10. Rig Veda — Mandala 10

✦ Sukta 1 · 7 verses ✦

10.1.1

अग्रे॑ बृ॒हन्नु॒षसा॑मू॒र्ध्वो अ॑स्थान्निर्जग॒न्वान्तम॑सो॒ ज्योति॒षागा॑त् । अ॒ग्निर्भा॒नुना॒ रुश॑ता॒ स्वङ्ग॒ आ जा॒तो विश्वा॒ सद्मा॑न्यप्राः ॥

There on the eastern horizon, with the first lights of the dawn emerging out of darkness, rises up the sun, mighty Agni, great and glorious with radiant light, and as it rises it covers and lights up all regions of the world.

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10.1.2

स जा॒तो गर्भो॑ असि॒ रोद॑स्यो॒रग्ने॒ चारु॒र्विभृ॑त॒ ओष॑धीषु । चि॒त्रः शिशुः॒ परि॒ तमां॑स्य॒क्तून्प्र मा॒तृभ्यो॒ अधि॒ कनि॑क्रदद्गाः ॥

Agni, born of the womb of earth and heaven covered in darkness over night, you are beautiful, lovely as a child and wonderful, and as you rise over night and darkness, you radiate your rays over mother heaven and earth proclaiming them bright, and immediately you are received and held over them in the herbs and trees for life.

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10.1.3

विष्णु॑रि॒त्था प॑र॒मम॑स्य वि॒द्वाञ्जा॒तो बृ॒हन्न॒भि पा॑ति तृ॒तीय॑म् । आ॒सा यद॑स्य॒ पयो॒ अक्र॑त॒ स्वं सचे॑तसो अ॒भ्य॑र्च॒न्त्यत्र॑ ॥

OmnipresentAgni, Vishnu, thus risen as the sun, attains to its third and supreme state of the expansive light of infinite divinity which it radiates, protects and promotes. Those wide-awake sages who receive this divine light energy through direct presence and internalise it celebrate it in song and worship it as the nectar gift of divinity here on earth.

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10.1.4

अत॑ उ त्वा पितु॒भृतो॒ जनि॑त्रीरन्ना॒वृधं॒ प्रति॑ चर॒न्त्यन्नैः॑ । ता ईं॒ प्रत्ये॑षि॒ पुन॑र॒न्यरू॑पा॒ असि॒ त्वं वि॒क्षु मानु॑षीषु॒ होता॑ ॥

And you, Agni, who bear and augment the food for life, life creative and food productive agents of nature and humanity, bearing food for you, serve you in response to you, and as they feed you, you reach them again while they are in different form, and thus you are the leading power in the yajnic cycle of life among nature and the human people and communities.

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10.1.5

होता॑रं चि॒त्रर॑थमध्व॒रस्य॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑यज्ञस्य के॒तुं रुश॑न्तम् । प्रत्य॑र्धिं दे॒वस्य॑देवस्य म॒ह्ना श्रि॒या त्व१॒॑ग्निमति॑थिं॒ जना॑नाम् ॥

Agni, high priest of all non-violent and inviolable yajna, all creative and productive activity in nature and humanity, moving forward by wondrous beautiful chariot, blazing banner-bearer and pioneer of progress, cyclic augmenter and promoter of every brilliant and generous divinity in nature and humanity, is loved, cherished and reverenced of humanity by virtue of its divine grandeur, generosity and grace: this Agni we worship and serve by yajna.

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10.1.6

स तु वस्त्रा॒ण्यध॒ पेश॑नानि॒ वसा॑नो अ॒ग्निर्नाभा॑ पृथि॒व्याः । अ॒रु॒षो जा॒तः प॒द इळा॑याः पु॒रोहि॑तो राजन्यक्षी॒ह दे॒वान् ॥

Agni, wearing different manifestations, assuming different modes of form and function, holding on at the centre hold of the earth, burning in the vedi, arising on top of the world, bright and beautiful, at the heart of clouds flashing with lights of thunder, present in advance of evolution, present all time upfront, high priest of cosmic yajna, ruling supreme, pray join all divinities of nature and humanity, bring them here and bless us.

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10.1.7

आ हि द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॑ग्न उ॒भे सदा॑ पु॒त्रो न मा॒तरा॑ त॒तन्थ॑ । प्र या॒ह्यच्छो॑श॒तो य॑वि॒ष्ठाथा व॑ह सहस्ये॒ह दे॒वान् ॥

Agni, you always pervade and illuminate both mother earth and heaven as a saviour child illuminates both parents at heart with elation. Go forth ever strong, ever youthful climactic power and presence bright and beautiful, mighty forbearing, come to the loving celebrants and bring in all that is divine, here and now.

✦ Sukta 2 · 7 verses ✦

10.2.1

पि॒प्री॒हि दे॒वाँ उ॑श॒तो य॑विष्ठ वि॒द्वाँ ऋ॒तूँॠ॑तुपते यजे॒ह । ये दैव्या॑ ऋ॒त्विज॒स्तेभि॑रग्ने॒ त्वं होतॄ॑णाम॒स्याय॑जिष्ठः ॥

Ever youthful Agni, cosmic sun, omnipresent all-reaching all pervasive power and presence, ordainer and maintainer of the seasons of time and nature, fulfil the loving and aspiring seekers, dedicated scholars and divine powers, and be with energy they should have. O self-refulgent divine energy, light and intelligence, of all the divine powers and presences, stars and planets, which together carry on the dynamics of cosmic yajna, you are the closest, highest and most adorable power worthy of attainment.

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10.2.2

वेषि॑ हो॒त्रमु॒त पो॒त्रं जना॑नां मन्धा॒तासि॑ द्रविणो॒दा ऋ॒तावा॑ । स्वाहा॑ व॒यं कृ॒णवा॑मा ह॒वींषि॑ दे॒वो दे॒वान्य॑जत्व॒ग्निरर्ह॑न् ॥

Agni, you produce, procure, energise and provide all yajnic inputs, refinements and purifying agents of life for humanity at the individual and social level for life’s maintenance and promotion. You are the harbinger of intelligence and knowledge and giver of wealth and honour, and you are the observer and presiding power of holy rites, laws and seasons of time and nature. We enact the yajna with holy inputs and with truth and honey of thought, word and deed, and pray may divine and adorable fire carry the fragrance to the divinities for human fulfilment.

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10.2.3

आ दे॒वाना॒मपि॒ पन्था॑मगन्म॒ यच्छ॒क्नवा॑म॒ तदनु॒ प्रवो॑ळ्हुम् । अ॒ग्निर्वि॒द्वान्त्स य॑जा॒त्सेदु॒ होता॒ सो अ॑ध्व॒रान्त्स ऋ॒तून्क॑ल्पयाति ॥

Let us follow the path of the divinities, sagely scholars, stars and planets as far as we can and do that in proper order so that we may be able to continue: Agni knows, the scholar knows, the sun is the base of knowledge in relation to its systemic position, that is the high priest of the solar system, that controls the harmonious movements of the planets, that ordains the pattern of the seasons. (Let the sun be the base of our knowledge of the stars and planets in our pursuit of yajnic astronomy. Similarly let the sagely scholar who knows the science of yajna be our guide in our studies and our actions.)

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10.2.4

यद्वो॑ व॒यं प्र॑मि॒नाम॑ व्र॒तानि॑ वि॒दुषां॑ देवा॒ अवि॑दुष्टरासः । अ॒ग्निष्टद्विश्व॒मा पृ॑णाति वि॒द्वान्येभि॑र्दे॒वाँ ऋ॒तुभिः॑ क॒ल्पया॑ति ॥

And if we, being ignorant and deficient, neglect or transgress or overstep the laws and disciplines of those who know, then, O divinities, Agni, the sun, the sage, being abundant and graciously fulfilling, makes all that up and saves us by those very powers and actions in time and seasons by which it keeps the sages and divinities in the systemic order.

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10.2.5

यत्पा॑क॒त्रा मन॑सा दी॒नद॑क्षा॒ न य॒ज्ञस्य॑ मन्व॒ते मर्त्या॑सः । अ॒ग्निष्टद्धोता॑ क्रतु॒विद्वि॑जा॒नन्यजि॑ष्ठो दे॒वाँ ऋ॑तु॒शो य॑जाति ॥

And if we mortals, either because of immature mind or poor faith and want of expertise, do not know and do not understand and appreciate the way the divine solar yajna is going on, even so Agni, the high priest of that yajna, knowing, ordering and conducting that yajna, the most adorable pervasive all reaching partner, carries on the yajna of heavenly bodies in order according to the time and seasons.

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10.2.6

विश्वे॑षां॒ ह्य॑ध्व॒राणा॒मनी॑कं चि॒त्रं के॒तुं जनि॑ता त्वा ज॒जान॑ । स आ य॑जस्व नृ॒वती॒रनु॒ क्षा स्पा॒र्हा इषः॑ क्षु॒मती॑र्वि॒श्वज॑न्याः ॥

The creator of all the stars and planets of the universe moving in their orbits created you too, O Agni, O sun, wonderful pioneer and commander of the solar system. Pray come, join us and give us lands and earths blest with noble people, and bring us cherished foods, energies and knowledges, and let there be showers of rain giving us abundance of food and fertility for the life species of the world.

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10.2.7

यं त्वा॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी यं त्वाप॒स्त्वष्टा॒ यं त्वा॑ सु॒जनि॑मा ज॒जान॑ । पन्था॒मनु॑ प्रवि॒द्वान्पि॑तृ॒याणं॑ द्यु॒मद॑ग्ने समिधा॒नो वि भा॑हि ॥

O Agni, you whom the heavens bear as sun and light, the middle regions bear as wind and electricity, and the earth bears as fire and magnetic energy, whom Tvashta, cosmic maker of all forms of existence, fashioned forth and brought into existence, you, O Agni, O Sun, knower of the paths of father Time and mother Niyati, cosmic intelligence, and of the Karma and fate of ancestors, children of time, you, lighted in the vedi and blazing in the heavens, pray shine on us and illuminate the paths of life for us.

✦ Sukta 3 · 7 verses ✦

10.3.1

इ॒नो रा॑जन्नर॒तिः समि॑द्धो॒ रौद्रो॒ दक्षा॑य सुषु॒माँ अ॑दर्शि । चि॒किद्वि भा॑ति भा॒सा बृ॑ह॒तासि॑क्नीमेति॒ रुश॑तीम॒पाज॑न् ॥

Mighty self-refulgent sun,Agni, constant master illuminator of heaven and earth, blazing and commanding terrible power, abundant with life giving energy, is seen on high, energising life for intelligent and industrious work on earth and shining with boundless light, and then relinquishing the day light and projecting the light far away ahead, passes on to the area of erstwhile darkness of the night. (Then night follows the day here and the day follows night there.)

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10.3.2

कृ॒ष्णां यदेनी॑म॒भि वर्प॑सा॒ भूज्ज॒नय॒न्योषां॑ बृह॒तः पि॒तुर्जाम् । ऊ॒र्ध्वं भा॒नुं सूर्य॑स्य स्तभा॒यन्दि॒वो वसु॑भिरर॒तिर्वि भा॑ति ॥

Then again, overcoming the dark passage of the night with its illumination of light and manifesting the youthful daughter of great and vast heaven bearing the light of the sun up above, the same Agni shines with heavenly light constantly for the day.

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10.3.3

भ॒द्रो भ॒द्रया॒ सच॑मान॒ आगा॒त्स्वसा॑रं जा॒रो अ॒भ्ये॑ति प॒श्चात् । सु॒प्र॒के॒तैर्द्युभि॑र॒ग्निर्वि॒तिष्ठ॒न्रुश॑द्भि॒र्वर्णै॑र॒भि रा॒मम॑स्थात् ॥

The sun of auspicious light, dispeller of darkness of the night, has come up close at the heels of its love, the beauteous holy dawn now on the run on its own and thus Agni, prevailing with beautiful sun shine of the morning holds off the darkness for the day.

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10.3.4

अ॒स्य यामा॑सो बृह॒तो न व॒ग्नूनिन्धा॑ना अ॒ग्नेः सख्युः॑ शि॒वस्य॑ । ईड्य॑स्य॒ वृष्णो॑ बृह॒तः स्वासो॒ भामा॑सो॒ याम॑न्न॒क्तव॑श्चिकित्रे ॥

The mighty floods of the solar light version of this Agni, bursting forth like thunderous explosions of the voice of kindly, friendly, adorable, potent and sublime power, are fair and blissful reflections of the eternal Spirit, the Purusha, for the man of vision and knowledge on way to divinity.

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10.3.5

स्व॒ना न यस्य॒ भामा॑सः॒ पव॑न्ते॒ रोच॑मानस्य बृह॒तः सु॒दिवः॑ । ज्येष्ठे॑भि॒र्यस्तेजि॑ष्ठैः क्रीळु॒मद्भि॒र्वर्षि॑ष्ठेभिर्भा॒नुभि॒र्नक्ष॑ति॒ द्याम् ॥

Agni, beauteous and blissful, mighty and sublime presence whose brilliant rays and reflections radiate, resound and flow like roaring winds and thunderous lightning illumines the heavens with its highest lustre and with its sportive and most potent splendours reaches the summit of refulgent space.

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10.3.6

अ॒स्य शुष्मा॑सो ददृशा॒नप॑वे॒र्जेह॑मानस्य स्वनयन्नि॒युद्भिः॑ । प्र॒त्नेभि॒र्यो रुश॑द्भिर्दे॒वत॑मो॒ वि रेभ॑द्भिरर॒तिर्भाति॒ विभ्वा॑ ॥

The mighty radiations of this solar Agni, universally vibrant and armed with thunder, roar with the winds while this divinest and most refulgent universal presence pervades and relentlessly energises the universe with its eternal, brilliant and resounding reflections and vibrations.

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10.3.7

स आ व॑क्षि॒ महि॑ न॒ आ च॑ सत्सि दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्योर॑र॒तिर्यु॑व॒त्योः । अ॒ग्निः सु॒तुकः॑ सु॒तुके॑भि॒रश्वै॒ रभ॑स्वद्भी॒ रभ॑स्वाँ॒ एह ग॑म्याः ॥

Agni, bring us great wealth, honour and light of the world. Be with us on the yajna vedi, being radiant, vibrant and ever on the move between the joint world of heaven and earth. Agni, commanding light, illumination and instant motion, eloquent by expression, come by the waves of energy with the voice of thunder, come and bless us here on the vedi.

✦ Sukta 4 · 7 verses ✦

10.4.1

प्र ते॑ यक्षि॒ प्र त॑ इयर्मि॒ मन्म॒ भुवो॒ यथा॒ वन्द्यो॑ नो॒ हवे॑षु । धन्व॑न्निव प्र॒पा अ॑सि॒ त्वम॑ग्न इय॒क्षवे॑ पू॒रवे॑ प्रत्न राजन् ॥

Agni, eternal, self-refulgent and universal spirit of light, I join you in yajnic self surrender, I send up my thoughts and prayers to you so that you may be always with us, adorable and present, in our yajnas and joint battles of life. Just as rain is the shower of bliss in the desert, so you are the giver of fulfilment to the yajnic celebrant and the needy supplicant.

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10.4.2

यं त्वा॒ जना॑सो अ॒भि सं॒चर॑न्ति॒ गाव॑ उ॒ष्णमि॑व व्र॒जं य॑विष्ठ । दू॒तो दे॒वाना॑मसि॒ मर्त्या॑नाम॒न्तर्म॒हाँश्च॑रसि रोच॒नेन॑ ॥

To you, most youthful Agni, people move and they join you for bliss as cows move to the warm stall to escape the cold outside. You are the saviour and vibrant presence at the heart of divinities and mortal humanity, and by your radiant presence and grandeur you exist and vibrate in every thing.

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10.4.3

शिशुं॒ न त्वा॒ जेन्यं॑ व॒र्धय॑न्ती मा॒ता बि॑भर्ति सचन॒स्यमा॑ना । धनो॒रधि॑ प्र॒वता॑ यासि॒ हर्य॒ञ्जिगी॑षसे प॒शुरि॒वाव॑सृष्टः ॥

Just as a mother nurtures a promising child, loving it and raising it, so does mother earth hold and bear you, victorious, as fire and magnetic energy, augmenting you and loving to be with you, and you, radiating through the middle space, rush down, loving and ambitious to win and excel, like a captive animal set free.

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10.4.4

मू॒रा अ॑मूर॒ न व॒यं चि॑कित्वो महि॒त्वम॑ग्ने॒ त्वम॒ङ्ग वि॑त्से । शये॑ व॒व्रिश्चर॑ति जि॒ह्वया॒दन्रे॑रि॒ह्यते॑ युव॒तिं वि॒श्पतिः॒ सन् ॥

O wise one, enlightened presence, light and fire of knowledge and energy, we are ignorant, but you know and bear your grandeur, dear loving Agni. You pervade, vibrate and radiate, lying immanent in various forms, touch, lick and consume with your flames and rays various assimilative forms of existence, being master of the world.

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10.4.5

कूचि॑ज्जायते॒ सन॑यासु॒ नव्यो॒ वने॑ तस्थौ पलि॒तो धू॒मके॑तुः । अ॒स्ना॒तापो॑ वृष॒भो न प्र वे॑ति॒ सचे॑तसो॒ यं प्र॒णय॑न्त॒ मर्ताः॑ ॥

Somewhere it arises and manifests in old and dried woods with the banner of smoke or streak of a falling star in dead worlds. New, adorable as well as ancient bright, it abides unattached in floods of water and vibrates and radiates in vapours and clouds like a mighty force of energy which intelligent knowledgeable people visualise, realise and generate in various ways for various uses and purposes.

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10.4.6

त॒नू॒त्यजे॑व॒ तस्क॑रा वन॒र्गू र॑श॒नाभि॑र्द॒शभि॑र॒भ्य॑धीताम् । इ॒यं ते॑ अग्ने॒ नव्य॑सी मनी॒षा यु॒क्ष्वा रथं॒ न शु॒चय॑द्भि॒रङ्गैः॑ ॥

Like dedicated self-insulated researchers in pursuit of light and energy scholars study Agni with the application of light rays and ten senses and pranas and then say: this is the latest new knowledge about you, Agni, pray come and join us as a new chariot of achievement with brilliant rays of power for energy.

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10.4.7

ब्रह्म॑ च ते जातवेदो॒ नम॑श्चे॒यं च॒ गीः सद॒मिद्वर्ध॑नी भूत् । रक्षा॑ णो अग्ने॒ तन॑यानि तो॒का रक्षो॒त न॑स्त॒न्वो॒३॒॑ अप्र॑युच्छन् ॥

O Agni, all pervasive, all knowing and born anew, this voice of knowledge, this offering is homage and this song of adoration may ever be progressive and rising for us. Pray protect and promote our children, protect our grand children, and protect and watchfully guard our body and mind without relent.

✦ Sukta 5 · 7 verses ✦

10.5.1

एकः॑ समु॒द्रो ध॒रुणो॑ रयी॒णाम॒स्मद्धृ॒दो भूरि॑जन्मा॒ वि च॑ष्टे । सिष॒क्त्यूध॑र्नि॒ण्योरु॒पस्थ॒ उत्स॑स्य॒ मध्ये॒ निहि॑तं प॒दं वेः ॥

The one deep oceanic treasure hold of all world’s wealth, manifestive in many ways, Agni inspires and expands our hearts with light and generosity, fills the middle space between heaven and earth with vapours of the cloud, and abides at the hidden centre of the mystery deep in the cloud.

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10.5.2

स॒मा॒नं नी॒ळं वृष॑णो॒ वसा॑नाः॒ सं ज॑ग्मिरे महि॒षा अर्व॑तीभिः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒दं क॒वयो॒ नि पा॑न्ति॒ गुहा॒ नामा॑नि दधिरे॒ परा॑णि ॥

Great, generous, animated and impregnated forces such as clouds, bearing the same one inner law and spirit of Agni, join with impetuously fast moving forces and, open ended, vibrant, expressive and expansive, observe the universal dynamics of the law, and at their centre continue to bear many other forms and forces of water and energy yet to develop and act further in evolution.

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10.5.3

ऋ॒ता॒यिनी॑ मा॒यिनी॒ सं द॑धाते मि॒त्वा शिशुं॑ जज्ञतुर्व॒र्धय॑न्ती । विश्व॑स्य॒ नाभिं॒ चर॑तो ध्रु॒वस्य॑ क॒वेश्चि॒त्तन्तुं॒ मन॑सा वि॒यन्तः॑ ॥

The forces of law and change and the forces of form and intelligence evolving things together in measure of form and time create every new form as a lovely baby and thus, with the mind of the cosmic seer, designer and maker, extend the genetic thread of Agni, the centre seed and centre hold of the entire world of moving and non-moving versions of cosmic reality.

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10.5.4

ऋ॒तस्य॒ हि व॑र्त॒नयः॒ सुजा॑त॒मिषो॒ वाजा॑य प्र॒दिवः॒ सच॑न्ते । अ॒धी॒वा॒सं रोद॑सी वावसा॒ने घृ॒तैरन्नै॑र्वावृधाते॒ मधू॑नाम् ॥

Visionary scholars who know the paths of law and change in evolution study and apply the versions of Agni evolved and developed in latest form for the achievement of new and extended food, energy and knowledge of reality which heaven and earth both sustaining all forms of life feed for extension with inputs and refinements of the honey sweets of water and energy.

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10.5.5

स॒प्त स्वसॄ॒ररु॑षीर्वावशा॒नो वि॒द्वान्मध्व॒ उज्ज॑भारा दृ॒शे कम् । अ॒न्तर्ये॑मे अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे पुरा॒जा इ॒च्छन्व॒व्रिम॑विदत्पूष॒णस्य॑ ॥

The sun rising and illuminating the world radiates seven rays of bright light and raises them from the honey sweets of mists of the morning in order to illuminate the world for all to see. The sun, of ancient and eternal birth, radiates them across the middle regions and, with love for the earth, shines over, meets and energises the nutritious forms of things on earth.

· · ·

10.5.6

स॒प्त म॒र्यादाः॑ क॒वय॑स्ततक्षु॒स्तासा॒मेका॒मिद॒भ्यं॑हु॒रो गा॑त् । आ॒योर्ह॑ स्क॒म्भ उ॑प॒मस्य॑ नी॒ळे प॒थां वि॑स॒र्गे ध॒रुणे॑षु तस्थौ ॥

Seven are the bounds between good behaviour and evil set up by the wise. If one violates even one of them, he is a sinner. Agni is the pillar and centre hold of humanity. At the end of the journey, one, who in life has observed these bounds, reaches and rests in the shelter of the highest and closest, Agni, and abides in the highest states of being.

· · ·

10.5.7

अस॑च्च॒ सच्च॑ पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्दक्ष॑स्य॒ जन्म॒न्नदि॑तेरु॒पस्थे॑ । अ॒ग्निर्ह॑ नः प्रथम॒जा ऋ॒तस्य॒ पूर्व॒ आयु॑नि वृष॒भश्च॑ धे॒नुः ॥

Being and Becoming, constant and mutable, both in the Supreme Absolute mystery, then the seed of perfect existence in the womb of Mother Nature, and then Agni, self-manifested at the earliest stage of creative evolution, all this, our father and mother as one, was in the ultimate infinite mystery of Brahma, -the Supreme Reality, the Absolute Soul, One with its own potential Prakrti.

✦ Sukta 6 · 7 verses ✦

10.6.1

अ॒यं स यस्य॒ शर्म॒न्नवो॑भिर॒ग्नेरेध॑ते जरि॒ताभिष्टौ॑ । ज्येष्ठे॑भि॒र्यो भा॒नुभि॑ॠषू॒णां प॒र्येति॒ परि॑वीतो वि॒भावा॑ ॥

This is that Agni under whose shelter with all protection the celebrant rises towards the attainment of total fulfilment and who, self-refulgent and gracious, infinitely abundant, transcends all with the highest and most blazing lights of divinity.

· · ·

10.6.2

यो भा॒नुभि॑र्वि॒भावा॑ वि॒भात्य॒ग्निर्दे॒वेभि॑ॠ॒तावाज॑स्रः । आ यो वि॒वाय॑ स॒ख्या सखि॒भ्योऽप॑रिह्वृतो॒ अत्यो॒ न सप्तिः॑ ॥

Agni who, self-refulgent and gracious, shines along with the light of divinities and light of cosmic stars, keeps the eternal laws and values of life and nature, and who, ever true, inviolable and unviolated, goes on with love and friendship with the friends and celebrants of divinity like energy itself, constantly.

· · ·

10.6.3

ईशे॒ यो विश्व॑स्या दे॒ववी॑ते॒रीशे॑ वि॒श्वायु॑रु॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ । आ यस्मि॑न्म॒ना ह॒वींष्य॒ग्नावरि॑ष्टरथः स्क॒भ्नाति॑ शू॒षैः ॥

Agni who rules over all the divine bliss and yajnic gifts of the world, who, life of the world, is the life giver and rules over lights of the dawn and maturation of wisdom, for whom oblations of yajna are offered into the fire with heart and soul, that Agni of the unviolated cosmic chariot sustains the universe by his omnipotent powers.

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10.6.4

शू॒षेभि॑र्वृ॒धो जु॑षा॒णो अ॒र्कैर्दे॒वाँ अच्छा॑ रघु॒पत्वा॑ जिगाति । म॒न्द्रो होता॒ स जु॒ह्वा॒३॒॑ यजि॑ष्ठः॒ सम्मि॑श्लो अ॒ग्निरा जि॑घर्ति दे॒वान् ॥

Agni, self-exalted by its own powers and majesty, loved and adored with Vedic hymns, awakens and inspires the divinities at the earliest and fastest. Charming and adorable, holy receiver and liberal giver, most highly worshipped with heart and soul, universally immanent and pervasive, Agni blesses the sages with divine gifts of holiness and grace.

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10.6.5

तमु॒स्रामिन्द्रं॒ न रेज॑मानम॒ग्निं गी॒र्भिर्नमो॑भि॒रा कृ॑णुध्वम् । आ यं विप्रा॑सो म॒तिभि॑र्गृ॒णन्ति॑ जा॒तवे॑दसं जु॒ह्वं॑ स॒हाना॑म् ॥

That Agni, giver of prosperity, shining and radiating like light energy, you should study, realise and exalt with words of adoration and oblations of holy offerings.Agni, universally immanent and wakeful giver of strength and power, sages and scholars study and exalt with high words and application of mind and thought.

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10.6.6

सं यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॒ वसू॑नि ज॒ग्मुर्वाजे॒ नाश्वाः॒ सप्ती॑वन्त॒ एवैः॑ । अ॒स्मे ऊ॒तीरिन्द्र॑वाततमा अर्वाची॒ना अ॑ग्न॒ आ कृ॑णुष्व ॥

Agni, brilliant divinity and power, into which all wealth, honours and excellences of the world concentrate like stormy war horses in close formation by swift movements and converge in battle victory, pray create and bring us the latest, fastest and most powerful means of defence, protection and advancement.

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10.6.7

अधा॒ ह्य॑ग्ने म॒ह्ना नि॒षद्या॑ स॒द्यो ज॑ज्ञा॒नो हव्यो॑ ब॒भूथ॑ । तं ते॑ दे॒वासो॒ अनु॒ केत॑माय॒न्नधा॑वर्धन्त प्रथ॒मास॒ ऊमाः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light and power, instantly ignited, enflamed, rising and growing to admirable stature, come and abide in our heart and home with grandeur, grace and power. That bright, potent and awful form and nature of yours, the first and highest sages, protected and protective, take up, develop and exalt.

✦ Sukta 7 · 7 verses ✦

10.7.1

स्व॒स्ति नो॑ दि॒वो अ॑ग्ने पृथि॒व्या वि॒श्वायु॑र्धेहि य॒जथा॑य देव । सचे॑महि॒ तव॑ दस्म प्रके॒तैरु॑रु॒ष्या ण॑ उ॒रुभि॑र्देव॒ शंसैः॑ ॥

Agni, divine power and presence, life of the world, bless us with life, health and food of universal order and quality, and bring us all round happiness and well being for yajnic fulfilment of our life. Protect and promote us, Spirit of wondrous powers and performance, by your wide, comprehensive and far reaching intelligence and open declarations of laws and values, and finally let us join you.

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10.7.2

इ॒मा अ॑ग्ने म॒तय॒स्तुभ्यं॑ जा॒ता गोभि॒रश्वै॑र॒भि गृ॑णन्ति॒ राधः॑ । य॒दा ते॒ मर्तो॒ अनु॒ भोग॒मान॒ड्वसो॒ दधा॑नो म॒तिभिः॑ सुजात ॥

Agni, Spirit of life and giver of light, these hymns of adoration spontaneously arisen in praise of your glory, with all our mind and senses, celebrate your gifts of success and achievement when, O shelter home of life and giver of wealth, the mortal receives his reward according to your law, bears and manages it with his mind and senses in order and feels the divine awareness vibrating in the soul.

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10.7.3

अ॒ग्निं म॑न्ये पि॒तर॑म॒ग्निमा॒पिम॒ग्निं भ्रात॑रं॒ सद॒मित्सखा॑यम् । अ॒ग्नेरनी॑कं बृह॒तः स॑पर्यं दि॒वि शु॒क्रं य॑ज॒तं सूर्य॑स्य ॥

I always accept and adore Agni as father, Agni as my own closest relative, Agni as brother and as unfailing friend. I worship the great Agni’s solar presence in the heaven of light, adorable, refulgent, worthy of love and service.

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10.7.4

सि॒ध्रा अ॑ग्ने॒ धियो॑ अ॒स्मे सनु॑त्री॒र्यं त्राय॑से॒ दम॒ आ नित्य॑होता । ऋ॒तावा॒ स रो॒हिद॑श्वः पुरु॒क्षुर्द्युभि॑रस्मा॒ अह॑भिर्वा॒मम॑स्तु ॥

Agni, may our thoughts, prayers and adorations be effectual and give us fulfilment. O constant giver of light and life, home mate in yajna, whoever you protect and promote, grows higher in dedication to truth, divine law and yajnic living, blest with holy and bright sense and mind, abundance of food, energy and life’s joy. We pray may our life be good and prosperous with brightness day by day.

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10.7.5

द्युभि॑र्हि॒तं मि॒त्रमि॑व प्र॒योगं॑ प्र॒त्नमृ॒त्विज॑मध्व॒रस्य॑ जा॒रम् । बा॒हुभ्या॑म॒ग्निमा॒यवो॑ऽजनन्त वि॒क्षु होता॑रं॒ न्य॑सादयन्त ॥

Refulgent with lights of life and knowledge, helpful and cooperative as a friend, ancient and eternal, constant yajaka by seasons, lover and accomplisher of yajna, such is Agni. People generate it with dexterity of hands, awaken it in the soul with constant practice and renunciation, and establish it among people as giver of life and sustenance.

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10.7.6

स्व॒यं य॑जस्व दि॒वि दे॑व दे॒वान्किं ते॒ पाकः॑ कृणव॒दप्र॑चेताः । यथाय॑ज ऋ॒तुभि॑र्देव दे॒वाने॒वा य॑जस्व त॒न्वं॑ सुजात ॥

O self-refulgent spirit of the universe, by yourself you energise the divine forces of nature in the higher regions of life and conduct the yajna of evolution. What can man, limited in knowledge, accomplish for you in this cosmic yajna? O lord omnipotent, as you have eternally carried the yajna according to time and seasons, similarly, O lord, carry on the yajna of the cosmic body.

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10.7.7

भवा॑ नो अग्नेऽवि॒तोत गो॒पा भवा॑ वय॒स्कृदु॒त नो॑ वयो॒धाः । रास्वा॑ च नः सुमहो ह॒व्यदा॑तिं॒ त्रास्वो॒त न॑स्त॒न्वो॒३॒॑ अप्र॑युच्छन् ॥

Agni, pray be our protector and be our preserver against external fears and internal weaknesses. Be our protector of health and good age and bring us greater and higher strength and vigour. O lord of grandeur, give us the wealth and competence to carry on our yajnic homage to the divinities and humanity in the yajnic evolution of the divine cosmos. Save us, protect and promote us, without neglecting the well being of our physical existence.

✦ Sukta 8 · 9 verses ✦

10.8.1

प्र के॒तुना॑ बृह॒ता या॑त्य॒ग्निरा रोद॑सी वृष॒भो रो॑रवीति । दि॒वश्चि॒दन्ताँ॑ उप॒माँ उदा॑नळ॒पामु॒पस्थे॑ महि॒षो व॑वर्ध ॥

Agni, mighty abundant power and presence, goes forward with lofty lightning force and banner roaring over heaven and earth. It goes to the very heights and bounds of heaven in all directions and sub-directions and pervades in the middle regions in the depth of vapours and the mighty one grows mightier there at the heart of clouds.

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10.8.2

मु॒मोद॒ गर्भो॑ वृष॒भः क॒कुद्मा॑नस्रे॒मा व॒त्सः शिमी॑वाँ अरावीत् । स दे॒वता॒त्युद्य॑तानि कृ॒ण्वन्त्स्वेषु॒ क्षये॑षु प्रथ॒मो जि॑गाति ॥

Agni waxes with joyous energy, all pervasive and comprehending, mighty abundant, virile and invigorating, lovely as a child yet perfect and powerful as accomplisher, and expresses itself loud and bold from silence of the night to roar of the winds and thunder of the clouds. Thus does Agni go on, the quintessence of divine powers, raising and energising all presences, as the prime power and presence in its own universal dwellings over and across spaces (as agni, fire and magnetic force on earth, as vayu, electric energy in the middle regions, and as aditya, light in the high heavenly regions).

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10.8.3

आ यो मू॒र्धानं॑ पि॒त्रोरर॑ब्ध॒ न्य॑ध्व॒रे द॑धिरे॒ सूरो॒ अर्णः॑ । अस्य॒ पत्म॒न्नरु॑षी॒रश्व॑बुध्ना ऋ॒तस्य॒ योनौ॑ त॒न्वो॑ जुषन्त ॥

In the cosmic yajna of motherly earth and paternal heaven, Agni, the sun, enlightens the top regions, in the middle regions the oceanic vapours and vibrant winds hold it as electric energy, and in its lower paths of radiation on earth on the yajna vedi all physical forms of existence join its bright flames and radiations and benefit from it.

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10.8.4

उ॒षउ॑षो॒ हि व॑सो॒ अग्र॒मेषि॒ त्वं य॒मयो॑रभवो वि॒भावा॑ । ऋ॒ताय॑ स॒प्त द॑धिषे प॒दानि॑ ज॒नय॑न्मि॒त्रं त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ स्वायै॑ ॥

Agni, Vasu, sustainer of life, generating the sun for the manifestation of your self, you rise first with every dawn, illuminate the day and distinguish both day and night, and for conduct of the yajna of existence you bear the seven flames of fire and seven rays of light.

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10.8.5

भुव॒श्चक्षु॑र्म॒ह ऋ॒तस्य॑ गो॒पा भुवो॒ वरु॑णो॒ यदृ॒ताय॒ वेषि॑ । भुवो॑ अ॒पां नपा॑ज्जातवेदो॒ भुवो॑ दू॒तो यस्य॑ ह॒व्यं जुजो॑षः ॥

You are the eye and guardian of the mighty yajnic order of the cosmos, and when you proceed for the dynamics of the order you become the great evolutionary force of the process of formative evolution. You are the omnipresent power that sustain the waters and energies of the cosmic evolution against devolution, and you are the inspirer and promoter of the yajamana who offers you the holy inputs of the evolutionary yajaka.

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10.8.6

भुवो॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॒ रज॑सश्च ने॒ता यत्रा॑ नि॒युद्भिः॒ सच॑से शि॒वाभिः॑ । दि॒वि मू॒र्धानं॑ दधिषे स्व॒र्षां जि॒ह्वाम॑ग्ने चकृषे हव्य॒वाह॑म् ॥

Agni, you are the leader and carrier of yajnic energies and energiser of the regions through which the energies rise and radiate, where you join and conduct the holy waves of energy onward. In the regions of light you sustain the blissful sun high and on the earth you enjoin your flames of fire to carry the fragrance up and around for the world.

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10.8.7

अ॒स्य त्रि॒तः क्रतु॑ना व॒व्रे अ॒न्तरि॒च्छन्धी॒तिं पि॒तुरेवैः॒ पर॑स्य । स॒च॒स्यमा॑नः पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थे॑ जा॒मि ब्रु॑वा॒ण आयु॑धानि वेति ॥

Trita, the human soul, wearing three body covers of gross, subtle and causal forms in earthly existence, with the desire to win the love of this supreme paternal divinity by concentrative meditation, chooses to meditate on divinity within the self and, thus nestled in the parental presence praying as a child for protection, obtains the arms for defence against internal and external onslaughts of material involvement.

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10.8.8

स पित्र्या॒ण्यायु॑धानि वि॒द्वानिन्द्रे॑षित आ॒प्त्यो अ॒भ्य॑युध्यत् । त्रि॒शी॒र्षाणं॑ स॒प्तर॑श्मिं जघ॒न्वान्त्वा॒ष्ट्रस्य॑ चि॒न्निः स॑सृजे त्रि॒तो गाः ॥

That divinely self-realised soul, having got the paternal arms of defence and inspired by Indra, omnipotent supreme divinity, fights against the material adversaries and, having controlled and subdued the three headed seven bridled bondage of sense and mind, gets free of the bonds.

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10.8.9

भूरीदिन्द्र॑ उ॒दिन॑क्षन्त॒मोजोऽवा॑भिन॒त्सत्प॑ति॒र्मन्य॑मानम् । त्वा॒ष्ट्रस्य॑ चिद्वि॒श्वरू॑पस्य॒ गोना॑माचक्रा॒णस्त्रीणि॑ शी॒र्षा परा॑ वर्क् ॥

Indra, protector and saviour of the pious and true devotees, destroying the mighty lustrous, rising and proud adversaries of the child of cosmic materiality, breaks the bonds of seven fold sense-mind complex, destroys the three headed cover of physicality and sets the soul free.

✦ Sukta 9 · 9 verses ✦

10.9.1

आपो॒ हि ष्ठा म॑यो॒भुव॒स्ता न॑ ऊ॒र्जे द॑धातन । म॒हे रणा॑य॒ चक्ष॑से ॥

Apah, liquid energies of cosmic space, surely you are creators and givers of peace and joy. Pray inspire and energise us for the achievement of food and energy for body, mind and soul so that we may see and enjoy the mighty splendour of divinity.

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10.9.2

यो वः॑ शि॒वत॑मो॒ रस॒स्तस्य॑ भाजयते॒ह नः॑ । उ॒श॒तीरि॑व मा॒तरः॑ ॥

Let us share here in body that nectar sweet taste of yours which is most blissful, be like loving mothers for their children.

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10.9.3

तस्मा॒ अरं॑ गमाम वो॒ यस्य॒ क्षया॑य॒ जिन्व॑थ । आपो॑ ज॒नय॑था च नः ॥

O holy waters, lovers of peace and pleasure of bliss, we come to you without delay for that pleasure, peace and enlightenment for the promotion and stability of which you move and impel people and powers and invigorate us too. Pray bless us with vigour and vitality.

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10.9.4

शं नो॑ दे॒वीर॒भिष्ट॑य॒ आपो॑ भवन्तु पी॒तये॑ । शं योर॒भि स्र॑वन्तु नः ॥

May the divine waters be for our peace and bliss for body, mind and soul and bring us showers of peace, protection and blessedness.

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10.9.5

ईशा॑ना॒ वार्या॑णां॒ क्षय॑न्तीश्चर्षणी॒नाम् । अ॒पो या॑चामि भेष॒जम् ॥

Sovereign givers of the cherished gifts of our choice, harbingers of peace and settlement to people, I pray may waters of peace bring me health, sanatives and blessedness.

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10.9.6

अ॒प्सु मे॒ सोमो॑ अब्रवीद॒न्तर्विश्वा॑नि भेष॒जा । अ॒ग्निं च॑ वि॒श्वश॑म्भुवम् ॥

Soma in the waters touches and speaks to me: All sanatives reside in the waters which also contain the vital warmth and fire of Agni for peace and blessedness of all.

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10.9.7

आपः॑ पृणी॒त भे॑ष॒जं वरू॑थं त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ मम॑ । ज्योक्च॒ सूर्यं॑ दृ॒शे ॥

O waters, give me peace, stability and sanative vitality for my body so that I may see the sun for a long long time in life.

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10.9.8

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

Holy waters, wash off all this negativity and whatever is ill or deficient in me, or whatever I disapprove and hate, or whatever wrong, false or indecent I may speak or do.

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10.9.9

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

Today I have enjoyed the touch, taste and sanctity of waters in the right spirit. We are all one with the spirit of waters. O fire, divine Agni, master of the nectar spirit of waters, come, take me on to bless me. Consecrate me with valour and lustre into a new life.

✦ Sukta 10 · 14 verses ✦

10.10.1

ओ चि॒त्सखा॑यं स॒ख्या व॑वृत्यां ति॒रः पु॒रू चि॑दर्ण॒वं ज॑ग॒न्वान् । पि॒तुर्नपा॑त॒मा द॑धीत वे॒धा अधि॒ क्षमि॑ प्रत॒रं दीध्या॑नः ॥

Yami: With love and desire I come to my friend of my own choice, a friend who has crossed the vast ocean of life a long long way, and I solicit and pray that knowing and thinking of your fulfilment of familial obligation on earth, you beget a successor saviour of your father’s familial line and (in marriage) bless me with a child.

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10.10.2

न ते॒ सखा॑ स॒ख्यं व॑ष्ट्ये॒तत्सल॑क्ष्मा॒ यद्विषु॑रूपा॒ भवा॑ति । म॒हस्पु॒त्रासो॒ असु॑रस्य वी॒रा दि॒वो ध॒र्तार॑ उर्वि॒या परि॑ ख्यन् ॥

Yama: Your friend accepts not your proposal of love, friendship and union since you are not homogeneous with him in character and versatility of merit and maturity, in fact you are the contrary. Indeed the brave progeny of the great lord of life and energy of nature, refulgent with light and wisdom, who maintain the light of heaven along with the earth take exception to such a proposal of union, in fact they watch, wonder and rule out such a proposal for union.

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10.10.3

उ॒शन्ति॑ घा॒ ते अ॒मृता॑स ए॒तदेक॑स्य चित्त्य॒जसं॒ मर्त्य॑स्य । नि ते॒ मनो॒ मन॑सि धाय्य॒स्मे जन्युः॒ पति॑स्त॒न्व१॒॑मा वि॑विश्याः ॥

Yami: The immortal sustainers of earth and heaven do wish that every mortal should leave at least one descendant child. I have accepted your mind and soul as one with me, so pray come and join me in body as life giver husband of your child.

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10.10.4

न यत्पु॒रा च॑कृ॒मा कद्ध॑ नू॒नमृ॒ता वद॑न्तो॒ अनृ॑तं रपेम । ग॒न्ध॒र्वो अ॒प्स्वप्या॑ च॒ योषा॒ सा नो॒ नाभिः॑ पर॒मं जा॒मि तन्नौ॑ ॥

Yama: Having observed the laws of divine nature and observing them now, what we have never done before how can we do now in violation of the truth and law? Gandharva, the sun, sustainer of the earth, is there in the middle region, the moon too is there, so are you, youthful night, as I am. But the earth is the common axis between you and me both, and that is the extreme opposition between you and me. (We cannot possibly meet while the earth is in orbit.)

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10.10.5

गर्भे॒ नु नौ॑ जनि॒ता दम्प॑ती कर्दे॒वस्त्वष्टा॑ सवि॒ता वि॒श्वरू॑पः । नकि॑रस्य॒ प्र मि॑नन्ति व्र॒तानि॒ वेद॑ नाव॒स्य पृ॑थि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

Yami: Our generator Savita, creator of the universe, Tvashta, maker of forms and Kah, sustainer of created forms, made us a couple in nature’s womb of generation itself as keepers of this earthly home. None can now violate the rules of the lord’s discipline, they don’t. Mother earth and father heavenly sun know of this complementarity of ours.

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10.10.6

को अ॒स्य वे॑द प्रथ॒मस्याह्नः॒ क ईं॑ ददर्श॒ क इ॒ह प्र वो॑चत् । बृ॒हन्मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ धाम॒ कदु॑ ब्रव आहनो॒ वीच्या॒ नॄन् ॥

Who knows of this complementarity created at the dawn of creation? He alone knows. As of now, who witnessed it? Who can vouchsafe it now? Vast is the distance between east, the house of Mitra, sun and the day, and west, house of Varuna, presiding deity of the night. O wanton dear, having seen the people now, who can say anything about that?

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10.10.7

य॒मस्य॑ मा य॒म्यं१॒॑ काम॒ आग॑न्त्समा॒ने योनौ॑ सह॒शेय्या॑य । जा॒येव॒ पत्ये॑ त॒न्वं॑ रिरिच्यां॒ वि चि॑द्वृहेव॒ रथ्ये॑व च॒क्रा ॥

I, the night, feel stricken with desire to share life with you, Yama, in one house and one bed and wish I should surrender my body as a wife does to the husband so that we may carry on the business of life like the two wheels of a chariot.

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10.10.8

न ति॑ष्ठन्ति॒ न नि मि॑षन्त्ये॒ते दे॒वानां॒ स्पश॑ इ॒ह ये चर॑न्ति । अ॒न्येन॒ मदा॑हनो याहि॒ तूयं॒ तेन॒ वि वृ॑ह॒ रथ्ये॑व च॒क्रा ॥

Yama: These watchful lights of divinities which sojourn here around in space neither stop nor deviate from their path, nor do they wink their eye. O love-lorn maiden, go soon to one of these, other than me and with him carry on the business of life like a chariot wheel.

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10.10.9

रात्री॑भिरस्मा॒ अह॑भिर्दशस्ये॒त्सूर्य॑स्य॒ चक्षु॒र्मुहु॒रुन्मि॑मीयात् । दि॒वा पृ॑थि॒व्या मि॑थु॒ना सब॑न्धू य॒मीर्य॒मस्य॑ बिभृया॒दजा॑मि ॥

If for a moment the lord of existence were to reduce the earth to the axis and its centre point and the light of the sun were exhausted along with days and nights, then like heaven and earth together we too may be together and the night may enjoy conjugal union with the day without any obstruction.

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10.10.10

आ घा॒ ता ग॑च्छा॒नुत्त॑रा यु॒गानि॒ यत्र॑ जा॒मयः॑ कृ॒णव॒न्नजा॑मि । उप॑ बर्बृहि वृष॒भाय॑ बा॒हुम॒न्यमि॑च्छस्व सुभगे॒ पतिं॒ मत् ॥

But O night, those times would follow long long ages hence when contraries would lie together and coexist without contradictions. Therefore for the time, O sweet and debonair, extend your hand of love to someone other than me, a real virile husband.

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10.10.11

किं भ्राता॑स॒द्यद॑ना॒थं भवा॑ति॒ किमु॒ स्वसा॒ यन्निॠ॑तिर्नि॒गच्छा॑त् । काम॑मूता ब॒ह्वे॒३॒॑तद्र॑पामि त॒न्वा॑ मे त॒न्वं१॒॑ सं पि॑पृग्धि ॥

Yami: What? then have you become as a brother to me? And I, deprived of love and care, become a sister, bereft, going away elsewhere in search of another? Lovelorn, I am babbling so much, pray join me, body with body. (Are you just a complementary support and I just a complementary way farer, nothing more?)

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10.10.12

न वा उ॑ ते त॒न्वा॑ त॒न्वं१॒॑ सं प॑पृच्यां पा॒पमा॑हु॒र्यः स्वसा॑रं नि॒गच्छा॑त् । अ॒न्येन॒ मत्प्र॒मुदः॑ कल्पयस्व॒ न ते॒ भ्राता॑ सुभगे वष्ट्ये॒तत् ॥

Yama: No, I would never touch your body with my body. The wise say that to go and meet a sister like that is a sin, to meet a corresponding way farer in orbit is a violation of the law of nature. O dear and fortunate one, go, be happy with another other than me and make it possible if you can. Your brother way farer does not love this proposal, no he cannot.

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10.10.13

ब॒तो ब॑तासि यम॒ नैव ते॒ मनो॒ हृद॑यं चाविदाम । अ॒न्या किल॒ त्वां क॒क्ष्ये॑व यु॒क्तं परि॑ ष्वजाते॒ लिबु॑जेव वृ॒क्षम् ॥

Yami: Sorry Yama, O day, it is a pity I did not know your mind and heart this way of nature. May be some one other than me too may join you like a girdle round your waist and embrace you like a creeper clinging by a tree.

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10.10.14

अ॒न्यमू॒ षु त्वं य॑म्य॒न्य उ॒ त्वां परि॑ ष्वजाते॒ लिबु॑जेव वृ॒क्षम् । तस्य॑ वा॒ त्वं मन॑ इ॒च्छा स वा॒ तवाधा॑ कृणुष्व सं॒विदं॒ सुभ॑द्राम् ॥

Yama: Some other may embrace you too and you embrace him like a creeper by the tree. Love you the other man and his heart, may he too love you and yours. Thus may you create and achieve a happy union in love and good fortune.

✦ Sukta 11 · 9 verses ✦

10.11.1

वृषा॒ वृष्णे॑ दुदुहे॒ दोह॑सा दि॒वः पयां॑सि य॒ह्वो अदि॑ते॒रदा॑भ्यः । विश्वं॒ स वे॑द॒ वरु॑णो॒ यथा॑ धि॒या स य॒ज्ञियो॑ यजतु य॒ज्ञियाँ॑ ऋ॒तून्

॥

Generous, omnipotent and indomitable Agni, self-refulgent ruling Spirit of life in the systemic order of existence, with its natural art and intelligence and creativity, creates and showers the waters of growth and sustenance from the divine infinity of inexhaustible plenty of light, life and joy for the yajnic and generous powers of nature and humanity. The Spirit is Varuna, omniscient intelligence with universal discrimination, knowing the world as it is and the way it behaves. May the lovable and adorable Agni worshipped at yajna love, join and bless the yajnic celebrants of life divine according to the seasons and its own love and judgement.

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10.11.2

रप॑द्गन्ध॒र्वीरप्या॑ च॒ योष॑णा न॒दस्य॑ ना॒दे परि॑ पातु मे॒ मनः॑ । इ॒ष्टस्य॒ मध्ये॒ अदि॑ति॒र्नि धा॑तु नो॒ भ्राता॑ नो ज्ये॒ष्ठः प्र॑थ॒मो वि वो॑चति ॥

May the spirit and power of Agni blazing in the sun, thundering in the clouds, vibrating in vapours, flashing in lightning, burning in the vedi and roaring in rivers, protect, promote and inspire my mind. May imperishable Infinity, indomitable nature and inviolable policy establish us all at the heart of what we love to do, accomplish and worship in life and society, and may our chief, eldest, supportive and sustaining brother, speak to us and enlighten us in matters of Dharma, artha, kama and moksha.

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10.11.3

सो चि॒न्नु भ॒द्रा क्षु॒मती॒ यश॑स्वत्यु॒षा उ॑वास॒ मन॑वे॒ स्व॑र्वती । यदी॑मु॒शन्त॑मुश॒तामनु॒ क्रतु॑म॒ग्निं होता॑रं वि॒दथा॑य॒ जीज॑नन् ॥

Instantly does that blessed, blissful, inspiring and elevating dawn, light of life, vision of wisdom, harbinger of honour, excellence and divine virtue, arise and shine in response to dedicated action bearing the bliss of heaven for all humanity when, in pursuit of corporate creative living and search for total freedom, people light the yajna fire for Agni, lover of the lovers of divinity and chief high priest of the yajna of life.

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10.11.4

अध॒ त्यं द्र॒प्सं वि॒भ्वं॑ विचक्ष॒णं विराभ॑रदिषि॒तः श्ये॒नो अ॑ध्व॒रे । यदी॒ विशो॑ वृ॒णते॑ द॒स्ममार्या॑ अ॒ग्निं होता॑र॒मध॒ धीर॑जायत ॥

When noble and dynamic people, lovers of life dedicated to yajna fire, choose to worship the potent and gracious Agni, chief of cosmic yajna and harbinger of infinite gifts, then the celebrant soul of the individual, or society or the ruler of the social order, with flying super-intelligence inspired by the spirit of divinity, achieves that same great and ecstatic power and enlightenment of universal order both on earth and in the spirit by social yajna and spiritual meditation, and by that Agni itself, omniscient, omnipotent and omnificent, becomes the inviolable foundation of human karma, and all possible faculties of thought and action arise for the achievement of success.

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10.11.5

सदा॑सि र॒ण्वो यव॑सेव॒ पुष्य॑ते॒ होत्रा॑भिरग्ने॒ मनु॑षः स्वध्व॒रः । विप्र॑स्य वा॒ यच्छ॑शमा॒न उ॒क्थ्यं१॒॑ वाजं॑ सस॒वाँ उ॑प॒यासि॒ भूरि॑भिः ॥

Agni, just as food is dear and auspicious to the robust lover of health, so are you dear, exciting and inspiring for humanity, being the holiest presiding power of social and spiritual yajna served with hymns of invocation and adoration, you who, pleased with the sage’s songs of adoration, sharing and fulfilling the yajnic homage of devotees, visit and bless the celebrants with plenty and immensities of gifts of enlightenment as well as powers.

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10.11.6

उदी॑रय पि॒तरा॑ जा॒र आ भग॒मिय॑क्षति हर्य॒तो हृ॒त्त इ॑ष्यति । विव॑क्ति॒ वह्निः॑ स्वप॒स्यते॑ म॒खस्त॑वि॒ष्यते॒ असु॑रो॒ वेप॑ते म॒ती ॥

Agni, raise and augment the parental powers of heaven and earth and extend the honour and excellence of humanity there like the sun, stealer of the night, which spreads its light in space. The yajamana performs yajna in honour of the divinities of nature and humanity and loves the divinities and yajna with his heart and soul. The ruler, burden bearer of the life of humanity, is up and active and adores and exalts you. The fire is rising and blazing bright, the high priest is inspired, and the life giving energies vibrate with action and intelligence.

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10.11.7

यस्ते॑ अग्ने सुम॒तिं मर्तो॒ अक्ष॒त्सह॑सः सूनो॒ अति॒ स प्र शृ॑ण्वे । इषं॒ दधा॑नो॒ वह॑मानो॒ अश्वै॒रा स द्यु॒माँ अम॑वान्भूषति॒ द्यून् ॥

Agni, creator and augmenter of power, patience and fortitude, the mortal who reaches and internalises your divine favour of knowledge and wisdom rises to immortal honour and fame and, having abundant food, energy and life’s graces of his choice and enjoying equipment of horses and fast transport, rises in light, lustre and splendour of life day by day.

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10.11.8

यद॑ग्न ए॒षा समि॑ति॒र्भवा॑ति दे॒वी दे॒वेषु॑ यज॒ता य॑जत्र । रत्ना॑ च॒ यद्वि॒भजा॑सि स्वधावो भा॒गं नो॒ अत्र॒ वसु॑मन्तं वीतात् ॥

AdorableAgni, when this holy assembly of your yajnic powers and virtues honoured among the divines meets and, O lord self-refulgent and self-sufficient, you distribute the jewels of life among them, then pray bless us too with our share of the honour and excellence of life.

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10.11.9

श्रु॒धी नो॑ अग्ने॒ सद॑ने स॒धस्थे॑ यु॒क्ष्वा रथ॑म॒मृत॑स्य द्रवि॒त्नुम् । आ नो॑ वह॒ रोद॑सी दे॒वपु॑त्रे॒ माकि॑र्दे॒वाना॒मप॑ भूरि॒ह स्याः॑ ॥

Listen to our prayer, Agni, in this hall of yajna, harness your chariot replete with the nectar of immortality, bring us the wealth of earth and light of heaven both divine, let none of the divinities forsake us. Pray abide in our heart here and ever.

✦ Sukta 12 · 9 verses ✦

10.12.1

द्यावा॑ ह॒ क्षामा॑ प्रथ॒मे ऋ॒तेना॑भिश्रा॒वे भ॑वतः सत्य॒वाचा॑ । दे॒वो यन्मर्ता॑न्य॒जथा॑य कृ॒ण्वन्त्सीद॒द्धोता॑ प्र॒त्यङ्स्वमसुं॒ यन् ॥

Heaven and earth are the first and closest divinities by virtue of the cosmic order to listen to the holy chant and proclaim their response with light and generosity, when Agni, refulgent spirit of life and light of the world, chief priest and inspirer of cosmic yajna, calling mortals to the altar, settles in the vedi itself upfront, generating and accelerating the radiation of its own energy in the yajnic process being enacted.

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10.12.2

दे॒वो दे॒वान्प॑रि॒भूॠ॒तेन॒ वहा॑ नो ह॒व्यं प्र॑थ॒मश्चि॑कि॒त्वान् । धू॒मके॑तुः स॒मिधा॒ भाऋ॑जीको म॒न्द्रो होता॒ नित्यो॑ वा॒चा यजी॑यान् ॥

May Agni, supreme power and presence of the spirit over divinites of heaven and earth, first and instant cognizant of our invocation and prayers, radiate and carry our homage and oblations to the divinities of nature by the laws of its cosmic order, Agni, the power with the banner of light and fragrance, blazing with the flames of fuel fire, adorable sublime, divine call for action and creative evolution, eternal and imperishable, loving and companionable by words of sincere adoration.

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10.12.3

स्वावृ॑ग्दे॒वस्या॒मृतं॒ यदी॒ गोरतो॑ जा॒तासो॑ धारयन्त उ॒र्वी । विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अनु॒ तत्ते॒ यजु॑र्गुर्दु॒हे यदेनी॑ दि॒व्यं घृ॒तं वाः ॥

When the celestial nectar of this refulgent power’s own essence radiates, then the energies generated by it support and sustain both earth and heaven, and all divinities of nature and humanity receive and celebrate these gifts of Agni, the divine beauty, radiance and liquid energies which the light divine showers on them.

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10.12.4

अर्चा॑मि वां॒ वर्धा॒यापो॑ घृतस्नू॒ द्यावा॑भूमी शृणु॒तं रो॑दसी मे । अहा॒ यद्द्यावोऽसु॑नीति॒मय॒न्मध्वा॑ नो॒ अत्र॑ पि॒तरा॑ शिशीताम् ॥

Listen both heaven and earth my words of adoration : I celebrate you both heaven and earth as father and mother, givers of the liquid energies of life for the growth and progress of humanity and the environment, which, may the brilliant geniuses of humanity, taking forward the energy projects and policies of the world, promote day and night incessantly, and which, may the parental powers and leadership of mankind refine and augment to further the light and sweetness of life here on earth.

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10.12.5

किं स्वि॑न्नो॒ राजा॑ जगृहे॒ कद॒स्याति॑ व्र॒तं च॑कृमा॒ को वि वे॑द । मि॒त्रश्चि॒द्धि ष्मा॑ जुहुरा॒णो दे॒वाञ्छ्लोको॒ न या॒तामपि॒ वाजो॒ अस्ति॑ ॥

Does the ruling and refulgent Agni receive and accept our homage? Do we sometime overstep its laws and limits of benediction and experimentation? Who knows this secret we ought to know? Agni after all is a friend. Invoked and served with excess or remiss, it would still accept our homage and adoration and convey it to the divinities, and we pray let there be success and ultimate victory.

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10.12.6

दु॒र्मन्त्वत्रा॒मृत॑स्य॒ नाम॒ सल॑क्ष्मा॒ यद्विषु॑रूपा॒ भवा॑ति । य॒मस्य॒ यो म॒नव॑ते सु॒मन्त्वग्ने॒ तमृ॑ष्व पा॒ह्यप्र॑युच्छन् ॥

Incomprehensible is this mystery of immortal Agni and its power, for sure, since arising from the same one origin and being homogeneous, it grows to boundless variety of forms, which, nevertheless, for the man who knows the One Supreme, Agni, ordainer and controller of this existential variety, is simple and clearly understood. This man, O lord great and gracious, protect and promote without relent.

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10.12.7

यस्मि॑न्दे॒वा वि॒दथे॑ मा॒दय॑न्ते वि॒वस्व॑तः॒ सद॑ने धा॒रय॑न्ते । सूर्ये॒ ज्योति॒रद॑धुर्मा॒स्य१॒॑क्तून्परि॑ द्योत॒निं च॑रतो॒ अज॑स्रा ॥

In whose being the divinities of nature and humanity rejoice in the yajnic order of existence, carry on their assigned tasks in the regions of light and in the heart and mind of humanity, and vest light in the sun and the dark tinge in the moon, that self-refulgent Agni, the sun and moon and all other divinities constantly adore and serve.

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10.12.8

यस्मि॑न्दे॒वा मन्म॑नि सं॒चर॑न्त्यपी॒च्ये॒३॒॑ न व॒यम॑स्य विद्म । मि॒त्रो नो॒ अत्रादि॑ति॒रना॑गान्त्सवि॒ता दे॒वो वरु॑णाय वोचत् ॥

In whose illuminative yet mysterious being all divine powers exist and act, we know not well. May the same self refulgent Agni, the divine powers reveal to us, simple, sincere and conscientious seekers of divinity, so that we may distinctly and intelligently know and serve the divine power. May Mitra, universal spirit of divine love, Aditi, imperishable Mother Nature, self- refulgent Savita, the sun, reveal the mysterious power and presence to us.

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10.12.9

श्रु॒धी नो॑ अग्ने॒ सद॑ने स॒धस्थे॑ यु॒क्ष्वा रथ॑म॒मृत॑स्य द्रवि॒त्नुम् । आ नो॑ वह॒ रोद॑सी दे॒वपु॑त्रे॒ माकि॑र्दे॒वाना॒मप॑ भूरि॒ह स्याः॑ ॥

Listen to our invocation and exhortation, Agni, in this spatial hall of cosmic yajna. Harness the chariot replete with the nectar of immortality, bring us the wealth of earth and light of heaven both divine. Let none of the divinities forsake us. Pray abide in our heart and soul here and for ever.

✦ Sukta 13 · 5 verses ✦

10.13.1

यु॒जे वां॒ ब्रह्म॑ पू॒र्व्यं नमो॑भि॒र्वि श्लोक॑ एतु प॒थ्ये॑व सू॒रेः । शृ॒ण्वन्तु॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒मृत॑स्य पु॒त्रा आ ये धामा॑नि दि॒व्यानि॑ त॒स्थुः ॥

For you, O heaven and earth, men and women, bride and bride groom, bearers of the holy materials of yajna, I chant the holy Vedic voice of divinity with fragrant oblations into the vedi in honour of Agni, lord self-refulgent. May this voice spread around like the spirit of light and joy of the enlightened. Let all children of immortality across the world listen, and listen all those too who abide in the celestial regions of light and divine yajna.

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10.13.2

य॒मे इ॑व॒ यत॑माने॒ यदैतं॒ प्र वां॑ भर॒न्मानु॑षा देव॒यन्तः॑ । आ सी॑दतं॒ स्वमु॑ लो॒कं विदा॑ने स्वास॒स्थे भ॑वत॒मिन्द॑वे नः ॥

Living and working together like a pair of twins in this home, when you perform this yajna, then the people around dedicated to divinity would accept and honour you as a holy couple. Abide in your own beautiful place as an enlightened couple and, happy and healthy in your own joint life, live on for the peace and joy of yourselves and all of us and for self-fulfilment in the service of divinity.

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10.13.3

पञ्च॑ प॒दानि॑ रु॒पो अन्व॑रोहं॒ चतु॑ष्पदी॒मन्वे॑मि व्र॒तेन॑ । अ॒क्षरे॑ण॒ प्रति॑ मिम ए॒तामृ॒तस्य॒ नाभा॒वधि॒ सं पु॑नामि ॥

By the discipline of body mind and soul, I would cover the five stages of earthly existence from the annamaya kosha through pranamaya, manomaya, vijnanamaya kosha to the anandamaya state of divine joy. I would cover the four stages of brahmacharya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa to total freedom. By meditation on Aum I would cover the physical, psychic and spiritual stages to the fourth stage of turiya, the state of transcendent happiness. Thus would I reach and abide in the centre of the divine order of existence in the state of absolute purity of the spirit.

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10.13.4

दे॒वेभ्यः॒ कम॑वृणीत मृ॒त्युं प्र॒जायै॒ कम॒मृतं॒ नावृ॑णीत । बृह॒स्पतिं॑ य॒ज्ञम॑कृण्वत॒ ऋषिं॑ प्रि॒यां य॒मस्त॒न्वं१॒॑ प्रारि॑रेचीत् ॥

Which death does Brhaspati or Yama choose for the divines? What immortality does he not choose for ordinary humans? Choose Brhaspati, universal divine Seer as the high priest as well as the object of yajna, self-sacrifice, and Yama would either strengthen the dear body vestment of the soul, or, otherwise empty it out of life energy.

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10.13.5

स॒प्त क्ष॑रन्ति॒ शिश॑वे म॒रुत्व॑ते पि॒त्रे पु॒त्रासो॒ अप्य॑वीवतन्नृ॒तम् । उ॒भे इद॑स्यो॒भय॑स्य राजत उ॒भे य॑तेते उ॒भय॑स्य पुष्यतः ॥

As children for the parent, seven poetic compositions of the Veda shower the light and bliss of eternal truth on the soul, master of pranic energies and abiding within at the heart in the body. Both thought and speech, heaven and earth inspire and elevate both divines and humans, both exercise both to rise and both strengthen and refine both orders of life, both coexist with the Law.

✦ Sukta 14 · 16 verses ✦

10.14.1

प॒रे॒यि॒वांसं॑ प्र॒वतो॑ म॒हीरनु॑ ब॒हुभ्यः॒ पन्था॑मनुपस्पशा॒नम् । वै॒व॒स्व॒तं सं॒गम॑नं॒ जना॑नां य॒मं राजा॑नं ह॒विषा॑ दुवस्य ॥

Know Yama, cosmic Time, refulgent, all ruling all comprending Time, pervading all that moves forward, stars and planets all, watching, showing the paths of movement for all and outlasting them all. Temporal correspondent dimension of Vivasvan, Savita, ultimate light and supreme spirit, immanent and transcendent, eternal and infinite, ordainer and controller of the world, ultimate end and destination of all that is born, it is the creator, mover and consumer all in one. Worship it with service and homage of yajna (if you wish to survive as spirit through the flux). Note: In Surya Siddhanta time is Cosmic Time and, secondly, it is temporal which is the temporal correspondent of things in flux. One is called Lokanam- anta-krt-Kala which comprehends all things in existence, and the other is time in respect of calculation, ‘Kalanatmaka’. Yama in this hymn is not the god of death, it is the child of the sun, Vivasvan. Therefore Yama should be interpreted as time, in both aspects, i.e., temporal aspect and beyond the temporal in its eternal aspect which is the space-time continuum of eternity.

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10.14.2

य॒मो नो॑ गा॒तुं प्र॑थ॒मो वि॑वेद॒ नैषा गव्यू॑ति॒रप॑भर्त॒वा उ॑ । यत्रा॑ नः॒ पूर्वे॑ पि॒तरः॑ परे॒युरे॒ना ज॑ज्ञा॒नाः प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ अनु॒ स्वाः ॥

Time, first and highest of existence, knows as it comprehends our course of life, and that course no one can avoid, escape, alter or alternate, and that same is the path by which our earlier forefathers went their way, and that is the path by which all who are born go their way, knowing according to their Dharma and choice. Honour that time with homage.

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10.14.3

मात॑ली क॒व्यैर्य॒मो अङ्गि॑रोभि॒र्बृह॒स्पति॒ॠक्व॑भिर्वावृधा॒नः । याँश्च॑ दे॒वा वा॑वृ॒धुर्ये च॑ दे॒वान्त्स्वाहा॒न्ये स्व॒धया॒न्ये म॑दन्ति ॥

Terrestrial fire and bodily heat grow by food and fuel, Yama, life time and life energy, grows by pranic energy, and Brhaspati, spirit and enlightenment, grows by Vedic words and divine joy. These capacities which divinities of earth and heaven and divine enlightenment augment, and the divinities of the environment on earth and above, which humans augment, grow mutually, the divinities by svaha oblations, and humans by svadha offerings of food, and thus they rejoice.

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10.14.4

इ॒मं य॑म प्रस्त॒रमा हि सीदाङ्गि॑रोभिः पि॒तृभिः॑ संविदा॒नः । आ त्वा॒ मन्त्राः॑ कविश॒स्ता व॑हन्त्वे॒ना रा॑जन्ह॒विषा॑ मादयस्व ॥

O Yama, happy life time of health and joy, come in union with nourishing and protective energies of nature and vest those energies in my yajnic body system. Let the thoughts and health mantras of the sages come with you here with exhilarating and inspiring poetic voices, and then, shining and ruling in the system within with all these gifts, rejoice and make me happy too.

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10.14.5

अङ्गि॑रोभि॒रा ग॑हि य॒ज्ञिये॑भि॒र्यम॑ वैरू॒पैरि॒ह मा॑दयस्व । विव॑स्वन्तं हुवे॒ यः पि॒ता ते॒ऽस्मिन्य॒ज्ञे ब॒र्हिष्या नि॒षद्य॑ ॥

O Yama, life time of health and age, come with pranic energies of nature of various and versatile sort worthy of union and assimilation according to time and seasons, be happy and rejoice with me. I invoke the refulgent Sun also, your generative father, and pray come and be seated in the holy heart core of this life yajna of mine for a full age of good health and joy. (Reference may be made to Atharva Veda 3, 8, 1: May the sun come with its rays joining and entering the earth and energising it according to the seasons. Rgveda 1, 71, 2 throws further light on the science of health and solar rays in relation to the earth and global atmosphere.)

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10.14.6

अङ्गि॑रसो नः पि॒तरो॒ नव॑ग्वा॒ अथ॑र्वाणो॒ भृग॑वः सो॒म्यासः॑ । तेषां॑ व॒यं सु॑म॒तौ य॒ज्ञिया॑ना॒मपि॑ भ॒द्रे सौ॑मन॒से स्या॑म ॥

May the pranic energies radiated by the sun in the seasons of summer, rains, autumn, early winter, peak of winter and spring be good for us for body, mind and spirit. Lovable, companionable and promotive they are, worthy of reverence. May they be agreeable to us and give us a healthy environment, pleasant, benevolent and exhilarating.

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10.14.7

प्रेहि॒ प्रेहि॑ प॒थिभिः॑ पू॒र्व्येभि॒र्यत्रा॑ नः॒ पूर्वे॑ पि॒तरः॑ परे॒युः । उ॒भा राजा॑ना स्व॒धया॒ मद॑न्ता य॒मं प॑श्यासि॒ वरु॑णं च दे॒वम् ॥

Go forward, O man, move on by the ancient paths of life universally carved for you, by which the forefathers too went forward to complete their course of life. Intelligent you are and you see both the divine sun and the divine night, the all comprehending time and the spirit of cosmic judgement, the solar region and the cosmic waters, divine, brilliant, ruling mighty in terms of their own powers and agreeable by your service to them and to the environment.

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10.14.8

सं ग॑च्छस्व पि॒तृभिः॒ सं य॒मेने॑ष्टापू॒र्तेन॑ पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् । हि॒त्वाया॑व॒द्यं पुन॒रस्त॒मेहि॒ सं ग॑च्छस्व त॒न्वा॑ सु॒वर्चाः॑ ॥

O soul, join with pitr pranic energies and go forward, join with another life time for future existence and go forward, join with your acts of obligation and dharmic choice and go forward to the highest spaces, having left this exhausted body, go to a new home, join with a vigorous bright body full of fresh life again. (This is the journey from one life time to another.)

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10.14.9

अपे॑त॒ वी॑त॒ वि च॑ सर्प॒तातो॒ऽस्मा ए॒तं पि॒तरो॑ लो॒कम॑क्रन् । अहो॑भिर॒द्भिर॒क्तुभि॒र्व्य॑क्तं य॒मो द॑दात्यव॒सान॑मस्मै ॥

Pitr pranic energies of solar radiation which have carried this soul, departed, gone away, carried around by sun rays, have prepared this new home for it, and Yama, cosmic order of time, with days, nights, dawns and liquid energies, has provided this another stage of its existential being.

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10.14.10

अति॑ द्रव सारमे॒यौ श्वानौ॑ चतुर॒क्षौ श॒बलौ॑ सा॒धुना॑ प॒था । अथा॑ पि॒तॄन्त्सु॑वि॒दत्राँ॒ उपे॑हि य॒मेन॒ ये स॑ध॒मादं॒ मद॑न्ति ॥

O soul, by paths of divine law and rectitude, go forward to a life of day-night cycle, each being of twelve hour duration of colourful beauty, both children of dynamic energy, alert and on the move, lighted by the sun and moon. Then enjoy the auspicious rays of the sun which always rejoice with the passage of time.

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10.14.11

यौ ते॒ श्वानौ॑ यम रक्षि॒तारौ॑ चतुर॒क्षौ प॑थि॒रक्षी॑ नृ॒चक्ष॑सौ । ताभ्या॑मेनं॒ परि॑ देहि राजन्त्स्व॒स्ति चा॑स्मा अनमी॒वं च॑ धेहि ॥

O time, those two day and night are your guardian sentinels of twelve hour duration each, all watching, protective companions of humanity on way. O ruling lord of light, to their care entrust this soul. Let there be peace and well being for it all round, bless it with good health and freedom from sin and ailment.

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10.14.12

उ॒रू॒ण॒साव॑सु॒तृपा॑ उदुम्ब॒लौ य॒मस्य॑ दू॒तौ च॑रतो॒ जनाँ॒ अनु॑ । ताव॒स्मभ्यं॑ दृ॒शये॒ सूर्या॑य॒ पुन॑र्दाता॒मसु॑म॒द्येह भ॒द्रम् ॥

Those two night and day are the most perceptive, abundant and alert, mighty strong and relentless watch- dogs of time immediately close ahead and on the heels of people. Let them now again give us happiness and well being full of bubbling energy so that we may see the light of the sun anew, giver of life and enlightenment.

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10.14.13

य॒माय॒ सोमं॑ सुनुत य॒माय॑ जुहुता ह॒विः । य॒मं ह॑ य॒ज्ञो ग॑च्छत्य॒ग्निदू॑तो॒ अरं॑कृतः ॥

Prepare the soma for Yama, lord of the light and life of cosmic order, offer the homage of soma oblations to Yama, the holy soma-yajna goes to Yama, with all its beauty and power conducted by the holy fire, divine messenger between the devoted yajakas and the sun.

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10.14.14

य॒माय॑ घृ॒तव॑द्ध॒विर्जु॒होत॒ प्र च॑ तिष्ठत । स नो॑ दे॒वेष्वा य॑मद्दी॒र्घमायुः॒ प्र जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Offer holy homage full of ghrta to Yama for harmony between your life and the cosmic order of time and nature, and abide in that mood and state of karma. And may the lord vest strength and efficiency in our body, senses and mind for a long life of good health.

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10.14.15

य॒माय॒ मधु॑मत्तमं॒ राज्ञे॑ ह॒व्यं जु॑होतन । इ॒दं नम॒ ऋषि॑भ्यः पूर्व॒जेभ्यः॒ पूर्वे॑भ्यः पथि॒कृद्भ्यः॑ ॥

Offer the sweetest and holiest honeyed oblations to Yama, Lord of time and refulgent sovereign of the cosmic order. This homage is in honour of the sagely seers, the forefathers, the ancients who carved the paths of life for us.

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10.14.16

त्रिक॑द्रुकेभिः पतति॒ षळु॒र्वीरेक॒मिद्बृ॒हत् । त्रि॒ष्टुब्गा॑य॒त्री छन्दां॑सि॒ सर्वा॒ ता य॒म आहि॑ता ॥

The great one, supreme, infinite, omnipotent, isOne, pervading the variety of existence by three dimensions of time, present, past and future, and by six seasons of the year, three lokas of space, earth, sky and the heavens, and six directions, rules alone. Trishtubh, Gayatri and all other Chhandas abide in the One Word, Aum. All these orders of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence abide in One, emerge from That and converge into That, Yama, Time.

✦ Sukta 15 · 14 verses ✦

10.15.1

उदी॑रता॒मव॑र॒ उत्परा॑स॒ उन्म॑ध्य॒माः पि॒तरः॑ सो॒म्यासः॑ । असुं॒ य ई॒युर॑वृ॒का ऋ॑त॒ज्ञास्ते नो॑ऽवन्तु पि॒तरो॒ हवे॑षु ॥

May the sun rays of the morning, mid-day and evening time which radiate and inspire vital soma energy into the things they touch rise in power and efficacy and promote the strength and joy of life. May the wise seniors of the average, high and middle order, harbingers of peace and joy, friendly, dynamic scholars and scientists of yajna who know the cosmic order and the laws of nature and living truths of life rise, inspire us with energy and enthusiasm for life, and may all these saviour and protective powers of nature and humanity strengthen us to defend and promote ourselves in internal and external challenges of life and the environment.

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10.15.2

इ॒दं पि॒तृभ्यो॒ नमो॑ अस्त्व॒द्य ये पूर्वा॑सो॒ य उप॑रास ई॒युः । ये पार्थि॑वे॒ रज॒स्या निष॑त्ता॒ ये वा॑ नू॒नं सु॑वृ॒जना॑सु वि॒क्षु ॥

Let this yajnic homage today be for the sun rays and pranic energies radiating from the east and west, for the energies which abide in the earthly sphere and in space and skies, and for the energy which vibrates in the living forms of nature anywhere and in humanity.

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10.15.3

आहं पि॒तॄन्त्सु॑वि॒दत्राँ॑ अवित्सि॒ नपा॑तं च वि॒क्रम॑णं च॒ विष्णोः॑ । ब॒र्हि॒षदो॒ ये स्व॒धया॑ सु॒तस्य॒ भज॑न्त पि॒त्वस्त इ॒हाग॑मिष्ठाः ॥

I know and join the holy, wise, generous and parental powers of humanity. I know the stable, radiative and expansive power and presence of yajna and its creative effects. O scholars and scientists of yajna who join the creative science here on the vedi with your inputs of knowledge and expertise, come and partake of the freshness and fragrance of fruits produced and given by yajna.

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10.15.4

बर्हि॑षदः पितर ऊ॒त्य१॒॑र्वागि॒मा वो॑ ह॒व्या च॑कृमा जु॒षध्व॑म् । त आ ग॒ताव॑सा॒ शंत॑मे॒नाथा॑ नः॒ शं योर॑र॒पो द॑धात ॥

O parental powers of humanity, scholars of the science of atmospheric and environmental management of the globe, for all round peace and protection of life here and hereafter, we have prepared these yajnic materials for you for homage which please accept and use with love and faith. O masters, come always with peaceful modes of universal protection, bear and bring us showers of peace and freedom from sin, violence and fear.

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10.15.5

उप॑हूताः पि॒तरः॑ सो॒म्यासो॑ बर्हि॒ष्ये॑षु नि॒धिषु॑ प्रि॒येषु॑ । त आ ग॑मन्तु॒ त इ॒ह श्रु॑व॒न्त्वधि॑ ब्रुवन्तु॒ ते॑ऽवन्त्व॒स्मान् ॥

Senior venerable sages eminent in the science of soma and yajnic production of the dearest valuable wealth forms for peace and progress, invoked and invited with reverence, pray, come here to the yajna, listen to our ideas and words, speak, consider and discuss, and protect and promote us with knowledge.

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10.15.6

आच्या॒ जानु॑ दक्षिण॒तो नि॒षद्ये॒मं य॒ज्ञम॒भि गृ॑णीत॒ विश्वे॑ । मा हिं॑सिष्ट पितरः॒ केन॑ चिन्नो॒ यद्व॒ आगः॑ पुरु॒षता॒ करा॑म ॥

O saviour sages of the world, with knees bent in honour of the vedi, please sit on our right, accept and accomplish the yajna with specific words, and if we happen to transgress some manners or ritual, or are impertinent to you because, after all, we are human, pray be kind and do not in any way hurt or punish us.

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10.15.7

आसी॑नासो अरु॒णीना॑मु॒पस्थे॑ र॒यिं ध॑त्त दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य । पु॒त्रेभ्यः॑ पितर॒स्तस्य॒ वस्वः॒ प्र य॑च्छत॒ त इ॒होर्जं॑ दधात ॥

The radiations of sun rays in the lights of the dawn bear wealth and energy for the man of charity, and wealth and comfort for his children too. May the sages seated on the vedi realise and bring that wealth and energy for us and our future generations.

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10.15.8

ये नः॒ पूर्वे॑ पि॒तरः॑ सो॒म्यासो॑ऽनूहि॒रे सो॑मपी॒थं वसि॑ष्ठाः । तेभि॑र्य॒मः सं॑ररा॒णो ह॒वींष्यु॒शन्नु॒शद्भिः॑ प्रतिका॒मम॑त्तु ॥

Those eastern lights of the dawn which awaken and inspire us bear pranic energies radiant and replete with life energy of the sun, treasure source of living soma. May the sun shining and rejoicing with those very bright rays accept and revitalise our oblations offered into the holy fire at dawn.

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10.15.9

ये ता॑तृ॒षुर्दे॑व॒त्रा जेह॑माना होत्रा॒विदः॒ स्तोम॑तष्टासो अ॒र्कैः । आग्ने॑ याहि सुवि॒दत्रे॑भिर॒र्वाङ्स॒त्यैः क॒व्यैः पि॒तृभि॑र्घर्म॒सद्भिः॑ ॥

Those bright rays of the dawn, divine, sharp and inspiring, invigorating, which come to earth thirsting for holy food and water, with those very rays, generous, truly divine, poetically sublime and soul satisfying, conveying pranic energies with morning, mid-day and evening warmth and heat of the day, O yajna fire, come and bless our yajna for the gift of rain.

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10.15.10

ये स॒त्यासो॑ हवि॒रदो॑ हवि॒ष्पा इन्द्रे॑ण दे॒वैः स॒रथं॒ दधा॑नाः । आग्ने॑ याहि स॒हस्रं॑ देवव॒न्दैः परैः॒ पूर्वैः॑ पि॒तृभि॑र्घर्म॒सद्भिः॑ ॥

O yajnic fire, arise and come with those true and pervasive, oblation consuming, water promoting, electric energy borne eastern and western sun rays along with divine forces of nature which are laden with pranic energies of a thousand mind and sense inspiring sanatives pervasive in the light of the sun from dawn to dusk.

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10.15.11

अग्नि॑ष्वात्ताः पितर॒ एह ग॑च्छत॒ सदः॑सदः सदत सुप्रणीतयः । अ॒त्ता ह॒वींषि॒ प्रय॑तानि ब॒र्हिष्यथा॑ र॒यिं सर्व॑वीरं दधातन ॥

O senior sages and scientists of solar energy and yajnic production committed to policies of positive and creative technology, come here, take your positions assigned and reserved in the programme, accept the homage and yajnic materials offered and, by the conduct of yajna, bless us with wealth, power and honour worthy of brave humanity for generations

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10.15.12

त्वम॑ग्न ईळि॒तो जा॑तवे॒दोऽवा॑ड्ढ॒व्यानि॑ सुर॒भीणि॑ कृ॒त्वी । प्रादाः॑ पि॒तृभ्यः॑ स्व॒धया॒ ते अ॑क्षन्न॒द्धि त्वं दे॑व॒ प्रय॑ता ह॒वींषि॑ ॥

O divine fire present in everything born, lighted, raised and developed to flaming power, you catalyse refine and energise the holy materials to tremendous power and fragrance. O brilliant divinity, consume the materials offered, feed them to the sun rays, and may they too further refine, energise and spread them all around in space for creative purposes of nature for life on earth.

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10.15.13

ये चे॒ह पि॒तरो॒ ये च॒ नेह याँश्च॑ वि॒द्म याँ उ॑ च॒ न प्र॑वि॒द्म । त्वं वे॑त्थ॒ यति॒ ते जा॑तवेदः स्व॒धाभि॑र्य॒ज्ञं सुकृ॑तं जुषस्व ॥

O Jataveda, all pervasive all knowing Agni, those sun rays which are here, those which are not here, those which we know of and those which we do not know of, you know them all and, as far as you pervade and know, pray accept our oblations of yajna with pleasure, make them good, and turn them to universal power and goodness by radiant rays of the sun for the benefit of all humanity and all life on earth.

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10.15.14

ये अ॑ग्निद॒ग्धा ये अन॑ग्निदग्धा॒ मध्ये॑ दि॒वः स्व॒धया॑ मा॒दय॑न्ते । तेभिः॑ स्व॒राळसु॑नीतिमे॒तां य॑थाव॒शं त॒न्वं॑ कल्पयस्व ॥

Those rays of the sun which carry the heat of fire, in summer, and those which do not carry the heat of fire, in winter, all these which radiate in the spaces between the solar region and the earth and bring joy to people by showers of rain, by all these, O self-refulgent Agni, strengthen to the utmost, energise and refine this body which is the seat of life energy.

✦ Sukta 16 · 14 verses ✦

10.16.1

मैन॑मग्ने॒ वि द॑हो॒ माभि शो॑चो॒ मास्य॒ त्वचं॑ चिक्षिपो॒ मा शरी॑रम् । य॒दा शृ॒तं कृ॒णवो॑ जातवे॒दोऽथे॑मेनं॒ प्र हि॑णुतात्पि॒तृभ्यः॑ ॥

Agni, do not burn it off wholly, do not consume it entirely, do not cast away its form, do not cast away its body entirely. When its gross body is reduced to ash, then, O Jataveda, all pervasive, all knowing Agni, deliver it to the sun rays.

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10.16.2

शृ॒तं य॒दा कर॑सि जातवे॒दोऽथे॑मेनं॒ परि॑ दत्तात्पि॒तृभ्यः॑ । य॒दा गच्छा॒त्यसु॑नीतिमे॒तामथा॑ दे॒वानां॑ वश॒नीर्भ॑वाति ॥

O Jataveda, when you have reduced its gross body to ash and delivered it to the sun rays, when it comes to the process of transmigration to higher constituent elements, then it is subjected to the laws of other divinities.

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10.16.3

सूर्यं॒ चक्षु॑र्गच्छतु॒ वात॑मा॒त्मा द्यां च॑ गच्छ पृथि॒वीं च॒ धर्म॑णा । अ॒पो वा॑ गच्छ॒ यदि॒ तत्र॑ ते हि॒तमोष॑धीषु॒ प्रति॑ तिष्ठा॒ शरी॑रैः ॥

Let the eye go the sun. Let the soul go to the wind or to the region of light or to the earth in consequence of its dharmic performance, or, if such be its interest and desire, let it go to the water or reach in herbs and trees there to stay in mere body form.

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10.16.4

अ॒जो भा॒गस्तप॑सा॒ तं त॑पस्व॒ तं ते॑ शो॒चिस्त॑पतु॒ तं ते॑ अ॒र्चिः । यास्ते॑ शि॒वास्त॒न्वो॑ जातवेद॒स्ताभि॑र्वहैनं सु॒कृता॑मु लो॒कम् ॥

O Jataveda, that part of human personality which is unborn and eternal is the soul, purify and season it to its original purity by the heat of your divine discipline. May your light and fire purify and shine it to its purity and lustre beyond the dross. And by those divine natural potentials of yours which are holy and blissful, pray carry this soul to noble body forms in blessed regions of life.

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10.16.5

अव॑ सृज॒ पुन॑रग्ने पि॒तृभ्यो॒ यस्त॒ आहु॑त॒श्चर॑ति स्व॒धाभिः॑ । आयु॒र्वसा॑न॒ उप॑ वेतु॒ शेषः॒ सं ग॑च्छतां त॒न्वा॑ जातवेदः ॥

OAgni, Jataveda, form and shape out once again from material elements and energy what, having been offered to you in the fire, roams around vested with its own potentials. The soul that remained alive after giving up its material vestments in the fire may, we pray, assume a life time of earthly existence and go about with the body once again doing its karmic business as earlier.

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10.16.6

यत्ते॑ कृ॒ष्णः श॑कु॒न आ॑तु॒तोद॑ पिपी॒लः स॒र्प उ॒त वा॒ श्वाप॑दः । अ॒ग्निष्टद्वि॒श्वाद॑ग॒दं कृ॑णोतु॒ सोम॑श्च॒ यो ब्रा॑ह्म॒णाँ आ॑वि॒वेश॑ ॥

O soul, in the course of life, whatever fear, harm or injury darkness, dark ones, birds, beasts, insects or reptiles may do to your body, may Agni and Soma and Soma science known to experts heal that and restore you back to good health.

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10.16.7

अ॒ग्नेर्वर्म॒ परि॒ गोभि॑र्व्ययस्व॒ सं प्रोर्णु॑ष्व॒ पीव॑सा॒ मेद॑सा च । नेत्त्वा॑ धृ॒ष्णुर्हर॑सा॒ जर्हृ॑षाणो द॒धृग्वि॑ध॒क्ष्यन्प॑र्य॒ङ्खया॑ते ॥

O soul, from fire itself, from the flames themselves, get another body form anew and cover it with flesh and marrow, and let not this fire, bold and crackling with blaze of power, embrace you and burnt you out.

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10.16.8

इ॒मम॑ग्ने चम॒सं मा वि जि॑ह्वरः प्रि॒यो दे॒वाना॑मु॒त सो॒म्याना॑म् । ए॒ष यश्च॑म॒सो दे॑व॒पान॒स्तस्मि॑न्दे॒वा अ॒मृता॑ मादयन्ते ॥

O Agni, do not disturb and dislodge this new body form which is a darling of the divines and the sun rays of light and bliss, this body in which the immortal divinities rejoice and find their fulfilment with yajnic food and drink.

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10.16.9

क्र॒व्याद॑म॒ग्निं प्र हि॑णोमि दू॒रं य॒मरा॑ज्ञो गच्छतु रिप्रवा॒हः । इ॒हैवायमित॑रो जा॒तवे॑दा दे॒वेभ्यो॑ ह॒व्यं व॑हतु प्रजा॒नन् ॥

I set in motion the fire which consumes the corpse, and may it, carrier of the material body, go up with it and reach the regions of life consuming spirit of Time. And here itself the other fire, Jataveda, all pervasive fire of life, all aware, may bring in the food for life for the sustenance and satisfaction of the divinities.

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10.16.10

यो अ॒ग्निः क्र॒व्यात्प्र॑वि॒वेश॑ वो गृ॒हमि॒मं पश्य॒न्नित॑रं जा॒तवे॑दसम् । तं ह॑रामि पितृय॒ज्ञाय॑ दे॒वं स घ॒र्ममि॑न्वात्पर॒मे स॒धस्थे॑ ॥

The fire that turns away from the corpse consuming fire enters your homes and, watching this other all pervasive fire, I give up that and take to this brilliant fire for honour to ancestors and the environment. May it carry our yajna to the sun in the highest heaven.

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10.16.11

यो अ॒ग्निः क्र॑व्य॒वाह॑नः पि॒तॄन्यक्ष॑दृता॒वृधः॑ । प्रेदु॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ वोचति दे॒वेभ्य॑श्च पि॒तृभ्य॒ आ ॥

The fire, participant of natural law, which carries the elements of the corpse to nature, pervades in senior humanity and vibrates in natural energies too. The same fire carries the yajnic homage and proclaims the gifts for the ancestors, for the divines and for nature.

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10.16.12

उ॒शन्त॑स्त्वा॒ नि धी॑मह्यु॒शन्तः॒ समि॑धीमहि । उ॒शन्नु॑श॒त आ व॑ह पि॒तॄन्ह॒विषे॒ अत्त॑वे ॥

With love and passion we hold you at heart for thought and reflection. With love and faith we light you together and celebrate. You too with love and longing come and bring our loving seniors and blissful energies to receive our offerings and universally disperse them.

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10.16.13

यं त्वम॑ग्ने स॒मद॑ह॒स्तमु॒ निर्वा॑पया॒ पुनः॑ । कि॒याम्ब्वत्र॑ रोहतु पाकदू॒र्वा व्य॑ल्कशा ॥

O fire, leave the place, extinguish the heat, let it cool where you scorched and burnt it, and let it be fresh with the growth of watery plants, luxuriant grass and leafy herbs.

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10.16.14

शीति॑के॒ शीति॑कावति॒ ह्लादि॑के॒ ह्लादि॑कावति । म॒ण्डू॒क्या॒३॒॑ सु सं ग॑म इ॒मं स्व१॒॑ग्निं ह॑र्षय ॥

O cool grass, O refreshing land, growing with luxuriant grass, O delightful spot covered with delightful flowers, rejoice with beauty and grace, let this place of holy fire be renewed, joyous and gracious.

✦ Sukta 17 · 14 verses ✦

10.17.1

त्वष्टा॑ दुहि॒त्रे व॑ह॒तुं कृ॑णो॒तीती॒दं विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं॒ समे॑ति । य॒मस्य॑ मा॒ता प॑र्यु॒ह्यमा॑ना म॒हो जा॒या विव॑स्वतो ननाश ॥

Tvashta, cosmic maker of forms of existence, for the fulfilment of the creative urge of nature, Prakrti, initiates the process of evolution and the entire universe comes into being in cosmic time. While Prakrti, consort of the self-refulgent creator Savita (Tvashta Being its forming faculty) and mother origin of the order of evolution, is fertilised and moved on to its generative function, it disappears, that is, it converts from its original and intangible essence into the tangible creative form and power in existence.

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10.17.2

अपा॑गूहन्न॒मृतां॒ मर्त्ये॑भ्यः कृ॒त्वी सव॑र्णामददु॒र्विव॑स्वते । उ॒ताश्विना॑वभर॒द्यत्तदासी॒दज॑हादु॒ द्वा मि॑थु॒ना स॑र॒ण्यूः ॥

Transforming the original immortal constant Prakrti in favour of mutable mortal forms of existence, the evolutionary power of divinity, creative and dynamic Prakrti, offers this form of itself to self-refulgent creator and master, and then in that dynamic state as it is then, it bears a twin pair of evolved existence, the Ashvins, positive-negative complementarities of the evolutionary circuit of nature’s dynamics, and produces procreative couples such as Agni and Soma, energy and matter, prana and rayi, male and female, presence and absence (as the two may be described from different points of view).

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10.17.3

पू॒षा त्वे॒तश्च्या॑वयतु॒ प्र वि॒द्वानन॑ष्टपशु॒र्भुव॑नस्य गो॒पाः । स त्वै॒तेभ्यः॒ परि॑ ददत्पि॒तृभ्यो॒ऽग्निर्दे॒वेभ्यः॑ सुविद॒त्रिये॑भ्यः ॥

O man, may Pusha, lord of life and nourishment, omniscient sustainer and pervasive protector of the world, whose light and life of forms never goes out of existence, inspire you and lead you on the right path from here. May he, leading lord self-refulgent Agni, dedicate you to noble parents and brilliant generous teachers.

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10.17.4

आयु॑र्वि॒श्वायुः॒ परि॑ पासति त्वा पू॒षा त्वा॑ पातु॒ प्रप॑थे पु॒रस्ता॑त् । यत्रास॑ते सु॒कृतो॒ यत्र॒ ते य॒युस्तत्र॑ त्वा दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता द॑धातु ॥

Pusha, life of the world and giver of life and nourishment, may protect you all round and inspire and promote you on the path forward, and may Savita, self- refulgent lord of light and vision, guide you where men of noble action reach, and stabilise you where they abide.

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10.17.5

पू॒षेमा आशा॒ अनु॑ वेद॒ सर्वाः॒ सो अ॒स्माँ अभ॑यतमेन नेषत् । स्व॒स्ति॒दा आघृ॑णिः॒ सर्व॑वी॒रोऽप्र॑युच्छन्पु॒र ए॑तु प्रजा॒नन् ॥

Pusha knows all these paths and directions of life and he fulfils all our hopes and ambitions too. May he lead us on the most fearless path of progress. May he, giver of all round good and well being, refulgent and vigilant, all mighty, all knowing, be our pioneer and path maker without neglect or relent.

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10.17.6

प्रप॑थे प॒थाम॑जनिष्ट पू॒षा प्रप॑थे दि॒वः प्रप॑थे पृथि॒व्याः । उ॒भे अ॒भि प्रि॒यत॑मे स॒धस्थे॒ आ च॒ परा॑ च चरति प्रजा॒नन् ॥

Pusha inspires, strengthens and guides humanity to know and follow the best paths of life and reach the goal, the paths to heaven and the paths over earth. He pervades the dearest paths of progress here and the paths to freedom there and, all knowing and emerging in consciousness, guides us here and beyond.

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10.17.7

सर॑स्वतीं देव॒यन्तो॑ हवन्ते॒ सर॑स्वतीमध्व॒रे ता॒यमा॑ने । सर॑स्वतीं सु॒कृतो॑ अह्वयन्त॒ सर॑स्वती दा॒शुषे॒ वार्यं॑ दात् ॥

Aspirants to knowledge and the light of divinity invoke Sarasvati, voice of divinity, they offer homage of faith and devotion in psychic and spiritual yajna which expands their intelligence and vision. Men of noble action invoke Sarasvati, ever flowing Spirit of Knowledge, for strength of will and direction. May Sarasvati grant cherished gifts of knowledge, will and vision to the generous yajakas.

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10.17.8

सर॑स्वति॒ या स॒रथं॑ य॒याथ॑ स्व॒धाभि॑र्देवि पि॒तृभि॒र्मद॑न्ती । आ॒सद्या॒स्मिन्ब॒र्हिषि॑ मादयस्वानमी॒वा इष॒ आ धे॑ह्य॒स्मे ॥

O divine Sarasvati, cosmic voice of

divinity, who radiate and expand on the rays of light and rejoice with homage of faith and devotion and the inner vibrations of mind and soul, pray come, abide in this inner seat of mind and consciousness, bless us with divine joy and bring us food and energy free from sin and pollution for the enlightenment of mind and soul.

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10.17.9

सर॑स्वतीं॒ यां पि॒तरो॒ हव॑न्ते दक्षि॒णा य॒ज्ञम॑भि॒नक्ष॑माणाः । स॒ह॒स्रा॒र्घमि॒ळो अत्र॑ भा॒गं रा॒यस्पोषं॒ यज॑मानेषु धेहि ॥

O divine Sarasvati, whom venerable sages dedicated to meditative yajna in mind and soul invoke and serve in right earnest, we pray, bless the yajamanas with their share here of food and nourishment, wealth, honour and excellence, and the vision and voice of divinity loved and sought for by thousands of seekers.

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10.17.10

आपो॑ अ॒स्मान्मा॒तरः॑ शुन्धयन्तु घृ॒तेन॑ नो घृत॒प्वः॑ पुनन्तु । विश्वं॒ हि रि॒प्रं प्र॒वह॑न्ति दे॒वीरुदिदा॑भ्यः॒ शुचि॒रा पू॒त ए॑मि ॥

May the fluid and vibrant currents of cosmic energy, original mother source of nature’s dynamics of evolution, which, divine and inviolable, soaked in goodness and grace, wash away the entire sin, evil and pollution of life, purify and sanctify us with sweetness and beauty of manners and culture. Thus purified and sanctified, I rise and go on in life.

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10.17.11

द्र॒प्सश्च॑स्कन्द प्रथ॒माँ अनु॒ द्यूनि॒मं च॒ योनि॒मनु॒ यश्च॒ पूर्वः॑ । स॒मा॒नं योनि॒मनु॑ सं॒चर॑न्तं द्र॒प्सं जु॑हो॒म्यनु॑ स॒प्त होत्राः॑ ॥

The elixir of life showers on the earliest refulgent worlds by the dawn of days, on this world and this life also as did ever before. The same elixir of life, the same radiant sun, the same soma element of divine nature, vibrant in this world and this life, I invoke and celebrate with all my seven faculties in honour of the spectrum of its beauty and divinity.

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10.17.12

यस्ते॑ द्र॒प्सः स्कन्द॑ति॒ यस्ते॑ अं॒शुर्बा॒हुच्यु॑तो धि॒षणा॑या उ॒पस्था॑त् । अ॒ध्व॒र्योर्वा॒ परि॑ वा॒ यः प॒वित्रा॒त्तं ते॑ जुहोमि॒ मन॑सा॒ वष॑ट्कृतम् ॥

O Savita, lord giver of life and light of the world, the soma nectar of life that showers ever from divinity, that vigour and inspiration which is released from your hands and from the loving heart of exuberant Mother Nature filtered through her pure sattvic elements in the cosmic yajna, that nectar received at heart in the soul, I offer in homage with prayer.

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10.17.13

यस्ते॑ द्र॒प्सः स्क॒न्नो यस्ते॑ अं॒शुर॒वश्च॒ यः प॒रः स्रु॒चा । अ॒यं दे॒वो बृह॒स्पतिः॒ सं तं सि॑ञ्चतु॒ राध॑से ॥

O Soma, lord of life, giver of light and bliss, your nectar of divinity that vibrates every where, the radiations of light and spiritual awareness expansive here in existence and existent there in absolute time and space, that very nectar of life and light of existence, may Brhaspati, this generous spirit of infinite knowledge and speech, shower upon us by the Word and vibrations of divinity for our fulfilment of life here and hereafter.

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10.17.14

पय॑स्वती॒रोष॑धयः॒ पय॑स्वन्माम॒कं वचः॑ । अ॒पां पय॑स्व॒दित्पय॒स्तेन॑ मा स॒ह शु॑न्धत ॥

May the oshadhis, herbs and trees, which receive the sap and sweetness of their sustenance from sun light and moon rays, be full of exuberant Soma nectar of life. May this fluent song and speech of mine be full of love and sweetness of life’s joy. May this inspiring essence of the liquid flow of natural energies be full of universal nectar, and may all these with that nectar energise, purify and sanctify me.

✦ Sukta 18 · 13 verses ✦

10.18.1

परं॑ मृत्यो॒ अनु॒ परे॑हि॒ पन्थां॒ यस्ते॒ स्व इत॑रो देव॒याना॑त् । चक्षु॑ष्मते शृण्व॒ते ते॑ ब्रवीमि॒ मा नः॑ प्र॒जां री॑रिषो॒ मोत वी॒रान् ॥

O Death, go off to that other path that’s yours, of mutability other than the path of divinity. You have eyes to see and ears to hear, and to you I say: Do not hurt our people, do not destroy our brave.

· · ·

10.18.2

मृ॒त्योः प॒दं यो॒पय॑न्तो॒ यदैत॒ द्राघी॑य॒ आयुः॑ प्रत॒रं दधा॑नाः । आ॒प्याय॑मानाः प्र॒जया॒ धने॑न शु॒द्धाः पू॒ता भ॑वत यज्ञियासः ॥

O travellers on the path of divinity, dedicated performers of yajna, as you go forward effacing the onset of death and living a long life of high order of happiness and virtue, may you be blest with wealth and noble progeny, may you be pure and sanctified at heart and in the soul.

· · ·

10.18.3

इ॒मे जी॒वा वि मृ॒तैराव॑वृत्र॒न्नभू॑द्भ॒द्रा दे॒वहू॑तिर्नो अ॒द्य । प्राञ्चो॑ अगाम नृ॒तये॒ हसा॑य॒ द्राघी॑य॒ आयुः॑ प्रत॒रं दधा॑नाः ॥

May these living people, (we all), be free from the shades of death in life. May our dedication and service to divinity be auspicious and fruitful today. May we go forward living a long life of high order of virtue full of the joy of song and dance and laughter.

· · ·

10.18.4

इ॒मं जी॒वेभ्यः॑ परि॒धिं द॑धामि॒ मैषां॒ नु गा॒दप॑रो॒ अर्थ॑मे॒तम् । श॒तं जी॑वन्तु श॒रदः॑ पुरू॒चीर॒न्तर्मृ॒त्युं द॑धतां॒ पर्व॑तेन ॥

I set this border line of order for these people. May none of these trespass this into the other territory of death. May they live a long age of full hundred years, bearing though the fact of death within with adamantine walls of resistance by the discipline of health.

· · ·

10.18.5

यथाहा॑न्यनुपू॒र्वं भव॑न्ति॒ यथ॑ ऋ॒तव॑ ऋ॒तुभि॒र्यन्ति॑ सा॒धु । यथा॒ न पूर्व॒मप॑रो॒ जहा॑त्ये॒वा धा॑त॒रायूं॑षि कल्पयैषाम् ॥

Just as days follow in succession, the latter following the former and the former living on in the latter, just as seasons go on by order of the seasons of the year, just as the successor does not and cannot forsake the predecessor, so in the same order, O lord ordainer and sustainer of humanity, order and sustain the life line of these people.

· · ·

10.18.6

आ रो॑ह॒तायु॑र्ज॒रसं॑ वृणा॒ना अ॑नुपू॒र्वं यत॑माना॒ यति॒ ष्ठ । इ॒ह त्वष्टा॑ सु॒जनि॑मा स॒जोषा॑ दी॒र्घमायुः॑ करति जी॒वसे॑ वः ॥

Go forward high on course of life choosing a full age unto completion and fulfilment in the order of succession and renewal from former to latter, living in discipline actively, all of you, as many as you are. Nobly born here in life, living together in piety with love and devotion as you are, Tvashta, the cosmic maker, ordains a full life of long years for you to live in joy.

· · ·

10.18.7

इ॒मा नारी॑रविध॒वाः सु॒पत्नी॒राञ्ज॑नेन स॒र्पिषा॒ सं वि॑शन्तु । अ॒न॒श्रवो॑ऽनमी॒वाः सु॒रत्ना॒ आ रो॑हन्तं॒ जन॑यो॒ योनि॒मग्रे॑ ॥

Let these women, noble wives living with their husbands, enter and live in their homes, and let them, decked with jewels with beauty aids, creams and unguents, free from sorrow and ill health and blest with noble children, move forward high in life.

· · ·

10.18.9

धनु॒र्हस्ता॑दा॒ददा॑नो मृ॒तस्या॒स्मे क्ष॒त्राय॒ वर्च॑से॒ बला॑य । अत्रै॒व त्वमि॒ह व॒यं सु॒वीरा॒ विश्वाः॒ स्पृधो॑ अ॒भिमा॑तीर्जयेम ॥

Taking the arms from the hand of the dead warrior for the sake of our social order and its strength and glory, here itself and now, you and we all blest with brave heroes shall overcome all our rivals and enemies of the world.

· · ·

10.18.10

उप॑ सर्प मा॒तरं॒ भूमि॑मे॒तामु॑रु॒व्यच॑सं पृथि॒वीं सु॒शेवा॑म् । ऊर्ण॑म्रदा युव॒तिर्दक्षि॑णावत ए॒षा त्वा॑ पातु॒ निॠ॑तेरु॒पस्था॑त् ॥

O man, go to this land, this motherly earth wide and expansive, kind and gracious. Soft, generous and youthful for the man of generosity and yajnic dedication, she would protect you from the clutches of adversity and premature death and promote you with prosperity.

· · ·

10.18.11

उच्छ्व॑ञ्चस्व पृथिवि॒ मा नि बा॑धथाः सूपाय॒नास्मै॑ भव सूपवञ्च॒ना । मा॒ता पु॒त्रं यथा॑ सि॒चाभ्ये॑नं भूम ऊर्णुहि ॥

O mother earth, receive this soul with elation, stop it not, hurt it not. Be a nursing mother for this child, be soft and caressing with love and affection. Just as mother covers the child with the hem of her sari, so, O mother earth, cover, caress and protect it to maturity.

· · ·

10.18.12

उ॒च्छ्वञ्च॑माना पृथि॒वी सु ति॑ष्ठतु स॒हस्रं॒ मित॒ उप॒ हि श्रय॑न्ताम् । ते गृ॒हासो॑ घृत॒श्चुतो॑ भवन्तु वि॒श्वाहा॑स्मै शर॒णाः स॒न्त्वत्र॑ ॥

May the earth stay abundant, generous and prosperous, giving life sustenance and shelter to uncountable souls which may live in here with peace and joy. O mother, may your homes be full of love and abound in food and delicacies, and may they always provide peace, pleasure and comfort for humanity.

· · ·

10.18.13

उत्ते॑ स्तभ्नामि पृथि॒वीं त्वत्परी॒मं लो॒गं नि॒दध॒न्मो अ॒हं रि॑षम् । ए॒तां स्थूणां॑ पि॒तरो॑ धारयन्तु॒ तेऽत्रा॑ य॒मः साद॑ना ते मिनोतु ॥

O man, for you I sustain this earth up in space, for you I place this global atmosphere around, and this I would not hurt or dislodge. This well pillared, well sustained planet of clay the rays of the sun would sustain, and the sun would sustain and vitalise the homes of life.

· · ·

10.18.14

प्र॒ती॒चीने॒ मामह॒नीष्वाः॑ प॒र्णमि॒वा द॑धुः । प्र॒तीची॑ध जग्रभा॒ वाच॒मश्वं॑ रश॒नया॑ यथा ॥

In the days ahead, as the archers fix feathers on the arrow to hit the target, so may I concentrate my attention with the arrow-like chant of Aum to reach the target of Divinity and, like a horse controlled by bridle reins, direct my voice of prayer in focus on the deity.

✦ Sukta 19 · 8 verses ✦

10.19.1

नि व॑र्तध्वं॒ मानु॑ गाता॒स्मान्त्सि॑षक्त रेवतीः । अग्नी॑षोमा पुनर्वसू अ॒स्मे धा॑रयतं र॒यिम् ॥

O cows, fluent energies, flowing waters and radiant rays of light, O dynamic people, all treasure holds of wealth, go round and come, go not elsewhere, come bearing wealth of life. Bring us showers of abundant food and energy. Agni and Soma, fire and water energy, Punarvasu, wealth in circulation, bring in wealth for us from all round.

· · ·

10.19.2

पुन॑रेना॒ नि व॑र्तय॒ पुन॑रेना॒ न्या कु॑रु । इन्द्र॑ एणा॒ नि य॑च्छत्व॒ग्निरे॑ना उ॒पाज॑तु ॥

O ruler, keep the dynamics in motion and circulation, control them back and forth. Let Indra, the controller, keep them in controlled circulation. LetAgni, the enlightened, keep them in radiation, watch them and keep them in ordered motion.

· · ·

10.19.3

पुन॑रे॒ता नि व॑र्तन्ताम॒स्मिन्पु॑ष्यन्तु॒ गोप॑तौ । इ॒हैवाग्ने॒ नि धा॑रये॒ह ति॑ष्ठतु॒ या र॒यिः ॥

Let these dynamic forces in circulation come back again, grow and rise in this social system governed by the ruling power. Here itself, O Agni, keep their reins on hold, and let the wealth centre here in the soul of the system.

· · ·

10.19.4

यन्नि॒यानं॒ न्यय॑नं सं॒ज्ञानं॒ यत्प॒राय॑णम् । आ॒वर्त॑नं नि॒वर्त॑नं॒ यो गो॒पा अपि॒ तं हु॑वे ॥

Of the people in the society, of the dynamics of wealth in the socio-political system, of the fluctuations of mind and sense in the individual personality, the movement outward, movement inward, conscious balance and equilibrium, the expense out again, withdrawal, release and hold, I watch, and I invoke and call up whoever is the keeper, ruler and master.

· · ·

10.19.5

य उ॒दान॒ड्व्यय॑नं॒ य उ॒दान॑ट् प॒राय॑णम् । आ॒वर्त॑नं नि॒वर्त॑न॒मपि॑ गो॒पा नि व॑र्तताम् ॥

Whatever the expense out, whatever the investment out, revolvement of wealth, energy and assets, whatever the total state of economy in action,let the managing powers constantly watch and control.

· · ·

10.19.6

आ नि॑वर्त॒ नि व॑र्तय॒ पुन॑र्न इन्द्र॒ गा दे॑हि । जी॒वाभि॑र्भुनजामहै ॥

Indra, ruler and controller of life and the world, come, come constantly, keep life constantly in motion, give us the wealth and energy of life again and again. Pray let us enjoy life with living wealth, bubbling energy and creative ambition.

· · ·

10.19.7

परि॑ वो वि॒श्वतो॑ दध ऊ॒र्जा घृ॒तेन॒ पय॑सा । ये दे॒वाः के च॑ य॒ज्ञिया॒स्ते र॒य्या सं सृ॑जन्तु नः ॥

I hold, maintain and sustain you all round with energy, water, milk, ghrta and the delicacies of manners and graces of culture. May those who are divines worthy of yajnic service and association refresh, rejuvenate and advance us with wealth, honour and excellence.

· · ·

10.19.8

आ नि॑वर्तन वर्तय॒ नि नि॑वर्तन वर्तय । भूम्या॒श्चत॑स्रः प्र॒दिश॒स्ताभ्य॑ एना॒ नि व॑र्तय ॥

O constant, vibrant, ever present lord, turn to us. O lord ever vigilant, inspire us to turn to you. Four are the directions of the earth. From all these, let thewealth of the world, the energies of nature, the fluctuations of our mind and senses turn to us, revolve, concentrate and vibrate there and here.

✦ Sukta 20 · 10 verses ✦

10.20.1

भ॒द्रं नो॒ अपि॑ वातय॒ मनः॑ ॥

O Agni, lord of light, inspire and enlighten our mind to turn to divinity and concentrate there.

· · ·

10.20.2

अ॒ग्निमी॑ळे भु॒जां यवि॑ष्ठं शा॒सा मि॒त्रं दु॒र्धरी॑तुम् । यस्य॒ धर्म॒न्त्स्व१॒॑रेनीः॑ सप॒र्यन्ति॑ मा॒तुरूधः॑ ॥

I invoke, celebrate and worship Agni, ever most youthful and powerful of the divine givers of life’s joys, friend, irresistible in law and justice, in whose order and Dharma all earthly people and divine forces of light serve, live and enjoy life as on the mother’s breast.

· · ·

10.20.3

यमा॒सा कृ॒पनी॑ळं भा॒साके॑तुं व॒र्धय॑न्ति । भ्राज॑ते॒ श्रेणि॑दन् ॥

Agni, refulgent giver of light and sustenance, profound abode of love, power and kindness, source of light and knowledge, whom people exalt with prayer and adoration shines in glory.

· · ·

10.20.4

अ॒र्यो वि॒शां गा॒तुरे॑ति॒ प्र यदान॑ड्दि॒वो अन्ता॑न् । क॒विर॒भ्रं दीद्या॑नः ॥

Master and ruler of the people, mainstay of life like the earth, Agni pervades and vibrates upto the bounds of heaven. Omniscient poet and universal visionary, he gives the light of lightning to thunder and the clouds of rain.

· · ·

10.20.5

जु॒षद्ध॒व्या मानु॑षस्यो॒र्ध्वस्त॑स्था॒वृभ्वा॑ य॒ज्ञे । मि॒न्वन्त्सद्म॑ पु॒र ए॑ति ॥

Accepting with love the homage of humanity, Agni abides in yajna and shines high by flames of fire and, transcending the hall of yajna, goes on vibrating across the spaces.

· · ·

10.20.6

स हि क्षेमो॑ ह॒विर्य॒ज्ञः श्रु॒ष्टीद॑स्य गा॒तुरे॑ति । अ॒ग्निं दे॒वा वाशी॑मन्तम् ॥

Agni is the source of peace and well being, receiver of yajnic homage, adorable in yajna. Unimpeded is his course, instant his motion, infinite the ways he goes by and ultimate his light and voice to which the divines reach for bliss.

· · ·

10.20.7

य॒ज्ञा॒साहं॒ दुव॑ इषे॒ऽग्निं पूर्व॑स्य॒ शेव॑स्य । अद्रेः॑ सू॒नुमा॒युमा॑हुः ॥

I love and adore Agni, the refulgent power that conducts the spiritual and social yajna of the highest order. A celebrity worthy of worship, inexhaustible treasure of eternal joy, inspirer of dedicated devotees, life giver, indeed the very life of existence as they call him.

· · ·

10.20.8

नरो॒ ये के चा॒स्मदा विश्वेत्ते वा॒म आ स्युः॑ । अ॒ग्निं ह॒विषा॒ वर्ध॑न्तः ॥

Those leading lights of humanity among us who serve and exalt Agni with yajnic offerings of homage may, we pray, enjoy your love and favour.

· · ·

10.20.9

कृ॒ष्णः श्वे॒तो॑ऽरु॒षो यामो॑ अस्य ब्र॒ध्न ऋ॒ज्र उ॒त शोणो॒ यश॑स्वान् । हिर॑ण्यरूपं॒ जनि॑ता जजान ॥

Black, white and red is the order of this Agni moving the world forward, great bond maker, simple straight and fast, rich in food, wealth and honour, grand and glorious, which the lord creator has adorned with golden beauty and grace.

· · ·

10.20.10

ए॒वा ते॑ अग्ने विम॒दो म॑नी॒षामूर्जो॑ नपाद॒मृते॑भिः स॒जोषाः॑ । गिर॒ आ व॑क्षत्सुम॒तीरि॑या॒न इष॒मूर्जं॑ सुक्षि॒तिं विश्व॒माभाः॑ ॥

Thus does the celebrant in ecstasy of adoration, O Agni, Spirit of universal light and life, inspirer and sustainer of cosmic energy, offer you homage in immortal words of love and faith. O refulgent spirit of life divine, bearing holy vision and wisdom for the devotee, bless us with food and energy for body, mind and soul, give us a happy home with wealth and honour of universal order.

✦ Sukta 21 · 8 verses ✦

10.21.1

आग्निं न स्ववृ॑क्तिभि॒र्होता॑रं त्वा वृणीमहे । य॒ज्ञाय॑ स्ती॒र्णब॑र्हिषे॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ शी॒रं पा॑व॒कशो॑चिषं॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Like fire for comfort, with our own holy chant for the internal yajna of our spiritual purification and your joy, O fellow yajakas, we choose Agni, high priest of cosmic yajna, all pervasive purifier by the white heat of his divine radiance. Verily the lord is great and glorious for you.

· · ·

10.21.2

त्वामु॒ ते स्वा॒भुवः॑ शु॒म्भन्त्यश्व॑राधसः । वेति॒ त्वामु॑प॒सेच॑नी॒ वि वो॒ मद॒ ऋजी॑तिरग्न॒ आहु॑ति॒र्विव॑क्षसे ॥

Those self-radiant self reliant men of strength and success adore and exalt you. Their simple, honest and natural homage of oblations reaches you for your pleasure and satisfaction. Verily you are great for the devotees.

· · ·

10.21.3

त्वे ध॒र्माण॑ आसते जु॒हूभिः॑ सिञ्च॒तीरि॑व । कृ॒ष्णा रू॒पाण्यर्जु॑ना॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ विश्वा॒ अधि॒ श्रियो॑ धिषे॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Devotees dedicated to your Dharma serve and feed you with profuse ladlefuls of ghrta, you who for your pleasure and excitement bear white and dark flames and fumes and assume all the beauties and graces of life. Verily you are great for your devotees.

· · ·

10.21.4

यम॑ग्ने॒ मन्य॑से र॒यिं सह॑सावन्नमर्त्य । तमा नो॒ वाज॑सातये॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ चि॒त्रमा भ॑रा॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Agni, immortal power of strength and fortitude, the wealth, honour and excellence you hold and believe is great, that very wondrous wealth bear and bring us in yajnas with your pleasure and magnificence for our victory in our struggle for progress. Surely you are great and glorious for the devotees.

· · ·

10.21.5

अ॒ग्निर्जा॒तो अथ॑र्वणा वि॒दद्विश्वा॑नि॒ काव्या॑ । भुव॑द्दू॒तो वि॒वस्व॑तो॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ प्रि॒यो य॒मस्य॒ काम्यो॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Agni, light of divinity, realised by the man of constant mind, would enable him to know all knowledge of the world, being the messenger of the spirit of omniscience and love of the man of divine discipline. Agni you are great in your own light and joy for your devotees.

· · ·

10.21.6

त्वां य॒ज्ञेष्वी॑ळ॒तेऽग्ने॑ प्रय॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे । त्वं वसू॑नि॒ काम्या॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ विश्वा॑ दधासि दा॒शुषे॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

agni, light, energy and power of life, people value and adore you in their corporate programmes of creation and development at every stage of the noble creative process. you, indeed, bear and bring for the people of creativity and generosity all the wealth and power they desire, since in all matters of joy and celebration for yourself and for them you are always waxing great and glorious.

· · ·

10.21.7

त्वां य॒ज्ञेष्वृ॒त्विजं॒ चारु॑मग्ने॒ नि षे॑दिरे । घृ॒तप्र॑तीकं॒ मनु॑षो॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ शु॒क्रं चेति॑ष्ठम॒क्षभि॒र्विव॑क्षसे ॥

People set, establish and celebrate you in yajnas, Agni, charming, shining with oblations of ghrta, bright and pure, most illuminative accomplisher of yajna according to the seasons and your vision of the world. Agni, you are waxing great for your devotees.

· · ·

10.21.8

अग्ने॑ शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषो॒रु प्र॑थयसे बृ॒हत् । अ॒भि॒क्रन्द॑न्वृषायसे॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ गर्भं॑ दधासि जा॒मिषु॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Agni, with pure and powerful flames you shine and expand infinitely in many many various ways. Roaring and thundering, you love to shower on earth from heaven and inspire life forms with new energy and vitality for your own joy and for joy of the people. Agni, you are always waxing great and glorious

✦ Sukta 22 · 15 verses ✦

10.22.1

कुह॑ श्रु॒त इन्द्रः॒ कस्मि॑न्न॒द्य जने॑ मि॒त्रो न श्रू॑यते । ऋषी॑णां वा॒ यः क्षये॒ गुहा॑ वा॒ चर्कृ॑षे गि॒रा ॥

Where is Indra heard of today? Where like a friend, among what people, is he heard of? Indra who is exalted by words of prayer, in the homes of sages and realised in their mind?

· · ·

10.22.2

इ॒ह श्रु॒त इन्द्रो॑ अ॒स्मे अ॒द्य स्तवे॑ व॒ज्र्यृची॑षमः । मि॒त्रो न यो जने॒ष्वा यश॑श्च॒क्रे असा॒म्या ॥

Indra, lord of justice and thunder is renowned and sung here among us, most adorable worthy of worship for us, who is glorified among people, perfect and absolute and kind as a friend.

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10.22.3

म॒हो यस्पतिः॒ शव॑सो॒ असा॒म्या म॒हो नृ॒म्णस्य॑ तूतु॒जिः । भ॒र्ता वज्र॑स्य धृ॒ष्णोः पि॒ता पु॒त्रमि॑व प्रि॒यम् ॥

Mighty master, commander and giver of great strength is he, perfect, unequalled and great giver of wealth and power, wielder of the awful thunderbolt and father protector and promoter of humanity as of his own children.

· · ·

10.22.4

यु॒जा॒नो अश्वा॒ वात॑स्य॒ धुनी॑ दे॒वो दे॒वस्य॑ वज्रिवः । स्यन्ता॑ प॒था वि॒रुक्म॑ता सृजा॒नः स्तो॒ष्यध्व॑नः ॥

O wielder of the thunderbolt and adamantine will, harnessing commander of cosmic energy mightier than the roaring winds, generous self-refulgent lord of divinities, guide of the travellers of the paths of light and creator of new paths of advancement open for humanity, you are adored as the master, protector and promoter of life and its possibilities.

· · ·

10.22.5

त्वं त्या चि॒द्वात॒स्याश्वागा॑ ऋ॒ज्रा त्मना॒ वह॑ध्यै । ययो॑र्दे॒वो न मर्त्यो॑ य॒न्ता नकि॑र्वि॒दाय्यः॑ ॥

You by yourself impel those two straight and natural currents of cosmic energy of which there is no other impeller divine or human, nor is any one else who really knows. (The energies may be interpreted as prana and apana of the body system too.)

· · ·

10.22.6

अध॒ ग्मन्तो॒शना॑ पृच्छते वां॒ कद॑र्था न॒ आ गृ॒हम् । आ ज॑ग्मथुः परा॒काद्दि॒वश्च॒ ग्मश्च॒ मर्त्य॑म् ॥

The lover of life, the human soul, asks you both, currents of prana and apana energies, for what purpose did you come to this mortal home of ours, this body system, from the far off region of heavenly light and from the earth?

· · ·

10.22.7

आ न॑ इन्द्र पृक्षसे॒ऽस्माकं॒ ब्रह्मोद्य॑तम् । तत्त्वा॑ याचाम॒हेऽवः॒ शुष्णं॒ यद्धन्नमा॑नुषम् ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent of cosmic energy and pranic vitality, pray join us and accept our homage of adoration by which we pray of you that great strength and protection of divinity which may repel and destroy inhuman and evil onslaughts of our mortal enemies.

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10.22.8

अ॒क॒र्मा दस्यु॑र॒भि नो॑ अम॒न्तुर॒न्यव्र॑तो॒ अमा॑नुषः । त्वं तस्या॑मित्रह॒न्वध॑र्दा॒सस्य॑ दम्भय ॥

Whoever or whatever be negative, incorrigible, corrosive, without commitment or ill-committed, anti- human and anti-life, that negative and destructive force, O destroyer of the unfriendly, saboteurs and destroyers, control, suppress and eliminate.

· · ·

10.22.9

त्वं न॑ इन्द्र शूर॒ शूरै॑रु॒त त्वोता॑सो ब॒र्हणा॑ । पु॒रु॒त्रा ते॒ वि पू॒र्तयो॒ नव॑न्त क्षो॒णयो॑ यथा ॥

O lord most potent, Indra, protect and promote us by the brave so that even in terrible crises we may survive and prevail. Infinite are your gifts of fulfilment that abound all round, and multitudes of people over earth sing and celebrate your generosity.

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10.22.10

त्वं तान्वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॑ चोदयो॒ नॄन्का॑र्पा॒णे शू॑र वज्रिवः । गुहा॒ यदी॑ कवी॒नां वि॒शां नक्ष॑त्रशवसाम् ॥

Indra, lord most potent, wielder of thunder and justice who abide inspiring at the heart of visionary poets and thinkers, general people and those commanding the imperishable power of light and social order, pray inspire, and energise those heroic leaders, pioneers and leading lights who are engaged in decisive battle against darkness and evil, ignorance, want and injustice.

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10.22.11

म॒क्षू ता त॑ इन्द्र दा॒नाप्न॑स आक्षा॒णे शू॑र वज्रिवः । यद्ध॒ शुष्ण॑स्य द॒म्भयो॑ जा॒तं विश्वं॑ स॒याव॑भिः ॥

Indra, ruler most potent and wielder of the thunderbolt, adamantine will and justice, most generous giver, instant are your gifts of protection, charity and advancement in matters of success, achievement and fulfilment, since with your assistant cooperative forces you destroy all evils of darkness, ignorance and want of the world created by demonic forces of negativity and destruction.

· · ·

10.22.12

माकु॒ध्र्य॑गिन्द्र शूर॒ वस्वी॑र॒स्मे भू॑वन्न॒भिष्ट॑यः । व॒यंव॑यं त आसां सु॒म्ने स्या॑म वज्रिवः ॥

O lord most potent, wielder of the thunderbolt and justice, may our desires, aims and ambitions, and achievements of wealth and victory never be fruitless. May we always be favoured with the blissful presence and joy of all these fulfilled ambitions and cherished desires.

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10.22.13

अ॒स्मे ता त॑ इन्द्र सन्तु स॒त्याहिं॑सन्तीरुप॒स्पृशः॑ । वि॒द्याम॒ यासां॒ भुजो॑ धेनू॒नां न व॑ज्रिवः ॥

Indra, wielder of thunderbolt and justice, may all our prayers, adorations and yajakas, full of love and faith without violence, reaching you in service and worship, be true and fruitful, and may we be blest with pleasing fruits of these like delicious cow’s milk and delicacies.

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10.22.14

अ॒ह॒स्ता यद॒पदी॒ वर्ध॑त॒ क्षाः शची॑भिर्वे॒द्याना॑म् । शुष्णं॒ परि॑ प्रदक्षि॒णिद्वि॒श्वाय॑वे॒ नि शि॑श्नथः ॥

The earth grows and expands without hands or feet by the Sama showers of nature’s existential forces worth knowing, since for the sake of world life you, Indra, repel and destroy the negative forces circumam- bulating the earth.

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10.22.15

पिबा॑पि॒बेदि॑न्द्र शूर॒ सोमं॒ मा रि॑षण्यो वसवान॒ वसुः॒ सन् । उ॒त त्रा॑यस्व गृण॒तो म॒घोनो॑ म॒हश्च॑ रा॒यो रे॒वत॑स्कृधी नः ॥

Indra, omnipotent lord of the world, mighty ruler, pray accept our soma homage of worship. O shelter home of life, giver of peace, wealth, power and excellence, pray fail us not, protect and promote the celebrant blest with power and honour, O lord of wealth and magnificence, help us rise to great wealth of life and attain to mastery of that wealth and power for moral and spiritual grandeur.

✦ Sukta 23 · 7 verses ✦

10.23.1

यजा॑मह॒ इन्द्रं॒ वज्र॑दक्षिणं॒ हरी॑णां र॒थ्यं१॒॑ विव्र॑तानाम् । प्र श्मश्रु॒ दोधु॑वदू॒र्ध्वथा॑ भू॒द्वि सेना॑भि॒र्दय॑मानो॒ वि राध॑सा ॥

We join and adore Indra, lord of cosmic energy, who wields the thunder in his right hand and controls the versatile potentials of complementary currents of cosmic energy in the universal circuit, who with energy shakes the earthly vegetation, rises high, and with his forces and implicit potentials acts as catalytic agent and vests us with natural power and success in achievement.

· · ·

10.23.2

हरी॒ न्व॑स्य॒ या वने॑ वि॒दे वस्विन्द्रो॑ म॒घैर्म॒घवा॑ वृत्र॒हा भु॑वत् । ऋ॒भुर्वाज॑ ऋभु॒क्षाः प॑त्यते॒ शवोऽव॑ क्ष्णौमि॒ दास॑स्य॒ नाम॑ चित् ॥

The wealth of energy which the currents bring into the solar rays are universal whereby Indra becomes powerful with natural forces to break the dark clouds of rain. Master of spiritual and physical strength, Indra rules and protects the wealth, power and honour of the world, under that protection I too wish to eliminate even the last trace of negativity and force of destruction.

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10.23.3

य॒दा वज्रं॒ हिर॑ण्य॒मिदथा॒ रथं॒ हरी॒ यम॑स्य॒ वह॑तो॒ वि सू॒रिभिः॑ । आ ति॑ष्ठति म॒घवा॒ सन॑श्रुत॒ इन्द्रो॒ वाज॑स्य दी॒र्घश्र॑वस॒स्पतिः॑ ॥

When Indra, glorious lord ruler of the world rides his golden chariot of state which complementary forces draw on the course with the energy of solar rays in nature and the light and loyalty of leading citizens in society, then he is celebrated as universal master of the common wealth and the ruler and protector of lasting power, prosperity and honour of the world.

· · ·

10.23.4

सो चि॒न्नु वृ॒ष्टिर्यू॒थ्या॒३॒॑ स्वा सचाँ॒ इन्द्रः॒ श्मश्रू॑णि॒ हरि॑ता॒भि प्रु॑ष्णुते । अव॑ वेति सु॒क्षयं॑ सु॒ते मधूदिद्धू॑नोति॒ वातो॒ यथा॒ वन॑म् ॥

The real shower is that when with his own essential lustre and with his complementary forces Indra sprinkles and fills the waving greenery on earth with life energy, when the divine presence pervades happy homes and weaves them into a happy web of life on earth with sweets of life, vibrates with power and shakes contradictory forces as the storm shakes the forest.

· · ·

10.23.5

यो वा॒चा विवा॑चो मृ॒ध्रवा॑चः पु॒रू स॒हस्राशि॑वा ज॒घान॑ । तत्त॒दिद॑स्य॒ पौंस्यं॑ गृणीमसि पि॒तेव॒ यस्तवि॑षीं वावृ॒धे शवः॑ ॥

Who with one united forceful voice silences and eliminates many many hundreds of contradictory and confrontationist voices of manly violence, sabotage and destruction, that power and voice of this mighty Indra we admire and celebrate, the ruler who, like a parent power, promotes and elevates our strength, lustre and glory.

· · ·

10.23.6

स्तोमं॑ त इन्द्र विम॒दा अ॑जीजन॒न्नपू॑र्व्यं पुरु॒तमं॑ सु॒दान॑वे । वि॒द्मा ह्य॑स्य॒ भोज॑नमि॒नस्य॒ यदा प॒शुं न गो॒पाः क॑रामहे ॥

Free from pride and passion, we have created and offer you, O lord of divine charity, Indra, an ancient, unique and most copious song of celebration. We know the gifts of protection and promotion of this mighty lord, and, masters of our senses and mind, we keep his divine presence at heart as the all-seeing master of our life and karmic performance.

· · ·

10.23.7

माकि॑र्न ए॒ना स॒ख्या वि यौ॑षु॒स्तव॑ चेन्द्र विम॒दस्य॑ च॒ ऋषेः॑ । वि॒द्मा हि ते॒ प्रम॑तिं देव जामि॒वद॒स्मे ते॑ सन्तु स॒ख्या शि॒वानि॑ ॥

Indra, mighty ruler of life and the world, let not this bond of friendship between you and the sage free from the shackles of pride and passion ever sever. O generous lord of light and life, we know your good will and kindness toward us and we enjoy it too. May this bond of friendship and the gifts of the bond be good and blissful for us like the filial bond of parent and child.

✦ Sukta 24 · 6 verses ✦

10.24.1

इन्द्र॒ सोम॑मि॒मं पि॑ब॒ मधु॑मन्तं च॒मू सु॒तम् । अ॒स्मे र॒यिं नि धा॑रय॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ सह॒स्रिणं॑ पुरूवसो॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Indra, lord of infinite wealth, power, honour and excellence, accept and bless this soma homage of love and faith, honey sweet, distilled and offered in the ladle of yajna, protect and promote this joyous world of honey sweets extending from earth to the skies, bear and bring us wealth of the world as you in your own divine joy carry the thousandfold burden of this world. You are great, lord of glory.

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10.24.2

त्वां य॒ज्ञेभि॑रु॒क्थैरुप॑ ह॒व्येभि॑रीमहे । शची॑पते शचीनां॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ श्रेष्ठं॑ नो धेहि॒ वार्यं॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

With yajnas, mantras and oblations of holy fragrances we adore and worship you, O lord of omniscience and omnipotence, and we pray that in the ecstasy of your own self and generosity, bear and bring us the best and choicest of your grand gifts for us. O lord, you are ever waxing great and glorious.

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10.24.3

यस्पति॒र्वार्या॑णा॒मसि॑ र॒ध्रस्य॑ चोदि॒ता । इन्द्र॑ स्तोतॄ॒णाम॑वि॒ता वि वो॒ मदे॑ द्वि॒षो नः॑ पा॒ह्यंह॑सो॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Indra, you are the master and protector of the best of wealth, beauty and glory of the world, inspirer of the obedient devotee, and saviour and promoter of the celebrants. O lord, in the ecstasy of your own bliss and omnipotence, pray protect us from sin and jealousy. You are ever waxing great and glorious.

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10.24.4

यु॒वं श॑क्रा माया॒विना॑ समी॒ची निर॑मन्थतम् । वि॒म॒देन॒ यदी॑ळि॒ता नास॑त्या नि॒रम॑न्थतम् ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of nature and humanity, currents of energy, teacher and preacher, scientist and engineer, men and women, powerful, miraculous, you are always working together, and when you are invoked and prayed together by the sage free form passion and pride, O powers ever true and committed, you come into action and generate the fire of life.

· · ·

10.24.5

विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अ॑कृपन्त समी॒च्योर्नि॒ष्पत॑न्त्योः । नास॑त्यावब्रुवन्दे॒वाः पुन॒रा व॑हता॒दिति॑ ॥

All divinities of nature and humanity shower love and kindness on the complementary powers working together in unison without relent or remiss on their commitment, and as the work goes on, O divinities ever true and never false or failing, the powers of the world exclaim: Go on, go on, that way success lies.

· · ·

10.24.6

मधु॑मन्मे प॒राय॑णं॒ मधु॑म॒त्पुन॒राय॑नम् । ता नो॑ देवा दे॒वत॑या यु॒वं मधु॑मतस्कृतम् ॥

Ashvins, complementary divinities of nature and humanity, let the way beyond be honey sweet for me. Let the way back on return be honey sweet for me. O divines, with your blessings, pray both of you make our life here, hereafter and here again full of honey sweets and joy.

✦ Sukta 25 · 11 verses ✦

10.25.1

भ॒द्रं नो॒ अपि॑ वातय॒ मनो॒ दक्ष॑मु॒त क्रतु॑म् । अधा॑ ते स॒ख्ये अन्ध॑सो॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ रण॒न्गावो॒ न यव॑से॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

O Soma, lord of peace and bliss, inspire our mind, skill and wisdom, and our yajnic actions to move in the direction of goodness and piety, so that, living in your love and friendship, we may enjoy food and life’s delicacies like cows enjoying their favourite grass and thus partake of your divine joy in life here itself. O Soma, you are great and glorious indeed.

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10.25.2

हृ॒दि॒स्पृश॑स्त आसते॒ विश्वे॑षु सोम॒ धाम॑सु । अधा॒ कामा॑ इ॒मे मम॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ वि ति॑ष्ठन्ते वसू॒यवो॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

O Soma, all over the world in all places, all these devoted seekers of wealth and all these heart felt desires and ambitions of mine worship you and concentrate and abide in your divine peace and joy. O Soma, you are great and glorious indeed.

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10.25.3

उ॒त व्र॒तानि॑ सोम ते॒ प्राहं मि॑नामि पा॒क्या॑ । अधा॑ पि॒तेव॑ सू॒नवे॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ मृ॒ळा नो॑ अ॒भि चि॑द्व॒धाद्विव॑क्षसे ॥

And O Soma, with a mature mind and intelligence, I follow the rules of your discipline. Then O Soma, as father for the child, pray bless us to partake of your divine joy, be kind and save us from death and deprivation all round. O lord, you are great for the good of all.

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10.25.4

समु॒ प्र य॑न्ति धी॒तयः॒ सर्गा॑सोऽव॒ताँ इ॑व । क्रतुं॑ नः सोम जी॒वसे॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ धा॒रया॑ चम॒साँ इ॑व॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Just as showers of rain and streams of water flow down and rush to the sea, so all our thoughts, prayers, acts and adorations move and reach you, ultimate destination of holy works. Pray accept us and our adorations like ladlefuls of yajnic homage into the joy of your divine presence. O lord you are great for the joy of all.

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10.25.5

तव॒ त्ये सो॑म॒ शक्ति॑भि॒र्निका॑मासो॒ व्यृ॑ण्विरे । गृत्स॑स्य॒ धीरा॑स्त॒वसो॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ व्र॒जं गोम॑न्तम॒श्विनं॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Those devotees with a balanced mind, lovers of divinity, inspired with devotion to the loved and potentmeditation reach the state of joy in your presence, O Soma, wherein they find a settled haven with enlightened mind and senses and a vibrant will here itself. O lord you are really great for all. Soma, with all their power of concentration in

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10.25.6

प॒शुं नः॑ सोम रक्षसि पुरु॒त्रा विष्ठि॑तं॒ जग॑त् । स॒माकृ॑णोषि जी॒वसे॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ विश्वा॑ स॒म्पश्य॒न्भुव॑ना॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

O Soma, you protect and elevate our enlightened soul. You generate, protect and promote the settled world of vast variety as well for our holy and joyous living for a full life in the presence of your divine bliss. Watching the entire world of existence, you wax great in your glory.

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10.25.7

त्वं नः॑ सोम वि॒श्वतो॑ गो॒पा अदा॑भ्यो भव । सेध॑ राज॒न्नप॒ स्रिधो॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ मा नो॑ दुः॒शंस॑ ईशता॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

O Soma, be our guide and dauntless guardian and protector all round in the world. O ruler of the world, ward off all errors, failures, violence and foemen far from us. Let none wicked and malicious boss over us. O lord, you are waxing great in your glory for the joy of all.

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10.25.8

त्वं नः॑ सोम सु॒क्रतु॑र्वयो॒धेया॑य जागृहि । क्षे॒त्र॒वित्त॑रो॒ मनु॑षो॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ द्रु॒हो नः॑ पा॒ह्यंह॑सो॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

Soma, lord of all knowledge and holy action, pray let us awake for living a full life of age and enthusiasm. You know the microcosm and the macrocosm of existence, none other knows. Pray protect us from evil men and from sin and jealousy. O lord you are waxing great in your glory for the joy of all.

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10.25.9

त्वं नो॑ वृत्रहन्त॒मेन्द्र॑स्येन्दो शि॒वः सखा॑ । यत्सीं॒ हव॑न्ते समि॒थे वि वो॒ मदे॒ युध्य॑मानास्तो॒कसा॑तौ॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥

O Soma, greatest dispeller of darkness and want and deprivation, our gracious friend as well as gracious friend of Indra, the ruler, people all round, struggling in their battle of life for the advancement of their future generations, call upon you for help, protection and success since, then, you are waxing great and glorious in your joy for the good of all.

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10.25.10

अ॒यं घ॒ स तु॒रो मद॒ इन्द्र॑स्य वर्धत प्रि॒यः । अ॒यं क॒क्षीव॑तो म॒हो वि वो॒ मदे॑ म॒तिं विप्र॑स्य वर्धय॒द्विव॑क्षसे ॥

This Soma, instant fast, dear happy friend of Indra, the soul, is great, advances the wisdom and vision of the great sage dedicated to assiduous thought and work with concentration. Surely, O Soma, you are waxing great and glorious in your joy for the good of all.

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10.25.11

अ॒यं विप्रा॑य दा॒शुषे॒ वाजाँ॑ इयर्ति॒ गोम॑तः । अ॒यं स॒प्तभ्य॒ आ वरं॒ वि वो॒ मदे॒ प्रान्धं श्रो॒णं च॑ तारिष॒द्विव॑क्षसे ॥

This Soma moves, inspires and brings immortal vision and food, energy and the joy of victory for the sage who has wholly surrendered himself to the divine presence. He saves the blind and the lame and brings the highest learning, wisdom and freedom to the seven sagely yajakas. O Soma, you are ever waxing great and glorious in bliss for the joy of all.

✦ Sukta 26 · 9 verses ✦

10.26.1

प्र ह्यच्छा॑ मनी॒षा स्पा॒र्हा यन्ति॑ नि॒युतः॑ । प्र द॒स्रा नि॒युद्र॑थः पू॒षा अ॑विष्टु॒ माहि॑नः ॥

With love and faith do our cherished thoughts, prayers and adorations well directed in meditation reach Pusha, lord of health and fulfilment. Great, beatific and blissful, his chariot of ultimate freedom of moksha is ever in readiness, may the lord ever protect and promote us to that ultimate freedom.

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10.26.2

यस्य॒ त्यन्म॑हि॒त्वं वा॒ताप्य॑म॒यं जनः॑ । विप्र॒ आ वं॑सद्धी॒तिभि॒श्चिके॑त सुष्टुती॒नाम् ॥

Pusha, whose grandeur of that order, that food for the soul, may this humanity, this vibrant sage, attain by noble thoughts and actions. The lord knows of our sincere prayers and adorations.

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10.26.3

स वे॑द सुष्टुती॒नामिन्दु॒र्न पू॒षा वृषा॑ । अ॒भि प्सुरः॑ प्रुषायति व्र॒जं न॒ आ प्रु॑षायति ॥

Pusha, like Soma, the moon, giver of showers, knows of our prayers and adorations. Assuming and pervading all forms of life, he showers his favours of grace on us, he also showers his kindness and favours on our foods, pastures and cows as well.

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10.26.4

मं॒सी॒महि॑ त्वा व॒यम॒स्माकं॑ देव पूषन् । म॒ती॒नां च॒ साध॑नं॒ विप्रा॑णां चाध॒वम् ॥

We know and adore you, divine Pusha, sustainer of life, giver of success to our intelligentsia, pioneer guide and purifier of our vibrant sages.

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10.26.5

प्रत्य॑र्धिर्य॒ज्ञाना॑मश्वह॒यो रथा॑नाम् । ऋषिः॒ स यो मनु॑र्हितो॒ विप्र॑स्य यावयत्स॒खः ॥

Pusha is the promoter and accomplisher of yajnas, energy, power and mover of the shining stars, all seeing creator of joy, well wisher of humanity and inspiring guide and friend of the sages.

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10.26.6

आ॒धीष॑माणायाः॒ पतिः॑ शु॒चाया॑श्च शु॒चस्य॑ च । वा॒सो॒वा॒योऽवी॑ना॒मा वासां॑सि॒ मर्मृ॑जत् ॥

Pusha is the sustainer of immaculate Prakrti and of the pure intelligent soul, and just as the weaver weaves a cloth of wool, so does he weave out the structure and texture of the physical web of the world and create the bodies of form and adorns them with beauty.

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10.26.7

इ॒नो वाजा॑नां॒ पति॑रि॒नः पु॑ष्टी॒नां सखा॑ । प्र श्मश्रु॑ हर्य॒तो दू॑धो॒द्वि वृथा॒ यो अदा॑भ्यः ॥

Mighty Pusha is the master controller of energies and powers of the world, generous friends of growth and progress, spontaneous energises and inspirer of rising youth, and he is the unchallengeable supreme power over all.

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10.26.8

आ ते॒ रथ॑स्य पूषन्न॒जा धुरं॑ ववृत्युः । विश्व॑स्या॒र्थिनः॒ सखा॑ सनो॒जा अन॑पच्युतः ॥

O Pusha, unborn, eternal and undiminishing forces move your chariot wheels on and on, friend of all supplicants of the world, eternal, unborn and infinitely manifestive, imperishable.

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10.26.9

अ॒स्माक॑मू॒र्जा रथं॑ पू॒षा अ॑विष्टु॒ माहि॑नः । भुव॒द्वाजा॑नां वृ॒ध इ॒मं नः॑ शृणव॒द्धव॑म् ॥

May the mighty Pusha power and protect our chariot of life with divine energy, may the lord be promoter and augmenter of our food, energy and onward progress, and may he listen and grant this prayer of ours.

✦ Sukta 27 · 24 verses ✦

10.27.1

अस॒त्सु मे॑ जरितः॒ साभि॑वे॒गो यत्सु॑न्व॒ते यज॑मानाय॒ शिक्ष॑म् । अना॑शीर्दाम॒हम॑स्मि प्रह॒न्ता

स॑त्य॒ध्वृतं॑ वृजिना॒यन्त॑मा॒भुम् ॥

O dedicated celebrant, the divine nature and power is good and true, it is this: I grant the prayer and give the desired object to the dedicated creative Soma yajaka. But I punish and strike down the ungenerous, selfish violator of eternal truth and law persistently addicted to sin, evil and falsehood.

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10.27.2

यदीद॒हं यु॒धये॑ सं॒नया॒न्यदे॑वयून्त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ शूशु॑जानान् । अ॒मा ते॒ तुम्रं॑ वृष॒भं प॑चानि ती॒व्रं सु॒तं प॑ञ्चद॒शं नि षि॑ञ्चम् ॥

If I were to collect forces to fight out the selfish, ungenerous and audacious who are such by their sheer physical prowess and brute force in this house of yours, O divine Ruler of existence, I would train a mighty, generous, enlightened leader, warrior and protector, feed him on distilled essences of fourteen branches of knowledge, application and practice being the fifteenth, and thus perfect the ruler.

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10.27.3

नाहं तं वे॑द॒ य इति॒ ब्रवी॒त्यदे॑वयून्त्स॒मर॑णे जघ॒न्वान् । य॒दावाख्य॑त्स॒मर॑ण॒मृघा॑व॒दादिद्ध॑ मे वृष॒भा प्र ब्रु॑वन्ति ॥

I know not one who says: I have defeated and destroyed the evil and ungenerous in the battle between right and wrong by myself; instead, when the battle between good and evil is won, then the brave warriors declare that they attribute the victory only to me.

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10.27.4

यदज्ञा॑तेषु वृ॒जने॒ष्वासं॒ विश्वे॑ स॒तो म॒घवा॑नो म आसन् । जि॒नामि॒ वेत्क्षेम॒ आ सन्त॑मा॒भुं प्र तं क्षि॑णां॒ पर्व॑ते पाद॒गृह्य॑ ॥

When I am in regions and battles unknown, all existent holy powers are around me. Then in the interest of the good of the world I defeat all negative powers and, catching them by the root, I throw them on the rocks.

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10.27.5

न वा उ॒ मां वृ॒जने॑ वारयन्ते॒ न पर्व॑तासो॒ यद॒हं म॑न॒स्ये । मम॑ स्व॒नात्कृ॑धु॒कर्णो॑ भयात ए॒वेदनु॒ द्यून्कि॒रणः॒ समे॑जात् ॥

When I decide to do what I want to do, no powers can obstruct me on the way, not even powers insurmountable as mountains otherwise.At my roar even persons of faintest ear shake with fear. And the sun, commanding boundless light rays goes on way day and night at my command.

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10.27.6

दर्श॒न्न्वत्र॑ शृत॒पाँ अ॑नि॒न्द्रान्बा॑हु॒क्षदः॒ शर॑वे॒ पत्य॑मानान् । घृषुं॑ वा॒ ये नि॑नि॒दुः सखा॑य॒मध्यू॒ न्वे॑षु प॒वयो॑ ववृत्युः ॥

When I see forces which oppose, contradict or deny Indra, presiding power of world order, people who wrest the food and drink prepared for honest labour, who twist others’ arm for extortion, who pounce upon the innocent to kill, or those who revile a friend for his candid but unflattering warmth, over all such the strokes of the thunderbolt of justice and punishment would fall and ultimately crush them.

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10.27.7

अभू॒र्वौक्षी॒र्व्यु१॒॑ आयु॑रान॒ड्दर्ष॒न्नु पूर्वो॒ अप॑रो॒ नु द॑र्षत् । द्वे प॒वस्ते॒ परि॒ तं न भू॑तो॒ यो अ॒स्य पा॒रे रज॑सो वि॒वेष॑ ॥

Indra, unborn and eternal, the seed, the sower and nursing mother and the very life of the world, you destroy the anti-life forces of the earliest times and, later, of the others too. Both earth and heaven comprehend you not, you who transcend these and pervade the infinity beyond.

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10.27.8

गावो॒ यवं॒ प्रयु॑ता अ॒र्यो अ॑क्ष॒न्ता अ॑पश्यं स॒हगो॑पा॒श्चर॑न्तीः । हवा॒ इद॒र्यो अ॒भितः॒ समा॑य॒न्किय॑दासु॒ स्वप॑तिश्छन्दयाते ॥

The cows ranged together in the pasture graze and enjoy the grass. I, the master, watch them along with the cowherd. When they are called back they come and stand round the master. The master rejoices in them. Similarly Indra, the master, sees the life around as his cows, rejoices in all life forms, and in the evening of the created world calls them back, and they all abide by and abide in his presence.

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10.27.9

सं यद्वयं॑ यव॒सादो॒ जना॑नाम॒हं य॒वाद॑ उ॒र्वज्रे॑ अ॒न्तः । अत्रा॑ यु॒क्तो॑ऽवसा॒तार॑मिच्छा॒दथो॒ अयु॑क्तं युनजद्वव॒न्वान् ॥

Here in the pasture, in the midst of the vast world of experience and pleasure, we live and enjoy together with all those living beings which enjoy the grass and experience the things they love and find as the result of their karma, and I too among humans enjoy my share of karmic bhoga. Here then, joined to the lord giver of life, experience and ultimate freedom and peaceful abode, let the soul love and meditate on the master, Indra, and may the loving master accept the devotee, earlier separated, now joined.

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10.27.10

अत्रेदु॑ मे मंससे स॒त्यमु॒क्तं द्वि॒पाच्च॒ यच्चतु॑ष्पात्संसृ॒जानि॑ । स्त्री॒भिर्यो अत्र॒ वृष॑णं पृत॒न्यादयु॑द्धो अस्य॒ वि भ॑जानि॒ वेदः॑ ॥

And here in the world, take it as my own word of truth that it is I who generate the biped humans and the quadruped animals, and whoever aspires to win as a virile warrior but with indulgence with women, I take off their share of the desired attainment even before or without the interaction between their ambition and nature.

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10.27.11

यस्या॑न॒क्षा दु॑हि॒ता जात्वास॒ कस्तां वि॒द्वाँ अ॒भि म॑न्याते अ॒न्धाम् । क॒त॒रो मे॒निं प्रति॒ तं मु॑चाते॒ य ईं॒ वहा॑ते॒ य ईं॑ वा वरे॒यात् ॥

Who is the sage and scholar who knows that blind force, that eyeless generative power, Prakrti, mother womb of existence that was there in the pre- existence state of divinity in absolute time and space? Indra, whose consort it was, the Shakti of divinity to generate the various forms of life in historical time and space. Who would wield that mighty force for himself as consort, as Word, as thunder? Who would release her? Who takes her on and controls? Who chooses and loves her? Who except Indra?

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10.27.12

किय॑ती॒ योषा॑ मर्य॒तो व॑धू॒योः परि॑प्रीता॒ पन्य॑सा॒ वार्ये॑ण । भ॒द्रा व॒धूर्भ॑वति॒ यत्सु॒पेशाः॑ स्व॒यं सा मि॒त्रं व॑नुते॒ जने॑ चित् ॥

Some maiden feels pleased and satisfied with the dear lovable wealth and speech of the man wooing her for a wife or she is herself pleasing and accepted for her speech and riches. But in reality, that wife is good and fortunate who, noble in person and manners, loves and chooses her friend and husband by herself from amongst the youth.

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10.27.13

प॒त्तो ज॑गार प्र॒त्यञ्च॑मत्ति शी॒र्ष्णा शिरः॒ प्रति॑ दधौ॒ वरू॑थम् । आसी॑न ऊ॒र्ध्वामु॒पसि॑ क्षिणाति॒ न्य॑ङ्ङुत्ता॒नामन्वे॑ति॒ भूमि॑म् ॥

Indra emanates and manifests the generated world step by step, then he withdraws it also step by step at the end. The top light of Prakrti, he places and holds up on high as head and heaven. All present and pervasive, the next high form of it he holds in his lap as the middle region, and the lowest of the high he forms as the earth and pervades it.

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10.27.14

बृ॒हन्न॑च्छा॒यो अ॑पला॒शो अर्वा॑ त॒स्थौ मा॒ता विषि॑तो अत्ति॒ गर्भः॑ । अ॒न्यस्या॑ व॒त्सं रि॑ह॒ती मि॑माय॒ कया॑ भु॒वा नि द॑धे धे॒नुरूधः॑ ॥

Infinitely great, imperishable beyond mutability and sufferance, all mover, all moving constant, beyond bonds and bounds, he is the all bearing mother womb of existence. Loving and pervading the living forms of the other, Prakrti, as a mother, like his own progeny, he forms and sustains the world with divine peace and bliss of existence as the mother cow holds the milk for her calf.

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10.27.15

स॒प्त वी॒रासो॑ अध॒रादुदा॑यन्न॒ष्टोत्त॒रात्ता॒त्सम॑जग्मिर॒न्ते । नव॑ प॒श्चाता॑त्स्थिवि॒मन्त॑ आय॒न्दश॒ प्राक्सानु॒ वि ति॑र॒न्त्यश्नः॑ ॥

Seven off-springs came up from the deepest of Prakrti (they are five subtle elements, mind and senses), eight sprang from the upper part (they are eight vasus, sustainers of life, i.e., earth, water, fire, air, space, moon, sun and stars), from behind came nine well placed in position (they are nine planets and nine sense organs), and ten pranas arise from the front and move high up in air.

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10.27.16

द॒शा॒नामेकं॑ कपि॒लं स॑मा॒नं तं हि॑न्वन्ति॒ क्रत॑वे॒ पार्या॑य । गर्भं॑ मा॒ता सुधि॑तं व॒क्षणा॒स्ववे॑नन्तं तु॒षय॑न्ती बिभर्ति ॥

One is the darling of all the ten equally, which they energise and serve for fulfilment of the ultimate purpose of life. Mother Nature bears the soul as its baby well placed in the currents and atomic dynamics of existence, nourishing and pleasing it, though the baby at this stage is unaware of it, but still loves to stay on in the womb.

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10.27.17

पीवा॑नं मे॒षम॑पचन्त वी॒रा न्यु॑प्ता अ॒क्षा अनु॑ दी॒व आ॑सन् । द्वा धनुं॑ बृह॒तीम॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तः प॒वित्र॑वन्ता चरतः पु॒नन्ता॑ ॥

Ten pranas together with the senses, positioned in the holy body for nature’s purpose, mature the living body of the soul. Two of these pranas, i.e., prana and apana, active in the vital waters with warm energy, mature, purify and perfect the growing body for the soul.

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10.27.18

वि क्रो॑श॒नासो॒ विष्व॑ञ्च आय॒न्पचा॑ति॒ नेमो॑ न॒हि पक्ष॑द॒र्धः । अ॒यं मे॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता तदा॑ह॒ द्र्व॑न्न॒ इद्व॑नवत्स॒र्पिर॑न्नः ॥

Souls come into the world from various directions in various ways, chanting the name of divinity. Some one matures, another does not mature, remains half way only. This is what Savita, lord of life, giver of light, says to me: the yajna fire which consumes the fuel wood and oblations of ghrta helps the soul to mature through yajna and self-sacrifice. The man who lives on fruit and milk and butter matures with divine love and yajnic fire.

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10.27.19

अप॑श्यं॒ ग्रामं॒ वह॑मानमा॒राद॑च॒क्रया॑ स्व॒धया॒ वर्त॑मानम् । सिष॑क्त्य॒र्यः प्र यु॒गा जना॑नां स॒द्यः शि॒श्ना प्र॑मिना॒नो नवी॑यान् ॥

From far off by observation of nature and from near by meditation, I have perceived and realised the divine power and presence bearing the multitudinous humanity and other forms of life by its own essential might, moving without wheels, that is, moving and yet not moving, being omnipresent, eternal, yet even new in manifestation, who, sole lord of life, creates the male and female pairs of humans from eternity.

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10.27.20

ए॒तौ मे॒ गावौ॑ प्रम॒रस्य॑ यु॒क्तौ मो षु प्र से॑धी॒र्मुहु॒रिन्म॑मन्धि । आप॑श्चिदस्य॒ वि न॑श॒न्त्यर्थं॒ सूर॑श्च म॒र्क उप॑रो बभू॒वान् ॥

Lord of life, pray do not deprive me, the mortal man, of these two vital energies of prana and apana joined to my existence, pray keep them integrated with me, active and pleasing. The subtle body and the pranic energies help us reach our divine goal, and may the sun and pranic energies, like the cloud, shower me here below with light and joy.

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10.27.21

अ॒यं यो वज्रः॑ पुरु॒धा विवृ॑त्तो॒ऽवः सूर्य॑स्य बृह॒तः पुरी॑षात् । श्रव॒ इदे॒ना प॒रो अ॒न्यद॑स्ति॒ तद॑व्य॒थी ज॑रि॒माण॑स्तरन्ति ॥

This thunderous pranic energy, which radiates from the mighty orb of the sun in varied ways, comes down to us by the paths of Prakrti. Beyond this is there another path and destination too, revealed and heard, to which the celebrants of divinity free from psychic travails of existence attain beyond the flood of pleasure and pain here.

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10.27.22

वृ॒क्षेवृ॑क्षे॒ निय॑ता मीमय॒द्गौस्ततो॒ वयः॒ प्र प॑तान्पूरु॒षादः॑ । अथे॒दं विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं भयात॒ इन्द्रा॑य सु॒न्वदृष॑ये च॒ शिक्ष॑त् ॥

The string fixed like destiny on every bow twangs with a clang, the arrows fly and fall like cannibals on humanity, consuming life and karma. And then the whole world shakes with fear. O yajaka on the vedi, keep on the offer of soma homage to Indra, the omniscient who knows it all.

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10.27.23

दे॒वानां॒ माने॑ प्रथ॒मा अ॑तिष्ठन्कृ॒न्तत्रा॑देषा॒मुप॑रा॒ उदा॑यन् । त्रय॑स्तपन्ति पृथि॒वीम॑नू॒पा द्वा बृबू॑कं वहतः॒ पुरी॑षम् ॥

For the formation of the first and basic divine natural causes of cosmic evolution, the original causes already existed in the primordial state of Prakrti. From the disturbance of those primordial causes in that state of unified equilibrium into dynamic state, arose the diversity of subtle and gross elements of material and psychic forms. Three of these (heat, air and water) together mature the earth for life, and two (heat and air) bring the life energy to it.

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10.27.24

सा ते॑ जी॒वातु॑रु॒त तस्य॑ विद्धि॒ मा स्मै॑ता॒दृगप॑ गूहः सम॒र्ये । आ॒विः स्वः॑ कृणु॒ते गूह॑ते बु॒सं स पा॒दुर॑स्य नि॒र्णिजो॒ न मु॑च्यते ॥

That, O man, is your life line, the trinity of sun, air and water, Know it, and know that divine Indra. It’s all his. In the serious holy business of living, forget it not, nor let life slip away. Indra creates and opens out the bliss of life, consumes the waste to create further, and this evolutionary cyclic process of the life giver never ends, it continues.

✦ Sukta 28 · 12 verses ✦

10.28.1

विश्वो॒ ह्य१॒॑न्यो अ॒रिरा॑ज॒गाम॒ ममेदह॒ श्वशु॑रो॒ ना ज॑गाम । ज॒क्षी॒याद्धा॒ना उ॒त सोमं॑ पपीया॒त्स्वा॑शितः॒ पुन॒रस्तं॑ जगायात् ॥

Vasukra’s wife says: All other masterly powers are arrived here. Only the chief is not come. I wish he were here, accept our hospitality of food and drink and, satisfied and fulfilled, go back to his seat. (The soul emerges in the body, takes over and rules over the body system after all other powers have developed and the body is mature for emergence of the soul. So is the social system the soul of which is the sovereign ruling power. So is the cosmos, the ruling soul of the system is Indra.)

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10.28.2

स रोरु॑वद्वृष॒भस्ति॒ग्मशृ॑ङ्गो॒ वर्ष्म॑न्तस्थौ॒ वरि॑म॒न्ना पृ॑थि॒व्याः । विश्वे॑ष्वेनं वृ॒जने॑षु पामि॒ यो मे॑ कु॒क्षी सु॒तसो॑मः पृ॒णाति॑ ॥

Indra: I, mighty ruling power, harbinger of showers of plenty and prosperity, commanding sharpest forces of defence and offence, abide on top of the mighty expanse of the earth. Whoever the maker of soma that offers me homage and hospitality to my pleasure and satisfaction, I defend, protect and promote in all battles of life.

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10.28.3

अद्रि॑णा ते म॒न्दिन॑ इन्द्र॒ तूया॑न्त्सु॒न्वन्ति॒ सोमा॒न्पिब॑सि॒ त्वमे॑षाम् । पच॑न्ति ते वृष॒भाँ अत्सि॒ तेषां॑ पृ॒क्षेण॒ यन्म॑घवन्हू॒यमा॑नः ॥

Vasukra: O mighty ruler of wealth and power, Indra, happy performers of the yajnic system, with the best of equipment, extract exciting soma juice and they prepare sanative tonics from vrshabha herbs, of which,when cordially invited, you drink and taste with pleasure to your satisfaction and fulfilment.

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10.28.4

इ॒दं सु मे॑ जरित॒रा चि॑किद्धि प्रती॒पं शापं॑ न॒द्यो॑ वहन्ति । लो॒पा॒शः सिं॒हं प्र॒त्यञ्च॑मत्साः क्रो॒ष्टा व॑रा॒हं निर॑तक्त॒ कक्षा॑त् ॥

O celebrant, know this force of my power: By the dynamic force of my system and order, the stream of ordered life can carry off criticism, opposition and contradictions and throw out all poisonous elements, the ordinary vegetarian citizen faces and drives off the violent carnivorous enemy, and a single clarion call would dig out and throw out the most destructive terrorist forces from the darkest den.

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10.28.5

क॒था त॑ ए॒तद॒हमा चि॑केतं॒ गृत्स॑स्य॒ पाक॑स्त॒वसो॑ मनी॒षाम् । त्वं नो॑ वि॒द्वाँ ऋ॑तु॒था वि वो॑चो॒ यमर्धं॑ ते मघवन्क्षे॒म्या धूः ॥

O lord of wealth and power, all knowing all watching ruler of the world, Indra, how would I, a simple man, understand and know this mysterious ground power and policy of yours, wise and versatile master of the mighty order. O lord, you alone know, you alone can enlighten us about the admirable basis and direction of your policy of peace and progress of humanity according to the time and season.

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10.28.6

ए॒वा हि मां त॒वसं॑ व॒र्धय॑न्ति दि॒वश्चि॑न्मे बृह॒त उत्त॑रा॒ धूः । पु॒रू स॒हस्रा॒ नि शि॑शामि सा॒कम॑श॒त्रंय हि मा॒ जनि॑ता ज॒जान॑ ॥

Thus do they (assistant powers) exalt me, mighty soul, ruler of the system. The foundation, structure, direction and stability of the system, the power I wield to sustain and rule the system is greater than the vast heavens. A thousand foes I eliminate, all at once, with a single stroke. Indeed the creative powers that generate and manifest me as power generate me without enemy and opposition.

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10.28.7

ए॒वा हि मां त॒वसं॑ ज॒ज्ञुरु॒ग्रं कर्म॑न्कर्म॒न्वृष॑णमिन्द्र दे॒वाः । वधीं॑ वृ॒त्रं वज्रे॑ण मन्दसा॒नोऽप॑ व्र॒जं म॑हि॒ना दा॒शुषे॑ वम् ॥

Thus do the devas, divine powers and faculties create and know me as mighty and formidable, virile and generous in every act of the system. Happily with the mighty vajra, vital power, I break the dark cloud of rain with mighty thunder and open the paths of progress for the creative and generous vital channels of the dynamics of the system.

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10.28.8

दे॒वास॑ आयन्पर॒शूँर॑बिभ्र॒न्वना॑ वृ॒श्चन्तो॑ अ॒भि वि॒ड्भिरा॑यन् । नि सु॒द्र्वं१॒॑ दध॑तो व॒क्षणा॑सु॒ यत्रा॒ कृपी॑ट॒मनु॒ तद्द॑हन्ति ॥

Let men of power and enlightenment march forward bearing weapons of defence and action, felling forests and oppositions, march forward with people of the land, stay the floods of rivers, release the flow into streams and canals, burning the undergrowth and drying up pools of stagnant water.

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10.28.9

श॒शः क्षु॒रं प्र॒त्यञ्चं॑ जगा॒राद्रिं॑ लो॒गेन॒ व्य॑भेदमा॒रात् । बृ॒हन्तं॑ चिदृह॒ते र॑न्धयानि॒ वय॑द्व॒त्सो वृ॑ष॒भं शूशु॑वानः ॥

The deer faces and beats up the tiger of fatal paw since I can break up the mountain with a lump of clay from far or near. I can crush the biggest with the tiniest, and the calf, waxing with strength, can force the bull to retreat and run. (This is the might of soul and prana).

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10.28.10

सु॒प॒र्ण इ॒त्था न॒खमा सि॑षा॒याव॑रुद्धः परि॒पदं॒ न सिं॒हः । नि॒रु॒द्धश्चि॑न्महि॒षस्त॒र्ष्यावा॑न्गो॒धा तस्मा॑ अ॒यथं॑ कर्षदे॒तत् ॥

Let Suparna, Indra, the soul on top all round of the living system and at the centre of the self, confirm, hold and monitor its power-in-readiness as this: Like the lion in the den ready with his paw, like a rhino in position thirsting to strike (as a battery of force and power calibrated unto the live switch) and the power like the bow string in optimum tension would strike and throw out and far off the negativities and enemies wherever they be, (such is the force and power of prana, spirit and soul of the living system at individual, social and cosmic level) in service for the master, Indra.

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10.28.11

तेभ्यो॑ गो॒धा अ॒यथं॑ कर्षदे॒तद्ये ब्र॒ह्मणः॑ प्रति॒पीय॒न्त्यन्नैः॑ । सि॒म उ॒क्ष्णो॑ऽवसृ॒ष्टाँ अ॑दन्ति स्व॒यं बला॑नि त॒न्वः॑ शृणा॒नाः ॥

The systemic strength in optimum tension spontaneously throws out those who, feeding on the nutriments provided by the system itself, abuse, revile and sabotage the social order, eating into all the creativities of the system and thereby, at the same time, damage the strength of their bodies by themselves.

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10.28.12

ए॒ते शमी॑भिः सु॒शमी॑ अभूव॒न्ये हि॑न्वि॒रे त॒न्वः१॒॑ सोम॑ उ॒क्थैः । नृ॒वद्वद॒न्नुप॑ नो माहि॒ वाजा॑न्दि॒वि श्रवो॑ दधिषे॒ नाम॑ वी॒रः ॥

Those persons rise to creative power and grandeur who, with holy words and noble acts of yajnic creations of soma peace and vitality serve life and humanity and strengthen and advance the body of the social order and thus address the ruling power: O ruling soul of the order, speaking and proclaiming as leader, pioneer and ruler, bring us all our share of sustenance and power, acknowledge our achievement and victory, and feel great that you wield the honour and power of the order, yours is the name and the glory from earth to heaven. You are the heroic brave.

✦ Sukta 29 · 8 verses ✦

10.29.1

वने॒ न वा॒ यो न्य॑धायि चा॒कञ्छुचि॑र्वां॒ स्तोमो॑ भुरणावजीगः । यस्येदिन्द्रः॑ पुरु॒दिने॑षु॒ होता॑ नृ॒णां नर्यो॒ नृत॑मः क्ष॒पावा॑न् ॥

Like the baby bird placed in the nest on the tree, waiting and watching for the mother bird, and the mother bird arriving, may this song of love and purity reach you, O complementary powers of light, Ashvins, the song, of which Indra, ruler of the world, is the inspirer and deity, manliest leader of men, who rules over the day and night of human activity.

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10.29.2

प्र ते॑ अ॒स्या उ॒षसः॒ प्राप॑रस्या नृ॒तौ स्या॑म॒ नृत॑मस्य नृ॒णाम् । अनु॑ त्रि॒शोकः॑ श॒तमाव॑ह॒न्नॄन्कुत्से॑न॒ रथो॒ यो अस॑त्सस॒वान् ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, manliest leader of the leaders of humanity, lord of triple splendour of knowledge, action and spiritual advancement, who command a hundred heroes by virtue of power and thunder, source of peace, advancement and bliss, may we ever abide in the light and joy of the dawn of today and of other days to come in our course of life.

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10.29.3

कस्ते॒ मद॑ इन्द्र॒ रन्त्यो॑ भू॒द्दुरो॒ गिरो॑ अ॒भ्यु१॒॑ग्रो वि धा॑व । कद्वाहो॑ अ॒र्वागुप॑ मा मनी॒षा आ त्वा॑ शक्यामुप॒मं राधो॒ अन्नैः॑ ॥

What is the most exhilarating song of prayer and presentation dear to you? O lustrous lord of force and power, come to us by the doors of yajna in response to our songs of invocation. Harbinger of power and peace, when shall I see you face to face? When will my prayer be fruitful? When shall I be able to regale you with homage and adoration, most eminent master and ruler?

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10.29.4

कदु॑ द्यु॒म्नमि॑न्द्र॒ त्वाव॑तो॒ नॄन्कया॑ धि॒या क॑रस॒य कन्न॒ आग॑न् । मि॒त्रो न स॒त्य उ॑रुगाय भृ॒त्या अन्ने॑ समस्य॒ यदस॑न्मनी॒षाः ॥

Indra, when shall we have the light, power and honour of prosperity in life? What is that order of intelligence by which you transform humans to divine consciousness of your presence? When would you reveal your presence to us in direct experience? O lord adorable ever true as friend, when would our thoughts and actions be fruitful and win your favour of food, sustenance and stability for all mankind in peace and prosperity?

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10.29.5

प्रेर॑य॒ सूरो॒ अर्थं॒ न पा॒रं ये अ॑स्य॒ कामं॑ जनि॒धा इ॑व॒ ग्मन् । गिर॑श्च॒ ये ते॑ तुविजात पू॒र्वीर्नर॑ इन्द्र प्रति॒शिक्ष॒न्त्यन्नैः॑ ॥

Indra, like the sun that leads from darkness to light, inspire and lead humanity to the attainment of their desire for freedom across the world, all who entertain this ambition like their love for home life earlier. O lord of infinite manifestation, bless all those people who adore you with songs of universal exhortation, who guide others to sing and pray with universal voice, and who offer homage to divinity with foods and charity in various forms.

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10.29.6

मात्रे॒ नु ते॒ सुमि॑ते इन्द्र पू॒र्वी द्यौर्म॒ज्मना॑ पृथि॒वी काव्ये॑न । वरा॑य ते घृ॒तव॑न्तः सु॒तासः॒ स्वाद्म॑न्भवन्तु पी॒तये॒ मधू॑नि ॥

O Indra, lord omniscient and omnipotent, mother earth and the heaven of light, both ancient and eternal in the existential cycle, are created in excellent measure of form and function by your vision and power. May the delicious and refined honey drinks of soma and sumptuous foods gifted by sun and earth be exhilarating and delightful for noble humanity and for their yajnic homage to you.

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10.29.7

आ मध्वो॑ अस्मा असिच॒न्नम॑त्र॒मिन्द्रा॑य पू॒र्णं स हि स॒त्यरा॑धाः । स वा॑वृधे॒ वरि॑म॒न्ना पृ॑थि॒व्या अ॒भि क्रत्वा॒ नर्यः॒ पौंस्यै॑श्च ॥

Let us offer the honey sweet bowl of our heart and soul overflowing with love and faith to Indra who is truly magnificent and munificent. He is the benevolent guide of humanity and supreme leader of leaders and by his powers, potentials and creative actions manifests higher and exalted over the expansive earth and space.

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10.29.8

व्या॑न॒ळिन्द्रः॒ पृत॑नाः॒ स्वोजा॒ आस्मै॑ यतन्ते स॒ख्याय॑ पू॒र्वीः । आ स्मा॒ रथं॒ न पृत॑नासु तिष्ठ॒ यं भ॒द्रया॑ सुम॒त्या चो॒दया॑से ॥

Indra, lord of holy light and lustre, pervades the peoples’ heart and soul within and joins them in their struggles in the world outside. The best of people since time immemorial try to win his love and friendship with homage, prayer and meditation. O lord of cosmic chariot, ruler of the world, come to us to bless us and our social order like a master of the chariot among people whom you inspire and bless with clear intelligence, noble ambition and holy enthusiasm in the right direction.

✦ Sukta 30 · 15 verses ✦

10.30.1

प्र दे॑व॒त्रा ब्रह्म॑णे गा॒तुरे॑त्व॒पो अच्छा॒ मन॑सो॒ न प्रयु॑क्ति । म॒हीं मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य धा॒सिं पृ॑थु॒ज्रय॑से रीरधा सुवृ॒क्तिम् ॥

Let our voice of thanks and praise, our acts of yajnic creation and self-sacrifice in service of the cosmic sustainer, reach all the divine energies and powers of nature and humanity which are ever on the move and sustain life, and let this expression be the very symbol of the total dedication of our mind and soul. O celebrant, O high priest of yajna, proclaim and realise this our will to live as a mighty gift of the lord of love and judgement, and proclaim as well our vision of the ultimate freedom from selfish attachment, which we would realise in dedication to our own spirit, to the social order, and to the infinite lord of cosmic dynamics with the same love and judgement.

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10.30.2

अध्व॑र्यवो ह॒विष्म॑न्तो॒ हि भू॒ताच्छा॒प इ॑तोश॒तीरु॑शन्तः । अव॒ याश्चष्टे॑ अरु॒णः सु॑प॒र्णस्तमास्य॑ध्वमू॒र्मिम॒द्या सु॑हस्ताः ॥

O priests and organisers of the socio-cosmic order, bear and bring the fragrant materials of yajnic action for development, rise with passion and enthusiasm, reach the vaulting waters of life, and with open expert hands today receive the waves which the moon and ocean raise and the flood of light and energy which the sun showers down.

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10.30.3

अध्व॑र्यवो॒ऽप इ॑ता समु॒द्रम॒पां नपा॑तं ह॒विषा॑ यजध्वम् । स वो॑ दददू॒र्मिम॒द्या सुपू॑तं॒ तस्मै॒ सोमं॒ मधु॑मन्तं सुनोत ॥

O priests and organisers, reach the ocean and the waters of space and connect with the sun and light in space and skies with the right materials of yajna. The sun never allows the waters to exhaust and gives you the purest showers ever. Create and offer the sweetest and most powerful soma oblations to the sun for permanent supply of liquid energies for the sustenance of life.

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10.30.4

यो अ॑नि॒ध्मो दीद॑यद॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तर्यं विप्रा॑स॒ ईळ॑ते अध्व॒रेषु॑ । अपां॑ नपा॒न्मधु॑मतीर॒पो दा॒ याभि॒रिन्द्रो॑ वावृ॒धे वी॒र्या॑य ॥

O sun who burn and shine in space without fuels of fire, whom priests and scientists serve and adore in yajna, who never allow liquid energies of the world to exhaust, pray give us the honey sweets of liquid energies by which Indra, ruler of the world order on earth, may rise to strength and accomplish great deeds for humanity.

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10.30.5

याभिः॒ सोमो॒ मोद॑ते॒ हर्ष॑ते च कल्या॒णीभि॑र्युव॒तिभि॒र्न मर्यः॑ । ता अ॑ध्वर्यो अ॒पो अच्छा॒ परे॑हि॒ यदा॑सि॒ञ्चा ओष॑धीभिः पुनीतात् ॥

The liquids with which Soma, the ruling spirit, rejoices and feels exhilarated as men feel happy and exhilarated by noble youthful women, those exciting liquid energies, O high priest of yajna, find from far and near, and when you find them, then cleanse and strengthen the drinks and sanatives for health and joy.

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10.30.6

ए॒वेद्यूने॑ युव॒तयो॑ नमन्त॒ यदी॑मु॒शन्नु॑श॒तीरेत्यच्छ॑ । सं जा॑नते॒ मन॑सा॒ सं चि॑कित्रेऽध्व॒र्यवो॑ धि॒षणाप॑श्च दे॒वीः ॥

Just as youthful women submit to young men, and as men with love eagerly advance to loving women, so do the leaders of social and scientific yajna know the liquid energies of nature and with their science and intelligence create, obtain and develop. So do also they develop the energies and competence of the rising youthful generation for the social yajna of the world order of humanity.

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10.30.7

यो वो॑ वृ॒ताभ्यो॒ अकृ॑णोदु लो॒कं यो वो॑ म॒ह्या अ॒भिश॑स्ते॒रमु॑ञ्चत् । तस्मा॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ मधु॑मन्तमू॒र्मिं दे॑व॒माद॑नं॒ प्र हि॑णोतनापः ॥

O people of the social order of the world, committed to honesty and loyalty, the ruler who opens the doors of freedom against inhibition and creates a beautiful world for you, for that Indra, mighty ruler, create honey sweet fragrances of exhilarating environment and offer him divinely joyous foods and drinks of self-fulfilment.

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10.30.8

प्रास्मै॑ हिनोत॒ मधु॑मन्तमू॒र्मिं गर्भो॒ यो वः॑ सिन्धवो॒ मध्व॒ उत्सः॑ । घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठ॒मीड्य॑मध्व॒रेष्वापो॑ रेवतीः शृणु॒ता हवं॑ मे ॥

O streams of life aflow, O dynamic people blest with wealth, honour and excellence, listen to my call and exhortation: Create and set in flow the sweetest honeyed waves of joy for this master power and ruler who is the fountain head and fathomless ocean source of your joy and fulfilment, refulgent and illustrious, adorable in the noblest yajnic meets of the world.

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10.30.9

तं सि॑न्धवो मत्स॒रमि॑न्द्र॒पान॑मू॒र्मिं प्र हे॑त॒ य उ॒भे इय॑र्ति । म॒द॒च्युत॑मौशा॒नं न॑भो॒जां परि॑ त्रि॒तन्तुं॑ वि॒चर॑न्त॒मुत्स॑म् ॥

O streams of life, dynamic people of the world, inspire and set in motion that joyous wave of living and working worthy of all ruling Indra which helps to realise both ends of life, fulfilment over here and freedom of moksha hereafter, overflowing with divine ecstasy, admirable, heavenly, universal, good for earth, heaven and the middle regions, continuous for three living generations, dynamic as the river and deep as ocean.

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10.30.10

आ॒वर्वृ॑तती॒रध॒ नु द्वि॒धारा॑ गोषु॒युधो॒ न नि॑य॒वं चर॑न्तीः । ऋषे॒ जनि॑त्री॒र्भुव॑नस्य॒ पत्नी॑र॒पो व॑न्दस्व स॒वृधः॒ सयो॑नीः ॥

O sage, visionary celebrant of the yajnic world order, respect, honour and celebrate the vibrant people of the land, fluent in action like winding streams, dedicated in thought, word and deed to the two streams of individual and collective good, observing a compact order of law like fighting forces deployed on fields of action over the same one earth, creators, planners and achievers of yajnic development, having a common origin and growing and moving together in one direction.

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10.30.11

हि॒नोता॑ नो अध्व॒रं दे॑वय॒ज्या हि॒नोत॒ ब्रह्म॑ स॒नये॒ धना॑नाम् । ऋ॒तस्य॒ योगे॒ वि ष्य॑ध्व॒मूधः॑ श्रुष्टी॒वरी॑र्भूतना॒स्मभ्य॑मापः ॥

O dynamic powers of nature, O vibrant people of the earth, in worship of the lord supreme, in honour of mother nature’s divinities, and for love and well being of noble humanity, inspire and accelerate our yajnic action in cooperation, for the achievement of wealth, honour and excellence raise the voice of divine knowledge, application and action, in the pursuit of collective action under the laws of nature and grateful humanity, open the sluice gates of clouds and unlock the treasure holds of wealth. O powers of the dynamic flow of existence, be good, creative and blissful for our well being.

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10.30.12

आपो॑ रेवतीः॒ क्षय॑था॒ हि वस्वः॒ क्रतुं॑ च भ॒द्रं बि॑भृ॒थामृतं॑ च । रा॒यश्च॒ स्थ स्व॑प॒त्यस्य॒ पत्नीः॒ सर॑स्वती॒ तद्गृ॑ण॒ते वयो॑ धात् ॥

O cosmic dynamics of mother nature, O fluent streams of earth and the environment, O vibrant people of the land, O generous mothers of mankind, be master rulers of the world’s wealth, promote the yajnic development, well being and immortal values of happy life, be protectors and promoters of the veins of nation’s wealth and makers of the noble generations of humanity’s heroes. May Sarasvati, mother stream of divine knowledge, culture and grace bear and bring good health, full age and vibrant energy for the celebrant.

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10.30.13

प्रति॒ यदापो॒ अदृ॑श्रमाय॒तीर्घृ॒तं पयां॑सि॒ बिभ्र॑ती॒र्मधू॑नि । अ॒ध्व॒र्युभि॒र्मन॑सा संविदा॒ना इन्द्रा॑य॒ सोमं॒ सुषु॑तं॒ भर॑न्तीः ॥

Apah, all fluent streams of nature and humanity, dynamic forces, powers and people of the world, I see you rising and coming in response to the call and prayer of the high priests and celebrants of yajna, bearing water, milk and ghrta and the honey sweets of life for fertility and life’s generation, in perfect union with the mind, hopes and aspirations of the priests and yajakas on the vedi and bringing pure distilled Soma beauty, prosperity and joy for Indra, ruling power and reigning glory of life.

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10.30.14

एमा अ॑ग्मन्रे॒वती॑र्जी॒वध॑न्या॒ अध्व॑र्यवः सा॒दय॑ता सखायः । नि ब॒र्हिषि॑ धत्तन सोम्यासो॒ऽपां नप्त्रा॑ संविदा॒नास॑ एनाः ॥

Friends, priests and yajakas, these waters, vibrant energies of nature and dynamic powers and personalities of humanity, all overflowing with life, fertility and generative potential, are come here. Give them an honourable place in yajna. They know, they are united with us, and they are blissful, and they never allow the waters of life to exhaust. Know them, seat them on the holy grass and create the beauties and joy of life for all.

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10.30.15

आग्म॒न्नाप॑ उश॒तीर्ब॒र्हिरेदं न्य॑ध्व॒रे अ॑सदन्देव॒यन्तीः॑ । अध्व॑र्यवः सुनु॒तेन्द्रा॑य॒ सोम॒मभू॑दु वः सु॒शका॑ देवय॒ज्या ॥

Brilliant, fluent and divine energies, powers and personalities, united in love with divinity and noble humanity have come and they are seated on the holy grass in the corporate yajna of love and non-violence for development and the creation of life divine for humanity. O priests, O yajakas, create the soma for Indra, ruling power and reigning glory of life, and may your yajnic prayers and programmes for life and humanity be realised successfully.

✦ Sukta 31 · 11 verses ✦

10.31.1

आ नो॑ दे॒वाना॒मुप॑ वेतु॒ शंसो॒ विश्वे॑भिस्तु॒रैरव॑से॒ यज॑त्रः । तेभि॑र्व॒यं सु॑ष॒खायो॑ भवेम॒ तर॑न्तो॒ विश्वा॑ दुरि॒ता स्या॑म ॥

May the adorable word and wisdom of lord Supreme and all divinities of nature and humanity come to us in communion with all the speed, power and excellence of the world for our protection and progress. May we be good friends with them and cross over all hurdles, sins and evils of existence.

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10.31.2

परि॑ चि॒न्मर्तो॒ द्रवि॑णं ममन्यादृ॒तस्य॑ प॒था नम॒सा वि॑वासेत् । उ॒त स्वेन॒ क्रतु॑ना॒ सं व॑देत॒ श्रेयां॑सं॒ दक्षं॒ मन॑सा जगृभ्यात् ॥

Let mortal man love and desire wealth, honour and excellence in the comprehensive context of the world and divinity, shine and refine it with faith and reverence by the path of truth and universal law, speak of it, think and define it with his own conscience in communion with divinity, and then, with his own mind and soul, realise the high degree of expertise, vision and perfection of thought, action and achievement for himself. (Divinity, humanity, nature, the world around, these are the context of our success and achievement.)

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10.31.3

अधा॑यि धी॒तिरस॑सृग्र॒मंशा॑स्ती॒र्थे न द॒स्ममुप॑ य॒न्त्यूमाः॑ । अ॒भ्या॑नश्म सुवि॒तस्य॑ शू॒षं नवे॑दसो अ॒मृता॑नामभूम ॥

Maturity of thought and concentration is achieved, vibrations of thought in waves flow in, protective and illuminative for the spirit in virile posture like waves of flood on the holy shore. Thus may we achieve the power of success and prosperity, thus may we be knowers and achievers of the boons of immortals in knowledge, awareness and, in fact, in our very being.

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10.31.4

नित्य॑श्चाकन्या॒त्स्वप॑ति॒र्दमू॑ना॒ यस्मा॑ उ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता ज॒जान॑ । भगो॑ वा॒ गोभि॑रर्य॒मेम॑नज्या॒त्सो अ॑स्मै॒ चारु॑श्छदयदु॒त स्या॑त् ॥

May the lord eternal, master of the world’s wealth of Prakrti, generous and potent, love to give and bless humanity for whom Savita, lord creator and generator provides all things of existence, and may Bhaga, lord of universal power and prosperity, and Aryama, lord of justice and dispensation, enlighten him with the word of knowledge, and may the lord of love, beauty and bounty, provide man the sweet shade of protection for advancement.

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10.31.5

इ॒यं सा भू॑या उ॒षसा॑मिव॒ क्षा यद्ध॑ क्षु॒मन्तः॒ शव॑सा स॒माय॑न् । अ॒स्य स्तु॒तिं ज॑रि॒तुर्भिक्ष॑माणा॒ आ नः॑ श॒ग्मास॒ उप॑ यन्तु॒ वाजाः॑ ॥

When clouds laden with power and plenty of rain, and sages with words of enlightenment and power come and bless the earth, then this world of humanity, like the light and freshness of the dawns, shines and prospers on earth, and seekers of wisdom and power asking the sages for knowledge and wisdom of divinity and power and advancement on earth flock here to us, and we pray may power and prosperity continue to flow in for us and our children.

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10.31.6

अ॒स्येदे॒षा सु॑म॒तिः प॑प्रथा॒नाभ॑वत्पू॒र्व्या भूम॑ना॒ गौः । अ॒स्य सनी॑ळा॒ असु॑रस्य॒ योनौ॑ समा॒न आ भर॑णे॒ बिभ्र॑माणाः ॥

This knowledge and wisdom, this Vedic voice of this sage of divinity, may, we pray, be universal, eternal and ever expansive, and may we, united and organised together on this equal and undivided earth, abide under the same one social order of this mighty life-giving ruler, living safe, secure and sustained in a state of peace and progress.

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10.31.7

किं स्वि॒द्वनं॒ क उ॒ स वृ॒क्ष आ॑स॒ यतो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी नि॑ष्टत॒क्षुः । सं॒त॒स्था॒ने अ॒जरे॑ इ॒तऊ॑ती॒ अहा॑नि पू॒र्वीरु॒षसो॑ जरन्त ॥

Which is that forest, which was that tree, that material cause, from which the Vishvedevas, divine powers of lord Supreme, fashioned forth the heaven and earth sustained in cosmic order in the imperishable universe, safe and protected, which the eternal days and nights and the dawns at morning and evening proclaim and adore.

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10.31.8

नैताव॑दे॒ना प॒रो अ॒न्यद॑स्त्यु॒क्षा स द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी बि॑भर्ति । त्वचं॑ प॒वित्रं॑ कृणुत स्व॒धावा॒न्यदीं॒ सूर्यं॒ न ह॒रितो॒ वह॑न्ति ॥

There is no other universe like this nor beyond this, and yet there is one power not just exactly as this but beyond, and that is the mighty generous creator and generator who bears this heaven and earth. That is the master lord of Prakrti, his own Shakti, the mighty material cause of the universe, and he creates and structures the sacred form of it and bears it all as the cosmic energies and space directions bear the sun.

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10.31.9

स्ते॒गो न क्षामत्ये॑ति पृ॒थ्वीं मिहं॒ न वातो॒ वि ह॑ वाति॒ भूम॑ । मि॒त्रो यत्र॒ वरु॑णो अ॒ज्यमा॑नो॒ऽग्निर्वने॒ न व्यसृ॑ष्ट॒ शोक॑म् ॥

As the sun lights up and transcends the earth, as the wind shakes the cloud of life showers and passes, so does he pervade and transcend the heaven and earth, so does he move the universe to creative activity. Where Mitra, the sun, and Varuna, the moon, i.e., the couple— prana and apana, heat and water, sun and air, sun and moon, energised and impassioned, create and release life energy, heat and desire, there Agni releases the life of life as fire releases heat and vests it in the wood.

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10.31.10

स्त॒रीर्यत्सूत॑ स॒द्यो अ॒ज्यमा॑ना॒ व्यथि॑रव्य॒थीः कृ॑णुत॒ स्वगो॑पा । पु॒त्रो यत्पूर्वः॑ पि॒त्रोर्जनि॑ष्ट श॒म्यां गौर्ज॑गार॒ यद्ध॑ पृ॒च्छान् ॥

Like the heifer, mother Prakrti (void of life in pre-creation stage of existence) is immediately energised and impregnated by the Spirit of life Supreme, master of the herd of living forms. The original and efficient cause, first mover, creates motion in the unmoved and unmoving, and makes the potential forms move in their orbits. The saviour protector and presiding power that existed awake as ever, even before the parental couples, manifested in action and mother Prakrti gave birth to forms which now ask, seek and worship the mystery.

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10.31.11

उ॒त कण्वं॑ नृ॒षदः॑ पु॒त्रमा॑हुरु॒त श्या॒वो धन॒माद॑त्त वा॒जी । प्र कृ॒ष्णाय॒ रुश॑दपिन्व॒तोध॑ॠ॒तमत्र॒ नकि॑रस्मा अपीपेत् ॥

And man, the intelligent, they call the child of divine energy. The vibrant, the wise and bold achieve the wealth of life and divinity, and for such as draw the attention and love of divinity, the lord opens his treasure hold of joy and blesses them. None other than divinity can bless humanity with joy and ultimate fulfilment.

✦ Sukta 32 · 9 verses ✦

10.32.1

प्र सु ग्मन्ता॑ धियसा॒नस्य॑ स॒क्षणि॑ व॒रेभि॑र्व॒राँ अ॒भि षु प्र॒सीद॑तः । अ॒स्माक॒मिन्द्र॑ उ॒भयं॑ जुजोषति॒ यत्सो॒म्यस्यान्ध॑सो॒ बुबो॑धति ॥

May Indra, omnificent spirit and highest presence of the universe, cherished object of the meditative seeker, move to accept the best of the seeker’s acts of homage and surrender and bless him in his state of clairvoyant ecstasy with the objects of his love and desire. Indeed Indra, who acknowledges the homage and service of the man dedicated to search for divinity, loves, joins and rewards our search for knowledge and action with fulfilment.

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10.32.2

वी॑न्द्र यासि दि॒व्यानि॑ रोच॒ना वि पार्थि॑वानि॒ रज॑सा पुरुष्टुत । ये त्वा॒ वह॑न्ति॒ मुहु॑रध्व॒राँ उप॒ ते सु व॑न्वन्तु वग्व॒नाँ अ॑रा॒धसः॑ ॥

Indra, omnipotent light of the universe, adored and worshipped by all, by your universal light and energy you pervade and radiate over all divine luminaries of earth,

heaven and all space. Those who continuously send up their prayers and dedicate their yajnic actions and endeavours to you win the fruits of their prayers and worship and thereby eliminate all their want and deprivations.

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10.32.3

तदिन्मे॑ छन्त्स॒द्वपु॑षो॒ वपु॑ष्टरं पु॒त्रो यज्जानं॑ पि॒त्रोर॒धीय॑ति । जा॒या पतिं॑ वहति व॒ग्नुना॑ सु॒मत्पुं॒स इद्भ॒द्रो व॑ह॒तुः परि॑ष्कृतः ॥

Let it be more and more pleasing for me as soul in body form then when man grows more and more handsome than beauty itself in existence, when the child born of parents carries the family line higher forward, when the wife pleases the husband and exhorts him with sweet words to love and noble thoughts, and it is nice and auspicious for the man to be good and cleansed at heart by love and loyalty.

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10.32.4

तदित्स॒धस्थ॑म॒भि चारु॑ दीधय॒ गावो॒ यच्छास॑न्वह॒तुं न धे॒नवः॑ । मा॒ता यन्मन्तु॑र्यू॒थस्य॑ पू॒र्व्याभि वा॒णस्य॑ स॒प्तधा॑तु॒रिज्जनः॑ ॥

Indra, give us a bright happy home where illuminative voices of divine Vedic wisdom rule and lead the family as horses draw the chariot, where the mother is honoured as the first and intelligent centre of the family and where the inmates are healthy and virile with all the seven vitalities of physical health.

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10.32.5

प्र वोऽच्छा॑ रिरिचे देव॒युष्प॒दमेको॑ रु॒द्रेभि॑र्याति तु॒र्वणिः॑ । ज॒रा वा॒ येष्व॒मृते॑षु दा॒वने॒ परि॑ व॒ ऊमे॑भ्यः सिञ्चता॒ मधु॑ ॥

O seekers of divinity, there is only one guide and leader for you who creates and provides the ultimate haven for you with the divines. And that is Indra who readily and instantly comes with his powers of justice, reward and punishment. And among the seekers of immortality and freedom, divine worship and adoration alone is the ultimate and unfailing giver. Therefore offer honeyed hospitality and sincere worship for the divinities that provide the means of protection, advancement and immortality.

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10.32.6

नि॒धी॒यमा॑न॒मप॑गूळ्हम॒प्सु प्र मे॑ दे॒वानां॑ व्रत॒पा उ॑वाच । इन्द्रो॑ वि॒द्वाँ अनु॒ हि त्वा॑ च॒चक्ष॒ तेना॒हम॑ग्ने॒ अनु॑शिष्ट॒ आगा॑म् ॥

The protector and preserver of the laws of divinities, Indra, divine spirit and teacher, enlightens me and speaks of the fire and spirit of life, Agni, pervasive and concealed in the waters, in particles of Prakrti abounding in space and in the will, awareness and acts of humanity. O Agni, Indra, the spirit, only experiences and watches your presence. Taught, enlightened and committed by Indra, I have come to the realisation of your presence.

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10.32.7

अक्षे॑त्रवित्क्षेत्र॒विदं॒ ह्यप्रा॒ट् स प्रैति॑ क्षेत्र॒विदानु॑शिष्टः । ए॒तद्वै भ॒द्रम॑नु॒शास॑नस्यो॒त स्रु॒तिं वि॑न्दत्यञ्ज॒सीना॑म् ॥

Let the man ignorant of the field of life ask the teacher who knows the field and facts of life and who can communicate, and, thus taught and trained, go forward in the business of living. This only is the holy and auspicious end and aim of teaching and training for life. And this is the way of the evolution and development of tradition by which man gets enlightened on way to progress.

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10.32.8

अ॒द्येदु॒ प्राणी॒दम॑मन्नि॒माहापी॑वृतो अधयन्मा॒तुरूधः॑ । एमे॑नमाप जरि॒मा युवा॑न॒महे॑ळ॒न्वसुः॑ सु॒मना॑ बभूव ॥

Just today Indra, the soul, starts receiving the energy of prana in the womb, then, covered in the womb these days, it has the feel of its existence, then, when born it sucks the mother’s milk, then it grows, thought and language comes to it, adolescence and youth, and finally old age takes it over the youth. O lord, let the resident soul in the body be holy at heart without anger and frustration.

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10.32.9

ए॒तानि॑ भ॒द्रा क॑लश क्रियाम॒ कुरु॑श्रवण॒ दद॑तो म॒घानि॑ । दा॒न इद्वो॑ मघवानः॒ सो अ॑स्त्व॒यं च॒ सोमो॑ हृ॒दि यं बिभ॑र्मि ॥

O treasure hold of knowledge, Indra, O learned teacher, O listener of my praises and prayers, these are the holy acts of reverence and adoration which we, givers of thanks and presents, perform in homage to your honour. O men of wealth and power of knowledge, let this knowledge and this presentation of thanks and appreciation be a holy gift of gracefulness and culture, and so may this soma of knowledge be for you, the knowledge which I hold at heart in myself.

✦ Sukta 33 · 9 verses ✦

10.33.1

प्र मा॑ युयुज्रे प्र॒युजो॒ जना॑नां॒ वहा॑मि स्म पू॒षण॒मन्त॑रेण । विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॒ अध॒ माम॑रक्षन्दुः॒शासु॒रागा॒दिति॒ घोष॑ आसीत् ॥

May the divine givers of knowledge and enlightenment to the people inspire and enlighten me too, so I hold the lord giver of life and nourishment dear to my heart in the soul. May the divinities of heaven and earth in nature and humanity protect and promote me. The indomitable is come: this is the declaration.

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10.33.2

सं मा॑ तपन्त्य॒भितः॑ स॒पत्नी॑रिव॒ पर्श॑वः । नि बा॑धते॒ अम॑तिर्न॒ग्नता॒ जसु॒र्वेर्न वे॑वीयते म॒तिः ॥

All round the pressures of life oppress me like rival mistresses, adversity, depression and exhaustion bind me down to loss of self-awareness, and my understanding is paralysed like the bird’s before the hunter.

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10.33.3

मूषो॒ न शि॒श्ना व्य॑दन्ति मा॒ध्य॑ स्तो॒तारं॑ ते शतक्रतो । स॒कृत्सु नो॑ मघवन्निन्द्र मृळ॒याधा॑ पि॒तेव॑ नो भव ॥

As mice eat up the weaver’s thread soaked in starch, so do the afflictions of want and worry consume me, your celebrant, O lord of a hundred grand acts of protection, promotion and boundless generosity. O lord of power and glory, Indra, be kind and save us now as ever, and always be our saviour and protector like a father.

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10.33.4

कु॒रु॒श्रव॑णमावृणि॒ राजा॑नं॒ त्रास॑दस्यवम् । मंहि॑ष्ठं वा॒घता॒मृषिः॑ ॥

I, the man of vision and comprehensive judgement, choose and abide by the brilliant ruler, all attentive and universal listener, offspring of the destroyer of evil, want, injustice and violence, and most generous protector and patron of the wise and grateful celebrants.

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10.33.5

यस्य॑ मा ह॒रितो॒ रथे॑ ति॒स्रो वह॑न्ति साधु॒या । स्तवै॑ स॒हस्र॑दक्षिणे ॥

I celebrate and adore Indra, generous lord of thousandfold charity of kindness and grace, whose threefold gifts of divine knowledge, holy will and grateful prayer and adoration transport me like three horses of the divine chariot of human life well through and across the world of human existence to the state of freedom from limitations and eternal bliss.

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10.33.6

यस्य॒ प्रस्वा॑दसो॒ गिर॑ उप॒मश्र॑वसः पि॒तुः । क्षेत्रं॒ न र॒ण्वमू॒चुषे॑ ॥

I celebrate the brilliant ruler whose words of kindness and grace—fatherly protector, exemplary listener and exceptionally rich and honoured as he is— are like a field shower of joyous generosity for the supplicant.

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10.33.7

अधि॑ पुत्रोपमश्रवो॒ नपा॑न्मित्रातिथेरिहि । पि॒तुष्टे॑ अस्मि वन्दि॒ता ॥

O ruler, exemplary kind, exceptionally generous, honourable son and scion of the line of the ruler, friend of friends and strangers alike, I honour and adore your father and your family line. Pray come and bless.

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10.33.8

यदीशी॑या॒मृता॑नामु॒त वा॒ मर्त्या॑नाम् । जीवे॒दिन्म॒घवा॒ मम॑ ॥

If I were master controller and ruler of the mortal as well as of the immortal principles and elements of my existence, then I would be really alive in all my power and potential for all time.

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10.33.9

न दे॒वाना॒मति॑ व्र॒तं श॒तात्मा॑ च॒न जी॑वति । तथा॑ यु॒जा वि वा॑वृते ॥

No soul of a hundred year life on earth, even if it had a hundred lives, can live beyond the laws of nature and divinity, therefore it has to leave and return to life with its natural concomitants of body and mind again and again in the cycle.

✦ Sukta 34 · 14 verses ✦

10.34.1

प्रा॒वे॒पा मा॑ बृह॒तो मा॑दयन्ति प्रवाते॒जा इरि॑णे॒ वर्वृ॑तानाः । सोम॑स्येव मौजव॒तस्य॑ भ॒क्षो वि॒भीद॑को॒ जागृ॑वि॒र्मह्य॑मच्छान् ॥

The large quivering dice, made of vibhidika tree grown on grassy green mountain slopes, shaking and rolling awesome on the dice board, tantalise me like the sight of exhilarating drink from a munja grass covered mountain valley, they excite me and I lose my sleep.

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10.34.2

न मा॑ मिमेथ॒ न जि॑हीळ ए॒षा शि॒वा सखि॑भ्य उ॒त मह्य॑मासीत् । अ॒क्षस्या॒हमे॑कप॒रस्य॑ हे॒तोरनु॑व्रता॒मप॑ जा॒याम॑रोधम् ॥

This gentle lady, my wife, is good to me and to my friends, she never quarrels with me nor does she embarrass or hate me.Alas, for one reason, my persistent addiction to gambling, have I alienated my devoted wife totally dedicated to her life’s duty.

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10.34.3

द्वेष्टि॑ श्व॒श्रूरप॑ जा॒या रु॑णद्धि॒ न ना॑थि॒तो वि॑न्दते मर्डि॒तार॑म् । अश्व॑स्येव॒ जर॑तो॒ वस्न्य॑स्य॒ नाहं वि॑न्दामि कित॒वस्य॒ भोग॑म् ॥

Normally speaking, the wife of a gambler feels indifferent and alienated from him, the mother-in-law hates him, the wretched man finds no friends’sympathy, there is none to comfort him. Like an old, exhausted, broken horse, though he might have been valuable otherwise, no one bids for him. I set no value upon the gambler. Who would?

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10.34.4

अ॒न्ये जा॒यां परि॑ मृशन्त्यस्य॒ यस्यागृ॑ध॒द्वेद॑ने वा॒ज्य१॒॑क्षः । पि॒ता मा॒ता भ्रात॑र एनमाहु॒र्न जा॑नीमो॒ नय॑ता ब॒द्धमे॒तम् ॥

Others covet his wife as a possible prize since the mighty dice have cheated him of his money and all wealth. Father, mother, brother, all disown him and say: off with him, we bound and taken. We know him not.

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10.34.5

यदा॒दीध्ये॒ न द॑विषाण्येभिः परा॒यद्भ्योऽव॑ हीये॒ सखि॑भ्यः । न्यु॑प्ताश्च ब॒भ्रवो॒ वाच॒मक्र॑तँ॒ एमीदे॑षां निष्कृ॒तं जा॒रिणी॑व ॥

When I realise and think I must not play with dice and must not be miserable, even then, having so decided, I succumb to the approaching dice as to seductive friends. Red and shining dice cast in the game rattle and resound, and I walk into the den like a woman stealing to her paramour.

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10.34.6

स॒भामे॑ति कित॒वः पृ॒च्छमा॑नो जे॒ष्यामीति॑ त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ शूशु॑जानः । अ॒क्षासो॑ अस्य॒ वि ति॑रन्ति॒ कामं॑ प्रति॒दीव्ने॒ दध॑त॒ आ कृ॒तानि॑ ॥

Puffed up in body and mind, the gambler moves to the gambling house asking, even assuring, himself in mind: Shall I win? I must, this time. And his dice, held and poised in hand to defeat his rival, inflame his fire to play and win, more and more.

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10.34.7

अ॒क्षास॒ इद॑ङ्कु॒शिनो॑ नितो॒दिनो॑ नि॒कृत्वा॑न॒स्तप॑नास्तापयि॒ष्णवः॑ । कु॒मा॒रदे॑ष्णा॒ जय॑तः पुन॒र्हणो॒ मध्वा॒ सम्पृ॑क्ताः कित॒वस्य॑ ब॒र्हणा॑ ॥

The dice hold the gambler by the hook, pierce like a dagger, hew down the man and even his family from the root, as a hatchet, burn like fire and torture like incessant pain. For the winner, they bring joyous gifts for the time but later in turn they destroy, and though soaked in honey for the moment, they tear the gambler to pieces at the end.

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10.34.8

त्रि॒प॒ञ्चा॒शः क्री॑ळति॒ व्रात॑ एषां दे॒व इ॑व सवि॒ता स॒त्यध॑र्मा । उ॒ग्रस्य॑ चिन्म॒न्यवे॒ ना न॑मन्ते॒ राजा॑ चिदेभ्यो॒ नम॒ इत्कृ॑णोति ॥

The group of fifty-three of those dice is played strictly within unsparing rules of the game like the divine sun observing the laws of its motion. They do not bow even to the strongest of men, indeed the ruler bows and offers obeisance to the dice (if he too is addicted).

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10.34.9

नी॒चा व॑र्तन्त उ॒परि॑ स्फुरन्त्यह॒स्तासो॒ हस्त॑वन्तं सहन्ते । दि॒व्या अङ्गा॑रा॒ इरि॑णे॒ न्यु॑प्ताः शी॒ताः सन्तो॒ हृद॑यं॒ निर्द॑हन्ति ॥

Some time they go down, some time they spring up high, and although they are armless they beat the strongest armed warrior. Thrown upon the dice board, they can be burning brilliant and some time, even though ice cold, they burn the heart.

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10.34.10

जा॒या त॑प्यते कित॒वस्य॑ ही॒ना मा॒ता पु॒त्रस्य॒ चर॑तः॒ क्व॑ स्वित् । ऋ॒णा॒वा बिभ्य॒द्धन॑मि॒च्छमा॑नो॒ऽन्येषा॒मस्त॒मुप॒ नक्त॑मेति ॥

The forsaken wife of the gambler suffers at heart, the mother of her child wandering somewhere feels tortured by loss. Down under loss and debt, pining for money, he is oppressed by fear, and at night goes to other’s home either for shelter or for money the way he can get.

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10.34.11

स्त्रियं॑ दृ॒ष्ट्वाय॑ कित॒वं त॑तापा॒न्येषां॑ जा॒यां सुकृ॑तं च॒ योनि॑म् । पू॒र्वा॒ह्णे अश्वा॑न्युयु॒जे हि ब॒भ्रून्त्सो अ॒ग्नेरन्ते॑ वृष॒लः प॑पाद ॥

The gambler suffers when he sees his wife, and he regrets when he sees another’s wife well settled, their noble acts and comfortable home. Yet again in the forenoon he grabs the tempting dice as a warrior takes to his steed, but when the fire is gone cold, he falls down broken and farlorn.

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10.34.12

यो वः॑ सेना॒नीर्म॑ह॒तो ग॒णस्य॒ राजा॒ व्रात॑स्य प्रथ॒मो ब॒भूव॑ । तस्मै॑ कृणोमि॒ न धना॑ रुणध्मि॒ दशा॒हं प्राची॒स्तदृ॒तं व॑दामि ॥

O dice, O gamblers, to that which is the first and foremost of you, the ruler of your mighty order and organisation, the leading warrior over all of you, my homage and salutation with farewell with folded hands and all the ten fingers, open all in front with the vow that I would lose no money any more, and this is the truth I speak. (The gambler shows his ten fingers, may be, because his hands are empty now.)

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10.34.13

अ॒क्षैर्मा दी॑व्यः कृ॒षिमित्कृ॑षस्व वि॒त्ते र॑मस्व ब॒हु मन्य॑मानः । तत्र॒ गावः॑ कितव॒ तत्र॑ जा॒या तन्मे॒ वि च॑ष्टे सवि॒तायम॒र्यः ॥

Play not with dice. Till the land. Be happy with the land and wealth you produce. Take it that that much is enough and be content. There are the cows, O gambler, there your wife is happy. This is what Savita, lord of life and giver of light has revealed to me.

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10.34.14

मि॒त्रं कृ॑णुध्वं॒ खलु॑ मृ॒ळता॑ नो॒ मा नो॑ घो॒रेण॑ चरता॒भि धृ॒ष्णु । नि वो॒ नु म॒न्युर्वि॑शता॒मरा॑तिर॒न्यो ब॑भ्रू॒णां प्रसि॑तौ॒ न्व॑स्तु ॥

Be friends, make friends, be good and kind to us. Treat us not with the torture of fear and suppression. Let your anger and passion subside into peace and tranquillity, and may another unfortunate in adversity in the snares of dice be the same way free.

✦ Sukta 35 · 14 verses ✦

10.35.1

अबु॑ध्रमु॒ त्य इन्द्र॑वन्तो अ॒ग्नयो॒ ज्योति॒र्भर॑न्त उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु । म॒ही द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी चे॑तता॒मपो॒ऽद्या दे॒वाना॒मव॒ आ वृ॑णीमहे ॥

In the early hours of the dawn, those flames of morning fire bearing light and energy of the sun awake and awaken the great heaven and earth, dispelling the darkness, and arouse the people to the karmic business of the day. In this very morning hour of the day, we pray for the protection and promotive energy of the divinities of nature and humanity for enlightenment.

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10.35.2

दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्योरव॒ आ वृ॑णीमहे मा॒तॄन्त्सिन्धू॒न्पर्व॑ताञ्छर्य॒णाव॑तः । अ॒ना॒गा॒स्त्वं सूर्य॑मु॒षास॑मीमहे भ॒द्रं सोमः॑ सुवा॒नो अ॒द्या कृ॑णोतु नः ॥

We pray for the good will, protection and inspiration of heaven and earth for light and nourishment. We want the love and blessings of mother powers, the energy and liquid flow of the streams and seas, showers of clouds, the cool of mountain snows and gifts of soma herbs. We pray for the energies of all that is dynamic and generous in life. Innocent and free from sin, we pray for the rise of a new dawn and light of the sun every day. May the peace, beauty and inspiration of nature at dawn inspired with the love and power of divinity bless us with vision, will and power to act here and now so that we too may rise and shine.

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10.35.3

द्यावा॑ नो अ॒द्य पृ॑थि॒वी अना॑गसो म॒ही त्रा॑येतां सुवि॒ताय॑ मा॒तरा॑ । उ॒षा उ॒च्छन्त्यप॑ बाधताम॒घं स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

May this new day, the great mother powers of earth and heaven, generous givers of inspiration, light and settlement, protect and promote us, their innocent children, for the sake of happiness and well being. May the bright dawn now rising keep off sin and evil. We pray that the lighted fire and rising light and all enlightened powers of human will and action be good to us and all may be well and blissful.

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10.35.4

इ॒यं न॑ उ॒स्रा प्र॑थ॒मा सु॑दे॒व्यं॑ रे॒वत्स॒निभ्यो॑ रे॒वती॒ व्यु॑च्छतु । आ॒रे म॒न्युं दु॑र्वि॒दत्र॑स्य धीमहि स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

This dawn, this maiden, this first moving power of the early day, blest with wealth and energy of rising life may, we pray, shine, bring us and illuminate divine gifts of life worthy of the holies for the friendly community of seekers. May we cast off the anger and malice of the unbearables and take in and internalise the love and enthusiasm of the most challenging discipline of life divine. We pray may the lighted fire and rising dawn bring all happiness and all round well being of life.

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10.35.5

प्र याः सिस्र॑ते॒ सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभि॒र्ज्योति॒र्भर॑न्तीरु॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु । भ॒द्रा नो॑ अ॒द्य श्रव॑से॒ व्यु॑च्छत स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

The lights of dawn at the break of day which shine with rays of the sun, bearing the message of enlightenment, may, we pray, rise and radiate and be good for us today for our nourishment of body, mind and soul and for our honour and excellence of life. We pray may the lighted fire and rising dawn bring us all happiness and well being of life.

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10.35.6

अ॒न॒मी॒वा उ॒षस॒ आ च॑रन्तु न॒ उद॒ग्नयो॑ जिहतां॒ ज्योति॑षा बृ॒हत् । आयु॑क्षाताम॒श्विना॒ तूतु॑जिं॒ रथं॑ स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

May the dawns free from ailments bring us good health, and may the yajna fires rise up high with blazing light. Let the day and night keep the fastest chariot in harness for us. We pray may the lighted fire and the rising dawn bring us all happiness and well being of life.

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10.35.7

श्रेष्ठं॑ नो अ॒द्य स॑वित॒र्वरे॑ण्यं भा॒गमा सु॑व॒ स हि र॑त्न॒धा असि॑ । रा॒यो जनि॑त्रीं धि॒षणा॒मुप॑ ब्रुवे स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

O Savita, lord of life and giver of light, create for us the highest of our choice share of life’s joy to our satisfaction and pleasure as you are the treasure hold of the jewels of life. I speak and pray to the voice and omniscience of divinity, universal creator of life’s wealth: May the rising dawn and lighted fire bring us all happiness and well being of life.

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10.35.8

पिप॑र्तु मा॒ तदृ॒तस्य॑ प्र॒वाच॑नं दे॒वानां॒ यन्म॑नु॒ष्या॒३॒॑ अम॑न्महि । विश्वा॒ इदु॒स्राः स्पळुदे॑ति॒ सूर्यः॑ स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

May that original voice of divinities, which revealed the nature and laws of existence at the beginning of human creation and which we humans honour, adore and pray for, protect and promote us with fulfilment. The sun rises, the same one, and illuminates all the dawns. We pray may the lighted fire and rising dawn bless us with felicity and total fulfilment.

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10.35.9

अ॒द्वे॒षो अ॒द्य ब॒र्हिषः॒ स्तरी॑मणि॒ ग्राव्णां॒ योगे॒ मन्म॑नः॒ साध॑ ईमहे । आ॒दि॒त्यानां॒ शर्म॑णि॒ स्था भु॑रण्यसि स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

Today in the congregation of the sages on the holy grass spread on the yajna vedi of search for knowledge without jealousy, anger and malice, we pray for the fulfilment of our aspirations. O man, smart and brilliant as you are, we wish that you enjoy the light and peace of the bliss and warmth of the sun in the zodiacs throughout the year in the inspiring company of eminent scholars and thus advance. We pray that the lighted fire and rising dawn bless us with felicity and total fulfilment.

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10.35.10

आ नो॑ ब॒र्हिः स॑ध॒मादे॑ बृ॒हद्दि॒वि दे॒वाँ ई॑ळे सा॒दया॑ स॒प्त होतॄ॑न् । इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णं सा॒तये॒ भगं॑ स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

O lord of light and bliss, O Adityas, phases of the sun and earth on the move, in this joyous hall of yajna in our open ended search for physical, mental and spiritual knowledge and well being, I invoke the brilliancies of nature and humanity and pray let the seven priests be seated for the conduct of the yajna (the seven being senses of perception, senses of volition, speech, mind, discriminative intelligence, selective memory, and the self). We invoke Indra, divine and secular power, Mitra, divine and human love and cohesion with cooperation, Varuna, divine and human judgement and choice in relation to nature and society, and Bhaga, divine glory and human prosperity with power and self confidence, for sure success and victory. We pray may the lighted fire and rising dawn bless us with felicity and self fulfilment.

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10.35.11

त आ॑दित्या॒ आ ग॑ता स॒र्वता॑तये वृ॒धे नो॑ य॒ज्ञम॑वता सजोषसः । बृह॒स्पतिं॑ पू॒षण॑म॒श्विना॒ भगं॑ स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

May the Adityas come and join us with love and favour for the advancement and comprehensive success of our yajna of universal character and save, protect and promote our yajnic projects of creative progress. We invoke Brhaspati, power of infinite knowledge and speech, Pushan, power of nourishment and growth, Ashvins, complementary powers of nature and humanity, and Bhaga, spirit of universal power and prosperity and pray may the lighted fire and the rising dawn bring us felicity and total self-fulfilment.

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10.35.12

तन्नो॑ देवा यच्छत सुप्रवाच॒नं छ॒र्दिरा॑दित्याः सु॒भरं॑ नृ॒पाय्य॑म् । पश्वे॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय जी॒वसे॑ स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑ग्निं स॑मिधा॒नमी॑महे ॥

May the Adityas, divine harbingers of the light of omniscient divinity at the dawn of humanity, give us that universal word of knowledge and that peaceful settlement in life which holds all abundant power and prosperity for the protection and advancement of our human family, the animals, our children and grand children for our good health and full life of joy. We pray may the lighted fire and the rising dawn bring us all felicity and total fulfilment.

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10.35.13

विश्वे॑ अ॒द्य म॒रुतो॒ विश्व॑ ऊ॒ती विश्वे॑ भवन्त्व॒ग्नयः॒ समि॑द्धाः । विश्वे॑ नो दे॒वा अव॒सा ग॑मन्तु॒ विश्व॑मस्तु॒ द्रवि॑णं॒ वाजो॑ अ॒स्मे ॥

Today in this life of ours, may all the winds and pranic energies and all lighted fires of the world bring us all protections and promotions. May all divine powers of nature and humanity in the world come with all protection, power and progress. May all wealth, honour and excellence of the world, all speed, success and victory be our common human heritage, good fortune and universal victory.

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10.35.14

यं दे॑वा॒सोऽव॑थ॒ वाज॑सातौ॒ यं त्राय॑ध्वे॒ यं पि॑पृ॒थात्यंहः॑ । यो वो॑ गोपी॒थे न भ॒यस्य॒ वेद॒ ते स्या॑म दे॒ववी॑तये तुरासः ॥

O Vishvedevas, divine powers of nature and humanity, pray let us be, help us all to be, a happy, vibrant and dynamic human community of noble nature, character and action living the life divine and moving ahead on the holy path of life to total fulfilment here and beyond: The person and the community whom you protect, guide and lead to victory in the struggle of existence, whom you save, guard and direct against sin and suffering to success knows no fear. Pray let us be that on the paths of pilgrimage to the Life Divine.

✦ Sukta 36 · 14 verses ✦

10.36.1

उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ बृह॒ती सु॒पेश॑सा॒ द्यावा॒क्षामा॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । इन्द्रं॑ हुवे म॒रुतः॒ पर्व॑ताँ अ॒प आ॑दि॒त्यान्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒पः स्वः॑ ॥

I invoke the rising dawn of the light of day and the soothing darkness of restful night, the radiant illuminative heaven and the vast sheltering stabilising earth, both great and expansive, beautiful and beatific, I invoke Varuna, oceans of earth and spatial vapours, Mitra, friendly warmth of the sun, Aryama, refreshing breezes, Indra, infinite energy and power of nature, Maruts, stormy forces of the winds, clouds and mountains, sun rays, zodiacs of the sun, radiative energy of the sun and magnetic and gravitational energy of earth, the middle regions of space for expansion and the highest regions of light for illumination.

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10.36.2

द्यौश्च॑ नः पृथि॒वी च॒ प्रचे॑तस ऋ॒ताव॑री रक्षता॒मंह॑सो रि॒षः । मा दु॑र्वि॒दत्रा॒ निॠ॑तिर्न ईशत॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

The sun and the earth, father and mother, both sources of enlightenment, both committed to divine law and replete with dynamic energy, may, we pray, protect us from sin and violence. Let ignorance, injustice and adversity never dominate our life, let pain and suffering keep off. This is the safety, security and protection of our choice we pray for of the divinities today.

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10.36.3

विश्व॑स्मान्नो॒ अदि॑तिः पा॒त्वंह॑सो मा॒ता मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य रे॒वतः॑ । स्व॑र्व॒ज्ज्योति॑रवृ॒कं न॑शीमहि॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

May the eternal mother power, the divine Shakti, Aditi, protect us from sin and suffering of the world, she being the mother of abundant sun and ocean, love and judgement. May we receive the light of heaven without violence. This is our prayer for protection we may make to the divinities with free choice today.

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10.36.4

ग्रावा॒ वद॒न्नप॒ रक्षां॑सि सेधतु दु॒ष्ष्वप्न्यं॒ निॠ॑तिं॒ विश्व॑म॒त्रिण॑म् । आ॒दि॒त्यं शर्म॑ म॒रुता॑मशीमहि॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

May the thundering voice of wise sages keep off all destructive forces, evil dreams, want, adversity and fear of death, and all voracious elements of society. May we obtain the protection, peace and enlightenment of the leading lights and stormy troops of society. This is the shelter and protection we now pray for, of our own choice, from the divinities.

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10.36.5

एन्द्रो॑ ब॒र्हिः सीद॑तु॒ पिन्व॑ता॒मिळा॒ बृह॒स्पतिः॒ साम॑भिॠ॒क्वो अ॑र्चतु । सु॒प्र॒के॒तं जी॒वसे॒ मन्म॑ धीमहि॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

May Indra, omnipotent lord of the universe, enlighten us at heart and bless our yajnic home, may Ila, the earth and the divine voice, raise our health and awareness, may Brhaspati, sagely scholar of the divine Word, adore the spirit with songs of praise, and may we obtain divine wisdom and intelligence and meditate on the light divine. This is the favour and protection of the divinities we pray for today.

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10.36.6

दि॒वि॒स्पृशं॑ य॒ज्ञम॒स्माक॑मश्विना जी॒राध्व॑रं कृणुतं सु॒म्नमि॒ष्टये॑ । प्रा॒चीन॑रश्मि॒माहु॑तं घृ॒तेन॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

May theAshvins, complementary fire and wind, refine and energise our yajna of love and non-violence, fed on ghrta, rising in high flames as ever before, and may they raise it to the regions of the sun to bring us peace and joy for the fulfilment of our aspirations. This is the favour and protection of the divinities we pray for today.

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10.36.7

उप॑ ह्वये सु॒हवं॒ मारु॑तं ग॒णं पा॑व॒कमृ॒ष्वं स॒ख्याय॑ श॒म्भुव॑म् । रा॒यस्पोषं॑ सौश्रव॒साय॑ धीमहि॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

I invoke and call upon the band of Maruts, vibrant winds of nature and dynamic sages and pioneers of humanity, worthy of service and adoration, pure and purifying and harbingers of peace and well being, all heroic and sublime. I invoke them to win their love and friendship. We study and meditate upon wealth, energy and enrichment for participation in their grace and glory. This is the protective and promotive favour of the divinities we choose to pray for today.

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10.36.8

अ॒पां पेरुं॑ जी॒वध॑न्यं भरामहे देवा॒व्यं॑ सु॒हव॑मध्वर॒श्रिय॑म् । सु॒र॒श्मिं सोम॑मिन्द्रि॒यं य॑मीमहि॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

We bear Soma at heart, love and honour Soma, spirit of universal peace, vitality and ecstasy, protector and promoter of life’s liquid energies for action, inspirer of life adorable for the divinities, beauty of the yajna of love and non-violence, worthy of invocation and celebration. Beautiful are its flames of fire, its rays of light and its waves of fragrance worthy of being perceived, experienced and internalised, all these we love. And that Soma is the gift, favour and protection of the divinities we choose to pray for, this day.

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10.36.9

स॒नेम॒ तत्सु॑स॒निता॑ स॒नित्व॑भिर्व॒यं जी॒वा जी॒वपु॑त्रा॒ अना॑गसः । ब्र॒ह्म॒द्विषो॒ विष्व॒गेनो॑ भरेरत॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

Let us join and live that Soma spirit of life along with all others who live it with passion and enthusiasm. We are all children of life, living and vibrant with our children and grand children, free from sin and crime. Let others who negate, hate and violate that universal Spirit of love, life and peace bear, for that reason, their negativities and the dispensation thereof. And that favour of the love of Soma and protection against negativities we beg of the divinities this day.

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10.36.10

ये स्था मनो॑र्य॒ज्ञिया॒स्ते शृ॑णोतन॒ यद्वो॑ देवा॒ ईम॑हे॒ तद्द॑दातन । जैत्रं॒ क्रतुं॑ रयि॒मद्वी॒रव॒द्यश॒स्तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

And listen all, those who are dedicated to yajna at heart in communion with divine Soma, be steadfast and, O divine souls, bear and bring us that we pray for from you : Bring us the spirit of success and victory, holy yajnic action, wealth, honour and fame with progeny worthy of the brave. That is the favour and prayer of our choice we ask of you this day.

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10.36.11

म॒हद॒द्य म॑ह॒तामा वृ॑णीम॒हेऽवो॑ दे॒वानां॑ बृह॒ताम॑न॒र्वणा॑म् । यथा॒ वसु॑ वी॒रजा॑तं॒ नशा॑महै॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

Today, the grandeur of the great we ask for, of our own choice, and the protection of the grand progressive and irresistible divinities we pray for, so that we may acquire the security and stability created and established by brave generations of humanity: that is the favour and prayer of our choice for protection of the divinities we ask for this day.11. Today, the grandeur of the great we ask for, of our own choice, and the protection of the grand progressive and irresistible divinities we pray for, so that we may acquire the security and stability created and established by brave generations of humanity: that is the favour and prayer of our choice for protection of the divinities we ask for this day.

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10.36.12

म॒हो अ॒ग्नेः स॑मिधा॒नस्य॒ शर्म॒ण्यना॑गा मि॒त्रे वरु॑णे स्व॒स्तये॑ । श्रेष्ठे॑ स्याम सवि॒तुः सवी॑मनि॒ तद्दे॒वाना॒मवो॑ अ॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे ॥

Let us live under the shelter and protection of the great Agni, self-refulgent, self enlightened leading light of the cosmic yajna. Let us live free from sin and evil under the abundant care of Mitra, friendly sun, and Varuna, boundless ocean of space, for the achievement of plenty, prosperity and all round well being. Let us live under the guidance and ruling control of Savita, highest spirit of life, creation and regeneration. This is the gift of protection and progress we choose to ask of the divinities this day.

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10.36.13

ये स॑वि॒तुः स॒त्यस॑वस्य॒ विश्वे॑ मि॒त्रस्य॑ व्र॒ते वरु॑णस्य दे॒वाः । ते सौभ॑गं वी॒रव॒द्गोम॒दप्नो॒ दधा॑तन॒ द्रवि॑णं चि॒त्रम॒स्मे ॥

All those generous, brilliant and illuminative divinities of the world, both in nature and in humanity, which observe and work under the laws and discipline of Savita, creator of the world of truth and reality, Mitra, lord of light and love, and Varuna, lord of judgement and boundless abundance, may they all bear and bring for us all holy good fortune, power of choice and action, and wondrous variety of wealth blest with brave progeny, lands, cows and culture of enlightenment.

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10.36.14

स॒वि॒ता प॒श्चाता॑त्सवि॒ता पु॒रस्ता॑त्सवि॒तोत्त॒रात्ता॑त्सवि॒ताध॒रात्ता॑त् । स॒वि॒ता नः॑ सुवतु स॒र्वता॑तिं सवि॒ता नो॑ रासतां दी॒र्घमायुः॑ ॥

May Savita protect us from behind. May Savita protect us in front. May Savita protect us from above. May Savita protect us from below. May Savita bless us all round, create and give us universal wealth of existence. May Savita bless us with a long, happy and full life.

✦ Sukta 37 · 12 verses ✦

10.37.1

नमो॑ मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ चक्ष॑से म॒हो दे॒वाय॒ तदृ॒तं स॑पर्यत । दू॒रे॒दृशे॑ दे॒वजा॑ताय के॒तवे॑ दि॒वस्पु॒त्राय॒ सूर्या॑य शंसत ॥

Homage and salutations to the eye of the lord of universal love and cosmic judgement, lord of day and deep night, mighty generous light of the world. Observe and abide by that universal law of the lord. Sing and celebrate in honour of the Sun, child of Light, heavenly ensign of divine refulgence, born of space, the eye that can see as far as the bounds of existence.

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10.37.2

सा मा॑ स॒त्योक्तिः॒ परि॑ पातु वि॒श्वतो॒ द्यावा॑ च॒ यत्र॑ त॒तन॒न्नहा॑नि च । विश्व॑म॒न्यन्नि वि॑शते॒ यदेज॑ति वि॒श्वाहापो॑ वि॒श्वाहोदे॑ति॒ सूर्यः॑ ॥

May the word of truth abide by me and protect and sustain me all round all time: That Sun, light of the world, is the presence in which the heavens of light and the green earth abide, days and nights arise and expand, wherein the other worlds abide and all else moves and abides, wherein all dynamics of the universe abide and move day and night, wherein the sun rises every morning for all time in the existential world.

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10.37.3

न ते॒ अदे॑वः प्र॒दिवो॒ नि वा॑सते॒ यदे॑त॒शेभिः॑ पत॒रै र॑थ॒र्यसि॑ । प्रा॒चीन॑म॒न्यदनु॑ वर्तते॒ रज॒ उद॒न्येन॒ ज्योति॑षा यासि सूर्य ॥

O sun, when you ride your chariot and move on with the radiation of your rays, the earlier darkness of the night does not stay before you, instead it moves on to the other region you left behind, and as you move on, you go forward with your light for another region of the world.

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10.37.4

येन॑ सूर्य॒ ज्योति॑षा॒ बाध॑से॒ तमो॒ जग॑च्च॒ विश्व॑मुदि॒यर्षि॑ भा॒नुना॑ । तेना॒स्मद्विश्वा॒मनि॑रा॒मना॑हुति॒मपामी॑वा॒मप॑ दु॒ष्ष्वप्न्यं॑ सुव ॥

O sun, by the light by which you dispel the darkness, and by the rise by which you go up and light up the moving world in the day, by that very light and enlightenment, pray, dispel and throw out all famine of food in the world,, all poverty of yajnic programmes, all sickness and disease, and all depression and evil dreams born of want and poverty of light.

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10.37.5

विश्व॑स्य॒ हि प्रेषि॑तो॒ रक्ष॑सि व्र॒तमहे॑ळयन्नु॒च्चर॑सि स्व॒धा अनु॑ । यद॒द्य त्वा॑ सूर्योप॒ब्रवा॑महै॒ तं नो॑ दे॒वा अनु॑ मंसीरत॒ क्रतु॑म् ॥

O lord of light, moved and inspired by your own divine self and invoked by prayers of the supplicants, you protect and rule the laws and disciplines of the world around, and without passion or disturbance you rise and move according to your own powers and in response to your celebrants’ homage (such as the homage of the planets and yajnic offers of devotees). O sun, whatever we pray for, may the divinities of nature and humanity favour and respond to our yajnic action and prayer.

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10.37.6

तं नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी तन्न॒ आप॒ इन्द्रः॑ शृण्वन्तु म॒रुतो॒ हवं॒ वचः॑ । मा शूने॑ भूम॒ सूर्य॑स्य सं॒दृशि॑ भ॒द्रं जीव॑न्तो जर॒णाम॑शीमहि ॥

That word of invocation and prayer, and that word of homage and prayer with supplication may the heaven and earth as father and mother, waters of earth and space and the learned sages of holy attainments, Indra, omnipotent lord and ruler of the earth, Maruts, pranic energies of life and leading lights of humanity listen, and may they favourably respond. May they never be indifferent. May we live blest in the light of the sun and the illumination of divinity. We pray that living in peace and felicity, we may enjoy a full life of good health and mental and spiritual fulfilment.

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10.37.7

वि॒श्वाहा॑ त्वा सु॒मन॑सः सु॒चक्ष॑सः प्र॒जाव॑न्तो अनमी॒वा अना॑गसः । उ॒द्यन्तं॑ त्वा मित्रमहो दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ ज्योग्जी॒वाः प्रति॑ पश्येम सूर्य ॥

We pray, O sun, may we be happy at heart, enlightened of vision, blest with noble progeny, free from ill health, sin and evil, and thus happy and healthy, live long to see you rising every day all the time. May we, O sun, see you rising day by day as the greatest friend of ours and live long for a happy time in the light and bliss divine.

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10.37.8

महि॒ ज्योति॒र्बिभ्र॑तं त्वा विचक्षण॒ भास्व॑न्तं॒ चक्षु॑षेचक्षुषे॒ मयः॑ । आ॒रोह॑न्तं बृह॒तः पाज॑स॒स्परि॑ व॒यं जी॒वाः प्रति॑ पश्येम सूर्य ॥

O sun, lord of vision watching all, we pray that while we live a long and full life time here on earth, we may continue to see you as the divine power bearing great light of life, shining bright and blessing every living eye with light and joy, and rising high over the vast order of mighty time and the world of existence.

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10.37.9

यस्य॑ ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि के॒तुना॒ प्र चेर॑ते॒ नि च॑ वि॒शन्ते॑ अ॒क्तुभिः॑ । अ॒ना॒गा॒स्त्वेन॑ हरिकेश सू॒र्याह्ना॑ह्ना नो॒ वस्य॑सावस्य॒सोदि॑हि ॥

O Sun, self-refulgent divinity, by whose light and sustaining power all regions of the universe, stars and planets move on with their tasks in their own orbits and then recede into their state of rest as into the night, O lord of radiant light and fire of life, by your inviolable purity of law and natural piety, shine, and emerge more and more bright and excellent for our experience, guidance and sustenance day by day for us.

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10.37.10

शं नो॑ भव॒ चक्ष॑सा॒ शं नो॒ अह्ना॒ शं भा॒नुना॒ शं हि॒मा शं घृ॒णेन॑ । यथा॒ शमध्व॒ञ्छमस॑द्दुरो॒णे तत्सू॑र्य॒ द्रवि॑णं धेहि चि॒त्रम् ॥

By your light and gracious eye, let there be peace and bliss for us, peace and well being by day, peace and bliss by light and solar radiation, peace by the cool of snow and peace by soothing warmth of the sun, peace the way it may be possible on our paths of progress, and peace and all round well being in the home. That wondrous variety of wealth, honour and excellence, O Sun, give us by which there may be all round peace and total well being in life.

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10.37.11

अ॒स्माकं॑ देवा उ॒भया॑य॒ जन्म॑ने॒ शर्म॑ यच्छत द्वि॒पदे॒ चतु॑ष्पदे । अ॒दत्पिब॑दू॒र्जय॑मान॒माशि॑तं॒ तद॒स्मे शं योर॑र॒पो द॑धातन ॥

May all you Devas, divinities of nature and humanity, give us peace and felicity for our life, for both humans and animals. Let all that is eating, all that is drinking be strong, energetic and fulfilled. Pray give us that peace and well being which is free from violence, sin and evil.

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10.37.12

यद्वो॑ देवाश्चकृ॒म जि॒ह्वया॑ गु॒रु मन॑सो वा॒ प्रयु॑ती देव॒हेळ॑नम् । अरा॑वा॒ यो नो॑ अ॒भि दु॑च्छुना॒यते॒ तस्मि॒न्तदेनो॑ वसवो॒ नि धे॑तन ॥

O Devas, divinities of nature and humanity, if we trespass or do some grave offence by word, thought or action and behaviour to earn your displeasure or even provoke your anger, pray forgive us and cleanse us of that weakness and negativity. And if there be some mean and uncharitable person among us who behaves in a vile manner toward us, then O divine givers of peace and shelter, pray let that sin visit back upon the source.

✦ Sukta 38 · 5 verses ✦

10.38.1

अ॒स्मिन्न॑ इन्द्र पृत्सु॒तौ यश॑स्वति॒ शिमी॑वति॒ क्रन्द॑सि॒ प्राव॑ सा॒तये॑ । यत्र॒ गोषा॑ता धृषि॒तेषु॑ खा॒दिषु॒ विष्व॒क्पत॑न्ति दि॒द्यवो॑ नृ॒षाह्ये॑ ॥

Indra, O ruler of the world, in this mighty battle for honour and industry, you roar and thunder, pray defend and protect us to advance to the victory. This is a battle for the reclamation, defence and development of the lands and cows, between bold, undaunted soldiers thirsting for the enemy’s blood, and on them, in this murderous contest, sharp and blazing arrows fall on all sides.

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10.38.2

स नः॑ क्षु॒मन्तं॒ सद॑ने॒ व्यू॑र्णुहि॒ गोअ॑र्णसं र॒यिमि॑न्द्र श्र॒वाय्य॑म् । स्याम॑ ते॒ जय॑तः शक्र मे॒दिनो॒ यथा॑ व॒यमु॒श्मसि॒ तद्व॑सो कृधि ॥

Indra, O lord of power and glory, in this house of the social order abundant in food, water and the wealth of lands and cows, cover, protect and promote the honoured wealth of the nation. O mighty victorious lord, let us be your friends, allies and admirers and, O lord giver of peace, settlement and a good home, pray do as we would wish to fulfil our aspirations.

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10.38.3

यो नो॒ दास॒ आर्यो॑ वा पुरुष्टु॒तादे॑व इन्द्र यु॒धये॒ चिके॑तति । अ॒स्माभि॑ष्टे सु॒षहाः॑ सन्तु॒ शत्र॑व॒स्त्वया॑ व॒यं तान्व॑नुयाम संग॒मे ॥

O lord most admired and celebrated, Indra, whether it is a power ignoble and slavish in character, or even one dynamic in character but undivine and negative, who challenges us to battle, let those enemies be boldly faced and fought out, and let us all under your leadership, overthrow and destroy them in battle.

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10.38.4

यो द॒भ्रेभि॒र्हव्यो॒ यश्च॒ भूरि॑भि॒र्यो अ॒भीके॑ वरिवो॒विन्नृ॒षाह्ये॑ । तं वि॑खा॒दे

सस्नि॑म॒द्य श्रु॒तं नर॑म॒र्वाञ्च॒मिन्द्र॒मव॑से करामहे ॥

In the decisive battle of humanity to the point of the destruction of evil and negative forces, we now choose and install that man as Indra, leader for defence, protection and progress, who is adorable equally by the select few and the many, small as well as great, who is clean and pure, reputable and universally rich and powerful to create the space and freedom for thought and action around.

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10.38.5

स्व॒वृजं॒ हि त्वाम॒हमि॑न्द्र शु॒श्रवा॑नानु॒दं वृ॑षभ रध्र॒चोद॑नम् । प्र मु॑ञ्चस्व॒ परि॒ कुत्सा॑दि॒हा ग॑हि॒ किमु॒ त्वावा॑न्मु॒ष्कयो॑र्ब॒द्ध आ॑सते ॥

Come Indra, lord potent and generous, rise and take on the leadership. We hear and know you are powerful by yourself to uproot evil, indefatigable, inspirer of fighting forces, uplifter of the weak and breaker of blockades. Pray be free and free us from terror and violence. How can the brave like you stay back stolen by ravishment in obscurity?

✦ Sukta 39 · 14 verses ✦

10.39.1

यो वां॒ परि॑ज्मा सु॒वृद॑श्विना॒ रथो॑ दो॒षामु॒षासो॒ हव्यो॑ ह॒विष्म॑ता । श॒श्व॒त्त॒मास॒स्तमु॑ वामि॒दं व॒यं पि॒तुर्न नाम॑ सु॒हवं॑ हवामहे ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of nature and humanity like heat and cold, light and liquids, teacher and preacher, science and technology, swift and smooth is your chariot, turning, moving and going all over the world in all directions. Adored and adorable is it day and night by admiring priests, worthy of invocation by them with homage and havi. Since time immemorial we have been calling on you and this chariot of yours as we chant the holy name of father, and we call upon you, riders of the chariot, now.

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10.39.2

चो॒दय॑तं सू॒नृताः॒ पिन्व॑तं॒ धिय॒ उत्पुरं॑धीरीरयतं॒ तदु॑श्मसि । य॒शसं॑ भा॒गं कृ॑णुतं नो अश्विना॒ सोमं॒ न चारुं॑ म॒घव॑त्सु नस्कृतम् ॥

Ashvins, inspire, energise and raise the voice of truth and divine law of eternity. Nourish, strengthen and advance the intelligence and will of humanity for action. Raise up, strengthen and confirm the principles and policies which govern and sustain the values of human institutions. That is what we love and desire of you. Create and confirm our share of honour and excellence in the affairs of human society. Vest the beauty and grace of sweetness and culture for our sake among the men of wealth and power.

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10.39.3

अ॒मा॒जुर॑श्चिद्भवथो यु॒वं भगो॑ऽना॒शोश्चि॑दवि॒तारा॑प॒मस्य॑ चित् । अ॒न्धस्य॑ चिन्नासत्या कृ॒शस्य॑ चिद्यु॒वामिदा॑हुर्भि॒षजा॑ रु॒तस्य॑ चित् ॥

Ashvins, you are the hope and inspiration of the bed-ridden home-confined old person. You are saviours of the debilitated and the weakest persons who are unable to eat and move. O lovers and observers of the truth and law of nature, you bring light for the blind, strength for the anaemic and health for the chronic sufferers. That is what people call you, “saviours of life”

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10.39.4

यु॒वं च्यवा॑नं स॒नयं॒ यथा॒ रथं॒ पुन॒र्युवा॑नं च॒रथा॑य तक्षथुः । निष्टौ॒ग्र्यमू॑हथुर॒द्भ्यस्परि॒ विश्वेत्ता वां॒ सव॑नेषु प्र॒वाच्या॑ ॥

You rejuvenate the broken old man to fresh youth to go round and enjoy life as the craftsman repairs an old worn out chariot and converts it to new efficiency. You raise the drowned man from the water and revive him to life. That’s why all your works and achievements are praised and celebrated in holy gatherings.

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10.39.5

पु॒रा॒णा वां॑ वी॒र्या॒३॒॑ प्र ब्र॑वा॒ जनेऽथो॑ हासथुर्भि॒षजा॑ मयो॒भुवा॑ । ता वां॒ नु नव्या॒वव॑से करामहे॒ऽयं ना॑सत्या॒ श्रद॒रिर्यथा॒ दध॑त् ॥

O physician and surgeon dedicated to truth and goodness of life, your old and ancient deeds I proclaim and praise among people. Be you both harbingers of good health, peace and joy. We celebrate you both as adorable for the sake of health and protection so that this dynamic community may have faith and trust in you.

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10.39.6

इ॒यं वा॑मह्वे शृणु॒तं मे॑ अश्विना पु॒त्राये॑व पि॒तरा॒ मह्यं॑ शिक्षतम् । अना॑पि॒रज्ञा॑ असजा॒त्याम॑तिः पु॒रा तस्या॑ अ॒भिश॑स्ते॒रव॑ स्पृतम् ॥

I, this supplicant girl, request you,Ashvins, pray listen to me, and as father speaks to the child, so please instruct me on matters of health. I am alone and unrelated, ignorant, without kith and kin and immature. Pray protect me with knowledge before the onslaught of the effects of that ignorance.

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10.39.7

यु॒वं रथे॑न विम॒दाय॑ शु॒न्ध्युवं॒ न्यू॑हथुः पुरुमि॒त्रस्य॒ योष॑णाम् । यु॒वं हवं॑ वध्रिम॒त्या अ॑गच्छतं यु॒वं सुषु॑तिं चक्रथुः॒ पुरं॑धये ॥

O Ashvins, with your knowledge of body and mind, you join the youthful, bright and intelligent daughter of the widely friendly father with a bright young man for their joy and fulfilment. You listen to the call of the barren woman, treat her, restore her fertility, and she is blest with a child for a joyous home life.

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10.39.8

यु॒वं विप्र॑स्य जर॒णामु॑पे॒युषः॒ पुनः॑ क॒लेर॑कृणुतं॒ युव॒द्वयः॑ । यु॒वं वन्द॑नमृश्य॒दादुदू॑पथुर्यु॒वं स॒द्यो वि॒श्पला॒मेत॑वे कृथः ॥

You rejuvenate and restore to vibrant youthful- ness the aging veteran scholar in pursuit of research. You raise the man of holiness from chronic ailment to renewed life. And you help the public health authority in community health programmes so that they may go on with their normal activity.

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10.39.9

यु॒वं ह॑ रे॒भं वृ॑षणा॒ गुहा॑ हि॒तमुदै॑रयतं ममृ॒वांस॑मश्विना । यु॒वमृ॒बीस॑मु॒त त॒प्तमत्र॑य॒ ओम॑न्वन्तं चक्रथुः स॒प्तव॑ध्रये ॥

You revive the sinking man who has lost consciousness, all but surviving in the brain, and muttering from the subconscious. You cure the man in high fever in the state of delirium and restore him to health, full consciousness and self-immunity with all his five senses, mind and intelligence fully working in perfect order

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10.39.10

यु॒वं श्वे॒तं पे॒दवे॑ऽश्वि॒नाश्वं॑ न॒वभि॒र्वाजै॑र्नव॒ती च॑ वा॒जिन॑म् । च॒र्कृत्यं॑ ददथुर्द्राव॒यत्स॑खं॒ भगं॒ न नृभ्यो॒ हव्यं॑ मयो॒भुव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, for the active intelligent soul you give pure unsullied virility and vitality and vibrant swift smartness blest with nine and ninety qualities and faculties of body (nine faculties of sense and mind each energised with ten pranic energies) ever in action onward like a constant friend as you bring for people plenty, prosperity and power full of peace and joy worthy of love and invocation in life for all time.

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10.39.11

न तं रा॑जानावदिते॒ कुत॑श्च॒न नांहो॑ अश्नोति दुरि॒तं नकि॑र्भ॒यम् । यम॑श्विना सुहवा रुद्रवर्तनी पुरोर॒थं कृ॑णु॒थः पत्न्या॑ स॒ह ॥

O brilliant, independent and inviolable twin divine powers, nothing from any where, no sin, no evil, no hate, no fear touches him whom, O Ashvins, easily invoked and approachable, moving by paths free from the pain and suffering of ailments, you join in wedlock and lead forth to a happy home.

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10.39.12

आ तेन॑ यातं॒ मन॑सो॒ जवी॑यसा॒ रथं॒ यं वा॑मृ॒भव॑श्च॒क्रुर॑श्विना । यस्य॒ योगे॑ दुहि॒ता जाय॑ते दि॒व उ॒भे अह॑नी सु॒दिने॑ वि॒वस्व॑तः ॥

O Ashvins, morning stars divine, come by that chariot of yours faster than mind which the celestial artists crafted for you, that which you yoke in harness and the maiden of heaven walks forth to ride and rise and then both the happy day and soothing night born of the sun move on.

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10.39.13

ता व॒र्तिर्या॑तं ज॒युषा॒ वि पर्व॑त॒मपि॑न्वतं श॒यवे॑ धे॒नुम॑श्विना । वृक॑स्य चि॒द्वर्ति॑काम॒न्तरा॒स्या॑द्यु॒वं शची॑भिर्ग्रसि॒ताम॑मुञ्चतम् ॥

O Ashvins, divine powers of knowledge and action, enlightened men and women of the world, harness the victorious chariot of divine vision and inspiration, rise forth and move forward by the road to the clouds, strengthen and raise the rousing voice for sleeping humanity, and with your voice and actions free the poor victims seized and held in the jaws of wolves.

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10.39.14

ए॒तं वां॒ स्तोम॑मश्विनावक॒र्मात॑क्षाम॒ भृग॑वो॒ न रथ॑म् । न्य॑मृक्षाम॒ योष॑णां॒ न मर्ये॒ नित्यं॒ न सू॒नुं तन॑यं॒ दधा॑नाः ॥

Ashvins, complementary twin powers of nature and humanity, this song of adoration we offer in your honour as the divine artists craft and offer the celestial chariot for you, and we have adorned it as we always adorn and prepare a bride for the groom. Blest with children and grand children we abide in life (and depend on you for strength and inspiration in the life cycle day and night, through the seasons, year in and year out).

✦ Sukta 40 · 14 verses ✦

10.40.1

रथं॒ यान्तं॒ कुह॒ को ह॑ वां नरा॒ प्रति॑ द्यु॒मन्तं॑ सुवि॒ताय॑ भूषति । प्रा॒त॒र्यावा॑णं वि॒भ्वं॑ वि॒शेवि॑शे॒ वस्तो॑र्वस्तो॒र्वह॑मानं धि॒या शमि॑ ॥

O leading lights of life and humanity, who and where, with holy intelligence and action, crafts, adorns and prepares your mighty spacious, brilliant, and auspicious chariot ever on the move in action going every morning to yajna every day to every people, bearing and bringing all kinds of wealth for the sake of happiness and well being?

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10.40.2

कुह॑ स्विद्दो॒षा कुह॒ वस्तो॑र॒श्विना॒ कुहा॑भिपि॒त्वं क॑रतः॒ कुहो॑षतुः । को वां॑ शयु॒त्रा वि॒धवे॑व दे॒वरं॒ मर्यं॒ न योषा॑ कृणुते स॒धस्थ॒ आ ॥

Ashvins, man and woman, where were you at night? Where in the day? Where do you find food and rest? Where do you live? Where do you sleep? Where do you stay together like the widow with her second husband, or a maiden married to a youth? Who invites you to yajna?

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10.40.3

प्रा॒तर्ज॑रेथे जर॒णेव॒ काप॑या॒ वस्तो॑र्वस्तोर्यज॒ता ग॑च्छथो गृ॒हम् । कस्य॑ ध्व॒स्रा भ॑वथः॒ कस्य॑ वा नरा राजपु॒त्रेव॒ सव॒नाव॑ गच्छथः ॥

Early morning, like venerable divinities you are honoured with songs of praise. Venerable and adorable, you visit the devotee’s home day by day. Whose weaknesses do you destroy? And O leading lights of humanity, whose house and yajna do you visit like the princes of a royal realm?

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10.40.4

यु॒वां मृ॒गेव॑ वार॒णा मृ॑ग॒ण्यवो॑ दो॒षा वस्तो॑र्ह॒विषा॒ नि ह्व॑यामहे । यु॒वं होत्रा॑मृतु॒था जुह्व॑ते न॒रेषं॒ जना॑य वहथः शुभस्पती ॥

Looking and searching for you as seekers and saviours, we invoke and invite you with homage day and night. All house holders invoke you and offer you homage of havi according to the seasons, and you, leading lights for humanity, treasure holds of good and promoters of the auspicious, bring food and energy for the people.

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10.40.5

यु॒वां ह॒ घोषा॒ पर्य॑श्विना य॒ती राज्ञ॑ ऊचे दुहि॒ता पृ॒च्छे वां॑ नरा । भू॒तं मे॒ अह्न॑ उ॒त भू॑तम॒क्तवेऽश्वा॑वते र॒थिने॑ शक्त॒मर्व॑ते ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of the land, rulers and warriors, this voice of the ruling order like a daughter of the sovereign, going round and knowing every thing of the state, asks you and says : Be up and awake for me day and night and strengthen yourselves and strengthen me to meet the challenges of the forces of horse, chariot and the stormy troopers and thus save me and the social order.

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10.40.6

यु॒वं क॒वी ष्ठः॒ पर्य॑श्विना॒ रथं॒ विशो॒ न कुत्सो॑ जरि॒तुर्न॑शायथः । यु॒वोर्ह॒ मक्षा॒ पर्य॑श्विना॒ मध्वा॒सा भ॑रत निष्कृ॒तं न योष॑णा ॥

Ashvins, you are visionary poetic creators, stay fast on the chariot, go to the people and appreciate their songs of adoration as a creator and maker of songs would. The honey sweets of your creation, the honey bees taste and drink with their mouth as a youthful woman loves the sweet beauty of her new home.

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10.40.7

यु॒वं ह॑ भु॒ज्युं यु॒वम॑श्विना॒ वशं॑ यु॒वं शि॒ञ्जार॑मु॒शना॒मुपा॑रथुः । यु॒वो ररा॑वा॒ परि॑ स॒ख्यमा॑सते यु॒वोर॒हमव॑सा सु॒म्नमा च॑के ॥

Ashvins, protect the protector and sustainer of the people’s standard of living, protect the dependent and supporter, protect him who appreciates and adores, and protect the poet of love and beauty. Your generous admirer loves to be friends with you, and I too pray for your protection and gift of well being. Pray help all these people to complete their journey of life to self- fulfilment.

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10.40.8

यु॒वं ह॑ कृ॒शं यु॒वम॑श्विना श॒युं यु॒वं वि॒धन्तं॑ वि॒धवा॑मुरुष्यथः । यु॒वं स॒निभ्यः॑ स्त॒नय॑न्तमश्वि॒नाप॑ व्र॒जमू॑र्णुथः स॒प्तास्य॑म् ॥

Ashvins, both of you, pray protect and support the weak, the depressed, the supporter of the weak, and the widow who has lost all support. And, O Ashvins, for the lovers of knowledge and devotees of yajna and divinity, open the seven rousing flood gates of the seven metres of Vedic poetry for chanting and hearing.

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10.40.9

जनि॑ष्ट॒ योषा॑ प॒तय॑त्कनीन॒को वि चारु॑हन्वी॒रुधो॑ दं॒सना॒ अनु॑ । आस्मै॑ रीयन्ते निव॒नेव॒ सिन्ध॑वो॒ऽस्मा अह्ने॑ भवति॒ तत्प॑तित्व॒नम् ॥

The maiden is grown mature, the suitor comes seeking and proposes for marriage, the plants and creepers bloom according to innate power and potential, streams and rivers, desires and passions for living and continuing, flow down the slopes for the young man, and that is the stage for matrimony when the day of youthfulness is on the high and irrepressible.

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10.40.10

जी॒वं रु॑दन्ति॒ वि म॑यन्ते अध्व॒रे दी॒र्घामनु॒ प्रसि॑तिं दीधियु॒र्नरः॑ । वा॒मं पि॒तृभ्यो॒ य इ॒दं स॑मेरि॒रे मयः॒ पति॑भ्यो॒ जन॑यः परि॒ष्वजे॑ ॥

People yearn for life, live it with tears and ecstasy, exchange vows and positions on the vedi of love and non-violence, and they desire that they live in wedlock as long as they may wish. Those who live in this felicity for their parents and elders, even away from them, would live happy, their wives would love them and bring them peace and joy in their conjugal relationship.

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10.40.11

न तस्य॑ विद्म॒ तदु॒ षु प्र वो॑चत॒ युवा॑ ह॒ यद्यु॑व॒त्याः क्षेति॒ योनि॑षु । प्रि॒योस्रि॑यस्य वृष॒भस्य॑ रे॒तिनो॑ गृ॒हं ग॑मेमाश्विना॒ तदु॑श्मसि ॥

We know not of that mystery of life, O Ashvins, pray speak of that mystery, that bond and felicity, to the youth who lives in the home of his youthful wife. We only wish that we may find a sweet home with a loving, generous, virile young man, loving at heart and winsome to his wife.

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10.40.12

आ वा॑मगन्त्सुम॒तिर्वा॑जिनीवसू॒ न्य॑श्विना हृ॒त्सु कामा॑ अयंसत । अभू॑तं गो॒पा मि॑थु॒ना शु॑भस्पती प्रि॒या अ॑र्य॒म्णो दुर्याँ॑ अशीमहि ॥

O Ashvins, twin powers of domestic complementarity of love and wisdom, masters of the science and art of wedlock and home life, may the benefit of your enlightenment come to us, may there be the joy of life with wisdom and emotional control in our hearts. That way, be our protectors as leading lights in our pursuit of happiness and well being. Bless us that we may love, desire and find a home with loving, enlightened, generous and caring husbands.

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10.40.13

ता म॑न्दसा॒ना मनु॑षो दुरो॒ण आ ध॒त्तं र॒यिं स॒हवी॑रं वच॒स्यवे॑ । कृ॒तं ती॒र्थं सु॑प्रपा॒णं शु॑भस्पती स्था॒णुं प॑थे॒ष्ठामप॑ दुर्म॒तिं ह॑तम् ॥

O Ashvins, joyous spirits of love and wisdom, prosperity and generosity, to the celebrant of life and divinity, to the house of humanity, bear and bring wealth, honour and excellence with brave progeny worthy of the celebrant. O givers, protectors and promoters of the good and well being of life, establish a happy home life overflowing with food, drink and freedom of holiness. Pray cast away infirmity, rigidity, hatred and negative disposition that may obstruct our path of progress in life.

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10.40.14

क्व॑ स्विद॒द्य क॑त॒मास्व॒श्विना॑ वि॒क्षु द॒स्रा मा॑दयेते शु॒भस्पती॑ । क ईं॒ नि ये॑मे कत॒मस्य॑ जग्मतु॒र्विप्र॑स्य वा॒ यज॑मानस्य वा गृ॒हम् ॥

Ashvins, lustrous divinities, wondrous workers, where have you been today? Among which people have you been enjoying yourselves for the day? Who can make you stay for the day? Which sage’s or which yajamana’s home did you visit for the day?

✦ Sukta 41 · 3 verses ✦

10.41.1

स॒मा॒नमु॒ त्यं पु॑रुहू॒तमु॒क्थ्यं१॒॑ रथं॑ त्रिच॒क्रं सव॑ना॒ गनि॑ग्मतम् । परि॑ज्मानं विद॒थ्यं॑ सुवृ॒क्तिभि॑र्व॒यं व्यु॑ष्टा उ॒षसो॑ हवामहे ॥

O Ashvins, harbingers of new light and energy, in the light of the dawn with holy chant of mantric formulae, we invoke and call for that constant and invariable, universally loved and invoked, venerable and purposefully specialised three stage three wheeled chariot which would be constantly on the move to reach yajnic programmes all over the earth.

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10.41.2

प्रा॒त॒र्युजं॑ नास॒त्याधि॑ तिष्ठथः प्रात॒र्यावा॑णं मधु॒वाह॑नं॒ रथ॑म् । विशो॒ येन॒ गच्छ॑थो॒ यज्व॑रीर्नरा की॒रेश्चि॑द्य॒ज्ञं होतृ॑मन्तमश्विना ॥

O Ashvins, harbingers of the light of knowledge and energy of life, leading lights of humanity dedicated to truth and never deviating from your path of rectitude, you ride and guide the chariot harnessed, started and moving in the morning, which bears and brings honey sweets of life and by which you reach the yajnic communities and bless the celebrant’s yajna joined by devotees in unison and cooperation.

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10.41.3

अ॒ध्व॒र्युं वा॒ मधु॑पाणिं सु॒हस्त्य॑म॒ग्निधं॑ वा धृ॒तद॑क्षं॒ दमू॑नसम् । विप्र॑स्य वा॒ यत्सव॑नानि॒ गच्छ॒थोऽत॒ आ या॑तं मधु॒पेय॑मश्विना ॥

O Ashvins, harbingers of the light of knowledge and practical power and energy through yajna, whether you go to the dexterous organiser of yajna, bearing honeyed offerings, or you go to the initiator of yajna and fire kindler, expert in the science and power of yajna and at the same time generous and socially oriented, or whether you go to the yajnas of the vibrant scholar specialist, you would have a taste of the honey sweets of life for achievement.

✦ Sukta 42 · 11 verses ✦

10.42.1

अस्ते॑व॒ सु प्र॑त॒रं लाय॒मस्य॒न्भूष॑न्निव॒ प्र भ॑रा॒ स्तोम॑मस्मै । वा॒चा वि॑प्रास्तरत॒ वाच॑म॒र्यो नि रा॑मय जरितः॒ सोम॒ इन्द्र॑म् ॥

As an expert archer shoots a distant target with the arrow, similarly bear and offer a holy song in honour of divine Indra, thereby exalting him with the beauties of word and music. O sages, with your voice of song overwhelm the other voice, of negation. O celebrant, hold the divine Indra at heart, be happy and let the Presence shine in your peaceful soul.

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10.42.2

दोहे॑न॒ गामुप॑ शिक्षा॒ सखा॑यं॒ प्र बो॑धय जरितर्जा॒रमिन्द्र॑म् । कोशं॒ न पू॒र्णं वसु॑ना॒ न्यृ॑ष्ट॒मा च्या॑वय मघ॒देया॑य॒ शूर॑म् ॥

O celebrant, with constant churning of the mind, refine and energise your voice of adoration, send it in to your friend Indra, the soul within, and, like a treasurehold overflowing with wealth of light, stir it, wake up the brave soul for the gift of excellence and grandeur.

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10.42.3

किम॒ङ्ग त्वा॑ मघवन्भो॒जमा॑हुः शिशी॒हि मा॑ शिश॒यं त्वा॑ शृणोमि । अप्न॑स्वती॒ मम॒ धीर॑स्तु शक्र वसु॒विदं॒ भग॑मि॒न्द्रा भ॑रा नः ॥

Indra, mighty soul, dear as breath of life, grand and sublime, don’t they say you are the giver of all pleasure and glory of life? Pray bless me too with the wealth of light and grandeur. I hear you are the all omnificent lord. O Lord Almighty, refine and sharpen my vision and understanding to the efficiency of divine attainment. Indra, pray bring us glory and good fortune full of wealth, power and peace.

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10.42.4

त्वां जना॑ ममस॒त्येष्वि॑न्द्र संतस्था॒ना वि ह्व॑यन्ते समी॒के । अत्रा॒ युजं॑ कृणुते॒ यो ह॒विष्मा॒न्नासु॑न्वता स॒ख्यं व॑ष्टि॒ शूरः॑ ॥

Indra, people invoke you for help in contests of righteousness and call upon you while they march to the battle. Here too, however, he alone wins his help who offers faith and yajna, because the mighty one does not love, nor recognise, the friendship of the selfish and the non-performer of Soma-yajna.

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10.42.5

धनं॒ न स्य॒न्द्रं ब॑हु॒लं यो अ॑स्मै ती॒व्रान्त्सोमाँ॑ आसु॒नोति॒ प्रय॑स्वान् । तस्मै॒ शत्रू॑न्त्सु॒तुका॑न्प्रा॒तरह्नो॒ नि स्वष्ट्रा॑न्यु॒वति॒ हन्ति॑ वृ॒त्रम् ॥

Whoever the man of discipline and practice that offers precious gifts of holy and plenteous value and performs effective and powerful soma yajna of peace and pleasure for this divine Indra, ruling lord of humanity, for him Indra dispels all darkness and evil and eliminates all his enemies at the very outset of the day, howsoever strong, violent and well-armed the enemies might be.

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10.42.6

यस्मि॑न्व॒यं द॑धि॒मा शंस॒मिन्द्रे॒ यः शि॒श्राय॑ म॒घवा॒ काम॑म॒स्मे । आ॒राच्चि॒त्सन्भ॑यतामस्य॒ शत्रु॒र्न्य॑स्मै द्यु॒म्ना जन्या॑ नमन्ताम् ॥

Indra, the ruler in whom we repose our faith with admiration and who assures our fulfilment in all we want and aspire for, is great and all powerful. His enemies, even though they be far off cower with fear and flee, and to him all the wealth and powers born and produced in the land submit in reverence and loyalty.

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10.42.7

आ॒राच्छत्रु॒मप॑ बाधस्व दू॒रमु॒ग्रो यः शम्बः॑ पुरुहूत॒ तेन॑ । अ॒स्मे धे॑हि॒ यव॑म॒द्गोम॑दिन्द्र कृ॒धी धियं॑ जरि॒त्रे वाज॑रत्नाम् ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, invoked and celebrated by all, by that thunderbolt of power and justice which is lustrous and awful, throw out and keep off from us all social and environmental enemies. Give us abundance of grain, lands and cows, and for the celebrant yajna create an environment of enlightened action productive of the jewel wealth of life.

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10.42.8

प्र यम॒न्तर्वृ॑षस॒वासो॒ अग्म॑न्ती॒व्राः सोमा॑ बहु॒लान्ता॑स॒ इन्द्र॑म् । नाह॑ दा॒मानं॑ म॒घवा॒ नि यं॑स॒न्नि सु॑न्व॒ते व॑हति॒ भूरि॑ वा॒मम् ॥

The ruler to whom powerful creations of generous and imaginative artists and inspiring somaic achievements of peaceful projects are offered and dedicated from within the land for highly generative purposes and social values, that ruler, commanding wealth, power and majesty, does not impose any restrictions upon such veteran and generous artists, instead he provides manifold inspiring incentives to the creative minds.

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10.42.9

उ॒त प्र॒हाम॑ति॒दीव्या॑ जयाति कृ॒तं यच्छ्व॒घ्नी वि॑चि॒नोति॑ का॒ले । यो दे॒वका॑मो॒ न धना॑ रुणद्धि॒ समित्तं रा॒या सृ॑जति स्व॒धावा॑न् ॥

Aveteran winner, he counters an attack and wins the opponent just as an expert player or hunter rounds up his prey and chooses the right time to strike and win. He does not restrict or restrain the philanthropist who loves divinity and spends on yajnic projects, instead, master, protector and promoter of wealth and power as he is, he blesses the giver with more and more of wealth.

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10.42.10

गोभि॑ष्टरे॒माम॑तिं दु॒रेवां॒ यवे॑न॒ क्षुधं॑ पुरुहूत॒ विश्वा॑म् । व॒यं राज॑भिः प्रथ॒मा धना॑न्य॒स्माके॑न वृ॒जने॑ना जयेम ॥

O ruler of the world invoked and celebrated by all humanity, let us solve the difficult problem of poverty and mental and cultural backwardness by cow development, land development and proper education, and the problem of hunger, by food production across the world. Let us take the initiative first to win wealth by cooperation with other rulers, and ultimately win our goals by our own power and effort.

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10.42.11

बृह॒स्पति॑र्नः॒ परि॑ पातु प॒श्चादु॒तोत्त॑रस्मा॒दध॑रादघा॒योः । इन्द्रः॑ पु॒रस्ता॑दु॒त म॑ध्य॒तो नः॒ सखा॒ सखि॑भ्यो॒ वरि॑वः कृणोतु ॥

May Brhaspati, omniscient lord of divine voice, protect us from sins and negative legacies of the past, from doubts and fears from above and below. May Indra, mighty ruler, be our friend and protect us from difficulties facing upfront. May he promote us on and on. May he place us at the centre of life’s problems, protect and promote us and create the wealth of honour and excellence for us, his friends.

✦ Sukta 43 · 11 verses ✦

10.43.1

अच्छा॑ म॒ इन्द्रं॑ म॒तयः॑ स्व॒र्विदः॑ स॒ध्रीची॒र्विश्वा॑ उश॒तीर॑नूषत । परि॑ ष्वजन्ते॒ जन॑यो॒ यथा॒ पतिं॒ मर्यं॒ न शु॒न्ध्युं म॒घवा॑नमू॒तये॑ ॥

All my thoughts, words and actions, all together in perfect unison concentrated on the love and light of divinity, ecstatically adore and celebrate Indra, lord almighty of existence. Just as wives with love embrace their human lover, protector and husband, so do my prayers centre on Indra, lord of glory, power and purity, for all round protection, promotion and well being.

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10.43.2

न घा॑ त्व॒द्रिगप॑ वेति मे॒ मन॒स्त्वे इत्कामं॑ पुरुहूत शिश्रय । राजे॑व दस्म॒ नि ष॒दोऽधि॑ ब॒र्हिष्य॒स्मिन्त्सु सोमे॑ऽव॒पान॑मस्तु ते ॥

Indra, lord universally invoked and celebrated, may my mind and soul having surrendered its love and ambition to you, never go astray from the presence such as yours. O lord beatific and glorious, you abide on my vedi and in my heart as the sovereign ruling presence. May your divine love, joy and protection ever abide in this mind and soul and bless it with peace and joy in your presence.

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10.43.3

वि॒षू॒वृदिन्द्रो॒ अम॑तेरु॒त क्षु॒धः स इद्रा॒यो म॒घवा॒ वस्व॑ ईशते । तस्येदि॒मे प्र॑व॒णे स॒प्त सिन्ध॑वो॒ वयो॑ वर्धन्ति वृष॒भस्य॑ शु॒ष्मिणः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of all power and glory, dynamic presence all round in the world, dispels hunger and ignorance, rules and dispenses wealth, power and peace of shelter and settlement. Indeed, under the rule of this mighty generous master, all these seven streams of nature, life and living energy flow on and evolve to perfection. (This is true of both the external world of nature under the law of the cosmic spirit and of the internal world of mind and pranic energy under the rule of the spirit within.)

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10.43.4

वयो॒ न वृ॒क्षं सु॑पला॒शमास॑द॒न्त्सोमा॑स॒ इन्द्रं॑ म॒न्दिन॑श्चमू॒षदः॑ । प्रैषा॒मनी॑कं॒ शव॑सा॒ दवि॑द्युतद्वि॒दत्स्व१॒॑र्मन॑वे॒ ज्योति॒रार्य॑म् ॥

Just as birds take to the tree of rich foliage for rest and replenishment of life energy, so the soma cheer and energy of the sevenfold fluent streams of cosmic and individual systems take to Indra, the soul, for life and peace and joy. Then the expressive face of these shines with the splendour of Indra, and thus the living light of divinity descends in showers for the bliss of man.

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10.43.5

कृ॒तं न श्व॒घ्नी वि चि॑नोति॒ देव॑ने सं॒वर्गं॒ यन्म॒घवा॒ सूर्यं॒ जय॑त् । न तत्ते॑ अ॒न्यो अनु॑ वी॒र्यं॑ शक॒न्न पु॑रा॒णो म॑घव॒न्नोत नूत॑नः ॥

Just as a player in the game casts the die and wins and piles up his gains, so does Indra, lord omnipotent and omnificent, in this pleasure garden of the dynamics of existence win over the sun and the rain bearing cloud. O lord almighty, no one else can possibly equal your might, no one old or new.

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10.43.6

विशं॑विशं म॒घवा॒ पर्य॑शायत॒ जना॑नां॒ धेना॑ अव॒चाक॑श॒द्वृषा॑ । यस्याह॑ श॒क्रः सव॑नेषु॒ रण्य॑ति॒ स ती॒व्रैः सोमैः॑ सहते पृतन्य॒तः ॥

The lord of glory abides with all people of the world whosoever they be. The generous lord knows, listens and grants all prayers of the people. Whosoever the devotee whose yajnas the mighty one joins and enjoys, that celebrant wins over all his rivals and adversaries by the power of his ardent soma offerings of holy action in yajna.

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10.43.7

आपो॒ न सिन्धु॑म॒भि यत्स॒मक्ष॑र॒न्त्सोमा॑स॒ इन्द्रं॑ कु॒ल्या इ॑व ह्र॒दम् । वर्ध॑न्ति॒ विप्रा॒ महो॑ अस्य॒ साद॑ने॒ यवं॒ न वृ॒ष्टिर्दि॒व्येन॒ दानु॑ना ॥

As rivers flow into the sea, as streams of rain flow into the lake, so do the beauties of faith and pleasure in soma yajnas concentrate on Indra, glory of the world. As showers of rain with profuse divine generosity raise the crops of barley and the plants grow up in ecstasy, so in the homely presence of this generous lord of sublimity, saints and sages rise and shine in moral and spiritual grandeur.

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10.43.8

वृषा॒ न क्रु॒द्धः प॑तय॒द्रज॒स्स्वा यो अ॒र्यप॑त्नी॒रकृ॑णोदि॒मा अ॒पः । स सु॑न्व॒ते म॒घवा॑ जी॒रदा॑न॒वेऽवि॑न्द॒ज्ज्योति॒र्मन॑वे ह॒विष्म॑ते ॥

Just as the swelling cloud causes the vapours of water in the skies to be released of itself and lets these showers of rain fall upon the earth, so does Indra, lord of glorious generosity, bring showers of light and bliss for the generous man of charity who offers the homage of soma to the lord for humanity.

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10.43.9

उज्जा॑यतां पर॒शुर्ज्योति॑षा स॒ह भू॒या ऋ॒तस्य॑ सु॒दुघा॑ पुराण॒वत् । वि रो॑चतामरु॒षो भा॒नुना॒ शुचिः॒ स्व१॒॑र्ण शु॒क्रं शु॑शुचीत॒ सत्प॑तिः ॥

Let the thunderbolt of power and justice arise, let the voice of truth and law divine be generous, creative and fruitful as ever before, let the bright sun rise with its immaculate light and glory, may the lord protector and promoter of the good reveal the light and power of divinity as the bliss of heaven.

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10.43.10

गोभि॑ष्टरे॒माम॑तिं दु॒रेवां॒ यवे॑न॒ क्षुधं॑ पुरुहूत॒ विश्वा॑म् । व॒यं राज॑भिः प्रथ॒मा धना॑न्य॒स्माके॑न वृ॒जने॑ना जयेम ॥

Let us dispel the darkness of ignorance with the communication of universal knowledge, let us remove the world’s hunger with food production, let us reclaim our original wealth of knowledge, power and prosperity with our innate lights and enlightened actions.

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10.43.11

बृह॒स्पति॑र्नः॒ परि॑ पातु प॒श्चादु॒तोत्त॑रस्मा॒दध॑रादघा॒योः । इन्द्रः॑ पु॒रस्ता॑दु॒त म॑ध्य॒तो नः॒ सखा॒ सखि॑भ्यो॒ वरि॑वः कृणोतु ॥

May Brhaspati, lord of Infinity and the master of knowledge protect us against the violence of sin and sinners upfront, behind, above or below. May Indra, ruler and friend of humanity, create and lead us to the wealth of life for us and our friends, all at present and in our midst.

✦ Sukta 44 · 11 verses ✦

10.44.1

आ या॒त्विन्द्रः॒ स्वप॑ति॒र्मदा॑य॒ यो धर्म॑णा तूतुजा॒नस्तुवि॑ष्मान् । प्र॒त्व॒क्षा॒णो अति॒ विश्वा॒ सहां॑स्यपा॒रेण॑ मह॒ता वृष्ण्ये॑न ॥

May Indra, lord ruler of his world of reality, come, arise in view, in our consciousness, for the joy of his devotees. Mighty is he, loving, bright and accepting by his own essential nature and the laws of life, and, by his boundless grandeur and generosity, he takes on all challenges of counterforces and reduces them to naught for his people. (The mantra may be applied to Divinity or to the ruling power).

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10.44.2

सु॒ष्ठामा॒ रथः॑ सु॒यमा॒ हरी॑ ते मि॒म्यक्ष॒ वज्रो॑ नृपते॒ गभ॑स्तौ । शीभं॑ राजन्त्सु॒पथा या॑ह्य॒र्वाङ्वर्धा॑म ते प॒पुषो॒ वृष्ण्या॑नि ॥

Stable, strong and perfectly directed is your chariot, controlled and accurate your dual powers of motion. O refulgent ruler and protector of the people, in your hands you hold the controls of the thunder power of force and justice. Pray come at the fastest by the safest and straightest path to us right here. We celebrate and exalt your powers and generosity, and you love to protect and promote your celebrants.

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10.44.3

एन्द्र॒वाहो॑ नृ॒पतिं॒ वज्र॑बाहुमु॒ग्रमु॒ग्रास॑स्तवि॒षास॑ एनम् । प्रत्व॑क्षसं वृष॒भं स॒त्यशु॑ष्म॒मेम॑स्म॒त्रा स॑ध॒मादो॑ वहन्तु ॥

May the mighty, blazing, penetrating, vigorous and refining radiations of this Indra, protector and promoter of humanity, thunder armed, virile and generous, indomitable upholder of truth, come in unison with inspiring strength and bring him to us for our social and spiritual good.

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10.44.4

ए॒वा पतिं॑ द्रोण॒साचं॒ सचे॑तसमू॒र्जः स्क॒म्भं ध॒रुण॒ आ वृ॑षायसे । ओजः॑ कृष्व॒ सं गृ॑भाय॒ त्वे अप्यसो॒ यथा॑ केनि॒पाना॑मि॒नो वृ॒धे ॥

Thus do solar radiations transmit the presence of Indra, lord protector and ruler pervasive in the world of humanity, all aware, the pillar of universal energy, strength and power. Thus do we exalt and celebrate Indra. O lord, you are the shower of power and generosity in the all-sustaining world of yours. Pray create and give us the strength of life, hold us in your power and presence for our promotion and progress since you are the ultimate lord and master of the dedicated aspirants for light.

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10.44.5

गम॑न्न॒स्मे वसू॒न्या हि शंसि॑षं स्वा॒शिषं॒ भर॒मा या॑हि सो॒मिनः॑ । त्वमी॑शिषे॒ सास्मिन्ना स॑त्सि ब॒र्हिष्य॑नाधृ॒ष्या तव॒ पात्रा॑णि॒ धर्म॑णा ॥

Indra, may wealths, peace and honours of the world come to us, I wish and pray. Come, accept the homage of the celebrant’s song of praise. You rule all, come and abide in this holy seat of yajna and love of the heart. Bold and undaunted, we are your celebrants by the nature and Dharma of our being.

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10.44.6

पृथ॒क्प्राय॑न्प्रथ॒मा दे॒वहू॑त॒योऽकृ॑ण्वत श्रव॒स्या॑नि दु॒ष्टरा॑ । न ये शे॒कुर्य॒ज्ञियां॒ नाव॑मा॒रुह॑मी॒र्मैव ते न्य॑विशन्त॒ केप॑यः ॥

People of the first order dedicated to divinity and yajnic piety go forward by holy paths of the first order and perform admirable acts of the most difficult order. But those who cannot board the ark of yajnic order and divine love, men of unclean character, doubtful mind and crooked ways, lie about here in the lower and lowest orders of being.

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10.44.7

ए॒वैवापा॒गप॑रे सन्तु दू॒ढ्योऽश्वा॒ येषां॑ दु॒र्युज॑ आयुयु॒ज्रे । इ॒त्था ये प्रागुप॑रे॒ सन्ति॑ दा॒वने॑ पु॒रूणि॒ यत्र॑ व॒युना॑नि॒ भोज॑ना ॥

Thus do people of evil disposition keep wallowing in low states of existence whose mind and senses are engaged in wrong things like restive horses. And thus do others of the first and higher disposition fare who are dedicated here itself to the higher omnificent divinity in which infinite gifts of freedom, peace and happiness abound.

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10.44.8

गि॒रीँरज्रा॒न्रेज॑मानाँ अधारय॒द्द्यौः क्र॑न्दद॒न्तरि॑क्षाणि कोपयत् । स॒मी॒ची॒ने धि॒षणे॒ वि ष्क॑भायति॒ वृष्णः॑ पी॒त्वा मद॑ उ॒क्थानि॑ शंसति ॥

He wields the dynamics of nature, fixes the mountains and moves the roaring clouds. He holds the raging heavens and shakes the violent skies. He holds both earth and heaven together and, the glorious sun having drunk up the vapours, showers down the rains in joy like the overflow of divine ecstasy in the music of song.

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10.44.9

इ॒मं बि॑भर्मि॒ सुकृ॑तं ते अङ्कु॒शं येना॑रु॒जासि॑ मघवञ्छफा॒रुजः॑ । अ॒स्मिन्त्सु ते॒ सव॑ने अस्त्वो॒क्यं॑ सु॒त इ॒ष्टौ म॑घवन्बो॒ध्याभ॑गः ॥

I happily abide by this law and discipline of yours, Indra, which is divinely maintained and sustained, the law by which, O lord of power and glory, you punish those who strike life by their hoof and claw. May your presence abide in this holy seat of my yajna in the heart and soul. May your divine majesty, O lord of glory, know and fulfil our desire in this cherished act of love and faith.

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10.44.10

गोभि॑ष्टरे॒माम॑तिं दु॒रेवां॒ यवे॑न॒ क्षुधं॑ पुरुहूत॒ विश्वा॑म् । व॒यं राज॑भिः प्रथ॒मा धना॑न्य॒स्माके॑न वृ॒जने॑ना जयेम ॥

O lord universally invoked and celebrated, let us overcome the difficult problems of want, of moral and spiritual vision and knowledge, by the Vedic voice, and the problem of world hunger by cooperative production of food.And let us on top win wealth, honour and excellence by our own brilliance of intelligence and our own persistent effort.

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10.44.11

बृह॒स्पति॑र्नः॒ परि॑ पातु प॒श्चादु॒तोत्त॑रस्मा॒दध॑रादघा॒योः । इन्द्रः॑ पु॒रस्ता॑दु॒त म॑ध्य॒तो नः॒ सखा॒ सखि॑भ्यो॒ वरि॑वः कृणोतु ॥

May Brhaspati protect and promote us all round from behind, from above and from below against sin and evil. May Indra, our friend and ruler, create and give wealth, honour and excellence for us and for the entire fraternity of the world from within at the centre of humanity and may he continue the same into the future.

✦ Sukta 45 · 12 verses ✦

10.45.1

दि॒वस्परि॑ प्रथ॒मं ज॑ज्ञे अ॒ग्निर॒स्मद्द्वि॒तीयं॒ परि॑ जा॒तवे॑दाः । तृ॒तीय॑म॒प्सु नृ॒मणा॒ अज॑स्र॒मिन्धा॑न एनं जरते स्वा॒धीः ॥

Agni first manifests as light in the high heavenly region in the form of the sun. Secondly it manifests as Jataveda, vital heat in all earthly forms around us. In the third form it manifests as energy in waters in the middle regions of space as electricity. Agni is the vital energy which enables humanity to live and work. Man as self-intelligent being lights this perpetual Agni and thereby exalts and celebrates the eternal creative spirit of existence.

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10.45.2

वि॒द्मा ते॑ अग्ने त्रे॒धा त्र॒याणि॑ वि॒द्मा ते॒ धाम॒ विभृ॑ता पुरु॒त्रा । वि॒द्मा ते॒ नाम॑ पर॒मं गुहा॒ यद्वि॒द्मा तमुत्सं॒ यत॑ आज॒गन्थ॑ ॥

Agni, universal vital energy, we know the three modes in which you menifest in three different forms, structures, properties and functions. All pervasive energy, we know the three regions in which you abide. For sure we know the deepest secret cave where your abode is since we know the infinite source from where you arise and manifest as Agni, Vayu and Aditya on earth, in sky and in heaven.

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10.45.3

स॒मु॒द्रे त्वा॑ नृ॒मणा॑ अ॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तर्नृ॒चक्षा॑ ईधे दि॒वो अ॑ग्न॒ ऊध॑न् । तृ॒तीये॑ त्वा॒ रज॑सि तस्थि॒वांस॑म॒पामु॒पस्थे॑ महि॒षा अ॑वर्धन् ॥

Agni, the fluid energy excites and kindles you in the currents in the depths of the waters; in the region of light, the sun that illuminates the world of humanity produces and radiates you; and in the third region of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ the skies, the energy of the winds produces and augments you as you abide in the depths of the cloud.

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10.45.4

अक्र॑न्दद॒ग्निः स्त॒नय॑न्निव॒ द्यौः क्षामा॒ रेरि॑हद्वी॒रुधः॑ सम॒ञ्जन् । स॒द्यो ज॑ज्ञा॒नो वि हीमि॒द्धो अख्य॒दा रोद॑सी भा॒नुना॑ भात्य॒न्तः ॥

Agni roars as if thundering and shaking the skies, at the same time reaching and kissing the earth and beautifying the greenery. Always present, instantly rising, it proclaims itself, shines, and fills the heaven and earth with its light.

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10.45.5

श्री॒णामु॑दा॒रो ध॒रुणो॑ रयी॒णां म॑नी॒षाणां॒ प्रार्प॑णः॒ सोम॑गोपाः । वसुः॑ सू॒नुः सह॑सो अ॒प्सु राजा॒ वि भा॒त्यग्र॑ उ॒षसा॑मिधा॒नः ॥

Liberal source giver of light, beauty and life’s graces, treasure home of wealths, honours and excellences, harbinger of intellectual smartness and fulfilment, protector and promoter of the soma energies of life, shelter home of peace and comfort, child as well as energiser of strength and courage, and the ruling inspirer of the soul in will and actions, Agni, kindled and rising, shines in advance of the dawns at the horizon.

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10.45.6

विश्व॑स्य के॒तुर्भुव॑नस्य॒ गर्भ॒ आ रोद॑सी अपृणा॒ज्जाय॑मानः । वी॒ळुं चि॒दद्रि॑मभिनत्परा॒यञ्जना॒ यद॒ग्निमय॑जन्त॒ पञ्च॑ ॥

Illuminator of the world, pervasive life energy of the universe, as it rises it fills the heaven and earth with light and life. Moving ahead and penetrating, it breaks the mighty strong cloud, and for this reason of its energy, power and light all communities of the world kindle and adore it in their yajnic projects of creation and production.

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10.45.7

उ॒शिक्पा॑व॒को अ॑र॒तिः सु॑मे॒धा मर्ते॑ष्व॒ग्निर॒मृतो॒ नि धा॑यि । इय॑र्ति धू॒मम॑रु॒षं भरि॑भ्र॒दुच्छु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॒ द्यामिन॑क्षन् ॥

Charming, purifying, dynamic, inspiring the mind and intelligence to acts of holiness, immortal Agni pervades in all mortal forms of nature and humanity. It bears and emanates light, sets in motion free fragrance for life and, with powerful pure light, fills the heavens of space.

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10.45.8

दृ॒शा॒नो रु॒क्म उ॑र्वि॒या व्य॑द्यौद्दु॒र्मर्ष॒मायुः॑ श्रि॒ये रु॑चा॒नः । अ॒ग्निर॒मृतो॑ अभव॒द्वयो॑भि॒र्यदे॑नं॒ द्यौर्ज॒नय॑त्सु॒रेताः॑ ॥

All watching and self-revealed, glorious Agni shines awfully, infinite light, indomitable life and pranic energy, all refulgent for the beauty and grace of life. Agni is immortal and eternal with waves of living energy since the heavenly divine life spirit of existence generates it as it is.

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10.45.9

यस्ते॑ अ॒द्य कृ॒णव॑द्भद्रशोचेऽपू॒पं दे॑व घृ॒तव॑न्तमग्ने । प्र तं न॑य प्रत॒रं वस्यो॒ अच्छा॒भि सु॒म्नं दे॒वभ॑क्तं यविष्ठ ॥

Agni, holy light of life, self-refulgent generous divinity, whoever the dedicated celebrant of the divine that prepares and offers you homage and yajna with perfect discipline of mind and sense, pray bless him, O power ever youthful, with honour and excellence of high order and the peace and comfort of a happy home.

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10.45.10

आ तं भ॑ज सौश्रव॒सेष्व॑ग्न उ॒क्थौ॑क्थ॒ आ भ॑ज श॒स्यमा॑ने । प्रि॒यः सूर्ये॑ प्रि॒यो अ॒ग्ना भ॑वा॒त्युज्जा॒तेन॑ भि॒नद॒दुज्जनि॑त्वैः ॥

O self-refulgent Agni, love the celebrant, bless him among the celebrities of high renown, love and bless him in every celebrative song of adoration, Let him be dear to the sun, a darling of the fire to enjoy the favour and blessings of these divinities. May he rise with what he has created and achieved. May he rise by all that he is going to create and achieve.

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10.45.11

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ यज॑माना॒ अनु॒ द्यून्विश्वा॒

वसु॑ दधिरे॒ वार्या॑णि । त्वया॑ स॒ह द्रवि॑णमि॒च्छमा॑ना व्र॒जं गोम॑न्तमु॒शिजो॒ वि व॑व्रुः ॥

Agni, lord of light and glory, those who offer you yajnic homage and worship are blest with all the world’s wealth, peace and comfort of their choice. Seeking and aspiring for honour and excellence, loving sages and pioneers of progress not only achieve but also open the gates of further possibilities on earth abounding in lands, cows, and culture of knowledge and grace.

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10.45.12

अस्ता॑व्य॒ग्निर्न॒रां सु॒शेवो॑ वैश्वान॒र ऋषि॑भिः॒ सोम॑गोपाः । अ॒द्वे॒षे द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी हु॑वेम॒ देवा॑ ध॒त्त र॒यिम॒स्मे सु॒वीर॑म् ॥

Agni, self-refulgent light and fire of life, blissful guardian of humanity, world guide and pioneer of leading lights, protector and promoter of the soma beauty and glory of life is praised and exalted by seers and poetic celebrants. We invoke and pray for the blessings of loving heaven and earth free from anger and jealousy. We pray may the divinities bear and bring us wealth, honour and excellence with brave generations of progeny.

✦ Sukta 46 · 10 verses ✦

10.46.1

प्र होता॑ जा॒तो म॒हान्न॑भो॒विन्नृ॒षद्वा॑ सीदद॒पामु॒पस्थे॑ । दधि॒र्यो धायि॒ स ते॒ वयां॑सि य॒न्ता वसू॑नि विध॒ते त॑नू॒पाः ॥

High priest of the cosmic yajna of creation, universally self-manifested, great and glorious, pervasive in space and things even beyond the senses, abiding in the heart and soul of humanity, Agni rolls at the heart of the dynamics of existence. O man, the omnipresent light of the universe which holds, controls and sustains everything is celebrated in the Vedas and worshipped at heart. It is Agni, sustainer of the individual body and the cosmic form, ruler and controller of everything, that bears and brings you all food and energies and blesses you with all wealth, honour and excellence of life.

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10.46.2

इ॒मं वि॒धन्तो॑ अ॒पां स॒धस्थे॑ प॒शुं न न॒ष्टं प॒दैरनु॑ ग्मन् । गुहा॒ चत॑न्तमु॒शिजो॒ नमो॑भिरि॒च्छन्तो॒ धीरा॒ भृग॑वोऽविन्दन् ॥

Just as people search for a lost animal by following the foot prints of the animal in the forest, similarly seekers and aspirants of thisAgni, omnipresent in the dynamics of existence, try to search for it by the overt as well as covert marks of its presence in the wide world of nature, and the deeply dedicated brilliant sages, loving and patient in their persistent search with yajnic homage, self-dedication and surrender, find it vibrating in the cave of the heart and soul.

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10.46.3

इ॒मं त्रि॒तो भूर्य॑विन्ददि॒च्छन्वै॑भूव॒सो मू॒र्धन्यघ्न्या॑याः । स शेवृ॑धो जा॒त आ ह॒र्म्येषु॒ नाभि॒र्युवा॑ भवति रोच॒नस्य॑ ॥

The ardent lover of divinity, Trita, the man having got over threefold suffering of body, mind and soul through knowledge, good work and meditation, finds this Agni presence on top of inviolable nature and earthly life in the absolute state of consciousness. Thus realised in spiritual manifestation, Agni, harbinger and augmenter of spiritual felicity, becomes the centre hold of happy homes and a youthful presence of divinity in the mind of enlightened souls.

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10.46.4

म॒न्द्रं होता॑रमु॒शिजो॒ नमो॑भिः॒ प्राञ्चं॑ य॒ज्ञं ने॒तार॑मध्व॒राणा॑म् । वि॒शाम॑कृण्वन्नर॒तिं पा॑व॒कं ह॑व्य॒वाहं॒ दध॑तो॒ मानु॑षेषु ॥

Earnest men of love, passion and faith among people hold at heart and with homage serve Agni, the power that is joyous, yajnic creator giver and organiser, foremost leader directly realised, worthy of love and reverence, leading power of creative programmes of love and non-violence, cleanser and purifier, harbinger of holy materials for social development. They hold Agni at heart and create and exalt it as the prime power among the people.

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10.46.5

प्र भू॒र्जय॑न्तं म॒हां वि॑पो॒धां मू॒रा अमू॑रं पु॒रां द॒र्माण॑म् । नय॑न्तो॒ गर्भं॑ व॒नां धियं॑ धु॒र्हिरि॑श्मश्रुं॒ नार्वा॑णं॒ धन॑र्चम् ॥

Earnest men of love, passion and faith, but, being human, limited in intelligence, hold at heart, worship and serve Agni pervading and dominating the world of existence, great, sustainer of the vibrant wise, all knowing and wise, breaker of the strongholds of negativity and darkness, the original seed and source of life, beatific, supremely intelligent, golden flamed and divinely adorable. Men hold at heart, worship and serve this omnipresent Agni being more dynamic than the dynamics of nature, the instant presence that it is.

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10.46.6

नि प॒स्त्या॑सु त्रि॒तः स्त॑भू॒यन्परि॑वीतो॒ योनौ॑ सीदद॒न्तः । अतः॑ सं॒गृभ्या॑ वि॒शां दमू॑ना॒ विध॑र्मणाय॒न्त्रैरी॑यते॒ नॄन् ॥

Agni, the light of three worlds, all supportive and sustaining, enveloped in light and flames, sits in the vedi in the homes as in the midst of regions of the universe, and from there, having received the homage of yajnic oblations, the generous Agni reaches the leading divinities of nature and humanity in various ways according to different laws of nature.

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10.46.7

अ॒स्याजरा॑सो द॒माम॒रित्रा॑ अ॒र्चद्धू॑मासो अ॒ग्नयः॑ पाव॒काः । श्वि॒ती॒चयः॑ श्वा॒त्रासो॑ भुर॒ण्यवो॑ वन॒र्षदो॑ वा॒यवो॒ न सोमाः॑ ॥

The eternal, adorable and all saving flames and fragrances of the powerful fires of this Agni are purifying, sanctifying, invigorating, instantly effective, pervasive in forests, clouds and waters, and they are vibrant and blissful as the soothing pleasures of soma.

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10.46.8

प्र जि॒ह्वया॑ भरते॒ वेपो॑ अ॒ग्निः प्र व॒युना॑नि॒ चेत॑सा पृथि॒व्याः । तमा॒यवः॑ शु॒चय॑न्तं पाव॒कं म॒न्द्रं होता॑रं दधिरे॒ यजि॑ष्ठम् ॥

Agni, light of omniscience, vests humanity with the wisdom, will and power of action, and also with the awareness of the laws of the expansive universe, by the flames of its powerful Vedic voice of revelations. And the people hold, adore, serve and follow that Agni, the most lovable and adorable, purifying, sanctifying and joyous power which is the high priest of the dynamics of existence, the receiver and a thousandfold giver.

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10.46.9

द्यावा॒ यम॒ग्निं पृ॑थि॒वी जनि॑ष्टा॒माप॒स्त्वष्टा॒ भृग॑वो॒ यं सहो॑भिः । ई॒ळेन्यं॑ प्रथ॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ दे॒वास्त॑तक्षु॒र्मन॑वे॒ यज॑त्रम् ॥

That Agni, self-refulgent spirit and light of the universe, is the universal presence which the heaven and earth manifest with their vastness, which the blazing lights of the stars reveal with their splendour, Agni, the first and supreme power and presence, lovable and adorable, which the mighty winds and other bright divinities of nature reveal for thinking humanity.

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10.46.10

यं त्वा॑ दे॒वा द॑धि॒रे ह॑व्य॒वाहं॑ पुरु॒स्पृहो॒ मानु॑षासो॒ यज॑त्रम् । स याम॑न्नग्ने स्तुव॒ते वयो॑ धाः॒ प्र दे॑व॒यन्य॒शसः॒ सं हि पू॒र्वीः ॥

Agni, self-refulgent light and spirit of the universe whom the divine forces of nature and ardent lovers and faithful people adore and worship as loving and friendly bearer of the gifts of yajna, we pray, bring the food, energy and health and light of life for the dedicated celebrant on the highways of existence. May the lover of divinity be blest with eternal fame, honour and excellence.

✦ Sukta 47 · 8 verses ✦

10.47.1

ज॒गृ॒भ्मा ते॒ दक्षि॑णमिन्द्र॒ हस्तं॑ वसू॒यवो॑ वसुपते॒ वसू॑नाम् । वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॒ गोप॑तिं शूर॒ गोना॑म॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler, controller, promoter and giver of the world’s wealth, peace, comfort and joy, we, seekers of wealth, honours and excellence, hold on to your liberal hand of generosity. Lord of omnipotence, we know that you are the ruler and controller of the earths, stars, knowledge, wisdom and culture of life. Pray bless us with profuse and wondrous source wealth of the world with honours, excellence and happiness.

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10.47.2

स्वा॒यु॒धं स्वव॑सं सुनी॒थं चतुः॑समुद्रं ध॒रुणं॑ रयी॒णाम् । च॒र्कृत्यं॒ शंस्यं॒ भूरि॑वारम॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

We know you, Indra, wielder of mighty weapons, unfailing guardian, noble guide, pervasive all round in the four quarters of space, treasure-hold of universal wealth, constantly doing and glorified, adorable and infinite source of choicest boons. Pray bear and bring us abundant and wondrous wealth of the world.

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10.47.3

सु॒ब्रह्मा॑णं दे॒वव॑न्तं बृ॒हन्त॑मु॒रुं ग॑भी॒रं पृ॒थुबु॑ध्नमिन्द्र । श्रु॒तऋ॑षिमु॒ग्रम॑भिमाति॒षाह॑म॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

We know you, Indra, lord of divine speech, highest lover of divinities, greatest, boundless, deepest, foundation of the expansive universe, exalted among seers and sages, blazing lustrous, destroyer of opponents. Pray, bear and bring us abundant and wondrous wealth of the world.

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10.47.4

स॒नद्वा॑जं॒ विप्र॑वीरं॒ तरु॑त्रं धन॒स्पृतं॑ शूशु॒वांसं॑ सु॒दक्ष॑म् । द॒स्यु॒हनं॑ पू॒र्भिद॑मिन्द्र स॒त्यम॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

We know you, Indra, abundant in food, energy and advancement, commanding the brave and intelligent, guiding presence over the ocean of existence, infinitely opulent, giver of strength and sure success, most powerful, destroyer of evil and negativity, breaker of mountainous obstructions, ever true and eternal. O lord omnipotent, give us wondrous wealth of life in abundance.

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10.47.5

अश्वा॑वन्तं र॒थिनं॑ वी॒रव॑न्तं सह॒स्रिणं॑ श॒तिनं॒ वाज॑मिन्द्र । भ॒द्रव्रा॑तं॒ विप्र॑वीरं स्व॒र्षाम॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

We know you, Indra, equipped with dynamic forces, cosmic chariot and brave powers of the world, abundant in hundredfold, thousandfold, even infinite energy, power and victory, assisted by excellent powers of natural law, served by the wise and brave sages, the lord all blissful. Pray give us abundant and wondrous wealth of the wonderful world of life.

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10.47.6

प्र स॒प्तगु॑मृ॒तधी॑तिं सुमे॒धां बृह॒स्पतिं॑ म॒तिरच्छा॑ जिगाति । य आ॑ङ्गिर॒सो नम॑सोप॒सद्यो॒ऽस्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

We know you Indra, lord of the seven-fold world of existence sung by seven priests with seven songs of the Veda, lord of infinite intelligence, presiding over the expansive universe whom the man of intelligence adores and who is directly invoked with homage and prayer of the man of dynamic faith. Pray give us the wondrous wealth of the world full of abundant creative possibilities.

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10.47.7

वनी॑वानो॒ मम॑ दू॒तास॒ इन्द्रं॒ स्तोमा॑श्चरन्ति सुम॒तीरि॑या॒नाः । हृ॒दि॒स्पृशो॒ मन॑सा व॒च्यमा॑ना अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

My songs of adoration full of love and faith, vibrating with holy thoughts, expressive of the language of my mind and touching the heart, reach Indra like messengers of my soul. Indra, pray give us wondrous wealth of the world in abundance.

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10.47.8

यत्त्वा॒ यामि॑ द॒द्धि तन्न॑ इन्द्र बृ॒हन्तं॒ क्षय॒मस॑मं॒ जना॑नाम् । अ॒भि तद्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी गृ॑णीताम॒स्मभ्यं॑ चि॒त्रं वृष॑णं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

Indra, what I pray for, graciously grant us, a boundless expansive abode of joy unlike any house of the people on earth. May heaven and earth approve of my prayer and join in the supplication. Indra, lord omnipotent, give us wondrous wealth of the world, creative, abundant, never ending.

✦ Sukta 48 · 11 verses ✦

10.48.1

अ॒हं भु॑वं॒ वसु॑नः पू॒र्व्यस्पति॑र॒हं धना॑नि॒ सं ज॑यामि॒ शश्व॑तः । मां ह॑वन्ते पि॒तरं॒ न ज॒न्तवो॒ऽहं दा॒शुषे॒ वि भ॑जामि॒ भोज॑नम् ॥

I am the eternal lord, master protector and promoter of the world of existence. I create, raise, protect and rule over the eternal wealths of the world. Living beings call on me as father, mother and saviour guardian. I provide food and sustenance for generous humanity dedicated to service and yajna.

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10.48.2

अ॒हमिन्द्रो॒ रोधो॒ वक्षो॒ अथ॑र्वणस्त्रि॒ताय॒ गा अ॑जनय॒महे॒रधि॑ । अ॒हं दस्यु॑भ्यः॒ परि॑ नृ॒म्णमा द॑दे गो॒त्रा शिक्ष॑न्दधी॒चे मा॑त॒रिश्व॑ने ॥

I am the corselet and the centre-hold of pranic energy in the state of tension and equilibrium. I create the streams of vapour over the cloud and waves of energy for the three realms of earth, heaven and the middle regions. I collect and disburse wealth of materials and energies from and for the dynamics of evolution, and I give protection and perception of sense and response to the foetus in the mother’s womb.

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10.48.3

मह्यं॒ त्वष्टा॒ वज्र॑मतक्षदाय॒सं मयि॑ दे॒वासो॑ऽवृज॒न्नपि॒ क्रतु॑म् । ममानी॑कं॒ सूर्य॑स्येव दु॒ष्टरं॒ मामार्य॑न्ति कृ॒तेन॒ कर्त्वे॑न च ॥

For me, Tvashta, formative faculty of divine nature, creates the thunderbolt of steel. For me, the divinities of nature and humanity perform their tasks and surrender them unto me. My blazing power is insurmountable like the sun’s, and all actions past, present and future in nature or humanity must come to me for effectual fulfilment.

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10.48.4

अ॒हमे॒तं ग॒व्यय॒मश्व्यं॑ प॒शुं पु॑री॒षिणं॒ साय॑केना हिर॒ण्यय॑म् । पु॒रू स॒हस्रा॒ नि शि॑शामि दा॒शुषे॒ यन्मा॒ सोमा॑स उ॒क्थिनो॒ अम॑न्दिषुः ॥

When men of soma peace and piety chant hymns of praise in gratitude to cosmic divinity, it pleases me, and this man of perceptive senses, thinking mind, penetrative vision, energetic character and a golden heart, I vest with the abundance of a thousand capacities and capabilities of refinement for rooting out sin and evil.

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10.48.5

अ॒हमिन्द्रो॒ न परा॑ जिग्य॒ इद्धनं॒ न मृ॒त्यवेऽव॑ तस्थे॒ कदा॑ च॒न । सोम॒मिन्मा॑ सु॒न्वन्तो॑ याचता॒ वसु॒ न मे॑ पूरवः स॒ख्ये रि॑षाथन ॥

I am Indra, the powerful, never defeated. None can deprive me of my identity. I exist not for death. O makers of soma, ask me for the wealth and peace of life. Men who abide in friendship with me never come to harm.

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10.48.6

अ॒हमे॒ताञ्छाश्व॑सतो॒ द्वाद्वेन्द्रं॒ ये वज्रं॑ यु॒धयेऽकृ॑ण्वत । आ॒ह्वय॑मानाँ॒ अव॒ हन्म॑नाहनं दृ॒ळ्हा वद॒न्नन॑मस्युर्नम॒स्विनः॑ ॥

I destroy those challengers who, panting for battle in two’s, raise their thunder weapon and challenge the mighty ruling power of the system. I throw them off without the weapon, without bending in compromise either, but with a determined mind and the warning word of the inevitable.

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10.48.7

अ॒भी॒३॒॑दमेक॒मेको॑ अस्मि नि॒ष्षाळ॒भी द्वा किमु॒ त्रयः॑ करन्ति । खले॒ न प॒र्षान्प्रति॑ हन्मि॒ भूरि॒ किं मा॑ निन्दन्ति॒ शत्र॑वोऽनि॒न्द्राः ॥

I am one, the absolute without a second. I am destroyer of the enemies who do not recognise me, Indra, centrality of the system. Those who challenge me, I destroy, whether it is one or two or three. I crush them all as sheaves of corn on the threshing floor. It is a pity they revile me.

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10.48.8

अ॒हं गु॒ङ्गुभ्यो॑ अतिथि॒ग्वमिष्क॑र॒मिषं॒ न वृ॑त्र॒तुरं॑ वि॒क्षु धा॑रयम् । यत्प॑र्णय॒घ्न उ॒त वा॑ करञ्ज॒हे प्राहं म॒हे वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॒ अशु॑श्रवि ॥

For the protection and advancement of the unostentatious people of piety and creativity among humanity, I hold and maintain persons and powers that are hospitable, producers of food, and destroyers of sin, evil and violence, and I protect them like the very nourishment of society, since I am known and celebrated for what I am and what I do : eliminate the forces counter to growth, break the cloud for rain, and dispel darkness, want and ignorance.

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10.48.9

प्र मे॒ नमी॑ सा॒प्य इ॒षे भु॒जे भू॒द्गवा॒मेषे॑ स॒ख्या कृ॑णुत द्वि॒ता । दि॒द्युं यद॑स्य समि॒थेषु॑ मं॒हय॒मादिदे॑नं॒ शंस्य॑मु॒क्थ्यं॑ करम् ॥

My celebrant is worthy of love and honour, because he is for sustenance, enjoyment and procurement of knowledge for society. He is loved and honoured for two reasons: for friendship and for enlightenment. And when I have given him the light in abundance in the battles of life, only then I raise him to the position of praise and celebration.

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10.48.10

प्र नेम॑स्मिन्ददृशे॒ सोमो॑ अ॒न्तर्गो॒पा नेम॑मा॒विर॒स्था कृ॑णोति । स ति॒ग्मशृ॑ङ्गं वृष॒भं युयु॑त्सन्द्रु॒हस्त॑स्थौ बहु॒ले ब॒द्धो अ॒न्तः ॥

Among some people, Indra manifests as soma, divine spirit of joy, beauty and peace, the protector within. Among others, the lord manifests as a bolt from the blue, the sudden fall of thunder. Fighting the sharply armed, strongly determined forces, he stands and subdues like a fury. Thus does Indra manifest, abiding within, among all.

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10.48.11

आ॒दि॒त्यानां॒ वसू॑नां रु॒द्रिया॑णां दे॒वो दे॒वानां॒ न मि॑नामि॒ धाम॑ । ते मा॑ भ॒द्राय॒ शव॑से ततक्षु॒रप॑राजित॒मस्तृ॑त॒मषा॑ळ्हम् ॥

Light of lights, generous and potent, I never violate, frustrate or transgress the identity, function and power of the Adityas, zodiacs of the sun, of Vasus, natural spheres of life sustenance, or Rudras, forces such as winds and pranic energies. Nor do I ever disturb the aditya, rudra and vasu scholars of knowledge and divine service. Let them all realise me and manifest my spirit and presence for their good and fulfilment of their prowess: me, Indra, undaunted, unviolated and unopposed.

✦ Sukta 49 · 11 verses ✦

10.49.1

अ॒हं दां॑ गृण॒ते पूर्व्यं॒ वस्व॒हं ब्रह्म॑ कृणवं॒ मह्यं॒ वर्ध॑नम् । अ॒हं भु॑वं॒ यज॑मानस्य चोदि॒ताय॑ज्वनः साक्षि॒ विश्व॑स्मि॒न्भरे॑ ॥

I give to the celebrant of divinity eternal peace and freedom of the soul, the highest value of life across the world of existence. I create the eternal song of existence for self celebration in joyous exaltation. I am the giver of inspiration to the yajnic performer and partner in cosmic evolution, and I subdue the negationist and uncreative soul in the entire struggle of life for evolution.

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10.49.2

मां धु॒रिन्द्रं॒ नाम॑ दे॒वता॑ दि॒वश्च॒ ग्मश्चा॒पां च॑ ज॒न्तवः॑ । अ॒हं हरी॒ वृष॑णा॒ विव्र॑ता र॒घू अ॒हं वज्रं॒ शव॑से धृ॒ष्ण्वा द॑दे ॥

Living beings of land, waters, heaven and all spaces and all that move, they accept and adore me in faith as Indra, the omnipotent sustainer. I keep the twofold dynamic forces of high velocity constantly on the move in the cosmic process of evolution, and I, power supreme, wield the thunderbolt as my sceptre of omnipotent justice and dispensation.

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10.49.3

अ॒हमत्कं॑ क॒वये॑ शिश्नथं॒ हथै॑र॒हं कुत्स॑मावमा॒भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । अ॒हं शुष्ण॑स्य॒ श्नथि॑ता॒ वध॑र्यमं॒ न यो र॒र आर्यं॒ नाम॒ दस्य॑वे ॥

I pierce and dispel the darkness for the visionary seer, giving him the break-through and the light with radiations of illuminations and revelation. I protect the sage with these modes of protection and advancement. I, dispeller and destroyer of drought and want, wield the thunderbolt for the negationist and the destroyer whom I do not recognise by the name of a creative positivist.

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10.49.4

अ॒हं पि॒तेव॑ वेत॒सूँर॒भिष्ट॑ये॒ तुग्रं॒ कुत्सा॑य॒ स्मदि॑भं च रन्धयम् । अ॒हं भु॑वं॒ यज॑मानस्य रा॒जनि॒ प्र यद्भरे॒ तुज॑ये॒ न प्रि॒याधृषे॑ ॥

Like a father for the good of the man of creative generosity, I subdue and throw out the obstinate and persistent forces of bruteness, violence and terror. I am for the advancement of the man of yajnic creativity and enlightenment, and I have nothing good for the violent and the bully.

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10.49.5

अ॒हं र॑न्धयं॒ मृग॑यं श्रु॒तर्व॑णे॒ यन्माजि॑हीत व॒युना॑ च॒नानु॒षक् । अ॒हं वे॒शं न॒म्रमा॒यवे॑ऽकरम॒हं सव्या॑य॒ पड्गृ॑भिमरन्धयम् ॥

I subdue the roaming mind of the learned man so that it matures and, always by thought and action, it abides in me without going astray. I condition the inner spirit of man to humility, love and kindness, and I remove the obstacles from the path of the man on way to progress.

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10.49.6

अ॒हं स यो नव॑वास्त्वं बृ॒हद्र॑थं॒ सं वृ॒त्रेव॒ दासं॑ वृत्र॒हारु॑जम् । यद्व॒र्धय॑न्तं प्र॒थय॑न्तमानु॒षग्दू॒रे पा॒रे रज॑सो रोच॒नाक॑रम् ॥

I am that who, like breaking of the cloud, destroy the evil tendencies of body and mind extending to new areas like epidemics expanding and covering large terrilories, and thus I am that who throw away for all time all that sin and darkness which would otherwise go on rising and expanding in effect and intensity.

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10.49.7

अ॒हं सूर्य॑स्य॒ परि॑ याम्या॒शुभिः॒ प्रैत॒शेभि॒र्वह॑मान॒ ओज॑सा । यन्मा॑ सा॒वो मनु॑ष॒ आह॑ नि॒र्णिज॒ ऋध॑क्कृषे॒ दासं॒ कृत्व्यं॒ हथैः॑ ॥

I manifest all round in glory as my presence is conducted by fast radiations of sun rays, and when the celebrant of soma yajna for peace and joy calls on me for fulfilment of his essential nature in divinity, immediately I strike off all impediments by strokes of the thunderbolt as the negativities deserve.

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10.49.8

अ॒हं स॑प्त॒हा नहु॑षो॒ नहु॑ष्टरः॒ प्राश्रा॑वयं॒ शव॑सा तु॒र्वशं॒ यदु॑म् । अ॒हं न्य१॒॑न्यं सह॑सा॒ सह॑स्करं॒ नव॒ व्राध॑तो नव॒तिं च॑ वक्षयम् ॥

I am the destroyer of sevenfold darkness (of passion, anger, greed, infatuation, pride, fear and sorrow) by sevenfold light of divinity. I am the bond between humanity and divinity, stronger than strength itself. The aspiring man of action and effort, I raise to heights of honour and fame. Others, I fortify with courage and patience, and the rising ones, I cause to rise higher by nine and ninety times for a full life of hundred years.

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10.49.9

अ॒हं स॒प्त स्र॒वतो॑ धारयं॒ वृषा॑ द्रवि॒त्न्वः॑ पृथि॒व्यां सी॒रा अधि॑ । अ॒हमर्णां॑सि॒ वि ति॑रामि सु॒क्रतु॑र्यु॒धा वि॑दं॒ मन॑वे गा॒तुमि॒ष्टये॑ ॥

Infinite, generous and omnipotent, I cause the seven streams to flow and the seven seas to roll on earth, and I cause the seven streams of blood and nerve to flow in the body. Master of holy action, I provide for the river’s flow, and with the dynamics of nature and society, I provide the paths of progress for humanity on way to fulfilment.

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10.49.10

अ॒हं तदा॑सु धारयं॒ यदा॑सु॒ न दे॒वश्च॒न त्वष्टाधा॑रय॒द्रुश॑त् । स्पा॒र्हं गवा॒मूध॑स्सु व॒क्षणा॒स्वा मधो॒र्मधु॒ श्वात्र्यं॒ सोम॑मा॒शिर॑म् ॥

I create and cause to flow that bright fluid in these seas and streams of earth and the body which no bright power of nature or humanity, not even Tvashta, the divine artist, could have created and made to flow: the lovely milk in cow’s udders, honey sweet waters in the rivers, and the sparkling life blood in the body’s veins, the essence of vitality.

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10.49.11

ए॒वा दे॒वाँ इन्द्रो॑ विव्ये॒ नॄन्प्र च्यौ॒त्नेन॑ म॒घवा॑ स॒त्यरा॑धाः । विश्वेत्ता ते॑ हरिवः शचीवो॒ऽभि तु॒रासः॑ स्वयशो गृणन्ति ॥

Thus does Indra, lord of glory and protector of Truth and Law, impel and inspire natural and human forces of generous and positive action with energy. As such, all men of action and excellence over the world exalt and adore you, O lord of radiant presence, omnipotence and innate excellence, and they feel blest in themselves.

✦ Sukta 50 · 7 verses ✦

10.50.1

प्र वो॑ म॒हे मन्द॑माना॒यान्ध॒सोऽर्चा॑ वि॒श्वान॑राय विश्वा॒भुवे॑ । इन्द्र॑स्य॒ यस्य॒ सुम॑खं॒ सहो॒ महि॒ श्रवो॑ नृ॒म्णं च॒ रोद॑सी सप॒र्यतः॑ ॥

You seekers and celebrants, offer reverence and homage with service, prayer and selfless work to Indra, omnipresent guide, giver of happiness and fulfilment to all people of the world, whose holiness of universal creativity, strength, grandeur, honour and glory, and gracious generosity, both heaven and earth proclaim and adore.

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10.50.2

सो चि॒न्नु सख्या॒ नर्य॑ इ॒नः स्तु॒तश्च॒र्कृत्य॒ इन्द्रो॒ माव॑ते॒ नरे॑ । विश्वा॑सु धू॒र्षु वा॑ज॒कृत्ये॑षु सत्पते वृ॒त्रे वा॒प्स्व१॒॑भि शू॑र मन्दसे ॥

He, Indra, Lord of heaven and earth, leader and master of humanity with love and friendship for all, loved and adored universally, is worthy of worship for all men like me. O lord omnipotent protector and promoter of the good and true, you rejoice, exhilarate and energise us in all top situations worth challenging in the world, in all battles of the brave worth winning, and in all states of darkness and showers of the clouds.

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10.50.3

के ते नर॑ इन्द्र॒ ये त॑ इ॒षे ये ते॑ सु॒म्नं स॑ध॒न्य१॒॑मिय॑क्षान् । के ते॒ वाजा॑यासु॒र्या॑य हिन्विरे॒ के अ॒प्सु स्वासू॒र्वरा॑सु॒ पौंस्ये॑ ॥

Indra, who are those people that try to win your favour of sustenance and enlightenment, who realise your divine bliss of peace and well being, who exert themselves to win the strength and spirit of life and joy of divinity, and who delight in their own acts of ambition, manliness and generosity?

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10.50.4

भुव॒स्त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ ब्रह्म॑णा म॒हान्भुवो॒ विश्वे॑षु॒ सव॑नेषु य॒ज्ञियः॑ । भुवो॒ नॄँश्च्यौ॒त्नो विश्व॑स्मि॒न्भरे॒ ज्येष्ठ॑श्च॒ मन्त्रो॑ विश्वचर्षणे ॥

Indra, you are great by virtue of your infinity and eternity of Being and the eternal Word of Being and Divinity. In all holy works of creativity in the world, you are adorable. In all struggles of existence, you are the power and inspiration of humanity. And you are the first, highest and the most sacred chant of human consciousness of divinity, O lord all watching and inspiring for the world.

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10.50.5

अवा॒ नु कं॒ ज्याया॑न्य॒ज्ञव॑नसो म॒हीं त॒ ओमा॑त्रां कृ॒ष्टयो॑ विदुः । असो॒ नु क॑म॒जरो॒ वर्धा॑श्च॒ विश्वेदे॒ता सव॑ना तूतु॒मा कृ॑षे ॥

Indra, you are great, pray protect and promote the lovers and performers of the divine yajna of faith and creativity. People know the grandeur and greatness of your power of protection. Unaging and imperishable you are, pray promote life and all. Indeed, ultimately, it is you who effect all these acts of creation and progress with strength and speed.

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10.50.6

ए॒ता विश्वा॒ सव॑ना तूतु॒मा कृ॑षे स्व॒यं सू॑नो सहसो॒ यानि॑ दधि॒षे । वरा॑य ते॒ पात्रं॒ धर्म॑णे॒ तना॑ य॒ज्ञो मन्त्रो॒ ब्रह्मोद्य॑तं॒ वचः॑ ॥

You perform all these acts of ho/liness, O inspirer of force and power, which you hold and sustain. May your protection be for safety and peace, wealth for Dharma mantra, for communion, and the song be for Divinity.

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10.50.7

ये ते॑ विप्र ब्रह्म॒कृतः॑ सु॒ते सचा॒ वसू॑नां च॒ वसु॑नश्च दा॒वने॑ । प्र ते सु॒म्नस्य॒ मन॑सा प॒था भु॑व॒न्मदे॑ सु॒तस्य॑ सो॒म्यस्यान्ध॑सः ॥

Lord of vibrant generosity, the celebrants of divinity in song together in this assembly wait for your gift of the highest wealth of wealths. May they, with their heart and soul and by the path of rectitude, abide in the peace and joy of the soma gift of your grace of spiritual food they pray for.

✦ Sukta 51 · 9 verses ✦

10.51.1

म॒हत्तदुल्बं॒ स्थवि॑रं॒ तदा॑सी॒द्येनावि॑ष्टितः प्रवि॒वेशि॑था॒पः । विश्वा॑ अपश्यद्बहु॒धा ते॑ अग्ने॒ जात॑वेदस्त॒न्वो॑ दे॒व एकः॑ ॥

O Agni, Jataveda, cognizable in existential forms, great is that form, that cover, that medium, fine and firm, clothed in which you enter upon the course of life in existence. There is one Divinity which watches all your body forms existent in nature in various media in the world.

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10.51.2

को मा॑ ददर्श कत॒मः स दे॒वो यो मे॑ त॒न्वो॑ बहु॒धा प॒र्यप॑श्यत् । क्वाह॑ मित्रावरुणा क्षियन्त्य॒ग्नेर्विश्वाः॑ स॒मिधो॑ देव॒यानीः॑ ॥

O Devas, who saw me? Which is that Divine who sees me in my body forms in so many ways? O Mitra and Varuna, O sun and moon, O vital energies of prana and udana, say where abide all my bright and vital waves and flames of fire and energy in the world which light up the paths of divinity and lead humanity there?

· · ·

10.51.3

ऐच्छा॑म त्वा बहु॒धा जा॑तवेदः॒ प्रवि॑ष्टमग्ने अ॒प्स्वोष॑धीषु । तं त्वा॑ य॒मो अ॑चिकेच्चित्रभानो दशान्तरु॒ष्याद॑ति॒रोच॑मानम् ॥

O Jataveda, manifest in all that is born and come into existence, Agni, we seek for you, co-existent as you are with all waters, motions, plants and trees. Yama, the One Divine who directs all things in existence knows you and watches you, O mysterious presence of infinite forms, shining, illuminating, energising and vitalising life from the depth of ten orders of existence: ten sense organs, ten pranas, and ten physical abodes, i.e., earth, skies, heavens of light, the fire, electric energy, the sun, waters, plants, trees and the living bodies.

· · ·

10.51.4

हो॒त्राद॒हं व॑रुण॒ बिभ्य॑दायं॒ नेदे॒व मा॑ यु॒नज॒न्नत्र॑ दे॒वाः । तस्य॑ मे त॒न्वो॑ बहु॒धा निवि॑ष्टा ए॒तमर्थं॒ न चि॑केता॒हम॒ग्निः ॥

O Varuna, lord of judgement and choice, soothing spirit of waters cool in peace, afraid of self- sacrifice to the senses and to the fiery divinities, I, the soul, come to you from the burning fire. Here neither the senses nor the divinities would consume me.As such my body and body organs with all waves and vibrations are completely merged in you. Here I know no such purpose as there in the fire.

· · ·

10.51.5

एहि॒ मनु॑र्देव॒युर्य॒ज्ञका॑मोऽरं॒कृत्या॒ तम॑सि क्षेष्यग्ने । सु॒गान्प॒थः कृ॑णुहि देव॒याना॒न्वह॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ सुमन॒स्यमा॑नः ॥

Agni, come, you are the soul, director of your divine senses and mind, thoughtful and intelligent, lover of divinities, dedicated to yajna. But you are still steeped in darkness. Come, get ready for yajnic performer. Prepare the paths of divinity for yourself and, happy at heart, carry the holy fragrances to the divinities by yajna.

· · ·

10.51.6

अ॒ग्नेः पूर्वे॒ भ्रात॑रो॒ अर्थ॑मे॒तं र॒थीवाध्वा॑न॒मन्वाव॑रीवुः । तस्मा॑द्भि॒या व॑रुण दू॒रमा॑यं गौ॒रो न क्षे॒प्नोर॑विजे॒ ज्यायाः॑ ॥

O Varuna, earlier my brothers created the same paths for themselves as a charioteer selects the road for himself, but they went off. For that reason I have come this far to you here, and I tremble with fear as a deer shakes with fear from the twang of the bow string of a hunter.

· · ·

10.51.7

कु॒र्मस्त॒ आयु॑र॒जरं॒ यद॑ग्ने॒ यथा॑ यु॒क्तो जा॑तवेदो॒ न रिष्याः॑ । अथा॑ वहासि सुमन॒स्यमा॑नो भा॒गं दे॒वेभ्यो॑ ह॒विषः॑ सुजात ॥

O Agni, O soul, known as born in the body, we create and ordain an unaging life for you so that joined to that life divine you come to no hurt, nor would you die, and then, happy at heart, happily born, you carry to the divinities that share of the yajnic homage which is meant to be dedicated to them.

· · ·

10.51.8

प्र॒या॒जान्मे॑ अनुया॒जाँश्च॒ केव॑ला॒नूर्ज॑स्वन्तं ह॒विषो॑ दत्त भा॒गम् । घृ॒तं चा॒पां पुरु॑षं॒ चौष॑धीनाम॒ग्नेश्च॑ दी॒र्घमायु॑रस्तु देवाः ॥

O Devas, give me the prayaja, food part of yajnic offerings, and the anuyaja, supplimentary part of food, and that part of the offerings which gives energy, light and vision, the lustre of liquid energy, vitality from herbs and plants, long age of health for the soul and freedom from death. O Devas, brilliant, illuminative generous givers. Give me only that part which is mine.

· · ·

10.51.9

तव॑ प्रया॒जा अ॑नुया॒जाश्च॒ केव॑ल॒ ऊर्ज॑स्वन्तो ह॒विषः॑ सन्तु भा॒गाः । तवा॑ग्ने य॒ज्ञो॒३॒॑ऽयम॑स्तु॒ सर्व॒स्तुभ्यं॑ नमन्तां प्र॒दिश॒श्चत॑स्रः ॥

O Agni, O Soul, yours is the prayaja part of yajnic food, yours is anuyaja, the supplimentary part. Let all this be for experience and for the realisation of your essential spiritual nature. And let your share be full of energy and light for you. Indeed all this yajna of your individual existence is for you, the soul, as the cosmic yajna of existence is for the cosmic soul. Let it not go counter to the soul. Let all four directions of space and all that therein is be for experience and self- realisation. (Let it be subservient to the soul, let not the soul be lost in the experience of it.)

✦ Sukta 52 · 6 verses ✦

10.52.1

विश्वे॑ देवाः शा॒स्तन॑ मा॒ यथे॒ह होता॑ वृ॒तो म॒नवै॒ यन्नि॒षद्य॑ । प्र मे॑ ब्रूत भाग॒धेयं॒ यथा॑ वो॒ येन॑ प॒था ह॒व्यमा वो॒ वहा॑नि ॥

O Vishvedevas, generous brilliancies of nature and humanity, instruct me that, selected, elected, appointed and seated in my position as organiser and high priest of the yajnic social system, how I should think and act and how and in what way or ways I shall carry out my responsibilities and fulfil my obligations to you in the social system to offer you your share of sustenance.

· · ·

10.52.2

अ॒हं होता॒ न्य॑सीदं॒ यजी॑या॒न्विश्वे॑ दे॒वा म॒रुतो॑ मा जुनन्ति । अह॑रहरश्वि॒नाध्व॑र्यवं वां ब्र॒ह्मा स॒मिद्भ॑वति॒ साहु॑तिर्वाम् ॥

I am the hota, performer of yajna, calling to the fire and offering oblations into the vedi, seated on the vedi one in unison with all people. All divinities of the world and Maruts, vibrant youth, like winds of storm, inspire and energise me. O Ashvins, complementary powers of nature and humanity, men and women, teachers and preachers in the socio-economic system, yours is the conduct of the organisation of yajna day by day at and from the very rise of dawn. Let the Vedic scholar, bright and cool like the moon be the Brahma, presiding high priest, and act like ignition and illumination of the fire, and let that light and fire be the concluding oblation into the fire.

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10.52.3

अ॒यं यो होता॒ किरु॒ स य॒मस्य॒ कमप्यू॑हे॒ यत्स॑म॒ञ्जन्ति॑ दे॒वाः । अह॑रहर्जायते मा॒सिमा॒स्यथा॑ दे॒वा द॑धिरे हव्य॒वाह॑म् ॥

Who is this hota, yajnic performer, who carries out any and all the powers and obligations of Yama, order and controller of the whole system, whom all the devas, brilliancies of the system, anoint, prepare and honour? He rises higher and higher day by day, month by month, and all the devas, divine powers, uphold and support him while he conducts the vital economy of the yajnic system.

· · ·

10.52.4

मां दे॒वा द॑धिरे हव्य॒वाह॒मप॑म्लुक्तं ब॒हु कृ॒च्छ्रा चर॑न्तम् । अ॒ग्निर्वि॒द्वान्य॒ज्ञं नः॑ कल्पयाति॒ पञ्च॑यामं त्रि॒वृतं॑ स॒प्तत॑न्तुम् ॥

Me the devas, divines, honour and uphold while I conduct the powers and obligations of the yajnic system for them and face the many difficult and most laborious situations even in the minutest details with perfect discipline. Hence they all say: This Agni, the light and fire of the system, well aware of life and its conduct, accomplishes the yajna, threefold, five ways and seven stages.

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10.52.5

आ वो॑ यक्ष्यमृत॒त्वं सु॒वीरं॒ यथा॑ वो देवा॒ वरि॑वः॒ करा॑णि । आ बा॒ह्वोर्वज्र॒मिन्द्र॑स्य धेया॒मथे॒मा विश्वाः॒ पृत॑ना जयाति ॥

O devas, as I do honour and service to you in the best manner, as I pray for your gifts of immortality, virility and vitality, and as I hold in hands the ruler’s thunderbolt of justice and dispensation, this way does man win all the battles of life.

· · ·

10.52.6

त्रीणि॑ श॒ता त्री स॒हस्रा॑ण्य॒ग्निं त्रिं॒शच्च॑ दे॒वा नव॑ चासपर्यन् । औक्ष॑न्घृ॒तैरस्तृ॑णन्ब॒र्हिर॑स्मा॒ आदिद्धोता॑रं॒ न्य॑सादयन्त ॥

Three thousand three hundred thirty and nine are the divinities that serve this yajaka, Agni, shower it with brightest ghrta and cover the vedi with holy grass, and they seat the high priest over the yajna of the cosmos, nature, society, and also the individual living soul.

✦ Sukta 53 · 11 verses ✦

10.53.1

यमैच्छा॑म॒ मन॑सा॒ सो॒३॒॑ऽयमागा॑द्य॒ज्ञस्य॑ वि॒द्वान्परु॑षश्चिकि॒त्वान् । स नो॑ यक्षद्दे॒वता॑ता॒ यजी॑या॒न्नि हि षत्स॒दन्त॑रः॒ पूर्वो॑ अ॒स्मत् ॥

He whom we Devas loved and sought with heart and mind is come. He knows the integrated process of yajnic union, knows all and every part of it. May this unifying principle of life, most venerable, join us here in the yajna of life, infact it was abiding here itself within before we joined. (The Devas are the divine principles and faculties of life, and Agni whom the Devas love and seek is the life itself, the soul, which integrates the faculties with the identity that the soul acquires with the body and the faculties, all united in one organismic individual form. Reference may be made to Aitareya Upanishad, ch. 1, 2 and Atharva-Veda, 5, 30, 17).

· · ·

10.53.2

अरा॑धि॒ होता॑ नि॒षदा॒ यजी॑यान॒भि प्रयां॑सि॒ सुधि॑तानि॒ हि ख्यत् । यजा॑महै य॒ज्ञिया॒न्हन्त॑ दे॒वाँ ईळा॑महा॒ ईड्याँ॒ आज्ये॑न ॥

The high priest, Agni, lovable and adorable, is seated on the vedi. Honoured and adored, he also observes with interest and favour the sacred offerings placed with faith and reverence on the vedi in homage. We adore and worship all the divine powers that deserve and command our worship and adoration. They deserve service and we adore and worship them with the homage of ghrta and fragrant havi.

· · ·

10.53.3

सा॒ध्वीम॑कर्दे॒ववी॑तिं नो अ॒द्य य॒ज्ञस्य॑ जि॒ह्वाम॑विदाम॒ गुह्या॑म् । स आयु॒रागा॑त्सुर॒भिर्वसा॑नो भ॒द्राम॑कर्दे॒वहू॑तिं नो अ॒द्य ॥

May Agni beatify our yajnic service to the assemblage of divinities on the vedi today so that we may have their blessings and hear the secret voice of divinity by the flames. May the life spirit, harbinger of health and happiness, come today bearing the fragrance of life and render our divine worship full of blessings and all round well being.

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10.53.4

तद॒द्य वा॒चः प्र॑थ॒मं म॑सीय॒ येनासु॑राँ अ॒भि दे॒वा असा॑म । ऊर्जा॑द उ॒त य॑ज्ञियासः॒ पञ्च॑ जना॒ मम॑ हो॒त्रं जु॑षध्वम् ॥

I, Agni, presiding power of corporate life by yajna, now think and meditate upon that first, highest and eternal Word, AUM, by which we, yajnic souls dedicated to divinity, may overcome the evil adversaries. Let all those who live on energy foods and join together for noble creative works in the spirit of yajna, and the people of all the five classes and communities listen and follow my call to action.

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10.53.5

पञ्च॒ जना॒ मम॑ हो॒त्रं जु॑षन्तां॒ गोजा॑ता उ॒त ये य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । पृ॒थि॒वी नः॒ पार्थि॑वात्पा॒त्वंह॑सो॒ऽन्तरि॑क्षं दि॒व्यात्पा॑त्व॒स्मान् ॥

Let the people of all five classes and communities listen to my call to action, children of the earth, lovers of the common voice of divinity, and all of those dedicated to united action for creativity and production, and may mother earth protect us against sin and evil earthly, and may the skies protect us against all dangers from the space above.

· · ·

10.53.6

तन्तुं॑ त॒न्वन्रज॑सो भा॒नुमन्वि॑हि॒ ज्योति॑ष्मतः प॒थो र॑क्ष धि॒या कृ॒तान् । अ॒नु॒ल्ब॒णं व॑यत॒ जोगु॑वा॒मपो॒ मनु॑र्भव ज॒नया॒ दैव्यं॒ जन॑म् ॥

Spinning and expanding the thread of life divine, pursue the light of the sun across the skies and space. Protect and follow the paths of light created by the wise with thought and vision. Weave the web of the sinless spontaneous men of word and vision in action. Be Man, build up a community of enlightened people, human and close to divinity.

· · ·

10.53.7

अ॒क्षा॒नहो॑ नह्यतनो॒त सो॑म्या॒ इष्कृ॑णुध्वं रश॒ना ओत पिं॑शत । अ॒ष्टाव॑न्धुरं वहता॒भितो॒ रथं॒ येन॑ दे॒वासो॒ अन॑यन्न॒भि प्रि॒यम् ॥

Lovers of Soma, peace and joy, bind the traces, harness the horses, tighten the reins and refine them to perfection, move on the eightfold chariot all round, the chariot by which the divines bring in the dearest treasures of life. (This mantra is a metaphor of the eightfold path of yoga from the control of senses and mind to the attainment of samadhi which marks the communion of the soul with divinity.)

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10.53.8

अश्म॑न्वती रीयते॒ सं र॑भध्व॒मुत्ति॑ष्ठत॒ प्र त॑रता सखायः । अत्रा॑ जहाम॒ ये अस॒न्नशे॑वाः शि॒वान्व॒यमुत्त॑रेमा॒भि वाजा॑न् ॥

The rocky river of life flows on in flood. Hold on fast together, friends, rise and swim to the shore. let us jettison all that is inauspicious here. Let us swim and cross over to attain the trophies of victory.

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10.53.9

त्वष्टा॑ मा॒या वे॑द॒पसा॑म॒पस्त॑मो॒ बिभ्र॒त्पात्रा॑ देव॒पाना॑नि॒ शंत॑मा । शिशी॑ते नू॒नं प॑र॒शुं स्वा॑य॒सं येन॑ वृ॒श्चादेत॑शो॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिः॑ ॥

The cosmic maker Tvashta, supreme expert of the artists of the world, knows the mysteries of karma and the secrets of fortune or misfortune, and most beneficent as he is, he carves and fills the most delicious cups of joy for the holies. The lord of cosmic wisdom also makes and sharpens the golden axe of knowledge, justice and dispensation whereby the man who attains to this prize knowledge cuts at the root of his karmic tree and drinks the nectar of universal sweets of freedom from the divine cup.

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10.53.10

स॒तो नू॒नं क॑वयः॒ सं शि॑शीत॒ वाशी॑भि॒र्याभि॑र॒मृता॑य॒ तक्ष॑थ । वि॒द्वांसः॑ प॒दा गुह्या॑नि कर्तन॒ येन॑ दे॒वासो॑ अमृत॒त्वमा॑न॒शुः ॥

O men of vision and seekers of divinity, sharpen and refine your golden axe of knowledge with the voice of Brahmanaspati, lord omniscient, by which you prepare for the attainment of immortality. O scholars of knowledge, carve out the mystical paths to divinity, work out the progressive stages by which the seekers of divinity attained to the nectar of life eternal.

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10.53.11

गर्भे॒ योषा॒मद॑धुर्व॒त्समा॒सन्य॑पी॒च्ये॑न॒ मन॑सो॒त जि॒ह्वया॑ । स वि॒श्वाहा॑ सु॒मना॑ यो॒ग्या अ॒भि सि॑षा॒सनि॑र्वनते का॒र इज्जिति॑म् ॥

The devas, seekers

of divinity, hold the Word of omniscience like the sacred vedi fire in the depth of their mind alongwith the reality of existence signified by the Word, and they hold it with the sense of clarity of expression by their tongue controlled and disciplined in the mouth. Indeed such a man of divine word and action in control is always happy at heart and all round efficient, and only such a man wins the victory prizes of life.

✦ Sukta 54 · 6 verses ✦

10.54.1

तां सु ते॑ की॒र्तिं म॑घवन्महि॒त्वा यत्त्वा॑ भी॒ते रोद॑सी॒ अह्व॑येताम् । प्रावो॑ दे॒वाँ आति॑रो॒ दास॒मोजः॑ प्र॒जायै॑ त्वस्यै॒ यदशि॑क्ष इन्द्र ॥

Indra, lord of glory, I celebrate that renown of yours by the greatness of which the earth and heaven, both struck with awe, call upon you and glorify, by which you protect the holy and generous brilliancies, subdue the unholy negatives and destroyers, and by which you award the strength and lustre of life to your people.

· · ·

10.54.2

यदच॑रस्त॒न्वा॑ वावृधा॒नो बला॑नीन्द्र प्रब्रुवा॒णो जने॑षु । मा॒येत्सा ते॒ यानि॑ यु॒द्धान्या॒हुर्नाद्य शत्रुं॑ न॒नु पु॒रा वि॑वित्से ॥

As you pervade among people, self-exalting by the power of your presence, and thereby manifest your own glory, and as poets and sages sing and celebrate your battles against evils within and without in the world of humanity, all this glory is but your own essential divine potential, and that is why you have had no enemy ever before nor do you have any even now.

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10.54.3

क उ॒ नु ते॑ महि॒मनः॑ समस्या॒स्मत्पूर्व॒ ऋष॒योऽन्त॑मापुः । यन्मा॒तरं॑ च पि॒तरं॑ च सा॒कमज॑नयथास्त॒न्वः१॒॑ स्वायाः॑ ॥

Which ancient sages and seers before us could ever comprehend the bounds of this absolute glory of yours since you brought into existence both earth and heaven together as mother and father of life from your own material power of Prakrti?

· · ·

10.54.4

च॒त्वारि॑ ते असु॒र्या॑णि॒ नामादा॑भ्यानि महि॒षस्य॑ सन्ति । त्वम॒ङ्ग तानि॒ विश्वा॑नि वित्से॒ येभिः॒ कर्मा॑णि मघवञ्च॒कर्थ॑ ॥

O great and glorious Indra, four are your states of being, four the modifications of existential manifestation, all of them living and imperishable, which all, O dear lord of life of the universe, you know and by which, O lord of cosmic majesty, you perform the acts of universal life in existence. (The four states of cosmic being are waking, dreaming, sleeping and the transcendent Absolute. Four states of existence are generation, sustenance, withdrawal and the trans-existential state. Four Prakrti modifications are Prakrti, mahat, ahankara and the specifics of material and mental forms of physical, biological and psychic stages of evolution which are then absorbed into the Absolute state at the end.) Reference may also be made to ‘Om’ which is the divine Word, the name of divinity consisting of four matras A, U, and M and the fourth is silent and absolute. ‘A’refers to the waking, that is, the objective state of existence which is the subject of science. ‘U’ refers to the imaginative and subjective state which is the subject of psychology and meditation upto the stage of ‘vitark’ and ‘vichara’ samadhi, and ‘M’ refers to the sleep state which is realisable in ‘Ananda’ state of Samadhi. All these are covered under the Samprajnata Samadhi. The fourth, transcendent state, is realisable in Asamprajnata samadhi which is Transcendental Meditation).

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10.54.5

त्वं विश्वा॑ दधिषे॒ केव॑लानि॒ यान्या॒विर्या च॒ गुहा॒ वसू॑नि । काम॒मिन्मे॑ मघव॒न्मा वि ता॑री॒स्त्वमा॑ज्ञा॒ता त्वमि॑न्द्रासि दा॒ता ॥

You bear and absolutely comprehend all the treasures of existence, manifest as well as unmanifest. Pray do not frustrate my longing for fulfilment. Indra, you are the knower, the ordainer and the giver.

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10.54.6

यो अद॑धा॒ज्ज्योति॑षि॒ ज्योति॑र॒न्तर्यो असृ॑ज॒न्मधु॑ना॒ सं मधू॑नि । अध॑ प्रि॒यं शू॒षमिन्द्रा॑य॒ मन्म॑ ब्रह्म॒कृतो॑ बृ॒हदु॑क्थादवाचि ॥

In honour of Indra who vests light in the stars and creates honey sweets of life with the honey sweets of divinity, and to that Indra, poets of divinity sing with love and faith songs of thought, beauty and power from their articulate meditation on the Infinite.

✦ Sukta 55 · 8 verses ✦

10.55.1

दू॒रे तन्नाम॒ गुह्यं॑ परा॒चैर्यत्त्वा॑ भी॒ते अह्व॑येतां वयो॒धै । उद॑स्तभ्नाः पृथि॒वीं द्याम॒भीके॒ भ्रातुः॑ पु॒त्रान्म॑घवन्तित्विषा॒णः ॥

Far too distant and far too deep is that name and lustre, O lord of glory, Indra, for indifferent people to understand and appreciate which the heaven and earth struck with awe call upon for sustenance. O lord of glory, you sustain both heaven and earth in space in complementarity with each other and illuminate the rays of the sun and lightning of the cloud, both brotherly providers of sustenance to life.

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10.55.2

म॒हत्तन्नाम॒ गुह्यं॑ पुरु॒स्पृग्येन॑ भू॒तं ज॒नयो॒ येन॒ भव्य॑म् । प्र॒त्नं जा॒तं ज्योति॒र्यद॑स्य प्रि॒यं प्रि॒याः सम॑विशन्त॒ पञ्च॑ ॥

Great and deeply glorious is that name and divine presence universally loved and adored by which you create all that has been and that which would be. That light and glory of this Indra is eternal, ever existent and dear to all into which all the five people that love him and are dear to him and all the five elements of nature retire (when the cycle of existence has run a full circle).

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10.55.3

आ रोद॑सी अपृणा॒दोत मध्यं॒ पञ्च॑ दे॒वाँ ऋ॑तु॒शः स॒प्तस॑प्त । चतु॑स्त्रिंशता पुरु॒धा वि च॑ष्टे॒ सरू॑पेण॒ ज्योति॑षा॒ विव्र॑तेन ॥

That glorious presence pervades and fills heaven and earth and the middle regions, fills and energises the five divine elements, five senses, five pranas, seven regions of the universe, seven rays of light, forty nine orders of the winds, all according to the seasons of time, and it watches and illuminates thirty four orders of divine powers of eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, nature’s nourishment by Prajapati, nature’s energy of fire, electricity and light, and Vak, the articulation of consciousness, all in many ways, with different functions and effects.

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10.55.4

यदु॑ष॒ औच्छः॑ प्रथ॒मा वि॒भाना॒मज॑नयो॒ येन॑ पु॒ष्टस्य॑ पु॒ष्टम् । यत्ते॑ जामि॒त्वमव॑रं॒ पर॑स्या म॒हन्म॑ह॒त्या अ॑सुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥

O Dawn, when you arise and shine first of the lights of the lord, Indra, and bring in fresh life for the world generated and nourished by Indra, then your motherly love for humanity is the one unique and great life giving blessing of the supreme spirit of divinity for humanity on this earth.

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10.55.5

वि॒धुं द॑द्रा॒णं सम॑ने बहू॒नां युवा॑नं॒ सन्तं॑ पलि॒तो ज॑गार । दे॒वस्य॑ पश्य॒ काव्यं॑ महि॒त्वाद्या म॒मार॒ स ह्यः समा॑न ॥

Old age consumes even the youthful man of versatile action whom many fear to face in battle and flee. Look at the inscrutable power of the lord divine by whose inevitable law of mutability the man who was living yesterday is dead today, and the one that dies today would be living to tomorrow.

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10.55.6

शाक्म॑ना शा॒को अ॑रु॒णः सु॑प॒र्ण आ यो म॒हः शूरः॑ स॒नादनी॑ळः । यच्चि॒केत॑ स॒त्यमित्तन्न मोघं॒ वसु॑ स्पा॒र्हमु॒त जेतो॒त दाता॑ ॥

He is Almighty by might supreme, blazing lustrous, high flying and all caring, great, brave, eternally unbound by space. What he knows is truth inviolable, never infructuous, he is universal haven, lovable, all conqueror, all giving.

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10.55.7

ऐभि॑र्ददे॒ वृष्ण्या॒ पौंस्या॑नि॒ येभि॒रौक्ष॑द्वृत्र॒हत्या॑य व॒ज्री । ये कर्म॑णः क्रि॒यमा॑णस्य म॒ह्न ऋ॑तेक॒र्ममु॒दजा॑यन्त दे॒वाः ॥

With these potent and positive waves of natural energy, the virile Indra, wielder of thunderbolt, assumes those powers for breaking the clouds of darkness and want by which he brings about the showers of rain for the world of existence, which powers too for bringing about the showers of positive action and creativity arise from the grandeur of the omnipotent original doer of cosmic karma.

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10.55.8

यु॒जा कर्मा॑णि ज॒नय॑न्वि॒श्वौजा॑ अशस्ति॒हा वि॒श्वम॑नास्तुरा॒षाट् । पी॒त्वी सोम॑स्य दि॒व आ वृ॑धा॒नः शूरो॒ निर्यु॒धाध॑म॒द्दस्यू॑न् ॥

Originally causing and bringing about the dynamics of cosmic karma, the Lord Almighty of the world, destroyer of negatives and despicables, all- knowing cosmic mind, instant and total victor, protector of soma, augmenter of light, almighty, blows the conch and blows away the forces of nescience.

✦ Sukta 56 · 7 verses ✦

10.56.1

इ॒दं त॒ एकं॑ प॒र ऊ॑ त॒ एकं॑ तृ॒तीये॑न॒ ज्योति॑षा॒ सं वि॑शस्व । सं॒वेश॑ने त॒न्व१॒॑श्चारु॑रेधि प्रि॒यो दे॒वानां॑ पर॒मे ज॒नित्रे॑ ॥

This (body, this life time) is one mode of your existence. The one next (mind and karma) is another such. By the third (spiritual and meditative life) join you with life eternal. On merging of the soul, happy and darling of the divinities, be free in the presence of the supreme creator of the world.

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10.56.2

त॒नूष्टे॑ वाजिन्त॒न्वं१॒॑ नय॑न्ती वा॒मम॒स्मभ्यं॒ धातु॒ शर्म॒ तुभ्य॑म् । अह्रु॑तो म॒हो ध॒रुणा॑य दे॒वान्दि॒वी॑व॒ ज्योतिः॒ स्वमा मि॑मीयाः ॥

O dynamic soul, may your life here in the body carrying your self bring precious wealth of joy to us and peace and comfort to you. Living an honest natural life, great in your own self, in service of the sustainer of divinities, create your own light and bliss for yourself, pursuing the light of the heart within as the light of heaven above.

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10.56.3

वा॒ज्य॑सि॒ वाजि॑नेना सुवे॒नीः सु॑वि॒तः स्तोमं॑ सुवि॒तो दिवं॑ गाः । सु॒वि॒तो धर्म॑ प्रथ॒मानु॑ स॒त्या सु॑वि॒तो दे॒वान्त्सु॑वि॒तोऽनु॒ पत्म॑ ॥

You are the dynamic soul by virtue of your innate power and potential. Realising your love of life, living in peace and prosperity, rise to the heights of your own self-glory, happy and pious, and reach the heights of heaven. Happy in rectitude, follow the first, original and eternal Dharma. Happy and self-realised, rise to the life divine to the joy of the divines, and, a blessed soul, attain to the Spirit Eternal of the universe.

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10.56.4

म॒हि॒म्न ए॑षां पि॒तर॑श्च॒नेशि॑रे दे॒वा दे॒वेष्व॑दधु॒रपि॒ क्रतु॑म् । सम॑विव्यचुरु॒त यान्यत्वि॑षु॒रैषां॑ त॒नूषु॒ नि वि॑विशुः॒ पुनः॑ ॥

The forefathers lived in the grand manner of these divinities such as light of the sun and moon to their own will and desire as if commanding the bliss and beauty of these. Divine were they who raised their acts and worship to the presence and piety of divinities. They join those lights of divinity which shine and then again they come back to join life in their existential bodies.

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10.56.5

सहो॑भि॒र्विश्वं॒ परि॑ चक्रमू॒ रजः॒ पूर्वा॒ धामा॒न्यमि॑ता॒ मिमा॑नाः । त॒नूषु॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒ नि ये॑मिरे॒ प्रासा॑रयन्त पुरु॒ध प्र॒जा अनु॑ ॥

These souls by their own karmic potential roam around across all regions of the world, freely ranging over boundless worlds of high order, sajourning in various body forms across the spaces begetting and extending the creativity of life in various ways according to the law of karma.

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10.56.6

द्विधा॑ सू॒नवोऽसु॑रं स्व॒र्विद॒मास्था॑पयन्त तृ॒तीये॑न॒ कर्म॑णा । स्वां प्र॒जां पि॒तरः॒ पित्र्यं॒ सह॒ आव॑रेष्वदधु॒स्तन्तु॒मात॑तम् ॥

Children of divinity, creative and procreative souls, by their third, familial, karma, vesting the vital and spiritual life principle further along with the procreative vitality, establish their own progeny in the next generation which is the extension of the thread of life in natural piety.

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10.56.7

ना॒वा न क्षोदः॑ प्र॒दिशः॑ पृथि॒व्याः स्व॒स्तिभि॒रति॑ दु॒र्गाणि॒ विश्वा॑ । स्वां प्र॒जां बृ॒हदु॑क्थो महि॒त्वाव॑रेष्वदधा॒दा परे॑षु ॥

Just as you cross the flood by boat and, with noble acts of knowledge, action and piety, cross all difficult problems of earthly life, so does the man of praise-worthy knowledge, action and piety cross over the problems of life and death and leaves his own legacy, physical, intellectual and spiritual, by his own grand potential vesting it in the next and further generations to survive and continue.

✦ Sukta 57 · 6 verses ✦

10.57.1

मा प्र गा॑म प॒थो व॒यं मा य॒ज्ञादि॑न्द्र सो॒मिनः॑ । मान्त स्थु॑र्नो॒ अरा॑तयः ॥

Indra, O Lord Almighty, let us, lovers of soma peace, enlightenment and life’s joy never deviate from the path of rectitude and never forsake the creative way of yajnic living. Let no want, malignity, adversity and illiberality dwell among us.

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10.57.2

यो य॒ज्ञस्य॑ प्र॒साध॑न॒स्तन्तु॑र्दे॒वेष्वात॑तः । तमाहु॑तं नशीमहि ॥

There is a thread of unity, love, cooperation and active continuity in the web of life in nature’s divinities, and a similar bond of unity in an enlightened community which alone keeps it together and leads it on way to corporate progress. It is created and maintained with relentless self sacrifice in the spirit of yajna. Let us attain and maintain that very bond of yajnic unity for our progress and prosperity. (That is the bond of Agni, vital heat and love.)

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10.57.3

मनो॒ न्वा हु॑वामहे नाराशं॒सेन॒ सोमे॑न । पि॒तॄ॒णां च॒ मन्म॑भिः ॥

We invoke the mind, alert ourselves and, with songs of human approbation and celebration, join with the thoughts and wisdom of our parents and ancestors to maintain the thread of continuity.

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10.57.4

आ त॑ एतु॒ मनः॒ पुनः॒ क्रत्वे॒ दक्षा॑य जी॒वसे॑ । ज्योक्च॒ सूर्यं॑ दृ॒शे ॥

Let your mind and spirit arise and be alert again and again, continuously, for noble action, expertise of performance, joyous living, and to see the sun for light and enlightenment for a long long time of health and happiness.

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10.57.5

पुन॑र्नः पितरो॒ मनो॒ ददा॑तु॒ दैव्यो॒ जनः॑ । जी॒वं व्रातं॑ सचेमहि ॥

May our parents, seniors, the spirit and wisdom of our ancestors, and men of divine wisdom inspire our mind and spirit again and again, continuously for refreshment and energy, so that we may live a life of discipline and holiness.

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10.57.6

व॒यं सो॑म व्र॒ते तव॒ मन॑स्त॒नूषु॒ बिभ्र॑तः । प्र॒जाव॑न्तः सचेमहि ॥

O Soma, lord of peace and enlightenment, we pray that, holding our mind and senses in body in good health within your law and discipline and blest with noble progeny, we may live a happy life dedicated to you.

✦ Sukta 58 · 12 verses ✦

10.58.1

यत्ते॑ य॒मं वै॑वस्व॒तं मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

O man, that mind of yours that wanders far to the sun and broods over time and death, that we restore to normalcy, here to stay at peace for the good life.

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10.58.2

यत्ते॒ दिवं॒ यत्पृ॑थि॒वीं मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far and roams over earth and heaven, we bring it back to normalcy, here to be at peace for the good life for you.

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10.58.3

यत्ते॒ भूमिं॒ चतु॑र्भृष्टिं॒ मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far over lands and deserts burning and blazing all round, we bring it back for you, to be at peace here for the good life.

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10.58.4

यत्ते॒ चत॑स्रः प्र॒दिशो॒ मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind which wanders far over all the four directions of space, that we bring back for you, here to be at peace for the good life.

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10.58.5

यत्ते॑ समु॒द्रम॑र्ण॒वं मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far over the sea and the waters of space, we bring back for you, here to be at peace for you for the good life.

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10.58.6

यत्ते॒ मरी॑चीः प्र॒वतो॒ मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far over heavenly heights and radiating rays of light, we bring back to normalcy here for you to be at peace for the good life.

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10.58.7

यत्ते॑ अ॒पो यदोष॑धी॒र्मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far over waters, herbs and trees, we bring back to normalcy for you to be at peace for the good life.

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10.58.8

यत्ते॒ सूर्यं॒ यदु॒षसं॒ मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far to the sun and the dawn, we bring back to normalcy, here to be at peace for you for the good life.

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10.58.9

यत्ते॒ पर्व॑तान्बृह॒तो मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far over mighty mountains and vast floating clouds, we bring back to normalcy, here to be at peace for your good life.

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10.58.10

यत्ते॒ विश्व॑मि॒दं जग॒न्मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far over this wide world, we bring back to normalcy, here to be at peace for you so that you may live happy.

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10.58.11

यत्ते॒ पराः॑ परा॒वतो॒ मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far and farther over regions unknown, we bring back to normalcy, here to be at peace for your good life.

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10.58.12

यत्ते॑ भू॒तं च॒ भव्यं॑ च॒ मनो॑ ज॒गाम॑ दूर॒कम् । तत्त॒ आ व॑र्तयामसी॒ह क्षया॑य जी॒वसे॑ ॥

Your mind that wanders far over the past and the future that is unpredictable, we bring back to normalcy, here to be at peace for your happy life.

✦ Sukta 59 · 10 verses ✦

10.59.1

प्र ता॒र्यायुः॑ प्रत॒रं नवी॑य॒ स्थाता॑रेव॒ क्रतु॑मता॒ रथ॑स्य । अध॒ च्यवा॑न॒ उत्त॑वी॒त्यर्थं॑ परात॒रं सु निॠ॑तिर्जिहीताम् ॥

Let new life and new initiative rise and advance higher and higher as the dynamic master of the chariot constantly moves forward and as the progressive pioneer achieves his goal and moves higher and higher. Let want and adversity fall off and depart far and farther.

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10.59.2

साम॒न्नु रा॒ये नि॑धि॒मन्न्वन्नं॒ करा॑महे॒ सु पु॑रु॒ध श्रवां॑सि । ता नो॒ विश्वा॑नि जरि॒ता म॑मत्तु परात॒रं सु निॠ॑तिर्जिहीताम् ॥

Let us create peace for wealth and food in abundance with security and many other forms of life’s values and excellence so that the poet, the singer and the senior too may enjoy life without worry and want, and adversity, fear and insecurity may fall off and depart far and farther for good.

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10.59.3

अ॒भी ष्व१॒॑र्यः पौंस्यै॑र्भवेम॒ द्यौर्न भूमिं॑ गि॒रयो॒ नाज्रा॑न् । ता नो॒ विश्वा॑नि जरि॒ता चि॑केत परात॒रं सु निॠ॑तिर्जिहीताम् ॥

As the sun overwhelms the earth, as thunder overwhelms the clouds and clouds overwhelm the fields with rain, so may we overwhelm the negativities and enemies of life and society with our natural and essential strength, virtues and achievements so that the poet, the singer, the senior, the assessor and the admirer may know, and want and adversity, fear and insecurity may fall off and disappear for good.

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10.59.4

मो षु णः॑ सोम मृ॒त्यवे॒ परा॑ दाः॒ पश्ये॑म॒ नु सूर्य॑मु॒च्चर॑न्तम् । द्युभि॑र्हि॒तो ज॑रि॒मा सू नो॑ अस्तु परात॒रं सु निॠ॑तिर्जिहीताम् ॥

O Soma, lord of peace and prosperity, give us not up to death and decay. Let us go on and advance with the rising sun day by day. Let our growth in time be positive for our good day by day. Let want, adversity, ill health and death stay far away from us.

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10.59.5

असु॑नीते॒ मनो॑ अ॒स्मासु॑ धारय जी॒वात॑वे॒ सु प्र ति॑रा न॒ आयुः॑ । रा॒र॒न्धि नः॒ सूर्य॑स्य सं॒दृशि॑ घृ॒तेन॒ त्वं त॒न्वं॑ वर्धयस्व ॥

O mother harbinger of pranic energy, bless us with the strength of mind and morale, and for our good living give us good health and long full age. Mature and establish us in the light of the sun and the vision of divinity, and with the lustre and energy of nature raise our health and age to the heights of perfection.

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10.59.6

असु॑नीते॒ पुन॑र॒स्मासु॒ चक्षुः॒ पुनः॑ प्रा॒णमि॒ह नो॑ धेहि॒ भोग॑म् । ज्योक्प॑श्येम॒ सूर्य॑मु॒च्चर॑न्त॒मनु॑मते मृ॒ळया॑ नः स्व॒स्ति ॥

O divine Spirit of life and energy, bless us constantly with the faculty of vision, constant pranic energy too, and vest in here in the body the capacity and faculties to live and enjoy the sweets of life. O motherly spirit of love and acceptance, may we see the rising sun for a long time. Be pleased and kind and bless us with happiness and well being all through in life.

· · ·

10.59.7

पुन॑र्नो॒ असुं॑ पृथि॒वी द॑दातु॒ पुन॒र्द्यौर्दे॒वी पुन॑र॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । पुन॑र्नः॒ सोम॑स्त॒न्वं॑ ददातु॒ पुनः॑ पू॒षा प॒थ्यां॒३॒॑ या स्व॒स्तिः ॥

May the earth give us pranic energy of life again. So may the divine sun and the generous sky give us life again. May Soma, divine spirit of joy and peace, give us the body again, and may Pusha, divine spirit of nourishment, place us on the journey of life again and give us happiness and well being.

· · ·

10.59.8

शं रोद॑सी सु॒बन्ध॑वे य॒ह्वी ऋ॒तस्य॑ मा॒तरा॑ । भर॑ता॒मप॒ यद्रपो॒ द्यौः पृ॑थिवि क्ष॒मा रपो॒ मो षु ते॒ किं च॒नाम॑मत् ॥

May the mighty heaven and earth, mother spirits of truth and waters of life bring peace and joy for the holy child and loving brother of living beings. May the sun and earth, father and mother, make up whatever be wanting in body, mind and spirit and the child’s senses of values. May they strengthen the child against sin and evil and forgive him for his pitfalls in the struggle for self-realisation. O man, may nothing whatever, sin or sorrow, hurt and violate you ever against your self- identity.

· · ·

10.59.9

अव॑ द्व॒के अव॑ त्रि॒का दि॒वश्च॑रन्ति भेष॒जा । क्ष॒मा च॑रि॒ष्ण्वे॑क॒कं भर॑ता॒मप॒ यद्रपो॒ द्यौः पृ॑थिवि क्ष॒मा रपो॒ मो षु ते॒ किं च॒नाम॑मत् ॥

In two’s (as the Ashvins or prana and apana) and in three’s (as Ila, Sarasvati and bharati, or as light, electric energy and water) the sanatives for life and health flow from the heavenly region of light and one by one be active on earth. May the sun and earth make up what is wanting in body, mind and spirit. May they strengthen humanity against sin and evil and forgive us in the struggle for self-realisation. O man, may nothing whatever, sin or sorrow, hurt and violate you ever against your self-identity.

· · ·

10.59.10

समि॑न्द्रेरय॒ गाम॑न॒ड्वाहं॒ य आव॑हदुशी॒नरा॑ण्या॒ अनः॑ । भर॑ता॒मप॒ यद्रपो॒ द्यौः पृ॑थिवि क्ष॒मा रपो॒ मो षु ते॒ किं च॒नाम॑मत् ॥

O Lord omnipotent, Indra, O Sun, inspire and energise the pranic force of the body, inspire and energise the vitality of passion, will and understanding of the body. May the sun and earth make up what is wanting in body, mind and spirit. May they strengthen humanity against sin and evil and forgive us where we fail in our struggle. O man, may nothing whatever, sin or sorrow, hurt and violate you in your struggle for perfection.

✦ Sukta 60 · 12 verses ✦

10.60.1

आ जनं॑ त्वे॒षसं॑दृशं॒ माही॑नाना॒मुप॑स्तुतम् । अग॑न्म॒ बिभ्र॑तो॒ नमः॑ ॥

Bearing gifts of homage we come to the man of radiant glory, honoured and celebrated by the greatest of the great.

· · ·

10.60.2

अस॑मातिं नि॒तोश॑नं त्वे॒षं नि॑य॒यिनं॒ रथ॑म् । भ॒जेर॑थस्य॒ सत्प॑तिम् ॥

We come to the incomparable lord and protector of the true and the good, destroyer of evil and darkness, radiant illustrious, commander of the chariot of victory in the battles of rectitude.

· · ·

10.60.3

यो जना॑न्महि॒षाँ इ॑वातित॒स्थौ पवी॑रवान् । उ॒ताप॑वीरवान्यु॒धा ॥

We have come to the mighty hero who, whether armed or without arms, overthrows adversaries as a lion overthrows wild buffaloes.

· · ·

10.60.4

यस्ये॑क्ष्वा॒कुरुप॑ व्र॒ते रे॒वान्म॑रा॒य्येध॑ते । दि॒वी॑व॒ पञ्च॑ कृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

We have come to the ruling lord under whose order of law, justice and discipline, the enlightened, the opulent and the brilliant fighters and indeed all the five classes of people in their own professional fields live happy and free as in heaven on earth.

· · ·

10.60.5

इन्द्र॑ क्ष॒त्रास॑मातिषु॒ रथ॑प्रोष्ठेषु धारय । दि॒वी॑व॒ सूर्यं॑ दृ॒शे ॥

Indra, lord of light and law, ruler of the world, first among exceptional equals of the chariot commanders of the world, pray hold and rule the order of the commonwealth of humanity as the lord supreme holds the sun in heaven for all the worlds to see.

· · ·

10.60.6

अ॒गस्त्य॑स्य॒ नद्भ्यः॒ सप्ती॑ युनक्षि॒ रोहि॑ता । प॒णीन्न्य॑क्रमीर॒भि विश्वा॑न्राजन्नरा॒धसः॑ ॥

For the supporters and admirers of the simple, sinless, enlightened and disciplined ruling soul of the order, you harness two nimble bright forces of internal discipline and external defence, and, O refulgent ruler of the system, you control all the greedy, selfish, uncreative and uncommitted elements of the world order.

· · ·

10.60.7

अ॒यं मा॒तायं पि॒तायं जी॒वातु॒राग॑मत् । इ॒दं तव॑ प्र॒सर्प॑णं॒ सुब॑न्ध॒वेहि॒ निरि॑हि ॥

O holy brother, O friend, O brilliant soul of the system, this systemic order is your mother, your father, come up as your life giver. Come in, come here, O soul and ruler of the system, this is your haven and home for life’s advancement, its meaning and purpose.

· · ·

10.60.8

यथा॑ यु॒गं व॑र॒त्रया॒ नह्य॑न्ति ध॒रुणा॑य॒ कम् । ए॒वा दा॑धार ते॒ मनो॑ जी॒वात॑वे॒ न मृ॒त्यवेऽथो॑ अरि॒ष्टता॑तये ॥

As they bind the yoke fast with thongs for the balance and stability of the chariot on the move, so does the lord hold fast your mind and spirit, not for death but for your life, fulfilment and freedom from evil and misfortune.

· · ·

10.60.9

यथे॒यं पृ॑थि॒वी म॒ही दा॒धारे॒मान्वन॒स्पती॑न् । ए॒वा दा॑धार ते॒ मनो॑ जी॒वात॑वे॒ न मृ॒त्यवेऽथो॑ अरि॒ष्टता॑तये ॥

O man, just as this great earth holds and bears these herbs and trees (for the sustenance of life), so does the soul hold and bear your mind and spirit, not for death but for your life, fulfilment and freedom from evil and misfortune.

· · ·

10.60.10

य॒माद॒हं वै॑वस्व॒तात्सु॒बन्धो॒र्मन॒ आभ॑रम् । जी॒वात॑वे॒ न मृ॒त्यवेऽथो॑ अरि॒ष्टता॑तये ॥

I, the spirit of man, holy and blessed, bear my mind from Yama, lord of light and law, I receive my spirit of energy from the sun, I bear and hold it in equipoise, not for death but for the pleasure and fulfilment of life and freedom from sin and evil.

· · ·

10.60.11

न्य१॒॑ग्वातोऽव॑ वाति॒ न्य॑क्तपति॒ सूर्यः॑ । नी॒चीन॑म॒घ्न्या दु॑हे॒ न्य॑ग्भवतु ते॒ रपः॑ ॥

The wind blows downwards, the heat of the sun goes downwards to the earth, the holy cow lets her milk flow down. O man, let your sin and evil too go down, leaving you free.

· · ·

10.60.12

अ॒यं मे॒ हस्तो॒ भग॑वान॒यं मे॒ भग॑वत्तरः । अ॒यं मे॑ वि॒श्वभे॑षजो॒ऽयं शि॒वाभि॑मर्शनः ॥

This my hand is the hand of good fortune, this is even the hand of greater good fortune, this is the solution to all my problems of the world. This hand is for the touch of holiness with life, the instrument of action for fulfilment.

✦ Sukta 61 · 27 verses ✦

10.61.1

इ॒दमि॒त्था रौद्रं॑ गू॒र्तव॑चा॒ ब्रह्म॒ क्रत्वा॒ शच्या॑म॒न्तरा॒जौ । क्रा॒णा यद॑स्य पि॒तरा॑ मंहने॒ष्ठाः पर्ष॑त्प॒क्थे अह॒न्ना स॒प्त होतॄ॑न् ॥

The eloquent scholar displays his knowledge, in theory and practice, of this divine Vedic voice of the mysterious truth of nature and divinity in relation to Rudra, lord omnipotent of natural justice and dispensation, in the assembly of the wise and brave where his parents, teachers and eminent scholars are present on the day of academic accomplishment and satisfies all the seven high priests of his educational yajna with a sense of fulfilment.

· · ·

10.61.2

स इद्दा॒नाय॒ दभ्या॑य व॒न्वञ्च्यवा॑नः॒ सूदै॑रमिमीत॒ वेदि॑म् । तूर्व॑याणो गू॒र्तव॑चस्तमः॒ क्षोदो॒ न रेत॑ इ॒तऊ॑ति सिञ्चत् ॥

Thus accomplished for a creative and corrective role in life, equipped with right means and methods of art and science, he prepares the vedi, i.e., a full programme of family life and social action, for himself. Dynamic and assertive in action, bold in speech, agreeable in tone and deep in meaning, he collects the spirit of virility in the mind as in a deep reservoir and expresses it for the protection and promotion of human dignity and happiness.

· · ·

10.61.3

मनो॒ न येषु॒ हव॑नेषु ति॒ग्मं विपः॒ शच्या॑ वनु॒थो द्रव॑न्ता । आ यः शर्या॑भिस्तुविनृ॒म्णो अ॒स्याश्री॑णीता॒दिशं॒ गभ॑स्तौ ॥

O men and women of the land, O Ashvins, O sun and moon, with voice and action, honour the call of this vibrant scholar and master of ample wealth and power who, with all the means and methods on hand, exhorts you to join the yajnic programmes of development to which you rush at the speed of the fastest and sharpest mind.

· · ·

10.61.4

कृ॒ष्णा यद्गोष्व॑रु॒णीषु॒ सीद॑द्दि॒वो नपा॑ताश्विना हुवे वाम् । वी॒तं मे॑ य॒ज्ञमा ग॑तं मे॒ अन्नं॑ वव॒न्वांसा॒ नेष॒मस्मृ॑तध्रू ॥

Ashvins, children of light, when the darkness of night mingles with the crimson lights of the morning, I call upon you, come and join the lovely yajna for me, forget about all undesirables and negativities, enjoy yourselves and partake of the holy food to your heart’s desire.

· · ·

10.61.5

प्रथि॑ष्ट॒ यस्य॑ वी॒रक॑र्ममि॒ष्णदनु॑ष्ठितं॒ नु नर्यो॒ अपौ॑हत् । पुन॒स्तदा वृ॑हति॒ यत्क॒नाया॑ दुहि॒तुरा अनु॑भृतमन॒र्वा ॥

That most expansive creativity and generative vitality of Rudra Prajapati, lord creator, animated and vested in nature, which also is an irresistible human impulse, further expands into life when it is received and borne to maturity by the loving youthful maiden, motherly agent of nature’s innate urge for self- fulfilment.

· · ·

10.61.6

म॒ध्या यत्कर्त्व॒मभ॑वद॒भीके॒ कामं॑ कृण्वा॒ने पि॒तरि॑ युव॒त्याम् । म॒ना॒नग्रेतो॑ जहतुर्वि॒यन्ता॒ सानौ॒ निषि॑क्तं सुकृ॒तस्य॒ योनौ॑ ॥

When the generator, father, and the youthful maiden, the mother, both joined in love and marriage with the desire to fulfil their obligation to Prajapati, lord of the household, have begot and brought up the progeny and have fulfilled their obligation in common, they give up and retire. All this, love, desire, accomplishment and fulfilment, is an extension of the process of divine creativity initiated on top of heaven at the centre of cosmic generation.

· · ·

10.61.7

पि॒ता यत्स्वां दु॑हि॒तर॑मधि॒ष्कन्क्ष्म॒या रेतः॑ संजग्मा॒नो नि षि॑ञ्चत् । स्वा॒ध्यो॑ऽजनय॒न्ब्रह्म॑ दे॒वा वास्तो॒ष्पतिं॑ व्रत॒पां निर॑तक्षन् ॥

As the father, the sun, covers the skies and the earth, his counterpart, and, shedding his living light and lustre, fills them with the vitality of life, then the devas, radiant divinities of nature, create and formAgni, keeper of the vows of the law and master of the earthly home.

· · ·

10.61.8

स ईं॒ वृषा॒ न फेन॑मस्यदा॒जौ स्मदा परै॒दप॑ द॒भ्रचे॑ताः । सर॑त्प॒दा न दक्षि॑णा परा॒वृङ्न ता नु मे॑ पृश॒न्यो॑ जगृभ्रे ॥

That master of the home, Agni, like a mighty generous cloud, showers the vitality of life in the process of nature and sends our homage of oblations to far off distances from us except that if some small minded person of stingy character takes no step forward and neglects the ordinances of charity, then Agni, otherwise all embracing, does not accept our oblations.

· · ·

10.61.9

म॒क्षू न वह्निः॑ प्र॒जाया॑ उप॒ब्दिर॒ग्निं न न॒ग्न उप॑ सीद॒दूधः॑ । सनि॑ते॒ध्मं सनि॑तो॒त वाजं॒ स ध॒र्ता ज॑ज्ञे॒ सह॑सा यवी॒युत् ॥

The master of the home is the leader, burden bearer and the voice of the people. He must never defile the common wealth of this earthly home like a stingy selfish man defiling the sacred fire. In fact he is arisen as the protector, sharer and trustee of the common assets, energy, honour and progress of the nation, who works for its unity and advancement with his power, patience and fortitude.

· · ·

10.61.10

म॒क्षू क॒नायाः॑ स॒ख्यं नव॑ग्वा ऋ॒तं वद॑न्त ऋ॒तयु॑क्तिमग्मन् । द्वि॒बर्ह॑सो॒ य उप॑ गो॒पमागु॑रदक्षि॒णासो॒ अच्यु॑ता दुदुक्षन् ॥

Just as fresh waves of solar radiations in the morning, manifesting the laws of nature and flow of living energy, meet with homogeneity of the beautiful earth and, in contact with both the sun and earth, join the all sustaining gravitational life force, and, without taking anything for themselves create and give universal showers of imperishable creative and motherly fertility to the earth. (So do new generations of youthful men from institutions of education, knowing, proclaiming and living the laws of nature and the land with loyalty to both find the love and friendship of their dear choice maidens in marriage and, dedicated to both the family and humanity, join the high priest of the land and create permanent gains for the nation without any selfish considerations.)

· · ·

10.61.11

म॒क्षू क॒नायाः॑ स॒ख्यं नवी॑यो॒ राधो॒ न रेत॑ ऋ॒तमित्तु॑रण्यन् । शुचि॒ यत्ते॒ रेक्ण॒ आय॑जन्त सब॒र्दुघा॑याः॒ पय॑ उ॒स्रिया॑याः ॥

Soon the solar radiations in unison with the homogeneity of fertile earth stimulate the vital process of nature’s creativity and produce the liquid living energy, pure life seed, latest prize like the legacy of divinity for you, O yajamana, the gift of generous earth and the mother’s milk. (Similarly the young men who win the love and friendship of the lovely maidens of their choice and earnestly observe the laws and discipline of nature and maintain the purity of their seed of life receive the generous mother’s gift of noble progeny.)

· · ·

10.61.12

प॒श्वा यत्प॒श्चा वियु॑ता बु॒धन्तेति॑ ब्रवीति व॒क्तरी॒ ररा॑णः । वसो॑र्वसु॒त्वा का॒रवो॑ऽने॒हा विश्वं॑ विवेष्टि॒ द्रवि॑ण॒मुप॒ क्षु ॥

After the fulfilment of family obligations, the man having renounced the life of senses and materiality and exulting in the joy of divine revelation exclaims : O friends of knowledge and divine law, O celebrants of songs of divinity, the lord giver of the highest wealth and haven of peace, immaculate and free, brings us the ultimate food of divine joy and supreme wealth of existence.

· · ·

10.61.13

तदिन्न्व॑स्य परि॒षद्वा॑नो अग्मन्पु॒रू सद॑न्तो नार्ष॒दं बि॑भित्सन् । वि शुष्ण॑स्य॒ संग्र॑थितमन॒र्वा वि॒दत्पु॑रुप्रजा॒तस्य॒ गुहा॒ यत् ॥

Then the mind, pranic energies and senses, present all round, vested variously in the body, come into divine animation, having dissolved all carnal desires, when the man fulfilled in the soul knows and realises the presence of the all-mighty, all-pervasive supreme spirit in the depth of the heart and soul, interwoven indeed in the web of life itself.

· · ·

10.61.14

भर्गो॑ ह॒ नामो॒त यस्य॑ दे॒वाः स्व१॒॑र्ण ये त्रि॑षध॒स्थे नि॑षे॒दुः । अ॒ग्निर्ह॒ नामो॒त जा॒तवे॑दाः श्रु॒धी नो॑ होतॠ॒तस्य॒ होता॒ध्रुक् ॥

Blazing brilliant and mighty sublime is that Spirit indeed whose refulgent and divine powers like paradisal bliss abide in the three regions of heaven, earth and the middle spaces. Agni, light and fire of the universe, is its name, animating all that is born in existence. O high priest of the yajnic dynamics of existence, clarion call of the universe, all love free from hate and animosity, pray listen to our call and prayer.

· · ·

10.61.15

उ॒त त्या मे॒ रौद्रा॑वर्चि॒मन्ता॒ नास॑त्याविन्द्र गू॒र्तये॒ यज॑ध्यै । म॒नु॒ष्वद्वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषे॒ ररा॑णा म॒न्दू हि॒तप्र॑यसा वि॒क्षु यज्यू॑ ॥

Indra, lord almighty, pray may those two offsprings of Rudra, lord of mercy, justice and dispensation, Ashvins, twin powers of natural complementarity, commanding the light of life, dedicated to infallible truth, both happy, givers of joy, adorable in yajna with homage, come to me, ready on the holy grass with my people, advance our yajna and acknowledge our homage and prayer among our community of celebrants.

· · ·

10.61.16

अ॒यं स्तु॒तो राजा॑ वन्दि वे॒धा अ॒पश्च॒ विप्र॑स्तरति॒ स्वसे॑तुः । स क॒क्षीव॑न्तं रेजय॒त्सो अ॒ग्निं ने॒मिं न च॒क्रमर्व॑तो रघु॒द्रु ॥

This adored and refulgent ruler is worshipped. All knowing, all doing, all vibrant pranic and soma force of divinity, all saviour bridge, by itself crosses all waters and spaces. It moves all spatial energies and all fiery elements just as horses move the centre and the circle of a fast whirling wheel.

· · ·

10.61.17

स द्वि॒बन्धु॑र्वैतर॒णो यष्टा॑ सब॒र्धुं धे॒नुम॒स्वं॑ दु॒हध्यै॑ । सं यन्मि॒त्रावरु॑णा वृ॒ञ्ज उ॒क्थैर्ज्येष्ठे॑भिरर्य॒मणं॒ वरू॑थैः ॥

He that holds the two worlds of heaven and earth in bond, the high priest of cosmic yajna, all pervasive power that helps us to cross over the flood of existence, gives us the immortal gift of eternal Word and vision when a person, with the best of chant and meditative practice, realises together Mitra, centripetal, and Varuna, centrifugal, processes of cosmic dynamics, and also Aryaman, the all-controlling spirit that controls both the centre and the circle of the wheel of existence.

· · ·

10.61.18

तद्ब॑न्धुः सू॒रिर्दि॒वि ते॑ धियं॒धा नाभा॒नेदि॑ष्ठो रपति॒ प्र वेन॑न् । सा नो॒ नाभिः॑ पर॒मास्य वा॑ घा॒हं तत्प॒श्चा क॑ति॒थश्चि॑दास ॥

O soul, says the celebrant in love with divinity, that binding bond, the sun in heaven, is the giver of your will and intelligence and also its guardian, your closest link of nature to life eternal. That navel link is our highest centre of existence and of that, in consequence, I am the devoted celebrant among many.

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10.61.19

इ॒यं मे॒ नाभि॑रि॒ह मे॑ स॒धस्थ॑मि॒मे मे॑ दे॒वा अ॒यम॑स्मि॒ सर्वः॑ । द्वि॒जा अह॑ प्रथम॒जा ऋ॒तस्ये॒दं धे॒नुर॑दुह॒ज्जाय॑माना ॥

This is my navel link with life, here is my haven and ultimate home, all these divine brilliancies, winds and pranic energies are mine, here I am all, complete. Whether first born of divinity or twice born of nature and education, all this universe is born of Prakrti in motion and action under the law of divinity. The divine cow, Vak, nature coming into existential manifestation gives birth to it and to all we need.

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10.61.20

अधा॑सु म॒न्द्रो अ॑र॒तिर्वि॒भावाव॑ स्यति द्विवर्त॒निर्व॑ने॒षाट् । ऊ॒र्ध्वा यच्छ्रेणि॒र्न शिशु॒र्दन्म॒क्षू स्थि॒रं शे॑वृ॒धं सू॑त मा॒ता ॥

And in the directions of space pervades Agni, joyous, dynamic, bright, moving across heaven and earth, lord of woods, high power admirable, lovely, which, like an army array, destroys in no time. That stable power, giver of comfort and joy, too, Mother Nature generates.

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10.61.21

अधा॒ गाव॒ उप॑मातिं क॒नाया॒ अनु॑ श्वा॒न्तस्य॒ कस्य॑ चि॒त्परे॑युः । श्रु॒धि त्वं सु॑द्रविणो न॒स्त्वं या॑ळाश्व॒घ्नस्य॑ वावृधे सू॒नृता॑भिः ॥

And as the prayers of some veteran saint reach you, lord of love and favour, O holy lord of wealth and glory, listen to our prayer: Give us the yajnic gifts of life, you who feel exalted by the joyous and truthful adorations of devotees who have risen above their senses and passions of the mind.

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10.61.22

अध॒ त्वमि॑न्द्र वि॒द्ध्य१॒॑स्मान्म॒हो रा॒ये नृ॑पते॒ वज्र॑बाहुः । रक्षा॑ च नो म॒घोनः॑ पा॒हि सू॒रीन॑ने॒हस॑स्ते हरिवो अ॒भिष्टौ॑ ॥

And O lord of might and glory, Indra, magnanimous lord protector of humanity, wielder of thunder arms, pray know us and grant us our prayers for wealth, honour and excellence. O lord of nature’s forces and destroyer of suffering, protect us, promote us, all dedicated to the power and honour gifts of divine favour. We pray let us enjoy your love and good will that we may live in a state of freedom from sin and evil.

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10.61.23

अध॒ यद्रा॑जाना॒ गवि॑ष्टौ॒ सर॑त्सर॒ण्युः का॒रवे॑ जर॒ण्युः । विप्रः॒ प्रेष्ठः॒ स ह्ये॑षां ब॒भूव॒ परा॑ च॒ वक्ष॑दु॒त प॑र्षदेनान् ॥

And then, O men of light and wisdom, the person who is keen to rise and is rising in the search for the lord’s love and good will, who seeks to adore and serve the lord creator, such a vibrant devotee becomes the dearest of all these seekers for the lord, crosses the flood of existence and, speaking of the highest absolute and inspiring them, helps others too to seek divine fulfilment.

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10.61.24

अधा॒ न्व॑स्य॒ जेन्य॑स्य पु॒ष्टौ वृथा॒ रेभ॑न्त ईमहे॒ तदू॒ नु । स॒र॒ण्युर॑स्य सू॒नुरश्वो॒ विप्र॑श्चासि॒ श्रव॑सश्च सा॒तौ ॥

And so for the sake of our growth and progress under the protection of this lord absolute and all victorious master of the universe, we spontaneously sing and pray : you are the creator and sole mover of this universe, all pervasive and dominant, all providing giver of fulfilment and most renowned harbinger of success and victory.

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10.61.25

यु॒वोर्यदि॑ स॒ख्याया॒स्मे शर्धा॑य॒ स्तोमं॑ जुजु॒षे नम॑स्वान् । वि॒श्वत्र॒ यस्मि॒न्ना गिरः॑ समी॒चीः पू॒र्वीव॑

गा॒तुर्दाश॑त्सू॒नृता॑यै ॥

O enlightened men and women of the world, if for your love and friendship and the growth of our strength, the devotee were to offer a song of adoration with homage, humility and love to the lord to whom all earnest voices of prayer converge and reach for fulfilment all over the world, and the lord of all might were pleased to accept, he would bless us with a vision of the path of truth and progress.

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10.61.26

स गृ॑णा॒नो अ॒द्भिर्दे॒ववा॒निति॑ सु॒बन्धु॒र्नम॑सा सू॒क्तैः । वर्ध॑दु॒क्थैर्वचो॑भि॒रा हि नू॒नं व्यध्वै॑ति॒ पय॑स उ॒स्रिया॑याः ॥

Say the lord almighty adored by holies is a friend of the divines. Noble brother and all unifier, He is to be worshipped and exalted with homage of love, hymns of faith, rituals of service and words of praise. His grace rains in showers by paths of love in piety and meditation as the mother cow’s milk flows for the calf.

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10.61.27

त ऊ॒ षु णो॑ म॒हो य॑जत्रा भू॒त दे॑वास ऊ॒तये॑ स॒जोषाः॑ । ये वाजाँ॒ अन॑यता वि॒यन्तो॒ ये स्था नि॑चे॒तारो॒ अमू॑राः ॥

Great and glorious divinities, loving friends, adorable visionaries, decisive and discriminative in wisdom and judgement, pray ever abide by us for our protection and progress, you who are leading lights and harbingers of abundant food, energy, victory and ultimate fulfilment of life.

✦ Sukta 62 · 11 verses ✦

10.62.1

ये य॒ज्ञेन॒ दक्षि॑णया॒ सम॑क्ता॒ इन्द्र॑स्य स॒ख्यम॑मृत॒त्वमा॑न॒श । तेभ्यो॑ भ॒द्रम॑ङ्गिरसो वो अस्तु॒ प्रति॑ गृभ्णीत मान॒वं सु॑मेधसः ॥

Brilliant divinities of light and wisdom, Angirasas, self-realised souls dear as breath of life, who, distinguished and beautified by performance of yajna, self-sacrifice and liberal giving, have won the love and friendship of Indra, lord almighty, and attained the freedom of immortality, may there be all round auspicious good fortune for you in life. O sagely divines, pray take man under your kind care for spiritual refinement.

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10.62.2

य उ॒दाज॑न्पि॒तरो॑ गो॒मयं॒ वस्वृ॒तेनाभि॑न्दन्परिवत्स॒रे व॒लम् । दी॒र्घा॒यु॒त्वम॑ङ्गिरसो वो अस्तु॒ प्रति॑ गृभ्णीत मान॒वं सु॑मेधसः ॥

O parental sages and scholars, Angirasas, who research, recover and create the wealth of knowledge and the divine voice and thereby, through yajna and the study of nature’s law, break through and dispel the darkness of loss and ignorance all the year round in the seasonal cycle, may Indra bless you with a long happy life. Pray take the son of Manu under your kind care, sages of holy wisdom and knowledge.

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10.62.3

य ऋ॒तेन॒ सूर्य॒मारो॑हयन्दि॒व्यप्र॑थयन्पृथि॒वीं मा॒तरं॒ वि । सु॒प्र॒जा॒स्त्वम॑ङ्गिरसो वो अस्तु॒ प्रति॑ गृभ्णीत मान॒वं सु॑मेधसः ॥

Angirasas, nature’s powers of creation and evolution who, by the divine law and cosmic yajna of nature, raised the sun and set it there and formed and expanded mother earth, may you have the wealth of noble progeny. Enlightened sages of noble intellect and wisdom who study and research the laws of nature, pray take the children of humanity under your kind care.

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10.62.4

अ॒यं नाभा॑ वदति व॒ल्गु वो॑ गृ॒हे देव॑पुत्रा ऋषय॒स्तच्छृ॑णोतन । सु॒ब्र॒ह्म॒ण्यम॑ङ्गिरसो वो अस्तु॒ प्रति॑ गृभ्णीत मान॒वं सु॑मेधसः ॥

O children of divinity, seers and visionaries, this central soul speaks the voice divine in your yajnic home, in the core of your heart. Listen to that. O Angirasas, may this divine voice be yours and your heritage to your posterity. O sages of holy mind and wisdom, pray take the children of humanity under your care.

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10.62.5

विरू॑पास॒ इदृष॑य॒स्त इद्ग॑म्भी॒रवे॑पसः । ते अङ्गि॑रसः सू॒नव॒स्ते अ॒ग्नेः परि॑ जज्ञिरे ॥

Rshis are seers of various forms of existence including the structures and meanings of the voice divine. They are powers and performers of serious and mysterious actions. They are all Angirasas, children of the cosmic soul born as waves of cosmic energy. O cosmic soul, O cosmic energy, O Agni, they are your children, creators too in their own natural ways, born of you like sparks from the yajna fire.

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10.62.6

ये अ॒ग्नेः परि॑ जज्ञि॒रे विरू॑पासो दि॒वस्परि॑ । नव॑ग्वो॒ नु दश॑ग्वो॒ अङ्गि॑रस्तमो॒ सचा॑ दे॒वेषु॑ मंहते ॥

Of these various forms of existence born ofAgni in the regions of light, the waves called navagu and dashagu being most powerful excel among the divine forms of nature. Similarly among the living forms of existence born of the divine soul and divine energy, the human form of five elements and four powers of the self, i.e., mana, buddhi, chitta and ahankara, all together nine, and further, ten pranas and ten senses, excels as the highest and most powerful of the divine forms of life.

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10.62.7

इन्द्रे॑ण यु॒जा निः सृ॑जन्त वा॒घतो॑ व्र॒जं गोम॑न्तम॒श्विन॑म् । स॒हस्रं॑ मे॒ दद॑तो अष्टक॒र्ण्यः१॒॑ श्रवो॑ दे॒वेष्व॑क्रत ॥

The wise and visionary yajakas with the inspiration of Indra, lord ruler, create knowledge relating to senses, mind and will, and with their senses raised to eighfold power and sensitivity, giving me a thousand gifts, win praise among brilliant scholars.

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10.62.8

प्र नू॒नं जा॑यताम॒यं मनु॒स्तोक्मे॑व रोहतु । यः स॒हस्रं॑ श॒ताश्वं॑ स॒द्यो दा॒नाय॒ मंह॑ते ॥

May this man, for sure, arise and grow like a germinating seed in fertile soil, who creates and gives a thousand gifts of hundred horse-power achievement straight to be dedicated to charitable good.

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10.62.9

न तम॑श्नोति॒ कश्च॒न दि॒व इ॑व॒ सान्वा॒रभ॑म् । सा॒व॒र्ण्यस्य॒ दक्षि॑णा॒ वि सिन्धु॑रिव पप्रथे ॥

No one can approach even the fringe of this wonder worker’s achievement as the sun’s on top of heaven. After all, the versatility and generosity of this man of universal competence flows ceaselessly like the flood of a river and expands as the sea.

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10.62.10

उ॒त दा॒सा प॑रि॒विषे॒ स्मद्दि॑ष्टी॒ गोप॑रीणसा । यदु॑स्तु॒र्वश्च॑ मामहे ॥

And the giver, the visionary, the prosperous, the industrious and the victorious, all exalt him and feel honoured to serve and support him.

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10.62.11

स॒ह॒स्र॒दा ग्रा॑म॒णीर्मा रि॑ष॒न्मनुः॒ सूर्ये॑णास्य॒ यत॑मानैतु॒ दक्षि॑णा । साव॑र्णेर्दे॒वाः प्र ति॑र॒न्त्वायु॒र्यस्मि॒न्नश्रा॑न्ता॒ अस॑नाम॒ वाज॑म् ॥

The giver of thousands, leader of the community, must not be hurt, nor would he hurt anyone. May this generosity, active and advancing, rise with the sun day by day. May the divinities prolong and elevate the health and age of the man of versatile generosity and competence, and may we, under his guidance and leadership, relentlessly advancing, win the goal and victory of our aspirations.

✦ Sukta 63 · 17 verses ✦

10.63.1

प॒रा॒वतो॒ ये दिधि॑षन्त॒ आप्यं॒ मनु॑प्रीतासो॒ जनि॑मा वि॒वस्व॑तः । य॒याते॒र्ये न॑हु॒ष्य॑स्य ब॒र्हिषि॑ दे॒वा आस॑ते॒ ते अधि॑ ब्रुवन्तु नः ॥

May those divinities of humanity and bounties of nature that love humanity and come from afar anxious to meet and talk to the children of light under the sun, those who join the yajna on the vedi of dynamic and aspiring humanity bound and dedicated to karma across time through birth and death, may they all speak to us of the light divine and eternal wisdom.

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10.63.2

विश्वा॒ हि वो॑ नम॒स्या॑नि॒ वन्द्या॒ नामा॑नि देवा उ॒त य॒ज्ञिया॑नि वः । ये स्थ जा॒ता अदि॑तेर॒द्भ्यस्परि॒ ये पृ॑थि॒व्यास्ते म॑ इ॒ह श्रु॑ता॒ हव॑म् ॥

O Devas, brilliancies of nature and humanity, all your names, nature and functions are venerable, adorable and worthy of yajnic communion. May all of you who are born of the earth, over the sky and space and mother Infinity may hear my call and invocation here on the vedi

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10.63.3

येभ्यो॑ मा॒ता मधु॑म॒त्पिन्व॑ते॒ पयः॑ पी॒यूषं॒ द्यौरदि॑ति॒रद्रि॑बर्हाः । उ॒क्थशु॑ष्मान्वृषभ॒रान्त्स्वप्न॑स॒स्ताँ आ॑दि॒त्याँ अनु॑ मदा स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Serve, exhilarate and replenish those Adityas, children of light on earth and brilliancies of nature for whom mother earth yields and augments honey sweets of the milk of life, the sun, mother infinity and the cloud bearing sky shower nectar sweets of rain. Be grateful and rejoice with those, Adityas, who bring the resonance of mantric power to yajna, who move the mighty clouds of rain and who perform the noblest creative acts for the good, happiness and all round well being of life.

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10.63.4

नृ॒चक्ष॑सो॒ अनि॑मिषन्तो अ॒र्हणा॑ बृ॒हद्दे॒वासो॑ अमृत॒त्वमा॑नशुः । ज्यो॒तीर॑था॒ अहि॑माया॒ अना॑गसो दि॒वो व॒र्ष्माणं॑ वसते स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Ever watchful inspirers of humanity, active without a wink, adorable in their own right, mighty brilliant and generous, they attain to the freedom of immortality. They ride the chariot of light and, inviolable of might and free from sin and evil, they abide on top of heaven. May they come and bless our yajna for the good and all round well being of life. Serve them, exhilarate them, be grateful and rejoice.

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10.63.5

स॒म्राजो॒ ये सु॒वृधो॑ य॒ज्ञमा॑य॒युरप॑रिह्वृता दधि॒रे दि॒वि क्षय॑म् । ताँ आ वि॑वास॒ नम॑सा सुवृ॒क्तिभि॑र्म॒हो आ॑दि॒त्याँ अदि॑तिं स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Those illustrious children of light, self-refulgent and steadily rising in knowledge and wisdom, who come and grace the yajna and, straight and unassailable in action and character, abide in the sphere of the light of divinity, those great children of inviolable mother Infinity and Mother Nature, serve, exhilarate and replenish with homage and humility for the good and all round well being of life. Be grateful with holy words of praise and rejoice.

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10.63.6

को वः॒ स्तोमं॑ राधति॒ यं जुजो॑षथ॒ विश्वे॑ देवासो मनुषो॒ यति॒ ष्ठन॑ । को वो॑ऽध्व॒रं तु॑विजाता॒ अरं॑ कर॒द्यो नः॒ पर्ष॒दत्यंहः॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

O Vishvedevas, brilliancies of nature and humanity, O thoughtful people, all of you born on the earth that abide on the vedi, who leads your song of divinity to success? Whom do you love and serve with adoration? Who leads your yajna to auspicious completion? He that cleanses us of sin and evil. That same divinity whom you love and adore, that same lord of yajna, serve and exhilarate for the sake of the good and all round well being of life. Be grateful and rejoice

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10.63.7

येभ्यो॒ होत्रां॑ प्रथ॒मामा॑ये॒जे मनुः॒ समि॑द्धाग्नि॒र्मन॑सा स॒प्त होतृ॑भिः । त आ॑दित्या॒ अभ॑यं॒ शर्म॑ यच्छत सु॒गा नः॑ कर्त सु॒पथा॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Those Adityas, children of eternal light blest with knowledge and wisdom of divinity, for whom Manu, omniscient creator, lighted the first fire of creative yajna with thought and tapas and conducted the yajna with seven priests (five elements with mahat and Ahankara, seven pranas, sevenfold sense and mind complex, seven rays of the sun, seven sages and seven chhandas of the Veda) may, we pray, bring a peaceful life and home with freedom from fear and make our paths of life simple, straight and clear from darkness and evil for the good and all round well being of life

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10.63.8

य ईशि॑रे॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ प्रचे॑तसो॒ विश्व॑स्य स्था॒तुर्जग॑तश्च॒ मन्त॑वः । ते नः॑ कृ॒तादकृ॑ता॒देन॑स॒स्पर्य॒द्या दे॑वासः पिपृता स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Those divine, brilliant and generous powers of nature and humanity with a noble heart and mind that know and rule the entire moving and unmoving world of existence may, we pray, save us today and protect us from sin and evil whether past or future for the good and all round well being of life

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10.63.9

भरे॒ष्विन्द्रं॑ सु॒हवं॑ हवामहेंऽहो॒मुचं॑ सु॒कृतं॒ दैव्यं॒ जन॑म् । अ॒ग्निं मि॒त्रं वरु॑णं सा॒तये॒ भगं॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी म॒रुतः॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

For success in our yajnic struggles of life and for victory against negativity and evils of the world, we call upon and pray to Indra, mighty ruler of the world, instant listener, noble doer and deliverer from sin and adversity. We call upon Agni, spirit of light and fire, Mitra, loving power of friendship, Varuna, power of judgement and discrimination, Bhaga, lord of power and prosperity, earth and heaven, Maruts, tempestuous forces, and the noble and brilliant people dedicated to positive good action so that we may enjoy the good life of all round well being.

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10.63.10

सु॒त्रामा॑णं पृथि॒वीं द्याम॑ने॒हसं॑ सु॒शर्मा॑ण॒मदि॑तिं सु॒प्रणी॑तिम् । दैवीं॒ नावं॑ स्वरि॒त्रामना॑गस॒मस्र॑वन्ती॒मा रु॑हेमा स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

In order to cross the oceanic flood of life and its challenges, let us board the boat of life equipped with sure safety measures, vast like earth, high and bright like the regions of light, free from sin and evil, comfortable and peaceful, unbreakable, well structured and well steered, divine and brilliant, fitted with fine oars, faultless and free from leakage, so that we may cross the flood with ease and enjoy the good life with all round well being.

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10.63.11

विश्वे॑ यजत्रा॒ अधि॑ वोचतो॒तये॒ त्राय॑ध्वं नो दु॒रेवा॑या अभि॒ह्रुतः॑ । स॒त्यया॑ वो दे॒वहू॑त्या हुवेम शृण्व॒तो दे॑वा॒ अव॑से स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

O Devas, brilliant and venerable sagely scholars of the science and vision of yajna, pray enlighten us on our defence and protection. Protect us from chronic evils and strengthen us with safe-guards against sudden calamities. In earnest truth we call upon you with words of divinity, pray listen and come for our protection so that we may live the good life with all round well being and happiness.

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10.63.12

अपामी॑वा॒मप॒ विश्वा॒मना॑हुति॒मपारा॑तिं दुर्वि॒दत्रा॑मघाय॒तः । आ॒रे दे॑वा॒ द्वेषो॑ अ॒स्मद्यु॑योतनो॒रु णः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छता स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Brilliant divinities of nature and humanity, pray remove all sickness and disease of the world, eliminate indifference and opposition to divine service, remove selfishness and miserliness, remove the malignance of the sinner souls, throw off hate and jealousy far from us and give us a spacious peaceful happy home so that we may live the good life with happiness and all round well being.

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10.63.13

अरि॑ष्टः॒ स मर्तो॒ विश्व॑ एधते॒ प्र प्र॒जाभि॑र्जायते॒ धर्म॑ण॒स्परि॑ । यमा॑दित्यासो॒ नय॑था सुनी॒तिभि॒रति॒ विश्वा॑नि दुरि॒ता स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Unhurt does the mortal advance in the world, rises in values and practice of Dharma and thrives with family and progeny whom you, O brilliant divines, lead by noble paths of rectitude. Indeed, he crosses over all evils of the world whom you enlighten and guide for the good life and well being all round.

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10.63.14

यं दे॑वा॒सोऽव॑थ॒ वाज॑सातौ॒ यं शूर॑साता मरुतो हि॒ते धने॑ । प्रा॒त॒र्यावा॑णं॒ रथ॑मिन्द्र सान॒सिमरि॑ष्यन्त॒मा रु॑हेमा स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

O Lord Almighty, Indra, O Maruts, vibrant and enlightened heroes of nature and humanity, let us ride that chariot of life, unhurt, inviolable and victorious, taking off early morning at dawn, which you protect in the battle of the brave when the action is on for the victory and attainment of food, energy, culture and advancement of all for the good life and well being all round. (The chariot here is the human body for the individual, and the social, economic and the organismic commonwealth of humanity on the political level.)

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10.63.15

स्व॒स्ति नः॑ प॒थ्या॑सु॒ धन्व॑सु स्व॒स्त्य१॒॑प्सु वृ॒जने॒ स्व॑र्वति । स्व॒स्ति नः॑ पुत्रकृ॒थेषु॒ योनि॑षु स्व॒स्ति रा॒ये म॑रुतो दधातन ॥

O winds, O vibrant scientists and engineers, let there be peace, security and well being on the highways and desert lands, all well over the waterways, rivers and seas, all good and well being in our programmes of enlightened advancement for general happiness. Let there be general good and universal well being among our women’s lives and in family development programmes. O Maruts, bring us auspiciousness in our programmes of economic development for the growth of national wealth.

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10.63.16

स्व॒स्तिरिद्धि प्रप॑थे॒ श्रेष्ठा॒ रेक्ण॑स्वत्य॒भि या वा॒ममेति॑ । सा नो॑ अ॒मा सो अर॑णे॒ नि पा॑तु स्वावे॒शा भ॑वतु दे॒वगो॑पा ॥

Let there be peace, goodness and all round well being of the highest order in our long term programmes of development, only that which brings abundant wealth, noble success and honour and splendour of grace. May that peace and splendour strengthen us at home and protect us abroad and may that peace, protected by noble and brilliant divine souls, have the rightful passion and pride of self-confidence.

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10.63.17

ए॒वा प्ल॒तेः सू॒नुर॑वीवृधद्वो॒ विश्व॑ आदित्या अदिते मनी॒षी । ई॒शा॒नासो॒ नरो॒ अम॑र्त्ये॒नास्ता॑वि॒ जनो॑ दि॒व्यो गये॑न ॥

O brilliant divine Adityas, children of light, O mother Aditi, thus does the intelligent and inspiring son of the fulfilled household and prosperous community exalt you. Thus are ruling masters of themselves and their wealth and power, leading lights, the people, the enlightened, praised and celebrated by the liberated immortal and the intelligent rising generation.

✦ Sukta 64 · 17 verses ✦

10.64.1

क॒था दे॒वानां॑ कत॒मस्य॒ याम॑नि सु॒मन्तु॒ नाम॑ शृण्व॒तां म॑नामहे । को मृ॑ळाति कत॒मो नो॒ मय॑स्करत्कत॒म ऊ॒ती अ॒भ्या व॑वर्तति ॥

In the course of our life, which gracious name of the divinities that hear our prayer shall we adore and how? Who is kind to us first and most? Who brings us peace and pleasure? Who cares for us and turns to us with protection constantly?

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10.64.2

क्र॒तू॒यन्ति॒ क्रत॑वो हृ॒त्सु धी॒तयो॒ वेन॑न्ति वे॒नाः प॒तय॒न्त्या दिशः॑ । न म॑र्डि॒ता वि॑द्यते अ॒न्य ए॑भ्यो दे॒वेषु॑ मे॒ अधि॒ कामा॑ अयंसत ॥

Thoughts, desires and resolutions arise in the heart and mind anxious to do honour to divinity. Dedicated celebrants love the objects of their love and ambition and their desires and ambitions fly in various directions. For them, there is no other source of comfort and happiness than the object of these desires, be it divine, human or material. I pray may my desires, ambitions and prayers converge and concentrate on the divinities.

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10.64.3

नरा॑ वा॒ शंसं॑ पू॒षण॒मगो॑ह्यम॒ग्निं दे॒वेद्ध॑म॒भ्य॑र्चसे गि॒रा । सूर्या॒मासा॑ च॒न्द्रम॑सा य॒मं दि॒वि त्रि॒तं वात॑मु॒षस॑म॒क्तुम॒श्विना॑ ॥

O man, with holy words worship the divine spirit adored by humanity, study, honour and celebrate Pusha, divine unfathomable source of nourishment, Agni present in direct experience and lighted by noble and brilliant yajakas, sun and moon and their relative monthly movements, the heavenly energy operative in the three regions of the sun, sky and the earth, the dawn, the night and day and the Ashvins, complementary dynamics of natural energy in motion.

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10.64.4

क॒था क॒विस्तु॑वी॒रवा॒न्कया॑ गि॒रा बृह॒स्पति॑र्वावृधते सुवृ॒क्तिभिः॑ । अ॒ज एक॑पात्सु॒हवे॑भि॒ॠक्व॑भि॒रहिः॑ शृणोतु बु॒ध्न्यो॒३॒॑ हवी॑मनि ॥

How, by what words, with which mantric voices and yajnic actions is the omniscient poet, master ruler and almighty commander of infinite forces studied, celebrated and known in his infinite nature and presence? In yajnic acts of search for knowledge, with holy words of celebrative language used with honest intention, unambiguous resolution and faithful purpose, is the one absolute power, unborn and undying, thunderous presence in space, celebrated and, if you use that language with that resolution in those actions, he would listen and respond.

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10.64.5

दक्ष॑स्य वादिते॒ जन्म॑नि व्र॒ते राजा॑ना मि॒त्रावरु॒णा वि॑वाससि । अतू॑र्तपन्थाः पुरु॒रथो॑ अर्य॒मा स॒प्तहो॑ता॒ विषु॑रूपेषु॒ जन्म॑सु ॥

And O mother Aditi, eternal nature, at the dawn of the day, you energise and illuminate both Mitra and Varuna, complementarities of unity and diversity of energy and light, both luminant and bound in law like day and night, and you bring into action the all ordaining cosmic law, Aryama, like the sun ordaining the day and night, which is unobstructed in its course, which commands the many chariots of the universe such as solar systems and galaxies, and which has seven high priests in the dynamic universal yajna, like the seven rays of the sun showing up the infinite forms of things as they come to light.

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10.64.6

ते नो॒ अर्व॑न्तो हवन॒श्रुतो॒ हवं॒ विश्वे॑ शृण्वन्तु वा॒जिनो॑ मि॒तद्र॑वः । स॒ह॒स्र॒सा मे॒धसा॑ताविव॒ त्मना॑ म॒हो ये धनं॑ समि॒थेषु॑ जभ्रि॒रे ॥

May all those veteran scholars and scientists who listen to the call of the nation and, moving at measured speed, win victories in their fields, who in their pioneering adventures discover and produce great wealth in all sincerity by their own competence while they bring us a thousand gifts in our yajnic programmes, listen to our invocation and exhortation at this juncture too.

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10.64.7

प्र वो॑ वा॒युं र॑थ॒युजं॒ पुरं॑धिं॒ स्तोमैः॑ कृणुध्वं स॒ख्याय॑ पू॒षण॑म् । ते हि दे॒वस्य॑ सवि॒तुः सवी॑मनि॒ क्रतुं॒ सच॑न्ते स॒चितः॒ सचे॑तसः ॥

O yajakas, by your programmed yajnic sessions of scientific endeavour, study the munificent Vayu and Pusha, realise and harness the motive energy of wind usable in chariot and also the nourishing and invigorating power of nature as friends of life for the service of humanity. Both Vayu and Pusha in this cosmic yajna of Savita, lord creator and sustainer, are efficacious and together take life’s growth and evolution forwards.

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10.64.8

त्रिः स॒प्त स॒स्रा न॒द्यो॑ म॒हीर॒पो वन॒स्पती॒न्पर्व॑ताँ अ॒ग्निमू॒तये॑ । कृ॒शानु॒मस्तॄ॑न्ति॒ष्यं॑ स॒धस्थ॒ आ रु॒द्रं रु॒द्रेषु॑ रु॒द्रियं॑ हवामहे ॥

For our protection and advancement, in our yajnic sessions we invoke and exalt thrice seven rays of energy active in the three regions of heaven, earth and the sky, the flowing streams, floods of water and vapour great and greater, herbs and trees, clouds and mountains, various orders of fire energy, electric energy, catalytic currents of cloud breaking energy, solar energy and the yajnic fire which destroys the negativities of the environment.

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10.64.9

सर॑स्वती स॒रयुः॒ सिन्धु॑रू॒र्मिभि॑र्म॒हो म॒हीरव॒सा य॑न्तु॒ वक्ष॑णीः । दे॒वीरापो॑ मा॒तरः॑ सूदयि॒त्न्वो॑ घृ॒तव॒त्पयो॒ मधु॑मन्नो अर्चत ॥

For our protection and progress may Sarasvati, cloud forming vapour streams, Sarayu, torrents of falling rain, rivers flowing on earth, and all mighty floods rushing and rolling at tempestuous speed flow for our benefit. O divine rivers, mother streams of nourishing waters full of living energy, ghrta, nectar and honey, pray flow shining and roaring and bring us honour and grandeur.

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10.64.10

उ॒त मा॒ता बृ॑हद्दि॒वा शृ॑णोतु न॒स्त्वष्टा॑ दे॒वेभि॒र्जनि॑भिः पि॒ता वचः॑ । ऋ॒भु॒क्षा वाजो॒ रथ॒स्पति॒र्भगो॑ र॒ण्वः शंसः॑ शशमा॒नस्य॑ पातु नः ॥

And may mother Infinity of boundless light and father Tvashta, maker of body forms, with all divine generative forces, listen to our words of prayer and celebration. May Rbhuksha, light and energy sustaining the intelligent and wise, Vaja, spirit of nourishment and energy, the master lord of the cosmic chariot, Bhaga, spirit of grandeur, honour and power, all happy givers of felicity worthy of adoration by the celebrants, sustain, protect and promote us on the way forward.

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10.64.11

र॒ण्वः संदृ॑ष्टौ पितु॒माँ इ॑व॒ क्षयो॑ भ॒द्रा रु॒द्राणां॑ म॒रुता॒मुप॑स्तुतिः । गोभिः॑ ष्याम य॒शसो॒ जने॒ष्वा सदा॑ देवास॒ इळ॑या सचेमहि ॥

The celebration of Maruts and Rudras, scholars of the science of health and pranic energies, is full of blessings, joyous and beatific to the celebrant’s vision like a haven of peace and total fulfilment. O divinities, we pray, may we always adore you with holy songs of celebration, enjoy your love and friendship and, blest with honour and wealth, live happy among the people of the world.

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10.64.12

यां मे॒ धियं॒ मरु॑त॒ इन्द्र॒ देवा॒ अद॑दात वरुण मित्र यू॒यम् । तां पी॑पयत॒ पय॑सेव धे॒नुं कु॒विद्गिरो॒ अधि॒ रथे॒ वहा॑थ ॥

O Maruts, vibrancies of divinity, O Indra, lord of honour and power, O divinities of nature and humanity, O Varuna, spirit of judgement, Mitra, spirit of love and friendship, let my intelligence and imagination, which is your gift to me, grow and overflow with exuberance like the cow’s milk. You do always carry our prayers on the chariot and convey these to the Lord Supreme, don’t you?

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10.64.13

कु॒विद॒ङ्ग प्रति॒ यथा॑ चिद॒स्य नः॑ सजा॒त्य॑स्य मरुतो॒ बुबो॑धथ । नाभा॒ यत्र॑ प्रथ॒मं सं॒नसा॑महे॒ तत्र॑ जामि॒त्वमदि॑तिर्दधातु नः ॥

Dear Maruts, wise sages, you know and we pray enlighten us of our divine affinity and essential relationship with this Lord Supreme whatever way it is possible. May Aditi, mother Infinity, lead us to find our essential nature and identity and guide us to reach there where we may regain our first and original centre of being.

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10.64.14

ते हि द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी मा॒तरा॑ म॒ही दे॒वी दे॒वाञ्जन्म॑ना य॒ज्ञिये॑ इ॒तः । उ॒भे बि॑भृत उ॒भयं॒ भरी॑मभिः पु॒रू रेतां॑सि पि॒तृभि॑श्च सिञ्चतः ॥

Heaven and earth, both of them great, divine, venerable mothers of life from their very birth in existence, are united with generative vitalities of nature here itself. Both sustain the moving and unmoving forms of life with their nourishing powers and both pour out abundant fertility and generative vitalities replete with the seeds of life essence in natural form.

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10.64.15

वि षा होत्रा॒ विश्व॑मश्नोति॒ वार्यं॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र॒रम॑तिः॒ पनी॑यसी । ग्रावा॒ यत्र॑ मधु॒षुदु॒च्यते॑ बृ॒हदवी॑वशन्त म॒तिभि॑र्मनी॒षिणः॑ ॥

That wonderful voice of divinity, the Vedic Word, which comprehends and corresponds to the entire world of cherished forms of existence is inviolable and sublime. Brhaspati, dedicated preserver and promoter of the divine Word adores it. Therein the master speaker and teacher of it is honoured as harbinger of honey sweets of joyous knowledge. Men of reason and faith with best of thought and action love and serve it beyond measure.

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10.64.16

ए॒वा क॒विस्तु॑वी॒रवाँ॑ ऋत॒ज्ञा द्र॑विण॒स्युर्द्रवि॑णसश्चका॒नः । उ॒क्थेभि॒रत्र॑ म॒तिभि॑श्च॒ विप्रोऽपी॑पय॒द्गयो॑ दि॒व्यानि॒ जन्म॑ ॥

Thus does the poetic visionary, celebrant of divinities and the divine Word, vibrant devotee of the laws of Truth, worshipper of the highest wealth of Divinity, lover of the wealth and values of existence, with thoughts, words and songs of piety in a state of inspiration and ecstasy serve and celebrate the divinities here in the congregation of the learned in this life.

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10.64.17

ए॒वा प्ल॒तेः सू॒नुर॑वीवृधद्वो॒ विश्व॑ आदित्या अदिते मनी॒षी । ई॒शा॒नासो॒ नरो॒ अम॑र्त्ये॒नास्ता॑वि॒ जनो॑ दि॒व्यो गये॑न ॥

O Adityas, children of the inviolable light of the universe, O Aditi, mother Infinity, thus does the inspirer of the swimmer across the flood of existence adore you. O ruling powers of the world, O leading lights of humanity, thus is the brilliant and divine humanity celebrated by the inspired poet in a mood of ecstasy.

✦ Sukta 65 · 15 verses ✦

10.65.1

अ॒ग्निरिन्द्रो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा वा॒युः पू॒षा सर॑स्वती स॒जोष॑सः । आ॒दि॒त्या विष्णु॑र्म॒रुतः॒ स्व॑र्बृ॒हत्सोमो॑ रु॒द्रो अदि॑ति॒र्ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिः॑ ॥

May the cosmic spirit of divinity in its various and harmonious manifestations integrated in nature and humanity...: Agni, fire and magnetic energy of the earth, Indra, wind and electric energy of the skies, Varuna, beauty of the moon, peace of night and depth of oceans, Mitra, warmth of the sun and freshness of the day, Aryama, cosmic gravity that orders the stars and planets in the united orbit of existence, Vayu, cosmic energy, Pusha, life energy of nourishment and growth, Sarasvati, cosmic enlightenment and universal speech vibrant in universal mind, Adityas, inviolable light energy of the stars, Vishnu, centre-hold of existence and omnipresence of sustaining divinity, Maruts, various versions of wind energy in currents, Svah, cosmic light and universal bliss, Brhat, expansive space home of the universe, Soma, cosmic spirit of peace and divine ecstasy pervasive from the sun to earth, Rudra, thundering clouds and the voice of sublimity, Aditi, imperishable infinity of existence, and Brahmanaspati, the ultimate immanent and transcendent, evolution and involution of life, may all these together in love and unison bless the life of nature and humanity in spirit, awareness and expression in thought, word and deed.

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10.65.2

इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॑षु॒ सत्प॑ती मि॒थो हि॑न्वा॒ना त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ समो॑कसा । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षं॒ मह्या प॑प्रु॒रोज॑सा॒ सोमो॑ घृत॒श्रीर्म॑हि॒मान॑मी॒रय॑न् ॥

In the dispelling of darkness and want and in the breaking of the clouds for rain, Indra and Agni, electric and fire energy, both protectors and promoters of the reality of substances, enhancing each other by their own essential power, work together in the same system, and these together and Soma, the great and soothing life-promoting spirit with its harmonious power and lustre, all fill, energise and vitalise the great middle spaces.

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10.65.3

तेषां॒ हि म॒ह्ना म॑ह॒ताम॑न॒र्वणां॒ स्तोमाँ॒ इय॑र्म्यृत॒ज्ञा ऋ॑ता॒वृधा॑म् । ये अ॑प्स॒वम॑र्ण॒वं चि॒त्ररा॑धस॒स्ते नो॑ रासन्तां म॒हये॑ सुमि॒त्र्याः ॥

By the grandeur of these mighty, irresistible, self-sufficient powers of nature which observe and advance life’s evolution by the laws of divinity, I, knowing the laws of nature and exigencies of the environment, structure, realise and accomplish my programmes of development and social advancement within the specifics of the Vishvedevas which, harbingers of wondrous possibilities, friendly and helpful, may, we pray, give us rain showers of liquid prosperity and progress for our honour and glory.

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10.65.4

स्व॑र्णरम॒न्तरि॑क्षाणि रोच॒ना द्यावा॒भूमी॑ पृथि॒वीं स्क॑म्भु॒रोज॑सा । पृ॒क्षा इ॑व म॒हय॑न्तः सुरा॒तयो॑ दे॒वाः स्त॑वन्ते॒ मनु॑षाय सू॒रयः॑ ॥

These Vishvedevas, cosmic powers, by their glorious lustre and power, hold and sustain the bright sun, the shining stars, heaven and earth and the expansive universe. Brilliant celebrants adore and exalt them as divine powers, munificent givers and generous friends for humanity.

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10.65.5

मि॒त्राय॑ शिक्ष॒ वरु॑णाय दा॒शुषे॒ या स॒म्राजा॒ मन॑सा॒ न प्र॒युच्छ॑तः । ययो॒र्धाम॒ धर्म॑णा॒ रोच॑ते बृ॒हद्ययो॑रु॒भे रोद॑सी॒ नाध॑सी॒ वृतौ॑ ॥

Offer homage to Mitra and Varuna, complementary centripetal and centrifugal currents of cosmic energy, both sovereign and self-lustrous which never fault on their observance of law and generosity by their very nature. Their abode and sphere of operation shines by their law of Dharma and the great heaven and the great earth both abide in their vast sphere of cosmic dynamics. Offer homage to these generous givers of the light of day and peace of the night.

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10.65.6

या गौर्व॑र्त॒निं प॒र्येति॑ निष्कृ॒तं पयो॒ दुहा॑ना व्रत॒नीर॑वा॒रतः॑ । सा प्र॑ब्रुवा॒णा वरु॑णाय दा॒शुषे॑ दे॒वेभ्यो॑ दाशद्ध॒विषा॑ वि॒वस्व॑ते ॥

The earth which goes about in her well defined orbit, ceaselessly moving on over the orbital stages of the revolution and yielding milky nourishments for life on the way for living beings, expresses her thanks to generous Varuna and does homage to Vivasvan, the refulgent sun, Varuna dispelling it and the sun attracting it, both holding it in balance for the worshipful humanity.

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10.65.7

दि॒वक्ष॑सो अग्निजि॒ह्वा ऋ॑ता॒वृध॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ योनिं॑ विमृ॒शन्त॑ आसते । द्यां स्क॑भि॒त्व्य१॒॑प आ च॑क्रु॒रोज॑सा य॒ज्ञं ज॑नि॒त्वी त॒न्वी॒३॒॑ नि मा॑मृजुः ॥

Cosmic divinities clothed in light with tongues of fire observe and augment the law of cosmic yajna, and together, in a spirit of grateful union, sit at the centre with the central cause of all cosmic evolution. Holding the heavens high with their lustre, creating the waters of life, and lighting up and sustaining the yajna fire, they anoint themselves with divine grace.

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10.65.8

प॒रि॒क्षिता॑ पि॒तरा॑ पूर्व॒जाव॑री ऋ॒तस्य॒ योना॑ क्षयतः॒ समो॑कसा । द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी वरु॑णाय॒ सव्र॑ते घृ॒तव॒त्पयो॑ महि॒षाय॑ पिन्वतः ॥

Extending and expanding, all embracing, each in its own sphere but both abiding together in the same one space, heaven and earth, earliest parents of life, rest in the original cause of cosmic evolution and both, dedicated to the law of divinity, replete with the waters of life, create and augment living energy for the great Varuna, pranic spirit of life.

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10.65.9

प॒र्जन्या॒वाता॑ वृष॒भा पु॑री॒षिणे॑न्द्रवा॒यू वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । दे॒वाँ आ॑दि॒त्याँ अदि॑तिं हवामहे॒ ये पार्थि॑वासो दि॒व्यासो॑ अ॒प्सु ये ॥

Clouds and winds, mighty water bearer vapours, Indra and Vayu, currents of electric energy and the winds, Varuna, Mitra and Aryama, centrifugal, centripetal and all controlling cosmic energy, the devas, Adityas, rays of solar emissions, Aditi, mother nature, all we invoke, adore and exalt, all that pervade and abide by earth, heaven and the middle regions of the sky, for knowledge and its application in practice.

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10.65.10

त्वष्टा॑रं वा॒युमृ॑भवो॒ य ओह॑ते॒ दैव्या॒ होता॑रा उ॒षसं॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ । बृह॒स्पतिं॑ वृत्रखा॒दं सु॑मे॒धस॑मिन्द्रि॒यं सोमं॑ धन॒सा उ॑ ईमहे ॥

O learned scholars of the science of yajna, for our achievement of wealth and all round well being, let us study and adore Tvashta, the specific natural energy that creates and shapes the forms of life, Vayu, wind and electric energy, the solar energy of the dawn, the vast space, the catalytic force that breaks the cloud and the soma energy which energises the heavenly yajakas, prana and apana, and enhances the efficacy of brain and the senses.

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10.65.11

ब्रह्म॒ गामश्वं॑ ज॒नय॑न्त॒ ओष॑धी॒र्वन॒स्पती॑न्पृथि॒वीं पर्व॑ताँ अ॒पः । सूर्यं॑ दि॒वि रो॒हय॑न्तः सु॒दान॑व॒ आर्या॑ व्र॒ता वि॑सृ॒जन्तो॒ अधि॒ क्षमि॑ ॥

Let us invoke, study and adore for extension and improvement the natural processes producing and enhancing the quality of food, cows, horses, herbs and trees, earth, mountains, waters, and the facts of nature which shine and rise to the sun in heaven, all highly productive and generous givers, creating, causing and stimulating the best actions on earth.

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10.65.12

भु॒ज्युमंह॑सः पिपृथो॒ निर॑श्विना॒ श्यावं॑ पु॒त्रं व॑ध्रिम॒त्या अ॑जिन्वतम् । क॒म॒द्युवं॑ विम॒दायो॑हथुर्यु॒वं वि॑ष्णा॒प्वं१॒॑ विश्व॑का॒याव॑ सृजथः ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of divine light and regeneration, you save the man of suffering and sufferance from sin and evil, refertilise the barren land and revitalise the seed to germinate, raise the genetic quality of seeds and plants for better taste and nourishment, and raise the general capacity of the seeker of knowledge to higher competence.

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10.65.13

पावी॑रवी तन्य॒तुरेक॑पाद॒जो दि॒वो ध॒र्ता सिन्धु॒रापः॑ समु॒द्रियः॑ । विश्वे॑ दे॒वासः॑ शृणव॒न्वचां॑सि मे॒ सर॑स्वती स॒ह धी॒भिः पुरं॑ध्या ॥

Thunder and lightning, the one absolute unborn eternal sustainer of heaven, the sun, flowing rivers, oceanic waves and waters, rain bearing clouds, all the divinities of nature and the seasons, and the divine mother of knowledge and speech with the cosmic intelligence and will may hear my prayer and respond.

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10.65.14

विश्वे॑ दे॒वाः स॒ह धी॒भिः पुरं॑ध्या॒ मनो॒र्यज॑त्रा अ॒मृता॑ ऋत॒ज्ञाः । रा॒ति॒षाचो॑ अभि॒षाचः॑ स्व॒र्विदः॒ स्व१॒॑र्गिरो॒ ब्रह्म॑ सू॒क्तं जु॑षेरत ॥

May all divinities of nature and humanity, with their thoughts, intentions and will and actions, adorable at heart in yajna, immortal, self-established in divine truth and law, givers of intelligence and competence for accomplishment, loving and sociable, the very voice and vision of divinity, soul of bliss divine, listen and accept my song of divine adoration.

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10.65.15

दे॒वान्वसि॑ष्ठो अ॒मृता॑न्ववन्दे॒ ये विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒भि प्र॑त॒स्थुः । ते नो॑ रासन्तामुरुगा॒यम॒द्य यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभिः॒ सदा॑ नः ॥

The most brilliant sage celebrates and adores the immortals who abide in all regions of the world. May they now give us universal knowledge and vision of the highest adorable lord divine. O Vishvedevas, pray always protect and promote us with all that is good for total well being of life.

✦ Sukta 66 · 15 verses ✦

10.66.1

दे॒वान्हु॑वे बृ॒हच्छ्र॑वसः स्व॒स्तये॑ ज्योति॒ष्कृतो॑ अध्व॒रस्य॒ प्रचे॑तसः । ये वा॑वृ॒धुः प्र॑त॒रं वि॒श्ववे॑दस॒ इन्द्र॑ज्येष्ठासो अ॒मृता॑ ऋता॒वृधः॑ ॥

For the good and well being of life all round, I invoke the Vishvedevas, all bounties and divinities of nature and humanity. Abundant and renowned are they, refulgent givers of light, enlightened promoters of the yajna of love and non-violence, who enhance the creative and productive processes of overcoming ignorance, injustice and poverty. Immortal observers and promoters of universal law with Indra, the omnipotent, as their supreme leader, they know, command and promote the entire wealth and well being of the world.

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10.66.2

इन्द्र॑प्रसूता॒ वरु॑णप्रशिष्टा॒ ये सूर्य॑स्य॒ ज्योति॑षो भा॒गमा॑न॒शुः । म॒रुद्ग॑णे वृ॒जने॒ मन्म॑ धीमहि॒ माघो॑ने य॒ज्ञं ज॑नयन्त सू॒रयः॑ ॥

Created, inspired, commanded and controlled by Indra, supreme ruler, instructed by Varuna, lord supreme of wisdom and judgement, the Maruts have attained to their share of the light of the sun. The wise and the brave institute yajna for the sake of divine bounties. May we too concentrate and dedicate our heart and soul to the strength and liberality of the Maruts.

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10.66.3

इन्द्रो॒ वसु॑भिः॒ परि॑ पातु नो॒ गय॑मादि॒त्यैर्नो॒ अदि॑तिः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु । रु॒द्रो रु॒द्रेभि॑र्दे॒वो मृ॑ळयाति न॒स्त्वष्टा॑ नो॒ ग्नाभिः॑ सुवि॒ताय॑ जिन्वतु ॥

May Indra protect and promote our home with the wealth of the eight Vasus. MayAditi, mother Infinity, give us peace by all the twelve Adityas. May Rudra, lord of justice and mercy, with the eleven Rudras be pleased with us. May Tvashta promote us with the power of all the divinities for happiness and peace.

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10.66.4

अदि॑ति॒र्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी ऋ॒तं म॒हदिन्द्रा॒विष्णू॑ म॒रुतः॒ स्व॑र्बृ॒हत् । दे॒वाँ आ॑दि॒त्याँ अव॑से हवामहे॒ वसू॑न्रु॒द्रान्त्स॑वि॒तारं॑ सु॒दंस॑सम् ॥

For our protection and promotion, we invoke Aditi, mother Nature, heaven and earth, the great cosmic law of Rtam, Indra, cosmic energy, Vishnu, omnipresent divinity that sustains the universe, Maruts, wind energies, cosmic joy, eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, Savita, lord of life and giver of light, lord supreme of cosmic action, and the twelve Adityas, all refulgent divinities of the universe.

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10.66.5

सर॑स्वान्धी॒भिर्वरु॑णो धृ॒तव्र॑तः पू॒षा विष्णु॑र्महि॒मा वा॒युर॒श्विना॑ । ब्र॒ह्म॒कृतो॑ अ॒मृता॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दसः॒ शर्म॑ नो यंसन्त्रि॒वरू॑थ॒मंह॑सः ॥

The rainy sky with its actions of showers, Varuna with its own laws of functioning, Pusha, nature’s energy of nourishment and growth, the mighty all pervasive Vishnu, the winds, and the Ashvins, all dedicated to the supreme spirit of the universe, immortal powers in direct contact with the Supreme Divine, may, we pray, give us peace and rest for body, mind and soul free from sin and evil.

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10.66.6

वृषा॑ य॒ज्ञो वृष॑णः सन्तु य॒ज्ञिया॒ वृष॑णो दे॒वा वृष॑णो हवि॒ष्कृतः॑ । वृष॑णा॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी ऋ॒ताव॑री॒ वृषा॑ प॒र्जन्यो॒ वृष॑णो वृष॒स्तुभः॑ ॥

May yajna bring us showers of peace and prosperity, may the yajakas be generous and abundant, may the divinities be generous and abundant, may the bearers of havi be generous and abundant, may heaven and earth replete with waters be generous and abundant, may the clouds be generous and abundant, may the celebrants of the generous divinities too be generous and abundant and bring us showers of peace and prosperity.

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10.66.7

अ॒ग्नीषोमा॒ वृष॑णा॒ वाज॑सातये पुरुप्रश॒स्ता वृष॑णा॒ उप॑ ब्रुवे । यावी॑जि॒रे वृष॑णो देवय॒ज्यया॒ ता नः॒ शर्म॑ त्रि॒वरू॑थं॒ वि यं॑सतः ॥

Agni and Soma, heat and cold, two complementarities of nature, both generous and abundant for the achievement of food, energy and advancement in knowledge and culture, universally praised and adored as generous and abundant, both of which others too serve and adore as generous and abundant by yajna, I glorify, and pray they may give us threefold peace and protection for body, mind and soul.

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10.66.8

धृ॒तव्र॑ताः क्ष॒त्रिया॑ यज्ञनि॒ष्कृतो॑ बृहद्दि॒वा अ॑ध्व॒राणा॑मभि॒श्रियः॑ । अ॒ग्निहो॑तार ऋत॒सापो॑ अ॒द्रुहो॒ऽपो

अ॑सृज॒न्ननु॑ वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑ ॥

Dedicated Kshatriyas consecrated in yajna, brilliant in the knowledge of divinity, meticulous performers of yajna with beauty and grace with Agni as their high priest of yajna in observation and exaltation of the laws of divinity, free from hate and enmity, move forward in their battle against darkness and evil and set the waters of life aflow like rain showers on the break of dark clouds.

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10.66.9

द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी ज॑नयन्न॒भि व्र॒ताप॒ ओष॑धीर्व॒निना॑नि य॒ज्ञिया॑ । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षं॒ स्व१॒॑रा प॑प्रुरू॒तये॒ वशं॑ दे॒वास॑स्त॒न्वी॒३॒॑ नि मा॑मृजुः ॥

Vishvedevas, divinities of nature and humanity, dedicated to their duties and discipline, creating and promoting herbs and trees and forests for nature’s sacred purpose of protection and promotion of life, fill the regions of earth, sky, the sun and the highest heaven with replenitude and add beauty to their own body and the environment to their heart’s desire.

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10.66.10

ध॒र्तारो॑ दि॒व ऋ॒भवः॑ सु॒हस्ता॑ वातापर्ज॒न्या म॑हि॒षस्य॑ तन्य॒तोः । आप॒ ओष॑धीः॒ प्र ति॑रन्तु नो॒ गिरो॒ भगो॑ रा॒तिर्वा॒जिनो॑ यन्तु मे॒ हव॑म् ॥

May the divine powers, sustainers of bright heaven, roaring winds and thundering clouds, faultless perfect waves of light and Rbhus, formative intelligence of nature and expert humanity, waters, herbs and trees listen, enjoy and augment our mantric voice, and may Bhaga, abundant spirit of highest grace, Rati, mother nature’s generosity, and the Vajins, fire, wind and sun, life energies of the three regions, listen to my invocation and join our yajna with abundance of gifts and teeming joy.

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10.66.11

स॒मु॒द्रः सिन्धू॒ रजो॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम॒ज एक॑पात्तनयि॒त्नुर॑र्ण॒वः । अहि॑र्बु॒ध्न्यः॑ शृणव॒द्वचां॑सि मे॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वास॑ उ॒त सू॒रयो॒ मम॑ ॥

May the ocean, the sea and rivers, the middle regions of vapour and air, the one absolute eternal sustainer of the universe, the thunder, the spatial ocean, the region of dark clouds, and all divinities and eminent sages and scholars of the world, listen to my invocation and prayer and respond.

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10.66.12

स्याम॑ वो॒ मन॑वो दे॒ववी॑तये॒ प्राञ्चं॑ नो य॒ज्ञं प्र ण॑यत साधु॒या । आदि॑त्या॒ रुद्रा॒ वस॑वः॒ सुदा॑नव इ॒मा ब्रह्म॑ श॒स्यमा॑नानि जिन्वत ॥

O men of thought and enlightenment, may we all be for your advancement and well being on the path of holiness and rectitude. Please take our yajnic endeavours forward in the right direction in a simple and straight manner. O Vasus, Rudras and Adityas, scholars of the first, higher and highest order, noble and generous, please refresh, promote and advance these hymns of adoration to higher achievement in the programmes.

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10.66.13

दैव्या॒ होता॑रा प्रथ॒मा पु॒रोहि॑त ऋ॒तस्य॒ पन्था॒मन्वे॑मि साधु॒या । क्षेत्र॑स्य॒ पतिं॒ प्रति॑वेशमीमहे॒ विश्वा॑न्दे॒वाँ अ॒मृताँ॒ अप्र॑युच्छतः ॥

O divine yajakas, O high priests of nature and humanity, I follow the straight path of rectitude and universal law of nature’s creativity. And we pray to the lord ruler and protector of the universe immanent in every form of existence, and, join all the divine powers, immortal and relentlessly active in the universal process, for study and advancement through yajna.

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10.66.14

वसि॑ष्ठासः पितृ॒वद्वाच॑मक्रत दे॒वाँ ईळा॑ना ऋषि॒वत्स्व॒स्तये॑ । प्री॒ता इ॑व ज्ञा॒तयः॒ काम॒मेत्या॒स्मे दे॑वा॒सोऽव॑ धूनुता॒ वसु॑ ॥

Brilliant sages and scholars studying the divine powers and researching the divine resources of nature like the seers and, like parents and protectors, creating the knowledge and the language of knowledge for life’s well being, and, O noble benefactors, having known our cherished needs and desires like loving friends and relations, pray energise our economy and create wealth for the community.

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10.66.15

दे॒वान्वसि॑ष्ठो अ॒मृता॑न्ववन्दे॒ ये विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒भि प्र॑त॒स्थुः । ते नो॑ रासन्तामुरुगा॒यम॒द्य यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभिः॒ सदा॑ नः ॥

The brilliant sage of the first and highest order adores and celebrates the immortal Vishvedevas who abide in all regions of the world. May they give us universal knowledge and vision of the highest adorable lord divine. O Vishvedevas, pray protect and promote us for all time with all that is good for the total well being of life.

✦ Sukta 67 · 12 verses ✦

10.67.1

इ॒मां धियं॑ स॒प्तशी॑र्ष्णीं पि॒ता न॑ ऋ॒तप्र॑जातां बृह॒तीम॑विन्दत् । तु॒रीयं॑ स्विज्जनयद्वि॒श्वज॑न्यो॒ऽयास्य॑ उ॒क्थमिन्द्रा॑य॒ शंस॑न् ॥

Our father creator, omniscient lord divine, revealed for us this universal voice of knowledge spontaneously. Structured in seven metres, it is born of the lord’s awareness of Satyam and Rtam, i.e., the eternal and mutable truth of existence and its laws of evolution, sustenance and involution. He, the original source of the birth of the universe and its knowledge and language, also revealed the fourth and silent mode of existence in the transcendent state of Moksha beyond the earlier three of Dharma, Artha and Kama without effort and spoke it for Indra, the soul.

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10.67.2

ऋ॒तं शंस॑न्त ऋ॒जु दीध्या॑ना दि॒वस्पु॒त्रासो॒ असु॑रस्य वी॒राः । विप्रं॑ प॒दमङ्गि॑रसो॒ दधा॑ना य॒ज्ञस्य॒ धाम॑ प्रथ॒मं म॑नन्त ॥

Speaking the Word of eternal knowledge, meditating on the natural, eternal spirit of omniscience, the Rshis, children of light, brave offsprings of divine virility, self-disciplined souls established in the position of vibrant sages among humanity, realise in direct experience the first and original presence of the adorable lord Supreme.

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10.67.3

हं॒सैरि॑व॒ सखि॑भि॒र्वाव॑दद्भिरश्म॒न्मया॑नि॒ नह॑ना॒ व्यस्य॑न् । बृह॒स्पति॑रभि॒कनि॑क्रद॒द्गा उ॒त प्रास्तौ॒दुच्च॑ वि॒द्वाँ अ॑गायत् ॥

Chanting with friends as with hansa-like simple sinless souls of purity, breaking the adamantine chains of karmic bondage, loudly proclaiming the divine Word of omniscience, Brhaspati, master celebrant of the Infinite Spirit, blest with knowledge and vision divine, sings and adores the lord divine.

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10.67.4

अ॒वो द्वाभ्यां॑ प॒र एक॑या॒ गा गुहा॒ तिष्ठ॑न्ती॒रनृ॑तस्य॒ सेतौ॑ । बृह॒स्पति॒स्तम॑सि॒ ज्योति॑रि॒च्छन्नुदु॒स्रा आक॒र्वि हि ति॒स्र आवः॑ ॥

Brhaspati, master of language, wishing for the light of knowledge and expression in the midst of the darkness of the web of the world of mutability, expresses the two upper levels of language, i.e., madhyama and vaikhari, which he expresses by two media of thought and word, and the one hidden below, i.e., Pashyanti, he apprehends through one, the deeper mind in meditation. Thus he reveals the three modes of language. (The fourth is Para, the silent mode of language in its originality beyond the world of mutability which can be realised in the highest state of Samadhi.

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10.67.5

वि॒भिद्या॒ पुरं॑ श॒यथे॒मपा॑चीं॒ निस्त्रीणि॑ सा॒कमु॑द॒धेर॑कृन्तत् । बृह॒स्पति॑रु॒षसं॒ सूर्यं॒ गाम॒र्कं वि॑वेद स्त॒नय॑न्निव॒ द्यौः ॥

Brhaspati, the seeker of light, in the state of turiya beyond deep sleep, breaks through the three bonds of the city of darkness of the mutable world like thunder and lightning breaking the dark cloud and directly realises the dawn, the sun rays, the sun and the light beyond the sun.

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10.67.6

इन्द्रो॑ व॒लं र॑क्षि॒तारं॒ दुघा॑नां क॒रेणे॑व॒ वि च॑कर्ता॒ रवे॑ण । स्वेदा॑ञ्जिभिरा॒शिर॑मि॒च्छमा॒नोऽरो॑दयत्प॒णिमा गा अ॑मुष्णात् ॥

Indra, mighty ruling soul, wishing to taste the sweetness of milk mixed with soma, i.e., divine ecstasy with vibrations of grace, removes the veil of darkness covering the light of knowledge and divine speech with an act of will as if with a stroke of thunder and lightning, throws the demon away lamenting, recovers and enjoys the light of knowledge with the voice of divinity and showers of bliss in a state of clairvoyance.

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10.67.7

स ईं॑ स॒त्येभिः॒ सखि॑भिः शु॒चद्भि॒र्गोधा॑यसं॒ वि ध॑न॒सैर॑दर्दः । ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॒र्वृष॑भिर्व॒राहै॑र्घ॒र्मस्वे॑देभि॒र्द्रवि॑णं॒ व्या॑नट् ॥

Brahmanaspati, master, protector, promoter and ruler of the world of existence, blest with divine light, vision and speech breaks down the thief of cows, i.e., hoarders, exploiters and destroyers of the wealth of life. He breaks them down with the help and cooperation of friends and associates who are generous, self-fulfilled, fervently dedicated to truth, purity of conduct, laws of Dharma and rectitude, and blest with ample means and materials for the achievement of their goal. Thus does he recover and establish wealth and common wealth for the individual and the society.

· · ·

10.67.8

ते स॒त्येन॒ मन॑सा॒ गोप॑तिं॒ गा इ॑या॒नास॑ इषणयन्त धी॒भिः । बृह॒स्पति॑र्मि॒थोअ॑वद्यपेभि॒रुदु॒स्रिया॑ असृजत स्व॒युग्भिः॑ ॥

They, friends and associates, with dedication to truth and with honest mind, intentions, thoughts and actions, wishing to promote the cows, i.e., the wealth and culture of the nation as a system, approach the ‘gopati’, i.e., the head of the commonwealth, and he, Brhaspati, master, protector and ruler of the expansive system, together with his associates at his full command, with safeguards against negativity, scandal and calamity, creates and organises a nation of freedom and progress ranging over the earth in peace and joy.

· · ·

10.67.9

तं व॒र्धय॑न्तो म॒तिभिः॑ शि॒वाभिः॑ सिं॒हमि॑व॒ नान॑दतं स॒धस्थे॑ । बृह॒स्पतिं॒ वृष॑णं॒ शूर॑सातौ॒ भरे॑भरे॒ अनु॑ मदेम जि॒ष्णुम् ॥

Exalting him with our thoughts and actions dedicated to peace, freedom and all round well being of life, supporting him waxing and roaring victorious as a lion in the world’s hall of yajnic freedom and progress, let us join Brhaspati, mighty and generous protector, for the sake of victory in every battle worthy of the brave, and win our goals and enjoy life with him.

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10.67.10

य॒दा वाज॒मस॑नद्वि॒श्वरू॑प॒मा द्यामरु॑क्ष॒दुत्त॑राणि॒ सद्म॑ । बृह॒स्पतिं॒ वृष॑णं व॒र्धय॑न्तो॒ नाना॒ सन्तो॒ बिभ्र॑तो॒ ज्योति॑रा॒सा ॥

When Brhaspati achieves food, energy and victories and higher possibilities of universal order and, like the sun, reaches and illuminates the heavens with light, then those who receive and shine with light like the planets, being many and various, exalt the mighty generous master ruler with words of adoration.

· · ·

10.67.11

स॒त्यामा॒शिषं॑ कृणुता वयो॒धै की॒रिं चि॒द्ध्यव॑थ॒ स्वेभि॒रेवैः॑ । प॒श्चा मृधो॒ अप॑ भवन्तु॒ विश्वा॒स्तद्रो॑दसी शृणुतं विश्वमि॒न्वे ॥

O Brhaspati, O leading lights of humanity, for food and energy, good health and age, fulfil the hopes and ambitions of the people and justify your words of purpose to the point of truth without compromise. Protect the cooperator and celebrant with your own power and security. Then let all violence, enmity and sabotage be overcome and cast off totally far away. And may the heaven and earth, givers of universal fulfilment listen to our prayer and adoration.

· · ·

10.67.12

इन्द्रो॑ म॒ह्ना म॑ह॒तो अ॑र्ण॒वस्य॒ वि मू॒र्धान॑मभिनदर्बु॒दस्य॑ । अह॒न्नहि॒मरि॑णात्स॒प्त सिन्धू॑न्दे॒वैर्द्या॑वापृथिवी॒ प्राव॑तं नः ॥

Indra with his might breaks the top of the great ocean of waters in space and, breaking the dark cloud, releases the seven seas and sets the rivers aflow. May the heaven and earth protect us by the divinities. (The metaphor has been explained also as revelation of the Vedas in seven metres at the time of the creation of humanity. The revelation breaks through the darkness of ignorance and releases the light of knowledge to radiate in seven chhandas of the Vedas.)

✦ Sukta 68 · 12 verses ✦

10.68.1

उ॒द॒प्रुतो॒ न वयो॒ रक्ष॑माणा॒ वाव॑दतो अ॒भ्रिय॑स्येव॒ घोषाः॑ । गि॒रि॒भ्रजो॒ नोर्मयो॒ मद॑न्तो॒ बृह॒स्पति॑म॒भ्य१॒॑र्का अ॑नावन् ॥

Like aquatic birds playing on water, like watchful guards raising their voice, like the rolling rumble of rain clouds, like rippling streams flowing down mountain slopes, the celebrants raise their hymns of adoration to Brhaspati.

· · ·

10.68.2

सं गोभि॑राङ्गिर॒सो नक्ष॑माणो॒ भग॑ इ॒वेद॑र्य॒मणं॑ निनाय । जने॑ मि॒त्रो न दम्प॑ती अनक्ति॒ बृह॑स्पते वा॒जया॒शूँरि॑वा॒जौ ॥

Just asAngirasa, enlightened disciple of the sage of living knowledge, like Bhaga, divine lord of light and grandeur, leads his friend to knowledge and prosperity, as a friend leads a couple in the community to come together in marriage, so O Brhaspati, inspire and energise the aspirants to go forward and win their goal by the light and words of divinity.

· · ·

10.68.3

सा॒ध्व॒र्या अ॑ति॒थिनी॑रिषि॒रा स्पा॒र्हाः सु॒वर्णा॑ अनव॒द्यरू॑पाः । बृह॒स्पतिः॒ पर्व॑तेभ्यो वि॒तूर्या॒ निर्गा ऊ॑पे॒ यव॑मिव स्थि॒विभ्यः॑ ॥

Replete with pure, living energy, ever on the move, loved, coveted, brilliant golden, beautiful in form, such are the rays of light and vitality which Brhaspati, the sun, recovers from the deep caverns of darkness and sends them down to clouds and earth as a farmer sows the seeds of barley in the field.

· · ·

10.68.4

आ॒प्रु॒षा॒यन्मधु॑न ऋ॒तस्य॒ योनि॑मवक्षि॒पन्न॒र्क उ॒ल्कामि॑व॒ द्योः । बृह॒स्पति॑रु॒द्धर॒न्नश्म॑नो॒ गा भूम्या॑ उ॒द्नेव॒ वि त्वचं॑ बिभेद ॥

Sprinkling the womb of life with the honey sweets of vitality like the sun radiating the rays of light from the regions of heaven, Brhaspati recovers the showers of life from the clouds and, as showers of water seep into the crust of earth, so the seeds of life are vested and borne in the earth.

· · ·

10.68.5

अप॒ ज्योति॑षा॒ तमो॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षादु॒द्नः शीपा॑लमिव॒ वात॑ आजत् । बृह॒स्पति॑रनु॒मृश्या॑ व॒लस्या॒भ्रमि॑व॒ वात॒ आ च॑क्र॒ आ गाः ॥

As the sun removes darkness with light from the middle regions, as the wind removes the cover of moss and grass from the surface of water, so does Brhaspati, lord of the expansive universe, with deep thought, remove the cover of the darkness of nescience and sets in motion the dynamics of nature’s creativity in circuits of energy as the motions of the wind.

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10.68.6

य॒दा व॒लस्य॒ पीय॑तो॒ जसुं॒ भेद्बृह॒स्पति॑रग्नि॒तपो॑भिर॒र्कैः । द॒द्भिर्न जि॒ह्वा परि॑विष्ट॒माद॑दा॒विर्नि॒धीँर॑कृणोदु॒स्रिया॑णाम् ॥

When Brhaspati with the flames of fire and rays of the light of his creative will breaks through the darkness of nescience covering the primeval potential existence and takes it over as the tongue takes over the food crushed by teeth, then he opens up and reveals the vast reservoir of his energies of the dynamics of creative nature.

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10.68.7

बृह॒स्पति॒रम॑त॒ हि त्यदा॑सां॒ नाम॑ स्व॒रीणां॒ सद॑ने॒ गुहा॒ यत् । आ॒ण्डेव॑ भि॒त्त्वा श॑कु॒नस्य॒ गर्भ॒मुदु॒स्रियाः॒ पर्व॑तस्य॒ त्मना॑जत् ॥

Brhaspati knows the name and identity of these voluble facts and processes of existence which are present but hidden in the deep womb of nature and which, radiating like rays of light and flowing like streams, grow and come into being as chicks on maturity break the bird’s egg and spring into full life.

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10.68.8

अश्नापि॑नद्धं॒ मधु॒ पर्य॑पश्य॒न्मत्स्यं॒ न दी॒न उ॒दनि॑ क्षि॒यन्त॑म् । निष्टज्ज॑भार चम॒सं न वृ॒क्षाद्बृह॒स्पति॑र्विर॒वेणा॑ वि॒कृत्य॑ ॥

Brhaspati sees the sweetness and beauty of human life caught up in the bonds of pleasure and sufferance in the body like a fish caught up in shallow waters, and he raises and refines it like a cup of soma for the divinities, crafted from rough wood, having refined and blest it by the resounding voice of revelation.

· · ·

10.68.9

सोषाम॑विन्द॒त्स स्वः१॒॑ सो अ॒ग्निं सो अ॒र्केण॒ वि ब॑बाधे॒ तमां॑सि । बृह॒स्पति॒र्गोव॑पुषो व॒लस्य॒ निर्म॒ज्जानं॒ न पर्व॑णो जभार ॥

The blessed man realises the light of the dawn of knowledge, the light and bliss of heaven, the vision of refulgent divinity, and with that light wards off the darkness of evil and ignorance. Indeed, Brhaspati raises the man subject to body, senses and mind, now blest with divine vision like a real man, otherwise completely sinking in the depths of darkness and evil.

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10.68.10

हि॒मेव॑ प॒र्णा मु॑षि॒ता वना॑नि॒ बृह॒स्पति॑नाकृपयद्व॒लो गाः । अ॒ना॒नु॒कृ॒त्यम॑पु॒नश्च॑कार॒ यात्सूर्या॒मासा॑ मि॒थ उ॒च्चरा॑तः ॥

Just as the leaves of forest trees are made to fall by winter, so darkness is dispelled and light is created, so is ignorance dispelled and the light of Vedic revelation revealed by Brhaspati, and that is an act he does unparallelled and unrepeated as long as the sun and moon shine together and illuminate the days and nights.

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10.68.11

अ॒भि श्या॒वं न कृश॑नेभि॒रश्वं॒ नक्ष॑त्रेभिः पि॒तरो॒ द्याम॑पिंशन् । रात्र्यां॒ तमो॒ अद॑धु॒र्ज्योति॒रह॒न्बृह॒स्पति॑र्भि॒नदद्रिं॑ वि॒दद्गाः ॥

Like a dark horse adorned with golden trappings, the rays of light adorn the heavens with stars. Brhaspati vests darkness in the night and light in the day, breaks the cloud, releases the light and showers recovering the light of existence from the night of annihilation, and enlightens the heart of darkness with revelations of the light of divinity.

· · ·

10.68.12

इ॒दम॑कर्म॒ नमो॑ अभ्रि॒याय॒ यः पू॒र्वीरन्वा॒नोन॑वीति । बृह॒स्पतिः॒ स हि गोभिः॒ सो अश्वैः॒ स वी॒रेभिः॒ स नृभि॑र्नो॒ वयो॑ धात् ॥

This homage we offer to Brhaspati, lord of living waters and thunder, who reveals the eternal words of divine knowledge. May that lord bless us with good health and long age with lands, cows and the light of knowledge, horses, transport and advancement, brave progeny, leading lights and enlightened people.

✦ Sukta 69 · 12 verses ✦

10.69.1

भ॒द्रा अ॒ग्नेर्व॑ध्र्य॒श्वस्य॑ सं॒दृशो॑ वा॒मी प्रणी॑तिः सु॒रणा॒ उपे॑तयः । यदीं॑ सुमि॒त्रा विशो॒ अग्र॑ इ॒न्धते॑ घृ॒तेनाहु॑तो जरते॒ दवि॑द्युतत् ॥

May the controlled and directed radiations of light and yajna fire, Agni, be auspicious, may its inspiration and guidance be auspicious and rewarding, may its associations and functioning mutualities be auspicious. When noble and friendly people kindle and install it in the prime position in the vedi of yajna then, raised and fed on oblations of ghrta, it rises and shines, adored and exalted by the celebrants. (This metaphor of physical fire and light, of which the flames and radiations are controlled and directed, is extendable to the socio-political and educational life of the human community. In this context Agni is to be interpreted as the leader, ruler, commander and teacher, leading the people to auspicious attainments. And, as in the case of all words indicative of divinity, Agni is the supreme lord of light and life whose divine functions are all self-refulgent and self- controlled, leading us all to auspicious attainments.)

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10.69.2

घृ॒तम॒ग्नेर्व॑ध्र्य॒श्वस्य॒ वर्ध॑नं घृ॒तमन्नं॑ घृ॒तम्व॑स्य॒ मेद॑नम् । घृ॒तेनाहु॑त उर्वि॒या वि प॑प्रथे॒ सूर्य॑ इव रोचते स॒र्पिरा॑सुतिः ॥

Ghrta means and is the rise and exaltation of self-controlled self-directed Agni, ghrta is the food, and ghrta is the growth and expansion with love and grace. Fed on ghrta it rises and expands unbounded and, kindled, energised and exalted with ghrta, it shines glorious and beatific like the sun.

· · ·

10.69.3

यत्ते॒ मनु॒र्यदनी॑कं सुमि॒त्रः स॑मी॒धे अ॑ग्ने॒ तदि॒दं नवी॑यः । स रे॒वच्छो॑च॒ स गिरो॑ जुषस्व॒ स वाजं॑ दर्षि॒ स इ॒ह श्रवो॑ धाः ॥

O prime and pioneering power, Agni, the bright and blazing light and flame of yours which Manu, thoughtful intellectual and noble friend, kindles with positive intention and purpose is new and it is adorable. Let it shine rich in wealth. Listen and respond to our words and voices of hope and prayer. Destroy negative forces. Create and bring us honour and prosperity here and now.

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10.69.4

यं त्वा॒ पूर्व॑मीळि॒तो व॑ध्र्य॒श्वः स॑मी॒धे अ॑ग्ने॒ स इ॒दं जु॑षस्व । स नः॑ स्ति॒पा उ॒त भ॑वा तनू॒पा दा॒त्रं र॑क्षस्व॒ यदि॒दं ते॑ अ॒स्मे ॥

Agni, you have been loved, studied and adored since the earliest times. The same you, I study and adore with controlled and concentrated mind, senses, intentions and motivations in my yajnic performance. Pray listen to my words and respond to this endeavour of mine. Be the protector of our homes and families and of our health of body and community, and protect this gift of yours which you have given to us.

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10.69.5

भवा॑ द्यु॒म्नी वा॑ध्र्यश्वो॒त गो॒पा मा त्वा॑ तारीद॒भिमा॑ति॒र्जना॑नाम् । शूर॑ इव धृ॒ष्णुश्च्यव॑नः सुमि॒त्रः प्र नु वो॑चं॒ वाध्र्य॑श्वस्य॒ नाम॑ ॥

Agni, power of controlled light and flames of fire, be our protector and harbinger of splendour, and let no enemy of humanity challenge and assail you. Like a mighty warrior, Agni is all surpassing, all inspirer, a noble friend, and this is how I celebrate the name of the blazing power of self-control and splendour.

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10.69.6

सम॒ज्र्या॑ पर्व॒त्या॒३॒॑ वसू॑नि॒ दासा॑ वृ॒त्राण्यार्या॑ जिगेथ । शूर॑ इव धृ॒ष्णुश्च्यव॑नो॒ जना॑नां॒ त्वम॑ग्ने पृतना॒यूँर॒भि ष्याः॑ ॥

Agni, you win the wealth of clouds and mountains, plains and seas, conquer destructive and darkening forces, and win over noble and dynamic powers. O mighty power of light and fire, like a mighty warrior all surpassing, inspirer of people, you challenge and defeat the adversaries.

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10.69.7

दी॒र्घत॑न्तुर्बृ॒हदु॑क्षा॒यम॒ग्निः स॒हस्र॑स्तरीः श॒तनी॑थ॒ ऋभ्वा॑ । द्यु॒मान्द्यु॒मत्सु॒ नृभि॑र्मृ॒ज्यमा॑नः सुमि॒त्रेषु॑ दीदयो देव॒यत्सु॑ ॥

This Agni, of expansive unending life, vastly generous burden bearer, thousandfold protected, mysterious and revealing, a hundred ways dynamic leader, excellent expert wise, most radiant among brilliants, adored and exalted by leading lights among friends of noblest mind, shines among the lovers of divinity.

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10.69.8

त्वे धे॒नुः सु॒दुघा॑ जातवेदोऽस॒श्चते॑व सम॒ना स॑ब॒र्धुक् । त्वं नृभि॒र्दक्षि॑णावद्भिरग्ने सुमि॒त्रेभि॑रिध्यसे देव॒यद्भिः॑ ॥

O Jataveda, omniscient lord of all existence, in you abides the perennial, inexhaustible mother cow, nature, the divine Word, agreeable and spontaneous giver of ceaseless streams of life sustaining light and natural energy. You are enkindled and adored by all leading lights of humanity bearing homage in abundance, noble friends, devotees who love and worship divinity.

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10.69.9

दे॒वाश्चि॑त्ते अ॒मृता॑ जातवेदो महि॒मानं॑ वाध्र्यश्व॒ प्र वो॑चन् । यत्स॒म्पृच्छं॒ मानु॑षी॒र्विश॒ आय॒न्त्वं नृभि॑रजय॒स्त्वावृ॑धेभिः ॥

O Jataveda, lord of infinite power and motion, the immortal divines proclaim your greatness and glory, and when mortal humans come and ask who destroys the dark and the wicked, the answer is: You win over the dark and the wicked with those noble people who adore and exalt you as the master, leader and commander.

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10.69.10

पि॒तेव॑ पु॒त्रम॑बिभरु॒पस्थे॒ त्वाम॑ग्ने वध्र्य॒श्वः स॑प॒र्यन् । जु॒षा॒णो अ॑स्य स॒मिधं॑ यविष्ठो॒त पूर्वाँ॑ अवनो॒र्व्राध॑तश्चित् ॥

As the father bears the child in his lap with love and supports it, so does the dedicated celebrant with controlled mind and sense place you in the vedi in the lap of mother earth, serving you with faith, reverence and awe. O power most youthful, loving and accepting his lighted faith, reverence and service, pray ward off all his enemies old as well as new.

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10.69.11

शश्व॑द॒ग्निर्व॑ध्र्य॒श्वस्य॒ शत्रू॒न्नृभि॑र्जिगाय सु॒तसो॑मवद्भिः । सम॑नं चिददहश्चित्रभा॒नोऽव॒ व्राध॑न्तमभिनद्वृ॒धश्चि॑त् ॥

Agni, divine leader of light and life, always wins over the enemies of the self-controlled man of dynamic mind and senses by heroic men who distil the soma with faith and reverence and offer it to Agni in homage. O wondrous lord of light and fire, eliminate conflict wherever it be and, yourself rising in glory, break down violence and destruction when it is raising its head.

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10.69.12

अ॒यम॒ग्निर्व॑ध्र्य॒श्वस्य॑ वृत्र॒हा स॑न॒कात्प्रेद्धो॒ नम॑सोपवा॒क्यः॑ । स नो॒ अजा॑मीँरु॒त वा॒ विजा॑मीन॒भि ति॑ष्ठ॒ शर्ध॑तो वाध्र्यश्व ॥

This Agni, lord of self-refulgent light, all time invoked and lighted with prayer and homage, is the dispeller of darkness for the devotee of controlled mind and senses. O lord and leader of light and life, face upto and overthrow our enemies whether they are united as a community of saboteurs or as a hoard of heterogeneous antisocial destroyers.

✦ Sukta 70 · 11 verses ✦

10.70.1

इ॒मां मे॑ अग्ने स॒मिधं॑ जुषस्वे॒ळस्प॒दे प्रति॑ हर्या घृ॒ताची॑म् । वर्ष्म॑न्पृथि॒व्याः सु॑दिन॒त्वे अह्ना॑मू॒र्ध्वो भ॑व सुक्रतो देवय॒ज्या ॥

O divine spirit of light and life, harbinger of knowledge and wisdom, on the sacred vedi of this holy earth, pray accept this homage of holy fuel and cherish this ladleful of ghrta and, O divine fire of noblest action, during this happy time of fine season rise on top of the world and shine by our faithful service to divinity by yajna.

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10.70.2

आ दे॒वाना॑मग्र॒यावे॒ह या॑तु॒ नरा॒शंसो॑ वि॒श्वरू॑पेभि॒रश्वैः॑ । ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒था नम॑सा मि॒येधो॑ दे॒वेभ्यो॑ दे॒वत॑मः सुषूदत् ॥

May Agni, prime pioneer of divinities, universally valued, praised and adored, come here to yajna with all its universal powers of light and energy and, as highest of divine agents of yajna, catalyse, manage and carry our homage with holy offerings to nature’s bounties for their service and replenishment by the paths of natural laws and bring their blessings for us by the same paths of nature.

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10.70.3

श॒श्व॒त्त॒ममी॑ळते दू॒त्या॑य ह॒विष्म॑न्तो मनु॒ष्या॑सो अ॒ग्निम् । वहि॑ष्ठै॒रश्वैः॑ सु॒वृता॒ रथे॒ना दे॒वान्व॑क्षि॒ नि ष॑दे॒ह होता॑ ॥

Men with homage of yajnic offerings always invoke, serve and pray to Agni to carry their offerings to the divinities and bring in their blessings. O high priest of yajna, pray come, bring in the divinities by the strongest fastest chariot drawn by most radiant carriers of natural dynamics, sit on the vedi and, by the same powers, transmit our fragrances to nature’s bounties.

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10.70.4

वि प्र॑थतां दे॒वजु॑ष्टं तिर॒श्चा दी॒र्घं द्रा॒घ्मा सु॑र॒भि भू॑त्व॒स्मे । अहे॑ळता॒ मन॑सा देव बर्हि॒रिन्द्र॑ज्येष्ठाँ उश॒तो य॑क्षि दे॒वान् ॥

May the yajnic light, fire and prosperity loved by the divinities, grow, expand and rise all round, long, wide and lofty in space and time so that there may be sweet fragrance for us all time. O divine light, fire and fragrance of yajna, O lord of space and divine bliss, help us with a gracious mind free from hate and anger to join the brilliant divinities with Indra, omnipotent Supreme, first and highest of them.

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10.70.5

दि॒वो वा॒ सानु॑ स्पृ॒शता॒ वरी॑यः पृथि॒व्या वा॒ मात्र॑या॒ वि श्र॑यध्वम् । उ॒श॒तीर्द्वा॑रो महि॒ना म॒हद्भि॑र्दे॒वं रथं॑ रथ॒युर्धा॑रयध्वम् ॥

O divinities of yajnic energy of nature, treasure troves of prosperity, touch the highest top of heavenly light and open and expand the fertility of earth in ample measure. Loving, passionate and gracious, ride the cosmic chariot of Infinity with the great divinities by virtue of your own grandeur and open the doors of boundless prosperity and enlightenment for humanity.

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10.70.6

दे॒वी दि॒वो दु॑हि॒तरा॑ सुशि॒ल्पे उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ सदतां॒ नि योनौ॑ । आ वां॑ दे॒वास॑ उशती उ॒शन्त॑ उ॒रौ सी॑दन्तु सुभगे उ॒पस्थे॑ ॥

O divine daughters of heaven, dawn of the busy day and restful night, both dexterous accomplishers of yajna, abide in the midst of the creative endeavours of humanity. Loving as you are, generous and gracious, may the dedicated and enthusiastic celebrants of divine nature come and abide in the boundless bosom of your love and good fortune.

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10.70.7

ऊ॒र्ध्वो ग्रावा॑ बृ॒हद॒ग्निः समि॑द्धः प्रि॒या धामा॒न्यदि॑तेरु॒पस्थे॑ । पु॒रोहि॑तावृत्विजा य॒ज्ञे अ॒स्मिन्वि॒दुष्ट॑रा॒ द्रवि॑ण॒मा य॑जेथाम् ॥

When the sounding stone for soma goes up, the lighted fire rises in flames, and the havi vessels shine bright and lovely on the vedi in the lap of mother Infinity, then may the priest and the yajaka, Agni and Adityas, both brilliant and divine more and ever more create the wealth of life for humanity. (Yajna here is a metaphor of the creative endeavour of noble humanity in corporate action.)

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10.70.8

तिस्रो॑ देवीर्ब॒र्हिरि॒दं वरी॑य॒ आ सी॑दत चकृ॒मा वः॑ स्यो॒नम् । म॒नु॒ष्वद्य॒ज्ञं सुधि॑ता ह॒वींषीळा॑ दे॒वी घृ॒तप॑दी जुषन्त ॥

O triple divinities, Ila, Sarasvati and Bharati, mother Infinity, vibrant spirit of knowledge, language and culture, and Bharati, all bearing nature and mother earth overflowing with ghrta, we pray, come and grace this lovely vedi which we have created for you with adoration, prayer and meditation. May divine Ila, transcendent Infinity, Sarasvati, inexhaustible spirit of light and stream of knowledge vested in awareness, well ordered, and Bharati, spirit of earthly prosperity, come, join the vedi as humans and partake of our homage with love and grace.

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10.70.9

देव॑ त्वष्ट॒र्यद्ध॑ चारु॒त्वमान॒ड्यदङ्गि॑रसा॒मभ॑वः सचा॒भूः । स दे॒वानां॒ पाथ॒ उप॒ प्र वि॒द्वाँ उ॒शन्य॑क्षि द्रविणोदः सु॒रत्नः॑ ॥

O divine Tvashta, creator and maker of the forms of existence, when you create the beauty and graces of life and become a friend and associate of the Angirasas, spirit and energy of the life of humanity, then O generous lord of the world’s wealth, loving and all knowing, pray give food and living sustenance for the holy creative people on their paths of life.

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10.70.10

वन॑स्पते रश॒नया॑ नि॒यूया॑ दे॒वानां॒ पाथ॒ उप॑ वक्षि वि॒द्वान् । स्वदा॑ति दे॒वः कृ॒णव॑द्ध॒वींष्यव॑तां॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी हवं॑ मे ॥

O lord of vanaspatis, life giving sun rays, and herbs, trees and forests which provide food for living beings, you are the light giver, all watching and energising, you create the food for divinities and give it the right form for their living systems. The generous lord of light makes the food palatable and thus forms the sacred materials as food for the living yajna of life’s evolution. May heaven and earth listen to my voice of prayer and exhortation and bless us with the right forms of food for us and for our yajna and protect us.

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10.70.11

आग्ने॑ वह॒ वरु॑णमि॒ष्टये॑ न॒ इन्द्रं॑ दि॒वो म॒रुतो॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षात् । सीद॑न्तु ब॒र्हिर्विश्व॒ आ यज॑त्राः॒ स्वाहा॑ दे॒वा अ॒मृता॑ मादयन्ताम् ॥

HeyAgni, lord of cosmic light and living energy, bring us Varuna, water from the ocean and the clouds for our cherished yajna of the good life, Indra, light and power from the heavens, and Maruts, winds from the middle regions. May all divine yajna powers and holy yajakas of the world come and join our vedi with the chant of svaha, in truth of thought, word and deed. May all the immortal divinities rejoice and may they give us joy.

✦ Sukta 71 · 11 verses ✦

10.71.1

बृह॑स्पते प्रथ॒मं वा॒चो अग्रं॒ यत्प्रैर॑त नाम॒धेयं॒ दधा॑नाः । यदे॑षां॒ श्रेष्ठं॒ यद॑रि॒प्रमासी॑त्प्रे॒णा तदे॑षां॒ निहि॑तं॒ गुहा॒विः ॥

O lord of Infinite Speech, Brhaspati, the first and original form of eternal speech, which is the integration of name, word and factual reality, which the sages receive and bear in mind and articulate at the dawn of human creation, lies immanent in the universal mind. It is borne in the best and immaculate minds of the sages who make it manifest from there by divine inspiration in a state of grace.

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10.71.2

सक्तु॑मिव॒ तित॑उना पु॒नन्तो॒ यत्र॒ धीरा॒ मन॑सा॒ वाच॒मक्र॑त । अत्रा॒ सखा॑यः स॒ख्यानि॑ जानते भ॒द्रैषां॑ ल॒क्ष्मीर्निहि॒ताधि॑ वा॒चि ॥

When the sages of patient and transparent mind, with their thought and imagination, conceive, visualise and articulate the divine word, crystallising it to the state of purity as they sift the grain of truth from the chaff of local variety, then the friends and associates come to know of the idea and the word and the union of word and meaning in communication, and then noble and holy is their knowledge manifested and received from the depth of the sage’s language.

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10.71.3

य॒ज्ञेन॑ वा॒चः प॑द॒वीय॑माय॒न्तामन्व॑विन्द॒न्नृषि॑षु॒ प्रवि॑ष्टाम् । तामा॒भृत्या॒ व्य॑दधुः पुरु॒त्रा तां स॒प्त रे॒भा अ॒भि सं न॑वन्ते ॥

By yajna and meeting of minds on the vedi, they get to the form and meaning of language, tracing it word by word in the structure, realising the reality of meaning hidden in the mind of the sages. And having reached, realised and received it, they bear it around and communicate it in many ways widely in many places at various times. Thus do seven eloquent sages honour, serve and worship it, structured and articulated in seven poetic forms.

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10.71.4

उ॒त त्वः॒ पश्य॒न्न द॑दर्श॒ वाच॑मु॒त त्वः॑ शृ॒ण्वन्न शृ॑णोत्येनाम् । उ॒तो त्व॑स्मै त॒न्वं१॒॑ वि स॑स्रे जा॒येव॒ पत्य॑ उश॒ती सु॒वासाः॑ ॥

However, even in association, in spite of discussion, someone having seen the language, let us say, in print, or having seen the meaning in practical reality, may not acknowledge it, some one having heard the language by the ear may not hear it in the soul. But Speech to someone, some honest, conscientious dedicated soul, opens up and reveals its hidden meaning as a loving wife beautifully clad opens and reveals herself, her very soul to her loving and faithful husband.

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10.71.5

उ॒त त्वं॑ स॒ख्ये स्थि॒रपी॑तमाहु॒र्नैनं॑ हिन्व॒न्त्यपि॒ वाजि॑नेषु । अधे॑न्वा चरति मा॒ययै॒ष वाचं॑ शुश्रु॒वाँ अ॑फ॒लाम॑पु॒ष्पाम् ॥

Such a realised soul, they say, is a sober scholar on solid foundations in matters of language, meaning and vision of reality. In scholarly meets they do not trifle with him, nor contradict him. But some may not even come to the fringe of his attainment. And another one moves around like a barren cow, struck by the magic of mere sound of words, hearing language without fruit or flower.

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10.71.6

यस्ति॒त्याज॑ सचि॒विदं॒ सखा॑यं॒ न तस्य॑ वा॒च्यपि॑ भा॒गो अ॑स्ति । यदीं॑ शृ॒णोत्यल॑कं शृणोति न॒हि प्र॒वेद॑ सुकृ॒तस्य॒ पन्था॑म् ॥

If someone forsakes the divine speech of the Veda, a real intimate friend for life and after, there remains no substance even in his speech of daily wear, and whoever listens to him listens in vain because he does not know the path of well being and of well doing.

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10.71.7

अ॒क्ष॒ण्वन्तः॒ कर्ण॑वन्तः॒ सखा॑यो मनोज॒वेष्वस॑मा बभूवुः । आ॒द॒घ्नास॑ उपक॒क्षास॑ उ त्वे ह्र॒दा इ॑व॒ स्नात्वा॑ उ त्वे ददृश्रे ॥

Indeed friends and companions equal of eyes and ears are unequal in mind and intellectual efficiency. Some are like tanks just waist deep, others neck deep, and yet others are deep as lakes, rivers or even seas wherein you bathe and feel sanctified and absolved.

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10.71.8

हृ॒दा त॒ष्टेषु॒ मन॑सो ज॒वेषु॒ यद्ब्रा॑ह्म॒णाः सं॒यज॑न्ते॒ सखा॑यः । अत्राह॑ त्वं॒ वि ज॑हुर्वे॒द्याभि॒रोह॑ब्रह्माणो॒ वि च॑रन्त्यु त्वे ॥

When scholars in close friendly association join in intellectual meets organised with careful thought and heartfelt good intentions, even there, some they leave aside as ignorant while others, scholars of valuable subjects, actively move on with discussions of latest knowledge worth attaining.

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10.71.9

इ॒मे ये नार्वाङ्न प॒रश्चर॑न्ति॒ न ब्रा॑ह्म॒णासो॒ न सु॒तेक॑रासः । त ए॒ते वाच॑मभि॒पद्य॑ पा॒पया॑ सि॒रीस्तन्त्रं॑ तन्वते॒ अप्र॑जज्ञयः ॥

Those there are who pursue neither the knowledge of this material world nor the knowledge of the spiritual world, nor are they Brahmanas interested in the holiness of the world of reality, nor even do they follow ritual and worldly life consciously with open mind. So being ignorant people they use only the non- holy language of impiety and merely extend the thread of physical existence at the human level in their life.

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10.71.10

सर्वे॑ नन्दन्ति य॒शसाग॑तेन सभासा॒हेन॒ सख्या॒ सखा॑यः । कि॒ल्बि॒ष॒स्पृत्पि॑तु॒षणि॒र्ह्ये॑षा॒मरं॑ हि॒तो भव॑ति॒ वाजि॑नाय ॥

All friends feel happy and celebrate with a learned person who comes as a friend with honour, reputation and social prestige, and such a person, eliminator of sin and evil, provider of food and knowledge, rises to the position of leadership among them, being good for their honour and enlightenment.

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10.71.11

ऋ॒चां त्वः॒ पोष॑मास्ते पुपु॒ष्वान्गा॑य॒त्रं त्वो॑ गायति॒ शक्व॑रीषु । ब्र॒ह्मा त्वो॒ वद॑ति जातवि॒द्यां य॒ज्ञस्य॒ मात्रां॒ वि मि॑मीत उ त्वः ॥

Of the devotees of the divine voice of the Veda, one chants, celebrates and maintains the energy and enthusiasm of life vibrating in the Rks, one, the udgata, sings the gayatri verses in the Shakvari hymns of power, the Brahma, presiding high priest, proclaims the verses of universal knowledge from all the Vedas, and another, the adhvaryu, orders and organises the entire programme of the yajna in all details.

✦ Sukta 72 · 9 verses ✦

10.72.1

दे॒वानां॒ नु व॒यं जाना॒ प्र वो॑चाम विप॒न्यया॑ । उ॒क्थेषु॑ श॒स्यमा॑नेषु॒ यः पश्या॒दुत्त॑रे यु॒गे ॥

Let us proclaim in clear words of grateful adoration the birth and evolution of nature’s divine manifestations which, when the verses are chanted, one may see and appreciate in later ages to come.

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10.72.2

ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॑रे॒ता सं क॒र्मार॑ इवाधमत् । दे॒वानां॑ पू॒र्व्ये यु॒गेऽस॑तः॒ सद॑जायत ॥

Brahmanaspati, lord, master and ordainer of the cycle of existence, sets these devas in motion like an artisan in the earliest age of evolution and they awake from the unmanifest state of Being into the manifest state of Becoming in existence. (The Avyakta, intangible, becomes the Vyakta, tangible, mode of Prakrti or Nature.)

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10.72.3

दे॒वानां॑ यु॒गे प्र॑थ॒मेऽस॑तः॒ सद॑जायत । तदाशा॒ अन्व॑जायन्त॒ तदु॑त्ता॒नप॑द॒स्परि॑ ॥

In the first age of the devas, the manifest stage of existence arose from the unmanifest Zero stage, i.e., the Zero state emerged into the first positive state of existence after Zero. Then in consequence arose space and the quarters of space. Thereafter arose Uttanapada, the open ended possibilities of boundless evolution further. (The one Vyakta gives rise to potential multiplicity.)

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10.72.4

भूर्ज॑ज्ञ उत्ता॒नप॑दो भु॒व आशा॑ अजायन्त । अदि॑ते॒र्दक्षो॑ अजायत॒ दक्षा॒द्वदि॑तिः॒ परि॑ ॥

From Uttanapada arose Bhu, specific possibility, and many more such arose in space in the spatial quarters. From Aditi, inviolable nature, arose Daksha, will and intelligence, and from will and intelligence, Aditi, the desire to grow and procreate further.

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10.72.5

अदि॑ति॒र्ह्यज॑निष्ट॒ दक्ष॒ या दु॑हि॒ता तव॑ । तां दे॒वा अन्व॑जायन्त भ॒द्रा अ॒मृत॑बन्धवः ॥

O Daksha, lord of will and intelligence, Aditi is born which is your offspring, indeed your desire to be many. In consequence, the devas are born, the noble fraternity of the immortal (Nature and divinity). The order of the birth of the devas is thus described in the Upanishads and in Sankhya philosophy of natural evolution it is this: From avyakta Prakrti evolves Mahan or Pradhana which is vyakta Prakrti. From Mahan arises Ahankara which is described here as Uttanapad or the tree of the universe. From Prakrti are also manifested the three qualilative modes of existence: Sattva or intelligence, Rajas or energy, and Tamas or solid matter. This same is the order here in a different terminology. From Ahankara are born the five subtle bhutas and both mental and perceptive organs. From five subtle bhutas are born the five gross bhutas: Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Apah and Prthivi which all are composed of paramanus, the smallest units.

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10.72.6

यद्दे॑वा अ॒दः स॑लि॒ले सुसं॑रब्धा॒ अति॑ष्ठत । अत्रा॑ वो॒ नृत्य॑तामिव ती॒व्रो रे॒णुरपा॑यत ॥

O Devas, when you abide and play together dancing as if joyously in that vast space, then your radiant energy and ecstasy rises high (to receive the descent of life as the ripe gift of the sun on high).

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10.72.7

यद्दे॑वा॒ यत॑यो यथा॒ भुव॑ना॒न्यपि॑न्वत । अत्रा॑ समु॒द्र आ गू॒ळ्हमा सूर्य॑मजभर्तन ॥

O Devas, working joyously together as you energise and enliven the regions of the world, so here too in the ocean of matter, energy and prana, you hold, support and cherish the bright sun, the soul deep under the mysterious fivefold cover of existential body form.

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10.72.8

अ॒ष्टौ पु॒त्रासो॒ अदि॑ते॒र्ये जा॒तास्त॒न्व१॒॑स्परि॑ । दे॒वाँ उप॒ प्रैत्स॒प्तभिः॒ परा॑ मार्ता॒ण्डमा॑स्यत् ॥

Eight are the divine modes of Aditi, eternal inviolable Prakrti, which

are evolved from her personality like children born of the mother (these being Mahan, Ahankara, five material forms and the sense- mind complex which is called Martanda because it bears the soul which passes through the birth and death stages). With seven of these it goes on evolving and the eighth, Martanda, it leaves aside free (to grow by itself with the soul in the human form).

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10.72.9

स॒प्तभिः॑ पु॒त्रैरदि॑ति॒रुप॒ प्रैत्पू॒र्व्यं यु॒गम् । प्र॒जायै॑ मृ॒त्यवे॑ त्व॒त्पुन॑र्मार्ता॒ण्डमाभ॑रत् ॥

With seven of her children mother Aditi retires to the post-pre-creation stage of the Avyakta absolute, but she continues to bear the Martanda, the soul with the subtle body cover during Pralaya, for birth and death again and again in the eternal cycle of existence. (For 8-9, further, refer to Gita, 7, 4-5, and Aitareya Upanishad, 1, 2, 3-5.)

✦ Sukta 73 · 11 verses ✦

10.73.1

जनि॑ष्ठा उ॒ग्रः सह॑से तु॒राय॑ म॒न्द्र ओजि॑ष्ठो बहु॒लाभि॑मानः । अव॑र्ध॒न्निन्द्रं॑ म॒रुत॑श्चि॒दत्र॑ मा॒ता यद्वी॒रं द॒धन॒द्धनि॑ष्ठा ॥

Indra, ruler of humanity and the world, adorable, most illustrious, blazing brilliant, highly self-confident, is born to subdue pride and opposition to humanity, and when mother Infinity, or humanity, fortunate and rightfully proud, bears such a brave hero, leader and ruler, the Maruts, leading lights, adore and exalt him.

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10.73.2

द्रु॒हो निष॑त्ता पृश॒नी चि॒देवैः॑ पु॒रू शंसे॑न वावृधु॒ष्ट इन्द्र॑म् । अ॒भीवृ॑तेव॒ ता म॑हाप॒देन॑ ध्वा॒न्तात्प्र॑पि॒त्वादुद॑रन्त॒ गर्भाः॑ ॥

The armies of the enemy of darkness and pride stand round him well ordered and deployed with fighting forces ready for the move, and they abundantly exalt Indra with universal songs of praise. The people safe all round covered with mighty defence and security rise and progress like showers of rain released from the depth of dark and dense expansive clouds.

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10.73.3

ऋ॒ष्वा ते॒ पादा॒ प्र यज्जिगा॒स्यव॑र्ध॒न्वाजा॑ उ॒त ये चि॒दत्र॑ । त्वमि॑न्द्र सालावृ॒कान्त्स॒हस्र॑मा॒सन्द॑धिषे अ॒श्विना व॑वृत्याः ॥

Indra, great and elevated are the columns and constituents of the system you rule over. When you advance and win your goal, the most eminent leaders, scientists and technologists, warriors and whoever others are here, all praise and exalt you. You appoint and maintain thousands of vigilant guards on the forefronts of the land. Indra, keep the social economy and all subsystems of the order moving, keep the circuit live without relent.

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10.73.4

स॒म॒ना तूर्णि॒रुप॑ यासि य॒ज्ञमा नास॑त्या स॒ख्याय॑ वक्षि । व॒साव्या॑मिन्द्र धारयः स॒हस्रा॒श्विना॑ शूर ददतुर्म॒घानि॑ ॥

Going fast forward in the struggle of life, you move close by the ways of yajna, holding on to the common creative values of corporate life and bringing all complementary forces of the system together for friendship ever in action for advancement. Indra, brave hero and ruler, hold and manage the wealth of the nation while the Ashvins, complementary forces of the system, create and contribute a thousand forms of honour, wealth and all round prosperity to the commonwealth.

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10.73.5

मन्द॑मान ऋ॒तादधि॑ प्र॒जायै॒ सखि॑भि॒रिन्द्र॑ इषि॒रेभि॒रर्थ॑म् । आभि॒र्हि मा॒या उप॒ दस्यु॒मागा॒न्मिहः॒ प्र त॒म्रा अ॑वप॒त्तमां॑सि ॥

Further, happy and joyous with the rule of inviolable law and dispensation of justice, Indra creates, holds, manages and provides wealth and well being for the people with the cooperation of his friendly and enthusiastic colleagues, and with these very cooperative forces faces the negative elements, negates their mischief and dispels all fog, depression and oppressive darkness from the land, uproots all these.

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10.73.6

सना॑माना चिद्ध्वसयो॒ न्य॑स्मा॒ अवा॑ह॒न्निन्द्र॑ उ॒षसो॒ यथानः॑ । ऋ॒ष्वैर॑गच्छः॒ सखि॑भि॒र्निका॑मैः सा॒कं प्र॑ति॒ष्ठा हृद्या॑ जघन्थ ॥

Indra, dispel the darkness of the forces of equal name and power and subdue them with your light like the sun which overtakes the car of the dawns and turns it to day. Move forward with heroic friends who are brilliant and ambitious and with them together win the firmness and stability of your heart’s desire.

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10.73.7

त्वं ज॑घन्थ॒ नमु॑चिं मख॒स्युं दासं॑ कृण्वा॒न ऋष॑ये॒ विमा॑यम् । त्वं च॑कर्थ॒ मन॑वे स्यो॒नान्प॒थो दे॑व॒त्राञ्ज॑सेव॒ याना॑न् ॥

You subdue the miserly hoarder and the negative, destructive clever trickster and convert him to be a lover of yajna and social generosity, living a simple natural life for the advancement of the seer. You make the paths of human progress peaceful and enjoyable, holy, simple and natural to follow for the pilgrims of divinity.

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10.73.8

त्वमे॒तानि॑ पप्रिषे॒ वि नामेशा॑न इन्द्र दधिषे॒ गभ॑स्तौ । अनु॑ त्वा दे॒वाः शव॑सा मदन्त्यु॒परि॑बुध्नान्व॒निन॑श्चकर्थ ॥

Indra, you fill up all these agents of positivity with strength. Ruling and controlling, you hold the rule and justice like the thunderbolt in hand. Consequently all the divinities of nature and humanity rejoice and exalt you with power and joy. Indeed you turn all the clouds above downwards to release the showers of life giving rain.

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10.73.9

च॒क्रं यद॑स्या॒प्स्वा निष॑त्तमु॒तो तद॑स्मै॒ मध्विच्च॑च्छद्यात् । पृ॒थि॒व्यामति॑षितं॒ यदूधः॒ पयो॒ गोष्वद॑धा॒ ओष॑धीषु ॥

His wheel of power and presence which operates across the spaces and rules the dynamics of nature and humanity also fills and covers the whole system of existence with honey sweets of joy for life and for the lord’s own fulfilment too, the same honey which fertilises the earth and fills the clouds, the nectar that is filled in the cow’s udders and sweetens the sap in the herbs.

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10.73.10

अश्वा॑दिया॒येति॒ यद्वद॒न्त्योज॑सो जा॒तमु॒त म॑न्य एनम् । म॒न्योरि॑याय ह॒र्म्येषु॑ तस्थौ॒ यतः॑ प्रज॒ज्ञ इन्द्रो॑ अस्य वेद ॥

While some say this power and presence comes from the system itself, and I think it is born of divine lustre, arisen from passion and subsisting in forms and subsystems, the truth is that wherefrom it arises Indra alone knows the mystery.

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10.73.11

वयः॑ सुप॒र्णा उप॑ सेदु॒रिन्द्रं॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धा॒ ऋष॑यो॒ नाध॑मानाः । अप॑ ध्वा॒न्तमू॑र्णु॒हि पू॒र्धि चक्षु॑र्मुमु॒ग्ध्य१॒॑स्मान्नि॒धये॑व ब॒द्धान् ॥

Men of vibrant intelligence and flying imagination, seers and sages with love and reason, in a mood of supplication, prayer and faith sit and abide by Indra. O lord, unveil the truth from darkness, perfect our vision for the light of truth, release us for we are bound like birds in snares.

✦ Sukta 74 · 6 verses ✦

10.74.1

वसू॑नां वा चर्कृष॒ इय॑क्षन्धि॒या वा॑ य॒ज्ञैर्वा॒ रोद॑स्योः । अर्व॑न्तो वा॒ ये र॑यि॒मन्तः॑ सा॒तौ व॒नुं वा॒ ये सु॒श्रुणं॑ सु॒श्रुतो॒ धुः ॥

Wishing to honour the winners of the wealth and glories of heaven and earth by thought and action and by corporate yajnic performance, I celebrate the warriors of horse and commanders of wealth and honour of excellence who support the friends and destroy the assailants in the battles of life and who uphold and exalt the well received words and traditions of reputed sages and scholars.

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10.74.2

हव॑ एषा॒मसु॑रो नक्षत॒ द्यां श्र॑वस्य॒ता मन॑सा निंसत॒ क्षाम् । चक्षा॑णा॒ यत्र॑ सुवि॒ताय॑ दे॒वा द्यौर्न वारे॑भिः कृ॒णव॑न्त॒ स्वैः ॥

Their call to action, with the fragrance of their yajnic performance full of freshness and rejuvenation for life, rises to heaven and, with their ideas and fame, spreads over the whole earth where brilliant sages of vision and generous leaders, with their own essential choices and best actions, create a heaven on earth for the good and all round well being of life.

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10.74.3

इ॒यमे॑षाम॒मृता॑नां॒ गीः स॒र्वता॑ता॒ ये कृ॒पण॑न्त॒ रत्न॑म् । धियं॑ च य॒ज्ञं च॒ साध॑न्त॒स्ते नो॑ धान्तु वस॒व्य१॒॑मसा॑मि ॥

This is the voice of song in adoration of these immortals who, in the general yajna of all humanity, create and bestow on us the jewel wealth of life, elevate ideas and actions and accomplish the corporate creative programmes of total humanity by yajna. May they, we pray, bear and bring unbounded wealth and honour for us all.

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10.74.4

आ तत्त॑ इन्द्रा॒यवः॑ पनन्ता॒भि य ऊ॒र्वं गोम॑न्तं॒ तितृ॑त्सान् । स॒कृ॒त्स्वं१॒॑ ये पु॑रुपु॒त्रां म॒हीं स॒हस्र॑धारां बृह॒तीं दुदु॑क्षन् ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, the people adore and exalt you when they reap the harvest of abundant food and milk, and when they till the land, and, like the mother cow, wish to milk the great wide earth of a thousand streams who, for her many many children, produces all things together.

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10.74.5

शची॑व॒ इन्द्र॒मव॑से कृणुध्व॒मना॑नतं द॒मय॑न्तं पृत॒न्यून् । ऋ॒भु॒क्षणं॑ म॒घवा॑नं सुवृ॒क्तिं भर्ता॒ यो वज्रं॒ नर्यं॑ पुरु॒क्षुः ॥

O yajakas, for your protection and progress, adore and exalt Indra, lord of wondrous power and action, undaunted subduer of enemies, glorious, majestic, admirable and abundantly generous friend of humanity. And he wields the thunderbolt of power, justice and dispensation.

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10.74.6

यद्वा॒वान॑ पुरु॒तमं॑ पुरा॒षाळा वृ॑त्र॒हेन्द्रो॒ नामा॑न्यप्राः । अचे॑ति प्रा॒सह॒स्पति॒स्तुवि॑ष्मा॒न्यदी॑मु॒श्मसि॒ कर्त॑वे॒ कर॒त्तत् ॥

While Indra, subduer of the strongest enemy, destroyer of the strongholds of darkness, breaker of the clouds, is known as the justifier of his name and fame, he, lord of patience and fortitude, most powerful, helps us achieve whatever we wish to accomplish.

✦ Sukta 75 · 9 verses ✦

10.75.1

प्र सु व॑ आपो महि॒मान॑मुत्त॒मं का॒रुर्वो॑चाति॒ सद॑ने वि॒वस्व॑तः । प्र स॒प्तस॑प्त त्रे॒धा हि च॑क्र॒मुः प्र सृत्व॑रीणा॒मति॒ सिन्धु॒रोज॑सा ॥

O fluent streams of water, energy and light, your best and highest grandeur and quality in every region of the master of earth, skies and light (Vivasvan), the scholar scientist devotee adores, describes and celebrates. Seven streams flow three ways in every one of the three regions, and in all the flowing streams the one common current flows on with its own innate energy and power.

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10.75.2

प्र ते॑ऽरद॒द्वरु॑णो॒ यात॑वे प॒थः सिन्धो॒ यद्वाजाँ॑ अ॒भ्यद्र॑व॒स्त्वम् । भूम्या॒ अधि॑ प्र॒वता॑ यासि॒ सानु॑ना॒ यदे॑षा॒मग्रं॒ जग॑तामिर॒ज्यसि॑ ॥

O flowing stream, as you flow for the energy and vitality of foods in plants, herbs and trees, or as you flow by the tops of mountains of the earth or as you elevate the first and best part of these living and moving forms of nature with pranic energy, the sun makes the path for your flow.

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10.75.3

दि॒वि स्व॒नो य॑तते॒ भूम्यो॒पर्य॑न॒न्तं शुष्म॒मुदि॑यर्ति भा॒नुना॑ । अ॒भ्रादि॑व॒ प्र स्त॑नयन्ति वृ॒ष्टयः॒ सिन्धु॒र्यदेति॑ वृष॒भो न रोरु॑वत् ॥

When the force and flood of energy is set in motion by the sun, the rumble of infinite energy shakes the spaces in heaven and the atmosphere on earth. As thunder roars and reverberates from the sky, so do showers fall and the river flood flows resounding like the cloud.

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10.75.4

अ॒भि त्वा॑ सिन्धो॒ शिशु॒मिन्न मा॒तरो॑ वा॒श्रा अ॑र्षन्ति॒ पय॑सेव धे॒नवः॑ । राजे॑व॒ युध्वा॑ नयसि॒ त्वमित्सिचौ॒ यदा॑सा॒मग्रं॑ प्र॒वता॒मिन॑क्षसि ॥

O Sindhu, flood of water, just as mothers move with love to the child, just as lowing cows with milk move to the calf to promote life, so do streams flow to you and you take them forward flowing to the sea like a warrior king leading his armies to the battlefield for victory.

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10.75.5

इ॒मं मे॑ गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति॒ शुतु॑द्रि॒ स्तोमं॑ सचता॒ परु॒ष्ण्या । अ॒सि॒क्न्या म॑रुद्वृधे वि॒तस्त॒यार्जी॑कीये शृणु॒ह्या सु॒षोम॑या ॥

O Ganga, ever flowing stream of water, life and life energy, Yamuna, stream that joins others and flows, Sarasvati, stream of abundant water and light of life, Shutudri, fast flowing stream of water and energy, Marudvrdha, stormy stream of water, prana and passion for life, Arjikiya, overflooding stream of life breaking over the banks, along with Parushni, sparkling stream flowing through stages, and Sushoma, stream of peace and vitality deep as the fathomless ocean, Asikni and Vistasta may all listen to this song of homage of mine and bless life. Note: It is said that the words from Ganga to Sushoma are names of ten particular streams. It is not so. According to Yaska and Swami Dayananda, Veda is universal knowledge, there is no history and no geography in this body of knowledge. If particular streams are called by these names, the names were derived from the Vedas in which those name-words already existed, and the name-word and the characteristics of the stream corresponded. For this very correspondence, certain nerves, arteries and veins in the body also were named after these Vedic words. Pandit Jaya Deva Sharma in his translation of Rgveda (published Arya Sahitya Mandala, Ajmer, 1936, vol. 7, p. 131) quotes from a Kerala manuscript on music the following: “Ida cha pingalakhya cha sushumna chasthi jihvika, Alambusa yatha pusha gandhari shankhini kuhuh, Dehamadhyagata etah mukhyah syurdasha nadyah”, and continues that Ganga is Ida, which leads us to spiritual enlightenment, Yamuna is Pingala which joins with and orders various organs of the body, Sarasvati is sushumna which leads us to the joy of knowledge, Parushni (parvavati, bhaswati, kutilagamini) which goes through the vertibrae of the spine is shining, Asikni is dark, Marudvrdha is augmented by all nadis, Shutudri is fast and full, Vitasta controls body temperature, Arjikiya originates from a centre called Rjuka in the brain, also called vipat which, if it breaks, then death occurs and the pranas and the soul forsake the body. For this reason it is also called urunjara. Sindhu is the soul into which retire all the pranas and the nadis. Thus ‘streams’ and names of streams are general terms of life’s dynamics in different physical, psychic and spiritual contexts.

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10.75.6

तृ॒ष्टाम॑या प्रथ॒मं यात॑वे स॒जूः सु॒सर्त्वा॑ र॒सया॑ श्वे॒त्या त्या । त्वं सि॑न्धो॒ कुभ॑या गोम॒तीं क्रुमुं॑ मेह॒त्न्वा स॒रथं॒ याभि॒रीय॑से ॥

O Sindhu, flood and ocean of the dynamics of life, the streams which you first join and go on by the body chariot of existence are: Trshtama, the nadi with which food is first digested in the stomach, Susartu by which the energy produced is distributed over parts of the body system, Rasa by which energy vibrates across the whole system, Shveti by which food energy joins the blood stream, Kubha by which the skin cover is formed and sustained, Gomati by which speech and other senses are controlled, Krumu which controls and coordinates body movements, and Mehatnu which controls the urinary function.

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10.75.7

ऋजी॒त्येनी॒ रुश॑ती महि॒त्वा परि॒ ज्रयां॑सि भरते॒ रजां॑सि । अद॑ब्धा॒ सिन्धु॑र॒पसा॑म॒पस्त॒माश्वा॒ न चि॒त्रा वपु॑षीव दर्श॒ता ॥

Rjiti which moves peacefully, Eni which controls the white corpuscles, and Rushati which is bright and creates the body lustre, move by the energy and grandeur of the spiritual centre and communicate particles of energy and vitality across the system. Sindhu, the central stream and spirit, undaunted, is the most dynamic of all dynamics, wonderful as a ray of light and beautiful as a youthful maiden.

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10.75.8

स्वश्वा॒ सिन्धुः॑ सु॒रथा॑ सु॒वासा॑ हिर॒ण्ययी॒ सुकृ॑ता वा॒जिनी॑वती । ऊर्णा॑वती युव॒तिः सी॒लमा॑वत्यु॒ताधि॑ वस्ते सु॒भगा॑ मधु॒वृध॑म् ॥

Sindhu, the central psychic and spiritual stream of the system commands beautiful senses and mind and the beautiful body chariot, it is fragrant, golden, nobly active, energetic achiever, handsomely covered youthful, provided with an efficient structural body system, beatific, honey sweet and rich, which abides in and rules over all streams of the system.

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10.75.9

सु॒खं रथं॑ युयुजे॒ सिन्धु॑र॒श्विनं॒ तेन॒ वाजं॑ सनिषद॒स्मिन्ना॒जौ । म॒हान्ह्य॑स्य महि॒मा प॑न॒स्यतेऽद॑ब्धस्य॒ स्वय॑शसो विर॒प्शिनः॑ ॥

Sindhu, spirit of the stream of existence, flows incessantly, riding the cosmic chariot of all joy and comfort, wonderfully dynamic, by which it wins victories of attainments for its devotees and tributaries in this cosmic play. Great is its glory praised and celebrated by poets, undaunted and inviolable, innately glorious, infinitely abundant and generous.

✦ Sukta 76 · 8 verses ✦

10.76.1

आ व॑ ऋञ्जस ऊ॒र्जां व्यु॑ष्टि॒ष्विन्द्रं॑ म॒रुतो॒ रोद॑सी अनक्तन । उ॒भे यथा॑ नो॒ अह॑नी सचा॒भुवा॒ सदः॑सदो वरिव॒स्यात॑ उ॒द्भिदा॑ ॥

O scholars and celebrants of yajna, creators of soma wealth, I honour and cooperate with you at the dawn of light and energy in the morning. Pray honour, celebrate and serve Indra, the sun, the winds, the earth and the environment and reveal their power and potential for us so that both day and night they may produce and give us wealth born of earth for every home.

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10.76.2

तदु॒ श्रेष्ठं॒ सव॑नं सुनोत॒नात्यो॒ न हस्त॑यतो॒ अद्रिः॑ सो॒तरि॑ । वि॒दद्ध्य१॒॑र्यो अ॒भिभू॑ति॒ पौंस्यं॑ म॒हो रा॒ये चि॑त्तरुते॒ यदर्व॑तः ॥

Enact and accomplish that highest plan of yajnic action which like a goal-oriented programme of cloud showers in the hands of the creative maker of soma wins strength and power, progress and victory for the yajamana so that for the achievement of great wealth and progress he overcomes the worst hurdles and goes forward with quick mile stones of success.

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10.76.3

तदिद्ध्य॑स्य॒ सव॑नं वि॒वेर॒पो यथा॑ पु॒रा मन॑वे गा॒तुमश्रे॑त् । गोअ॑र्णसि त्वा॒ष्ट्रे अश्व॑निर्णिजि॒ प्रेम॑ध्व॒रेष्व॑ध्व॒राँ अ॑शिश्रयुः ॥

Let that creative soma yajna programme of this yajamana promote and extend his actions and achievements the way as ever before it has opened and extended the paths of progress for humanity and inspired pioneers of positive acts of love and service to go forward in the scientific development of land, cows, culture and enlightenment and in the technological development of efficient means of transport and civilisational attainments.

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10.76.4

अप॑ हत र॒क्षसो॑ भङ्गु॒राव॑त स्कभा॒यत॒ निॠ॑तिं॒ सेध॒ताम॑तिम् । आ नो॑ र॒यिं सर्व॑वीरं सुनोतन देवा॒व्यं॑ भरत॒ श्लोक॑मद्रयः ॥

O yajakas and creators of soma, destroy the wicked and the evil tendencies, hold off the crooked and negative forces from the ways of development and progress, drive off want and poverty, create and bring us wealth and progeny worthy of the brave, and sing songs of thanks and praise in honour of the divinities.

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10.76.5

दि॒वश्चि॒दा वोऽम॑वत्तरेभ्यो वि॒भ्वना॑ चिदा॒श्व॑पस्तरेभ्यः । वा॒योश्चि॒दा सोम॑रभस्तरेभ्यो॒ऽग्नेश्चि॑दर्च पितु॒कृत्त॑रेभ्यः ॥

I sing in honour and appreciation of you all who create more and more energy and power from the light of the sun, more and more energy and speed from the electric energy of the middle regions, more and better energising tonics and sanatives from the fresh vitality of the winds, and more and better nourishing food from the heat and fertility of the earth.

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10.76.6

भु॒रन्तु॑ नो य॒शसः॒ सोत्वन्ध॑सो॒ ग्रावा॑णो वा॒चा दि॒विता॑ दि॒वित्म॑ता । नरो॒ यत्र॑ दुह॒ते काम्यं॒ मध्वा॑घो॒षय॑न्तो अ॒भितो॑ मिथ॒स्तुरः॑ ॥

May the yajakas, creators of soma, bear and bring that nectar of honour and energy wherein, inspired by the heavenly voice of divinity rising to the skies, enlightened people together in unison distil the honey sweets of cherished love and fulfilment of life, their ecstasy resounding all round.

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10.76.7

सु॒न्वन्ति॒ सोमं॑ रथि॒रासो॒ अद्र॑यो॒ निर॑स्य॒ रसं॑ ग॒विषो॑ दुहन्ति॒ ते । दु॒हन्त्यूध॑रुप॒सेच॑नाय॒ कं नरो॑ ह॒व्या न म॑र्जयन्त आ॒सभिः॑ ॥

Devotees of Soma, lovers of divinity, riding the body chariot in the state of dharma-megha samadhi extract the nectar juice of divine joy. Loving the vision and word of that joy they distil the taste and flavour of it. They milk the presence, the taste, the flavour of divinity from the udders of Mother Nature to sprinkle on and around the vedi of life and, as people taste the holy food with their tongue, they sanctify and experience the joy in the state of clairvoyance.

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10.76.8

ए॒ते न॑रः॒ स्वप॑सो अभूतन॒ य इन्द्रा॑य सुनु॒थ सोम॑मद्रयः । वा॒मंवा॑मं वो दि॒व्याय॒ धाम्ने॒ वसु॑वसु वः॒ पार्थि॑वाय सुन्व॒ते ॥

O enlightened sages, such you are, people of holy action, yajakas and creators of soma, to offer your homage of living joy to Indra, lord of glory. All the beauties and graces of life you create, all the wealth, honour and excellence of earthly life you achieve is for the service of Indra, your homage in totality to Divinity, Spirit of the earth.

✦ Sukta 77 · 8 verses ✦

10.77.1

अ॒भ्र॒प्रुषो॒ न वा॒चा प्रु॑षा॒ वसु॑ ह॒विष्म॑न्तो॒ न य॒ज्ञा वि॑जा॒नुषः॑ । सु॒मारु॑तं॒ न ब्र॒ह्माण॑म॒र्हसे॑ ग॒णम॑स्तोष्येषां॒ न शो॒भसे॑ ॥

Like clouds of rain bringing showers of wealth and fertility to the earth, like yajakas bearing sacred offerings for the fire and replenishing the vitality of the environment, the vibrant currents of cosmic mind and holy sages of the divine Word bless humanity with the Vedic voice. Now, in order to do them the honour they deserve, sing and adore the assembly of the sages like the divine currents of Maruts, and do so in order that you too may deserve the honour and appreciation you would win.

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10.77.2

श्रि॒ये मर्या॑सो अ॒ञ्जीँर॑कृण्वत सु॒मारु॑तं॒ न पू॒र्वीरति॒ क्षपः॑ । दि॒वस्पु॒त्रास॒ एता॒ न ये॑तिर आदि॒त्यास॒स्ते अ॒क्रा न वा॑वृधुः ॥

For their honour and glory, mortals adore and celebrate them, Even veteran powers of earliest fame cannot violate them. Children of light, they shoot forward like archers and do not deviate from the course. Children of Aditi, mother Eternity, they advance like rays of light and extend the bounds of knowledge.

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10.77.3

प्र ये दि॒वः पृ॑थि॒व्या न ब॒र्हणा॒ त्मना॑ रिरि॒च्रे अ॒भ्रान्न सूर्यः॑ । पाज॑स्वन्तो॒ न वी॒राः प॑न॒स्यवो॑ रि॒शाद॑सो॒ न मर्या॑ अ॒भिद्य॑वः ॥

By virtue of their own strength and power (they are great) but not separate, not unrelated to heaven and earth just as the sun is great but not unrelated to the cloud and the sky. Commanding power and grandeur like heroes, they are adorable like mortals who destroy negativity, and they are refulgent in their own right.

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10.77.4

यु॒ष्माकं॑ बु॒ध्ने अ॒पां न याम॑नि विथु॒र्यति॒ न म॒ही श्र॑थ॒र्यति॑ । वि॒श्वप्सु॑र्य॒ज्ञो अ॒र्वाग॒यं सु वः॒ प्रय॑स्वन्तो॒ न स॒त्राच॒ आ ग॑त ॥

In your area of operation you shine on together, as in the spaces of cosmic dynamics the earth does not shake, nor does it slacken, but goes on and on steadily on its course. Same way your yajnic operation in the cosmic law is universal, versatile and holy. Pray come to our sessions, bear and bring us the food, energy and the wealth we need and work for.

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10.77.5

यू॒यं धू॒र्षु प्र॒युजो॒ न र॒श्मिभि॒र्ज्योति॑ष्मन्तो॒ न भा॒सा व्यु॑ष्टिषु । श्ये॒नासो॒ न स्वय॑शसो रि॒शाद॑सः प्र॒वासो॒ न प्रसि॑तासः परि॒प्रुषः॑ ॥

In our programmes of progress, be like the motive powers of the plan with rays of light and reins of control. Be like light givers with sun-light on the rise of the dawns of initiative on a new day. Self- refulgent and glorious like harbingers of soma, be destroyers of violence and negativity. Like world- travellers, shining and sinless on meticulous missions, be harbingers of universal showers of rain and prosperity.

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10.77.6

प्र यद्वह॑ध्वे मरुतः परा॒काद्यू॒यं म॒हः सं॒वर॑णस्य॒ वस्वः॑ । वि॒दा॒नासो॑ वसवो॒ राध्य॑स्या॒राच्चि॒द्द्वेषः॑ सनु॒तर्यु॑योत ॥

O Maruts, creators, achievers and givers of wealth and providers of peace and settlement, when you come from afar and bring great wealth of choice human value and order capable of further and capital development, then you eliminate all hate, jealousy and enmity polluting the heart within and society outside.

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10.77.7

य उ॒दृचि॑ य॒ज्ञे अ॑ध्वरे॒ष्ठा म॒रुद्भ्यो॒ न मानु॑षो॒ ददा॑शत् । रे॒वत्स वयो॑ दधते सु॒वीरं॒ स दे॒वाना॒मपि॑ गोपी॒थे अ॑स्तु ॥

The man established in Vedic chant and yajnic programmes of creation and development who gives for yajna and also gives to the brilliant and versatile Maruts achieves good health and long age blest with plenty of wealth and noble children and he also enjoys the protection of divinities on the path of rectitude.

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10.77.8

ते हि य॒ज्ञेषु॑ य॒ज्ञिया॑स॒ ऊमा॑ आदि॒त्येन॒ नाम्ना॒ शम्भ॑विष्ठाः । ते नो॑ऽवन्तु रथ॒तूर्म॑नी॒षां म॒हश्च॒ याम॑न्नध्व॒रे च॑का॒नाः ॥

May the Maruts, adorable at yajna, protectors and promoters most benevolent and blissful by the gift of solar light and enlightenment and showers of substantial waters and energy, versatile movers of the dynamics of cosmic yajna circuit protect and promote our mind, intelligence and knowledge while they love, cherish and extend our grand paths of progress in our social programmes of creation and production in the spirit of universal love, friendship and peace and non- violence.

✦ Sukta 78 · 8 verses ✦

10.78.1

विप्रा॑सो॒ न मन्म॑भिः स्वा॒ध्यो॑ देवा॒व्यो॒३॒॑ न य॒ज्ञैः स्वप्न॑सः । राजा॑नो॒ न चि॒त्राः सु॑सं॒दृशः॑ क्षिती॒नां न मर्या॑ अरे॒पसः॑ ॥

Like sages holy and self-possessed by noble thoughts and meditation, like dreamers of dreams devoted to divinity by yajnic actions, like wondrous brilliant rulers noble in person and performance, the Maruts are pure and sinless like noble mortals among humanity.

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10.78.2

अ॒ग्निर्न ये भ्राज॑सा रु॒क्मव॑क्षसो॒ वाता॑सो॒ न स्व॒युजः॑ स॒द्यऊ॑तयः । प्र॒ज्ञा॒तारो॒ न ज्येष्ठाः॑ सुनी॒तयः॑ सु॒शर्मा॑णो॒ न सोमा॑ ऋ॒तं य॒ते ॥

Shining with golden halo and lustre like fire, always devoted to protection and promotion of life like winds by free will and dedication of the self, highest and wholly committed to noble policies like wise and enlightened sages, they work for the peace and holy soma joy of the men of action and endeavour as divine harbingers of mental peace and spiritual bliss.

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10.78.3

वाता॑सो॒ न ये धुन॑यो जिग॒त्नवो॑ऽग्नी॒नां न जि॒ह्वा वि॑रो॒किणः॑ । वर्म॑ण्वन्तो॒ न यो॒धाः शिमी॑वन्तः पितॄ॒णां न शंसाः॑ सुरा॒तयः॑ ॥

Stormy shakers are they of the stagnant as well as of the vibrant like winds, blazing like flames of fire, mighty strong like warriors clad in armour for battle, and profusely generous like blessings of the parents.

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10.78.4

रथा॑नां॒ न ये॒३॒॑ऽराः सना॑भयो जिगी॒वांसो॒ न शूरा॑ अ॒भिद्य॑वः । व॒रे॒यवो॒ न मर्या॑ घृत॒प्रुषो॑ऽभिस्व॒र्तारो॑ अ॒र्कं न सु॒ष्टुभः॑ ॥

United in common with the centre as spokes of the wheel with the nave, lustrous like warriors thirsting for victory, liberal givers of the showers of prosperity, and soothing of speech like the holy chant of Rks, such are the Maruts for humanity.

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10.78.5

अश्वा॑सो॒ न ये ज्येष्ठा॑स आ॒शवो॑ दिधि॒षवो॒ न र॒थ्यः॑ सु॒दान॑वः । आपो॒ न नि॒म्नैरु॒दभि॑र्जिग॒त्नवो॑ वि॒श्वरू॑पा॒ अङ्गि॑रसो॒ न साम॑भिः ॥

They are vibrant winners of the highest order like rays of light in focus, generous givers like commanders of the chariots of plenty and charity, progressive seekers like rivers flowing down to the sea, and versatile workers of theoretical knowledge into practice like the Angiras sages ofAtharva Veda realising their hymns with the music of Samans.

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10.78.6

ग्रावा॑णो॒ न सू॒रयः॒ सिन्धु॑मातर आदर्दि॒रासो॒ अद्र॑यो॒ न वि॒श्वहा॑ । शि॒शूला॒ न क्री॒ळयः॑ सुमा॒तरो॑ महाग्रा॒मो न याम॑न्नु॒त त्वि॒षा ॥

Like the clouds of rain they are makers of the floods and oceans of collective wealth and knowledge, always opening the flood gates of showers like thunder across the world, playing like innocent children of noble mothers and going forward with light and lustre like a mighty community united in action.

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10.78.7

उ॒षसां॒ न के॒तवो॑ऽध्वर॒श्रियः॑ शुभं॒यवो॒ नाञ्जिभि॒र्व्य॑श्वितन् । सिन्ध॑वो॒ न य॒यियो॒ भ्राज॑दृष्टयः परा॒वतो॒ न योज॑नानि ममिरे ॥

Like lights of the dawn they illuminate the sky and beautify the yajna on earth, themselves shining with graces and wishing the world all well all round. Moving forward like rivers in flood they shine in arms, and like pioneer travellers over boundless woods and spaces they cover miles and miles of distance in progress and achievement.

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10.78.8

सु॒भा॒गान्नो॑ देवाः कृणुता सु॒रत्ना॑न॒स्मान्त्स्तो॒तॄन्म॑रुतो वावृधा॒नाः । अधि॑ स्तो॒त्रस्य॑ स॒ख्यस्य॑ गात स॒नाद्धि वो॑ रत्न॒धेया॑नि॒ सन्ति॑ ॥

O noble and divine Maruts, vibrant scholars and sages, blazing warriors, benevolent philanthropists and relentless seekers and creators, let us be sharers with you, blest with noble jewel wealth of existence. Yourselves exalted by our adorations, exalt us, the celebrants. Come and acknowledge our song of praise, appreciation and friendship. Liberal you are, and immense are the gifts of your generosity for all time past, present and future.

✦ Sukta 79 · 7 verses ✦

10.79.1

अप॑श्यमस्य मह॒तो म॑हि॒त्वमम॑र्त्यस्य॒ मर्त्या॑सु वि॒क्षु । नाना॒ हनू॒ विभृ॑ते॒ सं भ॑रेते॒ असि॑न्वती॒ बप्स॑ती॒ भूर्य॑त्तः ॥

I see and realise the sublime presence of this immortal Agni among mortals whose complementary catalytic powers open and close and open like the jaws of a living being, disjoining and joining together insatiably and relentlessly, creating, destroying and recreating new forms from old ones, and ultimately consume all things thereby consummating and completing the process of evolution back into involution and annilation.

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10.79.2

गुहा॒ शिरो॒ निहि॑त॒मृध॑ग॒क्षी असि॑न्वन्नत्ति जि॒ह्वया॒ वना॑नि । अत्रा॑ण्यस्मै प॒ड्भिः सं भ॑रन्त्युत्ता॒नह॑स्ता॒ नम॒साधि॑ वि॒क्षु ॥

The highest presence of Agni is hidden in mystery, in the cave of the heart. Its eyes of universal vision are objectified separately in the sun and moon. With its tongue it consumes various things, even the best and most beautiful too, insatiably. In homage to it, yajakas all across humanity bear holy offerings with hands raised in reverence and adoration and bring them step by step for its consumption in the fire and in the crucibles of the discipline of meditation.

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10.79.3

प्र मा॒तुः प्र॑त॒रं गुह्य॑मि॒च्छन्कु॑मा॒रो न वी॒रुधः॑ सर्पदु॒र्वीः । स॒सं न प॒क्वम॑विदच्छु॒चन्तं॑ रिरि॒ह्वांसं॑ रि॒प उ॒पस्थे॑ अ॒न्तः ॥

Loving and seeking the ultimate mystery of Agni, mother spirit of life and human evolution, the seeker comes like an innocent child moving up silently by and along the various folds of earthly existence, ultimately reaching the centre core of the mystery and attains the radiant presence deliciously ecstatic like the ripest fruit of life.

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10.79.4

तद्वा॑मृ॒तं रो॑दसी॒ प्र ब्र॑वीमि॒ जाय॑मानो मा॒तरा॒ गर्भो॑ अत्ति । नाहं दे॒वस्य॒ मर्त्य॑श्चिकेता॒ग्निर॒ङ्ग विचे॑ताः॒ स प्रचे॑ताः ॥

O heaven and earth, father and mother of life in existence, truly do I speak to you of that law of life which you observe and sustain: the baby life in the womb and, thereafter, receives its sustenance from father and mother. I, the rising vital form, the mortal, know not of the lord divine. For sure, Agni the omniscient alone knows all, Agni alone illuminates the spirit in the human form.

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10.79.5

यो अ॑स्मा॒ अन्नं॑ तृ॒ष्वा॒३॒॑दधा॒त्याज्यै॑र्घृ॒तैर्जु॒होति॒ पुष्य॑ति । तस्मै॑ स॒हस्र॑म॒क्षभि॒र्वि च॒क्षेऽग्ने॑ वि॒श्वतः॑ प्र॒त्यङ्ङ॑सि॒ त्वम् ॥

Whoever the person that readily and enthusiastically brings and offers food to thisAgni, feeds the fire and raises the flames with ghrta and intensive oblations of havi, Agni watches and enlightens him with a thousand eyes and visions. O lord of light and life, Agni, you are always with us, all time, all round, with and within at the closest.

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10.79.6

किं दे॒वेषु॒ त्यज॒ एन॑श्चक॒र्थाग्ने॑ पृ॒च्छामि॒ नु त्वामवि॑द्वान् । अक्री॑ळ॒न्क्रीळ॒न्हरि॒रत्त॑वे॒ऽदन्वि प॑र्व॒शश्च॑कर्त॒ गामि॑वा॒सिः ॥

An ignorant man, I ask you, Agni, whether among the divinities, in sport or not in sport, you subject men to sin, anger and aversion, since the omnipotent power, creator and destroyer, to swallow what is to be swallowed at the end, cuts things into particles like a knife cutting leather into pieces.

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10.79.7

विषू॑चो॒ अश्वा॑न्युयुजे वने॒जा ऋजी॑तिभी रश॒नाभि॑र्गृभी॒तान् । च॒क्ष॒दे मि॒त्रो वसु॑भिः॒ सुजा॑तः॒ समा॑नृधे॒ पर्व॑भिर्वावृधा॒नः ॥

Fortunately born in a beautiful body, the soul uses various and versatile senses controlled by simple and natural operations of the will and intelligence and, loving and enlightened byAgni, cosmic lord omniscient, grows stage by stage with pranic energies and prospers.

✦ Sukta 80 · 7 verses ✦

10.80.1

अ॒ग्निः सप्तिं॑ वाजम्भ॒रं द॑दात्य॒ग्निर्वी॒रं श्रुत्यं॑ कर्मनि॒ष्ठाम् । अ॒ग्नी रोद॑सी॒ वि च॑रत्सम॒ञ्जन्न॒ग्निर्नारीं॑ वी॒रकु॑क्षिं॒ पुरं॑धिम् ॥

Agni gives us fast faculties of sense and mind which bring us food for life and experience with success in many fields. Agni gives valiant progeny, learned and cultured with dedication to noble action. Agni pervades heaven and earth, beautifying them, and blesses the family home of man and woman, beatifying it with light and passion for good action, and Agni blesses the woman with fertility, motherhood of the brave and wisdom to keep a happy home.

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10.80.2

अ॒ग्नेरप्न॑सः स॒मिद॑स्तु भ॒द्राग्निर्म॒ही रोद॑सी॒ आ वि॑वेश । अ॒ग्निरेकं॑ चोदयत्स॒मत्स्व॒ग्निर्वृ॒त्राणि॑ दयते पु॒रूणि॑ ॥

May the full fire, heat and light ofAgni, versatile power of action be good for universal well being, Agni which pervades both heaven and earth. Agni inspires and energises every one in the battles of life, and Agni dispels and destroys all evils of want and darkness.

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10.80.3

अ॒ग्निर्ह॒ त्यं जर॑तः॒ कर्ण॑मावा॒ग्निर॒द्भ्यो निर॑दह॒ज्जरू॑थम् । अ॒ग्निरत्रिं॑ घ॒र्म उ॑रुष्यद॒न्तर॒ग्निर्नृ॒मेधं॑ प्र॒जया॑सृज॒त्सम् ॥

Agni protects the devotee’s health of sense and mind and establishes him in piety and prayer. Agni burns away the debilitating impurities from waters and from the blood stream of the body system. Agni protects the enlightened man free from triple bonds of infatuation with family, fame and finance. Agni establishes the man dedicated to yajnic advancement of humanity in the right relationship with family, friends and community.

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10.80.4

अ॒ग्निर्दा॒द्द्रवि॑णं वी॒रपे॑शा अ॒ग्निॠषिं॒ यः स॒हस्रा॑ स॒नोति॑ । अ॒ग्निर्दि॒वि ह॒व्यमा त॑ताना॒ग्नेर्धामा॑नि॒ विभृ॑ता पुरु॒त्रा ॥

Agni, heroic in form and pride of the brave, gives wealth, honour and excellence and all that is valuable in the world. Agni rewards the sage, seer and visionary scholar a thousand ways. Agni raises and diffuses the fragrance of oblations to the heavens. Indeed the presence and pervasions of Agni are boundless, infinitely spread out.

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10.80.5

अ॒ग्निमु॒क्थैॠष॑यो॒ वि ह्व॑यन्ते॒ऽग्निं नरो॒ याम॑नि बाधि॒तासः॑ । अ॒ग्निं वयो॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ पत॑न्तो॒ऽग्निः स॒हस्रा॒ परि॑ याति॒ गोना॑म् ॥

Seers invoke Agni with the chant of sacred hymns. People in crisis on the journey onward call on Agni for help and guidance. Like birds flying up in the sky, sages on the way higher up towards the heavens or deep in awareness in the mind adore Agni.Agni, indeed, pervades and transcends a thousand abodes of light and life and inspires and enlightens the souls that seek and find.

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10.80.6

अ॒ग्निं विश॑ ईळते॒ मानु॑षी॒र्या अ॒ग्निं मनु॑षो॒ नहु॑षो॒ वि जा॒ताः । अ॒ग्निर्गान्ध॑र्वीं प॒थ्या॑मृ॒तस्या॒ग्नेर्गव्यू॑तिर्घृ॒त आ निष॑त्ता ॥

Communities of humanity conscious of their humanity and social responsibility worship Agni for guidance. People who rise above their earthly bonds thank and adore Agni. Agni holds and proclaims the holy voice of eternal truth which guides humanity on the paths of rectitude. The path that leads to Agni exists in and radiates from the lustre of Agni itself.

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10.80.7

अ॒ग्नये॒ ब्रह्म॑ ऋ॒भव॑स्ततक्षुर॒ग्निं म॒हाम॑वोचामा सुवृ॒क्तिम् । अग्ने॒ प्राव॑ जरि॒तारं॑ यवि॒ष्ठाग्ने॒ महि॒ द्रवि॑ण॒मा य॑जस्व ॥

Rbhus, sages of divine vision and genius, compose and sing songs of adoration in honour of Agni. We too offer holy songs of reverence and worship in celebration of Agni. O Spirit of universal light and life, ever youthful Agni, pray protect and promote the celebrant and give us the highest wealth of yajnic life in communion with you.

✦ Sukta 81 · 7 verses ✦

10.81.1

य इ॒मा विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि॒ जुह्व॒दृषि॒र्होता॒ न्यसी॑दत्पि॒ता नः॑ । स आ॒शिषा॒ द्रवि॑णमि॒च्छमा॑नः प्रथम॒च्छदव॑राँ॒ आ वि॑वेश ॥

The eternal Rshi, visionary creator and cosmic yajaka, our father generator, who calls up all these worlds of the universe into existence ever abides by himself. Moved with desire to give the wealth of life with his blessings to the souls, he first generates the original Prakrti vesting it with his divine will and then simultaneously enters and pervades the modes and forms of Prakrti as they evolve.

· · ·

10.81.2

किं स्वि॑दासीदधि॒ष्ठान॑मा॒रम्भ॑णं कत॒मत्स्वि॑त्क॒थासी॑त् । यतो॒ भूमिं॑ ज॒नय॑न्वि॒श्वक॑र्मा॒ वि द्यामौर्णो॑न्महि॒ना वि॒श्वच॑क्षाः ॥

What was the basis, what the beginning of the beginning, what sort and whence, from which Vishvakarma, omniscient all watching guardian of the universe, creating the heaven and earth shaped them and vested them with divine grandeur?

· · ·

10.81.3

वि॒श्वत॑श्चक्षुरु॒त वि॒श्वतो॑मुखो वि॒श्वतो॑बाहुरु॒त वि॒श्वत॑स्पात् । सं बा॒हुभ्यां॒ धम॑ति॒ सं पत॑त्रै॒र्द्यावा॒भूमी॑ ज॒नय॑न्दे॒व एकः॑ ॥

All watching with cosmic eyes, all speaking with cosmic voice, all protecting with cosmic arms and all sustaining on cosmic foundations, the sole self-refulgent maker creating heaven and earth shapes and controls the universe with his hands, i.e., thought and will with strokes of the natural forces forging things into form.

· · ·

10.81.4

किं स्वि॒द्वनं॒ क उ॒ स वृ॒क्ष आ॑स॒ यतो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी नि॑ष्टत॒क्षुः । मनी॑षिणो॒ मन॑सा पृ॒च्छतेदु॒ तद्यद॒ध्यति॑ष्ठ॒द्भुव॑नानि धा॒रय॑न् ॥

Which is that forest and which is that tree from which the divine forces of nature carve out and shape the heaven and earth? O sages and scholars of divine vision, with your heart and intelligence ask that omniscient lord who abides and presides over the worlds of all existence, holding and controlling them in order.

· · ·

10.81.5

या ते॒ धामा॑नि पर॒माणि॒ याव॒मा या म॑ध्य॒मा वि॑श्वकर्मन्नु॒तेमा । शिक्षा॒ सखि॑भ्यो ह॒विषि॑ स्वधावः स्व॒यं य॑जस्व त॒न्वं॑ वृधा॒नः ॥

O Vishvakarman, creator and maker of the universe, whatever the regions, their names and forms which are your creation, whether the highest and farthest, or the middle ones, or the lowest and closest, pray enlighten the friendly seekers and devotees about them. O lord of your own might of Prakrti and natural law, keep on the universal yajna by yourself, offering the fragrant havish and expanding the body form of the universe.

· · ·

10.81.6

विश्व॑कर्मन्ह॒विषा॑ वावृधा॒नः स्व॒यं य॑जस्व पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्याम् । मुह्य॑न्त्व॒न्ये अ॒भितो॒ जना॑स इ॒हास्माकं॑ म॒घवा॑ सू॒रिर॑स्तु ॥

O Vishvakarman, you yourself guide and perform the yajna of heaven and earth with the holy materials from within nature itself, yourself exlating in the expansive universe. Here the other people, unaware of the mystery, feel awe-stricken but, we pray, may you, Lord Almighty and omnificent, be the ultimate giver of enlightenment for us.

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10.81.7

वा॒चस्पतिं॑ वि॒श्वक॑र्माणमू॒तये॑ मनो॒जुवं॒ वाजे॑ अ॒द्या हु॑वेम । स नो॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ हव॑नानि जोषद्वि॒श्वश॑म्भू॒रव॑से सा॒धुक॑र्मा ॥

For our enlightenment and victory in our battle of existence and action today, we invoke Vishvakarma, lord of universal speech and the expanding universe, creative cosmic awareness inspiring human mind and thought, and we pray that the lord of holy action and universal well being be pleased to listen and grant us the fruit of all our invocations, prayers and adorations.

✦ Sukta 82 · 7 verses ✦

10.82.1

चक्षु॑षः पि॒ता मन॑सा॒ हि धीरो॑ घृ॒तमे॑ने अजन॒न्नन्न॑माने । य॒देदन्ता॒ अद॑दृहन्त॒ पूर्व॒ आदिद्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॑प्रथेताम् ॥

The creator, protector and promoter of the light of the eye and sensitivity of mind,

constant and inviolable, by his own will and resolution manifests the plasticity of nature’s potential, Ahankara, from Mahat, and then the double plastic potential of psychic and material forms, mind and senses on the one hand and tanmatras, subtle materials, on the other.And when these basic bounds are shaped and confirmed, then these tangible forms of intelligential and material existence, heavens and earths grow, extend and expand.

· · ·

10.82.2

वि॒श्वक॑र्मा॒ विम॑ना॒ आद्विहा॑या धा॒ता वि॑धा॒ता प॑र॒मोत सं॒दृक् । तेषा॑मि॒ष्टानि॒ समि॒षा म॑दन्ति॒ यत्रा॑ सप्तऋ॒षीन्प॒र एक॑मा॒हुः ॥

Vishvakarma is infinitely intelligent, infinitely pervasive, all sustaining, all controlling, supreme, all percipient, and all watchful. By virtue of his immanence and inspiration, living beings enjoy the cherished objects of their love and desire. It is that one Supreme Spirit which all sages celebrate and adore as One andAbsolute. It is from him that all seven mantra chants arise and unto him return.

· · ·

10.82.3

यो नः॑ पि॒ता ज॑नि॒ता यो वि॑धा॒ता धामा॑नि॒ वेद॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ । यो दे॒वानां॑ नाम॒धा एक॑ ए॒व तं स॑म्प्र॒श्नं भुव॑ना यन्त्य॒न्या ॥

Vishvakarma is our father and mother, he who is the sustainer, ruler and controller of existence, who knows all abodes and regions of the universe, who is the sole ordainer of the nature, functions and names of all divinities and the sole unity of all these in one, the one comprehensive question of all questions and the one complete answer to all questions, the one ultimate reality into whom all regions and worlds converge and merge.

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10.82.4

त आय॑जन्त॒ द्रवि॑णं॒ सम॑स्मा॒ ऋष॑यः॒ पूर्वे॑ जरि॒तारो॒ न भू॒ना । अ॒सूर्ते॒ सूर्ते॒ रज॑सि निष॒त्ते ये भू॒तानि॑ स॒मकृ॑ण्वन्नि॒मानि॑ ॥

The earliest Rshis, i.e., the vital energies of nature in the process of creative evolution in their own right with their power of Being, did yajnic service to the creator and offered their best input in the formative process like celebrants. Placed and abiding in the tumult of the moving and unmoving elements and forms, they fashioned forth the later forms of Being in homage to the divine will.

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10.82.5

प॒रो दि॒वा प॒र ए॒ना पृ॑थि॒व्या प॒रो दे॒वेभि॒रसु॑रै॒र्यदस्ति॑ । कं स्वि॒द्गर्भं॑ प्रथ॒मं द॑ध्र॒ आपो॒ यत्र॑ दे॒वाः स॒मप॑श्यन्त॒ विश्वे॑ ॥

What is that generative as well as emergent spirit and reality which is beyond the heavens, beyond this earth and this entire universe, beyond the divinities and the energies, beyond and above all that is in existence? What is that presence, that Hiranyagarbha, that golden seed model of the universe which the primeval Prakrti particles contain and which contains and generates those particles themselves, wherein all the divine existences find and realise themselves?

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10.82.6

तमिद्गर्भं॑ प्रथ॒मं द॑ध्र॒ आपो॒ यत्र॑ दे॒वाः स॒मग॑च्छन्त॒ विश्वे॑ । अ॒जस्य॒ नाभा॒वध्येक॒मर्पि॑तं॒ यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॑नि॒ भुव॑नानि त॒स्थुः ॥

That Vishvakarma is the first power and presence which the particles of Prakrti contain as the immanent generator and which also generates, contains and rules the particles as the transcendent presiding power wherein all the divinities converge, abide and realise themselves. All that is, is self-contained in the central generative core of the eternal unborn and undying spirit, and therein abide all the regions of the universe.

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10.82.7

न तं वि॑दाथ॒ य इ॒मा ज॒जाना॒न्यद्यु॒ष्माक॒मन्त॑रं बभूव । नी॒हा॒रेण॒ प्रावृ॑ता॒ जल्प्या॑ चासु॒तृप॑ उक्थ॒शास॑श्चरन्ति ॥

You do not comprehend that spirit which creates all these worlds of existence. That is something else, deeper than the deepest that you feel you are and know yourself. Covered by the fog of extrovert thought, playing with mere words, happy and satisfied with a breathing existence, singing songs of self-gratification, people roam around and miss the centre pole of the whirling worlds.

✦ Sukta 83 · 7 verses ✦

10.83.1

यस्ते॑ म॒न्योऽवि॑धद्वज्र सायक॒ सह॒ ओजः॑ पुष्यति॒ विश्व॑मानु॒षक् । सा॒ह्याम॒ दास॒मार्यं॒ त्वया॑ यु॒जा सह॑स्कृतेन॒ सह॑सा॒ सह॑स्वता ॥

O Manyu, spirit of passion and ardour of mind for righteous action, awful as thunder and accurate as an arrow to hit the target, whoever bears, honours and commands you with strength and enthusiasm, rises in universal honour and splendour. We pray that with your friendly and unfailing spirit of courage, patience and vigour, we may be able to support the noble and defeat the violent and the destroyers. (Righteous passion is the gift and spirit of all the divinities.)

· · ·

10.83.2

म॒न्युरिन्द्रो॑ म॒न्युरे॒वास॑ दे॒वो म॒न्युर्होता॒ वरु॑णो जा॒तवे॑दाः । म॒न्युं विश॑ ईळते॒ मानु॑षी॒र्याः पा॒हि नो॑ मन्यो॒ तप॑सा स॒जोषाः॑ ॥

Manyu, righteous passion of the spirit and courage of mind, is Indra, glory and power. Manyu is brilliance, manyu is yajaka and performer of yajna, manyu is Varuna, deep as ocean, blazing as sun and self confidence of choice, manyu is Jataveda, spirit of intelligence and existential awareness. Communities which live all over the human world honour and adore manyu. O spirit of passion and universal intelligence of divine mind, dearest friend and inner inspiration, pray protect and promote us with the strength and discipline of body, mind and soul.

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10.83.3

अ॒भी॑हि मन्यो त॒वस॒स्तवी॑या॒न्तप॑सा यु॒जा वि ज॑हि॒ शत्रू॑न् । अ॒मि॒त्र॒हा वृ॑त्र॒हा द॑स्यु॒हा च॒ विश्वा॒ वसू॒न्या भ॑रा॒ त्वं नः॑ ॥

Come manyu, stronger than strength itself, one with valour and austerity of discipline, destroy the enemies. Come, saviour of friends and destroyer of adversaries, dispeller of darkness, eliminator of evil and negativity, bear and bring us all wealth, honour and excellence of the world.

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10.83.4

त्वं हि म॑न्यो अ॒भिभू॑त्योजाः स्वय॒म्भूर्भामो॑ अभिमातिषा॒हः । वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिः॒ सहु॑रिः॒ सहा॑वान॒स्मास्वोजः॒ पृत॑नासु धेहि ॥

O noble wrath and passionate spirit of rectitude, you are illustrious subduer of adversaries, self-existent and self justified, awesome, challenger and destroyer of hostilities, universally present among men, patient and forbearing. Pray inspire us with strength and high morale in our battles of life.

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10.83.5

अ॒भा॒गः सन्नप॒ परे॑तो अस्मि॒ तव॒ क्रत्वा॑ तवि॒षस्य॑ प्रचेतः । तं त्वा॑ मन्यो अक्र॒तुर्जि॑हीळा॒हं स्वा त॒नूर्ब॑ल॒देया॑य॒ मेहि॑ ॥

Being void of righteous passion, O spiritual rectitude, giver of self confidence and assertive identity, I am gone far from my own self and, by action, deprived of your spirit of lustre and inspiration. O manyu, O Indra, O Varuna, O Jataveda, I am guilty of remiss toward you, and I pray bless me with the strength of body, mind and soul.

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10.83.6

अ॒यं ते॑ अ॒स्म्युप॒ मेह्य॒र्वाङ्प्र॑तीची॒नः स॑हुरे विश्वधायः । मन्यो॑ वज्रिन्न॒भि मामा व॑वृत्स्व॒ हना॑व॒ दस्यूँ॑रु॒त बो॑ध्या॒पेः ॥

Here I am all for you, O spirit of courage and self assertion, challenging sustainer of all the world, come turn to me universal spirit. O spirit of awesome passion and undaunted self-identity, wielder of the thunderbolt, come constantly, let us together dispel darkness and destroy evil. Pray inspire and awaken me, your own self.

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10.83.7

अ॒भि प्रेहि॑ दक्षिण॒तो भ॑वा॒ मेऽधा॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जङ्घनाव॒ भूरि॑ । जु॒होमि॑ ते ध॒रुणं॒ मध्वो॒ अग्र॑मु॒भा उ॑पां॒शु प्र॑थ॒मा पि॑बाव ॥

Pray come forward and be on my right side in your own place, and together we shall eliminate all darkness and adversities. I offer you the best, foremost and sweetest honeyed homage of the self, and we shall together drink of the joy of victory in closest intimacy.

✦ Sukta 84 · 7 verses ✦

10.84.1

त्वया॑ मन्यो स॒रथ॑मारु॒जन्तो॒ हर्ष॑माणासो धृषि॒ता म॑रुत्वः । ति॒ग्मेष॑व॒ आयु॑धा सं॒शिशा॑ना अ॒भि प्र य॑न्तु॒ नरो॑ अ॒ग्निरू॑पाः ॥

O Manyu, spirit of vaulting passion without compromise with negativities, may our leading lights, warriors of universal rectitude, riding the chariot with you, breaking through paths of advancement, joyous, bold, undaunted, stormy like wind shears, their arrows like lazer beams, weapons sharp and blazing, move forward like flames of fire.

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10.84.2

अ॒ग्निरि॑व मन्यो त्विषि॒तः स॑हस्व सेना॒नीर्नः॑ सहुरे हू॒त ए॑धि । ह॒त्वाय॒ शत्रू॒न्वि भ॑जस्व॒ वेद॒ ओजो॒ मिमा॑नो॒ वि मृधो॑ नुदस्व ॥

O Manyu, blazing like fire, commanding our forces, spirit of forbearance and challenge, invoked and called upon, come to lead our battles of life, face the enemies to destroy the adversaries and share the wealth, beauty and goodness of life with all. O spirit comprehending lustrous light of life, move forward, push the adversities back and throw out the adversaries.

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10.84.3

सह॑स्व मन्यो अ॒भिमा॑तिम॒स्मे रु॒जन्मृ॒णन्प्र॑मृ॒णन्प्रेहि॒ शत्रू॑न् । उ॒ग्रं ते॒ पाजो॑ न॒न्वा रु॑रुध्रे व॒शी वशं॑ नयस एकज॒ त्वम् ॥

O wrath of justice, rectitude and dispensation, arise, challenge our adversaries, breaking, smashing, eliminating the forces of negation. Blazing is your face and courage, none to obstruct and stay your advance. You are the master, all in control, leader of the forces of predominance, sole born of divinity without an equal.

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10.84.4

एको॑ बहू॒नाम॑सि मन्यवीळि॒तो विशं॑विशं यु॒धये॒ सं शि॑शाधि । अकृ॑त्तरु॒क्त्वया॑ यु॒जा व॒यं द्यु॒मन्तं॒ घोषं॑ विज॒याय॑ कृण्महे ॥

Manyu, you are the one unique among many, invoked and universally adored. Pray instruct, inspire, prepare and perfect every community to fight and win against negativity and adversity. Your lustre unimpaired and unchallengeable, with you as leader and inspirer, let us raise the blazing battle cry and raise the flag of victory flying sky high.

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10.84.5

वि॒जे॒ष॒कृदिन्द्र॑ इवानवब्र॒वो॒३॒॑ऽस्माकं॑ मन्यो अधि॒पा भ॑वे॒ह । प्रि॒यं ते॒ नाम॑ सहुरे गृणीमसि वि॒द्मा तमुत्सं॒ यत॑ आब॒भूथ॑ ॥

Uncontradicted, irreproachable victorious like Indra, O Manyu, be our protector and promoter here throughout life. For sure, O spirit of courage, forbearance and victory, we adore you, dear and adorable of all. We know where you arise from, fountain head of the lust for life, inspiration and victory: Dharma and the universal love of life.

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10.84.6

आभू॑त्या सह॒जा व॑ज्र सायक॒ सहो॑ बिभर्ष्यभिभूत॒ उत्त॑रम् । क्रत्वा॑ नो मन्यो स॒ह मे॒द्ये॑धि महाध॒नस्य॑ पुरुहूत सं॒सृजि॑ ॥

Twin brother of the ardour and glory of life, thunderbolt of divine humanity, unfailing pointed arrow, you bear the higher ardour of human love and passion for life. O Manyu, sweetest companion of living splendour universally invoked and adored, come to us with the force of unfailing yajnic action in the heat of the grand battle scene of life.

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10.84.7

संसृ॑ष्टं॒ धन॑मु॒भयं॑ स॒माकृ॑तम॒स्मभ्यं॑ दत्तां॒ वरु॑णश्च म॒न्युः । भियं॒ दधा॑ना॒ हृद॑येषु॒ शत्र॑वः॒ परा॑जितासो॒ अप॒ नि ल॑यन्ताम् ॥

May Varuna, highest lord of life loved and worshipped with rational choice, and Manyu, highest ardour of life, give us integrated material and spiritual wealth of both this world of humanity and the light of divinity, and may the enemies, negativities and adversities, fear stricken at heart and defeated, run off and dissolve into the darkness of their origin.

✦ Sukta 85 · 47 verses ✦

10.85.1

स॒त्येनोत्त॑भिता॒ भूमिः॒ सूर्ये॒णोत्त॑भिता॒ द्यौः । ऋ॒तेना॑दि॒त्यास्ति॑ष्ठन्ति दि॒वि सोमो॒ अधि॑ श्रि॒तः ॥

The earth is sustained by the force of its own identity within the truth of divine law, the heaven is sustained by the sun within the same truth of divine law, the Adityas are sustained by Rtam, the natural law of Divinity, and Soma is sustained in the highest heaven of the same law.

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10.85.2

सोमे॑नादि॒त्या ब॒लिनः॒ सोमे॑न पृथि॒वी म॒ही । अथो॒ नक्ष॑त्राणामे॒षामु॒पस्थे॒ सोम॒ आहि॑तः ॥

The Adityas are mighty by Soma, divine energy and law of existence. By Soma, the earth is great and adorable. And in the closest environment of these stars Soma is abiding in concentrations as sustaining energy.

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10.85.3

सोमं॑ मन्यते पपि॒वान्यत्स॑म्पिं॒षन्त्योष॑धिम् । सोमं॒ यं ब्र॒ह्माणो॑ वि॒दुर्न तस्या॑श्नाति॒ कश्च॒न ॥

The person who drinks the soma juice feels that the herb which they crush and squeeze for the juice is soma. But the Soma which the divine sages know and realise no one can drink like that.

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10.85.4

आ॒च्छद्वि॑धानैर्गुपि॒तो बार्ह॑तैः सोम रक्षि॒तः । ग्राव्णा॒मिच्छृ॒ण्वन्ति॑ष्ठसि॒ न ते॑ अश्नाति॒ पार्थि॑वः ॥

Preserved by divine ordinances, protected by the measures of Brhat Samans, Soma is guarded safely by somapalas. O Soma, you abide somewhere in divinity hearing the roar of thunder and clouds, no one earthly can drink or experience the ecstasy of your celestial nature and identity.

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10.85.5

यत्त्वा॑ देव प्र॒पिब॑न्ति॒ तत॒ आ प्या॑यसे॒ पुनः॑ । वा॒युः सोम॑स्य रक्षि॒ता समा॑नां॒ मास॒ आकृ॑तिः ॥

O divine Soma, when the sun rays drink you as the moon in the first, dark half of the month, then you come up to full growth as the moon in the second, bright half of the month. The wind, cosmic energy, is the protector of soma in its place. Thus the month is the constituent of years and presents the full form of the two equal fortnights of the moon. Note: Mantras from 6 to 16 are a metaphor which can be interpreted as wedding of the dawn in the context of nature and the Veda, and as wedding of a maiden and relevance of the Veda in the human context. The maiden and the dawn are synonymous.

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10.85.6

रैभ्या॑सीदनु॒देयी॑ नाराशं॒सी न्योच॑नी । सू॒र्याया॑ भ॒द्रमिद्वासो॒ गाथ॑यैति॒ परि॑ष्कृतम् ॥

Raibhi verses of the Veda are the bride’s wedding gifts, Narashansi verses, the bride’s ornaments, grace and good fortune, her bridal robes sanctified by exemplary verses relating to the good life.

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10.85.7

चित्ति॑रा उप॒बर्ह॑णं॒ चक्षु॑रा अ॒भ्यञ्ज॑नम् । द्यौर्भूमिः॒ कोश॑ आसी॒द्यदया॑त्सू॒र्या पति॑म् ॥

When Surya, the dawn, the new bride, goes to the house of her groom, then her noble mind and thought is her resting couch, her gracious eye, the collyrium, and the earth and heaven, her treasure.

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10.85.8

स्तोमा॑ आसन्प्रति॒धयः॑ कु॒रीरं॒ छन्द॑ ओप॒शः । सू॒र्याया॑ अ॒श्विना॑ व॒राग्निरा॑सीत्पुरोग॒वः ॥

Hymns of adoration are the axle of her chariot wheels, music of the hymns, her head scarf and cushion, the Ashvins, prana and udana energies, are friends of the groom, and Agni is the first call of maturity.

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10.85.9

सोमो॑ वधू॒युर॑भवद॒श्विना॑स्तामु॒भा व॒रा । सू॒र्यां यत्पत्ये॒ शंस॑न्तीं॒ मन॑सा सवि॒ताद॑दात् ॥

Soma is the proposer and Ashvins, pranic energies, the first attraction and attention, when Savita, giver of life and light, gives away the bride, love-lorn at heart, to the groom.

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10.85.10

मनो॑ अस्या॒ अन॑ आसी॒द्द्यौरा॑सीदु॒त च्छ॒दिः । शु॒क्राव॑न॒ड्वाहा॑वास्तां॒ यदया॑त्सू॒र्या गृ॒हम् ॥

The mind is her bridal chariot, bright sky its canopy, the sun and moon the motive powers when the bride, like the glorious dawn, goes to her own home with the groom.

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10.85.11

ऋ॒क्सा॒माभ्या॑म॒भिहि॑तौ॒ गावौ॑ ते साम॒नावि॑तः । श्रोत्रं॑ ते च॒क्रे आ॑स्तां दि॒वि पन्था॑श्चराचा॒रः ॥

Sun and moon, both equal and glorious, yoked and celebrated by Rks and Samans, move the chariot on the new procession. Let revelation of the Word and infinite Space be the movement towards advancement, and let the path be both tumultuous and restful over the moving and the unmoving world unto the light of heaven.

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10.85.12

शुची॑ ते च॒क्रे या॒त्या व्या॒नो अक्ष॒ आह॑तः । अनो॑ मन॒स्मयं॑ सू॒र्यारो॑हत्प्रय॒ती पति॑म् ॥

Surya, the new bride, rides the chariot of the mind when she moves to the house of the groom (with her dreams of the future). When she moves, her pure ears are the wheels (on which the chariot moves because the mind moves in response to the stimulants of the senses) and the wind, psychic energy of thought, is the axis of the wheels.

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10.85.13

सू॒र्याया॑ वह॒तुः प्रागा॑त्सवि॒ता यम॒वासृ॑जत् । अ॒घासु॑ हन्यन्ते॒ गावोऽर्जु॑न्योः॒ पर्यु॑ह्यते ॥

The bridal procession of Surya proceeds which Savita, her father, starts. The bullocks are made to move the chariot in Magha constellations and the bride is inducted into the groom’s home in Phalguni constellations.

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10.85.14

यद॑श्विना पृ॒च्छमा॑ना॒वया॑तं त्रिच॒क्रेण॑ वह॒तुं सू॒र्यायाः॑ । विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अनु॒ तद्वा॑मजानन्पु॒त्रः पि॒तरा॑ववृणीत पू॒षा ॥

O Ashvins, married couple, when you come together by the three wheeled mental chariot of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas constituents of personality in balance, asking for fulfilment of the wedding of Surya, let all the Vishvedevas, nobilities around and the mind and senses within, know and approve your intent and purpose, and then let Pusha, future progeny for sustenance, select the life giving parents for the arrival.

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10.85.15

यदया॑तं शुभस्पती वरे॒यं सू॒र्यामुप॑ । क्वैकं॑ च॒क्रं वा॑मासी॒त्क्व॑ दे॒ष्ट्राय॑ तस्थथुः ॥

O Ashvins, protectors and promoters of life’s good, noble men and women of reason and passion, when you come to the bride, darling choice of the groom, where is one of the wheels of your chariot and where abide the two for the purpose of benediction?

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10.85.16

द्वे ते॑ च॒क्रे सू॑र्ये ब्र॒ह्माण॑ ऋतु॒था वि॑दुः । अथैकं॑ च॒क्रं यद्गुहा॒ तद॑द्धा॒तय॒ इद्वि॑दुः ॥

O Surya, bride of the new home, the sages of knowledge know the two wheels of your life’s chariot according to the seasons, i.e., your words and actions according to your moods and circumstances. The third, thought, reflection and intentions, is hidden in the depths of the mind which only exceptional master minds know. And that one is a mystery.

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10.85.17

सू॒र्यायै॑ दे॒वेभ्यो॑ मि॒त्राय॒ वरु॑णाय च । ये भू॒तस्य॒ प्रचे॑तस इ॒दं तेभ्यो॑ऽकरं॒ नमः॑ ॥

This homage I do and offer to Surya, the dawn, the divinities, the loving friend and the wise for the sake of intelligent progeny and to all those who know and enlighten all living beings.

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10.85.18

पू॒र्वा॒प॒रं च॑रतो मा॒ययै॒तौ शिशू॒ क्रीळ॑न्तौ॒ परि॑ यातो अध्व॒रम् । विश्वा॑न्य॒न्यो भुव॑नाभि॒चष्ट॑ ऋ॒तूँर॒न्यो वि॒दध॑ज्जायते॒ पुनः॑ ॥

These two, sun and moon, move on in sequential order by their own power and virtue, playing happily like innocent children and go on participating and contributing to the divine yajna of the cosmos. Of these, one watches and enlightens all regions of the world and the other rises again and again according to the season and thereby setting the seasons in order.

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10.85.19

नवो॑नवो भवति॒ जाय॑मा॒नोऽह्नां॑ के॒तुरु॒षसा॑मे॒त्यग्र॑म् । भा॒गं दे॒वेभ्यो॒ वि द॑धात्या॒यन्प्र च॒न्द्रमा॑स्तिरते दी॒र्घमायुः॑ ॥

The moon rising again and again ever anew, proclaiming days and lunar dates, comes ahead of the dawn in the dark fortnight. While coming it brings its share of the havi for divinities and gives long life to biological and human life.

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10.85.20

सु॒किं॒शु॒कं श॑ल्म॒लिं वि॒श्वरू॑पं॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्णं सु॒वृतं॑ सुच॒क्रम् । आ रो॑ह सूर्ये अ॒मृत॑स्य लो॒कं स्यो॒नं पत्ये॑ वह॒तुं कृ॑णुष्व ॥

Welcome, O bride, bright dawn of a new morning, ride and rule the golden, well structured, well geared chariot of a homely world, beautiful and glowing like a shalmali garden in bloom and turn it into paradisal bliss of immortal joy for the husband and the family.

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10.85.21

उदी॒र्ष्वातः॒ पति॑वती॒ ह्ये॒३॒॑षा वि॒श्वाव॑सुं॒ नम॑सा गी॒र्भिरी॑ळे । अ॒न्यामि॑च्छ पितृ॒षदं॒ व्य॑क्तां॒ स ते॑ भा॒गो ज॒नुषा॒ तस्य॑ विद्धि ॥

Rise from here. This girl is now married as wife to a husband. Thanks and salutations I offer to the master of the world’s wealth with homage and words of reverence and adoration. Love this girl, your other self, born, bred and raised to fullness in the parental home. She is now a part of your life. Know her, accept and take her as a complement of your self from the very birth by nature, culture and future growth of your life.

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10.85.22

उदी॒र्ष्वातो॑ विश्वावसो॒ नम॑सेळा महे त्वा । अ॒न्यामि॑च्छ प्रफ॒र्व्यं१॒॑ सं जा॒यां पत्या॑ सृज ॥

Rise from here and now, O master of the wealth of a new world, we honour and adore you with reverence and homage. Love this bride, this other self of yours, fully mature and cultured, accept, take and join her in the role of husband.

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10.85.23

अ॒नृ॒क्ष॒रा ऋ॒जवः॑ सन्तु॒ पन्था॒ येभिः॒ सखा॑यो॒ यन्ति॑ नो वरे॒यम् । सम॑र्य॒मा सं भगो॑ नो निनीया॒त्सं जा॑स्प॒त्यं सु॒यम॑मस्तु देवाः ॥

Let our paths be simple, natural and comfortable, free from obstacles, by which our friends may win the goal of their choice. May Aryama, lord of vision, justice and rectitude, and Bhaga, lord of power, prosperity and glory, lead us on to fulfilment. O divinities of nature and humanity, may our married life be happy, noble and fruitful.

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10.85.24

प्र त्वा॑ मुञ्चामि॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ पाशा॒द्येन॒ त्वाब॑ध्नात्सवि॒ता सु॒शेवः॑ । ऋ॒तस्य॒ योनौ॑ सुकृ॒तस्य॑ लो॒केऽरि॑ष्टां त्वा स॒ह पत्या॑ दधामि ॥

I free you from the bonds of Varuna, discipline of virginity observed in the spirit of justice, freedom and responsibility in the parental home, into which Savita, lord giver of life and natural growth unto maturity, had bound you in full dedication without inhibition, and I settle and establish you with your husband into a new life of natural conjugal order in the world of noble action free from sin, violence and violation of the law.

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10.85.25

प्रेतो मु॒ञ्चामि॒ नामुतः॑ सुब॒द्धाम॒मुत॑स्करम् । यथे॒यमि॑न्द्र मीढ्वः सुपु॒त्रा सु॒भगास॑ति ॥

I release you from here, the parental home and its discipline, but not from there, the husband’s home, where I establish you duly bound in the new conjugal law and discipline so that, O Indra, O noble husband, she may be the proud and fortunate mother of noble progeny.

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10.85.26

पू॒षा त्वे॒तो न॑यतु हस्त॒गृह्या॒श्विना॑ त्वा॒ प्र व॑हतां॒ रथे॑न । गृ॒हान्ग॑च्छ गृ॒हप॑त्नी॒ यथासो॑ व॒शिनी॒ त्वं वि॒दथ॒मा व॑दासि ॥

May Pusha, the husband who would maintain you, having accepted your hand, lead you to the new home. May the Ashvins, other leading personalities, escort you by chariot to the husband’s home. O bride, go to the new home and new families as mistress of the new home and new family so that you become the darling ruler of the new hearth and home. You are come to a new yajnic order, and you speak a new language of yajnic dedication.

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10.85.27

इ॒ह प्रि॒यं प्र॒जया॑ ते॒ समृ॑ध्यताम॒स्मिन्गृ॒हे गार्ह॑पत्याय जागृहि । ए॒ना पत्या॑ त॒न्वं१॒॑ सं सृ॑ज॒स्वाधा॒ जिव्री॑ वि॒दथ॒मा व॑दाथः ॥

Here in the new home may your new love and happiness increase to new heights with family and children. In this new home keep awake for the good of the children and the family. Here with this husband of yours join in body and mind, and both of you enjoy good fellowship, company and converse till full age and fulfilment in yajnic life.

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10.85.28

नी॒ल॒लो॒हि॒तं भ॑वति कृ॒त्यास॒क्तिर्व्य॑ज्यते । एध॑न्ते अस्या ज्ञा॒तयः॒ पति॑र्ब॒न्धेषु॑ बध्यते ॥

Then the blood grows dark and red, love and desire vibrates for fulfilment, the near kinsmen of this bride swell with hope and expectation, and the husband is bound in new responsibilities.

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10.85.29

परा॑ देहि शामु॒ल्यं॑ ब्र॒ह्मभ्यो॒ वि भ॑जा॒ वसु॑ । कृ॒त्यैषा प॒द्वती॑ भू॒त्व्या जा॒या वि॑शते॒ पति॑म् ॥

Cast away the sense of sin and impurity, share wealth and knowledge with and from the holy and wise, and when the bride has taken the seven steps to conjugal duty, she joins the husband heart and soul.

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10.85.30

अ॒श्री॒रा त॒नूर्भ॑वति॒ रुश॑ती पा॒पया॑मु॒या । पति॒र्यद्व॒ध्वो॒३॒॑ वास॑सा॒ स्वमङ्ग॑मभि॒धित्स॑ते ॥

The body becomes polluted, injured and injurious by that impious act if the husband touches or wants to touch his body with the clothes of the wife in her period.

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10.85.31

ये व॒ध्व॑श्च॒न्द्रं व॑ह॒तुं यक्ष्मा॒ यन्ति॒ जना॒दनु॑ । पुन॒स्तान्य॒ज्ञिया॑ दे॒वा नय॑न्तु॒ यत॒ आग॑ताः ॥

Those consumptive ailments which afflict the health and handsomeness of the husband or the beauty and fertility of the wife from birth, let the sages and brilliant specialists of yajna treat and cure upto the source whence, otherwise, they may come and afflict again.

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10.85.32

मा वि॑दन्परिप॒न्थिनो॒ य आ॒सीद॑न्ति॒ दम्प॑ती । सु॒गेभि॑र्दु॒र्गमती॑ता॒मप॑ द्रा॒न्त्वरा॑तयः ॥

And those which overtake and afflict the wedded couple on their course of life must not come, and may all adversities, wants and malignities disappear and go down to far off depths beyond recurrence.

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10.85.33

सु॒म॒ङ्ग॒लीरि॒यं व॒धूरि॒मां स॒मेत॒ पश्य॑त । सौभा॑ग्यमस्यै द॒त्त्वायाथास्तं॒ वि परे॑तन ॥

Auspicious is this bride, gracious, please come, see her to wish her all good fortune in life, and having thus blessed her, you may please retire homeward.

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10.85.34

तृ॒ष्टमे॒तत्कटु॑कमे॒तद॑पा॒ष्ठव॑द्वि॒षव॒न्नैतदत्त॑वे । सू॒र्यां यो ब्र॒ह्मा वि॒द्यात्स इद्वाधू॑यमर्हति ॥

Matrimony? It is roughshod, it is thorny bitter, all barbs, all poison, it is dangerous to flirt with it. Only the wise youth of divine vision who knows and realises the light and sanctity of Surya, he deserves the prize he may carry away.

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10.85.35

आ॒शस॑नं वि॒शस॑न॒मथो॑ अधिवि॒कर्त॑नम् । सू॒र्यायाः॑ पश्य रू॒पाणि॒ तानि॑ ब्र॒ह्मा तु शु॑न्धति ॥

Hope, fear and debasement, frustration, anger and cruelty, and the irony that cuts too deep to the very core, these are various moods and manners of women. These the wise vision knows and corrects, purifies or excuses with superior understanding.

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10.85.36

गृ॒भ्णामि॑ ते सौभग॒त्वाय॒ हस्तं॒ मया॒ पत्या॑ ज॒रद॑ष्टि॒र्यथासः॑ । भगो॑ अर्य॒मा स॑वि॒ता पुरं॑धि॒र्मह्यं॑ त्वादु॒र्गार्ह॑पत्याय दे॒वाः ॥

I take your hand for the sake of good fortune so that you may live a long full life till old age with me, your husband. Bhaga, lord of glory, Aryama, lord of cosmic order, Savita lord giver of life and light, and Purandhi, divine beneficence, have given you to me for the creation of a happy home and family.

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10.85.37

तां पू॑षञ्छि॒वत॑मा॒मेर॑यस्व॒ यस्यां॒ बीजं॑ मनु॒ष्या॒३॒॑ वप॑न्ति । या न॑ ऊ॒रू उ॑श॒ती वि॒श्रया॑ते॒ यस्या॑मु॒शन्तः॑ प्र॒हरा॑म॒ शेप॑म् ॥

Pushan, O lord of creativity and growth, inspire her, the most auspicious wife, in whom men sow the seed of life, who, moved with love and desire for progeny, surrenders herself with body and mind and men too with love and passion enter into the conjugal rite of consummation.

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10.85.38

तुभ्य॒मग्रे॒ पर्य॑वहन्त्सू॒र्यां व॑ह॒तुना॑ स॒ह । पुनः॒ पति॑भ्यो जा॒यां दा अ॑ग्ने प्र॒जया॑ स॒ह ॥

O lord of divine fire, Agni, parents bring Surya, the bright bride to you with her gifts and ornaments. O yajna fire, pray give back the bride to the husband alongwith her potential to bear children for the husband.

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10.85.39

पुनः॒ पत्नी॑म॒ग्निर॑दा॒दायु॑षा स॒ह वर्च॑सा । दी॒र्घायु॑रस्या॒ यः पति॒र्जीवा॑ति श॒रदः॑ श॒तम् ॥

Agni then gives Surya, now a wife, when the wedding ceremony is complete, to the husband along with her health and age, honour and lustre of life with the blessing: Long live the man who is her husband for a full hundred years.

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10.85.40

सोमः॑ प्रथ॒मो वि॑विदे गन्ध॒र्वो वि॑विद॒ उत्त॑रः । तृ॒तीयो॑ अ॒ग्निष्टे॒ पति॑स्तु॒रीय॑स्ते मनुष्य॒जाः ॥

O Surya, bright girl, your first protective and promotive guardian is Soma, nature’s energy which leads you to puberty. The next is Gandharva which energises you with fertility. The third is Agni which inspires you with love and passion. And your fourth guardian is your husband, son of man, for the extension of humanity.

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10.85.41

सोमो॑ ददद्गन्ध॒र्वाय॑ गन्ध॒र्वो द॑दद॒ग्नये॑ । र॒यिं च॑ पु॒त्राँश्चा॑दाद॒ग्निर्मह्य॒मथो॑ इ॒माम् ॥

Soma gives you to Gandharva, Gandharva gives you to Agni, and O dear bride, Agni then gives this wife to me, the husband, and with her gives me progeny and wealth, honour and excellence of family life.

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10.85.42

इ॒हैव स्तं॒ मा वि यौ॑ष्टं॒ विश्व॒मायु॒र्व्य॑श्नुतम् । क्रीळ॑न्तौ पु॒त्रैर्नप्तृ॑भि॒र्मोद॑मानौ॒ स्वे गृ॒हे ॥

O man and wife, live here itself in the family joined together, never separate, live and enjoy a full life in your own home playing and celebrating life with children and grand children.

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10.85.43

आ नः॑ प्र॒जां ज॑नयतु प्र॒जाप॑तिराजर॒साय॒ सम॑नक्त्वर्य॒मा । अदु॑र्मङ्गलीः पतिलो॒कमा वि॑श॒ शं नो॑ भव द्वि॒पदे॒ शं चतु॑ष्पदे ॥

May Prajapati bless us with children, may Aryama bring us honour and glory upto the completion of a long full age, may the blessed wife abide with grace in the husband’s home of paradisal bliss, and may there be all round peace and well being for humans and animals all.

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10.85.44

अघो॑रचक्षु॒रप॑तिघ्न्येधि शि॒वा प॒शुभ्यः॑ सु॒मनाः॑ सु॒वर्चाः॑ । वी॒र॒सूर्दे॒वका॑मा स्यो॒ना शं नो॑ भव द्वि॒पदे॒ शं चतु॑ष्पदे ॥

Be lady of the gracious eye for the husband. Be kind and good to the animals, noble at heart and brilliant in mind and sense of honour and propriety. Be the mother of brave and noble children. Love your husband’s brothers. Be cheerful and blissful. Let there be all round peace and total well being for us all, peace and well being for humans and animals all.

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10.85.45

इ॒मां त्वमि॑न्द्र मीढ्वः सुपु॒त्रां सु॒भगां॑ कृणु । दशा॑स्यां पु॒त्राना धे॑हि॒ पति॑मेकाद॒शं कृ॑धि ॥

Lord of glory and fertility, Indra, bountiful ruler of the world and the home, bless this bride for noble progeny, honour and glory. Give her ten children, and let the husband be the eleventh, as guardian over all.

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10.85.46

स॒म्राज्ञी॒ श्वशु॑रे भव स॒म्राज्ञी॑ श्व॒श्र्वां भ॑व । नना॑न्दरि स॒म्राज्ञी॑ भव स॒म्राज्ञी॒ अधि॑ दे॒वृषु॑ ॥

Be a darling queen for the father-in-law, be a favourite queen for the mother-in-law, be a loving queen for the sister-in-law, and a kind queen for the brothers- in-law.

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10.85.47

सम॑ञ्जन्तु॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वाः समापो॒ हृद॑यानि नौ । सं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॒ सं धा॒ता समु॒ देष्ट्री॑ दधातु नौ ॥

Listen and know all ye Vishvedevas, divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity, like the waters of two streams our hearts and mind are one. May the Vayu join us as one personality. May the lord controller of the world make us one personality. May mother Sarasvati of the divine voice join and proclaim us as one. May the Vishvedevas join and integrate our hearts and minds into one inseparable personality.

✦ Sukta 86 · 23 verses ✦

10.86.1

वि हि सोतो॒रसृ॑क्षत॒ नेन्द्रं॑ दे॒वम॑मंसत । यत्राम॑दद्वृ॒षाक॑पिर॒र्यः पु॒ष्टेषु॒ मत्स॑खा॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

The creatures having been created flowed forth, streamed too far and strayed from acknowledgement of the creator Indra, where Vrshapkapi, the human soul, jivatma, top master among the created, rejoiced among them. My friend and favourite Indra, great and generous, is supreme over the whole creation, says Prakrti, the mother consort.

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10.86.2

परा॒ ही॑न्द्र॒ धाव॑सि वृ॒षाक॑पे॒रति॒ व्यथिः॑ । नो अह॒ प्र वि॑न्दस्य॒न्यत्र॒ सोम॑पीतये॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

Indra, far too far you move from Vrshakapi who feels too sorrow stricken. O jivatma you would not find anywhere else other than Indra’s presence to enjoy the soma joy of life... Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.3

किम॒यं त्वां वृ॒षाक॑पिश्च॒कार॒ हरि॑तो मृ॒गः । यस्मा॑ इर॒स्यसीदु॒ न्व१॒॑र्यो वा॑ पुष्टि॒मद्वसु॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

What has this Vrshakapi done to you, this golden green natural, who needs initiation but who is the top master spirit of the created, toward whom you show so much resentment? Indra is supreme over the whole creation.

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10.86.4

यमि॒मं त्वं वृ॒षाक॑पिं प्रि॒यमि॑न्द्राभि॒रक्ष॑सि । श्वा न्व॑स्य जम्भिष॒दपि॒ कर्णे॑ वराह॒युर्विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

Indra, your darling Vrshakapi whom you protect and favour so much falls a victim to greed which crushes him in its jaws as a hound seizes a boar by the ear. Indra is supreme over the whole creation.

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10.86.5

प्रि॒या त॒ष्टानि॑ मे क॒पिर्व्य॑क्ता॒ व्य॑दूदुषत् । शिरो॒ न्व॑स्य राविषं॒ न सु॒गं दु॒ष्कृते॑ भुवं॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

And all my dear forms of existence wrought into beauteous being, he pollutes. I would rather push his head down, I would not be good and never allow him anything too easily for this sinner. Indra is supreme over all the world.

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10.86.6

न मत्स्त्री सु॑भ॒सत्त॑रा॒ न सु॒याशु॑तरा भुवत् । न मत्प्रति॑च्यवीयसी॒ न सक्थ्युद्य॑मीयसी॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

There is no other creative consort of Indra other than Prakrti, no female more charming, more agreeable, more pliant, more responsive, more attractive and more elevating, none other than me. Indra is supreme over all the world.

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10.86.7

उ॒वे अ॑म्ब सुलाभिके॒ यथे॑वा॒ङ्ग भ॑वि॒ष्यति॑ । भ॒सन्मे॑ अम्ब॒ सक्थि॑ मे॒ शिरो॑ मे॒ वी॑व हृष्यति॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

Mother Nature, Prakrti, blessed and blissful fertility and giver of virility, whatever is to be shall be. My breast, my loins, my head all vibrate with energy, your gift. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.8

किं सु॑बाहो स्वङ्गुरे॒ पृथु॑ष्टो॒ पृथु॑जाघने । किं शू॑रपत्नि न॒स्त्वम॒भ्य॑मीषि वृ॒षाक॑पिं॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

O lady of lovely arms and nimble fingers, wavy hair and ample zone, divine consort of omnipotence, why do you arraign Vrshakapi, why blame jivatma? Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.9

अ॒वीरा॑मिव॒ माम॒यं श॒रारु॑र॒भि म॑न्यते । उ॒ताहम॑स्मि वी॒रिणीन्द्र॑पत्नी म॒रुत्स॑खा॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

This naughty thinks of me as naught, bereft of the brave, while I am blest with heroes, and I am the creative consort of Indra and friend of the Maruts, stormy troops of the winds of nature. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.10

सं॒हो॒त्रं स्म॑ पु॒रा नारी॒ सम॑नं॒ वाव॑ गच्छति । वे॒धा ऋ॒तस्य॑ वी॒रिणीन्द्र॑पत्नी महीयते॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

The creative force in original time receives the cosmic seed and stirs into action for the dynamics of creative evolution. For this very reason, Prakrti, impregnated with the cosmic seed, is exalted as the consort of Indra, mother of the universal brave, controller of the laws of existence. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.11

इ॒न्द्रा॒णीमा॒सु नारि॑षु सु॒भगा॑म॒हम॑श्रवम् । न॒ह्य॑स्या अप॒रं च॒न ज॒रसा॒ मर॑ते॒ पति॒र्विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

So have I heard of Indrani among the creative dames as the mother of glory. Never shall her lord, Indra, ever die of old age like others, men of mortal nature. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.12

नाहमि॑न्द्राणि रारण॒ सख्यु॑र्वृ॒षाक॑पेॠ॒ते । यस्ये॒दमप्यं॑ ह॒विः प्रि॒यं दे॒वेषु॒ गच्छ॑ति॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

O divine consort, Indrani, I never enjoy the play of existence without my friend and companion, Vrshakapi, generous playful humanity, since the havi given by him and given for nature and humanity goes up and reaches the divinities which I share. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.13

वृषा॑कपायि॒ रेव॑ति॒ सुपु॑त्र॒ आदु॒ सुस्नु॑षे । घस॑त्त॒ इन्द्र॑ उ॒क्षणः॑ प्रि॒यं का॑चित्क॒रं ह॒विर्विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

O Vrshakapayi, mother Prakrti, provider of living beings, opulent and abundant power, mother of noble children and giver of joy and bliss, mother fertility, Indra would ultimately take over and consume whatever dear, creative and inspiring havi you would offer here in the created world. Indra is supreme over all the world.

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10.86.14

उ॒क्ष्णो हि मे॒ पञ्च॑दश सा॒कं पच॑न्ति विंश॒तिम् । उ॒ताहम॑द्मि॒ पीव॒ इदु॒भा कु॒क्षी पृ॑णन्ति मे॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

Natural powers of creative mother Prakrti ripen, mature and give up fifteen evolutionary forms of matter, energy and mind with twenty parts of the biological systems which I swallow at the completion of the existential cycle and I feel satisfied with the involutionary consumption of the Rtam and Satyam modes of existence. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.15

वृ॒ष॒भो न ति॒ग्मशृ॑ङ्गो॒ऽन्तर्यू॒थेषु॒ रोरु॑वत् । म॒न्थस्त॑ इन्द्र॒ शं हृ॒दे यं ते॑ सु॒नोति॑ भाव॒युर्विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

Indra, just as a sharp horned bull bellows and lords over the herds of cattle with pride, so may the joyous process of the creative cycle which the dedicated celebrant and loving Prakrti enacts for you give you satisfaction and joy at heart as lord and master of the world.

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10.86.16

न सेशे॒ यस्य॒ रम्ब॑तेऽन्त॒रा स॒क्थ्या॒३॒॑ कपृ॑त् । सेदी॑शे॒ यस्य॑ रोम॒शं नि॑षे॒दुषो॑ वि॒जृम्भ॑ते॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

That person does not rule over the self whose hedonic mind roams and rambles around among objects of sensual pleasure. That person rules as master of the self whose radiant mind in a state of peace and freedom blossoms and expands in spiritual wakefulness. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.17

न सेशे॒ यस्य॑ रोम॒शं नि॑षे॒दुषो॑ वि॒जृम्भ॑ते । सेदी॑शे॒ यस्य॒ रम्ब॑तेऽन्त॒रा स॒क्थ्या॒३॒॑ कपृ॒द्विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

That person whose radiant mind in a state of peace and freedom blossoms and expands in spiritual wakefulness does not rule the world of Prakrti. The master that rules the world of Prakrti is the power whose ecstatic presence in peace and sovereignty pervades in and over space and time. Indra is supreme over all.

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10.86.18

अ॒यमि॑न्द्र वृ॒षाक॑पिः॒ पर॑स्वन्तं ह॒तं वि॑दत् । अ॒सिं सू॒नां नवं॑ च॒रुमादेध॒स्यान॒ आचि॑तं॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

Indra, lord omnipresent and omnipotent, let this Vrshakapi, lover of joyous showers and shaker of thoughts of evil, know and realise that the duality between the self and the super self is ended. Then he will attain the soul inspiring pranic energy, creative intelligence, new spirit of yajnic performance and full achievement of the saving light of divinity. Indra is supreme over all the world.

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10.86.19

अ॒यमे॑मि वि॒चाक॑शद्विचि॒न्वन्दास॒मार्य॑म् । पिबा॑मि पाक॒सुत्व॑नो॒ऽभि धीर॑मचाकशं॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

Perceiving the light of knowledge, building up my score of yajnic action, I come to the omnificent vibrant presence of divinity, and I drink of the nectar of the light and life of purity, eternity and direct realisation of divine communion. Indra is greater than the world of existence.

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10.86.20

धन्व॑ च॒ यत्कृ॒न्तत्रं॑ च॒ कति॑ स्वि॒त्ता वि योज॑ना । नेदी॑यसो वृषाक॒पेऽस्त॒मेहि॑ गृ॒हाँ उप॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

The desert land, the dead-wood or the dark abyss, whatever, wherever, howsoever many they be, they must be given up. Come closer to your own homes, shelter of the closest divinity. Indra is supreme over all the world.

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10.86.21

पुन॒रेहि॑ वृषाकपे सुवि॒ता क॑ल्पयावहै । य ए॒ष स्व॑प्न॒नंश॒नोऽस्त॒मेषि॑ प॒था पुन॒र्विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

O Vrshakapi, come again and both of us would create good things for your peace and comfort in well being. Thus destroying the state of dream and sleep, this lover of showers and breeze, Vrshakapi comes home by the paths of existence and piety again and again. Indra is supreme over all the world.

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10.86.22

यदुद॑ञ्चो वृषाकपे गृ॒हमि॒न्द्राज॑गन्तन । क्व१॒॑ स्य पु॑ल्व॒घो मृ॒गः कम॑गञ्जन॒योप॑नो॒ विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

O Vrshakapi, O Indra, when the higher souls come rising to the state of peace in the divine home, then where does the sinner, the vexatious and the seeker roaming around go, to what state of life? Great is Indra, supreme over all the world.

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10.86.23

पर्शु॑र्ह॒ नाम॑ मान॒वी सा॒कं स॑सूव विंश॒तिम् । भ॒द्रं भ॑ल॒ त्यस्या॑ अभू॒द्यस्या॑ उ॒दर॒माम॑य॒द्विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः ॥

The creative and catalytic power of omniscient Indra, universal mother, together creates twenty varying modes of matter, energy and thought for physical, biological and intelligent forms of existence. O noble soul, blessed be the mother who suffers the travail to bear the transmigrant soul on way to earthly pleasure and pain and then the bliss

divine. Great is Indra, greater than all, supreme over all the world.

✦ Sukta 87 · 25 verses ✦

10.87.1

र॒क्षो॒हणं॑ वा॒जिन॒मा जि॑घर्मि मि॒त्रं प्रथि॑ष्ठ॒मुप॑ यामि॒ शर्म॑ । शिशा॑नो अ॒ग्निः क्रतु॑भिः॒ समि॑द्धः॒ स नो॒ दिवा॒ स रि॒षः पा॑तु॒ नक्त॑म् ॥

I sprinkle the holy fire with ghrta and dedicate myself to Agni, light and fire of life, destroyer of evil and giver of victory, friend and saviour most boundless, and there I find peace and freedom for life eternal. May Agni, sharp and blazing with yajnic actions of creativity, protect and promote us against hate and enmity, violence and obstruction day and night.

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10.87.2

अयो॑दंष्ट्रो अ॒र्चिषा॑ यातु॒धाना॒नुप॑ स्पृश जातवेदः॒ समि॑द्धः । आ जि॒ह्वया॒ मूर॑देवान्रभस्व क्र॒व्यादो॑ वृ॒क्त्व्यपि॑ धत्स्वा॒सन् ॥

Omnipresent spirit of life and protection of existence, blazing with flames of fire and fierce with jaws of steel, destroy the anti-life elements with the touch of your lazer beams, seize the agents of death with flames, catch the blood suckers and flesh eaters with the jaws and crush them to naught.

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10.87.3

उ॒भोभ॑यावि॒न्नुप॑ धेहि॒ दंष्ट्रा॑ हिं॒स्रः शिशा॒नोऽव॑रं॒ परं॑ च । उ॒तान्तरि॑क्षे॒ परि॑ याहि राज॒ञ्जम्भैः॒ सं धे॑ह्य॒भि या॑तु॒धाना॑न् ॥

Destroyer of the negative, refining the positive, commanding both creative and corrective powers for protective and punitive purposes, promote life both here and hereafter. O refulgent ruler of the world, fly over the skies and, with the force of both power and persuasion, overwhelm the violent and destructive, and either correct and integrate them or throw them out.

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10.87.4

य॒ज्ञैरिषूः॑ सं॒नम॑मानो अग्ने वा॒चा श॒ल्याँ अ॒शनि॑भिर्दिहा॒नः । ताभि॑र्विध्य॒ हृद॑ये यातु॒धाना॑न्प्रती॒चो बा॒हून्प्रति॑ भङ्ध्येषाम् ॥

Organising the armed forces into order, alliance and submission by discussion, cooperation and submission, shining and updating the forces by the addition of lightning weapons and thereby paralysing the heart core of the terrorist forces, break their violent arms all round.

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10.87.5

अग्ने॒ त्वचं॑ यातु॒धान॑स्य भिन्धि हिं॒स्राशनि॒र्हर॑सा हन्त्वेनम् । प्र पर्वा॑णि जातवेदः शृणीहि क्र॒व्यात्क्र॑वि॒ष्णुर्वि चि॑नोतु वृ॒क्णम् ॥

Agni, Jataveda, present everywhere, break through the cover, camouflage, secret shelters and hideouts of the elements of evil, violence and sabotage with fatal light and penetrative power, split up every section and every unit of it to bits, disperse and destroy them all, and let the fire which consumes the dead collect and consume the remains and reduce them to ash.

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10.87.6

यत्रे॒दानीं॒ पश्य॑सि जातवेद॒स्तिष्ठ॑न्तमग्न उ॒त वा॒ चर॑न्तम् । यद्वा॒न्तरि॑क्षे प॒थिभिः॒ पत॑न्तं॒ तमस्ता॑ विध्य॒ शर्वा॒ शिशा॑नः ॥

And now, whenever you see, O ruler all knowing,Agni, the enemies of life, elements of darkness and destruction, covered in clusters or roaming around or even flying in the sky by paths of air, then sharp, shining and instantly shooting, destroy the enemy with a fatal shot of thunderous missile.

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10.87.7

उ॒ताल॑ब्धं स्पृणुहि जातवेद आलेभा॒नादृ॒ष्टिभि॑र्यातु॒धाना॑त् । अग्ने॒ पूर्वो॒ नि ज॑हि॒ शोशु॑चान आ॒मादः॒ क्ष्विङ्का॒स्तम॑द॒न्त्वेनीः॑ ॥

Agni, first and foremost power, bright and blazing, knowing and commanding over everything born, with the strike of your force, power and punishment, release the innocents caught up in the clutches of the forces of violence and terror, destroy the carnivorous, blood suckers and eaters into the flesh, and let them be thrown to the vociferous vultures.

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10.87.8

इ॒ह प्र ब्रू॑हि यत॒मः सो अ॑ग्ने॒ यो या॑तु॒धानो॒ य इ॒दं कृ॒णोति॑ । तमा र॑भस्व स॒मिधा॑ यविष्ठ नृ॒चक्ष॑स॒श्चक्षु॑षे रन्धयैनम् ॥

Agni, expose and proclaim right here whoever be the violent force that does this damage. O youthful power ever watchful of humanity, subject it to the fuel fire and destroy it that all may see.

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10.87.9

ती॒क्ष्णेना॑ग्ने॒ चक्षु॑षा रक्ष य॒ज्ञं प्राञ्चं॒ वसु॑भ्यः॒ प्र ण॑य प्रचेतः । हिं॒स्रं रक्षां॑स्य॒भि शोशु॑चानं॒ मा त्वा॑ दभन्यातु॒धाना॑ नृचक्षः ॥

O Agni, blazing ruling power of nature and the world, ever alert, ever watchful of humanity, with penetrative and comprehensive eye, guard, protect and promote the yajnic order of society enacted and proceeding so clearly and transparently, and let it progress for the achievement of wealth, honour and excellence for all the people. Unsparing destroyer of the negatives, shining, and burning the destructive, let no violent force terrorize or depress you ever.

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10.87.10

नृ॒चक्षा॒ रक्षः॒ परि॑ पश्य वि॒क्षु तस्य॒ त्रीणि॒ प्रति॑ शृणी॒ह्यग्रा॑ । तस्या॑ग्ने पृ॒ष्टीर्हर॑सा शृणीहि त्रे॒धा मूलं॑ यातु॒धान॑स्य वृश्च ॥

Agni, all watchful power, watch for the wicked enemy hidden among the people, crush his three prime forces of intelligence, arms and follow up. With your blazing fire and passion, break his back three ways, financial, manpower and allies. Throw up and throw out the forces of violence and destruction root and branch wherever they be.

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10.87.11

त्रिर्या॑तु॒धानः॒ प्रसि॑तिं त एत्वृ॒तं यो अ॑ग्ने॒ अनृ॑तेन॒ हन्ति॑ । तम॒र्चिषा॑ स्फू॒र्जय॑ञ्जातवेदः सम॒क्षमे॑नं गृण॒ते नि वृ॑ङ्धि ॥

Agni, all knowing Jataveda, brilliant ruler, whoever violates the law of truth with the force of untruth, must suffer threefold shackles of your law and power, justice, punishment and deterrence. Crashing on him with the light and power of truth, crushing him down openly before the law abiding and socially dedicated people, root out the evil and the violent.

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10.87.12

तद॑ग्ने॒ चक्षुः॒ प्रति॑ धेहि रे॒भे श॑फा॒रुजं॒ येन॒ पश्य॑सि यातु॒धान॑म् । अ॒थ॒र्व॒वज्ज्योति॑षा॒ दैव्ये॑न स॒त्यं धूर्व॑न्तम॒चितं॒ न्यो॑ष ॥

O Agni, cast the same eye of light on the law abiding celebrant of the social order by which you watch the violent and antisocial elements treading on the peace and order of society. As an enlightened power undisturbed at heart, with your divine light and power, light up or burn out the callous and violent destroyer of truth and law.

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10.87.13

यद॑ग्ने अ॒द्य मि॑थु॒ना शपा॑तो॒ यद्वा॒चस्तृ॒ष्टं ज॒नय॑न्त रे॒भाः । म॒न्योर्मन॑सः शर॒व्या॒३॒॑ जाय॑ते॒ या तया॑ विध्य॒ हृद॑ये यातु॒धाना॑न् ॥

Agni, the sharp and shooting words with which fighting rivals revile and execrate, the rough and raging words which the poet creates for irony, the piercing pain that issues forth in words from the mind in a state of passion, with that language chastise and strike the demonic violent deep to the heart core (yourself undisturbed).

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10.87.14

परा॑ शृणीहि॒ तप॑सा यातु॒धाना॒न्परा॑ग्ने॒ रक्षो॒ हर॑सा शृणीहि । परा॒र्चिषा॒ मूर॑देवाञ्छृणीहि॒ परा॑सु॒तृपो॑ अ॒भि शोशु॑चानः ॥

Agni, shatter the violent with heat, destroy the demonic with passion, destroy the destroyers with blaze, and destroy the devitalizers with light.

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10.87.15

परा॒द्य दे॒वा वृ॑जि॒नं शृ॑णन्तु प्र॒त्यगे॑नं श॒पथा॑ यन्तु तृ॒ष्टाः । वा॒चास्ते॑नं॒ शर॑व ऋच्छन्तु॒ मर्म॒न्विश्व॑स्यैतु॒ प्रसि॑तिं यातु॒धानः॑ ॥

Let the divinities break off the crooked, let the cruel curses visit back upon the crooked curser, let the arrows reach the heart core of the thief with the right message, and let the saboteur suffer universal bondage with loss of freedom under the rule of Agni.

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10.87.16

यः पौरु॑षेयेण क्र॒विषा॑ सम॒ङ्क्ते यो अश्व्ये॑न प॒शुना॑ यातु॒धानः॑ । यो अ॒घ्न्याया॒ भर॑ति क्षी॒रम॑ग्ने॒ तेषां॑ शी॒र्षाणि॒ हर॒सापि॑ वृश्च ॥

Whoever feeds himself upon the flesh of humanity, whoever prospers by animal wealth at the cost of animal wealth by destroying it, whoever carries off the milk of the inviolable cow and destroys the fertility of the earth, O Agni, strike off their heads with light and passion for truth.

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10.87.17

सं॒व॒त्स॒रीणं॒ पय॑ उ॒स्रिया॑या॒स्तस्य॒ माशी॑द्यातु॒धानो॑ नृचक्षः । पी॒यूष॑मग्ने यत॒मस्तितृ॑प्सा॒त्तं प्र॒त्यञ्च॑म॒र्चिषा॑ विध्य॒ मर्म॑न् ॥

Agni, watchful guardian of humanity, let the oppressor not drink milk of the cow for a year, and if the oppressor drinks of the milk and excessively too, punish him with your flame unto the heart core.

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10.87.18

वि॒षं गवां॑ यातु॒धानाः॑ पिब॒न्त्वा वृ॑श्च्यन्ता॒मदि॑तये दु॒रेवाः॑ । परै॑नान्दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता द॑दातु॒ परा॑ भा॒गमोष॑धीनां जयन्ताम् ॥

Let the oppressors of the cows, earth and the environment drink poison instead of milk. Let the oppressors of Aditi, mother, sister and nature suffer in isolation. O Savita, saviour soul of renewal and replenishment, throw them off to ruin and let them be denied their share of herbs and trees. (Those who oppress the creative and productive powers of natural sustenance of life and pollute the sources of energy themselves deny the sustenance because that is the law of Agni in nature and life).

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10.87.19

स॒नाद॑ग्ने मृणसि यातु॒धाना॒न्न त्वा॒ रक्षां॑सि॒ पृत॑नासु जिग्युः । अनु॑ दह स॒हमू॑रान्क्र॒व्यादो॒ मा ते॑ हे॒त्या मु॑क्षत॒ दैव्या॑याः ॥

Agni, you destroy the oppressors since time immorial. Never can the evil dominate over you in their battles against the good. Let the flesh eaters alongwith the cruel and wicked be destroyed, and may they never escape the strike of your divine punishment and natural retribution.

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10.87.20

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने अध॒रादुद॑क्ता॒त्त्वं प॒श्चादु॒त र॑क्षा पु॒रस्ता॑त् । प्रति॒ ते ते॑ अ॒जरा॑स॒स्तपि॑ष्ठा अ॒घशं॑सं॒ शोशु॑चतो दहन्तु ॥

Agni, pray protect us from below, from above, from behind and in front against the oppressors facing us. May those unaging flames shining and blazing burn down the malignant and sinful enemies of life to ashes.

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10.87.21

प॒श्चात्पु॒रस्ता॑दध॒रादुद॑क्तात्क॒विः काव्ये॑न॒ परि॑ पाहि राजन् । सखे॒ सखा॑यम॒जरो॑ जरि॒म्णेऽग्ने॒ मर्ताँ॒ अम॑र्त्य॒स्त्वं नः॑ ॥

O refulgent ruler, divine visionary, protect us all round, from the back and front, from above and below, as now and hereafter, by the light of your vision and wisdom. O Agni, unaging friend, immortal divinity, save the mortals, save your friend, bless us all mortals to live a happy life till a full age of fulfilment.

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10.87.22

परि॑ त्वाग्ने॒ पुरं॑ व॒यं विप्रं॑ सहस्य धीमहि । धृ॒षद्व॑र्णं दि॒वेदि॑वे ह॒न्तारं॑ भङ्गु॒राव॑ताम् ॥

Agni, day in and day out all time, we celebrate and adore you, eternal giver of fulfilment, wise, resolute and brave, redoubtable vanquisher of the mischievous and destroyer of the destroyers of life and nature.

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10.87.23

वि॒षेण॑ भङ्गु॒राव॑तः॒ प्रति॑ ष्म र॒क्षसो॑ दह । अग्ने॑ ति॒ग्मेन॑ शो॒चिषा॒ तपु॑रग्राभिॠ॒ष्टिभिः॑ ॥

Agni, with pervasive and expansive light, heat and penetrative flames and with beams of constant action against the negativities of life and society, pray burn up the crooked and destructive elements of life in every field of their activity.

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10.87.24

प्रत्य॑ग्ने मिथु॒ना द॑ह यातु॒धाना॑ किमी॒दिना॑ । सं त्वा॑ शिशामि जागृ॒ह्यद॑ब्धं विप्र॒ मन्म॑भिः ॥

Agni, burn up the oppressive and destructive alliances and combinations of the negativities of life and nature on the prowl looking for where to strike. O power all intelligent and wise, with holy thoughts and prayers, I invoke and exhort you. Arise, O power indomitable, and strike against the killers.

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10.87.25

प्रत्य॑ग्ने॒ हर॑सा॒ हरः॑ शृणी॒हि वि॒श्वतः॒ प्रति॑ । या॒तु॒धान॑स्य र॒क्षसो॒ बलं॒ वि रु॑ज वी॒र्य॑म् ॥

Agni, universal spirit of light and fire, creator, protector and destroyer, refulgent ruler of nature, life and society, with your love and passion for life and goodness and with your wrath against evil, sabotage and negativity, seize, cripple and all round destroy the strength, vigour, valour and resistance of the negative and destructive forces of evil and wickedness, lurking, working and persisting in nature, life and society. Save the good and destroy the demons.

✦ Sukta 88 · 19 verses ✦

10.88.1

ह॒विष्पान्त॑म॒जरं॑ स्व॒र्विदि॑ दिवि॒स्पृश्याहु॑तं॒ जुष्ट॑म॒ग्नौ । तस्य॒ भर्म॑णे॒ भुव॑नाय दे॒वा धर्म॑णे॒ कं स्व॒धया॑ पप्रथन्त ॥

Devas, the divines of humanity and divinities of nature, with food and reverence, offer delicious, expansive, loved and solemnly dedicated havi into the holy fire which rises to the skies and reaches the sun. Thus do they exalt Agni so that they may well be, rise and exalt in the gracious order of Agni under the divine shelter and support of the order.

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10.88.2

गी॒र्णं भुव॑नं॒ तम॒साप॑गूळ्हमा॒विः स्व॑रभवज्जा॒ते अ॒ग्नौ । तस्य॑ दे॒वाः पृ॑थि॒वी द्यौरु॒तापोऽर॑णय॒न्नोष॑धीः स॒ख्ये अ॑स्य ॥

The world of existence lay deeply engulfed and covered in the darkness of the night of Pralaya, annihilation, and then on the rise ofAgni, Lord Supreme of light and life, it rose and manifested: Akasha, time- space continuum manifested, and then others followed, earth, light and heat, waters, herbs and trees all arose, and all the devas, divine spirits of nature, rejoiced in the love and friendship of this Lord Supreme, Agni.

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10.88.3

दे॒वेभि॒र्न्वि॑षि॒तो य॒ज्ञिये॑भिर॒ग्निं स्तो॑षाण्य॒जरं॑ बृ॒हन्त॑म् । यो भा॒नुना॑ पृथि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमामा॑त॒तान॒ रोद॑सी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् ॥

Inspired by Devas and lighting the fire of yajnas, I adore and exaltAgni, lord unaging and eternal, infinite, who, by his self-refulgence, pervades this earth and heaven and expands both heaven and earth and the middle regions of the skies.

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10.88.4

यो होतासी॑त्प्रथ॒मो दे॒वजु॑ष्टो॒ यं स॒माञ्ज॒न्नाज्ये॑ना वृणा॒नाः । स प॑त॒त्री॑त्व॒रं स्था जग॒द्यच्छ्वा॒त्रम॒ग्निर॑कृणोज्जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥

I adore and exalt Agni who is the first, original and efficient cause of the cosmic yajna, loved and celebrated by the devas, whom the best of men with cherished love and choice sprinkle and serve with sacred ghrta, who creates, shapes and rules the world of flying, moving, non-moving and revolving objects and living beings. That is Agni, Jataveda, self-refulgent and omniscient.

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10.88.5

यज्जा॑तवेदो॒ भुव॑नस्य मू॒र्धन्नति॑ष्ठो अग्ने स॒ह रो॑च॒नेन॑ । तं त्वा॑हेम म॒तिभि॑र्गी॒र्भिरु॒क्थैः स य॒ज्ञियो॑ अभवो रोदसि॒प्राः ॥

O Jataveda, Agni, who abide and shine on top of the world with the sun, with our thoughts, words and holy songs we adore and worship you. You are adorable, worthy of worship, pervasive all over heaven and earth.

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10.88.6

मू॒र्धा भु॒वो भ॑वति॒ नक्त॑म॒ग्निस्ततः॒ सूर्यो॑ जायते प्रा॒तरु॒द्यन् । मा॒यामू॒ तु य॒ज्ञिया॑नामे॒तामपो॒ यत्तूर्णि॒श्चर॑ति प्रजा॒नन् ॥

Agni as Vaishvanara is awake and vibrates as the prime reality and spirit of existence at night when the whole world sleeps. Then in the morning, rising with the dawn, it shines as the sun. It is but the wondrous work of the highest of adorables, cosmic Maya, that it thus moves and vibrates at the fastest, knowing and watching all actions and movements of the world of moving and non-moving objects.

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10.88.7

दृ॒शेन्यो॒ यो म॑हि॒ना समि॒द्धोऽरो॑चत दि॒वियो॑निर्वि॒भावा॑ । तस्मि॑न्न॒ग्नौ सू॑क्तवा॒केन॑ दे॒वा ह॒विर्विश्व॒ आजु॑हवुस्तनू॒पाः ॥

Wondrous in form, Agni, who, refulgent with its own grandeur, shines in heaven as the light most gracious is the divinity into whom, in sacred fire form, all devas, divinities of nature and humanity, guardians of our health and body, offer yajnic oblations of havi with the chant of Vedic mantras.

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10.88.8

सू॒क्त॒वा॒कं प्र॑थ॒ममादिद॒ग्निमादिद्ध॒विर॑जनयन्त दे॒वाः । स ए॑षां य॒ज्ञो अ॑भवत्तनू॒पास्तं द्यौर्वे॑द॒ तं पृ॑थि॒वी तमापः॑ ॥

The devas, noble yajakas, first chant the divine Word, then they light the fire and then they prepare and offer the havi. That Agni is the adorable lord of them all, guardian and promoter of health and age. That the heaven receives, that the earth receives, and that the waters receive, and that all of them realise, the pervasive power and energiser.

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10.88.9

यं दे॒वासोऽज॑नयन्ता॒ग्निं यस्मि॒न्नाजु॑हवु॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ । सो अ॒र्चिषा॑ पृथि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमामृ॑जू॒यमा॑नो अतपन्महि॒त्वा ॥

Agni which all the divine powers of the universe create and serve, into which all worlds of the universe offer their oblations at the cosmic yajna of evolution and devolution, that Agni, radiant and natural ordainer, lights and energises this earth and heaven with its glory and self refulgence.

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10.88.10

स्तोमे॑न॒ हि दि॒वि दे॒वासो॑ अ॒ग्निमजी॑जन॒ञ्छक्ति॑भी रोदसि॒प्राम् । तमू॑ अकृण्वन्त्रे॒धा भु॒वे कं स ओष॑धीः पचति वि॒श्वरू॑पाः ॥

By mantric power and their own potential the divine powers in heaven create and raise Agni which pervades earth and sky too, thus creating it in three ways: Agni or fire on earth, Vayu or electricity in the sky, and Aditya or light in heaven. This sameAgni of all universal forms well matures and ripens herbs and all vegetation on earth.

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10.88.11

य॒देदे॑न॒मद॑धुर्य॒ज्ञिया॑सो दि॒वि दे॒वाः सूर्य॑मादिते॒यम् । य॒दा च॑रि॒ष्णू मि॑थु॒नावभू॑ता॒मादित्प्राप॑श्य॒न्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

When the divine powers, performers of cosmic yajna, place this sun, child of the refulgence of Aditi, mother Infinity, in the heavenly region, then it becomes two, moving together as twofold power, Agni and Vaishvanara, sun and dawn, and as they pervade all regions of the world, so do all regions of the world see them.

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10.88.12

विश्व॑स्मा अ॒ग्निं भुव॑नाय दे॒वा वै॑श्वान॒रं के॒तुमह्ना॑मकृण्वन् । आ यस्त॒तानो॒षसो॑ विभा॒तीरपो॑ ऊर्णोति॒ तमो॑ अ॒र्चिषा॒ यन् ॥

Devas, divine powers, create and make the solar form of Vaishvanara Agni, and make it the flag sign of the day for the sake of the whole world, and the sun, radiating, lights up the bright dawns and dispels the darkness of the night with its light, unveiling the day.

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10.88.13

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रं क॒वयो॑ य॒ज्ञिया॑सो॒ऽग्निं दे॒वा अ॑जनयन्नजु॒र्यम् । नक्ष॑त्रं प्र॒त्नममि॑नच्चरि॒ष्णु य॒क्षस्याध्य॑क्षं तवि॒षं बृ॒हन्त॑म् ॥

Wise and visionary Devas, adorable divine powers, create the unaging Vaishvanara Agni, the ancient star unalterable and inviolable, moving as the ruling star of space, blazing and expansive.

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10.88.14

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रं वि॒श्वहा॑ दीदि॒वांसं॒ मन्त्रै॑र॒ग्निं क॒विमच्छा॑ वदामः । यो म॑हि॒म्ना प॑रिब॒भूवो॒र्वी उ॒तावस्ता॑दु॒त दे॒वः प॒रस्ता॑त् ॥

With Vedic mantras we invoke and adore Agni, Vaishvanara, light divine ever shining bright, the very eye of omniscience which, with its might and grandeur, enlightens and overwhelms both heaven and earth, the ultimate light and bliss above and below, the end and the foundation both.

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10.88.15

द्वे स्रु॒ती अ॑शृणवं पितॄ॒णाम॒हं दे॒वाना॑मु॒त मर्त्या॑नाम् । ताभ्या॑मि॒दं विश्व॒मेज॒त्समे॑ति॒ यद॑न्त॒रा पि॒तरं॑ मा॒तरं॑ च ॥

I hear there are two paths of life in existence: Pitryana, the path of average mortals to earthly bliss, and Devayana, the path of divine souls to divine bliss. By these does the world of vibrant life travel transmigrating from birth by father and mother to death and attains whatever is between earth and heaven.

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10.88.16

द्वे स॑मी॒ची बि॑भृत॒श्चर॑न्तं शीर्ष॒तो जा॒तं मन॑सा॒ विमृ॑ष्टम् । स प्र॒त्यङ्विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि तस्था॒वप्र॑युच्छन्त॒रणि॒र्भ्राज॑मानः ॥

Two, earth and heaven, together bear Agni born on top, vibrant and radiating from the highest heaven, and that abides immanent and pervasive all over the worlds of existence, unremissive, radiant and divinely self-refulgent.

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10.88.17

यत्रा॒ वदे॑ते॒ अव॑रः॒ पर॑श्च यज्ञ॒न्योः॑ कत॒रो नौ॒ वि वे॑द । आ शे॑कु॒रित्स॑ध॒मादं॒ सखा॑यो॒ नक्ष॑न्त य॒ज्ञं क इ॒दं वि वो॑चत् ॥

Where both terrestrial agni and supraterrestrial agni, both high priests of yajna, communicate and commingle then, for us, which one of these excels and proclaims the distinction? When yajakas do perform the yajna and serve and celebrate Agni together on the vedi, who would speak to us of the distinction?

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10.88.18

कत्य॒ग्नयः॒ कति॒ सूर्या॑सः॒ कत्यु॒षासः॒ कत्यु॑ स्वि॒दापः॑ । नोप॒स्पिजं॑ वः पितरो वदामि पृ॒च्छामि॑ वः कवयो वि॒द्मने॒ कम् ॥

How many are the fires? How many the suns? How many the dawns? How many the waters? O enlightened sages, I say this not out of curiosity, I ask you this in all seriousness for the sake of knowledge.

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10.88.19

या॒व॒न्मा॒त्रमु॒षसो॒ न प्रती॑कं सुप॒र्ण्यो॒३॒॑ वस॑ते मातरिश्वः । ताव॑द्दधा॒त्युप॑ य॒ज्ञमा॒यन्ब्रा॑ह्म॒णो होतु॒रव॑रो नि॒षीद॑न् ॥

As long as the all moving glorious Vayu, the electric form of Agni, with radiant sun rays bears and wears the face of dawn as its banner of the day, so long would the holy yajaka, the Brahmana, go to the yajna vedi and sit and offer the fragrant havi in honour of the terrestrial fire, the high priest of yajna. Note: The answer to these questions is given in Rgveda 8, 58, 2: The same one Agni shines and blazes in many forms, The same one sun shines in all lights of the universe, the same one dawn rises over all this world, and the same one lord of existence manifests in all forms of the world,

✦ Sukta 89 · 18 verses ✦

10.89.1

इन्द्रं॑ स्तवा॒ नृत॑मं॒ यस्य॑ म॒ह्ना वि॑बबा॒धे रो॑च॒ना वि ज्मो अन्ता॑न् । आ यः प॒प्रौ च॑र्षणी॒धृद्वरो॑भिः॒ प्र सिन्धु॑भ्यो रिरिचा॒नो म॑हि॒त्वा ॥

Adore and celebrate Indra, highest over humanity, who overwhelms the lights of the world with his grandeur and rules over the ends of the earth, who, watchful sustainer of humanity, pervades and fills the worlds of the universe by his excellences and, all overpowering, exceeds the oceans of earth and space by his glory and grandeur.

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10.89.2

स सूर्यः॒ पर्यु॒रू वरां॒स्येन्द्रो॑ ववृत्या॒द्रथ्ये॑व च॒क्रा । अति॑ष्ठन्तमप॒स्यं१॒॑ न सर्गं॑ कृ॒ष्णा तमां॑सि॒ त्विष्या॑ जघान ॥

Indra, self-refulgent cosmic Sun, greater than the greatest, he moves the worlds of existence like chariot wheels and, destroying the deepest darknesses of the world with his refulgence, keeps the dynamic universe in ceaseless flow like a particle in a wave of energy.

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10.89.3

स॒मा॒नम॑स्मा॒ अन॑पावृदर्च क्ष्म॒या दि॒वो अस॑मं॒ ब्रह्म॒ नव्य॑म् । वि यः पृ॒ष्ठेव॒ जनि॑मान्य॒र्य इन्द्र॑श्चि॒काय॒ न सखा॑यमी॒षे ॥

Worship Indra, constant, evident and immanent, greater than heaven and earth, infinite, adorable ever new, who, as primary foundation and ultimate master, knows all that are born in existence and neither deserts friends nor hurts the devotees.

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10.89.4

इन्द्रा॑य॒ गिरो॒ अनि॑शितसर्गा अ॒पः प्रेर॑यं॒ सग॑रस्य बु॒ध्नात् । यो अक्षे॑णेव च॒क्रिया॒ शची॑भि॒र्विष्व॑क्त॒स्तम्भ॑ पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्याम् ॥

I sing songs of praise and make incessant streams of water flow from the oceans of space and sky in honour of Indra who, with his cosmic power and actions, sustains the heaven and earth in motion like wheels of a chariot held in balance by the axle.

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10.89.5

आपा॑न्तमन्युस्तृ॒पल॑प्रभर्मा॒ धुनिः॒ शिमी॑वा॒ञ्छरु॑माँ ऋजी॒षी । सोमो॒ विश्वा॑न्यत॒सा वना॑नि॒ नार्वागिन्द्रं॑ प्रति॒माना॑नि देभुः ॥

Boundless in passion and potential, impetuous in action, mighty mover and shaker, awfully powerful, strongly armed, simple and natural, creative and inspiring like Soma, is Indra. Not all the winds and weapons of the world, not all the lights and blazes, no measures and comparisons of the finite world, can face, equal, much less exceed and overcome Indra.

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10.89.6

न यस्य॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी न धन्व॒ नान्तरि॑क्षं॒ नाद्र॑यः॒ सोमो॑ अक्षाः । यद॑स्य म॒न्युर॑धिनी॒यमा॑नः शृ॒णाति॑ वी॒ळु रु॒जति॑ स्थि॒राणि॑ ॥

Neither heaven and earth, nor sky, nor space, nor clouds and mountains, equal his might, creative and inspiring Soma as he is, especially when his power and passion, overwhelming all, shatters the strongest and shakes the firmest fixed.

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10.89.7

ज॒घान॑ वृ॒त्रं स्वधि॑ति॒र्वने॑व रु॒रोज॒ पुरो॒ अर॑द॒न्न सिन्धू॑न् । बि॒भेद॑ गि॒रिं नव॒मिन्न कु॒म्भमा गा इन्द्रो॑ अकृणुत स्व॒युग्भिः॑ ॥

Destroying the demon of darkness like lightning striking the woods, Indra shatters the strongholds of evil. He breaks the clouds and mountains like a little new earthen jar, and as he sets floods of rivers aflow, so with his own waves of divine energy, he lets the streams of psychic energy and spiritual enlightenment flow for the devotee.

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10.89.8

त्वं ह॒ त्यदृ॑ण॒या इ॑न्द्र॒ धीरो॒ऽसिर्न पर्व॑ वृजि॒ना शृ॑णासि । प्र ये मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ धाम॒ युजं॒ न जना॑ मि॒नन्ति॑ मि॒त्रम् ॥

You alone are the constant and magnificent giver of bliss, and you alone, like the sword severing every knot and joint of negativity, destroy the evil and crookedness of life for those good people who do not violate the light and law of Mitra and Varuna, universal spirit of love, friendship and judgement and for those who do not ever deceive a real sincere friend of all time.

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10.89.9

प्र ये मि॒त्रं प्रार्य॒मणं॑ दु॒रेवाः॒ प्र सं॒गिरः॒ प्र वरु॑णं मि॒नन्ति॑ । न्य१॒॑मित्रे॑षु व॒धमि॑न्द्र॒ तुम्रं॒ वृष॒न्वृषा॑णमरु॒षं शि॑शीहि ॥

And against those crooked men of unholy ways who deceive the friend, violate the progressive man of justice and rectitude, hurt dedicated men of positive social support and oppose the man of judgement and enlightenment, O lord of power and progress, Indra, prepare the thunderbolt, instant, overwhelming and blazing but just and unquestionable, and strike such unfriendly and negative forces without delay.

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10.89.10

इन्द्रो॑ दि॒व इन्द्र॑ ईशे पृथि॒व्या इन्द्रो॑ अ॒पामिन्द्र॒ इत्पर्व॑तानाम् । इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒धामिन्द्र॒ इन्मेधि॑राणा॒मिन्द्रः॒ क्षेमे॒ योगे॒ हव्य॒ इन्द्रः॑ ॥

Indra rules over the heavens, Indra rules over the earth, Indra rules over the waters of earth and space, Indra rules over mountains and the clouds, and Indra rules over all our actions and ambitions. And Indra is the spirit and power for the rising wise on way to progress in times of peace and prosperity to be invoked and worshipped for protection and preservation of what has been gained and for the achievement of that what has yet to be gained further. (Yoga is achievement, and Kshema is preservation and protection of what has been achieved, and both these are two aspects of progress.)

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10.89.11

प्राक्तुभ्य॒ इन्द्रः॒ प्र वृ॒धो अह॑भ्यः॒ प्रान्तरि॑क्षा॒त्प्र स॑मु॒द्रस्य॑ धा॒सेः । प्र वात॑स्य॒ प्रथ॑सः॒ प्र ज्मो अन्ता॒त्प्र सिन्धु॑भ्यो रिरिचे॒ प्र क्षि॒तिभ्यः॑ ॥

Indra is far greater than the nights of existence, greater than days, space, and the bounds of space. He transcends the expansive currents of energy, the bounds of the universe, the flowing flux of existence, and all definitions of the flux in form.

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10.89.12

प्र शोशु॑चत्या उ॒षसो॒ न के॒तुर॑सि॒न्वा ते॑ वर्ततामिन्द्र हे॒तिः । अश्मे॑व विध्य दि॒व आ सृ॑जा॒नस्तपि॑ष्ठेन॒ हेष॑सा॒ द्रोघ॑मित्रान् ॥

Like the blazing flames of dawn dispelling the dark, let your boundless thunderbolt strike. With that blazing thunder, like a shot from heaven pierce the forces of hate and enmity.

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10.89.13

अन्वह॒ मासा॒ अन्विद्वना॒न्यन्वोष॑धी॒रनु॒ पर्व॑तासः । अन्विन्द्रं॒ रोद॑सी वावशा॒ने अन्वापो॑ अजिहत॒ जाय॑मानम् ॥

Indeed, days and months, herbs and forests, clouds and mountains, shining skies and earth and the oceans and vapours of space, all move and proceed in accordance with Indra as it emerges into manifestation.

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10.89.14

कर्हि॑ स्वि॒त्सा त॑ इन्द्र चे॒त्यास॑द॒घस्य॒ यद्भि॒नदो॒ रक्ष॒ एष॑त् । मि॒त्र॒क्रुवो॒ यच्छस॑ने॒ न गावः॑ पृथि॒व्या आ॒पृग॑मु॒या शय॑न्ते ॥

Where is that punitive power of yours, Indra, and when does it strike, the power that picks up and shatters the sinner, the criminal, and the perpetrator of evil, and struck by which the betrayers of friends, felled and dead, lie on the ground like cattle carcasses.

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10.89.15

श॒त्रू॒यन्तो॑ अ॒भि ये न॑स्तत॒स्रे महि॒ व्राध॑न्त ओग॒णास॑ इन्द्र । अ॒न्धेना॒मित्रा॒स्तम॑सा सचन्तां सुज्यो॒तिषो॑ अ॒क्तव॒स्ताँ अ॒भि ष्युः॑ ॥

Enemies of humanity, obstructionist forces, highly organised gangs which afflict us, may all unfriendly forces suffer deep darkness on their way, and may the powers of enlightenment and progressive culture face them and overcome them.

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10.89.16

पु॒रूणि॒ हि त्वा॒ सव॑ना॒ जना॑नां॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ मन्द॑न्गृण॒तामृषी॑णाम् । इ॒मामा॒घोष॒न्नव॑सा॒ सहू॑तिं ति॒रो विश्वाँ॒ अर्च॑तो याह्य॒र्वाङ् ॥

May all felicitative yajnas of the people and holy songs of celebrant seers adore and exalt you. O lord, listening to this prayer and invocation, proclaiming your acceptance and pleasure, come to all the devotees in direct experience and bless them with peace and protection.

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10.89.17

ए॒वा ते॑ व॒यमि॑न्द्र भुञ्जती॒नां वि॒द्याम॑ सुमती॒नां नवा॑नाम् । वि॒द्याम॒ वस्तो॒रव॑सा गृ॒णन्तो॑ वि॒श्वामि॑त्रा उ॒त त॑ इन्द्र नू॒नम् ॥

Thus may we, O lord omnipotent, Indra, know of, experience and enjoy your protective, enlightening and ever new gifts of kindness and grace. And may we, being friends of the world, singing and celebrating your divine gifts, know you and be happy by your favour and protection day and night.

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10.89.18

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke and adore Indra, lord of bliss, omnipotent, highest leader and guide of humanity in this our battle of life for protection, victory and further advancement. Indra is listening, blazing in battles, destroying demons of darkness, negativity and obstructions, and winning the honours, wealth and excellences of the world for humanity.

✦ Sukta 90 · 16 verses ✦

10.90.1

स॒हस्र॑शीर्षा॒ पुरु॑षः सहस्रा॒क्षः स॒हस्र॑पात् । स भूमिं॑ वि॒श्वतो॑ वृ॒त्वात्य॑तिष्ठद्दशाङ्गु॒लम् ॥

Purusha, the cosmic soul of existence, is Divinity personified, of a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet. It pervades the universe wholly and entirely and, having pervaded and comprehended the universe of ten Prakrtic constituents, It transcends the world of existence.

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10.90.2

पुरु॑ष ए॒वेदं सर्वं॒ यद्भू॒तं यच्च॒ भव्य॑म् । उ॒तामृ॑त॒त्वस्येशा॑नो॒ यदन्ने॑नाति॒रोह॑ति ॥

All this that is and was and shall be is Purusha ultimately, sovereign over immortality and ruler of what expands by living food.

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10.90.3

ए॒तावा॑नस्य महि॒मातो॒ ज्यायाँ॑श्च॒ पूरु॑षः । पादो॑ऽस्य॒ विश्वा॑ भू॒तानि॑ त्रि॒पाद॑स्या॒मृतं॑ दि॒वि ॥

So great is the grandeur and glory of It, and still the Purusha is greater. The entire worlds of existence are but one fourth of It. Three parts of Its mystery are in the transcendental heaven of immortality beyond the universe.

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10.90.4

त्रि॒पादू॒र्ध्व उदै॒त्पुरु॑षः॒ पादो॑ऽस्ये॒हाभ॑व॒त्पुनः॑ । ततो॒ विष्व॒ङ्व्य॑क्रामत्साशनानश॒ने अ॒भि ॥

Three parts higher rises the Purusha above the universe in which only one measure of Its glory manifests again and again, pervading all the material and biological world and thence remains transcendent over the universe.

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10.90.5

तस्मा॑द्वि॒राळ॑जायत वि॒राजो॒ अधि॒ पूरु॑षः । स जा॒तो अत्य॑रिच्यत प॒श्चाद्भूमि॒मथो॑ पु॒रः ॥

From Purusha arose Virat, the cosmic idea, the blue-print in terms of Prakrti. The Purusha manifests in the Virat and remains sovereign over it. Though manifested, it exceeds, transcends and then creates the universe and the world regions for forms of existence.

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10.90.6

यत्पुरु॑षेण ह॒विषा॑ दे॒वा य॒ज्ञमत॑न्वत । व॒स॒न्तो अ॑स्यासी॒दाज्यं॑ ग्री॒ष्म इ॒ध्मः श॒रद्ध॒विः ॥

When the sages visualise the universal yajna of creation and enact it in communion with the Purusha in meditation, then the spring season is the ghrta, summer is the fuel, and winter is the havi. (This meditative enactment is in terms of nature. In fact, the creation of the universe is an evolutionary process beginning with Prakrti evolving into material, biological and psychic forms as follows in this very hymn.)

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10.90.7

तं य॒ज्ञं ब॒र्हिषि॒ प्रौक्ष॒न्पुरु॑षं जा॒तम॑ग्र॒तः । तेन॑ दे॒वा अ॑यजन्त सा॒ध्या ऋष॑यश्च॒ ये ॥

The Rshis of universal vision, sages of universal accomplishment and scholars of the Veda, invoke and worship the eternal Purusha, self-manifested in advance of every thing else of the cosmic yajna. They spread and consecrate the grass over the vedi in mind and offer the oblations in the cosmic fire with Veda mantras.

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10.90.8

तस्मा॑द्य॒ज्ञात्स॑र्व॒हुतः॒ सम्भृ॑तं पृषदा॒ज्यम् । प॒शून्ताँश्च॑क्रे वाय॒व्या॑नार॒ण्यान्ग्रा॒म्याश्च॒ ये ॥

From that cosmic yajna with total input of Prakrti, by the universal Purusha was prepared and received the sacred ghrta, living plasma, the universal material of creation. He created the animals, all those birds of the air, rangers of the forest and inmates of the village.

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10.90.9

तस्मा॑द्य॒ज्ञात्स॑र्व॒हुत॒ ऋचः॒ सामा॑नि जज्ञिरे । छन्दां॑सि जज्ञिरे॒ तस्मा॒द्यजु॒स्तस्मा॑दजायत ॥

From that Lord of universal yajna were born the Rks and the Samans. From him were born the Chhandas and from him were born the Yajus.

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10.90.10

तस्मा॒दश्वा॑ अजायन्त॒ ये के चो॑भ॒याद॑तः । गावो॑ ह जज्ञिरे॒ तस्मा॒त्तस्मा॑ज्जा॒ता अ॑जा॒वयः॑ ॥

From that yajna were born the horses and those which have two rows of teeth up and down. From that were born the cows and from that were born the goat and sheep.

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10.90.11

यत्पुरु॑षं॒ व्यद॑धुः कति॒धा व्य॑कल्पयन् । मुखं॒ किम॑स्य॒ कौ बा॒हू का ऊ॒रू पादा॑ उच्येते ॥

How do the Rshis visualise the manifestive modes of the Purusha? What was his mouth? What the arms? What the thighs? What are the feet as they are said to be?

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10.90.12

ब्रा॒ह्म॒णो॑ऽस्य॒ मुख॑मासीद्बा॒हू रा॑ज॒न्यः॑ कृ॒तः । ऊ॒रू तद॑स्य॒ यद्वैश्यः॑ प॒द्भ्यां शू॒द्रो अ॑जायत ॥

The Brahmana, man of divine vision and the Vedic Word, is the mouth of the Samrat Purusha, the human community. Kshatriya, man of justice and polity, is created as the arms of defence. The Vaishya, who produces food and wealth for the society, is the thighs. And the man of sustenance and ancillary support with labour is the Shudra who bears the burden of the human family as the legs bear the burden of the body.

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10.90.13

च॒न्द्रमा॒ मन॑सो जा॒तश्चक्षोः॒ सूर्यो॑ अजायत । मुखा॒दिन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ प्रा॒णाद्वा॒युर॑जायत ॥

The moon is born of the cosmic mind, the sun is born of the eye, the fire and energy is born from the mouth and the wind is born from the breath.

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10.90.14

नाभ्या॑ आसीद॒न्तरि॑क्षं शी॒र्ष्णो द्यौः सम॑वर्तत । प॒द्भ्यां भूमि॒र्दिशः॒ श्रोत्रा॒त्तथा॑ लो॒काँ अ॑कल्पयन् ॥

The sky was born of the navel of the cosmic Purusha, that is, the sky is the navel part of the universe, the heaven of light arose from the head, the earth solidified from the dust of the feet, the space quarters emanated from the ear, and the other regions of the universe similarly arose from the Purusha.

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10.90.15

स॒प्तास्या॑सन्परि॒धय॒स्त्रिः स॒प्त स॒मिधः॑ कृ॒ताः । दे॒वा यद्य॒ज्ञं त॑न्वा॒ना अब॑ध्न॒न्पुरु॑षं प॒शुम् ॥

Seven are the bounds of the vedi of cosmic yajna in meditation, thrice seven, twenty one, are the samidhas, fuel sticks, ordained and offered into the yajna fire. When the sages enact the yajna within, they concentrate on the Purusha, the universal observer, whose presence they crystallise and fix upon in the soul for direct realisation. Note: In this mantra the word ‘pashu’ does not mean ‘animal’ as has been interpreted by certain translators. The word ‘pashu’ is derived from the root ‘pash’ which means ‘to see, to observe’. ‘Pashu’ then means ‘one who sees’, and here it means the ‘Purusha, cosmic observer’ whose presence is the object of concentration in meditation. Seven bounds and twenty one samidhas is the mystique of meditative yajna of creation which has been explained in different ways. Swami Dayanand explains it thus in his commentary on Yajurveda, 31, 15: Seven bounds are the seven chhandas, metrical compositions of Veda mantras such as Gayatri. Twenty one samidhas are: Prakrti, potential material cause of the universe, Mahat, material cause actualised, Ahankara, individualised identity of the universe which may also be called the blue print of the universe, five subtle elements or tanmatras, five gross elements, five senses, and three qualitative orders of the creative materials, i.e., Sattva (thought), Rajas (energy) and Tamas (matter), and that makes up twenty one. In the Introduction to his Commentary on the Vedas Swami Dayanand explains the same thing in a different and detailed manner in the chapter on creation. For an average reader, a simpler way to understand is to refer to the seven stages of creative evolution: Prakrti, Mahat, Ahankara, Tanmatra, perceptive faculties, volition faculties, and gross elements. These stages of evolution are the seven bounds of creative yajnas performed by Purusha. They are also samidhas because each successive evolute arises from yajnic consumption of the preceding one. And each of these seven is of three orders of quality, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. That makes it thrice seven. Another way to realise the seven boundaries is to refer to the seven Vyahrtis: Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Janah, Tapah and Satyam which are the boundaries of each loka or region of existence.

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10.90.16

य॒ज्ञेन॑ य॒ज्ञम॑यजन्त दे॒वास्तानि॒ धर्मा॑णि प्रथ॒मान्या॑सन् । ते ह॒ नाकं॑ महि॒मानः॑ सचन्त॒ यत्र॒ पूर्वे॑ सा॒ध्याः सन्ति॑ दे॒वाः ॥

By that yajna of the mind, and in meditative realisation of the cosmic process of evolution, the sages worship the master of cosmic yajna and realise the eternal and original Dharmas of existence. Blest with the light of the divine, they experience that heaven of freedom which the primeval sages of the world enjoyed at the dawn of creation. In objective terms: Divine powers and potentials by integration and interaction conduct and accomplish the yajna of creation. They are the primary modes of the laws and causes of creative evolution which, while they wield and realise their potential in evolution, they also embody and realise the heavenly purpose, the original and efficient cause, the Purusha, and they are also the same original and eternal potentials of divinity which carry on the eternal cycle of existence.

✦ Sukta 91 · 15 verses ✦

10.91.1

सं जा॑गृ॒वद्भि॒र्जर॑माण इध्यते॒ दमे॒ दमू॑ना इ॒षय॑न्नि॒ळस्प॒दे । विश्व॑स्य॒ होता॑ ह॒विषो॒ वरे॑ण्यो वि॒भुर्वि॒भावा॑ सु॒षखा॑ सखीय॒ते ॥

Agni, celebrated by enlightened devotees, is kindled and lighted in yajnic halls on the holy ground on earth. Generous it is, loving and inspiring, universal giver and receiver of yajnic materials and fragrances of yajna, loving choice of all, all pervasive, refulgent, and an unfailing friend who loves the devotees as friends and is honoured by them as a friend.

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10.91.2

स द॑र्शत॒श्रीरति॑थिर्गृ॒हेगृ॑हे॒ वने॑वने शिश्रिये तक्व॒वीरि॑व । जनं॑जनं॒ जन्यो॒ नाति॑ मन्यते॒ विश॒ आ क्षे॑ति वि॒श्यो॒३॒॑ विशं॑विशम् ॥

Commanding excellent grace and grandeur, honoured like a holy guest, it abides in every home and every forest like a flying bird. Lover of humanity, it blesses every community, ignores none, scorns none, loves every class of people and lives with all classes and communities with equal love and favour.

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10.91.3

सु॒दक्षो॒ दक्षैः॒ क्रतु॑नासि सु॒क्रतु॒रग्ने॑ क॒विः काव्ये॑नासि विश्व॒वित् । वसु॒र्वसू॑नां क्षयसि॒ त्वमेक॒ इद्द्यावा॑ च॒ यानि॑ पृथि॒वी च॒ पुष्य॑तः ॥

Refulgent Agni, generous with immense gifts, noblest performer by holy works, you are the omniscient poetic creator evidently by your cosmic poetry of existence. You alone dwell in the world as the highest Vasu of life shelters and living forms, and you are the master of all that the heaven and earth create and sustain.

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10.91.4

प्र॒जा॒नन्न॑ग्ने॒ तव॒ योनि॑मृ॒त्विय॒मिळा॑यास्प॒दे घृ॒तव॑न्त॒मास॑दः । आ ते॑ चिकित्र उ॒षसा॑मि॒वेत॑योऽरे॒पसः॒ सूर्य॑स्येव र॒श्मयः॑ ॥

Agni, lighted and refulgent, come and take your holy seat in the vedi prepared and sprinkled with ghrta according to the season on the floor of the yajnic earth. The light and flames of your arrival shine and appear like rise of the

dawns, like rays of the sun, pure, immaculate, beatific.

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10.91.5

तव॒ श्रियो॑ व॒र्ष्य॑स्येव वि॒द्युत॑श्चि॒त्राश्चि॑कित्र उ॒षसां॒ न के॒तवः॑ । यदोष॑धीर॒भिसृ॑ष्टो॒ वना॑नि च॒ परि॑ स्व॒यं चि॑नु॒षे अन्न॑मा॒स्ये॑ ॥

Your wonderful lustre and beauties shine like lightning flashes of the clouds of rain, like lights of the rising dawns, specially when, radiating warm and free, you reach and shine upon the herbs and trees and fields of grain and receive them into the shining warmth of your maturing and ripening radiations.

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10.91.6

तमोष॑धीर्दधिरे॒ गर्भ॑मृ॒त्वियं॒ तमापो॑ अ॒ग्निं ज॑नयन्त मा॒तरः॑ । तमित्स॑मा॒नं व॒निन॑श्च वी॒रुधो॒ऽन्तर्व॑तीश्च॒ सुव॑ते च वि॒श्वहा॑ ॥

That Agni, energy, the herbs and waters receive into them and they bear it as mothers, producing it on maturity as nourishment and energy for life forms. The same Agni, the herbs and trees of the forest receive equally, hold it in the womb and always produce it as the embodiment of energy.

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10.91.7

वातो॑पधूत इषि॒तो वशाँ॒ अनु॑ तृ॒षु यदन्ना॒ वेवि॑षद्वि॒तिष्ठ॑से । आ ते॑ यतन्ते र॒थ्यो॒३॒॑ यथा॒ पृथ॒क्छर्धां॑स्यग्ने अ॒जरा॑णि॒ धक्ष॑तः ॥

When urged and impelled by wind, Agni, you rush fast to objects of your choice love and consumption, then your youthful unaging flames, burning and blazing, rush on like the horses of a monarch’s chariot.

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10.91.8

मे॒धा॒का॒रं वि॒दथ॑स्य प्र॒साध॑नम॒ग्निं होता॑रं परि॒भूत॑मं म॒तिम् । तमिदर्भे॑ ह॒विष्या स॑मा॒नमित्तमिन्म॒हे वृ॑णते॒ नान्यं त्वत् ॥

Devotees choose to worship Agni alone, none other than Agni, giver of intelligence, accomplisher of yajna and education for knowledge, high priest of yajnic existence, supreme over all, omniscient wise, and equally loving for all, whether the havi offered is small or great, whether the purpose is high or low. O lord of light, they choose none other than you.

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10.91.9

त्वामिदत्र॑ वृणते त्वा॒यवो॒ होता॑रमग्ने वि॒दथे॑षु वे॒धसः॑ । यद्दे॑व॒यन्तो॒ दध॑ति॒ प्रयां॑सि ते ह॒विष्म॑न्तो॒ मन॑वो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः ॥

Agni, here in the world, your loving devotees, wise sages, thoughtful people, choose to worship you, high priest of yajna, when dedicated to divinity and the divine potentials of nature, having spread the holy grass on the vedi and bearing sacred havi, they offer their dearest fragrant oblations to you.

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10.91.10

तवा॑ग्ने हो॒त्रं तव॑ पो॒त्रमृ॒त्वियं॒ तव॑ ने॒ष्ट्रं त्वम॒ग्निदृ॑ताय॒तः । तव॑ प्रशा॒स्त्रं त्वम॑ध्वरीयसि ब्र॒ह्मा चासि॑ गृ॒हप॑तिश्च नो॒ दमे॑ ॥

Agni, you are the over all master and lord of yajna, yours are all the functions: you are the yajaka, you are the purifier, you are the leader, you are the kindler, you are the director, you are the manager, you are the Brahma, presiding priest, and you are the chief of our yajnic home.

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10.91.11

यस्तुभ्य॑मग्ने अ॒मृता॑य॒ मर्त्यः॑ स॒मिधा॒ दाश॑दु॒त वा॑ ह॒विष्कृ॑ति । तस्य॒ होता॑ भवसि॒ यासि॑ दू॒त्य१॒॑मुप॑ ब्रूषे॒ यज॑स्यध्वरी॒यसि॑ ॥

Agni, whoever the mortal that gives unto you, Spirit imperishable, Lord immortal, and surrenders himself by way of fuel fire, dedicates his total life as yajnic performance, you yourself become the yajaka for him, move as his messenger, speak to him in the soul, and take over his life itself as manager of the yajna. (Surrender, O man, to the Immortal for the sake of immortality.)

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10.91.12

इ॒मा अ॑स्मै म॒तयो॒ वाचो॑ अ॒स्मदाँ ऋचो॒ गिरः॑ सुष्टु॒तयः॒ सम॑ग्मत । व॒सू॒यवो॒ वस॑वे जा॒तवे॑दसे वृ॒द्धासु॑ चि॒द्वर्ध॑नो॒ यासु॑ चा॒कन॑त् ॥

May all these thoughts, words, Rks, holy voices and songs of adoration, prayers for peace, prosperity and fulfilment reach this Agni, omniscient, omnipresent and ultimate haven of all that exists, the lord that waxes with love and exaltation when these rise and reach him.

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10.91.13

इ॒मां प्र॒त्नाय॑ सुष्टु॒तिं नवी॑यसीं वो॒चेय॑मस्मा उश॒ते शृ॒णोतु॑ नः । भू॒या अन्त॑रा हृ॒द्य॑स्य नि॒स्पृशे॑ जा॒येव॒ पत्य॑ उश॒ती सु॒वासाः॑ ॥

Let me raise this new holy song of praise to the loving and gracious eternal Agni. May the Lord listen. And let it be like an inspiring creative poem full of love and passion in a beautiful form for the master, able to touch and move his heart within to bless me.

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10.91.14

यस्मि॒न्नश्वा॑स ऋष॒भास॑ उ॒क्षणो॑ व॒शा मे॒षा अ॑वसृ॒ष्टास॒ आहु॑ताः । की॒ला॒ल॒पे सोम॑पृष्ठाय वे॒धसे॑ हृ॒दा म॒तिं ज॑नये॒ चारु॑म॒ग्नये॑ ॥

With love and devotion at heart I create this song of thoughtful praise for the kind and graciousAgni under whose order and dispensation horses, virile bulls, cows, sheep and goats are created and range around freely and then are called back to the stalls.

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10.91.15

अहा॑व्यग्ने ह॒विरा॒स्ये॑ ते स्रु॒ची॑व घृ॒तं च॒म्वी॑व॒ सोमः॑ । वा॒ज॒सनिं॑ र॒यिम॒स्मे सु॒वीरं॑ प्रश॒स्तं धे॑हि य॒शसं॑ बृ॒हन्त॑म् ॥

Agni, fragrant havi is offered into the sacred fire as ghrta in the ladle and soma in the cup. Pray bear and bring us rising prosperity with food, sustenance and victory, wealth, noble progeny, and honour and glory of the noblest order.

✦ Sukta 92 · 15 verses ✦

10.92.1

य॒ज्ञस्य॑ वो र॒थ्यं॑ वि॒श्पतिं॑ वि॒शां होता॑रम॒क्तोरति॑थिं वि॒भाव॑सुम् । शोच॒ञ्छुष्का॑सु॒ हरि॑णीषु॒ जर्भु॑र॒द्वृषा॑ के॒तुर्य॑ज॒तो द्याम॑शायत ॥

Honour and adore Agni, leader of your life’s yajna, ruler and sustainer of communities of the people, pioneer and chief priest of the universe, useful giver of the peace of night, and spectrum light of the world. Generous and virile, brilliant illuminator, worthy of honour and adoration, burning the dry woods and vibrating in the greens it pervades every thing on earth and reposes in the regions of light.

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10.92.2

इ॒मम॑ञ्ज॒स्पामु॒भये॑ अकृण्वत ध॒र्माण॑म॒ग्निं वि॒दथ॑स्य॒ साध॑नम् । अ॒क्तुं न य॒ह्वमु॒षसः॑ पु॒रोहि॑तं॒ तनू॒नपा॑तमरु॒षस्य॑ निंसते ॥

Both humans and divines honour and adore this Agni, by nature energising life constantly, sustainer of the world and its dharma, accomplisher of yajna. They love and adore it like the mighty sun, harbinger of the dawn and child inviolable of the blazing cosmic energy.

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10.92.3

बळ॑स्य नी॒था वि प॒णेश्च॑ मन्महे व॒या अ॑स्य॒ प्रहु॑ता आसु॒रत्त॑वे । य॒दा घो॒रासो॑ अमृत॒त्वमाश॒तादिज्जन॑स्य॒ दैव्य॑स्य चर्किरन् ॥

Truly do we love and adore the various gifts of this Agni. May the food, energy and sustenance, all with light divine, blessed gifts, be good for consumption and advancement. Indeed, when relentless devotees come to realise the imperishable joy and freedom of immortality, then are the gifts of this divine Agni truly realised in actuality.

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10.92.4

ऋ॒तस्य॒ हि प्रसि॑ति॒र्द्यौरु॒रु व्यचो॒ नमो॑ म॒ह्य१॒॑रम॑तिः॒ पनी॑यसी । इन्द्रो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णः॒ सं चि॑कित्रि॒रेऽथो॒ भगः॑ सवि॒ता पू॒तद॑क्षसः ॥

All this existence is an extension, a web, of nature and her law under the ordinance of Agni: the heavens of light, the vast skies, adorable earth, expansive space, all are but fragrant manifestations of Agni, the cosmic high priest. Mitra, the sun, Varuna, the night, Bhaga, cosmic power, Savita, cosmic creativity, all reveal the omnipotence of the generous lord of light and purity that gives everything in plenty. They all do homage to Agni.

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10.92.5

प्र रु॒द्रेण॑ य॒यिना॑ यन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वस्ति॒रो म॒हीम॒रम॑तिं दधन्विरे । येभिः॒ परि॑ज्मा परि॒यन्नु॒रु ज्रयो॒ वि रोरु॑वज्ज॒ठरे॒ विश्व॑मु॒क्षते॑ ॥

Showers of rain and floods of rivers which cover the earth move by the tempestuous currents of cosmic energy of the Maruts, and by the same currents the vast ocean of vapours far traversing across the middle regions roars in the womb of skies and showers and fertilises the world of life.

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10.92.6

क्रा॒णा रु॒द्रा म॒रुतो॑ वि॒श्वकृ॑ष्टयो दि॒वः श्ये॒नासो॒ असु॑रस्य नी॒ळयः॑ । तेभि॑श्चष्टे॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मेन्द्रो॑ दे॒वेभि॑रर्व॒शेभि॒रर्व॑शः ॥

Active currents of the cosmic energy of the Maruts, dwelling all over the universe, move from the regions of the sun as directed companions of the ocean of vapours, and along with those dynamic currents are seen the dynamic Varuna, Mitra, Aryama and Indra, forces of nature’s catalysis, integration, direction and motive energy.

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10.92.7

इन्द्रे॒ भुजं॑ शशमा॒नास॑ आशत॒ सूरो॒ दृशी॑के॒ वृष॑णश्च॒ पौंस्ये॑ । प्र ये न्व॑स्या॒र्हणा॑ ततक्षि॒रे युजं॒ वज्रं॑ नृ॒षद॑नेषु का॒रवः॑ ॥

Indra, cosmic energy, is self-potent, creative and immensely fertile. In Indra, in its splendid self- manifestive power to be observed and pursued with the mind, they find possibilities of human profit, and they, creative and competent craftsmen in elite human institutions, invent usable instruments of power, prosperity and protection.

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10.92.8

सूर॑श्चि॒दा ह॒रितो॑ अस्य रीरम॒दिन्द्रा॒दा कश्चि॑द्भयत॒ज तवी॑यसः । भी॒मस्य॒ वृष्णो॑ ज॒ठरा॑दभि॒श्वसो॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ सहु॑रिः स्त॒न्नबा॑धितः ॥

Even the sun radiates its rays of light under the power and law of Indra, supreme omnipotent. Every powerful force obeys the law and power of Indra. Under the power of fertile and potent Indra, the whistling winds blow from its vault and the mighty cloud roars without obstruction day by day.

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10.92.9

स्तोमं॑ वो अ॒द्य रु॒द्राय॒ शिक्व॑से क्ष॒यद्वी॑राय॒ नम॑सा दिदिष्टन । येभिः॑ शि॒वः स्ववाँ॑ एव॒याव॑भिर्दि॒वः सिष॑क्ति॒ स्वय॑शा॒ निका॑मभिः ॥

Offer now a song of praise and adoration with homage to Rudra, mighty lord of justice and dispensation, leader, protector and ruler of the brave, self-existent, self-glorious, lover of peace and well being, commanding bright power and forces moving on their ordered course by which he blesses loving devotees with the fulfilment of their cherished desires.

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10.92.10

ते हि प्र॒जाया॒ अभ॑रन्त॒ वि श्रवो॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्वृष॒भः सोम॑जामयः । य॒ज्ञैरथ॑र्वा प्रथ॒मो वि धा॑रयद्दे॒वा दक्षै॒र्भृग॑वः॒ सं चि॑कित्रिरे ॥

They for sure hold and know the evolution of life, birth of divinity’s children: Brhaspati, lord of Prakrti and the Word of knowledge, Vrshabha, generator of the seed of life in the form of Hiranyagarbha, and the Soma currents of vitality which bear the seeds in life form. These, first Atharvan holds in knowledge and disseminates in form and word by processes of yajna, and later, the divine Bhrgus, sages of knowledge and austere discipline, acquire the knowledge by tradition and their own expertise.

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10.92.11

ते हि द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी भूरि॑रेतसा॒ नरा॒शंस॒श्चतु॑रङ्गो य॒मोऽदि॑तिः । दे॒वस्त्वष्टा॑ द्रविणो॒दा ऋ॑भु॒क्षणः॒ प्र रो॑द॒सी म॒रुतो॒ विष्णु॑रर्हिरे ॥

These for sure are the divinities which contribute to the evolution and flow of life : the solar region and the earth both replete with life and fertility, the middle region which overflows with electric energy, air, vapour, and elements of nourishment, evolutionary law in its course, imperishable mother nature, divine Tvashta which is the formative power immensely generous and keen to structure the forms, pranic energy, wind energy, and Vishnu, divine power of sustenance. These are powers worthy of our gratitude, reverence and worship.

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10.92.12

उ॒त स्य न॑ उ॒शिजा॑मुर्वि॒या क॒विरहिः॑ शृणोतु बु॒ध्न्यो॒३॒॑ हवी॑मनि । सूर्या॒मासा॑ वि॒चर॑न्ता दिवि॒क्षिता॑ धि॒या श॑मीनहुषी अ॒स्य बो॑धतम् ॥

And may that Ahirbudhnya, omnipresent, omniscient and all watching lord of expansive Prakrti, listen to our profuse prayer and adoration offered in our yajna with unbounded love and faith. And may the sun and moon, both stationed in heaven and moving in space, acknowledge our homage with their sensitive natural perception, and may the heaven and earth too acknowledge our homage.

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10.92.13

प्र नः॑ पू॒षा च॒रथं॑ वि॒श्वदे॑व्यो॒ऽपां नपा॑दवतु वा॒युरि॒ष्टये॑ । आ॒त्मानं॒ वस्यो॑ अ॒भि वात॑मर्चत॒ तद॑श्विना सुहवा॒ याम॑नि श्रुतम् ॥

And may Pusha, divine spirit of nature’s nourishment, protect and promote our living and moving wealth. May the life-giving Vayu energy, sustainer of life’s vitality, and all natural divinities protect and promote us to achieve our cherished desires for well being. O dedicated celebrants of divinity, honour and adore the glorious spiritual energy within the soul, and may theAshvins, complementary currents of natural life energy in yajnic touch with us, perceive our earnestness on way and bring us blessings of divinity.

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10.92.14

वि॒शामा॒सामभ॑यानामधि॒क्षितं॑ गी॒र्भिरु॒ स्वय॑शसं गृणीमसि । ग्नाभि॒र्विश्वा॑भि॒रदि॑तिमन॒र्वण॑म॒क्तोर्युवा॑नं नृ॒मणा॒ अधा॒ पति॑म् ॥

With songs of praise we celebrate Agni, ruling divine power abiding at heart among these fearless people, the divinity glorious by its own actions. Along with all the world’s divine powers of nature and humanity, we also praise Aditi, imperishable Prakrti, the moon, youthful ruler of the night, and the self- existent, self-refulgent sun, gracious life giver of the people.

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10.92.15

रेभ॒दत्र॑ ज॒नुषा॒ पूर्वो॒ अङ्गि॑रा॒ ग्रावा॑ण ऊ॒र्ध्वा अ॒भि च॑क्षुरध्व॒रम् । येभि॒र्विहा॑या॒ अभ॑वद्विचक्ष॒णः पाथः॑ सु॒मेकं॒ स्वधि॑ति॒र्वन॑न्वति ॥

By birth, the first and foremost sageAngira sings the song of divinity, the soma makers look up and watch the process of divine creation and all those powers by which the all watching creator waxes great and his omnipotence creates and provides the highest kind of food for humanity for the journey ahead.

✦ Sukta 93 · 15 verses ✦

10.93.1

महि॑ द्यावापृथिवी भूतमु॒र्वी नारी॑ य॒ह्वी न रोद॑सी॒ सदं॑ नः । तेभि॑र्नः पातं॒ सह्य॑स ए॒भिर्नः॑ पातं शू॒षणि॑ ॥

May the great earth and high heaven be vaster and greater, and always waxing and rising for us, may they like mothers help us rise and grow. May they, stronger and more prosperous, promote us by those heavenly gifts of light and rain. May they, ever stronger,amiable, procreative and productive, help us grow with these gifts of rain and food.

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10.93.2

य॒ज्ञेय॑ज्ञे॒ स मर्त्यो॑ दे॒वान्त्स॑पर्यति । यः सु॒म्नैर्दी॑र्घ॒श्रुत्त॑म आ॒विवा॑सत्येनान् ॥

That mortal man serves and augments the divinities who, risen in knowledge and wisdom by reading and listening to the utmost, serves them in every yajnic programme with holy works of cleansing and replenishment to be creative and productive more and more.

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10.93.3

विश्वे॑षामिरज्यवो दे॒वानां॒ वार्म॒हः । विश्वे॒ हि वि॒श्वम॑हसो॒ विश्वे॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ य॒ज्ञियाः॑ ॥

O masters of the world, great is the glory of the divinities. All of them command universal majesty, all of them are adorable in yajnic congregations.

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10.93.4

ते घा॒ राजा॑नो अ॒मृत॑स्य म॒न्द्रा अ॑र्य॒मा मि॒त्रो वरु॑णः॒ परि॑ज्मा । कद्रु॒द्रो नृ॒णां स्तु॒तो म॒रुतः॑ पू॒षणो॒ भगः॑ ॥

They are lights of immortality, happy and joyous, harbingers of well being to humanity: Aryama, spirit of justice and rectitude in conduct, Mitra, divine love, friendship and unity, Varuna, spirit of judgement and choice, Parijma, all moving air, Rudra, destroyer of suffering, Maruts, cosmic currents of energy, Pushana, energy and nourishment for growth, Bhaga, spirit of divine glory and human power and prosperity. Everyone of them is valued, loved and respected by humanity.

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10.93.5

उ॒त नो॒ नक्त॑म॒पां वृ॑षण्वसू॒ सूर्या॒मासा॒ सद॑नाय सध॒न्या॑ । सचा॒ यत्साद्ये॑षा॒महि॑र्बु॒ध्नेषु॑ बु॒ध्न्यः॑ ॥

And those harbingers of rain and wealth, the Ashvins, the sun and moon, auspicious givers of wealth for the home, the clouds of vapour floating in the skies and their auxiliaries which abide in nature, may all these be friendly and bless us with wealth and joy day and night.

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10.93.6

उ॒त नो॑ दे॒वाव॒श्विना॑ शु॒भस्पती॒ धाम॑भिर्मि॒त्रावरु॑णा उरुष्यताम् । म॒हः स रा॒य एष॒तेऽति॒ धन्वे॑व दुरि॒ता ॥

And may the divine Ashvins, complementary currents of natural energy, Mitra and Varuna, prana and udana energies of the body system vibrating in nature, protect and promote us. One whom they protect and promote rises great in wealth, rules it as the master and crosses over all evils with a single leap.

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10.93.7

उ॒त नो॑ रु॒द्रा चि॑न्मृळताम॒श्विना॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॒ रथ॒स्पति॒र्भगः॑ । ऋ॒भुर्वाज॑ ऋभुक्षणः॒ परि॑ज्मा विश्ववेदसः ॥

And may the health giving Rudra pranas, the Ashvins, prana and apana energies, all brilliant holy men of the world, Bhaga, spirit of honour, power and prosperity of life, the presiding power of the chariot of human life for the individual and society, Rbhu, the wise sage of creative expertise, Vaja, commander of strength and progressive advancement, Rbhuksha, skilful technician, all moving wind energy, and managers of the world’s wealth be kind and good for our welfare.

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10.93.8

ऋ॒भुॠ॑भु॒क्षा ऋ॒भुर्वि॑ध॒तो मद॒ आ ते॒ हरी॑ जूजुवा॒नस्य॑ वा॒जिना॑ । दु॒ष्टरं॒ यस्य॒ साम॑ चि॒दृध॑ग्य॒ज्ञो न मानु॑षः ॥

Great is Indra, cosmic energy, great is the joy of the creator of cosmic energy. O mighty lord of cosmic energy, great are the complementary currents of your energy circuit. Grand, not easy, is the knowledge and articulation of the divine energy of nature, and its management too at the human level as yajnic process is not easy.

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10.93.9

कृ॒धी नो॒ अह्र॑यो देव सवितः॒ स च॑ स्तुषे म॒घोना॑म् । स॒हो न॒ इन्द्रो॒ वह्नि॑भि॒र्न्ये॑षां चर्षणी॒नां च॒क्रं र॒श्मिं न यो॑युवे ॥

Savita, O lord of light and life’s creativity, admired and exalted by the strong and powerful, pray make us bold and self-confident, let us never be subjected to shame and ignominy. Indra, lord of power, controls and directs the power and wisdom of these people of the earth with psychic currents of pranic energies as a driver controls and directs the movement of the chariot by reins and the wheels.

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10.93.10

ऐषु॑ द्यावापृथिवी धातं म॒हद॒स्मे वी॒रेषु॑ वि॒श्वच॑र्षणि॒ श्रवः॑ । पृ॒क्षं वाज॑स्य सा॒तये॑ पृ॒क्षं रा॒योत तु॒र्वणे॑ ॥

O earth and heaven, mother and father of humanity, pray vest high honour and fame of universal human order in these brave heroes. Exalt them with food and energy, honour and enthusiasm, and wealth and excellence for the achievement of victory and conquest over evil forces.

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10.93.11

ए॒तं शंस॑मिन्द्रास्म॒युष्ट्वं कूचि॒त्सन्तं॑ सहसावन्न॒भिष्ट॑ये । सदा॑ पाह्य॒भिष्ट॑ये मे॒दतां॑ वे॒दता॑ वसो ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, you are our father, mother, protector and all, pray accept this celebrant all time wherever he be, protect him for his good, promote him for his cherished happiness and well being. Pray take on the seeker, enlighten the lover, save me, O shelter home of the world.

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10.93.12

ए॒तं मे॒ स्तोमं॑ त॒ना न सूर्ये॑ द्यु॒तद्या॑मानं वावृधन्त नृ॒णाम् । सं॒वन॑नं॒ नाश्व्यं॒ तष्टे॒वान॑पच्युतम् ॥

May the singers of divinity and celebrants of humanity exalt and extend this my song of divine adoration and united human celebration like radiant rays of the sun spreading light or a craftsman launching an infallible automotive fast chariot on boundless ways.

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10.93.13

वा॒वर्त॒ येषां॑ रा॒या यु॒क्तैषां॑ हिर॒ण्ययी॑ । ने॒मधि॑ता॒ न पौंस्या॒ वृथे॑व वि॒ष्टान्ता॑ ॥

The prayer of devotees whose words are replete with the wealth of conscience and sincerity naturally and spontaneously bears the golden fruit of divine love and salvation, just as the heroic exploits of warriors in battle, united and directed to the same one end, lead to victory and never go waste.

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10.93.14

प्र तद्दुः॒शीमे॒ पृथ॑वाने वे॒ने प्र रा॒मे वो॑च॒मसु॑रे म॒घव॑त्सु । ये यु॒क्त्वाय॒ पञ्च॑ श॒तास्म॒यु प॒था वि॒श्राव्ये॑षाम् ॥

To the restless, celebrated, emotional, sensual, exuberant and powerful, let me speak of that knowledge and wisdom which is heard of these our well wishers of humanity who control and direct five hundred fluctuations of their mind by meditation to peace and divinity. (That is the path of living, knowing and speaking.)

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10.93.15

अधीन्न्वत्र॑ सप्त॒तिं च॑ स॒प्त च॑ । स॒द्यो दि॑दिष्ट॒ तान्वः॑ स॒द्यो दि॑दिष्ट पा॒र्थ्यः स॒द्यो दि॑दिष्ट माय॒वः ॥

Here in the matter of body and mind, divine nature gives and simultaneously orders and controls seventy seven nerves of the body, seventy seven bone structures, and seventy seven articulatory functions.

✦ Sukta 94 · 14 verses ✦

10.94.1

प्रैते व॑दन्तु॒ प्र व॒यं व॑दाम॒ ग्राव॑भ्यो॒ वाचं॑ वदता॒ वद॑द्भ्यः । यद॑द्रयः पर्वताः सा॒कमा॒शवः॒ श्लोकं॒ घोषं॒ भर॒थेन्द्रा॑य सो॒मिनः॑ ॥

Let these veteran sages speak, let us also speak the Word from the sages who speak for us. You too, O yajakas, speak the Word when the sages of eminent standing, bearers of soma, together passionately offer the words of divine praise to Indra.

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10.94.2

ए॒ते व॑दन्ति श॒तव॑त्स॒हस्र॑वद॒भि क्र॑न्दन्ति॒ हरि॑तेभिरा॒सभिः॑ । वि॒ष्ट्वी ग्रावा॑णः सु॒कृतः॑ सुकृ॒त्यया॒ होतु॑श्चि॒त्पूर्वे॑ हवि॒रद्य॑माशत ॥

The sages speak as they do to hundreds and thousands, and proclaim the Word loud and bold with resounding voice. Eloquent sages of long standing, noble performers, sitting on the vedi, speak with noble tongue in sacred language and partake of the yajnic hospitality of the yajamana.

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10.94.3

ए॒ते व॑द॒न्त्यवि॑दन्न॒ना मधु॒ न्यू॑ङ्खयन्ते॒ अधि॑ प॒क्व आमि॑षि । वृ॒क्षस्य॒ शाखा॑मरु॒णस्य॒ बप्स॑त॒स्ते सूभ॑र्वा वृष॒भाः प्रेम॑राविषुः ॥

They speak only when they know the subject by experience, having tasted with relish the honey sweets of the juice in the ripe fruit. Enjoying the fruit of life on the bright branch of the tree of existence they, mighty wise, bearing the knowledge by experience in the mind, speak the word of wisdom and reveal the truth.

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10.94.4

बृ॒हद्व॑दन्ति मदि॒रेण॑ म॒न्दिनेन्द्रं॒ क्रोश॑न्तोऽविदन्न॒ना मधु॑ । सं॒रभ्या॒ धीराः॒ स्वसृ॑भिरनर्तिषुराघो॒षय॑न्तः पृथि॒वीमु॑प॒ब्दिभिः॑ ॥

They speak wide and bold, exalt Indra with joy in words of ecstasy, tasting, knowing and proclaiming sweets of honey by music of the tongue. Having experienced and enjoyed the taste of sweetness repeatedly, the veterans express the ecstasy in dance with gestures, movements and expressions, the earth resounding with the music of their joy.

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10.94.5

सु॒प॒र्णा वाच॑मक्र॒तोप॒ द्यव्या॑ख॒रे कृष्णा॑ इषि॒रा अ॑नर्तिषुः । न्य१॒॑ङ्नि य॒न्त्युप॑रस्य निष्कृ॒तं पु॒रू रेतो॑ दधिरे सूर्य॒श्वितः॑ ॥

Birds of imagination fly up to the bounds of heaven and raise their voice of adoration, vibrant clouds dance in the deepest caverns of space and celebrate their joy, the spirits distil the ecstasy of highest realisation and, pure and radiant as sunlight, receive profuse showers of immortal life.

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10.94.6

उ॒ग्रा इ॑व प्र॒वह॑न्तः स॒माय॑मुः सा॒कं यु॒क्ता वृष॑णो॒ बिभ्र॑तो॒ धुरः॑ । यच्छ्व॒सन्तो॑ जग्रसा॒ना अरा॑विषुः शृ॒ण्व ए॑षां प्रो॒थथो॒ अर्व॑तामिव ॥

Like virile bulls yoked together bearing the chariot pole and drawing the chariot forward, they, inspired and mighty enthusiastic, lead humanity forward. Breathing, panting, happily accepting all pleasure and pain of social experience, they go on proclaiming their message, and the echoes of their proclamation is heard like the breathing of victorious race horses.

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10.94.7

दशा॑वनिभ्यो॒ दश॑कक्ष्येभ्यो॒ दश॑योक्त्रेभ्यो॒ दश॑योजनेभ्यः । दशा॑भीशुभ्यो अर्चता॒जरे॑भ्यो॒ दश॒ धुरो॒ दश॑ यु॒क्ता वह॑द्भ्यः ॥

Honour those who work at ten levels of earthly life and create the soma joy of existence, ten equal cooperators like the ten fingers, ten equal cooperative faculties such as the senses, ten possible cooperatives such as energies of passion and understanding, ten partners such as the pranic energies, ten dynamic forces such as will and determination, ten unaging ones such as desires and ambitions, ten burden bearers joined to carry on the tenfold business of living such as the rules of personal and social discipline

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10.94.8

ते अद्र॑यो॒ दश॑यन्त्रास आ॒शव॒स्तेषा॑मा॒धानं॒ पर्ये॑ति हर्य॒तम् । त ऊ॑ सु॒तस्य॑ सो॒म्यस्यान्ध॑सों॒ऽशोः पी॒यूषं॑ प्रथ॒मस्य॑ भेजिरे ॥

They are the sages and scholars strong as adamant, high as mountains, roaring as clouds, working with tenfold discipline and freedom of mind, fast and instant workers and thinkers whose total energy and attention is concentrated on the one central end and aim of life: the creation of joy. And they alone share and enjoy the first, original and immortal nectar sweet of the blissful energy and ecstasy of life created and refined by sages.

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10.94.9

ते सो॒मादो॒ हरी॒ इन्द्र॑स्य निंसतें॒ऽशुं दु॒हन्तो॒ अध्या॑सते॒ गवि॑ । तेभि॑र्दु॒ग्धं प॑पि॒वान्त्सो॒म्यं मध्विन्द्रो॑ वर्धते॒ प्रथ॑ते वृषा॒यते॑ ॥

They, tasting of soma joy, attain to both knowledge and action toward both secular and sacred aims of life under divine dispensation and, distilling the joy of life, abide confident in the state of yoga on the earth and then on higher planes as well. Indra, the soul, drinking of the honey sweet milk of divine ecstasy, rises, expands and expresses itself in showers of creative joy and positive activity.

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10.94.10

वृषा॑ वो अं॒शुर्न किला॑ रिषाथ॒नेळा॑वन्तः॒ सद॒मित्स्थ॒नाशि॑ताः । रै॒व॒त्येव॒ मह॑सा॒ चार॑वः स्थन॒ यस्य॑ ग्रावाणो॒ अजु॑षध्वमध्व॒रम् ॥

O lovers and creators of soma, strong, generous and inexhaustible is your soma of joy. You would never be hurt or violated. Blest with food, energy and enlightenment, live ever satisfied and happy. O sages, abide in life as great and brilliant as with the spirit of the wealth, honour and excellence of life. The stalk of your joy whose yajna you live by is deep, eternal and immortal

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10.94.11

तृ॒दि॒ला अतृ॑दिलासो॒ अद्र॑योऽश्रम॒णा अशृ॑थिता॒ अमृ॑त्यवः । अ॒ना॒तु॒रा अ॒जराः॒ स्थाम॑विष्णवः सुपी॒वसो॒ अतृ॑षिता॒ अतृ॑ष्णजः ॥

O revered sages, be ever relentless, inviolable, destroyers of evil, indefatigable, immortal, unafflicted, unaging, steadfast and dynamic, strong and healthy, uninhibited and unfrustrated, and free from greed

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10.94.12

ध्रु॒वा ए॒व वः॑ पि॒तरो॑ यु॒गेयु॑गे॒ क्षेम॑कामासः॒ सद॑सो॒ न यु॑ञ्जते । अ॒जु॒र्यासो॑ हरि॒षाचो॑ ह॒रिद्र॑व॒ आ द्यां रवे॑ण पृथि॒वीम॑शुश्रवुः ॥

O veteran sages, parental lovers of humanity, be all time strong and steadfast, well wishers of all as members of one joint family. Untouched by age, lovers of life’s greenery, inspirers of life’s joy, speak so that your voice resounds and is heard across the earth and skies.

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10.94.13

तदिद्व॑द॒न्त्यद्र॑यो वि॒मोच॑ने॒ याम॑न्नञ्ज॒स्पा इ॑व॒ घेदु॑प॒ब्दिभिः॑ । वप॑न्तो॒ बीज॑मिव धान्या॒कृतः॑ पृ॒ञ्चन्ति॒ सोमं॒ न मि॑नन्ति॒ बप्स॑तः ॥

Veteran sages on way to freedom from the bonds of mortality speak of immortal Indra like bards in a state of ecstasy. As the farmer, having sowed the corn, guards it till ripeness, they, enjoying the soma experience, guard and mature the nectar, they do not violate it, never destroy the taste of immortality.

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10.94.14

सु॒ते अ॑ध्व॒रे अधि॒ वाच॑मक्र॒ता क्री॒ळयो॒ न मा॒तरं॑ तु॒दन्तः॑ । वि षू मु॑ञ्चा सुषु॒वुषो॑ मनी॒षां वि व॑र्तन्ता॒मद्र॑य॒श्चाय॑मानाः ॥

Just as children in love vex the mother while playing, so when the yajna is on and soma is extracted, let the sages recite the hymns with love and a sense of freedom and release in spontaneity and then let them retire with love and reverence into rest and silence.

✦ Sukta 95 · 18 verses ✦

10.95.1

ह॒ये जाये॒ मन॑सा॒ तिष्ठ॑ घोरे॒ वचां॑सि मि॒श्रा कृ॑णवावहै॒ नु । न नौ॒ मन्त्रा॒ अनु॑दितास ए॒ते मय॑स्कर॒न्पर॑तरे च॒नाह॑न् ॥

Hey venerable one, awful too though, stay awhile with mind at ease. Let us have a dialogue between us, words of mutual interest, of love and sweetness. These words and thoughts have remained unexpressed between us. Will they not do some good to us some later day?

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10.95.2

किमे॒ता वा॒चा कृ॑णवा॒ तवा॒हं प्राक्र॑मिषमु॒षसा॑मग्रि॒येव॑ । पुरू॑रवः॒ पुन॒रस्तं॒ परे॑हि दुराप॒ना वात॑ इवा॒हम॑स्मि ॥

I am not able to shoot the arrow from the quiver for victory and glory, and though I am strong and brave, I cannot win the hundreds of lands with the roar of victory. O lady bereft of the brave, I shine not in the rising battles of life, my own powerful forces forsake me.

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10.95.3

इषु॒र्न श्रि॒य इ॑षु॒धेर॑स॒ना गो॒षाः श॑त॒सा न रंहिः॑ । अ॒वीरे॒ क्रतौ॒ वि द॑विद्युत॒न्नोरा॒ न मा॒युं चि॑तयन्त॒ धुन॑यः ॥

I am not able to shoot the arrow from the quiver for victory and glory, and though I am strong and brave, I cannot win the hundreds of lands with the roar of victory. O lady bereft of the brave, I shine not in the rising battles of life, my own powerful forces forsake me. (The dialogue develops as a dialogue between man in love with life and the search for inspiration, purpose and consummation of living. The love is intense, excessive and vociferous like the thundering cloud’s and the inspiration is lovely and seductive like the elusive lightning. It can be interpreted as a dialogue between the ambitious ruler and the social power, and ultimately, between the liver (man) and the possibilities of life, the passion and the unattainable, the dawn and the day, the night and the morrow.) Note that Pururava is Aila, child of Ila, nature, and Urvashi is infinite beauty, and their consummation is joy and creativity.

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10.95.4

सा वसु॒ दध॑ती॒ श्वशु॑राय॒ वय॒ उषो॒ यदि॒ वष्ट्यन्ति॑गृहात् । अस्तं॑ ननक्षे॒ यस्मि॑ञ्चा॒कन्दिवा॒ नक्तं॑ श्नथि॒ता वै॑त॒सेन॑ ॥

If Urvashi (electric energy or the dawn) bearing light and nourishment for the coming day were to rise from the depth of space or darkness of night, and stricken with love as catalytic agent, were to visit the lover’s chamber, the heart of the cloud or the sun on the rise, then she would be struck with three way charge of positive, negative and consummative ‘vaitasa’, process of nature’s evolutionary activity. Day and night, all time? (‘Vaitasa’is the name of a process of movement, attainment, fertility, enlightenment, extension, consumption and evolution in the natural cycle. The catalytic agent does not stay with the mode it causes to change and move toward growth. The electric charge causes the cloud thunder, breaks the cloud into rain, and that causes the earth to produce vegetation. The processes of catalysation, rain and growth are described in the Brahmanas and quoted by Swami Dayananda in his commentaries on Vedic mantras.)

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10.95.5

त्रिः स्म॒ माह्नः॑ श्नथयो वैत॒सेनो॒त स्म॒ मेऽव्य॑त्यै पृणासि । पुरू॑र॒वोऽनु॑ ते॒ केत॑मायं॒ राजा॑ मे वीर त॒न्व१॒॑स्तदा॑सीः ॥

O Pururava, cloud, day, thrice in a unit of time you would move me with the energy of procreative nature and thus achieve the fulfilment of nature’s purpose. Come to your chamber thus for fulfilment, O brave one, you would be the ruler of my body. (But stay I cannot.) Mantras 4 and 5 are spoken by Urvashi like a thoughtful soliloquy.

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10.95.6

या सु॑जू॒र्णिः श्रेणिः॑ सु॒म्नआ॑पिर्ह्र॒देच॑क्षु॒र्न ग्र॒न्थिनी॑ चर॒ण्युः । ता अ॒ञ्जयो॑ऽरु॒णयो॒ न स॑स्रुः श्रि॒ये गावो॒ न धे॒नवो॑ऽनवन्त ॥

Waves of energy flow, exciting, wavy, soothing, successive and cyclic, and move in circuit, beautiful, shining red rays, harbingers of beauty and prosperity like young loving cows of the family.

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10.95.7

सम॑स्मि॒ञ्जाय॑मान आसत॒ ग्ना उ॒तेम॑वर्धन्न॒द्यः१॒॑ स्वगू॑र्ताः । म॒हे यत्त्वा॑ पुरूरवो॒ रणा॒याव॑र्धयन्दस्यु॒हत्या॑य दे॒वाः ॥

When this roaring cloud is formed or when the sun is risen for the day, then many forces like divine consorts of nature join and, self-energised and fluent like showers of rain and streams of water, exalt it. O Pururava, then the devas too, brilliant divinities of nature and humanity, prepare and exalt you for the mighty battle against want and darkness to destroy evil from nature and society.

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10.95.8

सचा॒ यदा॑सु॒ जह॑ती॒ष्वत्क॒ममा॑नुषीषु॒ मानु॑षो नि॒षेवे॑ । अप॑ स्म॒ मत्त॒रस॑न्ती॒ न भु॒ज्युस्ता अ॑त्रसन्रथ॒स्पृशो॒ नाश्वाः॑ ॥

When Pururava, the mighty cloud, takes over earthly form and joins the unearthly forms of nature after they have given up their natural super-human character, they, which earlier had feared him like the game fearing the hunter, do not fear him as horses joined to the chariot do not fear the master.

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10.95.9

यदा॑सु॒ मर्तो॑ अ॒मृता॑सु नि॒स्पृक्सं क्षो॒णीभिः॒ क्रतु॑भि॒र्न पृ॒ङ्क्ते । ता आ॒तयो॒ न त॒न्वः॑ शुम्भत॒ स्वा अश्वा॑सो॒ न क्री॒ळयो॒ दन्द॑शानाः ॥

When the mortal Puruava loving these immortal beings joins them with loving words as well as with noble actions, then they, like swans playing in water, shine and show their bodies like horses playing with the bridle in their teeth.

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10.95.10

वि॒द्युन्न या पत॑न्ती॒ दवि॑द्यो॒द्भर॑न्ती मे॒ अप्या॒ काम्या॑नि । जनि॑ष्टो अ॒पो नर्यः॒ सुजा॑तः॒ प्रोर्वशी॑ तिरत दी॒र्घमायुः॑ ॥

Like lightning, falling and flashing, bringing me cherished gifts of water showers, Urvashi who creates blissful floods and streams for humanity blesses me with long life and health.

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10.95.11

ज॒ज्ञि॒ष इ॒त्था गो॒पीथ्या॑य॒ हि द॒धाथ॒ तत्पु॑रूरवो म॒ ओजः॑ । अशा॑सं त्वा वि॒दुषी॒ सस्मि॒न्नह॒न्न म॒ आशृ॑णोः॒ किम॒भुग्व॑दासि ॥

Pururava, you are born and destined for the protection of earth and promotion of life. Pray bear and command the lustre of life for me. Educated and cultured in the art of home life, I advised you day in and day out, pray listen to me. What can you say if you do not serve life and mother earth? Nothing.

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10.95.12

क॒दा सू॒नुः पि॒तरं॑ जा॒त इ॑च्छाच्च॒क्रन्नाश्रु॑ वर्तयद्विजा॒नन् । को दम्प॑ती॒ सम॑नसा॒ वि यू॑यो॒दध॒ यद॒ग्निः श्वशु॑रेषु॒ दीद॑यत् ॥

When would the progeny born, grown, knowing and coming without tears and actively doing love and favour the parents? And who would separate the couple wedded in mutual love when the passion for life shines among the brave? None.

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10.95.13

प्रति॑ ब्रवाणि व॒र्तय॑ते॒ अश्रु॑ च॒क्रन्न क्र॑न्ददा॒ध्ये॑ शि॒वायै॑ । प्र तत्ते॑ हिनवा॒ यत्ते॑ अ॒स्मे परे॒ह्यस्तं॑ न॒हि मू॑र॒ मापः॑ ॥

And I say to you, Pururava, by way of warning: if the untoward happens in case of separation, the child would come to you crying, in tears, yearning for consolation and comfort. I would send him to you who is now ours and spurn you off: O fool, impetuous, infructuous man, go off your way, I am not for you!

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10.95.14

सु॒दे॒वो अ॒द्य प्र॒पते॒दना॑वृत्परा॒वतं॑ पर॒मां गन्त॒वा उ॑ । अधा॒ शयी॑त॒ निॠ॑तेरु॒पस्थेऽधै॑नं॒ वृका॑ रभ॒सासो॑ अ॒द्युः ॥

Urvashi, if such a calamity befall, let the ardent lover immediately fall to no redemption, go far to the farthest distance, let him lie in the depth of denial and adversity, and let voracious wolves devour him.

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10.95.15

पुरू॑रवो॒ मा मृ॑था॒ मा प्र प॑प्तो॒ मा त्वा॒ वृका॑सो॒ अशि॑वास उ क्षन् । न वै स्त्रैणा॑नि स॒ख्यानि॑ सन्ति सालावृ॒काणां॒ हृद॑यान्ये॒ता ॥

Pururava, let this never be: do not die, never fall, never must cursed wolves devour you, such are not the loves and friendships of women. It is only women of wolfish heart that deceive and betray the covenant.

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10.95.16

यद्विरू॒पाच॑रं॒ मर्त्ये॒ष्वव॑सं॒ रात्रीः॑ श॒रद॒श्चत॑स्रः । घृ॒तस्य॑ स्तो॒कं स॒कृदह्न॑ आश्नां॒ तादे॒वेदं ता॑तृपा॒णा च॑रामि ॥

When I came down from the divine into this different earthly form living happily for four years among mortals, I have lived on one time little drop of ghrta a day, and content with that alone I sojourn among men.

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10.95.17

अ॒न्त॒रि॒क्ष॒प्रां रज॑सो वि॒मानी॒मुप॑ शिक्षाम्यु॒र्वशीं॒ वसि॑ष्ठः । उप॑ त्वा रा॒तिः सु॑कृ॒तस्य॒ तिष्ठा॒न्नि व॑र्तस्व॒ हृद॑यं तप्यते मे ॥

I, Vasishtha, closest ardent lover, speak to Urvashi, spirit of boundless beauty, light and love, and celebrate this ranger of the skies, controller of vapours and breaker of the cloud. May the bounty of divine generosity ever abide by you. My heart is burning, pray turn, return and fulfil the divine purpose.

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10.95.18

इति॑ त्वा दे॒वा इ॒म आ॑हुरैळ॒ यथे॑मे॒तद्भव॑सि मृ॒त्युब॑न्धुः । प्र॒जा ते॑ दे॒वान्ह॒विषा॑ यजाति स्व॒र्ग उ॒ त्वमपि॑ मादयासे ॥

Pururava Aila, child of nature, word of divinity, this is what the divines have spoken: Kinsman of death you would be, your children would serve the divinities with homage and fragrant havi into the yajna fire, and you too would abide in paradise and be happy. (This sukta is a myth, a mystery, until it is unraveled.) It is a myth of the love between man and woman, fickle as well as unbreakable and sacred. The flower and fruit of it is the child, continuance of the race. And it may be called the myth of Purusha and Prakrti and the cycle of existence. It is a myth of the cloud, thunder and lightning. The cloud is a mass of gases, then the electric charge, thunder, lightning, rain and life on earth. And it points to a wonder possibility: The thunderous cloud, Pururava, is ineffective without Urvashi, the lightning charge. Urvashi, the heavenly nymph, lives on one drop of ghrta per day. The children of the couple live and perform yajna, and the parents abide in paradise. Can we say: One drop of ghrta into the yajna fire per day feeds Urvashi which causes the cloud to rain and the yajaka contributes to a life of paradise on earth?

✦ Sukta 96 · 13 verses ✦

10.96.1

प्र ते॑ म॒हे वि॒दथे॑ शंसिषं॒ हरी॒ प्र ते॑ वन्वे व॒नुषो॑ हर्य॒तं मद॑म् । घृ॒तं न यो हरि॑भि॒श्चारु॒ सेच॑त॒ आ त्वा॑ विशन्तु॒ हरि॑वर्पसं॒ गिरः॑ ॥

O lord omnipotent, Hari, in your great cosmic yajna, I adore your forces of Rtam and Satyam. Lord of beauty, glory and bliss, I pray for the joy of your ecstatic bliss, which, beautiful and beatific with showers of joy, blesses life on earth as ghrta exalts the sacred fire. May our words of adoration and prayer reach your blissful presence immanent in the universe.

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10.96.2

हरिं॒ हि योनि॑म॒भि ये स॒मस्व॑रन्हि॒न्वन्तो॒ हरी॑ दि॒व्यं यथा॒ सदः॑ । आ यं पृ॒णन्ति॒ हरि॑भि॒र्न धे॒नव॒ इन्द्रा॑य शू॒षं हरि॑वन्तमर्चत ॥

You, who in concert adore and exalt Hari, omnipotent original cause of the universe as he pervades the divine spatial home, whom hymns of Veda and rays of the sun please and fulfil with their vibrations and radiations as cows fulfil the yajna with ghrta and milk, whose powers of Rtam and Satyam with their centrifugal and centripetal forces you praise, please study and honour that power of his which bears the burden of the world of nature and humanity. Do so for the sake of the honour and excellence of life on the way forward.

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10.96.3

सो अ॑स्य॒ वज्रो॒ हरि॑तो॒ य आ॑य॒सो हरि॒र्निका॑मो॒ हरि॒रा गभ॑स्त्योः । द्यु॒म्नी सु॑शि॒प्रो हरि॑मन्युसायक॒ इन्द्रे॒ नि रू॒पा हरि॑ता मिमिक्षिरे ॥

That power of Hari, omnipotent Indra, is the thunderbolt, and the thunderbolt is electric, magnetic, unfailing in aim and desire and it is borne in the hands of centrifugal and centripetal forces. It is bright and blazing, mighty passionate, punitive and destructive for the evil. Indeed in Indra as in the sun, all forms, all colours and all beauties are integrated.

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10.96.4

दि॒वि न के॒तुरधि॑ धायि हर्य॒तो वि॒व्यच॒द्वज्रो॒ हरि॑तो॒ न रंह्या॑ । तु॒ददहिं॒ हरि॑शिप्रो॒ य आ॑य॒सः स॒हस्र॑शोका अभवद्धरिम्भ॒रः ॥

The power of Indra, the Bajra, is held as the sun blazing in heaven. It expands and pervades like the bright rays radiating all over space. Destroying evil, breaking the clouds of darkness, glorious and mighty, the adamantine Bajra of a thousand flames shines as the symbol of the power of omnipotence.

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10.96.5

त्वंत्व॑महर्यथा॒ उप॑स्तुतः॒ पूर्वे॑भिरिन्द्र हरिकेश॒ यज्व॑भिः । त्वं ह॑र्यसि॒ तव॒ विश्व॑मु॒क्थ्य१॒॑मसा॑मि॒ राधो॑ हरिजात हर्य॒तम् ॥

Indra, lord of light and knowledge, self- manifested universal spirit of light, love and beauty, loved and adored by the earliest celebrant sages, you alone received, acknowledged and blest the adorations of the past, and you alone are the sole, unique, beloved, universally adorable giver of success and fulfilment who love, receive, acknowledge and bless the gifts of adoration and yajna offered to you.

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10.96.6

ता व॒ज्रिणं॑ म॒न्दिनं॒ स्तोम्यं॒ मद॒ इन्द्रं॒ रथे॑ वहतो हर्य॒ता हरी॑ । पु॒रूण्य॑स्मै॒ सव॑नानि॒ हर्य॑त॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ सोमा॒ हर॑यो दधन्विरे ॥

Those

adorable carriers, centrifugal and centripetal forces of divine nature, bear and sustain the power and presence of the thunder armed, joyous, adorable Indra in the divine blissful chariot as the universe of existence. For this Indra, blissful lord, many yajna sessions, soma oblations and beautiful gifts of homage are prepared and offered.

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10.96.7

अरं॒ कामा॑य॒ हर॑यो दधन्विरे स्थि॒राय॑ हिन्व॒न्हर॑यो॒ हरी॑ तु॒रा । अर्व॑द्भि॒र्यो हरि॑भि॒र्जोष॒मीय॑ते॒ सो अ॑स्य॒ कामं॒ हरि॑वन्तमानशे ॥

The dynamics of divine nature sustain the refulgent Indra for its holy solar purpose. The same powers energise the gravitational forces to hold the sun in balanced orbit. By these energy forces does Indra’s presence vibrate in the universe with love. And through these very forces does Indra fulfil his dear divine purpose.

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10.96.8

हरि॑श्मशारु॒र्हरि॑केश आय॒सस्तु॑र॒स्पेये॒ यो ह॑रि॒पा अव॑र्धत । अर्व॑द्भि॒र्यो हरि॑भिर्वा॒जिनी॑वसु॒रति॒ विश्वा॑ दुरि॒ता पारि॑ष॒द्धरी॑ ॥

The world’s greenery is his hair, golden rays of light, his locks. Wielding thunder and gravitation, his radiation enters waters of the earth and vapours of space, he expands in power and presence, and with powers of instant radiation, he shines as lord of abundant earth and overcomes all evils of disease and darkness with his catalytic forces.

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10.96.9

स्रुवे॑व॒ यस्य॒ हरि॑णी विपे॒ततुः॒ शिप्रे॒ वाजा॑य॒ हरि॑णी॒ दवि॑ध्वतः । प्र यत्कृ॒ते च॑म॒से मर्मृ॑ज॒द्धरी॑ पी॒त्वा मद॑स्य हर्य॒तस्यान्ध॑सः ॥

His golden eyes, sun and moon, move and radiate light as two ladles of ghrta feed and exalt the fire, and the heaven and earth like his golden jaws move for the food, energy and advancement of life. In his created world, having tasted of the delicious and inspiring food and drink, man refines and exalts his will and understanding.

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10.96.10

उ॒त स्म॒ सद्म॑ हर्य॒तस्य॑ प॒स्त्यो॒३॒॑रत्यो॒ न वाजं॒ हरि॑वाँ अचिक्रदत् । म॒ही चि॒द्धि धि॒षणाह॑र्य॒दोज॑सा बृ॒हद्वयो॑ दधिषे हर्य॒तश्चि॒दा ॥

Potent and charming Indra pervades the regions of heaven and earth as his home and with his power and presence roars like a hero going to war. With his might he wields both the great earth and the refulgent heaven, loves them and bears abundant food, strength and joy for life there.

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10.96.11

आ रोद॑सी॒ हर्य॑माणो महि॒त्वा नव्यं॑नव्यं हर्यसि॒ मन्म॒ नु प्रि॒यम् । प्र प॒स्त्य॑मसुर हर्य॒तं गोरा॒विष्कृ॑धि॒ हर॑ये॒ सूर्या॑य ॥

Lord of love and beauty, loved and loving all, you beautify and beatify the heaven and earth with new and newer favours, you love and create fresh and rising thoughts of admiration and adoration. O lord of vital energy and inspiration, pray open the homely state of earth and humanity to the illumination of the sun and light divine.

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10.96.12

आ त्वा॑ ह॒र्यन्तं॑ प्र॒युजो॒ जना॑नां॒ रथे॑ वहन्तु॒ हरि॑शिप्रमिन्द्र । पिबा॒ यथा॒ प्रति॑भृतस्य॒ मध्वो॒ हर्य॑न्य॒ज्ञं स॑ध॒मादे॒ दशो॑णिम् ॥

Indra, may the radiations of your light bear and bring you, glorious lord of golden visor, by your cosmic chariot to the people so that you, loving the yajna, drink of the honey sweet soma extracted and prepared with utmost dexterity of hand and care in the hall of yajna.

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10.96.13

अपाः॒ पूर्वे॑षां हरिवः सु॒ताना॒मथो॑ इ॒दं सव॑नं॒ केव॑लं ते । म॒म॒द्धि सोमं॒ मधु॑मन्तमिन्द्र स॒त्रा वृ॑षञ्ज॒ठर॒ आ वृ॑षस्व ॥

Indra, lord of light divine and solar radiations, you have drunk of the soma of the ancients of earliest sessions. This yajna session and the soma extracted in here is only for you. O lord of generous showers in this session, pray, drink of the honey sweet soma of our love and faith and let the showers of bliss flow and fill the skies and space unto the depth of our heart.

✦ Sukta 97 · 23 verses ✦

10.97.1

या ओष॑धीः॒ पूर्वा॑ जा॒ता दे॒वेभ्य॑स्त्रियु॒गं पु॒रा । मनै॒ नु ब॒भ्रूणा॑म॒हं श॒तं धामा॑नि स॒प्त च॑ ॥

Let me observe, investigate and know the herbs, ancient and best for all the three seasons and ages, born of the divine gifts of nature for people, herbs yellow, ripe and brown, and hundred and seven of them with places where they grow and where they work. (‘Shatam dhamani sapta cha’ can also be interpreted as seven hundred herbs and the places where they grow.)

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10.97.2

श॒तं वो॑ अम्ब॒ धामा॑नि स॒हस्र॑मु॒त वो॒ रुहः॑ । अधा॑ शतक्रत्वो यू॒यमि॒मं मे॑ अग॒दं कृ॑त ॥

O mother herb, hundreds are the places where you arise and work, thousands your varieties and extensions, and hundreds your gifts and efficacies. Pray make this life free from affliction and disease.

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10.97.3

ओष॑धीः॒ प्रति॑ मोदध्वं॒ पुष्प॑वतीः प्र॒सूव॑रीः । अश्वा॑ इव स॒जित्व॑रीर्वी॒रुधः॑ पारयि॒ष्ण्वः॑ ॥

O herbs, plants and creepers ever growing, rise and rejoice in response to life’s health, blossoming and fragrant, procreative and fructifying, victorious like winsome life energy itself, taking us across all suffering and disease.

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10.97.4

ओष॑धी॒रिति॑ मातर॒स्तद्वो॑ देवी॒रुप॑ ब्रुवे । स॒नेय॒मश्वं॒ गां वास॑ आ॒त्मानं॒ तव॑ पूरुष ॥

“O herbs, mothers, divine gifts of nature,” thus do I speak of you in confidence and say: O man, the horse, the cow, the home, even your body, mind and soul, I entrust for health to the herbs.”

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10.97.5

अ॒श्व॒त्थे वो॑ नि॒षद॑नं प॒र्णे वो॑ वस॒तिष्कृ॒ता । गो॒भाज॒ इत्किला॑सथ॒ यत्स॒नव॑थ॒ पूरु॑षम् ॥

Your seat is on the ashvattha tree, on the air and the cloud, your residence is made on the leaf and on the parna tree, you share your efficacy with the earth, sun rays and the cow by which you bestow health and vitality for life.

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10.97.6

यत्रौष॑धीः स॒मग्म॑त॒ राजा॑नः॒ समि॑ताविव । विप्रः॒ स उ॑च्यते भि॒षग्र॑क्षो॒हामी॑व॒चात॑नः ॥

Where herbs and medicines concentre as ruling powers in consult, that sagely scholar is called ‘physician’, destroyer of evil, eliminator of disease and ill health.

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10.97.7

अ॒श्वा॒व॒तीं सो॑माव॒तीमू॒र्जय॑न्ती॒मुदो॑जसम् । आवि॑त्सि॒ सर्वा॒ ओष॑धीर॒स्मा अ॑रि॒ष्टता॑तये ॥

For the recovery and rehabilitation of the sick and for his freedom from ailment in future, I know and can provide all herbal medicines, for example, Ashvavati, the herb for revival and energy, Somavati, for soothing and energising, Urjayanti for strengthening, and Udojas, exceedingly powerful for life saving, and others.

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10.97.8

उच्छुष्मा॒ ओष॑धीनां॒ गावो॑ गो॒ष्ठादि॑वेरते । धनं॑ सनि॒ष्यन्ती॑नामा॒त्मानं॒ तव॑ पूरुष ॥

And the strength and vitality of herbs which, O man, they bestow on you as the wealth of health for your body, mind and soul, stream forth to you like cows emerging from their stall or light rays radiating at dawn.

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10.97.9

इष्कृ॑ति॒र्नाम॑ वो मा॒ताथो॑ यू॒यं स्थ॒ निष्कृ॑तीः । सी॒राः प॑त॒त्रिणीः॑ स्थन॒ यदा॒मय॑ति॒ निष्कृ॑थ ॥

O herbs, the name of your mother is Ishkrti, good health, immunity and prevention, gifts of food, earth and nature. And you are cleansers and protectors. Be circulating in veins and arteries, throw out all that ails the body’s health.

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10.97.10

अति॒ विश्वाः॑ परि॒ष्ठा स्ते॒न इ॑व व्र॒जम॑क्रमुः । ओष॑धीः॒ प्राचु॑च्यवु॒र्यत्किं च॑ त॒न्वो॒३॒॑ रपः॑ ॥

Just as a thief breaks into a cattle stall (and is thrown out) so should all the herbals circulating all over the body attack and throw out the ailments that afflict the body.

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10.97.11

यदि॒मा वा॒जय॑न्न॒हमोष॑धी॒र्हस्त॑ आद॒धे । आ॒त्मा यक्ष्म॑स्य नश्यति पु॒रा जी॑व॒गृभो॑ यथा ॥

When I take up these medicines in hand to administer them against ailments, it is like a warning of death for them and their very soul and root disappears, totally destroyed, even before the dose.

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10.97.12

यस्यौ॑षधीः प्र॒सर्प॒थाङ्ग॑मङ्गं॒ परु॑ष्परुः । ततो॒ यक्ष्मं॒ वि बा॑धध्व उ॒ग्रो म॑ध्यम॒शीरि॑व ॥

O herbals, cure the sick whose body you spread over part by part, joint by joint, stop and throw out the disease like a sharp and aggressive mediator.

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10.97.13

सा॒कं य॑क्ष्म॒ प्र प॑त॒ चाषे॑ण किकिदी॒विना॑ । सा॒कं वात॑स्य॒ ध्राज्या॑ सा॒कं न॑श्य नि॒हाक॑या ॥

Consumptive disease is cured with increase in appetite, administration of medicine by mouth and cleansing by vomiting, with bitter medication, with strong and deep breathing in clean air, and cleansing of the system by eliminating the sputum and congestion.

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10.97.14

अ॒न्या वो॑ अ॒न्याम॑वत्व॒न्यान्यस्या॒ उपा॑वत । ताः सर्वाः॑ संविदा॒ना इ॒दं मे॒ प्राव॑ता॒ वचः॑ ॥

Let one medicine supplement and cover another, and let the other follow another with the same effect, and let them all thus accordant and cooperative justify and prove this word of mine in effect.

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10.97.15

याः फ॒लिनी॒र्या अ॑फ॒ला अ॑पु॒ष्पा याश्च॑ पु॒ष्पिणीः॑ । बृह॒स्पति॑प्रसूता॒स्ता नो॑ मुञ्च॒न्त्वंह॑सः ॥

Let those herbs which bear fruit, and those which do not bear fruit, let those which bloom with flowers and those which do not blossom, and all of those blest by Brhaspati, ripened by the sun, and prepared and energised by the physician deliver us from suffering.

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10.97.16

मु॒ञ्चन्तु॑ मा शप॒थ्या॒३॒॑दथो॑ वरु॒ण्या॑दु॒त । अथो॑ य॒मस्य॒ पड्बी॑शा॒त्सर्व॑स्माद्देवकिल्बि॒षात् ॥

Let them deliver me from ailments caused by curses and imprecations, dampness and stagnant waters, stiffness of joints and the whole body, and those coming from disturbance and depression of mind and senses.

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10.97.17

अ॒व॒पत॑न्तीरवदन्दि॒व ओष॑धय॒स्परि॑ । यं जी॒वम॒श्नवा॑महै॒ न स रि॑ष्याति॒ पूरु॑षः ॥

Descending from heaven the herbs, by their fragrance, energy and vitality, declare: the person whose life we pervade and vitalise comes to no harm.

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10.97.18

या ओष॑धीः॒ सोम॑राज्ञीर्ब॒ह्वीः श॒तवि॑चक्षणाः । तासां॒ त्वम॑स्युत्त॒मारं॒ कामा॑य॒ शं हृ॒दे ॥

Of all those herbs which shine with the soma element from the moon, which are abundant and instantly effective, you that fulfil the desire and are blissful for the heart are the best. (That is soma.)

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10.97.19

या ओष॑धीः॒ सोम॑राज्ञी॒र्विष्ठि॑ताः पृथि॒वीमनु॑ । बृह॒स्पति॑प्रसूता अ॒स्यै सं द॑त्त वी॒र्य॑म् ॥

You herbs which shine and abound in soma element and overspread the earth, blest by Brhaspati and energised by the sun, pray bless this ailing body with life saving vitality.

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10.97.20

मा वो॑ रिषत्खनि॒ता यस्मै॑ चा॒हं खना॑मि वः । द्वि॒पच्चतु॑ष्पद॒स्माकं॒ सर्व॑मस्त्वनातु॒रम् ॥

Let not the man who digs you from earth violate you, nor should he come to harm, nor should I come to harm who dig you out. May all human beings, all our animals, and all others be free from suffering and disease.

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10.97.21

याश्चे॒दमु॑पशृ॒ण्वन्ति॒ याश्च॑ दू॒रं परा॑गताः । सर्वाः॑ सं॒गत्य॑ वीरुधो॒ऽस्यै सं द॑त्त वी॒र्य॑म् ॥

those herbs which hear this word close by, and those which grow far away, may all these herbs join together and give life’s vitality to this patient.

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10.97.22

ओष॑धयः॒ सं व॑दन्ते॒ सोमे॑न स॒ह राज्ञा॑ । यस्मै॑ कृ॒णोति॑ ब्राह्म॒णस्तं रा॑जन्पारयामसि ॥

The herbs joined together with the ruling radiant soma say: O ruling lord of health and life, for whosoever the sagely physician makes use of us we save and pilot him over suffering and disease.

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10.97.23

त्वमु॑त्त॒मास्यो॑षधे॒ तव॑ वृ॒क्षा उप॑स्तयः । उप॑स्तिरस्तु॒ सो॒३॒॑ऽस्माकं॒ यो अ॒स्माँ अ॑भि॒दास॑ति ॥

O herb, O medicine, you are the best, most efficacious. The trees such as peepal and banyan are your auxiliaries, they are solid concentrations, next to you, of medical properties diffused all over. May all that helps us with health and comfort be our ally. May all that harms us, such as disease, be under our control.

✦ Sukta 98 · 12 verses ✦

10.98.1

बृह॑स्पते॒ प्रति॑ मे दे॒वता॑मिहि मि॒त्रो वा॒ यद्वरु॑णो॒ वासि॑ पू॒षा । आ॒दि॒त्यैर्वा॒ यद्वसु॑भिर्म॒रुत्वा॒न्त्स प॒र्जन्यं॒ शंत॑नवे वृषाय ॥

Brhaspati, lord of unbounded rain and thunder, come and bless me as the epitome of divine powers, whether you are Mitra or Varuna or Pusha or commander of the Marut winds withAdityas and Vasus. Let the cloud rain for the man of peace and lover of knowledge. (This mantra is a prayer for physical as well as for spiritual rain of water and peace for the lover of knowledge and peace. Brhaspati, Mitra, Varuna and other devas are physical powers of rain, and this process of vapourisation, electric catalysis of gases and condensation has been explained in his essays on the composition of water and atmosphere by late Pandit Gurudatta Viyarthi in his book Wisdom of the Rshis, republished by Dr. Ravi Prakash Arya, Email : [email protected]).

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10.98.2

आ दे॒वो दू॒तो अ॑जि॒रश्चि॑कि॒त्वान्त्वद्दे॑वापे अ॒भि माम॑गच्छत् । प्र॒ती॒ची॒नः प्रति॒ मामा व॑वृत्स्व॒ दधा॑मि ते द्यु॒मतीं॒ वाच॑मा॒सन् ॥

May the divine messenger, fast and brilliant, harbinger of collected light of knowledge come to me. Brhaspati, come to me constantly and continuously in circuitous series. I receive your illuminant Word into my mind and speech.

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10.98.3

अ॒स्मे धे॑हि द्यु॒मतीं॒ वाच॑मा॒सन्बृह॑स्पते अनमी॒वामि॑षि॒राम् । यया॑ वृ॒ष्टिं शंत॑नवे॒ वना॑व दि॒वो द्र॒प्सो मधु॑माँ॒ आ वि॑वेश ॥

Infinite lord of nature, knowledge and the divine word, bring us for our mind and speech illuminant shower of the divine voice, immaculate, unrestrained and inspiringly energetic by which we may bring about an earthly rain of peace and enlightenment for the lover of knowledge and well being for all, and let a shower of paradisal honey sweets bless the earth from heaven.

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10.98.4

आ नो॑ द्र॒प्सा मधु॑मन्तो विश॒न्त्विन्द्र॑ दे॒ह्यधि॑रथं स॒हस्र॑म् । नि षी॑द हो॒त्रमृ॑तु॒था य॑जस्व दे॒वान्दे॑वापे ह॒विषा॑ सपर्य ॥

Let showers of honey bless us, Indra, give us a thousandfold wealth of peace and prosperity of high order. O harbinger of Devas, sit on the vedi, perform the yajna according to the seasons and serve the divinities with oblations of havi as required for the purpose.

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10.98.5

आ॒र्ष्टि॒षे॒णो हो॒त्रमृषि॑र्नि॒षीद॑न्दे॒वापि॑र्देवसुम॒तिं चि॑कि॒त्वान् । स उत्त॑रस्मा॒दध॑रं समु॒द्रम॒पो दि॒व्या अ॑सृजद्व॒र्ष्या॑ अ॒भि ॥

Arshtishena Devapi, sagely seer knowing the dynamics of yajnic creation and the qualities and functioning of different divine facts of nature and life in full knowledge of the moods of beneficent divinities, may seat himself on the vedi of yajna, create clouds of divine water in the vast sky above and bring down showers from the ocean above to the earth for fields, rivers and the seas.

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10.98.6

अ॒स्मिन्त्स॑मु॒द्रे अध्युत्त॑रस्मि॒न्नापो॑ दे॒वेभि॒र्निवृ॑ता अतिष्ठन् । ता अ॑द्रवन्नार्ष्टिषे॒णेन॑ सृ॒ष्टा दे॒वापि॑ना॒ प्रेषि॑ता मृ॒क्षिणी॑षु ॥

In this upper oceanic sky water vapours stay held up by divine forces of nature. Catalised by electric charge caused by divine marut energies, they condense, and, sent down into clouds, they shower, upon the earth in torrents.

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10.98.7

यद्दे॒वापिः॒ शंत॑नवे पु॒रोहि॑तो हो॒त्राय॑ वृ॒तः कृ॒पय॒न्नदी॑धेत् । दे॒व॒श्रुतं॑ वृष्टि॒वनिं॒ ररा॑णो॒ बृह॒स्पति॒र्वाच॑मस्मा अयच्छत् ॥

When Devapi, friend of divinities, the priest appointed for the purpose of rain yajna, prays and shines with adoration, Brhaspati, listening to his prayer to divinity for rain, waxes with joy and grants him the gift of thunderous Word and shower for the peace and prosperity of humanity.

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10.98.8

यं त्वा॑ दे॒वापिः॑ शुशुचा॒नो अ॑ग्न आर्ष्टिषे॒णो म॑नु॒ष्यः॑ समी॒धे । विश्वे॑भिर्दे॒वैर॑नुम॒द्यमा॑नः॒ प्र प॒र्जन्य॑मीरया वृष्टि॒मन्त॑म् ॥

Agni, whom Devapi, priest and sagely scholar of the science of rain, shining with ardent adoration among men, lights and serves with sacred fire and prayer, be pleased along with all the divine powers and move the clouds laden with rain showers for humanity.

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10.98.9

त्वां पूर्व॒ ऋष॑यो गी॒र्भिरा॑य॒न्त्वाम॑ध्व॒रेषु॑ पुरुहूत॒ विश्वे॑ । स॒हस्रा॒ण्यधि॑रथान्य॒स्मे आ नो॑ य॒ज्ञं रो॑हिद॒श्वोप॑ याहि ॥

Agni, universally invoked and adored yajnic power and showers of rain, saints and seers of the world of all time approached you with songs of adoration and prayer in yajna. O lord of red flames and thunderous voice, pray visit our yajna and grant us a thousandfold gifts overflowing our chariots of life.

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10.98.10

ए॒तान्य॑ग्ने नव॒तिर्नव॒ त्वे आहु॑ता॒न्यधि॑रथा स॒हस्रा॑ । तेभि॑र्वर्धस्व त॒न्वः॑ शूर पू॒र्वीर्दि॒वो नो॑ वृ॒ष्टिमि॑षि॒तो रि॑रीहि ॥

Agni, these ninety and nine chariots of life laden with overfulls of a thousand gifts of homage are offered to you. With these, O Lord Almighty, rise in flames of glory and grace and, thus loved and adorned, pray move the eternal showers of bliss for us from the light of heaven.

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10.98.11

ए॒तान्य॑ग्ने नव॒तिं स॒हस्रा॒ सं प्र य॑च्छ॒ वृष्ण॒ इन्द्रा॑य भा॒गम् । वि॒द्वान्प॒थ ऋ॑तु॒शो दे॑व॒याना॒नप्यौ॑ला॒नं दि॒वि दे॒वेषु॑ धेहि ॥

Agni, these ninety and nine thousand gifts of homage, pray, send up to Indra, generous lord of showers, for our share of his divine service and, knowing the paths of the divine movements of nature according to seasons, put the clusters of vapour in heaven among the divinities, Maruts, Mitra, Varuna and others for showers of rain. (‘Aulana’ may also be interpreted as the devout human soul and ‘showers’ as showers of divine bliss.)

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10.98.12

अग्ने॒ बाध॑स्व॒ वि मृधो॒ वि दु॒र्गहापामी॑वा॒मप॒ रक्षां॑सि सेध । अ॒स्मात्स॑मु॒द्राद्बृ॑ह॒तो दि॒वो नो॒ऽपां भू॒मान॒मुप॑ नः सृजे॒ह ॥

Agni, drive away the violent, open up the impassables, eliminate ill health and disease, repel and destroy the evil, and from that infinite ocean of the waters of life, release the showers of heavenly bliss on earth for us.

✦ Sukta 99 · 12 verses ✦

10.99.1

कं न॑श्चि॒त्रमि॑षण्यसि चिकि॒त्वान्पृ॑थु॒ग्मानं॑ वा॒श्रं वा॑वृ॒धध्यै॑ । कत्तस्य॒ दातु॒ शव॑सो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ॒ तक्ष॒द्वज्रं॑ वृत्र॒तुर॒मपि॑न्वत् ॥

Knowing us all, Indra wishes us well, gives us comfort and well being, gifts wondrous and varied, expansive and admirable, for our progress and advancement. Great is his gift of bliss, the mighty one, for our fulfilment. And what could be our gift in return for his kindness? He creates and wields the thunder for breaking the cloud and strikes the thunderbolt to destroy the evil, and he gives us the showers that we may grow and rise in life.

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10.99.2

स हि द्यु॒ता वि॒द्युता॒ वेति॒ साम॑ पृ॒थुं योनि॑मसुर॒त्वा स॑साद । स सनी॑ळेभिः प्रसहा॒नो अ॑स्य॒ भ्रातु॒र्न ऋ॒ते स॒प्तथ॑स्य मा॒याः ॥

He, challenger of adversaries and destroyer of suffering and violence, goes on with light and lightning, pervades the vast space, and rules and breaks the mighty clouds with his kindred Maruts. Such is the power and splendour of the ruler and sustainer of the highest heavens.

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10.99.3

स वाजं॒ याताप॑दुष्पदा॒ यन्त्स्व॑र्षाता॒ परि॑ षदत्सनि॒ष्यन् । अ॒न॒र्वा यच्छ॒तदु॑रस्य॒ वेदो॒ घ्नञ्छि॒श्नदे॑वाँ अ॒भि वर्प॑सा॒ भूत् ॥

He goes on with the dynamics of existence by straight unfailing paths of law and rectitude, giving showers of joy, presiding over it all, keen to share it with one and all, irresistible and unhurting, opening a hundred doors of possibility for wealth and excellence, and subduing the demons of lust and impiety with force, the one supreme ruling power.

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10.99.4

स य॒ह्व्यो॒३॒॑ऽवनी॒र्गोष्वर्वा जु॑होति प्रध॒न्या॑सु॒ सस्रिः॑ । अ॒पादो॒ यत्र॒ युज्या॑सोऽर॒था द्रो॒ण्य॑श्वास॒ ईर॑ते घृ॒तं वाः ॥

That mighty Indra, moving, flowing and advancing, showers torrents of rain over fertile lands where fast and deep streams, cooperative friends of Indra, receive and make the precious waters move of themselves by gravity, without external aids such as legs and chariots. (In the third and fourth mantras, Indra may be interpreted as human soul in the context of yoga meditation and control over mind and senses. In this context, the flow would mean the flow of consciousness. In the physical sense Indra may be interpreted as Vayu, the catalytic electric energy that breaks the clouds of vapour into showers of rain. Indra as the supreme cosmic power that rules and sustains the world of existence, of course, is obvious throughout the hymn.)

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10.99.5

स रु॒द्रेभि॒रश॑स्तवार॒ ऋभ्वा॑ हि॒त्वी गय॑मा॒रेअ॑वद्य॒ आगा॑त् । व॒म्रस्य॑ मन्ये मिथु॒ना विव॑व्री॒ अन्न॑म॒भीत्या॑रोदयन्मुषा॒यन् ॥

That Indra, mighty energy, free from despicables and undesirables, and possessed of indescribable wealth of force, moves with Rudras, catalytic forces, in serial motion leaving one place for another and, I believe, it gets to the gaseous couple that produce and deliver the waters, and having broken the cloud and taken away the waters, food of life, leaves it roaring.

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10.99.6

स इद्दासं॑ तुवी॒रवं॒ पति॒र्दन्ष॑ळ॒क्षं त्रि॑शी॒र्षाणं॑ दमन्यत् । अ॒स्य त्रि॒तो न्वोज॑सा वृधा॒नो वि॒पा व॑रा॒हमयो॑अग्रया हन् ॥

That Indra, sustainer of life, attacking the six- eyed three-headed cloud, subdues it, and Trita, threefold Agni power, rising by the power and lustre of Indra, with currents sharp as razor’s edge, breaks the cloud and delivers the rain. (The cloud is six eyed because it is active and awake all the six seasons of the year. It is three headed because it arises from three regions: from the solar region as soma, from the middle regions as parjanya and from the earthly region as water vapour. Agni is threefold, Trita, because it has three varieties of its form and function: terrestrial fire as agni, middle region vayu or electric energy, and solar region aditya or light, and all of them play their part in the formation of the cloud in the form of water vapour on earth, parjanya in the middle region and soma in the solar region.)

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10.99.7

स द्रुह्व॑णे॒ मनु॑ष ऊर्ध्वसा॒न आ सा॑विषदर्शसा॒नाय॒ शरु॑म् । स नृत॑मो॒ नहु॑षो॒ऽस्मत्सुजा॑तः॒ पुरो॑ऽभिन॒दर्ह॑न्दस्यु॒हत्ये॑ ॥

Indra, lord supreme, highest potent, best and foremost leader among humanity committed to truth and right and controller of the lawless and violent, strikes the weapon of justice and punishment against the forces of jealousy, enmity and destruction and, risen to nobility and grandeur of personality in his own right, deserving the highest position, destroys the strongholds of negativity in our struggle against anti-social and anti- life elements.

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10.99.8

सो अ॒भ्रियो॒ न यव॑स उद॒न्यन्क्षया॑य गा॒तुं वि॒दन्नो॑ अ॒स्मे । उप॒ यत्सीद॒दिन्दुं॒ शरी॑रैः श्ये॒नोऽयो॑पाष्टिर्हन्ति॒ दस्यू॑न् ॥

Just as the cloud waxing with water vapours goes down in showers on earth for the nourishment of fields and pastures, so does Indra, ruling soul, overflowing with generosity, goes forward to the earth for our peaceful home life and with the iron spur of his heels strikes and drives away the evils around us, since he, a tempestuous soul in body like the eagle, sits close to the Indu, blissful source of the nectar of life.

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10.99.9

स व्राध॑तः शवसा॒नेभि॑रस्य॒ कुत्सा॑य॒ शुष्णं॑ कृ॒पणे॒ परा॑दात् । अ॒यं क॒विम॑नयच्छ॒स्यमा॑न॒मत्कं॒ यो अ॑स्य॒ सनि॑तो॒त नृ॒णाम् ॥

He throws off the violent with his powerful forces, he removes drought and adversity, and he thereby gives strength and confidence to the supplicant devotee. He leads that man of vision and imagination to the heights of fame and admiration who, of all men, knows his real form and nature and in his spirit realises his divine presence.

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10.99.10

अ॒यं द॑श॒स्यन्नर्ये॑भिरस्य द॒स्मो दे॒वेभि॒र्वरु॑णो॒ न मा॒यी । अ॒यं क॒नीन॑ ऋतु॒पा अ॑वे॒द्यमि॑मीता॒ररुं॒ यश्चतु॑ष्पात् ॥

He, generous giver of favours by the dynamics of his divine powers, gracious and wondrous like Varuna, cosmic spirit of justice and retribution, throws off evil, violence and negativity. He is known as gentle and kind, protector and ordainer of the seasons of the world and, existent in four states of cosmic being, overcomes jealousy and aggression.

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10.99.11

अ॒स्य स्तोमे॑भिरौशि॒ज ऋ॒जिश्वा॑ व्र॒जं द॑रयद्वृष॒भेण॒ पिप्रोः॑ । सुत्वा॒ यद्य॑ज॒तो दी॒दय॒द्गीः पुर॑ इया॒नो अ॒भि वर्प॑सा॒ भूत् ॥

When the simple, natural and ardent yajaka, having prepared the soma of adoration, shines with his words of praise, then, crossing the physical, pranic, mental and intellectual covers of the soul’s existential state, and breaking into the secret cave of the soul’s divinity by the showers of the grace of the lord giver of life and spiritual strength, he becomes established in his essential nature and shines in his natural spiritual essence.

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10.99.12

ए॒वा म॒हो अ॑सुर व॒क्षथा॑य वम्र॒कः प॒ड्भिरुप॑ सर्प॒दिन्द्र॑म् । स इ॑या॒नः क॑रति स्व॒स्तिम॑स्मा॒ इष॒मूर्जं॑ सुक्षि॒तिं विश्व॒माभाः॑ ॥

Thus, O lord of life and pranic energy of the universe, the humble devotee bursting forth in song and adoration step by step moves on to you, great burden bearer and ordainer of the universe. Thus does the lord revealing the presence does good to this devotee giving him all the world’s wealth of food, energy, peace and shelter of divinity and shines to him in full glory.

✦ Sukta 100 · 12 verses ✦

10.100.1

इन्द्र॒ दृह्य॑ मघव॒न्त्वाव॒दिद्भु॒ज इ॒ह स्तु॒तः सु॑त॒पा बो॑धि नो वृ॒धे । दे॒वेभि॑र्नः सवि॒ता प्राव॑तु श्रु॒तमा स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

Indra, lord almighty of universal glory, pray strengthen the soul akin to you so that it may be happy and feel exalted with life. Pleased with our songs of adoration here, accepting the soma of our love and faith, pray let the Presence be revealed to us for our spiritual growth. With our mind and senses and the Vishvedevas, all divinities of nature and humanity, may the self- refulgent spirit of light, life and energy, Savita. protect and promote our knowledge already revealed to us and bless us that we may by reason, faith and choice abide by the eternal, divine, imperishable spirit of total existence.

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10.100.2

भरा॑य॒ सु भ॑रत भा॒गमृ॒त्वियं॒ प्र वा॒यवे॑ शुचि॒पे क्र॒न्ददि॑ष्टये । गौ॒रस्य॒ यः पय॑सः पी॒तिमा॑न॒श आ स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

For the divine sustainer, bear and bring your part of homage and yajnic offerings for the vibrant winds and roaring clouds of divinity, all purifying for our good. They accept, taste and enjoy the nectar sweets of the songs and homage of the enlightened devotees. By reason, faith and choice of will, we wholly abide in and by the divine imperishable mother spirit of total existence.

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10.100.3

आ नो॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता सा॑विष॒द्वय॑ ऋजूय॒ते यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते । यथा॑ दे॒वान्प्र॑ति॒भूषे॑म पाक॒वदा स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

May the self-refulgent generous Savita, divine inspirer and light giver, bless the simple, natural and creative yajamana with good health, long life and wealth of maturity and discipline of performance, so that we may serve and exalt the devas with homage and piety of mind and soul. With total submission and faith, we love and adore the universal mother Infinity.

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10.100.4

इन्द्रो॑ अ॒स्मे सु॒मना॑ अस्तु वि॒श्वहा॒ राजा॒ सोमः॑ सुवि॒तस्याध्ये॑तु नः । यथा॑यथा मि॒त्रधि॑तानि संद॒धुरा स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

May Indra, lord of cosmic energy, ever be good and gracious to us, may the refulgent and inspiring soma, spirit of universal peace, bless us with prosperity, may all the divinities bear and bring all the good things of divine value for friends and devotees according to time and need. We honour and adore the universal spirit and power of imperishable eternal mother Infinity.

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10.100.5

इन्द्र॑ उ॒क्थेन॒ शव॑सा॒ परु॑र्दधे॒ बृह॑स्पते प्रतरी॒तास्यायु॑षः । य॒ज्ञो मनुः॒ प्रम॑तिर्नः पि॒ता हि क॒मा स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

With divine energy realisable by adoration, Indra sustains every state and every stage of life and its structure. O lord of Infinity, Brhaspati, you are the harbinger of life and health of higher order for us. Reflected in yajna, power of thought and meditation, holiness of intelligence, you are our sustainer as father giver of happiness. We honour and adore Aditi, imperishable Infinity, the universal mother.

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10.100.6

इन्द्र॑स्य॒ नु सुकृ॑तं॒ दैव्यं॒ सहो॒ऽग्निर्गृ॒हे ज॑रि॒ता मेधि॑रः क॒विः । य॒ज्ञश्च॑ भूद्वि॒दथे॒ चारु॒रन्त॑म॒ आ स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

Agni in the home is a version and reflection of mighty Indra itself, holy performer, divine power, celebrant divinity, adorable in yajna, creator and giver of light and poetic vision, which is yajna itself, closest and most beautiful in the holiest creative and social acts. We honour and adore Aditi, mother Infinity of universal and imperishable order of divine generosity.

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10.100.7

न वो॒ गुहा॑ चकृम॒ भूरि॑ दुष्कृ॒तं नाविष्ट्यं॑ वसवो देव॒हेळ॑नम् । माकि॑र्नो देवा॒ अनृ॑तस्य॒ वर्प॑स॒ आ स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

O Devas, generous divinities of nature and humanity, O Vasus, givers of peace and settlement at heart, never must we do any act of sin and violence open or covert toward you, never incur the displeasure of divinity. Never must we put on the garb of untruth in thought, word and deed. We honour and adore the universal imperishable mother spirit of divine nature.

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10.100.8

अपामी॑वां सवि॒ता सा॑विष॒न्न्य१॒॑ग्वरी॑य॒ इदप॑ सेध॒न्त्वद्र॑यः । ग्रावा॒ यत्र॑ मधु॒षुदु॒च्यते॑ बृ॒हदा स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

May Savita, self-refulgent light of the world, ward off and destroy all pollution and disease. May the wise, like clouds and mountains, stall and wash off even the tempting most irresistible sin and wrong wherever abundant soma is extracted and the wise are highly respected. We honour and adore the universal generosity and imperishable wisdom and purity of divinity.

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10.100.9

ऊ॒र्ध्वो ग्रावा॑ वसवोऽस्तु सो॒तरि॒ विश्वा॒ द्वेषां॑सि सनु॒तर्यु॑योत । स नो॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता पा॒युरीड्य॒ आ स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

O Vasus, givers of peace and shelter, may the learned be highly respected in the soma yajaka’s yajna. Uproot and throw off all jealousies and enmities of the world from afflicted hearts. May the self-refulgent Savita be our saviour, protector and our adorable lord and master. We honour and adore the all generous and blissful imperishable mother Infinity.

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10.100.10

ऊर्जं॑ गावो॒ यव॑से॒ पीवो॑ अत्तन ऋ॒तस्य॒ याः सद॑ने॒ कोशे॑ अ॒ङ्ग्ध्वे । त॒नूरे॒व त॒न्वो॑ अस्तु भेष॒जमा स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

O cows, knowledge, wisdom and culture, just as cows feed on grass in the pasture, drink from the water reservoir, grow and produce energy giving milk, similarly, O holy words of wisdom and knowledge, feed on whatever you find in the house of eternal truth on the flow, and in the depth of the heart core of spirit, grow abundant with light and energy, and let the body of language be the medicinal corrective and sanative for the body of knowledge and culture. We honour the universal imperishable Mother Nature and mother Ila and Sarasvati for our mother land, Mahi and Bharati, for universal progress of knowledge and culture.

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10.100.11

क्र॒तु॒प्रावा॑ जरि॒ता शश्व॑ता॒मव॒ इन्द्र॒ इद्भ॒द्रा प्रम॑तिः सु॒ताव॑ताम् । पू॒र्णमूध॑र्दि॒व्यं यस्य॑ सि॒क्तय॒ आ स॒र्वता॑ति॒मदि॑तिं वृणीमहे ॥

Giver of success in actions, appraiser of the permanent, protector and promoter of the makers of soma, Indra is the giver of noble intelligence, understanding and wisdom for all. Full is his treasure of wealth like the mother cow’s stream of milk. We honour and adore the universal generosity of divine imperishable inexhaustible Mother Nature.

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10.100.12

चि॒त्रस्ते॑ भा॒नुः क्र॑तु॒प्रा अ॑भि॒ष्टिः सन्ति॒ स्पृधो॑ जरणि॒प्रा अधृ॑ष्टाः । रजि॑ष्ठया॒ रज्या॑ प॒श्व आ गोस्तूतू॑र्षति॒ पर्यग्रं॑ दुव॒स्युः ॥

Wondrous is your light, adorable your gift of success in action, irresistible your will and power which gives fulfilment to the devotees. Just as a shepherd can lead a cow forward by a simple rope, so may the devotee realise your presence directly revealed before him by simple prayer and adoration.

✦ Sukta 101 · 12 verses ✦

10.101.1

उद्बु॑ध्यध्वं॒ सम॑नसः सखायः॒ सम॒ग्निमि॑न्ध्वं ब॒हवः॒ सनी॑ळाः । द॒धि॒क्राम॒ग्निमु॒षसं॑ च दे॒वीमिन्द्रा॑व॒तोऽव॑से॒ नि ह्व॑ये वः ॥

Awake, arise, O friends of equal mind, light the fire together, more than many living and working together under the same one roof of equal order, lovers of energy, worshippers of Indra, one lord omnipotent of nature and entire humanity. I call upon you and exhort you for the sake of mutual defence and protection and for common progress of all. Light and develop the fire energy of the earth, atmospheric energy of thunder and lightning of the sky, and the divine energy of the rising dawn of the sun.

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10.101.2

म॒न्द्रा कृ॑णुध्वं॒ धिय॒ आ त॑नुध्वं॒ नाव॑मरित्र॒पर॑णीं कृणुध्वम् । इष्कृ॑णुध्व॒मायु॒धारं॑ कृणुध्वं॒ प्राञ्चं॑ य॒ज्ञं प्र ण॑यता सखायः ॥

Create peace and joy, develop rational thought and science and extend the field of action, design and develop boats and ships to cross the seas with oars, produce food for body, mind and soul, promote the arms of peace and security, and take the yajnic programme forward that faces you upfront, O my friends and friends of humanity.

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10.101.3

यु॒नक्त॒ सीरा॒ वि यु॒गा त॑नुध्वं कृ॒ते योनौ॑ वपते॒ह बीज॑म् । गि॒रा च॑ श्रु॒ष्टिः सभ॑रा॒ अस॑न्नो॒ नेदी॑य॒ इत्सृ॒ण्यः॑ प॒क्वमेया॑त् ॥

Take up the plough, yoke the bullocks and extend the process, and when the soil is prepared sow the seed. With songs of thanks and joy, let the crop grow green and mature, and when the grain is ripe, let the sickle approach to harvest the grain.

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10.101.4

सीरा॑ युञ्जन्ति क॒वयो॑ यु॒गा वि त॑न्वते॒ पृथ॑क् । धीरा॑ दे॒वेषु॑ सुम्न॒या ॥

Intelligent and enlightened farmers use the plough for production and develop the infrastructure separately in each department, and the wise with peace and vision direct their efforts for development to human values and the divine gifts of nature and environment.

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10.101.5

निरा॑हा॒वान्कृ॑णोतन॒ सं व॑र॒त्रा द॑धातन । सि॒ञ्चाम॑हा अव॒तमु॒द्रिणं॑ व॒यं सु॒षेक॒मनु॑पक्षितम् ॥

Develop the sources of water, manage the connections, and let us replenish and maintain the full water sources inexhaustibly good for the purpose of consumption and irrigation.

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10.101.6

इष्कृ॑ताहावमव॒तं सु॑वर॒त्रं सु॑षेच॒नम् । उ॒द्रिणं॑ सिञ्चे॒ अक्षि॑तम् ॥

Protect and maintain the water reservoir well connected between the source and the outlet, keep it full for drinking and irrigation purposes, let it be self- abounding and inexhaustible, let me water plants and orchards and also keep it replenished.

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10.101.7

प्री॒णी॒ताश्वा॑न्हि॒तं ज॑याथ स्वस्ति॒वाहं॒ रथ॒मित्कृ॑णुध्वम् । द्रोणा॑हावमव॒तमश्म॑चक्र॒मंस॑त्रकोशं सिञ्चता नृ॒पाण॑म् ॥

Keep the horses well fed. Realise your common interests. Design, make and maintain the chariot that brings you comfort, peace, prosperity and well being. Protect and maintain the big water vessel. Maintain the rain cycle and keep the supply line on by drinking water tanks and wells for human consumption and irrigation.

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10.101.8

व्र॒जं कृ॑णुध्वं॒ स हि वो॑ नृ॒पाणो॒ वर्म॑ सीव्यध्वं बहु॒ला पृ॒थूनि॑ । पुरः॑ कृणुध्व॒माय॑सी॒रधृ॑ष्टा॒ मा वः॑ सुस्रोच्चम॒सो दृंह॑ता॒ तम् ॥

Establish stalls for cattle, build roads, sew corselets and build great walls, that would be the safety and security measure for people. Build cities of steel undaunted. May your ladle of yajna divine and human never suffer leakage. Strengthen the ladle, raise and expand the quality of life.

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10.101.9

आ वो॒ धियं॑ य॒ज्ञियां॑ वर्त ऊ॒तये॒ देवा॑ दे॒वीं य॑ज॒तां य॒ज्ञिया॑मि॒ह । सा नो॑ दुहीय॒द्यव॑सेव ग॒त्वी स॒हस्र॑धारा॒ पय॑सा म॒ही गौः ॥

O saints and scholars, noble people all, I exhort your spirit of self-sacrifice for thought and action, exalt this holy yajnic spirit, will and intelligence. And may this great spirit and divine will bring us a thousand streams of nectar joy and prosperity like the cow fed on grass which gives us milk for life and health.

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10.101.10

आ तू षि॑ञ्च॒ हरि॑मीं॒ द्रोरु॒पस्थे॒ वाशी॑भिस्तक्षताश्म॒न्मयी॑भिः । परि॑ ष्वजध्वं॒ दश॑ क॒क्ष्या॑भिरु॒भे धुरौ॒ प्रति॒ वह्निं॑ युनक्त ॥

O yajaka, pour inspiring soma into the cask, fill it to the brim, refine the cask with chiselled strokes of adamantine will, season the soma and secure the cask with ten sensitive fingers, and yoke the horse to the two suspension poles of the chariot.

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10.101.11

उ॒भे धुरौ॒ वह्नि॑रा॒पिब्द॑मानो॒ऽन्तर्योने॑व चरति द्वि॒जानिः॑ । वन॒स्पतिं॒ वन॒ आस्था॑पयध्वं॒ नि षू द॑धिध्व॒मख॑नन्त॒ उत्स॑म् ॥

Bearing two poles of life, the mind, like a chariot horse, goes voluble flying like a bird over the sky. O yajaka, place the fire amid the samits, dig into depths of the soul and hold on there.

· · ·

10.101.12

कपृ॑न्नरः कपृ॒थमुद्द॑धातन चो॒दय॑त खु॒दत॒ वाज॑सातये । नि॒ष्टि॒ग्र्यः॑ पु॒त्रमा च्या॑वयो॒तय॒ इन्द्रं॑ स॒बाध॑ इ॒ह सोम॑पीतये ॥

Noble yajakas, Divinity is kind. Hold the gracious presence in the depths of the mind, move it for grace, rejoice in the presence and pray for food, energy and fulfilment of life. Adore and exalt the divine spirit of Eternity, Indra, for freedom from bondage and for the ecstasy of being here on earth itself.

✦ Sukta 102 · 12 verses ✦

10.102.1

प्र ते॒ रथं॑ मिथू॒कृत॒मिन्द्रो॑ऽवतु धृष्णु॒या । अ॒स्मिन्ना॒जौ पु॑रुहूत श्र॒वाय्ये॑ धनभ॒क्षेषु॑ नोऽव ॥

O ruler and commander, may Indra with his irresistible might and weapon protect your chariot designed and structured by the team of scientist and technologist and working on double stream of energy. O universally invoked leader, in this famous and terrible battle of the nation against all-destroying forces, pray protect us and lead us to victory.

· · ·

10.102.2

उत्स्म॒ वातो॑ वहति॒ वासो॑ऽस्या॒ अधि॑रथं॒ यदज॑यत्स॒हस्र॑म् । र॒थीर॑भून्मुद्ग॒लानी॒ गवि॑ष्टौ॒ भरे॑ कृ॒तं व्य॑चेदिन्द्रसे॒ना ॥

The wind raises and unfurls the banner of this force of Indra on the chariot which wins over thousands. The mace of the waxing force of Indra rides the chariot as commander in the heat of battle, the army moves and extends its exploits (against malice, hate and enmity).

· · ·

10.102.3

अ॒न्तर्य॑च्छ॒ जिघां॑सतो॒ वज्र॑मिन्द्राभि॒दास॑तः । दास॑स्य वा मघव॒न्नार्य॑स्य वा सनु॒तर्य॑वया व॒धम् ॥

Indra, lord of glory, ruling soul of the human system, blunt, revert and recycle the weapons of hate and enmity of the violent who destroy and enslave the spirit of love and freedom. Whether the weapon of negativity belongs to a destroyer or a dynamic person, always turn it off from negativity and re-employ the energy for positive good.

· · ·

10.102.4

उ॒द्नो ह्र॒दम॑पिब॒ज्जर्हृ॑षाणः॒ कूटं॑ स्म तृं॒हद॒भिमा॑तिमेति । प्र मु॒ष्कभा॑रः॒ श्रव॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नोऽजि॒रं बा॒हू अ॑भर॒त्सिषा॑सन् ॥

Indra, exalted spirit of energy and joyous generosity, overflows with the spirit of life and love and enmity. Abundant and rapturous as a roaring cloud, loving order and enlightenment, he wields the twin arms of positive and negative power and, building and breaking, breaking and building, he advances upon the areas of conflict and darkness seeking to bring in light and love.

· · ·

10.102.5

न्य॑क्रन्दयन्नुप॒यन्त॑ एन॒ममे॑हयन्वृष॒भं मध्य॑ आ॒जेः । तेन॒ सूभ॑र्वं श॒तव॑त्स॒हस्रं॒ गवां॒ मुद्ग॑लः प्र॒धने॑ जिगाय ॥

In the battle between the positive and negative forces of nature and humanity, the powers of evolution strike this abundant cloud of concentrated wealth and energy at the closest and make it roar as it breaks into showers. Thus, by the evolutionary process of positive catalysis, does Mudgala, Indra, joyous ruling power of nature and humanity in the struggle for progress, win a hundred-thousandfold sustaining wealth of lands, cows and culture of enlightenment against darkness and negativity.

· · ·

10.102.6

क॒कर्द॑वे वृष॒भो यु॒क्त आ॑सी॒दवा॑वची॒त्सार॑थिरस्य के॒शी । दुधे॑र्यु॒क्तस्य॒ द्रव॑तः स॒हान॑स ऋ॒च्छन्ति॑ ष्मा नि॒ष्पदो॑ मुद्ग॒लानी॑म् ॥

Generous and joyous, lord of evolution and progress is Indra, Vrshabha, Mudgala, terribly

strong, committed to positivity. Its chariot conductor like the electric force in the firmament, magnetic force on earth and socio-political forces in society, is vocal, thunderous and far reaching like hair on the head and radiations of the sun. Of this determined, committed, radiant lord in state alongwith its conductive force, the allies are like atoms of energy in nature and individuals in society. These all join its consort power, Mudgalani, of their own will, without any coercion or outside basis of supportive and persuasive elements.

· · ·

10.102.7

उ॒त प्र॒धिमुद॑हन्नस्य वि॒द्वानुपा॑युन॒ग्वंस॑ग॒मत्र॒ शिक्ष॑न् । इन्द्र॒ उदा॑व॒त्पति॒मघ्न्या॑ना॒मरं॑हत॒ पद्या॑भिः क॒कुद्मा॑न् ॥

And taking on to the steering wheel of the system, the scholar leader should take to the leading power, at the same time energising it. Thus does Indra animate and drive the master power of the circuit of is currents, imperishable energies, and, more and more powerful, moves on his mission by motions of the wheels. (The mantra may be applied to the individual human system and its spiritual advancement. Indra, the soul, takes on the Buddhi, intelligential steering wheel, controlling the master power of the senses, that is, the mind, and using the senses of perception and will for onward motion, lives a dynamic life of success and progress.)

· · ·

10.102.8

शु॒नम॑ष्ट्रा॒व्य॑चरत्कप॒र्दी व॑र॒त्रायां॒ दार्वा॒नह्य॑मानः । नृ॒म्णानि॑ कृ॒ण्वन्ब॒हवे॒ जना॑य॒ गाः प॑स्पशा॒नस्तवि॑षीरधत्त ॥

The dynamic disciplined soul, Indra, insulated within the circuitous energies of the self by inviolable control of the fluctuations of mind, moves on happily on way to spiritual progress, and similarly the self- disciplined leader and ruler, concentrating on social welfare against outer disturbances, creating many positive gifts for all people, watching his personal actions and movements of society, bears and commands the strength and glory of the nation.

· · ·

10.102.9

इ॒मं तं प॑श्य वृष॒भस्य॒ युञ्जं॒ काष्ठा॑या॒ मध्ये॑ द्रुघ॒णं शया॑नम् । येन॑ जि॒गाय॑ श॒तव॑त्स॒हस्रं॒ गवां॒ मुद्ग॑लः पृत॒नाज्ये॑षु ॥

Watch this, the power and force of the might and mace of Indra within the battle field of existence, destroying hate and enmity and abiding at peace by which Mudgala, generous lord of abundance in the warlike contests of life forces, has won a hundred thousandfold wealth of lands, cows and culture for the enlightenment of people.

· · ·

10.102.10

आ॒रे अ॒घा को न्वि१॒॑त्था द॑दर्श॒ यं यु॒ञ्जन्ति॒ तम्वा स्था॑पयन्ति । नास्मै॒ तृणं॒ नोद॒कमा भ॑र॒न्त्युत्त॑रो धु॒रो व॑हति प्र॒देदि॑शत् ॥

Who has seen that which thus drives away sin and crime, hate and enmity, poverty and adversity, the power which they use and establish among themselves? For this generous and virile power they bring no grass, no water, the one that is higher and higher as you try to know and see, that bears the centre hold of the world, points out the paths of life and directs us on the way.

· · ·

10.102.11

प॒रि॒वृ॒क्तेव॑ पति॒विद्य॑मान॒ट् पीप्या॑ना॒ कूच॑क्रेणेव सि॒ञ्चन् । ए॒षै॒ष्या॑ चिद्र॒थ्या॑ जयेम सुम॒ङ्गलं॒ सिन॑वदस्तु सा॒तम् ॥

Like a woman who has missed her husband for long and on reunion waxes with joy, like a water wheel that constantly moves and provides water for irrigation, let us win happiness and well being for life by constant endeavour and dynamic will and power, and let our victory be the giver of prosperity and fulfilment.

· · ·

10.102.12

त्वं विश्व॑स्य॒ जग॑त॒श्चक्षु॑रिन्द्रासि॒ चक्षु॑षः । वृषा॒ यदा॒जिं वृष॑णा॒ सिषा॑ससि चो॒दय॒न्वध्रि॑णा यु॒जा ॥

Indra, lord of power and energy, giver of fulfilment, you are the real and ultimate eye of the vision of the entire world of existence who, lord omnipotent, joined with cosmic powers of nature, inspiring and energising, win the battle of life’s evolution and rule over the world.

✦ Sukta 103 · 13 verses ✦

10.103.1

आ॒शुः शिशा॑नो वृष॒भो न भी॒मो घ॑नाघ॒नः क्षोभ॑णश्चर्षणी॒नाम् । सं॒क्रन्द॑नोऽनिमि॒ष ए॑कवी॒रः श॒तं सेना॑ अजयत्सा॒कमिन्द्रः॑ ॥

Instantly swift, sharp as a lazer beam, terrible like a bull, breaker of the darkest cloud, shaker of mighty men, roaring awful without a wink, sole hero without a second, Indra overthrows a hundred armies together at once.

· · ·

10.103.2

सं॒क्रन्द॑नेनानिमि॒षेण॑ जि॒ष्णुना॑ युत्का॒रेण॑ दुश्च्यव॒नेन॑ धृ॒ष्णुना॑ । तदिन्द्रे॑ण जयत॒ तत्स॑हध्वं॒ युधो॑ नर॒ इषु॑हस्तेन॒ वृष्णा॑ ॥

O warriors, leading lights of heroes, take up that challenge of antilife forces, fight that war and win with Indra, roaring and terrifying the enemy forces, relentless fighter, ambitious for victory, expert tactician, unshakable, irresistible, generous and brave, and armed with unfailing missiles for victory.

· · ·

10.103.3

स इषु॑हस्तैः॒ स नि॑ष॒ङ्गिभि॑र्व॒शी संस्र॑ष्टा॒ स युध॒ इन्द्रो॑ ग॒णेन॑ । सं॒सृ॒ष्ट॒जित्सो॑म॒पा बा॑हुश॒र्ध्यु१॒॑ग्रध॑न्वा॒ प्रति॑हिताभि॒रस्ता॑ ॥

Indra is the warrior with bow and arrows in hand, conquers with joint armed forces, multiple enemy hosts, and wins over concentrated forces. Protector and promoter of soma peace and joy of life, strong of arms wielding a terrible bow, he throws out the enemies with the shots of his unfailing arrows.

· · ·

10.103.4

बृह॑स्पते॒ परि॑ दीया॒ रथे॑न रक्षो॒हामित्राँ॑ अप॒बाध॑मानः । प्र॒भ॒ञ्जन्त्सेनाः॑ प्रमृ॒णो यु॒धा जय॑न्न॒स्माक॑मेध्यवि॒ता रथा॑नाम् ॥

Fly by the chariot, Brhaspati, destroyer of demons, repeller of enemies, breaking through and routing their forces. Fighting and conquering by battle, come, defend and save our chariots of the social order.

· · ·

10.103.5

ब॒ल॒वि॒ज्ञा॒यः स्थवि॑रः॒ प्रवी॑रः॒ सह॑स्वान्वा॒जी सह॑मान उ॒ग्रः । अ॒भिवी॑रो अ॒भिस॑त्वा सहो॒जा जैत्र॑मिन्द्र॒ रथ॒मा ति॑ष्ठ गो॒वित् ॥

Indra, tactical organiser of deployable forces, venerable, strong, undisturbed and invulnerable, stout and brave, challenging, impetuous, blazing, steadfast, commander of the brave, highly intelligent, valiant, illustrious, pray ascend the chariot of victory over rebellious lands.

· · ·

10.103.6

गो॒त्र॒भिदं॑ गो॒विदं॒ वज्र॑बाहुं॒ जय॑न्त॒मज्म॑ प्रमृ॒णन्त॒मोज॑सा । इ॒मं स॑जाता॒ अनु॑ वीरयध्व॒मिन्द्रं॑ सखायो॒ अनु॒ सं र॑भध्वम् ॥

O friends, unite, prepare and mount the assault with Indra, our friend and comrade, breaker of enemy strongholds, winner of lands, hero of thunder arms and victorious breaker of dark mighty clouds by his valour. Follow the brave and advance.

· · ·

10.103.7

अ॒भि गो॒त्राणि॒ सह॑सा॒ गाह॑मानोऽद॒यो वी॒रः श॒तम॑न्यु॒रिन्द्रः॑ । दु॒श्च्य॒व॒नः पृ॑तना॒षाळ॑यु॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ऽस्माकं॒ सेना॑ अवतु॒ प्र यु॒त्सु ॥

May Indra, breaker of clouds and enemy strongholds, with his courage and valour, unmoved by pity, hero of a hundredfold passion, shaker of the strongest evils, destroyer of enemy forces, irresistible warrior, protect our army in our assaults and advances.

· · ·

10.103.8

इन्द्र॑ आसां ने॒ता बृह॒स्पति॒र्दक्षि॑णा य॒ज्ञः पु॒र ए॑तु॒ सोमः॑ । दे॒व॒से॒नाना॑मभिभञ्जती॒नां जय॑न्तीनां म॒रुतो॑ य॒न्त्वग्र॑म् ॥

Of these armies of the Devas, divine forces of nature and humanity, men of noble intentions and far sight, breaking through and conquering evil and negative elements of life, Indra of lighting power is the leader and commander, Brhaspati, commanding knowledge, tactics and wide vision, is the guide with yajna on his right, and Soma, lover of peace and felicity, is the inspiration, while Maruts, warriors of passion and enthusiasm, march in front.

· · ·

10.103.9

इन्द्र॑स्य॒ वृष्णो॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ राज्ञ॑ आदि॒त्यानां॑ म॒रुतां॒ शर्ध॑ उ॒ग्रम् । म॒हाम॑नसां भुवनच्य॒वानां॒ घोषो॑ दे॒वानां॒ जय॑ता॒मुद॑स्थात् ॥

Great is the valour and passion of victorious and virile Indra, of the ruler Varuna, visionary Adityas and impetuous Maruts, all great and magnanimous at heart who shake the world with their vision and performance, and so let these victorious divinities’ tumulluous uproar of victory rise and reverberate in the skies.

· · ·

10.103.10

उद्ध॑र्षय मघव॒न्नायु॑धा॒न्युत्सत्व॑नां माम॒कानां॒ मनां॑सि । उद्वृ॑त्रहन्वा॒जिनां॒ वाजि॑ना॒न्युद्रथा॑नां॒ जय॑तां यन्तु॒ घोषाः॑ ॥

Indra, Maghavan, lord of glory, ruler of the land, raise, calibrate and sharpen your weapons, raise the mind and morale of my brave warriors, O breaker of the clouds and darkness of evil, raise the calibre and hitting efficiency of the fast moving forces of cavalry, armour and air force, and let the roar of the victorious warriors rise and rumble in space.

· · ·

10.103.11

अ॒स्माक॒मिन्द्रः॒ समृ॑तेषु ध्व॒जेष्व॒स्माकं॒ या इष॑व॒स्ता ज॑यन्तु । अ॒स्माकं॑ वी॒रा उत्त॑रे भवन्त्व॒स्माँ उ॑ देवा अवता॒ हवे॑षु ॥

In international gatherings, let Indra, our leader, raise our flag high in the flag lines, may our shots of arrows hit the targets and win the battles, let our brave progeny and our brave warriors be higher than others in excellence, and may the divinities protect us in the call to action in the battle field.

· · ·

10.103.12

अ॒मीषां॑ चि॒त्तं प्र॑तिलो॒भय॑न्ती गृहा॒णाङ्गा॑न्यप्वे॒ परे॑हि । अ॒भि प्रेहि॒ निर्द॑ह हृ॒त्सु शोकै॑र॒न्धेना॒मित्रा॒स्तम॑सा सचन्ताम् ॥

Get off, schizophrenia, that torment the heart and delude their mind, depart, ill health, that afflict and disable the body system of those who are children of light. Go forward, be there and burn with pain in the heart of those who are negative souls and love to abide with darkness of mind and sloth of body with suffering and unfriendliness as their food of life.

· · ·

10.103.13

प्रेता॒ जय॑ता नर॒ इन्द्रो॑ वः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु । उ॒ग्रा वः॑ सन्तु बा॒हवो॑ऽनाधृ॒ष्या यथास॑थ ॥

Go forward, leading lights, achieve your goals and win your victories. May Indra, lord omnipotent of honour and glory, bless you with peace and fulfilment. Let your arms be strong and bold so that you may live an active life of irresistible honour and joy without fear.

✦ Sukta 104 · 11 verses ✦

10.104.1

असा॑वि॒ सोमः॑ पुरुहूत॒ तुभ्यं॒ हरि॑भ्यां य॒ज्ञमुप॑ याहि॒ तूय॑म् । तुभ्यं॒ गिरो॒ विप्र॑वीरा इया॒ना द॑धन्वि॒र इ॑न्द्र॒ पिबा॑ सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra, omnipotent ruler of the world, lord invoked by all people, our soma of love and adoration is prepared and seasoned for you, come soon to our yajna by the radiations of your refulgent presence. Vibrant poets and sages have prepared songs of adoration for you. Pray come, accept and enjoy our homage, and protect and promote this world of your own creation for us.

· · ·

10.104.2

अ॒प्सु धू॒तस्य॑ हरिवः॒ पिबे॒ह नृभिः॑ सु॒तस्य॑ ज॒ठरं॑ पृणस्व । मि॒मि॒क्षुर्यमद्र॑य इन्द्र॒ तुभ्यं॒ तेभि॑र्वर्धस्व॒ मद॑मुक्थवाहः ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, Hariva, saviour from suffering and commander of nature’s forces, drink of the ecstatic soma created and seasoned in the joyous currents of our karma at heart in the soul by enlightened sages. Pray accept, protect and promote this soma of joy showered by clouds and seasoned by sages for you, and feel exalted with them all to your full satisfaction and ever increase the joy.

· · ·

10.104.3

प्रोग्रां पी॒तिं वृष्ण॑ इयर्मि स॒त्यां प्र॒यै सु॒तस्य॑ हर्यश्व॒ तुभ्य॑म् । इन्द्र॒ धेना॑भिरि॒ह मा॑दयस्व धी॒भिर्विश्वा॑भिः॒ शच्या॑ गृणा॒नः ॥

O lord of showers and nature’s radiant rays, I move this prayer and offer this soma drink distilled so true and exalting for your pleasure. Indra, adored and exalted by all our songs, thoughts and holy actions here, pray rejoice and exalt us too.

· · ·

10.104.4

ऊ॒ती श॑चीव॒स्तव॑ वी॒र्ये॑ण॒ वयो॒ दधा॑ना उ॒शिज॑ ऋत॒ज्ञाः । प्र॒जाव॑दिन्द्र॒ मनु॑षो दुरो॒णे त॒स्थुर्गृ॒णन्तः॑ सध॒माद्या॑सः ॥

Indra, lord of holy actions of creation, sustenance and finale, under your protection by your power and generosity, ardent devotees bearing food, good health and long age, knowing and pursuing the laws of truth and yajnic living, blest with good progeny and noble humanity, abide in their yajnic home, singing, rejoicing and celebrating your generosity.

· · ·

10.104.5

प्रणी॑तिभिष्टे हर्यश्व सु॒ष्टोः सु॑षु॒म्नस्य॑ पुरु॒रुचो॒ जना॑सः । मंहि॑ष्ठामू॒तिं वि॒तिरे॒ दधा॑ना स्तो॒तार॑ इन्द्र॒ तव॑ सू॒नृता॑भिः ॥

Indra, lord of radiant powers, adorable, gracious and self-refulgent, noble people, your celebrants, bearing the advantage of your generous protection, cross the seas of existence by virtue of your divine directions and the wisdom of your words of eternal truth.

· · ·

10.104.6

उप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि हरिवो॒ हरि॑भ्यां॒ सोम॑स्य याहि पी॒तये॑ सु॒तस्य॑ । इन्द्र॑ त्वा य॒ज्ञः क्षम॑माणमानड्दा॒श्वाँ अ॑स्यध्व॒रस्य॑ प्रके॒तः ॥

Indra, lord of radiant powers, come by the radiations of your divine presence to our songs and acts of adoration to listen and to drink the soma of our love and homage distilled from the heart. May our yajna reach you, lord omnipotent, gracious and forgiving. You are the generous giver, you know the yajna, and you award the fruits of yajna.

· · ·

10.104.7

स॒हस्र॑वाजमभिमाति॒षाहं॑ सु॒तेर॑णं म॒घवा॑नं सुवृ॒क्तिम् । उप॑ भूषन्ति॒ गिरो॒ अप्र॑तीत॒मिन्द्रं॑ नम॒स्या ज॑रि॒तुः प॑नन्त ॥

Him, who is lord of a thousand powers, subduer of challenging enmities, lover of soma and his own creation, mighty glorious, adorable, matchless Indra, songs of adoration exalt and salutations of celebrants praise.

· · ·

10.104.8

स॒प्तापो॑ दे॒वीः सु॒रणा॒ अमृ॑क्ता॒ याभिः॒ सिन्धु॒मत॑र इन्द्र पू॒र्भित् । न॒व॒तिं स्रो॒त्या नव॑ च॒ स्रव॑न्तीर्दे॒वेभ्यो॑ गा॒तुं मनु॑षे च विन्दः ॥

Indra, lord breaker of the strongholds of darkness, want and negativities, seven are the divine streams which flow free and unobstructed, by which you fill the sea and help us cross it, ninety are the streams flowing, and nine the sources of the flow by which you bless the divines and humans to find and follow the paths of life to the destination.

· · ·

10.104.9

अ॒पो म॒हीर॒भिश॑स्तेरमु॒ञ्चोऽजा॑गरा॒स्वधि॑ दे॒व एकः॑ । इन्द्र॒ यास्त्वं वृ॑त्र॒तूर्ये॑ च॒कर्थ॒ ताभि॑र्वि॒श्वायु॑स्त॒न्वं॑ पुपुष्याः ॥

The great streams of water which you released from ignominious self-containment, i.e., from the hoarding clouds and the adamantine mountains, and over which you, the sole one divinity, keep relentless watch, ever awake, Indra, those which you brought into being by breaking the cloud and whatever else you did, by the same streams, O life of life, nourish and promote the body and health of all living beings of the world.

· · ·

10.104.10

वी॒रेण्यः॒ क्रतु॒रिन्द्रः॑ सुश॒स्तिरु॒तापि॒ धेना॑ पुरुहू॒तमी॑ट्टे । आर्द॑यद्वृ॒त्रमकृ॑णोदु लो॒कं स॑सा॒हे श॒क्रः पृत॑ना अभि॒ष्टिः ॥

Indra is brave, noble doer, admirable, and so does the Vedic voice adore him, universally loved and invoked. He breaks the demons of darkness, want and ignorance, brings in light, and, mighty protector as he is, conquers all antilife forces.

· · ·

10.104.11

शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

We invoke and adore Indra, lord of bliss, glorious, best of men and leaders, in this our battle of life for protection, victory and further progress. He is the best listener, illustrious, blazing in battles, destroyer of the demons of darkness and winner of wealth and honours.

✦ Sukta 105 · 11 verses ✦

10.105.1

क॒दा व॑सो स्तो॒त्रं हर्य॑त॒ आव॑ श्म॒शा रु॑ध॒द्वाः । दी॒र्घं सु॒तं वा॒ताप्या॑य ॥

O Vasu, shelter home of life, when does the spirit inspire, impel and create the joyous song of celebration for Indra? When it controls the various flow of the mind, then the lasting soma is prepared for the ecstatic soul.

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10.105.2

हरी॒ यस्य॑ सु॒युजा॒ विव्र॑ता॒ वेरर्व॒न्तानु॒ शेपा॑ । उ॒भा र॒जी न के॒शिना॒ पति॒र्दन् ॥

The person whose senses of perception and volition are properly under control, dedicated to the soul in repose and illuminative like the sun and moon in unison, is blest by the master with the gift of peace and divine ecstasy in the state of grace.

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10.105.3

अप॒ योरिन्द्रः॒ पाप॑ज॒ आ मर्तो॒ न श॑श्रमा॒णो बि॑भी॒वान् । शु॒भे यद्यु॑यु॒जे तवि॑षीवान् ॥

Repeller is Indra for the man of sin, fearsome like a person sitting in judgement for punishment, but for the man dedicated to good and joined to the divine spirit, he is the giver of light and power.

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10.105.4

सचा॒योरिन्द्र॒श्चर्कृ॑ष॒ आँ उ॑पान॒सः स॑प॒र्यन् । न॒दयो॒र्विव्र॑तयोः॒ शूर॒ इन्द्रः॑ ॥

For the person dedicated to him, serving him and faithfully depending on him as the master, Indra is a friend and comrade and does every good thing for him, but for the vociferous and the refractory, he is a mighty awful punitive and corrective power.

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10.105.5

अधि॒ यस्त॒स्थौ केश॑वन्ता॒ व्यच॑स्वन्ता॒ न पु॒ष्ट्यै । व॒नोति॒ शिप्रा॑भ्यां शि॒प्रिणी॑वान् ॥

Indra who, like the sun of radiant and expansive light, abides and rules over the world of heaven and earth with his potent and pervasive presence for the evolution and progress of life, wins over the contraries and provides everything for the pious and law abiding by both his promotive and punitive powers.

· · ·

10.105.6

प्रास्तौ॑दृ॒ष्वौजा॑ ऋ॒ष्वेभि॑स्त॒तक्ष॒ शूरः॒ शव॑सा । ऋ॒भुर्न क्रतु॑भिर्मात॒रिश्वा॑ ॥

"Indra, glorious lord of omnipotence, is universally adored and served by cosmic forces and he, Matarishva, mighty presence active in universal nature, as Rbhu, cosmic architect, creates and structures the universe by his divine vision, intelligence and shaping powers."

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10.105.7

वज्रं॒ यश्च॒क्रे सु॒हना॑य॒ दस्य॑वे हिरीम॒शो हिरी॑मान् । अरु॑तहनु॒रद्भु॑तं॒ न रजः॑ ॥

He, the lord who made the Vajra, cosmic force of universal dynamics, for breaking and building, consumption and creation through transformation of the forms in evolutionary process, and for emergence of light over darkness and positive over negative, is the lord of golden glory. He commands golden blissful powers and inviolable creative imagination, and is mysterious and sublime like the expansive space and time continuum.

· · ·

10.105.8

अव॑ नो वृजि॒ना शि॑शीह्यृ॒चा व॑नेमा॒नृचः॑ । नाब्र॑ह्मा य॒ज्ञ ऋध॒ग्जोष॑ति॒ त्वे ॥

Reduce and remove our sin and crookedness. Let us win over the negationists with hymns of positive celebration of nature and divinity. Yajna, pursuit of knowledge and joint action, without grateful celebration of divinity with Vedic hymns does not at all win your approval and blessing

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10.105.9

ऊ॒र्ध्वा यत्ते॑ त्रे॒तिनी॒ भूद्य॒ज्ञस्य॑ धू॒र्षु सद्म॑न् । स॒जूर्नावं॒ स्वय॑शसं॒ सचा॒योः ॥

Your Trinity of divine glory and power rising with the flames of cosmic yajna, the Trinity of Purusha, Prakrti and Jiva, the soul, which pervades the threefold universe of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, matter, energy and thought, which pervades the three worlds of heaven, earth and the skies, which activates divine stuti, prarthana and upasana (adoration, prayer and meditation) rising in the hearts of yajakas, and which perfumes the house of cosmic yajna in space, that is the ark, friend of humanity, with its own divine glory, and life companion of the human soul in the world of existence: that ark of life and divinity may we embark with the three-dimensional mantra of Rk, Sama and Yajus and cross the seas of existence.

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10.105.10

श्रि॒ये ते॒ पृश्नि॑रुप॒सेच॑नी भूच्छ्रि॒ये दर्वि॑ररे॒पाः । यया॒ स्वे पात्रे॑ सि॒ञ्चस॒ उत् ॥

Let the sun, the skies and the divine voice be for your glory, expression of the showers of bliss. Let the yajnic ladle of immaculate ghrta be for the celebration of your glory without a trace of human selfishness. By these you shower the grace of your light and bliss with water on your own seat of humanity, the earth.

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10.105.11

श॒तं वा॒ यद॑सुर्य॒ प्रति॑ त्वा सुमि॒त्र इ॒त्थास्तौ॑द्दुर्मि॒त्र इ॒त्थास्तौ॑त् । आवो॒ यद्द॑स्यु॒हत्ये॑ कुत्सपु॒त्रं प्रावो॒ यद्द॑स्यु॒हत्ये॑ कुत्सव॒त्सम् ॥

O lord of cosmic energy of pranic existence, thus does the positive friend of divinity adore you a hundred ways and more. Thus does the negative friend of negativities adore you a hundred times and more, you who save the child of the pious in the elimination of evil, you who protect the darling child of the celebrant in the struggle against negationists.

✦ Sukta 106 · 11 verses ✦

10.106.1

उ॒भा उ॑ नू॒नं तदिद॑र्थयेथे॒ वि त॑न्वाथे॒ धियो॒ वस्त्रा॒पसे॑व । स॒ध्री॒ची॒ना यात॑वे॒ प्रेम॑जीगः सु॒दिने॑व॒ पृक्ष॒ आ तं॑सयेथे ॥

OAshvins, complementarities of nature’s energy and human resources, you want just that medium and opportunity for your operation by which you may extend your field of action like the weavers extending the warp and woof of their cloth. The yajamana has been waiting and waking so that you come together and, as in happy time, you may add beauty and comfort to life with joint relations and corporate activity.

· · ·

10.106.2

उ॒ष्टारे॑व॒ फर्व॑रेषु श्रयेथे प्रायो॒गेव॒ श्वात्र्या॒ शासु॒रेथः॑ । दू॒तेव॒ हि ष्ठो य॒शसा॒ जने॑षु॒ माप॑ स्थातं महि॒षेवा॑व॒पाना॑त् ॥

As the loving and shining twins of nature at the beginning of creation, you take on work worth completion. Like a perfect team of fast and united experts, you move and work within the master’s order and design. Stay within the community with honour and fame like welcome prophets of good news, do not stay away as veteran achievers do not go away from their ideal station of self- fulfilment.

· · ·

10.106.3

सा॒कं॒युजा॑ शकु॒नस्ये॑व प॒क्षा प॒श्वेव॑ चि॒त्रा यजु॒रा ग॑मिष्टम् । अ॒ग्निरि॑व देव॒योर्दी॑दि॒वांसा॒ परि॑ज्मानेव यजथः पुरु॒त्रा ॥

Team of simultaneous workers like wings of a bird, wondrous as visionaries, lovers of divinity bright as fire, come and join our yajna together and, like the winds blowing all time and seasons over spaces, continue the programme abundantly.

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10.106.4

आ॒पी वो॑ अ॒स्मे पि॒तरे॑व पु॒त्रोग्रेव॑ रु॒चा नृ॒पती॑व तु॒र्यै । इर्ये॑व पु॒ष्ट्यै कि॒रणे॑व भु॒ज्यै श्रु॑ष्टी॒वाने॑व॒ हव॒मा ग॑मिष्टम् ॥

Twin brothers of ours, protective as parents for children, bright as blazing fire and the sun, instant achievers like ruling twins, nourishing and strengthening life like pranic energies, soothing as warmth of sun rays for comfort and joy, pray listen to our call and come immediately as success itself.

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10.106.5

वंस॑गेव पूष॒र्या॑ शि॒म्बाता॑ मि॒त्रेव॑ ऋ॒ता श॒तरा॒ शात॑पन्ता । वाजे॑वो॒च्चा वय॑सा घर्म्ये॒ष्ठा मेषे॑वे॒षा स॑प॒र्या॒३॒॑ पुरी॑षा ॥

Providers of food and nourishment like a team of bullocks, givers of love and peace like friends, omnipresent observers of truth and law, hundredfold performers, saviours and protectors in a hundred ways, high and great like the spirit of energy, harbingers of good health and age, dedicated to Dharma, strong like rams in raiment like the golden fleece, and worthy of service and reverence, that’s what you are.

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10.106.6

सृ॒ण्ये॑व ज॒र्भरी॑ तु॒र्फरी॑तू नैतो॒शेव॑ तु॒र्फरी॑ पर्फ॒रीका॑ । उ॒द॒न्य॒जेव॒ जेम॑ना मदे॒रू ता मे॑ ज॒राय्व॒जरं॑ म॒रायु॑ ॥

Shining and supporting like the moon, destroyers of hate and enmity, distributors of boons, powers of punishment for evil, breakers of darkness, pearls of the sea, victorious, joyous, may the Ashvins give the aging mortal like me the gift of unaging health and immortality.

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10.106.7

प॒ज्रेव॒ चर्च॑रं॒ जारं॑ म॒रायु॒ क्षद्मे॒वार्थे॑षु तर्तरीथ उग्रा । ऋ॒भू नाप॑त्खरम॒ज्रा ख॒रज्रु॑र्वा॒युर्न प॑र्फरत्क्षयद्रयी॒णाम् ॥

Ashvins, like mighty fast and illustrious pilots, take the uncertain, transitory, aging mortal through the objects of value and desire across the seas. Like artists of perfect expertise and builders of the chariot, may the Ashvins come like impetuous winds and bring us wealth and life’s fulfilment.

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10.106.8

घ॒र्मेव॒ मधु॑ ज॒ठरे॑ स॒नेरू॒ भगे॑विता तु॒र्फरी॒ फारि॒वार॑म् । प॒त॒रेव॑ चच॒रा च॒न्द्रनि॑र्णि॒ङ्मन॑ऋङ्गा मन॒न्या॒३॒॑ न जग्मी॑ ॥

Like the warmth and cool of the sun and moon, you make us share the honey sweets of life at the heart of the nation. Protectors of the nation’s honour, well equipped with power, force, and armaments for defence, ever on the watch like birds on the move, blissful of form like the moon, dynamic as mind in action, perceptive and responsive as visionary wise sages and tacticians: Such you are, rulers and warriors of the nation of humanity.

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10.106.9

बृ॒हन्ते॑व ग॒म्भरे॑षु प्रति॒ष्ठां पादे॑व गा॒धं तर॑ते विदाथः । कर्णे॑व॒ शासु॒रनु॒ हि स्मरा॒थोंऽशे॑व नो भजतं चि॒त्रमप्नः॑ ॥

Like all great men, you have attained stability of mind and action in the deeper situations of life. Like the feet of the traveller fording a stream, you feel the depth of the water. Like the ears, you listen to the ruler and you remember and remind all others of their duty. Pray, like rays of the sun, please share the wonders of our karma.

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10.106.10

आ॒र॒ङ्ग॒रेव॒ मध्वेर॑येथे सार॒घेव॒ गवि॑ नी॒चीन॑बारे । की॒नारे॑व॒ स्वेद॑मासिष्विदा॒ना क्षामे॑वो॒र्जा सू॑यव॒सात्स॑चेथे ॥

In approval and appreciation of our performance you excite and inspire us with the sweetness of life. Like humming bees filling the honey comb hanging down, you bring the milk and honey of nature from above down to the earth and the cow. Like toiling farmers sowing the seeds of their sweat in the field and the earth yielding food from crops and herbs, you bring life energy for the body, mind and soul.

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10.106.11

ऋ॒ध्याम॒ स्तोमं॑ सनु॒याम॒ वाज॒मा नो॒ मन्त्रं॑ स॒रथे॒होप॑ यातम् । यशो॒ न प॒क्वं मधु॒ गोष्व॒न्तरा भू॒तांशो॑ अ॒श्विनोः॒ काम॑मप्राः ॥

Let us realise and extend the meaning and application of the mantric song of life and achieve further progress. O Ashvins, come close by your car, share and confirm our mantras and mantric success in practice. And may the honour and excellence of the nation as well as ripe grain, honey, and milk in the cow’s udders and our knowledge of the physical essence of the world fulfil the hopes and expectations of the Ashvins and of the men and women of the world.

✦ Sukta 107 · 11 verses ✦

10.107.1

आ॒विर॑भू॒न्महि॒ माघो॑नमेषां॒ विश्वं॑ जी॒वं तम॑सो॒ निर॑मोचि । महि॒ ज्योतिः॑ पि॒तृभि॑र्द॒त्तमागा॑दु॒रुः पन्था॒ दक्षि॑णाया अदर्शि ॥

Revealed and manifest is the great light and glory of these sun-rays, the entire life of the world is revealed and released from darkness. Mighty light given by parental radiations of the sun is come, yajna is accomplished, and the broad flow of generosity is seen on high.

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10.107.2

उ॒च्चा दि॒वि दक्षि॑णावन्तो अस्थु॒र्ये अ॑श्व॒दाः स॒ह ते सूर्ये॑ण । हि॒र॒ण्य॒दा अ॑मृत॒त्वं भ॑जन्ते वासो॒दाः सो॑म॒ प्र ति॑रन्त॒ आयुः॑ ॥

Generous givers of dakshina holy gift, abide on high in the regions of light and bliss. Those who give horse in charity ride with the sun. Givers of gold win immortality. O Soma, friend of peace and joy, givers of shelter and clothes cross the hurdles of life and live a long age.

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10.107.3

दैवी॑ पू॒र्तिर्दक्षि॑णा देवय॒ज्या न क॑वा॒रिभ्यो॑ न॒हि ते पृ॒णन्ति॑ । अथा॒ नरः॒ प्रय॑तदक्षिणासोऽवद्यभि॒या ब॒हवः॑ पृणन्ति ॥

Divine fulfilment and yajnic dakshina for the holy Devas is not for the stingy, selfish and the mean, because they give not for anyone, anything. And many are those who give liberally for fear of ignominy and shame, they give for the fulfilment of the deserving holy ones.

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10.107.4

श॒तधा॑रं वा॒युम॒र्कं स्व॒र्विदं॑ नृ॒चक्ष॑स॒स्ते अ॒भि च॑क्षते ह॒विः । ये पृ॒णन्ति॒ प्र च॒ यच्छ॑न्ति संग॒मे ते दक्षि॑णां दुहते स॒प्तमा॑तरम् ॥

They know and give liberal dakshina for Vayu blowing in a hundred streams, for the sun in heaven and for many other Devas who love, watch and guard humanity. And those who serve the devas and offer homage and gifts in yajna wherein they join the divinities themselves receive the fruits of yajna flowing in by seven streams.

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10.107.5

दक्षि॑णावान्प्रथ॒मो हू॒त ए॑ति॒ दक्षि॑णावान्ग्राम॒णीरग्र॑मेति । तमे॒व म॑न्ये नृ॒पतिं॒ जना॑नां॒ यः प्र॑थ॒मो दक्षि॑णामावि॒वाय॑ ॥

The giver of dakshina is first invited and goes about in advance of all, the giver of dakshina is chosen as leader and head of the community and goes to occupy the first place. I accept him as leader and ruler of the people, who rises first and highest as the man of generous giving.

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10.107.6

तमे॒व ऋषिं॒ तमु॑ ब्र॒ह्माण॑माहुर्यज्ञ॒न्यं॑ साम॒गामु॑क्थ॒शास॑म् । स शु॒क्रस्य॑ त॒न्वो॑ वेद ति॒स्रो यः प्र॑थ॒मो दक्षि॑णया र॒राध॑ ॥

He alone they call Rshi, the seer, Brahma, presiding priest of yajna, Adhvaryu, prime organiser, Samaga, singer of Saman hymns, and Ukthashasa, scholar specialist of the Rks, and he alone is the knower of immaculate divinity, who has first realised the three mantras of Aum, three branches of Veda, Rk, Yajuh and Sama, three orders of yajnic fire,Agni, Vayu andAditya, and who has first fulfilled the basic part and pre-requisite of yajna, Dakshina.

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10.107.7

दक्षि॒णाश्वं॒ दक्षि॑णा॒ गां द॑दाति॒ दक्षि॑णा च॒न्द्रमु॒त यद्धिर॑ण्यम् । दक्षि॒णान्नं॑ वनुते॒ यो न॑ आ॒त्मा दक्षि॑णां॒ वर्म॑ कृणुते विजा॒नन् ॥

He who gives a horse as dakshina, who gives a cow, who gives silver, who gives gold, gives food and food grains, that giver is our own, the very soul of yajna and, knowing this secret of yajna, he creates a protective cover for himself by dakshina.

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10.107.8

न भो॒जा म॑म्रु॒र्न न्य॒र्थमी॑यु॒र्न रि॑ष्यन्ति॒ न व्य॑थन्ते ह भो॒जाः । इ॒दं यद्विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं॒ स्व॑श्चै॒तत्सर्वं॒ दक्षि॑णैभ्यो ददाति ॥

The givers of food die not, nor do they suffer want and poverty, they are never hurt, never violated, never suffer pain, because they give food in charity. And all this that the world is, all this that is comfort, joy and bliss, all this, Dakshina gives to those who give in charity.

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10.107.9

भो॒जा जि॑ग्युः सुर॒भिं योनि॒मग्रे॑ भो॒जा जि॑ग्युर्व॒ध्वं१॒॑ या सु॒वासाः॑ । भो॒जा जि॑ग्युरन्तः॒पेयं॒ सुरा॑या भो॒जा जि॑ग्यु॒र्ये अहू॑ताः प्र॒यन्ति॑ ॥

The givers of food and relief first get a good fragrant home, liberal givers win a fair accomplished wife, generous givers reach the end sweetness of all drinks, and they win over even those who assail them, without challenge or provocation.

· · ·

10.107.10

भो॒जायाश्वं॒ सं मृ॑जन्त्या॒शुं भो॒जाया॑स्ते क॒न्या॒३॒॑ शुम्भ॑माना । भो॒जस्ये॒दं पु॑ष्क॒रिणी॑व॒ वेश्म॒ परि॑ष्कृतं देवमा॒नेव॑ चि॒त्रम् ॥

For the generous giver they embellish and adorn the fleet horse, for the generous groom the maiden waits and sits on the wedding vedi in all her finery, and for the generous man is this home, lovely as a rose bouquet and decorated, wonder worked and sanctified as a temple of divinities.

· · ·

10.107.11

भो॒जमश्वाः॑ सुष्ठु॒वाहो॑ वहन्ति सु॒वृद्रथो॑ वर्तते॒ दक्षि॑णायाः । भो॒जं दे॑वासोऽवता॒ भरे॑षु भो॒जः शत्रू॑न्त्समनी॒केषु॒ जेता॑ ॥

Well trained horses bear the generous master along in his travels, by dakshina gift to the craftsman a comfortable chariot is obtained, the divinities protect and advance the generous yajamana in all his yajnic battles for life, and the generous giver alone is the winner over oppositions in all conflicts.

✦ Sukta 108 · 11 verses ✦

10.108.1

किमि॒च्छन्ती॑ स॒रमा॒ प्रेदमा॑नड्दू॒रे ह्यध्वा॒ जगु॑रिः परा॒चैः । कास्मेहि॑तिः॒ का परि॑तक्म्यासीत्क॒थं र॒साया॑ अतरः॒ पयां॑सि ॥

What does she want? Sarama, thunder voice of divinities, that is come here? The path which the higher ones tread is far off, not here. And what is our interest here in her coming? How deep is the darkness like the unfathomable night! How has she crossed the floods of the skies. (This is what the Panis say in response to Sarama’s approach.)

· · ·

10.108.2

इन्द्र॑स्य दू॒तीरि॑षि॒ता च॑रामि म॒ह इ॒च्छन्ती॑ पणयो नि॒धीन्वः॑ । अ॒ति॒ष्कदो॑ भि॒यसा॒ तन्न॑ आव॒त्तथा॑ र॒साया॑ अतरं॒ पयां॑सि ॥

Sarama: O clouds, O pranic energies, I am the dynamic spirit of Indra, inspired by Indra, I sojourn here, anxious to take on the treasures and pleasures of your living possibilties. I wander from the boundless force of Indra, and I wander with fear. May Indra protect us. That’s how I have crossed the floods of water and the golden greens of Indra’s court.

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10.108.3

की॒दृङ्ङिन्द्रः॑ सरमे॒ का दृ॑शी॒का यस्ये॒दं दू॒तीरस॑रः परा॒कात् । आ च॒ गच्छा॑न्मि॒त्रमे॑ना दधा॒माथा॒ गवां॒ गोप॑तिर्नो भवाति ॥

Panis: O Sarama, voice of thunder and lightning, O dynamic spirit of life, what sort is this Indra? What is his strength and splendour whose messenger you come travelling from far, whom we should receive as a friend and bear as one that he may be our master and the master of our cows, our powers and potentials for living?

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10.108.4

नाहं तं वे॑द॒ दभ्यं॒ दभ॒त्स यस्ये॒दं दू॒तीरस॑रं परा॒कात् । न तं गू॑हन्ति स्र॒वतो॑ गभी॒रा ह॒ता इन्द्रे॑ण पणयः शयध्वे ॥

Sarama: O Panis, O clouds, O senses and pranic powers of practical living, I do not comprehend that power, Indra, which is undaunted, which is overpowering, whose messenger I am, come from afar. Mighty rolling oceans of unfathomable depth cannot cover it, nor contain it. Indeed, struck by Indra, the clouds fall in showers and lie on the ground.

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10.108.5

इ॒मा गावः॑ सरमे॒ या ऐच्छः॒ परि॑ दि॒वो अन्ता॑न्त्सुभगे॒ पत॑न्ती । कस्त॑ एना॒ अव॑ सृजा॒दयु॑ध्व्यु॒तास्माक॒मायु॑धा सन्ति ति॒ग्मा ॥

Panis: O noble and glorious Sarama, these streams of rain, these vibrations of senses, mind and energies which you want, travelling unto the bounds of heaven, who would release these for you without struggle? And our weapons too are sharp and powerful.

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10.108.6

अ॒से॒न्या वः॑ पणयो॒ वचां॑स्यनिष॒व्यास्त॒न्वः॑ सन्तु पा॒पीः । अधृ॑ष्टो व॒ एत॒वा अ॑स्तु॒ पन्था॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्व उभ॒या न मृ॑ळात् ॥

Sarama: O Panis, clouds of vapour, mind and sense vibrations, your words are not worthy of fight, your bodies are too tenuous for the arrows, your path of motion too is not strong enough for any campaign. And even Brhaspati, lord of speech and space, himself would not be too indulgent toward you. You are too lost in the dust around to be free from sin.

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10.108.7

अ॒यं नि॒धिः स॑रमे॒ अद्रि॑बुध्नो॒ गोभि॒रश्वे॑भि॒र्वसु॑भि॒र्न्यृ॑ष्टः । रक्ष॑न्ति॒ तं प॒णयो॒ ये सु॑गो॒पा रेकु॑ प॒दमल॑क॒मा ज॑गन्थ ॥

Panis: O Sarama, light of lightning, spirit of life’s will, this treasure is locked in the cloud, it is vibrant with sunlight within, lustre of nature and wealths of life. And that treasure, practical possibilities guard. Wonderful guards are they. In vain have you come to this place, it is void of anything for you.

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10.108.8

एह ग॑म॒न्नृष॑यः॒ सोम॑शिता अ॒यास्यो॒ अङ्गि॑रसो॒ नव॑ग्वाः । त ए॒तमू॒र्वं वि भ॑जन्त॒ गोना॒मथै॒तद्वचः॑ प॒णयो॒ वम॒न्नित् ॥

Sarama: O Panis, calculative clouds of small gain, here come the sharpest shears of wind, stormy gusts of winds, sudden whirl winds, which all will shatter this concentration of waves and vapours of living possibilities of the rains of life, (render them meaningless and purposeless without the presence of Indra, the soul). Mind therefore, and withdraw those words.

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10.108.9

ए॒वा च॒ त्वं स॑रम आज॒गन्थ॒ प्रबा॑धिता॒ सह॑सा॒ दैव्ये॑न । स्वसा॑रं त्वा कृणवै॒ मा पुन॑र्गा॒ अप॑ ते॒ गवां॑ सुभगे भजाम ॥

Panis: O Sarama, thunderous voice and lightning version of Indra, this way, then, you come equipped with divine powers and forces. We then accept you as our self-fluent and self-energised sister. O glorious sister, pray do not go back, we share the waves and vapours of life with you, and we give you what is yours.

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10.108.10

नाहं वे॑द भ्रातृ॒त्वं नो स्व॑सृ॒त्वमिन्द्रो॑ विदु॒रङ्गि॑रसश्च घो॒राः । गोका॑मा मे अच्छदय॒न्यदाय॒मपात॑ इत पणयो॒ वरी॑यः ॥

Sarama: O Panis, I know no brotherliness, nor sisterhood. Indra and fiery winds and energies of nature’s law know what is to be known. Those who want to live by senses and pranas, the source whence I come, would move and win you. Hence you go off far from here.

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10.108.11

दू॒रमि॑त पणयो॒ वरी॑य॒ उद्गावो॑ यन्तु मिन॒तीॠ॒तेन॑ । बृह॒स्पति॒र्या अवि॑न्द॒न्निगू॑ळ्हाः॒ सोमो॒ ग्रावा॑ण॒ ऋष॑यश्च॒ विप्राः॑ ॥

O Panis, O clouds, go far away to the best place you can. Let the vapours break the bonds and go up by the law of nature, and Brhaspati, master of space and rain, Soma, master of herbs, Gravana, scholar scientist of vapours and condensation, the sages of vision and holily motivated specialists would obtain them wherever hidden, however so deep. So will Indra, the soul, win the senses and pranas to satisfy the will to live in the world of existence.

✦ Sukta 109 · 7 verses ✦

10.109.1

ते॑ऽवदन्प्रथ॒मा ब्र॑ह्मकिल्बि॒षेऽकू॑पारः सलि॒लो मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ । वी॒ळुह॑रा॒स्तप॑ उ॒ग्रो म॑यो॒भूरापो॑ दे॒वीः प्र॑थम॒जा ऋ॒तेन॑ ॥

In the beginning, to express and reveal the joyous manifestation of the creativity of Supreme Brahma, those first borns of the dynamics of divine law, Akupara, the light principle or Aditya Rshi, Salila, the liquid principle or Angira Rshi, Matarishva, the wind energy principle or Vayu Rshi, Viduhara, the fiery catalytic principle or Agni Rshi, all like yajnic fire burning and creative, illustrious, soothing, flowing, divine souls and spirits express and reveal the divine voice of the Veda. (This voice is the Ila.)

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10.109.2

सोमो॒ राजा॑ प्रथ॒मो ब्र॑ह्मजा॒यां पुनः॒ प्राय॑च्छ॒दहृ॑णीयमानः । अ॒न्व॒र्ति॒ता वरु॑णो मि॒त्र आ॑सीद॒ग्निर्होता॑ हस्त॒गृह्या नि॑नाय ॥

soma, the ruling spirit of life, all at peace, having first received the divine word, the vedic voice, concomitant of omniscience, gives it again to brahma in the dynamic sarasvati form. varuna, mitra and agni follow, and the yajaka agni holds it by hand as in the yajnic ladle and leads it on.

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10.109.3

हस्ते॑नै॒व ग्रा॒ह्य॑ आ॒धिर॑स्या ब्रह्मजा॒येयमिति॒ चेदवो॑चन् । न दू॒ताय॑ प्र॒ह्ये॑ तस्थ ए॒षा तथा॑ रा॒ष्ट्रं गु॑पि॒तं क्ष॒त्रिय॑स्य ॥

The received form of this divine Vak is to be practically received by hard discipline. “This is the child of heaven,” this having been said, “This is not for communication without practice,” this is the important injunction. It does not wait for any one, it does not stand still, it moves on. Its meaning is hidden like the state of the dominion of a ruler.

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10.109.4

दे॒वा ए॒तस्या॑मवदन्त॒ पूर्वे॑ सप्तऋ॒षय॒स्तप॑से॒ ये नि॑षे॒दुः । भी॒मा जा॒या ब्रा॑ह्म॒णस्योप॑नीता दु॒र्धां द॑धाति पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् ॥

The divinities of eternal time and seven ancient sages who sit down for tapas and cosmic yajna speak and communicate this. It is the mighty companion of the devotee of Brahman received through discipline of celibacy and initiation. Brhaspati, lord of Infinity holds this sublime Vak in infinite space and time.

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10.109.5

ब्र॒ह्म॒चा॒री च॑रति॒ वेवि॑ष॒द्विषः॒ स दे॒वानां॑ भव॒त्येक॒मङ्ग॑म् । तेन॑ जा॒यामन्व॑विन्द॒द्बृह॒स्पतिः॒ सोमे॑न नी॒तां जु॒ह्वं१॒॑ न दे॑वाः ॥

The Brahmachari, dedicated to this sublime subject, goes on pursuing the discpline of the divine voice and, internalising it, becomes one of, and with, the nature and presence of the Devas. And thereby, O sages, the scholar obtains the Word and the wedded wife escorted to him by the blissful somaic preceptor like the ghrta ladle for yajnic offering and achievement.

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10.109.6

पुन॒र्वै दे॒वा अ॑ददुः॒ पुन॑र्मनु॒ष्या॑ उ॒त । राजा॑नः स॒त्यं कृ॑ण्वा॒ना ब्र॑ह्मजा॒यां पुन॑र्ददुः ॥

Noble teachers and scholars continuously go on teaching the Vedic voice and noble people conduct the yajnic programmes of education. Rulers and brilliant men of knowledge and generous disposition serving the divine truth carry on the propagation of the holy Word and its extension in practice and application.

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10.109.7

पु॒न॒र्दाय॑ ब्रह्मजा॒यां कृ॒त्वी दे॒वैर्नि॑किल्बि॒षम् । ऊर्जं॑ पृथि॒व्या भ॒क्त्वायो॑रुगा॒यमुपा॑सते ॥

Thus do sages, scholars and noble people, serving and spreading the light of divine knowledge and the Vedic Word, sanctified and energised for life’s purity, excellence and joy by Devas, serve Brahma, Lord Supreme in order that

they may enjoy and extend the wealth and creativity of mother earth and the environment.

✦ Sukta 110 · 11 verses ✦

10.110.1

समि॑द्धो अ॒द्य मनु॑षो दुरो॒णे दे॒वो दे॒वान्य॑जसि जातवेदः । आ च॒ वह॑ मित्रमहश्चिकि॒त्वान्त्वं दू॒तः क॒विर॑सि॒ प्रचे॑ताः ॥

O Jataveda, life pervasive in all that is born, lighted fire of life, light of light, greatest friend, bearer of the fragrance of life, all awareness, all intelligence, you are the poetic seer and creator, and when you are lighted faithfully in the human homes you invoke, bring in and join the divinities. Pray bring in today for us all that is divine in life and nature.

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10.110.2

तनू॑नपात्प॒थ ऋ॒तस्य॒ याना॒न्मध्वा॑ सम॒ञ्जन्त्स्व॑दया सुजिह्व । मन्मा॑नि धी॒भिरु॒त य॒ज्ञमृ॒न्धन्दे॑व॒त्रा च॑ कृणुह्यध्व॒रं नः॑ ॥

O Tanu-napat, sustainer of your own existential form and promoter of our health and mind, O divine light of holy flames, enjoy and sprinkle with honey the paths of yajna by which the fragrances rise and the yajakas proceed to the divinities by observance of the law of Truth, and, augmenting our thoughts with acts of holiness and beatifying the yajna, take over our songs and yajna of love and non-violence and establish it in the heights of divinities.

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10.110.3

आ॒जुह्वा॑न॒ ईड्यो॒ वन्द्य॒श्चा या॑ह्यग्ने॒ वसु॑भिः स॒जोषाः॑ । त्वं दे॒वाना॑मसि यह्व॒ होता॒ स ए॑नान्यक्षीषि॒तो यजी॑यान् ॥

Invoked and invoking, venerable and adorable Agni, come with all the pervasive wealth and excellences of life and join this yajna. Mighty great you are among the divinities, presiding priest of divine nature, sociable, loved, admired and cherished for company, pray bring in the divinities to the yajna.

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10.110.4

प्रा॒चीनं॑ ब॒र्हिः प्र॒दिशा॑ पृथि॒व्या वस्तो॑र॒स्या वृ॑ज्यते॒ अग्रे॒ अह्ना॑म् । व्यु॑ प्रथते वित॒रं वरी॑यो दे॒वेभ्यो॒ अदि॑तये स्यो॒नम् ॥

In advance of the days and dawns for the vestment of this earth as ever, holy grass is gathered and spread out over the vedi by divine ordainment, and the creative yajna proceeds and expands wide and high, joyous and brilliant for mother earth and the divinities. (This yajna may be interpreted either as the daily morning yajna or the first creative yajna at the dawn of each existential cycle.)

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10.110.5

व्यच॑स्वतीरुर्वि॒या वि श्र॑यन्तां॒ पति॑भ्यो॒ न जन॑यः॒ शुम्भ॑मानाः । देवी॑र्द्वारो बृहतीर्विश्वमिन्वा दे॒वेभ्यो॑ भवत सुप्राय॒णाः ॥

Let the doors of divine vision and wisdom open wide and high, unbounded, unbarred, universal, accommodative and blissful for the divinities of nature and humanity, and sustain and promote the people as gracious women with open arms inspire and exalt their husbands.

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10.110.6

आ सु॒ष्वय॑न्ती यज॒ते उपा॑के उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ सदतां॒ नि योनौ॑ । दि॒व्ये योष॑णे बृह॒ती सु॑रु॒क्मे अधि॒ श्रियं॑ शुक्र॒पिशं॒ दधा॑ने ॥

Creative, generous and peaceable, companiona- ble and adorable day and night, divine, youthful, expansive, brilliant and beautiful, wearing and bearing grace and grandeur of the purest powerful order may abide together and join us in this yajna.

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10.110.7

दैव्या॒ होता॑रा प्रथ॒मा सु॒वाचा॒ मिमा॑ना य॒ज्ञं मनु॑षो॒ यज॑ध्यै । प्र॒चो॒दय॑न्ता वि॒दथे॑षु का॒रू प्रा॒चीनं॒ ज्योतिः॑ प्र॒दिशा॑ दि॒शन्ता॑ ॥

Divine Agni and Aditya, first and foremost universal yajakas of noble expression, participants in cosmic yajna, promoting all yajnic programmes of nature and humanity and projecting the universal light of existence, directing and showing it by various paths of nature, may, we pray, inspire and promote us in order to help us enact and accomplish all our human programmes of yajnic nature and purpose.

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10.110.8

आ नो॑ य॒ज्ञं भार॑ती॒ तूय॑मे॒त्विळा॑ मनु॒ष्वदि॒ह चे॒तय॑न्ती । ति॒स्रो दे॒वीर्ब॒र्हिरेदं स्यो॒नं सर॑स्वती॒ स्वप॑सः सदन्तु ॥

May Ila, the spirit of transcendent divinity, Sarasvati, dynamic spirit of universal immanent omniscience, and Bharati, generous spirit of mother nature and mother earth, all three divinities of holy light, knowledge and love, noble doers of divine acts, come at the earliest and seat themselves here on the lovely sacred grass of our vedi like human mothers and bless us with vision, wisdom and enlightenment.

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10.110.9

य इ॒मे द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी जनि॑त्री रू॒पैरपिं॑श॒द्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ । तम॒द्य हो॑तरिषि॒तो यजी॑यान्दे॒वं त्वष्टा॑रमि॒ह य॑क्षि वि॒द्वान् ॥

That shaping power of divinity which adorns with beautiful forms these two creative motherly heaven and earth and all other natural forms of existence, that divine refulgent Tvashta, O learned yajaka, loved and venerable, invoke, adore and worship in the yajna here today.

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10.110.10

उ॒पाव॑सृज॒ त्मन्या॑ सम॒ञ्जन्दे॒वानां॒ पाथ॑ ऋतु॒था ह॒वींषि॑ । वन॒स्पतिः॑ शमि॒ता दे॒वो अ॒ग्निः स्वद॑न्तु ह॒व्यं मधु॑ना घृ॒तेन॑ ॥

And sincerely with your heart and soul, offer holy havis into the yajnic fire, having prepared the holy materials, seasoning them with honey and ghrta for food of the divinities according to the seasons, and let Vanaspati, nature’s greenery, Shamita, breaker of the clouds for showers of peace and prosperity, and the refulgent sun taste and consume the offerings with delight.

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10.110.11

स॒द्यो जा॒तो व्य॑मिमीत य॒ज्ञम॒ग्निर्दे॒वाना॑मभवत्पुरो॒गाः । अ॒स्य होतुः॑ प्र॒दिश्यृ॒तस्य॑ वा॒चि स्वाहा॑कृतं ह॒विर॑दन्तु दे॒वाः ॥

Agni which is the first and pioneer of the divinities enacts and lights up the yajna as soon as it arises and accomplishes it to the end, so may the divinities, under the action and direction of this yajaka, share and consume the fragrant havis offered with Svaha into the flames of yajnic fire with complete faith and dedication.

✦ Sukta 111 · 10 verses ✦

10.111.1

मनी॑षिणः॒ प्र भ॑रध्वं मनी॒षां यथा॑यथा म॒तयः॒ सन्ति॑ नृ॒णाम् । इन्द्रं॑ स॒त्यैरेर॑यामा कृ॒तेभिः॒ स हि वी॒रो गि॑र्वण॒स्युर्विदा॑नः ॥

O men of thought and wisdom, judgement and reflection, bear your thoughts and offer your songs and prayers to Indra according to whatever are the thoughts and faith of the people. With our sincere thoughts, words and actions, we praise and pray to Indra. He alone is the lord omnipotent and generous, he alone knows all that is, and he knows and accepts the thoughtful celebrant.

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10.111.2

ऋ॒तस्य॒ हि सद॑सो धी॒तिरद्यौ॒त्सं गा॑र्ष्टे॒यो वृ॑ष॒भो गोभि॑रानट् । उद॑तिष्ठत्तवि॒षेणा॒ रवे॑ण म॒हान्ति॑ चि॒त्सं वि॑व्याचा॒ रजां॑सि ॥

Indra is the splendour and sustainer of the regions of light and vapours of skies, he rises and shines, playful like the youthful calf of a heifer or Prakrti at the dawn and comes up in glory with attendant radiations. He rises with the blaze of light and proclamation of its might pervading wide and bold the great expansive regions of space.

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10.111.3

इन्द्रः॒ किल॒ श्रुत्या॑ अ॒स्य वे॑द॒ स हि जि॒ष्णुः प॑थि॒कृत्सूर्या॑य । आन्मेनां॑ कृ॒ण्वन्नच्यु॑तो॒ भुव॒द्गोः पति॑र्दि॒वः स॑न॒जा अप्र॑तीतः ॥

Indra knows the course of existence in entirety as is known by revelation of the Veda. He alone is the ultimate victorious over all, he alone sets the orbit for the sun, he alone reveals the sacred Word of divine knowledge. He alone is the master of heaven and earth, imperishable, eternal, infinite.

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10.111.4

इन्द्रो॑ म॒ह्ना म॑ह॒तो अ॑र्ण॒वस्य॑ व्र॒तामि॑ना॒दङ्गि॑रोभिर्गृणा॒नः । पु॒रूणि॑ चि॒न्नि त॑ताना॒ रजां॑सि दा॒धार॒ यो ध॒रुणं॑ स॒त्यता॑ता ॥

Indra is lord almighty by his own omnipotence, ruling the spatial ocean of particles of matter and energy, both manifesting and withdrawing them, homage being done by vibrant sages and blazing stars of the universe. He creates and extends the many many worlds of space and he wields the law and the power that holds the entire worlds of existence.

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10.111.5

इन्द्रो॑ दि॒वः प्र॑ति॒मानं॑ पृथि॒व्या विश्वा॑ वेद॒ सव॑ना॒ हन्ति॒ शुष्ण॑म् । म॒हीं चि॒द्द्यामात॑नो॒त्सूर्ये॑ण चा॒स्कम्भ॑ चि॒त्कम्भ॑नेन॒ स्कभी॑यान् ॥

Indra is the maker and measure of heaven and earth, knows all operations of the world in existence, and destroys drought and adversity by showers of rain and divine grace. He enlightens the great heavens by the sun and he himself is the pillar of the universe holding it in dynamic balance by the law of divine Rtam working in nature

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10.111.6

वज्रे॑ण॒ हि वृ॑त्र॒हा वृ॒त्रमस्त॒रदे॑वस्य॒ शूशु॑वानस्य मा॒याः । वि धृ॑ष्णो॒ अत्र॑ धृष॒ता ज॑घ॒न्थाथा॑भवो मघवन्बा॒ह्वो॑जाः ॥

O lord of glory, destroyer of darkness, negativity and want, destroy the demon of evil by the Bajra, unfailing catalytic power of nature you wield. O lord indomitable, be the mighty hero of arms of adamant and steel, destroy the violent forces of terror, frustrate the wiles and designs of the uncreative forces of society and be the saviour by unassailable power of Divinity.

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10.111.7

सच॑न्त॒ यदु॒षसः॒ सूर्ये॑ण चि॒त्राम॑स्य के॒तवो॒ राम॑विन्दन् । आ यन्नक्ष॑त्रं॒ ददृ॑शे दि॒वो न पुन॑र्य॒तो नकि॑र॒द्धा नु वे॑द ॥

When the lights of the dawn join the sun, then its rays assume wonderful beauty and glory. Then (in the day) I see no (other) star of heaven nor any joining the rising dawn again. Why? What is this mystery? Who knows of this? (Only Indra).

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10.111.8

दू॒रं किल॑ प्रथ॒मा ज॑ग्मुरासा॒मिन्द्र॑स्य॒ याः प्र॑स॒वे स॒स्रुरापः॑ । क्व॑ स्वि॒दग्रं॒ क्व॑ बु॒ध्न आ॑सा॒मापो॒ मध्यं॒ क्व॑ वो नू॒नमन्तः॑ ॥

At the rise of the sun, the first rays and the first mists of the morning move and go far far away. Who knows what and where is their beginning, what is their basic foundation, what is their middle, and what and where their end? Who among you knows this mystery? (Only Indra).

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10.111.9

सृ॒जः सिन्धूँ॒रहि॑ना जग्रसा॒नाँ आदिदे॒ताः प्र वि॑विज्रे ज॒वेन॑ । मुमु॑क्षमाणा उ॒त या मु॑मु॒च्रेऽधेदे॒ता न र॑मन्ते॒ निति॑क्ताः ॥

Indra, when you release the showers of rain engulfed by the cloud, then these flow down free and rapidly. Thus those who want freedom and release from bondage are released by Indra, and once released, they do not stop on way involved in the bonds (they have cast away).

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10.111.10

स॒ध्रीचीः॒ सिन्धु॑मुश॒तीरि॑वायन्त्स॒नाज्जा॒र आ॑रि॒तः पू॒र्भिदा॑साम् । अस्त॒मा ते॒ पार्थि॑वा॒ वसू॑न्य॒स्मे ज॑ग्मुः सू॒नृता॑ इन्द्र पू॒र्वीः ॥

Together the streams released by Indra flow and join the sea like loving women joining their husband, the lord of time and breaker of the existential bonds always since eternity is their inspirer and freedom giver. O Indra, may all our earthly wealth and excellences of sense and mind, all your gifts here, and all our songs of adoration and voices of prayer ultimately reach you, the destination from existence to the essence.

✦ Sukta 112 · 10 verses ✦

10.112.1

इन्द्र॒ पिब॑ प्रतिका॒मं सु॒तस्य॑ प्रातःसा॒वस्तव॒ हि पू॒र्वपी॑तिः । हर्ष॑स्व॒ हन्त॑वे शूर॒ शत्रू॑नु॒क्थेभि॑ष्टे वी॒र्या॒३॒॑ प्र ब्र॑वाम ॥

Indra, lord of glory, drink of the soma of love and adoration prepared and offered you as you please in response to our desire. This morning prayer, adoration and yajnic homage is primarily and exclusively for you. Pray be exalted and rise to destroy the enemies and negativities of life. With our songs and praise we celebrate your acts of omnipotence and generosity.

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10.112.2

यस्ते॒ रथो॒ मन॑सो॒ जवी॑या॒नेन्द्र॒ तेन॑ सोम॒पेया॑य याहि । तूय॒मा ते॒ हर॑यः॒ प्र द्र॑वन्तु॒ येभि॒र्यासि॒ वृष॑भि॒र्मन्द॑मानः ॥

Indra, come by that chariot of yours which is faster than the mind, come to taste the sweets of our soma of adoration and prayer. May the horses of your chariot instantly turn and speed hither, mighty horses by which, all happy and blissful, you come and bless the devotees.

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10.112.3

हरि॑त्वता॒ वर्च॑सा॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ श्रेष्ठै॑ रू॒पैस्त॒न्वं॑ स्पर्शयस्व । अ॒स्माभि॑रिन्द्र॒ सखि॑भिर्हुवा॒नः स॑ध्रीची॒नो मा॑दयस्वा नि॒षद्य॑ ॥

Let our body, mind and soul be touched by golden glory of the sun and transmuted into the highest forms of beauties and graces of life. Indra, thus invoked and adored by us who yearn for company and communion with you, pray come, be seated in the heart and soul in union, joyous and exalted, and lead us to the divine goal.

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10.112.4

यस्य॒ त्यत्ते॑ महि॒मानं॒ मदे॑ष्वि॒मे म॒ही रोद॑सी॒ नावि॑विक्ताम् । तदोक॒ आ हरि॑भिरिन्द्र यु॒क्तैः प्रि॒येभि॑र्याहि प्रि॒यमन्न॒मच्छ॑ ॥

Indra, whose grandeur in the state of divine ecstasy even the great heaven and earth do not comprehend, exalted in that very halo and glory of ecstasy, come by the dear golden radiations of divinity harnessed to your chariot and well enjoy the presentations of our homage, the food cherished by Divinity.

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10.112.5

यस्य॒ शश्व॑त्पपि॒वाँ इ॑न्द्र॒ शत्रू॑ननानुकृ॒त्या रण्या॑ च॒कर्थ॑ । स ते॒ पुरं॑धिं॒ तवि॑षीमियर्ति॒ स ते॒ मदा॑य सु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ सोमः॑ ॥

Indra, that soma which you always enjoy, and that yajamana whom you always protect and destroy his enemies with inimitable and incomparable weapons, that soma is distilled and ready for your drink and, and that yajamana solicits your radiant attention and generous favour of grace.

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10.112.6

इ॒दं ते॒ पात्रं॒ सन॑वित्तमिन्द्र॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑मे॒ना श॑तक्रतो । पू॒र्ण आ॑हा॒वो म॑दि॒रस्य॒ मध्वो॒ यं विश्व॒ इद॑भि॒हर्य॑न्ति दे॒वाः ॥

Indra, lord of infinite action, this heart and soul is ever dedicated to you, pray accept and enjoy the love and homage presented by the celebrant. Over flowing is the heart and soul with ecstatic joy and honey sweets of devotion which all divinities of heaven and earth love and cherish.

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10.112.7

वि हि त्वामि॑न्द्र पुरु॒धा जना॑सो हि॒तप्र॑यसो वृषभ॒ ह्वय॑न्ते । अ॒स्माकं॑ ते॒ मधु॑मत्तमानी॒मा भु॑व॒न्त्सव॑ना॒ तेषु॑ हर्य ॥

Many many people with various kinds of homage and prayer invoke you, lord of infinite power and generosity. All these our presents of love, honour and adoration of the sweetest order are for you only. Pray accept these with love and favour.

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10.112.8

प्र त॑ इन्द्र पू॒र्व्याणि॒ प्र नू॒नं वी॒र्या॑ वोचं प्रथ॒मा कृ॒तानि॑ । स॒ती॒नम॑न्युरश्रथायो॒ अद्रिं॑ सुवेद॒नाम॑कृणो॒र्ब्रह्म॑णे॒ गाम् ॥

Indra, I celebrate and glorify your eternal manifestations of might and the highest exploits you have ever before accomplished. Lord of essential power and passion, you break the cloud, open the mountains, and you break the deep silence of the night of annihilation and proclaim the Word for the men of vision and wisdom.

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10.112.9

नि षु सी॑द गणपते ग॒णेषु॒ त्वामा॑हु॒र्विप्र॑तमं कवी॒नाम् । न ऋ॒ते त्वत्क्रि॑यते॒ किं च॒नारे म॒हाम॒र्कं म॑घवञ्चि॒त्रम॑र्च ॥

O lord of the people, stay and abide with the people, they celebrate you as the highest incomparable of the poets of the world of existence. Nothing happens, nothing is done without you far or near. O lord of glory, I offer you the highest and most wonderful tribute and homage and adoration.

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10.112.10

अ॒भि॒ख्या नो॑ मघव॒न्नाध॑माना॒न्त्सखे॑ बो॒धि व॑सुपते॒ सखी॑नाम् । रणं॑ कृधि रणकृत्सत्यशु॒ष्माभ॑क्ते चि॒दा भ॑जा रा॒ये अ॒स्मान् ॥

Pray turn to us, watch us with favour, lord of glory, we beseech you. O lord of world’s wealth, honour and excellence, O friend, know, acknowledge and accept the friend of divinity. Fight out our enemies, lord of battle, commander of imperishable power and force, lead us on to achieve and share the wealth and honour so far unshared and unknown.

✦ Sukta 113 · 10 verses ✦

10.113.1

तम॑स्य॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी सचे॑तसा॒ विश्वे॑भिर्दे॒वैरनु॒ शुष्म॑मावताम् । यदैत्कृ॑ण्वा॒नो म॑हि॒मान॑मिन्द्रि॒यं पी॒त्वी सोम॑स्य॒ क्रतु॑माँ अवर्धत ॥

May heaven and earth along with all the nobilities of nature and humanity, all of equal and agreeable mind, follow, protect and promote the might of Indra, this ruling power of the world, when he goes forward to display that power and grandeur of his mind and senses and, exalted by the happy and exhilarating glory of his dominion in action, rises in greatness and majesty.

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10.113.2

तम॑स्य॒ विष्णु॑र्महि॒मान॒मोज॑सां॒शुं द॑ध॒न्वान्मधु॑नो॒ वि र॑प्शते । दे॒वेभि॒रिन्द्रो॑ म॒घवा॑ स॒याव॑भिर्वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अ॑भव॒द्वरे॑ण्यः ॥

Vishnu, pervasive power and presence of nature and humanity, holding, sharing and sustaining its own part of the power and Dharma of Indra’s dominion by virtue of its own might and lustre, exlalts the sweetness and grace of his system, and Indra, ruler of the glorious dominion, destroying the evil factors of darkness, want and ignorance with the assistance of his supporters and divine partners rises mightier, proves his greatness and majesty and becomes the object of his devotees’ choice all the more.

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10.113.3

वृ॒त्रेण॒ यदहि॑ना॒ बिभ्र॒दायु॑धा स॒मस्थि॑था यु॒धये॒ शंस॑मा॒विदे॑ । विश्वे॑ ते॒ अत्र॑ म॒रुतः॑ स॒ह त्मनाव॑र्धन्नुग्र महि॒मान॑मिन्द्रि॒यम् ॥

When against forces of darkness and serpentine crookedness you bear weapons and stand firm to fight, win all agreement, approval and admiration that all is well, then, O blazing lord of might and glory, all the Maruts, vibrant powers of nature and humanity in the world, together with their heart and soul join and exalt your greatness and the magnanimity of your majesty of mind and soul.

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10.113.4

ज॒ज्ञा॒न ए॒व व्य॑बाधत॒ स्पृधः॒ प्राप॑श्यद्वी॒रो अ॒भि पौंस्यं॒ रण॑म् । अवृ॑श्च॒दद्रि॒मव॑ स॒स्यदः॑ सृज॒दस्त॑भ्ना॒न्नाकं॑ स्वप॒स्यया॑ पृ॒थुम् ॥

From the very rise and manifestation, repelling, expelling and removing conflicts and confrontations of jealous forces, watching, assessing and affirming his fighting forces, breaking down clouds of pent up waters and mountainous hoards of resources and releasing all stagnant potentials, and sustaining the mighty vast world of light and joy by his will, wisdom and active power, Indra rules and reigns in glory.

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10.113.5

आदिन्द्रः॑ स॒त्रा तवि॑षीरपत्यत॒ वरी॑यो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॑बाधत । अवा॑भरद्धृषि॒तो वज्र॑माय॒सं शेवं॑ मि॒त्राय॒ वरु॑णाय दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Indra keeps, rules and controls all the dynamic forces of the world together in order, separates, holds, energises and moves heaven and earth and maintains the order of separate identity and togetherness in balance, and, undaunted and invincible, he wields the thunderbolt of justice and punishment as well as the golden sceptre of peace and law for people of love, justice, free choice and generosity.

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10.113.6

इन्द्र॒स्यात्र॒ तवि॑षीभ्यो विर॒प्शिन॑ ऋघाय॒तो अ॑रंहयन्त म॒न्यवे॑ । वृ॒त्रं यदु॒ग्रो व्यवृ॑श्च॒दोज॑सा॒पो बिभ्र॑तं॒ तम॑सा॒ परी॑वृतम् ॥

When the blazing Indra with his might breaks the demonic cloud hoarding the waters of life covered in darkness, then in honour of the brave hero of shattering thunder and his brilliant forces, poets sing songs of adoration.

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10.113.7

या वी॒र्या॑णि प्रथ॒मानि॒ कर्त्वा॑ महि॒त्वेभि॒र्यत॑मानौ समी॒यतुः॑ । ध्वा॒न्तं तमोऽव॑ दध्वसे ह॒त इन्द्रो॑ म॒ह्ना पू॒र्वहू॑तावपत्यत ॥

When two warriors, Indra and Vrtra, meet in battle doing mighty acts of the first order of valour with their respective valour and power, then, when the covering darkness is destroyed, Indra with his might rules the scene and dominates over the first invocation and institution of yajna.

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10.113.8

विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॒ अध॒ वृष्ण्या॑नि॒ तेऽव॑र्धय॒न्त्सोम॑वत्या वच॒स्यया॑ । र॒द्धं वृ॒त्रमहि॒मिन्द्र॑स्य॒ हन्म॑ना॒ग्निर्न जम्भै॑स्तृ॒ष्वन्न॑मावयत् ॥

And then all saints and holy men of the world celebrate and exalt your mighty deeds with voices full of sweetness, love and adoration. And when Vrtra is destroyed by the fatal blow of Indra and darkness is dispelled, Indra like the sun waxes in glory as fire rises in flames, having consumed fuel food with its jaws and crackling tongues.

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10.113.9

भूरि॒ दक्षे॑भिर्वच॒नेभि॒ॠक्व॑भिः स॒ख्येभिः॑ स॒ख्यानि॒ प्र वो॑चत । इन्द्रो॒ धुनिं॑ च॒ चुमु॑रिं च द॒म्भय॑ञ्छ्रद्धामन॒स्या शृ॑णुते द॒भीत॑ये ॥

O celebrants of Indra dedicated to yajnic union and cooperation, celebrate your kinship with Indra enthusiastically and proclaim with words of power, praise, love and friendship: Indra listens with faith, understanding and sympathy at heart to invocation and prayer for relief of the oppressed and subdues the vociferous ogres and terrorising destroyers of life and values of good living. (Such a person is worthy of being the ruler, Indra of the human nation.)

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10.113.10

त्वं पु॒रूण्या भ॑रा॒ स्वश्व्या॒ येभि॒र्मंसै॑ नि॒वच॑नानि॒ शंस॑न् । सु॒गेभि॒र्विश्वा॑ दुरि॒ता त॑रेम वि॒दो षु ण॑ उर्वि॒या गा॒धम॒द्य ॥

Indra, omnipotent ruler of the world, bear and bring us abundant wealth, honour and excellence flowing in from all sides so that I may be able to think and meditate with words of prayer, praise and thankfulness: O lord, let us get over all difficulties, evils and undesirables of the world by simple, natural and navigable paths of progress, and you now, today itself, firmly seat and settle yourself over the wide world and receive our homage and admiration as tribute of love at heart in faith.

✦ Sukta 114 · 10 verses ✦

10.114.1

घ॒र्मा सम॑न्ता त्रि॒वृतं॒ व्या॑पतु॒स्तयो॒र्जुष्टिं॑ मात॒रिश्वा॑ जगाम । दि॒वस्पयो॒ दिधि॑षाणा अवेषन्वि॒दुर्दे॒वाः स॒हसा॑मानम॒र्कम् ॥

Bright heat and light in conjunction pervade the threefold universe of heaven, earth and the middle regions. Matarishva, basic cosmic energy and pranic vitality, joins these two in friendly alliance for love and service. From the heaven of light and divine awareness flow vibrations bearing the milk of life and the divine message of knowledge for human awareness, and divine souls receive the light of eternal illumination, the Vedic message with the music of Samans in ecstasy.

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10.114.2

ति॒स्रो दे॒ष्ट्राय॒ निॠ॑ती॒रुपा॑सते दीर्घ॒श्रुतो॒ वि हि जा॒नन्ति॒ वह्न॑यः । तासां॒ नि चि॑क्युः क॒वयो॑ नि॒दानं॒ परे॑षु॒ या गुह्ये॑षु व्र॒तेषु॑ ॥

Sages who have heard the divine message for long through discipline carry it on to pass it on to others. They know, closely watch, internalise and worship the trinity of eternal reality and its existential dynamics: Brahma, Prakrti, and Jiva, three modes of Prakrti: sattva, rajas and tamas, three phases of temporal existence: creation, continuance and completion, three aspects of the good life: knowledge, karma and worship, three aspects of worship: adoration, prayer and meditation in the triple world of earth, skies and heaven. Poetic vision arises and creative souls know the original cause of all these orders of existence and knowledge which operate in all other open and covert, lowest and highest facts, activities and disciplines of life. That cause is One, Supreme, Unique.

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10.114.3

चतु॑ष्कपर्दा युव॒तिः सु॒पेशा॑ घृ॒तप्र॑तीका व॒युना॑नि वस्ते । तस्यां॑ सुप॒र्णा वृष॑णा॒ नि षे॑दतु॒र्यत्र॑ दे॒वा द॑धि॒रे भा॑ग॒धेय॑म् ॥

Fourfold is that reality of existence, knowledge and the language of knowledge: Prakrti, jiva, immanent ordainer and the transcendent; matter, energy, intelligence and avyakta Prakrti; Rks, Samans, Yajus and Chhandas; Para, pashyanti, madhyama and vaikhari, in other words, nama, akhyata, upasarga and nipata. The vedi of existence in which it abides is ever young, beyond age and death, eternal. It is beautiful and exciting, golden gracious, which covers all the rules and laws of existence. In that abide two generous, creative beautiful birds on the tree of life: the one that "watches is the Supreme Spirit of the cosmos, and the other that eats the fruit and tastes the sweet and the bitter of it is the individual human soul. In that existence, that knowledge and that Word of knowledge, noble souls find, live and experience their share of existence and the divine essence."

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10.114.4

एकः॑ सुप॒र्णः स स॑मु॒द्रमा वि॑वेश॒ स इ॒दं विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं॒ वि च॑ष्टे । तं पाके॑न॒ मन॑सापश्य॒मन्ति॑त॒स्तं मा॒ता रे॑ळ्हि॒ स उ॑ रेळ्हि मा॒तर॑म् ॥

One and One only is the cosmic spirit which pervades and manifests in the boundless ocean of space- and-time. It watches, illuminates and inspires this entire universe. I see it with pure and transparent mind manifesting at the closest. Prakrti which is the mother medium of its manifestation embraces it in love, and it too loves and embraces the mother medium. So also, divine Speech which is the mother medium of its expression embraces it in love, and it too loves and embraces the mother medium.

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10.114.5

सु॒प॒र्णं विप्राः॑ क॒वयो॒ वचो॑भि॒रेकं॒ सन्तं॑ बहु॒धा क॑ल्पयन्ति । छन्दां॑सि च॒ दध॑तो अध्व॒रेषु॒ ग्रहा॒न्त्सोम॑स्य मिमते॒ द्वाद॑श ॥

Vibrant self-realised sages and visionary poets visualise and express the One immutable Spirit by words of their experiential vision. Taking on to the poetic compositions of Vedic mantras in yajnas and meditative sessions they visualise and restructure twelve cyclic manifestations and self-expressions of soma, the moon, the sun and the light beyond the sun and moon, and the spirit of life itself.

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10.114.6

ष॒ट्त्रिं॒शाँश्च॑ च॒तुरः॑ क॒ल्पय॑न्त॒श्छन्दां॑सि च॒ दध॑त आद्वाद॒शम् । य॒ज्ञं वि॒माय॑ क॒वयो॑ मनी॒ष ऋ॑क्सा॒माभ्यां॒ प्र रथं॑ वर्तयन्ति ॥

Visualising and re-structuring the modes and manifestations of the Soma spirit through thirty-six and four poetic structures bearing upto the twelfth of the forms, having enacted the yajna with their thought and imagination, the sages accomplish the yajnic cycle with Rks and Samans.

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10.114.7

चतु॑र्दशा॒न्ये म॑हि॒मानो॑ अस्य॒ तं धीरा॑ वा॒चा प्र ण॑यन्ति स॒प्त । आप्ना॑नं ती॒र्थं क इ॒ह प्र वो॑च॒द्येन॑ प॒था प्र॒पिब॑न्ते सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

Fourteen are other majestic manifestations of this soma spirit of the universe in dynamic yajnic form which seven grand sages conduct with the voice divine. And here, in this world of limited human imagination, who can explain and reveal in human terms that all- pervasive saviour spirit in its reality and that central path by which the sages move up to divinity and have a drink of the soma ecstasy of divinity distilled through experience?

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10.114.8

स॒ह॒स्र॒धा प॑ञ्चद॒शान्यु॒क्था याव॒द्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी ताव॒दित्तत् । स॒ह॒स्र॒धा म॑हि॒मानः॑ स॒हस्रं॒ याव॒द्ब्रह्म॒ विष्ठि॑तं॒ ताव॑ती॒ वाक् ॥

Thousandfold are the Vedic hymns, fifteen of them the highest and best, all extended as far as the heaven and earth. Thousandfold are the majesties and glories of it, the Vedic Word and vision extending and abiding as far as the vision and omniscience of divinity.

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10.114.9

कश्छन्द॑सां॒ योग॒मा वे॑द॒ धीरः॒ को धिष्ण्यां॒ प्रति॒ वाचं॑ पपाद । कमृ॒त्विजा॑मष्ट॒मं शूर॑माहु॒र्हरी॒ इन्द्र॑स्य॒ नि चि॑काय॒ कः स्वि॑त् ॥

Who is the constant sage that knows the structure, end and purpose of the hymns? Who attains to the centre meaning of divine reality corresponding to the word of divine voice? Who would say who is the eighth veteran of the sagely yajakas? Who knows the two mighty carriers of the cosmic chariot of Indra?

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10.114.10

भूम्या॒ अन्तं॒ पर्येके॑ चरन्ति॒ रथ॑स्य धू॒र्षु यु॒क्तासो॑ अस्थुः । श्रम॑स्य दा॒यं वि भ॑जन्त्येभ्यो य॒दा य॒मो भव॑ति ह॒र्म्ये हि॒तः ॥

Some of the horses of Indra, master of the solar chariot, as rays of the sun, reach the ends of the solar regions while they abide yoked to the poles of the chariot. The divinities of nature provide them with food to replenish the energy spent, when the sun rests inside its chamber.

✦ Sukta 115 · 9 verses ✦

10.115.1

चि॒त्र इच्छिशो॒स्तरु॑णस्य व॒क्षथो॒ न यो मा॒तरा॑व॒प्येति॒ धात॑वे । अ॒नू॒धा यदि॒ जीज॑न॒दधा॑ च॒ नु व॒वक्ष॑ स॒द्यो महि॑ दू॒त्यं१॒॑ चर॑न् ॥

Wondrous is the invigorating and sustaining power of the newly risen youthful Agni which never goes to its parental source for food and energy replenishment. And if you say that the udderless creator has given it birth, even so, going on its great ambassadorial mission, it carries the fragrant message of yajna to the divinities immediately on its birth.

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10.115.2

अ॒ग्निर्ह॒ नाम॑ धायि॒ दन्न॒पस्त॑मः॒ सं यो वना॑ यु॒वते॒ भस्म॑ना द॒ता । अ॒भि॒प्र॒मुरा॑ जु॒ह्वा॑ स्वध्व॒र इ॒नो न प्रोथ॑मानो॒ यव॑से॒ वृषा॑ ॥

Agni, ‘high priest’ is the name given to ‘fire’, fiery leader of yajna, which, heroic of action, giving generously, takes to the woods with blazing flames and crackling jaws and, noble deity of yajna as it is, with ladlefuls of havi joins us with gifts of life like a mighty roaring cloud raining on pastures and fields of corn.

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10.115.3

तं वो॒ विं न द्रु॒षदं॑ दे॒वमन्ध॑स॒ इन्दुं॒ प्रोथ॑न्तं प्र॒वप॑न्तमर्ण॒वम् । आ॒सा वह्निं॒ न शो॒चिषा॑ विर॒प्शिनं॒ महि॑व्रतं॒ न स॒रज॑न्त॒मध्व॑नः ॥

O celebrants of yajna, celebrateAgni, the leader, watching every thing like a bird on the tree, abiding in every thing dynamic, brilliant and generous, profuse giver of food and joy, thundering as a cloud of living showers and deep as the sea, consumer of havi by flames of fire and giver of light by sun rays, mighty strong and exalted, grand achiever of victories and pioneer path maker and illuminator like the sun.

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10.115.4

वि यस्य॑ ते ज्रयसा॒नस्या॑जर॒ धक्षो॒र्न वाताः॒ परि॒ सन्त्यच्यु॑ताः । आ र॒ण्वासो॒ युयु॑धयो॒ न स॑त्व॒नं त्रि॒तं न॑शन्त॒ प्र शि॒षन्त॑ इ॒ष्टये॑ ॥

Agni, power unaging and dynamic, inviolable and imperishable are your forces like the radiations of dazzling light and blazing fire which, like victorious warriors, come to you, power indomitable and presence pervasive in three worlds, and exhort you for their life’s fulfilment.

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10.115.5

स इद॒ग्निः कण्व॑तमः॒ कण्व॑सखा॒र्यः पर॒स्यान्त॑रस्य॒ तरु॑षः । अ॒ग्निः पा॑तु गृण॒तो अ॒ग्निः सू॒रीन॒ग्निर्द॑दातु॒ तेषा॒मवो॑ नः ॥

That Agni, lord and leader of life, wisest pioneer and comrade of the warring wise, is the saviour giver of success and fulfilment to devotees far and near across difficulties within and outside. May Agni protect and promote the celebrants and the brave and give us the advantage of their protection and advancement.

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10.115.6

वा॒जिन्त॑माय॒ सह्य॑से सुपित्र्य तृ॒षु च्यवा॑नो॒ अनु॑ जा॒तवे॑दसे । अ॒नु॒द्रे चि॒द्यो धृ॑ष॒ता वरं॑ स॒ते म॒हिन्त॑माय॒ धन्व॒नेद॑विष्य॒ते ॥

Resplendent fatherly presence between heaven and earth, I, spontaneously inspired and exalted, offer homage and pray for protection to the most powerful presence, Agni, forbearing as well as challenging, all pervasive and aware, ever true, highest and most glorious protector and promoter who provides succour and sustenance of high order even in dry desert lands of no water by his indomitable power and potential.

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10.115.7

ए॒वाग्निर्मर्तैः॑ स॒ह सू॒रिभि॒र्वसुः॑ ष्टवे॒ सह॑सः सू॒नरो॒ नृभिः॑ । मि॒त्रासो॒ न ये सुधि॑ता ऋता॒यवो॒ द्यावो॒ न द्यु॒म्नैर॒भि सन्ति॒ मानु॑षान् ॥

Thus Agni, wealth, power and shelter of the world, inspirer of strength, ambition and enthusiasm for life, is adored and exalted by the brave along with the leading lights of vision and action, though mortals all, who, constantly disciplined in mind, dedicated to truth and yajnic action for creativity and production of good things for life, like friends of mankind in unison and united action, excel and lead ordinary humanity by virtue of their brilliance and shining achievements.

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10.115.8

ऊर्जो॑ नपात्सहसाव॒न्निति॑ त्वोपस्तु॒तस्य॑ वन्दते॒ वृषा॒ वाक् । त्वां स्तो॑षाम॒ त्वया॑ सु॒वीरा॒ द्राघी॑य॒ आयुः॑ प्रत॒रं दधा॑नाः ॥

“Child of energy, creator, sustainer and master of strength, energy and victory, undaunted and inviolable wielder of courage, patience and enthusiasm for living”, thus does the celebrant’s profound vision and word describe you as he closely watches and adores you. We, holy, brave and grateful, praise you while we enjoy your gift of good health, long life and the vision and hope of ultimate success and fulfilment.

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10.115.9

इति॑ त्वाग्ने वृष्टि॒हव्य॑स्य पु॒त्रा उ॑पस्तु॒तास॒ ऋष॑योऽवोचन् । ताँश्च॑ पा॒हि गृ॑ण॒तश्च॑ सू॒रीन्वष॒ड्वष॒ळित्यू॒र्ध्वासो॑ अनक्ष॒न्नमो॒ नम॒ इत्यू॒र्ध्वासो॑ अनक्षन् ॥

Agni, lord omniscient, leading light of existence, cosmic energy of nature, thus do visionary sages, close watchful scholars, children of yajakas pursuing, enacting and accomplishing yajnic acts for rain showers and gifts of generous nature, describe and adore you. Pray protect and promote them with success. Bless the celebrants. Advance the veteran scholars. “Here is the havi, pray accept the oblation”, saying this they raise the hand for offering and rise. “Salutations to Agni and honour to the generous giver for the achievement of showers, food and energy,” saying this with surrender and submission they rise and achieve their mission’s success and fulfilment.

✦ Sukta 116 · 9 verses ✦

10.116.1

पिबा॒ सोमं॑ मह॒त इ॑न्द्रि॒याय॒ पिबा॑ वृ॒त्राय॒ हन्त॑वे शविष्ठ । पिब॑ रा॒ये शव॑से हू॒यमा॑नः॒ पिब॒ मध्व॑स्तृ॒पदि॒न्द्रा वृ॑षस्व ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, light of life, ruler of the world, harbinger of the showers of prosperity, drink of the soma of our homage, and protect and promote the honour of your own creation for the power and glory of humanity on earth. Mightiest lord, take over and rule the world for the elimination of evil and the promotion of the positive values of life. Invoked and exalted, inspire your own people for the sake of strength, high morale and prosperity, honour and excellence. Promote the sweetness and culture of life and, happy and satisfied, bring us showers of all round progress and prosperity.

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10.116.2

अ॒स्य पि॑ब क्षु॒मतः॒ प्रस्थि॑त॒स्येन्द्र॒ सोम॑स्य॒ वर॒मा सु॒तस्य॑ । स्व॒स्ति॒दा मन॑सा मादयस्वार्वाची॒नो रे॒वते॒ सौभ॑गाय ॥

Indra, taste the best of beauty and sweetness of this abundant and powerful soma of the social and spiritual system prepared and seasoned to purity and sanctity of the highest order and presented in full faith. O giver of good and all round welfare of life, come straight to our vedi for the gift of wealth, honour and excellence of prosperity, happy at heart, and let us all rejoice.

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10.116.3

म॒मत्तु॑ त्वा दि॒व्यः सोम॑ इन्द्र म॒मत्तु॒ यः सू॒यते॒ पार्थि॑वेषु । म॒मत्तु॒ येन॒ वरि॑वश्च॒कर्थ॑ म॒मत्तु॒ येन॑ निरि॒णासि॒ शत्रू॑न् ॥

Let the heavenly soma of the sun and moon exhilarate you. Let the soma sweetness and beauty of things earthly created here exhilarate you. Let the soma of your own grandeur by which you do wonders exhilarate you. And let the soma of your own valour by which you destroy the enemies exhilarate you.

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10.116.4

आ द्वि॒बर्हा॑ अमि॒नो या॒त्विन्द्रो॒ वृषा॒ हरि॑भ्यां॒ परि॑षिक्त॒मन्धः॑ । गव्या सु॒तस्य॒ प्रभृ॑तस्य॒ मध्वः॑ स॒त्रा खेदा॑मरुश॒हा वृ॑षस्व ॥

May generous Indra, mighty ruler of the powers of heaven and earth, come with complementary powers of centrifugal and centripetal forces of nature and society and taste the sweet sustaining assets of food and energy created on earth. O lord breaker of clouds and destroyer of enemies, adversity and exhaustion, let there be ceaseless showers of abundant honey sweets of distilled and seasoned wealth, honour and excellence of life on earth.

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10.116.5

नि ति॒ग्मानि॑ भ्रा॒शय॒न्भ्राश्या॒न्यव॑ स्थि॒रा त॑नुहि यातु॒जूना॑म् । उ॒ग्राय॑ ते॒ सहो॒ बलं॑ ददामि प्र॒तीत्या॒ शत्रू॑न्विग॒देषु॑ वृश्च ॥

Indra, lord of solar power, sharpening your catalysis and shining your blazing radiations, reduce and destroy the strong persistent life destroying forces from nature and society. I offer you power and persistent forces of resistance to cooperate with your blazing fight against the anti-life elements. Face the enemies and uproot them in our battle for health and the good life

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10.116.6

व्य१॒॑र्य इ॑न्द्र तनुहि॒ श्रवां॒स्योजः॑ स्थि॒रेव॒ धन्व॑नो॒ऽभिमा॑तीः । अ॒स्म॒द्र्य॑ग्वावृधा॒नः सहो॑भि॒रनि॑भृष्टस्त॒न्वं॑ वावृधस्व ॥

Indra, lord of life and human society, expand the resources of food, energy and sustenance, heighten the power and prestige of life and extend the spatial knowledge and power as on a permanent basis. Unresisted and inviolable by virtue of your own patience, persistence and power, rising in strength and lustre of glory before us, raise the power and prestige of the self and the total human organisation.

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10.116.7

इ॒दं ह॒विर्म॑घव॒न्तुभ्यं॑ रा॒तं प्रति॑ सम्रा॒ळहृ॑णानो गृभाय । तुभ्यं॑ सु॒तो म॑घव॒न्तुभ्यं॑ प॒क्वो॒३॒॑ऽद्धी॑न्द्र॒ पिब॑ च॒ प्रस्थि॑तस्य ॥

Indra, lord of glory, this homage and tribute is offered to you. O ruler of self, humanity and all life, pray take it freely without inhibition or hesitation. For you is the soma distilled and offered, O lord of majesty. For you is the food prepared and seasoned. Pray accept it, taste of it and drink of it as it is prepared with faith and love without reservation.

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10.116.8

अ॒द्धीदि॑न्द्र॒ प्रस्थि॑ते॒मा ह॒वींषि॒ चनो॑ दधिष्व पच॒तोत सोम॑म् । प्रय॑स्वन्तः॒ प्रति॑ हर्यामसि त्वा स॒त्याः स॑न्तु॒ यज॑मानस्य॒ कामाः॑ ॥

Indra, ruling lord of nature and human society, pray accept these offers of homage as inputs in the natural and human system of evolution and progress. Take the food prepared and the soma distilled as our share of contribution and generate and bring the divine gifts of food and natural energy for health and joy. Bearing food and tribute of homage we love and honour you and pray may the cherished desires of the yajamana be fulfilled.

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10.116.9

प्रेन्द्रा॒ग्निभ्यां॑ सुवच॒स्यामि॑यर्मि॒ सिन्धा॑विव॒ प्रेर॑यं॒ नाव॑म॒र्कैः । अया॑ इव॒ परि॑ चरन्ति दे॒वा ये अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ धन॒दा उ॒द्भिद॑श्च ॥

I send up this song of adoration to Indra, lord of power, and to Agni, lord of light. It is infused with the inspiration of mantras and I launch these prayers like a boat on the sea. Devas range around and move like harbingers of good fortune, they are abundant givers of wealth and they destroy misfortune and uproot evil.

✦ Sukta 117 · 9 verses ✦

10.117.1

न वा उ॑ दे॒वाः क्षुध॒मिद्व॒धं द॑दुरु॒ताशि॑त॒मुप॑ गच्छन्ति मृ॒त्यवः॑ । उ॒तो र॒यिः पृ॑ण॒तो नोप॑ दस्यत्यु॒तापृ॑णन्मर्डि॒तारं॒ न वि॑न्दते ॥

The devas have ordained death for mortals, but not for reasons of hunger alone, because death overtakes the rich and well provided too. The wealth of the generous giver of charity does not diminish while the uncharitable finds no grace, none to comfort him.

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10.117.2

य आ॒ध्राय॑ चकमा॒नाय॑ पि॒त्वोऽन्न॑वा॒न्त्सन्र॑फि॒तायो॑पज॒ग्मुषे॑ । स्थि॒रं मनः॑ कृणु॒ते सेव॑ते पु॒रोतो चि॒त्स म॑र्डि॒तारं॒ न वि॑न्दते ॥

The man of means in plenty who does not give in charity to the poor, needy, hunger afflicted supplicant that comes to his door but hardens his heart and, further, himself enjoys the fruits of his riches in his very presence, finds no grace, no comfort, none to console him.

· · ·

10.117.3

स इद्भो॒जो यो गृ॒हवे॒ ददा॒त्यन्न॑कामाय॒ चर॑ते कृ॒शाय॑ । अर॑मस्मै भवति॒ याम॑हूता उ॒ताप॒रीषु॑ कृणुते॒ सखा॑यम् ॥

Bounteous blest is he who gives to the needy seeker desirous of food and to the wanderer in search, gone feeble. Amplitude comes to him at his call for his purpose, and he creates friendly alliances even among those who once opposed him.

· · ·

10.117.4

न स सखा॒ यो न ददा॑ति॒ सख्ये॑ सचा॒भुवे॒ सच॑मानाय पि॒त्वः । अपा॑स्मा॒त्प्रेया॒न्न तदोको॑ अस्ति पृ॒णन्त॑म॒न्यमर॑णं चिदिच्छेत् ॥

No friend is he who gives no help and sustenance to the friend, the assistant and the associate. Denied, the friend goes away from him. No home is this house of the miser mean, if the friend in need has to knock at another door, the house of a generous helpful person.

· · ·

10.117.5

पृ॒णी॒यादिन्नाध॑मानाय॒ तव्या॒न्द्राघी॑यांस॒मनु॑ पश्येत॒ पन्था॑म् । ओ हि वर्त॑न्ते॒ रथ्ये॑व च॒क्रान्यम॑न्य॒मुप॑ तिष्ठन्त॒ रायः॑ ॥

The rich man should give for the poor seeker, he should see the paths of life in the long run. Riches move like wheels of the chariot: Now they are at one place, now they move to another.

· · ·

10.117.6

मोघ॒मन्नं॑ विन्दते॒ अप्र॑चेताः स॒त्यं ब्र॑वीमि व॒ध इत्स तस्य॑ । नार्य॒मणं॒ पुष्य॑ति॒ नो सखा॑यं॒ केव॑लाघो भवति केवला॒दी ॥

The man of no

knowledge and short vision gets food in vain and prosperity for nothing. Verity I say that prosperity is his ruin, his very death in life. He prospers not who helps neither the friend nor the wise, eating all by himself he eats nothing but sin.

· · ·

10.117.7

कृ॒षन्नित्फाल॒ आशि॑तं कृणोति॒ यन्नध्वा॑न॒मप॑ वृङ्क्ते च॒रित्रैः॑ । वद॑न्ब्र॒ह्माव॑दतो॒ वनी॑यान्पृ॒णन्ना॒पिरपृ॑णन्तम॒भि ष्या॑त् ॥

The ploughman ploughing the land produces food for the hungry, the traveller while moving crosses the path to destination, the vocal sage is better than the silent, and the giving friend and brother is better than the non-giving.

· · ·

10.117.8

एक॑पा॒द्भूयो॑ द्वि॒पदो॒ वि च॑क्रमे द्वि॒पात्त्रि॒पाद॑म॒भ्ये॑ति प॒श्चात् । चतु॑ष्पादेति द्वि॒पदा॑मभिस्व॒रे स॒म्पश्य॑न्प॒ङ्क्तीरु॑प॒तिष्ठ॑मानः ॥

In the process of evolution and mutual exhortation, the man of the first order of wealth looks up to the man of double order of wealth and, if he be active and generous, may even surpass the doubly rich person. Similarly, the man of double order of wealth looks up to the man of triple wealth and may even surpass him. Later, the man of triple wealth looks up to the man of fourfold wealth and may overtake and even surpass him. Thus in evolution, competition, cooperation and mutual exhortation, the generous man of initiative goes on and on, watching and abiding in the line of the progressive evolution of humanity.

· · ·

10.117.9

स॒मौ चि॒द्धस्तौ॒ न स॒मं वि॑विष्टः सम्मा॒तरा॑ चि॒न्न स॒मं दु॑हाते । य॒मयो॑श्चि॒न्न स॒मा वी॒र्या॑णि ज्ञा॒ती चि॒त्सन्तौ॒ न स॒मं पृ॑णीतः ॥

The two hands, howsoever alike, do not perform equally well, two mother cows, alike and equal otherwise, do not yield the same quality and quantity of milk, the power and performance of even twins is not equal and the same, and two persons may be closely related, still they are not equal and exactly alike in charity.

✦ Sukta 118 · 9 verses ✦

10.118.1

अग्ने॒ हंसि॒ न्य१॒॑त्रिणं॒ दीद्य॒न्मर्त्ये॒ष्वा । स्वे क्षये॑ शुचिव्रत ॥

Agni, fire divine, you destroy the consumptive forces which damage life and, shining and blazing immortal among mortals, wherever you abide in your own form and place, you go on dedicated to your Dharma of purification and sanctification.

· · ·

10.118.2

उत्ति॑ष्ठसि॒ स्वा॑हुतो घृ॒तानि॒ प्रति॑ मोदसे । यत्त्वा॒ स्रुचः॑ स॒मस्थि॑रन् ॥

You rise in flames of glory and respond with fragrant joy to the oblations of ghrta when ladlefuls are brought close to the vedi and poured into the fire.

· · ·

10.118.3

स आहु॑तो॒ वि रो॑चते॒ऽग्निरी॒ळेन्यो॑ गि॒रा । स्रु॒चा प्रती॑कमज्यते ॥

Venerable Agni, when it is invoked and adored with Vedic mantras, rises and shines when it is served and exalted with ladlefuls of ghrta as the prime power of yajna.

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10.118.4

घृ॒तेना॒ग्निः सम॑ज्यते॒ मधु॑प्रतीक॒ आहु॑तः । रोच॑मानो वि॒भाव॑सुः ॥

Agni, honoured and adored with ghrta, served and adorned with honey sweets, invoked and exalted with Vedic hymns, shines and illuminates us as the sun.

· · ·

10.118.5

जर॑माणः॒ समि॑ध्यसे दे॒वेभ्यो॑ हव्यवाहन । तं त्वा॑ हवन्त॒ मर्त्याः॑ ॥

Invoked, celebrated and exalted, you rise and shine, harbinger of fragrances for the divinities of nature and noble humanity, and as such the mortals invoke and adore you in their yajnic celebrations.

· · ·

10.118.6

तं म॑र्ता॒ अम॑र्त्यं घृ॒तेना॒ग्निं स॑पर्यत । अदा॑भ्यं गृ॒हप॑तिम् ॥

That immortal Agni, the mortals serve with ghrta, Agni that is the redoubtable master protector of the home and family.

· · ·

10.118.7

अदा॑भ्येन शो॒चिषाग्ने॒ रक्ष॒स्त्वं द॑ह । गो॒पा ऋ॒तस्य॑ दीदिहि ॥

Agni, with your inviolable and irresistible light and heat, burn the negative forces that damage life, and shine and blaze as protector and promoter of the yajna of life’s progress.

· · ·

10.118.8

स त्वम॑ग्ने॒ प्रती॑केन॒ प्रत्यो॑ष यातुधा॒न्यः॑ । उ॒रु॒क्षये॑षु॒ दीद्य॑त् ॥

Agni, with your heat and light rays burn and destroy all forces of germs, viruses, insects and impurities that damage life, shine as you do in vast vedis of scientific programmes of yajna.

· · ·

10.118.9

तं त्वा॑ गी॒र्भिरु॑रु॒क्षया॑ हव्य॒वाहं॒ समी॑धिरे । यजि॑ष्ठं॒ मानु॑षे॒ जने॑ ॥

Agni, carrier and harbinger of fragrant havis to divinities and humanity, most adorable in human communities, men of dignity and grand mansions invoke and light you in vast vedis with holy songs of the Veda.

✦ Sukta 119 · 13 verses ✦

10.119.1

इति॒ वा इति॑ मे॒ मनो॒ गामश्वं॑ सनुया॒मिति॑ । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

This and this alone is what I am at heart: Let me win over the cow and the horse, wealth of the earth and all possible progress onward, and wholly control my senses and dynamics of the mind, for I have drunk the soma of the divine spirit.

· · ·

10.119.2

प्र वाता॑ इव॒ दोध॑त॒ उन्मा॑ पी॒ता अ॑यंसत । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

Like impetuous winds have the exhilarations of the draughts of soma raised me to the state of ecstasy, as I have drunk the soma of the divine spirit.

· · ·

10.119.3

उन्मा॑ पी॒ता अ॑यंसत॒ रथ॒मश्वा॑ इवा॒शवः॑ । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

The draughts of divine soma have raised me up in ecstasy of body, mind and spirit like swift horses carrying the chariot and the master, for I have drunk of the soma of the divine spirit.

· · ·

10.119.4

उप॑ मा म॒तिर॑स्थित वा॒श्रा पु॒त्रमि॑व प्रि॒यम् । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

My heart, mind and intelligence is stable and has stabilised me in the object of my divine love like the loving mother cow having reached its darling calf, for I have drunk of the soma of the divine spirit.

· · ·

10.119.5

अ॒हं तष्टे॑व व॒न्धुरं॒ पर्य॑चामि हृ॒दा म॒तिम् । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

Just as the maker makes and controls the well- structured chariot so do I control my mind and intellect at heart by soul, since I have drunk of the soma of the divine spirit.

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10.119.6

न॒हि मे॑ अक्षि॒पच्च॒नाच्छा॑न्त्सुः॒ पञ्च॑ कृ॒ष्टयः॑ । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

Nor can all the five communities elude or blur the vision of my eye and what I see, for I have drunk of the soma of the divine spirit.

· · ·

10.119.7

न॒हि मे॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे अ॒न्यं प॒क्षं च॒न प्रति॑ । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

Nor can the physical earth and heaven both be the other and opposite side of my divine personality, for I have drunk of the soma of the divine spirit.

· · ·

10.119.8

अ॒भि द्यां म॑हि॒ना भु॑वम॒भी॒३॒॑मां पृ॑थि॒वीं म॒हीम् । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

By the grandeur of my divine experience I realise the greatness of the solar regions and the greatness of this great earth, for I have drunk of the soma of the divine spirit.

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10.119.9

हन्ता॒हं पृ॑थि॒वीमि॒मां नि द॑धानी॒ह वे॒ह वा॑ । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

And may be I shall hold the beauty and generosity of this earthly existence here or, later, there, for I have drunk of the soma of the spirit divine.

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10.119.10

ओ॒षमित्पृ॑थि॒वीम॒हं ज॒ङ्घना॑नी॒ह वे॒ह वा॑ । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

And I can heat up this earthly body to light and take it here, there, anywhere, for I have drunk of the soma of the spirit divine.

· · ·

10.119.11

दि॒वि मे॑ अ॒न्यः प॒क्षो॒३॒॑ऽधो अ॒न्यम॑चीकृषम् । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

I realise one mode of my existence high up in heaven and the other down here on earth, for I have drunk of the soma of the spirit divine.

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10.119.12

अ॒हम॑स्मि महाम॒हो॑ऽभिन॒भ्यमुदी॑षितः । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

I am greatest of the greats, shining bright, radiating upwards to the skies and spaces, for I have drunk of the soma of the spirit divine.

· · ·

10.119.13

गृ॒हो या॒म्यरं॑कृतो दे॒वेभ्यो॑ हव्य॒वाह॑नः । कु॒वित्सोम॒स्यापा॒मिति॑ ॥

Receiving the light and ecstasy of divinity, beatified by grace, I have become the fire that carries the fragrances of love and faith to the divinities and the highest Divine, for I have drunk of the soma of the spirit divine and I have become the divine ecstasy itself.

✦ Sukta 120 · 9 verses ✦

10.120.1

तदिदा॑स॒ भुव॑नेषु॒ ज्येष्ठं॒ यतो॑ ज॒ज्ञ उ॒ग्रस्त्वे॒षनृ॑म्णः । स॒द्यो ज॑ज्ञा॒नो नि रि॑णाति॒ शत्रू॒ननु॒ यं विश्वे॒ मद॒न्त्यूमाः॑ ॥

That Indra, Brahma, is the first and highest among all the worlds in existence, of which, as the original cause, is born the blazing, refulgent potent sun which, always rising every moment, destroys the negativities which damage life and by which all positive and protective powers and people of the world rejoice and celebrate life.

· · ·

10.120.2

वा॒वृ॒धा॒नः शव॑सा॒ भूर्यो॑जाः॒ शत्रु॑र्दा॒साय॑ भि॒यसं॑ दधाति । अव्य॑नच्च व्य॒नच्च॒ सस्नि॒ सं ते॑ नवन्त॒ प्रभृ॑ता॒ मदे॑षु ॥

Growing mighty in strength, immensely lustrous, destroyer of negativities, it strikes fear into the heart of forces causing damage to life and the environment. Bountiful purifier and sustainer of the breathing and non-breathing world, all the people and powers which receive sustenance from you join to do honour to you in their joy and celebration of life.

· · ·

10.120.3

त्वे क्रतु॒मपि॑ वृञ्जन्ति॒ विश्वे॒ द्विर्यदे॒ते त्रिर्भव॒न्त्यूमाः॑ । स्वा॒दोः स्वादी॑यः स्वा॒दुना॑ सृजा॒ सम॒दः सु मधु॒ मधु॑ना॒भि यो॑धीः ॥

And they all, celebrants of divinity, surrender all actions and prayers to you when they join in couples and grow to three in the family. O lord sweeter than sweetness itself, join the sweets of life with honey and with divine sweetness and bliss create life overflowing with love and ecstasy.

· · ·

10.120.4

इति॑ चि॒द्धि त्वा॒ धना॒ जय॑न्तं॒ मदे॑मदे अनु॒मद॑न्ति॒ विप्राः॑ । ओजी॑यो धृष्णो स्थि॒रमा त॑नुष्व॒ मा त्वा॑ दभन्यातु॒धाना॑ दु॒रेवाः॑ ॥

Thus with joy on every happy occasion of life, grateful people and vibrant sages celebrate you, winner, creator and giver of wealth and excellence. Illustrious lord of shattering power, expand the commonwealth of permanent values. Let not the crooked and fiendish forces on the prowl suppress the creative gifts of divine generosity.

· · ·

10.120.5

त्वया॑ व॒यं शा॑शद्महे॒ रणे॑षु प्र॒पश्य॑न्तो यु॒धेन्या॑नि॒ भूरि॑ । चो॒दया॑मि त॒ आयु॑धा॒ वचो॑भिः॒ सं ते॑ शिशामि॒ ब्रह्म॑णा॒ वयां॑सि ॥

With your divine inspiration, well knowing the weapons of war, we fight out the enemies of life in the battles of humanity. I strengthen and calibrate the arms and ammunitions for battle by your divine words, and by the same divine formula I sharpen the target efficacy of the arrows and missiles of defence and offence.

· · ·

10.120.6

स्तु॒षेय्यं॑ पुरु॒वर्प॑स॒मृभ्व॑मि॒नत॑ममा॒प्त्यमा॒प्त्याना॑म् । आ द॑र्षते॒ शव॑सा स॒प्त दानू॒न्प्र सा॑क्षते प्रति॒माना॑नि॒ भूरि॑ ॥

We love and celebrate Indra in song, lord adorable infinite in form, all pervasive, most glorious and wisest of the self-realised wise. With his might he breaks seven types of clouds and seven orders of sin and evil, and he challenges and subdues the many adversaries that arise in the world of nature and humanity.

· · ·

10.120.7

नि तद्द॑धि॒षेऽव॑रं॒ परं॑ च॒ यस्मि॒न्नावि॒थाव॑सा दुरो॒णे । आ मा॒तरा॑ स्थापयसे जिग॒त्नू अत॑ इनोषि॒ कर्व॑रा पु॒रूणि॑ ॥

You sustain this visible world of physical reality and the other invisible world of meta-physical and spiritual reality in which you maintain and protect everything with your might in their very home. And you hold and stabilise the revolving motherly earth and heaven, inspire many great actions therein and see them accomplished.

· · ·

10.120.8

इ॒मा ब्रह्म॑ बृ॒हद्दि॑वो विव॒क्तीन्द्रा॑य शू॒षम॑ग्रि॒यः स्व॒र्षाः । म॒हो गो॒त्रस्य॑ क्षयति स्व॒राजो॒ दुर॑श्च॒ विश्वा॑ अवृणो॒दप॒ स्वाः ॥

The poet of boundless heavenly light speaks these divine verses in honour of Indra for his own spiritual peace and pleasure. First and foremost among eminent poets, self-illuminant, self-refulgent and self- controlled, he masters the mighty treasure of Vedic wisdom and he opens the flood gates of his own vision of universal light and wisdom.

· · ·

10.120.9

ए॒वा म॒हान्बृ॒हद्दि॑वो॒ अथ॒र्वावो॑च॒त्स्वां त॒न्व१॒॑मिन्द्र॑मे॒व । स्वसा॑रो मात॒रिभ्व॑रीररि॒प्रा हि॒न्वन्ति॑ च॒ शव॑सा व॒र्धय॑न्ति च ॥

Thus does the sage of boundless light and vision of wisdom with settled mind address his song of adoration to Indra only, and the pure immaculate fluent streams of speech like motherly creations inspire the world and exalt humanity with strength and enthusiasm.

✦ Sukta 121 · 10 verses ✦

10.121.1

हि॒र॒ण्य॒ग॒र्भः सम॑वर्त॒ताग्रे॑ भू॒तस्य॑ जा॒तः पति॒रेक॑ आसीत् । स दा॑धार पृथि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमां कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

Hiranyagarbha, the golden Seed, one lord of light and the sole creator of lights such as the sun, existed before creation (as he ever exists). He alone was and is the lord and sustainer of all forms of created being. He holds and sustains the earth and heaven and supports this whole universe. We worship the same one lord and offer him homage with oblations of fragrant materials

· · ·

10.121.2

य आ॑त्म॒दा ब॑ल॒दा यस्य॒ विश्व॑ उ॒पास॑ते प्र॒शिषं॒ यस्य॑ दे॒वाः । यस्य॑ छा॒यामृतं॒ यस्य॑ मृ॒त्युः कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

The lord who is the giver of birth to the soul with its power and potential in body, whose glory all the divinities of the world celebrate in song, whose shade of protection is immortality and falling off is death, to him we offer our homage and worship in hymns with havi.

· · ·

10.121.3

यः प्रा॑ण॒तो नि॑मिष॒तो म॑हि॒त्वैक॒ इद्राजा॒ जग॑तो ब॒भूव॑ । य ईशे॑ अ॒स्य द्वि॒पद॒श्चतु॑ष्पदः॒ कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

The sole one lord who, with his own might, creates and rules over the world of those who breathe and see, the lord who rules over both men and animals, to that sovereign lord of bliss and majesty we offer homage and worship with our heart and soul.

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10.121.4

यस्ये॒मे हि॒मव॑न्तो महि॒त्वा यस्य॑ समु॒द्रं र॒सया॑ स॒हाहुः । यस्ये॒माः प्र॒दिशो॒ यस्य॑ बा॒हू कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

Whose majesty these snow covered mountains proclaim, whose depth and grandeur the ocean with rivers declares, whose arms these quarters of space extend to infinity, that lord of light and sublimity let us worship with offers of homage in havis.

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10.121.5

येन॒ द्यौरु॒ग्रा पृ॑थि॒वी च॑ दृ॒ळ्हा येन॒ स्व॑ स्तभि॒तं येन॒ नाकः॑ । यो अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ रज॑सो वि॒मानः॒ कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

By him the suns blaze, by him the earth is firm, by him the heaven of bliss is sustained, by him the ecstasy of Moksha is constant, and he is the creator of the worlds of space. Let us worship the lord refulgent and omnipotent with offers of homage in havis.

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10.121.6

यं क्रन्द॑सी॒ अव॑सा तस्तभा॒ने अ॒भ्यैक्षे॑तां॒ मन॑सा॒ रेज॑माने । यत्राधि॒ सूर॒ उदि॑तो वि॒भाति॒ कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

Whom eloquent heaven and earth sustained in balance by divine power, shining in splendour and inspired at heart, manifest in glory and celebrate in song, under whose law the sun rises, shines and illuminates the world, that self-refulgent lord let us worship with offers of havis.

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10.121.7

आपो॑ ह॒ यद्बृ॑ह॒तीर्विश्व॒माय॒न्गर्भं॒ दधा॑ना ज॒नय॑न्तीर॒ग्निम् । ततो॑ दे॒वानां॒ सम॑वर्त॒तासु॒रेकः॒ कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

When the boundless ocean of charged particles of Vayu energy comes into existence bearing the implicit blue print of the cosmos in seed form, creating the heat mode of existence, then the one supreme of the divinities, living breathing life itself, emerges in advance of all cosmic forms, and that One all-comprehensive divine lord let us worship with oblations of havi, who else? That is Hiranyagarbha.

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10.121.8

यश्चि॒दापो॑ महि॒ना प॒र्यप॑श्य॒द्दक्षं॒ दधा॑ना ज॒नय॑न्तीर्य॒ज्ञम् । यो दे॒वेष्वधि॑ दे॒व एक॒ आसी॒त्कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

The one who with his might pervades, watches and overall controls the ocean of charged particles of Vayu energy bearing the heat mode producing the yajnic process of life’s evolution, who is on top of all the divinities of existence, that One supreme lord let us worship with havis.

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10.121.9

मा नो॑ हिंसीज्जनि॒ता यः पृ॑थि॒व्या यो वा॒ दिवं॑ स॒त्यध॑र्मा ज॒जान॑ । यश्चा॒पश्च॒न्द्रा बृ॑ह॒तीर्ज॒जान॒ कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

May the one lord supreme never hurt us, the lord that is creator of the earth, who also creates the heavens and who also creates the vast oceans of energies and waters, all beauteous, soothing and blissful, the master, controller and ordainer of all the laws of existence in operation in truth. Let us worship that one lord supreme with offers of faith and havis.

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10.121.10

प्रजा॑पते॒ न त्वदे॒तान्य॒न्यो विश्वा॑ जा॒तानि॒ परि॒ ता ब॑भूव । यत्का॑मास्ते जुहु॒मस्तन्नो॑ अस्तु व॒यं स्या॑म॒ पत॑यो रयी॒णाम् ॥

Prajapati, lord of life and your children, there is none other than you who rules over life forms and materials in existence, for yours are the laws of existence, none else’s. Whatever our desires, whatever you wish we should desire, all that we pray for, may all that be fulfilled in life for us. May we be masters in control of the wealths, honours and excellences of the world within your laws of life.

✦ Sukta 122 · 8 verses ✦

10.122.1

वसुं॒ न चि॒त्रम॑हसं गृणीषे वा॒मं शेव॒मति॑थिमद्विषे॒ण्यम् । स रा॑सते शु॒रुधो॑ वि॒श्वधा॑यसो॒ऽग्निर्होता॑ गृ॒हप॑तिः सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

I adore Agni like my life’s parental home, wondrous generous and refulgent, lovely, comfortable, welcome as a noble guest, all love free from jealousy. Master protector of the home, yajamana as well as high priest of life’s yajna, he blesses us with all protective, universally nourishing and positive heroic powers and creative energies of life.

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10.122.2

जु॒षा॒णो अ॑ग्ने॒ प्रति॑ हर्य मे॒ वचो॒ विश्वा॑नि वि॒द्वान्व॒युना॑नि सुक्रतो । घृत॑निर्णि॒ग्ब्रह्म॑णे गा॒तुमेर॑य॒ तव॑ दे॒वा अ॑जनय॒न्ननु॑ व्र॒तम् ॥

Loving and adorable Agni, universal knower of the laws and ways of life, presiding power of all holy works, pray listen to my words and accept my prayer : Rising and refulgent with ghrta, inspire the sage and open up the paths of progress for him. Divinities and noble souls raising you in yajna adore you, join you and raise themselves in pursuance of your laws of life.

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10.122.3

स॒प्त धामा॑नि परि॒यन्नम॑र्त्यो॒ दाश॑द्दा॒शुषे॑ सु॒कृते॑ मामहस्व । सु॒वीरे॑ण र॒यिणा॑ग्ने स्वा॒भुवा॒ यस्त॒ आन॑ट् स॒मिधा॒ तं जु॑षस्व ॥

Immortal Agni, pervading seven regions of the universe, bhu, bhuva, sva, maha, jana, tapa and satyam, advance and exalt the noble and generous yajamana of holy action. Whoever brings and offers holy fuel and fragrant havi to you, pray accept and bless him with noble progeny and abundant wealth of life.

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10.122.4

य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुं प्र॑थ॒मं पु॒रोहि॑तं ह॒विष्म॑न्त ईळते स॒प्त वा॒जिन॑म् । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑म॒ग्निं घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठमु॒क्षणं॑ पृ॒णन्तं॑ दे॒वं पृ॑ण॒ते सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

Seven priests with seven pranas and seven faculties of sense and mind offer havi and adore Agni, first and original performer of creation yajna who bears on the banner of creative yajna to its victorious completion, and they go on serving the seven-rayed light of life, listening, fed on and rising by ghrta, generous lord refulgent who blesses the dedicated celebrant with noble strength and happy progeny.

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10.122.5

त्वं दू॒तः प्र॑थ॒मो वरे॑ण्यः॒ स हू॒यमा॑नो अ॒मृता॑य मत्स्व । त्वां म॑र्जयन्म॒रुतो॑ दा॒शुषो॑ गृ॒हे त्वां स्तोमे॑भि॒र्भृग॑वो॒ वि रु॑रुचुः ॥

Agni, you are the messenger and harbinger of the breeze of fresh life. You are the first divinity of our love and choice. As such, invoked and adored for the sake of immortality, pray rejoice at yajna and let us rejoice too. Vibrant celebrants and veteran sages, shining and raising you in the house of generous yajamana, honour and exalt you with holy songs of adoration.

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10.122.6

इषं॑ दु॒हन्त्सु॒दुघां॑ वि॒श्वधा॑यसं यज्ञ॒प्रिये॒ यज॑मानाय सुक्रतो । अग्ने॑ घृ॒तस्नु॒स्त्रिॠ॒तानि॒ दीद्य॑द्व॒र्तिर्य॒ज्ञं प॑रि॒यन्त्सु॑क्रतूयसे ॥

Agni, light and presiding power of yajnic action, bringing plenty of food, energy, prosperity and the milk of human generosity by the mother spirit of the universe for the noble yajamana dedicated to yajna in love and faith, rising in flames of glory by oblations of ghrta, pervading the three dynamic regions of heaven, earth and the skies with light and splendour, and suffusing the yajnic home in life’s fragrance, you carry on the divine purpose in the world of nature and humanity.

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10.122.7

त्वामिद॒स्या उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु दू॒तं कृ॑ण्वा॒ना अ॑यजन्त॒ मानु॑षाः । त्वां दे॒वा म॑ह॒याय्या॑य वावृधु॒राज्य॑मग्ने निमृ॒जन्तो॑ अध्व॒रे ॥

Agni, light of life, in the rising lights of this morning’s dawn, thoughtful people adore you in yajna as the harbinger of nature’s bounties and carrier of their love and faith with fragrance to the divinities. Nobilities adore you and divinities exalt you, great as you are, and pray for their own rise in merit while they suffuse you in ghrta in the yajna vedi.

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10.122.8

नि त्वा॒ वसि॑ष्ठा अह्वन्त वा॒जिनं॑ गृ॒णन्तो॑ अग्ने वि॒दथे॑षु वे॒धसः॑ । रा॒यस्पोषं॒ यज॑मानेषु धारय यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभिः॒ सदा॑ नः ॥

Agni, men of light and vision established in divine consciousness invoke and adore you, light and spirit of cosmic power, and they celebrate your divine supremacy over nature and humanity. O victorious lord of universal knowledge, power and prosperity, pray bear and bring us the wealth of life’s health and excellence for the yajamanas. O sages and scholars of divinity and science of yajna, pray protect and promote us always with all round well being of life on earth.

✦ Sukta 123 · 8 verses ✦

10.123.1

अ॒यं वे॒नश्चो॑दय॒त्पृश्नि॑गर्भा॒ ज्योति॑र्जरायू॒ रज॑सो वि॒माने॑ । इ॒मम॒पां सं॑ग॒मे सूर्य॑स्य॒ शिशुं॒ न विप्रा॑ म॒तिभी॑ रिहन्ति ॥

This loving and lovely light, glorious sun, womb of light, shines in varied light and beauty in the ocean of particles of mist in middle space, moves and energises the clouds of vapour, and in the meeting of the sun rays and the vapours sages celebrate and adore the sun with songs of prayer and love with gratitude as a child of divinity.

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10.123.2

स॒मु॒द्रादू॒र्मिमुदि॑यर्ति वे॒नो न॑भो॒जाः पृ॒ष्ठं ह॑र्य॒तस्य॑ दर्शि । ऋ॒तस्य॒ साना॒वधि॑ वि॒ष्टपि॒ भ्राट् स॑मा॒नं योनि॑म॒भ्य॑नूषत॒ व्राः ॥

Rising from the skies, the sun radiates its waves of light, draws waves of mist from the ocean, energises clouds of mist from the ocean of space, the vault of glorious heaven across the skies is seen, the glory shines on top of the high heaven of nature’s yajna, and the sages celebrate both dawn and the vault of heaven together.

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10.123.3

स॒मा॒नं पू॒र्वीर॒भि वा॑वशा॒नास्तिष्ठ॑न्व॒त्सस्य॑ मा॒तरः॒ सनी॑ळाः । ऋ॒तस्य॒ साना॒वधि॑ चक्रमा॒णा रि॒हन्ति॒ मध्वो॑ अ॒मृत॑स्य॒ वाणीः॑ ॥

Equal and abundant, shining and thundering currents of natural energy, mother generators of clouds of rain, abiding together with vapours and sun rays in the skies, also active on top of nature’s dynamics, inspire the honey sweets of sage’s immortal songs of divine celebration.

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10.123.4

जा॒नन्तो॑ रू॒पम॑कृपन्त॒ विप्रा॑ मृ॒गस्य॒ घोषं॑ महि॒षस्य॒ हि ग्मन् । ऋ॒तेन॒ यन्तो॒ अधि॒ सिन्धु॑मस्थुर्वि॒दद्ग॑न्ध॒र्वो अ॒मृता॑नि॒ नाम॑ ॥

The sages, knowing the form, structure and functioning of the cloud and the roaring thunder, celebrate it and realise it in practice. Going by laws of natural truth, waters, evaporation and cloud formation and catalysis in the depth of spatial ocean, they realise that it is really the sun which holds the earth and controls the immortal waters for sure.

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10.123.5

अ॒प्स॒रा जा॒रमु॑पसिष्मिया॒णा योषा॑ बिभर्ति पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् । चर॑त्प्रि॒यस्य॒ योनि॑षु प्रि॒यः सन्त्सीद॑त्प॒क्षे हि॑र॒ण्यये॒ स वे॒नः ॥

Like a youthful belle holding on to her lover, the lightning with a brilliant smile holds on to and sustains with the cloud in the highest skies, and the cloud too, dear and lovely, moving about in the spatial home of his lovely light and lightning, stays by the side of the golden beloved.

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10.123.6

नाके॑ सुप॒र्णमुप॒ यत्पत॑न्तं हृ॒दा वेन॑न्तो अ॒भ्यच॑क्षत त्वा । हिर॑ण्यपक्षं॒ वरु॑णस्य दू॒तं य॒मस्य॒ योनौ॑ शकु॒नं भु॑र॒ण्युम् ॥

O Sun, wrapped in wondrous rays flying around in the highest heaven, loving sages with their heart and soul see and realise you at the closest as a messenger of the supreme lord of love and justice and as a mighty bird blazing and flying with golden wings in the vast space of the lord ordainer of the universe.

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10.123.7

ऊ॒र्ध्वो ग॑न्ध॒र्वो अधि॒ नाके॑ अस्थात्प्र॒त्यङ्चि॒त्रा बिभ्र॑द॒स्यायु॑धानि । वसा॑नो॒ अत्कं॑ सुर॒भिं दृ॒शे कं स्व१॒॑र्ण नाम॑ जनत प्रि॒याणि॑ ॥

High up over there abides the sun in the region of heavenly light. It bears wondrous weapons of divinity such as thunder and lightning. It wears a beautiful, fragrant form soothing for people to see, and like the light and bliss of heaven creates divine waters and many other dear divine gifts for life.

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10.123.8

द्र॒प्सः स॑मु॒द्रम॒भि यज्जिगा॑ति॒ पश्य॒न्गृध्र॑स्य॒ चक्ष॑सा॒ विध॑र्मन् । भा॒नुः शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॑ चका॒नस्तृ॒तीये॑ चक्रे॒ रज॑सि प्रि॒याणि॑ ॥

When the sun in the third, highest, heaven, shining on the oceans and vapours in the skies with the light of its fervent rays reaches the clouds of vapour, then the blazing heat with pure and powerful energy catalyses the clouds and condenses the vapours into dear valuable drops that shower in rain upon the earth.

✦ Sukta 124 · 9 verses ✦

10.124.1

इ॒मं नो॑ अग्न॒ उप॑ य॒ज्ञमेहि॒ पञ्च॑यामं त्रि॒वृतं॑ स॒प्तत॑न्तुम् । असो॑ हव्य॒वाळु॒त नः॑ पुरो॒गा ज्योगे॒व दी॒र्घं तम॒ आश॑यिष्ठाः ॥

Agni, yajnic light of life, come to this life yajna of ours: which has five divisions, i.e., Brahma-yajna, Deva-yajna, Pitr-yajna, Atithi-yajna, and Balivaishva- deva-yajna; conducted by five people, i.e, four socio- economic classes of Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras and others like chance visitors from other groups there might be; which is threefold, i.e., paka yajna, haviryajna and somayajna; and which has seven extensions, i.e., Agnishtoma, Atyagnishtoma, Ukthya, Shodashi, Vajapeya, Atiratra and Aptoyami. You are our leader and pioneer, Agni, and you are the carrier of our yajna to the divinities as well as harbinger of the fruits of yajna to us. Pray come and be our all time dispeller of the cavern of deep darkness from life. (Yajna is a creative process of development in life from the individual to the social, national, global and environmental level of life. The explanation above is related to the social level. Swami Brahmamuni explains the yajna at the individual level, and that is also suggested in Rgveda 10, 7, 6: ‘Svayam yajasva’, and yajurveda 4, 13: “Iyam te yajniya tanu”, which means: Develop yourself by yajna according to the seasons of your growth, and remember your life in body, mind and soul is worthy of yajnic service for your personal development, your body being the first instrument of your wider yajna of life. This personal yajna is fivefold, for the elemental balance of earth, water, heat, air and ether; threefold for the balance of vata, pitta and kaf, and also for balanced growth of body, mind and soul; sevenfold for the growth of rasa, rakta, mansa, meda, asthi, majja and virya. Thus yajna is the process of growth beginning with the individual, accomplished at the cosmic level.)

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10.124.2

अदे॑वाद्दे॒वः प्र॒चता॒ गुहा॒ यन्प्र॒पश्य॑मानो अमृत॒त्वमे॑मि । शि॒वं यत्सन्त॒मशि॑वो॒ जहा॑मि॒ स्वात्स॒ख्यादर॑णीं॒ नाभि॑मेमि ॥

When I, the soul, transcending the mere physical, non-divine, form, take on to the light of divinity within the heart cave of the soul, I see the light of divinity within and attain to it. Thus when I relinquish my dark side of personality, attaining to the light and peace of divinity, then by reason of my essential affinity with divinity, I reach the life divine, sole centre of existence, just like fire existing at peace in the arani wood, its natural abode, rising into heat and light at yajna.

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10.124.3

पश्य॑न्न॒न्यस्या॒ अति॑थिं व॒याया॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ धाम॒ वि मि॑मे पु॒रूणि॑ । शंसा॑मि पि॒त्रे असु॑राय॒ शेव॑मयज्ञि॒याद्य॒ज्ञियं॑ भा॒गमे॑मि ॥

Watching the traveller of another path of life other than the physical, the bird on another branch of the tree, and seeing the original home of the cosmic yajna, I enact many vedis to follow the yajnic paths of living. I sing songs of homage in honour of the omnipotent father giver of life and take to my share of yajnic living, away from the selfish ways of existence.

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10.124.4

ब॒ह्वीः समा॑ अकरम॒न्तर॑स्मि॒न्निन्द्रं॑ वृणा॒नः पि॒तरं॑ जहामि । अ॒ग्निः सोमो॒ वरु॑ण॒स्ते च्य॑वन्ते प॒र्याव॑र्द्रा॒ष्ट्रं तद॑वाम्या॒यन् ॥

Having lived in this body, vedi of living yajna, and choosing Indra, omnipotent father, for worship, I give up the vedi. Agni, vital heat, Varuna, mind and senses and the water element, and Soma, living vitality, depart, and moving ahead I come to the freedom of existence which I cherish and protect for further life.

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10.124.5

निर्मा॑या उ॒ त्ये असु॑रा अभूव॒न्त्वं च॑ मा वरुण का॒मया॑से । ऋ॒तेन॑ राज॒न्ननृ॑तं विवि॒ञ्चन्मम॑ रा॒ष्ट्रस्याधि॑पत्य॒मेहि॑ ॥

When I get the freedom of my state of being, let the demonic forces be void of their powers, and O Varuna, lord of love, justice and fulfilment, pray bless me with love and protection. O ruling lord of existence, eliminating untruth by the rule of truth and divine law, come and take over the ultimate sovereignty of my free state.

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10.124.6

इ॒दं स्व॑रि॒दमिदा॑स वा॒मम॒यं प्र॑का॒श उ॒र्व१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षम् । हना॑व वृ॒त्रं नि॒रेहि॑ सोम ह॒विष्ट्वा॒ सन्तं॑ ह॒विषा॑ यजाम ॥

O Soma, spirit of life in the state of freedom, this is the state of bliss, this is beauty, this is the light of life, this is the expansive space to sojourn at will. Come up out of all sense of bondage. We two shall eliminate darkness and nescience. You are the havi and you the object of love and adoration too. We powers of divine law and truth of existence serve and bless you, our darling, with your real self and blessings of total fulfilment.

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10.124.7

क॒विः क॑वि॒त्वा दि॒वि रू॒पमास॑ज॒दप्र॑भूती॒ वरु॑णो॒ निर॒पः सृ॑जत् । क्षेमं॑ कृण्वा॒ना जन॑यो॒ न सिन्ध॑व॒स्ता अ॑स्य॒ वर्णं॒ शुच॑यो भरिभ्रति ॥

The sovereign creator with his divine vision and power created the light and placed it as the sun in heaven. Varuna, the same lord omnipotent of the element of waters, created and released the rivers aflow which, pure and creative mothers, harbingers of peace and joy, bear and manifest the generosity and majesty of the lord.

· · ·

10.124.8

ता अ॑स्य॒ ज्येष्ठ॑मिन्द्रि॒यं स॑चन्ते॒ ता ई॒मा क्षे॑ति स्व॒धया॒ मद॑न्तीः । ता ईं॒ विशो॒ न राजा॑नं वृणा॒ना बी॑भ॒त्सुवो॒ अप॑ वृ॒त्राद॑तिष्ठन् ॥

Those streams of living waters share and bear the highest power and beneficence of this lord Varuna, and the lord rules and abides in these streams which sparkle and flow, enjoying the fragrance of oblations offered in yajna. They, also, like people choosing and abiding by the ruler, free from fear and keeping off from darkness and evil, flow free from fear and obstruction.

· · ·

10.124.9

बी॒भ॒त्सूनां॑ स॒युजं॑ हं॒समा॑हुर॒पां दि॒व्यानां॑ स॒ख्ये चर॑न्तम् । अ॒नु॒ष्टुभ॒मनु॑ चर्चू॒र्यमा॑ण॒मिन्द्रं॒ नि चि॑क्युः क॒वयो॑ मनी॒षा ॥

The sun, companion of the free and fearless clouds, which sojourns in space as a comrade of the holy waters, the poets call the ‘celestial bird’, and the wind and electric energy blowing and radiating in response to yajna with anushtup verses, they know with their vision and imagination, and this they call ‘Indra’.

✦ Sukta 125 · 8 verses ✦

10.125.1

अ॒हं रु॒द्रेभि॒र्वसु॑भिश्चराम्य॒हमा॑दि॒त्यैरु॒त वि॒श्वदे॑वैः । अ॒हं मि॒त्रावरु॑णो॒भा बि॑भर्म्य॒हमि॑न्द्रा॒ग्नी अ॒हम॒श्विनो॒भा ॥

I am Vak-ambhrni, voice of omniscience, Universal Speech all bearing, all borne, co-existent with eleven Rudras, pranic energies and the soul, eight Vasus, earth, water, fire, air, space, moon, sun and stars, all abodes and supports of life, twelve Adityas, year’s twelve phases of the sun, and all the Vishvedevas, divinities of nature and humanity. I pervade and support both Mitra and Varuna, day and night, I pervade and support Indra and Agni, wind and fire, and I bear and support both the Ashvins, all complementarities of nature and humanity such as positive and negative currents of energy and science and technology. (Language, Vak or Word, is a system corresponding to and co-existent with existence as a system and the awareness or knowledge of existence. Hence language at the level of divine awareness is co- existent and co-extensive with existence itself. In other words, at the level of omniscience, existence is language and language is existence. In our life, our language is the seat of correspondence between our awareness and knowledge of existence and its articulation in experience, expression and communication.)

· · ·

10.125.2

अ॒हं सोम॑माह॒नसं॑ बिभर्म्य॒हं त्वष्टा॑रमु॒त पू॒षणं॒ भग॑म् । अ॒हं द॑धामि॒ द्रवि॑णं ह॒विष्म॑ते सुप्रा॒व्ये॒३॒॑ यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते ॥

I bear the reception and expression of experience in communication and the soma joy of corporate existence. I bear the formative evolution, nourishment and growth, and the power and glory of life and its progress. I bear the wealth and prosperity of life for the yajamana who creates beauty and sweetness for life and bears liberal havis of corporate yajna for the common welfare of humanity and indeed all life. (In other words, the content of Language is Existence and the awareness of Existence.)

· · ·

10.125.3

अ॒हं राष्ट्री॑ सं॒गम॑नी॒ वसू॑नां चिकि॒तुषी॑ प्रथ॒मा य॒ज्ञिया॑नाम् । तां मा॑ दे॒वा व्य॑दधुः पुरु॒त्रा भूरि॑स्थात्रां॒ भूर्या॑वे॒शय॑न्तीम् ॥

I am the spirit and organisation of the social system. I am the pioneer and harbinger of the wealth, honours and excellences of the corporate system with the people. I am the thought, awareness and determined organisation of the basics of human life and its values. Sages and scholars establish me in many socio-political forms with many permanent stabilities and many evolving powers and possibilities of progress in various directions.

· · ·

10.125.4

मया॒ सो अन्न॑मत्ति॒ यो वि॒पश्य॑ति॒ यः प्राणि॑ति॒ य ईं॑ शृ॒णोत्यु॒क्तम् । अ॒म॒न्तवो॒ मां त उप॑ क्षियन्ति श्रु॒धि श्रु॑त श्रद्धि॒वं ते॑ वदामि ॥

O listener, listen, what I say to you is worth listening and doing in faith: Whoever sees whatever he sees, whoever breathes whatever he breathes, whoever hears what is said, he receives the food of life by me. Those who do not listen, do not care, do not believe what I say and neglect me, they waste away, they come to ruin. (We may realise here that Vagambhrni is not only the voice of divinity, it is also the voice of the people who think and speak truly, positively and jointly whenever and wherever they happen to do so, whether it be in parliaments or assemblies or in the press or in the universities. And this voice must be invariably true and authentic.)

· · ·

10.125.5

अ॒हमे॒व स्व॒यमि॒दं व॑दामि॒ जुष्टं॑ दे॒वेभि॑रु॒त मानु॑षेभिः । यं का॒मये॒ तंत॑मु॒ग्रं कृ॑णोमि॒ तं ब्र॒ह्माणं॒ तमृषिं॒ तं सु॑मे॒धाम् ॥

And all this that is loved, adored and spoken by the sages and veteran scholars and even by average mortals of honest mind, take it that I, voice of divinity, speak it myself. Whosoever I love by virtue of his or her merit of nature, character and performance, I raise to brilliance, to piety worthy of a yajnic Brahma, to the vision of a poetic sage and high intelligence of an exceptional thinker.

· · ·

10.125.6

अ॒हं रु॒द्राय॒ धनु॒रा त॑नोमि ब्रह्म॒द्विषे॒ शर॑वे॒ हन्त॒वा उ॑ । अ॒हं जना॑य स॒मदं॑ कृणोम्य॒हं द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी आ वि॑वेश ॥

I draw the bow for Rudra, powers of justice and punishment, to eliminate the forces of hate and violence against lovers and observers of piety and divinity. I fight for the people and create felicity and joy for them, and I reach and pervade the heaven and earth.

· · ·

10.125.7

अ॒हं सु॑वे पि॒तर॑मस्य मू॒र्धन्मम॒ योनि॑र॒प्स्व१॒॑न्तः स॑मु॒द्रे । ततो॒ वि ति॑ष्ठे॒ भुव॒नानु॒ विश्वो॒तामूं द्यां व॒र्ष्मणोप॑ स्पृशामि ॥

I create the parental protector on top of this human nation and this world in the form of the ruler and the sun. My place is in the depth of waters and the sea and in the particles of space. That same way I abide in all worlds of the universe, and I reach that heaven of light and touch the very top of it with my light and grandeur.

· · ·

10.125.8

अ॒हमे॒व वात॑ इव॒ प्र वा॑म्या॒रभ॑माणा॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ । प॒रो दि॒वा प॒र ए॒ना पृ॑थि॒व्यैताव॑ती महि॒ना सं ब॑भूव ॥

Loving, embracing and pervading all regions of the universe, I flow forward like the wind that blows across the spaces. Beyond the heaven, beyond this world I am, so much is my power and potential, immanent and transcendent my presence.

✦ Sukta 126 · 8 verses ✦

10.126.1

न तमंहो॒ न दु॑रि॒तं देवा॑सो अष्ट॒ मर्त्य॑म् । स॒जोष॑सो॒ यम॑र्य॒मा मि॒त्रो नय॑न्ति॒ वरु॑णो॒ अति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

O devas, divinities of nature, noble scholars and sages, neither sin nor suffering, nor anything vicious can touch the mortal whomAryama, spirit of enlightened guidance, Mitra, spirit of love and friendship, and Varuna, spirit of judgement and justice, all together with love and care without relent, lead across hate, jealousy and enmity.

· · ·

10.126.2

तद्धि व॒यं वृ॑णी॒महे॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्रार्य॑मन् । येना॒ निरंह॑सो यू॒यं पा॒थ ने॒था च॒ मर्त्य॒मति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

O Mitra, Varuna and Aryama, divinities of love, justice and rectitude within and without in society, nature and beyond, that protection and guidance of yours we seek of you, yourself all beyond sin and evil. Save the mortals from sins and lead them to success and fulfilment across and beyond hate, jealousy, enmity and all negativity.

· · ·

10.126.3

ते नू॒नं नो॒ऽयमू॒तये॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । नयि॑ष्ठा उ नो ने॒षणि॒ पर्षि॑ष्ठा उ नः प॒र्षण्यति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

This Varuna, this Mitra, thisAryama, surely they are for our protection, guidance and success. O protective and guiding divinities of rectitude, take us and guide us on the path we ought to take, lead us to the goal we ought to reach, take us across and beyond the hate, jealousy and enmity we ought to avoid.

· · ·

10.126.4

यू॒यं विश्वं॒ परि॑ पाथ॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । यु॒ष्माकं॒ शर्म॑णि प्रि॒ये स्याम॑ सुप्रणीत॒योऽति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

Mitra, Varuna and Aryama, you protect, guide and lead the world to their goal of success and fulfilment. We pray, under the loving care, security and felicity of your law and order, let us advance to our cherished goal, pursuing noble ethics and policies beyond the wicked.

· · ·

10.126.5

आ॒दि॒त्यासो॒ अति॒ स्रिधो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । उ॒ग्रं म॒रुद्भी॑ रु॒द्रं हु॑वे॒मेन्द्र॑म॒ग्निं स्व॒स्तयेऽति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

May the Adityas, brilliant scholars of the Aditya order of forty eight years discipline, Varuna, Mitra and Aryama, powers of justice, love and rectitude, protect us and guide us across violence and enmity and lead us to success. We invoke the blazing commander with his tempestuous commandos, Rudra, determined destroyer of evil and suffering, Indra, mighty ruler, and Agni, brilliant teacher and scholar, for all round protection and well being so that we may overcome the forces of hate, jealousy and enmity and reach our goals.

· · ·

10.126.6

नेता॑र ऊ॒ षु ण॑स्ति॒रो वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । अति॒ विश्वा॑नि दुरि॒ता राजा॑नश्चर्षणी॒नामति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

May Varuna, Mitra and Aryama, leaders and brilliant rulers of the people, judicious, loving and nobly motivated, safely pilot us across all sin and evil of the world and all forces of hate, jealousy and enmity

of society.

· · ·

10.126.7

शु॒नम॒स्मभ्य॑मू॒तये॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । शर्म॑ यच्छन्तु स॒प्रथ॑ आदि॒त्यासो॒ यदीम॑हे॒ अति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

May Varuna, Mitra and Aryama, powers of justice, and noble choice, love and friendship, and noble ethics and policy, bring us peace and progress for our protection and advancement. May the Adityas, brilliant scholars, teachers and researchers give us lasting comfort and well being of wide variety which we seek and pray for, and may all these divine nobilities lead us beyond the reach of the forces of hate and enmity.

· · ·

10.126.8

यथा॑ ह॒ त्यद्व॑सवो गौ॒र्यं॑ चित्प॒दि षि॒ताममु॑ञ्चता यजत्राः । ए॒वो ष्व१॒॑स्मन्मु॑ञ्चता॒ व्यंहः॒ प्र ता॑र्यग्ने प्रत॒रं न॒ आयुः॑ ॥

O Vasus, world powers of peace and settlement, scholars of the Vasu order, all loving and adorable in yajnic association, just as you set a noble but fettered cow at freedom to roam around at peace with joy, so pray release us from the bonds of sin and evil. O Agni, lord of light, give us a life of enlightenment, a long life of good health and light of wisdom.

✦ Sukta 127 · 8 verses ✦

10.127.1

रात्री॒ व्य॑ख्यदाय॒ती पु॑रु॒त्रा दे॒व्य१॒॑क्षभिः॑ । विश्वा॒ अधि॒ श्रियो॑ऽधित ॥

Look, there comes the night divine with many many starry eyes, embracing the wide world, wearing all her finery of the beauty and grandeur of the skies.

· · ·

10.127.2

ओर्व॑प्रा॒ अम॑र्त्या नि॒वतो॑ दे॒व्यु१॒॑द्वतः॑ । ज्योति॑षा बाधते॒ तमः॑ ॥

The immortal night divine comes filling vast spaces high and low and arrests the darkness with the light of her stars.

· · ·

10.127.3

निरु॒ स्वसा॑रमस्कृतो॒षसं॑ दे॒व्या॑य॒ती । अपेदु॑ हासते॒ तमः॑ ॥

Coming and advancing, the night divine prepares the way for its sister dawn which then dispels the dark.

· · ·

10.127.4

सा नो॑ अ॒द्य यस्या॑ व॒यं नि ते॒ याम॒न्नवि॑क्ष्महि । वृ॒क्षे न व॑स॒तिं वयः॑ ॥

That night divine, on whose arrival we rest in the home like birds asleep in their nest, may, we pray, be restful and auspicious for us now.

· · ·

10.127.5

नि ग्रामा॑सो अविक्षत॒ नि प॒द्वन्तो॒ नि प॒क्षिणः॑ । नि श्ये॒नास॑श्चिद॒र्थिनः॑ ॥

People come back home and rest in sleep. So do animals, so do birds, eagles too. They need rest and sleep after the day’s toil.

· · ·

10.127.6

या॒वया॑ वृ॒क्यं१॒॑ वृकं॑ य॒वय॑ स्ते॒नमू॑र्म्ये । अथा॑ नः सु॒तरा॑ भव ॥

O peaceful night, keep away the wolf and the wolfish deeds. Keep away the thief. Fold them in sleep. Be peaceable, soothing and refreshing for us.

· · ·

10.127.7

उप॑ मा॒ पेपि॑श॒त्तमः॑ कृ॒ष्णं व्य॑क्तमस्थित । उष॑ ऋ॒णेव॑ यातय ॥

Enveloping darkness in all its intensity has come and smothered me. O dawn, take it off and give me relief like freedom from a heavy debt.

· · ·

10.127.8

उप॑ ते॒ गा इ॒वाक॑रं वृणी॒ष्व दु॑हितर्दिवः । रात्रि॒ स्तोमं॒ न जि॒ग्युषे॑ ॥

O night, daughter of heaven, I present this song of adoration like a gift of milch cows. Pray accept it as homage for the sake of the supplicant who is keen for victory of rest and light over the wolf and the darkness of life.

✦ Sukta 128 · 9 verses ✦

10.128.1

ममा॑ग्ने॒ वर्चो॑ विह॒वेष्व॑स्तु व॒यं त्वेन्धा॑नास्त॒न्वं॑ पुषेम । मह्यं॑ नमन्तां प्र॒दिश॒श्चत॑स्र॒स्त्वयाध्य॑क्षेण॒ पृत॑ना जयेम ॥

Agni, light of life, leader and pioneer of men, let there be vigour and lustre in me in the battles of life. Let us shine and rise in body, mind and soul while we kindle you in the yajnic development of human society. Let the four directions of life and the people there be favourable to me in love and faith, and let us win the battles of life under your leadership and presiding power.

· · ·

10.128.2

मम॑ दे॒वा वि॑ह॒वे स॑न्तु॒ सर्व॒ इन्द्र॑वन्तो म॒रुतो॒ विष्णु॑र॒ग्निः । ममा॒न्तरि॑क्षमु॒रुलो॑कमस्तु॒ मह्यं॒ वातः॑ पवतां॒ कामे॑ अ॒स्मिन् ॥

In the battle of life when the clarion call is given, let all the Devas, divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity be for me. Let the Maruts, Vishnu and Agni, all with Indra, stormy troops, all pervasive people power, and the leading lights of humanity, all inspired with passion and energy, all wielding weapons of fire, wind and electric power, be with me. Let the sky and space be the vast world for me. And let the winds blow for me in this beautiful world for the fulfilment of this yajnic ambition for personal and collective expansion.

· · ·

10.128.3

मयि॑ दे॒वा द्रवि॑ण॒मा य॑जन्तां॒ मय्या॒शीर॑स्तु॒ मयि॑ दे॒वहू॑तिः । दैव्या॒ होता॑रो वनुषन्त॒ पूर्वेऽरि॑ष्टाः स्याम त॒न्वा॑ सु॒वीराः॑ ॥

May the Devas bless me with power, wealth and excellence. Let there be all good wishes, benediction and self fulfilment for me at yajna. May the invocation and homage to Devas bring me success. May veteran and divine yajakas in nature and humanity join me in our yajna for the general good. May we be blest with health of body, mind and spirit, be inviolable and blest with noble progeny.

· · ·

10.128.4

मह्यं॑ यजन्तु॒ मम॒ यानि॑ ह॒व्याकू॑तिः स॒त्या मन॑सो मे अस्तु । एनो॒ मा नि गां॑ कत॒मच्च॒नाहं विश्वे॑ देवासो॒ अधि॑ वोचता नः ॥

May my havis that I offer in yajna bring me the success I plan. May the thoughts and intentions of my mind be true and fruitful. May I never take to sin or evil whatsoever. O divinities of the world, bless us and say: May all be well with you!

· · ·

10.128.5

देवीः॑ षळुर्वीरु॒रु नः॑ कृणोत॒ विश्वे॑ देवास इ॒ह वी॑रयध्वम् । मा हा॑स्महि प्र॒जया॒ मा त॒नूभि॒र्मा र॑धाम द्विष॒ते सो॑म राजन् ॥

May six divinities, heaven and earth, day and night, fire and water, through the six seasons of the year do us great favour so that we may rise and progress in power and achievement. O divinities of the world, be brave and great and help us rise to bravery and grandeur. Never deplete us either by loss of health and virility or by loss of progeny. O ruling Soma, lord of peace, light and glory, let us never fall a prey to the forces of hate, jealousy and enmity.

· · ·

10.128.6

अग्ने॑ म॒न्युं प्र॑तिनु॒दन्परे॑षा॒मद॑ब्धो गो॒पाः परि॑ पाहि न॒स्त्वम् । प्र॒त्यञ्चो॑ यन्तु नि॒गुतः॒ पुन॒स्ते॒३॒॑ऽमैषां॑ चि॒त्तं प्र॒बुधां॒ वि ने॑शत् ॥

O Agni, sovereign ruling lord of light and fire, ever awake and protective, warding off the anger and attack of foreign and negative powers, defend, protect and promote us without relent. Let our enemies withdraw and go back, repulsed, frustrated and routed. Howsoever clever, intelligent tacticians they think they are, destroy their mind, morale and intelligence altogether.

· · ·

10.128.7

धा॒ता धा॑तॄ॒णां भुव॑नस्य॒ यस्पति॑र्दे॒वं त्रा॒तार॑मभिमातिषा॒हम् । इ॒मं य॒ज्ञम॒श्विनो॒भा बृह॒स्पति॑र्दे॒वाः पा॑न्तु॒ यज॑मानं न्य॒र्थात् ॥

The one lord sustainer of all sustainers of the world such as sun and earth, the one that is the supreme lord creator, ruler and protector of the universe, the one that subdues the proudest of the enemies of life and humanity, the one that saves and gives fulfilment, that One I worship and adore. May the Ashvins, twin divine complementarities of nature and humanity, Brhaspati, lord of Infinity and the sage dedicated to Infinity, and the infinite divine voice and all other divinities of the world, we pray, promote this yajna and save this yajamana from sin and evil.

· · ·

10.128.8

उ॒रु॒व्यचा॑ नो महि॒षः शर्म॑ यंसद॒स्मिन्हवे॑ पुरुहू॒तः पु॑रु॒क्षुः । स नः॑ प्र॒जायै॑ हर्यश्व मृळ॒येन्द्र॒ मा नो॑ रीरिषो॒ मा परा॑ दाः ॥

Indra, all pervasive lord of the expansive universe, infinitely potent, universally invoked and adored, infinitely opulent and generous, may, we pray, give us peace and fulfilment in this great war-like yajna of life. O lord of the dynamics of existence, Indra, we pray give us the joy of fulfilment for our people and for our future generations, pray never hurt us, never forsake us.

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10.128.9

ये नः॑ स॒पत्ना॒ अप॒ ते भ॑वन्त्विन्द्रा॒ग्निभ्या॒मव॑ बाधामहे॒ तान् । वस॑वो रु॒द्रा आ॑दि॒त्या उ॑परि॒स्पृशं॑ मो॒ग्रं चेत्ता॑रमधिरा॒जम॑क्रन् ॥

Those who are our adversaries, enemies and hostile rivals, let them be off ! We keep them off, we throw them out in conflict by Indra and Agni, divine air and fire power. May the Vasus, shelter and support givers of life and the general order of educated people, Rudras, powers of justice and order and the middle order of intellectuals, and Adityas, powers of light and the highest order of scholars and sages raise me high, inspire me with the brilliance of fire, enlighten me and anoint me as the highest ruling authority.

✦ Sukta 129 · 7 verses ✦

10.129.1

नास॑दासी॒न्नो सदा॑सीत्त॒दानीं॒ नासी॒द्रजो॒ नो व्यो॑मा प॒रो यत् । किमाव॑रीवः॒ कुह॒ कस्य॒ शर्म॒न्नम्भः॒ किमा॑सी॒द्गह॑नं गभी॒रम् ॥

It was neither a-sat nor sat, neither non-existence nor positive existence, then, nothing tangible, neither particles nor sky nor space nor anything beyond. What form? What content? None. Where? What purpose, for whom? What mist? What deep darkness? None, nothing, and yet not nothing. (It was the zero state of existence after the completion of one cycle and before the beginning of the next cycle, like the zero hour between two dates. It is a state intangible and inexplicable because thought and language too terminate into the intangible and inexplicable silence at the completion of the cycle. The zero hour exists and yet it does not, it doesn’t exist and yet it does, that’s the mystery of it. The state under meditation in this sukta is the hour of Infinity in the womb of Infinity self-brooding on the zero; the One upon the zero.)

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10.129.2

न मृ॒त्युरा॑सीद॒मृतं॒ न तर्हि॒ न रात्र्या॒ अह्न॑ आसीत्प्रके॒तः । आनी॑दवा॒तं स्व॒धया॒ तदेकं॒ तस्मा॑द्धा॒न्यन्न प॒रः किं च॒नास॑ ॥

There is, then, neither death nor deathlessness of immortality, neither night nor day as we know the night and day. There is only That, the One self-existent Brahma, breathing without breath, the sole One, one with its potential. Any other apart or beyond That there was none whatsoever.

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10.129.3

तम॑ आसी॒त्तम॑सा गू॒ळ्हमग्रे॑ऽप्रके॒तं स॑लि॒लं सर्व॑मा इ॒दम् । तु॒च्छ्येना॒भ्वपि॑हितं॒ यदासी॒त्तप॑स॒स्तन्म॑हि॒नाजा॑य॒तैक॑म् ॥

There is only dark, darker and deeper than darkness itself before the world of existence comes into being, something misty beyond knowledge and experience, this all that now is. That living mystery, which then exists, covered in something more mysterious than mystery itself, self-manifests by the exercise of Its own grandeur of power and potential solely by Itself.

· · ·

10.129.4

काम॒स्तदग्रे॒ सम॑वर्त॒ताधि॒ मन॑सो॒ रेतः॑ प्रथ॒मं यदासी॑त् । स॒तो बन्धु॒मस॑ति॒ निर॑विन्दन्हृ॒दि प्र॒तीष्या॑ क॒वयो॑ मनी॒षा ॥

There is love and desire before the creation at the heart of Brahma which is the first, original and ultimate seed of the world of existence that comes into being. Sages blest with vision, by divine inspiration and mind in meditation, realise the world of existence from the tangible upto the intangible state implicit in the seed state of Prakrti subsisting in the divine mind.

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10.129.5

ति॒र॒श्चीनो॒ वित॑तो र॒श्मिरे॑षाम॒धः स्वि॑दा॒सी३दु॒परि॑ स्विदासी३त् । रे॒तो॒धा आ॑सन्महि॒मान॑ आसन्त्स्व॒धा अ॒वस्ता॒त्प्रय॑तिः प॒रस्ता॑त् ॥

The waves and vibrations of these causal potentials of divine Prakrti extend in time and space all round, up, down and transverse. There are the individual souls also, seedlings great and yearning for emergence into life. In all this process of creation and evolution, the divine will is supreme, and the divine potential, Prakrti, the seeding souls, and potential evolutions, are all subservient and subordinate to the divine will.

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10.129.6

को अ॒द्धा वे॑द॒ क इ॒ह प्र वो॑च॒त्कुत॒ आजा॑ता॒ कुत॑ इ॒यं विसृ॑ष्टिः । अ॒र्वाग्दे॒वा अ॒स्य वि॒सर्ज॑ने॒नाथा॒ को वे॑द॒ यत॑ आब॒भूव॑ ॥

Who for certain knows, who here would declare whence this universe has come, whence this variety has emerged? The visionary sages all come after the creation and diversity of it. Who of them would then know whence and why all this has come into existence? Only He, the creator, would know, only He can reveal and declare.

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10.129.7

इ॒यं विसृ॑ष्टि॒र्यत॑ आब॒भूव॒ यदि॑ वा द॒धे यदि॑ वा॒ न । यो अ॒स्याध्य॑क्षः पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्त्सो अ॒ङ्ग वे॑द॒ यदि॑ वा॒ न वेद॑ ॥

O dear seeker, whence this multitudinous variety of existence arises, who holds and sustains it, or whether He doesn’t hold and sustain it while He terminates it, only He knows who is the presiding power of it at the highest heavenly level of mystery. Only He knows and pervades it, and He only knows when he doesn’t pervade it while it subsists in Him as in the state of Pralaya.

✦ Sukta 130 · 7 verses ✦

10.130.1

यो य॒ज्ञो वि॒श्वत॒स्तन्तु॑भिस्त॒त एक॑शतं देवक॒र्मेभि॒राय॑तः । इ॒मे व॑यन्ति पि॒तरो॒ य आ॑य॒युः प्र व॒याप॑ व॒येत्या॑सते त॒ते ॥

The yajnic cosmos, the web of existence, which is extended and expands all round by vibrations, radiations, currents, flames, streams, fibres and filaments spun out and woven by a hundred plus one divine actions (by eight Vasus, twelve Adityas, eleven Rudras, eleven Vishvedevas, fortynine Maruts and ten Vishvasrj creative processes) all this web of yajna, these divinities universally prevailing weave up and down all round, and all these divinities, actions and processes abide therein, in the yajna itself.

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10.130.2

पुमाँ॑ एनं तनुत॒ उत्कृ॑णत्ति॒ पुमा॒न्वि त॑त्ने॒ अधि॒ नाके॑ अ॒स्मिन् । इ॒मे म॒यूखा॒ उप॑ सेदुरू॒ सदः॒ सामा॑नि चक्रु॒स्तस॑रा॒ण्योत॑वे ॥

The supreme cosmic Purusha weaves this web only He knows who is the presiding power of it at the highest heavenly level of mystery. Only He knows and pervades it, and He only knows when he doesn’t pervade it while it subsists in Him as in the state of Pralaya. Mandala 10/Sukta 130 Bhavavrttam Devata, Yajna Prajapatya Rshi ÿÊð ÿôÊÊð Áfl‡flÃSÃãÃÈfiÁ÷SÃà ∞∑fi§‡Êâ Œðfl∑§◊ðüÁ'÷⁄UÊÿfi×– ß◊ð flfiÿ|ãà Á¬Ã⁄UÊð ÿ •ÓÊÿÿÈ— ¬ý flÿʬfi flÿðàÿÓÊ‚Ãð ÃÃðH§1H

1. Yo yaj¤o vi‹vatastantubhistata eka‹ata≈ deva- karemebhiråyata¨. Ime vayanti pitaro ya åyayu¨ pra vayåpa vayetyåsate tate. The yajnic cosmos, the web of existence, which is extended and expands all round by vibrations, radiations, currents, flames, streams, fibres and filaments spun out and woven by a hundred plus one divine actions (by eight Vasus, twelve Adityas, eleven Rudras, eleven Vishvedevas, fortynine Maruts and ten Vishvasrj creative processes) all this web of yajna, these divinities universally prevailing weave up and down all round, and all these divinities, actions and processes abide therein, in the yajna itself. ¬È◊°Êfi ∞Ÿ¢ ßȮà ©Uà∑fiΧáÊÁûÊ ¬È◊Ê|ãfl Ãfi%ð •Á'œ ŸÊ∑ðfi§ •|S◊Ÿ÷– ß◊ð ◊ÿÍπÊ ©U¬fi ‚ðŒÈM§ ‚Œ— ‚Ê◊ÓÊÁŸ ø∑ýȧÆSÂfi⁄UÊáÿÊð- ÃfiflðH§2H
2. Pumå≥ ena≈ tanuta ut kæƒatti pumån vi tatne adhi nåke asmin. Ime mayµukhå upa sedurµu sada¨ såmåni cakrustasaråƒyotave. The supreme cosmic Purusha weaves this web of existence and the same Purusha winds it up on time. He alone in this cosmos and beyond the heaven of time and space extends it. These radiations, vibrations, threads, filaments and creative processes abide and act in this vast yajna of the cosmos, and they structure the holy formulas and they spin the threads of the warp and woof of this web.

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10.130.3

कासी॑त्प्र॒मा प्र॑ति॒मा किं नि॒दान॒माज्यं॒ किमा॑सीत्परि॒धिः क आ॑सीत् । छन्दः॒ किमा॑सी॒त्प्रउ॑गं॒ किमु॒क्थं यद्दे॒वा दे॒वमय॑जन्त॒ विश्वे॑ ॥

What is the central vision and comprehensive blueprint of the design of cosmic yajna? What is the measure of the progressive stages of the yajna upto accomplishment? What is the basic cause and ultimate purpose? What is the ghrta input of the yajna? What is the ultimate bound? What is the chhanda, joyous formula, from the inception and conception to completion? What is the beginning, middle and the hymnal close of the divine yajna? When the divinities join the Supreme Divinity in the yajna of cosmic creation, what are these constituents of the creative process?

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10.130.4

अ॒ग्नेर्गा॑य॒त्र्य॑भवत्स॒युग्वो॒ष्णिह॑या सवि॒ता सं ब॑भूव । अ॒नु॒ष्टुभा॒ सोम॑ उ॒क्थैर्मह॑स्वा॒न्बृह॒स्पते॑र्बृह॒ती वाच॑मावत् ॥

Gayatri is the companion of Agni, Savita manifests with ushnik, Soma with anushtup, the sun manifests with uktha hymns of celebration, and brhati comes to express the voice of Brhaspati. (That is, the mantras associated with these deities are composed in these verse forms.)

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10.130.5

वि॒राण्मि॒त्रावरु॑णयोरभि॒श्रीरिन्द्र॑स्य त्रि॒ष्टुबि॒ह भा॒गो अह्नः॑ । विश्वा॑न्दे॒वाञ्जग॒त्या वि॑वेश॒ तेन॑ चाकॢप्र॒ ऋष॑यो मनु॒ष्याः॑ ॥

Virat is associated with Mitra and Varuna together, trishtup is associated with Indra as share of the mid-day session, jagati joins with the Vishvedevas and by that the sages and ordinary people are joined and receive their strength of being. (The Chhandas, metres, of the Vedas, thus, are part of the process of creation.)

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10.130.6

चा॒कॢ॒प्रे तेन॒ ऋष॑यो मनु॒ष्या॑ य॒ज्ञे जा॒ते पि॒तरो॑ नः पुरा॒णे । पश्य॑न्मन्ये॒ मन॑सा॒ चक्ष॑सा॒ तान्य इ॒मं य॒ज्ञमय॑जन्त॒ पूर्वे॑ ॥

When the creation yajna of all time is accomplished, thereby our ancient forefathers, seers and ordinary mortals receive their being and strength of identity, and, visualising them with the eye of the mind and imagination, I honour and adore those who in times of yore enact this yajna of creation.

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10.130.7

स॒हस्तो॑माः स॒हछ॑न्दस आ॒वृतः॑ स॒हप्र॑मा॒ ऋष॑यः स॒प्त दैव्याः॑ । पूर्वे॑षां॒ पन्था॑मनु॒दृश्य॒ धीरा॑ अ॒न्वाले॑भिरे र॒थ्यो॒३॒॑ न र॒श्मीन् ॥

Well versed in Vedic hymns of yajna and the cosmic process of evolution, the verse forms of Chhandas associated with divinities, and the evolutionary stages of the cosmos, seven divine sages of vision and wisdom, self-established in peace of mind and soul, having realised the holy path of the ancients and following in their footsteps, realise the cosmic process of divine evolution and live their life to perfection like the driver holding reins of his chariot and controlling his horses in the right direction.

✦ Sukta 131 · 7 verses ✦

10.131.1

अप॒ प्राच॑ इन्द्र॒ विश्वाँ॑ अ॒मित्रा॒नपापा॑चो अभिभूते नुदस्व । अपोदी॑चो॒ अप॑ शूराध॒राच॑ उ॒रौ यथा॒ तव॒ शर्म॒न्मदे॑म ॥

Indra, all powerful ruler of the world, subduer of all enemies of the world, drive off all enemies that stand in front, who attack from behind, who arise from below, and all those who descend from above so that we may live in peace with joy without fear in your vast territory.

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10.131.2

कु॒विद॒ङ्ग यव॑मन्तो॒ यवं॑ चि॒द्यथा॒ दान्त्य॑नुपू॒र्वं वि॒यूय॑ । इ॒हेहै॑षां कृणुहि॒ भोज॑नानि॒ ये ब॒र्हिषो॒ नमो॑वृक्तिं॒ न ज॒ग्मुः ॥

Well then, just as master farmers of grain harvest the crop in order and separate the grain from the chaff, so, dear lord, here, there, everywhere, in order create and provide food and sustenance for those who never neglect yajnic offerings but bear the holy grass and bring homage to the vedi.

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10.131.3

न॒हि स्थूर्यृ॑तु॒था या॒तमस्ति॒ नोत श्रवो॑ विविदे संग॒मेषु॑ । ग॒व्यन्त॒ इन्द्रं॑ स॒ख्याय॒ विप्रा॑ अश्वा॒यन्तो॒ वृष॑णं वा॒जय॑न्तः ॥

A one horse cart never reaches the destination on time according to season and purpose, nor, in battle, supplies are received on time without the favour of Indra. Therefore nobles and sages well desirous of cows and horses, seeking success and victory, pray for the favour and friendship of the generous and virile Indra.

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10.131.4

यु॒वं सु॒राम॑मश्विना॒ नमु॑चावासु॒रे सचा॑ । वि॒पि॒पा॒ना शु॑भस्पती॒ इन्द्रं॒ कर्म॑स्वावतम् ॥

OAshvins, complementary powers of humanity, men and women, scholars and teachers, masters and protectors of the good, valuable and auspicious, well enjoying the soma taste of life together, help and assist Indra, ruler of life in the world, in the struggles of life and society against the demonic forces of want, violence and meanness.

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10.131.5

पु॒त्रमि॑व पि॒तरा॑व॒श्विनो॒भेन्द्रा॒वथुः॒ काव्यै॑र्दं॒सना॑भिः । यत्सु॒रामं॒ व्यपि॑बः॒ शची॑भिः॒ सर॑स्वती त्वा मघवन्नभिष्णक् ॥

As parents support the child with all their power and potential, so O lord of power and glory, Indra, let the Ashvins, complementary powers of nature and society, men and women, scholars and scientists, leaders and followers, all support you with words of adoration and actions of profuse generosity when you defend the nation with bold actions and enjoy the peace, prosperity and power of the order, and may Sarasvati, divine intelligence, support and guide you.

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10.131.6

इन्द्रः॑ सु॒त्रामा॒ स्ववाँ॒ अवो॑भिः सुमृळी॒को भ॑वतु वि॒श्ववे॑दाः । बाध॑तां॒ द्वेषो॒ अभ॑यं कृणोतु सु॒वीर्य॑स्य॒ पत॑यः स्याम ॥

May Indra, self-potent, saviour protector and promoter, master of all wealth, power and glory of the world, be gracious to us by his support and protection for peace and security. May he ward off and drive away hate and enmity, grant freedom from fear, so that we too may be masters and protectors of noble strength and heroic splendour.

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10.131.7

तस्य॑ व॒यं सु॑म॒तौ य॒ज्ञिय॒स्यापि॑ भ॒द्रे सौ॑मन॒से स्या॑म । स सु॒त्रामा॒ स्ववाँ॒ इन्द्रो॑ अ॒स्मे आ॒राच्चि॒द्द्वेषः॑ सनु॒तर्यु॑योतु ॥

We pray may we ever abide in the good will and loving kindness of adorable Indra. May he, self- refulgent, self-potent, saviour protector, keep off and drive away for all time elements of hate and enmity far and near, all.

✦ Sukta 132 · 7 verses ✦

10.132.1

ई॒जा॒नमिद्द्यौर्गू॒र्ताव॑सुरीजा॒नं भूमि॑र॒भि प्र॑भू॒षणि॑ । ई॒जा॒नं दे॒वाव॒श्विना॑व॒भि सु॒म्नैर॑वर्धताम् ॥

May the Heaven of welcome treasures of abundance bless and promote the man of love, non- violence and yajna with peace, plenty and joy. May the earth of abundant riches and beauty bless the man of love, charity and yajna with plenty, progress and joy. May the Ashvins, twin divines of nature and humanity, by their systemic complementarities bless and promote the man of dynamic creativity and yajna with personal success, social prestige and divine fulfilment.

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10.132.2

ता वां॑ मित्रावरुणा धार॒यत्क्षि॑ती सुषु॒म्नेषि॑त॒त्वता॑ यजामसि । यु॒वोः क्रा॒णाय॑ स॒ख्यैर॒भि ष्या॑म र॒क्षसः॑ ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, lord of light and love, and lord of sovereign judgement and freedom, you are both sustainers of the earth and givers of peace and comfort to mankind. We serve and worship you with love for the sake of cherished fulfilment. We pray, let us, with your favour and friendship, win over the forces of evil and negativity for the advancement of the lover and performer of yajna and deeds of charity.

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10.132.3

अधा॑ चि॒न्नु यद्दिधि॑षामहे वाम॒भि प्रि॒यं रेक्णः॒ पत्य॑मानाः । द॒द्वाँ वा॒ यत्पुष्य॑ति॒ रेक्णः॒ सम्वा॑र॒न्नकि॑रस्य म॒घानि॑ ॥

And when we bear and bring liberal gifts of homage to you, ourselves being masters of our favourite wealth and property, or when the generous giver of gifts and homage augments his wealth, then the wealth, power and glory of such a person never diminishes, never exhausts, in fact it increases manifold.

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10.132.4

अ॒साव॒न्यो अ॑सुर सूयत॒ द्यौस्त्वं विश्वे॑षां वरुणासि॒ राजा॑ । मू॒र्धा रथ॑स्य चाक॒न्नैताव॒तैन॑सान्तक॒ध्रुक् ॥

O Mitra, sun, life giving light and pranic energy, that other, mother Infinity, has given you birth. O Varuna, breath of life and cosmic air, you are the ruler and life giver of the world. You, Mitra-Varuna, are the head of the chariot of life, the cosmic yajna. You are the antidote of death. Let not our yajna be vitiated even by a remote touch of sin.

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10.132.5

अ॒स्मिन्त्स्वे॒३॒॑तच्छक॑पूत॒ एनो॑ हि॒ते मि॒त्रे निग॑तान्हन्ति वी॒रान् । अ॒वोर्वा॒ यद्धात्त॒नूष्ववः॑ प्रि॒यासु॑ य॒ज्ञिया॒स्वर्वा॑ ॥

In this yajna instituted by the yajamana, who is otherwise competent in his own right of strength, one sin of omission would vitiate the performance if Mitra, the sun, alone is invoked for oblations. The omission vitiates the inner strength and others in the family unless the other protector, Varuna, too is invoked. When this other protector is invoked and served, no want or short coming remains in the cherished body health of the yajna, the yajaka and the yajaka’s family.

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10.132.6

यु॒वोर्हि मा॒तादि॑तिर्विचेतसा॒ द्यौर्न भूमिः॒ पय॑सा पुपू॒तनि॑ । अव॑ प्रि॒या दि॑दिष्टन॒ सूरो॑ निनिक्त र॒श्मिभिः॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, givers of light and intelligence, known with special effort of the mind, your mother power is eternal Nature, the giver of knowledge about you is eternal Veda which washes the cover of ignorance as heaven and earth wash away the evils of darkness and want. The sun illuminates with rays of light, the earth gives cherished wealth of food.

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10.132.7

यु॒वं ह्य॑प्न॒राजा॒वसी॑दतं॒ तिष्ठ॒द्रथं॒ न धू॒र्षदं॑ वन॒र्षद॑म् । ता नः॑ कणूक॒यन्ती॑र्नृ॒मेध॑स्तत्रे॒ अंह॑सः सु॒मेध॑स्तत्रे॒ अंह॑सः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, givers of light and life energy for positive action, be seated on the vedi of cosmic yajna. Ascend the chariot strongly structured and balanced, worthy of universal movement to fight out those vociferous forces of the enemy poised against us. You save the yajaka dedicated to the progress of united humanity from sin. You save the yajamana of intelligential and scientific yajna from going astray on the path of evil and destructivity.

✦ Sukta 133 · 7 verses ✦

10.133.1

प्रो ष्व॑स्मै पुरोर॒थमिन्द्रा॑य शू॒षम॑र्चत । अ॒भीके॑ चिदु लोक॒कृत्सं॒गे स॒मत्सु॑ वृत्र॒हास्माकं॑ बोधि चोदि॒ता नभ॑न्तामन्य॒केषां॑ ज्या॒का अधि॒ धन्व॑सु ॥

Offer a song of abundant praise in honour of this ruling lord Indra for his mighty force and front rank chariot. He, destroyer of darkness and evil, inspires us in our battles of life at the closest and enlightens us in our struggle for universal freedom. Let the strings of the alien enemy bows be snapped by the strike of the forces of Indra.

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10.133.2

त्वं सिन्धूँ॒रवा॑सृजोऽध॒राचो॒ अह॒न्नहि॑म् । अ॒श॒त्रुरि॑न्द्र जज्ञिषे॒ विश्वं॑ पुष्यसि॒ वार्यं॒ तं त्वा॒ परि॑ ष्वजामहे॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒केषां॑ ज्या॒का अधि॒ धन्व॑सु ॥

Indra, you release the floods of rivers to flow down on the earth. You destroy the demon of darkness, evil, want and ignorance. You are born without an equal, adversary and enemy, and you promote the choicest wealth and excellence of the world. Such as you are we love and embrace you as our closest loving friend and companion. Let the alien strings of the enemy bows snap upon their bows.

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10.133.3

वि षु विश्वा॒ अरा॑तयो॒ऽर्यो न॑शन्त नो॒ धियः॑ । अस्ता॑सि॒ शत्र॑वे व॒धं यो न॑ इन्द्र॒ जिघां॑सति॒ या ते॑ रा॒तिर्द॒दिर्वसु॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒केषां॑ ज्या॒का अधि॒ धन्व॑सु ॥

Indra, may the facts and forces of enmity, adversity and ungenerosity be eliminated from life and the world. May all our thoughts and actions be inspired by love and generosity. You strike the thunderbolt of justice and punishment upon the enemy who wants to destroy us or frustrate our love and generosity. May your grace and generosity bring us wealth, honour and excellence of life. Let the strings of enemy bows snap by the tension of their own negativities.

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10.133.4

यो न॑ इन्द्रा॒भितो॒ जनो॑ वृका॒युरा॒दिदे॑शति । अ॒ध॒स्प॒दं तमीं॑ कृधि विबा॒धो अ॑सि सास॒हिर्नभ॑न्तामन्य॒केषां॑ ज्या॒का अधि॒ धन्व॑सु ॥

And the thief and the man wolf that designs against us all round all time, pray crush down to naught. You are the protector, Indra, the power to resist and overthrow the danger. Let the strings of enemy bows snap under their own fear and frustration.

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10.133.5

यो न॑ इन्द्राभि॒दास॑ति॒ सना॑भि॒र्यश्च॒ निष्ट्यः॑ । अव॒ तस्य॒ बलं॑ तिर म॒हीव॒ द्यौरध॒ त्मना॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒केषां॑ ज्या॒का अधि॒ धन्व॑सु ॥

Indra, whoever the man or power equal or lower in rank, or strength that tries to suppress and enslave us, overcome his force and crush him by your own strength and power which is great as the blazing sun. Let the bow strings of the enemies snap under the heat of your blaze.

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10.133.6

व॒यमि॑न्द्र त्वा॒यवः॑ सखि॒त्वमा र॑भामहे । ऋ॒तस्य॑ नः प॒था न॒याति॒ विश्वा॑नि दुरि॒ता नभ॑न्तामन्य॒केषां॑ ज्या॒का अधि॒ धन्व॑सु ॥

Indra, we are yours, we love you and cherish your friendship. Lead us forward by the path of truth and rectitude across all sins and evils of the world. Save us and let the alien strings and force of the bows of sin and evil snap under their own tension.

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10.133.7

अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ सु त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ तां शि॑क्ष॒ या दोह॑ते॒ प्रति॒ वरं॑ जरि॒त्रे । अच्छि॑द्रोध्नी पी॒पय॒द्यथा॑ नः स॒हस्र॑धारा॒ पय॑सा म॒ही गौः ॥

Indra, lord of splendour, pray bless us with that perennial cow, that speech, knowledge and vision which gives the cherished milk of life for the celebrant so that this great earth, this light of divinity, an infinite ocean of living vitality, may shower us with abundance in a thousand streams.

✦ Sukta 134 · 7 verses ✦

10.134.1

उ॒भे यदि॑न्द्र॒ रोद॑सी आप॒प्राथो॒षा इ॑व । म॒हान्तं॑ त्वा म॒हीनां॑ स॒म्राजं॑ चर्षणी॒नां दे॒वी जनि॑त्र्यजीजनद्भ॒द्रा जनि॑त्र्यजीजनत् ॥

Indra, lord of light and glory, ruler of the world, when you fill the earth and the environment with splendour like the dawn, the divine Mother Nature raises you and manifests you as the great ruler of the great people of the world. The gracious mother elevates you in refulgence and majesty as the mighty Indra. (Indra at the cosmic level is the Lord Almighty; at the human level, the world ruler; and at the individual level, Indra is the soul, ruler of the body, senses, mind and intelligence.)

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10.134.2

अव॑ स्म दुर्हणाय॒तो मर्त॑स्य तनुहि स्थि॒रम् । अ॒ध॒स्प॒दं तमीं॑ कृधि॒ यो अ॒स्माँ आ॒दिदे॑शति दे॒वी जनि॑त्र्यजीजनद्भ॒द्रा जनि॑त्र्यजीजनत् ॥

Strike down the adamantine stubbornness of the mortal enemy who wickedly injures the law and order of the system. Crush him down to naught who suppresses us and enslaves us. The divine mother create you, the gracious mother elevates you in glory as the great ruler.

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10.134.3

अव॒ त्या बृ॑ह॒तीरिषो॑ वि॒श्वश्च॑न्द्रा अमित्रहन् । शची॑भिः शक्र धूनु॒हीन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभि॑र्दे॒वी जनि॑त्र्यजीजनद्भ॒द्रा जनि॑त्र्यजीजनत् ॥

O mighty ruler, grand achiever, destroyer of adversities, negativities and enmities, bring here those vast, magnificent wealths, energies and excellences of the world to the earth from the light of heaven by your grand actions and victorious exploits. Shake up and discover the resources of nature and humanity by positive, protective and regenerative techniques possible across the world. The divine mother creates you, the gracious mother elevates you to eminence.

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10.134.4

अव॒ यत्त्वं श॑तक्रत॒विन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑नि धूनु॒षे । र॒यिं न सु॑न्व॒ते सचा॑ सह॒स्रिणी॑भिरू॒तिभि॑र्दे॒वी जनि॑त्र्यजीजनद्भ॒द्रा जनि॑त्र्यजीजनत् ॥

Indra, lord of a hundred powers, actions and achievements, when you move and exploit the resources of the world’s possibilities by thousands of protective and regenerative techniques and grant the benefits of wealth to the creative partners in the developmental yajna, then the divine mother elevates you to honour, the gracious mother exalts you to glory.

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10.134.5

अव॒ स्वेदा॑ इवा॒भितो॒ विष्व॑क्पतन्तु दि॒द्यवः॑ । दूर्वा॑या इव॒ तन्त॑वो॒ व्य१॒॑स्मदे॑तु दुर्म॒तिर्दे॒वी जनि॑त्र्यजीजनद्भ॒द्रा जनि॑त्र्यजीजनत् ॥

Let the blazing warriors of the enemies and their shining weapons fall down all round like particles of mist. Let all hate, enmity and all malignant forces droop and fall like blades of grass. The divine mother exhorts you, the gracious mother exalts you.

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10.134.6

दी॒र्घं ह्य॑ङ्कु॒शं य॑था॒ शक्तिं॒ बिभ॑र्षि मन्तुमः । पूर्वे॑ण मघवन्प॒दाजो व॒यां यथा॑ यमो दे॒वी जनि॑त्र्यजीजनद्भ॒द्रा जनि॑त्र्यजीजनत् ॥

Lord of intelligence, imagination and foresight, as an elephant driver wields the hook to control the strength and direction of the elephant, so you wield your power of far-reaching potential to control the world order, its forces and direction, and as the eternal ruler and controller holds the reins of time, so do you, O lord of might and magnanimity, hold the reins of the social order steps ahead of possibility long before actuality. The divine mother enlightens you, the gracious mother exalts you.

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10.134.7

नकि॑र्देवा मिनीमसि॒ नकि॒रा यो॑पयामसि मन्त्र॒श्रुत्यं॑ चरामसि । प॒क्षेभि॑रपिक॒क्षेभि॒रत्रा॒भि सं र॑भामहे ॥

O devas, divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity, we never transgress the law, never frustrate any plan, never violate the order, never act surrep- titiously. (We are an open minded people), we follow the law, and act according to the divine mantra, tradition and mantric declaration of the principles and policies of the order. In matters of the social order we love and cooperate with all parties of our view as well as with others whether they are rivals or people on the periphery.

✦ Sukta 135 · 7 verses ✦

10.135.1

यस्मि॑न्वृ॒क्षे सु॑पला॒शे दे॒वैः स॒म्पिब॑ते य॒मः । अत्रा॑ नो वि॒श्पतिः॑ पि॒ता पु॑रा॒णाँ अनु॑ वेनति ॥

On the leafy silken tree on which yama, the human soul in control of its senses and mind, sits and tastes the fruits of its own performance, on the same tree, our father, ruler and controller of the universe, sits, lives, loves, and watches the eternal human souls in accordance with their performance.

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10.135.2

पु॒रा॒णाँ अ॑नु॒वेन॑न्तं॒ चर॑न्तं पा॒पया॑मु॒या । अ॒सू॒यन्न॒भ्य॑चाकशं॒ तस्मा॑ अस्पृहयं॒ पुनः॑ ॥

I see the father loving and watching the eternal human souls. I see the human soul discontented, displeased, protesting and still living with that same sinful conduct. I see all this and yet I wish I would love to live the same again.

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10.135.3

यं कु॑मार॒ नवं॒ रथ॑मच॒क्रं मन॒साकृ॑णोः । एके॑षं वि॒श्वतः॒ प्राञ्च॒मप॑श्य॒न्नधि॑ तिष्ठसि ॥

O soul, dear child, without seeing, without knowing, you ride a new chariot, of the body, which you have yourself caused to have been created, by your own mind. It goes round and round all round in various forms of life and states of existence without wheels and by only one pole of desire and energy.

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10.135.4

यं कु॑मार॒ प्राव॑र्तयो॒ रथं॒ विप्रे॑भ्य॒स्परि॑ । तं सामानु॒ प्राव॑र्तत॒ समि॒तो ना॒व्याहि॑तम् ॥

O soul, that body which you move like a chariot away from the sages, the wise man settled at peace in the heart moves the same chariot all secure as if it is safely placed in a boat to cross the seas.

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10.135.5

कः कु॑मा॒रम॑जनय॒द्रथं॒ को निर॑वर्तयत् । कः स्वि॒त्तद॒द्य नो॑ ब्रूयादनु॒देयी॒ यथाभ॑वत् ॥

Dear soul, who creates this chariot for the spirit? Who completes and who dismantles it? Who at all would speak of this to us now so that we could have a vision of the future and knowledge of restitution? The Lord alone can say.

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10.135.6

यथाभ॑वदनु॒देयी॒ ततो॒ अग्र॑मजायत । पु॒रस्ता॑द्बु॒ध्न आत॑तः प॒श्चान्नि॒रय॑णं कृ॒तम् ॥

As this body, this other than the soul, is created, similarly before this, mind and thought is created. Before that Prakrti is all pervasive and expansive, and from that all forms emerge and evolve.

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10.135.7

इ॒दं य॒मस्य॒ साद॑नं देवमा॒नं यदु॒च्यते॑ । इ॒यम॑स्य धम्यते ना॒ळीर॒यं गी॒र्भिः परि॑ष्कृतः ॥

This body is the abode of the spirit, it is also the abode of death. It is said to be made of devas, divine evolutes of nature such as earth, water and others. This pulse of the body system beats, and as long as it beats the soul and body is celebrated and exalted with songs of adoration.

✦ Sukta 136 · 7 verses ✦

10.136.1

के॒श्य१॒॑ग्निं के॒शी वि॒षं के॒शी बि॑भर्ति॒ रोद॑सी । के॒शी विश्वं॒ स्व॑र्दृ॒शे के॒शीदं ज्योति॑रुच्यते ॥

Keshi, the sun of radiant rays, holds and sustains the fire, the water, the heaven and earth and, indeed, the world, and it is called the light that reveals the world, illuminating it, so that we may see and enjoy the beauty and bliss of it. (This mantra as others too may also be interpreted at the microcosmic level. In that case Keshi is the soul which sustains the pranic energy and the elements, processes and subsystems of the body system. The soul is the inner light which itself is further illuminated by the cosmic spirit precisely in the way the sun itself is illuminated by the cosmic light of existence.)

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10.136.2

मुन॑यो॒ वात॑रशनाः पि॒शङ्गा॑ वसते॒ मला॑ । वात॒स्यानु॒ ध्राजिं॑ यन्ति॒ यद्दे॒वासो॒ अवि॑क्षत ॥

Self-energised objects of space controlled by cosmic energy wear a dull yellow vestment and they follow the currents of cosmic energy when rays of the sun touch and affect their behaviour. (Sages harmoniously self-controlled in tune with the currents of cosmic energy wear a soothing vestment of yellow hue, and when their senses become totally internalised, they identify their being with the cosmic energy of divinity.)

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10.136.3

उन्म॑दिता॒ मौने॑येन॒ वाताँ॒ आ त॑स्थिमा व॒यम् । शरी॒रेद॒स्माकं॑ यू॒यं मर्ता॑सो अ॒भि प॑श्यथ ॥

Inspired by the sun we, space objects, abide in orbital stability by the cosmic currents of universal energy. O mortals, you may see our body on the surface, but nothing inside. (Pranic energies of the sage inspired by spiritual energy, we abide in balance with the psychic currents of the soul. O mortals, you can visualise and observe our physical movements, but the inner reality, you can’t.)

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10.136.4

अ॒न्तरि॑क्षेण पतति॒ विश्वा॑ रू॒पाव॒चाक॑शत् । मुनि॑र्दे॒वस्य॑देवस्य॒ सौकृ॑त्याय॒ सखा॑ हि॒तः ॥

The sun which is an object of meditative realisation flies through space, illuminating and watching the forms of heavenly bodies in the solar system. It itself is placed in orbit by the divine spiritual energy of the cosmos for the sake of harmony among the heavenly objects of the cosmic system. (So does the soul vibrate in the microcosmic system illuminating, the intelligence and energising the mind and senses and the pranas to achieve the individual’s harmony with himself and the totality of existence.)

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10.136.5

वात॒स्याश्वो॑ वा॒योः सखाथो॑ दे॒वेषि॑तो॒ मुनिः॑ । उ॒भौ स॑मु॒द्रावा क्षे॑ति॒ यश्च॒ पूर्व॑ उ॒ताप॑रः ॥

The sun moves in orbit by the dynamics of cosmic energy. It is a cooperative friend of cosmic energy, inspired and energised by the supreme Divinity. An object of realisation in meditation, it illuminates both sides of its cosmic movement in space, the former and the latter both in the cosmic orbit. (The soul in meditation can illuminate both sides of its orbit in time and space, the past and the future both as revealed by the sage Patanjali in accordance with the Veda.)

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10.136.6

अ॒प्स॒रसां॑ गन्ध॒र्वाणां॑ मृ॒गाणां॒ चर॑णे॒ चर॑न् । के॒शी केत॑स्य वि॒द्वान्त्सखा॑ स्वा॒दुर्म॒दिन्त॑मः ॥

Pervasive and radiating in the course of light rays in the sky, over the earth and in the solar region itself, the sun, treasure source of radiation, concomitant with fire, warmth of life and light, is the highest inspirer of joy, most soothing source of the sweetness of existence. (The soul itself is the reservoir of eternal joy in the microcosmic existence of the human individual in its spiritual journey on earth, in the sky, in the solar region, in short, all over in its state of existence all time all over space.)

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10.136.7

वा॒युर॑स्मा॒ उपा॑मन्थत्पि॒नष्टि॑ स्मा कुनन्न॒मा । के॒शी वि॒षस्य॒ पात्रे॑ण॒ यद्रु॒द्रेणापि॑बत्स॒ह ॥

When the sun drinks the soma fragrance of yajna and the vapours of water arising from the earthly vedi by the spatial cup along with the fire of the vedi, then the wind churns the wealth of nature’s bounties and the inviolable thunder grinds the grosser gifts of nature to the refined particles of rain for the earth and the moral and spiritual yajnic values for the soul of humanity.

✦ Sukta 137 · 7 verses ✦

10.137.1

उ॒त दे॑वा॒ अव॑हितं॒ देवा॒ उन्न॑यथा॒ पुनः॑ । उ॒ताग॑श्च॒क्रुषं॑ देवा॒ देवा॑ जी॒वय॑था॒

पुनः॑ ॥

O Devas, sages and noble scholars, raise the frustrated and the fallen. O divinities, save the despaired and raise him again. O saints, redeem the man committed to sin. O divines, give him the life again. Let the lost existence. (The soul itself is the reservoir of eternal joy in the microcosmic existence of the human individual in its spiritual journey on earth, in the sky, in the solar region, in short, all over in its state of existence all time all over space.)

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10.137.2

द्वावि॒मौ वातौ॑ वात॒ आ सिन्धो॒रा प॑रा॒वतः॑ । दक्षं॑ ते अ॒न्य आ वा॑तु॒ परा॒न्यो वा॑तु॒ यद्रपः॑ ॥

Here are two winds of life that blow: one from and upto the sea, the other beyond. May the one bring you strength and vigour of freshness, let the other blow out sin, evil and pollution far away.

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10.137.3

आ वा॑त वाहि भेष॒जं वि वा॑त वाहि॒ यद्रपः॑ । त्वं हि वि॒श्वभे॑षजो दे॒वानां॑ दू॒त ईय॑से ॥

O breeze of fresh life, bring in the healing balm, blow out whatever is sinful and polluted. You blow as the divine breath of life and freshness, and you alone bring in the universal sanative.

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10.137.4

आ त्वा॑गमं॒ शंता॑तिभि॒रथो॑ अरि॒ष्टता॑तिभिः । दक्षं॑ ते भ॒द्रमाभा॑र्षं॒ परा॒ यक्ष्मं॑ सुवामि ते ॥

I am come with all palliatives and protectives for peace and tranquillity. I bring you auspicious, resistant and regenerative vitality and root out all debility.

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10.137.5

त्राय॑न्तामि॒ह दे॒वास्त्राय॑तां म॒रुतां॑ ग॒णः । त्राय॑न्तां॒ विश्वा॑ भू॒तानि॒ यथा॒यम॑र॒पा अस॑त् ॥

May the divinities save us here in body and mind. May the forces of Maruts, air, breeze, wind and even storm protect us. May all forms of nature and living beings protect and promote us so that this body system may be fine, free and immaculate.

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10.137.6

आप॒ इद्वा उ॑ भेष॒जीरापो॑ अमीव॒चात॑नीः । आपः॒ सर्व॑स्य भेष॒जीस्तास्ते॑ कृण्वन्तु भेष॒जम् ॥

All waters and other liquid energies are sanatives. Waters are cleansers and destroyers of disease and sickness. Waters are medicaments for all living beings. O man, O sufferer, let the waters cure and wash you clean as natural medicine.

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10.137.7

हस्ता॑भ्यां॒ दश॑शाखाभ्यां जि॒ह्वा वा॒चः पु॑रोग॒वी । अ॒ना॒म॒यि॒त्नुभ्यां॑ त्वा॒ ताभ्यां॒ त्वोप॑ स्पृशामसि ॥

The tongue is the leading articulator of the physician’s speech. The two hands and ten fingers are the physician’s magical touch. The soothing speech and soft sympathetic touch of both hands and ten fingers, with these two inspiring curatives, O suffering man, we touch and retouch you and caress you back to health and self-assurance.

✦ Sukta 138 · 6 verses ✦

10.138.1

तव॒ त्य इ॑न्द्र स॒ख्येषु॒ वह्न॑य ऋ॒तं म॑न्वा॒ना व्य॑दर्दिरुर्व॒लम् । यत्रा॑ दश॒स्यन्नु॒षसो॑ रि॒णन्न॒पः कुत्सा॑य॒ मन्म॑न्न॒ह्य॑श्च दं॒सयः॑ ॥

O lord of cosmic energy, Indra, in consonance with your will and law, these flames of fire carrying yajnic fragrance, and these currents of wind bearing electrical energy, break the vaporous force of the mighty cloud, and when the mantras are chanted and you radiate the lights of the dawn, catalytic power is initiated and showers of rain are released in response to the wishes of the yajakas.

· · ·

10.138.2

अवा॑सृजः प्र॒स्वः॑ श्व॒ञ्चयो॑ गि॒रीनुदा॑ज उ॒स्रा अपि॑बो॒ मधु॑ प्रि॒यम् । अव॑र्धयो व॒निनो॑ अस्य॒ दंस॑सा शु॒शोच॒ सूर्य॑ ऋ॒तजा॑तया गि॒रा ॥

Indra, lord of cosmic winds and energy, creates the vapours, breaks the clouds, initiates radiations of light and energy, absorbs the honey sweets of fragrances, augments the oceans of water in space, and by the order and power of its liberal potential, will and voice, the winds blow and the sun shines in heaven.

· · ·

10.138.3

वि सूर्यो॒ मध्ये॑ अमुच॒द्रथं॑ दि॒वो वि॒दद्दा॒साय॑ प्रति॒मान॒मार्यः॑ । दृ॒ळ्हानि॒ पिप्रो॒रसु॑रस्य मा॒यिन॒ इन्द्रो॒ व्या॑स्यच्चकृ॒वाँ ऋ॒जिश्व॑ना ॥

The sun in the midst of the regions of light releases the energy flood of its rays, creating thereby a complementary adversary for the mighty cloud which holds the wealth of vapours. Thus does Indra, omnipotent performer, controller of cosmic dynamics, break the formidable concentrations of the wondrous mighty collector’s hoard of living showers by the strike of the catalytic operation of its natural law.

· · ·

10.138.4

अना॑धृष्टानि धृषि॒तो व्या॑स्यन्नि॒धीँरदे॑वाँ अमृणद॒यास्यः॑ । मा॒सेव॒ सूर्यो॒ वसु॒ पुर्य॒मा द॑दे गृणा॒नः शत्रूँ॑रशृणाद्वि॒रुक्म॑ता ॥

Dauntless and valiant Indra, ruler of the world, breaks down the formidable unimpaired selfish hoarders of wealth and power and, just as the sun by seasonal heat of its rays takes up the waters, so does he take out the concealed wealth and power of the antisocial elements, and, adored and celebrated, destroys the enemies of humanity by the lustre of his justice and power.

· · ·

10.138.5

अयु॑द्धसेनो वि॒भ्वा॑ विभिन्द॒ता दाश॑द्वृत्र॒हा तुज्या॑नि तेजते । इन्द्र॑स्य॒ वज्रा॑दबिभेदभि॒श्नथः॒ प्राक्रा॑मच्छु॒न्ध्यूरज॑हादु॒षा अनः॑ ॥

Indra, heroic commander of irresistible force, omnipresent and boundless, destroyer of evil and darkness by his inviolable potential, is generous, reduces the hurtful and promotes the progressive. The evil and wicked fear the shattering thunderbolt of Indra who is ever moving forward, illuminating and purifying, and every day the morning moves his chariot for a new dawn of light and progress for humanity.

· · ·

10.138.6

ए॒ता त्या ते॒ श्रुत्या॑नि॒ केव॑ला॒ यदेक॒ एक॒मकृ॑णोरय॒ज्ञम् । मा॒सां वि॒धान॑मदधा॒ अधि॒ द्यवि॒ त्वया॒ विभि॑न्नं भरति प्र॒धिं पि॒ता ॥

Indra, these are the celebrated deeds of yours, lord absolute, who alone by yourself fix every selfish uncreative power. You hold and sustain the sun in heaven, and the sun, inspirer and promoter of life on earth, regulates the months and seasons of the year and abides by the path carved out by you in space.

✦ Sukta 139 · 6 verses ✦

10.139.1

सूर्य॑रश्मि॒र्हरि॑केशः पु॒रस्ता॑त्सवि॒ता ज्योति॒रुद॑याँ॒ अज॑स्रम् । तस्य॑ पू॒षा प्र॑स॒वे या॑ति वि॒द्वान्त्स॒म्पश्य॒न्विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि गो॒पाः ॥

Savita, eternal light of life, wearing the rays of the sun, golden haired, is risen there from the east. On his rise in the world of his creation, Pusha, living energy of divinity for life forms on earth, rises, seeing, blessing and promoting all regions of the world as protector of life and its activity.

· · ·

10.139.2

नृ॒चक्षा॑ ए॒ष दि॒वो मध्य॑ आस्त आपप्रि॒वान्रोद॑सी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । स वि॒श्वाची॑र॒भि च॑ष्टे घृ॒ताची॑रन्त॒रा पूर्व॒मप॑रं च के॒तुम् ॥

Watching and enlightening humanity, this light divine of life abides in the midst of heaven, filling heaven, earth and the middle region with its light and glory. It illuminates all quarters of space with universal light and bliss before and after and everywhere in between over the planets and the node.

· · ·

10.139.3

रा॒यो बु॒ध्नः सं॒गम॑नो॒ वसू॑नां॒ विश्वा॑ रू॒पाभि च॑ष्टे॒ शची॑भिः । दे॒व इ॑व सवि॒ता स॒त्यध॒र्मेन्द्रो॒ न त॑स्थौ सम॒रे धना॑नाम् ॥

The very root and foundation of wealth, power and excellence, giver of health, peace, comfort and security of life, Savita watches, illuminates and inspires every thing of life with its forms and powers of action. Like omnificent divinity itself, the very essence and spirit of truth and Dharma, Savita abides by us in our battles for life’s wealth, beauty and excellence.

· · ·

10.139.4

वि॒श्वाव॑सुं सोम गन्ध॒र्वमापो॑ ददृ॒शुषी॒स्तदृ॒तेना॒ व्या॑यन् । तद॒न्ववै॒दिन्द्रो॑ रारहा॒ण आ॑सां॒ परि॒ सूर्य॑स्य परि॒धीँर॑पश्यत् ॥

O Soma, blessed seeker, just as vapours of water rise up by the heat of yajna and reach the sun, sustainer of the earth and life giver of the world, similarly self- realising souls by meditative yajna rise to the cosmic soul, and just as dynamic wind energy moves in consonance with the sun to the vaporous halo round the sun, similarly self-realising souls watch the cosmic halo round divinity, and the exceptional soul, having stayed existential complexities, reaches the divine presence at the centre of the halo.

· · ·

10.139.5

वि॒श्वाव॑सुर॒भि तन्नो॑ गृणातु दि॒व्यो ग॑न्ध॒र्वो रज॑सो वि॒मानः॑ । यद्वा॑ घा स॒त्यमु॒त यन्न वि॒द्म धियो॑ हिन्वा॒नो धिय॒ इन्नो॑ अव्याः ॥

May the spirit of the universe, shelter home of the world and world’s wealth and knowledge, divine sustainer of the universe and universal wisdom, maker and measurer of the universe in space and time, enlighten us of what is the truth of existence, what we do not know. May he inspire our vision and intelligence, and protect and promote our intelligence, will and actions.

· · ·

10.139.6

सस्नि॑मविन्द॒च्चर॑णे न॒दीना॒मपा॑वृणो॒द्दुरो॒ अश्म॑व्रजानाम् । प्रासां॑ गन्ध॒र्वो अ॒मृता॑नि वोच॒दिन्द्रो॒ दक्षं॒ परि॑ जानाद॒हीना॑म् ॥

May Gandharva, eternal lord sustainer of the universe, knowledge and speech, abiding deep at the centre and on the circumference of the fluent streams and rolling oceans of speech and knowledge, open up for us the doors of knowledge locked in adamantine mystery and release the nectar streams of these mysteries in speech and vision. Indra, lord omnipotent and omniscient, alone knows in full the depth and far outreach of these mysteries.

✦ Sukta 140 · 6 verses ✦

10.140.1

अग्ने॒ तव॒ श्रवो॒ वयो॒ महि॑ भ्राजन्ते अ॒र्चयो॑ विभावसो । बृह॑द्भानो॒ शव॑सा॒ वाज॑मु॒क्थ्यं१॒॑ दधा॑सि दा॒शुषे॑ कवे ॥

Agni, leading light of life, great is your vigour, power and felicity, shining, inspiring and incessantly flowing. O refulgent lord, your flames rise high and blaze fiercely. Light and fire of Infinity, omniscient poet and creator, by your power, potential and abundance, you bear and bring admirable food, energy and fulfilment with the sense of victory for the generous giver and selfless yajaka.

· · ·

10.140.2

पा॒व॒कव॑र्चाः शु॒क्रव॑र्चा॒ अनू॑नवर्चा॒ उदि॑यर्षि भा॒नुना॑ । पु॒त्रो मा॒तरा॑ वि॒चर॒न्नुपा॑वसि पृ॒णक्षि॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे ॥

Lord of flames of purity, master of immaculate light and power absolutely free from want and weakness, you rise with self-refulgence and, just as the son closely abides by the parents, serves and protects them, so do you pervade, sustain and protect the heaven and earth.

· · ·

10.140.3

ऊर्जो॑ नपाज्जातवेदः सुश॒स्तिभि॒र्मन्द॑स्व धी॒तिभि॑र्हि॒तः । त्वे इषः॒ सं द॑धु॒र्भूरि॑वर्पसश्चि॒त्रोत॑यो वा॒मजा॑ताः ॥

O divine light and fire of life, child as well as protector and sustainer of energy pervasive in the entire world of existence, rise and rejoice as well as exhilarate us, with hymns and noble thoughts and actions as you are invoked and kindled in the vedi and in the heart and soul. Faithful celebrants bring you food in homage, and in you they vest their desires and aspirations of various forms and wondrous efficacy arisen from love of the heart and soul.

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10.140.4

इ॒र॒ज्यन्न॑ग्ने प्रथयस्व ज॒न्तुभि॑र॒स्मे रायो॑ अमर्त्य । स द॑र्श॒तस्य॒ वपु॑षो॒ वि रा॑जसि पृ॒णक्षि॑ सान॒सिं क्रतु॑म् ॥

Immortal Agni, waxing and exalting with all living beings, develop and expand the wealth and excellence of life for us. Of noble and gracious form as you are and shine and rule as you do, join us with yajnic action and bless us with abundant fruit of success and victory.

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10.140.5

इ॒ष्क॒र्तार॑मध्व॒रस्य॒ प्रचे॑तसं॒ क्षय॑न्तं॒ राध॑सो म॒हः । रा॒तिं वा॒मस्य॑ सु॒भगां॑ म॒हीमिषं॒ दधा॑सि सान॒सिं र॒यिम् ॥

Agni, lord, spirit, and power of the light and fire of life, we celebrate and adore you, inspirer, impeller and promoter of holy yajna of love and non-violence, omniscient treasure giver and controller of the great world’s wealth, who bear and bring us abundant gifts of beauty and splendour and the good fortune of life, high energy and food, plenty and prosperity, indeed all wealth, honour and excellence of life.

· · ·

10.140.6

ऋ॒तावा॑नं महि॒षं वि॒श्वद॑र्शतम॒ग्निं सु॒म्नाय॑ दधिरे पु॒रो जनाः॑ । श्रुत्क॑र्णं स॒प्रथ॑स्तमं त्वा गि॒रा दैव्यं॒ मानु॑षा यु॒गा ॥

Men, first of all since earliest times, worship, adore and inculcate you, Agni, omniscient lord of life, yajna and the law of life, great and glorious, most gracious presence of the world, for the sake of peace, pleasure and prosperity for the good life. O lord of life and grace, mortals singly and in couples and family with holy words celebrate and exalt you, divine, kind listener, infinite presence.

✦ Sukta 141 · 6 verses ✦

10.141.1

अग्ने॒ अच्छा॑ वदे॒ह नः॑ प्र॒त्यङ्नः॑ सु॒मना॑ भव । प्र नो॑ यच्छ विशस्पते धन॒दा अ॑सि न॒स्त्वम् ॥

Agni, lord of light, knowledge and speech, speak to us here of the knowledge of science and divinity, be good and gracious to us here and now, direct. O Vishpati, protector and promoter of the people, you are the giver of life’s wealth, knowledge and enlightenment, pray give us the wealth, knowledge and enlightenment about life and the art of living.

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10.141.2

प्र नो॑ यच्छत्वर्य॒मा प्र भगः॒ प्र बृह॒स्पतिः॑ । प्र दे॒वाः प्रोत सू॒नृता॑ रा॒यो दे॒वी द॑दातु नः ॥

May Aryama, lord of justice and rectitude, Bhaga, lord giver of wealth, power and glory, Brhaspati, lord of expansive space, universal vision and speech, Devas, all divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity, and divine Sunrta, Vedic voice of truth and law of existence, give us wealth, honour and prosperity of life, wisdom and enlightenment.

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10.141.3

सोमं॒ राजा॑न॒मव॑से॒ऽग्निं गी॒र्भिर्ह॑वामहे । आ॒दि॒त्यान्विष्णुं॒ सूर्यं॑ ब्र॒ह्माणं॑ च॒ बृह॒स्पति॑म् ॥

We invoke brilliant Soma, exhilarating spirit of peace for protection and progress, Agni, spirit of light and warmth of life, with holy words and songs of devotion. We invoke and adore the Adityas, brilliant powers of enlightenment, Vishnu, lord omniscient and omnipresent awareness, Surya, self-refulgent divine source of light, Brahma, the sage of divinity, and Brhaspati, the scholar visionary of divinity.

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10.141.4

इ॒न्द्र॒वा॒यू बृह॒स्पतिं॑ सु॒हवे॒ह ह॑वामहे । यथा॑ नः॒ सर्व॒ इज्जनः॒ संग॑त्यां सु॒मना॒ अस॑त् ॥

We invoke, adore and pray for the cosmic energy of omnipotent Indra, Vayu, wind energy of cosmic Vayu, Brhaspati, cosmic sustenance of the infinite wielder of the universe, all worthies of love, invocation and adoration so that our people, noble and happy at heart, be united in cooperation for the peace and progress of life on the earth.

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10.141.5

अ॒र्य॒मणं॒ बृह॒स्पति॒मिन्द्रं॒ दाना॑य चोदय । वातं॒ विष्णुं॒ सर॑स्वतीं सवि॒तारं॑ च वा॒जिन॑म् ॥

For the gifts of wealth, honour and excellence of life, invoke, adore and inculcate Aryaman, law of life, Brhaspati, cosmic expansion and centrifugal energy, Indra, cosmic electric energy, Vata, wind energy, Vishnu, cosmic gravitation and centripetal energy, Sarasvati, cosmic knowledge and speech of divinity, and Savita, cosmic creative energy which is the overall and ultimate all winner over negativities.

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10.141.6

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने अ॒ग्निभि॒र्ब्रह्म॑ य॒ज्ञं च॑ वर्धय । त्वं नो॑ दे॒वता॑तये रा॒यो दाना॑य चोदय ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, by the gifts of enlightenment increase and develop our knowledge and corporate action, and inspire and enlighten us for the service of the divinities to win their gifts of wealth, honour and excellence.

✦ Sukta 142 · 8 verses ✦

10.142.1

अ॒यम॑ग्ने जरि॒ता त्वे अ॑भू॒दपि॒ सह॑सः सूनो न॒ह्य१॒॑न्यदस्त्याप्य॑म् । भ॒द्रं हि शर्म॑ त्रि॒वरू॑थ॒मस्ति॑ त आ॒रे हिंसा॑ना॒मप॑ दि॒द्युमा कृ॑धि ॥

O self-refulgent light of life, Agni, this celebrant is dedicated to you wholly in worship and service. O creator and inspirer of strength, patience and fortitude, there is none other than you worth attaining. Blissful is your power of body, mind and soul. Pray cast away the pain and sufferance caused by the burning oppression of violent enemies.

· · ·

10.142.2

प्र॒वत्ते॑ अग्ने॒ जनि॑मा पितूय॒तः सा॒चीव॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒ न्यृ॑ञ्जसे । प्र सप्त॑यः॒ प्र स॑निषन्त नो॒ धियः॑ पु॒रश्च॑रन्ति पशु॒पा इ॑व॒ त्मना॑ ॥

Agni, your presence radiates, desiring to take things into your fold like a companion power reaching all regions of the world. And our thoughts and songs of homage too, spontaneously flying vibrations of heart and soul, reach on to you like eager servants of the divine master.

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10.142.3

उ॒त वा उ॒ परि॑ वृणक्षि॒ बप्स॑द्ब॒होर॑ग्न॒ उल॑पस्य स्वधावः । उ॒त खि॒ल्या उ॒र्वरा॑णां भवन्ति॒ मा ते॑ हे॒तिं तवि॑षीं चुक्रुधाम ॥

Agni, self-refulgent fire and power, when you burn and devour heaps of grass, sometimes you spare patches of green and sometimes vast areas of fertile lands become wastelands. Let us understand this mystery and the way so that we do not excite the onslaught of your blazing power of destruction.

· · ·

10.142.4

यदु॒द्वतो॑ नि॒वतो॒ यासि॒ बप्स॒त्पृथ॑गेषि प्रग॒र्धिनी॑व॒ सेना॑ । य॒दा ते॒ वातो॑ अनु॒वाति॑ शो॒चिर्वप्ते॑व॒ श्मश्रु॑ वपसि॒ प्र भूम॑ ॥

When you rise and spread, devouring both high and low like a fierce army thirsting for victory, and specially when the wind blows favourable to your blaze, then like a barber shaving off beard and moustache you lay waste vast areas of land.

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10.142.5

प्रत्य॑स्य॒ श्रेण॑यो ददृश्र॒ एकं॑ नि॒यानं॑ ब॒हवो॒ रथा॑सः । बा॒हू यद॑ग्ने अनु॒मर्मृ॑जानो॒ न्य॑ङ्ङुत्ता॒नाम॒न्वेषि॒ भूमि॑म् ॥

The flames of Agni in rising sequence are seen like a row of chariots following one leader as engine when, Agni, you raise your arms waxing and shining and cover hills and valleys on the land.

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10.142.6

उत्ते॒ शुष्मा॑ जिहता॒मुत्ते॑ अ॒र्चिरुत्ते॑ अग्ने शशमा॒नस्य॒ वाजाः॑ । उच्छ्व॑ञ्चस्व॒ नि न॑म॒ वर्ध॑मान॒ आ त्वा॒द्य विश्वे॒ वस॑वः सदन्तु ॥

Agni, lord of light, illuminative and enlightening power, may your bright flames rise higher, may the radiations of your light and grandeur and your victories over want and darkness rise high and elevate the body, mind and soul of the celebrant. Yourself rising and expanding, raise the high higher, condescend, save and raise the low, and may all the soothing, sheltering powers and personalities of the world sit by you on the vedi and rehabilitate the uprooted here today and now.

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10.142.7

अ॒पामि॒दं न्यय॑नं समु॒द्रस्य॑ नि॒वेश॑नम् । अ॒न्यं कृ॑णुष्वे॒तः पन्थां॒ तेन॑ याहि॒ वशाँ॒ अनु॑ ॥

This is the vast reservoir of waters, bottomless bound of the sea. Agni, create some other higher path from these here, so you may proceed to the fulfilment of your heart’s desire.

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10.142.8

आय॑ने ते प॒राय॑णे॒ दूर्वा॑ रोहन्तु पु॒ष्पिणीः॑ । ह्र॒दाश्च॑ पु॒ण्डरी॑काणि समु॒द्रस्य॑ गृ॒हा इ॒मे ॥

Agni, may flowers and holy grass grow on your arrival, may flowers and holy grass shower on your departure. Let all these homes be homes close to the infinite ocean, with reservoirs and flowers around. (The seventh and eighth verses may be addressed to the human soul as well as to Agni, leading light and creative spirit of the cosmos.)

✦ Sukta 143 · 6 verses ✦

10.143.1

त्यं चि॒दत्रि॑मृत॒जुर॒मर्थ॒मश्वं॒ न यात॑वे । क॒क्षीव॑न्तं॒ यदी॒ पुना॒ रथं॒ न कृ॑णु॒थो नव॑म् ॥

HeyAshvins, complementary energies of nature and complementary nobilities of humanity such as physician and surgeon, teacher and preacher, father and mother, men and women, the person who observes the laws of nature and principles of truth and grows up in the yajnic way of life, whether he or she loves to enjoy the experience of living or has grown out of life’s colourfulness and temptation, such a person you strengthen like a strong force in harness with every side of personality renewed to top condition of health and body to reach the goal and realise the purpose and values of life.

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10.143.2

त्यं चि॒दश्वं॒ न वा॒जिन॑मरे॒णवो॒ यमत्न॑त । दृ॒ळ्हं ग्र॒न्थिं न वि ष्य॑त॒मत्रिं॒ यवि॑ष्ठ॒मा रजः॑ ॥

And the person most youthful, dynamic, ever in harness for winning the goal of life, but bound by the web of life through senses, mind and pranas, all unsoiled though by dust, pray release, undo the bondage like a gordian knot of life so that the person may live free from possible dust and pollution.

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10.143.3

नरा॒ दंसि॑ष्ठा॒वत्र॑ये॒ शुभ्रा॒ सिषा॑सतं॒ धियः॑ । अथा॒ हि वां॑ दि॒वो न॑रा॒ पुन॒ स्तोमो॒ न वि॒शसे॑ ॥

O leading lights, noble souls, brilliant scholars, pray release the worldly man in search of freedom from bondage, bless him with holy thoughts and intelligence, since the enlightened man’s song of prayer and adoration in order to celebrate you reaches you, harbingers of light, again and again.

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10.143.4

चि॒ते तद्वां॑ सुराधसा रा॒तिः सु॑म॒तिर॑श्विना । आ यन्नः॒ सद॑ने पृ॒थौ सम॑ने॒ पर्ष॑थो नरा ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of wealth, competence and success, that wealth of noble thoughts and intelligence, that generous gift of yours, is for the enlightenment of humanity which, O leading lights, you bring in showers in this vast world of life, in this hall of yajna, in this struggle of our life for happiness and freedom.

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10.143.5

यु॒वं भु॒ज्युं स॑मु॒द्र आ रज॑सः पा॒र ई॑ङ्खि॒तम् । या॒तमच्छा॑ पत॒त्रिभि॒र्नास॑त्या सा॒तये॑ कृतम् ॥

Ashvins, bright like fire and the sun, inviolably committed to truth and law, pray come with faultless ark and oars to humanity beaten about in the depth of dust and rolling seas, to help us swim to the shore to freedom and victory.

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10.143.6

आ वां॑ सु॒म्नैः शं॒यू इ॑व॒ मंहि॑ष्ठा॒ विश्व॑वेदसा । सम॒स्मे भू॑षतं न॒रोत्सं॒ न पि॒प्युषी॒रिषः॑ ॥

Leading lights of the world, greatest and most liberal masters of universal wealth and knowledge, come like benevolent harbingers of peace and freshness of joy, bless us and refine us with your gracious favours of peace, freedom and happiness as abundant showers of rain fill the lake.

✦ Sukta 144 · 6 verses ✦

10.144.1

अ॒यं हि ते॒ अम॑र्त्य॒ इन्दु॒रत्यो॒ न पत्य॑ते । दक्षो॑ वि॒श्वायु॑र्वे॒धसे॑ ॥

Indra, lord eternal and omnipotent, this immortal soma rises to you like a flying courser. Versatile, living vitality of the world, it rises in homage to the lord creator of the world.

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10.144.2

अ॒यम॒स्मासु॒ काव्य॑ ऋ॒भुर्वज्रो॒ दास्व॑ते । अ॒यं बि॑भर्त्यू॒र्ध्वकृ॑शनं॒ मद॑मृ॒भुर्न कृत्व्यं॒ मद॑म् ॥

Here among us it is inspiring and adorable, brilliant, a very thunderbolt of protection for the generous, and scourge of punishment for the destructive. And it bears the exhilaration that elevates like rising flames of fire just as the wise sage bears the passion for creativity.

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10.144.3

घृषुः॑ श्ये॒नाय॒ कृत्व॑न आ॒सु स्वासु॒ वंस॑गः । अव॑ दीधेदही॒शुवः॑ ॥

Effulgent, agile and exhilarating for the dynamic creative personality, inspiring and vitalising among its own people, it blesses them and their progeny with high energy and enthusiasm.

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10.144.4

यं सु॑प॒र्णः प॑रा॒वतः॑ श्ये॒नस्य॑ पु॒त्र आभ॑रत् । श॒तच॑क्रं॒ यो॒३॒॑ऽह्यो॑ वर्त॒निः ॥

Soma, which Vayu, cosmic energy, child of all pervasive space, bears and carries from far off solar regions, is performer of a hundred divine acts of nature and it is the very life of the cloud and indestructible vitality of life.

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10.144.5

यं ते॑ श्ये॒नश्चारु॑मवृ॒कं प॒दाभ॑रदरु॒णं मा॒नमन्ध॑सः । ए॒ना वयो॒ वि ता॒र्यायु॑र्जी॒वस॑ ए॒ना जा॑गार ब॒न्धुता॑ ॥

The essence of life’s vitality, soma, lovely and pleasing, unassailable and sunny bright, which nature’s energy brings by its own spirit and power, is the vitality by which health and fertility for life grows higher and the kinship and continuity of humanity keeps living and awake.

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10.144.6

ए॒वा तदिन्द्र॒ इन्दु॑ना दे॒वेषु॑ चिद्धारयाते॒ महि॒ त्यजः॑ । क्रत्वा॒ वयो॒ वि ता॒र्यायुः॑ सुक्रतो॒ क्रत्वा॒यम॒स्मदा सु॒तः ॥

Thus does Indra, life of life, through soma life energy, disseminate and bear the great creative vitality in the divine forms of nature and humanity. O lord of holy action, the health and age of distinct life forms is extended and maintained by holy acts of soma activity, and this vitality is created and distilled from us by us through the holy discipline of yajnic living with brahmacharya.

✦ Sukta 145 · 6 verses ✦

10.145.1

इ॒मां ख॑ना॒म्योष॑धिं वी॒रुधं॒ बल॑वत्तमाम् । यया॑ स॒पत्नीं॒ बाध॑ते॒ यया॑ संवि॒न्दते॒ पति॑म् ॥

I dig out this luxuriant and most powerful herb by which one can annul a rival fascination and by which the pursuant can recover a single, all absorbing love for successful attainment.

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10.145.2

उत्ता॑नपर्णे॒ सुभ॑गे॒ देव॑जूते॒ सह॑स्वति । स॒पत्नीं॑ मे॒ परा॑ धम॒ पतिं॑ मे॒ केव॑लं कुरु ॥

O soma plant growing up with luxuriant leaves and branches, nobly effective, divinely energised, giver of peace, patience and courageous vitality, transform me to concentrate on my one and only love. Throw off my evil fascination. Let me be with my master spirit of life.

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10.145.3

उत्त॑रा॒हमु॑त्तर॒ उत्त॒रेदुत्त॑राभ्यः । अथा॑ स॒पत्नी॒ या ममाध॑रा॒ साध॑राभ्यः ॥

O soma, you are higher, more efficacious. I also am higher than the fascination, greater than all others who are superior, generally speaking. May that which is my rival be lower than the lowest fascinations.

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10.145.4

न॒ह्य॑स्या॒ नाम॑ गृ॒भ्णामि॒ नो अ॒स्मिन्र॑मते॒ जने॑ । परा॑मे॒व प॑रा॒वतं॑ स॒पत्नीं॑ गमयामसि ॥

I do not even think of its name. No one entertains this human distraction, no one is distracted by this human fascination. We throw this remote fascination far off at the farthest.

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10.145.5

अ॒हम॑स्मि॒ सह॑मा॒नाथ॒ त्वम॑सि सास॒हिः । उ॒भे सह॑स्वती भू॒त्वी स॒पत्नीं॑ मे सहावहै ॥

I am patient, challenging and victorious. O soma, you too are unassailable, you and I, both challenging and victorious, we shall subdue the rival.

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10.145.6

उप॑ तेऽधां॒ सह॑मानाम॒भि त्वा॑धां॒ सही॑यसा । मामनु॒ प्र ते॒ मनो॑ व॒त्सं गौरि॑व धावतु प॒था वारि॑व धावतु ॥

O soma, O spirit of peace, O spiritual knowledge of the Upanishad, I love you at heart and hold on to you in faith, patient and victorious as you are. I hold on to you with a determined mind. May your spirit radiate and come to me like the mother cow hastening to the calf and water rushing straight down to the lake.

✦ Sukta 146 · 6 verses ✦

10.146.1

अर॑ण्या॒न्यर॑ण्यान्य॒सौ या प्रेव॒ नश्य॑सि । क॒था ग्रामं॒ न पृ॑च्छसि॒ न त्वा॒ भीरि॑व विन्दती३ँ ॥

Tarry, O spirit of the forest, who disappear like a phantom in no time. Why not stay for a moment by the village? And you don’t fear even fear itself, which fears to touch your presence.

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10.146.2

वृ॒षा॒र॒वाय॒ वद॑ते॒ यदु॒पाव॑ति चिच्चि॒कः । आ॒घा॒टिभि॑रिव धा॒वय॑न्नरण्या॒निर्म॑हीयते ॥

In response to howls and noises of the forest, birds chirp and crickets sing, all appears like temple bells and thereby the forest presence gets exalted.

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10.146.3

उ॒त गाव॑ इवादन्त्यु॒त वेश्मे॑व दृश्यते । उ॒तो अ॑रण्या॒निः सा॒यं श॑क॒टीरि॑व सर्जति ॥

Forest animals graze like cows, clusters of flowers give a homely look, and the forest spirit appears to say good bye to the carts that leave for village homes.

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10.146.4

गाम॒ङ्गैष आ ह्व॑यति॒ दार्व॒ङ्गैषो अपा॑वधीत् । वस॑न्नरण्या॒न्यां सा॒यमक्रु॑क्ष॒दिति॑ मन्यते ॥

Dear spirit and forest presence, someone calls upon his cow to come home, this one cuts the tree, and in the evening someone staying in the forest shrieks, someone howls, someone bursts in song also.

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10.146.5

न वा अ॑रण्या॒निर्ह॑न्त्य॒न्यश्चेन्नाभि॒गच्छ॑ति । स्वा॒दोः फल॑स्य ज॒ग्ध्वाय॑ यथा॒कामं॒ नि प॑द्यते ॥

The forest does not hurt anyone. Whoever goes to the forest without the intent to damage eats the delicious fruit and roams around as he wishes at will.

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10.146.6

आञ्ज॑नगन्धिं सुर॒भिं ब॑ह्व॒न्नामकृ॑षीवलाम् । प्राहं मृ॒गाणां॑ मा॒तर॑मरण्या॒निम॑शंसिषम् ॥

I revere and celebrate the forest and the spirit of the forest not subjected to human encroachment by farming, abounding in wild fruit, fragrant, flowery beautiful, mother of wild life and sustaining friend of humanity.

✦ Sukta 147 · 5 verses ✦

10.147.1

श्रत्ते॑ दधामि प्रथ॒माय॑ म॒न्यवेऽह॒न्यद्वृ॒त्रं नर्यं॑ वि॒वेर॒पः । उ॒भे यत्त्वा॒ भव॑तो॒ रोद॑सी॒ अनु॒ रेज॑ते॒ शुष्मा॑त्पृथि॒वी चि॑दद्रिवः ॥

Indra, potent ruler of nature and humanity, lord of thunder and clouds, mover of mountains, I am all faith, reverence and admiration in truth of commitment for your first and foremost power and passion by which you break the clouds and release the showers of rain for humanity, by virtue of which both heaven and earth abide by your law, the power and force by which the firmament shakes with awe.

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10.147.2

त्वं मा॒याभि॑रनवद्य मा॒यिनं॑ श्रवस्य॒ता मन॑सा वृ॒त्रम॑र्दयः । त्वामिन्नरो॑ वृणते॒ गवि॑ष्टिषु॒ त्वां विश्वा॑सु॒ हव्या॒स्विष्टि॑षु ॥

Irreproachable power, with your mind and desire to produce more food and energy, by your mighty forces you break open the treasure-holds of mysterious hidden energies of nature. Leading lights of humanity take to you in their search for rays of light, and in all their cherished programmes of common good they honour you as the source of success.

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10.147.3

ऐषु॑ चाकन्धि पुरुहूत सू॒रिषु॑ वृ॒धासो॒ ये म॑घवन्नान॒शुर्म॒घम् । अर्च॑न्ति तो॒के तन॑ये॒ परि॑ष्टिषु मे॒धसा॑ता वा॒जिन॒मह्र॑ये॒ धने॑ ॥

O lord universally invoked and celebrated, be gracious and bring the light of knowledge to these noble leaders of humanity. O lord of power and glory, progressive men of wisdom who have achieved power and prosperity in life honour and adore you in their congregations as the chief power of success and victory for the attainment of irreproachable wealth and other values for themselves, their children and grand children.

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10.147.4

स इन्नु रा॒यः सुभृ॑तस्य चाकन॒न्मदं॒ यो अ॑स्य॒ रंह्यं॒ चिके॑तति । त्वावृ॑धो मघवन्दा॒श्व॑ध्वरो म॒क्षू स वाजं॑ भरते॒ धना॒ नृभिः॑ ॥

He alone values and obtains wealth worthy of achievement who knows and realises in life the inspiring power and ecstasy of Indra. O lord of power and prosperity, the man inspired and empowered by you, who is dedicated to positive giving and yajnic programmes with leading lights of scientific yajna, achieves wealth and victory at the earliest because he knows the secret of success.

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10.147.5

त्वं शर्धा॑य महि॒ना गृ॑णा॒न उ॒रु कृ॑धि मघवञ्छ॒ग्धि रा॒यः । त्वं नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो॒ न मा॒यी पि॒त्वो न द॑स्म दयसे विभ॒क्ता ॥

Indra, lord giver and creator of glory, pray let us rise and expand in the field of knowledge and action. Give us wealth and power of a high order of nobility. You are Mitra and Varuna for us, friend and just guide, giver and commander of wondrous capability, noble and blissful, and one with us, you give us food for body, mind and soul for the individual and the human community.

✦ Sukta 148 · 5 verses ✦

10.148.1

सु॒ष्वा॒णास॑ इन्द्र स्तु॒मसि॑ त्वा सस॒वांस॑श्च तुविनृम्ण॒ वाज॑म् । आ नो॑ भर सुवि॒तं यस्य॑ चा॒कन्त्मना॒ तना॑ सनुयाम॒ त्वोताः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of abundant wealth and power, creative and expressive devotees with divine gifts of heavenly food and energy, we celebrate and adore you. Pray bless us with that wealth and well being which you please is for our good, so that, under your gracious protection, we may win the power and prosperity of life to live well and enjoy the beauty and goodness of life to the fulfilment of our heart and soul.

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10.148.2

ऋ॒ष्वस्त्वमि॑न्द्र शूर जा॒तो दासी॒र्विशः॒ सूर्ये॑ण सह्याः । गुहा॑ हि॒तं गुह्यं॑ गू॒ळ्हम॒प्सु बि॑भृ॒मसि॑ प्र॒स्रव॑णे॒ न सोम॑म् ॥

Indra, you are the mighty maker and terrible breaker both at the same time in the creative process of nature and life, great and brave at the very manifestation of your power, who challenge and break open the negative forces of dark clouds by the sun, so that, on showers of the divine grace of rains, we receive and enjoy the soma nectar hidden in the mystery held at the heart of the vapours and water showers. (In the spiritual sense, Indra is present deep in the self, and when by grace it breaks the darkness, we receive the light and the divine nectar.)

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10.148.3

अ॒र्यो वा॒ गिरो॑ अ॒भ्य॑र्च वि॒द्वानृषी॑णां॒ विप्रः॑ सुम॒तिं च॑का॒नः । ते स्या॑म॒ ये र॒णय॑न्त॒ सोमै॑रे॒नोत तुभ्यं॑ रथोळ्ह भ॒क्षैः ॥

O lord of the cosmic chariot, ruler protector of the universe, vibrant and omniscient Indra, lover of the sages’ songs of adoration, pray accept and honour our words of prayer so that, serving and celebrating you with delicious homage of soma and ourselves exulting, we may ever abide in your gracious favour and presence.

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10.148.4

इ॒मा ब्रह्मे॑न्द्र॒ तुभ्यं॑ शंसि॒ दा नृभ्यो॑ नृ॒णां शू॑र॒ शवः॑ । तेभि॑र्भव॒ सक्र॑तु॒र्येषु॑ चा॒कन्नु॒त त्रा॑यस्व गृण॒त उ॒त स्तीन् ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, brave leader, these songs of adoration are offered in homage to your honour. Be pleased to accept these. Pray bless us with strength and power worthy of the brave. Bless these leading lights with love and sure fulfilment in their holy acts of yajna. Save the celebrants and upraise the fallen who depend on you and look up for help.

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10.148.5

श्रु॒धी हव॑मिन्द्र शूर॒ पृथ्या॑ उ॒त स्त॑वसे वे॒न्यस्या॒र्कैः । आ यस्ते॒ योनिं॑ घृ॒तव॑न्त॒मस्वा॑रू॒र्मिर्न निम्नैर्द्र॑वयन्त॒ वक्वाः॑ ॥

Indra, leading light of the world, omnipotent lord, brave all-presence, listen to the invocation and prayer of humanity at large. Adored and exalted you are by the celebrative songs of the wise, who sit in your hall of prayer round the vedi lighted and sprinkled with ghrta and attend to you, while the singer celebrants run to you like streams rushing down to sea, by paths of surrender.

✦ Sukta 149 · 5 verses ✦

10.149.1

स॒वि॒ता य॒न्त्रैः पृ॑थि॒वीम॑रम्णादस्कम्भ॒ने स॑वि॒ता द्याम॑दृंहत् । अश्व॑मिवाधुक्ष॒द्धुनि॑म॒न्तरि॑क्षम॒तूर्ते॑ ब॒द्धं स॑वि॒ता स॑मु॒द्रम् ॥

Savita, lord creator, places the earth in orbit, and Savita places the region of light, in columnless space by the forces of cosmic gravitation. Savita moves the thundering cloud like a horse in skies and brings the showers, and Savita places the middle regions and the vast expanse of vapours and waters bound in boundless space.

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10.149.2

यत्रा॑ समु॒द्रः स्क॑भि॒तो व्यौन॒दपां॑ नपात्सवि॒ता तस्य॑ वेद । अतो॒ भूरत॑ आ॒ उत्थि॑तं॒ रजोऽतो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॑प्रथेताम् ॥

Where the ocean of vapours and water is sustained and whence it sprinkles the earth with showers, only Savita, eternal sustainer of waters, knows that mystery. Thence, from Savita, arises the earth, thence arises the sky and thence only the heaven and earth arise in mutual relation and expand.

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10.149.3

प॒श्चेदम॒न्यद॑भव॒द्यज॑त्र॒मम॑र्त्यस्य॒ भुव॑नस्य भू॒ना । सु॒प॒र्णो अ॒ङ्ग स॑वि॒तुर्ग॒रुत्मा॒न्पूर्वो॑ जा॒तः स उ॑ अ॒स्यानु॒ धर्म॑ ॥

Later all this other world arises in mutual relationship by the omnipotence of eternal lord Savita. Dear seeker, from Savita only first arises the grand flying bird of fire, the sun, in conformity with the laws of Savita, and then the others.

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10.149.4

गाव॑ इव॒ ग्रामं॒ यूयु॑धिरि॒वाश्वा॑न्वा॒श्रेव॑ व॒त्सं सु॒मना॒ दुहा॑ना । पति॑रिव जा॒याम॒भि नो॒ न्ये॑तु ध॒र्ता दि॒वः स॑वि॒ता वि॒श्ववा॑रः ॥

Just as cows hasten to the village, the warrior takes to the horse, loving mother cow anxious at heart runs to the calf for milk, the husband goes to the wife for love, so may Savita, sustainer of the heavenly world, love of all humanity, come and bless us as his children.

· · ·

10.149.5

हिर॑ण्यस्तूपः सवित॒र्यथा॑ त्वाङ्गिर॒सो जु॒ह्वे वाजे॑ अ॒स्मिन् । ए॒वा त्वार्च॒न्नव॑से॒ वन्द॑मानः॒ सोम॑स्येवां॒शुं प्रति॑ जागरा॒हम् ॥

O Savita, just as Angirasa, yogi with controlled pranic energy, established in the golden beauty of the spirit, invokes you in this yajna for the essence through existence, so do I, dedicated to worship and prayer with adoration, keep awake waiting for the revelation of divinity as my share of soma, divine ecstasy of ultimate freedom.

✦ Sukta 150 · 5 verses ✦

10.150.1

समि॑द्धश्चि॒त्समि॑ध्यसे दे॒वेभ्यो॑ हव्यवाहन । आ॒दि॒त्यै रु॒द्रैर्वसु॑भिर्न॒ आ ग॑हि मृळी॒काय॑ न॒ आ ग॑हि ॥

Agni, fire of the vedi, heat and light of life, carrier of fragrance and freshness to nobilities and divine forces of nature, kindled, burning and ever awake, you are still kindled and raised to burn and shine for the renewal of life and life energy by yajna. Pray come to us with Aditya, radiations of the sun, with Rudras, electric catalysis of natural energy, and with Vasus, gifts of earth and pranic energies. Come to us for peace, prosperity and all round well being of life.

· · ·

10.150.2

इ॒मं य॒ज्ञमि॒दं वचो॑ जुजुषा॒ण उ॒पाग॑हि । मर्ता॑सस्त्वा समिधान हवामहे मृळी॒काय॑ हवामहे ॥

Loving, accepting and appreciating this yajna, this word of prayer and divine adoration, pray come close to join us. Shining, burning and blazing fire divine, we mortals invoke you, we kindle and adore you for peace, prosperity and all round well being of life.

· · ·

10.150.3

त्वामु॑ जा॒तवे॑दसं वि॒श्ववा॑रं गृणे धि॒या । अग्ने॑ दे॒वाँ आ व॑ह नः प्रि॒यव्र॑तान्मृळी॒काय॑ प्रि॒यव्र॑तान् ॥

Agni, with sincerity of thought, word and action, I adore you, eternal knower of all that is born, universal lover and saviour of all by their own choice. O light and fire of universal life, bring hither the nobilities of humanity to join us, bring hither the divinities of nature to bless us, they are all lovers of the laws and discipline of life. Pray bring hither the lovers of law and discipline of life for peace, progress and all round well being of humanity.

· · ·

10.150.4

अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वो दे॒वाना॑मभवत्पु॒रोहि॑तो॒ऽग्निं म॑नु॒ष्या॒३॒॑ ऋष॑यः॒ समी॑धिरे । अ॒ग्निं म॒हो धन॑साताव॒हं हु॑वे मृळी॒कं धन॑सातये ॥

Agni, lord omniscient and self-refulgent, Agni, universal spirit of life, was and is the high priest of all divine forces of nature and all nobilities of humanity. The same Agni, leading light and life of existence, ordinary people and enlightened sages invoke and light in the heart and home. I invoke and light the great Agni in the soul and in the home vedi for the achievement of wealth, honour and excellence of life. I pray to the spirit of divine peace for victory over all wealth and excellence of life.

· · ·

10.150.5

अ॒ग्निरत्रिं॑ भ॒रद्वा॑जं॒ गवि॑ष्ठिरं॒ प्राव॑न्नः॒ कण्वं॑ त्र॒सद॑स्युमाह॒वे । अ॒ग्निं वसि॑ष्ठो हवते पु॒रोहि॑तो मृळी॒काय॑ पु॒रोहि॑तः ॥

Agni, self-refulgent fire and spirit of life, protects Atri, winner over the weaknesses of body, mind and soul, Bharadvaja, harbinger of food and energy with enlightenment for people, Gavishthira, victor over sense and mind, Kanva, enlightened visionary, and Trasadasyu, controller of the wicked negativists, and indeed all of us in our battle of life for peace and progress. Vasishtha, brilliant high priest and leader settled at heart, invokes and adores Agni at yajna, the leader adores and prays to Agni for the achievement of all round well being in life.

✦ Sukta 151 · 5 verses ✦

10.151.1

श्र॒द्धया॒ग्निः समि॑ध्यते श्र॒द्धया॑ हूयते ह॒विः । श्र॒द्धां भग॑स्य मू॒र्धनि॒ वच॒सा वे॑दयामसि ॥

Agni is kindled with Shraddha, faith in truth pursued with commitment in thought, word and deed. Oblations into fire are offered with complete faith and commitment to truth and sincerity of conviction. And we, on top of life’s highest glory, celebrate and exalt faith with the sacred Word of the Veda and declare it as commitment to truth and reason.

· · ·

10.151.2

प्रि॒यं श्र॑द्धे॒ दद॑तः प्रि॒यं श्र॑द्धे॒ दिदा॑सतः । प्रि॒यं भो॒जेषु॒ यज्व॑स्वि॒दं म॑ उदि॒तं कृ॑धि ॥

O Shraddha, faith committed to truth, reason and more, do good to the faithful who give. Shraddha, do good to the faithful disposed to give. Do good to those who give and those who receive. Do good to the performers as well as to the beneficiaries of yajna. Pray do this and justify what I have said of faith and truth.

· · ·

10.151.3

यथा॑ दे॒वा असु॑रेषु श्र॒द्धामु॒ग्रेषु॑ चक्रि॒रे । ए॒वं भो॒जेषु॒ यज्व॑स्व॒स्माक॑मुदि॒तं कृ॑धि ॥

Just as noble and creative powers have faith

in how they must deal with the cruel and the evil doers, so let my word of faith and truth be justified in relation to the generous and the yajnics for their success and fulfilment.

· · ·

10.151.4

श्र॒द्धां दे॒वा यज॑माना वा॒युगो॑पा॒ उपा॑सते । श्र॒द्धां हृ॑द॒य्य१॒॑याकू॑त्या श्र॒द्धया॑ विन्दते॒ वसु॑ ॥

Divinities of nature and humanity, performers of yajna, all protected by the universal energy of Vayu in meditation, love and value Shraddha without compromise. Shraddha, unshakable faith, which is heartfelt and unquestionable in conviction, deserves and earns wealth, honour and excellence in life. This is possible only by Shraddha.

· · ·

10.151.5

श्र॒द्धां प्रा॒तर्ह॑वामहे श्र॒द्धां म॒ध्यंदि॑नं॒ परि॑ । श्र॒द्धां सूर्य॑स्य नि॒म्रुचि॒ श्रद्धे॒ श्रद्धा॑पये॒ह नः॑ ॥

We invoke, love and worship divine faith in truth, at dawn. We love and worship faith in truth at the mid-day session of yajna. We love and worship Shraddha at the time of sun-set. O Shraddha, faith in truth and divinity, pray establish us all in faith in truth, charity and service of both divinity and humanity.

✦ Sukta 152 · 5 verses ✦

10.152.1

शा॒स इ॒त्था म॒हाँ अ॑स्यमित्रखा॒दो अद्भु॑तः । न यस्य॑ ह॒न्यते॒ सखा॒ न जीय॑ते॒ कदा॑ च॒न ॥

Indra, you are truly the great ruler and controller of the world, wondrous unique, destroyer of unfriendly and negative forces, supreme power whose friend and devotee is never destroyed, never hurt, never overcome.

· · ·

10.152.2

स्व॒स्ति॒दा वि॒शस्पति॑र्वृत्र॒हा वि॑मृ॒धो व॒शी । वृषेन्द्रः॑ पु॒र ए॑तु नः सोम॒पा अ॑भयंक॒रः ॥

Generous and virile Indra, giver of happiness and all round well being, ruler and protector of the people, destroyer of darkness, sin and evil, who destroys enemies and rules and controls the world, may, we pray, ever be with us as protector and promoter of the soma joy of his creation and give us freedom from fear and oppression.

· · ·

10.152.3

वि रक्षो॒ वि मृधो॑ जहि॒ वि वृ॒त्रस्य॒ हनू॑ रुज । वि म॒न्युमि॑न्द्र वृत्रहन्न॒मित्र॑स्याभि॒दास॑तः ॥

Destroyer of the demon and the destroyer, break the jaws of evil. O Indra, destroyer of evil and darkness, shatter the mind and morale of the enemy who tries to suppress, subdue and enslave us.

· · ·

10.152.4

वि न॑ इन्द्र॒ मृधो॑ जहि नी॒चा य॑च्छ पृतन्य॒तः । यो अ॒स्माँ अ॑भि॒दास॒त्यध॑रं गमया॒ तमः॑ ॥

Indra, throw off those powers and tendencies which seek to destroy us. Subdue those who seek to fight and subdue us. Take those down to deep darkness who seek to subdue and enslave us.

· · ·

10.152.5

अपे॑न्द्र द्विष॒तो मनोऽप॒ जिज्या॑सतो व॒धम् । वि म॒न्योः शर्म॑ यच्छ॒ वरी॑यो यवया व॒धम् ॥

Indra, beat off and eliminate the mind and intention of the jealous, blunt off the weapon of the powers that wish to destroy. Let anger be calmed down, give us peace and comfort of higher order, and remove the killer death.

✦ Sukta 153 · 5 verses ✦

10.153.1

ई॒ङ्खय॑न्तीरप॒स्युव॒ इन्द्रं॑ जा॒तमुपा॑सते । भे॒जा॒नासः॑ सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

Active, expressive and eloquent people, conscious of their rights and duties, serve and abide by the ruling power of the system, Indra, as it arises and advances, and while they do so they enjoy good health, honour and prosperity of life for themselves and their progeny.

· · ·

10.153.2

त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ बला॒दधि॒ सह॑सो जा॒त ओज॑सः । त्वं वृ॑ष॒न्वृषेद॑सि ॥

Ruling power, Indra, you have risen high by virtue of your strength, patient courage, and grandeur of personality. Generous as showers of blissful rain, you are mighty, excellent and refulgent as the sun.

· · ·

10.153.3

त्वमि॑न्द्रासि वृत्र॒हा व्य१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षमतिरः । उद्द्याम॑स्तभ्ना॒ ओज॑सा ॥

You, Indra, are destroyer of evil and demonic darkness of the system, breaker of the clouds for rain, you cross the skies and, like the sun sustaining the regions of light by its self-refulgence, you sustain the rule of light and law by your own charismatic grandeur of character and personality.

· · ·

10.153.4

त्वमि॑न्द्र स॒जोष॑सम॒र्कं बि॑भर्षि बा॒ह्वोः । वज्रं॒ शिशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा ॥

You, Indra, bear a united and participative refulgence of personal dignity and social brilliance, keeping the force of your arms and blaze of justice and rectitude fresh and shining by the constant manifestation of your dynamic vigour of personality.

· · ·

10.153.5

त्वमि॑न्द्राभि॒भूर॑सि॒ विश्वा॑ जा॒तान्योज॑सा । स विश्वा॒ भुव॒ आभ॑वः ॥

You, Indra, are the supreme ruler over all things come into existence by your self-refulgence which indeed is the light and life of all the worlds. O ruler, you too be that all over the world.

✦ Sukta 154 · 5 verses ✦

10.154.1

सोम॒ एके॑भ्यः पवते घृ॒तमेक॒ उपा॑सते । येभ्यो॒ मधु॑ प्र॒धाव॑ति॒ ताँश्चि॑दे॒वापि॑ गच्छतात् ॥

Soma flows for many, they chant the Samans. Many love ghrta for the yajna fire, they chant the Yajus. Honey flows for those who chant the Atharva verses, and knowledge for the lovers of Rks. The spirit of life flows for all them, universally.

· · ·

10.154.2

तप॑सा॒ ये अ॑नाधृ॒ष्यास्तप॑सा॒ ये स्व॑र्य॒युः । तपो॒ ये च॑क्रि॒रे मह॒स्ताँश्चि॑दे॒वापि॑ गच्छतात् ॥

There are those who by tapas rise undaunted, those who by tapas rise to the heaven of bliss, and those who perform tapas of high order. The spirit of life flows for all of them, universally.

· · ·

10.154.3

ये युध्य॑न्ते प्र॒धने॑षु॒ शूरा॑सो॒ ये त॑नू॒त्यजः॑ । ये वा॑ स॒हस्र॑दक्षिणा॒स्ताँश्चि॑दे॒वापि॑ गच्छतात् ॥

There are the brave who fight to the end in battles, who give up the body, and those who give in charity a thousand ways. The spirit of life flows to them also, universally.

· · ·

10.154.4

ये चि॒त्पूर्व॑ ऋत॒साप॑ ऋ॒तावा॑न ऋता॒वृधः॑ । पि॒तॄन्तप॑स्वतो यम॒ ताँश्चि॑दे॒वापि॑ गच्छतात् ॥

And those ancients eternally committed to the truth of law, committed to the law of truth by yajna, promoters of truth and yajna, parents and forefathers established in tapas, O soul on travel in existence, the spirit of life flows to them and through them too, eternally.

· · ·

10.154.5

स॒हस्र॑णीथाः क॒वयो॒ ये गो॑पा॒यन्ति॒ सूर्य॑म् । ऋषी॒न्तप॑स्वतो यम तपो॒जाँ अपि॑ गच्छतात् ॥

Poets, seers and sages of hundredfold vision and virtue who adhere to the light of eternity at heart, and the Rshis established in tapas, O soul on the sojourn of existence, the spirit of life flows to them all and through them all, eternally.

✦ Sukta 155 · 5 verses ✦

10.155.1

अरा॑यि॒ काणे॒ विक॑टे गि॒रिं ग॑च्छ सदान्वे । शि॒रिम्बि॑ठस्य॒ सत्व॑भि॒स्तेभि॑ष्ट्वा चातयामसि ॥

O Stingy deprivation, famine and misfortune, distorted in vision, crooked of character, always whining and protesting, get away to naught. We scare you away by those superior forces of profuse rains of the cloud on mountains where you too may go.

· · ·

10.155.2

च॒त्तो इ॒तश्च॒त्तामुतः॒ सर्वा॑ भ्रू॒णान्या॒रुषी॑ । अ॒रा॒य्यं॑ ब्रह्मणस्पते॒ तीक्ष्ण॑शृण्गोदृ॒षन्नि॑हि ॥

Gone from here, be gone from there also, away from the mountain and the cloud. O lord of cosmic force, sharp with catalytic energy, come here, destroying this presence of deprivation, famine and indigence.

· · ·

10.155.3

अ॒दो यद्दारु॒ प्लव॑ते॒ सिन्धोः॑ पा॒रे अ॑पूरु॒षम् । तदा र॑भस्व दुर्हणो॒ तेन॑ गच्छ परस्त॒रम् ॥

O man destroyer of want and deprivation, see that unmanned wooden boat that floats on water to cross the flood, take to that and sail to the other side (to fight out this want through enterprise and initiative).

· · ·

10.155.4

यद्ध॒ प्राची॒रज॑ग॒न्तोरो॑ मण्डूरधाणिकीः । ह॒ता इन्द्र॑स्य॒ शत्र॑वः॒ सर्वे॑ बुद्बु॒दया॑शवः ॥

When floods of water flow forth bearing iron ore, rejoicing as if with croaking frogs, all adversities, enemies of humanity, disappear like bubbles, at once.

· · ·

10.155.5

परी॒मे गाम॑नेषत॒ पर्य॒ग्निम॑हृषत । दे॒वेष्व॑क्रत॒ श्रवः॒ क इ॒माँ आ द॑धर्षति ॥

These farmers lead the bullocks to the fields. They light the fires all round to cook and for yajna. They offer libations to the fire for natural forces. Who can push them down to the state of poverty and misfortune? (None.)

✦ Sukta 156 · 5 verses ✦

10.156.1

अ॒ग्निं हि॑न्वन्तु नो॒ धियः॒ सप्ति॑मा॒शुमि॑वा॒जिषु॑ । तेन॑ जेष्म॒ धनं॑धनम् ॥

Let our thought, will and actions research and develop fire energy like a fleet or horse spurred to battle for victory so that thereby we may achieve the real wealth of wealths.

· · ·

10.156.2

यया॒ गा आ॒करा॑महे॒ सेन॑याग्ने॒ तवो॒त्या । तां नो॑ हिन्व म॒घत्त॑ये ॥

O leading light of life, energy of fire, with your powers and means of protection by which we acquire our lands and develop our fields and cattle wealth, pray enhance and accelerate that same power for us for acquisition of wealth, power and honour.

· · ·

10.156.3

आग्ने॑ स्थू॒रं र॒यिं भ॑र पृ॒थुं गोम॑न्तम॒श्विन॑म् । अ॒ङ्धि खं व॒र्तया॑ प॒णिम् ॥

O light and fire of life, bring us solid, vast and lasting wealth rich in lands, cows and culture, horses, transport and achievement, fill the firmament with profuse rain and vapour, and turn poverty and indigence into plenty and generosity.

· · ·

10.156.4

अग्ने॒ नक्ष॑त्रम॒जर॒मा सूर्यं॑ रोहयो दि॒वि । दध॒ज्ज्योति॒र्जने॑भ्यः ॥

Agni, light of life, ruler of existence, let the unaging sun, star of good fortune, rise high in heaven so that it may bring light and energy for humanity and enhance their well being.

· · ·

10.156.5

अग्ने॑ के॒तुर्वि॒शाम॑सि॒ प्रेष्ठः॒ श्रेष्ठ॑ उपस्थ॒सत् । बोधा॑ स्तो॒त्रे वयो॒ दध॑त् ॥

Agni, light and fire of life, you are the essential brilliant definition and identity of humanity, blazing ensign of human culture, dearest, best, closest, freest, bearing food, energy and enlightenment for the celebrant. Pray listen, enlighten, and bless.

✦ Sukta 157 · 5 verses ✦

10.157.1

इ॒मा नु कं॒ भुव॑ना सीषधा॒मेन्द्र॑श्च॒ विश्वे॑ च दे॒वाः ॥

Let us proceed, study and win our goals, successfully and peacefully, across these regions of the world, study and harness electric energy, and let all divine forces of nature and nobilities of humanity be favourable to us.

· · ·

10.157.2

य॒ज्ञं च॑ नस्त॒न्वं॑ च प्र॒जां चा॑दि॒त्यैरिन्द्रः॑ स॒ह ची॑कॢपाति ॥

Indra, the sun, the wind, electric energy of the firmament with all year’s phases of the sun, supports, strengthens and promotes our yajna, our body’s health and our people and future generations.

· · ·

10.157.3

आ॒दि॒त्यैरिन्द्रः॒ सग॑णो म॒रुद्भि॑र॒स्माकं॑ भूत्ववि॒ता त॒नूना॑म् ॥

May Indra, ruling power of the world with all its natural and human forces, winds and stormy troops across the sun’s phases over the year, be the protector and promoter of our health of body and social organisations.

· · ·

10.157.4

ह॒त्वाय॑ दे॒वा असु॑रा॒न्यदाय॑न्दे॒वा दे॑व॒त्वम॑भि॒रक्ष॑माणाः ॥

Divine forces of nature and nobilities of humanity attain to their status of divine positivity when they come together to preserve, protect and promote the positive forces and destroy the demonic forces of negativity and destruction.

· · ·

10.157.5

प्र॒त्यञ्च॑म॒र्कम॑नय॒ञ्छची॑भि॒रादित्स्व॒धामि॑षि॒रां पर्य॑पश्यन् ॥

When the Vishvedevas, divinities of nature and human nobilities, offer their songs of adoration in their best of yajnic homage higher and higher forward, then only they see and experience divine inspiration and invigoration descending to them step by step from divinity through nature to humanity.

✦ Sukta 158 · 5 verses ✦

10.158.1

सूर्यो॑ नो दि॒वस्पा॑तु॒ वातो॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षात् । अ॒ग्निर्नः॒ पार्थि॑वेभ्यः ॥

May Surya, the sun, protect and promote us from the regions of light, may Vayu, the winds, protect and promote us from the middle regions of the sky, and may Agni, fire and vital heat, protect and promote us from the earthly regions.

· · ·

10.158.2

जोषा॑ सवित॒र्यस्य॑ ते॒ हरः॑ श॒तं स॒वाँ अर्ह॑ति । पा॒हि नो॑ दि॒द्युतः॒ पत॑न्त्याः ॥

O Savita, lord creator and giver of light and life, O sun, whose receptive and radiative refulgence is worthy of a hundred yajnic activities on earth and other planets by human and natural forces, pray accept our homage and prayer and protect and save us from the flying and falling strikes of light and lightning.

· · ·

10.158.3

चक्षु॑र्नो दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता चक्षु॑र्न उ॒त पर्व॑तः । चक्षु॑र्धा॒ता द॑धातु नः ॥

May Savita, generous refulgent sun, give us light of the eye, may the cloud and mountain give us light of the eye, and may Dhata, lord controller and sustainer of life on earth, bless us with light of the eye.

· · ·

10.158.4

चक्षु॑र्नो धेहि॒ चक्षु॑षे॒ चक्षु॑र्वि॒ख्यै त॒नूभ्यः॑ । सं चे॒दं वि च॑ पश्येम ॥

Give us the light for vision outer and inner, give us the light to see the past and future for ourselves and our children, give us the vision to see this life and the world as a whole as well as in parts integrated in the essence.

· · ·

10.158.5

सु॒सं॒दृशं॑ त्वा व॒यं प्रति॑ पश्येम सूर्य । वि प॑श्येम नृ॒चक्ष॑सः ॥

O refulgent Sun of blissful light, may we always see you, and again and again see you as high and higher divinity, and in your divine light see things worthy of being seen by humanity for our guidance.

✦ Sukta 159 · 6 verses ✦

10.159.1

उद॒सौ सूर्यो॑ अगा॒दुद॒यं मा॑म॒को भगः॑ । अ॒हं तद्वि॑द्व॒ला पति॑म॒भ्य॑साक्षि विषास॒हिः ॥

There rises the sun. It is also my good fortune thus arisen. I know this for certain. I have found my protection and sustenance and I shall overcome all my rivals and adversaries.

· · ·

10.159.2

अ॒हं के॒तुर॒हं मू॒र्धाहमु॒ग्रा वि॒वाच॑नी । ममेदनु॒ क्रतुं॒ पतिः॑ सेहा॒नाया॑ उ॒पाच॑रेत् ॥

I am my own refulgence, I am the one on top, I am the passion and the fire. I speak and I must have the response. I am the challenger, my master would surely know my acts and intentions positively and would respond favourably.

· · ·

10.159.3

मम॑ पु॒त्राः श॑त्रु॒हणोऽथो॑ मे दुहि॒ता वि॒राट् । उ॒ताहम॑स्मि संज॒या पत्यौ॑ मे॒ श्लोक॑ उत्त॒मः ॥

My sons are destroyers of enmity. My daughter is refulgent. I am the victor all round, so my song of adoration rises to my master who is the light and life of the world.

· · ·

10.159.4

येनेन्द्रो॑ ह॒विषा॑ कृ॒त्व्यभ॑वद्द्यु॒म्न्यु॑त्त॒मः । इ॒दं तद॑क्रि देवा असप॒त्ना किला॑भुवम् ॥

The means and holy materials by which Indra, master and ruler, rises to honour and glory in action, I create and follow, and thereby I become free from rivals and adversaries.

· · ·

10.159.5

अ॒स॒प॒त्ना स॑पत्न॒घ्नी जय॑न्त्यभि॒भूव॑री । आवृ॑क्षम॒न्यासां॒ वर्चो॒ राधो॒ अस्थे॑यसामिव ॥

I have no rivals, I throw off the adversaries, I emerge the victor, greater than the challengers, I turn to naught the power and valour of others who are no better than passing gusts of mild winds.

· · ·

10.159.6

सम॑जैषमि॒मा अ॒हं स॒पत्नी॑रभि॒भूव॑री । यथा॒हम॒स्य वी॒रस्य॑ वि॒राजा॑नि॒ जन॑स्य च ॥

I, ruling presence, must win over all these rivals so that I might shine in the eyes of my master and shine and rule over this people.

✦ Sukta 160 · 5 verses ✦

10.160.1

ती॒व्रस्या॒भिव॑यसो अ॒स्य पा॑हि सर्वर॒था वि हरी॑ इ॒ह मु॑ञ्च । इन्द्र॒ मा त्वा॒ यज॑मानासो अ॒न्ये नि री॑रम॒न्तुभ्य॑मि॒मे सु॒तासः॑ ॥

O ruler of the world, Indra, take on, protect and promote this vibrant youthful social order, release all the versatile and abundant resources of development here for this purpose, let no other programme or programmers distract your attention. For you and your purpose all these natural and human resources are ready, trained and matured to the full.

· · ·

10.160.2

तुभ्यं॑ सु॒तास्तुभ्य॑मु॒ सोत्वा॑स॒स्त्वां गिरः॒ श्वात्र्या॒ आ ह्व॑यन्ति । इन्द्रे॒दम॒द्य सव॑नं जुषा॒णो विश्व॑स्य वि॒द्वाँ इ॒ह पा॑हि॒ सोम॑म् ॥

To you are these resources dedicated, those that are ripe and ready and those that are being prepared. Voices of sincere devotion call on you. Indra, knowing well, loving and fully dedicated to this world programme of development, take it on here and now, protect, promote and raise the world to the heights of attainment.

· · ·

10.160.3

य उ॑श॒ता मन॑सा॒ सोम॑मस्मै सर्वहृ॒दा दे॒वका॑मः सु॒नोति॑ । न गा इन्द्र॒स्तस्य॒ परा॑ ददाति प्रश॒स्तमिच्चारु॑मस्मै कृणोति ॥

Whoever is loyal and dedicated with enthusiastic mind and total devotion of heart and soul, and creates and matures the soma of universal value for Indra and the social order, the lord never ignores his words of prayer, never alienates his property and possessions, in fact he recognises his services with honour and makes him feel proud and blest.

· · ·

10.160.4

अनु॑स्पष्टो भवत्ये॒षो अ॑स्य॒ यो अ॑स्मै रे॒वान्न सु॒नोति॒ सोम॑म् । निर॑र॒त्नौ म॒घवा॒ तं द॑धाति ब्रह्म॒द्विषो॑ ह॒न्त्यना॑नुदिष्टः ॥

The lord keeps in close and direct vicinity the person who, like a generous prosperous man, creates and offers the soma of sincere dedication to him. He, lord of all power and glory, protects him in full security without the shackles, and even without prayer, destroys the enemies of positivity and divinity in the social order.

· · ·

10.160.5

अ॒श्वा॒यन्तो॑ ग॒व्यन्तो॑ वा॒जय॑न्तो॒ हवा॑महे॒ त्वोप॑गन्त॒वा उ॑ । आ॒भूष॑न्तस्ते सुम॒तौ नवा॑यां व॒यमि॑न्द्र त्वा शु॒नं हु॑वेम ॥

Enthusiastic and advancing for progress, prosperity and pride of achievement, we call upon you, Indra, ruling lord of the world, to come close to us and be with us. Winning the graces of life and doing glory to divinity, we pray, let us abide in your favour and adorable good will. We pray for peace and well being, we ask for divine grace.

✦ Sukta 161 · 5 verses ✦

10.161.1

मु॒ञ्चामि॑ त्वा ह॒विषा॒ जीव॑नाय॒ कम॑ज्ञातय॒क्ष्मादु॒त रा॑जय॒क्ष्मात् । ग्राहि॑र्ज॒ग्राह॒ यदि॑ वै॒तदे॑नं॒ तस्या॑ इन्द्राग्नी॒ प्र मु॑मुक्तमेनम् ॥

I cure you and release you from the consumptive killer disease even of the highest severity and immunize you against such disease, known or unknown, with the administration of medicine and tonics by homa so that you may live a full and happy life. And if stroke, atrophy or paralysis has seized this patient, then let Indra, penetrative beams of nature’s energy, and Agni, vital heat of life in the body, light of the sun and magnetic force of the earth cure and release the patient.

· · ·

10.161.2

यदि॑ क्षि॒तायु॒र्यदि॑ वा॒ परे॑तो॒ यदि॑ मृ॒त्योर॑न्ति॒कं नी॑त ए॒व । तमा ह॑रामि॒ निॠ॑तेरु॒पस्था॒दस्पा॑र्षमेनं श॒तशा॑रदाय ॥

If the patient is extremely debilitated, sunk beyond hope, almost gone to the brink of death, I touch and bring him back from the depth of despair to live his full hundred years of life. (The word ‘asparsham’ suggests the efficacy of touch therapy.)

· · ·

10.161.3

स॒ह॒स्रा॒क्षेण॑ श॒तशा॑रदेन श॒तायु॑षा ह॒विषाहा॑र्षमेनम् । श॒तं यथे॒मं श॒रदो॒ नया॒तीन्द्रो॒ विश्व॑स्य दुरि॒तस्य॑ पा॒रम् ॥

With medicines, herbs and tonics of a thousandfold efficacy of light power, a hundred year’s vitality capable of sustaining a hundred year span of life, I have brought this patient back to life and health just as Indra, lord of life and his physician version, the doctor, takes this patient across all evils and maladies of the world to a full life of hundred years.

· · ·

10.161.4

श॒तं जी॑व श॒रदो॒ वर्ध॑मानः श॒तं हे॑म॒न्ताञ्छ॒तमु॑ वस॒न्तान् । श॒तमि॑न्द्रा॒ग्नी स॑वि॒ता बृह॒स्पतिः॑ श॒तायु॑षा ह॒विषे॒मं पुन॑र्दुः ॥

O patient, live a hundred years through autumn, winter and spring seasons, rising, growing and advancing. May Indra, lord of strength, power and glory, Agni, lord of light and fire in the fore front, Savita, lord of life’s generation and sustenance, and Brhaspati, lord of space and radiant knowledge, bless you with hundredfold joy and vest you with hundredfold span of life again with herbs and medications of high order for good health.

· · ·

10.161.5

आहा॑र्षं॒ त्वावि॑दं त्वा॒ पुन॒रागाः॑ पुनर्नव । सर्वा॑ङ्ग॒ सर्वं॑ ते॒ चक्षुः॒ सर्व॒मायु॑श्च तेऽविदम् ॥

I have delivered you from death and disease, brought you back to life. Live life again, renewed, refreshed again, healthy over all in all limbs, organs and systems function. I have brought back your vision and understanding in full, your life and age in full.

✦ Sukta 162 · 6 verses ✦

10.162.1

ब्रह्म॑णा॒ग्निः सं॑विदा॒नो र॑क्षो॒हा बा॑धतामि॒तः । अमी॑वा॒ यस्ते॒ गर्भं॑ दु॒र्णामा॒ योनि॑मा॒शये॑ ॥

MayAgni, ‘chitraka’, with Brahma, ‘udumbara’, combined according to the formula in medical literature destroy the infection and viral pain that has entered, infects and afflicts your foetus, ovary and uterus in the reproductive system.

· · ·

10.162.2

यस्ते॒ गर्भ॒ममी॑वा दु॒र्णामा॒ योनि॑मा॒शये॑ । अ॒ग्निष्टं ब्रह्म॑णा स॒ह निष्क्र॒व्याद॑मनीनशत् ॥

The acute infection that has entered your womb in the reproductive system and consumes your foetus, let Agni, ‘chitraka’, in combination with Brahma, ‘udumbara’, according to the specific formula, destroy and eliminate.

· · ·

10.162.3

यस्ते॒ हन्ति॑ प॒तय॑न्तं निष॒त्स्नुं यः स॑रीसृ॒पम् । जा॒तं यस्ते॒ जिघां॑सति॒ तमि॒तो ना॑शयामसि ॥

Whatever afflicts the insemination and fertilisation process or the moving foetus or whatever hurts and damages your new born baby, we destroy from here.

· · ·

10.162.4

यस्त॑ ऊ॒रू वि॒हर॑त्यन्त॒रा दम्प॑ती॒ शये॑ । योनिं॒ यो अ॒न्तरा॒रेळ्हि॒ तमि॒तो ना॑शयामसि ॥

Whatever disturbs your thighs, interferes with the conjugal relation of the wife and husband, disturbs the couple in sleep or destroys the seed and the embryo in the womb, we destroy and eliminate from here.

· · ·

10.162.5

यस्त्वा॒ भ्राता॒ पति॑र्भू॒त्वा जा॒रो भू॒त्वा नि॒पद्य॑ते । प्र॒जां यस्ते॒ जिघां॑सति॒ तमि॒तो ना॑शयामसि ॥

Whatever evil and afflication comes as brother, i.e., genetically, or as husband, i.e., through conjugal relationship, or otherwise through love and passion, and hurts, damages or destroys your progeny, we destroy and eliminate from here.

· · ·

10.162.6

यस्त्वा॒ स्वप्ने॑न॒ तम॑सा मोहयि॒त्वा नि॒पद्य॑ते । प्र॒जां यस्ते॒ जिघां॑सति॒ तमि॒तो ना॑शयामसि ॥

Whoever or whatever approaches you either by creating dreams of reality or in the state of sleep or under veil of darkness or by hypnosis, and hurts or destroys your progeny, that we eliminate from here.

✦ Sukta 163 · 6 verses ✦

10.163.1

अ॒क्षीभ्यां॑ ते॒ नासि॑काभ्यां॒ कर्णा॑भ्यां॒ छुबु॑का॒दधि॑ । यक्ष्मं॑ शीर्ष॒ण्यं॑ म॒स्तिष्का॑ज्जि॒ह्वाया॒ वि वृ॑हामि ते ॥

I eliminate the consumptive disease from your eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth, head, fore head and tongue.

· · ·

10.163.2

ग्री॒वाभ्य॑स्त उ॒ष्णिहा॑भ्यः॒ कीक॑साभ्यो अनू॒क्या॑त् । यक्ष्मं॑ दोष॒ण्य१॒॑मंसा॑भ्यां बा॒हुभ्यां॒ वि वृ॑हामि ते ॥

I remove the consumption, cancerous disease, from your throat, sinews, bones, spine, shoulders, arms and hands.

· · ·

10.163.3

आ॒न्त्रेभ्य॑स्ते॒ गुदा॑भ्यो वनि॒ष्ठोर्हृद॑या॒दधि॑ । यक्ष्मं॒ मत॑स्नाभ्यां य॒क्नः प्ला॒शिभ्यो॒ वि वृ॑हामि ते ॥

I banish consumptive cancer from your intestines, rectum, colon, heart, kidneys, liver, and the lower and other parts of the digestive system.

· · ·

10.163.4

ऊ॒रुभ्यां॑ ते अष्ठी॒वद्भ्यां॒ पार्ष्णि॑भ्यां॒ प्रप॑दाभ्याम् । यक्ष्मं॒ श्रोणि॑भ्यां॒ भास॑दा॒द्भंस॑सो॒ वि वृ॑हामि ते ॥

I uproot the cancerous disease from your thighs, knees, heels, forefeet, hips, lower back and groin.

· · ·

10.163.5

मेह॑नाद्वनं॒कर॑णा॒ल्लोम॑भ्यस्ते न॒खेभ्यः॑ । यक्ष्मं॒ सर्व॑स्मादा॒त्मन॒स्तमि॒दं वि वृ॑हामि ते ॥

I uproot the cancerous disease from your prostate and urinary system, hair, nails and indeed I eliminate whatever wastes and consumes the vitality of your entire living system, I throw it out.

· · ·

10.163.6

अङ्गा॑दङ्गा॒ल्लोम्नो॑लोम्नो जा॒तं पर्व॑णिपर्वणि । यक्ष्मं॒ सर्व॑स्मादा॒त्मन॒स्तमि॒दं वि वृ॑हामि ते ॥

I eliminate the cancer, consumption and canker from every limb, every hair, every joint, wherever this wasting negativity takes root, from your entire living system, I throw it out for your life.

✦ Sukta 164 · 5 verses ✦

10.164.1

अपे॑हि मनसस्प॒तेऽप॑ क्राम प॒रश्च॑र । प॒रो निॠ॑त्या॒ आ च॑क्ष्व बहु॒धा जीव॑तो॒ मनः॑ ॥

Off with you, hypnosis of the mind, disturb not, get away and wander far around with death and adversity, and there proclaim that I am not for you, I am alive, awake and alert, my mind is wakeful and versatile.

· · ·

10.164.2

भ॒द्रं वै वरं॑ वृणते भ॒द्रं यु॑ञ्जन्ति॒ दक्षि॑णम् । भ॒द्रं वै॑वस्व॒ते चक्षु॑र्बहु॒त्रा जीव॑तो॒ मनः॑ ॥

People prefer to choose what is good and auspicious. They apply their mind to win the good and blissful. The eye is for the holy vision of the lord of refulgence. My mind is live and awake, alert and versatile.

· · ·

10.164.3

यदा॒शसा॑ निः॒शसा॑भि॒शसो॑पारि॒म जाग्र॑तो॒ यत्स्व॒पन्तः॑ । अ॒ग्निर्विश्वा॒न्यप॑ दुष्कृ॒तान्यजु॑ष्टान्या॒रे अ॒स्मद्द॑धातु ॥

Whatever ill and undesirable we might have committed either in hope and expectation, or for fear and despair, or hate and calumny, while sleeping, dreaming or awake, may Agni, lord of light, giver of enlightenment, cast off all those alien evils and undesirables far away from us (leaving us only with the good and auspicious).

· · ·

10.164.4

यदि॑न्द्र ब्रह्मणस्पतेऽभिद्रो॒हं चरा॑मसि । प्रचे॑ता न आङ्गिर॒सो द्वि॑ष॒तां पा॒त्वंह॑सः ॥

O lord omnipotent, Indra, O lord omniscient, giver of enlightenment, Brahmanaspati, whatever hateful or malicious we might be facing or entertaining in thought and behaviour, may the divine spirit of knowledge, wisdom and love ever awake protect and save us from the sin and wrath of the enemies.

· · ·

10.164.5

अजै॑ष्मा॒द्यास॑नाम॒ चाभू॒माना॑गसो व॒यम् । जा॒ग्र॒त्स्व॒प्नः सं॑क॒ल्पः पा॒पो यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तं स ऋ॑च्छतु॒ यो नो॒ द्वेष्टि॒ तमृ॑च्छतु ॥

(By the grace of Indra, Brahmanaspati, wakeful Pracheta and ever vibrant and loving Angirasa) we have won over sin and evil today, we have obtained love and freedom, and we have become pure and immaculate. Let the residue of sin and undesirable thought in the mind, if any, retire into that negativity hates us and which we reject.

✦ Sukta 165 · 5 verses ✦

10.165.1

देवाः॑ क॒पोत॑ इषि॒तो यदि॒च्छन्दू॒तो निॠ॑त्या इ॒दमा॑ज॒गाम॑ । तस्मा॑ अर्चाम कृ॒णवा॑म॒ निष्कृ॑तिं॒ शं नो॑ अस्तु द्वि॒पदे॒ शं चतु॑ष्पदे ॥

O Devas, leading lights of the nation, here is the pigeon, bird of message, ambassador from the land of destiny, come to deliver some message of deep intent. We honour the messenger and prepare for the response. May there be peace and well being for us, for our birds, animals and our people.

· · ·

10.165.2

शि॒वः क॒पोत॑ इषि॒तो नो॑ अस्त्वना॒गा दे॑वाः शकु॒नो गृ॒हेषु॑ । अ॒ग्निर्हि विप्रो॑ जु॒षतां॑ ह॒विर्नः॒ परि॑ हे॒तिः प॒क्षिणी॑ नो वृणक्तु ॥

May this bird sent from the land of destiny be good and auspicious for us. May the bird and its message be free from blame and violence in and for our homes. Let this vibrant messenger accept and enjoy our hospitality offered with faith and let there be no strike of the winged force of arms to disturb and uproot us from our settled land.

· · ·

10.165.3

हे॒तिः प॒क्षिणी॒ न द॑भात्य॒स्माना॒ष्ट्र्यां प॒दं कृ॑णुते अग्नि॒धाने॑ । शं नो॒ गोभ्य॑श्च॒ पुरु॑षेभ्यश्चास्तु॒ मा नो॑ हिंसीदि॒ह दे॑वाः क॒पोतः॑ ॥

Let not the winged force of the messenger attack, destroy or deceive us. Let it create a place for itself in our space and in the yajnic hall. Let there be peace for our lands, cows and culture and for our people. O leading lights, this messenger must not hurt us here.

· · ·

10.165.4

यदुलू॑को॒ वद॑ति मो॒घमे॒तद्यत्क॒पोतः॑ प॒दम॒ग्नौ कृ॒णोति॑ । यस्य॑ दू॒तः प्रहि॑त ए॒ष ए॒तत्तस्मै॑ य॒माय॒ नमो॑ अस्तु मृ॒त्यवे॑ ॥

If the messenger is politic and speaks misleading and ambiguous language, that effort must be frustrated. If he thus risks his foot in the fire, then for his sender and controller let there be our thunderbolt for his death.

· · ·

10.165.5

ऋ॒चा क॒पोतं॑ नुदत प्र॒णोद॒मिषं॒ मद॑न्तः॒ परि॒ गां न॑यध्वम् । सं॒यो॒पय॑न्तो दुरि॒तानि॒ विश्वा॑ हि॒त्वा न॒ ऊर्जं॒ प्र प॑ता॒त्पति॑ष्ठः ॥

All the same, honour the messenger of the distant land with words of praise and courteous appreciation, and exhilarating him with choice hospitality, control your interpretaion positively and happily advance your message in response. Thus effacing all weaknesses and negativities of the message and the response, send him back without having touched and compromised our power and force of the nation.

✦ Sukta 166 · 5 verses ✦

10.166.1

ऋ॒ष॒भं मा॑ समा॒नानां॑ स॒पत्ना॑नां विषास॒हिम् । ह॒न्तारं॒ शत्रू॑णां कृधि वि॒राजं॒ गोप॑तिं॒ गवा॑म् ॥

Make me brave and generous among equals, challenger of rivals and adversaries, subduer of enemies, and brilliant leader, protector and promoter of lands, cows and culture of the peoples of the earth.

· · ·

10.166.2

अ॒हम॑स्मि सपत्न॒हेन्द्र॑ इ॒वारि॑ष्टो॒ अक्ष॑तः । अ॒धः स॒पत्ना॑ मे प॒दोरि॒मे सर्वे॑ अ॒भिष्ठि॑ताः ॥

I am like Indra, destroyer of adversaries, unhurt, uninjured, and unbroken. All these rivals, adversaries and enemies ranged against me are under my foot.

· · ·

10.166.3

अत्रै॒व वोऽपि॑ नह्याम्यु॒भे आर्त्नी॑ इव॒ ज्यया॑ । वाच॑स्पते॒ नि षे॑धे॒मान्यथा॒ मदध॑रं॒ वदा॑न् ॥

Here itself, both of you, rival parties, I bind and hold you together in balance like the bow string holding both ends of the bow in tension. O Vachaspati, speaker and master of the Word of order and law of judgement, control these so that they speak under my discipline and control.

· · ·

10.166.4

अ॒भि॒भूर॒हमाग॑मं वि॒श्वक॑र्मेण॒ धाम्ना॑ । आ व॑श्चि॒त्तमा वो॑ व्र॒तमा वो॒ऽहं समि॑तिं ददे ॥

I am the controller and disciplinarian over all, come with the light and power over the entire activity here. I take over, accept and honour your mind and speech, your law, discipline and behaviour, and your assembly under my power and control.

· · ·

10.166.5

यो॒ग॒क्षे॒मं व॑ आ॒दाया॒हं भू॑यासमुत्त॒म आ वो॑ मू॒र्धान॑मक्रमीम् । अ॒ध॒स्प॒दान्म॒ उद्व॑दत म॒ण्डूका॑ इवोद॒कान्म॒ण्डूका॑ उद॒कादि॑व ॥

Having taken over the power and responsibility of the defence, protection and security of public achievements and the progress and advancement of the nation further, and having become the highest and best of equals, I strive to lead you up to your highest and farthest possibility, and then under the law and discipline of the highest office of government, you would raise your voice of choice and freedom as free and vocal citizens in a state of transparent clarity, as a celebrant society in a joyous state of advancement upward.

✦ Sukta 167 · 4 verses ✦

10.167.1

तुभ्ये॒दमि॑न्द्र॒ परि॑ षिच्यते॒ मधु॒ त्वं सु॒तस्य॑ क॒लश॑स्य राजसि । त्वं र॒यिं पु॑रु॒वीरा॑मु नस्कृधि॒ त्वं तपः॑ परि॒तप्या॑जयः॒ स्वः॑ ॥

Indra, ruler of the human nation, this exciting sweet soma state of society is matured and perfected for you to govern and enjoy your office. You rule and administer the state of law and order in perfect form. Pray create for us now the wealth and honour of an abundant youthful nation worthy of the brave. You have achieved this happy and heavenly state of the commonwealth through an arduous discipline of life and work.

· · ·

10.167.2

स्व॒र्जितं॒ महि॑ मन्दा॒नमन्ध॑सो॒ हवा॑महे॒ परि॑ श॒क्रं सु॒ताँ उप॑ । इ॒मं नो॑ य॒ज्ञमि॒ह बो॒ध्या ग॑हि॒ स्पृधो॒ जय॑न्तं म॒घवा॑नमीमहे ॥

Mighty winner of high renown, creator of a high state of freedom and happiness, lover and giver of the joy of achievement, we invite and adore you. Pray acknowledge this yajnic success of our corporate creative struggle for social development, come and take it over. We invoke, exhort and exalt the mighty victor over rivals, adversaries and fighting forces of the enemies of life and humanity.

· · ·

10.167.3

सोम॑स्य॒ राज्ञो॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ धर्म॑णि॒ बृह॒स्पते॒रनु॑मत्या उ॒ शर्म॑णि । तवा॒हम॒द्य म॑घव॒न्नुप॑स्तुतौ॒ धात॒र्विधा॑तः क॒लशाँ॑ अभक्षयम् ॥

O Maghavan, lord of power and glory, Dhata, ruler, Vidhata, controller of the state and its administration, this day I invite you to the holy investiture and to take over the various departments and institutions of the state in the ruling order of the law of Soma, peace, and Varuna, justice, in the house of Brhaspati, supreme presiding power, and Anumati, will of the nation.

· · ·

10.167.4

प्रसू॑तो भ॒क्षम॑करं च॒रावपि॒ स्तोमं॑ चे॒मं प्र॑थ॒मः सू॒रिरुन्मृ॑जे । सु॒ते सा॒तेन॒ यद्याग॑मं वां॒ प्रति॑ विश्वामित्रजमदग्नी॒ दमे॑ ॥

O Vishvamitra, holy spirit of universal love and friendship, Jamadagni, blazing fire and radiant light of yajna, as I come up to you duty bound in this ruling order enacted by the people, with the authority vested in me by the social will, now I, invested and anointed, take over the office of the state ruler, accept and honour this holy order, and first of all, with the best of knowledge, will and confidence, I would maintain the purity and glory of the order, I promise.

✦ Sukta 168 · 4 verses ✦

10.168.1

वात॑स्य॒ नु म॑हि॒मानं॒ रथ॑स्य रु॒जन्ने॑ति स्त॒नय॑न्नस्य॒ घोषः॑ । दि॒वि॒स्पृग्या॑त्यरु॒णानि॑ कृ॒ण्वन्नु॒तो ए॑ति पृथि॒व्या रे॒णुमस्य॑न् ॥

Let us describe the greatness of the impetuous chariot of the wind: the storm goes roaring, thundering, crashing, shattering as it blows, touching the heights of heaven, raising a storm of dust over earth, and turning the skies red in all directions.

· · ·

10.168.2

सं प्रेर॑ते॒ अनु॒ वात॑स्य वि॒ष्ठा ऐनं॑ गच्छन्ति॒ सम॑नं॒ न योषाः॑ । ताभिः॑ स॒युक्स॒रथं॑ दे॒व ई॑यते॒ऽस्य विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ राजा॑ ॥

Plants, creepers and solid structures on earth, like trees, wave and shake in deference to Vayu, wind energy, just as youthful maidens go to their love and flashes of lighting go with the sky. And one with all these, goes the ruling energy of this whole universe, divine wind on the chariot of its currents.

· · ·

10.168.3

अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे प॒थिभि॒रीय॑मानो॒ न नि वि॑शते कत॒मच्च॒नाहः॑ । अ॒पां सखा॑ प्रथम॒जा ऋ॒तावा॒ क्व॑ स्विज्जा॒तः कुत॒ आ ब॑भूव ॥

Ever on the move by its own paths in the sky, the wind energy does not relent even for an instant. Friend and comrade of the waters, first born of nature after space, observing the divine laws of existence, where was it born? Where and whence emerged?

· · ·

10.168.4

आ॒त्मा दे॒वानां॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ गर्भो॑ यथाव॒शं च॑रति दे॒व ए॒षः । घोषा॒ इद॑स्य शृण्विरे॒ न रू॒पं तस्मै॒ वाता॑य ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥

Energy and identity of the divine forces of nature, sustainer of the universe, this divine wind roams around at will freely. We have heard the roar of it but we have not seen its form. To that divine Vayu, we offer homage and adoration with oblations of havi to develop energy.

✦ Sukta 169 · 4 verses ✦

10.169.1

म॒यो॒भूर्वातो॑ अ॒भि वा॑तू॒स्रा ऊर्ज॑स्वती॒रोष॑धी॒रा रि॑शन्ताम् । पीव॑स्वतीर्जी॒वध॑न्याः पिबन्त्वव॒साय॑ प॒द्वते॑ रुद्र मृळ ॥

May the wind blow fresh, delightful, exciting and blissful. Let cows feed on nourishing and energising herbs and grasses and drink abundant life giving waters. O Rudra, divine spirit of peace, joy and compassion, be kind and generous to the animals to provide them with ample food and water.

· · ·

10.169.2

याः सरू॑पा॒ विरू॑पा॒ एक॑रूपा॒ यासा॑म॒ग्निरिष्ट्या॒ नामा॑नि॒ वेद॑ । या अङ्गि॑रस॒स्तप॑से॒ह च॒क्रुस्ताभ्यः॑ पर्जन्य॒ महि॒ शर्म॑ यच्छ ॥

O Parjanya, generous powers of life and liquid nourishment, provide great peace, comfort, protection and felicity to cows and other animals of similar species, different forms but the same one genus, whose names and qualities, Agni, the scientist, knows through developmental study, and which the Angirasas, technologists, have developed through continuous dedicated research and experimentation.

· · ·

10.169.3

या दे॒वेषु॑ त॒न्व१॒॑मैर॑यन्त॒ यासां॒ सोमो॒ विश्वा॑ रू॒पाणि॒ वेद॑ । ता अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ पय॑सा॒ पिन्व॑मानाः प्र॒जाव॑तीरिन्द्र गो॒ष्ठे रि॑रीहि ॥

Indra, ruler and controller of life’s development and progress, bring to our dairy farms those cows which produce and yield abundant quality milk for noble and brilliant people, all forms, breeds and qualities, of which creative experts know, which yield more and more milk for our health and growth, and which produce better and better breed of calves.

· · ·

10.169.4

प्र॒जाप॑ति॒र्मह्य॑मे॒ता ररा॑णो॒ विश्वै॑र्दे॒वैः पि॒तृभिः॑ संविदा॒नः । शि॒वाः स॒तीरुप॑ नो गो॒ष्ठमाक॒स्तासां॑ व॒यं प्र॒जया॒ सं स॑देम ॥

Prajapati, lord protector, sustainer and promoter of the people with all divine energies of nature’s brilliance and nourishment, and the nation’s food minister with active consultation and advice of all brilliant scholars and nutrition experts of the land, give us these cows with joyous enthusiasm and bring to our cow stall such cows as are the best and most abundant in nourishing milk. May we continue to benefit from the cow’s progeny of excellent breed.

✦ Sukta 170 · 4 verses ✦

10.170.1

वि॒भ्राड्बृ॒हत्पि॑बतु सो॒म्यं मध्वायु॒र्दध॑द्य॒ज्ञप॑ता॒ववि॑ह्रुतम् । वात॑जूतो॒ यो अ॑भि॒रक्ष॑ति॒ त्मना॑ प्र॒जाः पु॑पोष पुरु॒धा वि रा॑जति ॥

May the mighty refulgent sun hold, shower, protect and promote the honey sweets of life’s soma nourishment, and bear and bring untainted health and long life for the performer and promoter of yajna, the sun which, energised by Vayu energy of divine nature protects and sustains all forms of life by its very essence, shines and rules life in many ways.

· · ·

10.170.2

वि॒भ्राड्बृ॒हत्सुभृ॑तं वाज॒सात॑मं॒ धर्म॑न्दि॒वो ध॒रुणे॑ स॒त्यमर्पि॑तम् । अ॒मि॒त्र॒हा वृ॑त्र॒हा द॑स्यु॒हन्त॑मं॒ ज्योति॑र्जज्ञे असुर॒हा स॑पत्न॒हा ॥

The mighty refulgent sun, destroyer of unfriendly forces, darkness and evil, anti-life elements, adversaries and enemies, rises, bearing the light that is the highest giver of food, energy and growing advancement. Truly vested in the established order of nature in the solar region, blissfully sustained, it is the highest killer of negative and destructive forces prevailing in life and nature.

· · ·

10.170.3

इ॒दं श्रेष्ठं॒ ज्योति॑षां॒ ज्योति॑रुत्त॒मं वि॑श्व॒जिद्ध॑न॒जिदु॑च्यते बृ॒हत् । वि॒श्व॒भ्राड्भ्रा॒जो महि॒ सूर्यो॑ दृ॒श उ॒रु प॑प्रथे॒ सह॒ ओजो॒ अच्यु॑तम् ॥

This mighty best and highest light of lights is exalted as universally pervasive winner and giver of wealth. This world illuminant light, great sun, is the light for the world’s vision. It expands far and wide, undaunted lustre and majesty that it is, imperishable and eternal.

· · ·

10.170.4

वि॒भ्राज॒ञ्ज्योति॑षा॒ स्व१॒॑रग॑च्छो रोच॒नं दि॒वः । येने॒मा विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना॒न्याभृ॑ता वि॒श्वक॑र्मणा वि॒श्वदे॑व्यावता ॥

Blazing with self-refulgence, light of heaven, you pervade all regions from earth to heaven. By you are all these world regions sustained, omnipotent divine lord of universal action and universal glory: Vishvadeva.

✦ Sukta 171 · 4 verses ✦

10.171.1

त्वं त्यमि॒टतो॒ रथ॒मिन्द्र॒ प्रावः॑ सु॒ताव॑तः । अशृ॑णोः सो॒मिनो॒ हव॑म् ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, you hear the invocation and prayer of soma yajna, and you honour, protect and sustain the cherished desire of the celebrant who moves on way to divinity through meditation and yajna and distils the Soma for offering.

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10.171.2

त्वं म॒खस्य॒ दोध॑तः॒ शिरोऽव॑ त्व॒चो भ॑रः । अग॑च्छः सो॒मिनो॑ गृ॒हम् ॥

You forsake the body and mind of the dissolute scoffer of yajna, and you reach and bless the house of the devotee who performs yajna and offers you the homage of exalted devotion, joyous divine soma.

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10.171.3

त्वं त्यमि॑न्द्र॒ मर्त्य॑मास्त्रबु॒ध्नाय॑ वे॒न्यम् । मुहुः॑ श्रथ्ना मन॒स्यवे॑ ॥

Indra, for the man of meditative thought and vision on way to freedom of the spirit over body, pray slacken and cast off the bonds of mortal love, hate and jealousy constantly, without relent.

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10.171.4

त्वं त्यमि॑न्द्र॒ सूर्यं॑ प॒श्चा सन्तं॑ पु॒रस्कृ॑धि । दे॒वानां॑ चित्ति॒रो वश॑म् ॥

Indra, let the sun, now gone out of sight in the west, arise upfront in the east, mystery otherwise beyond the reach of the devas, the senses.

✦ Sukta 172 · 3 verses ✦

10.172.1

आ या॑हि॒ वन॑सा स॒ह गावः॑ सचन्त वर्त॒निं यदूध॑भिः ॥

Come, O Dawn, with holy light, with rays of blissful radiance on the chariot. The cows are on the move with the wealth of milk.

· ·

·

10.172.2

आ या॑हि॒ वस्व्या॑ धि॒या मंहि॑ष्ठो जार॒यन्म॑खः सु॒दानु॑भिः ॥

Come with blessed intelligence and holy action. The most generous yajamana is on way to completion of the yajna with most liberal gifts of homage.

· · ·

10.172.4

उ॒षा अप॒ स्वसु॒स्तमः॒ सं व॑र्तयति वर्त॒निं सु॑जा॒तता॑ ॥

The dawn continuously removes the darkness of its sister night, by circular motion of its rise every morning through the succession of day and night.

✦ Sukta 173 · 6 verses ✦

10.173.1

आ त्वा॑हार्षम॒न्तरे॑धि ध्रु॒वस्ति॒ष्ठावि॑चाचलिः । विश॑स्त्वा॒ सर्वा॑ वाञ्छन्तु॒ मा त्वद्रा॒ष्ट्रमधि॑ भ्रशत् ॥

I, high priest of the nation, take you, O Ruler, to the high seat of governance and pray take it in our midst. Be firm, stay undisturbed. All the people have chosen and welcome you. Let not the state suffer embarrassment because of you, nor must the state fall foul of you.

· · ·

10.173.2

इ॒हैवैधि॒ माप॑ च्योष्ठाः॒ पर्व॑त इ॒वावि॑चाचलिः । इन्द्र॑ इवे॒ह ध्रु॒वस्ति॑ष्ठे॒ह रा॒ष्ट्रमु॑ धारय ॥

Here only, on this seat, Indra, be firm as a rock, never vascillate. Here as the one supreme, pole star of the nation, stay, rule and sustain the Rashtra, one organismic, self-governing, well governed common wealth, brilliant, glorious.

· · ·

10.173.3

इ॒ममिन्द्रो॑ अदीधरद्ध्रु॒वं ध्रु॒वेण॑ ह॒विषा॑ । तस्मै॒ सोमो॒ अधि॑ ब्रव॒त्तस्मा॑ उ॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिः॑ ॥

This common wealth, Indra, lord all potent, is committed to you. And this common wealth, the ruler holds and maintains steady, firm, inviolable, with the homage gift of steady, unshaken and unshakable rule and governance. O Ruler, to you and for this Rashtra, Soma Brahmanaspati, the divine, peaceable Advisor who knows, observes and communicates the wisdom of universal vision and conscience, speaks, and to this he holds you committed.

· · ·

10.173.4

ध्रु॒वा द्यौर्ध्रु॒वा पृ॑थि॒वी ध्रु॒वासः॒ पर्व॑ता इ॒मे । ध्रु॒वं विश्व॑मि॒दं जग॑द्ध्रु॒वो राजा॑ वि॒शाम॒यम् ॥

Firm is heaven, firm is the earth, firm are these mountains. Firm is this universe which is ever on the move, steadily and balanced at the optimum. Firm is this ruler of the people, steady, dynamic with optimum balance of constant movement.

· · ·

10.173.5

ध्रु॒वं ते॒ राजा॒ वरु॑णो ध्रु॒वं दे॒वो बृह॒स्पतिः॑ । ध्रु॒वं त॒ इन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ रा॒ष्ट्रं धा॑रयतां ध्रु॒वम् ॥

For you, the brilliant ruling Varuna, head of law and justice, firmly maintains the state of law and order. Brilliant and generous Brhaspati, chief advisor, with supreme vision and knowledge of the nation’s genius, firmly maintains the character and culture of the nation. For you, the commander of the nation’s forces, Indra, firmly maintains the peace and protection of the state. For you does Agni, enlightened leader of education and research, maintain the system of education and employment. May all these chiefs help you maintain the Rashtra firm, dynamic, steady and inviolable.

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10.173.6

ध्रु॒वं ध्रु॒वेण॑ ह॒विषा॒भि सोमं॑ मृशामसि । अथो॑ त॒ इन्द्रः॒ केव॑ली॒र्विशो॑ बलि॒हृत॑स्करत् ॥

With steady and undisturbed will and homage we accept, honour and support the firm, steady and unshakable Soma Ruler dedicated to peace and progress. May Indra, omnipotent ruler of the universe, enlighten and commit the people solely to the nation and the ruler so that they pay their due share of homage and gifts of havi for the yajnic governance of the common-wealth. (Let no one neglect the payment of taxes.)

✦ Sukta 174 · 5 verses ✦

10.174.1

अ॒भी॒व॒र्तेन॑ ह॒विषा॒ येनेन्द्रो॑ अभिवावृ॒ते । तेना॒स्मान्ब्र॑ह्मणस्पते॒ऽभि रा॒ष्ट्राय॑ वर्तय ॥

O Brahmanaspati, lord of knowledge, governance and statecraft, enlighten us for dedication to the Rashtra, commonwealth of the people, with those means and methods of advancement and victory by which Indra, ruler, advances to planned and time bound goals of progress and victory.

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10.174.2

अ॒भि॒वृत्य॑ स॒पत्ना॑न॒भि या नो॒ अरा॑तयः । अ॒भि पृ॑त॒न्यन्तं॑ तिष्ठा॒भि यो न॑ इर॒स्यति॑ ॥

O ruler commander of the nation, having surrounded and cornered the adversaries, our selfish exploiters, whoever want to wage war against us, or who hate and envy to down us, break down their force and rule over them.

· · ·

10.174.3

अ॒भि त्वा॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ताभि सोमो॑ अवीवृतत् । अ॒भि त्वा॒ विश्वा॑ भू॒तान्य॑भीव॒र्तो यथास॑सि ॥

May the self-refulgent Savita, creative sun, Soma, nature’s spirit of peace and joy, and all the forms of matter, energy, thought and life of the universe, ever advance you so that you may rule over the world.

· · ·

10.174.4

येनेन्द्रो॑ ह॒विषा॑ कृ॒त्व्यभ॑वद्द्यु॒म्न्यु॑त्त॒मः । इ॒दं तद॑क्रि देवा असप॒त्नः किला॑भुवम् ॥

That input of vision, knowledge and action, that homage of faith and havi into Rashtra yajna by which Indra becomes a great performer, glorious, best and highest, that homage, O devas, brilliancies of nature and humanity, I have done so that I may become free from rivals, adversaries and enemies.

· · ·

10.174.5

अ॒स॒प॒त्नः स॑पत्न॒हाभिरा॑ष्ट्रो विषास॒हिः । यथा॒हमे॑षां भू॒तानां॑ वि॒राजा॑नि॒ जन॑स्य च ॥

Destroyer of enemies, free from enemy forces, I must still be a challenger and subduer of rivals, adversaries, oppositions and contradictions so that as ruler of the state I may control and rule over these citizens and a host of other forms of life.

✦ Sukta 175 · 4 verses ✦

10.175.1

प्र वो॑ ग्रावाणः सवि॒ता दे॒वः सु॑वतु॒ धर्म॑णा । धू॒र्षु यु॑ज्यध्वं सुनु॒त ॥

O Gravana, veteran wise scholars and sages, may Savita, self-refulgent creator, the sun and the noble ruler inspire you with the sense of Dharma and noble performance so that you may be appointed to high positions and you play a positive and valuable part in state affairs.

· · ·

10.175.2

ग्रावा॑णो॒ अप॑ दु॒च्छुना॒मप॑ सेधत दुर्म॒तिम् । उ॒स्राः क॑र्तन भेष॒जम् ॥

O Gravana, yajnic participants in state affairs, remove the evils of ignorance, injustice and poverty, stop and cast away nonsense, negativity and cynicism, and being generous and brilliant like rays of the sun, cure the ailments and distresses of society.

· · ·

10.175.3

ग्रावा॑ण॒ उप॑रे॒ष्वा म॑ही॒यन्ते॑ स॒जोष॑सः । वृष्णे॒ दध॑तो॒ वृष्ण्य॑म् ॥

Sages and scholars in high positions, while they contribute generously to the power performance of the mighty generous ruler, they rise in honour and esteem among the people around since they love, respect and cooperate with them all.

· · ·

10.175.4

ग्रावा॑णः सवि॒ता नु वो॑ दे॒वः सु॑वतु॒ धर्म॑णा । यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते ॥

O Gravana, sagely participants in national rule and development with the ruler and the people, may Savita, lord creator, the Ruler and the cooperative people, all generous and brilliant, inspire you with Dharma by Dharma for the generous creative yajamana, the ruler in council with the people in the Rashtra yajna.

✦ Sukta 176 · 4 verses ✦

10.176.1

प्र सू॒नव॑ ऋभू॒णां बृ॒हन्न॑वन्त वृ॒जना॑ । क्षामा॒ ये वि॒श्वधा॑य॒सोऽश्न॑न्धे॒नुं न मा॒तर॑म् ॥

The children and disciples of Rbhus, expert makers, celebrate their mighty achievements of science and technology and, sustainers of world community, children of mother earth, they reach and explore the earth for service and resources like calves rushing to mother cows.

· · ·

10.176.2

प्र दे॒वं दे॒व्या धि॒या भर॑ता जा॒तवे॑दसम् । ह॒व्या नो॑ वक्षदानु॒षक् ॥

O scholars and experts, with your divine and brilliant intelligence and actions, serve Agni, spirit of the light and life of all that exists, which instantly bears our oblations abroad as well as brings us the creative rewards of yajna without fail.

· · ·

10.176.3

अ॒यमु॒ ष्य प्र दे॑व॒युर्होता॑ य॒ज्ञाय॑ नीयते । रथो॒ न योर॒भीवृ॑तो॒ घृणी॑वाञ्चेतति॒ त्मना॑ ॥

This Agni is the same lover of brilliant divines dedicated to life and nature which is the leading light and power of yajna and which is invoked and honoured for the completion and success of any creative project, the same which is radiant and dynamic like the solar chariot and, surrounded by celebrants, gives light, knowledge and showers of the joy of achievement.

· · ·

10.176.4

अ॒यम॒ग्निरु॑रुष्यत्य॒मृता॑दिव॒ जन्म॑नः । सह॑सश्चि॒त्सही॑यान्दे॒वो जी॒वात॑वे कृ॒तः ॥

This Agni, self-refulgent power manifest in existence, saves and protects us as mortals born or reborn of immortal existence. Mightier than the mightiest, this divine power is kindled, honoured and adored for the victory of life over suffering and death.

✦ Sukta 177 · 3 verses ✦

10.177.1

प॒तं॒गम॒क्तमसु॑रस्य मा॒यया॑ हृ॒दा प॑श्यन्ति॒ मन॑सा विप॒श्चितः॑ । स॒मु॒द्रे अ॒न्तः क॒वयो॒ वि च॑क्षते॒ मरी॑चीनां प॒दमि॑च्छन्ति वे॒धसः॑ ॥

Men of wisdom with dedicated mind and heart see the ‘patanga’, bird-like soul, wrapped in golden hues of mysterious Maya, wondrous potential of the Lord’s Prakrti, in the boundless ocean of the world of existence. Men of vision and imagination see it existing within the oceanic presence of the infinite spirit of the Lord and, inspired by the lord’s love and presence, love to reach nothing but the ultimate reality at the centre of the radiating rays of existence.

· · ·

10.177.2

प॒तं॒गो वाचं॒ मन॑सा बिभर्ति॒ तां ग॑न्ध॒र्वो॑ऽवद॒द्गर्भे॑ अ॒न्तः । तां द्योत॑मानां स्व॒र्यं॑ मनी॒षामृ॒तस्य॑ प॒दे क॒वयो॒ नि पा॑न्ति ॥

Patanga, the soul flying in various forms, bears the eternal Vak, divine Word, at the depth of its mind. Vak is the voice which Parameshvara, sustainer of the voice and the universe, speaks to the soul at the heart of existence. That same resonant and refulgent voice and its awareness, wise visionaries retain, hear and enjoy in the state of samadhi communion at the centre of the ultimate truth of existence.

· · ·

10.177.3

अप॑श्यं गो॒पामनि॑पद्यमान॒मा च॒ परा॑ च प॒थिभि॒श्चर॑न्तम् । स स॒ध्रीचीः॒ स विषू॑ची॒र्वसा॑न॒ आ व॑रीवर्ति॒ भुव॑नेष्व॒न्तः ॥

I see this retainer of the divine Voice and its senses and mind, the soul ranging over different paths around here and far off. Shining, wearing different forms, moving in the right central as well as various directions, it goes round and round in the worlds of existence. (This verse can also be interpreted in continuation of the second verse: I see this eternal infallible master of the eternal Voice, existential and transcendental both, the Spirit that vibrates and manifests constantly in all directions, in all worlds of the universe.)

✦ Sukta 178 · 3 verses ✦

10.178.1

त्यमू॒ षु वा॒जिनं॑ दे॒वजू॑तं स॒हावा॑नं तरु॒तारं॒ रथा॑नाम् । अरि॑ष्टनेमिं पृत॒नाज॑मा॒शुं स्व॒स्तये॒ तार्क्ष्य॑मि॒हा हु॑वेम ॥

For the sake of good and all round well being of life, we invoke and study that wind and electric energy of the middle regions which is fast and victorious, moved by divine nature, powerful, shaker of the clouds and energiser of sound waves, inviolable, war-like heroic and most dynamic, moving at the speed of energy.

· · ·

10.178.2

इन्द्र॑स्येव रा॒तिमा॒जोहु॑वानाः स्व॒स्तये॒ नाव॑मि॒वा रु॑हेम । उर्वी॒ न पृथ्वी॒ बहु॑ले॒ गभी॑रे॒ मा वा॒मेतौ॒ मा परे॑तौ रिषाम ॥

Invoking Tarkshya, wind and electric energy, studying and exploring the power for all round well being as the gift of Indra, divine lord of energy, we wish to use it like a boat across the seas to overcome the problems we face. O earth, O sky, both vast and deep as well as abundant, may we never be hurt while this energy travels hither and back far off in circuit over and across you both.

· · ·

10.178.3

स॒द्यश्चि॒द्यः शव॑सा॒ पञ्च॑ कृ॒ष्टीः सूर्य॑ इव॒ ज्योति॑षा॒पस्त॒तान॑ । स॒ह॒स्र॒साः श॑त॒सा अ॑स्य॒ रंहि॒र्न स्मा॑ वरन्ते युव॒तिं न शर्या॑म् ॥

Instantly does this wind-electric energy reach all five peoples of the earth with its force, power and speed like the sun which spreads its light and brings vapours and showers of rain over earth for humanity. Hundredfold and thousandfold is its power that travels, and just as none can stop the arrow fixed on the bow and shot, so no one can stop the flowing current of this energy once it is initiated for use.

✦ Sukta 179 · 3 verses ✦

10.179.1

उत्ति॑ष्ठ॒ताव॑ पश्य॒तेन्द्र॑स्य भा॒गमृ॒त्विय॑म् । यदि॑ श्रा॒तो जु॒होत॑न॒ यद्यश्रा॑तो मम॒त्तन॑ ॥

Citizens, friends, arise, see whether the seasonal yajnic share of Indra, the ruler, is ripe and ready. If so, offer it by way of yajnic oblation as tax duty. If not, do not remiss, accelerate the ripening process and give.

· · ·

10.179.2

श्रा॒तं ह॒विरो ष्वि॑न्द्र॒ प्र या॑हि ज॒गाम॒ सूरो॒ अध्व॑नो॒ विम॑ध्यम् । परि॑ त्वासते नि॒धिभिः॒ सखा॑यः कुल॒पा न व्रा॒जप॑तिं॒ चर॑न्तम् ॥

The havi is ripe and ready for the offering. O Ruler, Indra, come, the sun has reached the middle of its course. Friends sit with their treasure offering and wait like family heads for the chief commander of hosts out on the sojourn on the borders and around.

· · ·

10.179.3

श्रा॒तं म॑न्य॒ ऊध॑नि श्रा॒तम॒ग्नौ सुश्रा॑तं मन्ये॒ तदृ॒तं नवी॑यः । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य द॒ध्नः पिबे॑न्द्र वज्रिन्पुरुकृज्जुषा॒णः ॥

I believe the milk is ripe in the cow’s udders. I know the grain is ripe in the heat of the sun. I am sure every thing is ripe and ready for the yajna, ripe and fresh truly. O lord of versatile action, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice, law and order, loving, kind and cooperative, come and taste the milky sweets of the mid day’s session of yajna. Receive, taste, protect and promote the milk of cows and harvests of the field.

✦ Sukta 180 · 3 verses ✦

10.180.1

प्र स॑साहिषे पुरुहूत॒ शत्रू॒ञ्ज्येष्ठ॑स्ते॒ शुष्म॑ इ॒ह रा॒तिर॑स्तु । इन्द्रा भ॑र॒ दक्षि॑णेना॒ वसू॑नि॒ पतिः॒ सिन्धू॑नामसि रे॒वती॑नाम् ॥

O Ruler, Indra, invoked by all, you challenge and subdue the enemies. Highest is your power and force here which may, we pray, be a positive boon for us. Indra, with your efficiency and perfection of governance and administration, bring us wealth, honour and excellence for the nation. You are the master and controller of the abundant and opulent rivers of the land, and equally well you manage the flow of the economy and social advancement of the nation.

· · ·

10.180.2

मृ॒गो न भी॒मः कु॑च॒रो गि॑रि॒ष्ठाः प॑रा॒वत॒ आ ज॑गन्था॒ पर॑स्याः । सृ॒कं सं॒शाय॑ प॒विमि॑न्द्र ति॒ग्मं वि शत्रू॑न्ताळ्हि॒ वि मृधो॑ नुदस्व ॥

Terrible like a mountain lion roaming around, pray come from the farthest of far off places and, having sharpened the lazer fiery thunderbolt, destroy the enemies and throw out the violent adversaries.

· · ·

10.180.3

इन्द्र॑ क्ष॒त्रम॒भि वा॒ममोजोऽजा॑यथा वृषभ चर्षणी॒नाम् । अपा॑नुदो॒ जन॑ममित्र॒यन्त॑मु॒रुं दे॒वेभ्यो॑ अकृणोरु लो॒कम् ॥

Indra, glorious ruler, virile and generous leader of the people, arise and create a beautiful, grand and powerful social order. Throw out the people who are unfriendly to the nation and create a vast, beautiful mighty world of peace and progress for the noble, brilliant and generous people dedicated to divine values.

✦ Sukta 181 · 3 verses ✦

10.181.1

प्रथ॑श्च॒ यस्य॑ स॒प्रथ॑श्च॒ नामानु॑ष्टुभस्य ह॒विषो॑ ह॒विर्यत् । धा॒तुर्द्युता॑नात्सवि॒तुश्च॒ विष्णो॑ रथंत॒रमा ज॑भारा॒ वसि॑ष्ठः ॥

Vasishtha, the most brilliant seeker and teacher, a man of versatile mind and boundless possibilities who was gifted with a radiative spirit and passion for enlightenment, received the pure, applied, beatific and life giving Word of the Veda, the first, original and eternal gift of the lord of omniscience into his yajna of cosmic creation, from Agni, sustainer of the light of knowledge, Vayu, vibrant sage with passion and strong will, Savita, i.e., Aditya, brilliant and inspiring like the sun, and Angiras, the sage inspiring as omnipresent Vishnu and breath of life. (This Vasishtha, the brilliant disciple of the four sages, Agni, Vayu, Aditya and Angira, who then became the teacher of the Vedas, was Brahma. Swami Brahmamuni explains this interpretation of this mantra in his commentary on Rgveda and cites authoritative evidence from the Brahmana works. Swami Dayanand explains the cosmic process of creative evolution and Vedic revelation in his Introduction to his Commentary on the Vedas, Rgvedadi Bhashya Bhumika, saying on Vedic and ancient authority that the Vedas were first revealed to four sages: Rgveda to Agni, Yajurveda to Vayu, Samaveda to Aditya, and Atharva veda to Angira. Brahma, the brilliant disciple and later the inspired teacher, learnt the Veda from these four sages and passed on this knowledge to his disciples.)

· · ·

10.181.2

अवि॑न्द॒न्ते अति॑हितं॒ यदासी॑द्य॒ज्ञस्य॒ धाम॑ पर॒मं गुहा॒ यत् । धा॒तुर्द्युता॑नात्सवि॒तुश्च॒ विष्णो॑र्भ॒रद्वा॑जो बृ॒हदा च॑क्रे अ॒ग्नेः ॥

Those sages, i.e.,Agni, Vayu,Aditya andAngira, received this knowledge, which was deeply hidden and perfectly preserved in the bottomless depths of omniscience of creative Divinity, and which is, still, deeply preserved in the depths of the human mind at the frequency of the cosmic mind, from the Lord Supreme that is all sustainer, self-refulgent, giver of light and life, immanent and omnipresent. From them and from the lord self-refulgent Agni, then, the disciple inspired with will and passion, Bharadvaja, receives and practically extends the knowledge which has, after all, no bounds.

· · ·

10.181.3

ते॑ऽविन्द॒न्मन॑सा॒ दीध्या॑ना॒ यजुः॑ ष्क॒न्नं प्र॑थ॒मं दे॑व॒यान॑म् । धा॒तुर्द्युता॑नात्सवि॒तुश्च॒ विष्णो॒रा सूर्या॑दभरन्घ॒र्ममे॒ते ॥

They, brilliant in mind and vision, vibrant at heart and burning with passion, received the knowledge for life and living, revealed and released in incessant flow, first and final for men on the path to divinity. And all these, Agni, Vayu, Aditya and Angira, Brahma, Bharadvaja and others that follow ultimately receive the knowledge, light and warmth of life, from the Supreme Sun, self-refulgent sustainer, giver of light, giver of life, omniscient, omnipresent Divinity.

✦ Sukta 182 · 3 verses ✦

10.182.1

बृह॒स्पति॑र्नयतु दु॒र्गहा॑ ति॒रः पुन॑र्नेषद॒घशं॑साय॒ मन्म॑ । क्षि॒पदश॑स्ति॒मप॑ दुर्म॒तिं ह॒न्नथा॑ कर॒द्यज॑मानाय॒ शं योः ॥

May Brhaspati, lord of expansive universe, lead us across insufferable suffering and turn the thunderous strike of punishment to the supporter of wickedness, cast away malignity, destroy evil intention, and do good to the yajamana, free him from fear and disease and bestow good health and prosperity on him.

· · ·

10.182.2

नरा॒शंसो॑ नोऽवतु प्रया॒जे शं नो॑ अस्त्वनुया॒जो हवे॑षु । क्षि॒पदश॑स्ति॒मप॑ दुर्म॒तिं ह॒न्नथा॑ कर॒द्यज॑मानाय॒ शं योः ॥

May Agni, adorable favourite of humanity, protect and promote us in Prayaja yajna, the preliminaries of the performance. MayAgni support and bless us with success and prosperity at our performance of Anuyaja yajna, the great finale. May Agni cast away malignity, destroy evil intention, and do good to the yajamana, free him from fear and disease, and bestow on him good health and prosperity.

· · ·

10.182.3

तपु॑र्मूर्धा तपतु र॒क्षसो॒ ये ब्र॑ह्म॒द्विषः॒ शर॑वे॒ हन्त॒वा उ॑ । क्षि॒पदश॑स्ति॒मप॑ दुर्म॒तिं ह॒न्नथा॑ कर॒द्यज॑मानाय॒ शं योः ॥

In order that hate and violence may be eliminated from the world, may the lord of blazing light and refulgent intellect put to the crucibles of trial and punishment those who are wicked destroyers of the good and who malign and oppose the divine sages. May the great lord cast away scandal, strike away evil intention, and do good to the yajamana, free him from fear and disease and bless him with good health and prosperity.

✦ Sukta 183 · 3 verses ✦

10.183.1

अप॑श्यं त्वा॒ मन॑सा॒ चेकि॑तानं॒ तप॑सो जा॒तं तप॑सो॒ विभू॑तम् । इ॒ह प्र॒जामि॒ह र॒यिं ररा॑णः॒ प्र जा॑यस्व प्र॒जया॑ पुत्रकाम ॥

I see you born of austere discipline and education with the lustre of discipline shining on your face and expressing your heart’s desire. Desirous of progeny and prosperity here in the household, pray be reborn through your own child and fulfil your desire for progeny and continuity in life. (This verse may be taken as spoken by the wife to husband.)

· · ·

10.183.2

अप॑श्यं त्वा॒ मन॑सा॒ दीध्या॑नां॒ स्वायां॑ त॒नू ऋत्व्ये॒ नाध॑मानाम् । उप॒ मामु॒च्चा यु॑व॒तिर्ब॑भूयाः॒ प्र जा॑यस्व प्र॒जया॑ पुत्रकामे ॥

I see you moved at heart with desire, earnestly praying that you be fulfilled in life with the timely gift of progeny. Come, rise to me, be fulfilled as a youthful woman, reborn in your child as a mother. (This verse may be taken as spoken by the husband to the wife.)

· · ·

10.183.3

अ॒हं गर्भ॑मदधा॒मोष॑धीष्व॒हं विश्वे॑षु॒ भुव॑नेष्व॒न्तः । अ॒हं प्र॒जा अ॑जनयं पृथि॒व्याम॒हं जनि॑भ्यो अप॒रीषु॑ पु॒त्रान् ॥

I plant the seed in herbs and plants. I plant the seed of life in all regions of the world. I engender the forms of life on the earth, and I would generate progeny for all others, women who love to be mothers for fulfilment.

✦ Sukta 184 · 3 verses ✦

10.184.1

विष्णु॒र्योनिं॑ कल्पयतु॒ त्वष्टा॑ रू॒पाणि॑ पिंशतु । आ सि॑ञ्चतु प्र॒जाप॑तिर्धा॒ता गर्भं॑ दधातु ते ॥

May Vishnu, omnipresent lord of life energy, prepare your womb through yajna. May Tvashta, nature’s formative intelligence of divinity, create the body form of the foetus in all details. May Prajapati, father spirit of divinity in nature, provide the life nutrients for the foetus. May Dhata, mother power of nature, hold and mature your foetus in the womb.

· · ·

10.184.2

गर्भं॑ धेहि सिनीवालि॒ गर्भं॑ धेहि सरस्वति । गर्भं॑ ते अ॒श्विनौ॑ दे॒वावा ध॑त्तां॒ पुष्क॑रस्रजा ॥

O Sinivali, spirit of fecundity, sustain the foetus. O Sarasvati, universal spirit of intelligence, sustain the foetus. O fair expectant mother, may the Ashvins, sun and moon, nature’s complementary currents of creative and generative energy active in the firmament and on earth sustain and mature the foetus to fullness of its life and form.

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10.184.3

हि॒र॒ण्ययी॑ अ॒रणी॒ यं नि॒र्मन्थ॑तो अ॒श्विना॑ । तं त॒त गर्भं॑ हवामहे दश॒मे मा॒सि सूत॑वे ॥

Just as two golden arani woods produce the fire by friction, so do the Ashvins, by their dynamics of complementarity through nature’s nourishment and formative intelligence, nourish and mature your foetus. That baby in your womb we adore and welcome to emerge into full life in the tenth month of pregnancy.

✦ Sukta 185 · 3 verses ✦

10.185.1

महि॑ त्री॒णामवो॑ऽस्तु द्यु॒क्षं मि॒त्रस्या॑र्य॒म्णः । दु॒रा॒धर्षं॒ वरु॑णस्य ॥

May the great, refulgent and inviolable protection and promotion of the three, Mitra, Varuna and Aryaman bless the life of nature and humanity. (Mitra, Varuna and Aryaman are explained as prana, apana and heart energy, and as the sun of the summer, winter and spring seasons round the year.)

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10.185.2

न॒हि तेषा॑म॒मा च॒न नाध्व॑सु वार॒णेषु॑ । ईशे॑ रि॒पुर॒घशं॑सः ॥

Neither in home nor on the roads under their invincible protection does any enemy or sinner or scandaliser dare to intrude and disturb a dedicated person. (Their rule and protection is complete and inviolable.)

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10.185.3

यस्मै॑ पु॒त्रासो॒ अदि॑तेः॒ प्र जी॒वसे॒ मर्त्या॑य । ज्योति॒र्यच्छ॒न्त्यज॑स्रम् ॥

No power can disturb or violate that mortal in life for whom the children of Aditi project their eternal light and protection for the life of man.

✦ Sukta 186 · 3 verses ✦

10.186.1

वात॒ आ वा॑तु भेष॒जं श॒म्भु म॑यो॒भु नो॑ हृ॒दे । प्र ण॒ आयूं॑षि तारिषत् ॥

May the wind of life energy blow for us as harbinger of sanatives, good health and peace for our heart and help us to live a full life beyond all suffering and ailment.

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10.186.2

उ॒त वा॑त पि॒तासि॑ न उ॒त भ्रातो॒त नः॒ सखा॑ । स नो॑ जी॒वात॑वे कृधि ॥

O wind of life energy, you are our fatherly protector and promoter, our brother, our friend. Pray strengthen and inspire us to live a full life.

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10.186.3

यद॒दो वा॑त ते गृ॒हे॒३॒॑ऽमृत॑स्य नि॒धिर्हि॒तः । ततो॑ नो देहि जी॒वसे॑ ॥

In your treasure home of immortal, inviolable energy, O breath of life energy, Vayu, there is immeasurable wealth hidden for us. Of that, from that, give us some, our share, so that we may live a full life of good health and joy.

✦ Sukta 187 · 5 verses ✦

10.187.1

प्राग्नये॒ वाच॑मीरय वृष॒भाय॑ क्षिती॒नाम् । स नः॑ पर्ष॒दति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

O celebrant, sing your song of adoration in honour of Agni, virile, generous and refulgent leader and light giver of humanity. It casts away all our hate, jealousy and all enemies, and thus it washes us clean and immaculate.

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10.187.2

यः पर॑स्याः परा॒वत॑स्ति॒रो धन्वा॑ति॒रोच॑ते । स नः॑ पर्ष॒दति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

Agni who pervades and shines beatific from far and farther, over the deserts and across the spaces, casts away all our jealous, malignant and enemy forces, and washes us clean and immaculate

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10.187.3

यो रक्षां॑सि नि॒जूर्व॑ति॒ वृषा॑ शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॑ । स नः॑ पर्ष॒दति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

Who, generous and potent as he is, destroys the evil, wicked, demonic force with his blazing purity and power, may, we pray, eliminate our hate, jealousy and enmities, and wash us clean and immaculate.

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10.187.4

यो विश्वा॒भि वि॒पश्य॑ति॒ भुव॑ना॒ सं च॒ पश्य॑ति । स नः॑ पर्ष॒दति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

Who watches all the regions of the universe in their formal diversity as well as in their essential unity and integrity may, we pray, cast off our hate, jealousy and enmity and make us clean and immaculate

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10.187.5

यो अ॒स्य पा॒रे रज॑सः शु॒क्रो अ॒ग्निरजा॑यत । स नः॑ पर्ष॒दति॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

That Agni, self-refulgent supreme power that exists and manifests in and over and above this firmament and the oceanic depth of immeasurable space may, we pray, cast off our enemies and render us clean and free at peace.

✦ Sukta 188 · 3 verses ✦

10.188.1

प्र नू॒नं जा॒तवे॑दस॒मश्वं॑ हिनोत वा॒जिन॑म् । इ॒दं नो॑ ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑ ॥

Invoke, kindle and delightfully feed Agni, all known, all knowing and all pervasive power and energy, sure achiever, all reacher and winner of victory. May this Agni grace the vedi of our yajna and lead our endeavour to success.

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10.188.2

अ॒स्य प्र जा॒तवे॑दसो॒ विप्र॑वीरस्य मी॒ळ्हुषः॑ । म॒हीमि॑यर्मि सुष्टु॒तिम् ॥

I raise my holy song of high adoration in honour of this Jataveda Agni, generous, virile and creative favourite of the brave and pioneering leading spirits of humanity.

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10.188.3

या रुचो॑ जा॒तवे॑दसो देव॒त्रा ह॑व्य॒वाह॑नीः । ताभि॑र्नो य॒ज्ञमि॑न्वतु ॥

May Agni bless and promote our yajna with those beatific flames of fire and light of omniscience which carry our homage to the divine power of nature for the gift of creativity.

✦ Sukta 189 · 3 verses ✦

10.189.1

आयं गौः पृश्नि॑रक्रमी॒दस॑दन्मा॒तरं॑ पु॒रः । पि॒तरं॑ च प्र॒यन्त्स्वः॑ ॥

This earth moves round and round eastward abiding in its mother waters of the firmament and revolves round and round its father sustainer, the sun in heaven.

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10.189.2

अ॒न्तश्च॑रति रोच॒नास्य प्रा॒णाद॑पान॒ती । व्य॑ख्यन्महि॒षो दिव॑म् ॥

The light of this sun radiates from morning till evening like the prana and apana of the cosmic body illuminating the mighty heaven and filling the space between heaven and earth.

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10.189.3

त्रिं॒शद्धाम॒ वि रा॑जति॒ वाक्प॑तं॒गाय॑ धीयते । प्रति॒ वस्तो॒रह॒ द्युभिः॑ ॥

Thirty stages of the day from every morning to evening does the sun rule with the rays of its light while songs of adoration are raised and offered to the mighty ‘Bird’ of heavenly space.

✦ Sukta 190 · 3 verses ✦

10.190.1

ऋ॒तं च॑ स॒त्यं चा॒भी॑द्धा॒त्तप॒सोऽध्य॑जायत । ततो॒ रात्र्य॑जायत॒ ततः॑ समु॒द्रो अ॑र्ण॒वः ॥

By the arduous will of Divinity, Prakrti manifested in existence in its simultaneous modes of Satyam and Rtam, constant and mutable, under the Eternal Law. Then arose the night and darkness of no positive name. Then arose the spatial ocean of indeterminate particles of existence.

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10.190.2

स॒मु॒द्राद॑र्ण॒वादधि॑ संवत्स॒रो अ॑जायत । अ॒हो॒रा॒त्राणि॑ वि॒दध॒द्विश्व॑स्य मिष॒तो व॒शी ॥

From the spatial ocean arose the time parameter of existence, and from there the master creator of the universe with his will created the conceptual days and nights.

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10.190.3

सू॒र्या॒च॒न्द्र॒मसौ॑ धा॒ता य॑थापू॒र्वम॑कल्पयत् । दिवं॑ च पृथि॒वीं चा॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒मथो॒ स्वः॑ ॥

The supreme master creator and controller planned the sun and moon, heaven and earth, the middle regions and the regions of bliss as ever before since eternity.

✦ Sukta 191 · 4 verses ✦

10.191.1

संस॒मिद्यु॑वसे वृष॒न्नग्ने॒ विश्वा॑न्य॒र्य आ । इ॒ळस्प॒दे समि॑ध्यसे॒ स नो॒ वसू॒न्या भ॑र ॥

Agni, self-refulgent, omnipotent master, giver of the showers of Infinity, you bring together and integrate all the elements and constituents of the universe of existence and shine in the earth-vedi fire and in the eloquence of the Voice divine of Veda. Pray bless us with the wealth, honour and excellence of life in the world.

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10.191.2

सं ग॑च्छध्वं॒ सं व॑दध्वं॒ सं वो॒ मनां॑सि जानताम् । दे॒वा भा॒गं यथा॒ पूर्वे॑ संजाना॒ना उ॒पास॑ते ॥

Move together forward in unison, speak together, and with equal mind all in accord, know you all together as the sages of old, knowing and doing together, play their part in life and fulfill their duty according to Dharma.

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10.191.3

स॒मा॒नो मन्त्रः॒ समि॑तिः समा॒नी स॑मा॒नं मनः॑ स॒ह चि॒त्तमे॑षाम् । स॒मा॒नं मन्त्र॑म॒भि म॑न्त्रये वः समा॒नेन॑ वो ह॒विषा॑ जुहोमि ॥

Let your guiding mantra be one and equal, your assembly, one and equal, your mind, one in accord in thinking and purpose for all of you. I commit you all to the same one mantra for thought, goals and policy, and I vest you all with equal and common means and methods for living and working.

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10.191.4

स॒मा॒नी व॒ आकू॑तिः समा॒ना हृद॑यानि वः । स॒मा॒नम॑स्तु वो॒ मनो॒ यथा॑ वः॒ सुस॒हास॑ति ॥

Let your discussion and resolve be equal and common, your heart, feelings and passions equal and common. Let your thought and will be equal and common so that you may realise and enjoy a common- wealth of peace, progress and all round well being for all in commonalty.