkness and poverty, we pray, protect us, and advance us in the battles of success in life. And may Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, seas and rivers, earth and heaven support this prayer of ours and raise us to the heights of achievement.

✦ Sukta 110 · 9 verses ✦

1.110.1

त॒तं मे॒ अप॒स्तदु॑ तायते॒ पुनः॒ स्वादि॑ष्ठा धी॒तिरु॒चथा॑य शस्यते । अ॒यं स॑मु॒द्र इ॒ह वि॒श्वदे॑व्यः॒ स्वाहा॑कृतस्य॒ समु॑ तृप्णुत ऋभवः ॥

Wide is my knowledge and action and it continues growing wider and higher. Sweet is my word and wisdom worthy of approval and appreciation in discourse and communication. Deep as the ocean is this world of knowledge, wisdom and dharmic action, divine and adorable, distilled from the voice of Divinity. Come, devotees of knowledge and wisdom and leaders of noble action, and drink of it to your heart’s content.

· · ·

1.110.2

आ॒भो॒गयं॒ प्र यदि॒च्छन्त॒ ऐत॒नापा॑काः॒ प्राञ्चो॒ मम॒ के चि॑दा॒पयः॑ । सौध॑न्वनासश्चरि॒तस्य॑ भू॒मनाग॑च्छत सवि॒तुर्दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हम् ॥

Saints and sages, living on alms and uncooked vegetables and fruits, men of ancient knowledge and wisdom, realised souls for me, if you wish to taste the joy and ecstasy of life, then, like heroes of the mighty bow, with all your wealth of noble action, come to the house of generous Savita, light and life of the universe.

· · ·

1.110.3

तत्स॑वि॒ता वो॑ऽमृत॒त्वमासु॑व॒दगो॑ह्यं॒ यच्छ्र॒वय॑न्त॒ ऐत॑न । त्यं चि॑च्चम॒समसु॑रस्य॒ भक्ष॑ण॒मेकं॒ सन्त॑मकृणुता॒ चतु॑र्वयम् ॥

O Saints and sages, when singing in praise of Divinity you reach the house of Savita, lord of light which can never be concealed, then He creates the nectar of bliss for you. And that one measure of holy food, which is held in the sacrificial ladle as water is held in the cloud or soul in the body, He increases fourfold for the living and breathing souls in existence.

· · ·

1.110.4

वि॒ष्ट्वी शमी॑ तरणि॒त्वेन॑ वा॒घतो॒ मर्ता॑सः॒ सन्तो॑ अमृत॒त्वमा॑नशुः । सौ॒ध॒न्व॒ना ऋ॒भवः॒ सूर॑चक्षसः संवत्स॒रे सम॑पृच्यन्त धी॒तिभिः॑ ॥

People of noble speech and action doing acts of piety with zeal attain freedom from death to immortality of bliss though they are still in the mortal state. Heroes of the mighty bow, commanding wisdom and dexterity, having universal vision as light of the sun attain perfection by virtue of good actions just in one year.

· · ·

1.110.5

क्षेत्र॑मिव॒ वि म॑मु॒स्तेज॑नेनँ॒ एकं॒ पात्र॑मृ॒भवो॒ जेह॑मानम् । उप॑स्तुता उप॒मं नाध॑माना॒ अम॑र्त्येषु॒ श्रव॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नाः ॥

The Rbhus, heroes of knowledge, wisdom and expertise of action, approached and solicited for exceptional work, desiring and winning honour and reputation among immortals, with their genius and brilliance measure and cross like a field any body of knowledge effective for one kind of achievement.

· · ·

1.110.6

आ म॑नी॒षाम॒न्तरि॑क्षस्य॒ नृभ्यः॑ स्रु॒चेव॑ घृ॒तं जु॑हवाम वि॒द्मना॑ । त॒र॒णि॒त्वा ये पि॒तुर॑स्य सश्चि॒र ऋ॒भवो॒ वाज॑मरुहन्दि॒वो रजः॑ ॥

For the sake of humanity we dedicate our mind and intelligence and offer it like ghrta in a sacrificial ladle to the Rbhus, inhabitants of the sky, who share its food and energy with their zeal and, with their force and power rise to the regions of heaven.

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1.110.7

ऋ॒भुर्न॒ इन्द्रः॒ शव॑सा॒ नवी॑यानृ॒भुर्वाजे॑भि॒र्वसु॑भि॒र्वसु॑र्द॒दिः । यु॒ष्माकं॑ देवा॒ अव॒साह॑नि प्रि॒ये॒३॒॑ऽभि ति॑ष्ठेम पृत्सु॒तीरसु॑न्वताम् ॥

Rbhu, man of science and wonders is Indra for us, always new and fresh with discoveries and inventions. He is ever new and fresh with creation of food and energy and giver of new wealth and power. O spirits and dwellers of the sky, may we with your power and protection in our dearest days win over the force and armies of ungenerous and selfish people.

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1.110.8

निश्चर्म॑ण ऋभवो॒ गाम॑पिंशत॒ सं व॒त्सेना॑सृजता मा॒तरं॒ पुनः॑ । सौध॑न्वनासः स्वप॒स्यया॑ नरो॒ जिव्री॒ युवा॑ना पि॒तरा॑कृणोतन ॥

O Rbhus, wondrous scholars of life-science and rejuvenation, rejuvenate and strengthen the skinny cow and recreate her as the mother cow with her calf. Heroes of the mighty bow, leaders of men, with your knowledge and action vitalise the worn out seniors and restore them to their youth.

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1.110.9

वाजे॑भिर्नो॒ वाज॑सातावविड्ढ्यृभु॒माँ इ॑न्द्र चि॒त्रमा द॑र्षि॒ राधः॑ । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Indra, lord of power and force, empowered with the Rbhus, wondrous force of knowledge and power of science, move into the battle of life for us and win us wealth as well as honour. And, we pray, may Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, rivers and the sea, earth and heaven bless and advance this united effort of knowledge, power and the people.

✦ Sukta 111 · 5 verses ✦

1.111.1

तक्ष॒न्रथं॑ सु॒वृतं॑ विद्म॒नाप॑स॒स्तक्ष॒न्हरी॑ इन्द्र॒वाहा॒ वृष॑ण्वसू । तक्ष॑न्पि॒तृभ्या॑मृ॒भवो॒ युव॒द्वय॒स्तक्ष॑न्व॒त्साय॑ मा॒तरं॑ सचा॒भुव॑म् ॥

Let the Rbhus, with their knowledge and action in the field of science and technology, manufacture a sophisticated multistage chariot for the ride of Indra, lord of wealth and honour and generous giver of showers of prosperity. Let them also creates the horse power for that chariot to carry Indra and the wealth of riches. Let them create new youthful vigour for the ageing parents and seniors and the mother cow for the calf to provide protection for it.

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1.111.2

आ नो॑ य॒ज्ञाय॑ तक्षत ऋभु॒मद्वयः॒ क्रत्वे॒ दक्षा॑य सुप्र॒जाव॑ती॒मिष॑म् । यथा॒ क्षया॑म॒ सर्व॑वीरया वि॒शा तन्नः॒ शर्धा॑य धासथा॒ स्वि॑न्द्रि॒यम् ॥

O Rbhus, create that youthful and vibrant health and age for our yajna of social order with science and technology which shapes the Rbhus for further advancement, create food and energy for a nation of the brave worthy of noble acts and expertise, and build up that science and wealth for our strength by which we may abide as a heroic nation in peace, security and prosperity.

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1.111.3

आ त॑क्षत सा॒तिम॒स्मभ्य॑मृभवः सा॒तिं रथा॑य सा॒तिमर्व॑ते नरः । सा॒तिं नो॒ जैत्रीं॒ सं म॑हेत वि॒श्वहा॑ जा॒मिमजा॑मिं॒ पृत॑नासु स॒क्षणि॑म् ॥

O Rbhus, leaders of science and commanders of the forces, create and refine the wealth of the nation for us. Create speed and power for the chariot, and strength and speed for movement and transport. Create and heighten our capacity for victory and advancement over the challenging enemy known or unknown, equal or unequal, in the battles of life.

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1.111.4

ऋ॒भु॒क्षण॒मिन्द्र॒मा हु॑व ऊ॒तय॑ ऋ॒भून्वाजा॑न्म॒रुतः॒ सोम॑पीतये । उ॒भा मि॒त्रावरु॑णा नू॒नम॒श्विना॒ ते नो॑ हिन्वन्तु सा॒तये॑ धि॒ये जि॒षे ॥

I invoke Indra, lord of glory and master friend of the Rbhus, for protection and progress. I invoke the Rbhus, experts of the art of living and creator of the beauty of life. I invoke these pioneers of intelligence, Vajas, leaders of knowledge and power, and the Maruts, spirits and forces of tempestuous movement forward. I call upon them all for protection, promotion and enjoyment of the beauty, wealth and excitement of life. May Mitra, spirit of love and friendship, Varuna, light of excellence, and surely both the Ashvins, complementary currents of divine energy, inspire and exhilarate us for wealth and dignity, intelligence and passion for victory in the struggle for progress in spiritual evolution.

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1.111.5

ऋ॒भुर्भरा॑य॒ सं शि॑शातु सा॒तिं स॑मर्य॒जिद्वाजो॑ अ॒स्माँ अ॑विष्टु । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

May the Rbhus grant us wealth and victory for total fulfilment. May the victor, Vaja, inspire us with courage and valour. And may Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the seas and the rivers, earth and heaven bless this resolve and prayer of ours with success.

✦ Sukta 112 · 25 verses ✦

1.112.1

ईळे॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी पू॒र्वचि॑त्तये॒ऽग्निं घ॒र्मं सु॒रुचं॒ याम॑न्नि॒ष्टये॑ । याभि॒र्भरे॑ का॒रमंशा॑य॒ जिन्व॑थ॒स्ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

In continuation of the earlier yajnas of prayer and production, and moving on further on the same path of desired creation and comfort, I invoke at the outset heaven and earth and Agni, brilliant fire. O Ashvins, complementary currents of nature’s energy and teachers and scholars, come forth with those very means of protection and advancement by which you inspire and lead the efficient worker and researcher to play his part in the programmes of progress.

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1.112.2

यु॒वोर्दा॒नाय॑ सु॒भरा॑ अस॒श्चतो॒ रथ॒मा त॑स्थुर्वच॒सं न मन्त॑वे । याभि॒र्धियोऽव॑थः॒ कर्म॑न्नि॒ष्टये॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, teachers and scholars, complementary harbingers of natural wealth, just as creators and producers of food and energy, avoiding idlers and wastours, come to the man of knowledge for advice, so they come to your chariot to sit in for the gift of desired achievement in action. Come forth with those means of safety and success by which you protect and promote intellectuals and researchers for progress.

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1.112.3

यु॒वं तासां॑ दि॒व्यस्य॑ प्र॒शास॑ने वि॒शां क्ष॑यथो अ॒मृत॑स्य म॒ज्मना॑ । याभि॑र्धे॒नुम॒स्वं१॒॑ पिन्व॑थो नरा॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

O Ashvins, teachers, scholars and leaders of the nation, harbingers of health and vitality from the sap of nature, who reside in the midst of the socio-economic and educational system of the people and rule and teach by the power of celestial soma and by the grace of the pure and eternal lord of immortality, come and bless us with those means of vitality, safety and protection by which you revitalize the enervated holy speech and education like rejuvenation of the barren cow.

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1.112.4

याभिः॒ परि॑ज्मा॒ तन॑यस्य म॒ज्मना॑ द्विमा॒ता तू॒र्षु त॒रणि॑र्वि॒भूष॑ति । याभि॑स्त्रि॒मन्तु॒रभ॑वद्विचक्ष॒णस्ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, complementary forces of natural evolution, teacher and scholar, human forces of social evolution, come with power and grace with those means and powers of protection and progress by which the all-round moving Vayu, wind energy, source of fire and water, blows and shines among the fast moving forces of nature with the light and grandeur of its extension, the fire, and by which the teacher and scholar shines in society by the merit of his

disciple and power of his creative work, and by which the man of knowledge, action and prayer rises to the universal vision of existence.

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1.112.5

याभी॑ रे॒भं निवृ॑तं सि॒तम॒द्भ्य उद्वन्द॑न॒मैर॑यतं॒ स्व॑र्दृ॒शे । याभिः॒ कण्वं॒ प्र सिषा॑सन्त॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, catalytic powers of nature’s divinity, analytic scholars of nature, educational and developmental powers of society, come up to us with grace with all those powers and protections by which you support and advance the scholar wholly and exclusively dedicated to worshipful study of nature in the field of water and liquids and see him emerging from the waters for a sight of divinity through success. Come with those protections by which you support the scholar of eminence in his analytical studies of the elements until he comes out successful.

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1.112.6

याभि॒रन्त॑कं॒ जस॑मान॒मार॑णे भु॒ज्युं याभि॑रव्य॒थिभि॑र्जिजि॒न्वथुः॑ । याभिः॑ क॒र्कन्धुं॑ व॒य्यं॑ च॒ जिन्व॑थ॒स्ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, scholars of science and medicine, come with all that knowledge, protection and promotions and safety measures by which you develop pain killers, antibiotics, tonics and anesthetics in the battle of life and by which you save, sustain and develop the fetus after conception. Come with all these with grace.

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1.112.7

याभिः॑ शुच॒न्तिं ध॑न॒सां सु॑षं॒सदं॑ त॒प्तं घ॒र्ममो॒म्याव॑न्त॒मत्र॑ये । याभिः॒ पृश्नि॑गुं पुरु॒कुत्स॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, scholars, teachers and social planners, come with grace with all those modes and means by which you protect and promote the pure hearted creator and distributor of wealth, the noble parliamentarian, brilliant enthusiast, protective warrior, the astronaut and the versatile scholar for the establishment of a social order free from physical, psychological and spiritual ailments.

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1.112.8

याभिः॒ शची॑भिर्वृषणा परा॒वृजं॒ प्रान्धं श्रो॒णं चक्ष॑स॒ एत॑वे कृ॒थः । याभि॒र्वर्ति॑कां ग्रसि॒ताममु॑ञ्चतं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, powers of nature and humanity, generous and virile, come with grace with all those noble acts of protection and mercy by which you restore the rejected, the blind and the deaf back to their natural health and efficiency to see clearly and walk with confidence, and by which you release the poor bird caught in the falcon’s beak.

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1.112.9

याभिः॒ सिन्धुं॒ मधु॑मन्त॒मस॑श्चतं॒ वसि॑ष्ठं॒ याभि॑रजरा॒वजि॑न्वतम् । याभिः॒ कुत्सं॑ श्रु॒तर्यं॒ नर्य॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, scholars of science and leaders of the world, young and unaging, come with all those acts of power and protection by which you cross the sea and make the honey-sweets of rivers to flow, promote the pious scholar of Divinity and arm the warrior with thunder, train the man of information and create the leader of leaders. Come with all those and come with grace.

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1.112.10

याभि॑र्वि॒श्पलां॑ धन॒साम॑थ॒र्व्यं॑ स॒हस्र॑मीळ्ह आ॒जावजि॑न्वतम् । याभि॒र्वश॑म॒श्व्यं प्रे॒णिमाव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, ruler and commander of the army, come with all those acts and powers by which you refresh and promote the defence forces which protect the people, create wealth and remain steady and unshaken in the war of a thousand battles, and by which you raise and maintain an impressive cavalry and armoured corps which is inspired and committed to the nation. Ashvins, come and come with grace.

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1.112.11

याभिः॑ सुदानू औशि॒जाय॑ व॒णिजे॑ दी॒र्घश्र॑वसे॒ मधु॒ कोशो॒ अक्ष॑रत् । क॒क्षीव॑न्तं स्तो॒तारं॒ याभि॒राव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, generous and highly creative scholars and leaders of humanity, come with all those acts and policies by which you open the treasure secrets of the wealth of nature and humanity and let flow the streams of water and honey for the children of the learned, the man of commerce and industry, and the masters of knowledge and wide wealth, and by which you protect and promote the devotees of the nation and national prestige who command the loyalty of their supporters. Come soon and come with grace.

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1.112.12

याभी॑ र॒सां क्षोद॑सो॒द्नः पि॑पि॒न्वथु॑रन॒श्वं याभी॒ रथ॒माव॑तं जि॒षे । याभि॑स्त्रि॒शोक॑ उ॒स्रिया॑ उ॒दाज॑त॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

By feats of irrigation engineering you augment the stream of water with over-flowing rush of floods of water. By feats of automotive engineering you protect and propel the horse-less chariot onward for victory. By electrical engineering, the leader, feeling the want of education, justice and economic well-being throws up the currents of electric energy for development. With all these wonders of science and technology, OAshvins, scientists and leaders, come with grace and protection for development and progress.

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1.112.13

याभिः॒ सूर्यं॑ परिया॒थः प॑रा॒वति॑ मन्धा॒तारं॒ क्षैत्र॑पत्ये॒ष्वाव॑तम् । याभि॒र्विप्रं॒ प्र भ॒रद्वा॑ज॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

With the communication by which you go round the sphere of the sun in far off orbit, by which you reach and protect the pious man of thought and action over the dominions, by which you protect and promote the scholar of science and the creator and harbinger of food, energy and speed, with all these gifts of protection and progress, O Ashvins, leaders of science and development, come with grace and bless us.

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1.112.14

याभि॑र्म॒हाम॑तिथि॒ग्वं क॑शो॒जुवं॒ दिवो॑दासं शम्बर॒हत्य॒ आव॑तम् । याभिः॑ पू॒र्भिद्ये॑ त्र॒सद॑स्यु॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, promoters and leaders of humanity, come with those protections and generosities by which in the most challenging battle of life you protect the great man of liberality, the manager of water resources and the promoter of sunlight and the light of Dharma, and by which you defend and advance the terror-warrior against the strongholds of the evil and the wicked in the struggle of life for light and knowledge.

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1.112.15

याभि॑र्व॒म्रं वि॑पिपा॒नमु॑पस्तु॒तं क॒लिं याभि॑र्वि॒त्तजा॑निं दुव॒स्यथः॑ । याभि॒र्व्य॑श्वमु॒त पृथि॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, scientists and technologists, come soon and with grace, with those preventives, protectives, curatives and restoratives by which you treat sickness and dehydration, create tonic drinks, protect approved preparations and specialists, and prepare sedatives and pacifiers, by which you protect and honour marriage partners, and by which you launch and protect technological vehicles and genius scholars.

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1.112.16

याभि॑र्नरा श॒यवे॒ याभि॒रत्र॑ये॒ याभिः॑ पु॒रा मन॑वे गा॒तुमी॒षथुः॑ । याभिः॒ शारी॒राज॑तं॒ स्यूम॑रश्मये॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, leaders of humanity, come and bring us those protections and preparations by which you provide peace and security for the common man sleeping in comfort, assure freedom from weakness of body, mind and soul for the man of virtue, elevate the rule of the benevolent ruler to the sunlight of love and justice over the vast earth and wide paths of movement, and shoot arrows of defence for the rule of light, love and justice.

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1.112.17

याभिः॒ पठ॑र्वा॒ जठ॑रस्य म॒ज्मना॒ग्निर्नादी॑देच्चि॒त इ॒द्धो अज्म॒न्ना । याभिः॒ शर्या॑त॒मव॑थो महाध॒ने ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, leaders and protectors of the people, come with the support and protections by which the ruler protects and promotes the teachers and the disciples. Come with the passion and power by which the warrior, inspired like fire lit up and blazing with the holy fuel in the vedi, rages and blazes with valour and rectitude in battle. Come with the defences by which you protect the warrior facing a shower of arrows in the mighty battle for justice and development.

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1.112.18

याभि॑रङ्गिरो॒ मन॑सा निर॒ण्यथोऽग्रं॒ गच्छ॑थो विव॒रे गोअ॑र्णसः । याभि॒र्मनुं॒ शूर॑मि॒षा स॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, leaders and commanders, come with the support by which you satiate the man of knowledge with peace and joy at heart. Come with the power and speed by which you fly over the paths of stars. Come with the plenty and generosity by which you strengthen the warrior for humanity with food, energy, movement and refreshment. With all these means of support and protection, come and bless us in peace and security.

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1.112.19

याभिः॒ पत्नी॑र्विम॒दाय॑ न्यू॒हथु॒रा घ॑ वा॒ याभि॑ररु॒णीरशि॑क्षतम् । याभिः॑ सु॒दास॑ ऊ॒हथुः॑ सुदे॒व्यं१॒॑ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, generous powers of nature and humanity, teachers and celibates, come with the love and protection by which you bring generous and noble life-partners for young men. Come with the love and knowledge by which you teach bright girls and prepare them for life. Come with that bright and divine knowledge by which you enrich the man of charity and generosity. Come and bless us with all these modes of support and protection.

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1.112.20

याभिः॒ शंता॑ती॒ भव॑थो ददा॒शुषे॑ भु॒ज्युं याभि॒रव॑थो॒ याभि॒रध्रि॑गुम् । ओ॒म्याव॑तीं सु॒भरा॑मृत॒स्तुभं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of comfort and joy, come with those gifts of support and protection by which you bless the generous man with peace and comfort, by which you protect the man of prosperity and the man of power and honour. Come with that knowledge which bears and brings the wealth of peace and joy and the wealth of truth and right.

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1.112.21

याभिः॑ कृ॒शानु॒मस॑ने दुव॒स्यथो॑ ज॒वे याभि॒र्यूनो॒ अर्व॑न्त॒माव॑तम् । मधु॑ प्रि॒यं भ॑रथो॒ यत्स॒रड्भ्य॒स्ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, rulers and commanders, come with those protections by which you protect the archer in battle, by which you protect the young rider and the horse in the race, by which you bear and bring the favourite honey for the bees. Come with all these and bless us.

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1.112.22

याभि॒र्नरं॑ गोषु॒युधं॑ नृ॒षाह्ये॒ क्षेत्र॑स्य सा॒ता तन॑यस्य॒ जिन्व॑थः । याभी॒ रथाँ॒ अव॑थो॒ याभि॒रर्व॑त॒स्ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, rulers and commanders, come with those powers and protections by which in the battles of men you exhort the leader bravely fighting for the land and her cows, by which in the battle of the field you protect the children of the nation, and by which you defend the warriors of the chariot. Come with all these protections and bless us.

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1.112.23

याभिः॒ कुत्स॑मार्जुने॒यं श॑तक्रतू॒ प्र तु॒र्वीतिं॒ प्र च॑ द॒भीति॒माव॑तम् । याभि॑र्ध्व॒सन्तिं॑ पुरु॒षन्ति॒माव॑तं॒ ताभि॑रू॒ षु ऊ॒तिभि॑रश्वि॒ना ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, rulers and commanders, heroes of a hundred acts of war and defence, come with those powers and protections by which you protect the lightning missile, by which you protect the tempestuous warrior terrorizing the enemy, by which you defend and advance the leader who takes on and destroys many hosts of the enemy. Come with these protections and advance us on way to progress.

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1.112.24

अप्न॑स्वतीमश्विना॒ वाच॑म॒स्मे कृ॒तं नो॑ दस्रा वृषणा मनी॒षाम् । अ॒द्यू॒त्येऽव॑से॒ नि ह्व॑ये वां वृ॒धे च॑ नो भवतं॒ वाज॑सातौ ॥

Ashvins, complementary divinities of nature and powers of humanity, generous harbingers of showers of strength and prosperity, give us the holy voice which is creative and effective. Give us the intelligence and wisdom for reflection, imagination and planning. I invoke you for protection and advancement in the sure, clear and honest business of life for light and progress. We take no chances, nor gamble with life, be kind and gracious, lords, be favourable to grant us growth and prosperity in food, energy, success and advancement.

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1.112.25

द्युभि॑र॒क्तुभिः॒ परि॑ पातम॒स्मानरि॑ष्टेभिरश्विना॒ सौभ॑गेभिः । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Ashvins, protect and promote us, we pray, by days and by nights with steady and unobstructed progress, with wealth, grace and good fortune. And may Mitra and Varuna, the sun and shower, Aditi, mother nature, Sindhu, the sea and the rivers, Prithivi, mother earth and Dyau, the light of heaven and currents of spatial energies help, advance and bless this prayer and programme of ours.

✦ Sukta 113 · 20 verses ✦

1.113.1

इ॒दं श्रेष्ठं॒ ज्योति॑षां॒ ज्योति॒रागा॑च्चि॒त्रः प्र॑के॒तो अ॑जनिष्ट॒ विभ्वा॑ । यथा॒ प्रसू॑ता सवि॒तुः स॒वायँ॑ ए॒वा रात्र्यु॒षसे॒ योनि॑मारैक् ॥

Here comes this dawn, light of lights, supreme, wonderful, bright and enlightening, rising and expanding. Just as the night comes over for regeneration of the sun, so does it uncover the womb of darkness for the coming of dawn.

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1.113.2

रुश॑द्वत्सा॒ रुश॑ती श्वे॒त्यागा॒दारै॑गु कृ॒ष्णा सद॑नान्यस्याः । स॒मा॒नब॑न्धू अ॒मृते॑ अनू॒ची द्यावा॒ वर्णं॑ चरत आमिना॒ने ॥

The bright dawn comes shining with light, bearing the bright sun new born. The dark night leaves its regions open for the light. Both, like sisters of the same one brother, immortal, assume their own form of light, one bright, the other covered and both come in succession, each retiring and succeeding the other.

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1.113.3

स॒मा॒नो अध्वा॒ स्वस्रो॑रन॒न्तस्तम॒न्यान्या॑ चरतो दे॒वशि॑ष्टे । न मे॑थेते॒ न त॑स्थतुः सु॒मेके॒ नक्तो॒षासा॒ सम॑नसा॒ विरू॑पे ॥

One and the same is the path of the two sisters, which is space, endless and infinite, existentially speaking, which they follow one after the other as ordained by the Divine. They neither overlap, nor encroach, nor clash, nor stand still for a moment. Fixed and firm, each on its own, and of harmonious nature are they, although the night and the dawn are of different forms which are apparently contradictory as light and darkness.

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1.113.4

भास्व॑ती ने॒त्री सू॒नृता॑ना॒मचे॑ति चि॒त्रा वि दुरो॑ न आवः । प्रार्प्या॒ जग॒द्व्यु॑ नो रा॒यो अ॑ख्यदु॒षा अ॑जीग॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

Brilliant shines the dawn, leading inspiration and revelation of divinity for spirits of piety. Wonderful and splendid, it opens the doors of intelligence and consciousness. Taking the world over, it reveals the wealth of nature and envelops the worlds of existence in beauty and splendour.

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1.113.5

जि॒ह्म॒श्ये॒३॒॑चरि॑तवे म॒घोन्या॑भो॒गय॑ इ॒ष्टये॑ रा॒य उ॑ त्वम् । द॒भ्रं पश्य॑द्भ्य उर्वि॒या वि॒चक्ष॑ उ॒षा अ॑जीग॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

O dawn, lady light of wealth and beauty, inspiring, vast and bright, for the lazy loon oversleeping or the squint eyed one, for moving around, for enjoyment of living, for the attainment of desire and yajna, for the achievement of wealth, for the weak-eyed one, and for the revelation of things on earth, you shine and wake up the worlds of existence into light, beauty and activity, revealing even the tiny things.

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1.113.6

क्ष॒त्राय॑ त्वं॒ श्रव॑से त्वं मही॒या इ॒ष्टये॑ त्व॒मर्थ॑मिव त्वमि॒त्यै । विस॑दृशा जीवि॒ताभि॑प्र॒चक्ष॑ उ॒षा अ॑जीग॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

O dawn, for governance and administration of the social order, for food, energy and national prestige, for honour and grandeur, for reaching the desired goal in life, and for the attainment of the various and versatile ways of life, you shine, wake up and envelop the worlds of existence in light and beauty.

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1.113.7

ए॒षा दि॒वो दु॑हि॒ता प्रत्य॑दर्शि व्यु॒च्छन्ती॑ युव॒तिः शु॒क्रवा॑साः । विश्व॒स्येशा॑ना॒ पार्थि॑वस्य॒ वस्व॒ उषो॑ अ॒द्येह सु॑भगे॒ व्यु॑च्छ ॥

Dawn, this daughter of heavenly light, appears on the horizon, shining bright, a maiden clothed in light, over-whelming the entire beauty and wealth of the world. O dawn, lady of noble good fortune, come here for us and shine.

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1.113.8

प॒रा॒य॒ती॒नामन्वे॑ति॒ पाथ॑ आयती॒नां प्र॑थ॒मा शश्व॑तीनाम् । व्यु॒च्छन्ती॑ जी॒वमु॑दी॒रय॑न्त्यु॒षा मृ॒तं कं च॒न बो॒धय॑न्ती ॥

The dawn follows the path of those that have gone before since eternity. It is the first pioneer of those that would follow for eternity. Shining bright, waking up, inspiring, exciting, even reviving life asleep as dead, it comes on and shines on.

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1.113.9

उषो॒ यद॒ग्निं स॒मिधे॑ च॒कर्थ॒ वि यदाव॒श्चक्ष॑सा॒ सूर्य॑स्य । यन्मानु॑षान्य॒क्ष्यमा॑णाँ॒ अजी॑ग॒स्तद्दे॒वेषु॑ चकृषे भ॒द्रमप्नः॑ ॥

O dawn, what you do for lighting of the fire of yajna early morning, what you do to reveal the beauty of the world with the light of the sun, what you do to awake and inspire the devotees of yajna, all that you do is noble action for the divinities of nature and humanity among the divinities.

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1.113.10

किया॒त्या यत्स॒मया॒ भवा॑ति॒ या व्यू॒षुर्याश्च॑ नू॒नं व्यु॒च्छान् । अनु॒ पूर्वाः॑ कृपते वावशा॒ना प्र॒दीध्या॑ना॒ जोष॑म॒न्याभि॑रेति ॥

How long did the dawns last which came and shone earlier? How long would they shine and last which, lovely and brilliant as the earlier ones, remind us of the past ones and brighten up the present around? The dawn would last for ever thus in company with the preceding and the following.

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1.113.11

ई॒युष्टे ये पूर्व॑तरा॒मप॑श्यन्व्यु॒च्छन्ती॑मु॒षसं॒ मर्त्या॑सः । अ॒स्माभि॑रू॒ नु प्र॑ति॒चक्ष्या॑भू॒दो ते य॑न्ति॒ ये अ॑प॒रीषु॒ पश्या॑न् ॥

The mortals who saw the bright and blazing dawn saw the light and passed away. By us too the lovely and shining dawn has been seen for the light. And those too who would see the light of life in the dawns that would follow, would go but with the light of life. (Life and light thus go together continuously in succession in the continuum that existence is.)

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1.113.12

या॒व॒यद्द्वे॑षा ऋत॒पा ऋ॑ते॒जाः सु॑म्ना॒वरी॑ सू॒नृता॑ ई॒रय॑न्ती । सु॒म॒ङ्ग॒लीर्बिभ्र॑ती दे॒ववी॑तिमि॒हाद्योषः॒ श्रेष्ठ॑तमा॒ व्यु॑च्छ ॥

O Dawn, warding off the jealous, guardian of divine truth and yajna, born of divine truth and cosmic yajna, harbinger of peace and comfort, high-priestess of truth, inspiring and exciting, messenger of felicity, bearing joy and prosperity fit for divinity, arise and come, best and highest of lights, shine, inspire and bless us all with freshness.

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1.113.13

शश्व॑त्पु॒रोषा व्यु॑वास दे॒व्यथो॑ अ॒द्येदं व्या॑वो म॒घोनी॑ । अथो॒ व्यु॑च्छा॒दुत्त॑राँ॒ अनु॒ द्यून॒जरा॒मृता॑ चरति स्व॒धाभिः॑ ॥

The bright dawn, ancient and eternal, shines since eternity. Bright and generous mistress of wealth, lights up this world this day and then brightens up the days following till eternity. Unaging and immortal, the dawn moves on and on with its own divine powers and gifts of generosity.

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1.113.14

व्य१॒॑ञ्जिभि॑र्दि॒व आता॑स्वद्यौ॒दप॑ कृ॒ष्णां नि॒र्णिजं॑ दे॒व्या॑वः । प्र॒बो॒धय॑न्त्यरु॒णेभि॒रश्वै॒रोषा या॑ति सु॒युजा॒ रथे॑न ॥

With her soothing celebrities, shining from heaven across the quarters of space, the bright dawn dispels the darkness of night and adorns and reveals the beauty of the world. Waking up the sleeping humanity she comes in the early morning by the celestial car of luxurious light drawn by the glorious sunbeams of fiery speed and splendour.

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1.113.15

आ॒वह॑न्ती॒ पोष्या॒ वार्या॑णि चि॒त्रं के॒तुं कृ॑णुते॒ चेकि॑ताना । ई॒युषी॑णामुप॒मा शश्व॑तीनां विभाती॒नां प्र॑थ॒मोषा व्य॑श्वैत् ॥

Bearing and bringing choice nourishments for body, mind and soul, waking those who sleep, lighting the dark, the dawn creates wonderful brilliance. Following upon the heels of the by-gones, first shining of the succeeding lights, measure of the eternal recurrent lights of the dawn, she goes on by her chariot of light drawn not by horses but by sunbeams.

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1.113.16

उदी॑र्ध्वं जी॒वो असु॑र्न॒ आगा॒दप॒ प्रागा॒त्तम॒ आ ज्योति॑रेति । आरै॒क्पन्थां॒ यात॑वे॒ सूर्या॒याग॑न्म॒ यत्र॑ प्रति॒रन्त॒ आयुः॑ ॥

Awake ye all who sleep, arise ye all who wake, life has come, and the energy of life-prana flows for all. Darkness is gone. Light has come, having cleared the path for the sun to rise and move. Let us reach there, enjoy life and elevate life and ourselves.

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1.113.17

स्यूम॑ना वा॒च उदि॑यर्ति॒ वह्निः॒ स्तवा॑नो रे॒भ उ॒षसो॑ विभा॒तीः । अ॒द्या तदु॑च्छ गृण॒ते म॑घोन्य॒स्मे आयु॒र्नि दि॑दीहि प्र॒जाव॑त् ॥

The admirer, poet of fiery imagination, sings inspiring songs in praise of brilliant dawn. O Dawn, lady of light and harbinger of wealth, shine for the worshipper and give him the light.And give us the health and age blest with progeny.

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1.113.18

या गोम॑तीरु॒षसः॒ सर्व॑वीरा व्यु॒च्छन्ति॑ दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य । वा॒योरि॑व सू॒नृता॑नामुद॒र्के ता अ॑श्व॒दा अ॑श्नवत्सोम॒सुत्वा॑ ॥

Bright are the dawns, rich in sunbeams and wealth of cows, creators and inspirers of all the brave on earth. Generous are they for the man who gives and sacrifices, giver of horses fast as sunbeams. And when men of truth and law meditate on them, then, flying as the wind, they come and bless the man who performs the soma-yajna of creative joy for life.

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1.113.19

मा॒ता दे॒वाना॒मदि॑ते॒रनी॑कं य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुर्बृ॑ह॒ती वि भा॑हि । प्र॒श॒स्ति॒कृद्ब्रह्म॑णे नो॒ व्यु१॒॑च्छा नो॒ जने॑ जनय विश्ववारे ॥

Creative power of Divinity, image of Eternity, fire of the cosmic yajna of creation and evolution, shine brilliant over the vast spaces. Light adorable, shine and let us shine for the service of Divinity. Universal giver of bliss, elevate us to the heights where we belong.

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1.113.20

यच्चि॒त्रमप्न॑ उ॒षसो॒ वह॑न्तीजा॒नाय॑ शशमा॒नाय॑ भ॒द्रम् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Whatever creation and wonderful inspiration the dawns, lady lights of divinity, bear and bring for the zealous yajaka, may Mitra, universal friend of life, Varuna, lord of eternal peace and justice, Aditi, mother nature, the rivers and the sea, the earth, the sky and the light of heaven expand and elevate for humanity.

✦ Sukta 114 · 11 verses ✦

1.114.1

इ॒मा रु॒द्राय॑ त॒वसे॑ कप॒र्दिने॑ क्ष॒यद्वी॑राय॒ प्र भ॑रामहे म॒तीः । यथा॒ शमस॑द्द्वि॒पदे॒ चतु॑ष्पदे॒ विश्वं॑ पु॒ष्टं ग्रामे॑ अ॒स्मिन्न॑नातु॒रम् ॥

We offer these songs of prayer and adoration to Rudra, omnipotent lord of mercy and justice, father and protector of the brave, for the sake of the brahmachari student of the Rudra order so that all may be peace and joy among the humans and animals and all life on earth and the environment be healthy and happy in this settlement, this world and the universe.

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1.114.2

मृ॒ळा नो॑ रुद्रो॒त नो॒ मय॑स्कृधि क्ष॒यद्वी॑राय॒ नम॑सा विधेम ते । यच्छं च॒ योश्च॒ मनु॑राये॒जे पि॒ता तद॑श्याम॒ तव॑ रुद्र॒ प्रणी॑तिषु ॥

Rudra, be kind to us, be good and give us peace, comfort and good health. We do homage to you, leader and protector of the brave, with oblations and salutations. The peace and freedom which Manu, father guardian of humanity, procured and secured for us, may we, we pray, attain under your kind guidance and discipline.

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1.114.3

अ॒श्याम॑ ते सुम॒तिं दे॑वय॒ज्यया॑ क्ष॒यद्वी॑रस्य॒ तव॑ रुद्र मीढ्वः । सु॒म्ना॒यन्निद्विशो॑ अ॒स्माक॒मा च॒रारि॑ष्टवीरा जुहवाम ते ह॒विः ॥

Rudra, good and generous, protector of the brave, may we attain the favour of your wisdom and advice by worship and homage to you. With our heroes of the nation unhurt and protected, we offer gifts of oblations and homage to you. Come, we pray, be kind and gracious to our people.

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1.114.4

त्वे॒षं व॒यं रु॒द्रं य॑ज्ञ॒साधं॑ व॒ङ्कुं क॒विमव॑से॒ नि ह्व॑यामहे । आ॒रे अ॒स्मद्दैव्यं॒ हेळो॑ अस्यतु सुम॒तिमिद्व॒यम॒स्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

For our protection and guidance we invoke Rudra, blazing brilliant, destroyer of enemies, giver of success in the yajnic projects of life, lord of instant motion and action, and seer of universal vision. May He ward off all furies of nature from us. We choose and pray for His vision and wisdom for our conduct in life.

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1.114.5

दि॒वो व॑रा॒हम॑रु॒षं क॑प॒र्दिनं॑ त्वे॒षं रू॒पं नम॑सा॒ नि ह्व॑यामहे । हस्ते॒ बिभ्र॑द्भेष॒जा वार्या॑णि॒ शर्म॒ वर्म॑ च्छ॒र्दिर॒स्मभ्यं॑ यंसत् ॥

With offerings of food and salutations we invoke Rudra from the regions of light, generous as a cloud, brilliant, master controller of the gambler’s dice and blazing magnificent of form. May he come bearing in hand the choicest herbs for medicine and bless us with gifts of a peaceful happy home, protective armour, and preventive and deterrent arms and armaments.

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1.114.6

इ॒दं पि॒त्रे म॒रुता॑मुच्यते॒ वचः॑ स्वा॒दोः स्वादी॑यो रु॒द्राय॒ वर्ध॑नम् । रास्वा॑ च नो अमृत मर्त॒भोज॑नं॒ त्मने॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय मृळ ॥

This exhilarating song of homage, holiest of holies, is offered in honour of Rudra, father and protector of the Maruts, heroes of the nation. Lord of immortality, give us the best nourishing food for the mortals, sweetest of sweets, for our body, mind and soul, for our children and for our youth. Lord, be kind and gracious to bless us.

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1.114.7

मा नो॑ म॒हान्त॑मु॒त मा नो॑ अर्भ॒कं मा न॒ उक्ष॑न्तमु॒त मा न॑ उक्षि॒तम् । मा नो॑ बधीः पि॒तरं॒ मोत मा॒तरं॒ मा नः॑ प्रि॒यास्त॒न्वो॑ रुद्र रीरिषः ॥

Rudra, lord of mercy and justice, frustrate not our great men, saints and scholars, and our seniors. Strike not our children. Slay-not our youth. Kill not the fetus in the womb. Kill not our father, nor our mother. Hurt not our lovely bodies, nor hurt our beloved wives.

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1.114.8

मा न॑स्तो॒के तन॑ये॒ मा न॑ आ॒यौ मा नो॒ गोषु॒ मा नो॒ अश्वे॑षु रीरिषः । वी॒रान्मा नो॑ रुद्र भामि॒तो व॑धीर्ह॒विष्म॑न्तः॒ सद॒मित्त्वा॑ हवामहे ॥

Rudra, lord eternal of mercy and justice, strike not our baby, nor our child. Snap not our life short. Kill not our cows, nor horses. If ever you feel angry for our trespasses, forgive, we pray, strike not our brave. With our hands raised in prayer with holy offerings, we always invoke you and pray for kindness and grace.

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1.114.9

उप॑ ते॒ स्तोमा॑न्पशु॒पा इ॒वाक॑रं॒ रास्वा॑ पितर्मरुतां सु॒म्नम॒स्मे । भ॒द्रा हि ते॑ सुम॒तिर्मृ॑ळ॒यत्त॒माथा॑ व॒यमव॒ इत्ते॑ वृणीमहे ॥

I bring these songs of praise in homage to you, father and protector of the brave Maruts, heroes of nature and humanity, just as a shepherd brings milk and curds to offer to his master. Lord, we pray, give us peace and joy. Blissful is the vision of Divinity, most beatific. Therefore we choose to pray for your protection and guidance, only that and none else’s.

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1.114.10

आ॒रे ते॑ गो॒घ्नमु॒त पू॑रुष॒घ्नं क्षय॑द्वीर सु॒म्नम॒स्मे ते॑ अस्तु । मृ॒ळा च॑ नो॒ अधि॑ च ब्रूहि दे॒वाधा॑ च नः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छ द्वि॒बर्हाः॑ ॥

Lord protector and shelter of the brave, let the butcher of cows and murderer of men be off by your protection and grace. May the peace and joy of your blessings be for us. Be kind and gracious to us. Speak to us in the heart from above. Lord of the world of here and after, give us peace and joy on earth, and the ultimate freedom after.

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1.114.11

अवो॑चाम॒ नमो॑ अस्मा अव॒स्यवः॑ शृ॒णोतु॑ नो॒ हवं॑ रु॒द्रो म॒रुत्वा॑न् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Seekers of protection and bliss, let us sing in praise of the Lord. May Rudra, omniscient lord omnipotent, listen to our call and prayer.And may Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the sea and rivers, the earth and heaven raise and sublimate our word of salutation and prayer to the divine presence. (The word is Namaste.)

✦ Sukta 115 · 6 verses ✦

1.115.1

चि॒त्रं दे॒वाना॒मुद॑गा॒दनी॑कं॒ चक्षु॑र्मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्या॒ग्नेः । आप्रा॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षं॒ सूर्य॑ आ॒त्मा जग॑तस्त॒स्थुष॑श्च ॥

Lo! there rises the sun, wonderful image of Divinity, the very eye of Mitra, heaven, the soothing cool of Varuna, the waters, and the beauty of the moon. It pervades and fills the heaven and earth and the middle regions of the sky. It is indeed the very soul of the moving and the unmoving world.

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1.115.2

सूर्यो॑ दे॒वीमु॒षसं॒ रोच॑मानां॒ मर्यो॒ न योषा॑म॒भ्ये॑ति प॒श्चात् । यत्रा॒ नरो॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ यु॒गानि॑ वितन्व॒ते प्रति॑ भ॒द्राय॑ भ॒द्रम् ॥

The sun follows the brilliant and beautiful dawn just like a youthful lover who pursues his beloved. And therein, with reference to that, the leading astronomers of the stars extend their noble vision for the calculation of ages for the good of humanity.

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1.115.3

भ॒द्रा अश्वा॑ ह॒रितः॒ सूर्य॑स्य चि॒त्रा एत॑ग्वा अनु॒माद्या॑सः । न॒म॒स्यन्तो॑ दि॒व आ पृ॒ष्ठम॑स्थुः॒ परि॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी य॑न्ति स॒द्यः ॥

The blissful rays of the sun, reddish, various and wondrous, exhilarating, invigorating overspread the expanse of heaven and constantly go over the regions of space across the sky and the earth.

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1.115.4

तत्सूर्य॑स्य देव॒त्वं तन्म॑हि॒त्वं म॒ध्या कर्तो॒र्वित॑तं॒ सं ज॑भार । य॒देदयु॑क्त ह॒रितः॑ स॒धस्था॒दाद्रात्री॒ वास॑स्तनुते सि॒मस्मै॑ ॥

That Lord of the universe, Omnipotent Light of creation, is the Sun, Savita, who holds and sustains the light and grandeur of the sun pervading in the world of action. And it is He who withdraws and folds up the same divinity and grandeur of the sun. And when the Lord withdraws the light of the sun, then the Night of Pralaya absorbs everything of existence into her fold of darkness. (This is the story of the eternal round of evolution and involution of the universe.) When the sun, in the daily round of day-light and darkness at night, collects the rays of light from down below then the night spreads her cover of darkness over all. (This is the story of the daily round of the daynight cycle.)

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1.115.5

तन्मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्याभि॒चक्षे॒ सूर्यो॑ रू॒पं कृ॑णुते॒ द्योरु॒पस्थे॑ । अ॒न॒न्तम॒न्यद्रुश॑दस्य॒ पाजः॑ कृ॒ष्णम॒न्यद्ध॒रितः॒ सं भ॑रन्ति ॥

The Eternal Lord, in order that Mitra and Varuna, day and night, be seen, creates light and shade and form. And so, the sun, which is light incarnate, in the close space of heaven, shows the forms of things. Endless, different and blazing is its power of one sort, while the shade of darkness is another, which the rays of the sun bear in the quarters of space.

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1.115.6

अ॒द्या दे॑वा॒ उदि॑ता॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ निरंह॑सः पिपृ॒ता निर॑व॒द्यात् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिन्धुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

O powers divine and vitalities of nature born of the rising sun, pure and immaculate, save us to-day from whatever is sinful and despicable. And may the day and night, the wide space, the rivers and the sea, the earth and the heavens of light, we pray, bless us to rise in our hopes and endeavours.

✦ Sukta 116 · 25 verses ✦

1.116.1

नास॑त्याभ्यां ब॒र्हिरि॑व॒ प्र वृ॑ञ्जे॒ स्तोमाँ॑ इयर्म्य॒भ्रिये॑व॒ वातः॑ । यावर्भ॑गाय विम॒दाय॑ जा॒यां से॑ना॒जुवा॑ न्यू॒हतू॒ रथे॑न ॥

Just as the priest selects and plucks sacred grass and spreads it over and around the vedi in celebration, and just as the winds move the vapour laden cloud across the sky, so do I select words of appreciation for the Ashvins, scientist and technologist, sincere and true, compose them into songs of praise and air them over the skies, for the Ashvins, who fly troops of the army by a carrier plane over the mountains like friends flying a damsel for the youthful sober lover.

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1.116.2

वी॒ळु॒पत्म॑भिराशु॒हेम॑भिर्वा दे॒वानां॑ वा जू॒तिभिः॒ शाश॑दाना । तद्रास॑भो नासत्या स॒हस्र॑मा॒जा य॒मस्य॑ प्र॒धने॑ जिगाय ॥

Ashvins, ever sincere and true, flying by the wings of powerful birds, fast at the speed of clouds, by the tempests of wind and fire splitting the currents of winds, eminent scholars and aeronauts, the power applied, controlled and directed in your chariot would win victories in a thousand battles of wealth against the deadly enemy.

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1.116.3

तुग्रो॑ ह भु॒ज्युम॑श्विनोदमे॒घे र॒यिं न कश्चि॑न्ममृ॒वाँ अवा॑हाः । तमू॑हथुर्नौ॒भिरा॑त्म॒न्वती॑भिरन्तरिक्ष॒प्रुद्भि॒रपो॑दकाभिः ॥

Ashvins, commanders forceful as wind and lightning, if a great ruler and governor launches a fighter and pioneer beneficiary of the nation on the bottomless sea but then abandons hope like a dying man giving up his wealth of a life-time, you rescue him by self-driven, waterproof, flying boats.

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1.116.4

ति॒स्रः क्षप॒स्त्रिरहा॑ति॒व्रज॑द्भि॒र्नास॑त्या भु॒ज्युमू॑हथुः पत॒ङ्गैः । स॒मु॒द्रस्य॒ धन्व॑न्ना॒र्द्रस्य॑ पा॒रे त्रि॒भी रथैः॑ श॒तप॑द्भिः॒ षळ॑श्वैः ॥

Ashvins, undeviating from truth and reality, you carry the ruler beneficiary across the unfathomable ocean and over the desert three-nights and three days non-stop by three flying chariots fitted with hundred wheels and six engines.

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1.116.5

अ॒ना॒र॒म्भ॒णे तद॑वीरयेथामनास्था॒ने अ॑ग्रभ॒णे स॑मु॒द्रे । यद॑श्विना ऊ॒हथु॑र्भु॒ज्युमस्तं॑ श॒तारि॑त्रां॒ नाव॑मातस्थि॒वांस॑म् ॥

Ashvins, scholars dedicated to truth and humanity, in the ocean of space where there is no beginning and no end, where there is no foothold and nothing to hold with hand, you carry the man of earthly enjoyment riding the carrier-boat worked with a hundred propellers to his haven of rest where there is no want, no pain, nothing beyond desire. That is great, heroic!

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1.116.6

यम॑श्विना द॒दथुः॑ श्वे॒तमश्व॑म॒घाश्वा॑य॒ शश्व॒दित्स्व॒स्ति । तद्वां॑ दा॒त्रं महि॑ की॒र्तेन्यं॑ भूत्पै॒द्वो वा॒जी सद॒मिद्धव्यो॑ अ॒र्यः ॥

Ashvins, experts of velocity and motion, the brilliant white solar car which you provide for the adventurous traveller is all-time auspicious. That gift of yours is great, admirable all over the earth. The superfast car is of undiminishing value and adorable in the economic world of business and industry.

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1.116.7

यु॒वं न॑रा स्तुव॒ते प॑ज्रि॒याय॑ क॒क्षीव॑ते अरदतं॒ पुर॑न्धिम् । का॒रो॒त॒राच्छ॒फादश्व॑स्य॒ वृष्णः॑ श॒तं कु॒म्भाँ अ॑सिञ्चतं॒ सुरा॑याः ॥

Ashvins, leading teacher and scholar of herbal science, you reward the faithful disciple of pious discipline ever ready in harness with exceptional knowledge and insight into the science and technology of restorative nectar by which you can fill a hundred jars of drink from one horse-hoof measure of virile essence distilled through the filter.

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1.116.8

हि॒मेना॒ग्निं घ्रं॒सम॑वारयेथां पितु॒मती॒मूर्ज॑मस्मा अधत्तम् । ऋ॒बीसे॒ अत्रि॑मश्वि॒नाव॑नीत॒मुन्नि॑न्यथुः॒ सर्व॑गणं स्व॒स्ति ॥

Ashvins, scholars of heat and energy, fight out fire and heat with ice and cool, and bear edible energy concentrate for us. Pull out the man fallen into the earth’s womb of fire and despondency and free him and his community from physical, mental and spiritual suffering for their common good.

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1.116.9

परा॑व॒तं ना॑सत्यानुदेथामु॒च्चाबु॑ध्नं चक्रथुर्जि॒ह्मवा॑रम् । क्षर॒न्नापो॒ न पा॒यना॑य रा॒ये स॒हस्रा॑य॒ तृष्य॑ते॒ गोत॑मस्य ॥

Ashvins, high-priests of nature and truth, lite up the waters from the bottom at the lowest level, raise it to a higher level by oblique channels, and let the streams flow for drink for a thousand people, and for the scholar and the administrator, to quench their thirst and for the production of wealth.

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1.116.10

जु॒जु॒रुषो॑ नासत्यो॒त व॒व्रिं प्रामु॑ञ्चतं द्रा॒पिमि॑व॒ च्यवा॑नात् । प्राति॑रतं जहि॒तस्यायु॑र्द॒स्रादित्पति॑मकृणुतं क॒नीना॑म् ॥

Ashvins, recuperative powers of nature, masters of medicine and psychiatrists, you free the ageing man from wrinkled skin, remove fear complex from the escapist running away from life, give a new lease of life to the depressed heading to suicide, and mature adolescent girls to grow and match with the right husband in marriage.

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1.116.11

तद्वां॑ नरा॒ शंस्यं॒ राध्यं॑ चाभिष्टि॒मन्ना॑सत्या॒ वरू॑थम् । यद्वि॒द्वांसा॑ नि॒धिमि॒वाप॑गूळ्ह॒मुद्द॑र्श॒तादू॒पथु॒र्वन्द॑नाय ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of humanity dedicated to truth and reality, the protective and promotive work you do is appreciable, adorable and blissfully desirable. Leaders of knowledge and secrets of nature, it is so far hidden from view like an underground treasure. Let it come forth so that all may see and admire and do you the honour you deserve.

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1.116.12

तद्वां॑ नरा स॒नये॒ दंस॑ उ॒ग्रमा॒विष्कृ॑णोमि तन्य॒तुर्न वृ॒ष्टिम् । द॒ध्यङ्ह॒ यन्मध्वा॑थर्व॒णो वा॒मश्व॑स्य शी॒र्ष्णा प्र यदी॑मु॒वाच॑ ॥

Ashvins, leaders of men in knowledge and action, that marvellous work of yours in the interest of social good, I explain and proclaim in detail like thunder and lightning raining showers from the cloud, work and knowledge sweet as honey which the man of love and reverence, Dadhyang, child and disciple of the sober sage of non-violence, Atharvan, taught you from his mind inspired with wisdom and passion for superfast action in the form of a full treatise on the subject.

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1.116.13

अजो॑हवीन्नासत्या क॒रा वां॑ म॒हे याम॑न्पुरुभुजा॒ पुर॑न्धिः । श्रु॒तं तच्छासु॑रिव वध्रिम॒त्या हिर॑ण्यहस्तमश्विनावदत्तम् ॥

Ashvins, lovers of truth and reality, munificent powers of action and knowledge, liberal givers of joy and prosperity for all, let the woman of noble intelligence invite you for the sake of abundant peace and prosperity, listen to her invocation as a commandment of the world Ruler, and give the fortunate woman that superior knowledge which showers the joys of life with golden hands of generosity.

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1.116.14

आ॒स्नो वृक॑स्य॒ वर्ति॑काम॒भीके॑ यु॒वं न॑रा नासत्यामुमुक्तम् । उ॒तो क॒विं पु॑रुभुजा यु॒वं ह॒ कृप॑माणमकृणुतं वि॒चक्षे॑ ॥

Ashvins, defenders of truth, light and justice, leaders of humanity and creators of peace and prosperity for all, in the human search for progress and enlightenment, you save the poor bird from the devourer’s mouth, and give the poet a compassionate heart for a comprehensive vision of life.

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1.116.15

च॒रित्रं॒ हि वेरि॒वाच्छे॑दि प॒र्णमा॒जा खे॒लस्य॒ परि॑तक्म्यायाम् । स॒द्यो जङ्घा॒माय॑सीं वि॒श्पला॑यै॒ धने॑ हि॒ते सर्त॑वे॒ प्रत्य॑धत्तम् ॥

Ashvins, when the battle is raging for the defence and sustenance of the people but the issue is wavering in the night of uncertainty, you instantly take to the armour of steel for advance, strike and break down the enemy’s force as you cut off the wing of a bird.

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1.116.16

श॒तं मे॒षान्वृ॒क्ये॑ चक्षदा॒नमृ॒ज्राश्वं॒ तं पि॒तान्धं च॑कार । तस्मा॑ अ॒क्षी ना॑सत्या वि॒चक्ष॒ आध॑त्तं दस्रा भिषजावन॒र्वन् ॥

If a person were to sacrifice a hundred generous and creative contenders, meshas, for the pleasure of a wolfish thief and his wife, even though such a person were otherwise very intelligent and dynamic, the fatherly ruler should throw him into the darkness of prison. And yet, O Ashvins, lovers of ultimate truth, dispellers of untruth and darkness, generous showers of bliss, bring the eyes for the waking blind so that he could see what is real and true and good and be released from the dungeon of ignorance. (It is better to make the blind see than keep them in the prison. It is better to redeem the criminal and the sinner than throw him in the prison.)

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1.116.17

आ वां॒ रथं॑ दुहि॒ता सूर्य॑स्य॒ कार्ष्मे॑वातिष्ठ॒दर्व॑ता॒ जय॑न्ती । विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अन्व॑मन्यन्त हृ॒द्भिः समु॑ श्रि॒या ना॑सत्या सचेथे ॥

Ashvins, lovers and defenders of truth in the battle of life and health of the world, let the dawn, daughter of the sun, arise and ride your chariot drawn by horses of light and win the battle. Let all the divinities of the world heartily applaud the beauty and power, and may you shine with the beauty and glory of the rise and may you win the victory.

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1.116.18

यदया॑तं॒ दिवो॑दासाय व॒र्तिर्भ॒रद्वा॑जायाश्विना॒ हय॑न्ता । रे॒वदु॑वाह सच॒नो रथो॑ वां वृष॒भश्च॑ शिंशु॒मार॑श्च यु॒क्ता ॥

Ashvins, generous givers and protectors, ever on the move, when you come to the house of Divodasa, the giver of light and knowledge, and to Bharadvaja, bearer and giver of food, energy and the fighting force, let the chariot that transports you be delightful, laden with wealth, powerfully equipped, victorious and killer of the enemy.

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1.116.19

र॒यिं सु॑क्ष॒त्रं स्व॑प॒त्यमायुः॑ सु॒वीर्यं॑ नासत्या॒ वह॑न्ता । आ ज॒ह्नावीं॒ सम॑न॒सोप॒ वाजै॒स्त्रिरह्नो॑ भा॒गं दध॑तीमयातम् ॥

Ashvins, protectors of truth and leaders of equal and agreeable mind, come with food, energy and powerful forces, bearing wealth, good social

order, noble progeny, good health and age, courage and valour, and free flowing streams of water for the people performing their daily duties full three times of the day.

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1.116.20

परि॑विष्टं जाहु॒षं वि॒श्वतः॑ सीं सु॒गेभि॒र्नक्त॑मूहथू॒ रजो॑भिः । वि॒भि॒न्दुना॑ नासत्या॒ रथे॑न॒ वि पर्व॑ताँ अजर॒यू अ॑यातम् ॥

Ashvins, defenders and saviours of truth and right, young and unaging, when the commander or a section of the army or the ruler is besieged on all sides, launch, and attack by an invincible killer chariot, rescue the besieged force by easy but misty paths and take over the caverns and mountains by night.

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1.116.21

एक॑स्या॒ वस्तो॑रावतं॒ रणा॑य॒ वश॑मश्विना स॒नये॑ स॒हस्रा॑ । निर॑हतं दु॒च्छुना॒ इन्द्र॑वन्ता पृथु॒श्रव॑सो वृषणा॒वरा॑तीः ॥

Ashvins, brilliant as sun and moon, forceful as lightning and thunder, generous as showers of rain, leaders of the land and commanders of the army, protect and promote the freedom of the land for a hundred gifts and acquisitions of peace and happiness. Protect and develop the army for battle for the sake of freedom and advancement. And in a single day rout the destructive force of the frustrative enemy even if it be of commanding fame in the world.

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1.116.22

श॒रस्य॑ चिदार्च॒त्कस्या॑व॒तादा नी॒चादु॒च्चा च॑क्रथुः॒ पात॑वे॒ वाः । श॒यवे॑ चिन्नासत्या॒ शची॑भि॒र्जसु॑रये स्त॒र्यं॑ पिप्यथु॒र्गाम् ॥

Ashvins, lovers and defenders of truth and the facts of life, with your noble actions of science and husbandry, you raise the water from the lowest level as that of a well or lake to the higher level for the drink of the violent as well as of the worshipper, and you develop the dry cow to fertility for the drooping, depressed and the exhausted humanity.

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1.116.23

अ॒व॒स्य॒ते स्तु॑व॒ते कृ॑ष्णि॒याय॑ ऋजूय॒ते ना॑सत्या॒ शची॑भिः । प॒शुं न न॒ष्टमि॑व॒ दर्श॑नाय विष्णा॒प्वं॑ ददथु॒र्विश्व॑काय ॥

Ashvins, lovers of truth and humanity, with your noble words and acts of wisdom give that sagely vision and knowledge to the protective, worshipful, attractive, simple and sympathetic visionary with which the sages are blest in a state of samadhi communion with the divine. Give it like a lovely pet or a valuable treasure lost but then found and then restored to the master.

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1.116.24

दश॒ रात्री॒रशि॑वेना॒ नव॒ द्यूनव॑नद्धं श्नथि॒तम॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तः । विप्रु॑तं रे॒भमु॒दनि॒ प्रवृ॑क्त॒मुन्नि॑न्यथुः॒ सोम॑मिव स्रु॒वेण॑ ॥

Ashvins, lovers and defenders of truth and right, just as a boat is tied and transfixed under water for ten nights and nine days by an envious person, or it is held up, or drifts over water, but then is upraised and brought on the track by a noble ferry man, so if an admirer of truth and right and devotee of divinity feels supressed by adverse forces, feels depressed or distempered or drifts from the right track, then, O Ashvins, give him a hand and raise him like a soma libation raised in the ladle ready for offering into the fire of yajna.

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1.116.25

प्र वां॒ दंसां॑स्यश्विनाववोचम॒स्य पतिः॑ स्यां सु॒गवः॑ सु॒वीरः॑ । उ॒त पश्य॑न्नश्नु॒वन्दी॒र्घमायु॒रस्त॑मि॒वेज्ज॑रि॒माणं॑ जगम्याम् ॥

Ashvins, noble divinities of truth and right action, generous givers of good health and purpose of life for a full age, I pray I may sing in praise of your great actions with gratitude and, blest with cows, noble speech and abundant land, in the company of brave children, seeing the world and the light of divinity, enjoying long and full age, and giving up this ageing body I should retire, set like the sun and go home.

✦ Sukta 117 · 25 verses ✦

1.117.1

मध्वः॒ सोम॑स्याश्विना॒ मदा॑य प्र॒त्नो होता वि॑वासते वाम् । ब॒र्हिष्म॑ती रा॒तिर्विश्रि॑ता॒ गीरि॒षा या॑तं नास॒त्योप॒ वाजैः॑ ॥

Ashvins, lovers and defenders of truth, givers of health and joy, the veteran yajaka, high-priest of knowledge, invokes you for the honey sweets of soma’s joy for the health and ecstasy of living. Brilliant and blissful is your gift of peace and prosperity, celebrated is your voice and wisdom. Come with your gifts of food and energy and the vibrant ways of living and advancement at the fastest.

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1.117.2

यो वा॑मश्विना॒ मन॑सो॒ जवी॑या॒न्रथः॒ स्वश्वो॒ विश॑ आ॒जिगा॑ति । येन॒ गच्छ॑थः सु॒कृतो॑ दुरो॒णं तेन॑ नरा व॒र्तिर॒स्मभ्यं॑ यातम् ॥

Ashvins, leaders of the people, faster than thought is your chariot which reaches the people with you. Wondrously made it is, drawn by horses fast as sun beams and lightning, by which you go home to the man of noble deeds. Riding that same chariot come home for us too (and bless us with light and speed).

· · ·

1.117.3

ऋषिं॑ नरा॒वंह॑सः॒ पाञ्च॑जन्यमृ॒बीसा॒दत्रिं॑ मुञ्चथो ग॒णेन॑ । मि॒नन्ता॒ दस्यो॒रशि॑वस्य मा॒या अ॑नुपू॒र्वं वृ॑षणा चो॒दय॑न्ता ॥

Ashvins, leaders of humanity, generous and inspiring as ever before with universal knowledge and human values, destroyers of the envious demonics and their crooked powers, you save Atri, visionary scholar free from the three bonds of physical, mental and spiritual ailments, self-realised soul with mastery over all the five pranic energies and dedicated to all the five classes of universal humanity without discrimination, and you deliver him along with his band of teachers and scholars from the evil of prison in utter darkness, against the light of reason, knowledge and rectitude, into which, such men of light and freedom are thrown by the envious and wicked blood suckers of society.

· · ·

1.117.4

अश्वं॒ न गू॒ळ्हम॑श्विना दु॒रेवै॒ॠषिं॑ नरा वृषणा रे॒भम॒प्सु । सं तं रि॑णीथो॒ विप्रु॑तं॒ दंसो॑भि॒र्न वां॑ जूर्यन्ति पू॒र्व्या कृ॒तानि॑ ॥

Rebha, eminent scholar of knowledge and wisdom, dynamic and productive proclaimer of the secrets of science, is obscured among the lesser stars and kept back, by manipulators of evil design, straying around lost like a horse in the jungle. Ashvins, brave and generous heroes and leaders of humanity and guides of knowledge, redeem that seer of light with your noble actions, he would otherwise be lost and gone. All your actions, old and ancient as well as new, never fade away nor die out.

· · ·

1.117.5

सु॒षु॒प्वांसं॒ न निर्ॠ॑तेरु॒पस्थे॒ सूर्यं॒ न द॑स्रा॒ तम॑सि क्षि॒यन्त॑म् । शु॒भे रु॒क्मं न द॑र्श॒तं निखा॑त॒मुदू॑पथुरश्विना॒ वन्द॑नाय ॥

Ashvins, heroic and generous powers of action, destroyers of want and suffering, like the soul’s awareness covered in deep sleep, like the dormant seed enfolded in the soil, like the sun resting as if in the night cover of darkness, like the lovely shining fold buried in the folds of the earth, the face of beauty and truth is hidden. Awaken the awareness of life divine, generate the life of the seed, let the sun arise, bring out the hidden gold of the earth, and sow the seeds of life, energy and light so that all may see, honour and admire the grandeur of existence.

· · ·

1.117.6

तद्वां॑ नरा॒ शंस्यं॑ पज्रि॒येण॑ क॒क्षीव॑ता नासत्या॒ परि॑ज्मन् । श॒फादश्व॑स्य वा॒जिनो॒ जना॑य श॒तं कु॒म्भाँ अ॑सिञ्चतं॒ मधू॑नाम् ॥

Ashvins, dedicated to truth and nature, leaders of scientists and pharmacists, that work of yours is of universal value and worthy of praise by eminent scholars by which you manufacture a horse-hoof measure of herbal essence and from that prepare a hundred potfuls of honey sweet restorative tonics for the ailing people.

· · ·

1.117.7

यु॒वं न॑रा स्तुव॒ते कृ॑ष्णि॒याय॑ विष्णा॒प्वं॑ ददथु॒र्विश्व॑काय । घोषा॑यै चित्पितृ॒षदे॑ दुरो॒णे पतिं॒ जूर्य॑न्त्या अश्विनावदत्तम् ॥

Ashvins, generous givers and leaders of men, for the man of truth true to his word, kind ruler, planning development of agriculture, dedicated to parental seniors, provide the expert of farming on the land, and for the herdswoman growing old provide a caretaker.

· · ·

1.117.8

यु॒वं श्यावा॑य॒ रुश॑तीमदत्तं म॒हः क्षो॒णस्या॑श्विना॒ कण्वा॑य । प्र॒वाच्यं॒ तद्वृ॑षणा कृ॒तं वां॒ यन्ना॑र्ष॒दाय॒ श्रवो॑ अ॒ध्यध॑त्तम् ॥

Ashvins, brave and generous harbingers of fulfilment for the lover of learning, give brilliance of knowledge for the learned teacher and his resident pupil, give great strength of will and purpose, and for the successor of the man presiding over people and pupils, give communicable knowledge, strength of action, right reputation and the will to listen above all.

· · ·

1.117.9

पु॒रू वर्पां॑स्यश्विना॒ दधा॑ना॒ नि पे॒दव॑ ऊहथुरा॒शुमश्व॑म् । स॒ह॒स्र॒सां वा॒जिन॒मप्र॑तीतमहि॒हनं॑ श्रव॒स्यं१॒॑तरु॑त्रम् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of many things for good and comfortable life, assuming various forms of workers and designers, you give to the traveller and transporter the instant motive power such as electricity, fast, serving a thousand purposes, invisible, present in earth and consumable fuels, breaker of the cloud and capable of crossing the seas.

· · ·

1.117.10

ए॒तानि॑ वां श्रव॒स्या॑ सुदानू॒ ब्रह्मा॑ङ्गू॒षं सद॑नं॒ रोद॑स्योः । यद्वां॑ प॒ज्रासो॑ अश्विना॒ हव॑न्ते या॒तमि॒षा च॑ वि॒दुषे॑ च॒ वाज॑म् ॥

Ashvins, generous divinities of nature and humanity, these are your reputable acts of charity. This is the song of praise for you. The infinite and omniscient lord, Brahma, is the home and sustenance of heaven and earth, whom you and your friends and admirers invoke and worship. Move on, powers of life and light divine, with your will and gifts of food for life and soul and with the vision divine for the man and seeker of knowledge.

· · ·

1.117.11

सू॒नोर्माने॑नाश्विना गृणा॒ना वाजं॒ विप्रा॑य भुरणा॒ रद॑न्ता । अ॒गस्त्ये॒ ब्रह्म॑णा वावृधा॒ना सं वि॒श्पलां॑ नासत्यारिणीतम् ॥

Ashvins, lovers and defenders of truth and rectitude, generous harbingers of comfort, prosperity and happiness, sung and celebrated by the honour and reverence of the admirer and the lover of soma like a son, opening the channels of food, energy and knowledge for the pious and intelligent people, rising by the light of omniscience in knowledge and acts of charity in the service of Divinity, release the flow of vision, will and right policy for the advancement of humanity on the path of progress.

· · ·

1.117.12

कुह॒ यान्ता॑ सुष्टु॒तिं का॒व्यस्य॒ दिवो॑ नपाता वृषणा शयु॒त्रा । हिर॑ण्यस्येव क॒लशं॒ निखा॑त॒मुदू॑पथुर्दश॒मे अ॑श्वि॒नाह॑न् ॥

Ashvins, children of light, generous and brave, guardians of sleeping humanity, moving on the paths of divinity, where do you find celebration in poetry and discover the golden vessel of spiritual treasure buried under the folds of earthly existence, on the tenth day of yajnic performance, and then sow the seeds of piety? (The answer is: among the lovers of knowledge, children of divinity).

· · ·

1.117.13

यु॒वं च्यवा॑नमश्विना॒ जर॑न्तं॒ पुन॒र्युवा॑नं चक्रथुः॒ शची॑भिः । यु॒वो रथं॑ दुहि॒ता सूर्य॑स्य स॒ह श्रि॒या ना॑सत्यावृणीत ॥

Ashvins, lovers of truth and masters of the currents of natural energy, by your noble and creative acts you rejuvenate Chyavana, man of dynamic living and prayerful culture but ageing and declining in energy, and you return him to his youth again, and the Dawn, daughter of the sun chooses you and rides your chariot in your company in all her beauty and grandeur.

· · ·

1.117.14

यु॒वं तुग्रा॑य पू॒र्व्येभि॒रेवैः॑ पुनर्म॒न्याव॑भवतं युवाना । यु॒वं भु॒ज्युमर्ण॑सो॒ निः स॑मु॒द्राद्विभि॑रूहथुरृ॒ज्रेभि॒रश्वैः॑ ॥

Ashvins, masters of the secrets of nature, youth and age, for the sake of vitality and energy and by the acts and achievements of the ancients, you grow young and come to know each other again, and you carry the man of joy and tonics of rejuvenation from and beyond the bottomless ocean of water and air by transports flying like birds straight and unobstructed.

· · ·

1.117.15

अजो॑हवीदश्विना तौ॒ग्र्यो वां॒ प्रोळ्हः॑ समु॒द्रम॑व्य॒थिर्ज॑ग॒न्वान् । निष्टमू॑हथुः सु॒युजा॒ रथे॑न॒ मनो॑जवसा वृषणा स्व॒स्ति ॥

Ashvins, generous and brave experts of energy, power and motion, let the powerful force assigned to the sea on the move call on you and you would transport it without trouble by the chariot meticulously driven at the speed of thought for the good of all.

· · ·

1.117.16

अजो॑हवीदश्विना॒ वर्ति॑का वामा॒स्नो यत्सी॒ममु॑ञ्चतं॒ वृक॑स्य । वि ज॒युषा॑ ययथुः॒ सान्वद्रे॑र्जा॒तं वि॒ष्वाचो॑ अहतं वि॒षेण॑ ॥

Ashvins, heroes of tempestuous speed and movement, let the army, stuck up, besieged, and helpless as a poor bird, call upon you for help any time which you rescue from the wolfish mouth of the enemy. Mount up to the peak of the mountain by your victory chariot and destroy the advancing army of the enemy with your reinforcements.

· · ·

1.117.17

श॒तं मे॒षान्वृ॒क्ये॑ मामहा॒नं तमः॒ प्रणी॑त॒मशि॑वेन पि॒त्रा । आक्षी ऋ॒ज्राश्वे॑ अश्विनावधत्तं॒ ज्योति॑र॒न्धाय॑ चक्रथुर्वि॒चक्षे॑ ॥

Ashvins, creators of light and givers of eyes, remove the social butcher who throws a hundred helpless persons like sheep to the she-wolf, correct the unkind father and the unreasonable judge who assigns the innocent youth to the dungeon, bring eyes for the injured of the swift army of horse, in short, create and bring light for the blind who may then see the light of truth.

· · ·

1.117.18

शु॒नम॒न्धाय॒ भर॑मह्वय॒त्सा वृ॒कीर॑श्विना वृषणा॒ नरेति॑ । जा॒रः क॒नीन॑ इव चक्षदा॒न ऋ॒ज्राश्वः॑ श॒तमेकं॑ च मे॒षान् ॥

Ashvins, generous harbingers of the showers of comfort and joy, leading lights of humanity, bring peace, comfort and ample light of the eye for the poor blind as if the she-wolf herself were to call up and save the hundred and one innocent sheep, or an old wise man of experience, or the youthful spirit of hope, or the very pupil of the eye, or the light-giver for the eye of the fast horse rider were to bring comfort, safety and light for the needy

· · ·

1.117.19

म॒ही वा॑मू॒तिर॑श्विना मयो॒भूरु॒त स्रा॒मं धि॑ष्ण्या॒ सं रि॑णीथः । अथा॑ यु॒वामिद॑ह्वय॒त्पुर॑न्धि॒राग॑च्छतं सीं वृषणा॒ववो॑भिः ॥

Ashvins, heroes wise and brave, great, soothing and inspiring is your presence and protection. Shatter the injustice, release the lame and the disabled to freedom. And then the very spirit of wisdom and the nation would call upon you: come like the breath of fresh air with favours and fulfilment and be here for life.

· · ·

1.117.20

अधे॑नुं दस्रा स्त॒र्यं१॒॑ विष॑क्ता॒मपि॑न्वतं श॒यवे॑ अश्विना॒ गाम् । यु॒वं शची॑भिर्विम॒दाय॑ जा॒यां न्यू॑हथुः पुरुमि॒त्रस्य॒ योषा॑म् ॥

Ashvins, generous and brave fighters against suffering, destroyers of want and pain, nourish and revitalize the dry and barren cow, give nourishment to the weak and sleeping man, and, with your noble and generous actions, a wife for the happy and youthful man, the young and beautiful daughter of the friend of many.

· · ·

1.117.21

यवं॒ वृके॑णाश्विना॒ वप॒न्तेषं॑ दु॒हन्ता॒ मनु॑षाय दस्रा । अ॒भि दस्युं॒ बकु॑रेणा॒ धम॑न्तो॒रु ज्योति॑श्चक्रथु॒रार्या॑य ॥

Ashvins, brave heroes and destroyers of evil, want and suffering, sowing barley with the plough and uprooting the weeds, creating and drawing energy from nature and food, warding and blowing off the evil and wicked by warning and punishment all round, expanding and radiating the light of knowledge and justice for the good and progressive people, you build a grand social order of freedom and happiness.

· · ·

1.117.22

आ॒थ॒र्व॒णाया॑श्विना दधी॒चेऽश्व्यं॒ शिरः॒ प्रत्यै॑रयतम् । स वां॒ मधु॒ प्र वो॑चदृता॒यन्त्वा॒ष्ट्रं यद्द॑स्रावपिक॒क्ष्यं॑ वाम् ॥

For the child of the man of faith beyond doubt and question, for the admirer of men of knowledge and rectitude, you create the best and most dynamic brain and inspire him. Ashvins, generous and creative, the inspired man, in search of the honey sweets of life and nourishment, speaks of the science of yajna and of the science of anatomy and the structure of the forms of life, for you and all.

· · ·

1.117.23

सदा॑ कवी सुम॒तिमा च॑के वां॒ विश्वा॒ धियो॑ अश्विना॒ प्राव॑तं मे । अ॒स्मे र॒यिं ना॑सत्या बृ॒हन्त॑मपत्य॒साचं॒ श्रुत्यं॑ रराथाम् ॥

Ashvins, poetic visionaries of creation, highpriests of truth and reality, harbingers of cosmic intelligence and energy, I pray to you, always bless me with universal vision and understanding and protect it from doubt. Give us the wealth which is reputable and honourable, blest with family and children, and which is ever growing higher and higher.

· · ·

1.117.24

हिर॑ण्यहस्तमश्विना॒ ररा॑णा पु॒त्रं न॑रा वध्रिम॒त्या अ॑दत्तम् । त्रिधा॑ ह॒ श्याव॑मश्विना॒ विक॑स्त॒मुज्जी॒वस॑ ऐरयतं सुदानू ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of life, leading lights of humanity, kind and compassionate, rejuvenate the wedded couple and bless the intelligent woman with a golden-handed son. Three ways broken is the man of knowledge, otherwise blooming and brilliant, bring him back to life and let him rise to full stature again to higher life.

· · ·

1.117.25

ए॒तानि॑ वामश्विना वी॒र्या॑णि॒ प्र पू॒र्व्याण्या॒यवो॑ऽवोचन् । ब्रह्म॑ कृ॒ण्वन्तो॑ वृषणा यु॒वभ्यां॑ सु॒वीरा॑सो वि॒दथ॒मा व॑देम ॥

Ashvins, brave and generous heroes of noble action, these are the great actions you have ever done and still do and which people celebrate in song. We pray that, blest with friends and brave children, singing songs of celebration for you, creating food and energy for life and living for yajna, we may live, and praise and propagate the yajnic way of creative life (as yours).

✦ Sukta 118 · 11 verses ✦

1.118.1

आ वां॒ रथो॑ अश्विना श्ये॒नप॑त्वा सुमृळी॒कः स्ववाँ॑ यात्व॒र्वाङ् । यो मर्त्य॑स्य॒ मन॑सो॒ जवी॑यान्त्रिबन्धु॒रो वृ॑षणा॒ वात॑रंहाः ॥

Ashvins, masters of nature’s energy and natural resources, let your chariot flying as the eagle, luxuriously comfortable, automotive, come here, chariot faster than the mind of man, three staged and tempestuous in power as the wind.

· · ·

1.118.2

त्रि॒व॒न्धु॒रेण॑ त्रि॒वृता॒ रथे॑न त्रिच॒क्रेण॑ सु॒वृता या॑तम॒र्वाक् । पिन्व॑तं॒ गा जिन्व॑त॒मर्व॑तो नो व॒र्धय॑तमश्विना वी॒रम॒स्मे ॥

Ashvins, masters of engineering, let the threestaged, triple—structured, three wheeled, thrice sophisticated chariot come here. Enrich the land, rejuvenate the people and the social order, develop transport and communication, and let the brave of the land flourish.

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1.118.3

प्र॒वद्या॑मना सु॒वृता॒ रथे॑न॒ दस्रा॑वि॒मं शृ॑णुतं॒ श्लोक॒मद्रेः॑ । किम॒ङ्ग वां॒ प्रत्यव॑र्तिं॒ गमि॑ष्ठा॒हुर्विप्रा॑सो अश्विना पुरा॒जाः ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of life and joy, destroyers of anti-life forces, travelling by the fastest sophisticated chariot from the heights of heaven, down the clouds over the mountain slopes across the valleys, listen to this rumble of the cloud and mountain echo: Ashvins, darling friends, going to fight out want and suffering at your fastest, didn’t the first-born wisest of the sages exhort you to move this way? And that is the rumble of the cloud, that is the voice of thunder, that is the mountain echo. That is our prayer.

· · ·

1.118.4

आ वां॑ श्ये॒नासो॑ अश्विना वहन्तु॒ रथे॑ यु॒क्तास॑ आ॒शवः॑ पत॑ङ्गाः । ये अ॒प्तुरो॑ दि॒व्यासो॒ न गृध्रा॑ अ॒भि प्रयो॑ नासत्या॒ वह॑न्ति ॥

Ashvins, powers of nature’s divinity and humanity, high-priests of truth and life’s joy, may the eagle-like motive powers fast as sunbeams yoked to your chariot drive you hither, which, shining as light, flying over water and vapour in the sky, carry you to your desired destination like a feathered arrow flying to its target.

· · ·

1.118.5

आ वां॒ रथं॑ युव॒तिस्ति॑ष्ठ॒दत्र॑ जु॒ष्ट्वी न॑रा दुहि॒ता सूर्य॑स्य । परि॑ वा॒मश्वा॒ वपु॑षः पत॒ङ्गा वयो॑ वहन्त्वरु॒षा अ॒भीके॑ ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of humanity, may the lovely maiden, loving daughter of the sun, ride your chariot with you, may the horses, fiery of body, radiating like sunbeams and flying like birds take you to the battlefield from anywhere and everywhere.

· · ·

1.118.6

उद्वन्द॑नमैरतं दं॒सना॑भि॒रुद्रे॒भं द॑स्रा वृषणा॒ शची॑भिः । निष्टौ॒ग्र्यं पा॑रयथः समु॒द्रात्पुन॒श्च्यवा॑नं चक्रथु॒र्युवा॑नम् ॥

Ashvins, generous as rain showers of new life, brave destroyers of evil, with your noble thoughts, words and acts, raise the venerable from adversity, rescue the worshipful from falling to violence, help the brave warrior cross over the sea and redeem the passionate youth from decrepitude to regain his youth.

· · ·

1.118.7

यु॒वमत्र॒येऽव॑नीताय त॒प्तमूर्ज॑मो॒मान॑मश्विनावधत्तम् । यु॒वं कण्वा॒यापि॑रिप्ताय॒ चक्षुः॒ प्रत्य॑धत्तं सुष्टु॒तिं जु॑जुषा॒णा ॥

Ashvins, powers of intelligence and light of knowledge, loved and admired of all, bear and bring seasoned, protective and promotive energy and power of action to the man free from physical, mental and spiritual want for the removal of darkness and ignorance. Bring the vision and wisdom of the world with appreciation and exhortation for the veteran of wisdom for the collection and expansion of knowledge and enlightenment.

· · ·

1.118.8

यु॒वं धे॒नुं श॒यवे॑ नाधि॒तायापि॑न्वतमश्विना पू॒र्व्याय॑ । अमु॑ञ्चतं॒ वर्ति॑का॒मंह॑सो॒ निः प्रति॒ जङ्घां॑ वि॒श्पला॑या अधत्तम् ॥

Ashvins, for the man of hereditary power and prosperity sleeping in ignorance and indifference, bring up the rousing call of divine speech. Rescue and save the poor, victimised people from sin and violence of injustice and give them a strong, protective and promotive social and political policy for development.

· · ·

1.118.9

यु॒वं श्वे॒तं पे॒दव॒ इन्द्र॑जूतमहि॒हन॑मश्विनादत्त॒मश्व॑म् । जो॒हूत्र॑म॒र्यो अ॒भिभू॑तिमु॒ग्रं स॑हस्र॒सां वृष॑णं वी॒ड्व॑ङ्गम् ॥

Ashvins, for the traveller you give a brilliant, electrically powered, cloud breaking, heavily reinforced, excellent, victorious, tempestuous, multipurpose, highly productive and firmly structured mode of transport.

· · ·

1.118.10

ता वां॑ नरा॒ स्वव॑से सुजा॒ता हवा॑महे अश्विना॒ नाध॑मानाः । आ न॒ उप॒ वसु॑मता॒ रथे॑न॒ गिरो॑ जुषा॒णा सु॑वि॒ताय॑ यातम् ॥

Ashvins, powers of nature’s energy, leading lights of humanity, born of divinity and risen in blessed knowledge and noble actions, we invoke you, invite you and call upon you for our protection and advancement in the hour of need at the height of power and prosperity. Listen to our prayer, come riding your chariot of universal wealth and stand by us for our freedom and prosperity.

· · ·

1.118.11

आ श्ये॒नस्य॒ जव॑सा॒ नूत॑नेना॒स्मे या॑तं नासत्या स॒जोषाः॑ । हवे॒ हि वा॑मश्विना रा॒तह॑व्यः शश्वत्त॒माया॑ उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ ॥

Ashvins, highpriests of truth and reality, springs and harbingers of nature’s eternal power and energy, come by the speed and force of the eagle new and ever new with constant love. With offering in hand when the dawn is breaking bright, I invoke you both to come and bless.

✦ Sukta 119 · 10 verses ✦

1.119.1

आ वां॒ रथं॑ पुरुमा॒यं म॑नो॒जुवं॑ जी॒राश्वं॑ य॒ज्ञियं॑ जी॒वसे॑ हुवे । स॒हस्र॑केतुं व॒निनं॑ श॒तद्व॑सुं श्रुष्टी॒वानं॑ वरिवो॒धाम॒भि प्रयः॑ ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of nature and humanity, for the sake of a long life and full living and for the desired aim of life, I invoke you and admire your chariot wonderfully made, quick as mind, drawn by swift horses, a vehicle for yajnic action, distinguished by a thousand flags, beautiful and luxurious, giver of a hundred kinds of wealth, superfast and a very home and treasure of divine bliss. (I love it for a heavenly ride for this existential journey.)

· · ·

1.119.2

ऊ॒र्ध्वा धी॒तिः प्रत्य॑स्य॒ प्रया॑म॒न्यधा॑यि॒ शस्म॒न्त्सम॑यन्त॒ आ दिशः॑ । स्वदा॑मि घ॒र्मं प्रति॑ यन्त्यू॒तय॒ आ वा॑मू॒र्जानी॒ रथ॑मश्विनारुहत् ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of humanity, generous and brave, when your chariot moves forward, our mind and thought rises in admiration. The quarters of space are made small and the noblest people come together. I taste the sweets and beauties of the warmth of yajnic life. Accordingly protections and paths of progress open and expand. May heavenly light, wisdom and energy ride your chariot and rise on earth.

· · ·

1.119.3

सं यन्मि॒थः प॑स्पृधा॒नासो॒ अग्म॑त शु॒भे म॒खा अमि॑ता जा॒यवो॒ रणे॑ । यु॒वोरह॑ प्रव॒णे चे॑किते॒ रथो॒ यद॑श्विना॒ वह॑थः सू॒रिमा वर॑म् ॥

Ashvins, brave and generous heroes of the chariot and tempestuous speed, when countless, great sacrificing, and victorious heroes excelling one another come together in the splendid battle for justice and progress, then surely your chariot in which you carry the noblest hero of valour and wisdom shines with distinction in its onward march.

· · ·

1.119.4

यु॒वं भु॒ज्युं भु॒रमा॑णं॒ विभि॑र्ग॒तं स्वयु॑क्तिभिर्नि॒वह॑न्ता पि॒तृभ्य॒ आ । या॒सि॒ष्टं व॒र्तिर्वृ॑षणा विजे॒न्यं१॒॑ दिवो॑दासाय॒ महि॑ चेति वा॒मवः॑ ॥

Ashvins, brave and generous heroes, with your own powers and plans and with your chariots flying like birds, take a powerful force to the protector and defender of the nation gone to a state of isolation, rescue him and carry him home to the parental seniors and sustainers of the people. Your support and protection for the giver of light and knowledge, who is a servant of heaven, is great and well-known

· · ·

1.119.5

यु॒वोर॑श्विना॒ वपु॑षे युवा॒युजं॒ रथं॒ वाणी॑ येमतुरस्य॒ शर्ध्य॑म् । आ वां॑ पति॒त्वं स॒ख्याय॑ ज॒ग्मुषी॒ योषा॑वृणीत॒ जेन्या॑ यु॒वां पती॑ ॥

Ashvins, brave, generous and friendly heroes, to raise your dignity and grandeur, your voice controls and directs your own chariot and its power and force. And as the bright and beaming maiden of the morning, the dawn, victorious over the dark, desirous of your friendship and protection, opts to join you on the chariot as her lords, so does the bright and beaming nation select you as guardians and defenders of the land.

· · ·

1.119.6

यु॒वं रे॒भं परि॑षूतेरुरुष्यथो हि॒मेन॑ घ॒र्मं परि॑तप्त॒मत्र॑ये । यु॒वं श॒योर॑व॒सं पि॑प्यथु॒र्गवि॒ प्र दी॒र्घेण॒ वन्द॑नस्ता॒र्यायु॑षा ॥

You rescue the man of faith and prayer from all round oppression and relieve the thrice free man from blazing heat with the cool of snow. For the man in sleep you provide rest and security on earth and you help the man worthy of reverence to live a long and full life.

· · ·

1.119.7

यु॒वं वन्द॑नं॒ निर्ऋ॑तं जर॒ण्यया॒ रथं॒ न द॑स्रा कर॒णा समि॑न्वथः । क्षेत्रा॒दा विप्रं॑ जनथो विप॒न्यया॒ प्र वा॒मत्र॑ विध॒ते दं॒सना॑ भुवत् ॥

Ashvins, heroes of noble action, destroyers of suffering, with knowledge and admiration you reinvigorate the noble reverend scholar stricken with age and adversity as you would repair and recondition a chariot with your knowledge and expertise. With appreciation and praise regenerate and elevate the veteran of knowledge from his place of birth. Let your marvellous power and action be dedicated to the lord of humanity.

· · ·

1.119.8

अग॑च्छतं॒ कृप॑माणं परा॒वति॑ पि॒तुः स्वस्य॒ त्यज॑सा॒ निबा॑धितम् । स्व॑र्वतीरि॒त ऊ॒तीर्यु॒वोरह॑ चि॒त्रा अ॒भीके॑ अभवन्न॒भिष्ट॑यः ॥

You go far to the person afflicted by separation and alienation from his or her own parents and praying for succour. Surely blessed and brilliant are your protections, wonderful and cherished, and instant and close at hand.

· · ·

1.119.9

उ॒त स्या वां॒ मधु॑म॒न्मक्षि॑कारप॒न्मदे॒ सोम॑स्यौशि॒जो हु॑वन्यति । यु॒वं द॑धी॒चो मन॒ आ वि॑वास॒थोऽथा॒ शिरः॒ प्रति॑ वा॒मश्व्यं॑ वदत् ॥

Ashvins, that bee, seeker of honey, in a mood of ecstasy, hums in praise of you her song of search and celebration. So does Aushija, child of light and grace, invoke and celebrate you in the ecstasy of soma. Come both, enlighten and inspire the mind of Dadhicha, the sagely seeker of knowledge and Dharma, and then, at the head of the seers he would proclaim the Word of cherished wisdom and enlightenment.

· · ·

1.119.10

यु॒वं पे॒दवे॑ पुरु॒वार॑मश्विना स्पृ॒धां श्वे॒तं त॑रु॒तारं॑ दुवस्यथः । शर्यै॑र॒भिद्युं॒ पृत॑नासु दु॒ष्टरं॑ च॒र्कृत्य॒मिन्द्र॑मिव चर्षणी॒सह॑म् ॥

Ashvins, masters of nature’s energy, develop and provide a brilliant mode of transport, communication and defence superfast as light, the choice of many, carrier of warriors across to victory, blazing with catalytic beams like arrows, invincible in wars, constantly active and unfailing as the thunderbolt of lightning, by which the people can challenge any enemy whatsoever anywhere.

✦ Sukta 120 · 12 verses ✦

1.120.1

का रा॑ध॒द्धोत्रा॑श्विना वां॒ को वां॒ जोष॑ उ॒भयोः॑ । क॒था वि॑धा॒त्यप्र॑चेताः ॥

What call, Ashvins, leaders and commanders, would rouse you to action and victory? Who could, if he were ignorant and unintelligent, lead you to victory and win your pleasure, and how? (None of the ignorant and unintelligent.)

· · ·

1.120.2

वि॒द्वांसा॒विद्दुरः॑ पृच्छे॒दवि॑द्वानि॒त्थाप॑रो अचे॒ताः । नू चि॒न्नु मर्ते॒ अक्रौ॑ ॥

Let the ignorant man and the imperceptive unintelligent person ask theAshvins, men of intelligence and wisdom, the way forward for progress. Similarly another, the intelligent and the learned person too in his own way should ask the way forward for further advancement. In any case, let them ask the way out and onward for the sake of the man who would otherwise stand still doing nothing, in the state of doubt and inaction.

· · ·

1.120.3

ता वि॒द्वांसा॑ हवामहे वां॒ ता नो॑ वि॒द्वांसा॒ मन्म॑ वोचेतम॒द्य । प्रार्च॒द्दय॑मानो यु॒वाकुः॑ ॥

The same, Ashvins, harbingers of light and knowledge, we invoke. Both, we pray, universal teachers and benefactors, reveal to us the knowledge wanted and loved at heart today here and now. Invoking, yearning to join you and the knowledge earnestly desired, praying for sympathy and grace, may this humanity look up to you for guidance on the way forward.

· · ·

1.120.4

वि पृ॑च्छामि पा॒क्या॒३॒॑ न दे॒वान्वष॑ट्कृतस्याद्भु॒तस्य॑ दस्रा । पा॒तं च॒ सह्य॑सो यु॒वं च॒ रभ्य॑सो नः ॥

Ashvins, generous givers, and destroyers of want and ignorance, I ask you questions about the mysterious knowledge of analysis, integration and formulaic structure and formation of things in creation and science, brilliant veterans, dynamic and tolerant as well as enduring as you are, both scholars and teachers. May we offer you homage and reverence, and may you, we pray, guide and protect us.

· · ·

1.120.5

प्र या घोषे॒ भृग॑वाणे॒ न शोभे॒ यया॑ वा॒चा यज॑ति पज्रि॒यो वा॑म् । प्रैष॒युर्न वि॒द्वान् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and knowledge, that voice which rings like the resounding proclamation of the brilliant visionary, by which the scholar does homage and reverence to you, the same voice and word, we pray, may the teacher speak to us like a scholar in search of food, energy and light for all of us.

· · ·

1.120.6

श्रु॒तं गा॑य॒त्रं तक॑वानस्या॒हं चि॒द्धि रि॒रेभा॑श्विना वाम् । आक्षी शु॑भस्पती॒ दन् ॥

Ashvins, eyes divine and harbingers of supernal bliss, I have heard your song of omniscience and redemption and, truly by your kindness and grace, I sing in ecstasy.

· · ·

1.120.7

यु॒वं ह्यास्तं॑ म॒हो रन्यु॒वं वा॒ यन्नि॒रत॑तंसतम् । ता नो॑ वसू सुगो॒पा स्या॑तं पा॒तं नो॒ वृका॑दघा॒योः ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of wealth and universal shelter of all, you abide by us and bring the gift of abundance, and you bless with beauty and grace whosoever you choose. We pray, be our saviours and protectors, save us from the sinful hungry wolf.

· · ·

1.120.8

मा कस्मै॑ धातम॒भ्य॑मि॒त्रिणे॑ नो॒ माकुत्रा॑ नो गृ॒हेभ्यो॑ धे॒नवो॑ गुः । स्त॒ना॒भुजो॒ अशि॑श्वीः ॥

Ashvins, hold us in protection but not for the man who is friendless and nobody’s friend. Let our cows be fertile, rich in milk and blest with calves. Let them not go off from our homes anywhere, let them not be barren, never without calves.

· · ·

1.120.9

दु॒ही॒यन्मि॒त्रधि॑तये यु॒वाकु॑ रा॒ये च॑ नो मिमी॒तं वाज॑वत्यै । इ॒षे च॑ नो मिमीतं धेनु॒मत्यै॑ ॥

Ashvins, let people dedicated to you take advantage of your generosity for the growth and prosperity of friends. Inspire us and let us grow to plenty of wealth with horses, speed and progress and have lot of food and energy with plenty of cows.

· · ·

1.120.10

अ॒श्विनो॑रसनं॒ रथ॑मन॒श्वं वा॒जिनी॑वतोः । तेना॒हं भूरि॑ चाकन ॥

I pray: let me achieve and ride the horseless automotive chariot of the Ashvins, lords of knowledge, wealth and speed, so that I may advance and amply shine.

· · ·

1.120.11

अ॒यं स॑मह मा तनू॒ह्याते॒ जनाँ॒ अनु॑ । सो॒म॒पेयं॑ सु॒खो रथः॑ ॥

Great and glorious is this chariot, comfortable and luxurious, by which the Ashvins, noble, generous and exceptional men of knowledge and power are transported to places of light and delight in the interest of the people. May this chariot help us too to rise in wealth and knowledge.

· · ·

1.120.12

अध॒ स्वप्न॑स्य॒ निर्वि॒देऽभु॑ञ्जतश्च रे॒वतः॑ । उ॒भा ता बस्रि॑ नश्यतः ॥

Let me get away from the dreaming slothful and the uncharitable rich because both of them soon come to their logical end (since they neglect the vibrancy and generosity of the Ashvins).

✦ Sukta 121 · 15 verses ✦

1.121.1

कदि॒त्था नॄँः पात्रं॑ देवय॒तां श्रव॒द्गिरो॒ अङ्गि॑रसां तुर॒ण्यन् । प्र यदान॒ड्विश॒ आ ह॒र्म्यस्यो॒रु क्रं॑सते अध्व॒रे यज॑त्रः ॥

O man, when would you be like Indra, a protector, ruler, saviour and friend of the people? When, in order to help and protect the people, you would hear the voices of the lovers of light and knowledge who are keen to rise to divinity, when running to join the people you would reach their homes over the wide earth, and when you would raise your voice and inspire them in their yajnic task of love, cooperation and creation as the performer of yajna yourself.

· · ·

1.121.2

स्तम्भी॑द्ध॒ द्यां स ध॒रुणं॑ प्रुषायदृ॒भुर्वाजा॑य॒ द्रवि॑णं॒ नरो॒ गोः । अनु॑ स्व॒जां म॑हि॒षश्च॑क्षत॒ व्रां मेना॒मश्व॑स्य॒ परि॑ मा॒तरं॒ गोः ॥

Just as Indra, the sun, self-refulgent lord of light and sustainer of the earth, wields the heaven and showers the wealth and waters of life for the creation of food and energy, so should the ruler, luminant with the light of knowledge and justice and sustainer of the world system of the earth and environment, uphold Dharma, justice and rectitude and create the wealth and waters of stability and progress with nourishment and energy for the maintenance of the social order. And just as the mighty sun lights and watches its own creation, the dawn, beauteous glory of the solar system and nurse of mother earth, so should the ruler light up and watch the word of knowledge and the light of justice created by the social order itself which, in turn, would be the beauty of the system and sustenance of the order.

· · ·

1.121.3

नक्ष॒द्धव॑मरु॒णीः पू॒र्व्यं राट् तु॒रो वि॒शामङ्गि॑रसा॒मनु॒ द्यून् । तक्ष॒द्वज्रं॒ नियु॑तं त॒स्तम्भ॒द्द्यां चतु॑ष्पदे॒ नर्या॑य द्वि॒पादे॑ ॥

Like the sun illuminating the brilliant dawn every day, let the ruler follow, illuminate and extend the brilliant ethics and policies of eternal value and shine, inspiring the best and dearest people, day by day. Let him have the armaments deployed, serviced and sharpened and, as the sun holds the regions of heaven, let him maintain the light of justice for the quadrupeds, bipeds and humans and all that concerns the humans.

· · ·

1.121.4

अ॒स्य मदे॑ स्व॒र्यं॑ दा ऋ॒तायापी॑वृतमु॒स्रिया॑णा॒मनी॑कम् । यद्ध॑ प्र॒सर्गे॑ त्रिक॒कुम्नि॒वर्त॒दप॒ द्रुहो॒ मानु॑षस्य॒ दुरो॑ वः ॥

Just as the sun, in the excitement of the morning, releases the flood-light of its brilliant rays held up at night for the yajna fire of the day, and, pervading three quarters of space (leaving off the nether hemisphere of the earth), returns and stands firm in the battle of light, and breaks through the gates of the dark enemy forts, so should the ruler, for the joy and prosperity of the social order, release his resounding force of light and power held in reserve for the occasion to extend the yajna of justice and rectitude and, raising the resources of eloquent and brilliant teachers, preachers and scientists, should break down the strongholds of opposition in the battle for the development of cows for the white revolution.

· · ·

1.121.5

तुभ्यं॒ पयो॒ यत्पि॒तरा॒वनी॑तां॒ राधः॑ सु॒रेत॑स्तु॒रणे॑ भुर॒ण्यू । शुचि॒ यत्ते॒ रेक्ण॒ आय॑जन्त सब॒र्दुघा॑याः॒ पय॑ उ॒स्रिया॑याः ॥

O man, when for your sake yajnic people offer oblations of pure milk and ghrta of the all-blessing cow as the wealth of their choice, then for you, O living and vibrant humanity, the brilliant heaven and earth, both generous givers of health and nourishment like mother and father, bring you showers of rain full of virility, fertility and all round success and fulfilment.

· · ·

1.121.6

अध॒ प्र ज॑ज्ञे त॒रणि॑र्ममत्तु॒ प्र रो॑च्य॒स्या उ॒षसो॒ न सूरः॑ । इन्दु॒र्येभि॒राष्ट॒ स्वेदु॑हव्यैः स्रु॒वेण॑ सि॒ञ्चञ्ज॒रणा॒भि धाम॑ ॥

Let Indra, the noble soul, self-redeemer from suffering, arise, rejoice and shine like the rising sun close upon the heels of the dawn. Blest with grace like the beauty of the moon, sprinkling the vedi with ladlefuls of holy offerings and singing songs in praise of Divinity by which you attain to the city celestial, let the soul rise, rejoice and shine.

· · ·

1.121.7

स्वि॒ध्मा यद्व॒नधि॑तिरप॒स्यात्सूरो॑ अध्व॒रे परि॒ रोध॑ना॒ गोः । यद्ध॑ प्र॒भासि॒ कृत्व्याँ॒ अनु॒ द्यूनन॑र्विशे प॒श्विषे॑ तु॒राय॑ ॥

Noble soul, brave and shining, whatever famous you have done, whatever preservation of forests or cow protection you have achieved, you shine thereby. Now whatever further you wish to do for the sake of transport, animal husbandary or superfast travel try to do for the value of love, non-violence and yajna day in and day out.

· · ·

1.121.8

अ॒ष्टा म॒हो दि॒व आदो॒ हरी॑ इ॒ह द्यु॑म्ना॒साह॑म॒भि यो॑धा॒न उत्स॑म् । हरिं॒ यत्ते॑ म॒न्दिनं॑ दु॒क्षन्वृ॒धे गोर॑भस॒मद्रि॑भिर्वा॒ताप्य॑म् ॥

Indra, O ruler, the rays of the sun pervading the great heaven, reaching here on earth, churn and absorb the delicious, vitalising fragrances of yajna, soma strengthened with cows milk and reinforced by the earth’s energy, and then, swelled up by the wind and fighting with the clouds rain down showers of wealth for your growth and advancement. (So does the yajnic ruler and the pious creative soul absorb the yajnic production of the earth and society and returns the same through hundred and thousandfold production and creation adding thereby to the wealth and beauty of life.)

· · ·

1.121.9

त्वमा॑य॒सं प्रति॑ वर्तयो॒ गोर्दि॒वो अश्मा॑न॒मुप॑नीत॒मृभ्वा॑ । कुत्सा॑य॒ यत्र॑ पुरुहूत व॒न्वञ्छुष्ण॑मन॒न्तैः प॑रि॒यासि॑ व॒धैः ॥

Indra, lord of light, power and justice, you go round earth and heaven, wielding the thunderbolt made from steel and stone and tempered with heat and electricity procured and refined by Rbhu, master of metals, speed and range. Invoked and invited by all for the defence of the sagely man of wisdom, you go about with the fatal weapon striking countless blows upon the wicked and destructive demons. Lord of light and force, having used the weapon and achieved the aim, be gracious and call it back.

· · ·

1.121.10

पु॒रा यत्सूर॒स्तम॑सो॒ अपी॑ते॒स्तम॑द्रिवः फलि॒गं हे॒तिम॑स्य । शुष्ण॑स्य चि॒त्परि॑हितं॒ यदोजो॑ दि॒वस्परि॒ सुग्र॑थितं॒ तदादः॑ ॥

Indra, brilliant sun, brave ruler of the world, lord of mountains and the clouds, as earlier, before the elimination of darkness, you struck the thunderbolt and broke the cloud of darkness, so now strike the same thunderbolt, destroy the power and darkness of the demon that covers the world unto the borders of heaven, and restore the light that is blissful and enduring across the heavens and the farthest quarters of space.

· · ·

1.121.11

अनु॑ त्वा म॒ही पाज॑सी अच॒क्रे द्यावा॒क्षामा॑ मदतामिन्द्र॒ कर्म॑न् । त्वं वृ॒त्रमा॒शया॑नं सि॒रासु॑ म॒हो वज्रे॑ण सिष्वपो व॒राहु॑म् ॥

Indra, may the great, protective and irresistible heaven and earth rejoice with your exploits. With your mighty thunderbolt of sun-rays you break the inert cloud of darkness in showers and make it flow in streams of water as it has been hoarding vapour and then flowing, earlier.

· · ·

1.121.12

त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ नर्यो॒ याँ अवो॒ नॄन्तिष्ठा॒ वात॑स्य सु॒युजो॒ वहि॑ष्ठान् । यं ते॑ का॒व्य उ॒शना॑ म॒न्दिनं॒ दाद्वृ॑त्र॒हणं॒ पार्यं॑ ततक्ष॒ वज्र॑म् ॥

Indra, first of

men, guide and leader of the social order, manage, protect and abide by those men who, like children of the wind, are cooperative carriers of the burdens of the state, and protect and abide by that impassioned lover of Dharma, son of the wise and poetic creator, who creates, sharpens and gives to you the thunderbolt, that invincible weapon of defence and law, which helps you destroy the enemies of light and leads you to the delight of victory.

· · ·

1.121.13

त्वं सूरो॑ ह॒रितो॑ रामयो॒ नॄन्भर॑च्च॒क्रमेत॑शो॒ नायमि॑न्द्र । प्रास्य॑ पा॒रं न॑व॒तिं ना॒व्या॑ना॒मपि॑ क॒र्तम॑वर्त॒योऽय॑ज्यून् ॥

Indra, bright and brave like the lord of sunbeams, keep the creative yajnic people happy, wielding and moving the wheel of the nation like the moving chariot of the sun. And take the uncreative and non-yajnics, across the ninety navigable streams and engage them in labour jobs like digging of wells and canals.

· · ·

1.121.14

त्वं नो॑ अ॒स्या इ॑न्द्र दु॒र्हणा॑याः पा॒हि व॑ज्रिवो दुरि॒ताद॒भीके॑ । प्र नो॒ वाजा॑न्र॒थ्यो॒३॒॑अश्व॑बुध्यानि॒षे य॑न्धि॒ श्रव॑से सू॒नृता॑यै ॥

Indra, lord of light, justice and glory, wielder of the thunderbolt and mover of the chariot wheels of the nation, we pray to you, protect us from this difficult army of evil and this sin in our battle of life and, for the sake of will and resolution, food and energy, honour and reputation, truth and justice, bless us with dynamic experts of motive power and velocity across the earth and the quarters of space.

· · ·

1.121.15

मा सा ते॑ अ॒स्मत्सु॑म॒तिर्वि द॑स॒द्वाज॑प्रमहः॒ समिषो॑ वरन्त । आ नो॑ भज मघव॒न्गोष्व॒र्यो मंहि॑ष्ठास्ते सध॒मादः॑ स्याम ॥

Lord of energy and glory, admired by leading men among the great, lord of wealth and life’s lustre, may this wisdom and understanding of ours, by divine grace, never wear away and fade out from us. May all people have the best choice of will, food and energy for life. Lord of noble humanity, bless us with advancement with wealth of cows, land and the Word of knowledge. Lord of grandeur, may we ever enjoy the ecstasy of your love.

✦ Sukta 122 · 15 verses ✦

1.122.1

प्र वः॒ पान्तं॑ रघुमन्य॒वोऽन्धो॑ य॒ज्ञं रु॒द्राय॑ मी॒ळ्हुषे॑ भरध्वम् । दि॒वो अ॑स्तो॒ष्यसु॑रस्य वी॒रैरि॑षु॒ध्येव॑ म॒रुतो॒ रोद॑स्योः ॥

All ye men of high spirit, vibrant as the winds of earth and skies, along with the brave, ever ready like the archers of the bow and arrow, bear and offer nourishing holy food and yajna in honour of Rudra, generous lord of life and joy. Offer the light of knowledge to the ignorant suffering in the dark. And with you all I offer homage to the lord of heaven and earth and the skies.

· · ·

1.122.2

पत्नी॑व पू॒र्वहू॑तिं वावृ॒धध्या॑ उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ पुरु॒धा विदा॑ने । स्त॒रीर्नात्कं॒ व्यु॑तं॒ वसा॑ना॒ सूर्य॑स्य श्रि॒या सु॒दृशी॒ हिर॑ण्यैः ॥

Let the dawn and dusk, light of day and peace of night, clothed in beauty of the sun, beatific with the rays of light, dressed like a lady of fulfilment in apparel of golden hue, bearing rich gifts of life and wealth, come in response to our invitation to yajna with a shower of light for our growth and enrichment.

· · ·

1.122.3

म॒मत्तु॑ नः॒ परि॑ज्मा वस॒र्हा म॒मत्तु॒ वातो॑ अ॒पां वृष॑ण्वान् । शि॒शी॒तमि॑न्द्रापर्वता यु॒वं न॒स्तन्नो॒ विश्वे॑ वरिवस्यन्तु दे॒वाः ॥

May the light of the sun and heat of fire, all radiating, all consuming and creating, give us joy. May the winds, harbingers of rain showers, give us joy. May Indra, cosmic energy, and the clouds, both, sharpen our intellect, and may He, the Lord Almighty, and all the generous divinities of nature and humanity bless us with the wealth and joy of life.

· · ·

1.122.4

उ॒त त्या मे॑ य॒शसा॑ श्वेत॒नायै॒ व्यन्ता॒ पान्तौ॑शि॒जो हु॒वध्यै॑ । प्र वो॒ नपा॑तम॒पां कृ॑णुध्वं॒ प्र मा॒तरा॑ रास्पि॒नस्या॒योः ॥

For honour and glory with reputable action, I, child of noble ambition, invoke the two, fire and wind, one the product, the other, the giver of waters, both universal and protective as well as promotive of life and humanity. And I call upon you all: create and promote the child of waters, the fire energy, and the mother of waters, the winds.

· · ·

1.122.5

आ वो॑ रुव॒ण्युमौ॑शि॒जो हु॒वध्यै॒ घोषे॑व॒ शंस॒मर्जु॑नस्य॒ नंशे॑ । प्र वः॑ पू॒ष्णे दा॒वन॒ आँ अच्छा॑ वोचेय व॒सुता॑तिम॒ग्नेः ॥

Listen ye all, scholars of science and technology, I, son and disciple of the man of knowledge and noble ambition, call upon you and, like a voice from above, proclaim the admirable word of the gifts of the heat and light of Agni in resounding tones: its form and structure, analysis and break up, its creative re-structure for lifesupport and the gifts for the protection and promotion of life.

· · ·

1.122.6

श्रु॒तं मे॑ मित्रावरुणा॒ हवे॒मोत श्रु॑तं॒ सद॑ने वि॒श्वतः॑ सीम् । श्रोतु॑ नः॒ श्रोतु॑रातिः सु॒श्रोतुः॑ सु॒क्षेत्रा॒ सिन्धु॑र॒द्भिः ॥

Listen ye Mitra-Varuna, friends, and all men of the chosen few, listen well to this invocation and exhortation, listen ye members of the yajnic assembly all round to this gift of wealth and well-being in the words of one who himself listened well to the voice Divine, and listen like the river receiving the waters of rain from above for the onward gift of life and growth to the fields and the farmers and so on for us.

· · ·

1.122.7

स्तु॒षे सा वां॑ वरुण मित्र रा॒तिर्गवां॑ श॒ता पृ॒क्षया॑मेषु प॒ज्रे । श्रु॒तर॑थे प्रि॒यर॑थे॒ दधा॑नाः स॒द्यः पु॒ष्टिं नि॑रुन्धा॒नासो॑ अग्मन् ॥

Mitra and Varuna, lord of light and lord of water, friends and chosen comrades, I worship you, I honour you, for the gifts of your power and generosity. The gifts of your benevolence and hundred voices of the Divine and a hundred cows of milky nourishment in the battles of speed and progress are showered on those who ride and advance in stout chariots of the Divine Word and chariots of love and beauty, always and instantly bearing gifts of nourishment and growth, ruling out all negativities and nonsense.

· · ·

1.122.8

अ॒स्य स्तु॑षे॒ महि॑मघस्य॒ राधः॒ सचा॑ सनेम॒ नहु॑षः सु॒वीराः॑ । जनो॒ यः प॒ज्रेभ्यो॑ वा॒जिनी॑वा॒नश्वा॑वतो र॒थिनो॒ मह्यं॑ सू॒रिः ॥

I honour and admire the wealth and generosity of this man of power and prosperity, and pray, we join the noble man in a spirit of friendship, blest as we are with noble and brave progeny and friends. I wish the heroic man of knowledge and the chariot, possessed of fast conveyances, power and speed, and horses and horse-power were to share the secret for me.

· · ·

1.122.9

जनो॒ यो मि॑त्रावरुणावभि॒ध्रुग॒पो न वां॑ सु॒नोत्य॑क्ष्णया॒ध्रुक् । स्व॒यं स यक्ष्मं॒ हृद॑ये॒ नि ध॑त्त॒ आप॒ यदीं॒ होत्रा॑भिर्ऋ॒तावा॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, lords of friendship and liquid generosity, whoever hates you, whoever opposes you in crooked ways, whoever does not support you and life with nourishment and energy, such a man would himself wear the canker in his heart. But the man of truth and generosity supporting life all round with love, charity and sacrifice would be blest with peace and joy.

· · ·

1.122.10

स व्राध॑तो॒ नहु॑षो॒ दंसु॑जूतः॒ शर्ध॑स्तरो न॒रां गू॒र्तश्र॑वाः । विसृ॑ष्टरातिर्याति बाळ्ह॒सृत्वा॒ विश्वा॑सु पृ॒त्सु सद॒मिच्छूरः॑ ॥

The man of love and generosity, the real man, inspired by the brave, of exceptional strength, of universal reputation among men of power and honour, giving in charity liberally, heroic in performance, always moves forward over the opponents fast in all the battles of life.

· · ·

1.122.11

अध॒ ग्मन्ता॒ नहु॑षो॒ हवं॑ सू॒रेः श्रोता॑ राजानो अ॒मृत॑स्य मन्द्राः । न॒भो॒जुवो॒ यन्नि॑र॒वस्य॒ राधः॒ प्रश॑स्तये महि॒ना रथ॑वते ॥

O Divinities of nature, generous powers of humanity, brilliant and joyous, flying across the skies with your own power and grandeur, listen to the prayer and invitation of the charitable man, brave and immortal of fame and honour, leave the wealth of the uncharitable and unprotective unprotected and let it pass on to the man of love and charity for noble causes.

· · ·

1.122.12

ए॒तं शर्धं॑ धाम॒ यस्य॑ सू॒रेरित्य॑वोच॒न्दश॑तयस्य॒ नंशे॑ । द्यु॒म्नानि॒ येषु॑ व॒सुता॑ती रा॒रन्विश्वे॑ सन्वन्तु प्रभृ॒थेषु॒ वाज॑म् ॥

O Lord, let me attain to the house of the man of tenfold knowledge of the Veda, Vedangas and yajnic liberality of which the wise and pious may say: This is the great house of the brave and generous man of fame wherein may all the wealths of the world abound and in whose rich oblations may all the divinities of nature and humanity rejoice and partake of the fragrant nourishment.

· · ·

1.122.13

मन्दा॑महे॒ दश॑तयस्य धा॒सेर्द्विर्यत्पञ्च॒ बिभ्र॑तो॒ यन्त्यन्ना॑ । किमि॒ष्टाश्व॑ इ॒ष्टर॑श्मिरे॒त ई॑शा॒नास॒स्तरु॑ष ऋञ्जते॒ नॄन् ॥

We praise and celebrate the generous man of tenfold food and knowledge since people come and go receiving nourishment for body and mind from his house. And such a man blest with desired power and speed in life, well in control of his desired reins of power and prosperity, generous as the flood of the ocean, and such men as he, of power and discipline worthy of governance, bring the grace of culture and beauty to the people’s life.

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1.122.14

हिर॑ण्यकर्णं मणिग्रीव॒मर्ण॒स्तन्नो॒ विश्वे॑ वरिवस्यन्तु दे॒वाः । अ॒र्यो गिरः॑ स॒द्य आ ज॒ग्मुषी॒रोस्राश्चा॑कन्तू॒भये॑ष्व॒स्मे ॥

May all the powers of nature and nobilities of humanity bless the man of oceanic generosity wearing gold and diamond in the neck and ear, and may they wide open the paths of progress for him and for us. And may the generous producer of wealth always try to create the knowledge of living languages of communication and the wealth of cows for himself and for us all.

· · ·

1.122.15

च॒त्वारो॑ मा मश॒र्शार॑स्य॒ शिश्व॒स्त्रयो॒ राज्ञ॒ आय॑वसस्य जि॒ष्णोः । रथो॑ वां मित्रावरुणा दी॒र्घाप्साः॒ स्यूम॑गभस्तिः॒ सूरो॒ नाद्यौ॑त् ॥

The four classes and the four orders of society and the three councils of the ruling order, destroyer of evil, prosperous and victorious may, I pray, protect and advance me. Mitra and Varuna, friendly ruling powers of our highest choice, may your chariot, far-reaching, bright and beaming like the rising sun, shine on and brighten us up in life.

✦ Sukta 123 · 13 verses ✦

1.123.1

पृ॒थू रथो॒ दक्षि॑णाया अयो॒ज्यैनं॑ दे॒वासो॑ अ॒मृता॑सो अस्थुः । कृ॒ष्णादुद॑स्थाद॒र्या॒३॒॑ विहा॑या॒श्चिकि॑त्सन्ती॒ मानु॑षाय॒ क्षया॑य ॥

The great and wide chariot of the glorious dawn is ready, which the divine immortal powers of nature would ride. The great noble maiden is arisen from the dark, radiating health and freedom from disease for human settlements.

· · ·

1.123.2

पूर्वा॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒द्भुव॑नादबोधि॒ जय॑न्ती॒ वाजं॑ बृह॒ती सनु॑त्री । उ॒च्चा व्य॑ख्यद्युव॒तिः पु॑न॒र्भूरोषा अ॑गन्प्रथ॒मा पू॒र्वहू॑तौ ॥

The great and generous dawn wakes up before the world, winning, collecting, and carrying health, wealth and beauty. Ever young, rising again and again, watching us from far and above, she arrives in response to our earliest invocation.

· · ·

1.123.3

यद॒द्य भा॒गं वि॒भजा॑सि॒ नृभ्य॒ उषो॑ देवि मर्त्य॒त्रा सु॑जाते । दे॒वो नो॒ अत्र॑ सवि॒ता दमू॑ना॒ अना॑गसो वोचति॒ सूर्या॑य ॥

O Dawn, high-born of heaven, inspirer of humanity, whatever share of your generous gifts you bring here to-day for men, let the divine Savita, best of men among friends, brilliant giver of life, say of us to the sun: These are sinless people. (Swami Dayanand gives an applied interpretation of this mantra: Usha is the bride beautiful as the dawn, Savita is the groom, Surya is God, and the ‘sinless’ are members of the family. This interpretation prevails through the whole Sukta.)

· · ·

1.123.4

गृ॒हंगृ॑हमह॒ना या॒त्यच्छा॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ अधि॒ नामा॒ दधा॑ना । सिषा॑सन्ती द्योत॒ना शश्व॒दागा॒दग्र॑मग्र॒मिद्भ॑जते॒ वसू॑नाम् ॥

The light of the dawn radiates from home to home gracefully day by day clothed in the beauty and glory of her own name, inspiring and beatifying, shining bright, new as ever every day. She goes on and on from place to place, sharing the joy of life.

· · ·

1.123.5

भग॑स्य॒ स्वसा॒ वरु॑णस्य जा॒मिरुषः॑ सूनृते प्रथ॒मा ज॑रस्व । प॒श्चा स द॑घ्या॒ यो अ॒घस्य॑ धा॒ता जये॑म॒ तं दक्षि॑णया॒ रथे॑न ॥

Sister of glory, daughter of the highest light, O Dawn, lady of truth, first shine and brighten and be praised, and then hold him who is the supporter of sin and then we shall catch him with the gift of your light and win by the chariot.

· · ·

1.123.6

उदी॑रतां सू॒नृता॒ उत्पुर॑न्धी॒रुद॒ग्नयः॑ शुशुचा॒नासो॑ अस्थुः । स्पा॒र्हा वसू॑नि॒ तम॒साप॑गूळ्हा॒विष्कृ॑ण्वन्त्यु॒षसो॑ विभा॒तीः ॥

Let the ladies of high truth and generous munificence sing songs of Divinity. Let the fires of yajna shining and blazing stay and go on burning. The brilliant dawns light up and reveal the cherished wealths of life hidden in the dark.

· · ·

1.123.7

अपा॒न्यदेत्य॒भ्य१॒॑न्यदे॑ति॒ विषु॑रूपे॒ अह॑नी॒ सं च॑रेते । प॒रि॒क्षितो॒स्तमो॑ अ॒न्या गुहा॑क॒रद्यौ॑दु॒षाः शोशु॑चता॒ रथे॑न ॥

One goes away at dusk, the other comes over in the morning, thus the lights of the day-night cycle both different of form move together and coexist. Of these two cyclic coexistents of the world, the dark covers and hides things in the cave, the other, the dawn of light, reveals them in their true form with the beauty of its chariot.

· · ·

1.123.8

स॒दृशी॑र॒द्य स॒दृशी॒रिदु॒ श्वो दी॒र्घं स॑चन्ते॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ धाम॑ । अ॒न॒व॒द्यास्त्रिं॒शतं॒ योज॑ना॒न्येकै॑का॒ क्रतुं॒ परि॑ यन्ति स॒द्यः ॥

They are the same today as they will be tomorrow, and in the same manner together, both brave and beautiful, they go round in the region of the sun, each traversing thirty stages of its travel time ever and on in the yajnic cycle of their circulation. (Each stage of time is of twenty-four minutes.)

· · ·

1.123.9

जा॒न॒त्यह्नः॑ प्रथ॒मस्य॒ नाम॑ शु॒क्रा कृ॒ष्णाद॑जनिष्ट श्विती॒ची । ऋ॒तस्य॒ योषा॒ न मि॑नाति॒ धामाह॑रहर्निष्कृ॒तमा॒चर॑न्ती ॥

She knows and reveals the first, morning, part of the day and its holiness. Pure and brilliant is she, risen from the darkness of night. Young and maidenly, following her daily chores fixed by nature day by day and hour by hour, she never relents in her observance of the Law of the Divine.

· · ·

1.123.10

क॒न्ये॑व त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ शाश॑दानाँ॒ एषि॑ देवि दे॒वमिय॑क्षमाणम् । सं॒स्मय॑माना युव॒तिः पु॒रस्ता॑दा॒विर्वक्षां॑सि कृणुषे विभा॒ती ॥

Sweet and soothing beauteous, unique in form and figure of body as a virgin, O brilliant Dawn, you rise to meet the effulgent lord you love and desire, and then, charming bright in the splendour of youth, O maiden, smiling amorous, you stand before him and bare your bosom for love and adoration.

· · ·

1.123.11

सु॒सं॒का॒शा मा॒तृमृ॑ष्टेव॒ योषा॒विस्त॒न्वं॑ कृणुषे दृ॒शे कम् । भ॒द्रा त्वमु॑षो वित॒रं व्यु॑च्छ॒ न तत्ते॑ अ॒न्या उ॒षसो॑ नशन्त ॥

Glorious and comely in appearance, a bride as if anointed by the Mother, O youthful Dawn, you reveal the light of your beauty and majesty for the world’s love and adoration. Shine and radiate, O maiden, in all your glory, and may the sublimity of this glory never fade but ever abide as now in future manifestations also.

· · ·

1.123.12

अश्वा॑वती॒र्गोम॑तीर्वि॒श्ववा॑रा॒ यत॑माना र॒श्मिभिः॒ सूर्य॑स्य । परा॑ च॒ यन्ति॒ पुन॒रा च॑ यन्ति भ॒द्रा नाम॒ वह॑माना उ॒षासः॑ ॥

Riding the rays of the sun, commanding the beauties of the earth, inspiring the chants of the holy Word, dispelling the darkness without and within by the vision of sunlight, arousing universal love and adoration, bearing the name and spirit of Divinity, the blissful lights of the Dawn go round, ascending far above, descending again for the world, and in the end transcending the world of existence to nameless Eternity.

· · ·

1.123.13

ऋ॒तस्य॑ र॒श्मिम॑नु॒यच्छ॑माना भ॒द्रम्भ॑द्रं॒ क्रतु॑म॒स्मासु॑ धेहि । उषो॑ नो अ॒द्य सु॒हवा॒ व्यु॑च्छा॒स्मासु॒ रायो॑ म॒घव॑त्सु च स्युः ॥

O Dawn, going round by the light of Eternity in pursuit of the Law Divine, bring us the bliss of goodness, give us the vision of truth and beauty and the will to yajnic action. Listen to our invocation and prayer, shine and bring us the light. May the wealths of the world abide in us. May the wealths of existence abound in those who adore the wealth of Eternity

✦ Sukta 124 · 13 verses ✦

1.124.1

उ॒षा उ॒च्छन्ती॑ समिधा॒ने अ॒ग्ना उ॒द्यन्त्सूर्य॑ उर्वि॒या ज्योति॑रश्रेत् । दे॒वो नो॒ अत्र॑ सवि॒ता न्वर्थं॒ प्रासा॑वीद्द्वि॒पत्प्र चतु॑ष्पदि॒त्यै ॥

The dawn is breaking, the fire is burning, the sun is rising, and light is radiating over heaven and earth. May Savita, lord giver of light and life, inspire the humans and animals to move to activity and create new wealth and new meaning and purpose in life.

· · ·

1.124.2

अमि॑नती॒ दैव्या॑नि व्र॒तानि॑ प्रमिन॒ती म॑नु॒ष्या॑ यु॒गानि॑ । ई॒युषी॑णामुप॒मा शश्व॑तीनामायती॒नां प्र॑थ॒मोषा व्य॑द्यौत् ॥

Not violating the laws of Divinity, counting out the ages of humanity, shines the dawn, last picture of the dawns gone by, first of the dawns coming, an instance of the original and eternal Dawn recurring every morning.

· · ·

1.124.3

ए॒षा दि॒वो दु॑हि॒ता प्रत्य॑दर्शि॒ ज्योति॒र्वसा॑ना सम॒ना पु॒रस्ता॑त् । ऋ॒तस्य॒ पन्था॒मन्वे॑ति सा॒धु प्र॑जान॒तीव॒ न दिशो॑ मिनाति ॥

Yonder shines this daughter of heaven clothed in light, rejoicing at heart, following the path of nature’s law well like a lady of omniscience measuring as if but not overstepping the bounds of space.

· · ·

1.124.4

उपो॑ अदर्शि शु॒न्ध्युवो॒ न वक्षो॑ नो॒धा इ॑वा॒विर॑कृत प्रि॒याणि॑ । अ॒द्म॒सन्न स॑स॒तो बो॒धय॑न्ती शश्वत्त॒मागा॒त्पुन॑रे॒युषी॑णाम् ॥

The Dawn, she appears to stand so close like the treasure chest of purest sunbeams, open, radiating and revealing the dearest things like the latest versatile scholar, giving the wake-up call to the sleeping partners living and eating together. It appears as if, of all the dawns coming and rising, she is the most real and original of the Eternal that has come this morning.

· · ·

1.124.5

पूर्वे॒ अर्धे॒ रज॑सो अ॒प्त्यस्य॒ गवां॒ जनि॑त्र्यकृत॒ प्र के॒तुम् । व्यु॑ प्रथते वित॒रं वरी॑य॒ ओभा पृ॒णन्ती॑ पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्था॑ ॥

Radiating the rays of light in the eastern half of the sky, the dawn has unfurled her banner of morning glory. And sitting as if in the lap of her parents, the heaven and the earth, she expands the noblest light of bliss showering on both.

· · ·

1.124.6

ए॒वेदे॒षा पु॑रु॒तमा॑ दृ॒शे कं नाजा॑मिं॒ न परि॑ वृणक्ति जा॒मिम् । अ॒रे॒पसा॑ त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ शाश॑दाना॒ नार्भा॒दीष॑ते॒ न म॒हो वि॑भा॒ती ॥

And this dawn most comely to the sight and blissful to the heart, neither precludes her own nor excludes the aliens. Similarly, shining unique and exceptional by her immaculate body of light, she neither ignores the small nor neglects the great, but shines bright and smiles equally on all, giving them the feel of bliss.

· · ·

1.124.7

अ॒भ्रा॒तेव॑ पुं॒स ए॑ति प्रती॒ची ग॑र्ता॒रुगि॑व स॒नये॒ धना॑नाम् । जा॒येव॒ पत्य॑ उश॒ती सु॒वासा॑ उ॒षा ह॒स्रेव॒ नि रि॑णीते॒ अप्सः॑ ॥

Just as a brotherless woman returns to her man, just as a man reduced to aversity goes to the court to rejoin his money, just as a wife in all her finery, loving and passionate, opens her secret charms to her husband, so does the dawn in all her splendour reveal her beauty and majesty to the world everywhere.

· · ·

1.124.8

स्वसा॒ स्वस्रे॒ ज्याय॑स्यै॒ योनि॑मारै॒गपै॑त्यस्याः प्रति॒चक्ष्ये॑व । व्यु॒च्छन्ती॑ र॒श्मिभिः॒ सूर्य॑स्या॒ञ्ज्य॑ङ्क्ते समन॒गा इ॑व॒ व्राः ॥

Just as a sister surrenders her place for her elder sister and having seen her vacates it for her and goes away, so does the dawn, with the rays of the sun, move her soothing brilliance from one place to another, of her own choice.

· · ·

1.124.9

आ॒सां पूर्वा॑सा॒मह॑सु॒ स्वसॄ॑णा॒मप॑रा॒ पूर्वा॑म॒भ्ये॑ति प॒श्चात् । ताः प्र॑त्न॒वन्नव्य॑सीर्नू॒नम॒स्मे रे॒वदु॑च्छन्तु सु॒दिना॑ उ॒षासः॑ ॥

Of all these sister dawns of the past age, the latter, the elder, follows after the former, the younger, in cyclic succession day after day. May all these dawns, each new one like the former, bring us happy days bearing the wealth of the world and illuminate our days with the light of the world.

· · ·

1.124.10

प्र बो॑धयोषः पृण॒तो म॑घो॒न्यबु॑ध्यमानाः प॒णयः॑ ससन्तु । रे॒वदु॑च्छ म॒घव॑द्भ्यो मघोनि रे॒वत्स्तो॒त्रे सू॑नृते जा॒रय॑न्ती ॥

O Dawn, abundant in light and wealth, wake up the generous and giving. The miserly and the ignorant lost in daily chores would sleep, wake up these too. Lady of light and wealth, let the wealth of the generous shine in charity. Mistress of Truth and Law, rousing and praising the singer of songs divinely blest with wealth, enlighten him, bless him.

· · ·

1.124.11

अवे॒यम॑श्वैद्युव॒तिः पु॒रस्ता॑द्यु॒ङ्क्ते गवा॑मरु॒णाना॒मनी॑कम् । वि नू॒नमु॑च्छा॒दस॑ति॒ प्र के॒तुर्गृ॒हंगृ॑ह॒मुप॑ तिष्ठाते अ॒ग्निः ॥

This Dawn, young maiden, rises yonder in front from the east, yokes her team of crimson sun-rays and, fully self-assured, emerges, her banner blazing in the dark. And as she rises, yajna fire kindles in every home, giving the heat and light of life all round.

· · ·

1.124.12

उत्ते॒ वय॑श्चिद्वस॒तेर॑पप्त॒न्नर॑श्च॒ ये पि॑तु॒भाजो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ । अ॒मा स॒ते व॑हसि॒ भूरि॑ वा॒ममुषो॑ देवि दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य ॥

O Dawn, as you rise and shine, birds fly up from their nests and men move out in pursuit of food and sustenance for life. Brilliant lady of piety and sanctity, for the man of generosity and for the inmate of the home you strive to bear the holiest labours of love and joy.

· · ·

1.124.13

अस्तो॑ढ्वं स्तोम्या॒ ब्रह्म॑णा॒ मेऽवी॑वृधध्वमुश॒तीरु॑षासः । यु॒ष्माकं॑ देवी॒रव॑सा सनेम सह॒स्रिणं॑ च श॒तिनं॑ च॒ वाज॑म् ॥

O Dawns, loving and inspiring, adorable lights of Divinity, with the holy voice of Vedic adoration, pray for me and help me grow in life and piety, and you grow too in brilliance and sanctity. May we all by your favour, prayer and grace achieve food for life, energy, progress and prosperity a hundredfold, thousandfold and more.

✦ Sukta 125 · 7 verses ✦

1.125.1

प्रा॒ता रत्नं॑ प्रात॒रित्वा॑ दधाति॒ तं चि॑कि॒त्वान्प्र॑ति॒गृह्या॒ नि ध॑त्ते । तेन॑ प्र॒जां व॒र्धय॑मान॒ आयू॑ रा॒यस्पोषे॑ण सचते सु॒वीरः॑ ॥

The morning bears and brings the jewels of wealth for us. That wealth, the man of knowledge and wisdom, rising early, receives, and having received keeps safe. And by that, this brave man, growing and advancing in health and age and progeny, lives well with wealth, nourishment and comfort.

· · ·

1.125.2

सु॒गुर॑सत्सुहिर॒ण्यः स्वश्वो॑ बृ॒हद॑स्मै॒ वय॒ इन्द्रो॑ दधाति । यस्त्वा॒यन्तं॒ वसु॑ना प्रातरित्वो मु॒क्षीज॑येव॒ पदि॑मुत्सि॒नाति॑ ॥

He is blest with good cows, good gold and good horses, and Indra, lord of life and power, brings him liberal gifts of food and energy for body, mind and soul for a long life time, who, rising early, binds you, the needy and deserving man, in a bond of thanks with a gift of ample means and money, like a calf bound with a rope to the post, while you come to him for help and assistance.

· · ·

1.125.3

आय॑म॒द्य सु॒कृतं॑ प्रा॒तरि॒च्छन्नि॒ष्टेः पु॒त्रं वसु॑मता॒ रथे॑न । अं॒शोः सु॒तं पा॑यय मत्स॒रस्य॑ क्ष॒यद्वी॑रं वर्धय सू॒नृता॑भिः ॥

Generous Indra, lord giver of every gift of life, nourishment, training and honour, by the most precious chariot I have come today early morning for the reason of an honest desire, wishing to have a son growing to be capable of noble yajnic deeds. I pray, nourish and promote the son born of the most delightful essence of my life, and with holy words of truth, wisdom and Law develop the young man to be a centre and shelter of the brave.

· · ·

1.125.4

उप॑ क्षरन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वो मयो॒भुव॑ ईजा॒नं च॑ य॒क्ष्यमा॑णं च धे॒नवः॑ । पृ॒णन्तं॑ च॒ पपु॑रिं च श्रव॒स्यवो॑ घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॒ उप॑ यन्ति वि॒श्वतः॑ ॥

Streams of joy, peace and prosperity flow from all round to the man performing the yajna of social charity and divine dedication now and in the future. Cows for love of food and care stand round the man feeding and satisfying the needy. And streams of water, milk and ghrta flow to the charitable man incessantly from all round.

· · ·

1.125.5

नाक॑स्य पृ॒ष्ठे अधि॑ तिष्ठति श्रि॒तो यः पृ॒णाति॒ स ह॑ दे॒वेषु॑ गच्छति । तस्मा॒ आपो॑ घृ॒तम॑र्षन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑व॒स्तस्मा॑ इ॒यं दक्षि॑णा पिन्वते॒ सदा॑ ॥

The man dedicated to knowledge abides in inviolable peace and joy. The man who feeds and maintains children and scholars moves with the noblest men of knowledge and divinity. For him the waters, rivers and the seas create showers of ghrta, and this earth with her generosity always creates the joy of fulfilment.

· · ·

1.125.6

दक्षि॑णावता॒मिदि॒मानि॑ चि॒त्रा दक्षि॑णावतां दि॒वि सूर्या॑सः । दक्षि॑णावन्तो अ॒मृतं॑ भजन्ते॒ दक्षि॑णावन्तः॒ प्र ति॑रन्त॒ आयुः॑ ॥

For the men of charity and yajna are these wonders of the world. For the men of honour, service and sacrifice shine the stars in heaven and abide. The men of knowledge, education and charity enjoy immortality beyond death, in life and after. And the men of courage, protection, fearlessness and charity cross the seas of suffering and slavery in their life of full age.

· · ·

1.125.7

मा पृ॒णन्तो॒ दुरि॑त॒मेन॒ आर॒न्मा जा॑रिषुः सू॒रयः॑ सुव्र॒तासः॑ । अ॒न्यस्तेषां॑ परि॒धिर॑स्तु॒ कश्चि॒दपृ॑णन्तम॒भि सं य॑न्तु॒ शोकाः॑ ॥

May the generous never come to sin and suffering. May the brilliant people of holy vows never suffer the disabilities of old age. May the orbit of their Karma be something different from evil and pain, since sorrow and suffering is the lot of the ungenerous and selfish.

✦ Sukta 126 · 7 verses ✦

1.126.1

अम॑न्दा॒न्त्स्तोमा॒न्प्र भ॑रे मनी॒षा सिन्धा॒वधि॑ क्षिय॒तो भा॒व्यस्य॑ । यो मे॑ स॒हस्र॒ममि॑मीत स॒वान॒तूर्तो॒ राजा॒ श्रव॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नः ॥

With honest mind and a clear conscience, I offer enthusiastic tributes of praise and approbation for the deserving ruler who, dedicated to honour and fame, has performed a thousand yajnic acts of generosity for me and the people on the river side without violence and opposition.

· · ·

1.126.2

श॒तं राज्ञो॒ नाध॑मानस्य नि॒ष्काञ्छ॒तमश्वा॒न्प्रय॑तान्त्स॒द्य आद॑म् । श॒तं क॒क्षीवाँ॒ असु॑रस्य॒ गोनां॑ दि॒वि श्रवो॒ऽजर॒मा त॑तान ॥

I always accept and approve of the ruler’s ways of charity, a man glorious, generous as the cloud and a protector of the pranic energies of life, and I admire his gifts of a hundred golds, hundred horses fast and welltrained, and a hundred cows and pieces of land. Rightly the man who knows the various ways of knowledge and charity extends his immortal fame to the heights of heaven.

· · ·

1.126.3

उप॑ मा श्या॒वाः स्व॒नये॑न द॒त्ता व॒धूम॑न्तो॒ दश॒ रथा॑सो अस्थुः । ष॒ष्टिः स॒हस्र॒मनु॒ गव्य॒मागा॒त्सन॑त्क॒क्षीवाँ॑ अभिपि॒त्वे अह्ना॑म् ॥

Let there be around me ten chariots bright as sunbeams drawn by bright mares, assigned by the commander. And may the man of knowledge be blest with the wealth of sixty thousand cows and receive welcome and hospitality for days and nights on his social rounds.

· · ·

1.126.4

च॒त्वा॒रिं॒शद्दश॑रथस्य॒ शोणाः॑ स॒हस्र॒स्याग्रे॒ श्रेणिं॑ नयन्ति । म॒द॒च्युतः॑ कृश॒नाव॑तो॒ अत्या॑न्क॒क्षीव॑न्त॒ उद॑मृक्षन्त प॒ज्राः ॥

Forty fiery horses of the commander of ten chariots march in formation in advance of a thousand. Golden decorated are they, camouflaged, a pioneer force, they challenge and break through the defences, clear the routes for the advance, and the forces move forward in multiformation.

· · ·

1.126.5

पूर्वा॒मनु॒ प्रय॑ति॒मा द॑दे व॒स्त्रीन्यु॒क्ताँ अ॒ष्टाव॒रिधा॑यसो॒ गाः । सु॒बन्ध॑वो॒ ये वि॒श्या॑ इव॒ व्रा अन॑स्वन्तः॒ श्रव॒ ऐष॑न्त प॒ज्राः ॥

Noble brethren, I accept and promote the tradition laid down earlier, and I accept and apply the three tier system of education, defence and economic organisation and the eightfold policy of defence, justice and administration, development, production and distribution, health and nourishment symbolized by the generous and fertile cows. I exhort you all who, strong and bold, united together like the inmates of a home, as one body, equipped with chariots, march forward for the sake of honour and glory.

· · ·

1.126.6

आग॑धिता॒ परि॑गधिता॒ या क॑शी॒केव॒ जङ्ग॑हे । ददा॑ति॒ मह्यं॒ यादु॑री॒ याशू॑नां भो॒ज्या॑ श॒ता ॥

The most valuable policy of the state worthy of acceptance which is approved and followed and which is an inspirer of the people of action and advancement in important matters of the nation, like a goad, spurs me on to action and helps me get the sweetest delicacies of life, hundreds of them.

· · ·

1.126.7

उपो॑प मे॒ परा॑ मृश॒ मा मे॑ द॒भ्राणि॑ मन्यथाः । सर्वा॒हम॑स्मि रोम॒शा ग॒न्धारी॑णामिवावि॒का ॥

Come close and closer to me and consult with me. Do not think that the little nameless things I say, advise and do are insignificant. One of the vigilant guards among the protective supporters of the nation, I am all over warm and protective like a golden fleece in winter cold.

✦ Sukta 127 · 11 verses ✦

1.127.1

अ॒ग्निं होता॑रं मन्ये॒ दास्व॑न्तं॒ वसुं॑ सू॒नुं सह॑सो जा॒तवे॑दसं॒ विप्रं॒ न जा॒तवे॑दसम् । य ऊ॒र्ध्वया॑ स्वध्व॒रो दे॒वो दे॒वाच्या॑ कृ॒पा । घृ॒तस्य॒ विभ्रा॑ष्टि॒मनु॑ वष्टि शो॒चिषा॒जुह्वा॑नस्य स॒र्पिषः॑ ॥

I worship, serve and meditate on Agni, lord of light and knowledge, spirit of life and heat and inspiration of noble action, yajaka, generous giver, treasure of wealth and universal shelter, inspirer and creator of courage and courageous action like the sun, omniscient lord of all that is born in existence, master of knowledge as the supreme scholar of the Veda, organiser of yajna with love and non-violence with divine knowledge and awareness, refulgent with heavenly light and power, loving and consuming with flames of fire and light the blaze of the purest and most powerful ghrta offered into the fire of yajna, physical, mental and spiritual all.’

· · ·

1.127.2

यजि॑ष्ठं त्वा॒ यज॑माना हुवेम॒ ज्येष्ठ॒मङ्गि॑रसां विप्र॒ मन्म॑भि॒र्विप्रे॑भिः शुक्र॒ मन्म॑भिः । परि॑ज्मानमिव॒ द्यां होता॑रं चर्षणी॒नाम् । शो॒चिष्के॑शं॒ वृष॑णं॒ यमि॒मा विशः॒ प्राव॑न्तु जू॒तये॒ विशः॑ ॥

Agni, lord most worshipful, we the performers of this yajnic assembly, with all our heart and mind, together with all the saints and scholars with their earnest desire, invoke and invite you, wisest and senior-most of the scholar visionaries of Divinity, pure and immaculate, brilliant as the sun with your reach into the light of heaven, high-priest of humanity, lord of light knowledge, generous as rain showers, whom all these people accept, respect and approach with their desire and prayer for protection and self-fulfilment.

· · ·

1.127.3

स हि पु॒रू चि॒दोज॑सा वि॒रुक्म॑ता॒ दीद्या॑नो॒ भव॑ति द्रुहन्त॒रः प॑र॒शुर्न द्रु॑हन्त॒रः । वी॒ळु चि॒द्यस्य॒ समृ॑तौ॒ श्रुव॒द्वने॑व॒ यत्स्थि॒रम् । निः॒षह॑माणो यमते॒ नाय॑ते धन्वा॒सहा॒ नाय॑ते ॥

He surely rises to shine very brilliantly with his own splendid valour and honour who, like the axe which cuts down the trees, mows down the enemies, in whose presence even the strong and firm like the dense forest burst asunder into pieces, and who, commanding brave warriors, dominates and directs the enemies and, like a mighty wielder of the bow and arrow, never wavers but advances in battle against the enemy forces.

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1.127.4

दृ॒ळ्हा चि॑दस्मा॒ अनु॑ दु॒र्यथा॑ वि॒दे तेजि॑ष्ठाभिर॒रणि॑भिर्दा॒ष्ट्यव॑से॒ऽग्नये॑ दा॒ष्ट्यव॑से । प्र यः पु॒रूणि॒ गाह॑ते॒ तक्ष॒द्वने॑व शो॒चिषा॑ । स्थि॒रा चि॒दन्ना॒ नि रि॑णा॒त्योज॑सा॒ नि स्थि॒राणि॑ चि॒दोज॑सा ॥

Just as the strong man of prosperity and spirit of service offers homage to the man of knowledge and wisdom, so does he offer oblations in yajna to Agni for the sake of protection and advancement. And Agni too, arising from the fiery potential of arani wood, gives protection and advancement to the yajaka. Just as fire overtakes many thick forests and reduces them to ash with its flames, so does the commanding yajaka reduce even strong enemies to naught, and just as the light of the sun ripens the grain with its energy, so does the yajaka ripen and strengthen the prosperity of the earth and humanity.

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1.127.5

तम॑स्य पृ॒क्षमुप॑रासु धीमहि॒ नक्तं॒ यः सु॒दर्श॑तरो॒ दिवा॑तरा॒दप्रा॑युषे॒ दिवा॑तरात् । आद॒स्यायु॒र्ग्रभ॑णवद्वी॒ळु शर्म॒ न सू॒नवे॑ । भ॒क्तमभ॑क्त॒मवो॒ व्यन्तो॑ अ॒जरा॑ अ॒ग्नयो॒ व्यन्तो॑ अ॒जराः॑ ॥

Let us meditate on and do homage to that assiduous and uncompromising Agni, leading light of the world, in all directions, who shines brighter and stronger at night than in the day and, holding holy offerings in hand, let us honour and worship him. Just as a father provides a strong and happy home for the child so do the unaging leading lights of yajna and humanity bring us solace and protection with the gracious judgement of the dedicated and the undedicated. And thus, let us too, unageing and bright like the fire, live long and happy.

· · ·

1.127.6

स हि शर्धो॒ न मारु॑तं तुवि॒ष्वणि॒रप्न॑स्वतीषू॒र्वरा॑स्वि॒ष्टनि॒रार्त॑नास्वि॒ष्टनिः॑ । आद॑द्ध॒व्यान्या॑द॒दिर्य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुर॒र्हणा॑ । अध॑ स्मास्य॒ हर्ष॑तो॒ हृषी॑वतो॒ विश्वे॑ जुषन्त॒ पन्थां॒ नरः॑ शु॒भे न पन्था॑म् ॥

That Agni, daring and roaring as the wind, is admirably fearsome in raging battles, as he is worthy of honour and homage in yajnas in lands fertile as well as deserts and among families blest with lovely children. He receives offerings with love, readily consumes and uses the same for creative purposes. Indeed he is the triumphal banner of yajnas, most worthy of honour and worship. And of course all the people, joyous and emanating joy all round, follow in his footsteps, follow him on the path shown by him for the pursuit of goodness, beauty and joy of life.

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1.127.7

द्वि॒ता यदीं॑ की॒स्तासो॑ अ॒भिद्य॑वो नम॒स्यन्त॑ उप॒वोच॑न्त॒ भृग॑वो म॒थ्नन्तो॑ दा॒शा भृग॑वः । अ॒ग्निरी॑शे॒ वसू॑नां॒ शुचि॒र्यो ध॒र्णिरे॑षाम् । प्रि॒याँ अ॑पि॒धीँर्व॑निषीष्ट॒ मेधि॑र॒ आ व॑निषीष्ट॒ मेधि॑रः ॥

When the Bhrgus, dedicated seekers and worshippers, generous members of the community, brilliant scholars, faithfully take on Agni for study and meditation, two ways in theory and practice, vision and pursuit, speak of it in detail analysing and realising it, then Agni, pure and immaculate power, wise and intelligent, that rules the wealth of the world and is the very foundation of these, blesses the darling dedicated servants with beauty, wealth and success.

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1.127.8

विश्वा॑सां त्वा वि॒शां पतिं॑ हवामहे॒ सर्वा॑सां समा॒नं दम्प॑तिं भु॒जे स॒त्यगि॑र्वाहसं भु॒जे । अति॑थिं॒ मानु॑षाणां पि॒तुर्न यस्या॑स॒या । अ॒मी च॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒मृता॑स॒ आ वयो॑ ह॒व्या दे॒वेष्वा वयः॑ ॥

We invoke, invite and do homage to you, Agni, lord protector of all the people of the world, for the light of life. We invoke and do homage to the lord protector of the home and family equally for all the people, for the joy of family life. We do homage to the lord of the voice of omniscience for the joy of knowledge. We do homage to the lord as the guest of honour and fire of yajna for all the people, in whose presence, as in the presence of the father, all these seekers of freedom and immortality hope for the food of life, and in whose honour they offer food and oblations to the brilliant and generous divinities of nature and humanity.

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1.127.9

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ सह॑सा॒ सह॑न्तमः शु॒ष्मिन्त॑मो जायसे दे॒वता॑तये र॒यिर्न दे॒वता॑तये । शु॒ष्मिन्त॑मो॒ हि ते॒ मदो॑ द्यु॒म्निन्त॑म उ॒त क्रतुः॑ । अध॑ स्मा ते॒ परि॑ चरन्त्यजर श्रुष्टी॒वानो॒ नाज॑र ॥

Agni, lord of light, knowledge and power, by courage most courageous of the brave and victorious, you rise most brilliant and fiery for the advancement of the noblest powers of nature and humanity, just as wealth is most effective for the service of the divines. Most brilliant is your light of joy, most abundant in the service of yajna. Lord of light immortal, servants of yajna most obedient and willing, serve you just as they would serve the Immortal Lord of life.

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1.127.10

प्र वो॑ म॒हे सह॑सा॒ सह॑स्वत उष॒र्बुधे॑ पशु॒षे नाग्नये॒ स्तोमो॑ बभूत्व॒ग्नये॑ । प्रति॒ यदीं॑ ह॒विष्मा॒न्विश्वा॑सु॒ क्षासु॒ जोगु॑वे । अग्रे॑ रे॒भो न ज॑रत ऋषू॒णां जूर्णि॒र्होत॑ ऋषू॒णाम् ॥

May your song of praise in honour of Agni, victorious by virtue of great valour, light of the morning such as the dawn, be as it should be for the lord giver of life’s wealth. Just so it is that the yajnic faithful offers oblations to the eternal teacher of revelation anywhere in all lands, and how an admirer ever offers praise to the eminent among scholars, or an aged yajaka offers to the senior physician.

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1.127.11

स नो॒ नेदि॑ष्ठं॒ ददृ॑शान॒ आ भ॒राग्ने॑ दे॒वेभिः॒ सच॑नाः सुचे॒तुना॑ म॒हो रा॒यः सु॑चे॒तुना॑ । महि॑ शविष्ठ नस्कृधि सं॒चक्षे॑ भु॒जे अ॒स्यै । महि॑ स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ मघवन्त्सु॒वीर्यं॒ मथी॑रु॒ग्रो न शव॑सा ॥

O Lord, Agni, watching, guiding and guarding us at the closest, with all the brilliant powers of nature and humanity, bear and bring us, most kindly and graciously, great, valuable and lasting wealths of the world. Mightiest Lord, make us great for the experience and enjoyment of this earth. Lord of wealth, power and grandeur, bring us, admirers and worshippers, great valour and honour, and as a fierce disciplinarian churn us to the essence of magnanimity and majesty of life that existence is in reality.

✦ Sukta 128 · 8 verses ✦

1.128.1

अ॒यं जा॑यत॒ मनु॑षो॒ धरी॑मणि॒ होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठ उ॒शिजा॒मनु॑ व्र॒तम॒ग्निः स्वमनु॑ व्र॒तम् । वि॒श्वश्रु॑ष्टिः सखीय॒ते र॒यिरि॑व श्रवस्य॒ते । अद॑ब्धो॒ होता॒ नि ष॑ददि॒ळस्प॒दे परि॑वीत इ॒ळस्प॒दे ॥

This man, this Agni, this Brahmachari, yajaka, most worshipful, arises and shines in his Dharma and behaviour in pursuit of his own discipline and in conformity with the laws and customs of the lovers of life and noble ambition.Agreeable and complaisant with the world, he loves to be friends with all as wealth is friendly with the man who loves and cares to value it. Inspiring the dauntless yajamana, soaked in knowledge and surrounded by the learned, he sits on the vedi of yajna in the world of action and abides in the knowledge and vision of Divinity

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1.128.2

तं य॑ज्ञ॒साध॒मपि॑ वातयामस्यृ॒तस्य॑ प॒था नम॑सा ह॒विष्म॑ता दे॒वता॑ता ह॒विष्म॑ता । स न॑ ऊ॒र्जामु॒पाभृ॑त्य॒या कृ॒पा न जू॑र्यति । यं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॒ मन॑वे परा॒वतो॑ दे॒वं भाः प॑रा॒वतः॑ ॥

That Agni, divine treasure of the wealth of life and giver of success in yajnic endeavours, we, bearing holy offerings in divine service, kindle and fan to light and blaze, and serve along the path of Truth and natural Law with offers of food and reverence. And that lord of light and energy never tires of this divine grace, never fades out of this divine light and splendour, since this divine blaze and splendour, the wind and solar energy carries for humanity from a far distance, from the farthest imaginable distance.

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1.128.3

एवे॑न स॒द्यः पर्ये॑ति॒ पार्थि॑वं मुहु॒र्गी रेतो॑ वृष॒भः कनि॑क्रद॒द्दध॒द्रेतः॒ कनि॑क्रदत् । श॒तं चक्षा॑णो अ॒क्षभि॑र्दे॒वो वने॑षु तु॒र्वणिः॑ । सदो॒ दधा॑न॒ उप॑रेषु॒ सानु॑ष्व॒ग्निः परे॑षु॒ सानु॑षु ॥

Agni, lord of light, constantly goes by his path, pervading all that is in the world, celebrated in the voices of the divines, life of life, generous shower of vitality, roaring, wielding life and still roaring. The lord of brilliance, breaking and building in waves of energy, watching and illuminating the worlds with a hundred lights, holding, wielding and supporting the homes of life in the clouds, over the peaks, in the farthest regions of space on top, he goes on and on in the orbit along the circumference.

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1.128.4

स सु॒क्रतुः॑ पु॒रोहि॑तो॒ दमे॑दमे॒ऽग्निर्य॒ज्ञस्या॑ध्व॒रस्य॑ चेतति॒ क्रत्वा॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ चेतति । क्रत्वा॑ वे॒धा इ॑षूय॒ते विश्वा॑ जा॒तानि॑ पस्पशे । यतो॑ घृत॒श्रीरति॑थि॒रजा॑यत॒ वह्नि॑र्वे॒धा अजा॑यत ॥

That Agni, lord of light, knowledge and fire, first agent of cosmic yajna, foremost and

leader, inspires and lights the yajna, fragrant acts of creative love and non-violence, advances yajna by yajnic acts, issues forth like penetrative intelligence by the waves of yajnic energy and inspires all things in existence, and from the vedi arises with the glory, light of libations like a guest of honour at its own will, carrier, catalyser, penetrative, intelligent, illuminative for all.

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1.128.5

क्रत्वा॒ यद॑स्य॒ तवि॑षीषु पृ॒ञ्चते॒ऽग्नेरवे॑ण म॒रुतां॒ न भो॒ज्ये॑षि॒राय॒ न भो॒ज्या॑ । स हि ष्मा॒ दान॒मिन्व॑ति॒ वसू॑नां च म॒ज्मना॑ । स न॑स्त्रासते दुरि॒ताद॑भि॒ह्रुतः॒ शंसा॑द॒घाद॑भि॒ह्रुतः॑ ॥

When a person joins the blazing flames and forces of this Agni with his gift of oblations and energy by the yajna of creative and defensive action, as you would enhance the energy of a vigorous man with refreshments or you augment the force of the winds, thenAgni receives the gift and, with his force and power, blesses the givers, and he warns us of the crooked ways of the world, protects us against scandals of the envious, saves us from evil and redeems us from sin and fall off from Divinity.

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1.128.6

विश्वो॒ विहा॑या अर॒तिर्वसु॑र्दधे॒ हस्ते॒ दक्षि॑णे त॒रणि॒र्न शि॑श्रथच्छ्रव॒स्यया॒ न शि॑श्रथत् । विश्व॑स्मा॒ इदि॑षुध्य॒ते दे॑व॒त्रा ह॒व्यमोहि॑षे । विश्व॑स्मा॒ इत्सु॒कृते॒ वार॑मृण्वत्य॒ग्निर्द्वारा॒ व्यृ॑ण्वति ॥

Agni, universal lord of wealth, honour and grandeur, like a saviour and redeemer, holds the wealth of the world in his right hand for the man of endeavour for his honour and fame, and the gift never slackens, yes, it never slackens. Lord of brilliance and generosity, you bear and bring all the sacrificial riches for the man of martial action and prayer. For the man of yajnic action, you give all the choice gifts of the world, give them through open doors.

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1.128.7

स मानु॑षे वृ॒जने॒ शंत॑मो हि॒तो॒३॒॑ऽग्निर्य॒ज्ञेषु॒ जेन्यो॒ न वि॒श्पतिः॑ प्रि॒यो य॒ज्ञेषु॑ वि॒श्पतिः॑ । स ह॒व्या मानु॑षाणामि॒ळा कृ॒तानि॑ पत्यते । स न॑स्त्रासते॒ वरु॑णस्य धू॒र्तेर्म॒हो दे॒वस्य॑ धू॒र्तेः ॥

That Agni, in the saving paths of human life, is most blissful, giver of fulfilment, and in yajnas he is like a victorious ruler and guardian of the people, yes, dear in yajnic projects and a saviour and protector of the world. He creates for humanity the materials for yajnic consumption and brings us the holiest words and actions of bliss. He guards us against the violence of nature and saves us from the ravages of misfortune.

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1.128.8

अ॒ग्निं होता॑रमीळते॒ वसु॑धितिं प्रि॒यं चेति॑ष्ठमर॒तिं न्ये॑रिरे हव्य॒वाहं॒ न्ये॑रिरे । वि॒श्वायुं॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दसं॒ होता॑रं यज॒तं क॒विम् । दे॒वासो॑ र॒ण्वमव॑से वसू॒यवो॑ गी॒र्भी र॒ण्वं व॑सू॒यवः॑ ॥

The devas, creative men of brilliance inspired with generosity, who search for light, knowledge and wealth of the world for the sake of power, protection and advancement, worship Agni, lord of light and omnipotent. They honour and admire Agni, leading scholar of light and energy. They study, raise and develop fire and energy, brilliant source of light and power, productive source of wealth, inspirer of intelligence to create wealth, dearest friend and generous power, energiser, arouser and mover of mind and soul, and generous giver of comfort, joy and bliss. They worship, honour and develop Agni, creator, harbinger and giver of holy materials for wealth, yes, they do worship, honour and raiseAgni, lord, scholar and power, which is life of the world, omniscient and omnipresent with every atom of the world, great unifier and integrator, creative power of cosmic yajna at every stage, poetic creator of beauty, a source of delight and happiness. That power of truth, beauty and joy, the seekers of light, wealth, power and divine joy celebrate in holy words for the sake of protection, guidance and advancement.

✦ Sukta 129 · 11 verses ✦

1.129.1

यं त्वं रथ॑मिन्द्र मे॒धसा॑तयेऽपा॒का सन्त॑मिषिर प्र॒णय॑सि॒ प्रान॑वद्य॒ नय॑सि । स॒द्यश्चि॒त्तम॒भिष्ट॑ये॒ करो॒ वश॑श्च वा॒जिन॑म् । सास्माक॑मनवद्य तूतुजान वे॒धसा॑मि॒मां वाचं॒ न वे॒धसा॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of light and knowledge, power beyond reproach, inspirer of life and people, whatever chariot you move for the purpose of yajna, that being faultless and immaculate, you move it fast forward and, favourable as you are to the yajaka, you instantly lead it and the master to success, to the desired object. Lord sung and celebrated, faster than light in motion and inspiration, faithful admirers we are all, elevate this song of ours to the height of the word of the wise and visionaries and graciously accept it as our homage of holiness.

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1.129.2

स श्रु॑धि॒ यः स्मा॒ पृत॑नासु॒ कासु॑ चिद्द॒क्षाय्य॑ इन्द्र॒ भर॑हूतये॒ नृभि॒रसि॒ प्रतू॑र्तये॒ नृभिः॑ । यः शूरैः॒ स्व१॒॑सनि॑ता॒ यो विप्रै॒र्वाजं॒ तरु॑ता । तमी॑शा॒नास॑ इरधन्त वा॒जिनं॑ पृ॒क्षमत्यं॒ न वा॒जिन॑म् ॥

May Indra, lord of wealth and power, listen to our voice of prayer and suggestion, Indra who is an expert hero in the projects of social fulfilment in cooperation with the socially motivated people and an instant fighter in battles of defence and development with men of martial nature, who meditates on the heavenly light of the spirit and with the brave, intelligent and wise men is the creator and distributor of food and energy among people, and with whom the strong and powerful leaders love to work exactly as successful people love to take to a strong and fast horse to reach their destination, fast as he is and versatile in everything.

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1.129.3

द॒स्मो हि ष्मा॒ वृष॑णं॒ पिन्व॑सि॒ त्वचं॒ कं चि॑द्यावीर॒ररुं॑ शूर॒ मर्त्यं॑ परिवृ॒णक्षि॒ मर्त्य॑म् । इन्द्रो॒त तुभ्यं॒ तद्दि॒वे तद्रु॒द्राय॒ स्वय॑शसे । मि॒त्राय॑ वोचं॒ वरु॑णाय स॒प्रथः॑ सुमृळी॒काय॑ स॒प्रथः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and wealth, justice and generosity, brave hero of wondrous deeds, you shower the generous and protective man with support and plenty, you strike off the destructive saboteur and root out the corrupt man. Great you are, broad of mind and deep in spirit. I say these profuse words of praise for you, Indra, ruler and leader, light of the nation, dispenser of justice, commanding honour and fame, friend of all, universal choice of hearts, inspirer of peace and bliss, great mind and spirit indeed!

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1.129.4

अ॒स्माकं॑ व॒ इन्द्र॑मुश्मसी॒ष्टये॒ सखा॑यं वि॒श्वायुं॑ प्रा॒सहं॒ युजं॒ वाजे॑षु प्रा॒सहं॒ युज॑म् । अ॒स्माकं॒ ब्रह्मो॒तयेऽवा॑ पृ॒त्सुषु॒ कासु॑ चित् । न॒हि त्वा॒ शत्रुः॒ स्तर॑ते स्तृ॒णोषि॒ यं विश्वं॒ शत्रुं॑ स्तृ॒णोषि॒ यम् ॥

For your good and ours, we love and celebrate Indra, friend, the very life breath of the world, patient and courageous, cooperative comrade, daring and victorious in battles, dedicated and meditative on life and Divinity. For our protection, O lord, protect and preserve our knowledge and Veda in all the battles. No enemy can overwhelm you. Whatever adversary you defeat, whatever world you win and cover with justice and protection, no enemy anywhere can overcome you.

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1.129.5

नि षू न॒माति॑मतिं॒ कय॑स्य चि॒त्तेजि॑ष्ठाभिर॒रणि॑भि॒र्नोतिभि॑रु॒ग्राभि॑रुग्रो॒तिभिः॑ । नेषि॑ णो॒ यथा॑ पु॒राने॒नाः शू॑र॒ मन्य॑से । विश्वा॑नि पू॒रोरप॑ पर्षि॒ वह्नि॑रा॒सा वह्नि॑र्नो॒ अच्छ॑ ॥

In all grace, bow down before the exceptional wisdom of the learned. And bring down the haughty pride of the notorious enemy, O fierce lord of raging power and rectitude, with your burning and brilliant methods and actions of defence and protection blazing like the radiant flames of the fire of arani wood. You know us all, O brave, heroic and sinless, lead us forward as before, wash off all sin and evil from the life of humanity. Bearer of the burdens of existence, harbinger of all that is good, like fire, burn off our evil and let us shine close to your presence.

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1.129.6

प्र तद्वो॑चेयं॒ भव्या॒येन्द॑वे॒ हव्यो॒ न य इ॒षवा॒न्मन्म॒ रेज॑ति रक्षो॒हा मन्म॒ रेज॑ति । स्व॒यं सो अ॒स्मदा नि॒दो व॒धैर॑जेत दुर्म॒तिम् । अव॑ स्रवेद॒घशं॑सोऽवत॒रमव॑ क्षु॒द्रमि॑व स्रवेत् ॥

I would speak words of appreciation and sing that song of praise for one who is worthy of reverence, brilliant, and like a divinity worthy of invocation, strong, dynamic and favourable, inspires like soma and shines like the moon, who shines at heart and destroys evil, who by himself, with blows, wards off the evil-tongued and the malicious, and who makes the evil go down the gutter and even lower just like worms of dirt.

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1.129.7

व॒नेम॒ तद्धोत्र॑या चि॒तन्त्या॑ व॒नेम॑ र॒यिं र॑यिवः सु॒वीर्यं॑ र॒ण्वं सन्तं॑ सु॒वीर्य॑म् । दु॒र्मन्मा॑नं सु॒मन्तु॑भि॒रेमि॒षा पृ॑चीमहि । आ स॒त्याभि॒रिन्द्रं॑ द्यु॒म्नहू॑तिभि॒र्यज॑त्रं द्यु॒म्नहू॑तिभिः ॥

Let us invoke Indra with most enthusiastic homage, pray and win his favour. O lord of wealth, let us win wealth, win noble strength, noble strength of body and mind abiding with holy joy of the spirit. Let us, with honest thoughts and earnest desire associate and be one with Indra who brooks no nonsense and negativity of mind and spirit. Let us offer prayers and homage to Indra, holiest of the holy, with truth of mind and spirit and the richest offerings, the richest that we have.

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1.129.8

प्रप्रा॑ वो अ॒स्मे स्वय॑शोभिरू॒ती प॑रिव॒र्ग इन्द्रो॑ दुर्मती॒नां दरी॑मन्दुर्मती॒नाम् । स्व॒यं सा रि॑ष॒यध्यै॒ या न॑ उपे॒षे अ॒त्रैः । ह॒तेम॑स॒न्न व॑क्षति क्षि॒प्ता जू॒र्णिर्न व॑क्षति ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, by his own power and honour, is all for your protection and ours, and he is all out for the total destruction of the men of evil mind and intention. And may that force which is sent by our enemies for our destruction never reach us, but be routed on way as if destroyed of itself even if it is inspired and moved at the fastest speed. (It must be prevented and destroyed on the way itself by defence missiles).

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1.129.9

त्वं न॑ इन्द्र रा॒या परी॑णसा या॒हि प॒थाँ अ॑ने॒हसा॑ पु॒रो या॑ह्यर॒क्षसा॑ । सच॑स्व नः परा॒क आ सच॑स्वास्तमी॒क आ । पा॒हि नो॑ दू॒रादा॒राद॒भिष्टि॑भिः॒ सदा॑ पाह्य॒भिष्टि॑भिः ॥

Indra, lord of power, honour and glory, go forward, and come to us with abundant wealth by the paths of non-violence, no-wickedness and no-sin. Be with us and for us as a friend at the closest and at the farthest places. Protect and promote us from afar with all that is desired, give us fulfilment at the closest with love at heart, always be a friend and saviour with total protection and fulfilment.

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1.129.10

त्वं न॑ इन्द्र रा॒या तरू॑षसो॒ग्रं चि॑त्त्वा महि॒मा स॑क्ष॒दव॑से म॒हे मि॒त्रं नाव॑से । ओजि॑ष्ठ॒ त्रात॒रवि॑ता॒ रथं॒ कं चि॑दमर्त्य । अ॒न्यम॒स्मद्रि॑रिषेः॒ कं चि॑दद्रिवो॒ रिरि॑क्षन्तं चिदद्रिवः ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, come with great and victorious wealth, honour and grace, Mighty and lustrous, may grandeur and dignity abide with you for protection like a friend as a mark of greatness. Lord most lustrous, saviour, protector, immortal by fame and honour, ride the chariot of glory. Lord of the clouds and mountains of the earth, if you are angry, even violent sometime, strike something other than our soul, whatsoever is violent and destructive, O lord of the clouds and mountains of the earth.

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1.129.11

पा॒हि न॑ इन्द्र सुष्टुत स्रि॒धो॑ऽवया॒ता सद॒मिद्दु॑र्मती॒नां दे॒वः सन्दु॑र्मती॒नाम् । ह॒न्ता पा॒पस्य॑ र॒क्षस॑स्त्रा॒ता विप्र॑स्य॒ माव॑तः । अधा॒ हि त्वा॑ जनि॒ता जीज॑नद्वसो रक्षो॒हणं॑ त्वा॒ जीज॑नद्वसो ॥

Indra, sung and celebrated for honour and graciousness, protect us from error, blunder and loss of faith. Always averting the envious and malicious, being brilliant and lustrous, you take the evil-minded down to the pit. Destroyer of the sinful and demonic killers, saviour of the pious and noble scholars and people like me, haven and home of the needy, may the lord creator of life rejuvenate you ever. Destroyer of sin and cruelty, shelter of the good, may the lord bless you ever with new life, energy and knowledge.

✦ Sukta 130 · 10 verses ✦

1.130.1

एन्द्र॑ या॒ह्युप॑ नः परा॒वतो॒ नायमच्छा॑ वि॒दथा॑नीव॒ सत्प॑ति॒रस्तं॒ राजे॑व॒ सत्प॑तिः । हवा॑महे त्वा व॒यं प्रय॑स्वन्तः सु॒ते सचा॑ । पु॒त्रासो॒ न पि॒तरं॒ वाज॑सातये॒ मंहि॑ष्ठं॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

Indra, lord of wealth and power, ruler of the world, come graciously from afar to us like this Agni who comes to the yajnic battles of life. Protector and promoter of truth and rectitude, friend and protector of the truthful and righteous, come to our home like the ruler. Joining you faithfully in this yajna of life, dedicated to holy action and endeavour, we invoke and invite you to join us. As children call upon the father to help them to food, sustenance and protection in their course of life and growth, so do we call upon you for safety and protection, great lord of power and prosperity, for victory in our battle of life.

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1.130.2

पिबा॒ सोम॑मिन्द्र सुवा॒नमद्रि॑भिः॒ कोशे॑न सि॒क्तम॑व॒तं न वंस॑गस्तातृषा॒णो न वंस॑गः । मदा॑य हर्य॒ताय॑ ते तु॒विष्ट॑माय॒ धाय॑से । आ त्वा॑ यच्छन्तु ह॒रितो॒ न सूर्य॒महा॒ विश्वे॑व॒ सूर्य॑म् ॥

Just as a thirsty bull drinks the water of a pool augmented by the showers of a cloud, so you Indra, friend and fond of company, drink this soma prepared from herbs crushed with grinders and seasoned by the shower of the clouds for your delight, lord versatile and vibrant, sustainer of life, worthy of love and homage, and just as the rays of light and all the days bring up the sun for the world, so may they bring you to our vedi of yajna.

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1.130.3

अवि॑न्दद्दि॒वो निहि॑तं॒ गुहा॑ नि॒धिं वेर्न गर्भं॒ परि॑वीत॒मश्म॑न्यन॒न्ते अ॒न्तरश्म॑नि । व्र॒जं व॒ज्री गवा॑मिव॒ सिषा॑स॒न्नङ्गि॑रस्तमः । अपा॑वृणो॒दिष॒ इन्द्रः॒ परी॑वृता॒ द्वार॒ इषः॒ परी॑वृताः ॥

Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt of cosmic energy, most brilliant of the cosmic brilliancies, creates from the light of omniscience and divine omnipotence the wealth of existence hidden in the heart of mystery and opens out the materials and energies of cosmic evolution covered in the folds of sleep. He opens the closed doors of the wealth of existence as you deliver a foetus from the womb or an embryo from the egg or dig out a diamond from the heart of a stone lying in the depth of a mighty mountain or as the sun breaks open the waters of rain held in the cloud in the vast sky or as a cowherd opens the gates of a cow stall, wielding his staff to control their movements. Thus does Indra open the doors of the wealth of existence and control the order of evolution with his force of law.

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1.130.4

दा॒दृ॒हा॒णो वज्र॒मिन्द्रो॒ गभ॑स्त्योः॒ क्षद्मे॑व ति॒ग्ममस॑नाय॒ सं श्य॑दहि॒हत्या॑य॒ सं श्य॑त् । सं॒वि॒व्या॒न ओज॑सा॒ शवो॑भिरिन्द्र म॒ज्मना॑ । तष्टे॑व वृ॒क्षं व॒निनो॒ नि वृ॑श्चसि पर॒श्वेव॒ नि वृ॑श्चसि ॥

Indra, firmly holding the thunder-bolt in hand, like a forceful jet of water or like a flood of penetrating rays of light to shoot, breaks the cloud and releases the waters of life. Similarly, one with your lustre and valour, like a wood cutter and carver, you fell the strongholds of evil like the trees of a forest, yes, uproot the wicked, striking the blows as with the axe.

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1.130.5

त्वं वृथा॑ न॒द्य॑ इन्द्र॒ सर्त॒वेऽच्छा॑ समु॒द्रम॑सृजो॒ रथाँ॑ इव वाजय॒तो रथाँ॑ इव । इ॒त ऊ॒तीर॑युञ्जत समा॒नमर्थ॒मक्षि॑तम् । धे॒नूरि॑व॒ मन॑वे वि॒श्वदो॑हसो॒ जना॑य वि॒श्वदो॑हसः ॥

Indra, you release the rivers at will to flow naturally well to the sea, they are like chariots loaded with food and energy, yes, replete with immense energy like chariots ever on the move. Thus, flow with this flow, you join the rivers with unrestricted wealth and modes of protection for all equally. And these rivers are like cows yielding all kinds of food and energy for the man of intelligence and for all people, for all, whole world indeed.

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1.130.6

इ॒मां ते॒ वाचं॑ वसू॒यन्त॑ आ॒यवो॒ रथं॒ न धीरः॒ स्वपा॑ अतक्षिषुः सु॒म्नाय॒ त्वाम॑तक्षिषुः । शु॒म्भन्तो॒ जेन्यं॑ यथा॒ वाजे॑षु विप्र वा॒जिन॑म् । अत्य॑मिव॒ शव॑से सा॒तये॒ धना॒ विश्वा॒ धना॑नि सा॒तये॑ ॥

Indra, vipra, lord of knowledge, this song of honour and celebration, for you, men of knowledge, patience, and noble action seeking wealth and power, have formed in the mind, as they have created the chariot for the sake of comfort and well-being, just like men of knowledge, culture and grace would love to have a fast horse in life’s battle flying to victory for the achievement of universal strength and power of wealth for everybody’s share and everybody’s enjoyment.

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1.130.7

भि॒नत्पुरो॑ नव॒तिमि॑न्द्र पू॒रवे॒ दिवो॑दासाय॒ महि॑ दा॒शुषे॑ नृतो॒ वज्रे॑ण दा॒शुषे॑ नृतो । अ॒ति॒थि॒ग्वाय॒ शम्ब॑रं गि॒रेरु॒ग्रो अवा॑भरत् । म॒हो धना॑नि॒ दय॑मान॒ ओज॑सा॒ विश्वा॒ धना॒न्योज॑सा ॥

Indra, lord of the world, dancing with the joy of victory, you break down ninety strongholds of want and injustice for the sake of the people and for the great hospitable and philanthropist with your thunder-bolt of strength, power and energy. Lord of light and lustre, as the sun, you bring the cloud down in showers to the top of the mountain for the host, favourite of the visitors. Lord of sympathy and generosity, with your power and brilliance, you create great wealths of life, yes, and with your genius and philanthropy, bring up wealths of the world for universal benefit.

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1.130.8

इन्द्रः॑ स॒मत्सु॒ यज॑मान॒मार्यं॒ प्राव॒द्विश्वे॑षु श॒तमू॑तिरा॒जिषु॒ स्व॑र्मीळ्हेष्वा॒जिषु॑ । मन॑वे॒ शास॑दव्र॒तान्त्वचं॑ कृ॒ष्णाम॑रन्धयत् । दक्ष॒न्न विश्वं॑ ततृषा॒णमो॑षति॒ न्य॑र्शसा॒नमो॑षति ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, master of a hundred modes and means of protection and promotion, should protect and advance the noble and creative yajamana in all the projects of public good, in all the programmes of heavenly light for the man of thought and pious intention and action. Let him correct and control the forces of indiscipline and lawlessness, overthrow the earth’s cover of darkness, and like the generous benefactor enlighten all the seekers thirsting for light and knowledge and cauterise all the festering wounds of humanity.

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1.130.9

सूर॑श्च॒क्रं प्र बृ॒हज्जा॒त ओज॑सा प्रपि॒त्वे वाच॑मरु॒णो मु॑षायतीशा॒न आ मु॑षायति । उ॒शना॒ यत्प॑रा॒वतोऽज॑गन्नू॒तये॑ कवे । सु॒म्नानि॒ विश्वा॒ मनु॑षेव तु॒र्वणि॒रहा॒ विश्वे॑व तु॒र्वणिः॑ ॥

Indra, the sun, lord of crimson glory, rising from the vast spaces lights up the mighty wheel of the world, ravishes the imagination with its refulgence and inspires human speech to silence in adoration, and, ruling the world specially at the advance of the day and more in the northern solstice, it inspires as well as silences the speech with awe. O Poet divine, inspired with light, love and brilliance, come here on the earth from afar like a man divine, fast and faster, generous, all days every hour, and bring us the wealth and joys of the world for the protection and advancement of humanity.

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1.130.10

स नो॒ नव्ये॑भिर्वृषकर्मन्नु॒क्थैः पुरां॑ दर्तः पा॒युभिः॑ पाहि श॒ग्मैः । दि॒वो॒दा॒सेभि॑रिन्द्र॒ स्तवा॑नो वावृधी॒था अहो॑भिरिव॒ द्यौः ॥

Indra, lord of light, might and power, ruler of the world, hero of generous and universal action, breaker of enemy strongholds, protect and promote us with the latest pious, admirable and blissful modes, means and actions of defence and development. Sung and celebrated by poets of enlightenment, you too rise and advance as the sun ascends high and higher day by day in heaven.

✦ Sukta 131 · 7 verses ✦

1.131.1

इन्द्रा॑य॒ हि द्यौरसु॑रो॒ अन॑म्न॒तेन्द्रा॑य म॒ही पृ॑थि॒वी वरी॑मभिर्द्यु॒म्नसा॑ता॒ वरी॑मभिः । इन्द्रं॒ विश्वे॑ स॒जोष॑सो दे॒वासो॑ दधिरे पु॒रः । इन्द्रा॑य॒ विश्वा॒ सव॑नानि॒ मानु॑षा रा॒तानि॑ सन्तु॒ मानु॑षा ॥

The heavenly light of the sun and the cloud with all pranic energy do homage to Indra only. The mighty Prakrti and the earth, their best characteristic powers and virtues, do homage to Indra. All the divinities of nature and brilliancies of humanity together with unqualified love and faith do homage primarily to Indra as the Lord Supreme. May all the human work and wealth and the highest yajnic sessions be surrendered as gifts of homage to Indra, Lord Supreme of the universe.

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1.131.2

विश्वे॑षु॒ हि त्वा॒ सव॑नेषु तु॒ञ्जते॑ समा॒नमेकं॒ वृष॑मण्यवः॒ पृथ॒क्स्वः॑ सनि॒ष्यवः॒ पृथ॑क् । तं त्वा॒ नावं॒ न प॒र्षणिं॑ शू॒षस्य॑ धु॒रि धी॑महि । इन्द्रं॒ न य॒ज्ञैश्चि॒तय॑न्त आ॒यवः॒ स्तोमे॑भि॒रिन्द्र॑मा॒यवः॑ ॥

In all their yajnic projects of creation and development and in their acts of piety, all the liberal minded people and all seekers of heavenly bliss serve you and abide by you, sole one universal lord of existence, individually as well as together. To the same one lord we too belong, and we too love, meditate on and serve you, lord, with faith as the very centre of cosmic energy and as the saviour ship for crossing over the ocean of existence. All the people born and living on earth in their mortal existence and all the stars and planets in their songs and dance of adoration serve and worship the Lord as Indra, light of the world like the sun.

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1.131.3

वि त्वा॑ ततस्रे मिथु॒ना अ॑व॒स्यवो॑ व्र॒जस्य॑ सा॒ता गव्य॑स्य निः॒सृजः॒ सक्ष॑न्त इन्द्र निः॒सृजः॑ । यद्ग॒व्यन्ता॒ द्वा जना॒ स्व१॒॑र्यन्ता॑ स॒मूह॑सि । आ॒विष्करि॑क्र॒द्वृष॑णं सचा॒भुवं॒ वज्र॑मिन्द्र सचा॒भुव॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of might and prosperity, wedded couples, keen for protection and advancement united with you and going out in pursuit of their efforts to promote the wealth of cows, development of land and related knowledge, extend your glory and eliminate their want and suffering, since you inspire and exhort both men and women going out and achieving the light and joy of life when you open out and wield for action the thunderbolt of justice and protection, so generous, promotive and friendly to you and the people.

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1.131.4

वि॒दुष्टे॑ अ॒स्य वी॒र्य॑स्य पू॒रवः॒ पुरो॒ यदि॑न्द्र॒ शार॑दीर॒वाति॑रः सासहा॒नो अ॒वाति॑रः । शास॒स्तमि॑न्द्र॒ मर्त्य॒मय॑ज्युं शवसस्पते । म॒हीम॑मुष्णाः पृथि॒वीमि॒मा अ॒पो म॑न्दसा॒न इ॒मा अ॒पः ॥

Indra, lord of power and management, the people would know and realise your usual power and valour when you, bold and challenging, would overcome the autumnal and wintry problems of life and society, reclaim the habitations, control the rivers, and restore total civic normalcy after rains, when, O lord of law and power, you tame the man who is selfish, possessive, uncreative, uncooperative and unyajnic, and when, happy at heart and creating the pleasure and joy of life, you release the great earth, release these waters and relieve these creative and cooperative people.

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1.131.5

आदित्ते॑ अ॒स्य वी॒र्य॑स्य चर्किर॒न्मदे॑षु वृषन्नु॒शिजो॒ यदावि॑थ सखीय॒तो यदावि॑थ । च॒कर्थ॑ का॒रमे॑भ्यः॒ पृत॑नासु॒ प्रव॑न्तवे । ते अ॒न्याम॑न्यां न॒द्यं॑ सनिष्णत श्रव॒स्यन्तः॑ सनिष्णत ॥

Indra, lord of generosity, people loving and dedicated to you in their moods of joy praise and celebrate this valour and justice of yours since you protect and promote them, yes, promote and advance them, so friendly to you and to all as they are. You work wonders for them in their battles of life and production for proper distribution and participation while they, desiring their share of food and wealth, rightfully hope to gain one thing after another of the flow of national wealth.

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1.131.6

उ॒तो नो॑ अ॒स्या उ॒षसो॑ जु॒षेत॒ ह्य१॒॑र्कस्य॑ बोधि ह॒विषो॒ हवी॑मभिः॒ स्व॑र्षाता॒ हवी॑मभिः । यदि॑न्द्र॒ हन्त॑वे॒ मृधो॒ वृषा॑ वज्रि॒ञ्चिके॑तसि । आ मे॑ अ॒स्य वे॒धसो॒ नवी॑यसो॒ मन्म॑ श्रुधि॒ नवी॑यसः ॥

Indra, lord of light, now listen and accept this joyous celebration of ours of the light of the dawn, know this prayer and, O shower of light and joy, accept our invocation and holy offerings since, O wielder of the thunderbolt, lord of generosity, you keep awake for us for the elimination of violence. Listen to this newest prayer of mine made in full knowledge in worship, listen and accept this latest thought and petition.

· · ·

1.131.7

त्वं तमि॑न्द्र वावृधा॒नो अ॑स्म॒युर॑मित्र॒यन्तं॑ तुविजात॒ मर्त्यं॒ वज्रे॑ण शूर॒ मर्त्य॑म् । ज॒हि यो नो॑ अघा॒यति॑ शृणु॒ष्व सु॒श्रव॑स्तमः । रि॒ष्टं न याम॒न्नप॑ भूतु दुर्म॒तिर्विश्वाप॑ भूतु दुर्म॒तिः ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, ever exalting, friend of ours, universally famous, mighty bold, eliminate with the thunderbolt every man who entertains hate and enmity toward us and does sinful acts against us. Listen lord, since you are the closest listener. Let the man of evil intention be off from our way like one broken by evil. Let all evil intentions and evil designers be off and away from us.

✦ Sukta 132 · 6 verses ✦

1.132.1

त्वया॑ व॒यं म॑घव॒न्पूर्व्ये॒ धन॒ इन्द्र॑त्वोताः सासह्याम पृतन्य॒तो व॑नु॒याम॑ वनुष्य॒तः । नेदि॑ष्ठे अ॒स्मिन्नह॒न्यधि॑ वोचा॒ नु सु॑न्व॒ते । अ॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञे वि च॑येमा॒ भरे॑ कृ॒तं वा॑ज॒यन्तो॒ भरे॑ कृ॒तम् ॥

Indra, ruling lord of wealth and power, we pray, guided and protected by you and your power and potential, let us face the men in the very first encounter, love, tolerate or fight who wish to love, contest or fight, and let us win the encounter. On this day right now at the closest, speak to one and all of those who are conducting the yajna of the business of corporate living. In this yajna of full measure, while we are up and doing and winning all round, let us choose the best meritorious line of action and let us choose you as our guide, leader and protector.

· · ·

1.132.2

स्व॒र्जे॒षे भर॑ आ॒प्रस्य॒ वक्म॑न्युष॒र्बुधः॒ स्वस्मि॒न्नञ्ज॑सि क्रा॒णस्य॒ स्वस्मि॒न्नञ्ज॑सि । अह॒न्निन्द्रो॒ यथा॑ वि॒दे शी॒र्ष्णाशी॑र्ष्णोप॒वाच्यः॑ । अ॒स्म॒त्रा ते॑ स॒ध्र्य॑क्सन्तु रा॒तयो॑ भ॒द्रा भ॒द्रस्य॑ रा॒तयः॑ ॥

In the yajnic battle for the winning of light and joy, in the chant of the Apri hymns for divine favour, in the holy performance of the person rising at dawn, in the instant action of the man of love and grace, Indra destroys the obstacles in the way of action and achievement for the man who knows the favours of the lord, and for these the lord is adorable for every one and for the best among us. Just as Indra is favourable thus, so we pray to the lord: With us and for us as you always are, may all your gifts be for our good. May your gracious favours be good to the noble humanity.

· · ·

1.132.3

तत्तु प्रयः॑ प्र॒त्नथा॑ ते शुशुक्व॒नं यस्मि॑न्य॒ज्ञे वार॒मकृ॑ण्वत॒ क्षय॑मृ॒तस्य॒ वार॑सि॒ क्षय॑म् । वि तद्वो॑चे॒रध॑ द्वि॒तान्तः प॑श्यन्ति र॒श्मिभिः॑ । स घा॑ विदे॒ अन्विन्द्रो॑ ग॒वेष॑णो बन्धु॒क्षिद्भ्यो॑ ग॒वेष॑णः ॥

Indra, that Word of yours, that gracious gift, as ever, is brilliant. You are the ocean of Rta, eternal light and law of the truth of existence, the very home from where it flows like a river, like the radiation of sunlight. Pray speak of that same Word, reveal it in the yajna where they have created the choicest altar for your presence. Surely the same light the dedicated yajnics see within by the divine rays within and without. And I too would know of it then and realise. Truly Indra is the giver of knowledge, the Word, the cows and earthly wealth. He is the giver of these for the lovers and friends of our brethren. (The seeker of these too is Indra among humanity.)

· · ·

1.132.4

नू इ॒त्था ते॑ पू॒र्वथा॑ च प्र॒वाच्यं॒ यदङ्गि॑रो॒भ्योऽवृ॑णो॒रप॑ व्र॒जमिन्द्र॒ शिक्ष॒न्नप॑ व्र॒जम् । ऐभ्यः॑ समा॒न्या दि॒शास्मभ्यं॑ जेषि॒ योत्सि॑ च । सु॒न्वद्भ्यो॑ रन्धया॒ कं चि॑दव्र॒तं हृ॑णा॒यन्तं॑ चिदव्र॒तम् ॥

Indra, surely the word which you thus reveal as before for the scholars dear as the breath of life, and the way you open the doors of knowledge and treasures of the world, teaching us the wisdom of eternity is worth admiration and celebration. You fight for us and win the victories in the same constant way for these and for us who distil the essence of things. Heat up and season those indisciplined and lawless people who are funny, angry, violent or thievish, yes, subject them to the crucibles of law and education and cleanse them to purity from culturelessness.

· · ·

1.132.5

सं यज्जना॒न्क्रतु॑भिः॒ शूर॑ ई॒क्षय॒द्धने॑ हि॒ते त॑रुषन्त श्रव॒स्यवः॒ प्र य॑क्षन्त श्रव॒स्यवः॑ । तस्मा॒ आयुः॑ प्र॒जाव॒दिद्बाधे॑ अर्च॒न्त्योज॑सा । इन्द्र॑ ओ॒क्यं॑ दिधिषन्त धी॒तयो॑ दे॒वाँ अच्छा॒ न धी॒तयः॑ ॥

When Indra, brave and fearless lord of power and glory, by virtue of his wisdom and noble actions, closely surveys the forces of the people at the call of battle, the people, keen for honour, in love with fame, overcome all opposition, worship him and serve him with all their valour and lustre in the hour of crisis. They augment his life and morale as the hero of a mighty nation. Firm of mind and full of confidence, they repose complete faith in him as in the divinities and find their haven and home in him.

· · ·

1.132.6

यु॒वं तमि॑न्द्रापर्वता पुरो॒युधा॒ यो नः॑ पृत॒न्यादप॒ तंत॒मिद्ध॑तं॒ वज्रे॑ण॒ तंत॒मिद्ध॑तम् । दू॒रे च॒त्ताय॑ च्छन्त्स॒द्गह॑नं॒ यदिन॑क्षत् । अ॒स्माकं॒ शत्रू॒न्परि॑ शूर वि॒श्वतो॑ द॒र्मा द॑र्षीष्ट वि॒श्वतः॑ ॥

You both, Indra and the forces, like lightning and the mountain, fighting in the forefront, destroy with the thunderbolt everyone whosoever come to attack and fight us, see that they are destroyed first to the last, whosoever it be, even running far away for cover or even if one has gone deep into the bunker. O lord of valour and lustre, router of the deadly forces, destroy our enemies all round, crush them everywhere.

✦ Sukta 133 · 7 verses ✦

1.133.1

उ॒भे पु॑नामि॒ रोद॑सी ऋ॒तेन॒ द्रुहो॑ दहामि॒ सं म॒हीर॑नि॒न्द्राः । अ॒भि॒व्लग्य॒ यत्र॑ ह॒ता अ॒मित्रा॑ वैलस्था॒नं परि॑ तृ॒ळ्हा अशे॑रन् ॥

I purify the earth and heavens both by the light of truth and the fire and fragrance of yajna, creative and cooperative action. I subject the elements of hate and chaos to the heat and power of law and discipline and burn off the anti-Indra forces on earth to naught. And having thus seized and crushed the unfriendly elements wherever they happen to be active, and confirmed that they are dead and gone, I let them lie asleep in their grave.

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1.133.2

अ॒भि॒व्लग्या॑ चिदद्रिवः शी॒र्षा या॑तु॒मती॑नाम् । छि॒न्धि व॑टू॒रिणा॑ प॒दा म॒हाव॑टूरिणा प॒दा ॥

Indra, lord of yajna, power and law, firm as rock and generous as cloud, having caught the lawless and the violent by the head of the evil-minded, crush them under the wide wide foot, crush them by the rising forces of the youth.

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1.133.3

अवा॑सां मघवञ्जहि॒ शर्धो॑ यातु॒मती॑नाम् । वै॒ल॒स्था॒न॒के अ॑र्म॒के म॒हावै॑लस्थे अर्म॒के ॥

Indra, maghavan, lord of world power and wealth, break down and destroy the force of the evilminded and throw them out deep into the vault of darkness, into the hideous world of sin and death.

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1.133.4

यासां॑ ति॒स्रः प॑ञ्चा॒शतो॑ऽभिव्ल॒ङ्गैर॒पाव॑पः । तत्सु ते॑ मनायति त॒कत्सु ते॑ मनायति ॥

Indra, now that you have routed the three times fifty forces of those agents of hate and violence by your tactics of seizure and attack, that act excites holy admiration and celebration, hearty admiration and reverence.

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1.133.5

पि॒शङ्ग॑भृष्टिमम्भृ॒णं पि॒शाचि॑मिन्द्र॒ सं मृ॑ण । सर्वं॒ रक्षो॒ नि ब॑र्हय ॥

Indra, destroy the fierce ogres of the lance of red blood and root out the demons all over

· · ·

1.133.6

अ॒वर्म॒ह इ॑न्द्र दादृ॒हि श्रु॒धी नः॑ शु॒शोच॒ हि द्यौः क्षा न भी॒षाँ अ॑द्रिवो घृ॒णान्न भी॒षाँ अ॑द्रिवः । शु॒ष्मिन्त॑मो॒ हि शु॒ष्मिभि॑र्व॒धैरु॒ग्रेभि॒रीय॑से । अपू॑रुषघ्नो अप्रतीत शूर॒ सत्व॑भिस्त्रिस॒प्तैः शू॑र॒ सत्व॑भिः ॥

Indra, lord of earth and heaven, bring down that fierce demon and break him to pieces. Listen to our prayer. Purify and let the earth shine like heaven with tremendous light, lord of clouds and mountains, let the earth shine with the rule of law as by the blaze of light, lord of earth and heaven. Lord of highest power, you move on wielding the most powerful and lustrous weapons of law and punishment. Gracious and nonviolent with noble humanity, quiet, unseen and brave, you move with thrice seven heroic purities of existence, O noblest lord, with the purest and holiest verities of life

· · ·

1.133.7

व॒नोति॒ हि सु॒न्वन्क्षयं॒ परी॑णसः सुन्वा॒नो हि ष्मा॒ यज॒त्यव॒ द्विषो॑ दे॒वाना॒मव॒ द्विषः॑ । सु॒न्वा॒न इत्सि॑षासति स॒हस्रा॑ वा॒ज्यवृ॑तः । सु॒न्वा॒नायेन्द्रो॑ ददात्या॒भुवं॑ र॒यिं द॑दात्या॒भुव॑म् ॥

The yajamana who performs yajna and distils the soma prays for a home and gets one. Organising the yajna and the distillation of the soma of joy and prosperity, he drives away many envious enemies by yajna, drives the enemies of noble people away. The organiser of yajna, fast, intelligent and wise, open, free and fearless wants to create a hundred things, and Indra, lord of creation, power and generosity creates and gives blissful wealth for the yajnic people, yes, the lord blesses with the gift of wealth, peace and joy.

✦ Sukta 134 · 6 verses ✦

1.134.1

आ त्वा॒ जुवो॑ रारहा॒णा अ॒भि प्रयो॒ वायो॒ वह॑न्त्वि॒ह पू॒र्वपी॑तये॒ सोम॑स्य पू॒र्वपी॑तये । ऊ॒र्ध्वा ते॒ अनु॑ सू॒नृता॒ मन॑स्तिष्ठतु जान॒ती । नि॒युत्व॑ता॒ रथे॒ना या॑हि दा॒वने॒ वायो॑ म॒खस्य॑ दा॒वने॑ ॥

Vayu, spirit of yajnic vitality, may the fast currents of cosmic energy with love and caress escort and bring you here for a drink up of soma first of all, drink of fragrance as ever before, and your consort, upward current on the circuitous wave, recognising you as her partner and offering herself as an oblation, join you in the cycle of yajnic transmission of fragrance. Come, yoke the horses to the chariot and fly with your gifts for the generous yajamana.

· · ·

1.134.2

मन्द॑न्तु त्वा म॒न्दिनो॑ वाय॒विन्द॑वो॒ऽस्मत्क्रा॒णासः॒ सुकृ॑ता अ॒भिद्य॑वो॒ गोभिः॑ क्रा॒णा अ॒भिद्य॑वः । यद्ध॑ क्रा॒णा इ॒रध्यै॒ दक्षं॒ सच॑न्त ऊ॒तयः॑ । स॒ध्री॒ची॒ना नि॒युतो॑ दा॒वने॒ धिय॒ उप॑ ब्रुवत ईं॒ धियः॑ ॥

And O Vayu, cyclic energy of nature divine, may the exhilarating vapours of our yajna, well-created and activated by our libations into the fire, brilliant as light, radiating with the waves of the earth energy and rising with the rays of the sun join and vitalise you. The dynamic people exerting for advancement achieve divine protection and success. Only the intelligent ones working together in unison with yajna and divine energy receive and reveal the power and wisdom for the generous yajamana.

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1.134.3

वा॒युर्यु॑ङ्क्ते॒ रोहि॑ता वा॒युर॑रु॒णा वा॒यू रथे॑ अजि॒रा धु॒रि वोळ्ह॑वे॒ वहि॑ष्ठा धु॒रि वोळ्ह॑वे । प्र बो॑धया॒ पुरं॑धिं जा॒र आ स॑स॒तीमि॑व । प्र च॑क्षय॒ रोद॑सी वासयो॒षसः॒ श्रव॑से वासयो॒षसः॑ ॥

Vayu yokes the red and the orange red of nature’s powers such as fire and light, and it inspires the dawn and the sun. It uses all the dynamic sources of energy and power such as air and wind, fire and sunlight, the mind and senses, and the flow of water, all strongest and most impetuous for transport and communication. It awakens them and yokes them to the chariot of cosmic movement. O Vayu, come and wake up and energise life like a lover who wakes up and impassions a sleeping beauty. Light up the heaven and earth, light up the dawns. Light up the dawn of new life and let it rise to the top of glory.

· · ·

1.134.4

तुभ्य॑मु॒षासः॒ शुच॑यः परा॒वति॑ भ॒द्रा वस्त्रा॑ तन्वते॒ दंसु॑ र॒श्मिषु॑ चि॒त्रा नव्ये॑षु र॒श्मिषु॑ । तुभ्यं॑ धे॒नुः स॑ब॒र्दुघा॒ विश्वा॒ वसू॑नि दोहते । अज॑नयो म॒रुतो॑ व॒क्षणा॑भ्यो दि॒व आ व॒क्षणा॑भ्यः ॥

For you, O Vayu, Divine Energy, the purest and brightest blissful lights of the dawn in far off spaces wondrously weave the designs of world beauty in sunlight, in the newest colourful rays of light. For you the all generous cow produces all the milky wealths of food and energy, the divine voice of universal potency brings all the wealths of world knowledge. For you do the winds unborn drink up the vapours from the flowing streams of water and yajna fragrances, and then from heaven shower the rain of water, energy and bliss for the world.

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1.134.5

तुभ्यं॑ शु॒क्रासः॒ शुच॑यस्तुर॒ण्यवो॒ मदे॑षू॒ग्रा इ॑षणन्त भु॒र्वण्य॒पामि॑षन्त भु॒र्वणि॑ । त्वां त्सा॒री दस॑मानो॒ भग॑मीट्टे तक्व॒वीये॑ । त्वं विश्व॑स्मा॒द्भुव॑नात्पासि॒ धर्म॑णासु॒र्या॑त्पासि॒ धर्म॑णा ॥

The brilliant, pure and radiant, fast and zealous, and the blazing geniuses in the ecstasy of meditation, in the rapid flow of their karmas have desire only for you, have love but only for you in the intensity of their karma and devotion. The man of strength and generosity going by safest high ways worships you, lord giver of wealth and power of the world. You alone, by Dharma save from all the evils of the world, you alone help us cross through the world through Dharma.

· · ·

1.134.6

त्वं नो॑ वायवेषा॒मपू॑र्व्यः॒ सोमा॑नां प्रथ॒मः पी॒तिम॑र्हसि सु॒तानां॑ पी॒तिम॑र्हसि । उ॒तो वि॒हुत्म॑तीनां वि॒शां व॑व॒र्जुषी॑णाम् । विश्वा॒ इत्ते॑ धे॒नवो॑ दुह्र आ॒शिरं॑ घृ॒तं दु॑ह्रत आ॒शिर॑म् ॥

O Vayu, first, unprecedented and eternal lord, you alone deserve to drink of these soma essences distilled by us, you alone deserve to receive the offer of our acts of worship. You alone are the object of worship by purified intelligences and dedicated souls of the people. All dynamics of the world, lights of the suns, earths of the universe, divinities of nature and geniuses of humanity offer the milk of worship, they offer the ghrta of milky soma in the divine fire for you, only for you.

✦ Sukta 135 · 9 verses ✦

1.135.1

स्ती॒र्णं ब॒र्हिरुप॑ नो याहि वी॒तये॑ स॒हस्रे॑ण नि॒युता॑ नियुत्वते श॒तिनी॑भिर्नियुत्वते । तुभ्यं॒ हि पू॒र्वपी॑तये दे॒वा दे॒वाय॑ येमि॒रे । प्र ते॑ सु॒तासो॒ मधु॑मन्तो अस्थिर॒न्मदा॑य॒ क्रत्वे॑ अस्थिरन् ॥

Vayu, the assembly hall is ready, the holy seat is laid, come fast, come close, come for certain by the chariot drawn by a thousand horses, for rest and drink of soma reserved for the hero of a hundred forces. The devas, saints and sages brilliant all, have prepared and reserved the soma for you first by virtue of your divinity. May the honey drinks of distilled soma be sure and stable, reserved for your delight in the joint yajna of corporate action.

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1.135.2

तुभ्या॒यं सोमः॒ परि॑पूतो॒ अद्रि॑भिः स्पा॒र्हा वसा॑नः॒ परि॒ कोश॑मर्षति शु॒क्रा वसा॑नो अर्षति । तवा॒यं भा॒ग आ॒युषु॒ सोमो॑ दे॒वेषु॑ हूयते । वह॑ वायो नि॒युतो॑ याह्यस्म॒युर्जु॑षा॒णो या॑ह्यस्म॒युः ॥

For you does this soma distilled and purified with soma-stones and filters, seasoned by clouds, coveted and brilliant, over flows the jar. Pure, brilliant and exciting, it flows and overflows. This soma share of yours, delightful and exciting, is loved and honoured among the youth and learned divines. For this you are invoked and invited. Go, with love, your chariot driven by the team of horses impetuous as the winds, come for us and take your share of the beauty and ecstasy of life.

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1.135.3

आ नो॑ नि॒युद्भिः॑ श॒तिनी॑भिरध्व॒रं स॑ह॒स्रिणी॑भि॒रुप॑ याहि वी॒तये॒ वायो॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ वी॒तये॑ । तवा॒यं भा॒ग ऋ॒त्वियः॒ सर॑श्मिः॒ सूर्ये॒ सचा॑ । अ॒ध्व॒र्युभि॒र्भर॑माणा अयंसत॒ वायो॑ शु॒क्रा अ॑यंसत ॥

O Vayu, lord of power, force and tempestuous speed, come to our yajnic project of love and nonviolence for protection and participation to enjoy our offerings and hospitality. Come by your chariot drawn by hundreds and thousands of horses. Here is your share of holy offerings in accordance with the time and season, reinforced with the energy of light radiating from the sun. It is prepared by our high-priests of yajna, stored and reserved by them and to be offered by them to you, O Vayu, an offering holiest pure and paradisal!

· · ·

1.135.4

आ वां॒ रथो॑ नि॒युत्वा॑न्वक्ष॒दव॑से॒ऽभि प्रयां॑सि॒ सुधि॑तानि वी॒तये॒ वायो॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ वी॒तये॑ । पिब॑तं॒ मध्वो॒ अन्ध॑सः पूर्व॒पेयं॒ हि वां॑ हि॒तम् । वाय॒वा च॒न्द्रेण॒ राध॒सा ग॑त॒मिन्द्र॑श्च॒ राध॒सा ग॑तम् ॥

O Vayu, may the chariot equipped with horses fast as winds bring both of you, Vayu and Indra,

like ruler and commander, for our protection and for our choicest offerings prepared in faith with love, yes for your gracious acceptance of our gifts. Come and drink of the honey sweets of soma reserved as special drink for you first and exclusively. Vayu, come with the golden gift of wealth and power, and may Indra also come with the wealth of universal value and success.

· · ·

1.135.5

आ वां॒ धियो॑ ववृत्युरध्व॒राँ उपे॒ममिन्दुं॑ मर्मृजन्त वा॒जिन॑मा॒शुमत्यं॒ न वा॒जिन॑म् । तेषां॑ पिबतमस्म॒यू आ नो॑ गन्तमि॒होत्या । इन्द्र॑वायू सु॒ताना॒मद्रि॑भिर्यु॒वं मदा॑य वाजदा यु॒वम् ॥

O Indra and Vayu, ruler and commander of the world, lords of intelligence and power, come close, and may your intelligence and power strengthen and vitalise our yajnic actions and inspire men of knowledge and wisdom, and may they refine and reinforce this soma and this wealth and honour and this dynamism of ours as a groom refines and refreshes a fleet and impetuous horse. May they come for our protection and advancement and drink of these soma juices prepared with stones and seasoned with the vapours of clouds for the gift of joy and excitement. O Indra and Vayu, givers of joy and strength and speed, come both for the joy of life for you and for ourselves.

· · ·

1.135.6

इ॒मे वां॒ सोमा॑ अ॒प्स्वा सु॒ता इ॒हाध्व॒र्युभि॒र्भर॑माणा अयंसत॒ वायो॑ शु॒क्रा अ॑यंसत । ए॒ते वा॑म॒भ्य॑सृक्षत ति॒रः प॒वित्र॑मा॒शवः॑ । यु॒वा॒यवोऽति॒ रोमा॑ण्य॒व्यया॒ सोमा॑सो॒ अत्य॒व्यया॑ ॥

Vayu, these soma juices extracted and distilled here in yajnas, perfected by the priests, pure and exciting, may reach you, must reach you both, Vayu and Indra. These, flowing to you both in cross currents as if eager for you are created for you and flow to you. These are of imperishable strength and vitality and have been filtered through woollen filters of permanent value. The inspiration is even more than permanent, beyond imperishment.

· · ·

1.135.7

अति॑ वायो सस॒तो या॑हि॒ शश्व॑तो॒ यत्र॒ ग्रावा॒ वद॑ति॒ तत्र॑ गच्छतं गृ॒हमिन्द्र॑श्च गच्छतम् । वि सू॒नृता॒ ददृ॑शे॒ रीय॑ते घृ॒तमा पू॒र्णया॑ नि॒युता॑ याथो अध्व॒रमिन्द्र॑श्च याथो अध्व॒रम् ॥

O Vayu, power of speed and knowledge, pass by the idle and the sleeping. Both of you, Indra and Vayu, go to the lovers of permanent values and knowledge, there to the house where the voice of soma chant is heard, where truth and universal law of the universe is celebrated in yajna, and where ghrta flows into the yajna fire. Go to the yajna both of you, to the house of yajna by the chariot drawn by a team of horses in full and perfect form.

· · ·

1.135.8

अत्राह॒ तद्व॑हेथे॒ मध्व॒ आहु॑तिं॒ यम॑श्व॒त्थमु॑प॒तिष्ठ॑न्त जा॒यवो॒ऽस्मे ते स॑न्तु जा॒यवः॑ । सा॒कं गावः॒ सुव॑ते॒ पच्य॑ते॒ यवो॒ न ते॑ वाय॒ उप॑ दस्यन्ति धे॒नवो॒ नाप॑ दस्यन्ति धे॒नवः॑ ॥

O noble Vayu and Indra, breath and powers of omniscience and omnipotence, scholar and commander, bring us here that holy fragrance of knowledge and power to our social yajna by which the rising youth aspiring for victory, sitting round you like nestlings in the sacred peepal tree, may benefit and reach the goal of their ambition. Our cows, our lands, our voices bear fruit. Our grains ripen, our individual and collective endeavours mature and prosper. O Vayu, your gifts of creation never decrease, your words never go waste, nor are they ever stolen away.

· · ·

1.135.9

इ॒मे ये ते॒ सु वा॑यो बा॒ह्वो॑जसो॒ऽन्तर्न॒दी ते॑ प॒तय॑न्त्यु॒क्षणो॒ महि॒ व्राध॑न्त उ॒क्षणः॑ । धन्व॑ञ्चि॒द्ये अ॑ना॒शवो॑ जी॒राश्चि॒दगि॑रौकसः । सूर्य॑स्येव र॒श्मयो॑ दुर्नि॒यन्त॑वो॒ हस्त॑योर्दुर्नि॒यन्त॑वः ॥

These warriors of yours, strong of arm and virile they are. Generous and creative, they sanctify the earth. They fly in space between earth and heaven, and, themselves rising in glory, they add to the glory of earth and heaven. Rising to the stars like the winds they are steady and self-restrained. Impetuous as they are like the winds, their rest and home is beyond words. Untamable they are like the sunbeams, and awful to handle by the hands.

✦ Sukta 136 · 7 verses ✦

1.136.1

प्र सु ज्येष्ठं॑ निचि॒राभ्यां॑ बृ॒हन्नमो॑ ह॒व्यं म॒तिं भ॑रता मृळ॒यद्भ्यां॒ स्वादि॑ष्ठं मृळ॒यद्भ्या॑म् । ता स॒म्राजा॑ घृ॒तासु॑ती य॒ज्ञेय॑ज्ञ॒ उप॑स्तुता । अथै॑नोः क्ष॒त्रं न कुत॑श्च॒नाधृषे॑ देव॒त्वं नू चि॑दा॒धृषे॑ ॥

Take the best and amplest food, and songs and tributes of adoration, holy and most delicious, and offer to the eternal, beneficent and gracious lords Mitra and Varuna, universal friend and adored love of everybody’s choice. Brilliant are they, regaled, revered and worshipped in yajna after yajna of social and sacred programmes with ghrta which they love and consume with delight. Their rule and power of order none can challenge, their brilliance and divinity none can resist.

· · ·

1.136.2

अद॑र्शि गा॒तुरु॒रवे॒ वरी॑यसी॒ पन्था॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ सम॑यंस्त र॒श्मिभि॒श्चक्षु॒र्भग॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॑ । द्यु॒क्षं मि॒त्रस्य॒ साद॑नमर्य॒म्णो वरु॑णस्य च । अथा॑ दधाते बृ॒हदु॒क्थ्यं१॒॑ वय॑ उप॒स्तुत्यं॑ बृ॒हद्वयः॑ ॥

The great earth is lit for a wide range of activities for the day. The path of Rtam, divine truth of Law and yajna is revealed by the rays of the sun, bright as the rays themselves, as the eye of the lord of world’s wealth has opened with the sun. The heavenly seats of Mitra, Aryama and Varuna, lords of love, justice and freedom, are bright on high. The divinities of nature bear and bring for humanity admirable food, health and long age. The noblest of humanity bear and offer holy offerings to the divinities of yajna with faith and holy chants of Vedic hymns.

· · ·

1.136.3

ज्योति॑ष्मती॒मदि॑तिं धार॒यत्क्षि॑तिं॒ स्व॑र्वती॒मा स॑चेते दि॒वेदि॑वे जागृ॒वांसा॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे । ज्योति॑ष्मत्क्ष॒त्रमा॑शाते आदि॒त्या दानु॑न॒स्पती॑ । मि॒त्रस्तयो॒र्वरु॑णो यात॒यज्ज॑नोऽर्य॒मा या॑त॒यज्ज॑नः ॥

Mitra and Varuna, centripetal and centrifugal powers of cosmic energy, which are theAdityas, children of Aditi, infinite and inviolable power of the omnipotent Lord, sustain the beautiful and paradisal indivisible earth joined with the self-luminant heaven day by day constantly. Ever wakeful are they, day in and day out, without a wink of sleep. They are supporters and protectors of the generous and motivated people and they pervade, unite and maintain the grand order of the earth and the world. Aryama, cosmic dynamics, ordains and harmonises the powers of the two, Mitra and Varuna, inspires the human creation and impels the entire universe of the Lord’s creation.

· · ·

1.136.4

अ॒यं मि॒त्राय॒ वरु॑णाय॒ शंत॑मः॒ सोमो॑ भूत्वव॒पाने॒ष्वाभ॑गो दे॒वो दे॒वेष्वाभ॑गः । तं दे॒वासो॑ जुषेरत॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒द्य स॒जोष॑सः । तथा॑ राजाना करथो॒ यदीम॑ह॒ ऋता॑वाना॒ यदीम॑हे ॥

May this Soma, holy peace and brilliant justice of the social order, be most joyous and blissful for Mitra and Varuna, friendly and the best intelligent powers be harbinger of honour and good fortune among saints and sages and in the daily business and yajnic programmes of national activity. May all the noble powers today, observing the common universal Dharma, serve the same peace and justice. May the ruling powers, observing the universal law, accept and do what we ask for, what we, observing the universal law, suggest they ought to do.

· · ·

1.136.5

यो मि॒त्राय॒ वरु॑णा॒यावि॑ध॒ज्जनो॑ऽन॒र्वाणं॒ तं परि॑ पातो॒ अंह॑सो दा॒श्वांसं॒ मर्त॒मंह॑सः । तम॑र्य॒माभि र॑क्षत्यृजू॒यन्त॒मनु॑ व्र॒तम् । उ॒क्थैर्य ए॑नोः परि॒भूष॑ति व्र॒तं स्तोमै॑रा॒भूष॑ति व्र॒तम् ॥

The man who serves Mitra, lord protector and friend of all, and Varuna, lord supreme of love and justice, is generous, free from jealousy and irresistible. The lords save him from sin and protect him against evil and wickedness. Aryama, lord of universal law, gives him all round protection and promotion who is simple and honest in character and behaviour and submits to the divine law and discipline in word and deed, who honours the discipline of Mitra and Varuna with sincere words of thanks and praise and, in obedience to their law, abides by them in creative acts of yajna in regular seasonal performances.

· · ·

1.136.6

नमो॑ दि॒वे बृ॑ह॒ते रोद॑सीभ्यां मि॒त्राय॑ वोचं॒ वरु॑णाय मी॒ळ्हुषे॑ सुमृळी॒काय॑ मी॒ळ्हुषे॑ । इन्द्र॑म॒ग्निमुप॑ स्तुहि द्यु॒क्षम॑र्य॒मणं॒ भग॑म् । ज्योग्जीव॑न्तः प्र॒जया॑ सचेमहि॒ सोम॑स्यो॒ती स॑चेमहि ॥

We offer words of praise and homage in honour of the great heaven of light, the earth and the skies, Mitra, lord of universal friendship, Varuna, lord supreme of love and choice, generous, blissful and virile. O man, sing in praise of Indra, lord of power, Agni, lord of light and leadership, the lord of heavenly light, Aryama, lord of the stars, and Bhaga, lord of wealth and honour. O Lord, living long, we pray, may we be blest with good family and friends, may we enjoy the protection of Soma, lord of peace, light and joy of the world.

· · ·

1.136.7

ऊ॒ती दे॒वानां॑ व॒यमिन्द्र॑वन्तो मंसी॒महि॒ स्वय॑शसो म॒रुद्भिः॑ । अ॒ग्निर्मि॒त्रो वरु॑णः॒ शर्म॑ यंस॒न्तद॑श्याम म॒घवा॑नो व॒यं च॑ ॥

Blest with wealth and power, enjoying fame and glory, now our own, with youth vibrant as the winds, we set our heart and mind on the protection of divinities and the best great powers of humanity. We pray may Agni, lord of light and energy, Mitra, the sun, and Varuna, the moon, grant us peace, comfort and joy of a happy home, and we resolve that, having that bounty and munificence of the divinities, we endeavour to do our Karma and achieve the same.

✦ Sukta 137 · 3 verses ✦

1.137.1

सु॒षु॒मा या॑त॒मद्रि॑भि॒र्गोश्री॑ता मत्स॒रा इ॒मे सोमा॑सो मत्स॒रा इ॒मे । आ रा॑जाना दिविस्पृशास्म॒त्रा ग॑न्त॒मुप॑ नः । इ॒मे वां॑ मित्रावरुणा॒ गवा॑शिरः॒ सोमाः॑ शु॒क्रा गवा॑शिरः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, dear as the very breath of life and motion of our blood, friends of our darling choice, dazzling with splendour and soothing with beauty as the sun and the moon, touching the very heights of heaven in your character and action, come both, come close to us all and join us. You are ours, our saviours and protectors. We distill these soma drinks of life for you. They are refined with soma-stones and replete with the showers of the clouds, mixed with cows milk and ripened with sun-rays. Exciting are these, ecstatic with sensuous joy and sobering with spiritual peace and enlightenment. These soma gifts of life, lustrous and delicious essences of the foods of the earth and light of the sun are for you, Mitra and Varuna, darlings of our love and admiration in faith, constant companions as day and night.

· · ·

1.137.2

इ॒म आ या॑त॒मिन्द॑वः॒ सोमा॑सो॒ दध्या॑शिरः सु॒तासो॒ दध्या॑शिरः । उ॒त वा॑मु॒षसो॑ बु॒धि सा॒कं सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॑ । सु॒तो मि॒त्राय॒ वरु॑णाय पी॒तये॒ चारु॑र्ऋ॒ताय॑ पी॒तये॑ ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, bright friend as the day and highest lord of wisdom, broad as the sky and deep as the night, come, these nectar drops of soma mixed with curds, distilled at the break of dawn and matured with life-giving rays of the sun, are for you both, yes, distilled for the drink of Mitra and Varuna, matured for a soothing, inspiring and enlightening drink of the truth and essence of law of the world of existence for both our friends and wise teachers, ideals of our love and cherished choice and for the dearest lover of truth.

· · ·

1.137.3

तां वां॑ धे॒नुं न वा॑स॒रीमं॒शुं दु॑ह॒न्त्यद्रि॑भिः॒ सोमं॑ दुह॒न्त्यद्रि॑भिः । अ॒स्म॒त्रा ग॑न्त॒मुप॑ नो॒ऽर्वाञ्चा॒ सोम॑पीतये । अ॒यं वां॑ मित्रावरुणा॒ नृभिः॑ सु॒तः सोम॒ आ पी॒तये॑ सु॒तः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, best of friends and highest order of the wise, our people extract and distil the soma drink for you from delicate shoots of soma plant crushed with soma stones and seasoned with showers, yes, they extract this soma as they milk a fertile generous cow. Saviours and protectors of us all, come here close to us upfront for a drink of soma and for protection of the soma joy of the people. Listen both of you graciously, Mitra and Varuna, these somas are distilled by all our people for you, for your drink, delightful drink of soma distilled for you.

✦ Sukta 138 · 4 verses ✦

1.138.1

प्रप्र॑ पू॒ष्णस्तु॑विजा॒तस्य॑ शस्यते महि॒त्वम॑स्य त॒वसो॒ न त॑न्दते स्तो॒त्रम॑स्य॒ न त॑न्दते । अर्चा॑मि सुम्न॒यन्न॒हमन्त्यू॑तिं मयो॒भुव॑म् । विश्व॑स्य॒ यो मन॑ आयुयु॒वे म॒खो दे॒व आ॑युयु॒वे म॒खः ॥

The greatness and grandeur of this Pusha, lord of living power, protection and promotion, renowned among the strongest, resounds all round. None can violate his prowess, none can destroy his knowledge and fame. Dedicated to peace and well-being, I adore him, the very image of strength and protection, embodiment of peace and joy. Lord of social cohesion and holy union in yajna, he unites the minds of all humanity. Brilliant and generous, yajna itself, he joins everything together in existence as one integrated organismic whole.

· · ·

1.138.2

प्र हि त्वा॑ पूषन्नजि॒रं न याम॑नि॒ स्तोमे॑भिः कृ॒ण्व ऋ॒णवो॒ यथा॒ मृध॒ उष्ट्रो॒ न पी॑परो॒ मृधः॑ । हु॒वे यत्त्वा॑ मयो॒भुवं॑ दे॒वं स॒ख्याय॒ मर्त्यः॑ । अ॒स्माक॑माङ्गू॒षान्द्यु॒म्निन॑स्कृधि॒ वाजे॑षु द्यु॒म्निन॑स्कृधि ॥

Pusha, lord of nourishment, health and protection, I celebrate you with songs of praise as a fast and intelligent traveller on the path of life. Just as warriors go to battle and win, just as camels cross the desert, so do you help us get over the battles of life. As I am mortal, I invoke you and pray, lord of peace, indeed an embodiment of peace and joy, brilliant and generous, for help and friendship on the journey. Inspire our prayers and wise men with power and spiritual strength in the serious business of life, give us the wealth of victory in the battles of life.

· · ·

1.138.3

यस्य॑ ते पूषन्त्स॒ख्ये वि॑प॒न्यवः॒ क्रत्वा॑ चि॒त्सन्तोऽव॑सा बुभुज्रि॒र इति॒ क्रत्वा॑ बुभुज्रि॒रे । तामनु॑ त्वा॒ नवी॑यसीं नि॒युतं॑ रा॒य ई॑महे । अहे॑ळमान उरुशंस॒ सरी॑ भव॒ वाजे॑वाजे॒ सरी॑ भव ॥

Pusha, lord giver of health and joy, by virtue of your friendship, being strong of intelligence yajnic performance and self-protection, people enjoy a good self-image and self-esteem. And as thus they esteem themselves by their performance and enjoy life, we pray to you for the latest and countless forms of the wealth of life. Lord of health and joy, kind and favourable, universally adored, accept us as good friends and soldiers and be with us in every battle of life.

· · ·

1.138.4

अ॒स्या ऊ॒ षु ण॒ उप॑ सा॒तये॑ भु॒वोऽहे॑ळमानो ररि॒वाँ अ॑जाश्व श्रवस्य॒ताम॑जाश्व । ओ षु त्वा॑ ववृतीमहि॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्दस्म सा॒धुभिः॑ । न॒हि त्वा॑ पूषन्नति॒मन्य॑ आघृणे॒ न ते॑ स॒ख्यम॑पह्नु॒वे ॥

Pusha, lord of nature and fastest motion, lord of goats and horses, we pray, be close with us for the gift of this wealth and intelligence, be kind and generous, richest of the masters of food, wealth and power. With our best and holiest songs of praise and prayer, O lord of riches and generosity, destroyer of suffering, we pray, we may always abide by you. Lord of light and showers of nourishment, we never offend your majesty, we never neglect or disregard your friendship. We are with you, pray be with us.

✦ Sukta 139 · 11 verses ✦

1.139.1

अस्तु॒ श्रौष॑ट् पु॒रो अ॒ग्निं धि॒या द॑ध॒ आ नु तच्छर्धो॑ दि॒व्यं वृ॑णीमह इन्द्रवा॒यू वृ॑णीमहे । यद्ध॑ क्रा॒णा वि॒वस्व॑ति॒ नाभा॑ सं॒दायि॒ नव्य॑सी । अध॒ प्र सू न॒ उप॑ यन्तु धी॒तयो॑ दे॒वाँ अच्छा॒ न धी॒तयः॑ ॥

May my voice be heard! I have realised the energy and power of Agni, light and fire, in full with my intellect and understanding. Then we opt for the divine force and power of nature and move on to the study and application of the power of wind and electricity which, active at the centre of the sun, give us the newest and latest form of energy and power. May all our intellectual efforts and intelligential vision reach the forces of nature and analyse and discover their energy and powers. Let us reach there well with all our intellect and imagination and let our efforts benefit the noblest humanity.

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1.139.2

यद्ध॒ त्यन्मि॑त्रावरुणावृ॒तादध्या॑द॒दाथे॒ अनृ॑तं॒ स्वेन॑ म॒न्युना॒ दक्ष॑स्य॒ स्वेन॑ म॒न्युना॑ । यु॒वोरि॒त्थाधि॒ सद्म॒स्वप॑श्याम हिर॒ण्यय॑म् । धी॒भिश्च॒न मन॑सा॒ स्वेभि॑र॒क्षभिः॒ सोम॑स्य॒ स्वेभि॑र॒क्षभिः॑ ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, whatever you win and achieve by virtue of your love of goodness and dedication to Truth over untruth with your own valour and passion and with the expert’s own action and passion, we see over and above everything, the same way, shining like gold everywhere in your own homes, and we pray we too may win and achieve the same lustre of truth over untruth by virtue of our understanding, thought and vision and the imagination of Soma, lord lover of peace and beauty.

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1.139.3

यु॒वां स्तोमे॑भिर्देव॒यन्तो॑ अश्विनाऽऽश्रा॒वय॑न्त इव॒ श्लोक॑मा॒यवो॑ यु॒वां ह॒व्याभ्या॒३॒॑यवः॑ । यु॒वोर्विश्वा॒ अधि॒ श्रियः॒ पृक्ष॑श्च विश्ववेदसा । प्रु॒षा॒यन्ते॑ वां प॒वयो॑ हिर॒ण्यये॒ रथे॑ दस्रा हिर॒ण्यये॑ ॥

Ashvins, lords and harbingers of light and the light of wealth and knowledge, mortal men loving and dedicated to you, celebrating your divinity with words of praise and singing songs to you in your honour, do homage to you with holy offerings. Lords of universal knowledge, yours are the wealth and beauty and all resources of the world you rule over. Generous lords and protectors, graceful in your chariot, the golden wheels of the chariot shower and sanctify you with the golden beams of radiance.

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1.139.4

अचे॑ति दस्रा॒ व्यू१॒॑नाक॑मृण्वथो यु॒ञ्जते॑ वां रथ॒युजो॒ दिवि॑ष्टिष्वध्व॒स्मानो॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु । अधि॑ वां॒ स्थाम॑ ब॒न्धुरे॒ रथे॑ दस्रा हिर॒ण्यये॑ । प॒थेव॒ यन्ता॑वनु॒शास॑ता॒ रजोऽञ्ज॑सा॒ शास॑ता॒ रजः॑ ॥

Ashvins, lords of grace and destroyers of suffering, you travel by the paradisal paths of joy, it is universally known, Users of the chariot flying by paths of the skies on high join you, they fly in the sky without losing height. Generous lords of light, let us also join you on your golden and stoutly structured chariot. Going on high as on highways of the earth, you are rulers of the skies, you rule the skies with your strength and speed of motion.

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1.139.5

शची॑भिर्नः शचीवसू॒ दिवा॒ नक्तं॑ दशस्यतम् । मा वां॑ रा॒तिरुप॑ दस॒त्कदा॑ च॒नास्मद्रा॒तिः कदा॑ च॒न ॥

Ashvins, lords of noble action and givers of wealth by noble action, for the noble actions of ours, bless us with the gifts of wealth day and night. We pray, may your generosity never wear away from us. May our charity too never forsake us.

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1.139.6

वृष॑न्निन्द्र वृष॒पाणा॑स॒ इन्द॑व इ॒मे सु॒ता अद्रि॑षुतास उ॒द्भिद॒स्तुभ्यं॑ सु॒तास॑ उ॒द्भिदः॑ । ते त्वा॑ मदन्तु दा॒वने॑ म॒हे चि॒त्राय॒ राध॑से । गी॒र्भिर्गि॑र्वाहः॒ स्तव॑मान॒ आ ग॑हि सुमृळी॒को न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Indra, lord of power and honour, virile and generous, these sparkling draughts of soma worthy of the mighty generous and heroic, extracted with soma stones, distilled from the vapours of the clouds, bubbling and exciting they are, are distilled for you. May they be delightful to you, generous giver, great, wonderful, and thriving lord of accomplishment and success. Lord adorable in the holiest words, celebrated in song, giver of bliss, come, come to us and bless!

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1.139.7

ओ षू णो॑ अग्ने शृणुहि॒ त्वमी॑ळि॒तो दे॒वेभ्यो॑ ब्रवसि य॒ज्ञिये॑भ्यो॒ राज॑भ्यो य॒ज्ञिये॑भ्यः । यद्ध॒ त्यामङ्गि॑रोभ्यो धे॒नुं दे॑वा॒ अद॑त्तन । वि तां दु॑ह्रे अर्य॒मा क॒र्तरि॒ सचाँ॑ ए॒ष तां वे॑द मे॒ सचा॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, knowledge and leadership, lord adorable and adored, listen graciously to our word: you speak to the brilliant and revered men of knowledge and yajna, you speak to the illustrious men of governance and administration. Say this: O Devas, divine powers, whatever word of knowledge and life’s vitality you impart to the scholars of energy and the science of life, that very knowledge the specialist of mind, will and emotion, Aryama, has distilled for his co-worker, the man of action, and the same this friend and colleague of mine, the judge, knows for practical application.

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1.139.8

मो षु वो॑ अ॒स्मद॒भि तानि॒ पौंस्या॒ सना॑ भूवन्द्यु॒म्नानि॒ मोत जा॑रिषुर॒स्मत्पु॒रोत जा॑रिषुः । यद्व॑श्चि॒त्रं यु॒गेयु॑गे॒ नव्यं॒ घोषा॒दम॑र्त्यम् । अ॒स्मासु॒ तन्म॑रुतो॒ यच्च॑ दु॒ष्टरं॑ दिधृ॒ता यच्च॑ दु॒ष्टर॑म् ॥

O Maruts, brave heroes of earth and space vibrant as waves of energy, may your ancient and eternal powers and potentials and ours, and our honour and fame never wear away outmoded, and never forsake us. Whatever is yours, wondrous and excellent, ancient and yet ever new from age to age, what is imperishable from the eternal Voice and your proclamations, fix that within us deep in the mind, so it is difficult to surpass, unchallengeable.

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1.139.9

द॒ध्यङ्ह॑ मे ज॒नुषं॒ पूर्वो॒ अङ्गि॑राः प्रि॒यमे॑धः॒ कण्वो॒ अत्रि॒र्मनु॑र्विदु॒स्ते मे॒ पूर्वे॒ मनु॑र्विदुः । तेषां॑ दे॒वेष्वाय॑तिर॒स्माकं॒ तेषु॒ नाभ॑यः । तेषां॑ प॒देन॒ मह्या न॑मे गि॒रेन्द्रा॒ग्नी आ न॑मे गि॒रा ॥

Dadhyang, the ideal man of virtue who approaches men of knowledge and wisdom with reverence,Angira, the scholar of life-energy and science, Priyamedha, the visionary who loves intellectual advancement, Kanva, the high-priest of intelligence, Atri, the saint who has conquered threefold pain and suffering, Manu, the philosopher of thought and contemplation, all these perfect souls, realised souls of wisdom all, know my rebirth into the state of knowledge and refinement, yes, they know. Our reach is unto the centre of their holy presence, the centre hold of our identity is there. In their tradition, at every step, with every word I speak of exalted speech, I adore Indra and Agni, lord of honour and power, lord of light and knowledge, I bow in thought, word and deed.

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1.139.10

होता॑ यक्षद्व॒निनो॑ वन्त॒ वार्यं॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्यजति वे॒न उ॒क्षभिः॑ पुरु॒वारे॑भिरु॒क्षभिः॑ । ज॒गृ॒भ्मा दू॒र आ॑दिशं॒ श्लोक॒मद्रे॒रध॒ त्मना॑ । अधा॑रयदर॒रिन्दा॑नि सु॒क्रतुः॑ पु॒रू सद्मा॑नि सु॒क्रतुः॑ ॥

Let the performer of yajna offer oblations in honour of the divinities of nature and humanity. Let the brilliant man of knowledge honour and serve the virtuous man worthy of choice. Let Brhaspati, scholar of knowledge and master of the speech of knowledge, loving and kind, associate with generous and virtuous people and, with all these noble sacrificing people, engage in yajna, socially creative work. Let us all, with equal mind and soul, hear and internalise what words of truth are spoken even far away as we enjoy the sound of soma stones and the soothing showers of clouds. Let the man of holy intelligence and action enjoy the showers of peace, prosperity and joy, and may the man of noble yajna enjoy many many homes and havens of his choice.

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1.139.11

ये दे॑वासो दि॒व्येका॑दश॒ स्थ पृ॑थि॒व्यामध्येका॑दश॒ स्थ । अ॒प्सु॒क्षितो॑ महि॒नैका॑दश॒ स्थ ते दे॑वासो य॒ज्ञमि॒मं जु॑षध्वम् ॥

O divinities, brilliant and generous powers of the Divine, existing and active by your great power and potential, ten pranic life energies and the individual soul, abiding in the heavenly regions of light, and the same eleven existing on the earth, and the same eleven abiding in the waters and the skies, may all these universal powers come and join this yajna of our life, and help us to extend it wide and high.

✦ Sukta 140 · 13 verses ✦

1.140.1

वे॒दि॒षदे॑ प्रि॒यधा॑माय सु॒द्युते॑ धा॒सिमि॑व॒ प्र भ॑रा॒ योनि॑म॒ग्नये॑ । वस्त्रे॑णेव वासया॒ मन्म॑ना॒ शुचिं॑ ज्यो॒तीर॑थं शु॒क्रव॑र्णं तमो॒हन॑म् ॥

As you bring holy food for the holy fire burning bright in the vedi, lovely seat of its choice, so for Agni, with a sincere mind and soul, prepare a happy home and a brilliant chariot of light, pure, blazing white dispelling darkness, and cover it safe as with a cloth, beautifully and fragrantly.

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1.140.2

अ॒भि द्वि॒जन्मा॑ त्रि॒वृदन्न॑मृज्यते संवत्स॒रे वा॑वृधे ज॒ग्धमीं॒ पुनः॑ । अ॒न्यस्या॒सा जि॒ह्वया॒ जेन्यो॒ वृषा॒ न्य१॒॑न्येन॑ व॒निनो॑ मृष्ट वार॒णः ॥

To the twice born scholar threefold food of jnana (knowledge), karma (action) and Upasana (prayer and meditation) is brought and gifted which, received in the session and assimilated, grows manifold in the session. By the mouth and tongue (speech) of another, the teacher, and with the mouth and tongue of others (his colleagues), through discussion, the strong and victorious scholar warding off difficulties and challenges in the company of others refines and shines all those who love and admire him.

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1.140.3

कृ॒ष्ण॒प्रुतौ॑ वेवि॒जे अ॑स्य स॒क्षिता॑ उ॒भा त॑रेते अ॒भि मा॒तरा॒ शिशु॑म् । प्रा॒चाजि॑ह्वं ध्व॒सय॑न्तं तृषु॒च्युत॒मा साच्यं॒ कुप॑यं॒ वर्ध॑नं पि॒तुः ॥

Both the mothers of this Agni, i.e., the mother and the guru-mother of the scholar at school, both equal in ambition, rising to the clouds in hope, vibrate in ecstasy like the two arani woods which produce the fire, and look forward to the success of their child speaking boldly, destroying the darkness of ignorance and acquiring knowledge, being reborn fast, worthy of the company, joy and honour of his father, but carefully to be guarded at every critical step.

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1.140.4

मु॒मु॒क्ष्वो॒३॒॑ मन॑वे मानवस्य॒ते र॑घु॒द्रुवः॑ कृ॒ष्णसी॑तास ऊ॒ जुवः॑ । अ॒स॒म॒ना अ॑जि॒रासो॑ रघु॒ष्यदो॒ वात॑जूता॒ उप॑ युज्यन्त आ॒शवः॑ ॥

All lovers of liberation, dynamic pioneers, explorers of the unknown paths of the world, smartest, diverse minded, fast and wind-inspired, shooting to the goal at the speed of light join on the yajna vedi with the man of thought for the man of self-esteem and honour.

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1.140.5

आद॑स्य॒ ते ध्व॒सय॑न्तो॒ वृथे॑रते कृ॒ष्णमभ्वं॒ महि॒ वर्पः॒ करि॑क्रतः । यत्सीं॑ म॒हीम॒वनिं॒ प्राभि मर्मृ॑शदभिश्व॒सन्त्स्त॒नय॒न्नेति॒ नान॑दत् ॥

When thisAgni, mighty hero of light and power, goes forward blowing, roaring, thundering and striking, covering and vitalising this great earth all round, then those warriors of his, men of action, advance at will destroying the monstrous ways of darkness and creating mighty forms of life and social structure.

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1.140.6

भूष॒न्न योऽधि॑ ब॒भ्रूषु॒ नम्न॑ते॒ वृषे॑व॒ पत्नी॑र॒भ्ये॑ति॒ रोरु॑वत् । ओ॒जा॒यमा॑नस्त॒न्व॑श्च शुम्भते भी॒मो न शृङ्गा॑ दविधाव दु॒र्गृभिः॑ ॥

Graceful among the old sages, he excels, doing reverence and homage bowing down. Like a virile husband going to meet his wife, he moves and speaks loud and bold among creative women dedicated to pious and holy yajna. Like a man of light and power, he appears in brilliant form. Like an awful lion difficult to overcome, he goes about majestically commanding all with his knowledge and power at the peak.

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1.140.7

स सं॒स्तिरो॑ वि॒ष्टिरः॒ सं गृ॑भायति जा॒नन्ने॒व जा॑न॒तीर्नित्य॒ आ श॑ये । पुन॑र्वर्धन्ते॒ अपि॑ यन्ति दे॒व्य॑म॒न्यद्वर्पः॑ पि॒त्रोः कृ॑ण्वते॒ सचा॑ ॥

Covering or expanding, Agni, the brilliant scholar, covers and seizes things and subjects well, intensively as well as extensively, and vitalizes them. Knowing well, he always associates with those who are knowledgeable, and they, in association with him, growing higher and higher, assume a divine from and thus create a personality different from the personality of their birth.

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1.140.8

तम॒ग्रुवः॑ के॒शिनीः॒ सं हि रे॑भि॒र ऊ॒र्ध्वास्त॑स्थुर्म॒म्रुषीः॒ प्रायवे॒ पुनः॑ । तासां॑ ज॒रां प्र॑मु॒ञ्चन्ने॑ति॒ नान॑द॒दसुं॒ परं॑ ज॒नय॑ञ्जी॒वमस्तृ॑तम् ॥

The leading lights speak of Agni like flames of fire and sing of him, and if they ever go down weak and enervated, they look up to him for fresh life, and Agni, releasing them from their weakness and enervation and recreating a high order of fresh vitality and new life, helps them stay up on high as before and goes forward roaring and crackling as ever.

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1.140.9

अ॒धी॒वा॒सं परि॑ मा॒तू रि॒हन्नह॑ तुवि॒ग्रेभिः॒ सत्व॑भिर्याति॒ वि ज्रयः॑ । वयो॒ दध॑त्प॒द्वते॒ रेरि॑ह॒त्सदानु॒ श्येनी॑ सचते वर्त॒नीरह॑ ॥

Touching and playing with the upper green garments of mother earth, going fast with resounding living beings, bearing foods and health and vitality for the moving multitudes on earth, always following the paths it came by, Agni goes on leaving behind a reddish white trail of its visit.

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1.140.10

अ॒स्माक॑मग्ने म॒घव॑त्सु दीदि॒ह्यध॒ श्वसी॑वान्वृष॒भो दमू॑नाः । अ॒वास्या॒ शिशु॑मतीरदीदे॒र्वर्मे॑व यु॒त्सु प॑रि॒जर्भु॑राणः ॥

Agni, shine among our great and powerful people, and then, breathing, panting, blowing and bellowing like a bull, overflowing with energy, commanding and restraining, dear to the families but blazing in the battles, protect women, children and the homes like an armour, throw out the enemy and shine and brighten up life all around.

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1.140.11

इ॒दम॑ग्ने॒ सुधि॑तं॒ दुर्धि॑ता॒दधि॑ प्रि॒यादु॑ चि॒न्मन्म॑नः॒ प्रेयो॑ अस्तु ते । यत्ते॑ शु॒क्रं त॒न्वो॒३॒॑ रोच॑ते॒ शुचि॒ तेना॒स्मभ्यं॑ वनसे॒ रत्न॒मा त्वम् ॥

Agni, may this mind and song of ours composed with love and dedicated in faith be dearer to you than the dearest song composed with the greatest effort for you, and may the splendour of your person which blazes pure and sacred be auspicious for us by which you bring us precious jewels of life.

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1.140.12

रथा॑य॒ नाव॑मु॒त नो॑ गृ॒हाय॒ नित्या॑रित्रां प॒द्वतीं॑ रास्यग्ने । अ॒स्माकं॑ वी॒राँ उ॒त नो॑ म॒घोनो॒ जनाँ॑श्च॒ या पा॒रया॒च्छर्म॒ या च॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, fire and knowledge, for our chariot-car and for our home, give us the power fitted with life-time mechanism for propulsion, steering and measuring the depth of water, a transport which may take our brave heroes, leaders of power and men of wealth, and the people across the rivers and seas and which may provide for peace, protection and a comfortable house.

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1.140.13

अ॒भी नो॑ अग्न उ॒क्थमिज्जु॑गुर्या॒ द्यावा॒क्षामा॒ सिन्ध॑वश्च॒ स्वगू॑र्ताः । गव्यं॒ यव्यं॒ यन्तो॑ दी॒र्घाहेषं॒ वर॑मरु॒ण्यो॑ वरन्त ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, accept our song and raise our sacred action so that the heaven and earth, the rivers and seas and the dawns, all self-moved, may be favourable to us and give us our choice wealth of cows and plenty of milk, lot of food grains and the best of jewels for long long days to come for a full and vibrant life.

✦ Sukta 141 · 13 verses ✦

1.141.1

बळि॒त्था तद्वपु॑षे धायि दर्श॒तं दे॒वस्य॒ भर्गः॒ सह॑सो॒ यतो॒ जनि॑ । यदी॒मुप॒ ह्वर॑ते॒ साध॑ते म॒तिर्ऋ॒तस्य॒ धेना॑ अनयन्त स॒स्रुतः॑ ॥

Truly thus, by the grace of Divinity, is radiated and received the wonderful splendour of Agni’s glory, and therein lies the seed, the birth, the very life of the strength and victory of our soul’s existence: therefrom is the light radiated and received for the beauty of our embodied soul so that even if our mind ever deviates from truth, the voices of Law and Truth of Eternity ever resounding, ever flowing with currents of nature’s light, call us back to the right path and, thus beatified, our mind achieves the success we want.

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1.141.2

पृ॒क्षो वपुः॑ पितु॒मान्नित्य॒ आ श॑ये द्वि॒तीय॒मा स॒प्तशि॑वासु मा॒तृषु॑ । तृ॒तीय॑मस्य वृष॒भस्य॑ दो॒हसे॒ दश॑प्रमतिं जनयन्त॒ योष॑णः ॥

The eternal Agni, which nourishes and matures the body of life with food, lives in the physical body (as vital heat and abides with the earth). The second form of it abides in the seven motherly forms of nature (which are the seven lokas bhuh, bhuvah, svah, maha, janah, tapah and satyam), which empowers seven grades of natural energy, and matures the seven grades of natural life. The third form of this generous divinity which matures and distils the essences of natural life abides in the sun. And the form which energises ten intelligential faculties (five senses of hearing, touch, sigh, taste and smell, mana or mind, buddhi or intellect, chitta or memory and imagination, ahankara or sense of identity consciousness, and the soul, the dynamic spirit), young mothers with love bring into the living world.

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1.141.3

निर्यदीं॑ बु॒ध्नान्म॑हि॒षस्य॒ वर्प॑स ईशा॒नासः॒ शव॑सा॒ क्रन्त॑ सू॒रयः॑ । यदी॒मनु॑ प्र॒दिवो॒ मध्व॑ आध॒वे गुहा॒ सन्तं॑ मात॒रिश्वा॑ मथा॒यति॑ ॥

Brilliant scholars of commanding eminence from the middle regions of the light of the great sun collect the vitality and convert it into ripening waves for the maturity of grain. Similarly the vision of the yogis collects the spiritual vitality of the honey sweets of heavenly light unto itself in communion and the pranic energy churns the latent spirit in the depths of the soul to join it with the heavenly light.

· · ·

1.141.4

प्र यत्पि॒तुः प॑र॒मान्नी॒यते॒ पर्या पृ॒क्षुधो॑ वी॒रुधो॒ दंसु॑ रोहति । उ॒भा यद॑स्य ज॒नुषं॒ यदिन्व॑त॒ आदिद्यवि॑ष्ठो अभवद्घृ॒णा शुचिः॑ ॥

The food and nourishment which is collected, received and assimilated from the highest light of heaven and the middle regions wonderfully rises and grows into the hungry herbs and trees and vegetation. And when both nourish the yajamana and his progeny, the person grows most youthful, kind and compassionate, and brilliant and pure.

· · ·

1.141.5

आदिन्मा॒तॄरावि॑श॒द्यास्वा शुचि॒रहिं॑स्यमान उर्वि॒या वि वा॑वृधे । अनु॒ यत्पूर्वा॒ अरु॑हत्सना॒जुवो॒ नि नव्य॑सी॒ष्वव॑रासु धावते ॥

In the course of evolution, Agni, the vitality of life, which enters the mother forms of nature, now grows, pure, brilliant and unhurt, with the soil of its germination and generation, and then, the one which grew on the earlier one with the earlier forms of life, self-impulsive with the eternal will to live, now lives, vibrates and runs in the latest and most delicate mother forms.

· · ·

1.141.6

आदिद्धोता॑रं वृणते॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु॒ भग॑मिव पपृचा॒नास॑ ऋञ्जते । दे॒वान्यत्क्रत्वा॑ म॒ज्मना॑ पुरुष्टु॒तो मर्तं॒ शंसं॑ वि॒श्वधा॒ वेति॒ धाय॑से ॥

Yajnic lovers, admirers and worshippers of Agni, light and life of the world, choose, invoke and invite this lord of life and yajnic evolution of nature and humanity in their cherished holy projects and offer hospitality and gifts of oblations to it as to the lord of world wealth and power. And then this lord, worshipped and favourable by pious acts and power joins the noble humanity in many many ways to the devas, divine and generous powers of the universe, for sustenance and progress under the divine eye.

· · ·

1.141.7

वि यदस्था॑द्यज॒तो वात॑चोदितो ह्वा॒रो न वक्वा॑ ज॒रणा॒ अना॑कृतः । तस्य॒ पत्म॑न्द॒क्षुषः॑ कृ॒ष्णजं॑हसः॒ शुचि॑जन्मनो॒ रज॒ आ व्य॑ध्वनः ॥

When Agni, light and fire of life, conducting the yajna of existence, inspired and impelled by winds, blazing eloquent like a poet singing in praise of his patron undisturbed, rises to a state of stability and omnipresence, then the path of this blazing power going over areas of darkness, pure and immaculate by birth shining everywhere across the wide ways of space is worthy of praise and following by all humanity.

· · ·

1.141.8

रथो॒ न या॒तः शिक्व॑भिः कृ॒तो द्यामङ्गे॑भिररु॒षेभि॑रीयते । आद॑स्य॒ ते कृ॒ष्णासो॑ दक्षि सू॒रयः॒ शूर॑स्येव त्वे॒षथा॑दीषते॒ वयः॑ ॥

As a chariot created by scientists and driven by expert drivers flies across the sky with the brilliant parts of the machine, so does Agni rise across space with its blazing flames of fire. Lord of life and light, enlighten the ignorant, light the paths of darkness, and strengthen your warriors because, otherwise, at the blaze of fiery violence like the terror of a demonic hero, life flies away

· · ·

1.141.9

त्वया॒ ह्य॑ग्ने॒ वरु॑णो धृ॒तव्र॑तो मि॒त्रः शा॑श॒द्रे अ॑र्य॒मा सु॒दान॑वः । यत्सी॒मनु॒ क्रतु॑ना वि॒श्वथा॑ वि॒भुर॒रान्न ने॒मिः प॑रि॒भूरजा॑यथाः ॥

Agni, lord of light, life and power, it is by you that Varuna, the sea as the sky holds on to its law, Mitra, the sun, dispels the darkness, and Aryama, the abundant and dynamic nature and the philanthropic humanity are creative and generous. For the reason of your nature and divine action, you are universal, omnipresent, and omnipotent over all and you manifest as immanent and concurrent just like the rim of a wheel holding the spokes together running and working together.

· · ·

1.141.10

त्वम॑ग्ने शशमा॒नाय॑ सुन्व॒ते रत्नं॑ यविष्ठ दे॒वता॑तिमिन्वसि । तं त्वा॒ नु नव्यं॑ सहसो युवन्व॒यं भगं॒ न का॒रे म॑हिरत्न धीमहि ॥

Agni, ever young beyond age, for the creative man of active piety and worship, you bring the universal wealth of Divinity in meditation. Lord of power and youth, wealth and value of the universe, eternal and ever new, such as you are, in every act of our life we worship you as the lord and master of the power and glory of the universe.

· · ·

1.141.11

अ॒स्मे र॒यिं न स्वर्थं॒ दमू॑नसं॒ भगं॒ दक्षं॒ न प॑पृचासि धर्ण॒सिम् । र॒श्मीँरि॑व॒ यो यम॑ति॒ जन्म॑नी उ॒भे दे॒वानां॒ शंस॑मृ॒त आ च॑ सु॒क्रतुः॑ ॥

Bountifully you create and augment for us the wealth of life good enough for success and value with honour and discipline of mind and character. Give us the expert as well as the man of wealth and power to stabilize and maintain the balance of power and discipline, law and freedom, individual and society. Lord controller of both our life here and hereafter like the rays of light, you who hold the reins of our thought and action like the reins of a chariot, lord and master of all noble acts of yajna, pray come and accept the homage of worship of the dedicated people.

· · ·

1.141.12

उ॒त नः॑ सु॒द्योत्मा॑ जी॒राश्वो॒ होता॑ म॒न्द्रः शृ॑णवच्च॒न्द्रर॑थः । स नो॑ नेष॒न्नेष॑तमै॒रमू॑रो॒ऽग्निर्वा॒मं सु॑वि॒तं वस्यो॒ अच्छ॑ ॥

And Agni, lord of divine light, faster than light and omnipresent, generous giver and performer of universal yajna, blissful master of the golden chariot of existence may, we pray, listen to our song of celebration. May the lord omnipotent, inviolable, ever loving and lovable, lead us well to the good life and good fortune by the most virtuous thoughts and actions of faith and piety.

· · ·

1.141.13

अस्ता॑व्य॒ग्निः शिमी॑वद्भिर॒र्कैः साम्रा॑ज्याय प्रत॒रं दधा॑नः । अ॒मी च॒ ये म॒घवा॑नो व॒यं च॒ मिहं॒ न सूरो॒ अति॒ निष्ट॑तन्युः ॥

Thus is Agni, wielding power and splendour for world governance, praised with songs of success and thankfulness. And thus the yajakas and we, celebrants all blest with wealth and power by the Lord’s grace, raise our songs of adoration to the skies loud and bold as thunder of the clouds under power of the sun.

✦ Sukta 142 · 13 verses ✦

1.142.1

समि॑द्धो अग्न॒ आ व॑ह दे॒वाँ अ॒द्य य॒तस्रु॑चे । तन्तुं॑ तनुष्व पू॒र्व्यं सु॒तसो॑माय दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Agni, light of life and life of the universe, the fire is burning. Bring the devas here and now, let the sages come and let nature bless the yajamana who has raised the ladle to offer the oblation. Expand and continue the ancient line of yajnic action and progeny for the generous yajamana who has distilled the soma for the sages and for you.

· · ·

1.142.2

घृ॒तव॑न्त॒मुप॑ मासि॒ मधु॑मन्तं तनूनपात् । य॒ज्ञं विप्र॑स्य॒ माव॑तः शशमा॒नस्य॑ दा॒शुषः॑ ॥

Agni, light and spirit of yajna, protector and preserver of the body, you are the measure of yajna and with your presence bless the ghrta-sprinkled honeysweet fragrant yajna of the adoring generous sagely yajamana faithful like me.

· · ·

1.142.3

शुचिः॑ पाव॒को अद्भु॑तो॒ मध्वा॑ य॒ज्ञं मि॑मिक्षति । नरा॒शंस॒स्त्रिरा दि॒वो दे॒वो दे॒वेषु॑ य॒ज्ञियः॑ ॥

Agni, pure and purifier, wonderful of nature, character and action, is keen to sprinkle yajna thrice with honey-sweets of fragrance from the light of heaven. Adorable is he among men, brilliant and generous among the nobilities of humanity, worthy of company and honour at yajnas.

· · ·

1.142.4

ई॒ळि॒तो अ॑ग्न॒ आ व॒हेन्द्रं॑ चि॒त्रमि॒ह प्रि॒यम् । इ॒यं हि त्वा॑ म॒तिर्ममाच्छा॑ सुजिह्व व॒च्यते॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of life and the world, praised and prayed at yajna, bring us here and now Indra, wondrous, versatile and dear lord of honour and power, and bless us with wealth and prosperity. Lord of

blissful voice and word, thus does my mind and understanding speak well of you and to you in adoration and prayer.

· · ·

1.142.5

स्तृ॒णा॒नासो॑ य॒तस्रु॑चो ब॒र्हिर्य॒ज्ञे स्व॑ध्व॒रे । वृ॒ञ्जे दे॒वव्य॑चस्तम॒मिन्द्रा॑य॒ शर्म॑ स॒प्रथः॑ ॥

The organisers of great yajnas of love and nonviolence collect the holy grass, spread it on the vedi and hold the ladle in hand for the oblation in yajna in honour of Indra for the sake of power, wealth and knowledge. And they build the largest home for the scholars of divinity and, through yajna, divest themselves of misery and poverty.

· · ·

1.142.6

वि श्र॑यन्तामृता॒वृधः॑ प्र॒यै दे॒वेभ्यो॑ म॒हीः । पा॒व॒कासः॑ पुरु॒स्पृहो॒ द्वारो॑ दे॒वीर॑स॒श्चतः॑ ॥

In order to rise to the brilliance of the sages and towards the heights of divinity, take recource to the veteran pioneers of Truth, pure purifiers of the spirit, and the great and distinctive voices of the sages universally loved and wanted, and join their paths of action like entering the doors of Divinity.

· · ·

1.142.7

आ भन्द॑माने॒ उपा॑के॒ नक्तो॒षासा॑ सु॒पेश॑सा । य॒ह्वी ऋ॒तस्य॑ मा॒तरा॒ सीद॑तां ब॒र्हिरा सु॒मत् ॥

Bright and blissful cyclic sisters, night and day, both beautiful, moving majestic, mothers of love and faith in Truth Divine may, we pray, come and grace our great house rejoicing, and bless our yajna with dignity and devotion.

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1.142.8

म॒न्द्रजि॑ह्वा जुगु॒र्वणी॒ होता॑रा॒ दैव्या॑ क॒वी । य॒ज्ञं नो॑ यक्षतामि॒मं सि॒ध्रम॒द्य दि॑वि॒स्पृश॑म् ॥

May the divine poets and visionaries, holy yajakas, soft and sweet of sacred speech and eloquence, come and join us today in this auspicious yajna of ours, the fragrance of which, with their chant, rises to the heavens.

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1.142.9

शुचि॑र्दे॒वेष्वर्पि॑ता॒ होत्रा॑ म॒रुत्सु॒ भार॑ती । इळा॒ सर॑स्वती म॒ही ब॒र्हिः सी॑दन्तु य॒ज्ञियाः॑ ॥

Bright and pure, delivered and entrusted to the divine visionaries and dynamic Maruts, vibrations of universal mind and brilliant teachers, holy media of communication between the divine and human, Bharati, mother speech of the nation for sustenance, Ila, divine articulation of Omniscience, Sarasvati, everflowing Word of the Veda, and Mahi, mother spirit of the earth, all these, we pray, may grace our house of yajna for honour and adoration and for mutual discourse.

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1.142.10

तन्न॑स्तु॒रीप॒मद्भु॑तं पु॒रु वारं॑ पु॒रु त्मना॑ । त्वष्टा॒ पोषा॑य॒ वि ष्य॑तु रा॒ये नाभा॑ नो अस्म॒युः ॥

That wealth of life, knowledge, power and honour, ever flowing, all protective and self-preserving, which is the universal choice and conscientious love of all, may Tvashta, creator of life forms and human institutions, the very centre-hold of our life and society, lord our own, create for our sustenance, prosperity and progress.

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1.142.11

अ॒व॒सृ॒जन्नुप॒ त्मना॑ दे॒वान्य॑क्षि वनस्पते । अ॒ग्निर्ह॒व्या सु॑षूदति दे॒वो दे॒वेषु॒ मेधि॑रः ॥

Vanaspati, lord of light and sunbeams, with your heart and soul you join the devas, seekers of light and knowledge of divinity, giving them the enlightenment they love and desire, just as Agni, brilliant light and life of the universe, refulgent among the lights of nature and humanity, receives and refines the materials consumed and recreated in the yajnic evolution of nature and humanity.

· · ·

1.142.12

पू॒ष॒ण्वते॑ म॒रुत्व॑ते वि॒श्वदे॑वाय वा॒यवे॑ । स्वाहा॑ गाय॒त्रवे॑पसे ह॒व्यमिन्द्रा॑य कर्तन ॥

Homage of honour and adoration to the lord of nourishment, sustenance and advancement of life, to the lord of energy and movement onward, to the lord of the universe and ideal of humanity, and to Vayu, lord of the breath of life and spirit adorable. Do homage with offer of food and service to the saviour lord beatific of blessed form and to Indra, lord of honour, power and knowledge.

· · ·

1.142.13

स्वाहा॑कृता॒न्या ग॒ह्युप॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ वी॒तये॑ । इन्द्रा ग॑हि श्रु॒धी हवं॒ त्वां ह॑वन्ते अध्व॒रे ॥

Indra, lord of light and life, knowledge, power and honour, come close to our yajna and receive our homage of worship and prayer, gifts and service in yajna for the sake of protection and well-being. Come lord, listen to the prayers and presentations made in faith. All the devotees invoke, invite and honour you in the yajna of love and non-violence and in their conduct and behaviour.

✦ Sukta 143 · 8 verses ✦

1.143.1

प्र तव्य॑सीं॒ नव्य॑सीं धी॒तिम॒ग्नये॑ वा॒चो म॒तिं सह॑सः सू॒नवे॑ भरे । अ॒पां नपा॒द्यो वसु॑भिः स॒ह प्रि॒यो होता॑ पृथि॒व्यां न्यसी॑ददृ॒त्वियः॑ ॥

I bear and offer the highest, latest, joyously celebrative and most sacred worshipful homage in words of adoration to Agni, created of might, who is the grand child of waters of the skies, dearest favourite with the Vasu order of scholars, receiver and performer in yajna corresponding to the seasons and abiding with the earth.

· · ·

1.143.2

स जाय॑मानः पर॒मे व्यो॑मन्या॒विर॒ग्निर॑भवन्मात॒रिश्व॑ने । अ॒स्य क्रत्वा॑ समिधा॒नस्य॑ म॒ज्मना॒ प्र द्यावा॑ शो॒चिः पृ॑थि॒वी अ॑रोचयत् ॥

That refulgent Agni born of the highest cosmic space manifested itself in energy currents in the middle region of space in the skies. It is by the action and force of this blazing power that the heaven is lit bright and the earth shines on in beauty.

· · ·

1.143.3

अ॒स्य त्वे॒षा अ॒जरा॑ अ॒स्य भा॒नवः॑ सुसं॒दृशः॑ सु॒प्रती॑कस्य सु॒द्युतः॑ । भात्व॑क्षसो॒ अत्य॒क्तुर्न सिन्ध॑वो॒ऽग्ने रे॑जन्ते॒ अस॑सन्तो अ॒जराः॑ ॥

The beams and brilliance of this holy light, clear and discerning of sight, beautiful of form and blazing with awe, are unaging, beyond decay. The waves of this mighty power of light flowing like rivers in flood are ever youthful, ever wakeful, they ever shine and dispel darkness as the dawn dispels the night.

· · ·

1.143.4

यमे॑रि॒रे भृग॑वो वि॒श्ववे॑दसं॒ नाभा॑ पृथि॒व्या भुव॑नस्य म॒ज्मना॑ । अ॒ग्निं तं गी॒र्भिर्हि॑नुहि॒ स्व आ दमे॒ य एको॒ वस्वो॒ वरु॑णो॒ न राज॑ति ॥

That Agni whom the Bhrgus, men of vision and knowledge, invoke and realise on the floor of the earth, in the centre of the world and in the depth of their consciousness with the power of their knowledge, spirit and prana, that omniscient Agni, light of the world, with your words of prayer, invoke and realise in your own heart and home, yes, Him who alone by Himself is lord of the wealth of the universe and shines over all as Varuna, supreme ruler.

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1.143.5

न यो वरा॑य म॒रुता॑मिव स्व॒नः सेने॑व सृ॒ष्टा दि॒व्या यथा॒शनिः॑ । अ॒ग्निर्जम्भै॑स्तिगि॒तैर॑त्ति॒ भर्व॑ति यो॒धो न शत्रू॒न्त्स वना॒ न्यृ॑ञ्जते ॥

Agni is a mighty power which, like the roar of winds, like an awful force launched upon the enemy, is irresistible just like the thunderbolt of lightning in the sky. With its dreadful jaws, or crushing weapons, sharp and destructive, it eats up and destroys as a mighty warrior destroys the enemies, or as the conflagration burns up and reduces the forests to ash.

· · ·

1.143.6

कु॒विन्नो॑ अ॒ग्निरु॒चथ॑स्य॒ वीरस॒द्वसु॑ष्कु॒विद्वसु॑भिः॒ काम॑मा॒वर॑त् । चो॒दः कु॒वित्तु॑तु॒ज्यात्सा॒तये॒ धियः॒ शुचि॑प्रतीकं॒ तम॒या धि॒या गृ॑णे ॥

May Agni, lord of light and power, expand and heighten our song of praise and celebration. May the brilliant power, great and beneficent, accord, approve and accomplish our desire and ambition with comforts and well-being in life. Great inspirer is Agni. May the power sharpen and activate our mind and intellect to create new things with acquisition of success and victories. With the same mind and intellect we praise and celebrate the grandeur of Agni, mighty, versatile, brilliant, blazing and pure of form and action

· · ·

1.143.7

घृ॒तप्र॑तीकं व ऋ॒तस्य॑ धू॒र्षद॑म॒ग्निं मि॒त्रं न स॑मिधा॒न ऋ॑ञ्जते । इन्धा॑नो अ॒क्रो वि॒दथे॑षु॒ दीद्य॑च्छु॒क्रव॑र्णा॒मुदु॑ नो यंसते॒ धिय॑म् ॥

The scholar of brilliance and intelligence researches and develops agni for you, agni, a power rising with flames of ghrta, firmly active like a friend of light and truth, sitting and working for humanity against the forces of falsehood, darkness and lawlessness. Blazing unresisted, it shines in the yajnic projects of development, and inspires and sharpens our pure and transparent intelligence.

· · ·

1.143.8

अप्र॑युच्छ॒न्नप्र॑युच्छद्भिरग्ने शि॒वेभि॑र्नः पा॒युभिः॑ पाहि श॒ग्मैः । अद॑ब्धेभि॒रदृ॑पितेभिरि॒ष्टेऽनि॑मिषद्भिः॒ परि॑ पाहि नो॒ जाः ॥

Agni, holy power, brilliant and blazing, ever wakeful, active and working relentlessly, protect us with good, protective and preservative, and blissful modes of life, by noble, protective and blissful people. Power dear, creator and giver of joy and comfort, protect, promote and advance us all round by sober, irresistible and intrepidable modes and people ever watchful and working without a wink of sleep.

✦ Sukta 144 · 7 verses ✦

1.144.1

एति॒ प्र होता॑ व्र॒तम॑स्य मा॒ययो॒र्ध्वां दधा॑नः॒ शुचि॑पेशसं॒ धिय॑म् । अ॒भि स्रुचः॑ क्रमते दक्षिणा॒वृतो॒ या अ॑स्य॒ धाम॑ प्रथ॒मं ह॒ निंस॑ते ॥

The yajaka who holds his clear and brilliant intelligence high with his will and power goes by the law and discipline of thisAgni, light of the Divine power of the world. He moves forward to hold the sacred ladles dedicated to the service of yajna-fire and right circumambulation of the vedi, ladles which first and directly reach and take the yajamana to the sacred abode of Agni, light Divine.

· · ·

1.144.2

अ॒भीमृ॒तस्य॑ दो॒हना॑ अनूषत॒ योनौ॑ दे॒वस्य॒ सद॑ने॒ परी॑वृताः । अ॒पामु॒पस्थे॒ विभृ॑तो॒ यदाव॑स॒दध॑ स्व॒धा अ॑धय॒द्याभि॒रीय॑ते ॥

Waves of fragrance, streams of nectar, dynamics of Truth and divine Law, returning, abiding, enveloped in light, going round Agni in the seat and home of the lord, the sun, do sing in adoration of the Divine. They nestle in the womb of the divine mother of waters, creativity of cosmic energy there held by the mother, and then the streams of nectar are distilled and rain down again in showers for the life of the earth and her children, joining, again with agni, electric energy.

· · ·

1.144.3

युयू॑षतः॒ सव॑यसा॒ तदिद्वपुः॑ समा॒नमर्थं॑ वि॒तरि॑त्रता मि॒थः । आदीं॒ भगो॒ न हव्यः॒ सम॒स्मदा वोळ्हु॒र्न र॒श्मीन्त्सम॑यंस्त॒ सार॑थिः ॥

When two persons of equal age and equal mind wishing to cross over a common problem and achieve a common end, join together in body for mutual love and support, they accept, hold on and support each other as beauty and majesty and accept a tribute of love as fire accepts an oblation of yajna from us, or as a charioteer accepts and holds the reins of the horses.

· · ·

1.144.4

यमीं॒ द्वा सव॑यसा सप॒र्यतः॑ समा॒ने योना॑ मिथु॒ना समो॑कसा । दिवा॒ न नक्तं॑ पलि॒तो युवा॑जनि पु॒रू चर॑न्न॒जरो॒ मानु॑षा यु॒गा ॥

When two persons of equal age, the wedded couple, living together, the two as one in the same one body, in the same one house, serve and worship the same Agni in love day and night, then the same old eternal Agni, ever vibrating in the human soul as the will to live and generate, unaging, for ages and ages, is reborn as new and young as ever in the human form.

· · ·

1.144.5

तमीं॑ हिन्वन्ति धी॒तयो॒ दश॒ व्रिशो॑ दे॒वं मर्ता॑स ऊ॒तये॑ हवामहे । धनो॒रधि॑ प्र॒वत॒ आ स ऋ॑ण्वत्यभि॒व्रज॑द्भिर्व॒युना॒ नवा॑धित ॥

All the human potentials such as thoughts, ideas, reflection, wisdom, will and understanding, intention, devotion, prayer and meditation, all ten senses of perception and volition, the five main pranic energies and five sub-pranas, though separate, yet jointly, invoke, enlight and serve the same one Agni as the ten fingers, though separate, yet jointly, nurse the same one baby with love and care. We all mortals serve, adore and worship the same eternal light of life, Agni. It moves ever so fast and hits its targets as an arrow shot from the bow, and ever new born and growing, young and youthful, it receives new knowledge from the sages on the move. Homage to the Lord for protection, promotion, peace and well-being!

· · ·

1.144.6

त्वं ह्य॑ग्ने दि॒व्यस्य॒ राज॑सि॒ त्वं पार्थि॑वस्य पशु॒पा इ॑व॒ त्मना॑ । एनी॑ त ए॒ते बृ॑ह॒ती अ॑भि॒श्रिया॑ हिर॒ण्ययी॒ वक्व॑री ब॒र्हिरा॑शाते ॥

Agni, light supreme and power, you light and rule the heavens. You enliven and rule the earth and the earthly like a master shepherd with love and care. And both of them, heaven and earth, move on, mighty, grand and graceful, golden rich and beautiful, rotating and revolving in their orbits, rushing on and participating in the cosmic yajna.

· · ·

1.144.7

अग्ने॑ जु॒षस्व॒ प्रति॑ हर्य॒ तद्वचो॒ मन्द्र॒ स्वधा॑व॒ ऋत॑जात॒ सुक्र॑तो । यो वि॒श्वतः॑ प्र॒त्यङ्ङसि॑ दर्श॒तो र॒ण्वः संदृ॑ष्टौ पितु॒माँ इ॑व॒ क्षयः॑ ॥

Agni, be pleased, listen to our words of praise and prayer and respond, charming lord of light possessed of innate power, born of cosmic energy for the law and truth of existence, master of yajnic action, universally kind and favourable as you are, celestial beautiful to the sight, joyous and brilliant of word, and a haven of peace and comfort like a generous man of hospitality for all.

✦ Sukta 145 · 5 verses ✦

1.145.1

तं पृ॑च्छता॒ स ज॑गामा॒ स वे॑द॒ स चि॑कि॒त्वाँ ई॑यते॒ सा न्वी॑यते । तस्मि॑न्त्सन्ति प्र॒शिष॒स्तस्मि॑न्नि॒ष्टयः॒ स वाज॑स्य॒ शव॑सः शु॒ष्मिण॒स्पतिः॑ ॥

Agni is the lord of light, knowledge and power: of him they ask the questions, he goes all round, he knows, he has the wisdom and awareness and the knowledge of sciences, he reaches, yes, reaches anywhere he wants. In him lies the power of governance and law, in him lies the potential for all you want, and he is the master, ruler and commander of energy, strength and valour, and of the fiery forces of his dominion.

· · ·

1.145.2

तमित्पृ॑च्छन्ति॒ न सि॒मो वि पृ॑च्छति॒ स्वेने॑व॒ धीरो॒ मन॑सा॒ यदग्र॑भीत् । न मृ॑ष्यते प्रथ॒मं नाप॑रं॒ वचो॒ऽस्य क्रत्वा॑ सचते॒ अप्र॑दृपितः ॥

Agni is the lord of knowledge and selfrealisation: of him the learned ask the questions where they miss the light, not all, everybody doesn’t ask him. Lord of peace and stability of mind as he is, whatever he realises or understands with his own mind is not subject to doubt either before or later. Everybody goes by the words and holy actions of this power of undaunted spirit and undisturbed mind free from arrogance.

· · ·

1.145.3

तमिद्ग॑च्छन्ति जु॒ह्व१॒॑स्तमर्व॑ती॒र्विश्वा॒न्येकः॑ शृणव॒द्वचां॑सि मे । पु॒रु॒प्रै॒षस्ततु॑रिर्यज्ञ॒साध॒नोऽच्छि॑द्रोतिः॒ शिशु॒राद॑त्त॒ सं रभः॑ ॥

Just as ladles of ghrta reach agni, fire of yajna, so do youth of noble speech and blessed intelligence reach Agni, lord of brilliance and exalted soul, bearing questions and homage. May the lord, sole master of knowledge, unique and unparallelled, listen to my prayers and questions too, lord inspirer of many, instant saviour of the seekers, master of yajnic accomplishments, giver of faultless protection, dispeller of doubts and darkness, all-great and loving, gracefully receiving and acknowledging questions as well as the homage of yajna.

· · ·

1.145.4

उ॒प॒स्थायं॑ चरति॒ यत्स॒मार॑त स॒द्यो जा॒तस्त॑त्सार॒ युज्ये॑भिः । अ॒भि श्वा॒न्तं मृ॑शते ना॒न्द्ये॑ मु॒दे यदीं॒ गच्छ॑न्त्युश॒तीर॑पिष्ठि॒तम् ॥

When the devotee approaches this brilliant Agni with holy offerings, it instantly responds, rises, grows and expands with its flames. When the maidens with love and faith approach it, it provides soothing touches of caress and reflection for their peace and joy in a state of tranquillity.

· · ·

1.145.5

स ईं॑ मृ॒गो अप्यो॑ वन॒र्गुरुप॑ त्व॒च्यु॑प॒मस्यां॒ नि धा॑यि । व्य॑ब्रवीद्व॒युना॒ मर्त्ये॑भ्यो॒ऽग्निर्वि॒द्वाँ ऋ॑त॒चिद्धि स॒त्यः ॥

That Agni which is ever on the move like a deer, worthy of research and attainment, abiding in the waters, in the forests, in the sunbeams, in the woods, in the skin, and in the dark of the eye, which is a metaphor of omnipresence and universal eloquence of its presence for humanity, and similarly for the brilliant scholar dedicated toAgni, abiding for all everywhere, collecting the dynamic flow of knowledge and speaking of it to humanity — that is true, that is abiding: Agni, knowledge, scholarship, the flow, dynamics of existence, and living.

✦ Sukta 146 · 5 verses ✦

1.146.1

त्रि॒मू॒र्धानं॑ स॒प्तर॑श्मिं गृणी॒षेऽनू॑नम॒ग्निं पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थे॑ । नि॒ष॒त्तम॑स्य॒ चर॑तो ध्रु॒वस्य॒ विश्वा॑ दि॒वो रो॑च॒नाप॑प्रि॒वांस॑म् ॥

Invoke and celebrate Agni, three-headed, sevenrayed, perfect, nestled in the lap of its parents, which pervades and fills the lights of this moving but stable heavenly solar system of the universe. (Agni is the life-energy of light and heat, born of akasha and vayu, cosmic space and cosmic energy; it abides on top of the three regions, earth, middle region of the skies, and the high and heavenly regions of the sun. It also abides in the three modes of nature, Prakrti: sattva, rajas and tamas. It is an integration, or call it the seed, of the seven rays of light-spectrum, and it energises all the moving but stable solar systems of the universe. Agni also is the vital spirit of the articulation of cosmic awareness in language form in the Veda, which is learnt from the opening word of the Rgveda. It abides on top of the three tenses and three persons of the verbs of the linguistic structure and in the seven vibhaktis, case endings, and sung in the seven metrical forms and seven notes of music. Agni thus is the divine attribute of the spirit at the individual as well as the cosmic level, and energises, inspires and illuminates the physical, mental and spiritual worlds in the spheres of matter, motion and mind.)

· · ·

1.146.2

उ॒क्षा म॒हाँ अ॒भि व॑वक्ष एने अ॒जर॑स्तस्थावि॒तऊ॑तिर्ऋ॒ष्वः । उ॒र्व्याः प॒दो नि द॑धाति॒ सानौ॑ रि॒हन्त्यूधो॑ अरु॒षासो॑ अस्य ॥

The mighty sun, far greater than the earth and other planets, generously radiating floods of light and waves of gravitational energy, holds the earth and skies. Ever young and awfully moving, it is stable, providing protection and stability to its family. On top, it maintains its degree and distance from the earth while its light rays touch and drink up the reservoirs of water.

· · ·

1.146.3

स॒मा॒नं व॒त्सम॒भि सं॒चर॑न्ती॒ विष्व॑ग्धे॒नू वि च॑रतः सु॒मेके॑ । अ॒न॒प॒वृ॒ज्याँ अध्व॑नो॒ मिमा॑ने॒ विश्वा॒न्केताँ॒ अधि॑ म॒हो दधा॑ने ॥

Two cows, the earth and the sun, beautiful and co-existent, tending the same calf, the day-night cycle, equally well, traversing their orbits without deviating, go round and round, sustaining and revealing the great banners of the identity of various objects in space.

· · ·

1.146.4

धीरा॑सः प॒दं क॒वयो॑ नयन्ति॒ नाना॑ हृ॒दा रक्ष॑माणा अजु॒र्यम् । सिषा॑सन्तः॒ पर्य॑पश्यन्त॒ सिन्धु॑मा॒विरे॑भ्यो अभव॒त्सूर्यो॒ नॄन् ॥

Poets and scholars, wise and meditative, protecting and guiding people with their heart in many ways, lead them to positions of undecaying value. Keen to share the joy and generosity of life wide as the sea, they look round and the sun reveals itself to them.

· · ·

1.146.5

दि॒दृ॒क्षेण्यः॒ परि॒ काष्ठा॑सु॒ जेन्य॑ ई॒ळेन्यो॑ म॒हो अर्भा॑य जी॒वसे॑ । पु॒रु॒त्रा यदभ॑व॒त्सूरहै॑भ्यो॒ गर्भे॑भ्यो म॒घवा॑ वि॒श्वद॑र्शतः ॥

Agni, power of light and knowledge in life, so brilliant as to be admirable by the brilliant victorious all round in all directions, worthy of praise and reverence, life-giving to the small as well as to the great, abundantly creative and promotive to all these people and projects in the making, is the lord of wealth and power and universally admired and honourable.

✦ Sukta 147 · 5 verses ✦

1.147.1

क॒था ते॑ अग्ने शु॒चय॑न्त आ॒योर्द॑दा॒शुर्वाजे॑भिराशुषा॒णाः । उ॒भे यत्तो॒के तन॑ये॒ दधा॑ना ऋ॒तस्य॒ साम॑न्र॒णय॑न्त दे॒वाः ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, how do your flames of fire, and brilliant scholars, blazing and purifying, givers of life with food, energy and knowledge to both children and grand children, and bearing food both for body and mind, rejoice and participate in the songs of Veda and the yajna of Truth, Law and divine knowledge?

· · ·

1.147.2

बोधा॑ मे अ॒स्य वच॑सो यविष्ठ॒ मंहि॑ष्ठस्य॒ प्रभृ॑तस्य स्वधावः । पीय॑ति त्वो॒ अनु॑ त्वो गृणाति व॒न्दारु॑स्ते त॒न्वं॑ वन्दे अग्ने ॥

Agni, lord of light, master of your own power of knowledge, youngest of the lights, listen to me, I pray, and know my word, highest and most powerful of mine ever borne: One drinks at the fount of your knowledge, and the other repeats your words according as you have directed. I am your admirer and worshipper. I bow to your body, mind and soul.

· · ·

1.147.3

ये पा॒यवो॑ मामते॒यं ते॑ अग्ने॒ पश्य॑न्तो अ॒न्धं दु॑रि॒तादर॑क्षन् । र॒रक्ष॒ तान्त्सु॒कृतो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दा॒ दिप्स॑न्त॒ इद्रि॒पवो॒ नाह॑ देभुः ॥

Agni, lord of light, power and knowledge, the flames of your fire, brilliant teachers and warriors, are the guardians of humanity, seers and visionaries of the present and future generations, who guard the blind and the ignorant against evil and crime. O lord and master of world knowledge, protect all those who do good work so that even the deadly enemies of society may not be able to terrorize anyone.

· · ·

1.147.4

यो नो॑ अग्ने॒ अर॑रिवाँ अघा॒युर॑राती॒वा म॒र्चय॑ति द्व॒येन॑ । मन्त्रो॑ गु॒रुः पुन॑रस्तु॒ सो अ॑स्मा॒ अनु॑ मृक्षीष्ट त॒न्वं॑ दुरु॒क्तैः ॥

Agni, whoever be envious, sinful and nongiving and try to mislead us with evil words and double dealing in action, may theAgni mantra be our right guide and save us, and may the evil speaker and doer stew himself in his own juice and destroy himself with those very evil words.

· · ·

1.147.5

उ॒त वा॒ यः स॑हस्य प्रवि॒द्वान्मर्तो॒ मर्तं॑ म॒र्चय॑ति द्व॒येन॑ । अतः॑ पाहि स्तवमान स्तु॒वन्त॒मग्ने॒ माकि॑र्नो दुरि॒ताय॑ धायीः ॥

O Agni, eminent power of knowledge, child of courage and valour celebrated by many, whoever be the man of advanced knowledge who enthralls men by way of right teaching and preaching, protect and promote him who praises you and teaches us. Let us never be seized by any evil or sinful person.

✦ Sukta 148 · 5 verses ✦

1.148.1

मथी॒द्यदीं॑ वि॒ष्टो मा॑त॒रिश्वा॒ होता॑रं वि॒श्वाप्सुं॑ वि॒श्वदे॑व्यम् । नि यं द॒धुर्म॑नु॒ष्या॑सु वि॒क्षु स्व१॒॑र्ण चि॒त्रं वपु॑षे वि॒भाव॑म् ॥

Let us study and develop this Agni, light and fire energy, which Matarishva, wind and electric energy, pervading the skies energises, and which the scholars adopt in human communities like the wonderful sun for enhancement of the beauty of form and health of body — Agni which exists in all forms of the universe, which gives the universe its cosmic form and which receives, consumes and recreates everything that is offered to it since it is the catalytic agent of the cosmic yajna.

· · ·

1.148.2

द॒दा॒नमिन्न द॑दभन्त॒ मन्मा॒ग्निर्वरू॑थं॒ मम॒ तस्य॑ चाकन् । जु॒षन्त॒ विश्वा॑न्यस्य॒ कर्मोप॑स्तुतिं॒ भर॑माणस्य का॒रोः ॥

Enemies cannot injure or violate Agni, fire power and the learned scientist, because it is the giver and it loves and desires the supreme good of me and everybody. All people love and esteem the celebration of the scientific and artistic versatility of this power and benefit from all the arts and crafts of the artist of this generous source of energy and beauty.

· · ·

1.148.3

नित्ये॑ चि॒न्नु यं सद॑ने जगृ॒भ्रे प्रश॑स्तिभिर्दधि॒रे य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । प्र सू न॑यन्त गृ॒भय॑न्त इ॒ष्टावश्वा॑सो॒ न र॒थ्यो॑ रारहा॒णाः ॥

Let the high-priests of yajna (in the field of science and meditation) take up Agni, fire energy, in the laboratory, workshop, the eternal space and the cave of the mind, develop it with laudable means for advancement, and harness it for desired purposes, going forward as by chariot drawn by trained horses.

· · ·

1.148.4

पु॒रूणि॑ द॒स्मो नि रि॑णाति॒ जम्भै॒राद्रो॑चते॒ वन॒ आ वि॒भावा॑ । आद॑स्य॒ वातो॒ अनु॑ वाति शो॒चिरस्तु॒र्न शर्या॑मस॒नामनु॒ द्यून् ॥

Agni, mighty power of light and fire, catalyses, destroys and creates many and, blazing in the light rays, shines in majesty. And then shining and blazing like a shooting star of the eternal archer, it releases stormy currents of energy every day, every minute, every moment.

· · ·

1.148.5

न यं रि॒पवो॒ न रि॑ष॒ण्यवो॒ गर्भे॒ सन्तं॑ रेष॒णा रे॒षय॑न्ति । अ॒न्धा अ॑प॒श्या न द॑भन्नभि॒ख्या नित्या॑स ईं प्रे॒तारो॑ अरक्षन् ॥

Existing as it is in the womb of Eternity, no enemies, no designers of evil, no destroyers, no attacks, can damage it. The blind and the ignorant hurt it not, they cannot suppress it. Those who know, those who love, value and cooperate, permanently protect and promote it.

✦ Sukta 149 · 5 verses ✦

1.149.1

म॒हः स रा॒य एष॑ते॒ पति॒र्दन्नि॒न इ॒नस्य॒ वसु॑नः प॒द आ । उप॒ ध्रज॑न्त॒मद्र॑यो वि॒धन्नित् ॥

Agni! Mighty is he, lord and protector of wealth. Ruler of rulers, abundant and gracious giver of wealth, he comes to us to give us of his gifts. And when he comes near, mountains quake in fear and clouds shower in rain with reverence.

· · ·

1.149.2

स यो वृषा॑ न॒रां न रोद॑स्योः॒ श्रवो॑भि॒रस्ति॑ जी॒वपी॑तसर्गः । प्र यः स॑स्रा॒णः शि॑श्री॒त योनौ॑ ॥

Abundant and generous is he like the clouds of rain, who, in the midst of heaven and earth as amidst humanity, has drunk deep of the joy of creation, and, dynamically pervading the universe with his majesty, who abides at the centre of the form and identity of existence.

· · ·

1.149.3

आ यः पुरं॒ नार्मि॑णी॒मदी॑दे॒दत्यः॑ क॒विर्न॑भ॒न्यो॒३॒॑ नार्वा॑ । सूरो॒ न रु॑रु॒क्वाञ्छ॒तात्मा॑ ॥

Agni, who has illuminated the celestial city of this imperishable soul, who is fast as the winds of space and faster than sunbeams, is the visionary creator of the worlds of eternity, blazing as the very soul of a thousand suns.

· · ·

1.149.4

अ॒भि द्वि॒जन्मा॒ त्री रो॑च॒नानि॒ विश्वा॒ रजां॑सि शुशुचा॒नो अ॑स्थात् । होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठो अ॒पां स॒धस्थे ॥

Twice born and born of two, akasha and vayu, manifesting in universal nature and in every distinct form of nature, illuminating three lights, fire of the earth, lightning of the skies and lights of heaven, vitalising all the worlds of the universe, Agni abides all round everywhere. Worthiest universal yajaka, holding the worlds unto itself, it abides coexistent with the universal liquid energy of the cosmos.

· · ·

1.149.5

अ॒यं स होता॒ यो द्वि॒जन्मा॒ विश्वा॑ द॒धे वार्या॑णि श्रव॒स्या । मर्तो॒ यो अ॑स्मै सु॒तुको॑ द॒दाश॑ ॥

Such is this Agni, creative lord of cosmic yajna, wielder of the worlds, born of two and twice born, who holds the choicest foods, energies and honours of the universe. And the man who, self-sacrificing, twice born of natural mother and mother Sarasvati, blest with the richest gifts of food, energy and honour, with a noble family gives in homage and surrender to this Agni, he is the real man.

✦ Sukta 150 · 3 verses ✦

1.150.1

पु॒रु त्वा॑ दा॒श्वान्वो॑चे॒ऽरिर॑ग्ने॒ तव॑ स्वि॒दा । तो॒दस्ये॑व शर॒ण आ म॒हस्य॑ ॥

Faithful and dedicated, giving in homage, I sing profusely in honour and celebration of you, and come in to you for shelter and protection, Agni, lord of light as the sun, great and glorious.

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1.150.2

व्य॑नि॒नस्य॑ ध॒निनः॑ प्रहो॒षे चि॒दर॑रुषः । क॒दा च॒न प्र॒जिग॑तो॒ अदे॑वयोः ॥

And I would not care to join the company of the admirer of the rich not dedicated to the divinities and to the lord of light, Agni, even though he be otherwise non-violent.

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1.150.3

स च॒न्द्रो वि॑प्र॒ मर्त्यो॑ म॒हो व्राध॑न्तमो दि॒वि । प्रप्रेत्ते॑ अग्ने व॒नुषः॑ स्याम ॥

O lord of light and generosity, Agni, surely that mortal is blest and brilliant like the moon in the heavens, great and greater, ever rising most high, who is worshipful and gives in charity with thanks and divine admiration. May we, we pray, be dedicated to you, singing songs of devotion in admiration of the Divine.

✦ Sukta 151 · 9 verses ✦

1.151.1

मि॒त्रं न यं शिम्या॒ गोषु॑ ग॒व्यवः॑ स्वा॒ध्यो॑ वि॒दथे॑ अ॒प्सु जीज॑नन् । अरे॑जेतां॒ रोद॑सी॒ पाज॑सा गि॒रा प्रति॑ प्रि॒यं य॑ज॒तं ज॒नुषा॒मवः॑ ॥

Agni is dear as a friend and adorable (since it is the vigour and vitality of life in the human personality, in the animal world and in the earth and the environment). Let the people dedicated to the welfare and protection of humanity, who love the wealth of cows and milk products, who want to preserve the earth and the environment, and who value the vitality of their sense and mind, light and develop Agni, as a dear adorable friend, with noble acts in yajna and corporate action to inspire vitality in the cows, in the pranic energies, in the mind and senses, and in the earth and environment. And then the heaven and earth would vibrate with life and joy by virtue of their holy voice and the power of their songs of adoration. (Let the voice resound on earth and songs rise to heaven).

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1.151.2

यद्ध॒ त्यद्वां॑ पुरुमी॒ळ्हस्य॑ सो॒मिनः॒ प्र मि॒त्रासो॒ न द॑धि॒रे स्वा॒भुवः॑ । अध॒ क्रतुं॑ विदतं गा॒तुमर्च॑त उ॒त श्रु॑तं वृषणा प॒स्त्या॑वतः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, generous heaven and earth and the skies, listen to the voice of adoration which people of intelligence and innate virtue bear and offer as friends to you. Know the yajnic act of the blessed yajamana of prosperity holding rich libations of soma for the holy fire. Clear the path of progress for the worshipper and listen to the songs of the master of a happy home.

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1.151.3

आ वां॑ भूषन्क्षि॒तयो॒ जन्म॒ रोद॑स्योः प्र॒वाच्यं॑ वृषणा॒ दक्ष॑से म॒हे । यदी॑मृ॒ताय॒ भर॑थो॒ यदर्व॑ते॒ प्र होत्र॑या॒ शिम्या॑ वीथो अध्व॒रम् ॥

Generous Mitra and Varuna, sun and cosmic waters, fire and sun, people living on earth admire your celebrated rise from heaven through the skies for the sake of spiritual greatness of honour and smartness of perfect performance, since on their invocation with holy action you reach their yajna of love and holiness of nonviolence and bear all round fruits of yajna for the man of science and speed and for the man of truth and cosmic Law.

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1.151.4

प्र सा क्षि॒तिर॑सुर॒ या महि॑ प्रि॒य ऋता॑वानावृ॒तमा घो॑षथो बृ॒हत् । यु॒वं दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तो दक्ष॑मा॒भुवं॒ गां न धु॒र्युप॑ युञ्जाथे अ॒पः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, lords of the universal truth of being and action, wielders of the pranic energies dear as life, to the great earth which is so dear to you and to the people, proclaim the great and universal truth of life: Bring from the vast heaven of light, both of you, the mighty strength of being and the conviction of will and action, yoke the two like the driving force of a chariot, (like the ruler and the people of the world state), and join the march of life.

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1.151.5

म॒ही अत्र॑ महि॒ना वार॑मृण्वथोऽरे॒णव॒स्तुज॒ आ सद्म॑न्धे॒नवः॑ । स्वर॑न्ति॒ ता उ॑प॒रता॑ति॒ सूर्य॒मा नि॒म्रुच॑ उ॒षस॑स्तक्व॒वीरि॑व ॥

Mitra and Varuna, you come like sun and shower to the great earth here and bring choice gifts. Pure cows unsullied by dust, fertile and generous they are, come home lowing for their calves like the dawns returning with homage to the sun in the vault of heaven, or like the birds on the flight back to the nest.

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1.151.6

आ वा॑मृ॒ताय॑ के॒शिनी॑रनूषत॒ मित्र॒ यत्र॒ वरु॑ण गा॒तुमर्च॑थः । अव॒ त्मना॑ सृ॒जतं॒ पिन्व॑तं॒ धियो॑ यु॒वं विप्र॑स्य॒ मन्म॑नामिरज्यथः ॥

Mitra and Varuna, powers of love and justice of society, where the lights of knowledge and the flames of yajnic fire in action serve and augment you for the advancement of truth and rule of law, there your powers of love and friendship and your power of justice serve, protect and enrich the earth and the character and conduct of her children. O light and shower of life, love and justice, with your heart and soul, create, protect and strengthen the native intelligence and refine and raise the knowledge and wisdom of the noble saints and scholars.

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1.151.7

यो वां॑ य॒ज्ञैः श॑शमा॒नो ह॒ दाश॑ति क॒विर्होता॒ यज॑ति मन्म॒साध॑नः । उपाह॒ तं गच्छ॑थो वी॒थो अ॑ध्व॒रमच्छा॒ गिरः॑ सुम॒तिं ग॑न्तमस्म॒यू ॥

Mitra and Varuna, teachers, masters and eminent scholars inspired with love friendship and justice, whoever does honour and reverence to you and gives in charity and homage to divinity by yajnas, good reading, prayer, and noble company, whoever attends on you with reverence for service, the worshipful man who has mastered his subject or the poet of vision and imagination or the generous yajaka, or the man of knowledge for whom science and honest industry alone is the key to success, you go to him, I pray, meet him at his yajna of love, reverence and non-violence, and bless him with holy words, noble wisdom and discrimination.

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1.151.8

यु॒वां य॒ज्ञैः प्र॑थ॒मा गोभि॑रञ्जत॒ ऋता॑वाना॒ मन॑सो॒ न प्रयु॑क्तिषु । भर॑न्ति वां॒ मन्म॑ना सं॒यता॒ गिरोऽदृ॑प्यता॒ मन॑सा रे॒वदा॑शाथे ॥

Mitra and Varuna, first and foremost lords of truth and rectitude, whoever approach you with respect and honour you with yajnas and noble words as the first choice of their heart and soul, and offer you tributes of love and reverence with controlled words of honesty and sincerity, you bless them with the wealth of knowledge and honour with a mind and spirit free from the pride of learning.

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1.151.9

रे॒वद्वयो॑ दधाथे रे॒वदा॑शाथे॒ नरा॑ मा॒याभि॑रि॒तऊ॑ति॒ माहि॑नम् । न वां॒ द्यावोऽह॑भि॒र्नोत सिन्ध॑वो॒ न दे॑व॒त्वं प॒णयो॒ नान॑शुर्म॒घम् ॥

Mitra and Varuna, eternal lord of love and spirit of justice and rectitude, you bear and bring the wealth of health and age of the natural world. Immanent spirits of divinity in the world, leaders of humanity, with your innate powers of protection here on earth, you bring us immense wealth and honour of life. The lights of the day to-day or tomorrow reach not the immensity of that grandeur. The rolling seas swell not to the heights of that immensity. The human voices fail to touch the fringe of that power and that glory.

✦ Sukta 152 · 7 verses ✦

1.152.1

यु॒वं वस्त्रा॑णि पीव॒सा व॑साथे यु॒वोरच्छि॑द्रा॒ मन्त॑वो ह॒ सर्गाः॑ । अवा॑तिरत॒मनृ॑तानि॒ विश्व॑ ऋ॒तेन॑ मित्रावरुणा सचेथे ॥

Mitra and Varuna, like day and night, with your expansion over the world you reveal and cover the forms of things in existence and your revelations of the things are faultless. You rule out and overcome illusions and unrealities since you associate with what is real and true.

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1.152.2

ए॒तच्च॒न त्वो॒ वि चि॑केतदेषां स॒त्यो मन्त्रः॑ कविश॒स्त ऋघा॑वान् । त्रि॒रश्रिं॑ हन्ति॒ चतु॑रश्रिरु॒ग्रो दे॑व॒निदो॒ ह प्र॑थ॒मा अ॑जूर्यन् ॥

This much, may be, one of these wise ones may know, one who knows the truth, thinks aright, and is recognised and praised by scholars of distinction as a man of vision and discrimination. The brilliant scholar of the four Vedas masters the three dimensions of knowledge: pure knowledge of Rks, applied knowledge of Yajus, and the meditative knowledge of sweet Samans, and, being the prime force and power of wisdom ever true, never out of date, defeats those who deny and dishonour the divinities of existence and eminence of knowledge.

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1.152.3

अ॒पादे॑ति प्रथ॒मा प॒द्वती॑नां॒ कस्तद्वां॑ मित्रावरु॒णा चि॑केत । गर्भो॑ भा॒रं भ॑र॒त्या चि॑दस्य ऋ॒तं पिप॒र्त्यनृ॑तं॒ नि ता॑रीत् ॥

Just as the dawn arises and radiates over the earth before moving humanity rises and goes out on business, so does the Original Knowledge of Revelation radiate whole before it is analysed into distinctive branches. Which of your scholars, O Mitra and Varuna, powers of vision and wisdom, knows that? Probably the man-treasure of knowledge bears the burden of it, maintains it and feeds it with detailed application and overcomes illusion and confusion.

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1.152.4

प्र॒यन्त॒मित्परि॑ जा॒रं क॒नीनां॒ पश्या॑मसि॒ नोप॑नि॒पद्य॑मानम् । अन॑वपृग्णा॒ वित॑ता॒ वसा॑नं प्रि॒यं मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ धाम॑ ॥

Just as we see the sun, lover of the maidenly dawns, gather up the lights and moving on, never resting, so do we see the scholar, treasure-home of knowledge, lover of rising generations, moving on in his pursuit of knowledge, never resting and rusting, but expanding far and wide the light of knowledge, wherein lies the favourite love of Lord Supreme, lord of light as well as of the bottomless deep of annihilation.

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1.152.5

अ॒न॒श्वो जा॒तो अ॑नभी॒शुरर्वा॒ कनि॑क्रदत्पतयदू॒र्ध्वसा॑नुः । अ॒चित्तं॒ ब्रह्म॑ जुजुषु॒र्युवा॑नः॒ प्र मि॒त्रे धाम॒ वरु॑णे गृ॒णन्तः॑ ॥

The sun is arisen, up on the heights of heaven, rushing on, roaring, no horse, no reins. Bright young generations pay homage, singing hymns of Infinity, admiring the treasure love of the Lord for the sake of Mitra and Varuna, love, light and justice of existence.

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1.152.6

आ धे॒नवो॑ मामते॒यमव॑न्तीर्ब्रह्म॒प्रियं॑ पीपय॒न्त्सस्मि॒न्नूध॑न् । पि॒त्वो भि॑क्षेत व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वाना॒साविवा॑स॒न्नदि॑तिमुरुष्येत् ॥

Just as cows feed their calves on milk from their udders, just as protective mothers breast-feed their darling child of love and promote him in his favourite studies of Divinity, so should the scholar of the ways and laws of the world ask for food and maintenance and, serving and shining, advance the study and knowledge of nature and eternity.

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1.152.7

आ वां॑ मित्रावरुणा ह॒व्यजु॑ष्टिं॒ नम॑सा देवा॒वव॑सा ववृत्याम् । अ॒स्माकं॒ ब्रह्म॒ पृत॑नासु सह्या अ॒स्माकं॑ वृ॒ष्टिर्दि॒व्या सु॑पा॒रा ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, brilliant and generous lords of love and justice, I pray, I may, with your protection, choose to worship you with the homage of love, dedication and sacrifice. Bless our songs of adoration among our people with wealth and honour of success and may our projects of action be holy and powerful, taking us across the high seas of life. Let our showers be showers of divinity and redemption.

✦ Sukta 153 · 4 verses ✦

1.153.1

यजा॑महे वां म॒हः स॒जोषा॑ ह॒व्येभि॑र्मित्रावरुणा॒ नमो॑भिः । घृ॒तैर्घृ॑तस्नू॒ अध॒ यद्वा॑म॒स्मे अ॑ध्व॒र्यवो॒ न धी॒तिभि॒र्भर॑न्ति ॥

Mitra and Varuna, great, loving, rejoicing, friends of humanity, lords of love and justice, resplendent with flames of ghrta, we love, honour and worship you with salutations, service and oblations of high grades of ghrta, and the devotees, dedicated and worshipful, bring holy offerings with sincere prayers like high-priests of yajna for you and for us.

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1.153.2

प्रस्तु॑तिर्वां॒ धाम॒ न प्रयु॑क्ति॒रया॑मि मित्रावरुणा सुवृ॒क्तिः । अ॒नक्ति॒ यद्वां॑ वि॒दथे॑षु॒ होता॑ सु॒म्नं वां॑ सू॒रिर्वृ॑षणा॒विय॑क्षन् ॥

Mitra, lord of love, and Varuna, lord of justice, I come to you as to my home and haven of peace, comfort and grace, having abandoned the storms of disturbance and temptation. My concentration is complete and my song of praise is divine. Lords of generosity, brave is the yajaka, come to join you in congregations of prayer and action, doing honour and homage to you, waiting for grace and comfort of well-being.

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1.153.3

पी॒पाय॑ धे॒नुरदि॑तिर्ऋ॒ताय॒ जना॑य मित्रावरुणा हवि॒र्दे । हि॒नोति॒ यद्वां॑ वि॒दथे॑ सप॒र्यन्त्स रा॒तह॑व्यो॒ मानु॑षो॒ न होता॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, whoever the yajaka giving oblations in the yajna of love and charity to you like a noble human being, who invokes you and prays for help in his tasks of life, thanking you and serving you in gratitude, Mother Nature like a generous cow gives infinite blessings to that man of truth and sacrifice.

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1.153.4

उ॒त वां॑ वि॒क्षु मद्या॒स्वन्धो॒ गाव॒ आप॑श्च पीपयन्त दे॒वीः । उ॒तो नो॑ अ॒स्य पू॒र्व्यः पति॒र्दन्वी॒तं पा॒तं पय॑स उ॒स्रिया॑याः ॥

Mitra and Varuna, friends, teachers and leaders of humanity, may the cows and the holy voices, consecrated holy waters and food and the juice of soma among the happy people surfeit you with delight. And may the ancient master of our yajna of education, governance and production giving us the fruits of holiness sustain the yajna, and may you too continue to enjoy the fruits of that yajna and drink the milk of the cow as well as the lights of dawn.

✦ Sukta 154 · 6 verses ✦

1.154.1

विष्णो॒र्नु कं॑ वी॒र्या॑णि॒ प्र वो॑चं॒ यः पार्थि॑वानि विम॒मे रजां॑सि

। यो अस्क॑भाय॒दुत्त॑रं स॒धस्थं॑ विचक्रमा॒णस्त्रे॒धोरु॑गा॒यः ॥

Let me well recite the grand acts of Vishnu, lord immanent, all pervasive, of the universe, who creates all worlds of the universe, who sustains the high regions of light in upper space and, having created, maintains it three ways, i.e., as a system, as part of the cosmic system, and in relation to the other systems, the lord who is sung and celebrated everywhere.

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1.154.2

प्र तद्विष्णुः॑ स्तवते वी॒र्ये॑ण मृ॒गो न भी॒मः कु॑च॒रो गि॑रि॒ष्ठाः । यस्यो॒रुषु॑ त्रि॒षु वि॒क्रम॑णेष्वधिक्षि॒यन्ति॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

That Vishnu who is sung and celebrated by virtue of his might, is the lord who pervades the universe everywhere just as the awful lion, lord of the mountain cave, majestically moves around over the tortuous paths of the forest. In the vast three-fold acts of his mighty creation, i.e., the acts of projection, sustenance and withdrawal, reside the entire worlds of existence.

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1.154.3

प्र विष्ण॑वे शू॒षमे॑तु॒ मन्म॑ गिरि॒क्षित॑ उरुगा॒याय॒ वृष्णे॑ । य इ॒दं दी॒र्घं प्रय॑तं स॒धस्थ॒मेको॑ विम॒मे त्रि॒भिरित्प॒देभिः॑ ॥

May this powerful song of celebration reach Vishnu, celebrated lord, great and generous, who holds in balance the heights of the universe of space and time and creates it just in three steps of sattva, rajas and tamas, i.e., mind, motion and matter, or the three regions of earth, sky and the heaven of light.

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1.154.4

यस्य॒ त्री पू॒र्णा मधु॑ना प॒दान्यक्षी॑यमाणा स्व॒धया॒ मद॑न्ति । य उ॑ त्रि॒धातु॑ पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्यामेको॑ दा॒धार॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

The threefold worlds of his, earth, heaven and the middle regions, full and perfect in their own ways and character, honey sweet and undecaying, rejoice in the lord’s presence with their inmates by their innate power of sustenance. He, the sole lord, by himself, holds the entire worlds of existence including heaven and earth created of the three modes of Prakrti, sattva, rajas and tamas.

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1.154.5

तद॑स्य प्रि॒यम॒भि पाथो॑ अश्यां॒ नरो॒ यत्र॑ देव॒यवो॒ मद॑न्ति । उ॒रु॒क्र॒मस्य॒ स हि बन्धु॑रि॒त्था विष्णोः॑ प॒दे प॑र॒मे मध्व॒ उत्सः॑ ॥

May I rise to and follow that cherished path of lord Vishnu and reach that state of being wherein the noble people dedicated to Divinity live and rejoice in bliss. This lord of divine power and action is friend of the industrious men of relentless action, and there in his supreme presence flows the stream of divine love and bliss.

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1.154.6

ता वां॒ वास्तू॑न्युश्मसि॒ गम॑ध्यै॒ यत्र॒ गावो॒ भूरि॑शृङ्गा अ॒यासः॑ । अत्राह॒ तदु॑रुगा॒यस्य॒ वृष्णः॑ पर॒मं प॒दमव॑ भाति॒ भूरि॑ ॥

Men of dedication, yogis, teachers and preachers, scholars and scientists, wedded couples, for your rest and abiding residence where you should go and rest, we want those places where the sharp and penetrative rays of the divine sun should reach for enlightenment. Here only is the place, and we want your abode here, where the supreme abode of the generous and the omnipotent Vishnu shines with abundant light and bliss.

✦ Sukta 155 · 6 verses ✦

1.155.1

प्र वः॒ पान्त॒मन्ध॑सो धियाय॒ते म॒हे शूरा॑य॒ विष्ण॑वे चार्चत । या सानु॑नि॒ पर्व॑ताना॒मदा॑भ्या म॒हस्त॒स्थतु॒रर्व॑तेव सा॒धुना॑ ॥

Of your delicious food and soma drink, offer in homage to the great and mighty Vishnu, lord of intelligence, and to Indra, bold and mighty lord of energy and power. Both stand on top of mountains and clouds and on top of heaven, firm and inviolable high, as the mountaineer stands firm on top of a mountain peak by the best and strongest equipment. (According to Swami Dayanand, the mantra may be applied to the teachers and scholars of a nation who reach on top of learning and knowledge by arduous efforts of mountainous degree and do their work freely and courageously.)

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1.155.2

त्वे॒षमि॒त्था स॒मर॑णं॒ शिमी॑वतो॒रिन्द्रा॑विष्णू सुत॒पा वा॑मुरुष्यति । या मर्त्या॑य प्रतिधी॒यमा॑न॒मित्कृ॒शानो॒रस्तु॑रस॒नामु॑रु॒ष्यथः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power such as lightning, and Vishnu, lord of light such as the sun, extend and expand the range and potential of the mighty shooting archer’s missile-fitted defence of humanity. And thus does the man of yajna, protecting, promoting and drinking the soma-joy of the nation, extend and expand the blaze of the battle of the mighty defender of the nation and thus does he glorify you both, Indra and Vishnu.

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1.155.3

ता ईं॑ वर्धन्ति॒ मह्य॑स्य॒ पौंस्यं॒ नि मा॒तरा॑ नयति॒ रेत॑से भु॒जे । दधा॑ति पु॒त्रोऽव॑रं॒ परं॑ पि॒तुर्नाम॑ तृ॒तीय॒मधि॑ रोच॒ने दि॒वः ॥

Those oblations of yajna food and distilled soma augment the great creative power of this Vishnu, spirit of the universe, for procreative virility and divine enjoyment of the world of existence. He vests it in the mother powers of nature, i.e., heaven and earth. Then the off-spring bears the name of the father, the one that is the ultimate, as the child of Divinity, and the other that is the worldly name of his family. The third the Lord bears over and above the light of heaven.

· · ·

1.155.4

तत्त॒दिद॑स्य॒ पौंस्यं॑ गृणीमसी॒नस्य॑ त्रा॒तुर॑वृ॒कस्य॑ मी॒ळ्हुषः॑ । यः पार्थि॑वानि त्रि॒भिरिद्विगा॑मभिरु॒रु क्रमि॑ष्टोरुगा॒याय॑ जी॒वसे॑ ॥

That procreative virility of this lord Vishnu at every step of it, we celebrate in songs of joy, that creativity of the lord saviour and protector, generous and not rapacious who takes away nothing for himself, creator supreme and lord of cosmic fertility, who completes the creation of the natural universe in three steps of sattva, rajas and tamas — thought, energy and matter — for the delightful life of the soul, and then transcends the work of his own creation.

· · ·

1.155.5

द्वे इद॑स्य॒ क्रम॑णे स्व॒र्दृशो॑ऽभि॒ख्याय॒ मर्त्यो॑ भुरण्यति । तृ॒तीय॑मस्य॒ नकि॒रा द॑धर्षति॒ वय॑श्च॒न प॒तय॑न्तः पत॒त्रिणः॑ ॥

To know the grandeur of the lord seer of light and bliss across two steps of his creation, earth and the heavens of light, the human soul stirs in mind and intelligence. The third step no one can, or ought to, violate, overcome or ignore, not even people of the highest imagination, like birds of the strongest wings, can do so.

· · ·

1.155.6

च॒तुर्भिः॑ सा॒कं न॑व॒तिं च॒ नाम॑भिश्च॒क्रं न वृ॒त्तं व्यतीँ॑रवीविपत् । बृ॒हच्छ॑रीरो वि॒मिमा॑न॒ ऋक्व॑भि॒र्युवाकु॑मारः॒ प्रत्ये॑त्याह॒वम् ॥

Inspiring, moving, measuring four and ninety names of the passage of chronological time, circulating in the cosmic circle of eternal time, rotating, revolving, eternally recurring, the mighty cosmic bodied Vishnu, ever young, never a teenager, moves the universe, himself unmoved and unmoving, and transcendent, and he listens and attends to our invocations of yajna with the Rkvi hymns of praise and celebration.

✦ Sukta 156 · 5 verses ✦

1.156.1

भवा॑ मि॒त्रो न शेव्यो॑ घृ॒तासु॑ति॒र्विभू॑तद्युम्न एव॒या उ॑ स॒प्रथाः॑ । अधा॑ ते विष्णो वि॒दुषा॑ चि॒दर्ध्यः॒ स्तोमो॑ य॒ज्ञश्च॒ राध्यो॑ ह॒विष्म॑ता ॥

O Vishnu, lord of universal knowledge, be like a friend, giver of peace and comfort, generator of the waters of life, lord of the wealth and honour of the world, instant mover and controller of protections, vast and expanding in influence and inspiration, and being so, worshipped by the wise and eminent scholars, served by the generous devotees of yajna, let the song of celebration and the fragrance of yajna in your honour rise to the skies. (The mantra is applicable to the teacher also).

· · ·

1.156.2

यः पू॒र्व्याय॑ वे॒धसे॒ नवी॑यसे सु॒मज्जा॑नये॒ विष्ण॑वे॒ ददा॑शति । यो जा॒तम॑स्य मह॒तो महि॒ ब्रव॒त्सेदु॒ श्रवो॑भि॒र्युज्यं॑ चिद॒भ्य॑सत् ॥

One who lovingly and generously does homage to Vishnu, ancient and yet most modern lord of knowledge, one who creates and imparts new knowledge for the devotees of knowledge, one who speaks and communicates this great new message of the great lord of universal knowledge, and one who practices this applicable and useful knowledge with thanks and grateful offerings in yajna for charity and social service, he is the real man.

· · ·

1.156.3

तमु॑ स्तोतारः पू॒र्व्यं यथा॑ वि॒द ऋ॒तस्य॒ गर्भं॑ ज॒नुषा॑ पिपर्तन । आस्य॑ जा॒नन्तो॒ नाम॑ चिद्विवक्तन म॒हस्ते॑ विष्णो सुम॒तिं भ॑जामहे ॥

Admirers and worshippers of the ancient and eternal lord of knowledge, Vishnu, as much as you know the lord and his knowledge, please augment and advance that body of knowledge with your own growth and contribution, a process as hard as rebirth though it is. And knowing the lord and his knowledge, speak of the knowledge to the seekers in full confidence. O Vishnu, lord eternal and master of universal knowledge, all hail to you! We offer homage and worship to you in honour of your knowledge and wisdom.

· · ·

1.156.4

तम॑स्य॒ राजा॒ वरु॑ण॒स्तम॒श्विना॒ क्रतुं॑ सचन्त॒ मारु॑तस्य वे॒धसः॑ । दा॒धार॒ दक्ष॑मुत्त॒मम॑ह॒र्विदं॑ व्र॒जं च॒ विष्णुः॒ सखि॑वाँ अपोर्णु॒ते ॥

Brilliant Varuna, lord of light and favourite choice of all, and the Ashvins, harbingers of the dawn of new knowledge, in unison, join that noble and yajnic act of the knowledge and revelation of Vishnu, lord of universal knowledge and instant controller of the Maruts, tempestuous heroes of action, for furtherance and application. Vishnu, commanding the force of his friends, wields the highest knowledge and expertise of action and opens the paths of action brilliant as day for humanity to follow and advance.

· · ·

1.156.5

आ यो वि॒वाय॑ स॒चथा॑य॒ दैव्य॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ विष्णुः॑ सु॒कृते॑ सु॒कृत्त॑रः । वे॒धा अ॑जिन्वत्त्रिषध॒स्थ आर्य॑मृ॒तस्य॑ भा॒गे यज॑मान॒माभ॑जत् ॥

Vishnu, generous and divine lord of knowledge, friend of all, brilliant hero of action, better and ever more blissful doer, established in the threefold virtue of knowledge, action and worship, goes forward to join Indra, lord ruler of the world, who does good to all, and, in the direction of truth and rectitude, protects and promotes men of virtue, culture and creativity, and with all help blesses the yajamana in the performance of his acts of love and non-violence for peace and progress.

✦ Sukta 157 · 6 verses ✦

1.157.1

अबो॑ध्य॒ग्निर्ज्म उदे॑ति॒ सूर्यो॒ व्यु१॒॑षाश्च॒न्द्रा म॒ह्या॑वो अ॒र्चिषा॑ । आयु॑क्षाताम॒श्विना॒ यात॑वे॒ रथं॒ प्रासा॑वीद्दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता जग॒त्पृथ॑क् ॥

The fire of Agni awakes and stirs the world with life afresh. The sun is on the rise over the earth. The great and golden dawn wrapt in beauty waxes on the horizon with the splendour of her glory. The Ashvins, harbingers of new light and knowledge, harness their chariot for the daily round. And the generous lord of light and life, Savita, in his own gracious way, showers and sanctifies the moving world with sunlight and new inspiration for action.

· · ·

1.157.2

यद्यु॒ञ्जाथे॒ वृष॑णमश्विना॒ रथं॑ घृ॒तेन॑ नो॒ मधु॑ना क्ष॒त्रमु॑क्षतम् । अ॒स्माकं॒ ब्रह्म॒ पृत॑नासु जिन्वतं व॒यं धना॒ शूर॑साता भजेमहि ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of new light and life, chariot leaders of the world, you harness and ride your chariot of might and victory and sprinkle and inspire the Kshatra order of our defence and governance with exciting spirit of life and honey sweets of power and prosperity. In our struggle for the joy of life, inspire and strengthen our Brahma system of research and education with new knowledge and self-confidence. We pray, may we achieve the prize of success and victory in our battles of the brave.

· · ·

1.157.3

अ॒र्वाङ्त्रि॑च॒क्रो म॑धु॒वाह॑नो॒ रथो॑ जी॒राश्वो॑ अ॒श्विनो॑र्यातु॒ सुष्टु॑तः । त्रि॒व॒न्धु॒रो म॒घवा॑ वि॒श्वसौ॑भगः॒ शं न॒ आ व॑क्षद्द्वि॒पदे॒ चतु॑ष्पदे ॥

Here, may the three engined, three staged, honey carrier, superfast chariot of theAshvins come, the chariot all-acclaimed, mighty, laden with wealth and splendours of the world, and may that chariot, we pray, bring us peace, prosperity and well-being for our humans and for our animal world.

· · ·

1.157.4

आ न॒ ऊर्जं॑ वहतमश्विना यु॒वं मधु॑मत्या नः॒ कश॑या मिमिक्षतम् । प्रायु॒स्तारि॑ष्टं॒ नी रपां॑सि मृक्षतं॒ सेध॑तं॒ द्वेषो॒ भव॑तं सचा॒भुवा॑ ॥

Ashvins, leaders of light, come, bring us food and energy, accelerate the nation’s march with the spur of ambition and action. Take the health and age of the people over and across the heights. Rub off and wash away the sins. Ward off hate and enmity. Be our friends and helpers in every field.

· · ·

1.157.5

यु॒वं ह॒ गर्भं॒ जग॑तीषु धत्थो यु॒वं विश्वे॑षु॒ भुव॑नेष्व॒न्तः । यु॒वम॒ग्निं च॑ वृषणाव॒पश्च॒ वन॒स्पतीँ॑रश्विना॒वैर॑येथाम् ॥

Ashvins, leaders of humanity, harbingers of light and life, generous and brave, life of nature astir, you vest the moving spheres with living potentials for growth, you enrich all the living worlds of the universe with light and life. Come both of you, help and support, excite the fire, agitate the waters and inspire the herbs and trees of the nation with life anew, elevate, gear up and bring showers of fire and waters of action and ambition.

· · ·

1.157.6

यु॒वं ह॑ स्थो भि॒षजा॑ भेष॒जेभि॒रथो॑ ह स्थो र॒थ्या॒३॒॑ राथ्ये॑भिः । अथो॑ ह क्ष॒त्रमधि॑ धत्थ उग्रा॒ यो वां॑ ह॒विष्मा॒न्मन॑सा द॒दाश॑ ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light and life, teachers, scholars and healers of the nation of humanity, be the physicians for us all with curatives, tonics and sanatives, be leaders and drivers with superfast chariots and energies. Lords of blazing power, keep the social order of defence bright and high for the ruler who, with all his wealth and powers of yajnic action, offers you homage sincerely with his heart and soul.

✦ Sukta 158 · 6 verses ✦

1.158.1

वसू॑ रु॒द्रा पु॑रु॒मन्तू॑ वृ॒धन्ता॑ दश॒स्यतं॑ नो वृषणाव॒भिष्टौ॑ । दस्रा॑ ह॒ यद्रेक्ण॑ औच॒थ्यो वां॒ प्र यत्स॒स्राथे॒ अक॑वाभिरू॒ती ॥

Ashvins, generous lords of light and power, loved and wanted, shelter and support of all, scourge of evil and enmity, universally respected, ever on the rise, give us, we pray, what we love and desire for our success, since the admirable wealth that is yours you bring us for sure with abundant protection, promotion and welfare for all, brave saviours as you are from want and suffering.

· · ·

1.158.2

को वां॑ दाशत्सुम॒तये॑ चिद॒स्यै वसू॒ यद्धेथे॒ नम॑सा प॒दे गोः । जि॒गृ॒तम॒स्मे रे॒वतीः॒ पुरं॑धीः काम॒प्रेणे॑व॒ मन॑सा॒ चर॑न्ता ॥

Ashvins, lords of light and leadership, shelter, support and protection for all, ever on the move with a mind keen to fulfil the desire and ambition of all, who hold and rule the human habitations in villages, towns and rich cities with food and power on the face of the earth and relentlessly keep awake, vigilant for us all and for our protection. Who can give, and what, in appreciation and return for this love and generosity of your mind and consideration for us — what except thanks and gratitude in homage?

· · ·

1.158.3

यु॒क्तो ह॒ यद्वां॑ तौ॒ग्र्याय॑ पे॒रुर्वि मध्ये॒ अर्ण॑सो॒ धायि॑ प॒ज्रः । उप॑ वा॒मवः॑ शर॒णं ग॑मेयं॒ शूरो॒ नाज्म॑ प॒तय॑द्भि॒रेवैः॑ ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light, power and protection, that stout, protective and irresistible chariot of yours propelled by flying oars stationed in the midst of the sea in full harness is ready for the valiant warrior to take us across the waters. May I, a powerful navigator in the battle of the sea, come and join the force under your protective cover?

· · ·

1.158.4

उप॑स्तुतिरौच॒थ्यमु॑रुष्ये॒न्मा मामि॒मे प॑त॒त्रिणी॒ वि दु॑ग्धाम् । मा मामेधो॒ दश॑तयश्चि॒तो धा॒क्प्र यद्वां॑ ब॒द्धस्त्मनि॒ खाद॑ति॒ क्षाम् ॥

Ashvins, lords of light, power and holiness, may my celebrative invocation and prayer protect my selfconfidence. May the day and night cycle never drain me out. May your tenfold fire, concentrated and blazing, never burn me off, which otherwise bound up in the soul as the fire of grief and despair eats up the very flesh of the body.

· · ·

1.158.5

न मा॑ गरन्न॒द्यो॑ मा॒तृत॑मा दा॒सा यदीं॒ सुस॑मुब्धम॒वाधुः॑ । शिरो॒ यद॑स्य त्रैत॒नो वि॒तक्ष॑त्स्व॒यं दा॒स उरो॒ अंसा॒वपि॑ ग्ध ॥

Let the streams be most motherly and kind saviours to me, simple, natural and unhurtful person as I am. Let not the streams swallow me even if savages were to throw me down into the water. If a thrice torturous person were to try to cut the head of such a person, then may the evil intentioned person cut his own torso and his own shoulders.

· · ·

1.158.6

दी॒र्घत॑मा मामते॒यो जु॑जु॒र्वान्द॑श॒मे यु॒गे । अ॒पामर्थं॑ य॒तीनां॑ ब्र॒ह्मा भ॑वति॒ सार॑थिः ॥

The person lost in darkness of the deep, having fallen a victim to blind attachment, grows old and decrepit in ten years. The one dedicated to sages in pursuit of divine knowledge, yajnic action and meditative prayer becomes a Brahma, scholar of the Veda, and a master of the chariot of life.

✦ Sukta 159 · 5 verses ✦

1.159.1

प्र द्यावा॑ य॒ज्ञैः पृ॑थि॒वी ऋ॑ता॒वृधा॑ म॒ही स्तु॑षे वि॒दथे॑षु॒ प्रचे॑तसा । दे॒वेभि॒र्ये दे॒वपु॑त्रे सु॒दंस॑से॒त्था धि॒या वार्या॑णि प्र॒भूष॑तः ॥

I study, serve and admire the earthly sphere and the solar system, both great, born of the particles of matter and energy in the course of natural evolution, both suggestive of new and newer knowledge through our yajnas of scientific programmes. Both of them, creations of the Divine, highly generous and productive, in cooperation with other natural elements, powers and spheres, working by the immanent will and intelligence of nature, produce and adorn manifold things of beauty and value.

· · ·

1.159.2

उ॒त म॑न्ये पि॒तुर॒द्रुहो॒ मनो॑ मा॒तुर्महि॒ स्वत॑व॒स्तद्धवी॑मभिः । सु॒रेत॑सा पि॒तरा॒ भूम॑ चक्रतुरु॒रु प्र॒जाया॑ अ॒मृतं॒ वरी॑मभिः ॥

And with holy invocations in yajna, I study, investigate and meditate on the great and innate power and intelligence of my father and mother the sun and the earth, both free from hate and full of love for all. Both father and mother of the world, overflowing with life and virility, create and augment the great and universal nectar wealth of humanity with their expansive and abundant generosity.

· · ·

1.159.3

ते सू॒नवः॒ स्वप॑सः सु॒दंस॑सो म॒ही ज॑ज्ञुर्मा॒तरा॑ पू॒र्वचि॑त्तये । स्था॒तुश्च॑ स॒त्यं जग॑तश्च॒ धर्म॑णि पु॒त्रस्य॑ पाथः प॒दमद्व॑याविनः ॥

They are the children, sons and daughters in reality, heroic, noble and graceful of action, who for the first, essential and absolute knowledge of prime importance, collect the knowledge of the great parents of the world of existence: Ishwar and Prakrti, sun and earth, and father and mother of this human birth of ours. O Parents, protect and bless the true and firm establishment of the child, free from duplicity and double dealing, in the Dharma of the static and dynamic world.

· · ·

1.159.4

ते मा॒यिनो॑ ममिरे सु॒प्रचे॑तसो जा॒मी सयो॑नी मिथु॒ना समो॑कसा । नव्यं॑नव्यं॒ तन्तु॒मा त॑न्वते दि॒वि स॑मु॒द्रे अ॒न्तः क॒वयः॑ सुदी॒तयः॑ ॥

Those are poets and scientists of brilliance and vision possessed of wondrous power and intelligence, of equal knowledge and interest, loving together and working together as a family team like brother and sister, who study and measure the depths and interior of the oceans of earth and the heavens of light, create the warp and woof of ever expanding new knowledge and find new paths over the seas and in the skies and space.

· · ·

1.159.5

तद्राधो॑ अ॒द्य स॑वि॒तुर्वरे॑ण्यं व॒यं दे॒वस्य॑ प्रस॒वे म॑नामहे । अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ द्यावापृथिवी सुचे॒तुना॑ र॒यिं ध॑त्तं॒ वसु॑मन्तं शत॒ग्विन॑म् ॥

That gift of knowledge worthy of love and choice in the creation of self-refulgent Lord Savita’s cosmic yajna, we value and admire. May the heaven and earth, universal father and mother, blest with immanent will of Nature, bear, bring and reveal that body of knowledge which is rich in wealth and power and provides a hundred forms of prosperity with cows, fertile lands and the word of knowledge and divinity.

✦ Sukta 160 · 5 verses ✦

1.160.1

ते हि द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी वि॒श्वश॑म्भुव ऋ॒ताव॑री॒ रज॑सो धार॒यत्क॑वी । सु॒जन्म॑नी धि॒षणे॑ अ॒न्तरी॑यते दे॒वो दे॒वी धर्म॑णा॒ सूर्यः॒ शुचिः॑ ॥

The two, heaven and earth, givers of universal peace and comfort, abiding by the laws of universal Truth, holding their spheres, vested with immanent will and intelligence, nobly born of mother nature, stout and forbearing, are brilliant and of divine quality. The sun, pure and effulgent, goes on by the laws of its own existence between heaven and earth.

· · ·

1.160.2

उ॒रु॒व्यच॑सा म॒हिनी॑ अस॒श्चता॑ पि॒ता मा॒ता च॒ भुव॑नानि रक्षतः । सु॒धृष्ट॑मे वपु॒ष्ये॒३॒॑ न रोद॑सी पि॒ता यत्सी॑म॒भि रू॒पैरवा॑सयत् ॥

The two, of mighty expanse, great and grand, each separate with its own distinct identity, the sun as father and the earth as mother, protect and sustain the worlds and people around. Very strong and forbearing, the heaven and earth are like two wondrous icons of Beauty itself, which the father sun has fully vested with form and colour.

· · ·

1.160.3

स वह्निः॑ पु॒त्रः पि॒त्रोः प॒वित्र॑वान्पु॒नाति॒ धीरो॒ भुव॑नानि मा॒यया॑ । धे॒नुं च॒ पृश्निं॑ वृष॒भं सु॒रेत॑सं वि॒श्वाहा॑ शु॒क्रं पयो॑ अस्य दुक्षत ॥

That universal vital fire, carrier of light and life and yajna, child of its causal parents, Lord Supreme and Nature and then akasha and vayu, i.e., space and energy, universal agent of holy action, constant and resolute, purifies and sanctifies with its wonderful powers, it energises, fertilises and purifies the cow, the earth and the holy Word, enlightens the sun and skies, gives vitality to the virile bull and pranic energy and sustaining power to the life-giving sun, and it emanates purity and vitality to the seed of life in existence day and night. Men and women all, serve it and draw the milk of life energy from the holy, universal and constant energy of fire through the creative act of yajna.

· · ·

1.160.4

अ॒यं दे॒वाना॑म॒पसा॑म॒पस्त॑मो॒ यो ज॒जान॒ रोद॑सी वि॒श्वश॑म्भुवा । वि यो म॒मे रज॑सी सुक्रतू॒यया॒जरे॑भिः॒ स्कम्भ॑नेभिः॒ समा॑नृचे ॥

Of all the lights of divinity and of all the acts of divinities, the Lord Supreme is the prime efficient cause of the acts of creation. Lord of bliss for the whole universe in existence, He creates the heaven and earth. With His divine omnipotence, He pervades and transcends the spaces and, with His imperishable powers of sustenance, stabilises the suns and the stars and the worlds that move. Homage in prayer and celebration to the Lord!

· · ·

1.160.5

ते नो॑ गृणा॒ने म॑हिनी॒ महि॒ श्रवः॑ क्ष॒त्रं द्या॑वापृथिवी धासथो बृ॒हत् । येना॒भि कृ॒ष्टीस्त॒तना॑म वि॒श्वहा॑ प॒नाय्य॒मोजो॑ अ॒स्मे समि॑न्वतम् ॥

May they, the great heaven and earth, thus sung and celebrated, bear and bring us abundant food and energy and create a grand social order for us, and may they infuse in us every day an admirable sense of honour and valour so that we may build a great nation of humanity across the globe.

✦ Sukta 161 · 14 verses ✦

1.161.1

किमु॒ श्रेष्ठः॒ किं यवि॑ष्ठो न॒ आज॑ग॒न्किमी॑यते दू॒त्यं१॒॑ कद्यदू॑चि॒म । न नि॑न्दिम चम॒सं यो म॑हाकु॒लोऽग्ने॑ भ्रात॒र्द्रुण॒ इद्भू॒तिमू॑दिम ॥

What best, what youngest or latest comes to us, or what message comes to us and from where, when do we speak of such things? Agni, brother dear, the high born who takes to the ladle of yajna or to the cloud, we never malign. Who ever is fast and dynamic, we praise. We speak of good fortune and of well-being only.

· · ·

1.161.2

एकं॑ चम॒सं च॒तुरः॑ कृणोतन॒ तद्वो॑ दे॒वा अ॑ब्रुव॒न्तद्व॒ आग॑मम् । सौध॑न्वना॒ यद्ये॒वा क॑रि॒ष्यथ॑ सा॒कं दे॒वैर्य॒ज्ञिया॑सो भविष्यथ ॥

Create four ladles worth of yajnic materials out of one put in. Let the nobles speak to you of this. Create four clouds out of one, the scholars would speak to you. And to that end I too would come to you. Men of the mighty bow, if you would but do this, then with the light of divinities and with the nobilities, you would be the real men of yajna.

· · ·

1.161.3

अ॒ग्निं दू॒तं प्रति॒ यदब्र॑वीत॒नाश्वः॒ कर्त्वो॒ रथ॑ उ॒तेह कर्त्वः॑ । धे॒नुः कर्त्वा॑ युव॒शा कर्त्वा॒ द्वा तानि॑ भ्रात॒रनु॑ वः कृ॒त्व्येम॑सि ॥

Agni, scholar, scientist, technologist, if you were to say about agni, the harbinger of fire and electric power: the horse power has to be developed, the chariot has to be designed and developed here and now, and the language has to be found and developed, and youth has to be developed and rejuvenated, and the horse and the cow have to be groomed and developed, then dear brother, we would follow you in action for both fire and electric power.

· · ·

1.161.4

च॒कृ॒वांस॑ ऋभव॒स्तद॑पृच्छत॒ क्वेद॑भू॒द्यः स्य दू॒तो न॒ आज॑गन् । य॒दावाख्य॑च्चम॒साञ्च॒तुरः॑ कृ॒तानादित्त्वष्टा॒ ग्नास्व॒न्तर्न्या॑नजे ॥

O Rbhus, eminent scientists, technologists and engineers of the top-most intellectual order of vision and dynamic action, if that messenger of knowledge, light and fire energy were to come to us, ask him where the origin of that power is, and who the messenger is, since when Tvashta, analyst and maker of fine things, analysed one form of composite matter or compound such as the cloud or a ladleful of sacrificial input of the furnace-vedi into its four chemical components like earth, water, heat and vayu, wind energy of electric potential, then only was agni energy able to move things over and into the moving spheres such as earth.

· · ·

1.161.5

हना॑मैनाँ॒ इति॒ त्वष्टा॒ यदब्र॑वीच्चम॒सं ये दे॑व॒पान॒मनि॑न्दिषुः । अ॒न्या नामा॑नि कृण्वते सु॒ते सचाँ॑ अ॒न्यैरे॑नान्क॒न्या॒३॒॑ नाम॑भिः स्परत् ॥

If Tvashta, master analyst and expert maker, were to say: “Let us reject these,’ about those who mock at the ladleful of yajnic input or the cloud, analysed, synthesised and restructured, then let us reject the undue criticism. And when the soma has been distilled, that is, when the result has been obtained from the scientific yajna, let us describe the achievement by other names, and let the delighted beneficiary too call the new product by other favourite names, the soma is worthy of the gods to drink.

· · ·

1.161.6

इन्द्रो॒ हरी॑ युयु॒जे अ॒श्विना॒ रथं॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्वि॒श्वरू॑पा॒मुपा॑जत । ऋ॒भुर्विभ्वा॒ वाजो॑ दे॒वाँ अ॑गच्छत॒ स्वप॑सो य॒ज्ञियं॑ भा॒गमै॑तन ॥

Let Indra, master of energy, power and sunlight, use the knowledge of fire, electricity, radiation and gravitation. Let the Ashvins, masters of the chariot, prepare the car. Let Brhaspati, expert of the earth’s variety of objects and scientific language, create the formulae of analysis and structure. Let Rbhu, expert of the science of universal energy, with Vibhu, brilliant man of light and fire, and Vaja, expert of speed and control, all noble powers of great action, reach the divine sources of nature’s wealth and energy and enjoy their share of the gifts of corporate programmes of yajnic creation.

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1.161.7

निश्चर्म॑णो॒ गाम॑रिणीत धी॒तिभि॒र्या जर॑न्ता युव॒शा ताकृ॑णोतन । सौध॑न्वना॒ अश्वा॒दश्व॑मतक्षत यु॒क्त्वा रथ॒मुप॑ दे॒वाँ अ॑यातन ॥

With dexterous use of your ideas, repair and enrich the surface of the earth like nourishing the holy cow emaciated to the skin, and rejuvenate those who are breaking down under the weight of aging and consumptive diseases. O warriors of the bow, create new vehicles of wondrous velocity from materials of magnetic energy and radiation. And then yoke your motive power to the chariot and reach the wealth of nature’s divinity.

· · ·

1.161.8

इ॒दमु॑द॒कं पि॑ब॒तेत्य॑ब्रवीतने॒दं वा॑ घा पिबता मुञ्ज॒नेज॑नम् । सौध॑न्वना॒ यदि॒ तन्नेव॒ हर्य॑थ तृ॒तीये॑ घा॒ सव॑ने मादयाध्वै ॥

Master experts of pharmacy and distillation of medicinal drinks, to the patients and admirers say: Taste and drink this tonic, or drink this one which has been purified and reinforced with munja grass, and if you choose to drink neither, then take this one prepared in the third distillation for purity and power and be happy.

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1.161.9

आपो॒ भूयि॑ष्ठा॒ इत्येको॑ अब्रवीद॒ग्निर्भूयि॑ष्ठ॒ इत्य॒न्यो अ॑ब्रवीत् । व॒ध॒र्यन्तीं॑ ब॒हुभ्यः॒ प्रैको॑ अब्रवीदृ॒ता वद॑न्तश्चम॒साँ अ॑पिंशत ॥

One of the experts says: waters are the best and most efficacious. Another says: fire is the best and most efficacious. Out of all, one speaks of earth as the most powerful for life and against anti-life. Thus do you all speak of the existent elements of truth and reality and distinguish between one source of power and grandeur and another for yourself and develop the same.

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1.161.10

श्रो॒णामेक॑ उद॒कं गामवा॑जति मां॒समेकः॑ पिंशति सू॒नयाभृ॑तम् । आ नि॒म्रुचः॒ शकृ॒देको॒ अपा॑भर॒त्किं स्वि॑त्पु॒त्रेभ्यः॑ पि॒तरा॒ उपा॑वतुः ॥

One takes water to the disabled cow, the other dresses the wound suffered from accidental hurt, yet another looks after the shed and removes the dirt the whole day till sunset. What would the parents expect of children to approve, more than this?

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1.161.11

उ॒द्वत्स्व॑स्मा अकृणोतना॒ तृणं॑ नि॒वत्स्व॒पः स्व॑प॒स्यया॑ नरः । अगो॑ह्यस्य॒ यदस॑स्तना गृ॒हे तद॒द्येदमृ॑भवो॒ नानु॑ गच्छथ ॥

All ye men and women, with all your desire and good action on higher ground, grow fodder for cows and other animals, and produce and store water in lower places. Do not destroy anything in the open home of even a carefree person and always follow wise and intelligent persons of noble and expert performance.

· · ·

1.161.12

स॒म्मील्य॒ यद्भुव॑ना प॒र्यस॑र्पत॒ क्व॑ स्वित्ता॒त्या पि॒तरा॑ व आसतुः । अश॑पत॒ यः क॒रस्नं॑ व आद॒दे यः प्राब्र॑वी॒त्प्रो तस्मा॑ अब्रवीतन ॥

Rbhus, experts of tempestuous action, join together with concentrated action, go round the worlds and know them, and take care where your progenitors then abide.Accost and face whoever holds up your hand, and thank and appreciate whoever approves your action with praise.

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1.161.13

सु॒षु॒प्वांस॑ ऋभव॒स्तद॑पृच्छ॒तागो॑ह्य॒ क इ॒दं नो॑ अबूबुधत् । श्वानं॑ व॒स्तो बो॑धयि॒तार॑मब्रवीत्संवत्स॒र इ॒दम॒द्या व्य॑ख्यत ॥

Sleeping Rbhus, like potential scholars and rays of the sun, ask that supreme lord of light such as sun who it is who wakes them up into light and life. He, the lord of light from whom nothing is hidden says: it is vayu, waves of divine energy, which wakes them up into life and light. The lord of light is the shelter home of all. It is now a year (cycle) when you awaken us and tell us of that to-day. (It is life waking up to self-consciousness at the dawn of creation after a ‘long year’ of sleep in Divinity during the long night of annihilation.)

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1.161.14

दि॒वा या॑न्ति म॒रुतो॒ भूम्या॒ग्निर॒यं वातो॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षेण याति । अ॒द्भिर्या॑ति॒ वरु॑णः समु॒द्रैर्यु॒ष्माँ इ॒च्छन्तः॑ शवसो नपातः ॥

Maruts, waves of universal energy of the winds, go with the light of the sun. The fire energy goes with the earth. Vata, the currents of wind go with the middle region of the sky. Varuna, water energy, goes with the vapours and the seas. You, indefatigable seekers of knowledge, go with the Rbhus, imperishable children of might and omnipotence.

✦ Sukta 162 · 22 verses ✦

1.162.1

मा नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो अर्य॒मायुरिन्द्र॑ ऋभु॒क्षा म॒रुतः॒ परि॑ ख्यन् । यद्वा॒जिनो॑ दे॒वजा॑तस्य॒ सप्तेः॑ प्रव॒क्ष्यामो॑ वि॒दथे॑ वी॒र्या॑णि ॥

May Mitra, the friend, Varuna, lord supreme worthy of universal choice and homage, Aryama, lord of justice, Ayu, man of knowledge, Indra, lord of power and honour, Rbhuksha, man of intelligence and wisdom, and Maruts, dynamic men of creative action, never ignore us since we too admire and celebrate powerful acts of the mighty pioneer leader of war born of noble qualities, i.e., acts performed in our yajnic battle of life.

· · ·

1.162.2

यन्नि॒र्णिजा॒ रेक्ण॑सा॒ प्रावृ॑तस्य रा॒तिं गृ॑भी॒तां मु॑ख॒तो नय॑न्ति । सुप्रा॑ङ॒जो मेम्य॑द्वि॒श्वरू॑प इन्द्रापू॒ष्णोः प्रि॒यमप्ये॑ति॒ पाथः॑ ॥

We are those who advance to the front the man of honour and generosity, leader blest with wealth and power earned by pure and sinless means, possessing universal virtues, capable of versatile roles, going forward leading and roaring, who achieves the cherished gifts of the dignity and prosperity of Indra and Pushan, lord of power and glory and the lord of light and plenty.

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1.162.3

ए॒ष च्छागः॑ पु॒रो अश्वे॑न वा॒जिना॑ पू॒ष्णो भा॒गो नी॑यते वि॒श्वदे॑व्यः । अ॒भि॒प्रियं॒ यत्पु॑रो॒ळाश॒मर्व॑ता॒ त्वष्टेदे॑नं सौश्रव॒साय॑ जिन्वति ॥

This undaunted horse blest with all noble quality, gift of nature’s generosity, is taken along with the fast war horse by the driver in advance for the training of the warrior’s favourite so that the expert cavalry trainer may prepare the loved grooming for the steed for his victory.

· · ·

1.162.4

यद्ध॑वि॒ष्य॑मृतु॒शो दे॑व॒यानं॒ त्रिर्मानु॑षाः॒ पर्यश्वं॒ नय॑न्ति । अत्रा॑ पू॒ष्णः प्र॑थ॒मो भा॒ग ए॑ति य॒ज्ञं दे॒वेभ्यः॑ प्रतिवे॒दय॑न्न॒जः ॥

When men take this horse out and around for grooming thrice according to the seasons, then this horse, prime gift of nature’s generosity, fit for the noblest heroes to ride to the yajna of the battle of rectitude, leading pioneer, goes forward first proclaiming its act of advance in the battle for the noble warriors to hear, here in the world.

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1.162.5

होता॑ध्व॒र्युराव॑या अग्निमि॒न्धो ग्रा॑वग्रा॒भ उ॒त शंस्ता॒ सुवि॑प्रः । तेन॑ य॒ज्ञेन॒ स्व॑रंकृतेन॒ स्वि॑ष्टेन व॒क्षणा॒ आ पृ॑णध्वम् ॥

The man of yajna, the high-priest of love and non-violence, the faithful giver of oblations, the lighter of the holy fire, the grinder of soma, the singer of the hymns, and the noble scholar Brahmana, all ye yajakas in unison, light up the fire, and with that yajna gracefully completed with love, faith and expertise, fill the streams of life and the land with waters and prosperity.

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1.162.6

यू॒प॒व्र॒स्का उ॒त ये यू॑पवा॒हाश्च॒षालं॒ ये अ॑श्वयू॒पाय॒ तक्ष॑ति । ये चार्व॑ते॒ पच॑नं स॒म्भर॑न्त्यु॒तो तेषा॑म॒भिगू॑र्तिर्न इन्वतु ॥

Those who cut the tree for the yajna flag post, those who transport the post to the yajnic arena, he who shapes the flag bearing part of the post, those who bear and bring in the holy food for the consecrated horse, symbol of the nation and its order of governance, and among all these the master of ceremonies and the coordination and cooperation of all these may, we wish and pray, oblige us with success.

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1.162.7

उप॒ प्रागा॑त्सु॒मन्मे॑ऽधायि॒ मन्म॑ दे॒वाना॒माशा॒ उप॑ वी॒तपृ॑ष्ठः । अन्वे॑नं॒ विप्रा॒ ऋष॑यो मदन्ति दे॒वानां॑ पु॒ष्टे च॑कृमा सु॒बन्धु॑म् ॥

Let the horse, symbol of the nation of humanity and the order of governance, come forward for us. Let it uphold the thoughts and values of the nation. Strong of back and body, let it fulfil the hopes and dreams of me and all the nobilities of humanity. In consequence, the scholars and the visionaries would enjoy themselves and celebrate its grandeur. Let us do our best in service for this noble order of brotherhood for the development and advancement of the noble people.

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1.162.8

यद्वा॒जिनो॒ दाम॑ सं॒दान॒मर्व॑तो॒ या शी॑र्ष॒ण्या॑ रश॒ना रज्जु॑रस्य । यद्वा॑ घास्य॒ प्रभृ॑तमा॒स्ये॒३॒॑ तृणं॒ सर्वा॒ ता ते॒ अपि॑ दे॒वेष्व॑स्तु ॥

The law that controls the onward movement of this dynamic social order, symbolised by the foot-band of the mighty and tempestuous horse, is the law of selfrestraint and Dharma. The reins and bridle which control it over the head and shoulders symbolise thought, wisdom and self-guidance. And the grass which is held in the mouth symbolises the nourishment and health of the nation. May all these be of holy nature and character fit for the divinities among humanity, and let all these be dedicated to the divinities that support life.

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1.162.9

यदश्व॑स्य क्र॒विषो॒ मक्षि॒काश॒ यद्वा॒ स्वरौ॒ स्वधि॑तौ रि॒प्तमस्ति॑ । यद्धस्त॑योः शमि॒तुर्यन्न॒खेषु॒ सर्वा॒ ता ते॒ अपि॑ दे॒वेष्व॑स्तु ॥

Whatever the fly eats of the sweat or ointment of the horse of rhythmic motion, i.e., the nation on the march, or whatever smears the voice or sword of the nation, and whatever soils the hands and nails of the performers of national yajna, all these things should be under control of the brilliant and generous leaders of the nation for you, i.e., the people and the nation.

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1.162.10

यदूव॑ध्यमु॒दर॑स्याप॒वाति॒ य आ॒मस्य॑ क्र॒विषो॑ ग॒न्धो अस्ति॑ । सु॒कृ॒ता तच्छ॑मि॒तारः॑ कृण्वन्तू॒त मेधं॑ शृत॒पाकं॑ पचन्तु ॥

Whatever the gaseous exudations or wastes from consumption in the national economy, whatever discharges from the bio-economic circulation of raw materials towards the output of finished products, all these wastes and by-products should be positively recycled by the expert managers of the economy who must also season whatever is ripe and ready for further refinement and sophistication.

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1.162.11

यत्ते॒ गात्रा॑द॒ग्निना॑ प॒च्यमा॑नाद॒भि शूलं॒ निह॑तस्याव॒धाव॑ति । मा तद्भूम्या॒मा श्रि॑ष॒न्मा तृणे॑षु दे॒वेभ्य॒स्तदु॒शद्भ्यो॑ रा॒तम॑स्तु ॥

O nation on the march on the highway of progress, if from your personality-body subjected to the fire of discipline and self sacrifice, a cry of pain escape your lips or a tear flow down from the eye, let it not soil the holy ground of the motherland, nor let it be lost in the straw, but let it be a precious gift for the ambitious creators and leaders of vision to turn it into a clarion call or a beautiful pearl of divine grace.

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1.162.12

ये वा॒जिनं॑ परि॒पश्य॑न्ति प॒क्वं य ई॑मा॒हुः सु॑र॒भिर्निर्ह॒रेति॑ । ये चार्व॑तो मांसभि॒क्षामु॒पास॑त उ॒तो तेषा॑म॒भिगू॑र्तिर्न इन्वतु ॥

Those who watch the nation’s food and prosperity grow to ripeness and perfection, and those who say: Ah yes! it is fragrant, harvest it, take it, export it too! and those who contribute their share to the nation’s prosperity and also wait for their share of the food and fragrance of yajna, and in addition, their coordination, cooperation and common voice of exhortation may, we pray, be for the good and growth of us all.

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1.162.13

यन्नीक्ष॑णं मां॒स्पच॑न्या उ॒खाया॒ या पात्रा॑णि यू॒ष्ण आ॒सेच॑नानि । ऊ॒ष्म॒ण्या॑पि॒धाना॑ चरू॒णाम॒ङ्काः सू॒नाः परि॑ भूष॒न्त्यश्व॑म् ॥

Watchful stirring of the nation’s cauldron of prosperity on fire and careful preservation and enrichment of the earth’s fertility which gives fruits and other foods, all containers and reservoirs of juice and waters for irrigation, methods of heat and steam control, formations of clouds, known, controlled and created, and beauty spots and tourist resorts, these are marks of a nation’s march on top of beauty and culture.

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1.162.14

नि॒क्रम॑णं नि॒षद॑नं वि॒वर्त॑नं॒ यच्च॒ पड्बी॑श॒मर्व॑तः । यच्च॑ प॒पौ यच्च॑ घा॒सिं ज॒घास॒ सर्वा॒ ता ते॒ अपि॑ दे॒वेष्व॑स्तु ॥

The horse’s forward march, the nation launching on action on the highway, its halting and settling for rest on the way, the U-turn and circulation in progression, the fetter control of law and the centrehold of values for stability, what it drinks for pleasure and excitement and what it eats for nourishment: all these should be under control of the men of vision and brilliance for you all.

· · ·

1.162.15

मा त्वा॒ग्निर्ध्व॑नयीद्धू॒मग॑न्धि॒र्मोखा भ्राज॑न्त्य॒भि वि॑क्त॒ जघ्रिः॑ । इ॒ष्टं वी॒तम॒भिगू॑र्तं॒ वष॑ट्कृतं॒ तं दे॒वासः॒ प्रति॑ गृभ्ण॒न्त्यश्व॑म् ॥

Let not the fire interfused with smoke and smell obliterate your vision, let it not extinguish your enthusiasm for life. Nor let the aromatic pan on blazing fire tip over and spill out the food. (Let the nation be ripened in the cauldron of hard discipline and yajnic action placed on the right degree of heat free of smoke and blaze both). The dynamic nation which is loved, happy and peaceful, active, and sanctified by yajna, is, like a trained horse, loved, accepted and owned by the most brilliant powers of the world.

· · ·

1.162.16

यदश्वा॑य॒ वास॑ उपस्तृ॒णन्त्य॑धीवा॒सं या हिर॑ण्यान्यस्मै । सं॒दान॒मर्व॑न्तं॒ पड्बी॑शं प्रि॒या दे॒वेष्वा या॑मयन्ति ॥

Those who provide the decorative cover for the horse, i.e., the yajnic personality of the human nation on the march, and provide the over-cover as the air cover of fire for

defence and onward march, and those who create the golden beauties for it, and the control of law, and the velocity of electric energy, and the brakes of equal power: all these people, cherished powers and beauties of the nation, raise the humans to the light of divinity.

· · ·

1.162.17

यत्ते॑ सा॒दे मह॑सा॒ शूकृ॑तस्य॒ पार्ष्ण्या॑ वा॒ कश॑या वा तु॒तोद॑ । स्रु॒चेव॒ ता ह॒विषो॑ अध्व॒रेषु॒ सर्वा॒ ता ते॒ ब्रह्म॑णा सूदयामि ॥

On your being exhausted by excessive urging on, or by hurt with the spur or the whip, I relieve you of the hurt and exhaustion and refresh you in the yajnas of love and non-violence by the fragrance of oblations offered with the ladle and chant of hymns. (The nation, after strain in a crisis, needs rest and repair.)

· · ·

1.162.18

चतु॑स्त्रिंशद्वा॒जिनो॑ दे॒वब॑न्धो॒र्वङ्क्री॒रश्व॑स्य॒ स्वधि॑तिः॒ समे॑ति । अच्छि॑द्रा॒ गात्रा॑ व॒युना॑ कृणोत॒ परु॑ष्परुरनु॒घुष्या॒ वि श॑स्त ॥

The innate energy of fire, electric, magnetic and of other forms, fastest form of energy co-existent with the forms and powers of nature such as earth, moves in waves in thirtyfour ways. Activate it part by part, proclaim the nature and character of each and realise the definite quality of its efficacy and application to parts of the material body with safety.

· · ·

1.162.19

एक॒स्त्वष्टु॒रश्व॑स्या विश॒स्ता द्वा य॒न्तारा॑ भवत॒स्तथ॑ ऋ॒तुः । या ते॒ गात्रा॑णामृतु॒था कृ॒णोमि॒ ताता॒ पिण्डा॑नां॒ प्र जु॑होम्य॒ग्नौ ॥

Of the dynamic energy of agni, two are the carrier currents, of which one is the active, positive agent that activates the connected objects. And I apply the power to the material forms of objects according to the needs of the seasons, and having done so I send it back into agni, thereby completing the yajnic circuit.

· · ·

1.162.20

मा त्वा॑ तपत्प्रि॒य आ॒त्मापि॒यन्तं॒ मा स्वधि॑तिस्त॒न्व१॒॑ आ ति॑ष्ठिपत्ते । मा ते॑ गृ॒ध्नुर॑विश॒स्ताति॒हाय॑ छि॒द्रा गात्रा॑ण्य॒सिना॒ मिथू॑ कः ॥

Spirit and genius of the nation, while you are on your path of progress to divinity, may your soul never cause any sense of self-guilt, nor must your own power and pride nor external force strain or terrorize your mind and body. Nor must any greedy or malicious power or person, unmindful of the hurt and cruelty, wound or mutilate your body.

· · ·

1.162.21

न वा उ॑ ए॒तन्म्रि॑यसे॒ न रि॑ष्यसि दे॒वाँ इदे॑षि प॒थिभिः॑ सु॒गेभिः॑ । हरी॑ ते॒ युञ्जा॒ पृष॑ती अभूता॒मुपा॑स्थाद्वा॒जी धु॒रि रास॑भस्य ॥

Spirit of humanity, genius of the nation, soul of the individual, this you are, and such as you are, you shall not die, nor be hurt, nor hurt anyone, since you move in the direction of divinity by paths which are straight and sure. Two are the horses yoked to your resounding chariot: love of the Lord that attracts you, and Grace that holds you in stability. And the horse that is yoked to the centre-pole is faster than light and instant as the mind.

· · ·

1.162.22

सु॒गव्यं॑ नो वा॒जी स्वश्व्यं॑ पुं॒सः पु॒त्राँ उ॒त वि॑श्वा॒पुषं॑ र॒यिम् । अ॒ना॒गा॒स्त्वं नो॒ अदि॑तिः कृणोतु क्ष॒त्रं नो॒ अश्वो॑ वनतां ह॒विष्मा॑न् ॥

May this lightning power of agni, this nation, this great order of governance give us rich wealth of cows, fertility of land and generosity of spirit. May it give us strong and powerful horses, speed of transportation and the spirit to go ahead, manliness and brave warriors, noble children and honest wealth for universal nourishment. May the imperishable Mother Nature inspire us to create holiness free from sinfulness of thought, word and deed, and may omnipotent Agni, lord of universal wealth, help us build a mighty social order of governance.

✦ Sukta 163 · 13 verses ✦

1.163.1

यदक्र॑न्दः प्रथ॒मं जाय॑मान उ॒द्यन्त्स॑मु॒द्रादु॒त वा॒ पुरी॑षात् । श्ये॒नस्य॑ प॒क्षा ह॑रि॒णस्य॑ बा॒हू उ॑प॒स्तुत्यं॒ महि॑ जा॒तं ते॑ अर्वन् ॥

Arvan, divine racer, Agni, universal energy, first born of Lord Omnipotent, rising from the oceans of space, the sky and the sea, who roared with force at your very birth, your wings are like the wings of the celestial eagle that brings the showers of soma and the warmth of fire, and your arms are like the arms of the sun, the thunderbolt. Surely great is your birth from nature, worthy of admiration and homage.

· · ·

1.163.2

य॒मेन॑ द॒त्तं त्रि॒त ए॑नमायुन॒गिन्द्र॑ एणं प्रथ॒मो अध्य॑तिष्ठत् । ग॒न्ध॒र्वो अ॑स्य रश॒नाम॑गृभ्णा॒त्सूरा॒दश्वं॑ वसवो॒ निर॑तष्ट ॥

This energy is the gift of the universal controller Yama, a product of Vayu, the first elemental form of energy born of akasha, ether, in the process of primal evolution guided by the eternal law-giver, the creator. Let Trita, master of the three modes of nature, sattva, rajas and tamas, i.e., thought, energy and matter, plan the use of it in various ways. Let Indra, the electrical expert, use it as power first. Let Gandharva, specialist of earth sciences, hold the control of it in gravitational, magnetic and heat forms. And let the Vasus, graduate researchers of life sciences, extract this energy from the light of the sun.

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1.163.3

असि॑ य॒मो अस्या॑दि॒त्यो अ॑र्व॒न्नसि॑ त्रि॒तो गुह्ये॑न व्र॒तेन॑ । असि॒ सोमे॑न स॒मया॒ विपृ॑क्त आ॒हुस्ते॒ त्रीणि॑ दि॒वि बन्ध॑नानि ॥

Cosmic energy, Yama you are the mover, the condition and control of all dynamics. You are the light and the sun. You are the energy in use. You are Trita, vitality, strength and power by virtue of your unseen and mysterious character. You are integrated with the life and joy of existence and yet you are distinct and exclusive. It is said that you are bonded with the regions of light in three ways.

· · ·

1.163.4

त्रीणि॑ त आहुर्दि॒वि बन्ध॑नानि॒ त्रीण्य॒प्सु त्रीण्य॒न्तः स॑मु॒द्रे । उ॒तेव॑ मे॒ वरु॑णश्छन्त्स्यर्व॒न्यत्रा॑ त आ॒हुः प॑र॒मं ज॒नित्र॑म् ॥

Three are your forms, they say, in the field of light, they are causal, subtle and gross. Three are in the sphere of the waters, and three are in the region of the skies in the winds, the same three. Just as you have three formal definitions so do I too, the causal body, the subtle body and the gross body. Tell me, mysterious power, where do they say your ultimate origin is. Mine too is there itself.

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1.163.5

इ॒मा ते॑ वाजिन्नव॒मार्ज॑नानी॒मा श॒फानां॑ सनि॒तुर्नि॒धाना॑ । अत्रा॑ ते भ॒द्रा र॑श॒ना अ॑पश्यमृ॒तस्य॒ या अ॑भि॒रक्ष॑न्ति गो॒पाः ॥

O Vajin, tempestuous power-input of the yajna of existence, these are the stages of your refinement, contentive concentrations of the applicable values of energy which are positive gifts of wealth and well-being for humanity. I wish and pray I may see those positive lines of natural and scientific developments of yours which observe, preserve and advance the process of life’s yajnic evolution.

· · ·

1.163.6

आ॒त्मानं॑ ते॒ मन॑सा॒राद॑जानाम॒वो दि॒वा प॒तय॑न्तं पतं॒गम् । शिरो॑ अपश्यं प॒थिभिः॑ सु॒गेभि॑ररे॒णुभि॒र्जेह॑मानं पत॒त्रि ॥

Agni, O flying horse, with pleasure of my heart and soul and with the thrill of my knowledge, I see from afar and know your body flying up towards heaven and down like a bird. O flying bird of our creation, I see your head striving and soaring higher and higher by paths all straight and clear and wholly free from dust.

· · ·

1.163.7

अत्रा॑ ते रू॒पमु॑त्त॒मम॑पश्यं॒ जिगी॑षमाणमि॒ष आ प॒दे गोः । य॒दा ते॒ मर्तो॒ अनु॒ भोग॒मान॒ळादिद्ग्रसि॑ष्ठ॒ ओष॑धीरजीगः ॥

Agni, O vital fire and creativity of life, I have seen that higher form, spirit and character of yours which is eager to conquer, consume and create the food and energy on the floor of the earth since, when the mortal humanity blest with food and enjoyment, and as a result of your holy ambition, eats their fill, then, O consumer and creator, you beget the herbs and juices for rectification of the human faults and weaknesses.

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1.163.8

अनु॑ त्वा॒ रथो॒ अनु॒ मर्यो॑ अर्व॒न्ननु॒ गावोऽनु॒ भगः॑ क॒नीना॑म् । अनु॒ व्राता॑स॒स्तव॑ स॒ख्यमी॑यु॒रनु॑ दे॒वा म॑मिरे वी॒र्यं॑ ते ॥

Agni, Arvan, energy and power of lightning motion, the chariot, the car and the flying birds of human creation depend on you and follow your laws. The mortal humanity admires and follows you. The cows and the maidens and their matrimony and joy depend on you. The wealth and honour of admirers depends on you. Devotees of sacred vows and yoga practices court your love and friendship. And divine personalities of nature and humanity both are keen to realise your energy, virility and creativity.

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1.163.9

हिर॑ण्यशृ॒ङ्गोऽयो॑ अस्य॒ पादा॒ मनो॑जवा॒ अव॑र॒ इन्द्र॑ आसीत् । दे॒वा इद॑स्य हवि॒रद्य॑माय॒न्यो अर्व॑न्तं प्रथ॒मो अ॒ध्यति॑ष्ठत् ॥

Golden headed and lustrous is this agni, energy and power of nature, with the wheels of metals of desired gravity for motion and speed. The noblest divinities love to win and enjoy the cherished gifts of this agni. Indra, constant, ancient and yet the latest lord of the speed of mind is the exceptional master who first of all rides and controls this dynamic energy of nature’s motive power.

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1.163.10

ई॒र्मान्ता॑सः॒ सिलि॑कमध्यमासः॒ सं शूर॑णासो दि॒व्यासो॒ अत्याः॑ । हं॒सा इ॑व श्रेणि॒शो य॑तन्ते॒ यदाक्षि॑षुर्दि॒व्यमज्म॒मश्वाः॑ ॥

Arvan, universal energy in motion, sleek and sophisticated, vibrating with power, steadily accelerating, celestial birds of flight, like rows of cranes in formation, join, march and fly and rise over the heavenly paths of skies and space. Agni, lord of light and knowledge, Indra, lord of energy and power, such are the horses of your creation, these are your birds of power.

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1.163.11

तव॒ शरी॑रं पतयि॒ष्ण्व॑र्व॒न्तव॑ चि॒त्तं वात॑ इव॒ ध्रजी॑मान् । तव॒ शृङ्गा॑णि॒ विष्ठि॑ता पुरु॒त्रार॑ण्येषु॒ जर्भु॑राणा चरन्ति ॥

O Arvan, tempestuous energy of the universe, your body is ever eager and agitating to fly. Your mind is restless, adventurous and vibrating as the waves of winds. Your ambitions are high soaring, various, pioneering and ever on the move. Inspiring the minds of men, bright and blazing in the forests overtaken, your thoughts, ambitions and operations spread around and cover the worlds across the spaces.

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1.163.12

उप॒ प्रागा॒च्छस॑नं वा॒ज्यर्वा॑ देव॒द्रीचा॒ मन॑सा॒ दीध्या॑नः । अ॒जः पु॒रो नी॑यते॒ नाभि॑र॒स्यानु॑ प॒श्चात्क॒वयो॑ यन्ति रे॒भाः ॥

Agni, warlike courser, impetuous on the wing goes forward. It goes by all, in advance of all, moving the worlds on the march, inspiring, enlightening, elevating the divinities, thinking, meditating, shining by the light of its own intelligence. Unborn eternal is the source and centre of its power by which it is ignited, geared and steered on the way, and when it moves, poets follow singing and celebrating the beauty of existence, the glory of Divinity in action.

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1.163.13

उप॒ प्रागा॑त्पर॒मं यत्स॒धस्थ॒मर्वाँ॒ अच्छा॑ पि॒तरं॑ मा॒तरं॑ च । अ॒द्या दे॒वाञ्जुष्ट॑तमो॒ हि ग॒म्या अथा शा॑स्ते दा॒शुषे॒ वार्या॑णि ॥

The same horse, Agni, mighty carrier of the universe, reaches the highest heaven and home of existence, and there joins the ultimate original and eternal mother, Prakrti, and father creator, the Lord Almighty. O mighty harbinger of life and joy, loved and blest and most admired, go and reach the divinities to-day upon this instant and bring the cherished gifts of life for the admirer and the generous giver performer of yajna.

✦ Sukta 164 · 52 verses ✦

1.164.1

अ॒स्य वा॒मस्य॑ पलि॒तस्य॒ होतु॒स्तस्य॒ भ्राता॑ मध्य॒मो अ॒स्त्यश्नः॑ । तृ॒तीयो॒ भ्राता॑ घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठो अ॒स्यात्रा॑पश्यं वि॒श्पतिं॑ स॒प्तपु॑त्रम् ॥

Of this splendid and hoary yajaka, Sun, giver of light and energy and receiver of the waters and essences of the earth and the skies, the second, younger and middling brother is vayu, wind and electricity abiding in the middle region of the skies, the energy being voracious and present everywhere. The third and youngest brother is Agni, fire, which is sprinkled with water and ghrta in yajna. It is the sustainer of living beings and it is blest with seven children, i.e., seven rays of light in the spectrum. I wish I could know this ancient, brilliant and sustaining power and friend of life.

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1.164.2

स॒प्त यु॑ञ्जन्ति॒ रथ॒मेक॑चक्र॒मेको॒ अश्वो॑ वहति स॒प्तना॑मा । त्रि॒नाभि॑ च॒क्रम॒जर॑मन॒र्वं यत्रे॒मा विश्वा॒ भुव॒नाधि॑ त॒स्थुः ॥

Seven enjoin the one-wheel chariot, drawn by one horse of seven names. The wheel, the wheel of time, unaging and automotive, has three sub-wheels with three naves and rims, and in the orbit of this time and space abide all the worlds of the universe.

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1.164.3

इ॒मं रथ॒मधि॒ ये स॒प्त त॒स्थुः स॒प्तच॑क्रं स॒प्त व॑ह॒न्त्यश्वाः॑ । स॒प्त स्वसा॑रो अ॒भि सं न॑वन्ते॒ यत्र॒ गवां॒ निहि॑ता स॒प्त नाम॑ ॥

Seven are those who ride this chariot, seven motive powers (horses or rays of light) which draw this chariot of seven wheels, wheel within wheel. They are seven sisters who exult, roar and thunder together in reverence and worship of the father where in are hidden in depth seven names of the rays of light, the seven spheres and seven notes of language. (This is a highly mystical, symbolic, and at the same time scientific mantra. To understand the meaning and implication at different levels of correspondence we need knowledge of astronomy, cosmology, physics and astrophysics, language and grammar, music and mechanics. And still the meaning would remain open ended.)

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1.164.4

को द॑दर्श प्रथ॒मं जाय॑मानमस्थ॒न्वन्तं॒ यद॑न॒स्था बिभ॑र्ति । भूम्या॒ असु॒रसृ॑गा॒त्मा क्व॑ स्वि॒त्को वि॒द्वांस॒मुप॑ गा॒त्प्रष्टु॑मे॒तत् ॥

Who saw the first material form of the universe of flesh and bone being born, which the immaterial of no flesh and bone bears? What and where was the breath and blood and soul of the earth and cosmos? Who would reach the visionary of knowledge to ask all this of the first and last question about the mystery?

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1.164.5

पाकः॑ पृच्छामि॒ मन॒सावि॑जानन्दे॒वाना॑मे॒ना निहि॑ता प॒दानि॑ । व॒त्से ब॒ष्कयेऽधि॑ स॒प्त तन्तू॒न्वि त॑त्रिरे क॒वय॒ ओत॒वा उ॑ ॥

Novice, ignorant but searching for knowledge and passing through the crucibles of heat and light of discipline, I ask with sincere mind and soul about these seven divine stages of the evolution of nature and life concealed in mystery, the seven-fold warp and woof of which visionary poets have traced and described in detail for the children of light to see and know and realise.

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1.164.6

अचि॑कित्वाञ्चिकि॒तुष॑श्चि॒दत्र॑ क॒वीन्पृ॑च्छामि वि॒द्मने॒ न वि॒द्वान् । वि यस्त॒स्तम्भ॒ षळि॒मा रजां॑स्य॒जस्य॑ रू॒पे किमपि॑ स्वि॒देक॑म् ॥

Not knowing what I would know here as a man of knowledge should know, I ask of the men of knowledge and poets of divine vision what that single principle of power could be in the form and nature of the one unborn and eternal Supreme which holds these six higher and lower spheres and atmospheres of the universe.

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1.164.7

इ॒ह ब्र॑वीतु॒ य ई॑म॒ङ्ग वेदा॒स्य वा॒मस्य॒ निहि॑तं प॒दं वेः । शी॒र्ष्णः क्षी॒रं दु॑ह्रते॒ गावो॑ अस्य व॒व्रिं वसा॑ना उद॒कं प॒दापुः॑ ॥

Dear friend, here may speak to me he who well knows the power and presence of this glorious bird ever on the wing and omnipresent, which is concealed in mystery. The holy rays of it from above yield showers of milk and water for life, and, covered in brilliant beauty they drink up the waters as they come and touch the earth with their feet.

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1.164.8

मा॒ता पि॒तर॑मृ॒त आ ब॑भाज धी॒त्यग्रे॒ मन॑सा॒ सं हि ज॒ग्मे । सा बी॑भ॒त्सुर्गर्भ॑रसा॒ निवि॑द्धा॒ नम॑स्वन्त॒ इदु॑पवा॒कमी॑युः ॥

The proud and amorous mother seeks the company of father for the waters of life and joins him with love and her innate power of motherhood. Then she receives the rain showers of life and the children of nature receive the food for the body and Word for the mind with reverence and worship.

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1.164.9

यु॒क्ता मा॒तासी॑द्धु॒रि दक्षि॑णाया॒ अति॑ष्ठ॒द्गर्भो॑ वृज॒नीष्व॒न्तः । अमी॑मेद्व॒त्सो अनु॒ गाम॑पश्यद्विश्वरू॒प्यं॑ त्रि॒षु योज॑नेषु ॥

The mother, earth, is joined to the sun and held in orbit in circumambulation of the sun on its own axis. The productive power and the seed of life stays in the clouds within its atmosphere along with it in its motion in the three orbits, i.e., on its own axis, round the sun and in the galaxy, and when it matures it roars and showers, looking at mother earth of various colour and form like a calf looking at the mother cow

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1.164.10

ति॒स्रो मा॒तॄस्त्रीन्पि॒तॄन्बिभ्र॒देक॑ ऊ॒र्ध्वस्त॑स्थौ॒ नेमव॑ ग्लापयन्ति । म॒न्त्रय॑न्ते दि॒वो अ॒मुष्य॑ पृ॒ष्ठे वि॑श्व॒विदं॒ वाच॒मवि॑श्वमिन्वाम् ॥

The one Supreme lord of the universe who abides over all sustains the three mothers, earth, sky and the heavens of light, and He sustains the three fathers,Agni, Vayu andAditya, fire, wind and sun. These three couples tire Him not, they smear Him not. On the heights of the heaven of that lord Prajapati, they meditate on this voice of omniscience and recreate and replenish the life sustaining energy and the creative vitality and fertility of motherhood.

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1.164.11

द्वाद॑शारं न॒हि तज्जरा॑य॒ वर्व॑र्ति च॒क्रं परि॒ द्यामृ॒तस्य॑ । आ पु॒त्रा अ॑ग्ने मिथु॒नासो॒ अत्र॑ स॒प्त श॒तानि॑ विंश॒तिश्च॑ तस्थुः ॥

The twelve-spoked wheel of time in existence that goes round and round the cosmic sun never ages. O Agni, light of humanity, the seven hundred and twenty-children of nature, i.e., the three hundred and sixty day-night pairs or seven hundred and twenty forms of material composition remain till the end of chronological time.

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1.164.12

पञ्च॑पादं पि॒तरं॒ द्वाद॑शाकृतिं दि॒व आ॑हुः॒ परे॒ अर्धे॑ पुरी॒षिण॑म् । अथे॒मे अ॒न्य उप॑रे विचक्ष॒णं स॒प्तच॑क्रे॒ षळ॑र आहु॒रर्पि॑तम् ॥

Father time, they say, has five stages from the initial moment onward and twelve divisions in the round of the year of time extending over existence in the farther half of the universe beyond the region of light. These others speak of this other half visible this side above, below the sun, which has six spokes of the seasons in the yearly round and moves in seven rounds of wheels, wheel within wheel of time. (This concept of time space requires deep research into the nature and passage of time including the technique of measurement and calculation with reference to the visible world and the world beyond on the other side of the sun. Parardha, the other half, for example, is equal to 50 years of Brahma, his one day being equal to the age of the current world of existence. It is a mind boggling concept in ordinary terms of calculation.)

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1.164.13

पञ्चा॑रे च॒क्रे प॑रि॒वर्त॑माने॒ तस्मि॒न्ना त॑स्थु॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ । तस्य॒ नाक्ष॑स्तप्यते॒ भूरि॑भारः स॒नादे॒व न शी॑र्यते॒ सना॑भिः ॥

Five are the spokes in the wheel of time-cumprakrti, the temporal existence of physical world. (These are the five elements of prakrti, akasha, vayu, agni, apah and prthivi, and their internal changes). This wheel of prakrti in time is ever on the move. In that wheel of time and physical change abide all the worlds of the universe. The axis of that carries the immense weight of existence but it never gets heated. With its centre-hold on this axis it has been going on since eternity and it will go on till eternity, but it never wears away. It is never destroyed. (The axis of the physio-temporal wheel is the constant substratum, original Prakrti, and the centre-hold is the Lord Supreme.)

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1.164.14

सने॑मि च॒क्रम॒जरं॒ वि वा॑वृत उत्ता॒नायां॒ दश॑ यु॒क्ता व॑हन्ति । सूर्य॑स्य॒ चक्षू॒ रज॑सै॒त्यावृ॑तं॒ तस्मि॒न्नार्पि॑ता॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

Existent with its centre and circumference, the unaging wheel, the chariot, of the universe of physiotemporal nature goes on and on, round and round. In the expansive Prakrti, ten motive powers move it on (those ten being the pranic energies). The light of the sun suffused with rajas, energy of universal dynamics, goes on with the worlds. Indeed, all the worlds of existence abide in that light and energy.

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1.164.15

सा॒कं॒जानां॑ स॒प्तथ॑माहुरेक॒जं षळिद्य॒मा ऋष॑यो देव॒जा इति॑ । तेषा॑मि॒ष्टानि॒ विहि॑तानि धाम॒शः स्था॒त्रे रे॑जन्ते॒ विकृ॑तानि रूप॒शः ॥

The seven simultaneously born of one-unborn, they call a septet, that is, seven-in-one or one-in-seven. Six of them are yamas, twin movers. They are rshis, mixers, born of devas, light and energy. Their properties and actions according to their place and character are created and ordained, and they, each in its form and character, move around for and in the unmoved mover. (These seven are the seven lokas: Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Janah, Tapah and Satyam. Sometimes the lokas are associated with seven Rshis. Sometimes they are described as seven senses and sometimes seven vital energies. All these refer, in fact point, to a theory of correspondences existing at the physical, mental and spiritual levels, or at the levels of matter, energy, thought and spirit. And this is a subject of high research and deep meditation.)

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1.164.16

स्त्रियः॑ स॒तीस्ताँ उ॑ मे पुं॒स आ॑हुः॒ पश्य॑दक्ष॒ण्वान्न वि चे॑तद॒न्धः । क॒विर्यः पु॒त्रः स ई॒मा चि॑केत॒ यस्ता वि॑जा॒नात्स पि॒तुष्पि॒तास॑त् ॥

Female they are, intelligent and educated, and though women, I am told rightly, they are male too. One who has eyes can see this, but one who is blind, even though he has eyes, doesn’t see this, doesn’t know. The son who has the vision of a poet knows this well, and one who knows this has an old head on young shoulders. In other words, he has the vision and knowledge of the father of fathers.

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1.164.17

अ॒वः परे॑ण प॒र ए॒नाव॑रेण प॒दा व॒त्सं बिभ्र॑ती॒ गौरुद॑स्थात् । सा क॒द्रीची॒ कं स्वि॒दर्धं॒ परा॑गा॒त्क्व॑ स्वित्सूते न॒हि यू॒थे अ॒न्तः ॥

Bearing and sustaining her child, as a cow bears and sustains her calf, this earth by her own motion goes down with reference to that farther side and goes up with reference to this nearer side in relation to the sun, and stays up stabilized in space in its own orbit. In what direction and to which remote region of space does she go? What does she impel and energise and how? Does she receive consecration of the sun in the midst of a crowd or not?

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1.164.18

अ॒वः परे॑ण पि॒तरं॒ यो अ॑स्यानु॒वेद॑ प॒र ए॒नाव॑रेण । क॒वी॒यमा॑नः॒ क इ॒ह प्र वो॑चद्दे॒वं मनः॒ कुतो॒ अधि॒ प्रजा॑तम् ॥

Here who could be the man of poetic vision who knows this lower side of the earth with reference to that other higher side, and that higher side with reference to this lower side, and who further knows the father sun, lord sustainer of the earth, and who knows and who can say where from this brilliant and divine mind is born?

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1.164.19

ये अ॒र्वाञ्च॒स्ताँ उ॒ परा॑च आहु॒र्ये परा॑ञ्च॒स्ताँ उ॑ अ॒र्वाच॑ आहुः । इन्द्र॑श्च॒ या च॒क्रथुः॑ सोम॒ तानि॑ धु॒रा न यु॒क्ता रज॑सो वहन्ति ॥

Whatever objects are near, they say, are far off, and the objects far off, they say, are close at hand. (All objects are on the move and whether they are far or near is a matter of relativity. It is nothing absolute.) O Soma, Vayu energy, whatever you and the lord omnipotent, Indra, have formed as objects or clusters of objects, ever such as stars and galaxies, carry on the worlds of the universe as horses joined to the yoke and the pole draw the chariot of existence.

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1.164.20

द्वा सु॑प॒र्णा स॒युजा॒ सखा॑या समा॒नं वृ॒क्षं परि॑ षस्वजाते । तयो॑र॒न्यः पिप्प॑लं स्वा॒द्वत्त्यन॑श्नन्न॒न्यो अ॒भि चा॑कशीति ॥

Two birds of beautiful wings, the individual human soul and the Supreme Soul of the universe, both friends and companions, together nest on the same one tree of existence. Of the two, one, the individual human soul, eats the fruit with relish and enjoys as well as suffers the consequences. The other, the Supreme Soul, simply watches comprehensively all round without eating anything.

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1.164.21

यत्रा॑ सुप॒र्णा अ॒मृत॑स्य भा॒गमनि॑मेषं वि॒दथा॑भि॒स्वर॑न्ति । इ॒नो विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य गो॒पाः स मा॒ धीरः॒ पाक॒मत्रा वि॑वेश ॥

Where the blessed souls of noble action sing and celebrate their share of immortal joy in holy voice incessantly, therein, may, I pray, the constant imperishable sovereign Ruler, protector and sustainer of the entire universe, inspire and bless me, the honest soul in preparation for the consecration.

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1.164.22

यस्मि॑न्वृ॒क्षे म॒ध्वदः॑ सुप॒र्णा नि॑वि॒शन्ते॒ सुव॑ते॒ चाधि॒ विश्वे॑ । तस्येदा॑हुः॒ पिप्प॑लं स्वा॒द्वग्रे॒ तन्नोन्न॑श॒द्यः पि॒तरं॒ न वेद॑ ॥

To that tree over and above the mortal world whereon the super-souls of beautiful wings of blessed action nestle in a state of consecration and taste the nectar honey of divine joy, whose taste of the fruit the ancients describe as super-sweet, to that tree of immortal taste and bliss they do not attain who do not know the father.

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1.164.23

यद्गा॑य॒त्रे अधि॑ गाय॒त्रमाहि॑तं॒ त्रैष्टु॑भाद्वा॒ त्रैष्टु॑भं नि॒रत॑क्षत । यद्वा॒ जग॒ज्जग॒त्याहि॑तं प॒दं य इत्तद्वि॒दुस्ते अ॑मृत॒त्वमा॑नशुः ॥

They attain to that immortal state of bliss who know and experience the Spirit which is the lord protector of the celebrants of Divinity immanent in the gayatri verses in their recitations, who rejoice in the divine presence above the trishbubh verses and actualise that presence in life without break, who rise to the height of Divinity and share the dynamic presence vibrating in the universe and revealed in jagati verses, and commune with that presence. (In scientific terms, the earth is gayatri. The fire of yajna is lit on the earth. Traishtubh is the sky. The wind is vibrant and operative there. Dyu is jagati, most dynamic. There aditya, the sun, reigns. Agni, fire is the vitality of the earth, wind is the energy of the sky, and the sun is the life of the heavens. Those who know these regions, their life and vitality and realise their vitality and the spirit of Divinity which informs them and their vitality attain to the state of immortal bliss.)

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1.164.24

गा॒य॒त्रेण॒ प्रति॑ मिमीते अ॒र्कम॒र्केण॒ साम॒ त्रैष्टु॑भेन वा॒कम् । वा॒केन॑ वा॒कं द्वि॒पदा॒ चतु॑ष्पदा॒क्षरे॑ण मिमते स॒प्त वाणीः॑ ॥

In gayatri metre the Rks are composed. With Rks, the Samans are composed. With trishtubh metre Vak, Yajus are composed. By Vak, Yajurveda, and further Vak, Atharva Veda, is composed and formed. And with two-pada and four-pada constituents of the eternal Word, all the seven forms of Vedic compositions in metric forms of verse, are composed. (In scientific terms, gayatri is Parameshthi Prana, universal energy at the highest level, from universal energy, specific forms of energy are created. One of these specific forms is Rk, rhythmic energy operative in thought consciousness. When pranic energy passes through a particular physical structure such as the reed or the larynx, sound is produced. When rhythm is added to sound, music is produced. When elements of sound are related to particular points of the speech mechanism, then phonemes, elements of sound in language forms, are produced. And when the elements of sound are joined in correspondence with thought, then language is produced. When feeling and emotion is added to language and expressed, then song is created and composed. Thus from Rks, thought energies of consciousness composed in language, joined to celebrative joy, Samans are created. When the music and songs of joy are joined to practical situations in the holy business of living, then Yajus are created as holy formations of life’s values. And then from thought, song and practical formulae in holy living the comprehensive body of Atharva hymns is created. The classification of Vedic knowledge is thus explained in terms of knowledge, Rgveda, song, Samveda, action, Yajurveda, and comprehensive message, Atharva-veda, which is also known as Brahma Veda. In this way, from the elements of energy, sound, thought, feeling and emotion in divine consciousness, specially love and joy, all language and linguistic compositions both divine and human, sacred and secular, are created.)

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1.164.25

जग॑ता॒ सिन्धुं॑ दि॒व्य॑स्तभायद्रथंत॒रे सूर्यं॒ पर्य॑पश्यत् । गा॒य॒त्रस्य॑ स॒मिध॑स्ति॒स्र आ॑हु॒स्ततो॑ म॒ह्ना प्र रि॑रिचे महि॒त्वा ॥

The Lord establishes the ocean of energy in the Dyu, the region of light, by cosmic dynamics of Jagati hymns of omnipotence. In theAntariksha, He establishes the sun, generative and radiating source of light and energy. The blazing fire-woods of divine energy, they say, are three: the sun in the highest sky, lightning, wind and electricity in the atmosphere, and fire and magnetic energy in the earth, and by His grand and adorable omnipotence the Lord transcends all these. Of Gayatra, the Samidhas are said to be three: light, lightning and fire.

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1.164.26

उप॑ ह्वये सु॒दुघां॑ धे॒नुमे॒तां सु॒हस्तो॑ गो॒धुगु॒त दो॑हदेनाम् । श्रेष्ठं॑ स॒वं स॑वि॒ता सा॑विषन्नो॒ऽभी॑द्धो घ॒र्मस्तदु॒ षु प्र वो॑चम् ॥

I invoke and call upon this generous mother cow, Gayatri, Mother Nature, mother Sarasvati of knowledge, directly at the closest. Only an intelligent and dexterous person can distil the essence and power of her generosity. May lord Savita, the creator, the sun, the teacher, create the soma of milk, honey and the light of knowledge for us and bless us. Lit up and blazing is the fire in the yajna-vedi. The same I speak of and celebrate in song.

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1.164.27

हि॒ङ्कृ॒ण्व॒ती व॑सु॒पत्नी॒ वसू॑नां व॒त्समि॒च्छन्ती॒ मन॑सा॒भ्यागा॑त् । दु॒हाम॒श्विभ्यां॒ पयो॑ अ॒घ्न्येयं सा व॑र्धतां मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय ॥

Lowing and loving, this mother cow, sustainer of the breath and supports of life, caressing her children with her heart of tenderness, comes to bless us all round. May she, never never to be killed or hurt, distil the milk of life’s energy from the sun and wind and ever grow for the great good fortune and prosperity of life on earth.

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1.164.28

गौर॑मीमे॒दनु॑ व॒त्सं मि॒षन्तं॑ मू॒र्धानं॒ हिङ्ङ॑कृणो॒न्मात॒वा उ॑ । सृक्वा॑णं घ॒र्मम॒भि वा॑वशा॒ना मिमा॑ति मा॒युं पय॑ते॒ पयो॑भिः ॥

The cow goes to the calf winking its eyes in loving expectation, lowing with love, and licks its head with caress. And lowing and loving more and more in response to the yearning affection of the calf, she overflows with milk. (The same is the response of mother earth and mother Sarasvati to the children yearning for love, nourishment and knowledge.)

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1.164.29

अ॒यं स शि॑ङ्क्ते॒ येन॒ गौर॒भीवृ॑ता॒ मिमा॑ति मा॒युं ध्व॒सना॒वधि॑ श्रि॒ता । सा चि॒त्तिभि॒र्नि हि च॒कार॒ मर्त्यं॑ वि॒द्युद्भव॑न्ती॒ प्रति॑ व॒व्रिमौ॑हत ॥

This is that cloud which roars and by which, covered and surrounded in the vapours, the earth reverberates in response. The earth, with her own feelings of kindness and generosity sustains the mortal children of hers, and her energy, being in the form of lightning, reveals and realises her own form and character.

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1.164.30

अ॒नच्छ॑ये तु॒रगा॑तु जी॒वमेज॑द्ध्रु॒वं मध्य॒ आ प॒स्त्या॑नाम् । जी॒वो मृ॒तस्य॑ चरति स्व॒धाभि॒रम॑र्त्यो॒ मर्त्ये॑ना॒ सयो॑निः ॥

Living and breathing, moving at the speed of infinity yet constant and omnipresent, the Spirit of the Universe abides eternal, impelling the individual soul to move among the variety of material forms. And thus, the immortal spirit of mortal man moves around in love and company with the mortal forms of material beauty by virtue of its karma and self sacrifice.

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1.164.31

अप॑श्यं गो॒पामनि॑पद्यमान॒मा च॒ परा॑ च प॒थिभि॒श्चर॑न्तम् । स स॒ध्रीचीः॒ स विषू॑ची॒र्वसा॑न॒ आ व॑रीवर्ति॒ भुव॑नेष्व॒न्तः ॥

I pray I may see and realise that universal protector of the world of nature and the mother powers of life, who, ever infallible and immaculate, is immanent and active over the nearest and the farthest paths of existence, and, pervading the centripetal and centrifugal waves of Prakrti, eternally rolls around in the worlds of the universe. Note: This mantra can be interpreted with reference to the individual soul: I wish and pray I may realise the essential nature of that presiding power over the mind and senses which, though in association with the mind and senses, never falls from its essence and moves over the paths and forms of existence far and near. The soul takes to the forms of Prakrti which, it feels, go with it, as well as to those forms which are various and disagreeable. And thus it goes round and round in and across the worlds of the universe, integrated with all living forms and yet essentially its own self.

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1.164.32

य ईं॑ च॒कार॒ न सो अ॒स्य वे॑द॒ य ईं॑ द॒दर्श॒ हिरु॒गिन्नु तस्मा॑त् । स मा॒तुर्योना॒ परि॑वीतो अ॒न्तर्ब॑हुप्र॒जा निर्ऋ॑ति॒मा वि॑वेश ॥

That One that creates this universe, the other, individual soul, knows not of. This other that sees this world of existence goes off from the essence, and, enveloped in the mothers womb, covered in the folds of material form within, it is born and enters the world of mortality for ages in birth after birth.

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1.164.33

द्यौर्मे॑ पि॒ता ज॑नि॒ता नाभि॒रत्र॒ बन्धु॑र्मे मा॒ता पृ॑थि॒वी म॒हीयम् । उ॒त्ता॒नयो॑श्च॒म्वो॒३॒॑र्योनि॑र॒न्तरत्रा॑ पि॒ता दु॑हि॒तुर्गर्भ॒माधा॑त् ॥

The heaven above is my father and creator, my centre-hold, my haven and home here, my brother support to stand by. And this great earth, this universe, this nature, is my mother. In the womb of these two great generative powers, heaven and earth, the mother of His own creation in here, the father of the universe sows the seed of life.

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1.164.34

पृ॒च्छामि॑ त्वा॒ पर॒मन्तं॑ पृथि॒व्याः पृ॒च्छामि॒ यत्र॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ नाभिः॑ । पृ॒च्छामि॑ त्वा॒ वृष्णो॒ अश्व॑स्य॒ रेतः॑ पृ॒च्छामि॑ वा॒चः प॑र॒मं व्यो॑म ॥

What is the ultimate end of the earth? I ask you. Where is the centre and centre-hold of the universe? I ask you. What is the life-seed of the mighty generative force of infinitive power and speed? I ask you. What is the ultimate sound source from where the first boom of the Word arises? I ask.

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1.164.35

इ॒यं वेदिः॒ परो॒ अन्तः॑ पृथि॒व्या अ॒यं य॒ज्ञो भुव॑नस्य॒ नाभिः॑ । अ॒यं सोमो॒ वृष्णो॒ अश्व॑स्य॒ रेतो॑ ब्र॒ह्मायं वा॒चः प॑र॒मं व्यो॑म ॥

This vedi, creativity and productivity of the earth, is the ultimate end of the earth. This yajna, meeting of solar vitality and earthly productivity, is the centrehold of life in the world. The vitality of the sun and the shower of soma is the life seed of the generative energy of the creator who is generous and infinite.And Brahma, immanent consciousness of the Lord is the ultimate home of the Word from where it incarnates in the world as Veda.

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1.164.36

स॒प्तार्ध॑ग॒र्भा भुव॑नस्य॒ रेतो॒ विष्णो॑स्तिष्ठन्ति प्र॒दिशा॒ विध॑र्मणि । ते धी॒तिभि॒र्मन॑सा॒ ते वि॑प॒श्चितः॑ परि॒भुवः॒ परि॑ भवन्ति वि॒श्वतः॑ ॥

Seven evolutes of Prakrti, i.e., five subtle elements, mind and senses (which evolve from Ahankara), and the Mahat-tattva, represent half of the divine process of creation (the other half being the creative seed or thought-sankalpa of Parameshthi Prajapati); they are half the womb of the universe the other half is the divine will. By the will of Vishnu they abide inAkasha, eternal space-and-time continuum with their distinct properties and power and comprehend and rule the entire worlds in existence.

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1.164.37

न वि जा॑नामि॒ यदि॑वे॒दमस्मि॑ नि॒ण्यः संन॑द्धो॒ मन॑सा चरामि । य॒दा माग॑न्प्रथम॒जा ऋ॒तस्यादिद्वा॒चो अ॑श्नुवे भा॒गम॒स्याः ॥

I just do not know what I am like for sure, or what this world is. Self-imposed, self-bound, I move around with limited mind and understanding. But when the first evolutes of natural truth, i.e., intelligence and understanding of awareness come to me, and when the revelations of this Divine Word of truth bless me, then I realise my share of knowledge of the reality of existence that it is.

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1.164.38

अपा॒ङ्प्राङे॑ति स्व॒धया॑ गृभी॒तोऽम॑र्त्यो॒ मर्त्ये॑ना॒ सयो॑निः । ता शश्व॑न्ता विषू॒चीना॑ वि॒यन्ता॒ न्य१॒॑न्यं चि॒क्युर्न नि चि॑क्युर॒न्यम् ॥

The immortal soul coexistent with the mortal body goes back and forth. Both, body and soul, are eternal and imperishable, the body as Prakrti in the essence and the soul as spirit. Both are different and going apart. Those who know know one and the other, some know one but not the other, and those who don’t know know neither.

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1.164.39

ऋ॒चो अ॒क्षरे॑ पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्यस्मि॑न्दे॒वा अधि॒ विश्वे॑ निषे॒दुः । यस्तन्न वेद॒ किमृ॒चा क॑रिष्यति॒ य इत्तद्वि॒दुस्त इ॒मे समा॑सते ॥

The Rks, Vedas, exist in the omniscient supreme Spirit of existence, infinite and imperishable as the eternal and ultimate space-time continuum. In That, all the divine powers of existence subsist. If one does not know or acknowledge that, what would he or she achieve with mere words of the Rks? Those who know Him, reside with Him.

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1.164.40

सू॒य॒व॒साद्भग॑वती॒ हि भू॒या अथो॑ व॒यं भग॑वन्तः स्याम । अ॒द्धि तृण॑मघ्न्ये विश्व॒दानीं॒ पिब॑ शु॒द्धमु॑द॒कमा॒चर॑न्ती ॥

Adorable lady of knowledge and wisdom, be great and illustrious with holy food for mind and spirit, and then, we pray, we too may have the honour and prosperity of knowledge and well-being. Holy and inviolable as the mother cow, living on pure food and drinking pure water, and conducting yourself with kindness and grace, bless us with the generous gift of universal knowledge and joy of life.

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1.164.41

गौ॒रीर्मि॑माय सलि॒लानि॒ तक्ष॒त्येक॑पदी द्वि॒पदी॒ सा चतु॑ष्पदी । अ॒ष्टाप॑दी॒ नव॑पदी बभू॒वुषी॑ स॒हस्रा॑क्षरा पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् ॥

The lady of light in spotless white of the Word in the highest heaven of eternal Omniscience, ever keen to reveal and grow, speaks loud and bold, stirring the stillness of space in waves of consciousness in the universal mind and in the pools of the seer’s minds, and thus reveals the Word in forms and stages for humanity: One Veda as the whole knowledge, two Vedas for knowledge and action, three Vedas for knowledge, action and prayer, four Vedas as one compendium of discrete forms, eightfold knowledge of four Vedas and four Upa-Vedas of practical knowledge such as health science, military science, etc., and nine-stage knowledge, the ninth being grammar, phonetics, astronomy, etc. Indeed, this is knowledge contained in countless thousand variations of the One Imperishable Word: AUM.

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1.164.42

तस्याः॑ समु॒द्रा अधि॒ वि क्ष॑रन्ति॒ तेन॑ जीवन्ति प्र॒दिश॒श्चत॑स्रः । ततः॑ क्षरत्य॒क्षरं॒ तद्विश्व॒मुप॑ जीवति ॥

The oceanic showers of that voice of eternal omniscience rain in torrents. With these showers the directions, all the four and their sub-directions, vibrate with life. Then from there the actual words reveal themselves to human vision and perception, and the entire world of humanity lives by that revelation with light, support and guidance.

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1.164.43

श॒क॒मयं॑ धू॒ममा॒राद॑पश्यं विषू॒वता॑ प॒र ए॒नाव॑रेण । उ॒क्षाणं॒ पृश्नि॑मपचन्त वी॒रास्तानि॒ धर्मा॑णि प्रथ॒मान्या॑सन् ॥

I have seen from close quarters the clouds of smoke and vapour laden with power. From this close by, I perceive the powerful catalytic agents of nature far off busy heating and creating the clouds of soma replete with vitality. These processes are the first operations of natural evolution and behaviour higher up in space.

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1.164.44

त्रयः॑ के॒शिन॑ ऋतु॒था वि च॑क्षते संवत्स॒रे व॑पत॒ एक॑ एषाम् । विश्व॒मेको॑ अ॒भि च॑ष्टे॒ शची॑भि॒र्ध्राजि॒रेक॑स्य ददृशे॒ न रू॒पम् ॥

Three powers of nature with their distinct identities express themselves and operate according to the cycle of the seasons in the year. One of these, fire, is lit once in the year and generates and germinates the seeds of life. Another the sun, with its action and operations, illuminates the world. The third is wind, the force of it can be perceived but not its shape and form.

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1.164.45

च॒त्वारि॒ वाक्परि॑मिता प॒दानि॒ तानि॑ विदुर्ब्राह्म॒णा ये म॑नी॒षिणः॑ । गुहा॒ त्रीणि॒

निहि॑ता॒ नेङ्ग॑यन्ति तु॒रीयं॑ वा॒चो म॑नु॒ष्या॑ वदन्ति ॥

Four are the constituent parts of speech which the wise men of learning know. Three of them are hidden in the cave of the mind, they are neither analysed, nor defined, nor understood by ordinary speakers, only the fourth part of speech, or parole, they use in communication. (The four constituents of the structure of speech are: Nama or substantive, noun, Akhyata or roots of verbs, Upasarga or affixes, and Nipata or irregular accepted forms. These four are the subjects for grammarians and linguists. For the ordinary person, speech is the whole language, just what it is, and accepted without the understanding of structure and grammar. At a higher level, language is analysed in four layers of existence and consciousness: Para or transcendent language which is beyond thought and understanding. It may be regarded as the languagecorrespondence of the omniscience of God. The second is Pashyanti, one step close to us from Para. This may be understood to be the language existing in the unconscious layers of the mind. The third is Madhyama, another step closer to our consciousness. Let us say it exists in our sub-conscious mind. And the fourth is Vaikhari, existing at our conscious level of the mind. This is the language in use. Further, this language is analysed into four constituents: Nama, Akhata, Upasarga and Nipata. And of this language too the ordinary speaker uses the accepted form without knowing the structure and grammar. For the ordinary speaker, the language in use is only behaviour purely at the natural and social level. And in yet another way, language may be understood in the way of the Veda: Ila, the language of omniscience, Sarasvati, the language of Veda and learning, Mahi, the spoken language at the level of the earth, nation, region, family and the mother. Another name for this speech is Bharati. And one thing more at the end of this note: This analysis and study is for the learned and for the seekers of learning. It has no value for the ordinary speaker. He or she speaks what is spoken for the only reason that he or she speaks thus, and what is spoken is understood.)

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1.164.46

इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमा॑हु॒रथो॑ दि॒व्यः स सु॑प॒र्णो ग॒रुत्मा॑न् । एकं॒ सद्विप्रा॑ बहु॒धा व॑दन्त्य॒ग्निं य॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमाहुः ॥

Reality is one, Truth is one, Ishvara is one and only One, not more than one. The learned and the wise speak of It in many ways. They say: It is Indra, glorious, Mitra, universal friend, Varuna, highest adorable, Agni, light of life, Divya, heavenly, Suparna, supreme beauteous, Garutman, supreme dynamic. They say: It is Agni, life and leader of existence, Yama, supreme controller, law and justice, and the judge, and Matarishva, supreme energy of the universe.

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1.164.47

कृ॒ष्णं नि॒यानं॒ हर॑यः सुप॒र्णा अ॒पो वसा॑ना॒ दिव॒मुत्प॑तन्ति । त आव॑वृत्र॒न्त्सद॑नादृ॒तस्यादिद्घृ॒तेन॑ पृथि॒वी व्यु॑द्यते ॥

The brilliant and beautiful rays of the sun constantly touch the green earth held by the sun and, covered by vapours of water, and rise back to the region of the sun. They come down from the region of waters and the earth is soaked with the water of rain showers.

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1.164.48

द्वाद॑श प्र॒धय॑श्च॒क्रमेकं॒ त्रीणि॒ नभ्या॑नि॒ क उ॒ तच्चि॑केत । तस्मि॑न्त्सा॒कं त्रि॑श॒ता न श॒ङ्कवो॑ऽर्पि॒ताः ष॒ष्टिर्न च॑लाच॒लासः॑ ॥

One full circle is the wheel going round. Twelve are the segments of the felly of the wheel. Three are the centres of the nave. Three hundred and sixty are the spokes fixed and yet on the move with the wheel. Who knows such a wheel? Rarely someone.

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1.164.49

यस्ते॒ स्तनः॑ शश॒यो यो म॑यो॒भूर्येन॒ विश्वा॒ पुष्य॑सि॒ वार्या॑णि । यो र॑त्न॒धा व॑सु॒विद्यः सु॒दत्रः॒ सर॑स्वति॒ तमि॒ह धात॑वे कः ॥

Sarasvati, divine mother of the wealth and knowledge of the world, that abundant and inexhaustible treasure of knowledge of yours which is blissful, with which you fill and replenish the cherished resources of the world, which holds the jewels of the earth and reveals and provides the wealths of existence, and which gives all the gifts and blessings of life: that treasure, O mother, pray open for your darling child, the seeker of nourishment for body, mind and soul.

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1.164.50

य॒ज्ञेन॑ य॒ज्ञम॑यजन्त दे॒वास्तानि॒ धर्मा॑णि प्रथ॒मान्या॑सन् । ते ह॒ नाकं॑ महि॒मानः॑ सचन्त॒ यत्र॒ पूर्वे॑ सा॒ध्याः सन्ति॑ दे॒वाः ॥

The divinities, first evolutes of nature with the immanent will Divine, conducted the yajna of creation by yajna, yajnic inputs of self-sacrifice. They were the first sustainers, supporters of the divine laws, keepers of the rules of Dharma and carriers of the yajna further. They alone attain to grandeur and rise to the regions where the divine souls of the ancients dwell, who carry on the yajna and serve the Lord of Heaven.

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1.164.51

स॒मा॒नमे॒तदु॑द॒कमुच्चैत्यव॒ चाह॑भिः । भूमिं॑ प॒र्जन्या॒ जिन्व॑न्ति॒ दिवं॑ जिन्वन्त्य॒ग्नयः॑ ॥

Same is this water which goes up to the skies and comes down to the earth by days and nights. The clouds refresh and replenish the fertility of the earth, while the fires of yajna, electrical energies of the winds and sunrays serve the heavens with fragrance of the earth.

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1.164.52

दि॒व्यं सु॑प॒र्णं वा॑य॒सं बृ॒हन्त॑म॒पां गर्भं॑ दर्श॒तमोष॑धीनाम् । अ॒भी॒प॒तो वृ॒ष्टिभि॑स्त॒र्पय॑न्तं॒ सर॑स्वन्त॒मव॑से जोहवीमि ॥

For nourishment, protection and promotion of life on earth, I invoke, adore and constantly offer libations of homage and fragrant samits and havish to the heavenly, bright and blazing angel of cosmic wings, radiating centre of liquid energy and soothing ripener of herbs and greens, ever exuberant flood of generosity, which fills the thirsting earth with rain showers of fertility from the clouds of space.

✦ Sukta 165 · 15 verses ✦

1.165.1

कया॑ शु॒भा सव॑यसः॒ सनी॑ळाः समा॒न्या म॒रुतः॒ सं मि॑मिक्षुः । कया॑ म॒ती कुत॒ एता॑स ए॒तेऽर्च॑न्ति॒ शुष्मं॒ वृष॑णो वसू॒या ॥

With what noble and equal action do the Maruts, divine complementary energies, kindred powers of equal age and home, join together, mix the yajna materials for oblations and shower the earth with rain and fragrance? With what thought and intelligence, and coming from where do they, generous powers anxious for the wealth of life, value and refine strength and competence for the realisation of wealth?

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1.165.2

कस्य॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि जुजुषु॒र्युवा॑नः॒ को अ॑ध्व॒रे म॒रुत॒ आ व॑वर्त । श्ये॒नाँ इ॑व॒ ध्रज॑तो अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ केन॑ म॒हा मन॑सा रीरमाम ॥

Whose wealth do they, ever young, love and delight in? Who enjoins the Maruts to visit and join the yajna of love and non-violence? The Maruts traverse the spaces like eagles sweeping across the skies. With what great mind shall we serve and please them?

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1.165.3

कुत॒स्त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ माहि॑नः॒ सन्नेको॑ यासि सत्पते॒ किं त॑ इ॒त्था । सं पृ॑च्छसे समरा॒णः शु॑भा॒नैर्वो॒चेस्तन्नो॑ हरिवो॒ यत्ते॑ अ॒स्मे ॥

Indra, lord of might and grandeur, protector of truth and right, you are so great, unique, still you go all alone by yourself, without attendant, assistant or retinue? Wherefrom? Where to? This way? What does it mean? We ask you, friend and comrade, lord of sunbeams, whatever is in your mind for us, pray speak in good words.

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1.165.4

ब्रह्मा॑णि मे म॒तयः॒ शं सु॒तासः॒ शुष्म॑ इयर्ति॒ प्रभृ॑तो मे॒ अद्रिः॑ । आ शा॑सते॒ प्रति॑ हर्यन्त्यु॒क्थेमा हरी॑ वहत॒स्ता नो॒ अच्छ॑ ॥

May the wealth and power, the people and ideas of the nation, and the noble achievements of peace and joy be for our good. The strength, the cloud and the thunderbolt deployed go forward for our good and peace. The songs of praise arise and celebrate us. May the horses of Indra, the energies of sunbeams and electrical energy, carry us onward.

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1.165.5

अतो॑ व॒यम॑न्त॒मेभि॑र्युजा॒नाः स्वक्ष॑त्रेभिस्त॒न्वः१॒॑ शुम्भ॑मानाः । महो॑भि॒रेताँ॒ उप॑ युज्महे॒ न्विन्द्र॑ स्व॒धामनु॒ हि नो॑ ब॒भूथ॑ ॥

Thus possessed of our most intimate powers and the grandeur of our social order, raising the beauty and grace of our body politic, we may use these powers and energies of nature. Indra, lord of grace and power, be favourable to us in consonance with our own essential strength, power and virtue of character.

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1.165.6

क्व१॒॑ स्या वो॑ मरुतः स्व॒धासी॒द्यन्मामेकं॑ स॒मध॑त्ताहि॒हत्ये॑ । अ॒हं ह्यु१॒॑ग्रस्त॑वि॒षस्तुवि॑ष्मा॒न्विश्व॑स्य॒ शत्रो॒रन॑मं वध॒स्नैः ॥

O Maruts, tempestuous powers of knowledge, speed and energy, where is that essential strength and energy of yours which you placed in me to break the clouds of rain showers by myself alone? Bright, blazing and awful of power, I bow in homage to you with all my fatal weapons of defence against the enemies of the world and humanity. (The strength and energy is everywhere in nature, in fire, water and electric and magnetic force, and in the sunbeams. Let us exploit these with knowledge and scientific technique.)

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1.165.7

भूरि॑ चकर्थ॒ युज्ये॑भिर॒स्मे स॑मा॒नेभि॑र्वृषभ॒ पौंस्ये॑भिः । भूरी॑णि॒ हि कृ॒णवा॑मा शवि॒ष्ठेन्द्र॒ क्रत्वा॑ मरुतो॒ यद्वशा॑म ॥

Indra, lord of power and generosity, with nature’s energy harnessed for acts of general, universal and humane value, you have done us proud with many useful, equal and valorous acts of nobility. Indra, lord of highest valour and peace, and Maruts, heroes of tempestuous speed and performance, let us too do a lot of great things and achieve what we want with noble yajnic acts of love and generosity.

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1.165.8

वधीं॑ वृ॒त्रं म॑रुत इन्द्रि॒येण॒ स्वेन॒ भामे॑न तवि॒षो ब॑भू॒वान् । अ॒हमे॒ता मन॑वे वि॒श्वश्च॑न्द्राः सु॒गा अ॒पश्च॑कर॒ वज्र॑बाहुः ॥

O Maruts, heroes of furious energy and power, I break the clouds of darkness with my own might, being powerful by my own passion for what is right, and, holding the thunderbolt in hand, I do these acts of universal wealth and beauty for the sake of humanity, acts which clear the paths for future progress.

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1.165.9

अनु॑त्त॒मा ते॑ मघव॒न्नकि॒र्नु न त्वावाँ॑ अस्ति दे॒वता॒ विदा॑नः । न जाय॑मानो॒ नश॑ते॒ न जा॒तो यानि॑ करि॒ष्या कृ॑णु॒हि प्र॑वृद्ध ॥

Lord of bounty, wealth and power, there is nothing initiated, inspired and made to move except by you. There is none like you who commands light, knowledge and generosity in abundance. There is none born or emerging into prominence who can attain to your grandeur. Lord thriving and exalted, do whatever things are to be done, for no one can rival you.

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1.165.10

एक॑स्य चिन्मे वि॒भ्व१॒॑स्त्वोजो॒ या नु द॑धृ॒ष्वान्कृ॒णवै॑ मनी॒षा । अ॒हं ह्यु१॒॑ग्रो म॑रुतो॒ विदा॑नो॒ यानि॒ च्यव॒मिन्द्र॒ इदी॑श एषाम् ॥

I am one and independent, may my vigour and splendour grow and spread all round since, bold and daring, whatever I do and want to do, I do with all my mind and soul. O Maruts, heroes of the winds and tempests, I am bright and lustrous, I am Indra, master of my own powers. I am knowledgeable, I know what I know. Wherever I move, whatever I achieve, surely I rule and govern.

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1.165.11

अम॑न्दन्मा मरुतः॒ स्तोमो॒ अत्र॒ यन्मे॑ नरः॒ श्रुत्यं॒ ब्रह्म॑ च॒क्र । इन्द्रा॑य॒ वृष्णे॒ सुम॑खाय॒ मह्यं॒ सख्ये॒ सखा॑यस्त॒न्वे॑ त॒नूभिः॑ ॥

Friends, leaders, Maruts, may the hymns of Veda and the song of praise which you have composed for me and offered here give me joy. May the song with its body of words and music be pleasing to me and my body and mind and to Indra, generous friend of all and performer of yajna.

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1.165.12

ए॒वेदे॒ते प्रति॑ मा॒ रोच॑माना॒ अने॑द्यः॒ श्रव॒ एषो॒ दधा॑नाः । सं॒चक्ष्या॑ मरुतश्च॒न्द्रव॑र्णा॒ अच्छा॑न्त मे छ॒दया॑था च नू॒नम् ॥

Thus may these friends, leaders and you, O Maruts, golden glorious all, loving and kind toward me, holding and commanding admirable foods, energies and noble desires, wealth, honour and holy songs, holding me in high esteem, happily disposed, overwhelm me with honour and joy.

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1.165.13

को न्वत्र॑ मरुतो मामहे वः॒ प्र या॑तन॒ सखीँ॒रच्छा॑ सखायः । मन्मा॑नि चित्रा अपिवा॒तय॑न्त ए॒षां भू॑त॒ नवे॑दा म ऋ॒ताना॑म् ॥

O Maruts, pioneers of knowledge and science, who offers you tributes of praise and appreciation here now? Friends, go forward to those friends who love and honour you. Heroes of wonderful action, moving on to the completion of your programmes of knowledge, be aware of my projects of truth and natural laws and waters of space to fight out want and suffering.

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1.165.14

आ यद्दु॑व॒स्याद्दु॒वसे॒ न का॒रुर॒स्माञ्च॒क्रे मा॒न्यस्य॑ मे॒धा । ओ षु व॑र्त्त मरुतो॒ विप्र॒मच्छे॒मा ब्रह्मा॑णि जरि॒ता वो॑ अर्चत् ॥

Just as honour and celebration moves on from the honoured to the honourable in succession in the advancement of knowledge, so let the intelligence and expertise of the eminent scientist and technologist come to benefit us. O Maruts, leaders and pioneers of knowledge, turn in appreciation and recognition to the scholar expert, since the celebrant offers these hymns of praise, discovery and invention to you.

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1.165.15

ए॒ष वः॒ स्तोमो॑ मरुत इ॒यं गीर्मा॑न्दा॒र्यस्य॑ मा॒न्यस्य॑ का॒रोः । एषा या॑सीष्ट त॒न्वे॑ व॒यां वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

O Maruts, leaders, pioneers, heroes of speed and power of progress, this song of celebration is for you. It is the voice of the lyric of the honourable artist, scientist and technologist. Come with desire and commitment to advance the science and the scholar further. And let us too achieve food and energy, strength and power, and life-giving victories.

✦ Sukta 166 · 15 verses ✦

1.166.1

तन्नु वो॑चाम रभ॒साय॒ जन्म॑ने॒ पूर्वं॑ महि॒त्वं वृ॑ष॒भस्य॑ के॒तवे॑ । ऐ॒धेव॒ याम॑न्मरुतस्तुविष्वणो यु॒धेव॑ शक्रास्तवि॒षाणि॑ कर्तन ॥

O Maruts, roaring heroes of the strength and speed of the winds, for a full life of courage and enthusiasm and the distinction of leadership and overflowing generosity, we sing and celebrate your ancient and original heroism. Blazing like fire, advancing like warriors, do wondrous deeds of valour worthy of admiration.

· · ·

1.166.2

नित्यं॒ न सू॒नुं मधु॒ बिभ्र॑त॒ उप॒ क्रीळ॑न्ति क्री॒ळा वि॒दथे॑षु॒ घृष्व॑यः । नक्ष॑न्ति रु॒द्रा अव॑सा नम॒स्विनं॒ न म॑र्धन्ति॒ स्वत॑वसो हवि॒ष्कृत॑म् ॥

They bear the honey sweets of life for all as parents bring honey to their darling child. Heroes of courage and valour but sportive as ripples of a stream, they play their part in the battles of life. Ferocious and terrible like jaws of retributive justice, yet dear as breath of life, they come to the man of reverence and humility with love and protection and, with all their innate strength and power, they never hurt the man dedicated to yajna and charity.

· · ·

1.166.3

यस्मा॒ ऊमा॑सो अ॒मृता॒ अरा॑सत रा॒यस्पोषं॑ च ह॒विषा॑ ददा॒शुषे॑ । उ॒क्षन्त्य॑स्मै म॒रुतो॑ हि॒ता इ॑व पु॒रू रजां॑सि॒ पय॑सा मयो॒भुवः॑ ॥

Just as imperishable protectors provide wealth and nourishment for the man who gives liberally in charity alongwith offerings of fragrant materials into the yajna fire, so do the Maruts, winds and other natural energies, kind and beneficent, like favourable helpers at the beck and call of a friend, overflow many regions of earth and skies with milk and water for the sake of the man of yajna.

· · ·

1.166.4

आ ये रजां॑सि॒ तवि॑षीभि॒रव्य॑त॒ प्र व॒ एवा॑सः॒ स्वय॑तासो अध्रजन् । भय॑न्ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि ह॒र्म्या चि॒त्रो वो॒ यामः॒ प्रय॑तास्वृ॒ष्टिषु॑ ॥

As you move on to reach the regions of your choice with your power and force and while your automotive and tempestuous rockets rush forth through the skies and spaces, then all the worlds and their towers shake with terror. Amazing is that mission of flight in the programmed and guided projects of yours.

· · ·

1.166.5

यत्त्वे॒षया॑मा न॒दय॑न्त॒ पर्व॑तान्दि॒वो वा॑ पृ॒ष्ठं नर्या॒ अचु॑च्यवुः । विश्वो॑ वो॒ अज्म॑न्भयते॒ वन॒स्पती॑ रथी॒यन्ती॑व॒ प्र जि॑हीत॒ ओष॑धिः ॥

When the man-made meteors of rockets blazing through sky and space roar through mountains of earth and clouds of dust and vapour, making them reverberate, and thus reach the top of heaven, then all the bio-world on your way shakes in fear and celestial herbs like soma shake off from the root like astronauts floating from their seat in the control chamber.

· · ·

1.166.6

यू॒यं न॑ उग्रा मरुतः सुचे॒तुनारि॑ष्टग्रामाः सुम॒तिं पि॑पर्तन । यत्रा॑ वो दि॒द्युद्रद॑ति॒ क्रिवि॑र्दती रि॒णाति॑ प॒श्वः सुधि॑तेव ब॒र्हणा॑ ॥

Maruts, powers young, dynamic and passionately enthusiastic, bright blazing and wellharnessed is your power of energy, held and controlled like a tempered sword, cutting, lighting, digging and driving. With this electric energy and your noble intelligence, assure and augment our understanding and development without damaging the country-life.

· · ·

1.166.7

प्र स्क॒म्भदे॑ष्णा अनव॒भ्ररा॑धसोऽलातृ॒णासो॑ वि॒दथे॑षु॒ सुष्टु॑ताः । अर्च॑न्त्य॒र्कं म॑दि॒रस्य॑ पी॒तये॑ वि॒दुर्वी॒रस्य॑ प्रथ॒मानि॒ पौंस्या॑ ॥

Givers of settlement and sustenance, sure and secure of their wealth and power of accomplishment, victorious over their opponents, highly applauded in the yajnic battles of life, honour and invite the brilliant and the wise for a drink of inspiring soma. They know, achieve and command the first, essential heroic powers of the brave and virtuous.

· · ·

1.166.8

श॒तभु॑जिभि॒स्तम॒भिह्रु॑तेर॒घात्पू॒र्भी र॑क्षता मरुतो॒ यमाव॑त । जनं॒ यमु॑ग्रास्तवसो विरप्शिनः पा॒थना॒ शंसा॒त्तन॑यस्य पु॒ष्टिषु॑ ॥

O Maruts, young leaders and heroes, bright, powerful and generous, whoever you promote and protect in city life with a hundred ways of comfort and security, protect him from crime and damage, and in matters of the promotion and advancement of his children, save the man from sin and scandal.

· · ·

1.166.9

विश्वा॑नि भ॒द्रा म॑रुतो॒ रथे॑षु वो मिथ॒स्पृध्ये॑व तवि॒षाण्याहि॑ता । अंसे॒ष्वा वः॒ प्रप॑थेषु खा॒दयोऽक्षो॑ वश्च॒क्रा स॒मया॒ वि वा॑वृते ॥

O Maruts, heroic warriors like the winds, in your chariots are collected materials for universal good of the people, and on your shoulders and in the chariots are blazing weapons in position competing, as if, in effectiveness. In your paths are provided materials for food and advancement, and the axles and wheels of the chariots are well aligned and balanced for fast and rhythmic movement.

· · ·

1.166.10

भूरी॑णि भ॒द्रा नर्ये॑षु बा॒हुषु॒ वक्ष॑स्सु रु॒क्मा र॑भ॒सासो॑ अ॒ञ्जयः॑ । अंसे॒ष्वेताः॑ प॒विषु॑ क्षु॒रा अधि॒ वयो॒ न प॒क्षान्व्यनु॒ श्रियो॑ धिरे ॥

In the arms of these heroes of the people there is abundant power for general good. On their chest are ornamented armours of strong and variegated design. On their shoulders are bows and arrows of lightning speed. On their thunderbolt is the sharpness of the razor’s edge. And they wear the dignity and grace of the wings of celestial birds.

· · ·

1.166.11

म॒हान्तो॑ म॒ह्ना वि॒भ्वो॒३॒॑ विभू॑तयो दूरे॒दृशो॒ ये दि॒व्या इ॑व॒ स्तृभिः॑ । म॒न्द्राः सु॑जि॒ह्वाः स्वरि॑तार आ॒सभिः॒ सम्मि॑श्ला॒ इन्द्रे॑ म॒रुतः॑ परि॒ष्टुभः॑ ॥

Great are the Maruts with their own innate greatness, powerful, magnanimous, far-sighted, refulgent with brilliant stars which light the world, joyous and loved of all, sweet of tongue, true of the word of mouth, and they are sustainers of all in company with Indra, universal energy and power.

· · ·

1.166.12

तद्वः॑ सुजाता मरुतो महित्व॒नं दी॒र्घं वो॑ दा॒त्रमदि॑तेरिव व्र॒तम् । इन्द्र॑श्च॒न त्यज॑सा॒ वि ह्रु॑णाति॒ तज्जना॑य॒ यस्मै॑ सु॒कृते॒ अरा॑ध्वम् ॥

O Maruts, high-born and arisen you are, great is your glory, abundant is your generosity, and deep and inviolable is your discipline of vows as that of imperishable Aditi. Whatever you grant and bestow on the man of noble action, even Indra commanding the thunderbolt does not touch.

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1.166.13

तद्वो॑ जामि॒त्वं म॑रुतः॒ परे॑ यु॒गे पु॒रू यच्छंस॑ममृतास॒ आव॑त । अ॒या धि॒या मन॑वे श्रु॒ष्टिमाव्या॑ सा॒कं नरो॑ दं॒सनै॒रा चि॑कित्रिरे ॥

O Maruts, immortal souls, that brotherhood of yours, that joy and suffering of yours in the last age, that high honour and reputation you earned and preserved, the same honour and reputation, protect and preserve with this intelligence and understanding of yours for humanity and further extend and preserve with your noble actions in company with men and leaders.

· · ·

1.166.14

येन॑ दी॒र्घं म॑रुतः शू॒शवा॑म यु॒ष्माके॑न॒ परी॑णसा तुरासः । आ यत्त॒तन॑न्वृ॒जने॒ जना॑स ए॒भिर्य॒ज्ञेभि॒स्तद॒भीष्टि॑मश्याम् ॥

O Maruts, heroes of instant action and achievement, that abundance, expertise and heroism of yours by virtue of which we achieve great things of lasting significance, by which people expand in knowledge and win victories in their battles of life, that very cherished abundance, expertise and power of action, I pray, I too may achieve by these yajnic performances.

· · ·

1.166.15

ए॒ष वः॒ स्तोमो॑ मरुत इ॒यं गीर्मा॑न्दा॒र्यस्य॑ मा॒न्यस्य॑ का॒रोः । एषा या॑सीष्ट त॒न्वे॑ व॒यां वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

O Maruts, heroes of instant action, universal knowledge and abundant generosity, this is the song of celebration in honour of your action and achievement. This is the spontaneous voice of the happy and honoured poet artist. May it reach you for the manifestation of your form and image in existence for our benefit so that we may acquire food and energy for our body, mind and spirit, clear our paths of advancement and achieve abundance in life for a vibrant living.

✦ Sukta 167 · 11 verses ✦

1.167.1

स॒हस्रं॑ त इन्द्रो॒तयो॑ नः स॒हस्र॒मिषो॑ हरिवो गू॒र्तत॑माः । स॒हस्रं॒ रायो॑ माद॒यध्यै॑ सह॒स्रिण॒ उप॑ नो यन्तु॒ वाजाः॑ ॥

Lord of power and sustenance, Indra, thousands are your protections and ways of protection for us. Lord of sunbeams, thousand-fold are the foods and energies of the most admirable order. Thousands are your gifts of wealth for us to enjoy life. And thousands may be, we pray, the forms of knowledge, valour and victory for us.

· · ·

1.167.2

आ नोऽवो॑भिर्म॒रुतो॑ या॒न्त्वच्छा॒ ज्येष्ठे॑भिर्वा बृ॒हद्दि॑वैः सुमा॒याः । अध॒ यदे॑षां नि॒युतः॑ पर॒माः स॑मु॒द्रस्य॑ चिद्ध॒नय॑न्त पा॒रे ॥

May the Maruts, heroes of the winds, powers of vision and wonder as they are, come well to us with their modes of protection and senior-most scholars of brilliance, and then may follow those of their most efficient modes of transport which can cross the seas and skies for the acquisition of wealth.

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1.167.3

मि॒म्यक्ष॒ येषु॒ सुधि॑ता घृ॒ताची॒ हिर॑ण्यनिर्णि॒गुप॑रा॒ न ऋ॒ष्टिः । गुहा॒ चर॑न्ती॒ मनु॑षो॒ न योषा॑ स॒भाव॑ती विद॒थ्ये॑व॒ सं वाक् ॥

Seeker of knowledge, go and mix with those scholars and visionaries among whom exists that noble and comprehensive language which is fit for scientific yajnas of versatile purpose, which is fit for use in councils of governance, which is peacefully held like the dewy night by the sky, which is held like a golden sword by the warrior, which is held like lightning by the cloud, and which, like the youthful maiden of the human lover, moves in covert allays in search of the lover. (Such is living speech.)

· · ·

1.167.4

परा॑ शु॒भ्रा अ॒यासो॑ य॒व्या सा॑धार॒ण्येव॑ म॒रुतो॑ मिमिक्षुः । न रो॑द॒सी अप॑ नुदन्त घो॒रा जु॒षन्त॒ वृधं॑ स॒ख्याय॑ दे॒वाः ॥

Distant but brilliant and powerful, moving at moderate speed, the Maruts shower the earth and sky with rain, but even when they are violent, roaring with lightning, they are not repulsive, they are only impulsive, not repelling the sky and the earth away but impelling them with new life and energy, because the divines love to mix and join in a spirit of commonalty for the sake of friendship and love the growth and expansion of all in power and potential.

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1.167.5

जोष॒द्यदी॑मसु॒र्या॑ स॒चध्यै॒ विषि॑तस्तुका रोद॒सी नृ॒मणाः॑ । आ सू॒र्येव॑ विध॒तो रथं॑ गात्त्वे॒षप्र॑तीका॒ नभ॑सो॒ नेत्या ॥

If the earth, source of pranic vitality and loving mother of mankind, were to serve the Maruts for the sake of waters, then she, with flowing hair like the lights of evening dawn, shining brilliant as child of the sun, would ride the chariot of the Lord Ordainer and sustainer, i.e., the sun, and rise as if going to sky heights of progress and abundance.

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1.167.6

आस्था॑पयन्त युव॒तिं युवा॑नः शु॒भे निमि॑श्लां वि॒दथे॑षु प॒ज्राम् । अ॒र्को यद्वो॑ मरुतो ह॒विष्मा॒न्गाय॑द्गा॒थं सु॒तसो॑मो दुव॒स्यन् ॥

When the worshipper, rich in yajnic offerings, having distilled the soma, sings songs of praise zealously in honour of you, then, O Maruts, youthful powers of nature’s brilliance and force, you give him in marriage a young maiden, smart and dynamic, dedicated to yajnas, and a harbinger of happiness and bliss in life.

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1.167.7

प्र तं वि॑वक्मि॒ वक्म्यो॒ य ए॑षां म॒रुतां॑ महि॒मा स॒त्यो अस्ति॑ । सचा॒ यदीं॒ वृष॑मणा अहं॒युः स्थि॒रा चि॒ज्जनी॒र्वह॑ते सुभा॒गाः ॥

That greatness and glory of the Maruts which is worthy of celebration, I celebrate. It is real and true, since he that is virile and proud of himself, Indra, in unison with this firm earth, sustains the many happy mothers and children of the world.

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1.167.8

पान्ति॑ मि॒त्रावरु॑णावव॒द्याच्चय॑त ईमर्य॒मो अप्र॑शस्तान् । उ॒त च्य॑वन्ते॒ अच्यु॑ता ध्रु॒वाणि॑ ववृ॒ध ईं॑ मरुतो॒ दाति॑वारः ॥

Mitra and Varuna protect from sin and shame. Surely Aryama, lord of justice, raises the despicable. They shake off even the firm and fixed enemies of life. O Maruts, the gift of your generosity ever grows and grows.

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1.167.9

न॒ही नु वो॑ मरुतो॒ अन्त्य॒स्मे आ॒रात्ता॑च्चि॒च्छव॑सो॒ अन्त॑मा॒पुः । ते धृ॒ष्णुना॒ शव॑सा शूशु॒वांसोऽर्णो॒ न द्वेषो॑ धृष॒ता परि॑ ष्ठुः ॥

O Maruts, neither from near nor from afar do they find the end of your power and force. Intrepidable and rising with inviolable strength and courage, they, i.e., the Maruts keep the enemies down and, vast as the ocean, they stay and abide far higher than jealousy and calumny of small minds.

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1.167.10

व॒यम॒द्येन्द्र॑स्य॒ प्रेष्ठा॑ व॒यं श्वो वो॑चेमहि सम॒र्ये । व॒यं पु॒रा महि॑ च नो॒ अनु॒ द्यून्तन्न॑ ऋभु॒क्षा न॒रामनु॑ ष्यात् ॥

We are the dearest children of Indra to-day. Let us be able to say the same thing tomorrow in the battles of life. And for the sake of this love and grace of Indra, let us first maintain our own greatness of character and performance day by day, and then, we pray, may Indra be kind and favourable day by day among men. Lord of thunderbolt He is.

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1.167.11

ए॒ष वः॒ स्तोमो॑ मरुत इ॒यं गीर्मा॑न्दा॒र्यस्य॑ मा॒न्यस्य॑ का॒रोः । एषा या॑सीष्ट त॒न्वे॑ व॒यां वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

O Maruts, this is your song of celebration, this is the voice of the happy and honoured poet artist. May it reach you for the manifestation of your image and action for us. And may we, we pray, achieve food and energy, advancement in action and the joy of life.

✦ Sukta 168 · 10 verses ✦

1.168.1

य॒ज्ञाय॑ज्ञा वः सम॒ना तु॑तु॒र्वणि॒र्धियं॑धियं वो देव॒या उ॑ दधिध्वे । आ वो॒ऽर्वाचः॑ सुवि॒ताय॒ रोद॑स्योर्म॒हे व॑वृत्या॒मव॑से सुवृ॒क्तिभिः॑ ॥

O Maruts, powers of enlightenment, generous action and well-being of the world, in every act of yajna one after another, let your will and performance be equal, fast and victorious. In every act of thought, reflection and planning, let your intelligence, understanding and imagination, and even your calculation be divinely holy. For the well-being of the earth and heaven, and for the sake of great and inviolable protection of life and life’s joy, with yajnic oblations and songs of praise and thankfulness, we pray, turn your attention this way for our good and well-being by straight and simple speed of motion.

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1.168.2

व॒व्रासो॒ न ये स्व॒जाः स्वत॑वस॒ इषं॒ स्व॑रभि॒जाय॑न्त॒ धूत॑यः । स॒ह॒स्रिया॑सो अ॒पां नोर्मय॑ आ॒सा गावो॒ वन्द्या॑सो॒ नोक्षणः॑ ॥

Come this way, Maruts! Powers ever on the move for protection and progress of us all, self-creative, self-strong, movers and shakers like a thousand waves of the rolling seas, they are born to provide nourishment, energy, light and happiness for others. Worthy of honour and reverence they are like generous cows who provide motherly milk for sustenance and growth, and like the sacrificing bullocks who carry the burdens of humanity. Admirable, worthy of thanks and praise with honest word of the mouth they are.

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1.168.3

सोमा॑सो॒ न ये सु॒तास्तृ॒प्तांश॑वो हृ॒त्सु पी॒तासो॑ दु॒वसो॒ नास॑ते । ऐषा॒मंसे॑षु र॒म्भिणी॑व रारभे॒ हस्ते॑षु खा॒दिश्च॑ कृ॒तिश्च॒ सं द॑धे ॥

Maruts, vibrant powers of enlightenment, nourishment and protection, like soma, with off-shoots spreading around, distilled and drunk to the last drop of the essence assimilated into the heart, abide with us, loved, honoured and admired as our own. I depend on their shoulders for support as a housewife depends upon the support of the head of family. And in their hands, the Maruts hold action in one and wear the band of victory on the other.

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1.168.4

अव॒ स्वयु॑क्ता दि॒व आ वृथा॑ ययु॒रम॑र्त्याः॒ कश॑या चोदत॒ त्मना॑ । अ॒रे॒णव॑स्तुविजा॒ता अ॑चुच्यवुर्दृ॒ळ्हानि॑ चिन्म॒रुतो॒ भ्राज॑दृष्टयः ॥

Self-inspired, self-motivated and self-driven, Maruts descend from the heights of heaven freely, spontaneously and selflessly. Immortal are you, mighty heroes, inspire and excite the will to live with your heart and soul and use the will as a goal and an invitation to life. Pure and unsullied, born of energy and impetuous in motion, wielding weapons of light and lightning, O Maruts, you stir and move even the fixed and immovable mountains.

· · ·

1.168.5

को वो॒ऽन्तर्म॑रुत ऋष्टिविद्युतो॒ रेज॑ति॒ त्मना॒ हन्वे॑व जि॒ह्वया॑ । ध॒न्व॒च्युत॑ इ॒षां न याम॑नि पुरु॒प्रैषा॑ अह॒न्यो॒३॒॑ नैत॑शः ॥

O Maruts, wielders of arms blazing as light and lightning, who or what in you shakes and shines in you by itself like flames or waves of sound? Inspirers of many, augmenters of food, energy and love of life, who starts you on your mission of life like the cloud melting in the sky or like a fast horse on its daily round?

· · ·

1.168.6

क्व॑ स्विद॒स्य रज॑सो म॒हस्परं॒ क्वाव॑रं मरुतो॒ यस्मि॑न्नाय॒य । यच्च्या॒वय॑थ विथु॒रेव॒ संहि॑तं॒ व्यद्रि॑णा पतथ त्वे॒षम॑र्ण॒वम् ॥

O Maruts, what is the ultimate beyond this great region of the skies, and what is the ultimate this side wherein you move hither and shake the things concentrated here like precarious objects of no value, or fly down with the clouds to the shining seas?

· · ·

1.168.7

सा॒तिर्न वोऽम॑वती॒ स्व॑र्वती त्वे॒षा विपा॑का मरुतः॒ पिपि॑ष्वती । भ॒द्रा वो॑ रा॒तिः पृ॑ण॒तो न दक्षि॑णा पृथु॒ज्रयी॑ असु॒र्ये॑व॒ जञ्ज॑ती ॥

Like your acquisition and distribution is your generosity and benevolence, powerful, blissful, lustrous, maturing and fruitful, abundant, auspicious, as the gift of a philanthropist yajamana, expansive and victorious like the breeze of life’s energy.

· · ·

1.168.8

प्रति॑ ष्टोभन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वः प॒विभ्यो॒ यद॒भ्रियां॒ वाच॑मुदी॒रय॑न्ति । अव॑ स्मयन्त वि॒द्युतः॑ पृथि॒व्यां यदी॑ घृ॒तं म॒रुतः॑ प्रुष्णु॒वन्ति॑ ॥

When the Maruts ride their chariots, the wheels rumble with thunder of the clouds and oceans pant and roll in awe, and when they shower torrents or rain on the earth, flashes of lightning flaunt with pride and lights of joy.

· · ·

1.168.9

असू॑त॒ पृश्नि॑र्मह॒ते रणा॑य त्वे॒षम॒यासां॑ म॒रुता॒मनी॑कम् । ते स॑प्स॒रासो॑ऽजनय॒न्ताभ्व॒मादित्स्व॒धामि॑षि॒रां पर्य॑पश्यन् ॥

Mother Nature creates the blazing force of the tempestuous Maruts for the great battle of the elements in the process of evolution, and they, moving and working together with the waves of creative energy, fashion forms earlier not in existence and watch the achievements of their own powers all round in the midst of the variety of creative materials.

· · ·

1.168.10

ए॒ष वः॒ स्तोमो॑ मरुत इ॒यं गीर्मा॑न्दा॒र्यस्य॑ मा॒न्यस्य॑ का॒रोः । एषा या॑सीष्ट त॒न्वे॑ व॒यां वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

This is the song of the Maruts in celebration of their work and power in the world of nature and humanity in evolution. This is the voice of the poet, happy and honoured artist, maker of beautiful forms. May this, with love and homage of the poet, reach the Maruts for their manifestation in form and image, and may we too achieve food and energy, vision and will to move on clear and simple paths of progress, and may we have the bliss of the breeze of freshness and light of life.

✦ Sukta 169 · 8 verses ✦

1.169.1

म॒हश्चि॒त्त्वमि॑न्द्र य॒त ए॒तान्म॒हश्चि॑दसि॒ त्यज॑सो वरू॒ता । स नो॑ वेधो म॒रुतां॑ चिकि॒त्वान्त्सु॒म्ना व॑नुष्व॒ तव॒ हि प्रेष्ठा॑ ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge and power, destroyer of suffering, you are great and glorious indeed, since you accept and honour and protect these great saints and scholars for the reason of their selflessness and dedication. As such, you yourself a scholar among dynamic scholars and knowing what is dearest to you and the Maruts, fastest leaders of society, pray give us the peace and comfort of perfect well-being.

· · ·

1.169.2

अयु॑ज्रन्त इन्द्र वि॒श्वकृ॑ष्टीर्विदा॒नासो॑ नि॒ष्षिधो॑ मर्त्य॒त्रा । म॒रुतां॑ पृत्सु॒तिर्हास॑माना॒ स्व॑र्मीळ्हस्य प्र॒धन॑स्य सा॒तौ ॥

Indra, lord of honour and glory, that dedicated force of yours consisting of the Maruts, intelligent, creative and war-like leaders among ordinary mortals, smiling, happy and joyful, may, we pray, join and engage entire humanity in the battle of creative production of wealth and well-being for the lord creator of paradisal bliss on earth.

· · ·

1.169.3

अम्य॒क्सा त॑ इन्द्र ऋ॒ष्टिर॒स्मे सने॒म्यभ्वं॑ म॒रुतो॑ जुनन्ति । अ॒ग्निश्चि॒द्धि ष्मा॑त॒से शु॑शु॒क्वानापो॒ न द्वी॒पं दध॑ति॒ प्रयां॑सि ॥

May the fruits of that loving and generous creativity of yours, by which the Maruts create perfect joyous gifts of life from pre-existing causes, which gifts, like the blazing fire in the wood and waters in the openended flowing rivers and space, abide in nature, and which gifts, then, the living beings enjoy as the dearest gifts of life (by virtue of the creative dynamics of the Maruts).

· · ·

1.169.4

त्वं तू न॑ इन्द्र॒ तं र॒यिं दा॒ ओजि॑ष्ठया॒ दक्षि॑णयेव रा॒तिम् । स्तुत॑श्च॒ यास्ते॑ च॒कन॑न्त वा॒योः स्तनं॒ न मध्वः॑ पीपयन्त॒ वाजैः॑ ॥

Indra, glorious lord of wealth, give us that wealth of life as a gift with the highest generosity of heart and magnanimity of mind which is honoured by the beneficiaries, that wealth and generosity of yours and the Maruts’ which all people love, and which, like the honey sweet milk of the mother’s breast, nourishes the child with food, energy and intelligence.

· · ·

1.169.5

त्वे राय॑ इन्द्र तो॒शत॑माः प्रणे॒तारः॒ कस्य॑ चिदृता॒योः । ते षु णो॑ म॒रुतो॑ मृळयन्तु॒ ये स्मा॑ पु॒रा गा॑तु॒यन्ती॑व दे॒वाः ॥

Indra, in you and with you abide wealths and virtues of the world which are most satisfying saviours and redeemers, which help any lover of truth, piety and yajna keen to cross the oceans of existence to liberation. May the Maruts give us that peace and wealth. May the ancient and eternal nobilities eager to rise to divinity guide and bless us.

· · ·

1.169.6

प्रति॒ प्र या॑हीन्द्र मी॒ळ्हुषो॒ नॄन्म॒हः पार्थि॑वे॒ सद॑ने यतस्व । अध॒ यदे॑षां पृथुबु॒ध्नास॒ एता॑स्ती॒र्थे नार्यः पौंस्या॑नि त॒स्थुः ॥

Indra, lord of power, knowledge and action, go forward to the great, virile and generous people, fast, intelligent and vibrant as the winds, and try experiments on the floor of this great earth. And then, just as the powers and transports of the master stand ready at his service, so would the mighty and spacious flying machines like horses would stand ready for the heroes of the skies.

· · ·

1.169.7

प्रति॑ घो॒राणा॒मेता॑नाम॒यासां॑ म॒रुतां॑ शृण्व आय॒तामु॑प॒ब्दिः । ये मर्त्यं॑ पृतना॒यन्त॒मूमै॑र्ऋणा॒वानं॒ न प॒तय॑न्त॒ सर्गैः॑ ॥

I hear the echoes of the roar of awful and impetuous Maruts reaching their target and returning— Maruts which, with the creation and release of fresh energy and modes of protection, exhort and accelerate the speed of humanity on way to progress like an army advancing to victory.

· · ·

1.169.8

त्वं माने॑भ्य इन्द्र वि॒श्वज॑न्या॒ रदा॑ म॒रुद्भिः॑ शु॒रुधो॒ गोअ॑ग्राः । स्तवा॑नेभिः स्तवसे देव दे॒वैर्वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, lord of light and power, adored by admirers of brilliance and generosity, for the sake of honour and prestige and in honour of the venerables, split and know the sun-light headed powers of nature such as waters and herbs with the help of the Maruts, catalytic, analytical and universally creative energy waves of nature, and let us know and acquire wealth of food, energy, onward progress and the breath and freshness of life.

✦ Sukta 170 · 5 verses ✦

1.170.1

न नू॒नमस्ति॒ नो श्वः कस्तद्वे॑द॒ यदद्भु॑तम् । अ॒न्यस्य॑ चि॒त्तम॒भि सं॑च॒रेण्य॑मु॒ताधी॑तं॒ वि न॑श्यति ॥

Nothing that is present is permanent, nor what shall be is constant. Who knows what, in truth, is mysterious: serial yet constant, and constant yet elusive? It is someone else’s mind and consciousness you should be with, otherwise what you know or think you know, that too would fade into the unknown.

· · ·

1.170.2

किं न॑ इन्द्र जिघांससि॒ भ्रात॑रो म॒रुत॒स्तव॑ । तेभिः॑ कल्पस्व साधु॒या मा नः॑ स॒मर॑णे वधीः ॥

Indra, lord of earth and ocean, master of the skies, why do you wish to forsake us? The Maruts are your brethren, they are heroes of earth and ocean and the skies. With them, plan and act with noble intentions. Do not destroy us in the battle of life.

· · ·

1.170.3

किं नो॑ भ्रातरगस्त्य॒ सखा॒ सन्नति॑ मन्यसे । वि॒द्मा हि ते॒ यथा॒ मनो॒ऽस्मभ्य॒मिन्न दि॑त्ससि ॥

Brother Agastya, pioneer of vision, insight and foresight, you are our friend. Being a friend, why do you disdain us? Don’t you want to give us the secret of knowing your mind as it is?

· · ·

1.170.4

अरं॑ कृण्वन्तु॒ वेदिं॒ सम॒ग्निमि॑न्धतां पु॒रः । तत्रा॒मृत॑स्य॒ चेत॑नं य॒ज्ञं ते॑ तनवावहै ॥

Indra, let the priests prepare and decorate the vedi and light the holy fire as before. And there in the vedi you and we all, teachers and disciples, would conduct and expand your yajna of the immortal spirit, knowledge and divine consciousness.

· · ·

1.170.5

त्वमी॑शिषे वसुपते॒ वसू॑नां॒ त्वं मि॒त्राणां॑ मित्रपते॒ धेष्ठः॑ । इन्द्र॒ त्वं म॒रुद्भिः॒ सं व॑द॒स्वाध॒ प्राशा॑न ऋतु॒था ह॒वींषि॑ ॥

Indra, spirit of the universe, master of the worlds, lord protector of the sustainers of life, highest wielder of the wealth of the world, you rule, govern and ordain the honour and grandeur of existence. Lord protector of friends and friends of life, you rule, govern and ordain all the powers and energies that protect, preserve and promote the evolution and onward march of life and humanity. Lord of knowledge and power, speak to the Maruts, dynamic powers of nature and humanity, accept our offers of oblations, consume them in the yajna fire, and create the life-giving vapours of energy and showers of rain according to the seasons.

✦ Sukta 171 · 6 verses ✦

1.171.1

प्रति॑ व ए॒ना नम॑सा॒हमे॑मि सू॒क्तेन॑ भिक्षे सुम॒तिं तु॒राणा॑म् । र॒रा॒णता॑ मरुतो वे॒द्याभि॒र्नि हेळो॑ ध॒त्त वि मु॑चध्व॒मश्वा॑न् ॥

O Maruts, dynamic powers of nature and humanity, bearers of light, knowledge and power, with this homage and song of celebration and reverence, I come to you and pray for my share of noble thoughts and intelligence from the excellent priests and preceptors. O dynamic scholars of power and force, and of the light of life, keep you anger and passion aside and, exulting in the onward march of humanity, release the powers of progress by the freedom and initiative that comes with knowledge and conscious values of life and love.

· · ·

1.171.2

ए॒ष वः॒ स्तोमो॑ मरुतो॒ नम॑स्वान्हृ॒दा त॒ष्टो मन॑सा धायि देवाः । उपे॒मा या॑त॒ मन॑सा जुषा॒णा यू॒यं हि ष्ठा नम॑स॒ इद्वृ॒धासः॑ ॥

O Maruts, vibrations of the divine in nature and humanity, this song of

celebration and reverence is risen from the heart and crafted with love and beauty. O visionaries of divinity, take it with the same equal love with which it is offered. Take to the spirit of it with your heart and mind, come close bearing your gifts of life and energy, advance us onward, and stay with us, because you are the veterans of eminence and progress for the love of living with gifts of divinity.

· · ·

1.171.3

स्तु॒तासो॑ नो म॒रुतो॑ मृळयन्तू॒त स्तु॒तो म॒घवा॒ शम्भ॑विष्ठः । ऊ॒र्ध्वा नः॑ सन्तु को॒म्या वना॒न्यहा॑नि॒ विश्वा॑ मरुतो जिगी॒षा ॥

O Maruts, veteran visionaries of life and divinity, powers of knowledge for advancement, admired and honoured as you are, pray give us peace and well-being. Indra, lord of honour and glory, listen to our prayer and worship, and bless us with peace and prosperity. Maruts, heroes of tempestuous speed and energy, let all our future days be distinguished by high ambition, cherished goals and love of victory.

· · ·

1.171.4

अ॒स्माद॒हं त॑वि॒षादीष॑माण॒ इन्द्रा॑द्भि॒या म॑रुतो॒ रेज॑मानः । यु॒ष्मभ्यं॑ ह॒व्या निशि॑तान्यास॒न्तान्या॒रे च॑कृमा मृ॒ळता॑ नः ॥

O Maruts, heroes of energy, power and speed, shining with strength and power and, at the same time, conscious and moved by the awe of this blazing lord Indra and his law, I say, these holy materials of yajna are dedicated to you, these weapons and armaments are tempered and sharpened for you. We offer these right here. Accept these, we pray, and make us happy and comfortable with peace and well-being.

· · ·

1.171.5

येन॒ माना॑सश्चि॒तय॑न्त उ॒स्रा व्यु॑ष्टिषु॒ शव॑सा॒ शश्व॑तीनाम् । स नो॑ म॒रुद्भि॑र्वृषभ॒ श्रवो॑ धा उ॒ग्र उ॒ग्रेभिः॒ स्थवि॑रः सहो॒दाः ॥

By the strength and courage by which the veterans of knowledge and enlightenment instruct and educate the ancient and constant citizens of the ancient and constant republics in their ancestral habitations, by the same strength and courage, O Indra, ruler of the land, generous and valorous, bright and blazing, old and venerable, giver of strength and constancy, give us food, energy, power, and honour with the help of the Maruts, mighty and formidable leaders and warriors of the land

· · ·

1.171.6

त्वं पा॑हीन्द्र॒ सही॑यसो॒ नॄन्भवा॑ म॒रुद्भि॒रव॑यातहेळाः । सु॒प्र॒के॒तेभिः॑ सास॒हिर्दधा॑नो वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, lord of power, honour and glory, ruler of the world, patient, constant and victorious, protect and promote the men of strength, courage and endurance. With the help of the Maruts, lustrous guardians and watchful protectors of the people, be free from anger and disdain of impatience and despair. Wielder of power and presiding power of the social order as you are, let us have knowledge and enlightenment, strength and courage of will and morals, and the light and vision of the spirit of life and joy.

✦ Sukta 172 · 3 verses ✦

1.172.1

चि॒त्रो वो॑ऽस्तु॒ याम॑श्चि॒त्र ऊ॒ती सु॑दानवः । मरु॑तो॒ अहि॑भानवः ॥

O Maruts, lights of the dark, breakers of the clouds, showers of soothing charities, may your progress be fast and wonderful, may your protections and promotions of society be wondrous, full of blessings.

· · ·

1.172.2

आ॒रे सा वः॑ सुदानवो॒ मरु॑त ऋञ्ज॒ती शरुः॑ । आ॒रे अश्मा॒ यमस्य॑थ ॥

O Maruts, courageous brothers of charity, givers of bliss and protection like winds and lightning, may that missile of yours, which you throw like thunderbolt upon the destroyers, and the deadly double edged sword you wield against the powers of darkness, be far away from us for our protection against evil.

· · ·

1.172.3

तृ॒ण॒स्क॒न्दस्य॒ नु विशः॒ परि॑ वृङ्क्त सुदानवः । ऊ॒र्ध्वान्नः॑ कर्त जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Maruts, generous powers of charity and valour, spare the and protect men of straw, take to the rural settlements and raise us all to the heights of life.

✦ Sukta 173 · 13 verses ✦

1.173.1

गाय॒त्साम॑ नभ॒न्यं१॒॑ यथा॒ वेरर्चा॑म॒ तद्वा॑वृधा॒नं स्व॑र्वत् । गावो॑ धे॒नवो॑ ब॒र्हिष्यद॑ब्धा॒ आ यत्स॒द्मानं॑ दि॒व्यं विवा॑सान् ॥

Let the holy man sing spontaneous songs of joyous Sama like the song of the bird soaring to the clouds, and we shall join that resounding melody of music overflowing with divine ecstasy, when the rays of the dawn, generous like venerable holy cows, sacred and inviolable, fill the vault of the sky and celebrate the heavenly sun rising in splendour over the world and the generous cows stir around the stalls and sit on the holy grass around the yajnic area doing homage to Indra.

· · ·

1.173.2

अर्च॒द्वृषा॒ वृष॑भिः॒ स्वेदु॑हव्यैर्मृ॒गो नाश्नो॒ अति॒ यज्जु॑गु॒र्यात् । प्र म॑न्द॒युर्म॒नां गू॑र्त॒ होता॒ भर॑ते॒ मर्यो॑ मिथु॒ना यज॑त्रः ॥

Let the brilliant man of yajna, virile and generous, trying to reach his aim like a bounding deer at the fastest speed, with virile and generous yajakas, offer rich, fragrant yajnic offerings, to Indra. Let the mortal man, happy at heart with his life partner dedicated to yajna and social service, offer hymns of praise and fragrant oblations to Indra, lord of life, honour and glory.

· · ·

1.173.3

नक्ष॒द्धोता॒ परि॒ सद्म॑ मि॒ता यन्भर॒द्गर्भ॒मा श॒रदः॑ पृथि॒व्याः । क्रन्द॒दश्वो॒ नय॑मानो रु॒वद्गौर॒न्तर्दू॒तो न रोद॑सी चर॒द्वाक् ॥

Let the yajakas, Indra, fire and power, divine energy, receiver and giver, receive the oblations and rise by the vedi constructed in definite design and measure, bearing the essences of the earth’s produce the year round according to the seasons, and in return replenish the earth with fertility. Let the power arise and go over spaces roaring like a steed well guided, bellowing like a bull, and moving on the rounds like a messenger between heaven and earth, echoing the voice of divinity raised from the seats of yajna.

· · ·

1.173.4

ता क॒र्माष॑तरास्मै॒ प्र च्यौ॒त्नानि॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ भरन्ते । जुजो॑ष॒दिन्द्रो॑ द॒स्मव॑र्चा॒ नास॑त्येव॒ सुग्म्यो॑ रथे॒ष्ठाः ॥

Those yajnic acts, cherished offerings, and mantras vibrating with energy, which the yajakas eager to please and empower the divinities of nature and humanity offer into the fire for Indra, may Indra, blazing catalytic power of Divinity, happily accessible, riding the chariot of sun-beams, along vibrations of the winds and waves of energy, receive with love and desire and, like the Ashvins, sun and moon, recreate, augment and return as blessings of Divinity for humanity.

· · ·

1.173.5

तमु॑ ष्टु॒हीन्द्रं॒ यो ह॒ सत्वा॒ यः शूरो॑ म॒घवा॒ यो र॑थे॒ष्ठाः । प्र॒ती॒चश्चि॒द्योधी॑या॒न्वृष॑ण्वान्वव॒व्रुष॑श्चि॒त्तम॑सो विह॒न्ता ॥

Praise be to Indra, celebrate Him in gratefulness. He alone is wholly pure and true. He is mighty and omnipotent. His is the power and the glory. He rides the chariot of the universe as the sole master. Right in front, He is in and with everyone and everything, the great fighter, shower of life and joy, and He is the Light, dispeller of the darkness that hides the truth.

· · ·

1.173.6

प्र यदि॒त्था म॑हि॒ना नृभ्यो॒ अस्त्यरं॒ रोद॑सी क॒क्ष्ये॒३॒॑ नास्मै॑ । सं वि॑व्य॒ इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒जनं॒ न भूमा॒ भर्ति॑ स्व॒धावाँ॑ ओप॒शमि॑व॒ द्याम् ॥

Indra who, thus with His omnipotence, is all in all self-sufficient for the sustenance of humanity, who keeps the heaven and earth and the middle regions in orbit but not for Himself, Indra who weaves the web and wields the entire worlds of existence together, each as on its own path, and then the mighty lord of His own power and Prakrti holds the high heavens up above as the pillar in the centre.

· · ·

1.173.7

स॒मत्सु॑ त्वा शूर स॒तामु॑रा॒णं प्र॑प॒थिन्त॑मं परितंस॒यध्यै॑ । स॒जोष॑स॒ इन्द्रं॒ मदे॑ क्षो॒णीः सू॒रिं चि॒द्ये अ॑नु॒मद॑न्ति॒ वाजैः॑ ॥

To decorate and honour you as a mighty hero, as a pioneer and leader in the battles of life, as the highest of the best, O sagely wise Indra, lord omnipotent and omniscient, the people of the world, friends, lovers, admirers and worshippers in excitement and ecstasy celebrate you and the worlds, and celebrate with you, with all their might and main and the homage of love and faith.

· · ·

1.173.8

ए॒वा हि ते॒ शं सव॑ना समु॒द्र आपो॒ यत्त॑ आ॒सु मद॑न्ति दे॒वीः । विश्वा॑ ते॒ अनु॒ जोष्या॑ भू॒द्गौः सू॒रीँश्चि॒द्यदि॑ धि॒षा वेषि॒ जना॑न् ॥

O Indra, lord ruler of the world, all celebrations in your honour and all your celebrations of life and existence, thus, are for peace and well-being. Thus all waters in the oceans and all celestial waters in space and in these earths of the universe which celebrate you and rejoice in you are for peace and well-being. And when you inspire sagely people with conscious favours and divine intelligence, then all voices of the world in unison with you celebrate you and the joy of existence.

· · ·

1.173.9

असा॑म॒ यथा॑ सुष॒खाय॑ एन स्वभि॒ष्टयो॑ न॒रां न शंसैः॑ । अस॒द्यथा॑ न॒ इन्द्रो॑ वन्दने॒ष्ठास्तु॒रो न कर्म॒ नय॑मान उ॒क्था ॥

Lord of knowledge, divine action and human progress, guide us the way we may be blest with good friends and allies, with noble aims and intentions as with good wishes and approbations of the people around, and the way that Indra, happy with our praise and worship, be with us always, taking us forward in action like a carrier rocket in the holy field of science and technology.

· · ·

1.173.10

विष्प॑र्धसो न॒रां न शंसै॑र॒स्माका॑स॒दिन्द्रो॒ वज्र॑हस्तः । मि॒त्रा॒युवो॒ न पूर्प॑तिं॒ सुशि॑ष्टौ मध्या॒युव॒ उप॑ शिक्षन्ति य॒ज्ञैः ॥

As with the praise and prayers of people trying to excel and rise in life, so with our praise and prayers may Indra, lord of armaments and the thunderbolt, be with us as a friend and guide. Like men with desire for friends, and like people of experience at the middle of age who serve Indra, lord of the city, with yajnas and sit with him for the sake of auspicious learning, we too serve the lord with yajnic offerings, meditate and pray for learning in the field of science and administration.

· · ·

1.173.11

य॒ज्ञो हि ष्मेन्द्रं॒ कश्चि॑दृ॒न्धञ्जु॑हुरा॒णश्चि॒न्मन॑सा परि॒यन् । ती॒र्थे नाच्छा॑ तातृषा॒णमोको॑ दी॒र्घो न सि॒ध्रमा कृ॑णो॒त्यध्वा॑ ॥

Some yajna is good for success and glorifies Indra, social order of governance and the ruler. A tortuous path, though apparently yajnic and good, repels the seeker mentally and emotionally. Agood home close by in a place of pilgrimage is good for the thirsty traveller, but a long and tortuous path is no use, it does no good toward success.

· · ·

1.173.12

मो षू ण॑ इ॒न्द्रात्र॑ पृ॒त्सु दे॒वैरस्ति॒ हि ष्मा॑ ते शुष्मिन्नव॒याः । म॒हश्चि॒द्यस्य॑ मी॒ळ्हुषो॑ य॒व्या ह॒विष्म॑तो म॒रुतो॒ वन्द॑ते॒ गीः ॥

Indra, lord of power and prosperity, you are with the divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity, never with the ungenerous. Pray, do not forsake us in the battles of life. Lord of light and grandeur, this praise and prayer is for you surely, this voice of unifying love and faith which celebrates the great, generous, creative, philanthropic and dynamic powers of the divine and human world is for you.

· · ·

1.173.13

ए॒ष स्तोम॑ इन्द्र॒ तुभ्य॑म॒स्मे ए॒तेन॑ गा॒तुं ह॑रिवो विदो नः । आ नो॑ ववृत्याः सुवि॒ताय॑ देव वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, thus our song of celebration and prayer is for you. Lord of lightning speed and force, by this song know, recognise and accept us and our ways of life and conduct. Lord of light, kind and generous, come and bless us constantly for our good and well-being so that we may be blest with food and energy, the right way of living and the inspiring spirit of life.

✦ Sukta 174 · 10 verses ✦

1.174.1

त्वं राजे॑न्द्र॒ ये च॑ दे॒वा रक्षा॒ नॄन्पा॒ह्य॑सुर॒ त्वम॒स्मान् । त्वं सत्प॑तिर्म॒घवा॑ न॒स्तरु॑त्र॒स्त्वं स॒त्यो वस॑वानः सहो॒दाः ॥

Indra, lord of light, you are the ruler, lord of life and giver of energy. You and those powers and personalities that are generous and brilliant in nature and humanity protect us and the people. You are the protector of truth. You are the lord of wealth and glory of the world. You are our saviour, you are the truth of existence. You are the shelter and support of all that is. You are the strength and the giver of strength and constancy.

· · ·

1.174.2

दनो॒ विश॑ इन्द्र मृ॒ध्रवा॑चः स॒प्त यत्पुरः॒ शर्म॒ शार॑दी॒र्दर्त् । ऋ॒णोर॒पो अ॑नव॒द्यार्णा॒ यूने॑ वृ॒त्रं पु॑रु॒कुत्सा॑य रन्धीः ॥

You subdue and bring under rule the people who are violent in social discourse. You open the seven cities and the homes therein locked in winter snow. Lord adorable free from scandal, you break the cloud for rain showers and let the river waters flow for the sunny world of young humanity.

· · ·

1.174.3

अजा॒ वृत॑ इन्द्र॒ शूर॑पत्नी॒र्द्यां च॒ येभिः॑ पुरुहूत नू॒नम् । रक्षो॑ अ॒ग्निम॒शुषं॒ तूर्व॑याणं सिं॒हो न दमे॒ अपां॑सि॒ वस्तोः॑ ॥

Immortal Indra, destroyer of suffering, elected and invoked by all, surely you drive high up to the lights of heaven with the Maruts, tempestuous powers of nature and humanity. With the same powers, like a lion, pray protect the brave women of the land. Preserve the inextinguishable fire that moves high speed vehicles to their destination. Keep the morning fires burning and let the waters of the home flow on and on.

· · ·

1.174.4

शेष॒न्नु त इ॑न्द्र॒ सस्मि॒न्योनौ॒ प्रश॑स्तये॒ पवी॑रवस्य म॒ह्ना । सृ॒जदर्णां॒स्यव॒ यद्यु॒धा गास्तिष्ठ॒द्धरी॑ धृष॒ता मृ॑ष्ट॒ वाजा॑न् ॥

Indra, lord of war for humanity, for your honour and glory, let the enemies fall and go to sleep on the battle-field by the awful roar of your thunderbolt, while you ride the chariot and release the floods of attack with the force of action, destroy the resistance of opposition and then hold the lands in peace and security.

· · ·

1.174.5

वह॒ कुत्स॑मिन्द्र॒ यस्मि॑ञ्चा॒कन्त्स्यू॑म॒न्यू ऋ॒ज्रा वात॒स्याश्वा॑ । प्र सूर॑श्च॒क्रं वृ॑हताद॒भीके॒ऽभि स्पृधो॑ यासिष॒द्वज्र॑बाहुः ॥

Indra, lord of world power, wielder of the force of thunder, keen for the reins and thirsting for the heart’s desire, take up the thunderbolt, ride the horses of the winds shooting straight to the target, and go to the battle you love to fight. So should the ruler, strong of arm and will, blazing as the sun, meet the contending enemies in battle and expand the wheel of the social order.

· · ·

1.174.6

ज॒घ॒न्वाँ इ॑न्द्र मि॒त्रेरू॑ञ्चो॒दप्र॑वृद्धो हरिवो॒ अदा॑शून् । प्र ये पश्य॑न्नर्य॒मणं॒ सचा॒योस्त्वया॑ शू॒र्ता वह॑माना॒ अप॑त्यम् ॥

Indra, lord of love and justice, inspired and selfexalted, master of horses of the wind, is destroyer of the betrayers of friends and selfish exploiters. Lord of honour and glory, those who see you as lord of justice and generosity and as friend of humanity are blest with progeny and family and they are strengthened and confirmed as brave and heroic by you.

· · ·

1.174.7

रप॑त्क॒विरि॑न्द्रा॒र्कसा॑तौ॒ क्षां दा॒सायो॑प॒बर्ह॑णीं कः । कर॑त्ति॒स्रो म॒घवा॒ दानु॑चित्रा॒ नि दु॑र्यो॒णे कुय॑वाचं मृ॒धि श्रे॑त् ॥

In the distribution of food and land, let the man of knowledge and insight speak fully and freely, and then Indra, lord of land, should allot fertile land to the servant class. The lord of wealth and power should fix creative and productive duties and occupations for the other three, and him who is evil of tongue, he should take on in battle of arms or words in the open field.

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1.174.8

सना॒ ता त॑ इन्द्र॒ नव्या॒ आगुः॒ सहो॒ नभोऽवि॑रणाय पू॒र्वीः । भि॒नत्पुरो॒ न भिदो॒ अदे॑वीर्न॒नमो॒ वध॒रदे॑वस्य पी॒योः ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, ruler of the world, let the latest poets and citizens know and sing of your famous acts of valour, justice and generosity with universal courage. You have suppressed the old established strongholds of violence for the elimination of war and establishment of peace. You have broken the dens of sin and crime like the citadels of ancient demons, and you have destroyed the deadly weapons of the terrorist enemies of humanity.

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1.174.9

त्वं धुनि॑रिन्द्र॒ धुनि॑मतीर्ऋ॒णोर॒पः सी॒रा न स्रव॑न्तीः । प्र यत्स॑मु॒द्रमति॑ शूर॒ पर्षि॑ पा॒रया॑ तु॒र्वशं॒ यदुं॑ स्व॒स्ति ॥

Indra, lord of life and energy, you are a mover and shaker like the inspiration of soma and the speed of winds, shaking people out of lethargy and complacency. You set the waters aflow, shaking and overflowing the banks. Reach the people like roaring streams or like life-blood circulating through the veins of wealth and work. And, O lord of might and knowledge, if you swell the sea to the shores like the sun, then help the man of endeavour and the man of self-controlled speed and acceleration to cross the sea from shore to shore.

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1.174.10

त्वम॒स्माक॑मिन्द्र वि॒श्वध॑ स्या अवृ॒कत॑मो न॒रां नृ॑पा॒ता । स नो॒ विश्वा॑सां स्पृ॒धां स॑हो॒दा वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, lord of power and force, honour and glory, justice and generosity, be every way the most giving, most protecting and least wolfish greedy ruler of us all. And as such, be the giver of strength, courage and constancy in all our endeavour for the good life and joint competitive and cooperative living so that we are blest with food, energy and prosperity, the right path of living and the right spirit of life.

✦ Sukta 175 · 6 verses ✦

1.175.1

मत्स्यपा॑यि ते॒ महः॒ पात्र॑स्येव हरिवो मत्स॒रो मदः॑ । वृषा॑ ते॒ वृष्ण॒ इन्दु॑र्वा॒जी स॑हस्र॒सात॑मः ॥

Indra, lord of energy and paradisal bliss, rejoice. You have drunk of the great and exhilarating soma, the divinity and ecstasy of life fresh from the very flask of existence. Vibrant lord of the knights of horse, that joy of the drink of life is exciting, the very thrill of being. Lord virile and generous, you are the shower of bliss and that soma is soothing like the moon, tempestuous as waves of energy, yes, and a thousand-fold invitation to live, the call of life, for you. (The call of life is the call of existence for the human soul too to be born into this wonderful world of beauty, joy and peace.)

· · ·

1.175.2

आ न॑स्ते गन्तु मत्स॒रो वृषा॒ मदो॒ वरे॑ण्यः । स॒हावाँ॑ इन्द्र सान॒सिः पृ॑तना॒षाळम॑र्त्यः ॥

O for a draught of soma, that exciting, energising, ecstatic, cherished, strengthening, invigorating and immortal nectar of yours, Indra, which leads us on to victory over all the antilife forces of the world! May it come to us in plenty!

· · ·

1.175.3

त्वं हि शूरः॒ सनि॑ता चो॒दयो॒ मनु॑षो॒ रथ॑म् । स॒हावा॒न्दस्यु॑मव्र॒तमोषः॒ पात्रं॒ न शो॒चिषा॑ ॥

Indra, ruler and protector of the world, great you are, valiant and generous, dispenser, disposer, giver and unifier. Inspire and accelerate the chariot of humanity. Heroic and courageous lord of challenges, burn the lawless brute with your light and lustre of justice as the blaze of fire burns an empty vessel on the hearth (because there is nothing in it except its empty self).

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1.175.4

मु॒षा॒य सूर्यं॑ कवे च॒क्रमीशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा । वह॒ शुष्णा॑य व॒धं कुत्सं॒ वात॒स्याश्वैः॑ ॥

Having taken over the wheel of earth’s government with your lustre like the blazing sun, O Lord of light, vision and wisdom, wield the thunderous sceptre of power and justice with honour and hold the system of law and punishment under your control, moving on by horses flying on the wings of winds.

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1.175.5

शु॒ष्मिन्त॑मो॒ हि ते॒ मदो॑ द्यु॒म्निन्त॑म उ॒त क्रतुः॑ । वृ॒त्र॒घ्ना व॑रिवो॒विदा॑ मंसी॒ष्ठा अ॑श्व॒सात॑मः ॥

Highly strengthening and most reassuring is your joy. Holiest and most blissful giver of wealth and prosperity is your action and conduct of government and administration. O destroyer of suffering and darkness, lord of speediest movement and communication, giver of peace, freedom and security, think, reflect and know the mind and working of others with sympathy and self-confidence.

· · ·

1.175.6

यथा॒ पूर्वे॑भ्यो जरि॒तृभ्य॑ इन्द्र॒ मय॑ इ॒वापो॒ न तृष्य॑ते ब॒भूथ॑ । तामनु॑ त्वा नि॒विदं॑ जोहवीमि वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, lord of honour, power and glory, be like water to the thirsty. Be like peace and joy incarnate to the admirers of eternal knowledge and worshippers of the divine virtues of yours. In the tradition of ancient knowledge, I honour and celebrate you with this song of adoration by which, I hope and pray, we shall realise the objects of our heart’s desire, the right path of living and the spiritual light of being.

✦ Sukta 176 · 6 verses ✦

1.176.1

मत्सि॑ नो॒ वस्य॑इष्टय॒ इन्द्र॑मिन्दो॒ वृषा वि॑श । ऋ॒घा॒यमा॑ण इन्वसि॒ शत्रु॒मन्ति॒ न वि॑न्दसि ॥

Indra, lord of justice and peace blissful as the moon, rejoice and rise to honour and glory for our advancement to higher and higher wealth and power. Progressive lord, you advance upon the enemy and overpower him and prevent him even from approaching us.

· · ·

1.176.2

तस्मि॒न्ना वे॑शया॒ गिरो॒ य एक॑श्चर्षणी॒नाम् । अनु॑ स्व॒धा यमु॒प्यते॒ यवं॒ न चर्कृ॑ष॒द्वृषा॑ ॥

Send up your voices of praise and prayer with reverence and homage to him who is powerful, generous, and unique among men, in whom words bear fruit as barley sowed in the field bears fruit, and who mows down the enemies as corn is harvested from the field.

· · ·

1.176.3

यस्य॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ हस्त॑योः॒ पञ्च॑ क्षिती॒नां वसु॑ । स्पा॒शय॑स्व॒ यो अ॑स्म॒ध्रुग्दि॒व्येवा॒शनि॑र्जहि ॥

Indra, lord of power and honour, in your hands is the wealth of the entire world, wealth of all the five classes of people, four of the regular classes, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the ancillary class and one class of miscellaneous people and professions anywhere. Lord of the world, whosoever is jealous of us and evildisposed toward us, take hold of him and, like the flashing and blazing lightning, strike him down.

· · ·

1.176.4

असु॑न्वन्तं समं जहि दू॒णाशं॒ यो न ते॒ मयः॑ । अ॒स्मभ्य॑मस्य॒ वेद॑नं द॒द्धि सू॒रिश्चि॑दोहते ॥

One who is uncreative, unproductive and selfish, who is not a source and instrument of peace, comfort and joy for you and the society, and one who, being such, is difficult to change or eliminate, wipe out wholly and finally. Assign him to us, we shall find him and deal with him. Only the wise and generous carry the burdens of society and the world.

· · ·

1.176.5

आवो॒ यस्य॑ द्वि॒बर्ह॑सो॒ऽर्केषु॑ सानु॒षगस॑त् । आ॒जाविन्द्र॑स्येन्दो॒ प्रावो॒ वाजे॑षु वा॒जिन॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of power, protection and progress, protect and promote the man who accords with all the praises and appreciations of the nation’s achievement and creates and grows in geometric progression. Lord of brilliance and bliss like the moon, in the plans and projects of Indra, honour and glory, progress and development, and in the battles for justice and freedom, protect and promote the man of courage, dynamism and dedication.

· · ·

1.176.6

यथा॒ पूर्वे॑भ्यो जरि॒तृभ्य॑ इन्द्र॒ मय॑ इ॒वापो॒ न तृष्य॑ते ब॒भूथ॑ । तामनु॑ त्वा नि॒विदं॑ जोहवीमि वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, be like water to the thirsty, a source of inspiration, incentive and comfort to the wise dedicated to the ancient and eternal knowledge and to the glory of the nation of humanity and divinity. In keeping with that tradition of knowledge and the glory of humanity and divinity, I offer my songs and prayers to you so that we may be blest with food and energy for body and mind, the right path of living and the light of life and spirit divine.

✦ Sukta 177 · 5 verses ✦

1.177.1

आ च॑र्षणि॒प्रा वृ॑ष॒भो जना॑नां॒ राजा॑ कृष्टी॒नां पु॑रुहू॒त इन्द्रः॑ । स्तु॒तः श्र॑व॒स्यन्नव॒सोप॑ म॒द्रिग्यु॒क्त्वा हरी॒ वृष॒णा या॑ह्य॒र्वाङ् ॥

First and foremost power among the people, virile and valorous, brilliant ruler of the living world, invoked, invited, honoured and worshipped by all, such is Indra, lord of honour, power and glory. O generous, strong and leading light of life, invoked, invited and celebrated as you are by us with song, reverence and worship, yoke the horses and come right here for the sake of our protection and your own self-fulfilment and covenant of Divinity.

· · ·

1.177.2

ये ते॒ वृष॑णो वृष॒भास॑ इन्द्र ब्रह्म॒युजो॒ वृष॑रथासो॒ अत्याः॑ । ताँ आ ति॑ष्ठ॒ तेभि॒रा या॑ह्य॒र्वाङ्हवा॑महे त्वा सु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ सोमे॑ ॥

Indra, lord of light, energy and the honour of action and success, universal ruler and dispenser, come in response to our invocation. Ride what are your potent and excellent chariots responsive to the mantric word of command and control at the remotest distance, come with and come by the powers that move faster than even light and come here where we pray. The time is ripe, the soma is distilled and ready for celebration of the success and divine visit.

· · ·

1.177.3

आ ति॑ष्ठ॒ रथं॒ वृष॑णं॒ वृषा॑ ते सु॒तः सोमः॒ परि॑षिक्ता॒ मधू॑नि । यु॒क्त्वा वृष॑भ्यां वृषभ क्षिती॒नां हरि॑भ्यां याहि प्र॒वतोप॑ म॒द्रिक् ॥

Indra, potent lord of fertility and universal generosity, ride your celestial chariot and come. Distilled is soma, seasoned and sprinkled with the sweetest honey around the vedi, ready for the celebration. O potent and generous lord of the people, yoke the two most energetic powers of motion to the chariot and come right here to us by the shortest route at the fastest speed.

· · ·

1.177.4

अ॒यं य॒ज्ञो दे॑व॒या अ॒यं मि॒येध॑ इ॒मा ब्रह्मा॑ण्य॒यमि॑न्द्र॒ सोमः॑ । स्ती॒र्णं ब॒र्हिरा तु श॑क्र॒ प्र या॑हि॒ पिबा॑ नि॒षद्य॒ वि मु॑चा॒ हरी॑ इ॒ह ॥

Indra, generous and powerful lord ruler of the world, this is the yajna that leads to divine heights of existential success. This is the yajna that grows by holy inputs of fragrant materials. These are the materials and mantric formulas of libation. And this is the soma of the celebration of success. The vedi is covered round with holy grass for seats. Lord of potency and generosity, come, release the horses, sit and drink of the soma of celebration and success.

· · ·

1.177.5

ओ सुष्टु॑त इन्द्र याह्य॒र्वाङुप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि मा॒न्यस्य॑ का॒रोः । वि॒द्याम॒ वस्तो॒रव॑सा गृ॒णन्तो॑ वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, lord of light and life, ruler of the world, thus happily invoked and celebrated, come here and appreciate the mantric secret and revelations of the artist and value the holy materials produced by him so that we too, singing songs of thanks and celebration, may progress with due protection day by day and be blest with food and energy, the right path of living and the breath and spirit of life and light divine.

✦ Sukta 178 · 5 verses ✦

1.178.1

यद्ध॒ स्या त॑ इन्द्र श्रु॒ष्टिरस्ति॒ यया॑ ब॒भूथ॑ जरि॒तृभ्य॑ ऊ॒ती । मा नः॒ कामं॑ म॒हय॑न्त॒मा ध॒ग्विश्वा॑ ते अश्यां॒ पर्याप॑ आ॒योः ॥

Indra, lord of power and protection, all that reputable knowledge and wealth of yours by which you become the protector and promoter of the celebrants may not, we pray, scorch and burn our exalting ambition in life. May we, instead, achieve all your blessings of life and energy for our existence and progress.

· · ·

1.178.2

न घा॒ राजेन्द्र॒ आ द॑भन्नो॒ या नु स्वसा॑रा कृ॒णव॑न्त॒ योनौ॑ । आप॑श्चिदस्मै सु॒तुका॑ अवेष॒न्गम॑न्न॒ इन्द्रः॑ स॒ख्या वय॑श्च ॥

May Indra, lord of life, action and success, we pray, suppress us not any way, nor negate what our sisters achieve in the home or in the yajna on the vedi. Instead, let the lord of the world, we pray, make the waters of life flow free for us, and let our achievements rise high for his sake. May Indra, we pray, bless us with health and the good life and grant us the favour of divine friendship.

· · ·

1.178.3

जेता॒ नृभि॒रिन्द्रः॑ पृ॒त्सु शूरः॒ श्रोता॒ हवं॒ नाध॑मानस्य का॒रोः । प्रभ॑र्ता॒ रथं॑ दा॒शुष॑ उपा॒क उद्य॑न्ता॒ गिरो॒ यदि॑ च॒ त्मना॒ भूत् ॥

Great is Indra, mighty brave, victor in battles of life for progress, listener to the artists and scientists, demands and requests for grants and success, mover of the generous giver’s chariot loaded with gifts and replenishments, and high fructifier of the devotee’s prayers provided that everything is prayed for and pursued with sincerity of mind and soul.

· · ·

1.178.4

ए॒वा नृभि॒रिन्द्रः॑ सुश्रव॒स्या प्र॑खा॒दः पृ॒क्षो अ॒भि मि॒त्रिणो॑ भूत् । स॒म॒र्य इ॒षः स्त॑वते॒ विवा॑चि सत्राक॒रो यज॑मानस्य॒ शंसः॑ ॥

Thus Indra is great with human resources, lord of wealth, honour and high reputation, great consumer of materials and thereby producer of high energy, and he is always surrounded and assisted by friends and associates. In debates and discussions of variety he values food and energy as the basic wealth. He is a great organiser of sessions of yajnic conferences and appreciates and applauds the host of such sessions and conferences.

· · ·

1.178.5

त्वया॑ व॒यं म॑घवन्निन्द्र॒ शत्रू॑न॒भि ष्या॑म मह॒तो मन्य॑मानान् । त्वं त्रा॒ता त्वमु॑ नो वृ॒धे भू॑र्वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Indra, lord of honour, wealth and power, with you let us face and overcome our enemies, great and highly proud though they believe they are. You are our saviour and promoter. You alone, we pray, be here and everywhere for our growth and advancement. And with you alone, we pray, may we achieve food and energy, the right path of living and the breath and spirit of life.

✦ Sukta 179 · 6 verses ✦

1.179.1

पू॒र्वीर॒हं श॒रदः॑ शश्रमा॒णा दो॒षा वस्तो॑रु॒षसो॑ ज॒रय॑न्तीः । मि॒नाति॒ श्रियं॑ जरि॒मा त॒नूना॒मप्यू॒ नु पत्नी॒र्वृष॑णो जगम्युः ॥

Working for the last many many years from dawn through the day until the dark late at night, tired and worn out, growing old and older, now old age destroys the health and beauty of the body of women. Therefore the young and virile husband should meet the wife only earlier when she is young and charming.

· · ·

1.179.2

ये चि॒द्धि पूर्व॑ ऋत॒साप॒ आस॑न्त्सा॒कं दे॒वेभि॒रव॑दन्नृ॒तानि॑ । ते चि॒दवा॑सुर्न॒ह्यन्त॑मा॒पुः समू॒ नु पत्नी॒र्वृष॑भिर्जगम्युः ॥

Those ancients who were masters and devout followers of truth spoke of the laws and truth of nature with men of divinity. They did procreate, but they too did not find the end of the mystery. Let the women go and meet their youthful and virile husbands.

· · ·

1.179.3

न मृषा॑ श्रा॒न्तं यदव॑न्ति दे॒वा विश्वा॒ इत्स्पृधो॑ अ॒भ्य॑श्नवाव । जया॒वेदत्र॑ श॒तनी॑थमा॒जिं यत्स॒म्यञ्चा॑ मिथु॒नाव॒भ्यजा॑व ॥

The vexations of the household are not vain since nature and the divines protect and bless it. Let us together face the problems and win the battles of the world. We shall win the hundredfold battles if we, the wedded couple, were to beget progeny and fulfil our duties of the household.

· · ·

1.179.4

न॒दस्य॑ मा रुध॒तः काम॒ आग॑न्नि॒त आजा॑तो अ॒मुतः॒ कुत॑श्चित् । लोपा॑मुद्रा॒ वृष॑णं॒ नी रि॑णाति॒ धीर॒मधी॑रा धयति श्व॒सन्त॑म् ॥

Passion and desire arises in me like the waters of a river held up but rising in flood from here, there, anywhere, who knows? Hiding but not suppressing the passion, the amorous wife betakes to the husband breathing deep and calm and smothers him in embrace.

· · ·

1.179.5

इ॒मं नु सोम॒मन्ति॑तो हृ॒त्सु पी॒तमुप॑ ब्रुवे । यत्सी॒माग॑श्चकृ॒मा तत्सु मृ॑ळतु पुलु॒कामो॒ हि मर्त्यः॑ ॥

I have closely spoken of this soma of ecstatic passion from the inner reality of it, drunk and felt as it is in the depths of the heart. If I have committed a sin, please forbear and forgive. Man after all is subject to various passion, and desire (for self-fulfilment), mortal as he is.

· · ·

1.179.6

अ॒गस्त्यः॒ खन॑मानः ख॒नित्रैः॑ प्र॒जामप॑त्यं॒ बल॑मि॒च्छमा॑नः । उ॒भौ वर्णा॒वृषि॑रु॒ग्रः पु॑पोष स॒त्या दे॒वेष्वा॒शिषो॑ जगाम ॥

Agastya, the sagely man of vision, brilliance and resolution never goes astray. Digging into the mysteries of life with the instruments of intelligence and insight he longs for strength and children and a controlled family and community. He marries by choice and looks after and promotes the duad, both sexes in the community, and thus attains complete self-fulfilment among noble people dedicated to truth and Divinity.

✦ Sukta 180 · 10 verses ✦

1.180.1

यु॒वो रजां॑सि सु॒यमा॑सो॒ अश्वा॒ रथो॒ यद्वां॒ पर्यर्णां॑सि॒ दीय॑त् । हि॒र॒ण्यया॑ वां प॒वयः॑ प्रुषाय॒न्मध्वः॒ पिब॑न्ता उ॒षसः॑ सचेथे ॥

Men and women all, wedded couples, Ashwins, when your well controlled and guided horses soar into the skies and the chariot shoots over oceans of earth and space, your golden wheels cut through the air and drip with vapour, then both of you enjoy the honey drink of the lights of dawn.

· · ·

1.180.2

यु॒वमत्य॒स्याव॑ नक्षथो॒ यद्विप॑त्मनो॒ नर्य॑स्य॒ प्रय॑ज्योः । स्वसा॒ यद्वां॑ विश्वगूर्ती॒ भरा॑ति॒ वाजा॒येट्टे॑ मधुपावि॒षे च॑ ॥

Ashvins, men and women, universally admirable, enjoying the honey sweets of life and nature, when you take on to your horse flying over oceans of earth and space, so useful for humanity, then the sister community applauds you and the world adores you for energy, victory and success at the fastest speed.

· · ·

1.180.3

यु॒वं पय॑ उ॒स्रिया॑यामधत्तं प॒क्वमा॒माया॒मव॒ पूर्व्यं॒ गोः । अ॒न्तर्यद्व॒निनो॑ वामृतप्सू ह्वा॒रो न शुचि॒र्यज॑ते ह॒विष्मा॑न् ॥

Ashvins, truth incarnate, feeding on rectitude and law of nature, you create the milk in the cow’s udders, you create the milk potential in the maturing cow. The sylvan sage, pure at heart, bearing fragrant materials like a patient kindly saint offers you homage and longs for your company.

· · ·

1.180.4

यु॒वं ह॑ घ॒र्मं मधु॑मन्त॒मत्र॑ये॒ऽपो न क्षोदो॑ऽवृणीतमे॒षे । तद्वां॑ नरावश्विना॒ पश्व॑इष्टी॒ रथ्ये॑व च॒क्रा प्रति॑ यन्ति॒ मध्वः॑ ॥

Ashvins, leaders of men and women, you brighten up the day and create the flow of water invigorating as the breath of life, all sweet as honey for the man who longs for freedom from three-fold suffering of body, mind and soul. And thus the fruits of animal husbandry and sericulture, animal wealth and honey sweets of nature move on to you as freely as the wheels of your chariot.

· · ·

1.180.5

आ वां॑ दा॒नाय॑ ववृतीय दस्रा॒ गोरोहे॑ण तौ॒ग्र्यो न जिव्रिः॑ । अ॒पः क्षो॒णी स॑चते॒ माहि॑ना वां जू॒र्णो वा॒मक्षु॒रंह॑सो यजत्रा ॥

Ashvins, adorable friends of all, like an old and worn out person, like a strong man among the strong, by virtue of the gifts of mother earth I come to you for the gift of strength and sustenance. By virtue of your greatness and generosity the earth has the rain showers. Friends and benefactors, let me be free from sin and suffering even when I am old and tired and be with you for long.

· · ·

1.180.6

नि यद्यु॒वेथे॑ नि॒युतः॑ सुदानू॒ उप॑ स्व॒धाभिः॑ सृजथः॒ पुरं॑धिम् । प्रेष॒द्वेष॒द्वातो॒ न सू॒रिरा म॒हे द॑दे सुव्र॒तो न वाज॑म् ॥

Ashvins, generous givers, when you join the materials which ought to be compounded, you create new knowledge with inputs into the fire. Let the bold scholar dedicated to the laws of nature and his own vows be happy. Let him go round like the winds, and I would receive the gift of knowledge, energy and speed for advancement and greatness.

· · ·

1.180.7

व॒यं चि॒द्धि वां॑ जरि॒तारः॑ स॒त्या वि॑प॒न्याम॑हे॒ वि प॒णिर्हि॒तावा॑न् । अधा॑ चि॒द्धि ष्मा॑श्विनावनिन्द्या पा॒थो हि ष्मा॑ वृषणा॒वन्ति॑देवम् ॥

Ashvins, ever truthful, beyond calumny, mighty and generous, we are your admirers, in fact worshippers. We praise you as we praise a scholar among scholars who does good to all.And just as you protect and honour a scholar among scholars and worship God among divines, so may we too serve you and the divinities of nature and humanity.

· · ·

1.180.8

यु॒वां चि॒द्धि ष्मा॑श्विना॒वनु॒ द्यून्विरु॑द्रस्य प्र॒स्रव॑णस्य सा॒तौ । अ॒गस्त्यो॑ न॒रां नृषु॒ प्रश॑स्तः॒ कारा॑धुनीव चितयत्स॒हस्रैः॑ ॥

O Ashvins, men and women brilliant as sun and moon, Agastya, excellent man on the path of virtue, highest of the best among people and leaders, every day celebrates you exclusively, in matters of the attainment of dynamic pranic energies of life in a hundred ways in resounding words of universal significance.

· · ·

1.180.9

प्र यद्वहे॑थे महि॒ना रथ॑स्य॒ प्र स्प॑न्द्रा याथो॒ मनु॑षो॒ न होता॑ । ध॒त्तं सू॒रिभ्य॑ उ॒त वा॒ स्वश्व्यं॒ नास॑त्या रयि॒षाचः॑ स्याम ॥

Ashvins, dynamic powers of light, honour and prosperity, ever true and vibrating with energy, who advance by the might and majesty of your chariot and reach far forward like a yajnic hero among humanity, bear and bring, we pray, noble wealth and power of horse for the brave so that we too may be happy and prosperous.

· · ·

1.180.10

तं वां॒ रथं॑ व॒यम॒द्या हु॑वेम॒ स्तोमै॑रश्विना सुवि॒ताय॒ नव्य॑म् । अरि॑ष्टनेमिं॒ परि॒ द्यामि॑या॒नं वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

For the sake of peace and well-being and the beauty of life, O Ashvins, powers of progress and majesty, today we invoke and call for that latest chariot of yours which takes us far above the pain and suffering of the world and reaches the heights of heavenly light, and we pray we may attain food and energy, the right path of living and the light and peace of the soul.

✦ Sukta 181 · 9 verses ✦

1.181.1

कदु॒ प्रेष्ठा॑वि॒षां र॑यी॒णाम॑ध्व॒र्यन्ता॒ यदु॑न्निनी॒थो अ॒पाम् । अ॒यं वां॑ य॒ज्ञो अ॑कृत॒ प्रश॑स्तिं॒ वसु॑धिती॒ अवि॑तारा जनानाम् ॥

Dearest Ashvins, source and wielders of the treasures of wealth, saviours and protectors of humanity, ever keen to organise and conduct the yajnic development of water, energy and wealth, when you advance to the non-violent projects of development, you take the results to the heights of success. This yajna does honour to you both.

· · ·

1.181.2

आ वा॒मश्वा॑सः॒ शुच॑यः पय॒स्पा वात॑रंहसो दि॒व्यासो॒ अत्याः॑ । म॒नो॒जुवो॒ वृष॑णो वी॒तपृ॑ष्ठा॒ एह स्व॒राजो॑ अ॒श्विना॑ वहन्तु ॥

Ashvins, powers of might and majesty, may your horses, pure unsullied, living on drink of milk and water, moving as winds, brilliant and divine, fast as the speed of mind, strong and virile, carriers like the back of the earth, brilliant with their own lustre bear you here.

· · ·

1.181.3

आ वां॒ रथो॒ऽवनि॒र्न प्र॒वत्वा॑न्त्सृ॒प्रव॑न्धुरः सुवि॒ताय॑ गम्याः । वृष्णः॑ स्थातारा॒ मन॑सो॒ जवी॑यानहम्पू॒र्वो य॑ज॒तो धि॑ष्ण्या॒ यः ॥

Ashvins, benevolent powers of high standing, may your chariot firmly rushing on like the earth, strongly structured and beautifully adorned, faster than mind, fully programmed and self-directed, cooperative and inviolably un-interceptible reach us for our good.

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1.181.4

इ॒हेह॑ जा॒ता सम॑वावशीतामरे॒पसा॑ त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ नाम॑भिः॒ स्वैः । जि॒ष्णुर्वा॑म॒न्यः सुम॑खस्य सू॒रिर्दि॒वो अ॒न्यः सु॒भगः॑ पु॒त्र ऊ॑हे ॥

Ashvins, pure geniuses unsullied by sin and evil, risen to universal recognition here, there, everywhere, be ambitious in accordance with your body and your own name and character. One of you is ambitious for victory and advancement. Another is a mighty scholar, a very child of the benevolent light of heaven. And yet another is an auspicious favourite of fortune, a saviour just like a son. I think and deliberate upon this variety and mystery.

· · ·

1.181.5

प्र वां॑ निचे॒रुः क॑कु॒हो वशाँ॒ अनु॑ पि॒शङ्ग॑रूपः॒ सद॑नानि गम्याः । हरी॑ अ॒न्यस्य॑ पी॒पय॑न्त॒ वाजै॑र्म॒थ्रा रजां॑स्यश्विना॒ वि घोषैः॑ ॥

Ashvins, tempestuous powers like sun-rays and winds, one chariot of yours, golden of form, goes round conquering the directions of space and reaching the places of your choice. The horses of the other shear through space churning the air with the force of their speed and fill the world with reverberations of their motion.

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1.181.6

प्र वां॑ श॒रद्वा॑न्वृष॒भो न नि॒ष्षाट् पू॒र्वीरिष॑श्चरति॒ मध्व॑ इ॒ष्णन् । एवै॑र॒न्यस्य॑ पी॒पय॑न्त॒ वाजै॒र्वेष॑न्तीरू॒र्ध्वा न॒द्यो॑ न॒ आगुः॑ ॥

Ashvins, one of you, mighty like the sun, lord of the seasons and the year or like the autumn cloud, challenging the winds and vapours and loving the alltime sweets of earth, travels down with the rays of light and plays with the fruits and flowers. The other, consuming and growing by the motions and energies of another moving like upward streams of fire, brings us peace and comfort.

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1.181.7

अस॑र्जि वां॒ स्थवि॑रा वेधसा॒ गीर्वा॒ळ्हे अ॑श्विना त्रे॒धा क्षर॑न्ती ।

उप॑स्तुताववतं॒ नाध॑मानं॒ याम॒न्नया॑मञ्छृणुतं॒ हवं॑ मे ॥

Ashvins, most venerable lords of knowledge and wisdom, this ancient and expansive song of celebration flowing three ways over time for the sake of growth, physical, mental and spiritual, has been created in your honour. Sung and celebrated sincerely, listen to the voice of the celebrant while on the move or not on the move and redeem and protect the devotee.

· · ·

1.181.8

उ॒त स्या वां॒ रुश॑तो॒ वप्स॑सो॒ गीस्त्रि॑ब॒र्हिषि॒ सद॑सि पिन्वते॒ नॄन् । वृषा॑ वां मे॒घो वृ॑षणा पीपाय॒ गोर्न सेके॒ मनु॑षो दश॒स्यन् ॥

And that voice celebrating the brilliant and charming form of your personality strengthens and energises the people performing yajna in the ceremonial hall of three sages seated on holy grass. And the same voice, holy and generous lords, while it blesses the people, may shower you with joy as showers of rain from the heavy clouds overflow the surface of the earth in the rainy season.

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1.181.9

यु॒वां पू॒षेवा॑श्विना॒ पुरं॑धिर॒ग्निमु॒षां न ज॑रते ह॒विष्मा॑न् । हु॒वे यद्वां॑ वरिव॒स्या गृ॑णा॒नो वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Ashvins, powers of light, energy and generosity, just as the sun which sustains the world nourishes the earth and her children and the yajamana bearing oblations does homage to Agni and the Dawn, so does the poet bearing the gift of homage serve and celebrate you in song. And I, dedicated to you and celebrating you, pray that we may be blest with knowledge strength and energy and a long and happy life, bountiful and generous as you are.

✦ Sukta 182 · 8 verses ✦

1.182.1

अभू॑दि॒दं व॒युन॒मो षु भू॑षता॒ रथो॒ वृष॑ण्वा॒न्मद॑ता मनीषिणः । धि॒यं॒जि॒न्वा धिष्ण्या॑ वि॒श्पला॑वसू दि॒वो नपा॑ता सु॒कृते॒ शुचि॑व्रता ॥

Men of knowledge and wisdom, honour and adore those teachers and scholars and rejoice with them who give us this knowledge and create this mighty and versatile chariot of ours which is fit for the Ashvins to move at the speed of winds and light. They are the agents of intellectual and scientific evolution, strong and inviolable treasure-givers of health and wealth and home, keepers of the light of heaven on earth, and firmly committed to the paths of knowledge, action and progress along the lines of purity and rectitude.

· · ·

1.182.2

इन्द्र॑तमा॒ हि धिष्ण्या॑ म॒रुत्त॑मा द॒स्रा दंसि॑ष्ठा र॒थ्या॑ र॒थीत॑मा । पू॒र्णं रथं॑ वहेथे॒ मध्व॒ आचि॑तं॒ तेन॑ दा॒श्वांस॒मुप॑ याथो अश्विना ॥

Ashvins, noble scholars, teachers and scientists, you are the most honourable heroes, most powerful, most dynamic and energetic, destroyers of poverty and suffering, masters of will and action, creators of chariots and the most daring pioneers of progress. You design, create and drive the chariot that is perfect and laden with the collection of the richest honey sweets of life. And with that you come to the man of the chariot and say: Take this, go round the worlds, and enjoy.

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1.182.3

किमत्र॑ दस्रा कृणुथः॒ किमा॑साथे॒ जनो॒ यः कश्चि॒दह॑विर्मही॒यते॑ । अति॑ क्रमिष्टं जु॒रतं॑ प॒णेरसुं॒ ज्योति॒र्विप्रा॑य कृणुतं वच॒स्यवे॑ ॥

Marvellous Ashvins, brilliant powers of light and wisdom, generous preservers of life and destroyers of suffering, what are you doing here? Why stay here where anyone like nobody, miserly and selfish, nongiving, non-sacrificing is honoured and flaunts as great? Bypass the bargainer whose vision, judgement and pranic vitality is draining. Give light to the noble holy man in search of the holy Word and spiritual approval.

· · ·

1.182.4

ज॒म्भय॑तम॒भितो॒ राय॑तः॒ शुनो॑ ह॒तं मृधो॑ वि॒दथु॒स्तान्य॑श्विना । वाचं॑वाचं जरि॒तू र॒त्निनीं॑ कृतमु॒भा शंसं॑ नासत्यावतं॒ मम॑ ॥

Ashvins, crush all round those who bark like dogs. Eliminate the wars and war mongers. You know them. Richly fructify and reward every word of the devotees’ song of praise with the gift of jewels. Lords of truth, protect and promote my honour and my song of celebration.

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1.182.5

यु॒वमे॒तं च॑क्रथुः॒ सिन्धु॑षु प्ल॒वमा॑त्म॒न्वन्तं॑ प॒क्षिणं॑ तौ॒ग्र्याय॒ कम् । येन॑ देव॒त्रा मन॑सा निरू॒हथुः॑ सुपप्त॒नी पे॑तथुः॒ क्षोद॑सो म॒हः ॥

Ashvins, scholar of science and technologist of marine engineering and aeronautics, both create the safe and comfortable winged boat, self-powered and selfpropelled, moving through and over the seas for the strongest man among the strong by which you, noblest among the noble people, with your science and skill, fly like birds and cross the wide seas.

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1.182.6

अव॑विद्धं तौ॒ग्र्यम॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तर॑नारम्भ॒णे तम॑सि॒ प्रवि॑द्धम् । चत॑स्रो॒ नावो॒ जठ॑लस्य॒ जुष्टा॒ उद॒श्विभ्या॑मिषि॒ताः पा॑रयन्ति ॥

Confined, surrounded and plunged in impenetrable darkness is the team of the mighty marine force. Four boats powered and driven by the Ashvins assigned for the mid-ocean operation rescue the team and safely bring it ashore.

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1.182.7

कः स्वि॑द्वृ॒क्षो निःष्ठि॑तो॒ मध्ये॒ अर्ण॑सो॒ यं तौ॒ग्र्यो ना॑धि॒तः प॒र्यष॑स्वजत् । प॒र्णा मृ॒गस्य॑ प॒तरो॑रिवा॒रभ॒ उद॑श्विना ऊहथुः॒ श्रोम॑ताय॒ कम् ॥

Ashvins, pilots of the sea and sky, what sort of tree, post, is that standing in the midst of the deep sea to which the powerful but afflicted marine team holds on? What sailing and flying machine is that which like the wings of a soaring bird you work up and down for your honour and glory?

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1.182.8

तद्वां॑ नरा नासत्या॒वनु॑ ष्या॒द्यद्वां॒ माना॑स उ॒चथ॒मवो॑चन् । अ॒स्माद॒द्य सद॑सः सो॒म्यादा वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Ashvins, leaders of light ever committed to truth and shunning untruth, whatever words of appreciation and celebration venerable people have said in your honour, may all that be auspicious to you, being true to your character and performance. And may we today from this yajnic hall of joy and bliss receive and carry away food and energy to our heart’s desire, knowledge and strength to live along the right path, and the breath and life of the mind and spirit.

✦ Sukta 183 · 6 verses ✦

1.183.1

तं यु॑ञ्जाथां॒ मन॑सो॒ यो जवी॑यान्त्रिवन्धु॒रो वृ॑षणा॒ यस्त्रि॑च॒क्रः । येनो॑पया॒थः सु॒कृतो॑ दुरो॒णं त्रि॒धातु॑ना पतथो॒ विर्न प॒र्णैः ॥

Ashvins, mighty generous visionaries of science, technology and psychology, take to three-metal, three-turbine and three-stage chariot faster than the speed of mind by which you reach the house of sukrit Tvashta, holy designer and maker of chariots, armaments, implements and instruments, flying with wings like birds. (This is a mantra of various possibilities of interpretation in the context of Physics, Astrophysics, Aeronautics, Medicine and Meditation. The meaning, can be ‘seen’ and realised by an expert who would be of the order of a Rshi, a visionary of the dynamics of Nature in his own field, and better in the unified field of comprehensive reality.)

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1.183.2

सु॒वृद्रथो॑ वर्तते॒ यन्न॒भि क्षां यत्तिष्ठ॑थः॒ क्रतु॑म॒न्तानु॑ पृ॒क्षे । वपु॑र्वपु॒ष्या स॑चतामि॒यं गीर्दि॒वो दु॑हि॒त्रोषसा॑ सचेथे ॥

Ashvins, committed explorers in search of fragrance for your yajnic inputs, the chariot you ride is firmly wheeled and revolves round and round approaching the earth. Believe this message of mine, an exact description of your form in words: you look like the dawn, child of the sun on the rise descending over the earth.

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1.183.3

आ ति॑ष्ठतं सु॒वृतं॒ यो रथो॑ वा॒मनु॑ व्र॒तानि॒ वर्त॑ते ह॒विष्मा॑न् । येन॑ नरा नासत्येष॒यध्यै॑ व॒र्तिर्या॒थस्तन॑याय॒ त्मने॑ च ॥

Ashvins, leaders of humanity, committed to truth and exploration, well-structured, loved and accepted is the chariot you ride in pursuance of your vows of commitment and discipline which is richly loaded with wealth for the good life and by which go you over your path of exploration and come back home to inspire and fulfil the ambitions of humanity for themselves and for their children.

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1.183.4

मा वां॒ वृको॒ मा वृ॒कीरा द॑धर्षी॒न्मा परि॑ वर्क्तमु॒त माति॑ धक्तम् । अ॒यं वां॑ भा॒गो निहि॑त इ॒यं गीर्दस्रा॑वि॒मे वां॑ नि॒धयो॒ मधू॑नाम् ॥

Let no wolfish thief or selfish devourer, man or woman, dare to challenge you or terrorise you off from your course. Destroyers of suffering and generous preservers of life, forsake us not, nor destroy us. This is your share set apart in reserve in homage. This is the voice of celebration in homage and gratitude. These are your treasures of honey sweets of honour and glory.

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1.183.5

यु॒वां गोत॑मः पुरुमी॒ळ्हो अत्रि॒र्दस्रा॒ हव॒तेऽव॑से ह॒विष्मा॑न् । दिशं॒ न दि॒ष्टामृ॑जू॒येव॒ यन्ता मे॒ हवं॑ नास॒त्योप॑ यातम् ॥

Ashvins, destroyers of want and suffering, preservers of health and happiness, lovers of truth and science, teachers, guides and philosophers, Gotama, the man of knowledge and wisdom, Purumeedha, the man blest with prosperity, and Atri, the progressive man free from threefold pain, invokes you with offerings of homage and oblations for the sake of protection and progress. Come and accept my homage too like leaders going and leading in the direction of truth marked as destination of nature and law.

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1.183.6

अता॑रिष्म॒ तम॑सस्पा॒रम॒स्य प्रति॑ वां॒ स्तोमो॑ अश्विनावधायि । एह या॑तं प॒थिभि॑र्देव॒यानै॑र्वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Ashvins, let us swim across this darkness of ignorance and suffering of the world. So we bear and offer this song of celebration and gratitude to you in homage. Come to us here by the paths of divinity so that by your guidance and leadership we may be blest with food and energy, path of rectitude and breeze of health and the good life.

✦ Sukta 184 · 6 verses ✦

1.184.1

ता वा॑म॒द्य ताव॑प॒रं हु॑वेमो॒च्छन्त्या॑मु॒षसि॒ वह्नि॑रु॒क्थैः । नास॑त्या॒ कुह॑ चि॒त्सन्ता॑व॒र्यो दि॒वो नपा॑ता सु॒दास्त॑राय ॥

Ashvins, infallible children of the light of heaven, committed to the law of truth and right, today and also later we invoke and invite you both at the rise of the glorious dawn with songs of adoration. The fire is lit, the songs are sung. Wherever you be, come like the waves of light-rays to bless the man of masterly business and noble charity.

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1.184.2

अ॒स्मे ऊ॒ षु वृ॑षणा मादयेथा॒मुत्प॒णीँर्ह॑तमू॒र्म्या मद॑न्ता । श्रु॒तं मे॒ अच्छो॑क्तिभिर्मती॒नामेष्टा॑ नरा॒ निचे॑तारा च॒ कर्णैः॑ ॥

Ashvins, mighty generous, leading lights of humanity, unfailing givers of knowledge, enjoy with rest and peace of the night in the revolving wheel of time with the fluctuations of existence. Rejoice with the celebrant for our sake and eliminate the miserliness of the petty trader. Loved and adored by people with noble words of adoration, listen to my prayers with attentive and sympathetic ears.

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1.184.3

श्रि॒ये पू॑षन्निषु॒कृते॑व दे॒वा नास॑त्या वह॒तुं सू॒र्यायाः॑ । व॒च्यन्ते॑ वां ककु॒हा अ॒प्सु जा॒ता यु॒गा जू॒र्णेव॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ भूरेः॑ ॥

Ashvins, brilliant and generous givers of light and knowledge, strength and energy, dedicated to truth, in order to carry the light of the dawn, daughter of the sun, for the beauty and grace of the earth, your eminent carriers born of the waves and vapours of space, flying like arrows of light, are admired like the great and ancient horses of Varuna, born of the ocean of eternity.

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1.184.4

अ॒स्मे सा वां॑ माध्वी रा॒तिर॑स्तु॒ स्तोमं॑ हिनोतं मा॒न्यस्य॑ का॒रोः । अनु॒ यद्वां॑ श्रव॒स्या॑ सुदानू सु॒वीर्या॑य चर्ष॒णयो॒ मद॑न्ति ॥

Ashvins, givers of light and knowledge, may that generosity with all its gifts be sweet as honey to us. Receive and accept the song of celebration created by the venerable poet, O lords of generosity, since all people in search of honour and valour enjoy and celebrate life in accordance and harmony with your life and culture.

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1.184.5

ए॒ष वां॒ स्तोमो॑ अश्विनावकारि॒ माने॑भिर्मघवाना सुवृ॒क्ति । या॒तं व॒र्तिस्तन॑याय॒ त्मने॑ चा॒गस्त्ये॑ नासत्या॒ मद॑न्ता ॥

Ashvins, lords of honour, valour and generosity, this is the worshipful song of homage and celebration created and presented by the dedicated devotees revered in society. Committed to the law of truth and rectitude, go on by the inviolable path of truth and right for yourself and the children, enjoying the beauty and ecstasy of life.

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1.184.6

अता॑रिष्म॒ तम॑सस्पा॒रम॒स्य प्रति॑ वां॒ स्तोमो॑ अश्विनावधायि । एह या॑तं प॒थिभि॑र्देव॒यानै॑र्वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Ashvins, lords of light and love, let us swim across this darkness and ignorance to light and knowledge. Hence this song of adoration is sung in homage to you. Come to us here by the paths of divinity and we would be blest with food for life, the right path and the light of Divinity to swim across to Eternity

✦ Sukta 185 · 11 verses ✦

1.185.1

क॒त॒रा पूर्वा॑ कत॒राप॑रा॒योः क॒था जा॒ते क॑वयः॒ को वि वे॑द । विश्वं॒ त्मना॑ बिभृतो॒ यद्ध॒ नाम॒ वि व॑र्तेते॒ अह॑नी च॒क्रिये॑व ॥

Of the two, heaven and earth, which comes first? Which follows later? How were they born? O men wise and bold, who knows all this? Verily they hold this entire universe as it is by themselves and go round and round like days and nights as parts of a wheel. Answer: Ka, He the Lord Supreme, knows.

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1.185.2

भूरिं॒ द्वे अच॑रन्ती॒ चर॑न्तं प॒द्वन्तं॒ गर्भ॑म॒पदी॑ दधाते । नित्यं॒ न सू॒नुं पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थे॒ द्यावा॒ रक्ष॑तं पृथिवी नो॒ अभ्वा॑त् ॥

The two, heaven and earth, undeviating from their nature, character, law and action, and keeping to their course without moving on legs, bear, nourish and sustain like a foetus this great, moving world of humans and animals. May the heaven and earth always protect us from sin and evil like a child in the lap of parents.

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1.185.3

अ॒ने॒हो दा॒त्रमदि॑तेरन॒र्वं हु॒वे स्व॑र्वदव॒धं नम॑स्वत् । तद्रो॑दसी जनयतं जरि॒त्रे द्यावा॒ रक्ष॑तं पृथिवी नो॒ अभ्वा॑त् ॥

I invoke Mother Nature’s boundless generosity and pray for her pure and sinless gift of inviolable, brilliant and blissful, indestructible and reverential abundance of wealth of mind and material which, I crave, may heaven and earth create for the mother’s adoring child. And, I pray, may the heaven and earth save us from the violence and monstrosity of a life of materialism and sinful opulence.

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1.185.4

अत॑प्यमाने॒ अव॒साव॑न्ती॒ अनु॑ ष्याम॒ रोद॑सी दे॒वपु॑त्रे । उ॒भे दे॒वाना॑मु॒भये॑भि॒रह्नां॒ द्यावा॒ रक्ष॑तं पृथिवी नो॒ अभ्वा॑त् ॥

Free from sufferance, causing no pain, protective by inbuilt safeguards, both heaven and earth, children of Divinity and mothers of divinities, may, we pray, protect the noble powers of nature and humanity day and night along with all that is moving and non moving in existence. Let us be in harmony with them and may they be good to us. May heaven and earth, we pray, protect us from the ravages of nature and worldly misfortune.

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1.185.5

सं॒गच्छ॑माने युव॒ती सम॑न्ते॒ स्वसा॑रा जा॒मी पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थे॑ । अ॒भि॒जिघ्र॑न्ती॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ नाभिं॒ द्यावा॒ रक्ष॑तं पृथिवी नो॒ अभ्वा॑त् ॥

Heaven and earth, going together, ever youthful, contiguous and simultaneous like twin sisters, coexistent and cooperative, nestled in the lap of mother Nature and Father Supreme of existence, taste the fragrance of the omnipresent contrehold of the universe. May the heaven and earth protect us from the sin of falling off from that all-pervasive fragrance of the Divine Presence.

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1.185.6

उ॒र्वी सद्म॑नी बृह॒ती ऋ॒तेन॑ हु॒वे दे॒वाना॒मव॑सा॒ जनि॑त्री । द॒धाते॒ ये अ॒मृतं॑ सु॒प्रती॑के॒ द्यावा॒ रक्ष॑तं पृथिवी नो॒ अभ्वा॑त् ॥

I invoke and celebrate in song the grand and vast heaven and earth, mother sustainers and shelter homes of the brilliant and generous divinities of nature and humanity with protection and the truth of universal law. Beautiful of form, they bear the nectar sweets of water and energy for life. May the heaven and earth save us from the sin of filial ingratitude.

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1.185.7

उ॒र्वी पृ॒थ्वी ब॑हु॒ले दू॒रेअ॑न्ते॒ उप॑ ब्रुवे॒ नम॑सा य॒ज्ञे अ॒स्मिन् । द॒धाते॒ ये सु॒भगे॑ सु॒प्रतू॑र्ती॒ द्यावा॒ रक्ष॑तं पृथिवी नो॒ अभ्वा॑त् ॥

I invoke and adore the mighty heaven and earth, abundant and boundless far and wide, and sing in praise of them in this yajna of life with humility and offerings of fragrant oblations. Generous and overflowing with wealth and good fortune, bright and beatific in form and progress, they nourish and sustain the entire world of living beings. May the heaven and earth save me from the sin of sloth, greed and selfishness.

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1.185.8

दे॒वान्वा॒ यच्च॑कृ॒मा कच्चि॒दागः॒ सखा॑यं वा॒ सद॒मिज्जास्प॑तिं वा । इ॒यं धीर्भू॑या अव॒यान॑मेषां॒ द्यावा॒ रक्ष॑तं पृथिवी नो॒ अभ्वा॑त् ॥

If we commit a sin to the generosities of nature by violence to the environment, or do an insult to the wise and brilliant people, or offend a friend, or ever violate the sanctity of a woman or dishonour her husband, then may this mind and intelligence of ours be the corrective and preventive antidote to such evil conduct. May heaven and earth give us good sense and save us from sin against nature and humanity.

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1.185.9

उ॒भा शंसा॒ नर्या॒ माम॑विष्टामु॒भे मामू॒ती अव॑सा सचेताम् । भूरि॑ चिद॒र्यः सु॒दास्त॑राये॒षा मद॑न्त इषयेम देवाः ॥

Both heaven and earth as father and mother, both adorable and kind to humanity, save me. Both, protective and preventive, be with me with all protections and security. O divinities of nature and humanity noble men and women who command the business of life and living, be amply generous to the man of charity and broad-mindedness, and may we all, rejoicing with food and energy in abundance, be blest with self-fulfilment.

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1.185.10

ऋ॒तं दि॒वे तद॑वोचं पृथि॒व्या अ॑भिश्रा॒वाय॑ प्रथ॒मं सु॑मे॒धाः । पा॒ताम॑व॒द्याद्दु॑रि॒ताद॒भीके॑ पि॒ता मा॒ता च॑ रक्षता॒मवो॑भिः ॥

Blest with noble intelligence by heaven and earth, I pray I may speak the original Word of Truth and Divinity in honour of heaven and earth for the noble listener. May the heaven and earth, and father and mother, both loving and kind, both ever close-by, save me from calumny sin and evil and protect and promote me with their care, favour and kindness.

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1.185.11

इ॒दं द्या॑वापृथिवी स॒त्यम॑स्तु॒ पित॒र्मात॒र्यदि॒होप॑ब्रु॒वे वा॑म् । भू॒तं दे॒वाना॑मव॒मे अवो॑भिर्वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

May this word and voice of mine, O heaven and earth, be true. O father and mother, may this word that I speak in this yajna of celebration be true and fruitful. O divinities, be ever close to the nobilities of humanity in their business of life with favours and protections. And may we, we pray, be blest with food and energy of body, mind and soul, move ahead on the right path, and enjoy the breeze of life and the bliss of Divinity.

✦ Sukta 186 · 11 verses ✦

1.186.1

आ न॒ इळा॑भिर्वि॒दथे॑ सुश॒स्ति वि॒श्वान॑रः सवि॒ता दे॒व ए॑तु । अपि॒ यथा॑ युवानो॒ मत्स॑था नो॒ विश्वं॒ जग॑दभिपि॒त्वे म॑नी॒षा ॥

May Savita, self-refulgent lord giver of life and light, universal guide, ever adorable and adored, come and bless us in our yajnic performance of life with all the gifts of food, energy and vision of the eternal Word of knowledge and Divinity, so that, O youth of the world and youthful energies of Nature, you too may join us in our open-door yajna, rejoice with us and, with your conscious intelligence and wisdom, make the whole world rejoice.

· · ·

1.186.2

आ नो॒ विश्व॒ आस्क्रा॑ गमन्तु दे॒वा मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा वरु॑णः स॒जोषाः॑ । भुव॒न्यथा॑ नो॒ विश्वे॑ वृ॒धासः॒ कर॑न्त्सु॒षाहा॑ विथु॒रं न शवः॑ ॥

Let all the divine powers of brilliance and generosity in the world, preservers of life against destruction, come to us. May Mitra, lord and friend of life and humanity, Aryama, lord and spirit of justice, and Varuna, lord supreme cherished of all, with love in unison for all come together so that they may be our preservers and promoters and, enduring and unchallengeable as they are, our courage and power no one may be able to destroy.

· · ·

1.186.3

प्रेष्ठं॑ वो॒ अति॑थिं गृणीषे॒ऽग्निं श॒स्तिभि॑स्तु॒र्वणिः॑ स॒जोषाः॑ । अस॒द्यथा॑ नो॒ वरु॑णः सुकी॒र्तिरिष॑श्च पर्षदरिगू॒र्तः सू॒रिः ॥

With songs of adoration I invoke and celebrate Agni, universal and dynamic lord of power, heat, light and knowledge, dearest of all, loving and friendly, honourably welcome like a distinguished visitor and guest, so that Varuna, lord supreme of universal choice, bright and brave, destroyer of hate and enmity, be celebrated in action with honour and glory and bring us showers of wealth and food and energy for our body, mind and soul.

· · ·

1.186.4

उप॑ व॒ एषे॒ नम॑सा जिगी॒षोषासा॒नक्ता॑ सु॒दुघे॑व धे॒नुः । स॒मा॒ने अह॑न्वि॒मिमा॑नो अ॒र्कं विषु॑रूपे॒ पय॑सि॒ सस्मि॒न्नूध॑न् ॥

O divinities of earth and humanity, generous powers of nature, I come to you with homage and offerings of food and with the desire for victory day and night as the generous earth does homage to the sun every day constantly, praying for light and seeing in the multiform and multicolour waters of the sky various kinds of wealth like all kinds of wealth and nourishment in the milk contained in the cow’s udders.

· · ·

1.186.5

उ॒त नोऽहि॑र्बु॒ध्न्यो॒३॒॑ मय॑स्कः॒ शिशुं॒ न पि॒प्युषी॑व वेति॒ सिन्धुः॑ । येन॒ नपा॑तम॒पां जु॒नाम॑ मनो॒जुवो॒ वृष॑णो॒ यं वह॑न्ति ॥

And let the cloud of the sky do us good. The river flows for us like the mother’s milk for the baby. Let us then control and bind the rain storm and the river flow, grand child of the spatial waters, which the lightning energies fast as mind bring to us, by which then we may produce and use heat and electric energy, child of earthly waters.

· · ·

1.186.6

उ॒त न॑ ईं॒ त्वष्टा ग॒न्त्वच्छा॒ स्मत्सू॒रिभि॑रभिपि॒त्वे स॒जोषाः॑ । आ वृ॑त्र॒हेन्द्र॑श्चर्षणि॒प्रास्तु॒विष्ट॑मो न॒रां न॑ इ॒ह ग॑म्याः ॥

May Twashta, divine creator of forms and maker of instruments, tools and implements, and chariots, dams and controls come well and enthusiastically with other sages and scholars, loving and kind, and bring us waters of various forms. Let Indra, breaker of the clouds, leader of men and fastest power of action come and bless this noble and joint yajnic project of all together among the people of the world.

· · ·

1.186.7

उ॒त न॑ ईं म॒तयोऽश्व॑योगाः॒ शिशुं॒ न गाव॒स्तरु॑णं रिहन्ति । तमीं॒ गिरो॒ जन॑यो॒ न पत्नीः॑ सुर॒भिष्ट॑मं न॒रां न॑सन्त ॥

All our people, masters of thought at high speed and knights of horse, all our love and understanding, honour and esteem, devotion and prayers, determination and resolutions centre round this youthful ruler, Indra, most fragrantly lovable among men, as cows love and caress a tender calf, and all our words of praise and appreciation concentrate or him in the hope of progress as husbands concentrate on the love of the wives yearning for progeny.

· · ·

1.186.8

उ॒त न॑ ईं म॒रुतो॑ वृ॒द्धसे॑नाः॒ स्मद्रोद॑सी॒ सम॑नसः सदन्तु । पृष॑दश्वासो॒ऽवन॑यो॒ न रथा॑ रि॒शाद॑सो मित्र॒युजो॒ न दे॒वाः ॥

Just as winds carry waters of the skies, so may the Maruts, tempestuous young warriors of a high united mind, equipped with mighty fighting forces, be ours and enthusiastically reach over earth and heaven for us. And let these warriors of strong and varied horse, riding chariots like commanders of the defence of the earths, destroyers of hate and enmity, brilliant friends of friends and the loving, be noble and generous to us all.

· · ·

1.186.9

प्र नु यदे॑षां महि॒ना चि॑कि॒त्रे प्र यु॑ञ्जते प्र॒युज॒स्ते सु॑वृ॒क्ति । अध॒ यदे॑षां सु॒दिने॒ न शरु॒र्विश्व॒मेरि॑णं प्रुषा॒यन्त॒ सेनाः॑ ॥

When with their greatness and grandeur and dexterity they focus on the target and concentrate and use their forces, then their forces like a missile at the most strategic time burn off the entire tyranny of the world and shower the rain of bliss on the desert lands.

· · ·

1.186.10

प्रो अ॒श्विना॒वव॑से कृणुध्वं॒ प्र पू॒षणं॒ स्वत॑वसो॒ हि सन्ति॑ । अ॒द्वे॒षो विष्णु॒र्वात॑ ऋभु॒क्षा अच्छा॑ सु॒म्नाय॑ ववृतीय दे॒वान् ॥

All ye men and women of the world, for the sake of all round protection and advancement, take to, serve and honour theAshvins, powers that give and take, teach and test. Take to, honour and value, and worship Pusha, agents of nourishment and growth. Self-potent are the divinities of nature and humanity, all free from hate and enmity, Vishnu, all-pervasive spirit of the universe, Vayu, universal breath of the living world, Rbhuksha, Indra, universal ruling lord of power, intelligence and expertise, and knowledge. Let us all, you and I, elect, select, choose, appoint, honour and consecrate our powers of humanity and divinity well for the sake of common good.

· · ·

1.186.11

इ॒यं सा वो॑ अ॒स्मे दीधि॑तिर्यजत्रा अपि॒प्राणी॑ च॒ सद॑नी च भूयाः । नि या दे॒वेषु॒ यत॑ते वसू॒युर्वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

O divinities and devotees of yajna and yajnic action, that brilliance and generosity of yours which is the treasure source of wealth for the world, which shines in and among the powers of divinity and which inspires the breath and power of life and living and creates the peace and prosperity of the home and family may, we pray, be ours too so that we may be happy, blest with food and energy for life, the path of rectitude and the gift of a long, healthy and dedicated life.

✦ Sukta 187 · 11 verses ✦

1.187.1

पि॒तुं नु स्तो॑षं म॒हो ध॒र्माणं॒ तवि॑षीम् । यस्य॑ त्रि॒तो व्योज॑सा वृ॒त्रं विप॑र्वम॒र्दय॑त् ॥

Constantly do I honour and adore food and energy, fuel of life and instruments of the observance of Dharma, and the source of strength, power and courage, by the force and splendour of which Indra, mighty energy of sun and electricity, breaks the cloud to the last drop of condensed vapour, and by which the man of power and courage too, with the exercise of thought, word and deed, acquires cherished wealth complete in every aspect of value.

· · ·

1.187.2

स्वादो॑ पितो॒ मधो॑ पितो व॒यं त्वा॑ ववृमहे । अ॒स्माक॑मवि॒ता भ॑व ॥

O the food of life! O the drink for life! Delicious are you! Honey sweet are you! We love and cherish you with thanks and gratitude to the Lord of life and giver of food and nourishment. Be our saviour, preserver, sustainer, protector and promoter.

· · ·

1.187.3

उप॑ नः पित॒वा च॑र शि॒वः शि॒वाभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । म॒यो॒भुर॑द्विषे॒ण्यः सखा॑ सु॒शेवो॒ अद्व॑याः ॥

O Lord pervasive of food and nourishment, come and bless us. Kind and gracious as you are, bless us with the protections of your benign favours. Giver of peace and comfort, free from hate and anger, friendly, lover of lovers and devotees, free from duality, conflict or contradiction, come and be with us, forsake us not.

· · ·

1.187.4

तव॒ त्ये पि॑तो॒ रसा॒ रजां॒स्यनु॒ विष्ठि॑ताः । दि॒वि वाता॑ इव श्रि॒ताः ॥

O Lord pervasive of food and nourishment of life, the taste, the pleasure, and the ecstasy of the experience of your presence is replete in the living worlds like the waves of energy and the winds and the air in the sky and the heavens.

· · ·

1.187.5

तव॒ त्ये पि॑तो॒ दद॑त॒स्तव॑ स्वादिष्ठ॒ ते पि॑तो । प्र स्वा॒द्मानो॒ रसा॑नां तुवि॒ग्रीवा॑ इवेरते ॥

O spirit of life pervasive in food and drink and all other nutriments, you are the giver, you are the most delicious and inspiring. All those who taste of the pleasure and inspiration of your gifts of juices and vital essences move around with rightful pride, holding their head high and proclaiming their existence with selfconfidence.

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1.187.6

त्वे पि॑तो म॒हानां॑ दे॒वानां॒ मनो॑ हि॒तम् । अका॑रि॒ चारु॑ के॒तुना॒ तवाहि॒मव॑सावधीत् ॥

O spirit and power of existence, food of life, in you and with you abides the mind of great nobilities and divinities. By virtue of your power and presence great works are done. By your energy and rays of light the sun breaks the cloud and pours forth the rains.

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1.187.7

यद॒दो पि॑तो॒ अज॑गन्वि॒वस्व॒ पर्व॑तानाम् । अत्रा॑ चिन्नो मधो पि॒तोऽरं॑ भ॒क्षाय॑ गम्याः ॥

O spirit pervasive and food of energy in the process of nature’s metabolism, when the clouds move, be there in them, enrich and energise them and, then, O honey sweet food of life, come here down from the clouds and be with us for us to our heart’s desire.

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1.187.8

यद॒पामोष॑धीनां परिं॒शमा॑रि॒शाम॑हे । वाता॑पे॒ पीब॒ इद्भ॑व ॥

When to our heart’s content we have eaten of the gift of herbs and waters, then, O universal energy pervasive of food, be with us, kind and gracious, for our growth and advancement (not for corpulence).

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1.187.9

यत्ते॑ सोम॒ गवा॑शिरो॒ यवा॑शिरो॒ भजा॑महे । वाता॑पे॒ पीव॒ इद्भ॑व ॥

O Soma, lord and spirit of nourishment, health and peace, whatever we eat and drink of what is prepared with cow’s milk and barley, let us enjoy and, O universal lord pervasive in food and energy, let that be for our growth and advancement.

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1.187.10

क॒र॒म्भ ओ॑षधे भव॒ पीवो॑ वृ॒क्क उ॑दार॒थिः । वाता॑पे॒ पीव॒ इद्भ॑व ॥

Lord creator of herbs, nourishment and energy, let the herbs be delicious food, destroyer of ailment and disease, a sharpener of appetite and digestion and a tonic for mind and senses. Lord universal of health and life breath, let it be for our growth and advancement in health and intelligence for a long long age of joy and bliss.

· · ·

1.187.11

तं त्वा॑ व॒यं पि॑तो॒ वचो॑भि॒र्गावो॒ न ह॒व्या सु॑षूदिम । दे॒वेभ्य॑स्त्वा सध॒माद॑म॒स्मभ्यं॑ त्वा सध॒माद॑म् ॥

Lord giver of food and nourishment, spirit pervasive of health and energy, you are the giver of divine joy to the generous powers of nature and the generous nobilities of humanity. You are the giver of health and joy to us all. We praise you with words of gratitude for your gifts, and just as cows distil the essence of herbs and bless us with milky nutriments, so do we distil the essence of nourishment from the divine gifts of herbs and food, and express our gratitude in words and songs of celebration and service.

✦ Sukta 188 · 11 verses ✦

1.188.1

समि॑द्धो अ॒द्य रा॑जसि दे॒वो दे॒वैः स॑हस्रजित् । दू॒तो ह॒व्या क॒विर्व॑ह ॥

Agni, lord of light, power and generosity, lighted, consecrated, bright and blazing, today rules and shines glorious with the brilliant powers of nature and humanity, having won a thousand foes. O lord of knowledge and wisdom, creative visionary and poetic maker of past, present and future as you are, receiver, mover and harbinger of the fragrances of life in the yajnic evolution of nature and humanity, accept our homage and lead us on the march of life.

· · ·

1.188.2

तनू॑नपादृ॒तं य॒ते मध्वा॑ य॒ज्ञः सम॑ज्यते । दध॑त्सह॒स्रिणी॒रिषः॑ ॥

Preserving and promoting the body politic, not allowing the system to slacken, the yajna of social and natural evolution goes forward on the path of truth and divine law for the man of action and endeavour with sweets of honey and wealth of soma joy, bearing and bringing a thousand gifts of food, energy and vitality.

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1.188.3

आ॒जुह्वा॑नो न॒ ईड्यो॑ दे॒वाँ आ व॑क्षि य॒ज्ञिया॑न् । अग्ने॑ सहस्र॒सा अ॑सि ॥

Agni, adorable lord of light and knowledge, ruler of the world, invoked and invited to our creative endeavours, bring and proclaim the arrival of the brilliancies of humanity and gems of nature worthy of celebration and advancement by yajnic research and development. You are the creator, harbinger and giver of a thousand gifts of wealth and knowledge.

· · ·

1.188.4

प्रा॒चीनं॑ ब॒र्हिरोज॑सा स॒हस्र॑वीरमस्तृणन् । यत्रा॑दित्या वि॒राज॑थ ॥

That ancient and eternal seat of existence and knowledge wherein abide a thousand brave and mysterious divinities and where the suns with their blazing refulgence cover as well as reveal the face of Divinity, there, all ye men and women of the world, arise, reach and dwell.

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1.188.5

वि॒राट् स॒म्राड्वि॒भ्वीः प्र॒भ्वीर्ब॒ह्वीश्च॒ भूय॑सीश्च॒ याः । दुरो॑ घृ॒तान्य॑क्षरन् ॥

Infinite and various is the light and power of Divinity, yet unique, one whole together and indivisible is the rule and glory of the universal power and presence. Mightily wide and various, excellent and deep are the doors and paths to Divinity which reveal and release the flood gates of vision and the bliss of Eternity.

· · ·

1.188.6

सु॒रु॒क्मे हि सु॒पेश॒साधि॑ श्रि॒या वि॒राज॑तः । उ॒षासा॒वेह सी॑दताम् ॥

The dawn and dusk, the day and night, bright and beautiful of form and glory, shine with the splendour of Divinity. Let them come and grace our yajna of fragrance and vision of the Light Divine.

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1.188.7

प्र॒थ॒मा हि सु॒वाच॑सा॒ होता॑रा॒ दैव्या॑ क॒वी । य॒ज्ञं नो॑ यक्षतामि॒मम् ॥

May two Yajakas, old and ancient, first and best, masters of noble speech, divine of nature, scholars of poetic visionaries such as the Ashvins or the teacher and preacher, come and grace this yajna of ours unto a splendid completion.

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1.188.8

भार॒तीळे॒ सर॑स्वति॒ या वः॒ सर्वा॑ उपब्रु॒वे । ता न॑श्चोदयत श्रि॒ये ॥

Bharati, mother of scientific speech and knowledge, Ila, mother of eternal speech and knowledge, and Sarasvati, mother of the existential flow of universal speech and knowledge, may you all whom I invoke to grace our yajna of learning and education, inspire us, I pray , to rise to the heights of glory and the beauty and grace of life and culture.

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1.188.9

त्वष्टा॑ रू॒पाणि॒ हि प्र॒भुः प॒शून्विश्वा॑न्त्समान॒जे । तेषां॑ नः स्फा॒तिमा य॑ज ॥

Tvashta, lord creator, is the master maker of all the forms of existence. He has created all the living species of the universe. May the lord augment their growth and welfare and ours too.

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1.188.10

उप॒ त्मन्या॑ वनस्पते॒ पाथो॑ दे॒वेभ्यः॑ सृज । अ॒ग्निर्ह॒व्यानि॑ सिष्वदत् ॥

O Vanaspati, lord of herbs and trees and forests, create, produce and give the best of food and nourishments to the noble and virtuous people of virtue with the sincerity of your mind and soul, as fire helps to prepare the sweetest delicacies for entertainment of the divines.

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1.188.11

पु॒रो॒गा अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वानां॑ गाय॒त्रेण॒ सम॑ज्यते । स्वाहा॑कृतीषु रोचते ॥

Agni, fire, is the leading power among the divinities of nature such as earth and sky, and it is lighted with the chant of Gayatri verses of the Veda to rise and shine in the holiest acts of human life. (So should the noble people rise and shine in life with the chant of holy verses and live for the service of Divinity and humanity for the sake of all life.)

✦ Sukta 189 · 8 verses ✦

1.189.1

अग्ने॒ नय॑ सु॒पथा॑ रा॒ये अ॒स्मान्विश्वा॑नि देव व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान् । यु॒यो॒ध्य१॒॑स्मज्जु॑हुरा॒णमेनो॒ भूयि॑ष्ठां ते॒ नम॑उक्तिं विधेम ॥

Agni, light of life and lord giver of bliss to humanity, lead us to the wealth and joy of the world by the simple and straight path of rectitude. Brilliant and generous lord of power, you are the master of the knowledge of all the ways and laws of life and the world. Ward off all the sin and evil and crookedness from us. Bless us that we may always sing songs of homage and worship to you more and ever more.

· · ·

1.189.2

अग्ने॒ त्वं पा॑रया॒ नव्यो॑ अ॒स्मान्त्स्व॒स्तिभि॒रति॑ दु॒र्गाणि॒ विश्वा॑ । पूश्च॑ पृ॒थ्वी ब॑हु॒ला न॑ उ॒र्वी भवा॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय॒ शं योः ॥

Agni, light of life, lord of knowledge, ever young and new, lead us far across the challenging problems of the world with success and victories of prosperity. Let our lands and cities be wide and abundant as earth and be the harbinger of peace and joy for our children and grand children.

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1.189.3

अग्ने॒ त्वम॒स्मद्यु॑यो॒ध्यमी॑वा॒ अन॑ग्नित्रा अ॒भ्यम॑न्त कृ॒ष्टीः । पुन॑र॒स्मभ्यं॑ सुवि॒ताय॑ देव॒ क्षां विश्वे॑भिर॒मृते॑भिर्यजत्र ॥

Agni, lord of light and life, reduce and remove from us suffering and disease through yajna, since, O leading power of yajna fire, those who neglect the sacred fire suffer from ailments all round. And then, O lord of love and creative generosity, for our welfare, peace and prosperity, come with the sacred flames of holy fire and bless the earth with universal nectar sweets of good health and gifts of imperishable joy.

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1.189.4

पा॒हि नो॑ अग्ने पा॒युभि॒रज॑स्रैरु॒त प्रि॒ये सद॑न॒ आ शु॑शु॒क्वान् । मा ते॑ भ॒यं ज॑रि॒तारं॑ यविष्ठ नू॒नं वि॑द॒न्माप॒रं स॑हस्वः ॥

Agni, lord of light and knowledge, protect and promote us with inviolable safeguards and relentless modes of protection, shining in our dear home with the glow of health and blaze of power. Most youthful and powerful lord of endurance and challenges, may fear never touch your admirer and worshipper or any other, for sure.

· · ·

1.189.5

मा नो॑ अ॒ग्नेऽव॑ सृजो अ॒घाया॑वि॒ष्यवे॑ रि॒पवे॑ दु॒च्छुना॑यै । मा द॒त्वते॒ दश॑ते॒ मादते॑ नो॒ मा रीष॑ते सहसाव॒न्परा॑ दाः ॥

Agni, lord of power and endurance, abandon us not, throw us not to the sinner, the irreligious, the enemy, the mischievous, the biter, the tearer, and the destroyer. Leave us not, put us not off from you.

· · ·

1.189.6

वि घ॒ त्वावाँ॑ ऋतजात यंसद्गृणा॒नो अ॑ग्ने त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ वरू॑थम् । विश्वा॑द्रिरि॒क्षोरु॒त वा॑ निनि॒त्सोर॑भि॒ह्रुता॒मसि॒ हि दे॑व वि॒ष्पट् ॥

Agni, lord manifest in truth and Dharma, let your admirer and worshipper, sharing brilliance like yours, singing in praise and homage to you, give unto himself due protection for his body and mind. And then, O lord of light and power, you are the ultimate protector against all violent and hostile maligners since you break them down or teach them a lesson to correction.

· · ·

1.189.7

त्वं ताँ अ॑ग्न उ॒भया॒न्वि वि॒द्वान्वेषि॑ प्रपि॒त्वे मनु॑षो यजत्र । अ॒भि॒पि॒त्वे मन॑वे॒ शास्यो॑ भूर्मर्मृ॒जेन्य॑ उ॒शिग्भि॒र्नाक्रः ॥

Agni, lord adorable of light, protection and correction, you know them both, men good and evil, admirers as well as maligners, and reach them just at the right time to protect and to correct as well. Lord of law and discipline, be the teacher and ruler for the man approaching in faith or even turning away in hostility, adored or remembered by all, lovers or haters, with love or in fear, like a ruling power.

· · ·

1.189.8

अवो॑चाम नि॒वच॑नान्यस्मि॒न्मान॑स्य सू॒नुः स॑हसा॒ने अ॒ग्नौ । व॒यं स॒हस्र॒मृषि॑भिः सनेम वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

In homage and worship to thisAgni, mighty lord creator of honour and self-esteem and inspirer of the idea and sense of purpose in life, we speak and sing these words of adoration with reflection and holy thought in composition, and thereby we share with a thousand sages of vision and insight of knowledge food and energy for body, mind and soul, the path of Dharma and the spirit and joy of life.

✦ Sukta 190 · 8 verses ✦

1.190.1

अ॒न॒र्वाणं॑ वृष॒भं म॒न्द्रजि॑ह्वं॒ बृह॒स्पतिं॑ वर्धया॒ नव्य॑म॒र्कैः । गा॒था॒न्यः॑ सु॒रुचो॒ यस्य॑ दे॒वा आ॑शृ॒ण्वन्ति॒ नव॑मानस्य॒ मर्ताः॑ ॥

Welcome, entertain and exalt with offerings of respectful good cheer and hospitality Brhaspati, a very embodiment of piety, knowledge, wisdom and virtue, an adorable scholar, irresistible, generous and sweettongued, a master of ancient as well as modern versions of universal knowledge, whose delightful tales of heroism old and new and virtue sacred and secular, noble, intelligent and brilliant people love to hear for reflection and meditation. Welcome and entertain such a holy visitor on the rounds, an atithi, chance guest like the holy fire of yajna, fragrant and blissful.

· · ·

1.190.2

तमृ॒त्विया॒ उप॒ वाचः॑ सचन्ते॒ सर्गो॒ न यो दे॑वय॒तामस॑र्जि । बृह॒स्पतिः॒ स ह्यञ्जो॒ वरां॑सि॒ विभ्वाभ॑व॒त्समृ॒ते मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ ॥

Words of meaning and power come to him at his command and serve him according to the season of time, place and the subject of discourse, Brhaspati as he is, high-priest of the Divine Word. Like an extension of the Lord’s creation, he makes divinities out of dedicated humanity and brings them gifts of their choice. Thus loved, graceful and powerful like the breeze of life, he rises in the affairs of life and Dharma by the grace of the Infinite Lord of the universe.

· · ·

1.190.3

उप॑स्तुतिं॒ नम॑स॒

उद्य॑तिं च॒ श्लोकं॑ यंसत्सवि॒तेव॒ प्र बा॒हू । अ॒स्य क्रत्वा॑ह॒न्यो॒३॒॑ यो अस्ति॑ मृ॒गो न भी॒मो अ॑र॒क्षस॒स्तुवि॑ष्मान् ॥

Let this Brhaspati, man of piety, knowledge. and wisdom, acknowledge and reciprocate the respectful host’s salutation, obeisance and words of adoration with hands upraised in benediction like the rays of the inspiring sun. Loving and non-violent, surrounded by many admirers by virtue of his holy actions, he walks like a ruling lion on his daily rounds.

· · ·

1.190.4

अ॒स्य श्लोको॑ दि॒वीय॑ते पृथि॒व्यामत्यो॒ न यं॑सद्यक्ष॒भृद्विचे॑ताः । मृ॒गाणां॒ न हे॒तयो॒ यन्ति॑ चे॒मा बृह॒स्पते॒रहि॑मायाँ अ॒भि द्यून् ॥

The voice of this Brhaspati and his fame goes over earth and heaven like the waves of energy. Supporter of the man of yajna, master of exceptional knowledge and intelligence, let him continue to give knowledge. And then, these voices of Brhaspati, like the bounces of the deer, every day reach men of generosity such as clouds of rain.

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1.190.5

ये त्वा॑ देवोस्रि॒कं मन्य॑मानाः पा॒पा भ॒द्रमु॑प॒जीव॑न्ति प॒ज्राः । न दू॒ढ्ये॒३॒॑ अनु॑ ददासि वा॒मं बृह॑स्पते॒ चय॑स॒ इत्पिया॑रुम् ॥

There are those rigid and sinful people who accept the wise man as brilliant and good, but in reality they exploit him to live by him for self-support as parasites do. O Brhaspati, you yield not to the man of crooked intelligence but choose the man of honest desire for the gift of knowledge.

· · ·

1.190.6

सु॒प्रैतुः॑ सू॒यव॑सो॒ न पन्था॑ दुर्नि॒यन्तुः॒ परि॑प्रीतो॒ न मि॒त्रः । अ॒न॒र्वाणो॑ अ॒भि ये चक्ष॑ते॒ नोऽपी॑वृता अपोर्णु॒वन्तो॑ अस्थुः ॥

Brhaspati is like the guiding path of one who is well-provided with food and energy and one who wants to follow the simple and straight path of knowledge. He is like the all round loving friend of one caught up on a difficult highway. Men who are free from sin and every way look after us and who, with light and knowledge, uncover the ignorance of those covered in darkness, may, we pray, be our teachers.

· · ·

1.190.7

सं यं स्तुभो॒ऽवन॑यो॒ न यन्ति॑ समु॒द्रं न स्र॒वतो॒ रोध॑चक्राः । स वि॒द्वाँ उ॒भयं॑ चष्टे अ॒न्तर्बृह॒स्पति॒स्तर॒ आप॑श्च॒ गृध्रः॑ ॥

Just as the satellites go round Brhaspati, the planet Jupiter, or as the flowing streams with whirlpools reach the sea, so that scholar whom all the praises of devoted admirers reach is Brhaspati, the divine teacher who knows both the inner reality of the spirit and the outer reality of nature and who, keen to save his pupils, calmly watches both the waters of existence and the saving ark of knowledge.

· · ·

1.190.8

ए॒वा म॒हस्तु॑विजा॒तस्तुवि॑ष्मा॒न्बृह॒स्पति॑र्वृष॒भो धा॑यि दे॒वः । स नः॑ स्तु॒तो वी॒रव॑द्धातु॒ गोम॑द्वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुम् ॥

Thus is Brhaspati, the great scholar, highly revered among the learned, commanding courage and strength of body and mind, generous and brilliant master of learning and pious sage honoured and acclaimed. May he, for us, be the teacher, maker of the brave and giver of the knowledge of science and Divinity so that we may be blest with food and energy, knowledge and power and the breath and joy of life.

✦ Sukta 191 · 16 verses ✦

1.191.1

कङ्क॑तो॒ न कङ्क॒तोऽथो॑ सती॒नक॑ङ्कतः । द्वाविति॒ प्लुषी॒ इति॒ न्य१॒॑दृष्टा॑ अलिप्सत ॥

The poisonous as well as the slithering, and the essentially poisonous as well as the slightly poisonous, both bite and burn, and yet they both sprinkle and anoint as antidotes too, and both smear, bite and burn unseen, and they harbour the unseen.

· · ·

1.191.2

अ॒दृष्टा॑न्हन्त्याय॒त्यथो॑ हन्ति पराय॒ती । अथो॑ अवघ्न॒ती ह॒न्त्यथो॑ पिनष्टि पिंष॒ती ॥

One medicine immediately starts destroying the poison as it is taken. Another destroys the poison while its activity seems to be subsiding. Yet another destroys it when its effect is extremely strong. And yet another reduces and destroys it when it is completely assimilated.

· · ·

1.191.3

श॒रासः॒ कुश॑रासो द॒र्भासः॑ सै॒र्या उ॒त । मौ॒ञ्जा अ॒दृष्टा॑ वैरि॒णाः सर्वे॑ सा॒कं न्य॑लिप्सत ॥

The parasitic seeds of poison lurk in the hollow of bamboos and in inferior reeds, in the darbha grass and in reeds and grasses round tanks, lakes and streams. Unseen they lurk in the munja roots and leaves and virina plants. Together they all stick to anything as parasites.

· · ·

1.191.4

नि गावो॑ गो॒ष्ठे अ॑सद॒न्नि मृ॒गासो॑ अविक्षत । नि के॒तवो॒ जना॑नां॒ न्य१॒॑दृष्टा॑ अलिप्सत ॥

Where the cows sit in the stalls or the forest beasts sit or hide in their habitat or humans live in the homes, and even in the brain and sense organs, the seeds of poison lurk and cluster unseen.

· · ·

1.191.5

ए॒त उ॒ त्ये प्रत्य॑दृश्रन्प्रदो॒षं तस्क॑रा इव । अदृ॑ष्टा॒ विश्व॑दृष्टाः॒ प्रति॑बुद्धा अभूतन ॥

All these come out astir like thieves at night, unseen as they are and yet seen by all and known to all. Therefore, all ye men and women, beware of them.

· · ·

1.191.6

द्यौर्वः॑ पि॒ता पृ॑थि॒वी मा॒ता सोमो॒ भ्रातादि॑तिः॒ स्वसा॑ । अदृ॑ष्टा॒ विश्व॑दृष्टा॒स्तिष्ठ॑ते॒लय॑ता॒ सु क॑म् ॥

O seeds, parasites, insects and other carriers of poison such as bacteria and viruses, the heaven of light is your father, creator, the earth is your mother, feeder, soma is your brother and nature’s fertility is your sister (since both nectar and poison are born of the creative power of nature). Unseen and yet universally seen and known are you all. Why move, better be still for the sake of good and comfort?

· · ·

1.191.7

ये अंस्या॒ ये अङ्ग्याः॑ सू॒चीका॒ ये प्र॑कङ्क॒ताः । अदृ॑ष्टाः॒ किं च॒नेह वः॒ सर्वे॑ सा॒कं नि ज॑स्यत ॥

Those which creep or affect the shoulders, those which move or fly and affect all parts of the body, those which bite and burn, and those which are highly poisonous and painful, all those which are unseen or whatever, all together retire and exhaust yourselves of the bite and the poison, be eliminated all.

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1.191.8

उत्पु॒रस्ता॒त्सूर्य॑ एति वि॒श्वदृ॑ष्टो अदृष्ट॒हा । अ॒दृष्टा॒न्त्सर्वा॑ञ्ज॒म्भय॒न्त्सर्वा॑श्च यातुधा॒न्यः॑ ॥

There upfront rises the sun from the east, universally seen and showing the world, and destroying all that is unseen poisonous, eliminating all the negativities and all that is evil and invisible to the naked eye.

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1.191.9

उद॑पप्तद॒सौ सूर्यः॑ पु॒रु विश्वा॑नि॒ जूर्व॑न् । आ॒दि॒त्यः पर्व॑तेभ्यो वि॒श्वदृ॑ष्टो अदृष्ट॒हा ॥

The sun rises there, lord of light, from behind the mountains and the clouds, showing to the entire world and destroying all the poisons on a large scale, invisible evils which thrive in the dark.

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1.191.10

सूर्ये॑ वि॒षमा स॑जामि॒ दृतिं॒ सुरा॑वतो गृ॒हे । सो चि॒न्नु न म॑राति॒ नो व॒यं म॑रामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

Just as liquor is contained in the cask in the house of a liquor maker, so do I collect the earth’s poison and evaporate it to join the sun so that neither the sun would die nor would we, since the poison would join the far away sun which would drink it up. O poison, then the honey sweet chemistry of nature may turn you to nectar honey.

· · ·

1.191.11

इ॒य॒त्ति॒का श॑कुन्ति॒का स॒का ज॑घास ते वि॒षम् । सो चि॒न्नु न म॑राति॒ नो व॒यं म॑रामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

O man infested with poison, this little Shakuntika (kapinjali, partridge, blue jay) would consume your poison. That bird would not die, nor would we. The one that drinks up the poison unharmed would keep it far off. O poison, the life’s chemistry of nectar would turn you too to honey.

· · ·

1.191.12

त्रिः स॒प्त वि॑ष्पुलिङ्ग॒का वि॒षस्य॒ पुष्य॑मक्षन् । ताश्चि॒न्नु न म॑रन्ति॒ नो व॒यं म॑रामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

Twenty one little birds eat up and consume the flowers of poison. But they do not die for sure, nor would we. The one who would consume poison undisturbed would keep it far off. The honey-science of nature would turn the poison to honey.

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1.191.13

न॒वा॒नां न॑वती॒नां वि॒षस्य॒ रोपु॑षीणाम् । सर्वा॑सामग्रभं॒ नामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

Let me have the names of all the ninetynine lacerations of poison and of all the ninetynine antidotes. The man who can counter poison and calmly render it ineffective would keep its effects far off without danger or fear. O poison, the science of honey nectar would turn you to honey and nectar.

· · ·

1.191.14

त्रिः स॒प्त म॑यू॒र्यः॑ स॒प्त स्वसा॑रो अ॒ग्रुवः॑ । तास्ते॑ वि॒षं वि ज॑भ्रिर उद॒कं कु॒म्भिनी॑रिव ॥

May the twentyone peahens and seven sisterly streams and rivers flowing on and on collect and carry off the poison as female water carriers carry water in their jars.

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1.191.15

इ॒य॒त्त॒कः कु॑षुम्भ॒कस्त॒कं भि॑न॒द्म्यश्म॑ना । ततो॑ वि॒षं प्र वा॑वृते॒ परा॑ची॒रनु॑ सं॒वतः॑ ॥

This little poisonous insect that comes to me, this little mongoose, that holds the poison, I strike with a gem stone. The poison flows, and I collect and isolate the poison from the area as an antidote.

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1.191.16

कु॒षु॒म्भ॒कस्तद॑ब्रवीद्गि॒रेः प्र॑वर्तमान॒कः । वृश्चि॑कस्यार॒सं वि॒षम॑र॒सं वृ॑श्चिक ते वि॒षम् ॥

The little mongoose coming down from the mountains tells me that the taste of the scorpion’s poison is dull. For this reason, on this expansive and practical basis I say, the poison of the scorpion is tasteless. Note: The mantras in this Sukta point to the possibilities of isolating all poisons, bacteria and viruses that cause disease. They also suggest the preparation of antidotes from those very poisons, bacteria and viruses. They also point out to the fact that in natural evolution poison and nectar are coexistent carriers of death and life. They are contradictory effects of the same one cause, but they can be converted into two complementary substances through chemical process — since all contradictions in nature are apparent, but essentially they are all complementary. The term ‘Madhula’ is suggestive of this chemical process in nature itself. Swami Dayanand interprets it as the science of converting poison into nectar for our purposes. Elsewhere as in Sayana or in Kaushika Sutra or by Satavalekara it is interpreted as a herb, which too is true. There is a herb on the hills, for example, the touch of which bites as scorpion, giving a burning poisonous sensation all over the body, for which reason it is called the scorpion herb. And immediately close to it is another herb the juice of which turns the burning sensation into a soothing sweet feeling. In fact every poison, it seems, carries its own antidote which has to be isolated, analysed and developed like all the vaccines in modern medicine and all the drugs in homeopathic medicine. The dose of the poison would depend upon the effect desired as in the case of all stimulants, intoxicants and painkillers. The myth of churning of the ocean by the Devas and Asuras (gods and demons) is an all-time symbol of the contradictions alias complementarities of nature, whichever way you want to put it. It shows that both nectar and poison are born of the ocean of nature and the power that consumes and assimilates the poison for the sake of the continuance of life and existence is Shiva, lord of nature’s justice and ferocity on the one hand, and lord of the saving grace of Divinity on the other. The word for this power of turning contradiction into complementarity, and turning the poison into honeysweet nectar in this Sukta is ‘Harishtha’. For references to Madhu Vidya or the honey science of nectar we may turn to Yajurveda and the Upanishads specially Chhandogya Upanishad 3, 1-5, and Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, 2, 5, 1-19.